1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to automated pharmaceutical distribution systems and particularly to container transport systems for use in prescription filling systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a container for transporting small objects through tubing from one station to another through a pneumatic transport system.
2. Description of Related Art
In automated prescription filling systems, bottle handling requires transporting the bottles while tracking their exact location and status. In a preferred system, individually labeled prescription bottles move through pneumatic conduit or tubing impelled by low-pressure, high velocity air. Such bottles necessarily engage the inside walls of such conduits, especially when rounding corners, and they abruptly may stop when reaching their destination. Not only can their labels become scuffed from contact with conduit walls, but the labels can shift out of position on the outside bottle walls due to abrupt stopping. A need exists for a specialized bottle adapted for high-speed movement through tubular conduits without causing scuffing or shifting of its labels.
Though prescription filling systems can be largely automated by standardizing prescription containers, labeling, certification, packaging and shipping, many prescription products do not lend themselves to such handling. For example, unlike pharmaceutical pills, some prescription products comprise creams, ointments, salves and liquids, often in irregularly shaped manufacturers' containers, while others comprise syringes, applicators, inhalers, gauges and the like, nonel of which can be handled in standardized pill counters nor move through a pneumatic transport system in their own manufacturer's packaging. A need exists for a container that enables such irregularly shaped objects to be through pneumatic tubing and otherwise as necessary to provide them with the same security and automated handling as for such products as bulk pills and capsules.
In a pneumatic container transport system, specialized cylindrical containers move between processing stations through cylindrical conduits propelled by low-pressure, high-velocity air. Annular ridges around the circumference of the containers minimize contact with the inside conduit walls and deter scuffing of labels which carry machine-readable indicia upon which the container transport system relies for directing the containers. In a preferred embodiment, the containers are bottles having a coaxial mouth closed by threaded caps, the caps preferably also include a transparent window to allow visual and spectroscopy analysis of the bottle contents. In an alternate embodiment, the containers are longitudinally symmetrical clamshells for irregularly shaped objects, the clamshells opening through a longitudinal mouth along one side and sealable with tamper-proof labels. In both embodiments, one end of the container may include a recess adapted to receive a RFID device in lieu of the machine-readable indicia on the labels.
The novel features believed characteristic of the present invention are be set forth in appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use and further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
NOTE: hereinafter, the present invention is discussed in the context of a container transport system dedicated to filling pharmaceutical prescriptions, primarily into prescription bottles for most pill and capsule-like pharmaceuticals, or into clamshell containers for irregular objects. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other types of containers having similar features may be substituted and still considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Referring now to the figures, and particularly to
Pharmaceutical dispensing machines 200, prescription dispensing apparatus 300, prescription verification system 400, sortation conveyor system 500, container 10 and prescription autopackaging system 600 all are the subject matter of related but separate patent applications. This application is for containers adapted to travel through the container transport system 100 to one or more if its various processing stages of system 1000 and which may be used independently for other such systems or purposes.
Turning now to
Disposed between shoulders 14 and bottom 20, annular recess 13 slightly reduces the outside diameter of bottle 10 between upper and lower rings 15 to accommodate label 2. Label 2 bears indicia 9 comprising a bar code or other machine readable encoding adapted to inform prescription filling system 1000 and its various sensors and software (not shown), through use of a dynamically populated database, of the contents and expected location of bottle 10 within prescription filling system 1000. Recess 13 offsets label 2 from the full diameter of bottle 10, leaving only annular rings 15 adjacent bottom 20 and shoulder 14 to contact tubing 101 (
Dispensing stations 300, containing an array of dispenser units 200 each dedicated to a single pharmaceutical P, are capable of counting out exact numbers of pharmaceuticals P into bottles 10. Where a patient's prescription calls for a fixed number of such pharmaceuticals P, bottles 10 are inducted empty into system 1000 at station 110 (
Dispensing stations 300 also can be used to fill bottles 10 to capacity, or to a standard quantity of pharmaceuticals P for bulk inventory and distribution. As seen in
Bottles 10 so filled, certified and bar-coded also are not forwarded immediately to sortation station 500. Instead, a large quantity of bottles 10 pre-filled with a given pharmaceutical P will be certified and bar-coded and then accumulated for inventory. Such inventory is stored at inventory storage station 700 (
Bottles 10 preferably are made from high-impact polypropylene fabricated using an injection molding a process. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that other materials may be suitable for bottles 10 as long as they maintain dimensional stability and remain relatively light in weight so that their mass is comparatively nominal in contrast to the mass of their contents.
