METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING SOLID ARTICLES
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for dispensing and detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a housing defining a dispensing channel through which articles can travel along a dispensing pathway; and
b) a sensor system including;
a radiation detector positioned along the dispensing pathway; and
a radiation emitter positioned along the dispensing pathway and configured to direct radiation across the dispensing channel and onto the radiation detector;
wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and
wherein the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter.
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Abstract
According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system is provided. The sensor system includes a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector. The radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby. The method includes moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other. According to some embodiments, the solid articles are solid pharmaceutical articles.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing and detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a housing defining a dispensing channel through which articles can travel along a dispensing pathway; and b) a sensor system including; a radiation detector positioned along the dispensing pathway; and a radiation emitter positioned along the dispensing pathway and configured to direct radiation across the dispensing channel and onto the radiation detector; wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and wherein the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for dispensing and detecting solid articles, the method comprising:
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providing an apparatus including; a housing defining a dispensing channel through which articles can travel along a dispensing pathway; and a sensor system including; a radiation detector positioned along the dispensing pathway; and a radiation emitter positioned along the dispensing pathway and configured to direct radiation across the dispensing channel and onto the radiation detector; wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and wherein the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter; and passing the articles along the dispensing pathway such that the articles block radiation from the radiation emitter to the radiation detector as the articles pass along the dispensing pathway. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system, the sensor system including a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector, the radiation detector being operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby, the method comprising:
moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor system including a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector; wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and wherein the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector are mounted for movement relative to the other. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A computer program product for detecting solid articles, said computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising; computer readable program code configured to adjust a radiation output of a radiation emitter to compensate for a change in an amount of radiation incident on a radiation detector from the radiation emitter caused by moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other.
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Specification