ASYMMETRIC ARTICLE HANDLING AND ORIENTATION

摘要

An asymmetric article-carrying puck 10 is driven by a linear star conveyor 50 through an angular rotation orienting section 58 to orient the pucks 10 and articles therein irrespective of random initial orientation. In one embodiment, an upper puck plate 14 carries the article 12 while a separated lower puck plate 16 defines a rotational orienting circular gear rack 36 with a rotation-stopping bridge 38, separating ends of the rack 36 and inclined from a base 40a of one end tooth 40 in the rack to a crest 39a of another end tooth 39 in the rack 36. The lower puck plate 16 can be a combination of two circular plates with the circular gear rack 36 interposed therebetween and within the periphery of the circular plates. Pucks 10 can be accumulated in mutual engaged positions and separated by the linear star 50 into preselected pitch while transported and turned, integral pucks can be used. The structural details and methods are disclosed.