Herbert D Coble

US Patent:

59584670, Sep 28, 1999

Filed:

Feb 12, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/798688

Inventors:

Herbert Dale Coble - Raleigh NC
Robin Cary Maples - Knightdale NC
Ross Vincent Martin - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Glaxo Wellcome Inc. - RTP NC

International Classification:

B29C 4308
B29C 4358

US Classification:

425136

Abstract:

A exit chute for a pharmaceutical tablet press machine comprising a first exit chute portion having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is adapted to be secured to the tablet press for receiving tablets formed thereby. A second exit chute portion is provided that has a first end and a second end and the first end is adapted to be removably secured to the second end of the first exit chute portion to form an extended tablet pathway, and the second chute portion includes an aperture therein whereby rejected tablets can be diverted to pass therethrough and accepted tablets will be allowed to pass through the second exit chute portion and out of the second end thereof. An air-actuated gate is mounted to the second exit chute portion that is adapted to be selectively moved from an open reject position wherein tablets are diverted through the aperture to a closed accept position wherein the tablets are allowed to pass through the second exit chute portion, and wherein the selective movement is in response to signals from the tablet press. A circuit device electrically connect the air-actuated gate and the tablet press and includes sensors for detecting whether the air-actuated gate is in a correct tablet accept or tablet reject position. The circuit device acts to stop the tablet press during the tablet pressing operation when a fault in the position of the air-actuated gate is detected.