Patent Publication Number: US-11027865-B2

Title: Pill packaging device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY 
     The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/562,754 filed Sep. 25, 2017, which is incorporated by reference into the present disclosure as if fully restated herein. Any conflict between the incorporated material and the specific teachings of this disclosure shall be resolved in favor of the latter. Likewise, any conflict between an art-understood definition of a word or phrase and a definition of the word or phrase as specifically taught in this disclosure shall be resolved in favor of the latter. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many pharmacies, hospitals, and Long Term Care facilities where it is desired to individually package unit doses of medications. This is accomplished by placing the medication (normally in pill, tablet or capsule form and hereinafter the term “pill” shall mean any of tablet, capsule, caplet, geltab, gelcaps, and other forms of oral solid medication) in packaging such as a strip packages and heat seal the package. Pill packaging machines such those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,493,178 and 9,394,070 are presently employed to place unit doses of medication into individual packages. These two patents are incorporated by reference into the present disclosure as if fully restated herein. Any conflict between the incorporated material and the specific teachings of this disclosure shall be resolved in favor of the latter. 
     Current pill packaging technology suffers from deficiencies of, amount other things, pill crushing, pill tracking, and pill package identification. Though there is a long felt need for addressing these problems, no solution has yet been presented by those of ordinary skill in the art. For the foregoing reasons, there is a pressing, but seemingly irresolvable need for an improved pill packaging machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the current technology. The present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses that satisfy the above shortcomings and drawbacks. The pill packaging device methods and apparatuses preferably comprise a pill dispenser, a pill encloser, and a pill funnel. The pill funnel may be positioned between the pill dispenser and the pill encloser and comprises a body having inlet and outlet. In traversing from the pill dispenser the pill enters the pill funnel inlet, travels through the pill funnel, exits the pill funnel outlets, and continues into the pill encloser. The pill funnel outlet has a long axis of preferably between about 50 mm and about 10 mm and a short axis of preferably between about 20 mm and about 5 mm, and outlet apertures. The long and short axis are perpendicular to one another and, when the pill funnel is mounted in the pill encloser, the long and short axes preferably lie in a plane perpendicular to the horizontal. The pill preferably travels through the pill funnel and exits the outlet aperture oriented such that the pill lies down horizontally. 
     A sensor is preferably positioned proximate to or between the pill funnel and the pill carousel to detect a pill dropping into or through the pill funnel causing the pill carousel assembly to dispense a next pill or not dispense the next pill based upon programing including whether the sensor detects a pill. 
     A further embodiment of the pill packaging device includes a pill dispenser comprising a pill pan with preferably concentrically mounted pill carousel, with the pill carousel having circumferentially positioned pill apertures (also called pill slots). The pill apertures may be pill shaped (as shown) and/or oval, square, rectangular, diamond, triangular, tear dropped, and circular shaped, for example, and different sizes, for example. 
     According to a further embodiment, the pill packaging device includes the pill funnel (also called a pill guide body) preferably having a length of between about 25 mm and about 100 mm, and more preferably having a length of about 50 mm. 
     According to a further embodiment, the pill packaging device includes a printer to print label information, including, for example, a barcode, on a pill package (also called a pill pouch) formed by the pill packaging device, and a barcode scanner positioned to read the barcode on the pill package while the pill package is being formed by the sealing jaws. It is to be understood that a barcode may include both linear and matrix or 2D barcodes, and future optical, machine-readable, representations of data. 
     According to a further embodiment the pill packaging device includes lengths of first and second packaging film fed through a set of sealing jaws and a film advancing mechanism pulling the lengths though the sealing jaws. A controller controls the film advancement mechanism, pill dispenser and the sealing jaws. An input device preferably receives information identifying a pill type. The controller is programmed to operate the film advancement mechanism to pull a length of film corresponding to a pill package length associated with the pill type. 
     The pill packaging device preferably includes a printer capable of printing a barcode on the film. Preferably at least one jaw from the set of sealing jaws is heated and seals the lengths of the first and second film along three sides to form a rectangular pill package. 
     A database preferably associates a unique identifier number for a particular pill with a package size. 
     The input device preferably includes at least one of a barcode scanner, a touch screen, a camera and a keypad. The pill type is preferably determined from numerical information located on a pill supply container. 
     The pill packaging device preferably includes a printer that prints pill identification information, such as a barcode, on at least one of the lengths of film forming a package. 
     The pill encloser preferably includes a barcode scanner positioned to read the barcode printed on the pill package while the pill package is being formed by the sealing jaws. Upon detection of an unreadable barcode, for example, the controller may cease operation of the pill packaging device and generate an error message for an operator. Additionally or alternatively, upon detection of an unreadable barcode, the controller may generate a message for an operator specifying the packages with non-readable barcodes. 
     The pill packaging device further comprises a film advancing mechanism including a pull motor. 
     The pill packaging device preferably comprises a pill dispenser, a pill encloser including lengths of first and second packaging film fed through a set of sealing jaws and a film advancing mechanism pulling the lengths though the sealing jaws, and a controller controlling the film advancement mechanism and the sealing jaws. 
     The pill packaging device according to a further embodiment preferably comprises a pill dispenser, including a pill carousel having pill aperture positioned circumferentially around the disk; a pill encloser including lengths of first and second packaging film fed through a set of sealing jaws and a film advancing mechanism pulling the lengths through the sealing jaws; and a controller controlling the film advancement mechanism and the sealing jaws and which communicates with a database of pill information. 
     Other embodiments have a built in computer with memory and a microprocessor, preferably solid state drive, a display, DC motors. Other embodiments, as a safety feature, do not have a physical start button on the exterior of the housing, but do have a physical pause button and/or stop button—to start must run program through external or built in computer. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the current technology discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It is to be appreciated that though  FIGS. 2-9  of the accompanying drawings are drawn to scale, other embodiments may vary in scales and measurements of the various elements, and the emphasis is instead placed on illustrating the principles of the invention. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a symbolic view of the pill packaging device according to a first embodiment of the presently claimed invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the pill packaging device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the pill packaging device of  FIG. 2 , along the section line F 3  in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the pill packaging device of  FIG. 2 , along the section line F 4  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an up close view of the circular area marked F 5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the pill packaging device of  FIG. 2 , along the section line F 6  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the pill packaging device of  FIG. 2 , along the section line F 7  in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front plan view of the pill packaging device of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the pill funnel, as sectioned in  FIG. 7 , also showing the path of a pill falling through the pill funnel and the general orientation of the pill when in a just sealed pill package; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of one embodiment of the process of pill packaging with the pill packager; and 
         FIG. 11  is a chart that illustrates how the electronic components of one embodiment of the presently claimed packaging device will send information to a controller and/or receive instructions from the controller. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that the following detailed description of various embodiments is by way of example only and is not meant to limit, in any way, the scope of the present invention. In the summary above, in the following detailed description, in the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the present invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features, not just those explicitly described. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also one or more other components. Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility). 
     The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number),” this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm, and whose upper limit is 100 mm. The embodiments set forth the below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustrate the best mode of practicing the invention. In addition, the invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1-11 , a brief description concerning the various components of the present invention will now be briefly discussed. As can be seen in  FIG. 1  embodiment, the invention relates to methods and pill packaging devices  2 . The pill packaging device  2  preferably includes a pill encloser  4 , a pill dispenser  6  positioned above the pill encloser  4 , and a pill funnel  8  which assists the routing of pills  10  from the pill dispenser  6  to the pill encloser  4 . The pill dispenser  6  preferably rests upon an upper housing cover  12  of a pill encloser housing  14 . 
     In addition to the embodiments of pill dispensers  6  described in the following paragraphs and shown in  FIGS. 2-8 , for example, other pill dispensers are contemplated, including those disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/563,152 filed Sep. 26, 2017, which is incorporated by reference into the present disclosure as if fully restated herein. Any conflict between the incorporated material and the specific teachings of this disclosure shall be resolved in favor of the latter. 
     In the pill dispenser  6  shown in  FIG. 2 , the pill dispenser  6  includes pill tray  16  having raised borders  18  help keep pills inside in case of misplacement. The pill dispenser  6  also has a center depression  20  to accommodate a pill carousel  22 . The pill carousel  22  is disk shaped with a series of pills apertures  24  formed in a circle along the circumference of the pill carousel  6 . 
     A carousel motor shaft  26  of the carousel motor  28  (alternatively called the dispensing motor  28 ) extends through upper housing cover  12  and is keyed to engage the pill carousel, preferably at a shaft head receiver  30 . The carousel motor  28  will rotate the pill carousel  22 , but preferably not the pill tray  16 , and successively bring each of the pill apertures  24  into alignment with a funnel aperture  32  formed in both the upper housing cover  12  and the pill tray  16 , and then deposit a pill  10  in the pill funnel  8 . 
