Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for counting small objects which is capable of accurately and reliably counting large numbers of small objects such as pharmaceutical tablets, capsules, and the like. The device employs linear pickup tubes radially affixed to a rotating collar wherein the tubes have a vacuum applied to them during a prescribed amount of rotation of the collar about a stationary axle. During the period for which a vacuum exists at the tip of a pickup tube, an object to be counted is caused to adhere to the tube end, and is transported into a discharge chute containing an object counter.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 10, 1999
Date of Patent:
April 25, 2000
Assignee:
Geometric Controls Inc.
Inventors:
Chih-Jen Leu, Donald R. Pretty, Eric S. Roller, Stephen Habakus, Mark M. Magasich