Vial gripper mechanism
First Claim
1. In an automatic medicament dispensing machine having a plurality of selectively actuatable medicament dispensing cells and a manipulator mechanism operable for positioning a vial adjacent a selected one of the cells and for actuating the selected cell in order to dispense medicament therefrom into the vial, a vial gripper apparatus comprising:
- a first vial gripper jaw;
a second vial gripper jaw; and
coupling means rotatably coupling said jaws with the manipulator mechanism and positioning said jaws for rotation toward and away from one another, said coupling means includingmotor means including a selectively actuatable jaw motor having a rotatable output shaft coupled with said second jaw for rotating said second jaw from an open position, in which said jaws are spaced for receiving a vial therebetween, toward said first jaw for engaging and gripping a vial therebetween in a gripping position, and for further rotating said second jaw in order to cause rotation of said first jaw therewith along with a vial gripped therebetween beyond said gripping position to a dispensing position in which the vial is positioned for receipt of medicament from an adjacent dispensing cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an automatic medicament dispensing machine, a vial gripper mechanism includes a rotatable first jaw and a second jaw coupled with the output shaft of a jaw motor. In an open position, the jaws are spaced for receiving a medicament vial therebetween. Actuation of jaw motor rotates the second jaw toward the first jaw for gripping the vial therebetween in a gripping position. Continued rotation of the jaw motor causes rotation of both of said jaws and any vial gripped therebetween to a dispensing position for receipt of medicament into the vial from an adjacent dispensing cell.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. In an automatic medicament dispensing machine having a plurality of selectively actuatable medicament dispensing cells and a manipulator mechanism operable for positioning a vial adjacent a selected one of the cells and for actuating the selected cell in order to dispense medicament therefrom into the vial, a vial gripper apparatus comprising:
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a first vial gripper jaw; a second vial gripper jaw; and coupling means rotatably coupling said jaws with the manipulator mechanism and positioning said jaws for rotation toward and away from one another, said coupling means including motor means including a selectively actuatable jaw motor having a rotatable output shaft coupled with said second jaw for rotating said second jaw from an open position, in which said jaws are spaced for receiving a vial therebetween, toward said first jaw for engaging and gripping a vial therebetween in a gripping position, and for further rotating said second jaw in order to cause rotation of said first jaw therewith along with a vial gripped therebetween beyond said gripping position to a dispensing position in which the vial is positioned for receipt of medicament from an adjacent dispensing cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification