Cartridge for a dispensing system
First Claim
1. A preloaded cartridge for a dispensing system for loading, storing and delivering articles, said cartridge comprising:
- a circular plate;
an auger having an elongated helical coil with windings secured at a rear end to said plate and a drive shaft connected to said plate and operatively connectable to a drive means and adapted to be rotatably driven thereby;
said helical coil having sufficient spacing to receive articles between said windings and arranged to rotate with said drive shaft; and
a protective sleeve encircling said auger and attached to said plate adjacent the circumference of said plate, and containing articles to be dispensed in cooperation with said windings of said coil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a system for maintaining and dispensing articles in an aseptic environment. The system includes a cabinet of modular units having at least one bank of shelves. Each bank has an open end and a closed end such that the open end is oriented toward a dispensing chute. Each bank contains a plurality of horizontally adjustable shelves laterally disposed in the bank. The shelves are divided by a plurality of dividers to define a series of slots on each shelf. A dispensing chute is located adjacent the open end of the bank and is adapted to provide gravity feed of an article. The articles are feed toward the dispensing chute by a feeding means such as an auger and the leading article is discharged by gravity. The operation of the feed means is controlled by a microprocessor or the like to control the delivery of articles to the dispensing chute. There is also disclosed a prepackaged cartridge of articles for use in the dispensing system.
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Citations
2 Claims
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1. A preloaded cartridge for a dispensing system for loading, storing and delivering articles, said cartridge comprising:
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a circular plate; an auger having an elongated helical coil with windings secured at a rear end to said plate and a drive shaft connected to said plate and operatively connectable to a drive means and adapted to be rotatably driven thereby; said helical coil having sufficient spacing to receive articles between said windings and arranged to rotate with said drive shaft; and a protective sleeve encircling said auger and attached to said plate adjacent the circumference of said plate, and containing articles to be dispensed in cooperation with said windings of said coil. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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Specification