Capsule positioning guide and associated vacuum manifold for capsule orienting mechanisms

In a capsule orienting and turning apparatus wherein said capsules have body portions and cap portions which are of greater transverse dimensions than said body portions, and wherein said apparatus comprises, hopper means into which a multiplicity of said capsules are to be loaded, a continuously moveable capsule transporting conveyor having a plurality of pockets having generally upright pocket portions for receiving the capsules therein, said pockets being substantially equally spaced apart, each pocket also having a capsule receiving substantially longitudinal pocket portion arranged to carry the capsule with the capsule axis extending in approximately the direction of its movement, and each said pocket having a substantially crosswise pocket portion arranged to carry the capsule arranged substantially crosswise of the direction of its movement, means for moving said conveyor along a predetermined path with some of the capsules in a caps up attitude and others with a caps down attitude,

• the combination which comprises:
• tilting means for tilting the caps down capsules into an attitude arranged generally along said predetermined path, means for substantially restraining said caps up capsules from such tilting movement, vacuum rectification means directed to draw transversely of said predetermined path to rectify said capsules by shifting the cap portions of those capsules which are in a caps up position, and also the cap portions of those capsules which have been tilted by said tilting means, all in a direction generally crosswise with respect to said predetermined path, and means pivotally connecting said vacuum rectification means and said transporting conveyor.

In a capsule orienting and turning apparatus wherein said capsules have body portions and cap portions which are of greater transverse dimensions than said body portions, and wherein said apparatus comprises, hopper means into which a multiplicity of said capsules are to be loaded, a continuously moveable capsule transporting conveyor having a plurality of pockets having generally upright pocket portions for receiving the capsules therein, said pockets being substantially equally spaced apart, each said pocket also having a capsule receiving substantially longitudinal pocket portion arranged to carry the capsule with the capsule axis extending in approximately the direction of its movement, and each said pocket having a substantially crosswise pocket portion arranged to carry the capsule arranged substantially crosswise of the direction of its movement, means for moving said conveyor along a predetermined path with some of the capsules in a caps up attitude and others with a caps down attitude,

• the combination which comprises:
• tilting means for tilting the caps down capsules into an attitude arranged generally along said predetermined path, means for substantially restraining said caps up capsules from such tilting movement, vacuum rectification means directed to draw transversely of said predetermined path to rectify said capsules by shifting the cap portions of those capsules which are in a caps up position, and also the cap portions of those capsules which have been tilted by said tilting means, all in a direction generally crosswise with respect to said predetermined path, and capsule positioning guide means interposed between said transport conveyor and said vacuum means and also disposed adjacent to said means for substantially restraining said caps up capsules from said tilting movement for retaining each said capsule in its respective pocket portion immediately prior to its being subjected to said vacuum rectification means and then releasing said capsule when it is subjected to said vacuum rectification means, wherein said vacuum rectification means comprises a vacuum manifold and wherein said capsule positioning guide means is carried by said vacuum manifold, said apparatus further comprising means pivotally connecting said vacuum manifold and said transport conveyor.