Automatic dispensing system for prescriptions and the like

• US 5,337,919 A
• Filed: 02/11/1993
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scriptro, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dispensing Technologies BV
• Inventors: Spaulding, Pamela M., Bueche, Kenneth M., Spaulding, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHARD, DEAN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/016,812
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 221/7, 221/8, 221/9, 221/13, 221/92, 221/127, 221/129, 221/130, 221/131, 221/206, 221/210, 221/225, 221/254, 221/256, 221/258, 221/261, 221/262, 221/265, 221/277, 221/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 221/2
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 221/01 Storage retrieval

Abstract

An automatic prescription dispensing system includes a housing or frame having a plurality of pill dispenser units mounted therein, a plurality of vial supply assemblies at one end of the housing, and a filled vial offload carousel at an opposite end. A vial manipulator assembly is mounted on the housing to enable translational movement of a vial manipulator frame vertically and horizontally and pivoting about a vertical axis to retrieve vials from the supply assemblies, fill the vials at the dispenser units, and deposit the filled vials onto the carousel. The vial manipulator frame includes spring loaded grippers to engage and carry the vials and a drive motor and gear for meshing with dispenser unit gears to operate the dispenser units. The system includes a controller including an interface for coupling to the printer port of a pharmacy host computer printer port for intercepting drug name and quantity data for a prescription which was directed to a prescription label printer. Such prescription data is used by the controller for selecting the dispenser unit having the required drug, vial size, and number of pills to be dispensed.

Claims

1. An automatic prescription dosage unit dispenser system for use with pharmacy host computer means having a printer port normally transferring prescription data, including dosage unit quantity data, to a prescription label printer, said system comprising:

(a) dosage unit dispenser means controllable to dispense a selected quantity of prescription dosage units;

(b) dispenser interface means coupled to said printer port and intercepting said dosage unit quantity data therefrom; and

(c) dispenser control means coupling said interface means to said dispenser means and controlling said dispenser means to dispense said selected quantity of dosage units as derived from said dosage unit quantity data.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said printer port normally transfers prescription name data to said label printer, and wherein:

(a) said dispenser means is controllable to dispense a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected one of a plurality of prescription drugs identified by corresponding prescription names;

(b) said interface means is operative to intercept said prescription name data from said printer port; and

(c) said control means causes said dispenser means to dispense said selected quantity of dosage units of a selected one of said plurality of prescription drugs as derived from said prescription name data and said dosage quantity data.

3. A method of automatically dispensing prescription dosage units using dosage unit dispenser means in cooperation with pharmacy host computer means having a printer port normally transferring prescription data, including dosage unit quantity data, to a prescription label printer, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) intercepting dosage unit quantity data from said printer port; and

(b) controlling prescription dispenser means to dispense a quantity of dosage units as derived from said dosage unit quantity data.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said printer port additionally transfers prescription name data to said label printer and wherein said dispenser means is controllable to dispense a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected one of a plurality of prescription drugs identified by corresponding prescription names, and including the steps of:

(a) intercepting prescription name data from said printer port; and

(b) controlling said dispenser means to select one of said plurality of prescription drugs to dispense, as derived from said prescription name data.

5. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of prescription containers;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed;

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means operable for receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrieve said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means; and

(h) pharmacy host computer interface means connecting said control means to a printer port of a pharmacy host computer and operative to intercept said prescription data from said port for use in controlling the operation of said system.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 and including:

(a) dosage unit counter means mounted on said manipulator means and coupled to said control means, said counter means sensing the dispensing of each dosage unit into a container whereby a count of dosage units dispensed into said container is controlled.

7. A system as set forth in claim 5 and including:

(a) prescription scale means mounted on said manipulator means and coupled to said control means, said scale means sensing the weight of dosage units dispensed into said container.

8. A system as set forth in claim 5 and including:

(a) a plurality of container supply means mounted on said frame means, each container supply means holding a plurality of prescription containers of a respective size.

9. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said container supply means includes:

(a) a container bin holding therein a plurality of prescription containers in random orientation;

(b) a container retrieval platform; and

(c) container pickup means operable to engage a container from said bin and deposit the engaged container onto said platform in a selected orientation.

10. A system as set forth in claim 5 and including:

(a) a plurality of dispenser units mounted on said frame means in spaced relation, each dispenser unit containing a stock of dosage units of a respective prescription drug; and

(b) said control means controlling said manipulator means to convey a container to a selected one of said dispenser units to receive a selected number of dosage units therefrom.

11. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said prescription offload includes:

(a) a horizontally oriented offload carousel rotatably mounted on said frame means to enable rotation about a vertical carousel axis; and

(b) carousel motor means engaged between said frame means and said carousel, coupled to said control means, and operable to rotate said carousel to revolve a filled prescription container deposited thereon to a pickup position.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein:

(a) said carousel is circumferentially divided into a plurality of offload sectors; and

(b) sector sensor means is mounted on said frame means, coupled to said control means, and operable to sense the presence of a container in one of said sectors.

13. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of prescription containers;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed;

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means operable for receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrive said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means;

(h) dosage unit counter means mounted on said manipulator means and coupled to said control means, said counter means sensing the dispensing of each dosage unit into a container whereby a count of dosage units dispensed into said container is controlled;

(i) prescription scale means mounted on said manipulator means and coupled to said control means, said scale means sensing the weight of dosage units dispensed into said container; and

(j) said control means additionally operable for comparing a count of dosage units dispensed into said container with a weight of dosage units dispensed into said container as a dispensing accuracy check.

14. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) a plurality of dispenser units mounted on said frame means in spaced relation, each dispenser unit containing a stock of dosage units of a respective prescription drug;

(c) a plurality of container supply means mounted on said frame means, each container supply means holding a plurality of prescription containers of a respective size;

(d) a horizontally oriented offload carousel rotatably mounted on said frame means to enable rotation about a vertical carousel axis and carousel motor means engaged between said frame means and said carousel and operable to rotate said carousel to revolve a filled prescription container deposited thereon to a pickup position;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser units to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload carousel;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed;

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means, said manipulator means, and said offload carousel;

said control means operable for receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrieve said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data by said dispenser units, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload carousel; and

(h) pharmacy host computer interface means connecting said control means to a printer port of a pharmacy host computer and operative to intercept said prescription data from said port for use in controlling the operation of said system.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said container supply means includes:

(a) a container bin holding a plurality of prescription containers therein in random orientation;

(b) a container retrieval platform; and

(c) container pickup means operable to engage a container from said bin and deposit the engaged container onto said platform in a selected orientation.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said container pickup means includes:

(a) a container pickup wheel mounted on said container supply means to enable rotation of said wheel about a horizontal wheel axis;

(b) said wheel including a hub with a plurality of pickup arms extending therefrom; and

(c) container pickup motor means drivingly engaging said wheel and operative to rotate said wheel to revolve said pickup arms through said plurality of containers to thereby stir said containers until at least one of said arms engages one of said containers, the engaged container thereafter being dropped onto said platform.

17. A system as set forth in claim 15 and including:

(a) platform container sensor means coupled to said container pickup means and positioned to sense a container on said platform, said container sensor means and said pickup means cooperating to cause operation of said pickup means when a container is not sensed on said platform and to cause said pickup means to cease operation when a container is sensed on said platform.

18. A system as set forth in claim 14 and including:

(a) dispenser drive means on said container manipulator means, said dispenser drive means being positioned to engage means on a selected dispenser unit to which a container is conveyed to thereby cause the operation of the selected dispenser unit.

19. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said dispenser units includes:

(a) a dispenser unit housing;

(b) a feed disk horizontally mounted within said dispenser unit housing to enable rotation about a vertical feed disk axis;

(c) dosage unit impeller means mounted axially on said feed disk and rotatable therewith;

(d) means forming a dosage unit supply trough oriented to feed dosage units onto said feed disk;

(e) feed control gate means positioned across a portion of said disk and engaging said impeller means, said gate means cooperating with said feed disk and said impeller means to admit dosage units through said gate means at a controlled rate;

(f) housing wall means forming a feed chamber in cooperation with said feed disk;

(g) a feed port formed through said wall means;

(h) a feed fence extending between said impeller means and said feed port; and

(i) said feed disk and feed fence cooperating to position dosage units fed through said gate in a single line along said fence, along which said dosage units are urged toward and through said feed port, one at a time, by rotation of said feed disk.

20. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said container manipulator means includes:

(a) horizontal motor means;

(b) vertical motor means;

(c) container grip means operatively engaged with said horizontal and vertical motor means and capable of releasably gripping a prescription container;

(d) said horizontal and vertical motor means being coupled to and cooperating with said control means to convey said grip means among said container supply means, said dispenser units, and said offload carousel; and

(e) vertical pivot motor means operatively connecting said container grip means to said horizontal and vertical motor means, said pivot motor means being coupled to said control means and cooperating therewith to enable pivoting said grip means about a vertical pivot axis.

21. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said container manipulator system includes:

(a) horizontal guide means mounted on said frame means;

(b) vertical support means slidably mounted on said horizontal guide means;

(c) horizontal motor means connected between said frame means and said vertical support means, coupled to said control means, and operable to move said vertical support means along said horizontal guide means;

(d) vertical guide means mounted on said vertical support means;

(e) manipulator frame means mounted on said vertical guide means to enable movement therealong;

(f) vertical motor means engaged between said vertical support means and said manipulator frame means, coupled to said control means, and operable to move said manipulator frame means along said vertical guide means;

(g) a manipulator arm connected to said vertical frame means to enable pivoting about a vertical arm axis;

(h) manipulator arm pivot motor means engaged between said manipulator frame means and said manipulator arm, coupled to said control means, and operable to pivot said arm about said arm axis; and

(i) container gripper means mounted on said manipulator arm and operable to releasably engage a container.

22. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein:

(a) said carousel is circumferentially divided into a plurality of offload sectors; and

(b) sector sensor means is mounted on said frame means, coupled to said control means, and operable to sense the presence of a container in one of said sectors.

23. A discrete article dispenser unit comprising:

(a) a dispenser unit housing;

(b) a feed disk horizontally mounted within said dispenser unit housing to enable rotation about a vertical feed disk axis;

(c) dosage unit impeller means mounted axially on said feed disk and rotatable therewith;

(d) means forming a pelletized article supply trough oriented to feed pelletized articles onto said feed disk;

(e) feed control gate means positioned across a portion of said disk and engaging said impeller means, said gate means cooperating with said feed disk and said impeller means to admit said articles through said gate means at a controlled rate;

(f) housing wall means forming a feed chamber in cooperation with said feed disk;

(g) a feed port formed through said wall means;

(h) a feed fence extending between said impeller means and said feed port; and

(i) said feed disk and feed fence cooperating to position said articles fed through said gate in a single line along said fence, along which said articles are urged toward and through said feed port, one at a time, by rotation of said feed disk.

24. A method of automatically dispensing prescription dosage units into a prescription container comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a plurality of prescription unit dispenser cells in spaced relation on frame means, each dispenser cell containing dosage units of a respective prescription drug;

(b) positioning a plurality of prescription container supply means in spaced relation to said dispenser cells on said frame means;

(c) controlling container manipulator means to move to a selected one of said container supply means, retrieve a prescription container therefrom, and convey said container to a selected one of said dispenser cells;

(d) controlling the dispensing of a selected quantity of dosage units from said selected dispenser cell into said container;

(e) controlling said container manipulator means to convey the filled prescription container means to an offload position and release said filled container at said offload position, and

(f) controlling the dispensing of said dosage units from said selected dispenser cell by causing the driving engagement of and activation of dispenser drive means on said manipulator means with driven means on said dispenser cell to thereby operate said dispenser cell.

25. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means for containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means for containing a stock of prescription containers, said container supply means including a container bin for holding therein a plurality of prescription containers in random orientation, a container retrieval platform, and container pickup means operable to engage a container from said bin and deposit the engaged container onto said platform in a selected orientation, said container pickup means comprising a container pickup wheel having a hub with a plurality of pickup arms extending therefrom and mounted on said container supply means to enable rotation of said wheel about a horizontal wheel axis, and container pickup motor means drivingly engaging said wheel and operative to rotate said wheel to revolve said pickup arms through said plurality of containers to thereby stir said containers until at least one of said arms engages one of said containers, the engaged container thereafter being dropped onto said container retrieval platform;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed; and

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means operable for receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrive said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means.

26. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of prescription containers, said container supply means including a container bin holding therein a plurality of prescription containers in random orientation, a container retrieval platform, and container pickup means operable to engage a container from said bin and deposit the engaged container onto said platform in a selected orientation;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed;

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrive said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means; and

(h) platform container sensor means coupled to said container pickup means and positioned to sense a container on said platform, said container sensor means and said pickup means cooperating to cause operation of said pickup means when a container is not sensed on said platform and to cause said pickup means to cease operation when a container is sensed on said container retrieval platform.

27. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of prescription containers;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed;

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means operable for receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrive said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means;

(h) a plurality of dispenser units mounted on said frame means in spaced relation, each dispenser unit container a stock of dosage units of a respective prescription drug, said control means controlling said manipulator means to convey a container to a selected one of said dispenser units to receive a selected number of dosage units therefrom; and

(i) dispenser drive means positioned on said container manipulator means, said dispenser drive means being positioned to drivingly engage means on a selected dispenser unit to which a container is conveyed to thereby cause the operation of the selected dispenser unit.

28. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of prescription containers;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed; and

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means operable for receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrive said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means,

wherein said dispenser means includes at least one dispenser unit, said dispenser unit including;

a dispenser unit housing;

a feed disk horizontally mounted within said dispenser unit housing to enable rotation about a vertical feed disk axis;

dosage unit impeller means mounted axially on said feed disk and rotatable therewith;

means forming a dosage unit supply trough oriented to feed dosage units onto said feed disk;

feed control gate means positioned across a portion of said disk and engaging said impeller means, said gate means cooperating with said feed disk and said impeller means to admit dosage unit through said gate means at a controlled rate;

housing wall means forming a feed chamber in cooperation with said feed disk;

a feed port formed through said wall means; and

a feed fence extending between said impeller means and said feed port,

wherein said feed disk and feed fence cooperate to position dosage units fed through said gate in a single line along said fence, along which said dosage units are urged toward and through said feed port, one at a time, by rotation of said feed disk.

29. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of prescription containers;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed; and

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means operable for receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrive said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means,

wherein said control manipulator means includes;

horizontal motor means;

vertical motor means; and

container grip means operatively engaged with said horizontal and vertical motor means and capable of releasably gripping a prescription container,

wherein said horizontal and vertical motor means is coupled to and cooperating with said control means to convey said grip means along said vial supply means, said dispenser means, and said offload means.

30. A system as set forth in claim 29 and including:

(a) vertical pivot motor means operatively connecting said container grip means to said horizontal and vertical motor means, said pivot motor means being coupled to said control means and cooperating therewith to enable pivoting said grip means about a vertical pivot axis.

31. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of prescription containers;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed;

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means operable for receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrive said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means; and

(h) dispenser drive means mounted on said container manipulator means and operative to engage and drive said dispenser means when said manipulator means conveys a container to said dispenser means.

32. An automatic prescription dispensing system for dispensing a selected quantity of dosage units of a selected prescription drug into a prescription container and comprising:

(a) frame means;

(b) prescription dosage unit dispenser means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of dosage units of said selected prescription drug;

(c) prescription container supply means mounted on said frame means and containing a stock of prescription containers;

(d) prescription offload means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a filled prescription container having a quantity of dosage units therein for retrieval of said filled container;

(e) container manipulator means mounted on said frame means and controllable to retrieve a prescription container from said container supply means, convey said container to said dispenser means to receive a quantity of dosage units therefrom, and transfer the filled container to said offload means;

(f) prescription data entry means to receive prescription data indicating at least a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug to be dispensed; and

(g) control means coupled to said data entry means and said manipulator means;

said control means receiving said prescription data, controlling said manipulator means to retrive said container and convey said container to said dispenser means, controlling the dispensing by said dispenser means of a quantity of dosage units of said prescription drug into said container as derived from said prescription data, and controlling said manipulator means to transfer said filled container to said offload means,

wherein said container manipulator means includes;

horizontal guide means mounted on said frame means;

vertical support means slidably mounted on said horizontal guide means;

horizontal motor means connected between said frame means and said vertical support means, coupled to said control means, and operable to move said vertical support means along said horizontal guide means;

vertical guide means mounted on said vertical support means;

manipulator frame means mounted on said vertical guide means to enable movement therealong;

vertical motor means engaged between said vertical support means and said manipulator frame means, coupled to said control means, and operable to move said manipulator frame means along said vertical guide means;

a manipulator arm connected to said vertical frame means to enable pivoting about a vertical arm axis;

manipulator arm pivot motor means engaged between said manipulator frame means and said manipulator arm, coupled to said control means, and operable to pivot said arm about said arm axis; and

container gripper means mounted on said manipulator arm and operable to releasably engage a container.

33. A method of automatically dispensing prescription dosage units into a prescription container comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a plurality of prescription unit dispenser cells in spaced relation on frame means, each dispenser cell containing dosage units of a respective prescription drug;

(b) positioning a plurality of prescription container supply means in spaced relation to said dispenser cells on said frame means;

(c) controlling container manipulator means to move to a selected one of said container supply means, retrieve a prescription container therefrom, and convey said container to a selected one of said dispenser cells;

(d) controlling the dispensing of a selected quantity of dosage units from said selected dispenser cell into said container;

(e) controlling said container manipulator means to convey the filled prescription container means to an offload position and release said filled container at said offload position;

(f) intercepting prescription print label data, including drug name data and drug quantity data, from a pharmacy host computer;

(g) extracting said drug name data and said drug quantity data from said prescription data;

(h) employing said drug name data to control the movement of said container manipulator means to said selected dispenser cell; and

(i) employing said drug quantity data to control the number of dosage units dispensed into said container.

34. A method of automatically dispensing prescription dosage units into a prescription container comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a plurality of prescription unit dispenser cells in spaced relation on frame means, each dispenser cell containing dosage units of a respective prescription drug;

(b) positioning a plurality of prescription container supply means in spaced relation to said dispenser cells on said frame means;

(c) controlling container manipulator means to move to a selected one of said container supply means, retrieve a prescription container therefrom, and convey said container to a selected one of said dispenser cells;

(d) controlling the dispensing of a selected quantity of dosage units from said selected dispenser cell into said container;

(e) controlling said container manipulator means to convey the filled prescription container means to an offload position and release said filled container at said offload position;

(f) counting the quantity of dosage units dispensed into said container;

(g) sensing the weight of the dosage units dispensed into said container; and

(h) automatically comparing the counted quantity of dosage units with the sensed weight of said dosage units to thereby determine if said container is filled with the correct number of dosage units.