Methods and apparatus for dispensing items

• US 6,385,505 B1
• Filed: 10/11/1994
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Omnicell Company
• Inventors: Lipps, Randall A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Application Number:
  US08/320,585
• Time in Patent Office: 2,765 Days
• Field of Search: 364/468, 364/478, 364/479, 221/153, 221/154, 221/2, 221/3, 221/9, 221/95, 221/155, 221/159, 221/131, 221/194, 221/195, 221/197, 221/4, 221/68, 221/98, 235/385, 700/231, 700/236, 700/240, 700/241
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/005 with glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

The invention provides methods and apparatus for dispensing items from a dispensing unit. According to the invention, the dispensing unit comprises a plurality of locations in which the items are held, a processor in which records corresponding to the items on the unit are stored, and a plurality of item switches corresponding to the locations in which the items are held. The item switches are connected to the processor so that a user of the dispensing unit can input records of items removed from the unit into the processor. The apparatus described is particularly suited for dispensing medical supplies although the apparatus will be usable for other types of items as well. Preferred embodiments will include a plurality of visual indicators, typically in the form of light emitting diodes, corresponding to the locations in which the items are held. Upon selection of a desired item from a list of items held by the unit, the visual indicator corresponding to the item is actuated so that the user can locate the desired item quickly and conveniently with the help of the visual indicator.

Claims

1. A unit for dispensing items, said unit comprising:

a cabinet;

a plurality of shelves vertically spaced-apart in the cabinet;

a plurality of touch-activated item switches horizontally spaced-apart on at least some of the shelves, each of the switches being electrically connected to a processor;

a plurality of movable storage locations on at least some of the shelves, wherein at least one item switch is located adjacent to at least some of the storage locations for inputting records of associated items removed from each storage location.

2. A unit as in claim 1, wherein the storage locations are defined by dividers removably disposed on the shelf.

3. A unit as in claim 1, further comprising a visual display screen connected to the processor.

4. A unit as in claim 3, wherein both the processor and the visual display screen are disposed on the cabinet.

5. A unit as in claim 1, wherein the processor is connected to said item switches to detect and totalize each time an item switch has been actuated.

6. A unit as in claim 5, wherein the processor is disposed on the cabinet.

7. A unit as in claim 5, further comprising at least one visual indicator located next to at least some of the item switches, wherein the visual indicator is connected to the processor so that the indicator is actuated in response to the entry of item identification information into the processor.

8. A unit as in claim 5, further comprising a door having a closed position blocking access to at least some of the shelves and an open position allowing access to said at least some of the shelves.

9. A unit as in claim 8, further comprising a door lock, wherein the door lock is connected to the processor so that the door is unlocked in response to the entry of transaction identification information into the processor.

10. A unit as in claim 9, wherein the transaction identification information includes at least one of user information and patient information.

11. A method for configuring a dispensing unit, said method comprising:

providing a cabinet having a plurality of vertically spaced-apart shelves, wherein at least some of the shelves have horizontally spaced-apart touch-activated item switches thereon with each of said item switches being electrically connected to a processor; and

dividing at least one shelf to provide at least a first storage location and a second storage location on said shelf, wherein at least one item switch is located adjacent said first storage location and at least one item switch is located adjacent said second storage location for inputting records of associated items removed from each storage location.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the shelf is divided by removably mounting horizontally spaced-apart dividers on the shelf.

13. A method as in claim 11, further comprising positioning at least one shelf within the cabinet, wherein said shelf has a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart item switches thereon.

14. A method as in claim 11, wherein at least two item switches are located adjacent to the first storage location, further comprising placing a cover over one or more item switches so that only a single item switch adjacent to said first storage location remains uncovered.

15. A method as in claim 11, further comprising loading items into said first and second storage locations.

16. A method for configuring and dispensing items from a dispensing unit, said method comprising:

providing a cabinet having a plurality of vertically spaced-apart shelves, wherein at least some of the shelves have horizontally spaced-apart item switches thereon with each of said item switches being electrically connected to a processor;

dividing at least one shelf to provide at least a first storage location and a second storage location on said shelf, wherein at least one item switch is located adjacent said first storage location and another item switch is located adjacent said second storage location;

loading items into said first and second storage locations;

removing items from said first and second storage locations;

manually touching an item switch located adjacent a storage location a number of times equal to the number of items removed therefrom; and

maintaining a record of the number of items removed from each storage location by totalizing the number of times the item switch adjacent to said storage location has been touched.

17. A method as in claim 16, further comprising positioning at least one shelf within the cabinet, wherein said shelf has a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart item switches thereon.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein at least two item switches are located adjacent to the first storage location, further comprising placing a cover over one or more item switches so that only a single item switch adjacent to said first storage location remaining uncovered.

19. A method as in claim 16, further comprising restocking items onto the dispensing units by:

replacing items into said first and second storage locations on the cabinet shelf;

manually touching an item switch located adjacent the storage location to which items are being replaced a number of times equal to the number of items replaced thereto; and

maintaining a record of the number of items replaced to each storage location by totalizing the number of times the item switch adjacent to said storage location has been touched.

20. A method as in claim 16, further comprising restocking items onto the dispensing units by:

replacing a predetermined number of items into at least one of said first and second storage locations on the cabinet shelf; and

manually touching an item switch adjacent to each storage location to which items have been replaced, wherein a single touch indicates that all of said predetermined number of items have been replaced.

21. A method as in claim 16, wherein the cabinet further has at least one visual indicator located next to at least some of the item switches, further comprising entering item identification information to the processor connected to the indicator.

22. A method as in claim 16, wherein the cabinet further has a door with a closed position blocking access to at least some of the shelves and an open position allowing access to said at least some of the shelves, further comprising entering transactional information into a processor to unlock said door.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein said transactional information includes at least one of user information and patient information.