Abstract: A medication dispensing system comprising an on-site medication dispensing unit and a central monitoring facility. The on-site medication dispensing unit holds bulk amounts of medication in a plurality of separate receptacles from which it selects a desired medication dosage according to an entered and stored prescription regimen and then notifies the patient by an audible or other sensory signal. If the patient presses a button within a prescribed time, the unit dispenses the dosage. If the patient does not press the button within the prescribed time, or if the unit detects a failure to dispense the selected canister, the unit makes the receptacle inaccessible and contacts a predetermined list of caregivers and the central monitoring facility.

Abstract: An interactive internet photo terminal for composing an electronic self-image photo message utilizing a “live” image background of the terminal's location. The photo terminal includes a cash and credit receiving device, video camera and message composition input control monitor interconnected to a CPU and telecommunication connector capability.

Abstract: An improved automated method for dispensing bulk medications with machine-readable code. The method includes dispensing oral solid and liquid unit-of-use medications in unit dosage amounts. The medications are dispensed with machine-readable information which is generated as the medication is dispensed. The machine-readable information is patient- specific and can be customized to suit the needs of the operator. The machine-readable information can be used to monitor and control the medication from the time it is dispensed through to the time it is taken by the patient.

Abstract: The system includes a medication-receiving assembly which collects medications automatically dispensed from storage assemblies therefor and a transport assembly for moving the collected medications to a loading assembly, wherein the loading assembly is arranged and positioned so that the medications move by gravity action from an upper end thereof, past a pair of opposing, angled deflectors which are individually controllable and which guide the medications into selected portions of a medication bin in a medication cart, which accommodates medications for a large number of patients, such as all the patients on a hospital ward. Supplemental medications not present in the storage assemblies can be provided with a hand-loaded supplemental doses assembly. The medication cart may then be moved directly to the ward and the bedside of the individual patients in turn.

Abstract: Automatic drug dispenser for automatically dispensing at least one prepacked drug. The dispenser comprises at least one cartridge which, in use, is filled with prepacked drugs, wherein the drugs are each provided with a drug identification code and the cartridge with a cartridge identification code. There are further provided conveying means for selecting a prepacked drug from the cartridge and for subsequently conveying the selected drug from the cartridge. By means of detecting means, the drug identification code of a selected drug and a cartridge identification code of the at least one cartridge are detected and fed to a control unit for further processing.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal (76, 338, 538) which is connected through a network (82, 328, 536) to at least one computer (84, 324, 532) having a processor and a data store. The system also includes a reading device (348, 538) which is operatively connected to the network. A user of the data terminal or the reading device is enabled to select a patient for whom medical items will be used, and responsive to a request to dispense items the requested items are dispensed from dispensing devices (96, 100, 344, 346, 450, 527, 540) connected to the data terminal. Storage locations in dispensing devices may be restocked using removable liners. The removable liners are stocked with medical items in a stocking location (550) and transported in a secure condition to the storage locations. The storage locations are accessed by an authorized restocking user.

Abstract: A method of supplying ampules, stored in a container, to any of a plurality of feeders of an ampule dispenser which has run out or is short of ampules in stock. The ampules are supplied only after confirming that the ampules in the storage container are the kind to be supplied into the intended feeder. When any feeder of the ampule dispenser runs out or is short of ampules, a bar code on the ampule storage container is read by a bar code reader and compared with an identification code provided on the intended feeder. If they coincide with each other, the ampules in the container are supplied into the intended feeder.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser having a control unit which can eliminate the possibility of erroneously putting tablets in a wrong tablet storage space. The tablet dispenser has a tablet storage unit and a packing unit. Tablets designated by drug information are dropped from the tablet storage unit. When tablets in any of a plurality of tablet storage cells in the tablet storage unit run short, tablets are manually supplied into this cell by opening its cover. Before supplying tablets, the control unit reads a code on the tablet container with a bar code reader, compares this code with a code that represents tablets to be supplied into the above particular cell, and indicates on a display if these codes coincide. An operator checks the display to see if the codes coincide, and if they do, the operator then supplies tablets in the tablet container into the particular cell.

Abstract: An automatic cable tie installation tool that conveys the cable tie by pressurized air includes a pressure differential sensing mechanism constructed so as to identify blockages in the transfer tube to prevent subsequent propulsion of the next cable tie into the tube.

Abstract: The invention provides a label dispenser for separating adhesive backed labels from their backing paper and method of operating the same. The label dispenser comprises a base, and a body attached to a top surface of the base and having a motor housing portion, a microswitch housing portion, and an upper tray portion. A gear motor is enclosed in the motor housing portion and has an opening for receiving a shaft. The shaft extends outside the motor housing portion and below the upper tray portion through an opening formed in a side wall of the motor housing portion. A microswitch is attached to an inner wall of the microswitch housing portion. The microswitch is electrically connected to the motor and has a lever arm extending upward into an opening formed in the microswitch housing portion.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for use in an article handling system having a conduit through which articles such as can ends in a facewise nested condition are conveyed from a first location to a second location. The control apparatus comprises a housing operatively interposed in the conduit and an elastomeric tubular sleeve member mounted in the housing and defining a through passage of a shape generally complementary to the shape of the articles. The tubular sleeve member is responsive to the level of pressure in a pressure chamber for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of the articles.

Abstract: For machine used to balance disk brake rotors having radial walls defining tapered recesses by inserting tapered weights into selected recesses, a magazine holds a stack comprised of a controlled number of the weights and permits the weights to exit individually. Each exiting weight is oriented radially with its narrow end pointing into a selected recess. An inserter and a double-acting, pneumatic, piston-cylinder apparatus are provided for removing the lowermost weight from the magazine and inserting such weight into the selected recess. Photoelectric detectors are provided for detecting when the magazine has been depleted of a specified number of the weights, when the magazine holds the controlled number of the weights, and when the magazine has been completely depleted of the weights. The magazine has a gate for admitting the weights under certain conditions.

Abstract: A coin exchanging machine has a coin case disposed at the bottom of a casing for accommodating a plurality of coin bundles, a coin pushing mechanism for pushing laterally a row of coin bundles piled up in the coin case, and a coin transferring mechanism for receiving a row of coin bundles from the coin case by pushing the coin bundles by the coin pushing mechanism and for feeding the coin bundles one by one into a coin accommodating space in response to the discharge of the coin bundles.

Abstract: A ring-shaped member supplying apparatus including a storage section for storing a large number of flexible ring-shaped members stacked in layers and supporting the ring-shaped members so that the lowermost one of the stacked ring-shaped members is held by plural engaging members. A takeout device is provided for drawing out the lowermost one of the stacked ring-shaped members in the storage section, by suction, so as to separate the ring-shaped member from the remaining members and transferring the ring-shaped member to a conveying passage. A detecting device is provided for detecting an amount of the stacked ring-shaped members in the storage section. A supplementing supply is provided for replenishing an amount of the ring-shaped members in response to a decrease in an amount of the ring-shaped members in the storage section so that the amount of the ring-shaped members in the storage section is controlled to be in a predetermined range.

Abstract: A control system for a vending machine having a plurality of article storage bins mounted on a circulatory moving member includes discriminating devices associated respectively with the article storage bins for identifying the kinds of the articles stored respectively in the article storage bins and whether there are articles stored in the article storage bins, and a delivery control unit for controlling the delivery of a selected article based on information from the discriminating devices. Articles of many different kinds can be efficiently vended through a single article conveyor mechanism on a first-in first-out basis.

Abstract: A device for feeding cylindrical components such as diodes, resistors or capacitors includes a buffer container for receiving components from a storage container, a horizontal exit track at the bottom of the buffer container, a delivery container for receiving components from the exit track, and a zig-zag delivery track. The storage container and buffer container have serpentine chambers and vibrator assemblies are employed to move components through the containers. The flow of components is halted by stopping the vibrators, thereby controlling the component flow rate and preventing jamming.

Abstract: An automatic coil winding machine with a multiplicity of winding stations at which supply coil magazines with respective rotary feeders are provided, and with a loading device for loading the magazines with supply coils which are moved by transporting means to the magazines, each of the supply coil magazines having a filling location for automatic feeding, and an unloading location, and means for always storing at least one supply coil in the respective rotary feeder between the filling location and the unloading location, includes a device proximate to the filling location and actuatable for performing a function leading to prevention of overfilling a respective rotary feeder with the supply coils.

Abstract: Medication dispensing apparatus for hospital and nursing home use that can satisfy patient prescription requirements on a large scale. The apparatus includes a carriage for dispensing pills or other medication required by the prescription of a particular patient on command from a computer control system. The pills are automatically selected from a large array of bins, deposited in an individual patient tray and delivered to an inspection station where verification of the prescription is achieved by comparing the tray contents with a display of patient data.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding loose fasteners, such as nails or screws, from the output guideway of a sorter to a plurality of fastening machines. A plurality of holding guideways for holding a quantity of fasteners to be sequentially fed to each fastening machine are attached to an actuator capable of positioning each holding guideway in alignment with the output guideway of the sorter to enable fasteners to be fed into each holding guideway. As each fastener reaches the output end of the holding guideway, it is temporarily retained at that position before it is transmitted to its respective fastening machine for use.

Abstract: In a coin disposing apparatus, a mechanism is disclosed for aligning a random supply of coins preparatory to further processing. Included is a rotary disc for receiving thereon the coins to be processed from an overhead belt conveyor and for centrifugally sending the coins toward the disc periphery. A coin runway extends from a peripheral position on the rotary disc to a subsequent processing station for aligned delivery of the coins. An endless belt makes frictional contact with the periphery of the rotary disc, except at least where the entrance of the coin runway is located, for simultaneous rotation therewith. Thus, on being centrifugally forced into peripheral contact with the endless belt on the rotary disc, the coins do not revolve about their own axes, unlike the case where the disc rotates inside a fixed annular wall, and so is smoothly and noiselessly fed into the runway one by one. The invention also features a fixed annular wall arranged over the endless belt rotary wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for limiting the filling height of containers for receiving shredded or minced paper film or the like from cutting or shredding machines, characterized by a switch for stopping the machine when the container is filled to a predetermined height, the container being pivotally mounted with one side of its bottom edge on a housing and the opposite edge on a spring, and a switch controlling the operation of the cutting or shredding machine mounted in the path of the spring.

Abstract: An apparatus is made of a tube for containing a number of thin parts in a stack arrangement, having a loading end and a dispensing end, a device for feeding parts to the separating device, from the loading end to the dispensing end of the tube, and a device positioned at the dispensing end of the tube for separating at least one of the parts from the remainder of the parts and positioning the part at the dispensing of the tube for pick-up. A method for feeding and positioning a thin part to be grasped by a pick-up device includes stacking thin parts in a tube, separating one of the parts from the stack, positioning the part at the end of the tube for pick-up, and feeding more parts to the separating step.

Abstract: A can end conveying device for conveying ends from a first press to a second press. The conveyor has an input end and a divertor downstream therefrom. Ends are conveyed along a first track to a stacking station which feeds the ends through a first conduit in a block and then through a gate and onto the track for the second press. When the supply of ends from the first press terminates or falls below the demand of the second press, the gate is shifted and ends are fed by an operator onto a manual feeding track for the second press. When the supply of ends from the first press exceeds the demand of the second press, the divertor is activated by a sensor on the stack and diverts the ends from the first track to a second track leading to a manual bagging station. A novel gate structure is disclosed which facilitates jam free operation of the device.

Abstract: A hopper for mechanical seed planters comprises an upper and a lower reservoir shaped for retaining seed therein, and a valve mounted between the reservoirs to selectively permit the seed to flow under gravitational forces from the upper to the lower reservoir. The lower reservoir is rotatably mounted in the hopper, and is rotated in synchronization with the planting speed of the planter. The bottom of the lower reservoir has at least one metering aperture therethrough, and a circularly shaped groove which is concentric with the lower reservoir's axis of rotation, and extends through the metering aperture. An arm is pivotally connected with the upper reservoir, and includes a tip portion which tracks in the circular groove. A stationary base plate is disposed directly below the reservoir bottom, and includes a discharge aperture which is circumferentially aligned with the metering aperture.

Abstract: In a system for dispensing weighed or counted articles, articles are fed from a supply hopper by a vibratory conveyor to maintain a controlled level of articles in a bowl-shaped feeder hopper. In a weigher embodiment, articles are initially discharged from the feeder hopper through two discharge openings into an accumulator bucket. A weighing unit monitors the weight of articles in the bucket and signals a door to close one of the discharge openings as the weight of articles in the bucket begins to approach a predetermined weight. The weighing unit subsequently signals the feeder hopper drive to slow its feeding action as the weight of articles in the bucket more closely approaches the predetermined weight. The feeder hopper discharge openings are arranged near each other at locations where the door-controlled opening will provide a rapid, bulk feed of articles, while the other opening will provide a single-file trickle feed.

Abstract: A multi-section feeder-serializer subsystem uses blocking gates controlled by sensors responsive to the quantity of components in the various sections to produce a single-file progression of components from a bulk supply of components. A slotted track conveys a single file progression of components to a testing station where opposed bifurcated jaws grasp a single selected component from the progression and perform tests on the selected component. An orienting station coupled to the output of the testing station by a second slotted track employs mechanical fingers to rotate selected components either plus or minus 90 degrees about a vertical axis.

Abstract: Two cigarette making machines are interconnected to a single cigarette packing machine via a transfer system which uses individual conveyors to convey the cigarettes from each making machine to a single chute leading to the packing machine. The flow of cigarettes into the chute from the two conveyors is controlled by a series of switches which are activated in response to the amount of stored cigarettes in the storage of the transfer system as well as a photocell arranged above the mouth of the chute. These switches actuate a control to slow down or speed up the packer in response to the amount of stored cigarettes while the photocell controls the operation of the conveyors of the transfer system in response to the absence or presence of cigarettes at the position of the photocell.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding coins by vibration. An electromagnet is mounted upon a frame being operable to cyclically attract and repel an armature fixedly mounted to and beneath a horizontally extending platform supported above the frame by a plurality of springs. A coin cup is mounted atop the platform and receives coins from a hopper suspendedly mounted above the cup by a plurality of members mounted to the frame. In the alternate embodiment, the hopper includes a top portion supported by the members and a bottom portion connected to the top portion by a vibration isolator. The bottom portion extends freely into the cup which includes a coin outlet opening onto the platform. The coins exit the platform through a second outlet falling into a coin tube leading to a coin dispenser.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined number of golf balls has a hopper for storing golf balls, a receptacle for retaining the predetermined number of golf balls in position for dispensing, and a structure for guiding and conveying the golf balls from the hopper to the receptacle. Such structure includes a passageway and a wheel having a resilient outer circumferential surface defined by a plurality of substantially radially extending bristles thereon. The receptacle has an openable and closable gate at one end thereof through which the predetermined number of golf balls therein are dispensed. Structure is also provided for rotating the wheel to fill the receptacle until the predetermined number of golf balls are filled therein after the gate is closed after discharge of the golf balls therefrom.

Abstract: A coin sorter is disclosed in which coins deposited on a horizontal rotating disc are directed in single file to the circumference of the disc where the coins are removed, by denomination, by means of plows which lift one side of the coin so that the coins will fly off the disc. The removed coins enter chutes which lead to collecting stations which may be either a discharge spout or a count module. If the chute for a particular denomination of coins is directed to a discharge spout, a count of the coins is accomplished by use of a light and a photocell positioned on opposite sides of the path of travel of the coins as they leave the sorting disc and before they enter the discharge chute. If the chute for a particular denomination is directed to a count module, the coins are deposited on a rotating horizontal plate which carries the coins to a discharge passage and the coins are counted as they are forced through the discharge passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for separating bundled bars, which comprises a magazine for containing the bars in bundles cooperating with means which reduce its width and thus cause the overflow of a certain number of bars from one of its longitudinal sides. The apparatus is also provided with a device for rolling the bars back and forth so to arrange them side by side through a passage where bars are intercepted and withheld by a hooking device which separates the bars singly and release it for transfer to a subsequent operation.

Abstract: A device for delivering pads to a machine for bundling flat articles. The device includes a first pad hopper, a first conveyor which draws pads from the first pad hopper, a second pad hopper receiving pads from the first conveyor, and a second conveyor which withdraws pads from the second pad hopper. The first conveyor is driven when the level of the pads in the second hopper falls below a predetermined level to maintain the level of pads in the second hopper. A switch operator extends into the path of pads being advanced from the second hopper by the second conveyor and actuates a switch to stop the second conveyor when a pad has been advanced to a predetermined pad delivery position. The pad is withdrawn from the pad delivery position when a pad is required by the bundling machine and is delivered to the bundling machine. A frame on which the first conveyor operates can be adjusted to swing a discharge end thereof toward and away from the second hopper to insure proper delivery of pads to the second hopper.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for dispensing sheet material such as bathroom tissue from a roll. The apparatus includes a cabinet having a dispensing zone from where the sheet material may be removed first from a primary roll and later from a reserve roll. The cabinet also has a storage zone where at least one reserve roll of sheet material is stored for use after depletion of the sheet material on the primary roll. A first spindle for holding the primary roll is attached to the cabinet in the dispensing zone, and a second spindle for holding the reserve roll is attached to the cabinet and is movable from the storage zone to the dispensing zone. The apparatus includes a holding element for holding the second spindle in the storage zone until depletion of the sheet material on the primary roll. The apparatus further includes a release member for releasing the holding element, preferably automatically, only upon depletion of the sheet material on the primary roll.

Abstract: A circuit responds to a level-sensing device, adjacent a coin-holding tube, to cause an electric motor to rotate a coin-receiving drum until sufficient coins issue from that coin-receiving drum to fill that coin-holding tube. Ordinarily, coins will issue from that coin-receiving drum in such rapid succession that the motor need not be energized very long. However if, because some coins within that coin-receiving drum interact to form a "bridge" which retards or prevents the issuance of other coins from that coin-receiving drum, or if for any other reason coins do not issue from that coin-receiving drum, the circuit will keep that motor energized for a finite length of time, will de-energize that motor, and will energize that motor for a second finite length of time.

Abstract: The flow of containers along a first conveyor providing a supply of unfilled containers to a filling machine is interrupted, with containers from the first conveyor being transferred to a second conveyor which, in turn, supplies containers to a filling machine. Each time a container is delivered from the secondary conveyor into the filling machine an additional container is transferred from the first conveyor to the secondary conveyor. Timing of containers entering the secondary conveyor is controlled to avoid interference with dispensing apparatus placing containers into the filling machine.

Abstract: Lift mechanism adapted to receive a pallet containing a plurality of tiers of containers thereon and move said pallet vertically approximately the height of a tier of containers to be depalletized whereby a sweep arm engages the tier of containers between parallel, spaced apart guide rails and a removable restraining arm engages the tier of containers on the opposite side to substantially encircle the tier and urge it on to a conveyor belt. As the tier of containers is urged on to the conveyor belt the restraining arm is removed just prior to the mingling of the tier of containers with containers already present on the conveyor belt.