Device for Sorting Items, in Particular Pharmaceutical Products Such as Tablets or the Like, Into Cavities of a Blister Web

Abstract

A device for sorting pharmaceutical products such as tablets into cavities of a blister web has an endless sorting belt equipped with recesses. Two drive units drive the sorting belt by means of a deflecting gear. Depending on the orientation of the recesses in the sorting belt, the second drive unit generates oscillations that are oriented transversely in relation to the feed direction of the sorting belt. The device makes it possible for the degree to which the sorting belt is filled with tablets to be adapted or optimized in relation to the orientation of the recesses in the sorting belt.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A device for sorting items, in particular pharmaceutical products such as tablets or the like, into cavities of a blister webs the device comprising,
 a storage receptacles for items to be sorted,   a plurality of deflecting rollers,   means driving at least one of the deflecting rollers,   a sorting belt guided around and driven by the deflecting rollers, the guide belt having recesses into which the items stored in the storage receptacle are sorted in order to then be dispensed from the recesses into the cavities of the blister web as the sorting belt travels further, and   an oscillation device operable to impart oscillations to the sorting belt in a direction oriented transversely in relation to its advancing direction at least in the region in which the items are sorted into the recesses of the sorting belt.   
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the oscillation device is coupled to one of the deflecting rollers, which deflecting roller also serves to advance the sorting belt in the advancing direction. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the oscillation device comprises a bearing sleeve operable to move on an axle in the rotary and axial directions, and a cam element cooperating with the bearing sleeve in order to generate the oscillations in the longitudinal direction of the axle. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the oscillation device comprises a bearing sleeve operable to move on an axle in the rotary and axial directions, and a cam element cooperating with the bearing sleeve in order to generate the oscillations in the longitudinal direction of the axle. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the cam element is supported on the axle in pivoting fashion. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the cam element is supported on the axle in pivoting fashion. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the pivoting support of the cam element comprises by an annular diaphragm attached along the circumference of the cam element and coupled to the bearing sleeve. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the pivoting support of the cam element comprises by an annular diaphragm attached along the circumference of the cam element and coupled to the bearing sleeve. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a spherical washer coupled to the cam element, the spherical washer being mounted on the axle supported it so that it is able to pivot three-dimensionally in a recess of the bearing sleeve. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 16 , further comprising a spherical washer coupled to the cam element, the spherical washer being mounted on the axle supported it so that it is able to pivot three-dimensionally in a recess of the bearing sleeve. 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the bearing sleeve is coupled via a belt pulley to a first drive unit for generating the advancing motion, wherein the oscillation device has a second drive unit for generating the oscillation, and wherein the speeds of the two drive units can be varied in relation to each other. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the bearing sleeve is coupled via a belt pulley to a first drive unit for generating the advancing motion, wherein the oscillation device has a second drive unit for generating the oscillation, and wherein the speeds of the two drive units can be varied in relation to each other. 
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the bearing sleeve is coupled via a belt pulley to a first drive unit for generating the advancing motion, wherein the oscillation device has a second drive unit for generating the oscillation, and wherein the speeds of the two drive units can be varied in relation to each other. 
   
   
       22 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the bearing sleeve is coupled via a belt pulley to a first drive unit for generating the advancing motion, wherein the oscillation device has a second drive unit for generating the oscillation, and wherein the speeds of the two drive units can be varied in relation to each other. 
   
   
       23 . The device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve, the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts. 
   
   
       24 . The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts. 
   
   
       25 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts. 
   
   
       26 . The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts. 
   
   
       27 . The device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts. 
   
   
       28 . The device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a drive sleeve encompassing the bearing sleeve the drive sleeve being adapted to the format of the sorting belt and being attached to the bearing sleeve in such a way as to prevent relative movement between the two parts.