High speed cap orienting and feeding apparatus

Abstract

The apparatus disclosed is used to orient container caps with their open ends facing up from a randomly oriented vertical orientation by guide channel means having a base and including an input end for receiving the caps at the vertical orientation, an output end whereat the caps are reoriented along their diameters with the said open ends facing upwardly, and a transition zone between input and output ends, whereat the caps gravitationally tip and fall to their surfaces which include their diameters; a narrow support member extending longitudinally and centrally along the base of the transition zone for underlying and supporting the caps thereat; and a pair of members extending laterally along the sides of the transition zone, the spacing between the lateral members being such at the upstream end of the zone as to sandwich the caps and constrain same against tipping, and said members diverging toward the downstream end of said zone to remove the constraints and permit gravitational tipping from the narrow support member. According to the improvement, which enables higher speed feed of the caps through the apparatus and increased dependability of tipping in the desired direction, the narrow support member and the lateral members comprise bands which are continually moveable at common speed through the transition zone. The members thereby grasp the caps at the upstream end of the transition zone and convey the caps through the zone, while permitting the caps to gravitationally fall as the lateral bands diverge.