US 2022/0100978 A1 · IMAGING SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING MEDICATION CONTAINERS

Abstract

The imaging system includes a rotating element that is configured to rotate about a central axis. A plurality of scanners are fixedly attached with the rotating element. Each scanner has a lens that faces generally towards the central axis, and the scanners are spaced apart from one another around the central axis. The scanners are configured to identify an optically readable machine readable code contained on the medication container. An actuator is operably connected with the rotating element and is configured to rotate the rotating element and the scanners around the central axis from respective e first positions to respective second positions to allow the scanners to image different areas of the medication container in response to a failure of the scanners to identify the machine readable code when the scanners were in the respective first positions.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An imaging system for identifying a container, comprising:

a first scanner positioned outwardly of a central axis;
a second scanner positioned outwardly of the central axis and spaced from the first scanner;
a third scanner positioned outwardly of the central axis and spaced from the first scanner and the second scanner;
said first scanner, said second scanner and said third scanner each being positioned at a first position, respectively, and being configured to identify an optically readable machine readable code contained on a container positioned inwardly of said first scanner, said second scanner and said third scanner;
and
an actuator operably connected with at least one of said first scanner, said second scanner and said third scanner to move said at least one of said first scanner, said second scanner and said third scanner from the first position to a second position to image a different area of the medication container in response to a failure of at least one of said first scanner, said second scanner and said third scanner to identify the machine readable code when said at least one of said first scanner, said second scanner and said third scanner were in said respective first positions.

3 more elements

A container handling and verification system, comprising:

a container area for storing at least two different types of medication containers, the medication containers having a machine readable code;
a pick and place mechanism configured to engage a first medication container and deliver the first medication container to a location along a central axis of an imaging system;
said imaging system including a plurality of imaging devices which face towards said central axis, and said imaging system including an actuator which is configured to rotate at least one of the plurality of imaging devices about said central axis;
said imaging devices being configured to perform a first scan on the label of the first medication container with said imaging devices for said machine readable code at a first location;
and
in response to said imaging devices not detecting said machine readable code on said label of said first medication container, said image processing system being configured to activate said actuator to rotate said at least one of the plurality of imaging devices about said central axis and perform a second scan on said label of said first medication container at a second location different than the first location.

3 more elements

A method of verifying contents of a medication container which has an optically readable machine readable code, comprising:

holding the medication container in a stationary position such that a first imaging device, a second image device and a third imaging device are facing the medication container;
conducting a first visual scan of the medication container with the first imaging device, the second image device and the third imaging device for the machine readable code;
and
in response to at least one of the first imaging device, the second image device and the third imaging device not detecting the machine readable code, moving at least one of the first imaging device, the second image device and the third imaging device around the medication container and then conducting a second visual scan of the medication container with the first imaging device, the second image device and the third imaging device for the machine readable code with at least one of the first imaging device, the second image device and the third imaging device being at a different angle.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Imaging system for identifying medication containers

Life of this patent

Imaging system for identifying medication containers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19