초록 ▼

A medication dispenser for dispensing pills, tablets, capsules, or the like, one at a time from a receptacle in which the medication is arranged loosely to allow for easy filling. In one embodiment, the medication units are passed through a restricted funnel opening, one at a time, and then captured

A medication dispenser for dispensing pills, tablets, capsules, or the like, one at a time from a receptacle in which the medication is arranged loosely to allow for easy filling. In one embodiment, the medication units are passed through a restricted funnel opening, one at a time, and then captured between two cooperating, movable, compressible structures such as wheels, belts, or the like, which move the units to a detector that counts the units as they are removed from the dispenser. In another embodiment, the medication is first captured and then moved through a restricted opening. The dispenser may also include a computer for controlling and/or recording the time of dispensing and the quantity of medication dispensed. Additionally, the dispenser may include two sequentially placed sets of cooperating, movable, structures at different horizontal levels for achieving greater separation of medication units.

대표청구항 ▼

A dispenser for dispensing substantially non-compressible solid objects one at a time comprising: a receptacle having a substantially hollow interior for storing a plurality of objects to be dispensed, said receptacle having an opening through a first wall thereof; a passageway extending from said o

A dispenser for dispensing substantially non-compressible solid objects one at a time comprising: a receptacle having a substantially hollow interior for storing a plurality of objects to be dispensed, said receptacle having an opening through a first wall thereof; a passageway extending from said opening to the exterior of said dispenser; a pair of cooperating structures disposed in said passageway, at least one of said cooperating structures moveable relative to the other cooperating structure whereby movement of said moveable structure carries said objects through said passageway and between said structures substantially one at a time; said at least one movable structure at least partially formed from a compressible material, said compressible material having dimensions sufficiently larger than dimensions of one of said objects such that a discrete indentation is formed in said compressible material by said object, said indentation possessing a surface disposed behind said object relative to the direction of movement of said object through said passageway thereby facilitating movement of said object through said passageway; moving means for moving said movable structure; and detecting means for detecting the passage of each said object past a predefined point in said passageway.