Method and apparatus for dispensing items

摘要

An apparatus for dispensing discrete items into a multiplicity of containers such that each of the multiplicity of containers contains at least a predetermined number of items, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor for transporting items from a feeder to a location from which the items fall into the container; a counting mechanism for counting a number of items that have fallen off the conveyor into the container during operation of the conveyor and due to inertial forces after the operation; an actuator for operating or stopping the conveyor in accordance with control commands; and a computing platform for receiving a count from the counting mechanism and generating the control commands to be provided to the actuator.

主权项

1. A method for dispensing discrete items into a multiplicity of containers such that each of the multiplicity of containers contains a predetermined number of items, the method comprising:
operating a conveyor such that items placed on the conveyor fall into a container at least partially in parallel, the conveyor activated for a period of time such that less than the predetermined number of items fall into the container; counting the falling items using a counting mechanism comprising at least three electromagnetic energy sources and at least three receptors, wherein the counting mechanism is arranged such that:
(a) each of the at least three electromagnetic energy sources emits energy in a different direction, and(b) no two of the at least three electromagnetic energy sources emit energy in perpendicular directions; determining a number of missing items in the container after items have fallen into the container during the operation and due to inertial forces after the operation; and operating the conveyor for a pulse duration.