AUTOMATED PHARMACEUTICAL DISPENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

An automated pharmaceutical dispensing system comprises means (4) for selecting and retrieving a pharmaceutical pack (38). The means are arranged to deliver the pack (38) to a labelling station (6). The labelling station (6) comprises a label printer (18) arranged to print a label (36) comprising information specific to a patient for whom the pharmaceutical pack is intended, and a label applicator (22) for applying the label (36) to the pack (38). The system further comprises means (8) for delivering the pack (38) from the labelling station (6) so as to be accessible to a user. The label applicator (22) is arranged to apply the label (36) at a predetermined position on the pack (38), the position being variable from one pack type to another. The means (4) for selecting and retrieving the pack and the labelling station (6) are connected to a common control means arranged to coordinate the retrieval of the pack (38) and the passing of information to the labelling station (6) to enable the label applicator (22) to apply the label (36) in the predetermined position.