Patent Publication Number: US-7219789-B2

Title: Bailing apparatus with handle orienter

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to bailing apparatus for coupling handles to containers. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the present disclosure, a bailing apparatus includes a bailer and a bailer feeder. The bailer couples handles to containers. The bailer feeder includes a handle orienter and an infeed device. The handle orienter orients handles that do not have a predetermined orientation so that the handles have the predetermined orientation and are delivered to the infeed device with the predetermined orientation. The infeed device feeds the oriented handles to the bailer. 
     In an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure, the handle orienter includes a lug orienter and a shaft orienter. The lug orienter orients a pair of lugs of each handle so the lugs extend downwardly from a shaft of the handle upon delivery of the handle to the shaft orienter by the lug orienter. When the lug orienter delivers a handle to the shaft orienter, the shaft of the handle is oblique to a shaft orientation axis. The shaft orienter orients the shaft so that it becomes perpendicular to the shaft orientation axis. Each handle is thus delivered to the infeed device with the predetermined orientation in which the lugs of the handle extend downwardly from the shaft of the handle and the shaft is perpendicular to the shaft orientation axis. 
     The lug orienter includes a bin formed to include a plurality of compartments rotatable about a compartment rotation axis. A bin shuttler is arranged to move the bin toward a rotatable wheel to a transfer position and away from the wheel to a retracted position. In the transfer position, a plurality of handle couplers coupled to the wheel for rotation with the wheel about a wheel rotation axis are arranged to pick up handles located in one of the compartments of the bin and to lay the picked-up handles down onto a moving belt included in the shaft orienter. In the retracted position, a compartment rotator rotates the compartments about the compartment rotation axis to provide more handles to the handle couplers upon return of the bin to the transfer position. 
     The shaft orienter includes the belt and a deck to which the belt is coupled. The deck includes first and second side walls and a diverging notch. The first side wall is positioned on one side of the belt and the second second side wall and the diverging notch are positioned on an opposite side of the belt. The first side wall is adapted to engage and guide a first of the lugs of each handle upon movement of the handle by the belt. The diverging notch extends away from the first side wall toward the second side wall to engage and guide a second of the lugs of each handle toward the second side wall upon movement of the handle by the belt. 
     Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view showing a bailing apparatus that includes a bailer feeder for feeding handles to a bailer which couples the handles to containers and showing a handle orienter that is included in the bailer feeder between a handle supplier and an infeed device to orient handles received from the handle supplier without a predetermined orientation to cause the handles to have the predetermined orientation upon delivery of the handles to the infeed device by the handle orienter; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the bailing apparatus showing the handle supplier supplying handles to a movable bin positioned in a transfer position adjacent a rotating wheel allowing a plurality of handle couplers coupled to the rotating wheel to pick up handles from the bin and lay down the picked-up handles onto a moving belt shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the bailing apparatus when the bin is in the transfer position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the bailing apparatus showing the bin in a retracted position away from the rotating wheel allowing rotation of compartments included in the bin about a compartment rotation axis so that more handles can be provided to the handle couplers upon return of the bin to the transfer position; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the bailing apparatus showing rotation of the compartments about the compartment rotation axis when the bin is positioned in the retracted position; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the bin coupled to a bin shuttler arranged to move the bin back and forth along a shuttle axis between the transfer and retracted positions; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of one of the handle couplers; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 3  showing one of the handle couplers picking up handles from a compartment included in the bin; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8  showing one of the handle couplers carrying a handle upon rotation of the wheel; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevational view showing a handle disconnector configured, for example, as two vertically spaced air pulsers arranged on opposite sides of the wheel to direct pulses of air at handles carried by the handle couplers to disconnect any handles that may have inadvertently become criss-crossed or otherwise connected; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along lines  11 - 11  of  FIG. 3  showing a brake of an anti-coupler-rotation device coupled to one of the handle couplers and positioned normally in a rotation-enabling position allowing rotation of the handle coupler about a coupler axis; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 11  showing the brake in a rotation-blocking position blocking rotation of the handle coupler about the coupler axis upon sliding engagement between the brake and a brake actuator; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 3  showing a handle coupler laying a handle down onto a moving belt so that two lugs coupled to opposite ends of a shaft of the handle and used to couple the handle to a container extend downwardly from the shaft; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a shaft orienter that is included in the handle orienter and includes the moving belt and a deck formed to include an orientation adjuster adapted to adjust the orientation of the shafts of handles placed on the belt so that the shafts become perpendicular to a shaft orientation axis along which the belt moves the handles toward the infeed device; 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view showing adjustment of the orientation of the shafts of handles placed on the belt upon movement of the handles along the orientation adjuster by use of the moving belt so that the handles are delivered to the infeed device with the predetermined orientation in which the lugs of each handle extend downwardly from the shaft of the handle and the shaft is perpendicular to the orientation axis; and 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along lines  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15  showing the orientation adjuster including a side wall of the deck on one side (left side) of the belt for engaging and guiding a first lug of each handle upon movement of the handle by the belt and a notch formed in the deck on an opposite side (right side) of the belt for engaging and guiding a second lug of each handle upon movement of the handle by the belt. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A bailing apparatus  10  includes a bailer  12  and a bailer feeder  14 , as shown diagrammatically, for example, in  FIG. 1 . Bailer  12  is adapted to couple handles  16  to containers  18 . Bailer feeder  14  includes a handle orienter  20  arranged to orient handles received from a handle supplier  22  without a predetermined orientation so that handles  16  are delivered by handle orienter  20  with the predetermined orientation to an infeed device  24  which is arranged to feed handles  16  with the predetermined orientation to bailer  12 . Handle orienter  20  thus provides handle orienter means for orienting handles  16  received from handle supplier  22  without the predetermined orientation to cause handles  16  to be delivered to infeed device  24  with the predetermined orientation in which shafts  26  included in handles  16  are perpendicular to a shaft orientation axis  28  and lugs  30  included in handles  16  and adapted to be coupled to containers  18  by bailer  12  extend away from shafts  26  in the same direction, as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  9 ,  14 , and  15 . 
     Handle orienter  20  includes a lug orienter  32  and a shaft orienter  34 , as shown diagrammatically, for example, in  FIG. 1 . Lug orienter  32  is arranged to orient a pair of lugs  30  that are included in each handle  16  for attachment to a container  18  and coupled to opposite ends of a shaft  26  included in handle  16  so that lugs  30  extend downwardly from shaft  26  upon delivery of handle  16  to shaft orienter  34  by lug orienter  32 . Shaft orienter  34  is arranged to orient shaft  26  of each handle  16  so that shaft  26  is perpendicular to shaft orientation axis  28  along which shaft orienter  34  moves each handle  16  toward infeed device  24 . 
     Lug orienter  32  includes a sequencer  36  and a picker  38 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Sequencer  36  is arranged to move groups of handles  16  received from handle supplier  22  in sequence into communication with picker  38 . Picker  38  is arranged to pick up handles  16  from whichever group is in communication with picker  38  and to lay down the picked-up handles  16  onto a moving belt  40  included in shaft orienter  34  so that lugs  30  of handles  16  placed on belt  40  extend downwardly from shafts  26 . 
     Sequencer  36  includes a bin  42  and a bin shuttler  44  and picker includes a rotatable wheel  46 , a plurality of handle couplers  48  coupled to wheel  46 , and a wheel rotator  50  (e.g., electric motor) arranged to rotate wheel  46  and handle couplers  48  coupled thereto about a wheel rotation axis  52  in a wheel rotation direction  53 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2-6 . Bin  42  includes a rotatable partition  54  formed to include a plurality of compartments  56  adapted to receive handles  16  from handle supplier  22 . Bin shuttler  44  is arranged to move bin  42  along a shuttle axis  58  toward wheel  46  in a forward direction  59  (indicated in  FIG. 6 ) to a transfer position shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and away from wheel  46  in a rearward direction  61  to a retracted position shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     In the transfer position, bin  42  is positioned adjacent wheel  46 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . An access opening  60  formed in bin  42  receives wheel  46  therein allowing handle couplers  48  coupled to wheel  46  for rotation therewith about axis  52  to pass upwardly through access opening  60  to pick up handles  16  from a compartment  56  in communication with handle couplers  48  and lay down the picked-up handles onto belt  40 . 
     In the retracted position, bin  42  is positioned away from wheel  46 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Wheel  46  is thereby positioned outside access opening  60  allowing a compartment rotator  62  (e.g., electric motor) coupled to partition  54  to rotate partition  54  and compartments  56  formed therein about a compartment rotation axis  64  in a compartment rotation direction  63  to position another compartment  56  containing more handles  16  in communication with handle couplers  48  upon return of bin  42  to the transfer position by bin shuttler  44 . 
     Handle supplier  22  comprises a conveyor  66  and a chute  68 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2-5 . Conveyor  66  includes a belt driver  70  that drives a belt  72  to move handles  16  without the predetermined orientation toward chute  68 . Dividers  74  on belt  72  facilitate movement of handles  16  by belt  72 . At an end of conveyor  66 , belt  72  drops handles  16  through chute  68  which guides the falling handles  16  into an underlying compartment  56  not in communication with handle couplers  48  when bin  42  is positioned in the transfer position. 
     Compartments  56  are spaced about compartment rotation axis  64 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Illustratively, there are four compartments  56  spaced at 90° intervals about axis  64 . 
     Each compartment  56  includes a pair of spaced-apart side walls  76  and a pair of spaced-apart guide walls  78 ,  80 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 7 . A floor  82  of each compartment  56  is provided by a disk  84  of partition  54 . Guide walls  78 ,  80  are arranged to guide handles  16  dropped into compartment  56  from conveyor  66  into a space defined between guide walls  78 ,  80 . Guide walls  78 ,  80  are inclined at angles different from one another to cause handles  16  dropped into compartment  56  to tend to tumble so that lugs  30  extend generally downwardly from shafts  26  when handles  16  come to rest in compartment  56  to facilitate coupling of handles  16  to handle couplers  48 . 
     Bin  42  includes a frame  86  that supports partition  54  and compartment rotator  62 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 . Frame  86  includes a lower plate  88 , an upper retainer  90 , and a plurality of struts  92  connecting plate  88  and retainer  90  to support retainer  90  above plate  88 . 
     Retainer  90  partially surrounds partition  54  and compartments  56  formed therein to retain handles  16  in compartments  56  upon rotation of compartments  56  about compartment rotation axis  64 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Retainer  90  is formed to include access opening  60 . Retainer  90  includes a bottom wall  94  and a perimeter wall  96  coupled to and extending upwardly from the perimeter of bottom wall  94 . Walls  94 ,  96  cooperate to provide access opening  60  and cooperate to provide a perimeter groove  98  adapted to receive one of lugs  30  of handles  16  in compartments  56  so that lugs  30  will be extending generally downwardly when they are placed in communication with handle couplers  48  to facilitate coupling of handles  16  to handle couplers  48 . 
     Bin  42  includes a closure  100  and a closure mover  102 , as shown, for example, in FIGS.  2  and  4 - 8 . Closure mover  102  (e.g., air cylinder) is coupled to closure  100  and arranged to move closure between an opened position opening access opening  60  when bin  42  is positioned in the transfer position, as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  7 , and a closed position closing access opening  60  when bin  42  is positioned in the retracted position, as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     Bin shuttler includes an inclined bin support  104 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 . Support  104  underlies lower plate  88  and is coupled thereto to support bin  42  in an inclined position to facilitate transfer of handles  16  to handle couplers  48 . Illustratively, support  104  inclines bin  42  at an angle of about 7° with respect to a horizontal reference plane as suggested  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 . 
     Bin shuttler  44  includes a driver  106  and a pair of parallel rails  108 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 . Support  104  includes a pair of feet  110 . Each foot  110  receives one of rails  108  to slide thereon. Driver  106  is coupled to support  104  to cause feet  110  to slide on rails  108  and thus cause movement of bin  42  between the transfer and retracted positions. Driver  106  is configured, for example, as an air cylinder (e.g., model number SLM-40-550-KF-A-S-G-CV available from Festo Corp. of Hauppauge, N.Y.). 
     Bailer feeder  14  includes an electronic controller  112 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Controller  112  is coupled to driver  106 , compartment rotator  62 , and closure mover  102  to coordinate movement of bin  42  between the transfer and retracted positions, rotation of compartments  56  about compartment rotation axis  64 , and movement of closure  100  between the opened and closed positions. 
     Each handle coupler  48  is configured, for example, as a plate coupled to an axle  114  fixed to wheel  46 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 7-9 . Coupler  48  includes a top portion  116 , a bottom portion  118 , and a side portion  120  extending between top and bottom portions  116 ,  118 . Top, bottom, and side portions  116 ,  118 ,  120  extend between opposite end portions  122  of coupler  48 . 
     A plurality of lug receivers  124  for receiving lugs  30  are formed in and aligned along top portion  116  between end portions  122  of coupler  48 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 7-9 . illustratively, each lug receiver  124  is a notch formed in top portion  116  of handle coupler  48 . 
     A plurality of shaft receivers  126  for receiving shafts  26  are formed in and aligned along side portion  120  between end portions  122 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 7 and 9 . Illustratively, each shaft receiver  126  is a groove formed in side portion  120 . It is within the scope of this disclosure for the depths of adjacent receivers  126  to be different from one another (e.g., to alternate between first and second depth]s). It is further within the scope of this disclosure for receivers  126  to be formed as grooves that extend all the way through handle coupler  48 . 
     Lug receivers  124  and shaft receivers  126  are arranged in pairs so that the lug receiver  124  and shaft receiver  126  of each pair cooperate to position a handle  16  received by the pair in generally perpendicular relation to a coupler axis  127  of coupler  48  to pre-position handle  16  to be laid down onto belt  40 , as suggested, for example, in  FIGS. 8-10 . The receiver pairs thus act to position the handles  16  coupled to coupler  48  in generally parallel relation. Inclined guide surfaces  133 ,  134  formed in plates  135 ,  136  located adjacent end portions  122  are arranged to guide handles  16  toward the lug receiver/shaft receiver pairs. 
     During an attempted transfer of handles  16  from a compartment  56  to a handle coupler  48 , handle coupler  48  moves against handles  16  in compartment  56  to promote coupling of lugs  30  to lug receivers  124 . A guide plate  137  is arranged to guide handles  16  which do not successfully couple to handle coupler  48  back into compartment  56 . An air pulser  139  coupled to guide plate  137  and under the control of controller  112  is arranged to direct a pulse of air at handles  16  falling back into compartment  56  to promote tumbling of such handles  16  in compartment  56  so that such handles  16  will come to rest in compartment  56  with their lugs  30  extending generally downwardly. A coupler sensor  141  (e.g., a photosensor) is arranged to sense each handle coupler  48  that passes sensor  141  and is coupled to controller  112  to inform controller  112  when a handle coupler  48  has passed sensor  141 . Controller  112  uses this information from sensor  141  to cause air pulser  139  to generate a pulse of air each time that sensor  141  senses a handle coupler  48 . 
     Handles  16  which are coupled to a handle coupler  48  may become criss-crossed or otherwise connected to one another due to, for example, a lug  30  of one handle  16  becoming caught on the shaft  26  of a nearby handle  16 , as suggested, for example, in  FIG. 10 . A handle disconnector  128  is arranged to disconnect such handles  16  that have become connected to one another to facilitate laying those handles  16  down onto belt  40  in a manner conducive to delivering handles  16  to infeed device  24  in the predetermined orientation. 
     In one example, handle disconnector  128  includes a pair of vertically-spaced side air pulsers  130 ,  132  located on opposite sides of wheel  46 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 10 . Each air pulser  130 ,  132  is arranged to direct a horizontal pulse of air at handles  16  coupled to each handle coupler  48  as handles  16  pass air pulsers  130 ,  132 . Such pulses of air cause handles  16  to vibrate somewhat to facilitate disconnection of handles  16  that have become connected. Air pulser  130  is used to disconnect a handle  16  crossing another handle  16  in one direction and air pulser  132  is used to disconnect a handle  16  crossing another handle  16  in an opposite direction. Controller  112  is coupled to air pulsers  130 ,  132  to time the air pulses released therefrom at passing handles  16 . Controller  112  causes air pulser  130  to discharge pulses of air through openings  134  formed in wheel  46 . It is within the scope of this disclosure to include a coupler sensor (not shown) configured, for example, as a photosensor and associated with each air pulser  130 ,  132  to sense each handle coupler  48  that passes it and to send this information to controller  112 . Controller  112  uses this information from the coupler sensors to control operation of air pulsers  130 ,  132 . 
     In another example, handle disconnector  128  includes a single top air pulser  131 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 10 . Pulser  131  is arranged to direct a downward pulse of air at handles  16  on each handle coupler  48  to disconnect criss-crossed or otherwise connected handles  16 . Controller  112  is coupled to pulser  131  and a brake sensor  143  (e.g., a photosensor) to activate pulser  131  each time that brake sensor  143  senses a brake  140  which is coupled to wheel  46  and discussed in more detail herein. 
     Each handle coupler  48  is mounted to an axle  114  normally for rotation about a coupler axis  127  established by an axle  114  upon rotation of wheel  46  about wheel rotation axis  52 . Handle coupler  48  is thus normally in a generally vertical orientation to facilitate picking up handles  16  from compartments  56 . 
     A first anti-coupler-rotation device  138  shown, for example, in  FIGS. 11 and 12  is arranged to block rotation of each coupler  48  about its coupler axis  127  during rotation of handle coupler  48  with wheel  46  through an arc about wheel rotation axis  52  to lower handles  16  coupled to handle coupler  48  toward and onto moving belt  40 . In this way, handle coupler  48  and any handles  16  coupled thereto will become somewhat horizontal as handle coupler  48  rotates with wheel  46  through the arc to facilitate laying handles  16  down onto moving belt  40 . 
     Device  138  includes a plurality of coupler brakes  140  coupled to wheel  46  and a first brake actuator  142  for actuating brakes  140 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 11 and 12  with respect to one coupler brake  138 . Each brake  138  is associated with one of handle couplers  48  and arranged to move relative thereto between a normal rotation-enabling position allowing rotation of handle coupler  48  about axis  127 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 11 , and a rotation-blocking position blocking rotation of handle coupler  48  about axis  127 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 12 . Brake actuator  142  is arranged to move brake  138  from the rotation-enabling position to the rotation-blocking position when brake  138  engages brake actuator  142 . Brake  138  remains in the rotation-blocking position as it travels through the arc which is established by brake actuator  142 . Brake  138  disengages brake actuator  142  and returns to the rotation-enabling position at the end of the arc. Handle coupler  48  rotates in a direction  145  shown, for example, in  FIG. 13  to lay handles  16  coupled thereto down onto belt  40  when brake  138  disengages brake actuator  142 . 
     Illustratively, each brake  140  includes a pressure plate  135 , a slide plate  144 , and a pair of connector bolts  146  extending through wheel  46  and connecting plates  135 ,  144 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . A spring  148  surrounding each bolt  146  and located between slide plate  144  and wheel  46  biases brake  140  toward its rotation-enabling position. Brake actuator  142  is configured, for example, as a striker plate arranged to engage slide plate  144  to cause brake  140  to move from its rotation-enabling position to its rotation-blocking position in a braking direction  147 . Sliding engagement between actuator  142  and slide plate  144  causes slide plate  144  to move toward wheel  46  against a biasing force generated by springs  148 . This motion of slide plate  144  is transmitted through bolts  146  to pressure plate  135  which contacts an end portion  122  of coupler  48  to sandwich coupler  48  between plates  135 ,  136  to thereby block rotation of coupler  48  about axis  127 . Springs  148  return brake  140  to the rotation-enabling position upon disengagement between slide plate  144  and actuator  142 . It is within the scope of this disclosure to place a spring between coupler  48  and plate  136  to accommodate component tolerances. 
     Brake actuator  142  is coupled to a number (e.g., three) of actuator mount posts  150 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . A pair of springs  152  is positioned between brake actuator  142  and two of posts  150  to allow movement of actuator  142  during contact with slide plate  144 . 
     A second brake actuator  154  shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3 and 5  is arranged to engage brakes  140  before first brake actuator  142  engages brakes  140 . Coupler  48  may tend to rock back and forth about its axis  127  when it picks up handles  16  from a compartment  56 . Brake actuator  154  is positioned to actuate each brake  140  briefly to stop such rocking and associated swinging of handles  16  coupled to coupler  48 . Second brake actuator  154  is configured, for example, as a striker plate that is smaller than the striker plate of first brake actuator  142 . 
     Belt  40  is coupled to a deck  155  of shaft orienter  34 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 14-16 . Belt  40  is positioned in an opening  156  formed in deck  155 . 
     Handle couplers  48  release handles  16  onto moving belt  40 . When released, lugs  30  extend downwardly from shafts  26 . However, because belt  40  is moving, shafts  26  of handles  16  are oblique to shaft orientation axis  28  upon release from handle couplers  48 . 
     An orientation adjuster  157  included in shaft orienter  34  is arranged to adjust the orientation of each handle  16  received on belt  40  upon movement of belt  40  toward infeed device  24  so that each shaft  26  becomes perpendicular to shaft orientation axis  28  for delivery to infeed device  24 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 14-16 . Adjuster  157  includes a first lug guide  158  and a second lug guide  160 . Lug guides  158 ,  160  are positioned on opposite sides of belt  40 . First lug guide  158  is arranged to engage and guide movement of a first lug  30  of each handle  16  upon movement of handle  16  by belt  40  along axis  28 . Second lug guide  160  is arranged to engage and guide movement of a second lug  30  of each handle  16  upon movement of handle  16  by belt  40  along axis  28 . 
     First lug guide  158  includes a first side wall  162  of deck  155  and a diverging wall  164  of deck  155 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 15 . Wall  164  diverges outwardly toward first side wall  162  to guide a first lug  30  of each handle  16  thereto. 
     Second lug guide  160  includes a diverging notch  166  formed in deck  155  and a second side wall  168  parallel to first side wall  162 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 14-16 . Notch  166  diverges away from first side wall  162  toward second side wall  168  to receive and guide a second lug  30  of each handle  16  toward second side wall  168 . 
     A motion facilitator  169  is arranged to facilitate entry of second lug  30  into notch  166 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Motion facilitator  169  includes an inclined plate  171  and a roller  170 . Plate  171  is inclined relative to a horizontal reference plane and is positioned in front of roller  170  to push shafts  26  (which may bowed somewhat upwardly) downward toward belt  40  so that handles  16  can pass under roller  170 . Roller  170  is arranged to hold each handle  16  down on belt  40  and cooperates with belt  40  to move handle  16  forward along axis  28  so that second lug  30  enters into notch  166 . 
     A driver  172  (e.g., electric motor) is used to move roller  170  and belt  40  at the same speed. Driver  172  is arranged to rotate roller  170  through a belt  173  that connects a pair of pulleys  171  (one shown in  FIG. 14 ), a belt  176  that connects a pair of pulleys  174 ,  175 , and a roller axle  178  that connects pulley  175  and roller  170 . A pair of mounts  182  are arranged to mount roller  170 , roller axle  178 , and pulley  175 . Illustratively, pulleys  174 ,  175  are mounted so that belt  176  is positioned outwardly from a post  177 . It is within the scope of this disclosure for pulleys  174 ,  175  to be mounted so that belt  176  is positioned inwardly from post  177 . It is further within the scope of this disclosure to include a spring in each mount  182  to allow vertical movement of roller  170  in response to movement of handles  16  between roller  170  and belt  40 . 
     An anti-slip rail  184  extends over and along belt  40 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Rail  184  holds handles  16  down in contact with belt  40  to prevent handles  16  from slipping thereon so that handles  16  move with belt  40  along axis  28 . Opposite ends of rail  184  are coupled to first and second rail mounts  186 ,  188 . 
     Outer anti-handle-rotation rails  190  and inner anti-handle-rotation rails  192  are coupled to first and second rail mounts  186 ,  188  and third and fourth rail mounts  194 ,  196 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Rails  190 ,  192  are arranged to block rotation of each handle  16  about its longitudinal axis  198  upon movement of handle  16  by belt  40  along axis  28 . Rails  190 ,  192  and mounts  186 ,  188 ,  190 ,  192  thus cooperate to provide an anti-handle-rotation device. 
     Infeed device  24  is arranged to move handles  16  received from shaft orienter  34  with the predetermined orientation along axis  28  to feed handles  16  to bailer  12 . Illustratively, infeed device  24  is available from Albright Machine located in Monroeville, Ohio and has model number 808-1005-A. Infeed device  24  includes a driver  200  (e.g., electric motor) coupled to a driver mount plate  202 . Driver  200  rotates a drive belt  204  which acts through pulleys  206  and a pulley axle  208  to cause rotation of side belts  206  surrounding pulleys  206  to move handles  16  with the predetermined orientation along axis  28  toward bailer  12  for transfer thereto. An example of bailer  12  is available from Albright Machine also and has model number  808 .