Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
- a dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a dispensing path therebetween;
a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles, wherein the hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel, the housing including a floor; and
an article supply regulation system including a first divider wall, a second divider wall, a third divider wall and a fourth divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing;
a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall;
a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall;
a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and
a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region;
wherein;
the first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor;
the second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor;
the third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing;
the fourth divider wall is positioned in the hopper chamber above the second and third divider walls and is configured to direct articles onto the second and third divider walls; and
the fourth divider wall includes first and second legs collectively arranged in an inverted V-shape or an inverted U-shape, the first leg being disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal to direct some of the articles onto the second divider wall and the second leg being disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal to direct some of the articles onto the third divider wall.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a dispensing channel, a housing and an article supply regulation system. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a dispensing path therebetween. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles. The hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel. The housing includes a floor. The article supply regulation system includes a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing: a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region. The first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor. The second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor. The third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
-
a dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a dispensing path therebetween; a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles, wherein the hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel, the housing including a floor; and an article supply regulation system including a first divider wall, a second divider wall, a third divider wall and a fourth divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing; a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region; wherein; the first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor; the second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor; the third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing; the fourth divider wall is positioned in the hopper chamber above the second and third divider walls and is configured to direct articles onto the second and third divider walls; and the fourth divider wall includes first and second legs collectively arranged in an inverted V-shape or an inverted U-shape, the first leg being disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal to direct some of the articles onto the second divider wall and the second leg being disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal to direct some of the articles onto the third divider wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for dispensing solid articles, the method comprising:
-
providing an apparatus including; a dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a dispensing path therebetween; a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles, wherein the hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel, the housing including a floor; and an article supply regulation system including a first divider wall, a second divider wall, a third divider wall and a fourth divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing; a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region; wherein; the first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor; the second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor; the third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing; the fourth divider wall is positioned in the hopper chamber above the second and third divider walls and is configured to direct articles onto the second and third divider walls; and the fourth divider wall includes first and second legs collectively arranged in an inverted V-shape or an inverted U-shape, the first leg being disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal to direct some of the articles onto the second divider wall and the second leg being disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal to direct some of the articles onto the third divider wall; placing the articles in the apparatus such that the articles are disposed in each of the front region, the first rear region, the second rear region and the third rear region and a load of the articles in the third rear region is supported by the third divider wall; and dispensing the articles from the hopper chamber through the dispensing channel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification