Cap Dispensing Devices Useful in System and Method for Dispensing Prescriptions

• US 20080173663A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Williams, Jeffrey P., Young, Demetris P., Abrams, George Raymond, Moran, Joseph C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/93
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2807 Feeding closures
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 3/0645 with means for orientating the caps to a position ready to be applied to the container

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing disk-shaped objects (such as caps for pharmaceutical vials) of two different sizes comprises: first and second dispensers, the first dispenser containing objects of a first size, and the second dispenser containing objects of a second size, each of the dispensers configured to dispense the objects one at a time through an outlet in a predetermined orientation; a first outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the first dispenser; a second outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the second dispenser; and a common chute fed by the first and second outlet channels. In this configuration, the apparatus can provide objects of two different sizes to a common location (such as a closure securing station).

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing disk-shaped objects, the apparatus comprising:

first and second dispensers, the first dispenser containing objects of a first size, and the second dispenser containing objects of a second size, each of the dispensers configured to dispense the objects one at a time through an outlet in a predetermined orientation;

a first outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the first dispenser;

a second outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the second dispenser; and

a common chute fed by the first and second outlet channels.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the second size is different than the first size.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the objects of the first size and the objects of the second size have one open end, and wherein the first and second dispensers are configured to dispense the objects in a predetermined orientation in which the open end of the object faces in a first direction.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein the first outlet channel and the common chute are configured such that the object is delivered from the common chute with the open end facing downwardly.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein the second outlet channel and the common chute are configured such that the object is delivered from the common chute with the open end facing downwardly.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the objects are caps for pharmaceutical vials.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6, further comprising a closure securing station fed by the common chute.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein the first outlet channel is configured such that the object is delivered to the common chute with the open end facing upwardly.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein the second outlet channel is configured such that the object is delivered to the common chute with the open end facing upwardly.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second dispensers includes a pre-staging platform adjacent, respectively, the first and second outlet channels that is configured to house a next object for dispensing.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second dispensers includes a rotating drum that agitates the objects for dispensing, and wherein the drum of the first dispenser rotates in a rotative direction that is opposite of a rotative direction of the second dispenser.

12. A dispenser for dispensing disk-shaped objects, the dispenser configured to dispense the objects one at a time through an outlet in a predetermined orientation, the dispenser including a pre-staging station adjacent the outlet, the pre-staging station configured to dispense an object to a desired location and to house a next object for subsequent dispensing.

13. The dispenser defined in claim 12, wherein the pre-staging station comprises a platform below the outlet of the dispenser, the platform sized to retain the next object until subsequent dispensing.

14. The dispenser defined in claim 12, further comprising a sensor that detects the presence of the next object.

15. The dispenser defined in claim 14, wherein the sensor is adapted for connection to a controller that ceases operation of the dispenser responsive to the sensor.

16. A method of dispensing caps for vials filled with pharmaceuticals, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a cap dispenser with a pre-staging station, the cap dispenser housing a plurality of caps;

positioning a first cap at a first location on the pre-staging station; and

dispensing a second cap from the dispenser onto the pre-staging station and to the first location, the dispensing inducing the first cap to move from the first location on the pre-staging station to a second location at a closure securing station.

17. The method defined in claim 16, wherein the dispensing step ceases when a sensor associated with the pre-staging station detects the presence of the second cap at the first location.

18. The method defined in claim 16, wherein the pre-staging station comprises a pre-staging platform below an outlet slot in the dispenser.