Patent Publication Number: US-6216910-B1

Title: Automatic article dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, in general, to article dispensers and, specifically, to article dispensers for dispensing articles, such as pills, vitamins and the like, on a time basis at predetermined intervals. 
     2. State of the Art 
     Medication, such as pills, vitamins, and the like, is usually taken on a time basis, that is, one or more pills are taken every prescribed time interval, such as every two hours, throughout the day and/or night. Such medications when administered at home are done by the user himself. 
     Failure to take the specified dosage of medication at the required time intervals greatly diminishes the effectiveness of the medication. Conversely, taking more than the specified dosage at more frequent than prescribed intervals can also lead to undesirable health effects. 
     This problem is exaggerated when one or more different medications must be taken at different time intervals throughout the day and/or night. Individuals who are elderly or chronically ill frequently do not have sufficient mental capabilities to keep track of the different frequencies and dosages of the medications they are required to take over a sustained period of time. Since such people may be left alone for extended periods of time, a caretaker frequently does not know whether the proper amount and the type of medication was taken at the prescribed time intervals. 
     HIV and AIDS patients have complicated medication regimens which often involve taking 30 or more pills or capsules daily. Although such individuals do not have diminished mental capabilities, the daily, repetitious regimen of pill selection becomes a burden that frequently results in non-compliance which reduces the effectiveness of the potent drug “cocktails”. 
     Various devices have been developed to address these problems by properly dispensing the required dosage of medications, such as pills, vitamins, and the like, at the prescribed time intervals. One simple device makes use of a conventional mechanical timer to remind the user that it is time to take a particular medication. More complex devices provide the automatic dispensing of one or more medications at a plurality of different time intervals throughout the day and/or night. Such devices typically include a rotatable disk containing a plurality of spaced, individual compartments. Means are provided for successively opening each compartment or for discharging the contents of each compartment on a time basis at prescribed intervals. 
     Most of the automatic, time-based article dispensers, particularly those designed for dispensing medications such as pills, vitamins, and the like, have a limited amount of storage space, typically covering only one day or one day and night. If such devices are designed to dispense medications over a longer time period, i.e., one week, then the number of separate time intervals at which such medications may be dispensed during each 24-hour time period is reduced to a smaller number, such as four intervals in each 24-hour period. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,514 discloses an automatic medication dispenser containing a plurality of vertically stacked cylinders, each containing a plurality of spaced, individual compartments. Each cylinder is successively engaged from top to bottom in the stack by a drive means to bring successive compartments in each cylinder in line with a chute formed by aligned openings in the cylinders which extend from the top of the stack of cylinders to a lower disposed discharge tray. Thus, the medications, such as the pills, vitamins, etc., in the upper cylinder or cylinders, fall through the chute from the top to the bottom of the stack to reach the discharge tray. Since some pills and vitamins are fragile, such movement and abrupt impact on the discharge tray can cause breakage of such medications, making them difficult to take and interrupting the time dispensing of proper dosages of such medications. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,524 discloses a medication dispenser station which has a plurality of medication-containing cassettes arranged in a vertical stack. The cassettes have aligned discharge openings defining an open discharge chute. The discharge openings in each vertically stacked cassette are alignable with similar openings in adjacent, vertically spaced cassettes to enable a pill from one of the cassettes to fall through the aligned discharge opening of all of the lower cassettes to the article receiver. As in previously described pill dispensers, this length of travel can be considerable and can lead to breakage of the individual pills. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,593 discloses a similar apparatus for dispensing medication which includes a plurality of dose modules rotatably mounted in a vertical stack within a housing. Each disk has a plurality of apertures which are sealed on either side with a pierceable film. A microprocessor activates a dose signal means indicating that a dose of prescribed medication should be dispensed from the device. Manual intervention on the part of an operator is required to actuate an extractor which pierces the film and releases the dose lot contained therein. 
     It would be desirable to provide an automatic time-based article dispenser, particularly suited for dispensing medications, which overcomes the disadvantages of previously devised automatic article dispensers. It would also be desirable to provide an automatic time-based article dispenser which has extensive article storage for dispensing articles at prescribed time intervals over a long period of time. It would also be desirable to provide an automatic time-based article dispenser which is designed to minimize breakage of the articles during the dispensing of such articles. Finally, it would be desirable to provide an automatic, time-based article dispenser which is easy to load or refill. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an automatic time-based article dispenser which dispenses articles, such as medications including pills, vitamins, and the like, at prescribed intervals over a long period of time. 
     The article dispenser comprises a plurality of modules which are vertically stacked in a co-axial column. Each module includes an article container magazine having a plurality of article-containing compartments. Each of the compartments has an open top and an open bottom. A disk is rotatably mounted in each magazine and has an aperture successively alignable with each compartment in the magazine as the disk rotates about a central axis through the module. Means are provided for rotating the disks in each of the modules in a timed relationship with each other to successively align the aperture in each disk with successive compartments in the associated magazine to transfer articles from successive compartments in each magazine to corresponding compartments in the immediate lower magazine from the top to the bottom of the stack. A discharge chute is disposed below the lowermost magazine. A means for moving articles from the lowermost magazine to the discharge chute is provided to transfer articles to the discharge chute on a timed basis. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the rotating means includes a first drive means, such as an electric motor. Means are provided for coupling the drive means, such as through the output shaft of the motor, to the lowermost disk. Timing lug means are mounted on each disk in each module and disposed at predetermined, initial angular positions about the central axis of the module stack for engaging the timing lug means of adjacent disks to cause a staggered, time-delayed advance and offset of the apertures in each disk as the drive means rotates the lowermost disk. This causes the articles to drop only from one disk to the next lower adjacent disk and not through the entire vertical stack of disks as in previously devised automatic article dispensers, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,514. This minimizes any potential breakage of such articles, particularly fragile pills and capsules. 
