Apparatus and methods for filling containers with pills

An automated packaging apparatus for depositing a predetermined number of pills into a series of containers, comprising:

• one or more rotary slats, wherein each of said rotary slats is independently rotatable and comprises an outer peripheral edge portion, said outer peripheral edge portion of each rotary slat defining a common interior space, each of said outer peripheral edge portions defining a plurality of pill apertures extending therethrough, and each pill apertures of a respective one of said slats being configured to receive one of the pills from said common interior space of said respective slat at a first position and transmit the pill outside said respective rotary slats at a second position, each of said pill apertures of said respective slat being disposed in a single row for depositing pills into one of the containers;
• a conveyor configured to move a plurality of open containers along a predetermined path of travel and position each of said containers adjacent said respective rotary slat to define a delivery path extending between the second position of said rotary slat and said container;
• at least one drive motor in driving engagement with each of said rotary slats for rotating each of said rotary slats;
• and
• a controller connected to said at least one drive motor for controlling said at least one drive motor such that each of said rotary slats can be independently rotated for different durations.