Method and apparatus for transporting and processing on-edge tablets

A carrier bar for a tablet conveying apparatus that conveys a plurality of tablets along a predetermined conveyer path, each of the tablets including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a belly band that interconnects the first and second sides, the carrier bar comprising:

• at least one pocket to receive a tablet in a vertical orientation, each pocket being linked with a slot extending through a bottom wall of the pocket and configured to allow a tablet presenting assembly to engage the tablet, the slot extending along a lower surface of the carrier bar and from a front edge to a rear edge of the carrier bar, substantially parallel to a direction of conveyance of the carrier bar.

A carrier bar for a tablet conveying apparatus to convey a plurality of tablets along a predetermined conveyer path, each of the tablets including a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a generally flat, circumferential belly band that interconnects the first and second sides, the carrier bar comprising a generally rectangular main body having a generally flat upper surface and at least one pocket formed in the generally flat surface, the at least one pocket being structured to receive one of said tablets in a vertical orientation such that a longitudinal axis extending from the first side to the second side of the tablet is generally perpendicular to a conveying direction of the carrier bar, each said pocket including a first portion defining a ramped section having a first generally flat surface to establish line contact with a first circumferential portion of the flat belly band while the tablet is in the vertical orientation, and a second portion, opposite the first portion, having a second generally flat surface to establish line contact with a second circumferential portion of the flat belly band while the tablet is in the vertical orientation, wherein the pocket is configured to allow a top portion of the tablet to project above the generally flat upper surface such that the belly band and first and second sides are exposed for processing.