A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.

A drug packaging unit is disclosed. The drug packaging unit includes a storage portion separately discharging a plurality of units of a drug, a supply portion supplying the drug to a drug packaging member, a detection portion detecting a drug supply error by detecting the drug passing through the supply portion, an adjustment portion adjusting the number of units of drug discharged out of the supply portion, and a driver/controller individually driving the storage portion and the supply portion, thereby putting the drug on standby to be discharged. With this structure, it is possible to reduce a drug packaging time and it is easy to control drug supply.

A drug packaging unit is disclosed. The drug packaging unit includes a storage portion separately discharging a plurality of units of a drug, a supply portion supplying the drug to a drug packaging member, a detection portion detecting a drug supply error by detecting the drug passing through the supply portion, an adjustment portion adjusting the number of units of drug discharged out of the supply portion, and a driver/controller individually driving the storage portion and the supply portion, thereby putting the drug on standby to be discharged. With this structure, it is possible to reduce a drug packaging time and it is easy to control drug supply.

The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging sanitary articles such as absorbent articles, like diapers, sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads or similar, wherein by means of at least one diverter (10) batches (A, B, C, D) of articles (5) are alternately directed towards M packaging arrangements (11, 12), each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article (5), and wherein the diverter (10) alternately directs batches (A, B, C, D) of articles (5) towards the packaging arrangements (11, 12) in a repeated series of MN batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches(A, B) of one series of MN batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement (11) differ in count.

The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging sanitary articles such as absorbent articles, like diapers, sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads or similar, wherein by means of at least one diverter (10) batches (A, B, C, D) of articles (5) are alternately directed towards M packaging arrangements (11, 12), each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article (5), and wherein the diverter (10) alternately directs batches (A, B, C, D) of articles (5) towards the packaging arrangements (11, 12) in a repeated series of MN batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches(A, B) of one series of MN batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement (11) differ in count.

A pouch and an automatic packager for packaging medications into the pouch. One embodiment provides a pouch for containing a plurality of medications. The pouch includes a plurality of discrete compartments, each containing a sub-batch of medications. The pouch also includes serrations at opposite ends of the pouch to separate the pouch from adjacent pouches. The pouch further includes a continuous identifier that spans multiple compartments to give an appearance of one continuous pouch. The plurality of discrete compartments are separated by seals, but not serrations. The continuous identifier includes a border within the opposite ends of the pouch.

A pouch and an automatic packager for packaging medications into the pouch. One embodiment provides a pouch for containing a plurality of medications. The pouch includes a plurality of discrete compartments, each containing a sub-batch of medications. The pouch also includes serrations at opposite ends of the pouch to separate the pouch from adjacent pouches. The pouch further includes a continuous identifier that spans multiple compartments to give an appearance of one continuous pouch. The plurality of discrete compartments are separated by seals, but not serrations. The continuous identifier includes a border within the opposite ends of the pouch.

Processing raw data stored in an historian device for determining an amount of products passed through a process element in a process control environment is described. A count value is incremented by a counter at a rate at which products pass through the process element. The count value rolls over to zero when the count value reaches a rollover value R. An historian device periodically receives count value data points from the counter. A deadband value D is set in the historian device for distinguishing between rollovers, resets, and reversals. A client device queries the historian device for an amount of products passed through the process element for a timeframe. The historian device selects a set of count value data points from within the queried timeframe. The historian device determines, based on the selected data points and their quality, an amount of products passed through the process element.