Article dispensing and counting method and device
    1.
    发明授权
    Article dispensing and counting method and device 有权
    物品分配和计数方法和装置

    公开(公告)号:US07555362B2

    公开(公告)日:2009-06-30

    申请号:US11442104

    申请日:2006-05-25

    IPC分类号: G06F17/00

    摘要: One embodiment of the present invention includes a system comprising a housing having an upper end and a lower end. The housing carries a plurality of movable blades defining an entry aperture proximate to the upper end, an exit aperture proximate to the lower end, and a chamber there between. An adapter may be provided for connection to the housing and for receiving an article storage container. The upper end of the housing carries a sensor responsive to the presence and absence of the article storage container. A memory device carries information about the presence and absence of the article storage container. An article determining and actuating station has electronics for interrogating the memory device, for controlling the plurality of blades and for determining the number of items dispensed. A receptacle collects articles that have been dispensed. Methods of associating a flow control device with an article storage container and of dispensing items are also disclosed.

    摘要翻译: 本发明的一个实施例包括一种包括具有上端和下端的壳体的系统。 壳体承载多个可动叶片,其限定靠近上端的入口孔,靠近下端的出口孔以及其间的室。 可以提供用于连接到壳体并用于接收物品储存容器的适配器。 壳体的上端承载响应于物品存储容器的存在和不存在的传感器。 存储装置携带关于物品存储容器的存在和不存在的信息。 物品确定和致动站具有用于询问存储装置的电子装置,用于控制多个叶片并确定分配的物品的数量。 容器收集已分配的物品。 还公开了将流量控制装置与物品储存容器和分配物品相关联的方法。

    Article dispensing and counting method and device

    公开(公告)号:US20060224274A1

    公开(公告)日:2006-10-05

    申请号:US11442104

    申请日:2006-05-25

    IPC分类号: G06F17/00

    摘要: One embodiment of the present invention includes a system comprising a housing having an upper end and a lower end. The housing carries a plurality of movable blades defining an entry aperture proximate to the upper end, an exit aperture proximate to the lower end, and a chamber there between. An adapter may be provided for connection to the housing and for receiving an article storage container. The upper end of the housing carries a sensor responsive to the presence and absence of the article storage container. A memory device carries information about the presence and absence of the article storage container. An article determining and actuating station has electronics for interrogating the memory device, for controlling the plurality of blades and for determining the number of items dispensed. A receptacle collects articles that have been dispensed. Methods of associating a flow control device with an article storage container and of dispensing items are also disclosed.

    Embedded imaging and control system
    3.
    发明授权
    Embedded imaging and control system 有权
    嵌入式成像和控制系统

    公开(公告)号:US08121392B2

    公开(公告)日:2012-02-21

    申请号:US10972492

    申请日:2004-10-25

    IPC分类号: G06K9/00

    摘要: A stand alone imaging system is disclosed that captures undistorted, high resolution, stop-action images of objects (e.g., medicine pills) moving at automation speeds, processes the images in real time, and then performs real-time I/O based control that is a function of the image processing results. The imaging system has a form factor that enables it to be embedded inside a product (e.g., a pill dispenser). The imaging system also has a flexible I/O system so that a variety of different applications can be handled by changing only the programming and the external hardware connected to the device in which the imaging system is embedded. In the case of pill dispensing and quality control, a miniature, low cost imaging system can be embedded in a pill dispenser to obtain a pill image and then process the image in real time as the pill moves through a counting system. The embedded imaging system processes the images fast enough and with sufficient quality and resolution so as to command a pill counting mechanism to dispense or reject the pill based on the image processing results. Images of the pills can also be sent to a remote location or an archive. The embedded imaging system has sufficient processing power and I/O to control the entire pill counting mechanism. Lighting may be provided by a separate solid state lighting source which may be controlled by the embedded imaging system's camera or operated independently. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

    摘要翻译: 公开了一种独立成像系统,其捕获以自动化速度移动的物体(例如药丸)的无失真,高分辨率,停止动作图像,并且实时地执行图像,然后执行基于实时I / O的控制, 是图像处理结果的函数。 成像系统具有使其能够嵌入产品(例如,药丸分配器)内的形状因子。 成像系统还具有灵活的I / O系统,以便通过仅改变连接到嵌入成像系统的设备的编程和外部硬件来处理各种不同的应用。 在药丸分配和质量控制的情况下,可以将小型,低成本的成像系统嵌入药丸分配器中以获得丸剂图像,然后随着药丸通过计数系统而实时处理图像。 嵌入式成像系统以足够的质量和分辨率处理图像,从而根据图像处理结果命令药丸计数机制来分配或拒绝药片。 药片的图像也可以发送到远程位置或存档。 嵌入式成像系统具有足够的处理能力和I / O来控制整个药丸计数机制。 照明可以由单独的固态照明源提供,其可以由嵌入式成像系统的相机控制或独立操作。 由于管理摘要的规则,本摘要不应用于解释索赔。

    Embedded imaging and control system
    4.
    发明申请
    Embedded imaging and control system 有权
    嵌入式成像和控制系统

    公开(公告)号:US20060088196A1

    公开(公告)日:2006-04-27

    申请号:US10972492

    申请日:2004-10-25

    IPC分类号: G06K9/00

    摘要: A stand alone imaging system is disclosed that captures undistorted, high resolution, stop-action images of objects (e.g., medicine pills) moving at automation speeds, processes the images in real time, and then performs real-time I/O based control that is a function of the image processing results. The imaging system has a form factor that enables it to be embedded inside a product (e.g., a pill dispenser). The imaging system also has a flexible I/O system so that a variety of different applications can be handled by changing only the programming and the external hardware connected to the device in which the imaging system is embedded. In the case of pill dispensing and quality control, a miniature, low cost imaging system can be embedded in a pill dispenser to obtain a pill image and then process the image in real time as the pill moves through a counting system. The embedded imaging system processes the images fast enough and with sufficient quality and resolution so as to command a pill counting mechanism to dispense or reject the pill based on the image processing results. Images of the pills can also be sent to a remote location or an archive. The embedded imaging system has sufficient processing power and I/O to control the entire pill counting mechanism. Lighting may be provided by a separate solid state lighting source which may be controlled by the embedded imaging system's camera or operated independently. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

    摘要翻译: 公开了一种独立成像系统,其捕获以自动化速度移动的物体(例如药丸)的无失真,高分辨率,停止动作图像,并且实时地执行图像,然后执行基于实时I / O的控制, 是图像处理结果的函数。 成像系统具有使其能够嵌入产品(例如,药丸分配器)内的形状因子。 成像系统还具有灵活的I / O系统,以便通过仅改变连接到嵌入成像系统的设备的编程和外部硬件来处理各种不同的应用。 在药丸分配和质量控制的情况下,可以将小型,低成本的成像系统嵌入药丸分配器中以获得丸剂图像,然后随着药丸通过计数系统而实时处理图像。 嵌入式成像系统以足够的质量和分辨率处理图像,从而根据图像处理结果命令药丸计数机制来分配或拒绝药片。 药片的图像也可以发送到远程位置或存档。 嵌入式成像系统具有足够的处理能力和I / O来控制整个药丸计数机制。 照明可以由单独的固态照明源提供,其可以由嵌入式成像系统的相机控制或独立操作。 由于管理摘要的规则,本摘要不应用于解释索赔。

    Vacuum based pill singulator and counter based thereon
    5.
    发明授权
    Vacuum based pill singulator and counter based thereon 有权
    基于真空的药丸分选机及其计数器

    公开(公告)号:US08348094B2

    公开(公告)日:2013-01-08

    申请号:US11936234

    申请日:2007-11-07

    IPC分类号: G07F11/00

    摘要: A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the discs rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated. The paddles aid in the pickup and agitation of the items while the vacuum management system conserves the vacuum capacity necessary to pickup and singulate items. The RFID tags may contain information such as the number of items left in the hopper, a par level for that item, an expiration date, among others. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

    摘要翻译: 由壳体承载的单片盘在其周边周围具有多个开口。 盘通过壳体承载的料斗的拾取室垂直转动。 通过连接到盘的泵将真空拉过开口。 物品放在料斗中,并通过重力落到料斗的底部,在其底部接触旋转盘的周边。 开口处的真空附着物品并在盘旋转时保持物品。 在盘旋转的顶部,转向器根据片段检测和/或计数机制的结果将物品引导到路径中。 通过分流器允许通过的物品由刮刀从盘片上刮掉到另一条路径上。 负压用于对没有校准的物品的大小和形状进行分组和计数。 可以采用伸缩桨,真空管理系统和RFID标签。 桨叶有助于物品的拾取和搅动,而真空管理系统可以节省拾取和分割物品所需的真空容量。 RFID标签可能包含信息,例如料斗中留下的物品数量,该物品的标准水平,到期日期等。 由于管理摘要的规则,本摘要不应用于解释索赔。

