Abstract: A container such as a compact for removably holding a plurality of removable articles such as makeup pans is disclosed. The compact has a bottom portion including a platform equipped for removably holding the articles, a bottom wall having openings therein each of which is aligned with a respective article, and an article ejector disposed between the platform and the bottom wall. The ejector has a connecting member which communicates with buttons and locator members such as upstanding bosses, for aligning the respective buttons each with an underlying bottom wall opening and a removable article. When pressure is applied through an opening onto a button, the button moves and ejects the article from its holder means. The compact has a retaining receptacle which can be an inverted U-shaped channel cooperative with the locator members for retaining them and thereby retaining the ejector in its aligned operative position.

Abstract: A transplanter for transferring seedlings from plant trays to a planting position includes a special plant tray having a series of longitudinal indexing grooves and a transverse alignment groove for engagement with indexing rods and support rings that are joined together to form an indexing drum. The indexing drum is mounted adjacent a loading frame for guiding the plant trays into position for ejection of the plant seedlings and includes an integrally internally mounted plug ejector subassembly which moves relative to the indexing drum at each of a number of successive indexing positions of the drum for ejection of seedlings from the plant tray. The indexing grooves and transverse alignment groove on the plant tray provide datum surfaces for ensuring accurate positioning of the plug ejector subassembly relative to the seedlings in the plant tray.

Abstract: A sensor dispensing instrument (20) includes a sensor magazine (26) that contains a plurality of blood glucose sensors (38) disposed in sensor slots (30A-J). Each of the sensor slots (30A-J) is in fluid communication with a desiccant cavity (50A-J) in which desiccant material is disposed. The front and rear walls (34, 32) of the sensor magazine (26) are sealed with burst foils (40, 42) so as to seal the sensor slots (30A-J) and the desiccant cavities (36A-J). The sensor instrument (20) has an outer housing (22) with a laterally extending magazine opening (24) adapted to receive the sensor magazine (26). A pivot rod (28) is moved through the magazine (26) and is locked into an operating position. The magazine (26) is rotated on the pivot rod (28) until a detent arm (48) on the instrument housing (22) engages a detent groove (50A-J) on the magazine (26) to position the magazine (26) in a sensor feeding position.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a combination of medications in dose lots at timed intervals comprising the following: a housing (12); a plurality of dose modules (32) rotatably mounted in the housing, each dose module including at least one circular disc (34), each of the discs having a plurality of apertures (36) therethrough, wherein each aperture is sealed on either side with film (38, 39) so as to form a compartment which contains a single dose of a medication; extractor means (110) mounted to the housing for selectively piercing the film coveting the apertures so as to release the medication contained in respective apertures; signaling means (92, 182) mounted to the exterior of the housing for periodically indicating a time medication is to be taken; and dose module index means (150, 152) for indexing each dose module at a predetermined interval and for actuating the signaling means. In an alternative embodiment, the dispenser is controlled by a microprocessor system (188).

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for dispensing an adhesive-backed article. An adhesive-backed article has a first adhesive disposed on at least a portion of its bottom surface. The bottom surface of the adhesive-backed article is bonded to the top surface of a backing layer by a bond formed by the first adhesive. The top surface of the adhesive-backed article is bonded to the bottom surface of the support layer by a bond formed by a second adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the bottom surface. The bond formed between the top surface of the adhesive backed article and the bottom surface of the support layer is stronger than the bond between the bottom surface of the adhesive-backed article and the top surface of the backing layer such that when the support layer is separated from the backing layer, .the adhesive-backed article remains affixed to the support layer.

Abstract: A parts feeder for feeding parts that are disposed on a carrier having a base tape and an adhesive tape. Parts are disposed above holes which are formed at equal intervals on the base tape, and the parts are held by an adhesive tape adhered to a lower surface of the base tape. The feeder includes a pitched feeding mechanism for intermittently feeding the carrier tape at a predetermined pitch, a separating mechanism for separating the adhesive tape from the base tape in synchronization with the feeding of the carrier tape at an adhesive tape separating stage, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the parts disposed on the base tape against the base tape prior to the separation of the adhesive tape from the base tape at the adhesive tape separating stage.

Abstract: A subassembly for use in a computerized medicine dispensing station is disclosed. The station has a cabinet for housing openable drawers in stacked arrangement containing dispensable pharmaceutical items. The subassembly includes a drawer having a base plate, side walls, and a front panel defining an interior compartment. The drawer can be inserted into the cabinet. The interior compartment of the drawer is divided into subcompartments, each subcompartment defined by spaced apart side walls and a curved rear wall. Each subcompartment contains a movable magazine mounted therein for racetrack-like movement therein between the spaced apart side wall and the curved rear wall. The magazine includes individual open cups for containing single dispensable pharmaceutical items therein. The front panel has an aperture which is normally closed and locked.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a wet indexer for receiving a cassette of wafers from a previous processing station that have not been allowed to dry. The wet indexer then keeps the wafers submersed in processing solution before and during indexed transmission to later cleaning stations.

Abstract: A food storage and delivery device is formed of a reservoir for food items, a holding and transferring section situated adjacent to the reservoir, an ascending section for moving the holding and transferring section, and a controlling section for controlling the device. After positioning the holding and transferring section to one side of the storage and delivery sections at a predetermined vertical level by means of the ascending section based on a delivery command, the food item is delivered from the storage and delivery section to the holding and transferring section to hold the food item temporarily. After positioning the holding and transferring section to a vertical level corresponding to a delivery portion, the temporarily held food item is delivered to the delivery portion. The food items can be automatically and quickly delivered.

Abstract: A vacuum operated system for individually dispensing items of oral solid medicine from bulk storage to a user, where the medicine is dispensed under computer control, and the quantity and type of medicine is selected in advance by the user. The invention includes medicine dispensing equipment and a computer that provides a user interface. A plurality of storage containers arranged in a rotatable carousel or a rectilinear array may contain various pharmaceutical articles, or various types, dosages, ages, and lot numbers of medicines. The storage containers may be easily refilled by inserting modular refill cartridges into the storage containers. After a user enters certain data into the computer, the invention aligns a universal vacuum probe with the storage container that contains the desired items. The universal vacuum probe is lowered to the desired storage container and engaged with a container probe that is exclusive to that storage container.

Abstract: The invention concerns the automated robotic system for dispensing drugs from vials into liquid containers such as IV bags or syringes. A robot selects a vial and a suitable container and transports them to a processing station together with a needle which may be double-ended. At the processing station the contents of the vial are transferred into the container. Some of the contents of the container may be transferred into the vial in order to reconstitute and/or wash out the vial contents and agitation may be provided for the vial. Various additional devices may be provided such as a decapping device for the vials, an alcohol swabbing station for swabbing the top of a vial and/or the input port of a IV bag or syringe. Moreover, a label printer may be provided so that the robot may deliver a label with the finally processed IV bag and empty vial to a verification station. When IV bags are used, the invention may feature a conveyor of trays of the bags to a pick-up station of the robot.

Abstract: A sample changer for precise positioning of a selected sample from a plurality of samples stored on a removable annular sample file. The samples comprising a rectangular dimensioned object is radially removed from the annular cassette and precisely positioned at a predetermined location for testing. Upon completion of the desired testing, the sample is replaced into the cassette which is repositioned and a subsequently selected sample is accordingly extracted and positioned for testing. Furthermore, the present invention includes a combination of elements which act together to detect and dislodge samples which may become temporarily stuck or jammed in the mechanism, reducing the need for operator intervention. Furthermore, the annular cassette is removable from the sample changing mechanism and includes a concentric locking ring which selectively retains all samples within the cassette or permits the removal of all samples.

Abstract: Process for the automatic dispensing and automatic dispenser (1) of products (63), in particular of packaged food products, arranged on trays (20) of a storage device (2) comprising means (3) for transportation in a closed circuit, from which means the trays are suspended in a continuous chain and which have gear members (5) with horizontal and parallel axes, with the aid of an extracting device (56) comprising at least one pusher (62) and suitable for extracting the products from the storage device when the trays are, respectively, at a discharging station. When one of the trays is at the discharging station (55) and the pusher (62) is arranged laterally to the product (63) to be extracted which is carried by this tray (20), means displace the pusher (62) parallel to the axes of the gear members (4, 5) of the transportation means (3) so as to push and slide this product on this tray parallel to these axes in order to extract this product at one of the transverse ends of this tray.

Abstract: An automatic pill dispensing apparatus is provided having a plurality of cartridges mounted on a common rotatable shaft within a housing. Each cartridge has a plurality of compartments disposed about its periphery for containing medication to be dispensed at proper intervals. An alarm is sounded for the user when the cartridges are in position for dispensing medication. A dispense bar is manually actuated by the user to eject medication into a tray for user access. The plurality of cartridges enable filling by a pharmacist of independent multiple prescriptions. The use of a manually automated dispensing bar eliminates the possibility of overdosage by taking accumulated, unused medication. A dislodging wire sweeps through each compartment as the dispense bar is depressed, thereby dislodging the medication from the compartment for user access.

Abstract: Product-supporting trays are carried in closed circuit paths by an endless chain engaged with gear members with parallel horizontal axes. Products are extracted from transverse ends of the trays by a pusher which moves parallel to the gear axes and onto an oven hearth located laterally of the discharging station. A tray guide maintains the trays at horizontal orientations at all times. An inner chain guide bears against pins on the chain along their entire continuous paths. The inner chain guide has at least one adjustable part which is movable when the distance between the gear members is adjusted. The pusher has an arm which is perpendicular to the gear axes, and the pusher is slidably mounted on a horizontal guide positioned outside the path of the trays and parallel to the gear axes.

Abstract: The device has a column-shaped housing (1) in which there is located a storage magazine (7) for goods (8) offered, a goods chute (2) for dispensing and depositing the goods, electromechanical means (9a-9c) for transporting the goods between storage magazine and goods chute, as well as a control device (10) formed by a computer. There are provided on the housing, accessible from the outside, an operating panel with a keypad (3) and a display (4) and also a magnetic card reader/recorder (6). Implemented by means of software in the computer are a user access control and registration system, a goods storage management system and a customer accounting system. The device is designed so that it can both dispense goods selected via the operating panel and take back corresponding goods again, the movements of goods being automatically registered in a user-specific manner. The device can thus be employed as a goods rental machine, especially for videocassettes or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for rental of articles such as videocassettes comprises an outer housing, and a storage assembly within the housing having storage locations for storing a plurality of videocassettes. The housing has a front panel including an array of separate display areas each containing pictorial indicia representing a particular videocassette and a predetermined selection code corresponding to that videocassette, a selection device adjacent the array for allowing a user to enter the selection code of a selected videocassette, and a delivery chute for delivering selected videocassettes to users. A transport mechanism is provided for retrieving selected videocassettes from the storage assembly for delivery to users, and for returning videocassettes to the storage assembly. A control device associates each stored videocassette with its storage location and controls the transport mechanism to deliver selected videocassettes to customers.

Abstract: A supplementary device for driving screws by means of a power-driven screw driver having a driver blade or the like and the device comprising a holding member extending parallel to the driver blade, variable in its length and having a lateral extension, and a magazine disc releasably attached to and rotatably supported upon the lateral extension, the magazine disc being adapted to receive a plurality of screws arranged upon a circular locus, the axis of the driver blade substantially extending through a point of the circular locus and the screws being supported upon the disc such that they can be removed from the disc by means of axial pressure applied thereto by means of the driver blade.

Abstract: A vending machine for articles, such as videotape cassettes, includes a rotatable turret having article-retaining compartments in which the articles to be dispensed are retained, and a vertically movable robotic arm located adjacent the turret for removing a desired article from the turret and directing the article to a discharge opening in the device. Preferably the vending machine is computer controlled to dispense the desired article from the machine, based upon an input signal provided by a user, and also to return an article to the machine, when the user desires to return it. A unique package arrangement for a videotape cassette includes a case having opposed planar walls and passageways extending through the surfaces in a central location thereof.

Abstract: The lifting down apparatus for a multi-stage shelf assembly comprises a base, a pair of arms pivotally secured to the base so as to form a parallel linking mechanism together with the base, and foldable frames having link members which connect with the arms, a plurality of rotary shelves pivotally mounted onto one of the arms of the foldable frames at their basic portions by spacing in the longitudinal direction, supporting members attached to the other arm so that they may support the free end portions of the rotary shelves, whereby when the foldable frames rise from the base, the rotary shelves separate stepwisely, and when the foldable frames fall down, the rotary shelves arrange on the same plane. Accordingly, delivery efficiency can be greatly improved.

Abstract: An improved medication dispensing system is provided for controlled preprogrammed dispensing of medication to a patient and for creating a retrievable patient medication record. The system includes a dispensing unit located, for example, at patient bedside within a hospital room or the like and adapted to receive a pair of medication canisters having magazines with individual cassettes which have been preloaded in a preprogrammed manner in the hospital pharmacy or the like respectively to contain scheduled and unscheduled medications for administration to the patient. The dispensing unit is programmed according to individual patient needs to signal a nurse or other personnel at selected times when scheduled medication is prescribed, whereupon the scheduled medication can be accessed for dispensing only after entry of valid nurse or other personnel identification code into a dispensing unit memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pistol grip implanter device adapted for insertion of a solid or semi-solid pellet form medicament into a domestic animal, associated with a hub for an encasement containing a multiplicity of dosage unit pellets of the medicament.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for storing a plurality of articles, each of a different characteristic or nature, and for selectively retrieving and dispensing from the plurality of stored articles any particular desired article when an identification number or code for that particular article is entered. In the embodiments illustrated, each article is provided with a separate and distinct electronically readable optical identification code which can be read directly from the article or a claim check when the article is loaded into the machine or retrieved from the machine.

Abstract: A tablet or pill ejector is disclosed consisting of at least three detachably secured sections in the general shape of a pen. The front end of the device is provided with a hole communicating with axially aligned bores formed longitudinally in the sections and through which a pill may be ejected quickly. An ejector rod is provided in the bores adapted to move from a cocked position to a released position wherein it passes instantly through a pill retaining member located in the front section of the device. Cocking and trigger mechanisms are provided. In an alternate embodiment the front section is provided with a revolvable barrel adapted to contain a plurality of pills for ejection. The rear end of the device may be provided with a storage compartment and cap.

Abstract: A planter is moved through a field to place two rows of four plants on the top of a planting bed between adjacent irrigation furrows. Plants ready for transplant are disposed in trays within polymerized cast soil plugs. Each plug is disposed within the tray in a hole. Each tray has rows and columns of plant receiving holes extending through each tray. The planter carrying the plugs moves in increments and sets the planter mechanism in a stationary position over the top of the planting bed prior to plug planting. The tray carrying the transplants is registered horizontally and vertically to a plug receiving cylinder by respective cams and a supporting chain. Upon registry, polymer plugs containing sprouted plants therein are ejected, typically eight at a time, by ejecting fingers penetrating the plant receiving holes. Ejection occurs with the plants horizontally disposed into receiving concavities defined within a rotating cylinder.

Abstract: An automatic system adapted to store, select for dispensation and count dispensed articles such as controlled drugs especially useful for the storage, dispensing and keeping of accurate, tamper proof records of controlled drugs in hospitals.A novel programmed strip for the system is also disclosed.