Selective Or Alternate Supply Of Plural Covers And/or Plural Contents Patents (Class 53/168)
  • Patent number: 10689138
    Abstract: A self-propelled wrapping machine movable around a load, for wrapping the latter with a film of plastic material, comprises a self-propelled carriage with guide means, a column fixed to the carriage and slidably supporting an unwinding unit of the film, sensor means to detect surfaces and/or external edges of the load in their total extension and along a detection direction and process related signals, a control unit to receive the signals from the sensor means, calculate a peripheral outline of plan maximum overall dimension of the load on the basis of the surfaces and/or external edges detected by the sensor means, and process a wrapping path of the wrapping machine around the load on the basis of the peripheral outline so as to avoid collisions with the load; the control unit controls the guide means to guide the wrapping machine along the wrapping path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: NOXON S.P.A.
    Inventor: Pierangelo Laghi
  • Patent number: 10583941
    Abstract: An automatic packager including a cartridge and a cartridge mechanism is provided. The cartridge for the automatic packager includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medications and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medication from the reservoir. The cartridge mechanism for the automatic packager includes a platform configured to receive a medication from a cartridge and a camera system. The cartridge mechanism also includes an electronic processor coupled to the camera system configured to dispense the medication from the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is delivered to the platform and return the medication to the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is not delivered to the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 10426706
    Abstract: A medicine dispensing device includes: a plurality of medicine cassettes; a manual distribution medicine supply device; a printing means for printing a dosing information of included in a prescription data on a packing paper; a packing means for packing the medicine dispensed from the medicine cassette or the manual distribution medicine supply device one pack at a time based on the prescription data; a rotation means for rotating the medicine before the medicine is packed into the packing paper; an imaging means for imaging the medicine rotated by the rotation means together with an identification portion; and a control means for performing an inspection process by reading the identification portion from the medicine imaged by the imaging means, extracting a medicine information based on the read identification portion, and comparing the extracted medicine information with a medicine information included in the prescription data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shoji Yuyama
  • Patent number: 10315450
    Abstract: A system for integrating and labeling a plurality of tablet orders is described. The system comprises a graphical user interface configured to receive one or more inputs for a plurality of tablets associated with a particular patient. A software module is configured to compile the inputs into an integrated order. The system further comprises an integrated label coupled to a package containing a dose comprised of the plurality of tablets input into the graphical user interface. The integrated label indicates information about the first dose and the second dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Edge Medical Properties, LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Luciano
  • Patent number: 10118723
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and techniques for determining a pack station for storing inventory in a materials handling facility, routing item packages to pack stations based on size ranges for custom containers and optimizing dimensions of custom containers based on dimensions of a shipping container. For example, the systems described herein may allocate a percentage of inventory to a custom inventory location that is physically near custom container forming devices, thereby reducing the cost to pick, sort, pack and route items for shipment, storing or otherwise handling in a custom container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Henry Clark, Dean Christopher Fullerton, Patricia T. Shigihara, Kevin R. Vliet, Jon S. Battles, Brian C. Smith, Sebastian Lehmann, Jaffin James, Lakshmi S. Nidamarthi
  • Patent number: 10111812
    Abstract: A medicine feeding unit configured to feed solid medicines, the unit including: a medicine feeder and a driven shaft; and a support having a driving shaft that is connected with the driven shaft, the support being configured to guide the medicine feeder so as to slide in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the driving shaft, and to detachably support the medicine feeder. The driven shaft has a driven shaft body and a driven engagement member. The driving shaft has a driving shaft body and a driving engagement member. The unit further includes a retraction mechanism configured to retract the driven engagement member in the axial direction so as not to interfere with the driving engagement member when the medicine feeder is guided to slide with respect to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Takazono Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Makio Takahama, Kenzo Yoshinori
  • Patent number: 10045914
    Abstract: Provided is a medicine dispensing apparatus including a plurality of medicine cassettes for respectively dispensing desired types of medicines. The medicine dispensing apparatus allocates medicine information on a medicine to be dispensed to one of the medicine cassettes when the medicine information is given. Then, the medicine dispensing apparatus drives the medicine cassette according to a predetermined driving condition corresponding to the medicine information allocated to the medicine cassette to dispense the medicine from the medicine cassette. By using the medicine dispensing apparatus, it is possible to reduce a user work for dispensing the desired types of medicines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yuyama, Tooru Tanaka, Tomohiro Sugimoto, Tetsuya Terada, Kento Miwa
  • Patent number: 9963283
    Abstract: A cushioning wrap material includes an elongate layer of expanded sheet material comprising an array of openings, and an elongate layer of interleaf material secured to the layer of expanded sheet material in face-to-face relationship. The expanded sheet material is expanded in length and thickness, and the layer of interleaf material may have a width equal to or less than a width of the layer of expanded sheet material. Typically, the layer of interleaf material is secured to the layer of expanded sheet material such that respective longitudinal centerlines of each layer are substantially aligned. The layer of expanded sheet material and layer of interleaf material secured thereto are then wound into a roll. Typically, each layer is at least thirty feet in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: RANPAK CORP
    Inventors: Brandon Cadette Page, Keith Alexander Furr, Marcelo Miller Passos, Robert D. Hillebrand, Lev Semenovich Grupin, Richard B. Weslock, Christopher L. Duncan
  • Patent number: 9852316
    Abstract: A method for bulk encoding of RFID tags. The method may include printing a plurality of unencoded RFID labels, coupling each of the plurality of unencoded RFID labels to each of a plurality of products, packaging like products from the plurality of products coupled with the unencoded RFID labels together in a container, scanning the container holding the products with an RFID antenna, and encoding each of the unencoded RFID labels coupled to each of the plurality of like products in a container simultaneously with identical information for each container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: Philippe Garcia
  • Patent number: 9833384
    Abstract: There is provided a medicine dispensing system configured such that a medicine dispensing device includes a sub unit having a function to dispense medicine that is connected to a medicine dispensing device that includes a main unit having a function of packing medicines. There is also provided a medicine dispensing device that can be appropriately integrated with such a medicine dispensing system. The medicine dispensing system includes, in some embodiments a main unit, a sub unit and a transfer device connecting the main unit and the sub unit. The medicine dispensing system transfers the medicine dispensed in the sub unit to the main unit by means of a transfer device and dispenses the medicine at a medicine packing part together with the medicine dispensed from a main storage part in the main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Itsuo Yasunaga, Chisei Asaoka, Norifumi Oike, Kensuke Kaminishi, Masahiko Kasuya, Nakaji Takeda, Hiromichi Tsuda, Yasuyuki Morita, Shinya Taira, Tomohiro Sugimoto, Naomichi Toyota
  • Patent number: 9745151
    Abstract: A system for dispensing bulk material from storage is provided. The system comprises a plurality of stationary storage silos adapted to store the bulk material therein. A plurality of movable hoppers may be moveably positioned adjacent a bulk material chute of each storage silo to unload the bulk material therein. Once loaded with the bulk material, each movable hopper may then be positioned adjacent an input opening of a vehicle to unload the bulk material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: MATISS INC.
    Inventor: Jacques Martel
  • Patent number: 9639668
    Abstract: A system comprising a holding area, a manual section, a distribution section, and at least one conveyor. The manual section may include a handling area enabled for pill counting, pharmacist verification, exception handling, or combinations thereof. The distribution section may be disposed proximate the handling area and the manual section, and may include a robot and a scanner. The at least one conveyor may enable transportation of a container between said distribution section and said manual section. The robot may be adapted to pick a container from the holding area and move the container to the scanner for scanning. The robot may also be further adapted to place the container onto the conveyor to direct the container to a handling area which is enabled for an action based on the scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
  • Patent number: 9612583
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for managing packing containers for shipping items. A system obtains a container dimension of a container and an item dimension of an item to be shipped in the container. The system determines a target amount of dunnage based at least upon the container dimension and item dimension, the dunnage being configured to be packed into the container to protect the item during shipment, the dunnage being dispensed by a dispenser. The system instructs the dispenser to dispense the target amount of dunnage for the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Fareed Adib Qaddoura
  • Patent number: 9165118
    Abstract: An information display integrating a display portion, a built-in electronic circuit, and a wireless receiver is attached to a container. Medicine dispensers are provided face a conveying path of a container conveying mechanism. The medicine dispensers put a medicine into the container when the medicine is in stock, and issues information on stockout medicine rather than dispensing a medicine when the medicine is out of stock. A write command is wirelessly transmitted to the information display so as to cause the stockout information to be displayed on the display portion in a visibly recognizable manner. In addition, partition information on the planar arrangement of sub containers that allows partitioning the internal space of the container is displayed on the display portion in a visually recognizable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOSHO, INC.
    Inventor: Yoshihito Omura
  • Publication number: 20150059290
    Abstract: A system for packaging a food product including a conveying system for supporting and moving the food product. The system includes a detection device for collecting data related to the shape of the food product while the food product is supported by the conveying system. The system also includes a film dispensing device for dispensing one of a plurality of different films. A controller configured to direct the film dispensing device to select one of the plurality of films for dispensing. The system also includes a wrapping device for wrapping the food product in the selected film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: ODDS, LLC
    Inventors: Brian EWERT, John Roberts
  • Patent number: 8955563
    Abstract: A device for filling soluble containers is provided. The device includes an assembly for orienting capsules comprising a sheet component having a top sheet, a bottom sheet and a sliding sheet adapted to move between the top and bottom sheets. The top sheet includes slots for accommodating capsules, and the bottom sheet includes notches adapted to orient the capsules into a filling position. In a first position, the slots in the sliding sheet align with the slots in the top sheet. In a second position, the slots in the sliding sheet align with the notches in the bottom sheet. The assembly also includes a base component for guiding the oriented capsules therethrough. The base component can have an antistatic sheet fastened to the bottom surface. The sheet component can be loose fitted to the base component. An assembly for filling capsules is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventors: Raj Vikram Tahil, Santosh Puransingh Bhagat, Ajay Virendra Mistry
  • Patent number: 8938935
    Abstract: The invention comprises a system for encasing material in one of a stretchable bag and a shrinkable bag. The system comprises a pair of product horns rotatable in a plane from a first position to a second position; a stretchable-bag system comprising a bag carriage unit; a shrinkable-bag system, comprising a pair of pulling rollers mounted under the product horns and a collection roller mounted adjacent the pulling rollers, the collection roller configured to move a predetermined increment, a product ram configured to move material between the product horns and into one of a stretchable bag and a shrinkable bag, and an air jet for opening the bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System Corp.
    Inventors: Eggo Haschke, Robert Pinto
  • Patent number: 8925287
    Abstract: A baler for forming large cylindrical bales of crop material is equipped with a wrapping mechanism at the rear side of the baling chamber for introducing wrapping material into the baling chamber for wrapping the cylindrical bales. A storage bin for storing extra rolls of wrapping material extends vertically above the wrapping mechanism and contains a plurality of extra rolls of wrapping material. The storage bin is mounted for pivoting about a connection at a lower end region of the bin so that the bin may be lowered to a loading position in which roll compartments of the bin are at a height commensurate with that of the waist of an average adult person standing on the ground so that supply rolls may be easily moved from these compartments to an operating position within the wrapping mechanism and new rolls may be used to replenish the rolls used from these compartments without an operator having to lift the rolls above his or her waist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Daniel Eric Derscheid
  • Patent number: 8915051
    Abstract: A method of transferring a plurality of tablets of a product from a first blister card including a first plurality of blisters to a second blister card including a second plurality of blisters includes discharging the plurality of tablets from the first plurality of blisters of the first blister card. Then, each of the plurality of tablets are guided along one of a plurality of passageways defined by a transfer fixture positioned between the first blister card and the second blister card. Finally, the plurality of tablets are received in the second plurality of blisters of the second blister card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Sean McGonagle, Greg Pankow, J. Randolph Lewis, Victor Lee
  • Publication number: 20140352261
    Abstract: A side loading packaging machine for packaging articles in containers comprising: a section for forming containers starting from die-cuttings, comprising at least one feeding device, a loading section, a closing section, substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the machine; further comprising a conveyor equipped with transportation members configured to carry at least one of said containers each, wherein said conveyor comprises motor means arranged to drive the advance of said transportation members or groups thereof in an independent manner, and the machine operates with: a continuous formation of boxes, said feeding member working with a continuous movement and with a constant rate over time, and said transportation members advancing with a continuous movement at said forming section; and a static loading, said transportation members being stationary during the loading of articles into the containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CAMA1 S.p.A.
    Inventor: Daniele BELLANTE
  • Patent number: 8863480
    Abstract: A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters and a control for releasing a desired quantity of pills from a selected pill canister at a target location. Several platens are provided; each of the platens has a platen identifier. A frame is situated beneath the target location. The frame is controlled to move in both an X axis and/or a Y axis and the frame holds a selected platen of a set of platens. The selected platen holds and supports a target container into which the desired quantity of pills is deposited. The platen identifier is read by the device for dispensing pills to determine which of the plurality of platens is in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: QEM, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. Knoth
  • Publication number: 20140305075
    Abstract: A packaging system (10) for packaging on or more articles the packaging system comprising two or more devices (14, 16, 20, 24, 32, 34) each for performing at least one packaging operation upon on or more articles, each of the two or more packaging devices being coupled to one another in a linear series by a first conveyor (19), the system comprising at least one bypass conveyor (26, 28) providing a forward bypass path and/or a reverse bypass path for bypassing one or more of the devices in a forward and/or reverse direction, and wherein there comprises one or more transfer switches (18, 22, 30, 36) for transferring one or more articles between the first conveyor and the at least one bypass conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Jean-Christophe Bonnain
  • Patent number: 8789345
    Abstract: Procedure for the low-risk and zero-emission transportation of sulphur from solid sulphur deposits, in blocks of large dimensions, characterized in that it comprises the formation of blocks of sulphur, having suitable dimensions for being moved, by means of water cut techniques and the wrapping of the blocks obtained in polyethylene sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.p.A.
    Inventor: Leonardo Zan
  • Patent number: 8713897
    Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a filled prescription order is described. The prescription order includes a first plurality of tablets that is different from a second plurality of tablets. Additionally, the first plurality of tablets has a particular shape and a color that is different from the second plurality of tablets. The system and method generates an order that is communicated to a filling system. A code is then generated at the filling system when the filling system can fill the order. An automated inspection at visual wavelengths is performed for each of the pouches at an inspection station. The automated inspection at visual wavelengths inspects a color and a shape of each tablet. The method then proceeds to scan the code at the inspection station to verify that the correct pouches are associated with the tablets that correspond to the prescription order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Edge Medical Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Leslie Baker, Larry Luciano
  • Patent number: 8683777
    Abstract: A packaging system includes a cushioning conversion machine for converting stock material into relatively low density cushioning material or dunnage and a packaging system controller. The packaging system controller provides packaging instructions related to a part or parts to be packaged and instructs the cushioning conversion machine to produce the cushioning material. In one aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by retrieving a predetermined set of packaging instructions associated with a particular part. In another aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by determining an optimized packaging methodology using one or more characteristics of the part or parts to be packaged. The packaging system also provides for automated inventory control and productivity monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Steven E. Armington, Richard O. Ratzel, Paul J. Guth, MacDonald C. Booze
  • Patent number: 8621831
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for placing trays into sleeves is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor system for transporting a mail tray, a sleeve blank presentment device and a robotic arm. The robotic arm is provided with an end of arm tool which retains and opens a sleeve blank. A tray induction system including a plurality of paddles configured to guide a tray into an open sleeve blank is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Capstone Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Moylan, Timothy A. Mischnick, Francis J. Buglewicz, Troy Robert Power
  • Patent number: 8539738
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging a curable resin composition and a catalyst composition that react with each other when mixed, comprising providing a partitioned tube for receiving the resin composition and the curing agent in separate compartments; delivering a stream of a resin composition into one compartment of the tube; delivering a stream of a curing agent in the other compartment of the tube; advancing the partitioned tube and constricting and sealing the partitioned tube at spaced apart intervals and severing the sealed tube to produce a package partitioning the resin composition from the catalyst composition. Solid particulate is continuously added into the stream of at least one of the catalyst composition and the resin composition and mixing the solid particulate and stream to produce a mixed composition; and the relative amount of solid particulate in the mixed composition is controlled by continuously determining the mass of solid particulate added to the mass of the stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: J-Lok Co.
    Inventors: John G. Oldsen, Walter J. Simmons, W. Neal Simmons, Robert A. McGinnis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8528303
    Abstract: Strip material used in packaging machines is fed by a rotary support unit carrying a roll of a first or a second strip material, installed downstream of a feed unit supplying a first wrapping material along a first direction toward an operating station where inner wrappers are fashioned for the particular packet in production. The first strip material is decoiled by rollers and guided along the first direction to an operating station where coupons are prepared for inclusion as inserts, placed between the inner and outer wrappers of each packet. The second strip material is taken up and diverted by further rollers along a second direction, such that it is supplied to a cellophaner where it is cut and folded to fashion leaflets applied as onserts to the outer wrapper of each packet before being overwrapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Patent number: 8453422
    Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping a stack of objects with a film has first and second supplies of films and a pull-down device shiftable vertically along the stack of objects. A film-feed head has a drive roller rotatable about an axis in the film feed head and first and second pairs of counterrollers angularly offset from each other relative to the drive-roller axis. The drive roller and the pairs of counterrollers are relatively shiftable between end positions in each of which one of the pairs is spaced from the drive roller and the other pair is engaged with the drive roller. The first and second films pass between the respective first and second pairs and the drive roller. An actuator can shift the first and the second pairs of rollers relative the drive roller for pinching the films against the drive roller and, on rotation of the drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: MSK-Verpackungs-Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Rolf Michels
  • Publication number: 20130118116
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for manufacturing shelf-stable, multi-compartment products. In a general embodiment, a manufacturing system is provided and includes a continuous manufacturing line including a barrier separating a dry food packaging area from a wet food packaging area. The manufacturing line is configured to manufacture a shelf-stable food product including both a dry food product with no artificial preservatives in a first compartment of a tray and a wet food component with no artificial preservatives in a second compartment of the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventor: NESTEC S.A.
  • Patent number: 8360946
    Abstract: A machine (1) for the manufacture of bags, having a support element (2, 3, 4) for detachably coupling a corresponding portable storage (22, 33, 44) of a consumable material (22a, 33a, 44a) from which the bags are made and mechanical mechanism for making bags from the material. A remote reading mechanism (5) is provided for reading the information stored in a radiofrequency tag (6, 7, 8) included in the portable storage, as well as a control unit (18) which contains a mechanism for obtaining information from the radiofrequency tag, which allows identifying the type of consumable material coupled in the support element, and for automatically generating a signal for controlling the mechanical mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Girnet Internacional, S.L.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo
  • Patent number: 8302370
    Abstract: A packaging system for pharmaceuticals is provided. The system includes a box having an opening, a pouch strip positioned within the box. The pouch strip includes a continuous series of sealed pouches rolled into a spiral with a first end and a second end. The opening in the box is of a shape configured to accommodate the cross section of the sealed pouches such that the pouch strip may be pulled through the opening outwardly from the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy Decker, Brian Monaghan
  • Patent number: 8245483
    Abstract: There is provided a medicine packaging apparatus, which is capable of rapidly coping with errors occurring during processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yuyama, Tomohiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8220224
    Abstract: A medicine supply apparatus which comprises, in a case accommodating section 8, a plurality of tablet cases 3 for accommodating medicine and charges or supplies medicine into a bag 72, which medicine has been discharged from each tablet case 3 based on a prescription. An identification code 26 is provided for each of the tablet cases 3 and read by an optical sensor 33 provided inside the case accommodating section 8, whereby discharge of medicine is controlled. A motor 14 for driving a discharge drum for the tablet case 3 is checked for disconnection by being regularly energized. The operating time and the frequency of operation of parts that wear out, such as the motors, are stored for use in failure prediction. Time slots in which medicine should be taken are printed, each in a different color, by a color printing mechanism 73 on the bag 72 into which medicine is charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Biomedical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ishiwatari, Shinya Uema, Manabu Haraguchi, Koichi Kobayashi, Shigeyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8200366
    Abstract: A system and method for determining and communicating a volume-based fill pattern for a multi-dose medicament container is disclosed. Pill information corresponding to one or more pills for a patient to be packaged together may be obtained, and non-volume fill factors may be obtained. The volume-based fill pattern may be selected and indicated to be a cuboid volume or a packing parameter fill pattern. Pill and multi-dose medicament container data may be obtained and used to determine a fill pattern that is communicated to a filling entity for execution. The present disclosure may operate in accordance with multi-dose blister packs, and systems and methods of filling said blister packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Syed Y. Ali, Amy C. Biesenthal, Rishi Khullar, Sean McGonagle, Greg Pankow
  • Patent number: 8146777
    Abstract: There is provided a medicine feeding device which can apply uniform tension to wrapping paper wound in a roll state to wrap a medicine. The medicine feeding device comprises a tablet case which stores a medicine, and the wrapping paper wound in the roll state, wraps a medicine discharged from the tablet case in wrapping paper 72, and comprises a tension application mechanism 113 which applies predetermined tension to the continuously pulled-out wrapping paper. This tension application mechanism is constituted to freely move up-and-down, and to apply tension to the pulled-out wrapping paper by its own weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsuo Inamura
  • Patent number: 8146328
    Abstract: Film supply apparatus (2) has two film holders (22a, 22b) supporting two rolls of film as film (101) on a use side and film (100) on a stand-by side respectively, feed rollers (3) for feeding film (101) on the use side, film holding member (34) holding a leading end portion of film (100) on the stand-by side, sucker (36) pulling back film (100) on the stand-by side upstream in a feeding direction and heater bar (31) heat-sealing two films (100, 101). Sucker (36) attracts film (100) by suctioning and pulls film (100) back to a position where a leading end portion thereof faces heater bar (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Orihiro Engineering Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Orihiro Tsuruta, Shunji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8136332
    Abstract: Computer assisted systems, methods and mediums for filling one or more orders. One embodiment of the present invention is a system that includes an order consolidation station configured to receive at least one bottle containing pills individually counted and/or at least one package containing pharmaceutical products without having been designated for any of the orders when the package was created and/or at least one literature pack optionally including patient specific information. The order consolidation station is further configured to combine automatically the received bottle and/or package and/or literature pack into a container to be sent to a recipient including, for example, mail order pharmacies, wholesalers and/or central fill dealers for subsequent distribution or sale including retailer distribution or sale. The bottle is specifically designated for the order, and the order generally includes at least one prescription for the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Medco Health Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Wayne Rice, James G. McErlean, E. Christian Hess, P. Thomas Shupert, Chih-Jen Leu, Robert G. Howell, Michael J. Szesko, Andrew P. Booler, Peter Monkhouse, Douglas W. Walton, Michael W. G. Bell, Christopher J. Lasher, Thomas P. Bonkenburg
  • Patent number: 8082721
    Abstract: A packaging group that packages products at a high speed when the products are fed in succession in accordance with a predefined and variable pitch is provided. The packaging group includes a conveyor of the products, at least one roll of at least one plastic film, a feed mechanism that feeds the at least one plastic film from the at least one roll respectively atop and underneath the products substantially upon exiting the conveyor, a counter-welder belt downstream of the conveyor which receives the products covered on their upper and lower parts with the at least one plastic film, and a transverse welder device at the counter-welder belt. The transverse welder device includes a rotating star-like structure equipped with at least three spokes provided at their tips with welder mechanisms cooperating one after the other in succession with the counter-welder belt, in order to weld together portions of the at least one plastic film between the products advancing on the counter-welder belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: SITMA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aris Ballestrazzi, Lamberto Tassi
  • Publication number: 20110239595
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for tilting and filling a carton with a pouch and a flowable food product are described. The carton can be tilted prior to filling in order to minimize a void between the pouch and a sidewall of the carton. The carton is pivoted to a tilted orientation, such that the sidewall includes a lowermost inclined segment. The pouch is then inserted into the carton either prior to or after pivoting the carton to the tilted orientation so that the pouch can substantially rest against the inclined segment. The flowable food product is then at partially deposited into the carton, such that the flowable food product substantially fills in next to the pouch instead of between the pouch and the inclined segment. After a sufficient height of flowable food product has been deposited into the carton, the carton can be returned to a vertical orientation and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: KRAFT FOODS GLOBAL BRANDS LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Jones
  • Patent number: 8020356
    Abstract: There is provided a medicine packaging apparatus, which is capable of rapidly coping with errors occurring during processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yuyama, Tomohiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7997045
    Abstract: A packing wrapper filling device includes a filling machine (1) having at least one pivotable filling tube (11) on rotary plate (10). A gathered packing wrapper (14) is fitted onto the filling tube. The invention includes a closing mechanism (2) and store (3) for gathered packing wrappers. The closing mechanism (2) closes both sides of filled wrapper sections. Control device (22) interconnects filling machine (1), closing mechanism (2), store (3), and rocking arms (16). The lateral wall(s) of store (3) include a longitudinal flap (16) in the lower section, pivotable by rotary articulation (20) via rocking arms (15). The control device (22) controls individual envelope (14) removal from store (3). Transport devices (5, 6, 7, and 8) and deflection rollers (9) arranged along feed belt (4) transport envelope (14) along the feed belt (4) from store (3) to filling tube (11 or 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Kalle GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Aur Der Heide, Dirk Aur Der Heide, Jürg-Heinrich Kallweit
