Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for sorting a plurality of parts includes: a holding bin having an opening for releasing some parts; a vibrator for imparting forward translation to the parts; a channel having a width of approximately nx, where n is an integer greater than one and x is the width of a characteristic dimension of the parts based on a preferred translation orientation; and a descending fluted chute having substantially n rounded flutes, each of a width of at least x. The channel accepts the parts from the opening in the holding bin, and due to the vibrator arranges the parts into a substantially single plane parts or no more than n abreast in the channel. The fluted chute guarantees that any parts till stacked are separted. The parts sorter is preferably adjustable for handling parts of different dimensions, and therefore the fluted chute has diverging flutes which are separated by adjustable fingers so that the width of the end of the channel and the width of the portion of the fluted chute which first receives the parts are substantially equal. Automatic adjustment is provided by including optical sensors which are sensitive to the dimensions of the parts and feedback from the sensors to a servo system controlling fingers defining the flutes of the chute.

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First Claim