Flexible trough vibratory conveyor

• US 4,482,046 A
• Filed: 04/15/1982
• Issued: 11/13/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
• Inventors: Kraus, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shane, Kyle E.
• Application Number:
  US06/368,503
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 198/771, 198/752, 198/754
• US Class Current: 198/771
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 27/04 Load carriers other than helical or spiral channels or conduits

Abstract

A vibratory conveyor for conveying material. The vibratory conveyor has a conveyor with a conveyor frame and means for vibrating the conveyor relative to the base. The conveyor frame mounts a flexible trough which can flex and change its static shape as the conveyor frame is vibrated. The flexible trough is defined by a material-conveying flexible member attached along opposite edges thereof to side members of the conveyor frame and having a major part thereof extended therebetween which flexes and changes its static shape as the conveyor frame is vibrated.

Claims

1. A vibratory conveyor for conveying material comprising a base, an elongated conveyor having a conveyor frame along which material can travel from a loading end to a discharge end, means for vibrating the conveyor frame to advance material toward said discharge end including means limiting the conveyor frame for movement in a path inclined to the base and means defining a spring reactor system connected between the conveyor frame and the base, said conveyor frame having elongate spaced-apart side members extending lengthwise of the conveyor frame, each side member having edge portions lying parallel to the edge portions of the other side member, said side members extending outwardly and inclined upwardly from said conveyor frame, and an elongate material-conveying flexible member extending substantially horizontally from the loading end to the discharge end of the conveyor, said flexible member being positioned between said side members and having outer edge portions tangent to and secured to the more remote outward portions of the side members with a major part thereof between said outer edge portions hanging downwardly from side to side in a catenary curve and being free to flex and to change its static shape as the conveyor frame is vibrated, said means for vibrating the conveyor frame and the flexible member acting on material on said flexible member to thrust the material upward and forward in movements along the flexible member to loosen the adhesion bond between the flexible member and the material, said material accumulating at the center of the flexible member and deflecting the center of the flexible member downward to increase the slope between the sides and thereby increase the frictional engagement with the material to increase the conveying action of the conveyor.

2. A vibratory conveyor as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongate flexible member has openings therethrough for permitting fluid to flow through the flexible member from below.

3. A vibratory conveyor as defined in claim 2 wherein parts of said conveyor frame beneath said elongate flexible member are enclosed for receiving fluid which can pass through said openings.