Tablet packing machine
First Claim
1. A tablet packing machine comprising:
- a plurality of primary tablet feeders;
a plurality of vertically extending discharge channels communicating with said plurality of primary tablet feeders, respectively;
a plurality of backup tablet feeders;
a plurality of backup discharge channels communicating with said plurality of backup tablet feeders, respectively;
a hopper disposed below said plurality of discharge channels and said plurality of backup discharge channels for receiving tablets from said plurality of primary tablet feeders and said plurality of backup feeders;
a packing device communicating with an outlet portion of said hopper; and
a control device operatively connected to said plurality of primary tablet feeders and said plurality of backup tablet feeders such that, upon depletion of a predetermined amount of tablets in one of said primary tablet feeders, said control device automatically deactivates one of said primary tablet feeders and activates a corresponding one of said backup feeders.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and a method for continuously packing tablets in which the refilling of tablets can be done without stopping the device. The tablet packing machine has a case housing a plurality of tablet feeders. The case is also provided with backup tablet feeders and backup discharge channels through which tablets discharged from the backup tablet feeders are dropped into a hopper in the tablet packing machine. The backup tablet feeders are filled with tablets beforehand. When the stock of tablets in one or some of the tablet feeders decreases to a predetermined level, the backup tablet feeders containing the same kind or kinds of tablets are activated to discharge tablets from these backup feeders. Thus, it is possible to continuously discharge tablets and thus to pack tablets continuously without interruption.
142 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A tablet packing machine comprising:
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a plurality of primary tablet feeders; a plurality of vertically extending discharge channels communicating with said plurality of primary tablet feeders, respectively; a plurality of backup tablet feeders; a plurality of backup discharge channels communicating with said plurality of backup tablet feeders, respectively; a hopper disposed below said plurality of discharge channels and said plurality of backup discharge channels for receiving tablets from said plurality of primary tablet feeders and said plurality of backup feeders; a packing device communicating with an outlet portion of said hopper; and a control device operatively connected to said plurality of primary tablet feeders and said plurality of backup tablet feeders such that, upon depletion of a predetermined amount of tablets in one of said primary tablet feeders, said control device automatically deactivates one of said primary tablet feeders and activates a corresponding one of said backup feeders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tablet packing machine comprising:
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a hopper having a hopper inlet and a hopper outlet; a plurality of primary tablet feeders in communication with said hopper inlet; a plurality of backup tablet feeders in communication with said hopper inlet; a control device for controlling said plurality of primary tablet feeders in accordance with prescription data and automatically deactivating one of said primary tablet feeders and activating a corresponding one of said plurality of backup tablet feeders upon depletion of a predetermined amount of tablets in at least one of said primary tablet feeders; and a tablet packer disposed adjacent said hopper outlet for packing tablets discharged from said hopper. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification