PILL DISPENSER

Abstract: Pill dispenser mechanism (10) in which a multilayered compartment is releasably attachable to a receptacle (C) for pills (P) in such a way that the pills (P) may be selectively advanced into one compartment layer (11), then by selective advancement of one of the compartment layers (12) transfer each pill (P) from the first compartment layer (11) into a discharge compartment (13) to permit sequential recovery of pills therefrom. In order to accommodate different sized pills, the compartment layers may be provided with different sized openings (22) and (27) to conform to the substantial size and configuration of a pill (P). Electrical sensing contact arms (C1, C2 and C3) may be associated with the compartment layers to sense for the purpose of recording the movement of a pill between one or more, or a combination of both, compartments.

Description: PILL DISPENSER Description of the Invention Background of the Invention This invention relates to dispensing methods and apparatus, particularly dispensing pills and recording the removal of each pill from a receptacle. The dispensing- of pills or tablets for medicinal purposes presents special problems in terms of effective removal of pills of different sizes and maintaining an accurate record of pills removed over extended periods. The problem is especially acute in hospitals where a great number must be dispensed one or more times a day to a great number of patients, and the nurse must maintain an accurate record of the number and types of pills dispensed. It is desirable to provide a means for dispensing pills conformable for use in cooperation with data processing systems so that an accurate record may be automatically maintained as a part of the day-to-day acti- vities of a hospital. Nevertheless, there is lacking an effective means for dispensing different configurations and sizes of medication in such a way as to assure deli¬ very without danger of jamming; yet permit the user to visually follow the progress of the pill, tablet or cap- sule as it progressively advances from a receptacle through a dispenser cap for selected release from a discharge opening in the cap. Summary of the Invention It is therefore an object of the present inven- tion to provide for dispensing pills or tablets from a container which is tamper-proof and prevents jamming or damage in the process of removal, to provide for a novel and improved dispensing apparatus capable of recording the number of pills recovered over a given time interval. ' A method and apparatus for dispensing pills and similar shaped articles is comprised of first compartment means in communication with a receptacle including a first channel-shaped compartment means operative to isolate one or more pills from the receptacle and to advance the pill into a slot therein; second transfer compartment means including a second compartment movable into alignment with the slot in said first compartment means to advance said pill from the slot in said first compartment means; and third discharge compartment means provided with an exit opening therein so that when the pill is advanced by the second compartment means away from communication with the slot in said first compartment means it is movable into alignment with the exit opening in the third compartment means for discharge of a pill therefrom. The slots in the first and second compartment means are sized in accordance with the size and configuration of pill to be removed; and each of said first and second compartment means is most desirably provided with different sized slots selectively utilized in combination with one another for the removal of a specified pill or tablet from a receptacle. Further associated with the transfer means are sensing means selectively responsive to advancement of a pill by said second compartment means , the sensing means being respon¬ sive to the direction of pill movement in a manner to discriminate pill removal from pill replacement. Considering certain other more detailed aspects and features of the present invention, most desirably the compartment means are defined by three superimposed disks which are operative to advance the pill into a channel in the uppermost disk. Once received the dispenser may be tipped to advance the pill into a slot in communication with the second disk, the latter functioning as the transfer 'compartment means. The second disk may be rotated relative to the upper and lowermost disks to rotate the pill into alignment with an exit opening in the lower disk whereupon the pill is free to pass through the exit opening of the dispenser cap assembly. Preferably the disks are of generally annular configuration with a common centrally located opening extending therethrough, and a transparent cover on the upper disk permits obser¬ vation of the advancement of the pills without jamming from the container to the dispenser cap assembly while maintaining the container fully sealed and assuring that only a single pill is removed at a time. The removal of a pill may be recorded by electrical contacts along the path of movement of the pill between the transfer compartment and discharge or exit opening, and the necessary circuitry for sensing, .recording and displaying removal of each pill may be self- contained within the dispenser cap. Different sized ope¬ nings ma be formed in each of the upper and intermediate disks and selectively matched by rotational adjustment to correspond to the size and configuration of pill to be removed. The term "pill" is understood to refer to a pill, tablet or capsule of various sizes and configura¬ tions; and as the description proceeds, it will become evident that the slots and openings provided for advan¬ cement of each pill may be varied to accommodate pills of different sizes and shapes. The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily appreciated and understood from the following description of preferred and alternate embodiments thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: BriefDescription of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of dispenser mechanism in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a an exploded view of the elements comprising the preferred form of dispenser mechanism shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the upper disk shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a somewhat schematic block diagram of a sensing and recording circuit for use in combination with the dispenser mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a plan view of an alternate pre¬ ferred form of dispenser mechanism in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser mechanism shown in Figure 5 and taken about lines 6-6 of Figure 5 but shown in assembled relation to a container or receptacle; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken about lines 7-7 of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the modified form of invention illustrated in Figures 5 to 7; Figure 9 is an exploded view of the dispenser mechanism of the modified form of invention as shown in Figures 5 to 8; Figure 10 is a plan view of a modified form of insert and guide slot in the upper disk assembly of Figures 1 to 3 to vary the opening size of the slot; and Figure 11 is a plan view of a modified form of insert and opening for the intermediate disk assembly of Figures 1 and 2 to vary the effective size of the opening in accordance with the opening size of the guide slot in the upper disk member shown in Figure 10. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Preferring to the drawings, in Figures 1 to 3 a preferred dispensing mechanism is broadly comprised of a dispenser cap 10 threaded or releasably secured over the mouth of a conventional container or receptacle C for pills P. The dispenser cap 10 is made up of a series of superimposed annular disks 11, 12 and 13 which are coaxially secured to form a common central opening 14 adapted to fit over the mouth of the container C. In addition, the dispenser cap assembly has an upper flat, generally circular transparent cover 15 fastened to the uppermost disk 11 by suitable fasteners or screws 16. Suitable locking means, not shown, lock the cap onto the bottle to prevent removal. The upper disk 11 has an outer thickened ring or shelf 18 surrounding a relatively thin, inner ledge 19, the latter being generally flat and extending radially inwardly from the lower edge of the shelf to terminate in an inner edge 20 which forms the surrounding edge of the central opening 14. A slot 22 extends through the thickness of the shelf 18 with its .inner edge in com¬ munication with the ledge 19, the slot being sized to con¬ form to the size and configuration of one of the pills P and of a diameter just greater than the pill. Middle disk 12 comprises the transfer portion of the disk assembly with a flat annular portion 24 slightly greater in diameter than the upper disk 11 and the lower disk 13. The portion 24 has an external knurled or roughened edge 25. A pin 26 projects upwardly from the upper surface of the annular portion 24 diametrically opposed to a generally circular slot 27, the latter pro¬ vided with an inclined inner edge 27 ' to prevent jamming of pills in the opening 27. An annular groove 28 extends around the inner edge of the annular portion 24 in communi-cation with the inner edge of the opening 27 as illustrated at 27". To control the limits of movement of the intermediate disk 12, a pin 29 projects upwardly from the disk 12 into a circumferential groove 29 ' in the underside- of disk 11. The circumferential length of groove 29 ' limits rotation of disk 12 so that at one extreme the hole 27 in disk 12 is in alignment with slot •^IJRE O PI 22 of disk 11 while at the other extreme the hole 27 is in alignment with the discharge hole 36 in disk 13. A coiled spring 30 has one end 31 affixed to the pin 26 and the opposite end 32 affixed to a pin 33 pressfit into a bore at one end of groove 35 in the undersurface of the shelf portion 18 of the upper disk, as shown in Figure 3. The spring 30 is partially inserted into circumferentially extending groove 35 to return the disk 12 to the position in which the hole 27 is in alignment with the slot 22. The lower disk 13 has a central hub 37 and internally threaded portion 38 to threadedly engage the exter nally threaded mouth of the container C. A flat annular rim 39 is affixed to the upper end of the hub and is provided with the discharge opening 36 therein. The central hub 37 is provided with an upper edge 40 which projects slightly above the rim 39 and intersects circum¬ ferentially spaced holes 42 to receive upwardly projecting screws 44 threaded into bores 42' on the underside of the disk 11 so as to interconnect the disks 11 and 13. A switch contact ring or band 45 surrounds the upper edge 40, and bores 46 of limited size extend through the thickness of the rim 39 so as to permit downward insertion of wires 47 from the band 45. The band 45 is provided further with spring contact arms Cτ_, C2 r and C3 which extend radially outwardly from the band at spaced circum¬ ferential intervals. The upper and lower disk assembly 11 and 13 as described is preferably fixed within a shell 50, the shell being generally cup-shaped with a lower annular portion 51 and upwardly projecting wall 52 having circum- ferentially spaced, threaded openings 53 for receiving screw-type fasteners which extend through mating openings 39' in the rim 39 of the disk 13. The alignment between the rim 39 'and shell 50 is such that the discharge opening 36 is aligned with a recess 54 in the external wall 52 of the shell so as to form a discharge chute for removal of each pill as it passes downwardly through the opening 36 in the lower disk. The intermediate disk 12 journaled between the upper and lower disks 11 and 13 with the inner groove 28 on the intermediate disk 12 horizontally aligned with the contact arms Cτ_, C2 -and C3 of the band 45 which is fixed with respect to the movement of the intermediate disk 12. The contact arms Cτ_, C2, and C3 are circumferentially spaced and biased radially outwardly so that as the opening 27 advances across each of the contact arms, the arm will project through the recessed slot 27' ' into the opening 27. However, if a pill is present within the opening 27, it will engage the contact arm to force the arm radially in an inward direction against a stationary contact 58 for each arm which is connected to the wire leads 47. Thus, the contact arms Cτ_/ C2 and C3 sense the presence of a pill or tablet within the opening 27, the contact arm Ci being positioned in the path of the opening 27 as it is advanced away from the upper opening 22 of the upper disk 11, the middle contact arm C2 being positioned intermediately between the extreme limits of movement of the opening 27, and the arm C3 being aligned in the path of the opening 27 as it moves into alignment with the lower opening 36. One form of sensing and recording circuit is illustrated in Figure 4 to sense removal of a pill from the dispenser. As illustrated in Figure 4, the sensing circuitry shown utilizes the clocked signals through flip- flops FF^ to FFg to detect pill movement: Closure of the contact arm or switch C ] _ transmits two data bits into a pair of flip-flops FFj_ and FF2- Upon closure of a switch C 2 , two data bits are clocked into a second pair of flip- flops FF3'a d FF4. Finally, upon closure of the third switch C3, one of the data bits is clocked into a third stage flip-flop FF5. Thus, if either or both of the OMPI contact arms Cι_ and C2 are closed prior to closure of the contact arm 03, the logic states of the flip-flops are not changed, and actual removal of a pill is not signaled until the arrival of data at the outputs from the third stage flip-flop FF5. The values of the two data bits which were set at the first switch closure indicate whether the pill movement was a pill removal or replacement. In the circuit, signals S-_ , S2 and S3 are normally held low by their connection to ground through resistors R__ , R a nd R3. When a switch is closed, its corresponding signal is high and, when C^ goes high, a pill removal is anticipated by setting flip-flop FF ] _ and clearing FF2. When C3 goes high, a pill replacement event is anticipated by clearing FFτ_ and setting FF2« When C2 goes high, the output of FFi is clocked into FF3 and the output of F2 is clocked into FF4." With each closure of Ci, the output of FF4 is clocked into FFς; and with each closure of C3, the output of FF3 is clocked into FF5. Clocking of a logic "1" into either FF5 or FFg signals a pill movement by causing a "1-0" transition of the signal E from NOR gate G into the three-stage monostable multi¬ vibrator circuit which, for example, may have a series of three CD4001 integrated circuit chips, the multivibrator circuit represented at 48. The output of the first stage multivibrator may be directed to a suitable memory while the output from the second stage is directed to a binary counter, such as, an integrated circuit chip CD4516. The "1-0" transition of the signal E initiates a series of events which deliver timing pulses for storage of information, updating the pill count, and resetting all second and third stage flip-flops. The sequence of three pulses for triggering these three events is obtained from the cascaded series of the three negative edge triggered half monostables 48. Thus the pulse in the first of the monostables is the "store" pulse for data storage, the second pulse is the clock pulse for the binary counter B which counts the pills removed, and the pulse from the third of the series resets the second and third stage flip-flops FF3 to FFg. When the clock pulse arrives, the binary counter increments the pill count if the signal from FF5 is "1" and_decrements the pill count if the signal from FF5 is "0". Thus, the outputs from the binary counter indicate the total number of pills removed. The master reset switch designated M' serves to reset the counter to "0" and reset all second and third stage flip- flops FF3 to FFg to establish the proper initial state for pill passage sensing or detection. In operation, when a pill passes the first con¬ tact arm C_ to close its switch, the output of FF]_ is set to a level "1" and the output of FF2 is cleared to a level "0". Any additional spurious closures- of C merely sets the same values again and has no effect on the state of the logic. When the pill passes arm C2/ closure of its switch causes the outputs of FF j _ and FF2 to be clocked into FF3 and FF4, as a result of which FF3 will have an output of "1" and FF4 an output of "0". Additional clo¬ sures of C2 will clock the same values into FF3 and FF4 so as not to change the logic state. When the pill passes arm C3, the logic "1" from FF3 is clocked into FF5 so as to cause a "1-0" transition in the signal E. The value "1" of the output of FF5 indicates that a pill was actually removed; however, if the pill had passed by the switches in the opposite sequence, the output of FF5 would have been "0" at the time of the pill passage indicating that the event was replacement as opposed to removal of a pill. If desired, a suitable display of the pill count from the counter B, along with the event pulses generated by the half-monostable 48 can be incorporated into the dispenser mechanism by directing the output of the binary counter B through additional logic as represented at D, then into any suitable display or recording device such as that represented at L. Although not shown, the sensing and recording circuit as shown in Figure 4 is preferably contained within the hollow interior of the shell 50 such that the display L is exposed in the external wall of the shell. In use, the inner portion of disk 11 forms a subcompartment above the bottle into which one or two pills can be placed and can be visualized by virtue of the transparent top or cover 15 which is secured by fasteners 16 over the top surface of the upper disk 11 in the manner shown in Figure 1. The inner edge 18' of the shelf 18 serves to guide each pill along the inner surface 19 into the slot or opening 22. Once the pill is seated within the opening 22, it will become aligned with the inter¬ mediate opening 27 in the disk 12 and pass by gravity into position within the intermediate opening 27. The inclined edge 27* on the trailing edge of the opening 27 of the intermediate disk will prevent jamming of the mechanism in the event that another pill overlies the first pill since it will be forced away from the slot 27 of intermediate disk 12 as it is rotated with respect to the upper disk 11. As the intermediate disk is rotated against the urging of the spring 30, it will advance the pill toward alignment with the opening 36 in the lower disk 13. Further, as previously described, the pill will suc¬ cessively engage the contact switch arms Cτ_, C2 and C3 first engaging Cτ_ as it is rotated away from the upper slot or opening 22 and then engaging C2 . and finally C3 before it moves into alignment with the lower opening 36. Sequential closure of the switch arms Cτ_, C2 and C3 assure complete removal of a pill which is counted and stored within the buffer or storage module positioned bet¬ ween the hub portion 37 and shell 50 and which information may be displayed in the same area. OMPI Dispenser mechanism 60 shown in Figures 5 to 9 is constructed for interchangeable use in dispensing dif¬ ferent sized pills or tablets. To this end, the dispensing mechanism 60 is comprised of an upper disk 61, intermediate disk 62 and a lower disk 63. The upper disk comprises a pair of_disk elements 64 and 65, the element 65 being a relatively thick but flat circular plate with a central opening 66 and inner and outer spaced concentric ledges 67 and 68 which form a channel 69 for insertion of the disk element 64. The innermost ledge 67 is in the form of an arcuate guide which is tapered symmetrically into spaced circumferential edges 70 flanking opposite sides of a flat surface portion 71, the latter extending between the central opening 66 and pill discharge opening 72. As a result, the flat surface portion 71 diverges away from the central opening toward the discharge opening 72 in order to encourage the movement of a pill or tablet away from the central opening and into the discharge, opening in a manner similar to that described with respect to Figures 1 and 2. In turn, the disk element 64 is in the form of a relatively thin plate to occupy the channel- shaped space 69 in the disk element 65, the disk element held in an aligned position relative to disk 65 by a spring-loaded detent 74 which projects outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the disk 64 and is adapted to engage one of a series of depressions 75 along the inner peripheral edge of the ledge 68. The disk element 64 is formed with a series of grooves or recesses as designated by the letters a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and j. For example the groove e is generally oblong to correspond to the size of an elongated capsule or pill P 1 to be dispensed from container C. When the groove e is aligned over the discharge opening 72, it will encourage alignment of the pill within the groove e before it can be released through the discharge opening. Each of grooves a to j can - iJ-.E OMPI IPO be aligned with the discharge opening 72 by rotating the disk element 64 until the opening e is properly aligned with the discharge opening 72, at which position the spring-loaded detent engages one of the depressions 75 to retain the disk element 64 in position. The intermediate, rotatable disk 62 is a transfer compartment for advancement of a pill from the upper disk section 61 into the lower disk section 63, Intermediate disk 62 comprises an outer ring element 78 provided with an external roughened edge 79 and an inner wall 80 provided with a series of depressions 81 spaced along surface 80. An annular disk element 82 is dimen¬ sioned for close-fitting insertion concentrically within the ring 78, the disk element 82 being an annular plate with a series of openings a' through j' essentially corresponding to the grooves a to j of the upper disk element; the only variation is that the openings a' through j* do not intrude into the inner edge of the disk and are formed entirely within the thickness of the disk. In addition, the inner edge 83 is provided with a circum- ferentially extending groove 84 which extends into the slots a' to j* and serves a function corresponding to that of the groove 28 in Figures 1 and 2; and the slots a 1 to j' similarly may have inclined planes comparable to the inclined plane 27 ' . In the intermediate disk assembly, the inner disk element 82 has a spring-loaded detent 85 to engage one of a series of depressions 81 at the inner edge of the ring 78 so that a selected opening e 1 may be aligned in the same relationship to the entire disk assembly as the slot e. The disk element 82 is supported within the ring 78 by upper and lower cover plates 86 and 87 which are secured to upper and lower edges of the ring by suitable fasteners, not shown, advanced through limited openings 88 in the outer eri^i.eral edge of the plates into correspondingly spaced openings 89 on the upper and lower surfaces of the inner wall portion 80 of the ring 78. The cover plates 86 and 87 are correspondingly formed with keyways 90 which extend radially from the central opening 91 and are aligned with the openings a 1 to j'. The plates 86 and 87 are preferably formed of a material which will form moisture shields on opposite sides of the inter¬ mediate disk assembly and minimize frictional resistance to rotation of the intermediate disk 82. The annular lower disk 63 has a central opening 94 which, as shown in Figure 6, is threaded for connection to the mouth M of the container C. The enlarged opening 94 communicates with a central opening 95 which corres¬ ponds to the opening 66 in the upper disk assembly. The upper surface of the disk 63 is relatively flat, except for an upstanding ledge 96 in surrounding relation to the central opening and a generally U-shaped recess 98 which extends radially outwardly from the ledge through the greater thickness of the disk 63 to serve as a means of discharge for pills passing through the aligned openings in the disk assembly. The disk 63 is also provided with an internal cavity 100 extending throughout the interior of the disk as shown in Figure 6 to house suitable control or logic circuitry for use in cooperation with the sensing contacts as described with reference to the form of inven¬ tion shown in Figures 1 and 2. The disks are assembled together with the annu¬ lar ledge 73 on the upper disk element projecting down¬ wardly within the ledge 96 of the lower disk 63, and are secured by screws 101 which pass through the holes 102 in disk 63 and into threaded bores 102' in disk 65, as shown in Figure 7, in the same manner as the cooperating holes 42, bores '42' and screws 44 of Figures 1 to 3. A transparent cover plate 104 is fastened to the upper disk element 65 by suitable fasteners 105 which O PI into spaced openings 106 in the upper surface of the outer ledge 68 of the disk so as to complete the assembly and interconnection of elements making up the dispensing cap. The intermediate disk assembly 62 is sandwiched between the upper and lower disk assemblies 61 and 63 but is free to rotate independently of the upper and lower disks in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Again, a coiled spring 108 has one free end 109 affixed to a pin 110 on the upper surface of the plate 86 of the intermediate disk assembly while the opposite end of the spring has a pin 112 insertable into an opening in the undersurface of the disk element 65. The spring 108 is inserted into an annular groove 114 in the undersurface of the upper disk element, and locator pin 111, shown in Figure 9, is inserted into inner groove 113 as shown in Figure 7. When assembled, the spring 108 will normally urge the intermediate disk to a position causing the selected discharge opening a' to j' to be aligned with opening 72 in the upper disk and substantially offset from the discharge shelf 98 in the lower disk assembly. However, when the intermediate disk