US 12,077,376 B2
Automatic picking machine for filling a transport container
Christoph Hellenbrand, Kelberg (DE)
Assigned to Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH, Kelberg (DE)
Filed by Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH, Kelberg (DE)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/098,211.
Application 17/098,211 is a continuation of application No. 15/171,716, filed on Jun. 2, 2016, granted, now 10,521,562.
Prior Publication US 2021/0061561 A1, Mar. 4, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/08 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); G16H 20/13 (2018.01)
CPC B65G 1/0407 (2013.01) [B65G 1/08 (2013.01); B65G 1/1373 (2013.01); G16H 20/13 (2018.01); B65G 2201/027 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pharmaceutical dispensing machine, comprising:
at least one transport channel extending from a storage location storing pharmaceutical drugs toward a delivery region;
a filling apparatus configured to receive the pharmaceutical drugs, when removed from the storage location, from the at least one transport channel at the delivery region;
a transport apparatus comprising a funnel-shaped guide channel having an upper opening arranged under the filling apparatus and a lower opening, wherein the filling apparatus is configured to fill one or more transport containers via the transport apparatus with the pharmaceutical drugs received from the at least one transport channel as the one or more transport containers are moved to a filling location under the transport apparatus, and wherein the lower opening of the funnel-shaped guide is arranged above a first transport container when the first transport container is at the filling location; and
a control apparatus configured to determine when the pharmaceutical drugs are removed from the storage location to the at least one transport channel, and configured to cause the one or more transport containers to be placed at the filling location to be filled by the filling apparatus.