Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for sorting a plurality of substantially identical parts has a holding bin having a volume for holding a plurality of substantially identical parts and an opening for releasing some of the parts; a spring-mass system for translating the parts forward; 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 orientation due to translation of the parts; and a fluted chute having n rounded bottom, downwardly extending, diverging flutes each of a width of at least x, for separating remaining stacked parts and dividing a single plane of parts into n one dimensional lines of parts, such that the parts may be individually handled. The channel accepts a plurality of parts from the opening in the holding bin, and together with the vibrating spring-mass system which is preferably a second order system, arranges the parts into a substantially single plane of parts of no more than n abreast in the channel and forwards the parts towards a chute. The parts pass through the chute, over optical sensors and to a gate section having accumulator and deflector gates. A gate controller coupled to the optical sensors is provided to permit gates to be opened and closed based on the part count, and the locations to which the parts are being deflected.

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First Claim