Apparatus and method for assemblying randomly arranged articles

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for selectively distributing a plurality of unordered articles at a plurality of receiving stations in predetermined orders are provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The present invention contemplates a plurality of receiving stations wherein each receiving station is to receive a plurality of selectively distributed ones of a plurality of articles in a predetermined order. A conveyor system is provided for releasably supporting the plurality of unordered articles to be selectively distributed and for displacing releasably supported ones of the plurality of unordered articles in a path adjacent to the plurality of receiving stations. The conveyor system has at least one portion for receiving the plurality of unordered articles sequentially and releasably supporting the plurality of unordered articles in the sequence received. Release mechanisms are provided at each of the plurality of receiving stations for selectively releasing an article from the conveyor system for distribution to the receiving station in a predetermined order. Each of the receiving stations are provided with sensors for identifying each article displaced thereby as a function of the article's position in the sequence of unordered articles and the release mechanism is effectively activated at each of the plurality of receiving stations when an article being displaced thereby is to be distributed to that receiving station and is the next succeeding article in the predetermined order to be distributed to that receiving station.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.