Random Access and Random Load Dispensing Unit
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a random access and random load dispensing unit including a housing, at least one support located in the housing and defining a first axis, a plurality of platforms movable along the support along the first axis, a plurality of bins supported on the platforms, the bins being movable with the platforms, and a shuttle assembly movable along the first axis and further movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the plurality of platforms to access and retrieve products stored in the bins.
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Citations
130 Claims
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1-12. -12. (canceled)
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13. A dispensing unit for storing and delivering items that prior to being stored are pre-associated with a specific consumer, comprising:
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a housing; a dispensing location, a user interface coupled to the housing; enclosing a plurality of storage locations within the housing, arranged so that the storage locations form a three dimensional matrix, wherein substantially all storage locations are capable of storing at least one item that has been coupled with an electronically-readable identifying information associating the item with a specific consumer prior to storage; an electronic information sensor located within the housing to sensing the electronically-readable identifying information to associate a storage location with a stored item after the item is placed at the storage location; a computer communicably coupled with the information sensor and the user interface, and configured to receive storage location information from the information sensor to associate the stored item to both a specific consumer and a storage location within the dispensing unite; and a retrieving assembly communicably coupled with the computer, which is configured to translate a stored, consumer associated item to the dispensing location accessible to the specific consumer for whom the item has been stored, and who has interfaced with the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 40, 76, 77, 78, 79, 84, 85)
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14. (canceled)
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24-25. -25. (canceled)
- 34. The dispensing unit of claim 34, wherein the distribution bin comprises a plurality of pairs of substantially aligned notches, each pair defining a storage location.
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35. (canceled)
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38. (canceled)
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39. The dispensing unit of claim further comprising a controller in communication with the computer and the retrieving assembly.
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41. A dispensing unit for storing and delivering items associated with a specific consumer comprising:
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a housing that defines a first axis, a second axis, and a third axes, wherein the three axis are substantially perpendicular to one another; a dispense location, a computer; a consumer interface device coupled to the housing and communicably coupled to the computer; a first plurality of storage locations located in the plane formed by the first and the second axis, a second plurality of storage locations located in the plane formed by the first and third axis, and a third plurality of storage locations located in the plane formed by the second and third axis, wherein substantially all storage locations are configured to store at least one consumer-associated item that has been coupled with an electronically-readable identifying information for communicating that a stored item has been associated with a specific consumer; a delivery assembly communicably coupled with the computer, and configured to move a consumer-associated item from a storage location to a dispense location; an electronic information sensor communicably coupled with the computer, and capable of sensing a consumer-associated item to the electronically-readable identifying information communicate at least the identity of the stored product and at least the identity of the particular consumer associated with the stored product, while the product is still located at the storage location; and wherein the computer receives the sensed electronically-readable identifying information to verify that the stored item matches the consumer accessing the consumer interface and the product requested to be delivered, and directs the delivery assembly to deliver the verified, consumer-associated item to the dispense point. - View Dependent Claims (42, 44, 45, 46, 60, 61, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108)
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43. (canceled)
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47-59. -59. (canceled)
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62-75. -75. (canceled)
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109. A dispensing unit for storing a plurality of finished prescriptions each having been associated with a specific consumer pair to storage, and confirmed deliver at least one stored prescription upon being accessed by a consumer, the dispensing unit comprising:
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consumers, a housing defining an x axis, a y axis, and a z axis;
the axes being substantially perpendicular to one another;a user interface coupled to the housing and configured to allow a consumer to input consumer-identification information, and to communicate to the consumer information related to finished prescriptions stored for the accessing consumer within the dispensing unit; a plurality of movable storage locations extending along each of the x axis, the y axis, and the z axis, wherein substantially all the storage locations are configured to store at least one item that has been coupled with electronically-readable information associating the item with a specific consumer prior to being placed within the dispensing unit; a shuttle assembly movable along each of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, configured to transport consumer-associated items to a dispense point accessible to the consumer; an electronic sensor, coupled to the shuttle assembly, and configured to sense electronic information from the storage locations when the shuttle assembly is placed at a sensing orientation to a storage location from which information is desired; a controller for providing movement to the shuttle assembly and the plurality of storage locations; a computer in communication with the consumer interface and a controller, wherein after the consumer accesses the user interface, inputs consumer information, and requests delivery of a stored finalized prescription associated with the accessing consumer, the controller causes the shuttle assembly to move to a storage location where the requested prescription is stored, causes the storage locations to move along at least one axis, causes the electronic reader to read the electronic information and send electronic information to the computer to allow for verification that the stored prescription has been filled for the accessing consumer and is the prescription requested for delivery, and causes the shuttle assembly to deliver the prescription to the dispense point. - View Dependent Claims (110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130)
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Specification