Rotary object feeder

A rotary object feeder comprising:

• a support;
• a carrier member rotatably mounted to said support for rotation about a sun axis of rotation;
• a plurality of object pick-up members, each comprising an associated suction cup, having an outer surface for picking-up and releasing objects proximate a periphery of said feeder, mounted to said carrier member, for rotation herewith;
• a plurality of control valves, each in flow communication with an associated suction cup, each of said control valves having an open and closed state, said control valves to provide suction at an outer surface of an associated suction cup when in said open state;
• a controller, in communication with each of said control valves to open and close each of said control valves to provide suction at an outer surface of an associated suction cup;
• an angular position sensor on said feeder, in communication with said controller to provide a signal used by said controller to determine a measurement of an angular position of said carrier member about said sun axis;
• wherein said controller opens and closes each of said control valves to provide suction at said associated outer surfaces in response to determined angular positions of said carrier member corresponding to pre-programmed angular positions of said carrier member about said sun axis.

A method of feeding an object from a pick-up location to a drop-off location, on the periphery of a rotary object feeder, using said rotary object feeder comprising:

• a support;
• a carrier member rotatably mounted to said support for rotation about a sun axis of rotation;
• an object pick-up member mounted to said support, for rotation therewith;
• said object pick-up member comprising a suction cup, having an outer surface that passes proximate said pick-up and drop-off location as said carrier member is rotated about said sun axis, said suction cup for picking-up and releasing objects proximate said pick-up and drop-off locations;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• a. continuously rotating said carrier member and said pick-up member about said sun axis;
• b. continuously sensing an angular position of said carrier and said pick-up member relative to said support;
• c. continuously determining the angular rate of rotation of said carrier;
• d. applying a vacuum at said suction cup before said suction cup reaches proximate said pick-up location to pick up an object at said pick-up location;
• e. determining a vacuum turn-off point, in advance of said drop-off location, based on said angular rate-of rotation, said turn-off point calculated so that said picked-up object, retained by said vacuum at said suction cup is released at said drop-off location in response to turning-off said vacuum at said vacuum turn-off point;
• f. turning off said vacuum at said suction cup as said suction cup reaches said turnoff point.

A rotary object feeder comprising:

• a support;
• a carrier member rotatably mounted to said support for rotation about a predetermined axis of rotation;
• a plurality of object pick-up members mounted to said carrier at angular spaced positions about said predetermined axis;
• each object pick-up member comprising
• a suction cup, having an outer surface for picking-up and releasing objects proximate a periphery of said feeder;
• a vacuum generator having an inlet and an outlet for generating a source of vacuum at said outlet from a source pressurized gas at said inlet;
• said vacuum generator outlet in flow communication with said suction cup;
• a plurality of independently controllable electrical control valves mounted on said carrier, each mounted in close proximity to an associated one of said vacuum generators, each of said control valves in flow communication with a source of pressurized gas and an inlet of an associated one of said vacuum generators, each said control valve having an open and closed state, each said control valve in said open state providing pressurized air to an associated vacuum generator inlet;
• a slip ring mounted to said carrier about said sun axis;
• said slip ring comprising a plurality of input and output wires, each input wire electrically interconnected with an associated output wire;
• each of said plurality of output wires mounted to said carrier for rotation therewith and electrically connected to one of said control valves;
• said plurality of input wires fixed to said support;
• a controller, electrically connected to said plurality of input wires, to selectively energize said control valves to provide pressurized air to said vacuum generators as said carrier member rotates about said sun axis.

A rotary feeder comprising:

• a support;
• a carrier member rotatably mounted to said support for rotation about a predetermined axis of rotation;
• a plurality of object pick-up members mounted to said carrier member at angularly spaced positions about said predetermined axis;
• each object pick-up member comprising;
• a suction cup, having an outer surface for picking up and releasing objects proximate a periphery of said feeder;
• a vacuum generator having an inlet and an outlet for generating a source of vacuum at said outlet from a supply pressurized gas at said inlet;
• said vacuum generator being in flow communication with said suction cup;
• a plurality of electrically controlled valve means, each mounted in close proximity to an associated vacuum generator, for connecting a source of pressurised gas to inlets of each of the vacuum generators during part of each resolution thereof about said predetermined axis;
• a programmable controller, in communication with each of said valve means to independently open and close each of said valve means to provide suction at an outer surface of an associated suction cup.