MXPA99007433A - Improved exit chute forpharmaceutical tablet press machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A exit chute (50) for a pharmaceutical tablet press machine comprising a first exit chute portion having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is adapted to be secured to the tablet press for receiving tablets formed thereby. A second exit chute portion is provided that has a first end and a second end and the first end is adapted to be removably secured to the second end of the first exit chute portion to form an extended tablet pathway, and the second chute portion includes an aperture therein whereby rejected tablets can be diverted to pass therethrough and accepted tablets will be allowed to pass through the second exit chute portion and out of the second end thereof. An air-actuated gate (56) is mounted to the second exit chute portion that is adapted to be selectively moved from an open reject position wherein tablets are diverted through the aperture to a closed accept position wherein the tablets are allowed to pass through the second exit chute portion, and wherein the selective movement is in response to signals from the tablet press. Circuit means electrically connect the air-actuated gate and the tablet press and includes sensor means (60A, 60B) for detecting whether the air-actuated gate (56) is in a correct tablet accept or tablet reject position. The circuit means acts to stop the tablet press during the tablet pressing operation when a fault in the position of the air-actuated gate (56) is detected.

Description

IMPROVED OUTPUT DUCT FOR MACHINE PHARMACEUTICAL TABLET PRESS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to pharmaceutical tablet press machines, and more particularly to an improved outlet conduit for pharmaceutical tablet press machines.

