System and method for high-volume filling of pharmaceutical prescriptions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035258-B2
Application number	US-201615000922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2016
Priority date	Jun 10, 2010
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A method of retrieving a vial from a carrier includes the steps of: contacting a vial contained within a carrier with a gripper assembly to shift the position of the container to one end of the carrier and to adjust the position of the carrier on a platform from a diverted position to a retrieval position; lifting the vial from the carrier with the gripper assembly; and returning the vial to the carrier with the gripper assembly. Such a method can improve the accuracy and precision of moving the vial to and from the carrier for dispensing.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An automated pharmacy machine, comprising:
a frame defining a peripheral footprint;
a plurality of bins, each of the bins containing a bulk supply of a pharmaceutical;
a transition platform mounted to the frame and having at least one retrieval position configured to receive a vial for filling, the vials being received for filling from a source outside the footprint of the frame, the retrieval position being located within the footprint of the frame; and
a gripper assembly mounted within the frame and configured to grasp and convey a vial from the transition platform to one of the bins for dispensing and to return a filled vial from a dispensing bin to the transition platform.

2. The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 1 , wherein the transition platform includes a plurality of retrieval positions.

3. The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 1 , wherein the retrieval position is configured to receive a carrier in which a vial resides.

4. The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 1 , wherein the retrieval position is defined by a recess in the transition platform.

5. The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 1 , wherein the gripper assembly is mounted on a vertical rail and can travel vertically thereon.

6. The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 5 , wherein the vertical rail is mounted on a horizontal rail and can travel horizontally thereon.

7. An automated pharmacy machine, comprising:
a frame defining a peripheral footprint;
a plurality of bins, each of the bins containing a bulk supply of a pharmaceutical;
a transition platform mounted to the frame and having a plurality of retrieval positions configured to receive a vial for filling, the vials being received for filling from a source outside the footprint of the frame, the retrieval positions being located within the footprint of the frame and being defined by recesses in the transition platform; and
a gripper assembly mounted within the frame and configured to grasp and convey a vial from the transition platform to one of the bins for dispensing and to return a filled vial from a dispensing bin to the transition platform.

8. An automated pharmacy machine, comprising:
a frame defining a peripheral footprint;
a plurality of bins, each of the bins containing a bulk supply of a pharmaceutical;
a transition platform mounted to the frame and having at least one retrieval position configured to receive a vial for filling, the retrieval position being located within the footprint of the frame and being defined by a recess in the transition platform configured to receive a carrier in which a vial resides; and
a gripper assembly mounted within the frame and configured to grasp and convey a vial from the transition platform to one of the bins for dispensing.

Assignees

• Parata Systems Llc

Inventors

• Davis Craig Steven
• Smith Bradley Kenneth
• Uebel Mark Alan
• Jordan Michael Lee
• Hertzler Merle Elmer
• Heineck Tobias
• Oshatz Daryl

Classifications

• G07F17/0092

  for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00) · CPC title

• B67C3/242

  engaging with bottle necks (B67C3/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B5/103

  for packaging pills or tablets · CPC title

• A61J1/20

  Arrangements for transferring {or mixing} fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe · CPC title

• B25J15/00

  Gripping heads {and other end effectors (grippers used in machine tools B23Q7/04; gripping members fitted on cranes B66C1/42, B66C1/44; gripping means used for mounting electrical components H05K13/04; gripping means used in the manufacture of semiconductors H10P72/7602)} · CPC title