Article dispensing – Plural sources – stacks or compartments – Rotatably mounted or endless belt carried source assembly
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-06
2001-01-09
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Article dispensing
Plural sources, stacks or compartments
Rotatably mounted or endless belt carried source assembly
C221S119000, C221S121000, C221S104000, C221S112000, C221S210000, C221S211000, C156S568000, C156S570000, C156S571000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170700
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates in general to an apparatus for positioning leaflets on containers or inserting leaflets inside containers in a production environment. The invention finds applications mainly in the pharmaceutical industry where comprehensive information about the product may be included in each container sold in the market. The apparatus is positioned next to a conveyor system on which containers are transported and then adjusted to either affix leaflets to the outer part of the containers or insert leaflets inside the containers. The apparatus allows easy refilling of leaflets and can be rapidly adapted to dispense leaflets of different sizes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many consumer products, especially pharmaceutical products are required to provide information about the product and/or instructions on the use of the product with each package sold on the market. Square folded leaflets is the most common format for providing that information to the consumer and these may come in a variety of sizes. Leaflets are either inserted into the package or affixed to an outer portion of the package. Many machines have been developed to insert leaflets into containers by means of endless belts with clips which effectively carry and hold the leaflet until it is dumped into the container. Machines designed to affix leaflets to the outer part of a container are not as common and one must look at labeling machines to find devices that produce a similar result. However, labels are usually made of more resilient material than leaflets, are not folded, and one side is often coated with a strong glue. These machines are often complex and require that the container be held firmly when the label is applied to the outer part of the container. Machines designed to both insert leaflets into containers or affix leaflets to the outer part of containers are practically non-existing.
In all machines of the prior art, the mechanisms for feeding leaflets or labels to the dispensing area are unreliable and cumbersome and problems arise during operation. Leaflets may get misaligned or get caught and the production must be stopped to rearrange the stored leaflets. Leaflets are often stored and fed through a cartridge that features spring loaded elements to push the row of leaflets to the dispensing area. Once the cartridge is emptied, it must be replaced and reloaded and this operation may require that the machine be stopped.
Considering the wide application, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, of this type of apparatus, there is a demand for an leaflet dispensing apparatus better adapted to position leaflets either on a container or inside a container, that is compact, easy to operate and reliable.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a leaflet dispensing apparatus specifically adapted to be reloaded with new leaflets in a manner that is quick, simple and reliable.
It is another object of the invention to provide a leaflet dispensing apparatus that can affix leaflets to a plurality of position on a container and that can insert a leaflet inside a container.
It is another object of the invention to provide a simple mechanism for removing leaflets from a stored position and to transport leaflets to the dispensing area.
It is another object of the invention to provide magazines for packing leaflets and for use as pre-loaded cartridge for the production environment.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a leaflet dispensing apparatus comprising:
a main structural body;
a carousel rotatably mounted to said main structural body, said carousel including a plurality of magazines adapted to hold leaflets, each of said magazine having at least one open extremity through which said leaflets may enter or exit, said magazines being disposed in an upright position wherein said at least one open extremity opens downwardly;
a retaining plate positioned below said magazines and adapted to close said at least one open extremity, said retaining plate including an orifice in communicative relation with an intermediate chute;
a dispensing wheel rotatably mounted to said main structural body having an angled peripheral side, said peripheral side including at least one pocket adapted to remove and transport said leaflets, said dispensing wheel in communicative relation with said intermediate chute; and
a dispensing blade adapted to move a leaflet carried by said dispensing wheel towards a container.
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention also provides a leaflet dispensing apparatus adapted to deposit pieces of folded printed matter into or onto small containers in a production line; said apparatus including a support, a main structural body and a revolvable carousel, said carousel being, in operation, adapted to transport a plurality of vertically disposed cartridges; said cartridges being adapted to be filled with said pieces of folded printed matter and to dispense the same by gravity into an intermediate chute; said apparatus further comprising a rotatable dispensing wheel; said dispensing wheel including a plurality of vacuum-actuated pockets about its periphery; each of said pockets being adapted in operation to receive one of said pieces of folded printed matter from said chute; said dispensing wheel being positioned on said apparatus such that each of said pockets is adapted to align one at a time with an exit port of said intermediate chute during rotation of said dispensing wheel; the periphery of said wheel being positioned adjacent a container conveyor and a removal knife such that, in operation, as each of said pockets approaches said conveyor said knife removes said pieces of folded printed matter and deposits it into or onto a container.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the leaflet dispensing apparatus comprises a main structural body on which a carousel, featuring a plurality of magazines each containing a predetermined quantity of leaflets, is mounted. The carousel is in communicative relation with an intermediate chute which enables the transfer of leaflets from a magazine of the carousel to a dispensing wheel located immediately below the intermediate chute. The dispensing wheel is a rotatable disc adapted, in operation, to remove a leaflet from the intermediate chute, to transfer and deliver the leaflet to an oncoming container transported on a conveyor belt. The dispensing wheel features a plurality of pockets each having a small vacuum chamber that creates the necessary suction to remove a leaflet from the intermediate chute and to hold the leaflet during transport to the container traveling on the conveyor belt. To assist in the positioning of the leaflet onto or into the container, a dispensing blade is preferably provided to push the leaflet at the opportune time i.e. when the leaflet is located next to the container. Glue may be applied to the leaflet as the leaflet is being transported by the dispensing wheel or it may be applied to the container itself upstream from the apparatus.
The carousel ensures a steady flow of properly oriented leaflets to the intermediate chute by storing the leaflets in magazines designed specifically to the effect. The carousel is constructed with a central star-wheel in which a plurality of magazines containing leaflets are placed in the upright position at regular intervals. In operation, one magazine is aligned with the intermediate chute in order to transfer its content of leaflets to the intermediate chute. Once a magazine is empty, the carousel rotates in a step-like manner to position the next full magazine in alignment with the intermediate chute. The intermediate chute acts as a buffer zone or reserve from the moment a magazine is empty to the moment a full magazine is brought in alignment with it. Once all the magazines of a carousel are empty, the entire carousel can be replaced quickly and easily with a new carousel carrying full magazines.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to th
Lewis Graham
Pallay Louis
Ellis Christopher P.
Kalish Canada Inc.
Mackey Patrick
Ratner & Prestia
LandOfFree
Leaflet dispensing apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Leaflet dispensing apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Leaflet dispensing apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2536924