AUTOMATED LABEL VERIFY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPENSING PHARMACEUTICALS
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for filling a prescription order with a plurality of products each containing a pharmaceutical and each marked with a product barcode, the apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor configured to move the products along a workflow path;
a first verification station in the workflow path of the conveyor and configured to verify that the product barcode on each product belongs in the prescription order being filled;
a label application station in the workflow path of the conveyor and configured to print and apply a patient label onto each of the products; and
a second verification station in the workflow path of the conveyor and configured to independently verify that the product barcode on each of the products matches a patient barcode on the patient label after application to the product.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for filling a prescription order with plurality of products each containing a pharmaceutical. The apparatus and method verifying a barcode on each of the products and printing and applying a patient label with a verified barcode to each of the products. After the patient label is applied, the barcodes are independently verified before the products are released.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for filling a prescription order with a plurality of products each containing a pharmaceutical and each marked with a product barcode, the apparatus comprising:
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a conveyor configured to move the products along a workflow path; a first verification station in the workflow path of the conveyor and configured to verify that the product barcode on each product belongs in the prescription order being filled; a label application station in the workflow path of the conveyor and configured to print and apply a patient label onto each of the products; and a second verification station in the workflow path of the conveyor and configured to independently verify that the product barcode on each of the products matches a patient barcode on the patient label after application to the product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of filling a prescription order with a plurality of products each containing a pharmaceutical, the products being loaded into a machine for processing, the method comprising:
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moving the products along a workflow path defined by a conveyor; automatically verifying a product barcode on each of the products at a first verification station in the workflow path of the conveyor; printing a patient label for each of the products verified by the first verification station; applying the patient labels to at least some of the products; and after the patient label is applied to a product, independently verifying that the product barcode matches a patient barcode on the patient label at a second verification station in the workflow path of the conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for filling a prescription order with a plurality of products each containing a pharmaceutical, the apparatus comprising:
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a product loading station configured to receive batches of the products, the product loading station further configured to singulate the products for subsequent processing along a workflow path; a conveyor configured to move each of the products singulated by the product loading station along the workflow path; a first verification station in the workflow path, the first verification station including a bar code reader configured to read a product barcode on each of the products and a transfer arm configured to selectively remove the products from the workflow path; a label printing station in the workflow path downstream of the first verification station, the label printing station including a label printer configured to print patient labels and an applicator configured to apply each patent label on one of the products; and a second verification station in the workflow path downstream of the label printing station, the second verification station including a bar code reader configured to read the product barcode on each of the products and a patient barcode on each of the patient labels, the second verification station further including a transfer arm configured to remove the products from the workflow path. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification