Patent ID: 7273157
Filing Date: 2007-09-25
Classification: B23P,B65G

Abstract:
1. An article feeder comprising: a. a collator section having a container for receiving articles in a random array for collating, the container having a floor and at least one track along the floor for receiving and collating the articles into a row and guiding them to an article dispensing section, the track extending to a release end of the container and in an opposed direction toward the article dispensing section, b. means for oscillating the container about an axis for tilting the container in the track direction between a position with the track tilted downward toward the release end of the container and a position with the track tilted upward toward the release end of the container and c. an article dispensing section adjacent the downstream end of the collator section and adapted to receive articles from the collator track and dispense them one by one to a receiver and wherein the collator section includes means for selectively opening the release end of the container and means for selectively opening the release end of the track to release out of the container both collated and uncollated articles therein when oscillation of the container is stopped with the container positioned with the track tilted downward toward the release end of the container and wherein the container has means selectively operable to detain articles received in the track from sliding back beyond a selected intermediate location along the tracks when the track is tilted downward toward the release end of the container, whereby the detaining means may be selectively rendered operable during operation of the feeder and inoperable when the container is stopped with the track tilted downward toward the release end and the release end of the container and the release end of the track are opened for removal of articles from the feeder for changeover to feed a different article.