# US 2014/0151392 A1 · Apparatus for Dispensing Solid Articles and Methods for Using Same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151392 A1 - Document ID: US20140151392A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,511 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-19 - Assignees: Parata Systems, LLC - Applicants: Parata Systems, LLC - Inventors: Demetris P. Young; Bradley Kenneth Smith; Deborah Mary Hinzman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151392A1 ## CPC - B65D 83/04: for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills - B65H 3/08: using pneumatic force {(B65H3/40, B65H3/42 take precedence)} - G07F 9/10: Casings {or parts thereof}, e.g. with means for heating or cooling - G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly includes a manifold and a door assembly. The manifold has a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum. The door assembly includes a door panel and a shield. The door panel is selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port. The shield defines a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising a manifold assembly including: a manifold having a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum; and a door assembly affixed to the manifold, the door assembly including: a door panel selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port; and a shield defining a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the door assembly includes a spring member biasing the door panel into the closed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the door assembly includes a body and an integral manifold gasket mounted on the body; and the manifold gasket surrounds the inlet port and forms an airtight seal between the body and the manifold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the door assembly includes a body and an integral door gasket mounted on the body; and the door gasket surrounds the inlet port and forms an airtight seal between the body and the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the door gasket includes: a first gasket portion configured to form the airtight seal between the body and the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position; and a second gasket portion configured to engage a dispensing bin when the dispensing bin is mounted on the manifold assembly and to thereby form an airtight seal between the body and the dispensing bin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the door assembly includes a body defining a hinge channel and having a sealing face; the door assembly includes a door including the door panel and a pivot rod portion pivotally mounted in the hinge channel to permit the door panel to pivot about a pivot axis between the open and closed positions; and the hinge channel is oversized relative to the pivot rod portion so that the pivot axis can float fore and aft with respect to the sealing face. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the door assembly includes: a body having a connector mount portion; and an electrical connector mounted on the connector mount portion and configured to operatively engage an electrical connector on a dispensing bin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the door assembly includes an actuator portion connected to the door panel and operable to transition the door panel between the open and closed positions; and the shield defines a shield passage extending therethrough and configured to receive an actuator of a dispensing bin mounted on the door manifold assembly such that the actuator can selectively displace the actuator portion to open and close the door panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the door assembly includes at least one integral manifold guide feature configured to engage a dispensing bin to align the dispensing bin with the manifold assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the at least one integral manifold guide feature includes a pair of opposed guide features, wherein each of the pair of manifold guide features includes an elongate guide rail or an elongate guide groove. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: the door assembly includes a body defining a doorway passage and the shield is integral with the body; and the manifold guide features are integrally formed in the shield. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further including a dispensing bin having a dispensing bin port, wherein the dispensing bin is removably mounted on the manifold assembly such that, when the door panel is in the closed position, the door panel restricts airflow through the dispensing bin port, and when the door panel is in the open position, the door panel permits airflow through the dispensing bin port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: the dispensing bin defines a dispensing bin plenum adjacent the dispensing bin port; and the shield is removably disposed in the dispensing bin plenum. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the door assembly includes a body to which the door panel is moveably coupled; and the body is affixed to the manifold by fasteners. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 including a vacuum source fluidly connected to the manifold such that, when the door panel is in the open position, the vacuum source is operable to provide a suction flow at the inlet port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein, when the door panel is in the open position and received in the pocket of the shield, the shield prevents substantially all of the suction flow through the inlet port from flowing behind the door panel. ### Claim 17 A method for dispensing solid articles, the method comprising: providing a dispensing apparatus including a manifold assembly, the manifold assembly including: a manifold having a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum; and a door assembly affixed to the manifold, the door assembly including: a door panel selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port; and a shield defining a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel; and selectively moving the door panel between the open and closed positions to control airflow through the inlet port. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein: the dispensing apparatus further includes a dispensing bin having a dispensing bin port; and the method includes removably mounting the dispensing bin on the manifold assembly such that, when the door panel is in the closed position, the door panel restricts airflow through the dispensing bin port, and when the door panel is in the open position, the door panel permits airflow through the dispensing bin port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein: the dispensing apparatus includes a vacuum source fluidly connected to the manifold; and when the door panel is in the open position, the vacuum source is operable to provide a suction flow at the inlet port and the dispensing bin port to induce an airflow through the dispensing bin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein: the dispensing bin defines a hopper chamber and contains a plurality of solid articles in the hopper chamber; and the induced airflow agitates the solid articles in the hopper chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein: the dispensing bin defines a dispensing channel and contains a plurality of solid articles; and the induced airflow drives the solid articles from the hopper chamber through the dispensing channel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 including: pre-assembling the door assembly as a unit including a body, the shield, and an integral gasket configured to engage the dispensing bin when the dispensing bin is mounted on the manifold assembly and to thereby form an airtight seal between the body and the dispensing bin; thereafter mounting the pre-assembled door assembly on the manifold; and thereafter mounting the dispensing bin on the manifold assembly.