Methods and apparatus for sorting articles

Claim 5

A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the holding and the first and second receiving magnetic fields are produced by providing bins having permanent magnet sides.

Claim 6

A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the steps of advancing the articles includes the further step of striking the articles against the sorting member.

Claim 7

A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the sorting member has a cam surface with a jet therethrough and wherein the sorting step includes the further step of propelling the articles into the first magnetic field.

Claim 8

A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the propelling step is performed by blowing air through the jet.

Claim 11

Apparatus for sorting articles, each article having at least one portion thereof larger than another portion, which comprises: a. means for holding the articles to be sorted; b. first means for receiving the articles oriented in a first direction; c. second means for receiving the articles oriented in a second direction; d. means for extracting the articles from the holding means and transporting the articles to the first and second receiving means; e. a sorting member, adjacent the extracting and transporting means, for engaging the large portion of the articles oriented in the first direction and expelling them from the extracting and transporting means and into the first receiving means, and for aiding the temporary retention of the articles oriented in the second direction in the extracting and transporting means; and f. means for removing the articles oriented in the second direction and depositing them in the second receiving means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for sorting articles, each article having at least one portion thereof larger than another portion, which comprises: a. means for holding the articles to be sorted; b. first means for receiving the articles oriented in a first direction; c. second means for receiving the articles oriented in a second direction; d. means for extracting the articles from the holding means and transporting the articles to the first and second receiving means; e. a sorting member, adjacent the extracting and transporting means, for engaging the large portion of the articles oriented in the first direction and expelling them from the extracting and transporting means and into the first receiving means, and for aiding the temporary retention of the articles oriented in the second direction in the extracting and transporting means; and f. means for removing the articles oriented in the second direction and depositing them in the second receiving means.

Claim 13

An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the means for holding the articles and the first and second means for receiving the articles comprise magnetic means.

Claim 14

An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the magnetic means for holding and the first and second means for receiving are bin having permanent magnet sides.

Claim 15

An apparatus as recited in claim 10, in which the bins are reversible end for end.

Claim 16

An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the extracting and transporting means comprises a sorting wheel having grooves and cooperating magnets evenly spaced around its periphery.

Claim 17

An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the means for holding the articles is sloped downward toward the sorting wheel while the first and second means for receiving the articles are sloped downward away from the sorting wheel to aid in feeding the articles toward and moving them away from said wheel.

Claim 18

An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the sorting member comprises a cam surface having a fluid jet therethrough for expelling the articles oriented in the first direction from the extracting and transporting means and a magnet adjacent the cam surface and fluid jet to aid in temporarily retaining the articles oriented in the second direction on the extracting and transporting means.

Claim 19

An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the jet is an air jet.

Claim 20

An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the articles are semiconductor diodes having coaxial leads.

Claim 21

Apparatus for sorting semiconductor diodes having axial leads and flanges, which comprises: a. a magnetic holding bin for holding the diodes to be sorted; b. means for vibrating the holding bin; c. a sorting wheel, cooperating with the magnetic bin, for extracting the diodes from the bin and transporting them; d. means for indexing the wheel in steps; e. a sorting member, adjacent the sorting wheel and past which the wheel transports the diodes, to disengage the diodes from the wheel and propel those diodes oriented in a first direction from the wheel; f. a first magnetic bin adjacent the wheel to receive the propelled diodes oriented in the first direction; g. a magnet adjacent the cam surface to aid in retaining those diodes in the wheel which are oriented in a second direction; h. an extractor adjacent the wheel to remove the diodes which have been retained in the wheel and moved past the cam surface and, therefore, are oriented in the second direction; and i. a second magnetic bin adjacent the wheel and the extractor to receive the diodes removed by the extractor and oriented in the second direction, whereby the diodes are sorted into bins in accordance with their orientation.

Claim 22

Apparatus for sorting semiconductor diodes having axial leads and flanges, which comprises: a. a magnetic holding bin for holding the diodes to be sorted; b. means for vibrating the holding bin; c. a sorting wheel, cooperating with the magnetic bin, for extracting the diodes from the bin and transporting them; d. means for indexing the wheel in steps; e. a sorting member, adjacent the sorting wheel and past which the wheel transports the diodes, to disengage the diodes from the wheel and propel those diodes oriented in a first direction from the wheel; f. a first magnetic bin adjacent the wheel to receive the propelled diodes oriented in the first direction; g. a magnet adjacent the cam surface to aid in retaining those diodes in the wheel which are oriented in a second direction; h. an extractor adjacent the wheel to remove the diodes which have been retained in the wheel and moved past the cam surface and, therefore, are oriented in the second direction; and i. a second magnetic bin adjacent the wheel and the extractor to receive the diodes removed by the extractor and oriented in the second direction, whereby the diodes are sorted into bins in accordance with their orientation.

Claim 23

An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the sorting wheel includes a plurality of slots and adjacent magnets spaced around its periphery for engaging the diodes with the wheel.

Claim 24

An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the sorting member includes a cam surface sloped upwardly toward the vertical centerline of the sorting wheel, an air jet extending through a lower portion of the cam surface and an adjacent magnet.