Vacuum Apparatus and Methods for Handling Pills

• US 20070289660A1
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aylacqco, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aylacqco, LLC
• Inventors: Aylward, John Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/421,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/08 using pocketed conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/18 causing operation of audible or visible alarm signals
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/20 Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles other applications B65B65/08
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/027 Tablets, capsules, pills or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1471 Movement in one direction, substantially outwards

Abstract

A pill handling apparatus having a plurality of rotary slats delivers pills from a reservoir to a number of containers. The rotary slats have receptacles in fluid communication with a vacuum assembly and the pills are drawn into the receptacles by vacuum. The pill may be released into containers by expelled air from a blower assembly. Pills entering containers may be individually counted to assure accurate filling of the containers. A conveyor may position the containers at filling stations to receive pills. The rotary slats may be independently rotatable for delivering accurate pill counts to the containers. Optical devices may inspect the pills as they travel toward the containers.

Claims

1. A pill handling apparatus comprising:

a plurality of rotary slats that are each rotatable about a first axis, each of said rotary slats having an outer surface defining a plurality of receptacles for receiving pills; and

a vacuum assembly disposed in fluid communication with each of said rotary slats and configured to draw air into at least a portion of said receptacles to urge pills to be received by said portion of said receptacles.

2. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of rotary slats is independently rotatable.

3. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outer surface of each of said plurality of rotary slats defines an outer contour sloped toward said receptacles to facilitate the entry of pills into said receptacles.

4. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outer surface of each of said plurality of rotary slats defines a continuous circumferential groove, with said receptacles defined in said groove.

5. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyor configured to move a plurality of open containers along a predetermined path of travel and position each of said containers adjacent a respective rotary slat for receiving pills therefrom.

6. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of optical devices, each optical device positioned adjacent a respective rotary slat for detecting pills received by the receptacles of the rotary slat.

7. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vacuum assembly is configured to selectively draw air into said receptacles according to the rotational position of each rotary slat, such that the pills are urged into said receptacles at a first circumferential position and released from said receptacles at a second circumferential position.

8. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a blower assembly disposed in fluid communication with each of said rotary slats and configured to expel air from a receptacle of each rotary slat to urge pills to be dispensed from said receptacle.

9. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reservoir configured to hold pills in contact with said outer surfaces of said rotary slats for receipt of the pills by said receptacles.

10. A pill handling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the rotation of said rotary slats at dissimilar speeds.

11. A method of handling pills comprising:

disposing a plurality of pills into contact with a plurality of rotary slats, each rotary slat having an outer surface defining a plurality of receptacles for receiving pills;

drawing air into at least a portion of the receptacles such that pills are urged to be received by the portion of the receptacles.

12. A method of handling pills according to claim 11, further comprising rotating the rotary slats independently.

13. A method of handling pills according to claim 11, further comprising rotating the rotary slats at dissimilar speeds such that pills are dispensed from two of the slats at different rates.

14. A method of handling pills according to claim 11, further comprising providing each rotary slat with an outer surface defining a plurality of receptacles for receiving pills and defining an outer contour sloped toward the receptacles to facilitate the entry of pills into the receptacles.

15. A method of handling pills according to claim 11, further comprising providing each rotary slat with a continuous circumferential groove, the receptacles being defined in the groove.

16. A method of handling pills according to claim 11, further comprising moving a plurality of open containers on a conveyor along a predetermined path of travel and positioning each of the containers adjacent a respective rotary slat for receiving pills therefrom.

17. A method of handling pills according to claim 11, further comprising inspecting pills received by the rotary slats using a plurality of optical devices respectively disposed adjacent the rotary slats.

18. A method of handling pills according to claim 11, wherein said step of drawing air comprises selectively drawing air into the receptacles according to the rotational position of each rotary slat, such that the pills are urged into the receptacles at a first circumferential position and released from the receptacles at a second circumferential position.

19. A method of handling pills according to claim 11, further comprising expelling air from a receptacle of each rotary slat to urge a pill to be dispensed from the receptacle.