Computer-controlled article merchandising system for prescription drugs and like articles

Claim 2

In an automatic article merchandising system the combination comprising: article dispensing means including a plurality of simultaneously operable dispenser units storing a supply of prepackaged articles, each dispenser unit having an input; input means having an input adapted for receiving article order information identifying selected articles and number of articles selected and producing corresponding output signals at an output thereof; control apparatus having an input coupled to the output of said input means and an output coupled to the input of each of said article dispensing means, said control apparatus producing control signals at the output thereof in response to the output signals from said input means causing said dispenser units to dispense the correct number of articles from each of said dispenser units as selected at the input means; and means to deliver said articles delivered by said selected dispenser units to a preselected location.

Claim 3

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 1 further including an inventory information input device having an input operatively coupled to the input of the control apparatus and an inventory print-out device having an input operatively coupled with the output of said control apparatus to provide inventory information on the articles.

Claim 4

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 1 further including an auxiliary information input device having an output operatively coupled to the input of the control apparatus and an auxiliary print-out device operatively coupled with the output of said control apparatus and independent of said dispenser units for printing out selected information relative to said articles from said control apparatus.

Claim 5

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input means includes a view-tube typewriter for visual display of the order information impressed on the view-tube typewriter as well as the conversion of the article information to control signals.

Claim 6

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control apparatus includes a core memory and peripheral storage device for storage of information furnished from said input means, interface means operatively coupled to the output of said input means and the output of said control apparatus for changing the input signals from the input means to a format suitable for storage in the core memory and peripheral storage device and the output signals from the control apparatus to a format suitable for use by the print-out means.

Claim 7

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said article dispenser means includes a plurality of independent reels loaded with a continuous strip of prepackaged articles, each said strip being wrapped on a supply reel.

Claim 8

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 6 further including a sprocket wheel for each supply reel mounted on a common shaft to advance the strip from the associated supply reel and magnetic clutch means on the shaft operatively associated with each said sprocket wheel to selectively couple a reel to the shaft for conjoint rotation therewith.

Claim 9

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said article dispensing means includes a cutting device operatively associated with each sprocket wheel for cutting said strip after the strip has advanced past the cutting device a preselected distance.

Claim 10

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said strip has a plurality of equally spaced apertures along opposite side edges and said sprocket wheel includes a series of equally spaced, radially extending portions for selectively advancing the strip from the selected supply reel.

Claim 11

In an automatic merchandising system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cutter device includes an outer housing with a central window, a blade with a second window slidable in the housing, and solenoid means responsive to a signal from the control apparatus to move the blade relative to said housing to sever the strip by reciprocal movement of said blade.

Claim 12

In an automatic article merchandising system the combination comprising: article dispensing means including a plurality of simultaneously operable dispenser units storing a supply of prepackaged articles, each dispenser unit having an input; input means having an input adapted for receiving article order information identifying selected articles and number of articles selected and producing corresponding output signals at an output thereof; real-time computer apparatus having an input coupled to the output of said input means and an output coupled to the input of each of said article dispensing means, said computer apparatus producing control signals at the output thereof in response to the output signals from said input means for causing said dispenser units to dispense the correct number of articles from each of said dispenser units as selected at the input means and producing print-out signals at the output thereof; print-out means coupled to the output of said computer apparatus to print out the information stored in the computer apparatus on a label in response to said print-out signals; and means to deliver said articles dispensed by said dispenser units to a preselected location for attachment with the associated label.

Claim 13

In an automatic article merchandising system the combination comprising: article dispensing means including a plurality of simultaneously operable dispenser units storing a supply of prepackaged articles, each dispenser unit having an input; input means having an input adapted for receiving article order information identifying selected articles and number of articles selected and producing corresponding output signals at an output thereof; real-time computer apparatus having an input coupled to the output of said input means and an output coupled to the input of each of said article dispensing means, said computer apparatus producing control signals at the output thereof in response to the output signals from said input means for causing said dispenser units to dispense the correct number of articles from each of said dispenser units as selected at the input means and producing print-out signals at the output thereof; print-out means coupled to the output of said computer apparatus to print out the information stored in the computer apparatus on a label in response to said print-out signals; and means to deliver said articles dispensed by said dispenser units to a preselected location for attachment with the associated label.

Claim 14

In a computer-operated drug dispensing machine, a plurality of independent supply reels each loaded with a continuous strip of prepackaged drugs, each said strip having a series of longitudinally spaced apertures, drive means for rotating said reels including a common shaft driven at a constant speed, a sprocket wheel for each said supply reel having a series of radially spaced projections for engaging the associated strip, and a magnetic clutch operatively coupled to said shaft for each said reel, said magnetic clutch being arranged to selectively couple one of the sprocket wheels to the shaft to rotate the associated supply reel, a cutter device for each said supply reel including a housing with a blade disposed below tHe associated sprocket wheel, including a drive for the blade to move the blade for cutting the strip after the strip has advanced past the cutter device a preselected distance, a counter switch selectively engaged by each said strip to count the number of drugs in the strip in its movement, input means having an input adapted for receiving drug order information identifying a particular drug and the number of drugs required and producing corresponding output signals at an output thereof, a real-time computer apparatus having an input coupled to the output of said input means and an output, said computer apparatus producing control signals at the output thereof in response to the output signals from said input means for causing said magnetic clutch to couple the the sprocket wheels to the shaft and the drive to move the blade of each cutter device as selected at the input means and producing print-out signals at the output thereof, print-out means coupled to the output of said computer apparatus to print out the information stored in the computer on a label in response to said print-out signals, interface means coupled between said computer apparatus and said counter switch magnetic clutch, and cutter device to couple the control signals from the computer apparatus to the inputs of said magnetic clutch and said cutter device and to couple the output of each said counter switch to an input of said computer apparatus whereby a selected strip is moved through the associated cutter device a selected distance and the associated blade cuts off the strip, and means to deliver said strip to a preselected location.

Claim 15

In a computer-operated drug dispensing machine, a plurality of independent supply reels each loaded with a continuous strip of prepackaged drugs, each said strip having a series of longitudinally spaced apertures, drive means for rotating said reels including a common shaft driven at a constant speed, a sprocket wheel for each said supply reel having a series of radially spaced projections for engaging the associated strip, and a magnetic clutch operatively coupled to said shaft for each said reel, said magnetic clutch being arranged to selectively couple one of the sprocket wheels to the shaft to rotate the associated supply reel, a cutter device for each said supply reel including a housing with a blade disposed below tHe associated sprocket wheel, including a drive for the blade to move the blade for cutting the strip after the strip has advanced past the cutter device a preselected distance, a counter switch selectively engaged by each said strip to count the number of drugs in the strip in its movement, input means having an input adapted for receiving drug order information identifying a particular drug and the number of drugs required and producing corresponding output signals at an output thereof, a real-time computer apparatus having an input coupled to the output of said input means and an output, said computer apparatus producing control signals at the output thereof in response to the output signals from said input means for causing said magnetic clutch to couple the the sprocket wheels to the shaft and the drive to move the blade of each cutter device as selected at the input means and producing print-out signals at the output thereof, print-out means coupled to the output of said computer apparatus to print out the information stored in the computer on a label in response to said print-out signals, interface means coupled between said computer apparatus and said counter switch magnetic clutch, and cutter device to couple the control signals from the computer apparatus to the inputs of said magnetic clutch and said cutter device and to couple the output of each said counter switch to an input of said computer apparatus whereby a selected strip is moved through the associated cutter device a selected distance and the associated blade cuts off the strip, and means to deliver said strip to a preselected location.