US 12,293,624 B2
Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles
Steven Paul Bouchelle, Raleigh, NC (US); Mark I. Perisich, Raleigh, NC (US); Eric X. Bonpain, Cary, NC (US); and Michael Richard Floyd, Wake Forest, NC (US)
Assigned to PARATA SYSTEMS, LLC, Durham, NC (US)
Filed by Parata Systems, LLC, Durham, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/159,250.
Application 18/159,250 is a division of application No. 16/749,227, filed on Jan. 22, 2020, granted, now 11,594,094.
Prior Publication US 2023/0169817 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. G07F 11/26 (2006.01); A61J 7/00 (2006.01); A61J 7/02 (2006.01); G07F 11/42 (2006.01); G07F 11/58 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 11/26 (2013.01) [A61J 7/0084 (2013.01); A61J 7/02 (2013.01); G07F 11/42 (2013.01); G07F 11/58 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles, the dispensing apparatus comprising:
a dispensing outlet;
laterally opposed first and second inner engagement surfaces, wherein the first and second inner engagement surfaces are elongate and define a singulating channel therebetween;
a dispensing path extending through the singulating channel to the dispensing outlet; and
a drive system including:
a belt including a belt surface defining a belt plane; and
a belt actuator operable to drive the belt;
wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured to convey articles on the belt in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed;
wherein the singulating channel is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path and through the singulating channel toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; and
wherein the first inner engagement surface extends laterally across a portion of the singulating channel and is tilted at an oblique angle to the belt plane such that the first inner engagement surface overhangs at least a portion of the singulating channel and a normal of the first inner engagement surface is inclined downward, to engage articles conveyed along the singulating channel.