Abstract: An automated system of storage locker bins to efficiently provide the storage and self-service retrieval of articles. The articles can be packages and the automated system of storage locker bins can be used effectively in a package delivery process in which packages are transported in bulk to a destination centralized pickup location for recipients. The automated system of storage locker bins can operate at a high level of efficiency with regard to space utilization to further reduce storage costs and ultimately reduce delivery costs by employing moving and stationary bins to allow recipients to retrieve packages stored at heights above the reach of those recipients and bins which are configurable in size to allow storage locker bins to be adjusted to sizes more closely approximating the size of the articles or packages to be loaded into them.

Abstract: A personal medication in storage dispensing unit is provided for receiving and storing medication, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, pills capsules, gel tablets and the like in a manner which is easily accessible and which is conducive to inclusion within a medication regimen system. A medication regimen monitor can be included in this system in order to be programmed to signal proper medication dosage times. The monitor preferably provides non-compliance information, preferably information which persists and which designates which portion of the medication regimen was not complied with. The system also can include a holder for multiple storing and dispensing units in an ordered fashion consistent with daily requirements of the medication regimen.

Abstract: The system for automatically dispensing medications or other medical elements includes several groupings, i.e. vaults, of storage members, each vault containing approximately 100 individual cartridges, which each contain packages of unit-of-use doses of a given medication or other medical supply, such as syringes. Each storage member includes an ejector which ejects selected medications/supplies to a supply trough. The packages in the trough are moved to a central collator, which dispenses them to a bin receptacle which has been moved underneath the collator and which is typically identified with a particular patient. Information concerning medications/supplies for a particular patient is stored in a system database and used to determine the particular medications/supplies dispensed into a given bin. Bar coding is used to maintain control over the bins, and the medications, forming a closed information/control system.

Abstract: A medication dispensing system capable of connecting to the Internet is provided. The medication dispensing system can be in the form of a periphery device having electronic means for linkage to a personal computer, PDA, cell phone or WEB TV or can be a stand-alone, on-site terminal having means to connect to the Internet. The medication dispensing system comprises a rotatable medication tray having a plurality of compartments, a servo-mechanism operatively connected to the medication dispensing tray, a microprocessor based controller electronically connected to the servo-mechanism and being programmable to rotate the dispensing tray at a pre-set time. The controller also comprises a data store for maintaining and transmitting a variety of patient information, including the patient's medication regimen and compliance schedule.

Abstract: Items are securely stored and retrieved using a storage unit having separate compartments. A storage code is provided to the storage unit, and the storage unit responds by permitting access to a particular compartment while preventing access to other compartments. An item then is placed in the particular compartment. At a later time, a retrieval code is provided to the storage unit and the storage unit responds by permitting access to the particular compartment while preventing access to other compartments. The item then may be retrieved from the particular compartment.

Abstract: The automated parts dispensing system and method includes a dispensing device in communication with a parts vending system. The dispensing device is one of the commonly known machine for dispensing parts, tools, foods, novelty items and other such items which generally use a helical coil or robotic delivery system. The particular device disclosed is a carrousel or drum type device. The dispensing device is modified to detect the rotation and position of the drum element and to detect the delivery of parts. The parts vending system controls and monitors the dispensing device or devices to assure proper operation and authorization of users. The user is aided in the requesting for parts by the correlating of vehicle identification number and identified operations or part type. This relieves the user of the task of identifying a particular configuration of part where vehicle models may have variations by vehicle identification numbers, etc.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed for an agricultural implement, such as an agricultural sprayer, used to dispense a product to the ground wherein the dispensing units for the product are provided with control valves that can reduce the flow rate of product through selected dispensing units to zero. By controlling the rate of flow through the dispensing units, overlap of the application of the product to the ground can be substantially eliminated. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the control mechanism can receive data from a remote source, such as a central controller or another implement operating in the field, to define where the product needs to be applied to the ground. The application of the product can also be controlled through or in conjunction with a prescription map.

Abstract: A device that can be loaded with appropriate pills and programmed to automatically dispense the proper amount(s) and proper type(s) of pill(s) at the proper time(s) each day. The device includes a system for alerting the pill taker that pills have been dispensed, a system for providing voice messages to coach the pill taker to use the device and consume the pills, and a system for alerting an off-site caregiver when the pill taker has not responded as required or when there is a problem with the operation of the device.

Abstract: A method of automatically picking items to fill a purchase order. A purchase order is received and information about the identity and quantity of items ordered in the purchase order is extracted from it. A pick list is created from the extracted information a pick list, and the pick list is associated with a receptacle for receiving picked items. A determination is made whether ordered items are of a first type or a second type. If no item of the second type is ordered, the receptacle is directed to a first location where items of the first type are stored and ordered items stored at the first location are automatically picked and placed in the receptacle. If at least one item of the second type is ordered, the receptacle is first directed to a second location where items of the second type are stored.

Abstract: An article or product dispensing system to selectively dispense products having a dispensing module including a carousel to store the plurality of products rotatable by a carousel positioning device between a dispensing station and a rejecting station to selectively position the carousel relative thereto. A product ejector selectively ejects product at the dispensing station and a product rejector selectively ejects product at the rejecting station. A product detector verifies the product at the dispensing station is the selected product. A control system including a product input to select the product to be dispensed is operatively coupled to the carousel positioning device, the product ejector and the product rejector, such that the carousel positioning device rotates the carousel to position the selected product at the dispensing station and the product ejector ejects the selected product when the product is detected.

Abstract: An article or product dispensing system to selectively dispense products comprising a dispensing module including a carousel to store the plurality of products rotatable by a carousel positioning device between a dispensing station and a rejecting station to selectively position the carousel relative thereto, a product ejector to selectively eject product at the dispensing station and a product rejector to selectively eject product at the rejecting station, a product detector to verify the product at the dispensing station is the selected product and a control system including a product input to select the product to be dispensed operatively coupled to the carousel positioning device, the product ejector and the product rejector such that the carousel positioning device rotates the carousel to position the selected product at the dispensing station and the product ejector ejects the selected product when the product is detected and the carousel positioning device rotates the carousel to position the product a

Abstract: A method for retrieving data (D, B, I) from machine tools, production equipment, or robots with at least one motion controller or drive controller (R). Image and/or video and/or audio data (B) relating to the mechanical movement in normal operation are displayed or processed in real-time, synchronized with the data available (I) in the motion controller or the drive controller (R). Furthermore, it is possible for the user to select data (D, B, I), compress them prior to transfer (DK1, DK2), use a web server (W) for transfer purposes, and save synchronized data (D, B, I).

Abstract: The system for automatically dispensing medications or other medical elements includes several groupings, i.e. vaults, of storage members, each vault containing approximately 100 individual cartridges, which each contain packages of unit-of-use doses of a given medication or other medical supply, such as syringes. Each storage member includes an ejector which ejects selected medications/supplies to a supply trough. The packages in the trough are moved to a central collator, which dispenses them to a bin receptacle which has been moved underneath the collator and which is typically identified with a particular patient. Information concerning medications/supplies for a particular patient is stored in a system database and used to determine the particular medications/supplies dispensed into a given bin. Bar coding is used to maintain control over the bins, and the medications, forming a closed information/control system.

Abstract: A portable electrically operable and tamper resistant medication dispenser for supplying multiple daily medications to a patient on a predetermined schedule and which includes a programmable assembly for indexing a plurality of containers which are filled with the medications to a dispenser outlet.

Abstract: A device and a method for distinguishing and automatically identifying and classifying tools using the device are disclosed. The device has a fixed reading unit attached to a machine tool and a coding system on a rotating tool. The coding system is a series of coding elements which are arranged on the rotating tool in the circumferential direction having a prescribed pitch spacing at different circumferential distances from one another, and which are successively sensed by the reading unit during rotation of the tool.

Abstract: A medication dispensing unit comprising a carousel defining a plurality of compartments, each of the compartments adapted to store a dose of medication is disclosed. The dispensing unit also comprises a housing that has a surface adapted to receive the carousel. The housing defines a receptacle and an access aperture that communicates between the receptacle and the surface that is adapted to receive the carousel. One of the compartments is positioned to communicate with the receptacle through the access aperture. The unit also comprises a dosing drawer that is positioned within the receptacle and communicates with the access aperture to receive a dose of medication from the compartment through the access aperture. The dosing drawer includes a normally closed trap door that, when opened, allows a dose of medication in the drawer to drop out of the dosing drawer.

Abstract: A method for moving metal sheets of a working area by an antropomorphous robot comprises a) taking of preselected fixed input data that identify the geometry in the space of components of a working island; b) taking, comprising from a machine tool, preselected variable input data comprising dimensions and shape of a preselected metal sheet to be handled and a sequence of working preselected metal sheets; c) processing the fixed and variable input data on a processing unit in order to generate automatically output data that identify a preselected trajectory of the metal sheet to be handled and d) transfer the output data to a control unit of the robot in order to drive said robot to move the metal sheet along the preselected trajectory so as to handle said metal sheets selected by type.

Abstract: A computerized medication dispensing cart and system for dispensing prepackaged unit-dose medications to a patient in a medical facility including a computer system on the cart for storing medication information regarding each patient provided by a pharmacy and a plurality of dispensers on the cart that automatically dispense prepackaged unit dosages of prescribed medications at the request of nursing personnel while making rounds. A separate dispenser on the cart is used to dispense each type of medication. An input device, such as a touch screen monitor, is mounted on the cart to permit nursing personnel to access the medication information regarding the patient and to request that the cart dispense the prescribed medications. A detector is mounted on each dispenser that detects the administration of the medications to the patient and records the time and date that the medications were administered.

Abstract: An automated medication-dispensing cart includes a closed cart housing and a plurality of medication-containing bins which extend for substantially the length of the cart and which are supported within the cart housing. The support structure includes two spaced sets of sprockets positioned at both ends of the cart and endless chains which extend around the sprockets, with one of the sprockets being motor-driven. The bins are connected at opposing ends thereof to the spaced chains. The movement of the bins is controlled such that the bins can be stopped at a preselected position within the cart, in the vicinity of the top front edge of the cart. A plurality of doors is located in the top of the cart, such that when one or more of the doors is opened, a preselected portion of the bin in the preselected position and the medications therein are exposed.

Abstract: A portable electrically operable and tamper resistant medication dispenser for supplying multiple daily medications to a patient on a predetermined schedule and which includes a programmable assembly for indexing a plurality of containers which are filled with the medications to a dispenser outlet.

Abstract: A medical item dispensing apparatus includes a dispenser (100) which encloses a plurality of magazines (168). Each magazine holds a plurality of medical items (170) which in the preferred form of the invention are cylindrical containers. Each magazine includes an opening (180). A guide (182) and a front gate member (194) are positioned adjacent to the opening. A back gate member (200) is positioned further inward from the opening than the front gate member. The front gate member and back gate member are moved in coordinated relation so that the front gate member enables a medical item adjacent the opening to pass through the opening while the back gate member moves to prevent the other medical items in the magazine from moving toward the opening. After the dispense of the medical item from the magazine the front gate member moves to block the passage of further medical items through the opening while the back gate member moves to enable medical items to move toward the opening.