Slot adjustment and jam clearance for pharmaceutical dispenser

• US 9,550,619 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PharmRight Corporation
• Original Assignee: PharmRight Corporation
• Inventors: Park, William C IV
• Primary Examiner(s): MACKEY, PATRICK HEWEY
• Application Number:
  US14/501,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

Devices dispense medicine and dietary supplements in solid dosage form. The dimensions of the selection slots for the solid dosage forms in a device can be customized in depth by adding or subtracting spacers, and in width by adding or subtracting thickness inserts, or otherwise by employing components of suitable dimensions. Also, structures and methods for resolving jams of solid dosage forms are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a solid dosage form, comprising:

a storage compartment comprising a volume for storing a plurality of solid dosage forms having a same shape; and

a receiver coupled to the storage compartment and adapted to rotate about an axis, comprising a selection slot at a distance from the axis,

wherein the selection slot is adapted to separate a single solid dosage form from the plurality of solid dosage forms when the receiver is selectively rotated clockwise and counterclockwise about the axis, and

wherein the receiver is reversibly coupled to at least one spacer in a manner that lengthens a dimension of the selection slot to accommodate the same shape in the selection slot;

wherein the receiver comprises a selection slot selector reversibly coupled to a selection slot carrier, wherein the selection slot carrier comprises a plurality of selection slots of different dimensions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is reversibly coupled to at least one thickness insert to accommodate the same shape in the selection slot.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is substantially circular.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the selection slot is located at an edge of the receiver.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the selection slot comprises a guiding portion adapted to introduce the single solid dosage form into the selection slot, and a transporting portion adapted to move the single solid dosage form away from the plurality of solid dosage forms.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver further defines a convex surface adapted to direct solid dosage forms from the plurality toward the selection slot.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises more than one selection slot.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a sweeper coupled to the storage compartment and adjustably positioned proximate to the selection slot of the receiver to aid the selection slot to separate the single solid dosage form when the receiver is selectively rotated.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment further comprises a desiccant in fluid contact with the plurality of solid dosage forms.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a detector to detect when the selection slot has separated a single solid dosage form from the plurality of solid dosage forms.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a detector to detect whether a single solid dosage form has been dispensed from the device.

12. A device for selectively dispensing two or more unique solid dosage forms from a collection of unique solid dosage forms, wherein a unique solid dosage form in the collection has a shape that is independently alike or different from other unique solid dosage forms in the collection, wherein the device comprises:

a storage compartment for each unique solid dosage form, comprising a volume for storing a plurality of the unique solid dosage form separately from other unique solid dosage forms in the collection, and

a receiver coupled to the storage compartment for each unique solid dosage form, the receiver adapted to rotate about an axis, and comprising a selection slot at a distance from the axis,

wherein the selection slot is adapted to separate a single unique solid dosage form from the plurality stored in the storage compartment when the receiver is selectively rotated clockwise and counterclockwise about the axis, and

wherein the receiver is reversibly coupled to at least one spacer in a manner that lengthens a dimension of the selection slot to accommodate the shape of the unique solid dosage form in the selection slot;

wherein the device further comprises in each storage compartment a sweeper coupled to the storage compartment and adjustably positioned proximate to the selection slot of the receiver to aid the selection slot to separate the single unique solid dosage form when the receiver is selectively rotated.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a detector adapted to detect when the selection slot has separated a single unique solid dosage form from the plurality stored in the storage compartment.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the detector comprises an electromechanical switch, a laser diode, a fiberoptic array, a photoanode, or a combination of two or more thereof.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the device further comprises a detector to detect whether a single solid dosage form has been dispensed from the device.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the detector comprises an electromechanical switch, a laser diode, a fiberoptic array, a photoanode, or a combination of two or more thereof.