# US 8,464,899 B2 · Zero cross-contamination collector

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- Number: US 8,464,899 B2
- Document ID: US8464899B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/345,616
- Filed: 2008-12-29
- Published: 2009-08-06
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-12-27
- Assignees: Talyst Inc.
- Applicants: Darcy O. Clarke; Geoffrey H. Wathen
- Inventors: Darcy O. Clarke; Geoffrey H. Wathen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464899B2

## CPC

- B65B 35/06: Separating single articles from loose masses of articles
- B65B 35/12: by gravity
- B65B 39/007: {Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers}
- G07F 11/005: {Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time}
- G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)}
- B65B 5/103: {for packaging pills or tablets}
- B65B 2039/009: {Multiple outlets}
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- 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

The present disclosure provides a collection device having a base with at least first and second openings and at least first and second collector tubes in communication with the at least first and second openings in the base. The collector tubes each have a curvature configured to define a trajectory path for an object descending in the collector tube toward a common target region below the collection device. The collector tubes are configured to be placed into communication with corresponding unique transport tubes/channels/paths, etc., originating at a singulating device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A collection device, comprising:
(a) a base having a center, an outer circumference, and a plurality of openings formed within the base, with at least a portion of the plurality of openings located near the center of the base and at least a portion of the plurality of openings located near the outer circumference of the base;
(b) a plurality of collector tubes, each collector tube in communication with one of the plurality of openings in the base, the collector tubes each having a radius of curvature and a length, wherein the collector tubes in communication with the openings located near the outer circumference of the base have a greater radius of curvature and a greater length than the collector tubes in communication with the openings located near the center of the base such that the ends of the collector tubes cooperatively define a substantially hemispherical interior cavity and each collector tube defines a trajectory path for an object descending in the collector tube toward a common target region located substantially below the center of the base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The collection device of claim 1, wherein the base is substantially hemispherical in shape to help define the interior substantially hemispherical cavity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The collection device of claim 1, wherein an intermediate collection device of a dispensing mechanism is positionable below the target region to receive the objects as they are ejected from the collector tubes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The collection device of claim 1, wherein the openings in the base are formed in a pattern of concentric circles.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The collection device of claim 1, wherein each tube is in communication with a transport tube of a dispensing device to define an enclosed pathway between the collector tube and the transport tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The collection device of claim 5, wherein each transport tube is configured to transport one of a plurality of objects.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The collection device of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of objects is a type of oral solid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The collection device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor assembly for detecting an object when it is ejected from the collector tube.