# US 12,179,236 B2 · Systems and methods for automated prescription preparation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,236 B2 - Document ID: US12179236B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/855,170 - Filed: 2022-06-30 - Published: 2024-01-04 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-30 - Assignees: McKesson Corporation - Applicants: McKesson Corporation - Inventors: Cody Small; Timothy Chambers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179236B2 ## CPC - B07C 5/3412: {according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication (sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00)} - B07C 5/36: Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} - B07C 5/362: {Separating or distributor mechanisms (switches for postal sorting B07C3/065; particular discharging devices for B65G47/74)} - B65B 5/08: Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles - B65G 1/1373: {for fulfilling orders in warehouses} - B65G 1/1376: {the orders being assembled on a commissioning conveyor} - B65G 1/1378: {the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas} - B65G 43/08: Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} - B65G 47/905: {Control arrangements} - B65G 2203/0216: Codes or marks on the article - B65G 2203/041: Camera - B65G 2209/00: Indexing codes relating to order picking devices in General - B65G 2811/0678: Determining the path to be followed - B65G 2814/0302: Central control devices - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) - 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) - 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) ## Abstract A system includes a conveyor and a computing device in communication with the conveyor. The conveyor has a plurality of carriers that are moved about and between at least one automated prescription picking system and at least one automated prescription packing system. Each carrier of the plurality of carriers is configured to receive at least one prescription from the at least one automated prescription picking system and deliver the at least one prescription to the at least one automated prescription packing system. The computing device includes at least one processor and a memory in communication with the at least one processor. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: associate an identifier with each prescription of the at least one prescription; and track contents of each carrier of the plurality of carriers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a conveyor comprising a plurality of carriers, wherein the conveyor is configured to move the plurality of carriers about and between at least one automated prescription picking system and at least one automated prescription packing system, wherein each carrier of the plurality of carriers is configured to receive at least one prescription from the at least one automated prescription picking system and deliver the at least one prescription to the at least one automated prescription packing system; a computing device in communication with the conveyor, wherein the computing device comprises at least one processor and a memory in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: associate an identifier with each prescription of the at least one prescription; track contents of each carrier of the plurality of carriers, wherein the contents of each carrier of the plurality of carriers are one of: empty; or one or more prescriptions, each prescription of the one or more prescriptions having an identifier associated therewith; and an optical inspection system comprising a camera, wherein the optical inspection system is configured to: capture the identifier associated with each prescription of the at least one prescription; confirm accuracy of an order based on the captured identifier; and store an image of the respective prescription. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises a monorail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises a single loop. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one automated prescription picking system consists of a single automated prescription picking system, and wherein the at least one automated prescription packing system consists of a single automated prescription packing system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises a central manifold loop and a plurality of branch loops that extend between the central manifold loop and one of: an automated prescription picking system of the at least one automated prescription picking system; or an automated prescription packing system of the at least one automated prescription packing system, wherein the plurality of carriers of the conveyor are configured to move across the central manifold loop and the plurality of branch loops. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a robotic end effector that is configured to move the at least one prescription from the at least one automated prescription picking system to a carrier of the plurality of carriers of the conveyor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one tote that is positioned at the at least one automated prescription picking system, wherein the memory comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: move, by the robotic end effector and based on the identifier associated with a respective prescription, the respective prescription from the at least one automated prescription picking system to either a tote of the at least one tote or the conveyor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a barcode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: arrange a plurality of prescriptions into a batch shipment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising the at least one automated prescription picking system and the at least one automated prescription packing system. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: moving, by a plurality of carriers of a conveyor, a plurality of prescriptions from at least one automated prescription picking system to at least one automated prescription packing system; capturing, by an optical inspection system, an identifier associated with the respective prescription; confirming accuracy of an order based on the captured identifier; and storing an image of the respective prescription. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: associating an identifier with each prescription of the plurality of prescriptions; and tracking contents of each carrier of the plurality of carriers, wherein the contents of each carrier of the plurality of carriers are one of: empty; or one or more prescriptions, each prescription of the one or more prescriptions having an identifier associated therewith. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: obtaining a prescription of the plurality of prescriptions; and associating a label with the prescription, wherein the label comprises the identifier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: preparing at least one prescription of the plurality of prescriptions for shipping at the at least one automated prescription packing system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the method does not comprise hands-on contact of an operator during movement of the plurality of prescriptions from the at least one automated prescription picking system to the at least one automated prescription packing system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the conveyor comprises a monorail. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the conveyor comprises a single loop. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the conveyor comprises a central manifold loop and a plurality of branch loops that extend between the central manifold loop and one of an automated prescription picking system of the at least one automated prescription picking system or an automated prescription packing system of the at least one automated prescription packing system, wherein the carriers are configured to move across the central manifold loop and the plurality of branch loops.