Bolt feeder

A bolt feeder to align bolts in a predetermined orientation and to feed the bolts to a subsequent station, comprising:

• a storage portion storing the bolts therein;
• a plate-shaped body arranged adjacent to the storage portion;
• one or more magnets placed on a back surface of the plate-shaped body to attract the bolts via the plate-shaped body;
• a selection portion arranged on a front surface of the plate-shaped body and having a passage through which one bolt in a predetermined orientation out of the bolts attracted by the one or more magnets is allowed to pass;
• a moving device causing the one or more magnets, or the one or more magnets and the plate-shaped body, to rotate and move from the storage portion toward the selection portion;
• and
• a guide portion arranged on the front surface of the plate-shaped body, extending upstream in a moving direction of the one or more magnet from an entrance of the passage, and guiding the bolts attracted by the one or more magnets to the passage, wherein
• the guide portion has an inclined surface around the entrance of the passage,
• the inclined surface is inclined upward and radially outward from an end of the front surface of the plate-shaped body, and
• the bolt feeder further comprises:
• a sensor to detect the bolt having passed through the selection portion;
• and
• a controller to control the moving device to rotate reversely when the sensor does not detect the bolt in a predetermined time.