Patent ID: 8413795

Claim:
A step feeder, comprising: a fixed set of stairs including a first fixed step, a second fixed step, and a third fixed step; a moving set of stairs interposed between the fixed set of stairs, the moving set of stairs including a first moving step adapted to transport a workpiece from the first fixed step to the second fixed step, and a second moving step adapted to transport the workpiece from the second fixed step to the third fixed step, the first and second moving steps moving in a phase relationship with respect to each other; and a drive assembly adapted to drive the first moving step and the second moving step, the drive assembly including a crankshaft having one or more crank arms coupled thereto to drive at least one of the first and second moving steps; wherein the phase relationship of the first moving step relative to the second moving step is adjustable by adjusting the position of at least one of the one or more crank arms with respect to the crankshaft.