Medication dispensing method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for dispensing packages of medication, comprising:
- a plurality of separate bodies each having an internal cavity and an outlet;
an actuator received in each of said cavities;
a separate feed mechanism received in each of said cavities, each said feed mechanism being arranged in operable communication with an associated one of said actuators, each of said feed mechanism having a first pair of elongate feed rollers with outer surfaces spanning the width of the packages and terminating at opposite ends, said feed rollers being arranged to simultaneously engage a common one of the packages on opposite sides of the package and to engage one another in the absence of the packages therebetween, one of said outer surfaces having a convex contour extending between its opposite ends, the other of said outer surfaces being substantially cylindrical and compliant and conforming with said convex contour of said one outer surface; and
a processing unit in operable communication with each of said actuators to regulate the dispensation of the packages by said feed mechanisms through each outlet.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for dispensing prepackaged medication packages includes an apparatus having a body with an internal cavity and an opening. A central processing unit operably communicates with an actuator within the cavity to regulate and monitor the dispensation of the packages, while the actuator operably communicates with a feed mechanism within the cavity to dispense the packages.
93 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing packages of medication, comprising:
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a plurality of separate bodies each having an internal cavity and an outlet; an actuator received in each of said cavities; a separate feed mechanism received in each of said cavities, each said feed mechanism being arranged in operable communication with an associated one of said actuators, each of said feed mechanism having a first pair of elongate feed rollers with outer surfaces spanning the width of the packages and terminating at opposite ends, said feed rollers being arranged to simultaneously engage a common one of the packages on opposite sides of the package and to engage one another in the absence of the packages therebetween, one of said outer surfaces having a convex contour extending between its opposite ends, the other of said outer surfaces being substantially cylindrical and compliant and conforming with said convex contour of said one outer surface; and a processing unit in operable communication with each of said actuators to regulate the dispensation of the packages by said feed mechanisms through each outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of dispensing packages of medication to an authorized recipient, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of medication dispensing apparatus each having a feed mechanism; forming a network by arranging said medication dispensing apparatus in communication with one another; incorporating a processing unit in said network; incorporating an interface device in communication with said processing unit; providing packages containing predetermined doses medication; loading said packages into said medication dispensing apparatus; entering a request for medication into the interface device; processing the request for medication though the processing unit and making a package from a selected medication dispensing apparatus accessible to the recipient by engaging opposite sides of said package with said feed mechanism and dispensing said package to the recipient; and further including providing said feed mechanism having a pair of elongate first feed rollers with outer surfaces spanning the width of the packages and terminating at opposite ends with one of said outer surfaces having a convex contour extending between its opposite ends and the other of said outer surfaces being compliant and conforming with said convex contour, and arranging said first feed rollers to simultaneously engage a common one of the packages on opposite sides of the package and to engage one another in the absence of the packages therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for dispensing packages of medication, comprising:
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a body having an internal cavity and an outlet; an actuator received in said internal cavity; and a feed mechanism having a pair of elongate first rollers with outer surfaces substantially spanning the width of the packages and terminating at opposite ends, said first rollers being arranged to simultaneously engage a common one of the packages on opposite sides of the package and to engage one another in the absence of the packages therebetween, one of said first rollers being constructed from one material having a convex outer surface extending between its opposite ends, the other of said first rollers being constructed from a different material than said one material and having a compliant outer surface conforming with said convex outer surface upon confronting said convex outer surface to take on a concave contour, said feed mechanism being received in said cavity and being in operable communication with said actuator and engaging opposite sides of said packages for feeding and dispensing the packages of medication toward said outlet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification