Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a stepped pin loading mechanism which can be used for loading stepped pins, comprising a vibrator bowl. A spirally rising discharge track is connected to an outer side of a hopper of the vibrator bowl, and a swivel plate is provided on the discharge track, and several receiving slots are provided on the swivel plate. The strip-shaped receiving slot consists of an inner segment and an outer segment, and the width of the outer segment is greater than that of the inner segment. A front baffle and a rear baffle, both of which are provided with a through opening, are provided on the discharge track, an arc-shaped side baffle, which is located between the front baffle and the rear baffle to form a semi-enclosed structure, is provided on an outer circumferential side of the swivel plate.

Abstract: An automated machine for organizing and feeding cylindrical products includes a conveyor to space apart the cylindrical products. A pair of elongated rollers is disposed downstream from the conveyor to orient the cylindrical products in the same direction. A miter wheel disposed downstream of the pair of elongated rollers transfers the cylindrical products from the pair of rollers to a vertical accumulation chamber while changing the orientation of the cylindrical products from a vertical alignment to a horizontal alignment. The cylindrical products are discharged from the vertical accumulation chamber to a take away conveyance. Operation of the components of the automated machine can be controlled by a computer. Optical sensors can be employed to monitor flow of the cylindrical products through the automated machine during operation.

Abstract: An object sorting system is presented which includes a hopper, a feeder, a roller pair, a pair of orientation flaps, an adjustable assembly, a first and second camera boxes and an ejection assembly. Feeder receives the shells from the hopper and feeds them uniformly over the gap between the rollers which guides and provides fixed orientation to the shells passing through them and conveys the shells which are relatively bigger than the gap between the rollers to one side of the pair of rollers towards the first collection chute by inclining the roller assembly in the range of 0 to 15 degrees towards the first collection chute. A pair of orientation flaps is placed parallel and exactly below the pair of rollers to avoid the deflection of shells caused immediately after passing through the roller gaps.

Abstract: A method and system for an automatic parts conveying system includes a parts feeder configured to receive parts from a receiving bin, a linear conveyor for conveying parts away from the parts feeder to an installation robot. The installation robot includes a robot arm controlled by a controller and a parts handling device coupled to a distal end of the robot arm. The automatic parts conveying system also includes one or more vibrating elements positioned along at least one of the linear conveyor, the parts feeder, and the receiving bin to impart vibratory motions to the at least one of the linear conveyor, the parts feeder, and the receiving bin for stimulating the parts into motion. The automatic parts conveying system also includes an air assist portion configured to provide pressurized fluid to the parts to facilitate moving parts through the automatic parts conveying system.

Abstract: Provided is an ammunition case roll sizing apparatus 10 which comprises a base 12 which typically defines a surface 14 along with a case receptacle 16 proximate the surface 14. The base 12 also includes a former 18 protruding from a boundary of the surface 14. The apparatus 10 further comprises a circular disk 20 which is rotatably flat mounted onto the surface 14 of the base 12 so that a case channel 22 is complementarily defined between the disk 20 and the former 18. The disk 20 is operatively rotatable via a rotational actuator 24. Also included is a case feeder 26 configured for operatively receiving a plurality of cases 28 and for feeding a case lengthwise into the case receptacle 16 of the base. Further included is a case pusher 30 which is configured to be operatively actuatable by the rotating disk 20 in order to push a case 28 from the case receptacle 16 into the channel 22 to roll-size the case.

Abstract: A method of processing objects is disclosed using a programmable motion device. The method includes the steps of acquiring an object from a plurality of mixed objects at an input area, perceiving identifying indicia in connection with the object, assigning an intermediate station to a destination location for the object responsive to the identifying indicia in connection with the object, and moving the acquired object toward the intermediate station.

Abstract: Machine and method for cartoning articles in containers or boxes, in which the machine has a loading section comprising an article inlet area; a loading area for loading articles into the containers; a configuring device; at least a first robot arranged to load articles from the inlet area and transfer the articles to the configuring device; at least a second robot arranged to pick up articles from the configuring device and transfer them to the loading area, in which the configuring device comprises an array of seats for temporary accommodation of articles, and the array of seats of the configuring device is formed from rows of article-receiving seats having a variable transversal distance; the configuring device operates in a synchronized manner with the first robot and with the second robot varying the relative position between respective rows of seats to provide interface respectively with the first robot and with the second robot.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for conveying preforms, to a blow molding machine. The apparatus includes a conveying device which conveys preforms away from a supply of preforms, a feeding device that receives preforms from the conveying device, and a sorting device that sorts the preforms and conveys them in a direction of travel. The conveying device ends above the sorting device. The inlet end of the feeding device has a holding zone which the preforms reach as they arrive from the conveying device, and the discharge end of the feeding device has a transfer zone via which the preforms reach the sorting device. The feeding device has an orienting zone with an orienting device designed so that the flow of preforms is oriented in the direction of the flow of the preforms in the sorting device (direction of travel), and the oriented preforms run through the transfer zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling sample tubes is presented. The apparatus comprises a sample tube tray, a sample tube individualizer, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a sample tube buffer, and a sample tube rack inserter. The sample tube tray stores sample tubes in bulk commodity. The sample tube individualizer sequentially unloads single sample tubes from the sample tube tray and sequentially provides the unloaded sample tubes to the first conveyor. The first conveyor conveys the sample tubes to the sample tube buffer. The sample tube buffer buffers the sample tubes provided by the first conveyor and provides buffered sample tubes to the second conveyor with a predeterminable, constant, sample tube rate. The second conveyor conveys the sample tubes to the sample tube rack inserter. The sample tube rack inserter inserts the sample tubes into a sample tube rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated handling of workpieces comprising at least one gripper for picking the workpiece; a control for controlling the at least one gripper and an intermediate station for placing the workpiece, with the apparatus being configured such that the workpiece is placed in a defined position and/or defined orientation on the intermediate station and is picked up again with a changed orientation and/or with greater accuracy.

Abstract: A vibration device includes a base, a movable bench elastically supported with respect to the base, a first horizontal excitation unit that vibrates the movable bench in a first horizontal direction, a second horizontal excitation unit that vibrates the movable bench in a second horizontal direction that crosses the first horizontal direction, a vertical excitation unit that vibrates the movable bench in a vertical direction, and first and second middle benches between the base and the movable bench, wherein first to third plate-like spring members elastically connect the base, the first and second middle benches, and the movable bench sequentially in the first horizontal direction, the second horizontal direction, and the vertical direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a method of transporting rolls of a fibrous material. The method comprises providing a V-shaped conveying mechanism, stacking a plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material on the V-shaped conveying mechanism, and transporting the plurality of the rolls of the fibrous material between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A conveying device for cylindrical members, such as parisons (1) for hollow objects, has running rails (8, 9) which are inclined in the direction of travel of the parisons (1). A neck (3) of the parisons (1) which is part of a head (2) lies on the running rails (8, 9). A guide rail (11) which is located at a certain distance from the head (2) of the parisons (1) is fixedly arranged above the running rails (8, 9). A movable intermediate element (12) is retained and guided within the running rail (11). A force component (16) directed against the head (2) of the parisons (1) acts on the intermediate element (12).

Abstract: A separating and conveying unit in which a device for sorting out incorrectly positioned cylindrical bodies, such as for hollow bodies, is arranged. The device has a roller sorter with rollers and air nozzles arranged laterally adjacent the rollers. Incorrectly positioned cylindrical bodies are blown out of the roller sorter by the air nozzles. The air nozzles can be pivoted and at least one of the air flows escaping from the air nozzles is directed at the cylindrical body at an angle of attack.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating cylindrical bodies, such as parisons for hollow bodies, which have at least one protuberance at a first end, has a pair of parallel guide elements between which the cylindrical bodies can be erected in that the cylindrical bodies hang on the guide elements in each case by way of the protuberance. The separation arrangement here has a height guide, wherein a spacing between the height guide and the cylindrical bodies, as seen in the conveying direction, decreases to a predetermined spacing in relation to the guide elements, as a result of which vertically projecting cylindrical bodies, as they are being conveyed in the conveying direction, are forced downwards by the height guide and wherein the height guide can be raised briefly by means of a lifting device in accordance with a triggering signal.

