Apparatus for feeding, counting and dispensing discrete objects

• US 6,370,215 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capsa Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Kirby Lester LLC (Capsa Solutions LLC)
• Inventors: Pinto, Itzhak, Lester, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): RUBIN, MARGARET R
• Application Number:
  US09/548,421
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 377/6, 377/7
• US Class Current: 377/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 11/00 Counting of objects distributed at random, e.g. on a surface

Abstract

An object feeding, counting, and dispensing device is provided which includes a feeding funnel having a pathway having an entrance into which discrete objects are provided and an exit, an object sensing system at the exit of the pathway, a dispensing funnel having an upper opening into which the objects are gravity fed after passing through the object sensing system and a relatively smaller lower opening, a vibration system which substantially silently vibrates the dispensing funnel in a horizontal plane, and preferably not a vertical plane, and a display indicating the number of object counted. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the vibration system includes a weight, a motor coupled to the dispensing funnel which eccentrically rotates the weight through XY plane such that rotation of the weight creates forces in X and Y directions, and a system which cancels the force in one of the X and Y directions.

Claims

1. An object counting device for counting and dispensing discrete objects, comprising:

a) a counting means for counting said discrete objects;

b) a dispensing funnel into which said discrete objects are provided after being counted by said counting means, said dispensing funnel having an exit through which said discrete objects are dispensed; and

c) a vibration means for vibrating said dispensing funnel.

2. An object counting device according to claim 1, wherein:

said vibration means includes,

i) a first weight rotating in an XY plane, said XY plane is defined by X and Y directions, said X and Y directions being perpendicular to each other, and

ii) a first rotating means for eccentrically rotating said first weight.

3. An object counting device according to claim 2, wherein:

said vibration means is arranged to vibrate said dispensing funnel along substantially only one of said X and Y directions.

4. An object counting device according to claim 3, wherein:

said vibration means includes at least one resilient support coupled between said dispensing funnel and said first rotating means.

5. An object counting device according to claim 1, wherein:

said dispensing funnel is supported by at least one resilient support member.

6. An object counting device according to claim 2, wherein:

said X direction is horizontal and said Y direction is vertical.

7. An object counting device according to claim 6, wherein:

said vibration means is arranged to vibrate said dispensing funnel substantially along said X direction.

8. An object counting device for counting and dispensing discrete objects, comprising:

a) a counting means for counting said discrete objects;

b) a dispensing funnel into which said discrete objects are provided after being counted by said counting means, said dispensing funnel having an exit through which said discrete objects are dispensed; and

c) a vibration means for vibrating said dispensing funnel, said vibration means including,

i) a first weight rotating in an XZ plane, said XZ plane is defined by X and Z directions which are perpendicular to each other,

ii) a first rotating means for eccentrically rotating said first weight,

iii) a second weight rotating in said XZ plane, and

iv) a second rotating means for eccentrically rotating said second weight.

9. An object counting device according to claim 8, wherein:

said first weight rotates about a first axis, said second weight rotates about a second axis, said first and second weights have a same mass distribution about their respective first and second axes, and said first and second axes are displaced from each other by a segment D, wherein said segment D lies within said XZ plane, said first and second weights rotate oppositely and at angular velocities of a same absolute value, and said first and second weights oscillate in phase in one direction.

10. An object counting device according to claim 9, wherein:

said X direction is horizontal and said segment D is perpendicular to said X direction.