Automated prescription and/or literature bagger system and method optionally integrated with automated dispensing system and/or automated labeling and packaging system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system that places a label on a bag, comprising;
- a first plurality of rollers contacting a bag film comprising a plurality of bags, each of the bags delimited by a perforation, said first plurality of rollers defining an area through which the bag film is conveyed, and rotating in concert in a first direction to convey the bag film, at least one of said plurality of rollers being driven to convey the bag film;
a printer for printing a plurality of labels, each label containing information corresponding to a particular order, disposed on a backing material;
a second plurality of rollers contacting the plurality of labels and the backing material, said second plurality of rollers defining an area through which the plurality of labels and the backing material are conveyed, and rotating in concert to convey the plurality of labels and the backing material for indicia to be printed thereon; and
a label removal and tamp mechanism that receives at least one printed label containing information corresponding to the particular order, selectively removes the printed label containing information corresponding to the particular order from the backing material, and places the printed label on the bag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method places a printed label on a bag. A first plurality of rollers can feed one or more bags, and a second plurality of rollers can feed one or more labels. A tamp pad can place the label on the bag.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A system that places a label on a bag, comprising;
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a first plurality of rollers contacting a bag film comprising a plurality of bags, each of the bags delimited by a perforation, said first plurality of rollers defining an area through which the bag film is conveyed, and rotating in concert in a first direction to convey the bag film, at least one of said plurality of rollers being driven to convey the bag film; a printer for printing a plurality of labels, each label containing information corresponding to a particular order, disposed on a backing material; a second plurality of rollers contacting the plurality of labels and the backing material, said second plurality of rollers defining an area through which the plurality of labels and the backing material are conveyed, and rotating in concert to convey the plurality of labels and the backing material for indicia to be printed thereon; and a label removal and tamp mechanism that receives at least one printed label containing information corresponding to the particular order, selectively removes the printed label containing information corresponding to the particular order from the backing material, and places the printed label on the bag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system that places a label on a bag, comprising:
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a first dancer assembly that receives and conveys a bag film comprising a plurality of bags, each of the bags separated by a perforation, said first dancer assembly defining an area through which the bags are conveyed; a printer for printing a plurality of labels, each label containing information corresponding a particular prescription order, disposed on a backing material; a second dancer assembly that conveys the plurality of labels and the backing material, said second dancer assembly defining an area through which the plurality of labels and the backing material are conveyed; a tamp that receives at least one printed label; a control system that associates at least one of a pharmaceutical container and a literature package corresponding to the particular prescription order with the label corresponding to the particular prescription order; and a sensor system disposed to sense a first position of the bag with respect to said tamp to facilitate said tamp placing the printed label corresponding to the prescription order on the bag responsive to the first position determined by said sensor system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for filling a plurality of prescription order, comprising the steps of:
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transporting in a first direction a bag film comprising a plurality of bags; transporting in the first direction a plurality of labels disposed on a backing sheet; printing on a label for each of to plurality of bags, the name and address information of a recipient of a prescription order; placing a label on the plurality of bags from the bag film, one bag at a time, when the plurality of bags reach a predetermined position; opening the labeled bags; and placing in the opened bag a pharmaceutical container with enclosed pharmaceuticals, corresponding to a prescription order associated with the bag label. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A system that places a label on a bag, comprising:
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means for contacting a bag film comprising a plurality of bags, each of to bags delimited by a perforation, said contacting means defining an area through which the bag film is conveyed, and rotating in concert in a first direction to convey the bag film, at least a portion of said contacting means being driven to convey to bag film; a printer for printing a plurality of labels, each label containing information corresponding to a particular order, disposed on a backing material; means for contacting the plurality of labels and the backing material, said label contacting means defining an area through which the plurality of labels and the backing material are conveyed, at least a portion of said label contacting means rotating in concert to convey the plurality of labels and the backing material for indicia to be printed thereon; and a label removal and tamp mechanism that receives at least one printed label, selectively removes the printed label from the backing material and places the printed label on the bag corresponding to the particular order.
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51. A system that places a label on a bag, comprising:
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means for receiving and conveying a bag film comprising a plurality of bags, each of the bags separated by a perforation, said receiving and conveying means defining an area through which the bags are conveyed; a printer for printing a plurality of labels, each label containing information corresponding to a particular prescription order, disposed on a backing material; label conveying means for conveying the plurality of labels and the backing material, said label conveying means defining an area through which the plurality of labels and the backing material are conveyed; a tamp that receives at least one printed label; a control system that associates at least one of a pharmaceutical container and a literature package corresponding to the particular prescription order with the label corresponding to the particular prescription order; and a sensor system disposed to sense a first position of the bag with respect to said tamp to facilitate said tamp placing the printed label corresponding to the particular prescription order on the bag responsive to the first position determined by said sensor system.
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52. A system that places a label on a bag, comprising:
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an order consolidation station configured to receive an order comprising a bottle from a first transport system and a package containing prepackaged pharmaceuticals from a second transport system; a first plurality of rollers contacting a bag film comprising a plurality of bags, each of the bags delimited by a perforation, said first plurality of rollers defining an area through which the bag film is conveyed, and used to convey the bag film, at least one of said plurality of rollers being driven to convey the bag film; a printer for printing a plurality of labels, each label containing information corresponding to a particular order, disposed on a backing material; a second plurality of rollers contacting the plurality of labels and the backing material, said second plurality of rollers defining an area through which the plurality of labels and the backing material are conveyed, and used to convey the plurality of labels and the backing material for indicia to be printed thereon; a label removal and tamp mechanism that receives at least one printed label containing information corresponding to the particular order, selectively removes the printed label containing information corresponding to the particular order from the backing material, and places the printed label on the bag; and at least one bag opening mechanism comprising at least one sensor to determine whether the bag is in position for opening to receive the order in cooperation with said order consolidation station. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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Specification