Systems and methods for sorting
AssigneeExpress Scripts, Inc.
InventorsJonathan W. Joplin, Steve Hanlon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and systems for sorting are described. In one embodiment, a container is released into a pocket section, with the pocket section being at a first alignment stage. The pocket section is rotated with the container away from the first alignment stage to a second alignment stage. Attributes of the container are acquired at the second alignment stage. An order to which the container belongs is identified with the acquired attributes. The pocket section with the container is rotated to a third alignment stage. The location of the third alignment stage is selected based on the identified order. The container is received to group with one or more containers in the identified order. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
Claims17
A method comprising:
- releasing a prescription container into a pocket section of a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly having an inner guide member rotatable about a center axis, the inner guide member including a plurality of pocket sections about its circumference, the pocket section being at a first alignment stage of rotation of the wheel assembly;
- rotating the wheel assembly such that the pocket section with the prescription container is rotated away from the first alignment stage to a second alignment stage of rotation of the wheel assembly;
- acquiring an attribute of the prescription container at the second alignment stage;
- identifying a prescription drug order to which the prescription container belongs based on the acquired attribute;
- rotating the wheel assembly such that the pocket section with the prescription container is rotated to a third alignment stage of rotation of the wheel assembly, a location of the third alignment stage being selected based on identification of the prescription drug order;
- and
- receiving the prescription container to group with an additional prescription container in the prescription drug order.
A method comprising:
- releasing a container into a pocket section, the pocket section being at a first alignment stage;
- rotating the pocket section with the container away from the first alignment stage to a second alignment stage;
- acquiring an attribute of the container at the second alignment stage;
- identifying the pocket section and registering the pocket section as having the container therein based on the acquired attribute;
- comparing an expected state of the pocket section with a state of the pocket section having the container;
- flagging for a suspected error based on an inconsistency with the expected state and the state of the pocket section;
- rotating the pocket section with the container to a third alignment stage, a location of the third alignment stage being selected based on the inconsistency;
- and
- receiving the container to group with an additional container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.