With Means Assuring Alignment Of Source And Outlet Patents (Class 221/122)
  • Patent number: 11127240
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a main unit, and a secondary unit separate from and operably connected to the main unit. The secondary unit includes a refrigerated enclosure for housing pre-packaged food products and an oven for selectively cooking the pre-packaged food products. The main unit includes a transfer mechanism adapted to selectively remove one of the pre-packed food products from the enclosure and transfer the one pre-packaged food product to the oven for cooking. The transfer mechanism is further adapted to remove the cooked one pre-packaged food product from the oven and transfer the cooked one pre-packaged food product to a customer receiving area provided in the main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: JUKKA, INC.
    Inventors: James Edward Deaton, Linda H. Wu, John C. Serieka, Lynn Warren Hamrick
  • Patent number: 10940092
    Abstract: In an apparatus for dispensing, a dispenser includes a housing, a reservoir housed within the housing, a chute in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the chute is adjacent to the reservoir, a user input device, a power source housed within the housing, a logic housed within the housing, wherein the power source powers the logic, a motor housed within the housing, wherein the power source powers the motor, wherein the logic controls the motor, a gear train housed within the housing, wherein the motor drives the gear train, a first platform defining an opening, wherein a portion of the first platform abuts a bottom portion of the chute when the dispenser is in a non-dispensing state, and a second platform including a well, wherein the gear train is configured to rotate the second platform relative to the housing, and wherein when the logic sets the dispenser to a dispensing state a position of the well is adjustable relative to the housing via the user input device, such that the well substantially
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Moonsup Song, Yoon Jung Song
  • Patent number: 10692599
    Abstract: A patient medical support system is provided including at least one article of medical equipment and a two-way audio-visual system. Such equipment may be used, for example, for telemedicine applications by a patient discharged from a hospital, or other subject in need of remote health care monitoring. Electrical control circuitry is provided for monitoring and controlling usage of the medical support system, including determining operational mode and amount of usage of the medical equipment and/or telepresence system. Electrical control circuitry is provided for controlling a controllable lighting system of the patient medical support system to influence the amount or type of medically useful information in an image of the patient for remote visual monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10621306
    Abstract: A system for facilitating the manual filling of a pharmaceutical tray is provided. The system includes an electronic display device configured to display information adjacent the wells of the pharmaceutical tray. The system includes a controller configured to control the electronic display device to display information representative of a first type of pharmaceutical adjacent to a first well to direct manual placement of the first type of pharmaceutical into the first well and to control the electronic display device to selectively display information representative of a second type of pharmaceutical adjacent to a second well to direct manual placement of the second type of pharmaceutical into the second well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ARxIUM, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob A. Dent, Syed Sabih Jafri, Michaela McGill
  • Patent number: 10521560
    Abstract: A remote medication management system for monitoring remote access to medication interfaced with a medication dispensing apparatus includes: a container database configured to store container records related to physical containers stored in the medication dispensing apparatus, each including inventory data entries related to medication stored therein, each inventory data entry including a medication identifier; an input device configured to receive a specific medication identifier; a detection module configured to detect access to a specific physical container stored in the medication dispensing apparatus; a querying module configured to identify a specific container record related to the accessed specific physical container; a determination module configured to determine that the specific medication identifier is not included in any of the inventory data entries included in the identified specific container record; and a memory configured to store a data entry in an event log related to the access to the spe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: INRANGE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Bossi, Bruce Allan Moser, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10380833
    Abstract: Provided is an item dispensing device that can reduce the height of each device without decreasing the number of items to be stored. The item dispensing device includes: a storage case for storing capsules; an item ejection port provided in a side wall of the storage case; a vertical rotating shaft attached to the storage case; a motor for driving the rotating shaft to rotate; a circular plate provided in a lower part of the storage case and rotated by the rotating shaft, the circular plate being provided with item holders along the circumferential direction, each of the item holders having an opening in the outer circumferential direction and provided to be engageable with a capsule, wherein a part of the outer circumference of the circular plate is opposed to the item ejection port; and a capsule ejection mechanism for energizing the capsule engaged with one of the item holders toward the item ejection port side when the item holder is positioned at the item ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Masuki co., ltd
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Toshiya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10339748
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a hopper, a container storage carousel, a dispensing mechanism, an actuation mechanism, a central platform locking mechanism, a container stack retention-and-release mechanism, and an integrated indexing and clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventor: Kil Jae Chang
  • Patent number: 10265783
    Abstract: A universal clamping assembly for a key duplicating machine is described. The clamping assembly comprises a housing having a pair of opposed flat guide rail support surfaces and a sliding tip clamp is guidingly displaceable along each of the guide rail support surfaces and are urged against the tip of the key and key blank blades which are positioned on the guide rails. A pivoting clamp is displaceably engageable on a forward top edge of the respective key blades to apply a downward force on the key blades to ensure that the lower edge of the key blades is firmly resting against the guide rail support surfaces. A pair of cam operated side clamps is actuable to further clamp the blade on their sides at two distinct areas. The universal clamping assembly is capable of accommodating different key and key blank lengths, widths and thicknesses. The method of clamping the key and key blank is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: KABA ILCO CORP.
    Inventor: Herman Cox
  • Patent number: 10217310
    Abstract: A vending machine includes a rotary dispensing mechanism and a rotary arm mechanism. A control circuit inside the vending machine drives a rotary base of the rotary dispensing mechanism by a stepper motor device, so that an accommodating space of the rotary base is rotated to above an outlet of a fixed frame to discharge a vending item. At this point, a stepper motor device of the rotary arm mechanism is actuated by the control circuit inside the vending machine, and drives a rotary arm to hook out and convey the vending item discharged by the rotary dispensing mechanism. Meanwhile, a transition module at one side of the rotary arm mechanism covers a gap between an adjacent mechanism and a drawing plate, so that the item hooked out can be conveyed stably onto the drawing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NOODLE TIME HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Ji Ma, Li-Ming Sung, Szu-Chou Peng, Kim-Kwong Chow
  • Patent number: 10123944
    Abstract: A cabinet for securely storing items includes a drawer enclosure, a drawer, a cover, an electric actuator, and a switch. The drawer is slidable at least partially into and out of the enclosure, and includes a compartment. A cover which is configured as a metal belt is designed to selectively block access to the compartments of the drawer when the cover is in a first configuration, and to allow access to the compartment when the cover is in a second configuration. The electric actuator is designed to move the cover from the first configuration to the second configuration in one of two directions. The actuator selects the direction to reduce the time required to make such movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: ARxIUM, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Michael
  • Patent number: 9950375
    Abstract: An integrated key duplication machine includes a machine-based key identification module and a key cutting module. The key identification module is configured to identify a second master key while the key cutting module cuts a key blank corresponding to a first master key. A key blank corresponding to the second master key can be cut on either the integrated machine or a stand-alone machine having only key cutting capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wilson Burkett, Bradley Roy Miller, Gary Will
  • Patent number: 9872590
    Abstract: A multi-functional wet wipe supply device relates to the technical field of daily necessities and solves the technical problem that the prior art is inconvenient in use and prone to cause pollution. The device comprises a base, a wet wipe compartment, a liquid storage compartment and a controller. A turnplate, and a wipe pushing rod are positioned on the base. A plurality of vertical cylindrical wipe positioning holes are positioned in axial symmetry in the turnplate. The wet wipe compartment is fixed on the base and located on the periphery of the turnplate. The liquid outlet of the liquid storage compartment is in communication with the inner cavity of the wet wipe compartment through a wet wipe liquid inlet valve, a wet wipe liquid supply pump and a wet wipe liquid outlet valve in sequence. The device provided by the present invention is particularly suitable for use in public places.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Weidong Lin
  • Patent number: 9770106
    Abstract: A cabinet for securely storing items includes a drawer enclosure, a drawer, a cover, an electric actuator, and a switch. The drawer is slidable at least partially into and out of the enclosure, and includes a compartment. The cover is designed to block access to the compartment of the drawer when the cover is in a first configuration, and to allow access to the compartment when the cover is in a second configuration. The electric actuator is designed to move the cover from the first configuration to the second configuration. The switch is connected to the electric actuator, and when activated the switch selectively shorts the electric actuator. Sliding the drawer relative to the enclosure activates the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ARxIUM, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Michael
  • Patent number: 9511001
    Abstract: A cabinet for securely storing items includes a drawer enclosure, a drawer, a cover, an electric actuator, and a switch. The drawer is slidable at least partially into and out of the enclosure, and includes a compartment. A cover which is configured as a metal belt is designed to selectively block access to the compartments of the drawer when the cover is in a first configuration, and to allow access to the compartment when the cover is in a second configuration. The electric actuator is designed to move the cover from the first configuration to the second configuration in one of two directions. The actuator selects the direction to reduce the time required to make such movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ARxIUM, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Michael
  • Patent number: 9477816
    Abstract: A system for facilitating the manual filling of a pharmaceutical tray is provided. The system includes an electronic display device configured to display information adjacent the wells of the pharmaceutical tray. The system includes a controller configured to control the electronic display device to display information representative of a first type of pharmaceutical adjacent to a first well to direct manual placement of the first type of pharmaceutical into the first well and to control the electronic display device to selectively display information representative of a second type of pharmaceutical adjacent to a second well to direct manual placement of the second type of pharmaceutical into the second well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ARxIUM, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob A. Dent, Syed Sabih Jafri, Michaela McGill
  • Patent number: 9443370
    Abstract: Secure access distribution machines and methods for distributing a plurality of medical items to an authorized user. The distribution machine includes a housing enclosing a plurality of bins for storing medical items mounted on carousels. Once the distribution machine has been provided with user identification data, patient identification data, and an item selection, the plurality of carousels is actuated to move a bin holding a selected medical item to a location behind an access door in the housing. The user can then reach into the housing to manually retrieve and then verify the removal of the selected medical item. Only one access door into the housing is opened at any time, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of medical items stored in any other bins within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Omnicare, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley E. Carson, Michael J. Szesko
  • Patent number: 9085943
    Abstract: A pipe handling system reduces the amount of physical effort required for an operator to transfer steel rotary drilling pipe sections from a storage location to and from a rotary drive unit. The system utilizes an indexing arm which removes or adds the pipe sections from the storage location, placing them in the correct position to be attached to or removed from the rotary drive unit. The index arm, unlike other systems, can remove individual pipe sections to and from the storage location directly to the rotary drive unit's centerline of drilling position. This reduces both the number of physical moves required to complete the task and the amount of weight being transferred. The indexing arm is able to lift a pipe section from the storage location and place it below the rotary drive unit's centerline, then lower away from it without additional movement of the rotary drive unit itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: George Ronald Owens
  • Patent number: 8944280
    Abstract: A tablet dispenser includes a device body and a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed on one face of the device body. Each tablet cassette is capable of accommodating a plurality of types of tablets and of dispensing the tablets contained therein in a lateral direction. A plurality of chutes are in communication with the plurality of tablet cassettes. Each chute is disposed on the one face of the device body, adjacent to a corresponding tablet cassette. Each chute retains tablets dispensed from the corresponding tablet cassette and dispenses the tablets in a downward direction into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Naoki Koike, Takafumi Imai, Yoshinori Kumano, Akira Maeda, Mitsuhiro Mitani
  • Patent number: 8857659
    Abstract: The invention is a button cell battery dispensing package (10) including a display card with front panel (12) and rear panel (30) and a flanged cover rotatably disposed with its flange (60) between the front and rear panels (1230). The cover (50) has blisters forming cavities (54) in which the batteries are disposed, with the blisters (56) protruding through an opening in the front panel. The cover (50) has one or more rearward projections (52) that can project into the cutouts (48) in the rear panel (30), to prevent free rotation of the cover (50) and hold a cavity in position adjacent to a battery access opening (36) to facilitate removal of a battery from the cavity (54). The cover (50) can be manually rotated by the user to sequentially index cavities into position adjacent to a battery access opening. The package (10) can include a door that can be closed to retain a cell in a cavity (54) adjacent to the battery access opening or opened to allow removal of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan C. Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20140183209
    Abstract: An automatic vending machine includes a cabinet and a dispensing mechanism. The cabinet includes a top plate, two side plates, and a blocking plate. The two side plates are located on the top plate, and the blocking plate is located between the two side plates and parallel to the top plate and defines an opening. The dispensing mechanism is hanging on the top plate and comprises placing passages configured to receive products. One of the placing passages is staggered with the opening, and is rotatable relative to the blocking plate to align the opening, for the product to drop out of corresponding placing passage through the opening by gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WUHAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: ZHI-YONG GAO, YU-LIN LIU
  • Patent number: 8744621
    Abstract: A cabinet for securely storing items includes a drawer enclosure, a drawer, a cover, an electric actuator, and a switch. The drawer is slidable at least partially into and out of the enclosure, and includes a compartment. A cover which is configured as a metal belt is designed to selectively block access to the compartments of the drawer when the cover is in a first configuration, and to allow access to the compartment when the cover is in a second configuration. The electric actuator is designed to move the cover from the first configuration to the second configuration in one of two directions. The actuator selects the direction to reduce the time required to make such movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: AutoMed Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Michael
  • Patent number: 8720742
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a sales kiosk, a kiosk system and a process for dispensing or ordering one or more target products or samples of the target products. This disclosure is further directed to a kiosk system having a plurality of the sales kiosks connected via wired or wireless connections. The sales kiosks can be particularly useful for dispensing samples of sales products, such as furniture, typically not suitable to dispense at the sales location; or customized products that need to be customized. The sales kiosk can further be useful for ordering sales products. The sale kiosks can provide advantages for seeing and experiencing the sales products even the sale products cannot be directly displayed or dispensed. The kiosk can be modular and can comprise one or more modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Junfang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8651321
    Abstract: A gumball machine includes a gumball container that contains a plurality of gumballs, and a neck portion coupled to the gumball container. The gumball machine has an elongated transparent housing having an upper end coupled to the neck portion, and a base coupled to the lower end of the elongated housing. A speaker is positioned inside the base and is electrically coupled to a switch, a plurality of lighting elements are arranged inside the transparent housing and electrically coupled to the switch, and a power supply is housed inside the base and electrically coupled to the switch, the speaker and the lighting elements. When an actuator is actuated, the actuator turns on the switch to cause the lighting elements to flash, the speaker to broadcast sound and/or music, and a gumball to be dispensed from the gumball container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sweet N Fun, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoi Wai Fu
  • Patent number: 8646654
    Abstract: A package includes an article group formed of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton includes a top wall, opposed side walls, end walls and an article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles while one end wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article. The dispenser is formed from the end and top walls and includes at least one retaining panel to hold all the articles in the carton until removed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: The C.W. Zumbiel Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8600549
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic drug dispensing and dosing time reminder device which automatically dispenses one dose of medication at every scheduled dosage time while simultaneously reminding a patient of the dosage time through a voice and a lamp. The device uses a motor, rotating body, and position sensor to dispense medications at the scheduled dosage times. The front face of the device includes an interface to program in the scheduled dosage times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Doo Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 8588966
    Abstract: A cabinet system for securely storing items includes a cabinet housing, a controller, and at least one drawer unit. The cabinet housing has a locking mechanism, and the controller is in communication with the cabinet housing and configured to operate the locking mechanism. The drawer unit is designed to be releasably locked at least partially within the cabinet housing by the locking mechanism, and slidable within a portion of the cabinet housing when released by the locking mechanism. The drawer unit includes at least one storage compartment, a cover, memory, and a power source. The storage compartment is configured to store at least one item therein. The cover is movable to an open configuration and a closed configuration. When the cover is in the closed configuration, the cover limits access to the item of the storage compartment. The memory is powered by the power source and is configured to store data associated with a movement of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AutoMed Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Michael
  • Patent number: 8469228
    Abstract: A dispenser of containers. A carousel is rotatably mounted to a main frame about a vertical axis of rotation and has a plurality of container compartments arranged around the axis and along the length of the axis. A driver mounted to the main frame rotates the carousel around the axis in a single direction and a lock limits rotation of the carousel in any direction when engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: SLEEGERS Engineered Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph L. Adams
  • Patent number: 8430269
    Abstract: The tablet cassette includes a division block installed to be rotated by a drive motor to discharge tablets introduced from above through transfer passages indented in an outer circumferential surface thereof. Each of the transfer passage includes a separation recess for downward transfer of the tablets, a lower end of which is blocked by a prop, and a supply recess along which the tablets having passed through the separation recess are moved on the outer circumferential surface of the division block to thereby be discharged downward via rotation of the division block. The tablet cassette further includes a bottom ring provided around a lower end of the division block to transfer the tablets located in the separation recess into the supply recess via rotation of the division block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: JVM Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Hee Nam
  • Patent number: 8424489
    Abstract: The device comprises a first food-receiving portion provided within an upper side of a main body The first portion comprises independent first food compartments disposed in axisymmetrical positions with reference to a central vertical axis A first cover having at least one access aperture is positioned over the first portion and is supported for free rotation upon actuation by the animal being fed Independent second food-receiving portions, each comprising two second food compartments separated from one another by a transversal wall, are provided adjacent to the first portion Each second portion has a corresponding second cover that is in sliding engagement therewith and freely movable upon actuation by the animal being fed The combination of rotating and sliding covers create stimulating challenges for the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Kathleen Desrosiers
  • Patent number: 8428775
    Abstract: Products are dispensed from a dispensing apparatus in which products marked with transaction information are received in a two-dimensional array of moveable bins. In response to control information synthesized from transaction information on the products in the bins and a dispense request, the array is operated to place a bin at a dispensing station on the dispensing apparatus. At the dispensing station, a mechanism is operated in response to the control information to provide access to the bin. A product in the bin may then be retrieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Baker, Daniel C. Finn, Thomas F. Gaasch, William K. Holmes
  • Publication number: 20130056488
    Abstract: A cup turret carousel includes a gear drive track around a periphery thereof, to be driven by a planetary gear rather than being driven from the central axis and thereby reduce cost and achieve greater accuracy in aligning a cup turret with the cup funnel throat for cup delivery. The drive gear is maintained in a in a fixed position relative to a cup funnel throat through which cups pass when dropped, so that the same drive assembly may be employed with cup turret carousels of different diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: CRANE MERCHANDISING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Hooper
  • Patent number: 8249743
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling secure access and storage of at least two different types of articles is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of compartments for articles, the compartments arranged in a rotatable cylindrical array with one opening for each compartment on the surface of the cylinder. A linearly driven belt having an access port thereon limits access to a single compartment. The compartments may be of equal or different size to accept different articles. A sliding door, positionable over an opening in the housing, provides additional security. A drawer with additional compartments may be included in the apparatus in addition to the cylindrical array. Certain compartments may have an assignment linking them to other compartments in the cylindrical array or drawer, allowing for the secure and separate storage of sets of related articles, such as the keys, registration and/or license plate of a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Florent Pelletier
  • Patent number: 8180484
    Abstract: Products are dispensed from a dispensing apparatus in which products marked with transaction information are received in a two-dimensional array of moveable bins. In response to control information synthesized from transaction information on the products in the bins and a dispense request, the array is operated to place a bin at a dispensing station on the dispensing apparatus. At the dispensing station, a mechanism is operated in response to the control information to provide access to the bin. A product in the bin may then be retrieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Baker, Daniel C. Finn, Thomas F. Gaasch, William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8162174
    Abstract: This is an improved retrieval mechanism for vending machines that includes a sophisticated positioning system, gripper and trays for improved efficiency in product retrieval and delivery. Following product selection, the positioning system quickly transports the gripper through the X-Y plane to the front of a tray queue containing the selected product. The gripper is extended in the Z-direction, and its fingers grasp the foremost product container in the queue. The gripper is raised in order to clear a retaining lip in the queue and then retracts, and the positioning system transports the gripper carrying the product container to a delivery port. The gripper then releases the product which slides down a chute into a delivery port for customer pick up. Unique product storage trays are provided which work in conjunction with the gripper to allow only the foremost product to be removed from a tray queue. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: SandenVendo America, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Hieb, Daniel Carter
  • Patent number: 8118212
    Abstract: A package includes an article group formed of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton includes a top wall, opposed side walls, end walls and an article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles while one end wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article. The dispenser is formed from the end and top walls and includes at least one retaining panel to hold all the articles in the carton until removed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: The C.W. Zumbiel Co.
    Inventor: Charles A. Miller
  • Patent number: 8068934
    Abstract: A medication dispensing system uses a series of medication rings grouped as a rotary drum and controlled for dispensing medication on a daily basis into a divided pill box. Each medication ring includes an associated medication collar that cooperates with the medication ring to reduce the possibility of abrasion of the medication dosages held in the medication rings. The pill box is moved and rotated within the dispensing system by a carriage to dispense medication into appropriate cells of the pill box. A computer control module controls the movement of the various components and is programmable for loading and dispensing different medication regimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Leon Saltsov
  • Patent number: 7950206
    Abstract: A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters, each having a machine-readable canister identifier. The device for dispensing pills further includes a reader adapted to read the machine-readable canister identifier and a selector interfaced to the reader. An active pill canister from the plurality of pill canisters is selected by the selector using data from the reader to determine which of the plurality of pill canisters is at a target location. A control is provided for releasing a desired quantity of pills from the selected pill canister at a target location into a target package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: QEM, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. Knoth
  • Patent number: 7886929
    Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing endless machining belts for a robotic installation is disclosed. The device includes a support rotating about a vertical axis and having radial arms. Each arm is equipped with means for locating a machining belt, and means for controlling stepwise rotation of the rotating support, in order to bring each arm in turn to a position where the belt may be fitted onto a robot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Carole L'helgoualc'h, Paul Alexandre Pereira
  • Patent number: 7866506
    Abstract: An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals, particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Daniels, Jeffrey P. Williams, Richard D. Michelli, Jasper Pollard, Demetris P. Young, Joseph C. Moran, Jr., George Raymond Abrams, Jr., David Alan Calderwood, Pete Klein
  • Patent number: 7857162
    Abstract: A tablet feeder including a tablet accommodating section (4) capable of accommodating a multiplicity of tablets A; a tablet array member (8) which is disposed in the tablet accommodating section (4) and which, while being driven and rotated, retains the tablets A one after another in pockets (11) formed in an outer periphery thereof and discharges the tablets at a discharge position; and a partitioning member (13) whose partitioning portion (14) having a shape of a brush partitions the pocket (11) so that the upper tablets A do not fall into the lower pocket (11). Thereby, the tablets A that are retained in the pocket (11) of the tablet array member (8) are discharged in a predetermined number. The partitioning member (13) includes a plurality of brush elements (15a, 15b) constituting a partitioning portion (14). At least part of the brush elements (15a) each has a tip that is bent in a U-shape. Thus, deformation of the brush elements (15a), constituting the partitioning member (13), can be surely prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Minami, Hiroshi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7837059
    Abstract: This invention is a vending machine and components parts that include a sophisticated positioning system, catcher and trays for improved efficiency in product retrieval and delivery. Following product selection, the positioning system quickly transports the catcher through the X-Y plane to the front of a tray queue containing the selected product. The catcher is extended in the Z-direction, and lifts the foremost product container from the queue, moving one or more gates out of the way. The catcher then retracts, closing the gate, and the positioning system transports the catcher carrying the product container to a delivery port. The catcher then releases the product container which slides into a delivery port for customer pick up. Unique product storage trays are provided which work in conjunction with the catcher to allow only the foremost product to be removed from a tray queue. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventors: Larry Hieb, Daniel Carter
  • Patent number: 7743942
    Abstract: A vending machine has a dispensing wheel rotatably mounted on a head with an outer peripheral rim on the wheel having elements displaced angularly from one another in an endless row and radially relative to a central axis of the wheel so as to define a driven gear on the wheel and an alignment device permitting latching of the wheel at, and releasing it from, a desired orientation on the head in a dispensing cycle such that during removing the head from, and remounting it upon, a housing the wheel will be held in a desired relationship with the head in which only given items can pass through the wheel in response to the next deposit of a coin in an actuation mechanism and rotating of a drive gear of the mechanism and driven gear therewith through an actuation cycle corresponding to the dispensing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: Kil Jae Chang
  • Patent number: 7747347
    Abstract: The medication apparatus includes a mobile housing assembly and a plurality of tray members supported therein for rotation on a central mounting assembly. A lockable access door is present in the housing assembly for controlled access to the trays. A tray locking assembly locks and unlocks the trays individually in a plurality of angular positions so that each of the compartments on a particular tray member can be presented before the door. A drive assembly selectively engages and rotates each tray individually when the tray is unlocked. A control system, including a stored program, identifies a compartment associated with a particular patient or associated with particular medications, unlocks the tray associated with the desired compartment, and rotates the tray to present the compartment before the access door, which is then unlocked and openable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Sabal Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Park, IV
  • Patent number: 7735680
    Abstract: A dispensing device and method including a housing defining an opening. A door is movable relative to the housing from a closed position to a maximum open position. The door and the housing defining an access portion of the opening. A tray is disposed within the housing and is supported for movement relative to the housing. The tray is configured to support dispensable items within a plurality of segments of the tray. An access control mechanism is configured to locate the tray relative to the housing to generally align a selected one of the plurality of segments with the opening and also to limit opening movement of the door to limit a size of the access portion to a size of the selected segment if a corresponding position of the door is less than the maximum open position of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Nexiant
    Inventor: Peter Godlewski
  • Patent number: 7588165
    Abstract: Trays within a given level of a drum-type vending machine form individual zones, and may be further subdivided into additional individual zones, for which pricing may be separately specified. A vend door for the corresponding level is constrained to allow access to a given zone upon payment of the appropriate amount. More levels and greater flexibility in pricing and product selection are thus enabled, together with greater control over vending operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Crane Co.
    Inventors: James B. Prichard, Mark R. Henning, Douglas M. Mingo
  • Publication number: 20090173747
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a bead craft system for making a bead craft. The bead craft system may be used with beads that are wettable and subsequently dryable to adhere to one another. In one aspect, the bead craft system may include a bead storage and dispensing device including a bead storage chamber having a bead storage chamber wall defining a chamber outlet aperture and a bead outlet conduit external to the bead storage chamber wall. The bead outlet conduit has an inlet. The bead storage chamber wall is movable between an unaligned position wherein the chamber outlet aperture is unaligned with the inlet of the bead outlet conduit to prevent the release of beads from the bead storage chamber, and an aligned position wherein the chamber outlet aperture is aligned with the inlet of the bead outlet conduit to permit the release of at least one bead from the bead storage chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7395945
    Abstract: A dispensing device and method including a housing defining an opening. A door is movable relative to the housing from a closed position to a maximum open position. The door and the housing defining an access portion of the opening. A tray is disposed within the housing and is supported for movement relative to the housing. The tray is configured to support dispensable items within a plurality of segments of the tray. An access control mechanism is configured to locate the tray relative to the housing to generally align a selected one of the plurality of segments with the opening and also to limit opening movement of the door to limit a size of the access portion to a size of the selected segment if a corresponding position of the door is less than the maximum open position of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: NEXIANT
    Inventor: Peter Godlewski
  • Patent number: 7293672
    Abstract: In a medicine supply apparatus having a plurality of tablet cases equipped in a case accommodating portion of a main body, each tablet case containing medicines, chutes into which medicines discharged from the respective table cases fall, a hopper equipped in correspondence with the lower portions of the chutes, and a charging apparatus for charging a medicine accommodating container with medicines caught by the hopper, a plurality of drawers are equipped in the case accommodating portion, the tablet cases are detachably mounted on each drawer, and each drawer is equipped so as to be freely drawn out from the case accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Mori, Hideyuki Takahashi, Toshihiko Ota, Hitoshi Ishiwatari, Shinya Uema, Manabu Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 7293673
    Abstract: A dispensing system for dispensing items. The system includes a base that has first and second compartments. The base can rotate about an axis. An item can be stored in one of the first and second compartments. The system also includes a cover that covers the base, the first compartment, and the second compartment. Furthermore, the cover has an opening. The system also includes a handle that is coupled to the cover. The handle can be used to actuate the cover to rotate about the axis to align the opening with one of the first and second compartments. The system also includes an ejector that ejects the item from the compartment when the handle aligns the ejector with the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: SupplyPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent V. Savage, William K. Holmes, Charles A. Tyack
  • Patent number: 7228200
    Abstract: Products are dispensed from a dispensing apparatus in which products marked with transaction information are received in a chain of bins. In response to control information synthesized from transaction information on the products in the bins and a dispense request, the chain is moved to place a bin at a dispensing station on the dispensing apparatus. At the dispensing station, a mechanism is operated in response to the control information to provide access to the bin. A product in the bin may then be retrieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Baker, Daniel C. Finn, Thomas F. Gaasch, William K. Holmes