System and method for high-volume filling of pharmaceutical prescriptions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016129585-A1
Application number	US-201615000922-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2016
Priority date	Jun 10, 2010
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

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 . A method of retrieving a vial from a carrier, comprising 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.

2 . The method defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of dispensing a pharmaceutical into the vial after the lifting step and before the returning step.

3 . The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a round cavity, and the vial resides in the cavity.

4 . The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a recess, and wherein the vial carrier and the vial are positioned in the recess.

5 . The method defined in claim 2 , wherein the dispensing step comprises dispensing the pharmaceutical with an automated pharmaceutical dispensing machine.

6 . The method defined in claim 1 , wherein contacting the vial comprises grasping the vial with the gripper assembly, then pushing the vial within the carrier with the gripper assembly.

7 . The method defined in claim 6 , wherein contacting the vial further comprises pushing the vial and the vial carrier downwardly against the platform to register the vial at a desired height.

8 . The method defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of recording the position of the vial during the contacting step, and wherein returning the vial to the vial carrier comprises positioning the vial over the vial carrier based on the position of the vial carrier after the contacting step and lowering the vial into the vial carrier.

9 . 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.

10 . The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 9 , wherein the transition platform includes a plurality of retrieval positions.

11 . The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 9 , wherein the retrieval position is configured to receive a carrier in which a vial resides.

12 . The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 9 , wherein the retrieval position is defined by a recess in the transition platform.

13 . The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 9 , wherein the gripper assembly is mounted on a vertical rail and can travel vertically thereon.

14 . The automated pharmacy machine defined in claim 13 , wherein the vertical rail is mounted on a horizontal rail and can travel horizontally thereon.

15 . 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.

16 . 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

• A61J1/06

  Ampoules or carpules (syringe ampoules or carpules A61M5/28) · CPC title

• B25J9/00 Primary

  Program-controlled manipulators · CPC title