Container filling machine

Abstract

A vibration tray assembly for use in a container filling machine, the vibration tray assembly comprising a tray for transporting discrete articles from a receiving end of the tray towards a drop-off end of the tray, the tray providing a slope along which the discrete articles travel from the receiving end of the tray to the drop-off end of the tray, wherein the tray is adjustable for changing the slope along which the discrete articles travel. The vibration tray assembly further comprises a vibration imparting device for imparting vibrational motion to the tray.

1 . A vibration tray assembly for use in a container filling machine, the vibration tray assembly comprising:
 a. a tray for transporting discrete articles from a receiving end of the tray towards a drop-off end of the tray, the tray providing a slope along which the discrete articles travel from the receiving end of the tray to the drop-off end of the tray, wherein the tray is adjustable for changing the slope along which the discrete articles travel;   b. a vibration imparting device for imparting vibrational motion to the tray.   
     
     
         2 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a tray supporting frame, wherein the tray is pivotally connected to the tray supporting frame along a pivot axis, the tray being adjustable about the pivot axis for changing the slope provided by the tray. 
     
     
         3 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the pivot axis is located in proximity to the drop-off end of the tray. 
     
     
         4 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the tray is adjustable between at least two pre-defined positions in which the tray provides different slopes along which the discrete articles travel. 
     
     
         5 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the tray is adjustable about the pivot axis to provide any slope between substantially parallel to the ground and substantially perpendicular to the ground. 
     
     
         6 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a drive mechanism for tilting the tray about the pivot axis. 
     
     
         7 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a mechanical gear arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises one of a pneumatic and hydraulic piston. 
     
     
         9 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tray is positioned between a discrete article dispensing device and a plurality of pathways leading to at least one container to be filled with the discreet articles. 
     
     
         10 . The vibration tray assembly as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the discrete article dispensing device provides the discrete articles to a preliminary vibration tray, the preliminary vibration tray providing the discrete articles to the receiving end of the tray, wherein at least the preliminary vibration tray is adjustable in height for accommodating adjustments in a position of the tray. 
     
     
         11 . A container filling machine for filling a plurality of containers with discrete articles, the container filling machine comprising:
 a. a vibration tray assembly comprising:
 i. a tray for transporting discrete articles from a receiving end of the tray towards a drop-off end of the tray, the tray providing a slope along which the discrete articles travel from the receiving end of the tray to the drop-off end of the tray, wherein the tray is adjustable for changing the slope along which the discrete articles travel; 
 ii. a vibration imparting device for imparting vibrational motion to the tray; 
   b. a discrete article dispensing device for providing discrete articles to the receiving end of the tray; and   c. a plurality of pathways for receiving the discrete articles from the drop-off end of the tray, the plurality of pathways leading to at least one container to be filled with the discrete articles.   
     
     
         12 . A method for filling at least one container with discrete articles, wherein the discrete articles are transported towards the at least one container via a vibration tray, the method comprising;
 a. determining a characteristic associated with at least one discrete article from a load of discrete articles intended to fill the at least one container;   b. determining, at least in part on a basis of the characteristic, a position for the vibration tray, such that the vibration tray acquires a given slope along which the discrete articles travel from a receiving end of the vibration tray to a drop-off end of the vibration tray, the given slope being one of at least two possible slopes;   c. causing the vibration tray to acquire the given slope.   
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the characteristic comprises one of a weight, a size, a volume, a shape and an identifier of the discrete articles being transported. 
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein causing the vibration tray to acquire the given slope is performed via manual adjustment of the vibration tray. 
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein causing the vibration tray to acquire the given slope is performed via automated adjustment of the vibration tray. 
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein determining the characteristic associated with the at least one discrete articles article from the load of discrete articles comprises receiving, at a processing entity, an input indicative of the characteristic of the at least one discrete article. 
     
     
         17 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the input indicative of the characteristic of the at least one discrete article is provided by a user. 
     
     
         18 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the input indicative of the characteristic of the at least one discrete article is obtained via a sensor, the sensor being in communication with the processing entity and being operative for sensing the characteristic of the at leas tone discrete article. 
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein determining the given slope comprises performing a look-up function in a database on a basis of the input indicative of the characteristic of the at least one discrete article. 
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein determining the given slope comprises executing a pre-established algorithm stored in a memory unit on a basis of the input indicative of the at least one characteristic of the discrete article. 
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein causing the vibration tray to acquire the given slope comprises issuing a signal to a drive mechanism for causing the drive mechanism to cause the vibration tray to acquire the given slope. 
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the given slope is any slope between substantially parallel to the ground and substantially perpendicular to the ground. 
     
     
         23 . A discrete article dispensing device comprising:
 a. a receptacle for holding a load of discrete articles;   b. a dispensing outlet through which discrete articles from the load of discrete articles exit the receptacle, the dispensing outlet defining:
 i. a slot between a first wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device and a second wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device; and 
 ii. a ramp portion that extends past the slot for depositing discrete articles from the load of discrete articles onto a discrete article transporting surface. 
   
     
     
         24 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion supports a weight of the load of discrete articles as discrete articles from the load of discrete articles are exiting the receptacle. 
     
     
         25 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the ramp portion extends at least partially underneath one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion. 
     
     
         26 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the ramp portion defines a slope of between 10-20 degrees in relation to the discrete article transporting surface. 
     
     
         27 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the ramp portion comprises a drop-off end from which the discrete articles drop onto the discrete article transporting surface, the drop-off end being positioned a certain distance from the discrete article transporting surface. 
     
     
         28 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the discrete article dispensing device is movable in relation to the discrete article transporting surface for adjusting the certain distance between the drop-off end of the ramp portion and the discrete article transporting surface. 
     
     
         29 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the certain distance between the drop-off end of the ramp portion and the discrete article transporting surface may be selected at least in part on a basis of at least one characteristic of the discrete articles. 
     
     
         30 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 29 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the discrete articles comprises at least one of a weight, a size, a volume, a shape and an identifier of the discrete articles from the load of discrete articles. 
     
     
         31 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the receptacle is made of stainless steel. 
     
     
         32 . The discrete article dispensing device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the receptacle comprises an opening for receiving the load of discrete articles, the opening being substantially opposite from the dispensing outlet. 
     
     
         33 . A container filling machine for filling a plurality of containers with discrete articles, the container filling machine comprising:
 a. a discrete article dispensing device comprising:
 i. a receptacle for holding a load of discrete articles for filling the plurality of containers; 
 ii. a dispensing outlet through which discrete articles from the load of discrete articles exit the receptacle, the dispensing outlet defining:
 1. a slot between a first wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device and a second wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device; 
 2. a ramp portion that extends past the slot for guiding the discrete articles out of the discrete article dispensing device; 
 
   b. a discrete article transporting surface for receiving the discrete articles from the discrete article dispensing device and for guiding the discrete articles towards the plurality of containers.   
     
     
         34 . A method comprising:
 a. receiving, at a processing entity, a characteristic associated with at least one discrete article from a load of discrete articles, the load of discrete articles being held in a discrete article dispensing device comprising:
 i. a receptacle for holding the load of discrete articles; 
 ii. a dispensing outlet through which the discrete articles from the load of discrete articles exit the receptacle onto a discrete article transporting surface, the dispensing outlet defining a slot between a first wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device and a second wall portion of the discrete article dispensing device, and a ramp that extends past the slot towards the discrete article transporting surface, the ramp having a drop-off end from which the discrete articles are deposited onto the discrete article transporting surface; 
   b. determining, at the processing entity, at least in part on a basis of the characteristic associated with the at least one discrete article, a suitable distance between the drop-off end of the ramp and the discrete article transporting surface;   c. causing the discrete article dispensing device to move in relation to the discrete article transporting surface for acquiring the suitable distance between the drop-off end of the ramp and the discrete article transporting surface.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein receiving the characteristic associated with the at least one discrete article from the load of discrete comprises receiving an input indicative of the characteristic from a user. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the characteristic of the at least one discrete article comprises at least one of a weight, a size, a volume, a shape and an identifier of at least one discrete article from the load of discrete articles. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein receiving the characteristic associated with the at least one discrete article comprises receiving the characteristic from a sensing device in communication with the processing entity, the sensing device being operative for determining the characteristic associated with the at least one discrete article. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein determine a suitable distance between the drop-off end of the ramp and the discrete article transporting surface comprises performing a look-up function in a database on a basis of the characteristic associated with the discrete articles. 
     
     
         39 . The method as defined in  claim 34 , wherein determine a suitable distance between the drop-off end of the ramp and the discrete article transporting surface comprises executing a pre-established algorithm stored in a memory unit on a basis of the characteristic associated with the at least one discrete article. 
     
     
         40 . The method as defined in  claim 34 , wherein causing the discrete article dispensing device to move into a position wherein the suitable distance between the drop-off end of the ramp and the discrete article transporting surface is acquired, comprises issuing a signal to a drive mechanism for causing the discrete article dispensing device to be moved in relation to the discrete article transporting surface. 
     
     
         41 . A container filling machine for filling a plurality of containers with discrete articles, the container filling machine comprising:
 a. a plurality of guiding paths between a discrete article dispensing device and at least one container to be filled;   b. a path blocking device located along each of the plurality of guiding paths at a position prior to the at least one container to be filled, the path blocking device being operative for acquiring a first position in which the path blocking device blocks the passage of discrete articles along the guiding path and a second position in which the path blocking device allows the passage of discrete articles along the guiding path, wherein the movement of the path blocking device between the first position and the second position is controlled via a solenoid device.   
     
     
         42 . The container filling machine as defined in  claim 41 , further comprising a control entity for:
 a. determining, at least in part on a basis of a number of discrete articles that has travelled along the guiding path, whether the path blocking device should be in the first position or the second position; and   b. on a basis of a determining that the path blocking device should be in the first position, supplying electrical current to the solenoid.   
     
     
         43 . The container filling machine as defined in  claim 42 , wherein the determining comprises determining, at least in part on a basis of information received from a counting device, whether a pre-determined number of discrete articles has travelled along the guiding path. 
     
     
         44 . The container filling machine as defined in  claim 43 , wherein the determining comprises determining that the path blocking device should acquire the first position when the pre-determined number of discrete articles has travelled along the guiding path.