Abstract: The use of a flow conditioner improves the performance of an electromagnetic system to detect metal contamination in a polymer stream at high flow rates.

Abstract: Herein described is a small caliber ammunition production loading machine with a novel measuring location and device. The machine will load one cartridge at a time and is referred to as a ‘single-out” machine (see FIG. 1). The machine will be similar in nature to existing loading machines with the following key novel aspects: a) The cartridge overall length (OAL) will be measured both as an overall dimension which is industry standard and also at a key datum location on a bullet's ogive. Measuring to a repeatable datum point on the bullet's ogive gives a more accurate representation of the cartridge's ballistic ability.

Abstract: Described is an ammunition production loading machine. The machine will load two cartridges at once and is referred to as a ‘two-out” machine. The machine will be of a mechanical nature reducing the potential loss of production that occurs with pneumatic systems. Any pneumatic systems on the machine will operate only in failure instances, i.e. in the case of a powder failure the pneumatic system will obstruct the projectile feed mechanism. The machine consists of seven (7) major components, which operate in unison. The machine is intended to run a single caliber so changeover adjustments and time required to change calibers are eliminated. The machine is capable of precisely loading a complete cartridge at a rate of 240 parts per minute in a completely automated manner. The key features of this novel machine are the full automation from station to station and a cartridge retaining bullet crimp case bushing in a rotating main disk, which rotates cases from station to station.

Abstract: The apparatus makes use of a pair of rotating combs (11-14), the discs of the second comb being interposed between the discs of the first comb and positioned at the top between fixed guide plates (17). The discs of the first comb intercept the streams of closed capsules, from which any covers not provided with shells have already been removed. The capsules are inserted by their shells between the discs of the first comb and remain suspended on said discs by their covers (C1). Only capsule shells and any crushed capsules fall through the discs of the first comb. The capsules conveyed by the first rotating comb arrive on the discs of the second comb, generally with their covers at the front.

Abstract: A can seam inspection apparatus. The apparatus has a pathway for a can and the pathway having an inlet and a pair of outlets. There is one outlet for can with a defective seam and another outlet for acceptable cans. A releasable holding device holds the cans as the cans move along the pathway. This holding device is rotated as they move along the pathway. The cans rotate with the holding device. The holding device can be released adjacent the inlet and the outlet. The can is inspected, preferably by a roller moving around the seam, as the can rotates. If the can is found defective then the inspection apparatus includes mechanisms to open the first outlet to allow rejection of the can. If the can is acceptable the can rolls over the first outlet to the second outlet. The equipment operates at high speed and with excellent accuracy. It can operate effectively in hostile environments.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating angel hair from bulk material includes a hollow drum which is partly immersed in the flow of bulk material and rotates in such a manner that the immersed part of the drum moves in opposite direction to the bulk material flow. The drum has an outer jacket which is provided with circumferentially spaced bores through which one end of spikes projects, with their other end being swingably mounted to a bearing member. The bearing member has a center axis which is offset to the axis of rotation of the drum so that the spikes project beyond the outer surface of the drum at their bulk material facing side while being retracted at the bulk material distant side of the drum. Thus, during a revolution of the drum, the spikes gradually move in and out of the drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing elongated contaminants from a stream containing pellets and elongated contaminants. The method comprising flowing the stream through a snagging zone in which the contaminants are snagged.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a biasing plate spring for a wire dot print head having an annular part and a plurality of projections extending radially inward from the inner periphery of the annular part, a biasing plate spring intermediate product having two of the projections substantially opposite to each other and connected by an arm, is first formed. The intermediate product is then barrel-polished, and then the arm is removed by cutting. Because of the arm, entry of one intermediate product into the gap between adjacent projections of another intermediate product is prevented, and damage to the intermediate product is thereby avoided.

Abstract: A flatware separating apparatus comprising a track having a top surface for receiving and delivering different items of flatware along a selected path; a mechanism for contacting selected items of the flatware at a selected point along the path of the track and pushing the selected items off the surface of the track and allowing other selected items of the flatware to remain on the surface; and a mechanism for further separating the selected items of flatware pushed off the surface of the track.

Abstract: A feeder device is provided for inserting solid medicaments, such as caplets, into a holding fixture for subsequent processing, for example, dipping in a gelatinous material. The feeder device incorporates a novel selector for eliminating partial pieces of medicaments before these pieces can be disposed into the holding fixture. The disclosed simple mechanical selection apparatus can eliminate these pieces efficiently prior to costly additional processing steps. Also included with this invention are novel mechanisms for regulating the flow of medicaments from a hopper to a plunger assembly, whereby a single medicament at a time can be inserted into a corresponding holding fixture.

Abstract: A selection device for candy, in which confections are dispensed loose onto a first table turning at relatively low speed and spiralled around a fixed guide before being scattered onto a second, annular table that is concentric and coplanar with the first and rotates at higher speed; this second table is encompassed by a cylindrical pan, rotated at the same higher speed about an axis angled away from the axis of the tables to the extent that corresponding peripheral stretches of the second table and the top edge of the pan are made to converge in the same plane. The top edge of the pan is castellated with tapered radial sockets that are designed to accommodate the confections singly, conveying them through a circular path and into contact with a number of fixed cam profiles by which they are deflected from the sockets in such a way as to enable centrifugal ejection at respective selection and reject stations.

Abstract: Good legumes or pistachio nuts are separated from those to be discarded by feeding the pistachios or legumes to a longitudinally inclined trough between a laterally inclined plate and a rotating cylinder, such cylinder having outwardly projecting edges along its exterior surface. On the opposite side of such cylinder is provided a second cylinder having a brush on its outer circumference, and the two cylinders are driven in opposite directions. Good legumes and pistachio nuts are merely tumbled within the trough by the first cylinder and are fed partly by gravity to a collector at the foot of the device. The unsatisfactory legumes and pistachios are picked up by the outwardly projecting edges of the first cylinder and flipped over where they are then brushed downwaardly off the first cylinder by the brush of the second cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles in accordance with the sphericity of the particles is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing which is supplied with air having a desired humidity, and which accommodates therein a cylindrical rotor with a horizontal shaft. The particles are charged into the housing from a hopper above the rotor, and tend to adhere onto the peripheral surface of the rotor with adhesive force which is dependent on the sphericity of each particle. The rotor is placed into a slow rotation and subjected to vibration whereby non-spherical particles and spherical particles are collected in respective receptacles arranged on both sides of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: There is provided, a method and apparatus for determining if the lengths of all of the leads on all four sides of a PLCC packaged devices are within a selected tolerance of each other. To do so a relatively smooth surface across which the device is to be advanced is provided with that surface having a plurality of fingers affixed thereto. Each finger protrudes from the surface by an amount equivalent to the selected tolerance, with the plurality of fingers being in number at least equivalent to the number of leads on the longest side of the device to be tested. In addition, the surface is supported at a selected angle to horizontal. As the device is advanced across the surface in the direction of, and across the space spanned by, the fingers, the devices having all of its leads within the selected tolerance are differentiated from those devices that do not have all of their leads within the selected tolerance.

Abstract: A rotary puck conveying, accumulating and qualifying mechanism for accommodating articles of various sizes. A puck is provided having a predetermined outer peripheral surface and including an article retaining aperture disposed therein. The article retaining aperture being of a predetermined shape for accommodating an outer peripheral surface of an article being handled. A centrifugal feeder is provided for supplying a plurality of articles to an outer peripheral rim. A rotating table accumulates the pucks in both a full and an empty condition. The rotating table is operatively disposed beneath the centrifugal feeder wherein outer peripheral surfaces of the centrifugal feeder and the rotating table overlap. A plurality of pockets are rotatably disposed below the centrifugal feeder for engaging pucks positioned on the rotating table for retaining the pucks in a predetermined location relative to the centrifugal feeder for supplying articles into the aperture in the puck over an extended length of transfer.

Abstract: A device for sorting and transporting a plurality of different kinds of articles comprises three belt conveyors disposed in adjacent parallel relationship to each other, two of the belt conveyors moving in a direction opposite to each other, guide members for dividing transporting faces of the two oppositely moving belt conveyors into some areas, and a sorting device for identifying and sorting articles transported on the belt conveyor to the respective areas.

Abstract: A cop selecting and conveying apparatus for an automatic winder is disclosed in which winding units are divided into a plurality of winding sections and different kinds of cops carried on carrying mediums are transferred on the conveying passage to each winding sections. A discrimination indicator is formed in either the carrying medium or the guide member at the side of the conveying passage and a device for discriminating or detecting the discrimination indicator is disposed at a position to corresponding to the indicator.

Abstract: An elongate metal needle 23 is used to detect blockage in a throughbore in a nuclear fuel pellet 20 or other article. The pellets are fed along a tube 11 having a reject slot 30 and horseshoe magnets 14, 15. 14a, 15a support the needle so that the pellets pass along the tube with the needle in the pellet bores. When a blockage is sensed, feed is interrupted and a switch 41 is operated to energize magnets 35 to rotate the tube 11 so that the defective pellet passes through slot 30 assisted by gravity operated reject element 33. Visual indicators 39, 40 are operated by flap 50, responsive to discharge of satisfactory pellets, to indicate a blockage has occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus and method utilizing pressurized air discharged through nozzles to segregate a mixture of elements having either different geometrical characteristics or different masses. The mixture is placed in a container having a conveyor track, and is forced to move along the track, across a primary nozzle which forms the mixture into a single layer. The mixture then moves across a blow-off nozzle which propels one set of elements off the track and out of the container while the other remains within the container. A two stage separation may be used to optimize efficiency.

Abstract: Slide fasteners are fed longitudinally one at a time along a path by at least one stream of air flowing along the path, and are then introduced into a clearance or gate which is narrow enough to prevent the passage of sliders so that when the slide fasteners have respective sliders, they are stopped at the gate, while when the slide fasteners have no sliders, they are allowed to pass through the gate and be further advanced by the stream of air. Thus the slide fasteners are automatically sorted or separated into two groups according to the presence of the sliders. Thereafter, the stream of air is interrupted whereupon the slide fasteners stopped at the gate are allowed to fall from the path into a container disposed below the gate. The slide fasteners thus fallen are disposed in the container in juxtaposition.

Abstract: A device for sorting cylindrical work pieces having an axial flat comprising a vibrating track for transporting the pieces and a gate mounted over and across the track. The gate has an inverted V-shaped cut-out on its lower edge. The height of the cut-out allows the pieces resting on their axial flat to go through the gate and to stop the ones resting on part of their periphery other than the flat. The invention is particularly useful for sorting video and audio styli.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating spherically-shaped solids from irregularly-shaped solids comprising a rotatable separating table having a frustoconically shaped upper surface, the angle of inclination of the upper surface with the horizontal being such that spherically-shaped solids supplied onto the upper surface will roll down towards a central vertical conduit at the lower end of the upper surface and irregularly-shaped solids supplied onto the upper surface remain at rest. The apparatus further includes a number of supply structures for the supplying of a mixture of spherically-shaped solids and irregularly-shaped solids onto the upper surface and removal means for removing irregularly-shaped solids from the upper surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating the spheres from the non-spheres in a large number of particles of lamp fill material of substantially equal mass in which the spheres are placed in the grooves of an inclined surface to roll downwardly thereon under the influence of gravity. The grooves are configured to limit the contact with the particles to two points intermediate the depth of the groove so as to keep the particles out of contact with the bottom of the groove. Vacuum pick-up means are used to remove those particles which do not roll down the grooves because of their spherical irregularities. The surfaces in contact with the lamp fill material are made of stainless steel and the entire operation is conducted within the confines of a dry box to minimize contamination.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and feeding the elongated objects comprising a vibrating bowl for receiving elongated objects, the bowl having a base portion, a side wall, and a ramp spiralling around the inner perimeter of the side wall such that the elongated objects are conveyed from the bottom end of the ramp adjacent the base portion along the upper surface of the ramp to the top end of the ramp, first and second sorting stations positioned along the ramp within the bowl for removing bent objects and limiting the number of elongated objects conveying along the ramp in side-by-side relationship and an escape chute for feeding the elongated objects sequentially from the top end of the ramp. The bent objects are removed and the number of objects passing along the ramp reduced by the first and second sorting station having narrowed ramp widths and associated inclines.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method for sorting a batch (200) of electrical contact pieces (11, 11') into two groups. The apparatus is characterized by a tiltable frame (72) concentrically mounting an assembly of a rotatable circular table (74) in spaced relation to a platform (80) having a radial wall (82) of less diameter than the table (74) to define an opening (86) therebetween. The circular table (74) includes an annulus sized to receive contacts. A guide arrangement (46) including a pair of guide members (50, 52) allows the contacts to pass to the rotating annulus, the good contacts rolling between the opening and through central holes in the table and the bad contacts rotating around and being scraped from the annulus.

Abstract: A method of sorting rivets or similarly shaped articles, and apparatus therefor. Rivets are directed along a track to a notch where they are supported in a shank-down attitude against a rotating gauging wheel having a plurality of gauging holes conforming generally to the shape of the shank. The wheel is rotated so the gauging holes move upwardly with respect to the shanks while grooves in the periphery of the wheel guide the shanks toward the holes. Rivets with a uniform shank will settle into the holes so their heads are below the periphery, while rivets with bent, gouged, burred or oversized shanks will not settle fully into the holes. A rivet kicker timed to the rotation of the wheel ejects rivets not fully settled in the holes. Fully settled rivets are blown out of the gauging holes into a tube where they are conveyed by air towards a riveting machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic selection and delivery apparatus adapted to discriminate between correctly and incorrectly assembled bodies consisting of a plurality of assembled parts and at the same time deliver to a delivery chute only those bodies which have been assembled correctly. This is accomplished through a detection operation performed by a delivery pin which scans recesses that are provided in a base to accommodate the assembled bodies, the delivery pin being adapted to detect a through-hole which will exist only in a correctly assembled body.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic selection and delivery apparatus adapted to discriminate between correctly and incorrectly assembled bodies consisting of a plurality of assembled parts and at the same time deliver to a delivery chute only those bodies which have been assembled correctly. This is accomplished through a detection operation performed by a delivery arm which scans recesses that are provided in a base to accommodate the assembled bodies, the delivery arm being adapted to detect a projection which will exist only on a correctly assembled body.

Abstract: Elongated articles (13), having an undesirable shape caused by a bent lead (14), are distinguished from elongated articles (12) which are desirably straight. The bent articles (13) are separated from a mass of articles (12 and 13), most of which are substantially straight. The articles (12 and 13) are typically axially leaded diodes having leads (14) which are magnetic. Such diodes (12 and 13) are successively introduced between sidewalls (11 and 22) of a bin (17) having a magnetic field which orients each article transverse to guide members (28 and 29) extending lengthwise of the bin (17). Each oriented diode (12 and 13) presents a distinctive configuration according to its shape when viewed against a plane transverse to the guide members (28 and 29). The major portion of a bent diode (13) will be disposed lower than the major portion of a straight diode (12).

Abstract: Apparatus for separating pickles of an undesired configuration (e.g., crooked or enlarged at one end) from those of acceptable configuration (e.g., relatively straight and uniform from end to end). It employs a series of horizontally spaced rods to which the pickles are fed and over which the desired pickles are traversed, while undesired pickles (nubbins) fall through the spaces between the rods. The means that supports and journals the rods is such that the spacing between the rods can be adjusted while maintaining equal spacing between adjacent rods for the entire series.

Abstract: A device for checking the complete sealing of filters to cigarettes by subjecting cigarettes being transported by a rotary transfer drum to an axial air flow to displace acceptable cigarettes. The unacceptable ciagarettes are unable to be displaced and are impinged upon by an outwardly directed air flow to expel these cigarettes from the transfer drum.

Abstract: A conveying system incorporating an apparatus for detecting and rejecting downed and damaged containers, such as open ended cans. The conveying system includes a pair of endless belt conveyors which are spaced apart longitudinally and are adapted to convey cans in an upright condition. The upright cans are adapted to be transferred between the conveyors by a vacuum transfer mechanism which is located above the adjacent ends of the conveyors, the transfer mechanism includes an endless perforated belt that travels across the open bottom of a housing which is divided into a series of chambers. The chambers are subjected to a vacuum which acts to hold the upright cans against the perforated belt so that the cans can be transferred by movement of the belt from one conveyor to the other, while downed cans are ejected from the conveyor system.