Device and method for dispensing and packing solid substances

Abstract

The invention relates to a device which accommodates a series of feeder units arranged for selectively discharging an amount of solid substances from one or more feeder units for packing. The device includes a holding device provided with an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane, a collection frame arranged below the holding device including a series of collection trays for capturing discharged solid substances from the feeder units and each collection tray includes an output opening, and a packing unit arranged below the collection frame for collecting the captured solid substances from the output opening of a tray and packing the substances. The collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other. The collection trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to the plane and over a length of at least two of the feeder positions.

1 . A device which accommodates a series of feeder units for solid substances which series is arranged for selectively discharging an amount of said solid substances from one or more feeder units for packing, said device comprising:
 a holding device provided with an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane, wherein the holding device at each of said array of feeder positions is provided with a holder for one of said feeder units and with a through opening for passing discharged solid substances there through,   a collection frame arranged below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other, wherein said collection frame is provided with a series of collection trays, said trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings, wherein said trays comprises a receiving opening at a side facing said holding device for capturing said discharged solid substances and each comprises an output opening, and   a packing unit arranged below the collection frame for collecting the captured solid substances from the output opening of a tray and packing said solid substances.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the collection frame is rotatable around a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis extends substantially perpendicular to said plane. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal direction of said trays is arranged substantially radially with respect to said rotation axis. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said trays extend from a position near the rotation axis to an edge of said holding device. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein a width of said trays increases in a radial outward direction with respect to said rotation axis. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said trays comprise a bottom surface which is arranged to slope down to said output opening. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said output opening is provided with a closing member which is movable into a first position for closing the output opening and into a second position for allowing said solid substances to move out of the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding device is arranged for substantially stationary holding the series of feeder units. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said feeder units of said series each comprises a discharge opening, and wherein said discharge openings of said feeder units, when arranged at corresponding feeder positions, are substantially aligned with a corresponding one of said through openings. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the discharge openings of said feeder units is arranged at substantially the same distance above the receiving opening of the trays. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving opening of a tray extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding device comprises one or more special feeder positions, which are arranged directly above the packing unit for passing discharged solid substances form a feeder unit on the one or more special feeder positions via a corresponding through opening, a corresponding receiving opening and output opening of a tray, directly into the packing unit. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a supply member for supplying one or more feeder units to the device, and a manipulator system to transport at least one of said feeder units from the supply member onto one of said feeder positions on the holding device. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the device comprises a discharge member for removing one or more feeder units from the device, and wherein the manipulator system is arranged for transporting at least one of said feeder units from one of said feeder positions on the holding device towards the discharge member. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the supply member and/or the discharge member comprises a conveyor, preferably a belt conveyor. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the manipulator comprises a robotic arm. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the robotic arm is arranged on said holding device. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the collection frame is rotatable around a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis extends substantially perpendicular to said plane, wherein the robotic arm is arranged on said holding device at or near the rotation axis of the collection frame. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the collection trays is provided with a supplementary sheet which is arranged on at least a part of a bottom wall of said one or more of the collection trays. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein said supplementary sheet is removable and/or disposable. 
     
     
         21 . A method for selectively discharging an amount of solid substances from one or more feeder units from a series of feeder units for packing, said method comprising:
 providing a holding device with the series of feeder units on an array of feeder positions arranged adjacently in a plane, wherein the holding device at each of said array of feeder positions is provided with a holder for one of said feeder units and with a through opening for passing discharged solid substances there through,   discharging a prescribed amount of solid substance from one or more prescribed feeder units towards a collection frame arranged below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other, wherein said collection frame is provided with a series of collection trays, said trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends substantially parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings, wherein said trays comprises a receiving opening at a side facing said holding device for capturing said discharged solid substances in one of said trays, and each one of said trays comprises an output opening, and   moving the captured solid substances from said one of said trays into a packing unit arranged below the collection frame, which packing unit collects the captured solid substances from the output opening of said one of said trays and packs said solid substances.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , said method further comprising providing a recipe to a controller of the device, which recipe comprises the amount and type of solid substance which need to be packed, wherein the controller controls the device to discharge the prescribed amount of solid substance from the one or more prescribed feeder units into a particular collection tray. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , said method further comprising providing a series of recipes to the controller, wherein the controller controls the device to discharge for each recipe of said series of recipes, the prescribed amount of solid substance from the one or more prescribed feeder units into an separate one of said collection trays. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the prescribed amount of solid substance in the separate ones of said collection trays are individually packed in said packing unit.