Discrete tablet counting machine
First Claim
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1. A machine for counting discrete tablets, comprising:
- a feeder including a hopper for receiving a plurality of tablets and means for dispersing a flow of tablets to be counted approximately evenly among a plurality of channels, each channel having a falling stream;
a plurality of detectors individually associated with each channel for detecting each of the tablets passing down each falling stream and generating a detect signal which varies as discrete tablets passing down each stream interrupt a beam of light from a light source to the respective receiver;
a plurality of detecting circuits, each detecting circuit individually coupled to a respective detector to receive the detect signal therefrom and produce a detector output signal;
a counter coupled to said plurality of detecting circuits for counting the detector output signals for the total number of tablets in all of the streams; and
a switching device coupled to each of said plurality of detecting circuits to limit detector saturation and tablet under-counting.
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Abstract
A machine for counting discrete articles, such as tablets, pills, or capsules, comprising a feeder including a hopper for receiving and dispersing a plurality of tablets to be counted into separate streams, a plurality of detectors associated with each stream for detecting each tablet in that stream, a counter coupled to said plurality of counters for counting the total number of tablets in all of the streams and a switching device coupled to each of said plurality of detectors for preventing detector saturation and delay, thereby improving counter accuracy and speed.
22 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A machine for counting discrete tablets, comprising:
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a feeder including a hopper for receiving a plurality of tablets and means for dispersing a flow of tablets to be counted approximately evenly among a plurality of channels, each channel having a falling stream; a plurality of detectors individually associated with each channel for detecting each of the tablets passing down each falling stream and generating a detect signal which varies as discrete tablets passing down each stream interrupt a beam of light from a light source to the respective receiver; a plurality of detecting circuits, each detecting circuit individually coupled to a respective detector to receive the detect signal therefrom and produce a detector output signal; a counter coupled to said plurality of detecting circuits for counting the detector output signals for the total number of tablets in all of the streams; and a switching device coupled to each of said plurality of detecting circuits to limit detector saturation and tablet under-counting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A machine for counting discrete tablets, comprising:
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a feeder including a hoper for receiving a plurality of tablets and means for dispersing a flow of tablets to be counted substantially evenly among a plurality of channels, each channel having a falling stream; a plurality of detectors individually associated with each falling stream for detecting each of the tablets passing down each stream, each of said plurality of detectors coupled to a detector voltage supply; a counter coupled to said plurality of detectors for counting the total number of tablets in all of the streams; a plurality of detecting circuits individually coupled to each of said plurality of detectors and generating a tablet detect signal for each of the tablets in each of the channels; a switching device coupled to each of said plurality of detecting circuits for preventing detecting circuit response delay and saturation; and a device with hysteresis coupled to said plurality of detecting circuits for providing detecting circuit noise immunity. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of counting discrete tablets with a high level of accuracy and improved speed, which comprises:
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receiving a plurality of tablets to be counted in a hopper; dispersing the plurality of tablets received substantially evenly among a plurality of channels, each channel having a stream; producing a voltage signal for each of the tablets passing down each falling stream; amplifying the voltage signal produced using an operational amplifier; and clamping the amplified voltage signal produced below a voltage level corresponding to the voltage level at which the operational amplifier circuit saturates; and counting the total number of voltage signals produced for all of the tablets passing down all streams. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification