The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1994
Applicant:
Inventor:
Daniel M Dickey, Sedona, AZ (US);
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
198450 ; 1984711 ; 1984811 ; 198958 ;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for singulating individual articles from a group of articles. A rotary vacuum wheel includes a plurality of article pockets in its outer edge periphery. Apertures within each pocket are in communication with a vacuum pump. An article collection bin has a lower discharge port, through which a portion of the wheel periphery passes. The attractive vacuum forces draw individual articles into a respective pocket where they are secured. Continued rotation of the wheel transports the singulated articles to a discharge station, for further processing, such as labeling, counting, or packaging.