Indexing and feeding systems for apparatus for gelatin coating tablets
US5538125A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61J2205/20
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for applying coating to products such as medicaments are disclosed. The present invention provides apparatus and methods for controlling the loading and feeding of tablets onto carrier plates for transfer to various processing stations of the coating system. A novel plate indexing apparatus includes a box cam follower device mounted to an engagement bar for incrementally advancing the plates in a precisely controlled manner. A second complementary shaped engagement bar provides a locking mechanism to ensure the plates are always under positive control. In one embodiment the plate indexing apparatus also controls the feeding of the tablets. An alternative embodiment includes a vacuum pick-up system for feeding tablets onto the carrier plates as the plates are incrementally advanced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.