LASER TABLET TREATMENT SYSTEM WITH DUAL ACCESS TO TABLET

摘要

2126454 9313909 PCTABS00024 Tablet treating system (10) treats a series of pharmaceutical tablets (50T) with pulses of laser energy (24P) within at least one predetermined treatment site (50S) on each tablet. A tablet conveyer (12) continuously moves individual tablets along a tablet path (10P). A laser (14) provides the pulses of laser energy along a stationary laser path which crosses the tablet path defining a stationary intersection zone (14Z) common to both paths. The tablet path has periodic treatment windows (20W) during which the treatment sites (50S) on the moving tablets pass through the stationary intersection zone. The operation of the laser has periodic laser ready windows (24W) during which the laser may be fired. A controller (16) is responsive to the movement of the tablet conveyer and to the operation of the laser for activating the laser and treating the tablets. The controller activates the laser when a tablet is passing through the intersection zone and the tablet treatment window coincides with the laser ready window. The controller does not activate the laser and rejects the tablet when the tablet treatment window does not coincide with the laser ready window. An abort mechanism (18) proximate the collection end (10C) of the tablet path is responsive to the controller for separating the treated tablets from the rejected tablets.