Article dispensing system

• US 20090255947A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chudy Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Integration and Automation Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Fellows, Eugene E., Hardy, Lawrence C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/64 in which the articles are individually suspended from stationary supports

Abstract

An article dispensing system is provided which can be customized to selectively store and dispense multiple desired articles to suitable containers. The system of the invention is particularly relevant for items which can be stored on hangers in a vertical format and dispensed therefrom.

Claims

1. An article dispensing system comprising:

a) a dispensing module including a movable article carrier having disposed thereupon a plurality of moveable article supports on which to store a plurality of articles for dispensing, each article comprising a pre-filled package containing at least one pre-selected item, the carrier being movable relative to a dispensing station;

b) a system controller for receiving data representative of the identity of articles stored on the carrier and representative of a specific article to be dispensed, the controller being operatively coupled to the carrier to cause the carrier to move to a position in which the specific article to be dispensed is brought to the dispensing station;

c) a pick head at the dispensing station to engage an article, withdraw it from the carrier, and direct the article to a container; and

d) an article scanning station downstream of the dispensing station, the article scanning station comprising at least one scanner for scanning and identifying the selected article.

3. The article dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the article scanning station comprises at least two scanners for scanning the selected article.

4. The article dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the article scanning station further comprises a means for applying a label to the article.

5. The article dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the article is a bottle, and wherein the means for labeling the bottle comprises:

a. at least one powered roller that can be engaged to spin the bottle;

b. a first scanner for scanning a first UPC on the bottle; and

c. a second scanner for scanning a second UPC on a label after the label has been applied to the bottle.

2. (canceled)

6. An article dispensing system to dispense a selected product from a plurality of products comprising:

a) a dispensing station including a rotatable carousel having disposed thereupon a plurality of moveable product hangers on which to store the plurality of products, each product comprising a pre-filled package containing at least one pre-selected item, the rotatable carousel comprising a carousel positioning device, a drive motor, and a carousel position detector to determine the rotational position of the carousel relative to the dispensing station;

b) a system controller including a means for data input to

i) identify the plurality of products contained on the hangers, and

ii) select the specific product to be dispensed from the product dispensing system,

the controller operatively coupled to the carousel positioning device and the carousel position detector to rotate the carousel so as to position at the dispensing station the hanger containing the selected product, wherein the controller includes logic to obtain the selected product from the hanger on the carousel and to subsequently dispense the product from the system;

c) a pick head comprising a means to temporarily hold a product upon contact of the product with the pick head, until such time when the controller provides a signal to dispense the product, and

d) a product detecting station, the product detecting station comprising at least one means for detecting and identifying the selected product.

8. The article dispensing system of claim 6 further comprising within the detecting station a product compartment, wherein the product compartment receives the product held by the pick head, further wherein the controller includes logic to dispense the product from the product compartment.

9. The article dispensing system of claim 8 further wherein the detecting of the product occurs when the product is contained within the product compartment.

10. The article dispensing system of claim 9 wherein the product compartment includes at least two distinct subcompartments in which to hold the selected product, further wherein the controller includes logic to control movement of the product from one subcompartment to another within the product compartment.

11. The article dispensing system of claim 10 wherein a separate product detector exists for each subcompartment, further wherein the controller includes logic to control movement of the product through the product compartment based on the input received from the detector associated with each distinct subcompartment.

12. The article dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the product detecting station further comprises means for labeling the product.

13. The article dispensing system of claim 12 wherein the labeling means is vacuum-assisted.

14. The article dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the system further comprises at least one container in a moveable container system for receiving dispensed product.

15. The article dispensing system of claim 14, wherein each container can be individually identified and distinguished from other containers in the container system.

7. (canceled)

16. A method of dispensing a selected product from a plurality of products comprising:

a) providing an article dispensing system comprising an article scanning station, the article scanning station comprising at least two scanners for scanning a selected product;

b) selecting a product, each product comprising a pre-filled package containing at least one pre-selected item;

c) placing the selected product into the article scanning station;

d) scanning a first UPC on the selected product using a first scanner, the first UPC being indicative of the identity of the pre-selected item;

e) identifying the selected product based on the UPC;

f) labeling the selected product with a label corresponding to the identity of the selected product;

g) scanning a second UPC on the label using a second scanner, the second UPC being associated with the identity of a patient intended to receive the pre-selected item;

h) verifying that the pre-selected item and the label correspond; and

i) dispensing the selected product from the article dispensing system.

17. A method of dispensing a selected product from a plurality of products comprising:

a) providing an article dispensing system comprising an article scanning station, the article scanning station comprising at least two scanners for scanning a selected product;

b) selecting a product, wherein the product comprises a bottle containing a pre-selected item;

c) placing the selected bottle into the article scanning station, wherein the article scanning station comprises at least one powered roller;

d) engaging the powered roller to spin the selected bottle;

e) scanning a first UPC on the selected bottle using a first scanner, the first UPC being indicative of the identity of the pre-selected item;

f) identifying the selected bottle based on the UPC;

g) labeling the selected bottle with a label corresponding to the identity of the pre-selected item;

h) scanning a second UPC on the label using a second scanner, the second UPC being associated with the identity of a patient intended to receive the pre-selected item;

i) verifying that the pre-selected item and the label correspond; and

j) dispensing the selected bottle from the article dispensing system.