Gauging assembly for capsule orienting and turning apparatus

Abstract

An improved gauging assembly for a capsule orienting and turning apparatus is disclosed. Many capsules are picked up in a rotary conveyor which arranges them first in an upright arrangement relative to the path of movement of the conveyor, some capsules arranged caps-up and some bodies-up. The gauging assembly cooperates with air means to tilt the body portions of the bodies-up capsules in the machine direction while retaining the caps-up capsules substantially untilted so that all the cap portions can subsequently be shifted in a sidewise direction by a subsequent sideward-directed air suction means. Those capsules which are arranged caps-up are not affected by the first means because of the gauging block which prevents substantial tilting movement; the cap portions of these capsules are then drawn sidewise by a sidewardly-directed vacuum. The gauging assembly defines a passageway extending in the direction of conveyor movement and comprises a ceiling member and contiguous sidewall member. One side of the passageway is defined by edge portions of the longitudinally oriented pocket portions which are provided in the rotary conveyor. The ceiling member and contiguous sidewall are mounted on a slidable bar which is disposed transversely with respect to the rotary conveyor. The bar may be slid back and forth transversely across the conveyor so as to adjust the width of the passageway to more easily accommodate different capsule sizes.