Patent ID: 6119842
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: B65G,G01G

Abstract:
An article dispensing apparatus comprising:an alignment device including a chute having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;a supply system for supplying elongate articles to the inlet portion; anda receptacle supply system for supplying receptacles to the outlet portion for receiving articles which have been discharged from the chute, wherein the chute comprisesa concave base extending from the inlet portion downwardly to the outlet portion of the chute and having a substantially constant lateral dimension along its length, andside walls extending from the base, an angle of inclination of the side walls to the base decreasing from the inlet portion to the outlet portion so as to cause elongated articles traveling through the chute and having an elongate dimension greater than the lateral dimension of the base to align themselves in a travel direction along the chute.