Patent ID: 6889821
Filing Date: 2005-05-10
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A device for orienting an object, the object having a first larger portion and a second smaller portion, comprising: a spiral slide having a generally vertical center axis and having a floor spiraling about the center axis, said floor having an inner edge proximate the center axis and an outer edge spaced from the center axis, said floor supporting the object for a descent from a first higher elevation to a second lower elevation; the spiral slide further having orienting structure at the outer edge of the floor, said orienting structure having a plurality of elements to prevent the first larger portion of the object from passing through the orienting structure to prevent the object from sliding off the floor as the object descends and permitting the second smaller portion of the object to contact an element as the object descends to rotate the object so that the object descends the spiral slide with the first larger portion leading the second smaller portion; a first conveyor having an inlet end and an outlet end, the spiral slide having an outlet proximate the inlet end of the first conveyor; and a second conveyor having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end of the first conveyor facing the inlet end of the second conveyor, said first conveyor being pivotal about an axis proximate the inlet end of the first conveyor and the second conveyor being pivotal about an axis proximate the outlet end of the second conveyor to permit a selected location on the outlet end of the first conveyor to be aligned with a selected location on the inlet end of the second conveyor.