Vibration apparatus of automatic pill dispensing machine

Abstract

A vibration apparatus in an automatic pill dispensing machine includes a pill box and a vibration unit connected to the pill box. The vibration unit includes a motor, a vibration member and a first cam. The vibration member is connected to the first cam and the pill box. The motor is powered on to rotate the first cam. The first cam resists against the vibration member. The first cam moves the vibration member and the pill box between a first height and a second height. The vibration member vibrates the pill box to separate pills from each other in the pill box when the first cam moves the pill box between the first height and the second height.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vibration apparatus in an automatic pill dispensing machine, comprising:
 a pill box; and   a vibration unit connected to the pill box; wherein the vibration unit comprises a motor, a vibration member and a first cam; the first cam comprises a cam body; at least one second tooth is positioned on the cam body; the vibration member is connected to the first cam and the pill box; the first cam is configured to be rotated by the motor; the at least one second tooth on the cam body resists against the vibration member; the at least one second tooth raises the vibration member and the pill box to a first height when the at least one second tooth passes through the vibration member; the cam body lowers the vibration member and the pill box to a second height when the cam body passes through the vibration member; and the vibration member vibrates the pill box when the first cam moves the pill box between the first height and the second height.   
     
     
         2 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first protrusion portion extending upwardly from a top of the vibration member; a cutout is defined at a bottom of the vibration member; a second protrusion portion is formed at the bottom of the vibration member beside the cutout; the first protrusion portion resists against a bottom of the pill box; the second protrusion portion resists against the first cam; and the at least one second tooth is received in the cutout of the vibration member and resists against the second protrusion portion. 
     
     
         3 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration unit further comprises a gear; the first cam is fixed on the gear; a rotating axle is positioned on one terminal of the motor; the rotating axle is configured to be rotated by the motor; the rotating axle engages with and rotates the gear; and the first cam rotates together with the gear. 
     
     
         4 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the rotating axle defines a number of outer threads thereon; a number of first teeth are positioned around the gear; and the number of outer threads engage with the number of first teeth. 
     
     
         5 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a receiving slot defined in the first cam; a second cam is positioned on the gear; a number of engaging portions are positioned around the second cam; and the number of engaging portions are received in the receiving slot. 
     
     
         6 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a vibration block, a mounting bracket and a fixing bracket; the vibration block is connected to the vibration member and the pill box; the mounting bracket defines a first accommodating space and a second accommodating space therein; the first accommodating space is communicated with the second accommodating space; a first accommodating slot is defined above the second accommodating space in the mounting bracket; a second accommodating slot is defined at a top of the fixing bracket; the first accommodating slot and the second accommodating slot cooperatively define a third accommodating space; the motor is located in the first accommodating space; the vibration member, the gear and the first cam are located in the second accommodating space; and the vibration block is located in the third accommodating space. 
     
     
         7 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a first locating axle and a second locating axle substantially perpendicularly extending from the second accommodating space; a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion protruding from the fixing bracket; a first pivoting hole is defined in one terminal of the vibration member; a second pivoting hole is defined in the second cam; the second pivoting hole passes through the gear and the second cam; the first locating axle and the second locating axle pass through the first pivoting hole and the second pivoting hole respectively; and a distal end of each of the first locating axle and the second locating axle are fixed in the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion positioned on the mounting bracket; a first locking bracket and a second locking bracket are positioned on the fixing bracket; a first opening is defined in the first locking bracket; a second opening is defined in the second locking bracket; the first locking bracket and the second locking bracket resist against one side of each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion respectively; the first locking bracket and the second locking bracket are elastically deformed; and first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are locked in the first opening and the second opening respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one side of each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion is substantially a diagonal surface. 
     
     
         10 . A vibration apparatus in an automatic pill dispensing machine, comprising:
 a pill box; and   a vibration unit connected to the pill box; wherein the vibration unit comprises a motor, a vibration member and a first cam; the vibration member is connected to the first cam and the pill box; the first cam is configured to be rotated by the motor; the first cam resists against the vibration member; the first cam moves the vibration member and the pill box between a first height and a second height; and the vibration member vibrates the pill box when the first cam moves the pill box between the first height and the second height.   
     
     
         11 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first cam comprises a cam body; at least one second tooth is positioned on the cam body; the at least one second tooth on the cam body resists against the vibration member; the at least one second tooth raises the vibration member and the pill box to the first height when the at least one second tooth passes through the vibration member; and the cam body lowers the vibration member and the pill box to the second height when the cam body passes through the vibration member. 
     
     
         12 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a first protrusion portion extending upwardly from a top of the vibration member; a cutout is defined at a bottom of the vibration member; a second protrusion portion is formed at the bottom of the vibration member beside the cutout; the first protrusion portion resists against a bottom of the pill box; the second protrusion portion resists against the first cam; and the at least one second tooth is received in the cutout of the vibration member and resists against the second protrusion portion. 
     
     
         13 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the vibration unit further comprises a gear; the first cam is fixed on the gear; a rotating axle is positioned on one terminal of the motor; the rotating axle is configured to be rotated by the motor; the rotating axle engages with and rotates the gear; and the first cam rotates together with the gear. 
     
     
         14 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the rotating axle defines a number of outer threads thereon; a number of first teeth are positioned around the gear; and the number of outer threads engage with the number of first teeth. 
     
     
         15 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a receiving slot defined in the first cam; a second cam is positioned on the gear; a number of engaging portions are positioned around the second cam; and the number of engaging portions are received in the receiving slot. 
     
     
         16 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a vibration block, a mounting bracket and a fixing bracket; the vibration block is connected to the vibration member and the pill box; the mounting bracket defines a first accommodating space and a second accommodating space therein; the first accommodating space is communicated with the second accommodating space; a first accommodating slot is defined above the second accommodating space in the mounting bracket; a second accommodating slot is defined at a top of the fixing bracket; the first accommodating slot and the second accommodating slot cooperatively define a third accommodating space; the motor is located in the first accommodating space; the vibration member, the gear and the first cam are located in the second accommodating space; and the vibration block is located in the third accommodating space. 
     
     
         17 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a first locating axle and a second locating axle substantially perpendicularly extending from the second accommodating space; a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion protruding from the fixing bracket; a first pivoting hole is defined in one terminal of the vibration member; a second pivoting hole is defined in the second cam; the second pivoting hole passes through the gear and the second cam; the first locating axle and the second locating axle pass through the first pivoting hole and the second pivoting hole respectively; and a distal end of each of the first locating axle and the second locating axle are fixed in the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion positioned on the mounting bracket; a first locking bracket and a second locking bracket are positioned on the fixing bracket; a first opening is defined in the first locking bracket; a second opening is defined in the second locking bracket; the first locking bracket and the second locking bracket resist against one side of each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion respectively; the first locking bracket and the second locking bracket are elastically deformed; and first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are locked in the first opening and the second opening respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The vibration apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the one side of each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion is substantially a diagonal surface.