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:
Jun. 18, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 06, 2009
Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Garner, NC (US);
Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Dennis Vaders, Elkin, NC (US);
John Richard Sink, Raleigh, NC (US);
Jody Dumond, Fairfax, VA (US);
Daniel Gardiner, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Edward Joseph Karwacki, Jr., Garner, NC (US);
Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Dennis Vaders, Elkin, NC (US);
John Richard Sink, Raleigh, NC (US);
Jody DuMond, Fairfax, VA (US);
Daniel Gardiner, Wake Forest, NC (US);
PARATA Systems, LLC, Durham, NC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.