Abstract: A control center receives an order from a patient's smart phone to fill a new prescription prescribed by a doctor to a patient, along with a selection of one drug dispensing kiosk. A remotely located pharmacist video teleconferences with the patient via the patient's smart phone to provide counseling about the prescribed pharmaceutical. The patient goes to the drug dispensing kiosk where the patient inputs information that is communicated to the control center. In response to the patient's input, the remotely located pharmacist initiates a transmission to the control center. In response to receiving input from the remotely located pharmacist, the control center communicates an order to dispense the new prescription to the patient from the drug dispensing kiosk such that the order to dispense the new prescription to the patient from the drug dispensing kiosk is initiated by a human so as to be as a subjective dispensing decision.

Abstract: A vending machine, in communication with a remote station, delivers a labeled container to a user from storage holding containers of different sizes and shapes and containing different products such as medicaments. A control system is operable to select a specific unlabeled container from among the other containers in storage, and to move the selected unlabeled container to a labeling module where a label is applied after the position of the label and/or the selected unlabeled container are/is adjusted so as to result in the label being applied at a desired position and angular orientation with respect to the selected unlabeled container. The control system is further operable to move the labeled container to a delivery zone accessible to the user.

Abstract: A storage apparatus has an rack of storage bins, a pick head drive unit to drive a pick head to an access location for a selected bin, and a platform drive unit to drive a platform forming part of the pick head into and out of the rack to pick or load packages at a selected bin of the rack. The platform has a cam formation which, in the course of entry of the platform into the rack acting to lift a desired package until the platform reaches a clearance position at which the cam formation clears the package. Subsequent withdrawal of the platform from the rack acts to drag the desired package from the selected bin.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for identifying an embossed character, light of one color is directed in one direction across the embossed character to illuminate certain character parts and light of another color is directed in another direction across the embossed character to illuminate other character parts. Image data for the two colors are captured and are subjected to separate image processing to detect edges highlighted by the directed light. The processed images are combined and supplemented with OCR analysis before being compared with predicted characters. Based on the comparison, a determination is made as to the probable identity of the character.

Abstract: A vending machine, in communication with a remote station, delivers a labeled container to a user from storage holding containers of different sizes and shapes and containing different products such as medicaments. A control system is operable to select a specific unlabeled container from among the other containers in storage, and to move the selected unlabeled container to a labeling module where a label is applied after the position of the label and/or the selected unlabeled container are/is adjusted so as to result in the label being applied at a desired position and angular orientation with respect to the selected unlabeled container. The control system is further operable to move the labeled container to a delivery zone accessible to the user.

Abstract: A pill dispensing apparatus has a pill delivery station, a pill receiving station, and a pill singulator. The singulator receives and supports pills delivered from the delivery station and is spun to drive pills supported on the tray around the tray axis. A wiper guide guides the driven pills towards the pill receiving station and at the same time singulates the pills by establish spacing between them. The singulated pills are then deflected to a pill drop zone where they drop into a container.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus is provided for dispensing drugs quickly, conveniently, securely, and accurately and at relatively less cost than traditional pharmacy-based dispensing systems. A script for a drug prescribed to a user is generated comprising a human readable description of the drug and the user or a machine readable description of the drug and the user. The script is provided to a robotic prescription dispensary operable to recognize either the human readable description or the machine readable description, and validate and dispense the drug accordingly. The robotic prescription dispensary includes a user interface, a tele conferencing or video conferencing means enabling communication between the user and a human validation agent, and a scanning means for capturing an image of the script. A method for managing inventory and distribution of drugs is also provided.

Abstract: A vending machine. In a method and apparatus for handling a package in an automated dispensary, a package is positioned in an inspection station of the dispensary. Images are captured of the package and are read to identify data on labels or on the package itself. The data is encoded as source data in an identifying label which is applied to the package and is used subsequently in handling the package for dispensing and other inventory management procedures.

Abstract: A rack assembly of storage bins has a back wall, series of vertical slots in the back wall, partition members having tongues for fixing the partition member to the back wall. Extending between the partition members are bin floors, the edges of the floor members located in slots in the partition members. The spacing of the slots in the back wall and of the slots in the partition members is selected to permit a range of spacings of horizontally adjacent partition members and a range of spacings of vertically adjacent floor members. By suitable selection of the spacings, a large variety of bin sizes can be obtained.