Device for dispensing vials useful in system and method for dispensing prescriptions
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor;
a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member;
a drive unit;
wherein the endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto;
wherein, as the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels along a pick-up path defined at least partially by a slot in the housing;
wherein the apparatus further comprises agitation means for agitating open-ended articles residing within the housing, the agitation means comprising an agitation prong mounted on the at least one pick-up member that extends away from the pick-up path within the housing.
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Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects such as pharmaceutical vials includes: a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor; a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member; and a drive unit. The endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto. As the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels on a pick-up path, at least a portion of which is within the housing.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing open-ended objects, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing having an internal cavity configured to house open-ended objects, the housing including a guide and a floor; a pick-up unit mounted to the housing, the pick-up unit including an endless member and at least one pick-up member attached to the endless member; a drive unit; wherein the endless member engages the drive unit and the guide for movement relative thereto; wherein, as the drive unit drives the endless member, the at least one pick-up member travels along a pick-up path defined at least partially by a slot in the housing; wherein the apparatus further comprises agitation means for agitating open-ended articles residing within the housing, the agitation means comprising an agitation prong mounted on the at least one pick-up member that extends away from the pick-up path within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of dispensing singulated, open-ended pharmaceutical vials, comprising the steps of:
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providing a housing containing a plurality of open-ended pharmaceutical vials, the housing being configured such that the open-ended vials are urged to align along a portion of an endless pick-up path so that an axis of a vial is generally parallel to the pick-up path, wherein at least a portion of the pick-up path is within the housing; passing a pick-up member along the pick-up path, wherein the pick-up member is generally parallel to the axis of the vial and enters the open end of the vial to engage and capture the vial; and continuing to pass the pick-up member and the captured vial through the housing to a dispensing exit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification