Patents by Inventor Jonathan W. Joplin
Jonathan W. Joplin 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: 10151735Abstract: Solid contents verification systems and methods are provided. The system includes a contents sensor unit, a container-carrying unit and a control unit. The contents sensor unit has at least one contents sensor configured to send and receive sonic pulses to determine a state of contents in a container. The contents sensor unit is configured to send a signal communicating a state of the contents in a container. The container-carrying unit is configured to hold a container in substantial alignment with the contents sensors to expose the contents to the sonic pulses. The control unit is operatively connected to the contents sensor unit. The control unit is configured to receive the signal communicating the state of the contents and to compare the state of the contents with a desired state of the contents.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: EXPRESS SCRIPTS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Patent number: 10086974Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system uses pucks disposed on a pallet to accommodate a plurality of container sizes into which pharmaceuticals can be dispensed. An order processing device receives a pharmaceutical order and identifies a size of container into which a pharmaceutical in the pharmaceutical order should be dispensed. A pallet sizing and pucking device is configured: to configure a pallet with a plurality of pucks adapted to accommodate containers and to configure the pucks on a pallet in a manner that will facilitate efficient fulfillment of the pharmaceutical order.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: EXPRESS SCRIPTS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Publication number: 20180265233Abstract: A prescription handling system that takes filled prescription containers in an automated pharmacy and places them into a package for shipment is described. The handling system includes an inflow to feed containers to a turntable and a robot moves containers from the turntable to a container placement section, which places the containers in a pocket of a package for shipping. Each container for a prescription order is tracked to ensure that only associated containers are packaged together.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Patent number: 10059520Abstract: A system for a check and exception center may include a holding area, a manual section, a distribution section. The manual section may include a plurality of handling areas each enabled for pill counting, pharmacist verification, exception handling, or combinations thereof. The distribution section may be disposed proximate the manual section, and may include a robot and a scanner. The robot may be adapted to pick a container from the holding area and to move the container to the scanner for scanning. The robot may also be further adapted to direct the container to a first handling area of the plurality of handling areas.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Patent number: 10053248Abstract: A prescription handling system that takes filled prescription containers in an automated pharmacy and places them into a package for shipment is described. The handling system includes an inflow to feed containers to a turntable and a robot moves containers from the turntable to a container placement section, which places the containers in a pocket of a package for shipping. Each container for a prescription order is tracked to ensure that only associated containers are packaged together.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Publication number: 20180229872Abstract: A system comprising a staging area and a packing area. The staging area may include a plurality of staging bins and a shuttle moveable along the plurality of staging bins. A staging bin of the plurality of staging bins may be configured to selectively retain a component of an order therein. Such staging bin may be configured to selectively release the component to the shuttle. The packing area may include a slide, a scanner, and a wrap seal conveyor. The shuttle may be configured to release the component onto the slide, and the scanner may be operable to scan and verify the component during placement of the component onto the wrap seal conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Robert E. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20180221244Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses a loading device to label containers and load the labeled containers onto a pallet. The loading device is configured with at least one container drop assembly that receives containers to be labelled and loaded onto the pallet and that is in communication with a label assembly configured to print and apply labels to the containers. The loading device also includes at least one loading rotary wheel configured to receive the labelled containers and hold the labelled containers in a pick position to be moved from the pick position to a predetermined position on the pallet. The loading device may be configured to accommodate multiple sizes of containers and to consolidate multiple sizes of labelled containers into a single loading rotary wheel for loading onto the pallet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Jonathan W. JOPLIN, Robert HOFFMAN
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Patent number: 10035653Abstract: 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: July 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Eller, Jonathan W. Joplin
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Publication number: 20180144284Abstract: A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include an outflow conveyor, and an injection conveyor to inject a package located thereon onto the outflow conveyor. The injection conveyor can be adjacent to the outflow conveyor and oriented substantially perpendicular to the outflow conveyor. The system can also include a monitoring system positioned to perform package monitoring of the outflow conveyor and to image the package on the outflow conveyor after the package has been injected onto the outflow conveyor. The monitoring system can be further configured to determine an intended destination of the package based on an identifier detected on the package in the image captured by the monitoring system. A routing device can be positioned to perform package routing of the package to an accumulation area for packages based on the determination of the intended destination of the package.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Robert E. Hoffman, Jonathan W. Joplin
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Publication number: 20180144285Abstract: A pharmaceutical filling system for a high volume pharmacy is described. The system can include a manual pick/pack device and method. The system may include a rotation assembly, a left door and a right door, both positioned below the rotation assembly, a left divider positioned below the left door, and a right divider positioned below the right door, and a left gathering table positioned below the left divider, and a right gathering table positioned below the right divider. The system may also include a control device in electronic communication with the rotation assembly, the doors and the dividers for control of same.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Robert E. Hoffman, Jonathan W. Joplin
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Patent number: 9944419Abstract: A system comprising a staging area and a packing area. The staging area may include a plurality of staging bins and a shuttle moveable along the plurality of staging bins. A staging bin of the plurality of staging bins may be configured to selectively retain a component of an order therein. Such staging bin may be configured to selectively release the component to the shuttle. The packing area may include a slide, a scanner, and a wrap seal conveyor. The shuttle may be configured to release the component onto the slide, and the scanner may be operable to scan and verify the component during placement of the component onto the wrap seal conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Robert E. Hoffman
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Patent number: 9937100Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses a loading device to label containers and load the labeled containers onto a pallet. The loading device is configured with at least one container drop assembly that receives containers to be labelled and loaded onto the pallet and that is in communication with a label assembly configured to print and apply labels to the containers. The loading device also includes at least one loading rotary wheel configured to receive the labelled containers and hold the labelled containers in a pick position to be moved from the pick position to a predetermined position on the pallet. The loading device may be configured to accommodate multiple sizes of containers and to consolidate multiple sizes of labelled containers into a single loading rotary wheel for loading onto the pallet.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: EXPRESS SCRIPTS STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan W. Joplin, Robert Hoffman
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Publication number: 20170262616Abstract: An automated dispensing device for a pharmaceutical order filling system includes an order processing device to receive a pharmaceutical order. The order processing device includes a cell for containing an available quantity of a pharmaceutical of the pharmaceutical order, and an insert received in the cell. The insert has a dispensing tube, and is adapted to receive the available quantity of the pharmaceutical and to dispense a measured quantity of the pharmaceutical through the dispensing tube. The cell includes a funnel having a weighted gate adapted to receive the dispensing tube of the insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventor: Jonathan W. JOPLIN
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Publication number: 20170199981Abstract: A system for a check and exception center may include a holding area, a manual section, a distribution section. The manual section may include a plurality of handling areas each enabled for pill counting, pharmacist verification, exception handling, or combinations thereof. The distribution section may be disposed proximate the manual section, and may include a robot and a scanner. The robot may be adapted to pick a container from the holding area and to move the container to the scanner for scanning. The robot may also be further adapted to direct the container to a first handling area of the plurality of handling areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2017Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Patent number: 9697335Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses an automated dispensing device to dispense pharmaceuticals into containers. The automated dispensing device is configured with a filling cabinet that stores and dispenses measured quantities of pharmaceuticals and is further configured to stage measured quantities of pharmaceuticals in buffer tubes to enable efficient fulfillment of the pharmaceutical orders. Containers may be disposed on a pallet which may be moved within an automated dispensing device to place the containers under buffer tubes to receive measured quantities of pharmaceuticals from the buffer tubes into appropriate containers in an efficient manner.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC.Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Publication number: 20170119629Abstract: Systems and methods for manually filling a prescription order. A manual fill device may be incorporated into a manual fill center of a pharmacy operated by one or more pharmacists and/or pharmacist technicians to manually fill certain prescription containers. The manual fill device may include a control unit which may operate at the direction of the order processing device. The manual fill device may also include a distribution section automating distribution of containers for manual fulfillment, and a manual section in which a pharmacist may utilize available pharmaceuticals to manually fill orders.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2017Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Patent number: 9639668Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Publication number: 20170107005Abstract: A prescription handling system that takes filled prescription containers in an automated pharmacy and places them into a package for shipment is described. The handling system includes an inflow to feed containers to a turntable and a robot moves containers from the turntable to a container placement section, which places the containers in a pocket of a package for shipping. Each container for a prescription order is tracked to ensure that only associated containers are packaged together.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2015Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin
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Publication number: 20170074851Abstract: Solid contents verification systems and methods are provided. The system includes a contents sensor unit, a container-carrying unit and a control unit. The contents sensor unit has at least one contents sensor configured to send and receive sonic pulses to determine a state of contents in a container. The contents sensor unit is configured to send a signal communicating a state of the contents in a container. The container-carrying unit is configured to hold a container in substantial alignment with the contents sensors to expose the contents to the sonic pulses. The control unit is operatively connected to the contents sensor unit. The control unit is configured to receive the signal communicating the state of the contents and to compare the state of the contents with a desired state of the contents.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventor: Jonathan W. JOPLIN
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Patent number: 9567119Abstract: Systems and methods for manually filling a prescription order. A manual fill device may be incorporated into a manual fill center of a pharmacy operated by one or more pharmacists and/or pharmacist technicians to manually fill certain prescription containers. The manual fill device may include a control unit which may operate at the direction of the order processing device. The manual fill device may also include a distribution section automating distribution of containers for manual fulfillment, and a manual section in which a pharmacist may utilize available pharmaceuticals to manually fill orders.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Express Scripts, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan W. Joplin