Patent ID: 6398007
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An aligning and feeding device comprising:an orientation identifying device that identifies an orientation of parts installed in a transport route for a parts feeder which transports the parts having a given orientation; an inverting mechanism that inverts parts; and a controller that controls the motion of the inverting mechanism based on the identified orientation of the parts; wherein said inverting mechanism comprises: an inverting route that changes the orientation of the part; a non-inverting route that feeds the parts to a downstream side by by-passing the inverting route; a dividing member that divides the parts which are fed from the parts feeder in such a manner that the fed parts are alternatively divided into one of said inverting route and said non-inverting route based on the identified orientation of the parts by said identifying device; and a body, wherein said body comprises: at least one dividing space traversed by said dividing member, said dividing member being reciprocally mounted; a pair of communicating holes, interconnected by a tube; a pressurizing air supply hole, and a transport exhaust hole, each facing a respective one of said respective communicating holes, said air supply hole and said exhaust hole being blocked by said dividing member in a first position in which the part is in a given orientation and follows said non-inverting route; and said dividing member being movable into a second position to unblock said air supply and exhaust holes by aligning them with complementary holes in said dividing member to define said inverting route for said inverted part.