Methods and Apparatus for Dispensing Solid Pharmaceutical Articles

Abstract

A method is provided for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor. The method includes: forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing passage; generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus.

1 . A method for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing channel having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including first and second sensors spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor, the method comprising:
 forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing channel;   generating detection signals using the first and second sensors responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and   using the detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first sensor is located proximate the dispensing inlet and the second sensor is located proximate the dispensing outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  including counting the articles passing through the dispensing channel using at least one of the first and second sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  including:
 counting the articles passing through the dispensing channel using the second sensor; and 
 detecting jams of the articles using the first sensor. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forcing at least one article along the path through the dispensing channel includes generating at least one drive gas flow using a flow generator to force the at least one article along the path through the dispensing channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  including forcing the articles through the dispensing channel using a drive gas jet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  including positively controlling a positive pressure source to provide the at least one drive gas flow. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  including dispensing the articles from a hopper chamber of the housing into the dispensing channel. 
     
     
         9 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles using an apparatus including a housing and a sensor system, the housing defining a dispensing channel having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet, the sensor system including at least one sensor positioned along the dispensing channel, the method comprising:
 forcing at least one article along a path through the dispensing channel;   generating detection signals using the at least one sensor responsive to articles passing through the dispensing channel; and   using a duration of at least one of the detection signals from the at least one sensor to determine whether a dispensing fault condition has occurred.