Abstract: A liquid waste disposal and canister flushing system for a medical canister including a press-fit canister lid, features a cabinet with an opening and a sink with a drain positioned therein. A mounting bracket is affixed to the cabinet and includes a shaft connected to the canister bracket for rotating the canister and a shaft connected to the lid removal bracket for removing the canister lid from the canister. The canister is secured within the canister bracket and is rotated from an initial position to a drainage position. The canister lid is positioned on the removal bracket and is rotated from an initial position to a removal position. Once the canister is rotated into the drainage position, the pressurized and diluted cleaning solution source is activated to flush the contents out of the canister and into the sink and drain. After the canister is sanitized it may be removed from the system and reused.

Abstract: A liquid waste disposal and canister flushing system for a medical canister including a press-fit canister lid, features a cabinet with an opening and a sink with a drain positioned therein. A mounting bracket is affixed to the cabinet and includes a shaft connected to the canister bracket for rotating the canister and a shaft connected to the lid removal bracket for removing the canister lid from the canister. The canister is secured within the canister bracket and is rotated from an initial position to a drainage position. The canister lid is positioned on the removal bracket and is rotated from an initial position to a removal position. Once the canister is rotated into the drainage position, the pressurized and diluted cleaning solution source is activated to flush the contents out of the canister and into the sink and drain. After the canister is sanitized it may be removed from the system and reused.

Abstract: A system for collecting and disposing of liquid medical waste includes a fluid collection cart and a draining and cleaning station. The fluid collection cart includes a pair of containers, each of which includes a draining port and a cap. Each cap includes an outer portion having a flushing port and a bore formed therein and an inner portion having vacuum and patient ports formed therein. The inner cap portion is disposable and removably positioned within the bore of the outer cap portion. Liquid level detectors also communicate with each container. The cart also includes a regulator so a low vacuum level may be pulled on one of the containers while a full vacuum level is pulled on the other container. Fluids are collected in the containers via suction tubes connected to the patient ports. The flushing and drain ports of the containers are connected to corresponding flushing and drain connectors on the station when the containers are full so that they may be drained and flushed.

Abstract: A liquid waste disposal and canister flushing system for a medical canister including a press-fit canister lid, features a cabinet with an opening and a sink with a drain positioned therein. A mounting bracket is affixed to the cabinet and includes a shaft connected to the canister bracket for rotating the canister and a shaft connected to the lid removal bracket for removing the canister lid from the canister. The canister is secured within the canister bracket and is rotated from an initial position to a drainage position. The canister lid is positioned on the removal bracket and is rotated from an initial position to a removal position. Once the canister is rotated into the drainage position, the pressurized and diluted cleaning solution source is activated to flush the contents out of the canister and into the sink and drain. After the canister is sanitized it may be removed from the system and reused.

Abstract: A handle assembly for an appliance such as a lawnmower having front and rear wheels includes a handlebar having a pair of legs pivotally connected to the appliance at front mounting points proximate the front wheels. The handlebar extends upwardly and rearwardly until it terminates with a push bar adapted for gripping by the operator. The handlebar preferably includes a front crossbar connected between the legs forward of the center of gravity of the appliance. The handle assembly also includes a handle height control mechanism which is connected at a lower end to the lawnmower proximate the rear wheels and at an upper end to the handlebar. The handle height control mechanism allows the handlebar to pivot about the front mounting point through a limited range of movement while the lawnmower is being propelled by the operator.

Abstract: An improved handle assembly for an appliance such as a lawnmower having front and rear wheels includes a handlebar which is pivotally connected to the appliance through at least one mounting point proximate the front wheels and which extends upwardly and rearwardly until it terminates with a generally horizontal push bar adapted for gripping by the operator. The handlebar preferably includes an arcuate bend which decreases the angle at which the upper portion of the handlebar rises toward the push bar. The handle assembly also includes a handle height control mechanism which is connected at a lower end to the appliance proximate the rear wheels and at an upper end to the handlebar. The handle height control mechanism allows the handlebar to pivot about the front mounting point through a limited range of movement.

Abstract: An automatic medicament dispensing machine (10) that does not remain idle while medicaments are transferred to a vial and counted and that therefore dispenses medicaments at a much faster rate. The machine includes a cabinet (12); a plurality of medicament dispensing cells (14) arranged in the cabinet for holding and dispensing medicaments; a plurality of medicament counting units (18) each including a vial gripper for holding a vial and a transfer mechanism for transferring medicaments from one of the medicament dispensing cells to the vial; and a transporter (20) for transporting the counting units to the cells for filling the vials held by the counting units.

Abstract: A liquid waste disposal and canister flushing system for a medical canister including a press-fit canister lid, features a cabinet with an opening and a sink with a drain positioned therein. A mounting bracket is affixed to the cabinet and includes a shaft connected to the canister bracket for rotating the canister and a shaft connected to the lid removal bracket for removing the canister lid from the canister. The canister is secured within the canister bracket and is rotated from an initial position to a drainage position. The canister lid is positioned on the removal bracket and is rotated from an initial position to a removal position. Once the canister is rotated into the drainage position, the pressurized and diluted cleaning solution source is activated to flush the contents out of the canister and into the sink and drain. After the canister is sanitized it may be removed from the system and reused.

Abstract: The preferred medicament dispensing cell (10) for use in an automatic dispensing machine (12) includes dual rotary platens (20,22). A storage platen (20) delivers medicament units (14) such as tablets and capsules from a storage section (86) to a discharge platen (22) in the discharge section (88) to deliver the units (14) to an outlet (50). In preferred forms, the platens (20,22) are sloped toward the respective peripheries in order to induce spreading of the units (14) into a single file for accurate counting during dispensing. The preferred embodiment also includes a discharge gate assembly (24) for receiving a medicament unit (14) in a gage chamber (108) to define the width of the discharge channel (110) leading to the outlet (50), and further includes an arcuate metering wall (26) shiftable into and out of the passage (84) between the storage and discharge sections (86,88) for metering medicament units (14) into the discharge section (88).

Abstract: A belt tensioning system for an appliance, which has a tub driven by an endless loop drive belt connected to a motor that is movable with respect to a tub housing surrounding the tub, includes a rib extending from the tub housing, a pivotal cam washer having a pivot axis and an eccentrically curved cam profile edge with a series of arcuately spaced contact points thereon for engaging the ribs on the tub housing. The cam washer is pivotally mounted to the motor along the pivot axis and loosenably secured against rotation about the pivot axis and with respect to the motor. Normally, one of the contact points engages the rib so as to establish an offset distance between the rib and the motor, and thereby a tension on the drive belt.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cell for use in an automatic dispensing machine includes a housing defining a medicament storage section, a discharge section leading to an outlet, a passage between the sections, a rotatable platen and a dispensing assembly for dispensing medicament in single file from the storage section to the discharge section. A resilient, flexible bushing having outwardly extending fingers encloses the hub of the platen for conveying medicament through the passage. The platen includes a plurality of spirally configured conveying members defined on the surface thereof and the dispensing assembly includes a selectively adjustable passage wall for adjusting the breadth of the passage.

Abstract: In an automatic medicament dispensing machine, a vial gripper mechanism includes a rotatable first jaw and a second jaw coupled with the output shaft of a jaw motor. In an open position, the jaws are spaced for receiving a medicament vial therebetween. Actuation of jaw motor rotates the second jaw toward the first jaw for gripping the vial therebetween in a gripping position. Continued rotation of the jaw motor causes rotation of both of said jaws and any vial gripped therebetween to a dispensing position for receipt of medicament into the vial from an adjacent dispensing cell.

Abstract: A medicine vial dispensing apparatus includes a housing for storing medicine vials in a substantially axially horizontal storage orientation and a dispensing assembly for dispensing the vials in an upright orientation. The preferred embodiment includes a pair of spaced, resilient arms having respective, inwardly extending prongs that receive a vial therebetween. A slotted, rotating wheel receives a vial in the storage orientation and places it between the prongs. The closed end of the vial slips by one of the prongs while the other prong holds the interior surface of the open end until the vial attains a substantially upright orientation.

Abstract: A medicine vial labeler includes a dispenser for printing and dispensing pressure sensitive labels and a label applicator assembly including a rotary drum and a pair of positioning arms. The positioning arms are shiftable from a release position to a holding position for positioning a vial in rotary contact with the drum in order to receive a label in the nip therebetween applying the label to the vial upon rotation of the drum. The positioning arms include a plurality of rollers of different diameters configured and spaced for holding and positioning vials of different diameters in rotary contact with the drum.

Abstract: A laundry machine with a reduced suds spin cycle includes a laundry basket to hold laundry which contains a liquid, typically a water/detergent solution. A tub surrounds the laundry basket. A circular drainage void is formed between the laundry basket and the tub. A motor, responsive to a control circuit, rotationally drives the laundry basket. The control circuit modulates the motor such that the laundry basket achieves a first rotational speed sufficient to force substantially all of the laundry against the wall of the laundry basket. Then, a second rotational speed, greater than the first rotational speed, forces the water/detergent solution from the laundry into the circular drainage void. An intermediate rotational speed, substantially equivalent to the first rotational speed, is then used while water/detergent solution is removed from the circular drainage void, inhibiting suds formation.