Patent ID: 7912582
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. An automated prescription filling system, comprising: a) a vial storage cassette holding empty vials of a single size and having means for dispensing a single vial therefrom upon command; b) means for printing and applying a label to said dispensed, single vial, operatively connected to said vial storage cassette; c) a plurality of automated, independently operating dispensers, each containing a supply of a predetermined medicant and each dispenser comprising means for counting, upon command, a predetermined quantity thereof into an output chute; d) a robot adapted for simultaneously moving a labeled vial from said means for printing and applying a label to a particular one of said plurality of automated dispensers, for positioning said labeled vial at said discharge chute thereof, for releasing said counted medicant into said empty labeled vial, and for transporting a filled vial to an output station, all occurring in parallel, wherein said robot comprises at least one selected from the group: an X-Y gantry, and a Y-theta gantry, each having a first gripper adapted for gripping a vial operatively connected to and positionable thereby; e) at least one additional robot selected from the group: a robot rotatable around a central, vertical axis thereof, and an X-Y gantry, each having a second gripper adapted for gripping a vial operatively connected to and positionable thereby; and f) at least one staging platform accessible to at least one of said first gripper and second gripper.