Vibratory apparatus and method for inverting articles in a product stream

A vibratory apparatus for inverting articles in a product stream, comprising:

• a vibrating conveying surface having an infeed at a first elevation, and a discharge at a second elevation, and configured to transport the product steam from the infeed to the discharge in a flow direction;
• a first guide wall positioned at an angle relative to the flow direction, and borne by the vibrating conveying surface, and wherein the first guide wall has a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein the first guide wall has a first height extending from the first end to an intermediate position between the first and second end, and a tapered region beginning at the intermediate position and extending to the second end;
• a first curved surface positioned adjacent to a portion of the first guide wall, and borne by the vibrating conveying surface;
• and wherein the articles are transported by and along a portion of the first curved surface and are inverted or turned-over as they are transferred from the first curved surface to the vibrating conveying surface.

A method for inverting articles in a product stream, comprising:

• providing a vibrating conveying surface having an infeed and a discharge;
• providing a first guide wall that is borne by the vibrating conveying surface, and having a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein the first guide wall has a first height extending from the first end to an intermediate position between the first and second end, and a tapered region beginning at the intermediate position and extending to the second end;
• providing a first curved surface positioned adjacent to a portion of the first guide wall, and borne by the vibrating conveying surface;
• transporting articles oriented with a first side facing in an upward manner from and along the vibrating conveying surface to the first curved surface;
• transporting the articles along a portion of the first curved surface so that the articles begin to roll as they are urged toward the first guide wall;
• releasing the articles from the first curved surface to the vibrating conveying surface so that the first side of the articles assume a downward facing direction as they contact the vibratory conveying surface;
• transporting the articles oriented with the first side facing in a downward manner as they are transported to the discharge.