Automatic labeling and packaging system label folding and application

• US 7,409,977 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc. (The Cigna Group)
• Original Assignee: Medco Health Solutions Incorporated (The Cigna Group)
• Inventors: Rice, Dennis Wayne, McErlean, James G., Szesko, Michael Joseph, Hess, E. Christian, Shupert, P. Thomas, Detri, Mark A., Petten, Allen, Booler, Andrew P., Vidal, Orlando
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS, LAURA ESTELLE
• Application Number:
  US10/634,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20040123565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 156/217, 156/226, 156/221, 156/227, 156/443, 156/446, 156/568, 156/566, 156/567, 156/256, 156/270, 156/518, 156/521, 270/32, 270/39.01, 493/375, 493/393, 493/405, 493/416, 493/454
• US Class Current: 156/443
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/20 for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents adding unpacking elements B65B61/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0018 Preparing the labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/0015 Preparing the labels or articles, e.g. smoothing, removing air bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/22 by wetting, e.g. by applying liquid glue or a liquid to a dry glue coating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1028 by bending, drawing or stretch forming sheet to assume shape of configured lamina while in contact therewith
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1033 Flexible sheet to cylinder lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1051 by folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1326 Severing means or member secured thereto also bonds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1339 Delivering cut part in sequence to serially conveyed articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1768 Means simultaneously conveying plural articles from a single source and serially presenting them to an assembly station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1771 Turret or rotary drum-type conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1773 For flexible sheets

Abstract

A method of labeling of a container including a medication includes, in at least one embodiment, reducing the size of the label using a label apparatus and reducing the label size using the label apparatus, applying a surface securing adhesive to at least one surface securing section of the label using an adhesive application apparatus, and attaching the at least one surface securing section of the label to the container with the securing adhesive. The method also includes applying a label securing adhesive to the label to maintain the label in the reduced orientation.

Claims

1. A system for labeling of a container including a medication, comprising at least one of a bottle and a package, with a label providing information regarding the medication to a consumer thereof, the system comprising:

a label reducing tool to reduce the label in a reduced orientation while maintaining barcode indicia visible for subsequent scanning;

a label securing adhesive application device, which applies a label securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being maintained in a the reduced orientation;

a surface securing adhesive application device, which applies a surface securing adhesive to the reduced label such that the reduced label is capable of being attached to the container;

a label shuttle block, wherein the label shuttle block conveys the reduced label from the label reducing tool to the surface securing adhesive application device; and

a barcode reader, wherein the barcode reader scans a the barcode printed on the reduced label to facilitate correct matching of the reduced label to the container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the label shuttle block further removes the label from the label reducing tool.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that controls an operation of the system.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one creasing wheel, wherein the at least one creasing wheel creases the label as the label is being folded by the label reducing tool.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a second creasing wheel, wherein the second creasing wheel creases the label after the label has been folded by the label reducing tool.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the label shuttle block comprises a vacuum pad, which enables the label to be kept in a secure position during transport of the label.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the label is between 11 inches and 12 inches in length and between 1.25 inches and 1.75 inches in width.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the label comprises:

a customer information section;

a medication information section;

a use instructions of the medication section;

a label securing section;

at least one surface securing section; and

a barcode section.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the label securing section is between 0.75 inches and 1 inch in length and between 1.25 inches and 1.75 inches in width.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one surface securing section is between 1.5 inches and 1.75 inches in length and between 1.25 inches and 1.75 inches in width.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automated device for affixing the label to the container.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the automated device comprises:

a robotic arm; and

a controller that controls the robotic arm.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the label securing adhesive enables the label to be unrolled and resecured in the rolled shaped by a user without damaging the label.

4. A system for labeling of a container including a medication, comprising at least one of a bottle and a package, with a label providing information regarding the medication to a consumer thereof, the system comprising:

a label reducing tool;

a label securing adhesive application device, which applies a label securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being maintained in a reduced orientation;

a surface securing adhesive application device, which applies a surface securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being attached to the container; and

a label shuttle block, wherein the label shuttle block conveys the label from the label reducing tool to the surface securing adhesive application device,

wherein the label reducing tool comprises a flat, rectilinear device, with a first and second end, with at least one of the first end and second end being attached to a rotation device, the rotation device enabling the label reducing tool to be rotated along an axis of rotation.

8. A system for labeling of a container including a medication, comprising at least one of a bottle and a package, with a label providing information regarding the medication to a consumer thereof, the system comprising:

a label reducing tool;

a label securing adhesive application device, which applies a label securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being maintained in a reduced orientation;

a surface securing adhesive application device, which applies a surface securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being attached to the container;

a label shuttle block, wherein the label shuttle block conveys the label from the label reducing tool to the surface securing adhesive application device; and

a spring loaded ridge, wherein the spring-loaded ridge enables the label to be removed from the label reducing tool without causing damage to the label.

9. A system for labeling of a container including a medication, comprising at least one of a bottle and a package, with a label providing information regarding the medication to a consumer thereof, the system comprising:

a label reducing tool;

a label securing adhesive application device, which applies a label securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being maintained in a reduced orientation;

a surface securing adhesive application device, which applies a surface securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being attached to the container;

a label shuttle block, wherein the label shuttle block conveys the label from the label reducing tool to the surface securing adhesive application device;

further comprising;

a first barcode reader, wherein the first barcode reader scans a barcode printed on the label before the label is folded by said label reducing tool; and

a second barcode reader, wherein the second barcode reader scans a barcode printed on the label after the label is folded, wherein the first barcode reader and the second barcode reader facilitate correct matching of the label to the container.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second barcode reader scans the barcode on the label before the label is affixed to the container.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second barcode reader scans the barcode on the label after the label is affixed to the container.

16. A system for labeling of a container including a medication, comprising at least one of a bottle and a package, with a label providing information regarding the medication to a consumer thereof, the system comprising:

a label reducing tool;

a label securing adhesive application device, which applies a label securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being maintained in a reduced orientation;

a surface securing adhesive application device, which applies a surface securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being attached to the container; and

a label shuttle block, wherein the label shuttle block conveys the label from the label reducing tool to the surface securing adhesive application device; and

a label rejection mechanism, the label rejection mechanism comprising;

a pair of needles, wherein the needles are advanced through the label as the label lies on the label shuttle block;

a stripper plate, wherein the stripper plate holds the label in place on the label shuttle block as the pair of needles are applied to the label; and

a disposal assembly.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the disposal assembly comprises:

a label reject vertical slide;

a label reject horizontal slide;

a label reject drop tube; and

a label reject bin.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the label shuttle block comprises a pair of holds to accommodate the pair of needles as the pair of needles is applied to the label.

22. A system for labeling of a container including a container including a medication, comprising at least one of a bottle and a package, with a label providing information regarding the medication to a consumer thereof, the system comprising:

means for rolling the label, wherein the label is creased by the means for rolling;

means for applying adhesive to an outer portion of the label;

means for transporting the label from the means for rolling to the means for applying adhesive;

means for attaching the outer portion of the label to the container, wherein the adhesive affixes the label to the container;

a barcode reader, wherein the barcode reader scans a barcode printed on the label to facilitate correct matching of the label to the container; and

a second barcode reader, wherein the second barcode reader scans a barcode printed on the label after the label is folded, wherein the first barcode reader and the second barcode reader facilitate correct matching of the label to the container.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for controlling an operation of the system.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for removing the label from the means for rolling.

25. A system for labeling of a container including a medication, comprising at least one of a bottle and a package, with a label providing patient specific information corresponding to a patient specific order, the system comprising:

a label reducing tool comprising a rotation device, the rotation device enabling the label reducing tool to reduce the label using a rotation action by the rotation device to reduce the label in a reduced orientation while maintaining barcode indicia visible for subsequent scanning;

a label securing application device, which secures the label including the patient specific information such that the label is capable of being maintained in a reduced orientation;

a surface securing application device, which secures the label to the container such that the label is capable of being affached to the container;

a label shuttle block, wherein the label shuttle block conveys the label from the label reducing tool to the surface securing application device; and

a label identifier system, wherein the label identifier system determines an identifier associated with the label to facilitate correct matching of the label including the patient specific information to the container comprising the patient specific order.

26. A system for labeling of a container including a medication, comprising at least one of a bottle and a package, with a label providing information regarding the medication to a consumer thereof, the system comprising:

a label reducing tool to reduce the label in a reduced orientation while maintaining identification visible for subsequent viewing;

a label securing adhesive application device, which applies a label securing adhesive to the label such that the label is capable of being maintained in the reduced orientation;

a surface securing adhesive application device, which applies a surface securing adhesive to the reduced label such that the reduced label is capable of being attached to the container;

a label shuttle block, wherein the label shuttle block conveys the reduced label from the label reducing tool to the surface securing adhesive application device;

a label application device, applying the reduced label to the container while the identification is maintained visible for subsequent viewing; and

an identifier scanning device that, after the label is affixed to the medication container, an identifier on the reduced label is scanned providing a confirmation that the label is properly correlated with the medication.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the identifier scanning device and another identifier scanning device scans another identifier on the reduced label, before the reduced label is affixed to the medication container.

28. A system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the identifier scanning device and another identifier scanning device determines whether the identifier on the label and another identifier on the container correspond via reference to a database, and wherein when the identifier and the another identifier do not correspond, the label is rejected, and when the identifier and the another identifier correspond, the container with the reduced label secured thereto is placed in a shipping container.

29. A system according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the identifier scanning device and the another identifier scanning device comprise one of:

separate bar code readers, and the same bar code readers to facilitate correct matching of the reduced label to the container.