Abstract: In a tablet filler device having a feeder, a chute, a tablet sorting and advancing mechanism and a gravity feed for filling tablet containers, the improvement is a star wheel tablet sorting and advancing mechanism, having a star wheel that is a flat, circular plate. The star wheel has a plurality of a tablet slots which are complete pass-through slots absent a front or back, and which are arranged sequentially about an outer area of the circular plate. The tablet filler device may also include a rotating segment surface wheel adjacent the star wheel for counter rotation against the star wheel to enhance individual rapid speed placement of tablets into the slots of the star wheel. In other embodiments, the tablet filler device may include a step up, digitally controllable motor connected to the star wheel for driving the star wheel.

Abstract: The present invention tablet filler device system includes a plurality of individually secured cells with a tablet hopper and drum functionally adapted to regulate and orient gravity outflow of tablets, a gravity feed chute connected to and downstream from the hopper to singularly align and feed tablets, and a rotatable starwheel having slots to receive tablets from the feed chute to move tablets to a container filling substation. There is also a tablet inspection mechanism located on the feed chute to discern quality characteristics of tablets moving down the feed chute in accordance with a predetermined standard, and a tablet ejector to eject unacceptable tablets. A stepper drive motor with a counter capability for driving the starwheel in a step fashion for controlled release of tablets is included, and an optional counting verification sensor. The cells are interconnected for computer controlled automatic order filling for a variety of tablet types and container sizes.

Abstract: The present invention tablet filler device with enhanced quality control features includes a tablet hopper and an agitating drum functionally connected to the hopper and adapted to regulate and orient gravity outflow of tablets. There is a gravity feed chute connected to and downstream from the hopper to singularly align and feed tablets, and a rotatable starwheel having slots to receive tablets individually from the feed chute so as to move tablets to a filling outlet for gravity feed to a container filling station.