RELATED TECHNIQUE As is well known to those skilled in the art, in the conventional pharmaceutical press press machines of the state of the art (such as the Courtoy Model No. R-290 tablet press machine) the tablet pressing process continues wherein the pharmaceutical tablets are pressed into molds to a suitable size and thickness and then ejected from the tablet press machine. In the tablet press machine, a linear voltage displacement transducer (LVDT) can typically be used to measure the thickness of the tablets that are formed, and then the tablets are REF .: 31103 ejected from the machine and transported down through an outlet conduit to a tablet collection container. Conventional outlet ducts typically include at least a first conduit gate that serves to deflect the rejected tablets from the outlet conduit to a container of defective tablets in response to signals from the tablet press machine. Also, the conventional tablet outlet conduit is maintained in tablet rejection mode during the start of the tablet press machine and until acceptable tablets are being consistently created by the tablet press machine. The outlet conduit will remain in the reject mode until the tablet press machine reaches a tablet processing mode, satisfactory or automatic state, and then a gate of the outlet conduit will be operated to allow the tablets to pass through the conduit of exit to the container of accepted tablets and do not deviate through the gate of the outlet conduit to the container of rejected tablets. As is well known in the art, the tablet outlet conduit may also contain a second gate for selectively diverting the accepted tablets to an automatic weighing station (A S). However, it is common to overcome the second gate of the outlet duct so that the accepted tablets thus pass and directly to the container of accepted tablets at the exit of the outlet duct. Typical of the tablet outlet conduits used in the prior art is the conduit currently provided in the Courtoy tablet press machine, mentioned above. The conventional tablet outlet conduit is constructed so that the gate will be preset to reject the tablets by means of a spring loaded solenoid valve actuator. Unfortunately, the conventional tablet outlet conduit has drawbacks that are well known in the art and tend to create inefficiencies in the use of the tablet press machine. More significantly, conventional tablet outlet conduits have a tendency to accept tablets from time to time even though the gate of the outlet conduit is in the reject mode. This may be due to the seizure of the gate mechanism of the outlet duct over time due to the fact that the solenoid becomes contaminated with table dust, or it may be due to sticking of tablets in the acceptance / rejection gate of the discharge duct. output that allow tablets out of specification to pass through the outlet conduit to the accepted tablet container. In addition, the conventional outlet conduit suffers from the drawback of not providing feedback to the tablet press if the acceptance / rejection gate of the outlet conduit becomes seized or jammed in an improper state, and thus the tablet press continues its run and creates the risk that the tablets outside the specification are accepted and reach the packaging department of a pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing facility. In this way, there is a long-perceived need for an improved tablet output channel that will prevent the acceptance / reject gate from getting stuck in an unsuitable state and the unspecified tablets being accepted and reaching the packing department. There is also a long-felt need for an improved tablet outlet conduit that not only avoids the historical tendency of the acceptance / rejection gate of the outlet conduit to become stuck in an inappropriate state, but also provides a feedback signal to the machine. tablet press to stop the machine if the acceptance / reject gate is placed in an inappropriate state. Additionally, there is a long-perceived need for an improved tablet output channel that utilizes a positive movement of the acceptance / reject gate to and from both positions to minimize the likelihood of a jamming or gauging of the gate boards that will lead to The out-of-specification tablets are accepted and arrive at the packing department of a manufacturing facility. An improved tablet outlet duct has been developed to overcome all the drawbacks of the conventional tablet outlet ducts described hereinabove and is believed to be a significant advance in the art and provides substantially improved operation and a tablet press machine , associated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, applicants provide a new tablet output channel for a tablet press machine that includes an improved acceptance / reject gate. The tablet output channel satisfies a long-perceived need for an output channel for use with a tablet press machine that eliminates the output conduit from accepting tablets while in tablet rejection mode. In this way, the improved tablet output channel can provide significant cost savings during the manufacture of pharmaceutical tablets in a pharmaceutical tablet installation. The tablet outlet duct of the invention is used in conjunction with conventional tableting tablet press machines such as Model Number P-290 of Courtoy. The tablet outlet duct comprises a first outlet duct portion comprising an elongate duct having a first end and a second end, and the first end adapted to be secured to the tablet press to receive tablets formed therefrom. mode. A second portion of the outlet conduit comprises a conduit housing having a first end and a second end wherein the first end of the conduit housing is adapted to be removably secured to the second end of the elongated conduit to form an extended route of the conduit. tablets The conduit housing defines an opening therein where the rejected tablets can be deflected to pass the full length and the accepted tablets are allowed to pass through the conduit housing and out of the second end thereof. An air operated gate is mounted to the conduit housing and adapted to be moved selectively from a reject, open position where the tablets are deflected through the opening to a closed acceptance position where the tablets through the conduit housing and away from the second end thereof, and wherein the selective movement is in response to signals from the tablet press. A circuit means electrically connects the air operated gate and the tablet press includes a censor means for detecting whether the air operated gate is in a correct acceptance or rejection position, and the circuit means also acts to stop the press of tablets during the tablet press operation when a failure in the position of the air operated gate is detected. Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved outlet conduit for a pharmaceutical tablet press machine that prevents tablets from accepting when the acceptance / reject gate is in the reject mode. It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved outlet conduit for a pharmaceutical tablet press machine which prevents tablets that are out of specification from being accepted and which arrive at the packing department of the tablet manufacturing facility. It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved outlet duct for a pharmaceutical tablet press machine that prevents tablet clogging and / or tablet dust from clogging the acceptance / rejection gate of the outlet duct in an inappropriate position. It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved outlet duct for a pharmaceutical press machine that provides positive movement of the acceptance / reject gate between the both acceptance and rejection positions to minimize the possibility of clogging of the acceptance gate / rejection in an inappropriate position. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved outlet conduit for a pharmaceutical tablet press machine that provides a feedback signal to the machine tablet press with respect to the position of the acceptance / reject gate to stop the tablet press machine if the gate is in an incorrect position or mode. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved outlet conduit for a pharmaceutical tablet press that prevents movement of the acceptance / rejection gate plate in its drive shaft by providing a key therebetween. Some of the objects of the invention that have been pointed outOther objects will become apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper part of a prior art tablet outlet duct; Figure 1A is a side elevation view of the prior art tablet outlet duct shown in Figure 1; Figure 2 is a sectional view of parts of the tablet outlet duct of the present invention; Figure 2A is an enlarged fragmentary view of the pair of proximity sensors incorporated in the second portion of the outlet conduit of the tablet outlet conduit; and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical and pneumatic connections of the tablet outlet conduit of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to Figures 1 through 3 of the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a tablet outlet conduit for use in combination with a tablet press machine according to the present invention is generally shown and designated as 50. As noted hereinabove, the apparatus 50 is intended for use in many different types of tablet press machines, commercial, but is particularly well suited for use with a tablet press machine Model Number R-290 of the Courtoy brand. Referring more particularly now to Figures 1 and 1A, a prior art outlet duct is shown and is generally designated 10 for the best understanding of the present invention. The outlet duct 10 comprises a unitary housing having an inlet duct 10A which is connected at its open end to a tablet press machine by means of a sleeve 10B. A first spring-loaded solenoid valve 12 is mounted on the support plate 14 and serves to motivate the plate 12A of the gate from a tablet rejection position, which extends upward to a tablet acceptance position, which it extends laterally (see dashed lines). The solenoid valve 12 is spring biased to a predetermined tablet rejection position where the tablets which are received in the inlet conduit 10A from the tablet press (not shown) will be transported by gravity downwardly in contact with the plate 12A of gate that extends upwards and will be diverted to the reject tube 16 (see also Figure 1A). The reject tube 16 will be connected to a suitable container for collecting the rejected tablets that are distributed from the tablet press machine. When the solenoid valve 12 is operated to motivate the gate plate 12A to its second laterally extending position, the tablets received by the inlet conduit 10A from the tablet press machine will be transported by the solenoid valve 12 and will be distributed from the end 10C of the outlet duct 10 to a tablet container accepted (if the second spring loaded solenoid valve 18 mounted on the support plate 20 is in its expired position where the second gate plate 18A is pushed from its first position extending upward to its second laterally extending position (shown by dashed lines).

Although the second spring loaded solenoid valve 18 is usually overcome during the use of the prior art outlet conduit 10, the solenoid valve 18 can be used as part of an automatic weighing system (AWS) whereby the plate 18A of gate is periodically allowed to be resiliently pushed to its upwardly extending position to deflect the tablets that have been accepted by the solenoid valve 12 into the weighing tube 20 leading to an automatic, suitable, tablet weighing system to selectively weigh certain selected tablets that are distributed from the tablet press machine to the outlet conduit 10. In this way, the prior art outlet conduit 10 shown in Figures 1 and 1A is normally operated with the second solenoid valve 18 in an expired position and the first solenoid valve 12 used to determine whether a tablet entering the inlet conduit 10A of the co Exit line 10 will be rejected to reject tube 16 or allowed to pass through open end 10C of outlet conduit 10 in a tablet collection container (not shown).

Unfortunately, as noted in the discussion of the prior art discussed in detail above, the apparatus 10 suffers from a tendency of the solenoid valve 12 to become stuck or jammed so that the gate plate 12A is an inappropriate location and the acceptance gate / rejection accepts tablets when in the reject mode and does not provide the feedback signal to the tablet press machine that the acceptance / reject gate is operating improperly. In this way, the out-of-specification tablets are passed through the outlet conduit 10 and typically arrive at the packing department of a pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing facility, before it is discovered. Allowing defective tablets to arrive at the packing department can result in increased costs in placing and correcting the problem in this last stage of the tablet making process. Referring now specifically to Figures 2 and 2A of the drawings, the improved outlet conduit of the present invention is shown and designated in general as 50. The outlet conduit 50 comprises an elongated circuit 52 which is connected in a removable by means of a sleeve 52A at the upper end to a tablet press machine (not shown). The other end of the conduit 52 is open and includes a hook 52B fixedly mounted to the upper part thereof for releasably coupling the conduit housing 54 by means of the stem 54A provided at the first end or upper end thereof. The conduit housing 54 is more conveniently constructed of a plastic maal such as DELR0NR (while the elongated conduit 52 is formed more adequately from the rolled metal such as stainless steel) and is provided with a removable transparent plastic top 54B. The first end or upper end of the conduit housing 54 is opened as is also the second end or lower end which includes a latch 54C which serves to removably secure the transition conduit 70 thereto by means of the pin 70A mounted on it. front end of the transition duct 70. The transition duct 70 serves as the inal end of the outlet duct 50 and transports the accepted tablets to a suitable collection container (and, if desired, a dye detection device can be conventionally inosed. metals between the transition conduit 70 and the tablet collection container). Referring still to Figures 2 and 2A, the conduit housing 54 further includes an opening 54D in the bottom surface thereof having a brush 54E of bristles mounted along the length of the upper edge thereof closest to the end. front of duct housing 54. More suitably, the opening 54D is a square or rectangular opening in the floor of the conduit housing 54 and includes the gate plate 56 mounted rotatably therein to extend from a co-planar position with the bottom surface of the housing 54 of duct to a raised position extending upward with its upper edge in contact with or almost in contact with the upper plastic portion 54B for deflecting the tablets that are received from the transition duct 52 through the opening 54D. In this way, the gate plate 56 is adapted to be rotated from a first co-planar tablet acceptance position with the bottom surface of the conduit housing 54 to a second upward position of tablet rejection (see Figures 2). to 2A). A rotating actuator 58 provides bidirectional positive movement by means of two air lines of an air regulator (not shown) mounted on the tablet press machine and serves to positively drive the gate plate 56 between the depressed positions of acceptance of Tablets and raised tablet rejection according to the signals of the tablet press machine to a 24 volt DC solenoid (not shown) which is operatively connected to the rotary actuator 58. It is intended that the air regulator (not shown) will use 90 PSI output air pressure and the gate control signals provided by Courtoy Model Number R-290 tablet press machine. In this way, according to the signals of the tablet press machine to the solenoid (not shown) of the rotary actuator 58, the rotary actuator 58 will cause it to move positively from the tablet acceptance positions to the rejection position of tablets by means of of the air provided from the two air lines that extend from the tablet press machine and connected to it. It will be appreciated that the rotary actuator 58 is configured to be preset to the tablet rejection position where the gate plate 56 is raised to open the opening 54D in the bottom of the conduit housing 54. Also, it is noted that the gate plate 56 is fixedly mounted to the shaft 58A of the rotary actuator with a key K (see FIG. 2A) to prevent rotational movement of the gate plate 56 in the shaft 58A of the rotary actuator. The bristle brush 54E is provided to prevent the outlines of the tablets from clogging the gate plate 56 in an appropriate state and thereby reduce the risk that the out-of-specification tablets are passed through conduit housing 54 and a container of accepted tablets. In addition, the bristle brush 54E helps prevent damage to the tablets during movement of the gate plate 56, between the tablet acceptance and tablet rejection positions. With reference still to the conduit housing 54, it will be appreciated that the conduit housing 54 further includes two separate proximity sensors 60A, 60B (see Figure 2A) serving to detect the presence of the gate plate 56 in the depressed acceptance position. of tablets and the position lifts of rejection of tablets, respectively. If the gate plate 56 is in the lowered or raised position, inappropriately, the proximity sensors 60A, 60B, respectively, will detect the unsuitable state of the gate plate 56 and will emit a signal that is sent to a controller. PLC (see Figure 3) that in turn provides an output to the tablet press machine that results in a stoppage of the machine and that an alarm signal is issued from it. In this way, the tablet outlet channel 50 provides a positive closure of the tablet press machine, associated if the gate plate is in an improper state to reduce the risk that out-of-specification tablets are passed through the conduit. of exit 50 and up to a collection container accepted tablets. It is also noted that the modular nature of the construction of the outlet conduit 50 allows the use of multiple conduit housing units 54 between the transition conduit 52 and the transition conduit 70 as may be desired. For example, two duct housings may be used where the first duct housing 54 serves as a tablet acceptance / rejection gate and a second duct housing 54 serves as the function gate of the automatic weighing system (AWS) . Other configurations can be constructed with the modular components of the present invention as may be required by the user. However, the invention allows the use of only a single conduit housing 54 if the function of the automatic weighing system is not desired and thus avoids the need to lower or overcome the second gate mechanism as practiced with the conduit. of the prior art described hereinabove in Figures 1 and 1A. The new outlet conduit 50 of tablets is designed to avoid the need for significant modifications to the existing tablet press machine. The plate acceptance / rejection gate plate 56 will remain in the tablet rejection mode until the tablet press machine reaches the automatic state of operation. The gate plate 56 is secured with the key K to the shaft 58A of the rotary actuator to ensure that it does not slide relative to this, and tablets will not be accepted when the gate plate 56 of the outlet conduit 50 is in the reject position. The rotary actuator 58 solenoid will use the 24 volt DC output signal >;, which is commonly provided by the tablet press machine to add the acceptance / reject gate of the conventional outlet conduit shown in Figures 1 and 1A. In addition, the Courtoy Model Number R-290 tablet press machine will be stopped and the "Option 1" alarm will appear on the memo control screen when the acceptance / reject gate plate 56 of the exit conduit 50 find that it is in the wrong state by means of a transfer from the PLC used with it and that it is connected to the unused alarm of option 1 of the tablet press. When the acceptance / rejection gate plate 56 returns to the correct state the tablet press can resume the operation. It is preferred that the PLC be housed in the lower rear section of the Courtoy Model No. R-290 tablet press machine in proximity to the existing control and wiring relays. As noted hereinabove, it is more preferred that an air regulator (not shown) be installed and two lines run from it to a DC solenoid attached to the rotary actuator 58. The DC solenoid has two connected air lines to the rotary actuator 58 that moves as a shuttle as it is directed by the existing 24 volt DC signal that is commonly provided by the tablet press (see particularly Figure 3). Although other parts may be used, it is contemplated that the rotary actuator 58 is a rotary actuator Part Number 0180502-3-01, mark PHs. The solenoid used with the rotary actuator 58 is more suitably a part number solenoid H040-4E1-PLL-24VDC of the HUMPHREY brand, and the proximity sensors 60A, 60B are more suitably the part number sensors Ni-2-G08K- AP6X The programmable logic circuit (PLC) used by the output conduit 50 is more appropriately a PLC part number 1761-L16BWA of the brand ALLEN BRADLEY. Of course, it is further contemplated that other components may be used within the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that various details of the invention can be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention which is defined by the claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the present invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (25)

1. In combination, a pharmaceutical tablet press and tablet outlet conduits, the tablet outlet conduit is characterized in that it comprises: a) a first outlet conduit portion comprising an elongate conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end that is adapted to be secured to the tablet press to receive the tablets formed in this way; b) a second outlet duct portion comprising a duct housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the duct housing is adapted to be removably secured to the second end of the elongated duct to form an extended route of tablets, the conduit housing defines an opening therein where the rejected tablets can be deflected to pass the full length and the accepted tablets are allowed to pass through the conduit housing and out of the second end thereof; c) an air operated gate mounted to the conduit housing and adapted to be moved selectively from an open reject position where the tablets are deflected through the opening to a closed acceptance position where the tablets are allowed to pass through of the conduit housing and outside the second end thereof, the selective movement that is in response to the signals from the tablet press; and d) a circuit means electrically connecting the air operated gate and the tablet press and including a sensor means for detecting whether the air operated gate is in a correct acceptance or rejection position, the circuit medium serving to stop the tablet press during the tablet press operation when a failure in the position of the air operated gate is detected.

2. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end of the elongate conduit includes a hook element and the first end of the conduit housing includes a tang element engageable in the form of a latch to facilitate the removable securing of the conduit housing elongated conduit.

3. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that the air operated gate comprises a rotary actuator driven by solenoid which provides positive drive between both acceptance and rejection positions, and a wing plate member secured to the rotary actuator placed in this opening. to extend co-planar with the bottom surface of the conduit housing in the acceptance position and to extend upwards therefrom towards the first end of the conduit housing in the reject position.

4. The combination according to claim 3, characterized in that the air-driven rotary actuator acts to preset to the rejection position of tablets.

5. The combination according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotary actuator includes a rotating actuator shaft and the fin plate member is slidably mounted therein and secured thereto to prevent rotational movement between the shaft and the shaft. fin plate element.

6. The combination according to claim 5, characterized in that the bristle brush element provided along a portion of the opening proximate the first end of the conduit housing to be brought into contact by the fin plate member when the element of fin plate is placed in the acceptance position, closed.

7. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor means of the circuit means comprises a pair of proximity sensors mounted in separate relation in the conduit housing such that the first proximity sensor is adjacent to the fin plate member. in the closed position and the second proximity sensor is adjacent to the fin plate member in the open position, and the first and second proximity sensors create a signal when the fin plate member is properly positioned in the positions of open acceptance and closed rejection, respectively.

8. The combination according to claim 7, characterized in that the circuit means includes a PLC that receives the status signal from the pair of sensors and sends a corresponding control signal to the tablet press.

9. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a transition conduit that is removably secured to the second end of the conduit housing for directing the tablets to a selected distribution site.

10. In combination, a pharmaceutical tablet press and a tablet outlet duct, the tablet outlet duct, is characterized in that it comprises: a) a first outlet duct portion comprising an elongate duct having a first end and a second end, the first end that is adapted to be secured to the tablet press to receive the tablets formed in this way; b) a second outlet duct portion comprising a duct housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the duct housing is adapted to be removably secured to the second end of the elongated duct to form an extended route of tablets, the conduit housing defines an opening therein where the rejected tablets can be deflected to pass the full length and the accepted tablets are allowed to pass through the conduit housing and out of the second end of the same; c) an air operated gate mounted to the conduit housing and adapted to be moved selectively from an open reject position where the tablets are deflected through the opening to a closed position position where the tablets are allowed to pass through. of the conduit housing and outside the second end thereof, the selective movement that is in response to the signals from the tablet press; and wherein the air activated gate acts to predefine to the open reject position; d) a circuit means electrically connecting the air operated gate and the tablet press and including a sensor means for detecting whether the air operated gate is in a correct acceptance or rejection position, the circuit medium serving for stopping the tablet press during the tablet press operation when a failure in the position of the air operated gate is detected; and e) a transition duct that is removably secured to the second end of the duct housing to direct the tablets to a selected distribution site.

11. The combination according to claim 10, characterized in that the second end of the elongated conduit includes a hook element and the first end of the conduit housing includes a tang element engageable in the form of a latch to facilitate the removable securing of the conduit housing elongated conduit.

12. The combination according to claim 10, characterized in that the air operated gate comprises a rotary actuator driven by solenoid which provides positive drive between both acceptance and rejection positions, and a wing plate member secured to the rotary actuator placed in this opening to extend co-planar with the bottom surface of the conduit housing in the acceptance position and to extend upwards therefrom towards the first end of the conduit housing in the reject position.

13. The combination according to claim 12, characterized in that the rotary actuator includes a rotary actuator shaft and the fin plate member is slidably mounted therein and secured thereto to prevent rotational movement between the shaft and the shaft. fin plate element.

14. The combination according to claim 13, characterized in that the bristle brush element provided along a portion of the opening proximate the first end of the conduit housing to be brought into contact by the fin plate member when the element of fin plate is placed in the acceptance position, closed.

15. The combination according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor means of the circuit means comprises a pair of proximity sensors mounted in separate relation in the conduit housing such that the first proximity sensor is adjacent to the fin plate member in the closed position and the second proximity sensor is adjacent to the fin plate member in the open position, and the first and second proximity sensors create a signal when the fin plate member is properly positioned in the acceptance positions open and closed rejection, respectively.

16. The combination according to claim 15, characterized in that the circuit means includes a PLC that receives the status signal from the pair of sensors and sends a corresponding control signal to the tablet press.

17. A tablet outlet duct for a pharmaceutical tablet press, the tablet outlet duct, is characterized in that it comprises: a) a first exit duct portion comprising an elongate duct having a first end and a second end, the first end that is adapted to be secured to the tablet press to receive the tablets formed in this way; b) a second outlet duct portion comprising a duct housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the duct housing is adapted to be removably secured to the second end of the elongated duct to form an extended route of tablets, the conduit housing defines an opening therein where the rejected tablets can be deflected to pass the full length and the accepted tablets are allowed to pass through the conduit housing and out of the second end of the same; c) an air operated gate mounted to the conduit housing and adapted to be moved selectively from an open reject position where the tablets are deflected through the opening to a closed position position where the tablets are allowed to pass through. of the conduit housing and outside the second end thereof, the selective movement that is in response to the control signals from the tablet press; and d) a circuit means electrically connecting the air operated gate and the tablet press and including a sensor means for detecting whether the air operated gate is in a correct acceptance or rejection position, the circuit means that serves to stop the tablet press during the tablet press operation when a failure in the position of the air operated gate is detected;

18. The tablet outlet conduit according to claim 17, characterized in that the second end of the elongated conduit includes a hook element and the first end of the conduit housing includes a tang element engageable in the form of a latch to facilitate the removable securing of the latch. conduit housing to the elongated conduit.

19. The tablet outlet conduit according to claim 17, characterized in that the air operated gate comprises a rotary actuator driven by solenoid which provides positive drive between both reject acceptance positions, and a fin plate member secured to the rotary actuator placed in this opening to extend co-planar with the bottom surface of the conduit housing in the acceptance position and to extend upwards therefrom towards the first end of the conduit housing in the reject position.

20. The tablet outlet conduit according to claim 19, characterized in that the air-driven rotary actuator acts to predefine the tablet rejection position.

21. The combination according to claim 19, characterized in that the rotary actuator includes a rotating actuator shaft and the fin plate member is slidably mounted therein and secured thereto to prevent rotational movement between the shaft and the shaft. fin plate element.

22. The tablet outlet conduit according to claim 21, characterized in that the bristle brush element provided along a portion of the opening proximate the first end of the conduit housing to be brought into contact by the plate element flap when the flap plate element is placed in the acceptance, closed position.

23. The tablet outlet conduit according to claim 17, characterized in that the sensor means of the circuit means comprises a pair of proximity sensors mounted in separate relation in the conduit housing such that the first proximity sensor is adjacent to the sensor element. fin plate in the closed position and the second proximity sensor is adjacent to the fin plate member in the open position, and the first and second proximity sensors create a signal when the fin plate member is properly positioned in the closed position. the positions of open acceptance and closed rejection, respectively.

24. The tablet output line according to claim 23, characterized in that the circuit means includes a PLC that receives the status signal from the pair of sensors and sends a corresponding control signal to the tablet press.

25. The tablet outlet conduit according to claim 17, characterized in that it includes a transition conduit that is removably secured to the second end of the conduit housing to direct the tablets to a selected distribution site. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An outlet conduit (50) for a pharmaceutical tablet press machine comprising a first outlet conduit portion having a first end and a second end wherein the first end "is adapted to be secured to the tablet press for receiving the tablets formed in this way A second outlet duct portion is provided which has a first end and a second end and the first end is adapted to be removably secured to the second end of the first outlet duct portion for forming an extended tablet route, and the second portion of conduit includes an opening therein by which the rejected tablets can be deflected to pass therethrough and the accepted tablets will be passed through the second portion of the conduit outlet and out of the second end thereof An air operated gate (56) is mounted to the second portion of the outlet duct that is adapted a to be moved selectively from an open rejection position wherein the tablets are deflected through the opening to a closed acceptance position where the tablets are allowed to pass through the second portion of the outlet duct, where the movement Selective is in response to signals from the tablet press. A circuit means electrically connects the air operated gate and the tablet press includes a sensor means (60A 60B) for detecting whether the air operated gate (56) is in a correct position of tablet acceptance or tablet rejection. The circuit means acts to stop the tablet press during the tablet press operation when a fault in the position of the air operated gate (56) is detected.