Selectively changeable, volumetric dispensers and methods of dispensing materials having known unit volumes

• US 10,093,474 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason Littman, Terence O'Shea
• Original Assignee: Jason Littman, Terence O'Shea
• Inventors: Littman, Jason, O'Shea, Terence
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Rakesh
• Application Number:
  US15/170,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20160346167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 221 1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

Volumetric dispensers and methods dispense one or more units of a material having units with a volume utilizing independently controllable and linearly movable gates.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a unit of material from a plurality of units comprising:

a reservoir comprising an opening and at least one sidewall for storing a plurality of units;

a first gate comprising a first linear opening edge, said first gate movable in an x-direction;

a second gate comprising a second linear opening edge, said second gate movable in a y-direction;

a third gate comprising a third linear dispensing surface, said third gate movable in a z-direction, wherein said x-direction, y-direction and z-direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;

at least one motion device for moving said first gate in said x-direction, said second gate in said y-direction and said third gate in said z-direction; and

a controller for controlling said at least one motion device.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first linear opening edge comprises a beveled surface.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said second linear opening edge comprises a beveled surface.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir comprises a plurality of separate compartments.

5. A device according to claim 4 comprising a first gate for each of said separate compartments.

6. A device according to claim 5 comprising a gate actuator which is selectively disengagable with each of said first gates.

7. A device according to claim 4 wherein said reservoir is rotatably mounted on a motor-driven shaft.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said motor-driven shaft is operatively linked to said controller.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first gate and said second gate are movable within the same plane.

10. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a vacuum inducing component.

11. A pill dispenser for dispensing pills comprising:

a reservoir comprising an opening and at least one sidewall for storing a plurality of pills;

a first gate comprising a first linear opening edge, said first gate movable in a horizontal x-direction;

a second gate comprising a second linear opening edge, said second gate movable in a horizontal y-direction;

a third gate comprising a dispensing surface movable in a z-direction, wherein said x-direction, y-direction and z-direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;

at least one motion device for moving said first gate in said x-direction, said second gate in said y-direction and said third gate in said z-direction; and

a controller for controlling said at least one motion device.

12. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein said first gate and said second gate are movable within the same plane.

13. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein said reservoir comprises a plurality of compartments for pills.

14. A pill dispenser according to claim 13 comprising a plurality of first gates wherein a first gate is associated with each of said compartments.

15. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein the controller is adapted to manipulate at least one gate.

16. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein at least two of said gates move to create a rectangular prism-shaped dispensing opening.

17. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 further comprising a detector which senses whether a pill has entered the dispensing opening.

18. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 further comprising a vibration inducing component.

19. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein said controller is operatively linked to movement devices that move said gates in linear directions.