Carl A Herman

US Patent:

42628059, Apr 21, 1981

Filed:

Aug 9, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/065031

Inventors:

Kristen E. Bankes - Reading PA
Carl H. Herman - Fleetwood PA
Anderson F. Johnson - Sinking Spring PA
Donald M. Large - Temple PA

Assignee:

Western Electric Company, Inc. - New York NY

International Classification:

B07C 900

US Classification:

209656

Abstract:

Elongated articles (13), having an undesirable shape caused by a bent lead (14), are distinguished from elongated articles (12) which are desirably straight. The bent articles (13) are separated from a mass of articles (12 and 13), most of which are substantially straight. The articles (12 and 13) are typically axially leaded diodes having leads (14) which are magnetic. Such diodes (12 and 13) are successively introduced between sidewalls (11 and 22) of a bin (17) having a magnetic field which orients each article transverse to guide members (28 and 29) extending lengthwise of the bin (17). Each oriented diode (12 and 13) presents a distinctive configuration according to its shape when viewed against a plane transverse to the guide members (28 and 29). The major portion of a bent diode (13) will be disposed lower than the major portion of a straight diode (12). The diodes (12 and 13 ) are advanced in succession along the guide members (28 and 29) and the configurations of the diodes (12 and 13) form substantially parallel pathways through the bin (17).

US Patent:

43609953, Nov 30, 1982

Filed:

Nov 19, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/208450

Inventors:

Carl H. Herman - Fleetwood PA
Anderson F. Johnson - Sinking Spring PA
Donald M. Large - Temple PA
Joseph A. Tamashasky - New Philadelphia PA

Assignee:

Western Electric Co., Inc. - New York NY

International Classification:

B65B 122
B65B 3556
B65B 3900
B65B 4359

US Classification:

53437

Abstract:

An off-line system for handling elongated magnetic articles such as axially leaded diodes 12 includes a magnetic receiving chute 20, a blocking mechanism 45, a magnetic loading station 75 for supporting at least one tray 55 and for loading diodes 12 therein, and a drive train 115. The chute 20 receives the diodes 12 and guides such diodes downwardly to an outlet 24 and the tray 55. Over a major accessible face of the tray 55 a cover 63 is slidably removable from a second end 60. At the loading station 75, the tray 55 is disposed in an upright manner resting on the second end 60 at a first elevation with a first end 59 extending at least to the outlet 24 of chute 20. An elevating mechanism 80 applied to the end 60 elevates tray 55 to a second elevation, while the cover 63 remains at about the first elevation. A portion of tray 55 is thereby opened adjacent the first end 59 which opening abuts to and registers with the outlet 24 of chute 20. The blocking mechanism 45 has stored diodes 12 in chute 20 while a tray 55 has been changed and mechanism 45 now releases the diodes 12 which are introduced into tray 55.