Abstract: A unit dose medicine feeder for use in a packaging machine that can receive pills individually from a reservoir has a cylindrical housing having a base with an opening through which a pill may pass. There is a wheel-like component on the base that has a plurality of slots about its outer periphery. The slots are sized to receive a single pill in the form of a tablet, capsule or caplet and are oriented to have walls that are 10° to 45° from vertical. A gear mechanism is provided to connect the wheel-like component to a motor to rotate the wheel-like component. That rotation will sequentially align the slots with the opening in the base allowing a pill within the slot to pass from the slot through the opening. The orientation of the slots enables the wheel to receive a wider range of pill sizes without jamming and without dispensing more than one unit from a slot. Preferably there is a trap door in the medicine feeder that directs a dispensed pill directly to packaging material in a packaging machine.

Abstract: A packaging machine for enclosing items in a package delivers individual items, such as medicine, through a feeder that disposes the item between two strips of packaging material which are then joined together around the item by a closure member thus sealing the item in an individual package. The packaging machine demarcates upper and lower boundaries about the item such that the enclosed item may be separated from a continuously produced strand of packages. The packaging machine includes a selectively operable hole punch portion disposed adjacent the strand of packages for providing a hole in a portion of each package. The hole punch portion includes a punch driving member which is disengable responsive to unexpected resistance encountered by the punch. A cutter/stacker portion adjacent the strand of separable packages separates the strand into individual packages and stacks the packages in a removable magazine.

Abstract: A package dispenser that can be used in an automated system for filling orders, such as prescriptions for patients. The dispenser includes a magazine for holding a plurality of packages. The magazine includes a loading end and a dispensing end which has a releasable retainer to keep the loaded packages in the magazine until they are released. Several dispensers may be combined with an automated storage system in which a robot selects packages from storage racks. Then, packages can be simultaneously delivered by the dispensers and the robot. The dispensers may be filled by the robot. The robot and releasable retainer in the dispenser are computer controlled.

Abstract: A blister package with a hole in it for hanging the package on a rod has a thin plastic front sheet attached to back and a raised receptacle or blister is formed in the plastic sheet sized to enclose an article. The plastic sheet further has a raised formation near each top corner on the front of the blister package. The raised formation is shaped to space the package from an adjacent package when hung on a rod and to resist getting caught on the top edge of an adjacent blister package if the package is rotated about the rod. The raised formation has a peak and sloping sides extending from the peak toward the edges of the package. The profile is generally smooth such that there are no ledges to catch on the top edge of an adjacent blister pack. The hole is located a first distance from the top edge of the blister package and each projection is spaced a second distance from the hole.

Abstract: A system for filling orders, such as prescriptions for patients, comprising a device for holding packages. Each package has the same type of contents being held in a predetermined location by the holding device. Each package has an identity which defines the contents therein. The holding device has a plurality of predetermined locations corresponding to a plurality of different types of contents. Additionally, the system is comprised of a device for supplying packages to the holding device. Also, there is a device for picking a package from the holding device that is identified in the order for the purpose of restocking the holding device. The picking device is in communication with the holding device and supplying device. In a preferred embodiment, the contents of each package is a single dosage of medicine.

Abstract: A portable nursing center has a plurality of selectively locked patient drawers carried in a housing. Each of said drawers are movable between a given open position and a closed position each drawer sized and configured for holding pharmaceutical items which have been prescribed for a specific patient. A nurse enters a predetermined access data and other data, using a keyboard or bar code reader which may be removable from the nursing center. Entry of correct data causes the unit to selectively unlock the appropriate patient drawer or on demand drawer while maintaining other drawers in a locked condition. Whenever the patient is given medicine or otherwise treated the nurse enters or receives information pertinent to that treatment. The unit has a transmitter/receiver to transmit and receive such patient information.

Abstract: A system for filling orders, such as prescriptions for patients, comprising a device for holding packages. Each package has the same type of contents being held in a predetermined location by the holding device. Each package has an identity which defines the contents therein. The holding device has a plurality of predetermined locations corresponding to a plurality of different types of contents. Additionally, the system is comprised of a device for supplying packages to the holding device. Also, there is a device for picking a package from the holding device that is identified in the order for the purpose of restocking the holding device. The picking device is in communication with the holding device and supplying device. In a preferred embodiment, the contents of each package is a single dosage of medicine.

Abstract: A portable nursing center has a plurality of selectively locked patient drawers carried in a housing. Each of said drawers are movable between a given open position and a closed position each drawer sized and configured for holding pharmaceutical items which have been prescribed for a specific patient. At least one on demand drawer is also carried by the housing, movable between an open position and a closed position and being sized and configured to hold pharmaceutical and other nursing items used on an as needed basis. A nurse enters a predetermined access data and other data, causing the unit to selectively unlock the appropriate patient drawer or on demand drawer while maintaining other drawers in a locked condition. Whenever the patient is given medicine or otherwise treated the nurse enters or receives information pertinent to that treatment. The unit has a transmitter/receiver to transmit and receive such patient information.