Device and method for conveying and orienting randomized circular

Abstract

Device and a method are taught for specifically orienting and conveying products in a common direction of travel. The products are individually mounted on a plurality of identical, circular, product-carrying pucks. Each circular puck has a flat conveyor-contacting bottom surface and at least one circular peripheral surface contactable by corresponding circular peripheral surfaces of other pucks when located in a random surge thereof. Each puck is surmounted by a product support. Between its bottom surface and its product support, each puck has a peripheral slide surface parallel to the desired direction of travel of the oriented puck and at least one peripheral rotation-producing surface, the slide and rotation-producing surfaces being inset from the circular peripheral surface. A conveyor is provided having in association therewith at least one external contact surface to engage the rotation-producing surface of each puck and an alignment rail having an alignment edge to contact the slide surface of each puck. Each puck is conveyed past the at least one contact surface which cooperates with the at least one rotation-producing surface to cause rotation of the puck until the alignment edge of the alignment rail contacts the puck slide surface to stop rotation of the puck in the desired orientation and to maintain this orientation of the puck as it is conveyed to the next work station.