Conveying apparatus

A conveying apparatus comprising:

• a first conveying section including a first conveying mechanism configured to convey workpieces in a line from a first end portion to a second end portion of the first conveying mechanism at a first speed;
• a second conveying section including a second conveying mechanism configured to convey the workpieces from a first end portion to a second end portion of the second conveying mechanism at a second speed;
• a third conveying section including:
• a third conveying mechanism in a form of a slide and the slide being positioned between the second end portion of the first conveying mechanism and the first end portion of the second conveying mechanism, the third conveying mechanism being configured to allow the workpieces, which are dropped thereon from the second end portion of the first conveying mechanism, to slide from a first end portion of the third conveying mechanism to a second end portion of the third conveying mechanism such that the workpieces are transferred to the first end portion of the second conveying mechanism;
• a rotation mechanism including a rotation shaft connected to the third conveying mechanism at a position near the first end portion of the third conveying mechanism, the rotation mechanism being configured to turn the third conveying mechanism about the rotation shaft;
• and
• a first sensor configured to detect first information indicating that one of the workpieces has passed the second end portion of the third conveying mechanism;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first sensor and the rotation mechanism, wherein
• the controller is configured to receive the first information detected by the first sensor and transmit an operation command to the rotation mechanism based on the first information to turn the second end portion of the third conveying mechanism a predetermined number of degrees at a peripheral speed faster than the first speed, and
• the rotation mechanism is configured to intermittently turn the third conveying mechanism based on the operation command such that the workpieces slid to the second end portion of the third conveying mechanism from the first end portion of the third conveying mechanism are spread onto the second conveying mechanism with a predetermined distance therebetween.