Apparatus for feeding elongated objects

Apparatus for feeding elongated rigid objects, each of said objects defining a head and a shank, said apparatus comprising:

• a rotary feed member, and having a central axis about which it may be rotatably mounted, and having drive means for rotating the same and having upper and lower ends;
• a plurality of spaced apart parallel generally vertical grooves formed in the outer circumference of said rotary member, said grooves being spaced apart circumferentially from one another, each of said grooves being shaped and adapted to receive a single said elongated object and being of greater width and depth than the maximum width of the shank of said object;
• angled shoulder means formed on the outer periphery of said rotary member, commencing at said upper end, and extending part-way down such periphery, and located adjacent respective ones of said grooves, and on the side of said grooves in the direction of such predetermined rotation, said shoulder means defining an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane;
• annular recess means formed in said periphery of said rotary member intermediate its upper and lower ends;
• an ejection member located in said recess means for engaging objects in said grooves and ejecting them therefrom at a predetermined rotational position of said member, and,
• generally semi-annular retaining means, around a portion of said rotary member, for aligning and retaining said objects in said grooves until they reach said ejection member, said retaining means defining a leading end and a trailing end, said leading end defining upper and under surfaces, the under surface being angled upwardly towards said leading end to define a generally tapering formation, whereby to engage said elongated objects at their upper ends, as the same rotate with said rotary feed member into engagement with said retaining means and cause each said object to seat loosely in a respective groove with its head supporting it on the top of said rotary member, wherein said semi-annular retaining means comprises a curved bar having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface having a radius of curvature slightly greater than the radius of said rotary feed member, whereby to define a continuous regular curve therearound, for engaging said objects and retaining them in position in their grooves, and wherein said curved bar includes cutting edge means formed on said leading end of said curved bar, said cutting edge means being located and adapted to engage and cut off portions of said elongated objects which do not fit within respective said grooves.

Apparatus for processing elongated rigid objects, each of said objects defining a head and a shank, said apparatus comprising;

• a processing machine for sequentially processing said elongated objects, said processing maching having an entry point at which said elongated objects are introduced to said machine;
• a rotary feed member associated with said processing machine, and having upstream and downstream locations, the downstream location of said rotary feed member being located adjacent the entry point of said processing machine;
• a plurality of spaced apart parallel generally vertical grooves formed in said rotary feed member, said grooves being spaced apart circumferentially and each being shaped and adapted to receive a single said elongated object and being of greater width and depth than the maximum width of the shank of said object;
• angled shoulder means formed on the outer periphery of said rotary member, commencing at said upper end, and extending part-way down such periphery, and located adjacent respective ones of said grooves, and on the side of said grooves in the direction of such predetermined rotation, said shoulder means defining an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane;
• an ejection member located adjacent said downstream end of said rotary feed member, for ejecting elongated objects therefrom and introducing them to said entry point of said processing machine;
• generally semi-annular retaining means, around a portion of said rotary member, for aligning and retaining said objects in said grooves until they reach said ejection member said retaining means defining a leading end and a trailing end, said leading end defining upper and under surfaces, the under surface being angled upwardly towards said leading end to define a generally tapering formation, whereby to engage said elongated objects initially at their upper ends, as the same rotate with said rotary feed member, into engagement with said retaining means and cause each said object to seat loosely in a respective groove with its head supporting it on the top of said rotary member;
• delivery means for delivering elongated objects to said entry point of said rotary feed member, and,
• drive means for driving said rotary feed member at varying rotational speeds, whereby the speed of said rotary feed member may be varied independently of the operation of said processing machine.