US5240118A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-speed tablet sorting machine
Assignee: Modern Controls Inc
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Filing: 1992-09-18
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Granted: 1993-08-31
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Expires: 2012-09-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for feeding tablets in an aligned and uniformly oriented sequence onto a tablet measuring device, including a movable turntable having a deflector for guiding the tablets to a circumferential edge, a guide member and plow assembly respectively aligned in parallel and spaced apart relationship, the guide member having longitudinally-spaced air jets and the plow assembly having respective edge surfaces for slidably guiding tablets to a uniform orientation, and including a gate for removing particles and broken tablets from the channel to prevent them from being conveyed onto the measuring system.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel W. Mayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:12
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/14; B07B13/16; A; A61; A61J; A61J3/00; A61J3/06; B07B13/04; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/36; B07C5/363; B07C5/365; G; G01; G01G; G01G17/00; A61J2200/00; A61J2200/70; A61J2200/74; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/919; Y10S209/932
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for conveying tablets in an aligned stream and uniform orientation, comprising, a) a rotatable turntable and means for loading bulk quantities of tablets onto said turntable, including means for deflecting said tablets toward the outer periphery of said turntable; b) a guide member positioned above and closely adjacent said turntable, said guide extending from a first outer periphery point to a second outer periphery point, and having a plurality of spaced apart air jets along its extent; c) an adjustable gate positioned in parallel and spaced apart relation to said guide, said gate having a portion thereof positionable to slidably engage against top surfaces of said tablets; and d) an opening in said gate, said opening being smaller than the height of a tablet and positioned in facing relation to said turntable.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for conveying tablets in an aligned stream and uniform orientation, comprising, a) a rotatable turntable and means for loading bulk quantities of tablets onto said turntable, including means for deflecting said tablets toward the outer periphery of said turntable; b) a guide member positioned above and closely adjacent said turntable, said guide extending from a first outer periphery point to a second outer periphery point, and having a plurality of spaced apart air jets along its extent; c) an adjustable gate positioned in parallel and spaced apart relation to said guide, said gate having a portion thereof positionable to slidably engage against top surfaces of said tablets; and d) an opening in said gate, said opening being smaller than the height of a tablet and positioned in facing relation to said turntable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said adjustable gate further comprises a forward plow portion and a rearward plow portion, said forward plow portion having an inclined surface portion positionable close to said turntable and inclined upwardly away from said guide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rearward plow portion further comprises an inclined surface portion inclined downwardly away from said guide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising means for vertically adjusting said forward plow portion and said rearward plow portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air manifold adjacent said guide member, said air manifold having at least two channels therein, said channels being coupled to air passages for forming said air jets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein one of said channels is coupled to a plurality of first air passages, said plurality of first air passages aligned in respective parallel alignment with each other and with said turntable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the other of said channels is coupled to a plurality of second air passages, said plurality of second air passages aligned in respective parallel alignment with each other and inclined downwardly toward said turntable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first and second passages are respectively alternately positioned along a portion of the elongate length of said air manifold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for vertically adjusting said air manifold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said manifold further comprises an elongate length proximate the elongate length of said adjustable gate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for conveying tablets in uniform alignment and orientation from the peripheral edge of a rotating turntable, comprising: a guide channel formed from a first point on the peripheral edge of said turntable to a second point on the peripheral edge of said turntable, said guide channel formed between a guide member and an adjustable gate aligned parallel to said guide member; said adjustable gate comprising a forward plow and a rearward plow, and means for vertically adjusting both of said plows; an air manifold adjacent said guide member, said air manifold having a plurality of passages opening toward said channel; and means on said adjustable gate for slidably contacting the upper surface of tablets conveyed along said channel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for conveying tablets in uniform alignment and orientation from the peripheral edge of a rotating turntable, comprising: a guide channel formed from a first point on the peripheral edge of said turntable to a second point on the peripheral edge of said turntable, said guide channel formed between a guide member and an adjustable gate aligned parallel to said guide member; said adjustable gate comprising a forward plow and a rearward plow, and means for vertically adjusting both of said plows; an air manifold adjacent said guide member, said air manifold having a plurality of passages opening toward said channel; and means on said adjustable gate for slidably contacting the upper surface of tablets conveyed along said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said forward plow further comprises an inclined surface portion positionable adjacent to said turntable, said surface portion being inclined upwardly away from said channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said rearward plow further comprises an inclined surface portion which further comprises said means for slidably contacting the upper surface of tablets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said rearward plow further comprises an open portion facing said turntable, said open portion being sized smaller than a tablet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said plurality of air manifold passages further comprise a first set of passages aligned proximately parallel with said turntable and a second set of passages inclined toward said turntable and said guide channel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-30 | 1997-03-01 | 1997-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-30 | 2001-03-01 | 2001-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-30 | 2005-03-01 | 2005-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |