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An automatic pill dispenser for dispensing medical pills having different prescribed administration schedules includes a plurality of pill storage compartments each capable of holding more than one pill, an automatic release mechanism for dispensing pills at predetermined time intervals correspondin

An automatic pill dispenser for dispensing medical pills having different prescribed administration schedules includes a plurality of pill storage compartments each capable of holding more than one pill, an automatic release mechanism for dispensing pills at predetermined time intervals corresponding with their respective administration schedules, and a pill receptacle coupled to a pill detector such that a pill dispensed from the pill dispenser and received by the receptacle causes the pill dispenser to generate a signal to alert the patient to take the dispensed medicine. Twelve storage compartments, arranged in a ring about a vertically rotating wheel, are preloaded by a patient with all pills prescribed to be taken during a 24-hour period. The patient loads pills into individual storage compartments according to a loading code corresponding to the respective administration schedules of the pills. The pill dispenser then automatically sequentially rotates the storage compartments over a trapdoor which operates to empty each compartment positioned thereover. A photoelectric detector, having a light beam traveling vertically through a cup into which pills are dispensed, detects pills therein and responds by alerting the patient with an audible or visual signal. The light source also serves as a night light. A preloadable pill storage canister is also disclosed which may be preloaded by a pharmacist and simply inserted into the pill dispenser by the patient for automatic pill dispensing. A method of dispensing medical pills having different prescribed administration schedules is also described.

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An automatic pill dispenser for dispensing medical pills, such as tablets, capsules or suppositories, having different prescribed administration schedules, comprising: (a) a plurality of pill storage compartments for holding pills having different administration schedules, said compartments each bei

An automatic pill dispenser for dispensing medical pills, such as tablets, capsules or suppositories, having different prescribed administration schedules, comprising: (a) a plurality of pill storage compartments for holding pills having different administration schedules, said compartments each being sized to hold one or more pills; (b) means for releasing pills from said pill storage compartments at predetermined time intervals corresponding with their respective administration schedules; (c) a pill receptacle for receiving pills released from said storage compartments; and (d) means for detecting the delivery of a pill into said receptacle and for producing a sensible signal in response thereto, in which said detecting means comprises a photoelectric detector having a light source and photodetector arranged such that delivery of a pill of any commercial size from said storage compartments into said receptacle causes interruption of a light beam generated by said light source, said receptacle is provided with a vertical through-hole of diameter less than one-eighth of an inch, said receptacle includes means for positioning a first pill received from said storage compartments over said hole, and in which said light source and photodetector are arranged such that said light source generates a light beam which normally passes through said hole whereby a first pill received from said storage compartments interrupts the light beam passing through said hole.