# US 2014/0150376 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Sorting, Counting and Packaging Pharmaceutical Drugs and Other Objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150376 A1 - Document ID: US20140150376A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/091,835 - Filed: 2013-11-27 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-23 - Inventors: Monroe T. Milton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150376A1 ## CPC - B65B 35/06: Separating single articles from loose masses of articles - B65B 1/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - B65B 5/103: {for packaging pills or tablets} - B65B 57/14: and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged - G07F 11/165: {using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements} - 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: 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 method and apparatus is provided for handling loose objects having different physical characteristics, such as pharmaceutical drugs including, without limitation, oral solids in the form of pills, tablets, capsules and the like. Loose objects are loaded into individual canisters. A tooling assembly, comprising at least one canister drive mechanism, imaging sensor and package handler is mounted to a gantry assembly, can be translated through the cabinet via the gantry assembly to engage with particular canisters in accordance with unique and dynamic control parameters. Objects are dispensed from a canister directly to the desired packaging, such as a vial or “blister pack.” Additionally, a beneficially stronger blister pack container is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for dispensing loose objects comprising: a) a support frame; b) a plurality of canisters adapted to hold loose objects disposed within said support frame; c) a gantry assembly; d) a dispensing assembly movably disposed on said gantry assembly; and e) a processor adapted to selectively position said dispensing assembly adjacent to at least one canister and dispense loose objects from said at least one canister. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of canisters is in a grid pattern. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said canisters further comprises: a) a ramp having a first end and a second end, wherein said ramp is pivotally connected to said canister and pivots about a horizontal axis; and b) at least one motor for selectively raising and lowering said second end of said ramp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a plurality of loose objects are deposited from a canister on a ramp. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said processor measures spacing between said loose objects to track said objects along the length of said ramp and adjusts the position of said ramp to separate said loose objects from each other on said ramp when the spacing between said objects is less than a preset minimum value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said separated loose objects are deposited directly from said surface into packaging without said loose objects contacting any intervening surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dispensing assembly further comprises at least one packaging holder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dispensing assembly comprises at least one optical sensor. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said canisters are disposed in a grid pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper surface of said ramp defines a plurality of planes along the longitudinal axis of said ramp. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper surface of said ramp defines at least two pairs of adjacent planes along the longitudinal axis of said ramp, with an angle being formed between each pair of adjacent planes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the angles formed between each pair of adjacent planes decrease in the direction of said first end of said ramp. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the upper surface of said ramp has a concave shape extending substantially along the entire longitudinal axis of said ramp. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one optical scanner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said at least one optical scanner is directed at the upper surface of said ramp. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said at least one optical scanner is an area-wide scanner directed at substantially the entire upper surface of said ramp. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a machine vision system having a field of view. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said field of view comprises substantially the entire upper surface of said ramp. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said field of view comprises at least a portion of said packaging. ### Claim 21 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. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the upper surface of said ramp defines a plurality of planes along the longitudinal axis of said ramp. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the upper surface of said ramp defines at least two pairs of adjacent planes along the longitudinal axis of said ramp, with an angle being formed between each pair of adjacent planes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the angles formed between each pair of adjacent planes decrease in the direction of said first end of said ramp. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the upper surface of said ramp has a concave shape extending substantially along the entire length of said ramp. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one optical scanner. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said at least one optical scanner is directed at the upper surface of said ramp. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said at least one optical scanner is an area-wide scanner directed at substantially the entire upper surface of said ramp. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a machine vision system having a field of view. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said field of view comprises substantially the entire upper surface of said ramp. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said field of view comprises at least a portion of said packaging.