Automatic drug packaging machine and package-less verification system
First Claim
1. An automatic drug packaging machine and package-less verification system, comprising:
- an automatic drug packaging machine including a support structure, an information-application device and a packaging apparatus within the automatic drug packaging machine for packaging one or more drug into ones of separate pouch packages one after the other thereby forming a pouch package web, each pouch package having sides including a side through which each packaged drug is viewable;
an imager secured with respect to the support structure to capture an image of the pouch package during formation of the pouch package web;
a code reader secured with respect to the support structure to read a machine-readable code applied by the information-application device to each pouch package during formation of the pouch package web; and
a computer programmed with instructions for performing a method of package-less verification of the pouch packages including;
storing information in non-volatile memory for packaging of each pouch package, the stored information including an identification code for each pouch package;
applying the stored information to a side of the pouch package with the information-application device during formation of the pouch package web, the applied information including human-readable information and a machine-readable code corresponding to the identification code;
packaging a drug within the pouch package during formation of the pouch package web;
capturing an image of the pouch package including each packaged drug therein and the applied human-readable information during formation of the pouch package web;
storing the image of the pouch package including the images of each packaged drug therein and the applied human-readable information with the stored information for the pouch package during formation of the pouch package web;
reading the machine-readable code with the code reader during formation of the pouch package web;
comparing the machine-readable code of the pouch package with the stored identification code for a match during formation of the pouch package web;
displaying the stored image of the pouch package including the images of each packaged drug therein and the applied human-readable information thereby enabling a comparison of the displayed images with the stored information for the pouch package for a match; and
creating a record for the pouch package during formation of the pouch package web responsive to whether the machine-readable code matches the stored identification code and creating a record for the pouch package responsive to whether the image of each packaged drug and the image of the applied human-readable information match the stored information for the pouch package, the pouch package being verified as correct if the comparisons match and, alternatively, being non-verified if at least one of the comparisons do not match.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic drug packaging machine and package-less verification system together with methods and apparatus. In embodiments, the system may include an automatic drug packaging machine for packaging one or more drug into ones of separate pouch packages forming a pouch package web. Each pouch package may include information, a machine-readable code, and have a side through which each packaged drug is viewable. An imager adjacent the web is provided to capture an image of each packaged drug within the pouch package. In embodiments, a code reader adjacent the web may read the pouch package machine-readable code. The code reader may be associated with the imager. In an embodiment, the machine-readable code is compared with an expected code for the pouch package and image information of each packaged drug within the pouch package is compared with a reference image corresponding to each packaged drug for a match. In such embodiment, data may be generated for the pouch package responsive to whether the codes match and whether the images match to provide a verification of the pouch package if the comparisons match and, alternatively, a non-verification of the pouch package if at least one of the comparisons do not match.
83 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An automatic drug packaging machine and package-less verification system, comprising:
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an automatic drug packaging machine including a support structure, an information-application device and a packaging apparatus within the automatic drug packaging machine for packaging one or more drug into ones of separate pouch packages one after the other thereby forming a pouch package web, each pouch package having sides including a side through which each packaged drug is viewable; an imager secured with respect to the support structure to capture an image of the pouch package during formation of the pouch package web; a code reader secured with respect to the support structure to read a machine-readable code applied by the information-application device to each pouch package during formation of the pouch package web; and a computer programmed with instructions for performing a method of package-less verification of the pouch packages including; storing information in non-volatile memory for packaging of each pouch package, the stored information including an identification code for each pouch package; applying the stored information to a side of the pouch package with the information-application device during formation of the pouch package web, the applied information including human-readable information and a machine-readable code corresponding to the identification code; packaging a drug within the pouch package during formation of the pouch package web; capturing an image of the pouch package including each packaged drug therein and the applied human-readable information during formation of the pouch package web; storing the image of the pouch package including the images of each packaged drug therein and the applied human-readable information with the stored information for the pouch package during formation of the pouch package web; reading the machine-readable code with the code reader during formation of the pouch package web; comparing the machine-readable code of the pouch package with the stored identification code for a match during formation of the pouch package web; displaying the stored image of the pouch package including the images of each packaged drug therein and the applied human-readable information thereby enabling a comparison of the displayed images with the stored information for the pouch package for a match; and creating a record for the pouch package during formation of the pouch package web responsive to whether the machine-readable code matches the stored identification code and creating a record for the pouch package responsive to whether the image of each packaged drug and the image of the applied human-readable information match the stored information for the pouch package, the pouch package being verified as correct if the comparisons match and, alternatively, being non-verified if at least one of the comparisons do not match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification