Tie plate orientation device
Present embodiments relate to a tie plate orientation device. More specifically, but without limitation present embodiments relate to a tie plate orientation device that orients tie plates in a desired orientation for subsequent feeding, including an optional handheld magnetic device for manual assisted manipulation of the tie plates.
1. A tie plate orientation device, comprising:
a conveyor which receives tie plates sequentially;
a transverse conveyor spaced from said conveyor, said conveyor directing said tie plates toward said transverse conveyor;
a space disposed between an end of said conveyor and said transverse conveyor;
wherein each of said tie plates: falls through said space if in a first orientation, or engages said transverse conveyor if in a second orientation so that said each of said tie plates rotates to said first orientation.
2. The tie plate orientation device of claim 1 , said conveyor operating in a first direction toward said transverse conveyor.
3. The tie plate orientation device of claim 2 , said transverse conveyor having a surface that is perpendicular to said conveyor.
4. The tie plate orientation device of claim 3 , said transverse conveyor moving in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.
5. The tie plate orientation device of claim 1 , said space having a dimension that is less than a long dimension of said each of said tie plates.
6. The tie plate orientation device of claim 5 , said dimension being at least about one-half a short dimension of said each of said tie plates.
7. The tie plate orientation device of claim 6 , wherein said each of said tie plates will fall into said space when in said first orientation.
8. The tie plate orientation device of claim 1 , said conveyor operating one of continuously or intermittently.
9. The tie plate orientation device of claim 1 , said transverse conveyor operating one of continuously or intermittently.
10. The tie plate orientation device of claim 1 , further comprising an additional conveyor which feeds said tie plates to said conveyor.
11. A method of orienting a tie plate, comprising the steps of:
providing a tie plate conveyor;
providing a transverse tie plate conveyor near an end of said tie plate conveyor, said transverse tie plate conveyor moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to said tie plate conveyor;
moving said tie plate with said tie plate conveyor;
engaging said tie plate with said transverse tie plate conveyor; and,
changing the orientation of said tie plate with said transverse tie plate conveyor.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a continuously operating one or both of said tie plate conveyor and said transverse tie plate conveyor.
13. The method of claim 11 , dropping said tie plate through a space.
14. The method of claim 13 , orienting said tie plate in order to drop through said space.
15. The method of claim 11 , said orienting causing said tie plate to rotate into a position for an additional movement.
16. The method of claim 11 , feeding said tie plate to said tie plate conveyor with an additional conveyor.