Device that counts and dispenses pills

A workstation for dispensing a wide variety and range of pills of various shapes and sizes, said workstation comprising a plurality of physically standardized modules that are each electronically controlled and modified by their own specifically programmed microprocessor so as to provide diversity in each module to dispense a specifically-shaped and -sized pill, said workstation comprising:

• a plurality of physically standardized modules, each of which includes:
• a) temporary storage means for receiving a bulk loading of a number of pills, tablets, or capsules;
• b) a hollow, elongated tube having an inlet end and a dispensing end defining a flow axis therebetween, said hollow, elongated tube being rotatably supported so that said pills disposed therewithin will be caused to singulate along said flow axis, said hollow, elongated tube being in operative communication with said temporary storage means to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at said inlet end, in order to singulate and dispense said quantity from said dispensing, end substantially one at a time;
• c) drive means for rotating said hollow, elongated tube so that said quantity of pills will travel along said hollow, elongated tube alone said flow axis;
• and
• a programmed computer operatively connected to each drive means of said plurality of physically standardized modules for electronically modifying and controlling each module on an individual basis, said programmed computer rotationally controlling each module to provide dispensing of said specifically-shaped and -sized pill disposed therein.

A device for dispensing pills, comprising:

• temporary storage means for receiving a bulk loading of a number of pills, tablets, or capsules;
• a hollow, elongated tube having an inlet end, a dispensing end, and a longitudinal axis defining a flow direction for pills disposed therebetween, from said inlet end to said dispensing end, said hollow, elongated tube having an inner wall that supports a helix, said hollow, elongated tube being rotatably supported such that said helix will cause said pills disposed within said hollow, elongated tube to singulate along said longitudinal axis, said hollow, elongated tube being in operative communication with said temporary storage means to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at said inlet end, in order to singulate and dispense said quantity from said dispensing end substantially one at a time;
• drive means operatively connected to said hollow, elongated tube for rotating said hollow, elongated tube so that said quantity of pills will travel along said hollow, elongated tube in said flow direction;
• and
• a specifically programmed microprocessor operatively connected to said drive means of said hollow, elongated tube, for electronically controlling said drive means to drive said hollow, elongated tube in an individualized manner for dispensing a specifically-sized and -shaped pill disposed therein.

A device for dispensing pills, comprising:

• temporary storage means for receiving a bulk loading of a number of pills, tablets, or capsules;
• a hollow, elongated tube having a longitudinal axis defining a flow direction for pills disposed therein, from an inlet end to a dispensing end, said hollow, elongated tube having an inner wall that supports, and is attached to a helix so that said tube and said helix are rotatable together as a single unit, said hollow, elongated tube being rotatably supported so that said helix will cause said pills disposed within said hollow, elongated tube to singulate along said longitudinal axis, said hollow, elongated tube being in operative communication with said temporary storage means to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at said inlet end, in order to singulate said quantity and dispense said quantity from said dispensing end substantially one at a time;
• drive means operatively connected to said hollow, elongated tube for rotating said hollow, elongated tube such that said quantity of pills will travel along said hollow, elongated tube in said flow direction;
• and
• a specifically programmed microprocessor operatively connected to said drive means of said hollow, elongated tube, for electronically controlling said drive means to drive said hollow, elongated tube in an individualized manner for dispensing a specifically-sized, and -shaped pill disposed therein.

An interactive workstation for dispensing a wide variety and range of pills of various shapes and sizes, said workstation comprising:

• a hollow, elongated tube movably supported such that said pills disposed within said hollow, elongated tube will be caused to singulate along said longitudinal axis of said hollow, elongated tube, said tube being in operative communication with said container so as to receive a quantity of pills therefrom at an inlet end, in order to singulate and dispense said quantity from a dispensing end substantially one at a time;
• drive means for moving said hollow, elongated tube, said drive means comprising a cam and a gear for imparting regulated vibration to said hollow, elongated tube, and a timing drive belt for imparting rotational movement thereto;
• a microprocessor operatively connected to said drive means of each hollow, elongated tube, and having a program for controlling each module on an individual basis, said programmed computer controlling movement of each module to provide dispensing of said specifically-shaped and -sized pill disposed in each module, said program comprising a routine for intermittently moving said tube of each module as a quantity of dispensed pills approaches a target amount;
• and
• a computer operatively connected to each microprocessor for instructing an operator in a prescription filling operation sequence.