Pill dispensing system

Abstract

A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.

1 . A bottle dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a) a frame having a supporting base, a pair of side walls with a space therebetween, and a bottle dispensing opening;    b) a plurality of plates positioned in between the side walls and supported by the frame, each plate being sized to carry a plurality of bottles to be dispensed, and including means for moving bottles toward an end of each of the plates;    c) the frame having a dispensing channel for dispensing bottles from an upper end of the frame to a lower end of the frame;    d) a plurality of gates at an end of each plate, each gate being positioned to control the flow of bottles from one or more plates to the channel, each gate being movable between open and closed positions;    e) the gates being configured to open when the dispensing channel is emptied of bottles at the gate; and    f) the frame having an outlet on the frame that dispenses bottles, the outlet receiving bottles from the dispensing channel.    
     
     
         2 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein the frame has a front with a said dispensing channel including side portions defined by a portion of each of the side walls.  
     
     
         3 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein each of the plates has a front and a rear portion, the front portion being lower than the rear portion.  
     
     
         4 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein at least a plurality of the plates are parallel to other of the plates.  
     
     
         5 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein at least a plurality of the plates are generally flat.  
     
     
         6 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein at least a plurality of the plates are inclined.  
     
     
         7 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein the moving means comprises an inclined portion of the plates that urges bottles to move via gravity toward one end of each respective plate.  
     
     
         8 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein each gate has a blocking portion that prevents bottles from exiting a selected plate until all bottles have been dispensed from all of the plates above said selected plate.  
     
     
         9 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein each gate comprises a blocking portion that prevents the flow of bottles from a plate when the gate is in the closed position, and a biasing means for moving the gate into an open position.  
     
     
         10 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 1    wherein the rear of the frame has openings that communicate with the plate for adding bottles to the plates.  
     
     
         11 . A bottle dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a) a frame having a supporting base that supports a plurality of bottle holding plates, each plate being sized to carry a plurality of bottles to be dispensed, and including a biasing portion for moving bottles toward a selected end of each of the plates;    b) the frame having a channel for dispensing bottles from the plates;    c) a plurality of gates at an end of each of the respective plurality of the plates, each gate being positioned to control the flow of bottles from one or more plates, each gate being movable between open and closed positions;    d) each gate having means for urging the gate into an open position; and    e) the gates being configured to open one at a time as the plate above the gate is emptied of bottles.    
     
     
         12 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 11    wherein the gates are of the same general configuration.  
     
     
         13 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 11    wherein the urging means comprises counterweights for moving the gates toward the open position.  
     
     
         14 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 11    wherein the channel extends along a path that is next to an end of each of the plates.  
     
     
         15 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 11    wherein the plates are inclined and the channel extends along a path that is next to a lower end of each of the plates.  
     
     
         16 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 11    further comprising a plurality of cylindrically-shaped bottles and wherein each of the plates carries a plurality of said cylindrically-shaped bottles.  
     
     
         17 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 16    wherein the bottles are stored horizontally within the frame on the plates during use.  
     
     
         18 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 11    wherein each gate has a generally V-shaped portion.  
     
     
         19 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 11    wherein one or more bottles traveling in the channel next to a gate hold that gate in a closed position.  
     
     
         20 . The bottle dispensing apparatus of    claim 11    wherein the plates empty one at a time during use.