Tablet filler device with star wheel

Abstract

In a tablet filler device having a feeder, a chute, a tablet sorting and advancing mechanism and a gravity feed for filling tablet containers, the improvement is a star wheel tablet sorting and advancing mechanism, having a star wheel that is a flat, circular plate. The star wheel has a plurality of a tablet slots which are complete pass-through slots absent a front or back, and which are arranged sequentially about an outer area of the circular plate. The tablet filler device may also include a rotating segment surface wheel adjacent the star wheel for counter rotation against the star wheel to enhance individual rapid speed placement of tablets into the slots of the star wheel. In other embodiments, the tablet filler device may include a step up, digitally controllable motor connected to the star wheel for driving the star wheel. In most preferred embodiments, there is also a computerized control system that includes star wheel drive control, and a plurality of quality assurance inspection and rejection features.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a tablet filler device having a feeder, a chute, a tablet sorting and advancing mechanism and a gravity feed for filling tablet containers, the improvement which comprises: 
 a star wheel tablet sorting and advancing mechanism, having a star wheel that is a flat, circular plate, said star wheel having a plurality of a tablet slots which are complete pass-through slots absent a front or back, and which are arranged sequentially about an outer area of said circular plate.    
     
     
         2 . The tablet filler device of  claim 1  wherein said pass-through slots have a perimeter adapted to receive tablets of a specified footprint shape.  
     
     
         3 . The filler device of  claim 2  wherein said specified footprint shape is selected from the group consisting of circular, elliptic, oval, square, and rectangular.  
     
     
         4 . The tablet filler of  claim 1  wherein said pass-through slots are arranged symmetrical to radii of said circular plate.  
     
     
         5 . The tablet filler of  claim 2  wherein said pass-through slots are arranged symmetrical to radii of said circular plate.  
     
     
         6 . The tablet filler of  claim 1  wherein pass-through slots are arranged asymmetrical to radii of said circular plate.  
     
     
         7 . The tablet filler of  claim 2  wherein pass-through slots are arranged asymmetrical to radii of said circular plate.  
     
     
         8 . The tablet filler device of  claim 1  wherein said star wheel is positioned downstream from said chute in a substantially horizontal position with a stationary back panel therebehind.  
     
     
         9 . The tablet filler device of  claim 1  wherein said star wheel is positioned downstream from said shoot in a substantially vertical position with a stationary back panel therebehind.  
     
     
         10 . The tablet filler device of  claim 1  wherein said star wheel is positioned downstream from said shoot in a substantially nonvertical and a substantially nonhorizontal position with a stationary back panel therebehind.  
     
     
         11 . The tablet filler device of  claim 8  wherein there is a stationary front panel in front of said star wheel.  
     
     
         12 . The tablet filler device of  claim 9  wherein there is a stationary front panel in front of said star wheel.  
     
     
         13 . The tablet filler device of  claim 10  wherein there is a stationary front panel in front of said star wheel.  
     
     
         14 . The tablet filler device of  claim 1  wherein said improvement also comprises: 
 a rotating segment surface wheel adjacent said star wheel for counter rotation against said star wheel to enhance individual rapid speed placement of tablets into said slots of said star wheel.  
 
     
     
         15 . The tablet filler device of  claim 1  wherein said improvement also comprises: 
 a step up, digitally controllable motor connected to said star wheel for driving said star wheel.  
 
     
     
         16 . The tablet filler device of  claim 14  wherein said improvement also comprises: 
 a step up, digitally controllable motor connected to said star wheel for driving said star wheel.  
 
     
     
         17 . The tablet filler device of  claim 1  wherein said improvement also comprises: 
 a computerized control system that includes star wheel drive control, and a plurality of quality assurance inspection and rejection features.  
 
     
     
         18 . The tablet filler device of  claim 14  wherein said improvement also comprises: 
 a computerized control system that includes star wheel drive control, and a plurality of quality assurance inspection and rejection features.  
 
     
     
         19 . The tablet filler device of  claim 15  wherein said improvement also comprises: 
 a computerized control system that includes star wheel drive control, and a plurality of quality assurance inspection and rejection features.  
 
     
     
         20 . The tablet filler device of  claim 16  wherein said improvement also comprises: 
 a computerized control system that includes star wheel drive control, and a plurality of quality assurance inspection and rejection features.