     The successive moving means also includes a second drive means, such as an electric motor, which is coupled to a paddle for rotating the paddle one revolution about a track located below the lowermost module to collect articles dropped from the compartments of the lowermost magazine and to transfer all collected articles to a temporary interior holding chamber communicatable with the discharge chute. 
     The second drive means is activated once every predetermined amount of incremental rotation of the first drive means. In a preferred embodiment, the second drive means is activated once for each incremental advance of the aperture in the lowermost disk to the next storage compartment in the lowermost magazine. The activating means preferably comprises spaced flanges mounted on a timing dial engaging the lugs on the disk of the lowermost magazine. In one aspect, a gap between two adjacent flanges is detected by a photo detector which generates an output signal activating the second drive means at the prescribed time. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the article dispenser is provided with article removing means which is associated with the discharge chute. The article removing means removes any dispensed articles not retrieved via the discharge chute prohibiting an accumulation of articles in the discharge chute and preventing the user from taking an overdose of such dispensed articles in the case of medications. 
     Preferably, the article removing means comprises a door pivotal with an outer flap disposed over the discharge chute and forming the temporary interior holding chamber in combination with a paddle below a discontinuity in the track. A removable compartment is mounted in the article dispenser in communication with the interior holding chamber and the paddle to transfer any dispensed, but not retrieved articles in the interior holding chamber to the storage chamber before any new articles are dispensed to the chamber. 
     Each magazine is preferably provided with an outwardly extending key. The keys on each of the magazines have incrementally increasing lengths to form a stepped arrangement from the bottom to the top of the vertical stack of modules. An outer shell partially surrounds the vertical stack of the modules. A stepped wall is formed in the rear wall of the housing and includes a plurality of keyed steps which mate with the keys on the modules to matingly receive the keys only in a predetermined vertical stack order. 
     Sensor means may be mounted in the storage chamber for sensing the presence of articles in the storage chamber. The sensor means may be connected to an alarm, such as a visual or audible alarm, or a remote automatic telephone dialer to provide an indication that articles dispensed by the article dispenser have not been timely removed from the discharge tray within a prescribed amount of time after dispensing. 
     The automatic article dispenser of the present invention provides dispensing of articles at prescribed intervals over a predetermined lengthy time period. One or more articles may be stored in each storage compartment in the article dispenser for added versatility and use of the article dispenser of the present invention. 
     The article dispenser contains a large number of individual storage compartments for dispensing articles, such as medications, over a long period of time, such as each day for one week. Further, each individual module contains a large number of individual storage compartments for dispensing articles within a selected period of the total time period, such as every two hours in a 24-hour day. 
     The article dispenser of the present invention uniquely prevents any potential breakage of the stored articles, particularly pills, capsules, and the like, since such articles are transferred from the storage compartment in each vertical stacked module only one module at a time and not through the entire vertical stack of modules at one time as in previously devised article dispensers. Finally, the article dispenser of the present invention is easy to load or refill with additional articles and is constructed so that the individual article containing modules may be arranged only in a prescribed time dispensing order. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled article dispenser according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the article dispenser shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded, side elevational view of the article dispenser shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of one of the modules of the article dispenser shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line  6 — 6  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view generally taken along  7 — 7  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of one of the assembled modules shown in FIGS. 1 and 4; 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view of the inner shell and paddle assembly; 
     FIG. 10A is a side elevational view showing the drive means of the present article dispenser; 
     FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the drive means of the present article dispenser; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the power supply used in the article dispenser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the dispenser motor control circuit of the present article dispenser; 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the dispensing chute detector and indicator circuit; 
     FIG. 14 is schematic diagram of the storage area article detector and alarm circuit; and 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view of the timer dial. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Throughout the following description and drawing, an identical reference number is used to refer to the same component shown in multiple figures of the drawing. 
     Referring now to the drawing, and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is illustrated an automatic time-based article dispenser  10  which is particularly suited for dispensing articles, such as medications and vitamins including pills, capsules and the like, at prescribed intervals over a predetermined total time period. Although the following description and illustration of the article dispenser of the present invention describes its usage in dispensing medications and vitamins, such as pills, capsules and the like, it will be understood that the article dispenser of the present invention may be employed in any diverse application, besides dispensing medications, which can advantageously use the automatic, timed dispensing of articles. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the article dispenser  10  includes an outer shell  12  having an intermediate, generally horizontally extending base  14 , a smoothly curved front wall  16  depending from the base  14 , a pair of vertically extending, opposed sidewalls  18  and  20  and a rear wall  22 . The sidewalls  18  and  20  and the rear wall  22  have end portions which extend vertically upward from the base  14 . 
     A plurality of keyed steps, all denoted generally by reference number  24  project outward from the inner surface of the rear wall  22 . The steps  24 , as described in greater detail hereafter, provide keyed mounting of the individual article modules in a vertical stack to ensure proper positioning of each module. 
     Slots  26  are formed from the upper edge of each of the sidewalls  18  and  20  for receiving legs  28  which depend from a cover  30 . The cover  30  is sized to overlay and cover the upper surfaces of the sidewalls  18  and  20 , the rear wall  22  and substantially all of the upper surface of the vertical stack of modules as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Latch projections  32  are formed on a lower portion of each opposed side of each leg  28  for engaging internal notches  34  formed within grooves on the inner surface of the sidewalls  18  and  20  to releasably latch the cover  30  to the sidewalls  18  and  20 . 
