Apparatus, system and methods for dispensing products
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A storage apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
a plurality of storage locations in the housing, each of the storage locations having a retention feature;
a sensor in the housing configured to read transaction information on a product stored in one of the storage locations;
a product stored in one of the storage locations, the product having a package portion that includes a flattened portion, transaction information being affixed to the flattened portion, the product further including a separate retaining member attached thereto configured to engage the retention feature in the storage location, wherein engagement of the retaining member in the retention feature positions the flattened portion to position the transaction information in the storage location for reading of the transaction information by the sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Products are dispensed from a dispensing apparatus in which products marked with transaction information are received in a two-dimensional array of moveable bins. In response to control information synthesized from transaction information on the products in the bins and a dispense request, the array is operated to place a bin at a dispensing station on the dispensing apparatus. At the dispensing station, a mechanism is operated in response to the control information to provide access to the bin. A product in the bin may then be retrieved.
58 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A storage apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; a plurality of storage locations in the housing, each of the storage locations having a retention feature; a sensor in the housing configured to read transaction information on a product stored in one of the storage locations; a product stored in one of the storage locations, the product having a package portion that includes a flattened portion, transaction information being affixed to the flattened portion, the product further including a separate retaining member attached thereto configured to engage the retention feature in the storage location, wherein engagement of the retaining member in the retention feature positions the flattened portion to position the transaction information in the storage location for reading of the transaction information by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A storage apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; a plurality of storage locations in the housing, each of the storage locations having a retention feature; a sensor in the housing configured to read information in one of the storage locations; a product stored in one of the storage locations, the product having transaction information affixed thereto, the product further including a retaining member attached thereto configured to engage the retention feature in the storage location; wherein each of the storage locations includes status information; and wherein engagement of the retaining member in the retention feature positions the transaction information in the storage location for reading of the transaction information by the sensor, and in the absence of a product in the storage location, the sensor reads the status information in the storage location. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A trackable product, comprising:
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a package having transaction information affixed to one end portion thereof, wherein the end portion of the package is flattened; and a separate retaining member hingedly attached to the package and pivotable relative to the flattened end portion of the package, the retaining member configured to engage a retention feature of a storage location to position the transaction information for reading by a sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A trackable pharmaceutical prescription, comprising:
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a package comprising a bag having a pharmaceutical prescription stored therein, the bag having transaction information affixed to one end portion thereof, the end portion being flattened; and a separate retaining member hingedly attached to the bag, the retaining member being formed of cardboard or plastic and being configured to rotate about an axis that is substantially parallel with the flattened end portion, the retaining member configured to engage a retention feature of a storage location to position the transaction information for reading by a sensor.
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Specification