Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for producing a serial flow of balls comprising a ball feeding apparatus cooperating with means for rotating it about an axis. The apparatus comprises: (a) a container for receiving balls to be fed having a wall symmetrically disposed about said axis and a base fixed to and enclosing one end of this wall, the base having at least one outlet port extending therethrough and spaced along its periphery; and (b) at least one tubular member corresponding to the port, the member being fixed at one end to the base at the port, curving away from the base and towards the axis, for leading balls away from the container to an outlet at the other end of the tubular member. The tubular member has its outlet in closer proximity to the axis than the port on the container base.

Abstract: A track for conveying workpieces of predetermined size and shape is disclosed, in which a plurality of elongated filaments are aligned parallel to each other in a predetermined spatial relationship according to the size and shape of the workpieces, so that a passageway is created along the length of the track through which the workpieces may travel while they are captured by the filaments. The track includes a plurality of alignment frames spaced along the length of the filaments, the number of frames being dependent on the length of the filaments and the desired amount of curvature of the track along its length. Each alignment frame includes a plate with a plurality of arms adjustably mounted relative to the plate, each of the arms having at least one filament retaining channel on its periphery. The channel is shaped to slidably engage a corresponding one of the filaments along a portion of the filament's length while retaining the filament in the channel.

Abstract: A guide member is provided along the length of and between the two rollers of a classifying machine. The guide member is positioned in proximity to one of the rollers and the height of the guide member is fixed according to the shape and size of a workpiece so that the guide member supports one end of the workpiece when that end of the workpiece is in contact with the surface of the roller adjacent the guide member. When a workpiece is fed onto the rollers, one end of it is guided onto the guide member and buttressed against the surface of the adjacent roller. The other end of the workpiece is guided onto the surface of the other roller so that the workpiece is supported by the two rollers and the guide member in a stable configuration.