Dispenser especially adapted for dispensing medication units
First Claim
1. A dispenser for dispensing objects, comprising:
- a storage reel mounted for rotation;
at least one band at least partially wrapped around said storage reel for holding objects to be dispensed in frictional engagement between adjacent layers of said at least one band; and
means for maintaining sufficient tension on said at least one band to keep adjacent layers of said at least one band in contact with each other on said storage reel except in regions separated by objects to be dispensed and for holding said objects in place between said layers of said at least one band by frictional engagement; and
release means for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two layers of said at least one band to dispense objects disposed between said layers.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispenser for medication units such as pills, tablets, caplets, and capsules which allows dispensing of a single medication unit upon the simple push of a button or verbal request includes a control system which allows convenient changes, optionally responsive to instructions from a physician or other medical personnel via a modem over telephone lines, in the frequency and dosage of one medication in a regimen, without altering the schedule for other medications. The dispenser includes at least one elongated plastic band possessing at least one facing surface covered by a compressible material, such as elastomer foam, cloth, or brush bristles, having medication units sandwiched between the layers of the band or bands wound in abutting overlying relation on a storage reel. In order to dispense the medication units, rotating mechanisms unwind the band or bands from the storage reel onto separate take-up reel or reels, causing the dispensed medication units to fall and interrupt a light beam detector. Rotating mechanisms for the take-up reel or reels may comprise manual hand cranks, clock springs, or electric motors. A control system includes a CPU, memory, a timer, a modem, and an activation signal input device for regulating the amount, time, and frequency of administration, and for allowing changes in the medication regimen. A plurality of storage reels with associated take-up reels combined in a single dispenser allows dispensing of various different medications at different dosages and intervals depending upon the requirements of a particular medication regimen.
99 Citations
95 Claims
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1. A dispenser for dispensing objects, comprising:
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a storage reel mounted for rotation; at least one band at least partially wrapped around said storage reel for holding objects to be dispensed in frictional engagement between adjacent layers of said at least one band; and means for maintaining sufficient tension on said at least one band to keep adjacent layers of said at least one band in contact with each other on said storage reel except in regions separated by objects to be dispensed and for holding said objects in place between said layers of said at least one band by frictional engagement; and release means for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two layers of said at least one band to dispense objects disposed between said layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A dispenser for dispensing objects, comprising:
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a storage reel mounted for rotation; at least one band at least partially wrapped around said storage reel for holding objects to be dispensed in frictional engagement between adjacent layers of said at least one band; said at least one band including at least one surface comprising a compressible material disposed for contact with objects to be dispensed; at least one take-up reel operatively associated with said at least one band for unwinding said at least one band away from said storage reel and separating adjacent layers of said at least one band for releasing objects disposed between said layers; means for applying a rotational force to said at least one take-up reel for maintaining sufficient tension on said at least one band to keep layers of said at least one band in contact with each other on said storage reel except in regions separated by objects to be dispensed so as to hold objects substantially in place between adjacent layers of said at least one band solely by frictional engagement; and means for selectively preventing and allowing rotation of said storage reel for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two adjacent layers of said at least one band to dispense objects in a controlled manner.
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94. A dispenser for dispensing objects, comprising:
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a storage reel mounted for rotation; at least one band at least partially wrapped around said storage reel for holding objects to be dispensed in frictional engagement between adjacent layers of said at least one band; and release means for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two adjacent layers of said at least one band to dispense objects disposed between said layers; said means for unwinding and separating said adjacent layers of at least one band from said storage reel creating a separation zone between the layer which is unwinding from said storage reel and the next layer of said band on said storage reel for releasing objects from between said layers of said at least one band in said separation zone and for allowing insertion of said objects between said layers at said separation zone to fill said dispenser; and detecting means and positioning means for positioning said separation zone relative to said detecting means such that objects released at said separation zone are detected by said detecting means.
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95. A dispenser for dispensing objects, comprising:
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a storage reel mounted for rotation; at least one band at least partially wrapped around said storage reel for holding objects to be dispensed in frictional engagement between adjacent layers of said at least one band; at least one facing surface of said at least one band comprising a material having a coefficient of friction sufficient to inhibit motion of objects to be dispensed when tension on said band keeps said surface in contact with the surface of an adjacent layer of said band on said storage reel; means for maintaining sufficient tension on said at least one band to keep adjacent layers of said at least one band in contact with each other on said storage reel except in regions separated by objects to be dispensed so as to hold said objects in place between said layers of said at least one band solely by frictional engagement; and release means for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two adjacent layers of said at least one band to dispense objects disposed between said layers.
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Specification