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A medication tablet dispenser has an upright casing providing a tower which is subdivided by horizontal partitions into eight compartments which individually contain removable holders each containing a charge of tablets to be dispensed. The holders have framing portions which together provide a funn

A medication tablet dispenser has an upright casing providing a tower which is subdivided by horizontal partitions into eight compartments which individually contain removable holders each containing a charge of tablets to be dispensed. The holders have framing portions which together provide a funnel opening downwardly into a cavity of a blister sheet. The casing is vibrated back and forth about its vertical axis through a small angle to cause tablets in the holders to progress towards an outlet leading into the funnel and having an associated ejector which discharges selected tablets into the funnel when required by a computer program. Conical vibration of the casing is prevented by a connection located on its vertical axis and held stationary by a fixed arm. The ejectors operate in response to slide-rods individually reciprocated by associated solenoids controlled by the computer program.

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1. Apparatus for dispensing medication doses, comprising: a tower of dose holders placed one above the other and respectively for storing different doses which are to be dispensed; a device for vibrating the tower in a predetermined manner to move the doses in the holders towards outlets provided th

1. Apparatus for dispensing medication doses, comprising: a tower of dose holders placed one above the other and respectively for storing different doses which are to be dispensed; a device for vibrating the tower in a predetermined manner to move the doses in the holders towards outlets provided therein; ejectors individually associated with the holders and operable to release required doses from the outlets of the holders; an openended collector into which the doses ejected from the holders fall; a loading station disposed beneath the open lower end of the collector and for supporting a receptacle which is to be loaded with a selected number of different doses ejected from the holders; and a controller operated in accordance with a pre-determined dose-loading programme and governing the operation of the ejectors. 2. Apparatus for dispensing medication doses into a pack, comprising: a tower of separable superimposed and similar holders for respectively storing different doses which are to be dispensed; a device for vibrating the tower in a predetermined manner; a guide in each holder for responding to the vibrations of the tower by conveying the doses in the holders individually towards holder outlets having associated dose ejectors; a collector for receiving the doses ejected from the holders and discharging them towards a position at which a receptacle of a horizontally arranged array of receptacles is to be located; a support for holding the array of receptacles at a dose-loading locating; a mechanism for producing a relative horizontal displacement between the support and the discharge end of the collector to enable the individual receptacles to be loaded with the desired combinations of doses; and, a controller operated in accordance with a predetermined dose-loading program and governing the operation of the ejectors and the relative movement between the collector and the support to enable the array of receptacles to be loaded in an automated manner with the desired combinations of doses as determined by the program. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each holder comprises a hollow shallow cylindrical box internally provided with an upwardly spiralling guide against its outside wall. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which each holder comprises a hollow shallow cylindrical box internally provided with an upwardly spiralling guide against its outside wall. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each holder is equipped with its own ejector and a vertical column of actuators alongside the tower are individually operable, in sequence, to eject desired doses from the holders. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which each holder is equipped with its own ejector and a vertical column of actuators alongside the tower are individually operable, in sequence, to eject desired doses from the holders. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which detectors associated with respective actuators are connected to provide signals signifying the ejection of a desired dose from a particular holder. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which detectors associated with respective actuators are connected to provide signals signifying the ejection of a desired dose from a particular holder. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the holders are mounted in respective compartments of an upright casing vibrated by the device. 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the holders are mounted in respective compartments of an upright casing vibrated by the device. 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the collector comprises an upright funnel extending down the side of the funnel and made up from funnel sections which are each an integral part of a respective holder. 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the collector comprises an upright funnel extending down the side of the funnel and made up from funnel sections which are each an integral part of a respective holder. 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which a dose detector scans beneath the funnel and responds to the detection of a dose free-falling from the funnel by sending a signal to the controller. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which a dose detector scans beneath the funnel and responds to the detection of a dose free-falling from the funnel by sending a signal to the controller. 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which each holder has an ejector built into it and which is moved by a solenoid-operated rod between a non-ejection position at which it closes a dose outlet in the holder, and an ejection position at which it opens the outlet and discharges a dose from the holder into the funnel. 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which each holder has an ejector built into it and which is moved by a solenoid-operated rod between a non-ejection position at which it closes a dose outlet in the holder, and an ejection position at which it opens the outlet and discharges a dose from the holder into the funnel. 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the holders have individual bar codes identifying their contents, and a bar-code reader mounted beside the tower is vertically moveable to provide the controller with signals signifying the contents of the holders and where they are individually vertically located in the tower. 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the holders have individual bar codes identifying their contents, and a bar-code reader mounted beside the tower is vertically moveable to provide the controller with signals signifying the contents of the holders and where they are individually vertically located in the tower. 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the tower is supported at both ends to prevent it from moving conically about its axis of vibratory movement. 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the tower is supported at both ends to prevent it from moving conically about its axis of vibratory movement.