Device that counts and dispenses pills

• US 5,884,806 A
• Filed: 12/02/1996
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovation Associates Incorporated (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Innovation Associates Incorporated (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gerlitz, Henry, Boyer, Joseph H., Boyer, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Terrell, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARK, WONKI K
• Application Number:
  US08/759,279
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 364/479.01, 364/479.02, 364/479.06, 364/479.07, 364/479.11, 364/479.12, 364/479.13, 364/479.14, 221/75, 221/13, 221/200, 221/7, 221/2, 221/258, 221/9
• US Class Current: 221/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices

Abstract

The present invention features a pill-dispensing system which has a number of standardized, or universal-type, modules. Each module has a rotating, helix-drive mechanism, which is rotationally controlled by a microprocessor. The helical-drive mechanism features several improvements, both in the drive mechanism and in the software control of the rotational drive system by the microprocessor that allows for the dispensing of pills of all shapes and sizes one at a time. The helix of the drive is securely mounted within a rotatable, hollow tube. A stationary collar is mounted adjacent the upper end of the rotating tube. The rotating helix extends into the stationary collar and forces pills from the hollow tube to the dispensing edge of the stationary collar. A hopper positioned at the input end, or mouth of the tube, feeds a batch quantity of pills to the drive mechanism. The tube is angled upwardly from the mouth portion, so that the pill-dispensing end is positioned above the input end. In this fashion, the pills that are fed through the tube move upwardly against gravity.

Claims

1. A workstation for dispensing a wide variety and range of pills of various shapes and sizes, said workstation comprising a plurality of physically standardized modules that are each electronically controlled and modified by their own specifically programmed microprocessor to provide diversity therein to dispense a specifically-shaped and -sized pill, said standardized modules each comprising:

temporary storage means for receiving a bulk loading of a number of pills, tablets, or capsules;

a hollow, elongated tube having a longitudinal axis defining a flow direction for pills disposed therein, from an inlet end to a dispensing end, said hollow, elongated tube having an inner wall that supports a helix, said hollow, elongated tube being rotatably supported so that said helix will cause said pills disposed within said hollow, elongated tube to singulate along said longitudinal axis, said hollow, elongated tube being in operative communication with said temporary storage means to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at said inlet end, in order to singulate said quantity and dispense said quantity from said dispensing end substantially one at a time;

drive means operatively connected to said hollow, elongated tube for rotating said hollow, elongated tube so that said quantity of pills will travel along said hollow, elongated tube in said flow direction; and

a programmed microprocessor operatively connected to said drive means for specifically actuating said drive means to provide diversity in said module drive in order to dispense a specifically-shaped and -sized pill in a manner conforming to said specifically-shaped and -sized pill.

2. A workstation for dispensing a wide variety and range of pills of various shapes and sizes, said workstation comprising a plurality of physically standardized modules that are each electronically controlled and modified by their own specifically programmed microprocessor so as to provide diversity in each module to dispense a specifically-shaped and -sized pill, said workstation comprising:

a plurality of physically standardized modules, each of which includes;

a) temporary storage means for receiving a bulk loading of a number of pills, tablets, or capsules;

b) a hollow, elongated tube having an inlet end and a dispensing end defining a flow axis therebetween, said hollow, elongated tube being rotatably supported so that said pills disposed therewithin will be caused to singulate along said flow axis, said hollow, elongated tube being in operative communication with said temporary storage means to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at said inlet end, in order to singulate and dispense said quantity from said dispensing, end substantially one at a time;

c) drive means for rotating said hollow, elongated tube so that said quantity of pills will travel along said hollow, elongated tube alone said flow axis; and

a programmed computer operatively connected to each drive means of said plurality of physically standardized modules for electronically modifying and controlling each module on an individual basis, said programmed computer rotationally controlling each module to provide dispensing of said specifically-shaped and -sized pill disposed therein.

7. The device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said programmed computer further comprises means for controlling each module so as to provide dispensing of longitudinally-shaped and -sized pills.

