Patents Assigned to CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
  • Patent number: 10559021
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a pharmacy order-picking device. The present method reduces the susceptibility of the pharmacy order-picking device to disruption. To detect a positioning deviation of the control appliance in the horizontal direction, at least one desired value of at least one reference position is made available, the control appliance is brought to a position corresponding to the desired value in the horizontal direction and, when a signal characteristic of a reference position is detected, an actual value of this reference position is determined. A desired value is compared with a corresponding actual value, or two actual values are compared with each other, and a deviation is determined. If a deviation is determined that exceeds a limit value, a signal pointing to the need for a correction is output. Depending on the deviation, automatic correction of the position deviation can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Hellenbrand, Andreas Klapperich, Andreas Bause, Dennis Reif
  • Patent number: 10532840
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions. The systems can include a housing that encloses a receiving space having a bottom surface. A separation device may be provided and arranged on the bottom surface with at least one channel to receive at least one medicament portion. At least one channel may have an opening facing the receiving space and an opening facing the bottom surface. The opening facing the bottom surface may be associated with a contact area on the bottom surface, over which contact area the medicament portions may be guided upon a movement of separation device. At least one recess may be arranged in the bottom surface outside of the contact area to receive contamination particles present in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventors: Hardy Schmidt-Ellinger, Dietmar Gross
  • Patent number: 10490016
    Abstract: A medication packaging device includes a frame structure on which a guide unit is removably fastened, the guide unit having multiple receptacle openings and a dispensing opening. The device also includes multiple storage and dispensing stations, each having a storage housing and a dispensing station having a medication dispensing channel, as well as a holding unit having a plurality of mounts. For each mount, a medication slide and a storage and dispensing station are arranged such that the receptacle openings of the medication slides are associated with the medication dispensing channels of the dispensing stations and the dispensing openings of the medication slides are associated with the receptacle openings of the guide unit. The holding unit and the frame structure are fastened on or in the device to be movable relative to one another so that the guide unit is accessible from outside the device when in an access position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10486904
    Abstract: Methods and picking devices for storing a plurality of identical piece goods in the picking device in which the number of identical piece goods is automatically detected are provided. Multiple piece goods are placed in a support area of a storage device and a determination that a last piece good has been placed is made. Upon detection, the piece goods are moved into a removal area of the storage device and a gripping apparatus of an operating unit moves into the removal area, grasps the piece goods, and moves them from the removal area onto a support table of the operating unit. The number of piece goods situated in the support area is determined based on piece goods data and size data of the piece goods that are detected with a sensor system, after it has been detected that a last piece good has been placed in the support area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: CareFusion Germany 326 GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10421566
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions. The systems can include a housing that encloses a receiving space having a bottom surface. A separation device may be provided and arranged on the bottom surface with at least one channel to receive at least one medicament portion. At least one channel may have an opening facing the receiving space and an opening facing the bottom surface. The opening facing the bottom surface may be associated with a contact area on the bottom surface, over which contact area the medicament portions may be guided upon a movement of separation device. At least one recess may be arranged in the bottom surface outside of the contact area to receive contamination particles present in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventors: Hardy Schmidt-Ellinger, Dietmar Gross
  • Patent number: 10406073
    Abstract: A transporting device for an automated drug-dosing device, and in particular to a transporting device for feeding individual portions of drugs, which allows rapid cleaning of the device, is provided. The transporting device includes at least one transporting tray with a plurality of upwardly open accommodating compartments which are arranged in a single plane and are intended for accommodating one or more individual portions of drugs. The transporting device also includes a carrying frame accommodating the at least one transporting tray, wherein the at least one transporting tray is arranged in a removable manner in the carrying frame and each accommodating compartment has a base opening. The carrying frame includes a closing device with at least one closing plate, wherein base openings of the at least one transporting tray being arranged in a single plane, can be freed, and closed, by movement of the at least one closing plate relative to the at least one transporting tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10329088
    Abstract: Methods and picking devices for storing a plurality of identical piece goods in the picking device in which the number of identical piece goods is automatically detected are provided. Multiple piece goods are placed in a support area of a storage device and a determination that a last piece good has been placed is made. Upon detection, the piece goods are moved into a removal area of the storage device and a gripping apparatus of an operating unit moves into the removal area, grasps the piece goods, and moves them from the removal area onto a support table of the operating unit. The number of piece goods situated in the support area is determined based on piece goods data and size data of the piece goods that are detected with a sensor system, after it has been detected that a last piece good has been placed in the support area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10315844
    Abstract: An automated storing and picking system for packaged goods is provided. The system includes storage shelves with storage areas, at least one storage and retrieval apparatus, and at least one conveyor belt. At least one blocking device having a barrier is arranged downstream of a receiving section of the conveyor belt. A control device controls the storage and retrieval apparatus and the conveyor belt such that the packaged goods belonging to a first pack are transported to a first dispensing location and the packaged goods belonging to a subsequent pack are transported to a second dispensing location and/or are subsequently transported to the first dispensing location, such that the first pack lies downstream of the subsequent pack on the conveyor belt. The control device controls the blocking device to accumulate the first pack behind the barrier, release the first pack for transport, and to then accumulate the subsequent pack behind the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10307338
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for packing drug portions into dispensing packages. A dispensing machine includes a plurality of storing and metering stations having a plurality of drug portions, a packing device that receives the drug portions dispensed by the storing and metering stations and places them into dispensing packages, and a control device. Each storing and metering station includes a stationary part fixed to a frame, a removable part containing a refillable reservoir and has an information memory for storing an identifier of the removable part. A reading device for reading the information memory is functionally assigned to the stationary part. Each information memory contains a memory location for a filling code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10294027
    Abstract: An operating device for an order-picking apparatus, the operating device having a delivery table with two opposite slotting and picking sides and two longitudinal sides. A transport channel for accommodating picked items extends between the slotting and picking sides along a first horizontal direction. Two clamping jaws define a lateral delimitation of the transport channel. A pusher device having a drive for moving a section of the pusher device along the first horizontal direction has a driver coupled with the drive, so the driver is movable into and out of the transport channel. The driver is also movable in the transport channel along the first horizontal direction so that the picked items are movable out of the transport channel by way of a slotting and picking side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Hellenbrand, Dietmar Gross
  • Patent number: 10293963
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for filling a transport tray having a reduced risk of incorrect fillings. In accordance with the disclosure, a target filling of a plurality of receptacles in the transport tray is transmitted to the control device and at least one filling template is produced based on the target filling and on a filling regime and is displayed by means of a display device. Then drug portions corresponding to the filling template are transferred to the receptacles, and an image of at least the receptacles to be filled in accordance with the target filling is produced by means of an optical detection device and the actual filling is determined using the image and is compared to the target filling. If no target deviation is found, the transport tray is released for transferring the drug portions to the machine tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10287042
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions. The systems can include a housing that encloses a receiving space having a bottom surface. A separation device may be provided and arranged on the bottom surface with at least one channel to receive at least one medicament portion. At least one channel may have an opening facing the receiving space and an opening facing the bottom surface. The opening facing the bottom surface may be associated with a contact area on the bottom surface, over which contact area the medicament portions may be guided upon a movement of separation device. At least one recess may be arranged in the bottom surface outside of the contact area to receive contamination particles present in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventors: Hardy Schmidt-Ellinger, Dietmar Gross
  • Patent number: 10278900
    Abstract: A method for filling a tray with individual medicine portions, which are removed from medicament packs that are provided from an automated storage system by means of an output/input station, is provided. A target filling of accommodating compartments of the tray is provided to a control device, which determines the medicament packs to be removed from storage and the sequence of the removal. For removal, a medicament pack is placed on a first transfer position of the output/input station by an operating device, transported to an output position by a first transport device as soon as the output position is free, and removed from the output position. Individual portions are removed from the medicament pack and introduced into respective accommodating compartments of the tray as indicated by an indicating device. The medicament pack is transported to a second transfer position by a second transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: CareFusion Germany 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10266342
    Abstract: A release device may include a lifting and pre-stopping element having an upper sliding surface, the part coupled to a drive such that the sliding surface is movable over the sliding plane into an enabled position and at the level of the sliding plane into a blocked position, the part having a stop which in the enabled position protrudes beyond the sliding plane. A blocking element, behind the part in the sliding direction, has an upper blocking element sliding surface, a blocking edge protruding beyond the sliding plane, and an extendable/retractable block coupled to the drive such that the block is movable below the blocking element sliding surface into an enabled position and above the blocking element sliding surface into a blocked position. The blocking edge may be in front of the block in the sliding direction, preventing contact between the piece good and the block in the blocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Hellenbrand, Dietmar Gross, Stephan Johann Brokonier
  • Patent number: 10155603
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for packaging individual medication doses in blister bags includes a plurality of storage and dispensing stations, at least one guide and collection arrangement for picking up the medication doses and passing them on, or conducting them, to a packaging station, the packaging station forming a strand of connected blister bags from packaging material. Also included is a labeling and printing station for applying data to the packaging material, an optical detection device that optically detects characteristics of the individual blister bags of the strand, an evaluation device that compares the characteristics detected for an individual blister bag with reference characteristics, and a storage station that stores the strand of the blister bags in an ordered manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: CareFusion Germany 326 GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Hellenbrand, Minne Jorritsma
  • Patent number: 10092930
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating piece goods to be stored in an automated storage facility are provided. At least two bearing surfaces for receiving piece goods are engaged with a conveying system for filling the bearing surfaces with piece goods, the conveying system having transfer surfaces dedicated to the bearing surfaces. The bearing surfaces may be filled with piece goods separately from one another. A control unit is coupled to the conveying system and a detection device is coupled to the control unit for detecting the position, orientation, and package data of the piece goods. A handling mechanism is also coupled to the control unit for gripping piece goods from the bearing surfaces and depositing the piece goods on a transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: CareFusion Germany 326 Gmbh
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10087001
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pharmacy picking device (I) comprising a housing (I 0) with a plurality of shelf bases (II) disposed one above the other, at least one operating device (12), a conveyor device (14), a housing-coupling interface (15), and a universal supply-and-control module (20). This universal supply-and-control module (20) comprises a feed device (21), an identification and measurement device (22), operator input/output devices (23), an electronic controller (24) and a voltage supply assembly (25), as well as a housing-coupling interface (15) and an electrical interface (27), said supply-and-control module (20) being arranged adjacent to the housing (10) such that a mechanical coupling is produced by said housing-coupling interface (15) and module-coupling interface (26), in such a manner that drug packages in or on the supply-and-control module (20), which are to be deposited, are delivered to a position on the conveyor device (14) which is known to the electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10086965
    Abstract: An apparatus for the production of tube blister packages includes dispensing stations and a collection apparatus for providing medication doses to a blister packaging apparatus. The blister packaging apparatus fills the received medication doses, by groups, into pockets of a tube blister package. An inspection buffer apparatus disposed between the collection apparatus and the blister packaging apparatus includes a buffer apparatus for temporarily storing at least one group of medication doses intended for being filled into a pocket, a sensor apparatus for detecting an image and/or predetermined properties of the temporarily stored group of medication doses, and an evaluation and control device. The evaluation and control device determines whether the temporarily stored group of medication doses corresponds to a group of medication doses to be filled in, and if so, passes the temporarily stored group on to the blister packaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: CareFusion Germany 326 GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10071859
    Abstract: A picking device for piece goods is disclosed, in which cleaning of the picking device is facilitated. The picking device may include a shelf row having shelf bases, each including a plurality of storage chutes, and a retrieving device, via which piece goods can be retrieved. A shelf base may include a frame structure, chute partitions, chute bases, and blocking devices, which are coupled to a control device. Two chute partitions and one chute base may define one elongate storage chute, assigned to each chute base is a support device, on which the chute base rests and which is designed such that another chute base can be slid between the resting chute base and the support device. Assigned to each chute base is a holding means, which prevents the chute base from sliding in the longitudinal direction of the storage chute when the chute base is on the support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 10059474
    Abstract: A packaging device for medications includes a packaging material supply and a folding and guiding unit. The folding and guiding unit folds a packaging material web in the longitudinal direction so that the edges of the packaging material web are guided along packaging material web folding regions and a folding section establishes a folded region in the packaging material web. The folding and guiding unit includes an impact region for medications to be packaged, a first joining unit and a second joining unit. The folding and guiding unit also includes a medication supply section spaced apart from the folding section and via which medications are conducted vertically spaced apart from the folded region into the folded packaging material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH
    Inventor: Dietmar Gross