Packaging system for pharmaceutical dispenser and associated method
First Claim
1. A collation module, comprising:
- a main channel that receives a plurality of packages, the main channel being configured to convey the packages in a lateral direction from an upstream end of the module towards a downstream end of the module; and
a table including a plurality of ribs that form a series of grooves between each adjacent pair of the ribs, each of the grooves including a first portion extending in the lateral direction and a second portion angled towards a first side of the collation module,wherein each of the packages, being conveyed by the main channel, is fed into one of the grooves and directed towards the first side of the collation module by the second portion of the groove.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A packaging system and associated method for use with a pharmaceutical dispenser provides a turnkey solution for packaging pharmaceutical products such as solid medications and nutritional supplements to be taken orally in health care settings, including but not limited to long term care (LTC) and assisted living settings. An overall pharmacy system and methodology begins with bulk medications and supplements introduced into the work flow, individually packaged and assembled into medpass orders per patient and delivered to the LTC facility or other institution for patient consumption. The process begins by converting bulk medications and supplements to packaged unit doses and ultimately individually packaged medpass bags for each patient on a 24-hour schedule. The design of the overall system and its individual components allows for physical control of each unit dose package from start to finish without any unit dose package “free fall” in the system.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A collation module, comprising:
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a main channel that receives a plurality of packages, the main channel being configured to convey the packages in a lateral direction from an upstream end of the module towards a downstream end of the module; and a table including a plurality of ribs that form a series of grooves between each adjacent pair of the ribs, each of the grooves including a first portion extending in the lateral direction and a second portion angled towards a first side of the collation module, wherein each of the packages, being conveyed by the main channel, is fed into one of the grooves and directed towards the first side of the collation module by the second portion of the groove. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of collating packages, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of packages in a main channel of a collation module; and conveying the packages in the main channel in a lateral direction from an upstream end of the module towards a downstream end of the module, the conveying including feeding the packages into grooves in the collation module such that each package first passes through a first portion of one of the grooves that extends in the lateral direction and a second portion angled towards a first side of the collation module to the package towards the first side of the collation module. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification