Introducing elongated magnetic articles into containers

摘要

An off-line system for handling elongated magnetic articles such as axially leaded diodes 12 includes a magnetic receiving chute 20, a blocking mechanism 45, a magnetic loading station 75 for supporting at least one tray 55 and for loading diodes 12 therein, and a drive train 115. The chute 20 receives the diodes 12 and guides such diodes downwardly to an outlet 24 and the tray 55. Over a major accessible face of the tray 55 a cover 63 is slidably removable from a second end 60. At the loading station 75, the tray 55 is disposed in an upright manner resting on the second end 60 at a first elevation with a first end 59 extending at least to the outlet 24 of chute 20. An elevating mechanism 80 applied to the end 60 elevates tray 55 to a second elevation, while the cover 63 remains at about the first elevation. A portion of tray 55 is thereby opened adjacent the first end 59 which opening abuts to and registers with the outlet 24 of chute 20. The blocking mechanism 45 has stored diodes 12 in chute 20 while a tray 55 has been changed and mechanism 45 now releases the diodes 12 which are introduced into tray 55. Loading station 75 includes magnetic assemblies 100 and 108 which maintain orientation of the diodes 12 as they are loaded into a tray 55. When a machine count indicates that tray 55 is loaded, the mechanism 45 blocks further advancement of diodes 12 in chute 20. A ram mechanism 95 pushes the tray 55 downwardly to the first elevation while the cover 63 is slidably closed therealong. In a computer controlled operation, the drive train 115 advances the loaded tray 55 away from and an empty tray 55 into the loading station 75 to continue the loading with a minimum of operator attention.