CA1256002B - Single log feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

SINGLE LOG FEEDER

ABSTRACT

An apparatus which is capable of sorting logs of varying diameter and feeding them one at a time to a log processing apparatus. A cylinder handling apparatus comprising: (a) means for receiving and holding a plurality of cylindrical objects of varying diameter and length parallel to and abutting one another in a row;
and (b) means for separating and raising the the fore-most cylindrical object from the secondarily disposed cylindrical objects in the row and dispensing the foremost cylindrical object from the apparatus.

Description

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This invention is directed to an apparatus for S single feeding elongated cylindrical objects to suitable processing apparatus. In a specific application, this invention is directed to an apparatus which is capable c;f sorting log.s of varying diameter and feeding them one at a time to a log processing apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF T~lE INVENT _ It has been a long standing problem in the cylinder handling industry to efEiciently take a cylin-drical object from a random group of cylindrical objects of various sizes and orientations, align the single object in a predetermined direction and direct it to a - cylinder handling apparatus. This problem arises in the log handling industry. Numerous mac~ines and processes have been designed over the years in an effort to develop an apparatus and a method of efficiently hand-ling a wide range of logs of varying diameters and lengths mixed butts and ends and aligning them one at a time in a common clirection and feeding them ~ithout interruption to a log processing machine such as a debarker or a chip and saw apparatus.
The applicant is aware oE the ~ollowing patents which disclose various devices for processing lo~s.
Canadian Patent No. Issue Date Inventor -7~9,36~ July 9, 196~ ~hlste~lt 920,5~ Fcbruary G, l973 I.inclblom - ~LZ560~)Z
, .
922,659 March 13, 1973 Rysti 9~0,~20 December 30, 1975 ~lart~ell and Gunnerman 9~9,427 May 1~ 76 Valo 1,048,562 February 13, 1979 Danielsson and Ekhoiln 1,114,~08 December 15, 19~1 Valo Uni.ted States Patent No.

2,751,781 June 26, 1956 McConnell 3,584,726 June 15, 1971 Hartzell Ideally, a log handling apparatus capable of 10 . handling a group of logs of various diameters, lengths and orientations, and single feeding them in an aligned manner to a log processing apparatus should be able to run without interruption ,and be capable of feeding tne logs to the log processing apparatus virtually end to end with one another. In this way, a maximum number of logs are processed in a given time. Elowever, in practice, apparatus designed for this purpose are prone to breakdown, complexity, or do not carry out the job of separating the logs individually and feeding them one at a time without frequent interruptions. Thus, it is not uncommon for the apparatus to fail to make a separation between individual logs and thus, the operator must stop the machine, separate the plurality of logs and ensure that they are fed one at a time to the log processing apparatu.s. Interruptions of this sort are costly ancl labour intensive.
O~ the devices disclosed and claimed in the reerences listed, two devices in particular are pur-ported to successful.l.y select a log froln a ~roup of lo~s arl(l feed it to a log process;.ll~3 ar~paratus~ The ~hlstedt ~25i~0C~

patent, Canadian Patent No. 7~9,36~, discloses an apparatus for the selection and sidewise delivery of selected sets of long rollable objccts o~ varying diameters from a closely spaced group of such objects, such as logs. In the device, a lift arm holds the logs back in the "up" position, and releases one log while in the "down" position. At the same time, a second log is aliowed to lodge in a pocket to hold back remaining logs. The Ahlstedt apparatus appears to deal adequately with logs oE relatively uniform diameter but it appears to be weaX in dealing with logs of small diameter mixed with logs of large diameter. Lodqing of a small log in - the retaining pocket would increase the llkelihood that a ~ollowing larger diameter log would be pushed over the smaller log and hence disrupt operat.ion.
Canadian Patent No. 1,11~,408, Valo, discloses and claims an apparatus which is desi~ned specifically for the purpose of handling logs of varying diameter and feedirig them one at a time to a log proccssing appara-tus. However, the apparatus disclosed is relativelycomplex, expensive, and in practice has been found to be prone to breakdown due to its complexity. The apparatus utilizes a dual disc arrangernent for separating the logs. The two di3cs rotate on separate shafts in opposite direction and are provided with peripheral notches which, in the extreme positions of the rotary rnovement of the discs, are directed substantial].y toward the inlet end and the outl.et sicle. In practice, it has been found that the Valo apparat~s callnot be operated ~0 cficicntly at hi.c3h speed wi.tllout Ercquellt hrcakdown.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have invent~d a reliable rnechanical device which is capclble of selectin~ lo~s o~ varying diameter and lengths and single feeding them end to end to a log processing apparatus.
Logs are taken from a deck or unscrambler and loaded onto the sloped skid plates of a log feeder ~hich permits the lo~s to ~oll in a single layer until they abut the log ahead, or a contoured pocket of my device.
The pocXet is contoured to hold small logs back or conversely allow larger logs to roll further ahead. My device includes a series of specifically shaped lift arms which are simultaneously swung upward in an arc.
These arms lift one log out of the pocket and simultane-ously prevent all other logs from entering the pocket.
When the arms reach their high point of movë-ment, the single raised log rolls over the top of the pocket. ~he arms then drop to their original rest position which then allows the logs on the skids to roll forward until the next log rests against the pocket and is ready to be li.fted. Varying lengths of logs can be handled by adding or deleting arms and skid plates. Any size of logs can be handled by scaling the machine accordingly up or down.
The invention is directed to a cylinder handling apparatus comprising: (a) means for receiving and holding a plura].ity of cylindrical objects of varying diameter and length parallel to and abutting one another in a ro~; and (b) means for separating and raising the the ~orelnos-t cy1;ndrical object frolll the ~25600Z

secondarily disposecl cylindrical obje~cts in the row and dispensing the oremost cylindrical object frorn the apparatus. The receiving me;lns may have an inclined upper ~ace ~ith the lower end thereoE shaped to restrain the cylindrical objects on the face. 'rhe restraining shape may be in the form of a contoured pocket ~hich is positioned between the lower. end of the incline~ upper face and a secondary inclined face, which is on the opposite side of the pocket and is at a higher elevation than the lower portion of the initial inclined face.
The contoured pocket may have constructed therein a protruding abutment face which serves to hold cylindri~
cal ob~ects of smaller diameter at a position hi~her up the inclined upper face than cylindrical objects o~ a larger diameter.
The separating and raising means moves between an upper position and a lower position relative to the receiving means. The separating and raising me~ns may have thereon a face which, when the separating and raising Ineans is in an upper position, aligns generally with the secondary inclined face of the receiving means.
The separating and raising means Jnay have therein a convex shaped recess wh;ch serves to restrain the secondarily disposed cylindrical object, as the ~oremost cylindrical ol~ject is being separated and raise~ by the separating and raising means. The separating and raising means m~y also have an upwardly extendin~
~rojection locatcd between the convex recess and the aligning ace of the separ~tirlg alld raising d~vice, the projection serving to ~xtend betweerl the foremost and ~2S6t:~02 the secondary disposed cyl:indLical objects ~s th-scparating alld raisincJ meclns is raised. The restraining surf~ce of tll--3 convex rect3ss tends to move away from the secondary disposcd cylindrical o~ject as the separating ancl rclising means is returnecl to its lower position.
The upper surEace of the separating and raising means is below the upper surface of the receiving means w~en the separating and raising means is in the lower position.
DRA~ GS
In the drawings:
FIGURE 1 represents a perspective view of the single log feeder;
FIGURE 2 represents a perspective view of the log unscrambler in comhination with the single log feeder;
FIGURE 3 represents a plan view of the log unscrambler-sinc3]e log feeder combination arranged to feed logs to a log barker;
FIGURE 4 represents a side elevation view of the singl--~ log feeder;
FIGURE 5 represents a side elevation view of a skid plate;
- FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, in sequencc, represent side elevation views illustratirlg the manner in which a single log feeder receives logs of varying diameter from a log unscrambler, separates t~em, and fee~s tllem one at a time to a log processing apparatus.
_T~ILE.~ D~SCRIPTION OF ON~ EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Reerring to FIGUR~ 1, which represcnts a pcr~.pt-3ctivc vi-~ of th--3 sintJlc IocJ ~te~lcr, tl~e sinc31t3 .
]og feeder 1 is construc~ed oE a linear series o~ later-ally extending alternating slcid plates 4 and lift arms 6. '~e series Oe sXid plates 4 relnains stationary, while the series of lift arlrls 6 are arranged to be raised or lowered, as required, about a common pivot shaft 8, which extenc~s throuyh the skid plates ~ and lift arms 6. The skid plates 4 and lift arms 6 are grouped in pairs. The number of skid plates 4 and lift arms 6 can be varied as required to accommodate the dimensions of all log handling mills, and various lengths of logs. Moreover, the spacing between the respective skid plates 4-lift arms 6 combinations need not be uniform. Thus, the sp~cing between the respect-ive pairs of skid plates 4 and lift arms 6 may be varied in order to accommodate and fit with existin~ log hand-liny e~uipment as installed in the log handling mill.
The governing factor is that the spaces between t~e respective pairs of skid plates 4 and lift arms 6 should be less than the length of the logs being handled so that the logs do not drop between the respective pairs of skid plates 4 and lift arms 6. It is also not manda-tory that the skid plates 4 and lift arrns 6 alternate.
In certain circumstances, it may be useful. to have two lift arms 6 between two pl~tes 4.
Rcferring to FIG~RE 2, ~hich represents a perspective view of the single log feeder 1 in combina-~ion with a log unscrambler 2, which leads to the single loy feeder 1, the purpose of the lo~ unscrambler 2 is to arrange a group oE loys in parallel. The unscrambler face obstructs t~e transEer of logs thereby st~aighten-1256~

ing thelrl parallel to its Eace. Chains with flights or lugs large enough to pick up the largest log are placed on climbing chains in rows across the face of the unscrambler 2. As the c].imbing chains move past the pile of logs against the face of the unscrambler 2, the flights pick logs up, usually one at a time, and raise them ir. parallel upwardly along the inclined upper slope of.the unscrambler 2 to the top of the unscrambler 2.
When the logs reach the top of the unscrambler 2, they roll to the right (as seen in FIGUR~ 2) down the upper skid face of the single log feeder 1. The skid face, as can be seen in FIGURE 2 is inclined downwardly in a . direction opposite to the d.irection of incl.ination of the unscrambler 2. In FlGURE 2, the series of lift arms 6 are shown i.n the lower position. The lift arms 6 of the single log feecler 1 are operated by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. The unscrambler 2 is usually driven by a power source which operates through a hydraulic or electric motor chain drive and air clutch mechanism 3. As can be recognized, other suitable drive mechanisms are Eeasible for either apparatus.
Referring to FIGURE 3, which represents a plan view of the single log feeder 1 in combination with a log unscrambler 2 on one side and a barXer infeed 24 on the other side, the log unscrambler 2 is conventional, and well known in the log handlin~ art. The unscrambler 2 does not represent part of the applicant's invention.
The unscrambler 2 consists oE a series oE parallel log conveying teeth and chains 5, or tlle li~e, whi.ch move arld raise the loys i.n an inclilled upwardly manner in the ~ _ ~25i6~)02 direction oE the arrow. F:[CURE 3 illustrates in det~il the mann~r in which a pl.ural.ity of skid plates ~ and lift arms 6 in pairs, are arranged parallel to one another in a linear series. The skid plates 4 al.ternate respec~ively with accompanying lift arms 6 and cxtend in the same direction as the direction of movement of the unscrambler 2. A long pivot shaft 8 extends at right ahgles througll the plurality oE parallcl pairs of skid plates 4 and lift arms 6. The shaft 8 pivots frcely relative to the skid plates 4. Elowever, the pl~rality of lift arms 6 are affixed to the shaft 8 and ar~
mounted by suitable securing means at respective points along the leng-th of the pivot shaft-8. The pivo~ shaft 8 is journalled for rotation withirl suitable supporting bearing means. Since each lift arm 6 is firmly secured at its point of connection to the pivot shaft 8, and the pivot shaft 8 is free to rotate within the bearing means, the plurality of lift arms 6 can be moved alter-nately between a lower position and an upper position by rotating the pivot shaft 8. FIGURE 3 also illustrates a plurality of cylinder mounts 10 which are adapted to receive respective hydraulic piston-cylinder meclanism (not shown) which are used to raise or lower the lift arms 6. FIGURE 3 also illustrates on the side opposite the un~crambler 2 the infeed 24 of an appropriate log handling apparatus such a5 a lo~ barker or log C~lip and saw apparatus. .The ineed 24 as depicted in FIGURE 3 travels in the clirection of thc arrow~ and receives logs cleposite-l thereon in end to end relati.onship by the lift 3~ arrns 6. In practice, the infeed call ~rclvel in cither 1256~102 direction.
FIGURE 4, w11ich represents a side elevation view of the single log feeder 1 in combination with a dotted-line representation of the unscrambler 2, illus-trates the manner in which the lift arm 6 moves between a lower and an upper position relative to skid plate 4.
The lift arm 6 depicted in solid line indicates the upper position of the lift arm 6. In the lower posi-tion, the lit arm 6 is shown in dotted lines. As lQ discussed previously, the lift arm 6 is afixed to pivot shaft 8. A hydraulic cylinder-piston means 12, which is mountèd on cylinder mount 10, moves the lift arm 6 between a lower pos.ition and an upper position. .FIGURE

4 also illustrates the basic fralne 22 of the single log - 15 feeder 1. The frame 22 is of sufficiently strong construction to support the weight of the plurality of lift arms 6, skid plates 4, shaft 8, cylinders 12 and the weight of logs rolling down the upper faces of the skid plates 4 and the.lift arms 6.
FIGURE 5 represents a detailed side elevation detailed view of the construction of the skid plate 4.
The skid plate 4 has constructed therein a shaft recess 14, which permits the pivot shaft 8 to extend latera.lly without interference through the skid plate 4. A sXid plate bar 16 is bolted or welded in place to bridge the upper part of the shaft recess 14. This bar 16 pcrmits logs to roll downwardly without intererence along the upper edye oE skid plate 4. The lon~ initial skid face of ski.d plate ~ is identifi.ed as 34 in I~IGURE: 5. Tlle s~id plate 4 aJ.so has a short terminal skid face 36, as i0()2 seen in FIGURE 5. The upper portion of the skid plate 4 has a contoured pockct 18 constructed between the initial skid face 34 and th~ terrnincll skid ac~ 36.
Located ~ithin the overall contoured pocket 1~ is a small log abutment face 20. In practice, the dimensions of tlle skid plate 4 and the contourcd pocket 18, includ-ing the small log abutrnent face 20, are constructed to accor~nodate the dia~neters of the sizes of logs which are to be typically handled by the single log feeder. The range of diameters, for example, 3-1/2" to 9", 4" to 16", 6" to 20", etc., while depending on the size of the rnachine, all work on the same principle. The single lvg feeder is typically constructed to accommodate logs with diameters ranging from 4 inches to 16 inches. Elowever, as can be readily recognized, the dimensions of the skid plate 4 can be increased in order to accommodate logs of larger diameter. Bearings for the feeder 2 are mounted on a flate plate and gussetted to the side of the skid plate. If need be, for extra load carrying capacity, intermediate bearings supporting shaft 8 can be installed.
FIGURES 6, 7 and ~3 in sequence illustrate the manner in which the single log feeder 1 separates a small log 26 from a group of logs including a large log 2~ and delivers the small log 26 to the infeed 24 of a typical barker apparatus or c11ip and saw apparatus.
In l~IGURE 6, the lift arm 6 i5 shown in its lo~er position. The small lo~ 26 and the larg~ log 2~ rest side-by-side on the downwardly incJined initial skid 3() Eace 34. The lOg5 26 and 2~ have bcen deposited on skid ~ 256~)02 surface 34 by unscrambler 2. Irhe small log 26 abuts the small log abu~ment face 20. The purpose raf the small 109 abutment face 20 is to hold the small log 26 par-t.ially upwar~y and to the right (as seen in FIGUR~ 6) along the inclined initial skid face 34. If the small log abutrnerlt face 20 wrre not present, the small log 26 would rest at the base of the contoured pocket 18, the large log 28 would be permitted to advance further down the inclined initial skid face 34 (to the left, as seen .
in FIGURE 6) and hence ~hen tlle lift arm 6 was raised, there would be a good possibility that both the small log 26 and large 109 28 would be raised upwardly and dumped onto the infeed 24. This would not be acceptable since it is important that only a sing].e Iog be put on the infeed 24. More than one log would create problerns for the log processing apparatus. lf both logs 26 and 28 were dropped on the infeed 24, the operator must stop the single log feeder 1 for a short period of time while the two logs were separated and fed individually in linear series on the infeed 2~.
As seen in FIGUR~ 7, when the lift arm 6 is in a raised position, its upper skid face 30 aligns more or less with terminal skid face 36 of skid plate 4. ~s lift arm 6 moves upwardly, its log separator point 32 divides the small log 26 from the large log 28. The facr 30 lifts the small 109 26 upwardly, while at the same time the point 32 moves large log 28 upwardly and rearwardly along the initial ski(l face 34. Small log 2G
then rol].s alollcl ski.r.l face 30 of lift arm 6, ovcr - ~.2 -t256002 terminal skid face 36, ancl onto the infeed 24, as can beseen in FIGURI~ 8.
Meanwhile, as demonstratcd in FIGUR~ 8, the lift arm 6 returns to its lower position, thereby permitting large log 2~ to ro].l downward].y along the initial skid face 34, so that it comes to rest against conto~r pocXet 18. However, as FIGUR~ 8 illustrates, when a large log is involved, large log 28 is not held back, if at all, by small log abutment face 20. Thus, large log 28 can rest farther down the inclined surface of initial skid face 34. When lift arm 6 is again raised, separator point 32 JnOVeS upwardly behind the large log 28, and ahead of the log which follows the large log 28, and thereby separates the two.logs. As the lift arm 6 moves upwardly, it raises large log 28 upwardly so that it can ultimately roll over terminal s~id face 36 and onto the infeed 24.
As can also be seen in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the . lift arm 6 is constructed to have therein a pocket in the shape of an arc 38, which serves the purpose of holding bacX sm~ll logs. When large logs are involved, such as the large log 28 shown in FIGURE 7, the 109 is held bacX by separator point 32. However, if a small log is first in line, it rests against arc 38. The con-tour of arc 3c3 is designed so that as lift arm 6 moves downwardly, the arc 3~3 ~ends to move away from the log which it is holdin~. It has been found that when arc 38 has a radius which is coincident w.ith the axis o~
~)ivot sh~t 8, arc 3~ tends to l~i.lld aqaillst tlle log as lift arm 6 i9 being lowered. 'rh~ls, to prcvent binding, - ].3 -00~

it is advantagcous to have the pivot point of the radius of arc 3~ at a location slightly above the axis of pivot shaft 8. In this way, the arc 38 tends to move slightly away from the log being held by the arc 3~ as lift arm 6 is lowered.
It has been Eound that the single log feeder 1, in operation, is very reliable, sturdy, not prone to breakdown, and can be operated at high rates of speed. All components making up the construction of the single log feeder 1 are of rugged construction, and require virtually no maintenance.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the ~pirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

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Claims (13)

1. An apparatus for individually sorting and sep-arating a plurality of cylindrical objects of the same or varying diameter and length comprising:
(a) inclined receiving means including an inclined receiving face which receives the cylindrical objects by having the cylindrical objects roll laterally onto the upper end of the inclined receiving face, the inclined receiving means having at its lower end a restraining means including a restraining face which extends at an angle to the receiving face and which holds the cylindrical objects in parallel and abut-ting relationship with one another at the lower end of the inclined receiving face and upwardly along the inclined receiving face;
and (b) cylindrical object separating and raising means associated with the inclined receiving means for separating and raising the foremost restraining means abutting cylindrical object from the secondarily disposed cylindrical objects on the inclined receiving face and dispensing the foremost cylindrical object from the apparatus in a direction away from the direction in which the cylindrical objects are received by the inclined receiving means, the separating and raising means including an arm pivoted at a location upstream relative to the restraining face to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly between a lower position and an upper position relative to the inclined receiving face, said arm including a lifting portion underlying the inclined receiving face - Page 1 of Claims -when in a lower position, and being positioned at least in part above at least a portion of the inclined receiving face when in an upper position such that the lifting portion is engageable with the foremost object to lift it above the restraining face, said arm further including a separating portion adjacent an upstream end of said lifting portion and being engageable with a secondarily disposed cylindrical object to separate it from the foremost object as the latter is lifted by said lifting portion, said separating portion being moveable upstream relative to said restraining face during upward movement of said arm.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the restraining means is constructed in the form of a con-toured pocket which is positioned at the lower end of the inclined receiving face, the inclined receiving face forming one side of the pocket, and the other side of the pocket being formed by the restraining face which angles upwardly and away from the lower portion of the inclined receiving face.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the restraining face of the contoured pocket has constructed therein at its base a protruding abutment face which ex-tends upwardly along a portion of the restraining face and serves to hold cylindrical objects of small diameter at a position higher up the inclined receiving face of the receiving means than cylindrical objects of a larger diameter.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the lifting portion of the arm has thereon an upwardly fac-- Page 2 of Claims -ing face which, when the arm is in a upper position aligns generally with the top of the restraining face.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the separating portion of the arm includes a protrusion ser-ving to extend between and separate the foremost and the secondary disposed cylindrical objects on the inclined receiving face as the arm is raised.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the protrusion tends to move away from the secondary disposed cylindrical object as the arm is returned to its lower position.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the arm is constructed so that at least a portion of the face of the lifting portion, when in an upper position, is of a higher elevation than the remainder of the arm.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arm includes a portion defining a pocket for receiving secondarily positioned objects as said arm is raised above said receiving face, said portion defining said pocket being movable upstream relative to said restraining face during upward movement of said arm.

9. Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said lifting portion has an effective lifting area which is movable above the receiving face and increases as the lifting portion is raised above the receiving face.

10. Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said arm includes a portion defining a pocket for receiving secondarily positioned objects as said arm is raised above said receiving face, said portion defining said pocket being movable upstream relative to said retaining - Page 3 of Claims -face during upward movement of said arm, and wherein said lifting portion has an effective lifting area which is movable above the receiving face and increases as the lifting portion is raised above the receiving face.

11. Apparatus for individually handling and lifting a plurality of generally cylindrical objects of the same or varying diameter and length, the apparatus comprising in combination:
(a) inclined receiving means including an inclined receiving face which receives the cylindrical objects by having the cylindrical objects roll laterally onto the upper end of the inclined receiving face, the inclined receiving means having at its lower end a restraining means including a restraining face which extends at an angle to the receiving face and which holds the cylindrical objects in parallel and abut-ting relationship to one another at the lower end of the inclined receiving face and upward-ly along the inclined receiving face with the foremost object abutting against the restraining face, and (b) cylindrical object separating and raising means associated with the inclined receiving means for separating and raising the foremost cylindrical object abutting against the res-training face from the secondarily disposed object on the receiving face and dispensing the foremost object from the apparatus in a direction away from the direction in which the cylindrical objects are received by the inclined receiving means, the separating and raising means being reciprocatable upwardly and downwardly between a lower position and an upper position relative to the receiving face - Page 4 of Claims -and including an upstream portion and a lift-ing portion movable and arranged relative to the receiving face such that the lifting portion is engageable with the foremost object to lift it above the restraining face when the separating and raising means moves towards its upper position, said separating and raising means further including a separating portion located adjacent an upstream end of said lift-ing portion and being engageable with a secon-darily disposed object to separate it from the foremost object as the latter is lifted by said lifting portion, said separating portion being movable upstream relative to said restraining face during upward movement there-of, and wherein said lifting portion has an effective lifting area which is movable above the receiving face and increases as the lift-ing portion is raised above the receiving face.

12. A cylinder handling apparatus comprising:
(a) means for receiving and holding a plural-ity of cylindrical objects of varying diameter and length parallel to and abut-ting one another in a row; and (b) means for separating and raising the foremost cylindrical object from the secondarily disposed cylindrical objects in the row and dispensing the foremost cylindrical object from the apparatus, wherein the receiving means has an inclined upper face with the lower end thereof shaped to restrain the cylindri-cal objects on the face, wherein the - Page 5 of Claims -restraining shape is in the form of a contoured pocket which is positioned between the lower end of the inclined upper face and a secondary inclined face, which is on the opposite side of the pocket and is at a higher elevation than the lower portion of the initial inclined face, wherein the contoured pocket has con-structed therein a protruding abutment face which serves to hold cylindrical objects of small diameter at a position higher up the inclined upper face than cylindrical objects of a larger diameter, wherein the separating and raising means moves between an upper position and a lower position relative to the receiving means, wherein the separating and raising means has thereon a face which, when the separating and raising means is in an upper position, aligns generally with the secondary inclined face of the receiving means, wherein the separating and raising means has therein a recess which serves to restrain the secondarily disposed cylindrical object, as the foremost cylindrical object is being separated and raised by the separating and raising means, wherein the separating and raising means has an upwardly extending projec-tion located between the convex recess and the aligning face of the separating and raising device, the projection serving to extend between the foremost and the secondary disposed cylindrical - Page 6 of Claims -objects as the separating and raising means is raised, and wherein the restraining surface of the convex recess tends to move away from the secondary disposed cylindrical object as the separating and raising means is returned to its lower position.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the upper surface of the separating and raising means is below the upper surface of the receiving means when the separating and raising means is in the lower position.

- Page 7 of Claims -