     Apertures  39  are formed through the sidewalls  18  and  20  of the outer shell  12  and are alignable with the notches  34 . The apertures  39  receive projections  41  on a key  37  which, when inserted through the apertures  39 , forces the latch projections  32  on the leg  28  of the cover  30  out of engagement with the notches  34  enabling the cover  30  to be moved upward under the bias of a spring arm  36 . It should be understood that although a single key  37  may be employed to unlatch the cover  30  from the outer shell  12  through one sidewall of the outer shell  12 , two keys  37  requiring near simultaneous unlatching of both legs  28  of the cover  30  may also be employed. 
     A spring arm  36  having a resiliently bent outer end extends downward from a lower end of at least one and preferably both of the legs  28  on the cover  30 . The distal or freely movable end of the spring arm  36  is bendable inward as the leg  28  of the cover  30  slides through the grooves  26  in the sidewalls  18  and  20  of the outer shell  12 . 
     When the cover  30  is fully inserted into the slots  26  latching the latch projections  32  in the notches  34  in the sidewalls  18  and  20  of the outer shell  12 , the distal end of the spring arm  36  will be biased inward to generate an upward biasing force on the legs  28 . When the latch projections  32  are released by means of the key  37 , as described above, the spring force stored in the spring arm  36  will cause the legs  28  of the cover  30  to slide upward in the slots  26  thereby enabling the entire cover  30  to be separated from the outer shell  12 . 
     A pair of slot-shaped apertures  40  and  42  are formed in the front wall  16 . The aperture  40  is designed for receiving the dispensing chute and flap, as described hereafter. The aperture  42  is designed to receive a transparent or colored cover plate for use as an article dispensing indicator, as also described hereafter. 
     In addition, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures  44  are formed in the base  14  and alignable with the storage compartments in the modules. A cross bar  46  extends diametrically across a central aperture  48  in the base  14 . The cross bar  46  acts as a mounting surface for one drive motor mounted in an inner shell. 
     A non-retrieved article storage container  50  having an outer face  52  and an internal compartment or cavity  54  is slidably insertable through the aperture  38  in the sidewall  20  until the outer face  52  is flush with the sidewall  20 . A finger engagement edge  56  is formed in the outer face  52  to enable a user to withdraw the storage container  50  from the outer shell  12  as well to reinsert the storage container  50  into the interior of the outer shell  12 . As described hereafter, the internal compartment  54  in the storage container  50  is positioned when the storage container  50  is mounted within the outer shell  12  to receive articles which have been positioned for dispensing from the dispenser  10 , but which have not been timely withdrawn by a user. The use of the storage container  50  provides control over the non-retrieved articles dispensed by the article dispenser  10 . This can be particularly important when the articles are various medications, such as vitamins, pills, etc. The compartment  54  is trough or V-shaped. Apertures  58  are formed on opposite sides of the storage container for forming a photo beam therethrough. 
     As shown pictorially in FIG. 2, the distal end of the spring arm  36  on one of the legs  28  of the cover  30 , when the cover  30  is in the fully inserted position in the outer shell  12 , extends into engagement with an aperture  53  formed on the top surface of the outer face  52  of the storage container  50  to lock the storage container  50  in the inserted position within the outer shell  12 . The cover  30  must be released, as described above, from the fully latched position to enable the storage container  50  to be removed from the outer shell  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3,  9  and  10 , an inner shell  60  seats on a bottom cover  62  which is secured by means of fasteners, adhesive, etc., to the lower edge of the outer shell  16 . The inner shell  60  is in the form of a generally cylindrical body having a cylindrical base portion  64  and a radially enlarged upper portion  66 . A cavity  68  is formed in the base portion  64  for receiving the storage container  50 . 
     The upper portion  66  has an annular track  70  formed along an upper edge. A discontinuity or aperture  72  is formed in the track  70  over an angularly depending discharge chute  74 . The discharge chute is formed of a pair of sidewalls  76  mounted on the inner shell  60 , a bottom wall  78  and an outer end wall  80 . When the inner shell  60  is mounted within the outer shell  12 , the end wall  80  is positioned adjacent to a bottom forward portion of the front wall  16  of the outer shell  12 . The interior cavity formed in the discharge chute  74  between the sidewalls  76 , the bottom wall  78  and the end wall  80  opens to the aperture  40  in the front wall  16  of the outer shell  12  allowing access to articles contained within the bottom portion of the discharge chute  74 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10A and  10 B, a door  82  is pivotally mounted on a hinge pin  83  extending across the upper ends of the sidewalls  76  of the discharge chute  74 . A flap  84  is unitary with the door  82  and projects angularly therefrom. The flap  84  extends through the aperture  40  in the front wall  16  when the inner shell  60  is mounted within the outer shell  12 . However, the flap  84  is capable of upward, pivotal movement in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 allowing release of any articles in the temporary holding chamber  86  into the discharge chute  74 . 
