Method and apparatus for the counting and dispensing of tablets

An apparatus for counting and dispensing tablets, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a tablet feeder for feeding tablets to be counted and dispensed, the tablet feeder having an output opening;
• b) at least one electrically-controlled vibrator coupled to the tablet feeder for vibrating the tablet feeder such that a singulated flow of tablets exits the output opening;
• c) an optical system including at least one light source and at least one detector array located about a channel disposed downstream from the output opening of the tablet feeder, wherein the optical system is configured to count tablets that pass through the channel as well as determine a tablet size class for the tablets that pass through the channel;
• and
• d) an electronic controller configured to control vibration amplitude of the at least one electrically-controlled vibrator based on the tablet size class determined by the optical system and the cumulative number of tablets counted by the optical system;
• wherein the electronic controller includes a look-up table implemented in computer memory that electronically stores a number of vibration amplitude setpoints for the respective tablet size classes in each counting phase within a plurality of counting phases;
• wherein the optical system is configured to determine or update the tablet size class during a counting and dispensing operation that counts and dispenses a desired number of tablets, the counting and dispensing operation logically partitioned to include the plurality of counting phases;
• and
• wherein the electronic controller uses at least one vibration amplitude setpoint stored in the look-up table and corresponding to the tablet size class determined or updated by the optical system to update or change the target vibration amplitude value for control of the vibration amplitude of the at least one electrically-controlled vibrator during each counting phase within the plurality of counting phases;
• wherein the plurality of counting phases includes an initial counting phase carried out by the apparatus after an initial power-up sequence;
• wherein the look-up table is configured to store a vibration amplitude setpoint that is used as a target vibration amplitude value for control of the vibration amplitude of the at least one electrically-controlled vibrator during the initial counting phase;
• wherein the optical system is configured to determine or update the tablet size class during the initial counting phase;
• and
• wherein the electronic controller uses the vibration amplitude setpoint stored in the look-up table and corresponding to the tablet size class determined or updated by the optical system in the initial counting phase to update or change the target vibration amplitude value for control of the vibration amplitude of the at least one electrically-controlled vibrator during the initial counting phase;
• and
• wherein the electronic controller is configured to transition out of the initial counting phase when the vibration amplitude of the at least one electrically-controlled vibrator exceeds the target vibration amplitude value for the initial counting phase.