Systems and methods for packaging solid pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical products and automatically arranging the solid pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products in a linear transmission system
A variety of systems and methods are described which quickly and conveniently provide for the selective transmission of individual solid pharmaceutical products from a common location into individual blister package product cavities. In accordance with the preferred exemplary embodiments, an automated alignment mechanism alters the orientation of solid pharmaceutical products that are initially arranged randomly in a two-dimensional array into one or more linear transmission systems. Each linear transmission system is essentially a one-dimensional stack of solid pharmaceutical products, vitamins or other elements. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, after the solid pharmaceutical products have been arranged in one or more of the linear transmission systems or vertical stacks, the solid pharmaceutical products are selectively transmitted into individual product package blister cavities or into product package templates having locations corresponding to the blister package cavities.
1. A system for selectively transferring a series of individual solid consumable products from a two-dimensional arrangement of the three-dimensional products comprising:
a cavity containing only a two-dimensional random arrangement of a plurality of the solid consumable products, wherein two substantially parallel side walls define the cavity which are separated from one another by a distance which is slightly larger than a greatest dimension of the solid products in a desired orientation between the side walls;
a solid product passageway located beneath the cavity; and
a solid consumable product alignment member having two sides defining a shape that gradually increases in width from a location protruding furthest into the cavity toward a portion closest to the solid product passageway, and wherein the solid product alignment member moves upward and downward in the cavity to orient the solid consumable products such that the products pass into the passageway and wherein the solid consumable product alignment member has a thickness which enables the alignment member to freely move into the cavity, the solid consumable product alignment member primarily moving up and down in the cavity without substantial horizontal displacement, and further wherein the solid consumable product alignment member moves up and down between the substantially parallel side walls which define the cavity, wherein each side of the solid consumable product alignment member directs consumable products to a different solid product passageway.
2. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 1 , wherein the solid consumer product alignment member is comprised of a triangular structure.
3. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional cavity is defined by at least one clear panel member.
4. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the solid consumer product alignment member moves upward and downward to reorient the solid products.
5. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 1 , further comprising a consumable product selective transmission mechanism located beneath each solid product path.
6. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring within which the solid consumable products are arranged after passing through the path.
7. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 6 , further comprising a spring vibrator located adjacent to the spring.
8. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor which selectively drives a portion of the solid consumer product alignment member upward or downward.
9. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 8 , wherein the motor also causes vibration of a spring through which the solid consumable products pass.
10. A system for selectively transmitting a plurality of consumable products into product package locations according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor that rotates a drive shaft having a plurality of cam members that rotate and drive at least a portion of the solid consumer product alignment member against a spring with a vertical component of motion.