Patents by Inventor Jeffrey P. Williams
Jeffrey P. Williams 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: 6971541Abstract: An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Parata Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Williams, Richard Michelli, Jasper Pollard, Simon Kelly, David Newcomb, Jess Eberdt, Pete Klein
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Publication number: 20040249498Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey P. William, Galina Potepalov, Allan Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Patent number: 6775589Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2003Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Automated Prescriptions System, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. William, Galina Potepalov, Allan Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Publication number: 20040045977Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey P. William, Galina Potepalov, Allan Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Patent number: 6681149Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: McKesson Automation Systems Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. William, Galina Potepalov, Allan Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Publication number: 20040004085Abstract: An automated method for dispensing pharmaceuticals particularly tablets and capsules, and other small discrete objects, includes: receiving prescription information, selecting a container, labeling the container, dispensing the tablets or capsules into the labeled container, applying a closure to the filled, labeled container, and offloading the container to a designated location. Preferably, the tablets are dispensed with high speed dispensing bins that employ forced air to agitate and singulate the tablets. The other functions within the system are typically carried out at stations designed to offer speed, flexibility and precision to the dispensing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2003Publication date: January 8, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey P. Williams, Richard Michelli, Jasper Pollard, Simon Kelly, David Newcomb, Jess Eberdt, Pete Klein
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Publication number: 20030085235Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: Jeffrey P. William, Galina Potepalov, Allan Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Publication number: 20010019065Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2001Publication date: September 6, 2001Inventors: Jeffrey P. William, Galina Potepalov, Allan Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Patent number: 6176392Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor. In an alternate embodiment, pill bottles are dispensed from a dispenser that holds bottles on inclined plates and feeds them to a vertical dispensing channel. Gates prevent the flow of bottles from an inclined position until the plate above has been emptied.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1998Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: McKesson Automated Prescription Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. William, Galina Potepalov, Allan Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Patent number: 6036812Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1997Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Automated Prescription Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Williams, Galina Potepalov, Allan T. Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Patent number: 6006946Abstract: A pill dispensing system includes a shelving unit in array form that holds a number of bulk containers, each holding a bulk amount of a pill to be dispensed. A computer controlled robot removes a selected bulk container and places it on a counter that also dispenses pills. The robot has an arm with a free end portion that can grip a bulk container or a single pill bottle to be filled. The robot is computer controlled to retrieve an empty pill bottle, place it on a label printing and applying unit, then place it next to the counter/dispenser to receive the selected number of selected prescription pills, then place the filled, labeled bottle on a conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1997Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Automated Prescriptions System, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Williams, Galina Potepalov, Allan T. Dolores, Michael Bergeron
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Patent number: 5597995Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmacy system for automating the medical prescription fulfillment process for a customer. It includes an imaging work station having a host computer for receiving data entry of an original medical prescription for a prescribed drug product and customer information and for producing a prescription transaction data record; and electronic communication device for communicating the prescription transaction data record from the host computer to a series of computers. A filling work station includes dispensing apparatus for counting, dispensing, and packaging of the dispensed drug product into the drug vial for the customer.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1995Date of Patent: January 28, 1997Assignee: Automated Prescription Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Williams, Dana Welin, Robert Mathews, Alvin Towle, Alec Orrick