Automated apparatus and method for consolidating products and packaging
First Claim
1. An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility having a contact lens inspection station performing a contact lens quality control evaluation, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first robotic transfer device for periodically transferring a first predetermined array of individual packages from said inspection station to a consolidation buffer;
(b) a controller for tracking and identifying individual packages containing contact lens inspected at said inspection station, said controller including memory and logic for storing the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses determined to be out of specification in accordance with said quality control evaluation and generating a signal to cause said first robotic means to elect any said individual package identified by said controller as being out of specification while transferring said first predetermined array, said individual ejections creating said random variations in said first predetermined array of packages;
(c) said consolidation buffer having at least one elongate buffer rail for receiving said first predetermined array less any individual packages identified as being out of specification and at least one product follower for each rail to consolidate any remaining individual packages deposited thereon from said first predetermined array into a second predetermined array; and
,(d) a second robotic assembly for periodically transferring said second predetermined array of individual packages from said consolidation buffer to a second processing station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility includes: a first robotic transfer device for periodically transferring a first predetermined amount of individual packages from an inspection station to an intermediate consolidation buffer and depositing the packages on the consolidation buffer; a control device for tracking and identifying each individual contact lens conveyed from the inspection station to the consolidation buffer and including memory and logic circuits for storing the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses that have been previously determined at the inspection station as being out of specification, and, generating a signal to enable the first robotic device to discard any individual package identified as out of specification; and; a second robotic assembly for periodically transferring a second predetermined amount of individual packages from the consolidation buffer to a second processing station, the control device enabling the first robotic device to provide a sufficient amount of individual packages to the consolidation buffer to enable the second robotic assembly to continuously transfer the second predetermined amount of packages to the second processing station in every period.
19 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility having a contact lens inspection station performing a contact lens quality control evaluation, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first robotic transfer device for periodically transferring a first predetermined array of individual packages from said inspection station to a consolidation buffer; (b) a controller for tracking and identifying individual packages containing contact lens inspected at said inspection station, said controller including memory and logic for storing the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses determined to be out of specification in accordance with said quality control evaluation and generating a signal to cause said first robotic means to elect any said individual package identified by said controller as being out of specification while transferring said first predetermined array, said individual ejections creating said random variations in said first predetermined array of packages; (c) said consolidation buffer having at least one elongate buffer rail for receiving said first predetermined array less any individual packages identified as being out of specification and at least one product follower for each rail to consolidate any remaining individual packages deposited thereon from said first predetermined array into a second predetermined array; and
,(d) a second robotic assembly for periodically transferring said second predetermined array of individual packages from said consolidation buffer to a second processing station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automated apparatus for consolidating serial product flow wherein said product flow includes a series of discrete product units, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) at least one serial product line having random variations in serial product flow; (b) a consolidation buffer for receiving said serial products from said line, at least one product follower for consolidating random variations in said product flow and guide means to prevent product shingling; (c) an automated output device for selecting a predetermined number and arrangement of product units, and transporting said number and arrangement to a subsequent processing station. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15)
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11. An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility having a contact lens inspection station performing a contact lens quality control evaluation, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first robotic transfer device for periodically transferring a first predetermined array of individual packages from said inspection station to a consolidation buffer, said first predetermined array having random variations in said array; (b) a controller for tracking and identifying individual packages containing contact lens inspected at said inspection station, said controller including memory and logic for storing the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses determined to be out of specification in accordance with said quality control evaluation and generating a signal to cause said first robotic transfer device to eject any said individual packages identified by said controller as being out of specification while transferring said first predetermined array, said individual ejections creating said random variations in said predetermined array of packages; (c) said consolidation buffer receiving said first predetermined array with random variations, said buffer having at least one product follower for consolidating random variations in said product array and a guide means to prevent product shingling of said individual packages when consolidated; (d) an automated output device for selecting a predetermined number and arrangement of individual packages, and transporting said number and arrangement to a subsequent processing station. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 17)
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Specification