    Vacuum based pill singulator and counter based thereon
    6.
    发明授权
    Vacuum based pill singulator and counter based thereon 有权
    基于真空的药丸分选机及其计数器

    公开(公告)号:US08020724B2

    公开(公告)日:2011-09-20

    申请号:US10972556

    申请日:2004-10-25

    IPC分类号: B65G59/04 B65H3/08 G07F11/00

    摘要: A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the disc's rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated. The paddles aid in the pickup and agitation of the items while the vacuum management system conserves the vacuum capacity necessary to pickup and singulate items. The RFID tags may contain information such as the number of items left in the hopper, a par level for that item, an expiration date, among others. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

    摘要翻译: 由壳体承载的单片盘在其周边周围具有多个开口。 盘通过壳体承载的料斗的拾取室垂直转动。 通过连接到盘的泵将真空拉过开口。 物品放在料斗中,并通过重力落到料斗的底部,在其底部接触旋转盘的周边。 开口处的真空附着物品并在盘旋转时保持物品。 在光盘旋转的顶部,分流器根据片段检测和/或计数机制的结果将物品引导到路径中。 通过分流器允许通过的物品由刮刀从盘片上刮掉到另一条路径上。 负压用于对没有校准的物品的大小和形状进行分组和计数。 可以采用伸缩桨,真空管理系统和RFID标签。 桨叶有助于物品的拾取和搅动,而真空管理系统可以节省拾取和分割物品所需的真空容量。 RFID标签可能包含信息,例如料斗中留下的物品数量,该物品的标准水平,到期日期等。 由于管理摘要的规则,本摘要不应用于解释索赔。

    Vacuum Based Pill Singulator and Counter Based Thereon
    7.
    发明申请
    Vacuum Based Pill Singulator and Counter Based Thereon 有权
    基于真空的药丸搅拌机及其计数器

    公开(公告)号:US20080061074A1

    公开(公告)日:2008-03-13

    申请号:US11936234

    申请日:2007-11-07

    IPC分类号: G07F11/00

    摘要: A singulating disc, carried by a housing, has a plurality of openings around its periphery. The disc rotates vertically through a pickup chamber of a hopper carried by the housing. A vacuum is pulled through the openings by a pump which is connected to the disc. Items are placed in the hopper and, via gravity, fall to the bottom of the hopper where they contact the periphery of the rotating disc. The vacuum at the openings attaches an item and holds it while the disc rotates. At the top of the discs rotation, a diverter directs the item into a path depending on the results of a fragment detection and/or counting mechanism. Items that are allowed to pass by the diverter are scraped off the disc into another path by a scraper. Negative pressure is used to singulate and count a multitude of sizes and shapes of items with no calibration. Retractable paddles, a vacuum management system, and RFID tags may be incorporated. The paddles aid in the pickup and agitation of the items while the vacuum management system conserves the vacuum capacity necessary to pickup and singulate items. The RFID tags may contain information such as the number of items left in the hopper, a par level for that item, an expiration date, among others. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

    摘要翻译: 由壳体承载的单片盘在其周边周围具有多个开口。 盘通过壳体承载的料斗的拾取室垂直转动。 通过连接到盘的泵将真空拉过开口。 物品放在料斗中,并通过重力落到料斗的底部,在其底部接触旋转盘的周边。 开口处的真空附着物品并在盘旋转时保持物品。 在盘旋转的顶部,转向器根据片段检测和/或计数机制的结果将物品引导到路径中。 通过分流器允许通过的物品由刮刀从盘片上刮掉到另一条路径上。 负压用于对没有校准的物品的大小和形状进行分组和计数。 可以采用伸缩桨,真空管理系统和RFID标签。 桨叶有助于物品的拾取和搅动,而真空管理系统可以节省拾取和分割物品所需的真空容量。 RFID标签可能包含信息,例如料斗中留下的物品数量,该物品的标准水平,到期日期等。 由于管理摘要的规则,本摘要不应用于解释索赔。