Positive count rotary slat packaging apparatus and related methods
AssigneeAylward Enterprises, Inc.
InventorJohn T. Aylward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated positive count rotary slat packaging apparatus and related methods include independently rotatable rotary slats. In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a positive count mechanism disposed in the pill delivery path adjacent the containers and a controller which is capable of generating an alarm or determining when a bottle is filled incorrectly. Accordingly, underfilled containers can be independently filled by further rotating only the respective rotary slat. A drive device for each rotary slat is also provided having frustoconical drive wheels connected to the ends of counterrotating drive shafts. The drive wheels, which are driven by a motor, engage corresponding frustoconical drive surfaces of the rotary slats to thereby rotate the slats.
Claims10
An automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers, comprising:
- a reservoir configured to hold a plurality of pills and defining at least one opening adjacent a lower portion thereof;
- a plurality of rotary slats each having a peripheral edge portion rotatable into the opening in said reservoir, said peripheral edge portions of said rotary slats each defining a plurality of pill receptacles configured to capture an individual pill at a first position in said reservoir and release the pill at a second position outside of said reservoir;
- a conveyor configured to move a plurality of open containers along a predetermined path of travel and position each container adjacent a respective rotary slat to define a delivery path extending between the second position of said rotary slat and the container such that the pills are released from said slat and fall along said delivery path into the corresponding container;
- a plurality of drive motors each in driving engagement with one of said rotary slats for rotating the respective slat;
- and
- a controller connected to each of said drive motors for independently controlling said drive motors such that said slats can be rotated for different durations.
An automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers, comprising:
- a reservoir configured to hold a plurality of pills and defining at least one opening adjacent a lower portion thereof;
- a plurality of rotary slats ach having a peripheral edge portion rotatable into the opening in said reservoir, said peripheral edge portions of said rotary slats each defining a plurality of pill receptacles configured to capture an individual pill at a first position in said reservoir and release the pill at a second position outside of said reservoir;
- a conveyor configured to move a plurality of open containers along a predetermined path of travel and position each container adjacent a respective rotary slat to define a delivery path extending between the second position of said rotary slat and the container such that the pills are released from the slat and fall along said delivery path into the corresponding container;
- a plurality of drive motors each in driving engagement with one of said rotary slats for rotating the respective slat;
- a controller connected to each of said drive motors for independently controlling said drive motors;
- and
- a counting device disposed along each of said delivery paths for counting pills delivered along the path, said counting devices being in operative communication with said controller such that the number of pills passing into each container can be positively determined and the rotary slats can be individually rotated until a predetermined number of pills has been deposited into the respective container.
A packaging apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said drive motors are capable of rotating at different speeds including a first speed at which the rotary slats are driven for a first predetermined number of pills and a second speed slower than said first at which said rotary slats are driven for a second predetermined number of pills, thereby preventing overfilling of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.