Methods and systems for unit of use product inventory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9978036-B1
Application number	US-201213618132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2012
Priority date	Sep 14, 2011
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

Method and systems for product inventory are described. In one embodiment, an inventory surface unit retains a plurality of products in an unordered state. An inventory identification unit acquires information for an orientation, and location of the plurality of products on the inventory surface unit. The inventory identification unit is disposed above the inventory surface unit. An inventory pick unit is adapted to pick a product among the plurality of products from the inventory surface unit based on the orientation and location acquired by the inventory identification unit. The inventory pick unit is disposed proximal the inventory surface unit, and the inventory pick unit is communicatively connected to the inventory identification unit. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an inventory surface unit to retain a plurality of products in an unordered state being free of a repeatable logically controlled condition of the plurality of products, wherein the inventory surface unit includes a moveable surface that supports and moves the plurality of products positioned on the moveable surface, the plurality of products in an unordered state including products of varying shapes and sizes and a variety of product types;
an inventory identification unit to acquire information for an orientation and a location of the plurality of products, individually, moving on the moveable surface of the inventory surface unit, the inventory identification unit being disposed above the inventory surface unit, wherein the moveable surface is a continuous surface to repeatedly move one of the plurality of products past the inventory identification unit;
an inventory pick unit adapted to pick an individual product among the plurality of products from the inventory surface unit based on a product orientation and a product location acquired by the inventory identification unit, the inventory pick unit being disposed proximal to the inventory surface unit; and
a control subsystem communicatively connected to the inventory identification unit and the inventory pick unit, the control subsystem being adapted to process the acquired information for the orientation and the location from the inventory identification unit and instruct the inventory pick unit to pick the individual product at the product orientation and the product location, wherein the product location depends on the movement of the moveable surface of the inventory surface unit,
wherein the product orientation is relative to a defined coordinate system and the product location is defined by an angle from an axis of the defined coordinate system centered at a center of rotation of the moveable surface and a radial distance from a center of the defined coordinate system, and
wherein the inventory pick unit includes a programmable pick apparatus and a supplemental image camera connected to the programmable pick apparatus, the programmable pick apparatus including a movable arm and picker attached to an end of the movable arm to pick the individual product from the inventor surface unit, the supplemental image camera being connected to the inventory identification unit to communicate image data to verify a position of the individual product prior to picking and confirm that the programmable picking apparatus has obtained the product after picking.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a packing device to receive the plurality of products disposed adjacent the inventory surface unit, the packing device being adapted to prepare the plurality of products for shipping with the plurality of products including products of varying shapes and sizes.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the packing device includes a circular packaging disc configured to receive and to support picked products from the inventory surface unit.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the packing device includes a linear conveyor.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the packing device includes a film dispenser and is positioned to receive picked products from the inventory surface unit.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inventory surface unit is disc shaped and rotatable.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inventory surface unit is polygonal shaped.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a label unit to label the plurality of the products, the label unit being positioned within an area reachable by the inventory pick unit.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inventory surface unit is divided into quadrants with dividers.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inventory pick unit includes a six-axis robot.

11. A system comprising,
an inventory surface unit to retain a plurality of products in an unordered state being free of a repeatable logically controlled condition of the plurality of products, wherein the inventory surface unit includes a moveable surface that supports and moves the plurality of products;
an inventory identification unit to acquire information for an orientation and a location of the plurality of products moving on the moveable surface of the inventory surface unit, the inventory identification unit being disposed above the inventory surface unit;
an inventory pick unit adapted to pick a product among the plurality of products from the inventory surface unit based on a product orientation and a product location acquired by the inventory identification unit, the inventory pick unit being disposed proximal to the inventory surface unit, the inventory pick unit being communicatively connected to the inventory identification unit; and
a control subsystem communicatively connected to the inventory identification unit and the inventory pick unit, the control subsystem being adapted to process the acquired information for the orientation and the location from the inventory identification unit and instruct the inventory pick unit to pick the individual product at the product orientation and the product location, wherein the product location depends on the movement of the moveable surface of the inventory surface unit,
wherein the product is a drug manufacture packaged prescription drug product that has been sealed and closed at a direction of a drug manufacturer that manufactured prescription drug contained with the drug manufacture packaged prescription drug product,
wherein the plurality of products includes different products,
wherein the plurality of products at include at least some products varying in shape and size;
with inventory pick unit picking a first product of the plurality of products disturbing a second product of the plurality of products, the inventory identification unit is to reacquire information for the orientation and the location of the second product moving on the moveable surface of the inventory surface unit, and
wherein the product orientation is relative to a defined coordinate system and the product location is defined by an angle from an axis of the defined coordinate system centered at a center of rotation of the moveable surface of the inventory surface unit and a radial distance from a center of the defined coordinate system,
wherein the inventory pick unit includes a programmable pick apparatus and a supplemental image camera connected to the programmable pick apparatus, the programmable pick apparatus including a movable arm and picker attached to an end of the movable arm to pick the product from the inventor surface unit, the supplemental image camera being connected to the inventory identification unit to communicate image data to verify a position of the product prior to picking and confirm that the programmable picking apparatus has obtained the product after picking.

12. A system comprising:
an inventory surface unit to retain a plurality of products in an unordered state on a moving surface with the unordered state being free of a repeatable logically controlled condition of the plurality of products;
an inventory identification unit to capture an image of a product of the plurality of products on the moving surface and determine a product type, a product location, and a product orientation of the product based on the image, the inventory identification unit being disposed above the inventory surface unit;
an inventory pick unit adapted to pick the product among the plurality of products from the inventory surface unit based on the product orientation and the product location acquired by the inventory identification unit

Assignees

• Eller Charles E
• Express Scripts Strategic Dev Inc

Inventors

• Eller Charles E

Classifications

• G06Q10/06

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title

• G06Q30/0201

  Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data · CPC title

• G06Q30/06

  Buying, selling or leasing transactions · CPC title