Steven D Hunter

US Patent:

20040040975, Mar 4, 2004

Filed:

Aug 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/232560

Inventors:

Steven Hunter - Lake Oswego OR, US
David Browning - Portland OR, US
Dennis Fuhrman - Corvallis OR, US
William Park - Kirkland WA, US

International Classification:

B65H001/00

US Classification:

221/092000

Abstract:

The system includes a bin hopper which temporarily stores a plurality of small elements, such as medications. The elements are moved out of the bin and singulated into a one-by-one sequence by a series of singulating conveyors. The resulting sequence of elements is moved onto a main system conveyor where the element is identified and then moved to a loading mechanism which arranges the item so it is ready to be gripped and stored. The system includes a mass storage apparatus comprising a series of four upstanding cylindrical drums, each having a plurality of individually accessible and addressable cell storage locations for the elements. A gripping apparatus removes the elements from the loading mechanism and transfers them to a selected location in a cylindrical drum. When an article is to be; dispensed, the drum is rotated so that an ejection arm comes adjacent the desired location in the drum. The ejector arm is actuated, pushing the small element out of its slot, into the center of the drum, where it falls onto a conveyor which moves the dispensed item from the system.

US Patent:

20070000937, Jan 4, 2007

Filed:

Jul 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/492676

Inventors:

Steven Hunter - Lake Oswego OR, US
David Browning - Portland OR, US
Dennis Fuhrman - Corvallis OR, US
William Park - Kirkland WA, US

Assignee:

Omnicell, Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G07F 11/00

US Classification:

221092000

Abstract:

The system includes a bin hopper which temporarily stores a plurality of small elements, such as medications. The elements are moved out of the bin and singulated into a one-by-one sequence by a series of singulating conveyors. The resulting sequence of elements is moved onto a main system conveyor where the element is identified and then moved to a loading mechanism which arranges the item so it is ready to be gripped and stored. The system includes a mass storage apparatus comprising a series of four upstanding cylindrical drums, each having a plurality of individually accessible and addressable cell storage locations for the elements. A gripping apparatus removes the elements from the loading mechanism and transfers them to a selected location in a cylindrical drum. When an article is to be dispensed, the drum is rotated so that an ejection arm comes adjacent the desired location in the drum. The ejector arm is actuated, pushing the small element out of its slot, into the center of the drum, where it falls onto a conveyor which moves the dispensed item from the system.

US Patent:

20080006647, Jan 10, 2008

Filed:

Jul 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/779788

Inventors:

Steven Hunter - Lake Oswego OR, US
David Browning - Portland OR, US
Dennis Fuhrman - Corvallis OR, US
William Park - Kirkland WA, US

Assignee:

Omnicell, Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G07F 11/16
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

221001000, 221010000, 700231000

Abstract:

The system includes a bin hopper which temporarily stores a plurality of small elements, such as medications. The elements are moved out of the bin and singulated into a one-by-one sequence by a series of singulating conveyors. The resulting sequence of elements is moved onto a main system conveyor where the element is identified and then moved to a loading mechanism which arranges the item so it is ready to be gripped and stored. The system includes a mass storage apparatus comprising a series of four upstanding cylindrical drums, each having a plurality of individually accessible and addressable cell storage locations for the elements. A gripping apparatus removes the elements from the loading mechanism and transfers them to a selected location in a cylindrical drum. When an article is to be dispensed, the drum is rotated so that an ejection arm comes adjacent the desired location in the drum. The ejector arm is actuated, pushing the small element out of its slot, into the center of the drum, where it falls onto a conveyor which moves the dispensed item from the system.