Zero cross-contamination collector

• US 8,464,899 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Translogic Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Talyst Incorporated
• Inventors: Clarke, Darcy O., Wathen, Geoffrey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Randall, Jr., Kelvin L
• Application Number:
  US12/345,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20090194559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 221/7, 221/68, 221/69, 221/92, 221/123, 221/133, 221/208, 221/252, 221/281, 221/312.R
• US Class Current: 221/133
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2039/009 Multiple outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/06 Separating single articles from loose masses of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/12 by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 39/007 Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/005 Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a collection device having a base with at least first and second openings and at least first and second collector tubes in communication with the at least first and second openings in the base. The collector tubes each have a curvature configured to define a trajectory path for an object descending in the collector tube toward a common target region below the collection device. The collector tubes are configured to be placed into communication with corresponding unique transport tubes/channels/paths, etc., originating at a singulating device.

Claims

1. A collection device, comprising:

(a) a base having a center, an outer circumference, and a plurality of openings formed within the base, with at least a portion of the plurality of openings located near the center of the base and at least a portion of the plurality of openings located near the outer circumference of the base;

(b) a plurality of collector tubes, each collector tube in communication with one of the plurality of openings in the base, the collector tubes each having a radius of curvature and a length, wherein the collector tubes in communication with the openings located near the outer circumference of the base have a greater radius of curvature and a greater length than the collector tubes in communication with the openings located near the center of the base such that the ends of the collector tubes cooperatively define a substantially hemispherical interior cavity and each collector tube defines a trajectory path for an object descending in the collector tube toward a common target region located substantially below the center of the base.

2. The collection device of claim 1, wherein the base is substantially hemispherical in shape to help define the interior substantially hemispherical cavity.

3. The collection device of claim 1, wherein an intermediate collection device of a dispensing mechanism is positionable below the target region to receive the objects as they are ejected from the collector tubes.

4. The collection device of claim 1, wherein the openings in the base are formed in a pattern of concentric circles.

5. The collection device of claim 1, wherein each tube is in communication with a transport tube of a dispensing device to define an enclosed pathway between the collector tube and the transport tube.

6. The collection device of claim 5, wherein each transport tube is configured to transport one of a plurality of objects.

7. The collection device of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of objects is a type of oral solid.

8. The collection device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor assembly for detecting an object when it is ejected from the collector tube.