Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween; and
at least one vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing;
wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles;
wherein the apparatus is configured such that the forward drive gas flow flows along the dispensing flow path from the outlet to the vacuum source after passing through the dispensing channel; and
wherein the apparatus is configured to generate an agitation gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the agitation gas flow agitates articles in the hopper chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and at least one vacuum source. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween. The vacuum source is adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing. The apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween; and at least one vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles; wherein the apparatus is configured such that the forward drive gas flow flows along the dispensing flow path from the outlet to the vacuum source after passing through the dispensing channel; and wherein the apparatus is configured to generate an agitation gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the agitation gas flow agitates articles in the hopper chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween; and at least one vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles; wherein the apparatus is configured such that the forward drive gas flow flows along the dispensing flow path from the outlet to the vacuum source after passing through the dispensing channel; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a reverse drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the reverse drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the outlet to the inlet to return the articles to the hopper chamber; and wherein the apparatus includes a control port in the housing and a closure mechanism operable to selectively open and close the control port, wherein; when the control port is closed, the forward drive gas flow is generated from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow; and when the control port is open, the reverse drive gas flow is generated from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween; and at least one vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles; wherein the apparatus is configured such that the forward drive gas flow flows along the dispensing flow path from the outlet to the vacuum source after passing through the dispensing channel; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a reverse drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the reverse drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the outlet to the inlet to return the articles to the hopper chamber; wherein; the housing includes a dispensing portal; and the apparatus includes a gate system including a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway, the gate member being selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position, wherein, when the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal; and wherein the apparatus includes a holding mechanism to hold the gate member in the closed position when the reverse drive gas flow is being generated.
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16. A method for dispensing solid articles, the method comprising:
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providing an apparatus including; a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween; and at least one vacuum source; using the vacuum source, providing a vacuum pressure and inducing a gas flow in the housing; generating a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow such that the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles; and generating an agitation gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow such that the agitation gas flow agitates articles in the hopper chamber; wherein the apparatus is configured such that the forward drive gas flow flows along the dispensing flow path from the outlet to the vacuum source after passing through the dispensing channel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween, the housing including a dispensing portal; at least one vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing; a gate system including a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway, the gate member being selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position, wherein, when the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate a reverse drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, wherein the reverse drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the outlet to the inlet to return the articles to the hopper chamber; and wherein the gate member includes perforations therein for the passage of the reverse drive gas flow. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification