Automated prescription filling system/method with automated labeling and packaging system/method automated order consolidation system/method

A system for filling at least one prescription order, comprising:

• a bottle handling station configured to store and dispense at least one bottle containing a number of pills as determined by the at least one prescription order;
• a package handling station configured to store and dispense at least one package containing prepackaged pharmaceutical products;
• and
• an order consolidation station configured to receive the at least one bottle from a first transport system and receive the at least one package containing prepackaged pharmaceuticals from a second transport system;
• at least one identifier detector to detect at least one identification information associated with the at least one bottle, and to detect at least one other identification information associated with the at least one package;
• at least one mechanism to place the at least one bottle and the at least one package into a container;
• and
• a control system that coordinates the first and second transport systems and the at least one mechanism so that the at least one bottle and the at least one package are placed into the container when the at least one identification information associated with the at least one bottle and the at least one other identifier information associated with the at least one package correspond to the at least one prescription order.

A system for filling a plurality of prescription orders, comprising:

• a package handling station configured to store a plurality of packages containing prepackaged pharmaceutical products;
• a literature handling station configured to print and store at least one literature pack relating to one of the plurality of prescription orders and coordinate the at least one literature pack with respect to corresponding prescription orders;
• a computer system configured to monitor the package handling and literature handling stations and cause the package handling station to dispense the plurality of packages in coordination with the dispensing of the plurality of literature packs by the literature handling station;
• at least one identifier detector to detect at least one identification information associated with the plurality of packages and at least another identification information associated with the at least one literature pack;
• at least one mechanism to place the at least one bottle and the at least one package into a container;
• an order consolidation station configured to receive the packages from a first transport system and the literature packs from a second transport system;
• and
• a control system that coordinates the first and second transport systems and the at least one mechanism so that the packages and the literature packs are placed into the container when the at least one identification information and the at least one other identification information correspond to a same prescription order.

A system for filling at least one prescription order, comprising:

• a first transport means for receiving at least one bottle containing a number of pills individually counted as determined by a prescription order;
• a second transport means for receiving at least one package containing prepackaged pharmaceutical products;
• at least one identifier detector to detect at least one identification information associated with the at least one bottle, and to detect at least one other identification information associated with the at least one package;
• at least one mechanism to place the at least one bottle into a container;
• and
• an order consolidation means for receiving the at least one bottle from said first transport means and receiving the at least one package containing prepackaged pharmaceutical products from said second transport means;
• and
• a control system that coordinates the first and second transport means and the at least one mechanism so that the at least one bottle and the at least one package are placed into a container when the at least one identification information and the at least one other identification information correspond to the at least one prescription order.

A system for filling at least one prescription order, comprising:

• a bottle handling means for storing and dispensing at least one bottle containing a number of pills as determined by the at least one prescription order;
• a package handling means for storing and dispensing at least one package containing prepackaged pharmaceutical products;
• at least one identifier detector to detect at least one identification information associated with each of the at least one bottle, and to detect at least one other identification information associated with each of the at least one package:
• an order consolidation means for receiving the at least one bottle from a first transport system and receiving the at least one package from a second transport system;
• and
• at least one mechanism for inserting the at least one bottle and the at least one package into a container when the at least one identification information and the at least one other identification information are detected corresponding to a common prescription order.

A system for filling a plurality of prescription orders, comprising:

• package handling means for storing a plurality of packages having at least one identification information and containing prepackaged pharmaceutical products;
• literature handling means for printing and storing at least one literature pack relating to one of the plurality of prescription orders and coordinating the at least one literature pack with respect to corresponding prescription orders, the at least one literature pack having another identification information associated therewith;
• a computer system configured to monitor the package handling and literature handling means and control the package handling means to dispense the plurality of packages in coordination with the dispensing of the at least one literature pack by the literature handling means;
• and
• order consolidation means for receiving at least one prepackaged pharmaceutical product from a first transport system and at least one literature pack from a second transport system, said order consolidation means comprising a control system that enables at least one mechanism to place the at least one prepackaged pharmaceutical product having identification information corresponding to a particular prescription order and the at least one literature pack having another identification information corresponding to the same particular prescription order into at least one container corresponding to the same prescription order.

A system for filling a plurality of prescription orders, comprising:

• a belt mechanism including a plurality of locations each of which is capable of carrying a pack of printed material corresponding with a prescription order;
• a bottle storage table including a plurality of tubes to store at least one bottle belonging to the prescription order;
• a first conveyor located to receive the at least one bottle from the bottle storage table and move the at least one bottle;
• means for receiving and holding the at least one bottle prior to placing the bottle into a container;
• a plurality of shelf locations, wherein each shelf location contains at least one package;
• a first robot mechanism having an end effector to obtain the at least one package and a means to release the at least one package;
• a second conveyor having a moving surface to move the at least one package received from the first robot mechanism;
• a second robot mechanism having an end effector to pick up the at least one package;
• a packager to open and hold the container;
• and
• a control system configured to coordinate the activities of:
• a) the belt mechanism to convey at least one pack of printed material and discharge the at least one pack into the container, b) the means for receiving and holding to obtain and dispose the at least one bottle into the container, and c) the second robot mechanism to obtain and dispose the at least one package into the container.

A system for filling at least one prescription order, comprising at least one order consolidation station configured to:

• receive from a first transport system at least one literature pack comprising patient specific information associated with a prescription order;
• receive from a second transport system at least one package containing prepackaged pharmaceutical products associated with the prescription order;
• detect at least one identification information associated with each of the at least one literature pack, and to detect at least another identification information associated with each of the at least one package;
• place the at least one package into a container;
• and
• coordinate the first and second transport systems and the at least one mechanism so that the at least one literature pack and the at least one package are placed in a container when the at least one identification information associated with the at least one literature pack and the at least another identification information associated with the at least one package correspond to the at least one prescription order, to thereby fill the at least one prescription order.