Method and apparatus for transporting and processing a plurality of articles, and shaped article having serially registered component images
US6314876A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61J3/007
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for transporting and processing a plurality of articles includes a transport loop including a plurality of carrier bars and a plurality of pockets formed between adjacent ones of the carrier bars. The articles are laterally, longitudinally and rotationally positioned within the pockets at a predetermined position, and at least a first processing station at a first position along the transport loop performs a first operation on the articles while within the pocket in the predetermined position. The articles may be pharmaceutical tablets or capsules and the first processing station may be a drill that drills a series of holes on the pharmaceuticals to create a mechanical time-release mechanism. A second processing station coordinated with the first processing station may perform a second operation on the articles. The first and second processing stations may be first and second printers that print first and second component images in registration with another to form a composite image. The apparatus can be used to manufacture shaped edible articles having a non-planar portion that receive serially registered component images from first and second printers. The first and …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.