The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 17, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 13, 2001
Randy K. Baird, Bolivar, PA (US);
Kenneth D. Doak, Black Lick, PA (US);
Gary L. Schucker, Saltsburg, PA (US);
FMC Technologies, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A rotary orienting feeder is configured for singulating/orienting bulk volumes of articles. The feeder includes a rotatably driven feed disc, and a rotatably driven orienting bowl assembly which is positioned generally about the feed disc. The feed disc is driven about an axis which angularly intersects an axis about which the bowl is driven, whereby during operation articles are transferred from the feed disc to an upper flange portion of the bowl assembly. An outer guide fence, which may be provided with suitable tooling, cooperates with the bowl and the articles carried thereby to effect singulation/orientation. Economical and versatile manufacture and operation are achieved by forming an outer bowl of the orienting bowl assembly of non-metallic material, such as polymeric resin. Reduced weight, reduced power consumption, quieter operation, and gentler part handling are desirably achieved.