Patent Publication Number: US-2018029075-A1

Title: Vibrating Sorting Table

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to sorting tables and more particularly pertains to a new sorting table for separating loosely attached parts from a workpiece. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a bench. The bench comprises a bottom. Each of a plurality of supports is coupled to and extends substantially vertically from a respective edge of the bottom. A top is flexibly coupled to each of the supports. The top is substantially parallel to the bottom. The top is movable relative to the supports and the bottom. A pair of rims is coupled singly to opposing sides of the top. The rims separate a workpiece positioned on the bench from an upper face of the top. A vibration unit is coupled to a lower face of the top. The vibration unit is positioned to impart vibrational forces to the top, such that the workpiece coupled to the top vibrates. Parts of the workpiece that are loosely attached separate from the workpiece and fall to the upper face of the top. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric perspective view of a vibrating sorting table according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a top cut-away view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new sorting table embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the vibrating sorting table  10  generally comprises a bench  12 . The bench  12  comprises a bottom  14  that is substantially rectangularly shaped. 
     Each of a plurality of supports  16  is coupled to and extends substantially vertically from a respective edge  18  of the bottom  14 . In one embodiment, the plurality of supports  16  comprises a wall  20  and a pair of posts  22  that are coupled to and extend substantially vertically from respective edges  18  of the bottom  14 . A crossbar  24  is coupled to and extends between the posts  22  distal from the bottom  14 . The posts  22  and opposing ends  26  of the wall  20  are positioned such that the posts  22  and the opposing ends  26  of the wall  20  define corners  28  of the bottom  14 . 
     A recess  30  is positioned in the bottom  14 . The recess  30  extends between a respective opposing end  26  of the wall  20  and a respective post  22 , thus defining a front  32  of the bench  12 . The recess  30  is positioned in the bottom  14  such that the recess  30  is configured to allow a user to stand proximate to the front  32  of the bench  12 . 
     A top  34  is flexibly coupled to each of the supports  16 . The top  34  is substantially parallel to the bottom  14 . The top  34  is positioned on the supports  16  such that the top  34  is movable relative to the supports  16  and the bottom  14 . 
     A pair of rims  36  is coupled singly to opposing sides  38  of the top  34 . The rims  36  are positioned on the top  34  such that a workpiece positioned on the bench  12  is separated from an upper face  40  of the top  34  by the rims  36 . 
     A plurality of fasteners  42  is coupled to and extends between the plurality of supports  16  and the top  34 . The fasteners  42  are flexible. In one embodiment, each fastener  42  comprises a pair of bushings  44 , a pair of springs  46  and a bolt  48 . The pair of bushings  44  is coupled singly to the top  34  and the bottom  14 . The pair of springs  46  is coupled singly to the bushings  44 . The bolt  48  is coupled to and extends between the springs  46 . 
     A positioner  50  is coupled to and extends from the bench  12 . A horizontal member  52  of the positioner  50  is positioned substantially coplanarly with the rims  36 . The horizontal member  52  extends substantially between the rims  36  proximate to the top  34 , such that the horizontal member  52  and the top  34  define a gap  54 . In one embodiment, the positioner  50  comprises a plurality of braces  56  that is coupled to and extends substantially horizontally from the bench  12 . A pair of vertical members  58  is coupled to respective braces  56  distal from the bench  12 . The vertical members  58  are positioned substantially parallel to the supports  16 . The horizontal member  52  is coupled to upper ends  60  of the vertical members  58 . In another embodiment, the plurality of braces  56  comprises two braces  56  that are coupled to the bottom  14  and two braces  56  that are coupled to the crossbar  24 . 
     A plurality of couplers  62  is coupled to the horizontal member  52 . The couplers  62  are configured to couple to the workpiece. The couplers  62  are positioned on the horizontal member  52  such that the couplers  62  are configured to retain the workpiece on the rims  36 . In one embodiment, the couplers  62  comprise clamps  64 . In another embodiment, the plurality of couplers  62  comprises two couplers  62 . 
     A vibration unit  66  is coupled to a lower face  68  of the top  34 . The vibration unit  66  is positioned on the top  34  and is positioned to impart vibrational forces to the top  34 . The workpiece that is coupled to the top  34  vibrates, such that loosely attached parts of the workpiece separate from the workpiece and fall to the upper face  40  of the top  34 . In one embodiment, the vibration unit  66  comprises a housing  70 . The housing  70  is substantially rectangularly box shaped. The housing  70  has an open face  72  positioned proximate to the lower face  68  of the top  34 . 
     A plurality of motors  74  is coupled to and positioned in the housing  70 . In one embodiment, the motors  74  are electric. In another embodiment, the plurality of motors  74  comprises one motor  74 . 
     A plurality of connectors  76  is coupled to and extends from the lower face  68  of the top  34 . In one embodiment, the plurality of connectors  76  comprises four connectors  76 . 
     Each of a plurality of axles  78  is rotationally coupled to and extends between a respective pair of the connectors  80 . Each of a plurality of first pulleys  82  is fixedly coupled to a respective axle  78 . Each first pulley  82  is operationally coupled to a respective motor  74 . In one embodiment, a plurality of second pulleys  84  is rotationally coupled to and positioned in the first housing  70 . Each of a plurality of first belts  86  is operationally coupled to a respective first pulley  82  and a respective second pulley  84 . Each of a plurality of second belts  88  is operationally coupled to a respective second pulley  84  and a respective motor  74 . 
     A plurality of counterweights  90  is coupled to the axles  78 . The counterweights  90  are positioned on the axles  78  such that the axles  78  are unbalanced. Rotation of the axles  78  induces vibration of the top  34 . 
     A controller  92  is operationally coupled to the plurality of motors  74 . The controller  92  is configured to turn the motors  74  on and off. In one embodiment, the controller  92  comprises a foot pedal  94 . 
     In another embodiment, a plurality of wheels  96  is rotationally coupled to the bottom  14 . The wheels  96  are positioned on the bench  12  such that the wheels  96  are configured for a user to roll the bench  12  on a surface. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of wheels  96  comprises wheels  96  positioned proximate to the corners  28  of the bottom  14 . 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the pair of posts  22  is dimensionally longer that the wall  20 , such that the top  34  is tilted relative to the bottom  14 . Parts of the workpiece that fall to the upper face  40  of the top  34  are vibrationally motivated to fall from the top  34  over the wall  20 . 
     In use, the couplers  62  are configured to retain the workpiece on the rims  36 . The rims  36  are positioned on the top  34  such that a workpiece positioned on the bench  12  is separated from an upper face  40  of the top  34  by the rims  36 . The counterweights  90  are positioned on the axles  78  such that the axles  78  are unbalanced. Rotation of the axles  78  induces vibration of the top  34 , such that the workpiece that is coupled to the top  34  vibrates. Parts that are loosely attached to the workpiece separate from the workpiece and fall to the upper face  40  of the top  34 . The parts of the workpiece that fall to the upper face  40  of the top  34  are vibrationally motivated to fall from the top  34  over the wall  20 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.