Patent ID: 11885074
Assignee: B & B METALS, INC
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC E  B | IPC B  E

Claim 0:
1. A tie plate dispenser, comprising:
a conveyor configured to move a plurality of tie plates and dispense individually each tie plate of said plurality of tie plates;
said conveyor having a frame and a conveying surface which extends a preselected distance, said frame extending beyond an end of said conveying surface and forming an opening;
a magnet located above one of said conveying surface or said opening, said magnet located to individually retain each said tie plate of said plurality of tie plates;
said magnet configured to selectively release each said tie plate of said plurality of tie plates from said conveyor along a falling path;
an arm which is selectively actuatable along said falling path that each said tie plate moves when released by said magnet, said arm movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in one of said first position or said second position said arm engages each said tie plate;
the arm causing said tie plate to change orientation upon engaging each said tie plate.