Patent ID: 7971765

Claim:
A method for splitting tablets, the method comprising: placing each of a plurality of tablets within a separate one of a plurality of holes, each hole extending between a top surface and a corresponding bottom surface of a retention plate, each tablet having a maximum thickness measured along a first axis extending through each tablet between a top surface and an opposing bottom surface of each tablet and having maximum width measured along a second axis extending though each tablet at an orientation perpendicular to the first axis, the maximum width being greater than the maximum thickness, the bottom surface of each of the plurality of tablets being supported on a stop plate positioned below the retention plate so that first axis along which the maximum thickness of each tablet is measured extends along the length of each corresponding hole of the retention plate; substantially simultaneously splitting each of the plurality of tablets into at least two parts while the plurality of tablets are disposed within the holes extending through the retention plate and are supported on the stop plate; and moving at least a portion of the stop plate relative to the retention plate so that the at least two parts of each separate tablet fall from the stop plate into a compartment of a separate one of a plurality of first capsule portions, each first capsule portion being designed for oral consumption and being comprised of a material that decomposes when consumed orally, whereby each first capsule portion contains the at least two parts of only a single one of the plurality of tablets.