US 5,325,956 AGranted

Method and apparatus for orienting elongated components with distinct ends

AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated

InventorBilly J. Keen, Jr.

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for orienting elongated components, where the components are initially oriented in a random manner with respect to the ends of the components. Improperly oriented components are separated from properly oriented ones and are transferred to a turnaround device; this device rotates the improperly oriented components 180.degree. about a transverse axis running from one end of the component to the other end of the component. The stream of rotated elongated components is then reintegrated with the stream of elongated components which were initially properly oriented. All of the elongated components are then removed from the orienting apparatus. The output stream of properly oriented elongated components coincides with the input stream of randomly oriented elongated components.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus for orienting elongated components having different ends, wherein the elongated components may be input into the apparatus without regard to their orientation with respect to their ends, comprising:

a positioning mechanism having holding means along its surface for receiving randomly oriented elongated components;
means for identifying and moving improperly oriented elongated components relative to a datum line;
at least one transfer means having a plurality of holding means along the surface of each transfer means for receiving properly oriented elongated components;
a 180.degree.-turning mechanism having a plurality of holding means along its surface for receiving improperly oriented elongated components and turning them 180.degree. to be properly oriented;
an assembly mechanism having a plurality of holding means along its surface for receiving both the originally properly oriented elongated components and the elongated components which have been turned to be properly orientated;
means for maintaining an appropriate relative position between an individual elongated component and an individual holding means;
and
means for transferring elongated components from a holding means on one mechanism to a holding means on an adjacent mechanism.

5 more elements

An apparatus for converting an input stream of randomly aligned elongated components, having distinct ends, into uniform alignment, comprising:

a positioning drum having flutes spaced equidistant along its surface for receiving randomly oriented cylindrical components;
a cam-activated push rod for identifying and moving improperly oriented cylindrical components relative to a datum line;
at least one transfer drum having flutes spaced equidistant along the circumference of each drum for receiving properly oriented cylindrical components from the positioning drum;
a 180.degree.-turning drum having flutes spaced equidistant along its circumference for receiving improperly oriented cylindrical components from the positioning drum and tipturning them 180.degree. to be properly oriented;
and
an assembly drum having flutes spaced equidistant along its circumference for receiving both the originally properly oriented cylindrical components and the elongated components which have been turned to be properly oriented;
and
means for maintaining and releasing controlled vacuums within the flutes for transferring cylindrical components from one drum to an adjacent drum.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.