Systems and methods for quickly and accurately printing pharmaceutical product package labels

Abstract

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, automated pharmaceutical product packaging systems and methods ensure that a pharmaceutical product package label accurately reflects the contents of the product package. During the packaging process coding techniques are utilized, wherein prior to or immediately after automatically filling a particular pharmaceutical product package with selected pharmaceuticals as specified in a patient prescription, the packaging systems and methods employ a specific code identifier or designator associated with the package to be filled that is recognized by the system. The system maintains information that correlates the identifying code with the particular prescription that is filled into the package. The pharmaceutical product package is preferably automatically filled with the desired specified pharmaceutical products. Subsequently, during the packaging label printing process the product package code or designator is again scanned by the system and a label is thereafter generated that corresponds to the pharmaceutical contained in the package based on the identifying code. The printed label therefore accurately reflects the actual contents of the pharmaceutical product package.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for printing a product package label comprising the steps of: 
 receiving information in a system which identifies a product package based on package identifying information on the package;    filling the product package with specified products;    storing information which indicates a correlation between the package identifying information and the specified products contained in the package;    entering product package identifying information into a label printing mechanism; and    printing a product package label based on the correlation between the package identifying information and the specified products contained in the package.    
     
     
         2 . The method for printing a product package label of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving information comprises a step of scanning a bar-code printed on the product package.  
     
     
         3 . The method for printing a product package label of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving information comprises a step of reading an alphanumeric identifier printed on the product package with an OCR system.  
     
     
         4 . The method for printing a product package label of  claim 1 , wherein the step of entering product package identifying information comprises a step of scanning a bar-code printed on the product package.  
     
     
         5 . The method for printing a product package label of  claim 1 , wherein the step of entering product package identifying information comprises a step of reading an alphanumeric identifier printed on the product package with an OCR system.  
     
     
         6 . A system for printing a product package label comprising: 
 a means for receiving information in a packaging system which identifies a product package based on package identifying information on the package;    a means for filling the product package with specified products;    a means for storing information which indicates a correlation between the package identifying information and the specified products contained in the package;    a means for entering product package identifying information into a label printing mechanism; and    a means for printing a product package label based on the correlation between the package identifying information and the specified products contained in the package.    
     
     
         7 . The system for printing a product package label of  claim 6 , wherein the means for receiving information comprises a bar-code scanner.  
     
     
         8 . The system for printing a product package label of  claim 6 , wherein the means for receiving information is further comprised of an OCR system.  
     
     
         9 . The system for printing a product package label of  claim 6 , wherein the means for entering product package identifying information is further comprised of a barcode scanner.  
     
     
         10 . The system for printing a product package label of  claim 6 , wherein the means for entering product package identifying information is further comprised of an OCR system.