Method and apparatus for the dispensing of drugs
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a receptacle adapted for removable placement on a dispensing structure said receptacle having a plurality of side walls, a bottom adjoined to said side walls, and a top movably secured to at least one of said side walls such that said top is adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position;
a latch in association with said top and at least one of said side walls, said latch adapted to be actuated by a request signal to open said top;
an engagement member adapted to securely engage a portion of a dispensing structure;
an information storage device secured to or in said receptacle for storing information relative to contents of said receptacle; and
a communication contact on said receptacle enabling the transfer of information between said information storage device and an information source.
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Abstract
A system and apparatus are described in which modular receptacles are filled and transported to automatic dispensing machines for later retrieval and distribution. A system of the present invention includes the loading, refilling, and replacement of the modular receptacles at various stages in the process of the invention. A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for distribution of items such as medical supplies and drugs.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a receptacle adapted for removable placement on a dispensing structure said receptacle having a plurality of side walls, a bottom adjoined to said side walls, and a top movably secured to at least one of said side walls such that said top is adapted for movement between an open position and a closed position; a latch in association with said top and at least one of said side walls, said latch adapted to be actuated by a request signal to open said top; an engagement member adapted to securely engage a portion of a dispensing structure; an information storage device secured to or in said receptacle for storing information relative to contents of said receptacle; and a communication contact on said receptacle enabling the transfer of information between said information storage device and an information source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for the distribution of items, comprising the steps of:
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providing a receptacle adapted for removable placement on a dispensing structure, said receptacle having a plurality of sidewalls, a bottom adjoined to said side walls, and a top movably secured to at least one of said side walls such that the top is adapted for movement between an open position and a secure closed position, said receptacle having a hinge assembly that joins said top to at least one of said side walls and wherein said top is adapted to open upon said dispensing structure receiving a request signal from an operator; providing a dispensing structure adapted to receive said receptacle; loading said receptacle with at least one item; placing said receptacle on to said dispensing structure; and providing a signal to said dispensing structure to cause said receptacle to open said top. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus, comprising:
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a receptacle adapted for removable placement in a dispensing machine, said receptacle having a plurality of side walls, a bottom adjoined to said side walls, and a top movably secured to at least one of said side walls such that said top is adapted for movement between an open position and a secure closed position; a hinge assembly comprising a spring which joins said top to at least one of said side walls and wherein said top is adapted to open said receptacle upon receiving a request signal from an operator. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification