How do electromagnetic vibratory feeder works
Vibration is a is a mechanical phenomenon that is used in the manufacturing field to orient and select various types of pieces. For this reason, vibratory feeders are part of numerous processes such as transport, dosing and packaging of different industry: pharma, automotive and food just to name a few.
No matter the size, all these systems, including electromagnetic feeder, work on the same principle: they moves product by making the feeder vibrate. The pieces in the feeder, when it start to vibrate, move in a series of small hops. This series of hops create a flow, a constant motion of pieces. The most common devices used in this niche are vibratory bowl feeder, design to orient the parts to a specific orientation, and linear feeder, horizontal conveying of components.
For example, in a linear vibrating feeder we have a system composed of a base unit, coil, elastic springs, magnet, and a tray. The tray is connected to the base unit by elastic springs, they allow the movement between the two, and thanks to this movements the pieces move. The coil attracts and releases the magnet connected to the tray, generating the relative movement between the base unit and the feeder tray.
The vibration of an electromagnetic feeder is generated as the alternating electrical current moves back and forward through the wires of the coil. As the current moves in one direction, the coil attracts the magnet and adds tension to the springs. When the current switches direction the magnet is released, and the potential energy stored as tension in the springs is used to move the tray. When this process is repeated at high frequency, a continuous flow of pieces is created.
Phase Angle Controller
The phase control is a system for varying voltage value and consequently the vibration amplitude of an electromagnetic feeder.
This operation’s crucial component is the TRIAC (electronic switch), which is used in order to control electromagnetic vibratory feeders in a variety of applications. The operating principle of a phase angle control requires that the conduction of any angle α for TRIAC ignition must be present both in the positive and negative half-waves of one line voltage 115V or 230V – AC control for 6000 Vib per minute or 100Hz -The conduction angle α of ignition of the TRIAC must be present only in one half-wave to regulate vibrators at 3000 Vib per minute or 50Hz.
The power section, represented by the TRIAC, is controlled by a control section that includes electronics for generating the synchronism signal. The control, synchronized with the network, adjusts the conduction angle of TRIAC by determining the voltage value on the load.