Method and apparatus for transporting caplets

• US 20100252401A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
• Inventors: Ackley, E. Michael JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,141,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/617
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/44 by means excluding relative movements

Abstract

A carrier bar for conveying at least one caplet along a predetermined conveyer path includes at least one pocket adapted to receive a caplet. Each pocket includes a longitudinal axis that is angled or offset from a direction of travel of the carrier bar in use. Each caplet includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a belly band that interconnects the first and second sides.

Claims

1. A carrier bar for conveying at least one caplet along a predetermined conveyer path, each caplet including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a belly band that interconnects the first and second sides, the carrier bar comprising:

at least one pocket adapted to receive a caplet, each pocket including a longitudinal axis that is angled or offset from a direction of travel of the carrier bar in use.

2. A carrier bar according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the pocket is angled or offset from a transverse axis of the carrier bar.

3. A carrier bar according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the pocket is oriented about 5-70°

from the direction of travel.

4. A carrier bar according to claim 1, wherein the pocket is shaped or contoured to substantially match the shape of the belly band and one side of the caplet.

5. A carrier bar according to claim 4, wherein the pocket allows the other side of the caplet to extend from an upper exterior surface of the carrier bar in use.

6. A carrier bar according to claim 1, further comprising a lead-in surface provided to an upper exterior surface of the carrier bar that extends in leading edges of the pocket.

7. A carrier bar according to claim 6, wherein the lead-in surface includes a general sector shape when viewed from above.

8. A carrier bar according to claim 6, wherein the lead-in surface provides a ramped or declined surface into the pocket.

9. A carrier bar according to claim 8, wherein the lead-in surface includes a ramp angle of about 5-50°

.

10. A carrier bar according to claim 1, wherein the pockets are oriented or angled in the same direction along a length of the carrier bar.

11. A carrier bar according to claim 1, wherein the pockets are oriented in mirror image about a center axis of the carrier bar.

12. A carrier bar according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of pockets are oriented in one direction on one side of the axis and a plurality of pockets are oriented in the opposite direction on the other side of the axis.

13. A conveyer apparatus for transporting caplets comprising a carrier bar according to claim 1.

14. A carrier bar for conveying at least one caplet, the carrier bar comprising:

at least one pocket adapted to receive a caplet, each pocket including a longitudinal axis that is angled or offset from a transverse axis of the carrier bar.

15. A method for processing a caplet, comprising:

conveying the caplet within a pocket of a carrier bar along a direction of travel so that a longitudinal axis of the pocket is angled or offset from the direction of travel.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein conveying includes conveying the caplet so that the longitudinal axis of the pocket is angled or offset from a transverse axis of the carrier bar.