An automatic picking machine for pharmaceutical drug packages includes at least one storage rack, at least one storage and retrieval machine, a control apparatus for controlling the storage and retrieval machine, and a filling apparatus for successively filling each of a plurality of transport containers with a group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order, wherein the filling apparatus includes a plurality of collection containers, first transport apparatuses, each having a transport channel for conveying the pharmaceutical drug packages towards the respective collection container, and a receiving apparatus for receiving a transport container to be filled at a filling location of the filing apparatus.

A method for dispensing discrete medicaments with a dispensing device includes the steps of predicting a depletion time in the future when the medicaments in the container of a first feeder unit of the plurality of feeder units will be depleted or are past their expiry date; providing a notification ahead of said depletion time that a second feeder unit holding medicaments with the same composition as the first feeder unit needs to be presented to the dispensing device, together with a due time for presenting said second feeder unit to the dispensing device; and continuing the dispensing of the medicaments from the first feeder unit at least until the due time.

A method for dispensing discrete medicaments with a first feeder unit includes the steps of determining a remaining value indicative of the amount of the medicaments remaining in the container; comparing said remaining value to a threshold value; making a selection between a complete empty detection mode when said remaining value is above the threshold value and a shortened empty detection mode when the remaining value is below the threshold value; and executing the selected one of the complete empty detection mode and the shortened empty detection mode when no medicament is fed from the container towards the outlet after controlling the dispensing mechanism to feed a medicament from the container into the outlet.

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.

The invention discloses a vertical storage and distribution device. The vertical storage and distribution device comprises a vertical storage channel used for storing articles, wherein the vertical storage channel is provided with a vertical storage trough composed of at least two side plates; the articles can be sequentially stacked in the vertical storage trough from bottom to top; an outlet is formed in the bottom end of the vertical storage trough, and the articles which are sequentially stacked in the vertical storage trough can be sequentially distributed from the outlet from bottom to top. The technical scheme is different from other existing transversely-placed article distribution devices in that the vertical structure is adopted so that the gravity of the articles can be completely utilized, and the articles can be distributed without being pushed by a mechanism similar to a spiral spring driving trolley; furthermore, by adoption of the vertical structure, the space is saved to the maximum extent, the device is made small, the articles can be distributed rapidly, and the distribution speed is high.

A double rotation type drug feeder having an easily cleanable, simple structure is provided. The drug feeder includes a rotatable annular first rotator 20 that has a mount surface 23 on which drugs are placed and that is rotatable about a first rotation axis, a second rotator 30 that is disposed at a fixed position on an inner side of the first rotator 20 while being rotatable about a second rotation axis, inclined with respect to the first rotation axis, the second rotator 30 transporting the drugs onto the mount surface 23, restricting members 71 and 72 that align the drugs disposed on the mount surface 23, and multiple support members 40 that support the first rotator 20 and the second rotator 30 mounted thereon from below the first rotator 20 and the second rotator 30. The multiple support members 40 include a driving member 55 that drives the first rotator 20 and the second rotator 30 to rotate.

A dispensing apparatus for dispensing articles includes a housing and a drive system. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles, a dispensing outlet, and a dispensing path between the hopper chamber and the dispensing outlet. The drive system includes a belt and a belt actuator operable to drive the belt. The dispensing apparatus is configured such that articles disposed in the hopper chamber are directed onto the belt and the belt, when driven by the belt actuator, conveys the articles received from the hopper chamber in a dispensing direction along the dispensing path toward the dispensing outlet to be dispensed.

A tablet inspection apparatus includes a supply unit including a rotary plate inclinedly disposed, and a transfer plate having a downwardly inclined surface, inclined outwardly on the same level as top dead center of the rotary plate while rotating with the rotary plate around the rotary plate, a first rotary unit inclinedly disposed with respect to the supply unit, and formed such that suction force is applied in a certain section in a circumferential direction, and a second rotary unit installed on one side of the first rotary unit, and formed such that suction force is applied in a certain section in a circumferential direction.

Provided is a pharmaceutical formulation transporting device capable of easily ensuring a large exposed area of a solid pharmaceutical formulation during transport. A pharmaceutical formulation transporting device 10 comprises a first pulley 11, a second pulley 12, and a plurality of endless transport belts 13, 14 wound around the first pulley 11 and the second pulley 12, wherein the plurality of transport belts 13, 14 are disposed so as to be capable of holding a solid pharmaceutical formulation between respective first side surfaces.

System and method for dispensing orders. One embodiment provides a pharmacy order delivery and transport system including an enclosure and a transport assembly provided in the enclosure and configured to transport a plurality of filled prescription orders. The transport assembly includes a track extending continuously throughout the enclosure and a plurality of transport blocks connected together to form a continuous loop. Each transport block of the plurality of transport blocks includes a transport hook and a wheel configured to move along the track. The transport hook is configured to receive a storage bag containing a filled prescription order of the plurality of filled prescription orders. The transport assembly also includes a transport actuator configured to drive the plurality of transport blocks along the track.