Abstract: An arrangement for disinfecting can lids (32) and for closing cans includes a feed device (12) which feeds a can closing unit (24). Receiving portions (30) for individual can lids (32) are arranged in the feed device (12). The feed device (12) is situated in the feed region of the can closing unit (24). At least one sterilization device (18, 20), for can lids (32) received individually in the feed device (12), is arranged in a conveying region of the feed device.

Abstract: A conveyor system is described for use with a scanning apparatus (49) for the scanning of objects (43), such as bottles. The system comprises a transverse conveyor having a conveyor surface (45); a plurality of object support modules (41), each object support module (41) comprising a lower surface that sits upon the conveyor surface (45) of the conveyor and an upper part in which an object receiving recessed portion is defined, wherein the object receiving recessed portion defines an elongate recess having a constant transverse profile. A scanning system comprising the conveyor system in combination with an object scanner and a method of scanning embodying the principles of such a scanner are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for texture hallucination with a large upscaling factor are described. Embodiments of the systems and methods may receive an input image and a reference image, extract an upscaled feature map from the input image, match the input image to a portion of the reference image, wherein a resolution of the reference image is higher than a resolution of the input image, concatenate the upscaled feature map with a reference feature map corresponding to the portion of the reference image to produce a concatenated feature map, and generate a reconstructed image based on the concatenated feature map using a machine learning model trained with a texture loss and a degradation loss, wherein the texture loss is based on a high frequency band filter, and the degradation loss is based on a downscaled version of the reconstructed image.

Abstract: Bead feeding unit (1) on a production machine in the tobacco industry, provided with a unit of supply channels (4) feeding individual bead (2) streams from a store (2A) to holding pockets (14) situated at the outlets of the supply channels (4), a transferring unit (13) comprising two guiding discs (5,6) situated coaxially and movable feeding means (8) adapted to direct the beads to receiving channels (18) of the transferring unit (13). The unit (1) is characterised in that the transferring unit (13) has at least one cleaning element (25) adapted to clean the holding pockets (14).

Abstract: A compact and cleanable food grade feeder device and system for quickly orienting, aligning, and feeding single rolls, sandwiches, odd shaped edibles and foodstuff in order to assemble and make ready for packaging the foodstuff. The feeder device and system includes a centrifugal feeder bowl with a food grade ABS plastic, stainless steel or equal durable material cone cap and a rigid disk base plate, a group of selection and flip, separate channels for good food and return food, a movable support structure with wheels, and a system to drive the conveyor(s) wherein the food grade feeder device and system organizes and aligns a foodstuff so that the organized foodstuff items can be transferred to other machinery or humans to further process and package the items.

Abstract: Transfer wheel (1) for transferring objects (40, 41) comprises at least a seat module (3). The seat module comprises a seat (2) located at the peripheral face of the transfer wheel and adapted for accommodating an object on the seat. The at least one seat module is a resilient seat module, wherein a position of the seat of the seat module is adaptable in radial direction of the transfer wheel. Also provided is a method for transferring objects.

Abstract: Articles are continuously supplied to a robot by control circulation speed. In a supply control device for controlling a circulation device that causes an article to circulate in a system that includes the circulation device, and a robot that retrieves the article during circulation with the circulation device, the supply control device includes: a detection unit that detects the article circulating with the circulation device, and a position of the article; a measurement unit that measures a number of the articles in a predetermined region on the circulation device, based on detection results of the detection unit; and a control unit that controls a speed of circulation of the circulation device according to the number of the articles in the predetermined region measured by the measurement unit.

Abstract: A tablet supply apparatus includes: a base frame; a rotary plate rotatably installed on the base frame to outwardly position a tablet by centrifugal force, and inclinedly positioned to have a top dead center point and a bottom dead center point; a transfer plate positioned to surround the rotary plate, rotated with the rotary plate, and having an inclined surface outwardly and downwardly inclined on the same level as that of the top dead center point of the rotary plate, in order to receive the tablet from the top dead center point of the rotary plate; and a guide unit disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer plate, the guide unit allowing the tablet, positioned and transferred on the inclined surface of the transfer plate, to be discharged toward the rotary plate of the inspection unit by centrifugal force and a sliding movement.

Abstract: A device and method for aligning preforms in a row and righting same, the method being intended for use with axisymmetric preforms having an annular supporting face. The method includes a first step of discharging the preforms in bulk onto a rotating horizontal platen; a second step of aligning the preforms against a fixed peripheral rail by way of the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the rotating platen; a third step of successively righting the aligned preforms by tilting the preform bodies, performed under the annular supporting face. During the second alignment step, the main axis of the preforms is oriented essentially tangentially to the direction of movement.

Abstract: An article feed system for aligning and singulating incoming articles includes a rotatable upper rim surface and an article delivery device that delivers articles received by the article delivery device to the upper rim surface. A drive system is operatively connected to the disk assembly that rotates the bowl assembly and the assemblies rotate at different speeds but in the same direction. A guide wall extends upwardly above the upper rim surface that guides the articles travelling along the upper rim surface toward an exit opening in the guide wall. A vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor is at the exit opening in the guide wall. The vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor includes a moving article engaging surface that is exposed to the exit opening in the guide wall for receiving the articles when they exit the exit opening.

Abstract: A feed unit, for example for feeding components to smoking article assembly apparatus, includes a rotary device having one or more channels (7) adapted to receive components, one on top of another, and one or more pushers (21) associated with each channel. The feed unit also has a track (14) to receive components from outlets of the one or more channels (7) and the rotary device is configured to rotate with respect to the track (14) so that components pass through the channels (7) and are pushed along the track by the pushers (21) for output from the feed unit.

Abstract: An article feed system for aligning and singulating incoming articles includes a rotatable upper rim surface and an article delivery device that delivers articles received by the article delivery device to the upper rim surface. A drive system is operatively connected to the outer bowl that rotates the outer bowl. A guide wall extends upwardly above the upper rim surface that guides the articles travelling along the upper rim surface toward an exit opening in the guide wall. A vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor is at the exit opening in the guide wall. The vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor includes a moving article engaging surface that is exposed to the exit opening in the guide wall for receiving the articles when they exit the exit opening.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of providing a medication cassette, which in addition to being capable of smooth automated dispensing despite being capable of storing large amounts of medication, allows accurate ascertainment of whether the medication has run out or is jammed. This medication cassette is provided with: a cylindrical body in which the medication is stored; a first rotating body capable of reciprocating movement inside the cylindrical body in the direction of the shaft center thereof; a second rotating body disposed on the outer circumference of the cylindrical body; a conveyed medication-detecting element for detecting medication that has been conveyed by the second rotating body; and a control for moving the first rotating body upward when a medication detection signal is not output from the conveyed medication-detecting element.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning containers houses containers (5) upright in lower and upper compartment sections (12, 13) vertically aligned with one another on a periphery of a conveyor device (10) and has a transfer wheel (31) extracting containers (5) from both lower and upper compartments (12, 13) on two levels and an intercalation wheel (32) extracting containers from the upper level of the transfer wheel (31), dropping them to a lower level over the course of one turn, and placing them again on the lower level of the transfer wheel (31) in an intercalated position between the containers (5) previously transferred to the lower level, and all the containers (5) are transferred from the lower level of the transfer wheel (31) to an output conveyor (8).

Abstract: A long-bar handling apparatus that delivers a desired size and shape of long-bar quickly and efficiently for shearing, bending, or further processing. The long-bar is loaded in slots in multiple rotating disk plates. A slot opening and closing mechanism, such as a pivot arm, is utilized to prevent loaded long-bar from falling out of slots during portions of rotation. The slot opening and closing mechanism opens on the top portion of rotation for loading and removing the long-bar for processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating rod-like or spherical agitating elements in an automatic analyzer allows quick and error-resistant separation and automated charging of cuvettes with the agitating elements. For this purpose, it comprises a lever provided with a bore, wherein the bore is configured such that it can accommodate one of the agitating elements. The bore, in a first position of the lever, is arranged beneath an entry opening and, in a second position of the lever, is arranged above an exit opening, wherein the lever, in the second position, closes the entry opening.

Abstract: A method of accelerating an item with a rotating platform. The rotating platform has a center point, a perimeter, and a radius from the center point to the perimeter. The method delivers the item to a center area of the rotating platform by delivering the item to a first radial distance on the rotating platform; the item has a first speed at the center area and tangential to the first radial distance. Also, while the rotating platform is rotating, the method moves the item, in an apparatus-controlled orderly path, from the center area to a point relative to the rotating platform that is adjacent a perimeter of the rotating platform and that is located at a second radial distance greater than the first radial distance; the item has a second speed tangential to the second radial distance and the second speed is greater than the first speed. Finally, while the rotating platform is rotating, the method moves the item, from the point, to a location beyond the perimeter of the rotating platform.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting articles includes a bowl having a sidewall and angled relative to horizontal, a disc disposed in the bowl and rotatable relative to the bowl, the disc having a radius proximate its outer periphery defining a groove sized to receive one of the articles in a predetermined orientation, and a diverter for diverting canisters contained in the groove through an outlet in the sidewall of the bowl.

