Abstract: A medicament tablet dispensing system and method dispenses any selected number of tablets, up to a maximum number, without a substantial delay associated with counting all of the tablets. A preset number of tablets are counted and stored in dedicated primary chambers. Furthermore, an overflow chamber is provided for temporarily storing and then dispensing tablets which are fed to the primary chamber after the primary chambers are filled with their respective number of tablets. In addition, a direct feed channel is provided for dispensing individually counted tablets. The chambers and direct feed channel can together dispense the selected number. It is also preferable that the chambers have subchambers, and that more than one subchamber be capable of being emptied during a single dispensing operation.

Abstract: A medicine packing apparatus including a display unit with which a medicine housed state can be easily determined, operatability is made favorable, and prescription data can also be input. The apparatus also includes a plurality of medicine containers (11), which each contain a medicine and is equipped with a medicine identification unit (16). The containers are housed in a medicine housing rack (1). A medicine included in prescription data is fed from the medicine container 11 by medicine feeder (34). The medicine fed from a medicine feeder (34) is packaged by medicine a packing device (3). Medicine data is read from the medicine identification unit (16) of the medicine container (11) by a reader (40), and housing site data of the medicine container (11) and medicine data of a medicine contained in the medicine container (11) are stored.

Abstract: Prefilled syringes are made by displacing a succession of syringes along a conveyor path from a supply station successively through a marking station, a filling station, and to a downstream packing station. Each of the syringes is filled with a predetermined dose of a medicament in the filling station. The syringes are marked in the marking station with machine-readable data identifying the medicament to be put in the empty syringe at the filling station. The syringes are scanned downstream of the marking station and any syringe whose data is not readable is then removed from the conveyor path, as is any syringe whose data does not correspond to the medicament filled into the syringe at the filling station.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, a container filling plant container information adding station, such as, a labeling station, configured to add information to containers, such as, bottles and cans, and modules for labeling stations proposed a labeling machine. Each module comprises a first coupling structure to permit interchangeable position of a module at one of a plurality of second coupling structures. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions.

Abstract: A method for facilitating the delivery of water to a plurality of cage level barrier-type cages, for housing animals for an animal study, the method including; providing a plurality of cage level barrier-type cages for an animal study at a laboratory facility site, and disposing a bag forming apparatus at a clean side of a laboratory washroom at the laboratory facility site, wherein the bag forming apparatus is capable of providing sealed bags of water for use in the cage level barrier-type cages. The method can further include providing bag material to the laboratory facility site.

Abstract: A discrete object dispensing system and method dispenses any selected number of objects, up to a maximum number, without a substantial delay associated with counting all of the tablets. A preset number of objects are counted and stored in dedicated primary chambers. Furthermore, an overflow chamber is provided for temporarily storing and then dispensing tablets which are fed to the primary chamber after the primary chambers are filled with their respective number of tablets. In addition, a direct feed channel is provided for dispensing individually counted tablets. The chambers and direct feed channel can together dispense the selected number. It is also preferable that the chambers have subchambers, and that more than one subchamber be capable of being emptied during a single dispensing operation.

Abstract: An automatic tablet dispensing and packaging system includes a tablet packaging unit and a tablet dropping unit that have door cabinets and slider cabinets. The packaging system comprises a front hopper for the door cabinets, and rear hoppers detachably mounted in the base plate to minimize the rebounding of the released tablets, and kinetic force of the tablets being dropped via the corresponding channel.

Abstract: A system and method for packaging oriented containers in a container carrier wherein a plurality of containers are fed into an orienter device for orienting a container in a desired rotational position prior to placement in a container carrier. The orienter device includes a reader for determining an initial orientation of the container; a control system for determining a shortest rotational distance from the initial orientation to the desired rotational position between a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction; and a chuck engaged with the container and in communication with the control system for rotating the container the shortest rotational distance to the desired rotational position.

Abstract: A method for conveying a package to a wrap station of a package wrapping machine involves the steps of providing a conveying system for moving the package to the wrap station, the conveying system being selectively adjustable for varying a lateral position of a package; sensing a lateral position of the package as it travels along the conveying system; comparing the sensed lateral position of the package with a desired lateral position of the package; and based upon the comparison, adjusting the conveying system to place the package in the desired lateral position.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wrapping machine for printed products that includes determining the size of an incoming gap in a printed product stream and controlling a speed of the wrapping machine as a function of the size of the incoming gap. The controlling step includes intentionally leaving, in the printed product stream in the wrapper machine, at least a single product gap corresponding to the incoming gap so as to create at least one empty bag. A newspaper finishing machine and controller are also provided.

Abstract: A product packaging system for organizing and packing a number of different items into a set. The system may include a number of staging conveyors. Each of the staging conveyors may carry a stack of items from the number of different items. The system further may include a positioning conveyor positioned adjacent to the staging conveyors and a number of removal devices positioned adjacent to the positioning conveyor. The removal devices may remove one item from the stack of items on each of the staging conveyors and place the item on the positioning conveyor. The system also may include one or more rotation devices positioned about the positioning conveyor so as to rotate the one items on the positioning conveyor.

Abstract: The method comprises viewing by of a magnetic recording camera the zone for the opening of vials and for metered filling thereof and continuously recording the zones visually during the operation of the installation and simultaneously carrying out the identification marking of each full glass container, with indelible marking means, at the outlet of the installation.

Abstract: A medication filling apparatus for filling a predetermined container with medications, such as tablets, provide improved assemblability and maintainability, and permits safe and reliable filling operations, while maintaining a compact size. The medication filling apparatus is equipped with a plurality of tablet cases for accommodating medications of respective types, a plurality of hoppers provided side by side below the respective tablet cases in a corresponding manner to receive the medications dispensed therefrom, and charging means for guiding the medications dispensed from a dispensing port formed at the bottommost portion of each hopper to a predetermined container and for charging them, and is further equipped with retaining members on which the hoppers are hung, wherein the hoppers are detachably installed to the retaining members.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating an inserter having hoppers from which inserts may be selected to include with a mail item. The mail item is moved sequentially, such as with a conveyor, to positions that correspond with the hoppers. At each position for the mail item, information is extracted from a job file related to how that mail item is to be processed and used to determine whether the insert from the corresponding hopper should be included with the mail item. If so, the hopper is caused to include the insert with the mail item; otherwise, the mail item is permitted to proceed to the next position without the insert being included.

Abstract: A method for defining the operation of a plant for producing, conveying and packaging articles. The articles include rolls, such as rolls of paper material and the like. The plant includes the following operative sections: at least an apparatus for forming articles positioned upstream, at least a machine for packaging the articles in respective packs positioned downstream, and an apparatus for conveying the articles which is able to transfer the articles between the forming apparatus and the packaging apparatus. The method and the plant provide that, through a central control unit of the plant, starting from predefined setting data, operating parameters of the sections of the plant are determined.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions.

Abstract: Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a roller and a roller housing having a top part that defines a small space between them through which a flap-including longitudinal edge of an envelope passes. The edge is constrained to form a curvature as it passes through the small space, causing the flap to open at least to some extent. A second improvement in pre-openers includes a cut out formed in an envelope support plate and a rigid deflector positioned in the path of the envelopes as they leave the hopper. The envelope flaps are partly opened as they are deflected below the plane of the support plate. A third improvement includes a plurality of vacuum dishes formed in an envelope-supporting plate.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a goods-wrapping apparatus for wrapping a particular article of a plurality of articles, includes: a goods storing section operable to store the plurality of articles; a goods carrying in/out section operable to carry in the articles into the goods storing section and carry out the article from the goods storing section; a printer operable to print a printing content associated with the particular article onto a printing medium based on the particular article; and a wrapping section operable to wrap the particular article carried out from the goods carrying in/out section with the printing medium onto which the printing content associated with the particular article has been printed.

Abstract: A packing machine for packing cigarettes, having a conveyor in turn having at least one pocket for forming and conveying a respective group of cigarettes; the pocket being carried by a carriage run along a fixed guide by a linear electric motor, a stator or primary of which extends along at least one portion of the guide, and a cursor or secondary of which is carried by the carriage.

Abstract: A discrete object dispensing system and method dispenses any selected number of objects, up to a maximum number, without a delay associated with counting the tablets. A preset number of objects are counted and stored in dedicated chambers, the combination of the numbers of objects within the chambers being known to comprise any number of objects which is desired for dispensing. According to a preferred system, n chambers are provided, with 20, 21, 22, . . . , 2n−1 tablets provided respectively in the individual chambers. The chambers which together add up to the selected number for dispensing are emptied. Only those chambers which are emptied after dispensing need to be refilled and, as such, only the number of tablets in those storage locations need to be counted. The system may include a plurality of cells, each including a plurality of chambers for a different solid dose medication.

Abstract: A system for conveying sheet-like objects, in particular banknotes, comprises a cash dispensing unit, a number of cash dispensing stations and a control unit. A conveying channel having an inlet side and an outlet side is disposed between the cash dispensing unit and each cash dispensing station, with elements for generating an air flow being present in each conveying channel. An enveloping device for enveloping the objects to be conveyed is disposed between the cash dispensing unit and the conveying channel(s). The cash dispensing unit delivers banknotes requested by a cash dispensing station to the enveloping device under the control of the control unit, which enveloping device envelopes the banknotes by a cash dispensing station and delivers the envelope to a unit for delivering the envelope containing banknotes to a conveying channel.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading packages into a bag is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one first suction cup operable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support one side of a bag which extends generally vertically downwardly from the first suction cup, a feeding station operable to store bags in a generally horizontal position, a transfer arm, at least one transfer arm suction cup operable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support one side of a bag, and means for moving the transfer arm suction cup longitudinally of the transfer arm.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a series of individualized custom doses for a consumer. The individualized doses being delivered in a package or packages, such that each individualized custom dose, comprising a plurality of medications and/or supplements, is individually separable from the remaining doses within the series. By way of example, and not of limitation, a system is described having a web based front-end interface within which the user may establish a dosing schedule, select supplements and/or medications (MS) from an MS database, elect which MS are to be included in each dose, and communicate the order to be processed by a packetizing system. The packetizing system utilizes a conveyance device which interconnects a series of pill dispensing bins. The conveyance device has compartments for collecting a series of doses which are then packetized and shipped for use by the consumer.

Abstract: A cigarette packing machine has a first drive normally transmitting motion to packing units which are employed to advance a series of arrays of cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry and to confine each array in a discrete packet by providing each of successive arrays of the series with one or more envelopes, labels and the like. The first drive is decelerated and brought to a halt in the event of malfunctioning of one or more packing units of the machine and/or for other reasons, and this initiates or prevents an interruption of operation of at least one second drive which transmits motion to one or more packing units during deceleration and/or during a period following stoppage of the first drive. The second drive(s) causes or cause the respective packing unit(s) to complete operations which, if not carried out prior to restarting of the first drive, would entail the making of numerous defective packets.

Abstract: A packaging machine for wrapping and enclosing products of various dimensions and consistency in packaging material, such as paper, bags, cans and the like, includes individual processing units, to each of which a drive with a control unit is assigned. Predetermined movement rules, e.g., time-path functions, are processed by the control units. Sensors are included for detecting the operational state, wherein the movement rules of the corresponding drive are scaled when the synchronization between the packaging material and the product to be packaged deviates. The resulting path-time rule is constant and constantly differentiable, so that either the acceleration change in the non-diffentiable points of the speed-time rule is less than a predetermined limiting value, or the resulting speed-time rule is constantly differentiable.

Abstract: A film feeding device for a single layer color film packaging machine includes a primary frame on which is installed a sealing cutter, an arm extending from the primary frame for mounting a roll of film which has an end extending through between two first rollers, one of the rollers being driven by an electric motor, a secondary frame mounted on one side of the primary frame, a micro-switch installed on the secondary frame, a movable rod movably mounted on the secondary frame so that when a packaging film is pulled upwardly by articles, the movable rod will be moved upwardly to leave the micro-switch thereby turning on a first electric motor to drive the first rollers to feed a predetermined length of the packaging film for packaging the articles, another end of the packaging film under the primary frame being moved by second rollers driven by a second electric motor, the articles being fed by a conveyor belt onto a platform and then wrapped by the packaging film.

Abstract: A continuous feeding device for a single color film packaging machine includes a pair of chains mounted at two sides above a conveyor belt, the chains being engaged with a plurality of gears, a plurality of a linking rods equidistantly mounted between the two chains, two first sensors disposed close to an outer side of one of the chains for detecting the lining rods, a platform installed at an end of the conveyor belt, an electric motor mounted beside the conveyor belt and being drivingly connected with an axle on which are fixedly mounted two of the gears engaged with the chains, and two second sensors each mounted close to an outer side of a respective one of the chains, the two second sensors being aligned with each other, whereby the articles can be continuously packaged thus increasing the efficiency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating an inserter having hoppers from which inserts may be selected to include with a mail item. The mail item is moved sequentially, such as with a conveyor, to positions that correspond with the hoppers. At each position for the mail item, information is extracted from a job file related to how that mail item is to be processed and used to determine whether the insert from the corresponding hopper should be included with the mail item. If so, the hopper is caused to include the insert with the mail item; otherwise, the mail item is permitted to proceed to the next position without the insert being included.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for flattening cover tape prior to the cover tape being sealed to a carrier tape. The apparatus includes a cover tape flattener with a leading edge angled in the direction of the moving carrier tape and cover tape. The method and apparatus provide for smoothing the cover tape and sealing the cover tape to the carrier tape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medicine packing apparatus including a display unit with which a medicine housed state can be grasped at one glance, operatability is made favorable and prescription data can also be inputted. A plurality of medicine containers 11 each containing a medicine and equipped with a medicine identification unit 16 are housed in a medicine housing rack 1. A medicine included in prescription data is fed from the medicine container 11 by medicine feeding means. The medicine fed from medicine feeding means 34 is packaged by medicine packing means 34. Medicine data is read from the medicine identification unit 16 of the medicine container 11 by reading means 27, and housing site data of the medicine container 11 and medicine data of a medicine contained in the medicine container 11 are stored. An arrangement screen including an arrangement view of the medicine containers 11 corresponding to medicine names is displayed in display means 4, based on data stored in memory means 63, 65.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions.

Abstract: In a method of filling containers with piece goods, the piece goods are fed on a feed conveyer to at least two robots arranged in the conveying direction, in order by means of these robots to be put into empty spaces in the containers conveyed on a container conveyer. In the process, the robots are controlled in accordance with the arrangement of the piece goods on the feed conveyer, in such a way that they are utilized at least approximately uniformly. As a result, the lifetime of the robots may be increased.

Abstract: An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS.

Abstract: A system for compacting organic material such as silage and inserting compacted material into an elongate plastic bag. A feed table delivers material to a rotor that propels and compacts material into an inlet of a tunnel. A proportional valve controlling the hydraulic motor of the feed table controls the rate of which the feed table delivers material. A speed sensor senses the speed of the rotor and transmits a signal to the control unit connected to the proportional valve of the feed table. Overfeeding of material to the rotor results in a reduction of the rotor speed. Such reduction is sensed and the feed table delivery rate adjusted accordingly to optimize filling of the bag.

