Automatic pill dispenser with water heater

Abstract

An automatic pill dispenser which also provides heated drinking water as required includes a housing for securing pill boxes, a display, a heater, and a controller. The display and the controller are secured to the housing. The heater is secured to the housing and supports a cup placed thereon. The controller is electrically connected to the heater. The controller controls the display to display an invitation to request heated water when the automatic pill dispenser is dispensing pills. The controller controls the heater to heat water in the cup when heated water is requested.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic pill dispenser, comprising:
 a housing configured for receiving a plurality of pill boxes;   a display secured to the housing;   a heater secured to the housing and configured for placing a cup; and   a controller electronically connected to the heater;   wherein the controller controls the display to display a message indicating a need for hot water; and the controller starts the heater to heat water in the cup when the hot water is needed.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises an electronic heating plate and a conducting strip, the conducting strip is mounted on the electronic heating plate, and the conducting strip is configured for placing the cup thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the heater further comprises a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor sensors a temperature of the electronic heating plate and sends the temperature to the controller; the controller compares the temperature to a preset temperature and controls the electronic heating plate to stop heating when the temperature is greater than the preset temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the heater further comprises a box, the electronic heating plate comprises a flat portion and a ring portion extending from edges of the flat portion; and a limiting space is defined by the flat portion and the ring portion for receiving the cup. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall opposite to the top wall, a ring wall connected to the top wall and the bottom wall, and a receiving case extending from the bottom wall; the controller and the display are secured to the top wall; and the heater is slidably received in the receiving case. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the heater further comprises an installation plate, a limiting block, and a pressed portion extending from the installation plate; the installation plate is secured to the box; the limiting block is slidably received in the pressed portion; the heater is slidable relative to the housing between a closed position and an opened position; when the heater is in the closed position, the limiting block is received in the receiving case and in the pressed portion; and when the heater is in the opened position, the limiting block is slid out of the receiving case and the pressed portion. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the limiting block comprises a limiting piece, the pressed portion defines a limiting slot, and the limiting piece is slidably received in the limiting slot. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein a sliding direction of the limiting block is substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction of the box. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the heater further comprises a resilient member secured between the limiting block and a top end of the pressed portion; when the heater is in the closed position, the limiting block compresses the resilient member; and when the heater is in the opened position, the resilient member is released. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the box further comprises a top board and a front board; the top board is substantially parallel to the installation plate; the conducting strip is mounted on the top board; and an operation portion protrudes from the front board, and the operation portion is operable to slide the heater. 
     
     
         11 . An automatic pill dispenser, comprising:
 a housing configured for receiving a plurality of pill boxes and defining an opening;   a heater slidably mounted to the housing and comprising a box, an installation plate secured to the box, an electronic heating plate secured to the installation plate, and a conducting strip secured to the box and configured for placing a cup thereon; and   a controller electronically connected to the heater;   wherein the heater is slidable relative to the housing between a closed position and an opened position; when the heater is in the closed position, the heater is received in the housing and covers the opening; and when the heater is in the opened position, the heater slides out of the opening, the controller controls is capable of controlling the electronic heating plate to heat water in the cup through the conducting strip.   
     
     
         12 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising a display secured to the housing, wherein the controller controls the display to display a massage indicating a need for hot water; and the controller starts the heater to heat water when the hot water is needed. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the heater further comprises a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor sensors a temperature of the electronic heating plate and sends the temperature to the controller; the controller compares the temperature to a preset temperature and controls the electronic heating plate to stop heating when the temperature is greater than the preset temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic heating plate comprises a flat portion and a ring portion extending from edges of the flat portion; and a limiting space is defined by the flat portion and the ring portion for receiving the cup. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall opposite to the top wall, a ring wall connected to the top wall and the bottom wall, and a receiving case extending from the bottom wall; the controller and the display are secured to the top wall; and the heater is slidably received in the receiving case. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the heater further comprises a limiting block and a pressed portion extending from the installation plate, and the limiting block is slidably received in the pressed portion; when the heater is in the closed position, the limiting block is received in the receiving case and in the pressed portion; and when the heater is in the opened position, the limiting block is slid out of the receiving case and the pressed portion. 
     
     
         17 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the limiting block comprises a limiting piece, the pressed portion defines a limiting slot, and the limiting piece is slidably received in the limiting slot. 
     
     
         18 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein a sliding direction of the limiting block is substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction of the box. 
     
     
         19 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the heater further comprises a resilient member secured between the limiting block and a top end of the pressed portion; when the heater is in the closed position, the limiting block compresses the resilient member; and when the heater is in the opened position, the resilient member is released. 
     
     
         20 . The automatic pill dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the box further comprises a top board and a front board; the top board is substantially parallel to the installation plate; the conducting strip is mounted on the top board; and an operation portion protrudes from the front board, and the operation portion is operable to translatably slide the heater.