Patent GB-584227-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for counting tablets and like articles
IPC: G06M7/00
Filed: 1944-12-18
Abstract: 584,227. Delivering articles from hoppers. HURST, J. Dec. 18, 1944, No. 25358. [Class 78 (i)] Means for delivering tablets and other regularly shaped articles includes a shoot formed with channels each of such width as to receive one of the tablets and deliver them in columns, means for holding the tablets in the shoot and releasing them at the will of an operator, means for preventing a tablet from entering the shoot above another, and means for gyrating the shoot rapidly in a more or less horizontal plane. The apparatus is suspended from a hook 113, Fig. 1, on a structure 12 by an inverted U-member 112 which is attached to a crossmember 14 forming part of a gyratory frame. A motor 13 is mounted on the member 14 and a tube 15 depends from its lower side. The lower end of the tube supports a circular casing 17 and cross-members 18, 19. These members are connected bv verti-. cal members 114 to the member 14. A downward extension of the motor shaft passes through the tube 15 and carries an outof-balance weight within the casing 17. The cross-members 18, 19 support the feet of an inclined shoot 23 having sides 24 and a vertical back wall 25, Fig. 2. Extensions 27, 26, Fig. 4, of the sides support a shoot 28 which is inclined in an opposite direction to the shoot 23. Cross-members 130, 131 attached to the structure 12 support a feed hopper 31, Fig. 2, above the shoot 28, the arrangement being such that the bottom 33 of the hopper is disposed at a height above the false bottom 32 of the shoot which is slightly less than the thickness of one of the tablets. The passage of tablets from the hopper is controlled by a pivoted flap 34 which is adjusted by a handle 36 frictionally held by a quadrant 37. The false bottom has apertures 38 which are slightly smaller than a tablet. Broken tablets fall through these apertures and are delivered at the side of the shoot. Unbroken tablets pass on to the shoot 23, set themselves flat and pass along it beneath a guard 44 provided with a number of observation slots 45, 46. The lower part of the shoot is divided into five channels by walls 47 having fianges 48. Each channel is of sufficient length to accommodate twelve or more tablets. The outlets from the channels are closed by pegs 50 which are mounted on a bar 52 and project through slots 51. The bar is mounted on the lower ends of rods 53 which are pivoted at 54 to the bottom of the shoot. Posts 57, Fig. 7, slidably mounted on the bars project upwardly through slots in the shoot and support a bail 58, Fig. 5, which is secured by wing nuts 59. Each nut works on a bolt 61 which has a head 62 embracing the rod 53. The bail carries five spring plungers 60 which press on the tablets when lowered. Brackets 65, Fig. 4, support a spindle 67 carrying a handle 68 and an arm 69. The arm is connected by a spring steel strip 70 to the bar 53. When the handle is raised, the pegs are withdrawn, the plungers 60 are lowered to press gently on the tablets, and the tablets below the plungers slide out to a funnel 75. When the handle is released, a spiral spring 71 returns the parts to their initial positions. Lateral projections (not shown) on the bail provide an alternative position for one or more of the plungers.