Patent ID: 7093705

Claim:
An article turning apparatus, comprising: first and second stations at which a plurality of articles are to be successively loaded and unloaded, respectively; a rotary base rotatable about a stationary shaft, said first and second stations being positioned in a peripheral zone of said rotary base; and a plurality of load-carrying tables arranged at regular intervals along said peripheral zone, said load-carrying tables being adapted to carry thereon said articles and including first and second load-carrying tables rotatably mounted on said rotary base so as to be rotated around their own axes while moving along with said peripheral zone as said rotary base rotates; wherein said first and second load-carrying tables are alternatingly arranged on said rotary base so that each of said second load-carrying tables is interposed between one pair of said first load-carrying tables; said first and second load-carrying tables are rotated around their own axes in opposite directions while being moved by said rotary base from said first station to said second station as said rotary base rotates; and said apparatus further comprises first and second belts trained around a portion of said stationary shaft and a portion of said first and second load-carrying tables, respectively, wherein a rotational movement of said rotary base about the portion of said stationary shaft causes said first and second belts to travel about said stationary shaft which belts, in turn, will cause said first and second load-carrying tables, respectively, to rotate about their own axes in the opposite directions; a suction box common to all said load-carrying tables; and a motor for rotating said rotary base; each of said load-carrying tables comprising a plurality of through holes which are in fluid communication with said suction box only when said load-carrying table travels from said first station toward said second station.