Random access and random load dispensing unit

• US 8,521,327 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asteres, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Asteres, Inc.
• Inventors: Pinney, Linda J., Beane, John A., Colson, Angus R., Williams, David R., Kopitzke, Keith, Reynolds, Keith W., Barnes, Erik Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/345,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20120118910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 221/210, 221/211, 221/220, 700/240, 700/242, 700/243, 700/236
• US Class Current: 700/242
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/60 the storage containers or supports being rectilinearly movable
• 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: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

The present invention provides a random access and random load dispensing unit including a housing, at least one support located in the housing and defining a first axis, a plurality of platforms movable along the support along the first axis, a plurality of bins supported on the platforms, the bins being movable with the platforms, and a shuttle assembly movable along the first axis and further movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the plurality of platforms to access and retrieve products stored in the bins.

Claims

1. A system for randomly storing and delivering prescription medications filled and individualized for particular consumers before being stored comprising:

a plurality of storage containers, each storage container comprising a receptacle, and configured to store a prescription medication that has been filled and individualized for a particular consumer;

a plurality of sensible identifiers configured to communicate unique product and consumer information, each sensible identifier being associatable with a storage container;

a housing for securely containing a plurality of storage locations configured to store one or more storage containers, the housing defining an X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis being substantially perpendicular to each other;

a plurality of batch-loadable bins, each bin configured to define a subset of storage locations, to be removable to allow for remote loading of storage containers, and to be randomly locatable within the housing;

a plurality of platforms located within the housing, each platform configured to support a subset of the plurality of bins, the supported subset of bins being locatable along the platform so as to configure an array of storage locations that is coplanar with the platform (FIG. 17) along a plane formed by the X-axis and the Z-axis;

an information sensing device located within the housing for sensing the sensible identifiers after a storage container has been stored at a storage location;

a shuttle assembly configured to move along a Y-axis, along an X-axis and a Z-axis, and further configured to move between platforms to access and retrieve a storage container containing an individualized prescription medication randomly stored at any storage location within the housing and move the storage container to a different location within the housing;

a touchscreen coupled to the housing for allowing a consumer to request delivery of an individualized prescription medication;

a computer for communicating with the touchscreen, the shuttle assembly, and the information sensing device, the computer being configured to receive consumer information from the information sensing device to associate a storage location with a particular consumer, and to direct the shuttle assembly to move a storage container from a storage location previously associated with the consumer to a dispense bin upon receiving the consumer'"'"'s request.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising coplanar platforms that are movable along the Y-axis.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an X-axis support, a Y-axis support, and a Z-axis support, wherein the shuttle assembly is movable along each of these axes.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the shuttle assembly further comprises the information sensing device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the information sensing device comprises a barcode reader, and the sensible identifier is a barcode.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising bins that are configured so that the first subset of storage locations extends along the Z-axis, and the supported subset of bins are aligned so as to configure a second subset of storage locations that extends along the X-axis.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of coplanar platforms, each platform supporting bins that are configured so that the first subset of storage locations extends along the Z-axis, and a plurality of the supported subset of bins are aligned on each platform so as to configure a second subset of storage locations that extends across multiple bins on the same platform along the X axis, and so as to configure a third subset of storage locations that extend across multiple bins located on multiple platforms along the Y axis.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a payment interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the storage container further comprises a header, and the barcode is coupled to the header.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the bins further comprise opposing sidewalls (FIG. 17), each sidewall comprising a plurality of corresponding slots that define a plurality of substantially parallel storage locations.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the storage containers are stored such that the barcodes are positioned in a consistently readable registration when presented to the barcode reader.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the storage containers comprise opposing alignment tabs for engaging the slots of the bin.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the storage container is a bag.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a product sensor located in the dispense bin.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the shuttle assembly further comprises a hook for engaging the storage container.

16. The system of claim of 13, wherein the barcode reader scans the barcode to verify that the prescription medication stored at the storage location correlates to the consumer requesting delivery.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a database that correlates a stored presentation container to a consumer.

18. A system for storing and delivering prescription medications filled and individualized for particular consumers before being stored comprising:

a plurality of storage containers, each storage container comprising a receptacle and configured to contain an individualized prescription medication that has been prescribed for, filled, and correlated to a particular consumer;

a housing for securely containing a plurality of storage locations, the housing defining an X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis being substantially perpendicular to each other;

a barcode associated with the storage container, the barcode configured to communicate product and consumer information associated with the individualized prescription medication;

a barcode reader located within the housing for sensing the barcode;

a plurality of removable, batch-loadable bins, each bin configured to define a subset of storage locations and to be randomly locatable within the housing, the storage locations configured to store at least one storage container such that the associated barcode resides in a consistently readable registration when presented to the barcode reader;

a plurality of platforms located within the housing, each platform configured to support a subset of the plurality of bins, the supported subset of bins being alignable along the platform so as to configure an array of storage locations along a plane formed by the X-axis and the Z-axis;

a shuttle assembly configured to deliver a storage container that contains an individualized prescription medication, and is randomly stored at a storage location within the housing;

a dispense point located substantially in the housing;

a touchscreen coupled to the housing for allowing a consumer to request delivery of an individualized prescription medication;

a computer in communication with the touchscreen, shuttle assembly, and the barcode reader, the computer being configured to associate a storage location with a individualized prescription medication from the information read from the barcode after the storage container has been stored at a storage location, and to direct the shuttle assembly to move a storage container from a storage location previously associated with the consumer to a dispense point after receiving a request to deliver an individualized prescription medication for the consumer interfacing with the touchscreen.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising platforms that are movable along the Y-axis.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising an X-axis support, a Y-axis support, and a Z-axis support, wherein the shuttle assembly is movable along each of these axes.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the shuttle assembly further comprises the barcode reader.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer is further configured to receive data from the barcode reader to verify that the individualized prescription correlates to the interfacing consumer before directing the assembly to deliver the storage container.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising bins that are configured so that a first subset of storage locations extends along the Z-axis.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of coplanar platforms, each platform supporting bins that are configured so that the first subset of storage locations extends along the Z-axis, and a plurality of the supported subset of bins are aligned on each platform so as to configure a second subset of storage locations that extends across multiple bins on the same platform along the X axis, and so as to configure a third subset of storage locations that extend across multiple bins located on multiple platforms along the Y axis.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a payment interface.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the storage container further comprises a header, and the barcode is coupled to the header.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the bins further comprise opposing sidewalls (FIG. 17), each sidewall comprising a plurality of corresponding slots that define a plurality of substantially parallel storage locations.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the storage containers comprise opposing alignment tabs for engaging the slots of the bin.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the storage container is a bag.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising a product sensor located in the dispense bin.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the shuttle assembly further comprises a hook for engaging the storage container.