System and method for filling and dispensing orders

• US 9,946,845 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2013
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RxSafe LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RxSafe LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Holmes, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Logan, Kyle O
• Application Number:
  US13/963,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20140094960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 700216
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A method of filling prescription orders includes inputting the prescription orders into a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, processing the prescription orders with the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device to fill a plurality of vials with desired pharmaceuticals, and transferring the plurality of filled vials from the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device to a storage unit. The method also includes storing the plurality of filled vials in the storage unit until a customer claims one of the plurality of filled vials and directing the one of the plurality of filled vials from the storage unit to the customer.

Claims

1. A storage unit for storing and dispensing filled prescription orders, the storage unit comprising:

a frame;

a feeder mounted to the frame, the feeder including a loading port configured to receive a container containing a filled prescription order;

a storage structure positioned within the frame, the storage structure configured to store containers containing the filled prescription orders;

a dispenser mounted to the frame, the dispenser configured to dispense the containers containing the filled prescription orders;

a collection bin mounted to the frame, the collection bin configured to receive the containers containing the filled prescription orders;

a container-moving assembly positioned within the frame, the container-moving assembly operable to

move the container containing the filled prescription order from the feeder to the storage structure when the container is positioned within the feeder,

move the container from the storage structure to the dispenser in response to a first command, and

move the container from the storage structure to the collection bin in response to a second command; and

a plurality of feeders mounted to the frame, the plurality of feeders including a plurality of loading ports to allow loading a plurality of containers containing filled prescription orders into the storage unit simultaneously, each feeder including a V-shaped wall that forms a bottom of the corresponding loading port.

2. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the container-moving assembly moves the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the dispenser when the filled prescription order is claimed by a customer.

3. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the container-moving assembly moves the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the collection bin when the filled prescription order is one of requested by a user, canceled by a customer, and unclaimed after a predetermined period of time.

4. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of collection bins mounted to the frame, wherein each collection bin is configured to receive the filled prescription orders, and wherein the container-moving assembly is operable to move the filled prescription orders from the storage structure to each of the collection bins in response to the second command.

5. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the feeder includes a loading port and a scanner, wherein the loading port is configured to receive a filled prescription order, and wherein the scanner is operable to read a label on the filled prescription order when the filled prescription order is positioned within the loading port.

6. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the feeder includes a loading port and a positioning member, wherein the loading port is configured to receive a filled prescription order, and wherein the positioning member is configured to engage the filled prescription order to properly position the filled prescription order within the loading port for engagement by the container-moving assembly.

13. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a discharge port and a chute extending from the discharge port, wherein the container-moving assembly is operable to move the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the discharge port in response to the first command, and wherein the chute directs the filled prescription order out of the discharge port.

14. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the storage structure includes a plurality of support members that intersect each other to form a honeycomb-type storage structure, wherein the honeycomb-type storage structure defines a plurality of storage spaces, and wherein each storage space is configured to receive one of the filled prescription orders.

7. A storage unit for storing and dispensing filled prescription orders, the storage unit comprising:

a frame;

a feeder mounted to the frame, the feeder configured to receive the filled prescription orders;

a storage structure positioned within the frame, the storage structure configured to store the filled prescription orders;

a dispenser mounted to the frame, the dispenser configured to dispense the filled prescription orders; and

a collection bin mounted to the frame, the collection bin configured to receive the filled prescription orders; and

a container-moving assembly positioned within the frame, the container-moving assembly operable to

move a filled prescription order from the feeder to the storage structure when the filled prescription order is positioned within the feeder,

move the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the dispenser in response to a first command, and

move the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the collection bin in response to a second command,

wherein the collection bin includes a first portion positioned within the frame and a second portion extending out from the frame, wherein the first portion is accessible from within the frame, and wherein the second portion is accessible from outside of the frame,

wherein the first portion of the collection bin is open to provide access for the container-moving assembly to move the filled prescription order into the collection bin, and wherein the second portion of the collection bin is enclosed to limit access to the filled prescription order from outside of the frame.

8. The storage unit of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the collection bin includes a lid and a lock, wherein the lid is movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the lock selectively secures the lid in the closed position.

9. The storage unit of claim 7, wherein the frame includes an outer panel, and wherein the outer panel separates the first portion of the collection bin from the second portion of the collection bin.

10. The storage unit of claim 7, wherein the container-moving assembly moves the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the dispenser when the filled prescription order is claimed by a customer.

11. The storage unit of claim 7, wherein the container-moving assembly moves the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the collection bin when the filled prescription order is one of requested by a user, canceled by a customer, and unclaimed after a predetermined period of time.

12. A storage unit for storing and dispensing filled prescription orders, the storage unit comprising:

a frame;

a feeder mounted to the frame, the feeder configured to receive the filled prescription orders;

a storage structure positioned within the frame, the storage structure configured to store the filled prescription orders;

a dispenser mounted to the frame, the dispenser configured to dispense the filled prescription orders;

a collection bin mounted to the frame, the collection bin configured to receive the filled prescription orders; and

a container-moving assembly positioned within the frame, the container-moving assembly operable to

move a filled prescription order from the feeder to the storage structure when the filled prescription order is positioned within the feeder,

move the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the dispenser in response to a first command, and

move the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the collection bin in response to a second command,

wherein the feeder includes a loading port and a positioning member, wherein the loading port is configured to receive a filled prescription order, and wherein the positioning member includes a physical stop extending across an inner side of the loading port and configured to engage the filled prescription order to properly position the filled prescription order within the loading port for engagement by the container-moving assembly, and

wherein the positioning member is movable between a first position, in which the physical stop engages the filled prescription order to limit how far the filled prescription order is inserted into the loading port, and a second position, in which the physical stop is moved out of engagement with the filled prescription order to allow access to the filled prescription order by the container-moving assembly.

15. A method of storing and dispensing filled prescription orders from a storage unit, the storage unit including a frame, a feeder mounted to the frame, a storage structure positioned within the frame, a dispenser mounted to the frame, a collection bin mounted to the frame, and a container-moving assembly positioned within the frame, the method comprising:

inserting a filled prescription order into the feeder;

moving, by the container-moving assembly, the filled prescription order from the feeder to the storage structure; and

moving, by the container-moving assembly, the filled prescription order from the storage structure to one of the dispenser and the collection bin, wherein the container-moving assembly moves the filled prescription order to the dispenser in response to a first command and moves the filled prescription order to the collection bin in response to a second command,

wherein the collection bin includes a first portion that is accessible within the storage unit and second portion that is accessible from outside the storage unit, wherein the second portion of the collection bin includes a lid, and further comprising opening the lid to access the filled prescription order within the collection bin.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the container-moving assembly moves the filled prescription order to the dispenser when the filled prescription order is claimed by a customer.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the container-moving assembly moves the filled prescription order to the collection bin when the filled prescription order is one of requested by a user, canceled by a customer, and unclaimed after a predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second portion of the collection bin also includes a lock, and further comprising unlocking the lock to open the lid.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first portion of the collection bin is open within the storage unit, and wherein moving the filled prescription order from the storage structure to the collection bin includes dropping the filled prescription order into the first portion of the collection bin.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the feeder includes a scanner, and further comprising reading a label on the filled prescription order with the scanner while the filled prescription order is positioned within the feeder.