DISPENSING DEVICE HAVING A STORAGE CHAMBER, DISPENSING CHAMBER AND A FEED REGULATOR THERE BETWEEN

A drug dispensing device is comprised of an upper hopper having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening. A lid covers the upper opening. A lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower opening in a bottom portion thereof is provided. The upper hopper defines a bulk storage chamber and the lower hopper defines a dispensing chamber. A rotatable dispensing disc is positioned in a lower portion of the dispensing chamber for dispensing medicament from the drug dispensing device through the lower opening in the lower hopper. A regulator is situated between the bulk storage chamber and the dispensing chamber for controlling the rate at which medicament moves from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber. The regulator may take a variety of forms. In one embodiment, the regulator includes a valve for controlling the flow of medicament from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber. The valve may include a member responsive to the volume of medicament in the dispensing chamber for controlling the position of the valve. The valve and member may include a trap door valve and a float, a butterfly valve and a rotatable arm, a guillotine valve and a movable arm, and a conical plunger and a wing extending from the base of the plunger. In another embodiment, the regulator may include a rotatable member having an opening therein. The rotatable member may include a cylindrical wall having an opening in a portion thereof, a plate having an opening therein, a cup shaped member defining an opening and a pair of rotatable members which together define at least one opening therein. The regulator may be configured such that the rate at which medicament moves from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber is never zero. Further, agitating members may be provided which extend toward the upper hopper. Methods of operation are also disclosed. Un dispositif de distribution de médicament comprend une trémie supérieure possédant une ouverture supérieure destinée à recevoir un médicament, et une ouverture inférieure. Un couvercle recouvre l'ouverture supérieure. Une trémie inférieure possédant une ouverture supérieure et une ouverture inférieure dans une partie fond de celle-ci est prévue. La trémie supérieure définit une chambre de stockage en vrac et la trémie inférieure définit une chambre de distribution. Un disque de distribution rotatif est placé dans la partie inférieure de la chambre de distribution de façon à distribuer des médicament en p