Patent ID: 7392640
Filing Date: 2008-07-01
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. An automatic machine for counting articles, in particular tablets, capsules, pills, including: a feeding tray containing articles in bulk open at bottom; a rotating disc-shaped support for closing said feeding tray at bottom, with a plurality of through holes made in sad disc-shaped support for receiving at least one single article from the feeding tray in each through hole; retaining means connected to said disc-shaped support for keeping the articles within the respective through holes; a check station, situated downstream of the feeding tray and provided with first support means operating therein to keep the articles in the respective holes, and cooperating with first optical means for verifying the integrity and the presence of the articles in each hole of the disc-shaped support; a rejection station situated downstream of the check station and provided with second support means for keeping the articles in the respective holes and for allowing the articles to leave the respective holes according to signals coming from the first optical means, concerning the integrity of the articles; a discharge station situated downstream of the rejection station and provided with third support means for allowing the articles to be released into containers dwelling below, and for keeping the articles in the holes according to signals coming from the first optical means concerning the integrity and/or presence of articles in the respective holes.