Dispenser especially adapted for dispensing medication units

A dispenser for dispensing objects, comprising:

• a storage reel mounted for rotation;
• at least one band at least partially wrapped around said storage reel for holding objects to be dispensed in frictional engagement between adjacent layers of said at least one band;
• said at least one band including at least one surface comprising a compressible material disposed for contact with objects to be dispensed;
• at least one take-up reel operatively associated with said at least one band for unwinding said at least one band away from said storage reel and separating adjacent layers of said at least one band for releasing objects disposed between said layers;
• means for applying a rotational force to said at least one take-up reel for maintaining sufficient tension on said at least one band to keep layers of said at least one band in contact with each other on said storage reel except in regions separated by objects to be dispensed so as to hold objects substantially in place between adjacent layers of said at least one band solely by frictional engagement;
• and
• means for selectively preventing and allowing rotation of said storage reel for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two adjacent layers of said at least one band to dispense objects in a controlled manner.

A dispenser for dispensing objects, comprising:

• a storage reel mounted for rotation;
• at least one band at least partially wrapped around said storage reel for holding objects to be dispensed in frictional engagement between adjacent layers of said at least one band;
• and
• release means for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two adjacent layers of said at least one band to dispense objects disposed between said layers;
• said means for unwinding and separating said adjacent layers of at least one band from said storage reel creating a separation zone between the layer which is unwinding from said storage reel and the next layer of said band on said storage reel for releasing objects from between said layers of said at least one band in said separation zone and for allowing insertion of said objects between said layers at said separation zone to fill said dispenser;
• and
• detecting means and positioning means for positioning said separation zone relative to said detecting means such that objects released at said separation zone are detected by said detecting means.

A dispenser for dispensing objects, comprising:

• a storage reel mounted for rotation;
• at least one band at least partially wrapped around said storage reel for holding objects to be dispensed in frictional engagement between adjacent layers of said at least one band;
• at least one facing surface of said at least one band comprising a material having a coefficient of friction sufficient to inhibit motion of objects to be dispensed when tension on said band keeps said surface in contact with the surface of an adjacent layer of said band on said storage reel;
• means for maintaining sufficient tension on said at least one band to keep adjacent layers of said at least one band in contact with each other on said storage reel except in regions separated by objects to be dispensed so as to hold said objects in place between said layers of said at least one band solely by frictional engagement;
• and
• release means for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two adjacent layers of said at least one band to dispense objects disposed between said layers.