System and method for determining the orientation of a unit dose package
View Patent ↗A method and system are provided for determining an orientation of a unit dose package, such as by determining whether the cavity that houses the medication is facing upwards or downwards. As a result of the determination of the orientation of the unit dose package, a method and system may also be provided for selectively picking a unit dose package, thereby enabling automated restocking of singulated unit dose packages by taking into account the orientation of the unit dose packages.
1. A method of determining an orientation of a unit dose package, the method comprising:
supporting a unit dose package upon a support surface,
wherein the unit dose package
(a) defines a cavity having a predefined pattern and an opening,
(b) comprises a medication disposed in the cavity,
(c) comprises a substantially opaque support member sealed to the cavity covering the opening and
(d) is configured to
(i) redirect the predefined pattern of the cavity indicating that the unit dose package has a predetermined orientation in an instance in which the opaque support member is in contact with the support surface and
(ii) not redirect the predefined pattern of the cavity indicating that the unit dose package has a predetermined orientation in an instance in which an exterior portion of the cavity is in contact with the support surface;
directing light of a light source at the unit dose package upon the support surface,
wherein directing light comprises directing light along a path that defines an acute angle of less than a predefined threshold with respect to the support surface;
detecting the light that enters the cavity at a first direction in a portion of the exterior portion proximate the light source and exits the cavity at a second direction in a portion of the exterior portion distal the light source wherein the first direction and the second direction are towards the exterior portion distal the light source following redirection by the unit dose package to permit an orientation of the unit dose package to be determined based at least in part upon the presence or absence of a predefined pattern created by the light following redirection by the unit dose package,
wherein detecting the light comprises capturing an image;
determining whether the image comprises the predefined pattern created by the light following redirection by the unit dose package indicating that the unit dose package has a predetermined orientation; and
determining the orientation of the unit dose package based on the predefined pattern created by the light following redirection by the unit dose package.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the predefined pattern comprises an at least partially annular pattern.
3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising back lighting the unit dose package by providing illumination through the support surface.
4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising:
capturing an image of the unit dose package while being back lit; and
locating the unit dose package based upon the image of the unit dose package while being back lit.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein directing light at the unit dose package comprises directing the light along a path that has a component that extends parallel to the support surface.
6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising engaging the unit dose package so as to remove the unit dose package from the support surface when the unit dose package is determined to have a particular predetermined orientation.
7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising recirculating any unit dose package upon the support surface that does not have a particular predetermined orientation.
8. A system for determining an orientation of a unit dose package, the system comprising:
a support surface configured to support a unit dose package, wherein the unit dose package (a) defines a cavity having a predefined pattern and an opening, (b) comprises a medication disposed in the cavity, (c) comprises a substantially opaque support member sealed to the cavity covering the opening, and (d) is configured to (i) redirect the predefined pattern of the cavity indicating that the unit dose package has a predetermined orientation in an instance in which the opaque support member is in contact with the support surface and (ii) not redirect the predefined pattern of the cavity indicating that the unit dose package has a predetermined orientation in an instance in which an exterior portion of the cavity is in contact with the support surface;
a light source configured to direct light at the unit dose package, wherein the light source is configured to direct the light along a path that defines an acute angle of less than a predefined threshold with respect to the support surface; and
a camera configured to (a) detect the light that enters said cavity at a first direction in a portion of the exterior portion proximate the light source and exits the cavity at a second direction in a portion of the exterior portion distal the light source wherein the first direction and the second direction are towards the exterior portion distal the light source following redirection by the unit dose package and (b) capture an image formed by the light following redirection by the unit dose package, wherein from the image it is determinable that the unit dose package has a predetermined orientation based at least in part upon the presence or absence of the predefined pattern in the image, the predefined pattern created by the light following redirection by the unit dose package, and
wherein the orientation of the unit dose package is determined based on the predefined pattern created by the light following redirection by the unit dose package.
9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the predefined pattern comprises an at least partially annular pattern.
10. A system according to claim 8 wherein the support surface is at least partially translucent, and wherein the system further comprises a back light for illuminating the unit dose package through the support surface.
11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the camera is also configured to capture an image of the unit dose package while illuminated with the back light.
12. A system according to claim 11 further comprising picking system configured to locate the unit dose package based upon the image of the unit dose package while illuminated with the back light and to engage the unit dose package and to remove the unit dose package from the support surface when the unit dose package is determined to have a predetermined orientation.
13. A system according to claim 8 wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber and a light emitting diode (LED).
14. A system according to claim 8 wherein the light source is configured to direct the light along a path that has a component that extends parallel to the support surface.
15. A system according to claim 8 further comprising a picking system configured to engage the unit dose package and to remove the unit dose package from the support surface when the unit dose package is determined to have a particular predetermined orientation.