PILL COUNTING APPARATUS HAVING CHUTE SHIFTING ON PREDETERMINED COUNT

• US 3,677,437 A
• Filed: 03/27/1970
• Issued: 07/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John S. Haigler
• Original Assignee: John S. Haigler
• Inventors: Haigler, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Application Number:
  US05/023,244
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2,4-7,9 53/51,78
• US Class Current: 221/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 7/00 Counting of objects carried by a conveyor

Abstract

Apparatus for counting and dispensing articles such as pills, having a vibratory device for automatically separating, spacing and feeding the separated, spaced and counted pills to a chute. A photoelectric cell and a light source function to energize a solenoid of a counter as the pills slide down the chute and interrupt a beam of light between the light source and the photoelectric cell. A lower part of the chute is divided and pivoted and is actuated from the normal position whereat the counted pills are conveyed to a container therefor to a position whereat the remaining pills are conveyed to a container for the oversupply, excess, surplus, remainder or extra pills which can then be returned to a large storage container or to the hopper of the separating and feeding device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for counting and discharging a preselected number of articles into the first of two receptacles comprising:

A. a vibrating means for separating, spacing and feeding in single file articles to be counted;

B. downwardly inclined article receiving and conveying means for receiving articles from the vibratory feeding means and down which the articles are adapted to slide in single file, said article receiving and conveying means comprising an inclined primary chute having an outlet;

a receiving end for receiving articles from said feeding means and a discharge end;

a pair of similar terminal chutes being simultaneously movably mounted, comprising a counted article chute and an excess article chute extending generally side by side throughout the lengths thereof and having inlet end portions and having terminal outlet end portions curving in the same direction, said terminal chutes being integrally joined together and pivoted adjacent their outlet end portions, said terminal chutes being respectively for receiving a preselected number of counted articles from the discharge end of the primary chute and selectively discharging said articles in a counted article receptacle and diverting all excess articles thereover into an excess article receptacle. C. Counting means including a. a photoelectric cell at one side of the article receiving and conveying means and a light source positioned at the opposite side thereof for casting a beam of light across the path of articles moving in said article receiving and conveying means, said articles interrupting the light beam as they move through said article receiving and conveying means;

b. and a counter operably connected with said photoelectric cell and having number indicator means adapted to move an increment for each number upon interruption of the light beam by an article passing between the source of light and the photoelectric cell;

c. and means for setting the counter means for a preselected number of articles to be counted and discharged into the counted article receptacle;

d. and means operably connected with the counter for moving the inlet ends of said terminal chutes into alternate alignment with the outlet and of said primary chute to divert excess articles when the counter has counted the number of articles for which it has been set to count.

2. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the side walls of the primary chute have aligned openings therein and the photoelectric cell is at one side of the primary chute and the light source is positioned at the opposite side thereof for casting a beam of light through said openings and across the path of articles moving in said primary chute.

3. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the terminal chute means comprises a counted article chute and an excess article chute, said terminal chutes having inlet ends and outlet ends movable between a position whereat the inlet end of the counted article chute is in alignment with the outlet end of the primary chute and the inlet end of the excess article chute is out of alignment with the discharge end of the primary chute, and a position whereat the inlet end of the excess article chute is in alignment with the outlet end of the primary chute and the inlet of the counted article chute is out of said alignment, and the means for diverting excess articles includes said excess article chute, and the means operably connected with the counter for operating the excess article diverting means is connected with the terminal chutes for moving said terminal chutes from the position whereat the inlet end of the counted article chute is in alignment with the discharge end of the primary chute to the position whereat the inlet of the counted article chute is out of alignment with the discharge end of the primary chute and the inlet end of the excesS article chute is in alignment with said discharge end of the primary chute, and vice versa.

4. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the means operably connected with the counter for operating the terminal chute means comprises a solenoid.

5. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the vibratory feeding means includes a track on which articles are separated and spaced forwardly in single file;

and adjusting means for varying the effective width of said track.

6. The invention defined by claim 5, wherein said adjusting means includes a resilient blade normally in an out-of-the-way position relative to the track;

and means for moving said blade to reduce the effective width of said track for single file passage of articles to be counted.