Method and Apparatus for Sorting, Counting and Packaging Pharmaceutical Drugs and Other Objects

An apparatus for dispensing loose objects comprising:

• a) a plurality of canisters, each of said canisters comprising:
• i. a housing having an opening;
• ii. a ramp, having a first end, a second end, an upper surface and a longitudinal axis, wherein said ramp is mounted to said housing, and said first end is proximate to said opening and pivots about a substantially horizontal axis;
• and
• iii. a linkage assembly connected to said ramp;
• b) a motorized rail assembly;
• c) a dispensing assembly, movably disposed on said motorized rail assembly, comprising:
• i. at least one actuator;
• ii. at least one drive link connected to said at least one actuator;
• iii. at least one sensor;
• and
• iv. at least one packaging holder;
• d) at least one processor for positioning said dispensing assembly adjacent to selected canisters and dispensing loose objects from said canisters directly into packaging held by said at least one packaging holder.

An apparatus for dispensing loose objects comprising:

• a) at least one canister comprising:
• i. a housing having an opening;
• ii. a ramp, having a first end, a second end, a length and an upper surface, wherein said ramp is disposed within said housing, and said first end is proximate to said opening and pivots about a horizontal axis;
• and
• iii. a linkage assembly connected to said ramp;
• b) a dispensing assembly comprising:
• i. at least one actuator;
• ii. at least one drive link connected to said at least one actuator;
• iii. at least one sensor;
• and
• iv. at least one packaging holder;
• and
• c) at least one processor for dispensing loose objects from said canisters directly into packaging held by said at least one packaging holder.