Vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator and method for singulating products
US5288201A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G59/068
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator to dispense and singulate "soft" products in an automated order dispensing system (AOS) is comprised of a product cartridge and an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt picks the products from the bottom of the cartridge using a vacuum control element and carries it up the conveyor until it reaches a pinch roller that holds the product ready to be dispensed to a central conveyor of the AOS. Products are picked from the product cartridge by the inclined conveyor in an unbalanced position such that a product will fall off the conveyor unless held by a vacuum generated by the vacuum control element. Thus, random multiples removed from the cartridge with the picked product fall off the conveyor. The product stream from the hopper is thereby singulated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.