Patent Publication Number: US-2023138334-A1

Title: Automatic packager for medical products

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/978,174, filed Feb. 18, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an automatic packager for supplements. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment provides a cartridge for an automatic packager including a reservoir for storing a plurality of medical products and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The wheel being rotatable with respect to the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medical product from the reservoir, and a funnel extension coupled to the reservoir and extending outward and upward from the reservoir. 
     Another embodiment provides an automatic packager for packaging medical products including a universal feed cassette having a housing, a plurality of cartridge slots within the housing, and a plurality of dispensing openings provided on a bottom of the housing corresponding to the plurality of cartridge slots. The automatic packager also includes a packaging unit including chutes in communication with the plurality of dispensing openings. Each of the plurality of cartridge slots are configured to receive a cartridge. The cartridge includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medical products, and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The wheel being rotatable with respect to the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medical product from the reservoir, and a funnel extension coupled to the reservoir and extending outward and upward from the reservoir. 
     Another embodiment provides a method of filling medical products in an automatic packager. The automatic packager includes a universal feed cassette having a housing, a plurality of cartridge slots within the housing, and a plurality of dispensing openings provided on a bottom of the housing corresponding to the plurality of cartridge slots, and a packaging unit having chutes in communication with the plurality of dispensing openings. The method includes inserting a cartridge into one of the plurality of cartridge slots, the cartridge including a reservoir for storing a plurality of medical products, a wheel having a bottom portion placed in the reservoir and being rotatable with respect to the reservoir, a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medical product from the reservoir, and a funnel extension coupled to the reservoir and extending outward and upward from the reservoir. The method also includes filling the reservoir of cartridge with medical products by pouring the medical products into the funnel extension without removing the cartridge from the cartridge slot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an automatic packager in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a front perspective view of a universal feed cassette of the automatic packager of  FIG.  1    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    is a front perspective view of the universal feed cassette of  FIG.  2    with a part of a housing removed in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    is a plan view of a portion of the universal feed cassette of  FIG.  2    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5 A  is a perspective view of a cartridge of the universal feed cassette of  FIG.  2    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS.  5 B and  5 C  are plan views of the cartridge of  FIG.  5 A  in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    is a back perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG.  5 A  with a funnel extension removed in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    is a back perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG.  5 A  with a funnel extension removed in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of  FIG.  5 A  with a funnel extension removed in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of a cartridge mechanism of the universal feed cassette of  FIG.  2    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the wheel of the cartridge of  FIG.  5 A  and the camera system and the shuttle system of the cartridge mechanism of  FIG.  9    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG.  5 A  with a funnel extension removed and the cartridge mechanism of  FIG.  9    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG.  5 A  with a funnel extension removed and the cartridge mechanism of  FIG.  9    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  13    is a block diagram of the cartridge mechanism of  FIG.  9    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  14    is a flowchart of a method of delivering supplements to a platform of the cartridge mechanism of  FIG.  9    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  15    is a flowchart of a method of dispensing supplements from the cartridge of  FIG.  5    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view of a strip packager used as a packaging unit of the automatic packager of  FIG.  1    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  17    is a schematic of the automatic packager of  FIG.  1    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  18    is a flowchart of a method for refilling automatic packagers of  FIG.  1    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  19    is a front perspective view of a cartridge of the universal feed cassette of  FIG.  2    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  20    is a front perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG.  19    with a reservoir removed in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  21    is a rear perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG.  19    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  22    is a perspective view of a weir of the cartridge of  FIG.  19    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  23    is a top plan view of the cartridge of  FIG.  19    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  24    is a perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG.  19    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  25    is a rear plan view of the cartridge of  FIG.  19    in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  26    is a top plan view of the cartridge of  FIG.  19    in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     Supplements such as dietary supplements (for example, multi-vitamins, minerals, and the like) are generally purchased over the counter at pharmacies and grocery stores. These supplements are purchased in bulk containers and taken according to the instructions on the containers. 
     Typically consumers are not prescribed supplements. Rather, consumers purchase supplements on their own accord based on personal needs. More recently, consumers are turning to online supplement stores to purchase these supplements. Online stores can provide personal recommendations to consumers based on lifestyle information received from the consumers. Purchasing bulk containers makes it difficult for consumers to adhere to the recommendations. Most consumers store bulk containers at home. Due to various obligations, for example, work, school, and the like, consumers may not be home to take the supplement at the recommended time. Carrying around bulk containers or separating supplements into smaller containers may not be always feasible. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for high-volume and high-efficiency automatic packaging of supplements into separable packages. These packages allow consumers to take the packages with them wherever they go and results in better adherence to recommendations. Systems and method described below are directed to automatic packagers that package supplements into strip packages or blister cards. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an example of an automatic packager  100  that efficiently packages supplements or medications in a quick and accurate manner. The term medical products below is used to refer to both supplements that are provided without a prescription or medications provided with a prescription. In the example illustrated, the automatic packager  100  includes a universal feed cassette  105 , a packaging unit  110 , and a spooling unit  115 . The universal feed cassette  105  receives supplements from bulk canisters and individually dispenses supplements to the packaging unit  110 . Supplements may be in any form, for example, a pill, a capsule, a gummy, and the like. Each universal feed cassette  105  may dispense forty separate supplements at the same time. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 - 4   , the universal feed cassette  105  includes a housing  125  having a plurality of cartridge slots  130  within the housing  125 . An opening  135  is provided on a front side (e.g., a first side) of the housing  125  and a cassette cover covers a back side (e.g., a second side) of the housing  125 . A plurality of dispensing openings  150  are provided on the bottom of the housing  125  corresponding to the plurality of cartridge slots  130 . The dispensing openings  150  are in communication with a chute  140  of the packaging unit  110 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS.  2 - 4   , the universal feed cassette  105  includes up to forty cartridge slots  130 . The cartridge slots  130  are arranged in a four-level formation such that a second row of cartridge slots  130  are provided above a first row of cartridge slots  130 , a third row of cartridge slots  130  are provided above the second row of cartridge slots  130 , and a fourth row of cartridge slots  130  are provided above the third row of cartridge slots  130  within the housing  125  to facilitate faster filling of supplements. In other embodiments, the universal feed cassette  105  may include fewer or more cartridge slots  130 . For example, the universal feed cassette  105  may include one, two, three, five, or more rows of cartridge slots  130 , and/or each row may include fewer or more than ten cartridge slots  130 . 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a side-profile view of the four-level formation of the cartridge slots  130 . A separating platform  145  is provided between the first row and the second row of cartridge slots  130 , between the second row and the third row of cartridge slots  130  and between the third row and fourth row of cartridge slots  130 . The cartridge slots  130  receive cartridges  155  through the opening  135 . A plurality of cartridge mechanisms  160 , one for each cartridge slot  130 , is fixed to the top of the housing  125 —for the fourth row of cartridge slots  130 —and the separating platforms  145 —for the first row, second row, and third row of cartridge slots  130 . When received in the cartridge slots  130 , the cartridges  155  are connected to the cartridge mechanism  160 . The cartridge mechanism  160  individually dispenses supplements from the cartridge  155  as described in detail below. The dispensing openings  150  transfer the supplements from the cartridges  155  to the packaging unit  110  for packaging. A cassette cover at the back of the universal feed cassette  105  can be removed to access the cartridge mechanisms  160  from the back side of the housing  125 . The cartridge mechanisms  160  are removably fixed to the housing  125  such that a technician can remove a cartridge mechanism  160  for servicing. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5 A- 8   , the cartridge  155  includes a reservoir  170 , a funnel extension  175 , a wheel  180 , and scooping members  185 . The reservoir  170  stores the supplements during the dispensing process. The wheel  180  is provided on one side of the cartridge  155  and extends into the bottom portion of the reservoir  170 . The bottom portion of the reservoir  170  has a curved shape starting from the side opposite that of the wheel  180 , the front side, and the back side and ending at the center of the bottom portion of the wheel  180  (see  FIG.  8   ). The curved shape of the reservoir  170  directs the supplements within the reservoir  170  towards the bottom of the wheel  180  and particularly into the scooping members  185  of the wheel  180 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5 A through  5 C , the funnel extension  175  extends outward and upward from the reservoir  170  (e.g., from a spout portion  190  of the reservoir  170 ). The funnel extension  175  includes an opening  195  at the top of the funnel extension  175 , a first portion  200  that extends downward from the opening  195  and a second portion  205  that curves and/or extends diagonally from the first portion  200  to the reservoir  170  (or the spout portion  190 ). A user may therefore replenish the supplements in the cartridge  155  by pouring supplements into the funnel extension  175 . More specifically, the user may refill the cartridge  155  without having to remove the cartridge  155  from the corresponding cartridge slot  130 . The supplements flow through the opening  195 , the first portion  200 , the second portion  205 , the spout portion  190  into the bottom portion of the reservoir  170 . The funnel extension  175  may be made of clear material (e.g., plastic, glass, etc.) such that a user can visibly observe the level of supplements in the cartridge  155  and replenish accordingly. In some embodiments, only a portion of the funnel extension  175  (e.g., a window) may be formed of a clear or transparent material. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , teeth  210  are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the wheel  180 . During the dispensing process, the teeth  210  interlock with teeth of a shaft driven by a motor assembly of the cartridge mechanism  160 . Referring to  FIG.  8   , the wheel  180  is provided with three scooping members  185  to scoop individual supplements from the reservoir  170 . The scooping members  185  include an inward projection  215  extending into the wheel  180 . The curved surface of the reservoir  170  guides the supplements into the inward projections  215  of the scooping members  185 . The scooping members  185  include a stopper  220  along a circumferential end of the inward projections  215  that hold the supplements when the wheel  180  is being rotated. Scooping members  185  may be made in different sizes to accommodate the different sizes of supplements. The scooping members  185  can be swapped to configure the cartridges  155  to dispense supplements of different sizes. The scooping members  185  may also be removed for cleaning. In some embodiments, rather than being separate from the wheel  180 , the scooping members  185  may be formed integrally with the wheel  180 . In these embodiments, the wheels  180  or cartridges  155  may be swapped to dispense supplements of different sizes. 
     The wheel  180  includes holding pins  225  (see  FIG.  10   ) that extend and retract from the inside of the wheel  180  during rotation of the wheel  180 . The scooping members  185  include an opening to receive the holding pins  225 . The holding pins  225  along with the stopper  220  and the circumferential surface of the inward projection  215  are used to hold a supplement when the wheel  180  is being rotated. During rotation of the wheel  180 , when the inward projections  215  of the scooping members  185  encounter the reservoir  170 , the supplements in the reservoir  170  move inward into the scooping members  185  due to the curved shape of the reservoir  170 . The holding pins  225  are retracted when the scooping members  185  are moving along the reservoir  170  at a bottom portion of the wheel  180 . As the scooping members  185  move out of the reservoir  170 , the holding pins  225  are advanced towards the circumferential end of the scooping members  185  to engage a supplement. The supplements are held between the circumferential end of the scooping member  185 , the holding pin  225 , and the stopper  220 . The scooping member  185  and the holding pin  225  can be used for any type or size of supplement. Typically, only a single supplement is pinched between the holding pin  225  and the scooping member  185 , while the other supplements fall back into the reservoir  170  during the rotation of the wheel  180 . As the scooping member  185  passes the top portion of the wheel  180 , the holding pin  225  is once again retracted to release the supplements into the cartridge mechanism  160 . The wheel  180  and the scooping member  185  may together be referred to as a singulating mechanism. 
       FIGS.  6  and  7    illustrate a cam and follower mechanism  230  that is used to advance and retract the holding pins  225 . The cam and follower mechanism  230  is provided in the wheel  180 . The cam and follower mechanism  230  includes a cam  235  and a plurality of followers  240 . In the example illustrated, the cartridge  155  includes three followers  240 , one for each of the holding pins  225 . The holding pins  225  are attached to the followers  240  to move with the followers  240 . The cam  235  is fixed to the cartridge  155  and remains stationary even when the wheel  180  is rotated. The cam  235  includes an arc portion  245  and a cut-off portion  250 . The arc portion  245  extends further from the center of the cam  235  than the cut-off portion  250 . The follower  240  includes a flat portion  255  that is coupled to a holding pin  225  and an outward projection  260  extending from the flat portion  255  to engage the circumferential surface of the cam  235 . A spring mechanism is connected to a radially inward end of the followers  240  to provide an inward biasing force to the followers  240 . The holding pin  225  is advanced when the corresponding follower  240  engages the arc portion  245  of the cam  235  and is retracted when the corresponding follower  240  engages the cut-off portion  250  of the cam  235 . The follower  240  is retracted due to the biasing force of the spring mechanism when the follower  240  engages the cut-off portion  250  of the cam  235 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  9 - 12   , the cartridge mechanism  160  includes a shuttle system  300  (for example, a verification system), a camera system  305 , a motor assembly  310 , a printed circuit board  315 , and a lockout mechanism  316 . The shuttle system  300 , shown in  FIG.  11   , includes a platform  320 , a shuttle  325 , and a shuttle drive  330 . The platform  320  may be made from a clear or translucent plastic material. An LED lighting system  322 , as described above, may be provided over and/or under the platform  320  to illuminate the contents on the platform  320  when the camera system  305  is capturing an image of the contents. The LED lighting system  322  may emit visible or infrared light to illuminate the platform  320 . 
     Typically, a single LED device may be used below the platform  320  to illuminate the translucent platform  320 . However, the single LED device may not provide uniform lighting through all of the surface area of the platform  320 . Particularly, each LED device includes a light signature such that the center of the platform  320  is brighter than the edges of the platform. This irregularity in brightness may result in misidentifying supplements during the image recognition process. In order to provide uniform brightness across the surface are of the platform, several LED devices may be placed around the bottom surface of the platform. In some embodiments, the light signature of the LED device is detected and a backing (not shown) may be applied to the platform to correct the light signature of the LED device. The backing, when applied to the platforms  320 , distributes the light from the LED device of the LED lighting system  322  such that every portion of the platform  320  is illuminated with similar brightness. 
     The shuttle  325  may be moved laterally between the platform  320 , over the reservoir  170 , and over a conduit  335 . The shuttle  325  transfers the supplements from the platform  320  either to the reservoir  170  or to the conduit  335 . The shuttle  325  is driven by the shuttle drive  330 . The shuttle drive  330  may be a motor assembly, an actuator, or the like that moves the shuttle  325  between the platform  320 , over the reservoir  170 , and over the conduit  335 . In the example illustrated, the shuttle drive  330  includes a rotating screw  332  that moves the shuttle  325  laterally between the platform  320 , the reservoir  170 , and the conduit  335 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5 A through  5 C , the funnel extension  175  includes an opening at the end of the second portion  205  that allows the supplements poured into the funnel extension  175  to flow to the reservoir  170 . The opening in the second portion  205  is provided below the shuttle  325  and the platform  320 . By providing the opening in the second portion  205  below the shuttle  325  and the platform  320 , overcrowding of the platform with the supplements can be avoided. The funnel extension  175  may extend beyond a height of the reservoir  170 . Having the opening in the second portion  205  above the shuttle  325  or the platform  320  may result in supplements rushing into the reservoir  170  and onto the platform  320  and the shuttle  325 . This will prevent singulation as more than one supplement may be present on the platform  320 . To avoid such a situation, the opening in the second portion  205  is provided below the platform  320  and the shuttle  325  such that the reservoir  170  is refilled only to a level below the platform  320  and does not affect the singulation mechanism. 
     The funnel extension  175  includes a throttle  265  at the opening in the second portion  205 . In some embodiments, the throttle  265  includes a supplement opening that is sized to allow a limited number of supplements to pass through at a time. In some embodiments, the throttle  265  is a rotating plate and an actuation mechanism is used to rotate the throttle  265  to transfer the supplements from the funnel extension  175  to the reservoir  170 . By limiting the number of supplements passing to the reservoir, the throttle  265  (and thereby the funnel extension  175 ) prevents overcrowding in the cartridge  155 . The throttle  265  may come in different sizes to accommodate different types of supplements. The throttle  265  and/or the funnel extension  175  may be changed for each type of supplement. In some embodiments, the throttle  265  may include different sized supplement openings such that the throttle  265  may be rotated such that only one supplement opening is exposed to allow supplements to pass through. The throttle  265  may be rotated prior to placing the cartridge  155  in the universal feed cassette  105  to select the correct supplement opening corresponding to the supplement being dispensed from the cartridge  155 . 
     In some embodiments, the throttle  265  includes a plate pivotably attached to the opening in the funnel extension  175  using a hinge or other mechanism. The throttle  265  can be pivoted to a fully closed position in which the opening in the funnel extension  175  is fully closed and prevents supplements from going through to the reservoir  170 . The throttle  265  can be moved from the fully closed position inward into the funnel extension  175  or outward into the reservoir  170  to provide different size of openings for the supplements to flow through to the reservoir  170 . 
     As seen from the perspective of  FIG.  5 C , the wheel  180  rotates in a clockwise direction to pick up the supplements from the reservoir  170 . The movement of the wheel  180  toward the throttle  265  as the wheel  180  grabs or “scoops” a supplement causes the supplements to bunch up underneath the throttle  265  providing a natural barrier for preventing excessive supplements from entering the reservoir  170  and crowding out the verification mechanism. In some embodiments, the opening and the throttle  265  may be provided on a side of the funnel extension  175  rather than at the bottom of the funnel extension  175 . 
     Returning to  FIGS.  9 - 12   , the camera system  305  includes a camera  340  and a mirror  345 . The camera  340  is positioned at the back of the cartridge mechanism  160 . The camera  340  may be a still camera or a video camera that captures an image of the contents of the platform. The mirror  345  is placed directly above the platform  320  and is tilted at a 45-degree angle such that the camera  340  positioned at the back of the cartridge mechanism  160  can capture an image of the platform  320 . 
     The motor assembly  310  includes a motor  350  that drives a shaft  355  positioned in the middle of the cartridge mechanism  160 . The shaft  355  includes teeth  356  that interlock with the teeth  210  of the wheel  180  (see  FIG.  11   ). When the motor  350  is driven, the shaft  355  rotates the wheel  180  to the individually dispense the supplements. 
     The PCB  315  includes the electrical components of the cartridge mechanism  160 . The PCB  315  is positioned on the side opposite that of the wheel  180 . In some embodiments, the PCB  315  includes an antenna  360  (see  FIG.  9   ) that detects an RFID tag  365  (see  FIGS.  6 - 7   ) placed on the cartridge  155 . The RFID tag  365  may store information of the cartridge  155 . The information stored on the RFID tag  365  may include, for example, identification information of the cartridge  155 , supplement restrictions (e.g., dedicated to allergenic supplements (e.g., including fish, eggs, or the like) or non-allergenic supplements) of the cartridge  155 , and the like. 
     The lockout mechanism  316  is, for example, a lockout solenoid that prevents a cartridge  155  from being loaded onto the cartridge mechanism  160  when the lockout mechanism  316  is activated. During a dispensing process, not all cartridge mechanisms  160  may be used to fill a package. In these situations, the lockout mechanism  316  is used to prevent cartridges  155  from being placed on inactive cartridge mechanism  160 . In addition, the lockout mechanism  316  may be used to prevent an incompatible or wrong cartridge  155  from being loaded to the cartridge mechanism  160 . For example, the cartridge mechanism  160  may read the RFID tag  365  to determine whether the correct and compatible cartridge  155  is being loaded to the cartridge mechanism  160 . The cartridge mechanism  160  may only deactivate the lockout mechanism  316  when the correct cartridge  155  is being loaded to the cartridge mechanism  160 . The lockout mechanism  316  may also be used to prevent the cartridge  155  from being removed from the cartridge mechanism  160 . Particularly, the lockout mechanism  316  locks the cartridge  155  in place when loaded on to the cartridge mechanism  160 . During the dispensing process, the lockout mechanism  316  is activated to prevent removal of the cartridge  155 . The lockout mechanism  316  may be deactivated when the dispensing process is complete and the cartridge  155  can be removed from the cartridge mechanism  160 . 
       FIG.  13    is a block diagram of one embodiment of the universal feed cassette  105 . In the example illustrated, the universal feed cassette  105  includes an electronic processor  370 , a memory  375 , a transceiver  380 , the camera systems  305 , the motor assemblies  310 , the lockout mechanisms  316 , the shuttle drives  330 , the antennas  360 , the pill sensors  362 , and indicator systems  384 . The electronic processor  370 , the memory  375 , the transceiver  380 , the camera system  305 , the motor assembly  310 , the lockout mechanism  316 , the shuttle drive  330 , and the pill sensor  362  communicate over one or more control and/or data buses (for example, a communication bus  382 ).  FIG.  13    illustrates only one example embodiment of the cartridge mechanism  160 . The cartridge mechanism  160  may include more or fewer components and may perform functions other than those explicitly described herein. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic processor  370  is implemented as a microprocessor with separate memory, such as the memory  375 . In other embodiments, the electronic processor  370  may be implemented as a microcontroller (with memory  375  on the same chip). In other embodiments, the electronic processor  370  may be implemented using multiple processors. In addition, the electronic processor  370  may be implemented partially or entirely as, for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an applications specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the like, and the memory  375  may not be needed or be modified accordingly. In the example illustrated, the memory  375  includes non-transitory, computer-readable memory that stores instructions that are received and executed by the electronic processor  370  to carry out the functionality of the cartridge  155  described herein. The memory  375  may include, for example, a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area and the data storage area may include combinations of different types of memory, such as read-only memory and random-access memory.  FIG.  14    illustrates the universal feed cassette  105  as including a single electronic processor  370  and a single memory  375 . However, it should be noted that the universal feed cassette  105  may include separate electronic processor  370  and separate memories with one each for each of the cartridge mechanisms  160 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, a single processor performs the functions of the universal feed cassette  105  including all of the cartridge mechanisms  160  of the universal feed cassette  105 . In other embodiments, the functions of the universal feed cassette  105  and the cartridge mechanisms  160  may be divided between several processors. 
     The transceiver  380  enables wired or wireless communication between the electronic processor  370  and a control system of the automatic packager  100  and/or a control system of the packaging unit  110 . In some embodiments, the transceiver  380  may include separate transmitting and receiving components, for example, a transmitter and a receiver. 
     The other components of the universal feed cassette  105  are described singularly with respect to a single cartridge mechanism  160 . However, it should be noted that the descriptions and functionality are equally applicable for each cartridge mechanism  160  of the universal feed cassette  105 . The camera system  305  receives control signals from the electronic processor  370 . Based on the control signals received from the electronic processor  370 , the camera system  305  controls the camera  340  and the lighting system that illuminates the platform  320 . The motor assembly  310  may send position sensor signals to the electronic processor  370  and receive control signals to operate a motor of the motor assembly  310  based on the position sensor signals. As described above, the shuttle drive  330  may be a motor assembly or an actuator. The shuttle drive  330  may also include a position sensor to determine the position of the shuttle  325 . The shuttle drive  330  may send the position sensor signals to the electronic processor  370 , which sends control signals to the shuttle drive  330  to move the shuttle  325  based on the position sensor signals. In some embodiments, the shuttle system  300  may also include a shuttle home sensor, which indicates whether the shuttle  325  is at a home position. Signals from the shuttle home sensor are provided to the electronic processor  370  to control the movement of the shuttle  325 . 
     The pill sensor  362  communicates with the electronic processor  370  to provide an indication of whether or not a pill is dispensed through the conduit  335 . The electronic processor  370  also controls the indicator system  364  to provide an indication of the status of each cartridge  155 . The indicator system  384  may include one or more LEDs provided behind a translucent plastic material. The electronic processor  370  may use the indicator system  384  to provide indications, for example, whether a cartridge  155  is correctly placed in the cartridge slot  130 . The electronic processor  370  may activate, for example, a blue LED to indicate that a next cartridge  155  should be placed in the corresponding cartridge slot  130  (that is, the cartridge slot  130  corresponding to the cartridge mechanism  160  with the blue LED activated). The electronic processor  370  may activate, for example, a green LED to indicate that the cartridge  155  was correctly placed in the cartridge slot  130 . The electronic processor  370  may activate, for example, a red LED to indicate that the cartridge  155  was not correctly placed in the cartridge slot  130 . Additionally, the electronic processor  370  may use the indicator system  384  to provide indications on where to place a cartridge  155  and when to remove a cartridge  155 . For example, the electronic processor  370  may activate a blue LED to indicate that a user can place a cartridge  155  in the cartridge slot  130  corresponding to the activated LED. The electronic processor  370  may activate a blue LED again to indicate that the dispensing process is complete and the cartridge  155  can be removed from the cartridge slot  130 . 
       FIG.  14    is a flowchart illustrating one example method  385  of delivering supplements to the platform  320 . As illustrated in  FIG.  15   , the method  385  includes rotating, using the motor assembly  310 , a scooping member  185  past the bottom portion of the reservoir  170  (at block  390 ). Referring to  FIG.  9   , when the scooping member  185  is at the bottom portion of the reservoir  170 , the supplements move into the inward projection  215  of the scooping member  185  due to the curved shape of the reservoir  170 . As the supplements move into the inward projection  215 , the stopper  220  of the scooping member  185  carries at least one supplement past the bottom portion of the reservoir  170  as the scooping member  185  is rotated past the bottom portion of the reservoir  170 . The scooping members  185  are placed within the wheel  180  along circumferential ends of the wheel  180 . The wheel  180  is rotated to rotate the scooping members  185 . As described above, teeth  210  of the wheel  180  interlock with teeth of the shaft  355 , which is driven by the motor  350 . 
     The method  385  also includes advancing, using the cam and follower mechanism  230 , the holding pin  225  into the scooping member  185  (at block  395 ). Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  8   , as the scooping member  185  is rotated past the bottom portion of the reservoir  170 , the follower  240  corresponding to the scooping member  185  encounters the arc portion  245  of the cam  235 . The follower  240  is then advanced, which advances the holding pin  225  towards a circumference of the inward projection  215  of the scooping member  185 . 
     The method  385  further includes holding the supplement between the holding pin  225  and the stopper  220  (at block  400 ). When the holding pin  225  is advanced, a supplement is held between the holding pin  225 , the circumferential end of the scooping member  185 , and the stopper  220 . The supplement is held in such a way until the scooping member  185  moves past the top portion of the wheel  180 . 
     The method  385  also includes rotating, using the motor assembly  310 , the scooping member  185  past the top portion of the wheel  180  (at block  405 ). As discussed above, the motor assembly  310  rotates the wheel  180  to rotate the scooping members  185 . The motor assembly  310  may also include a position sensor (not shown) to detect a position of the wheel  180 . For example, the motor assembly  310  may include a Hall sensor to detect magnets placed at certain locations on the wheel  180  to determine the position of the wheel  180 . In other embodiments, the position sensor may be an optical sensor or the like. 
     The method  385  further includes retracting, using the cam and follower mechanism  230 , the holding pin  225  to drop the supplement on to the platform  320  (or for example, a verification system that verifies that an expected supplement (e.g., correct, single, and unbroken supplement) is delivered) (at block  410 ). Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  8   , as the scooping member  185  is rotated past the top portion of the wheel  180 , the follower  240  corresponding to the scooping member  185  encounters the cut-off portion  250  of the cam  235 . The follower  240  is then retracted, which retracts the holding pin  225  away from the circumference of the inward projection  215  of the scooping member  185 . As the holding pin  225  is retracted, the supplement drops from the scooping member  185  on to the platform  320 . The scooping member  185  may be shaped to include a curved portion at a radially inward portion of the scooping member  185 . The curved portion pushes the supplement away from the wheel  180  and onto the platform  320  when the supplement is released by the holding pin  225 . Accordingly, the method  385  delivers a single supplement to the platform  320 . 
       FIG.  15    is a flowchart illustrating one example method  415  of dispensing supplements from the cartridge  155 . As illustrated in  FIG.  15   , the method  415  includes rotating the wheel  180  to deliver a supplement to the shuttle system  300  (at block  420 ). For example, the electronic processor  370  executes the method  385  of  FIG.  14    to rotate the wheel and deliver the supplement to the shuttle system  300 . 
     The method  415  further includes determining whether only a single unbroken supplement is delivered to the shuttle system  300  (at block  425 ). This may also be referred to as singulation verification. The electronic processor  370  controls the camera system  305  to acquire an image of contents of the platform  320 . The mirror  345  reflects the contents of platform  320  to the camera  340 , which captures the image. The camera  340  provides the captured image to the electronic processor  370  for verification. The electronic processor  370  may use image recognition techniques on the captured image to ensure that only a single unbroken supplement is delivered to the shuttle system  300 . Example image recognition techniques are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0091745, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     When the electronic processor  370  determines that more than one supplement has been delivered to the shuttle system  300  or that a broken supplement has been delivered to the shuttle system  300 , the method  415  includes returning the contents of the shuttle system  300  to the reservoir  170  (at block  430 ). The electronic processor  370  controls the shuttle drive  330  to move the shuttle  325  from the platform  320  to a first opening (e.g., the first position). The shuttle  325  returns the contents from the platform  320  to the reservoir  170  through the first opening. The method  415  returns to block  420  to deliver the next supplement to the shuttle system  300 . 
     When the electronic processor  370  determines that only one unbroken supplement has been delivered to the shuttle system  300 , the method  415  includes determining whether the correct supplement is delivered to the shuttle system  300  (at block  435 ). As described above, the electronic processor  370  may use the above incorporated image recognition techniques to determine whether the correct type of supplement has been delivered to the shuttle system  300 . 
     When the electronic processor  370  determines that the incorrect type of supplement is delivered to the shuttle system  300 , the method  415  moves to block  430  to return the contents of the shuttle system  300  to the reservoir  170 , as described above. Accordingly, in blocks  410  and  420 , the method  415  is determining whether an expected supplement is delivered to the shuttle system  300 . In some embodiments, determining whether an expected supplement is delivered may include only one of the blocks  425  or  435  or the blocks  425  and  435  may be performed in a different order. In other embodiments, rather than checking for whether a single unbroken supplement is delivered to the shuttle system  300 , determining whether an expected supplement may include determining whether a correct type of supplement is delivered to the shuttle system  300  regardless of the number of supplements delivered to the shuttle system  300 . In yet other embodiments, determining whether an expected supplement may include determining whether a correct number of supplements is delivered to the shuttle system  300 . 
     When the electronic processor  370  determines that the correct type of supplements is delivered to the shuttle system  300 , the method  415  includes delivering the supplement to the packaging unit  110  (at block  440 ). The electronic processor  370  controls the shuttle drive  330  to move the shuttle  325  from the platform  320  to a second opening (e.g., the second position). The shuttle  325  delivers the supplement from the platform  320  to the packaging unit  110  through the second opening, the conduit  335 , and the dispensing opening. 
     The method  415  also includes verifying the delivery of the supplement to the packaging unit  110  (at block  445 ). The pill sensor  362  detects whether or not a pill was dispensed through the conduit  335  and provides indicating signals to the electronic processor  370 . The pill sensor  362  may detect a supplement in any form (e.g., capsule, tablet, gummy, and the like). When the electronic processor  370  determines that a supplement was delivered to the packaging unit  110 , the method  415  returns to block  420  to deliver the next supplement. When the electronic processor  370  determines that a supplement was not delivered to the packaging unit  110 , the electronic processor  370  sends an interrupt to the control system of the automatic packager  100  and returns to block  420  to re-deliver the supplement. 
     An example cartridge  155  and cartridge mechanism  160  are described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,583,941 filed on Oct. 15, 2018 and granted on Mar. 10, 2020, entitled “UNIVERSAL FEED MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC PACKAGER,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIG.  16    illustrates one example embodiment of a strip packager  500  that may be used as the packaging unit  110 . In the example illustrated, the strip packager  500  includes a chute  140 , a receptacle  510 , two feed stock rolls  520 ,  530 , a take-up roll, and a verification system  540 . The universal feed cassette  105  is placed on top of the chute  140 . The chute  140 , or chute, includes a plurality of discrete tracks corresponding to each of the cartridges  155  (particularly, a conduit of each cartridge  155 ) mounted on the chute  140 . The tracks are independent channels that together form the chute  140 . The tracks direct supplements from the universal feed cassette  105  toward packaging equipment of the strip packager  500 . Conduits of the cartridges  155  align with holes in the chute  140  such that supplements slide down the chute  140  toward the packaging equipment. The tracks isolate the supplements from each other as the supplements slide down the chute  140  to the receptacle  510 . 
     The receptacle  510  collects the supplements from the chute  140 . After the supplements pass through to the receptacle  510 , the supplements are sandwiched between two strips of material (e.g., plastic, paper, etc.) from the feed stock rolls  520 ,  530 . The first feed roll  520  may be made of a first material that is white in color (e.g., a translucent material). The second feed roll  530  may be made of a second material that is clear (e.g., a transparent material) to allow a user to look through the pouch to see the supplements inside the pouch. The two strips of material are then heat sealed together to form a pouch for the supplements. In some embodiments, the strip packager  500  may include a single feed stock roll having a single strip of material that is folded and/or heat sealed to form pouches. Once filled and sealed, the pouches are wrapped around the take-up roll to create a single spool of pouches in the spooling unit  115 . The spool may correspond to supplements requested by a particular consumer or a particular facility. In other embodiments, the pouches may be cut and separated as they are filled, rather than spooled onto the take-up roll continuously. The pouches are dispensed through, for example, a dispenser or dispensing port. 
     In some embodiments, the strip packager  500  may include a printer  560  to print a consumer&#39;s name, the date, the amount and type of supplements contained within, a barcode, and/or other indicia on the pouches as the pouches are formed. The printer  560  may be, for example, a thermal printer. In other embodiments, the printer  560  may include an ink ribbon or an ink jet. In addition, the strip packager  500  may include a verification system  540  to monitor and check the pouches as they are spooled onto the take-up roll or dispensed. 
       FIG.  17    schematically illustrates one embodiment of the automatic packager  100 . The automatic packager  100  controls operations of the feed stock rolls  520 ,  530  to release and form a supplement pouch, and controls when the active cartridges  155  positioned on the chute  140  are operated. 
     In the example illustrated, the automatic packager  100  includes a packager electronic processor  570 , a packager memory  580 , a packager transceiver  590 , a packager input/output interface  600 , the motors  610 , the cameras  620 , the printer  560 , and the verification system  540 . The packager electronic processor  570 , the packager memory  580 , the packager transceiver  590 , the packager input/output interface  600 , the motors  610 , the cameras  620 , the printer  560 , and the verification system  540  communicate over one or more control and/or data buses (e.g., a communication bus  630 ).  FIG.  17    illustrates only one exemplary embodiment of the automatic packager  100 . The automatic packager  100  may include more or fewer components and may perform functions other than those explicitly described herein. 
     The packager electronic processor  570  and the packager memory  580  may be implemented similar to the electronic processor  370  and the memory  375  respectively, as described above. The packager transceiver  590  enables communication from the automatic packager  100  to the communication network  640 . In other embodiments, the packager transceiver  590  may include separate transmitting and receiving components, for example, a transmitter and a receiver. The automatic packager  100 , through the communication network  640 , may communicate with the universal feed cassette  105 . 
     As noted above, the automatic packager  100  may include the packager input/output interface  600  (or more commonly referred to as a user interface). The packager input/output interface  600  may include one or more input mechanisms (e.g., a touch screen, a keypad, a button, a knob, and the like), one or more output mechanisms (e.g., a display, a printer, a speaker, and the like), or a combination thereof. The packager input/output interface  600  receives input from the input devices actuated by a user, and provides output to the output devices with which a user interacts. In some embodiments, as an alternative or in addition to managing inputs and outputs through the packager input/output interface  600 , the automatic packager  100  may receive user inputs, provide user outputs, or both by communicating with an external device, such as a console computer, over a wired or wireless connection. 
     One advantage of the cartridges  155  is that the cartridges  155  significantly reduce the packaging time compared to prior cartridges. Some prior cartridges had to be manually filled one supplement at a time by a user. In contrast, the user may simply dump supplements from a bulk container into the cartridge  155  and place the cartridge  155  in the universal feed cassette  105 . The automatic packager  100  then retrieves supplements from the cartridge  155 . The user may then use the funnel extension  175  to keep replenishing the cartridges  155  as the supplements are being packaged without having to remove the cartridges  155  from the universal feed cassette  105  and without having to introduce a delay in the process for refilling. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS.  15  and  16   , the automatic packager  100  is a strip packager. An example strip packager is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/031891 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0015445, the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In other embodiments, other suitable packaging units, including strip packagers, blister card packagers, and the like, may also or alternatively be used. 
     The automatic packager  100  may be deployed in a high-volume supplement packaging facility. The supplement packaging facility has a plurality of automatic packagers  100  (for example, 10-30 packagers) provided on a packaging floor. The packaging floor also includes large containers that store supplements. Supplements may be fed to the large containers using an automated mechanism. Packaging technicians on the packaging floor may use jugs or other portable containers to pick up supplements from the large containers and top up the cartridges  155 . Specifically, in one example, the user refills a gallon jug using the large containers and walks by the automatic packagers  100  to refill the cartridges  155  as needed. 
       FIG.  18    is a flowchart of an example method  650  for refilling the automatic packagers  100  on a packaging floor. The method  650  includes providing a plurality of automatic packagers  100  (at block  655 ). For example, twenty (20) automatic packagers  100  are provided on a packaging floor to package supplements per customer specifications. Specifically, the customer provides an order request, for example, through an order portal of the packaging facility. The automatic packagers  100  process customer orders received through the order portal. As the automatic packagers  100  are processing the orders, the supplements received in the cartridges  155  are depleted during packaging. 
     The method  650  includes obtaining a refilling container with next supplement (at block  660 ). During a first instance, a packaging technician uses a refilling jug to obtain a first supplement from a large container including the first supplement. The refilling container is used by the packaging technician to transport the supplements from the large container to the automatic packagers  100 . 
     The method  650  further includes determining one or more automatic packagers  100  desired to be refilled of the plurality of automatic packagers  100  (at block  665 ). As the packaging technician moves through the packaging floor, the packaging technician inspects each automatic packager  100  to determine whether the obtained supplement is desired to be refilled for that automatic packager  100 . Specifically, the packaging technician visually inspects the funnel extension  175  of the cartridge  155  containing the obtained supplement to determine whether the cartridge  155  is to be refilled. As discussed above, the funnel extension  175  may be made of clear plastic material such that the packaging technician may quickly visually inspect the level of supplements in the cartridge  155  without having to remove the cartridge  155  from the automatic packager  100 . In some embodiments, the cartridge  155  in the same relative location of each automatic packager  100  (e.g., “cartridge #3”) may include the same supplement so the packaging technician can simply inspect the cartridge  155  at that location in each automatic packager  100 . 
     The method  650  includes refilling the one or more automatic packagers (at block  670 ). Upon determining that an automatic packager  100  of the plurality of automatic packagers  100  are desired to be refilled, the packaging technician may top off the corresponding cartridges  155  of the one or more automatic packagers using the refilling container. The packaging technician may refill the cartridges  155  up to a level indicated on the funnel extension  175  of the cartridge  155 . 
     The method  650  proceeds to block  660  to repeat blocks  660 ,  665 ,  670  for each supplement being packaged by the plurality of automatic packagers  100 . For example, if the automatic packagers  100  are each packaging 40 different supplements, the packaging technician may repeat this process 40 times. In addition, in some embodiments, multiple packaging technicians may be performing this process simultaneously. In such situations, each technician may be responsible for certain supplements and/or cartridges (e.g., a first technician may be responsible for monitoring and refilling cartridge #1 through cartridge #20, while a second technician may be responsible for monitoring and refilling cartridge #21 through cartridge #40). In some scenarios, the packaging technician(s) may know particular supplements are used (e.g., packaged) more often than others and may repeat the process more frequently for those cartridges than for other cartridges. 
       FIGS.  19 - 26    illustrate an example embodiment of the cartridge  155  having a modified funnel extension  175 . The funnel extension  175  extends outward and upward from the reservoir  170 . The funnel extension  175  includes an opening  195  at the top of the funnel extension  175 , a first portion  680  that diagonally downward from the opening  195 , and a second portion  690  that extends laterally from the first portion  680  to the reservoir  170 . In the illustrated embodiment, the opening  195  is covered by a lid. The lid may be moved (e.g., pivoted) open to provide access to the opening. When a user refills the cartridge  155 , the medical products flow through the opening  195 , the first portion  680 , and the second portion  690  into the bottom portion of the reservoir  170 . The funnel extension  175  includes an opening at the end of the second portion  690  that allows the medical products poured into the funnel extension  175  to flow to the reservoir  170 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  19 - 23   , the cartridge  155  also includes a weir  710  provided between the funnel extension  175  and the reservoir  170 , for example, at the opening of the second portion  690 . The illustrated weir  710  is a plate. The weir  710  allows a steady flow of supplements or medications into the reservoir  170  from the funnel extension  175 . The weir  710  also prevents the supplements or medications from piling up around the wheel  180 . In some embodiments, the weir  710  may be provided within the funnel extension  175  or within the reservoir  170 . In some embodiments, the weir  710  is provided immediately adjacent the wheel  180  within the funnel extension  175  (shown in  FIG.  20   ). 
     With reference to  FIG.  22   , the weir  710  may include a rectangular shape having an opening  715  at the bottom. The opening  715  is designed to control the flow of supplements or medications from the funnel extension  175  into the reservoir  170 . With reference to  FIG.  23   , the funnel extension  175  includes grooves  720  on either side of the funnel extension  175 . The grooves  720  are sized to receive a width of the weir  710  such that the weir  710  can be received in the funnel extension  175  by sliding the weir  710  downwards into the grooves  720 . A pharmacy may carry several weirs  710  having differently sized openings  715  to be used for supplements or medications of different sizes. A weir  710  having a smaller opening  715  is used in a cartridge  155  for smaller supplements and medications, while a weir  710  having a larger opening  715  is used in a cartridge  155  for larger supplements and medications. In some embodiments, a weir  710  having a larger opening is used for supplements and medications having a lighter weight (for example, below a threshold weight of 1 gm, 0.5 gms, and the like) regardless of the size of the supplements and medications. Additionally, the weir  710  can be easily removed and replaced from the funnel extension  175  for regular cleaning. In some embodiments, each weir  710  may include identification markings to help a user identify the different configurations of weirs. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  24 - 26   , the cartridge  155  may additionally include a stir rod  725 . The stir rod  725  is received in and fixed to the funnel extension  175 . The stir rod  725  can be used to agitate the supplements or medications within the funnel extension  175  to stimulate a flow into the reservoir  175 . The stir rod  725  includes a holder  730  and a rod  735 . The holder  730  is provided outside the funnel extension  175  around a rear portion of the funnel extension  175 . The rod  735  is substantially provided within the funnel extension  175 . 
     The stir rod  725  is pivotably fixed to the funnel extension  175  with a pivoted portion provided near the junction of the holder  730  and the rod  735 . With reference to  FIG.  25   , the stir rod  725  is pivoted between a left and right position to agitate the supplements or medications within the funnel extension  175 . The holder  730  is provided outside the funnel extension  175  to be held by a user to move the stir rod  725 . The rod  735  is provided within the funnel extension and extends from the rear portion of the funnel extension  175  to substantially close to the weir  710 . The stir rod  725  is angled downward to follow the flow direction of the supplements or medications within the funnel extension  175 . 
     In other embodiments, the cartridge  155  may include other types of agitation mechanisms to stimulate flow into the reservoir  175 . For example, the cartridge  155  may include an auger or rotor, a vibration motor, a plunger, and the like. 
     Thus, the invention provides, among other things, an automatic packager for supplements.