Method and Device for Identification and/or Sorting of Medicines

Abstract

A medicine identification and sorting system is disclosed, which includes an image capturing system for creating a digital image of at least a portion of a target medicine, and an image processing system for comparing said created target medicine image with reference medicine images in a reference medicine image database to identify and/or then sort the medicine from a mixture of medicines.

21 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A medicine processing machine comprising a vibratory feeder, a camera and a diverter; wherein the vibratory feeder receives and queues a plurality of different medicines, the camera obtains images of the medicines for identification and the diverter routes the identified medicines to different locations. 
     
     
         35 . The machine of  claim 34 , wherein the machine further comprises an image processor that is in communication with the camera. 
     
     
         36 . The machine of  claim 35 , wherein the image processor comprises a reference image database comprising references images of each the different medicines or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The machine of  claim 34 , wherein the image processor further comprises an algorithm for identifying each of the different medicines. 
     
     
         38 . The machine of  claim 37  wherein the algorithm comprises squared difference, normalized squared difference, cross correlation, normalized cross correlation, correlation coefficient, normalized correlation coefficient, neural network, Bayesian belief network, support vector machines, fuzzy logic or Hidden Markov model.