US 6,385,943 B2 · Drug filling machine

Abstract

A drug filling machine having a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of the drugs are discharged from one or some of the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial. A method of inspecting the drugs contained in the vial includes preparing the transparent sheet a sealing portion for covering the mouth of the vial, and a printed portion that protrudes outwardly of the mouth of the vial. After inspecting the drugs in the vial, the printed portion is separated from the sealing portion, and a cap is secured on the mouth of the vial.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A drug filling machine comprising:

a printing unit for selecting an envelope of a desired size from among a plurality of envelopes of different sizes, and printing necessary information on the selected envelope;
an envelope opening unit for receiving the envelope selected and printed by said printing unit, and opening a mouth of the envelope by applying a suction force to the envelope;
and
a device for delivering at least one vial into the envelope through the open mouth of the envelope,
wherein said envelope opening unit comprises;
a pivot table for receiving the envelope and pivoting between a first inclined position and a second inclined position;
a vacuum arm movable relative to said pivot table;
and
a vacuum device in communication with said pivot table and said vacuum arm to provide a vacuum to said pivot table and said vacuum arm.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Drug filling machine

Life of this patent

Drug filling machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8