Method for operating a pharmacy order-picking system

{
  "publication_number": "US11436662B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method for operating a pharmacy order-picking system",
  "abstract": "The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a pharmacy order-picking device. The present method reduces the susceptibility of the pharmacy order-picking device to disruption. To detect a positioning deviation of the control appliance in the horizontal direction, at least one desired value of at least one reference position is made available, the control appliance is brought to a position corresponding to the desired value in the horizontal direction and, when a signal characteristic of a reference position is detected, an actual value of this reference position is determined. A desired value is compared with a corresponding actual value, or two actual values are compared with each other, and a deviation is determined. If a deviation is determined that exceeds a limit value, a signal pointing to the need for a correction is output. Depending on the deviation, automatic correction of the position deviation can be performed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A machine-implemented method for detecting a positioning deviation of an operating unit in a pharmacy order-picking system, the method comprising: accessing a setpoint value corresponding to a reference position, the reference position comprising a physical location in the pharmacy order-picking system; approaching, using the operating unit, in a horizontal direction, the reference position; detecting a signal that is characteristic of the reference position; ascertaining an actual value of the reference position; comparing the setpoint value with the actual value; determining a horizontal deviation based on the comparison of the setpoint value and the actual value; and if the horizontal deviation exceeds a threshold value, outputting a signal indicating a need for a correction.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: accessing a second setpoint value corresponding to a second reference position; approaching, using the operating unit, in a vertical direction, the second reference position; detecting a second signal that is characteristic of the second reference position; ascertaining a second actual value of the second reference position; comparing the second setpoint value with the second actual value; determining a vertical deviation based on the comparison of the second setpoint value and the second actual value; and if the vertical deviation exceeds the threshold value, outputting a signal indicating the need for a correction.",
    "3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: rotating the operating unit by a predefined value C on detection of a positioning deviation of the operating unit with respect to a vertical axis of rotation after detection of the horizontal deviation; approaching, using the operating unit, a third reference position corresponding to a third setpoint value; detecting a third signal that is characteristic of the third reference position; ascertaining a third actual value of the third reference position; comparing the third setpoint value with the third actual value; determining a second horizontal deviation based on the third setpoint value and the third actual value; and if the horizontal deviation and the second horizontal deviation exceed the threshold value, or if the horizontal deviation and the second horizontal deviation differ by a predefined value, outputting the signal indicating the need for the correction.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to outputting the signal indicating correction is needed, transmitting a service query electronically to a service employee; and shutting down the pharmacy-order picking system.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacy order-picking system comprises a control unit, and setpoint values are stored as predefined values in the control unit.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacy order-picking system comprises a control unit, and the method further comprises: upon an initial startup of operation of the pharmacy order-picking system, approaching predefined reference positions; detecting a signal that is characteristic of each of the predefined reference positions; ascertaining a setpoint value; and storing the ascertained value in the control unit.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: approaching the reference position at a first speed until the setpoint value is reached; and approaching the reference position at a second speed until the signal that is characteristic of the reference position is reached, wherein the second speed is lower than the first speed.",
    "8. A method for operating a pharmacy order-picking system, the method comprising: ascertaining an actual value of a reference position, the reference position comprising a physical location in the pharmacy order-picking system; comparing the actual value of the reference position with a stored setpoint value corresponding to the reference position; determining a horizontal deviation based on the comparison of the stored setpoint value and the actual value; and if the horizontal deviation exceeds a threshold value, outputting a signal indicating correction is needed.",
    "9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: ascertaining a second actual value of a second reference position; comparing the second actual value with a second stored setpoint value corresponding to the second reference position; determining a vertical deviation based on the comparison of the second stored setpoint value and the second actual value; and if the vertical deviation exceeds a threshold value, outputting a signal indicating correction is needed.",
    "10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: responsive to outputting the signal indicating correction is needed, transmitting a service query electronically to a service employee; and shutting down the pharmacy-order picking system.",
    "11. The method of claim 8, wherein the pharmacy order-picking system comprises a control unit, and setpoint values are stored as predefined values in the control unit."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "In some pharmacy order-picking systems, a large number of different drug packages of various sizes (piece goods) may be stored on elongated shelves in a chaotic fashion that is optimized as to space. Some pharmacy-order picking systems place drug packages on the shelves and/or retrieve them from the shelves with the help of an operating unit, wherein the operating unit has a gripping device for gripping the drug packages. For placing the drug packages on a shelf, the drug packages are identified, measured (e.g., the measurements are determined in three dimensions) and conveyed into a gripping area of the gripping device of a shelf operating system (see DE 195 09 951 C2, for example).\n\nThe present disclosure relates to a method for operating a pharmacy order-picking system with at least one shelf unit, each shelf unit having a plurality of shelves extending in a horizontal direction (X axis) and a plurality of shelf walls extending in a vertical direction (Z axis), at least one operating device being movable horizontally and vertically in front of the row of shelves and having a gripping device for placing drug packages on the shelves and/or retrieving them from the shelves, wherein the operating unit has at least one sensor and has a control unit connected to the operating unit. Based on the measurements of the drug packages to be stored as well as the occupancy of the pharmacy order-picking system, optimal storage sites for the drug packages are calculated and stored in the control unit.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06Q 30/0633",
    "B65G 1/0421",
    "B65G 1/137",
    "G06Q 10/0836",
    "G16H 20/13",
    "G16H 40/20"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 1/04",
    "B65G 1/137",
    "G06F 7/00",
    "G06Q 10/08",
    "G06Q 30/06",
    "G16H 20/13",
    "G16H 40/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CAREFUSION GERMANY 326 GMBH"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "HELLENBRAND CHRISTOPH",
    "KLAPPERICH ANDREAS",
    "BAUSE ANDREAS",
    "REIF DENNIS"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-02-10",
  "publication_date": "2022-09-06",
  "grant_date": "2022-09-06",
  "priority_date": "2012-02-29",
  "application_number": "US-202016786760-A",
  "family_id": "47633111",
  "citations": [
    "CH520612A",
    "CN101125603A",
    "CN101529980A",
    "EP1035044A2",
    "FR2608567A1",
    "GB2200477A",
    "JPS60183405A",
    "JPS6160504A",
    "US2004125488A1",
    "US2008044262A1",
    "US3504245A",
    "US4415975A",
    "US5575597A",
    "US6213341B1",
    "US6819974B1"
  ]
}