Sorting sticks for lollipops

Abstract

An assembly and method for distributing lollipop sticks () from a common supply () to a plurality of stick holders (), the assembly comprising an elongated conveyor chamber () for containing lollipop sticks as they are conveyed from the common supply to the stick holders, a plurality of stick holding channels, () spaced apart and leading from the base of the chamber, the conveyor chamber containing basal surfaces (), () operative to move in each of two substantially opposite directions, and in use the base supporting a plurality of lollipop sticks, the basal surfaces comprising a first basal surface portion () and a second basal surface portion (), the first basal surface portion () being obstructive to sticks in contact with the first basal surface portion as said first basal surface portion moves in a first direction away from the common supply (), and the second basal surface portion () being relatively less obstructive to sticks in contact with said second basal surface portion () when said second basal surface portion is moved in a second direction towards the common supply, the arrangement of the assembly being such that the basal surface portions are alternately moved in the first and second directions and sticks in contact with the first basal surface portion () are displaced in the first direction. Advantageously, the sticks are displaced predominantly in one direction, the first direction, in a common hopper so as to feed a plurality of lollipop stick holders positioned at spaced positions along the hopper base.