Title of Invention	A SYSTEM FOR USE WITH BLISTER PACKING MACHINES, FOR THE DETECTION OF MISSING, BROKEN AND CHIPPED TABLETS IN A BLISTER PACK
Abstract	A system for use with blister packing machine for on-line detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack comprising CCD Camera to detect said missing, broken and chipped tablets by capturing images of said filled blister packs, means for processing of capture images and generating signals as and when any defect is identified for on-line detection and rectification and/or removal of the defective pack. The system as directed to provide blister packing reliable and cost effective and the same time is simple and easy to operate.

Title of Invention

A SYSTEM FOR USE WITH BLISTER PACKING MACHINES, FOR THE DETECTION OF MISSING, BROKEN AND CHIPPED TABLETS IN A BLISTER PACK

Abstract

A system for use with blister packing machine for on-line detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack comprising CCD Camera to detect said missing, broken and chipped tablets by capturing images of said filled blister packs, means for processing of capture images and generating signals as and when any defect is identified for on-line detection and rectification and/or removal of the defective pack. The system as directed to provide blister packing reliable and cost effective and the same time is simple and easy to operate.

Full Text	The invention relates to a system for use with blister packing machines for the on-line detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack. In particular, the system of the invention identifies the defective packs and provide for on-line diversion and separation of defective packs from the good ones and/or rectifying the defective packing. The system is developed for used with any blister packing machine. In the conventional blister packing machine while there are devices using optical sensors, to detect missing tablets there is no known device to detect broken and chipped tablets. Also, with the known devices it was not possible to remove the defective tablets (missing & broken) in a pack and replace them with good ones on line before sealing of the pack which resulted in wastage of packs making the system of blister packing complex and cost-extensive. It is thus the basic object of the present invention to provide a system for the on-line detection, of missing, broken and chipped tablets in blister packs produced by blister packing machines. Another object of the present invention is directed to provide an on-line system for detection of defective packs, removal of the. defective packs from the good ones and/or replacement/rectification of the defective packs on-line to thereby avoid wastage of packing and make the system of blister packing reliable and cost-effective. Yet further object of the present invention is directed to provide an on-line system for detection of defective packs and replacement/rectification of defective packing which would be simple and easy to operate. Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for use with blister packing machines for the on-line detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack comprising : means for capturing images of filled blister packs ; means for processing the captured image for detection of any defective packing including any missing, broken or chipped tablets ; means for generating alarm signals as and when any said defective package is identified. In particular, the system comprises CCD camera to detect missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack. The said camera is adapted to capture images of the blister packs after it is filled with tablets. The CCD camera can be of type frame scan or line scan, black and white or colour. Suitable illumination means is used for uniform illumination of the object (blister pack) under consideration. Light sources such as fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, LED's, UV lamps, infrared lamps, or any kind of strobed lights can be used. Preferably a speed sensing system is used to synchronize the operation of the system with the speed of the machine such that the camera captures an image after it receives a pulse from the speed sensing device each time a filled pack is fully moved by the packing machine for viewing through the camera. The speed sensing device can be selected from optical, inductive hall effect or capacitive type sensor. A computer is used to process/scan the captured images for detection of any said defective pack including any missing, broken or chipped tablets. The alarm signals can comprise of alarm lights (visual indicator) and/or audio means to indicate identification of any defective pack. In accordance with a preferred aspect the system for use with blister packing machine comprising : means for capturing images of filled blister packs ; means for processing the captured image for detection of any defective packing including missing, broken or chipped tablets ; means for generating alarm signals as and when any said defective package is identified ; and means for removal of the defective package and/or rectifying the defect in the package. Preferably, said means for removal of defective package can comprise rejection flaps used to separate the defective packs from the good ones. Importantly, the system can also have means for rectifying the defective pack on-line to thereby save wastage of defective packs. The details of the invention, its objects and advantages are explained hereunder in greater detail in relation to an exemplary embodiment of the system as illustrated in the accompanying figure Fig 1 wherein a schematic illustration of the system of the on-line system used with blister packing machines in accordance with the present invention is provided. As shown in Fig. 1 the system utilizes the CCD camera (4) two light sources (2) which are precisely positioned and arranged so as to uniformly illuminate the object under consideration. The camera (4) is placed perpendicular or at a small angle therein, to the direction of movement of the blister (3). The light source/sources (2) are placed along the axis of the blister or at a small angle therein, and arranged linearly in the form of a matrix, so as to uniformly illuminate the object and avoid glares in the images. With this arrangement the camera is not only able to get a clear picture of the object, but at the same time the defect in the material is significantly reflected in the captured image. A Personal Computer (PC) (5) with adequate processing power is used to process the captured image. The signals from the camera are routed to the PC through a frame grabber card which is accommodated within the PC itself. A speed sensing device (8) is used to sense and monitor the speed of the filled blister packs (3). The control unit (6) provides regulated power to the camera, and the light sources. It also provides signals to activate the ejector flaps (7) and the alarm lights 9, when ever the system detects a defective pack. The speed sensing device is also interfaced to the PC through this module. In order to prevent external disturbances from affecting the quality of images captured by the camera, the camera and the lights are fixed securely and housed in the hood (1). The hood (1) in turn is fixed with suitable clamps on to the machine in such a manner that the camera views the blister (3) after it has been filled with the tablets. The additional filling station (10) is placed after the hood (1) in the direction of motion of the blister. The functioning of the system of the invention illustrated under Fig. 1 is as follows : The camera (4) captures the image of the blister (3) after it has been filled with tablets. The captured image is transferred to the PC memory by the frame grabber. In order to synchronize the operation of the system with the speed of the machine the camera captures an image after it receives a pulse from the speed sensing device (8) each time a pack is fully moved. To achieve this the speed sensing device (8) is suitably secured to the machine (3) so that it outputs a pulse after a pack is moved by the machine. The captured image is first cleaned from noise by using certain filters. After which suitable image processing algorithms are used to detect a missing, broken or chipped tablets. On detection of any of the said defects the PC (9) triggers the alarm and at the appropriate time triggers the rejection flap (7) so as to divert the defective pack. Alternatively, the system on detection of a defect could trigger of a filling station (10) which in turn could insert a tablet in the missing pocket of the pack. However, in the case of a broken or chipped tablet the filling station should at first remove the defective tablet and then insert a good one in the pack. It is thus possible by way of the above disclosed system of the invention to achieve on-line detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in blister packing machines. Also, the system would provide for removal of defective packing from good ones and/or replacement/rectification of the defective packing and avoid wastage of the packing. The system of the invention comprises CCD camera to detect missing or broken or chipped tablets in a blister packing machine and providing for on line removal/diversion of defective packing from the good ones by a rejecter flap with or without on line replacement of defective packs with good ones, by a filling station located after the detection module in the direction of the motion of the blister. The system is simple to operate and would serve to make the manufacture of blister packing of tablets and like reliable and cost effective. We Claim 1. A system for use with blister packing machines for the detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack comprising : means for capturing images of filled blister packs ; means for processing the captured image for detection of any defective packing including any missing, broken or chipped tablets ; means for generating alarm signals as and when any said defective package is identified. ^' 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for on-line detection and removal of the defective package and/or rectification of the defective package. 3. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said means for capturing images of filled blister packs comprise CCD camera and light means for illuminating the blister packs to be imaged. 4. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein said means for processing the captured image comprise a computer with desired processing power to process said captured image. 5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said computer is a personal computer having a frame grabber. 6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said captured images are routed to the personal computer through said frame grabber card. 7. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein each said blister packs from the machine are adapted to be moved after it is filled for capturing the images of the filled blister packs. 8. A system as claimed in claim 7 comprising speed sensing means to sense the speed of motion of the filled blister packs in relation to said camera. 9. A system as claimed in of claim 8 wherein said speed sensing device is adapted to generate a pulse each time a filled pack is in position in relation to said camera for capturing of said image of said pack and the camera is adapted to be capture the image only after said pulse is generated by said speed sensing device. 10. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said speed sensing device is adapted to synchronize the speed of the machine and trigger the camera to capture an image or trigger the frame grabber to freeze an image. 11. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 8 to 10 wherein said speed sensing device is secured to the said machine. 12. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 11 wherein said light sources are positioned along the axis of the blister or at small angle therein and arranged linearly in the form of a matrix so as to uniformly illuminate the obiect. 13. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 12 wherein said camera and the light sources are fixed securely and housed in a hood. 14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said hood is secured with respect to said blister packing machine such that the camera views the blister packs after it is filled with the tablets. 15. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 14 comprising power supply and interface module for providing regulated voltage to the camera and the light sources. ■I 16. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 15 wherein said CCD camera is anyone of type frame scan, line scan black & white or colour. 17. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 16 comprising two light sources positioned and arranged to provide uniform light/illumination of the object. 18. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 17 wherein said light source is sefected from fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps and LED and any variety of strobed light'. 19. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 8 to 18 wherein said speed sensing device comprise optical, induction, hall effect or capacitative type sensor. 20. A system as claimed anyone of claims 2 to 19 wherein said means for removal of defective packs comprise ejector flaps to divert motion of defective packs from the good ones. 21. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 20 wherein said means for processing of captured images comprise : means to clean the image from noise by use of filter means ; means for processing the filtered imaging using suitable image processing means to identify missing and/or broken and/or chipped tablets. means for generating said alarm signal as and when any said defective pack is identified. 22. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said PC is adapted to activate the alarm and aciivate the rejection flaps as and when defective pack is identified. 23. A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said PC is further adapted to actuate a filling station to insert a tablet in the missing position of the pack and in case of broken/chipped tablets first remove the broken/chipped tablet and then insert a fresh one in the place thereof 24. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 23 wherein said camera is positioned perpendicular' or at a small angular disposition with respect to the movement of the blister pack. 25. A system for use with blister packing machine substantially as hereindescribed and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.

