Fluidized bed bottle filling system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for counting a predetermined number of tablets and transferring the number of tablets to a means for filling bottles, the apparatus comprising:
- a tablet bin for retaining a plurality of tablets the tablet bin having a vertical dimension and a lateral dimension;
a plurality of connected slat bars comprising a predetermined number of cavities and a plurality of orifices, the slat bars disposed beneath the tablet bin and adapted to move across the lateral dimension of the tablet bin the orifices being provided in sufficient size and placement for creating an airflow within the tablet bin sufficient to cause a plurality of tablets to exhibit the characteristics of a fluidized bed;
a vacuum airflow means for creating a negative pressure within each of the cavities; and
means for selectively disconnecting the vacuum airflow means from the cavities;
whereby as the slat bars move beneath the tablet bin the cavities are filled with tablets and after exit from beneath the tablet bin the tablets are transferred to a means for filling bottles.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for counting tablets and feeding a predetermined number of tablets to a bottle are disclosed. The present invention creates a fluidized bed of tablets above a plurality of slat bars, each of which comprises a plurality of cavities having a vacuum port connected to a source of negative pressure. The vacuum draws individual tablets down from the fluidized bed and into the cavities in the slat bar, thereby ensuring efficient and complete filling of each cavity with a tablet. Upon exit from the fluidized bed, the vacuum flow is disconnected and, in certain embodiments, a positive airflow may be flowed through the vacuum ports to eject the tablets into means for feeding the tablets into bottles.
22 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for counting a predetermined number of tablets and transferring the number of tablets to a means for filling bottles, the apparatus comprising:
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a tablet bin for retaining a plurality of tablets the tablet bin having a vertical dimension and a lateral dimension; a plurality of connected slat bars comprising a predetermined number of cavities and a plurality of orifices, the slat bars disposed beneath the tablet bin and adapted to move across the lateral dimension of the tablet bin the orifices being provided in sufficient size and placement for creating an airflow within the tablet bin sufficient to cause a plurality of tablets to exhibit the characteristics of a fluidized bed; a vacuum airflow means for creating a negative pressure within each of the cavities; and means for selectively disconnecting the vacuum airflow means from the cavities; whereby as the slat bars move beneath the tablet bin the cavities are filled with tablets and after exit from beneath the tablet bin the tablets are transferred to a means for filling bottles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A slat bar for a continuous slat feeder and counter for counting tablets and transferring tablets into bottles comprising:
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a plurality of cavities arranged to accept a predetermined number of tablets; a vacuum port disposed within each of the cavities for connection to a source of airflow and a plurality of orifices provided in sufficient size and placement for creating an airflow suitable for fluidizing tablets. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of counting a predetermined number of tablets and transferring the number of tablets to a means for filling bottles comprising the steps of:
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providing a quantity of tablets disposed in a tablet bin; providing a plurality of slat bars arranged to move beneath the tablet bin, the plurality of slat bars comprising a predetermined number of a of cavities and a plurality of orifices, the orifices being provided in sufficient size and placement for flowing air through to fluidize said tablets; flowing air through said orifices into the tablet bin sufficient to cause the quantity of tablets to exhibit the properties of a fluidized bed; creating a negative pressure in each of the cavities; moving the slat bars beneath the tablet bin from an entry location to an exit location; filling each of the predetermined number of cavities with tablets; removing the source of negative pressure after the slat bar has passed the exit location; and transferring the quantity of tablets corresponding to the predetermined number of filled cavities from the slats bar to the means for filling bottles. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification