# US 11,027,872 B2 · Plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,872 B2 - Document ID: US11027872B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/571,368 - Filed: 2019-09-16 - Published: 2020-01-09 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-25 - Assignees: Chudy Group, LLC - Applicants: Chudy Group, LLC - Inventors: Duane S. Chudy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027872B2 ## CPC - B65B 65/006: {Multiple parallel packaging lines} - A61J 1/035: {Blister-type containers (blisters in general B65D75/36)} - B65B 1/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - B65B 5/067: {in bags (B65B5/061 - B65B5/065 take precedence)} - B65B 5/103: {for packaging pills or tablets} - B65B 7/16: Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons - B65B 11/52: one sheet being rendered plastic, e.g. by heating, and forced by fluid pressure, e.g. vacuum, into engagement with the other sheet and contents, e.g. skin- {, blister-, or bubble-} packaging - B65B 35/10: Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles - B65B 35/34: by agitators or vibrators - B65B 43/42: Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position (by means of filling-nozzles B65B39/00); Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation (by filling-nozzles B65B39/00) - B65D 75/327: {and forming several compartments} - 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 - B65B 2220/14: Adding more than one type of material or article to the same package - 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) - 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 - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system. In embodiments, the system may include an automatic dispensing machine including an automatic medicament dispensing unit and may further include pouch packaging and blister package packaging units. The medicament dispensing unit may include one or more storage and dispensing units which store and dispense medicaments. Medicaments output from the medicament dispensing unit may be packaged in a pouch package by the pouch packaging unit. Alternatively, a diverter may direct medicaments output from the medicament dispensing unit to the pouch package packaging unit for packaging in a blister package. A single automatic medicament packaging system can package medicaments in different types of packaging providing a pharmacy with the opportunity to package medicaments in the form of packaging most appropriate to meet patient needs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system comprising: an automatic medicament dispensing unit including a plurality of medicament storage and dispensing units, the plurality of medicament storage and dispensing units residing in individual storage locations in the automatic medicament dispensing unit, the medicament storage and dispensing units dispensing medicament from the storage locations; a pouch packaging unit which receives medicaments from the storage and dispensing units and packages the medicaments in pouch packages; a blister package packaging unit which receives medicaments from the storage and dispensing units and packages the medicaments in blister packages, the blister package packaging unit configured to load the medicaments into one or more specific cells of a blister package; a plural-position medicament diverter having first and second mode positions such that, in the first-mode position, individual medicaments dispensed from the storage and dispensing units move from the storage and dispensing units to the pouch packaging unit and, in the second-mode position, individual medicaments dispensed from the storage and dispensing units move from the storage and dispensing units to the diverter and the diverter delivers the medicaments to the blister package packaging unit; and a controller operatively associated with the automatic medicament dispensing unit, the pouch packaging unit, the blister package packaging unit and the diverter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the diverter includes a medicament conveyor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The packaging system of claim 2 further including at least one medicament carrier moved by the medicament conveyor between a receiving position in which the carrier receives medicaments from the automatic medicament dispensing unit and a delivery position in which the carrier delivers the medicaments to the blister package packaging unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The packaging system of claim 1 wherein the blister package packaging unit includes a blister package conveyor which conveys a blister package for a specific patient to the blister package packing unit for loading. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The packaging system of claim 4 wherein the blister package conveyor transports a blister package holder into which a blister package is nested by the blister package packaging unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The packaging system of claim 1 further including an imaging device which captures an image of the medicaments after dispensing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The packaging system of claim 6, wherein the blister package packaging unit includes a sealer unit which seals the blister package after loading. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The packaging system of claim 7 wherein the imaging device captures an image of the medicaments before sealing of the blister package. ### Claim 9 A plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system comprising: an automatic medicament dispensing unit including a plurality of medicament storage and dispensing units, the plurality of medicament storage and dispensing units residing in individual storage locations in the automatic medicament dispensing unit, the medicament storage and dispensing units dispensing medicament from the storage locations; a pouch packaging unit which receives medicaments from the storage and dispensing units and packages the medicaments in pouch packages; a blister package packaging unit which receives medicaments from the storage and dispensing units and packages the medicaments in blister packages, the blister package packaging unit including a robotic pick-and-place device which is configured to load the medicaments into one or more specific cells of a blister package; and a plural-position medicament diverter having first and second mode positions such that, in the first-mode position, individual medicaments dispensed from the storage and dispensing units move from the storage and dispensing units to the pouch packaging unit and, in the second-mode position, individual medicaments dispensed from the storage and dispensing units move from the storage and dispensing units to the diverter and the diverter delivers the medicaments to the blister package packaging unit; and a controller operatively associated with the automatic medicament dispensing unit, the pouch packaging unit, the blister package packaging unit and the diverter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The packaging system of claim 9 wherein the diverter includes a medicament conveyor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The packaging system of claim 9 wherein the blister package packaging unit includes a blister package conveyor which conveys a blister package for a specific patient to the robotic pick-and-place device for loading. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The packaging system of claim 11 wherein the blister package conveyor transports a blister package holder into which a blister package is nested by the blister package packaging unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The packaging system of claim 9 further including an imaging device which captures an image of the medicaments after dispensing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The packaging system of claim 13, wherein the blister package packaging unit includes a sealer unit which seals the blister package after loading. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The packaging system of claim 14 wherein the imaging device captures an image of the medicaments before sealing of the blister package. ### Claim 16 A plural-mode automatic medicament packaging system comprising: an automatic medicament dispensing unit including a plurality of medicament storage and dispensing units, the plurality of medicament storage and dispensing units residing in individual storage locations in the automatic medicament dispensing unit, the medicament storage and dispensing units dispensing medicament from the storage locations; a pouch packaging unit which receives medicaments from the storage and dispensing units and packages the medicaments in pouch packages; a blister package packaging unit which receives medicaments from the storage and dispensing units and packages the medicaments in blister packages, the blister package packaging unit configured to load the medicaments into one or more specific cells of a blister package; and a plural-position medicament diverter having first and second mode positions such that, in the first-mode position, medicaments move from the storage and dispensing units to the pouch packaging unit and, in the second-mode position, medicaments move from the storage and dispensing units to the diverter and the diverter delivers the medicaments to the blister package packaging unit; and a controller operatively associated with the automatic medicament dispensing unit, the pouch packaging unit, the blister package packaging unit and the diverter; wherein the pouch packaging unit is moved away from the automatic medicament dispensing unit to permit the diverter to be placed in the second-mode position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The packaging system of claim 16 wherein the diverter includes a medicament conveyor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The packaging system of claim 16 wherein the blister package packaging unit includes a blister package conveyor which transports a blister package for a specific patient to the robotic pick-and-place device for loading. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The packaging system of claim 18 wherein the blister package conveyor conveys a blister package holder into which a blister package is nested by the blister package packaging unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The packaging system of claim 16 further including an imaging device which captures an image of the medicaments after dispensing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The packaging system of claim 20, wherein the blister package packaging unit includes a sealer unit which seals the blister package after loading. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The packaging system of claim 21, wherein the imaging device captures an image of the medicaments before sealing of the blister package.