US 11,941,938 B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for the automated dispensing of articles
Shawn T. Greyshock, Tarentum, PA (US); Patrick Joseph Braun, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and William B. Pattison, Mars, PA (US)
Assigned to OMNICELL, INC., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Omnicell, Inc., Cranberry, PA (US)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/656,278.
Application 17/656,278 is a continuation of application No. 16/775,863, filed on Jan. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,315,381.
Application 16/775,863 is a continuation of application No. 15/719,671, filed on Sep. 29, 2017, granted, now 10,586,418, issued on Mar. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0215712 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. G07F 11/16 (2006.01); G07F 9/00 (2006.01); G07F 11/42 (2006.01); G07F 11/60 (2006.01); G07F 17/00 (2006.01); G07G 1/00 (2006.01); G16H 20/13 (2018.01); A61J 7/00 (2006.01); G06K 7/10 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 11/1657 (2020.05) [G07F 9/002 (2020.05); G07F 11/1653 (2020.05); G07F 11/42 (2013.01); G07F 11/60 (2013.01); G07F 17/0092 (2013.01); G07G 1/0045 (2013.01); G16H 20/13 (2018.01); A61J 7/0069 (2013.01); A61J 7/0076 (2013.01); A61J 2205/10 (2013.01); A61J 2205/60 (2013.01); G06K 7/10366 (2013.01); G06K 7/10861 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated dispensing system comprising:
a controller configured to receive a request for a plurality of articles to be dispensed;
a first storage module and a second storage module, wherein each of the first storage module and the second storage module comprise a plurality of trays movable between a storage position and a retrieval position, wherein each tray of the plurality of trays comprises a plurality of storage locations;
a track disposed between the first storage module and the second storage module;
a robot configured to traverse the track between the first storage module and the second storage module, the robot comprising a six-axis arm, wherein the robot is configured to access the plurality of storage locations of a tray in response to the tray being moved to the retrieval position;
a delivery device, wherein the delivery device receives the plurality of articles to be dispensed;
wherein the controller is configured to receive a request for an on-demand medication request;
wherein the controller is configured to interrupt retrieval of the plurality of articles to be dispensed to retrieve one or more on-demand articles of the on-demand medication request; and
an on-demand medication dispensing station, wherein the on-demand medication dispensing station comprises a plurality of patient-specific locations, each patient-specific location configured to receive therein on-demand articles for a single patient, wherein the robot retrieves the one or more on-demand articles from the tray in response to the tray being moved to the retrieval position, and dispenses the one or more on-demand articles from the tray into a patient-specific location of the plurality of patient-specific locations, wherein the dispensing station comprises a plurality of storage lockers, each storage locker accessible from a first side to the robot and comprising a locking door on a second side to prevent unauthorized access.