Abstract: The present invention provides an aligning apparatus for glass substrate to properly align the glass substrate during transfer along a conveyor. The aligning apparatus includes a plurality of rollers, at least a pair of directional beams, at least a pair of positioning devices, a piston, and a detecting device. The detecting device is used to detect whether there is an offset of the glass substrate during the transportation, and the piston will be triggered once an offset is found and determined. The piston will move the positioning device such that a portion of the positioning device which extends to the roller will push the offset glass substrate so as to bring the glass substrate back to the correct position. The present invention also discloses a method to conduct the alignment of the glass substrate. By the disclosure of the present invention, the glass substrate transferred on the rollers can be automatically adjusted and aligned once an offset is found.

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 removal apparatus for the removal of containers from a stream of containers moved in groups or lanes of a container treatment plant. The removal apparatus utilizes a suction cup of a handling element to remove containers in an undesired orientation out of a stream of containers.

Abstract: A tubular food product launching system and method for interacting with a product loading head is disclosed. The system includes a pick belt, positioned alongside product carrying intermediate belts. The pick belt supplies additional product to a product inspector or vision equipped robot cell to replace defective or missing product observed on the intermediate belt(s) with replacement product from the pick belt. The overall system speed, and pick belt speed, can be adjusted to accommodate varying product post-launcher fill-rates in accord with the nature of the product and the abilities and speed of the robot cell and/or product inspector, so as to reliably assure 100% final fill-rate as product is fed to the loading head.

Abstract: A food handling system having a positioning system and method. The positioning system includes a main conveying surface, an electronic sensor, a controller and a robot. The main conveying surface is configured to move food products. The electronic sensor is configured to capture position data about one or more food products on the main conveying surface within a sensor range of the sensor. The controller is signal-connected to the electronic sensor and the robot. The controller is configured to receive data captured by the sensor and is configured to instruct the robot to move a food product to a destination position. The robot is configured to reposition one or more food products on the conveying surface according to instructions sent by the controller. The robot has a longitudinal and a lateral working range. The food product may include formed meat patties or sliced meat or cheese products.

Abstract: The web conveyor conveys a continuous web for L size or M size. The conveyor includes a guide mechanism changing a passing position of a side edge portion of the web, a detection mechanism detecting the passing position of the edge portion of the web, and a drive mechanism moving the guide mechanism and the detection mechanism together in the cross direction of the web according to the L size or M size, by being in contact with a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion of the web. The drive mechanism moves the guide mechanism and the detection mechanism by an equal traveling distance in the cross direction of the web.

Abstract: A tubular food product launching system and method for interacting with a product loading head is disclosed. The system includes a pick belt, positioned alongside product carrying intermediate belts. The pick belt supplies additional product to a product inspector or vision equipped robot cell to replace defective or missing product observed on the intermediate belt(s) with replacement product from the pick belt. The overall system speed, and pick belt speed, can be adjusted to accommodate varying product post-launcher fill-rates in accord with the nature of the product and the abilities and speed of the robot cell and/or product inspector, so as to reliably assure 100% final fill-rate as product is fed to the loading head.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating cylindrical bodies, such as parisons for hollow bodies, which have at least one protuberance at a first end, has a pair of parallel guide elements between which the cylindrical bodies can be erected in that the cylindrical bodies hang on the guide elements in each case by way of the protuberance. The separating arrangement here has a detecting arrangement with an ejector by means of which cylindrical bodies which, although hanging on the guide elements by way of the protuberance, do not have their second end hanging downwards or are nested one inside the other, are detected and ejected from the individual row.

Abstract: A feeder for robots, automation systems, comprising a frame that has a supporting bed for the parts to be fed and optical cameras for recognizing the parts to be fed, the supporting bed being rotatable about a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the parts to be fed.

Abstract: A system (1), a method and an operating unit (62) for the creation of mixed layers for pallets (81, 82, 83, 84) are disclosed. A storage (10) is provided in which at least two different pack types are stored on a plurality of pallets (81, 82, 83, 84), including a plurality of layers of homogenous packs. The packs are intermediately stored in a plurality of individual, parallel conveyors (301, 302, . . . 30N) in a homogenous state. Based on the input of a user (5) on a touch panel (62), the packs are supplied to a grouping table (50) via a supply conveyor (40) in a predetermined sequence. A controller (60) is associated with the system (1) so that, in the grouping table (50), individual different pack types are allocated to the predefined positions of the different pack types as a function of predefined positions of the different pack types in a layer pattern (14) of a layer (24) of a production pallet (12).

Abstract: A transport system for substrates, the transport system having at least one belt for receiving the substrates thereon, retainers disposed at spaced distances on the belt, the spaced distances being at least as wide as a width of the substrates, the retainers rising to an elevation above the belt that is sufficient to stop the substrates from sliding when the substrates bump against the retainers, a motor for moving the belt, and a motion controller for providing acceleration and deceleration of the belt, thereby aligning the substrates against the retainers through successive acceleration and deceleration cycles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for inspecting and orienting manufactured articles. The apparatus and method include recirculating inspected articles to the inspection station for additional processing.

Abstract: Station for feeding bottles (1) to devices (20) for handling said bottles comprising: a realignment centrifuge (100) fed randomly with the bottles (1) and having a tangential outlet (113); movement devices (12, 13, 14) extending in the same longitudinal direction (X-X) of advancing movement, in which: the bottles (1) leaving the realignment centrifuge (100) lie horizontally in the longitudinal direction (X-X) of advancing movement and the realignment centrifuge is operated at an operating speed (Vc) greater than the speed (Vp) of the filling machine, and said movement devices (12, 13) comprise at least a first device (12) operated at a first speed (V12) less than the speed (Vc) of the realignment centrifuge (100); a third device (14) operated at a speed (V14) greater than the speed (V12) of the first movement device (V12), depending on and synchronized with the speed (Vp) of the filling machine (40).

Abstract: A workpiece feeder includes a forward stage that separates base plates from one another and adjusts the base plates into correct top-bottom orientation and a pickup unit that individually holds the separated and adjusted base plates and horizontally aligns the held base plate into correct planar posture while feeding the held base plate to a destination. The forward stage includes a stage body that has a stage surface on which the base plates are placed and is movably supported so as to shift the stage surface and a drive unit that applies separate impacts to the stage body so that the stage body moves to apply a bouncing force and a shifting force orthogonal to the bouncing force due to the separate impacts to the base plates.

Abstract: A transport system for substrates, the transport system having at least one belt for receiving the substrates thereon, retainers disposed at spaced distances on the belt, the spaced distances being at least as wide as a width of the substrates, the retainers rising to an elevation above the belt that is sufficient to stop the substrates from sliding when the substrates bump against the retainers, a motor for moving the belt, and a motion controller for providing asymmetric acceleration and deceleration of the belt, such that the belt decelerates faster than the belt accelerates, thereby aligning the substrates against the retainers through successive acceleration and deceleration cycles.

Abstract: The present improvement is useful for orienting and feeding blow molded preforms. Cylindrical preforms have larger threaded necks with larger encircling discs below the necks. A pair of belts is provided for conveying objects downstream. The gap between these belts is less than the disc diameter of the preforms. An output means is provided for receiving the oriented objects and directing them downstream. A means is provided at the output of the belts for deflecting any improperly oriented preforms back for recirculation. An increase in the feed rate of the preforms is achieved by an agitation means such as a blower positioned to disperse the interlocked assemblages and help move the preforms down into the belts.

Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus 100 includes a substrate transport means 4 having a transport base 5 and a plurality of retention arms 41a-41e for retaining substrates W, an optical sensor 62 that is used to define a horizontal optical axis L, an elevator means 52 for moving the transport base 5 up and down, and a height detection means 54 for detecting the height of the transport base 5 relative to the optical axis L. In accordance with a light-reception/no-light-reception detection result fed from the optical sensor 62 and the height of the transport base 5, a judgment means 72a of a control section 7 judges whether the postures of the retention arms 41a-41e relative to the horizontal plane are normal. When the judgment means 72a judges that the postures of the retention arms 41a-41e relative to the horizontal plane are abnormal, the control section 7 exercises control to stop the substrate transport means 4.

Abstract: An article conveying robot system capable of effectively containing an article in a container conveyed by a conveyor by using a robot. A container detecting part measures the distribution of shading of an image of each containing cell based on a detection result of the container, detects the containing state of each cell, and stores the detection result of each cell. An information managing part of a controller of an upstream side robot receives information from a container detecting part of a controller of a downstream side robot, and then generates containing cell information. An information managing part checks the cell information to be processed, and then transmits the cell information to a task executing part only when an article is not located in the corresponding cell. Task executing part controls the robot so as to locate an article in the selected cell based on the cell information.

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: An apparatus comprises a moving arrangement for supporting and moving along an advance direction a plurality of articles; and orienting units movable along said advance direction and such as to contact and orient the articles by displacing angularly each article around an axis thereof so as to position the articles in respective output positions, the orienting units being such as to maintain the articles in contact with the moving arrangement, a detector being provided for each orienting unit for detecting an initial angular position of a respective article associated thereto and for promoting a desired angular displacement such that each article is brought in the output position.

Abstract: An assembly for rotating a selected article in a stream of like articles without rotating an adjacent article, each of the articles moving along a conveying surface of a conveyor belt with a speed of forward travel and comprising an axis which is normal to the conveying surface. The assembly comprises a mechanism for revolving the selected article around the axis without changing between the axis of the revolving selected article and the axis of the non-revolving adjacent article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for loading containers (12), which are provided with a neck (20), on an transporting element (14) comprising a member (28) for individually grasping the container (12) by the neck thereof (20), wherein said grasping member (28) is used for catching or releasing the neck (20) of a preform (12) by the vertical slide of said preform (12) with respect to said grasping member (28) during an operation for catching or releasing it, the loading device (10) comprises means (42, 68) for selectively ejecting the container (12) from the transporting element (14) during the releasing operation and the inventive device is characterised in that said means for ejecting the container (12) is provided with container (12) reception means (42) which are used for catching the container (12) prior to the releasing operation and are mounted in a horizontally movable manner in such a way that the trajectory of the receiving means (42) are vertically superimposed and synchronised with the trajec

Abstract: The device for individual conveying of elongate objects comprises: a hopper from which batches of elongate articles are extracted, which fall onto an initial tract of a conveyor belt provided with transversal seatings. The belt draws the articles towards a strongly-inclined ascending tract, along which all the articles which are not correctly inserted in the seatings are unloading. After the ascending tract thereof follows an intermediate tract, superiorly of which a television camera is arranged to monitor the transversal seatings as they transit, in order to detect each of the a presence or absence of articles and if there should be any present, a number, position and orientation thereof.

Abstract: A device for moving articles between positions at time intervals. The device includes at least two gates disposed sequentially in the direction of travel of the article which can controllably be opened and closed. Upstream of each gate there is formed a temporary holding area for the article. The two gates (1; 2; 3; 4) are controllable by means of one single drive motor (8) or actuator. The two gates (1; 2; 3; 4) are each associated with one control element (5; 6) rotatable about a respective axis of rotation, and the drive motor or actuator (8) is adapted to move one actuating element (7) that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and which is common to the respective control elements (5; 6) of the two gates.

Abstract: A case positioner system for orienting a case from an upended position to a corrected position has a frame, a conveyor translatably arranged relative to said frame, a bottom projection positioned below said conveyor, an abutment member interconnected to said frame and positioned above said conveyor, and a translator connected to the bottom projection. The bottom projection is movable between an upward position and a downward position. The abutment member is movable between an upper position and a lower position. The translator moves the bottom projection upstream on said conveyor when said abutment member is in said lower position.

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: Intelligent product feed systems and product transport methods are presented in which an array of variable speed transport modules is positioned between an input transport mechanism and an output mechanism, with the individual module speeds being controlled by a model-based planner to transport products delivered in an uncertain fashion by the input transport mechanism to the output mechanism synchronized and oriented according to a specified product configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moving arrangement for supporting and moving along an advance direction a plurality of articles; and orienting units movable along said advance direction and such as to contact and orient the articles by displacing angularly each article around an axis thereof so as to position the articles in respective output positions, the orienting units being such as to maintain the articles in contact with the moving arrangement, a detector being provided for each orienting unit for detecting an initial angular position of a respective article associated thereto and for promoting a desired angular displacement such that each article is brought in the output position.

Abstract: A system of feeding preforms, particularly designed to feed a machine for blow molding receptacles such as bottles, includes, from upstream to downstream in the longitudinal direction of travel of the preforms, at least one sorting and alignment device whose top end is fed with jumbled preforms and whose bottom end includes at least two alignment rollers, substantially parallel and rotated about their respective axis, designed to position the preforms in conveyor rails, inclined relative to the horizontal, to convey them to the machine, and of the type including, upstream of the machine, a filtering element to discard the incorrectly positioned performs. The filtering element includes, downstream of the alignment rollers, at least one selective discarding device of the preforms called lying preforms, that is to say those that arrive from the rollers on the rails lying down and oriented longitudinally and that extend generally longitudinally on the conveyor rails.

Abstract: Method and device for pivoting plate elements travelling on a flat conveyor, the conveyor being provided with two parallel left and right paths, respective driven at different speeds. The paths define between them a separating line on which the plate elements are rotated around an axis by application of each of the two path speeds on a left portion of the plate element and on a right portion of the plate element defined by the separating line. The method involves maintaining the barycenter of each plate element sufficiently close to the separating line to extend the effect of the rotation applied to these plate elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to automated handling of baggage objects of variable sizes, shapes and consistencies, including baggage in an airport. The invention involves measuring at least length in two directions of the objects while supported on conveyor means, turning selected objects in an angle according to a selection in response to the measured lengths in relation to a predetermined value, and transferring objects to a storage device to collect a plurality of objects, and preferably while said objects are supported on conveyor means. The selection in response to at least one predetermined value provides one basis for deciding whether to turn the objects before the objects are transferred to the storage device. This facilitates automatic transfer of baggage objects without manual intervention.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding small parts to be identified and picked up and a part handling apparatus and sorting apparatus including the feeding device. The feeding device includes a picking platform, a dispenser arranged to dispense the parts to the picking platform, and a return member. The feeding device also includes a decelerator connected to the dispenser to reduce the speed of the part to be fed to the dispenser.

Abstract: A system for selectively turning elongated pieces comprising a conveyor transversally receiving and carrying in a sequence the elongated pieces along a transfer course. A piece turning apparatus is mounted next to the conveyor and has a number of turning hands in which an end of one of the elongated pieces is engageable so that rotation of the turning hand effects a turning of the one of the elongated pieces about a longitudinal axis thereof when the end of the one of the elongated pieces is engaged in the turning hand. Carriages are distributively mounted onto the endless driving body and supporting respectively the turning hands so that each one of the turning hands successively moves into an engaging position with an end of one of the elongated pieces as the one of the elongated pieces is carried by the conveyor. A cam body drives the turning hands in rotation.

Abstract: A system for rotating products (11) having an irregular geometrical shape, comprising a rotation system comprising a retaining part with a plurality of individually movable rods (2) adapted to engage a product (11), thereby at least substantially fixing the product (11) relatively to the retaining part, and means (8) for rotating the retaining part, and thereby a fixed product (11), with an individually determined rotational angle about a rotational axis. The system further comprises means for determining the orientation of each product (11) upon arrival at the system. A control system controls the rotation system and is operatively connected to the determining means. The control system is adapted to determine the rotational angle based on the orientation, and to control the rotation system accordingly. In a method for rotating a product the orientation of the product is determined, e.g. by means of a vision based technique, and the product is rotated to a desired orientation.

Abstract: The disengagement system is for use at an output of a centrifugal disc singulator in which elongated articles exit lengthwise following a substantially tangential output path at a periphery of a rotary disc. The rotary disc has a vertical rotation axis and an upper article-receiving area surrounded by a peripheral wall. The disengagement system comprises a lateral conveyor positioned at a radially-outer side of the output, and a vertically-extending fulcrum member positioned at a radially-inner side of the output. In use, a misaligned article is moved out of the output by the disengagement system and back to the article-receiving area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for article conveyance and orientation are provided. The system includes first and second conveyors, which convey articles in a conveying direction. The system also includes first and second sensors, which detect articles conveyed on the first and second conveyors, and which are coupled to a controller. The controller, based on information received from the first and second sensors, controls the first and second conveyors to orient the articles so that the articles have a size in a direction of conveyance which is greater than a size in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance. The controller also controls the system to prevent another article from being conveyed onto the first and second conveyors when an article is being oriented.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles having a beverage bottle orientation and positioning arrangement. The orientation and positioning arrangement includes the use of cameras, and an evaluation and control system. A first camera is configured and disposed to scan the external or peripheral surface of the beverage bottle over a wide area. A second camera is configured and disposed to scan the external or peripheral surface of the beverage bottle over a narrower area than the first camera.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for feeding articles to and removing articles from an automatic washer, for example, a tunnel-type automatic washer are provided. The systems and methods employ conveyors, for example, belt conveyors, gantry-type conveyors, and shuttle-type conveyors, for handling and conveying articles to or from a washer or an intermediate station. The conveyors utilize arm-end tooling adapted to grasp and manipulate at least one article, but may typically handle a plurality of articles. The arm-end tooling includes cylinder-based actuators that can be operated and controlled by an automated control system. The handling of the articles can be assisted by using a vision-based system. Aspects of the invention are suited for use in handling laboratory equipment, for example, utensils and containers, such as, laboratory animal cages, in particular, cage tops and cage bottoms.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing container assemblies having a cup-shaped insert disposed within a container. A container conveyor conveys a series of open containers along a lower horizontal path, the container conveyor bringing each container in turn to a stop at an insertion station. A generally vertical inserter chute is disposed above the insertion station for conducting a generally cup-shaped insert through the inserter and out the lower end into a container positioned at the insertion station. An insert conveyor disposed above the inserter conveys a series of inserts along an upper horizontal path, each insert on the insert conveyor having an open end and an opposite closed end and being in an inverted orientation such that the open end of the insert faces downward. A lead one of the inserts being conveyed on the insert conveyor tips over and falls into the inserter in an upright orientation.

Abstract: An object handling apparatus capable of securely holding an object and precisely transferring the held object from a first place to a second place without need of a specific jig for positioning the object on a pallet. A position of an object supplied to the first place is detected by a first visual sensor to obtain a compensation amount for compensating a position displacement of the supplied object. The object is held by a robot hand having position/orientation compensated using the compensation amount and position/orientation of the object held by the robot hand relative to the robot hand is detected by a second visual sensor. A displacement of the position/orientation of the object held by the robot hand from a reference position/orientation is compensated based on the detected position/orientation of the object on the robot hand, so that the object held by the robot hand is precisely moved to have a predetermined position/orientation to be transferred to the second place.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating articles includes providing a bed having at least one conveying surface. The conveying surface is adapted to move articles in a direction of conveyance from an upstream end to a downstream end of the bed. At least one sensor is provided to determine the position of any articles on the bed. Selected articles are moved in the direction of conveyance at a speed that is generally higher than articles traveling on the bed that have yet to be manipulated and the articles are selectively rotated.

Abstract: A system for transferring electrical components. The system may comprise a plurality of electrical components. Each of the components may include leads and a physically asymmetric fiducial marker that structurally alters a physical appearance of the components. The system may also comprise a nest having a nest surface that defines a recess shaped to receive any one of the plurality of components only when the component is oriented such that the component's fiducial marker is received by a corresponding asymmetric portion of the nest surface. In addition, the system may comprise a component feed assembly for feeding the plurality of components to the nest, a component alignment detector, and a pick and place machine having a movable pick head. The movable pick head may have access to the component feed assembly and the recess of the nest.

Abstract: An automatic tray repositioning device for automatically repositioning a tray that has been misaligned onto a rotating shelf. The invention includes a placement arm set partially within a housing, the arm connected to a vertically mounted motor. The motor is in communication with a detection system, such that when a portion of a tray is detected, the motor acts to immediately move the placement arm toward the tray, to gently reposition the tray back onto the shelf on which it sits.

Abstract: A device for aligning parcel goods, in particular bottle crates, boxes, trays or the like during conveyance, and having a conveyor device with a roller conveyor belt having two-part freely rotatable rollers, whereby the conveyance takes place in a plane of conveyance and the alignment takes place in an alignment area situated at least partially in the plane of transport, with a plurality of manipulation units that can be operated in a controlled manner and are situated above and/or below the roller chains in the alignment area. The manipulation units are able to alter the speed and/or the direction of rotation of the rollers for rotation of a parcel about an axis perpendicular to the plane of transport, with at least one preferably optical recognition device which detects the aligned position of the parcel and a control device which controls the process of alignment of the parcel.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating articles includes providing a bed having at least one conveying surface. The conveying surface is adapted to move articles in a direction of conveyance from an upstream end to a downstream end of the bed. At least one sensor is provided to determine the position of any articles on the bed. Selected articles are moved in the direction of conveyance at a speed that is generally higher than articles traveling on the bed that have yet to be manipulated and the articles are selectively rotated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for aligning rolls in a feed system. The rolls are spaced at regular intervals so as to enable incorrectly positioned rolls to be turned to the correct feed position, when necessary, while they are moving forward in a feed direction. The correct position of each roll is identified by detecting the longitudinal hole through the center of the roll.

Abstract: A reject bottle detection and ejection apparatus has a plurality of sensors positioned along the length of a belt conveyor that senses whether a bottle conveyed by the conveyor is positioned in an upright orientation, in an inverted orientation, in a sideways orientation, in a slanted orientation, or whether the bottle is damaged, and an air jet nozzle positioned downstream of the plurality of sensors that selectively emits a jet of air at a bottle conveyed past the air jet that has been sensed to be not in the upright orientation or to be damaged, thus removing the bottle from the conveyor.

Abstract: A component transfer apparatus is provided. The component transfer apparatus comprises a pick and place machine having a component feed source and a movable pick head having access to the component feed source. A component alignment detector is directed toward the component feed source and a controller is coupled to the component alignment detector. The controller contains instructions which, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to compare the detected component alignment with a known component alignment.

Abstract: A system and method for packaging oriented containers in a container carrier wherein a plurality of containers are fed into an orienter device for orienting a container in a desired rotational position prior to placement in a container carrier. The orienter device includes a reader for determining an initial orientation of the container; a control system for determining a shortest rotational distance from the initial orientation to the desired rotational position between a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction; and a chuck engaged with the container and in communication with the control system for rotating the container the shortest rotational distance to the desired rotational position.

Abstract: A component discharge portion is provided on the upper end of a non-end delivery belt having an upward inclined delivery surface and driven and rotated, and a component delivery path is connected to a component discharge portion and delivers a component in a predetermined attitude to the lower end side of the delivery belt. A component transfer portion for receiving the component delivered along the delivery path and for transferring the component to a next step with a constant directivity is provided on the downstream end side of the component delivery path. Furthermore, there is formed a component return path for coupling the downstream end of the component delivery path and the lower end delivery surface of the delivery belt. The component delivered in an abnormal attitude other than the component transferred to the next step is automatically returned to the delivery belt through the component return path.