A supply unit including a funnel-shaped container for receiving a quantity of unsorted, or randomly oriented, nuts and bolts, a conveyor that is driven, in a reciprocating manner, along an inwardly tapering interior wall of the container. The upper carrying surface of the conveyor dips into the unsorted nuts and bolts on its downward stroke and picks up some of the nuts and bolts. On its upward stroke, or travel, the conveyor cooperates with the adjacent wall to properly orient the majority of the nuts and bolts. Some of the improperly oriented nuts and bolts may fall off the conveyor during its upward travel. Blasts of air, or mechanical deflectors, cause other improperly oriented nuts and bolts to fall back into the container. A step is formed near the top of the container, and the upward travel of the conveyor term mates above the step. The properly oriented nuts and bolts are transferred away from the container by a transport assembly located in proximity to the step. The transport assembly includes an endless belt, and a guide for maintaining the sorted nuts and bolts in proper orientation.
1. A supply unit adapted to withdraw a plurality of mechanical fasteners from an unsorted quantity thereof, said fasteners comprising an enlarged head and a shank, said supply unit comprising:
a) a container including a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls,
b) said front wall, said rear wall, and said side walls tapering inwardly to define a funnel,
c) a bottom extending across said funnel, and adapted to receive an unsorted quantity of mechanical components,
d) a conveyor movable along the interior of said rear wall of said container,
e) said conveyor including a body with an upper carrier surface, which extends across the rear wall of said container,
f) a drive unit secured to said rear wall for moving said conveyor in a reciprocal manner within said container,
g) a step defined in said rear wall of said container,
h) an opening in the bottom of said container,
i) said drive unit moving said conveyor downwardly through said opening so that said upper surface contacts several unsorted mechanical fasteners,
j) said drive unit subsequently moving said conveyor upwardly along said rear wall so that said upper carrying surface withdraws several mechanical fasteners from the unsorted fasteners,
k) the upward movement of said conveyor terminating in proximity to said step,
l) a transport assembly located in proximity to said step for transferring the mechanical fasteners delivered to said step away from the supply unit for further processing.
2. The supply unit of claim 1 , wherein said drive unit comprises a pneumatic cylinder located on the exterior of said rear wall.
3. The supply unit of claim 1 , wherein said upper carrying surface of said conveyor and said inwardly tapering rear wall of said container cooperate to properly orient the mechanical components retained on said carrying surface of said conveyor during the upward travel of said conveyor and prior to reaching said step.
4. The supply unit of claim 3 , wherein air currents, issuing from said rear wall of said container at a location above said step, blow improperly oriented fasteners back into said container.
5. The supply unit of claim 3 , wherein a deflector is located in said rear wall of said container above said step, said deflector pushing improperly oriented fasteners back into said container.
6. The supply unit of claim 1 , wherein a recess is formed in said rear wall of said container above said step.
7. The supply unit of claim 1 , wherein said conveyor is rectangular in shape, and said upper carrying surface is flat.
8. The supply unit of claim 1 , wherein said conveyor is rectangular in shape, and said upper carrying surface is divided into two levels, one level being slightly higher than the other level.
9. The supply unit of claim 1 , wherein said transport assembly extends through said rear wall into said container.
10. The supply unit of claim 9 , wherein said transport assembly comprises an endless belt, a motor driving same, and a guide for maintaining the fasteners in the proper orientation during transfer away from said supply unit.