WO2012054866A2

WO2012054866A2 - Apparatus and method for concurrent item dispensing

Info

Publication number: WO2012054866A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/057341
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wes Van Ooyen; Derek Bessette; Todd Willick; Duane Lindner; Richard Panetta
Original assignee: Pcas Patient Care Automation Services Inc.; Desandro, Bradley, K.
Priority date: 2010-10-22
Filing date: 2011-10-21
Publication date: 2012-04-26
Also published as: WO2012054866A3

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dispensing items has an array of storage locations (e.g., storage bins) for storing items. A pick head sub-system is operable to pick an item from any storage bin of the array and a transfer sub-system is operable to receive items picked by the pick head sub-system. A delivery mechanism is operable to deliver items from the transfer sub-system to a delivery zone. The picking, transfer and delivery of an item comprises a dispense operation, and the pick head and transfer sub-systems permit parallel dispense operations.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONCURRENT ITEM DISPENSING

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This PCT Application claims priority to, and the benefit of, US Provisional Application Serial No. 61/406,012, filed on October, 22, 2010, titled "A Dispensing Apparatus and Method for Effecting Parallel Dispense Operations," which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing items and has particular application for fast dispensing of drugs and other medicaments at a dispensing kiosk.

RELATED ART

Traditional dispensing of prescribed medicaments involves a doctor meeting with a patient and prescribing a medicament based on a particular diagnosis, and then hand writing and signing a prescription for the patient to carry to a pharmacist at a pharmacy location for fulfillment. In recent years, two major advances have occurred in the field of medicament dispensing. The first is the advent of electronic prescription capturing systems which improve the overall accuracy and patient record-keeping associated with prescribing drugs. The second is the advent of automated apparatus, typically configured as kiosks, from which medicaments can be automatically dispensed, the kiosks being located for convenient patient access, such as at a doctor's premises, a hospital or mall, and being networked with a system server for inventory control and management. In this regard, reference may be made to applicant's co-pending PCT application serial no. PCT/CA2007/001220 related to a method, system and apparatus for dispensing drugs.

More specifically, the PCT application describes a networked system having a server, a database of patient information linked to the server, a first client having input means linked to the server and operable to generate a script for a medicament prescribed to a user, a second client comprising an automated apparatus for dispensing medicaments (referred to in the PCT application as a robotic prescription dispensary) operable to recognize a human and/or machine readable description in the script, and to provide validating cross-referencing between the description and patient information as a prelude to dispensing a drug to the user on the basis of the input script. A doctor in a clinic can be a third client having input means linked to the server to input appropriate prescription information, or accept certain prescription information from the database as being applicable in the particular case for a particular patient. Further, the doctor's client device can be operable to display patient information, e.g., drug history, insurance coverage, etc., and a printer module can print the script as a paper print-out. The server and database enable storing, compiling and retrieval of patient data including name, address, and diagnostic and drug history. Access to the database can be provided to both the doctor and the automated apparatus for dispensing medicaments via the server, via a secure connection, or via a link between the system and a clinic's existing clinic management system or patient database.

The described apparatus also includes a user interface, a teleconferencing or videoconferencing means enabling communication between the user and a human validation agent, and a scanning means for capturing an image of the script so that it, if needed, it can be viewed by a human validation agent, such as a licensed pharmacist communicating in the system and with the apparatus from a remote location to the apparatus, to approve a prescription. The user interface of the dispensary apparatus provides detailed and clear instructions to guide the user.

An authentication means confirms the identity of the patient, for example, by prompting for a personal identification number or by biometric means or by associating certain questions to answers provided by the patient that identify the patient to the apparatus, and cross-referencing this information with the patient information stored on the networked database. Once the patient is recognized, the dispensary apparatus prompts the user for a script and the apparatus processes the user-input script either by the above-mentioned human validation agent or by processing the machine readable description (which may be a bar code). This information can be verified with the server and the database. The apparatus may also interface with the server to adjudicate insurance claims and to determine amounts payable by patients. The patient either accepts or rejects the transaction. If the transaction is accepted, the apparatus interfaces with the server to transact a payment, for example, by prompting the patient for credit card information. Prescription labels and receipts are printed. The apparatus confirms that the drug is correct and delivers it to a dispensing area for retrieval by the user while retaining the script in a lock box, and verifying that the purchased drug product has been retrieved. Further, the apparatus may print and/or provide to the user educational materials relevant to the medicaments that have been dispensed. The automated dispensing apparatus is of significant value in enabling a patient to obtain prescribed medicaments without having to attend a pharmacy or drug store.

A process for dispensing items from a drug dispensing kiosk has a considerable number of steps between the customer first arriving at the kiosk and his or her departing with a dispensed drug or other medicament. Generally, the steps can be subdivided into those made before a decision to dispense a drug item is taken, and those made after the decision is taken. Typical of the steps made after the decision is taken are the movement of a pick head to a storage bin and the picking and transfer of a selected item to a dispense bay. Each of the several steps takes a finite time to complete and, in some cases, initiation of one step is dependent on satisfactory completion of another step. In contrast, customer expectation in relation to any automated or semi-automated transaction is that it should take place instantly, or as close as possible to instantly. In this respect, any technique for reducing the steps taken in a dispensing process or in reducing the time taken for completion of any of the steps is valuable as going some way to meeting that customer expectation.

SUMMARY

In one implementation, there is provided apparatus for dispensing items comprising an array of storage bins for storing items, a pick head sub-system operable to pick an said item from any said storage bin of the array, a transfer sub-system for receiving the items picked by the pick head sub-system, and a delivery mechanism for delivering the items from the transfer sub-system to a delivery zone. In that the picking, transfer and delivery of any said item comprises a dispense operation, and the pick head sub-system and the transfer sub-system permit concurrent or parallel dispense operations.

In other implementation, the pick head sub-system comprises dual pick heads, each pick head operable to pick an item from any storage bin of the array, and the pick heads are mounted on respective carriages, the carriages each having a drive to drive the carriages on one gantry of a double gantry arrangement, the gantries mounted to a common support allowing independent movement of the carriages.

The apparatus can further comprise dual user interfaces located side-by-side, with the storage bin array and the double gantry arrangement located behind, and generally spanning an area occupied by, the dual user interfaces, and with each user interface configured as part of a door providing access to the array of storage bins.

The transfer sub-system can comprise dual transfer mechanisms for receiving picked items, each transfer mechanism accessible by each of the pick heads, the delivery mechanism operable to deliver items from either of the transfer mechanisms. The delivery zone can comprise dual dispense bays to permit parallel dispense sessions at dual user interfaces.

In further implementation, the apparatus also comprises a pair of first conveyors for receiving items from respective ones of the transfer mechanisms and for conveying the items to a hub region. The apparatus can further comprise dual labelling module mounted adjacent respective ones of the first conveyors and operable to label items conveyed on said first conveyors, and a control module having a control function to index and queue items on the first conveyors prior to labelling thereof. The apparatus can further comprise a director mechanism for directing items received at the hub region selectively to one or other of a pair of second conveyors for conveying directed items to a selected one of the dispense bays. The apparatus is preferably configured with a first one of each of the transfer mechanisms, the first conveyors and the second conveyors located behind one of the user interfaces, and the other of the transfer mechanisms, the first conveyors and the second conveyors located behind the other user interface.

In yet another implementation, an apparatus for dispensing items includes a plurality of storage bins each storing one or more said items, a pick head sub-system having a plurality of pick heads each being mounted on a carriage and operable to pick any said item from any said storage bin, wherein each said carriage is driven by a drive on a gantry that is mounted so as to allow independent movement of the carriages, a transfer sub-system operable to receive the items picked by the pick head sub-system, the transfer sub-system having a plurality of transfer mechanisms each being accessible by each of the pick heads, and each being operable to transfer the picked said items, a plurality of conveyors each being operable to receive the items from a respective said transfer mechanisms and convey the items to a hub region, a plurality of labelling modules each being proximal to one said conveyor and operable to label the items conveyed on the one said conveyor, a diverter mechanism for diverting the items conveyed to the hub region selectively to one of a plurality of second said conveyors for conveying the diverted said items to a selected one of the dispense bays, and a plurality of user interfaces each corresponding to one said dispense bay and being operable to receive instructions from a user that correspond to the picking, transfer and diverting of one said item in a dispense operation, whereby the pick head sub-system and the transfer sub-system permit concurrent said dispense operations of a plurality of said items to a respective plurality of the dispense bays for retrieval thereat by the respective said of users providing the received said instructions at the respective said user interfaces.

In a still further implementation, there is provided a method for dispensing items stored in an array of storage bins comprising operating a pick head sub-system to pick an item from any of the storage bins of the array, operating a transfer sub-system to receive items picked by the pick head sub-system, and operating a delivery mechanism to deliver items from the transfer sub-system to either one of dual dispense bays.

For a pick head sub-system comprising dual pick heads, the method can further comprise operating one of the pick heads to pick a first item from a first storage bin in an operation which overlaps in time operating the other pick head to pick a second item from a second storage bin.

The method can further comprise operating features of dual, side-by-side user interfaces incorporating respective ones of the dual dispense bays to arrange dispensing of items, operating the pick heads to range over an area of the bin array generally spanning the area occupied by the dual user interfaces and to pick items from bins of the bin array, operating each of dual transfer mechanisms of the transfer sub-system to receive items picked by the pick heads, conveying the picked items to a hub region, and operating the delivery mechanism to direct picked items from the hub region to either of the dispense bays as selected at the user interface. Preferably, the method can further comprise queuing items conveyed between the transfer mechanisms and the hub region, and labelling items in position in the queue.

The method can further comprise implementing item transfers by a first one of the transfer mechanisms, conveying items by a first one of the first conveyors and conveying items by a first one of the second conveyors in a region behind one of the user interfaces, and conducting item transfers by the other of the transfer mechanisms, conveying items by the other of the first conveyors, and conveying items by the other of the second conveyors in a region behind the other of the user interfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the following figures are not drawn to common scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods, operation and functions of related elements of structure, and the combinations of parts and economies of manufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of the specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a dispensary kiosk according to one embodiment of the invention the dispensary kiosk forming one node of a communication network;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a storage layer forming part of the dispensary kiosk of

FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an access layer forming part of the dispensary kiosk of

FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a function layer forming part of the dispensary kiosk of

FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a user interface layer forming part of the dispensary kiosk of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows in front elevation, an array of rack modules for use in the storage layer of

FIG. 2; FIG. 7 is a top view of one of the rack modules of FIG. 6 showing the manner of storage of items;

FIGS. 8 to 10 are schematic illustrations of a dual pick head arrangement showing a range of possible pick head positions; FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a transfer module forming a part of the function layer of FIG 4; and

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of another part of the function layer of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring in detail to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic top view of a dispensary kiosk 8 for dispensing drug packages and other items. The kiosk is connected into a network, illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, which includes several other dispensary kiosks, a medical records database, a drug history database, a physician centre, an inventory control centre and a technical support centre. The network permits information related to a dispensing transaction to be obtained from and delivered to nodes on the network remote from the dispensary, and permits communication between a user at the kiosk and a human agent. The human agent is typically a pharmacist, or agent thereof, who is able to monitor the dispensing transaction. He or she will determine on the basis of all monitored information whether a dispensing transaction is to be completed and may also access records data and other expertise some of which records data and expertise are depicted in FIG. 1.

The dispensary kiosk is configured as a number of layers, the elements of each layer having particular functions in relation to a dispensing operation. At the rear of the dispensary kiosk is a storage layer 10, elements of which are shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. In front of the storage layer is an access layer 12, elements of which are shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The storage layer and the access layer together form a secure back end storage vault. In front of the access layer is a function layer 14, elements of which are shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. In front of the function layer is a user interface layer 16, elements of which are shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. The user interface layer and the function layer together form a front end unit which is hinged to the back end vault and form doors to permit authorized access to the vault for servicing.

Referring in detail to FIG. 2, the storage vault has a cabinet 17 and a rack constituted by a number of storage rack modules 20 mounted in the cabinet in a row column array. The rack and the rack modules can be of the form described in co-pending U.S. patent application serial no.

12/881817, filed on September 14, 2010, titled "Method of Configuring Rack Storage and a Rack

Assembly," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As shown in front elevation in FIG. 6, each rack module has a number of rectangular bins 18. The bins vary in height and width as shown by the three illustrated rack modules 20 so as to accommodate different sizes of drug packages and other medicament items to be dispensed. The rack may also include one or more loading modules 21 which have a greater variety of bin sizes than the storage modules and which are used in the course of a process for automated side loading of the rack. As shown in the top view of FIG. 7, multiple items 23 are stacked from front to back in each of the bins 18.

Referring in detail to FIG. 3, in front of the storage layer, the access layer 12 has two gantries 22, one of which is shown at the left hand side of the figure, and the second of which is not seen in FIG. 3 by is at the right hand side of the figure. Each of plurality of pick heads 24 are movable on a respective gantry. The assembly is used for picking medicament items from the bins 18 and for moving them to transfer stations where they can be passed forwardly to the function layer 14. The gantries 22 are supported at upper and lower horizontally extending rails 26. Each of the gantries has a vertically reciprocal carriage 28 driven by a respective belt drive 30 along a respective vertical guide rail 32. Each of the guide rails 32 is mounted between a respective pair of horizontally reciprocal carriages 34. The carriages 34 are driven by belt drives 36 along the horizontal rails 26. The carriages 28 and 34 are movable in an access plane which extends parallel to a front access side of the bin rack. In this way, the pick heads 24 can be individually placed adjacent any selected one of the bins 18 at the front access side. Each of the pick heads 24 can be used to pick a selected item from its position in one of the bins 18, and, if part of a front-to-back row of items as shown in FIG. 7, from its position within the row, in preparation for the next stage in a dispensing operation. Each pick head 24 can be driven on its gantry 22 in X and Y directions in the access plane to transport a selected item from a target bin to one of two transfer stations where it can be accessed by one or other of a pair of transfer modules 38 to be described with reference to FIG. 4.

A though two (2) pick head 24 and gantry 22 assemblies are shown in FIG. 3, implementations are contemplated for a dispensing kiosk having a greater plurality of pick head and gantry assemblies such that multiple, concurrent picking of items in a storage array bins can be accomplished with the plurality of pick head and gantry assemblies.

To pick an item from a bin 18, when the pick head reaches the desired XY position corresponding to the bin housing the item to be picked, a platform 40 forming a part of the pick head 24 is driven in the Z direction into the bin 18 to cause a selected stored item to seat onto the platform whereupon it is gripped between paddles 25 and withdrawn from the bin as the platform

40 is subsequently withdrawn. A pick head mechanism suitable for use in the present invention is described in U.S. patent application Serial No. 12/503,989, filed on July 16, 2009, titled

"Method and Apparatus for Picking a Package From a Dispensing System," corresponding to US Patent Application Publication No. US 2011-0014018 Al, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. As described in this application, the platform has a cam formation for lifting the selected item in the course of the platform entering the target bin and a hook formation to engage the selected item when the platform reaches a limit position, the hook formation acting to drag the item from the target bin as the platform is withdrawn. The pick head mechanism includes a camera forming part of an inspection module for checking identification data on the selected item. The data may, for example, be an identifier such as a barcode and is used, among other things, to confirm, by way of a comparison, that the item being picked is really the intended item. The visual inspection unit may also be used to check that a picked item is in a position on the platform 40 that is acceptable from the viewpoint of effecting subsequent manipulation of the item in the course of the dispensing process.

Control to the two pick heads 24 is coordinated so as, to the extent possible, to operate the pick heads in parallel in respective pick processes when it is of advantage to do so in terms of speed of dispense operations. The control is such that a particular pick head is made to convey a selected item to the transfer station adjacent whichever of the transfer modules 38 offers the greatest advantage in terms of processing the dispense operations while avoiding interference with operation of the other pick head. As shown schematically in FIGS. 8-10, each of the pick heads 24 can range over the full vertical and horizontal spans of the storage area. The pick heads can therefore operate at widely spaced locations as shown in FIG. 8, but, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, can be driven together at relatively close locations as necessary for performing rapid, parallel dispensing operations.

Referring in detail to FIG. 4, there are shown transfer modules 38 and labelling modules

44 mounted in the cabinet. Together with various item positioning, driving and guiding elements, these occupy the function layer 14. This layer is located in front of the access layer.

The two transfer modules 38 are mounted at laterally opposed sides of the kiosk and function to receive a selected item from one of the pick heads 24 and to weigh the item using load cells that are built into the structure of each transfer module. Weighing the selected item and checking the weight against weight data recorded during prior serialization of stored items provides a valuable check to minimize the chances of a wrong pick or of the selected item having deteriorated or become damaged during its prior storage or movement. One of the transfer modules 38 is shown in greater detail in the isometric view of FIG. 11. The unit includes a pair of grip members 48 depending from a mounting arrangement 50. The mounting member can be driven, for instance on a rail 52 via a rack and pinion mechanism 54, into the cabinet (to the left as shown in FIG.

11), this movement acting to place the transfer module 38 above one of the pick heads 24 when the pick head is located adjacent the associated transfer station. The pick head 24 is operated to raise the picked item so that it locates between the two grip members 48 which are then moved towards one another to grip the selected item. With the item suspended in the transfer module, a weight measurement is taken. After the pick head 24 is withdrawn from under the transfer station, the mounting member with the item suspended from it is driven back to its start position where the selected item is released from the grip members 48 and allowed to drop onto the end of one of a pair of belt conveyors 56 as shown in FIG. 4.

The belt conveyors are operable to convey a selected item from a position where it is dropped from a respective one of the transfer modules 38 inwardly towards a drop zone 58 where the selected item drops from the conveyor into a cove 78. As the items are conveyed by the conveyors 56, they pass under respective labelling modules 44 that are used to apply labels to the items.

Each labelling module 44 can be of the type described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/173,869, filed on June 30, 2011, titled "Method and Apparatus for Labelling," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Each module 44 has a printer 60, a supply reel 62 for supporting a roll of label stock in the form of a web consisting of a release backing supporting a series of self-adhering labels. Each module 44 also has a motor driven take-up reel 64, a tensioner device 68, and other cooperating aspects such that, at the printer 60, identifying data and other information related to the contents of an item to be labelled are printed on presented labels in preparation for the label being applied to that item. Each module 44 then is operated to remove a printed label from the backing, to support the label, and to adjust its position and orientation to match it to the position on the conveyor 56 of the item to be labelled. The label to be applied is then stepped down to apply the self-adherent label to any contouring surface of the item.

In the course of an item being conveyed to a position under the labelling module 44, an image of the item can be recorded by a video camera, which image can be transmitted to the pharmacist, or agent thereof, who checks to ensure that everything appears to be in order. By way of example, up to three items may be stored in indexed positions on each of the conveyors 56 in readiness for their being step-conveyed successively to the labelling station below the labelling module 44. Multiple items are queued on the conveyors 56 in order to reduce the time taken to complete dispensing procedures where, as is often the case, multiple items are to be dispensed to one or other of the users in a single session.

A selected item which has been labelled and is destined for one of a pair of dispense bays

76, is conveyed by the left or right conveyor 56 to the drop zone 58 where it drops into a cove 78 as shown in the detailed isometric view of FIG. 12. Projecting up from a floor of the cove is a diverter which is used to direct selected items towards the appropriate dispense bay 76 after they have dropped into the cove 78. The diverter has a pair of paddles 82 extending upwardly which can be driven laterally, either separately or together. If a selected item is to be directed to the left hand dispense bay 76, the two paddles 82 are moved as a single unit towards the right side of the cove so that a selected item, guided by a spring mounted ramp 86, drops into the cove 78 and are then moved as a unit towards the left to sweep the selected item into the left-hand tunnel or dispense bay 76. Similarly, for a dropped item destined for the right tunnel or dispense bay 76, the paddles 82 are moved as a unit to the left before the corresponding selected item drops and are then moved to the right to sweep the item into the right tunnel. When all items that are to be delivered to a particular user in a session have been swept into the relevant tunnel, for example, the left hand tunnel, the paddle 82 closest to the left hand tunnel is driven against the entrance of the left hand tunnel to close it and so prevent unauthorized access by the user through the dispense bay associated with that tunnel. Subsequently, the other paddle 82 can be moved independently to sweep dropped items into the right hand tunnel whereupon it is similarly driven to block the entrance of the right hand tunnel.

As shown in FIG. 4, items delivered into the tunnels are moved on a lower conveyor 88 to the centre of the dispense bay 76. Each bay has two forward-facing doors 90 which open together and close together. The doors are driven on a continuous belt suspended between drive and idler pulleys, the pulleys having vertical axes of rotation. One door of each pair is attached to and driven by a front span of the belt and the other door of the pair is attached to and driven by a rear span of the belt so that the doors open and close together. The arrangement includes a latch. Once each item has been delivered, an end of session signal triggers the opening of doors 90 of the appropriate dispense bay to expose the item(s) for collection by a user.

Items that are assigned an index position on one of the conveyors 56 will normally be delivered eventually to one of the dispense bays 76 provided the pharmacist, or other remote agent on the network, has given approval for the transaction, and optionally, of the dispensing of the item from the kiosk or apparatus. However, if a session is aborted either at the user's election or otherwise, an item in transit on one or other of the conveyors 56 may be returned to inventory provided that it has not been labelled and provided that nothing untoward has been detected in the product. For this purpose, the equipment includes an inspection camera forming part of a multi-station machine vision system. Data generated at the inspection station may be analyzed automatically and may be supplemented with inspection by the pharmacist or other human agent located at a remote location on the network. If an item has already been labelled when a session is aborted, a trapdoor 92 is opened to allow the unwanted item to drop down a chute into a reject bin 96. Alternatively, the labelled item can be returned to one of the bins in the storage array. The machine vision system can include these cameras: (i) a camera to view items as they approach one or other of the labelling modules 44; (ii) a camera to view the item when it has been stepped below the labelling module and is ready to be labelled; and (iii) a camera to view the item after it has been labelled and has been moved out of the labelling station to assess whether the label has been printed and applied properly.

A plurality of dispense bays open at respective user interfaces and which can be accessed by respective users for presenting a script, for communicating with one or more remote pharmacists, or agents thereof, and for obtaining drugs or other medicaments as detailed on the script. The plurality of users may independently initiate and manage drug or other medicament dispensing sessions at respective user interfaces.

By way of example, each user interface includes a touch screen 102, a hailing speaker 104, a camera 106, a digital payment module 108, a card reader 110, dispense door 90 which opens to provide user access to the dispense bay 76, a scanner 112, a printer 114, a telephone 116, and a coin payment module 118. The user interface elements are mounted in respective kiosk door structures which are mounted on the back end vault and which permit authorized access to the vault for servicing. The user interface has left and right columns, 120 and 122, which provide separate chambers, one chamber housing elements used in cash transactions such as coin and note acceptance and checking mechanisms, etc., while the other column houses the card reader, speaker, PIN pad, etc.

Each front end unit, comprising the combination of at least a part of a user interface layer and at least a part of the labelling and transfer layer, also functions as a door 124 to enable access to the interior of the kiosk for servicing. The door has an upper section 126, a lower section 128, and a middle section 130. The upper section 126 houses computer and communication hardware (not shown). The lower section houses a script bin 132, a printer 114 for printing medicament data for the user and, shared between the two doors 124 in the illustrated embodiment, the reject bin 96 with an overlying directional chute. Access to the lower section by a service technician also exposes locks which allow opening of the kiosk or specific parts of it to allow service access. In one embodiment, the door has an override lock which is accessed through the lower part of the access door and which opens certain other features for servicing. However, there may be limited keyed access to certain parts of the kiosk; for example, a separate lock which is activated to access the cash column in which all elements required for a cash transaction are housed. Each door 124 is supported by a wheel which acts to de-load the door hinges, the wheel being spring mounted to enable movement over uneven surfaces.

In one implementation, it will not be apparent to any user that a single drug storage rack spans a plurality of user interfaces. Moreover, it will not be apparent that a pick head that has a nominal association with one of the user interfaces may actually be employed in picking an item that is located behind an of the other user interfaces. The two front end doors in the illustrated embodiment are virtually mirror images of each other in terms of disposition of certain functional units within the function layer 14 shown in FIG. 4. However, the two user interfaces are essentially identical in terms of the relative disposition of features accessed by the users.

Coordinated with the steps of the dispensing operation described previously, one of a pair of printers 134, each printer associated with a respective front end unit, is used to print out medical data sheets corresponding to the drug or other medicament being dispensed. A data sheet may, for example, present instructions related to dose timing and amounts, warnings concerning mixing the drug with other drugs, etc. In addition, scripts that have been processed at one of other of the front end interface units are directed down chutes to a corresponding script bin 132.

In operation, in response to an item being selected by the user, control to the various elements of the kiosk dispensary is initiated. In the course of handling the selected item, one or other of the pick heads is moved to a position where it can pick the item from its storage bin. Each pick head is able to travel to and transfer to either transfer module and so the control system determines on the basis of predetermined operating algorithm which transfer module will be used so as to effect the dispensing of the item or of a group of items most efficiently.

At the chosen transfer module 38, the selected item is conveyed forwardly from the storage layer to the function layer and is loaded onto conveyors associated with the chosen transfer module. The selected item is indexed and inspected and conveyed stepwise past the associated labelling module where it is labelled. The item may be advanced alone on the conveyor or as one of an indexed group. As the selected item reaches the end of the conveyor, it drops to one side or the other of the diverter mechanism which then sweeps the item into the associated tunnel from where it is conveyed by one of the pair of lower conveyors to the centre of the associated dispense bay. If a point in the dispensing cycle is reached where, for some reason, the dispensing cycle should not be continued, the item can be returned to inventory by running the conveyor 56 in reverse if the item has not yet been labelled. If labelling has already occurred, the conveyor 56 is run forwardly to drive the item to the cove 78 where the trap door

92 is opened to allow the item to drop to the reject bin 96. Alternatively, the labelled item can also returned to a bin in the array of storage bins. If an item is forgotten by the user and left in the dispense bay 76 at the end of a session, the presence of the forgotten item can be detected by a video camera. Upon such detection, the kiosk can be configured to issue an instruction, immediately, such that the dispense door closes and the conveyor 88 is actuated to drive the item towards the centre of the kiosk where it drops into the reject bin 96.

As previously mentioned, each implementation of the kiosk will preferably have a layered structure so as to enables the use of as wide a storage area as possible behind a kiosk user interface(s) while enabling coordinated parallel item access and item handling for fast dispensing of items each of a plurality of dispensing areas accessible to respective users of the kiosk. The multiple functional modules and the queuing and routing arrangements in the function layer mean that, regardless of where an item is picked from rack storage and regardless of the pick head 24 that picks it, the item can be delivered rapidly to the selected one of the dispense bays 76 for retrieval by a corresponding user.

It will be appreciated that the multiple gantries and pick heads assemblies coupled with the modules in the function layer are adapted to effect, to the extent possible, parallel operation of steps required in simultaneous dispensing sessions and in sessions where multiple items are to be dispensed to multiple users of the kiosk. In this specification, the term "parallel" or "concurrent" in relation to dispense operations means that one dispense operation overlaps in time another dispense operation. Parallel or concurrent operation of dispense steps can substantially reduce dispense operation time. As such, it will be appreciated that, whereas the illustrated embodiment describes a structure and operation where two kiosk front end units are serviced by a single back end storage unit and a dual pick head arrangement, other arrangements may be configured using the same principles. In one alternative configuration, there is a bank of a greater plurality of front end user interfaces with a single back end storage vault. In another configuration, three or more pick heads are mounted on cooperating gantries with each pick head nominally occupying a home zone over the area of a back end storage rack but able to access any of the bins of the rack subject to interactive control of the pick heads and associated gantry elements. In yet another configuration, multiple, interacting pick heads together with matching elements of a function layer are used to deliver product to a single front end unit. It will be appreciated that in such an embodiment, the time for dispensing multiple medications to any of a plurality of users is reduced compared with single pick head operation. In one such embodiment, the function layer can be structured more simply since delivery can be to a single dispense bay. Whereas the primary value of effecting parallel or concurrent dispensing operations, whether to a single user or multiple users, is to reduce dispense cycle time, the presence of multiple gantries 22, pick heads 24, transfer modules 38 and labelling modules 44 offers the additional merit of redundancy. If an element of one sub-system become inoperable, then the access arrangement means that in all but the direst of circumstances, the dispensary kiosk can continue to function, albeit at a reduced cycle time, with access enabled to the complete vault storage area.

In the illustrated implementations, each of the upper and lower conveyors is a generally horizontally extending belt conveyor. It will be appreciated that the invention can utilize other conveyors such as chain or bucket conveyors and that the conveyors may not be horizontally extending. In addition, as described, the transfer mechanisms use a gravity drop to effect at least part of a transfer. It will be appreciated that, although convenient, it is not essential that a gravity drop should figure in any of the transfer mechanisms.

The various steps or acts in a method or process may be performed in the order shown, or may be performed in another order. Additionally, one or more process or method steps may be omitted or one or more process or method steps may be added to the methods and processes. An additional step, block, or action may be added in the beginning, end, or intervening existing elements of the methods and processes. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other ways and/or methods for various implements..

The present invention can be implemented in the form of control logic, in a modular or integrated manner, in software or hardware or a combination of both. Thus, the steps of a method, process, or algorithm described in connection with the implementations disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The control logic may be stored in an information storage medium as a plurality of instructions adapted to direct an information processing device to perform a set of steps disclosed in embodiment of the present invention. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the present invention. .

Any recitation of "a", "an" or "the" is intended to mean "one or more" unless specifically indicated to the contrary.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described implementations are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claims along with their full scope or equivalents, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their full scope.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for dispensing items comprising:

an array of storage locations for storing the items;

a pick head sub-system operable to pick an said item from any said storage location of the array;

a transfer sub-system for receiving the items picked by the pick head sub-system; and a delivery mechanism for delivering the items from the transfer sub-system to a delivery zone, wherein:

the picking, transfer and delivery of any said item comprises a dispense operation; and

the pick head sub-system, the transfer sub-system and the delivery zone permit parallel said dispensing operations.

2. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein:

the delivery zone comprises one or more dispense bays; and

the delivery mechanism permits delivery of the items from the transfer sub-system to any of the dispense bays.

3. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1, wherein:

the pick head sub-system comprising one or more pick heads; and

each said pick head is operable to pick any said item from any said storage location of the array.

4. The apparatus as defined in Claim 3, wherein:

the pick heads are mounted on respective carriages;

the carriages each have a drive to drive the carriages on one gantry of a one or more gantry arrangement; and

each said gantry of the one or more gantry arrangement is mounted to a common support to allow independent movement of the carriages.

5. The apparatus as defined in Claim 4, further comprising one or more user interfaces located side-by-side, wherein the array of storage locations for storing the items and the one or more gantry arrangement are located behind, and generally span an area occupied by, the one or more user interfaces.

6. The apparatus as defined in Claim 3, wherein:

the transfer sub-system comprises one or more transfer mechanisms for receiving the picked said items; each said transfer mechanism is accessible by each of the pick heads; and the delivery mechanism is operable to deliver the items from either of the transfer mechanisms to either of the dispense bays.

7. The apparatus as defined in Claim 6, further comprising a pair of first conveyors operable to:

receive the items from respective ones of the one or more transfer mechanisms; and

convey the items to a hub region.

8. The apparatus as defined in Claim 7, further comprising one or more labelling modules, wherein each said labelling module is mounted adjacent respective ones of the first conveyors; and operable to label the items conveyed on said first conveyors.

9. The apparatus as defined in Claim 7, further comprising a control module having a control function to index and queue the items on the first conveyors prior to labelling thereof.

10. The apparatus as defined in Claim 7, further comprising a diverter mechanism for diverting the items received at the hub region selectively to one or other of a pair of second conveyors for conveying directed the items to a selected one of the dispense bays.

11. The apparatus as defined in Claim 10, a first one of each of the transfer mechanisms, the first conveyors and the second conveyors located behind one of the user interfaces, and the second one of each of the transfer mechanisms, the first conveyors and the second conveyors located behind the other user interface.

12. A system comprising:

a plurality of storage locations each storing one or more said items;

a pick head sub-system having a plurality of pick heads each being:

mounted on a carriage; and

operable to pick any said item from any said storage location, wherein each said carriage is driven by a drive on a gantry that is mounted so as to allow independent movement of the carriages;

a transfer sub-system operable to receive the items picked by the pick head sub-system, the transfer sub-system having a plurality of transfer mechanisms each being accessible by each of the pick heads, and each being operable to transfer the picked said items;

a plurality of conveyors each being operable to:

receive the items from a respective said transfer mechanisms; and convey the items to a hub region;

a plurality of labelling modules each being: proximal to one said conveyor; and

operable to label the items conveyed on the one said conveyor;

a diverter mechanism for diverting the items conveyed to the hub region selectively to one of a plurality of second said conveyors for conveying the diverted said items to a selected one of the dispense bays; and

a plurality of user interfaces each corresponding to one said dispense bay and being operable to receive instructions from a user that correspond to the picking, transfer and diverting of one said item in a dispense operation, whereby the pick head sub-system and the transfer subsystem permit concurrent said dispense operations of a plurality of said items to a respective plurality of the dispense bays for retrieval thereat by the respective said of users providing the received said instructions at the respective said user interfaces.

13. The apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein:

each said a drive on each said gantry is mounted to a common support to allow independent movement of the carriages;

the plurality of user interfaces are located side-by-side, wherein the storage locations and the gantries are located behind, and generally span an area occupied by, the plurality of user interfaces.

14. The apparatus as defined in Claim 12, further comprising a control module having a control function to index and queue the items on the conveyors prior to labelling thereof.

15. The apparatus as defined in Claim 12, wherein for each said transfer mechanism, at least one of the conveyors and at least one of the second said conveyors are located behind a corresponding said user interface.

16. A system comprising :

a plurality of the apparatus as defined in Claim 12; and

a network in communication with:

each said apparatus; and

a control centre operable, for each said apparatus, to:

receive, over the network, the instructions received from the user at the user interface for the dispense operation for the one said item; and send, after receiving the instructions from the apparatus, a dispensing instruction to the apparatus to initiate the picking, transfer and diverting of the one said item in the dispense operation;

whereby the system concurrently communicates over the network with the plurality of apparatuses for initiating a plurality of concurrent, respective dispense operations.

17. A method for dispensing items stored in an array of storage locations comprising: operating a pick head sub-system to pick any said item from a storage location of the array, wherein the pick head sub-system is operable to pick any said item from any of the storage locations of the array;

operating a transfer sub-system to transfer the items picked by the pick head sub-system; and

operating a delivery mechanism to deliver the items from the transfer sub-system to a dispense zone, wherein:

the pick head and transfer sub-systems permit concurrent said dispense operations.

18. The method as defined in Claim 17, wherein:

the pick head sub-system comprising dual pick heads; and

the method further comprises operating one of the pick heads to pick a first said item from a first storage location in an operation which overlaps in time operating the other pick head to pick a second said item from a second storage location.

19. The method as defined in Claim 17, further comprising:

operating one or more user interfaces having a respective dispense bay comprising the dispense zone to instruct dispensing of the items;

operating the pick head sub-system to:

range over an area of the array of storage locations generally spanning the area occupied by the one or more user interfaces; and

pick the items from the storage locations in the array of storage locations;

operating each of one or more transfer mechanisms of the transfer sub-system to receive the items picked by the pick head sub-system;

conveying the picked the items to a hub region; and

operating the delivery mechanism to direct the picked said items from the hub region to one of the one or more dispense bays as instructed at the user interface.

20. The method as defined in Claim 18, further comprising:

queuing the items being conveyed between the transfer mechanisms and the hub region; and

labelling the items in the queue.