Vacuum pill dispensing cassette and counting machine

• US 20040026442A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Hutchinson, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,303,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/123
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/20 Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles other applications B65B65/08
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/58 the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/64 in which the articles are individually suspended from stationary supports
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A medication storing and dispensing cassette is comprised of a housing defining at least a portion of a bulk storage chamber for storing a medication, defining at least a portion of a pick-up area, and defining at least a portion of a discharge chute sized to temporarily store a quantity of the medication. A divider wall is positioned between the bulk storage chamber and the pick-up area. A gate is positioned to control an exit end of the discharge chute. A rotatable conveying wheel having openings proximate to the periphery thereof is positioned such that a portion of the wheel is in communication with the pick-up area while another portion of the wheel is adjacent to an entrance end of the discharge chute. A calibration arm is positioned adjacent the openings of the rotatable wheel. A baffle is positioned to block those openings in that portion of the rotatable wheel adjacent to the discharge chute. An air agitation system is provided so that pills may be moved from the bulk storage chamber to the pick-up area. Methods are also disclosed in which air agitation is used to move pills from the bulk storage chamber to the pick-up area, for automatically setting the position of the calibration arm and for automatically learning the setting for the calibration arm for an unclassified medication. A counter is also disclosed for use with the cassette. The counter is comprised of a loader for receiving a cassette, a sensor for sensing whether a cassette is in the loader, means for moving the loader into an operative position, a vacuum unit for applying a vacuum to the cassette, a drive unit for driving a driven portion of the cassette and a counter for counting medication within a portion of the cassette. Methods of operating the counter are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A medication storing and dispensing cassette, comprising:

a housing defining at least a portion of a chamber for storing a medication, at least a portion of a pick-up area, and defining at least a portion of a discharge chute sized to temporarily store a quantity of the medication;

a divider wall positioned between said chamber for storing a medication and said pick-up area;

a gate controlling an exit end of said discharge chute;

a rotatable wheel having openings proximate to the periphery thereof, said wheel positioned such that a portion of said wheel is in communication with said pick-up area while another portion of said wheel is adjacent to an entrance end of said discharge chute;

a calibration arm positioned adjacent said rotatable wheel; and

a baffle positioned to block those openings in that portion of the wheel adjacent to said discharge chute.

2. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said openings are venturi shaped.

3. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said wheel has a driven portion accessible from outside said housing, said driven portion configured as a tapered disc.

4. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said housing has an air intake opening therein to enable airflow to agitate medication stored within said chamber.

5. The cassette of claim 1 additionally comprising a valve for selectively closing off said entrance end of said discharge chute.

6. The cassette of claim 5 wherein said valve is configured to open automatically upon insertion of said cassette into a counter.

7. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said baffle forms a portion of said discharge chute.

8. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said gate controlling an exit end of said discharge chute includes a chute gate biased into a closed position and a chute gate actuator for moving said chute gate into an open position, said chute gate forming a portion of said discharge chute and positioned such that an upper end of said chute gate is located adjacent and beneath certain of said openings in said wheel.

9. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said housing is comprised of a plurality of walls, one of said walls carrying a passive member to enable engagement with an automated device.

10. A medication storing and dispensing cassette, comprising:

a housing defining at least a portion of a chamber for storing a medication, at least a portion of a pick-up area, and defining at least a portion of a discharge chute, said discharge chute having an entrance end within said housing and an exit end defining an exit from said housing;

a divider wall positioned between said chamber for storing a medication and said pick-up area;

a rotatable wheel having openings proximate to the periphery thereof, said wheel positioned such that a portion of said wheel is in communication with said pick-up area while another portion of said wheel is adjacent to said entrance end of said discharge chute;

a calibration arm positioned adjacent said rotatable wheel; and

a baffle positioned to block those openings in that portion of the wheel adjacent to said discharge chute;

said housing having an air intake opening in communication with the bottom of said chamber.

11. The cassette of claim 10 wherein said openings are venturi shaped.

12. The cassette of claim 10 wherein said wheel has a driven portion accessible from outside said housing, said driven portion configured as a tapered disc.

13. The cassette of claim 10 additionally comprising a gate for controlling said exit end of said discharge chute.

14. The cassette of claim 13 wherein said discharge chute is sized to temporarily store a quantity of medication.

15. The cassette of claim 10 additionally comprising a valve for selectively closing off said entrance end of said discharge chute.

16. The cassette of claim 15 wherein said valve is configured to open automatically upon insertion of said cassette into a counter.

17. The cassette of claim 10 wherein said baffle forms a portion of said discharge chute.

18. The cassette of claim 10 additionally comprising a gate controlling said exit end of said discharge chute, said gate including a chute gate biased into a closed position and a chute gate actuator for moving said chute gate into an open position, said chute gate forming a portion of said discharge chute and positioned such that an upper end of said chute gate is located adjacent and beneath certain of said openings in said wheel.

19. The cassette of claim 10 wherein said housing is comprised of a plurality of walls, one of said walls carrying a passive member to enable engagement with an automated device.

20. A method, comprising:

applying a vacuum to at least certain of a plurality of openings in a conveying wheel;

rotating the conveying wheel through a pick-up area and past an entrance end of a discharge chute; and

using input air to agitate the medication from a chamber into the pick-up area.

21. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising conveying a predetermined number of medications from said pick-up area to said discharge chute, and

opening a gate to dispense the predetermined number from said discharge chute.

22. The method of claim20 additionally comprising automatically adjusting a calibration arm based on the medication to be dispensed.

23. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising opening a valve at an entrance end of said discharge chute prior to conveying said predetermined number of medications from said pick-up area to said discharge chute.

24. A method, comprising:

applying a vacuum to at least certain of a plurality of openings in a conveying wheel;

rotating the conveying wheel through a pick-up area and past an entrance end of a discharge chute to convey a predetermined number of medications to said discharge chute; and

opening a gate to dispense the predetermined number from said discharge chute.

25. The method of claim 24 additionally comprising using input air to agitate the medication from a chamber into the pick-up area.

26. The method of claim 24 additionally comprising automatically adjusting a calibration arm based on the medication to be dispensed.

27. The method of claim 24 additionally comprising opening a valve at an entrance end of said discharge chute prior to conveying said predetermined number of medications from said pick-up area to said discharge chute.

28. A method, comprising:

inserting a cassette into a counter; and

automatically setting the calibration of the cassette.

29. The method of claim 28 additionally comprising:

applying a vacuum to at least certain of a plurality of openings in a conveying wheel;

rotating the conveying wheel through a pick-up area and past an entrance end of a discharge chute; and

using input air to agitate the medication from a chamber to the pick-up area.

30. The method of claim 29 additionally comprising conveying a predetermined number of medications from said pick-up area to said discharge chute, and opening a gate to dispense the predetermined number from said discharge chute.

31. The method of claim 29 additionally comprising opening a valve located at an entrance end of said discharge chute prior to conveying said predetermined number of medications from said pick-up area to said discharge chute.

32. A counter for use with a cassette of the type having a chamber for carrying medication to be counted and dispensed, comprising:

a loader for receiving a cassette;

a sensor for sensing whether a cassette is in said loader;

means for moving the loader into an operative position;

a vacuum unit for applying a vacuum to the cassette;

a drive unit for driving a driven portion of the cassette; and

a counter for counting medication within a portion of the cassette.

33. The counter of claim 32 additionally comprising a passive vial gripper for receiving a vial.

34. The counter of claim 33 additionally comprising a sensor for sensing the presence of a vial.

35. The counter of claim 32 additionally comprising means for opening a chute gate on the cassette.

36. The counter of claim 35 additionally comprising a sensor for sensing the position of the chute gate.

37. The counter of claim 32 wherein said portion of the cassette includes a discharge chute, said counter additionally comprising means for opening a valve at an entrance end of the discharge chute.

38. The counter of claim 32 additionally comprising means for controlling the position of a calibration mechanism within the cassette.

39. A counter for use with a cassette of the type having a chamber for carrying medication to be counted and dispensed, comprising:

a sensor for sensing whether a cassette is in said counter;

a calibration driver for automatically controlling the position of a calibration mechanism with the cassette;

a vacuum unit for applying a vacuum to the cassette;

a drive unit for driving a driven portion of the cassette; and

a counter for counting medication within a portion of the cassette.

40. The counter of claim 39 additionally comprising a passive vial gripper for receiving a vial.

41. The counter of claim 40 additionally comprising a sensor for sensing the presence of a vial.

42. The counter of claim 39 additionally comprising means for opening a chute gate on the cassette.

43. The counter of claim 42 additionally comprising a sensor for sensing the position of the chute gate.

44. The counter of claim 39 wherein said portion of the cassette includes a discharge chute, said counter additionally comprising means for opening a valve at an entrance end of the discharge chute.

45. The counter of claim 39 additionally comprising a loader for receiving the cassette and means for moving the loader into and out of an operative position.

46. A method, comprising:

sensing the presence of a cassette; and

determining if a calibration setting of the cassette is proper and, if not, automatically resetting the calibration setting of the cassette.

47. A method, comprising:

sensing the presence of a cassette;

precounting a predetermined number of medication units into a discharge chute;

discharging the predetermined number of medication units from the discharge chute; and

continuing to count and discharge medication units until a prescribed number of units is counted and discharged.

48. A method, comprising:

inserting a cassette into a loader;

sensing the presence of the cassette in the loader;

moving the loader into an operative position;

applying a vacuum to the cassette;

applying a rotary force to the cassette;

counting medication units as they pass a counting sensor; and

discharging the medication units after they have been counted.

49. A method of calibrating a cassette to count and dispense an unclassified medication, comprising:

setting a calibration setting on the most restrictive setting;

operating a conveying wheel;

monitoring the time interval between the sensing of units of medication on the conveying wheel;

if the time interval is within predetermined limits, proceeding to the next step, if the time interval is not within predetermined limits, increasing the calibration setting by one increment and repeating the process beginning with the operating step;

counting and dispensing a predetermined number of units of medication; and

manually checking to insure that the predetermined number of units dispensed is correct.