Automated dosage-dispensing system for powdery substances, and method of ascertaining that the system is ready for operation

A system for dispensing dosages of a powdery substance from a selected one of a plurality of dispensing heads into a selected one of a plurality of vials, the system comprising:

• a weighing module having a weighing pan;
• a plurality of weighing pan adapters that adapt the weighing pan to receive vials of different shapes and sizes, wherein the weighing pan adapters, relative to a working orientation thereof, have lower portions that are identical and are configured to fit the weighing pan, and upper portions that are different from each other by each weighing pan adapter having a unique combination of a predetermined vial-gripping height hv and an adapter-gripping width wv and are configured to accommodate different shapes and sizes of the vials, the plurality of weighing pan adapters consists of n weighing pan adapters that are assigned identifying numbers i=1 . . . n, wherein each weighing pan adapter i is distinguished from the other weighing pan adapters by at least one of the adapter-gripping height hi;
• and the adapter-gripping wi;
• a robotic handler;
• a storage rack for holding a plurality of the dispensing heads;
• a second storage rack for holding a plurality of the vials;
• a unit for dispensing dosages, having a rest position and a dispensing position, the unit for dispensing dosages comprising:
• a receiver for holding and actuating a selected one of the dispensing heads;
• a tool for handling a selected one of the vials, so that, when fitted with the tool for handling a predetermined vial, the robotic handler is operative to grip the vial at a predetermined vial-gripping height hy and with a vial-gripping width wv, and the robotic handler is further operative to grip each weighing pan adapter i at a predetermined adapter-gripping height hi and with an adapter-gripping wi;
• a tool for handling a selected one of the dispensing heads;
• and
• a station for docking the tool for handling a selected one of the vials and the tool for handling a selected one of the dispensing heads;
• and
• a controller terminal unit, configured to:
• control mechanical manipulations of the robotic handler in picking up and transporting selected dispensing heads and selected vials;
• control the movements of the unit for dispensing dosages between the respective rest and dispensing positions;
• and
• receive weight signals from the weighing module;
• control the unit for dispensing dosages in actuating the selected dispensing head being held by the dispensing head receiver, in response to a received weight signal;
• and
• a storage station for the plurality of the weighing pan adapters;
• wherein the weighing pan adapters are configured for being picked up and transported between the weighing pan adapter storage station and the weighing pan by the robotic handler with the tool for handling a selected one of the vials.