Unscrambler

Claim 1

In the handling of work objects of generally uniform shape such as corks for bottling certain beverages and the like, such objects each being characterized by a head portion of substantially circular cross-section having a diameter greater than any width dimension of the remainder of said object, said head portion also being of greater weight than the remainder of said object, and a plurality of said objects comprising a source thereof, a device for receiving said work objects seriatim and in random orientation from said source at an input station, and exiting said objects one-by-one in predetermined orientation at a delivery station, comprising in combination; a pair of elongate rods; guide means for supporting said rods in parallel alignment at a distance apart from each other less than the head diameter of said object and greater than any width dimension of the remainder thereof, wherein one proximate pair of said rod ends thus supported correspond to said input station and the opposite ends proximate said delivery station, said rods each shaped to form a reduced section thereof proximate said delivery station defining an opening between said rods to pass a work object therethrough when the object is advanced to said opening and positioned to said predetermined orientation, and said guide means supporting said rods with the longitudinal axes thereof sloped downwardly from said input to said delivery station, so that each of said objects is supportably cArried by said rods after placement thereon and movably advanced toward said delivery station; driving means coupled to at least one of said rods to rotate the latter about its central longitudinal axis causing continuous agitation of a work object thereon and advancement of such object from said input station to said delivery station; and deflector means secured to each of said rods at the end proximate said reduced section thereof, said deflector means to engage the head portion of a work object advanced thereto and cause such work object to be positioned to said predetermined orientation.

Claim 8

A method for processing work objects of generally uniform shape, such as corks for bottling certain beverages and the like, such objects each being characterized by a head portion of greater weight than the remainder of said object, and wherein a plurality of said objects provide a randomly oriented source thereof, said method comprising the steps of: placing said work objects seriatim and in random orientation at an input station; advancing each of said work objects in a downward direction along a zone of travel from the input station to a delivery station; and, during said step of advancing, agitating the work object causing the latter to tumble so that the head portion thereof faces away from the input station and toward the delivery station; engaging the head portion of each said work object when the latter is in the vicinity of the delivery station; and elevating said head portion to a predetermined position in vertical alignment above the remainder of the work object; and, when each of said work objects is maneuvered to the position of vertical alignment as set forth in said step of engaging and elevating, releasing each of said work objects so that the latter may be subsequently processed after having been delivered one-by-one in said predetermined position.

Claim 9

A method for processing work objects of generally uniform shape, such as corks for bottling certain beverages and the like, such objects each being characterized by a head portion of greater weight than the remainder of said object, and wherein a plurality of said objects provide a randomly oriented source thereof, said method comprising the steps of: placing said work objects seriatim and in random orientation at an input station; advancing each of said work objects in a downward direction along a zone of travel from the input station to a delivery station; and, during said step of advancing, agitating the work object causing the latter to tumble so that the head portion thereof faces away from the input station and toward the delivery station; engaging the head portion of each said work object when the latter is in the vicinity of the delivery station; and elevating said head portion to a predetermined position in vertical alignment above the remainder of the work object; and, when each of said work objects is maneuvered to the position of vertical alignment as set forth in said step of engaging and elevating, releasing each of said work objects so that the latter may be subsequently processed after having been delivered one-by-one in said predetermined position.