Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles

1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a housing defining:

a hopper chamber to hold the articles;

a dispensing outlet; and

a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet; and

a drive system including:

a belt; and

a belt actuator operable to drive the belt;

wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; and

wherein:

the dispensing apparatus is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed;

the dispensing apparatus includes a singulating gate system defining a singulating opening to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed, wherein the simulating gate system is selectively adjustable to change and set at least one dimension of the singulating opening;

the singulating gate system is selectively adjustable to interdependently change and set a width dimension and a height dimension of the singulating opening; and

the dispensing apparatus includes:

a first gate member movable to adjust the width dimension; and

a second gate member movable to adjust the height dimension;

wherein the first and second gate members are linked such that adjustment to one of the first and second gate members automatically adjusts the other of the first and second gate members a corresponding amount.

2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the width dimension to the height dimension is substantially fixed.

3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including a gate actuator operable to adjust the one of the first and second gate members.

4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including:

a gate actuator operable to change the at least one dimension of the singulating opening;

a sensor operative to detect a presence or absence of the articles downstream of the singulating opening; and

a controller configured to control the gate actuator and to programmatically execute a self-calibration mode wherein the gate actuator is operated by the controller to progressively increase the at least one dimension of the singulating opening until an article or articles are detected by the sensor.

5. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the singulating gate system includes a plurality of guide walls collectively forming a guide shroud extending downstream from the singulating opening, the guide shroud defining a guide channel; and

the singulating gate system is configured to automatically adjust at least one dimension of the guide channel in correspondence with adjustment of the singulating opening.

6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein

at least one of the first and second gate members includes an integral baffle portion configured and positioned to direct the articles toward the singulating opening.

7. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the singulating opening is configured to receive the articles therethrough in a prescribed orientation, and the dispensing apparatus includes a redirector feature to reorient the articles into the prescribed orientation upstream of the singulating opening.

8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing apparatus is operable to selectively drive the belt in a reverse direction to convey the articles along the dispensing path away from the dispensing outlet.

9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including an agitation mechanism configured to agitate the articles on the belt.

10. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1 including an active feed control system including an article transport member and a feed actuator to drive the article transport member to transfer articles from the hopper chamber to the belt.

11. The dispensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the article transport member includes a feed wheel.

12. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the active feed control system includes a controller and a sensor to detect articles in a staging area; and

the controller is operative to control the feed actuator to drive the article transport member based on an absence of articles detected by the sensor in the staging area.

13. The dispensing apparatus of claim 11 including an agitation mechanism to agitate articles in the hopper chamber, the agitation mechanism including a movable floor member that is oscillated by the feed wheel when the feed wheel is rotated.

14. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a housing defining:

a hopper chamber to hold the articles;

a dispensing outlet; and

a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet; and

a drive system including:

a belt; and

a belt actuator operable to drive the belt;

wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; and

wherein:

the dispensing apparatus is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed;

the dispensing apparatus includes a singulating gate system defining a singulating opening to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed, wherein the singulating gate system is selectively adjustable to change and set at least one dimension of the singulating opening; and

the dispensing apparatus includes:

a gate actuator operable to change the at least one dimension of the singulating opening;

a sensor operative to detect a presence or absence of the articles downstream of the singulating opening; and

a controller configured to control the gate actuator and to programmatically execute a self-calibration mode wherein the gate actuator is operated by the controller to progressively increase the at least one dimension of the singulating opening until an article or articles are detected by the sensor.

15. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a housing defining:

a hopper chamber to hold the articles;

a dispensing outlet; and

a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet; and

a drive system including:

a belt; and

a belt actuator operable to drive the belt;

wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; and

wherein:

the dispensing apparatus is configured to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed;

the dispensing apparatus includes a singulating gate system defining a singulating opening to singulate the articles as the articles are conveyed along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed, wherein the singulating gate system is selectively adjustable to change and set at least one dimension of the singulating opening;

the singulating gate system includes a plurality of guide walls collectively forming a guide shroud extending downstream from the singulating opening, the guide shroud defining a guide channel; and

the singulating gate system is configured to automatically adjust at least one dimension of the guide channel in correspondence with adjustment of the singulating opening.

16. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a housing defining:

a hopper chamber to hold the articles;

a dispensing outlet; and

a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet; and

a drive system including:

a belt; and

a belt actuator operable to drive the belt;

wherein the dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed; and

wherein:

the dispensing apparatus includes an active feed control system including an article transport member and a feed actuator to drive the article transport member to transfer articles from the hopper chamber to the belt;

the article transport member includes a feed wheel; and

the dispensing apparatus includes an agitation mechanism to agitate articles in the hopper chamber, the agitation mechanism including a movable floor member that is oscillated by the feed wheel when the feed wheel is rotated.