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Retaining device for a vibration tray

  • US 8,960,414 B2
  • Filed: 01/25/2013
  • Issued: 02/24/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A vibratory apparatus for feeding discrete articles, comprising:

  • i. a tray for receiving the discrete articles;

    ii. a vibratory drive;

    iii. a retaining device for releasably retaining the tray to the vibratory drive, the retaining device including;

    a) a tray locking assembly selectively moveable between a locked position to lock the tray to the vibratory drive and an unlocked position to unlock the tray from the vibratory drive;

    b) in the unlocked position the tray being removable from the vibratory drive;

    c) in the locked position the tray being locked to the vibratory drive in a vibration transmission relationship, allowing vibration movement to be imparted to the tray;

    iv. an abutment member releasably engageable with the tray, the abutment member being mounted to the vibratory drive, when the tray locking assembly is in the locked position the tray abutting against the abutment member, the abutment member including a plurality of abutment pins releasably engageable with the tray; and

    wherein the tray has a plurality of sockets for releasably engaging respective ones of the abutment pins,wherein the tray is moveable relative to the abutment pins between a released position and an engaged position, in the released position the sockets are releasable from the respective abutment pins to allow removal of the tray from the vibratory drive,wherein when the tray is in the engaged position the tray cannot be separated from the abutment pins,wherein the tray has an upper surface for receiving the discrete articles and a lower surface, opposite the upper surface, andwherein each abutment pin has a pin body and an enlarged head, the enlarged head being releasably engageable in a respective socket.

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