Solid dose feeder and operating method thereof

Abstract

A solid dose feeder comprising: a plate member surface having a solid dose retaining portion capable of retaining a plurality of solid doses in an array of rows; a solid dose portion and configured, in use, to dispense a row of solid doses into a plurality of receptacles; and a gate disposed between the solid dose retaining portion and the solid dose discharging portion, the gate being provided with a plurality of gate channels therein and being moveable between a loading position wherein the gate is positioned to receive a row of solid doses from the solid dose retaining portion into the gate channels and a discharging position wherein the gate is positioned to discharge the received row of solid doses into the solid dose discharging portion.

1 . A solid dose feeder comprising:
 a plate member surface having a solid dose retaining portion capable of retaining a plurality of solid doses in an array of rows;   a solid dose discharging portion spaced apart from the solid dose retaining portion and configured, in use, to dispense a row of solid doses into a plurality of receptacles; and   a gate disposed between the solid dose retaining portion and the solid dose discharging portion, the gate being provided with a plurality of gate channels therein and being moveable between a loading position wherein the gate is positioned to receive a row of solid doses from the solid dose retaining portion into the gate channels and a discharging position wherein the gate is positioned to discharge the received row of solid doses into the solid dose discharging portion.   
     
     
         2 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid dose retaining portion comprises a plurality of adjacent feed channels. 
     
     
         3 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 2 , wherein the feed channels are regularly spaced in parallel alignment across the surface. 
     
     
         4 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solid dose discharging portion comprises a plurality of adjacent discharge channels. 
     
     
         5 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 4 , wherein the discharge channels are regularly spaced in parallel alignment across the surface. 
     
     
         6 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 4  or  claim 5 , wherein the width of the feed and discharge channels is substantially the same. 
     
     
         7 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 4  to  6 , wherein the discharge channels are offset from longitudinal alignment with the feed channels. 
     
     
         8 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 7 , wherein the discharge channels are offset by a distance from about 10% to about 40% of discharge channel width. 
     
     
         9 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface forms part of a plate, with the plate comprising a recess that extends transversely across the plate, the recess being located to separate the solid dose retaining portion from the solid dose discharging portion. 
     
     
         10 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 9 , wherein the recess is arranged to receive therein the gate in a manner whereby the gate is able to be moved transversely across the plate. 
     
     
         11 . The solid dose feed according to  claim 9 , wherein the recess is arranged to receive therein the gate in a manner whereby the gate is able to be moved rotationally within the plate. 
     
     
         12 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gate is elongate and comprises a plurality of adjacent gate channels that are regularly spaced therealong and in parallel alignment. 
     
     
         13 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 12 , wherein the width of the gate channels is substantially the same as the width of the feed and discharge channels. 
     
     
         14 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 12  or  claim 13 , wherein the length of the gate channels is from about 50% to 100% of the length of the solid dose. 
     
     
         15 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 9  to  14 , wherein the gate comprises stop structures that define opposing limits of movement of the gate within the recess. 
     
     
         16 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 15  wherein the stop structures are stop members configured to abut respective opposing sides of the plate. 
     
     
         17 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 15  wherein the stop structures are slots configured to abut fasteners provided to fix the discharging portion to the plate. 
     
     
         18 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 14  to  17  wherein a first limit of movement of the gate within the recess corresponds to a loading position in which a row of solid doses in the feed channels can pass into the gate channels, and wherein a second limit of movement of the gate within the recess corresponds to a discharging position in which a row of solid doses in the gate channels can pass into the discharge channels. 
     
     
         19 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the gate is configured for coupling to a drive which is arranged to act on the gate and cause it to reciprocate with respect to the surface whilst it is disposed between the solid dose retaining and discharging portions. 
     
     
         20 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 19 , wherein the drive comprises a solenoid or a pneumatic ram. 
     
     
         21 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 4  to  20 , wherein respective adjacent ends of the feed and discharge channels include a cut-out portion. 
     
     
         22 . The solid dose feeder of any preceding claim further comprising a channel discontinuity device adapted to selectively render at least one feed channel discontinuous such that, in use, dispensing of at least one solid dose from the at least one feed channel is controlled. 
     
     
         23 . The solid dose feeder of  claim 22  wherein the channel discontinuity device provides one or more of temporal control of solid dosage form dispensing, size control of solid dosage forms dispensed, location control of a location of solid dose dispensing, and/or a predetermined spatial configuration control in which the solid doses are dispensed. 
     
     
         24 . A solid dose feeder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures. 
     
     
         25 . A blister packaging system for solid dose pharmaceuticals comprising a solid dose feeder in accordance with any one of the preceding claims. 
     
     
         26 . The blister packaging system of  claim 25  wherein the system further includes a web conveyor operating in concert with the solid dose feeder, whereby the doses are discharged into receptacles in a web of packaging material. 
     
     
         27 . A method of operating the solid dose feeder as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  23 , comprising:
 arranging the gate in a first position wherein at least one solid dose in the solid dose retaining portion is able to be disposed with respect to the gate; 
 moving the gate from the first to a second position wherein the at least one solid dose is able to be disposed with respect to the solid dose discharging portion for discharge from the solid dose feeder. 
 
     
     
         28 . A method of operating a solid dose feeder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures. 
     
     
         29 . A solid dose feeder comprising:
 a solid dose retaining portion capable of retaining a plurality of solid doses;   a solid dose discharging portion; and   a gate member disposed between the solid dose retaining portion and the solid dose discharging portion, the gate member at least partially defining a gating space at least partially therein, the gate member being moveable between a loading position wherein the gate member is positioned to receive a single solid dose from the solid dose retaining portion into the gating space, and a discharging position wherein the gate member is positioned to discharge a single solid dose from the gating space into the solid dose discharging portion;   wherein the gating space is dimensioned and arranged relative to the solid dose retaining portion such that when the gate member is in the loading position with a single solid dose in the gating space, said single solid dose in the gating space prevents entry of any further solid dose into the gating space; and   wherein when the gate member is in the discharging position the gating space is positioned to prevent receipt of a solid dose by the gate member from the solid dose retaining portion.   
     
     
         30 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 29  wherein the solid dose retaining portion comprises a feed channel. 
     
     
         31 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 30  wherein the solid dose discharging portion comprises a discharge channel. 
     
     
         32 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 31  wherein the width of the feed and discharge channels is substantially the same. 
     
     
         33 . The solid dose feeder according to either of  claim 31  or  32  wherein the discharge channel is offset from longitudinal alignment with the feed channel. 
     
     
         34 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  33  wherein the gate member is disposed in a gate member space provided between the solid dose retaining portion and the solid dose discharging portion. 
     
     
         35 . The solid dose feeder according to any  claims 29  to  34  wherein the gate member is rotatable between the loading position and the discharging position. 
     
     
         36 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  34  wherein the gate member is moveable linearly between the loading position and the discharging position. 
     
     
         37 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 36  wherein the gate member is moveable so as to reciprocate between the loading position and the discharging position. 
     
     
         38 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  37  wherein the gating space comprises a gate channel provided in the gate member. 
     
     
         39 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  38  wherein when the gate member is in the loading position with a single solid dose in the gating space, said single solid dose in the gating space extends beyond the gate member in the direction of the solid dose retaining portion. 
     
     
         40 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  39  wherein the solid dose feeder comprises a stop portion to prevent a solid dose exiting the gating space when the gate member is in the loading position. 
     
     
         41 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  40  wherein the gate member is provided with one or more stop members which define opposing limits of movement of the gate member. 
     
     
         42 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  41  wherein the gate member is configured for coupling to a drive and to be driven by the drive to move between the loading position and the discharging position. 
     
     
         43 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  42  wherein the solid dose feeder comprises a plurality of gating spaces arranged so that a single solid dose can be received from each of a plurality of feed channels provided in the solid dose retaining portion, and the solid doses then discharged into respective discharging channels in the solid dose discharging portion. 
     
     
         44 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 43  wherein a single gate member at least partially defines a plurality of gating spaces at least partially therein. 
     
     
         45 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 44  wherein said single gate member is adapted to receive a plurality of solid doses from the solid dose retaining portion by receiving a single solid dose from each feed channel. 
     
     
         46 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  33  wherein the gate member is adapted to discharge the received plurality of solid doses into the solid dose discharging portion, when the gate member is in the discharging position, by discharging a single solid dose into each of a plurality of discharge channels provided in the solid dose discharging portion. 
     
     
         47 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  46  wherein there is provided a plurality of gate members each associated with a feed channel or a group of feed channels. 
     
     
         48 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  47  wherein the solid dose feeder comprises a plate member and one or more gate members configured, in use, to dispense an array of solid dosage forms into a corresponding matrix of receptacles. 
     
     
         49 . The solid dose feeder according to any one of  claims 29  to  48  wherein the solid dose feeder includes a plurality of plate members and an associated plurality of gate members configured, in use, to dispense an array of solid dosage forms into a corresponding matrix of receptacles. 
     
     
         50 . A solid dose feeder comprising a channel discontinuity device adapted to selectively render at least one feed channel discontinuous such that, in use, dispensing of at least one solid dose from the at least one feed channel is controlled. 
     
     
         51 . The solid dose feeder according to  claim 50  wherein the channel discontinuity device provides one or more of temporal control of solid dose dispensing, size control of solid dose dispensed, location control of a location of solid dose dispensing, and/or a predetermined spatial configuration control in which solid doses are dispensed. 
     
     
         52 . A blister packaging system for solid dose pharmaceuticals comprising a solid dose feeder in accordance with any one of  claims 1  to  26  or  29  to  51 . 
     
     
         53 . The blister packaging system according to  claim 52  wherein the system further comprises a web conveyor system operating in concert with the solid dose feeder, whereby the doses are discharged into receptacles in a web of packaging material. 
     
     
         54 . A method of operating a solid dose feeder in accordance with one or more of  claims 29  to  51 , the operating method comprising:
 arranging the gate member in a first position wherein at least one solid dose in the solid dose retaining portion is able to be disposed with respect to the gate member; and 
 moving the gate member from the first to the second position wherein the at least one solid dose is able to be disposed with respect to the solid dose discharging portion for discharge from the solid dose feeder. 
 
     
     
         55 . The method of operating a solid dose feeder according to  claim 54  wherein there is provided a precedent step of providing an elongate gate member which includes a plurality of adjacent gate channels, regularly spaced along the gate in substantially parallel alignment. 
     
     
         56 . A method of feeding solid doses into receptacles comprising:
 (a) arranging a plurality of solid doses in a single file line of solid doses;   (b) separating a solid dose from the single file line of solid doses by receiving said one solid dose in a gate channel provided in a gate member while preventing receipt of any further solid doses of the single file line into said gate channel;   (c) allowing the solid dose to exit the gate channel;   (d) guiding the solid dose into a receptacle; and   (e) repeating steps (b) to (d) to feed subsequent solid doses into subsequent receptacles.   
     
     
         57 . A method of feeding solid doses into receptacles in accordance with  claim 56  wherein the step of allowing the solid dose to exit the gate channel comprises allowing the solid dose to exit the gate channel while preventing receipt of any further solid doses of the single file line into said gate channel; 
     
     
         58 . A method of feeding solid doses into receptacles in accordance with  claim 56  wherein the step of allowing the solid dose to exit the gate channel comprises moving the gate member to allow the solid dose to exit the gate channel into a discharge channel of a solid dose feeder. 
     
     
         59 . A solid dose feeder comprising:
 a plate member surface having a solid dose retaining portion capable of retaining a plurality of solid doses in an array of rows and a solid dose discharging portion spaced apart from the solid dose retaining portion and configured, in use, to dispense a row of solid doses into a plurality of receptacles; and   a gate disposed between the solid dose retaining portion and the solid dose discharging portion, the gate being moveable between a loading position wherein the gate is positioned to receive a row of solid doses from the solid dose retaining portion and a discharging position wherein the gate is positioned to discharge the received row of solid doses into the solid dose discharging portion.