Abstract: The longitudinal-type bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus is an apparatus for packaging batches of articles being dropped. The longitudinal-type bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus includes a bag manufacturing and packaging unit, a film supply unit, photoelectric sensors and a controller. The photoelectric sensors detect a bottom end and a top end of batches of articles being dropped. The controller obtains a gap distance based on detected results detected by the photoelectric sensors. The gap distance is a distance between the top end of a preceding batch and the bottom end of a subsequent batch. Then, the controller compares the obtained gap distance with a predetermined value to automatically adjust the cycle time or to reduce the processing speed of the weighing unit.

Abstract: A machine that produces, dispenses and automatically bags ice. The machine will have at least one ice producing unit for producing ice. An auger mechanism is coupled to the ice producing unit for collecting and moving the ice that has been produced by the ice producing unit. A volumetric drum is coupled to the auger mechanism. The volumetric drum stores the ice moved by the auger mechanism and measures the amount of ice to be bagged by volume. A heat sealer coupled to the bagging mechanism is provided to seal the bag once the bag has been loaded with ice. The machine further has a freezer compartment which stores the bag when the bag has been loaded with ice and sealed. The machine has a monitoring and communication system which monitors operating conditions of the machine and sends information on the operation of the machine to the manufacturer.

Abstract: A machine for producing a packaging filler material employing inflated pouches or cells fabricated from a tubular supply of plastic-like material having a top and bottom integral fold so that a pair of sheets are defined with their opposing inner surfaces establishing a compartment. Sealed strips, which are spaced apart in parallel relationship, define the sides of each pouch compartment. The machine includes a first work station having a source of tubular material that is introduced to a second or cutter station for severing the top fold of the tubular material followed by introduction to a third or inflation station where a source of pressurized fluid is fed to the pouch compartment. A sealing station follows the inflation station where the top opening to the pouch is closed such as by heat sealing. Idler rollers smoothly conduct the material past each of the respective work stations in a serial fashion and provide a gap for effecting inflation.

Abstract: A packaging system for causing articles M to fall downward along a predetermined falling route A and filling the articles M into a tubular film F. The packaging system is provided with an auxiliary device 205 operating on the falling route A at predetermined timing and facilitating or improving the flow of the articles M, determination unit 21a determining whether a state of the flow of the articles M on the falling route A is normal or abnormal, and a change unit 21b changing the operating timing of the auxiliary device 205 according to the state of the flow of the articles M determined by the determination unit 21a. With this configuration, the state of the flow of the articles M is improved and the high productivity (yield) and/or operativity of the packaging system can be maintained.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing and conveying air pillows comprises an air pillow production machine which produces a continuous web of air filled pillows, ductwork extending away from the air pillow production machine and through which the web of air pillows is conveyed, and a blower which conveys the web of air pillows from the air pillow production machine and through the ductwork. The web of air pillows are conveyed into a hopper for storage. A sensor senses a condition of at least one of the air pillows in the web of air pillows being deflated or a stall condition of the web of air pillows in the event the web of air pillows stops moving through the ductwork. A controller controls the air pillow production machine in response to signals from the sensor. The sensor and controller are a whisker trigger connected to a micro switch.

Abstract: A tablet supplying and packaging apparatus comprises a housing, a turntable having tablet containers with plates each hingedly engaged a container portion, so tablets are either maintained in each container or downwardly discharged when said plate is released. A cassette unit has an upper hopper, a cassette stand and a row of tablet cassettes detachably mounted on the cassette stand, so tablets are released from the cassettes and guided by an upper hopper. A lower hopper below the turntable and the upper hopper guides the tablets into a tablet packaging assembly below the lower hopper for packaging the tablets selectively released from the cassettes and the tablet containers into tablet paper bags.

Abstract: On a packing machine for packing cigarettes, whereby a group of cigarettes is formed by withdrawing the cigarettes from one or more outlets of a hopper, interception, in response to a control signal, of the stream of cigarettes from any one outlet results in simultaneous interception of the respective streams from all of any other outlets participating, with the intercepted outlet, in the formation of the group, but not in simultaneous stoppage of the packing machine as a whole.

Abstract: Capacitor characteristics measurement apparatus and packing apparatus includes a turntable (1) intermittently driven at a constant pitch to supply capacitors (C) from a parts feeder (8) to a holder section (2) of the turntable (1) in a one-by-one manner. A capacitance measurement section (4) and an IR prediction section (5) are provided to determine whether each capacitor is acceptable or defective in quality based on the measured values obtainable from these sections (4, 5). The IR prediction section (5) applies a DC voltage to a capacitor while predicting the current value at termination of chargeup by use of its initial current value in the charge region of an insulation polarization component thereof upon application of the voltage thereto.

Abstract: A vertical pillow type form-fill-seal packaging machine with transverse sealers incorporates a timing controller for adjusting the timing for clamping a tubularly formed film with the sealers such that articles being dropping in to be packaged will not be caught in between. A display device displays a time axis or parallel axes along which markers indicate the times of arrival of the falling articles to be packaged and the sealers at the clamping position for the sealers. As the user moves the marker for indicating the arrival time of the sealers, the timing controller adjusts the operating mode of the sealers such that the sealers will clamp the film at the time specified by the user according to the displayed time of arrival of the articles.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a filling device (13) for filling a tube T of packaging material having an open upper end and a closed lower end with contents in a predetermined amount at a time, and a device (14) for forming containers C by sealing and cutting the filled tube T transversely thereof into a length corresponding to one container at a time. The amount of contents to be filled into the container and the capacity of the container are so determined that the capacity is greater than the amount of contents to be filled.

Abstract: In the production and packaging of cigarettes, the procedure for carrying out a product changeover is such that the entire production and packaging installation is largely emptied. In the region of a film packer (16) and of a following multipacker (17), subassemblies for producing web connections (splice) are controlled such that a last cigarette pack of the old configuration is assigned to a last cigarette multipack (24) and this is then separated out.

Abstract: A tablet supplying and packaging apparatus comprises a controller, a cassette unit having a cassette rack and a plurality of tablet cassettes detachably mounted on the cassette rack in columns and rows, a turntable having a plurality of tablet containers, and a packaging unit disposed below the cassette unit and the turntable for packaging the tablets selectively released from said tablet cassettes and said tablet containers into a plurality of tablet paper bags by the controller.

Abstract: A pocket belt is continuously advanced by a drive at a variable pocket-belt speed, and a package supply feeds packages at a variable spacing one after another to a transfer station offset from the pocket belt. A feeding system has an intermediate belt extending through the transfer station from the supply to the pocket belt, and a drive for advancing the intermediate belt at an intermediate-belt speed and thereby moving the packages on the intermediate belt at the intermediate-belt speed from the supply to the pocket belt. A controller connected to the drives maintains the intermediate speed at a predetermined ratio to the pocket-belt speed as determined by the spacing between succeeding packages as they arrive at the transfer station from the supply.

Abstract: A method for conveying a package to a wrap station of a package wrapping machine involves the steps of providing a conveying system for moving the package to the wrap station, the conveying system being selectively adjustable for varying a lateral position of a package; sensing a lateral position of the package as it travels along the conveying system; comparing the sensed lateral position of the package with a desired lateral position of the package; and based upon the comparison, adjusting the conveying system to place the package in the desired lateral position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing drugs, wherein a patient's order of one or more prescriptions is automatically filled. Various drugs are stored in three or more filler lines. A vial size is assigned to each line. When a prescription is filled, it is automatically assigned to a line in view of the vial size requirements and processed accordingly. Provisions are made for the inability to fill a prescription or order. Subsequently, all of the patient's prescriptions are collected and made available as a single order.