Abstract: A method is disclosed for varying a spatial arrangement of randomly arranged, stacked or piled products, particularly to rearrange the products in a way that makes automated handling thereof possible. The method relies on a plurality of subsequent conveyors extending between a product input and a product output, wherein at least one of a conveyor speed a conveyor direction and a conveyor height of a conveyor of the plurality is offset from, respectively, the conveyor speed the conveyor direction, and the conveyor height of a subsequent conveyor in the plurality.

Abstract: Method for controlling the mechanical strength of a container, in particular made of glass, by a control apparatus which provides for actuating the control on a control zone extending along an entire circumferential perimeter of the outer surface of the container in which it provides for forwarding the container according to a forwarding direction, simultaneously rotating the container about the axis of symmetry thereof orthogonal to the forwarding direction, then controlling the container during the rotation, exerting a control pressure onto the control zone, the control being divided into several steps, in which in each step it is provided to exert the control pressure on a respective portion of the control zone and which provides that each single container is subjected in sequence to each step during the forwarding thereof and the rotation thereof.

Abstract: An object centering device configured to center a conveyed food container includes a restricting guide member having a pair of guide surfaces facing the food container and configured to be respectively in contact with at least a pair of opposed contact portions. The pair of guide surfaces of the restricting guide member includes front end portions that extend away from each other toward a downstream side of a conveyance direction of the food container. The front end portions are configured such that an angle formed by the pair of guide surfaces is changeable.

Abstract: A device for the orientation and feeding of closures includes a hopper for containing closures and a lifting device. The lifting device includes a component used for selecting the closures which are adapted to allow the feeding to an unloading region of the closures. The lifting device includes at least one transfer element to move along a movement direction between a loading region and an unloading region.

Abstract: A device and a method for infeeding products (10), wherein the device comprises at least one infeed (12) which infeeds products (10) to a transportation system (20), and comprises at least one sensor (28) for identifying products (10) which are backed up, wherein at least one ejection means (14, 16) for removing at least one product (10) which is located and backed up on the infeed (12) is provided.

Abstract: There is disclosed a transfer device for transferring sealed packages of a pourable food product, comprising a transporter for conveying packages along an at least partly curved path; transfer device also comprises a through opening which is arranged on one side of path and is adapted to allow the discharge of packages that have fallen along path.

Abstract: A screw supply apparatus includes a screw feeding unit, a screw transfer unit, and an escape unit. In the screw supply apparatus, the screw feeding unit includes a rotating drum having a horizontal rotating shaft. At a rear surface fixation bearing portion positioned on the rear surface side of the rotating drum, a screw input portion is provided for introducing screws into the rotating drum. Also, at a front surface fixation bearing portion positioned on the front surface side of the rotating drum, an opening is formed. The screw transfer unit includes a pair of transfer rails, which has a central groove and is inserted from the opening of the front surface fixation bearing portion into the rotating drum. In the vicinity of the outer circumference of the rotating drum, a drive cam is provided.

Abstract: A vibration feeding apparatus comprises an alignment track that is operative to receive electronic components and to arrange the electronic components in a desired orientation by vibrating and accelerating the electronic components located on the alignment track. An inspection station rejects electronic components that are not in the desired orientation onto a reject track for reintroduction to the alignment track. A spreading unit adjacent to the alignment track then transfers rejected electronic components from the reject track to the alignment track for arranging the electronic components in the desired orientation.

Abstract: A separating and conveying unit in which a device for sorting out incorrectly positioned cylindrical bodies, such as for hollow bodies, is arranged. The device has a roller sorter with rollers and air nozzles arranged laterally adjacent the rollers. Incorrectly positioned cylindrical bodies are blown out of the roller sorter by the air nozzles. The air nozzles can be pivoted and at least one of the air flows escaping from the air nozzles is directed at the cylindrical body at an angle of attack.

Abstract: A device and a method for orienting objects, in particular preforms for the manufacture of plastic containers, where the preforms are handed over to the entry side of an orientation section via a feeding conveyor, and a discharge means is provided which returns non-oriented preforms via a return feeder. For a constructively simple and quick return, the discharge means is connected directly with the entry side of the orientation section via the return conveyor.

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.

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: 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for sorting piece goods. The apparatus comprises a sorting arrangement which comprises two rollers arranged parallel to one another, wherein these rollers can rotate about their longitudinal direction and wherein the rollers are configured in such a way that the piece goods are transported along the rollers, and comprising a transport device which conveys the piece goods in the direction of the sorting arrangement. According to certain embodiments, arranged above the transport device are displacement devices which make contact with the piece goods at least temporarily and displace said piece goods relative to the transport device.

Abstract: The system comprises a first conveyor and singularization line for fruit and vegetable products defined within a V-slot made in a body and presenting two first motorised belts installed on opposite walls which define the slot near the bottom of the slot and two motorised belts installed on each of said walls on a higher level than said first belts; said first belts presenting a different speed from that of said second belts.

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.

Abstract: A device for conveying closures (D) made from metallic sheet in an essentially vertical direction from a collecting point (1) to a release point (6) is proposed. The closures are selected to be in correct position during conveying in order to release at the release point (6) only same-lying closures in a row of closures following one another closely. A conveyer belt (10) serves for the transport (v1, v2) of the closures. A sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3) serves for detecting wrong-position closures and for lateral discharge (q1, q2) of individual wrong-position closures. In the course of the conveyer belt (10) upstream of the sensor and discharge device, a bar (15) is arranged above the conveyer belt, which terminates after the sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3). More than one row (R1, R2) of closures next to one another may be supplied separately to the sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the alignment of food products in which food products arriving on an input conveyor in the supply direction arrive at an alignment station at which the products are aligned and from which the aligned products arrive at an output conveyor, wherein a misalignment of the products relative to a target alignment is detected and the product is aligned as a function of the misalignment, said products being aligned by the products resting against a product support and the product support being actuated in order to perform the alignment movement, and wherein the alignment of the products is accomplished without relative movements between the products and the product support. The invention further relates to a device for the alignment of food products.

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: The present invention is a conveyor arrangement for a stamping die employed within a stamping press. The conveyor arrangement has a fixed conveyor with a protruding end, wherein the fixed conveyor is mounted on the die for receiving and shuttling stamped parts from the die. The conveyor arrangement also has a moveable conveyor with a supported first end and a cantilevered second end, wherein the moveable conveyor is arranged for positioning the second end under the fixed conveyor's protruding end for receiving and shuttling stamped parts from the fixed conveyor.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus for use in packaging. The device generally uses a guide plate, dome shaped member through which a stream of air flows, and guide bar to reject improperly packaging elements. This apparatus provides an easy way to ensure properly oriented and aligned packaging elements during the automated packaging processes, thereby reducing wasteful and costly errors due to incorrectly aligned packaging elements.

Abstract: A preform feeder system, particularly for feeding blow machines with receptacles such as bottles, of the type including, from upstream to downstream in the longitudinal direction of travel of the preforms, at least one sorting and alignment device whose top end is provided with preforms in a jumble and whose bottom end includes at least two alignment rollers, substantially parallel and rotated about their respective axis, that are designed to position the preforms in feeding rails, inclined relative to the horizontal, to convey them to a machine, and of the type including at least one ejection wheel that is arranged above the preforms and rotated about an axis which extends generally transversely, characterized in that the ejection wheel is arranged downstream of the alignment rollers so as to eject the incorrectly positioned preforms from the feeding rails.

Abstract: A device for conveying closures (D) made from metallic sheet in an essentially vertical direction from a collecting point (1) to a release point (6) is proposed. The closures are selected to be in correct position during conveying in order to release at the release point (6) only same-lying closures in a row of closures following one another closely. A conveyer belt (10) serves for the transport (v1, v2) of the closures. A sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3) serves for detecting wrong-position closures and for lateral discharge (q1, q2) of individual wrong-position closures. In the course of the conveyer belt (10) upstream of the sensor and discharge device, a bar (15) is arranged above the conveyer belt, which terminates after the sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3). More than one row (R1, R2) of closures next to one another may be supplied separately to the sensor and discharge device (17, 16, 19, 18; 3).

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 method for defining the operation of a plant for producing, conveying and packaging articles. The articles include rolls, such as rolls of paper material and the like. The plant includes the following operative sections: at least an apparatus for forming articles positioned upstream, at least a machine for packaging the articles in respective packs positioned downstream, and an apparatus for conveying the articles which is able to transfer the articles between the forming apparatus and the packaging apparatus. The method and the plant provide that, through a central control unit of the plant, starting from predefined setting data, operating parameters of the sections of the plant are determined.

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.

Abstract: Apparatuses for article handling, comprising one or more of a) an article-moving conveyor belt (1) designed to move along an underlying plate (55) which has a ridge portion (56), so that a substantial part of each article (21) will lie on one side or the other of the highest point of the conveyor belt; b) a lifting apparatus (4) for moving articles, e.g., PET bottles, from an in-feed point to discharge point located above the in-feed point, with the aid of a continuous row of movable article-carrying baskets (26-36) spaced apart along the length of driving belts or drive chains; and c) an article sorting apparatus (6) that is conveyed on a continuously moving conveyor belt (22) and includes a gate (15) that is designed to be able to move an article (21) away from the conveyor belt (22) sideways, and which in the neutral position of the gate (15) is designed to allow the article (21) to move past the gate (15) unaffected thereby.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding articles to an accumulation area (4) is provided to have a conveyor path with a curved section (7) interconnecting a first conveyor path section (8) in the feeding direction upstream of the curved section (7) and a second conveyor path section (9) downstream thereof and extending substantially in parallel with each other. The apparatus further provides for transferring (10) the articles from the first section transversely to the feeding direction and over to the second section, by-passing the curved section, and a control arrangement (28) for controlling transfer to optionally transfer articles from the first to the second conveyor path section by-passing the curved section, or allowing the articles to pass through the curved section.

Abstract: A seal grommet feeding device having a feeding track that advances seal grommets along a groove in the feed track by vibration of the feed track. Grommets are randomly dropped on an end portion of the feed track, some of the grommets orienting correctly in the feed track groove whereas certain grommets may be incorrectly oriented. Incorrectly oriented seal grommets are blown off the feed track by compressed air through a nozzle alongside the feed track. Substantially opposite the nozzle, an upper retention shoulder is provided for abutting an upper end of a correctly oriented seal grommet such that correctly oriented seal grommets are blown off the feed track. This is particularly advantageous when higher feeding speeds are required or where seal grommets are particularly top heavy.

Abstract: The mechanism (8) makes it possible to orient and dispense parts (29) that have an offset center of gravity with respect to the middle of their length (L). A first endless chain (9), extending in a vertical or oblique plane, with a horizontal upper strand, bears cups (11) distributed at regular spacing (P) and each cup having a receptacle (12) suitable for receiving one part (29). A second endless chain (10), extending in a plane perpendicular to that of the preceding chain, bears moving guides (21, 22, 23) distributed with the same spacing as the cups. The two chains (9, 10) are driven synchronously by a motor (15), the moving guides (21, 22, 23) passing above the cups (11) of the upper strand of the first endless chain (9), in correspondence with the intervals between the receptacles (12) of these cups. Means (25) to feed the parts (29) onto the mechanism (8). Application: mascara brushes, spray pumps, bottles, stoppers, etc., particularly in the cosmetics industry.

Abstract: Aspects for package orientation checking in a laser marking machine are provided. In a system aspect, the system includes a handler, the handler including a unit loader. A laser mark chamber receives units from the handler for laser marking. A package orientation checking mechanism is positioned between the unit loader and the laser mark chamber for detecting an orientation of each unit passing to the laser mark chamber based on a chamfer side of each unit.

Abstract: A test tube orienting system consisting of a test tube hopper, and a test tube transport system for directing test tubes out of the test tube hopper with a consistent orientation. The test tube hopper has an open mouth, an internal cavity communicating with the mouth, and a side wall enclosing the cavity. The side wall has a downwardly inwards sloping channel extending along the side wall from the mouth. The transport system directs the test tubes axially upwards along the channel, and includes an endless chain and a series of pins affixed to the endless chain, extending through the channel into the internal cavity. The endless chain is coupled to a motor for moving the pins upwards along the channel, and is inclined at an acute angle to the channel for progressively retracting the tube supports from the internal cavity as the pins move upwards along the channel.

Abstract: An automatic loader has a vibrational feeding assembly for vibrationally feeding ferrules to a loader of a ferrule assembling machine. The vibrational feeding assembly has a frame for containing the ferrules and a guide channel having a transport surface along which the ferrules are vibrationally transported from the frame to the loader of the ferrule assembling machine. A detecting device detects an orientation of each ferrule while the ferrule is vibrationally transported along the transport surface of the guide channel. An expulsion device expels the ferrule back to the frame of the vibrational feeding assembly when the orientation of the ferrule detected by the detecting device does not correspond to a preselected orientation of the ferrule.

Abstract: Packages are conveyed in a direction of travel by transferring the packages from an upstream conveying surface to an intermediate conveying surface, conveying the packages along the intermediate conveying surface, and transferring the packages from the intermediate conveyor surface to a downstream conveying surface. A discharge member situated along at least one laterally outer edge of the intermediate conveying surface is driven such that a discharge surface thereof situated above the intermediate conveying surface moves in a direction away from a center line of the intermediate conveyor and pulls wide packages from the intermediate conveying surface, i.e., packages having a width great enough to contact the discharge surface.

Abstract: A system (20) is provided for detecting and ejecting container ends having a reversed orientation from an axially aligned group of otherwise similar nested container ends having a non-reversed orientation. The system includes a support member (36) interposed along the path of movement of the container ends and having a bore (52) and an ejection slot (54). A counting sensor (62) for counting the number of passing container ends and a gap sensor (72) for detecting a gap in the periphery of the axially aligned group caused by a reversed container end are positioned upstream of the ejection slot and connected to a control unit (70). An air nozzle (82) is positioned next to the axially aligned group of container ends in axial alignment with, but laterally opposite to, the ejection slot and connected to a source of pressurized air controlled by the control unit (70).

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting lids each having a plate and a peripheral edge standing away therefrom, the apparatus including a first conveyor belt, moving in a first direction, for supplying a disordered mass of lids and a second conveyor belt connecting thereto at an end thereof being positioned in a partially overlying relation to the first conveyor belt forming an acute angle therebetween and the second conveyor belt moving in a second direction opposite in relation to the first direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating cylindrical articles in a bulk flow and removing non-aligned articles from the flow includes a plurality of parallel, spaced rotating pins having helical threads on an outer surface. The flow of articles is directed through the pins and non-aligned articles are conveyed out of the flow direction by the threads while aligned articles pass across the pins. Eccentric rotation of the pins agitates the articles to assist maintaining free flow of the articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for automatically removing inverted container ends (24) from a longitudinally moving stick (20) of nestable container ends (22) is provided. Inverted ends (24) are ejected from the stick (20) through an outlet as a path direction of the stick (20) changes. The change in path direction can be due to a protrusion (36) extending into the path or a curve (14) in a stick guide assembly (34). The apparatus (10) reduces the likelihood of that inverted ends (24) will enter processing machinery and reduces processing line down time.

Abstract: A reversed can end ejector system for detecting and ejecting a can end in reverse orientation with respect to a moving stack of otherwise similarly aligned and nested can ends is disclosed. The system utilizes a reversed end extractor bar having a hook formed at a lower end thereof. The bar is supported above the stack with a support frame so that the hook is free to ride on a cylindrical exterior ridged surface of the stack. When a reversely oriented end is encountered, the hook is sized to drop by gravity into the peripheral gap formed between the reversed end and adjacent non-reversed end. The extractor bar is pivotally connected to a mounting bar which is in turn pivotally connected to the support frame whereupon further advancement of a reversed end with the stack during hooked engagement causes the reversed end to be lifted and removed from the stack via controlled rotation of the extractor bar relative to the mounting bar and then both as a unit relative to the suppport frame.

Abstract: In a device of the type used to supply a wrapping machine, typically with chocolates, conveyed singly and in succession along a belt, any chocolate incorrectly positioned on the belt is rejected by a device including at least one pair of disks rotating tangential to the belt about a shaft that lies transversely to the conveying direction. The two disks combine to create a calibrated passage through which correctly positioned chocolates pass without obstruction, whereas any wrongly positioned chocolate is gripped between the disks and rotated clear of the belt into a reject channel.

Abstract: A device for the insertion of electrical elements into the recesses of a belt is disclosed. The device includes a feeding station which has a conveying path adapted such that elements are in a specified orientation and an insertion station which inserts the elements in a specific orientation into the recesses of the belt moving past the insertion station. The insertion station has a stripping device which inserts the element into the recess and which holds the element in the recess as the belt moves away from the recess.

Abstract: A machine for sorting and orienting containers including a main hopper (2) for receiving randomly a plurality of containers (1) or bottles to be sorted, having any convenient configuration and a bottom (4) with a peripheral edge portion at a predetermined distance from the side wall of the hopper (2) to provide a space through which the containers can drop, by gravity towards a lower section, a lateral aperture (32) in the side wall of the hopper in a curved lateral area (13) preceding the container unloading station (14), the aperture being adapted to remove mainly by centrifugal force malpositioned containers housed only partially in and protruding from holding and transporting units (6), or located external to them and conveyed by other containers, the aperture communicating with a recovering auxiliary hopper (15), external to the main hopper and a coupled belt type conveyor (16) associated with the external hopper for recycling containers into the loading area preceding the lateral aperture (32).

Abstract: The device is constituted essentially by a channel-shaped guide which is intended to be arranged in an inclined position and has a break in its base wall to enable the expulsion of the products which are travelling flat against that wall. In correspondence with the break, the guide has an S-shaped curve and is bent downwardly to facilitate the expulsion.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for removing individual covers from a continuous flow of covers, each consisting of a middle portion and a peripheral edge extending around it asymmetrically in relation to the main plane, the main planes of which covers extend perpendicularly to the conveying direction, while the nominal orientations of the covers in the conveying direction are all the same and the said individual covers are oppositely oriented in relation to the nominal orientation, the device includes a conveyor for transporting the covers in a continuous flow, a detector placed adjacent to the conveyor for distinguishing an oppositely oriented cover and an ejector for removing from the flow a detected oppositely oriented cover.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor for rail tie plates or the like including an inclined frame having an upper end and a lower end, and an endless conveyor belt formed of a plurality of links pivotally joined to each other. The links are designed to have plate retaining pockets formed thereon and the belt is adapted to travel a contoured path on the frame between the lower end and the upper end. The belt has an upper working strand and a lower slack strand. A hopper provides a supply of randomly oriented tie plates to the lower end of the conveyor which are agitated or tumbled by the action of the moving conveyor belt. At least one rejector hook is provided to ensure proper positioning of the plates within the pocket. As the conveyor belt progresses towards the upper end of the frame, certain plates are oriented properly within the plate pockets and will be conveyed to the upper end of the frame through the movement of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: An orbital cap selection and feeding device is disclosed having a disk rotating within a circular frame so that caps disposed on the disk tend to move by centrifugal force to the perimeter of the disk. The frame includes structure defining a guide chute to retain a procession of caps lying flat within the guide chute and to keep caps at the interior of the rotating disk out of the chute. The guide chute carries the procession of caps about 180 degrees to a discharge chute. About midway along the length of the guide chute is an optical sensor that uses a reflected beam of light to sense the orientation of caps in the procession and generate an electrical signal when an improperly oriented cap is encountered. The signal is received by an ejection airjet downstream of the optical sensor which is actuated in response to the signal to displace the improperly oriented cap from the guide chute and back into the interior of the rotating disk.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a device for extraction of piece articles heaped up in a hopper (2), made in the form of a gripping screw (4) and a transporting screw (5), arranged along whereof are members (8 and 9) for holding of articles (7) in the predetermined position during transportation. A body (10) of the gripping screw (4) carries at least one spiral groove (12b), a portion of which is a transporting surface (13a) forming pockets (15) jointly with the members (8 and 9) for holding the articles (7). Arranged at an angle to the gripping screw (4) in the hopper (2) is an orienting plate (14) forming inlets to said pockets (15) and installed with a possibility of changing the configuration of said inlets.

Abstract: A feeder for a bottle capping machine comprising a hopper to receive and direct the caps to a conveyor which transports the caps to a chute transversely disposed to the conveyor housing wherein the conveyor housing is adjustably secured to the capping machine whereby the housing can be angularly adjusted to cause bottle caps improperly oriented to fall to the bottom of the conveyor wherein the conveyor housing has an angular wiper bar to force properly oriented caps to be discharged into the chute and then feed to the capping machine, there being provided a display window and wherein the conveyor has adjustably spaced flite bars which are adapted to transport caps of various dimensions.

Abstract: A closure handling apparatus includes a cup-shaped receptacle having an opening in a cylindrical sidewall thereof, a rotary conical member within the receptacle and cooperative with a peripheral shelf member vertically spaced from the conical member to form a moving column of closures randomly oriented with their open ends up or down, a discriminating mechanism positioned within the receptacle for successively receiving the lead closure in the column and including an upstream and a downstream plate separated by a gap which is oriented transversely to the path of movement of the received closures, and a guide means downstream of the discriminating mechanism and outside of the receptacle for receiving from the discriminating mechanism closures having their open ends up. Closures having their open ends down are rejected by being deflected into the gap of the discriminating means and being cammed by the downstream plate back to the rotary conical member.

Abstract: Belt conveyor comprises first and second endless belts in side-by-side relationship which move in opposite directions. Articles such as connector housings are loaded onto the first belt at its first end and carried towards the second end of the first belt. The articles may be in either of two stable attitudes. A sorting guide extends transversely across the first belt and separates the articles in the second stable attitude from those in the first attitude, the articles in the second attitude being pushed onto the second belt. The articles pushed onto the second belt are carried to the first end of the second belt and transferred laterally to the first end of the first belt. The attitudes of the articles transferred are changed during transfer so that they are then in the first stable attitude.