Automated pill-dispensing apparatus

Details Automated pill-dispensing apparatus Automated pill-dispensing apparatus

2005-07-29

2009-12-01

Crawford, Gene (Department: 3651)

Article dispensing

Plural sources, stacks or compartments

With discharge means for each source

C221S258000, C221S123000, C221S186000, C221S188000, C221S200000, C221S288000, C700S231000, C700S241000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07624894

ABSTRACT:
A pill-dispensing apparatus for automatically dispensing solid pills includes a plurality of storage units and a pill dispensing module. The storage units store pills in bulk and each include a hopper and an auger movably positioned with respect to the hopper. An inlet of the auger is positioned to receive pills from the hopper. The pill-dispensing module includes: a dock for receiving and holding a selected one of the storage units, a drive unit for rotating the auger to motivate the pills along the auger, a pill counter for counting pills dispensed from an auger outlet, and a lift for tilting the hopper to control flow and to assist in motivating pills to fall from the hopper and move along the auger.

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Appendix A discloses a “Declaration of William O. Gerold . . . ” dated May 23, 2005, but referring to a “Breed Dispensing System developed in 1997, wherein Mr. Gerold, the present inventor, on p. 2, paragraph 7, states The Breed system used a hopper and track system similar to that of the original Microfil system that used vibration.” The original Microfil system referred to is that shown in the application U.S. Appl. No. 10/160,970. This fact came out during litigation and Applicant is hereby disclosing it under their duty of disclosure to the U.S.P.T.O.
Appendix B is a Memorandum Opinion dated Jan. 18, 2006, signed by U.S. District Judge Samual Der-Yeghiayan.
FMC Technologies, “Electromagnetic Vibrating Feeders (Light-Duty)”, Apr. 27, 2002 (2 pages).
Meyer Machine Company, “Vibratory Feeders”, date unknown (2 pages).

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