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.

The disclosure is directed at an animal supplements and/or medication organizer that includes a tray and a plurality of containers containing the supplements and/or medication. The plurality of containers can be different sizes to hold the supplements and/or medication, either in a solid (powdered or liquid) form. The tray includes a predetermined number of sections for receiving the containers.

A medication container comprises a body portion and a grid coupled to the body portion. The grid and the tray each comprise a corresponding number of wells configured to contain medication. The tray is configured to be inserted into and removed from the body portion, above the grid. The tray may be configured to be connected to and disconnected from the grid, when the tray is inserted into the body portion. The wells of the grid may be configured to be manually loaded with medication by a user and the wells of the tray may be configured to be received by the user loaded with medication in accordance with a medication regimen. The first wells may be integral with the grid and the second wells may be integral with the tray.

A medication adherence system and corresponding medication box for improving medication adherence. The system includes the medication box, which is transparent and has a machine-readable marker, such as a QR code, on or beneath the floor thereof. The marker is capable of being scanned and read through the transparent bottoms of individual chambers. Data embedded in the marker includes, but is not limited to, the user's medication plan, the date and time when the medication is to be ingested, and instructions for recording the date and time when the marker is scanned and read. The underlying software program/application processes this information and provides an indication as to the user's compliance with the medication plan.

A method and a medication organizer tray apparatus for organizing medications and collecting medication adherence information are provided. The medication organizer tray apparatus includes a support frame, multiple medication bins accommodating multiple medications, a bin cover layer with multiple customized bin labels, and a conductive circuit layer. The support frame includes multiple apertures positioned at predefined intervals from each other for placement of the medication bins. The customized bin labels having medical information printed thereon seal openings of the medication bins. The conductive circuit layer includes conductive lines running along one or more of a lower surface of the bin cover layer, around each medication bin, and a lower surface of each medication bin. The conductive circuit layer electrically communicates with a receptacle base to enable detection of removal of each medication bin from the support frame and detection of tampering of the medication bins.

An item storage apparatus includes a first storage to store items, a carrier to take an item from the first storage and convey the item, a first support supporting the carrier to be movable back and forth in a first horizontal direction, a second support supporting the first support to be movable back and forth in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, a vertical moving mechanism supporting the second support to be movable back and forth in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction, and a second storage to store the item. At least one of the first or second storage has a multi-tier structure in which a space for movement of the carrier is between tiers. The first support has a cantilever structure in which one end is secured to the second support and another end is free.

Robotic pill dispensers are described. A robotic pill dispenser may include a main body forming a cavity and comprising an inlet port and an outlet port. The pill dispenser may further include a container assembly disposed in the cavity of the main body. The container assembly may include a container body and a plurality of blades fastened to the container body and dividing the container assembly into a plurality of compartments. The plurality of blades may be movable relative to the container body. The pill dispenser may further comprise a processor configured to control the pill dispenser to align a first compartment of the plurality of compartments to the outlet port, determine whether one or more medications are present in the first compartment, and control the mechanical actuator to shake at least a portion of the pill dispenser.

Disclosed is a medicine dispensing device and a method for dispensing medicine, wherein the medicine dispensing device includes a tray and a drop plate below the tray in a drop direction, wherein the drop plate is slidable relative to the tray between a hold position and a drop position, wherein the medicine dispensing device further includes one or more retaining members for retaining the drop plate relative to the tray in the drop direction when the drop plate is in a dispensing path, wherein the drop plate is slidable in a release direction into a release position outside of the dispensing path, wherein the one or more retaining members are arranged for releasing the drop plate from the tray in the release position.

A modular dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a hub containing electronics and have a plurality of side walls, with each side wall having a first coupling member that faces outward. The apparatus further includes a plurality of cartridges for holding the articles to be dispensed. Each cartridge has an inner wall that includes a second coupling member that is configured to mate with the first coupling member for detachably attaching the cartridge to a respective side wall of the hub. The cartridges are disposed radially beyond the hub such that the plurality of cartridges surround the hub. Each cartridge has an openable lid to provide access to an interior compartment of the cartridge for holding the articles.

A method and system provide for automated counting of prescription product and enables virtual verification of the dispensed prescription product. The method and system include counting a quantity of pills of a prescription product on a first portion of a tray, retaining the quantity of pills after the counting in a second portion of the tray, receiving at least the second portion of the tray into an imaging device, and capturing, with a first camera, an image of the quantity of pills in the second portion of the tray.