Tablet accumulator for an automated prescription vial filling system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for staging drugs prior to dispensing into a container, comprising:
- means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drug;
a plurality of means for releasably retaining the drug, the plurality of means for releasably retaining within the means for receiving; and
a plurality of means for releasing said plurality of means for releasably retaining and allowing the drug to again fall under the influence of gravity.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for staging drugs dispensed from a drug dispensing apparatus including an accumulator operative to temporarily accumulate drugs for later dispensing into vials. The accumulator includes one or more staging containers positioned to receive dispensed drugs that fall freely under the influence of gravity, each container having an outlet that is selectively openable so that the drugs retained therein can be delivered to a vial at a later time. Several orders can be staged in parallel if several such staging containers are provided. The drugs are staged in the accumulators for dispensing before vials are positioned so that dispensing of all the drugs for each vial may be performed simultaneously.
328 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for staging drugs prior to dispensing into a container, comprising:
-
means for receiving a drug falling under the influence of gravity and for storing the drug; a plurality of means for releasably retaining the drug, the plurality of means for releasably retaining within the means for receiving; and a plurality of means for releasing said plurality of means for releasably retaining and allowing the drug to again fall under the influence of gravity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification