GB1559778A - Tablet conveying and orientating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) TABLET CONVEYING AND ORIENTATING APPARATUS (71) We, THE BOOTS COMPANY LIMITED, a British Company of 1 Thane Road West, Nottingham, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: It is generally necessary to inspect tablets e.g. tablets comprising a drug, so that any having any faults e.g. cracks, specks and other surface damage can be removed. In the case of ellipsoidal coated tablets, in particular, it is necessary to be able to inspect the edges which are particularly susceptible to damage.

Apparatus is available in which tablets move along a conveyor belt lying on one side so that the upper surface can be inspected and are transferred to another belt in such a way that they rest on the other side whereby the other surface is presented to an inspector. However, we are not aware of an apparatus in which the edge of the tablet is also presented for inspection.

Accordingly, the invention provides an apparatus for inspecting tablets which includes channels for retaining the tablets on edge above a conveyor belt, the friction of the tablets against a wall defining a channel allowing the belt to rotate the tablets as they move along the belt, said apparatus including means for presenting the tablets laid on one side and subsequently presenting them on the other side.

A particularly preferred embodiment comprises a conveyor belt and a series of channels through which tablets can pass positioned above the conveyor belt, the channels being adapted to in turn allow the tablets to pass through laid flat on one side, placed on edge and rotated, and then turned over onto the second side whereby the whole surface of the tablet is at some period exposed to view from above so that faulty tablets can be spotted and removed.

When passing through the section where they are laid on edge, the tablets generally travel slower than through the other sections resulting in a tendency to bunch. In order to prevent the bunching it is desirable that the preferred apparatus initially in eludes channels whereby the tablets are placed on edge.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, omitting the tablet supply device shown in Figure 4.

Figure 2 is a view along the line AA'.

Figure 3 is a view along the line BB'.

Figure 4 is a view along the line CC' but also showing a tablet supply device.

Referring to the drawings: Stainless steel guides 1, 2 and 3 are positioned above a conveyor belt 4 which moves in the direction indicated by the large arrow in Figures 1 and 2. The guides form channels for the tablets (as shown). The channels are of a width such that those formed by guides 2 allow the tablets to move along the belt on one of their sides whereas those formed by guides 1 and 3 are narrower so that they can only travel on their edges.

The guides 1 and 3 have flanges 5 and 6 respectively which cause tablets to be pushed down from an on-edge position onto their sides as they leave the channels formed by these guides. Cut-away portions 7 and 8 in the guides, adjacent the ones carrying the flanges make it easier for the tablets to fall on their sides.

Guides 1 have cut-away "ramp" portions 9 whereby the edge of a tablet on its side, entering the channels formed by guides 1, is gradually lifted as it moves through the channel until it is on its edge.

Figure 4 illustrates a feed arrangement positioned above the guides 3 at E. It consists of "chicken feed" hopper 10 which distributes tablets onto a frame 11 whose base forms channels of the same width as the width of the channels formed by guides 3. The frame 11 moves slowly backwards and forwards about a pivot 12 in the direction shown by the arrows and helps tablets to fall into the channels formed by guides 3, on their edges.

The tablets are then carried forward by the belt 4 but also rotate in the direction shown in Figure 4 due to the friction between the sides of the tablet and the guides 3. As the tablets leave the channels formed by guides 3 they are turned onto their sides and then enter the channels formed by guides 2 where this side can be inspected. Any tablets having faults in this side can be removed, for instance by lifting using flexible tube connected to a vacuum.

The tablets then enter the channels formed by guides 1 where they are placed on edge and rotate in a similar manner to when they are in the channels formed by guides 3.

The edges can then be inspected and faulty tablets removed. As the tablets leave the channels formed by guides 1 they fall onto the opposite side on which they lay in the channels formed by guides 2. These sides can then be inspected and faulty tablets removed. The tablets are then collected as they fall from the end of the belt.

In the drawings only two channels are shown but any suitable number e.g. 3 or 4 may be used depending on the ability of the operator(s) to inspect the extra tablets resulting from more channels.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An apparatus for inspecting tablets which includes channels for retaining the tablets on edge above a conveyor belt, the friction of the tablets against a wall defining a channel allowing the belt to rotate the tablets as they move along the belt, said apparatus including means for presenting the tablets laid on one side and subsequently presenting them on the other side.

2. An apparatus for inspecting tablets which comprises a conveyor belt and a series of channels through which tablets can pass positioned above the conveyor belt, the channels being adapted to in turn allow the tablets to pass through laid flat on one side, placed on edge and rotated, and then turned over onto the second side whereby the whole surface of the tablet is at some period exposed to view from above so that faulty tablets can be spotted and removed.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 which initially includes channels whereby the tablets are placed on edge.

4. An apparatus for inspecting tablets substantially as described herein with refer ence to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. consists of "chicken feed" hopper 10 which distributes tablets onto a frame 11 whose base forms channels of the same width as the width of the channels formed by guides 3. The frame 11 moves slowly backwards and forwards about a pivot 12 in the direction shown by the arrows and helps tablets to fall into the channels formed by guides 3, on their edges. The tablets are then carried forward by the belt 4 but also rotate in the direction shown in Figure 4 due to the friction between the sides of the tablet and the guides 3. As the tablets leave the channels formed by guides 3 they are turned onto their sides and then enter the channels formed by guides 2 where this side can be inspected. Any tablets having faults in this side can be removed, for instance by lifting using flexible tube connected to a vacuum. The tablets then enter the channels formed by guides 1 where they are placed on edge and rotate in a similar manner to when they are in the channels formed by guides 3. The edges can then be inspected and faulty tablets removed. As the tablets leave the channels formed by guides 1 they fall onto the opposite side on which they lay in the channels formed by guides 2. These sides can then be inspected and faulty tablets removed. The tablets are then collected as they fall from the end of the belt. In the drawings only two channels are shown but any suitable number e.g. 3 or 4 may be used depending on the ability of the operator(s) to inspect the extra tablets resulting from more channels. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An apparatus for inspecting tablets which includes channels for retaining the tablets on edge above a conveyor belt, the friction of the tablets against a wall defining a channel allowing the belt to rotate the tablets as they move along the belt, said apparatus including means for presenting the tablets laid on one side and subsequently presenting them on the other side.

2. An apparatus for inspecting tablets which comprises a conveyor belt and a series of channels through which tablets can pass positioned above the conveyor belt, the channels being adapted to in turn allow the tablets to pass through laid flat on one side, placed on edge and rotated, and then turned over onto the second side whereby the whole surface of the tablet is at some period exposed to view from above so that faulty tablets can be spotted and removed.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 which initially includes channels whereby the tablets are placed on edge.

4. An apparatus for inspecting tablets substantially as described herein with refer ence to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.