Vibratory pile conveyor system

摘要

An improved vibratory pile conveyor system has an input chute with independently controlled pile covered feeder surfaces that directs elongated articles into an accumulator. The accumulator is also composed of independently controlled feeder surfaces covered with directional pile material Elongated articles are randomly circulated within the accumulator in a direction dictated by the pile material until the articles are transferred onto a pile-covered delivery feeder surface. An endless belt conveyor driven by a variable speed drive motor is positioned at the output end of the delivery feeder surface. The endless belt conveyor is rotated at a speed so that as the elongated articles leave the delivery feeder surface and enter onto a loading station section of the belt, their longitudinal axes are automatically positioned parallel to the direction of travel of the belt conveyor. Optical scanners are provided for detecting the flow rate of articles passing through the accumulator and delivery feeder surface so that an even flow of articles onto the belt can be maintained. The elongated articles are then transferred on the belt to a discharge station provided with a safety bar for further aiding in the end-to-end alignment of the articles before the articles enter a work station area being uniformly aligned and oriented. After undergoing any number of operations performed at the work station area, the uniformly aligned and oriented articles are then transferred to another area for further processing or handling.