The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 02, 2002
Grant Chen, Cary, NC (US);
Saingeun Houatchanthara, Raleigh, NC (US);
Axon Corporation, Raleigh, NC (US);
Abstract
A hydrophobic, compressible, resilient filler for keeping pills from movement in a container during handling is provided in the form of a tube that is cut to a desired length and axially compressed in horizontal orientation. The tube is compressed and inserted through the neck portion of the container and allowed to expand to become entrapped within the container so as to apply pressure to keep the pills from movement or damage. An apparatus and method is disclosed for extending a desired length of filler in flattened tubular form from a large supply, to cut the length of tube from the supply, to reconfigure the cross-sectional shape of the filler tube, to axially compress the rounded tube, and to insert the axially compressed filler into a container that is aligned with the insertion ram.