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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
First Claim
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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.

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