Tablet cassette assembly with slider cabinets for automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system

• US 6,585,132 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jun H. Kim
• Original Assignee: Jun H. Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Jun H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHLAK, DANIEL K
• Application Number:
  US09/962,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 221/119, 221/121, 221/123, 221/124, 221/133, 221/129, 531/54, 532/37
• US Class Current: 221/133
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/08 in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A tablet supplying and packaging system comprises a tablet packaging unit having an upper portion, a base cabinet on top of the upper portion. The base cabinet defined by front, rear surfaces and side ends. One of the side ends is swingably engaged to the tablet packaging unit. One or more slider cabinets each defined by longer side surfaces and shorter side surfaces are horizontally aligned in rear of the base cabinet such that each longer side surface becomes perpendicular to the rear surface of the base cabinet. The slider cabinets are linearly slidable to move back and forth so the slider cabinet sliding can be effected when the base cabinet is swung open, whereby the slider cabinets are selectively pulled out through a space reserved by opening the base cabinet.

Claims

1. An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system, comprising:

a) a tablet packaging unit having an upper portion;

b) a first base cabinet mounted on top of the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit, wherein the base cabinet is defined by a front surface, a rear surface and side ends, wherein one of the side ends is swingably engaged to the tablet packaging unit;

c) one or more slider cabinets each defined by longer side surfaces and shorter end surfaces, wherein the slider cabinets are horizontally aligned behind the base cabinet such that each said longer side surface of the slider cabinets becomes perpendicular to the rear surface of the base cabinet when the base cabinets are swung closed, wherein the slider cabinets are linearly slidable to move back and forth so that the forward sliding, toward the base cabinet, of the slider cabinets can be effected when the base cabinet is swung open, whereby the slider cabinets are selectively pulled out through a space reserved by opening the base cabinet;

d) a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing therein and dropping therefrom a predetermined number of tablets, wherein the tablet cassettes are detachably racked in each said cabinet in columns and rows;

e) a guide hopper disposed beneath the cabinets into the tablet packaging unit so as to guide the tablets selectively dropped from the tablet cassettes into the tablet packaging unit; and

f) a controller to administer the tablet dropping from the tablet cassettes and the tablet packaging in the tablet packaging unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the side ends of base cabinet is swiveled on the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the base cabinet is foldable so that the rear surface of the base cabinet can be overlapped to itself when folded.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the slider cabinets are partitioned in one or more pairs to enable a pair-by-pair sliding.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a) a framework adjacent to the tablet packaging unit;

b) one or more linear rack gears mounted in the framework, wherein the rack gears are leveled even with the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit; and

c) a pinion gear attached to each said slider cabinet in correspondence to each said rack gear, wherein the pinion gear is leveled above each said rack gear to facilitate the back and forth sliding of each said slider cabinet.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein a plurality of rollers are formed along each said linear rack gear.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a) a framework adjacent to the tablet packaging unit;

b) one or more linear rack gears mounted on a lower portion of each said slider cabinet, wherein the rack gears are leveled even with the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit; and

c) a pinion gear attached to the framework in correspondence to each said rack gear, wherein the pinion gear is leveled below each said rack gear to facilitate the back and forth sliding of each said slider cabinet.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a plurality of rollers are formed along said each linear rack gear.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least a second base cabinet having a side end, wherein the side end of the second base cabinet is swingably engaged to one of the side ends of the first base cabinet.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second base cabinet is foldable so that the rear surface of the second base cabinet can be overlapped to itself when folded.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the tablet packaging unit comprises:

a) a printer to print respective information on a packaging paper; and

b) a heater assembly to package the tablets released through the hopper into one or more partitioned paper bags using the packaging paper.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of upright tablet passages attached to each said cabinet to communicate with the tablet cassettes in each said cabinet, wherein the upright tablet passages are aligned with the tablet cassette columns to facilitate the tablet guidance from the tablet cassettes of the cabinets into the guide hopper.

13. An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system, comprising:

a) a tablet packaging unit having an upper portion;

b) first and second base cabinets each defined by a front surface, a rear surface, an inner side end and an outer side end, wherein each said base cabinet is mounted on top of the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit and linearly aligned such that the inner side ends of the base cabinets face each other, wherein one of the side ends of each said base cabinet is swingably engaged to the tablet packaging unit;

c) one or more slider cabinets each defined by longer side surfaces and shorter end surfaces, wherein the slider cabinets are horizontally aligned behind the base cabinets such that each said longer side surface of the slider cabinets becomes perpendicular to the rear surface of each said base cabinet when the base cabinets are swung closed, wherein the slider cabinets are linearly slidable to move back and forth so that the forward sliding, toward the base cabinets, of the slider cabinets can be effected when the base cabinets are swung open, whereby the slider cabinets are selectively pulled out through a space reserved by opening the base cabinets;

d) a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing therein and dropping therefrom a predetermined number of tablets, wherein the tablet cassettes are detachably racked in each said cabinet in columns and rows;

e) a guide hopper disposed beneath the cabinets into the tablet packaging unit so as to guide the tablets selectively dropped from the tablet cassettes into the tablet packaging unit; and

f) a controller to administer the tablet dropping from the tablet cassettes and the tablet packaging in the tablet packaging unit.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the selected side end of each said base cabinet is swiveled on the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the slider cabinets are partitioned in one or more pairs to enable a pair-by-pair sliding.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a) a framework adjacent to the tablet packaging unit;

b) one or more linear rack gears mounted in the framework, wherein the rack gears are leveled even with the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit; and

c) a pinion gear attached to each said slider cabinet in correspondence to each said rack gear, wherein the pinion gear is leveled above each said rack gear to facilitate the back and forth sliding of each said slider cabinet.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein a plurality of rollers are formed along each said linear rack gear.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a) a framework adjacent to the tablet packaging unit;

b) one or more linear rack gears mounted on a lower portion of each said slider cabinet, wherein the rack gears are leveled even with the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit; and

c) a pinion gear attached to the framework in correspondence to each said rack gear, wherein the pinion gear is leveled below each said rack gear to facilitate the back and forth sliding of each said slider cabinet.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein a plurality of rollers are formed along each said linear rack gear.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the tablet packaging unit comprises:

a) a printer to print respective information on a packaging paper; and

b) a heater assembly to package the tablets released through the hopper into one or more partitioned paper bags using the packaging paper.

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of upright tablet passages attached to each said cabinet to communicate with the tablet cassettes in each said cabinet, wherein the upright tablet passages are aligned with the tablet cassette columns to facilitate the tablet guidance from the tablet cassettes of the cabinets into the guide hopper.

22. An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system, comprising:

a) a tablet packaging unit having an upper portion;

b) at least first to fourth base cabinets each defined by a front surface, a rear surface, and inner side end and an outer side end, wherein the first and second base cabinets are mounted on top of the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit and linearly aligned such that the inner side ends of the first and second base cabinets face each other, wherein one of the side ends of each said first and second base cabinet is swingably engaged to the tablet packaging unit, wherein one of the side ends of each said third and fourth base cabinet is swingably engaged to each said first and second base cabinet;

c) one or more slider cabinets each defined by longer side surfaces and shorter end surfaces, wherein the slider cabinet is horizontally aligned behind the first and second base cabinets such that each said longer side surface of the slider cabinets becomes perpendicular to the rear surface of each said first and second base cabinet when the base cabinets are swung closed, wherein the slider cabinets are linearly slidable to move back and forth so that the forward sliding, toward the base cabinets, of the slider cabinets can be effected when the base cabinets are swung open, whereby the slider cabinets are selectively pulled out through a space reserved by opening the base cabinets;

d) a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing therein and dropping therefrom a predetermined number of tablets, wherein the tablet cassettes are detachably racked in each said cabinet in columns and rows;

e) a guide hopper disposed beneath the cabinets into the tablet packaging unit so as to guide the tablets selectively dropped from the tablet cassettes into the tablet packaging unit; and

f) a controller to administer the tablet dropping from the tablet cassettes and the tablet packaging in the tablet packaging unit.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein one of the side ends of each said first and second base cabinet is swiveled on the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the slider cabinets are partitioned in one or more pairs to enable a pair-by-pair sliding.

25. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

a) a framework adjacent to the tablet packaging unit;

b) one or more linear rack gears mounted in the framework, wherein the rack gears are leveled even with the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit; and

c) a pinion gear attached to each said slider cabinet in correspondence to each said rack gear, wherein the pinion gear is leveled above each said rack gear to facilitate the back and forth sliding of each said slider cabinet.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein a plurality of rollers are formed along each said linear rack gear.

27. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

a) a framework adjacent to the tablet packaging unit;

b) one or more linear rack gears mounted on a lower portion of each said slider cabinet, wherein the rack gears are leveled even with the upper portion of the tablet packaging unit; and

c) a pinion gear attached to the framework in correspondence to each said rack gear, wherein the pinion gear is leveled below each said rack gear to facilitate the back and forth sliding of each said slider cabinet.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein a plurality of rollers are formed along each said linear rack gear.

29. The system of claim 22 further comprising a plurality of upright tablet passages attached to each said cabinet to communicate with the tablet cassettes in each said cabinet, wherein the upright tablet passages are aligned with the tablet cassette columns to facilitate the tablet guidance from the tablet cassettes of the cabinets into the guide hopper.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the tablet packaging unit comprises:

a) a printer to print respective information on a packaging paper; and

b) a heater assembly to package the tablets released through the hopper into one or more partitioned paper bags using the packaging paper.

31. The system of claim 22 further comprising a plurality of upright tablet passages attached to each said cabinet to communicate with the tablet cassettes in each said cabinet, wherein the upright tablet passages are aligned with the tablet cassette columns to facilitate the tablet guidance from the tablet cassettes of the cabinets into the guide hopper.