An apparatus for orienting and feeding axially elongated articles has a feeder bowl which includes a helical ramp surface which terminates at the upper edge of the bowl. An annular ring supported for rotation around an upper portion of the feeder bowl has an upwardly facing article supporting surface contiguous with a terminal portion of the ramp surface to receive articles therefrom. An annular baffle disposed above the ring and in coaxial alignment with it coacts with the ring to successively release articles from the ring to a guide conveyor which directs the articles tangentially away from the ring. Separate independent drive mechanisms are provided for vibrating the feeder bowl and rotating the ring to enable the feeder bowl to operate intermittently to discharge articles onto the ring which may operate continuously.

An apparatus for the sequential supply of sweets or like articles to a continuously moving packing machine or apparatus of the type designed to convey the articles to be wrapped along a wrapping path or line having a mixed course comprising at least one horizontal rectilinear line. This supply apparatus is of the type having a construction with superimposed wheels which rotate coaxially with a continuous movement about a vertical axis, comprising a first upper plate wheel designed to receive the articles in bulk and to supply them in single file via a spiral duct to the periphery of a second lower disc wheel provided peripherally with a plurality of apertures which are equally spaced, below each of which are provided means having gripper members for the take up of the articles associated with a lower third wheel such that they are radially slidable and may be oriented about a respective vertical axis. In this way, the articles are spaced by the peripheral path below and along the straight horizontal path of the wrapping line of the wrapping machine and are constantly oriented with respect to this rectilinear horizontal line for their transfer to the wrapping machine.

A device for ordering bulk fed confectionery products, wherein a continuously rotating annular accelerating and transfer element is interposed between the outer periphery of a discontinuously rotating central plate, designed to receive the products in bulk, and an annular conveyor having a number of pockets, each for receiving a respective product.

Apparatus for orienting and feeding axially elongated articles includes a feeder bowl with an article ramp surface terminating at the upper edge of the bowl and an annular article feeder ring, supported for rotation around an upper portion of the feeder bowl, has an upwardly facing article supporting surface contiguous with a terminal portion of the ramp surface to receive articles therefrom. A stationary ring is arranged within a recess in the article supporting surface of the article feeder ring and includes an upwardly facing article supporting surface substantially continuous and planar with the supporting surface of the feeder ring. A radial groove within the article supporting surface of the stationary ring accepts a guide conveyor which directs the articles tangentially away from the article feeder ring.

A vibratory bowl for fragile parts is externally dimensioned to a standard height for a particular type of fragile parts to be oriented. The vibratory bowl is configured to reduce, if not eliminate, impact damage as well as wear and tear on fragile parts. The vibratory bowl includes a base and an annular wall having a helical parts track coupled to the base. The helical parts track extends along an inner surface of the annular wall from the base to a parts discharge port of the annular wall. In a preferred embodiment, the helical parts track makes approximately one and a quarter turns or less along the inner surface of the annular wall, and the height of the base is equal to or greater than the height of the annular wall.