Abstract: Diode chips (44) are cut from a p-n sheet-diffused semiconductor wafer (41). Instead of having conventional rectangular shapes, the chips have a rhomboidal shape. This makes the shape of the chips asymmetric in that one surface (46) of each chip becomes a distinguishable mirror image of its other surface (47). The direction of the p-n junction in the wafer is oriented with respect to the shape of the chips to be cut to place the same conductivity type region adjacent to the same rhomboidal shape of the surface. The shape of the chips (44) thereby aids apparatus (59) to sort the chips into two groups, each group consisting of chips of the same polarity or orientation of their p-n junctions with respect to a common support plane. The apparatus (59) includes a feed track (60) leading to a fork (61) in the track.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging tall, narrow receptacles with small, plate-like items of like size and shape. The apparatus has at least one counting and charging unit having a plurality of axially aligned counting wheels having a plurality of pockets along their periphery for receiving individual items and a funnel arranged underneath the counting wheels for receiving items discharged by the counting wheels and for directing them into a receptacle arranged below the funnel. There are further provided a plurality of orienting channels arranged between the funnel and each counting wheel. Each orienting channel is arranged to receive items from the associated counting wheel and to orient the items such that upon discharge of each item from the orienting channels into the funnel, the main plane of each item is parallel to the main plane of the receptacle situated underneath the funnel.

Abstract: The flow of containers along a first conveyor providing a supply of unfilled containers to a filling machine is interrupted, with containers from the first conveyor being transferred to a second conveyor which, in turn, supplies containers to a filling machine. Each time a container is delivered from the secondary conveyor into the filling machine an additional container is transferred from the first conveyor to the secondary conveyor. Timing of containers entering the secondary conveyor is controlled to avoid interference with dispensing apparatus placing containers into the filling machine.