Devices for dispensing objects useful in system and method for dispensing
First Claim
1. A device for singulating open-ended objects, the device comprising:
- a housing configured to retain a plurality of open-ended objects, the housing having an open lower end;
an outer ring positioned below the housing;
a drum positioned within the outer ring to form a drum assembly, the drum including a hub having a substantially circular wall and a plurality of wings that extend radially outwardly from the wall toward the outer ring, the hub, wings and outer ring forming a plurality of gaps;
a mounting structure with an exit aperture fixed relative to the housing; and
a rotary drive unit mounted to the drum that rotates the drum about an axis of rotation;
wherein the mounting structure further comprises a pre-staging station fixed relative to the housing and positioned below the exit aperture, and wherein the pre-staging station is positioned such that the dispensing of an object from the gap through the exit aperture causes the object to reside in the pre-staging station;
wherein the pre-staging station is positioned a distance below the exit aperture such that an object residing in the pre-staging station has a portion that extends above the exit aperture and a portion that extends below the exit aperture.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for singulating open-ended objects includes: a housing configured to retain a plurality of open-ended objects, the housing having an open lower end; an outer ring positioned below the housing; a drum positioned within the outer ring to form a drum assembly, the drum including a hub having a substantially circular wall and a plurality of wings that extend radially outwardly from the wall to contact the outer ring, the hub, wings and outer ring forming a plurality of gaps; a mounting structure with an exit aperture fixed relative to the housing; and a rotary drive unit mounted to the drum that rotates the drum about an axis of rotation. The presence of the wings can enable the device to singulated caps more consistently.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device for singulating open-ended objects, the device comprising:
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a housing configured to retain a plurality of open-ended objects, the housing having an open lower end; an outer ring positioned below the housing; a drum positioned within the outer ring to form a drum assembly, the drum including a hub having a substantially circular wall and a plurality of wings that extend radially outwardly from the wall toward the outer ring, the hub, wings and outer ring forming a plurality of gaps; a mounting structure with an exit aperture fixed relative to the housing; and a rotary drive unit mounted to the drum that rotates the drum about an axis of rotation; wherein the mounting structure further comprises a pre-staging station fixed relative to the housing and positioned below the exit aperture, and wherein the pre-staging station is positioned such that the dispensing of an object from the gap through the exit aperture causes the object to reside in the pre-staging station; wherein the pre-staging station is positioned a distance below the exit aperture such that an object residing in the pre-staging station has a portion that extends above the exit aperture and a portion that extends below the exit aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for singulating round open-ended objects, the device comprising:
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a housing configured to retain a plurality of round open-ended objects, the housing having an open lower end; an outer ring positioned below the housing; a drum positioned within the outer ring to form a drum assembly, the drum including a hub having a substantially circular wall, the hub and outer ring forming at least one gap therebetween; a mounting structure fixed relative to the housing, the mounting structure including a floor with an exit aperture defined therein; a rotary drive unit mounted to the drum that rotates the drum about an axis of rotation; and a separating structure fixedly mounted to the outer ring and positioned above the exit aperture at a height selected such that, as the drum rotates, a first round object can pass beneath the separating structure and drop through the exit aperture as a second round object positioned above the first round object passes above the separating structure, thereby preventing the second round object from dropping through the exit aperture; wherein the mounting structure further comprises a pre-staging platform fixed relative to the housing and positioned below the exit aperture, and wherein the pre-staging station is positioned such that the dispensing of an object from the gap through the exit aperture causes the object to reside in the pre-staging station; wherein the pre-staging station is positioned a distance below the exit aperture such that an object residing in the pre-staging station has a portion that extends above the exit aperture and a portion that extends below the exit aperture. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of singulating round open-ended objects residing in a housing, comprising the steps of:
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providing a drum assembly comprising an outer ring positioned below the housing and a rotatable drum positioned within the outer ring, the drum including a hub having a substantially circular wall, the hub and outer ring forming at least one gap therebetween, the drum assembly further including a separation structure fixedly mounted on the outer ring and extending radially inwardly, the separation structure being positioned such that, as the drum rotates, a first round object can pass below the separation structure as a second round object positioned above the first round object passes above the separation structure, the drum assembly being mounted on a mounting structure having a floor with an exit aperture defined therein; feeding the drum assembly with round objects; and rotating the drum about an axis of rotation such that a round object drops into a gap and passes below the separation structure and into the exit aperture; wherein, upon exiting the drum assembly, the object is received on a pre-staging platform positioned below the exit aperture, wherein the pre-staging station is positioned such that the dispensing of an object from the gap through the exit aperture causes the object to reside in the pre-staging station, and wherein the pre-staging station is positioned a distance below the exit aperture such that an object residing in the pre-staging station has a portion that extends above the exit aperture and a portion that extends below the exit aperture. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification