Abstract: An automatic, portable water bottle filling apparatus includes an elongated frame that defines a continuous conveying path with opposite first and second ends; a conveyor system that moves bottles along the conveying path; a water filling station adjacent to the conveying path second end that is configured to fill an empty bottle with liquid from the user's water source; a capping station positioned downstream from the water filling station that is configured to close a filled bottle with a cap; a sensor system configured to detect the presence of an empty, uncapped bottle at the water filling station; and a controller that automatically controls operations of the water filling station, capping station and conveyor system in response to signals received from the sensor system.

Abstract: A system for verification of dispensed pharmaceuticals includes: a housing; a bar code scanning station mounted on the housing; a vision station mounted on the housing; a spectroscopy station mounted on the housing; an offloading station mounted on the housing; one or more conveyors mounted on the housing to convey pharmaceutical vials between the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations, and a controller associated with the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations and the conveyors to control their operations. A system of this configuration can use both vision and spectroscopy to verify the identity of the pharmaceutical in the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing, a gas source, a drive mechanism and an agitation jet device. The housing defines: a hopper chamber to hold the articles; a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber, the dispensing channel having an inlet and an outlet and defining a flow path therebetween; and an agitation outlet. The gas source provides a positive pressure supply gas flow having a first pressure, a first velocity and a first mass flow rate. The drive mechanism conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the flow path. The agitation jet device is interposed and fluidly connected between the gas source and the agitation outlet. The agitation jet device includes a feed opening to receive the supply gas flow and a jet opening to convert the supply gas flow to a pressurized agitation gas flow through the agitation outlet to agitate articles in the hopper chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor.

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: A singulating and counting device includes a bulk housing for storing a plurality of substantially identical articles, an exit channel, and in the exit channel, forwardly- and rearwardly-directed jet apertures, each of which is fluidly connected to a positive pressure source. A forwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the forward jet aperture can accelerate singulated articles in the exit channel, thereby increasing the interval between individual articles and rendering them more easily and accurately counted. A rearwardly-directed jet generated by the positive pressure source through the rearwardly-directed jet aperture can cause articles in the exit channel to return to the housing.

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 pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor.

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 pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor.

Abstract: A vacuum relief valve includes: a housing with a central cavity, the housing having a system branch, a vacuum branch, a pilot branch, and an exhaust branch, each of the branches in fluid communication with the central cavity and having a respective port; a piston assembly comprising a first disk located in the pilot branch, a second disk located adjacent the exhaust branch, and a connecting member to which the first and second disks are mounted; and an actuator attached to a pilot seal, the actuator configured to move the pilot seal between a closed position, in which the pilot seal is positioned in and seals the pilot port, and an open position, in which the pilot seal is spaced from and does not seal the pilot port. When the pilot seal is in the closed position, the second disk is positioned on and seals the exhaust port, and when the pilot seal is in the open position, the second disk is spaced from and does not seal the exhaust port.

Abstract: A system for verification of dispensed pharmaceuticals includes: a housing; a bar code scanning station mounted on the housing; a vision station mounted on the housing; a spectroscopy station mounted on the housing; an offloading station mounted on the housing; one or more conveyors mounted on the housing to convey pharmaceutical vials between the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations, and a controller associated with the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations and the conveyors to control their operations. A system of this configuration can use both vision and spectroscopy to verify the identity of the pharmaceutical in the container.

Abstract: A system for verification of dispensed pharmaceuticals includes: a housing; a bar code scanning station mounted on the housing; a vision station mounted on the housing; a spectroscopy station mounted on the housing; an offloading station mounted on the housing; one or more conveyors mounted on the housing to convey pharmaceutical vials between the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations, and a controller associated with the bar code scanning, vision, spectroscopy and offloading stations and the conveyors to control their operations. A system of this configuration can use both vision and spectroscopy to verify the identity of the pharmaceutical in the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing assembly and an adjustment system. The housing assembly includes a first inlet wall and a second inlet wall that is moveable relative to the first inlet wall. The housing assembly defines a hopper chamber that houses pharmaceutical articles, and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path. The inlet is defined at least in part by the first and second inlet walls. The adjustment system is operable to adjust the position of the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall to adjust the size of the inlet to singulate the pharmaceutical articles passing through the inlet. The adjustment system includes an input mechanism and an operator feedback mechanism. The input mechanism is selectively operable by an operator to selectively move the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system is provided. The sensor system includes a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector. The radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby. The method includes moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other. According to some embodiments, the solid articles are solid pharmaceutical articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid pharmaceutical articles includes a housing, a drive mechanism and a sensor system. The housing defines a dispensing passage having a dispensing inlet and a dispensing outlet downstream of the dispensing inlet. The drive mechanism serves to force the articles along a path through the dispensing passage between the dispensing inlet and the dispensing outlet. The sensor system includes first and second sensors operative to detect articles passing through the dispensing passage and a controller to receive and use detection signals from the first and second sensors to monitor dispensing performance of the apparatus. The first and second sensors are spaced apart along the dispensing channel such that the second sensor is located downstream of the first sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing assembly and an adjustment system. The housing assembly includes a first inlet wall and a second inlet wall that is moveable relative to the first inlet wall. The housing assembly defines a hopper chamber that houses pharmaceutical articles, and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path. The inlet is defined at least in part by the first and second inlet walls. The adjustment system is operable to adjust the position of the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall to adjust the size of the inlet to singulate the pharmaceutical articles passing through the inlet. The adjustment system includes an input mechanism and an operator feedback mechanism. The input mechanism is selectively operable by an operator to selectively move the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall.

Abstract: A method for securing a closure on a cylindrical container (such as a pharmaceutical vial) includes: positioning a closure in a first position, the closure being substantially centered via a centering assembly along an axis that is generally normal to the closure; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a second position; positioning a cylindrical container, the container being substantially centered via the centering assembly along the axis; translating the substantially centered closure along the axis to a third position in which it is adjacent the substantially centered container; and relatively rotating the closure and the container to secure the closure to the container. With such a method, both the closure and the cylinder can be centered along the axis, thereby registering them with each other for reliable securing.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for detecting solid articles using an apparatus including a sensor system is provided. The sensor system includes a radiation detector and a radiation emitter configured to direct radiation onto the radiation detector. The radiation detector is operative to generate detector signals proportional to the radiation received thereby. The method includes moving the radiation emitter and/or the radiation detector relative to the other. According to some embodiments, the solid articles are solid pharmaceutical articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing pharmaceutical articles includes a housing assembly and an adjustment system. The housing assembly includes a first inlet wall and a second inlet wall that is moveable relative to the first inlet wall. The housing assembly defines a hopper chamber that houses pharmaceutical articles, and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet and defines a flow path. The inlet is defined at least in part by the first and second inlet walls. The adjustment system is operable to adjust the position of the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall to adjust the size of the inlet to singulate the pharmaceutical articles passing through the inlet. The adjustment system includes an input mechanism and an operator feedback mechanism. The input mechanism is selectively operable by an operator to selectively move the second inlet wall relative to the first inlet wall.