Patent ID: 7823748

Claim:
A drug dispenser to be positioned downstream of a drug feeder, the drug dispenser being adapted to receive solid drugs from the drug feeder, to temporarily accumulate the drugs, and to discharge the accumulated drugs, the drug dispenser comprising: a receptacle having an open top and a bottom adapted to be opened and closed, said receptacle including an outer receptacle portion and an inner receptacle portion, wherein said inner receptacle portion includes a first movable wall, a second movable wall, and a peripheral wall connecting said first movable wall and said second movable wall, each of said first movable wall, said peripheral wall, and said second movable wall being adapted to move when the bottom of said receptacle is opened, wherein said first movable wall opposes said second movable wall, wherein said inner receptacle portion is rotatably disposed in said outer receptacle portion such that a cavity is formed in said receptacle for accumulating drugs therein, wherein said outer receptacle portion includes an arcuate surface, a first opening formed in said arcuate surface at a top of said outer receptacle portion, and a second opening formed in said arcuate surface at a bottom of said outer receptacle portion, wherein said outer receptacle portion has an expanded portion extending below said second opening, said expanded portion forming a skirt-like portion which expands in a direction extending away from said second opening for preventing tablets or capsules from sticking in said receptacle, wherein said inner receptacle portion has an opening formed in said peripheral wall, said opening extending from said first movable wall to said second movable wall, and wherein the central angle defined by the edges of the opening in said peripheral wall of said inner receptacle portion is greater than the central angle defined by the edges of said first opening of said outer receptacle portion.