3. A device for dispensing pills, comprising:

temporary storage means for receiving a bulk loading of a number of pills, tablets, or capsules;

a hollow, elongated tube having an inlet end, a dispensing end, and a longitudinal axis defining a flow direction for pills disposed therebetween, from said inlet end to said dispensing end, said hollow, elongated tube having an inner wall that supports a helix, said hollow, elongated tube being rotatably supported such that said helix will cause said pills disposed within said hollow, elongated tube to singulate along said longitudinal axis, said hollow, elongated tube being in operative communication with said temporary storage means to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at said inlet end, in order to singulate and dispense said quantity from said dispensing end substantially one at a time;

drive means operatively connected to said hollow, elongated tube for rotating said hollow, elongated tube so that said quantity of pills will travel along said hollow, elongated tube in said flow direction; and

a specifically programmed microprocessor operatively connected to said drive means of said hollow, elongated tube, for electronically controlling said drive means to drive said hollow, elongated tube in an individualized manner for dispensing a specifically-sized and -shaped pill disposed therein.

4. A device for dispensing pills, comprising:

temporary storage means for receiving a bulk loading of a number of pills, tablets, or capsules;

a hollow, elongated tube having a longitudinal axis defining a flow direction for pills disposed therein, from an inlet end to a dispensing end, said hollow, elongated tube having an inner wall that supports, and is attached to a helix so that said tube and said helix are rotatable together as a single unit, said hollow, elongated tube being rotatably supported so that said helix will cause said pills disposed within said hollow, elongated tube to singulate along said longitudinal axis, said hollow, elongated tube being in operative communication with said temporary storage means to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at said inlet end, in order to singulate said quantity and dispense said quantity from said dispensing end substantially one at a time;

drive means operatively connected to said hollow, elongated tube for rotating said hollow, elongated tube such that said quantity of pills will travel along said hollow, elongated tube in said flow direction; and

a specifically programmed microprocessor operatively connected to said drive means of said hollow, elongated tube, for electronically controlling said drive means to drive said hollow, elongated tube in an individualized manner for dispensing a specifically-sized, and -shaped pill disposed therein.

5. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said hollow, elongated tube further comprises a collar disposed at said dispensing end, said collar being supported independently of said rotatable tube and being stationary with respect thereto, said helix extending into said collar and rotating therein.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said hollow, elongated tube is separated from said collar by a gap.

8. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said helix is bent at a dispensing end thereof.

9. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said helix forms a ridge within said tube, and further wherein said ridge is flattened over a portion thereof.

10. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said hollow, elongated tube further comprises at least one protrusion disposed on an inner wall thereof, said protrusion interrupting a flow of said pills along said longitudinal axis of said tube.

11. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said hollow, elongated tube further comprises at least one means disposed therein for interrupting the flow of said pills along said longitudinal axis of said tube.

12. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said temporary storage means further comprises a trough for feeding a quantity of said pills to said inlet of said tube.

13. The device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said trough is biasly supported, so that if a jam of pills occurs at said inlet of said tube, said trough will yield to substantially eliminate said jam.

14. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said longitudinal axis of said tube is inclined with respect to a horizontal axis.

15. The device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said longitudinal axis of said tube is inclined with respect to a horizontal axis in an approximate range of 10 to 30 degrees.

16. The device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said longitudinal axis of said tube is inclined with respect to a horizontal axis of approximately 20 degrees.

17. The device in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a photodetecting device disposed adjacent said dispensing end of said tube for sensing a pill as it is dispensed therefrom.

18. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said drive means comprises means for imparting a reversible, rotational movement to said tube and said helix.

19. The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said drive means comprises a reversible motor for reversing a rotational direction of said tube and said helix.

20. An interactive workstation for dispensing a wide variety and range of pills of various shapes and sizes, said workstation comprising:

a hollow, elongated tube movably supported such that said pills disposed within said hollow, elongated tube will be caused to singulate along said longitudinal axis of said hollow, elongated tube, said tube being in operative communication with said container so as to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at an inlet end, in order to singulate and dispense said quantity from a dispensing end substantially one at a time;

drive means for moving said hollow, elongated tube, said drive means comprising a cam and a gear for imparting regulated vibration to said hollow, elongated tube, and a timing drive belt for imparting rotational movement thereto;

a microprocessor operatively connected to said drive means of each hollow, elongated tube, and having a program for controlling each module on an individual basis, said programmed computer controlling movement of each module to provide dispensing of said specifically-shaped and -sized pill disposed in each module, said program comprising a routine for intermittently moving said tube of each module as a quantity of dispensed pills approaches a target amount; and

a computer operatively connected to each microprocessor for instructing an operator in a prescription filling operation sequence.

21. The device in accordance with claim 20, further comprising a funnel disposed downstream said dispensing end of said hollow, elongated tube, said funnel being adapted to maintain longitudinal orientation of predetermined pills.