Method and system for high-speed tablet counting and dispensing

• US 20050189365A1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capsa Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Kirby Lester LLC (Capsa Solutions LLC)
• Inventors: Gershman, Vladimir, Geltser, Aleksandr
• Granted Patent: US 7,073,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices
• 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

Abstract

A medicament tablet dispensing system and method dispenses any selected number of tablets, up to a maximum number, without a substantial delay associated with counting all of the tablets. A preset number of tablets are counted and stored in dedicated primary chambers. Furthermore, an overflow chamber is provided for temporarily storing and then dispensing tablets which are fed to the primary chamber after the primary chambers are filled with their respective number of tablets. In addition, a direct feed channel is provided for dispensing individually counted tablets. The chambers and direct feed channel can together dispense the selected number. It is also preferable that the chambers have subchambers, and that more than one subchamber be capable of being emptied during a single dispensing operation.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A system for dispensing discrete objects, comprising:

a) a plurality of primary chambers, each for holding a respective predetermined number of objects;

b) an overflow chamber for holding a variable number of objects;

c) means for inputting a number of the objects to be dispensed; and

d) means for releasing a number of discrete objects from at least one of said primary chambers and said overflow chamber, the sum of the number of objects released from said primary chambers and said overflow chamber not exceeding said number of objects to be dispensed.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a direct feed channel in which discrete objects are individually fed for dispensing and which bypasses said primary chambers and said overflow chamber.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

said direct feed channel dispenses individual objects in combination with said plurality of primary chambers.

14. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

e) a hopper which stores bulk quantities of the objects;

f) a feeder which feeds objects from said hopper;

g) a counter which counts the objects fed by the feeder; and

h) at least one path extending between said feeder and said plurality of primary chambers and said overflow chamber.

15. A system according to claim 14, further comprising:

a gateway system, wherein said at least one path comprises discrete paths extending between said feeder and each of said primary chambers and said overflow chamber, wherein at any one time said gateway system is configured to define at most a single path between said feeder and one of said primary chambers and said overflow chamber.

16. A system according to claim 11, wherein:

said primary chambers each hold a different number of objects.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein:

said primary chambers includes n chambers, and a number of tablets in a particular chamber i is 2i+2, where i=1 . . . n.

18. A system according to claim 11, wherein:

each said primary chamber comprises a plurality of subchambers, each for holding said respective predetermined number of tablets.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein:

each said subchamber includes an opening, and said chamber has a first rotational position in which said first subchamber is oriented for receiving objects through said opening, and a second rotational position in which said first subchamber is oriented for emptying objects contained within said first subchamber through said opening.

20. A discrete object dispensing system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a control means adapted to perform a computational process to determine a combination of said primary chambers to dispense a selected number of the objects.

21-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A method of dispensing tablets, comprising:

a) selecting a first number of tablets to be dispensed;

b) dispensing a second number of tablets which does not exceed the first number without individually counting the tablets during a period of time between after the selecting and before the dispensing; and

c) dispensing a third number of tablets which are individually counted after said selecting, wherein said second and third number of tablets together sum the first number of tablets to be dispensed.

26. A method of filling a tablet dispenser, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of chambers, each for storing a respective predetermined number of objects;

b) feeding tablets to a counter;

c) counting tablets at the counter;

d) directing tablets from the counter to one of the plurality of chambers; and

e) if an additional tablet is fed to the counter after counting and directing a sufficient number of objects to fill the one of the plurality of chambers with its respective predetermined number of objects, diverting the additional tablet to a storage location.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

said storage location is a chamber.

28. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

f) dispensing tablets from at least one the chambers and said storage location together into a common container.

29. A method of dispensing objects, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of chambers, each having a plurality of subchambers;

b) filling at least two subchambers of each chamber with a predetermined number of objects;

c) selecting a number of objects to be dispensed; and

d) actuating said plurality of chambers to empty at least one subchamber from each of a subset of said plurality of chambers, and at least two subchambers from at least one of said subset of plurality of chambers.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein:

the predetermined number of objects is different for each of the chambers.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein:

said selecting a number includes selecting a number which is at least twice the largest predetermined number of objects in one of the plurality of chambers.

32. A method according to claim 29, wherein:

said selecting a number includes selecting a number which is at least twice the largest predetermined number of objects in any one of the plurality of chambers.