Secured cell, rapid fill automated tablet order filling system
US6363687B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S53/90
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention tablet filler device system includes a plurality of individually secured cells with a tablet hopper and drum functionally adapted to regulate and orient gravity outflow of tablets, a gravity feed chute connected to and downstream from the hopper to singularly align and feed tablets, and a rotatable starwheel having slots to receive tablets from the feed chute to move tablets to a container filling substation. There is also a tablet inspection mechanism located on the feed chute to discern quality characteristics of tablets moving down the feed chute in accordance with a predetermined standard, and a tablet ejector to eject unacceptable tablets. A stepper drive motor with a counter capability for driving the starwheel in a step fashion for controlled release of tablets is included, and an optional counting verification sensor. The cells are interconnected for computer controlled automatic order filling for a variety of tablet types and container sizes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.