US 2006/0219732 A1 · Capsule dispensing apparatus with refrigeration

Abstract

A capsule dispensing apparatus includes an elongate tube for containing a plurality of capsules and a housing remote from the elongate tube. The elongate tube may be releasably coupled to the housing, and a dispensing arm connected to the housing may control the release of the capsules from the elongate tube. The dispensing arm is preferably a solenoid plunger having an end encircled by a solenoid coil, and the solenoid coil is electrically connected to a power supply and a button for moving the solenoid plunger from an extended configuration to a seated configuration, whereby dispensing a capsule. A refrigeration unit has a cooling coil mounted in an interior space defined by the housing and a heat dissipation coil mounted outside the housing interior space for cooling the capsules, and a counter/alarm system provide notice that a certain number of capsules have been dispensed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for holding and dispensing a plurality of gel-caps, comprising:

an elongate tube for containing the plurality of gel-caps, said elongate tube having a dispensing end;
a housing remote from said elongate tube and having a first side, an upper end, and a lower end defining a dispensing opening;
a lower fastener attached to said housing first side adjacent said housing lower end for coupling said dispensing end of said elongate tube to said housing upwardly adjacent said dispensing opening;
a dispensing arm operatively connected to said housing upwardly adjacent said dispensing opening, said dispensing arm being movable between a first configuration in which a respective gel-cap from said elongate tube is restrained on said dispensing arm and a second configuration in which the respective gel-cap is dispensed;
and
a button in communication with said dispensing arm for moving said dispensing arm from said first configuration to said second configuration when said button is activated.

3 more elements

An apparatus for holding and dispensing a plurality of capsules, comprising:

an elongate tube for containing the plurality of capsules, said elongate tube having a dispensing end;
a housing remote from the elongate tube and having a first side, an upper end, and a lower end defining a dispensing opening, said housing defining an interior space;
a lower fastener attached to said housing first side adjacent said housing lower end for releasably coupling said dispensing end of said elongate tube to said housing upwardly adjacent said dispensing opening;
an upper fastener attached to said housing first side adjacent said housing upper end for releasably coupling an upper end of said elongate tube to said housing;
a dispensing arm operatively connected to said housing upwardly adjacent said dispensing opening for movement between a first configuration in which a respective capsule from said elongate tube is restrained on said dispensing arm and a second configuration in which the respective capsule is dispensed;
a button in communication with said dispensing arm for moving said dispensing arm from said first configuration to said second configuration when said button is activated;
and
a refrigeration unit having a cooling coil mounted in said housing interior space and a heat dissipation coil mounted outside said housing interior space for cooling the plurality of capsules.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Capsule dispensing apparatus with refrigeration

Life of this patent

Capsule dispensing apparatus with refrigeration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20