Metering system for vial delivery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802804-B1
Application number	US-201615279599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 29, 2016
Priority date	Sep 29, 2016
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

An automated method and system for transitioning a bottle from a horizontal belt conveyor to the entrance of an air conveyor, and vice versa, from an air conveyor to a horizontal belt conveyor. An indexer in a circular arrangement moves around 180 degrees clockwise until the bottle drops into the air conveyor (e.g., pneumatic tube). This motion controls the bottle's movement; otherwise, the bottle would free-fall off the conveyor. The indexer rotary device provides control of the vial transition, keeping it vertical so it goes into the tube in a controlled manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for moving vials along an automated dispensing line, comprising:
a first horizontal conveyor adapted to move vials in the horizontal direction;
a first vertical pneumatic conveyor positioned above or below the first horizontal conveyor;
a first rotating portion comprised of a plurality of apertures disposed in a circular arrangement, each of the apertures adapted to accept and hold one of the vials;
a motor operationally connected to the first rotating portion for driving the first rotating portion; and
a guide mechanism operationally connected between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor for guiding a vial as it moves between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor; and
wherein the system is adapted to move vials held in each of the apertures of the first rotating portion to the first horizontal conveyor when vials are moving from the first vertical pneumatic conveyor to the first horizontal conveyor and wherein the system is adapted to move vials held in each of the apertures of the first rotating portion to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor when the vials are moving from the first horizontal conveyor to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor by rotating the first rotating portion in a circular direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide mechanism is a funnel portion for guiding the vials as they move between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first rotating portion has six apertures disposed in a circular arrangement.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a high-limit sensor operationally connected to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor configured to sense for vials in the first vertical pneumatic conveyor and a low-limit sensor operationally connected to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor configured to sense for vials in the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the system is adapted to send a signal to stop the sending of vials when the high-limit sensor senses a vial in the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the system is adapted to send a signal to send vials when the low-limit sensor does not detect the presence of a vial in the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first vertical pneumatic conveyor is a tube adapted to accept and move vials.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing attached to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor for enclosing the first rotating portion.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is comprised of an opening for accepting vials.

10. A system for moving vials along an automated dispensing line, comprising:
a first horizontal conveyor adapted to move vials in the horizontal direction;
a first vertical pneumatic conveyor positioned below the first horizontal conveyor;
a first rotating portion comprised of a plurality of apertures disposed in a circular arrangement, each of the apertures adapted to accept and hold one of the vials;
a motor operationally connected to the first rotating portion for driving the first rotating portion;
a guide mechanism operationally connected between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor for guiding a vial as it moves from the first rotating portion to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor; and
wherein the first rotating portion is positioned to accept a vial into each of the apertures of the first rotating portion from the first horizontal conveyor as the first rotating portion rotates in a circular direction.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the guide mechanism is a funnel portion for guiding the vials as they move between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first rotating portion has six apertures disposed in a circular arrangement.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the guide mechanism has a hole for accepting each vial as it drops from each aperture of the first rotating portion into the first pneumatic conveyor.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system is adapted to position each aperture of the first rotating portion over the hole in the guide mechanism successively as the motor drives the first rotating portion in a circular direction.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein a vial held in each aperture drops into the vertical pneumatic conveyor when it is positioned over the hole in the guide mechanism.

16. A system for moving vials along an automated dispensing line, comprising:
a first horizontal conveyor adapted to move vials in the horizontal direction;
a first vertical pneumatic conveyor positioned above the first horizontal conveyor;
a first rotating portion comprised of a plurality of apertures disposed in a circular arrangement, each of the apertures adapted to accept and hold one of the vials;
a motor operationally connected to the first rotating portion for driving the first rotating portion;
a guide mechanism operationally connected between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor for guiding a vial as it moves from the first vertical pneumatic conveyor to the first rotating portion; and
wherein the guide mechanism has a hole for accepting each vial as it drops from an aperture of the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first rotating portion is positioned to accept a vial into each of the apertures of the first rotating portion from the first pneumatic conveyor as the first rotating portion rotates in a circular direction.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the guide mechanism is a funnel portion for guiding the vials as they move between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first rotating portion has eight apertures disposed in a circular arrangement.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the system is adapted to position each aperture of the first rotating portion under the hole in the guide mechanism successively as the motor drives the first rotating portion in a circular direction.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the system is adapted to drop a vial into one of the apertures when the aperture is positioned under the hole in the guide mechanism.

22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising a bottom support plate having a slot for ensuring proper positioning of the vials onto the first horizontal conveyor as they move from the first rotating portion onto the first horizontal conveyor.

23. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a high-limit sensor operationally connected to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor configured to sense for vials in the first vertical pneumatic conveyor and a low-limit sensor operationally connected to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor configured to sense for vials in the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the system is adapted to send a signal to stop the sending of vials when the high-limit sensor senses a vial in the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the system is adapted to send a signal to send vials when the low-limit sensor does not detect the presence of a vial in the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.

2

Assignees

• Humana Inc

Inventors

• Mahar Michael
• Trinh Toan

Classifications

• B67C3/24 Primary

  Devices for supporting or handling bottles (transport or storing devices in general B65G) · CPC title

• B65G51/02 Primary

  Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases · CPC title

• B65G47/846

  Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements · CPC title

• B65G47/917

  control arrangements · CPC title

• B65G47/91

  incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers · CPC title