The invention relates to a method for step dispensing discrete medicaments from a feeder unit, wherein the feeder unit comprises a container holding said medicaments, and a dispensing mechanism configured for receiving the medicaments from the container and selectively dispensing the medicaments from the feeder unit, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a singulating body with a plurality of singulation chambers; and a first release member arranged below the singulating body and provided with a release opening, wherein the first release member and the singulating body are movable with respect to each other, the method comprising the steps of: moving the singulating body and the first release member relative to each other into an aligned position in which one of the plurality of singulation chambers is aligned with the release opening; when the singulating body is in the aligned position, stopping relative movement between the singulating body and the first release member; maintaining the singulating body stationary with respect to the first release member for a predetermined waiting period to allow any medicaments accommodated in the aligned singulation chamber to fall through the release opening.

Systems and methods for dispensing items utilizing a housing having a compartment configured to store a quantity of items, a dispensing device configured to dispense at least one of the items from the housing to an individual, an activation device configured to activate the dispensing device to dispense the at least one item from the housing in response to an interaction with the individual, an outlet in the housing through which the items may be individually dispensed from the housing by the dispensing device, and one or more light sources that emit UV-C radiation within the housing and irradiate exterior surfaces of the items or packaging of the items with the UV-C radiation. Methods utilizing the system may be used to dispense items, such as sacramental elements for Communion.

Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the restock drawer in any workable proportion and arrangement. The dispensing mechanisms include multiple sensing technologies for tracking and inventory of items and for accurate sensing of items as they are dispensed.

A modular medication dispensing system for managing and automatically dispensing pills from a plurality of portable medication dispensers comprises: a base equipped with rotation means and being removably installed on a plane surface, a circular magazine comprising a plurality of adaptors for receiving a plurality of portable medication dispensers, the circular magazine being rotatably mounted on the base, an actuator for actuating a portable dispenser from the plurality of portable dispensers when the portable dispenser is in the dispensing position, a plurality of autonomous portable dispensers being removably received in the plurality of adaptors and operating autonomously or in synchronization with the modular system, a filling assembly comprising movable means for automatically filling a portable dispenser, and an electronic system comprised in each portable dispenser and in the base for permanently communicating between the plurality of portable dispensers and the base or between the base and a user.

A portable, reusable medication dispensing assembly which has communication capability to improve medication adherence is disclosed. An electromechanical apparatus sequentially delivers dosage form packages from a compartment in a housing to a dose-ready area in the housing. A microprocessor-based controller is reprogrammable with contact and prescription data. The controller controls the electromechanical apparatus to sequentially deliver the dosage form packages at prescribed times or time intervals to the dose-ready area based on the prescription data. The controller generates and stores a set of event data based on when the dosage form packages are ready to be released in the dose-ready area and whether and when the dosage form packages have been released in the dose-ready area. Communication apparatus is capable of wirelessly transmitting the event data via a publicly-accessible network to a remote database and to wirelessly transmit event notifications via the network based on the prescription and contact data.

A shirt having an attached dispensing apparatus adapted to fit or be inserted within the material of the shirt. The dispensing apparatus has a dispenser body and container section with attachment flanges to enable at least one gasket and screw surrounding the dispenser body and container section to adhere to shirt. The gumball machine shirt holds at least one item to be dispensed.

A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for drugs is provided. The storage container includes a housing surrounding a holding space which housing has a guide section and a bottom surface, the guide section defining a guide space and having a vertical guide recess, which does not penetrate the housing, and the bottom surface having a dispensing opening. The storage container includes a separating device having at least one channel for holding at least one drug portion and comprises a retaining element having a retaining section and having a guide element, which is arranged in the guide recess, the vertical guide recess and the guide element interacting in such a way that the retaining element is arranged for height adjustment in the guide recess by means of the guide element and rotational motion of the retaining means is prevented.

Described herein are methods and systems for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions. The systems can include a housing that encloses a receiving space having a bottom surface. A separation device may be provided and arranged on the bottom surface with at least one channel to receive at least one medicament portion. At least one channel may have an opening facing the receiving space and an opening facing the bottom surface. The opening facing the bottom surface may be associated with a contact area on the bottom surface, over which contact area the medicament portions may be guided upon a movement of separation device. At least one recess may be arranged in the bottom surface outside of the contact area to receive contamination particles present in the container.

A slide-open dispenser package for loose articles including: a container for containing a plurality of loose articles, in which the container includes a bottom wall and an article dispensing outlet opening made in the bottom wall; a wrapper on the outside of the container and slidably coupled thereto along a sliding direction orthogonal to the bottom wall; at least one occluding element for occluding the outlet opening, in which the occluding element is movable between a closed configuration, in which it prevents the articles from coming out of the opening, and an open configuration, in which it allows at least one article to come out through the outlet opening. The occluding element is fixed to the container and to the wrapper so that the reciprocal sliding of the wrapper and the container causes the occluding element to move between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

A food dispenser for use by manual-dexterity challenged people is disclosed. The dispenser comprises a hollow cylindrical base, a container for containing a plurality of select food items, a cylindrical cap disposed through a hollow cylindrical collar mounted atop the container and joined thereto by interfitting surface portions. The dispenser includes a piston and a compression spring disposed in an interior region of the base and abutting a portion of the base and the piston for biasing the piston and base apart and for maintaining a predetermined spacing therebetween.