Pill picking apparatus

Abstract

A pill picking apparatus which can pick up pills from a pill box includes a main arm and a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism has a first linkage arm, a second linkage arm, a third linkage arm, and a holder. The first linkage arm and the second linkage arm are pivotally mounted to the main arm. The third linkage arm has a first end mounted to the first linkage arm and a second end pivotally mounted to the second linkage arm. The holder is pivotally mounted to the second linkage arm and holds a picking device for picking a pill from a pill box. When the main arm rotates to a position where the first linkage arm abuts against a first blocking member, the first blocking member drives the first linkage arm to rotate relative to the main arm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pill picking apparatus, comprising:
 a main arm;   a linkage mechanism comprising a first linkage arm, a second linkage arm, a third linkage arm, and a holder, wherein the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm are pivotally mounted to the main arm, a first end of the third linkage arm is pivotally mounted to the first linkage arm, a second end of the third linkage arm is pivotally mounted to the second linkage arm, and the holder is pivotally mounted to the second linkage arm;   a picking device mounted to the holder and adapted to pick a pill from a pill box; and   a first blocking member, wherein when the main arm rotates to a position where the first linkage arm abuts against the first blocking member, the first blocking member is adapted to drive the first linkage arm to rotate relative to the main arm.   
     
     
         2 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises a receiving portion for receiving the picking device and a shovel located on an outer side of the receiving portion. 
     
     
         3 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the main arm is rotatable about a first axis, the main arm comprises a main body and an installation portion extending from an upper end of the main body, the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm are pivotally mounted to the installation portion. 
     
     
         4 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a second blocking member, wherein the main arm further comprises a contacting portion extending from a lower end of the main body, when the main arm rotates to a position where the contacting portion of the main arm abuts against the second blocking member, and the second blocking member is adapted to prevent the main arm from rotating about the first axis in a direction. 
     
     
         5 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second blocking member is substantially flat and lies horizontally. 
     
     
         6 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a position sensor, wherein the main arm further comprises a breaking portion extending from a lower end of the main body, the position sensor comprises a signal transmitter and a signal receiver, when the main arm rotates to a position where the breaking portion of the main arm breaks a signal transmission between the signal transmitter and the signal receiver, the position sensor determines that the main arm is in the initial position. 
     
     
         7 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the position sensor is substantially U-shaped, and the signal transmitter and the signal receiver face each other. 
     
     
         8 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage mechanism further comprises a cover mounted to the second linkage arm and the third linkage arm for covering a gap between the second linkage arm and the third linkage arm. 
     
     
         9 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first resilient member for applying a pulling force to the first linkage arm, wherein an end of the first resilient member is connected to the main arm and another end of the first resilient member is connected to the first linkage arm. 
     
     
         10 . The pill picking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second resilient member for applying a pulling force to the holder, wherein an end of the second resilient member is connected to the first linkage arm and another end of the second resilient member is connected to the holder. 
     
     
         11 . A pill dispenser, comprising:
 a pill box for storing pills;   a main arm being rotatable relative to the pill box;   a linkage mechanism comprising a first linkage arm, a second linkage arm, a third linkage arm, and a holder, wherein the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm are pivotally mounted to the main arm, a first end of the third linkage arm is pivotally mounted to the first linkage arm, a second end of the third linkage arm is pivotally mounted to the second linkage arm, and the holder is pivotally mounted to the second linkage arm;   a picking device mounted to the holder and adapted to pick a pill from the pill box; and   a first blocking member located on a top wall of the pill box, wherein when the main arm rotates to a position where the first linkage arm abuts against the first blocking member, the first blocking member is adapted to drive the first linkage arm to rotate relative to the main arm.   
     
     
         12 . The pill dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the pill box defines an opening for allowing the picking device to enter the pill box, the first blocking member is located adjacent to the opening of the pill box. 
     
     
         13 . The pill dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the blocking member is inclined relative to the top wall of the pill box. 
     
     
         14 . The pill dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the holder comprises a receiving portion for receiving the picking device and a shovel located on an outer side of the receiving portion. 
     
     
         15 . The pill dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the main arm is rotatable about a first axis, the main arm comprises a main body and an installation portion extending from an upper end of the main body, the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm are pivotally mounted to the installation portion. 
     
     
         16 . The pill dispenser of  claim 15 , further comprising a second blocking member, wherein the main arm further comprises a contacting portion extending from a lower end of the main body, when the main arm rotates to a position where the contacting portion of the main arm abuts against the second blocking member, and the second blocking member is adapted to prevent the main arm from rotating about the first axis in a direction. 
     
     
         17 . The pill dispenser of  claim 15 , further comprising a position sensor adapted to determine whether the main arm is in an initial position, wherein the main arm further comprises a breaking portion extending from a lower end of the main body, the position sensor comprises a signal transmitter and a signal receiver, when the main arm rotates to a position where the breaking portion of the main arm breaks a signal transmission between the signal transmitter and the signal receiver, and the position sensor determines that the main arm is in the initial position. 
     
     
         18 . The pill dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the linkage mechanism further comprises a cover mounted to the second linkage arm and the third linkage arm for covering a gap between the second linkage arm and the third linkage arm. 
     
     
         19 . The pill dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising a first resilient member for applying a pulling force to the first linkage arm, wherein an end of the first resilient member is connected to the main arm and another end of the first resilient member is connected to the first linkage arm. 
     
     
         20 . The pill dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising a second resilient member for applying a pulling force to the holder, wherein an end of the second resilient member is connected to the first linkage arm and another end of the second resilient member is connected to the holder.