Patent ID: 6959816

Claim:
A switch for sorting and guiding parts received from a discharge element, said switch comprising: at least two receiving elements for receiving parts from the discharge element; path members having changeable lengths for guiding the parts from the discharge element toward one of said at least two receiving elements; first and second rods respectively connected to said path members and movable relative to each other such that they remain axially parallel to each other, said first and second rods arranged on guide elements actuatable for substantially horizontally moving said first and second rods, said first and second rods being movable for selectively forming a slope of said path members or defining an opening for guiding the parts received from the discharge element to one of said at least two receiving elements, wherein said lengths of said path members change based on positions of said respective first and second rods; and a drive unit operatively connected to said switch for selectively independently moving said first and second rods toward or away from each other.