VIAL DISPENSING MECHANISM

• US 20090254214A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ScriptPro LLC
• Original Assignee: ScriptPro LLC
• Inventors: Leonard, Ron, Kudera, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/417,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254214A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A vial dispensing mechanism for dispensing oblong or other non-cylindrical shaped vials. The vial dispensing mechanism includes at least one spirally-disposed guide wall that defines a vial delivery chute for guiding a plurality of vials; a rotatable platter positioned below the guide wall; a motor coupled with the rotatable platter; and a control system for selectively directing the motor to rotate the platter in a first direction to load the vials into the vial dispensing mechanism or in a second direction to dispense the vials from the vial dispensing mechanism.

Claims

1. A vial dispensing mechanism comprising:

a spirally-disposed vial delivery chute for receiving a plurality of vials; and

a rotatable platter positioned below the vial delivery chute for moving the vials along the delivery chute in or out of the vial dispensing mechanism.

2. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further including a motor for selectively rotating the rotatable platter in a first direction to load the vials into the vial dispensing mechanism and in a second direction to dispense the vials, one at a time, from the vial dispensing mechanism.

3. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 2, further including a control system for controlling operation of the motor.

4. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 2, further including a cover plate for supporting the delivery chute and the motor above the rotatable platter.

5. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further including a frame for partially enclosing the vial delivery chute and the rotatable platter and permitting mounting of the vial dispensing mechanism within a rack or cabinet.

6. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein the vial delivery chute includes an exit area at which the vials may be picked up, one at a time, by a vial transporting mechanism of a medicament dispensing system.

7. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 6, further including a proximity sensor for sensing presence of one of the vials near the exit area and for signaling the motor to stop.

8. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first direction is counter-clockwise and the second direction is clockwise.

9. A vial dispensing mechanism comprising:

at least one spirally-disposed guide wall that defines a spiral vial delivery chute for guiding a plurality of vials in or out of the vial dispensing mechanism;

a rotatable platter positioned below the guide wall;

a drive mechanism coupled with the rotatable platter; and

a control system for selectively directing the drive mechanism to rotate the platter in a first direction to load the vials into the vial dispensing mechanism or in a second direction to dispense the vials from the vial dispensing mechanism.

10. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 9, further including a cover plate for supporting the guide wall and the drive mechanism above the rotatable platter.

11. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 9, further including a frame for partially enclosing the vial delivery chute and the rotatable platter and permitting mounting of the vial dispensing mechanism within a rack or cabinet.

12. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 9, wherein the vial delivery chute includes an exit area at which the vials may be picked up, one at a time, by a vial transporting mechanism of a medicament dispensing system.

13. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 12, further including a proximity sensor for sensing presence of one of the vials near the exit area and for signaling the control system to stop rotation of the drive mechanism.

14. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first direction is counter-clockwise and the second direction is clockwise.

15. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 9, wherein the drive mechanism is a motor.

16. The vial dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 9, wherein the control system synchronizes operation of the drive mechanism with operation of an automatic medicament dispensing system.