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US 11,308,751 B2Granted
System and method for dispensing orders
AssigneeRxsafe LLC
InventorWilliam K. Holmes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System and method for dispensing orders. One embodiment provides a method of dispensing a prescription order to a customer at a customer kiosk. The method includes receiving, at a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, an instruction to deliver a filled prescription to a customer kiosk and transferring, using a gantry assembly, the filled prescription to a chute connecting the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a pneumatic delivery terminal. The method further includes opening a door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and operating an actuator to transfer the filled prescription from the chute to the pneumatic delivery terminal. The method also includes closing the door of the pneumatic delivery terminal and delivering, via a pneumatic tube, the filled prescription to the customer kiosk.
Claims32
A pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device comprising:
- a housing;
- a storage area in the housing for storing filled prescriptions;
- an outlet on the housing;
- a gantry assembly in the housing configured to transport the filled prescriptions from the storage area to the outlet;
- a chute connecting the outlet to a pneumatic delivery terminal, the chute including:
- a pushing member movable relative to the chute to deliver the filled prescriptions from the chute to the pneumatic delivery terminal, wherein the pushing member includes flexible bristles on a side facing the pneumatic delivery terminal, and
- an actuator coupled to the pushing member and configured to move the pushing member.
4 more elements
A pharmacy dispensing system comprising:
- a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device inside a pharmacy, the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device including a first outlet and a second outlet;
- a first kiosk located inside the pharmacy;
- a second kiosk located outside the pharmacy;
- a pneumatic delivery system connecting the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, the first kiosk, and the second kiosk, the pneumatic delivery system including
- a first pneumatic delivery terminal coupled to the first outlet,
- a first pneumatic delivery conduit extending between the first pneumatic delivery terminal to the first kiosk, wherein filled prescriptions are delivered from the first outlet to the first kiosk through the first pneumatic delivery terminal and the first pneumatic delivery conduit,
- a second pneumatic delivery terminal coupled to the second outlet, and
- a second pneumatic delivery conduit extending between the second pneumatic delivery terminal to the second kiosk, wherein filled prescriptions are delivered from the second outlet to the second kiosk through the second pneumatic delivery terminal and the second pneumatic delivery conduit;
- a gantry assembly in a housing of the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, the gantry assembly configured to transport the filled prescriptions to the first outlet and the second outlet;
- and
- a chute connecting the first outlet to the first pneumatic delivery terminal, the chute including:
- a pushing member movable relative to the chute to deliver the filled prescriptions from the chute to the first pneumatic delivery terminal,
- an actuator coupled to the pushing member and configured to move the pushing member,
- a first portion coupled to the first outlet,
- a second portion including the pushing member, and
- a third portion coupled to an opening in the first pneumatic delivery terminal,
- wherein a door is provided by the opening to open and close the opening,
- wherein the gantry assembly transports a first filled prescription from the filled prescriptions to the first portion at the first outlet, wherein the first filled prescription moves from the first portion to the second portion, and wherein the pushing member moves the first filled prescription from the second portion into the opening;
- a transceiver for communicating with the pneumatic delivery system;
- and
- an electronic processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to
- receive, via the transceiver, an instruction to deliver a filled prescription to the first kiosk,
- control the gantry assembly to transport the filled prescription to the chute,
- operate, using the actuator, the pushing member to transfer the filled prescription from the chute to the first pneumatic delivery terminal,
- determine that the door is closed, and
- operate the pushing member to retract to the second portion in response to determining that the door is closed.
23 more elements
A method for dispensing orders, comprising:
- receiving, at a pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device, an instruction to deliver a filled prescription to a customer kiosk;
- transferring, using a gantry assembly, the filled prescription to a chute connecting the pharmaceutical storage and retrieval device and a pneumatic delivery terminal;
- opening a door of the pneumatic delivery terminal;
- operating an actuator to transfer the filled prescription from the chute to the pneumatic delivery terminal, wherein operating the actuator further comprises:
- determining that the door is opened, and
- actuating the actuator to transfer the filled prescription from the chute to the pneumatic delivery terminal in response to determining that the door is opened;
- closing the door of the pneumatic delivery terminal;
- delivering, via a pneumatic tube, the filled prescription to the customer kiosk;
- determining that the door is closed;
- and
- actuating the actuator to retract in response to determining that the door is closed.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.