Material orientation and printing apparatus and method

US4266478A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• E. Michael Ackley · Moorestown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 9, 1979
• Grant date: May 12, 1981
• Expiry date: Aug 9, 1999

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61J3/074
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus and process for transporting, orienting and printing indicia upon materials which have dissimilar ends, like capsules, in a predetermined orientation and position. The apparatus includes three rotatable drums in tangential arrangement. The first two drums each include a plurality of peripherally spaced pockets sized and shaped to receive and carry individual capsules. Means are provided for each drum to orient certain preselected capsules from a radial to a longitudinal position with a selected end trailing. The so-oriented capsules are then delivered to the third drum for further processing, like printing, such as spin-printing. Means are provided to receive the longitudinally oriented capsules from the second drum in a longitudinal orientation, and to rotate the capsules from the longitudinal to a transverse orientation, whereupon selected indicia may be applied to the capsules. The third drum including the printing means is also capable of use alone, separate from the first two drums, to apply indicia to a variety of materials or bodies having both similar and dissimilar ends, e.g. capsules, pellets or tablets. Printing is preferably accomplished using a spin printi…