Dispensing device having a storage chamber, dispensing chamber and a feed regulator there between
First Claim
1. A drug dispensing device, comprising:
- an upper hopper defining a storage chamber having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening;
a lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower opening in a bottom portion thereof, said lower hopper defining a dispensing chamber having a rotatable dispensing disc positioned in a lower portion of said dispensing chamber for dispensing medicament from said drug dispensing device through said lower opening in said lower hopper; and
a regulator situated between said upper hopper'"'"'s lower opening and said lower hopper'"'"'s upper opening for controlling the rate at which medicament moves from said storage chamber to said dispensing chamber.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drug dispensing device is comprised of an upper hopper having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening. A lid covers the upper opening. A lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower opening in a bottom portion thereof is provided. The upper hopper defines a bulk storage chamber and the lower hopper defines a dispensing chamber. A rotatable dispensing disc is positioned in a lower portion of the dispensing chamber for dispensing medicament from the drug dispensing device through the lower opening in the lower hopper. A regulator is situated between the bulk storage chamber and the dispensing chamber for controlling the rate at which medicament moves from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber. The regulator may take a variety of forms. In one embodiment, the regulator includes a valve for controlling the flow of medicament from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber. The valve may include a member responsive to the volume of medicament in the dispensing chamber for controlling the position of the valve. The valve and member may include a trap door valve and a float, a butterfly valve and a rotatable arm, a guillotine valve and a movable arm, and a conical plunger and a wing extending from the base of the plunger. In another embodiment, the regulator may include a rotatable member having an opening therein. The rotatable member may include a cylindrical wall having an opening in a portion thereof, a plate having an opening therein, a cup shaped member defining an opening and a pair of rotatable members which together define at least one opening therein. The regulator may be configured such that the rate at which medicament moves from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber is never zero. Further, agitating members may be provided which extend toward the upper hopper. Methods of operation are also disclosed.
46 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A drug dispensing device, comprising:
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an upper hopper defining a storage chamber having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening;
a lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower opening in a bottom portion thereof, said lower hopper defining a dispensing chamber having a rotatable dispensing disc positioned in a lower portion of said dispensing chamber for dispensing medicament from said drug dispensing device through said lower opening in said lower hopper; and
a regulator situated between said upper hopper'"'"'s lower opening and said lower hopper'"'"'s upper opening for controlling the rate at which medicament moves from said storage chamber to said dispensing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A drug dispensing device, comprising:
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an upper hopper having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening;
a lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower opening in a bottom portion thereof, said lower hopper defining a dispensing chamber having a rotatable dispensing disc positioned in a lower portion of said dispensing chamber for dispensing medicament from said drug dispensing device through said lower opening in said lower hopper; and
a feed regulator positioned to control the degree to which at least one of the upper hopper'"'"'s lower opening and said lower hopper'"'"'s upper opening is restricted. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A drug dispensing device, comprising:
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an upper hopper having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening;
a lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower opening in a bottom portion thereof, said lower hopper defining a dispensing chamber having a rotatable dispensing disc positioned in a lower portion of said dispensing chamber for dispensing medicament from said drug dispensing device through said lower opening in said lower hopper; and
a regulator situated between said upper hopper'"'"'s lower opening and said lower hopper'"'"'s upper opening, said regulator comprised of a cup-shaped member responsive to said dispensing disc, said feed regulator additionally comprising a selection plate, and wherein one of said selection plate and said cup-shaped member has a plurality of feed openings sized to regulate the feed rate of different sized medicaments while the other has at least one selection opening, said one selection opening being positionable so as to be lined up with any of said feed openings. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method, comprising:
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storing in a bulk storage chamber a volume of medicament;
dispensing said medicament from a dispensing chamber; and
regulating a rate at which medicament is fed from said storage chamber to said dispensing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A feed regulator, comprising:
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a cup-shaped member having a collar extending therefrom; and
an adjustable selection plate, one of said selection plate and said cup-shaped member has a plurality of feed openings sized to regulate the feed rate of different sized medicaments while the other has at least one selection opening, said one selection opening being positionable so as to be lined up with any of said feed openings.
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Specification