Small particle dispenser

Claim 1

Pin aligning apparatus for positioning electrical contact pins in a pin support member of an electron tube, comprising a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of radially directed cavities arrayed lengthwise of the cylinder, each radial cavity extending inwardly from the periphery of the cylinder to a depth substantially equal to or less than the length of a pin, and a longitudinally directed cavity interconnecting the bottom region of the radial cavities adapted for alternately coupling to an air source and a vacuum source, a sleeve concentrically disposed about the cylinder in closely spaced relation therewith having first and second pluralities of apertures spaced peripherally on the sleeve and each plurality respectively arrayed lengthwise of the sleeve at distances corresponding to the distances between the cylinder radial cavities, each aperture being shaped to accommodate an individual pin oriented lengthwise for passage through the aperture, input means for supplying pins to the first plurality of apertures, output means for receiving pins from the second plurality of apertures, said output means being so constructed and arranged as to direct individual pins to prescribed positions in the electron tube pin support member, and means for rotating the cylinder to align each radial cavity with a respective aperture of the first plurality of sleeve apertures whereat the longitudinal cavity is coupled to the vacuum source to draw an individual pin from an aligned sleeve aperture into each radial cavity and hold the pin therein to be transported upon further rotation of the cylinder into alignment with a respective aperture of the second plurality of apertures whereupon the longitudinal cavity is coupled to the air source to force the pins from the radial cavities through the second plurality of apertures into the output means.