Abstract:
The present invention is an automated packaging apparatus utilizing a rotating assembly of elongated slats containing cavities to receive discrete pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. Quantities of discrete products such as tablets, capsules, or gels are deposited into the hopper of the apparatus. The apparatus then dispenses the discrete products into containers moving on a conveyor system such that each container receives a predetermined quality and quantity of pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. While operating at high speed, the apparatus inspects, counts, identifies and analyzes each product deposited into the containers and maintains electronic records describing the status of each product. In the event any errors occur the apparatus produces various alerts to inform the operator. The presence of foreign products or objects may cause the apparatus to instantly stop the entire system including peripheral equipment. A series of Good Manufacturing Practice protocols can then be enforced as per FDA requirements.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    (Not Applicable.) 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    (Not Applicable.) 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to packaging machines, and more particularly to automated packaging machines utilized for inspecting, counting, and verification of the physical and chemical composition of discrete pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products such as tablets or capsules, and packaging them in containers. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0004]    Pharmaceutical industries require automated packaging apparatus to count, inspect and package predetermined quantities of discrete dosage items such as capsules and tablets. These products must be manufactured, inspected, counted, and their active ingredients measured by weight. The products must be packaged in containers in accordance with strict Federal regulations, including exactly meeting the product count and information labeled on the containers, and insuring the correct chemical composition of the products. Several prior art devices are known which provide automated packaging of discrete pharmaceutical products. U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,413 to Aylward discloses an automated packaging apparatus including a plurality of independently rotatable slats containing tablet, capsule, or gel apertures. Open product containers move along a conveyor adjacent to the slats so that tablets are dispensed into the containers. A delivery sensor and controller are used to determine when a corresponding container is filled. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,259 to Hills provides a container filling machine including a plurality of elongated slats with cavities which dispense tablets or capsules into a set of chutes. A reciprocating mechanism drives the chutes to dispense tablets or capsules between the first and second rows of containers positioned at the filling station. To insure an accurate count of products in each container, an operator may be situated adjacent to the slats who must insure that each container is correctly filled. This method has several drawbacks Is including labor costs, the possibility of human error, and possible sterility problems. 
         [0006]    Insuring the exact accuracy of the claimed product count, high chemical purity, and the exact amount of active ingredients of the dispensed products is a paramount requirement in pharmaceutical packaging equipment. The various systems employed in the prior art to insure accuracy of the product count, and to insure the chemical composition of the products, are inadequate when compared to a system which utilizes digital computer and spectroscopy technologies to accomplish those objectives. 
         [0007]    Clearly there is a need for an automated packaging apparatus which accurately analyzes, records, and counts the contents of each filled container. Such a system would operate at high speed, require either minimum or no operator intervention, and would utilize digital computer and spectroscopy technologies to record and analyze product data during the packaging process. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is directed to an automated inspection, chemical measurement and verification, counting and packaging apparatus for dispensing discrete pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products into various types of empty containers moving on a conveyor belt, including but not limited to bottles, jars, boxes, and the like. These discrete products may comprise but are not limited to tablets, capsules, caplets, gels, vitamins, and the like. 
         [0009]    The automated inspection, chemical verification, counting and packaging apparatus includes a main hopper, a plurality of elongated slats which rotate in unison, and a bottom cabinet containing a computerized analysis system and a spectroscopy processing system. Discrete pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products ready for packaging are deposited into the main hopper. Each slat contains a plurality of cylindrical cavities to receive and dispense the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. A drive system is comprised of one or more drive motors connected to a plurality of drive chains and gears. The slats rotate in unison at speeds determined by the speed of the drive motors. Motors equipped with servo motor devices control the slat displacements at any given instant. 
         [0010]    The invention includes a vision inspection system which inspects and counts the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products before they are dispensed into their containers, while simultaneously electronically recording the status of each pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food product. Appropriate alerts are produced by the alerting system if error conditions are detected by the vision inspection and/or by the spectroscopy system. 
         [0011]    An automated non-destructive real time spectroscopy system measures and inspects the chemical composition of the discrete products by weight before they are dispensed into their containers while electronically recording the status of each product. Appropriate alerts are produced by the alerting system if error conditions are detected by the spectroscopy system. 
         [0012]    The sequence of motions of the various components of the apparatus are controlled by a Is PLC (programmable logic controller). A bar code reader is configured to scan the affixed bar code on each container, so that the data recorded by the analysis system is correlated with each container, thereby insuring the safety of consumers utilizing said products. 
         [0013]    During operation of the automated packaging apparatus, each empty container receives a predetermined quality and quantity of pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. The automated packaging apparatus achieves a high container filling speed by allowing the slats to rotate continuously without slowing or stopping. A two tiered, parallel dispensing manifold allows a continuous flow of discrete products into the empty containers traveling on the conveyor belt. 
         [0014]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the invention, illustrating an automated packaging apparatus; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1.1  is a Perspective View of the Upper Part of the Apparatus Illustrating Vibrating Motors, and Upper and Lower Brush Mechanisms; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1.2  is a Perspective View of the Lower Part of the Apparatus illustrating the Base Structure, PLC Control, Workstation PC Control, Spectroscopy, and Lift Mechanisms; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1.3  is a Perspective View of the Apparatus Illustrating the Automatic Vision Inspection System; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the invention, illustrating an automated packaging apparatus; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a left side view of the invention, illustrating the drive mechanism of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  are Perspective Views Illustrating a Slat with Cavities, and its Corresponding Engaging Pins of the Present Invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4.1  is a Perspective View Illustrating the Synchronized Motion of a Slat Empty of Products; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a Close up Perspective View of the Invention, Illustrating the Rake Assembly and its Relative Location in the Present Invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a close-up perspective view of the invention, illustrating the Divider Assembly of the Present Invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6.1  is a Close up Perspective View of the Invention, Illustrating the Divider Assembly Configured with the Diverter Assembly of the Present Invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a Close-up Perspective View of the Invention, Illustrating the Dispenser Assembly of the Present Invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7.1  is a Close up View of the Invention, Illustrating the Location of Products Exiting the Dispenser Assembly of the Present Invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a Close-up perspective View of the Invention, Illustrating the Vision Inspection System of the Present Invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8.1  is a Perspective View Illustrating the Linear Drive Mechanism of the Vision Inspection System of the Present Invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8.2  is a Perspective View Illustrating the Rotational Drive Mechanism of the Vision Inspection System of the Present Invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a close up Schematic Diagram of the Invention, Illustrating the Spectroscopy System of the Present Invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9.1  is a perspective View of the Invention, Illustrating the Spectroscopy Probes to Convey and Receive Infrared Energies; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10.1  is a Perspective View of the Present Invention, Illustrating the Upper Brush Assembly; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10.2  is A Close-Up Perspective View of the Present Invention, Illustrating the Lower Brush Assembly; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  are perspective views of the Lower Compartment of the Present Invention and the Upper Compartment of the Present Invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11.1  is a Schematic Illustration of the Timing Screw Mechanism of the Present Invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 11.2  is a Schematic Diagram of the Apparatus Work Station Controller Encoding the Exiting Product with a Barcode Device; 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  is a Perspective View of the Structural Support Base of the Invention, and the Lower Compartment of the Invention Containing the Programmable Logic Controller as well as the Work Station Analysis and Control System; 
           [0039]      FIG. 13  is a Flow-Chart Describing Sequential Steps to Activate the Systems for Driving, Delivering, Inspecting, Verifying, Counting, and Accepting or Rejecting Products of the Present Invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0040]    The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying figures. Although the accompanying figures show preferred embodiments of the invention, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. 
         [0041]    The present invention is directed to an automated packaging apparatus  10  for dispensing discrete pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products into various types of empty containers moving on a conveyor belt, including but not limited to bottles, jars, boxes, etc. These discrete products may comprise but are not limited to tablets, capsules, caplets, vitamins, etc. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 , and  1 . 3 , the automated packaging apparatus  10  includes the main hopper  20 , a plurality of elongated slats  30 , the bottom cabinet  70  , the vibrating motors  50 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 , the camera tilt motor  210 , the Encoder  220 , and the drive chain  100 . 
         [0043]    Pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products ready for packaging are deposited into the main hopper  20  of the packaging apparatus  10 . An outlet from the main hopper  20  conveys the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products into a plurality of elongated slats  30  comprised of FDA approved material. 
         [0044]    Turning to FIGS.  4  and  4 . 1  we are shown a detailed view of an elongated slat  30 . Each slat  30  contains a plurality of cylindrical cavities  42  divided by a gap  48  and containing apertures  40  in the shape of curved channels within the cavities  42  to receive and dispense pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. Each slat  30  is reinforced by a slat reinforcement  44  containing a tee shaped alignment  46  on its bottom which enters a grooved wheel  45  to stabilize the slat  30  at appropriate moments while the slat assembly is being rotated by the drive system. The ends of each slat  30  are constructed with pin holes  21 ,  23  which precisely fit the pins  25 , 27  located at each attached chain links  102 ,  104 . 
         [0045]    Returning to FIGS.  1  and  1 . 3 , a product distribution system includes a plurality of vibrating motors  50 , 52 , 53 , 54 , configured in four different locations, and activated by one or more level sensors  22 ,  24 . The level sensors  22 ,  24  detect the presence of pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products within the hopper  20 . The action of the vibrating motors  50 , 52 , 53 , 54  causes the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products to be evenly distributed within the cavities  42  of the entire slats  30  located adjacent to the outlet of the hopper  20 . The vibrating motors  50 , 52 , 53 , 54  are controlled by four separate circuits  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  which adjust the amplitude of the motor vibrations and their corresponding frequencies. 
         [0046]    In  FIGS. 2 and 3  is shown the drive system, comprised of one or more drive motors  11  connected to a plurality of drive chains  102 , 104  and to a plurality of gears  301 , 303 , 305 . Each end  21 , 23  of each slat  30  is connected to drive chains  102 , 104  whose tension may be adjusted thereby preventing the drive chains  102 , 104  from sagging. The drive motors  11  are rotatable at different speeds, so that the slats  30  rotate in unison at speeds determined by the speed of the drive motors  11 . The tension of the main drive chains can be easily adjusted to enable optimum and efficient packaging operation. 
         [0047]    In  FIGS. 1 ,  1 . 3  and  3  are shown the vision inspection system  200 , whose function is to physically inspect and count the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. The vision inspection system  200  is comprised of a cluster of cameras  211  installed in a special compartment equipped with a plurality of motors  212  and servo motors  210  which enable the cluster of cameras  211  to advance, retract or tilt, thus providing maximum visibility of the products passing the cameras&#39;  211  field of views. The servo motor/encoder  210  synchronize the capture of data when the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products are in the correct proximity to the vision inspection system  200 . Each camera  211  is designated to acquire the data captured in either Chromatic light variations of Black-White and Grey or else in combinations of Red, Green, and Blue light elements. Each camera  211  thereby inspects a specific number of cavities  42  to determine if they are filled with products or empty. Each camera  211  within the cluster of the vision inspection system  200  also identifies many types of visible product flaws such as incorrect colors, incorrect dimensions, incorrect color combinations, color bands around each product, deformed products, dirty products, cracked products, exploded products, broken products, and the like. 
