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 about a first axis extending longitudinally therethrough and comprising a radially inward portion defining a plurality of pill apertures therein, each pill aperture being adapted to receive a pill from a plurality of pills deposited into an interior space of the respective cylinder, the pills being received by the pill apertures at a first angular position of the at least one rotary slat;
a negative pressure system in fluid communication with the pill apertures of the at least one rotary slat, 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 at least from the first angular position to a second angular position;
an ejection mechanism configured to be in communication with the pill apertures of the at least one rotary slat at the second angular position to eject the respective pills therefrom toward the interior space; and
a collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially inward 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 one of the series of containers for deposition therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A packaging apparatus and method are provided for depositing pills into a container. At least one cylindrical rotary slat is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and includes a radially inward portion defining a plurality of pill apertures. Each pill aperture receives a pill from a plurality of pills in an interior space of the respective cylinder at a first angular position of the rotary slat. A negative pressure system applies a negative pressure to the pill apertures to retain the pills therein as the rotary slat rotates at least from the first to a second angular position. An ejection mechanism ejects the pills from the respective pill apertures toward the interior space at the second angular position. A collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially inward portion of the rotary slat about the second angular position collects the ejected pills and directs the pills toward the container for deposition therein.
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Citations
37 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 about a first axis extending longitudinally therethrough and comprising a radially inward portion defining a plurality of pill apertures therein, each pill aperture being adapted to receive a pill from a plurality of pills deposited into an interior space of the respective cylinder, the pills being received by the pill apertures at a first angular position of the at least one rotary slat; a negative pressure system in fluid communication with the pill apertures of the at least one rotary slat, 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 at least from the first angular position to a second angular position; an ejection mechanism configured to be in communication with the pill apertures of the at least one rotary slat at the second angular position to eject the respective pills therefrom toward the interior space; and a collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially inward 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 one of the series of containers for deposition therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of 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 inward portion of at least one rotary slat, each rotary slat being configured as a cylinder independently rotatable about a first axis extending longitudinally therethrough, from a plurality of pills deposited into an interior space of the respective cylinder; applying a negative pressure to the plurality of pill apertures with a negative pressure system, so as to retain the pills within the pill apertures, as the at least one rotary slat rotates about the first axis at least from a first angular position of the at least one rotary slat to a second angular position thereof; ejecting the pills from the pill apertures at the second angular position of the at least one rotary slat, the pills being ejected toward the interior space, with an ejection mechanism in communication with the pill apertures; and collecting the pills ejected from the pill apertures, and directing the pills toward one of the series of containers for deposition therein, with a collection mechanism disposed adjacent to the radially inward portion of the at least one rotary slat about the second angular position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification