Apparatuses, systems, and methods for anticipating and delivering medications from a central pharmacy to a patient using a track based transport system

Abstract

Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for transporting medication within a healthcare facility. Examples of the invention may include a car for a track-based transport system. The car may include a payload platform configured to support a payload on a payload surface; a first tilt bracket rotatably coupled to the payload platform and rotatable relative to the payload platform about a first axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the payload surface; a first bogie pivotably coupled to the tilt bracket, where the bogie is configured to pivot about a first pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and perpendicular to a direction of travel of the car; and a first electric motor coupled to the first bogie and configured to receive electric power through a bus bar disposed along a track on which the car rides.

1 . A car for a track-based transport system, the car comprising:
 a payload platform configured to support a payload on a payload surface;   a first tilt bracket rotatably coupled to the payload platform and rotatable relative to the payload platform about a first axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the payload surface;   a first bogie pivotably coupled to the tilt bracket, wherein the bogie is configured to pivot about a first pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and perpendicular to a direction of travel of the car;   a first electric motor coupled to the first bogie and configured to receive electric power through a bus bar disposed along a track on which the car rides; and   a location scanner configured to detect a position of the car along the track.   
     
     
         2 . The car of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second tilt bracket rotatably coupled to the payload platform rotatable about a second axis orthogonal to the plane defined by the payload surface;   a second bogie pivotably coupled to the tilt bracket, wherein the second bogie is configured to pivot about a second pivot axis that is perpendicular to the second axis and perpendicular to a direction of travel of the car; and   a second electric motor coupled to the second bogie and configured to receive electric power through a bus bar disposed along a track on which the car rides.   
     
     
         3 . The car of  claim 1 , wherein the first bogie comprises at least one pair of rollers configured to ride along the track, and wherein at least one roller of the at least one pair of rollers is configured to be driven by the first electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The car of  claim 3 , wherein the first electric motor is configured to drive the at least one roller by a belt drive. 
     
     
         5 . The car of  claim 4 , further comprising a belt tension adjustment configured to adjust the tension of the belt drive. 
     
     
         6 . The car of  claim 2 , wherein the first bogie comprises at least one pair of rollers configured to ride along the track, wherein at least one roller of the at least one pair of rollers of the first bogie is configured to be driven by the first electric motor, wherein the second bogie comprises at least one pair of rollers configured to ride along the track, and wherein at least one roller of the at least one pair of rollers of the second bogie is configured to be driven by the second electric motor. 
     
     
         7 . The car of  claim 1 , wherein the first bogie comprises a first pair of rollers configured to engage a top side of the track, and a second pair of rollers configured to engage a bottom side of the track. 
     
     
         8 . The car of  claim 7 , wherein each roller of the first pair of rollers includes an axis of rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation of each roller of the first pair of rollers is configured to be orthogonal to the plane defined by the payload surface. 
     
     
         9 . The car of  claim 8 , wherein each roller of the second pair of rollers includes an axis of rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation of each of the second pair of rollers is orthogonal to the plane defined by the payload surface. 
     
     
         10 . The car of  claim 9 , wherein the axes of rotation of the first pair of rollers are separated by the track, and wherein the axes of rotation of the second pair of rollers are separated by the track. 
     
     
         11 . The car of  claim 10 , wherein the second pair of rollers are displaceable relative to the track in a direction away from the track, between an engaged position in which the second pair of rollers is engaged with the track and a loading position in which the second pair of rollers is disengaged from the track. 
     
     
         12 . The car of  claim 11 , wherein the second pair of rollers is configured to be locked in the loading position. 
     
     
         13 . The car of  claim 11 , wherein the second pair of rollers is biased toward the engaged position. 
     
     
         14 . A car for a track-based transport system, the car comprising:
 a payload platform configured to support a payload on a payload surface;   a first tilt bracket rotatably coupled to the payload platform and rotatable relative to the payload platform about a first axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the payload surface; and   a first bogie pivotably coupled to the tilt bracket, wherein the bogie is configured to pivot about a first pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and perpendicular to a direction of travel of the car, wherein the bogie comprises:
 a first roller comprising a first roller surface configured to engage a first surface of a rail along which the car travels, wherein the first roller surface is disposed at an angle of between thirty degrees and sixty degrees relative to an axis of rotation of the first roller; and 
 a second roller comprising a second roller surface configured to engage a second surface of the rail along which the car travels, wherein the second roller surface is disposed at an angle of between thirty degrees and sixty degrees relative to an axis of rotation of the second roller. 
   
     
     
         15 . The car of  claim 14 , further comprising a first electric motor coupled to the first bogie and configured to receive electric power through a bus bar disposed along a track on which the car rides. 
     
     
         16 . The car of  claim 14 , further comprising a location scanner configured to detect a position of the car along the track. 
     
     
         17 . The car of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a third roller comprising a third roller surface configured to engage a third surface of the rail along which the car travels, wherein the third roller surface is disposed at an angle of between thirty degrees and sixty degrees relative to an axis of rotation of the first roller; and   a fourth roller comprising a fourth roller surface configured to engage a fourth surface of the rail along which the car travels, wherein the fourth roller surface is disposed at an angle of between thirty degrees and sixty degrees relative to an axis of rotation of the second roller.   
     
     
         18 . The car of  claim 17 , wherein in response to the car engaging the rail along which the car travels, at least a portion of the rail is disposed between a portion of each of the first roller, the second roller, the third roller, and the fourth roller. 
     
     
         19 . The car of  claim 17 , wherein the axis of rotation of at least one of the third roller and the fourth roller are movable along a direction parallel to the first pivot axis. 
     
     
         20 . A car for a track-based transport system, the car comprising:
 a payload platform configured to support a payload on a payload surface;   a first tilt bracket rotatably coupled to the payload platform and rotatable relative to the payload platform about a first axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the payload surface;   a first bogie pivotably coupled to the tilt bracket, wherein the bogie is configured to pivot about a first pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and perpendicular to a direction of travel of the car;   a first roller comprising a first roller surface configured to engage a first surface of a rail along which the car travels; and   a second roller comprising a second roller surface configured to engage a second surface of the rail along which the car travels;   wherein the first bogie is configured to straddle the rail along which the car travels.