         [0048]    During operation of the invention, while the products are passing the camera  211  field of view, the vision inspection system  200  counts the total number of products within each specific group of slats  30  and mathematically compares the actual accumulated total to the correct count designated for each corresponding bottle. If an error or flaw is detected by the vision inspection system  200  within the total number of accumulated products in a certain group of slat  30  segments, that group is rejected and the container is redirected to a special type of reject chute depending on the type of flaw. Containers with less than the correct predetermined count are deemed unacceptable, and thus rejected. Detection of a fatal foreign product or object by the vision inspection system  200  results in an instant and complete stop to the entire machine. The vision inspection system  200  will guide the administrator to the exact location of the detected fatal error in a certain cavity. A series of FDA procedural protocols automatically appears on the display screen. Each production step has to be completed by an authorized individual who possesses the correct password. The correct password enables the machine to be unlocked once the fatal error is removed and placed in a quarantined location. 
         [0049]    In FIGS.  9  and  9 . 1  are illustrated the real time spectroscopy system  600 , which measures and inspects the chemical composition of the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products before they are dispensed into their containers. The real time spectroscopy system  600  includes a bundle of fiber optics probes  601  properly situated to focus and transmit infrared light waves on the passing tablets, capsules, gels, and organic-base compounds. The fiber optic probes  102  then receive the reflected infrared light waves from the same. The fiber optic probes  601  and  602  are placed at an optimum distance from the passing products. The optimum distance is automatically determined by the spectroscopy system allowing the exact optical distance to be maintained regardless of the shape and configuration of the passing products. The probe  602  which is receiving reflected infrared energies is directly linked to the spectrophotometer  600  to obtain the corresponding spectrum of each product passing under the combined sending and s receiving fiber optic probes  601  and  602 . A succession of collimated beams throughout the middle and near infrared spectrum are transmitted through the fiber optic probes  602  located above each product in the slat  30  cavity  42 . The collimated beams are impinged against a sample or samples and the diffused component of the reflected light is measured throughout the spectrum. This diffuse component is analyzed by several algorithms including neural network methodologies to determine such characteristics as the contents and the active ingredients of the passing product. 
         [0050]    The spectrophotometer  600  transmits data to a high performance workstation analysis system  90  which determines the exact chemical composition of solid and non-solid organic-base compounds. Also determined by the workstation analysis system  90  is the dissolution measurement as well as the hardness of each manufactured solid organic-base compound. 
         [0051]    Product data produced by the vision inspection system  200  and the spectroscopy system  600  are transmitted to a workstation analysis system  90 , installed in the bottom cabinet  70  of the apparatus  10  ( FIGS. 1 ,  8 . 2 ,  9 , and  12 ). The workstation analysis system  90  is a high performance workstation computer system and associated arithmetic circuits, a storage system for storing and retrieving data on a storage medium, a computer operating system, and a method of using the workstation computer system  90  to record and analyze data. The workstation analysis system  90  continually processes and records product data produced by the vision inspection system  200  and spectroscopy system  600 , including the status of each discrete product. The alerting system  700  is thereby activated in response to product quality and quantity conditions detected. 
         [0052]    The sequence of motions of the various components of the apparatus including the drive system motors  11 , conveyor belts, rejection mechanisms, and the like are controlled by a PLC (programmable logic controller)  800  and its associated logic circuits and relays installed in the bottom cabinet  70  of the apparatus ( FIGS. 1 ,  11 , and  12 ). 
         [0053]    During operation of the apparatus the slats  30  are rotating continuously, and at specific moments the slat cavities  42  are turned almost upside down ( FIG. 4. 1 ). The discrete products previously deposited inside the slat cavities  42  then fall into a divider assembly  110 . In  FIGS. 4 ,  6 , and  6 . 1  are shown the divider assembly  110  containing a predetermined number of divider plates  112  comprised of contoured partitions  113  shaped to accommodate the movements of the slats  30 . The contoured partitions  113  are configured to allow certain slat peak areas  49  to rotate very close to the edges of the contoured partitions  113 , thereby trapping a certain number of cavities and enabling the corresponding products to fall from their cylindrical contoured channels  40  of slat  30  into the divider assembly  110 . Within the divider assembly  110  is a divider dispensing compartment  118  and a diverter assembly  120  containing diverter controls  121 . A set of diverters  120  are configured directly at the bottom of the divider assembly  110 . The diverters  120  are activated at the correct instants to cause the discrete products to be conveyed to either set of front cups  130  or set of rear cups  132  in the dispenser assembly ( FIG. 7 ). The containers themselves are arranged in a plurality of tiers beneath the manifold  140 , 142  in order to receive the products being deposited into them through a plurality of chute tiers  150 ,  152 . 
