Design and optimization of piezoelectric actuated plate eigenmodes for workpiece transportation

With the widespread application of automatic assembly in industry, the supply systems need to be more efficient. Besides the widely used bowl feeder for mass production, some supply systems using a vibrating plate are a possible alternative for flexible components. This paper, firstly, explains the sorting principle using a series of standing waves in order to transport workpiece. Moreover, the method to evaluate transportation stability is elaborated. After explaining the theory on resonance, interaction between workpiece and vibrating plate is introduced. Then the plate thickness effects on the resonant frequency, the plate length to width ratio effects on the mode existence, and the plate bar dimension effects on the mode shape modification are studied. Finally, the corresponding simulation and experimental results of the prototype are presented.