US3342303A

US3342303A - Pattern former

Info

Publication number: US3342303A
Application number: US591767A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene W Onulak
Original assignee: Shuttleworth LLC
Current assignee: Shuttleworth LLC
Priority date: 1966-11-03
Filing date: 1966-11-03
Publication date: 1967-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-19

Description

Sept. 19, 1967 E. w. ONULAK 3,342,303

PATTERN FORMER Filed Nov. 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v f I 29 2(9 5i H fa O 27 ,2 L -35 i \\J M Fig- 1.

INVENTOR.

Eves/v5 W Oval/Ur p 19, 1967 E. w. ONULAK 3,342,303

PATTERN FORMER Filed Nov. 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet ii g 3 JNVENTOR.

Sept. 19, 1967 E. w. ONULAK 3,342 303 PATTERN FORMER Filed Nov. 5, 1966 3 Sheets$heet 3 ZOI INVENTOR.

EUGENE W ONULAK' United States Patent 3,342,303 PATTERN FORMER Eugene W. Onniak, Huntington, Ind., assignor to Shuttleworth Machinery C0rp., Huntington, IntL, a corporation of Indiana Filed Nov. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 591,767 6 Claims. (Cl. 198-31) The present invention relates to a pattern former and single filer particularly adapted for use with a case packer and case unpacker.

Various types of apparatus are used for packing objects in boxes. One particularly effective apparatus of this type is disclosed in U.S. application for patent Serial No. 514,205, filed December 16, 1965, James J, Shuttleworth, inventor, and is a commercially available apparatus manufactured and sold by Shuttleworth Machinery Corporation (the assignee of the present application). The case packer of that application includes guide members 17 which are arranged over the can conveyor 13 and which extend in the direction of movement of the conveyor. Such an arrangement for arranging cans in a pattern is effective for most cans and other objects where the direction the can faces when packed in the case is not critical such as is the case, for example, with cans of circular cross section. Some cans, bottles and other containers, however, have cross sectional shapes which must be lined up in a certain direction such as, for example, rectangular cross sectional shapes and oval cross sectional shapes.

If such noncircular cross sectional objects are placed on the can conveyor 13 of the above mentioned commercial case packer, the objects either are not properly oriented by the case packer for packing in the cases or the objects jam up the conveyor 13 interfering with operation. It is desirable, therefore, that improved means be provided for forming patterns of cans of unusual shape. Consequently, one object of this invention is to provide a pattern former particularly adapted for operating on objects of other than circular cross section.

Another object is to provide an improved pattern former.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for forming a pattern of cans into a single file.

Still other objects of the invention are to provide a pattern former particularly adapted for use with bottles or the like having weak portions and which is less likely to damage such weak bottles than existing pattern formers and to provide a pattern former which does not or is less apt to tear labels off of the bottles or the like than presently used pattern formers.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

One embodiment of the present invention might include a pattern former for use with a conveyor having an upper surface adapted to support objects, said upper surface being movabie in a direction of movement. The pattern former comprises a plurality of orienting elements each having a pair of straight parallel guide walls with an opening therebetween, means swingably mounting said orienting elements over said conveyor for swinging movement between two positions in the first of which said orienting elements are aligned and extend across said conveyor at an angle to the direction of movement of said conveyor and in a second of which said orienting elements extend in the direction of movement of said conveyor and parallel to one another.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1"is a top plan vie-w of a pattern former constructed according to the present invention.

3,342,303 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a reduced, somewhat schematic top plan view of the pattern former showing it by the solid lines in a different operating position than the operating position shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic electrical drawing of an electrical circuit usable in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of an alternative embodiment of the invention which operates as a single filer to change a pattern of cans into a single row of cans.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alteration and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a conveyor 20 which includes a pair of side frame members 21 and a conveyor belt 22. The conveyor 20 may correspond to the conveyor 13 of the above mentioned Shuttleworth application. In other words, the pattern former of the present invention may be used in connection with the case packer of application Serial No. 514,205 by suitable simple modifications of the case packer. Fixed to the side frame members 21 of the conveyor are

cross members

25 and 26, each of which extends over the conveyor 20. The cross member 26 includes a slot 27 which may be used to change or adjust the angle of the cross member 26 and to change or adjust the position at which the cross member 26 is secured to the right side frame member 21 as viewed in FIG. 1. The

bars

25 and 26 are also secured to the side frame members 21 by three bolts 29, each of which extends through a bore in the

cross members

25 and 26.

Fixed over the upper surface of the conveyor belt 22 are

guide members

30, 31, 3 2, 33, 34 and 35. The guide members 32-3-5 correspond to the guide members 17 of application Serial No. 514,205. In other words, the conveyor 20 acts to move cans or other objects in the direction of the arrow 40. The objects are moved between the

guide members

32, 33, 34 and 35 in the same manner that the objects are moved between the guide members 17 in the case packer of application Serial No. 514,205.

Mounted upon the crossbars or

cross members

25 and 26 is the pattern former 41. The pattern former 41 includes three

orienting elements

42, 43 and 44. Each of the

orienting elements

42, 43 and 44 has an opening 45 extending longitudinally of the orienting element and defined by a downwardly opening U-shaped member 46. Assuming for the moment that the cans being formed into patterns by the pattern former are oval such as the oval cans 50, the cans are fed on the conveyor 20 between the pair of

parallel guide members

30 and 31. The

guide members

30 and 31 are spaced sufiiciently closely to one another to cause the oval cans 50 to be positioned with their greatest dimension in the direction of movement of the conveyor 20.

As the cans move along the conveyor 20 between the

guide members

30 and 31 they are guided into the aligned

orienting elements

42, 43 and 44. The guide member 30 has a curved end portion 51 which leads into the orienting elements when they are in the aligned position of FIG. 1. The guide member 31 also has a curved end portion 52 (shown in FIG. 4) which permits the oval cans to be guided into the orienting element 42.

The cans or objects 50 move into the aligned

orienting elements

42, 43 and 44, filling them in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Of course, the moving force acting on the cans 50 is the conveyor belt 22. The

orienting elements

42, 43 and 44 are then swung into the solid line position of FIG. 4 wherein the openings 45 of each of the

elements

42, 43 and 44 are aligned with the openings between the

guide members

32, 33, 34 and 35. The conveyor 20 then operates to move the objects or cans 50 between the

respective guide members

32, 33, '34 and 35 until the objects are further operated upon by apparatus such as, for example, the case packer disclosed in application Serial No. $14,205. It will be noted that the pattern former provides an equal number of cans or objects to each of the openings between the guides 32-35 so that in the example illustrated three rows of two cans are provided for packing into the case.

It will be noted that the guide members 32, 33-, 34 and 35 are spaced apart only a sufiicient distance to permit the oval cans or objects to move between the guide members with their long axis in the direction of movement of the belt 22. Furthermore, the openings 45 in the

orienting elements

42, 43 and 44 are similarly sized so that the ovall cans 50 must assume the position illustrated, that is, with their greatest dimension extending longitudinally of the guide members and the orienting elements, no matter which position the orienting elements are m.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pattern former 41 is mounted on the cross members or

crossbars

25 and 26 by means of bolts 60 which extend through respective slots 61 in the

crossbars

25 and 26. The slots 61 are arranged to extend longitudinally of the

crossbars

25 and 26 so that the pattern former 41 can be fixed to the crossbars at any angle extending across the conveyor 20. Of course, if the angle is changed from the angle shown in FIG. 1, the angle of the crossbar 26 will also be changed. In other words, the slot 27 in the crossbar 26 will have to be used to reposition the crossbar 26 when the angle of the pattern former 41 is changed relative to the two

members

25 and 26.

The bolts 60 are threaded into a pair of members 63 to which are secured and between which extend a pair of parallel bars 62. The rods or bars 62 are spaced apart equally all along the length thereof so as 'to receive positioning lugs 65 fixed to bearing assemblies 66. Each of the bearing assemblies 66 includes a bearing block 67 as shown in FIG. 3 and a pair of inserts 68 which are received in the opposite ends of the bearing block 67. Each of the bearing assemblies 66 is clamped to the parallel bars or rods 62 by means of a clamping member 70 and by means of bolts 71 which extend through the clamping member and are threaded into the respective bearing blocks 67. It can be appreciated that by means of the ciamping member 70, each respective bearing assembly 66 can be fixed at any desired location along the length of the parallel rods or bars 62.

Fixed to each of the orienting elements 46 is an upright shaft 75. Each of the shafts 75 has fixed thereto a lever 76. The lever may be secured to the shaft by means of a bolt 77 which pulls together bifurcated portions 80 of each of the levers 76. There is also provided a connecting rod 81 which has three pins 82 affixed thereto and depending therefrom. Each of the pins 82 extends into a suitable bore 85 in a respective one of the levers 76. The bore 85 of each lever 76 is spaced equally from the enlarged opening of the lever which receives the respective shafts 75 so that movement of each pin 82 through a predetermined distance by reason of movement of the connecting rod 81 also causes each of the orienting

elements

42, 43 and 44 to pivot or swing through an equal movement.

The connecting rod 81 has fixed thereto a projecting member which extends perpendicularly to the connecting rod 81. The member 90 has a slot 91 formed therein and extending longitudinally of the projecting member 90. A coupling member 92 is fixed to the projecting member 90 by means of a bolt 95. It can be appreciated that the position of the coupling member 92 can be adjusted by releasing the bolt 95 and retightening it at a different location along the length of the slot 91. The coupling member 92 is pivotally connected at 96 to the distal end of a piston rod 97 of the cylinder 100. The other end of the cylinder 100 is swingably connected at 101 to a mounting element 102 which is secured to the parallel rods or bars 62. in the same fashion as are the bearings 66.

Thus, the mounting element 102 can be secured to the parallel rods or bars 62 at any desired location along the length of those bars. This adjustment plus the adjustment made possible by the bolt 95 provides limits for the movement of the orienting elements 42, 43- and 44. In other words, the stroke of the piston rod 97 provides the limits of movement of the orienting

elements

42, 43 and 44. If the coupling member 92 is secured by the bolt 95 to the projecting member 90 at a point relatively close to the connecting rod 81, then the movement of the piston rod 97 between retraction and projection produces a greater swinging movement through a greater are of the orienting

elements

42, 43 and 44 than occurs when the coupling member 92 is secured to the projecting member 90 away from the connecting rod 81.

The guide member 35 is provided with a portion which blocks the cans 50 when the pattern former is in the operating position of FIG. 1. Also, the orienting element 42 has a bent portion 111 which functions to block movement of the cans 50 into the orienting element 42 when the orienting element 42 is in the solid line position of FIG. 4. It can be appreciated, therefore, that the pattern former of the present invention functions to form patterns merely by retraction and projection of the piston rod 97 of the cylinder 100 to the full retracted and projected positions, such retraction and projection operating to move the orienting

elements

42, 43 and 44 between the solid line position of FIG. 1 and the solid line position of FIG. 4 and back again.

It should be mentioned that suitable means should be provided for retaining the orienting

elements

42, 43 and 44 in the dotted line position of FIG. 4 for a sufliciently long period of time to allow all of the orienting elements to fill up with cans. Also, suitable means should be provided for retaining the orienting elements in the solid line position of FIG. 4 for a sufficiently long period of time to allow the cans to leave the orienting elements. This timing of operation can be controlled in various ways. For example, a time delay limit switch is fixedly mounted on the cross bar 25 where it will be actuated by the first can 50 between the

guide members

30 and 31. The time delay limit switch does not operate the cylinder 100 until such time as it is depressed for more than just an instant. This, of course, only occurs when the orienting elements are filled up. Of course, when it does happen the cylinder 100 disaligns the orienting elements from one another and aligns the orienting elements with the channels between the

guide members

32, 33, 34 and 35.

Appropriate similar control means should also be provided for returning the device to the operating position of FIG. 1 only after the orienting elements have emptied. For example, a limit switch 126 is fixedly mounted on the frame member 21 where it will be actuated by the orienting element 42 when in the solid line position of FIG. 4. The time delay limit switch 126 does not operate the cylinder 100 to return the orienting elements to the dotted line position of FIG. 4 until a sufficient amount of time has elapsed to permit the conveyor belt 22 to empty the orienting elements.

A more complete disclosure of an electrical arrangement for operating the apparatus of the present inven-- .5 tion is provided in the electrical schematic diagram of FIG. 5. In FIG. an alternative form of the invention is shown which form uses four orienting elements 200 instead of the three orienting

elements

42, 43 and 44. The guide members 201 correspond to the

guide members

30 and 31 while guide members 202 correspond to the

guide members

32, 33, 34 and 35. Because the construction and operation of the apparatus of FIG. 5 is similar to or identical to the construction and operation above described, further structure is not illustrated, the purpose of FIG. 5 being to show a suitable electrical control arrangement usable with either the apparatus of FIG. 5 or the apparatus of FIGS. 1-4. For this reason, portions of the description below refer to FIGS. 14.

In the circuit there are four limit switches provided 205, 206, 207 and 208. The switches 206 and 208 correspond to the

switches

126 and 125, respectively, and are mounted in the same fashion. The switches 207 and 205 are both mounted on the frame and have their actuating arms positioned to sense the aligned position of the orienting elements 200 and the presence of cans between the guide members 202, respectively. The switch 205 is normally closed except when its actuating arm is actuated by cans or by a can 210 between the guide members 202. Switch 205 is a time delay limit switch and is therefore not actuated to open its contacts unless it is held depressed for a period of seconds. This, of course, insures that the normal procession of cans past switch 205 does not open its contacts. The contacts are opened when the case packer becomes jammed or is operating more slowly than the pattern former so that cans are backing up between the guide members 202. When a can such as can 210 holds the limit switch 205 actuated, the contacts thereof are opened.

The contacts of limit switch 206 are normally open but are closed when its actuating arm is held actuated by the orienting elements 200 moving out of alignment (as illustrated) and into the solid line position of FIG. 4 and remaining therein for a period of time. Thus, switch 206 is also a time delay limit switch. The contacts of the limit switch 207 are normally open but are closed when the orienting elements 200 move into the aligned position of FIG. 5. Switch 207 is not a time delay limit switch. The contacts of the limit switch 208 (which is a time delay limit switch) are normally open but are closed when a can such as the can 211 holds the switch 208 actuated for a period of time such as would occur when cans are stacked up in the orienting elements.

In this specification the term time delay limit switch is used to describe a combination which includes a time delay relay, the solenoid circuit of which is controlled by the contacts of a limit switch, an arrangement which is obvious to those skilled in the art. The complete circuit in this regard is not illustrated in FIG. 5 for clarity. There is also illustrated in FIG. 5 a junction box 211, an on-otf switch 212 and a double solenoid 215. The double solenoid 215 controls suitable valves which control fluid supply to the cylinder corresponding to cylinder 100. Thus, when the armature of the double solenoid is at one end of its travel, the fluid cylinder is actuated to move the orienting elements 200 to aligned position and when the double solenoid is at the other end of its travel, the fluid cylinder is actuated to move the orienting elements to the solid line position of FIG. 4.

The circuitry of FIG. 5 will be further described by way of a description of operation. Assume the mechanism to be in the operating position of FIG. 5 ,with cans in the positions illustrated. The on-off switch 212 is manually closed.

Lines

216 and 217 are across a power source. Closing of switch 212 produces no effect on solenoid 215 because the contacts of switch 205 are open. Assume that a can jam between the guide members 202 is removed so that switch 205 is no longer maintained actuated with its contacts open. Voltage is thereby provided across the

lines

220 and 221 to solenoid 215 causing it 6 to actuate the fluid cylinder to move the orienting elements to the solid line position of FIG. 4. The circuit providing this voltage can be traced from the line 216 through the switch 212, switch 205, switch 208, switch 207,

lines

221 and 220, and line 217.

When the orienting elements move to the solid line position of FIG. 4, the actuating arm of limit switch 206 is engaged. The contacts of switch 206 are not closed, however, for a period of a few seconds so that the orienting elements maintain the solid line position of FIG. 4 long enough for the conveyor 20 to empty cans from the orienting elements. After such emptying has occurred, the contacts of switch 206 close, placing a voltage across the

lines

225 and 226 to solenoid 215 causing it to actuate the fluid cylinder to move the orienting elements to the position of FIG. 5. The circuit providing this voltage can be traced from the line 216 through the switch 206,

lines

225 and 226 and line 217.

When the orienting elements move back into the position of FIG. 5 the actuating arm of the switch 207 is engaged immediately closing the contacts of that switch. The double solenoid will not be actuated, however, because the contacts of switch 208 are open. These contacts are opened just prior to the contacts of switch 207 being closed by reason of the cans starting to move between the guide members 201 into the orienting elements. Because of the fact that the orienting elements have been emptied while in the solid line position of FIG. 4 they are able to begin receiving cans from the guide members 201 even prior to the orienting elements fully reaching the position of FIG. 5 and just as soon as the inturned portion 111 on the first orienting element no longer blocks cans positioned between the guide members 201.

The orienting elements remain in the position of FIG. 5 until the orienting elements fill up with cans. When the orienting elements are filled, the cans between the members 201 also stop moving, holding the switch 208 actuated for a sufficient period of time to close the contacts of switch 208. The double solenoid is now actuated by a voltage across the

lines

220 and 221 causing it to actuate the fluid cylinder to move the orienting elements to the solid line position of FIG. 4. The circuit is traced through line 216, switch 212, switch 205, switch 208, switch 207,

lines

221 and 220 and line 217. The above described cycle is repeated continuously unless the cans jam, holding the contacts of switch 205 open in which event the orienting elements are retained or stop in the position of FIG. 5. As mentioned, the orienting elements cannot be moved to the position of FIG. 4 until the

switches

205, 207 and 208 are closed which happens only when the case packer is not jammed or backing up between the guide members 202, when the orienting elements are aligned and when the cans are stopped between the guide members 201.

It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides a pattern former particularly adapted for operating on objects of other than circular cross section. It has also been found that the pattern former of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with bottles or other objects having weak portions since the pattern former of this invention is less likely to damage such weak bottles or containers. It has also been found that the pattern former of the present invention is less apt to tear the labels on bottles or the like than are presently used pattern formers.

Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative form of this invention is illustrated which operates to receive a plurality of rows of cans and to place them in single file. The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6 is placed over a conveyor 300 having an upper surface which moves in the direction 301. A plurality of

parallel guide members

302, 303, 304 and 305 are mounted over the conveyor 300 in the same fashion as the

guide elements

32, 33, 34 and 35 except that the guide members are located upstream of the orienting

elements

310, 311 and 312. The orienting elements are each mounted and arranged in the same fashion as above described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. lto swing between two positions as shown in solid lines and in dotted lines in FIG. 6.. In the solid lines position the orienting elements are aligned with respective openings between the

guide members

302, 303, 304 and 305. In the dotted lines position the orienting elements are aligned with one another and positioned to discharge into single file guide means 315 which includes two

guide members

316 and 317 mounted over the conveyor 300 in the same fashion as described above for

guide members

30 and 31.

In order to make easier the reversing of the operation of FIGS. l5, certain changes in structure from the structure of FIG. 5 may be provided. A stop element 320 is mounted on the frame above the conveyor to prevent the objects from moving out of the orienting

elements

310, 311 and 312 when the orienting elements are in the solid position of FIG. 6. Alternatively, this function could be accomplished by allowing the downstream ends of the orienting elements to overlap somewhat, i.e. the orienting elements stopping at a point between the solid and dotted line positions of FIG. 6. A further distinction from the structure and operation of FIGS. 1-5 is the fact that the orienting element 310 has a projection 330 which operates to block the movement of the objects out of the

guide members

302 and 303 when the orienting elements are in the dotted line position of FIG. 6. Of course, the orienting

elements

311 and 310 also block cans from exiting from between guide means 303, 304 and 305. In other respects the details of the embodiment of FIG. 6 are identical or analogous to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected. For example, one possible alternative might be the shortening of the length of the orienting elements to better handle square shaped objects.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for use with a conveyor having an upper surface adapted to support objects, said upper surface being movable in a direction of movement, said apparatus comprising a plurality of orienting elements each having a pair of guide walls with an opening therebetween, means swingably mounting said orienting elements over said conveyor for swinging movement between two positions in a first of which said orienting elements are aligned and extend across said conveyor at an angle to the direction of movement of said conveyor and in a second of which said orienting elements extend in the direction of movement of said conveyor and parallel to one another.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising guide means for guiding objects in single file into said orienting elements, and means for swinging said orienting elements into said first position to collect a line of objects in the openings of said orienting elements, said last mentioned means being operable to move said orienting elements to said second position, and a plurality of parallel guide members fixedly mounted over said conveyor and extending in the direction of movement of said conveyor, said parallel guide members having openings therebetween which are aligned with respective openings of said orienting elements when said orienting elements are in said second position whereby movement of said orienting elements to said second position causes said conveyor to move the objects in the orienting elements into the respective guide member openings with which the orienting element openings aligned.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a pair of parallel spaced horizontal bars adjustably fixed to said conveyor and extending across said conveyor at said acute angle to the direction of movement of said conveyor, a plurality of bearing blocks, a positioning lug fixed to each of said bearing blocks, each of said positioning lugs being received between said spaced bars for maintaining an equal vertical position for each of said bearing blocks, means adjustably clamping each of said bearing blocks in fixed relation to said bars, a plurality of shafts each fixed to a respective one of said orienting elements and projecting upwardly therefrom, each of said shafts being journaled in a respective one of said bearing blocks, a plurality of levers each fixed to a respective one of said shafts at the upper end thereof, a fluid cylinder adjustably fixed to said horizontal bars and having a piston rod, a connecting rod, a plurality of pins each fixed to said connecting rod and each pivotally secured to a respective one of said levers, said piston rod being secured relative to said connecting rod whereby projection and retraction of said piston rod moves said orienting elements between said two positions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of parallel guide members for guiding objects in a plurality of parallel rows into said orienting elements, said guide members having openings therebetween which are aligned with respective openings of said orienting elements when said orienting elements are in said second position whereby said conveyor moves the objects between said guide members into the respective orienting element openings with which the guide member openings are aligned, means for swinging said orienting elements into said second position to collect a portion of each of said parallel rows in the openings of said orienting elements, said last mentioned means being operable to move said orienting elements to said first position, and guide means for guiding objects in a single file, said guide means being positioned to receive objects from said orienting elements when said orienting elements are in said first position.

5. The pattern former of claim 3 additionally comprising a clamping element clamped to said horizontal bars and adjustable along the length thereof, said cylinder being hingedly connected to said clamping element, said connecting rod having a projection which extends perpendicularly of said connecting rod, said projection having a longitudinally extending slot, a coupling member hingedly connected to said piston rod, a bolt threaded into said coupling member and extending through said slot and securing said projection to said coupling member at any desired point along said slot.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising blocking means positioned to block objects from moving out of said orienting means when said orienting means is in said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,193,078 7/1965 Amenta 198-31 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A CONVEYOR HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT OBJECTS, SAID UPPER SURFACE BEING MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ORIENTING ELEMENTS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF GUIDE WALLS WITH AN OPENING THEREBETWEEN, MEANS SWINGABLY MOUNTING SAID ORIENTING ELEMENTS OVER SAID CONVEYOR FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEEN TWO POSITIONS IN A FIRST OF WHICH SAID ORIENTING ELEMENTS ARE ALIGNED AND EXTEND ACROSS SAID CONVEYOR AT AN ANGLE TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR AND IN A SECOND OF WHICH SAID ORIENTING ELEMENTS EXTEND IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR AND PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER.