Methods and Apparatus for Dispensing Solid Articles
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing and a drive system. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing outlet, and a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. 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 a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed.
11 Citations
54 Claims
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1-34. -34. (canceled)
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35. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles, the dispensing apparatus comprising:
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a dispensing outlet; a nonlinear guide channel; a dispensing path extending through the nonlinear guide 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; and wherein the nonlinear guide channel is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path and through the nonlinear guide channel toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for dispensing articles, the method comprising:
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providing a dispensing apparatus including; a dispensing outlet; a nonlinear guide channel; a dispensing path extending through the nonlinear guide 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 nonlinear guide channel singulates the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path and through the nonlinear guide channel toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification