Mark Francis Ford

US Patent:

8373081, Feb 12, 2013

Filed:

May 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/149140

Inventors:

E. Michael Ackley - Mannington NJ, US
Mark Ford - Deptford NJ, US

Assignee:

Ackley Machine Corporation - Moorestown NJ

International Classification:

B07C 5/342

US Classification:

209580, 209587, 209643, 209938

Abstract:

An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.

US Patent:

8381896, Feb 26, 2013

Filed:

Apr 13, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/662373

Inventors:

E. Michael Ackley - Mannington NJ, US
Mark Ford - Deptford NJ, US

Assignee:

Ackley Machine Corporation - Moorestown NJ

International Classification:

B07C 5/344
B65G 43/00

US Classification:

198340, 1984741, 209576

Abstract:

A conveyer apparatus for transporting and processing tablets includes a conveyer and an ejection system. Each of the tablets includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a belly band that interconnects the first and second sides. The conveyer includes a plurality of carrier links to convey a plurality of tablets along a predetermined conveyer path. Each carrier link has a pocket to receive and transport a tablet in a vertical orientation along the predetermined conveyer path. The ejection system is structured to selectively accept or eject a tablet from the carrier link in response to a signal provided by a sensor positioned upstream of the ejection system. The ejection system includes at least one ejection finger movable between a non-ejection position in which the ejection finger is positioned out of the conveyer path of the carrier link and an ejection position in which the ejection finger is positioned with respect to the carrier link to contact and eject the tablet from the carrier link. At least a portion of the ejection finger defines a width that is smaller than a tablet width of the tablet and larger than a link width of the carrier link.