assembly is rotated against the urging of the spring 108, it will advance the discharge opening selected in the intermediate disk assembly into alignment with the opening 98 and, if a pill is present, will permit the pill to drop from the opening a 1 to j' in the intermediate disk assembly into the discharge shelf 98. When the intermediate disk assembly 62 is released, the spring force will return the disk 62 into its original alignment. Although not illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, the sensing circuitry and contact arms as described in Figures 2 and 4 may be utilized effectively in association with the alternate embodiment of Figures 5 to 9 and'mounted in the same identical manner such that the contact arms are aligned with the internal groove 84 of the intermediate disk assembly. In selecting the slots a to j and openings a' to j ' , the cover 104 must be removed to permit access to the disk elements 64 and 82 so that their respective disk ele¬ ments can be rotated until the desired slot or opening, as the case may be, is aligned to correspond with the pill to be dispensed. This.may be accomplished by rotating the upper disk element 64 with the finger; and by rotating the disk element 82 with a slender rod or pick having a lower bent end which is inserted through the opening in the upper disk to engage a sidewall of the aligned opening in the intermediate disk and successively advancing the ope¬ nings until the proper opening in the intermediate disk is aligned with the upper opening. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a modification of the preferred form of invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 whereby the dispenser cap may be usable for different sized pills by varying the effective opening size of the guide slot 22' and the opening 27' ! l in the upper disk 11 and intermediate disk 12, respectively. An insert 110 has a generally rectangular body with a slotted portion 130 and outwardly projecting, spaced ribs 132 which are adapted for insertion . into correspondingly spaced grooves 134 in the surrounding edge of a rectangular-shaped guide slot 22'. The ribs are of a width substantially corresponding to the width of the grooves to enable close- fitting insertion of the insert 110 in order to reduce the opening size of the slot to that as illustrated at 130. Figure 11 illustrates an insert 116 of generally rec¬ tangular form sized to correspond to the size of the opening 27 ' ' ' in the intermediate disk 12 and having an opening 118. A pair of spaced ribs 120 project outwardly from the ring for close-fitting insertion in grooves 122 extending from the edge of the opening 27 ' ' ' and aligned beneath the grooves 134 shown in Figure 10. The opening 118 is sized to correspond to that of the slot 130 in the OMP insert 110 so as to provide a matched opening for movement of a pill from the slot 130 into the opening 118. Insertion of the inserts 110 and 116 may be readily accomplished by removing the transparent cover 15, turning the disk 12 until the opening 27* ' ' is positioned under the slot 22* in the upper disk 11 and successively placing the insert 116 into the lower opening 27' * ' and placing insert 110 into the upper guide slot 22*. It is therefore to be understood that various modifications and changes in the construction and arrange¬ ment of parts employed in the preferred form of invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. - EXΪ OMPI

Claims: I claim: 1. A pill dispenser adapted for selective remo¬ val of pills from a receptacle, comprising: first compartment means in communication with said receptacle including guide means adapted to receive at least one pill from said receptacle and to iso¬ late said pill in said first compartment means from the other pills in said receptacle; transfer means including a second compart¬ ment provided with a transfer opening in communication with said guide means in said first compartment means, said transfer opening adapted to receive a pill from said guide means when said transfer opening is aligned with said guide means, said transfer means operative to advance said transfer opening away from alignment with said guide means; and discharge means including an exit opening therein, said exit opening being alignable with said transfer opening when said transfer means advances a pill retained in said transfer opening away from said guide means into alignment with said exit opening whereby to permit retrieval of a pill which is advanced by said transfer means into said exit opening. 2. A pill dispenser according to claim 1, said first and second compartments defined by a plurality of superimposed layers, said transfer means being interposed between said first compartment means and said discharge means. 3. A pill dispenser according to claim 1, said first and second compartments and said discharge means being in the form of superimposed layers provided with a common opening therein, said guide means having a channel- OMPI shaped guide portion in communication with said receptacle through said common opening, and a transparent cover on said first compartment means. 4. A pill dispenser according to either of claims 1 and 3, said- transfer means including a plurality of transfer openings of different sizes, and means for selectively positioning one of said transfer openings for alignment with said guide means so as to receive a pill from said guide means. 5. A pill dispenser according to claim 4, said guide means provided with a plurality of guide slots of different sizes, each slot conforming to the size and con¬ figuration of a pill to be dispensed. 6. A pill dispenser according to claim 5, said transfer means including a plurality of transfer openings corresponding in size to that of the guide slots in said first compartment means, and means for rotationally adjusting the alignment of said transfer openings with respect to said first compartment means to selectively align one of said transfer openings with a correspondingly sized guide slot in said first compartment means. 7. A pill dispenser according to claim 1, including sensing means responsive to advance-ment of said transfer means to sense the presence of a pill removed from said guide means in said first compartment means into said transfer opening in said second compartment. 8. A pill dispenser according to claim 7, said sensing means including means operative to sense advan¬ cement of a pill between said second compartment and said exit opening. 9. A pill dispenser according to claim 7, said sensing means including at least one sensing member aligned with said transfer opening in said second compart¬ ment and responsive to engagement with a pill in said transfer opening to transmit a signal, and recording means associated with said, sensing means responsive to receipt of a signal from said sensing member to record the pre¬ sence of a pill in said transfer opening in said second compartment means. 10. A pill dispenser according to claim 9, said sensing means having a pair of sensing members in the path of movement of said transfer opening in said second compartment, each said sensing member responsive to the presence of a pill in said transfer opening to transmit a signal to said recording means. 11. A pill dispenser according to claim 10, one of said sensing members disposed in fixed relation to said second compartment and movable into the path of said transfer opening in said second compartment when said transfer opening approaches the exit opening in said discharge means. 12. A pill dispenser according to claim 10, said sensing means including a series of three circumferen- tially spaced sensing members disposed in the path of movement of said transfer opening in said second compartment, each said sensing member responsive to the presence of a pill in said transfer opening to transmit a signal to said recording means when a pill has been removed from the dispenser without spurious indications of removal irrespective of any reversals in the direction of the pill during the course of removal. 13. In a pill dispenser wherein a receptacle is provided for the storage of a plurality of pills, and a plurality of compartments are arranged in superimposed relation to one another for the selective removal of pills sequentially from said receptacle, the improvement comprising: said compartments including a first com¬ partment having a transparent cover and a channel-shaped portion in communication with said receptacle whereby to isolate at least one pill received from said receptacle in said channel-shaped portion, and a guide slot in com¬ munication with said channel-shaped portion; a second transfer compartment provided with a transfer slot therein, said transfer compartment and said first compartment being relatively rotatable with respect to one another whereby a pill can be advanced from the guide slot in said first compartment into said transfer slot in said second transfer compartment when said guide slot and said transfer slot are aligned; and sensing means associated with said compart- ments operative to sense the presence of a pill in said transfer slot in said second compartment means. 14. In a pill dispenser according to claim 13, said second transfer compartment being rotatable with respect to said first compartment, said sensing means defined by an electrical contact member disposed in the path of advancement of said slot in said transfer compart¬ ment and movable through a recessed portion in the surrounding edge of said slot to sense the presence of a pill in said transfer slot of said second transfer compartment. 15. In a pill dispenser according to claim 13, said sensing means defined by at least a pair of circum- ferentially spaced, electrical contact members in the path of advancement of said transfer slot in said transfer com- partment and each contact member operative to transmit a signal in response to the presence of a pill in said transfer slot when said transfer slot is advanced across the path of each respective electrical contact member. 16. In a pill dispenser according to claim 13, said first compartment provided with a plurality of slots of different sizes arranged in concentric relation to said channel-shaped portion, each of said slots corresponding to the size of a pill to be removed being selectively movable into communication with said channel-shaped portion. 17. In a pill dispenser according to claim 16, said second transfer compartment provided with a plurality of openings substantially corresponding in size to said plurality of slots in said first compartment, and means for selectively advancing one of said slots in said transfer compartment means into a position so as to register with a selected slot communicating with said channel-shaped portion in said first compartment when said transfer compartment is rotated with respect.to said first compartment for the removal of a pill from said selected slot in said first compartment into the selected opening of said transfer compartment. 18. In a pill dispenser according to claim 17, each of said first compartment and said transfer compart¬ ments having a concentric ring in which said plurality of slots and plurality of openings are positioned, respectively, and means for rotationally adjusting said concentric rings to predispose a selected slot and selected opening for movement into alignment with one ' QREA OMPI_ another according to the size of pill being dispensed therefrom. 19. A pill dispenser cap having a common opening adapted for engagement with the mouth of a receptacle con¬ taining a plurality-of pills of predetermined size, said dispenser cap comprising: a plurality of superimposed disks of annu¬ lar configuration to define the common opening in said dispenser cap, said uppermost disk defining a first com¬ partment having a transparent cover and channel-shaped portion on its upper surface adapted to receive a pill from said receptacle and to isolate said pill from the other pills in said receptacle, and guide slot means in said uppermost disk disposed in communication with said channel-shaped portion to receive a pill in said channel-shaped portion; an intermediate disk rotatable with respect to said uppermost disk being provided with a transfer slot adapted to receive a pill from said guide slot means in said uppermost disk when said transfer slot is aligned therewith; and a lower discharge disk provided with a discharge opening therein, said discharge opening alignable with said transfer slot when said intermediate disk is rotated to advance a pill retained in said trans¬ verse slot into alignment with said discharge opening so as to permit retrieval of a pill through said discharge opening. 20. A pill dispenser cap according to claim 19, including sensing means responsive to advancement of said transfer ' slot to sense the presence of a pill removed from said guide slot in said uppermost disk into said transfer slot in said intermediate disk, said sensing means including means operative to sense advancement of a pill between said uppermost disk and said discharge opening in said lower discharge disk, and further including an electrical contact member aligned with said transfer slot in said intermediate disk and responsive to engagement with a pill in said-intermediate disk to transmit a signal, and recording means associated with said sensing means responsive to receipt of a signal from said electri¬ cal contact member to record the presence of a pill in said transfer slot. 21. A pill dispenser cap according to claim 19, further including insert portions in said guide slot means and said transfer slot to vary the effective size of said guide slot means and said transfer slot, respectively, to coincide with the configuration and size of pill to be discharged therethrough. 22. In a pill dispenser adapted for selective removal of pills from a receptacle wherein transfer means are provided to receive a pill from said receptacle and advance said pill into registry with an exit opening for removal of a pill therefrom, the improvement comprising: sensing means including at least one electrical contact member responsive to advancement of said transfer means to sense the presence of a pill in said transfer means to transmit a signal indicating the presence of a pill in said transfer means; and recording means associated with said sensing means responsive to receipt of a signal from said electrical contact member to record the presence of a pill in said slot in said second compartment means. 23. In a pill dispenser according to claim 22, there being a pair of electrical contact members in the ^S^EΛ O PI path of movement of said transfer means, each said electrical contact member responsive to the presence of a 5 pill therein to transmit a signal to said recording means. 24. In a pill dispenser according to claim 23, said second electrical contact member being disposed in fixed relation to said transfer means and movable into the path of said pill when said transfer means approaches the 5 exit opening. 25. In a pill dispenser according to claim 23, including a series of three spaced electrical contact mem¬ bers disposed in the path of movement of a pill in said transfer means, each said contact member responsive to the 5. presence of a pill in said transfer means to transmit ' a signal to said recording means when a pill has been removed from the dispenser without spurious indications of removal irrespective of any reversals in the direction of the pill during the course of removal.

Inventors: ELLIS DONALD G, MOULDING THOMAS S JR, ELLIS, DONALD, G., MOULDING, THOMAS, S., JR.
Applicants: MOULDING THOMAS S JR, MOULDING, THOMAS, S., JR.
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B65D83
IPC codes: B65D83