# US 10,369,080 B2 · Systems and methods for manual countables > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,080 B2 - Document ID: US10369080B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/407,376 - Filed: 2017-01-17 - Published: 2017-05-04 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-23 - Assignees: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc. - Applicants: Express Scripts, Inc. - Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369080B2 ## CPC - A61J 7/0084: {for multiple medicaments} - A61J 1/03: for pills or tablets (containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04) - A61J 7/02: Pill counting devices - B65B 5/103: {for packaging pills or tablets} - B65B 43/46: using grippers - B65B 43/52: using roller-ways or endless conveyors - B65B 65/003: {Packaging lines, e.g. general layout} - B65B 2210/02: Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract Systems and methods for manually filling a prescription order. A manual fill device may be incorporated into a manual fill center of a pharmacy operated by one or more pharmacists and/or pharmacist technicians to manually fill certain prescription containers. The manual fill device may include a control unit which may operate at the direction of the order processing device. The manual fill device may also include a distribution section automating distribution of containers for manual fulfillment, and a manual section in which a pharmacist may utilize available pharmaceuticals to manually fill orders. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a distribution section including a robot and a scanner, the robot being configured to select and pick a container from the distribution section and move the container to the scanner, and the scanner being configured to scan the container to identify one of a plurality of various pharmaceuticals to be deposited in the container; a manual section disposed adjacent the distribution section, the manual section including a plurality of handling areas and a plurality of shelving areas for storing the plurality of various pharmaceuticals; and a control unit, wherein each of the plurality of shelving areas stores at least one of the plurality of various pharmaceuticals, wherein the control unit is configured to determine (i) at least one of the plurality of shelving areas that is storing the one of the plurality of various pharmaceuticals based on the identification by the scanner; and (ii) a selected handling area of the plurality of handling areas associated with the at least one of the plurality of shelving areas and wherein the robot is further configured to direct the container from the distribution section to the selected handling area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one conveyor configured to transport the container between the distribution section and the at least one of the plurality of handling areas, wherein the robot is further configured to place the container on the at least one conveyor based on the identification. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising: at least one guiderail positioned to define a plurality of lanes on the conveyor, wherein one of the plurality of lanes leads to the selected handling area of the plurality of handling areas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the robot is further configured to pick the container and place the container on the one of the plurality of lanes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a feed conveyor configured to supply the container to a first pallet to be delivered to the distribution section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the feed conveyor is configured to supply an additional container to a second pallet to be delivered to the distribution section, and wherein the second pallet is being staged for unloading while the first pallet is being unloaded. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of shelving areas includes one or more shelves configured for storing one or more different types of pharmaceutical. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more shelves within the at least one of the plurality of shelving areas are associated with an additional one of the plurality of shelving areas. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the selected handling area of the plurality of handling areas is selected based on a drug amount of the container and availability of the one or more shelves. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the selected handling area of the plurality of handling areas is selected based on a speed of filling being performed at the plurality of handling areas, skills, knowledges, and/or expertise of persons operating at the plurality of handling areas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the selected handling area of the plurality of handling areas is selected based on respective workloads of the plurality of handling areas. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the robot is further configured to direct the container from the distribution section to the selected handling area of the plurality of handling areas that has recently handled the same or similar pharmaceutical associated with the container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of shelving areas includes a carousel system configured to recall a specific pharmaceutical. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the robot is further configured to direct the container from the distribution section to at least two of the plurality of handling areas associated with the at least one of the plurality of shelving areas that stores the pharmaceutical based on the identification by the scanner. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: selecting a container from a holding area; scanning the container by a scanner; determining a pharmaceutical of a plurality of various pharmaceuticals associated with the container based on the scan, for filling the container with the pharmaceutical; determining (i) a shelving area among a plurality of shelving areas that is storing the pharmaceutical, and (ii) each of the plurality of shelving areas storing at least one of the plurality of various pharmaceuticals; selecting a handling area from a plurality of handling areas associated with the shelving area; and routing the container to the handling area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: placing the container on a conveyor leading to the handling area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: monitoring respective workloads of the plurality of handling areas; and selecting the handling area with a workload that is lower than other workloads of the respective workloads to receive the container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: evenly distributing workloads among the plurality of handling areas by sizing the plurality of shelving areas differently from each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: optimizing the plurality of handling areas by checking a drug amount of the container and monitoring availability of the plurality of shelving areas. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: optimizing the plurality of handling areas by monitoring respective speeds of filling being performed at the plurality of handling areas, skills, knowledges, and/or expertise of persons operating at the plurality of handling areas.