Positive count rotary slat packaging apparatus and related methods
First Claim
1. An automated method of depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers comprising the steps of:
- capturing a plurality of pills in individual pill receptacles formed on a plurality of rotary slats;
rotating the rotary slats to a position where the pills are released from the receptacles thereby allowing the pills to fall from the receptacles into the containers and defined a delivery path;
constantly sensing for pills falling along the delivery path of a rotary slat; and
counting each pill sensed in said sensing step which falls along the delivery path to positively determine to the number of pills deposited into the respective container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated positive count rotary slat packaging apparatus and related methods include independently rotatable rotary slats. In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a positive count mechanism disposed in the pill delivery path adjacent the containers and a controller which is capable of generating an alarm or determining when a bottle is filled incorrectly. Accordingly, underfilled containers can be independently filled by further rotating only the respective rotary slat. A drive device for each rotary slat is also provided having frustoconical drive wheels connected to the ends of counterrotating drive shafts. The drive wheels, which are driven by a motor, engage corresponding frustoconical drive surfaces of the rotary slats to thereby rotate the slats.
45 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An automated method of depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers comprising the steps of:
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capturing a plurality of pills in individual pill receptacles formed on a plurality of rotary slats;
rotating the rotary slats to a position where the pills are released from the receptacles thereby allowing the pills to fall from the receptacles into the containers and defined a delivery path;
constantly sensing for pills falling along the delivery path of a rotary slat; and
counting each pill sensed in said sensing step which falls along the delivery path to positively determine to the number of pills deposited into the respective container. - View Dependent Claims (5, 8)
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2. An automated method of depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers comprising the steps of:
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capturing a plurality of pills in individual pill receptacles formed on a plurality of rotary slats;
rotating the rotary slats to a position where the pills are released from the receptacles thereby allowing the pills to fall from the receptacles into the containers and define a delivery path, wherein said rotating step further comprises rotating each of the rotary slats independently with a separate drive motor; and
counting each pill which falls along the delivery path of a rotary slat to positively determine to the number of pills deposited into the respective container.
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3. An automated method of depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers comprising the steps of:
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capturing a plurality of pills in individual pill receptacles formed on a plurality of rotary slats;
rotating the rotary slats to a position where the pills are released from the receptacles thereby allowing the pills to fall from the receptacles into the containers and define a delivery path, wherein said rotating step comprises rotating each of the rotary slats independently with a separate drive motor; and
counting each pill which falls along the delivery path of a rotary slat to positively determine to the number of pills deposited into the respective container, wherein said rotating step further comprises rotating the drive motors at a first speed until a first predetermined number of pills has been deposited in the containers and then rotating the drive motors at a slower second speed until a second predetermined number of pills has been deposited to prevent overfilling of the container.
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4. An automated method of depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers comprising the steps of:
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capturing a plurality of pills in individual pill receptacles formed on a plurality of rotary slats;
rotating the rotary slats to a position where the pills are released from the receptacles thereby allowing the pills to fall from the receptacles into the containers and define a delivery path;
counting each pill which falls along the delivery path of a rotary slat to positively determine to the number of pills deposited into the respective container; and
comparing the number of pills deposited in each container with the number of pills deposited in at least one of the other containers.
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6. An automated method of depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers comprising the steps of:
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capturing a plurality of pills in individual pill receptacles formed on a plurality of rotary slats;
rotating the rotary slats to a position where the pills are released from the receptacles thereby allowing the pills to fall from the receptacles into the containers and define a delivery path;
counting each pill which falls along the delivery path of a rotary slat to positively determine to the number of pills deposited into the respective container; and
stopping the rotation of the slats for which the respective containers have received a predetermined number of pills while continuing the rotation of any slats for which the respective container has not received the predetermined number of pills.
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7. An automated method of depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers comprising the steps of:
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capturing a plurality of pills in individual pill receptacles formed on a plurality of rotary slats;
rotating the rotary slats to a position where the pills are released from the receptacles thereby allowing the pills to fall from the receptacles into the containers and define a delivery path;
directing pressurized air into the individual receptacles during said rotating step to assist in the release of the pill engaged in the receptacle; and
counting each pill which falls along the delivery path of a rotary slat to positively determine to the number of pills deposited into the respective container.
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Specification