Abstract: A parts feeder has a vortex chamber with a wall disposed generally symmetrically about an axis and into which bulk parts are fed. A vortex generator disposed at a narrow end of the chamber generates a spiral vortex that rises up the wall. Parts entrained in the vortex are separated and oriented by the vortex. Properly oriented parts are successively able to pass through an outlet port to exit the vortex chamber; thus continuously feeding parts. An opening extends through the vortex generator. Defective parts, oversize parts, and parts which are tangled or held together may readily be removed from the vortex chamber through the opening.

Abstract: A wireless IC tag injection apparatus has a rotary tag-feeding mechanical section feeding IC tags to a delivering guide pass, while receiving wireless IC tags falling from a tag-housing hopper to outer circumferential pockets provided to a rotating disc, and a first tag-sorting mechanical section arranged at the lower end of the delivering guide pass and adapted to switch a delivering pass between two branched passes alternately. The apparatus also has a tag temporary-shutoff mechanical section and a data writing/reading device both provided to the branched pass, a second tag-sorting mechanical section arranged at the lower end of the branched pass and adapted to sort the data-processed IC tags to defective tag evacuation side and conforming tag feeding side, and a tag-injecting section connected to the conforming tag feeding section in the second tag-sorting mechanical section.

Abstract: A coin transport mechanism comprising: a first coin rotor including at least one coin receptacle for receiving a coin; a second coin rotor including at least one coin receptacle, the second coin rotor disposed proximal to the first coin rotor; wherein the first coin rotor is noncoplanar with the second coin rotor and includes a gated coin aperture, and wherein the second coin rotor is adapted to transport coins from a coin hopper to the first coin rotor.

Abstract: A solid chemical feed unit dissolver has an upper feed unit chamber with an inwardly tapering sealing surface at its lower end and against which a lowermost feed unit seals, retaining the upper chamber in a dry condition, preventing wetting and caking of solid chemical feed units behind the dissolving and sealed off face of the solid chemical feed unit. A solid chemical feed unit magazine is slotted to permit gentle feeding of a plurality of solid chemical feed units therein and a cover-defined sight slot permits guiding and visual observation of remaining solid chemical feed units in the magazine. The magazine preferably, but not necessarily, defines the tapering sealing surface. Distinctly shaped solid chemical feed units are disclosed. The dissolver can handle large solid chemical feed unit loads up to one hundred pounds or more and in a small footprint stable configuration. Methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for dispensing food products, such as bread, comprising a container body with a front opening, which is adapted to be loaded with a food product such as bread, further comprising an inclined plane which is arranged fixed within the container body and is connected to the opening of the container body, plate-like elements being able to slide on the inclined plane and being actuatable by a lever, the plate-like elements being adapted to pass from an initial position for closing the opening of the container body to an active position in which the passage of the food product is allowed for the dispensing thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and at least one vacuum source. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween. The vacuum source is adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing. The apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems for dispensing multiple types of materials, such as packing materials. According to various embodiments, the systems include a dispensing bin with multiple compartments configured to receive and dispense different types of materials, such as air-filled dunnage cushions and air-filled protective material. In certain embodiments, the dispensing bin is configured to receive materials from one or more supply machines and dispense the materials such that more than one type of material is provided to numerous packing stations for use in packaging items.

Abstract: Dispensing systems and methods are disclosed that provide controlled advancement of product and provide controlled access to product stored within the system. Embodiments include a product pushing device having a track and a pusher that urges product stored on the track forward. Certain embodiments include mechanisms to limit the forward progression of the pusher along the track, such as a brake mechanism, and certain embodiments include mechanisms to block access to product located on the track. Some embodiments include mechanisms for providing a time delay in between the vending of products.

Abstract: A system and method for discharging a selected product into a dispensing chamber of a vending machine are provided. In the system and method of this disclosure, a selected product from a vending machine is received in a product delivery cup. The product delivery cup is moved to a dispensing chamber of the vending machine. Near the dispensing chamber, the product delivery cup moves in a horizontal direction which causes or activates a delivery cup sleeve within the product delivery cup to pivot or move from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position. The dispensing position of the delivery cup sleeve releases the selected product from the delivery cup sleeve to the dispensing chamber where a consumer is able to access the selected product.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and at least one vacuum source. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween. The vacuum source is adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing. The apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.

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.

