Feeding apparatus for unoriented objects

摘要

The present invention relates to a feeding device (1) for a non-directed object (2), comprising a hopper (3) having a hopper opening (4) at its lower end for receiving objects (2) And collecting means (5) movable in an opening (4) of the hopper (3). The collecting means 5 comprises at least one collection hole 7 adapted to receive objects 2 of a specific orientation. The collecting means (5) further comprises at least one collecting channel (8) for collecting the contained objects (2) connected to at least one collecting hole (7). The hopper 3 and the collecting means 5 allow the relative movement of the collecting means 5 relative to the hopper 3 to change the orientation of the objects 2 in the hopper 3 so that the objects 2 (7) connected to at least one collecting channel (8). The collecting means 5 comprises a conical portion 6 at its upper end and a plurality of collecting holes 7 at the lower end of the conical portion 6. [ The present invention also relates to a method of directing a non-directed object to a machine tool.