Singulator

US4526269A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Jerald M. Henderson · Davis, US
• Burford J. Furman · Mountain View, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 1983
• Grant date: Jul 2, 1985
• Expiry date: Jun 20, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G2201/0211
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A rotary turntable has an upward step and a peripheral rim divided into pockets by upstanding radial walls. Objects deposited at random near the center of the turntable move by centrifugal force and some gravitional pull toward the step. They are individually separated by vertically reciprocating radial walls and are lifted up to the step and to the rim by lifters vertically reciprocating in time with the radial walls as the turntable revolves. A peripheral wall or band engages the outer ends of the partitions to retain objects in the pockets except for a small part of the periphery through which the pocketed objects are singly discharged.