System and method for dispensing prescriptions

• US 6,974,050 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Klein, Pete, Pollard, Jasper, Newcomb, David, Williams, Jeffrey P., Michelli, Richard, Eberdt, Jess, Kelly, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/018,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20050098569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 221/277, 221/9, 221/13, 221/119, 221/123, 221/222, 221/237, 221/225
• US Class Current: 221/237
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53687 by rotation of work part

Abstract

An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting a hollow container, comprising:

a mounting arm;

a base rotatably mounted on the mounting arm;

a plurality of fingers having an outer surface, each of the fingers being eccentrically mounted on the base to extend generally parallel to each other in a first direction, each finger being rotatable about an axis of rotation that is generally parallel to the first direction and

a rotary drive unit mounted to the mounting arm that rotates the plurality of fingers about their respective axes of rotation;

wherein the fingers are moveable between a retracted position, in which the outermost portions of the outer surfaces of the fingers define a first circle, and an extended position, in which the outermost portions of the outer surfaces of the fingers define a second circle that is larger in diameter than the first circle.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the rotary drive unit includes a clutch mechanism that ceases rotation of the fingers when the fingers experience a predetermined torque due to resistance on finger pressure on the container.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the clutch is coupled to the base such that the base is stationary relative to the mounting arm prior to the predetermined torque being reached, and the base rotates relative to the mounting arm after the predetermined torque is reached.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting arm is pivotable about a pivot axis that is generally parallel to the axes of rotation of the fingers.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein in the retracted position, the outer surfaces of the fingers define a stepped cylinder.