High speed automated filling of solid pharmaceutical product packaging via a conveyor system

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing individualized solid pharmaceutical product packaging solutions preferably utilize a plurality of filling stations preferably arranged proximate to a conveyor system. Each of the filling stations may be embodied as a version of a conventional flood fill type mechanism wherein a hopper is used to store a large number of a single type of solid pharmaceutical products. The filling stations preferably incorporate transition blocks and/or row or column transfer gates

1 . A system for filling an array of product package cavities with solid pharmaceuticals comprising:
 a filling station for selectively filling at least one row or column of the cavities of a product package template shuttle with a solid pharmaceutical product;   automatically positioning the product package template shuttle above a further product package template shuttle or a product package portion transferred by a conveying system;   automatically selectively releasing the solid pharmaceutical products from at least one row or column of cavities of the product package template shuttle into corresponding cavities of the further product package template or product package portion that is transferred by a conveying system.   
     
     
         2 . The system for filling an array of product package cavities according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid pharmaceuticals pass through a transition block. 
     
     
         3 . The system for filling an array of product package cavities according to  claim 1 , wherein a gate corresponding to each row of cavities for a package template is provided.