Automatically orienting electronic component dispenser - has two slides imparting rotations about angle 180 degrees displaced w.r.t. each other and optical sensors directing device

摘要

The system orients electronic components to face in one or other of two directions relative to a given axis. The components are gravity fed into a chute and arrive at a detection area equipped with opto-electronic sensors. An electronically controlled rotating arm mechanism raises or lowers stop and probe blocks on the runway. After signals from the orientation and position sensors have been interpreted, the component is released down one of two further sections of chute. These final runway section are shaped so as to constrain the component to rotate about a longitudinal axis and fall out of the end in the desired orientation. The components are mechanically sorted into the correct branch according to the sensor information.