Apparatus and methods for automated dispensing of medications and supplements
First Claim
1. A system for assembling and dispensing an order comprising a selection of individually packaged items selected from a plurality of different individually packaged items, the system comprising:
- a storage module containing the plurality of different individually packaged items;
a conveyor comprising assigned spaces configured to receive the selection of individually packaged items associated with the order and adapted to transport the selection of individually packaged items;
a pick device movable vertically and horizontally to access said storage module and configured to retrieve individually packaged items from said storage module;
a transfer receptacle associated with the pick device and configured to receive individually packaged items from the pick device when the transfer receptacle is in a first orientation adjacent to the pick device and wherein the transfer receptacle is configured to rotate away from the pick device to a second orientation while maintaining positive physical control of the individually packaged items;
a transfer module for receiving the individually packaged items from the transfer receptacle when the transfer receptacle is in the second position while maintaining positive physical control of the individually packaged items; and
an actuator associated with said transfer module and operative to move the selection of individually packaged items from said transfer module to said conveyor when one of said assigned spaces associated with the order is in registration with said transfer module.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for assembling and dispensing an order made up of one or more individually packaged items from a plurality of different individually packaged items includes a storage module containing one or more packages of each of the items, and a conveyor having selectively assignable spaces configured to receive the packaged items associated with a particular order and to transport the packaged items to a processing location. A pick device is movable relative to the storage module and is configured to retrieve a package from the storage module. A transfer station adjacent the conveyor receives one or more of the packaged items from the pick device and an actuator associated with the transfer station moves the packaged items from the transfer station to the conveyor when the assigned space associated with the order is in registration with the transfer station.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A system for assembling and dispensing an order comprising a selection of individually packaged items selected from a plurality of different individually packaged items, the system comprising:
-
a storage module containing the plurality of different individually packaged items; a conveyor comprising assigned spaces configured to receive the selection of individually packaged items associated with the order and adapted to transport the selection of individually packaged items; a pick device movable vertically and horizontally to access said storage module and configured to retrieve individually packaged items from said storage module; a transfer receptacle associated with the pick device and configured to receive individually packaged items from the pick device when the transfer receptacle is in a first orientation adjacent to the pick device and wherein the transfer receptacle is configured to rotate away from the pick device to a second orientation while maintaining positive physical control of the individually packaged items; a transfer module for receiving the individually packaged items from the transfer receptacle when the transfer receptacle is in the second position while maintaining positive physical control of the individually packaged items; and an actuator associated with said transfer module and operative to move the selection of individually packaged items from said transfer module to said conveyor when one of said assigned spaces associated with the order is in registration with said transfer module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of filling an order that includes a selection of individually packaged items selected from a plurality of different individually packaged items, the method comprising:
-
assigning dedicated space on a conveyor for receiving the selection of individually packaged items for the order; for each individually packaged item in the selection of individually packaged items; picking an individually packaged item for the order from a storage module via a pick device movable vertically and horizontally to access the storage module; placing the individually packaged item in a transfer receptacle directly from the pick device such that positive physical control of the individually packaged item is maintained; rotating the transfer receptacle away from the pick device and moving the individually packaged item from the transfer receptacle to a transfer module, such that positive physical control of the individually packaged item is maintained; moving the selection of individually packaged items from the transfer module to the dedicated space when the dedicated space is in registration with the transfer module; and moving the conveyor to a processing location. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification