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US 12,515,892 B2Granted
Pneumatic conveyance jet diverter
AssigneeInnovation Associates, Inc.
InventorBenjamin Barnum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed herein for a pneumatic conveyance jet diverter that uses air jets to divert pneumatically conveyed objects to one of various selectable outlets. The example methods, systems, and apparatus are configured direct objects from an inlet to a desired outlet without the use of mechanical components such as an internal flap or gate. Rather, the pneumatic conveyance jet diverter uses an air jet to push or blow objects to a selected outlet.
Claims17
A pneumatic conveyance jet diverter comprising:
- a diverter frame including:
- an inlet end having a first width,
- an outlet end having a second width that is wider than the first width, the outlet end including a first outlet and a second outlet,
- side walls connecting the inlet end and the outlet end, and
- a lid coupled to one of the side walls;
- an air jet positioned along one of the side walls and configured to at least partially face the outlet end, the air jet being located near the inlet end and the second outlet being positioned to be closer to the air jet than the first outlet;
- and
- at least one splitter located at the outlet end between the first outlet and the second outlet,
- wherein the air jet is configured to emit pressurized air causing a medication container cap to be routed to the first outlet,
- wherein the air jet emits air at an angle such that a resulting air path flows to a side wall that is opposite the air jet and along the diverter frame, out to the first outlet, and
- wherein an absence of the pressurized air from the air jet causes the medication container cap to be routed to the second outlet.
8 more elements
A pneumatic conveyance jet diverter system comprising:
- a diverter frame including:
- an inlet end having a first width,
- an outlet end having a second width that is wider than the first width, the outlet end including a first outlet and a second outlet,
- first and second side walls connecting the inlet end and the outlet end, and
- a lid coupled to one of the side walls;
- a first air jet positioned along the first side wall and configured to at least partially face the first outlet;
- a second air jet positioned along the second side wall and configured to at least partially face the second outlet;
- and
- at least one splitter located at the outlet end between the first outlet and the second outlet,
- wherein the first air jet, when activated, is configured to emit pressurized air causing a medication container cap or a medication container to be routed to the first outlet,
- wherein the second air jet, when activated, is configured to emit pressurized air causing the medication container cap or the medication container to be routed to the second outlet, and
- wherein the second air jet emits air at an angle such that a resulting air path flows to the first side wall and along the diverter frame, out to the second outlet.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.