Device to count and dispense articles

• US 8,651,326 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Pollard, Jasper, Michelli, Richard D., Pell, Charles A., Moody, Ryan, Williams, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Karmis, Stefanos
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Michael E
• Application Number:
  US10/685,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20040159669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,780 Days
• Field of Search: 221/278, 221/200, 221/20, 406/94, 406/138, 406/144, 406/192
• US Class Current: 221/278
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1407 the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/02 Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases

Abstract

A singulating and counting device includes a bulk housing for storing a plurality of substantially identical articles, an exit channel, and in the exit channel, forwardly- and rearwardly-directed jet apertures, each of which is fluidly connected to a positive pressure source. A forwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the forward jet aperture can accelerate singulated articles in the exit channel, thereby increasing the interval between individual articles and rendering them more easily and accurately counted. A rearwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the rearwardly-directed jet aperture can cause articles in the exit channel to return to the housing. A controller operatively connected with the pressure source(s) selectively controls the application of positive pressure to the aforementioned apertures to induce or halt singulation of the articles; the controller may be operatively associated with a sensor that detects and counts articles passing through the exit channel.

Claims

1. A device for singulating articles from a bulk supply of such articles, comprising:

a housing for holding articles to be singulated;

an exit channel fluidly connected to the housing at an entry end, the entry end of the exit channel being configured in cross-section to permit the passage of only a single article at a time, the exit channel including a forwardly-directed jet aperture and a rearwardly-directed jet aperture;

wherein the housing includes a floor and an opposing ceiling, and wherein the floor includes at least one air intake hole;

a first positive pressure source fluidly connected to the forwardly-directed jet aperture;

a second positive pressure source fluidly connected to the rearwardly-directed jet aperture; and

a controller operatively connected with the first and second positive pressure sources that selectively controls the application of positive pressure to the forwardly-directed jet aperture and the rearwardly-directed jet aperture.