Vial gripping mechanism for automatic medicament dispensing machine

• US 6,578,734 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ScriptPro LLC
• Original Assignee: ScriptPro LLC
• Inventors: Coughlin, Shane P., Coughlin, Michael E., Orr, Stacy, Surgeon, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US10/040,824
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 221/7, 221/2, 221/13, 221/217, 221/220, 221/219, 221/294, 221/131, 221/255, 294/99.1, 294/103.1, 294/104, 294/901, 294/907
• US Class Current: 221/219
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0206 comprising articulated grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/027 Electromagnetic sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A vial gripping mechanism (10) includes a pivotally mounted swing arm (26). A sensor receiving array (44) is mounted to a sensor end (34) on an inward edge (46) of the arm (26). A channel (38) protecting a cable (64) follows an outside edge (42) from the receiving array (44) to a cam end (36). A torsion spring (28) forces the cam end (36) against a cam (30) which is fixedly mounted to the mechanism (10) adjacent the arm (26). By action of the mechanism (10), the arm (26) is moved relative to the cam (30) such that in a sensing position, the receiving array (44) is directly opposite a sensor transmitting array (74), and in a shielded position, the receiving array (44) is housed within a shield (32). The shield (32) is fixedly mounted to the mechanism (10) and protects the receiving array (44) while in transit.

Claims

1. A vial gripping mechanism operable to protect a sensor for use in an automatic medicament dispensing machine, the mechanism comprising:

a first rotatable jaw;

a second jaw coupled to an output shaft of a jaw motor and operable to rotate toward the first jaw thereby gripping a vial;

a swing arm rotatably secured to the mechanism, the swing arm including a sensor end and a cam end;

a cam operable to cause rotation of the swing arm;

a shield fixedly secured to the mechanism and operable to protect the sensor end when the swing arm is in a shielded position; and

a motor operable to move the swing arm relative to the cam such that the sensor end is rotated between the shielded position and a sensing position.

2. The mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the swing arm includes a channel which protects a cable.

3. The mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein the channel surrounds the cable on at least three sides.

4. The mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shield surrounds the sensor end on at least three sides when the swing arm is in the shielded position.

5. The mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further including a torsion spring operable to push the cam end against the cam.

6. The mechanism as set forth in claim 5, wherein the spring is recessed in a cut-out section of the swing arm.

7. The mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the swing arm includes at least a portion of the sensor affixed to the sensor end.

8. The mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the swing arm rotates about a pin secured to the mechanism.

9. The mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cam is fixedly secured to the mechanism.

10. A vial gripping mechanism operable to protect a sensor while in transit for use in an automatic medicament dispensing machine, the mechanism comprising:

a first rotatable jaw;

a second jaw coupled to an output shaft of a jaw motor and operable to rotate toward the first jaw thereby gripping a vial;

a swing arm rotatably secured to the mechanism, the swing arm including a sensor end, a cam end, and a channel which protects a cable;

at least a portion of the sensor affixed to the sensor end;

a cam fixedly mounted to the mechanism;

a torsion spring operable to push the cam end against the cam;

a shield operable to protect the sensor end when the swing arm is in a shielded position by surrounding the sensor end on at least three sides; and

a motor operable to move the swing arm relative to the cam such that the sensor end is rotated between the shielded position and a sensing position.

11. A medicament dispensing machine for dispensing and counting countable medicaments, the medicament dispensing machine comprising:

a plurality of medicament dispensers operable to store and dispense medicaments;

a plurality of vial dispensers operable to store and dispense empty vials;

a sensor receiving array and a sensor transmitting array together operable to aid in counting medicaments; and

a vial gripping mechanism operable to move within the machine, the mechanism including

a first rotatable jaw,

a second jaw coupled to an output shaft of a jaw motor and operable to rotate toward the first jaw thereby gripping a vial,

a swing arm rotatably secured to the mechanism,

a cam operable to cause rotation of the swing arm,

a shield fixedly mounted to the mechanism and operable to protect a sensor end of the swing arm when the swing arm is in a shielded position, and

a motor operable to move the swing arm relative to the cam such that the sensor end is rotated between the shielded position and a sensing position.

12. The machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the swing arm includes a channel which protects a cable.

13. The machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein the channel surrounds the cable on at least three sides.

14. The machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the shield surrounds the sensor end on at least three sides when the swing arm is in the shielded position.

15. The machine as set forth in claim 11, further includes a torsion spring operable to push a cam end of the swing arm against the cam.

16. The machine as set forth in claim 15, wherein the spring is recessed in a cut-out section of the swing arm.

17. The machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the swing arm rotates about a pin secured to the mechanism.

18. The machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the cam is fixedly mounted to the mechanism.

19. The machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the sensor receiving array is affixed to the sensor end.

20. The machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein the sensor transmitting array is affixed to the sensor end.