| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for automatically sorting screws, bolts or like parts by sensing the contour of the part and directing the same to appropriate collection points is provided. Oscillating kicker fingers urge each screw, or other part, from a gauging station past a gauge head having a thread or other contour matching the part being sorted. The kicker fingers move substantially laterally of the feed path and project the parts into corresponding first and second receiving means. When the first gauge head does not allow passage of the part and thereby a no-go condition exists, then the part is tested or gauged against the second gauge head. The screw is agitated and lifted against an overhead guide rail for encouraging contour alignment and accurate positioning. Each part is gated from the feed conveyor to the gauging station in an automatic fashion by the kicker fingers. Screws or parts not matching either gauge head may in an alternative embodiment be removed from the gauging station along a separate path for further processing. The kicker fingers are interconnected by a spring to provide a resilient characteristic to the urging force to prevent damage to the part or the gauge head. The cooperating gauge heads include a positioning slot that forms the gauging station and each head may be used in any one of four alternate positions.
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