Method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules, and pills

• US 5,671,262 A
• Filed: 05/06/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovation Associates Incorporated (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Innovation Associates Incorporated (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boyer, Joseph H., Boyer, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wambach, Margeret Rose
• Application Number:
  US08/643,676
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 377/6, 377/7, 377/11, 377/20
• US Class Current: 377/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/101 by electro-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 11/00 Counting of objects distributed at random, e.g. on a surface

Abstract

There is provided a method for counting and dispensing pills, tablets, and capsules which depends on a simple vibrating, sloped, concave-shaped (e.g., V-shaped) trough, having a number of descending steps. The vibration of the trough is controlled and adjusted by a microprocessor. The vibration of the trough is patterned to provide a greater vibratory amplitude at its dispensing end than at its intake end. The difference at each end of the trough in vibratory amplitude is achieved by elastomeric supports that are differently spring dampened. The microprocessor electronically adjusts the input vibration to the trough, such that the flow of materials is adjusted for different types of materials (i.e., tablets of different shapes and/or sizes). This causes the tablets to align accurately within the trough, and sequentially pass a pill detector mechanism in single file. This ensures that the device can handle an extremely varied range of tablet or capsule sizes and shapes.

Claims

1. A processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules, or pills of different sizes and shapes, the steps comprising:

a) loading a platform with tablets, capsules, or pills of different sizes and shapes, said platform having an upper end for receiving said tablets, capsules or pills and a lower end for dispensing singulated tablets, capsules, or pills to a counting means;

b) imparting vibratory pulses to said platform in order to cause singulation of said tablets, capsules, or pills along said platform, said vibratory pulses having parameters of vibration that are dependent upon tablet, capsule, or pill characteristics;

c) supporting said platform at said upper end and said lower end with a spring constant at said upper end that is higher than the spring constant at said lower end, in order to cause said platform to vibrate more strongly at said lower end; and

d) counting said tablets, capsules, or pills, as they drop from said platform one at a time.

2. The processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules or pills in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vibratory pulses are controlled by a variable current input in order to change said parameters of vibration corresponding to different tablets, capsules, or pills.

3. The processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules or pills in accordance with claim 2, the steps further comprising:

d) determining a flow rate of said tablets, capsules, or pills as they are counted in step (c), and generating data representative thereof.

4. The processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules or pills in accordance with claim 3, wherein said parameters of vibration are dependent upon said data representative of said flow rate of tablets, capsules, or pills.

5. A processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules, and pills irrespective of the shapes and sizes thereof, said method comprising the steps of:

a) loading information relative to characteristics of tablets, capsules, or pills into a processor;

b) releasing tablets, capsules, or pills onto a platform;

c) vibrating said platform in accordance with parameters of vibration dependent on said loaded information, and varying vibration to different portions of said platform in order to enhance singulation of said tablets, capsules, or pills; and

d) counting said tablets, capsules, or pills as they drop from said platform.

6. The processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules, or pills in accordance with claim 5, wherein said varying vibration in accordance with step (c) further comprises the step of:

e) supporting said platform at said upper end and said lower end with a spring constant at said upper end that is higher than the spring constant at said lower end, whereby said platform is caused to vibrate more strongly at said lower end.

7. The processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules, or pills in accordance with claim 5, the steps further comprising:

e) determining the rate of flow of said tablets, capsules, or pills as they are counted in step (d).

8. The processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules, or pills in accordance with claim 7, the steps further comprising:

f) computing data representative of said rate of flow in said processor; and

g) repeating said step (c) of vibrating said platform, said vibrating being modified in accordance with said data representative of said rate of flow.

9. The processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules, or pills in accordance with claim 8, the steps further comprising:

h) providing first vibratory means comprising a single electromagnet that is disposed in a mid-portion of said platform, and second vibratory means for assisting flow of said tablets, capsules, or pills to said platform.

10. The processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules, or pills in accordance with claim 5, the steps further comprising:

e) reducing said vibrating step (c) to stop advancement of said tablets, capsules, or pills when a predetermined number of said tablets, capsules, or pills has been counted; and

f) vibrating said platform in accordance with prescribed amplitude and duration parameters dependent upon said information relative to the type of said tablets, capsules, or pills.

11. A processor-controlled method for counting and dispensing tablets, capsules or pills of different sizes and shapes, the steps comprising:

a) loading a platform with tablets, capsules or pills of different sizes, shapes and flow characteristics, said platform having an upper end for receiving said tablets, capsules or pills and a lower end for dispensing singulated tablets, capsules or pills to a counting means;

b) imparting vibratory pulses to said platform in order to cause singulation of said tablets, capsules or pills along said platform, said vibratory pulses having parameters of vibration that are dependent upon tablet-, capsule- or pill-flow characteristics along said platform;

c) varying said vibratory pulses to said platform in order to cause said platform to vibrate in accordance with the flow characteristics of the particular tablet, capsule or pill being loaded thereonto; and

d) counting said tablets, capsules or pills, as they drop from said platform one at a time.