Vial picking module comprising: a vial pick head having an automated claw-like mechanism and a single axis translator, the automated claw-like mechanism is configured to grasp a top of the vial so that a portion of the vial bearing the bar code extends downward from the vial pick head and the single axis translator is configured to translate the vial pick head along a single translation direction; the vial picking module further comprising a bar code reader disposed at a fixed position, wherein the bar code reader is configured to project a reading beam toward the single translation direction; wherein a first mirror, a second mirror and a third mirror are attached to the vial pick head such that when the vial pick head is in a first position along the single translation direction, the first mirror intersects the reading beam and reflects the reading beam to a right side of the vial, when the vial pick head is in a second position along the single translation direction, the second mirror intersects the reading beam and reflects the reading beam to a right rear side of the vial, when the vial pick head is in a third position along the single translation direction, the reading beam directly impinges upon a front of the vial, and when the vial pick head is in a fourth position along the single translation direction, the third mirror intersects the reading beam and reflects the reading beam to a left rear side of the vial, so that all sides of the vial are viewed with overlap by the bar code reader such that at least one of the four positions will produce a signal corresponding to the bar code. a vial pick head having an automated claw-like mechanism and a single axis translator, the automated claw-like mechanism is configured to grasp a top of the vial so that a portion of the vial bearing the bar code extends downward from the vial pick head and the single axis translator is configured to translate the vial pick head along a single translation direction; the vial picking module further comprising a bar code reader disposed at a fixed position, wherein the bar code reader is configured to project a reading beam toward the single translation direction; wherein a first mirror, a second mirror and a third mirror are attached to the vial pick head such that when the vial pick head is in a first position along the single translation direction, the first mirror intersects the reading beam and reflects the reading beam to a right side of the vial, when the vial pick head is in a second position along the single translation direction, the second mirror intersects the reading beam and reflects the reading beam to a right rear side of the vial, when the vial pick head is in a third position along the single translation direction, the reading beam directly impinges upon a front of the vial, and when the vial pick head is in a fourth position along the single translation direction, the third mirror intersects the reading beam and reflects the reading beam to a left rear side of the vial, so that all sides of the vial are viewed with overlap by the bar code reader such that at least one of the four positions will produce a signal corresponding to the bar code. <EOS>