An automated tracking system for a pharmacy that tracks unique identifiers (UI) with a stock supply of an item or items within a supply container and that provides a security system for determining a discrepancy associated with the stock supply. The UI information automatically travels with the stock supply until it is dispensed to a customer or patient, thereby allowing the system to monitor and track supply for replenishment of the supply or improper or potentially fraudulent transactions. If desired, the improved security allows supply containers and individual supplies within those containers to be stored in the same storage area thereby maximizing available storage space while still improving dispensing and filling accuracy and minimizing loss.

Control of a load wrapping apparatus may be based at least in part on the relative stability of a load, such as based upon one or more load stability types that categorize the relative stability of the load. A graphical depiction of a wrap profile may also be used in some instances to facilitate operator set up of the wrap profile.

Control of a load wrapping apparatus may be based at least in part on the relative stability of a load, such as based upon one or more load stability types that categorize the relative stability of the load. A graphical depiction of a wrap profile may also be used in some instances to facilitate operator set up of the wrap profile.

A wrapping apparatus and A wrapping method are provide to wrap an object in a chamber into a web of wrapping material. The web is moved from a reservoir outside of the chamber. A tag applicator applies a tag on the web in an application position which is between a wrapping material reservoir and a wrapping material inlet. A tag reader monitors whether or not a tag is conveyed in the chamber along the tag reader. If no tag is detected, an alert is generated that the object is not properly wrapped.

A wrapping apparatus and A wrapping method are provide to wrap an object in a chamber into a web of wrapping material. The web is moved from a reservoir outside of the chamber. A tag applicator applies a tag on the web in an application position which is between a wrapping material reservoir and a wrapping material inlet. A tag reader monitors whether or not a tag is conveyed in the chamber along the tag reader. If no tag is detected, an alert is generated that the object is not properly wrapped.

A blister packing device and a blister pack packing method are provided. The blister packing device includes a frame, a main hopper attached to the frame and configured to receive tablets, a rotation module located below the main hopper and including a plurality of cells and configured to sequentially receive the tables in the plurality of cells and convey the plurality of cells containing the tablets to a discharge region, and a buffer including a plurality of areas physically divided and configured to receive the tablets in the plurality of areas corresponding to a plurality of cells located in the discharge region and discharge the tablets to a blister pack.

A blister packing device and a blister pack packing method are provided. The blister packing device includes a frame, a main hopper attached to the frame and configured to receive tablets, a rotation module located below the main hopper and including a plurality of cells and configured to sequentially receive the tables in the plurality of cells and convey the plurality of cells containing the tablets to a discharge region, and a buffer including a plurality of areas physically divided and configured to receive the tablets in the plurality of areas corresponding to a plurality of cells located in the discharge region and discharge the tablets to a blister pack.

A bag-making and packaging apparatus creates one product per cycle by packaging articles in a bag made from a film. The bag-making and packaging apparatus includes a longitudinal sealing mechanism, a guide, an article sensor, a transverse sealing mechanism, a cutting mechanism, and a prediction unit. The guide guides the articles which fall from above into a film tube. The transverse sealing mechanism forms a transversely sealed part in the film tube with each cycle. The cutting mechanism cuts the film tube in the transversely sealed part with each cycle. The prediction unit predicts whether or not jamming of the articles could occur in the transverse sealing mechanism on the basis of an output of the article sensor with each cycle. When the prediction unit has predicted that the jamming could occur in a certain cycle, the cutting mechanism does not cut the film tube in the certain cycle.

A bag-making and packaging apparatus creates one product per cycle by packaging articles in a bag made from a film. The bag-making and packaging apparatus includes a longitudinal sealing mechanism, a guide, an article sensor, a transverse sealing mechanism, a cutting mechanism, and a prediction unit. The guide guides the articles which fall from above into a film tube. The transverse sealing mechanism forms a transversely sealed part in the film tube with each cycle. The cutting mechanism cuts the film tube in the transversely sealed part with each cycle. The prediction unit predicts whether or not jamming of the articles could occur in the transverse sealing mechanism on the basis of an output of the article sensor with each cycle. When the prediction unit has predicted that the jamming could occur in a certain cycle, the cutting mechanism does not cut the film tube in the certain cycle.

Item-management systems, apparatus, and methods are described, preferably for management of items such as medicaments. In embodiments, an item-management system comprises a container defining plural cells, a docking station configured to receive the container, sources of visible information to indicate the cell(s) into which an item is to be loaded, and at least one controller operable to control the visible information sources to indicate the cell into which the item is to be received.