Rotary orienter dual indexing system

A rotary orienter for moving articles into a predetermined orientation comprising:

• a support frame;
• a central column having a longitudinal axis, said column being mounted to said support frame for rotation of said column about said longitudinal axis of said column;
• means for rotating said central column;
• at least one station connected to said column for rotation with said column, said station comprising;
• a spindle having a longitudinal axis, said spindle being rotatably connected to said column for rotation about said longitudinal axis of said spindle, said spindle having a first end and a second end;
• a turntable being attached to said first end of said spindle;
• means for rotating said spindle being connected to said support frame and being connected to said spindle;
• a lower slip clutch mounted on said spindle and connected to said means for rotating said spindle;
• a lower indexing wheel mounted on said spindle, said lower indexing wheel having at least two detents formed therein;
• a lower arm having a first end pivotally mounted to said support frame and a second end extending free, said arm being engageable with said detents of said indexing wheel such that when so engaged, said indexing wheel is prevented from rotating with said spindle;
• a lower actuator connected to said support frame, said lower actuator being selectively engageable with said lower arm such that said lower arm is disengaged from one of said detents of said lower indexing wheel when said lower actuator engages said lower arm, so that said turntable rotates until said arm is released by said lower actuator and said lower arm engages another one of said at least two detents;
• a shaft having a longitudinal axis, said shaft being rotatably connected to said column for rotation about said longitudinal axis of said shaft, said longitudinal axis of said shaft being generally coincident with said longitudinal axis of said spindle, said shaft having a first end and a second end;
• a platen attached to said first end of said shaft;
• means for moving said platen between a first position and a second position being attached proximal to said second end of said shaft;
• means for rotating said shaft being connected to said support frame and being connected to said shaft;
• an upper slip clutch being mounted on said shaft and being connected to said means for rotating said spindle;
• an upper indexing wheel mounted on said shaft, said upper indexing wheel having at least two detents formed therein;
• an upper arm having a first end pivotally mounted to said support frame and a second end extending free, said upper arm being engageable with said detents of said indexing wheel such that when so engaged, said upper indexing wheel is prevented from rotating with said shaft;
• and
• an upper actuator connected to said support frame, said upper actuator being selectively engageable with said upper arm such that said upper arm is disengaged from one of said detents of said upper indexing wheel when said upper actuator engages said upper arm, so that said platen rotates until said upper arm is released by said upper actuator and said upper arm engages the other one of said detents;
• means for moving articles onto said turntable;
• and
• at least one sensor mounted to said support frame for determining the orientation of an article on said turntable, said sensor simultaneously activating said lower and upper actuators for synchronized rotation of said turntable and said platen when the orientation of an article is not in accordance with a predetermined orientation.