Michael R Strong

US Patent:

6770823, Aug 3, 2004

Filed:

Aug 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/203726

Inventors:

Milton David Bynum - Lake Villa IL
David Brian Moody - Durham NC
Michael Richard Strong - Durham NC
Thomas Scott Wilson - Durham NC

Assignee:

Smithkline Beecham Corporation - Philadelphia PA

International Classification:

G01G 1700

US Classification:

177 1, 177 50, 177125, 141 83, 53502, 53503, 53504, 73 113

Abstract:

A system for check weighing the content of a blister strip which includes a guide adapted to receive a blister strip comprised of at least one blister, a punch aligned with the guide for receiving the at least one blister, an actuator engaged with the punch for driving the punch toward the blister strip, whereby the blister is punched from the blister strip, and a balance adapted to receive the punched blister for weighing the punched blister and generating a weight signal after subtracting a predetermined value representing the weight of an empty blister. An alternative method of determining the content of a blister strip comprises reflecting a beam of energy off of a blister strip and determining the height of the blister from the reflected energy. The measured height is compared to a predetermined height to derive the amount of powder contained therein.