Tray for orienting and conveying items
AssigneeNordco Inc.
InventorsMichael T. Pier, Michael S. Paar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tray is provided for orienting and conveying items having a longitudinal axis, a tip, an opposite head, and a head-up and a head-down orientation, the tray conveying the items in a direction of travel and including a series of connected, function-oriented static regions configured for orienting the item from a random orientation to a desired tip-down orientation, at least one of the regions being inclined for facilitating movement of the item through the regions, the regions being configured such that proper orientation of the item is achieved without operator contact.
Claims19
A tray for orienting and conveying items having a longitudinal axis, a tip, an opposite head, and a head-up and a head-down orientation, said tray conveying the items in a direction of travel and comprising:
- a series of connected, function-oriented static regions configured for orienting the item from a random orientation to a desired tip-down orientation , at least one of said regions being inclined for facilitating movement of the item through said regions, said regions being configured such that proper orientation of the item is achieved without operator contact, wherein said regions include:
- an upper basket configured for receiving items and orienting them such that the longitudinal axis is oriented in the direction of travel;
- an orientation chute in communication with said basket and having a generally narrowing cross-sectional profile, said chute being sufficiently inclined for promoting sliding and partial rotation of the items received from the basket so that at a chute outlet, an item head-up orientation is achieved;
- an orientation twist portion in communication with said chute outlet and provided with a helical pathway for rotating the item head a desired amount, said pathway having an exit port;
- and
- a lower spike tray in communication with said helical pathway and configured for receiving the items in a rotated head orientation, and having a slot dimensioned for receiving the tips, so that the items are oriented tip-down, head-up, and constructed and arranged for delivering the items to a tray outlet.
A tray is provided for orienting and conveying items having a longitudinal axis, a tip, an opposite head, and a head-up and a head-down orientation, the tray conveying the items in a direction of travel, comprising:
- a basket configured for receiving items and orienting them such that the longitudinal axis is oriented in the direction of travel;
- an orientation chute is in communication with said basket and has a generally narrowing cross-sectional profile, being sufficiently inclined for promoting sliding and partial rotation of the items received from said basket so that at a chute outlet, an item head-up orientation is achieved;
- an orientation twist in communication with said chute outlet and is provided with a helical pathway for rotating the item head a desired amount, said pathway having an exit port;
- and
- a lower spike tray is in communication with said exit port and is configured for receiving the items in a rotated head orientation, said lower spike tray has a slot dimensioned for receiving the tips, so that the items are oriented tip-down, head-up, and constructed and arranged for delivering the items to a tray outlet.
A spike tray for orienting railroad spikes for delivery to a rail spiker magazine, the spikes having a longitudinal axis, a tip, an opposite head, and a head-up and a head-down orientation, said tray conveying the items in a direction of travel and comprising:
- an upper basket configured for receiving spikes and orienting them such that the longitudinal axis is oriented in the direction of travel, and the spikes are either tip first or head first;
- an orientation chute in communication with said upper basket for receiving the spikes in either a tip first or a head first orientation, and having a generally narrowing cross-sectional “U”-shaped profile, said chute being oriented at a sufficient incline to promote sliding and partial rotational movement of the spikes so that at an outlet of the chute, a head-up spike orientation is achieved;
- an orientation twist in communication with said outlet of said orientation chute and provided with a helical pathway configured for slidingly accommodating a spike head for rotating the spike head a desired amount, said pathway having an exit port through which the spikes travel head first or tip first;
- a lower spike tray in communication with said twist and configured for receiving the spikes in a rotated head orientation, and having a slot dimensioned for receiving the tips, so that as the tips fall through the slot the spikes are oriented tip-down, head-up, and said lower spike tray being constructed and arranged for delivering the items to a tray outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.