Positive count rotary slat packaging apparatus and related methods

• US 6,401,429 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aylacqco, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aylward Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Aylward, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/876,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 531/67, 532/44, 53/55, 532/54, 532/02, 534/95, 198/46, 221/81
• US Class Current: 53/244
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/08 using pocketed conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/14 and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/20 Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles other applications B65B65/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 53/90 Capsules

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.

Claims

1. An automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined number of pills into a container, comprising:

a reservoir configured to hold a plurality of pills and defining at least one opening adjacent a lower portion thereof;

a rotary slat having a peripheral edge portion rotatable into the opening in said reservoir, said peripheral edge portion defining a plurality of pill receptacles configured to capture an individual pill at a first position in said reservoir and release the pill at a second position outside of said reservoir after rotation of the slat, said rotary slat defining a frustoconical drive surface adjacent to said peripheral edge portion such that at least a portion of the drive surface is tapered adjacent to said peripheral edge;

a rotatable drive motor;

a drive shaft connected to the drive motor; and

a drive wheel connected to the drive shaft and having a frustoconical drive surface in engagement with the drive surface of the rotary slat such that rotation of the drive motor causes a corresponding rotation of the rotary slat.

2. A packaging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rotary slat further comprises a second frustoconical drive surface opposite the first frustoconical drive surface, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a second drive shaft connected to the drive motor for rotation in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the first drive shaft; and

a second drive wheel connected to the second drive shaft and having a frustoconical drive surface in engagement with the second drive surface of the rotary slat.

3. A packaging apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising an actuator for disengaging the first and second drive wheels from the rotary slat.

4. A packaging apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a device for pressing the drive surfaces of the drive wheels against the drive surfaces of the rotary slat with substantially uniform force.

5. A packaging apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a pneumatic cylinder for moving the drive motor, drive shafts and drive wheels towards the rotary slat.

6. A packaging apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of rotary slats arranged side-by-side and corresponding pluralities of drive motors and drive shafts for driving each of the rotary slats.

7. A packaging apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the drive shafts for alternating ones of the rotary slats are aligned in a common plane and the drive shafts for the other alternating ones of the rotary slats are aligned in a common plane separate from the first plane.

8. A packaging apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each drive motor is capable of rotating at different speeds such that said rotary slats can be driven at different speeds.

9. A packaging apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a common support shaft on which said rotary slats are mounted.

10. A packaging apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each of the rotary slats is mounted on the common support shaft by a plain bearing.

11. A drive device for driving a rotary slat of a pill packaging apparatus, said drive device comprising:

a rotatable drive motor;

a first drive shaft connected to the drive motor;

a second drive shaft connected to the drive motor for rotation in a direction opposite the direction of the first drive shaft; and

first and second drive wheels connected to the respective drive shafts and being spaced apart by a predetermined distance for engagement on opposing sides of the rotary slat, such that rotation of the drive motor causes a corresponding rotation of the rotary slat.

12. A drive device as defined in claim 11 wherein each of the drive wheels has a frustoconical drive surface for engaging and driving the rotary slat.

13. A drive device as defined in claim 11 further comprising an actuator for disengaging the first and second drive wheels from the rotary slat.

14. A drive device as defined in claim 13 where in said actuator further comprises a pneumatic cylinder for moving the drive motor, drive shafts and drive wheels towards and away from the rotary slat.

15. A drive device according to claim 11 wherein the drive motor is capable of rotating at different speeds such that the rotary slat can be driven at different speeds.