US2904162A

US2904162A - Article feeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2904162A
Application number: US752972A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel B Simer
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1958-08-04
Filing date: 1958-08-04
Publication date: 1959-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1976-09-15

Description

P 1959 I s. B. SIMER 2,904,162

ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS Filed. Aug. 4, 1958 FAQ; 1 l K H 30 35 [E] I [f l /5 H 3427/- 3/ ml a M /5 HIi/i/Z/ l4) 25 7 u L I d L Samuel, 5

United States latent 2,904,162 ARTICLE FEEDING APPARATUS Samuel B. Simer, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to G enejralElectric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 4, 1958, Serial Nb. 752,972 9 Claims. 01. 198-33) This invention relates to article feeding or handlin'g devices and more particularly to apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles, of the type having a substantially closed weighted end and open at itsother end, in a predetermined endwise oriented position into, a more or less vertically arranged article dispensing tube or chute ans 7 In the manufacture of electrical devices such as candescent lamps, for errampla one of the manufacturing operations, commonly known as the lamp basing operation, comprises the mounting of a lamp base on the glass bulb of the lamp. Such lamp bases are generally of tubular character and comprise a .metal shell portion open at one end and having its other end substantiallyclosed by a web of insulating material such as glass which, due to its relatively heavyweight as .corn pared to the weight of the thin metal shell, thereby renders the closed end of the base heavier than the open end thereof. Since, in carrying out the .above-mentioned basing operation, the base must be placed onto the lamp bulb in a predetermined endwise oriented position, i.e with its open end first, the se of automatically enemiing mechanisms to perform the larnp basing operation therefore requires that the bases be located in such a predetermined endwise oriented posit-ion the time ithey are transferred to and placed on the lamp bulb inlreadiness for attachment thereto In one form of automatically operating 7 which has been employed to perform the above-mentionedlamp basing operation, the bases al ered endwise from a more or less vertically arranged base dispensing guide tube means into a transfer means which then transfers the base to, and places .it proper assembled relation on the lamp bulb. With such a baseffejeding and transfer arrangement, is desirable that the basis he fed from the dispensing tube means to the base transfer means in a predetermined endwfise oriented position which will insure in each case the proper .endwise placement and positioning of the base on the lamp bulb by the base transfer means.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide article handling apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles, having a substantially .clo'se d weighted end and open at its other end, in a predetermined endwiSeofiented position into an article dispensing tube or chute .means from which the articles may be delivered for further processing or use. I s s Another object of invention is;-to provide article handling apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles, of the type having a substantially closed weighted end and open at its other end, from a loose collection of the articles in a reservoir and serially loading them in a predetermined endwise oriented position into an article dispensing tube or chute means. I j I 7,

Still another object of my invention-is to provide an article handling mechanism for feeding lamp bases, of

the type comprising a thin metal shell portion substantially closed at one end: by a web of" insulating .r ria terial,

ice

ina predetermined closed end down position into a substantially vertically arranged base dispensing tube means. A further object of my invention is the provision, in

association with article handling means of the type adapted to convey articles having a substantially closed weighted end and open at its other end in an endwise direct-ion toward and serially discharge them into a vertically arranged article-receiving tube by the overbalancing of the articles thereinto, of article orienting means simplein form and effective in operation for permitting .the overbalancing and passage of the articles only in a the articles through a discharge opening into an underlying article receiving or dispensing tube by the overbalancing of the articles into the discharge opening, is provided with a ir jet means located adjacent the upper end on thearticle-receiving or dispensing tube means and arranged to direct an air jet upwardly through the central; region of the article discharge opening in the supporting surface to sweep away from the said opening, and preventoverbalancing and passage therei-nto of all thoseartieles approaching the discharge opening with open" end first, While permitting overbalancing and entry into the discharge opening of those articles approachihg the opening with their weighted end first.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the direction of approach of the articles toward the discharge open ng, and the direction of the air jet upwardly through thedischarge opening, are so correlated as to cause .the airj et to at least partly enter the open end of thereof; and from the accompanying drawing.

inii n l Fig. l .is an elevation, partly in section, of article handling apparatus comprising my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan viewiof the article handling apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. is a perspective view of the article dispensing tube means and the associated article endwise orienting means of the apparatu's.

