# US 10,479,589 B2 · Pharmaceutical cassette > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,589 B2 - Document ID: US10479589B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/611,715 - Filed: 2015-02-02 - Published: 2015-08-06 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-04 - Assignees: Rxsafe LLC - Applicants: Rxsafe LLC - Inventors: William K. Holmes; Aaron Arsenault - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479589B2 ## CPC - B65D 83/0454: {the whole forming a circular container with rotating parts (B65D83/0463 takes precedence)} - B65B 5/103: {for packaging pills or tablets} - G07F 11/32: two or magazines having a common delivery chute - G07F 11/42: the articles being delivered by motor-driven means - G07F 11/54: about vertical axes - G07F 11/62: in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles - G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)} - B65B 2009/047: {Rotary pocket formers} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A cassette for dispensing pharmaceuticals includes a base defining an outlet and having a drive member. The drive member is configured to be rotated. The cassette also includes a plurality of plate assemblies supported by the base in a stacked configuration. Each plate assembly includes a plate body defining an opening aligned with the outlet, and a disk coupled to the drive member and defining a plurality of cubbies. Each disk is rotatable relative to the corresponding plate body by rotating the drive member of the base to selectively align each cubby with the opening in the plate body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cassette for dispensing pharmaceuticals, the cassette comprising: a base defining an outlet and including a drive member, the drive member configured to be rotated; and a plurality of plate assemblies supported by the base in a stacked configuration, each plate assembly including a plate body defining an opening aligned with the outlet, and a disk defining a plurality of cubbies, each disk being rotatable relative to a corresponding plate body by rotating the drive member of the base to selectively align each cubby with the opening in the corresponding plate body, wherein the plurality of plate assemblies includes a first plate assembly and a second plate assembly adjacent the first plate assembly, wherein the disk of the first plate assembly is coupled to the drive member, wherein the first plate assembly is a bottommost plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies and the second plate assembly is stacked on top of the first plate assembly, wherein the disk of the first plate assembly selectively engages the disk of the second plate assembly, wherein the disk of the first plate assembly is driven by the drive member to move one of the plurality of cubbies into alignment with the outlet while the disk of the first plate assembly is disengaged from the disk of the second plate assembly, and wherein the disk of the first plate assembly is driven by the drive member to move another of the plurality of cubbies into alignment with the outlet while the disk of the first plate assembly engages the disk of the second plate assembly so the first plate assembly is emptied before the second plate assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cassette of claim 1, wherein each plate assembly also includes an indexing member, and wherein the indexing member is configured to be driven by the drive member to rotate the disk. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cassette of claim 2, wherein the disk of each plate assembly includes a shaft that extends through a hole in the corresponding plate body, and wherein the shaft is coupled to the indexing member on an opposite side of the plate body from the disk. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cassette of claim 2, wherein the first plate assembly defines a central aperture through the disk of the first plate assembly and includes a projection that extends into the central aperture, wherein the central aperture is configured to receive the indexing member of the second plate assembly, and wherein the projection selectively engages the indexing member of the second plate assembly as the first plate assembly rotates. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cassette of claim 1, wherein the plate body of each plate assembly defines a recess that receives the disk. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cassette of claim 5, wherein the opening of the plate body is located within the recess. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cassette of claim 1, wherein the base includes a foot configured to be supported on a motor base of a pharmacy packaging system, and wherein the drive member extends from a lower surface of the foot and is configured to be rotated by the motor base. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cassette of claim 1, further comprising a cover coupled to the base, wherein the cover extends over an uppermost plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cassette of claim 8, wherein the base includes a foot and a post extending generally perpendicularly from the foot, wherein the post engages the cover, and wherein the foot supports the plurality of plate assemblies. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cassette of claim 1, wherein the plate body of each plate assembly forms a bottom wall of each cubby in the disk when each cubby is not aligned with the opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cassette of claim 1, wherein the disk of each plate assembly includes at least four cubbies. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cassette of claim 1, wherein the plate body of each plate assembly includes an outer surface having a recessed portion that is received in the plate body of another plate assembly to inhibit shifting of the plurality of plate assemblies relative to each other when in the stacked configuration. ### Claim 13 A method of dispensing pharmaceuticals from a cassette, the cassette including a base and a plurality of plate assemblies supported by the base in a stacked configuration, the plurality of plate assemblies including a first plate assembly and a second plate assembly adjacent the first plate assembly, the first plate assembly being a bottommost plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies and the second plate assembly being stacked on top of the first plate assembly, the base defining an outlet and including a drive member, each plate assembly including a plate body defining an opening aligned with the outlet and a disk and defining a plurality of cubbies, the method comprising: coupling the drive member to a motor base, wherein the drive member is also coupled to the disk of the first plate assembly; rotating the disk of the first plate assembly to move one of the plurality of cubbies into alignment with the outlet while the disk of the first plate assembly is disengaged from the disk of the second plate assembly; rotating the disk of the first plate assembly to move another of the plurality of cubbies into alignment with the outlet while the disk of the first plate assembly engages the disk of the second plate assembly; and rotating the disk of a second plate assembly relative to the corresponding plate body with the motor base to selectively align each cubby of the disk of the second plate assembly with the opening in the corresponding plate body, wherein rotating the disk of the second plate assembly includes engaging the disk of the second plate assembly with a portion of the disk of the first plate assembly to rotate the disk of the second plate assembly so the first plate assembly is emptied before the second plate assembly is emptied. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising dropping a pharmaceutical out of each cubby of the first plate assembly through the opening of the first plate assembly and the outlet of the base as each cubby is selectively aligned with the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising dropping a pharmaceutical out of each cubby of the second plate assembly through the opening of the second plate assembly, the opening of the first plate assembly, and the outlet of the base as each cubby is selectively aligned with the opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein each plate assembly also includes an indexing member, and wherein rotating the disk of the first plate assembly includes rotating the disk of the first plate assembly by driving the indexing member of the first plate assembly with the drive member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first plate assembly defines a central aperture and includes a projection that extends into the central aperture, wherein the indexing member of the second plate assembly is received within the central aperture of the first plate assembly, and wherein rotating the disk of the second plate assembly includes engaging the indexing member of the second plate assembly with the projection of the first plate assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the plate body of each plate assembly defines a recess that receives the disk, wherein rotating the disk of the first plate assembly includes rotating the disk of the first plate assembly within the recess, and wherein rotating the disk of the second plate assembly includes rotating the disk of the second plate assembly within the recess. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein rotating the disk of the first plate assembly includes rotating the disk of the first plate assembly about a vertical axis, and wherein rotating the disk of the second plate assembly includes rotating the disk of the second plate assembly about the vertical axis.