Abstract: A dispensing container is provided. The dispensing container includes an actuation cover; a dispensing cartridge and an outer shell. The dispensing cartridge includes a storage hopper. The storage hopper includes a first outlet. The storage hopper is configured for gravity feeding product adjacent the first outlet. The outer shell includes a central cavity and a second outlet. The dispensing cartridge is positioned within the central cavity. The dispensing cartridge is transitionable between an open orientation in which the first and second outlets are aligned providing a pathway through both the first and second outlets and a closed orientation wherein the first and second outlets are offset decreasing the size of the pathway.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for accurate and secure dispensing of products using an automated dispensing machine, and transmission, processing and analysis of data concerning items dispensed. In one embodiment the system provides the possibility of combined pharmaceutical supply chain management and medication treatment compliance management and may be applied to controlled dispensing of medications, enabling incentives to encourage higher compliance, recording and processing of patient and health care data. The system allows for automatic replenishment of medications to the RFID equipped medication storage enclosure at the healthcare site. It also allows for complete logging of data relating to which patient has received the correct dosage at what time, by whom this medication was administered, and correlation with other possible RFID tagged documents.

Abstract: A system and method for directing a consumer through a vending machine transaction. The system and method include a UI guide comprising visual cues to direct a consumer to insert a minimum amount of money, make a production selection and confirm the product selection. The system and method provide for the consumer to cancel the transaction and request that return of inserted coins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a golf ball dispenser having an upper container which houses the golf balls and a flange which receives the balls from the container and which supplies the balls individually to a dispensing arm. The dispensing arm, which is disposed such that it is essentially vertical in the rest position, includes structure for pivoting around a horizontal axis when a golf ball is being dispensed, the pivot structure is disposed in the upper part thereof close to the above-mentioned flange.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medicine dispenser, which can detect the number of medicines such that an accurate number of medicines can be discharged for packing, a medicine discharging method, and an automatic packing machine including the medicine dispenser. The medicine dispenser includes a frame and a medicine transfer unit attached to the frame and transferring medicines one pill at a time to an outside of the medicine dispenser. The medicine transfer unit includes a detection unit that detects the number of medicines dropping from a medicine container to be packed, and a transfer unit that pushes the medicines, the number of which is detected by the detection unit, into a packing passage connected to a packing unit to transfer the medicines to the packing unit.

Abstract: Dispensing systems and methods are disclosed that provide controlled advancement of product and provide controlled access to product stored within the system. Embodiments include a product pushing device having a track and a pusher that urges product stored on the track forward. Certain embodiments include mechanisms to limit the forward progression of the pusher along the track, such as a brake mechanism, and certain embodiments include mechanisms to block access to product located on the track. Some embodiments include mechanisms for providing a time delay in between the vending of products.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a separation device for separating a rod-like element from a plurality of rod-like elements stored in a storage. The separation device may include a storage space having an approximately V-shaped cross section, for storing a plurality of at least approximately horizontally aligned rod-like elements, wherein the storage space includes at least a front wall element, a rear wall elements, and two side wall elements, having a bottom section and a top section. Moreover, a first discharge unit may be included for discharging a single rod-like element out of the plurality of rod-like elements stored in the storage space.

Abstract: A dispenser places transdermal devices and packaged transdermal devices in an electrically charged state. The dispenser is particularly suitable for transdermal devices that include electrically actuatable components, such as transdermal, drug-delivery patches that include microporator circuitry. A controller can be operatively coupled to a power circuit of the dispenser to control the times that transdermal devices can be charged, thereby providing a measure of control over use and misuse of the transdermal devices to be dispensed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a partition plate capable of efficiently cleaning a medicine remaining in a V-measure. The partition plate comprises: a slide member (8) which is installed so as to be capable of reciprocating along side plates and has a guide reception part (11); and a partition member (9) which has a guide part (18) removably guided by the guide reception part (11) of the slide member (8) and reciprocates together with the slide member (8) while maintaining such a state so as to be parallel with an end plate (5).

Abstract: A thin-part feeding device is provided which is compact and efficient. The device has a funnel portion with a feeding opening at the bottom thereof, a take-out tube for taking out thin parts from the funnel portion, and a receiving portion with separate opening for receiving thin parts from the discharge opening. The receiving portion is movable, and the receiving opening is sized to receive only one thin part. The device is operative to repeat a state where the receiving opening faces the discharge opening, and a state where the receiving opening is away from the discharge opening to enable thin parts to be taken out from the receiving opening. The device also features a novel, posture-correcting portion to correct vertical posture of thin parts, a delivery portion for receiving posture-corrected thin parts, and a transporting portion as described.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing and a gas source to provide a positive pressure supply gas flow. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, a drive jet outlet, and an agitation outlet. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path therebetween. The gas source is fluidly connected to each of the drive jet outlet and the agitation outlet to provide: a pressurized drive jet gas flow through the drive jet outlet to convey articles through the dispensing channel along the flow path; and a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber.

Abstract: A drug filling apparatus capable of preventing drugs from being bridged to each other and reducing troubles. The drug filling apparatus functions to select specific tablets from various types of tablet groups and fill the selected tablets into a vial, and includes a storage cabinet, a drug supplying section, a drug halting section, a drug conveying section, a drug filling section, a vial storing section, and a vial carrying section. A drug dispenser is installed in the drug halting section. A receptacle of the drug dispenser is constituted by an outer receptacle portion and an inner receptacle portion. When a time for filling of tablets in the drug dispenser into the vial comes, a motor of a drive section rotates according to specified signals to rotate the inner receptacle portion; that is, the rotational orientation of the inner receptacle portion is changed to reverse the inner receptacle portion.

Abstract: A system and method for discharging a selected product into a dispensing chamber of a vending machine are provided. In the system and method of this disclosure, a selected product from a vending machine is received in a product delivery cup. The product delivery cup is moved to a dispensing chamber of the vending machine. Near the dispensing chamber, the product delivery cup moves in a horizontal direction which causes or activates a delivery cup sleeve within the product delivery cup to pivot or move from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position. The dispensing position of the delivery cup sleeve releases the selected product from the delivery cup sleeve to the dispensing chamber where a consumer is able to access the selected product.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling an empty shaft tray with rod-shaped products. The shaft tray has shaft walls which form a plurality of shafts. The apparatus includes a filling hopper having a receiving region for a mass flow composed of the products, and a storage region for products comprising a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom wall. The storage region includes partitions that form a plurality of shafts adjacent to each other, wherein the partitions substantially extend over a full height of the storage region, and wherein the rear wall of the storage region includes openings for passage of the shaft walls of the shaft tray. A delivery element delivers the empty shaft tray into the receiving region of the filling hopper to be filled with the products. A removal element removes a filled shaft tray from the filling hopper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ice dispenser apparatus having an ice storage bin removably mounted to the refrigerator for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker, a metering device for separating individual ice pieces, and a sensing device for detecting the presence of ice pieces. Actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces before, after, or during dispensing.

Abstract: A method for preventing irregular packaging for automatic medicine packing machine having a last hopper that contains the tablet just before the tablet is packed, includes steps of sensing whether a tablet is received in the last hopper, sensing and deciding whether the tablet stands vertical inside the last hopper, vibrating a shutter if it is decided that the tablet stands vertical whereby the vertical standing tablet falls down, and checking non-standing of the tablet after completion of shutter vibration. The apparatus performing the method includes a shutter vibrating unit and a standing sensor that is installed on the last hopper and senses whether the tablet received in the last hopper stands vertical. The standing sensor includes a horizontal slot that is formed horizontally at a side of the last hopper at a position corresponding to a vertical height of a tablet and a photo sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a medicine storing and dispensing apparatus, which is capable of filling medicines dispensed from a medicine feeding means into a container generally evenly without depending on its regions to thereby effectively utilize an internal space of the container. The medicine storing and dispensing apparatus has arms 72, 73 and is capable of filling tablets into a vial B held by the arms. A drive roller 101, which is rotated along with the operation of a motor, is provided at the arm 72. The medicine storing and dispensing apparatus can rotate the vial B by rotating the drive roller 101 when filling the tablets into the vial B held by the arms 72, 73.

Abstract: An ice distribution system and method according to which ice-filled bags are distributed within a unit such as, for example, an ice merchandiser.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing and a gas source to provide a positive pressure supply gas flow. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, a drive jet outlet, and an agitation outlet. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path therebetween. The gas source is fluidly connected to each of the drive jet outlet and the agitation outlet to provide: a pressurized drive jet gas flow through the drive jet outlet to convey articles through the dispensing channel along the flow path; and a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously filling a plurality of paintball pods with a reduced incidence of spilling includes a housing, a pod support, a reservoir, and a valve. The pod support includes a plate with at least one aperture configured to maintain at least one paintball pod in a vertical orientation. The pod support is configured to be positioned in the housing. The reservoir includes at least one opening in a bottom wall thereof. The valve selectively and controllably allows or obstructs a flow of paintballs from the reservoir to one or more paintball pods positioned in the pod support. The components of the paintball filling system may be coupled or nested into a single transportable unit.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling an empty shaft tray with rod-shaped products. The shaft tray has shaft walls which form a plurality of shafts. The apparatus includes a filling hopper having a receiving region for a mass flow composed of the products, and a storage region for products comprising a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom wall. The storage region includes partitions that form a plurality of shafts adjacent to each other, wherein the partitions substantially extend over a full height of the storage region, and wherein the rear wall of the storage region includes openings for passage of the shaft walls of the shaft tray. A delivery element delivers the empty shaft tray into the receiving region of the filling hopper to be filled with the products. A removal element removes a filled shaft tray from the filling hopper.

Abstract: A portable paintball container tube loading stand is disclosed, which facilitates the loading of paintballs into paintball container tubes. This support stand comprises a vertical free standing frame which supports a shelf in which there are apertures for vertically inserting paintball container tubes. A hopper, with an open top and bottom, is rotatably attached to this shelf and can be positioned atop this shelf over the inserted tubes. The walls of this hopper are tapered downward towards the open ends of the inserted paintball tubes. These open ends are essentially flush with the top surface of the shelf. Paintballs are delivered into the upper wide mouth of the hopper which directs these paintballs downward into the container tubes. After the tubes have been loaded, the hopper is rotated to the open position to allow the loaded tubes to be removed.

Abstract: A particulate distribution apparatus for receiving seed or other particulate from a pneumatic source and temporarily storing the seed for subsequent use by a metering device where the particulate is characterized by a particulate size, the apparatus comprising a housing including walls that form a cavity, a hopper inlet linkable to the duct outlet and a hopper outlet linkable to the metering device inlet, at least one of the housing walls forming vent apertures that are generally smaller than the particulate size.

Abstract: A portable paintball container tube loading stand is disclosed, which facilitates the loading of paintballs into paintball container tubes. This support stand comprises a vertical free standing frame which supports a shelf in which there are apertures for vertically inserting paintball container tubes. A hopper, with an open top and bottom, is rotatably attached to this shelf and can be positioned atop this shelf over the inserted tubes. The walls of this hopper are tapered downward towards the open ends of the inserted paintball tubes. These open ends are essentially flush with the top surface of the shelf. Paintballs are delivered into the upper wide mouth of the hopper which directs these paintballs downward into the container tubes. After the tubes have been loaded, the hopper is rotated to the open position to allow the loaded tubes to be removed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for storing fresh, edible seeds in a lower container having an upper container attached thereto for receiving the shells from the used or shucked seeds. The upper portion of the top chamber is a dome-like member with an aperture therein for the disposal of shells. Further, the top chamber has a dome-like lid that rotates being spill-proof when not in use. The bottom chamber is cylindrically shaped for receiving and storing fresh seed. The top and bottom chambers are removably attached. An access means is disposed on the outside of the lower container and enables seeds to be dispensed therethrough.

Abstract: The large-capacity coin dispensing apparatus of the present invention is directed to increasing the coin storage capacity of a hopper-type coin dispensing apparatus using a rotary disc to dispense coins one at a time. The coin storage capacity of the hopper-type coin dispensing apparatus is limited by the storage capacity of a hopper used to supply coins to the rotary disc. To increase coin storage capacity, the present invention uses a first tank to supply coins to the rotary disc and a second tank to hold a large supply of coins. As the coins in the first tank are depleted, coins are transported from the second tank to the first tank using a conveyor. The addition of the second tank increases coin storage capacity and reduces the frequency at which coins have to be loaded into the large-capacity coin dispensing apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a product carry-out apparatus for a vending machine, adapted for carrying a product, which has been delivered downward from a product housing within a vending machine body at the time of selling, in a diagonally upward and forward direction and then carrying out the product to a product take-out port. The apparatus comprises: a conveyor which is rotatable about the rear end between a forward and upward inclined position for selling and a substantially horizontal position for maintenance and, at the time of selling, at the position for selling, receives, on its upper surface, the product delivered from the product housing and carries the product in a diagonally upward and forward direction; and a support for holding the conveyor at the position for selling or at the position for maintenance.

Abstract: The present invention includes a parts feeder system capable of being used in either a first mode without an auxiliary hopper or in a second mode with and auxiliary hopper. The parts feeder system includes an enclosure having an opening therein. In the first or manual-feed mode, the parts feeder system is replenished my manual filling thereof, and in the second or auxiliary hopper-feed mode the opening in the enclosure accommodates an auxiliary hopper. When the auxiliary hopper is used, the dispensing chute of the auxiliary hopper is positioned over the supply of the parts feeder. Additionally, the enclosure of the parts feeder system is configured with grooves so that it can be secured by a minimal number of fixation elements and can therefore be easily attached and removed.

Abstract: A device for making available and delivering sacks which can be supplied in hoppers (1).

Abstract: A portable tripodal support formed from a plurality of interconnected legs adapted to receive a flexible hopper for holding a supply of golf balls to be individually dispensed to a golf club striking position with one of the legs being the discharge chute for the golf balls.

Abstract: A bulk cassette has a container chamber at its rear end, and an outlet port at its front end. A plurality of chips within the container chamber are discharged from the outlet port one by one in an aligned fashion. A chip case is detachably connected to the rear end of the bulk cassette and includes an internal container space within which a plurality of chips can be contained. The chip case has a supply opening at its front end so as to feed the chips from the container space to the container chamber of the bulk cassette. The chip case also has a receiving opening at its rear end so as to feed additional chips into the container space. A closure member is mounted to the rear end of the chip case to open and close the receiving opening. A pipe is inserted into the receiving opening for replenishment of chips.

Abstract: A vacuum operated system for individually dispensing items of oral solid medicine from bulk storage to a user, where the medicine is dispensed under computer control, and the quantity and type of medicine is selected in advance by the user. The invention includes medicine dispensing equipment and a computer that provides a user interface. A plurality of storage containers arranged in a rotatable carousel or a rectilinear array may contain various pharmaceutical articles, or various types, dosages, ages, and lot numbers of medicines. The storage containers may be easily refilled by inserting modular refill cartridges into the storage containers. After a user enters certain data into the computer, the invention aligns a universal vacuum probe with the storage container that contains the desired items. The universal vacuum probe is lowered to the desired storage container and engaged with a container probe that is exclusive to that storage container.

Abstract: A container is described which can hold multiple small articles such as earplugs, and which can be inserted into a dispenser where the contents can be readily released. The container includes a box (30, FIG. 3) whose bottom wall includes a pair of flaps (50, 52) having inner ends (54, 56) pivotally connected to the bottoms of opposite side walls, and having outer portions (64, 66) that lie adjacent to each other. A release device (34) holds the outer portions of the flaps together to prevent them from pivoting down until the release device is pulled out, when the flaps pivot down and the articles fall out. The outer portion of each flap includes an upstanding tab (76, 78, FIG. 5) with a horizontal slot (82), and the release device includes a cardboard plate which is received in the slot.

Abstract: Vapor source material such as uranium, which is to be dropped into a melt in an evaporator, is made into many balls of identical diameters and placed inside a container. An elongated sloping pipe is connected to the container and leads to the evaporator such that these balls can travel sequentially therealong by gravity. A metering valve in this pipe for passing these balls one at a time is opened in response to a signal when it is ascertained by a detector that there is a ball ready to be passed. A gate in the pipe near the evaporator momentarily stops the motion of the traveling ball and is then opened to allow the ball drop into the melt at a reduced speed.

Abstract: An automatic supply and loading device for container blanks such as gable top containers including storage magazines for storing therein the blanks in a flat collapsed form at a location away from the main magazines from which the blanks are individually transferred to later processes in a liquid food charging machine. A robot with a pair of grasping claws is provided between the main magazines and the storage magazines so that the robot carries the blanks between the magazines and loads and unloads the blanks in and from the magazines. The main magazines can be inclined at the same angle as the angle of inclination of the robot for securing smooth loading and unloading of the blanks.

Abstract: In an automated prescription pill dispensing system, a multiplicity of pill dispensers are provided each operable to count out and dispense pills from supply hoppers. The dispensers are controlled by a computer which selects up to five of the dispensers to operate and control the selected pill dispensers to count out pills simultaneously. The pill dispensers dispense the pills into the first set of output hoppers, from which the pills can be released into a second output hopper under the control of the computer. The computer will release the pills from the second output hopper corresponding to a selected pill dispenser through a snout into a pill vial in response to sensing the presence of a pill vial at the snout. The computer controls a prescription label printer to print prescription labels for the pill vials. The computer also controls indicator lights to indicate which dispensing cell is selected and ready to have pills released from the second output hopper corresponding thereto.