Abstract: An optical detecting system for a machine for counting individual articles and delivering a preselected quantity of articles into receptacles. The system optically illuminates individual article receiving locations on an endless conveyor made up of elongated article receiving flights and produces optically-detectable indications of the presence or absence of an article at one or more article receiving locations. A reflector displays the optically-detectable indications to an optical detector, such as a camera, which generates an electronic signal representative of the optically-detectable indication. Associated circuitry generates a second electronic signal indicative of the presence or absence of an article in one or more receiving locations. The second electronic signal may be used to derive a count of articles delivered into the receptacles, and to actuate ejection of receptacles which are under-filled.

Abstract: A slat-type article counting machine includes slats provided with cavities which carry the articles, an exact count of which are designed to be discharged into bottles or containers. Each cavity defines a hole which penetrates the entire slat depth. Two pairs of scanners are mounted to the machine, one for detecting missing articles from cavities and the other for detecting articles wedged or blocked therein. A pair of scanners comprises sensors which include an array board having multiple light-emitting diodes which project light beams through the holes provided in the cavities to thereby strike photoelectric cells mounted to another array board, which photoelectric cells generate signals which cooperate with sensing and logic circuits for effecting visual and audible means for indicating miscounts due to empty or blocked cavities. A wide range of auxiliary operations and functions may additionally be initiated by the signals.

Abstract: An improved slat-type counting machine which prevents continuous miscounting of discrete articles, such as tablets, capsules, and the like, is disclosed. The slats are provided with conventional cavities, each of which carry a tablet or capsule therein to be counted. Each cavity is provided with a slit therethrough which slit penetrates the bottom of the cavity and partially into its supporting slat. The stationary ejector blade mechanism of the present invention is mounted to the counting machine. As the slats travel in a closed loop path, each slit is penetrated by a blade, the tip thereof entering the slit at a point beyond the bottom of the cavity to thereby eject any tablet wedged in the cavity, which tablets failed to discharge by force of gravity at a predetermined discharge station area. Means are also disclosed for adjusting and aligning the ejector blade mechanism with respect to the slit cavities disposed in the moving slats.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering boluses into recurring arrays of longitudinally moving receptacles has an endless conveyor of connected slats with recesses for receipt of boluses. The slats travel in two opposed parallel tracks. Spaced parallel guides segregate boluses horizontally in a conveyor filling area. In one embodiment transverse dividers protrude to separate adjacent slats in the conveyor filling area and retract outside the filling area, allowing the conveyor to deliver boluses into recurring arrays of moving receptacles as the slats move substantially complementally with the receptacles.