Apparatus for feeding, counting and dispensing discrete objects
US6370215B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61J7/02
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An object feeding, counting, and dispensing device is provided which includes a feeding funnel having a pathway having an entrance into which discrete objects are provided and an exit, an object sensing system at the exit of the pathway, a dispensing funnel having an upper opening into which the objects are gravity fed after passing through the object sensing system and a relatively smaller lower opening, a vibration system which substantially silently vibrates the dispensing funnel in a horizontal plane, and preferably not a vertical plane, and a display indicating the number of object counted. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the vibration system includes a weight, a motor coupled to the dispensing funnel which eccentrically rotates the weight through XY plane such that rotation of the weight creates forces in X and Y directions, and a system which cancels the force in one of the X and Y directions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.