Apparatus and methods for product orientation and hole healing applications

An article handling apparatus including:

• an extended article supply conveyor for conveying articles disposed randomly about least three article spaces thereon;
• an extended article receiving conveyor disposed operably proximate thereto;
• an article transfer element operably disposed between said conveyors, rotary article carrying elements on said transfer element;
• said transfer element operably movable in a path over both said conveyors;
• said rotary article carrying elements operable to engage first articles on said article supply conveyor and transfer them to said article receiving conveyor;
• said rotary article carrying elements being selectively rotatable to reorient said transferring first articles from an article supply orientation to a second orientation;
• and
• said article transfer element moveable in a direction along a direction parallel to the extension of said supply conveyor and between at least said three article spaces on said article supply conveyor.

Article handling apparatus comprising:

• a first article conveyor;
• a second article conveyor parallel to said first conveyor;
• a rotary turret operably moveable for operable disposition along said first article conveyor between said conveyors for engaging, selectively reorienting and transferring first articles from a first orientation on said first article conveyor to a second orientation on said second article conveyor;
• said rotary turret moveable in an upstream direction along said first article conveyor for engaging and reorienting succeeding articles from upstream locations on said first article conveyor, and then moveable in an opposite direction for transferring engaged succeeding articles to positions on said second article conveyor immediately respectively following said first articles thereon.