Patent ID: 8074781

Claim:
A vial sorting apparatus; comprising: a main body structure comprising elongated front and back side members extending substantially parallel to each other between first and second ends, and an end piece extending between and joining said side members at said first end to form a substantially rectangular sorting area therebetween having one open end; a plurality of dividers attached between said front and back side members to form compartments in said rectangular sorting area, said dividers comprising an upwardly extending portion having an aperture formed therein configured to receive a driveshaft therethrough; a driveshaft extending through at least one of said apertures in said dividers; a drive motor attached to an end of said driveshaft and operable to rotate said driveshaft; a plurality of brushes rotatably attached to said dividers such that said brushes are positioned within said compartments, said brushes coupled to said driveshaft such that rotating said driveshaft rotates said brushes within said compartments; at least one agitation conveyor belt extending along a bottom of said rectangular sorting area and operable to transport vials within and between said compartments; and a sorting conveyor belt extending along said bottom of said rectangular sorting area substantially parallel to said agitation conveyor belt, said sorting conveyor belt comprising a plurality of receptacles configured to receive a vial such that said sorting conveyor belt is operable to transport vials in said receptacles from said compartments toward said open end of said sorting area.