Patent ID: 7878335
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: B07B,B65G

Abstract:
1. A method for sorting articles having upper and lower portions differing in diameter, said method comprising the steps of: feeding said articles on a path in which some articles have an orientation with larger diameters away from the path and some have smaller diameters away from the path, between a pair of right and left slant members from a start end of said path on a conveyor, said slant members along said path having a width smaller than a maximum diameter of the articles and larger than a minimum diameter of the articles, said slant members being low on the start end and high on a terminal end along said path, wherein said slant members are a pair of belts running in the same direction as the path; catching only the articles having upper portions larger in diameter than respective lower portions on said pair of slant members; and allowing the articles having upper portions smaller in diameter than respective lower portions to pass as they are conveyed along said path, thereby sorting said articles by diameter orientation.