High-speed tablet sorting machine

Claim 1

An apparatus for sorting tablets by capacitance measurements, comprising: a) a rotatable disk having means for rotating at a first controllable rate in a substantially horizontal plane; b) a first conductive plate positioned a predetermined distance above said disk, and a second conductive plate positioned a predetermined distance below said disk, said first and second plates being in substantial vertical alignment; c) a guide assembly placed proximate the periphery of said disk, said guide assembly having an arcuate edge adjacent said disk, said arcuate edge forming a guide path at least partially about said disk and passing between said disk and said first conductive plate; d) a movable lever positioned adjacent an end of said guide path, said lever forming an extension of said guide path, and said lever being electrically movable into at least two guide path extension positions; e) means for sequentially conveying tablets onto said disk; f) means for electrically coupling said first and second conductive plates, and said disk, into a signal detection circuit whereby the output signal from said signal detection circuit is representative of the capacitance sum between said first plate and said second plate, relative to said disk whereby a capacitance value between said first plate relative to said disk characterizes the tablets; and g) means for transmitting the output signal from said signal detection circuit to said electrically movable lever, whereby said lever is actuated to one of said at least two guide path extension positions.

Claim 2

An apparatus for sorting tablets by capacitance measurements, comprising: a) a rotatable disk having means for rotating at a first controllable rate in a substantially horizontal plane; b) a first conductive plate positioned a predetermined distance above said disk, and a second conductive plate positioned a predetermined distance below said disk, said first and second plates being in substantial vertical alignment; c) a guide assembly placed proximate the periphery of said disk, said guide assembly having an arcuate edge adjacent said disk, said arcuate edge forming a guide path at least partially about said disk and passing between said disk and said first conductive plate; d) a movable lever positioned adjacent an end of said guide path, said lever forming an extension of said guide path, and said lever being electrically movable into at least two guide path extension positions; e) means for sequentially conveying tablets onto said disk; f) means for electrically coupling said first and second conductive plates, and said disk, into a signal detection circuit whereby the output signal from said signal detection circuit is representative of the capacitance sum between said first plate and said second plate, relative to said disk whereby a capacitance value between said first plate relative to said disk characterizes the tablets; and g) means for transmitting the output signal from said signal detection circuit to said electrically movable lever, whereby said lever is actuated to one of said at least two guide path extension positions.

Claim 16

An apparatus for measuring the capacitance of tablets, comprising: a) a pair of spaced-apart capacitor plates electrically coupled to a capacitance detection circuit; b) a rotatable conductive disk positioned between said capacitor plates, said disk being at electrical ground potential relative to said capacitance detection circuit; c) an arcuate guide assembly positioned adjacent said disk, said guide assembly forming an arcuate guide path about at least a portion of said disk and between said capacitor plates; and d) means for sequentially feeding a plurality of tablets onto said rotatable disk, whereby said tablets are conveyed along said arcuate guide path between said capacitor plates for effecting capacitance measurement thereof by said capacitance detection circuit.

Claim 17

An apparatus for measuring the capacitance of tablets, comprising: a) a pair of spaced-apart capacitor plates electrically coupled to a capacitance detection circuit; b) a rotatable conductive disk positioned between said capacitor plates, said disk being at electrical ground potential relative to said capacitance detection circuit; c) an arcuate guide assembly positioned adjacent said disk, said guide assembly forming an arcuate guide path about at least a portion of said disk and between said capacitor plates; and d) means for sequentially feeding a plurality of tablets onto said rotatable disk, whereby said tablets are conveyed along said arcuate guide path between said capacitor plates for effecting capacitance measurement thereof by said capacitance detection circuit.