Apparatus for dispensing solid articles and methods for using same

1. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising:

a manifold assembly including:

a manifold having a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum; and

a door assembly affixed to the manifold, the door assembly including:

a door panel selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port; and

an integral shield defining a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel; and

a dispensing bin having a dispensing bin port, wherein the dispensing bin is configured to be removably mounted on the manifold assembly such that, when the door panel is in the closed position, the door panel restricts airflow through the dispensing bin port, and when the door panel is in the open position, the door panel permits airflow through the dispensing bin port;

wherein the manifold assembly and the dispensing bin are configured such that the shield remains affixed to the manifold when the dispensing bin is removed from the manifold assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the door assembly includes a spring member biasing the door panel into the closed position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the door assembly includes a body and an integral manifold gasket mounted on the body; and

the manifold gasket surrounds the inlet port and forms an airtight seal between the body and the manifold;

wherein the manifold assembly is configured such that the body and the manifold gasket remain affixed to the manifold when the dispensing bin is removed from the manifold assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the door assembly includes a body and an integral door gasket mounted on the body; and

the door gasket surrounds the inlet port and forms an airtight seal between the body and the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position;

wherein the manifold assembly is configured such that the body and the door gasket remain affixed to the manifold when the dispensing bin is removed from the manifold assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the door assembly includes a body defining a hinge channel and having a sealing face;

the door assembly includes a door including the door panel and a pivot rod portion pivotally mounted in the hinge channel to permit the door panel to pivot about a pivot axis between the open and closed positions; and

the hinge channel is oversized relative to the pivot rod portion so that the pivot axis can float fore and aft with respect to the sealing face.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the door assembly includes:

a body having a connector mount portion; and

an electrical connector mounted on the connector mount portion and configured to operatively engage an electrical connector on a dispensing bin.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the dispensing bin includes an actuator;

the door assembly includes an actuator portion connected to the door panel and operable to transition the door panel between the open and closed positions; and

the shield defines a shield passage extending therethrough and configured to receive the actuator when the dispensing bin is mounted on the door manifold assembly such that the actuator can selectively displace the actuator portion to open and close the door panel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the door assembly includes at least one integral manifold guide feature configured to engage the dispensing bin to align the dispensing bin with the manifold assembly.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least one integral manifold guide feature includes a pair of opposed guide features, wherein each of the pair of manifold guide features includes an elongate guide rail or an elongate guide groove.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the door assembly includes a body defining a doorway passage and the shield is integral with the body; and

the manifold guide features are integrally formed in the shield.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the dispensing bin defines a dispensing bin plenum adjacent the dispensing bin port; and

when the dispensing bin is mounted on the manifold assembly, the shield is removably disposed in the dispensing bin plenum.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the door assembly includes a body to which the door panel is moveably coupled; and

the body is affixed to the manifold by fasteners;

wherein the manifold assembly is configured such that the body remains affixed to the manifold by the fasteners when the dispensing bin is removed from the manifold assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 including a vacuum source fluidly connected to the manifold such that, when the door panel is in the open position, the vacuum source is operable to provide a suction flow at the inlet port.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the shield is configured such that, when the door panel is in the open position and received in the pocket of the shield, the shield prevents substantially all of the suction flow through the inlet port from flowing behind the door panel.

15. A method for dispensing solid articles, the method comprising:

providing a dispensing apparatus including:

a manifold assembly, the manifold assembly including:

a manifold having a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum; and

a door assembly affixed to the manifold, the door assembly including:

a door panel selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port; and

an integral shield defining a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel; and

a dispensing bin having a dispensing bin port;

removably mounting the dispensing bin on the manifold assembly;

thereafter selectively moving the door panel between the open and closed positions to control airflow through the inlet port, wherein when the door panel is in the closed position, the door panel restricts airflow through the dispensing bin port, and when the door panel is in the open position, the door panel permits airflow through the dispensing bin port; and

thereafter removing the dispensing bin from the manifold assembly, wherein the shield remains affixed to the manifold when the dispensing bin is removed from the manifold assembly.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the dispensing apparatus includes a vacuum source fluidly connected to the manifold; and

when the door panel is in the open position, the vacuum source is operable to provide a suction flow at the inlet port and the dispensing bin port to induce an airflow through the dispensing bin.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the dispensing bin defines a hopper chamber and contains a plurality of solid articles in the hopper chamber; and

the induced airflow agitates the solid articles in the hopper chamber.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the dispensing bin defines a dispensing channel and contains a plurality of solid articles; and

the induced airflow drives the solid articles from the hopper chamber through the dispensing channel.

19. The method of claim 15 including:

pre-assembling the door assembly as a unit including a body, the shield, and an integral gasket configured to engage the dispensing bin when the dispensing bin is mounted on the manifold assembly and to thereby form an airtight seal between the body and the dispensing bin; thereafter

after the step of pre-assembling the door assembly, mounting the pre-assembled door assembly on the manifold; and thereafter

after the step of mounting the pre-assembled door assembly on the manifold, mounting the dispensing bin on the manifold assembly.

20. An apparatus for dispensing solid articles, the apparatus comprising a manifold assembly including:

a manifold having a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum; and

a door assembly affixed to the manifold, the door assembly including:

a door panel selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port; and

a shield defining a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel;

wherein:

the door assembly includes a body and an integral door gasket mounted on the body;

the door gasket surrounds the inlet port and forms an airtight seal between the body and the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position; and

the door gasket includes:

a first gasket portion configured to form the airtight seal between the body and the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position; and

a second gasket portion configured to engage a dispensing bin when the dispensing bin is mounted on the manifold assembly and to thereby form an airtight seal between the body and the dispensing bin.