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar sectional views of the article orienting means of the apparatus respectively showing the .ni'anne'r of operation thereof on articles approaching the discharge opening of the apparatus in different endwise directions, and

Pig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 showing a modified form of article orienting means accordingto the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is there illustirate'd as applied to the handling and feeding of lamp bases as those conventionally used on' incandescent fame; for example, and comprising athin tubular or cylindrical inetal shell portion 2 ('Figs. 4-6) open at one end as-indicated at 3 and substantially closed at its other eh bye web 4 of suitable insulating material, such as glass, carrying one or more metal end contacts 5 Bevcauseiof the relative heaviness of the glass insulation .4

as .cor'npar'ed 'to' the light weight of the thin metal shell base may be provided with an internal ring '3' of conventional basing cernent for securing the base to thebulo -or envelope of the lamp or other device. The invention is of particular utility in connection with the feeding, in a predetermined endwise oriented position, of lamp bases of the bayonet pin type such as shown wherein the metal shell portion 2 is provided with one or more pins 6, for example a pair of diametrically opposite pins 6, protruding outwardly from the side thereof for engagement with cooperating lamp orienting slots in a lamp socket (not shown). I

In its general manner of operation, the apparatus according to the invention is adapted to feed or convey the lamp bases 1 or other articles one at a time from a loose haphazard collection thereof in a hopper or bowl 7 and load the bases successively, in a predetermined endwise oriented position, into a more or less vertically arranged base dispensing or receiving tube means 8 from which the bases are then subsequently dispensed, as needed, for further processing or for loading into other apparatus such as, for example, insertion in the basereceiving pockets 9 of a transfer turret 10.

The mechanism 11 for feeding the bases 1 or other articles one at a time to the dispensing tube means 8 may be of any suitable type which will transport the bases 1 one unobstructed movement of the bases -1 off the upper end 'of the conveyor track onto the shelf floor 12.

at a time in a fixed path across a more or less horizontally disposed flat article-supporting surface or shelf floor 12 and over an article discharge opening 13 therein into which the advancing bases 1 then overbalance and drop into the dispensing tube means 8. Preferably, however, the article feeding mechanism 11 is of the well-known vibratory bowl type such as is commonly in use at present and comprising an article-receiving bowl 7 having a slightly conical-shaped floor 14 from which rises an upwardly inclined spiral conveyor track or ramp 15 extending around the inside of the bowl. Vibrator motor means are provided for supporting and effecting vibratory oscillation movement of the bowl 7 about its vertical center axis in an inclined arcuate path of movement corresponding approximately to the direction of inclination of the conveyor track 15 to cause the bases 1 in the bowl to move around the floor l 4'generally outwardly thereof toward the side wall of the bowl and thence up the inclined conveyor track 15. I The vibratory motor means comprises a pluends to the bowl 7 and to a base 17 soas to yield-ably support the bowl for oscillation movement in the aforementioned inclined arcuate path and an'electromagnet 18 whichacts to intermittently pull the bowl'7 downwardly against the resistance of the springs .16. 'In'the particular case illustrated, there are four of the leaf spring 'a core 19 and a coil 20, is mounted on the base 17 in close proximity to an armature 21'fixed to the bottom of the bowl 7. The electromagnet 18 is energized from a suitable source of alternating current by way of a half wave rectifier (not shown) which converts the alternating current to the pulsating current or intermittent current pulses required to efiect the periodic actuation of the electromagnet 18. Each time the bowl -7 is pulled down by the electromagnet 18, the angularity of the leaf springs 16 will cause the bowl to move simultaneously downward rality of leaf springs 16 which are fixed at respective and clockwise (as viewed from the top) in an inclined.

movement of the bowl upwardly and counterclockwise to its'original elevated position by the action of the leaf springs 16, upon the ensuing de-energization of the electromagnet 18.

At its upper end, the inclined helical conveyor track 15 terminates in an article discharge conveyor section in the general form of a tray or shelf 22 comprising a substantially horizontally disposed flat article-supporting surface or floor portion '12 onto which the bases 1 or other articles are delivered off the upper end of the inclined conveyor track '15, and an upstanding marginal articleguiding flange 23. The shelf or tray 22 is fixedly mounted on the bowl 7 so as to vibrate in unison therewith in an arcuate inclined path of movement about the vertical center axis of the bowl, as a result of which the bases or other articles 1 resting on the shelf floor 12 are urged outwardly against and along the marginal upstanding flange 23 which thus acts to guide the articles in a predetermined path of travel across the shelf floor. As shown, the upstanding marginal flange 23 is formed asa continuation of the inner side of the bowl 7 at the upper end of the inclined conveyor track 15 so as to permit The article-supporting surface or floor 12 of the shelf or tray .22 is provided with a circular article or base discharge opening 13 directly overlying the upper end of the article or base dispensing tube means 8 and located in the path of advance movement of the bases 1 along the floor 12, into which discharge opening 13 the bases ,1 overbalance and drop down into the receiving tube means 8. diameter just sufficient to permit the free overbalancing Thecircular discharge opening 13 is of a 'lengths of the diametricallyopposite bayonet pinsfi. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the article or base dispensing guide tube means 8 may be constituted by a number '(four) of vertically extending guide rods 24 uniformly spaced apart and disposed in a circle to conjointly define a vertical guide passageway of'a size to receive and permit passage therethrough of the bases 1 in an endwise direction, asshown in Fig. 1. The guide rods 24 are fastened to, and supported in' place by'a support bracket 25 which issecured to a stationary member (not shown), such as a part of the'machine frame or'base on which the turret 10' is rotatably mounted, and is provided'with a circular aperture 25' centered within the group of guide rods24 for permitting unobstructed passage of the bases 1 downwardly in the'dispensing tube means past the supporting bracket 25'." The stack of bases 1 in the dispensing tube means 8 is held back in place therein, and the bases released one'at a time'from the bottom of the stack into the openings 9 in the turret 10, by conventional type escapement means such as a pair of fingers 26 which are vertically spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the length of one of the bases and are arranged to alternately enter, and block the downward movement of the stack of bases 1 in the dispensingtube means 8.

In the caseof lamp bases of the general typekillustrated but not equipped with the protruding bayonet pins 6, the bases will all overbalance into and drop through the discharge opening 13 in'the same endwise oriented position, i.e. with their closed or weighted ends 4 first or facing downwardly, provided the discharge opening 13 is of a diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the metal'shell portion 2 of the base. This is because of the fact that the radius of such a size circular base discharge opening 13 is less than the length of the longer balance of such a pinless type base, the longer balance arm being the one extending from the center of gravity of the base to the open end 3 'thereof since the center of gravity '0 (Fig. 4) is nearer the closed or weighted end asst, 1 as .3 of the base than the openend thereof. Accordingly, when such apinless type 'bas'e passes across the discharge opening 13 with its open or lighter weight end first, "the rim of the open end of the base shell 2fwill pa's's beyond the maximum diametrical width of the opening 13 (i.e., half way across the opening in the direction of travel of the base) before the base advances across the opening to the point where it would normally overbalance thereinto if the opening 13 were large enough to permit such overbalancing. The base is thereby prevented from overbalancing open-end first into the discharge opening 13, and can only overbalance thereinto with its weighted end first since the length of the balance arm of the weighted end of the base is less than the radius of the circular discharge opening. However, in the case of a bayonet pin lamp base 1 of the type illustrated where, because of the protruding bayonet pins 6, the discharge opening 13 must be made of a diameter appreciably greater than the outside diameter of the metal shell portion '12 so as to accommodate and permit free passage therethrough of the base with its protruding bayonet pins 6, the radius of such an enlarged discharge opening 13 will then be greater than the longer balance arm of the base extending from its center of gravity C to its open end 3. As a result, such bayonet pin type bases 1 are capable of overbalancing into the enlarged diameter opening 13 with their open end first as well as with their closed end first.

The problem of preventing the overbalancing of such bayonet pin type lamp bases open end first into the enlarged discharge opening 13, so as to obtain the same endwise (i.e., closed end down) orientation of the bases in the base dispensing tube means 8, is further complicated in those cases where, because of the provision and added weight of an internal ring ofb asing cement 3 in the base shell 2 adjacent the open end 3 thereof, the difference between the lengths of the respective balance arms of the open and closed ends of the base is relatively slight and the closed end of the base is only slightly heavier than the open end thereof.

In accordance with the invention, therefore, base orienting means are provided to prevent the overbalancing of such bayonet pin type bases 1 into the discharge opening 13 with their open end first while permitting the ovenbalancing into the opening of the bases with their closed or weighted end first. The said base orienting means comprises one or more air nozzles 27 located adjacent the upper end of the base dispensing tube 8 and beneath the discharge opening 13 and the supporting surface or shelf floor 12, and connected to a source of relatively low pressure compressed air or other gaseous medium, to direct an air jet or jets 28 (Figs. 46) upwardly through the central region of the discharge opening 13 in a direction, relative to the approaching base 1, such as to cause the air jet to at least partially enter the open end of a base approaching the discharge opening 13 with its open end first and thereby bias the closed weighted end of the base so as to sweep or flip the said base away from the opening before it starts to overbalance thereinto. Because of the heavier weight of the closed or weighted end of the base 3, the intensity or velocity of the air jet 28 required to sweep or flip away from the discharge opening :13' those bases 1 approaching the opening with their weighted end first is considerably higher than that required to sweep or flip away those bases 1 approaching the discharge opening 13 with their open end first. Consequently, for the purposes of the invention, the intensity or velocity of the air jet 28 is selected within the range wherein it is sufiiclent to insure the sweeping or flipping away from the discharge opening 13 of all those bases 1 approaching the said opening with their open end first but insuftype bases 1 such as illustrated and commercially known as miniature bayonet or bayonet candelabra type bases, 1 have found that the use of an air pressure 'of't'he order of a few ounces 'per square inch for the air jet 28 ordinarily will suffice to assure the proper operation in the above-described manner of the base orienting means 3 according to the invention. However, the optimum pressure required in each particular case for the air jet 28 will depend on the particular type of base 1 or other article being handled, and must be properly selected at that level which will assure the, Proper operation of the air jet 28 in the manner described. In actual practice, in connection with the handling of lamp bases 1 ,such as illustrated, the air nozzle 27 is supplied with air from a source of compressed air 'at a pressure of the order of approximately four pounds per square inch, which pressure is then suitably reduced to that lower optimum pressure required 'to effect the proper operation of the air jet 28.

In addition to the provision of the air jet 28 directed upwardly through the discharge opening 13, the base orienting means according to the invention also comprises a guide passageway or channelway 29 provided in the shelf floor 12 and leading to the rim of the discharge opening 13 therein for the purpose of guiding the advancing bases 1 in an endwise direction, and in a predetermined direction of approach toward and across the said opening 13, so as to be in proper position relative to the air jet 23 for proper cooperation therewith in the manner described above. As shown, the said base guide channelway 29 may be formed by a slightly depressed lip portion formed in the shelf floor 12 around that portion of the rim of the discharge opening 13 across which the advancing bases 1 approach the said opening, and sloping downwardly at a slight angle toward the opening so as to guide the approaching bases thereto not only in an endwise position but also in a position tilted slightly forwardly and downwardly, as shown in Figs. 4 6. By so tilting the bases downwardly as they approach the discharge opening 13, the opening 3 in the open end of the shell portion 2 'of a base 1 approaching the discharge opening with its open end first is more fully presented to the air jet 28 passing upwardly through the discharge opening, thus better assuring the entry of the air .jet into the base opening 3 so as to enable the air jet to properly perform its in tended function of sweeping or flipping the base away from the discharge opening. In place of forming the base guide passageway 29 by depressing that portion of the shelf 12 which borders the discharge opening 13 and across which the bases 1 approach the said opening, the said base guide passageway or channelway 29 may be formed instead by providing a portion of the shelf fioor 12 bordering the discharge opening 13 with raised portions on either side of the path of travel 'of the approaching bases 1 toward the discharge opening.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5, the air nozzle means 27 for directing the air jet 28 upwardly through the discharge opening 13 is comprised of unitary inner and

outer ring members

30 and 31, respectively, which are mounted on the underside of and extend upwardly through the shelf floor 12 so that the inner ring 30 thereby forms the discharge opening 13 in the shelf floor 12. The outer ring 31 eccentric'ally surrounds the inner ring 30 and is joined at its upper end to the inner ring at that side thereof from which the bases 1 approach the discharge opening 13, and throughout an arcuate extent at least approximately co-extensive with the diametrical width of the tubular shell portion 2 of the bases 1, so as to provide in conjunction with said inner ring a crescent-shaped upwardly opening air outlet passageway 32 in the shelf floor 12 bordering the circular base discharge opening 13 therein. The inner and

outer rings

30 and 31 are joined together at their lower ends to form a manifoldch-amber 33 therebetween which .open end first.

7 is connected by a conduit 34 to a suitable source of relatively low pressure compressed air or other gaseous medium. The inner ring 30 is provided with one or more (four in the particular case illustrated) of air nozzle openings 35 through the wall thereof spaced around the inner ring and communicating with the manifold chamber. 33 and inclined upwardly and inwardly of said inner ring so as to direct air jets 28 upwardly through the central region of the discharge opening 13 and inclined toward the vertical center axis thereof so as to intersect there'along. At least one air nozzle opening 35, however, should be located at that side of the inner ring 30 opposite the direction of approach of the bases 1 toward the. discharge opening 13 in order to assure the directing of at least a portion of the resultant air jet 28 from the nozzle openings 35 into the open end 3 of those bases 1 which approach the discharge opening 13 with their The crescent-shaped lupwardly opening airoutlet passageway 32 in the shelf floor 12 bordering the circular discharge opening 13 directs a corresponding crescent-shaped curtain of air 36 (Figs. 4 and 5) upwardly around the discharge opening 13 which serves to trap therewithin the approaching bases 1 and confine or restrict them to a fixed advancing path of movement centrally across the discharge opening 13 so as to properly cooperate with the upwardly directed air jet 28 to effect the sweeping away of those bases approaching the discharge opening with their open end first. In addition, the upwardly directed crescent-shaped curtain of air 36 also serves to assist in the overbalancing and passage down into the discharge opening 13, weighted end first, of those occasional ones of the bases 1 approaching the discharge opening 13 open end first which, for some reason, completely cross the opening without being swept or flipped away by the air jet 28 passing upwardly through the central region of the discharge opening 13.

' In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, only a single air jet 28 from a single air nozzle 37 is employed for the purpose of sweeping or flipping away from the discharge opening 13 all those bases approaching the opening with their open end first while permittingoverbalancing and passage into the discharge opening 13.of those bases approaching the opening with their weighted end first. As shown, the single air nozzle 37 is located so as to direct the air jet 28 upwardly through the central zone of the discharge opening 13 and inclined toward the direction of approach of the bases 1 thereto. The air nozzle 37 is suitably supported in place on a stationary member such as, for example, the support bracket 25 for the base dispensing tube guide rods 24.

In the operation of the article feeding apparatus according to the invention, those bases 1 which, because they approach the discharge opening 13 with their open endfirst, are flipped away from the discharge opening, either fall back onto the floor 12 of the tray or shelf 22 at a location thereon such as to be eventually moved, by the vibratory movement of the unitary feed bowl 7 and tray 22, back into the line of bases 1 being advanced to the discharge opening 13, or else fall back onto the tray floor 12 at a location such as to be carried around the portion of the tray floor 12 beyond the discharge opening 13 and eventually returned or discharged back into the feeder bowl 7.

The use of the article feeding and orienting mechanism according to the invention provides a very effective and commercially practical way of feeding bases 1 of the -ment such as disclosed, less than one base out of every five hundred bases which are fed into the base dispensing-tube means 8 is oriented the wrong endwise way therein, i.e., with its open end 3 facing downwardly instead of upwardly. As a result, the article feeding mechanism according to the invention is entirely suitable for use in association with other automatically operating mechanisms which require the feeding of the articles thereto in a predetermined endwise oriented position.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited'to the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles comprising a shell portion having a substantially closed end and open at its other end, in a predetermined weightedend down position into a vertically extending article-receiving tube means, said apparatus comprising means, including an article-supporting shelf having an article-discharge opening therein directly overlying the said tube means, for progressively advancing the articles along said shelf and endwise to a position over the said discharge opening therein, and air nozzle means located adjacent the upper end of said article receiving tube means and connected to a source of compressed air to direct an air jet upwardly through the central region of said discharge opening so as to sweep away from said opening all those articles approaching the opening with their open end first but permit overbalancing and entry into the opening of those articles approaching the opening with their weighted end first.

2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the said air nozzle means is arranged to direct the said air jet upwardly through the said discharge opening and inclined toward that side thereof from which the said articles approach the said discharge opening.

3. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the said shelf is provided, adjacent said opening, with an article guide channelway for" guiding the advancing articles endwise to and in a predetermined direction of approach toward the said opening.

4. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the said shelf is provided, adjacent said opening, with a slightly depressed guideway portion leading to and downwardly inclined at a slight angle toward the said opening for guiding the said articles thereto in an endwise position tilted slightly downwardly toward the said opening.

' 5. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the said air nozzle means comprising an inner ring extending through the said shelf and forming the said article-discharge opening therein and an outer ring eccentrically surrounding and joined at its upper end to said inner ring around that side of said opening from which the articles approach the opening, said outer ring extending upwardly throughthe said shelf to provide, together with said inner ring, an upwardly opening arcuate air outlet passageway in said shelf bordering the article-discharge opening, said inner and outer rings being joined together at their lower ends to form a manifold chamber therebetween connected to said compressed air source, and said inner ring having at least one nozzle opening through the wall thereof communicating with said manifold chamber and inclined upwardly and inwardly of said inner ring so as to direct an air jet upwardly through the central region of said discharge opening and inclined toward the vertical center axis thereof.

6. Apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles comprising a shell portion ha ving a substantially closed weighted end and open at its other end, in a predetermined weighted-end down position into a vertically extending article-receiving tube means, said apparatus comprising an article conveyor comprising a tray along the floor of which the articles are progressively advanced in a predetermined path, said floor having an article discharge opening therein directly overlying the said tube means and located in alignment with the path of advance movement of the articles along said floor, said floor also being provided with a guideway adjacent and leading to said opening for guiding the advancing articles in an endwise position to and in a predetermined direction toward the said opening, vibrator motor means supporting and efiecting vibratory oscillation of said tray in a direction to advance the articles therealong in the said predetermined path, and air nozzle means located adjacent the upper end of said article-receiving tube means and connected to a source of compressed air to direct an air jet upwardly through the central region of said discharge opening so as to sweep away from said opening those articles approaching the opening with their open end first but permit overbalancing and entry into the opening of those articles approaching the opening with their weighted end first.

7. Apparatus as specified in claim 6 wherein the said air nozzle means is arranged to direct the said air jet upwardly through the said discharge opening and inclined toward that side thereof from which the said articles approach the said discharge opening.

8. Apparatus as specified in claim 6 wherein the said air nozzle means comprises a plurality of air nozzles spaced around the said discharge opening and directing respective air jets upwardly therethrough and inclined toward the vertical center axis of said opening.

9. Apparatus for feeding hollow tubular articles comprising a shell portion having a substantially closed weighted-end down position into a vertically extending article-receiving tube means, said apparatus comprising an article feeder bowl having a bottom with an upstanding annular wall and a helical conveyor track rising from the bottom of said bowl upwardly around said annular wall and terminating in a discharge conveyor section having a floor portion and an upstanding marginal guide flange, vibrator motor means supporting and effecting vibratory oscillation of said bowl about its vertical center axis in an inclined arcuate path of movement corresponding approximately to the direction of inclination of said conveyor track to advance the articles in said bowl up the said track and thence in a predetermined path across the floor of said discharge conveyor section along the said marginal guide flange, said floor having an article discharge opening therein directly overlying the said article-receiving tube means and located in alignment with the path of advance movement of the articles across said floor, said floor also being provided with a guideway adjacent and leading to said opening for guidingvthe advancing articles in an endwise position to and in a predetermined direction of approach toward the said opening, and air nozzle means located adjacent the upper end of said articlereceiving tube means and connected to a source of compressed air to direct an air jet upwardly through the central region of said discharge opening so as to sweep away from said opening all those articles approaching the opening with their open end first but permit overbalancing and entry into the opening of those articles approaching the opening with their weighted end first.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,765,900 Seabrooke Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 174,023 Austria Feb. 25, 1953