Donald C Pretty

US Patent:

60533021, Apr 25, 2000

Filed:

Feb 10, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/247843

Inventors:

Chih-Jen Leu - East Brunswick NJ
Donald R. Pretty - Plainfield NJ
Eric S. Roller - Northampton PA
Stephen Habakus - Easton PA
Mark M. Magasich - Easton PA

Assignee:

Geometric Controls Inc. - Bethlehem PA

International Classification:

B65G 2900

US Classification:

1984711

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.