Patent ID: 8016095

Claim:
An offloading unit for an automated pharmaceutical machine that dispenses filled, capped pharmaceutical vials, comprising: at least one chute, the chute including a receiving section and a pick-up section, the receiving section and the pick-up section divided by an inlet, the receiving section having a concave sloping ramp and side walls, the pick-up section having a trough with a floor that slopes relative to a horizontal surface and a front wall at one end of the trough, the inlet being defined by a rear wall and the upper edge of the trough; the chute also including dividers mounted to and rising above the trough and attached to the rear wall, the dividers having front edges; the inlet having a largest dimension of no more than 2.85 inches, and the front edges of the dividers being between about 5 and 7 inches from the inlet.