TABLET DISPENSER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispensing chute assembly, comprising:
- a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet;
a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet, the passive dispensing unit having a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing, the staging portion including a gate member movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit;
the dispensing unit further including a release member, the release member being coupled with the gate member, such that movement of the release member from a staging position to a dispensing position moves the gate member from its staging position to its release position;
wherein the gate member does not move perpendicular relative to the chute as the gate member moves from the staging position to the dispensing position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tablet dispenser includes a device body and a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed on one face of the device body. Each tablet cassette is capable of accommodating a plurality of types of tablets and of dispensing the tablets contained therein in a lateral direction. A plurality of chutes are in communication with the plurality of tablet cassettes. Each chute is disposed on the one face of the device body, adjacent to a corresponding tablet cassette. Each chute retains tablets dispensed from the corresponding tablet cassette and dispenses the tablets in a downward direction into a container.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A dispensing chute assembly, comprising:
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a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet, the passive dispensing unit having a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing, the staging portion including a gate member movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit; the dispensing unit further including a release member, the release member being coupled with the gate member, such that movement of the release member from a staging position to a dispensing position moves the gate member from its staging position to its release position; wherein the gate member does not move perpendicular relative to the chute as the gate member moves from the staging position to the dispensing position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A dispensing chute assembly, comprising:
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a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet, the passive dispensing unit having a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing, the staging portion including a gate member movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit; the dispensing unit further including a release member, the release member being coupled with the gate member, such that movement of the release member from a staging position to a dispensing position moves the gate member from its staging position to its release position, and a spout positioned downstream of the staging portion that is attached to the release member; wherein the release member moves in concert with the staging portion as the release member moves between the staging and dispensing positions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification