Embodiments of an apparatus, system and method for facilitating the tracking of consumable pharmaceutical articles are disclosed. A marking apparatus is configured to apply unique indelible identifiers to pharmaceutical articles at the point-of-sale. The indelible identifiers on the articles are visually or electronically readable to allow each respective article to be traced with respect to its manufacturer, prescribing physician, patient to whom it was prescribed, dispensing location, expiration date, dosage, or some combination thereof. An associated system and method may involve the provision of a remote database element configured to be in network communication between the marking apparatus, manufacturer, distributor, prescriber, dispensing location, scanning tool, or some combination thereof. The indelible identifier may initially be generated by the apparatus and then obtained and recorded by the remote database element. Alternative, the indelible identifier may initially be generated and recorded by the remote database element, then provided to the marking apparatus.

A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods, in particular drugs or dietary supplement products, is provided. The storage container includes a housing with an on the inside circular cylindrical section, a separating device arranged in the on the inside circular cylindrical section including a base body and multiple channels, the channels being open to the outer periphery of the separating device and each channel having a peripheral wall and two radial walls, and a retainer. At least one radial wall and/or the peripheral wall includes a depression and/or an elevation to reduce a contact area between a small piece good and the channel wall, the shape and size of the depression/elevation being selected in such a way that an electrostatic attraction between the small piece good and the channel wall is reduced.

Drug packets may be dispensed as a belt of drug packets. Machine-readable identifiers in the belt may be automatically read to identify drug packets and associate the drug packets with the received orders. The drug packets may be automatically inspected to confirm contents of the drug packets against the received orders. The belt may be automatically separated into segments of drug packets. Each of the segments may correspond to a supply period and each of the drug packets within each of the segments may correspond to a drug dose event for the multi-drug regimen within the supply period. The segments of the belt may be automatically accumulated into belt rolls such that, for each of the belt rolls, a first segment end is on an interior of the belt roll and a second segment end is on an exterior of the belt roll.

A method may include filling an order of a plurality of orders with a dosing filler system. The method may include receiving pharmaceutical orders including order for drugs used in multi-drug regimens using an order processing device. Each of the multi-drug regimen may have a plurality of scheduled dosing events. The method may include transporting containers to a dosing device, using the dosing device to dispense drugs for scheduled dosing events into the containers based on the received pharmaceutical orders, transporting the containers with the dispensed drugs to the container sealing device, using the container sealing device to seal the plurality of the containers with the dispensed drugs, transporting the dosage unit containers to the container identifier assembly, and using the container identifier assembly to identify the dosage unit containers based on the received pharmaceutical order.

An apparatus that conveys pellet-shaped articles may include a hopper that receives a quantity of the pellet-shaped articles. The hopper may include one or more openings to direct a flow of air into the hopper to dislodge jamming or bridging of pellet-shaped articles within the hopper.

A method, a computer program product and a dispensing device for dispensing discrete medicaments, wherein the dispensing device comprises a dispensing section, a collection section and a packaging section, wherein the dispensing section defines an array of feeder positions for holding a plurality of feeder units, wherein the collection section comprises a first collection unit that is movable in a collection direction, wherein the method comprises the steps of: positioning a first feeder unit at a first feeder position; and prior to removing the first feeder unit from the first feeder position, positioning a second feeder unit at a second feeder position, downstream from the first feeder position in the collection direction, wherein the first feeder unit and the second feeder unit hold medicaments of the same first composition.

Drug packets may be dispensed as a belt of drug packets. Machine-readable identifiers in the belt may be automatically read to identify drug packets and associate the drug packets with the received orders. The drug packets may be automatically inspected to confirm contents of the drug packets against the received orders. The belt may be automatically separated into segments of drug packets. Each of the segments may correspond to a supply period and each of the drug packets within each of the segments may correspond to a drug dose event for the multi-drug regimen within the supply period. The segments of the belt may be automatically accumulated into belt rolls such that, for each of the belt rolls, a first segment end is on an interior of the belt roll and a second segment end is on an exterior of the belt roll.

The cleaner assembly is configured for cleaning an automated dispensing device is described herein. The cleaner assembly includes a pallet; a plurality of side walls enclosing an inner chamber; a blower configured to propel contaminants into said inner chamber; and at least one roller operably supported by and projecting above at least one of said side walls, said at least one roller being configured to scrape contaminants off of a base plate of the automated dispensing device and towards said blower.

A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods, in particular drugs or dietary supplement products, is provided. The storage container includes a housing with an on the inside circular cylindrical section, a separating device arranged in the on the inside circular cylindrical section including a base body and multiple channels, the channels being open to the outer periphery of the separating device and each channel having a peripheral wall and two radial walls, and a retainer. At least one radial wall and/or the peripheral wall includes a depression and/or an elevation to reduce a contact area between a small piece good and the channel wall, the shape and size of the depression/elevation being selected in such a way that an electrostatic attraction between the small piece good and the channel wall is reduced. Methods of dispensing from a storage container are also provided.

A system for transporting and depositing of piece goods, in particular detergent pods, comprising at least one transport conveyor with a transporting surface, for transporting of piece goods in a transport direction with a transport speed from a receiving location to a downstream located deposit station, said deposit station, for the receiving of the piece goods, provided with at least one area for receiving the piece goods, which area at least partly locates under the transport surface of the transport conveyor and extends under a receiving length in the transport direction of the transport conveyor, wherein a deposit location, where the transport conveyor deposits the piece goods in the area in the deposit station, is adjustable over the receiving length, a detector, for outputting a signal that indicates if at a certain moment piece goods can be deposited in the deposit station, wherein a controller for determining the deposit location depending on the detection signal, wherein the controller moves the deposit location upstream or remains at the same position when the detection signal indicates that piece goods can be received and wherein the controller moves the deposit location downstream when the detection signal indicates that piece goods cannot be received and wherein the at least one transport conveyor is provided with a fast-retracting nose bar, for setting the deposit location over the receiving length; and wherein the deposit station comprises a guide, in the shape of a funnel, which forms a through channel that has a receiving opening on one side which opening extends over at least the receiving length.