Order filling system with cartridge dispenser
AssigneeElectroCom Automation, Inc.
InventorsJames M. Pippin, Jerry D. Erwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated ordering system has a gathering conveyor belt and a plurality of product dispensers for dispensing products onto the gathering conveyor belt, the plurality of product dispensers arrayed in a matrix in rows and columns wherein each row of product dispensers and each column of product dispensers share common control elements. The product dispensers are of cartridge type utilizing gravity to eject products from a cartridge suspended above the gathering conveyor belt onto the gathering conveyor belt. A universal product dispenser platform accepts a wide range of different sizes and shapes of cartridges storing products to be dispensed. The universal product platform provides support for an actuator for singulating products mounted to the cartridge.
Claims7
An automated order dispensing system comprising:
- a conveyor belt;
- a plurality of independently actuatable product dispensers for dispensing products onto the conveyor belt arrayed in a matrix having at least two columns and at least two rows,
- a plurality of first relays, each first relay coupled to each product dispenser in a corresponding row, a plurality of second relays, each second relay coupled to each product dispenser in a corresponding column;
- first means for simultaneously actuating a plurality of first relays, second means for actuating only one of the plurality of second relays at a time;
- and
- means for energizing said first and second means for actuating to simultaneously dispense onto the conveyor belt a product from each of a multiple of product dispensers positioned at multiple row locations along a single column location having an actuated first and second relay.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.