FEEDING APPARATUS FOR UNORIENTED OBJECTS

摘要

The present invention relates to a feeding apparatus (1) for objects (2) comprising a hopper (3) for receiving objects (2) in random orientations, wherein the hopper (3) has a hopper opening (4) at its lower end, and a collecting means (5) that is movable in the opening (4) of the hopper (3). The collecting means (5) comprises at least one collecting hole (7) that is adapted to receive objects (2) in a specific orientation. The collecting means (5) further comprises at least one collecting channel (8) for collecting the received objects (2) that is connected to the at least one collecting hole (7). The hopper (3) and the collecting means (5) are adapted such that the relative movement of the collecting means (5) with respect to the hopper (3) enables to change the orientation of the objects (2) in the hopper (3) such that objects (2) are receivable in the collecting hole (7) that is connected to the at least one collecting channel (8). The collecting means (5) comprises a cone-like portion (6) at its upper end, and a plurality of collecting holes (7) are provided at the lower end of the cone-like portion. The present invention relates further to a filter maker and a method of orienting unoriented objects (2).