A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A vibratory tablet feeder includes a reservoir for storing a supply of tablets with a pathway that leads to an exit opening for discharging tablets therefrom. Vibration of the reservoir moves tablets as a flow of tablets along the pathway to the exit opening. The feeder can include a wiper spaced vertically from the pathway. The wiper has a wiping surface that is configured to guide at least one vertically-bunched tablet in the flow of tablets away from the exit opening for return to the reservoir in order to provide singulated flow of tablets at the exit opening. A portion of the pathway may define a chamfered edge that is configured to guide at least one horizontally-bunched tablet in the flow of tablets away from the exit opening for return to the reservoir in order to provide singulated flow of tablets at the exit opening.

A pill counting device includes a step feeder having moveable slats interleaved with fixed slats. The movable slats are vertically offset from one another and are configured to move vertically between top platforms of adjacent fixed slats to carry pills vertically up the step feeder. A top movable slat orients a subset of the plurality of pills into a row of pills to be fed into a count chamber. A camera configured to capture an image of a pill of the individual pills as it falls through the count chamber. The device further includes a control system configured to control movement of the movable slats and to control capturing of images by the camera. The control system is further configured to calculate a characteristic of the pill from the image, and to increment a pill counter in response to the characteristic of the pill meeting predefined criteria.

Process and machine for filling a container with insect larvae, wherein the process includes supplying the larvae to a hopper arranged adjacent to a roller having lines of openings, applying a vacuum inside the roller for adhering the larvae to the openings, moving the container in a forward direction towards the roller, the container moved through an area below the roller and the roller arranged in a position transverse to the forward movement direction, synchronized rotating of the roller with the forward movement of the container from a loading position to an unloading position in which one of the lines of openings faces the compartments of one of the rows of the container, and removing the vacuum from the line of openings in order to release the larvae, with one larva being arranged in each compartment in the row of the container.

Process and machine for filling a container with insect larvae, wherein the process includes supplying the larvae to a hopper arranged adjacent to a roller having lines of openings, applying a vacuum inside the roller for adhering the larvae to the openings, moving the container in a forward direction towards the roller, the container moved through an area below the roller and the roller arranged in a position transverse to the forward movement direction, synchronized rotating of the roller with the forward movement of the container from a loading position to an unloading position in which one of the lines of openings faces the compartments of one of the rows of the container, and removing the vacuum from the line of openings in order to release the larvae, with one larva being arranged in each compartment in the row of the container.

A storage container for small piece goods is provided, comprising a housing, and a separating device arranged in the housing, the separating device having a top conical surface facing an upper portion of the housing, a plurality of channels and a discharging device. The discharging device comprises a projection extending upwards from the top conical surface of the separating device into the upper portion of the housing disposed above a topmost portion of the top conical surface and a contactor coupled in an electrically dischargeable manner to the projection, the contactor configured to electrically couple the discharging device to a dispensing station contact of a dispensing station. A storage and dispensing station for small piece goods is also provided.

The present invention disclosed a full automatic medication dispensing system and methods of solid medication separation, comprising of a medication feeding device, a medication separation device, a medication distributing channel device, a medication supply device, a medication returning device and a central processing unit. The system has no requirement on the size, shape and weight of solid medications, the medications can be automatically and accurately dispensed into the sealed medication supply box according to the set parameters, and the excessive medications are automatically returned to the medication retrieving bottles. The system can remind a medication taking person to take the medication in time and supply the medications when confirmed. User can choose a portable medication box or a fixed medication box with a larger capacity. The system can be directly set, and parameters can also be set more conveniently through the mobile client and the reminding functions and the remote setting functions can be added. Medications can be taken in advance. The system can inform preset people when a dose of medications are not taken after a preset period of time, or more medications and medication dispensing are needed, The system can accurately dispense medications, and is convenient to clean, easy to use, and is of great economic, practical and medical value.

Provided is a medicine dispensing apparatus including a plurality of medicine cassettes for respectively dispensing desired types of medicines. The medicine dispensing apparatus allocates medicine information on a medicine to be dispensed to one of the medicine cassettes when the medicine information is given. Then, the medicine dispensing apparatus drives the medicine cassette according to a predetermined driving condition corresponding to the medicine information allocated to the medicine cassette to dispense the medicine from the medicine cassette. By using the medicine dispensing apparatus, it is possible to reduce a user work for dispensing the desired types of medicines.

Provided is a medicine dispensing apparatus including a plurality of medicine cassettes for respectively dispensing desired types of medicines. The medicine dispensing apparatus allocates medicine information on a medicine to be dispensed to one of the medicine cassettes when the medicine information is given. Then, the medicine dispensing apparatus drives the medicine cassette according to a predetermined driving condition corresponding to the medicine information allocated to the medicine cassette to dispense the medicine from the medicine cassette. By using the medicine dispensing apparatus, it is possible to reduce a user work for dispensing the desired types of medicines.