Methods of and apparatus for sorting articles

Claim 3

The method of sorting of claim 1 which comprises the additional step of: feeding the articles in clusters, each cluster having an equal number of the articles, to the testing fixture in alternating periods of movement and dwell, each period of movement being sufficient to bring one cluster into alignment with the testing fixture, and the sorting is effected on the clusters of articles in synchronism with the feeding.

Claim 4

The method of sorting of claim 2 wherein: the step of feeding is accomplished by holding the articles about the periphery of a second drum and indexing said drum in alternating periods of rotation and dwell; wherein the step of rotating the first drum is performed during the periods of rotation of said drum; and wherein said two drums rotate at equal peripheral velocities.

Claim 5

The method of sorting of claim 3 wherein the articles are held about the second drum magnetically, by magnets attached thereto, the force of magnetic attraction to the second drum being sufficiently high so that the sorting positions of the first drum does not attract the articles away from contact with the magnets of the second drum, and comprising the additional step of camming away each of the articles from their associated magnets on the second drum during rotation thereof at a position beyond a point of minimum spacing between the article and associated sorting position of the first drum in the direction of rotation to permit an actuated one of the sorting positions to attract the cammed article whereby said articles are positively transferred to the first drum as desired and subsequent reattraction from the first drum to the second drum is avoided.

Claim 6

The method of sorting of claim 3 wherein the number of sorting positions on the first drum is equivalent to the number of articles in each of the clusters and the positions are deactuated after each period of rotation of the drums whereby said positions are conditioned for selective actuation after each engagement of the testing fixture with the articles.

Claim 7

Apparatus for sorting magnetic articles having a predetermined characteristic from magnetic articles not having such characteristic, comprising: means for feeding the articles at a predetermined rate; means positioned adjacent said feeding means and engageable with the articles for detecting the articles having the predetermined characteristic; a sorting drum having means mounted thereon for producing a selective magnetic field at predetermined portions of the peripheral surface thereof, said sorting drum being positionable adjacent said feeding means and beyond the detecting means in the direction of feeding to magnetically attract the articles from the feeding means during relative motion of said means and drum; and means, responsive to the detection, by the detecting means, of the articles having said characteristic, for rendering effective said magnetic field to attract said articles and remove them from the holding and feeding means and transfer them to the sorting drum, whereby the articles having said characteristic are sorted from those not having said characteristic.

Claim 8

Apparatus for sorting magnetic articles having a predetermined characteristic from magnetic articles not having such characteristic, comprising: means for feeding the articles at a predetermined rate; means positioned adjacent said feeding means and engageable with the articles for detecting the articles having the predetermined characteristic; a sorting drum having means mounted thereon for producing a selective magnetic field at predetermined portions of the peripheral surface thereof, said sorting drum being positionable adjacent said feeding means and beyond the detecting means in the direction of feeding to magnetically attract the articles from the feeding means during relative motion of said means and drum; and means, responsive to the detection, by the detecting means, of the articles having said characteristic, for rendering effective said magnetic field to attract said articles and remove them from the holding and feeding means and transfer them to the sorting drum, whereby the articles having said characteristic are sorted from those not having said characteristic.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the feeding means comprises a rotatable feed drum having means spaced about the peripheral surface thereof for holding the articles thereon.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sorting drum is rotatable.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein means are provided for simultaneously rotating the feed drum and the sorting drum to establish substantially the same peripheral velocity between said drums.

Claim 14

The apparatus for sorting of claim 10, which comprises stationary cam means, positioned in the area of adjacency of the two drums beyond a point of minimum spacing between the two drums in the direction of rotation, for lifting successive ones of the articles away from the feed drum, during rotation thereof, wherein the magnetic fields of the sorting drum are sufficiently low that the articles will be attracted to the sorting drum only after being lifted by the cam means, whereby said articles are transferred positively with reduced probability of being retransferred from the sorting drum to the feed drum.

Claim 15

The apparatus for sorting of claim 10: wherein the magnetic holding means are discreet testing positions spaced about the feed drum in clusters, each cluster containing an equal plurality of the testing positions; wherein means are provided for indexing the feed drum about its axis in alternating steps of rotation and dwell, each rotational step being equivalent to the angular displacement between the centers of adjacent clusters; and wherein the detecting means are engageable with each of the positions of successive ones of the clusters during each step of dwell. 13, The apparatus of claim 12: wherein the sorting drum is provided with a plurality of discreet, selective magnetic field producing means equivalent to the number of positions in each of the clusters of the feed drum; wherein means are provided to render ineffective the selective magnetic field after each complete revolution of the sorting drum; and wherein each step of rotation of the feed drum corresponds to one complete revolution of the sorting drum and said rendering effective of the magnetic field of the sorting drum occurs after each step of rotation of the feed drum.

Claim 16

Apparatus for testing and sorting electrically functional articles having axial magnetic leads, which comprises: a flanged rotatable cylindrical feed drum having magnetic testing positions formed on the peripheral surface thereof for retaining the electrical devices, each of the positions having at least one notch formed into the drum flange, each of the positions being oriented and shaped to retain one of the articles substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, the drum having an axial dimension less than the axial dimension of the articles so that the leads of the articles extend over the ends of the drum, and the positions being arranged in clusters equally spaced about the peripheral surface, each cluster containing an equal number of positions; magnetic feed means engageable with successive portions of the peripheral surface of the drum for feeding the articles to the engaged portion of said surface; means for indexing the drum about its axis in alternating steps of rotational movement and of dwell, each rotational step being equivalent to the angular displacement between the centers of adjacent clusters; air jet means, directed radially from the axis of the dRum at a position where successive portions of the peripheral surface of the drum emerge from the magnetic feed means, for applying a predetermined pneumatic force to the articles to remove those articles from the peripheral surface which are not within one of the testing positions; a fixture engageable with successive portions of the peripheral surface of the drum for testing the articles, the fixture having a pair of contacts and a signal producing means connectable with each testing position of a cluster, each contact of one of the pairs being disposed to contact one lead of one of the retained articles when the fixture is engaged with a portion of the drum, and the signal producing means being responsive to a predetermined test characteristic of the associated article; means operable in synchronism with the indexing means both for raising the test fixture to disengage the contacts from the peripheral surface of the drum as the drum moves and for lowering the test fixture to engage the contacts with the leads thereunder as the drum dwells; a rotatable sorting drum having a cylindrical body portion and flanges positioned on each end of the body portion, the drum having electromagnetic sorting positions spaced about the peripheral surface thereof, the peripheral spacing between the sorting nests being substantially equivalent to the peripheral spacing between the testing nests, the number of sorting nests being equal to the number of testing positions in each of the clusters of the testing drum, each of the sorting positions having an electromagnet positioned therein and including notches formed into each of the flanges, the body portion of the sorting drum having an axial dimension at least as great as the axial dimension of the testing drum, the sorting drum being positioned with respect to the testing drum such that a portion of each of the flanges of the sorting drum overlies a portion of each flange of the testing drum and the area of overlying relationship is displaced angularly from the testing fixture in the direction of rotational movement of the testing drum; driven means for synchronizing rotational movement of the sorting drum and the testing drum to equalize the peripheral velocities of both drums so that each of the sorting positions is substantially adjacent to a predetermined one of the testing positions of each of the clusters during rotational movement of the testing drum when the testing position is within the area of overlying relationship; means responsive to the signal producing means for selectively energizing each of the electromagnets in the sorting positions upon the occurrence of the test characteristic so that upon rotational movement of the two drums a device having such characteristic is removed from its testing position by electromagnetic attraction to the sorting position which is adjacent said testing position when the testing position is in said area of overlying relationship; stationary cam means positioned outwardly of the flanges of the sorting drum and adjacent the area of overlying relationship of the portions of flanges and the portions of ends of the testing drum to move the leads of the device, passing thereover during rotational movement of the drums, outwardly into a cavity which is momentarily formed by adjacent ones of the notches of the testing drums and of the flanges, to reduce the effect of the magnetic field of the testing positions on the leads to assist the attraction of the leads by the energized electromagnets in the sorting positions; means for deengergizing all of the electromagnets in the sorting positions after completion of each indexing of the testing drum and prior to any actuation of the positions by signals from the test fixture; first means for stripping and collecting articles having said test characteristics from the sorting drum; and second means for stripping and collecting articles not having such test characteristic from the testing drum which have not been attracted by the electromagnets of the sorting drum.

Claim 17

Apparatus for testing and sorting electrically functional articles having axial magnetic leads, which comprises: a flanged rotatable cylindrical feed drum having magnetic testing positions formed on the peripheral surface thereof for retaining the electrical devices, each of the positions having at least one notch formed into the drum flange, each of the positions being oriented and shaped to retain one of the articles substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, the drum having an axial dimension less than the axial dimension of the articles so that the leads of the articles extend over the ends of the drum, and the positions being arranged in clusters equally spaced about the peripheral surface, each cluster containing an equal number of positions; magnetic feed means engageable with successive portions of the peripheral surface of the drum for feeding the articles to the engaged portion of said surface; means for indexing the drum about its axis in alternating steps of rotational movement and of dwell, each rotational step being equivalent to the angular displacement between the centers of adjacent clusters; air jet means, directed radially from the axis of the dRum at a position where successive portions of the peripheral surface of the drum emerge from the magnetic feed means, for applying a predetermined pneumatic force to the articles to remove those articles from the peripheral surface which are not within one of the testing positions; a fixture engageable with successive portions of the peripheral surface of the drum for testing the articles, the fixture having a pair of contacts and a signal producing means connectable with each testing position of a cluster, each contact of one of the pairs being disposed to contact one lead of one of the retained articles when the fixture is engaged with a portion of the drum, and the signal producing means being responsive to a predetermined test characteristic of the associated article; means operable in synchronism with the indexing means both for raising the test fixture to disengage the contacts from the peripheral surface of the drum as the drum moves and for lowering the test fixture to engage the contacts with the leads thereunder as the drum dwells; a rotatable sorting drum having a cylindrical body portion and flanges positioned on each end of the body portion, the drum having electromagnetic sorting positions spaced about the peripheral surface thereof, the peripheral spacing between the sorting nests being substantially equivalent to the peripheral spacing between the testing nests, the number of sorting nests being equal to the number of testing positions in each of the clusters of the testing drum, each of the sorting positions having an electromagnet positioned therein and including notches formed into each of the flanges, the body portion of the sorting drum having an axial dimension at least as great as the axial dimension of the testing drum, the sorting drum being positioned with respect to the testing drum such that a portion of each of the flanges of the sorting drum overlies a portion of each flange of the testing drum and the area of overlying relationship is displaced angularly from the testing fixture in the direction of rotational movement of the testing drum; driven means for synchronizing rotational movement of the sorting drum and the testing drum to equalize the peripheral velocities of both drums so that each of the sorting positions is substantially adjacent to a predetermined one of the testing positions of each of the clusters during rotational movement of the testing drum when the testing position is within the area of overlying relationship; means responsive to the signal producing means for selectively energizing each of the electromagnets in the sorting positions upon the occurrence of the test characteristic so that upon rotational movement of the two drums a device having such characteristic is removed from its testing position by electromagnetic attraction to the sorting position which is adjacent said testing position when the testing position is in said area of overlying relationship; stationary cam means positioned outwardly of the flanges of the sorting drum and adjacent the area of overlying relationship of the portions of flanges and the portions of ends of the testing drum to move the leads of the device, passing thereover during rotational movement of the drums, outwardly into a cavity which is momentarily formed by adjacent ones of the notches of the testing drums and of the flanges, to reduce the effect of the magnetic field of the testing positions on the leads to assist the attraction of the leads by the energized electromagnets in the sorting positions; means for deengergizing all of the electromagnets in the sorting positions after completion of each indexing of the testing drum and prior to any actuation of the positions by signals from the test fixture; first means for stripping and collecting articles having said test characteristics from the sorting drum; and second means for stripping and collecting articles not having such test characteristic from the testing drum which have not been attracted by the electromagnets of the sorting drum.

Claim 20

The method of sorting of claim 15, which comprises the additional step of: feeding the articles in clusters, each cluster having an equal number of the articles, to the testing fixture in alternating periods of movement and dwell, each period of movement being sufficient to bring one cluster into alignment with the testing fixture, and the sorting is effected on the clusters of articles in synchronism with the feeding.

Claim 21

The method of sorting of claim 16 wherein: the step of feeding is accomplished by holding the articles about the periphery of a second drum and indexing said drum in alternating periods of rotation and dwell; wherein the step of rotating the first drum is performed during the periods of rotation of said second drum; and wherein said two drums rotate at equal peripheral velocities.

Claim 22

The method of sorting of claim 17 wherein the number of sorting positions on the first drum is equivalent to the number of articles in each of the clusters and the positions are deactuated after each period of rotation of the drums whereby said positions are conditioned for selective actuation after each engagement of the testing fixture with the articles.

Claim 23

Apparatus for sorting articles having a predetermined characteristic from articles not having such characteristic, comprising: means for feeding the articles at a predetermined rate; means positioned adjacent said feeding means and engageable with the articles for detecting the articles having the predetermined characteristic; a sorting drum having means mounted thereon for producing a selective attractive force field at predetermined portions of the peripheral surface thereof, said sorting drum being positionable adjacent said feeding means and beyond the detecting means in the direction of feeding to attract the articles from the feeding means during relative motion of said means and drum; and means, responsive to the detection, by the detecting means, of the articles having said characteristic, for rendering effective said field to attract said articles and remove them from the holding and feeding means and transfer them to the sorting drum, whereby the articles having said characteristic are sorted from those not having said characteristic.

Claim 24

Apparatus for sorting articles having a predetermined characteristic from articles not having such characteristic, comprising: means for feeding the articles at a predetermined rate; means positioned adjacent said feeding means and engageable with the articles for detecting the articles having the predetermined characteristic; a sorting drum having means mounted thereon for producing a selective attractive force field at predetermined portions of the peripheral surface thereof, said sorting drum being positionable adjacent said feeding means and beyond the detecting means in the direction of feeding to attract the articles from the feeding means during relative motion of said means and drum; and means, responsive to the detection, by the detecting means, of the articles having said characteristic, for rendering effective said field to attract said articles and remove them from the holding and feeding means and transfer them to the sorting drum, whereby the articles having said characteristic are sorted from those not having said characteristic.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the feeding means comprises a rotatable feed drum having means spaced about the peripheral surface thereof for holding the articles thereon.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the sorting drum is rotatable.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein means are provided for simultaneously rotating the feed drum and the sorting drum to establish substantially the same peripheral velocity between said drums.