Patent ID: 6968939

Claim:
A conveyor for elongate components ( 12 ) designed with a head ( 41 ) and a shank ( 42 ), with a feed arrangement ( 7 ), for feeding the components in a prescribed direction, comprising a transfer arrangement ( 8 ) with a transfer region ( 15 ) into which the elongate components ( 12 ) are fed from a feed duct ( 11 ) comprising a head guiding duct ( 13 ) having a feed path for the heads ( 41 ), and a shank guiding duct ( 14 ) with the ducts ( 13 ) and ( 14 ) being in communication with a conveying duct ( 16 ) into which the components ( 12 ) can be moved from the transfer region ( 15 ), characterized by the transfer arrangement ( 8 ) which comprises: at least one catch element ( 18 ) being located externally of the transfer region ( 15 ) and extending along, and adjacent, the head guiding duct ( 13 ) generally in the prescribed direction of the feeding of the elongate components ( 12 ); at least one portion ( 21 ) of the at least one catch element ( 18 ) being removably extendable into and out of the feed path of the head guiding duct ( 13 ); a biasing element ( 39 ) positioned to normally urge the at least one portion ( 21 ) of the at least one catch element ( 18 ) movably into the feed path of the head guiding duct ( 13 ) for engagement with the elongate components ( 12 ) being fed therethrough; and the at least one catch element ( 18 ) and the at least one portion ( 21 ) thereof being mounted for deflected movement out of the feed path of the head guiding duct ( 13 ) against the normal urging of the biasing element ( 39 ) upon engagement with each of the elongate components ( 12 ) being fed through the feed path of the head guiding duct ( 13 ) to allow continued feeding of the elongate components ( 12 ) through the feed path; and further characterized in that the at least one portion ( 21 ) is a first end portion ( 21 ) of the at least one catch element ( 18 ), and which further comprises: a second end portion ( 48 ) of the at least one catch element ( 18 ), which is remote from the first end portion ( 21 ); a stop surface ( 49 ) positioned for engagement with the second end portion ( 48 ) of the at least one catch element ( 18 ); and the biasing element ( 39 ) normally urging the second end portion ( 48 ) into engagement with the stop surface ( 49 ) to limit the distance in which the first end portion ( 21 ) is urged into the feed path of the head guiding duct ( 13 ).