Automated will call system

• US 6,874,684 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Fellows, Eugene, Jordan, Michael, Denenberg, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared J.
• Application Number:
  US10/241,171
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 312/215, 312/326, 340/570, 340/693.5, 340/3.1, 340/5.73, 340/5.9, 340/5.92, 340/568.1, 340/569, 235/375, 235/381, 235/385, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/462.46, 235/440, 235/456, 902/8, 902/9, 902/17, 902/31
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/045 in a circular arrangement, e.g. towers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/127 the circuit being confined in a vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A will call system for automating the management of storage and retrieval of items, preferably medical prescriptions. The automated system provides information control of all items in the system. The automated will call monitors the length of time an item remains in the system, and into which location an item is placed. An article sensor provides absolute confirmation that an item has been placed or removed from a designated location in the storage units. The automated will call system uses a controller to permit users to monitor and optimize the storage and retrieval procedures.

Claims

1. An automated will call system comprising:

a) an input source for providing identification information;

b) a controller for management of storage and removal of items within the automated will call system, the controller receiving identification information from the input source and in response thereto generating a signal representative of a location of an associated item for tracking said item within the will call system;

c) a plurality of cabinets for the storage of items, each cabinet comprising an interface with the controller, a plurality of storage locations, and at least one interface button;

d) at least one article sensor for each cabinet comprising a light source and a photo-detector, the light source emitting diffused light throughout an interior of at least one storage location and the photo-detector detecting the presence of the diffused light, each article sensor being in communication with the controller for monitoring the diffused light and providing absolute confirmation of insertion of an item into or removal of an item from a storage location in response to diffused light detected by the photo-detector; and

e) a user work station comprising an interface with the controller.

2. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input source is any one of the group comprising:

a bar code reader, user work station, and host computer system.

3. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal activates a visible indicator.

4. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the visible indicator comprises at least one indicator light.

5. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the automated will call system further comprises:

a refrigerator comprising at least one indicator light and a controller interface button; and

a secure storage unit comprising locking means, at least one indicator light and a controller interface button.

6. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal activates an audible indicator.

7. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each cabinet further includes a drive means.

8. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of storage locations for each cabinet are located on a carousel.

9. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each cabinet further comprises a front panel having an opening therethrough dimensioned to permit access to a selected number of storage locations at one time.

10. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each front panel has a plurality of openings therethrough.

11. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

each front panel comprises a front face and a rear face; and

each photo-detector is attached to the rear face of each front panel.

12. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each carousel comprises a row of storage locations.

13. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 12, wherein each row of storage locations are circumferentially offset about a vertical shaft.

14. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 13, wherein each carousel further comprises a plurality of vertically stacked rows of storage locations.

15. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each storage location comprises slot members attached to a base, defining pie-shaped slots.

16. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 15, wherein each cabinet further comprises a front panel having an opening therethrough, and wherein each opening in each front panel is shaped to permit access to a single slot on each stacked row at one time.

17. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each slot member is releasably attached to the base, forming adjustable slots.

18. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

a shaft is attached to a central axis of each carousel; and

the drive means of each cabinet is attached to the shaft or the corresponding cabinet,

such that the controller signals each drive means to rotate the corresponding carousel.

19. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one cabinet further comprises a bulk area for the storage of items too large to fit into the storage locations.

20. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

each light source and each photo-detector are attached to each front panel adjacent each front panel opening; and

each reflector is attached to a storage location.

21. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, at least one cabinet further comprising a safety sensor.

22. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 21, wherein each safety sensor comprises a light source, reflecting means and a photo-detector.

23. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one cabinet of the plurality of cabinets in communication with the controller is a master and the remaining cabinets are auxiliaries.

24. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user work station includes:

a keyboard and monitor for input and output of data;

a magnetic strip reader for input of identification data; and

a printer.

25. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is free standing.

26. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is embedded within one of the plurality of the cabinets.

27. An automated will call system comprising:

a) an input source for providing identification information;

b) a controller for management of storage and removal of items within the automated will call system, the controller receiving identification information from the input source and in response thereto generating a signal representative of a location of an associated item for tracking said item within the will call system;

c) a plurality of cabinets for the storage of items, each cabinet comprising an interface with the controller, a plurality of storage locations, and at least one interface button;

wherein each cabinet further comprises a front panel having a least one opening therethrough dimensioned to permit access to a selected number of storage locations at one time, each front panel having a front face and a rear face;

d) at least one article sensor for each cabinet comprising a light source, reflector and photo-detector, each photo-detector being attached to the rear face of the front panel, each reflector being attached to a rear portion of the storage location such that the light source, reflector and photo-detector are arranged to reflect light energy from the source to the photo-detector along a path through and interior of at least one storage location, each article sensor being in communication with the controller for monitoring the beam of light and providing absolute confirmation of insertion of an item into or removal of an item from a storage location in response to light reflected by the reflector and detected by the photo-detector; and

e) a user work station comprising an interface with the controller.

28. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

the input source is any one of the group comprising;

a bar code reader, user work station, and host computer system; and

the signal activates at least one indicator,

said indicator being a visible indicator or an audible indicator, wherein the visible indicator comprises at least one indicator light.

29. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the automated will call system further comprises:

a refrigerator comprising at least one indicator light and a controller interface button; and

a secure storage unit comprising locking means, at least one indicator light and a controller interface button.

30. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 27, each cabinet further including a drive means, wherein:

the plurality of storage locations for each cabinet are located on a carousel; and

a shaft is attached to a central axis of each carousel,

each drive means being attached to the shaft of the corresponding cabinet, such that the controller signals each drive means to rotate the corresponding carousel.

31. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 30, the carousel further comprising a row of storage locations circumferentially offset about a vertical shaft and a plurality of vertically stacked rows of storage locations.

32. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 31, wherein:

each storage location comprises slot members releasably attached to a base, defining adjustable pie-shaped slots; and

openings in a front panel are shaped to permit access to a single slot on each stacked row at one time.

33. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

at least one cabinet further comprises a bulk area for the storage of items too large to fit into the storage locations.

34. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a safety sensor comprising a light source, reflecting means and photo-detector.

35. An automated will call system as claimed in claim 27, wherein one of the plurality of cabinets in communication with the controller is a master and the remaining cabinets are auxiliaries and wherein the user work station includes:

a keyboard and monitor for input and output of data;

a magnetic strip reader for input of identification data; and

a printer.

36. A method of managing the storage and retrieval of items in an automated will call system comprising:

diffusing light throughout an interior of at least one storage location,

detecting reflection of the diffused light within the at least one storage location,

generating a signal representative of a measure of the detected reflection of the diffused light,

monitoring the generated signal and determining therefrom an item'"'"'s insertion into or removal from a unique storage location;

receiving identification data associated with an item and storing the data in a memory;

receiving an item having unique identifying indicia thereon for storage in the system;

sensing the identifying indicia on the item prior to accepting the item for storage;

correlating the identification data with the identifying indicia and assigning a unique storage location within the system for receiving the item;

maintaining the unique storage location in memory; and

clearing the unique storage location associated with a removed item from the memory when the item is removed.

37. The method of managing the storage and retrieval of items of claim 36 further comprising:

transmitting instructions from a controller to a storage location in response to assigning a unique location; and

activating a work flow coordinator, illuminating at least one light on the storage location.

38. The method of managing the storage and retrieval of items of claim 37, the monitoring the generated signal and determining therefrom an item'"'"'s insertion further comprising:

generating a signal indicating insertion of the item into the storage location;

sending the signal indicating insertion to the controller;

receiving the signal indicating insertion at the controller; and

deactivating the work flow coordinator, terminating illumination of said at least one light.

39. The method of managing the storage and retrieval of items of claim 37, the monitoring the generated signal and determining therefrom an item'"'"'s removal further comprising:

generating a signal representative of the item being removed from the storage location;

sending the signal, indicating removal of the item to the controller;

receiving the signal indicating removal of the item controller confirming retrieval of the item; and

deactivating the work flow coordinator.