Automated dispensing system and method
First Claim
1. A system for dispensing articles, comprising:
- a carousel comprising a plurality of stations;
a plurality of carrier holders, each configured to be received at a respective station; and
a robot configured to retrieve a carrier holder from the carousel, move the carrier holder proximate a location of a first article, load the first article onto the carrier holder, and return the carrier holder to a station of the carousel;
wherein the robot is further configured to;
retrieve the first article from a first location to a carrier of the carrier holder;
retrieve a second article from a second location to a carrier of the carrier holder;
move the carrier holder including the first article and the second article to a position proximate the carousel;
transfer the first article from the carrier of the first article to one of a plurality of carriers configured for receiving articles; and
transfer the second article from the carrier of the second article to another of the plurality carriers configured for receiving articles.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Automated dispensing systems and mechanisms for queuing output from an automated dispensing system are provided for the dispensing of articles. The automated dispensing system may increase efficiency of the automated dispensing system by reducing cycle time, increasing throughput, and reducing the time required for the unloading process. A system for dispensing articles may include a carousel including a plurality of stations, a plurality of carrier holders, each configured to be received at a respective station, and a robot configured to retrieve a carrier holder from the carousel. The robot may further be configured to move the carrier holder proximate the location of a first article, load the first article onto the carrier holder, and return the carrier holder to a station of the carousel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing articles, comprising:
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a carousel comprising a plurality of stations; a plurality of carrier holders, each configured to be received at a respective station; and a robot configured to retrieve a carrier holder from the carousel, move the carrier holder proximate a location of a first article, load the first article onto the carrier holder, and return the carrier holder to a station of the carousel; wherein the robot is further configured to; retrieve the first article from a first location to a carrier of the carrier holder; retrieve a second article from a second location to a carrier of the carrier holder; move the carrier holder including the first article and the second article to a position proximate the carousel; transfer the first article from the carrier of the first article to one of a plurality of carriers configured for receiving articles; and transfer the second article from the carrier of the second article to another of the plurality carriers configured for receiving articles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for dispensing articles comprising:
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a carousel comprising a plurality of stations; a plurality of carrier holders, each carrier holder configured to be received at a respective station of the carousel; a controller configured to receive an order for a first article and a second article; and a robot configured to retrieve a carrier holder from the carousel, move the carrier holder proximate a location of the first article, load the first article onto the carrier holder, move the carrier holder proximate a location of the second article, load the second article onto the carrier holder, and return the carrier holder to a station of the carousel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification