Rev 2022-03-08
Pharmafill Model TC4 User Manual
Deitz Company Inc.
TC4 User Manual
Page
36
10.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
10.1.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The Pharmafill Model TC4 is an electronic pill counter/filler. It can count objects other than
pills, but the primary purpose is to count pills (tablets, capsules, caplets, most solid oral dose
products). The pills are counted using photoelectric sensing. Once counted the pills are directed
into pre-staged bottles. It may be used as a check counter, as a manual bottle-filling machine
(one bottle at a time), or as a semi-automatic filler (one bottle after another, continuously).
A supply of product to be counted is distributed to a rotating glass disc. A single-file stream of
pills is guided off the edge of the glass and down a curved chute, where the pills space out as
they fall. As the pills exit the chute, they pass though the counting window, containing a light
source and light receiver that are connected to a counting sensor. As each pill briefly blocks the
light source, the counting sensor detects the change in light level and sends a count signal to the
PLC computer, which maintains the tally.
The PLC compares the tally against two pre-set values: slowdown count and target count. The
slowdown count must be less than the target count. When the slowdown count is met, the
rotation speed of the glass disc slows down. This aids in the action of the divider flag (see
below). When the target count is matched, the glass disc resumes full speed.
After passing through the counting window, the pills strike the divider flag, which directs the
stream of pills into one of two exit funnels, one on the left and one on the right. When the tally
matches the target count, the divider flag switches sides, starting a new count at zero on the
alternate side. The action of the divider flag is must be timed perfectly to split the stream of pills
precisely after last pill of the target count and before the first pill of the next count.
When used as a manual filler (MANUAL mode), the machine will stop each time the target
count is met. The divider flag will flip and any excess pills will be tallied but the stream will
stop.
When used as a semi-automatic filler (AUTO mode), the stream will be continuous to the right
or left funnels alternately. The operator must take away filled bottles and supply empty ones
when required.
When used for count verification only (CHECK COUNT Mode), the machine will only deliver
and count the product. It will not automatically reset to zero or flip the divider flag; the user must
press RESET to do this. The Target and Slowdown counts are not used.
