Apparatus for handling and packaging friable tablets
First Claim
1. An assembly for handling and packaging pharmaceutical dosage forms, including:
- (a) an infeed structure for accepting a series of dosage forms including a surface movable in a downstream direction, a laning structure defining a plurality of lanes extending in said downstream direction and having a downstream end, and a plenum structure extending from said infeed structure to said laning structure including a guide portion for guiding dosage forms carried by said surface into said laning structure;
(b) a form handling device for receiving dosage forms and transporting dosage forms from said laning structure to a packaging device;
(c) a dump gate having a closed position wherein said dump gate blocks said lanes at said downstream ends thereof and an open position in which said dump gate does not block the lanes; and
(d) a timed controller for opening said dump gate after said handling device receives dosage forms.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly for handling and packaging pharmaceutical dosage forms includes an infeed structure, a laning structure, and a plenum structure extending from the infeed structure to the laning structure. The infeed, laning and plenum structures guide dosage forms as they are carried in a downstream direction by a surface movable with downstream direction. A guide portion guides the dosage forms into the laning structure to avoid jamming of tablets. A form handling device receives dosage forms and transports the dosage forms to a packaging device. A timed controller and dump gate operate so that debris is carried out of the assembly. The assembly is particularly useful for fragile dosage forms. A packaging device having a bottom plate with floatably supported blocks is provided for sealing dosage forms into packages.
27 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. An assembly for handling and packaging pharmaceutical dosage forms, including:
-
(a) an infeed structure for accepting a series of dosage forms including a surface movable in a downstream direction, a laning structure defining a plurality of lanes extending in said downstream direction and having a downstream end, and a plenum structure extending from said infeed structure to said laning structure including a guide portion for guiding dosage forms carried by said surface into said laning structure;
(b) a form handling device for receiving dosage forms and transporting dosage forms from said laning structure to a packaging device;
(c) a dump gate having a closed position wherein said dump gate blocks said lanes at said downstream ends thereof and an open position in which said dump gate does not block the lanes; and
(d) a timed controller for opening said dump gate after said handling device receives dosage forms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification