Patent ID: 8474597

Claim:
A tray for orienting and conveying items having a longitudinal axis, a tip, an opposite head, and a head-up and a head-down orientation, said tray conveying the items in a direction of travel and comprising: a series of connected, function-oriented static regions configured for orienting the item from a random orientation to a desired tip-down orientation , at least one of said regions being inclined for facilitating movement of the item through said regions, said regions being configured such that proper orientation of the item is achieved without operator contact, wherein said regions include: an upper basket configured for receiving items and orienting them such that the longitudinal axis is oriented in the direction of travel; an orientation chute in communication with said basket and having a generally narrowing cross-sectional profile, said chute being sufficiently inclined for promoting sliding and partial rotation of the items received from the basket so that at a chute outlet, an item head-up orientation is achieved; an orientation twist portion in communication with said chute outlet and provided with a helical pathway for rotating the item head a desired amount, said pathway having an exit port; and a lower spike tray in communication with said helical pathway and configured for receiving the items in a rotated head orientation, and having a slot dimensioned for receiving the tips, so that the items are oriented tip-down, head-up, and constructed and arranged for delivering the items to a tray outlet.