Patent ID: 7757835
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: A24D,B65G

Abstract:
1. A bead feeder for serially delivering beads to a downstream location comprising: a bead supply wheel connected to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; the bead supply wheel including a bead supply bowl and a plurality of radially and outwardly extending bead passageways connected to rotate with the bowl and dimensioned to receive a single line of beads from the bowl; a plurality of discharge openings in the bead supply bowl spaced around a lower portion thereof with the openings in alignment with the radially and outwardly extending passageways; each of the passageways having an outer exit end; a stationary blocking ring directly below the outer exit ends of the passageways for receiving a lowermost bead from the single line of beads in each passageway; a drop-off on the blocking ring constructed and arranged to allow the lowermost beads on the blocking ring to drop away in a downward direction; and a stationary bead retainer above the drop-off of the blocking ring constructed and arranged to retain the bead adjacent the outermost bead when the lowermost bead reaches the drop-off.