Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for dispensing and detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a housing defining a dispensing channel through which articles can travel along a dispensing pathway; and
b) a sensor system including;
a radiation detector positioned along the dispensing pathway; and
a radiation emitter positioned along the dispensing pathway and configured to direct radiation across the dispensing channel and onto the radiation detector;
wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby;
wherein the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter; and
wherein the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector are mounted for movement relative to the other.
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Abstract
According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system is provided. The sensor system includes a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector. The radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby. The method includes moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other. According to some embodiments, the solid articles are solid pharmaceutical articles.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing and detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a housing defining a dispensing channel through which articles can travel along a dispensing pathway; and b) a sensor system including; a radiation detector positioned along the dispensing pathway; and a radiation emitter positioned along the dispensing pathway and configured to direct radiation across the dispensing channel and onto the radiation detector; wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; wherein the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter; and wherein the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector are mounted for movement relative to the other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for dispensing and detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a housing defining a dispensing channel through which articles can travel along a dispensing pathway; and b) a sensor system including; a radiation detector positioned along the dispensing pathway; and a radiation emitter positioned along the dispensing pathway and configured to direct radiation across the dispensing channel and onto the radiation detector; wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and wherein the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter; wherein; the housing includes a pair of opposed first walls and a pair of opposed second walls collectively defining the dispensing channel, wherein; the first walls are spaced apart along a first axis transverse to the dispensing pathway; the second walls are spaced apart along a second axis transverse to the first axis and the dispensing pathway; the radiation detector is spaced apart from the radiation emitter across the dispensing channel a first linear distance parallel to the first axis; and the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter a second linear distance parallel to the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An apparatus for dispensing and detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a dispensing channel through which articles can travel along a dispensing pathway; and b) a sensor system including; a radiation detector positioned along the dispensing pathway; and a radiation emitter positioned along the dispensing pathway and configured to direct radiation across the dispensing channel and onto the radiation detector; wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and wherein the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter; wherein; the radiation detector has a primary reception axis and a reception field; the radiation emitter has a primary emission axis and an emission field; the emission field and the reception field overlap across the dispensing pathway to define a sensing area; and the primary reception axis and the primary emission axis are offset from one another. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for dispensing and detecting solid articles, the method comprising:
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providing an apparatus including; a housing defining a dispensing channel through which articles can travel along a dispensing pathway; and a sensor system including; a radiation detector positioned along the dispensing pathway; and a radiation emitter positioned along the dispensing pathway and configured to direct radiation across the dispensing channel and onto the radiation detector; wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and wherein the radiation detector is offset from the radiation emitter; and passing the articles along the dispensing pathway such that the articles block radiation from the radiation emitter to the radiation detector as the articles pass along the dispensing pathway; wherein; the radiation detector has a primary reception axis and a reception field; the radiation emitter has a primary emission axis and an emission field; the emission field and the reception field overlap across the dispensing pathway to define a sensing area; and the primary reception axis and the primary emission axis are offset from one another. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system, the sensor system including a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector, the radiation detector being operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby, the method comprising:
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executing a first counting session including passing the articles along a dispensing pathway of the apparatus such that the articles block radiation from the radiation emitter to the radiation detector as the articles pass along the dispensing pathway;
thereaftermoving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other;
thereafterexecuting a second counting session including passing the articles along the dispensing pathway of the apparatus such that the articles block radiation from the radiation emitter to the radiation detector as the articles pass along the dispensing pathway; and recalibrating the sensor system between the first and second counting sessions by automatically adjusting the radiation output of the radiation emitter to compensate for a change in the amount of radiation incident on the radiation detector from the radiation emitter caused by moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system, the sensor system including a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector, the radiation detector being operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby, the method comprising:
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moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other; and generating at least one drive gas flow using a flow generator to force articles along a dispensing pathway of the apparatus such that the articles block radiation to the radiation detector as the articles travel along the dispensing pathway.
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27. A method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system, the sensor system including a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector, the radiation detector being operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby, the method comprising:
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moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other; wherein the apparatus includes at least first and second walls defining a dispensing channel, at least one of the first and second walls is movable relative to the other, the radiation detector is mounted on the first wall, and the radiation emitter is mounted on the second wall; wherein the apparatus includes a housing; and wherein moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other includes moving the first wall relative to the housing along a first axis and moving the second wall relative to the housing along a second axis transverse to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor system including a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector; and a flow generator configured to generate at least one drive gas flow to pass articles along a dispensing pathway of the apparatus such that the articles block radiation to the radiation detector as the articles pass along the dispensing pathway; wherein the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and wherein the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector are mounted for movement relative to the other. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An apparatus for detecting solid articles, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor system including a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector, wherein; the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector are mounted for movement relative to the other; a controller configured to adjust a radiation output of the radiation emitter to compensate for the relative positions of the radiation emitter and the radiation detector; a drive mechanism operable to pass the articles along a dispensing pathway defined by the apparatus such that the articles block radiation from the radiation emitter to the radiation detector as the articles pass along the dispensing pathway; wherein the controller is configured to; execute a first counting session including passing the articles along the dispensing pathway of the apparatus such that the articles block radiation from the radiation emitter to the radiation detector as they pass along the dispensing pathway;
thereafterexecute a second counting session including passing the articles along the dispensing pathway of the apparatus such that the articles block radiation from the radiation emitter to the radiation detector as they pass along the dispensing pathway; and recalibrate the sensor system between the first and second counting sessions by automatically adjusting the radiation output of the radiation emitter to compensate for a change in the amount of radiation incident on the radiation detector from the radiation emitter caused by moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. An apparatus for detecting
a sensor system including a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector, wherein: -
the radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby; and the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector are mounted for movement relative to the other; at least first and second walls defining a dispensing channel, wherein; at least one of the first and second walls is movable relative to the other; the radiation detector is mounted on the first wall; and the radiation emitter is mounted on the second wall; and a housing, wherein the first wall is movable relative to the housing along a first axis and the second wall is movable relative to the housing along a second axis transverse to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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Specification