A miniature mobile parts feeder: operating principles and simulation results

A miniature mobile vibratory parts feeder is proposed. This feeder, exploiting the unique capabilities of a closed-loop planar linear motor, is designed to reorient, separate, and position parts using only horizontal vibrations. The actuators used for generating the feed vibrations are also capable of large planar motions, allowing the feeder to serve multiple overhead robots. This feeder is designed with a minimum of critical physical dimensions, allowing different parts to be fed with only software changes. The basic feed principle is presented, followed by experimental verification. Although a prototype has not yet been fabricated, a model for the motion of parts on the complete feeder is derived and simulation results are presented.