US 11,912,506 B2
Modular product dispensing and verification system and method
Robert Terzini, Corinth, TX (US); and Kenneth S. Myers, Kansas City, MO (US)
Assigned to Tension International, Inc., Kansas City, MO (US)
Filed by Tension International, Inc., Kansas City, MO (US)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/827,389.
Application 17/827,389 is a continuation of application No. 16/856,157, filed on Apr. 23, 2020, granted, now 11,345,547.
Application 16/856,157 is a continuation of application No. 15/472,129, filed on Mar. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,669,098, issued on Jun. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/314,115, filed on Mar. 28, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0363481 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 35/10 (2006.01); B65B 5/08 (2006.01); B65B 57/10 (2006.01); B65B 65/00 (2006.01); B65B 67/02 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 15/02 (2006.01); B65G 43/00 (2006.01); B65G 47/50 (2006.01); G16H 20/13 (2018.01)
CPC B65G 1/1378 (2013.01) [B65B 5/08 (2013.01); B65B 35/10 (2013.01); B65B 65/003 (2013.01); B65B 67/02 (2013.01); B65G 15/02 (2013.01); B65G 43/00 (2013.01); B65G 47/50 (2013.01); G16H 20/13 (2018.01); B65B 57/10 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0258 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
receive a patient order for a medication;
determine a dispensing and routing itinerary for the patient order;
route the patient order in a transport carrier to a product dispensing station based on the dispensing and routing itinerary for the patient order;
activate a first transport conveyor to transport the patient order from the product dispensing station to a first conveyor tier that transports the first transport conveyor containing a dispensing product to a packaging station and then removes the first transport conveyor containing the dispensing product at a verification station; and
activate a second conveyor tier that conveys a second transport conveyor containing a verified product from the verification station to the packaging station, wherein the first conveyor tier and the second conveyor tier are vertically spaced in a transport conveyor assembly in a generally circular configuration.
 
7. A method comprising:
receiving, by at least one processor, a patient order for a medication;
determining, by the at least one processor, a dispensing and routing itinerary for the patient order;
routing, by the at least one processor, the patient order in a transport carrier to a product dispensing station based on the dispensing and routing itinerary for the patient order; and
activating, by the at least one processor, a first transport conveyor to transport the patient order from the product dispensing station to a first conveyor tier that transports the first transport conveyor containing a dispensing product to a packaging station and then removes the first transport conveyor containing the dispensing product at a verification station; and
activating a second conveyor tier that conveys a second transport conveyor containing a verified product from the verification station to the packaging station, wherein the first conveyor tier and the second conveyor tier are vertically spaced in a transport conveyor assembly in a generally circular configuration; and
activating, by the at least one processor, a transport conveyor to transport the patient order from the product dispensing station to at least one conveyor tier.
 
13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations, comprising:
receiving a patient order for a medication;
determining a dispensing and routing itinerary for the patient order;
routing the patient order in a transport carrier to a product dispensing station based on the dispensing and routing itinerary for the patient order;
activate a first transport conveyor to transport the patient order from the product dispensing station to a first conveyor tier that transports the first transport conveyor containing a dispensing product to a packaging station and then removes the first transport conveyor containing the dispensing product at a verification station; and
activate a second conveyor tier that conveys a second transport conveyor containing a verified product from the verification station to the packaging station, wherein the first conveyor tier and the second conveyor tier are vertically spaced in a transport conveyor assembly in a generally circular configuration.