Inspection machine and system for medication pills

Abstract

The present invention provides an inspection system for inspecting medicinal product, for example a medication pill such as a capsule, a tablet, etc., that includes at vacuum wheels in a strategic combination of vision cameras, where the vacuum wheels hold the medicinal product under vacuum and the vision cameras enable optimal inspection of the medicinal product in 360 degrees of viewing angle. This way the present system provides an efficient and compact way of inspecting the medicinal pill from all the possible and required angles to inspect the integrity and attributes of the pill, e.g., color, size, etc.

Description

INSPECTION MACHINE AND SYSTEM FOR MEDICATION PILLSFIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is generally related to automated technologies in inspecting medication pills. More particularly, the present invention relates to automation of inspection methods implemented in inspecting medication pills, such as capsules.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Medicines inspection approaches are being utilized in medical care facilities to inspect and analyze medicaments. By way of example, inspection systems may be implemented using conveyor systems over which medicines, pills, capsules, tablets, and other kinds of medicinal substance may be conveyed and checked for their attributes, such as color, size, etc. Such checking and inspection may be done manually with the aid of equipment, such as cameras, sensors, etc.

[0003] Such inspection systems may be implemented within a packaging plant, manufacturing plant, medical dispensary (e.g., a pharmacy) located at a hospital or other patient care facility. In conjunction with such systems, the accuracy, integrity and reliability of medicines is a primary concern. Further, the efficiencies associated with inspection systems are of interest.

[0004] Conventional systems, such as conveyor belts may provide limited inspection angles, e.g., viewing angles, and may require human and machine involvement to a considerable effect, in order to maintain the integrity of the medicine being inspected.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to develop a compact and effective automated system for inspection of medicines, such as medication pills, capsules, etc.OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Thus, the present invention provides an automated compact system for inspection of all kinds of medicinal substance, such as all types of pills, e.g., capsules, tablets, etc.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient and speedy method for segregating a defective medicine from an acceptable medicine after being inspected.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an optimal viewing angle from all the directions to inspect a medicinal product.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine that can inspect all types of medicinal pills including a soft gel type, hard gel type, and others.

[0010] An object of the present invention is also to allow the single inspection machine / system to inspect the medicinal products, e.g., the pills of different shapes and sizes of product, without implementing or using product specific parts in the system, saving the cost of the change parts and circumventing the maintaining of inventory and purchasing change parts.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to design a compact and concise inspection system, occupying less floor space.SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0012] An aspect of the invention discloses an inspection system for inspecting a medicinal product, comprising: a rotary product feeding system including: at least two vacuum wheels to hold the medicinal product under inspection by means of vacuum along their periphery and rotating or revolving, individually or in combination, the medicinal product to allowinspection from every possible and required angle by rotating the medicinal product in any required angle, maximum up to 3600, in any required plane, including angular plane, horizontal plane, or vertical plane, individually or in combination; and a rotating feeding drum including a rotating feeding disk to seamlessly transfer, via rotation / revolving, the medicinal product to the first vacuum wheel and then to the second vacuum wheel; and each of the at least two vacuum wheels is equipped with an imaging system to enable strategic and optimal inspection in 360 degrees of the medicinal product by capturing one or more images or video feed or both of the medicinal product while it is being rotated at the at least two vacuum wheels in full 360 degrees.

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention provides the medicinal product includes at least one or more of a medication pill, a capsule, a tablet, including soft gel and hard gel.

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention discloses an equal gap is kept between two consecutive medicinal products, suitable for proper imaging, at least at the at least two vacuum wheels.

[0015] An embodiment of the present invention provides a signal output from the imaging system is transmitted to a computing machine including a display monitor for analysis by an operator or the computing machine, individually or in combination, for rejecting or accepting the medicinal product based on its required integrity, such as its acceptable color, size, and other attributes.

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention provides the operator or the computing machine, individually or in combination analyses the signal output from the imaging system optimally under a 360 degrees angle in real time.

[0017] Another embodiment of the present invention provides the imaging system includes plurality of vision cameras, each mounted in a camera mounting enclosure; wherein, each of the camera mounting enclosure is mounted at a strategic angle which enables optimal inspection of the medicinal product in 360 degrees.

[0018] Another embodiment of the present invention provides the vision cameras are installed at a required angle, maximum up to 360 degrees, and in any required plane, including angular plane, horizontal plane, or vertical plane, individually or in combination.

[0019] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides the vision cameras are rotatable in any direction.

[0020] Another embodiment of the present invention provides the inspection system further includes a product hopper and a vibrator feeder, and wherein an operator or an automatic system including a robotic arm, individually or in combination, places the medicinal product in the product hopper leading the medicinal product to the rotating feeding drum via a vibrator feeder.

[0021] Further, an embodiment of the present invention provides the medicinal product is placed in an uninspected bin after being transferred by the rotating feeding drum 8 and the rotating feeding disk to the first vacuum wheel and, is, further, suspended under an uninspected rejection air nozzle, until it reaches inside a viewing angle of the imaging system.

[0022] A further embodiment of the present invention provides the inspection system further includes a rejection outlet for collecting rejected / defected product after inspection and a collection outlet for collecting acceptable / good product after being inspected.

[0023] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides the inspection system further includes one or more sensors equipped at each of the vacuum wheels and also at the feeding drum to detect the presence of the medicinal product.

[0024] An embodiment of the present invention provides the inspection system further includes vacuum pumps to create vacuum for the vacuum wheels and vacuum exhaust to exhaust extra air out.

[0025] Another aspect of the present invention provides an inspection system 100 for inspecting a medicinal product, comprising: a rotary product feeding system including: at least two vacuum wheels to hold the medicinal product by means of vacuum along their periphery for inspection by rotating or revolving, individually or in combination, the medicinal product in any required angle, maximum up to 360°, in any required plane, including angular plane, horizontal plane, or vertical plane, individually or in combination; and a rotating feeding drum including a rotating feeding disk to seamlessly transfer, via rotation / revolving or in combination, the medicinal product to the first vacuum wheel and then to the second vacuum wheel; and each of the at least two vacuum wheels is equipped with an imaging system to enable strategic and optimal inspection in 360 degrees of the medicinal product by capturing one or more images or video feed or both of the medicinal product while it is being rotated / revolved or in combination at the at least two vacuum wheels in any required angle maximum up to 360 degrees, the imaging system including: a plurality of vision cameras, each mounted in a camera mounting enclosure; wherein, each of the camera mounting enclosure is mounted at a strategic angle and in any required plane, including angular plane, horizontal plane, or vertical plane, individually or in combination to capture images or video of the medicinal product in any angle up to 360 degrees, andwherein the plurality of vision cameras includes rotatable cameras or fixed cameras, individually or in combination.

[0026] An embodiment of the present invention provides a set of a rotating feeding drum 8 including a rotating feeding disk 9 is also placed between the two vacuum wheels in the rotary product feeding system for seamless transfer of the product from one vacuum wheel to another.

[0027] An embodiment of the present invention provides is implemented to inspect products other than medicines, including edible items, or jewelry items, or other such items which can be appropriately held by the vacuum wheels.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] For a better understanding of the embodiments of the systems and methods described herein, and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, references will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements / components throughout and wherein:

[0029] FIGs. 1-3 illustrate different views of exemplary representation of an inspection system for medicinal substance, e.g., pills, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as given below:

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view;

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view and

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0033] This patent describes the subject matter for patenting with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The principles described herein may be embodied in many different forms.

[0034] Illustrative embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0035] The present invention provides an inspection system for inspecting medicinal product, for example a medication pill such as a capsule, a tablet, etc., that includes at vacuum wheels in a strategic combination of vision cameras, where the vacuum wheels hold the medicinal product under vacuum and the vision cameras enable optimal inspection of the medicinal product in 360 degrees of viewing angle. This way the present system provides an efficient and compact way of inspecting the medicinal pill from all the possible and required angles to inspect the integrity and attributes of the pill, e.g., color, size, etc.

[0036] The medicinal products are aligned on the periphery of the vacuum wheels by means of vacuum such that there is an equal gap between two consecutive products, which is suitable for proper imaging, while the combination of the multiple vision cameras provide the strategic angle for a 360° optimal inspection of the medicinal product.

