Abstract: Methods and systems for on-site, continuous generation of peracid chemistry, namely peroxycarboxylic acids and peroxycarboxylic acid forming compositions, are disclosed. In particular, an adjustable biocide formulator or generator system is designed for on-site generation of peroxycarboxylic acids and peroxycarboxylic acid forming compositions from sugar esters. Methods of using the in situ generated peroxycarboxylic acids and peroxycarboxylic acid forming compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a quantity regulating module of an automatic tablet dispenser, and a tablet dispensing method thereof, which are capable of automatically packing various-shaped tablets, and accurately, rapidly and cleanly controlling supplying of tablets without missing any.

Abstract: A single pill distributing cap has a movable part and a fixed part The fixed part is releasably attached onto a bottle and the movable part is rotationally attached to the fixed part. The fixed part consists in a pill sorting chamber, and an exit chamber. The pill sorting chamber allows only one pill at a time to egress from the pill sorting chamber by way of a pill sorting chamber hole. Once a pill is out of the pill sorting chamber, upon continued rotation of the movable part, it aligns itself with the exit chamber. Once thus aligned, the pill drops into the exit chamber.

Abstract: To dispense an article in a limited space within a tray appropriately with no useless operation, the present invention provides an article dispensing device, including a control means (61) which calls, from a storage means (64), an article map of an article (D) to be dispensed by a dispensing means (3) and a container map of a container (5) for accommodating the article (D), which searches for a vacant region by searching each container virtual region of the container map in a predetermined order, which specifies a dispensing position for the article (D) according to the article map, and which drive-controls the dispensing means (3) based on the specified dispensing position for causing the article (D) held to be accommodated in the container (5).

Abstract: An automated, continuous rotary-motion, positive-count, container-filling machine used for counting, color inspecting, geometric inspecting, and batching a predetermined quantity of multiple or discrete objects such as tablets, capsules, caplets, or packets of collated items (multiple objects to a pack). Apparatus comprises a plurality of rotary slats, each of which is independently driven, and able to pick up multiple objects at one location and deliver multiple objects simultaneously to a container through multiple counting and inspection devices.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for singularly dispensing elongated items. Specifically, this invention may include an elongated body forming a channel and a baffle to separate at least one elongated item from a plurality of elongated items. The width of the channel is preferably less than twice a thickness of the elongated item so that an elongated item may align under an aperture. The elongated item may then pass one at a time through the aperture to minimize potential cross-contamination. This apparatus and method may be particularly useful for dispensing dental applicators or other tooth cleaning devices.

Abstract: An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.

Abstract: A drug dispensing control system and a drug dispensing unit are disclosed. The drug dispensing control system includes a prescription filling system and a drug dispensing unit. The drug dispensing unit is configured to interface with the prescription filling system. The drug dispensing unit includes a canister configured to receive a prescribed amount of medication from the prescription filling system. The canister includes a single dose dispensing mechanism. The drug dispensing unit also includes circuitry configured to allow access to a dose of the medication at a predetermined interval. In certain aspects, the drug dispensing unit is approximately handheld-sized.

Abstract: An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.

Abstract: A ball bearing actuation mechanism includes a circular gauge wheel rotatably mounted in an interior chamber of a housing below an inlet passage and adjacent to outlet and overflow discharge openings of the housing and a curved retainer wall mounted to the housing in the interior chamber adjacent to a peripheral groove on the gauge wheel so as to form a channel therebetween which extends between the inlet passage and discharge outlet opening of the housing. The peripheral groove has a length preset to receive a preset number of ball bearings in single file fashion therein when the ball bearings are deposited into interior chamber via the inlet passage such that any ball bearings above the preset number deposited into the inlet passage of the housing will divert to the overflow discharge outlet of the housing.

Abstract: A dispensing system including a coin hopper for dispensing coins, a printer which prints a value on a ticket, a memory unit for storing a winning amount from a gaming machine, a judgment unit which outputs a dispensing amount to the coin hopper or printer based on the winning amount stored in the memory unit and a threshold value, a controlling unit which selectively asserts a command to either the coin hopper or the printer, a character information converting unit which converts information from a dispensing command into character information for printing on the printer, and a coin hopper driver for operating the coin hopper based on the dispensing amount from the judgment unit.

Abstract: A system is provided for automatically dispensing prescriptions according to a patient's order. The system includes at least one line of machines that can automatically fill a patient's prescription order with countable oral solid medication under the control of an appropriate control system. The system includes containers provided to store the oral solid medication. One or more medication-containing containers are detachably coupled to a vibratory dispenser according to a patient's order. The vibratory dispenser automatically vibrates the container to dispense a predetermined amount of medication from the container into a vial according to the patient's order. Labeling and capping apparatus may be provided to apply a patient-specific label to the vial and to apply a cap or closure to the vial. Vials containing medication according to the patient's order may be collected in accumulation receptacles prior to delivery to a patient.

Abstract: Varying the daily dose of either or both of the estrogen and the progestogen administered for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is readily and inexpensively accomplished, without the necessity of the physician prescribing a new product each time the daily dose of the estrogen or progestogen is changed, by administering preferably transdermally the estrogen and the progestogen contained in separate extrudable pharmaceutical compositions from a dispenser which contains means, preferably adjustable only by the attending physician or dispensing pharmacist, for varying the volume of either or both of the respective compositions which is dispensed as a single dose from the dispenser in response to a defined digital dispensing manipulation of the dispenser thereby facilitating optimal compliance to a combination of HRT with individually adjusted dosages of the estrogen and progestogen.

Abstract: Varying the daily dose of either or both of the estrogen and the progestogen administered for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is readily and inexpensively accomplished, without the necessity of the physician prescribing a new product each time the daily dose of the estrogen or progestogen is changed, by administering preferably transdermally the estrogen and the progestogen contained in separate extrudable pharmaceutical compositions from a dispenser which contains means, preferably adjustable only by the attending physician or dispensing pharmacist, for varying the volume of either or both of the respective compositions which is dispensed as a single dose from the dispenser in response to a defined digital dispensing manipulation of the dispenser thereby facilitating optimal compliance to a combination of HRT with individually adjusted dosages of the estrogen and progestogen.

Abstract: An automatic machine for storing and dispensing a desired number of spherical objects (1), for example golf balls. A magazine has at least one sloping floor surface (2, 3, 4, 7), a conveyor belt (11) extending from an infeed position to a discharge position, and an object counter (16) disposed at the conveyor belt (11) for counting the number of objects (1) displaced on the conveyor belt (11) past the counter (16).

Abstract: Varying the daily dose of either or both of the estrogen and the progestogen administered for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is readily and inexpensively accomplished, without the necessity of the physician prescribing a new product each time the daily dose of the estrogen or progestogen is changed, by administering preferably transdermally the estrogen and the progestogen contained in separate extrudable pharmaceutical compositions from a dispenser which contains means, preferably adjustable only by the attending physician or dispensing pharmacist, for varying the volume of either or both of the respective compositions which is dispensed as a single dose from the dispenser in response to a defined digital dispensing manipulation of the dispenser thereby facilitating optimal compliance to a combination of HRT with individually adjusted dosages of the estrogen and progestogen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for creating a blended stream of articles, such as for use in connection with product promotions and the like. The invention contemplates that first and second streams of discrete promotional articles are blended so that the resultant stream includes articles at a predetermined ratio. The present invention facilitates creation of a blended product stream comprising all winning promotional articles with differing values, with subsequent formation of a blended article stream comprising winning and non-winning promotional articles. Precise and cost-effective introduction of the winning and non-winning promotional articles into the marketplace can thus be effected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for creating a blended stream of articles, such as for use in connection with product promotions and the like. The invention contemplates that first and second streams of discrete promotional articles are blended so that the resultant stream includes articles at a predetermined ratio. The present invention facilitates creation of a blended product stream comprising all winning promotional articles with differing values, with subsequent formation of a blended article stream comprising winning and non-winning promotional articles. Precise and cost-effective introduction of the winning and non-winning promotional articles into the marketplace can thus be effected.

Abstract: In an automatic prescription dispensing system, a multiplicity of pill dispensers dispensing the pills of different prescriptions are arranged in columns and rows. A conveyer organizes open and labeled pill bottles in columns corresponding to the columns of the pill dispensers and carries the columns of pill bottles severally past and beneath the pill dispensers in the array. The pill bottles are carried in bottle carriers which in turn are carried by pallets on a conveyer. When a pill bottle gets to a pill dispenser containing the pills to be dispensed for the prescription of a pill bottle, the pills are released from the dispenser into the pill bottle, whereby a plurality of pill bottles passing under the array of dispensers are filled simultaneously. The pill dispensers count the pills out one at a time and accumulate the pills of a prescription before the pill bottle to receive such prescription reaches the dispenser and then releases the pills en masse into the pill bottle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for hair dying. The system includes at least two reservoirs containing different hair dying components in predetermined concentrations, the containers including outlets having cross-sectional areas which are sized relative to the concentration of the component contained in the reservoir and the amount of that component needed to react with the remaining components. The measuring device calibrated with respect to the concentrations of the hair dye components and the cross-sectional areas of their respective reservoir outlets, permits rapid and accurate dispensing of the hair dye components in the proper quantities. In a preferred arrangement, the measuring device is provided on a blending board so that the components can be blended together immediately upon dispensing.

Abstract: A mechanical system opens a selected drawer in a multiple-drawer cabinet. The drawers are arranged in rows and columns. A selected drawer is unlatched by moving a rod which has protruding fingers, only one of which is positioned to engage a latch in a column of drawers. When the rod moves longitudinally, the selected drawer becomes unlatched. The unlatched drawer can open only to a distance determined by a cable which unwinds from a drum and passes around a pulley attached to the drawer. Thus, by controlling the rotation of the drum, the system can be programmed to open the drawer only to a distance which exposes the first non-empty compartment in the drawer. A computer controls the selection and opening of the drawers. The computer keeps a record of which compartments of each drawer have been emptied. Each time a drawer is opened, it is opened to the next non-empty compartment, allowing access to one and only one compartment in the drawer.

Abstract: A game token dispenser is equipped with a token hopper for dispensing, to a token receiving port, a predetermined number of tokens supplied from a token reservoir. The token hopper is divided into a sequentially operating preliminary hopper and a dispensing hopper. The preliminary hopper has a sensor for detecting whether or not there are any tokens received from the reservoir, and a conveying mechanism for conveying the tokens forwardly. The dispensing hopper has a sensor for detecting whether or not there are any tokens received from the preliminary hopper. A discharging mechanism is provided for discharging the tokens one by one to the token receiving port. The dispenser preferably includes a display, on a front surface of a housing, for displaying whether or not it is possible to dispense the tokens and the number of the tokens dispensed.

Abstract: An automatic prescription dispensing system includes a housing or frame having a plurality of pill dispenser units mounted therein, a plurality of vial supply assemblies at one end of the housing, and a filled vial offload carousel at an opposite end. A vial manipulator assembly is mounted on the housing to enable translational movement of a vial manipulator frame vertically and horizontally and pivoting about a vertical axis to retrieve vials from the supply assemblies, fill the vials at the dispenser units, and deposit the filled vials onto the carousel. The vial manipulator frame includes spring loaded grippers to engage and carry the vials and a drive motor and gear for meshing with dispenser unit gears to operate the dispenser units. The system includes a controller including an interface for coupling to the printer port of a pharmacy host computer printer port for intercepting drug name and quantity data for a prescription which was directed to a prescription label printer.

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: A tablet selector has a selector plate interposed between a tablet-carrying rotatable disk having a plurality of pairs of first and second openings, and a pair of discharged tubes which lead to a form, fill and seal packaging station. The selector plate is pivotally movable by solenoid actuators to selectively block one or the other of the first and second openings of the rotatable disk. A pneumatic cylinder has an expandable arm which drives the selector plate into a complete blocking position.

Abstract: An automatic spring feeding device is shown which uses a three-sided feedbox having a movable bottom panel for urging a series of springs into rotating bundles against a moving platen which forms the fourth side of the feedbox. The platen is grooved with specially shaped grooves which capture individual springs therein under the urging of a magnet on the opposite side of the platen from the springs. The platen is then carried by a continuous drive chain to a spring feed assembly where the springs are loaded one at a time into a channel from which the springs are metered by a solenoid operated release door. The key to handling the springs without tangling them is to wind each end of the spring with a closely wound coil. After the springs are placed upon a conveyor belt, the unwanted closely wound coil or coils may be removed by a suitable shear.

Abstract: An ice body dispenser arranged to provide preselected different quantities of ice bodies from a storage chamber as a function of the size of a receptacle, or cup, placed in a receiving position below a delivery duct thereof. The dispenser includes one or more control elements selectively insertable into the delivery duct to correspondingly adjust the amount of ice bodies delivered by a concurrent opening of the lower closure member of the device. The device includes control switches which sense the size of the cup placed in the ice body receiving position so as to cause a selective use of the different control elements. The control elements may be fork elements having one or more tines for providing improved column interception with effectively minimal crushing and breaking of the ice bodies in the column.

Abstract: An ice body dispenser arranged to provide preselected different quantities of ice bodies from a storage chamber as a function of the size of a receptacle, or cup, placed in a receiving position below a delivery duct thereof. The dispenser includes one or more control elements selectively insertable into the delivery duct to correspondingly adjust the amount of ice bodies delivered by a concurrent opening of the lower closure member of the device. The device includes control switches which sense the size of the cup placed in the ice body receiving position so as to cause a selective use of the different control elements. The control elements may be fork elements having one or more tines for providing improved column interception with effectively minimal crushing and breaking of the ice bodies in the column.

Abstract: A dispenser for delivering any one of three different quantities of uncooked spaghetti or the like elongated rod-like pasta elements. The dispenser consists of an elongated container with a removable lid having a central round opening and a series of rings of progressively decreasing diameter removably fitted within said round opening and within one another. A closing cap is removably fitted within the ring of smallest diameter. The rings may be selectively open for choosing the size of the opening required for the metering of the required portion of pasta. The pasta is discharged by turning the container upside down. When the cap is in closed position, the pasta is stored in the container in a hygienic manner. The lid is of arcuate shape to facilitate delivering of pasta.

Abstract: A device for sorting discs or disc-like members of different identities (e.g. roulette chips) withdraws the discs from a receptacle by a conveyor and moves them in oriented succession along a sorting track where they are automatically indentifed and transferred by transfer devices into respective receiving spaces along the sorting track. The receiving spaces receive the discs at their lower ends so as to form stacks in the receiving spaces, the stacks being built up from their lower ends in inclined troughs forming part of the receiving spaces. Preferably each disc has its leading portion deflected upwardly as it approaches its assigned receiving space, while still retaining driving engagement with the conveyor, and the raised leading portion passes onto a disc catching member at the bottom of the receiving space, after which the disc is driven into the receiving space by the remaining engagement with the conveyor.