Abstract: Pill sorting devices are described herein that include a cavity formed from a bottom, a front, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a channel formed at the intersection of the first side wall and the second side wall, and a delivery channel within the front and first side wall or the within the front and the second side wall, wherein the delivery channel is offset from the channel. The pill sorting, counting, and dispensing device can be useful for people with arthritis or poor sight, or could be used commercially in pharmacies or industrially. Methods of making and using the pill sorting, counting, and dispensing devices are also described.

Abstract: A device for dosing or counting objects includes: a plate with a plurality of recesses, each suitable for receiving a single object and arranged in at least two series of at least two rows in parallel along a longitudinal axis, such that the recesses in a first row of one series are offset longitudinally relative to the recesses in the second row of the same series by a non-zero pitch; and a pull element arranged to slide relative to the plate along the longitudinal axis and comprising at least two adjacent tongues, each designed to cover or reveal a corresponding series of rows and arranged to slide relative to one another over a distance equal to the pitch and coupled by a drive mechanism such that the sliding of the pull element along the longitudinal axis over a distance greater than the pitch causes the simultaneous movement of two tongues.

Abstract: A zero clamp force fixture assembly may comprise a body comprising a locating surface and a side, a neck extending away from the side of the body, a zero force clamp coupled to the neck, and a universal locating feature coupled to the locating surface. The neck may taper towards an interface with the zero force clamp. The zero force clamp may comprise an upper jaw and a lower jaw.

Abstract: Embodiments of a holder for a blister sheet used to manage prescription pills are described herein. The holder solves the problem of limited space in filled blisters of a blister sheet during visual verification of the contents thereof by including a frame to receive the sheet in such a way that at least some of the blisters are positioned in close proximity to verification receptacles also provided on the holder to temporarily receive part of the blisters' content.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pill tray that allows a user to efficiently and reliably verify the contents of an automatically filled prescription. Design features that avoid the presence of sharp edges and allow visualization of the entire surface of the pill tray help reduce and/or eliminate the risk of commingling of pills between separate prescriptions.

Abstract: A medication loader is disclosed for quickly loading medications into medication organizers such as seven-day pillboxes. Seven pills are quickly isolated and trapped as the excess pills are held separately and then blocked while the trapped pills are directed into the seven chambers of the organizer.

Abstract: A pill tray is provided for assisting in sorting and counting of pills and capsules comprising a generally flat transparent tray surrounded by walls on three sides, a pill receiver on a fourth side, and featuring at least one return funnel on a corner distal the pill receiver. The pill tray features at least one side handle, a pill receiver that extends rearward to the same extent as the return funnel, an advertising sleeve on the underside of the tray, efficient legs, a downwardly sloping return funnel with a ridge across the access to same, and a gradually sloped ridge between the tray and the pill receiver that has no flat surfaces. The pill tray is preferably formed as a single piece by injection molding. The pill tray may be part of a kit including a multi-function spatula.

Abstract: A pill counting tray for counting pills. The pill counting tray includes a digital counter with a sensor that can digitally count the pills as they are being moved by a wand on the tray. The pill counting tray also includes a number of small evenly spaced terrain domes on one part of the tray to prevent the pills from clumping or clustering. The pill counting tray also includes a hinged return funnel that inclines upward when the pill counting tray is placed on a counter during counting, such that the hinged funnel creates a backstop to prevent pills from rolling off of the tray. The hinged funnel will rotate downward when the pill counting tray is lifted to ease the return of excess pills to the stock bottle. A portion of the surface of the hinged funnel also includes a number of spaced terrain domes.

Abstract: A pill tray is provided for assisting in sorting and counting of pills and capsules comprising a generally flat transparent tray surrounded by walls on three sides, a pill receiver on a fourth side, and featuring at least one return funnel on a corner distal the pill receiver. The pill tray features at least one side handle, a pill receiver that extends rearward to the same extent as the return funnel, an advertising sleeve on the underside of the tray, efficient legs, a downwardly sloping return funnel with a ridge across the access to same, and a gradually sloped ridge between the tray and the pill receiver that has no flat surfaces. The pill tray is preferably formed as a single piece by injection molding. The pill tray may be part of a kit including a multi-function spatula.

Abstract: A pills counting device is provided. It comprises a tray comprising a base member and a trough member. The device also comprises a lid member mounted on the base member and being movable between two extreme positions. The device also comprises at least one port provided in the tray and/or in the lid member and adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the base member and with an air intake of a vacuum device that can be remotely controlled. When a vacuum is applied to the at least one port, an air stream is established to entrain toward the vacuum device particles that may be present on surfaces of the device. A cleaning method using the aforesaid pills counting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The disposable pill counting device is a tray formed of a disposable material and includes a sidewall to define areas for holding and dispensing pills. The disposable tray may be substantially U-shaped with a folding sidewall and can be used with a disposable spatula.

Abstract: Most conventional pill counting devices are intentionally designed to be ergonomically comfortable for either right or left-handed users, but not both right and left-handed users simultaneously. In contrast, some embodiments in accordance with the invention provide a pill counting apparatus that is ergonomically comfortable for both right and left-handed users a like. In such embodiments the construction of the pill counting apparatus provides clear and inherent visual queues that enable a user to easily distinguish counted pills from bulk pills. In some embodiments a pill counting apparatus includes a pan with a symmetrically arranged first pouring spout and a tray having a symmetrically arranged second pouring spout, and the first and second pouring spouts are arranged to encourage pouring in different directions from one another.

Abstract: Methods and systems for counting items in storage containers in an array of at least two storage containers, the method including the steps of: providing a storage array of at least two storage containers, each of the storage containers containing an unknown amount of items; providing a receiving array of at least two receiving containers, wherein the receiving containers initially contain no items; extracting a layer of the items from the storage array; inserting the layer into corresponding locations in the receiving array; repeating the steps of extracting and inserting while at least one of the storage containers is not empty; counting, for each storage container in the storage array, a productive-extraction amount; and reporting, for at least some of the storage containers, the productive-extraction amount from each storage container. Preferably, the method further includes recovering a storage identity upon recovery from a system failure that erases the productive-extraction amount.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for use in a computing environment to provide object counts by utilizing object images. Objects are detected and images are captured using a programmable array of light sources and photo detectors. The images are compared against known images to ascertain the identity of the objects and subsequently count the objects.

Abstract: A device for rapidly counting and dispensing pills and capsules in blister packs or cards is provided. A movable plate with apertures, a sizing guide and a template fit inside a housing. The sizing guide has apertures corresponding to a particular size of pill or capsule, allowing the desired number of pills or capsules to be counted in a first section of the housing. When the excess pills or capsules are removed, the counted pills or capsules are transferred to the template containing a blister pack by moving the plate and placing its apertures in register with the sizing guide apertures.

Abstract: A device for rapidly counting and dispensing pills and capsules is provided. A movable plate with apertures and sizing guide fit inside a housing. The sizing guide has apertures corresponding to a particular size of pill or capsule, allowing the desired number of pills or capsules to be counted in a first section of the housing. When the excess pills or capsules are removed, the counted pills or capsules are transferred to a second section of the housing for dispensing into a prescription bottle by moving the plate and placing its apertures in register with the sizing guide apertures.

Abstract: A device for rapidly counting and dispensing pills and capsules is provided. A movable plate with apertures and sizing guide fit inside a housing. The sizing guide has apertures corresponding to a particular size of pill or capsule, allowing the desired number of pills or capsules to be counted in a first section of the housing. When the excess pills or capsules are removed, the counted pills or capsules are transferred to a second section of the housing for dispensing into a prescription bottle by moving the plate and placing its apertures in register with the sizing guide apertures.

Abstract: A pill counting device is disclosed which comprises a tray having two pouring spouts 42 positioned at adjacent corners thereof. A receptacle is positioned along a side of the tray opposite the two pouring spouts. The receptacle comprises a bin extending downwardly from the surface of the tray and a cover for the bin. The cover is movable between an open position and a closed position, the closed position forming the receptacle. The receptacle is open at both ends thereof which correspond to the corners of the tray not occupied by the pouring spouts. The open receptacle ends can be closed as desired.

Abstract: An automatic component arranging apparatus is disclosed including a component containing unit for containing at least one type of component that is classified by type in at least one component box; a component supply unit for selectively drawing out the component box of the component containing unit, to thereby supply the component to another portion; a tray inducing unit for externally receiving an empty tray to thereby internally move it; and a component arranging unit for receiving the component supplied by the component supply unit, to thereby arrange it on the empty tray delivered by the tray inducing unit at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. A pair of electronic vibrators are mounted to the cart framework and provide for support and vibratory movement of a vibratory tray having a catalyst feed hopper adapted to feed catalyst pellets to a plurality of generally parallel catalyst transfer troughs along which catalyst pellets are moved by vibration of the vibratory tray to a plurality of drop tubes. A compartmented hopper is fixed to the vibratory tray and controllably feeds catalyst pellets into respective catalyst transfer troughs.

Abstract: Recesses 12 are formed on an upper surface 10a of a turntable 10 detachably mountable on a support member 20. The recesses 12 are arranged at a pitch of a specified angle .theta. on a plurality of concentric circles C1 to C4 centered on a longitudinal axis 11. The turntable 10 is slid along an x-axis by an air cylinder 80 and is intermittently rotated by the specified angle .theta. by an air motor 40. In this way, a desired recess 12 can be moved to a receiving position P. The waterproof plugs can be securely supplied. A preparation for changing the kind of the waterproof can be made only by replacing the turntable, with the result that the preparation can be easily made within a short period of time.

Abstract: The invention is a parts sorting tray in which small parts of any similar nature may be isolated and dumped into individual containers after they have been separated into four (or more) sorting chutes; the tray, to be known as "Quick Sort" uses only gravity to function, and can be easily cast from a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene.

Abstract: A tray for receiving a multiplicity of small objects, such as pills, nuts and bolts or sundry items, to be sorted and/or counted. The tray includes an integral funnel-shaped outlet for dispensing or discharging the sorted and counted objects. A series of score lines or lines of weakness are provided around the surface of the funnel-shaped outlet at its discharge end to enable the discharge end of the outlet to be cut to a desired diametrical outlet size corresponding to the size of the objects to be counted out and/or sorted in the tray and poured through the funnel-shaped into a dispensing or storage bottle or container. In a second embodiment, removably-securable separate funnel-sections are provided, with each having the size entrance mouth but different size exit mouth.

Abstract: A capsule-inspection apparatus includes a base and a capsule-receiving tray slidable on the base to cause all of the capsules cradled in pockets formed in the tray to be turned simultaneously about their longitudinal axes to enhance visual inspection of substantially the entire exterior surface of the cradled capsules. An inspection mask is positionable on the tray to permit a user visually to inspect the coating dip line of coated caplets cradled in the tray quickly and easily to determine if the coating dip line is located substantially in the middle of the caplet to ensure that the caplet coating causes the caplet to resemble a two-piece capsule.

Abstract: A sort tray characterized by two sorting sections hinged together along a common wall. The sorting sections, which are substantially mirror images of each other, can be folded together to allow compact storage of the sort tray. Sliding gates are provided at the mouths of the sorting sections to permit the contents of one of the sorting sections to be poured out without pouring out the contents of the other section.

Abstract: A parts cabinet is provided with a simple means for inspecting the contents of a drawer and returning the contents to the drawer. The cabinet is provided with a tray, either as a separate element or integral with the cabinet top, into which the contents of the tray may be emptied. The tray has a hole beneath which an empty drawer is placed. When objects in the tray are scraped through the hole they fall into the drawer. Means are provided for visually indicating whether a drawer is in place beneath the hole.

Abstract: A tray for counting a discrete number of pills or capsules from a bulk supply including a housing having a bottom wall, two vertical opposed sidewalls and a pair of arcuate-shaped end walls that are arranged to turn upwardly and inwardly from the bottom wall. A divider extends between the two sidewalls or the housing to separate it into two individual compartments. A horizontal platform is removably supported upon the top of the divider in contiguous relationship with the end walls to establish elongated entrances to each compartment therebetween. In operation a bulk supply of pills or capsules is deposited upon the platform and the desired amount counted out using a conventional spatula. The counted tablets are passed into the entrance of one compartment while the overage remaining on the platform is passed into the other thereby positively segregating the tablets.

Abstract: A trough shaped receptacle for holding a plurality of small items, such as pills, screws, nuts, washers and the like, including a bottom portion having longitudinally spaced depressions in each of which a number of the items can collect, and a side portion having pockets in which separated groups are deposited when the holder is oscillated in one direction about its longitudinal axis, so that the items in each pocket can be quickly counted. The device or holder has a closed end into which excess items can be swept and held by the thumb of one hand of the user, employed to hold the device, and while the device is oscillated in the opposite direction and tilted downwardly toward its opposite end having a pouring lip through which the counted items are discharged by gravity.

Abstract: A coin holder that includes a flexible plastic shell open at both ends and having a longitudinal slit therein such that deforming the two ends allows the coin to be removed through the slit and a plurality of graduated markings along the slot to be used in conjunction with a spacing member for counting the coins as well as removing only a certain quantity from the shell.