Article handling system with dispenser

• US 4,382,527 A
• Filed: 12/03/1979
• Issued: 05/10/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Lerner, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US06/099,937
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 222/55, 222/56, 222/77, 222/173, 222/199, 222/252, 222/263, 53/501, 53/502, 198/751, 198/757, 198/766-771, 133/8 R, 133/3 B, 221/7, 221/10, 221/200, 221/174, 221/281
• US Class Current: 222/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/08 wherein the main feed is effected by mechanical conveying means, e.g. by belt conveyors, by vibratory conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 9/04 Hand- or motor-driven devices for counting coins counting mechanisms in general G06M

Abstract

In a system for dispensing weighed or counted articles, articles are fed from a supply hopper by a vibratory conveyor to maintain a controlled level of articles in a bowl-shaped feeder hopper. In a weigher embodiment, articles are initially discharged from the feeder hopper through two discharge openings into an accumulator bucket. A weighing unit monitors the weight of articles in the bucket and signals a door to close one of the discharge openings as the weight of articles in the bucket begins to approach a predetermined weight. The weighing unit subsequently signals the feeder hopper drive to slow its feeding action as the weight of articles in the bucket more closely approaches the predetermined weight. The feeder hopper discharge openings are arranged near each other at locations where the door-controlled opening will provide a rapid, bulk feed of articles, while the other opening will provide a single-file trickle feed. In a counter embodiment, a feeder hopper having a single discharge opening is used so that articles can pass single file from the feeder hopper past a counter unit to an accumulator bucket.

Claims

1. A vibratory feeder comprising a vibratory motor drive assembly and a recirculating bowl feeder hopper, said feeder hopper including a bottom wall, a first article discharge station for discharging a relatively large quantity of articles in a given time period and a ramp disposed peripherally of the bottom wall and extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a second article discharge station for discharging a relatively small quantity of articles in such given time period, said vibratory motor drive assembly being disposed within said hopper and attached at a plurality of locations to said bottom wall whereby articles disposed in said hopper around said vibratory motor drive assembly can be transported at controlled feed rates to said first and second article discharge stations by vibratory motion imparted to said hopper by said vibratory motor drive assembly.

2. A vibratory bowl feeder apparatus, comprising:

(a) a bowl-shaped feeder hopper having a base portion, a sidewall, and a ramp extending upwardly from the base portion which at least partially define a chamber for holding articles to be dispensed;

(b) the hopper including a first discharge opening communicating with the chamber for discharging a relatively large quantity of articles in a given time interval;

(c) the hopper including a second discharge opening communicating with the ramp for discharging a relatively small quantity of articles in such given time period; and

,

(d) flow restriction means for selectively restricting the flow of articles discharging through the first opening.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the flow restriction means includes a door movable between a first position wherein relatively large quantities of articles may flow through the first opening in such given time interval, and a second position wherein the door at least partially obstructs the flow of articles through the first opening such that relatively fewer articles may flow.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the door closes the first opening when the door is in the second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first discharge opening is formed in an upwardly extending portion of the hopper sidewall, and the flow restriction means includes a door which is movable along a path to a first position allowing substantially unrestricted flow of articles through the first opening and movable along a return path to a second position restricting the flow of articles through the first opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 additionally including support means movably mounting the door member on the feeder hopper.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the flow restriction means includes a door and biasing means biasing the door toward and into engagement with parts of the sidewall portion which define the first discharge opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the flow restriction means includes a door and biasing means biasing the door toward a position where it is adapted to restrict the flow of articles through the first opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the flow restriction means includes a door and a door drive operably connected to the door for moving the door relative to the first opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first and second openings are positioned in closely spaced relationship to each other to define a common discharge station through which any articles discharged through either opening pass.

11. In combination with the bowl feeder of claim 2 a weighing means connected to the feeder and including an accumulator for collecting and weighing articles passing through the discharge openings, and flow control means operatively connected to the weigher and the flow restriction means for causing the flow restriction means to selectively restrict the flow of articles through the first opening when a predetermined weight of articles is in the accumulator.

12. An apparatus for dispensing weighed batches of articles, comprising:

(a) an upstanding base structure;

(b) a vibratory feeder carried by the base structure and having a bowl type feeder hopper for feeding articles to the discharge station;

(c) weighing means carried by the base structure and having an accumulator for collecting and weighing articles passing through the discharge station;

(d) the feeder hopper having sidewall defining a first discharge opening and an upwardly extending ramp communicating with a second discharge opening, the first and second discharge openings being located near each other and at the discharge station; and

,

(e) flow restriction means for selectively restricting the flow of articles discharging through the first opening.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the flow restriction means includes a door movable between a first position wherein relatively large quantities of articles may flow through the first opening in such given time interval, and a second position wherein the door at least partially obstructs the flow of articles through the first opening such that relatively fewer articles may flow.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the door closes the first opening when the door is in the second position.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first discharge opening is formed in an upwardly extending portion of the hopper sidewall, and the flow restriction means includes a door which is movable along a path to a position allowing substantially unrestricted flow of articles through the first opening and movable along a return path to a second position restricting the flow of articles through the first opening.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the flow restriction means includes a door and biasing means biasing the door toward and into engagement with parts of the sidewall portion which define the first discharge opening.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the flow restriction means includes a door and biasing means biasing the door toward a position where it is adapted to restrict the flow of articles through the first opening.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the flow restriction means includes a door and a door drive operably connected to the door for moving the door relative to the first opening.

19. An apparatus for dispensing weighed batches of articles, comprising:

(a) a support structure including an upstanding base portion and a supporting portion which extends forwardly from the base portion near the upper end of the base portion;

(b) article feeder means carried on the supporting portion for feeding articles to a discharge station located near the forward end of the support portion;

(c) weighing means carried on the support portion near the forward end of the supporting portion and including;

(i) a housing structure positioned forwardly of and in the same horizontal plane with portions of the feeder means;

(ii) an armature movably supported in the housing structure;

(iii) electrically-operated armature positioning means carried within the housing structure for applying forces to the armature when in use to maintain the armature at a predetermined position;

(iv) signalling means operably connected to the armature for generating an electrical signal representing the magnitude of the forces applied by the armature positioning means to the armature;

(v) an accumulator receptacle supported by the armature and positioned to receive and collect articles which pass through the discharge station; and

(d) the weighing means being releasably secured to the supporting portion as a self-contained module to facilitate its removal and installation for servicing and assembly

20. A mechanism for dispensing in repetitively produced and uniform batches comprising:

(a) a vibratory feeder hopper having a bottom wall, a first discharge structure for delivering a relatively high volume of products and a ramp extending upwardly from the bottom wall and communicating with a second discharge structure for delivering products at a relatively slow rate;

(b) an accumulator assembly for receiving products delivered by the discharge structures, the accumulator assembly including measuring apparatus responsive to predetermined product delivery conditions;

(c) flow control means operable connected to the first discharge structure and the measuring apparatus for causing the termination of product delivery from the first discharge structure when a predetermined condition is reached; and

,

(d) said flow control means also being operably connected to the second discharge structure to cause the termination of product delivery from the second discharge structure when the accumulator has collected a complete batch.

21. The mechanism of claim 20 wherein the flow control means senses a second predetermined condition and causes a reduction in the rate of product delivery from the second discharge structure after delivery from the first structure is terminated and prior to the collection of a complete batch.

22. The mechanism of claim 20 wherein the measuring apparatus comprises a weighing means.