Apparatus for separating and conveying elongate articles

Claim 1

In an apparatus for separating and conveying elongate items having a generally flat bottom; the apparatus including first and second conveyor belts arranged in a side-by-side, parallel orientation and being driven codirectionally in a conveying direction at identical first speeds; said first and second conveyor belts being arranged for simultaneously supporting each item in a transverse orientation relative to said conveying direction; third and fourth conveyor belts arranged in a side-by-side, parallel orientation in longitudinal alignment with respective said first and second conveyor belts downstream thereof as viewed in said conveying direction; said third and fourth conveyor belts being driven codirectionally in said conveying direction at identical second speeds greater than said first speeds; a first item transfer location defined between a downstream end of said first conveyor belt and an upstream end of said third conveyor belt; a second item transfer location defined between a downstream end of said second conveyor belt and an upstream end of said fourth conveyor belt; said first and second item transfer locations being spaced from one another parallel to said conveying direction whereby each item being turned to assume an oblique orientation relative to said conveying direction and a longitudinal clearance oriented parallel to said conveying direction being defined between the first and second conveyor belts and between the third and fourth conveyor belts; the improvement comprising (a) suction means including a suction opening aligned with said longitudinal clearance and extending in said conveying direction at least between said first and second item transfer locations for pressing the items by a suction air stream against at least some of said first, second, third and fourth conveyor belts; (b) a conveyor arranged in a longitudinal alignment with said third and fourth conveyo belts downstream thereof for receiving the items from said third and fourth conveyor belts; said conveyor being driven in a direction identical to said conveying direction; and (c) item turning means situated above said conveyor for rotating each item, during advance thereof on said conveyor, into a longitudinal orientation which is at least approximately parallel to said conveying direction.