RECONFIGURABLE MULTI-POCKET DISPENSE DRAWER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A drawer assembly, comprising:
- a cartridge comprising;
a body comprising a plurality of bins;
a plurality of lids that are moveably attached to the body and releasably secured over the bins; and
a connector attached to the body;
wherein the cartridge is configured such that the lids cannot be opened unless a first signal is received through the connector;
a drawer configured to receive the cartridge; and
a docking connector attached to the drawer, the docking connector configured to mate with the connector of the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the drawer.
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Abstract
A drawer assembly that includes a cartridge, a drawer configured to receive the cartridge, and a docking connector attached to the drawer. The cartridge includes a body having a plurality of bins, a plurality of lids that are moveably attached to the body and releasably secured over the bins, and a connector attached to the body. The cartridge is configured such that the lids cannot be opened unless a signal is received through the connector. The docking connector is configured to mate with the connector of the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the drawer.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A drawer assembly, comprising:
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a cartridge comprising; a body comprising a plurality of bins; a plurality of lids that are moveably attached to the body and releasably secured over the bins; and a connector attached to the body; wherein the cartridge is configured such that the lids cannot be opened unless a first signal is received through the connector; a drawer configured to receive the cartridge; and a docking connector attached to the drawer, the docking connector configured to mate with the connector of the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the drawer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A loading station, comprising:
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a base having a docking location configured to receive a removable cartridge having; a body with a plurality of bins; a plurality of lids hingedly attached to the body and releasably secured over the plurality of bins; and a connector; wherein the cartridge is configured such that the lids cannot be opened unless a first signal is received through the connector; a docking connector attached to the base, the docking connector configured to mate with the connector of the cartridge when the cartridge is received by the docking location; and a processor coupled to the docking connector, the processor configured to send the first signal to the cartridge via the docking connector. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A loading station, comprising:
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a base having a docking location configured to receive a removable cartridge having; a body with a bin and a retention feature attached to the body; a lid hingedly attached to the body and releasably secured over the bin; and a connector; wherein the cartridge is configured such that the lid cannot be opened unless a first signal is received through the connector; a docking connector attached to the base, the docking connector configured to mate with the connector of the cartridge when the cartridge is received by the docking location; an engagement element movably attached to the base, the engagement element configured to engage the retention feature when the cartridge is received by the docking location and further configured to release the retention feature upon receipt of a second signal; a processor coupled to the docking connector and to the engagement element, the processor configured to send the first signal to the cartridge via the docking connector and further configured to send the second signal to the engagement feature; and a image capture device coupled to the processor, the image capture device configured to record an image of the bin of the cartridge when the cartridge is received by the docking location; wherein the processor is further configured to receive and store the image and to send the second signal only after receiving the image. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A medication dispensing system, comprising:
a cartridge comprising; a body comprising a plurality of bins; a plurality of lids that are moveably attached to the body and releasably secured over the bins; and a connector attached to the body, wherein the lids cannot be opened unless a first signal is received through the connector; and
a dispensing machine comprising;a housing; a drawer mounted within the housing, the drawer configured to receive the cartridge, the drawer comprising a docking connector that mates to the connector of the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the drawer assembly, and a processor coupled to the docking connector, the processor configured to send the first signal to the cartridge via the docking connector. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of dispensing items, the method comprising the steps of:
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loading at least one item into a cartridge having a body with a plurality of bins and a plurality of lids that are moveably attached to the body and releasably secured over the bins; connecting the cartridge into a drawer of an automatic dispensing machine (ADM); requesting the item to be dispensed from the ADM; and releasing the lid of the bin that contains the item. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification