Patent ID: 8833604
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: A61J,B65B,B65H,G07F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising: a housing defining a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway; a gate system including a substantially rigid gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway and a flexible spring flap downstream of and adjacent to the gate member, the gate member being selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position; a drive mechanism operable to pass the articles along the dispensing path; wherein, 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; wherein the gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions; and wherein the flexible spring flap biases the gate member toward the closed position and is responsive to a drive gas flow to draw the gate member into the open position.