Metering system for vial delivery system
AssigneeHumana Inc.
InventorsMichael Mahar, Toan Trinh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated method and system for transitioning a bottle from a horizontal belt conveyor to the entrance of an air conveyor, and vice versa, from an air conveyor to a horizontal belt conveyor. An indexer in a circular arrangement moves around 180 degrees clockwise until the bottle drops into the air conveyor (e.g., pneumatic tube). This motion controls the bottle's movement; otherwise, the bottle would free-fall off the conveyor. The indexer rotary device provides control of the vial transition, keeping it vertical so it goes into the tube in a controlled manner.
Claims27
A system for moving vials along an automated dispensing line, comprising:
- a first horizontal conveyor adapted to move vials in the horizontal direction;
- a first vertical pneumatic conveyor positioned above or below the first horizontal conveyor;
- a first rotating portion comprised of a plurality of apertures disposed in a circular arrangement, each of the apertures adapted to accept and hold one of the vials;
- a motor operationally connected to the first rotating portion for driving the first rotating portion;
- and
- a guide mechanism operationally connected between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor for guiding a vial as it moves between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor;
- and
- wherein the system is adapted to move vials held in each of the apertures of the first rotating portion to the first horizontal conveyor when vials are moving from the first vertical pneumatic conveyor to the first horizontal conveyor and wherein the system is adapted to move vials held in each of the apertures of the first rotating portion to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor when the vials are moving from the first horizontal conveyor to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor by rotating the first rotating portion in a circular direction.
A system for moving vials along an automated dispensing line, comprising:
- a first horizontal conveyor adapted to move vials in the horizontal direction;
- a first vertical pneumatic conveyor positioned below the first horizontal conveyor;
- a first rotating portion comprised of a plurality of apertures disposed in a circular arrangement, each of the apertures adapted to accept and hold one of the vials;
- a motor operationally connected to the first rotating portion for driving the first rotating portion;
- a guide mechanism operationally connected between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor for guiding a vial as it moves from the first rotating portion to the first vertical pneumatic conveyor;
- and
- wherein the first rotating portion is positioned to accept a vial into each of the apertures of the first rotating portion from the first horizontal conveyor as the first rotating portion rotates in a circular direction.
A system for moving vials along an automated dispensing line, comprising:
- a first horizontal conveyor adapted to move vials in the horizontal direction;
- a first vertical pneumatic conveyor positioned above the first horizontal conveyor;
- a first rotating portion comprised of a plurality of apertures disposed in a circular arrangement, each of the apertures adapted to accept and hold one of the vials;
- a motor operationally connected to the first rotating portion for driving the first rotating portion;
- a guide mechanism operationally connected between the first rotating portion and the first vertical pneumatic conveyor for guiding a vial as it moves from the first vertical pneumatic conveyor to the first rotating portion;
- and
- wherein the guide mechanism has a hole for accepting each vial as it drops from an aperture of the first vertical pneumatic conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.