PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PILLS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
First Claim
1. An automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined amount of pills into each of a series of containers, comprising:
- at least one rotary slat, each rotary slat being configured as a cylinder independently rotatable in a rotational direction about a first axis extending longitudinally therethrough and comprising a radially inward portion and a radially outward portion, the radially outward portion defining a plurality of pill apertures therein, each pill aperture being adapted to receive a pill from a plurality of pills disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the respective cylinder, the pills being received by the pill apertures about a first angular position of the at least one rotary slat;
a negative pressure system operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the at least one rotary slat and configured to be in fluid communication with the pill apertures thereof, the negative pressure system being configured to apply a negative pressure to the pill apertures so as to retain the pills therein, as the at least one rotary slat rotates about the first axis;
an ejection device operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the at least one rotary slat and configured to be in communication with the pill apertures thereof at a second angular position, the second angular position being angularly spaced apart from the first angular position in the rotational direction, so as to eject the respective pills from the pill apertures outwardly of the radially outward portion; and
a collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the at least one rotary slat about the second angular position, the collection mechanism being configured to collect the pills ejected from the pill apertures of the at least one rotary slat and to direct the pills toward the series of containers for deposition therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A packaging apparatus and method for depositing pills into a series of containers is provided. A cylindrical rotary slat is rotatable about a first axis and comprises radially inward and outward portions, the radially outward portion defining pill apertures for receiving pills therein at a first angular position. A negative pressure system is configured to apply a negative pressure to the pill apertures to retain the pills therein. An ejection device is in communication with the pill apertures at a second angular position of the rotary slat to eject the respective pills outwardly from the pill apertures. A collection mechanism is disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion about the second angular position, and is configured to collect the pills ejected from the pill apertures and to direct the pills toward the series of containers for deposition therein.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined amount of pills into each of a series of containers, comprising:
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at least one rotary slat, each rotary slat being configured as a cylinder independently rotatable in a rotational direction about a first axis extending longitudinally therethrough and comprising a radially inward portion and a radially outward portion, the radially outward portion defining a plurality of pill apertures therein, each pill aperture being adapted to receive a pill from a plurality of pills disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the respective cylinder, the pills being received by the pill apertures about a first angular position of the at least one rotary slat; a negative pressure system operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the at least one rotary slat and configured to be in fluid communication with the pill apertures thereof, the negative pressure system being configured to apply a negative pressure to the pill apertures so as to retain the pills therein, as the at least one rotary slat rotates about the first axis; an ejection device operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the at least one rotary slat and configured to be in communication with the pill apertures thereof at a second angular position, the second angular position being angularly spaced apart from the first angular position in the rotational direction, so as to eject the respective pills from the pill apertures outwardly of the radially outward portion; and a collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the at least one rotary slat about the second angular position, the collection mechanism being configured to collect the pills ejected from the pill apertures of the at least one rotary slat and to direct the pills toward the series of containers for deposition therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined amount of pills into each of a series of containers, comprising:
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a rotary drum configured as a cylinder rotatable in a rotational direction about a first axis extending longitudinally therethrough and comprising a radially inward portion and a radially outward portion, the radially outward portion defining a plurality of pill apertures therein, each pill aperture being adapted to receive a pill from a plurality of pills disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the rotary drum, the pills being received by the pill apertures about a first angular position of the rotary drum; a negative pressure system operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the rotary drum and configured to be in fluid communication with the pill apertures thereof, the negative pressure system being configured to apply a negative pressure to the pill apertures so as to retain the pills therein, as the rotary drum rotates about the first axis; an ejection device operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the rotary drum and configured to be in communication with the pill apertures thereof at a second angular position, the second angular position being angularly spaced apart from the first angular position in the rotational direction, so as to eject the respective pills from the pill apertures outwardly of the radially outward portion; and a collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the rotary drum about the second angular position, the collection mechanism being configured to collect the pills ejected from the pill apertures of the rotary drum and to direct the pills toward the series of containers for deposition therein. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for depositing a predetermined amount of pills into each of a series of containers, comprising:
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receiving a pill in each of a plurality of pill apertures defined by a radially outward portion of at least one rotary slat, about a first angular position thereof, each rotary slat being configured as a cylinder independently rotatable in a rotational direction about a first axis extending longitudinally therethrough, from a plurality of pills disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the respective cylinder; applying a negative pressure to the plurality of pill apertures with a negative pressure system operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the at least one rotary slat and configured to be in fluid communication with the pill apertures, so as to retain the pills within the pill apertures, as the at least one rotary slat rotates about the first axis; ejecting the pills from the pill apertures at a second angular position of the at least one rotary slat, the second angular position being angularly spaced apart from the first angular position in the rotational direction, and the pills being ejected outwardly of the radially outward portion, with an ejection mechanism operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the at least one rotary slat and configured to be in communication with the pill apertures at the second angular position; and collecting the pills ejected from the pill apertures of the at least one rotary slat, and directing the pills toward the series of containers for deposition therein, with a collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the at least one rotary slat about the second angular position. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for depositing a predetermined amount of pills into each of a series of containers, comprising:
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receiving a pill in each of a plurality of pill apertures defined by a radially outward portion of a rotary drum, about a first angular position thereof, the rotary drum being configured as a cylinder rotatable in a rotational direction about a first axis extending longitudinally therethrough, from a plurality of pills disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the rotary drum; applying a negative pressure to the plurality of pill apertures with a negative pressure system operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the rotary drum and configured to be in fluid communication with the pill apertures, so as to retain the pills within the pill apertures, as the rotary drum rotates about the first axis; ejecting the pills from the pill apertures at a second angular position of the rotary drum, the second angular position being angularly spaced apart from the first angular position in the rotational direction, and the pills being ejected outwardly of the radially outward portion, with an ejection mechanism operably engaged with the radially inward portion of the rotary drum and configured to be in communication with the pill apertures at the second angular position; and collecting the pills ejected from the pill apertures of the rotary drum, and directing the pills toward the series of containers for deposition therein, with a collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the rotary drum about the second angular position. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification