Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023169817-A1
Application number	US-202318159250-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 25, 2023
Priority date	Jan 22, 2020
Publication date	Jun 1, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a dispensing outlet, laterally opposed, elongate first and second guide walls defining a singulating channel therebetween, a dispensing path extending through the singulating channel to the dispensing outlet, and a drive system. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. The dispensing apparatus is configured to convey articles on the belt in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed. The singulating channel is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path and through the singulating channel toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed. The first guide wall extends laterally across the singulating channel at an oblique angle to vertical to overhang at least a portion of the singulating channel and engage articles conveyed along the singulating channel.

First claim

1 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles, the dispensing apparatus comprising:
a dispensing outlet; laterally opposed, elongate first and second guide walls defining a singulating channel therebetween; a dispensing path extending through the singulating channel to the dispensing outlet; and a drive system including:
a belt; and
a belt actuator operable to drive the belt;
wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured to convey articles on the belt in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; wherein the singulating channel is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path and through the singulating channel toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; and wherein the first guide wall extends laterally across the singulating channel at an oblique angle to vertical to overhang at least a portion of the singulating channel and engage articles conveyed along the singulating channel.

2 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the oblique angle is in the range of from about 8 to 12 degrees.

3 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the first guide wall is longitudinally nonlinear; and
the singulating channel is longitudinally nonlinear.

4 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
the first guide wall is longitudinally arcuate; and
the singulating channel is longitudinally arcuate.

5 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second guide wall extends laterally away from the first guide wall at a second oblique angle to vertical.

6 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second oblique angle is in the range of from about 43 to 47 degrees.

7 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second guide walls is movable relative to the other to selectively adjust a width dimension of the singulating channel.

8 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 7 including:
a first baffle including the first guide wall; and
a second baffle including the second guide wall.

9 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including a deflector nub that projects laterally inwardly from the first guide wall or the second guide wall.

10 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the singulating channel includes a singulating section and a receiving section; the singulating section is located between the receiving section and the dispensing outlet; and the receiving section is wider than the singulating section.

11 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including a singulating gate system including a singulating gate member positioned over the belt and configured to define a singulating opening along the singulating channel or at an outlet end of the singulating channel.

12 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the singulating gate member, the first guide wall, and the second guide wall collectively define the singulating opening.

13 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 12 wherein:
the singulating gate member is movable relative to the belt to selectively adjust a height of the singulating opening; and
at least one of the first and second guide walls is movable relative to the other to selectively adjust a width dimension of the singulating opening.

14 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including:
a housing including:
a hopper chamber to hold the articles;
the dispensing outlet;
the singulating channel; and
the dispensing path, wherein the dispensing path extends between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet and through the singulating channel;

wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in the dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed.

15 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing apparatus is operable to selectively drive the belt in a reverse direction to convey the articles along the dispensing path away from the dispensing outlet.

16 . The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including a singulation adjustment system including an article sizing member that is:
movable to clamp a sizing article to thereby set a dimension of the singulating channel corresponding to a dimension of the sizing article; and
thereafter movable to release the sizing article, whereupon the set dimension of the singulating channel is retained.

17 . A method for dispensing articles, the method comprising:
providing a dispensing apparatus including:
a dispensing outlet;
laterally opposed, elongate first and second guide walls defining a singulating channel therebetween;
a dispensing path extending through the singulating channel to the dispensing outlet; and
a drive system including:
a belt; and
a belt actuator operable to drive the belt; and

dispensing articles, including driving the belt using the belt actuator to convey articles on the belt in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; wherein the singulating channel singulates the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path and through the singulating channel toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; and wherein the first guide wall extends laterally across the singulating channel at an oblique angle to vertical to overhang at least a portion of the singulating channel and engages articles conveyed along the singulating channel.

18 .- 23 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Parata Systems Llc

Inventors

• Bouchelle Steven Paul
• Perisich Mark I
• Bonpain Eric X
• Floyd Michael Richard

Classifications

• G07F11/165

  using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements · CPC title

• G07F9/026

  for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty · CPC title

• A61J7/0084

  for multiple medicaments · CPC title

• G07F11/58

  the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors · CPC title

• G07F11/42

  the articles being delivered by motor-driven means · CPC title