Vial sorting apparatus
OwnerJoseph P. Reardon, JR.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for sorting vials and small containers. The apparatus comprises at least one auger with a plurality of top recesses and a plurality of side recesses. Vials are placed into the apparatus and fall into the top recesses. As vials fall into the top recesses, the vials are transported through the apparatus by the rotation of the auger. If a vial does not fall into a top recess, it is diverted to a top recess, or to an agitation conveyor that transports the vial to a diverter to be diverted back to an auger. Vials within the top recesses are ejected into vertical alignment so that the vials are sorted and oriented properly for packaging.
Claims22
A vial sorting apparatus;
- comprising:
- a main body structure comprising elongated front and back side members extending substantially parallel to each other between first and second ends, a first end piece extending between and joining said side members at said first end, and a second end piece extending between and joining said side members of said second end to form a substantially rectangular cavity area therebetween;
- at least one auger extending substantially parallel to, residing between, and extending substantially the same length as said side members;
- a drive motor attached to an end of said at least one auger and operable to rotate said at least one auger;
- at least one agitation conveyor belt extending along a portion of said rectangular cavity area and operable to transport vials towards said first end piece;
- and
- wherein said at least one auger comprises a plurality of top recesses configured to receive a vial such that rotation of said at least one auger is operable to transport vials in said top recesses toward said second end piece.
A method of sorting a plurality of vials, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) receiving said plurality of vials in a sorting area;
- (B) aligning said vials in a substantially horizontal position in a vial transportation device comprising a plurality of horizontal vial recesses;
- (C) detecting a top of said aligned vials;
- and
- (D) ejecting said aligned vials from said horizontal recesses such that said vials are in a vertical position and the top of each of said vials is up.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.