Patent Publication Number: US-2022227506-A1

Title: Methods and systems for automated pharmaceutical container sorting

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/423,752, filed on May 28, 2019; said application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/677,213, filed on May 29, 2018, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the technical field of pharmacy order processing, and more particularly, to methods and systems for transferring pharmaceutical-containing containers associated with a prescription order from a pallet to a container disposition area based on the associated prescription order, especially in a high volume, specialty, or partially-automated order processing center. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A high-volume pharmacy may process and fill a large number of prescriptions and prescription orders. Automated systems may be used by a high volume pharmacy to process and fulfill prescriptions. Frequently, more than one prescription drug container is required to complete a prescription order. Portions of the prescription order may be fulfilled in different areas of the high-volume pharmacy. After fulfillment, the fulfilled prescriptions may be gathered into a complete prescription order for shipping. Joining, or marrying, containers containing each type of prescription drug that make up a single prescription order may be done prior to packing and shipping and at different locations in the pharmacy, some of which may have varying levels of controlled access. Improved methods and systems for fully automated sorting are needed. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a pharmaceutical order filling system includes an order processing device to receive pharmaceutical orders. The pharmaceutical order filling system also includes an automated dispensing device in communication with the order processing device and configured to dispense a measured quantity of a pharmaceutical into at least one container of a plurality of containers. The system further includes a plurality of pallets configured to transport the plurality of containers and a container sorting device in communication with the order processing device, the container sorting device configured to transfer the plurality of containers containing the pharmaceuticals from the plurality of pallets to at least one of a plurality of distribution areas. The container sorting device includes a pallet unloading area sized to retain at least one pallet of the plurality of pallets in a pallet unloading position, at least one exception conveyor, at least one standard order conveyor, and a container manipulation device including a gripper assembly for moving at least one of the plurality of containers from at least one of the plurality of pallets to one of the at least one exception conveyor and the at least one standard order conveyor. A first order of the pharmaceutical order includes a first container and a second container of the plurality of containers. The container manipulation device moves the first container to the at least one standard order conveyor and then moves the second container to the at least one standard order conveyor with the first container and the second container being sequential on a same one of the at least one standard order conveyor and is non-sequential on the at least one of the plurality of pallets. The system also includes a pallet assembly in communication with the order processing device, the pallet assembly including a pallet movement apparatus configured to move the plurality of pallets between at least the automated dispensing device and the container sorting device. 
     In another aspect, a container sorting device is configured to transfer at least one container containing a pharmaceutical associated with a pharmaceutical order from a pallet containing the at least one container to at least one conveyor based on the pharmaceutical order. The container sorting device includes a pallet unloading area sized to retain at least one pallet in a pallet unloading position, a sensor bracket configured to retain a sensor for determining a status of the at least one pallet and a puck stop rail assembly extending at least partially around the pallet unloading area. The puck stop rail assembly is configured to at least partially constrain movement of the at least one pallet in the pallet unloading position during operation of the container sorting device. The container sorting device also includes at least one exception conveyor, at least one standard order conveyor; and a container manipulation device including a movement apparatus and a gripper assembly for moving the at least one container from the at least one pallet to one of the at least one exception conveyor and the at least one standard order conveyor. The gripper assembly includes at least one gripper head configured to grip and release the at least one container. The at least one gripper head is one of biased open and biased closed, and the at least one gripper head is independently and pneumatically actuated and is adapted to grip and to release the at least one container. The at least one gripper head includes at least one pair of gripper jaws, at least a portion of the at least one pair of gripper jaws including a friction-enhanced surface configured to increase a coefficient of friction between the at least one container and the at least one pair of gripper jaws, at least one gripper head arm coupled between the movement apparatus and the gripper head, and a pallet lift configured to manipulate the at least one pallet in the pallet unloading position in cooperation with the container manipulation device. 
     In still another aspect, a method of sorting a plurality of containers containing a plurality of pharmaceuticals associated with a plurality of pharmaceutical orders includes receiving, at a pallet unloading position of a container sorting device, a first pallet of a plurality of the pallets. The pallet includes a plurality of the containers containing the plurality of pharmaceuticals associated with a plurality of pharmaceutical orders. The method also includes determining a location of at least one container of the plurality of containers associated with a first pharmaceutical order in the pallet and retrieving, using a container manipulation device, the at least one container associated with the first pharmaceutical order from the pallet. The method further includes determining, based on the first pharmaceutical order, a conveyor of at least one of a standard order conveyor, a first exception conveyor, and a second exception conveyor to receive the at least one container; and placing, using the container manipulation device, the at least one container on the determined conveyor for distribution downstream of the container sorting device. 
     Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the above-mentioned aspects. Further features may also be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects, alone or in any combination. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example automated dispensing device that may be deployed within the system of  FIG. 1 , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a top, perspective view of a pallet that may be deployed within the system of  FIG. 1 , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an automated dispensing subsystem that may be deployed within the automated dispensing device of  FIG. 2 , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the automated dispensing subsystem of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a pallet assembly of the automated dispensing subsystem of  FIG. 4 , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a pallet assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of a control subsystem that may be deployed within the automated dispensing device of  FIG. 2 , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram of an example container sorting device that may be deployed within the system of  FIG. 1 , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a container sorting subsystem deployable within the container sorting device of  FIG. 9 , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the container sorting subsystem of  FIG. 10  without the top panel; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the container sorting subsystem of  FIG. 10  without the side panel; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the container sorting subsystem of  FIG. 10  without the front panel; 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of the container sorting subsystem of  FIG. 10  illustrating a container sorting subsystem conveyance system layout; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram of a control subsystem that may be deployed within the container sorting device of  FIG. 9 , according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is an example process flow of a method of configuring a pallet, according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a block diagram of an example machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed or stored; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a puck stop assembly shown in  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIG. 19  is an end view of the puck stop assembly of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example systems and methods for automated pharmaceutical container sorting based on associated prescription orders are described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of example embodiments. It will be evident, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that these embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. 
     Generally, a prescription order is generated for a high volume pharmacy. The prescription order may include more than one prescription drug for fulfillment. Each prescription drug in a prescription order is an order component of the prescription order. Generally, the order components are pill bottles or other containers and packaging having a measured quantity of a prescription drug therein. These containers may be filled by a mostly manual process, through a semiautomatic process, or a more fully automated process. Various factors may affect the availability of filling drugs through these processes in a pharmacy, such as the schedule or controlled nature of the filling drugs. After the containers are filled, the containers associated with each prescription order are matched as part of ajoining or marrying process for further packaging, processing, and shipping. A more automated and efficient process may be employed in a mail order pharmacy to sort containers filled with pharmaceuticals, that may be of multiple schedules, based on prescription orders associated with the containers to marry or join the containers to fulfill a prescription order and increase the throughput of the high volume pharmacy. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system  100 , according to an example embodiment. While the system  100  is generally described as being deployed in a high volume pharmacy (e.g., a mail order pharmacy, a direct delivery pharmacy, an automated pharmacy, and the like), the system  100  may otherwise be deployed. The system  100  may include an order processing device  102  in communication with a benefit manager device  106  over a network  104 . In an example embodiment, the order processing device  102  may implement functions described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,086,974 and 9,937,100, which are hereby incorporated by reference, to move a patient to a high volume pharmacy. Additional devices which may be in communication with the benefit manager device  106  and/or the order processing device  102  over network  104  include: database(s)  108  which may store one or more than one of order data  110 , member data  112 , claims data  114 , drug data  116 , prescription data  118 , and plan sponsor data  120 ; pallet sizing and pucking device(s)  122 ; loading device(s)  124 ; inspect device(s)  126 ; unit of use device(s)  128 ; automated dispensing device(s)  130 ; manual fulfillment device(s)  132 ; review device(s)  134 ; imaging device(s)  136 ; cap device(s)  138 ; accumulation device(s)  140 ; literature device(s)  141 ; packing device(s)  142 ; unit of use packing device(s)  144 , and container sorting device(s)  146 . The system  100  may also include additional devices, which may communicate with each other over network  104  or directly. 
     The order processing device  102  may receive information about prescriptions being filled at a pharmacy in which the order processing device  102  is deployed. In general, the order processing device  102  is a device located within or otherwise associated with a pharmacy location to enable fulfillment of a prescription by dispensing prescription drugs. In some embodiments, the order processing device  102  may be a device separate from a pharmacy that enables communication with other devices located within a pharmacy. For example, the order processing device  102  may be in communication with another order processing device  102  and/or other devices  122 - 146  located with a pharmacy. In some embodiments, an external pharmacy order processing device  102  may have limited functionality (e.g., as operated by a patient requesting fulfillment of a prescription drug) when an internal pharmacy order processing device  102  may have greater functionality (e.g., as operated by a pharmacy). 
     The order processing device  102  may track a prescription order as it is fulfilled. A prescription order may include one or more than one prescription to be filled by the pharmacy. The order processing device  102  may make pharmacy routing decisions and/or order consolidation decisions for a prescription order. The pharmacy routing decisions include what device or devices in the pharmacy are responsible for filling at least a portion of the prescription order, where the order consolidation decisions include whether portions of a prescription order or multiple prescription orders should be shipped together for a patient or a patient family. The order processing device  102  may operate on its own or in combination with the benefit manager device  106 . The order processing device  102  may track and/or schedule the literature or other paperwork associated with each order or multiple prescription orders that are being shipped together. 
     Examples of the devices  102 ,  106  include a set-top box (STB), a receiver card, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a display device, a portable gaming unit, a tablet, and a computing system; however other devices may also be used. For example the devices  102 ,  106  may include a mobile electronic device, such an IPHONE or IPAD device by Apple, Inc. mobile electronic devices powered by ANDROID by Google, Inc. and a BLACKBERRY device by Blackberry Limited. The devices  102 ,  106  may also include other computing devices, such as desktop computing devices, notebook computing devices, netbook computing devices, gaming devices, and the like. The devices  102 ,  106  may include a processor, a memory to store data and instructions, and communication functionality. Other types of electronic devices that can use rules and instructions to execute various functions may also be used. 
     Examples of the network  104  include Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) network, a WiFi network, or an IEEE 802.11 standards network, as well as various combinations thereof. The network  104  may include optical communications. The network  104  may be a local area network or a global communication network, such as the Internet. Other conventional and/or later developed wired and wireless networks may also be used. In some embodiments, the network  104  may include a prescribing network such as the electronic prescribing network operated by Surescripts of Arlington, Va. 
     The benefit manager device  106  is a device operated by an entity at least partially responsible for creation and/or management of the pharmacy or drug benefit. While this benefit manager operating the benefit manager device  106  is typically a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), other entities may operate the benefit manager device  106  either on behalf of themselves, the PBM, or another entity. For example, the benefit manager may be operated by a health plan, a retail pharmacy chain, a drug wholesaler, a data analytics or other type of software-related company, or the like. In some embodiments, a PBM that provides the pharmacy benefit may also provide one or more than one additional benefits including a medical or health benefit, a dental benefit, a vision benefit, a wellness benefit, a radiology benefit, a pet care benefit, an insurance benefit, a long term care benefit, a nursing home benefit, and the like. The PBM may, in addition to its PBM operations, operate one or more than one pharmacy. The pharmacies may be retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, or otherwise. 
     Some of the operations of the PBM that operates the benefit manager device  106  may include the following. A member (or a person on behalf of the member) of a pharmacy benefit plan administered by or through the PBM attempts to obtain a prescription drug at a retail pharmacy location where the member can obtain drugs in a physical store from a pharmacist or pharmacist technician, or in some instances through mail order drug delivery from a mail order pharmacy location. The member may also obtain a prescription drug directly or indirectly through the use of a machine, such as a kiosk, vending unit, mobile electronic device, or a different type of mechanical, electrical, electronic communication device and/or computing device. 
     The member may have a co-pay for the prescription drug that reflects an amount of money that the member is responsible to pay the pharmacy for the prescription drug. The money paid by the member to the pharmacy may come from the personal funds of the member, a health savings account (HSA) of the member or the member&#39;s family, a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) of the member or the member&#39;s family, a flexible spending accounts (FSA) of the member or the member&#39;s family, or the like. An employer of the member may directly or indirectly fund or reimburse the member or an account of the member for the co-pay. 
     The amount of the co-pay paid by the member may vary by the benefit plan of a plan sponsor or client with the PBM. The member&#39;s co-pay may be based on a flat co-pay (e.g., $10), co-insurance (e.g., 10%), and/or a deductible (e.g., for first $500 of annual prescription drug spend) for certain prescription drugs, certain types and/or classes of prescription drugs, and/or all prescription drugs. 
     In certain instances, the member may not pay the co-pay or may only pay for a poliion of a co-pay for a prescription drug. For example, if the usual and customary cost for a generic version of a prescription drug is $4, and the member&#39;s flat co-pay is $20 for the prescription drug, the member may only pay $4 to receive the prescription drug. In another example involving a worker&#39;s compensation claim, no co-pay may be due by the member for the prescription drug. The co-pay may also vary based on the delivery chamlel used to receive the prescription drug. For example, the co-pay for receiving prescription drug from a mail order pharmacy location may be less than the co-pay for receiving prescription drug from a retail pharmacy location. 
     In conjunction with receiving the co-pay (if any) from the member and dispensing the prescription drug to the member, the pharmacy submits a claim to the PBM for the prescription drug. The PBM may perform certain adjudication operations including verifying the eligibility of the member, reviewing an applicable formulary of the member to determine appropriate co-pay, coinsurance, and deductible for the prescription drug, and performing a drug utilization review (DUR) on the member. The PBM then provides a response to the pharmacy following performance of at least some of the aforementioned operations. As part of the adjudication, the plan sponsor (or the PBM on behalf of the plan sponsor) ultimately reimburses the pharmacy for filling the prescription drug when the prescription drug was successfully adjudicated. The aforementioned adjudication operations generally occur before the co-pay is received and the prescription drug dispensed. However, the operations may occur simultaneously, substantially simultaneously, or in a different order. In addition, more or less adjudication operations may be performed as at least part of the adjudication process. 
     The amount of reimbursement paid to the pharmacy by a plan sponsor and/or money paid by the member may be based at least in part on the type of pharmacy network in which the pharmacy is included. Other factors may be used to determine the amount in addition to the type of pharmacy network. For example, if the member pays the pharmacy for the prescription without using the prescription drug benefit provided by the benefit manager, the amount of money paid by the member may be higher and the amount of money received by the pharmacy for dispensing the prescription drug and for the prescription drug itself may be higher. Some or all of the foregoing operations may be performed by executing instructions on the benefit manager device  106  and/or an additional device. 
     In some embodiments, at least some of the functionality of the order processing device  102  may be included in the benefit manager device  106 . The order processing device  102  may be in a client-server relationship with the benefit manager device  106 , a peer-to-peer relationship with the benefit manager device  106 , or in a different type of relationship with the benefit manager device  106 . 
     The order processing device  102  and/or the benefit manager device  106  may be in communication directly (e.g., through local storage or peer-to-peer connection(s)) and/or through the network  104  (e.g., in a cloud configuration or software-as-a-service) with a database  108  (e.g., as may be retained in memory or otherwise). The database  108  may be deployed on the order processing device  102 , the benefit manager device  106 , on another device of the system  100 , or otherwise. The database  108  may store order data  110 , member data  112 , claims data  114 , drug data  116 , prescription data  118 , and/or plan sponsor data  120 . Other data may be stored in the database  108 . 
     The order data  110  may include data related to the order of prescriptions including the type (e.g., drug name and strength) and quantity of each prescription in a prescription order. The order data  110  may also include data used for completion of the prescription, such as prescription materials and/or the type and/or size of container in which the drug is or is preferably dispensed. In general, prescription materials are a type of order materials that include an electronic copy of information regarding the prescription drug for inclusion with or otherwise in conjunction with the fulfilled prescription. The prescription materials may include electronic information regarding drug interaction warnings, recommended usage, possible side effects, expiration date, date of prescribing, or the like. The order data  110  may be used by a high volume fulfillment center to fulfill a pharmacy order. In some embodiments, the order data  110  includes verification information associated with fulfillment of the prescription in the pharmacy. For example, the order data  110  may include videos and/or images taken of (i) the prescription drug prior to dispensing, during dispensing, and/or after dispensing, (ii) the prescription container (e.g., a prescription bottle and sealing lid) used to contain the prescription drug prior to dispensing, during dispensing, and/or after dispensing, (iii) the packaging and/or packaging materials used to ship or otherwise deliver the prescription drug prior to dispensing, during dispensing, and/or after dispensing, and/or (iv) the fulfillment process within the pharmacy. Other type of verification information such as bar code data read from pallets used to transport prescriptions within the pharmacy may also be stored as order data  110 . 
     The member data  112  includes information regarding the members associated with the benefit manager. The information stored as member data  112  may include personal information, personal health information, protected health information, and the like. Examples of the member data  112  include name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, prescription drug history, and the like. The member data  112  may include a plan sponsor identifier that identifies the plan sponsor associated with the member and/or a member identifier that identifies the member to the plan sponsor. The member data  112  may include a member identifier that identifies the plan sponsor associated with the patient and/or a patient identifier that identifies the patient to the plan sponsor. The member data  112  may also include, by way of example, dispensation preferences such as type of label, type of cap, message preferences, language preferences, or the like. The member data  112  may be accessed by various devices in the pharmacy, e.g., the high volume fulfillment center, to obtain information utilized for fulfillment and shipping of prescription orders. In some embodiments, an external order processing device  102  operated by or on behalf of a member may have access to at least a portion of the member data  112  for review, verification, or other purposes. 
     In some embodiments, the member data  112  may include information for persons who are patients of the pharmacy but are not members in a benefit plan being provided by the benefit manager. For example, these patients may obtain drug directly from the pharmacy, through a private label service offered by the pharmacy, the high volume fulfillment center, or otherwise. In general, the use of the terms member and patient may be used interchangeably herein. 
     The claims data  114  includes information regarding pharmacy claims adjudicated by the PBM under a drug benefit program provided by the PBM for one, or more than one, plan sponsors. In general, the claims data  114  includes an identification of the client that sponsors the drug benefit program under which the claim is made, and/or the member that purchased the prescription drug giving rise to the claim, the prescription drug that was filled by the pharmacy (e.g., the national drug code number), the dispensing date, generic indicator, GPI number, medication class, the cost of the prescription drug provided under the drug benefit program, the copay/coinsurance amount, rebate information, and/or member eligibility. Additional information may be included. In some embodiments, other types of claims beyond prescription drug claims may be stored in the claims data  114 . For example, medical claims, dental claims, wellness claims, or other type of health care-related claims for members may be stored as a portion of the claims data  114 . 
     In some embodiments, the claims data  114  includes claims that identify the members with whom the claims are associated. In some embodiments, the claims data  114  includes claims that have been de-identified (e.g., associated with a unique identifier but not with a particular, identifiable member). 
     The drug data  116  may include drug name (e.g., technical name and/or common name), other names by which the drug is known by, active ingredients, an image of the drug (e.g., in pill form), and the like. The drug data  116  may include information associated with a single medication or multiple medications. 
     The prescription data  118  may include information regarding prescriptions that may be issued by prescribers on behalf of patients, who may be members of the drug benefit plan, for example to be filled by a pharmacy. Examples of the prescription data  118  include patient names, medication or treatment (such as lab tests), dosing information, and the like. The prescriptions may be electronic prescriptions, paper prescriptions that have been scamled, or otherwise. In some embodiments, the dosing information reflects a frequency of use (e.g., once a day, twice a day, before each meal, etc.) and a duration of use (e.g., a few days, a week, a few weeks, a month, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the order data  110  may be linked to associated member data, claims data  114 , drug data  116 , and/or prescription data  118 . 
     The plan sponsor data  120  includes information regarding the plan sponsors of the benefit manager. Examples of the plan sponsor data  120  include company name, company address, contact name, contact telephone number, contact e-mail address, and the like. 
     The order processing device  102  may direct at least some of the operations of the devices  122 - 146 , recited above. In some embodiments, operations performed by one of these devices  122 - 146  may be performed sequentially, or in parallel with the operations of another device as may be coordinated by the order processing device  102 . In some embodiments, the order processing device  102  tracks a prescription with the pharmacy based on operations performed by one or more of the devices  122 - 146 . 
     In some embodiments, the system  100  may transport prescription drug containers (e.g., between one or more than one of the devices  122 - 146  in the high volume fulfillment center) by use of pallets. The pallet sizing and pucking device  122  may configure pucks in a pallet. A pallet may be a transport structure for a number of prescription containers, and may include a number of cavities. A puck may be placed in one or more than one of the cavities in a pallet by the pallet sizing and pucking device  122 . A puck may include a receptacle sized and shaped to receive a prescription container. Such containers may be supported by the pucks during carriage in the pallet and during movement through the fulfillment process. Different pucks may have differently sized and shaped receptacles to accommodate containers of differing sizes, as may be appropriate for different prescriptions. Pucks allow the standardization of equipment engaging differently sized drug containers such that some automated equipment can move the drug container by gripping the puck that is supporting the container and allow the use of a standardized pallet that holds a plurality of pucks have a same outer dimension while having differently sized receptacles therein to hold differently sized drug containers. The pucks may also operate to ensure that a drug container is centered in a location on the pallet. 
     The arrangement of pucks in a pallet may be determined by the order processing device  102  based on prescriptions which the order processing device  102  decides to launch. In general, prescription orders in the order database  110  reside in one or more than one queues, and are generally launched in a first-in-first-out order. However, the order processing device  102  may use logic and a variety of factors to determine when and how prescriptions are to be launched. For example, some non-limiting factors which may alter the first-in-first-out order of launching prescriptions in a pharmacy include the age of the order, whether the order required an outreach to a physician or some other intervention, whether there are any performance guarantees with plan sponsors or members, the available inventory of a given pharmaceutical in view of existing prescriptions already launched which will require that pharmaceutical, the zip code to which the order will be shipped, the workload and volume of various parts of the pharmacy, whether valid paperwork for the order has been received, and/or similar orders for the same pharmaceutical that are already to be launched. The logic may be implemented directly in the pallet sizing and pucking device  122 , in the order processing device  102 , in both devices  102 ,  122 , or otherwise. Once a prescription is set to be launched, a puck suitable for the appropriate size of container for that prescription may be positioned in a pallet by a robotic arm or pickers. The pallet sizing and pucking device  122  may launch a pallet once pucks have been configured in the pallet. The loading device  124  may load prescription containers into the pucks on a pallet by a robotic arm, pick and place mechanism, or the like. In one embodiment, the loading device  108  has robotic arms or pickers to grasp a prescription container and move it to and from a pallet. The loading device  124  may also print a label which is appropriate for a container that is to be loaded onto the pallet, and apply the label to the container. The pallet may be located on a conveyor assembly during these operations. In an example embodiment, the drug containers may be positioned in the pucks by the loading device  124  prior to the pucks being placed in the pallet. The inspect device  126  may verify that containers in a pallet are correctly labeled and in the coll&#39;ect spot on the pallet. The inspect device  126  may scan the label on one or more than one container on the pallet. Labels of containers may be scanned or imaged in full or in part by the inspect device  126 . Such imaging may occur after the container has been lifted out of its puck by a robotic arm, picker, or the like, or may be otherwise scanned or imaged while retained in the puck. In some embodiments, images and/or video captured by the inspect device  126  may be stored in the database  108  as order data  110 . 
     The unit of use device  128  may temporarily store, monitor, label and/or dispense unit of use products. In general, unit of use products are prescription drug products that may be delivered to a patient or member without being repackaged at the pharmacy. These products may include pills in container, pills in a blister pack, inhalers, and the like. Pills to be placed in a container may include, and not be limited to, capsules, tablets, caplets, lozenges, and other solid medium with a pharmaceutical component that may be ingested by a person or other mammal. Prescription drug products dispensed by the unit of use device  128  may be packaged individually or collectively for shipping, or may be shipped in combination with other prescription drugs dispensed by other devices in the high volume fulfillment center. 
     The automated dispensing device  130  may include one or more than one devices that dispense prescription drugs or pharmaceuticals into prescription containers in accordance with one or multiple prescription orders. In general, the automated dispensing device  130  may include mechanical and electronic components with, in some embodiments, software and/or logic to facilitate pharmaceutical dispensing that would otherwise be performed in a manual fashion by a pharmacist and/or pharmacist technician. For example, the automated dispensing device  130  may include high volume fillers that fill a number of prescription drug types at a rapid rate and blister pack machines that dispense and pack drugs into a blister pack or other pre-packaged form of pills. Prescription drugs dispensed by the automated dispensing devices  130  may be packaged individually or collectively for shipping, or may be shipped in combination with other prescription drugs dispenses by other devices in the high volume fulfillment center. 
     The automated dispensing device  130  may be used, for example, to dispense commonly prescribed dispense drugs in an automatic or semiautomatic method into containers. Drugs may be dispensed in connection with filling one or more than one prescriptions (or portion of prescriptions). Drugs dispensed by the automated dispensing device  130  may be tablets, pills, capsules, caplets, or other types of drugs suitable for dispensing by a the automated dispensing device  130 . 
     The manual fulfillment device  132  may provide for manual fulfillment of prescriptions. For example, the manual fulfillment device  132  may receive or obtain a container and enable fulfillment of the container by a pharmacist or pharmacy technician. In some embodiments, the manual fulfillment device  132  provides the filled container to another device in the system  100 . In an example embodiment, the container may be joined with other containers in a prescription order for a patient or member, e.g., on a pallet or at the accumulation device  140 . In general, a manual. fulfillment may include operations at least partially performed by a pharmacist or pharmacy technician. For example, a person may retrieve a supply of the prescribed drug, may make an observation, may count out a prescribed quantity of drugs and place them into a prescription container, or the like. Some portions of the manual fulfillment process may be automated by use of a machine. For example, counting of capsules, tablets, or pills may be at least partially automated (e.g., through use of a pill counter). Prescription drugs dispensed by the manual fulfillment device  132  may be packaged individually or collectively for shipping, or may be shipped in combination with other prescription drugs dispenses by other devices in the high volume fulfillment center. 
     The review device  134  may process prescription containers to be reviewed by a pharmacist for proper pill count, exception handling, prescription verification, and the like. Fulfilled prescriptions may be manually reviewed and/or verified by a pharmacist, as may be required by state or local law. A pharmacist or other licensed pharmacy person who may dispense certain drugs in compliance with local and/or other laws may operate the review device  134  and visually inspect a prescription container that has been filled with a prescription drug. The pharmacist may review, verify, and/or evaluate drug quantity, drug strength, and/or drug interaction concerns, or otherwise perform pharmacist services. The pharmacist may also handle containers which have been flagged as an exception, such as containers with unreadable labels, containers for which the associated prescription order has been cancelled, containers with defects, and the like. In an example embodiment, the manual review can be performed at the manual station. 
     The imaging device  136  may image containers after they have been filled with pharmaceuticals. The imaging device  136  may measure the fill height of the pharmaceuticals in the container based on the obtained image to determine if the container is filled to the correct height given the type of pharmaceutical and the number of pills in the prescription. Images of the pills in the container may also be obtained to detect the size of the pills themselves and markings thereon. The images may be transmitted to the order processing device  102 , and/or stored in the database  110  as part of the order data  110 . 
     The cap device  138  may be used to cap or otherwise seal a prescription container. In some embodiments, the cap device  138  may secure a prescription container with a type of cap in accordance with a patient preference (e.g., a preference regarding child resistance), a plan sponsor preference, a prescriber preference, or the like. The cap device  138  may also print or etch a message into the cap or otherwise associate a message into the cap, although this process may be performed by a subsequent device in the high volume fulfillment center. Etching may be suitably performed according to the teachings in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/313,042, granted as U.S. Pat. No. 9,221,271, which are both hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The accumulation device  140  accumulates various containers of prescription drugs in a prescription order. The accumulation device  140  may accumulate prescription containers from various devices or areas of the pharmacy. For example, the accumulation device  140  may accumulate prescription containers from the unit of use device  128 , the automated dispensing device  130 , the manual fulfillment device  132 , and the review device  134 , at the high volume fulfillment center. The accumulation device  140  may be used to group the prescription containers prior to shipment to the member or otherwise. In some embodiments, the literature device  141  folds or otherwise prepares the literature for inclusion with a prescription drug order (e.g., in a shipping container). In some embodiments, the literature device  141  that prints the literature may be separate from the literature device that prepares the literature for inclusion with a prescription order. 
     The packing device  142  packages a prescription order in preparation for shipping the order. The packing device  142  may box, bag, or otherwise package the fulfilled prescription order for delivery. The packing device  142  may further place inserts, e.g., literature or other papers into the packaging received from the literature device  141  or otherwise. For example, bulk prescription orders may be shipped in a box, while other prescription orders may be shipped in a bag which may be a wrap seal bag. The packing device  142  may label the box or bag with the address and a recipient&#39;s name. The label may be printed and affixed to the bag or box, be printed directly onto the bag or box, or otherwise associated with the bag or box. The packing device  142  may sort the box or bag for mailing in an efficient manner (e.g., sort by delivery address). The packing device  142  may include ice or temperature sensitive elements for prescriptions which are to be kept within a temperature range during shipping in order to retain efficacy or otherwise. The ultimate package may then be shipped through postal mail, through a mail order delivery service that ships via group and/or air (e.g., UPS, FEDEX, or DHL), through delivery service, through a local delivery service (e.g., a courier service), through a locker box at a shipping site (e.g., an AMAZON locker or a post office box), or otherwise. 
     The unit of use packing device  144  packages a unit of use prescription order in preparation for shipping the order. The unit of use packing device  144  may include manual scanning of containers to be bagged for shipping to verify each container in the order. In an example embodiment, the manual scanning may be performed at a manual station. 
     The container sorting device  146  may include one or more device that transfers prescription containers containing prescription drugs or pharmaceuticals associated with multiple prescription orders from pucks within a pallet to one of multiple material handling devices that will distribute the containers to their predetermined downstream pharmacy areas. In general, the container sorting device  146  may include mechanical and electronic components with, in some embodiments, software and/or logic to facilitate pharmaceutical order sorting that would otherwise be performed in a manual and/or less efficient fashion by another machine, a pharmacist, and/or a pharmacist technician. For example, the container sorting device may include a container manipulation device that transfers a single container of a pharmaceutical order from a pallet to one of a standard conveyor and an exception conveyor. In another example, the container sorting device  146  may transfer multiple containers. Containers moved from the pallet to the standard conveyor may be transferred to devices within the high volume fulfillment center for further inspection or packing and containers moved from the pallet to the exception conveyor may be held for further inspection or appropriate action based on the level of control associated with the containers. 
     The container sorting device  146  may be used, for example, to sort commonly prescribed and non-controlled drugs from the pallet onto the standard conveyor as part of a single or multiple container order for further processing by downstream devices in the high volume fulfillment center. Prescription orders including controlled substances (such as those in controlled access area  503  described below) may be sorted from the pallet to the exception conveyor as part of a single or multiple container prescription order by the container sorting device  146  for further inspection and/or disposition by pharmacist or pharmacy technician. 
     While the system  100  in  FIG. 1  is shown to include single devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146  multiple devices may be used. The devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146  may be the same type or model of device or may be different device types or models. When multiple devices are present, the multiple devices may be of the same device type or models or may be a different device type or model. The types of devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146  shown in  FIG. 1  are example devices. In other configurations of the system  100 , lesser, additional, or different types of devices may be included. 
     Moreover, the system  100  shows a single network  104 ; however, multiple networks can be used. The multiple networks may communicate in series with each other to link the devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146  or in parallel to link the devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146 . Multiple devices may share processing and/or memory resources. The devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146  may be located in the same area or in different locations. For example, the devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146  may be located in a building or set of adjoining buildings. The devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146  may be interconnected (e.g. by conveyors), networked, and/or otherwise in contact with one another or integrated with one another e.g., at the high volume fulfillment center. In addition, the functionality of a device may be split among a number of discrete devices and/or combined with other devices. 
     The system  100  may include a single database, or multiple databases, maintained by respective devices operated by or on behalf of one or a number of different persons and/or organizations. The communication may occur directly (e.g., through local storage) and/or through the network  104  (e.g., in a cloud configuration or software-as-a-service) with a device that stores a respective database. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an automated dispensing device  130 , according to an example embodiment. The automated dispensing device  130  may be deployed in the system  100  of  FIG. 1 , or may otherwise be used. The automated dispensing device  130  may include a control subsystem  202  and an automated dispensing subsystem  204 . The control subsystem  202  may include one or more module and enables the automated dispensing device  130  to control the automated dispensing subsystem  204 , while the automated dispensing subsystem  204  may include one or more device and enables the automated dispensing device  130  with dispensing operations (e.g., dispensing a measured quantity pharmaceuticals into a container). 
     An example deployment of the automated dispensing device  130  is within the system  100 . In such a deployment, the system  100  includes one or more than one conveyor or other devices to facilitate transporting containers or pallets of containers through mechanical devices within the system  100 , such as devices to label, fill, cap, and check containers. The automated dispensing device  130  may be otherwise deployed. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a pallet  302 , according to an example embodiment. The pallet  302  may be used in the system  100  of  FIG. 1  (e.g., by the automated dispensing device  130 ), or may be otherwise used. 
     The pallet  302  may be a transport structure for a number of prescription containers  304 , and may include a number of cavities  306 . While the pallet  302  is shown to include 25 cavities in a five by five cavity row/column configuration, other numbers of categories and/or cavity configurations of varying shapes, size, and/or dimensions may be used. In some embodiments the pallet may be substantially square and, in such an embodiment, have a width and length of between approximately 18 inches and 22 inches (e.g., approximately 18 inches, 19 inches, 20 inches, 21 inches, or 22 inches). In some embodiments, the width and/or length may be greater than approximately 22 inches or less than approximately 18 inches. 
     In an example embodiment, the cavities  306  are spaced on the pallet  302  such that the center point of adjacent cavities  306  is between approximately 3 inches and 4 inches (e.g., approximately 3 inches, 3.25 inches, 3.5 inches, 3.75 inches or 4 inches). In another example embodiment, the distance between center points of adjacent cavities  306  is more than approximately 4 inches. In yet another example embodiment, the center points of cavities  306  are less than approximately 3 inches apart. 
     The pallet  302  may be made in whole or in part of metal, such as aluminum. Other suitable materials may be used for the pallet  302 , such as plastic. The pallet  302  may be rigid so that the cavities remain in a known location that can be tracked while the pallet moves through the system  100 . The pallet  302  may include bumpers. 
     In some embodiments, other carriers beyond the pallet  302  and/or no carrier may be used to move containers or groups of containers through the system  100  or via the automated dispensing subsystem  204 . 
     The pallet  302  may retain one or more than one containers  304 . A container  304  is generally cylindrical and may be of one or a variety of sizes utilized by a pharmacy for fulfillment of a prescription. For example, a pharmacy may have two different sized containers or three different sized containers. Any number of different sized containers may be used with the pallet  302 . While the container  304  is generally denoted as being used with the pallet  302 , the containers  304  may otherwise be used in the system  100  or in a different system. Shapes beyond cylindrical shapes may be used for the containers  304 . Examples of other shapes include regular prisms, elliptical cylinders, and combinations thereof. The receptacle of a puck may be sized to receive and support the outer shape of the container. The containers  304  may be disposed in the pallet  302  such that they are close to one another but do not touch. 
     The pallet  302  may include a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag  308 . The RFID tag  308  may be an active RFID tag, such as an active RFID tag with a close reading range. In some embodiments, the RFID tag  308  is an active, narrowband, read/write RFID tag. 
     The RFID tag  308  of a particular pallet  302  may store data (or otherwise facilitate the access of data, e.g., from the database  108 ) associated with the containers  304  that have been, are, and/or will be placed within the pallet  302 , such as the order data  110 , the member data  112 , the claims data  114 , the drug data  116 , the prescription data  118 , and/or the plan sponsor data  120  associated with such containers  304 . Other data may be stored by and/or or associated with the RFID tag  314 , such as the age of the pallet  302 , the number of times the pallet  302  has been used to transport containers  304  through the system  100 , the number of errors associated with the pallet  302 , and the like. The RFID tag  314  may also store the position of individual containers on the pallet  302 . In an example embodiment, the RFID tag  308  of the pallet  302 , while deployed within an automated dispensing subsystem  204 , stores data associated with one or more of the following data fields: (1) container identifiers, (2) identifier of the particular automated dispensing subsystem  204 , (3) identifiers of the particular cells from which a particular container will be filled (as described below), (4) container properties (e.g., the status of containers  304  on the pallet  302 , such as whether the containers  304  have passed an inspection station and have been identified as containers  304  to be filled in the particular automated dispensing subsystem  204 ), and (5) the pallet route within the automated dispensing subsystem  204 . 
     The pucks  310  may be used to modify the size of the cavities  306  to allow the pallet  302  to accommodate different sizes of the containers  304 . 
       FIGS. 4-5  illustrate the automated dispensing subsystem  204 , according to an example embodiment. The automated dispensing subsystem  204  may be deployed within the automated dispensing device  130 , or may otherwise be deployed. The automated dispensing subsystem  204  enables dispensing of a number of different types of pharmaceuticals in an automatic or semiautomatic manner. 
     The automated dispensing subsystem  204  includes a filling cabinet  402 , a prefill assembly  404 , and a pallet assembly  406 . The filling cabinet  402  stores pharmaceuticals to be dispensed into containers via the prefill assembly  404  and dispenses measured quantities of pharmaceuticals into the prefill assembly  404 . The prefill assembly  404  stores the measured quantities of pharmaceuticals and dispenses the measured quantities of pharmaceuticals received from the filling cabinet  402  into containers  304  on the pallet  302  while in the pallet assembly  406 . 
     A pallet conveyor  412  may transport the pallets  302  through some or all of the devices within the system  100 , such as the automated dispensing device  130 . The pallet assembly  406  receives the pallets  302  via the pallet conveyor  412  and moves the pallets  302  within the pallet assembly  406  such that pharmaceuticals dispensed by the automated dispensing subsystem  204  are dispensed into the containers  304  on the pallet  302 . 
     The pallet conveyor  412  may be a chain conveyor or a belt driven conveyor, e.g., a belted Bosch TS2 belt-driven conveyor; other types of conveyors may be used for the pallet conveyor  412 , such as a chain conveyor. In some embodiments, the pallet conveyor  412  is a low friction, high speed conveyor. 
     Although pallets are generally described herein as employed to move a group of containers through the system  100  or within the automated dispensing subsystem  204 , trays or other types of carriers may be employed to move a group of containers  304  through the system  100  or within the automated dispensing subsystem  204 . 
     The filling cabinet  402  may be physically housed, located, positioned or installed above the prefill assembly  404  and the pallet assembly  406 . For example, the filling cabinet  402  may be located on a first floor (e.g., in a building) and the prefill assembly  404  and the pallet assembly  406  may be located on a second floor (e.g., in the same building) below the filling cabinet  402 . These components of the automated dispensing subsystem  204  may be otherwise positioned, e.g., in a position to use gravity to move pharmaceuticals from the filling cabinet  402  to the prefill assembly  404  and then to the containers on  304  the pallet  302 . For example, some portion of the filling cabinet  402  may extend below the first floor. 
     The filling cabinet  402  may include multiple cells  414 . The cells  414  may each be adapted to hold a different pharmaceutical. The cells  414  may be adapted to receive inserts  416 . For example, the inserts  416  may be slidably inserted into the cells  414 . The inserts  416  may be adapted to hold pharmaceuticals to be dispensed into the containers  304  via the automated dispensing subsystem  204 . The cells  414  may receive pharmaceuticals, retain such pharmaceuticals, and dispense measured quantities of such pharmaceuticals into the prefill assembly  404 . The insert  416  may be adapted to be removably received within the cell  414 . For example, the insert  416  may pull out of the cell  414  like a drawer or a fixable pouch. In some embodiments, the cells  414  and the inserts  416  may be provided on opposite sides of the filling cabinet  402 . Thus, the first and second sides of the filling cabinet  402  may be separately accessible. The filling cabinet  402  may include fifty cells  414  per side, so in an embodiment in which cells  414  are provided on opposite sides of the filling cabinet  402 , the filling cabinet  402  may include up to and including 100 cells. In other embodiments, fewer or more than 50 cells may be included per side and/or fewer or more than 100 cells may be included per filling cabinet  402 . Each cell  414  may receive an insert  416  filled (or to be filled) with a different pharmaceutical or multiple cells  414  may each receive an insert  416  filled (or to be filled) with the same pharmaceutical. For example, more than one insert  416  may be filled with a commonly prescribed pharmaceutical. 
     The insert  416  may include a face plate  418  with a door  420 . The door  420  may be adapted to lock and to unlock to be opened. For example, the door  420  may be adapted to be locked unless and until it is unlocked. The door  420  may be adapted to unlock pursuant to a process that mitigates risk of unauthorized access to the pharmaceuticals within the insert  416  and/or to mitigate risks that unintended pharmaceuticals will be added to the insert  416 . In an example embodiment, the door  420  of the cell  414  will unlock when identifying information associated with a pharmaceutical container is detected (e.g., by a pharmacist using a hand-held scanning device to read a bar code or other computer-readable element on the pharmaceutical container) that matches identifying information associated with the cell  414  (e.g., by a pharmacist using a hand-held scanning device to read a bar code or other computer-readable element on the face plate  418  of the insert  416 ) and information about the pharmacist who fills the cell  414  (e.g., by a pharmacist using a hand-held scanning device to read a bar code or other computer-readable element on the pharmacist&#39;s badge). The inserts  416  may be otherwise accessed to receive pharmaceuticals to be held and dispensed. 
     The cell  414  may be adapted to receive a funnel (not shown). A first portion of the funnel disposed within the cell  414  may be adapted to receive a dispensing tube (not shown) of the insert  416 , through which pharmaceuticals may be dispensed from the insert  416  into the funnel. This may be through the large opening in the funnel. A second portion of the funnel may exist outside of the cell  414  and be in communication with a tube connected to a rear opening of the funnel. The second portion may be the stem of the funnel, which acts as a discharge for the pharmaceuticals being dispensed. 
     A frame portion  424  supports multiple dispensing tubes connected to the discharge of the funnels of the filling cabinet  402 . In general, however, the tubes are included to enable the cells  414  to dispense drugs. The tubes may suitably be static dissipative flex tubes and may be grounded to allow for static to flow to ground the tubes. In some embodiments, the prefill assembly  404  may include multiple buffer tubes connected to the dispensing tubes within the prefill assembly  404 . The buffer tubes may be removable to, for example, facilitate cleaning or replacement. The buffer tubes may be shaped as a long-draw funnel or include a long-draw funnel. A long draw funnel may facilitate dispensing of pharmaceuticals while minimizing jams. In an example embodiment, a long draw funnel may be greater than six inches in length, greater than a foot in length, or greater than two feet in length and decrease in diameter over at least a portion of its length. However, the long draw funnel will maintain a diameter than will allow a pharmaceutical to pass therethrough. In some other embodiments, the prefill assembly  404  may include multiple gated drawers, each drawer including multiple pharmaceutical holding and distribution gates that are configured to release pharmaceuticals to the containers  304  based on received prescription orders that is associated with the containers  304 . The pharmaceuticals may be dispensed from the buffer tubes or gated drawers into a container  304  disposed on the pallet  302  when the container  304  is held under the buffer tubes or gated drawers within the pallet assembly  406 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a top view and a side view, respectively, of the pallet assembly  406  of the automated dispensing subsystem  204 , according to an example embodiment. A pallet assembly frame  1202  provides support in the pallet assembly  406 , including the pallet conveyor  412  and an x-y movement apparatus  1204 . The x-y movement apparatus  1204  moves the pallet  302  within the pallet assembly  406  of the automated dispensing subsystem  204 . The x-y movement apparatus  1204  includes an x-component  1206  and a y-component  1208 . 
     The x-component  1206 , in operation, moves a pallet  302  in a direction perpendicular to the pallet conveyor  412 . The x-component  1206  includes an x-axis support arm  1210  that supports the pallet  302  as it moves within the pallet assembly  406  and an x-component motor  1214  that actuates the x-component  1206  of the x-y movement apparatus  1204 . 
     The y-component  1208 , in operation, moves a pallet  302  in a direction parallel to the pallet conveyor  412 . The y-component  1208  includes a y-axis support arm  1212  that supports the pallet  302  as it moves within the pallet assembly  406  and a y-component motor  1216  that actuates the y-component  1208  of the x-y movement apparatus  1204 . 
     The x-y movement apparatus  1204  may engage and move a pallet  302  within the pallet assembly  406  of the automated dispensing subsystem  204  such that the containers  304  in the pallet  302  are moved below the buffer tubes or gated drawers in communication with the cells  414  containing pharmaceuticals to be dispensed into such containers  304 , via the system  100 . 
     The pallet assembly  406  may include a lift apparatus  1302 . The lift apparatus  1302  may engage the pallet  302  and lift it such that a container  304  on the pallet  302  is aligned to receive pharmaceuticals from the buffer tubes or gated drawers in communication with the cell  414  holding pharmaceuticals to be dispensed into that particular container  304 . In an example, the container  304  is positioned directly (or substantially directly) below the exit of a buffer tube or gated drawer in communication with the cell  414  holding pharmaceuticals to be dispensed into that particular container  304 . A container  304  may be positioned such that the opening of the container  304  is very close to the exit of a buffer tube or pull out drawer, e.g., less than approximately 0.01 inches, 0.009 inches, 0.008 inches, 0.007 inches, 0.006 inches, 0.005 inches, or 0.004 inches from the exit of the buffer tube or gated drawer. 
     The automated dispensing subsystem  204  may include an RFID reader  1218 . The RFID reader  1218  may read data on the RFID tag  308  of the pallet  302  to obtain data associated with the particular pallet  302  and/or containers  304  within the pallet  302 , such as order data  110 , member data  112 , claims data  114 , drug data  116 , prescription data  118 , and/or plan sponsor data  120  associated with prescriptions (or portions of prescriptions) to be filled using containers  304  on that pallet  302 . The RFID reader  1218  may write data to the RFID tag  308  of a pallet  302  (or otherwise cause data to be associated with the pallet  302 ), such as order data  110 , member data  112 , claims data  114 , drug data  116 , prescription data  118 , and/or plan sponsor data  120  associated with pharmaceuticals dispensed into containers  304  on the pallet  302  via the automated dispensing device  130 . Although only one RFID reader  1218  is illustrated on  FIG. 12 , more than one RFID reader  1218  may be employed in an automated dispensing subsystem  204 . When more than one RFID reader  1218  is employed in an automated dispensing subsystem  204 , each RFID reader  1218  may be adapted to read the RFID tag  308  on a pallet  302  at a different stage. For example, an RFID reader may read the RFID tags  308  of pallets as they queue for entry into the automated dispensing subsystem  204 , another may read the RFID tags  308  of pallets as they enter the automated dispensing subsystem  204 , and another may read the RFID tags  308  of pallets  302  as they exit the automated dispensing subsystem  204 . 
     The RFID reader  1218  and/or another RFID reader may read the container identifiers of the containers on the pallet, the automated dispensing subsystem identifier, and the container properties of the containers on the pallet from the RFID tag  308  of a pallet  302  when it queues for entry into the automated dispensing subsystem  204  and may write the container identifiers of the containers  304  to be filled at the automated dispensing subsystem  204  and the identifiers of the particular cells from which the containers will be filled to the RFID tag  308  of the pallet  302 . The RFID reader  1218  and/or another RFID reader may read the container identifiers of the containers  304  to be filled at the automated dispensing subsystem  204  and the identifiers of the particular cells from which the containers  304  will be filled from the RFID tag  308  of the pallet  302  when it enters the automated dispensing subsystem  204 . The RFID reader  1218  and/or another RFID reader may read the pallet route within the system  100  and the pallet route within the automated dispensing subsystem  204  as it exits the automated dispensing subsystem  204  and may clear the pallet route within the automated dispensing subsystem  204  as it exits the automated dispensing subsystem  204  (e.g., to prevent the pallet  302  from re-entering the same automated dispensing subsystem  204  in an embodiment of the system  100  that employs more than one automated dispensing subsystem  204 ). 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example control subsystem  202  that may be deployed in the order processing device  102 , the automated dispensing device  130 , or otherwise deployed in the system  100 . One or more modules are communicatively coupled and included in the control subsystem  202  to enable control of the automated dispensing operations of the automated dispensing device  130 . The modules of the control subsystem  202  that may be included are a filling cabinet module  1402 , a dispensing module  1404 , and a sequencing module  1406 . Other modules may also be included. 
     In some embodiments, the modules of the control subsystem  202  may be distributed so that some of the modules are deployed in the order processing device  102  and some modules are deployed in the automated dispensing device  130 . In one embodiment, the modules are deployed in memory and executed by a processor coupled to the memory. The functionality contained within the modules  1402 - 1406  may be combined into a lesser number of modules, further divided among a greater number of modules, or redistributed among existing modules. Other configurations including the functionality of the modules  1402 - 1406  may be used. 
     The filling cabinet module  1402  may track quantities of pharmaceuticals placed into the insert  416  in the cell  414  and dispensed from the insert  416 . The filling cabinet module  1402  may control operations of the filling cabinet  402 . For example, the filling cabinet module  1402  may generate an alert when the quantity of pharmaceuticals in the insert  416  has dropped below a pre-determined level. The level at which an alert is be generated may be dependent upon parameters specific to the particular pharmaceutical, e.g., based on factors such as the size of the pharmaceutical, the typical prescribed quantity of the pharmaceutical, the relative popularity of the pharmaceutical, or other factors. For example, an alert may be generated if the quantity of pharmaceutical is below about  100  units (e.g., pills, capsules or tablets), below about 150 units, below about 200 units, below about 250 units, below about 300 units, or below about 350 units. Other types of thresholds may be used. Regardless of whether an alert has been generated, pharmaceuticals may continue to be dispensed from the insert  416  until it is empty. Alerts generated by the filling cabinet module  1402  may be prioritized. For example, alerts may be prioritized based on criterion such as general popularity of the pharmaceutical held in the cell  414 , pending orders in the system  100  for such pharmaceutical, quantity of pharmaceuticals remaining in the cell  414 , combinations thereof, or may be otherwise prioritized. The filling cabinet module  1402  may identify a particular cell  414  as being unavailable to the automated dispensing subsystem  204  when the insert  416  is pulled out or removed from the cell  414  of the filling cabinet  402 . 
     The dispensing module  1404  may access data, such as the order data  110 , the member data  112 , the claims data  114 , the drug data  116 , the prescription data  118 , and/or the plan sponsor data  120 , associated with a particular pallet  302 . Data may be accessed from the RFID tag  308  of the pallet  302 , the sequencing module  1406 , or the database  108 , for example. Based on such data, the dispensing module  1404  may identify the quantity of pharmaceuticals within a particular cell  414  to be dispensed into a particular container  304  on a particular pallet  302  and may control the operations of the inserts  416  and/or the buffer tubes/gated drawers and/or may otherwise control the operations of the automated dispensing subsystem  204  to cause pharmaceuticals to be dispensed from a cell  414  and, ultimately, into the container  304  on the pallet  302 . The dispensing module  1404  may receive the container identifiers of the containers  304  to be filled at the automated dispensing subsystem  204  and may return the identifiers of the cells  414  from which the containers  304  will be filled, the identifier of the automated dispensing subsystem  204 , the dispense type, and the dispense quantity. 
     The sequencing module  1406  may accesses data, such as the order data  110 , the member data  112 , the claims data  114 , the drug data  116 , the prescription data  118 , and/or the plan sponsor data  120 , associated with a particular pallet  302 . Data may be accessed from the RFID tag  308  of a pallet  302  or the database  108 , for example. Data associated with a particular pallet may be accessed by an RFID reader  1218  of the automated dispensing subsystem  204  or may be otherwise accessed. Based on such data, the sequencing module  1406  may determine which cells  414  within the automated dispensing subsystem  204  to dispense associated pharmaceuticals into the containers  304  on the particular pallet  302 . The sequencing module  1406  may determine the sequence in which the particular pallet  302  will move between dispensing positions associated with such cells  414 . The sequence may be selected based on factors such as proximity of the cells  414  and/or the buffer tubes/gated drawers from which containers  304  on the pallet  302  will be filled, availability or likely availability of a particular cell  414  (for example, as determined based on whether an alert has been generated for the particular cell  414  by the filling cabinet module  1402 , or otherwise generated, and/or the level of such alert), and/or other factors. 
     The sequence may be selected to minimize wait time at the cell  414 . For example, the sequence may be selected (and the operations of the automated processing subsystem  204  may be controlled) such that the container  304  to be filled with a pharmaceutical from the cell  414  arrives at the dispensing position associated with such cell  414  after the pharmaceutical to be dispensed into the container  304  is in a particular holding area of the buffer tube or gated drawer in communication with the cell  414 . By way of further example, if the pallet  302  includes more than one container  304  to be filled with a particular pharmaceutical, the sequencing module  1406  may order the filling of the containers on the pallet  302  such that a first container is filled with pharmaceuticals dispensed from the buffer tube or gated drawer in communication with the cell  414  containing the pharmaceutical at a first time and a second container is filled with pharmaceuticals dispensed from such buffer tube or gated drawer at a second time, and wherein at least one other container is filled from the buffer tube or gated drawer in communication with a different cell  414  between the filling of the first container  304  and the second container  304 . 
     If the automated dispensing subsystem  204  includes more than one cell  414  with a particular pharmaceutical, then in such an embodiment, the sequencing module  1406  may determine which of such cells  414  will be used to dispense such pharmaceutical. For example, the sequencing module  1406  may identify a first cell  414  from which a first container  304  will be filled with that particular pharmaceutical and a second cell  414  from which a second container  304  will be filled with that particular pharmaceutical. Other factors may be used to establish the sequence in which the containers  304  in a particular pallet  302  will be filled. 
     Multiple automated filling subsystems  204  may be deployed in the automated filling device  130  of the system  100 . In such an embodiment, one or more of the modules  1402 - 1406  of the control subsystem  202  and/or the order processing device  102  may determine which one or more automated filling subsystem  204  will be used to fill the containers  304  on a particular pallet  302  and may control the operations of the one or more automated filling subsystems  204  and/or the system  100  to cause pharmaceuticals to be dispensed into the containers  304  on such pallet  302  from cells  414  of such one or more than one automated filling subsystems  204 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a container sorting device  146 , according to an example embodiment. The container sorting device  146  may be deployed in the system  100  of  FIG. 1 , for example. The container sorting device  146  may include a container sorting control subsystem  500  and a container sorting subsystem  502 . The container sorting control subsystem  500  may include one or more modules and enables the container sorting device  146  to control the container sorting subsystem  502 , while the container sorting subsystem  502  may include one or more devices and enables the container sorting device  146  with sorting operations (e.g., transferring container(s)  304  from a pallet  302  to a disposition area). 
     An example deployment of the container sorting device  146  is within the system  100 . In such a deployment, as described above in detail, the system  100  includes one or more than one conveyor(s) or other devices to facilitate transporting the containers  304  or pallets  302  of containers  304  through mechanical devices within the system  100 , such as devices to label, fill, cap, and check containers  304 . The container sorting device  146  may be otherwise deployed. 
       FIGS. 10-14 and 18-19  illustrate the container sorting subsystem  502 , according to an example embodiment. The container sorting subsystem  502  may be deployed within the container sorting device  146 , for example. In this embodiment, the container sorting subsystem is located within a controlled access area  503  (sometimes referred to as a “control cage”). For example, pharmaceuticals in this area  503  may be for example C3, C4 or C5 controlled substances. The controlled access area  503  can be a specifically designated area within the high volume pharmacy where controlled substances are handled, stored, or processed to fill prescription orders. The controlled access area  503  can enclose additional components, e.g., the conveyors, the automated dispensing subsystem  204 , filled pallets, pallet transfers, and other components described herein. The container sorting subsystem  502  enables transferring containers  304  containing pharmaceuticals associated with a prescription order from a pallet  302  to one of multiple container transport systems such that the containers  304  of a given prescription order are grouped together for transport or other disposition and/or unloaded from the pallet  302  on a per-prescription order basis. In this embodiment, the container sorting subsystem  502  is configured to receive filled pallets  302  from one of the automated filling subsystem  204  and the automated filling device  130 . In some embodiments, the container sorting subsystem may be configured to receive filled pallets  302  from any other device, system, or subsystem of system  100 . 
     The container sorting subsystem  502  may include a plurality of guards  504  enclosing a container sorting workspace  506 , a pallet unloading area  508 , a sensor bracket  510 , a sensor  512 , a puck stop rail assembly  514 , a first exception conveyor  516 , a second exception conveyor  518 , a standard order conveyor  520 , a container manipulation device  522 , and a pallet lift  524 . A portion of the pallet conveyor  412  extends through the container sorting subsystem  502  and is configured to transport the pallets  302  between the automated dispensing device  130  and at least one container sorting subsystem  502  of the container sorting device  146  In other contemplated embodiments, the container sorting subsystem  502  may include any other component in any number that facilitates operation of the container sorting subsystem  502  and the container sorting device  146  as described herein. 
     In this embodiment, the plurality of guards  504  substantially surrounds the container sorting workspace  506  of the container sorting subsystem  502 . More specifically, the plurality of guards  504  are positioned and configured such that the plurality of guards  504  inhibit an operator from accessing the workspace  506  and interacting with the container manipulation device  522  during operation of the container sorting subsystem  502 . The plurality of guards  504  encloses the volume above and around the sides of the container sorting subsystem  502 , while being open from the bottom to receive a filled pallet and provide entrances and exits for the conveyors. The container sorting workspace  506  is guarded from the operator(s) at least partially by substantially solid guards  504 . In some other embodiments, the container sorting workspace  506  is guarded from the operator(s) at least partially by a sensor configured to detect entry of any portion of the operator(s) into container sorting workspace  506  and to cause at least the container manipulation device  522  to discontinue operation and movement. 
     Within the sorting workspace  506 , the pallet unloading area  508  is defined adjacent to the container manipulation device  522  and includes at least a portion of the pallet conveyor  412  that extends through the container sorting subsystem  502 . In this embodiment, the pallet unloading area  508  is sized to retain at least one pallet  302 . In some other embodiments, the pallet unloading area  508  may be sized to contain any number of pallets  302  and the container sorting subsystem  502  may be configured to transfer containers from any of the pallets  302  such that the container sorting subsystem  502  is able to group containers  304  of a prescription order together. The sensor bracket  510  extends across at least a portion of the pallet unloading area  508  and is configured to retain the sensor  512  such that the sensor  512  is operable to interact with the RFID tag  308  on the pallet  302 . The sensor  512  is configured to communication with at least the container sorting control subsystem  500  to transfer the information from the RFID tag  308  such that the container sorting control subsystem  500  is operable to control the container manipulation device  522  based on the received data from the RFID tag  308 . In some other embodiments, a plurality of sensors  512  may be located within the container sorting workspace  506  to facilitate identification of the containers  304  within at least one pallet  302 . 
     The puck stop rail assembly  514  includes arms  515  and extends at least partially around and through the pallet unloading area  508 . The pallet lift  524  is positioned vertically below the puck stop rail assembly  514  and is configured to move at least the pallet  302  along the vertical direction in the unloading area  508  during operation of the container sorting subsystem  502  and in cooperating with the container manipulation device  522 . In an example embodiment, the puck stop rail assembly  514  is configured to at least partially constrain movement of the pallet  302  in the pallet unloading area  508  during operation pallet lift  524 . In this embodiment, the pallet lift  524  is configured to lift a single pallet  302  along the vertical direction. In some other embodiments, the pallet lift  524  may be configured to lift and/or lock into a working position one or more than one pallet  302  aligned along any direction that facilitates operation of the container sorting device  146  as described herein. The puck stop rail assembly also at least partially constrains movements of the pucks on the pallet  302 . In an example embodiment, the arms  515  of the puck stop rail assembly  514  extend along rows of pucks in the pallet  302 . The arms  515  have a length from a base at one end to the puck at a far end of the pallet  302 . The bottom of the arms  515  may contact the top surface of the puck if the puck is lifted from the cavity in the pallet  302 , e.g., when a container is lifted from the puck and pallet. A single arm  515  may contact the pucks of two adjacent rows of pucks in the pallet. The number of arms  515  may be less than the number of rows in the pallet  302 , e.g., one less or half the number of rows. 
     In this embodiment, the standard order conveyor  520  extends through the container sorting subsystem  502  adjacent to the pallet conveyor  412  and from the container sorting subsystem to a downstream device within the high volume pharmacy system  100 . The first exception conveyor  516  extends through the container sorting subsystem  502  adjacent to the standard order conveyor  520  along a side of the standard order conveyor  520  that is opposite a side that is adjacent to the pallet conveyor  412  and to a first inspection pallet unloading area  508  outside of the container sorting workspace  506 . The second exception conveyor  518  extends through the container sorting subsystem  502  adjacent to the first exception conveyor  516  along a side of the first exception conveyor  516  opposite to the side of the first exception conveyor  516  that is adjacent to the standard order conveyor  520  and to a second inspection pallet unloading area  508  that is outside of the container sorting workspace  506 . The first exception conveyor  516 , the second exception conveyor  518 , and the standard order conveyor  520  all extend through the controlled access area  503 . 
     The container manipulation device  522  includes a movement apparatus  526  and a gripper assembly  528 . In this embodiment, the movement apparatus  526  is a multi-axis robot configured to move the gripper assembly  528  such that a container  304  may be moved from the pallet  302  to one of the standard order conveyor  520 , the first exception conveyor  516 , and the second exception conveyor  518 . In some other embodiments, the container manipulation device may be at least one of a robot, for example a collaborative robot, a selective-compliance-articulated robot arm, a six-axis robot, a cylindrical robot, a delta robot, a polar coordinate robot, a vertically articulated robot, and a Cartesian coordinate robot. In some embodiments, the container manipulation device  522  is configured to move more than one container  304  during each cycle of the container sorting subsystem  502 . 
     In this embodiment, the gripper assembly  528  includes a single gripper head  530  and a gripper head arm  532 . The gripper head arm is coupled between the movement apparatus  526  and the gripper head  530 . The gripper head  530  includes a pair of opposing gripper jaws  534  and is configured to grip and to release the container  304 . In this embodiment, the gripper head  530  is biased closed, that is the gripper head  530  uses spring force to maintain the pair of gripper jaws  534  in a closed position. The gripper head  530  is independently, pneumatically actuated such that activation of a pneumatic pressure sources causes the pair of gripper jaws  534  to move from the closed position to the open position, wherein the open position represents a distance between each gripper jaw  534  of the pair of gripper jaws  534  that is at greater than a diameter of the containers  304  within the pallet  302 . In an example embodiment, the gripper head  530  is independently, electrically actuated such that an electrical signal can activate a motor or solenoid to cause the pair of gripper jaws  534  to move from the closed position to the open position 
     At least a portion of each gripper jaw  534  of the pair of gripper jaws  534  includes a friction-enhanced surface  536 . More specifically, the friction-enhanced surface  536  is configured to enhance a coefficient of friction between the containers  304  and the pair of gripper jaws  534  to facilitate retrieval of the containers  304  from within the cavities  306  of the pallet  302  that is in the pallet unloading area  508 . In an example embodiment, the friction-enhanced surface  536  has a coefficient of friction greater than the pair of gripper jaws  534  when engaging containers  304 . In some embodiments, the gripper assembly may include any number of gripper jaws  534  in any orientation that facilitates operation of the container manipulation device  522  as described herein. 
     In this embodiment, after the container manipulation device  522  has placed at least one container  304  making up a prescription order on one of the standard order conveyor  520 , the first exception conveyor  516 , and the second exception conveyor  518 , the respective conveyor  516 - 520  transports the prescription order including at least one container  304  to one of a plurality of downstream devices and/or positions within the high volume pharmacy system  100 . More specifically, in this embodiment, containers  304  that make up a single prescription order and that are placed on the standard order conveyor  520  by the container manipulation device  522  are transferred in the order that they are placed on the standard order conveyor  520  from within the container sorting subsystem  502  to a downstream device and/or position within system  100 . For example, multiple containers  304  that are part of a same order are placed sequentially on the standard order conveyor  520  by the container manipulation device  522 . 
     Containers  304  that make up a single prescription order and are of a predetermined category, for example a controlled substance such as a narcotic, or that are flagged for a particular exception and that are placed on the first exception conveyor  516  by the container manipulation device  522  are transferred in the order that they are placed on the first exception conveyor  516  from within the container sorting subsystem  502  to a first inspection pallet unloading area  508 . Containers  304  that make up a single prescription order and are of a predetermined second category, for example a second type of controlled substance, or that are flagged for another type of exception and that are placed on the second exception conveyor  518  by the container manipulation device  522  are transferred in the order that they are placed on the second exception conveyor  518  from within the container sorting subsystem  502  to a second inspection pallet unloading area  508 . In some embodiments, the conveyors  516 - 520  may transport the containers  304  in any manner that facilitates operation of the system  100  as described herein. 
     In this embodiment, the standard order conveyor  520  is configured to transport the containers  304  of a prescription order from the container sorting subsystem  502  to, for example, at least one of devices  122 - 144  for further processing. In some embodiments, the standard order conveyor  520  may transfer the containers  304  of a prescription order to a tote or other type of transfer device for further processing. In additional embodiments, the standard order conveyor  520  may include a plurality of spacing apparatuses configured to maintain spacing of the containers  304  of each prescription order as the containers are transported along the standard order conveyor  520 . As shown on the right side of  FIG. 14 , an elevated section  521  may be used to convey containers  304  to or from the controlled access area  503  at a first vertical height at the controlled access area  503  from or to an elevated, second height relative to the first height. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an example container sorting control subsystem  500  that may be deployed in the order processing device  102 , the container sorting device  146 , or otherwise deployed in the system  100 . One or more modules are communicatively coupled and included in the container sorting control subsystem  500  to enable control of the container sorting operations of the container sorting device  146 . The modules of the container sorting control subsystem  500  that may be included are a pallet contents determination module  600 , a container retrieval module  602 , and a container distribution module  604 . Other modules may also be included. 
     In some embodiments, the modules of the container sorting control subsystem  500  may be distributed so that some of the modules are deployed in the order processing device  102  and some modules are deployed in the container sorting device  146 . In one embodiment, the modules are deployed in memory and executed by a processor coupled to the memory. The functionality container within the modules  600 - 602  may be combined into a lesser number of modules, further divided among a greater number of modules, or redistributed among existing modules. Other configurations including the functionality of the modules  600 - 602  may be used. 
     The pallet contents determination module  600  may access data, such as the order data  110 , the member data  112 , the claims data  114 , the drug data  116 , the prescription data  118 , and/or the plan sponsor data  120 , all associated with a particular pallet  302  that has been received within the container sorting subsystem  502 . Data may be accessed from the RFID tag  308  of the pallet  302  or the database  108 , for example. In some embodiments, data may be accessed from a barcode or other data storage system associated with the pallet  302 . Based on such data, the pallet contents determination module  600  may identify the container  304  within a particular cavity  306  of the pallet and associate it with a prescription order based on the data received. The pallet contents determination module  600  may receive the container identifiers of the containers  304  to be removed from the pallet  302  and transferred to an appropriate disposition area by the container sorting subsystem  502  and may return the location of the containers  304  within the pallet  302  from which the containers  304  may be removed and associated with a prescription order by the container sorting subsystem  502 . 
     The container retrieval module  602  may access data, such as the order data  110 , the member data  112 , the claims data  114 , the drug data  116 , the prescription data  118 , the plan sponsor data  120 , and/or data received from the pallet contents determination module  600  associated with a particular pallet  302 . Data may be accessed from the RFID tag  308  of a pallet  302  or the database  108 , for example. Data associated with a particular pallet may be accessed by an RFID reader  1218  of the container sorting subsystem  502  or may be otherwise accessed. Based on such data, the container retrieval module  602  may determine which cavity  306  a container  304  associated with a prescription order is located within. The container retrieval module  602  may then control operations of the container manipulation device  522  of the container sorting subsystem  502  to cause the container manipulation device  522  to retrieve the container  304  associated with the prescription order from the cavity  306  within the pallet  302 . 
     The container distribution module  604  accesses data, such as the order data  110 , the member data  112 , the claims data  114 , the drug data  116 , the prescription data  118 , the plan sponsor data  120 , data received from the pallet contents determination module  600  associated with a particular pallet  302 , and/or data received from the container retrieval module  602 . Based on such data, the container distribution module  604  may determine which conveyor  516 - 520  the container  304  being moved by the container manipulation device  522  is to be placed on. The container distribution module  604  may control operations of the container manipulation device  522  to cause the container manipulation device  522  to place the container  304  on one of the conveyors  516 - 520  based on the prescription order the container  304  is associated with and/or the type of pharmaceutical contained within the container  304 . The module  604  suitably instructs the device  522  to cause containers  304  in the same order to be picked sequentially, as further described below. Additionally, the container distribution module  604  may control the operations of conveyors  516 - 520  based on data such as the order data  110 , the member data  112 , the claims data  114 , the drug data  116 , the prescription data  118 , the plan sponsor data  120 , data received from the pallet contents determination module  600  associated with a particular pallet  302 , and/or data received from the container retrieval module  602 . 
     For example, a first container  304  associated with a first prescription order and containing a non-controlled, over-the-counter pharmaceutical will be placed on the standard order conveyor  520  by the container manipulation device  522  at the direction of the container distribution module  604 . A second container  304  associated with the first prescription order and also containing a non-controlled pharmaceutical will also be placed on the standard order conveyor  520  by the container manipulation device  522  in sequential order with the first container  304  and in relatively close proximity to the first container  304  at the direction of the container distribution module  604 . In some embodiments, the container manipulation device  522  may be configured to place the containers  304  in any order and at any spacing relative to the other containers  304  that facilitates operation of the system  100  as described herein. The spatial proximity of the first container  304  and the second container  304  may be the result of the container manipulation device  522  transferring the containers  304  from the pallet  302  to the standard order conveyor  520  relatively rapidly, as compared to the operational speed of the standard order conveyor  520 . Alternatively, the spatial proximity of the containers  304  may be the result of the container distribution module  604  stopping movement of the standard order conveyor  520  during assembly of the containers  304  associated with the first prescription order by the container manipulation device. For example, the container distribution module  604  may alter the spatial separation of multiple containers  304  and/or multiple prescription orders on any of the conveyors  516 - 520  by coordinating the operation of the container manipulation device  522  and the conveyors  516 - 520 . 
     In another example, a third container  304  associated with a second prescription order and containing a controlled substance having a certain classification (e.g., C3-C5) will be placed on one of the first exception conveyor  516  and the second exception conveyor  518  by the container manipulation device  522  at the direction of the container distribution module  604  based on the data received and/or determined by the container distribution module. In some examples, first exception conveyor  516  includes an endstop for retrieval of an order by a technician, or for sample checking. In other examples, second exception conveyor  518  includes an endstop for multiple container orders and for technician retrieval. 
     Multiple container sorting subsystems  502  may be deployed in the container sorting device  146  of the system  100 . In such an embodiment, one or more of the modules  600 - 602  of the container sorting control subsystem  500  and/or the order processing device  102  may determine which one of the container sorting subsystems  502  will be used to sort the containers  304  on a particular pallet  302  and may control the operations of the one or more container sorting subsystems  502  and/or the system  100  to cause pharmaceutical-containing containers  304  associated with certain prescription orders to be transferred from the pallets  302  to conveyors  516 - 520  based on the associated prescription order and the contents of the containers  304 . Grouping together the containers  304  that are associated with a prescription order facilitates more efficient processing of the prescription order by the downstream processes within the system  100  and potential elimination and/or combination of portions of the downstream processes. For example, using the container sorting subsystems  502  to group together the containers  304  of each prescription order facilitates efficiently packing and shipping the containers  304  of each prescription order as a complete prescription order by the system  100 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a method  700  for sorting containers  304  containing pharmaceuticals positioned in pallets  302  and associated with prescriptions orders. The method  700  may be performed by the container sorting device  146 , partially by the order processing device  102  and partially by the container sorting device  146 , or may otherwise be performed. 
     At step  702 , a pallet  302  is received in a pallet unloading area  508  of the container sorting subsystem  502 . In this embodiment, the pallet  302  contains a plurality of containers  304  positioned within a plurality of cavities  306  of the pallet  302 . At step  704 , a location in the pallet  302  of a first container  304  associated with a first prescription order is determined based on the data from the RFID tag  308  affixed to the pallet  302 , for example. At step  706 , the first container  304  is retrieved from the determined cavity  306  by the container manipulation device  522 . At step  708 , a conveyor  516 - 520  to receive the first container  304  is determined by the container sorting device  146  based on the associated prescription order. At step  710 , the container manipulation device  522  places the first container  304  on the determined conveyor  516 - 520  for distribution to a respective downstream area or device within the system  100 . 
       FIG. 17  shows a block diagram of a machine in the example form of a computer system  1600  within which a set of instructions may be executed causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods, processes, operations, or methodologies discussed herein. The devices  102 ,  106 ,  122 - 146  may include the functionality of the one or more computer systems  1600 . 
     As can be seen from the above description, the system does not require a rotary sortation wheel, i.e., is free of a rotary sortation wheel, and thus can process orders more quickly. The system enables quicker resolution of exceptional containers or orders, and reduces the need for manual sortation. And it automatically groups like bottles/containers of the same order, even though they may be spread out across a pallet or multiple pallets. “Automatically” in this disclosure refers to grouping containers of the same order as they are removed from the one or more pallets. 
     In one embodiment, the method of this disclosure enables simultaneous grouping of five unassociated containers from a single pallet. This may be performed in the same time a prior system handled only one container from a single pallet. 
     In an example embodiment, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a gaming device, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions sequential or otherwise) that specifies actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term  11 machine 11  shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. 
     The example computer system  1600  includes a processor  1602  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both), a main memory  1604  and a static memory  1606 , which communicate with each other via a bus  1608 . The computer system  1600  further includes a video display unit  1610  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system  1600  also includes an alphanumeric input device  1612  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  1614  (e.g., a mouse), a drive unit  1616 , a signal generation device  1618  (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device  1620 . 
     The drive unit  1616  includes a computer-readable medium  1622  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  1624 ) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The software  1624  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  1604  and/or within the processor  1602  during execution thereof by the computer system  1600 , the main memory  1604  and the processor  1602  also constituting computer-readable media. 
     The software  1624  may further be transmitted or received over a network  1626  via the network interface device  1620 . 
     While the computer-readable medium  1622  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, and optical media, and magnetic media. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium is a non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     The present application uses the term “module” to describe various structural components that may include processors and memories operable connected to the processors. The processors include circuitry for executing instructions, which can be stored in memory, on inputs to the circuitry to produce control signals to control physical components of the system  100  described herein. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Moreover, the use of “top”, “bottom”, “above”, “below” and variations of these terms is made for convenience, but does not require any particular orientation of the components. 
     While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the figures and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.