| 摘要 |
<p>A feeding apparatus and method for delivering tablets or preforms to an encapsulating machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes a number of vertically extending chutes, each capable of holding a number of tablets aligned in a row along the respective chute. A plunger mechanism temporarily engages one of the tablets in the chute so as to prevent downward movement of the tablet and all pills located above it in the chute. A rotatable feed roll is located adjacent a bottom end section of the chutes and this roll has a number of tablet cavities, each capable of holding an individual tablet. Pivotable stop members are used to prevent temporarily downward movement of the bottom pill in each chute, this pill being located downstream of the plunger. These stop members move to a pill releasing position when the plungers are engaging their respective tablets in the chutes. Each stop member prevents downward movement of its respective row of pills in the chute past the stop member when the plunger is moved to a position of disengagement.</p> |
