Apparatus and process for handling circular articles
AssigneeCBW Automation, Inc.
InventorsDavid E. Carson, Kevin J. Anzek, Thomas A. Sahrle, Dennis E. Schneider
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Abstract
An apparatus and process for receiving a multiplicity of like circular articles, such as discs, rings, and lids, for example, presented in a known or random horizontal orientation, and for collecting them for subsequent conventional processing into a horizontal counted stack in which each of the circular articles of the stack has the same on-edge or vertical orientation.
Claims24
An apparatus for receiving, orienting, and collecting a multiplicity of like circular articles having a generally flat cross-section, such as discs, rings, and lids, the apparatus comprising:
- a conveying device for sequentially conveying the multiplicity of circular articles, said multiplicity of circular articles being initially presented in a random horizontal orientation, some right side up and some upside down;
- a pair of spinner wheels, mounted for rotation proximate a downstream end of the conveying device, for sequentially receiving each of the multiplicity of circular articles and for contacting each article at generally opposite points along a peripheral edge thereof to impart rotation to each article in a selected direction and, at the same time, to propel that article in a forward or downstream direction;
- and
- a generally cylindrical article orientation tube rotatably mounted in a generally horizontal position proximate said spinner wheels for receiving each of the articles propelled downstream by said spinner wheels and for discharging them at a downstream end thereof in a generally vertical on-edge orientation.
An apparatus for receiving and collecting a multiplicity of circular articles having a generally flat cross-section, such as discs, rings, and lids, the apparatus comprising:
- a conveying device for sequentially conveying the multiplicity of circular articles, said multiplicity of circular articles being initially presented in a known horizontal orientation, either all right side up or all upside down;
- a single spinner wheel, mounted for rotation proximate a downstream end of the conveying device, for sequentially receiving each of the multiplicity of circular articles and for contacting each article along a peripheral edge thereof to impart rotation to each article in a selected direction and, at the same time, to propel that article in a forward or downstream direction;
- and
- a generally cylindrical article orientation tube rotatably mounted in a generally horizontal position proximate said spinner wheels for receiving each of the articles propelled downstream by said spinner wheel and for discharging them at a downstream end thereof in a generally vertical on-edge orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.