Abstract: A bolt supply device includes a slide plate inclined to a vertical direction; and a groove portion formed in the slide plate and having a width that allows passing of a screw portion of a bolt and prevents passing of a flange portion of the bolt. The groove portion includes a first groove configured such that an angle formed between a line extending in an up-down direction along the slide plate and the first groove is a first angle; and a second groove connected to a lower end of the first groove and configured such that an angle formed between the line extending in the up-down direction along the slide plate and the second groove is a second angle smaller than the first angle. The bolt take-out portion is set in the groove portion at a lower end or below the lower end of the second groove.

Abstract: A device for orienting and feeding capsules (C) in a beverage producing machine, comprising: a container (7) receiving randomly oriented capsules (C); a rotor (9), rotatable around a rotation axis (A-A) and at least partly arranged in said container (7), said rotor being provided with at least one peripherally arranged capsule-receiving seat (9S), shaped to pick up a capsule (C) oriented in a univocally determined orientation; a capsule unloading duct (17), with a duct inlet (17A) arranged in said container (7) and extending outside said container (7); wherein said rotor is arranged to rotate around said rotation axis (A-A) such to, during use, lift a capsule (C) towards a position above the duct inlet (17A), the capsule-receiving seat (9S) being arranged to release capsule (C) under the influence of gravity from said above position into said duct inlet (17A).

Abstract: Apparatus including a vending machine compartment including a dispensing door openable to permit removal of merchandise from the compartment, the compartment being pivotedly connected to a box assembly, and wherein the dispensing door includes a link element that is constrained to move along a track formed in the box assembly such that the dispensing door is not openable at a first portion of the track and is openable at a second portion of the track.

Abstract: An exemplary fastener feeder includes a pair of guiders, a slot cover and a blocker. The guiders define a sliding slot therebetween. Each guider includes a sloped part and a level part, bodies of the fasteners are capable of being received in the sliding slot, and a head of each fastener is capable of sliding down from the sloped parts and stopping on the level parts. The slot cover defines an opening for providing a path through which a fastener pickup device can pass through and engage with a fastener located on the level parts. The blocker is located below the level parts. When the fastener pickup device moves the fastener head engaged therewith away from the opening and a length of the fastener is greater than a distance between the blocker and the level parts, the fastener is blocked by blocker and disengaged from the fastener pickup device.

Abstract: A medicine storing and dispensing apparatus includes: a cap container (501) storing a plurality of caps (2) for closing openings of vial bottles (3) and having a plurality of slits (508) formed on the bottom surface thereof; a plurality of cap stirring members (502) protruding from a rotating shaft (509) and extending inside a cap container (501) through the slits (508); and a cap pathway (503) which continues to the cap container (501), has a clearance allowing only one cap (2) to pass through, and which is inclined downward so as to align the passing caps (2).

Abstract: An object assembly device automatically assembles a collection of rolling objects of identical size and shape. The assembly device includes an assembly housing having an inlet for receiving rolling objects and an outlet through which the rolling objects are discharged. A rotary feed cone is rotatably mounted within the housing between the inlet and the outlet. The feed cone defines a single-line travel channel having an entrance end and an exit end. The width of the travel channel is sufficient to accommodate no more than a single line of rolling objects moving downstream in succession from the entrance end of the channel to the exit end. A stationary cone base is located within the collection housing, and has a conical interior wall adapted for receiving the rotary feed cone. The cone base has an object discharge opening operatively aligned with the exit end of the travel channel to allow passage of objects outwardly through the cone base in an assembled single-line condition.

Abstract: A object assembly device automatically assembles a collection of rolling objects of identical size and shape. The assembly device includes a collection hopper having an inlet for receiving rolling objects, and an outlet below the inlet for discharging rolling objects. An object assembler is rotatably mounted within the hopper between the inlet and the outlet. The assembler defines a single-line travel channel having an entrance end and an exit end, and a width sufficient to accommodate no more than a single line of rolling objects moving downstream in succession from the entrance end of the travel channel to the exit end. Objects entering the travel channel from the inlet of the hopper are discharged through the outlet of the hopper in an assembled single-line condition. A drive shaft is provided for rotating the object assembler relative to the collection hopper to avoid obstructing accumulation of rolling objects at the entrance end of the travel channel.

Abstract: A particulate object conveying apparatus for conveying particulate objects of indefinite shape, e.g., particulate polycrystalline silicon, one by one, comprises: a stagnating portion for stagnating particulate objects; a rotor having a plural number of grooves formed in and equidistantly arrayed on its outer circumference surface, when ascending, the grooves passing the stagnating portion; and object driving-out means for driving the particulate object out of each groove of the rotor.

Abstract: A component feeder minimizes damage to chip components and efficiently discharges chip components aligned in a line. A bulk case is attached on the top portion of an external storage housing capable of being supplied with a large number of chip components. A predetermined number of the chip components is supplied at a time from the external storage housing to an inner housing of a component storage housing via a supplying path. The chip components in the inner housing enter into the outer housing from the reception inlet via a guide path by being scooped up by pockets in accordance with rotation of a rotary drum. The chip components are dropped into an aligning groove to be aligned and are discharged aligned in a line via a gate and a discharge path. The chip components slide down on the aligning groove to be discharged to a discharge path, via the gate, aligned in a line.

Abstract: An automatic fastener supplier includes a frame having a receiving section for receiving fasteners. A track is removably and partially mounted in the receiving section. The track includes a gap defined therein for receiving shanks of the fasteners and an upper open edge for retaining heads of the fasteners. A fastener feeding device is mounted in the receiving section and is vertically movable for feeding fasteners in the receiving section onto the track. A main driving device is provided for driving the fastener feeding device to move vertically. A stop is mounted to the front end of the track for preventing further forward movement of the fastener. A track supporting device has a supporting member for supporting the track yet allowing insertion and removal of the track. A position deciding device is mounted to the supporting member for adjusting a longitudinal position of the track.

Abstract: A device for delivery of fasteners having heads with tenons disposed beneath the heads to an insertion tool. The device includes a sloped track with two spaced-apart rails each having a fastener receiving surface to receive the undersides of the heads of the fasteners falling thereon. The fasteners drop onto the track from a rotating barrel and some are correctly aligned with the tenons between the rails and the undersides of the heads resting on the rails and many are misaligned. The fasteners slide to an orienting station which includes a plurality of fluid injector ports disposed around the track. Two of the ports face each other and a third port is disposed over the track. Blasts of air are directed through the ports sequentially so that misaligned fasteners on the track are forced into alignment or are removed from the track thereby leaving only properly aligned fasteners to proceed.

Abstract: A conveyor feeder for positioning and loading candy eggs on a chain link conveyor. The feeder receives candy eggs from a controlled feed chute, a cone member distributes the eggs radially in a cylindrical hopper onto a counter-rotating ring. Rotating brushes assist in positioning the eggs in the circular receptacles in the ring. A conveyor chute facilitates the dropping of the eggs onto the chain link conveyor having spaced separating pins defining compartments for receiving a single candy egg. The conveyor feeder is suitable for positioning candy eggs on a chain link conveyor feeding automatic wrapping machine.

Abstract: Clearing wheel assembly is provided for combing out headed objects improperly oriented on a feed track and features an arcuate shield precluding undesired discharge of the objects from a hopper.