Abstract: A pet waste bags dispenser provided for dispensing animal waste bags, having a collapsible container, a dispenser cavity cover and a dispensing means, wherein the dispensing means allows waste bags placed within the waste bags dispenser to be dispensed to a user easily and conveniently. The collapsible waste bags dispenser is made of a collapsible material, such that the dispenser is easy to store, light in weight, simple to manufacture, and has the flexibility to contain different amounts of waste bags within the collapsible container, wherein rolls of or individually wrapped waste bags are allowed to be dispensed. The collapsible waste bags dispenser further has external connecting means for connecting the waste bags dispenser to a foreign object, so as to facilitate the user to easily obtain a waste bag from the dispenser.
Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a cabinet having at least one drawer with selectable access for storing items, such as medications. A slidable cover with a first opening allows for closure and/or access to items in an interior of the drawer. The cabinet further includes an actuator coupled to the cover and a controller coupled to the actuator to control movement of the first opening relative to the drawer interior in response to signals generated from a user interface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 9, 2009
Date of Patent:
January 24, 2012
Assignee:
AutoMed Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Scott I. Biba, Randall S. Koplin, Daniel J. Lee, Kathy L. Soukup, James A. Michael
Abstract: A product discharge and delivery system for a vending machine includes a product delivery cup including a carriage portion and a shroud portion having an open bottom section and a discharge element. After receiving a selected product, the product delivery cup is shifted toward a dispensing chamber causing the discharge element to engage with a discharge member mounted within the vending machine. Engagement of the discharge element and discharge member causes the shroud portion to pivot relative to the carrier portion exposing the open bottom section allowing a selected product to release into a dispensing chamber. A delivery port is mounted in the dispensing chamber that rotated between a product receiving position and a product delivery position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2010
Date of Patent:
January 17, 2012
Assignee:
Crane Merchandising Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
John P. Ardern, Dan Bowen, Paul Miller, Charles Wayne Percy, Kevin A. Poyck, Denise Schmidt
Abstract: A method for control of humidity and auto-dispensing of pills in a pill box includes a box having multiple rooms defined therein which are shifted to be in alignment with an outlet. The method controls the humidity in each of the rooms and provides a control unit which controls a transmission unit to proceed a mechanical action to shift the rooms to be in alignment with the outlet according to a time setting signal so as to dispense at least one pill. The method includes a display unit to display time information and provides a reminder to take pills by way of audio and/or light.
Abstract: A medicament dispensing cabinet is comprised of a frame, at least one controller, and a plurality of drawers each movably carried by the frame and each defining a plurality of dispensing cells. A plurality of removable dispensing devices is provided with each one carried by one of the dispensing cells. Each of the dispensing cells further comprises a motor for providing rotary motion to one of the removable dispensing devices in response to the controller, a sensor operating in conjunction with the controller for counting medicament dispensed from one of the removable dispensing devices, a chute for receiving medicament dispensed from one of the removable dispensing devices and a chute gate for controlling access to the chute. The cabinet may additionally comprise a chute gate release responsive to the controller for controlling the chute gate and a chute gate sensor connected to the controller and responsive to the position of the chute gate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2010
Date of Patent:
January 3, 2012
Assignee:
Parata Systems, LLC
Inventors:
Paul Randall Shows, Robert Parks, Ryan Kalntz, Eric Lamont Holmes, Matthew Goodworth, Stuart Morgan, Matthew Stuart Beale, Michael A. Bergeron, Stan Jankowski
Abstract: A medication dispenser provides automation to the steps of locating and acquiring medications to be administered to a patient. The medication dispenser includes an enclosure providing a secure environment for storing medications in multiple sized medication storage bins. The medication storage bins are hung in storage racks located within the enclosure. A robot system is also provided within the enclosure for moving bins between the storage racks and a medication dispensing area. The medication dispensing area includes doors configured to open to define an opening for passing a selected bin through the enclosure. The medication storage bin includes multiple sub-compartments, each configured to receive a single medically related item. The medication storage bin is moved through the opening to present the first sub-compartment containing a medically related item, while other sub-compartment containing medically related items remain within the enclosure.
Abstract: System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.
Abstract: Devices, systems and methods of supplying needle covers to be used to cover or shield the sharp and contaminated ends of used syringe-needles. The devices, systems and methods can include a delivery mechanism sized and configured to supply a plurality of needle-shielding members arranged to automatically advance into a preferred position as each individual needle-shielding member is engaged and subsequently removed from the delivery mechanism.
Abstract: System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.
Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for dispensing one or more pills from a pill box by applying power when the one or more pills are poured from the pill box; identifying an opened compartment and an opening time; and recording the opened compartment and the opening time.
Abstract: A container for an access-controlled storage system having a plurality of compartments designed to contain an article where access to the article is controlled by granting access to one or more compartments at a time without moving the article, wherein control is provided by a rotary belt with a cut-out directed by deflection pulleys; and an access-controlled storage system having at least two containers and a housing wherein control of the container is actuated to grant access to one or more defined compartments within the container.
Abstract: There is provided an automated prescription filling system using a robotic arm in combination with an automatic pharmaceutical dispenser having a plurality of individual pill-counting units, each under the control of its own microprocessor. The automatic pharmaceutical dispensers are modified for use with the robotic arm. Because tablet counting is completely independent of the robotic arm, system throughput is higher than in systems of the prior art. Unlike systems of the prior art, each individual pill-counting unit can be removed from behind the pharmaceutical dispenser so that the system need not be stopped for such service. The fact that counting operations are divorced from robotic arm movements allows the arm movements to be optimized and multiple prescriptions to be processed simultaneously. Controller software optimizes movement of the robotic arm based upon such factors as the fullness of the vial being transported.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 5, 2006
Date of Patent:
November 15, 2011
Assignee:
Innovation Associates, Inc.
Inventors:
Joseph H. Boyer, James G. McGonigal, Bruce Edward Holtje, Timothy William Limer, James Patrick Boyer, Mark Andrew Fisher, Todd Edward Bower, Michael J. Hostetler
Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing disk-shaped objects (such as caps for pharmaceutical vials) of two different sizes comprises: first and second dispensers, the first dispenser containing objects of a first size, and the second dispenser containing objects of a second size, each of the dispensers configured to dispense the objects one at a time through an outlet in a predetermined orientation; a first outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the first dispenser; a second outlet channel having an inlet disposed adjacent the outlet of the second dispenser; and a common chute fed by the first and second outlet channels. In this configuration, the apparatus can provide objects of two different sizes to a common location (such as a closure securing station).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 23, 2007
Date of Patent:
November 15, 2011
Assignee:
Parata Systems, LLC
Inventors:
Joseph C. Moran, Jr., Demetris P. Young, George Raymond Abrams, Jr., Jeffrey P. Williams
Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for remote visualization of the storage compartments in a medication dispenser device, to monitor a patient's compliance with a medication dosage schedule and for verifying the proper loading of medication into the patient's medication dispenser device. The device may include a plurality of storage compartments, each having an interior space for storing at least one medication or medication reminder marker; an image capturing device (e.g., a camera) positionable to capture an image of the interior space of each storage compartment; and a communications module for electronically transmitting the captured image to a central monitoring station.
Abstract: The daily pill dispensing apparatus has a front section connected to a back section, a top hinge disposed on the top between the front section and the back section, a dispenser lid connected to the top hinge and pivotally covering the front section, a septet of top doors disposed atop the back section, each top door pivotally covering a separate compartment of the back section via the top hinge, a day indicia disposed atop each top door, a dispensing door hingedly separating each compartment from the front section, each dispensing door opening into the front section, a display disposed atop the dispenser lid, a controls disposed in the front section bottom, the controls in communication with the display and with each dispensing door, whereby each dispensing door sequentially opens, each dispensing door opening only one day per week, and battery power.
Abstract: A bandage dispensing device dispenses bandages with an upper protective layer of its packaging removed so that a person can dispense a bandage using only one hand. A separator placed near an opening in a wall of the housing of the device separates the upper protective layer from a roll of interconnected bandages so that only a bandage and a lower protective layer emerge from the housing of the device. The separator has at least one arm that protrudes from the side wall of the housing in a perpendicular direction and separates an upper protective layer of the packaging. The upper protective layer that has been separated by the separator gathers inside of the housing. In the roll of packaged bandages, the upper protective layer is releasably attached to the lower protective layer.
Abstract: System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.
Abstract: A dispenser for storing and dispensing containers having one or more passageways that provides a pathway for the containers. The dispenser includes an outlet for dispensing the containers and an inlet or opening for loading containers into the dispenser. The dispenser may include a plurality of shelves stackable on top of each other. The dispenser may include a housing and a moveable door. The dispenser may further include a stopper mechanism for blocking the movement of the containers within the passageway.
Abstract: A dispenser is disclosed which is capable of dispensing articles from two locations. The dispenser includes first and second members pivotally connected together by a first hinge to form a first entrance into the dispenser. The first and second members are capable of housing a plurality of wet or dry, sheet-like articles. The first entrance provides reach-in access wherein multiple sheet-like articles can be withdrawn at one time. The second member also has a second entrance formed therein from which the sheet-like articles can be individually withdrawn. The dispenser further includes a third member secured to the first member by a hinge that is coaxially aligned with the first hinge. The third member is capable of pivoting on its hinge to cover the second entrance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 22, 2007
Date of Patent:
September 13, 2011
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher Vincent Decker, Christopher Michael Bechyne, Stephen Robert Kehn, Cleary E. Mahaffey, Herb Flores Velazquez, John Martin Wydeven
Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrochemical sensor dispensing methods and apparatus. The sensors dispensers can include an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal, the elongate body including a proximally positioned dispensing surface with an opening for dispensing a sensor. A storage chamber having a series of connected sensors is positioned distally and can feed a proximally positioned sensor feeder mechanism. The feeder mechanism includes an elongate member having a first end and second end, the second end adapted to pivot between a sensor engaging position and a sensor feeding position.