Abstract: A mass transit system. The system comprises a first platform for supporting a cargo compartment, a rotating platform having a center area, and a conveyor system for moving the cargo compartment from the first platform to the center area of the rotating platform, while the rotating platform is rotating. The system also includes apparatus for moving the cargo compartment from the center area of the rotating platform to a point relative to the rotating platform that is adjacent a perimeter of the rotating platform. Finally, the system may include apparatus for moving the cargo compartment from the center area to a point relative to the rotating platform that is adjacent a perimeter of the rotating platform.

Abstract: A centrifugal bowl parts feeder system with segmented tooling sections, the feeder system having segmented sections for a common centrifugal feeder bowl. The sections can be quickly and less expensively changed between various part sizes and configurations. With this system one can add and remove tooling segments (outside the bowl); securely and precisely locate the tooling segment with solid pins; maintain and use a tool RFID address to track specific parts and ranges of parts with a PLC Control as the bowl is modified; and harmonize the tooling segments and parts with RFID Tags tied to the PLC and the Tooling segments.

Abstract: A system for aligning items, such as bottles, includes a rotating plate and a diverter arm that extends outward over a top surface of the plate towards the plate edge. A rotating channel may surround the plate. In operation, bottles are dropped onto the plate and rotated by the plate against the arm. The distance between the top surface of the arm and the plate surface is such that the arm generally diverts the bottles outward and guides them into free gaps within the channel. The distance is also configured such that as bottles back-up, waiting for free channel gaps, the arm allows any buckling bottles to pass over and back onto the plate, rather than into the channel. The distance may also be configured such that the arm acts like a scoop. As bottles back-up behind the arm, the arm presses under the bottles along the arm and passes them over, relieving the pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting articles includes a bowl having a sidewall and angled relative to horizontal, a disc disposed in the bowl and rotatable relative to the bowl, the disc having a radius proximate its outer periphery defining a groove sized to receive one of the articles in a predetermined orientation, and a diverter for diverting canisters contained in the groove through an outlet in the sidewall of the bowl.

Abstract: The invention includes a machine for handling and unscrambling empty containers provided with a bottom and with an opening. The machine comprises a carousel rotating about an axis of rotation and is provided with a plurality of pockets. Each of the pockets is provided with a respective channel for descent of the containers through gravity towards a handling area below. The machine further comprises a carousel feeding device equipped with a detecting system which detects the orientation of the containers before the containers are unscrambled. A respective unscrambling station of the containers is provided for each pocket which is controlled on the basis of information supplied by the detecting system and designed to arrange said containers correctly unscrambled with said opening facing upwards.

Abstract: A destroying apparatus aims to destroy electronic elements with magnetic substance. The destroying apparatus includes a conveying unit and a destroying unit. The conveying unit includes a collection plane to hold a plurality of electronic elements, at least one picking arm spinning against the collection plane to form a conveying path, a barrier portion connecting to the collection plane to block the electronic elements on the conveying path, and a release passage corresponding to the barrier portion to allow the electronic elements to escape the conveying path. The picking arm includes a magnetic attraction portion to attract the magnetic substance on the conveying path. The destroying unit is located correspondingly to the release passage and includes a plurality of cutting elements and a cutting path between the cutting elements to communicate with the release passage.

Abstract: A spring feeder including a conveying path and a conveying portion including a conveying groove, the conveying groove having a width approximately equal to a width of the springs. The conveying path for feeding includes a first sorting and conveying portion and a second sorting and conveying portion, the first sorting and conveying portion, the second sorting and conveying portion, and the conveying portion for connection are linked consecutively from the container side. A width of the conveying groove of the second sorting and conveying portion is narrower than a width of the conveying groove of the first sorting and conveying portion and the width of the conveying groove of the second sorting and conveying portion is narrow enough to allow only one spring to be loaded in the conveying direction in the conveying groove of the second sorting and conveying portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding objects, such as used beverage containers, to a recording and/or sorting unit with which the objects are supplied on a receiver and forwarded one by one with a predetermined orientation on at least one feeding conveyor. The receiver has at least one receiving table with at least one rotating disk, at least one feeding conveyor that is positioned tangentially relative to the at least one rotating disk, and a peripheral barrier essentially circumscribing at least a portion of the at least one receiving table. A related method involves the objects being provided on the at least one rotating disk and rotated it to thereby be aligned along the peripheral barrier that circumscribes at least a portion of the at least rotating disk. The aligned objects are then forwarded on the at least one feeding conveyor that is tangentially arranged relative to a rotating disk.

Abstract: A system for aligning items, such as bottles, includes a rotating plate and a diverter arm that extends outward over a top surface of the plate towards the plate edge. A rotating channel may surround the plate. In operation, bottles are dropped onto the plate and rotated by the plate against the arm. The distance between the top surface of the arm and the plate surface is such that the arm generally diverts the bottles outward and guides them into free gaps within the channel. The distance is also configured such that as bottles back-up, waiting for free channel gaps, the arm allows any buckling bottles to pass over and back onto the plate, rather than into the channel. The distance may also be configured such that the arm acts like a scoop. As bottles back-up behind the arm, the arm presses under the bottles along the arm and passes them over, relieving the pressure.

Abstract: An article feed system for aligning and singulating incoming articles includes a rotatable upper rim surface and an article delivery device that delivers articles received by the article delivery device to the upper rim surface. A drive system is operatively connected to the outer bowl that rotates the outer bowl. A guide wall extends upwardly above the upper rim surface that guides the articles travelling along the upper rim surface toward an exit opening in the guide wall. A vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor is at the exit opening in the guide wall. The vertically oriented article engaging-type conveyor includes a moving article engaging surface that is exposed to the exit opening in the guide wall for receiving the articles when they exit the exit opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for orienting and aligning articles, of the type that comprises: orientation cavities which can move along a closed path and which are equipped with an upper inlet for loading articles and an open base through which the articles can pass, a plurality of aligning conduits which are disposed below the orientation cavities, means for temporarily supporting the articles in the orientation cavities and for dropping same into the conduits, and support and/or end stop elements in each of the orientation cavities. In addition, each of the cavities comprises several seats or housings at different positions for receiving a first support and/or end stop element of the aforementioned support and/or end stop elements and retaining means for retaining said first support and/or end stop element in any of the seats or housings.

Abstract: An automated spring detangler takes clumps of springs and whirls them around a rotating chamber. When they separate and fall to the bottom of the container, they are sucked into a delivery tube that continuously individually deposits them at an assembly line which may be remote from the detangler. Any non-separating clumps of springs are periodically ejected from the container.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for sorting vials and small containers. The apparatus comprises a plurality of compartments, arranged linearly, with two agitation conveyor belts and a sorting conveyor belt running along the bottom of the compartments. Each compartment includes a rotatable brush, driven by a drive motor and a diverter piece to direct vials into receptacles on the sorting conveyor belt. Vials falling within the receptacles are ejected into vertical alignment so that the vials are sorted and oriented properly for packaging.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for discharging elongate, coarse bulk products—such as bottle preforms—from a product hopper. The device includes a product hopper with a discharge opening and a rotating disc that is configured to receive bulk products passing through the discharge opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for positioning articles, comprising multiple unloading operations per cycle. The inventive apparatus comprises means for placing articles in housings that move along the length of a closed circuit provided with at least first and second drop sites through which the correctly oriented articles fall from each housing into a corresponding alignment conduit placed under and moving together with each housing. In addition compartments are positioned between the alignment conduits. According to the invention, transfer means transfer each article from a conduit to a compartment after said article has fallen through the first drop site, but before it has reached the second drop site. Subsequently, extraction means extract the correctly oriented and aligned articles from said conduits and compartments and transfer same to an outfeed conveyor.

Abstract: A feeder for robots, automation means and the like, comprising a frame that has a supporting bed for the parts to be fed and vision means for recognizing the parts to be fed, the supporting bed being connected to elements for rotation about a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the parts to be fed.

Abstract: Centrifugal device (1) of the rotating bowl type for supplying preforms (2b), which are horizontally-laid and aligned, from preforms (2a) received in bulk, comprising a rotating transport ring (3) delimited by a lateral guide (12) and a central rotary disc (6) in the same direction as the ring and with an axis (8) inclined relative to that of the ring; a mobile member (15) mounted on the lateral guide occupies, as a result of the actuating means (18), an operational position in which the preforms (2c) are forced to leave the ring; detection means (19) upstream of the mobile member detect an undesirable preform (2c) on the ring and control actuating means for bringing the mobile member into its operational position for the ejection of the undesirable preform.

