High speed counter

• US 9,598,191 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Deppermann, Kevin, Yannakakis, Elias J., Ondes, Allen N., Forinash, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US14/554,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20150075946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/046 with perforated seeding discs
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/28 by pneumatic conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/30 Arranging and feeding articles in groups
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/48 by pneumatic conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/20 Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles other applications B65B65/08
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 11/088 for bulk
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 37/00 Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or use in particular manufacturing processes series of co-operating belt conveyor units B65G15/22; series of co-operating chain conveyor units B65G17/26; sequence control of combined conveyors B65G43/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/08 spacing or grouping the articles during feeding during transit by conveyor B65G47/28
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/46 and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points in tube mail systems B65G51/36
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/848 the article-engaging elements being suction or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for counting a plurality of objects and parsing the objects into groups of varying quantities. In various embodiments, the system includes a singulating and counting module operable to singulate and count a plurality of objects from a large volume of the objects. Additionally, the system includes a diverter and accumulator module operable to receive the singulated objects, parse the objects into groups of varying quantities, and direct each group into a selected one of a plurality of discharge funnels. Furthermore, the system includes an object collection module operable to sequentially position each one of a plurality of object collection receptacles adjacent the discharge funnels such that each group of objects is deposited into a respective corresponding one of the object collection receptacles.

Claims

1. A system for counting small objects, said system comprising:

a singulating and counting assembly structured and operable to singulate a plurality of objects from a large volume of the objects and count the singulated objects;

a diverter assembly structured and operable to receive the singulated objects, parse the received objects into a plurality of groups of objects, at least one of the groups of objects comprising a different number of objects than at least one other group of objects, and direct each group of objects into a selected one of a plurality of diverting tubes of the diverter unit;

an object collection assembly structured and operable to receive and retain a plurality of object collection receptacles, each collection receptacle positioned adjacent a respective one of the diverting tubes such that each group of objects can be deposited into a respective corresponding one of the object collection receptacles, each collection receptacle comprising an information device attached thereto, each information device including information that stipulates the number of objects to be parsed and directed into the respective diverting tubes by the diverter assembly, and deposited into the respective collection receptacle, and

a control system structured and operable to;

read the information included in the information device of each collection receptacle that stipulates the number of objects to be deposited in the respective collection receptacle, and

based on the stipulated number of objects to be deposited in the respective collection receptacle, control and coordinate operation of the singulating and counting assembly, the diverter assembly, and the object collection assembly to deposit the number of objects stipulated by the respective information device into each respective collection receptacle.