Pill fill tray and packaging system
A pill fill tray that includes a primary surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein and at least one indexing member. The primary surface is configured to support a card having a plurality of apertures formed therein that provide access to a pill compartment of the card. The indexing member is coupled to the primary surface at one end of the pill fill tray and extends in a direction normal to the primary surface. The indexing member is configured to engage a notch feature formed in the card. When the notch feature engages the indexing member, the plurality of apertures in the pill fill tray align with the plurality of card apertures.
1 . A pill fill tray, comprising:
a primary surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein, the primary surface being configured to support a card having a plurality of apertures formed therein that provide access to a pill compartment of the card; and
at least one indexing member coupled to the primary surface at one end of the pill fill tray, the at least one indexing member extending in a direction generally normal to the primary surface and being configured to engage a notch feature formed in the card;
wherein when the notch feature engages the indexing member, the plurality of aperture in the pill fill tray align with the plurality of card apertures.
2 . The pill fill tray of claim 1 , comprising three indexing members.
3 . The pill fill tray of claim 1 , further comprising first and second ends and first and second sides, wherein the at least one indexing member is positioned along the first or second end.
4 . The pill fill tray of claim 1 , further comprising a first alignment wall positioned along a first end of the pill fill tray, wherein the at least one indexing member is positioned adjacent to the alignment wall.
5 . The pill fill tray of claim 4 , further comprising a second alignment wall positioned along a first side of the pill fill tray.
6 . The pill fill tray of claim 5 , wherein at least one indexing member is positioned along the first alignment wall and at least one indexing member is positioned along the second alignment wall.
7 . The pill fill tray of claim 1 , wherein the primary surface includes at least thirty apertures.
8 . A pill packaging system, comprising:
a pill fill tray having a plurality of tray apertures defined in a primary surface thereof and having at least one indexing member protruding from the primary surface; and
a pill card having a plurality of card apertures and an indexing notch formed therein;
wherein the primary surface of the pill fill tray is configured to support the pill card and the indexing member is configured to engage the indexing notch to align the plurality of tray apertures with the plurality of card apertures.
9 . The pill packaging system of claim 8 , wherein the pill fill tray includes at least three indexing members.
10 . The pill packaging system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one indexing member is positioned at a first end of the pill fill tray.
11 . The pill packaging system of claim 8 , wherein the pill fill tray includes a first alignment member positioned along a first end of the pill fill tray and a second alignment member positioned along a first side of the pill fill tray.
12 . The pill packaging system of claim 11 , wherein at least one indexing member is positioned adjacent to the first alignment member and at least one indexing member is positioned adjacent to the second alignment member.
13 . A method of using a pill packaging system, the pill packaging system including a pill fill tray having a plurality of tray apertures formed therein and having an indexing member extending therefrom, and a pill card having a plurality of card apertures and an indexing notch formed therein, the method comprising the steps of:
aligning the indexing notch with the indexing member thereby aligning the tray apertures with the card apertures;
mounting the pill card to the pill fill tray; and
positioning pills within the card and tray apertures after the aligning step and the mounting step.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the pill fill tray further includes first and second alignment members positioned along a first end and a first side of the pill fill tray, respectively, the method further including aligning a first end of the pill card along the first alignment member and positioning a first side of the pill card along the second alignment member.
15 . A method of manufacturing a pill fill tray, comprising the steps of:
forming a base portion having a primary surface;
forming a plurality of apertures in the base, the apertures being sized to receive a pill; and
forming at least one indexing member on the primary surface at one end of the base portion, the at least one indexing member being configured to orient a pill card on the primary surface relative to the plurality of apertures.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising forming an alignment member along one end of the base portion, wherein the at least one indexing member is positioned adjacent to the alignment member.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one indexing member is positioned between the alignment member and the plurality of apertures.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the pill fill tray features are formed using a molding process.