Container filling machine

A container filling machine for filling a plurality of containers with discrete articles, the container filling machine comprising:

• a. a vibration tray assembly comprising:
• i. a tray for transporting discrete articles from a receiving end of the tray towards a drop-off end of the tray, the tray providing a slope along which the discrete articles travel from the receiving end of the tray to the drop-off end of the tray, wherein the tray is adjustable for changing the slope along which the discrete articles travel;
• ii. a vibration imparting device for imparting vibrational motion to the tray;
• b. a discrete article dispensing device for providing discrete articles to the receiving end of the tray;
• and
• c. a plurality of pathways for receiving the discrete articles from the drop-off end of the tray, the plurality of pathways leading to at least one container to be filled with the discrete articles.

A discrete article dispensing device comprising:

• a. a receptacle for holding a load of discrete articles;
• b. a dispensing outlet through which discrete articles from the load of discrete articles exit the receptacle, the dispensing outlet defining:
• i. a slot between a first wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device and a second wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device;
• and
• ii. a ramp portion that extends past the slot for depositing discrete articles from the load of discrete articles onto a discrete article transporting surface.

A container filling machine for filling a plurality of containers with discrete articles, the container filling machine comprising:

• a. a discrete article dispensing device comprising:
• i. a receptacle for holding a load of discrete articles for filling the plurality of containers;
• ii. a dispensing outlet through which discrete articles from the load of discrete articles exit the receptacle, the dispensing outlet defining:
• 1. a slot between a first wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device and a second wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device;
• 2. a ramp portion that extends past the slot for guiding the discrete articles out of the discrete article dispensing device;
• b. a discrete article transporting surface for receiving the discrete articles from the discrete article dispensing device and for guiding the discrete articles towards the plurality of containers.

A method comprising:

• a. receiving, at a processing entity, a characteristic associated with at least one discrete article from a load of discrete articles, the load of discrete articles being held in a discrete article dispensing device comprising:
• i. a receptacle for holding the load of discrete articles;
• ii. a dispensing outlet through which the discrete articles from the load of discrete articles exit the receptacle onto a discrete article transporting surface, the dispensing outlet defining a slot between a first wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device and a second wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device, and a ramp that extends past the slot towards the discrete article transporting surface, the ramp having a drop-off end from which the discrete articles are deposited onto the discrete article transporting surface;
• b. determining, at the processing entity, at least in part on a basis of the characteristic associated with the at least one discrete article, a suitable distance between the drop-off end of the ramp and the discrete article transporting surface;
• c. causing the discrete article dispensing device to move in relation to the discrete article transporting surface for acquiring the suitable distance between the drop-off end of the ramp and the discrete article transporting surface.