Enhanced drug dispensing system

Abstract

In an automated prescription pill dispensing system, a multiplicity of pill dispensers are provided each operable to count out and dispense pills from supply hoppers. The dispensers are controlled by a computer which selects up to five of the dispensers to operate and control the selected pill dispensers to count out pills simultaneously. The pill dispensers dispense the pills into the first set of output hoppers, from which the pills can be released into a second output hopper under the control of the computer. The computer will release the pills from the second output hopper corresponding to a selected pill dispenser through a snout into a pill vial in response to sensing the presence of a pill vial at the snout. The computer controls a prescription label printer to print prescription labels for the pill vials. The computer also controls indicator lights to indicate which dispensing cell is selected and ready to have pills released from the second output hopper corresponding thereto. Automatically controlled security doors control access to supply hoppers for each of the pill dispensers.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 08 / 250,435, filed May 27, 1994, now abandoned.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a system for dispensing articles and, more particularly, to a system for dispensing different drugs in the form of pills, capsules, etc. with high speed and with the assurance that the right amount of drug is dispensed into the proper container associated with a particular drug prescription.[0003]Devices are known for precisely counting and dispensing drugs, such as the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,332. It is known to use a plurality of such counting and dispensing devices, each associated with one drug, to fill large numbers of prescriptions. However, the need for filling large numbers of prescriptions at high speed has exceeded the capacity of mere banks of such devices. It has been found that the article counting and dispensing devices require too frequent filling with the drugs to b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The backfill replenishment system provides a much larger volume of pill storage for the known counting and dispensing devices. It provides access and security for replenishing the drugs in the counting and dispensing devices from the backside of a cabinet in which the devices are positioned. It provides replenishment of the drugs to the counting and the dispensing devices without the need for opening the front of the cabinet and moving the counting and dispensing devices to a projecting position. The backfill replenishment is accomplished by a panel provided for the counting and dispensing devices at the rear of the cabinet and a hopper for feeding each of the counting and dispensing devices. The hoppers replenish the drugs to the counting and dispensing devices on an as-needed basis. A sensor in the hopper indicates to the control system when replenishment is required.

Problems solved by technology

However, the need for filling large numbers of prescriptions at high speed has exceeded the capacity of mere banks of such devices.

It has been found that the article counting and dispensing devices require too frequent filling with the drugs to be dispensed and that the time for dispensing the drugs to fill a prescription is too slow.

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