Abstract: A system and a method for feeding a solid into a solid deposition system is described. Solid contained in a hopper is directed into a vibratory bowl. The frequency of the vibrations of the vibratory bowl can be modulated by a feedback system. The solid can then be entrained in a carrier gas which can flow to a distributor for deposition on a substrate.

Abstract: A rotary structure carries cavities with an upper inlet for receiving articles and an open bottom for dropping articles distributed along a closed circuit, and funnel-shaped conduits, each of which is located below a respective cavity to receive an article therefrom, a support plane for temporarily supporting the articles in the cavities and dropping them into the corresponding conduits in a site of the closed circuit, and support elements in each cavity to cooperate with parts of the article when the latter falls in order to confer to it a predetermined orientation inside the conduit. The cavities have their inlets in a perimetric ring surrounding a receptacle for the accumulation of the articles on a bottom formed by a rotating disk the peripheral edge of which reaches, upon rotating, a level above the perimetric ring.

Abstract: An aligning and feeding device capable of reliably aligning objects having a plane shape with an unequal ratio of length to width longitudinally and feeding them is provided. An aligning and feeding device has a rotary table 2 horizontally rotatable, drive means 3 for rotating the rotary table 2, a supply mechanism for supplying objects to be aligned onto the rotary table 2 and a guide mechanism 7 for defining a conveying path for the objects to be aligned conveyed by the rotary table 2. The guide mechanism 7 has an introduction guide 11, first pair of alignment guides 16, second pair of alignment guides 19 and pair of discharge guides 23 which each has a guide face and are disposed sequentially along the conveying path for the objects to be aligned.

Abstract: The device comprises: a chute, on which tubes arranged in a line and with a random orientation of closed and open heads thereof, fall by gravity towards a rotor activated by a motor with stepped 90° displacements. A head tube enters one of two housings realised in the rotor, one housing being perpendicular to the other housing and destined in turn to be aligned with the line of tubes. An endrun stop halts the head tube while the sensor organs ascertain whether a frontally-situated head of the head tube is open or closed. The motor activates the rotor in a direction or in another, according to a datum supplied by the sensor organs, such that the open head of the tube is always in a predetermined position. During rotation cam means act in cooperation with containing and guide means to raise the head tube into a predetermined collection position where it is picked up by handling organs. The raising enables a following tube to insert in the other housing, which has in the meantime become aligned with the chute.

Abstract: A singulating apparatus is therefore provided that utilizes a plurality of singulating cavities, each singulating cavity having a plurality of movable wall segments enabling the size and shape of the singulating cavities to be changed to correspond to the size and shape of the object being singulated.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for unscrambling and orienting plastic preforms (5) or any object having neck lips or collars larger than the body, the preforms or objects being introduced in bulk in a hopper (2) of such apparatus, the hopper being formed of a base (2b) and vertical walls (2c) for holding the performs. Within such hopper, an annular ring (3), rotating about an axis of rotation, has two or more rows of pockets (V) along corresponding concentric circumferences (C1, C2, . . . , Cn), and an annular object supporting surface (8), extending along an angular section under the circular ring up to the predetermined object exit point. Near the end of the support surface, bars are provided for receiving and orienting the objects from the overlying pockets (V); such bars (15) defining at least as many paths as the rows of pockets, i.e. circumferences (C1, C2, . . . Cn) of the upper ring.

Abstract: A component loader orients a component along its long-axis for transfer from a rotatable load plate. The load plate has an outer peripheral edge and an upper surface inclined from a horizontal plane. Slots on the upper surface terminate at the outer edge of the load plate and are sized to receive at least one elongate chip lying with its long axis perpendicular to the axis of the load plate and in parallel with radius of the load plate. An outer wall conforms to the curvature of the outer edge and is mounted adjacent thereto. A transfer slot extends axially from and into the upper surface of the load plate on outer ends of the slots and terminates at the outer edge of the load plate. Each transfer slot is shaped so that a chip descending therein from a slot has a ninety degree rotation about the long axis.

Abstract: A stand-alone parts accumulator that can be retrofit as a unitary add-on to an existing production line. The parts accumulator includes: (a) a generally linear conveyor; (b) a rotary table comprising a spiral barrier guide defining a path from an outer region of the table to an inner region of the table; (c) a connector attaching the linear conveyor to the rotary table; (d) a motor connected to rotate the rotary table; (e) an adjustable controller connected to the motor to control rotation of the table. A single bracket can be used to support the conveyor in either a left-hand or a right-hand configuration. The conveyor motor is positioned substantially within the footprint of the conveyor. The conveyor is narrow (between about 2 inches and about 8 inches).

