# US 8,539,742 B2 · Method for emptying pharmaceutical container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,742 B2 - Document ID: US8539742B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/401,451 - Filed: 2012-02-21 - Published: 2013-01-03 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2002-08-07 - Assignees: Medco Health Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: James G. McErlean; E. Christian Hess; Chih-Jen Leu; Mark A. Detri - Inventors: James G. McErlean; E. Christian Hess; Chih-Jen Leu; Mark A. Detri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539742B2 ## CPC - B65C 9/0015: {Preparing the labels or articles, e.g. smoothing, removing air bubbles} - B65B 5/103: {for packaging pills or tablets} - B65B 61/20: for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents (adding unpacking elements B65B61/18) - B65C 9/22: by wetting, e.g. by applying liquid glue or a liquid to a dry glue coating - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G06Q 10/08741: {by picking of items from inventory for fulfillment} - G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers - G16H 70/40: relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage - B65C 2009/0018: {Preparing the labels} - G06Q 10/08778: {for managing mis-shipments, lost items or stolen goods} - G06Q 40/08: Insurance - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - Y10T 156/1002: with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina - Y10T 156/1028: by bending, drawing or stretch forming sheet to assume shape of configured lamina while in contact therewith - Y10T 156/1033: Flexible sheet to cylinder lamina - Y10T 156/1051: by folding - Y10T 156/1326: Severing means or member secured thereto also bonds - Y10T 156/1339: Delivering cut part in sequence to serially conveyed articles - Y10T 156/1768: Means simultaneously conveying plural articles from a single source and serially presenting them to an assembly station - Y10T 156/1771: Turret or rotary drum-type conveyor - Y10T 156/1773: For flexible sheets - B65C: LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; applying labels for packaging purposes B65B; labels, name-plates G09F ){(series-printing machines B41L; containers for the storage or transport of packages B65D)} - 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) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An automated system and method for emptying the contents of pharmaceutical containers. In an embodiment, a gripper unit receives and holds a pharmaceutical container. A cutter cuts the pharmaceutical container, and a rotating unit, operable with the gripper, rotates at least a portion of the gripper unit to empty the contents of the pharmaceutical container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: holding a pharmaceutical container with a gripper unit; determining an orientation of the pharmaceutical container; orientating the pharmaceutical container responsive to the determined orientation, wherein the cutting of the pharmaceutical container is performed in response to orientation of the pharmaceutical container; cutting the pharmaceutical container with a cutter; and rotating the pharmaceutical container with a rotating unit operable with the gripper unit to empty contents of the pharmaceutical container into a bulk container after the pharmaceutical container is cut. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: rotating the pharmaceutical container to a first position to receive a cut portion of the pharmaceutical container, and rotating to a second position to place the cut portion in a waste repository. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: utilizing a vacuum to retain the cut portion of the pharmaceutical container when the rotating unit is in the first position, and decreasing the vacuum when the rotating unit is in the second position to effect release of the cut portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a portion of the pharmaceutical container subsequent to emptying the contents of the pharmaceutical container using a scrap chute. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: moving to a proximal position with respect to the gripper unit to receive a portion of the pharmaceutical container held by the gripper unit subsequent to emptying the contents of the pharmaceutical container when the scrap chute is in a distal position with respect to the gripper unit prior to emptying the contents of the pharmaceutical container, and returning the scrap chute to the distal position to place the portion of the pharmaceutical container held by the gripper unit in a scrap bin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining when the contents are no longer being emptied directly from the pharmaceutical container using a sensor unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: detecting when the pharmaceutical container is no longer being held by said gripper unit using a detection system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: detecting when the pharmaceutical container is being held by the gripper unit when light from a light beam source is not reflected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining whether pharmaceuticals are authorized by a control unit when indicia associated with the pharmaceutical container is read by an indicia reader. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving identification information of a system operator by a control unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: verifying that the pharmaceutical container is the correct diameter, has the correct overhead shape, or both is the correct diameter and has the correct overhead shape using a vision unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: placing the pharmaceutical container in the gripper unit, and removing cotton with at least a cutting operation, a robot vacuum, or both a cutting operation and a robot vacuum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: verifying that the contents emptied directly from the pharmaceutical container using a light beam unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: viewing the pharmaceutical container using an electronic viewer before holding and cutting the pharmaceutical container for providing positioning information of the pharmaceutical container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a vacuum flow in the area of the cutter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transporting the pharmaceutical container; determining information provided on the pharmaceutical container to identify the pharmaceuticals contained therein; and determining whether the pharmaceuticals are authorized to be emptied from the pharmaceutical container into a bulk container responsive to the determined information, wherein the pharmaceutical container is held with the gripper unit when a determination is made that the pharmaceuticals are authorized to be emptied. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein cutting pharmaceutical container comprises: cutting the pharmaceutical container on a sidewall of the of the pharmaceutical container, a bottom of the pharmaceutical container, or both the sidewall and the bottom of the pharmaceutical container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining when the contents of the pharmaceutical container are no longer being emptied into the bulk container; controlling cutting and rotating of the pharmaceutical container to empty the contents into the bulk container; and periodically emptying bulk container contents of the bulk container into an automated pharmaceutical dispensing system for subsequent automated dispensing of the pharmaceutical in into an additional pharmaceutical container responsive to a patient specific prescription order. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: holding a pharmaceutical container with a gripper unit; transporting the pharmaceutical container; determining information provided on the pharmaceutical container to identify pharmaceuticals contained within the pharmaceutical container; and determining whether the pharmaceuticals are authorized to be emptied from the pharmaceutical container into a bulk container responsive to the determined information, wherein the pharmaceutical container is held with the gripper unit when a determination is made that the pharmaceuticals are authorized to be emptied; cutting the pharmaceutical container with a cutter; and rotating the pharmaceutical container with a rotating unit operable with the gripper unit to empty contents of the pharmaceutical container into a bulk container after the pharmaceutical container is cut.