Refrigerated Pharmaceutical Container Repository for Automated Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-volume pharmacies face challenges in efficiently processing and storing refrigerated pharmaceutical containers, particularly in maintaining temperature control and ensuring smooth dispensing and packaging of unit-of-use products.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerated container repository with a cabinet, container holder, and transporter system that maintains refrigeration and efficiently dispenses and transports pharmaceutical containers, using a conveyor system and adjustable dividers to accommodate various container sizes and shapes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated systems are used to process pharmaceutical containers, then productivity is improved, but temperature control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder processing speedVSAvoidrefrigeration maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the container repository into multiple temperature zones (refrigerated and non-refrigerated sections) to handle different pharmaceutical storage requirements simultaneously, allowing automated processing without compromising temperature control for specific container types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If unit-of-use containers are processed, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer dispensing accuracyVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container holder includes adjustable dividers that can be dynamically reconfigured to accommodate different container sizes and shapes, providing precise dispensing capability while maintaining system flexibility and reducing overall complexity through adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The container holder is designed as a multi-functional device that can accommodate various container types (different sizes, shapes, and configurations) through adjustable dividers, eliminating the need for multiple specialized holders and reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If container stacks are used for storage, then quantity of substance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer storage capacityVSAvoidcontainer dispensing

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container dispenser automatically removes and dispenses containers from the stack without manual intervention, allowing high-density stack storage while maintaining ease of operation through automated container retrieval mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250263251A1Refrigerated pharmaceutical order processing systems

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 EXPRESS SCRIPTS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT INC

AI summary

A container repository for containers includes a cabinet having an interior. A container holder is disposed in the interior of the cabinet. The container holder includes a container receiver and a container dispenser. The container receiver has a container interior sized and shaped to receive and hold the containers as a stack of containers. The container dispenser is arranged to remove a bottom-most container of the stack of containers from the stack of containers. A container transporter is at least partially disposed in the interior of the cabinet. The container transporter transports the containers after the containers are removed from the stack of containers.