Pill outflow port control nozzle

A pill outflow port control nozzle assembly for an automated pill counting system having a pill outflow port extending downward and outward at an angle, said pill outflow port control nozzle assembly comprising:

• a port base including a body configured for attachment to the automated pill counting system;
• a substantially-vertical and downward facing nozzle supported by the body and having a substantially-vertical passage extending therethrough from a top inlet opening to a bottom outlet opening;
• wherein at least a portion of the nozzle is configured as a funnel;
• wherein an inner side of the nozzle facing the body has an opening configured for receiving at least a portion of the pill outflow port therein so that pills exiting the pill outflow port enter the nozzle and are directed substantially vertically downward toward the bottom outlet opening;
• a lift gate configured to manually move within a passage in the port base in a substantially-vertical direction between a blocking position which prevents the pills from entering the nozzle and a dispensing position which permits the pills to enter the nozzle;
• and
• wherein a bottom portion of the nozzle is configured to be inserted into an opening of a pill bottle for dispensing the pills into the pill bottle.

An automated pill counting, inventory, and validation system comprising:

• a support structure;
• a pill viewing tray supported by the support structure;
• a funnel supported by the support structure and located adjacent the pill viewing tray for dispensing pills from the pill viewing tray;
• a pill outflow port at a lower end of the funnel and extending downward and outward at an angle;
• a pill outflow port control nozzle assembly comprising a port base including a body secured forward of the pill outflow port and a substantially-vertical and downward facing nozzle supported by the body and having a substantially-vertical passage therethrough from a top inlet opening to a bottom outlet opening;
• and
• wherein an inner side of the nozzle facing the body has an opening configured for receiving at least a portion of the pill outflow port therein so that pills exiting the pill outflow port enter the nozzle and are directed substantially-vertically downward toward the bottom outlet opening.