Medication dispensing container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173830-B2
Application number	US-201414783876-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2014
Priority date	Apr 19, 2013
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a medication dispensing container for holding medications, which container is provided with a dispensing mechanism comprising: an arranging body comprising passageways, each for accommodating a number of medications in a single row, a first wall member with an output opening arranged below said arranging body, said arranging body is arranged to subsequently align one of said passageways with said output opening, a separating member which blocks a passageway when aligned with the output opening, a storage body comprising waiting chambers arranged below said first wall member, each waiting chamber is arranged for receiving the medication(s) from one passageway, a second wall member with an outlet opening arranged below said storage body, said storage body is arranged to subsequently align one of said waiting chambers with said outlet opening, and a detection arrangement for the detection whether or not one of said waiting chambers is filled.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Medication dispensing container for holding solid medications, in particular pills, tablets or capsules, and which container is provided with a dispensing mechanism which is arranged for selectively dispensing an amount of said solid medications from an outlet opening at a bottom side of said container, wherein said dispensing mechanism comprises:
an arranging body comprising a plurality of passageways, wherein each passageway is arranged for accommodating one of said solid medications or two or more of said solid medications in a single row,
a first wall member arranged below said arranging body and provided with an output opening, wherein the first wall member and the arranging body are movable with respect to each other in order to subsequently align one of said plurality of passageways with said output opening,
a separating member which extends out into or over a passageway which is aligned with the output opening,
characterized in that said container further comprises a storage body arranged below said first wall member, said storage body comprising a plurality of waiting chambers, each waiting chamber is arranged for receiving the solid medication(s) from one passageway when said passageway, said output opening and said waiting chamber are in alignment, and for accommodating said solid medication(s),
a second wall member arranged below said storage body and provided with the outlet opening, wherein the second wall member and the storage body are movable with respect to each other in order to subsequently align one of said plurality of waiting chambers with said outlet opening, and
a detection arrangement for at least facilitating detecting whether or not one or more of said waiting chambers are filled with the solid medication(s).

2. Medication dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the detection arrangement comprises a passage for a light beam, which passage crosses the output opening.

3. Medication dispensing container according to claim 2 , wherein the container is provided with at least one detector opening which connects to the passage for positioning a light source and/or a detector in alignment with said passage.

4. Medication dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the output opening is arranged out of alignment with the outlet opening.

5. Medication dispensing container according to claim 4 , wherein the output opening is shifted with respect to the outlet opening over a distance equal to or larger than a size of a waiting chamber.

6. Medication dispensing container according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second wall member are stationary arranged in said container.

7. Medication dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the arranging body and the storage body are rotation-fixedly connected to each other.

8. Medication dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the arranging body and/or the storage body are provided with a coupling member for coupling to an external driver for moving said arranging body and/or said storage body with respect to said container.

9. Medication dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of one of said plurality of waiting chambers, at least in a plane parallel to the first wall member, is larger than the cross-sectional area of one of said passageways.

10. Medication dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of one of said plurality of waiting chambers, at least in a plane parallel to the second wall member, and the outlet opening are congruent.

11. Medication dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a stop mechanism for holding the storage body in a fixed position in the container.

12. Medication dispensing container according to claim 11 , wherein the stop mechanism comprises a stop ring and a stop spring.

13. Medication dispensing container according to claim 12 , wherein the stop ring is fixedly arranged on the storage body, and wherein the stop spring is fixedly arranged on an inside part of the container.

14. Medication dispensing container according to claim 11 , wherein the container is provided with at least one de-activating opening which connects to the stop mechanism for positioning a de-activating member into said container for de-activating said stop mechanism.

15. Medication dispensing container according to claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a grip which is arranged at the top of the container, and which is shaped to seize and move the container manually on the one hand, and by robot on the other.

16. Medication dispensing container according to claim 15 , wherein the shape of the grip comprises a bilateral symmetry in only one sagittal plane.

17. Medication dispensing container according to claim 15 , wherein the container comprises a filling opening at the top of the container, and a cover for closing said filling opening, wherein the cover comprises said grip.

18. Medication dispensing container according to claim 15 , wherein the container comprises with a chamber for containing a drying substance, which chamber is arranged in fluid communication with the inside of the container, and which chamber is arranged in said grip.

19. Medication dispensing container according to claim 15 , wherein the container comprises a display chamber for holding an example of the solid medication, wherein the display chamber is provided with a transparent wall at a side facing the outside of the container, and which display chamber is arranged in said grip.

20. System which accommodates a series of medication dispensing containers according to claim 1 , which system is arranged for selectively dispensing an amount of said solid medications from one or more medication dispensing containers and for packing said dispensed amount, said system comprising:
a holding device provided with an array of container positions arranged adjacently in a plane, wherein the holding device at each of said array of container positions is provided with a holder for one of said medication dispensing containers and with a through opening for passing discharged solid medications there through,
a collection frame arranged below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other, wherein said collection frame is provided with a series of collection trays, said trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings, wherein said trays comprises a receiving opening at a side facing said holding device for capturing said discharged solid medications and each comprises an output,
a packing unit arranged below the collection frame for collecting the captured solid medications from the output of a tray and packing said solid medications, and
a controller for controlling the working of said system and the medication dispensing containers arranged on said holding device.

21. System according to claim 20 , wherein at least one container position comprises one or more positioning projections, wherein the positioning projections provide a fixed orientation of a medical dispensing container when arranged at said at least one container position.

22. System according to claim 21 , wherein said positioning projections comprises a position column which projects out of the plane of the holding device, in a direction perpendicular to said

Assignees

• Vmi Holland Bv

Inventors

• 'T Lam Henri
• Jochemsen Kees

Classifications

• B65D83/0409 Primary

  the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation (B65D83/0445 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01F23/292

  Light {, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet} · CPC title

• A61J7/0084

  for multiple medicaments · CPC title

• A61J1/03

  for pills or tablets (containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04) · CPC title

• B65B5/068

  in trays (B65B5/061 - B65B5/065 take precedence) · CPC title