Prescription order packaging system and method

Abstract

A system for automatically packaging prescription orders composed of one or more prescription containers. The system includes a printer for generating literature associated with each order and a packer for packing the prescription containers and the associated literature into a package. The packer has a scale or other means for determining the weight of the prescription containers. A packer controller calculates package weight information based on the container weight information. The package weight information is transmitted to a mail manifest system, which generates shipping information comprising postage. A labeler applies the shipping information to the package. The packer also includes a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention generally relates to automated systems for dispensing and delivering prescriptions. More specifically, this invention is directed to an automatic prescription order packaging system. The system is preferably used with an automatic prescription dispensing system to automatically package prescription bottles filled by the dispensing system along with other items associated with the prescription order. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Various systems have been developed to automatically fill large quantities of prescription bottles for use primarily in mail order pharmacies. For example, Chariut U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,762 describes an automated prescription bottle filling system The system described in Charhut automatically fills, labels, caps, and sorts prescription bottles in accordance with prescription orders. Such automatic prescription dispensing systems can significantly reduce the time and expense required to fill a prescription, and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an integrated system and method for automatically generating literature, packaging, and preparing prescription orders for mailing. The system includes a printer subsystem that can print literature associated with each order, a packer system that can receive the prescription containers and literature, determine the weight of each, and calculate the package weight based on the weight of the containers and literature. The system can also include a host computer that can communicate with the packer controller and printer subsystem, and a code reader that can read the machine-readable code on the prescription containers. The system can also include a sorter for sorting the prescription containers into an order. The method involves printing the literature, packaging the prescription containers and literature, and applying shipping information to the package. The technical effects of the invention include improved efficiency and accuracy in generating and packaging prescription orders."

Problems solved by technology

However, a significant limitation of such automatic prescription dispensing Systems is that a number of additional steps are typically required to prepare the filled prescription orders for shipping.

These manual operations detract from the efficiency and accuracy achieved by the automated prescription filling process.

For a high-volume mail order pharmacy, such manual steps increase labor costs and reduce the speed at which prescription orders are processed.

Manual operations can also increase the opportunity for human error, which can result in improper packaging, labeling or shipping of the prescription order.

However, that system fails to completely overcome the problems inherent in manual packaging operations.

For example, a significant shortcoming of the automated packaging system described in Lasher is that the packages do not leave the system ready for mailing.

This additional processing not only results in inefficiency, but also introduces opportunity for human error.

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