Patent ID: 6053302
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: A61J,B65G,G06M,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for singulating and transporting objects which comprises:a) a rotating collar means, said collar means having an inner surface and an outer surface with at least one hole passing through said collar means between said surfaces;b) at least one hollow pickup tube having a collar-end portion and a pickup-end portion, said collar-end portion of said tube being attached to the collar means over said hole in such fashion so as to be radially disposed about said collar means;c) an axle having two end portions wherein at least one end portion has an outer surface adapted to receive the rotating collar means, said outer surface including a void volume extending less than coextensively about the end portion upon which the rotating collar means is received, said void volume disposed in fluid contact with said at least one hole in said collar means, said axle further including a hollow passageway in its interior and in which the passageway is in fluid contact with at least a portion of the inner surface of said collar means, and the passageway is adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum; andd) means for causing rotation of said collar means about said axle, wherein the collar is rotably disposed about the axle.