Medicament dispensing system
First Claim
1. A dispensing cell for dispensing a plurality of solid objects into containers of various dimensions, the dispensing device comprising:
- a first storage bin having an outlet and containing the plurality of solid objects;
a holding tank having a top opening, a bottom opening, and adjustable sidewalls, wherein the cross sectional area at the top opening of the holding tank is substantially equal to the cross sectional area at the bottom opening, with the cross sectional area at all points between the top opening and the bottom opening being substantially equal,a first actuator for actuating the side walls of the holding tank to uniformly expand or contract the cross-sectional area inward of the sidewalls; and
a gate mechanism which has a first position for blocking the bottom opening of the holding tank to retain the solid objects in the holding tank, and a second position for allowing the solid objects of the holding tank to drop,wherein the first storage bin dispenses at least a portion of the plurality of objects through the outlet into the holding tank,wherein the holding tank further comprises at least one spring for biasing at least a portion of the sidewalls at a maximum expansion position, such that the holding tank may hold a maximum amount of the plurality of solid objects.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for storing a plurality of solid objects and dispensing the solid objects into a plurality of containers. The system comprises non-automated dispensing cells, physically actuated to dispense solid objects one at a time into one of the containers, and automated dispensing cells, electrically actuated to dispense solid objects from a holding tank simultaneously in bulk into one of the containers. The automated dispensing cells may independently dispense objects into the holding tank one at a time while a manipulator arm of the system simultaneously brings a container to one of the non-automated or automated dispensing cells. Then, when the manipulator arm brings a container to one of the automated dispensing cells, the solid objects may be dispensed into the container in bulk by simply opening a gate mechanism.
49 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A dispensing cell for dispensing a plurality of solid objects into containers of various dimensions, the dispensing device comprising:
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a first storage bin having an outlet and containing the plurality of solid objects; a holding tank having a top opening, a bottom opening, and adjustable sidewalls, wherein the cross sectional area at the top opening of the holding tank is substantially equal to the cross sectional area at the bottom opening, with the cross sectional area at all points between the top opening and the bottom opening being substantially equal, a first actuator for actuating the side walls of the holding tank to uniformly expand or contract the cross-sectional area inward of the sidewalls; and a gate mechanism which has a first position for blocking the bottom opening of the holding tank to retain the solid objects in the holding tank, and a second position for allowing the solid objects of the holding tank to drop, wherein the first storage bin dispenses at least a portion of the plurality of objects through the outlet into the holding tank, wherein the holding tank further comprises at least one spring for biasing at least a portion of the sidewalls at a maximum expansion position, such that the holding tank may hold a maximum amount of the plurality of solid objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification