System and method for dispensing prescriptions

• US 7,988,404 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Michelli, Richard, Pollard, Jasper, Williams, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox; Charles A
• Application Number:
  US11/019,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20050098572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,415 Days
• Field of Search: 414/618, 901/16, 901/39, 901/13, 901/17, 221/13
• US Class Current: 414/618
• 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 apparatus for transporting a workpiece within a three-dimensional volume includes: a first rail extending in a generally horizontal direction; a first carriage that is slidably connected to the first rail for movement in the horizontal direction; a second rail attached to the first carriage and extending in a generally vertical direction; a second carriage that is slidably connected to the second rail for movement in the vertical direction; a traveler unit mounted to and revolvable along a generally horizontal annular path about the second carriage; and a gripper unit mounted to the traveler unit configured to grip the workpiece.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting a workpiece within a three-dimensional volume, comprising:

a first rail extending in a generally horizontal direction;

a first carriage that is slidably connected to the first rail for movement in the horizontal direction;

a second rail attached to the first carriage and extending in a generally vertical direction;

a second carriage that is slidably connected to the second rail for movement in the vertical direction;

a traveler unit mounted to and revolvable along a generally horizontal annular path about the second carriage; and

a gripper unit mounted to the traveler unit configured to grip the workpiece, the gripper unit including a pair of opposed jaws;

wherein the traveler unit is revolvable relative to the second carriage; and

wherein the gripper unit includes a clutch mechanism that ceases inward movement of the jaws after a predetermined magnitude of compression exerted by the jaws on a workpiece is reached.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the gripper unit is configured to rotate about a generally horizontal axis.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the gripper unit includes a pair of opposed jaws, one of the jaws being movable toward the other of the jaws to grip workpieces of different sizes.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein each of the jaws includes a curved portion.

5. An apparatus for transporting a workpiece within a three-dimensional volume, comprising:

a first rail extending in a generally horizontal direction;

a first carriage that is slidably connected to the first rail for movement in the horizontal direction;

a second rail attached to the first carriage and extending in a generally vertical direction;

a second carriage that is slidably connected to the second rail for movement in the vertical direction;

a traveler unit mounted to and revolvable along a generally horizontal annular path about the second carriage; and

a gripper unit mounted to the traveler unit configured to grip the workpiece;

wherein the gripper unit includes a pair of opposed jaws, one of the jaws being movable toward the other of the jaws to grip workpieces of different sizes, and

wherein the gripper unit is rotatable about a horizontal axis and is mounted on the traveler unit such that the horizontal axis is generally in a plane defined by the jaws and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable jaw.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein each of the jaws includes a curved portion.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein the gripper unit includes a clutch mechanism that ceases inward movement of the jaws after a predetermined magnitude of compression exerted by the jaws on a workpiece is reached.

8. An apparatus for transporting a workpiece within a three-dimensional volume, comprising:

a first rail extending in a generally horizontal direction;

a first carriage that is connected to the first rail for movement in the horizontal direction;

a second rail attached to the first carriage and extending in a generally vertical direction;

a second carriage that is connected to the second rail for movement in the vertical direction;

a traveler unit mounted to and revolvable along a generally horizontal annular path about the second carriage; and

a gripper unit mounted to the traveler unit configured to grip the workpiece, the gripper unit including a pair of opposed jaws;

wherein the traveler unit is revolvable relative to the second carriage; and

wherein the gripper unit includes a mechanism that ceases inward movement of the jaws after a predetermined magnitude of compression exerted by the jaws on a workpiece is reached.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the gripper unit is configured to rotate about a generally horizontal axis.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the gripper unit includes a pair of opposed jaws, one of the jaws being movable toward the other of the jaws to grip workpieces of different sizes.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein each of the jaws includes a curved portion.

12. An apparatus for transporting a workpiece within a three-dimensional volume, comprising:

a first rail extending in a generally horizontal direction;

a first carriage that is connected to the first rail for movement in the horizontal direction;

a second rail attached to the first carriage and extending in a generally vertical direction;

a second carriage that is connected to the second rail for movement in the vertical direction;

a traveler unit mounted to and revolvable along a generally horizontal annular path about the second carriage; and

a gripper unit mounted to the traveler unit configured to grip the workpiece;

wherein the gripper unit includes a pair of opposed jaws, one of the jaws being movable toward the other of the jaws to grip workpieces of different sizes, and

wherein the gripper unit is rotatable about a horizontal axis and is mounted on the traveler unit such that the horizontal axis is generally in a plane defined by the jaws and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable jaw.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein each of the jaws includes a curved portion.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein the gripper unit includes a clutch mechanism that ceases inward movement of the jaws after a predetermined magnitude of compression exerted by the jaws on a workpiece is reached.