[0037] Referring to FIGs. 1-3, the inspection system 100 includes at least the following components, which are referenced with the following numerals in the figures. It may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the present inspection system 100 may include all or some of the following components required for inspecting the products, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention.

[0038] 1 - Display Monitor

[0039] 2 -Mams On / Off

[0040] 3 - Electrical Panel

[0041] 4 - Emergency Stop

[0042] 5 - UPS Power Backup

[0043] 6 - Product Hopper

[0044] 7 - Vibrator Feeder

[0045] 8 - Product Feeding Drum

[0046] 9 - Product Feeding Disk

[0047] 10 - First Vacuum Wheel

[0048] 11 - Sensor

[0049] 12 - Uninspected Bin

[0050] 13 - First Vision Camera System

[0051] 14 - Uninspected Rejection Air Nozzle

[0052] 15 - Second Vacuum Wheel

[0053] 16 - Second Vision Camera System

[0054] 17 - Vacuum Exhaust

[0055] 18 - Tower Lamp

[0056] 19 - Rejection outlet

[0057] 20 - Good Product Collection outlet

[0058] 21 - Vacuum Pumps

[0059] The inspection system 100 includes at least two vacuum wheels 10, 15, each equipped with an imaging system 13, 16.

[0060] The vacuum wheels 10, 15 provide the rotary product feeding system onto which the medicinal products are fed and they rotate in a 360° angle in a plane. A rotation of 360° angle provides for inspection of the products from its every side. It may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill that the vacuum wheels 10, 15 may rotate the products in any required angle, maximum upto 360° and in any required angular plane, horizontal, vertical or tilted at any angle, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention. The principle of the vacuum wheels 10, 15 is to hold the products under inspection by means of vacuum and to allow rotation / revolution or both of the products for them being inspected from every possible and required angle. The transfer of the product from one wheel to the other is also designed to be seamlessly achieved.

[0061] In an embodiment, the vacuum wheels 10, 15 hold the medicinal products, such as the tablets or capsules, along their periphery by means of vacuum, such that there is an equal gap between two consecutive products, suitable for proper imaging.

[0062] Further, as the products rotate and / or revolve along the periphery of the vacuum wheels 10, 15, the imaging system 13, 16 may capture one or more images or video feed of the products while they are being rotated at the vacuum wheels 10, 15. The principle of the imaging system 13, 16 is to enable strategic and optimal inspection in 360 degrees of the product. An operator and / or a machine can then analyze the signal output from the imagingsystem 13, 16 in order to reject or accept a medicinal product based on its required integrity, such as its acceptable color, size, and other attributes.

[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, the imaging system 13, 16 may include at least 6 vision cameras which are used in a camera mounting enclosure, the strategic angle of which enables optimal inspection in 360 degrees of the product. It may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill that the imaging system 13, 16 may include an appropriate number of cameras to provide an appropriate optimal angle of the products being inspected, for which the cameras can be installed strategically around the vacuum wheels 10, 15 to provide the appropriate required optimal angle of the products, which can be up to 360°, e.g., the cameras can be installed at any required angle, maximum up to 360° and in any required angular plane, horizontal, vertical or tilted at any angle, without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention.

[0064] In an embodiment, the vision cameras are rotatable in any direction. In another embodiment, the vision cameras are fixed in any direction. In yet another embodiment, the vision cameras are both fixed and rotatable in any direction.

[0065] For feeding the inspection system 100 with the medicinal products, an operator and / or an automatic system like a robotic arm may put medicinal products in the product hopper 6, from where the products may be introduced to product feeding drum 8 via a vibrator feeder 7. In an embodiment, the product feeding drum 8 may include a product feeding disk 9 over which the products rotate / revolve to be seamlessly transferred to the first vacuum wheel 10 and then to the second vacuum wheel 15. The product feeding drum 8 and the product feeding disk 9 also make part of the rotary product feeding system. In an embodiment, a setof a feeding drum 8 including a feeding disk 9 is also placed between the two vacuum wheels for seamless transfer of the product from one vacuum wheel to another.

[0066] As the products rotate / revolve on the vacuum wheels 10, 15, the products are being inspected by the imaging system 13, 16. A product, hence, can be placed in an uninspected bin 12, and suspended under an uninspected rejection air nozzle 14, until it reaches inside the viewing angle of the imaging system 13, 16.

[0067] A digital image signal output containing the acquired images and / or video of the inspected products may be then viewed at the display monitor 1. A computing machine and / or a human operator may analyze the products optimally under a 360° angle, and may command for a rejection or an acceptance of a product after analyzing the imaging feed, containing the acquired images and videos, based on one or more product attributes, e.g., including and not limited to color, size, etc. of the medicinal product. In an embodiment, the operator or the computing machine analyses the signal output from the imaging system 13, 16 optimally under a 360° angle in real time. In another embodiment, the operator or the computing machine can do the analysis of the images / video after the imaging system 13, 16 captured the images / video and stored them in a database. In yet another embodiment, the imaging system 13, 16 may transmit the feed to a remote operator / computing machine via a wireless or wired communication, or both.

[0068] It may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill that the product attributes based on which a particular medicinal product is being inspected can include any required attributes, color, size, shape etc., without deviating from the meaning and scope of the present invention.

[0069] After being inspected, a particular defective product can be rejected through a rejection outlet 19, or an acceptable / good product can be accepted and collected through a collection outlet20. Segregation of defective product from acceptable product is done at high speed, and a single rejection point to eject defective product is provided for both the wheels.

[0070] The inspection system may also include on or more sensors 11 equipped at each of the vacuum wheels 10, 15 and also at the product feeding drum 8 to detect the presence of the medicinal product.

[0071] Furthermore, the inspection system may also include vacuum pumps 21 that create vacuum for the vacuum wheels 10, 15 and include vacuum exhaust 17 via which extra air is exhausted out.

[0072] Advantageously, the rotary feeding system of the inspection system 100, which are the vacuum wheels, facilitates inspection of all types of pills including soft gel and hard gel capsules and tablets.

[0073] Also, the design of the feeding system has been uniquely fashioned such that no product-specific change parts are required for different shapes and sizes of product. And hence, the inspection system 100 can inspect medicinal products of different shapes and sizes. Additionally, the vacuum wheels and rotary feeder are so structured as to have the final product of compact and concise size.

[0074] Also, the present inspection system may be implemented not only to inspect the individual medicinal products, like pills, capsules, etc., but can also be implemented to inspect variety of other products, like packaged medicinal products to inspect whether the packaging is acceptable or defective. Moreover, the present inspection system may also be implemented in other fields, such as edible items, or jewelry items, or other such items which can be appropriately held by the vacuum wheels.

[0075] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods, devices, and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods, devices, and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An inspection system 100 for inspecting a medicinal product, comprising: a rotary product feeding system including:- at least two vacuum wheels 10, 15 to hold the medicinal product under inspection by means of vacuum along their periphery and rotating or revolving, individually or in combination, the medicinal product to allow inspection from every possible and required angle by rotating the medicinal product in any required angle, maximum up to 360°, in any required plane, including angular plane, horizontal plane, or vertical plane, individually or in combination; and- a rotating feeding drum 8 including a rotating feeding disk 9 to seamlessly transfer, via rotation / revolving, the medicinal product to the first vacuum wheel 10 and then to the second vacuum wheel 15; and each of the at least two vacuum wheels 10, 15 is equipped with an imaging system 13, 16 to enable strategic and optimal inspection in 360 degrees of the medicinal product by capturing one or more images or video feed or both of the medicinal product while it is being rotated at the at least two vacuum wheels 10, 15 in full 360 degrees.

2. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the medicinal product includes at least one or more of a medication pill, a capsule, a tablet, including soft gel and hard gel.

3. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein an equal gap is kept between two consecutive medicinal products, suitable for proper imaging, at least at the at least two vacuum wheels 10, 15.

4. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein a signal output from the imaging system 13, 16 is transmitted to a computing machine including a display monitor 1 for analysis by an operator or the computing machine, individually or in combination, for rejecting or accepting the medicinal product based on its required integrity, such as its acceptable color, size, and other attributes.

5. The inspection system of claim 4, wherein the operator or the computing machine, individually or in combination analyses the signal output from the imaging system 13, 16 optimally under a 360° angle in real time.

6. The inspection system of claim 4, wherein the imaging system 13, 16 includes plurality of vision cameras, each mounted in a camera mounting enclosure; wherein, each of the camera mounting enclosure is mounted at a strategic angle which enables optimal inspection of the medicinal product in 360 degrees.

7. The inspection system of claim 6, wherein the vision cameras are installed at a required angle, maximum up to 360°, and in any required plane, including angular plane, horizontal plane, or vertical plane, individually or in combination.

8. The inspection system of claim 7, wherein the vision cameras are rotatable in any direction.

9. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the inspection system 100 further includes a product hopper 6 and a vibrator feeder 7, and wherein an operator or an automatic system including a robotic arm, individually or in combination, places the medicinal product in the product hopper 6 leading the medicinal product to the rotating feeding drum 8 via a vibrator feeder 7.

10. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the medicinal product is placed in an uninspected bin 12 after being transferred by the rotating feeding drum 8 and the rotating feeding disk 9 to the first vacuum wheel 10, and is, further, suspended under an uninspected rejection air nozzle 14, until it reaches inside a viewing angle of the imaging system 13, 16.

11. The inspection system of claim 4, wherein the inspection system 100 further includes a rejection outlet 19 for collecting rejected / defected product after inspection and a collection outlet 20 for collecting acceptable / good product after being inspected.

12. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the inspection system 100 further includes one or more sensors 11 equipped at each of the vacuum wheels 10, 15 and also at the feeding drum 8 to detect the presence of the medicinal product.

13. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the inspection system 100 further includes vacuum pumps 21 to create vacuum for the vacuum wheels 10, 15 and vacuum exhaust 17 to exhaust extra air out.

14. An inspection system 100 for inspecting a medicinal product, comprising: a rotary product feeding system including:- at least two vacuum wheels 10, 15 to hold the medicinal product by means of vacuum along their periphery for inspection by rotating or revolving, individually or in combination, the medicinal product in any required angle, maximum up to 360°, in any required plane, including angular plane, horizontal plane, or vertical plane, individually or in combination; and- a rotating feeding drum 8 including a rotating feeding disk 9 to seamlessly transfer, via rotation / revolving or in combination, the medicinal product to the first vacuum wheel 10 and then to the second vacuum wheel 15; and each of the at least two vacuum wheels 10, 15 is equipped with an imaging system 13, 16 to enable strategic and optimal inspection in 360 degrees of the medicinal product by capturing one or more images or video feed or both of the medicinal product while it is being rotated / revolved or in combination at the at least two vacuum wheels 10, 15 in any required angle maximum up to 360 degrees, the imaging system 13, 16 including:- a plurality of vision cameras, each mounted in a camera mounting enclosure; wherein, each of the camera mounting enclosure is mounted at a strategic angle and in any required plane, including angular plane, horizontal plane, or vertical plane, individually or in combination to capture images or video of the medicinal product in any angle up to 360 degrees, and wherein the plurality of vision cameras includes rotatable cameras or fixed cameras, individually or in combination.

15. The inspection system of claim 14, wherein a signal output from the imaging system 13, 16 is transmitted to a computing machine including a display monitor 1 for analysis by an operator or the computing machine, individually or in combination, for rejecting or accepting the medicinal product based on its required integrity, such as its acceptable color, size, and other attributes.

16. The inspection system of claim 15, wherein the inspection system 100 further includes a product hopper 6 and a vibrator feeder 7, and wherein an operator or an automatic system including a robotic arm, individually or in combination, placesthe medicinal product in the product hopper 6 leading the medicinal product to the rotating feeding drum 8 via a vibrator feeder 7.

17. The inspection system of claim 14, wherein a set of a rotating feeding drum 8 including a rotating feeding disk 9 is also placed between the two vacuum wheels in the rotary product feeding system for seamless transfer of the product from one vacuum wheel to another.

18. The inspection system of claim 14 is implemented to inspect products other than medicines, including edible items, or jewelry items, or other such items which can be appropriately held by the vacuum wheels.

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