For containers 10 described herein with the preferred embodiment, bottles 10 have an outside diameter of two (2″) inches and are approximately four (4″) inches long, including their caps installed onto neck 17 and mated with threads 18. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that bottles 10 could be considerably larger or smaller as required in an alternate embodiment or application.
Turning now to
In similar fashion to bottle 10, clamshell 40 includes top and bottom rings 45 adapted to pass slidably through pneumatic transport tubes 103 with minimal friction. Rings 45 also define patient label space 43, slightly recessed from the outside diameter of rings 45 so that patient labels 2 placed thereon will remain stationary instead of sliding out of place due to contact with tubes 103 or under the impetus of sudden stops, turns and the like while moving through tubes 103.
Also in similar fashion as pre-filled bottles 10, patient labels 2 are not placed onto clamshells 40 when they are filled with product I. Instead, product I is placed within interior 47 and mouth 46 and clamshell 40 closed and locked. Then, two product labels 48 are placed, one on each end 41 and across mouth 46, thereby sealing clamshell 40 to be tamper-evident. Labels 48 also bear product specific bar codes 61 to identify contents I of clamshell 40. Product bar codes 61 later may be scanned to assure that the expected content of clamshell 40 is present when mating clamshell 40 with a specific patient's prescription, as described on patent label 2 bearing prescription bar code 63, is to be applied within label space 43.
One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that bottles 10 also may progress through gate 733 in similar fashion, and without reliance upon shoulders 49. However, whereas bottles 10 must be oriented such that their bottoms 20 enter gate 733 first, as well as being so oriented throughout system 1000 so pharmaceuticals P may be introduced through neck 17, clamshell 40 can be oriented in either direction within tubes 103, at least until patient label 2 is applied.
Also as with pre-filled bottles 10, a large quantity of clamshells 40 will be filled at once with a particular product I and set aside for inventory. Once filled and marked with product bar code 61, clamshells 40 are transported to clamshell storage area 701 (
Though clamshell 40 has been discussed herein above as transportable through tubing 103 as though it moves through areas of system 1000 common to bottle 10, necessarily limiting clamshells 40 to geometric dimensions approximating bottles 10 (e.g inside diameter of tubing 103, and design radii of curved portions of tubing 103). One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that clamshells 40 are not limited to being sized similarly to bottles 10, but may have their own separate system of transport. Clamshells 40 may come in a variety of sizes adapted to contain irregular objects I of a wide range of sizes, concomitantly using tubes 103 of corresponding size. Further, though discussed herein as movable through pneumatic tubing 103, clamshells 40 also could be transported on conveyor belts or other means for moving them within transport system 1000.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred and alternate embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, though containers transport system 1000 has been presented herein in the context of prescription filling for pharmaceuticals, it easily could be adapted to any inventory management system dispensing containers of small objects, such as screws, nuts or other fasteners. Container 10 has been described as a bottle having dimensions appropriate to the preferred embodiment of a pharmaceutical prescription-filling application, but it could be considerably larger or smaller as required, either in similar pharmaceutical prescription filling systems or in other applications.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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61/090900 | Aug 2008 | US | national |
61/112776 | Nov 2008 | US | national |
of which the following is a specification. This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to, a U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/090,900, filed Aug. 22, 2008. This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/112,776, filed Nov. 10, 2008.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US09/54710 | 8/22/2009 | WO | 00 | 2/19/2011 |