Abstract: A parts feeder is shown illustrated with a rotary type feeder having circular side walls in which the parts are picked up by a feed nozzle on the periphery of the side walls, and delivered to an induction ring assembly in which jets pneumatically transfer the parts into a feed tube which elevates the parts and delivers the same to a dispenser, the latter serving to drop the same onto counter rotating rollers for orientation. The counter rotating rollers are positioned over the rotary feeder so that parts not accepted by the same are dropped into the feeder for recirculation.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing a supply of flat, elongated sticks stacked in an aligned, face-to-face relationship has a double ended guideway formed by rigid guide members closely spaced from the edges of the sticks. The guideway has a first vertical section with a stick input means formed at its lower end, a second vertical section with a stick output means formed at its lower end, and a curved section that connects the upper ends of the vertical sections. Sticks received at the input end advance through the guideway to the output end where they are fed to a high speed stick inserter. In one form, the curved upper section moves vertically with respect to the vertical sections to provide a variable volume storage that maintains a substantially constant pressure within the stack. Devices that sense the vertical position of the upper section, and hence the quantity of stored sticks, control an automatic stick stacking apparatus that adds sticks to the guideway.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding articles in serial order includes a disc and a surrounding rim, whose axes are tilted with respect to one another, and which are rotated concentrically in a common direction. The disc, and preferably also the rim, have upper working surfaces which are non-planar upwardly-convex surfaces of revolution, e.g. segments of cones having upwardly-directed apices. The disc is spaced below the rim to form a reservoir for a bulk supply of articles to be fed, except at one peripheral location where the disc reaches the elevation of the rim, constituting a transfer station. The inclination of the disc surface decreases from the reservoir to the transfer station. Articles placed on the disc are distributed by gravitational action against the inside of the rim, and elevated by the rotation of the disc to the transfer station, where they roll or slide by centrifugal force onto the rim.

Abstract: A hopper is constructed to control the rapid, uniform and constant flow of disk-like objects, more particularly bottle crowns. The hopper employs a reservoir and means for feeding the disk-like objects to the reservoir. An electric eye responsive to the level of disk-like objects in the reservoir is connected to the feeding means to maintain a predetermined level of the objects in the reservoir. A conveyor is positioned to adjoin the reservoir to remove and deliver the disk-like objects at a uniform rate to the point of use of the hoppered objects.If the disk-like objects are asymmetrical, an orienting device is provided between the feeding means and the reservoir to orient the objects as they are delivered to the reservoir.

Abstract: High speed method for translating particulate articles, such as hollow containers or solid elongated articles from random or in-line array to side by side packaged arrays as a matrix of parallel rows. The articles are advanced upon a horizontal plane, then centrifugally accelerated outwardly at varying radial lengths, according to the desired side by side spacing. The articles are supported at the desired radial length, then dropped into the desired side by side array. Thus, the articles may be first advanced upon a horizontal plane into the inner ends of a series of radially outwardly extending chutes. The chutes are rotated such that centrifugal forces carry the articles to the outer ends of said chutes where they are supported until selectively dropped from the outer ends of the chutes into a side by side array as a matrix of parallel rows.