METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING PACKAGES IN AN AUTOMATED DISPENSARY

• Main Authors: PANETTA, RICHARD, SUMA, PETER, WAUGH, DONALD, PAULS, LEIGH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 29.07.2015
• Subjects: BABY COMFORTERS; CALCULATING; COFFEE MILLS; COMPUTING; CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICALPURPOSES; CONVEYING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGINGPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL ORADMINISTERING FORMS; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; FURNITURE; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES; MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGINGARTICLES OR MATERIALS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PACKING; PAYING COUNTERS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS,STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; SPICE MILLS; STORING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSPORTING; UNPACKING

A vending machine. In a method and apparatus for handling a package in an automated dispensary, a package is positioned in an inspection station of the dispensary. Images are captured of the package and are read to identify data on labels or on the package itself. The data is encoded as source data in an identifying label which is applied to the package and is used subsequently in handling the package for dispensing and other inventory management procedures.