Abstract: A tray is provided for orienting and conveying items having a longitudinal axis, a tip, an opposite head, and a head-up and a head-down orientation, the tray conveying the items in a direction of travel and including a series of connected, function-oriented static regions configured for orienting the item from a random orientation to a desired tip-down orientation, at least one of the regions being inclined for facilitating movement of the item through the regions, the regions being configured such that proper orientation of the item is achieved without operator contact.

Abstract: The guide structure for stoppers takes the form of a tunnel with a C-shaped section for trapping and guiding the cylindrical part of the stoppers (1c, 1t), which tunnel has opposing edges spaced out at a distance such as to allow the passage of the bulge (3) of the nipple-type stoppers (1t). This structure consists of filamentary rails (5) and of plates (6) with a hole through their central part shaped according to the profile of the stoppers that are to be transferred.

Abstract: The apparatus for unscrambling and aligning preforms comprises two substantially parallel alignment rollers (121) and rotary pushing means (122) mounted above the said alignment rollers for pushing back incorrectly oriented preforms or nested preforms, and is characterized by at least one of the following characteristics (i) or (ii): (i) it comprises stopping means (30, 31) mounted above the alignment rollers (121) for stopping correctly oriented nested preforms (P2/P3) or an incorrectly oriented preform or incorrectly oriented nested preforms (P4/P5) underneath the rotary pushing means (122) until the rotary pushing means push back the stopped preform(s), said stopping means (30, 31) being adapted for letting a correctly oriented preform slide onto the alignment rollers, (ii) it comprises guiding means (34) for lifting an incorrectly oriented preform or incorrectly oriented nested preforms (P4/P5) into contact with the rotary pushing means (122) said guiding means (34) being adapted for letting a correctly o

Abstract: The present improvement is useful for orienting and feeding blow molded preforms. Cylindrical preforms have larger threaded necks with larger encircling discs below the necks. A pair of belts is provided for conveying objects downstream. The gap between these belts is less than the disc diameter of the preforms. An output means is provided for receiving the oriented objects and directing them downstream. A means is provided at the output of the belts for deflecting any improperly oriented preforms back for recirculation. An increase in the feed rate of the preforms is achieved by an agitation means such as a blower positioned to disperse the interlocked assemblages and help move the preforms down into the belts.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for sorting piece goods. The apparatus comprises a sorting arrangement which comprises two rollers arranged parallel to one another, wherein these rollers can rotate about their longitudinal direction and wherein the rollers are configured in such a way that the piece goods are transported along the rollers, and comprising a transport device which conveys the piece goods in the direction of the sorting arrangement. According to certain embodiments, arranged above the transport device are displacement devices which make contact with the piece goods at least temporarily and displace said piece goods relative to the transport device.

Abstract: A tablet conveying apparatus for transporting tablets includes a conveyer. Each of the tablets includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a generally flat, circumferential belly band that interconnects the first and second sides. The conveyer includes a plurality of carrier bars to convey a plurality of tablets along a predetermined conveyer path. Each carrier bar has at least one pocket to receive and transport a tablet in a vertical orientation along the predetermined conveyer path. The pocket may be configured to allow rotation of the tablet about its central axis that extends transverse to the first and second sides. The pocket may be configured to establish line contact between two flat portions of the pocket and two corresponding circumferential portions along the belly band.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means for feeding blanks into the thread rolling part of a thread rolling machine in accurate timing and accurate position. A transport screw for transporting blanks e.g. in a thread rolling machine is disclosed, said transport screw comprises a transport helix for transporting a blank along said transport screw when said transport screw rotates, said transport screw further comprises a feeding area being a widening of said transport helix, whereby said feeding area can receive and feed said blank into said transport helix upon rotation of said transport screw. Further, a method of feeding blanks into a transport screw and a feeding system comprising a transport screw, a blank height adjustment mechanism and a blank alignment mechanism are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning disordered sheet material. The apparatus according to the invention in particular has the advantage, that disordered sheet material is fast and reliably aligned, so that the sheet material can be formed into bundles. Since the alignment of the sheet material can be carried out automatically by the apparatus, i.e. in particular has not to be carried out by an operator, moreover, a cost-effective alignment of the disordered sheet material is permitted.

Abstract: A conveyor for orienting and feeding small parts has a platform elevator conveying mechanism on one side of an inclined collecting surface that feeds small parts to a conveying trough at a higher elevation. The conveying trough has a horizontal stationary storage platform and a movable pivoting platform that can pivot about an axis located at a delivery end of the conveying trough, between a position parallel to the storage platform and a position inclined to the horizontal. The storage platform is adjacent to the platform elevator conveying mechanism and has a storage surface inclined downward toward the pivoting platform, and the pivoting platform has a hollow throat adjacent to the edge of the storage platform.

Abstract: The apparatus for unscrambling and aligning preforms comprises two substantially parallel alignment rollers (121) and rotary pushing means (122) mounted above the said alignment rollers for pushing back incorrectly oriented preforms or nested preforms, and is characterized by at least one of the following characteristics (i) or (ii): (i) it comprises stopping means (30, 31) mounted above the alignment rollers (121) for stopping correctly oriented nested preforms (P2/P3) or an incorrectly oriented preform or incorrectly oriented nested preforms (P4/P5) underneath the rotary pushing means (122) until the rotary pushing means push back the stopped preform(s), said stopping means (30, 31) being adapted for letting a correctly oriented preform slide onto the alignment rollers, (ii) it comprises guiding means (34) for lifting an incorrectly oriented preform or incorrectly oriented nested preforms (P4/P5) into contact with the rotary pushing means (122) said guiding means (34) being adapted for letting a correctly o

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning fasteners having radially symmetrical polygonal heads in a device for feeding these fasteners to a processing station. A tubular piece having axially running grooves in its interior is provided in a feed channel for the fasteners, the number of these grooves corresponding to the number of edges on the heads of the fasteners, and the diameter of the groove corners on the inlet side of the tubular piece being greater than the width across the corners of the polygonal heads, the grooves tapering from a large width to a narrow width in the transport direction in such a way that fasteners entering the tubular piece are captured with a great clearance in relation to the grooves and leave the tubular piece with narrow clearance and therefore in the aligned position.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for use with a piece of equipment. The safety arrangement includes a signal generating unit for generating an optical signal, an elongate element, and a signal detecting unit. The elongate element is disposed along, about, around or through the piece of equipment and is capable of transmitting an optical signal. The signal detecting unit detects an optical signal. The signal generating unit is connected to the signal detecting unit by the elongate element such that the signal detecting unit is in optical communication with the signal detecting unit. The signal detecting unit is arranged to detect a change in the optical signal transmitted by the elongate element as a consequence of movement of the elongate element and, upon detection of the change in the signal, the detecting unit is configured to effect a change in the operation of the piece of equipment.

Abstract: A guide path for electronic components has guide elements by means of which the components are guided obliquely with respect to the direction of the light beams at least in the area of a light barrier, such that the component produces a shadow area which is higher than the side end surface of the component.

Abstract: The present improvement is useful for orienting and feeding blow molded preforms. Cylindrical preforms have larger threaded necks with larger encircling discs below the necks. A pair of belts is provided for conveying objects downstream. The gap between these belts is less than the disc diameter of the preforms. An output means is provided for receiving the oriented objects and directing them downstream. A means is provided at the output of the belts for deflecting any improperly oriented preforms back for recirculation. An increase in the feed rate of the preforms is achieved by an agitation means such as a blower positioned to disperse the interlocked assemblages and help move the preforms down into the belts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collating nails wherein round head nails are fed by gravity along an inclined rail to a periphery of a rotating indexing and feed wheel. The nails are deposited into circumferentially spaced grooves formed in the periphery of the feed wheel in a vertical orientation. The feed wheel is inclined at an angle of approximately 45° and upon 180° rotation of the feed wheel the nails assume a horizontal orientation. A conveyor has a plurality of spaced segments attached to a pair of moving belts. Each segment is formed with spaced notches for receiving the nails in a horizontal spaced relationship from the feed wheel and then transporting the horizontally spaced nails to a collator for forming into a continuous strip. Rotation of the feed wheel is synchronized with movement of the conveyor by a motor, a gear train and drive shafts extending between the feed wheel and conveyor.

Abstract: A system of feeding preforms, particularly designed to feed a machine for blow molding receptacles such as bottles, includes, from upstream to downstream in the longitudinal direction of travel of the preforms, at least one sorting and alignment device whose top end is fed with jumbled preforms and whose bottom end includes at least two alignment rollers, substantially parallel and rotated about their respective axis, designed to position the preforms in conveyor rails, inclined relative to the horizontal, to convey them to the machine, and of the type including, upstream of the machine, a filtering element to discard the incorrectly positioned performs. The filtering element includes, downstream of the alignment rollers, at least one selective discarding device of the preforms called lying preforms, that is to say those that arrive from the rollers on the rails lying down and oriented longitudinally and that extend generally longitudinally on the conveyor rails.

Abstract: An orientating apparatus and associated method includes an agitator, one or more channels adjacent the agitator, and a lower component delivery portion. The agitator is powered by a drive assembly, which induces a motions in relation to the channels. The channels are designed such that a component for orienting can only pass through the channels in a preferred orientation, and the agitator provides opportunities for the components to achieve proper orientation to enter the channels. This allows the components to pass through the channels to the staging portion in an orientated manner. This orientating apparatus, intended for the automatic positioning of wicks, will work on manufacturing lines with any number of apparatus or parts, as long as it is generally adjacent the utilization point.

Abstract: A chip components feeding apparatus is provided to be able to lessen a push load applied to a leading electronic part from succeeding electronic chip component to favorably take out the leading electronic part even in the case where a residual pressure phenomenon occurs in a conveyance passage. Since a chip component conveyance tube is provided with an ascending portion, in which an air flow based on an action of negative pressure causes electronic chip component to move climbing against dead weight, it is possible to restrict a pushing force applied to electronic chip component forwardly from those electronic chip component in the ascending portion, which are acted by dead weight, to lessen a push load applied to a leading electronic part by succeeding electronic chip component even in the case where a residual pressure phenomenon occurs in a conveyance passage including a chip component conveyance tube when the action of negative pressure is released.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting and feeding blow molded preforms which are elongated generally cylindrical plastic objects, one end of which is a threaded neck portion for the ultimate blow molded container, and the other end of which extends from the opposed end of the cylindrical object as a narrower and heavier tubular portion which during the blow molding operation will be softened and enlarged into the ultimate container, the preform further including an encircling handling disc between the said threaded neck portion and tubular portion which has a larger diameter than the remaining portions of the preform, the disc serving to facilitate handling of the preforms. First and second conveying belts are provided having input and output ends for cooperatively conveying such objects toward a downstream processing line. The belts are mounted so that their respective conveying surfaces are movable in a common parallel direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting and feeding blow molded preforms which are elongated generally cylindrical plastic objects, one end of which is a threaded neck portion for the ultimate blow molded container, and the other end of which extends from the opposed end of the cylindrical object as a narrower and heavier tubular portion which during the blow molding operation will be softened and enlarged into the ultimate container, the preform further including an encircling handling disc between the said threaded neck portion and tubular portion which has a larger diameter than the remaining portions of the preform, the disc serving to facilitate handling of the preforms. First and second conveying belts are provided having input and output ends for cooperatively conveying such objects toward a downstream processing line. The belts are mounted so that their respective conveying surfaces are movable in a common parallel direction.

Abstract: A system for supplying preforms, of the type including a hopper inclined relative to the horizontal and at the bottom of which are arranged two substantially parallel rollers driven in rotation about their respective axis, and wherein the preforms are delivered in bulk at the upper end of the hopper. The hopper includes at least a wheel for ejecting wrongly oriented preforms which is driven in rotation about its axis, which is inclined relative to a perpendicular to the direction of axes of the aligning rollers so as to sweep the wrongly aligned or nested preforms and to eject them directly towards a lateral discharge orifice of the hopper.

Abstract: A device for positioning separately supplied elongate meat products, comprises two driven endless aligning conveyors running with the transport paths substantially parallel to each other, which transport paths together form a support for the meat products for transporting such that, at the position where the transport paths are mutually adjacent, they are in a lower position than when at a greater mutual distance. This structure also relates to a method for positioning separately supplied elongate meat products.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for rapidly orienting and feeding generally cylindrical, elongated objects having a maximum transverse diameter Y. First and second conveying belts are provided having input and output ends for cooperatively conveying such objects toward a downstream processing line. The belts are mounted so that their respective conveying surfaces are movable in a common parallel direction. The facing edges of the conveying surfaces of these belts are spaced from one another to define a uniform gap between them of a dimension less than Y. The conveying surfaces are upwardly sloped away from the gap, to define a zone converging downwardly in the direction of the gap. Object input means deposit the initially unoriented elongated objects at the input ends of the conveying belts. The belts are moved in a common direction, but at different speeds.

Abstract: A fastening element 30 is fed from a feed track 64 through a feed chamber, formed by interfacing closed channels 132 and 160, to a junction point located in a feed passage 84, formed by two communicating feed openings 86 and 88. An inclined surface 82, located between the feed chamber and the junction point, is inclined downward from the feed chamber to the junction point. A ram 105, located movably in the feed chamber, transfers the fastening element 30 from the feed track 64 to the inclined surface 82, where the fastening element moves down the inclined surface to the junction point. Upon the application of a pressure medium into the feed passage 84, selectively in either of two directions, the fastening element 30 can be directed toward a fastening device 104.

Abstract: Apparatus for, and method of, conveying tandem thermoplastic containers from a molding machine to a tail removal station, the tandem containers being positioned with their axes extending horizontally but possibly out of parallel with one another and with their ends possibly out of alignment with one another. The apparatus includes a spaced pair of synchronously driven endless conveyors that convey tandem containers to a downwardly inclined ramp, the ramp having a wedge on its tandem supporting surface that engages outwardly projecting beads on each of the containers of the tandem to orient the tandems with their ends parallel, the downwardly inclined ramp also serving to orient the tandems with their axes parallel.

Abstract: A fastening element 30 is fed from a feed track 64 through a feed chamber, formed by interfacing closed channels 132 and 160, to a junction point located in a feed passage 84, formed by two communicating feed openings 86 and 88. An inclined surface 82, located between the feed chamber and the junction point, is inclined downward from the feed chamber to the junction point. A ram 105, located movably in the feed chamber, transfers the fastening element 30 from the feed track 64 to the inclined surface 82, where the fastening element moves down the inclined surface to the junction point. Upon the application of a pressure medium into the feed passage 84, selectively in either of two directions, the fastening element 30 can be directed toward a fastening device 104.

Abstract: In order to feed tablet vessels in with simple and low-cost construction, there is provided a vessel holder member (76) having fork-like support portions (78). The vessel holder member (76) is capable of linearly reciprocating between a vessel supporting position and a tablet receiving position. At the vessel supporting position, the vessel holder member (76) receives a tablet vessel (11) fed from a vessel feed section 3 and a flange of the tablet vessel (11) is supported by the support portions (78). At a tablet receiving position, the tablets fed from the tablet feed section (2) are contained in the tablet vessel (11).

Abstract: A separating device for connection to a rotating magazine. The separating device transports rivets (3) via a conveyor duct (6) formed by three limiting faces. The first limiting face is a base plate (5), the second limiting face is a right-hand guide segment (1) and the third limiting face is a left-hand guide segment (2). At least one of the guide segments is designed and arranged to be excited and oscillate to avoid jamming of rivets (3) in the conveyor duct (6).

