Selection device for sweet confections

A selection device for sweet confections, comprising:

• a feeder chute from which loose confections are dispensed to the device;
• a central reception table, positioned below the outlet of the feeder chute, rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, and made to turn at a prescribed speed;
• a stationary guide, positioned substantially in contact with a top surface of the central table and creating a voluted channel along which confections dispensed from the, chute are conveyed toward a peripheral exit area of the central table, thereby affording an exit from the table;
• an orbital selection unit, comprising first conveyor means by which the loose confections departing form the peripheral exit area are accelerated along a first path, and said first conveyor means encircling the vertical axis externally of the central table, said selection unit also including second conveyor means, by which the confections are transported singly, spaced apart at equal distance one from the next along a second path substantially encircling the first path and coinciding therewith at a convergence zone where confections circulating on the first conveyor means are transferred centrifugally to the second conveyor means;
• at least two stations comprising a selection station and a rejection station located in sequence along the path of the second conveyor means, at which regular confections are selected and substandard confections rejected, respectively;
• gaging means located along the second path;
• cam-profile ejection means, positioned at the selection station and serving to ensure the removal of regular confections from the second path by centrifugal force;
• cam-profile ejection means positioned at the reject station, serving to ensure the removal of substandard confections from the second path by centrifugal force.