MULTI-COMPARTMENT STEP-DRAWER

• US 20150179016A1
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: RAHILLY, Michael, TON-THAT, Hao
• Granted Patent: US 10,043,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/46 for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/005 Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/18 Recessed drawers
• 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 multi-pocket step-drawer is disclosed that includes a dispensing drawer and a control module. The dispensing drawer has a body comprising at least one fixed wall forming at least two open-top compartments that are arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis and a ladder fixedly coupled to the body. The ladder has a plurality of cross arms arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis. The control module includes a housing and a latching element coupled to the housing and disposed proximate to the ladder. The latching element has a first position wherein the latching element engages one of the plurality of cross-arms so as to prevent the dispensing drawer from moving toward the front and a second position wherein the latching element allows the dispensing element to move toward the front.

Claims

1. A step-drawer assembly comprising:

a plurality of step-drawers each comprising;

a dispensing drawer having a front and a front-to-back axis, the dispensing drawer comprising a body comprising at least one fixed wall forming at least two open-top compartments that are arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis and a ladder fixedly coupled to the body, the ladder comprising a plurality of cross-arms arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis; and

a control module comprising a housing and a latching element coupled to the housing and disposed proximate to the ladder, the latching element having a first position wherein the latching element engages one of the plurality of cross-arms so as to prevent the dispensing drawer from moving toward the front and a second position wherein the latching element allows the dispensing element to move toward the front; and

a chassis configured to accept the plurality of step-drawers.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the dispensing drawer and control module are configured such that the dispensing drawer moves with respect to the control module solely along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the dispensing drawer and control module are aligned with each other along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein a portion of one of the dispensing drawer and control module extends in a direction parallel to the front-to-back axis so as to overlap the other of the dispensing drawer and control module.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the body of the dispensing drawer comprises a back end;

the ladder extends from the back end of the dispensing drawer and into the control module; and

the latching element is disposed with the housing.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein:

the housing of the control module comprises a front end;

the control module further comprises a tab fixedly coupled to the housing, the tab extending from the front end of the control module and adjacent to the dispensing drawer, the tab comprising a front end; and

the latching element is coupled to the tab proximate to the front end of the tab.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein:

the body of the dispensing drawer comprises a bottom;

the ladder is disposed on the bottom; and

the tab extends adjacent to the bottom.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to sense an attribute being one of a position and a displacement of the dispensing drawer relative to the control module, the sensor further configured to provide a signal comprising information related to the sensed attribute.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the latching element and the housing, the actuator configured to selectively move the latching element between the first and second positions.

10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of lids hingely coupled to the body, the plurality of lids configured to respectively cover at least a portion of the plurality of open-top compartments.

11. An automated dispensing machine (ADM) comprising:

at least one step-drawer assembly comprising;

a plurality of step-drawers each comprising a dispensing drawer having a front and a front-to-back axis, the dispensing drawer comprising a body comprising at least one fixed wall forming at least two open-top compartments that are arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis and a ladder fixedly coupled to the body, the ladder comprising a plurality of cross-arms arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis, and a control module comprising a housing and a latching element coupled to the housing and disposed proximate to the ladder, the latching element having a first position wherein the latching element engages one of the plurality of cross-arms so as to prevent the dispensing drawer from moving toward the front and a second position wherein the latching element allows the dispensing element to move toward the front; and

a chassis configured to accept a plurality of step-drawers.

12. The ADM of claim 11, wherein the dispensing drawer and control module are configured such that the dispensing drawer moves with respect to the control module solely along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis.

13. The ADM of claim 12, wherein the dispensing drawer and control module are aligned with each other along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis.

14. The ADM of claim 13, wherein a portion of one of the dispensing drawer and control module extends in a direction parallel to the front-to-back axis so as to overlap the other of the dispensing drawer and control module.

15. The ADM of claim 14, wherein:

the body of the dispensing drawer comprises a back end;

the ladder extends from the back end of the dispensing drawer and into the control module; and

the latching element is disposed with the housing.

16. The ADM of claim 14, wherein:

the housing of the control module comprises a front end;

the control module further comprises a tab fixedly coupled to the housing, the tab extending from the front end of the control module and adjacent to the dispensing drawer, the tab comprising a front end; and

the latching element is coupled to the tab proximate to the front end of the tab.

17. The ADM of claim 16, wherein:

the body of the dispensing drawer comprises a bottom;

the ladder is disposed on the bottom; and

the tab extends adjacent to the bottom.

18. The ADM of claim 11, further comprising:

a sensor configured to sense an attribute being one of a position and a displacement of the dispensing drawer relative to the control module, the sensor further configured to provide a signal comprising information related to the sensed attribute.

19. The ADM of claim 11, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the latching element and the housing, the actuator configured to selectively move the latching element between the first and second positions.

20. A step-drawer assembly comprising:

a plurality of step-drawers each comprising;

a dispensing drawer having a front and a front-to-back axis, the dispensing drawer comprising a body comprising at least one fixed wall forming at least two open-top compartments that are arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis and a ladder fixedly coupled to the body, the ladder comprising a plurality of cross-arms arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis; and

a control module configured to require no electrical interconnection with the dispensing drawer, the control module comprising a housing and a latching element coupled to the housing and disposed proximate to the ladder, the latching element having a first position wherein the latching element engages one of the plurality of cross-arms so as to prevent the dispensing drawer from moving toward the front and a second position wherein the latching element allows the dispensing element to move toward the front; and

a chassis configured to accept the plurality of step-drawers.