Aperture position control for pill counting and dispensing apparatus

摘要

A self-contained pill dispenser is disclosed. A housing is provided and a hopper for containing a plurality of pills is supported by the housing. A transport tube is operatively connected to the hopper for receiving pills therefrom, the transport tube having an input aperture. A microcontroller is electrically connected to the hopper, the transport tube, and the input aperture. A mechanism accepts a desired number of pills to be delivered by the transport tube by an operator. The microcontroller is adapted to determine whether the actual average number of pills delivered by the transport tube is equal to the desired number of pills specified by the operator. If the actual average number of pills is greater than the desired number, the microcontroller decreases the opening of the input aperture. A mechanism connected to the inlet aperture controls opening and closing operations thereof, pursuant to instructions transmitted by the microcontroller.

主权项

1. An apparatus for counting and dispensing pills, comprising:
a) a housing; b) a hopper for containing a plurality of pills, said hopper being supported by said housing; c) a variable speed transport tube operatively connected to said hopper for receiving pills therefrom, said transport tube having a closable outlet and an adjustable input aperture with an opening associated therewith; d) a microcontroller electrically connected to said hopper, said variable speed transport tube, and said adjustable input aperture; e) means operatively connected to said adjustable inlet aperture for controlling opening and closing operations thereof, pursuant to instructions transmitted by said microcontroller.