Storage container for a storage and dispensing station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11975880-B2
Application number	US-202318144628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2023
Priority date	Jul 31, 2020
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

Methods of dispensing small piece goods include storing one or more small piece goods in a storage container for a storage and dispensing station, engaging a positioner of a retainer with a separating device to fix the retainer above a dispensing opening, securing, by a holder, the retainer against a concurrent rotation with the separating device. Also, aligning, by the holder, the retaining section with the dispensing opening, rotating the separating device within the housing to situate a first channel above the dispensing opening, preventing, via the retaining section, additional small piece goods from entering the first channel containing a first small piece good and dispensing the first small piece good through the dispensing opening. Methods of using a system for storage and dispensing of drug portions are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of dispensing small piece goods, the method comprising:
storing one or more small piece goods in a storage container for a storage and dispensing station, the storage container comprising:
a housing comprising a dispensing opening disposed in a housing bottom surface;
a separating device disposed in the housing and comprising at least one channel configured to receive at least one small piece good; and
a retainer comprising a positioner, a retaining section and a holder;

engaging the positioner of the retainer with the separating device to fix the retainer above the dispensing opening;
securing, by the holder, the retainer against a concurrent rotation with the separating device;
aligning, by the holder, the retaining section with the dispensing opening:
rotating the separating device within the housing to situate a first channel above the dispensing opening, the first channel containing a first small piece good;
preventing, via the retaining section, additional small piece goods from entering the first channel containing the first small piece good; and
dispensing the first small piece good through the dispensing opening.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holder is a lug, the method further comprising:
engaging the lug with an opening in the housing.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
engaging the holder with an opening in a holding assembly arranged in the housing.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the holding assembly comprises a guide and a slide movably disposed in the guide.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
engaging the guide with both a radial inner surface of the slide and a radial outer surface of the slide; and
fixing the slide radially with respect to the separating device.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
adjusting the slide within the guide.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
engaging each of two ring sections of the positioner in a groove of the separating device.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising for each ring section:
spreading, by a recess of the ring section, the ring section.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ring sections each comprise a projection disposed on an inside surface of the ring section.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising for each ring section:
abutting the projection against a vertical wall of the groove.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
touching the ring sections to one another at end regions.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
filling the groove with the ring sections and the retaining section.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
preventing, by the ring sections and the retaining section, dust from drug portions from being deposited in the groove.

14. A method of using a system for storage and dispensing of drug portions, the method comprising:
storing one or more drug portions in a plurality of storage containers coupled to a corresponding plurality of storage and dispensing stations, a first storage container comprising:
a housing comprising a circular cylindrical section and a dispensing opening disposed in a housing bottom surface;
a separating device disposed in the circular cylindrical section and comprising at least one channel configured to receive at least one drug portion; and
a retainer comprising a positioner, a retaining section and a holder, wherein for the first storage container;

engaging the positioner of the retainer with the separating device to fix the retainer above the dispensing opening;
securing, by the holder, the retainer against a concurrent rotation with the separating device;
aligning, by the holder, the retaining section with the dispensing opening;
rotating the separating device within the housing to situate a first channel above the dispensing opening, the first channel containing a first drug portion;
preventing, via the retaining section, additional drug portions from entering the first channel containing the first drug portion; and
dispensing the first drug portion through the dispensing opening.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising for the first storage container:
engaging the holder with an opening in a slide of a holding assembly arranged in the circular cylindrical section, wherein the holding assembly comprises a guide and a slide movably disposed in the guide.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
engaging the guide with both a radial inner surface of the slide and a radial outer surface of the slide;
fixing the slide radially with respect to the separating device; and
adjusting the slide within the guide.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
engaging each of two ring sections of the positioner in a groove of the separating device.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising for each ring section:
spreading, by a recess of the ring section, the ring section; and
abutting a projection disposed on an inside surface of the ring section against a vertical wall of the groove.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
touching the ring sections to one another at end regions;
filling the groove with the ring sections and the retaining section; and
preventing, by the ring sections and the retaining section, dust from drug portions from being deposited in the groove.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
collecting, by a collecting device, the first drug portion;
feeding, by the collecting device, the first drug portion to a packaging device; and
packaging, by the packaging device, the first drug portion into a package.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany Gmbh

Inventors

• Gross Dietmar

Classifications

• B65B5/101 Primary

  by gravity (B65B5/12 and B65B5/108 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65B35/06

  Separating single articles from loose masses of articles · CPC title

• B65B35/32

  by gravity · CPC title

• B65D83/04

  for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills · CPC title

• 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