Abstract: A method of receiving and checking individualized compound doses of medicines the steps of receiving a plurality of dispensed medicines that form an individualized compound dose of medicines, assessing the composition of the individualized compound dose of medicines trough automated recognition of the received medicines, checking the assessed composition of the received individualized compound dose of medicines against a record for the composition of that individualized compound dose of medicines, and if the outcome of the check is positive, discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines to be packaged in a dose compartment of a multi dose compartment package, and if the outcome of the check is negative, discharging the received individualized compound dose of medicines other than to be packaged in a dose compartment of the multi dose compartment package. The disclosure also includes a device for receiving and checking individualized compound doses of medicines.

Abstract: A bootie application device that provides booties that slide along a rail system on tabs that releasably connect the booties to the rail system. A sensor detects when booties are not disposed at a position along the rail system and issues a bootie level signal. An alert indicates when the bootie level signal has been issued.

Abstract: A component supplying apparatus includes a chute section including a sliding surface on which an electronic component is slidable. The chute section includes: a pair of bottom support members which oppose each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to a sliding direction such that a distance between the bottom support members is changeable, and each of which includes an upper surface defining the sliding surface; a pair of side support members which oppose each other in the lateral direction such that a distance between the side support members is changeable, and which support lateral side surfaces of the electronic component sliding on the sliding surface; and a top support member which opposes the sliding surface such that a distance between the top support member and the sliding surface is changeable, and which prevents the electronic component sliding on the sliding surface from escaping upward.

Abstract: A component feeder including a lift for elevating a selection of components from a bulk storage, and a pick surface adjacent to the lift for receiving the selection of components. A spreader gives the selection of components a push for spreading the selection of components from the lift on the pick surface. The combination of a vertical lift and a separate pick surface adjacent to the lift enables the bulk storage being positioned right below the pick surface. The area of the pick surface is large in relation to the total footprint of the component feeder.

Abstract: A motif-arraying apparatus for arraying motifs such as a hot fix or the like in mounting grooves formed in a mold plate. The motif-arraying apparatus includes a shaking member for loading motifs in the mounting grooves formed in the mold plate, wherein the shaking member includes a vertical board and a horizontal board coupled to an edge thereof, and a plurality of shaking knives coupled to the bottom surface of the vertical board at a predetermined interval. The apparatus not only enables motifs to be correctly arrayed in the mounting grooves formed in the mold plate in a quick and easy manner, but also enables a motif inserted in a wrong direction to be removed from the mounting groove and correctly arrayed, thereby improving productivity, minimizing defects, and reducing costs.

Abstract: A parts supply device for supplying disposable part selected from a cuvette and pipette tip, comprising: a storage section for storing a plurality of disposable parts; a sort section for sorting the disposable parts supplied from the storage section, the sort section including a push-up plate to be capable of pushing up the disposable part in the supplied parts and a wall section arranged at the downstream side of the push-up plate so as to be adjacent to the push-up plate, wherein the push-up plate is configured to vertically move along the wall section between a first position and a second position that is above the first position; and a transfer section for transferring one by one the disposable part supplied by the push-up plate over the wall section.

Abstract: An automatic shoe cover dispenser includes a shoe cover feeding arrangement holding a plurality of shoe covers each having a shoe opening; and a shoe cover pulling mechanism for pulling one of the shoe covers into an open-up condition as a standby shoe cover and being ready for putting on a user's shoe, wherein after the standby shoe cover is dispensed for being worn at the shoe of the user, the shoe cover at a subsequent position is pulled into the open-up condition.

Abstract: A paintball loader for supplying a plurality of substantially similar paintballs a paintball marker. The loader comprises a housing adapted to receive the plurality of paintballs, the housing defining a feeder tube in a base thereof, the feeder tube dimensioned to allow single passage of the paintballs, a paintball receiving member comprising an elongate receiving channel spiraling radially outward in a direction of rotation from the feeder hole and having an outlet adjacent the feeder tube, the channel comprising a pair of opposing side walls spaced to allow single passage of the paintballs, and a feeder arm positioned across at least a portion of the channel walls such that the feeder arm comes into contact with one of the plurality of the paintballs when in the channel. The channel is rotatable relative to the feeder arm about the feeder hole in the direction of rotation.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a pill delivery apparatus. The method includes providing an inner core having an outer surface and providing an outer sleeve comprising an opening defined therethrough, the outer sleeve having an inner surface. Further, the method includes defining a passageway on the outer surface of the inner core such that positioning the outer sleeve over the inner core defines a delivery chute for delivering a plurality of pills between the passageway and the inner surface of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic tablet packing apparatus having sliding racks, wherein tablets received in a plurality of tablet cassettes are successively packed on a per dose basis based on a medical prescription. Each of the sliding racks includes a pair of left and right partition walls, a tablet discharge passage to guide the tablets discharged from the tablet cassettes being defined by facing inner surfaces of the left and right partition walls. Cassette pedestals are attached to outer surfaces of the left and right partition walls and in turn, the tablet cassettes are detachably arranged on the cassette pedestals. The left and right partition walls are able to be individually pulled out from a body of the apparatus. As the left or right partition wall is pulled out, the tablet discharge passage is revealed to the outside thus enabling easy cleaning thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.

Abstract: A pipette chip supply device for supplying a pipette chip for suctioning liquid, the pipette chip supply device comprising: a chip accommodating section for accommodating pipette chips; a conveying section for conveying the pipette chips supplied from the chip accommodating section; and a static eliminator for removing electrification charge of the pipette chips.

Abstract: A thin-part feeding device is provided which is compact and efficient. The device has a funnel portion with a feeding opening at the bottom thereof, a take-out tube for taking out thin parts from the funnel portion, and a receiving portion with separate opening for receiving thin parts from the discharge opening. The receiving portion is movable, and the receiving opening is sized to receive only one thin part. The device is operative to repeat a state where the receiving opening faces the discharge opening, and a state where the receiving opening is away from the discharge opening to enable thin parts to be taken out from the receiving opening. The device also features a novel, posture-correcting portion to correct vertical posture of thin parts, a delivery portion for receiving posture-corrected thin parts, and a transporting portion as described.

Abstract: An automatic shoe cover dispenser includes a shoe cover feeding arrangement holding a plurality of shoe covers each having a shoe opening, a shoe cover pulling mechanism and a driving mechanism. The shoe cover pulling mechanism is capable of pulling one of the shoe covers from the shoe cover feeding arrangement as a standby shoe cover for being ready for wearing on a shoe of a user. The driving mechanism includes a pedal arranged in up and down movable manner for the shoe of the user to step thereon and a device for driving the pulling mechanism to deliver the standby shoe cover to the pedal and enlarging the shoe opening of the standby shoe cover to be large enough for the shoe of the user to place inside the standby shoe cover by means of up and down movements of the pedal.

Abstract: A method for preventing irregular packaging for automatic medicine packing machine having a last hopper that contains the tablet just before the tablet is packed, includes steps of sensing whether a tablet is received in the last hopper, sensing and deciding whether the tablet stands vertical inside the last hopper, vibrating a shutter if it is decided that the tablet stands vertical whereby the vertical standing tablet falls down, and checking non-standing of the tablet after completion of shutter vibration. The apparatus performing the method includes a shutter vibrating unit and a standing sensor that is installed on the last hopper and senses whether the tablet received in the last hopper stands vertical. The standing sensor includes a horizontal slot that is formed horizontally at a side of the last hopper at a position corresponding to a vertical height of a tablet and a photo sensor.

Abstract: A compact biosensor cartridge allows biosensors to be tested one by one and protects the biosensors from moisture until they are set. A biosensor dispensing device is also disclosed. A biosensor cartridge may be installed in the dispensing device and pushing and rotating elements are both used to eject the biosensors through a sensor ejecting port in the case. The biosensors are discharged to outside the case when ejection means inside the cartridge are driven by a driving means outside the biosensor cartridge. This configuration allows the biosensor cartridge to be made smaller and thinner.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing disk-shaped objects (such as caps for pharmaceutical vials) of two different sizes comprises: first and second dispensers, the first dispenser containing objects of a first size, and the second dispenser containing objects of a second size, each of the dispensers configured to dispense the objects one at a time through an outlet in a predetermined orientation; a first outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the first dispenser; a second outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the second dispenser; and a common chute fed by the first and second outlet channels. In this configuration, the apparatus can provide objects of two different sizes to a common location (such as a closure securing station).

Abstract: There is provided an automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers. The packaging apparatus includes a plurality of independently rotatable rotary slats. Each rotary slat includes an outer peripheral edge portion and the rotary slats are configured so that the outer peripheral edge portions define a common interior space. Each outer peripheral edge portion also defines an inner surface and a plurality of pill apertures. The pill apertures are configured to receive one of the pills from the common interior space at a first position and transmit the pill outside the rotary slats at a second position. A conveyor is configured to move a plurality of open containers along a predetermined path of travel and position each of the containers adjacent a respective rotary slat to define a delivery path that extends between the second position of the rotary slat and the container. At least one drive motor is in driving engagement for rotating the rotary slats.

Abstract: An orienting ejector is provided capable of orienting and ejecting fasteners of any size such as fasteners having a length that is greater than, equal to, or less than the diameter of their head. The orienting ejector is able to orient a fastener to an appropriate orientation prior to ejecting. A sensor is used to sense whether the fastener is oriented properly. If the fastener is not oriented properly, the orienting ejector discards the fastener.

Abstract: A high capacity document sheet processor combines significant speed and efficiency enhancing improvements in existing approaches to stack feeding particularly in the stack loading, feeding and singulating functions with novel operational arrangements adaptable to a universal paper handling and envelope inserting system.

Abstract: The oral medication delivery device provides patient access to medications prescribed to be available on an as-needed basis, but with a minimum time intervals between doses. The required time interval between drug accessibility is programmed into the device when the medication tray carrying the multiple doses is loaded into the device. The device allows access to a single dose of the medication after each minimum time interval has elapsed. When the drug dose is removed from the device, the medication tray locks until the next minimum time interval has elapsed.

Abstract: A vending machine for increasing consumer interest in the vending process and vended product includes a tipping mechanism. The tipping mechanism is positioned at a first end of a shelf, and modifies the orientation of an article being delivered from the shelf to a conveyor. The tipping mechanism causes the article to be tipped from an upright orientation to a perpendicular, lateral orientation. The tipping mechanism includes a ramp supported by the shelf, a spacer that provides the ramp with an incline from the shelf, and a product rotator extending from the shelf toward the conveyor. The conveyor then delivers the article to a vend port, where it is dispensed in the upright position. The conveyor may be mounted on internal elevator that carries the conveyor between one or more shelves and the vend port. A transparent window is provided on the face of the vending machine whereby a consumer can view the dispensing operations.

Abstract: A supply apparatus for prism-shaped chip components has two relatively movable taking-in members. When the members move relative to each other, flat surfaces thereof contact each other and a parallel space is formed between the upper portions of the two taking-in members. Relative movement of the two talking-in members causes the components in a storage chamber to enter the parallel space between the upper portions of the two taking-in members. The components entering the parallel space have the same thickness-wise orientation and are lengthwise in a supply passageway in a one by one in a state. The components move downward by gravity in the supply passageway and then in a discharge passageway.

Abstract: A vending machine for increasing consumer interest in the vending process and vended product includes an internal elevator. This elevator has a conveyor or tiltable bed mounted thereon whereby a vended article is both horizontally and vertically moveable within the machine. A transparent window is provided on the face of the vending machine whereby the dispensing operations can be viewed by a consumer. An alignment device can be provided on the elevator in order to prevent tipping of the articles to be dispensed.

Abstract: A component feeder is provided in which damage to chip components is minimized, being capable of efficiently discharging chip components aligned in a line. A bulk case is attached on the top portion of an outer storage housing capable of being supplied by a large number of chip components. Chip components are supplied from the outer storage housing to an inner housing of a component-storage housing via a supplying path. A predetermined number of the chip components in the inner housing is fed at a time to the outer housing via a communicating path in accordance with rotation of a rotary drum so as to be dropped into an aligning groove and aligned by a lug member of the rotary drum. The number of components in the outer housing is reduced, resulting in high efficiency of aligning and reduced damage to components. The chip components slide down on the aligning groove to be discharged to a discharge path, via the gate, aligned in a line.

Abstract: A component supply apparatus includes a rectangular cross-sectional component passage which can house a plurality of chip components in a longitudinal direction, and at a first side surface of the tip of this component passage a rectangular-shaped component discharge opening is formed, and at a second side surface opposing the first side surface of the tip of the component passage a rectangular-shaped pusher insertion opening is formed. Inserting the pusher into the component passage through the pusher insertion opening enables a forefront electronic component to be pushed by the pusher and be discharged outside from the component discharge opening in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: An ampule feeder which is simple in structure and which can discharge ampules one by one with a high degree of efficiency without the possibility of clogging. The feeder includes an ampule container having a bottom plate that is pivotable in one direction. Ampules stored randomly in the container are moved onto an inclined top surface of an ampule receiver and raised. When the ampule receiver rises to its highest level, the ampules slide on its surface and drop onto a conveyor belt of a dispenser provided outside of the side wall of the ampule container. Ampules are thus discharged by the dispenser. As the number of ampules remaining in the container decreases, the bottom plate is inclined in increments to prevent the ampule receiver from rising with no ampules on its top surface.

Abstract: An improved orientation means for a cable tie delivering system is adapted to complement a cable tie delivery system and includes an elongated conduit for orientation of an elongated, generally planar cable tie therein. The elongated conduit orients either a symmetrical or a single-directional cable tie in a delivery hose extending between a cable tie application tool and a dispenser from which such a cable tie is ejected. The conduit achieves proper orientation of the cable tie by requiring the cable tie to bend as it travels from the dispenser to the tool. By confining the cable tie once it has achieved the desired orientation the conduit retains the cable tie therein for accurate delivery to the installation tool and proper application to a bundle of articles to be tied.

Abstract: An automatic cable tie installation tool includes a frame supporting a handle and a manual trigger. A movable jaw is provided to grasp a bundle of cables which are to be tied with ties straps. Actuation of the trigger operates the jaw to move the jaw into engagement with the bundle of cables. The tool provides for accommodation of a symmetrical cable tie strap and also provides for the orientation of the cable tie strap so that the strap can be properly bundled around the group of cables supported within the jaw. The tool provides for proper tensioning of the cable tie around the bundle of cables and for repeated application of cable ties around the bundle of cables within a short period of time.

Abstract: An ampule dispenser for dispensing ampules from an ampule container in which a plurality of ampules are stored in a disorderly manner. It has a stocker for stocking ampules discharged from the ampule container. The stocker has a bottom wall sloping downward both in a first direction in which ampules are discharged from the ampule container and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A cylindrical rotor is provided in the bottom wall at one side thereof for rotation in one direction. The rotor has axial grooves formed in the outer periphery thereof and extending axially to receive a single ampule discharged at a time.

Abstract: An ampule dispenser is capable of discharging ampules stored in a random manner one by one after arranging them in an orderly manner. A hole is formed in the bottom plate of an ampule housing. The bottom plate has a top surface sloping downward toward this hole. A push-up member adapted to be moved up and down through the hole has an ampule supporting portion on which a single ampule is placed at a time in a laid-down position. By moving the push-up member upward, the ampule supported on its supporting portion is raised to the highest position, where it slides down the sloping supporting portion and is discharged through a discharge port formed in the peripheral wall of the ampule housing.

Abstract: A transportable, hand-held motorized dispenser having an amusement characteristic includes a disc-shaped housing of a top shell and a bottom shell and a motor driven turntable mounted for unidirectional rotation therein. The housing defines a recess for receiving compartments defined by the turntable for transporting objects supplied to the turntable through an entry slot and for dispensing the objects through a dispensing slot in the wall of the housing, one at a time.

Abstract: An aligning and supplying apparatus 1 comprises a container 2 to store screws, a chute which enters the container 2 and is formed on the top surface thereof with a groove 3 having a smaller width than the diameter of the screw head so as to receive the screw shank, means for relatively moving the container and the chute between a first position where the bottom surface of the container and the top surface of the chute meet and a second position where the top surface of the chute rises to a predetermined height above the bottom surface of the container, and a first air nozzle 14 which is positioned so as to face toward the top surface of the chute and blow off screws fallen without getting into the groove of the chute. The screw shank is thus received into the chute groove when the apparatus is in the first position and the screw 23 which lies on the top surface of the chute is blown off, leaving screws lined in a row in the groove 3 in the chute.

Abstract: A cartridge feeder for dispensing a plurality of cartridges in single order and in upright position, each cartridge being cylindrical shape and having a top end tapering to an aperture therein and a substantially flat bottom end. A hopper stores a plurality of the cartridges and feeds those cartridges to a throat in a bridge to which the hopper is connected. The cartridge is passed through the bridge throat and to the throat of a shuttle. A pair of axially positioned pins with opposing cups close against the top end and the bottom end of the cartridge. The shuttle moves from a location underneath the bridge to a location over a chute. When the shuttle is over the chute, the first and second pins separate releasing the cartridge to fall through the chute. The first and second pins have a profile which engage the cartridge in a manner causing the bottom end of the cartridge to always drop first. The cartridge passes through the chute to a trap door.

Abstract: The separation device includes a container having a dome-shaped base and a peripheral wall surrounding the base to define a chamber for receiving a random mixture of defective and nondefective articles. A spiral-shaped ramp on the peripheral wall which surrounds the chamber and overhangs the base, leads to an elevated outlet opening. A vibrating device vibrates the chamber to excite movement of the defective and nondefective articles along the base and onto and up the ramp toward the outlet opening. The container also includes trap openings in the base and ramp to eliminate defective articles from the chamber. Discriminating devices are provided on the ramp that cause defective material to fall from the ramp back onto the base of the chamber. Only the nondefective articles can move on the ramp past the trapping devices toward the outlet of the container for transfer to another processing station.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for use in an article handling system having a conduit through which articles such as can ends in a facewise nested condition are conveyed from a first location to a second location. The control apparatus comprises a housing operatively interposed in the conduit and an elastomeric tubular sleeve member mounted in the housing and defining a through passage of a shape generally complementary to the shape of the articles. The tubular sleeve member is responsive to the level of pressure in a pressure chamber for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of the articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning electronic component chips, which is made of a resin material as a whole, comprises a chamber for storing a plurality of electronic component chips in random orientation, and an aligning passage for guiding the electronic component chips, which were stored in the chamber, to move while aligned along a prescribed direction. A wall surface defining the chamber and one defining the aligning passage are provided with conductivity, by formation of a metal-plated film or by other methods. Thus, static electricity, which may be caused by movement of the electronic component chips, is prevented, in order to attain smooth movement of the electronic component chips.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for transferring flanged articles from a vibratory feeder to a discharge station which features a pair of feed rails one of which has a curved external hearing surface for providing point bearing contact with a flange of the article being transferred.A method is disclosed for discharging and orienting flanged articles for delivery from a vibratory feeding device which includes the mounting of one of a pair of feed rails above the other feed rail at an entrance end of a discharge device for supporting the flanged article with its body portion tilted away from the other rail and supporting an outlet end of the discharge device such that its rails position the body portion of the flanged article in a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus for initially orienting and then injecting fasteners (F) into fastener grasping fingers (46), the fasteners being received by the apparatus (10) from a non-dedicated feed tube (18). The apparatus includes, as its principle components, a mounting frame (20), an adjustable orientator (12) mounted on the frame, an adjustable injector (14) also mounted on the frame, and a dedicated feed tube assembly (16) extending between the adjustable orientator and the adjustable injector. The orientator includes right and left slides (50, 52, and 56, respectively) the spacing between them being adjustable, and further includes an orientation detector (136, 138) for determining whether or not proper orientation has been achieved.

Abstract: An unscrambler for unscrambling and orientating containers such as plastic bottles includes a hopper (1), having straight or slightly curved walls, a plurality of travelling carriages (20) having holding elements (5) with openings (6) for receiving individual containers and passageways (22) for receiving and positioning the containers, the travelling carriages (20) moving along an enclosed path and being interconnected and drawn by a flexible or hinged drive belt (33), and adjustable shelf (8) disposed between holders (5) and passageways (22) for supporting the containers (2) until they reach a discharge station where they drop through an opening in the shelf.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling empty two-piece capsules includes a vertically reciprocating feeder which extracts capsules from a hopper and forms randomly ordered linear arrays. A horizontal row of capsules are fed by the feeder to key-shaped slots in a block below the feeder. A blade reciprocally positioned adjacent the wider portion of the key-shaped slots moves into the slot at about the middle of the capsule to turn the capsules so as to be partly positioned within the narrower portion of the key-shaped slot. Each capsule is then ejected by projectable pins into a channel where the capsules are pneumatically accelerated into a pair of mated receiving rings which separate the two halves of the capsule.

Abstract: A speed-loading device comprising a container having an interior chamber and a discharge opening leading from the chamber to the exterior of the container. The container has a storage section in the chamber for storing cartridges in side-by-side relationship and an orienting section in the chamber between the opening and the storage section. The container can be oriented so that the cartridges in the chamber can fall by gravity from the storage section through the orienting section and out through the discharge opening. A removable blocking member blocks the flow of cartridges out through the discharge opening. The orienting section rotates the cartridges as they fall through the orienting section toward the discharge opening so that the cartridges fall end first through the discharge opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling empty two-piece capsules includes a vertically reciprocating feeder which extracts capsules from a hopper and forms randomly ordered linear arrays. A horizontal row of capsules are fed by the feeder to key-shaped slots in a block below the feeder. A blade reciprocally positioned adjacent the wider portion of the key-shaped slots moves into the slot at about the middle of the capsule to turn the capsules so as to be partly positioned within the narrower portion of the key-shaped slot. Each capsule is then ejected by projectable pins into a channel where the capsules are pneumatically accelerated into a pair of mated receiving rings which separates the two halves of the capsule.

Abstract: Disclosed is device (10) for orienting and conveying a headed fastener (14), wherein the device is positioned beneath any suitable dispenser (12) whereby headed fasteners are removed from a supply container and successively dropped with random orientation onto the device. The device (10) is configured to receive the headed fasteners (14) within a selected groove (32, 132) so that the headed fastener will assume a predetermined orientation within the device. The oriented fastener is then conveyed from the point it is received in the groove to a conduit (55, 57) which directs the headed fastener into the feeder tube (16) of the fastening machine. The fasteners are rotated as they are conveyed along the device in order to create a gyroscopic effect in the fastener as a means of maintaining the relative orientation of the fastener as it moves through the groove toward the feeder tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for arranging the obverse and reverse sides of the bills or the like includes a carrying-in passage and a carrying-out passage. A reversible conveying passage is provided between the carrying-in passage and the carrying-out passage for conveying the bills from the carrying-in passage in a direction identical or opposite to the carrying-in passage.

Abstract: An electrical connector pickup station for long electrical connectors, comprises an escapement assembly for receiving connectors from a gravity feed magazine and which is mounted above a base plate so as to be inclined in a vertical plane. A connector locating assembly, also mounted on the base plate, is pivotable and translatable between a first inclined position in alignment with the escapement assembly to receive a connector therefrom, and a second horizontal position in which the connector can be picked up from the locating assembly by the jaws of a robot or pick-and-place machine. A device is provided for securing the connector in the locating assembly during its movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting elongate bodies, for example electrical connectors, comprises magazines for containing vertical stacks of the elongate bodies, escapement slides for releasing one body at a time from each magazine, as required, first and second slidable traps mounted beneath the escapement slides and having an advanced, body supporting position and a retracted body release position, and guide surfaces on the escapement slides for guiding each body as it falls from a magazine, so that it lies across both of the traps when they are in their body supporting position. A pair of receptacles are slidably mounted on a carriage beneath the traps so that either of these receptacles can be positioned to receive a body released by the traps. If one trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in one vertical orientation and if the other trap is first retracted, the body will fall into the receptacle in the opposite vertical orientation.

Abstract: A programmable parts reorienter and feeder utilizing a fiber-optic array in a sensing head to determine an initial orientation of a part passing through a parts handling unit. The sensing head is coupled to a microprocessor that has been programmed to recognize properly oriented as well as misoriented parts. After determining the initial orientation of the part the microprocessor will direct a reorienter device to either pass the part in the first orientation, orient the part to a preferred orientation or, in some cases, reject the part.

Abstract: A cop and bobbin conveying system including a cop feeding lines and bobbin ejecting lines which are interconnecting fine spinning frames and a winder. The cops and bobbins are conveyed by carrier members on which they are fitted and carried. A bobbin supplying device for supplying a bobbin on an empty carrier member is provided at the intermediate portion of the bobbin ejecting line.

Abstract: A guide bar reciprocally movable at an inclined angle accepts a fastener in an upper leg of the guide bar when in a retracted position, moves that fastener past a stationary member and drops it onto a lower leg of the guide bar when in the extended position. A movable pin contacts the lower end of the fastener and acts as a reference when that pin is in the extended position. The guide bar when it is retracted is at a distance less than the length of the fastener from the reference point. If the fastener, which has a shallow recess on one end and a deep recess on the other end, has the shallow recessed end down that end will drop down when the pin is retracted. If the deep recessed end is down the fastener will rotate around the pin and drop the shallow recessed end down.