Abstract: Device for storing small articles and conveying them in an orientated manner, includes a storage container (10), a slope conveyor (12), and an orientation conveyor (20) which is arranged parallel to the slope conveyor and is provided with a defined segment (68) for returning excessive small articles or those which are not orientated to the feed area (32) of the slope conveyor (12). The slope conveyor is provided with the actual conveying segment (50), a deflecting segment (52) for receiving small articles which are forced out of the conveying segment (50) laterally, the small articles arriving back in the feed area (32) of the slope conveyor (12) on the deflecting segment (52). A pile-up of small articles arrives in the output area (40) of the slope conveyor (12) and a localized circulation is formed in this location which prevents the small articles from entering the orientation segment (64).

Abstract: A bowl feeder for separating damaged rolling bodies, for example nuclear fuel pellets, from sound ones includes a bowl (10) having a central conical section (12) for distributing the bodies radially outwardly towards a V-shaped circular channel (16) which ensures that the bodies are arranged end-to-end with the rolling axes orientated lengthwise of the channel. The channel (16) discharges the bodies one by one onto an outer sloping section (14) whose slope is sufficiently shallow to allow bodies with asymmetrical defects to resist rolling by virtue of the shift in their centres of gravity, while allowing defect free bodies to roll radially outwardly down the slope. A system of rails (22, 24, 26) with gaps (28, 30, 32) serves to separate defective bodies from those which are defect free, the latter being allowed to roll to the outer periphery of the bowl and eventually to a feed track (38) while the former are routed to a reject outlet (40).

Abstract: A tension springs separation device for use in a system for automatically mounting tension springs to a seat frame of a seat for an automobile. In the separation device, there are provided two narrow portions in a feed passage in a part feeder, each of which has a width permitting only one tension spring to pass therethrough in the longitudinal direction, and there are provided two projected ramp portions each of which has a level difference slightly larger than the outside of the tension spring, whereby a large number of tension springs loaded into the part feeder can be sent out one by one sequentially.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting and feeding axially elongated articles includes a feeder bowl with an article ramp surface terminating at the upper edge of the bowl and an annular article feeder ring, supported for rotation around an upper portion of the feeder bowl, has an upwardly facing article supporting surface contiguous with a terminal portion of the ramp surface to receive articles therefrom. A stationary ring is arranged within a recess in the article supporting surface of the article feeder ring and includes an upwardly facing article supporting surface substantially continuous and planar with the supporting surface of the feeder ring. A radial groove within the article supporting surface of the stationary ring accepts a guide conveyor which directs the articles tangentially away from the article feeder ring.

Abstract: A closure handling apparatus includes a cup-shaped receptacle having an opening in a cylindrical sidewall thereof, a rotary conical member within the receptacle and cooperative with a peripheral shelf member vertically spaced from the conical member to form a moving column of closures randomly oriented with their open ends up or down, a discriminating mechanism positioned within the receptacle for successively receiving the lead closure in the column and including an upstream and a downstream plate separated by a gap which is oriented transversely to the path of movement of the received closures, and a guide means downstream of the discriminating mechanism and outside of the receptacle for receiving from the discriminating mechanism closures having their open ends up. Closures having their open ends down are rejected by being deflected into the gap of the discriminating means and being cammed by the downstream plate back to the rotary conical member.

Abstract: A slider supplying apparatus, for use with a slide-fastener finishing machine, includes a rail for slidingly supporting a number of sliders in succession from a reservoir, with the opposite wings of each slider body astride of the rail and with a pull tab hanging from the slider body, and a chute defining a guide channel for passage therethrough of the slider bodies and having an upper end portion disposed adjacent to a free end portion of the rail for receiving the successive sliders therefrom. The upper end portion of the chute has a sloping edge engageable with the pull tab of each slider, as the latter slides forwardly on the free end portion of the rail, so as to raise the pull tab perpendicularly to the slider wing. The chute also has a guide slit coextensive with the guide channel for receiving the pull tab of each slider in such raised posture while the slider body is in the guide channel.

Abstract: A device for sorting cylindrical work pieces having an axial flat comprising a vibrating track for transporting the pieces and a gate mounted over and across the track. The gate has an inverted V-shaped cut-out on its lower edge. The height of the cut-out allows the pieces resting on their axial flat to go through the gate and to stop the ones resting on part of their periphery other than the flat. The invention is particularly useful for sorting video and audio styli.

Abstract: A micro-controller system for recognizing and identifying same or dissimilar parts being transferred along the track of a parts feeder, such as a bowl feeder, as well as checking the part orientation, and sorting the oriented parts in a predetermined repetitive sequence. Part recognition and sequencing is programmable upon user demand. Part recognition includes a part silhouette recognizer comprised of a set of light sensors coupled to an apertured grid located in a part feeding track. The silhouette image of each part to be sorted is first digitized and stored in the memory of the micro-controller in a position associated with an identifying part number. Also, the sequence of the various parts is stored in the memory of the micro-controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting and feeding axially elongated articles has a feeder bowl which includes a helical ramp surface which terminates at the upper edge of the bowl. An annular ring supported for rotation around an upper portion of the feeder bowl has an upwardly facing article supporting surface contiguous with a terminal portion of the ramp surface to receive articles therefrom. An annular baffle disposed above the ring and in coaxial alignment with it coacts with the ring to successively release articles from the ring to a guide conveyor which directs the articles tangentially away from the ring. Separate independent drive mechanisms are provided for vibrating the feeder bowl and rotating the ring to enable the feeder bowl to operate intermittently to discharge articles onto the ring which may operate continuously.

Abstract: A device for orientating components each comprising an axially elongated body extendng unequal distances on opposite sides of a flange. Different components may have the center of gravity on different sides of the flange.The device comprises a slotted track along which components are fed by vibration, the slot being too narrow to pass the flange. A component is supported on the track by its flange about which it can pivot while on the first portion 28 of the track. A second portion 29 of the track can be entered only by a component orientated perpendicularly of the track with its longer part extending into the slot.The orientating device includes two air jets 38 and 39, one overlying each part of the track and spaced apart along the track by rather more than the length of one component.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for feeding components by vibration, halting the feed of the components at an unload station, and picking-up the components by an unloader at the unload station in which the pick-up head and the means for stopping the feed of components is isolated from the vibrations of the feeder so that a uniform, accurate pick-up of components by the unloader is facilitated.

Abstract: A pair of feeder bowls are placed one above the other to simultaneously feed two different types of wire contacts onto two different tracks, and into separate alignment openings in a guide block. A pivotally mounted crimper is selectively moved to position the crimper head over the selected alignment opening. A rod extending from the crimper automatically positions a selector bar to actuate a plunger rod to move the selected contact into position to be crimped.

Abstract: A photoelectric control system for parts orientation for automatically checking attitudes of individual parts which are successively transferred along a parts feeding track of a parts feeder. The system includes at least one photoconductive detecting element mounted at one side of a predetermined detecting position on the feeding track and normally exposed to light incident thereon across the feeding track. The system includes an adaptable circuit means for activating a parts rejecting means to remove a part from the feeding track depending on the signals from the detecting elements. The system also includes a spacing means for spacing apart the parts which successively pass the detecting position.

Abstract: A vibration or shaking feeder combined with a drum which is rotated at high speed is disclosed. The vibration feeder includes a container having a helical ledge around the inner wall of the container for making articles in the container travel to rise up the helical ledge by vibratory motion of the container. The articles advanced up to the uppermost ledge are transferred to the outer drum rotated at high speed and fed to a next stage for further processing.

Abstract: An oscillating feeding apparatus has an oscillating cup and a storage hopper. A rotatably driven separating disc is at the foot of the storage hopper and, at the lower edge of the storage hopper, there is provided an annular output opening which is closed by a flexible annular curtain. A separating disc defines a spiral path so that the parts are urged individually through the annular curtain into the oscillating cup.

