Cutting – Processes – With subsequent handling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2001-06-12
Rada, Rinaldi I. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
Processes
With subsequent handling
C083S157000, C083S167000, C083S932000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244146
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for shearing a large quantity of tablets into two approximately equal sized parts in an accurate and quick manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is common practice to utilize pill cutters or the like to cut tablets into approximately equal parts. Representative prior art devices are known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,173,826, 4,173,806 and 4,964,555 and an article in the June, 1990 issue of
Manufacturing Chemist
entitled “Packaging tablets for clinical trials,” by Messrs. M. Glover and D. Cooper (Vol. 61, page 26). In drug trials, especially drug interaction trials, large quantities of drug tablets must be cut and placed in capsules. Cutting tablets with conventional devices takes an inordinate amount of time. Further, the work is monotonous which can lead to errors or mistakes.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,344 to Leopoldi, a plurality of pills are placed in pockets of a pad. Knife blades in the pockets cut the pills when a top member is placed over the pockets and manually forced downward. The pill cutter relies on the knife blades to cut the pills and no movable plates are utilized.
This invention makes shearing a large quantity of tablets into substantially equal sized portions fast and convenient and by structure that is inexpensive and yet durable and very accurate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The tablet shearing apparatus of the invention generally includes a support frame having a top frame member with an opening therein, a stationary plate secured to the top frame member and including apertures extending about substantially the entirety of the opening of said top frame member, a movable plate including apertures positioned above the stationary plate and being supported such that the movable plate can only move in directions along a path, and a tablet tray having apertures for receiving tablets. The tablet tray generally is positionable above the movable plate to transfer tablets to the apertures of the movable plate and stationary plate. When individual tablets are supported in the apertures of both the stationary plate and the movable plate, movement of the movable plate relative to the stationary plate shears the tablets.
A method of the invention includes the steps of disposing a plurality of tablets on a tablet tray in a flat position in apertures of the tablet tray, positioning the tablet tray on a support frame having a top frame member with an opening, and releasing the tablets through the apertures of the tablet tray and into apertures in a movable plate aligned with apertures in a stationary plate secured to the top frame member. The movable plate can be in surface-to-surface relationship with the stationary plate.
REFERENCES:
patent: 771752 (1904-10-01), Stafford
patent: 2655259 (1953-10-01), Davoren
patent: 3252364 (1966-05-01), Veres et al.
patent: 3451297 (1969-06-01), Reis et al.
patent: 3567088 (1971-03-01), Andersen
patent: 4173826 (1979-11-01), Leopoldi et al.
patent: 4179806 (1979-12-01), Lieptz
patent: 4361174 (1982-11-01), Jenkins et al.
patent: 4697344 (1987-10-01), Leopoldi
patent: 4911046 (1990-03-01), Goss et al.
patent: 4964555 (1990-10-01), Hnatuk
Michael Glover & Denis Cooper, Packaging tablets for clinical trials, Jun., 1990, p. 26.
Arthur Anne Frances
Dehaan Douglas Jay
Jepsen Clifford R.
Ni Phillip F.
Vermeulen Donald L.
Flynn ,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
Hall Melissa L
Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
Rada Rinaldi I.
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