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US 5,531,312 AGranted
Apparatus and method for singulating articles
OwnerDaniel M. Dickeyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for singulating individual articles from a group of articles. A rotary vacuum wheel includes a plurality of article pockets in its outer edge periphery. Apertures within each pocket are in communication with a vacuum pump. An article collection bin has a lower discharge port, through which a portion of the wheel periphery passes. The attractive vacuum forces draw individual articles into a respective pocket where they are secured. Continued rotation of the wheel transports the singulated articles to a discharge station, for further processing, such as labeling, counting, or packaging.
Claims16
An apparatus for singulating articles having an axis, comprising:
- a. an article hopper for confining a plurality of the articles, said hopper having opposing front and rear walls, opposing side walls spanning said front and rear walls, an upper inlet port, and a lower discharge port, said lower discharge port having a width between an entry side and an exit side sufficient to accommodate at least two articles therein with their axes parallel to said side walls;
- b. a rotary wheel, having a peripheral, outer edge portion thereof, rotating through said lower discharge port from said entry side to said exit side, thereof, said wheel having at least one article pocket along said peripheral edge portion, said pocket having at least one aperture therein;
- c. vacuum means, operably connected to said aperture, at least when said article pocket is passing through said lower discharge port, for capturing a respective one of the articles within the pocket;
- d. an article separator foot within said exit side of said lower discharge port, said foot having a leading end portion directed toward said entry side and having a bottom portion spaced from said wheel so as to allow an article captured within a pocket to pass therebetween.
1 more element
A method for singulating articles, having a longitudinal axis and sidewalls, comprising the steps of:
- a. arranging a plurality of articles in a group with their adjacent sidewalls in substantially contingent relation and their respective axes parallel;
- b. providing a discharge zone along one side of said group, including at least two of the articles therein;
- c. providing a rotary wheel having at least one article pocket on its outer periphery, and continuously rotating said wheel with said outer periphery passing through said discharge zone;
- d. providing an article separator foot within said discharge zone, said foot having a leading end portion oriented in a direction against the continuous direction of rotation of said wheel, said foot having a bottom portion spaced from said wheel so as to allow an article captured within said pocket to pass therebetween;
- e. providing vacuum within said article pocket as it passes through said discharge zone, the vacuum and pocket capturing one of the two articles in said discharge zone;
- and,
- f. transporting the captured article through an arcuate path defined by the rotation of said rotary wheel, to an article discharge station.
4 more elements
An apparatus for singulating articles having an axis, comprising:
- a. an article hopper for confining a plurality of the articles, said hopper having opposing front and rear walls, opposing side walls spanning said front and rear walls, an upper inlet port, and a lower discharge port, said lower discharge port having a width between an entry side and an exit side sufficient to accommodate at least two articles therein with their axes parallel to said side walls;
- b. a rotary wheel, having a peripheral, outer edge portion thereof, rotating through said lower discharge port from said entry side to said exit side, thereof, said wheel having at least one article pocket along said peripheral edge portion, said pocket having at least one aperture therein;
- c. vacuum means, operably connected to said aperture, at least when said article pocket is passing through said lower discharge port, for capturing a respective one of the articles within the pocket;
- d. an article separator foot within said exit side of said lower discharge port, said foot having a leading end portion directed toward said entry side and having a bottom portion spaced from said wheel so as to allow an article captured within said pocket to pass therebetween;
- and,
- e. an arcuate article guide, said guide having an entry end and an exit end, said entry end of said article guide being adjacent a trailing end portion of said article separator foot, said article guide further being concentric with said rotary wheel and spaced a predetermined distance from its outer periphery so as to confine an article captured within said pocket.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.