Abstract: A crimping apparatus or machine is disclosed in which electrical contacts of any one of a variety of conformations are fed from a receptacle or reservoir which holds a supply of contacts of selected conformation. The contacts are fed seriatim from the receptacle and are oriented and advanced to a crimping mechanism where each contact is selectively crimped to the end of an electrical cable. The receptacle includes a vibratory container which can be supplied with a plurality of contacts in a random array and the container is vibrated whereas the contacts are fed outwardly from the container along a helical path leading from the bottom of the container to an orienting mechanism. The orienting mechanism includes a downwardly inclined ramp connected to the container to be oscillated therewith so that the contacts move down the ramp one at a time due to vibration and gravity toward an advancing mechanism. The advancing mechanism is selectively actuatable and feeds the contacts seriatim to a crimping mechanism.

Abstract: A device is provided for automatically and continuously bending, crimping, and trimming the leads of electrical components having leads located on only one side of the component body. A vibrating supply container is provided which stores components and supplies the components to a conveyor. The conveyor transfers the components in sequence, one at a time adjacent one another in a groove to a transfer slot. A rotatable turning disc is provided adjacent the transfer slot which carries crimping and bending tools at the periphery thereof. The tools are arranged in pairs, with one of the tools being pivotally mouned at the carrier disc and the other being relatively fixedly mounted. The relatively fixedly mounted tool is disposed so as to grip a component in the transfer slot as the carrier is rotated thereby, while the pivotally mounted tool subsequently is pivoted into crimping engagement with the leads as the carrier continuously rotates.

Abstract: Apparatus for serially feeding and crimping a plurality of electrical contacts of the type having an open-ended, ferrule head portion adapted to receive an uninsulated end of an electrical wire and to be crimped into electrically conductive contact therewith. The contacts are serially discharged from an annular hopper and caused to attain an upright position. First and second tracks, mutually aligned and vertically spaced one from the other, are provided for transporting the electrical contacts, while in the upright position, from the hopper to a mechanism for feeding the contacts into a crimping chamber. The tracks have a downward inclination from the hopper which is insufficient to permit sliding movement of the contacts absent vibratory movement of the tracks, which movement is derived from a vibratory device connected to the hopper.

Abstract: In the packaging of dispensing spoons with bottles in containers, the spoons are oriented by means of protuberances on shank portions thereof extending normal to the shank in the same direction as the hollow side of the spoon bowl. The spoons are tilted longitudinally either while falling off the end of a conveyor or by a downwardly curved conveyor section. Properly oriented spoons are caught by a wire extending above the conveyor during the tilting to hang the spoons on the wire in a single orientation.

Abstract: The inventive orienter is used in the output path of a vibratory feeder for axially orienting uniform cylinders. It includes a tube having a side opening spaced from the input end and extending axially along a portion of the tube so cylinders that are not axially oriented fall through the side opening and down to a lower region of the feeder. The tube is rotationally oriented for positioning the lower edge of the side opening relative to a vertical plane through the axis of the tube so that the axially oriented cylinders move along the tube while overhanging the lower edge, and cylinders not axially oriented slide toward the bottom of the tube and fall over the lower edge and through the side opening. The tube preferably has a top opening at the input end, and the top opening preferably overlaps with the side opening so that relatively tall cylinders can enter the input end of the tube standing up and be rejected when they enter the side opening region.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for feeding different type items which are assembled for packaging as a single unit. A plurality of machines comprise the apparatus and each machine deposits items of one type in a row on a conveyor. The items are automatically fed from a trough in the machine and conveyed forward to the depositing position by vibrating V-grooved members. The members are designed to convey only items which are lined-up lengthwise and the thus aligned items are conveyed to a depositing means which properly positions the items in a given row across the conveyor.