Passive device for staging and dispensing objects
First Claim
1. A passive dispensing chute assembly, comprising:
- a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet;
a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet, the passive dispensing unit having a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing, the staging portion including a gate member movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit;
the dispensing unit further including a release member, the release member being coupled with the gate member, such that movement of the release member from a staging position to a dispensing position moves the gate member from its staging position to its release position;
wherein movement of the release member rotates the gate about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the path followed by objects released from the chute.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.
13 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A passive dispensing chute assembly, comprising:
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a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet, the passive dispensing unit having a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing, the staging portion including a gate member movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit; the dispensing unit further including a release member, the release member being coupled with the gate member, such that movement of the release member from a staging position to a dispensing position moves the gate member from its staging position to its release position; wherein movement of the release member rotates the gate about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the path followed by objects released from the chute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A passive dispensing chute assembly, comprising:
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a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet, the passive dispensing unit having a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing, the staging portion including a gate member movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit; the dispensing unit further including a release member, the release member being coupled with the gate member, such that movement of the release member from a staging position to a dispensing position moves the gate member from its staging position to its release position; and the dispensing unit further comprising a spout positioned downstream of the staging portion, the spout comprising a flexible material that enables the spout to conform to receptacles of different diameters. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A passive dispensing chute assembly, comprising:
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a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet, the passive dispensing unit having a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing, the staging portion including a gate member movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit; the dispensing unit further including a release member, the release member being coupled with the gate member, such that movement of the release member from a staging position to a dispensing position moves the gate member from its staging position to its release position; wherein the gate member moves generally within a plane in moving from the staging to the dispensing position, and wherein the plane is generally normal to a path followed by objects being released from the staging portion; and wherein the release member is configured to move in a direction generally opposite of the path followed by objects being released. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification