Patent · US Expired

Vial gripper mechanism

US5873488A · kind A · utility

50Cited by
7References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 21, 1997
Grant dateFeb 23, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 21, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S294/907
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In an automatic medicament dispensing machine, a vial gripper mechanism includes a rotatable first jaw and a second jaw coupled with the output shaft of a jaw motor. In an open position, the jaws are spaced for receiving a medicament vial therebetween. Actuation of jaw motor rotates the second jaw toward the first jaw for gripping the vial therebetween in a gripping position. Continued rotation of the jaw motor causes rotation of both of said jaws and any vial gripped therebetween to a dispensing position for receipt of medicament into the vial from an adjacent dispensing cell.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.