Rotating multi-chamber tablet feeder
View Patent ↗An improved tablet feeder includes a rotating body defining multiple chambers that are arranged in fluid communication with one another in a serial manner. Tablets flow through the multiple chambers for discharge from the tablet feeder. The rotating body has a rotational axis that is oriented at an inclination angle less than 60 degrees from horizontal. The chambers preferably include a primary chamber that holds a large number of tablets, a secondary chamber (which may have a frusto-conical sector or wedge shape) that is disposed at a position offset from the rotational axis, and a third chamber and exit tube disposed along the rotational axis. The device may be adapted to provide for singular and/or non-singular discharge of tablets from the exit tube during rotation of the rotating body.
1. A tablet feeder comprising:
a rotating body defining multiple chambers that are arranged in fluid communication with one another in a serial manner, wherein tablets flow through said multiple chambers for discharge from the tablet feeder, wherein said rotating body has a rotational axis that is oriented at an inclination angle less than 60 degrees from horizontal and has a 360 degree rotational range, wherein said multiple chambers include a first chamber that is disposed at a position offset from said rotational axis, wherein tablets flow into said first chamber during a bottom portion of said rotational range, and wherein tablets flow out of said first chamber during a top portion of said rotational range.
2. A tablet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein:
said first chamber has a frusto-conical sector shape.
3. A tablet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein:
said multiple chambers include a primary chamber that holds a large number of tablets, wherein tablets held in said primary chamber flow through an opening into said first chamber.
4. A tablet feeder according to claim 3 , wherein:
said primary chamber is defined by a cylindrical body and a cover, said cover defining said opening into said first chamber.
5. A tablet feeder according to claim 3 , wherein:
size of said opening is adjustable.
6. A tablet feeder according to claim 3 , wherein:
said multiple chambers include a second chamber disposed along said rotational axis, wherein tablets flow from said first chamber through an opening into said second chamber.
7. A tablet feeder according to claim 6 , further comprising:
an exit tube, wherein tablets flow from said second chamber into said exit tube.
8. A tablet feeder according to claim 7 , wherein:
said second chamber and said exit tube are formed from a common tubular structure disposed along said rotational axis.
9. A tablet feeder according to claim 8 , wherein:
said second chamber and said exit tube are separated by a wall that projects from an inside diameter surface of said tubular structure toward said rotational axis.
10. A tablet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein:
volumes of said multiple chambers decrease along a flow path through said multiple chambers.
11. A tablet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein:
said inclination angle is less than 20 degrees from horizontal.
12. A tablet feeder according to claim 11 , wherein:
said inclination angle is in a range between 5 and 20 degrees from horizontal.
13. A tablet feeder according claim 1 , wherein:
tablets are discharged from said tablet feeder in a singular fashion.
14. A tablet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein:
tablets are discharged from said tablet feeder in a non-singular fashion.
15. A tablet feeder according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a motor for rotating said rotating body.
16. A tablet feeder according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a controller for adjusting at least one of rotational speed of said motor and said inclination angle to automatically adjust a throughput rate of tablets flowing through said multiple chambers.
17. A tablet feeder according to claim 15 , further comprising:
magnetic coupling elements that magnetically couple a shaft of said motor to said rotating body.
18. A tablet feeder according to claim 1 , wherein:
at least one chamber includes an inclined surface that provides backpressure with respect to tablets flowing through said chambers during rotation of said rotating body.
19. A tablet feeder according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a stationary gravity-feed funnel for supplying tablets to one of said chambers of said rotating body.
20. A tablet feeder according to claim 19 , wherein:
said funnel has a tubular opening into which is disposed a rotating shaft that rotates said rotating body.
21. A tablet feeder comprising:
a rotating body defining multiple chambers that are arranged in fluid communication with one another in a serial manner, wherein tablets flow through said multiple chambers for discharge from the tablet feeder;
wherein said rotating body has a rotational axis that is oriented at an inclination angle from horizontal; and
wherein said chambers are adapted such that tablets can flow backward from at least one chamber to a corresponding preceding chamber during rotation of said rotating body in order to provide backpressure with respect to tablets flowing through said chambers.
22. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , wherein:
said inclination angle is adjustable to vary throughput through said chambers.
23. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , wherein:
said multiple chambers include a first chamber that is disposed at a position offset from said rotational axis.
24. A tablet feeder according to claim 23 , wherein:
said rotating body has a 360 degree rotational range, and tablets flow into said first chamber during a bottom portion of said rotational range.
25. A tablet feeder according to claim 24 , wherein:
tablets flow out of said first chamber during a top portion of said rotational range.
26. A tablet feeder according to claim 23 , wherein:
said first chamber has a frusto-conical sector shape.
27. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , wherein:
said multiple chambers include a primary chamber that holds a large number of tablets, wherein tablets held in said primary chamber flow through an opening into a secondary chamber that is disposed at a position offset from said rotational axis.
28. A tablet feeder according to claim 27 , wherein:
said primary chamber is defined by a cylindrical body and a cover, said cover defining said opening into said secondary chamber.
29. A tablet feeder according to claim 28 , wherein:
size of said opening is adjustable.
30. A tablet feeder according to claim 28 , wherein:
said multiple chambers include a tertiary chamber disposed along said rotational axis, wherein tablets flow from said secondary chamber through an opening into said tertiary chamber.
31. A tablet feeder according to claim 30 , further comprising:
an exit tube, wherein tablets flow from said tertiary chamber into said exit tube.
32. A tablet feeder according to claim 31 , wherein:
said tertiary chamber and said exit tube are formed from a common tubular structure disposed along said rotational axis.
33. A tablet feeder according to claim 32 , wherein:
said tertiary chamber and said exit tube are separated by a wall that projects from an inside diameter surface of said tubular structure toward said rotational axis.
34. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , wherein:
volumes of said multiple chambers decrease along a flow path through said multiple chambers.
35. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , wherein:
said inclination angle is less than 20 degrees from horizontal.
36. A tablet feeder according to claim 35 , wherein:
said inclination angle is in a range between 5 and 20 degrees from horizontal.
37. A tablet feeder according claim 21 , wherein:
tablets are discharged from said tablet feeder in a singular fashion.
38. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , wherein:
tablets are discharged from said tablet feeder in a non-singular fashion.
39. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , further comprising:
a motor for rotating said rotating body.
40. A tablet feeder according to claim 39 , further comprising:
a controller for adjusting at least one of rotational speed of said motor and said inclination angle to automatically adjust a throughput rate of tablets flowing through said multiple chambers.
41. A tablet feeder according to claim 39 , further comprising:
magnetic coupling elements that magnetically couple a shaft of said motor to said rotating body.
42. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , wherein:
at least one chamber includes an inclined surface that provides backpressure with respect to tablets flowing through said chambers during rotation of said rotating body.
43. A tablet feeder according to claim 21 , further comprising:
a stationary gravity-feed funnel for supplying tablets to one of said chambers of said rotating body.
44. A tablet feeder according to claim 43 , wherein:
said funnel has a tubular opening into which is disposed a rotating shaft that rotates said rotating body.
45. A tablet feeder comprising:
a rotating body defining at least three chambers that are arranged in fluid communication with one another in a serial manner, wherein tablets flow through said chambers for discharge from the tablet feeder;
wherein said rotating body has a rotational axis that is oriented at an inclination angle from horizontal and has a 360 degree rotational range;
wherein volumes of said chambers decrease along a flow path through said chambers; and
wherein said chambers include a first chamber that is disposed at a position offset from said rotational axis, wherein tablets flow into said first chamber during a bottom portion of said rotational range, and wherein tablets flow out of said first chamber during a top portion of said rotational range.
46. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
said inclination angle is adjustable to vary throughput through said chambers.
47. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
said first chamber has a frusto-conical sector shape.
48. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
said chambers include a primary chamber that holds a large number of tablets, wherein tablets held in said primary chamber flow through an opening into said first chamber.
49. A tablet feeder according to claim 48 , wherein:
said primary chamber is defined by a cylindrical body and a cover, said cover defining said opening into said first chamber.
50. A tablet feeder according to claim 49 , wherein:
size of said opening is adjustable.
51. A tablet feeder according to claim 48 , wherein:
said chambers include a second chamber disposed along said rotational axis, wherein tablets flow from said first chamber through an opening into said second chamber.
52. A tablet feeder according to claim 51 , further comprising:
an exit tube, wherein tablets flow from said second chamber into said exit tube.
53. A tablet feeder according to claim 52 , wherein:
said second chamber and said exit tube are formed from a common tubular structure disposed along said rotational axis.
54. A tablet feeder according to claim 52 , wherein:
said second chamber and said exit tube are separated by a wall that projects from an inside diameter surface of said tubular structure toward said rotational axis.
55. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
said inclination angle is less than 20 degrees from horizontal.
56. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
said inclination angle is in a range between 5 and 20 degrees from horizontal.
57. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
tablets are discharged from said tablet feeder in a singular fashion.
58. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
tablets are discharged from said tablet feeder in a non-singular fashion.
59. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , further comprising:
a motor for rotating said rotating body.
60. A tablet feeder according to claim 59 , further comprising:
a controller for adjusting at least one of rotational speed of said motor and said inclination angle to automatically adjust a throughput rate of tablets flowing through said multiple chambers.
61. A tablet feeder according to claim 60 , further comprising:
magnetic coupling elements that magnetically couple a shaft of said motor to said rotating body.
62. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
at least one chamber includes an inclined surface that provides backpressure with respect to tablets flowing through said chambers during rotation of said rotating body.
63. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , wherein:
said chambers are adapted such that tablets can flow backward from at least one chamber to a corresponding preceding chamber during rotation of said rotating body in order to provide backpressure with respect to tablets flowing through said chambers.
64. A tablet feeder according to claim 45 , further comprising:
a stationary gravity-feed funnel for supplying tablets to one of said chambers of said rotating body.
65. A tablet feeder according to claim 64 , wherein:
said funnel has a tubular opening into which is disposed a rotating shaft that rotates said rotating body.