High-speed multi-channel feeder for tablets
First Claim
1. Apparatus for feeding at high speed, random flowing discreet solid particular objects such as tablets to a high-speed sensing and counting arrangement under the influence of gravity comprising an inclined vibrating feeder tray having an object receiving and spreading region and an object orienting region, said orienting region being provided with a plurality of spaced means for defining N substantially parallel channels arranged in the direction of intended object movement, each of said channels having at the remote end thereof an exit port for permitting the objects to pass in single file from said tray to the sensing and counting arrangement and each of said channels having associated therewith a single directing means comprised of a multi-surfaced wedge-like member having a plurality of unique orienting surfaces, each of said surfaces of said wedge-like member being predeterminably uniquely inclined relative to the floor of said tray for acting on respective different orientations of the objects and thereby enabling the objects to obtain said predetermined orientation in the associated channel regardless of the orientation thereof when encountering said wedge-like member, such that the objects when entering the channel will become disposed to pass through said exit port.
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Abstract
Herein is disclosed a feeding arrangement for high-speed multi-channel sensing and counting apparatus utilized in processing randomly-flowing discreet solid particular objects such as pharmaceutical tablets. An inclined vibrating feeder-tray is provided having a receiving and spreading region and a multi-channel sorting region. Each channel of the latter is provided with an exit port at the extreme end thereof for passage of the objects from the tray to an associated channel of a sensing apparatus. Associated with each channel of the feeder-tray is a wedge-like directing means having at least four unique inclined plane surfaces for operating on the objects incoming to the channel, which directing means enables each object to become oriented in the preferred erect orientation of rolling on its cylindrical surface, regardless of the initial orientation thereof upon entering the channel. Additional means are provided for adapting the feeder-tray to various different ranges of sizes of the objects.
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Citations
61 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for feeding at high speed, random flowing discreet solid particular objects such as tablets to a high-speed sensing and counting arrangement under the influence of gravity comprising an inclined vibrating feeder tray having an object receiving and spreading region and an object orienting region, said orienting region being provided with a plurality of spaced means for defining N substantially parallel channels arranged in the direction of intended object movement, each of said channels having at the remote end thereof an exit port for permitting the objects to pass in single file from said tray to the sensing and counting arrangement and each of said channels having associated therewith a single directing means comprised of a multi-surfaced wedge-like member having a plurality of unique orienting surfaces, each of said surfaces of said wedge-like member being predeterminably uniquely inclined relative to the floor of said tray for acting on respective different orientations of the objects and thereby enabling the objects to obtain said predetermined orientation in the associated channel regardless of the orientation thereof when encountering said wedge-like member, such that the objects when entering the channel will become disposed to pass through said exit port.
Specification