Full Text

The invention relates to a system for use with blister packing machines for the on-line detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack. In particular, the system of the invention identifies the defective packs and provide for on-line diversion and separation of defective packs from the good ones and/or rectifying the defective packing. The system is developed for used with any blister packing machine.
In the conventional blister packing machine while there are devices using optical sensors, to detect missing tablets there is no known device to detect broken and chipped tablets. Also, with the known devices it was not possible to remove the defective tablets (missing & broken) in a pack and replace them with good ones on line before sealing of the pack which resulted in wastage of packs making the system of blister packing complex and cost-extensive.
It is thus the basic object of the present invention to provide a system for the on-line detection, of missing, broken and chipped tablets in blister packs produced by blister packing machines.
Another object of the present invention is directed to provide an on-line system for detection of defective packs, removal of the. defective packs from the good ones and/or replacement/rectification of the defective packs on-line to thereby avoid wastage of packing and make the system of blister packing reliable and cost-effective.
Yet further object of the present invention is directed to provide an on-line system for detection of defective packs and replacement/rectification of defective packing which would be simple and easy to operate.
Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for use with blister packing machines for the on-line

detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack comprising :
means for capturing images of filled blister packs ;
means for processing the captured image for detection of any defective packing including any missing, broken or chipped tablets ;
means for generating alarm signals as and when any said defective package is identified.
In particular, the system comprises CCD camera to detect missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack. The said camera is adapted to capture images of the blister packs after it is filled with tablets. The CCD camera can be of type frame scan or line scan, black and white or colour. Suitable illumination means is used for uniform illumination of the object (blister pack) under consideration. Light sources such as fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, LED's, UV lamps, infrared lamps, or any kind of strobed lights can be used. Preferably a speed sensing system is used to synchronize the operation of the system with the speed of the machine such that the camera captures an image after it receives a pulse from the speed sensing device each time a filled pack is fully moved by the packing machine for viewing through the camera. The speed sensing device can be selected from optical, inductive hall effect or capacitive type sensor. A computer is used to process/scan the captured images for detection of any said defective pack including any missing, broken or chipped tablets.
The alarm signals can comprise of alarm lights (visual indicator) and/or audio means to indicate identification of any defective pack.
In accordance with a preferred aspect the system for use with blister packing machine comprising :

means for capturing images of filled blister packs ;
means for processing the captured image for detection of any defective packing including missing, broken or chipped tablets ;
means for generating alarm signals as and when any said defective package is identified ; and
means for removal of the defective package and/or rectifying the defect in the package.
Preferably, said means for removal of defective package can comprise rejection flaps used to separate the defective packs from the good ones. Importantly, the system can also have means for rectifying the defective pack on-line to thereby save wastage of defective packs.
The details of the invention, its objects and advantages are explained hereunder in greater detail in relation to an exemplary embodiment of the system as illustrated in the accompanying figure Fig 1 wherein a schematic illustration of the system of the on-line system used with blister packing machines in accordance with the present invention is provided.
As shown in Fig. 1 the system utilizes the CCD camera (4) two light sources (2) which are precisely positioned and arranged so as to uniformly illuminate the object under consideration. The camera (4) is placed perpendicular or at a small angle therein, to the direction of movement of the blister (3). The light source/sources (2) are placed along the axis of the blister or at a small angle therein, and arranged linearly in the form of a matrix, so as to uniformly illuminate the object and avoid glares in the images. With this arrangement the camera is not only able to get a clear

picture of the object, but at the same time the defect in the material is significantly reflected in the captured image.
A Personal Computer (PC) (5) with adequate processing power is used to process the captured image. The signals from the camera are routed to the PC through a frame grabber card which is accommodated within the PC itself. A speed sensing device (8) is used to sense and monitor the speed of the filled blister packs (3). The control unit (6) provides regulated power to the camera, and the light sources. It also provides signals to activate the ejector flaps (7) and the alarm lights 9, when ever the system detects a defective pack. The speed sensing device is also interfaced to the PC through this module. In order to prevent external disturbances from affecting the quality of images captured by the camera, the camera and the lights are fixed securely and housed in the hood (1). The hood (1) in turn is fixed with suitable clamps on to the machine in such a manner that the camera views the blister (3) after it has been filled with the tablets. The additional filling station (10) is placed after the hood (1) in the direction of motion of the blister.
The functioning of the system of the invention illustrated under Fig. 1 is as follows :
The camera (4) captures the image of the blister (3) after it has been filled with tablets. The captured image is transferred to the PC memory by the frame grabber. In order to synchronize the operation of the system with the speed of the machine the camera captures an image after it receives a pulse from the speed sensing device (8) each time a pack is fully moved. To achieve this the speed sensing device (8) is suitably secured to the machine (3) so that it outputs a pulse after a pack is moved by the machine. The captured image is first cleaned from noise by using certain filters. After which suitable image processing algorithms are used to detect a missing, broken or chipped tablets. On detection of any of the said defects the PC (9) triggers the alarm and at the appropriate time

triggers the rejection flap (7) so as to divert the defective pack. Alternatively, the system on detection of a defect could trigger of a filling station (10) which in turn could insert a tablet in the missing pocket of the pack. However, in the case of a broken or chipped tablet the filling station should at first remove the defective tablet and then insert a good one in the pack.
It is thus possible by way of the above disclosed system of the invention to achieve on-line detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in blister packing machines. Also, the system would provide for removal of defective packing from good ones and/or replacement/rectification of the defective packing and avoid wastage of the packing.
The system of the invention comprises CCD camera to detect missing or broken or chipped tablets in a blister packing machine and providing for on line removal/diversion of defective packing from the good ones by a rejecter flap with or without on line replacement of defective packs with good ones, by a filling station located after the detection module in the direction of the motion of the blister. The system is simple to operate and would serve to make the manufacture of blister packing of tablets and like reliable and cost effective.

We Claim
1. A system for use with blister packing machines for the detection of missing, broken and chipped tablets in a blister pack comprising :
means for capturing images of filled blister packs ;
means for processing the captured image for detection of any defective packing including any missing, broken or chipped tablets ;
means for generating alarm signals as and when any said defective package is identified.
^' 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for on-line detection and removal of the defective package and/or rectification of the defective package.
3. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said means for capturing images of filled blister packs comprise CCD camera and light means for illuminating the blister packs to be imaged.
4. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein said means for processing the captured image comprise a computer with desired processing power to process said captured image.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said computer is a personal
computer having a frame grabber.
6. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said captured images are
routed to the personal computer through said frame grabber card.

7. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein each said blister packs from the machine are adapted to be moved after it is filled for capturing the images of the filled blister packs.
8. A system as claimed in claim 7 comprising speed sensing means to sense the speed of motion of the filled blister packs in relation to said camera.
9. A system as claimed in of claim 8 wherein said speed sensing device is adapted to generate a pulse each time a filled pack is in position in relation to said camera for capturing of said image of said pack and the camera is adapted to be capture the image only after said pulse is generated by said speed sensing device.
10. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said speed sensing device is adapted to synchronize the speed of the machine and trigger the camera to capture an image or trigger the frame grabber to freeze an image.
11. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 8 to 10 wherein said speed sensing device is secured to the said machine.
12. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 11 wherein said light sources are positioned along the axis of the blister or at small angle therein and arranged linearly in the form of a matrix so as to uniformly illuminate the obiect.
13. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 12 wherein said camera and the light sources are fixed securely and housed in a hood.
14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said hood is secured with respect to said blister packing machine such that the camera views the blister packs after it is filled with the tablets.

15. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 14 comprising power
supply and interface module for providing regulated voltage to the
camera and the light sources.

■I
16. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 15 wherein said CCD camera is anyone of type frame scan, line scan black & white or colour.
17. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 16 comprising two light sources positioned and arranged to provide uniform light/illumination of the object.
18. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 17 wherein said light source is sefected from fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps and LED and any variety of strobed light'.

19. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 8 to 18 wherein said speed sensing device comprise optical, induction, hall effect or capacitative type sensor.
20. A system as claimed anyone of claims 2 to 19 wherein said means for removal of defective packs comprise
ejector flaps to divert motion of defective packs from the good ones.
21. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 20 wherein said means
for processing of captured images comprise :
means to clean the image from noise by use of filter means ;

means for processing the filtered imaging using suitable image processing means to identify missing and/or broken and/or chipped tablets.
means for generating said alarm signal as and when any said defective pack is identified.
22. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said PC is adapted to
activate the alarm and aciivate the rejection flaps as and when
defective pack is identified.
23. A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said PC is further adapted to
actuate a filling station to insert a tablet in the missing position of the
pack and in case of broken/chipped tablets first remove the
broken/chipped tablet and then insert a fresh one in the place
thereof
24. A system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 23 wherein said camera
is positioned perpendicular' or at a small angular disposition with
respect to the movement of the blister pack.
25. A system for use with blister packing machine substantially as
hereindescribed and illustrated with reference to the accompanying
figures.

Documents:

113-mas-2000-abstract.pdf

113-mas-2000-claims filed.pdf

113-mas-2000-claims grand.pdf

113-mas-2000-correspondence others.pdf

113-mas-2000-correspondence po.pdf

113-mas-2000-description complete filed.pdf

113-mas-2000-description complete grand.pdf

113-mas-2000-drawings.pdf

113-mas-2000-form 1.pdf

113-mas-2000-form 19.pdf

113-mas-2000-form 26.pdf

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Patent Number

197970

Indian Patent Application Number

113/MAS/2000

PG Journal Number

08/2007

Publication Date

23-Feb-2007

Grant Date

02-Feb-2006

Date of Filing

14-Feb-2000

Name of Patentee

PREMIER POLYTRONICS LTD.,

Applicant Address

304, TRICHY ROAD, SINGANALLUR, COIMBATORE-641 005, STATE OF TAMIL NADU

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	RAMACHANDRAN SHEKARIPURAM NARAYANASWAMY	SHREE NIVAS, NO. 3, 4TH CROSS, ROAD, CHINTHAMANI NAGAR, K.K. PUDUR, COIMBATORE-641 038, STATE OF TAMIL NADU
2	RAGHUNATH AYYAPANKAV GANESAN	11-E, N.M. NAGAR, DEVAPURAM GANAPATHY, COIMBATORE-641 038, STATE OF TAMILNADU

PCT International Classification Number

B65B57/10

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA