LOOKING FOR VCI AUTOMATION REPLACEMENT PARTS, VIBRATORY STRAIGHTLINES, OR TOOLED VIBRATORY FEEDER BOWLS -- OR TURNKEY PART HANDLING SYSTEMS?  THEN  CONTACT US.  WE STOCK REPLACEMENT VCI AUTOMATION REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY.  WE WOULD ALSO BE PLEASED TO SUBMIT A QUOTATION FOR ANY REWORK OR NEW VCI AUTOMATION STYLE AUTOMATIC VIBRATORY PARTS FEEDER BOWL, OR PART HANDLING SYSTEMS THAT YOU REQUIRE TO FULFILL YOUR PART HANDLING NEEDS.

Vibratory Straight Line Drive Units, distributed by VCI Automation, are designed to move parts in a straight line motion from Vibratory Parts Feeder Bowls to Dead Nests, Eascapement Devices or Placement Mechanisms.  As in all of our straight line drives we have incorporated adjustability with a jack screw arrangement. This allows for ease of alignment between the Vibratory Straight Line Track and its mating Automatic Vibratory Parts Feeder Bowl, Dead Nest, Escapement Device or Placement Mechanism.

The SL-1004 Drive Unit is capable of feed rates up to and sometimes beyond 180 inches per minute. This particular unit is capable of driving a normally tooled Vibratory Track 14 inches long with a maximum load of 7 pounds.

Our product line of standary Vibratory Straight Line Drivers also includes the SL-2011, SL-3011 and SL-401.  Each model Vibratory Straight Line Driver has built in adjustability with a (3) point jack screw arrangement, also allowing for ease of alignment between the Vibratory Straight Line Track and its mating Automatic Vibratory Parts Feeder Bowl, Linear, Stepper, Floor, Centrifugal Feeder, Dead Nest, Escapement Device or Placement Mechanism.  

The SL-2011, SL-3011 and SL-4011 Vibratory Straight Line Drive Units are capable of feed rates up to and sometimes beyond 250 inches per minute. These particular units are capable of driving tooled tracks up to 24, 30 and 36 inches long respectively, with a maximum load of 15 pounds.

Standard operating voltage for one of these units is 115 V, 60Hz with a maximum power draw of .5 amp. We can supply as an option an H001 variable speed control for this Vibratory Straight Line Drive unit. Shipping weight of this unit is approximately 8 pounds. Special tooling arrangements and special power requirements can be quoted upon request.

INSTALLATION & TROUBLESHOOTING FOR STRAIGHTLINE DRIVERS USED TO TRACK PARTS FROM AUTOMATIC VIBRATORY PARTS FEEDER BOWLS

When the vibratory straight line driver will not transmit power to the horizontal vibratory track, it is often caused by one of the following reasons:

• The power supply to the control may be inadequate.

• The cord from the driver to the control may be improperly connected or damaged.

• A fuse may be blown in the straight line driver controller.

• A coil may be shorted out.

• The gap between- the coil and armature may be out of adjustment.

• A piece part or foreign object may be lodged between the coil and armature.

• The straight line driver may be making contact with the vibratory bowl or other equipment such as the escape and placement station.

When a straight line driver has an insufficient amount of vibration or slow, sporadic or irregular parts movement, it is usually due to one of the following reasons:

• One or more springs in the straight line driver may be cracked or broken.

• It may be mounted on a base plate that is too thin which can cause flexing that will absorb useful vibration.

• The base plate may be mounted improperly, lacking rigidity. The straight line driver may be mounted on a common base plate that overhangs the machine base. (Base plates should be at least 11/4" thick with substantial support directly under the drive unit).

• The bolts which attach the track to the aluminum top member of the straight line driver may be loose.

• The table may not be level or lagged down properly.

• There may be an accumulation of foreign material on the track surface.

• The coil gap may be improperly set. The gap should be set as close as possible without the pole faces striking (pole faces should be parallel).

• The voltage to the controller may be fluctuating.

• The straight line driver may need retuning to the power supply that is available in the area.

• The parts may be out of tolerance, have burrs on them, be bent or warped or have oil, mold release or some type of contamination on them which prevents proper movement.

• Changes of part configuration may require new track tooling and retuning of the straight line driver.

• The use of air jets presents problems when they are not set properly. (Pressure set too high or too low). Some things to look for: Is the air contaminated? Does the air line contain water or oil? If so, this contamination will accumulate on the running surfaces of the track and create a condition that will slow down part movement or actually stop it. All air to a feeder system must be dry, filtered and regulated to achieve peak efficiency. A regulator must be used, to provide a consistent flow, eliminating the high and low pressure factor, and each air jet should be metered with a separate flow control valve. Attaching rigid lines or hard plastic tubing must be avoided as it dampens vibration and will cause interference with part pressure as well as other tuning problems. Flexible nylon tubing or other soft flexible tubing should be used to prevent interference with vibration from a vibratory straight line driver.

• The vibratory straight line driver may not be tuned properly. The tuning consists of the addition or removal of springs. This balances the spring tension in proportion to the weight of the track.

• Power supply from the controller may not be the proper frequency (make sure switch on power board is in correct position for either 60 Hz, DC or 120 Hz, AC).

PROCEDURES FOR STRAIGHTLINE DRIVERS

The following procedure should be used to check the tuning of straight line drivers:

• IMPORTANT! Before tuning unit, make sure there are no cracked or broken springs, that ALL bolts are tightened and the magnet pole faces are set at the proper gap.

  With the variable speed controller on the track full of parts, set the dial at 35% to 40% of the in-put voltage. Some parts movement should be detected at this point. If the feed rate is too low, increase the controller setting slowly until the desired feed rate is attained. When 80% of the input voltage has been used without reaching the desired amplitude or there is excessive or sporadic vibration, check for interference points where something may be contacting the track or driver, then follow these tuning checks for peak performance:

• Loosen an upper spring pack bolt on any one of the spring clamp blocks (preferably a lower bolt), very gradually, approximately one-half turn until the straight line driver either speeds up or slows down. If it speeds up, it is over sprung. If it is oversprung, the thinnest spring from the spring pack with the most springs must be removed.

  If after this change, there is an under sprung reading (if the unit slows down when a bolt is loosened), thinner springs must be added back to the spring pack with the least number of springs.

  It should be slightly over tuned, but the degree of over tuning must be established. An over tuned condition is a good indication that all bolts are tight and all springs are in good condition.

• If the straight line driver indicates that it is still improperly tuned after a spring has been added, or removed, repeat #1 until the proper tuning is achieved (it is not necessary to have the same number of springs in each pack, however, they should be distributed as evenly as possible).

• Make sure the bolts are long enough to fasten the springs to the spring hangers. If springs have been added, there will be less threads to hold them. When tightened, the threads may strip and the unit will give a false tuning reading. Most of the holes for these bolts are blind, therefore if the bolt bottoms out, it will seem to be tight when it actually is not. It is very difficult to check the tuning of a straight line driver until this factor has either been ruled out or remedied.

• Another factor that affects tuning is the stretching of the bolts that fasten the springs. We use grade "5" bolts, which are specially hardened for durability.

  Make sure that all spring bolts and "hold down" bolts and nuts are tight.

• Another problem can result by omitting the thin shim (spring spacer) between the springs when springs are changed or added. These spacer shim are very important. If one is omitted, it has an adverse affect, thus tuning cannot be properly evaluated. If a shim is not available, one should be made and installed. Don't take the easy way out and try to get by without it. This will only cause more problems later.

• If a vibratory straight line has a dead spot at either end, it may be eliminated by placing extra spring spacers between the spring and the casting (upper spring pack). If the front end of the driver is running too slow add spacers under the lower end of the front spring pack. If the rear of the driver is running too slow add spacers under the top end of the rear spring pack.

  Sometimes by changing the number of springs in the lower spring packs (isolation spring), the feed motion can be improved. It also becomes necessary sometimes to change these lower springs to fiber glass material.

•  The above information pertains to: VCI Automation Feeder Bowls - Vibratory Feeder Bowl systems including Vibratory Feeders, Stainless Vibratory Feeder Bowls, Polycast Feeder Bowls, Parts Feeders, Vibratory Drive Units, Vibratory Tracks, Orienting Rolls, Feeder Bowl Controls, Bulk Hoppers, Floor Feeders, Sound Enclosures, Assembly Mechanisms, Escapements, Centrifugal Feeders, Stepper Feeders, Automatic Screwdrivers and part handling systems offered to serve the automation industry worldwide.