  • Patent number: 7958701
    Abstract: A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters and a control for releasing a desired quantity of pills from a selected pill canister at a target location. Several platens are provided, each of the plurality of platens having a machine-readable platen identifier. A frame is situated beneath the target location. The frame is adapted to move in both an X axis and a Y axis and adapted to accept and hold a selected platen of a set of platens whereas the selected platen holds and supports a target container into which the desired quantity of pills is deposited and the machine-readable platen identifier is read by the device for dispensing pills to determine which of the plurality of platens is the selected platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: QEM, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. Knoth
  • Patent number: 7950206
    Abstract: A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters, each having a machine-readable canister identifier. The device for dispensing pills further includes a reader adapted to read the machine-readable canister identifier and a selector interfaced to the reader. An active pill canister from the plurality of pill canisters is selected by the selector using data from the reader to determine which of the plurality of pill canisters is at a target location. A control is provided for releasing a desired quantity of pills from the selected pill canister at a target location into a target package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: QEM, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. Knoth
  • Patent number: 7946096
    Abstract: A system for wrapping loads includes a moving machine and a wrapping head equipped with a reel of film for covering a load, the wrapping head including sleeves which can be positioned on pegs of an external supporting frame for parking the head in a store, and blocks with slots in which pins of the moving machine can be vertically inserted to lift and move the wrapping head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: BEMA S.r.l.
    Inventor: Emilio Murarotto
  • Patent number: 7908827
    Abstract: A device for dispensing pills includes a set of pill canisters and a control for releasing a desired quantity of pills from a selected pill canister at a target location. A frame is situated beneath the target location. The frame is adapted to accept and hold a selected platen of a set of platens and to move the selected platen in both an X axis and a Y axis. The selected platen holds and supports a target container into which the desired quantity of pills is deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: QEM, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman D. Knoth
  • Patent number: 7891158
    Abstract: A case packing system concurrently accumulates a plurality of different product ensembles and sequentially packs cases thereof, generally by way of (a) concurrently accumulating a plurality of different product ensembles utilizing a plurality of product conveyer lines, each of which is adapted to separately convey distinct products to one or more transfer points; (b) sequentially transferring different accumulated product ensembles from the conveyer lines to a case-packer, the case-packer including a packing section as well as multiple magazines for receiving different case-blanks; (c) controlling transfer of the product ensembles to the case-packer and selection of the appropriate case-blank. Preferably, substantially continuous operation of the case-packer at a production rate higher than an accumulation rate of any individual product conveyer is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Thomas I. Stafford, III, Benjamin C. Fordham, Richard S. Schneider
  • Patent number: RE42730
    Abstract: In an automated prescription dispensing and packing system, empty prescription bottles are labeled and loaded in assigned locations in carriers. Pills are automatically dispensed into the prescription bottles in the carriers. Ranks of carriers containing filled prescription bottles are assembled at stations where the bottles are unloaded and packed into shipping containers with literature printed by the system. Multiple bottles of an order are automatically packed in the same shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Lasher, Dennis W. Rice, Michael J. Szesko, Frank Modrowsky, James G. McErlean, Michael Kennedy, Paul Thomas Shupert
  • Patent number: RE42766
    Abstract: In an automated prescription dispensing and packing system, empty prescription bottles are labeled and loaded in assigned locations in carriers. Pills are automatically dispensed into the prescription bottles in the carriers. Ranks of carriers containing filled prescription bottles are assembled at stations where the bottles are unloaded and packed into shipping containers with literature printed by the system. Multiple bottles of an order are automatically packed in the same shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Lasher, Dennis W. Rice, Michael J. Szesko, Frank Modrowsky, James G. McErlean, Michael Kennedy, Paul Thomas Shupert
  • Patent number: RE42937
    Abstract: In an automated prescription dispensing and packing system, empty prescription bottles are labeled and loaded in assigned locations in carriers. Pills are automatically dispensed into the prescription bottles in the carriers. Ranks of carriers containing filled prescription bottles are assembled at stations where the bottles are unloaded and packed into shipping containers with literature printed by the system. Multiple bottles of an order are automatically packed in the same shipping container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Lasher, Dennis W. Rice, Michael J. Szesko, Frank Modrowsky, James McErlean, Michael Kennedy, Paul Thomas Shupert