Automatic picking machine for filling a transport container
First Claim
1. An automatic picking machine for pharmaceutical drug packages, comprising:
- at least one storage rack;
a storage and retrieval machine moveable in a lane adjacent the at least one storage rack, the storage and retrieval machine configured to store pharmaceutical drug packages in storage sites on storage surfaces of the at least one storage rack and configured to remove the pharmaceutical drug packages from the storage surfaces;
a control apparatus for controlling the storage and retrieval machine; and
a filling apparatus for successively filling each of a plurality of transport containers with a group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order, wherein the filling apparatus comprises;
a plurality of collection containers, each for collecting pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order, and each of the plurality of collection containers including an unloading apparatus for unloading the pharmaceutical drug packages previously collected in the plurality of collection containers at a same time;
a plurality of first transport apparatuses, each having a transport channel extending from a receiving region configured to accept a respective drug package removed from a respective one of the storage surfaces by the storage and retrieval machine, toward a respective collection container of the plurality of collection containers, the control apparatus configured to cause the storage and retrieval machine to move between respective receiving regions to dispense pharmaceutical drug packages into a respective transport channel of one of the first transport apparatus, the respective transport channel configured to convey the pharmaceutical drug packages towards a first collection container of the plurality of transport containers, anda receiving apparatus for receiving a respective transport container of the plurality of transport containers to be filled at a filling location of the filing apparatus, wherein the respective transport container to be filled is arranged at the filling location such that the pharmaceutical drug packages unloaded by the unloading apparatus are directed into the respective transport container.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic picking machine for pharmaceutical drug packages includes at least one storage rack, at least one storage and retrieval machine, a control apparatus for controlling the storage and retrieval machine, and a filling apparatus for successively filling each of a plurality of transport containers with a group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order, wherein the filling apparatus includes a plurality of collection containers, first transport apparatuses, each having a transport channel for conveying the pharmaceutical drug packages towards the respective collection container, and a receiving apparatus for receiving a transport container to be filled at a filling location of the filing apparatus.
7 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An automatic picking machine for pharmaceutical drug packages, comprising:
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at least one storage rack; a storage and retrieval machine moveable in a lane adjacent the at least one storage rack, the storage and retrieval machine configured to store pharmaceutical drug packages in storage sites on storage surfaces of the at least one storage rack and configured to remove the pharmaceutical drug packages from the storage surfaces; a control apparatus for controlling the storage and retrieval machine; and a filling apparatus for successively filling each of a plurality of transport containers with a group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order, wherein the filling apparatus comprises; a plurality of collection containers, each for collecting pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order, and each of the plurality of collection containers including an unloading apparatus for unloading the pharmaceutical drug packages previously collected in the plurality of collection containers at a same time; a plurality of first transport apparatuses, each having a transport channel extending from a receiving region configured to accept a respective drug package removed from a respective one of the storage surfaces by the storage and retrieval machine, toward a respective collection container of the plurality of collection containers, the control apparatus configured to cause the storage and retrieval machine to move between respective receiving regions to dispense pharmaceutical drug packages into a respective transport channel of one of the first transport apparatus, the respective transport channel configured to convey the pharmaceutical drug packages towards a first collection container of the plurality of transport containers, and a receiving apparatus for receiving a respective transport container of the plurality of transport containers to be filled at a filling location of the filing apparatus, wherein the respective transport container to be filled is arranged at the filling location such that the pharmaceutical drug packages unloaded by the unloading apparatus are directed into the respective transport container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for automatically picking pharmaceutical drug packages, the method comprising:
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providing at least one storage rack; controlling, by a control apparatus, a storage and retrieval machine that moves in a lane adjacent the at least one storage rack, wherein the storage and retrieval machine stores pharmaceutical drug packages in storage sites on storage surfaces of the at least one storage rack and removes the pharmaceutical drug packages from the storage surfaces; and successively filling, by a filling apparatus, each of a plurality of transport containers with a group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order by; causing the storage and retrieval machine to move between respective receiving regions configured to accept respective drug packages removed from a respective one of the storage surfaces by the storage and retrieval machine, to dispense pharmaceutical drug packages into a respective transport channel, the transport channel extending from a respective one of the receiving regions toward a respective collection container of a plurality of collection containers; conveying the one group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order toward the respective collection container by the respective transport channel; collecting, by the respective collection container, one group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order; unloading, by an unloading apparatus, the one group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order collected in the respective collection container; and receiving a respective transport container of the plurality of transport containers to be filled at a filling location of the filling apparatus, by a receiving apparatus, wherein the respective transport container to be filled is disposed at the filling location such that the pharmaceutical drug packages unloaded by the unloading apparatus are directed into the respective transport container to be filled. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification