Systems and methods for packaging solid pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical products and automatically altering a random three dimensional arrangement of solid pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products into two dimensional arrangements or linear transmission channels

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for altering a random three-dimensional orientation of solid pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products into either a two-dimensional arrangement of solid products or for transferring the solid products directly into one or more linear transmission channels. At least one elongated straight edge member is periodically vertically displaced into the mass of solid products and the displacement of this straight edge structure alone or in combination with other rotating or displaceable structures facilitate reorientation of the solid products.

1 . A system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products comprising: 
 a housing having a linear opening in a bottom portion thereof and a plurality of solid products located within the housing in a random three-dimensional orientation, the linear opening being more than three times longer than a greatest dimension of the solid products contained within the housing;    a first vertically displaceable straight edge located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion;    a drive mechanism for periodically vertically displacing the straight edge into the random three-dimensional orientation of solid products.    
     
     
         2 . The system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 1 , further comprising a second vertically displaceable straight edge located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing at a side opposite the first vertically displaceable straight edge and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion.  
     
     
         3 . The system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 1 , further comprising an elongated roller located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing at a side opposite the first vertically displaceable straight edge and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion.  
     
     
         4 . The system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one vertically displaceable wedge shaped member located immediately adjacent the first vertically displaceable straight edge.  
     
     
         5 . The system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one vertically displaceable wedge shaped member is secured to the first vertically displaceable straight edge.  
     
     
         6 . The system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 4 , further comprising a second vertically displaceable straight edge located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing at a side opposite the first vertically displaceable straight edge and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion.  
     
     
         7 . The system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 4 , further comprising an elongated roller located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing at a side opposite the first vertically displaceable straight edge and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion.  
     
     
         8 . The system for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 1 , further comprising a cavity located beneath the linear opening, the cavity having shortest dimension only slightly larger than a shortest dimension of the solid products and the remaining dimensions being substantially greater so that the cavity is capable of receiving a two-dimensional random orientation of the solid products.  
     
     
         9 . A method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products comprising: 
 providing a plurality of solid products in a housing having a linear opening in a bottom portion thereof the solid products located within the housing in a random three-dimensional orientation, the linear opening being more than three times longer than a greatest dimension of the solid products contained within the housing;    vertically displacing a straight edge member into the random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products, wherein the straight edge is located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion; and    periodically vertically displacing the straight edge into the random three-dimensional orientation of solid products to thereby facilitate transfer of the solid products from the random three-dimensional orientation into a space below the linear opening.    
     
     
         10 . The method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 9 , further comprising vertically displacing a second straight edge into the solid products, wherein the second straight edge is located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing at a side opposite the first vertically displaceable straight edge and extending substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion.  
     
     
         11 . The method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 9 , further comprising rotating an elongated roller located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing at a side opposite the first vertically displaceable straight edge and which extends substantially along an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion, the rotation of the elongated roller being performed to thereby facilitate transfer of the solid products from the random three-dimensional orientation into a space below the linear opening.  
     
     
         12 . The method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 9 , further comprising vertically displacing at least one wedge shaped member toward the solid products, wherein the wedge shaped member is located immediately adjacent the first vertically displaceable straight edge.  
     
     
         13 . The method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one vertically displaceable wedge shaped member is secured to the first vertically displaceable straight edge.  
     
     
         14 . The method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 12 , further comprising vertically displacing a second straight edge that is located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing at a side opposite the first vertically displaceable straight edge and which extends substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion.  
     
     
         15 . The method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 12 , further comprising rotating an elongated roller located immediately adjacent the linear opening in the bottom portion of the housing at a side opposite the first vertically displaceable straight edge and which extends substantially an entire length of the linear opening in the bottom portion.  
     
     
         16 . The method for altering a random three-dimensional arrangement of solid products of  claim 1 , further comprising transferring the solid products into a cavity located beneath the linear opening, the cavity having shortest dimension only slightly larger than a shortest dimension of the solid products and the remaining dimensions being substantially greater so that the cavity is capable of receiving a two-dimensional random orientation of the solid products.