Selectively changeable, volumetric dispensers and methods of dispensing materials having known unit volumes
View Patent ↗Volumetric dispensers and methods dispense one or more units of a material having units with a volume utilizing independently controllable and linearly movable gates.
1. A device for dispensing a unit of material from a plurality of units comprising:
a reservoir comprising an opening and at least one sidewall for storing a plurality of units;
a first gate comprising a first linear opening edge, said first gate movable in an x-direction;
a second gate comprising a second linear opening edge, said second gate movable in a y-direction;
a third gate comprising a third linear dispensing surface, said third gate movable in a z-direction, wherein said x-direction, y-direction and z-direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;
at least one motion device for moving said first gate in said x-direction, said second gate in said y-direction and said third gate in said z-direction; and
a controller for controlling said at least one motion device.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first linear opening edge comprises a beveled surface.
3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said second linear opening edge comprises a beveled surface.
4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir comprises a plurality of separate compartments.
5. A device according to claim 4 comprising a first gate for each of said separate compartments.
6. A device according to claim 5 comprising a gate actuator which is selectively disengagable with each of said first gates.
7. A device according to claim 4 wherein said reservoir is rotatably mounted on a motor-driven shaft.
8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said motor-driven shaft is operatively linked to said controller.
9. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first gate and said second gate are movable within the same plane.
10. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a vacuum inducing component.
11. A pill dispenser for dispensing pills comprising:
a reservoir comprising an opening and at least one sidewall for storing a plurality of pills;
a first gate comprising a first linear opening edge, said first gate movable in a horizontal x-direction;
a second gate comprising a second linear opening edge, said second gate movable in a horizontal y-direction;
a third gate comprising a dispensing surface movable in a z-direction, wherein said x-direction, y-direction and z-direction are substantially perpendicular to each other;
at least one motion device for moving said first gate in said x-direction, said second gate in said y-direction and said third gate in said z-direction; and
a controller for controlling said at least one motion device.
12. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein said first gate and said second gate are movable within the same plane.
13. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein said reservoir comprises a plurality of compartments for pills.
14. A pill dispenser according to claim 13 comprising a plurality of first gates wherein a first gate is associated with each of said compartments.
15. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein the controller is adapted to manipulate at least one gate.
16. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein at least two of said gates move to create a rectangular prism-shaped dispensing opening.
17. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 further comprising a detector which senses whether a pill has entered the dispensing opening.
18. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 further comprising a vibration inducing component.
19. A pill dispenser according to claim 11 wherein said controller is operatively linked to movement devices that move said gates in linear directions.