     The embodiment of pill packaging device  2  shown in  FIGS. 2-11  is a two-film packaging machine  2 . Rolls of first and second packaging film  34 ,  36  are positioned on respective first and second film mounts  38 ,  40  on opposing sides of the housing  14 . A series of roller frame members  42  secure various rollers  44  within the housing  14  of the pill encloser  4 . In  FIG. 6 , the first and second packaging films  34 ,  36  extend respectively from the first and second film mounts  38 ,  40  across a series of guide rollers  44 , past sealing jaws  46 ,  48 , and then downward to be engaged by pull wheels  50 , which are powered by a pull motor  52 . Pull wheels  50  will grip the two films  34 ,  36  (now formed into packages  54  by sealing jaws  46 ,  48 ) and pull the joined film segments  54  from the rolls of the first and second packaging film  34 ,  36  through the encloser. A printer area motor  56  imparts rotation to printer rollers  58 , pulling the second packaging film  36  preferably 10-100 milliseconds before the pull motor  52  imparts rotation on the pull wheels  50 . Control of the pull motor  52  allows for control of the packaging film  34 ,  36  being drawn through the packaging machine  4 . In one example, the first packaging film  34  is a transparent, cellophane based film and second packaging film  36  is paper foil film capable of accepting printed characters from a conventional printer. Both films may be available from suppliers such as Oracle Packaging Inc. 
     At initial power up of the pill packaging device  2 , the moving seal jaw is pushed forward by the seal motor enough to move the moving seal jaw away from the seal home sensor and then slowly pull motor pulls the moving seal jaw back until the seal home sensor triggers. 
     The major components of sealing jaws  46 ,  48  are seen in  FIG. 6 . The U-shaped stationary seal jaw  46  opposes the U-shaped moving seal jaw  48  and it will be understood that when the two seal jaw members  46 ,  48  come together, the two packaging films  34 ,  36  will be pressed together, preferably heated, and will be sealed between the seal jaws  46 ,  48 . Though not shown, both of the seal jaws  46 ,  48  may be moving seal jaws  48 . In the embodiment illustrated, the moving seal jaw  48  is connected to a heating source which raises the moving seal jaw  48  to a temperature sufficient to melt together and seal the two films  34 ,  36 . In other embodiments, the stationary seal jaw  46  may alternatively or additionally be heated by a heating source. The seal jaws  46 ,  48  may be heated internally or externally. 
       FIG. 6  also shows the seal motor  60 , a stepper motor in this embodiment, which, in a reciprocating motion  62 , first pushes the moving seal jaw  48  to move toward the stationary seal jaw  46  until the moving seal jaw  48  reaches its maximum extension (in other embodiments a seal jaw cam may be used), at which point the two packaging films  34 ,  36  are pressed together by the two seal jaws  46 ,  48  and make a seal along the path of the U-shaped seal jaws  46 ,  48  to create a single package  54 . Then the seal motor  60  moves the moving seal jaw  48  away from the stationary seal jaw  46  to a point of maximum retraction, and the cycle may start again. Additionally, a perforation blade may be positioned on one or both of the sealing jaws. When the jaws engage, the perforation blade can cut a series of perforations in the films  34 ,  36 , thereby forming a tear line for easier separation of individual packages  54 . 
     It will be further understood that in the embodiment shown, the U-shaped jaw members  46 ,  48  seal the packaging film  34 ,  36  along three sides of a rectangle, the two vertical sides and a horizontal side. The horizontal seal portion acts both as a top horizontal sealed section for current seal package  54  formed below the horizontal seal, and as a bottom sealed section for a next seal package  54  being formed above the horizontal seal. The vertical sides form the sides of the current seal package  54 , though they may extend vertically below the current seal package  54  and overlap the previous seal package  54 . As the film  34 ,  36  is advanced, the next package  54  being formed likewise has a bottom section, but the top and sides remain open to receive a pill  10  falling through the pill funnel  8 . Once a designated pill or pills  10  have been deposited in the unsealed package  54 , the seal jaws  46 ,  48  close again providing upside down U shape seal for the package  54 . When the seal jaws  46 ,  48  separate, the package  54  is then pulled downward a predefined distance such that the top sealed section becomes the bottom seal for the subsequent individual pill package  54 . While the width of the individual pill packages  54  may be controlled by the packaging film  34 ,  36  width, the height or length (and therefore the “size” or volume) of the individual pill packages  54  may be controlled by the length of packaging film  34 ,  36  drawn past the seal jaws  46 ,  48  between closing cycles of the seal jaws  46 ,  48 . 
     In the embodiments illustrated, the pill funnel has an inlet  64  and an outlet  66  that are both elongated and generally oval in shape. The pill funnel has first and second legs  68 ,  70  adjacent to and at least partially defining the outlet  66 . Preferably each leg  68 ,  70  of the pill funnel  8  is of the same length, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , for example. In certain embodiments, the inlet has a long axis  72  of between about 10 mm and about 50 mm and a short axis  74  of between about 5 mm and about 20 mm. The outlet preferably has a long axis  72  of between about 10 mm and about 50 mm and a short axis  74  of between about 5 mm and about 20 mm. In many embodiments, the overall length of the pill funnel, the length being measured perpendicular of both the short axis  72  and the long axis  74 , is between about 25 mm and about 100 mm, and more preferably, between about 40 mm and about 60 mm. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the printer  76  may be an Epson printer, but any conventional or future developed printer which can perform the functions described herein may be acceptable. While the content and form of information printed on a pill package  54  can vary in different applications, one preferred embodiment will print a uniform product code (UPC) number and/or barcode on the individual pill package  54 . Typically, the UPC will include a National Drug Code number, i.e., a 10-digit, 3-segment numeric identifier assigned to each medication listed under Section 510 of the US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and assigned by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Other information printed on pill packages  54  may include drug name, dosage, expiration date, and picture and/or other physical description of the pill. It will be understood that a device controller  78  can direct the printer  76  to print on the package  54  any combination of information found in a pill information database associated with the pill packaging device  2  (which described in more detail below). A barcode scanner  80  is positioned within the housing  14  of the pill encloser  4 . It can be seen that barcode scanner  80  is oriented toward a back side of the second packaging film  36 , which is the same side on which printer  76  will have preferably printed product information on packaging film  36 —the right or outer side of the second packaging film  36  as oriented in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  as the package  54  is scanned  82 . In one embodiment, the barcode scanner  80  is a Winson model WDI1000-SRTTL. 
     A beam detector of a pill sensor  84  registers when a light beam of the pill sensor is momentarily broken by a pill  10  passing the plane of the guide window  86  of the pill funnel (a plane passing through the guide window and being generally perpendicular to the vertical fall direction of the pill). Though the guide window  86  is shown to be at the pill funnel inlet  64 , with the light beam traveling substantially parallel with the short axis  72 , the guild window  86  may be located in the pill funnel  8  at other positions along the pill path  88  as the pill  10  falls through the pill funnel  8 , including at or around the middle of the pill path  88 , and/or at or around the funnel outlet  66 . Additionally or alternatively, the pill sensor  84  and guide window  86  may be oriented such that the light beam travels substantially parallel with the long axis  74 , or some axis at an angle between the long axis  74  and the short axis  72  to detect the pill  10 . 
     Additionally, the beam detector of the pill sensor  84  can detect a pill jam at the guide window  86  when the beam remains broken. In one embodiment, the pill sensor  84  is an F&amp;C sensor FFT-25ML. While the illustrated embodiment employs a laser or other light emitting sensor  84 , alternative pill  10  detecting pill sensors  84  may include a reflecting, diffusing, or vision sensor, or any other conventional or future developed sensor which may detect a pill  10  passing though pill funnel  8 . 
       FIG. 11  generally illustrates how the electronic components described above will send information to a controller  78  and/or receive instructions from the controller  78 . The controller will typically be a device such as Tri-PLC Model No. SmartTile, but may be any conventional or future developed control circuitry including microprocessors. Likewise, the functions performed by the electronics described herein may be implemented with a conventional software platform such as Tbasic ladder logic PLC program. A user barcode scanner may be included, such as a scanner fixed to the encloser housing or a hand-held scanner connected to the PLC controller. 
     Several illustrated components use microprocessor functionality  90  in order to operate and such components will preferably communicate with controller  78  via microprocessor  90 . Thus, a keypad may (mechanical or touchscreen) communicate with the controller  78  and service as an additional or alternative user input device. The controller  78  may communicate (via microprocessor  90 ) with a database which may include information for the pill packaging device  2  to function as described herein. Nonlimiting examples of some types of data stored in database includes: a library of National Drug Code designations and drug information associated therewith; information on preferred package  54  sizes to be associated with pills  10  identified with an NDC designation (and corresponding barcode); a drug&#39;s generic name and trade name; the strength or dose per pill  10  being packaged; form of the drug (pill, capsule, etc.), the drug manufacturer; the manufacturer expiration date and lot number; control symbols; customer lot number; facility name; label preparer&#39;s name and date label is prepared; an image of the pill  10 , description of the markings on the pill  10 ; controlled drug symbols, rules regarding package life, and any description or miscellaneous information the user may choose to input into the database or print on the package  54  (assuming sufficient space exists on the package). The packaging device  2  may also have wired or wireless communication components, such that the device may receive data and instructions from remote locations over a network, or from other devices attached to the packaging device. In one embodiment, the packaging device may be monitored and controlled by a user&#39;s mobile device, such as a tablet, lap top, or smart phone, via direct wireless communication such as blue tooth or WiFi, for example, or indirect wireless communication through the internet, including communicating through a third party computer or server. 
     While the programmable nature of the controller  78  allows the pill packaging device  2  to function in many different manners, one example of the pill packaging device&#39;s  2  functionality is described in reference to the flow chart in  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, the user scans the barcode of the medication stock bottle to initiate the packaging process (step  100 ). In step  101  the software associates the drug identified in Step  100 , via that drug&#39;s barcode, with drug information in the database, and then populates the template fields with information available in the database. The user may be required to enter other information (e.g., through keypad) such as the number of pills  10  to be packaged. The pill packaging device  2  may also provide information regarding the size of individual pill packages  54  in terms of the package height. In one example, the database associates a package size with each pill type within the database. After the pill type is identified in step  101 , the controller  78  is able to determine the appropriate package  54  size or height for use by controller  78  in operating pull motors  52 , sealing jaws  46 ,  48 , and other components whose timing and operation relate to the package  54  size. 
     Once the correct package label template is selected, understanding that the “label” may just be one side of the second packaging film  36  that forms an outside of the package  54 , for example, and once the package  54  size determined, and the drug label information is completed, then the user may send this information to the pill packaging device  2  and packager printer  76  by clicking the Print button (Step  102 ), which may be located external to the packaging device  2 , or on the pill enclosure housing  14 . 
     If the heater associated with sealing jaws  34 ,  36  is ready (step  103 ), the user may engage the start button (step  104 ) to initiate the packaging run, the start button may be located external to the packaging device  2 , or on the pill enclosure housing  14 . The controller  78  calculates the number of “leader packages” in step  105  based upon package height (i.e., the length of film between the sealing jaws  46 ,  48  and the printer  76  defined in terms of a number of packages  54  which cannot be properly labeled since this section of packaging film  34 ,  36  is beyond the printer  76  and is essentially wastage). In step  106 , the seal jaw motor  60  which pushes the U-shaped moving seal jaw  48  to move toward the U-shaped stationary seal jaw  46  until the moving seal jaw  46  reaches its maximum extension at which point the first and the second packaging films  34 ,  36  are pressed together and make a seal along the path of the U-shaped seal jaws  46 ,  48  to create a single package  54 . The device controller  78  checks if the pill packaging device  2  has cycled sufficient times to complete the production of the calculated number of leader packages  54  in step  107 . If not, then the packager printer  76  and pull wheels (also called pull rollers)  50  cycle again in step  123 . If the calculated number of leader packages  54  have been completed in step  107 , and if the pill sensor  84  has been activated in step  110 , then the carousel motor  28  (also called the index motor) is activated in step  111  causing the pill carousel  22  (also called a pill disk) to advance until the earlier of (a) the pill sensor  84  detecting a pill  10  dropping through the pill funnel (also called the pill guide)  8  or (b) until the carousel motor shaft  26  makes one complete revolution in step  118  (and in which case the packaging device  2  pauses in step  119 ), the barcode scanner is triggered in step  112 , and the seal jaw motor stops after a delay in step  113 . If the pill drop sensor  84  detects a pill  10  dropping then the package printer  76  and pull rollers  50  cycle again in step  123 . 
