Apparatus for handling plastic eating utensils

摘要

An apparatus for removing a plurality of irregularly shaped plastic eating utensils, particularly knives, sequentially from a hopper to a different location and introducing them to a feeding device that will move them in substantially parallel alignment onto a depositing device. The depositing device is a circular drum having a plurality of utensil-receiving slots along its outer periphery which moves proximate the depositing device to receive a singular utensil in each slot. Each utensil is sensed as it moves along the feeding device by a photocell which causes the feeding device to advance one drum slot and the drum to receive an advancing utensil. A selectively operable feed rate device is positioned near the discharge area of the drum to regulate the rate of release of utensils from the circular drum. A conveyor or other moving device is cooperatively positioned near the circular drum and feed rate device to sequentially receive a utensil released by the drum. Thus, a continuous supply of utensils can be positioned in a container, on a plate, or in any other receptacle as it moves along the conveyor belt.