Tablet feeder

• US 6,736,286 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yuyama Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yuyama Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Hiroshi, Minami, Tasuku, Hamada, Hiroyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US10/217,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 221/266, 221/277, 221/258, 221/263, 221/265, 221/2, 221/7, 221/13, 221/82, 221/172, 111/77
• US Class Current: 221/266
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/08 using pocketed conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/027 Tablets, capsules, pills or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1457 Rotating movement in the plane of the rotating part

Abstract

The present invention provides a tablet feeder in which a rotor can smoothly rotate to discharge tablets in spite of a large volume type of tablet containing case having a simple construction. A support portion 11 is provided in the tablets containing case 4 and positioned above at least one of the pocket portions 9 for preventing the weight of the tablets acting on the pocket portions 9 from resisting the rotation of the rotor 8.

Claims

1. A tablet feeder comprising:

a case supporting base;

a tablet containing case removably mounted on the case supporting base;

a rotor provided in the tablet containing case, the rotor being rotatable by a motor and having pocket portions so that the tablets contained in the tablet containing case can be held in the pocket portions of the rotor and moved to a discharge passage provided in the case supporting base, whereby the tablets are discharged through the discharge passage; and

a support portion provided in the tablet containing case and positioned above at least one of the pocket portions for preventing the weight of the tablets acting on the pocket portions from resisting rotation of the rotor.

2. The tablet feeder as in claim 1, wherein the support portion has a residence preventing shape for preventing residence of the tablets on the support portion and allowing the tablets to be smoothly held in the pocket portion of the rotor.

3. The tablet feeder as in claim 1, wherein the support portion is formed between opposite side walls of the tablet containing case.

4. The tablet feeder as in claim 3, wherein the support portion comprises two or more segments.

5. The tablet feeder as in claim 1, wherein the support portion is supported by leg portions extended from the bottom wall or the side walls of the tablet containing case.

6. The tablet feeder as in claim 5, wherein the support portion has a doughnut shape.

7. The tablet feeder as in claim 1, wherein the support portion has a frusto-conical shape.

8. The tablet feeder as in claim 7, wherein on the upper surface of the frusto-conical shape of the support portion is formed a brush portion.

9. The tablet feeder as in claim 1, wherein the support portion is extended from one side wall of the tablet containing case to a portion above the discharge passage.

10. The tablet feeder as in claim 2, wherein the residence preventing shape is a domed shape.

11. The tablet feeder as in claim 2, wherein the residence preventing shape is an inclined shape.