Pill feed apparatus for packaging machine

Apparatus comprising:

• a base, including a base interior area therein,
• wherein the base interior area
• is bounded horizontally by a generally circular annular internal base wall,
• wherein the annular internal base wall extends in centered relation relative to an axis,
• is bounded vertically upward by a cover, and
• is bounded vertically downward by a feeder disc,
• wherein the feeder disc
• is rotatable about the axis in the base interior area,
• includes a plurality of pill engaging apertures,
• wherein each pill engaging aperture
• extends vertically through an axially centered annular portion of the feeder disc,
• is angularly spaced from each other pill engaging aperture in the annular portion, and
• is configured to have only one respective pill positioned within the respective pill engaging aperture,
• a plurality of deformable brushes,
• wherein each of the brushes
• has an upper end that is in immovable fixed operative connection with an inside face of the cover,
• extends below the cover and vertically downward in the base interior area, and
• has a lower end that is configured to engage a plurality of pills within the base interior area,
• wherein each of the plurality of pills
• have the same pill configuration,
• is in operative supported connection with the feeder disc, and
• is caused to move within the base interior area responsive to rotation of the feeder disc,
• wherein rotation of the feeder disc is operative to cause
• the plurality of pills within the base interior area to be moved responsive to operative engagement with the feeder disc and the plurality of brushes such that only one respective pill is caused to be positioned in each respective pill engaging aperture responsive to each feeder disc rotation, and
• the one respective pill that is positioned in the respective pill engaging aperture upon each feeder disc rotation, to drop individually into a drop opening upon completion of the respective feeder disc rotation, when the respective pill engaging aperture is positioned in vertically overlying relation with the drop opening.

Apparatus comprising:

• a base ring, wherein a generally circular annular wall that is in centered relation with an axis horizontally bounds a base interior area within the base ring,
• a cover, wherein the cover
• is movably mounted in operative connection with the base ring, and
• is movable between
• a closed position in which the cover bounds vertically upward the base interior area, and
• an open position in which the cover is disposed at least partially away from the base interior area and the base interior area is accessible from outside the base interior area,
• a feeder disc, wherein the feeder disc
• is removably positionable within the base interior area,
• in an operative position of the feeder disc bounds vertically downward the base interior area,
• is rotatable about the axis within the base interior area,
• includes a plurality of pill engaging apertures,
• wherein each pill engaging aperture
• is positioned in an axially centered annular portion of the feeder disc,
• extends vertically through the axially centered annular portion,
• is angularly spaced from each other pill engaging aperture, and
• is configured to hold only one respective pill positioned within the respective pill engaging aperture,
• a plurality of deformable brushes, wherein
• each of the plurality of brushes is in operative fixed connection with the cover and in the closed position of the cover extends vertically in the base interior area,
• wherein rotation of the feeder disc and the plurality of brushes which are rotationally stationary in the closed position of the cover are operative at least in part to cause
• a plurality of pills positioned within the base interior area to be moved by operative engagement with the feeder disc and plurality of brushes such that only one respective pill is positioned in each respective pill engaging aperture when the respective pill engaging aperture moves into vertically overlying relation with a drop opening, wherein the respective pill drops from the respective pill engaging aperture individually into the drop opening.

Apparatus comprising:

• a base ring, wherein the base ring includes
• a generally circular annular internal wall,
• wherein the annular internal wall
• extends in centered relation about an axis, and
• bounds a base interior area,
• a base ring opening through which the base interior area is accessible from above the base ring,
• a feeder disc, wherein the feeder disc
• is rotatable in a rotational direction about the axis within the base interior area below the base ring opening,
• includes a lower face, wherein the lower face includes a plurality of either disc projections or disc recesses, wherein the disc projections or disc recesses extend vertically on the lower face,
• includes a plurality of pill engaging apertures, wherein each pill engaging aperture
• extends vertically through the feeder disc in an axially centered annular portion,
• is angularly spaced from each other pill engaging aperture, and
• is configured to have only one respective pill positioned within the respective pill engaging aperture,
• wherein during rotation of the feeder disc each one respective pill within a respective pill engaging aperture is moved while being vertically supported within the respective pill engaging aperture by operative engagement with a plate upper surface of a support plate that extends below the feeder disc,
• wherein the plate upper surface includes a drop opening, wherein the drop opening is configured to enable one respective pill in a respective pill engaging aperture to drop individually into the drop opening when the respective pill engaging aperture is in overlying relation with the drop opening during rotation of the feeder disc,
• a rotational drive platter,
• wherein the rotational drive platter,
• is rotatable about the axis,
• includes a plurality of either platter projections or platter recesses, wherein the platter projections or platter recesses extend vertically and are radially disposed away from and uniformly angularly spaced about the axis,
• wherein each platter projection or platter recess is configured to releasably engage a respective disc recess or disc projection on the lower face of the feeder disc, whereby the feeder disc is rotatable in engagement with the drive platter,
• wherein the drive platter is rotatable in the rotational direction, and wherein at least one of each platter projection or platter recess is bounded in a direction transverse to the rotational direction by a respective tapered face surface, wherein the tapered face surfaces are operative to cause the feeder disc to move vertically away from the drive platter responsive to the feeder disc encountering resistance to movement in the rotational direction,
• a cover, wherein the cover
• is configured to cover at least a portion of the base ring opening,
• a plurality of deformable brushes, wherein each of the brushes
• is in fixed operative supported connection with the cover,
• extends vertically downward in the base interior area,
• is configured to engage pills in the base interior area,
• wherein rotation of the feeder disc in the rotational direction is operative to cause
• a plurality of pills within the base interior area to be moved by operative engagement with the feeder disc and the plurality of brushes so that one respective pill is caused to be positioned in each respective pill engaging aperture as the feeder disc rotates, and
• the one respective pill in the respective pill engaging aperture to drop individually into the drop opening when the respective pill engaging aperture is positioned in overlying relation with the drop opening.

Apparatus comprising:

• a base ring, wherein the base ring includes
• a generally circular annular internal wall,
• wherein the annular internal wall
• extends in centered relation about an axis, and
• bounds a base interior area,
• a base ring opening through which the base interior area is accessible from above the base ring,
• a cleanout opening, wherein the cleanout opening extends
• vertically below the base ring opening, and
• radially through the base ring and the annular internal wall,
• a pill pocket configured to have at least one pill therein,
• wherein the pill pocket extends
• externally on the base ring, and
• radially outward from the cleanout opening,
• a cleanout opening access cover,
• wherein the cleanout opening access cover is configured to selectively open and close the cleanout opening,
• whereby in the open condition of the cleanout opening, pills are movable from the base interior area through the cleanout opening and into the pill pocket,
• a feeder disc, wherein the feeder disc
• is rotatable about the axis within the base interior area below the base ring opening,
• includes a plurality of pill engaging apertures, wherein each pill engaging aperture
• extends vertically through the feeder disc in an axially centered annular portion,
• is angularly spaced from each other pill engaging aperture, and
• is configured to have only one respective pill positioned within the respective pill engaging aperture,
• wherein during rotation of the feeder disc each one respective pill within a respective pill engaging aperture is moved while being vertically supported within the respective pill engaging aperture by operative engagement with a plate upper surface of a support plate that extends below the feeder disc,
• wherein the plate upper surface includes a drop opening, wherein the drop opening is configured to enable one respective pill in a respective pill engaging aperture to drop individually into the drop opening when the respective pill engaging aperture is in overlying relation with the drop opening during rotation of the feeder disc,
• a cover, wherein the cover
• is configured to cover at least a portion of the base ring opening,
• wherein the cleanout opening extends vertically below the cover,
• a plurality of deformable brushes, wherein each of the brushes
• is in fixed operative supported connection with the cover,
• extends vertically downward in the base interior area,
• is configured to engage pills in the base interior area,
• wherein rotation of the feeder disc is operative to cause
• a plurality of pills within the base interior area to be moved by operative engagement with the feeder disc and the plurality of brushes so that one respective pill is caused to be positioned in each respective pill engaging aperture as the feeder disc rotates, and
• the one respective pill in the respective pill engaging aperture to drop individually into the drop opening when the respective pill engaging aperture is positioned in overlying relation with the drop opening.

Apparatus comprising:

• a base ring, wherein the base ring includes
• a generally circular annular internal wall,
• wherein the annular internal wall
• extends in centered relation about an axis, and
• bounds a base interior area,
• a base ring opening through which the base interior area is accessible from above the base ring,
• a feeder disc, wherein the feeder disc
• is rotatable about the axis within the base interior area below the base ring opening,
• includes a plurality of pill engaging apertures, wherein each pill engaging aperture
• extends vertically through the feeder disc in an axially centered annular portion,
• is angularly spaced from each other pill engaging aperture, and
• is configured to have only one respective pill positioned within the respective pill engaging aperture,
• wherein during rotation of the feeder disc each one respective pill within a respective pill engaging aperture is moved while being vertically supported within the respective pill engaging aperture by operative engagement with a plate upper surface of a support plate that extends below the feeder disc,
• wherein the plate upper surface includes a drop opening, wherein the drop opening is configured to enable one respective pill in a respective pill engaging aperture to drop individually into the drop opening when the respective pill engaging aperture is in overlying relation with the drop opening during rotation of the feeder disc,
• a cover, wherein the cover
• is configured to cover at least a portion of the base ring opening,
• a plurality of deformable brushes, wherein each of the brushes
• is in fixed operative supported connection with the cover,
• extends vertically downward in the base interior area,
• is configured to engage pills in the base interior area,
• wherein rotation of the feeder disc is operative to cause
• a plurality of pills within the base interior area to be moved by operative engagement with the feeder disc and the plurality of brushes so that one respective pill is caused to be positioned in each respective pill engaging aperture as the feeder disc rotates, and
• the one respective pill in the respective pill engaging aperture to drop individually into the drop opening when the respective pill engaging aperture is positioned in overlying relation with the drop opening,
• and further comprising:
• a plurality of further feeder discs, wherein each respective further feeder disc includes a plurality of respective pill engaging apertures each configured to have respective pills of a different configuration from the feeder disc and each other further feeder disc, positioned in the respective pill engaging apertures of the respective further feeder disc,
• wherein the feeder disc and each respective further feeder disc includes thereon respective disc indicia indicative of the configuration of the respective pills that are configured to be positioned in the respective pill engaging apertures of the respective feeder disc,
• a deck,
• wherein the deck includes
• a plate, wherein the plate is in operatively supported connection with the deck,
• wherein the plate includes a plurality of openings through the plate,
• wherein each respective opening corresponds to one respective pill configuration, wherein a respective pill having the one respective configuration is the largest pill that will pass through the respective opening,
• wherein each respective opening has respective plate indicia adjacent thereto,
• wherein the plate indicia adjacent to a respective opening has a corresponding relationship to the disc indicia on the respective feeder disc or further feeder disc that is used with the respective pill having the configuration that is the largest pill that will pass through the respective opening.

Apparatus comprising:

• a base ring, wherein the base ring includes
• a generally circular annular internal wall,
• wherein the annular internal wall
• extends in centered relation about an axis, and
• bounds a base interior area,
• a base ring opening through which the base interior area is accessible from above the base ring,
• a feeder disc, wherein the feeder disc
• is rotatable about the axis within the base interior area below the base ring opening,
• includes a plurality of pill engaging apertures, wherein each pill engaging aperture
• extends vertically through the feeder disc in an axially centered annular portion,
• is angularly spaced from each other pill engaging aperture, and
• is configured to have only one respective pill positioned within the respective pill engaging aperture,
• wherein during rotation of the feeder disc each one respective pill within a respective pill engaging aperture is moved while being vertically supported within the respective pill engaging aperture by operative engagement with a plate upper surface of a support plate that extends below the feeder disc,
• wherein the plate upper surface includes a drop opening, wherein the drop opening is configured to enable one respective pill in a respective pill engaging aperture to drop individually into the drop opening when the respective pill engaging aperture is in overlying relation with the drop opening during rotation of the feeder disc,
• a cover, wherein the cover
• is configured to cover at least a portion of the base ring opening,
• wherein the base ring, the feeder disc and the cover are configured to be installed in operatively attached connection with a packaging machine in place of a removed tray and rotatable pill disc of the machine,
• a plurality of deformable brushes, wherein each of the brushes
• is in fixed operative supported connection with the cover,
• extends vertically downward in the base interior area,
• is configured to engage pills in the base interior area,
• wherein rotation of the feeder disc is operative to cause
• a plurality of pills within the base interior area to be moved by operative engagement with the feeder disc and the plurality of brushes so that one respective pill is caused to be positioned in each respective pill engaging aperture as the feeder disc rotates, and
• the one respective pill in the respective pill engaging aperture to drop individually into the drop opening when the respective pill engaging aperture is positioned in overlying relation with the drop opening.