Article handling system with dispenser
US4247019A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 1977 |
| Grant date | Jan 27, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 14, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07D9/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a system for dispensing weighed or counted articles, articles are fed from a supply hopper by a vibratory conveyor to maintain a controlled level of articles in a bowl-shaped feeder hopper. In a weigher embodiment, articles are initially discharged from the feeder hopper through two discharge openings into an accumulator bucket. A weighing unit monitors the weight of articles in the bucket and signals a door to close one of the discharge openings as the weight of articles in the bucket begins to approach a predetermined weight. The weighing unit subsequently signals the feeder hopper drive to slow its feeding action as the weight of articles in the bucket more closely approaches the predetermined weight. The feeder hopper discharge openings are arranged near each other at locations where the door-controlled opening will provide a rapid, bulk feed of articles, while the other opening will provide a single-file trickle feed. In a counter embodiment, a feeder hopper having a single discharge opening is used so that articles can pass single file from the feeder hopper past a counter unit to an accumulator bucket.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.