     In a nominal, closed position shown in FIG. 10A, the door  82  extends across the upper end of the discharge chute  74  and is positioned below the discontinuity or aperture  72  in the track  70 . In this manner, any articles swept along the upper track  70  by a paddle assembly described hereafter fall through the discontinuity  72  into an interior holding chamber denoted by reference number  86  in FIG. 10 formed by the door  82 , the upper portion of the sidewalls  76  of the discharge chute  74  and the flared lower paddle assembly  94 . The chamber  86  acts as a temporary article holding chamber. Articles dispensed into the interior holding chamber  86 , shown in FIG. 10A, will fall to the bottom of the interior chamber  86 . When the flap  84  is pivoted upwardly by a user, the door  82  pivots in a clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, allowing any articles in the interior holding chamber  86  to fall into and down to the lower end of the discharge chute  74 . 
     Articles dispensed from each of the modules in the stack  130 , as described hereafter, will eventually fall from the lowermost module onto the upper track  70 . A first drive means or electric motor  90 , mounted within the inner shell  60 , as shown in FIG. 10, has an outward extending output shaft  92 . The shaft  92  engages a paddle assembly  94 , shown in FIG.  9 . The paddle assembly  94  is formed of a one-piece member having a cylindrical wall  95  with an interior rib structure  96  which engages the end of the motor output shaft  92  for simultaneous rotation with rotation of the output shaft  92  of the first motor  90 . The lower end of the cylindrical wall  95  forms an outward flared portion. An aperture  97  is formed in the flared portion of the cylinder wall  95 . 
     A pair of arms, including a pusher arm  98  and a blocker arm  99 , project radially from the upper edge of the wall  95  of the paddle assembly  94 . The arms  98  and  99  are positioned to fit within the upper track  70  and will normally be spaced on opposite sides of the discharge opening  72  in the track  70  and the aperture in the disk in the lowermost module, as described hereafter. In this manner, any articles dispensed from the lowermost module will fall onto the upper track  70  and be retained on the track  70  by the spaced arms  98  and  99 . 
     The aperture  97  in the lower flared portion of the cylindrical wall  95  of the paddle assembly  94  is rotationally offset from the blocker arm  99  in the counter-clockwise direction of rotation of the paddle assembly  94 . Thus, at a nominal stop position of the paddle assembly  94  wherein the pusher arm  98  and the blocker arm  99  straddle the discontinuity  72  in the track  70 , the aperture  97  will be offset from the blocker arm  90  and not in communication with an inclined chute  102 , shown in FIG. 10, which communicates with the portion of the inner shell  60  which receives the storage container  50 . However, once the paddle assembly  94  begins its counter-clockwise rotation, the aperture  94  will quickly move into alignment with the inclined chute  102  and enable any non-retrieved articles remaining in the interior holding chamber  86  which were not retrieved by the user within the required time after initial discharge of the articles into the interior holding chamber  86 , to fall through the aperture  96  and along the inclined chute  102  into the storage container  50 . 
     During the remainder of the rotation of the paddle assembly  94 , the lower end of the flared portion  96  of the paddle assembly  94  blocks access to the inclined chute  102  and actually forms a rear portion of the interior holding chamber  86 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10, one or more article detectors, each in the form of a light source  104  and a photo receptive receiver  106 , is mounted in the inner shell  60  on opposite sides of the storage container  50  when the storage container  50  is mounted in the inner shell  60 . The light source  104  and photo receiver  106  are aligned with apertures  58  formed in a lower portion of the storage container  50 . Any articles which are in the storage container  50 , as described above, will break the light beam between the light source  104  and the receiver  106  causing the receiver to generate an output signal to activate an indicator light on the article dispenser  10  and/or a telephone auto-dialer indicating that articles which should have been retrieved after being dispensed were not timely removed by the user and are now in the storage container  50 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 10,  12  and  15 , a timer dial  110  is fixedly mounted on an output shaft  112  of a second electric motor  114 . The second electric motor  114  is mounted by means of brackets, straps and fasteners to the cross bar  46  on the base  14  of the outer shell  12 . 
     The timer dial  110  is in the form of a planar disk  116  which is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the output shaft  112  for simultaneous, unidirectional rotation with the output shaft  112  when the second electric motor  114  is energized. The timer dial  110  has a pair of upstanding tabs  118  and  120  which are diametrically opposed and project upwardly from the plane of the disk  116 . 
     A plurality of arcuate, circumferentially arranged flanges  122  project downwardly from the underside of the disk  116 . The flanges  122  are provided in a number corresponding to the number of dispensing periods in each module, such as  12  in the present example. Each adjacent two flanges  122  are each spaced apart by a gap or aperture  123  which can be read by an aligned pair  186  of a photo receiver and a light source which can be mounted on upwardly extending flanges  124  and  126  on the base  14  of the outer shell  12 . Each signal from the photo receiver/light source pair  186  corresponds to the start of each discrete dispensing period. 
     Other types of incremental advance detectors, such as cams and a switch, etc., may also be employed to provide a signal for each dispensing period. 
     As shown in FIGS. 10 and 15, the article dispenser  10  is provided with a lock device for locking the door  82  in the first position preventing discharge of any articles dispensed from the interior holding chamber  86 . The lock means comprises, by example only, a plurality of lock arms  125 , which circumferentially project outward and downward from the periphery of the timer dial  110 . One lock arm  125  is provided for each distinct article dispensing period. Thus, in the present example,  12  lock arms  125  are provided on the timer dial  110 . The lock arms  125  are solid plates attached to the timer dial  110  by narrow tubular extensions  127  to form openings between adjacent lock arms  125  that permit articles to pass from the lowermost module  144  through the timer dial  110  to the track  70 . The lock arms  125  may also be joined to one another at their top ends connected to the extensions  127  for added strength. 
     As also shown in FIG. 15, the lock arms  125  are angularly positioned relative to the gap  123  between each adjacent pair of flanges  122  on the timer dial  110  so as to provide a predetermined window or time period for the user to manually pivot the door  82  from the first position in which the door  82  forms a part of the closed interior holding chamber  86  to the second open position allowing articles in the interior holding chamber  86  to be discharged to the dispensing chute  74 . By example, a 15 minute article retrieval window is employed in the present invention. Thus, the leading edge of each lock arm  125 , as viewed in a counter-clockwise rotating direction of movement of the timer dial  110 , is angularly spaced clockwise from the rearmost edge of each gap  123  as formed by the leading edge of one flange  122 . Other angular spacings to provide any desired time period in which the user can freely manipulate the door  82  may also be provided. 
     The upper portion of the door  82  is provided with a small protuberance or nub  129  which is narrower than the openings between the lock arms  125  and is engaged and blocked from movement by the lock arms  125  as each lock arm  125  rotates to an interference position with respect to the nub  129 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10A, the lower edge of each lock arm  125 , when the door  82  is pivoted to the first position, either contacts or is disposed in close proximity to the nub  129  on the door  82  to prevent any substantial upward pivotal movement of the door  82  which could cause articles in the interior holding chamber  86  to fall into the chute  74 . 
     The article dispenser  10  includes a plurality of modules which are vertically arranged in a co-axially aligned column or stack  130 . By way of example only, seven modules are illustrated in FIG. 1 for dispensing articles at prescribed intervals through each 24-hour time period or day over one entire week. It will be understood that the number of modules may be varied as well as the timed period of rotation of each module to provide different article dispensing time periods as well as a total, overall dispensing time period. 
     Thus, the article dispenser  10 , in the illustrated example shown in FIG. 1, includes a topmost positioned module  132 , a plurality of intermediate modules  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140  and  142  which are vertically and successively arranged below the topmost module  132 , and a lowermost module  144 . 
     Each of the modules  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142  and  144  is substantially identical such that the following description will be provided for only one of the modules, such as module  144  shown in FIG. 1, and in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 8. The module  144  includes an article containing magazine  146  which has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, article storage compartments  148 . A disk  150  is rotatably mounted in a circular recess below the magazine  146  and contains one aperture  152  which is successively alignable with the storage compartments  148  formed in the magazine  146 . A retainer plate  154  having an enlarged central aperture  156  is fixedly secured to the bottom surface of the magazine  146  as shown in FIG.  6  and captures the rotatable disk  150  between itself and the bottom surface of the magazine  146 . 
     Alternately, instead of the retainer plate  154 , a plurality of clips may be used to rotatably mount each module  132 - 144  to a respective magazine  146 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, each module, such as module  144 , is configured for dispensing articles contained therein over a predetermined time period. In a typical example, each module, such as module  144 , is designed to dispense articles throughout a 24-hour time period. Thus, the magazine  146  is provided with  11  circumferentially spaced storage compartments  148  and one blank or solid area  149 . A blank or solid area  149  coincides with a 2:00 a.m. dispensing period, by example only, which is typically not used to dispense medicine. It will be understood that the number of individual storage compartments  148  may be varied as necessary depending upon the application of the article dispenser  10  of the present invention. That is, more or less storage compartments  148  may be provided in each magazine. Further, the number of modules in article dispenser  10  may also be varied to provide shorter or longer total article dispensing time periods. 
     As shown in detail in FIGS. 4-7, the magazine  146  is in the form of a planar body having a central, through aperture  158 . The planar body is illustrated, by way of example only, as having a generally square rear end and an arcuate front portion. It will be understood that this is by way of example only as the body of the magazine  146  may have other shapes, such as completely circular, etc. The magazine  146  is preferably formed of a one-piece, molded plastic or assembled from individually molded or machined plastic components. 
     The storage compartments  148  are arranged in a circle about the central aperture  158  in the body of the magazine  146 . Each of the storage compartments  148  is formed by a bore extending completely through the body of the magazine  146 . Each compartment  148  has an open top end and an open bottom end. The shape of the storage compartments  148  is exemplary only as having a generally polygonal or substantially square configuration. Other shapes, such as circular, rectangular, etc., may also be employed. 
     The rotatable disk  150  has a generally thin, planar configuration. The disk  150  is preferably formed of a one-piece molded plastic body or constructed from separate plastic components which have been molded or machined to the desired shape and joined together by suitable means, such as adhesive, fasteners, heat welding, etc. A central aperture  156  in the disk  150  is co-axially aligned with the central aperture  158  in the magazine  146 . 
     The single aperture  152  in the rotatable disk  150  extends completely through the disk  150  and has a shape complementary to the shape of the storage compartments  148  in the magazine  146 . The aperture  152  is successively alignable with each of the storage compartments  148  in the magazine  146  as the disk  150  rotates about its center as described hereafter. Timing lug means in the form of lugs, tabs, fingers, etc., and denoted in general by reference number  160  and  162 , are carried on the rotatable disk  150  and extend perpendicular of the plane of the disk  150  inward of the central aperture  156 . The purpose of the timing lugs  160  and  162  will be described in greater detail hereafter. 
     A prescribed arrangement of the vertically stacked modules is provided in the article dispenser  10  by means of tabs which engage the stepped recesses  24  formed in the rear wall  22  of the outer shell  12 , as shown in detail in FIG.  2 . The body of the magazine  146  of the lowermost disposed module  144  is provided with an outwardly extending tab  164 . The tab  164  is co-planar with the body of the magazine  146  and extends outward from the rear wall  22 . The tab  164  has a prescribed length and shape as shown in FIGS. 2,  7  and  8  to fit into the lowermost recess  24 . Similar tabs  164  are formed on the bodies of the magazines of each of the remaining modules  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142  and  144 . Each of the tabs  164  has an increasing, different length and/or shape to specifically fit in one recess  24  when the modules are arranged in a vertical stack or column  130 . 
     To further ensure proper alignment of each of the modules and, also, retention of each module in the outer shell  12  and cover  30 , each module, such as module  144 , along its rear edge  170 , as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, has a pair of downwardly projecting pegs  166  which are co-axially aligned with a pair of upwardly opening bores  168 . One peg  166  is slidingly mountable into a bore  168  in a lowered disposed module. Likewise, a peg  166  from an upper disposed module is insertable into a bore  168  in the magazine  146  shown in FIG. 5 to securely inter-engage the modules into the vertical stack  130 . 
     At least one and preferably a pair of bores  168  are also formed in the base  14  of the outer shell  12  to engage or receive the pegs  166  depending from the lowermost module  144 . Likewise, the cover  30  is provided at least one and preferably a pair of depending pegs  166  which engage the bores  168  in the topmost module  132 . 
     It will also be understood that the pegs  166  and the bores  168  in the base  14 , the cover  30  and each module  132 - 144  could be staggered or offset with respect to each other to provide the same keyed effect as the recesses  24  and tabs  164  to enable the modules  132 - 144  to be vertically arranged in the stack  30  in only one possible arrangement. 
     Means are provided for successively and inter-connectingly rotating the disks  150  in each of the modules in a timed, vertically successive relationship with respect to each other to successively align the apertures  152  in each disk  150  with successive storage compartments  148  in the associated magazine  146  to dispense articles from successive compartments  148  in each magazine  146  to corresponding compartments  148  in an adjacent, lower disposed magazine  146  in the vertical stack  130  of magazines from the top to the bottom of the stack  130  whereby the articles are dispensed from the lowermost magazine  132  to the discharge chute  74 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the rotating means comprises the synchronous, preferably unidirectional, electric motor  114  and the timing dial  110 . The electric motor  114  is connected to a source of electric power, such as by 12 VAC power through a cord and/or switch from a wall outlet mountable 120 VAC/12 VAC step down transformer, to activate the motor  114  when desired. Further, suitable gearing may be provided between the motor  114  and the output shaft  112  to provide any desired rotational speed of the output shaft  112 . In the described example, the motor  114  is selected or geared to provide one complete rotation of the output shaft  112  and the attached timing dial  110  over a single 24-hour time period. Obviously, the gearing can be modified to provide different periods of rotation as desired for a particular application of the article dispenser  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 11, 12 VAC power from the transformer  172  is supplied to the motor  114  and to a relay  174 . The normally closed, switchable contact  176  of the relay  174  is interconnected between a power conductor connected to a backup power source and the 12 VAC power output from the transformer  172 . When the relay  174  is activated by the application of 12 VAC power from the transformer  172 , the relay coil causes the contact  176  to switch positions to connect power from the transformer  172  to a rectifier bridge  178  which rectifies the 12 VAC power into +16 VDC power. A voltage regulator  180  converts the 16 VDC power to a 12 VDC power at one terminal. 
     The use of the timing lug means  160 ,  162  to stagger the rotation of the disks  150  in each of the modules  132 - 144  will now be described with reference to FIG. 8 which shows the position of the lugs  160  and  162  on the disk  150  on the lowestmost modules  144  and the lugs  160  and  162  on the next upper module  142 . The disk  150  in the uppermost module  144  does not require any lugs  160  and  162 . 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the angular position of the lugs  160  and  162  about the central aperture  156  in each of the disk  150  is angularly staggered or offset for each module in the module stack  130 . Thus, the lugs  160  and  162  on the disk  150  in the module  144  are angularly spaced from the lugs  160  and  162  on the next upper disk  150  in the module  142 . In this manner, the lowermost disk  150  must initially rotate a predetermined angular amount, such as to move the aperture  152  in the disk  150  from alignment with one storage compartment.  148  or the blank area  149  to a third spaced storage compartment  148 . When the lugs  160  and  162  rotate the prescribed angular increment, the lugs  160  and  162  engage the lugs  160  and  162  on the next uppermost disk  150  in module  142  so as to initiate simultaneous rotation of the disks  150  in the lowermost two modules  144  and  142 . The upward extending lugs  160  and  162  on the disk  150  of the module  142  must also rotate a predetermined angular amount, such as from one storage compartment  148  to the third spaced storage compartment  148  before the upwardly extending lugs  160  and  162  engage the lugs  160  and  162  of the disk  150  in the next uppermost module  140 . When the lugs  160  and  162  engage, each of the disks  150  in the lowermost three modules  144 ,  142 , and  140  are engaged for simultaneous rotation by the drive motor  114 . The same angular offset is provided in the remaining disks  150 . This is achieved by providing disks  150  for each module in which the lugs are angularly spaced from disk  150  to disk  150 . 
     In this manner, the initial movement of each of the disks  150  in the modules is staggered in a time delayed relationship so as to offset rotation of the apertures  152  in the disks  150 . This causes articles contained in each module to pass from an upper disposed module to the next lowermost module, such as from module  140  to module  142 , as articles are dispensed from the module  142  to the next lower module  144 . The articles thus pass only through one module at a time and not through the complete vertical stack  130  of modules. This minimizes any potential breakage of fragile articles which may be dispensed by the article dispenser of the present invention. 
     As shown in the circuit of FIG. 12, and as partly described above, a photo receiver  182  and light source  184  are mounted on the flanges  124  and  126  on the base  14  of the outer shell  12 . As shown in FIG. 10A, due to the length of the arcuate flanges  122  projecting from the bottom surface of the timing dial  110 , the light beam between the light source  184  and the photo receiver  182  will normally be blocked except for the brief period of time each gap between adjacent flanges  122  lines up with the light path between the light source  184  and the receiver  182 . When the light beam is completed between the light source  184  and the receiver  182 , as shown for the photo interrupter module  186  containing the light source  184  and photo receiver  182 , the module  186  generates a square wave output which amplifier  188  amplifies to a single amplified square wave output. The high going output from the amplifier  188  biases the gate of transistor  190  to drive the transistor  190  into conduction and supplying an activating signal to a triac driver  192  which connects 12 VAC power to the second motor  90  for the duration of the output pulse from the amplifier  188 . The motor  90  has a higher revolution speed than the first motor  114 , such as 3 rpm by example only. This enables the paddle assembly  94  fixedly attached to the output shaft  92  of the motor  90  to rotate at a fast revolution about the track  70  of the inner shell  60  and sweep any articles deposited from the lowermost module  144  along the track  70  to the discontinuity  72 . These articles then fall in the interior holding chamber  86  below the discontinuity  72  and the track  70  as shown in FIG.  10 A. At the same time, the aperture  97  in the paddle assembly  94 , which follows the blocker arm  99  in the counter-clockwise rotation of the paddle assembly  94  causes any articles remaining in the interior chamber  86  from the previous article dispensing cycle which were not retrieved by the user to slide down the inclined chute  102  in the inner shell  60  to the storage container  50 . 
     One or more of the light emitting diode  104  and photo receiver or photo transistor  106 , as described above, is mounted in line the bottom of the V-shaped interior of the storage container  50 . When the light beam from the LED  104  to the photo transistor  106  is interrupted by articles deposited into the storage compartment  50 , the photo transistor  106  is gated off which causes an amplifier  194  to generate an output pulse to the base of transistor  196  which activates an alarm or indicator  198 , such as an LED light source. The output of the amplifier  194  is also connected to a pin connector  200  which provides output signals to external devices, such as a telephone with auto dial capabilities to enable a remote party to receive an indication that dispensed articles have not been removed from the article dispenser  10  by the user. This is particularly important in the case where the dispensed articles are pills or medications which must be taken at a prescribed timed interval by a user. Failure to take such articles at the proper time can decrease the medicinal effect of such pills or medications or lead to potentially disastrous health consequences for the user. 
     At the same time, the deposit of non-dispensed articles to the storage container  50  ensures that such articles cannot be used by the user. Again, in the case of pills or medications, this prevents a user from taking a double dose of a medication. 
     As shown in FIG. 13, at least one LED light source  202  and photo receiver or photo transistor  204  may be mounted at the bottom of the interior chamber  86  below the upper track  70  of the inner shell  60 . When articles are deposited in the bottom of the interior chamber  86 , as described above, the articles interrupt the light beam from the light source  202  and the photo transistor  204  causing amplifier  206  to generate an output pulse to series connected clocks  208  and  210 . RC circuits  212  and  214  respectively connected to the clocks  208  and  210  maintain the clock outputs for a time period established by the respective RC circuit  212  or  214 . The output of the first clock  208  is input to a transistor  216  which drives a visual dispense indicator or lamp  218 . The lamp  218 , as shown in FIG. 10, is located behind the transparent or translucent cover plate  43  on the front wall  16  of the outer shell  12 . The lamp  218  will flash at the clock rate of the clock  208  for the time established by the RC circuit  212 . The output signal of the clock  208  can also activate a person carried vibrator or beeper to provide a remote signal of a dispense event. 
     Similarly, the second clock  210  provides an output pulse series to transistor  220  which drives an audio indicator, such as a piezo transducer  222 , which generates an audible sound pulsing on and off at the rate of the output of the clock  210  for the time period established by the RC circuit  214 . 
     The time periods established by RC circuits  212  and  214  are chosen with regard to the particular articles to be dispensed by the article dispenser  10 . These time periods can be approximately five minutes to twenty minutes in the case of pills or medications so as to require a user to remove the pills or medications from the dispenser  10  on the prescribed time basis. The indicators  218 , etc., will be deactivated after the door  82  is locked. 
     In use, the modules can be placed side-by-side with the lowermost module  144  labeled “day 1”, and succeeding modules  142 ,  140 , etc., labeled “day 2”, day 3”, etc. Labeling each module as a consecutive day number in a weekly dispensing period enables the dispenser apparatus  10  to be started on any day of the week rather than on a specific day, such as Monday, etc. However, for ease of use, a removable label carrying one day of the week indicia, such as Monday, Tuesday, etc., can be attached to the appropriate module. The disks  150  in each module are then rotated until the aperture  156  is disposed beneath the solid area or portion  149  of each magazine  146  and the modules stacked to form the stack  130 . 
     For ease of use, each disk  150  may have time labels disposed thereon coinciding with each of the storage compartments  148 . Such labels can be a simple indication of 4:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m., etc., up to 12:00 midnight arranged circumferentially in a clockwise manner starting with the portion which will initially underlie the first storage compartment  48  disposed clockwise from the solid area  149  when one module is viewed from above with the rear wall toward the top. 
     In this arrangement, the tabs  160  and  162  on each disk  150  will extend upward through the aligned central apertures  156  in each of the disks  150  and through the co-axial apertures  158  in the corresponding module magazine  146  such that the upper ends of the tabs  160  and  162  in a lower module will lie in an intersecting path with the bottom portion of the tabs  160  and  162  of an immediately higher or upper module. 
     Further, although each of the disks  150  are identically formed, an offset is formed in each disk  150  for the seven modules so as to circumferentially space the lugs  160  and  162  of an immediately higher module from the corresponding lugs  160  and  162  in the immediately lower module. This circumferential spacing may be equivalent to one, two or three or even more storage compartments  148 . By example only, the offset or spacing is essentially three storage compartments wide in the present example of the article dispenser  10 . 
     The person responsible for filling the dispenser modules with articles, with pills being used only as an example of the articles, then places the specific pills and the required number of pills in the appropriate individual storage compartments according to the time and each day the pills are to be dispensed. The modules are then stacked in the vertical column or stack  130  one at a time in the outer shell  12 . The tabs  164  projecting rearwardly of each module fit into the mating steps  24  in the rear wall  22  of the outer shell  12  to ensure that the modules are stacked in the required order. For example, the required order places the module  144 , labeled “day 1” lowermost on the outer shell  12 . The module  142 , labeled “day 2” is disposed immediately above the module  144 . The remaining modules are arranged in consecutive day order as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     In initiating operation, the motor  114  is energized and the timer dial  110  set to the current time. The stack  130  is then placed on the base  14 . As shown in FIG. 15, the top surface of the one of the lugs  118  or  120  is provided with an arrow  119 , either as a printed indicia or molded directly on the top surface of the lug  118  or  120 . The arrow  119  points outward to a plurality of time indicia printed or otherwise formed on the base  14  of the outer shell  12 . In the present example of twelve timing periods, twelve timing indicia, such as 12 midnight, 2:00 am, 4:00 am, etc., are circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the timer dial  110  on the base  14 . The cover  30  is then closed and automatically locked to the outer shell  12 . 
     When electric power is supplied to the article dispenser  10 , the motor  114  rotates the output shaft  112  and the attached timer dial  110 . The tabs  118  and  120  on the timer dial  110  engage the lugs  160  and  162  on the rotatable disk  150  in the lowermost module  144 . The continued operation of the energization of motor  114  causes the tabs  118  and  120  and the engaged lugs  160  and  162  to continue to rotate in a clockwise direction. Such clockwise rotation of the rotatable disk  150  rotates the aperture  152  in the disk  150  in a clockwise direction underneath each successive storage compartment  148  in the module  144 . Any pills or articles contained in the first clockwise disposed storage compartment  148  from the solid or blank area  149  will be dispensed through the aperture  152  in the disk  150  as the aperture  152  moves under the first storage compartment  148  spaced clockwise from the blank or solid area  149 . 
     As the articles or pills which are typically small in the case of pills, can lie anywhere within the storage compartment  148  and, further, since the aperture  152  in the disk  150  gradually has its forward edge moving completely across the storage compartment  148  over a two hour period, the articles or pills can be dispensed from the first storage compartment  148  onto the track  70  on the inner shell  60  at anytime throughout the two hour period. Further, as noted above, at the end of each two hour period or cycle, the flanges  122  on the bottom of the timer dial  110  will also have rotated until the gap between two adjacent flanges  122  is aligned with the light beam in the photo cell pair  186 . This generates an output signal which activates the first motor  90  to rotate the paddle assembly  94  one revolution about the track  70 . During such rotation, the arms  98  on the paddle assembly  94  sweep any articles, such as pills, deposited from the storage compartment  148  in the lowermost module  144  along the track  70  and into the discontinuity  72  wherein the articles or pills fall into the interior chamber  86  beneath track  72 . The presence of such articles in the chamber  86  is sensed by the photo detector pair  202 ,  204  which generates an indication by activating the lamp  218  and audio buzzer  222 . The user then can rotate the flap  84  which also pivots the door  82  and allows the articles to fall from the interior holding chamber  86  along and to the bottom of the discharge chute  74  for removal by the user. 
     Proceeding with the operation of the dispenser  10 , continued rotation of the motor  114  will eventually cause the lugs  160  and  162  on the disk  150  of the lower most module  144  to rotate sufficiently to engage the corresponding lugs  160  and  162  on the next upper module  142  thereby starting simultaneous rotation of the disk  150  of the module  142  with rotation of the disk  150  in the module  144 . The aperture  152  in the disk  150  in the module  142  then successively moves underneath each of the storage compartments  148  in the module  142  allowing any articles or pills contained in such storage compartments  148  to fall to aligned storage compartment  148  in the module  144 . These articles will be dispensed in the same manner as described above and at the set time upon continued rotation of the disk  150  in the lowermost module  144 . 
     The same sequence of operation occurs for each of the next upper succeeding modules. Such articles fall only from one module to the next lowermost module upon each 360° rotation of the associated rotatable disk  150 . Such articles thus gradually drop module by module through the stack  130  until the articles reach the lowermost module  144  wherein they are dispensed as described above into the discharge chute  74 . 
     In summary, there has been disclosed a unique article dispenser which provides an automatic time dispensing of articles at prescribed intervals over a total time period. The article dispenser is easy to use and to reload with additional articles. Further, the staggered transfer of articles from each module in the article dispenser to the next adjacent, lower module, minimizes potential breakage or damage to such articles.