Device for Staging and Dispensing Tablets Useful in System and Method for Dispensing Prescriptions

• US 20090039097A1
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Farnsworth, Bryan Patrick, Calderwood, David Alan, Mauger, Jennifer Ann, Karwacki, Edward J. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A chute assembly for an object dispensing apparatus includes: a chute configured at a first end to attach to and convey objects from an object dispenser; a funnel having an inlet that merges with a second end of the chute and an outlet; a door attached to the funnel, the door being movable between a closed position, in which the door covers the funnel outlet and prevents access to objects within the funnel, and an open position, in which the door does not cover the funnel outlet and allows access to objects within the funnel; an object agitation unit configured to agitate objects in the funnel to prevent such objects from jamming in the funnel; and a locking unit associated with the door that prevents the door from moving to the open position without authorization.

Claims

1. A chute assembly for an object dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a chute configured at a first end to attach to and convey objects from an object dispenser;

a funnel having an inlet that merges with a second end of the chute and an outlet;

a door attached to the funnel, the door being movable between a closed position, in which the door covers the funnel outlet and prevents access to objects within the funnel, and an open position, in which the door does not cover the funnel outlet and allows access to objects within the funnel;

an object agitation unit configured to agitate objects in the funnel to prevent such objects from jamming in the funnel; and

a locking unit associated with the door that prevents the door from moving to the open position without authorization.

2. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the door slides relative to the funnel in moving between the open and closed positions.

3. The chute assembly defined in claim 2, wherein the door is biased toward the closed position.

4. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the door includes at least one arcuate bearing surface configured to receive an upper edge of a pharmaceutical vial.

5. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the object agitation unit comprises a plurality of air jets positioned in the funnel.

6. The chute assembly defined in claim 5, wherein the air jets are oriented to direct air in a direction upstream of the funnel outlet.

7. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the object agitation unit comprises a vibratory unit.

8. The chute assembly defined in claim 7, wherein the vibratory unit is mounted to a ring that circumscribes the chute second end and/or the funnel.

9. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the funnel includes side walls having convex interior surfaces.

10. The chute assembly defined in claim 9, wherein the funnel includes a substantially vertical front portion.

11. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the chute is disposed at an angle of between about 30 and 60 degrees relative to a horizontal surface.

12. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the door is disposed substantially horizontally.

13. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, in combination with a pharmaceutical tablet dispenser having an outlet positioned to dispense tablets into the chute first end.

14. The chute assembly defined in claim 13, wherein the pharmaceutical tablet dispenser is configured to singulate and count pharmaceutical tablets prior to dispensing the pharmaceutical tablets into the chute.

15. The chute assembly defined in claim 14, wherein the pharmaceutical tablet dispenser is configured to singulate pharmaceutical tablets via air-induced agitation.

16. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the locking unit is configured to prevent the door from moving to the open position without authorization via the scanning of an ID badge.

17. The chute assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the locking unit is configured to prevent the door from moving to the open position without authorization via the scanning of a labeled pharmaceutical vial.

18. A chute assembly for an object dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a chute configured at a first end to attach to and convey objects from an object dispenser;

a funnel having an inlet that merges with a second end of the chute and an outlet;

a door attached to the funnel, the door being movable between a closed position, in which the door covers the funnel outlet and prevents access to objects within the funnel, and an open position, in which the door does not cover the funnel outlet and allows access to objects within the funnel;

an object agitation unit configured to agitate objects in the funnel to prevent such objects from jamming in the funnel, the object agitation unit comprising a plurality of air jets positioned in the funnel.

19. The chute assembly defined in claim 18, wherein the air jets are oriented to direct air in a direction upstream of the funnel outlet.

20. A method of dispensing objects contained in a bulk container, comprising the steps of:

releasing a predetermined number of objects from the bulk container into a chute;

directing an air jet at the objects to agitate the objects; and

releasing the objects into a receptacle.

21. The method defined in claim 20, wherein a funnel is positioned at one end of the chute, and wherein the agitating step comprises agitating the objects as they reside in the funnel.

22. The method defined in claim 20, wherein the objects are pharmaceutical tablets, and the receptacle is a pharmaceutical vial.

23. The method defined in claim 22, further comprising the step of authorizing the release of the objects prior to the releasing step.

24. The method defined in claim 23, further comprising the step of unlocking a locking unit that prevents the release of the objects, the unlocking step being performed in response to the authorizing step.

25. The method defined in claim 23, wherein the authorizing step comprises scanning an ID badge.

26. The method defined in claim 23, wherein the authorization step comprises scanning a label on the pharmaceutical vial.

27. A method of dispensing objects contained in a bulk container, comprising the steps of:

releasing a predetermined number of objects from the bulk container into a chute;

agitating the objects;

authorizing the release of the objects;

responsive to the authorizing step, unlocking a locking unit that prevents the release of the objects; and

releasing the objects into a receptacle after the authorizing and unlocking steps.