# US 11,896,557 B2 · Docking station and method for loading a medicine transport plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,557 B2 - Document ID: US11896557B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/690,021 - Filed: 2022-03-09 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-03 - Assignees: Vmi Holland B.V. - Applicants: VMI Holland B.V. - Inventors: Johan Gerard van Beek; Anthonius Maria Hendrina de Boer; Cornelis Jan Jochemsen; Patrick van Voorn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896557B2 ## CPC - A61J 7/0084: {for multiple medicaments} - G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)} - B65G 1/08: the articles being fed by gravity {(braking arrangements for roller-ways B65G13/075; separating or stopping elements B65G47/88)} - G07F 11/62: in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles - G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers - B65G 2203/0283: Position of the load carrier - 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 - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A method for loading a medicine transport plate with one or more medicine items using a docking station includes the steps of moving a preparation release mechanism of a docking station into a preparation holding state; inserting the one or more medicine items into one or more preparation compartments in the docking station; loading the medicine transport plate into the docking station; and moving the preparation release mechanism from the preparation holding state into a preparation release state to release the one or more medicine items from the preparation compartments. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A Method for loading a medicine transport plate with one or more medicine items using a docking station, wherein the docking station comprises a preparation section and a buffer section between the preparation section and a transport plate section, the buffer section comprising a plurality of buffer compartments for receiving the one or more medicine items from the preparation section and a buffer release mechanism movable between a buffer holding state and a release state, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) moving a preparation release mechanism of the docking station into a preparation holding state and moving the buffer release mechanism into the buffer holding state; b) inserting the one or more medicine items into one or more preparation compartments of a plurality of preparation compartments in the preparation section; c) moving the preparation release mechanism from the preparation holding state into a preparation release state to release the one or more medicine items from the preparation compartments; d) receiving the one or more medicine items from the preparation section and holding said one or more medicine items in the plurality of buffer compartments; e) loading the medicine transport plate into the docking station; and f) moving the buffer release mechanism from the buffer holding state into the buffer release state to release the one or more medicine items from the plurality of buffer compartments to the transport plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more medicine items are released from all preparation compartments of the plurality of preparation compartments simultaneously. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the preparation release mechanism is maintained in the preparation holding state as long as the medicine transport plate has not been loaded into the docking station. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the preparation release mechanism is operated automatically in response to the loading of the medicine transport plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the preparation release mechanism is operated semi-automatically via a user-interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the preparation release mechanism is manually operated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more medicine items are released from all buffer compartments of the plurality of buffer compartments simultaneously. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the buffer release mechanism is maintained in the buffer holding state as long as the medicine transport plate has not been loaded into the docking station. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises a plurality of controllable indicators for selectively indicating one or more preparation compartments of the plurality of preparation compartments, wherein the method further comprises the step of disabling the plurality of indicators when the medicine transport plate is present in the transport plate section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the docking station comprises a housing that defines a slot for receiving the medicine transport plate, wherein the method further comprises the step of locking the medicine transport plate in the slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises preventing the insertion of the medicine transport plate until the operator first completes manual preparation of the one or more medicine items. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises forcing the operator to first complete manual preparation of the one or more medicine items prior to insertion of the medicine transport plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the forcing of the operator to first complete manual preparation of the one or more medicine items prior to insertion of the medicine transport plate comprises: using a control unit coupled to a user-interface, and only allowing for the insertion of the medicine transport plate and subsequent release of the one or more medicine items when an operator confirms on the user interface that all of the one or more medicines have been prepared. ### Claim 14 A docking station for loading a medicine transport plate with one or more medicine items, wherein the medicine transport plate comprises a plurality of storage compartments for receiving the one or more medicine items from the docking station, the docking station comprising: a preparation section comprising a plurality of preparation compartments for receiving the one or more medicine items and a preparation release mechanism movable between a preparation holding state and a preparation release state; a transport plate section for receiving a medicine transport plate; and a control unit configured to force the operator to first complete preparation of the one or more medicine items in the preparation section prior to insertion of the medicine transport plate in the transport plate section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The docking station of claim 14, and further comprising one or more sensors for detecting presence or absence of the medicine transport plate in the transport plate section, wherein the control unit is further configured to maintain the preparation release mechanism in the preparation holding state as long as the control unit receives a signal from the one or more sensors indicative of the absence of the medicine transport plate in the transport plate section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The docking station of claim 14, and further comprising a plurality of controllable indicators for selectively indicating one or more preparation compartments of the plurality of preparation compartments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The docking station according to claim 14, wherein the preparation release mechanism is manually operable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The docking station according to claim 14, and further comprising a buffer section between the preparation section and the transport plate section, wherein the buffer section comprises a plurality of buffer compartments for receiving the one or more medicine items from the preparation section, and a buffer release mechanism movable between a buffer holding state and a buffer release state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The docking station according to claim 18, wherein the control unit is configured to force the operator to first release the one or more medicine items in the preparation section into the buffer section prior to insertion of the medicine transport plate in the transport plate section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The docking station according to claim 18, wherein the buffer release mechanism comprises a buffer release plate with a plurality of buffer release openings, wherein the buffer release plate is movable in a sliding direction parallel to the transport plate plane between a buffer holding position in which the plurality of buffer release openings are out of line with the plurality of buffer compartments and a buffer release position in which the plurality of buffer release openings are registered with the plurality of buffer compartments. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The docking station according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of preparation compartments comprise at least one side wall with a taper such that the opening at a top of the preparation compartment is wider than an opening at the bottom in at least one direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The docking station according to claim 18, wherein the preparation section and the buffer section comprise a preparation body and a buffer body, respectively, wherein the plurality of preparation compartments and the plurality of buffer compartments are formed in said preparation body and said buffer body, respectively, wherein the docking station further comprises a base for supporting the preparation body and the buffer body in a stacking direction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The docking station of claim 22, wherein the preparation body and the buffer body are removable from the base in the stacking direction. ### Claim 24 A docking station for loading a medicine transport plate with one or more medicine items, wherein the medicine transport plate comprises a plurality of storage compartments for receiving the one or more medicine items from the docking station, the docking station comprising: a preparation section comprising a plurality of preparation compartments for receiving the one or more medicine items and a preparation release mechanism movable between a preparation holding state and a preparation release state; a transport plate section for receiving a medicine transport plate; and a control unit configured to prevent the insertion of the medicine transport plate until the operator first completes manual preparation of the one or more medicine items. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The docking station of claim 24, and further comprising one or more sensors. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The docking station of claim 24, and further comprising a buffer section between the preparation section and the transport plate section, wherein the control unit is configured to prevent the insertion of the medicine transport plate until the operator first completes preparation of the one or more medicine items, and the one or more medicine items have been released from the preparation section to the buffer section.