Tablet packing machine

A tablet packing machine comprising:

• a plurality of primary tablet feeders;
• a plurality of vertically extending discharge channels communicating with said plurality of primary tablet feeders, respectively;
• a plurality of backup tablet feeders;
• a plurality of backup discharge channels communicating with said plurality of backup tablet feeders, respectively;
• a hopper disposed below said plurality of discharge channels and said plurality of backup discharge channels for receiving tablets from said plurality of primary tablet feeders and said plurality of backup feeders;
• a packing device communicating with an outlet portion of said hopper;
• and
• a control device operatively connected to said plurality of primary tablet feeders and said plurality of backup tablet feeders such that, upon depletion of a predetermined amount of tablets in one of said primary tablet feeders, said control device automatically deactivates one of said primary tablet feeders and activates a corresponding one of said backup feeders.