Patent ID: 6513644
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
A part-aligning apparatus comprising:a part-holding chamber for accommodating a number of chip parts, said part-holding chamber having a bottom having an inner surface; a chute groove formed at least in the inner surface of the bottom of said part-holding chamber and having a closed bottom surface, said chute groove serving to orient chip parts in a given direction and cause said chip parts to slide successively downward; a gate port formed at the lower end of said chute groove and permitting the chip parts sliding downward in a given orientation along said chute groove to pass in succession; a discharge passage for aligning the passed chip parts in a line to discharge the passed chip parts; and a rotary impeller rotatably held in said part-holding chamber and equipped with blades having front end portions dimensioned so as to pass over said gate port, said blades being rotated in such a direction that a chip part halted in an abnormal orientation in said gate port is displaced in a direction different from a direction in which the chip parts are discharged, thereby preventing said abnormally oriented chip part from clogging the gate port.