# US 5,344,043 A · Dispenser especially adapted for dispensing medication units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,344,043 A - Document ID: US5344043A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/060,829 - Filed: 1993-05-10 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1989-09-29 - Assignees: Thomas S. Moulding - Inventors: Thomas S. Moulding; Donald G. Ellis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344043A ## CPC - G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)} - A61J 7/0076: {Medicament distribution means (with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00)} - B65G 47/1407: {the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl} - B65G 65/42: using belt or chain conveyors - A61J 1/03: for pills or tablets (containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04) - A61J 7/04: Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers - A61J 2205/70: Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages - B65G 2207/14: Combination of conveyors - 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}) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A dispenser for medication units such as pills, tablets, caplets, and capsules which allows dispensing of a single medication unit upon the simple push of a button or verbal request includes a control system which allows convenient changes, optionally responsive to instructions from a physician or other medical personnel via a modem over telephone lines, in the frequency and dosage of one medication in a regimen, without altering the schedule for other medications. The dispenser includes at least one elongated plastic band possessing at least one facing surface covered by a compressible material, such as elastomer foam, cloth, or brush bristles, having medication units sandwiched between the layers of the band or bands wound in abutting overlying relation on a storage reel. In order to dispense the medication units, rotating mechanisms unwind the band or bands from the storage reel onto separate take-up reel or reels, causing the dispensed medication units to fall and interrupt a light beam detector. Rotating mechanisms for the take-up reel or reels may comprise manual hand cranks, clock springs, or electric motors. A control system includes a CPU, memory, a timer, a modem, and an activation signal input device for regulating the amount, time, and frequency of administration, and for allowing changes in the medication regimen. A plurality of storage reels with associated take-up reels combined in a single dispenser allows dispensing of various different medications at different dosages and intervals depending upon the requirements of a particular medication regimen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 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 and for holding said objects in place between said layers of said at least one band by frictional engagement; and release means for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating two layers of said at least one band to dispense objects disposed between said layers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining tension on said at least one band to keep the layers of said at least one band in contact with each other on said storage reel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2, wherein said means for maintaining tension on said at least one band includes means for exerting a tension force away from said storage reel on said at least one band. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said release means comprises a moving means which interacts with a portion of said at least one band between two opposite ends of said at least one band to move said at least one band. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The dispenser of claim 4 in which said moving means comprises a sprocket which interacts with sprocket holes on said at least one band. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dispenser of claim 5 wherein further comprising a motor for turning said sprocket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The dispenser of claim 5 further comprising a hand crank for turning said sprocket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dispenser of claim 7 further comprising a ratchet for ensuring that said sprocket is rotated in only one direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The dispenser of claim 7 further comprising a clutch for selectively controlling the application of rotational force from said hand crank to said sprocket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said means for maintaining tension on said at least one band includes a means for restraining the motion of said storage reel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dispenser of claim 10 wherein said means for restraining the motion of said storage reel comprises a friction creating means. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The dispenser of claim 10, wherein said means for restraining the motion of said storage reel comprises a brake. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dispenser of claim 12, further comprising control means for selectively actuating and deactivating said brake. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The dispenser of claim 10 wherein said means for restraining the motion of said storage reel comprises a spring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least one surface of said at least one band comprises a high friction material for holding objects substantially in place between the layers of said at least one band on said storage reel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least one surface of said at least one band comprises a compressible material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The dispenser of claim 16, wherein said compressible material comprises elastomer foam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The dispenser of claim 16, wherein said compressible material comprises cloth. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The dispenser of claim 16, wherein said compressible material comprises a brush surface formed by a plurality of bristles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said release means for unwinding and separating said two layers of said at least one band comprises a take-up means operatively associated with said at least one band for unwinding said at least one band from said storage reel and separating said two layers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said release means for unwinding and separating said at least one band comprises at least one take-up reel operatively associated with said at least one band for winding said at least one band from said storage reel onto said at least one take-up reel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The dispenser of claim 21, further comprising means for applying a rotational force to said at least one reel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22, wherein said means for applying a rotational force comprises a motor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22, wherein said means for applying a rotational force comprises a spring. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein said means for applying a rotational force comprises a hand crank. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The dispenser of claim 25 further comprising a ratchet for ensuring that said rotational force is applied in only one direction. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The dispenser of claim 25 further comprising a clutch for selectively controlling the application of said rotational force from said hand crank to said at least one take up reel. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising means for advancing said at least one band in uniform distance increments. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The dispenser of claim 28 further comprising means for determining when said band has advanced a specific distance. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The dispenser of claim 28 further comprising control means responsive to movement of said band a specific distance for selectively controlling the dispensing of objects. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The dispenser of claim 28 in which said means for advancing said at least one band in uniform distance increments comprises a moving means which interacts with a portion of said at least one band between two opposite ends of said at least one band. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The dispenser of claim 28 wherein said objects to be dispensed are spaced along said at least one band such that said means for advancing said at least one band in uniform distance increments dispenses a uniform number of objects each time said at least one band is advanced. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The dispenser of claim 32 where said uniform number of objects is one object. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The dispenser of claim 28, wherein said at least one band comprises two bands formed by opposite end portions of a single, overfolded, elongated strip. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The dispenser of claim 34, further comprising means for securing said elongated strip to said storage reel adjacent a juncture of said bands at a transverse fold line of said elongated strip. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting dispensed objects released from between the layers of said at least one band. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The dispenser of claim 36, further comprising control means responsive to said detecting means for selectively controlling dispensing of objects. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The dispenser of claim 36, wherein said detecting means comprises a light source for producing a light beam and a sensor for detecting said light beam and interruptions of said light beam by the passage of objects therethrough. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said means for unwinding and separating said at least one band from said storage reel creates 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. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein facing surfaces of said layers comprise a high friction material for holding objects substantially in place between said layers. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein facing surfaces of said layers comprise a compressible material. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The dispenser of claim 41, wherein said compressible material comprises elastomer foam. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The dispenser of claim 41, wherein said compressible material comprises cloth. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The dispenser of claim 41, wherein said compressible material comprises a brush surface formed by a plurality of bristles. ### Claim 45 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising at least one wall surface disposed adjacent at least one side face of said storage reel for substantially preventing objects from moving out from between said layers of said at least one band wrapped on said storage reel. ### Claim 46 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a pair of wall surfaces disposed adjacent opposite side faces of said storage reel for substantially preventing objects from moving out from between said layers of said at least one band wrapped on said storage reel. ### Claim 47 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said storage reel is substantially circular. ### Claim 48 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising means for rotating said storage reel to wrap said at least one band thereon. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The dispenser of claim 48, wherein said means for rotating said storage reel comprises a handle operably attachable to said storage reel. ### Claim 50 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said at least one band comprises two bands. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The dispenser of claim 50, further comprising means for detecting removal of objects from between said bands. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The dispenser of claim 50 wherein said release means for unwinding and separating said bands comprises a pair of separate take-up means operatively associated with said bands for unwinding said bands from said storage reel and separating said bands. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The dispenser of claim 52 wherein said release means comprises a moving means which interacts with a portion of at least one of said bands between two opposite ends of said at least one band for moving said at least one band. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The dispenser of claim 53 wherein said moving means which interacts with a portion of said at least one band between two opposite ends of said at least one band comprises a sprocket which interacts with sprocket holes in said at least one band. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The dispenser of claim 54 further comprising a motor for turning said sprocket. ### Claim 56 (depends on 54) The dispenser of claim 54 further comprising a hand crank for turning said sprocket. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The dispenser of claim 56 further comprising a ratchet for ensuring that said sprocket is rotated in only one direction. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The dispenser of claim 56 further comprising a clutch for selectively controlling the application of rotational force from said hand crank to said sprocket. ### Claim 59 (depends on 52) The dispenser of claim 52 wherein said release means for unwinding and separating said bands from said storage reel includes means for separating said bands at a predetermined separation zone for releasing objects from between said bands in said separation zone and for allowing insertion of said objects between said bands at said separation zone to fill said dispenser. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The dispenser of claim 59 further comprising detecting means and 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. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) The dispenser of claim 60 wherein said means for positioning said separation zone comprises means for adjusting the spacing of said take-up reels dependent upon the number of wraps of said bands on said take-up reels. ### Claim 62 (depends on 60) The dispenser of claim 60, further comprising control means responsive to said detecting means for selectively controlling dispensing of objects. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The dispenser of claim 62, wherein said control means includes means for controlling the dispensing of objects in accordance with at least one programmable time parameter. ### Claim 64 (depends on 62) The dispenser of claim 62, wherein said control means includes means for controlling the dispensing of objects in accordance with at least one programmable quantity parameter. ### Claim 65 (depends on 62) The dispenser of claim 62, wherein said control means includes means for controlling the dispensing of objects in accordance with at least one programmable time parameter and at least one programmable quantity parameter. ### Claim 66 (depends on 62) The dispenser of claim 62, further comprising a communication means operably associated with said control means for allowing remote regulation of the dispensing of objects. ### Claim 67 (depends on 50) The dispenser of claim 50, wherein said release means for unwinding and separating said bands comprises a pair of spaced take-up reels operatively associated with said bands for separately winding said bands from said storage reel onto said take-up reels. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The dispenser of claim 67, further comprising means for applying a rotational force to each of said take-up reels. ### Claim 69 (depends on 68) The dispenser of claim 68, wherein said means for applying a rotational force comprises a spring. ### Claim 70 (depends on 68) The dispenser of claim 68, wherein said means for applying a rotational force comprises a motor. ### Claim 71 (depends on 67) The dispenser of claim 67, further comprising means for applying a rotational force to at least one of said take-up reels. ### Claim 72 (depends on 71) The dispenser of claim 71, wherein said means for applying a rotational force comprises a spring. ### Claim 73 (depends on 71) The dispenser of claim 71, wherein said means for applying a rotational force comprises a motor. ### Claim 74 (depends on 71) The dispenser of claim 71 wherein said means for applying a rotational force comprises a hand crank. ### Claim 75 (depends on 74) The dispenser of claim 74 further comprising a ratchet for ensuring that said at least one take up reel is rotated in only one direction. ### Claim 76 (depends on 74) The dispenser of claim 74 further comprising a clutch for selectively controlling the application of said rotational force. ### Claim 77 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of overlying band layers on said storage reel formed by wrapping said at least one band around said storage reel, said band layers possessing progressively increasing radial distances from the center of said storage reel. ### Claim 78 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising control means for selectively controlling the dispensing of objects. ### Claim 79 (depends on 78) The dispenser of claim 78, wherein said objects comprise medication units and said control means includes means for dispensing said medication units in accordance with a predetermined medication regimen. ### Claim 80 (depends on 79) The dispenser of claim 79, wherein said control means includes means for allowing modification of said medication regimen. ### Claim 81 (depends on 78) The dispenser of claim 78, wherein said control means includes means for controlling the dispensing of objects in accordance with at least one programmable time parameter. ### Claim 82 (depends on 78) The dispenser of claim 78, wherein said control means includes means for controlling the dispensing of objects in accordance with at least one programmable quantity parameter. ### Claim 83 (depends on 78) The dispenser of claim 78, wherein said control means includes means for controlling the dispensing of objects in accordance with at least one programmable time parameter and at least one programmable quantity parameter. ### Claim 84 (depends on 78) The dispenser of claim 78, further comprising a communication means operably associated with said control means for allowing remote regulation of the dispensing of objects. ### Claim 85 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of sets of storage reels and associated release means; and control means for selectively controlling the dispensing of objects from storage reels in each of said plurality of sets. ### Claim 86 (depends on 85) The dispenser of claim 85, wherein each of said plurality of sets of storage reels and associated release means comprise separate, selectively removable cartridges. ### Claim 87 (depends on 85) The dispenser of claim 85, wherein said objects comprise medication units and said control means includes means for dispensing said medication units in accordance with a predetermined medication regimen. ### Claim 88 (depends on 87) The dispenser of claim 87, wherein said control means includes means for allowing modification of said medication regimen. ### Claim 89 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a substantially moisture-proof container at least substantially enclosing said storage reel and said at least one band. ### Claim 90 (depends on 89) The dispenser of claim 89, further comprising an opening in said container for allowing removal of dispensed objects, said container possessing a substantially moisture-proof selectively openable cover. ### Claim 91 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein said objects comprise medication units. ### Claim 92 (depends on 91) The dispenser of claim 91, wherein said objects are selected from the group consisting of pills, tablets, caplets, and capsules. ### Claim 93 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. ### Claim 94 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. ### Claim 95 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.