Methods and Apparatus for Dispensing Solid Articles

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a dispensing channel, a housing and an article supply regulation system. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a dispensing path therebetween. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles. The hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel. The housing includes a floor. The article supply regulation system includes a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing: a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region. The first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor. The second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor. The third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing.

1 . An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
 a dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a dispensing path therebetween;   a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles, wherein the hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel, the housing including a floor; and   an article supply regulation system including a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing:
 a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; 
 a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; 
 a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and 
 a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region; 
   wherein:
 the first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor; 
 the second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor; and 
 the third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing; 
 wherein the second and third divider walls slope downwardly in opposite directions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second rear choke passage has a width that is greater than a smallest dimension of a prescribed article. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the third divider wall has an upper surface disposed at an included angle of at least about 30 degrees with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the second divider wall has an upper surface disposed at an included angle of at least about 30 degrees with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a fourth divider wall positioned in the hopper chamber above the second and third divider walls and configured to direct articles onto the second and third divider walls. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a spacing between the first divider wall and the floor is adjustable to adjust the size of the front choke passage. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a spacing between the second divider wall and the floor is adjustable to adjust the size of the first rear choke passage. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including an agitation outlet in the housing and a gas source fluidly connected to the agitation outlet, wherein the agitation outlet is positioned and configured to direct a gas flow from the gas source into at least one of the front region and the first rear region to agitate articles therein. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus includes a drive mechanism operable to pass the articles along the dispensing path and through the inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the drive mechanism includes a flow generator configured to generate at least one drive gas flow to pass articles along the dispensing path and through the inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  including:
 a drive jet outlet; 
 an agitation outlet; and 
 at least one gas source to provide a positive pressure supply gas flow to each of the drive jet outlet and the agitation outlet to provide:
 a pressurized drive jet gas flow through the drive jet outlet to convey articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing path; and 
 a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber. 
 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  configured to generate the drive jet gas flow and the agitation gas flow simultaneously. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further including a second agitation outlet, wherein:
 the first agitation outlet is positioned and configured to direct the first agitation gas flow into the front region to agitate articles in the front region; and 
 the second agitation outlet is positioned and configured to direct a second agitation gas flow into the first rear region to agitate articles in the first rear region. 
 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
 a dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a dispensing path therebetween;   a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles, wherein the hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel, the housing including a floor; and   an article supply regulation system including a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing:
 a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; 
 a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; 
 a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and 
 a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region; 
   wherein:
 the first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor; 
 the second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor; and 
 the third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing; 
 wherein a spacing between the first divider wall and the floor is adjustable to adjust the size of the front choke passage; and 
 wherein the spacing between the second divider wall and the floor is adjustable to adjust the size of the first rear choke passage. 
   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
 a dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a dispensing path therebetween;   a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles, wherein the hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel, the housing including a floor;   an article supply regulation system including a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing:
 a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; 
 a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; 
 a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and 
 a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region; 
   wherein:
 the first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor; 
 the second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor; and 
 the third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing; 
   a drive mechanism operable to pass the articles along the dispensing path and through the inlet, wherein the drive mechanism includes a flow generator configured to generate at least one drive gas flow to pass articles along the dispensing path and through the inlet;   a drive jet outlet;   first and second agitation outlets; and   at least one gas source to provide a positive pressure supply gas flow to each of the drive jet outlet and the first and second agitation outlets to provide:
 a pressurized drive jet gas flow through the drive jet outlet to convey articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing path; and 
 pressurized agitation gas flows through the first and second agitation outlets to agitate articles in the hopper chamber; 
   wherein:
 the first agitation outlet is positioned and configured to direct the first agitation gas flow into the front region to agitate articles in the front region; and 
 the second agitation outlet is positioned and configured to direct a second agitation gas flow into the first rear region to agitate articles in the first rear region. 
   
     
     
         16 . A method for dispensing solid articles, the method comprising:
 providing an apparatus including:
 a dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a dispensing path therebetween; 
 a housing defining a hopper chamber to hold the articles, wherein the hopper chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet of the dispensing channel, the housing including a floor; and 
 an article supply regulation system including a first divider wall, a second divider wall and a third divider wall configured and positioned in the hopper chamber to define, in combination with the housing:
 a front region between the inlet and the first divider wall; 
 a first rear region between the first divider wall and the second divider wall; 
 a second rear region between the second divider wall and the third divider wall; and 
 a third rear region on a side of the third divider wall opposite the second rear region; 
 wherein: 
 the first divider wall forms a front choke passage between the front region and the first rear region and between the first divider wall and the floor; 
 the second divider wall forms a first rear choke passage between the first rear region and the second rear region and between the second divider wall and the floor; and 
 the third divider wall forms a second rear choke passage between the second rear region and the third rear region and between the third divider wall and the floor and/or a side wall of the housing; and 
 
 a drive mechanism including a flow generator configured to generate each of: a forward drive gas flow to force articles in a forward direction along the dispensing path and out of the hopper chamber through the inlet; and 
 a reverse drive gas flow to force articles in a reverse direction along the dispensing path and into the hopper chamber through the inlet; 
   placing the articles in the apparatus such that the articles are disposed in each of the front region, the first rear region, the second rear region and the third rear region and a load of the articles in the third rear region is supported by the third divider wall;   using the drive mechanism, generating the forward drive gas flow to force one or more of the articles in the forward direction along the dispensing path and out of the hopper chamber through the inlet; and thereafter   using the drive mechanism, generating the reverse drive gas flow to force one or more of the articles in the reverse direction along the dispensing path and into the hopper chamber through the inlet;   wherein the first, second and third divider walls are arranged and configured such that the articles that have entered the first rear chamber do not return to the second rear chamber through the first rear choke passage during the step of generating the reverse drive gas flow.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the articles are pharmaceutical articles.