Packaging Apparatus for Handling Pills and Associated Method

Abstract

An automated packaging apparatus and associated method are provided for depositing pills into a container. A cylindrical rotary slat is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and defines a plurality of pill apertures for receiving pills deposited into an interior space of the cylinder, at a first angular position of the rotary slat. A negative pressure system applies a negative pressure the pill apertures for retaining the pills therein, as the rotary slat rotates from the first to a second angular position. A removal system interacts with the pill apertures, as the respective pill aperture is at the second angular position, to remove the pill therefrom through a radially outward portion of the rotary slat. A collection system, adjacent to the radially outward portion of the rotary slat about the second angular position, is configured to direct each pill removed from each respective pill aperture toward a container for deposition therein.

1 . An automated packaging apparatus for depositing pills into a container, comprising:
 a rotary slat configured as a cylinder rotatable in a rotational direction about an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, the cylinder comprising a radially outward portion and an opposing radially inward portion, and defining a plurality of pill apertures therein, each pill aperture being adapted to receive a pill from a plurality of pills deposited into an interior space defined by the cylinder, the pills being received by the pill apertures from the interior space at a first angular position of the rotary slat;   a negative pressure system in fluid communication with the pill apertures of the rotary slat, the negative pressure system being configured to apply a negative pressure to the pill apertures so as to retain the pills therein, as the rotary slat rotates about the axis from the first angular position to a second angular position;   a removal system configured to interact with each of the pill apertures of the rotary slat, as the respective pill aperture is disposed at the second angular position, so as to remove the respective pill therefrom through the radially outward portion of the rotary slat; and   a collection system disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the rotary slat about the second angular position, the collection system being configured to direct each pill removed from each respective pill aperture toward a container for deposition therein.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a shroud member configured to extend about the radially outward portion of the rotary slat, the shroud member being configured so as to allow the negative pressure system to apply the negative pressure to the pill apertures therethrough, while maintaining the pills within the pill apertures, and extending from proximate to the first angular position to proximate to the second angular position. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the shroud member further defines a dispensing aperture about the second angular position, the dispensing aperture being configured so as to allow the pill to pass therethrough from the radially outward portion of the rotary slat defining the pill aperture, about the second angular position. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the removal system is further configured to provide a negative pressure at least partially radially outward of the pill aperture of the rotary slat, as the pill aperture is disposed about the second angular position, so as to remove the pill therefrom through the radially outward portion of the rotary slat and through the dispensing aperture defined by the shroud member. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the removal system further comprises an air blower configured to emit air into a channel, the channel being directed outwardly of the pill aperture disposed about the second angular position, so as to form the negative pressure for removing the pill from the pill aperture through the radially outward portion of the rotary slat and through the dispensing aperture defined by the shroud member. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the channel is defined by at least one of the rotary slat and the shroud member. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising of plurality of adjacently-disposed rotary slats, each rotary slat being independently rotatable about the axis and having a separate removal system associated therewith. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the collection system further comprises a chute configured to receive the pill removed from the pill aperture, and to direct the pill toward the container. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the axis is substantially horizontally disposed, and the apparatus further comprises a conveyor device configured to move the container into coincidence with the collection system such that the container receives the pills from the collection system. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein a conveyor device is further configured to move the container into coincidence with the collection system along a horizontal path substantially perpendicular to the axis. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a counter device operably engaged with at least one of the collection system and the rotary slat, the counter device being configured to determine an amount of pills deposited into the container. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a pill reservoir operably engaged with the rotary slat, the pill reservoir being configured to receive the plurality of pills and to direct the plurality of pills into the interior space of the rotary slat. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a drive mechanism operably engaged with and configured to rotate the rotary slat about the axis. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  further comprising a controller device operably engaged with and configured to control the drive mechanism operably engaged with the rotary slat. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each pill aperture further includes a retaining flange about the radially inward portion of the rotary slat, the retaining flange being further disposed about a leading edge of the pill aperture, in the rotational direction of the rotary slat, for retaining the pill within the pill aperture. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the rotational direction is clockwise, wherein the first angular position is below a horizontal plane extending through the axis, and wherein the second angular position is above the horizontal plane. 
   
   
       17 . A method of automatically depositing pills into a container, comprising:
 receiving a pill in each of a plurality of pill apertures defined by a rotary slat, the rotary slat being configured as a cylinder rotatable about an axis extending longitudinally therethrough, from a plurality of pills deposited into an interior space of the cylinder and at a first angular position of the rotary slat, the rotary slat comprising a radially outward portion and an opposing radially inward portion;   rotating the rotary slat in a rotational direction about the axis, from a first angular position to a second angular position;   applying a negative pressure to the pill apertures so as to retain the pills within the pill apertures, as the rotary slat rotates in the rotational direction from the first angular position to the second angular position;   removing the pills from the pill apertures, at the second angular position of the rotary slat, through the radially outward portion of the rotary slat; and   directing each pill removed from each respective pill aperture toward a container for deposition therein.   
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein applying a negative pressure further comprises applying a negative pressure to the pill apertures with a negative pressure system in fluid communication therewith. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein removing the pills further comprises removing the pills from the pill apertures with a removal system configured to interact therewith. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein directing each pill further comprises collecting and directing the pills with a collection system disposed adjacent to the radially outward portion of the rotary slat about the second angular position. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein rotating the rotary slat in a rotational direction further comprises rotating the rotary slat in a clockwise rotational direction, with the first angular position being below a horizontal plane extending through the axis, and with the second angular position being above the horizontal plane. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein applying a negative pressure further comprises applying a negative pressure to the pill apertures in conjunction with a shroud member extend about the radially outward portion of the rotary slat, wherein the shroud member is configured to allow the negative pressure to be applied to the pill apertures therethrough, while maintaining the pills within the pill apertures, and extends from proximate to the first angular position to proximate to the second angular position. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein removing the pills further comprises removing the pills from the radially outward portion of the rotary slat defining the pill apertures, through a dispensing aperture defined by the shroud member, about the second angular position. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein removing the pills further comprises removing the pills from the radially outward portion of the rotary slat and through the dispensing aperture by applying a negative pressure at least partially radially outward of the pill apertures disposed about the second angular position. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein removing the pills by applying a negative pressure further comprises removing the pills from the radially outward portion of the rotary slat by emitting air into a channel directed outwardly of the pill apertures disposed about the second angular position, the channel being defined by at least one of the rotary slat and the shroud member, whereby the outwardly-directed air forms the negative pressure for removing the pills. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein directing the pills toward the container further comprises directing the pills through a chute configured to receive the pills removed from the pill aperture, and to direct the pills toward the container. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the axis is substantially horizontally disposed, and the method further comprises moving the container into coincidence with the collection system with a conveyor device such that the container receives the pills from the collection system. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein moving the container into coincidence with the collection system further comprises moving the container into coincidence with the collection system along a horizontal path substantially perpendicular to the axis. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 20  further comprising determining an amount of pills deposited into the container using a counter device operably engaged with at least one of the collection system and the rotary slat. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising receiving the plurality of pills in a pill reservoir and directing the plurality of pills from the pill reservoir into the interior space of the rotary slat. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein rotating the rotary slat further comprises rotating the rotary slat about the axis using a drive mechanism operably engaged therewith. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31  further comprising controlling the drive mechanism using a controller device operably engaged therewith. 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising retaining the pill within the pill aperture using a retaining flange disposed about the radially inward portion of the rotary slat, toward a leading edge of the pill aperture with respect to the rotational direction of the rotary slat.