System Description
The pill dispensing system is a complex machine consisting of various subsystems. Below is a process flow for generally how the product functions.
The first major subsystem that is involved is the chassis which holds the contents of the dispensing system. The original constraint on the chassis size was that it had to fit through a doorway. A standard doorway width is 33 inches, so this was our maximum allowable width for the chassis. The height and length of the chassis design are 45 inches and 60 inches respectively. This was constructed using metal rails from Item America. These are very versatile rails and can be connected in a variety of ways beacuase of the grooves they contain.
Attached to the outer chassis is a vertical rail that moves an arm to any point along the vertical direction. It is attached to a 24 volt motor. At the end of this arm is a drawer slide, which is attached to a rack and pinion driven by a 12 volt motor. This controls the horizontal movement of the arm. Below shows a picture of the arm with the motor plate and motor.
The next major part of the system is the pill storage method. The pills are stored individually in what are known in the industry as "bingo cards". They are backed with foil and contain one pill in each bubble. These cards are connected to plastic rails which hold them in place. The rails are connected radially to a spinning column powered by a 24 volt motor. This arrangement is similar to a jukebox. Between the rotational movement of the column and the vertical and horizontal movement of the arm, any position can be reached to find a pill.
At the end of the drawer slide is what we call the Vacuum Removal Device, or the VRD for short. It is a piece that contains sharp blades which cut the foil backing of the bingo card. Then a pump turns on and sucks the pills out of the bubble into the VRD and into a holding chamber. The bottom is connected to a door which opens and closes to deliver the pills to the final output. They are dropped into a funnel which delivers the pills to a plastic cup waiting below.
In addition to the mechanical components of the system, electrical components were also needed. Included onto the motors were encoders to measure the amounts of revolutions spun, photo sensors for safety precautions, and wiring to a main electrical board which contains the power supplies, motor drivers, and various other circuit boards which act as the machine's "brain".
To see the system in action, go to the Downloads section of the website and watch the videos.
