BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] This invention relates to material handling and packaging. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for accurately and quickly orienting articles, such as desiccant canisters, for repeatable conveyance.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] Sorbents have been used conventionally in packaging of products to extend the life of those products. In one application, a sorbent is provided in a canister, such as a polymer-based canister, and that canister is placed in a larger container designed to hold some product. This

application is particularly well known in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical arts, in which the sorbent canister is placed in a bottle or vial along with dry pharmaceuticals, such as pills, to absorb any moistu re in the bottle.

[0003] Conventionally, the canisters have been placed in the containers before or after they are filled with the pharmaceutical and either manually or by automated processes. However, the demand for pharmaceuticals has increased immensely. While automated processes to dispense

pharmaceuticals have been re-worked to quicken the dispensing of the pharmaceutical into the container, the ti me it takes to place the canister in the container is too slow. In fact, the act of placing the sorbent canister in the container is one of the slowest processes, and thus slows the entire pharmaceutical packaging system.

[0004] One of the reasons that insertion of sorbent canisters into larger containers is slow is that it is difficult to orient canisters upstream of a dispensing station, so that a steady supply of canisters is available.

[0005] Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved system that quickly and reliably orients sorbent canisters, for example, to prepare them for dispensing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present disclosure addresses the foregoing needs in the art by providing systems and methods for orienting a plurality of like articles, such as sorbent canisters.

[0007] In one aspect, an apparatus for orienting articles includes a bowl having a sidewall and angled relative to horizontal, a disc disposed in the bowl and rotatable relative to the bowl, the disc having a radius proximate its outer periphery defining a groove sized to receive one of the articles in a predetermined orientation, and a diverter for diverting canisters contained in the groove through an outlet in the sidewall of the bowl.

[0008] These and other aspects, features, and benefits of the invention will be appreciated further with reference to the following detailed

description of the invention and accompanying figures, in which preferred embodiments are described and illustrated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a feeder bowl assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.

[001 0] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the feeder bowl assembly illustrated in Figure 1 .

[001 1 ] Figures 3A and 3B are, respectively, side and sectional views of a sorting disc used in the feeder bowl assembly illustrated in Figure 1 .

[001 2] Figures 4A and 4B are, respectively, perspective views of a bowl and a diverter used in the feeder bowl assembly illustrated in Figure 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[001 3] This disclosure relates generally to dispensing articles in a controlled and consistent manner. An exemplary embodiment will be described hereinafter in which the article is a substantially-cylindrical canister containing a sorbent. The invention is not limited to dispensing sorbent canisters. Those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the inventive concepts of this disclosu re may be applied across a number of industries, to dispense any number of differently sized and constituted articles.

[001 4] One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1 , which is a feeder bowl assembly 1 00. In one application, the feeder bowl assembly 1 00 comprises an article supply that acts like a hopper to receive a relatively large quantity of sorbent canisters and orient the canisters for transport via a conduit, such as to an inserting or dispensing station. Thus, the feeder bowl assembly 1 00 is preferably provided with an outlet 1 60 connectable to a conduit or other device that carries the canisters away from the feeder bowl assembly. Although the feeder bowl assembly 1 00 will be described herein as being related to sorbent canister dispensing, it is not limited to that use. The feeder bowl assembly 1 00 may be used with any number of articles in which it is desirable to orient and provide like articles at an outlet of the feeder bowl assembly 1 00.

[001 5] As shown in Figure 1 , the feeder bowl assembly 1 00 generally includes a feeder bowl 1 20 disposed on a base 1 1 0, a sorting disc 1 30, a lid 1 40, and an actuator 1 50. Those components will be discussed below in more detail.

[001 6] The base 1 1 0 includes a pair of angled sides 1 1 2 and a top surface 1 1 4. The angled sides 1 1 2 are disposed on a horizontal surface, and the top surface is fixed to the sides 1 1 2 , to angle the substantially planar top surface 1 1 4, relative to the horizontal. In a preferred embodiment, the top surface 1 1 4 is angled relative to horizontal between about 1 0-degrees and about 1 5-degrees and more preferably about 1 4-degrees. The pu rpose of the angled top surface 1 1 4 will be described in more detail below.

[001 7] The bowl 1 20 generally includes a cylindrical sidewall 1 22 that extends upwardly from the base 1 1 0, terminating at a bowl top 1 24. More specifically, the sidewall 1 22 is disposed on and extends upwardly normal to the top surface of the base. Accordingly, the bowl 1 20 is angled relative to horizontal. The sidewall 1 22 is preferably made of a material such as sheet metal, and is formed into the cylindrical shape.

[001 8] The base 1 1 0 of the feeder bowl assembly is sufficiently rigid to support the sidewall 1 22 of the bowl 1 20. In one embodiment, the base 1 1 0 includes an annular ring 1 1 6 fixed to its top surface 1 1 4 and extending thereabove. The sidewall 1 22 is fixed to an outer surface of the ring 1 1 6, e.g., using conventional fasteners. In another embodiment, a groove may be formed in the top surface of the base approximating the shape of the lower edge of the sidewall. When assembled, the sidewall is contained in the groove and fasteners are used to fix the sidewall relative to the base.

[001 9] The base 1 1 0 also includes a central cutout 1 1 8, which will be described in more detail, below.

[0020] The sorting disc 1 30 is illustrated in Figures 3A and 3 B. As shown, it is cylindrical with an outer edge 1 32 , a planar top surface 1 34 and a planar bottom surface 1 36. The disc 1 30 is sized to be received coaxially inside the cylindrical bowl 1 20, proximate the bottom of the bowl 1 20.

Accordingly, the disc 1 30 is angled with respect to horizontal. The disc 1 30 has a radius that is only slightly smaller than that of the bowl sidewall 1 22. Accordingly, when articles are placed in the bowl, they are retained because they sit on the disc 1 30 and contact the sidewall at the peripheral edges of the disc 1 30. Along the outer edge 1 32 , on the top surface 1 34, the disc 1 30 includes a radius 1 38 formed about its circumference. The radius 1 38 is sized to generally correspond to an outer surface of a canister to be used in the assembly 1 00. That is, the radius 1 38 defines an arc that is approximately the same size as an arc formed by the outer circumference of a sorbent canister. The radius 1 38 cooperates with the sidewall 1 22 of the bowl 1 20 to form a groove that will receive a single canister, on its side, i.e., the canister's longitudinal axis is aligned parallel to the top surface 1 34 of the disc 1 30. That is, the sizing of the radius, together with the spacing of the outer edge 1 32 of the disc 1 30 relative to the sidewall 1 22 of the bowl 1 20 provides a space along the outer periphery of the disc for a single canister to fit, on its side.

[0021 ] In the embodiment of the figures, the radius 1 38 forms the groove, but a radius is not required. Other stepped profiles or any profile having an overall concave shape may alternatively be used, so long as they provide a groove in which the canisters can be properly oriented.

[0022] The actuator 1 50 is disposed on a bottom of the top surface 1 1 4 and is connected to the sorting disc 1 30 to rotate the disc 1 30. In the illustrated embodiment, a mounting flange 1 52 is provided on the body of the actuator 1 50, to connect the actuator to the sorting disc through the base central cutout 1 1 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the disc 1 30 includes a through hole 1 32 through which the shaft of a knob 1 39 passes. In one embodiment, the shaft of the knob threadably engages with a rotating shaft on the actuator 1 50. Other methods of attaching the disc 1 30 to the actuator 1 50 also will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art.

[0023] In operation, a plurality of like-shaped and like-sized canisters are placed into the bowl, on top of the disc. Because the bowl is angled relative to horizontal, gravity will act on the canisters to pull them to the low side of the bowl. The disc rotates, preferably continuously, and as it rotates, canisters filter into the groove created by the radius 1 38 on the disc 1 30 and the sidewall 1 22. Proper sizing of the radius and friction between the disc 1 30 and the canisters retains properly oriented canisters in the groove as the disc rotates. Thus, canisters oriented in the groove are successfully rotated from the low side of the bowl, around the circumference of the bowl. In the illustrated embodiment, the disc rotates counter-clockwise to deliver canisters approximately 270-degrees from the lowest position to an outlet 1 60.

[0024] The outlet 1 60 is illustrated in Figure 4A and 4B and generally includes a diverter wall 1 62, having a generally arcuate lead section 1 62a and a planar section 1 62b. The diverter wall 1 62 is positioned inside the bowl 1 20, above the disc 1 30, such that as canisters approach the diverter, they enter a space defined by the sidewall and the lead section 1 62a.

Continued rotation of the disc, and therefore the canister, causes the canister to contact the planar section 1 62b, which stops the canister from continuing around the bowl. The diverter wall 1 62 is disposed in an opening (not shown) of the sidewall 1 22, through which the canisters are directed by the diverter wall 1 62. The canisters are diverted through an opening 1 66 that may be configured to mate with a conduit, for example, which will deliver the canisters downstream.

[0025] As will be appreciated from the foregoing, canisters randomly placed into the bowl 1 20 will orient properly in the circumferential groove formed by the radius 1 38 and the sidewall 1 22. As the disc 1 30 rotates under the canisters, oriented canisters rotate around the bowl until they are diverted out of the bowl at the outlet 1 60.

[0026] While the canisters will generally orient properly, the feeder bowl assembly also includes provisions to ensure that improperly oriented canisters do not interfere with proper operation. Once such provision includes a series of cutouts 1 72 (two are shown) in the sidewall and a compressed air source 1 74 provided outside the bowl 1 20 blowing air through the cutouts 1 72. The cutouts are at a height of the sidewall that is slightly above a properly oriented canister contained in the groove. Thus, compressed air entering the bowl through the cutouts 1 72 will not affect the properly oriented canister, but will push any canister that is not properly oriented, e.g., because it is standing on end or is on top of a properly oriented canister, toward the center of the bowl. Once in the center of the bowl, the canister will fall back to the bottom and await its next opportunity to enter the groove.

[0027] Figures 1 and 2 also illustrate a rotating mechanism 1 80 that rejects improperly oriented canisters. More specifically, the rotating mechanism 1 80 includes a rotary actuator 1 82 and a star-wheel 1 84 disposed on the shaft of the actuator 1 82. The star-wheel is positioned in the rotational path of the disc 1 30, above the height of properly oriented canisters. Thus, canisters that are not properly oriented, e.g., because they are standing on end or are on top of properly oriented canisters, will be contacted by the rotating star-wheel 1 84 and knocked toward the center of the bowl 1 20.

[0028] Although the illustrated embodiment shows both the

compressed-air and star-wheel provisions for removing improperly oriented canisters, only one of these solutions may be necessary. Other solutions also may be utilized. For example, a physical stop, such as a wall protruding inwardly from the sidewall above the height of a properly-oriented canister may be sufficient to remove any improperly oriented canisters.

[0029] Filling the bowl with canisters may be accomplished through the bowl's open top, but, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, preferably is

accomplished through inlets 1 42 mounted on the lid 1 40. The inlets are preferably fixed over openings formed in the lid 1 40 and have a vertical opening 1 41 through which canisters are inserted into the bowl. An angled top extends from the top of the vertical opening to the radially inner-most portion of the opening in the lid 1 40, although this shape is not necessary. Moreover, although the inlets 1 42 are shown as being two-pieced, with a main body 1 42a and attachable cover 1 42b, they could be a single piece. The illustrated construction is merely for ease of manufacture. Flaps (not shown) or the like may be provided over the vertical openings 1 41 .

[0030] The lid 1 40 is retained on the bowl 1 1 0 to cover the open top of the bowl. Any known mechanism(s) may be used to retain and remove the lid 1 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 1 40 also includes a handle 1 44. A conventional keyed safety switch 1 48 also is provided, to ensure that the lid 1 40 is not unsafely removed, e.g., while the bowl is in operation. The lid may be made from any conventional materials, and in some embodiments is preferably clear such that a user can visually inspect an amount of canisters therein.

[0031 ] The inventors have found that an angle of between about 1 0 and 1 5 degrees relative to horizontal is sufficient to both allow gravity to carry canisters to the low end of the bowl and allow the canisters to stay in the groove as the disc rotates. It is possible, however, that in some instances friction may not be sufficient to retain the canisters in the groove as the disc rotates. For example, if the canisters are specially coated, they may have a tendency to fall back toward the low end of the bowl when the disc rotates, instead of continuing along over the high end of the bowl and out the outlet 1 60. Accordingly, in another embodiment a compressed air nozzle may be provided along the path of the canister, to provide an assisting force to ensure that properly-oriented canisters do not slide back down the groove toward the low end of the bowl. Put another way, the system may be further provided with one or more in-line air jets, to push the canisters

counterclockwise in the groove, toward the outlet.

[0032] In another embodiment, also to combat the issue of canisters slipping back in the groove, the disc is provided with a relatively higher friction surface at the radius. For example, the surface of the radius may be knurled or otherwise textured. Or, an entirely different material, which provides higher friction, may be applied to the radius. For example, a material could be applied by adhesive or the like, and that has a higher coefficient of friction than the disc material. [0033] The feeder bowl assembly described above is particularly useful at orienting generally cylindrical articles, although it could be used to orient other articles, as required. Moreover, the feeder bowl assembly is adaptable to differently-sized articles. For example, the size of the radius in the disc may be altered to create a larger or smaller groove. Moreover, the heights of the star wheel 1 84, air outlets 1 72 and any applicable sensors may also be raised or lowered to accommodate differently sized canisters.

[0034] While the invention has been described in connection with several presently preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention which accordingly is intended to be defined solely by the appended claims.