Apparatus for orienting tapered articles

Claim 2

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. a rotatable cylinder having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, and b. traction means disposed in spaced relation to the descending side of the outer surface of said cylinder for pinching the larger end of each randomly oriented tapered article individually deposited on said cylinder against said descending outer surface while permitting the smaller end of said article to gravitate downwardly prior to downward release of said article smaller-end-first from between said outer surface and said traction means.

Claim 3

The apparatus described in claim 1 including discharge means for receiving the tapered articles released from between the cylinder and traction means and discharging said articles from said apparatus smaller-end-first.

Claim 4

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein the traction means comprises a traction member disposed parallel to said cylinder outer surface and biased toward said outer surface, said traction member being movable in response to contact by a tapered article to increase the space between said traction member and said outer surface to the maximum width of said tapered article.

Claim 5

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein the traction means comprises a traction assembly having a traction plate extending parallel to the cylinder outer surface and being biased toward a rest position wherein said traction plate is spaced from said surface a distance normally less than the minimum thickness of the larger ends of the tapered articles, said traction assembly being pivotable as the larger end of each tapered article contacted by said traction plate is carried downwardly by said descending outer surface between said outer surface and said traction plate, said traction assembly returning to said rest position after the larger end of each said tapered article has been released from between said outer surface and said traction plate.

Claim 6

The apparatus deScribed in claim 4 wherein the traction plate has a convex surface for contacting the tapered articles.

Claim 7

The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein the pivotable traction assembly is gravity biased, and wherein said traction assembly includes weight adjustment means for increasing and decreasing the force with which the traction plate engages the tapered article against the descending cylinder outer surface.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 1 including conveyor means for individually depositing randomly oriented tapered articles on the cylinder outer surface.

Claim 9

The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein a plurality of traction means are disposed in spaced relation to the descending side of said cylinder outer surface in side-by-side position, and wherein the conveyor means individually conveys tapered articles onto said cylinder outer surface in longitudinal alignment with each said traction means.

Claim 10

The apparatus described in claim 8 including discharge means for receiving the tapered articles released from between the cylinder and each traction means and discharging said articles from said apparatus smaller-end-first.

Claim 11

The apparatus described in claim 9 wherein the discharge means comprises a tapered chute positioned beneath the area of discharge of the tapered articles from between the cylinder outer surface and each traction means, said chute having an area of restricted width to maintain the smaller-end-first orientation of said tapered articles as they are discharged from said apparatus through said chute.

Claim 12

The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the cylinder is formed by friction means for engaging and carrying the larger ends of the tapered articles downward past the traction means at the speed of said outer surface without damage to said tapered articles.

Claim 13

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. a descending moving surface, b. means for individually delivering randomly oriented tapered articles into contact with said moving surface, and c. traction means disposed in spaced relation to said moving surface for pinching the larger end of each said tapered article against said moving surface while permitting the smaller end of said article to gravitate downwardly at a greater rate of speed than that of the moving surface whereby the article will be oriented smaller-end-first when the larger end is released downwardly from between the moving surface and the traction means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. a descending moving surface, b. means for individually delivering randomly oriented tapered articles into contact with said moving surface, and c. traction means disposed in spaced relation to said moving surface for pinching the larger end of each said tapered article against said moving surface while permitting the smaller end of said article to gravitate downwardly at a greater rate of speed than that of the moving surface whereby the article will be oriented smaller-end-first when the larger end is released downwardly from between the moving surface and the traction means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. a descending moving surface for receiving randomly oriented tapered articles, b. a movable traction plate biased toward said moving surface to a rest position wherein said traction plate is spaced from said surface a distance less than the thickness of the larger ends of said articles, and c. said traction plate being movable away from said outer surface as the larger end of each tapered article is carried downwardly between said surface and said plate by said descending moving surface, said plate bias causing the larger end of said tapered article to be pinched against said moving surface by said plate while the smaller end of said article is free to gravitate downwardly at a greater rate of speed than that of said moving surface whereby the article will be oriented smaller-end-first when the larger end of said article is released from between said moving surface and said traction plate.

Claim 16

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. a descending moving surface for receiving randomly oriented tapered articles, b. a movable traction plate biased toward said moving surface to a rest position wherein said traction plate is spaced from said surface a distance less than the thickness of the larger ends of said articles, and c. said traction plate being movable away from said outer surface as the larger end of each tapered article is carried downwardly between said surface and said plate by said descending moving surface, said plate bias causing the larger end of said tapered article to be pinched against said moving surface by said plate while the smaller end of said article is free to gravitate downwardly at a greater rate of speed than that of said moving surface whereby the article will be oriented smaller-end-first when the larger end of said article is released from between said moving surface and said traction plate.

Claim 17

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. a descending moving surface, b. traction means disposed in spaced relation to said moving surface for pinching the larger end of each tapered article individually deposited on said moving surface against said surface while permitting the smaller end of said article to gravitate downwardly through the space between said moving surface and said traction means At a greater rate of speed than that of the moving surface to orient the article smaller-end-first prior to release of said article downwardly from between said moving surface and said traction means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. a descending moving surface, b. traction means disposed in spaced relation to said moving surface for pinching the larger end of each tapered article individually deposited on said moving surface against said surface while permitting the smaller end of said article to gravitate downwardly through the space between said moving surface and said traction means At a greater rate of speed than that of the moving surface to orient the article smaller-end-first prior to release of said article downwardly from between said moving surface and said traction means.

Claim 19

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. an intake belt for receiving randomly oriented tapered articles, b. a cylindrical feed roll engaging and driving said intake belt, said feed roll having lagging means adjacent said intake belt for urging tapered articles transversely away from the intake belt, c. an inclined elevator conveyor having a lower pulley located below said feed roll, an upper pulley located above said feed roll, and an endless belt extending around and driven by said pulleys, said elevator conveyor co-acting with said feed roll to form a hopper for receiving and feeding tapered articles, d. a plurality of raised cleats carried by said elevator belt in at least one longitudinal row, said cleats extending transversely of said belt and being longitudinally spaced in said row to permit only a single tapered article to be received and conveyed between longitudinally adjacent cleats and to individually discharge each said tapered article as the portion of the elevator belt supporting said article passes over said upper pulley, e. a descending moving surface positioned below said upper pulley to receive tapered articles individually discharged from said elevator belt, f. traction means disposed in spaced relation to said moving surface for pinching the larger end of each said tapered article against said moving surface while permitting the smaller end of said article to gravitate downwardly at a greater rate of speed than that of the moving surface whereby the article will be oriented smaller-end-first when the larger end is released downwardly from between the moving surface and the traction means.

Claim 20

Apparatus for orienting tapered articles having a larger end and a smaller end, comprising: a. an intake belt for receiving randomly oriented tapered articles, b. a cylindrical feed roll engaging and driving said intake belt, said feed roll having lagging means adjacent said intake belt for urging tapered articles transversely away from the intake belt, c. an inclined elevator conveyor having a lower pulley located below said feed roll, an upper pulley located above said feed roll, and an endless belt extending around and driven by said pulleys, said elevator conveyor co-acting with said feed roll to form a hopper for receiving and feeding tapered articles, d. a plurality of raised cleats carried by said elevator belt in at least one longitudinal row, said cleats extending transversely of said belt and being longitudinally spaced in said row to permit only a single tapered article to be received and conveyed between longitudinally adjacent cleats and to individually discharge each said tapered article as the portion of the elevator belt supporting said article passes over said upper pulley, e. a descending moving surface positioned below said upper pulley to receive tapered articles individually discharged from said elevator belt, f. traction means disposed in spaced relation to said moving surface for pinching the larger end of each said tapered article against said moving surface while permitting the smaller end of said article to gravitate downwardly at a greater rate of speed than that of the moving surface whereby the article will be oriented smaller-end-first when the larger end is released downwardly from between the moving surface and the traction means.