Device for staging and dispensing tablets useful in system and method for dispensing prescriptions

1. A chute assembly for a system configured to dispense objects from a bulk supply of the objects, comprising:

an elongate chute having an open bottom end;

a dispensing assembly slidably mounted to a bottom end portion of the chute, the dispensing assembly including a sleeve that receives the bottom end portion of the chute and a door mounted thereto, the sleeve being slidable between a staging position, in which the door covers the bottom end of the chute and thereby stages at least a portion of the objects in the bottom end portion of the chute, and a dispensing position, in which the door moves away from the bottom end of the chute to enable the objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute to be dispensed from the chute, wherein contact between the door and the bottom end portion of the chute moves the door away from the bottom end of the chute; and

an agitation unit coupled to the dispensing assembly, the agitation unit configured to impart energy to the objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute as the sleeve moves to the dispensing position.

2. The chute assembly defined in claim 1 , wherein the sleeve slides substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chute.

3. The chute assembly defined in claim 1 , wherein the agitation unit comprises a toothed rack.

4. The chute assembly defined in claim 3 , wherein the toothed rack is located on an inner surface of the chute.

5. The chute assembly defined in claim 4 , wherein the agitation unit further comprises a member mounted to the dispensing assembly that extends within the open bottom end of the chute and a nub mounted on the member that interacts with the toothed rack as the sleeve moves from the staging position to the dispensing position, the interaction between the nub and the toothed rack causing the member to alternately deflect and recover.

6. The chute assembly defined in claim 3 , wherein the agitation unit further comprises an agitation barrel received in the bottom end of the chute, the agitation barrel including teeth that interact with the toothed rack.

7. The chute assembly defined in claim 6 , wherein the toothed rack includes helical teeth, and wherein interaction between the agitation barrel teeth and the toothed rack teeth rotates the agitation barrel about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chute.

8. The chute assembly defined in claim 6 , wherein the sleeve includes a projection that contacts the agitation barrel and forces the agitation barrel to translate relative to the chute as the sleeve translates relative to the chute.

9. The chute assembly defined in claim 1 , wherein the agitation unit comprises at least one fin that extends radially inwardly.

10. The chute assembly defined in claim 1 , wherein the door is pivotally mounted to the sleeve.

11. A chute assembly for a system configured to dispense objects from a bulk supply of the objects, comprising:

an elongate chute having an open bottom end;

a dispensing assembly slidably mounted to a bottom end portion of the chute, the dispensing assembly including a sleeve that receives the bottom end portion of the chute and a door mounted thereto, the sleeve being slidable between a staging position, in which the door covers the bottom end of the chute and thereby stages at least a portion of the objects in the bottom end portion of the chute, and a dispensing position, in which the door moves away from the bottom end of the chute to enable the objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute to be dispensed from the chute, wherein the door is pivotally mounted to the sleeve; and

an agitation unit coupled to the dispensing assembly, the agitation unit configured to impart energy to the objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute as the sleeve moves to the dispensing position.

12. A dispensing system, comprising:

a bulk dispensing bin configured to hold a plurality of objects; and

a chute assembly attached to the bin, comprising:

an elongate chute having an upper end attached to and fed by the bulk dispensing bin and an open bottom end;

a dispensing assembly slidably mounted to a bottom end portion of the chute, the dispensing assembly including a sleeve that receives the bottom end portion of the chute and a door pivotally mounted thereto, the sleeve being slidable between a staging position, in which the door covers the bottom end of the chute and thereby stages at least a portion of the objects in the bottom end portion of the chute, and a dispensing position, in which the door moves away from the bottom end of the chute to enable the objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute to be dispensed from the chute; and

an agitation unit coupled to the dispensing assembly, the agitation unit configured to impart energy to the objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute as the sleeve moves to the dispensing position.

13. The dispensing system defined in claim 12 , wherein the sleeve slides substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chute.

14. The dispensing system defined in claim 12 , wherein the agitation unit comprises a toothed rack.

15. The dispensing system defined in claim 14 , wherein the toothed rack is located on an inner surface of the chute.

16. The dispensing system defined in claim 15 , wherein the agitation unit further comprises a member mounted to the dispensing assembly that extends within the open bottom end of the chute and a nub mounted on the member that interacts with the toothed rack as the sleeve moves from the staging position to the dispensing position, the interaction between the nub and the toothed rack causing the member to alternately deflect and recover.

17. The dispensing system defined in claim 14 , wherein the agitation unit further comprises an agitation barrel received in the bottom end of the chute, the agitation barrel including teeth that interact with the toothed rack.

18. The dispensing system defined in claim 17 , wherein the toothed rack includes helical teeth, and wherein interaction between the agitation barrel teeth and the toothed rack teeth rotates the agitation barrel about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chute.

19. The dispensing system defined in claim 17 , wherein the sleeve includes a projection that contacts the agitation barrel and forces the agitation barrel to translate relative to the chute as the sleeve translates relative to the chute.

20. The dispensing system defined in claim 12 , wherein the agitation unit comprises at least one fin that extends radially inwardly.

21. The dispensing system defined in claim 12 , wherein contact between the door and the bottom end portion of the chute moves the door away from the bottom end of the chute.

22. A dispensing system, comprising:

a bulk dispensing bin configured to hold a plurality of objects; and

a chute assembly attached to the bin, comprising:

an elongate chute having an upper end attached to and fed by the bulk dispensing bin and an open bottom end;

a dispensing assembly slidably mounted to a bottom end portion of the chute, the dispensing assembly including a sleeve that receives the bottom end portion of the chute and a door mounted thereto, the sleeve being slidable between a staging position, in which the door covers the bottom end of the chute and thereby stages at least a portion of the objects in the bottom end portion of the chute, and a dispensing position, in which the door moves away from the bottom end of the chute to enable the objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute to be dispensed from the chute, wherein contact between the door and the bottom end portion of the chute moves the door away from the bottom end of the chute; and

an agitation unit coupled to the dispensing assembly, the agitation unit configured to impart energy to objects staged in the bottom end portion of the chute as the sleeve moves to the dispensing position.