Automatic rail fastener orienter

A rail fastener orienter for orienting rail fasteners to a desired orientation, the fasteners having a head and an opposite tip and a shank connecting the head to the tip, said orienter comprising:

• a frame having an upper end and an opposite lower end, and defining a track with an inlet adjacent said upper end, and an outlet adjacent said lower end, said track dimensioned for slidingly and rotatingly accommodating the shank;
• a first stage holder configured for pivoting relative to said frame and defining a fastener retaining groove in communication with said track;
• a first driver for moving said first stage holder from a first position to a second position;
• a second stage holder configured for pivoting relative to said frame and defining a second fastener retaining groove in communication with said track;
• a second driver for moving said second stage holder from a third position to a fourth position;
• an outside bumper located on said frame in operational proximity to said track;
• a handoff area in communication with said track and located between said first stage holder and said second stage holder;
• an inside bumper located on an inside bumper plate defining said handoff device in operational proximity to said track;
• a controller for operating said first stage sequentially before said second stage such that a fastener in said track is received by said first stage holder in said fastener retaining groove, and encounters said outside bumper for reorienting the head;
• as said first stage holder is moved to said second position, the fastener is moved to said handoff device, whereafter said second stage holder receives the fastener in said second groove, and said second stage holder is moved from said third position to said fourth position, and out said outlet.

A method for orienting rail fasteners having a shank with an offset head at one end, and a tip at an opposite end, comprising:

• providing the fasteners to an orienter in an orientation with the head at one end;
• feeding the fasteners sequentially to an orienter having a track dimensioned for slidingly and rotatably accommodating the fasteners, the fasteners having one of a head left, head right, head up and head down orientation;
• passing the fasteners to a first stage holder moving between a first position and a second position, where the fastener head encounters an outside bumper when the head is in an undesirable position for rotating the shank so that the head is reoriented;
• passing the fastener to a handoff area where the fastener is passed to a second stage holder moving from a third position to a fourth position;
• providing at least one inside bumper surface for engaging and reorienting the head when in an undesirable position to a desirable position;
• and
• feeding the oriented fastener from an outlet of the track to a rail fastener applicator.