Abstract: A generally cylindrically shaped feeder having a feeder housing defining a cavity bounded by an inner surface having a plurality of spiral grooves spaced apart from each other and extending from a front end to a back end of the inner surface of the feeder housing. A generally cone shaped end cap is dimensioned such that a cone base engages the back end of said cylindrically shaped feeder housing. The cap has an inner surface which faces the cavity and forms a plurality of grooves cut into the inner surface which extend radially from a cone top to the cone base and are spaced about a periphery of the end cap to align with corresponding spiral grooves in the feeder housing. A drive rotates the cylindrically shaped feeder about an axis of rotation to move parts along the pluralite of spiral grooves to the pluralite of radial grooves for delivery to a discharge zone at the top of said cone.

Abstract: An extruded brush plate for a conveyor is provided with slots preformed in the brush plate for attachment of supports, vibrators and peripheral walls. The brush plates are then cut to the desired length, by making only a single cut across the width of the brush plates. T-slots for attaching the vibrators and the bolt slots for attaching the peripheral walls are provided along the entire length of the brush plate such that when the brush plate is cut to any length, the vibrators may be attached where desired. Also the bolt slots will be accessible from the end of the brush plate, so that the peripheral walls may be attached. The T-slots are designed to accept T-nuts. The vibrator is attached to an interface plate. The interface plate includes threaded holes to accept a bolt. The T-nut is threaded onto the bolt and the T-nut is slipped into the T-slot so that the vibrator is attached to the brush plate.

Abstract: A part sorting and aligning apparatus for picks parts out of a hopper, aligns the parts and conveys them to another location. The apparatus includes a tilted rotary wheel next to the hopper. Multiple arrays of hooks or pickup members are mounted for rotation on the wheel. The bottom of the hopper has a sliding plate which has slots through which the hooks travel as the hooks move upwardly into and through the hopper. Each pickup member has a weight bar which hangs from the pickup member. As the wheel rotates, the hooks engage and pick up parts as the hooks move upwardly through the hopper. The weight bar maintains a desired orientation of the hooks and the parts as the wheel rotates. Pair of rails pick the parts off of the hooks, so that the parts can be transferred to another location.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a crimping machine having a hopper assembly for receiving loose bulk quantities of elongated components and supplying them aligned end-to-end and in random orientation to a feeder device. The feeder device receives the components in an inlet chute and feeds each of the components one-at-time having a desired orientation to an outlet chute. The feeder device includes a rotatable disk having a central chamber therein adapted to receive each of the components, and includes a releasable gate. The disk and gate function independently, as required, between the inlet chute and the outlet chute, to sequentially release (or invert and release) each of the components one-at-a-time and having a desired orientation for utilization, to a crimping assembly.

Abstract: A vibratory bowl is provided having a number of predetermined attachment locations defined therein. A number of parts orientation units define an equal number of attachment locations which align with the attachment locations of the vibratory bowl. Any of the number of parts orientation units can thus be detachably mounted to a single vibratory bowl having a common configuration. An air supply unit is further provided for directing pressurized air across a parts orientation channel of a parts orientation unit attached to the vibratory bowl. The angle of air supply relative to the parts orientation channel, as well as the height above the parts orientation channel at which the air is supplied, are each adjustable.

Abstract: A vibratory bowl defines a number of predetermined attachment locations in one side thereof adjacent to a parts discharge port defined by the bowl. One or more support plates are detachably mounted to the bowl side in a vertical position via the number of predetermined attachment locations, and each of the one or more support plates defines a horizontal support edge having a parts receiving unit detachably mounted thereto. The parts receiving unit is supported by the one or more support plates and has one end thereof positioned adjacent to the parts discharge port of the bowl and an opposite end extending away from the discharge port. The parts receiving unit may be configured to orient parts supplied by the vibratory bowl according to a desired orientation. A parts confining member is detachably mounted to one of the one or more support plates and is operable to confine parts within the parts receiving unit.

Abstract: An adapter feeding apparatus which is capable of feeding adapters (1) in a predetermined position to the next process step at a stable and constant pace is disclosed.