Apparatus and methods for dividing medicinal tablets and for packaging and distributing tablet portions

Abstract

Apparatus for dividing medicinal tablets is disclosed. Apparatus according to the invention may include a plurality of tablet dividing members, a tablet retention mechanism adapted to hold one or more medicinal tablets, and a controller that causes the tablet retention mechanism to move relative to the tablet dividing members to divide the medicinal tablets into respective pluralities of tablet portions. Apparatus according to the invention may include a tablet retention mechanism adapted to hold a medicinal tablet and a controller that causes the tablet retention mechanism to move relative to the tablet dividing members to divide the medicinal tablet into at least three tablet portions. A method for packaging medications according to the invention may include dividing each of a plurality of medicinal tablets into a respective plurality of tablet portions, separating the tablet portions to form a first plurality of tablet portions and a second plurality of tablet portions, and packaging the pluralities of tablet portions as separate packages. A first plurality of the tablet portions may have a first shape while a second plurality of the tablet portions has a second shape that is different from the first shape.

1  Apparatus for dividing medicinal tablets, comprising:
 a plurality of tablet dividing members;   a tablet retention mechanism adapted to hold a medicinal tablet; and   a controller adapted to cause the tablet retention mechanism to move relative to the tablet dividing members to divide the medicinal tablet into three or more tablet portions.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to cause the tablet retention mechanism to be rotated relative to the tablet dividing members. 
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to cause the tablet retention mechanism to be rotated relative to the tablet dividing members and to move relative to a second plurality of tablet dividing members to divide the plurality of tablet portions into a plurality of smaller tablet portions. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tablet retention mechanism includes a plurality of tablet compartments, and each of the tablet compartments is adapted to hold a respective tablet. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tablet compartments is adapted to be rotated within the tablet retention mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tablet dividing members are rotary saw blades disposed along a common axis of rotation. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the tablet retention mechanism includes a plurality of tablet compartments, each of the tablet compartments is adapted to hold a respective tablet, and the saw blades rotate in a direction that tends to push the tablets down into the respective tablet compartments. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tablet retention mechanism is adapted to hold a plurality of medicinal tablets, and wherein the tablet dividing members are disposed to divide each of the plurality of tablets into a respective plurality of tablet portions. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the tablet dividing members are disposed to divide each of the plurality of tablets into a respective plurality of at least three tablet portions. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a spindle along which the plurality of rotary blades are disposed.   
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tablet dividing members are spaced apart at a spacing that is predefined for a tablet type associated with the medicinal tablet. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the saw blades is of a blade type that is predefined for a tablet type associated with the medicinal tablet. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the saw blades has a respective blade thickness that is predefined for a tablet type associated with the medicinal tablet. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the saw blades rotate at a blade rotation rate that is predefined for a tablet type associated with the medicinal tablet. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the saw blades has a respective number of teeth that is predefined for a tablet type associated with the medicinal tablet. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to cause the tablet retention mechanism to move toward the tablet dividing members at a first rate and through the tablet dividing members at a second rate that is slower than the first rate. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the controller is adapted to cause the tablet retention mechanism to move away from the tablet dividing members at a third rate that is faster than the second rate. 
   
   
       18 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the second rate is predefined for a tablet type associated with the medicinal tablet. 
   
   
       19 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the tablet retention mechanism is adapted to hold the plurality of tablets in a row. 
   
   
       20 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the tablet retention mechanism is adapted to hold the plurality of tablets in an array comprising more than one row. 
   
   
       21 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each said tablet compartment includes a plurality of grooves extending at least partially therethrough, said grooves arranged such that the tablet dividing members may pass through the grooves as the tablet retention mechanism moves through the tablet dividing members. 
   
   
       22 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each said tablet compartment includes a first groove extending along a first direction and second groove extending along a second direction that is different from the first direction. 
   
   
       23 . Apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a fork that holds the tablet in the tablet compartment, wherein the fork has tines arranged to allow the tablet dividing members to pass between adjacent tines and to hold a first plurality of tablet portions in the tablet compartment. 
   
   
       24 . Apparatus according to  claim 23 , further comprising a second fork that holds the tablet in the tablet compartment, wherein the second fork has tines arranged to allow the tablet dividing members to pass between adjacent tines to hold a second plurality of tablet portions in the tablet compartment. 
   
   
       25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the forks are arranged to allow a second tablet dividing member to pass between the forks to divide the tablet along a direction extending between the forks.