Tablet collection device

Abstract

A pneumatic tablet collection device including a tablet collector, a pneumatic rotary actuator, and a rotatable base operatively connected to the tablet collector and the pneumatic rotary actuator. The rotatable base includes a housing having an outer shell that includes ratchet teeth, and a central shaft having a pawl. The device further includes an annular shaft housed within the housing between the outer shell and the central shaft, wherein the annular shaft includes ratchet teeth operatively engaging the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pneumatic tablet collection device comprising:
 a tablet collector;   a pneumatic rotary actuator; and   a rotatable base operatively connected to the tablet collector and the pneumatic rotary actuator, the rotatable base including:
 a housing having:
 an outer shell that includes ratchet teeth, and 
 a central shaft having a pawl, and 
 
 an annular shaft housed within the housing between the outer shell and the central shaft, wherein the annular shaft includes ratchet teeth operatively engaging the housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a unitary housing. 
     
     
         3 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the ratchet teeth of the outer shell forms a ratchet wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the central shaft includes a plurality of pawls. 
     
     
         5 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the pawl is a substantially V-shaped pawl. 
     
     
         6 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the pawl operatively engages the ratchet teeth of the annular shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the annular shaft is an oscillating shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic rotary actuator drives rotation of the rotatable base. 
     
     
         9 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , further comprising a supplementary pawl configured to operatively engage the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , further comprising a supplementary pawl configured to operatively engage the ratchet teeth of the outer shell. 
     
     
         11 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 10 , further comprising a biasing member biasing the supplementary pawl. 
     
     
         12 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the ratchet teeth of the outer shell are arranged in a first direction and the ratchet teeth of the annular shaft are arranged in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The pneumatic tablet collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the tablet collector, the pneumatic rotary actuator, and the rotatable base are sized sufficiently for use within a glovebox isolator. 
     
     
         14 . A pneumatic tablet collection device comprising:
 a tablet collector;   a pneumatic rotary actuator; and   a rotatable base releasably connected to the tablet collector and operatively connectable to the pneumatic rotary actuator for driving rotation of the rotatable base, the rotatable base including:
 a housing having:
 an outer shell that includes ratchet teeth forming a first ratchet wheel, and 
 a central shaft having a plurality of pawls, and 
 
 an oscillating annular shaft housed within the housing between the outer shell and the central shaft, wherein the oscillating annular shaft includes ratchet teeth arranged in a direction opposite the ratchet teeth of the outer shell forming a second ratchet wheel operatively engageable with the plurality of pawls; and a supplementary pawl configured to operatively engage the first ratchet wheel.