METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NON-LINEAR DISPENSING OF SPECIFIC ITEMS ON DEMAND

• US 20110215109A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vern M. Bailey
• Original Assignee: Vern M. Bailey
• Inventors: Bailey, Vern M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,073,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/00 Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents dispensing means incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured container closures B65D47/00; for shops, stores, offices, bars, or the like A47F1/04; showcases or show cabinets with dispensing arrangements A47F3/02; magazines for screws or nuts in combination with spanners, wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/06; for use in connection with the handling of sheets, webs, or filamentary material B65H
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 59/10 De-stacking nested articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/16 Delivery means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for secure, rapid, storage and dispensing of varied items from a random location in a storage matrix. Drawers are organized in a ‘slice’ or vertically-oriented frame that supports horizontal shifting of the drawers to dispense their contents. Slices can be combined to form matrices of automated, high-density, storage volumes and storage can coincide with dispensing.

Claims

1. A system for the storing and dispensing of items, said system comprising:

a plurality of drawers arranged in a horizontal row;

a plurality of said horizontal rows vertically stacked to form a slice of drawers; and

a sliding mechanism permitting at least one of said plurality of drawers to slide along the direction parallel to the long axis of said horizontal row, opening a dispensing path through said slice of drawers for a selected first item stored in a selected drawer to exit said system by non-contact force.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said sliding mechanism further permits the opening of an entrance path through said slice of drawers for a second item to enter said system to be stored in a second selected drawer by non-contact force.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said slice of drawers, arranged to form a three dimensional matrix of drawers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said drawers are mounted on guide rails.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said sliding mechanism further comprises a motor and a coupling between said motor and said drawers to transmit pulling force.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said coupling is one of a pull chain, a pull rod, a flexible belt or a pull wire.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said motor is a stepper motor.

7a. a. The system of claim 5 wherein said motor is a linear motor.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said coupling is selectively engaged by one of a solenoid, an air cylinder or an indexed disk driven by a second motor.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said sliding mechanism further comprises:

a pull wire;

a motor coupled to said pull wire; and

a magnet to selectively engage said pull wire to one of said drawers, wherein pulling force from said motor is transmitted to said drawer.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a selector wheel upon which a plurality of magnets are deployed in a geometrical arrangement such that combinations of said drawers are engaged to said pull wires.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said combination may be changed by rotation of said selector wheel.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a second motor to rotate said selector wheel.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a container to protect said items within said system.

14. A method for storing and dispensing items in a dispenser comprising a plurality of drawers, comprising the steps of:

placing an item to be stored in said dispenser in a random location within said dispenser;

associating said item to be stored with said random location;

identifying an item to be dispensed;

locating said item to be dispensed in said dispenser; and

shifting at least one of said plurality of drawers based on location of said item to be dispensed, whereby said item to be dispensed is permitted to exit said dispenser by non-contact force.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising locking at least one of said plurality of drawers based on location of said item to be dispensed.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising placing said item to be stored in a protective container prior to placing in said random location.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said locating is accomplished by RFID tracking of said item to be dispensed.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said shifting is accomplished by sliding said drawer on guide rails.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said sliding is accomplished by selectively engaging said drawer to a pull wire, wherein said pull wire is coupled to a motor.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said selective engaging is accomplished by a magnet.