     In contrast to current practice in the art, the printer  76  on the pill packaging device  2  preferably prints a different trailer image than on pill containing packages  54 . The trailer image could be a default trailer image or customized image on the trailer packages  54  to distinguish between packages  54  with pills  10  and without. The trailer image could be a bitmap, a custom image, a standard empty package  54  image, data regarding the specific order, could print patient info, warning info for medicine, dosage info, drug interaction information or allergy information. Different trailer packages  54  of the same order could have the same or different images. 
     The barcode scanner  80  preferably scans for the printed barcode through an inner cutout window  92  of the stationary seal jaw  46 . This is in contrast to current practice in the art that scans after the sealing is done. By instead scanning through seal jaws  46 ,  48  it saves space and is a faster process without sacrificing efficacy. It shortens the machine and runs faster allowing for more pills to be packaged per minute. 
     The pull wheels  50  flip open for easy threading of the packaging film  34 ,  36 . The pull wheels  50  are oriented at an angle to the horizontal to allow for faster exit of the pills packages on the package exit path  94  through a package exit channel  96 , abrogating the need for a separate pill pusher to get pills out of funnel. In the embodiment shown, only the larger pull wheel  50  that is elevated above the horizontal is powered by the pull motor  52 . In other embodiments the other pull wheel  50  may be powered, or both pull wheels  50  may be powered. 
     Preferably other sensors  98  are present to monitor the progress of the packaging device. This includes, for example, film sensors  98  before the packaging film  34 ,  36  encounters the pill funnel  8 , a seal home switch sensor  98  to detect the seal head location, and a package sensor  98 , for inspecting the packages  54  after being sealed. 
     The printer  76  may print safety info on the pill package  54 , for example an image of the pill(s) that are actually supposed to be in the package. 
     An advantage of one embodiment of the pill funnel  8  is that when the pill  10  falls through the pill funnel  8  it rests/centers between the two legs  68 ,  70  at the pill funnel outlet  66 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , with the distance between the funnel legs  68 ,  70  in the long axis  72  being narrower than the distance of the pull wheels  50  and the vertical sides of either seal jaw  46 ,  48 , this greatly aids in preventing pill crushing from the seal jaws  46 ,  48  or the pull wheels  50 . Additionally, because the pill funnel  8  orients the pills  10  to be horizontal/flat as they exit the funnel outlet  66 , this allows the pills  10  to load quickly and uniformly into the pill package  54 . If the pill  10  was standing or oriented incorrectly in the package  54 , it would extend toward the top of the package  54  or to the side of the package  54  and would increase the chances that the seal jaws  46 ,  48  could crush the pill. 
     Additional sensors may detect if feed or packaging is broken during process by detecting lack of material. The packaging device  2  may further include a vision sensor camera to compare the image in the database to what is inside the pill package  54  or that is being loaded into the package  54 . The sensor could also look at from the top to make sure that only one pill  10  (or the desired number of pills) is going into a package  54  and that it is the correct pill  10 . The sensor could look for size, shape, color, and/or imprint and compare that to what is in the database or onboard memory. 
     In further embodiments, the pill dispenser  6  could have a scale under the carousel that automatically weighs the pills  10  that are loaded and divides by the number of pills  10  loaded to derive at a per pill weight. The microprocessor  90  could compare the derived value with the database for what the specific pills  10  are supposed to weigh and issue a warning if the values do not match, or could automatically stop loading pills  10  and require user override. The pill dispenser  6  could use the weight change as pills are being loaded to ensure that one and only one pill is being loaded at a time (or two or three pills, for example, if that is the desired number of pills to load). 
     This device can be a compact unit dose packager with multiple package sizes and all features. This makes the device easy for anyone in the pharmacy to install or exchange with a loaner unit, which gives this device an advantage over other table top packagers. This pill packaging device preferably weighs only 50 lbs when fully assembled so anyone can lift this device easily. 
     This device can record video of all packaging runs for auditing purpose. For example, the most recent 30 videos and/or 30 twenty-four hour days of video may be stored in the computer for troubleshooting the device performance, as well as quality &amp; accuracy of the packaging. 
     Further embodiments have a cutter that cuts the packages  54  preferably after the pull wheels  50  but before the packages leave the pill encloser  4 . 
     The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may explicitly be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that various modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to and be readily apparent those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims. Further, the invention(s) described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various other related ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items while only the terms “consisting of” and “consisting only of” are to be construed in the (imitative sense.