Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles
First Claim
1. A method for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing channel having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor, the method comprising:
- forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing channel;
generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and
using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus;
wherein using the detection signals from the first and second sensors includes comparing the detection signals from the first and second sensors to determine whether a dispensing fault condition has occurred.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. The method includes: forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing passage; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing channel having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor, the method comprising:
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forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing channel; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus; wherein using the detection signals from the first and second sensors includes comparing the detection signals from the first and second sensors to determine whether a dispensing fault condition has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing channel having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors positioned along the dispensing channel, the method comprising:
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forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing channel; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and comparing the detection signals from the first and second sensors to determine whether a dispensing fault condition has occurred.
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20. A method for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing channel having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor, the method comprising:
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forcing articles along a path through the dispensing channel in a forward direction toward the dispensing outlet; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus, including identifying a preload dispensing fault condition responsive to detecting the presence of an article at the dispensing inlet using the first sensor prior to forcing the articles through the dispensing channel in the forward direction. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing channel having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor, the method comprising:
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forcing articles along a path through the dispensing channel in a forward direction toward the dispensing outlet; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus, including, after forcing the articles through the dispensing channel in the forward direction, identifying a tandem dispensing fault condition responsive to receiving a continuous detection signal from the second sensor having a duration that is larger than a reference signal duration. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing channel having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor, the method comprising:
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forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing channel; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus, including using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to determine an average travel velocity for articles dispensed through the dispensing channel. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification