Compact structure for automatically filling solid pharmaceutical product packages

• US 6,925,774 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MTS Medication Technologies, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MTS Medication Technologies, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Peterson, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US10/439,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20040000354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 535/09, 53/52, 531/312, 531/50, 531/52, 531/53, 531/56, 535/34, 535/39, 532/47, 532/37, 532/40, 531/54, 535/31, 535/43, 532/50
• US Class Current: 53/152
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/04 with buffer storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/26 for marking or coding completed packages

Abstract

An automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine includes a plurality of temporary storage members for receiving a plurality of solid pharmaceutical products in a plurality of cavities. The use of the temporary storage cavities enables the machine to process several prescriptions simultaneously. Advantageously, at least one of the temporary storage members is capable of being automatically displaced in a vertical direction in order to increase the capacity of the overall filling system for processing a greater number of solid pharmaceutical products while minimizing the overall footprint of the device.

Claims

1. A solid pharmaceutical product package filling machine comprising:

a first temporary storage member for receiving a plurality of solid pharmaceutical products in a corresponding plurality of cavities;

a second temporary storage member for receiving a plurality of solid pharmaceutical products in a corresponding plurality of cavities from the first temporary storage member;

a third temporary storage member for receiving a plurality of solid pharmaceutical products in a corresponding plurality of cavities from the second temporary storage member, wherein the second storage member traverses horizontally from a location beneath the first storage member to a location above the third temporary storage member; and

further wherein the third temporary storage member is automatically vertically displaceable from beneath a plane of motion of the second temporary storage member to a location above the second temporary storage member.

2. The solid pharmaceutical product package filling machine of claim 1, wherein the third temporary storage member is also capable of automatically moving in a horizontal direction.