Modular, multi-orientation conveyor

• US 9,123,195 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aesynt, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meyer, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Randazzo, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/537,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20140001012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 198/705, 198/707, 198/712, 221/95
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/10 the surface forming a longitudinal trough
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention may provide a modular conveyor that includes a conveyor frame including an access opening, a plurality of conveyor buckets configured to move along a continuous path within the conveyor frame, and an access station where the contents of a conveyor bucket disposed at the access station may be accessible through the access opening. Each of the plurality of conveyor buckets may be configured to be substantially enclosed by the conveyor frame when not at the access station. The conveyor frame may include at least one channel disposed about a perimeter of the continuous path, where each of the plurality of conveyor buckets include at least one projection configured to engage the at least one channel. The conveyor buckets may be driven along the continuous path by a drive mechanism disposed outside of the conveyor frame.

Claims

1. A modular conveyor comprising:

a conveyor frame comprising an access opening;

a plurality of conveyor buckets, each comprising at least one projection and defining a cavity, configured to move along a continuous path within the conveyor frame, wherein the conveyor frame comprises at least one channel disposed about a perimeter of the continuous path configured to be engaged by each of the at least one projections; and

an access station defined proximate the access opening of the conveyor frame where the cavity of a conveyor bucket disposed at the access station is accessible through the access opening in response to the conveyor being disposed at the access station;

wherein the cavity of each of the plurality of conveyor buckets is configured to be independently substantially enclosed by the conveyor frame including no opening large enough for intended contents of the conveyor bucket to pass through in response to the respective conveyor bucket not being at the access station.

2. The modular conveyor of claim 1, wherein the conveyor buckets are driven along the continuous path by a drive mechanism disposed outside of the conveyor frame.

3. The modular conveyor of claim 1, wherein the path comprises two straight sections disposed between two radiused sections.

4. The modular conveyor of claim 3, wherein a conveyor bucket disposed on a first of the two straight sections is in an inverted position relative to a conveyor bucket disposed on a second of the two straight sections.

5. The modular conveyor of claim 3, wherein each conveyor bucket defines a cavity and an apex proximate a bottom of the cavity.

6. The modular conveyor of claim 5, wherein the apex of a first conveyor bucket is substantially adjacent to the apex of a second conveyor bucket when the first conveyor bucket and the second conveyor bucket are in a radiused section of the path, and wherein the apex of the first conveyor bucket is not adjacent the apex of the second conveyor bucket when the first conveyor bucket and the second conveyor bucket are in a straight section of the path.

7. The modular conveyor of claim 1, the plurality of conveyor buckets each comprising:

a first side and an opposing second side; and

a first pair of pins extending from the first side, and a second pair of pins extending from the second side.

8. The modular conveyor of claim 7, wherein the plurality of buckets are pivotally connected to one another by links joining one of the first pair and one of the second pair of pins of a first conveyor bucket to one of the first pair and one of the second pair of pins of a second, adjacent conveyor bucket.

9. The modular conveyor of claim 7, wherein the conveyor frame comprises a first side plate and a second side plate, each comprising a continuous channel disposed therein, wherein the pair of pins from the first side of each of the plurality of conveyor buckets are configured to engage the continuous channel of the first side plate and the pair of pins from the second side of each of the plurality of conveyor buckets are configured to engage the continuous channel of the second side plate.

10. A modular conveyor comprising:

a conveyor frame comprising;

a first side plate;

a second side plate;

a top plate;

a bottom plate;

an end plate;

an accessible end plate;

a conveyor bucket defining a cavity and comprising an open side;

wherein the conveyor bucket is configured to travel on a conveyor path within the conveyor frame;

wherein the first side plate and the second side plate each define a continuous channel, wherein the conveyor bucket comprises pins extending therefrom configured to engage the continuous channel, and wherein the conveyor frame is configured to cover the open side of the conveyor bucket thereby enclosing the cavity.

11. The modular conveyor of claim 10, wherein the open side of the conveyor bucket comprises a perimeter, wherein the perimeter includes at least one projection, and wherein the conveyor frame comprises a channel in which the at least one projection of the conveyor bucket travels as the conveyor bucket travels along the conveyor path.

12. The modular conveyor of claim 10, wherein the open side of the conveyor bucket is accessible from outside the conveyor frame when the conveyor bucket is proximate the accessible end plate.

13. The modular conveyor of claim 10, wherein the first side plate, second side plate, top plate, bottom plate, end plate, and accessible end plate cooperate to define a conveyor cavity, wherein the top plate, bottom plate, and end plate each comprise at least one projection disposed within the conveyor cavity.

14. The modular conveyor of claim 13, wherein the conveyor bucket comprises a channel proximate the open side and wherein the projection of the top plate, bottom plate, and end plate are configured to be received by the channel of the conveyor bucket.

15. A modular conveyor comprising:

a conveyor frame comprising;

a first side plate comprising a first continuous channel;

a second side plate comprising a second continuous channel;

a top plate; and

a bottom plate, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate comprise a retention channel;

a conveyor bucket, the conveyor bucket comprising;

a first side comprising a first pair of guide pins extending therefrom;

a second side comprising a second pair of guide pins extending therefrom;

a front side comprising a first retention feature;

a back side comprising a second retention feature; and

a cavity defined by the first side, the second side, the front side, and the back side;

wherein the first pair of guide pins is configured to engage the first continuous channel, the second pair of guide pins is configured to engage the second continuous channel,

wherein the first pair of guide pins and the first channel and the second pair of guide pins and the second channel cooperate to define a path of travel of the conveyor bucket, and

wherein the first retention feature and the second retention feature are configured to engage the retention channel to substantially enclose the cavity of the conveyor bucket as the conveyor bucket travels along the path of travel.

16. The modular conveyor of claim 15, wherein the conveyor bucket is configured to become inverted as it travels along the path of travel.

17. The modular conveyor of claim 15, wherein the first side and the second side of the conveyor bucket each extend above the cavity, and wherein the portion of the first side and the second side that extend above the cavity are configured to be received in a channel disposed between the first side and the top side and the second side and the top side, respectively.

18. The modular conveyor of claim 17, wherein the conveyor bucket is configured to be driven along the path of travel by a mechanism engaging the portion of the first side and/or the second side of the conveyor bucket which extend above the cavity.