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US 10,118,773 B2Granted
Mass flow conveyor table for automated prescription fulfillment
AssigneeHumana Inc.
InventorMichael Mahar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated method and system for distributing prescription vials from upstream locations of a pharmacy to various downstream destinations using a stacked configuration of outbound lanes so that vials will enter the first outbound lane that is not blocked. The distribution table of the present invention has a lower portion having outbound lanes and an upper portion having outbound lanes and where the table is adapted to move vials in a loop pattern around the lower and upper portions.
Claims26
A vial conveying and distributing system for distributing vials, comprising:
- a conveyor table comprised of a lower portion and a top portion, wherein the lower portion is comprised of at least one conveyor and the top portion is comprised of at least one conveyor, wherein the at least one conveyor of the lower portion moves in the opposite direction as the at least one conveyor of the top portion;
- a first inbound conveyor lane for moving vials to the lower portion of the conveyor table;
- a second inbound conveyor lane for moving vials to the top portion of the conveyor table;
- a first set of outbound lanes for moving vials from the lower portion of the conveyor table to a downstream location;
- a second set of outbound lanes for moving vials from the top portion of the conveyor table to another downstream location;
- wherein the first and second set of outbound lanes are each comprised of a plurality of outbound lanes, each of the plurality of outbound lanes having an opening and wherein the openings of the plurality of outbound lanes are configured in a stacked configuration so vials moving on the table will enter the first outbound lane the vials encounter that is open, and wherein each of the plurality of outbound lanes are separated from another outbound lane by a wall;
- wherein the at least one conveyor of the lower portion moves vials towards the first set of outbound lanes;
- and
- wherein the at least one conveyor of the top portion moves vials towards the second set of outbound lanes.
6 more elements
A vial conveying and distributing system for distributing vials, comprising:
- a conveyor table comprised of a lower portion and a top portion, wherein the lower portion is comprised of at least one conveyor and the top portion is comprised of at least one conveyor, wherein the at least one conveyor of the lower portion moves in the opposite direction as the at least one conveyor of the top portion;
- a first inbound conveyor lane for moving vials to the lower portion of the conveyor table;
- a second inbound conveyor lane for moving vials to the top portion of the conveyor table;
- a first set of outbound lanes for moving vials from the lower portion of the conveyor table to a downstream location;
- a second set of outbound lanes for moving vials from the top portion of the conveyor table to another downstream location;
- wherein the first and second set of outbound lanes are each comprised of a plurality of outbound lanes, each of the plurality of outbound lanes having an opening and wherein the openings of the plurality of outbound lanes are configured in a stacked configuration so vials moving on the table will enter the first outbound lane the vials encounter that is open, and wherein each of the plurality of outbound lanes are separated from another outbound lane by a wall;
- wherein the at least one conveyor of the lower portion moves vials in the direction of the first set of outbound lanes;
- and
- wherein the at least one conveyor of the top portion moves vials in the direction of the second set of outbound lanes.
6 more elements
A vial conveying and distributing system for distributing vials, comprising:
- a conveyor table comprised of a lower portion and a top portion, wherein the lower portion is comprised of at least one conveyor and the top portion is comprised of at least one conveyor, wherein the at least one conveyor of the lower portion moves in the opposite direction as the at least one conveyor of the top portion;
- a first inbound conveyor lane for moving vials to the lower portion of the conveyor table;
- a second inbound conveyor lane for moving vials to the top portion of the conveyor table;
- a first set of outbound lanes for moving vials from the lower portion of the conveyor table to a downstream location;
- a second set of outbound lanes for moving vials from the top portion of the conveyor table to another downstream location;
- wherein the first and second set of outbound lanes are each comprised of a plurality of outbound lanes, each of the plurality of outbound lanes having an opening and wherein the openings of the plurality of outbound lanes are configured in a stacked configuration so vials moving on the table will enter the first outbound lane the vials encounter that is open, and wherein each of the plurality of outbound lanes are separated from another outbound lane by a wall;
- wherein the at least one conveyor of the lower portion moves vials in the direction of the first set of outbound lanes;
- wherein the at least one conveyor of the top portion moves vials in the direction of the second set of outbound lanes;
- a first barrier positioned on the lower portion of the table at an angle to guide vials to a first lower edge of the table;
- and
- a second barrier positioned on the top portion of the table at an angle to guide vials to a second top edge of the table.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.