Enhanced drug dispensing system

• US RE40,453 E1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medco Health Solutions Incorporated (The Cigna Group)
• Original Assignee: Medco Health Solutions Incorporated (The Cigna Group)
• Inventors: Rice, Dennis W., Szesko, Michael J., Lasher, Christopher J., Mahar, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos; John
• Application Number:
  US09/512,734
• Time in Patent Office: 3,092 Days
• Field of Search: 53/77, 531/312, 531/314, 531/68, 532/37, 534/11, 534/73, 534/75, 534/93, 534/95, 535/00, 535/01, 535/07, 535/08, 221/7, 221/174, 221/238
• US Class Current: 53/411
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/002 where the dispenser is part of a centrally controlled network of dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

In an automated prescription pill dispensing system, a multiplicity of pill dispensers are provided each operable to count out and dispense pills from supply hoppers. The dispensers are controlled by a computer which selects up to five of the dispensers to operate and control the selected pill dispensers to count out pills simultaneously. The pill dispensers dispense the pills into the first set of output hoppers, from which the pills can be released into a second output hopper under the control of the computer. The computer will release the pills from the second output hopper corresponding to a selected pill dispenser through a snout into a pill vial in response to sensing the presence of a pill vial at the snout. The computer controls a prescription label printer to print prescription labels for the pill vials. The computer also controls indicator lights to indicate which dispensing cell is selected and ready to have pills released from the second output hopper corresponding thereto. Automatically controlled security doors control access to supply hoppers for each of the pill dispensers.

Claims

1. An automated prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged pill dispensers, each operable to count out and dispense pills of a different pharmaceutical, computer control means to store a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a different pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, said computer control means selecting the pill dispensers dispensing the pharmaceuticals specified in said stored prescriptions and controlling the selected pill dispensers to simultaneously count out and dispense pills, said computer control means stopping each pill dispenser from counting out and dispensing pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out and dispensed, a plurality of upper hoppers, one for each of said pill dispensers, positioned to receive pills counted out and dispensed by said pill dispensers, a plurality of lower hoppers one for each of said upper hoppers, said computer control means releasing pills from an upper hopper into the corresponding lower hoppers after the pills of a prescription have been dispensed into such upper hopper, said computer means selectively permitting the release of pills from said lower hoppers into prescription containers.

2. An article dispensing system comprising:

a supply hopper for a plurality of articles to be dispensed;

a first buffer chamber having an outlet and an outlet door;

means for counting and advancing articles from the supply hopper to said first buffer chamber;

first means for moving said outlet door to release the articles from said first buffer chamber in response to a first predetermined condition;

a second buffer chamber for receiving articles from said first buffer chamber, said second buffer chamber having an outlet and an outlet door; and

second means for moving said door of said second buffer chamber to release the articles from said second buffer chamber in response to a second predetermined condition.

3. The article dispensing system of claim 2, wherein said second means will not move the outlet door of said second buffer chamber to release the articles from said second buffer chamber until after verification by machine reading of a bar-coded prescription on a receptacle for receiving the articles.

4. The article dispensing system of claim 2, wherein said second means comprises means for moving said outlet door of said second buffer chamber to release the articles from said second buffer chamber in response to the presence of a receptacle at an outlet snout.

5. The article dispensing system of claim 2, further comprising a cabinet having a rear wall, wherein said supply hopper is positioned inside said cabinet, said rear wall has an opening for providing access to said supply hopper, the article dispensing system further comprising a security door movably mounted on said rear wall, said security door being movable between a first position, in which said security door covers said opening, and a second position, in which said security door uncovers said opening, and locking means for preventing movement of said door from its first position.

6. The article dispensing system of claim 5, further comprising means for disabling said locking means, so that said security door can be moved out of said first position.

7. The article dispensing system of claim 6, wherein said actuating disabling means comprises a bar code reader.

8. An article dispensing system comprising:

a plurality of article dispensing subsystems each including

a supply hopper for a plurality of articles to be dispensed;

a first buffer chamber having an outlet and an outlet door;

means for counting and advancing articles from the supply hopper to said first buffer chamber;

first means for moving said outlet door to release the articles from said first buffer chamber in response to a first predetermined condition;

a second buffer chamber for receiving articles from said first buffer chamber, said second buffer chamber having an outlet and an outlet door; and

second means for moving said door of said second buffer chamber to release the articles from said second buffer chamber in response to a second predetermined condition.

9. The article dispensing system of claim 8, wherein each of a plurality of the article dispensing subsystems contains pills different from pills contained by other article dispensing subsystems, and the article dispensing system further comprises means for actuating the article counting and advancing means of one of the subsystems in response to a prescription, means for printing a corresponding bar-coded prescription label, and means for indicating the location of a container suitable to hold the prescription.

10. The article dispensing system of claim 9, further comprising machine means for reading the bar-coded label and wherein said second means will not move the door of said second buffer chamber to release the pills until after verification by reading of the bar-coded label by the reading means.

11. The article dispensing system of claim 10, wherein each of the article dispensing systems includes an outlet snout through which the pills are dispensed to a receptacle, and an indicator associated with each snout, the article dispensing system further comprising means for actuating the indicator of the snout through which the pills are to be dispensed.

12. The article dispensing system of claim 9, wherein said means for printing a bar-coded label comprises means for printing a series of bar-coded labels, each label being associated with a prescription to be filled, the article dispensing system further comprising means responsive to the presence of a receptacle at the outlet snout through which a current prescription is being filled.

13. The article dispensing system of claim 8, further comprising a cabinet having a rear wall, wherein each of said supply hoppers is positioned inside said cabinet, said rear wall has a plurality of openings, each said opening provides access to a respective one of said supply hoppers, said rear wall also has a plurality of security doors, each said security door is associated with a respective one of said openings and is movable between a first position, in which said security door covers said opening, and a second position, in which said security door uncovers said opening, and the article dispensing system further comprises locking means for preventing movement of said security doors from their first positions, and means for disabling said locking means of one of said security doors in response to the machine reading of a bar-coded label on a supply container of pills.

14. The article dispensing system of claim 13, further comprising an indicator associated with each of said security doors, and means for actuating one of said indicators in response to the machine reading of a bar-coded label on a supply container of pills.

15. The article dispensing system of claim 10, further comprising a first bank of outlet snouts, each associated with one of said article dispensing subsystems, positioned on one side of said machine means for reading the bar-coded label, a second bank of outlet snouts, each associated with one of said article dispensing subsystems, positioned on an opposite side of said machine means for reading the label, an indicator associated with each bank of outlet snouts, and means for actuating the indicator of the bank at which the pills required by the bar-coded label are to be dispensed.

16. An automated prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged pill dispensers, each operable to count out and dispense pills of a different pharmaceutical, computer control means to store for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a different pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, said computer control means and for selecting the pill dispensers dispensing the pharmaceuticals specified in said stored prescriptions and controlling the selected pill dispensers to simultaneously count out and dispense pills from said pill dispensers and sequentially dispense said counted pills, said computer control means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out and dispensing pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out and dispensed, and label means to produce for producing prescription container labels, said computer control means for causing said label means to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein and said label means produces for producing said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

17. An automated dispensing system as recited in claim 16, wherein a plurality of output hoppers are provided, one for each of said pill dispensers to receive the pills counted out and dispensed by said pill dispensers, said computer control means including means to selectively permit the release of the pills from said output hoppers into prescription pill containers.

18. An automated prescription dispensing system as recited in claim 16, wherein signalling means are provided for each of said pill dispensers to call an operator'"'"'s attention to such pill dispenser when such indicating means is activated, said computer control means being responsive to said stored prescriptions to select and activate one of said indicating means.

19. An automated prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged pill dispensers, each operable to count out and dispense pills of a different pharmaceutical, computer control means to store for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a different pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, each computer control means and for selecting the pill dispensers dispensing the pharmaceuticals specified in said stored prescriptions and for controlling the selected pill dispensers to simultaneously count out pills from said pill dispensers and sequentially dispense said counted pills, said computer control means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out and dispensing pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out and dispensed, a plurality of output hoppers one for each of said pill dispensers to receive the pills counted out and dispensed by said pill dispensers, output snouts, one connected to each of said output hoppers, said computer control means including means to selectively permit for selectively permitting the release of the pills from said output hoppers through the corresponding output snouts, said output snouts being arranged in at least one row and defining an aisle extending adjacent to and parallel to said row to permit an operator to have ease of access to pills dispensed through said snouts.

20. An article dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a supply hopper for a plurality of articles to be dispensed, means for counting out and dispensing articles from a selected supply hopper, said system including a cabinet having a rear wall and a front side wall wherein the supply hoppers are positioned inside said cabinet, said dispensing subsystems dispensing said articles from said front side, said rear wall having a plurality of openings, each of said openings providing access to a respective one of said supply hoppers, said rear wall also having a plurality of security doors, each of said security doors being associated with a respective one of said openings and being movable between a first position in which said security door covers said opening and a second position in which said security door uncovers said opening, the article dispensing system further comprising locking means for preventing movement of said security doors from their first positions, and means for disabling said locking means of one of said security doors in response to the machine reading of a bar coded label on the supply container of articles to be dispensed by the article dispensing system.

21. A pharmaceutical pill dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers each operable to store a plurality of pills to be dispensed in a supply hopper and to simultaneously count out and sequentially dispense pills from the corresponding supply hopper, computer control means to select for selecting one of said dispensers and to operate for operating the selected dispensers to count out and dispense a preselected number of pills, each computer control means for maintaining a hopper quantity for each of said dispensers representing the number of pills in the hopper of such dispenser and for reducing the hopper quantity of each dispenser by the preselected number counted out by such dispenser when the selected dispenser is caused to count out the preselected number of pills, said computer control means including means to provide for providing an indication to an operator when the hopper quantity of one of said dispensers falls below a predetermined minimum, and means to increase for increasing the hopper quantity for each dispenser when pills are added to the supply hopper of such dispenser by the number of pills added to the supply hopper of a corresponding pill dispenser.

22. An automated pill dispensing system as recited in claim 21, wherein said means to increase said hopper quantity includes a bar code reader to read a bar code on a bulk supply container of pills to be added to the supply hopper of a given pill dispenser.

23. A method of dispensing prescriptions employing a plurality of adjacently arranged pill dispensers operable to count out and dispose pills and employing a computer to control the operation of said dispensers comprising the steps of storing a supply of pills of a different pharmaceutical in each said pill dispensers, storing a plurality of prescriptions to be filled in a memory of said computer, said prescriptions each containing the identification of a pharmaceutical pill to be dispensed and a prescribed number of pills, programming said computer to select the pill dispensers storing the pills identified by prescriptions stored in said computer memory, and operating the selected dispensers to simultaneously count out and dispense the prescribed number of pills in response to the prescriptions stored in said memory, receiving the pills counted out by each dispenser into a corresponding upper hopper, releasing the pills from said upper hopper into a corresponding lower hopper when the counting and dispensing by the corresponding dispenser has been completed, positioning vials to receive pills from the lower hoppers which have received pills, and releasing pills from the lower output hoppers into said vials.

24. A method of dispensing prescriptions s recited in claim 23 further comprising printing a label for each of the prescriptions stored in said memory of said computer, said label containing the prescription information of the prescriptions stored in the memory of said computer, applying the printed labels to prescription vials and filling the labeled prescription vials with the pills counted out and dispensed by said selected dispensers.

25. A method of dispensing prescriptions as recited in claim 24 wherein the sequence of printing a label, applying the label to a vial and receiving pills into a labeled vial are carried out for one prescription at a time.

26. A method of dispensing prescriptions as recited in claim 23 wherein the pills are released from the lower hoppers into prescription vials one vial at a time.

27. A method of dispensing prescriptions as recited in claim 24 further comprising printing a bar code on each prescription label representing a prescription number identifying the corresponding prescription and verifying the prescription number with a bar code reader before filling the labeled vial with pills.

28. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one computer controller including means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, and for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller including means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller including means for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills corresponding to at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and label means for producing prescription container labels, said computer controller including means for causing said label means to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label means for producing said prescription labels one at a time and not for producing a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

46. The dispensing system of any of claims 28-45, wherein each of said pill dispensers signals the operator to assist in dispensing the pills when ready.

47. The dispensing system of any of claims 28-45, further comprising a plurality of output hoppers one for each of said pill dispensers to receive the pills counted out by said pill dispensers, output snouts, one connected to each of said output hoppers, said controller controlling the selective release of the pills from said output hoppers through the corresponding output snouts, said output snouts being arranged in at least one row and defining an aisle extending adjacent to and parallel to said row to permit the operator to have ease of access to pills dispensed through said snouts.

48. The dispensing system of any of claims 28-45, wherein said plurality of pill dispensers sequentially dispense the pills into a bottle corresponding to one of said plurality of prescriptions.

49. The dispensing system of any of claims 28-45, wherein said plurality of pill dispensers sequentially dispense the pills into a bottle corresponding to at least one of said plurality of prescriptions.

50. The dispensing system of any of claims 28-45, wherein said plurality of pill dispensers sequentially dispense the pills into at least one bottle corresponding to at least one of said plurality of prescriptions.

51. The dispensing system of any of claims 28-45, wherein said controller indicates to the operator when a hopper quantity of at least one of said dispensers requires refilling responsive to predetermined criteria and increases the hopper quantity for the at least one dispenser when the pills are added to a supply hopper of the at least one dispenser by a number of pills.

29. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one computer controller including means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, and for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller including means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller including means for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills corresponding to the plurality of prescriptions, and a label means for producing prescription container labels, said computer controller including means for causing said label means to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label means for producing said prescription labels one at a time and not for producing a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

30. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one computer controller including means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, and for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller including means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills, each of the plurality of pill dispensers dispensing a different one of said plurality of prescriptions, and a label means for producing prescription container labels, said computer controller controlling said label means to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label means for producing said prescription labels one at a time and not producing a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

31. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one computer controller, including means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, and for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills responsive to a predetermined command or action by the operator, and label means for producing prescription container labels, said computer controller causing said label means to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label means for producing said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

32. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one computer controller including means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, and for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller including means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller including means for controlling at least two of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills comprising one of said plurality of prescriptions at a time, and label means for producing prescription container labels, said computer controller including means for causing said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label means for producing said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

33. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one computer controller, including means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, and for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller including means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller including means for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills comprising one of said plurality of prescriptions at a time, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said computer controller configured to control said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

34. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one of a data processor and a computer responsively connected to said plurality of pill dispensers and including at least one computer controller including control means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, and for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said control means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said control means for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills corresponding to at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said control means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

35. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one of a data processor and a computer responsively connected to said plurality of pill dispensers and including at least one computer control means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer control means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer control means for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills corresponding to the plurality of prescriptions, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said computer control means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

36. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one of a data processor and a computer responsively connected to said plurality of pill dispensers and including at least one computer controller means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller means for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills, each of the plurality of pill dispensers dispensing a different one of said plurality of prescriptions, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said computer controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

37. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one of a data processor and a computer responsively connected to said plurality of pill dispensers and including at least one computer controller means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller means for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills responsive to a predetermined command or action by the operator, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said computer controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

38. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one of a data processor and a computer responsively connected to said plurality of pill dispensers and including at least one computer controller means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said computer controller means for controlling at least two of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills comprising one of said plurality of prescriptions at a time, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said computer controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

39. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one of a data processor and a computer responsively connected to said plurality of pill dispensers and including at least one computer controller means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, and for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said computer controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, and for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills comprising one of said plurality of prescriptions at a time, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said computer controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

40. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one controller means, responsively connected to, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, said controller means for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills corresponding to at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

41. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one controller means including a control system, responsively connected to, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, and for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills corresponding to the plurality of prescriptions, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

42. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one controller, including a control system responsively connected to said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, and for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills, each of the plurality of pill dispensers dispensing a different one of said plurality of prescriptions, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

43. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one controller means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, and for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills responsive to a predetermined command or action by the operator, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

44. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one controller means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, said controller means for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, and for controlling at least two of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills comprising one of said plurality of prescriptions at a time, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

45. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one controller means, including a control system responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, and for controlling each of said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills comprising one of said plurality of prescriptions at a time, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

52. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one computer controller means, responsively connected to and controlling said plurality of pill dispensers, for storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, and for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, a plurality of output hoppers one for each of said pill dispensers to receive the pills counted out by said pill dispensers, output snouts, one connected to each of said output hoppers, said controller means for controlling the selective sequential release of the counted pills from said output hoppers through the corresponding output snouts, said output snouts being arranged in at least one row and defining an aisle extending adjacent to and parallel to said row to permit the operator to have ease of access to pills dispensed through said snouts, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said computer controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a prescription container.

53. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of pill dispensers, each operable to count out pills of at least one pharmaceutical, at least one computer controller means for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers and storing a plurality of prescriptions each specifying a pharmaceutical in pill form and a number of pills, for selecting said plurality of pill dispensers dispensing the pills specified in at least one of said plurality of prescriptions, for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out the pills, for stopping each pill dispenser from counting out the pills when the number of pills specified in the corresponding prescription have been counted out, and for controlling said plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the counted pills corresponding to at least one of said plurality of prescriptions to the operator, and a label system to produce prescription container labels, said computer controller means for controlling said label system to produce prescription labels containing information corresponding to said stored prescriptions, wherein said label system produces said prescription labels one at a time and will not produce a prescription label for the next prescription until after pills specified in a preceding prescription have been received from a pill dispenser into a pill container.

54. A method of dispensing pills in a prescription dispensing system having a plurality of pill dispensers, comprising the steps of:

controlling the plurality of pill dispensers to simultaneously count out pills responsive to a corresponding plurality of prescriptions;

controlling the plurality of pill dispensers to sequentially dispense the pills responsive to at least one of a predetermined command and an action by an operator;

receiving the pills counted out by each dispenser into a corresponding upper hopper;

releasing the pills from said upper hopper into a corresponding lower hopper;

positioning vials to receive pills from the lower hoppers which have received pills; and

releasing pills from the lower output hoppers into said vials.

55. An operator assisted pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems dispensing at least one pharmaceutical, each of said article dispensing subsystems including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, and at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals, and for controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals.

56. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of prescription articles to be dispensed, at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the prescription articles, said computer controller means having a control system means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the prescription articles, and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the prescription articles corresponding to the plurality of dispensing descriptions.

57. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of prescription articles to be dispensed, and at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the prescription articles, for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the prescription articles, and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the prescription articles corresponding to at least one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions.

58. An operator assisted pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceutical articles to be dispensed, and at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceutical articles, and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceutical articles responsive to a predetermined command or action by the operator.

59. An operator assisted prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system, a supply hopper for a plurality of prescription articles to be dispensed, and at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the prescription articles, said computer controller means having a control system means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the prescription articles and for controlling at least two of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the prescription articles comprising one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions at a time.

60. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system, a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, and at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals, and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals comprising one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions at a time.

61. An operator assisted pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, at least one of a data processor and a computer respectively connected to said plurality of dispensing subsystems and including at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals, and for controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals.

62. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system, a supply hopper for a plurality of articles to be dispensed, at least one of a data processor and a computer respectively connected to said plurality of dispensing subsystems and including at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals, and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals corresponding to the said plurality of dispensing descriptions.

63. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, at least one of a data processor and a computer respectively connected to said plurality of dispensing subsystems and including at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals, and for controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals corresponding to at least one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions, each of the plurality of dispensing subsystems dispensing a different one of the pharmaceuticals to the operator.

64. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, at least one of a data processor and a computer respectively connected to said plurality of dispensing subsystems and including at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals responsive to a predetermined command or action by the operator.

65. A prescription dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, at least one of a data processor and a computer respectively connected to said plurality of dispensing subsystems and including at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals, and for controlling at least two of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals corresponding to one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions at a time.

66. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system, a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, and at least one of a data processor and a computer respectively connected to said plurality of dispensing subsystems and including at least one computer controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems, and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals comprising one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions at a time.

67. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system, a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, and at least one controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and for controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals, and for controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals corresponding to at least one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions.

68. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system, a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, and at least one controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and for controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals corresponding to the plurality of dispensing descriptions.

69. A pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, and at least one controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals, each of the plurality of dispensing subsystems dispensing a different one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions.

70. An operator assisted pharmaceutical dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed, and at least one controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the pharmaceuticals, said controller means having a control means for selecting and for controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the pharmaceuticals, and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the pharmaceuticals responsive to a predetermined command or action by the operator.

71. A prescription article dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of prescription articles to be dispensed, and at least one controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the prescription articles, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the prescription articles and for controlling at least two of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the prescription articles comprising one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions at a time.

72. A prescription article dispensing system comprising a plurality of adjacently arranged article dispensing subsystems each including a counting system and a supply hopper for a plurality of prescription articles to be dispensed, and at least one controller means for responsively controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems and for storing a plurality of dispensing descriptions each specifying the prescription articles, said computer controller means having a control means for selecting and for controlling said plurality of dispensing subsystems for simultaneously counting out the prescription articles and for controlling each of said plurality of dispensing subsystems to sequentially dispense the prescription articles comprising one of said plurality of dispensing descriptions at a time.