Patent · US Active

Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles

US7832591B2 · kind B2 · utility

28Cited by
67References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 7, 2007
Grant dateNov 16, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 10, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F17/0092
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method is provided for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. The method includes: forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing passage; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.