Discrete article spacing apparatus for vibration trays

• US 8,225,925 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Countlab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Countlab, Inc.
• Inventors: Bassani, Loris
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R
• Application Number:
  US12/628,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20100133066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 198/758, 198/461.1, 198/461.2, 198/460.1, 198/752.1, 193/25.FT
• US Class Current: 198/758
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/06 Separating single articles from loose masses of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/14 by agitators or vibrators
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/24 by endless belts or chains B65B35/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/08 Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/20 Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles other applications B65B65/08
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 27/34 comprising a series of co-operating units
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/26 arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles

Abstract

A container filling machine comprising a vibration tray that is suitable for moving discrete articles from a discrete article receiving end of the vibration tray towards a plurality of guiding paths that lead to a container. The container filling machine further comprises at least one spacing device located in proximity to the vibration tray. The at least one spacing device is operative for receiving the discrete articles from the vibration tray at a first speed, and causing the discrete articles to be deposited into the plurality of guiding paths at a second speed. The second speed is greater than the first speed.

Claims

1. A system for use in a container filling machine, said system comprising:

a. a vibration tray comprising a plurality of channels along which discrete articles are able to move from a discrete article receiving end of the vibration tray towards a discrete article drop-off end of the vibration tray;

b. a plurality of spacing devices, each spacing device in the plurality of spacing devices being associated with a respective one of the plurality of channels, the plurality of spacing devices being located in proximity to said discrete article drop-off end of the vibration tray, said plurality of spacing devices being operative for receiving discrete articles from said vibration tray at a first speed, and causing the discrete articles to be deposited from the vibration tray at a second speed, the second speed being greater than the first speed.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels each comprise side walls for guiding the discrete articles, the side walls of each respective channel extending along at least a portion of an associated one of the plurality of spacing devices.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of channels forms a V-shaped channel.

4. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of channels comprises a slot for receiving a respective one of said plurality of spacing devices.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of spacing devices comprises a belt capable of carrying the discrete articles at the second speed.

6. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein said belt is mounted around a driving shaft and a driven shaft.

7. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of spacing devices comprises a wheel capable of carrying the discrete articles at the second speed.

8. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said second speed is between 150-600 rpm.

9. A container filling machine, comprising:

a. a vibration tray comprising a plurality of channels along which discrete articles are able to move from a discrete article receiving end of the vibration tray towards a plurality of guiding paths that lead towards a container, wherein each channel in the plurality of channels comprises side walls for guiding the discrete articles towards the guiding paths;

b. a plurality of spacing devices located in proximity to said vibration tray, wherein the side walls of each respective channel extend along at least a portion of a respective one of the plurality of spacing devices, said plurality of spacing devices being operative for receiving the discrete articles from said vibration tray at a first speed, and causing the discrete articles to be deposited into the plurality of guiding paths at a second speed, the second speed being greater than the first speed.

10. A container filling machine as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of spacing devices comprises a wheel capable of carrying the discrete articles at the second speed.

11. A container filling machine as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of channels forms a V-shaped channel.

12. A container filling machine as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of channels comprises a slot for receiving a respective one of said plurality of spacing devices.

13. A container filling machine as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of spacing devices comprises a belt capable of carrying the discrete articles at the second speed.

14. A container filling machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the belt is mounted around a driving shaft and a driven shaft.

15. A method for filling containers with discrete articles, said method comprising:

a. causing rotational motion to be provided to a first spacing device for moving discrete articles from a first vibration tray to a first set of guiding paths that lead to a first container;

b. causing rotational motion to be provided to a second spacing device for moving discrete articles from a second vibration tray to a second set of guiding paths that lead to a second container;

c. receiving an indication that the first container and the second container are being filled with the discrete articles at different rates;

d. causing an adjustment in the rotational motion provided to one of the first spacing device and the second spacing device.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the first spacing device is one of a plurality of first spacing devices for moving discrete articles from the first vibration tray to the first set of guiding paths, and the second spacing device is one of a plurality of second spacing devices for moving discrete articles from the second vibration tray to the second set of guiding paths, each of the first spacing devices and the second spacing devices comprising a belt for moving the discrete articles.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the first vibration tray comprises a first plurality of channels, each of the first plurality of channels comprising a slot for receiving a respective one of said first spacing devices.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the second vibration tray comprises a second plurality of channels, each of the second plurality of channels comprising a slot for receiving a respective one of said second spacing devices.