Patent GB-999239-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for orienting workpieces
IPC: B65G47/24
Filed: 1963-07-01
Abstract: 999,239. Orientation of workpieces. LANDIS MACHINE CO. June 1, 1963 [Dec. 17, 1962], No. 26034/63. Heading B8S. Workpieces 174 having their ends of different sizes are caused to be uniformly orientated, so that they fall down shoot 112 with the small end nose-forwards, by the use of displacement plates 58 and 64, anvil 168 and shuttle 98. Plate 58 is carried by cylinder 32 which moves relative to fixed piston 42, the operating fluid being introduced through bore 50. Similarly, plate 64 is carried by cylinder 70 which moves relative to fixed piston 76, the movement being caused by fluid introduced through bore 86. Springs 48 and 84 effect the return movements of the cylinders. Anvil 168 is adapted to engage the larger end of the workpiece 174 but not the smaller end thereof and said engagement is adapted to cause bar 160 to move to operate switch 140. Shuttle 98 is operated by a solenoid 102 to move in a horizontal direction and is provided with a slot 110 therein, being adapted to take a left or a right position. When the workpiece 174 falls released from between plates 58 and 64, it will strike the edge of slot 110, the right edge or the left edge independence on whether the larger end of the workpiece is left or right. Thus, the larger end of the workpiece engages the corresponding end of the slot, is delayed for a moment, which delay permits the workpiece to fall downwards with its smaller end forwards. Operation.-A workpiece 174 is introduced horizontally through tube 130 to the position shown in Fig. 5 at which its forward end strikes plate 154 to cause the operation of switch 138. This causes operating fluid to enter piston 32 at 50 so that the workpiece is engaged between plates 58 and 64, plate 58 continuing rightward to push the plate 64 rightwards and also the workpiece, till the workpiece is positioned over shoot 112. At this point plate 64 operates switch 136 which causes the return of plate 58 leftwards whilst retaining plate 64 in its then-present position. We will assume that workpiece 174 held between plates 58 and 64 has not engaged anvil 168. The workpiece therefore is released by plate 58 and falls under gravity down shoot 112 and as it does so its larger end (leftwards as shown in Fig. 4), strikes the left edge of slot 110 in shuttle 98 to allow the workpiece to fall with the smaller end forwards. Suppose however that the workpiece has its larger end rearwards. In this case the operation starts as before. Thus, plate 58 advances rightwards to engage the workpiece between it and plate 64 and the two plates with the workpiece between them move rightwards. The larger end of workpiece 174 (by reason of now being positioned at its rear) engages anvil 168 to operate switch 174. This causes the operation of solenoid 102 so that shuttle 98 is moved leftwards to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4. The workpiece is now positioned over shoot 112. Switch 136 is operated by plate 64 to cause plate 58 to move leftwards (as before) and to cause plate 64 to retain its position. This releases the workpiece 174 which falls down shoot 112. As it does so it engages the right (dotted) edge of slot 110 of the shuttle 98. Again the larger end of the workpiece (now at the rear) is retarded to allow once more the workpiece to fall with its smaller end forwards. The device therefore orientates uniformly all the workpieces.