Systems and methods for prescription container shipping

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017107005-A1
Application number	US-201514887730-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 20, 2015
Priority date	Oct 20, 2015
Publication date	Apr 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A prescription handling system that takes filled prescription containers in an automated pharmacy and places them into a package for shipment is described. The handling system includes an inflow to feed containers to a turntable and a robot moves containers from the turntable to a container placement section, which places the containers in a pocket of a package for shipping. Each container for a prescription order is tracked to ensure that only associated containers are packaged together.

First claim

1 . A system comprising:
an inflow section configured to supply filled prescription containers; a robot for picking a container from the inflow section; and a container placement section including a carriage rack, the carriage rack including a receptacle sized to receive a container therein from the robot and a selectively openable release gate associated with the receptacle, wherein the carriage rack has a raised position oriented to vertically receive the container within a receptacle from the robot and a lowered position oriented to horizontally place the container in a pocket; and wherein in the lowered position, the release gate is positioned to release the container from the receptacle of the carriage rack into the pocket.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inflow section further comprises:
a feed conveyor; a turntable; and a scanner; wherein said scanner is positioned to scan the container with the container in the turntable and the robot is positioned to pick the container from the turntable.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the inflow section further comprises:
a container guide positioned to direct the container into and around the turntable, the container guide being configured to disrupt linear alignment of the containers on the feed conveyor.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the turntable includes at a recess sized to receive the container therein.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a slide connected to the carriage rack, the slide being positioned to slide along a guide rail to move the carriage rack between its raised and lowered positions.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein an orientation of the carriage rack in its raised position is approximately ninety degrees offset from the orientation of its lowered position.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage rack in its lowered position is oriented with at least one release gate oriented generally parallel to the pocket.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage rack in its lowered position is oriented such that selective actuation of the release gate causes a container in the receptacle associated with the release gate to release from the receptacle into the pocket.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the pocket is associated with a pocket conveyor.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lowered position of the carriage rack is at least one of: at least partially within the pocket and immediately proximate the pocket.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit executed via a processor, wherein the control unit controls the robot and carriage rack, and determines placement of at least one container within the carriage rack.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a control unit executed via a processor, wherein the control unit controls the movement of the carriage rack between the raised and lowered positions, and controls the selective actuation of the release gate.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage rack further includes a plate having at least one slot therethrough, the number of slots corresponding to a number of receptacles.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein each slot is positioned overtop of and vertically aligned with a respective receptacle when the carriage rack is in its raised position.

15 . A method comprising:
scanning at least one container via a scanner; identifying a prescription order, via a processor, which prescription order is associated with the at least one container based on the scan and stored order information; determining, via the processor, whether all desired containers associated with the prescription order are available for packing based on the stored order information and the scan; placing the desired containers into respective receptacles of a carriage rack while the carriage rack is in a raised position; moving the carriage rack from the raised position to a lowered position; and actuating at least one release gate to place the desired containers into a pocket.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a release gate is associated with each receptacle.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
sensing that all desired containers are in the receptacles before moving the carriage rack.

18 . The method of 17 , further comprising:
placing literature associated with each of the prescriptions of the prescription order in the pocket before actuating the release gate, wherein moving includes pivoting the carriage to rotate the containers from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation to be released into the pocket and sealing the pocket to ship the prescription order.

Assignees

• Express Scripts Inc

Inventors

• Joplin Jonathan W

Classifications

• A61M5/002

  Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics (needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• G07F11/70

  in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents · CPC title

• G07F17/0092

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

• G07F11/52

  about horizontal axes · CPC title

• B65B3/003

  Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like · CPC title