Pill count sensor for automatic medicament dispensing machine

A sensor using visible light to detect a medicament located in a detection zone for use in an automatic medicament dispensing machine, the sensor comprising:

• an emitter operable to emit the visible light;
• a detector positioned substantially opposite and spaced apart from the emitter and operable to detect the emitted visible light, wherein the emitter and detector define the detection zone therebetween;
• a sensor amplifier operable to record an initial value of the detected visible light, sense changes therein, and generate a sense signal when less than the initial value of visible light is detected corresponding to a medicament passing through the detection zone;
• and
• a control board operable to receive the sense signal and to cause a medicament count to be incremented.

A medicament dispensing machine for dispensing and counting countable medicaments, the medicament dispensing machine comprising:

• a plurality of medicament dispensers operable to store and dispense medicaments;
• a plurality of vial dispensers operable to dispense empty vials;
• a vial gripping mechanism operable to move within the machine for retrieving and transporting vials;
• a sensor carried on the vial gripping mechanism and using electromagnetic energy to count medicaments as they pass through a detection zone, the sensor including
• an emitter operable to emit the electromagnetic energy,
• a detector positioned substantially opposite and spaced apart from the emitter and operable to detect the emitted electromagnetic energy, wherein the emitter and detector define the detection zone therebetween,
• a sensor amplifier operable to sense changes in the detected electromagnetic energy and generate a sense signal corresponding to a sensed change in the detected electromagnetic energy caused by a medicament passing through the detection zone, and
• a control board operable to receive the sense signal and to cause a medicament count to be incremented;
• and
• a computing device operable to receive input related to dispensing and counting the countable medicaments, wherein the computing device is operationally coupled with the control board and further operable to control a prescription filling process.

A method of counting medicaments within a detection zone, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) emitting and detecting electromagnetic energy across the detection zone;
• b) recording an initial value of the detected electromagnetic energy;
• c) comparing, on a continuous basis, the detected electromagnetic energy with the initial value;
• d) detecting a change in the electromagnetic energy as a medicament passes through the detection zone and blocks a portion of the emitted electromagnetic energy;
• e) generating a sense signal when a change in the electromagnetic energy is detected, corresponding to the medicament being located in the detection zone;
• and
• f) utilizing the sense signal to increment a count of the medicaments.