Electronic system for article dispensing apparatus

An electronic system for pill dispensing apparatus wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of containers for dispensing pills, each container being indexable by the system to selectively dispense a pill at a predetermined time, comprising

• sequencing means for providing sequential sampling signals in response to input clock signals thereto,
• control means for receiving container data signals indicating containers from which pills are to be dispensed, and for receiving said sequential sampling signals, said control means comprising logic circuit means for each respective container, said logic circuit means being responsive to said data signals and said sampling signals for providing first output control signals corresponding to containers from which articles are to be dispensed and for providing second control signals for causing generation of said clock signals for said sequencing means, said logic circuit means comprising a pair of logic gates for each of the respective containers from which pills are to be dispensed, the first logic gate of each pair providing said first control signals, and the second logic gate of each pair providing said second control signals,
• circuit means responsive to the second control signals from the second logic gates for generating said clock signals applied to said sequencing means, and
• activator means responsive to said first output control signals of said control means for activating each container from which a pill is to be dispensed.

An electronic system for article dispensing apparatus wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of containers for dispensing articles, each container being controllable by the system to selectively dispense an article at a predetermined time, comprising

• program entry means for entering a selected time for dispensing articles and for entering container data indicative of containers from which respective articles are to be dispensed, said program means comprising first control means for entering the selected time and second control means for entering the container data, said first control means including interlock means for preventing the entry, unless cleared, of another time after the selected time has been entered and before a dispensing cycle for the containers has been completed, said interlock means conditioning said second control means for entry of said container data,
• means for providing clock signals,
• sequencing means for receiving a start signal and being responsive to said clock signals for providing sequential sampling signals, and
• third control means responsive to the container data from said second control means and responsive to the sampling signals from said sequencing means for interrogating logic circuit means for the respective containers, said third control means being responsive to said container data and said sampling signals for providing first output control signals corresponding to containers from which articles are to be dispensed.

An electronic system for article dispensing apparatus wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of containers for dispensing articles, each container being controllable by the system to selectively dispense an article at a predetermined time, comprising

• program entry means for entering a selected time for dispensing articles and for entering container data indicative of containers from which respective articles are to be dispensed, said program means comprising first control means for entering the selected time and second control means for entering container data, said program means including display means for displaying the selected time and for displaying numbers corresponding to the containers from which articles are to be dispensed,
• sequencing means for receiving a start signal and being responsive to clock signals for providing sequential sampling signals,
• third control means responsive to the container data from said second control means and responsive to the sampling signals from said sequencing means for interrogating logic circuit means for the respective containers, said third control means being responsive to said container data and said sampling signals for providing first output control signals corresponding to containers from which articles are to be dispensed, and
• a plurality of solenoids responsive to said first control signals from said third control means for activating respective containers for dispensing articles, a solenoid for a selected container causing said selected container to index a predetermined amount for dispensing an article therefrom.