Abstract: A packing system for packing products (e.g., medications) and other components into a container for shipping to customers is provided. The packing system includes a system controller that directs carrier devices along routes between task stations. The system controller can monitor the tasks performed by the task stations, the locations of the carrier devices, the tasks yet to be performed to complete packing of the containers at the task stations, and queues of other carrier devices at the stations. Based on this information, the system controller may direct the carrier devices to different stations and may change the task performed by or assigned to one or more of the stations.

Abstract: A system and method for load balancing within a packing system may identify locations of carrier devices in the packing system based on optical communications between the carrier devices and route communication devices disposed at different locations along the routes of the packing system. The system and method can identify zones associated with different segments of the routes, determine whether a number and/or density of the carrier devices in a zone exceeds a threshold, and, responsive to the number and/or the density exceeding the threshold, (a) the carrier devices are directed to move to reduce the number and/or the density of the carrier devices and/or (b) the task performed by one or more of the task stations of the packing system is changed.

Abstract: A system and method for load balancing within a packing system may identify locations of carrier devices in the packing system based on optical communications between the carrier devices and route communication devices disposed at different locations along the routes of the packing system. The system and method can identify zones associated with different segments of the routes, determine whether a number and/or density of the carrier devices in a zone exceeds a threshold, and, responsive to the number and/or the density exceeding the threshold, (a) the carrier devices are directed to move to reduce the number and/or the density of the carrier devices and/or (b) the task performed by one or more of the task stations of the packing system is changed.

Abstract: A packing system for packing products (e.g., medications) and other components into a container for shipping to customers is provided. The packing system includes a system controller that directs carrier devices along routes between task stations. The system controller can monitor the tasks performed by the task stations, the locations of the carrier devices, the tasks yet to be performed to complete packing of the containers at the task stations, and queues of other carrier devices at the stations. Based on this information, the system controller may direct the carrier devices to different stations and may change the task performed by or assigned to one or more of the stations.