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:
May. 06, 2014
Filed:
Aug. 05, 2008
Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Edward J. Karwacki, Jr., Garner, NC (US);
Jennifer Ann Mauger, Durham, NC (US);
David Alan Calderwood, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Bryan Patrick Farnsworth, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Edward J. Karwacki, Jr., Garner, NC (US);
Jennifer Ann Mauger, Durham, NC (US);
David Alan Calderwood, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Parata Systems, LLC, Durham, NC (US);
Abstract
A chute assembly for an object dispensing apparatus includes: a chute configured at a first end to attach to and convey objects from an object dispenser; a funnel having an inlet that merges with a second end of the chute and an outlet; a door attached to the funnel, the door being movable between a closed position, in which the door covers the funnel outlet and prevents access to objects within the funnel, and an open position, in which the door does not cover the funnel outlet and allows access to objects within the funnel; an object agitation unit configured to agitate objects in the funnel to prevent such objects from jamming in the funnel; and a locking unit associated with the door that prevents the door from moving to the open position without authorization.