Automatic pill grasping apparatus and method

• US 9,333,653 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Huang, Szu-Hai, Lai, Kuo-Ming, Chan, Pei-Yi, Chen, Jeng-Che, Wu, Tui-Chien, Shen, Pao-Heng, Shih, Chao-Wen, Huang, King-Lung, Hui, Lap-Shun
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US14/264,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 221/211, 414/1, 414/2, 414/3, 414/4, 414/5, 414/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0616 with vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1694 characterised by use of sensors other than normal servo-feedback from position, speed or acceleration sensors, perception control, multi-sensor controlled systems, sensor fusion
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A pill grasping method comprises rotating a grasping arm with a nozzle to a predetermined initial position driven by a driving mechanism, rotating a number of pill storage cases to position one of the pill storage cases with a set number of pills to a predetermined grasping pill position driven by an actuating mechanism, rotating the grasping arm to enter into the corresponding pill storage case, starting a pump to generate a vacuum in the nozzle for sucking a pill, and determining if an actual pressure value in a pipe connecting the nozzle to the pump is less than a predetermined pressure value. The grasping arm is rotated to the predetermined initial position when the actual pressure value is less than the predetermined pressure value.

Claims

1. A pill grasping method, the method comprising:

rotating a grasping arm with a nozzle to a predetermined initial position driven by a driving mechanism;

rotating a plurality of pill storage cases to locate one of the plurality of pill storages with a set pill species to a predetermined grasping pill position driven by an actuating mechanism;

rotating the grasping arm to stretch into the one of the plurality of pill storage case;

starting a pump to generate a vacuum to the nozzle for sucking a pill;

determining if an actual pressure value in a pipe connecting the nozzle to the pump being less than a predetermined pressure value; and

rotating the grasping arm to the predetermined initial position when the actual pressure is less than the predetermined pressure value;

wherein after the block of rotating a plurality of pill storage cases to locate one of the plurality of pill storages with a set pill species to a predetermined grasping pill position and before the block of starting a pump to generate a vacuum to the nozzle for sucking a pill, the method further comprises;

obtaining an actual torsion force value of the driving mechanism;

determining if the actual pressure value is less than the predetermined pressure value;

determining if the actual torsion force value is greater than a predetermined limitation value when the actual pressure value is not less than the predetermined pressure value; and

rotating the grasping arm to the predetermined initial position when the actual torsion force value is greater than the predetermined limitation value.

2. The pill grasping method of claim 1, wherein after the block of rotating the grasping arm to the predetermined initial position when the actual pressure is less than the predetermined pressure value, the method further comprises:

determining if the actual pressure value is less than the predetermined pressure value;

rotating a pill output case to the predetermined grasping pill position when the actual pressure value is not less than the predetermined pressure value;

powering off the pump to drop out of the pill to the pill output case; and

sending a notice signal.

3. The pill grasping method of claim 2 further comprising:

rotating the grasping arm to stretch into the one of the plurality of pill storage case when the actual pressure value is greater than the predetermined pressure value.

4. The pill grasping method of claim 1, wherein after the block of rotating the grasping arm to stretch into the one of the plurality of pill storage case before the block of determining if an actual pressure value in a pipe connecting the nozzle with the pump being less than a predetermined pressure value, the method further comprises:

sensing the actual pressure value of the pipe.

5. The pill grasping method of claim 1, wherein after the block of rotating a plurality of pill storage cases to locate one of the plurality of pill storages with a set pill species to a predetermined grasping pill position and before the block of starting a pump to generate an vacuum to the nozzle for suck a pill, the method further comprises:

recording an actual time of the grasping arm;

determining if the actual time is greater than a predetermined time;

starting a shaking member to shake the one of the plurality of pill storage case when the actual time is greater than the predetermined time; and

setting the actual time to zero.

6. The pill grasping method of claim 5 further comprising:

rotating the grasping arm to stretch into the one of the plurality of pill storage case when the actual time is not greater than the predetermined time.

7. The pill grasping method of claim 1 further comprising:

rotating the grasping arm to stretch into the one of the plurality of pill storage case when the torsion force value is greater than the predetermined limitation value.

8. An automatic pill grasping apparatus, comprising:

a base;

a pill grasping mechanism comprising a grasping arm, a nozzle, and a driving mechanism, the grasping arm being rotatably installed on the base, the driving mechanism attached to the base; and

a pill storage mechanism comprising a plurality of pill storage cases for storing pills, and an actuating mechanism;

the plurality of pill storage cases being rotatably secured to the base, and the actuating mechanism being attached to the base,

wherein the plurality of pill storage cases is rotatable relative to the base driven by the actuating mechanism, the grasping arm is rotatable relative to the base to stretch the nozzle into one of the plurality of pill storage cases to suck pills; and

wherein the grasping arm comprises a main arm and a linkage mechanism pivotably mounted to the main arm, the main arm being rotatable about a first axis, the linkage mechanism further comprises a holder which is pivotable relative to the main arm, and the nozzle is mounted to the holder.

9. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pill grasping mechanism further comprises a pump, and a pipe, the pipe is connected to the pump and the nozzle, and the pump is configured to generate vacuum to the nozzle through the pipe.

10. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pill grasping mechanism further comprises a filter, and the filter is configured to filter the vacuum.

11. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 8, wherein the grasping arm further comprises a transfer mechanism;

the main arm defines an opening, the transfer mechanism comprises a transfer cam being rotatable about a second axis and a driving wheel mounted to the transfer cam and received in the opening of the main arm, when the transfer cam rotates about the second axis, the driving wheel is rotated about the second axis by the transfer cam and is adapted to press an edge of the opening of the main arm and to drive the main arm to rotate about the first axis.

12. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transfer mechanism further comprises a driving shaft secured to the transfer cam, the driving wheel is mounted to a free end of the driving shaft, the free end of the driving shaft extends into the opening of the main arm, when the transfer cam rotates about the second axis, the driving shaft is rotated about the second axis by the transfer cam.

13. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to the second axis.

14. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 13, wherein a vertical distance between the first axis and the second axis is three and one half times greater than a horizontal distance between the first axis and the second axis.

15. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transfer cam defines one or more slots for connecting to a motor, the transfer cam is rotated by the motor.

16. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 13, wherein a radius of rotation of the main arm about the first axis is three times greater than a radius of rotation of the driving shaft about the second axis.

17. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 13, wherein the linkage mechanism further comprises a first linkage arm, a second linkage arm, and a third linkage arm, the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm are pivotably mounted to the main arm, a first end of the third linkage arm is pivotably mounted to the first linkage arm, a second end of the third linkage arm is pivotably mounted to the second linkage arm, and the holder is pivotably mounted to the second linkage arm.

18. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 17, wherein the holder comprises a receiving portion for receiving the nozzle and a shovel located on an outer side of the receiving portion.

19. The automatic pill grasping apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a first blocking member, wherein when the main arm rotates to a position where the first linkage arm abuts against the first blocking member, the first blocking member is adapted to drive the first linkage arm to rotate relative to the main arm.