SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PACKAGING SOLID PHARMACEUTICAL AND/OR NUTRACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AND AUTOMATICALLY ALTERING A RANDOM THREE DIMENSIONAL ARRANGEMENT OF SOLID PHARMACEUTICAL AND NUTRACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO TWO DIMENSIONAL ARRANGEMENTS OR LINEAR TRANSMISSION CHANNELS
First Claim
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1. A system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products comprising:
- a housing having a linear opening in a bottom portion thereof and a plurality of solid products located within the housing in a random three-dimensional orientation, the linear opening being more than three times longer than a greatest dimension of the solid products contained within the housing;
a first vertically displaceable straight edge located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion;
a drive mechanism for periodically vertically displacing the straight edge into the random three-dimensional orientation of solid products.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for altering a random three-dimensional orientation of solid pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products into either a two-dimensional arrangement of solid products or for transferring the solid products directly into one or more linear transmission channels. At least one elongated straight edge member is periodically vertically displaced into the mass of solid products and the displacement of this straight edge structure alone or in combination with other rotating or displaceable structures facilitate reorientation of the solid products.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products comprising:
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a housing having a linear opening in a bottom portion thereof and a plurality of solid products located within the housing in a random three-dimensional orientation, the linear opening being more than three times longer than a greatest dimension of the solid products contained within the housing;
a first vertically displaceable straight edge located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion;
a drive mechanism for periodically vertically displacing the straight edge into the random three-dimensional orientation of solid products. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16)
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9. A method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products comprising:
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providing a plurality of solid products in a housing having a linear opening in a bottom portion thereof the solid products located within the housing in a random three-dimensional orientation, the linear opening being more than three times longer than a greatest dimension of the solid products contained within the housing;
vertically displacing a straight edge member into the random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products, wherein the straight edge is located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion; and
periodically vertically displacing the straight edge into the random three-dimensional orientation of solid products to thereby facilitate transfer of the solid products from the random three-dimensional orientation into a space below the linear opening. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification