Automated solid pharmaceutical packaging machine utilizing robotic drive
First Claim
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1. A machine for packaging solid pharmaceuticals comprising:
- a plurality of storage locations for storing a plurality of pharmaceutical dispensing mechanisms each containing a plurality of solid pharmaceuticals therein;
a filling location spaced from said dispensing mechanisms;
a robotic arm capable of selectively retrieving dispensing mechanisms from said plurality of storage locations and transporting at least one dispensing mechanism to said filling location;
a mechanism for positioning a plurality of package cavities arranged in an array beneath said filling location; and
wherein when said dispensing mechanism is positioned at said filling location, pharmaceuticals are selectively dispensed directly from said dispensing mechanism into said package cavities; and
further wherein the plurality of package cavities are arranged in an array and wherein a drive mechanism provides relative motion between the dispensing mechanism and the array of package cavities so that specific cavities of the array of product package cavities are selectively filled by the dispensing mechanism, and further wherein the filling location receives a plurality of dispensing mechanisms and the dispensing mechanisms operate simultaneously in parallel to fill corresponding package cavities for different packages, and further wherein the robotic arm operates to move one canister from the filling location to a corresponding storage location or from the storage location to the filling location while another canister at the filling location simultaneously deposits solid pharmaceuticals into package cavities.
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Abstract
A machine for packaging solid pharmaceuticals includes a plurality of storage locations for storing a variety of pharmaceutical dispensing canisters and a robotic arm for retrieving said dispensing canisters and providing the canister at a location proximate the package to be filled thus minimizing the distance which the pharmaceutical travels from the dispensing canister and the package cavity.
23 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A machine for packaging solid pharmaceuticals comprising:
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a plurality of storage locations for storing a plurality of pharmaceutical dispensing mechanisms each containing a plurality of solid pharmaceuticals therein; a filling location spaced from said dispensing mechanisms; a robotic arm capable of selectively retrieving dispensing mechanisms from said plurality of storage locations and transporting at least one dispensing mechanism to said filling location; a mechanism for positioning a plurality of package cavities arranged in an array beneath said filling location; and wherein when said dispensing mechanism is positioned at said filling location, pharmaceuticals are selectively dispensed directly from said dispensing mechanism into said package cavities; and
further wherein the plurality of package cavities are arranged in an array and wherein a drive mechanism provides relative motion between the dispensing mechanism and the array of package cavities so that specific cavities of the array of product package cavities are selectively filled by the dispensing mechanism, and further wherein the filling location receives a plurality of dispensing mechanisms and the dispensing mechanisms operate simultaneously in parallel to fill corresponding package cavities for different packages, and further wherein the robotic arm operates to move one canister from the filling location to a corresponding storage location or from the storage location to the filling location while another canister at the filling location simultaneously deposits solid pharmaceuticals into package cavities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification