Patent · US Active

Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles

US10207857B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
57References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 19, 2016
Grant dateFeb 19, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F17/0092
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing and a drive system. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing outlet, and a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. The dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.