Medication-handling system for use in loading medication carts
First Claim
1. A system for handling preselected, packaged medications dispensed from a plurality of storage assemblies, comprising:
- a medication-receiving assembly for collecting medications which have been dispensed from a storage assembly therefor; and
means for transporting the collected medications to a medication loading assembly, the transporting means including an endless conveyor having a first portion and an upwardly directed second portion, wherein the first portion is arranged such that a plurality of medication-storing assemblies can be brought adjacent the first portion, permitting medications to be dispensed from the medication-storing assemblies directly onto the conveyor, the conveyor including a plurality of elements along the length thereof for spacing dispensed medications and means for moving the conveyor so as to transport medications thereon to the medication loading assembly, wherein the medication loading assembly is positioned relative to the conveyor and is configured so that the packaged medications move by gravity out of a lower end of the loading assembly to a selected medication receptacle in a medication cart having a plurality of medication receptacles, the lower end of the medication loading assembly being configured so as to guide the packaged medications directly into a selected portion of the selected medication receptacle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system includes a medication-receiving assembly which collects medications automatically dispensed from storage assemblies therefor and a transport assembly for moving the collected medications to a loading assembly, wherein the loading assembly is arranged and positioned so that the medications move by gravity action from an upper end thereof, past a pair of opposing, angled deflectors which are individually controllable and which guide the medications into selected portions of a medication bin in a medication cart, which accommodates medications for a large number of patients, such as all the patients on a hospital ward. Supplemental medications not present in the storage assemblies can be provided with a hand-loaded supplemental doses assembly. The medication cart may then be moved directly to the ward and the bedside of the individual patients in turn.
86 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for handling preselected, packaged medications dispensed from a plurality of storage assemblies, comprising:
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a medication-receiving assembly for collecting medications which have been dispensed from a storage assembly therefor; and
means for transporting the collected medications to a medication loading assembly, the transporting means including an endless conveyor having a first portion and an upwardly directed second portion, wherein the first portion is arranged such that a plurality of medication-storing assemblies can be brought adjacent the first portion, permitting medications to be dispensed from the medication-storing assemblies directly onto the conveyor, the conveyor including a plurality of elements along the length thereof for spacing dispensed medications and means for moving the conveyor so as to transport medications thereon to the medication loading assembly, wherein the medication loading assembly is positioned relative to the conveyor and is configured so that the packaged medications move by gravity out of a lower end of the loading assembly to a selected medication receptacle in a medication cart having a plurality of medication receptacles, the lower end of the medication loading assembly being configured so as to guide the packaged medications directly into a selected portion of the selected medication receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for handling preselected, packaged medications dispensed from a plurality of storage assemblies, comprising:
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a medication-receiving assembly for collecting medications which have been dispensed from a storage assembly therefor; and
means for transporting the collected medications to a medication-loading assembly, the transporting means being in the form of an upwardly inclined tube, and including a pusher element which has an outline slightly smaller than the tube, the transporting means further including a powered member which moves between opposing ends of the tube for moving medications which have fallen into the tube at lone end thereof to an opposing end of the tube, where they move into the loading assembly, wherein the medication-loading assembly is positioned relative to the conveyor and is configured so that the packaged medications move by gravity out of a lower end of the loading assembly to a selected medication receptacle in a medication cart having a plurality of medication receptacles, the lower end of the medication loading assembly being configured so as to guide the packaged medications directly into a selected portion of the selected medication receptacle.
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Specification