Patent ID: 7983995
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: A61J,B65B,G06Q,G07F,G16H

Abstract:
1. A system for packaging prescription medication as pharmacy letters, the system including: A. a system controller configured to receive a prescription and provide instructions for dispensing and packaging pills prescribed by the prescription; B. a pill dispensing system configured to receive instructions from the system controller and dispense pills from pill containers, the pill dispensing system including C. a base with one or more compartments configured to receive the pills, D. a carrier configured to receive the base, the carrier conforming in size to a mail piece that is machine-sortable as a first class or priority letter; E. the packaging system, configured to receive the pills from the first conveyancing subsystem and instructions from the system controller, including a feeder configured to deposit the pills in the one or more compartments of the base, a printer configured to an assembly station configured to assemble and seal the carrier and the base to enclose the pills and conceal the prescription information and display the mailing address to produce the pharmacy letter as a machine-sortable first class or machine-sortable priority letter, wherein a carrier and base sealed by the assembly station together have a thickness of 7 millimeters or less; a second conveyancing subsystem coupled to the assembly station and an automated mail sorter machine configured to convey the pharmacy letter from the assembly station to an automated mail sorter machine; and E. the automated mail sorter machine, configured to receive the pharmacy letter from the second conveyancing subsystem and sort the pharmacy letters along with other types of machine sortable first class or priority mailpieces for delivery over different postal delivery routes in accordance with the mailing addresses.