For Shaped Item Fitting Outline Of Shaped Passageway Patents (Class 198/390)
  • Patent number: 11153998
    Abstract: A tape curving attachments is provided with tape curving sections configured to curve component storage tape wound around a reel, the component storage tape being carrier tape with cavities in which components are stored and top tape attached to an upper surface of the carrier tape, such that the top tape side of the component storage tape has a smaller radius of curvature than the carrier tape side of the component storage tape, the tape curving attachment being attached to a feeder that pitch feeds the component storage tape from the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Imanishi, Yukinori Takada
  • Patent number: 10370135
    Abstract: The object counter is provided which includes a conveyor belt having regularly spaced object retaining posts for retaining single objects on the belt in a lane for transport in single file manner from a lower feed end to an upper discharge end. Each lane has lateral guide members for helping objects to settle in the lane between retaining posts during transport on the conveyor belt between the lower feed end and the upper discharge end. A hopper is arranged at the lower feed end of the conveyor belt for providing a quantity of objects to the conveyor belt. A deflector is arranged over the lane before the upper discharge end for removing objects from the lane that settle on top of objects settled in the lane between said retaining posts. An item detector is arranged at the upper discharge end for detecting the passage or discharge of individual objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: 3605329 CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Robin Lapointe
  • Patent number: 9919880
    Abstract: An electronic component transportation device includes a rotation path and a first magnetic force generator. The rotation path extends along a transportation direction of an electronic component with a rectangular or substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The rotation path is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction. The rotation path includes a first surface and a second surface intersecting with each other. The first magnetic force generator is arranged at a lateral side of the rotation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Kakuho, Naoto Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150027851
    Abstract: A distributor unit, suitable to distribute tablets, comprises an aligner channel cooperating with a transfer channel having an entrance zone. Feed means are associated to said transfer channel in order to work on the tablets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Ivano Baroncini
  • Patent number: 8607960
    Abstract: An egg orientation mechanism orients eggs within an egg handling machine including a plurality of randomly arranged eggs on a first egg conveying mechanism. A lifter mechanism located on the first egg conveying mechanism raises each egg away from the egg conveying mechanism to off balance and rotate the egg so that the egg is oriented to with larger end of egg leading as egg is released into a second egg conveying mechanism. A clamshell egg receiver includes a front wall, a rear wall and egg receiving space formed between front wall and the rear wall. Either one of front wall or rear wall pivots about a pivot point located below a centerline of the egg receiving space. A method of releasing an egg includes holding an egg by an egg holder, rotating the egg holder and releasing the egg at an angle greater or less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sanovo Technology Group
    Inventors: George N. Bliss, Keith H. Pietila
  • Patent number: 8573382
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and arranging bakery products such as hot dog buns or breadsticks. The products are delivered with their length dimensions at a variety of angular orientations and some products inverted. An aligning conveyor receives misaligned products on adjacent belts or other drive members which are driven at differential speeds to rotate the products to the proper orientation. Inverted products are conveyed against guide rails which are arranged to interact with the curved edges on the tops of the buns to roll the inverted products over. The products are conveyed in discrete lanes to properly organize them for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Bakery Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Bastasch, John T. McCormick
  • Patent number: 8312982
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and arranging bakery products such as hot dog buns or breadsticks. The products are delivered with their length dimensions at a variety of angular orientations and some products inverted. An aligning conveyor receives misaligned products on adjacent belts or other drive members which are driven at differential speeds to rotate the products to the proper orientation. Inverted products are conveyed against guide rails which are arranged to interact with the curved edges on the tops of the buns to roll the inverted products over. The products are conveyed in discrete lanes to properly organize them for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: United Bakery Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Bastasch, John T. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20120111696
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and arranging bakery products such as hot dog buns or breadsticks. The products are delivered with their length dimensions at a variety of angular orientations and some products inverted. An aligning conveyor receives misaligned products on adjacent belts or other drive members which are driven at differential speeds to rotate the products to the proper orientation. Inverted products are conveyed against guide rails which are arranged to interact with the curved edges on the tops of the buns to roll the inverted products over. The products are conveyed in discrete lanes to properly organize them for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Paul M. Bastasch, John T. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20110180369
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and arranging bakery products such as hot dog buns or breadsticks. The products are delivered with their length dimensions at a variety of angular orientations and some products inverted. An aligning conveyor receives misaligned products on adjacent belts or other drive members which are driven at differential speeds to rotate the products to the proper orientation. Inverted products are conveyed against guide rails which are arranged to interact with the curved edges on the tops of the buns to roll the inverted products over. The products are conveyed in discrete lanes to properly organize them for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Paul M. BASTASCH, John T. McCormick
  • Patent number: 7921981
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and arranging bakery products such as hot dog buns or breadsticks. The products are delivered with their length dimensions at a variety of angular orientations and some products inverted. An aligning conveyor receives misaligned products on adjacent belts or other drive members which are driven at differential speeds to rotate the products to the proper orientation. Inverted products are conveyed against guide rails which are arranged to interact with the curved edges on the tops of the buns to roll the inverted products over. The products are conveyed in discrete lanes to properly organize them for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: United Bakery Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Bastasch, John T. McCormick
  • Patent number: 7815033
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Markus Feierabend, Stefan Lippert, Hugo Walldorf
  • Patent number: 7798307
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ejot GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Dubiel, Ralf Zeyda
  • Publication number: 20100078294
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and arranging bakery products such as hot dog buns or breadsticks. The products are delivered with their length dimensions at a variety of angular orientations and some products inverted. An aligning conveyor receives misaligned products on adjacent belts or other drive members which are driven at differential speeds to rotate the products to the proper orientation. Inverted products are conveyed against guide rails which are arranged to interact with the curved edges on the tops of the buns to roll the inverted products over. The products are conveyed in discrete lanes to properly organize them for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Paul M. BASTASCH, John T. MCCORMICK
  • Publication number: 20090120765
    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 conduit. 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Jaime Marti Sala
  • Patent number: 6733228
    Abstract: A part transporting apparatus comprises: a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards. Provided to this arrangement are: a stopper which operates so as to open and close in the width direction of the guiding groove, and hold the second part from the front of the row of parts being transported on the upper plane of the transporting member; and a shutter for opening and closing at the tip of the guiding groove, so as to cover the space above the first part in the row so as to prevent the part from flying out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Takahashi, Nihei Kaishita, Akira Nemoto
  • Patent number: 6675680
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Seitz, James E. Gerdeman
  • Patent number: 6619467
    Abstract: A feeder for feeding electronic chip components includes a hopper having a discharge opening at its bottom and having and an aligning path forming member for agitating electronic chip components. The aligning path forming member agitates the electronic chip components by its reciprocating movement within the discharge opening of the hopper. The reciprocating stroke of the aligning path forming member can be varied, and the stroke is controlled to be shorter when the number of electronic chip components remaining in the hopper is reduced. This allows the electronic chip components to be guided more reliably into an aligning path formed by the aligning path forming member, regardless of the number of electronic chip components remaining in the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoyuki Nakagawa, Kenichi Fukuda, Isamu Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 6443669
    Abstract: An electronic component feeding apparatus for conveying aligned electronic components includes a conveying tube, a cylinder for sucking air from an end of the tube, and a movable stopper plate for stopping the conveyed, aligned electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Saito
  • Patent number: 6338608
    Abstract: A part transporting apparatus comprises a guiding groove for lining up parts in one row and guiding the parts; a transporting member which is provided at the base of the guiding groove and transports the parts in a forward direction by itself moving forwards and backwards along the groove; and a driving means for reciprocally driving the transporting member in the forward and backward directions; wherein the transporting member is advanced slowly and retracted rapidly, so as to transport the parts forwards. Provided to this arrangement are: a stopper which operates so as to open and close in the width direction of the guiding groove, and hold the second part from the front of the row of parts being transported on the upper plane of the transporting member; and a shutter for opening and closing at the tip of the guiding groove, so as to cover the space above the first part in the row so as to prevent the part from flying out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Takahashi, Nihei Kaishita, Akira Nemoto
  • Patent number: 6336569
    Abstract: An apparatus for arranging and supplying a plurality of objects, the apparatus including a hopper which stores the objects in bulk and which has a funnelform bottom surface at least a portion of which extends in a reference direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, a chute which includes an end portion extending, from a lowest portion of the hopper, substantially parallel to the reference direction, and which causes the objects arranged in an array to be moved, a discharging-promoting member which is provided in a vicinity of the end portion of the chute, which is movable substantially parallel to the reference direction, and which promotes discharging of the objects from the hopper to the chute while arranging the objects into the array, and a drive device which reciprocates, relative to the chute, the discharging-promoting member between an advanced position where an end portion of the discharging-promoting member projects into the hopper and a retracted position away from the advanced position
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kondo, Takeshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 6116840
    Abstract: A component supply apparatus includes a rectangular cross-sectional component passage which can house a plurality of chip components in a longitudinal direction, and at a first side surface of the tip of this component passage a rectangular-shaped component discharge opening is formed, and at a second side surface opposing the first side surface of the tip of the component passage a rectangular-shaped pusher insertion opening is formed. Inserting the pusher into the component passage through the pusher insertion opening enables a forefront electronic component to be pushed by the pusher and be discharged outside from the component discharge opening in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Saito, Taro Yasuda, Kazushige Koyama, Jinichi Ohkawara, Atsuo Kamimura
  • Patent number: 6032783
    Abstract: A chip component feeding apparatus translates chip components accommodated in bulk along a passage in alignment and feeds the foremost chip component to a predetermined take-out position. A curved passage having at its passage center a predetermined radius of curvature is disposed between the bore of a fixed pipe (vertical passage) and linear passages (transverse passage) used for the transport of components. An opening for the discharge of chip components is provided in the vicinity of the transverse passage of the curved passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Saito, Taro Yasuda
  • Patent number: 5853077
    Abstract: A rotary puck conveying mechanism and method will qualify articles and place them within a puck or article handling device. This puck has a centrally disposed opening for receiving the articles. The mechanism includes a centrifugal feeder with a rotatable rim having a plurality of openings. Pucks are positioned beneath the openings in order to receive the articles. The pucks will be fed to the centrifugal feeder and aligned with the openings in the rim. The pucks will simultaneously move with these aligned openings beneath the rim. When the articles remaining on the rim are swept off of this rim, the pucks or at least a piece of the pucks can then be detached and conveyed away from the centrifugal feeder. The pucks are designed to maintain orientation of an article held therein even when the pucks are inverted. The pucks can also have a movable insert for exposing and orienting articles held therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Hoppmann Corporation
    Inventor: Werner H. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 5564551
    Abstract: A rotary puck conveying mechanism and method will qualify articles and place them within a puck. This puck has a centrally disposed opening for receiving the articles. The mechanism includes a centrifugal feeder for supply a plurality of articles to an outer peripheral rim of the feeder. The rim is rotatable and has a plurality of openings. Pucks are provided beneath the openings in order-to receive the articles. Different devices are provided for agitating articles on the rim to cause them to fall through the openings into the pucks. If the articles eventually do not fall through the openings, a jet or other suitable device is provided for removing the articles from the rim. The pucks will be fed to the centrifugal feeder and aligned with the openings in the rim. The pucks will simultaneously move with these aligned openings beneath the rim. When the articles remaining on the rim are swept off of this rim, the pucks can then be detached and conveyed away from the centrifugal feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Hoppmann Corporation
    Inventor: Werner H. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 5513739
    Abstract: A method is provided for feeding objects (15) from a magazine (11, 14) having a set of objects (12, 15) therein, through a feeder path (4) to a correct "catch position" (6) in which the objects (15) are placed in a predetermined correct alignment. One or more objects (15) at a time are let down through a feeding assembly (14, 16) to a feeder path (4) and are brought to pass a barrier (17) of mechanical or other type which is mounted interiorly of a passageway (4a) of the feeder path (4). The feeder passageway (4a) has a cross sectional shape and a cross sectional size which substantially coincides with the cross sectional shape and cross sectional size of the object. An object (15) having the correct positioning will be let down into the passageway (4a) of the feeder path (4), whereas objects (15), at the inlet of the feeder path (4) including the barrier (17), which have an incorrect positioning, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: IPS Mechatronics AB
    Inventor: Magnus Berg
  • Patent number: 5492226
    Abstract: This invention relates to a bead supporter for supporting a cathode assembly of an electron gun for a cathode-ray tube and fixing the assembly to a bead glass. This invention also relates to an apparatus for sorting and transporting the bead supporters in a properly oriented posture to an assembly line. The bead supporter includes a plurality of positioning projections formed on the lower side of its central portion, and cut-out portions formed in its upper edge portion opposite to the projections to permit the center of gravity of the supporter to vary depending upon its normal and reverse positions. The apparatus includes a feeding surface and a horizontal sorting surface for transferring the bead supporters. The width of the horizontal sorting surface is less than the width of the feeding surface such that each supporter having cut-out portions formed therein falls from the sorting surface when reversely positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheol H. Hwang, Ki B. Son
  • Patent number: 5205395
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vibration-generated movement and manipulation, such as transportation, orientation, loading or sorting of materials are provided. At least one electromagnetic coil is disposed to act in a horizontal plane, and another electromagnetic coil may be disposed to act in a vertical plane, imparting two-dimensional vibration to a generally horizontal vibratory surface. Apparatus vibrationally transports parts across a surface while concurrently orienting and sorting them. Reversibility of transport direction is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Bruno, Mark J. Brooks, Quang Nguyen, David M. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5101955
    Abstract: Orienting air-wound coils for placement by an automatic pick-and-place machine has been a problem for small electronic coils. Extracting damaged or deformed coils on a one-by-one basis is expensive and time-consuming. A feeder for air-wound coils uses a rod (101), a track (103), and a two-segment guide (105, 107) and has built-in mechanisms for rejecting damaged coils while feeding undamaged coils (111, 113) in the proper orientation to a pick-and-place machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Masterton
  • Patent number: 4995157
    Abstract: A chip component handling and loading system for orienting and transporting a plurality of generally rectangular chip components includes a storage and feed location which, by means of vibratory action, randomly shakes out the chip components into or onto a series of twenty-five substantially parallel, generally rectangular channels. These channels are sized and arranged to receive the chip components in only one proper orientation. Any chip component which is not properly oriented either will not fit in the channel, or will fit in the channel as to its width and not height and downstream from the entry into the channels is a brush-back station where any improperly oriented chip component is either brushed away from the top surface of the channels or is brushed into a proper orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Reel-Tech Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas R. Hall
  • Patent number: 4960195
    Abstract: A component-orienting apparatus provided with a plurality of parallel orienting passages for aligning a plurality of components such as rectangular-parallelopipedic electronic component chips in the same orientation as each other. Each of the orienting passages comprises a receiving portion provided with a first space defined by an upwardly-taperingly-opening first inner peripheral surface and an aligning passage having a cylindrical second inner peripheral surface defining a second space that communicates with the lower end of the first space. The aligning passage is selected to have sectional geometry which rejects the longitudinal dimension of each component but crosswisely and perpendicularly orients the component in prescribed directions respectively. The first inner peripheral surface is continuous with the second inner peripheral surface through a rounded face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Yamaguchi, Masatoshi Arishiro
  • Patent number: 4898270
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for aligning and transporting containers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a hopper having dividers with the dividers having top surfaces which decline from one end wall of the hopper at different angles. A conveyor is provided and positioned underneath at least a portion of the hopper for transporting containers aligned by the hopper. The containers are transported along the conveyor toward a movable deflector means for deflecting any containers which are not properly aligned. Containers which are in proper alignment pass underneath and drop away from the deflector means in uniform alignment and are further processed by a detecting or scanning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: Larry K. Hopkins, Gregory J. Fischer, David G. Green
  • Patent number: 4854455
    Abstract: The machine according to the invention comprises a channel which is:constituted by two shaped panels giving it an open bottomed V-shaped section and which are associated with relative spacing adjustment members,provided with spraying conduits and overlapping plates closing off its top part,and associated with an endless conveyor comprising thrust bars brought successively by the conveyor in a transversal position in the channel passage section.The machine according to the invention finds an application in the sorting and grading of fish of the Salmonidae family.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Societe a Responsabilite Limitee: Establissements Faivre
    Inventor: Claude Faivre
  • Patent number: 4539879
    Abstract: Cucumber spears are rapidly and reliably packed into and around the inner periphery of a jar with the same cut side of each of the spears facing outwardly. The spears are formed by pushing a cucumber lengthwise through a set of knife blades, and the resultant spears are individually pushed through twisted channels by flexible rods which deliver them onto a horizontal platform with their cut sides down and all facing the same way. Two conveyor belts are recessed in the top of the platform, so that by lowering the platform the set of spears is deposited on the conveyor belts and conveyed downstream to a pair of adjacent platens each having grooves aligned with the conveyor belts. A fence across the conveyor arrests a first set of spears above the first platen, which is then raised to lift the first set of spears from the conveyor, whereupon a second set of spears accumulate above the second platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Campbell Soup Company
    Inventor: Walter W. Egee
  • Patent number: 4265072
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging tall, narrow receptacles with small, plate-like items of like size and shape. The apparatus has at least one counting and charging unit having a plurality of axially aligned counting wheels having a plurality of pockets along their periphery for receiving individual items and a funnel arranged underneath the counting wheels for receiving items discharged by the counting wheels and for directing them into a receptacle arranged below the funnel. There are further provided a plurality of orienting channels arranged between the funnel and each counting wheel. Each orienting channel is arranged to receive items from the associated counting wheel and to orient the items such that upon discharge of each item from the orienting channels into the funnel, the main plane of each item is parallel to the main plane of the receptacle situated underneath the funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Inventor: Alwin Egli
  • Patent number: 4062462
    Abstract: An article, such as a beam-lead semiconductor device, is precisely oriented by placing it on the end of a tubular member which is centered in a cavity having the form of inverted, truncated, pyramid. The smallest cross section of the cavity is smaller than the smallest article to be positioned. The member slides vertically within the cavity and is resiliently supported by a vacuum chamber for movement therewith. The chamber is lowered with a vertical oscillatory motion, while a slight vacuum is applied, to lower the article into the cavity and engage it intermittently with the walls of the cavity. This orients and centers the article in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Western Electric Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Lyle J. Hentz, Willard G. Otto
  • Patent number: 3982979
    Abstract: A plurality of small articles, such as beam-lead semiconductor devices, are precisely positioned by placing them on the ends of tubular members which are centered in cavities having the form of inverted, truncated, pyramids. The smallest cross section of the cavities is smaller than the smallest article to be positioned. The members slide vertically within the cavities and are resiliently supported by a vacuum chamber for movement therewith. The chamber is lowered with a vertical oscillatory motion, while a slight vacuum is applied, to lower the articles into the cavities and engage them intermittently with the walls of the cavity. This orients and centers the articles in the cavities. A substrate, having sites to which the articles are to be bonded, is coated with a liquefiable substance to render the sites adherent. The substrate is then positioned over the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1973
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Western Electric Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lyle J. Hentz, Willard G. Otto
  • Patent number: RE37405
    Abstract: A parts feeder for conveying a succession of parts in a common posture, includes: a rotary drum rotatable about its substantially horizontal axis of rotation and having on its inner circumferential wall surface a plurality of radial plates circumferentially spaced at predetermined distances; a chute in the form of an elongated plate substantially horizontally extending from an inside to an outside of the rotary drum through an outlet and having a guide portion along its upper edge; a vibrator supporting the chute for vibrating the chute longitudinally; a remover disposed adjacent to the guide portion for removing any of the parts if it is abnormal in posture while being conveyed on the guide portion of the chute; and the guide portion having a parts-supporting cross-sectional shape gradually varying from an inner end of the chute outwardly toward the outlet of the rotary drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsumi Shirodera