Extensible head for gripping and modifying a group of objects

Apparatus for separating and reorienting a group of objects, the apparatus including a stationary frame, elongated guide means fixed to the frame, a plurality of carriages slidably mounted on the guide means, a plurality of gripping members carried by each carriage, a crank member pivotally mounted on the frame, a plurality of first links coupling the crank member to the carriages, and means for rotating the crank member between a first position at which the carriages are drawn together and a second position at which the carriages are spaced apart on said guide means, wherein the improvement comprises:

• support means mounted on each carriage for rotation about a vertical axis, the respective plurality of gripping members being mounted on the support means of the carriage;
• a plurality of second links, each having one end pivotally attached to a corresponding one of the support means and the other end pivotally connected to the frame such that translation of the carriages resulting from rotation of the crank member between the first position and the second position causes simultaneous rotation of each support means and its associated gripping members through a predetermined angle with respect to the corresponding carriage, each support means comprising a lug spaced from the axis of rotation of the support means, the said one end of the corresponding second link being swivelled on said lug, and said crank member being positioned between the carriages, the crank member comprising
• a first pair of diametrically opposed lugs, said means for rotating the crank member being coupled to one of said first lugs;
• and
• a second pair of diametrically opposed lugs, the other end of the second link associated with the carriage on one side of the crank member being swivelled on one of said second lugs, and the other end of the second link associated with the carriage on the other side of the crank member being swivelled on the other of said second lugs.