| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus for storing and dispensing solid-form medication ("pills") is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment a housing is provided wherein a hopper for storing pills is contained. A slide drawer is contained within the housing just below the hopper, and a moveable slide is contained within the slide drawer. A hole is provided in the bottom of the hopper, which opens into the slide drawer. A second hole is provided in the moveable slide, and a third hole is provided in the bottom of the slide drawer. The hole at the bottom of the hopper and the hole at the bottom of the slide drawer are not aligned. As the moveable slide is pulled outward, at some point the hole provided within the slide and the hole at the bottom of the hopper become aligned, which allows a pill to drop into the slide's hole within the slide drawer. As the slide is returned inward, at some point the slide's hole becomes aligned with the hole at the bottom of the slide drawer, which allows the pill to drop out of the slide drawer. In a preferred embodiment, a trap door is rotatably attached to the bottom of the housing to catch a pill when it falls through the hole at the bottom of the slide drawer. Thereafter, a user may open the trap door and retrieve the pill. A display may be attached to the housing to provide information relating to the pills stored and/or dispensed.
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