Tablet counter and packaging unit

Claim 1

IN A TABLET PACKAGING MACHINE, INCLUDING A HOLLOW, ROTATABLE DRUM HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROWS OF TABLET PICK-UP OPENINGS IN ITS INTERIOR, MEANS FORMING A TABLET SUPPLY STATION AND A TABLET RECEPTACLE FILLING STATION LOCATED ADJACENT SAID DRUM AND AT SPACED POINTS OF ROTATION THEREALONG, AND MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRUM INTERIOR FOR APPLYING SUCTION PRESSURE AT SAID PICK-UP OPENINGS TO PICK UP TABLETS FOR DELIVERY ON SAID DRUM FROM SAID SUPPLY STATION TO SAID FILLING STATION, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING MEANS AT SAID FILLING STATION FOR REMOVING TABLETS FROM SAID DRUM AND GUIDING SAID REMOVED TABLETS ALONG AT LEAST TWO SELECT PATHS INTO SAID FILLING STATION, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PLATES, EACH OF WHICH IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID DRUM SURFACE AND IN THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL LINE OF MOVEMENT OF A DRUM CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROW OF TABLET PICK UP OPENINGS FOR DISLODGING TABLETS FROM SAID DRUM AND MEANS CONNECTED TO ROTATE SAID PLATES BETWEEN TWO INCLINED OPERABLE POSITIONS FOR GRAVITY FEED OF THE REMOVED TABLETS ALONG ONE OR THE OTHER OF SAID SELECT PATHS INTO SAID FILLING STATION.