METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING SOLID ARTICLES

• US 20100006584A1
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Michelli, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/32 two or magazines having a common delivery chute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and at least one vacuum source. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween. The vacuum source is adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing. The apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween; and

at least one vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing;

wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including an expansion region downstream of the outlet along the dispensing flow path, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the forward drive gas flow conveys the articles through the dispensing channel and into the expansion region where the velocity of the forward drive gas flow is reduced and the articles decouple from the forward drive gas flow to be dispensed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further configured to generate a reverse drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the reverse drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the outlet to the inlet to return the articles to the hopper chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a control port in the housing and a closure mechanism operable to selectively open and close the control port, wherein:

when the control port is closed, the forward drive gas flow is generated from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow; and

when the control port is open, the reverse drive gas flow is generated from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein, when the control port is open, the vacuum pressure draws ambient air into the housing to generate the forward drive gas flow.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the closure mechanism includes an actuator operable to selectively open and close the control port.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the housing includes a dispensing portal; and

the apparatus includes a gate system including a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway, the gate member being selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position, wherein, when the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the gate member includes perforations therein for the passage of the reverse drive gas flow.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the perforations are blocked when the gate member is in the open position; and

the housing includes a return opening downstream along the dispensing flow path for the passage of the forward drive gas flow from the outlet to the vacuum source.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 including a holding mechanism to hold the gate member in the closed position when the reverse drive gas flow is being generated.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to generate an agitation gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the agitation gas flow agitates articles in the hopper chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to generate the agitation gas flow and the forward drive gas flow simultaneously using the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow from the vacuum source.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one vacuum source is adapted to induce ambient air to flow into and through the housing as the forward drive gas flow.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 configured to generate the agitation gas flow and the forward drive gas flow simultaneously using vacuum pressure and induced gas flow from the same vacuum source via a common exit port of the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 including a sensor disposed along the dispensing flow path to detect articles passing along the dispensing flow path.

16. A method for dispensing solid articles, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus including;

a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween; and

at least one vacuum source;

using the vacuum source, providing a vacuum pressure and inducing a gas flow in the housing; and

generating a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow such that the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the apparatus includes an expansion region downstream of the outlet along the dispensing flow path, and including, using the forward drive gas flow, conveying the articles through the dispensing channel and into the expansion region where the velocity of the forward drive gas flow is reduced and the articles decouple from the forward drive gas flow to be dispensed.

18. The method of claim 17 further including generating a reverse drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow such that the reverse drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the outlet to the inlet to return the articles to the hopper chamber.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the housing includes a dispensing portal;

the apparatus includes a gate system including a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway; and

the method further includes;

positioning the gate member in an open position wherein the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal; and

thereafter

positioning the gate member in a closed position wherein the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal.

20. The method of claim 16 including generating an agitation gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow such that the agitation gas flow agitates articles in the hopper chamber.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the articles are pharmaceutical articles.