Medicament dispensing system

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.

1 . A storage and dispensing system for storing a plurality of solid objects and dispensing at least a portion of the solid objects into a plurality of containers, the system comprising:
 a plurality of non-automated dispensing cells for storing and dispensing the solid objects;   a plurality of automated dispensing cells for storing and dispensing the solid objects, wherein the automated dispensing cells each comprise a holding tank for temporarily storing a requested amount of the solid objects;   a manipulator arm for bringing one of the containers to one of the dispensing cells; and   a control system for receiving prescriptions and sending command signals to the manipulator arm and the second type of dispensing cells based on the prescriptions received,   wherein the non-automated dispensing cells are physically actuated by the manipulator arm to dispense at least a portion of the solid objects one at a time into one of the containers,   wherein the automated dispensing cells are electrically actuated by the control system to dispense at least a portion of the solid objects from the holding tank in bulk into one of the containers,   wherein one of the first type of dispensing cells may dispense at least a portion of the solid objects into one of the containers at the same time that at least one of the second type of dispensing cells dispenses at least a portion of the solid objects into its holding tank.   
     
     
         2 . The storage and dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated dispensing cells each comprise:
 a first storage bin having an outlet and containing the plurality of solid objects;   the 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 of the holding tank;   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.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , the holding tank further comprising 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. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first actuator applies a force to the sidewalls opposing the force of the at least one spring to decrease the cross-sectional area of the holding tank. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second actuator for pivoting the holding tank and the gate mechanism away from the first storage bin to a position for dropping the plurality of objects from the holding tank into one of the containers. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the holding tank walls are actuated by the first actuator when the gate mechanism moves to the second position to dislodge any solid objects remaining in the holding tank. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a solid object counter disposed between the outlet of the first storage bin and the holding tank to monitor how many solid objects pass from the first storage bin to the holding tank. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first storage bin is operable to singulate the solid objects and dispense the solid objects into the holding tank one at a time.