High-velocity counting in pharmaceutical packaging presents a specific technical challenge: the occurrence of blind zones where tablets may be miscounted due to their rapid and unpredictable movement. Pharmapack addresses this issue with sophisticated algorithms designed to enhance the accuracy of their tablet counter machine. This approach focuses on predicting dosage movement paths to maintain precision at elevated operational speeds.
Algorithmic Anticipation of Particle Movement
The core of this innovation involves software that analyzes the trajectory of each tablet or capsule as it enters the counting chamber. Instead of relying solely on sensors capturing a single moment in time, the system in the tablet and capsule counter calculates the likely path of each unit. This predictive modeling accounts for variables such as product shape, mass, and velocity, allowing the machine to anticipate where each item will be at the point of counting. This method significantly reduces the errors that can occur when two tablets pass a sensor in close proximity at high speed.
Seamless Integration with Modular Hardware
The effectiveness of this software is dependent on its integration with physical components. The LFM-32’s fully modular design, where each module is unique and has separated parts, supports this advanced functionality. The small footprints of the units allow them to be integrated into any packaging line without compromising the sophisticated sensor placement required for data collection. The algorithm works in concert with this hardware, using data from optimally positioned sensors to make accurate predictions, ensuring the tablet counter machine operates as a unified system.
Operational Simplicity Through Automated Complexity
A notable feature of this system is its implementation ease. While the underlying technology is complex, the tablet and capsule counter requires minimal manual settings. The algorithm operates automatically in the background, requiring no complex calibration from operators. This allows facilities to benefit from advanced trajectory prediction without needing specialized expertise, making the high accuracy of the tablet counter machine both an accessible and reliable feature for experienced production teams.
Pharmapack’s use of dynamic trajectory prediction represents a focused technical solution to a specific industry challenge. By enabling their tablet and capsule counter to anticipate movement rather than just react to it, they effectively eliminate the inaccuracies associated with high-speed blind zones. This results in a tablet counter machine that delivers consistent precision, supporting the critical need for dosage accuracy in pharmaceutical packaging.
