Introducing elongated magnetic articles into vacant positions on a

Abstract

Elongated magnetic articles 12 are introduced into vacant positions 31 on a carrier wheel 18 for a given operation. A magnetic bin 40 has a feed end in communication with wheel 18 and includes spaced sidewalls 41-44, with arm sections 43-44 thereof extending substantially beyond the periphery of wheel 18 and along the sides thereof. There is established between said sidewalls 41-44 a first, magnetic field and a second, stronger field to orient and suspend the articles 12 in bin 40. However, the field between arm sections 43-44 is established substantially within the periphery of wheel 18 and such field includes the stronger second field located in a specific region of arm sections 43-44. For loading articles 12 into continuously occurring vacant positions 31 which are advanced in an ascendent path, the stronger second field is located in a lower region of arm sections 43-44. For a difficult make-up function, articles 12 are introduced into randomly occurring vacant positions 31 as such are advanced in a descendent path. A bin 80 also has a strong second magnetic field located within the periphery of wheel 18; however, such field is confined to an upper region of arm sections 83-84 and there is a non-magnetic lower region to avoid downwardly attracting articles 12. In a taping operation, means are employed to machine sense all diodes, to machine eject unacceptable diodes 13 and to machine count all diodes and positions 31. Input is made to a microprocessor which determines the exact time to control various functions on a substantially automatic basis.