Apparatus for orienting hollow, cap-like articles

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for orienting cap-like articles in the same direction and delivering them to an exit port from which the cap-like articles may be delivered to any suitable apparatus for placing them over the ends of tubes, bars or other parts. Included is a rotatably mounted member having a surface which is inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and which is provided with a number of radially extending grooves therein each with an open end remote from the center of the rotatable member. Pins are located in each of the grooves opposite the open ends thereof and receive thereover and retain caps thereon when the caps are delivered to the pins via the grooves with the open ends of the caps facing the pins. A reservoir for caps is arranged adjacent to and in communication with a portion of the aforementioned member so that caps in the reservoir are picked up in the grooves as the surface rotates past the reservoir. One or more fluid jets are provided at a point after the location where the caps are picked up in the grooves from the reservoir to remove from the grooves all but caps that are retained on the pins. Further around in the direction of rotation of the member than the fluid jets is an exit port which communicates with the open ends of the grooves as they move past the exit port. The exit port receives from the grooves caps all oriented in the same direction. These caps fall towards the exit port under the influence of gravity but may be positively moved toward the exit port by the provision of another fluid jet.