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).

  • Patent number: 9394107
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jonathan W. Joplin
  • Publication number: 20160130087
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller
  • Publication number: 20160082747
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Katherine H. Sundararaman
  • Patent number: 9242751
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Jerry W. Christopher, Charles E. Eller
  • Patent number: 9221271
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Katherine H. Sundararaman
  • Publication number: 20150314900
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Thomas C. Pegg
  • Patent number: 9133002
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Thomas C. Pegg
  • Publication number: 20140300681
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Katherine H. Sundararaman
  • Patent number: 8786650
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jacob J. Reinhardt, Katherine H. Sundararaman
  • Patent number: 8571297
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20130173277
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jonathan W. Joplin
  • Patent number: 8295582
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20110299757
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
  • Patent number: 7995831
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20080056556
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Herbert A. Youngs
  • Patent number: 7313898
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Thomas C. Pegg