         [0054]    Turning now to FIGS.  7  and  7 . 1 , pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products are conveyed by the divider assembly  110  into a dispenser assembly  115  which leads to a front manifold  140  containing front cups  130  and a rear manifold  142  containing rear cups  132 . The front and rear cups  130 ,  132  connect to front and rear dispensing chutes  150 ,  152  arranged in two tiers. The manifolds  140 ,  142  define a plurality of delivery paths for the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products into the containers being conveyed below the manifolds  140 , 142 . 
         [0055]    In  FIG. 5  is shown a rake assembly  160  containing a plurality of parallel rake blades  162 . During rotation of the slats  30 , and after the discrete products have fallen out of the slat cavities  42 , the rake assembly  160  enters the slat gap  48 . The equally spaced rake blades  162  within the rake assembly  160  enter the gaps  48  within the slat cavities  42  and thereby expel any discrete pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products which remain within the slat cavities  42 . The contour of the rake blades  162  are designed specifically to allow the rake blades  162  to smoothly slide next to the fragile discrete products, and dislodge them. The thickness of the rake blades  162  are directly correlated with the minimum dimensions of the discrete products within the slat cavities  42 , so that each product can be dislodged without being damaged. 
         [0056]    Turning to  FIGS. 10.1  and  10 . 2 , detail of the upper brush assembly  267  and lower brush assembly  265  are illustrated. The upper brush assembly  267  insures that only a single or predetermined multiple quantity of products enter the cavities  42  when the products are flooding the cavities  42 . The lower brush assembly  265  insures that none of the debris or broken products remain in the cavities  42  after the cavities  42  are emptied of products. The lower brush assembly  265  also removes dirt and cleans discolored slats  30  and cavities  42 . 
         [0057]    In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus contains a total of 72 elongated slats  30 , each slat  30  containing eighty cavities  42 , where each cavity  42  holds one discrete pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food product. Within the divider assembly  110  are 20 divider plates  112 . Each divider plate  112  then receives four discrete products which are conveyed into one dispensing chute  150 , 152  within the dispenser assembly  115  (FIGS.  7  and  7 . 1 ). 
         [0058]    Turning to  FIG. 11.1 ,  4 , and  4 . 1 , the bottle transporting and timing system includes a timing screw  252 , a timing screw drive  253 , and a plurality of synchronizing wheels  32 ,  34 ,  45 , synchronized pins  25 ,  27  corresponding with slat positioning holes  21 ,  23  which insure that the packaging apparatus dispenses the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products into the containers when the containers arc correctly positioned to receive the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. The timing screw servo motors  253 ,  255  automatically activate timing screws  252 ,  254  at the correct moment to allow a set of filled containers to depart to the accept-reject station. The same timing screw  252 ,  254  then cause a fresh set of empty containers to be conveyed beneath the dispensing chutes  150 ,  152 . The timing screws  252 ,  254  then stop while this new set of containers are filled with pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products 
         [0059]    As each container  380 ,  382  is filled with the correct number of discrete products, the computer system  90  transmits a signal to the servo motor encoder  121  of the diverter  120  thereby blocking the further path of products into that tier of containers (FIGS.  6  and  6 . 1 ). Products can then be directed to the other tier of empty containers ( FIG. 11.1 ). 
         [0060]    A bar code reader  300  is configured to scan the affixed bar code on each container, so that the data generated by the vision inspection system  200  and the spectroscopy system  600  are recorded by the workstation analysis system  90  and are correlated with each container, including correlating the product data and date and time stamps of the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products, and thereby insuring the safety of consumers utilizing said products (  FIG. 11.2 ). 
         [0061]    The alerting system  700  produces visual and audio alarms indicating various conditions of the apparatus including powering up, normal operation, and fault conditions, and also alerts the apparatus operator when foreign, chemically deviated, or incorrect products are detected ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0062]    A control panel  702  ( FIG. 4 ) allows the operator to control the operation of the apparatus. 
         [0063]    Turning to  FIG. 12 , the structural frame support  700  of the packaging machine constitutes a base support to the upper compartment of the system and contains the Programmable Logic Controller  800 , the work station controller  90 , the spectroscopy infrared identification and verification system  600 , and vibrating motors controller,  60 ,  62 ,  64 , and  66 . The structural support  700  is constructed of High Strength Stainless Steel material equipped to accommodate static and dynamic loads placed above its frames. 
         [0064]    The structural base Support  700  contains a lift motor  730  with a gear reducer to decrease its rotating speed. The end shaft of the motor  730  is fitted with a driving gear  714 . The driving gear  714  is fitted with an endless loop chain  710 . The endless loop chain  710  is wrapped around  4  lead screws  712  placed inside the four supporting legs of base structure  700 . 
         [0065]    The Work-Station Controller  90  sends a command to the PLC controller  800  to rotate the motor  730  clockwise or counter clockwise, and consequently rotates the four lead screws  712  through its endless loop chain  710  either upward or downwards, thereby lifting up or lowering the upper compartment of the apparatus  71 . Once the operator selects the intended product through the display monitor  702 , the upper compartment of the apparatus  71  is lifted up to a specific predetermined distance encoded in the routines of the selected product for packaging, counting, inspection, and chemical composition identification and verification analysis. 
         [0066]    If another product is selected by the operator the Work-Station controller  90  automatically directs the spectroscopy infrared system  600  to the predetermined routine, and the vision system  200  to rotates its cameras  211  a certain number of degrees using its motor  212  and its encoder  210 . The work station controller  90  then moves in a linear motion forward or backward the entire vision system  200  to a specific location encoded in the selected product routine ( FIGS. 8 ,  8 . 1 , and  8 . 2 ). The linear motion of vision system  200  is parallel to the slats  30 . Once the selected product code through the drop down menu is displayed on monitor  702 , the four lead screws  712  will be automatically activated to raise or lower the upper compartment  71 . 
         [0067]    During operation of the automated packaging apparatus  10 , the pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products are conveyed from the hopper  20  into the cavities  42  of the rotating slats  30 . The products are then released from the cavities  42  and conveyed through the divider assembly  110 , and then conveyed through the dispenser assembly  115  into the manifold  140 ,  142 , through chutes  150 ,  152  and then into the containers being conveyed near the packaging apparatus  10 . Each container thereby receives a predetermined quality and quantity of pharmaceutical, vitamin, or food products. 
         [0068]    The automated packaging apparatus  10  achieves a high container filling speed by allowing the slats  30  to rotate continuously without slowing or stopping. The two tiered dispensing chutes  150 ,  152  allow a continuous flow of discrete products into the empty containers traveling on the conveyor belt. Once the containers under one dispensing tier are filled correctly, the diverter  120  is energized so that the containers within the other tier can be filled with products (FIGS.  6  and  6 . 1 ). 
         [0069]    The packaging system will shut down the entire operation when a foreign product is detected preventing a foreign product from reaching the container that may harm the end user and may even cause death. The presence of a foreign product may cause the loss of the production license to manufacture, package, and distribute such product according to FDA regulations. The vision system will pin point the presence of a detected flaw or unwanted foreign product to the exact location in the slat much before it reaches the final destination of the container. The machine is not permitted to resume operation until the unwanted foreign product is removed thereby allowing strict enforcement of CFR-21 Part-11 rules according to the FDA&#39;s GMP (good manufacturing protocols). 
         [0070]    While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the quantity of slats or slat cavities could be adjusted to various values. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.