Abstract: A bead feeder for serially delivering beads to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel connected to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl and a plurality of radially and outwardly extending bead passageways connected to rotate with the bowl and dimensioned to receive a single line of beads from the bowl. A plurality of discharge openings in the bead supply bowl is spaced around a lower portion thereof with the openings in alignment with the radially and outwardly extending passageways, and each of the passageways has an outer exit end. A stationary blocking ring is directly below the outer exit ends of the passageways for receiving the lowermost bead from the single line of beads in each passageway. A drop-off on the blocking ring allows the lowermost beads to drop away in a downward direction while a stationary bead retainer above the drop-off of the blocking ring retained the bead adjacent the outermost bead.

Abstract: A plastic bottle unscrambler, wherein the tables (8) for settling and supporting the containers (2) in the cradles (6) comprise a box-like chamber having a housing (9) under the surface supporting the container (2), in which vacuum is applied, and at least one row of holes (12) arranged over the surface supporting the container (2) in the direction of feed of the cradles (6); as vacuum is applied in the housing (9), a negative pressure is created around the container (2) contained in the overlying cradle (6) to draw it and keep it lying against the outer wall (6b) of the cradle (6).

Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a part feeding device such as a bowl feeder with a perimeter track, a second track extending around the perimeter track, a vision inspection system, and an ejector device. The second track has a transparent floor and the vision inspection system includes a controller and at least one camera operably connected to the controller for looking through the transparent floor to identify defective parts. The ejector device is operably connected to the controller for ejecting bad ones of the received parts, the ejector device being located downstream of the cameras. A related method is also provided. The arrangement is very compact, and has a very small foot print, but can operate at speed up to or more than 4000 pieces per minute.

Abstract: Centrifugal feeder device comprising an outer enclosure (2) which accommodates both a ring (3) mounted rotatably in the enclosure (2) and lying in an approximately horizontal plane, and a disc (4) mounted rotatably in said ring (3), the axis (5) of rotation of the disc (4) being inclined with respect to the axis (6) of rotation of the ring (3), the disc (4) and the ring (3) being U approximately tangent to each other in a transfer area (10) and being distant from each other in a loading area (8) which is at a lower level than the level of the transfer area (10), the ring (3) being surrounded by a lateral guide (15) which determines, with the inner edge of the ring (3), a useful width of the ring (3), said device being characterized in that the ring (3) supplies an outlet channel (13) whose inlet is situated above a part of useful width of the ring, in that the ring (3) is provided with approximately radial notches (3a), and in that the device comprises means for adjusting the useable width of the ring (3).

Abstract: A rotary structure carries cavities with an upper inlet for receiving articles and an open bottom for dropping articles distributed along a closed circuit, and funnel-shaped conduits, each of which is located below a respective cavity to receive an article therefrom, means for temporarily supporting the articles in the cavities and dropping them into the corresponding conduits in a site of the closed circuit, and support elements in each cavity to cooperate with parts of the article when the latter falls in order to confer to it a predetermined orientation inside the conduit. The cavities have their inlets in a perimetric ring surrounding a receptacle for the accumulation of the articles on a bottom formed by a rotating disk the peripheral edge of which reaches, upon rotating, a level above the perimetric ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting random oriented lightweight articles. The apparatus includes a wheel which rotates on an axis which is substantially horizontal. A plurality of alignment troughs is mounted on the interior of the wheel. Each of the alignment troughs has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the wheels horizontal axis. Each trough has a plurality of openings to allow air to pass through the trough and out of the wheel to hold lightweight articles in the troughs against the force of gravity. Each of the articles has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the troughs longitudinal axis. Rotation of the wheel selectively positions the troughs with a source of air under pressure to move the articles to the end of the respective trough. Each article at the end of its respective trough moves into an external receiver where the article is transferred to a vertical attitude having the bottom up. The article is rotated to a bottom down attitude.

Abstract: Plural receiving recesses are radially formed at the periphery of the disc-like rotating body. The rotating body is rotatably installed at the base, and the cylindrical cover is provided at outside of the periphery of the rotating body. From the receiving region of the receiving recess for receiving the waterproof seal to downstream side of the rotational direction of the rotating body, the first brush and the second brush are attached with the cover and at the further downstream side, the detection device and the take-out device are mounted on the base in order.