Patents by Inventor Charles E. Eller
Charles E. Eller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9394107Abstract: Method and systems for manual handling are described. In one embodiment, a holding section, a distribution section and a manual section are provided. The holding section is adapted to hold the container during manual handling. The distribution section is adjacent the holding section and includes a robot adapted to select and pick containers from the holding section. The robot is disposed to distribute the container. The manual section is disposed adjacent the conveyor. The manual section is adapted for inspection or filling of the container. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jonathan W. Joplin
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Publication number: 20160130087Abstract: Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2016Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller
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Publication number: 20160082747Abstract: Systems and methods for pharmacy messaging are described. A system includes a laser module and a control module. The laser module includes a marking chamber with a plurality of laser heads therein. A first and second entry gate are adjacent the marking chamber. The first entry gate is configured to open when the second entry gate is closed. A first and second exit gate are adjacent the marking chamber at a side different from the first entry and second entry gate. The first exit gate is configured to open when the second exit gate is closed. A transporter moves the objects being marked into and out of the marking chamber through the various gates. The control module is communicatively coupled to the laser module and adapted to control the laser module. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Katherine H. Sundararaman
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Patent number: 9242751Abstract: Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller
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Patent number: 9221271Abstract: Systems and methods for pharmacy messaging are described. A system includes a laser module and a control module. The laser module includes a marking chamber with a plurality of laser heads therein. A first and second entry gate are adjacent the marking chamber. The first entry gate is configured to open when the second entry gate is closed. A first and second exit gate are adjacent the marking chamber at a side different from the first entry and second entry gate. The first exit gate is configured to open when the second exit gate is closed. A transporter moves the objects being marked into and out of the marking chamber through the various gates. The control module is communicatively coupled to the laser module and adapted to control the laser module. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Katherine H. Sundararaman
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Publication number: 20150314900Abstract: Method and systems for capping are described. In one embodiment, an order processing device, a cap device, a plurality of feeders and a capping implement are provided. The order processing device processes orders with containers. The cap device is adapted to cap the container and is communicatively connected to the order processing device. The cap device is adapted to receive dispensation preferences from the order processing device. The cap device includes a plurality of feeders and a capping implement. Each feeder has a unique type of crown portion of a cap for capping. The capping implement is adapted to grasp the crown portion from the feeder. The cap device is adapted to select a feeder from which to grasp the crown portion based on the dispensation preferences. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Thomas C. Pegg
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Patent number: 9133002Abstract: Method and systems for capping are described. In one embodiment, an order processing device, a cap device, a plurality of feeders and a capping implement are provided. The order processing device processes orders with containers. The cap device is adapted to cap the container and is communicatively connected to the order processing device. The cap device is adapted to receive dispensation preferences from the order processing device. The cap device includes a plurality of feeders and a capping implement. Each feeder has a unique type of crown portion of a cap for capping. The capping implement is adapted to grasp the crown portion from the feeder. The cap device is adapted to select a feeder from which to grasp the crown portion based on the dispensation preferences. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Thomas C. Pegg
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Publication number: 20140300681Abstract: Systems and methods for pharmacy messaging are described. A system includes a laser module and a control module. The laser module includes a marking chamber with a plurality of laser heads therein. A first and second entry gate are adjacent the marking chamber. The first entry gate is configured to open when the second entry gate is closed. A first and second exit gate are adjacent the marking chamber at a side different from the first entry and second entry gate. The first exit gate is configured to open when the second exit gate is closed. A transporter moves the objects being marked into and out of the marking chamber through the various gates. The control module is communicatively coupled to the laser module and adapted to control the laser module. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Katherine H. Sundararaman
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Patent number: 8786650Abstract: Systems and methods for pharmacy messaging are described. A system includes a laser module and a control module. The laser module includes a marking chamber with a plurality of laser heads therein. A first and second entry gate are adjacent the marking chamber. The first entry gate is configured to open when the second entry gate is closed. A first and second exit gate are adjacent the marking chamber at a side different from the first entry and second entry gate. The first exit gate is configured to open when the second exit gate is closed. A transporter moves the objects being marked into and out of the marking chamber through the various gates. The control module is communicatively coupled to the laser module and adapted to control the laser module. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Katherine H. Sundararaman
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Patent number: 8571297Abstract: The invention is directed to a prescription imaging system for capturing, storing and displaying images of prescription bottles during the prescription fulfillment process to monitor the quality of the fulfillment process. The system includes one or more pill cameras for capturing images of pills dispensed into one or more prescription bottles and one or more label cameras for capturing images of the bottle labels. The images are stored on a storage device in a database record. The images can be used to verify that the pills in each bottle correspond with the associated prescription.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
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Publication number: 20130173277Abstract: Methods and systems for fulfillment gateway are described. In one embodiment, a prescription order for a prescription drug is received from an order processing station. An order message associated with the prescription order is generated. The order message has a prescription parameter and a dispensation preference for fulfilling the prescription order. The order message is assigned to an order fulfillment station based on the prescription parameter, the dispensation preference and a dispensary attribute of the order fulfillment station. In other embodiments, the order message is selected for delivery based on based on the prescription parameter, the dispensation preference and a dispensary attribute of the order fulfillment station. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jonathan W. Joplin
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Patent number: 8295582Abstract: The invention is directed to a prescription imaging system for capturing, storing and displaying images of prescription bottles during the prescription fulfillment process to monitor the quality of the fulfillment process. The system includes one or more pill cameras for capturing images of pills dispensed into one or more prescription bottles and one or more label cameras for capturing images of the bottle labels. The images are stored on a storage device in a database record. The images can be used to verify that the pills in each bottle correspond with the associated prescription.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
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Publication number: 20110299757Abstract: The invention is directed to a prescription imaging system for capturing, storing and displaying images of prescription bottles during the prescription fulfillment process to monitor the quality of the fulfillment process. The system includes one or more pill cameras for capturing images of pills dispensed into one or more prescription bottles and one or more label cameras for capturing images of the bottle labels. The images are stored on a storage device in a database record. The images can be used to verify that the pills in each bottle correspond with the associated prescription.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
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Patent number: 7995831Abstract: The invention is directed to a prescription imaging system for capturing, storing and displaying images of prescription bottles during the prescription fulfillment process to monitor the quality of the fulfillment process. The system includes one or more pill cameras for capturing images of pills dispensed into one or more prescription bottles and one or more label cameras for capturing images of the bottle labels. The images are stored on a storage device in a database record. The images can be used to verify that the pills in each bottle correspond with the associated prescription.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
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Publication number: 20080056556Abstract: The invention is directed to a prescription imaging system for capturing, storing and displaying images of prescription bottles during the prescription fulfillment process to monitor the quality of the fulfillment process. The system includes one or more pill cameras for capturing images of pills dispensed into one or more prescription bottles and one or more label cameras for capturing images of the bottle labels. The images are stored on a storage device in a database record. The images can be used to verify that the pills in each bottle correspond with the associated prescription.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2006Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
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Patent number: 7313898Abstract: In a container carrier system and method for use in an automated process for filling containers of multiple sizes, pucks of various sizes are inserted into compartments of container pallets to allow containers of different sizes to be held in the compartments. A puck configuration subsystem can be used to configure each pallet to hold a desired combination of containers of two or more container sizes by inserting and removing pucks from the compartments. A pallet conveyor can be used to transport configured pallets from the puck configuration subsystem to the filling process and return empty pallets to the puck configuration subsystem for reconfiguration.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Thomas C. Pegg