Parts feeding bowl with orienting means

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed for accepting an initially presented population of randomly oriented elongated slender articles which terminate in an enlarged head portion, and providing a high-speed output stream, wherein all said articles are commonly oriented for further mechanical manipulation. The apparatus comprises an input bowl for accepting the articles, which bowl includes a rotatable central disk for feeding objects incident thereupon to the periphery of the disk. A continuous wall member extends upwardly from the disk periphery about a major arced zone, the bottom of the wall member being spaced from the disk to define a gap through which the elongated portion of the articles may protrude while the heads of same continue to ride upon the disk periphery in sliding contact with the side wall. An output section defined adjacent the periphery of the disk at the portion opposed to the arced zone receives and delivers the articles from the disk. A continuous conveying band extends about the periphery of the disk and moves with the articles in the direction of disk rotation at the arced zone. The band separates from the disk peripheral edge beyond the arced zone and extends into the output section. Means cooperate with the band at the output section to constrain the articles between the band and constraining means, whereby the articles are conveyed into the output section. The band diverges from the cooperating means at the end of the output section to release the constrained articles for further mechanical manipulation.