in the forward/rearward direction. The material of the semi-cylinder trough 24 is integral with the material of the viewing platform 17 to form a one-piece component. It is noted that the semi-cylinder trough 24 can alternatively be secured to the viewing platform 17 in any other suitable manner. It is also noted that the semi-cylinder trough 24 can alternatively have any other suitable size, shape, and/or configuration.

The illustrated semi-cylinder door 36 has an open bottom and extends along and above the semi-cylinder trough 34 to form the transfer chamber 32 in the shape of a hollow cylinder. The illustrated semi-cylinder door 36 is a half-cylinder to cooperate with the illustrated semi-cylinder trough 36 which is also a half cylinder so that they cooperate to form a full cylinder. The length of the illustrated semi-cylinder door 26 in the forward/rearward direction is substantially the same as the length of the semi-cylinder trough 34 in the forward/rearward direction. The illustrated semi-cylinder door 36 is secured to the semi-cylinder trough 34 by a pair of spaced-apart hinges 42 along the right-sides or outer edges of the semi-cylinder trough 34 and the semi-cylinder door 36 so that the semi-cylinder door 36 can selectively be outwardly pivoted to provide access to the interior of the semi-cylinder trough 34. The illustrated hinges 42 have portions 42A, 42B formed on the semi-cylinder trough 34 and the semi-cylinder door 36 respectively which are secured together by screws 44. It is noted that there can alternatively be any other suitable type or quantity of hinges 42. It is also noted that the semi-cylinder door 36 can alternatively be removably secured to the semi-cylinder trough 34 in any other suitable manner. It is further noted that the semi-cylinder door 36 can alternatively have any other suitable size, shape, and/or configuration.

The illustrated semi-cylinder door 36 includes a primary door portion 36A (best shown in FIGS. 11 to 16) and a secondary door portion 36B (best shown in FIGS. 17 to 20). The illustrated secondary door portion 36B is pivotably secured to the primary door portion 36A by a pair of spaced-apart hinges 46 along the right-sides or outer edges of the secondary door portion 36B so that the secondary door portion 36B can selectively be outwardly pivoted to form a gap 48 between the primary door portion 36A and the right-side edge of the floor surface 26. The gap 48 preferably extends for about 45 degrees or less above horizontal but any other suitable size can alternatively be utilized. Thus, the secondary door portion 36B enables the pills to be moved from the floor surface 26 to the semi-cylinder trough 34 while the primary door portion 36A is closed to reduce inadvertent spillage of the pills during the transfer. The illustrated hinges 46 have portions 46A, 46B formed on the primary door 36A and the secondary door 36B respectively which are secured together by screws 50. It is noted that there can alternatively be any other suitable type or quantity of hinges 46. It is also noted that the secondary door 36B can alternatively be removably secured to the primary door 36A in any other suitable manner. It is further noted that the primary and secondary doors 36A, 36B can alternatively have any other suitable size, shape, and/or configuration.

As best shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, the illustrated secondary door 36B also includes a handle 52 configured so that the user can manually push open or pull closed the secondary door 36B. The illustrated handle 50 forwardly extends from a forward end of the secondary door 36B but any other suitable handle configuration can alternatively be utilized.

The dispensing spout 38 extends from the open front end of the semi-cylindrical trough 34 for selectively dispensing the pills from the semi-cylindrical trough 34. The illustrated spout 38 includes upper and lower portions 38A, 38B that together form a circular tube when the semi-cylinder door 36 is closed. The upper portion 38A is secured to the front end of the primary door 36A and lower portion 38b is secured to the front end of the semi-cylinder trough 34. Thus, an inner passage 54 of the spout 38 is located at the front open end of the transfer chamber 32 so that the pills can be selectively dispensed from the transfer chamber 32 through the spout 38. The illustrated spout 38 is a funnel. That is, the inner passage 54 of the spout 38 reduces in diameter in the direction from the inlet to the outlet. The outer diameter at the forward or free end of the spout 38 is preferably sized and shaped to be closely received within an inner diameter (ID) of a prescription container or vial. It is noted that the spout 38 can alternatively have any other suitable size, shape, and/or configuration.

The illustrated transfer portion 14 also includes a transfer gate 40 selectively movable between a blocking position to prevent dispensing the pills from the semi-cylindrical trough 34 through the spout 38, and a dispensing position to permit dispensing the pills from the semi-cylindrical trough 34 through the spout 38. As best shown in FIGS. 21 to 25, the illustrated transfer gate 40 is generally hook shaped having blocking portion 41 with a rounded lower edge to block movement of the pills. The illustrated transfer gate 40 is moved between the blocking position and the dispensing position by pivoting about a pivot pin 56. The illustrated pivot pin 56 is in the form of a screw but alternatively can be of any other suitable type. The illustrated pivot pin 56 extends through an opening 55 in the transfer gate 40 and then into a threaded opening 57 in the front of the viewing platform 17 in a rearward direction adjacent the open front end of the semi-cylinder trough 34. Thus, the transfer gate 40 is positioned between the front end of the semi-cylindrical trough 34 and the rear end of the spout 38. The left end of the transfer gate 40 is provided with handle 58 positioned so that the pivot pin 56 is located between the blocking portion and the handle 58. As a result, the blocking portion 41 is raised by downwardly pressing the handle 58 to pivot the transfer gate 40 about the pivot pin 56 and allow the pills to pass under the transfer gate 40 and to and out of the spout 38. When the handle 58 is released, the transfer gate automatically returns to its blocking position via gravity. It is noted that the transfer gate 40 can alternatively be spring loaded toward its blocking position. The illustrated handle 58 is provided with a knurled surface so that it is slip resistant. The illustrated semi-cylindrical trough 34 and primary door 36A are provided with slots 60 for movement of the transfer gate 40 therethrough when it is pivoted upward. The outer surface of the primary door 36A is also provided with a shield 61 for receiving the free end of the transfer gate 40 within an interior passage when the transfer gate 40 is pivoted upward. It is noted that the shield