Prescription order packaging system and method

• US 6,769,228 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc. (The Cigna Group)
• Original Assignee: Express Scripts Incorporated (The Cigna Group)
• Inventors: Mahar, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US10/205,845
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 535/02, 53/53, 534/11, 534/45, 532/38, 531/55, 535/05--06, 53/55
• US Class Current: 53/411
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/20 for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents adding unpacking elements B65B61/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4148 for controlling postal rate in articles to be mailed franking apparatus with means for computing G07B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/70 in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

A system for automatically packaging prescription orders composed of one or more prescription containers. The system includes a printer for generating literature associated with each order and a packer for packing the prescription containers and the associated literature into a package. The packer has a scale or other means for determining the weight of the prescription containers. A packer controller calculates package weight information based on the container weight information. The package weight information is transmitted to a mail manifest system, which generates shipping information comprising postage. A labeler applies the shipping information to the package. The packer also includes a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package.

Claims

1. A system for automatically packaging prescription orders, each order comprising one or more prescription containers, the system comprising:

(a) a printer subsystem for generating literature associated with each order, determining document weight information relating to the weight of the literature associated with each order, and transmitting the document weight information; and

(b) a packer subsystem for receiving prescription containers composing each order and the literature associated with each order and packing the prescription containers and the literature into a package, the packer subsystem comprising;

(i) a means for determining the weight of the prescription containers and transmitting container weight information;

(ii) a packer controller in communication with the means for determining the weight of the prescription containers and the printer subsystem, the packer controller receiving the container weight information from the means for determining the weight of the prescription containers and receiving the document weight information from the printer subsystem, the packer controller calculating package weight information based at least in part on the container weight information and the document weight information;

(iii) a mail manifest system in communication with the packer controller, the mail manifest system receiving the package weight information and generating shipping information comprising postage;

(iv) a labeler in communication with the mail manifest system, the labeler receiving the shipping information and applying the shipping information to the package; and

(v) a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for determining the weight of the prescription containers comprises a scale for weighing the prescription containers.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an order database comprising information regarding the contents of each prescription container and wherein the means for determining the weight of the prescription containers comprises a software program for retrieving the information regarding the contents of the containers and calculating the prescription container weight based on predetermined information regarding the weight of the container and the container contents.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each prescription container has a machine-readable code comprising information for identifying the order associated with the prescription container, and wherein the packer subsystem further comprises:

(a) an input conveyor for receiving the prescription containers;

(b) a code reader for reading the code on the prescription containers and transmitting the identifying information to the packer controller; and

(c) a container pick-and-place mechanism for removing the prescription containers from the input conveyor and transporting the prescription containers to the scale, wherein the packer controller controls the container pick-and-place mechanism in accordance with the identifying information.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a container tip sensor for stopping the input conveyor of the packer subsystem if a tipped prescription container is detected.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a queue full sensor for stopping the input conveyor to the packer subsystem if a full queue is detected.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the container pick-and-place mechanism comprises one or more vacuum operated pick heads for picking up one or more prescription containers.

8. The system of claim wherein claim 7, the container pick-and-place mechanism rotates the prescription containers to allow the code reader to read the code on each prescription container.

9. The system of claim 4, further comprising a host computer in communication with the packer controller and the printer subsystem, and wherein the packer controller communicates data to the host computer to initiate printing of literature associated with each order.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the labeler applies a machine-readable code to the package containing an identifier for identifying the order associated with the package.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the packer subsystem further comprises a code reader for reading the code on the package to allow verification that the prescription containers being packaged and the labeled package correspond to the same order.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the package is a bag and wherein the packer subsystem further comprises a bag pick-and-place mechanism for transporting the bag for labeling and loading.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the loading mechanism comprises a document picking member for picking up literature corresponding to the order and a container pick-and-place having one or more vacuum operated pick heads for picking up one or more prescription containers.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the printer subsystem is in communication with a host computer having access to a database of information relating to each order.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the printer subsystem prints a machine-readable code on the literature containing information identifying the order associated with the literature.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the printer subsystem includes a code reader for reading the code on the literature to allow verification that the literature is being packaged with the correct order.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sorter for sorting prescription containers into an order comprising one or more associated prescription containers, wherein the packer subsystem receives sorted prescription containers from the sorter.

18. A system for automatically packaging prescription orders, each order comprising one or more prescription bottles, wherein each bottle has a machine-readable code thereon containing coded information comprising a prescription identifier associated with one of the orders, the system comprising:

(a) a host computer having access to a database comprising a plurality of order identifiers, each order identifier being associated with order information for one of the orders, the order information comprising an identification of the shipping name and address and one or more associated prescription identifiers identifying one or more prescriptions;

(b) a sorter for sorting prescription bottles into orders;

(c) a printer subsystem for generating literature associated with each order, the printer subsystem comprising a print controller in communication with the host computer, wherein the printer controller generates weight information relating to the weight of literature associated with each order; and

(d) a packer subsystem for receiving bottles composing each order and the literature associated with each order and packing the bottles and the literature into a package, the packer subsystem comprising;

(i) a code reader for reading the machine-readable code on each bottle;

(ii) a scale for weighing the bottles and transmitting bottle weight information;

(iii) a packer controller in communication with the code reader, scale host computer, and print controller, wherein the packer controller;

a. receives the coded information from the code reader and transmits the prescription identifier to the host computer; and

b. receives the bottle weight information from the scale and document weight information from the printer controller and calculates package weight information based at least in part on the bottle weight information and document weight information;

(iv) a mail manifest system in communication with the packer controller and the host computer, the mail manifest system receiving the package weight information and at least a portion of the order information and generating shipping information comprising postage;

(v) a labeler in communication with the mail manifest system, the labeler receiving the shipping information and applying the shipping information to the package; and

(vi) a loading mechanism for inserting the bottles and the literature into the package; and

wherein the host computer prompts the printer subsystem to print literature associated with an order once one or more of the bottles associated with the order have been received by the packer.

19. A system for automatically packaging prescription orders, each order comprising one or more prescription containers, the system comprising:

(a) a printer subsystem for generating literature associated with each order, the printer subsystem comprising a printer controller for transmitting data relating to the weight of the literature; and

(b) a packer subsystem for receiving prescription containers composing each order and the literature associated with each order and packing the prescription containers and the literature into a package, the packer subsystem comprising;

(i) a means for determining the weight of the prescription containers and transmitting container weight information;

(ii) a packer controller in communication with the means for determining the weight of the prescription containers and the printer controller, the packer controller receiving the container weight information and data relating to the weight of the literature and calculating package weight information based at least in part on the container weight information;

(iii) a mail manifest system in communication with the packer controller, the mail manifest system receiving the package weight information and generating shipping information comprising postage;

(iv) a labeler in communication with the mail manifest system, the labeler receiving the shipping information and applying the shipping information to the package; and

(v) a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package.