Patent ID: 6162009
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
Apparatus for feeding stackable articles which are elongated and have opposed planar sides along a longitudinal axis to a workstation for processing which comprises:a. a pathway for delivering the elongated articles in a downstream direction to a downstream end of the pathway, when deposited thereon by an article dispenser with their longitudinal axis transverse to the downstream direction, the pathway, transverse to the downstream direction, being horizontal and extending to side margins in each transverse direction over a distance equal to the length of the articles to be delivered,b. a plurality of article dispensers in tandem in the downstream direction along the pathway, each dispenser being adapted to individually dispense articles downwardly therefrom onto the pathway with one of the planar sides abutting the pathway, being disposed above the pathway a distance to permit articles deposited on the pathway to move thereunder along the pathway and being arranged with respect to the pathway to dispense elongated articles onto the pathway with the longitudinal axis transverse to the downstream direction of the pathway and in the horizontal plane, andc. a receiver at the downstream end of the pathway for receiving articles moving downstream on the pathway and delivering each individually to the workstation,and wherein the pathway extends at a downward angle from the horizontal in the downstream direction from below the dispensers to the downstream end of the pathway, whereby articles dispensed on the pathway from the dispensers are propelled by gravity to slide down the pathway to the receiver.