Drug dispensing cabinet having a drawer interlink, counterbalance and locking system

• US 7,077,286 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Holmes, Eric Lamont, Shows, Paul Randall, Parks, Robert, Kaintz, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H.
• Application Number:
  US10/637,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20040108325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 312/312, 312/319.4, 312/330.1, 312/332.1, 312/333, 312/334.8, 70/85, 70/86, 221/92, 221/99, 221/130, 221/131, 221/281, 221/282, 221/154
• US Class Current: 221/92
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/30 two or more magazines having independent delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/26 Interlocks, e.g. for locking the doors of compartments other than that to be used
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A dispensing cabinet is comprised of a frame, a plurality of shelves movably connected to the frame at an angle with respect thereto, and a plurality of drawers with each drawer carried by one of the shelves such that each of the drawers is capable of moving between a fully open position extending outwardly and downwardly from the frame and a fully closed position. Each of the drawers carries at least one dispenser. Each of said drawers also carries a lock for locking each of the drawers to the frame when the drawers are in their respective fully closed positions. A counterbalance is provided, and each of the drawers is responsive to the counterbalance such that only one drawer at a time can be in its fully open position. A controller for controlling the dispensers and, in certain embodiments, for controlling the locks, is also provided. The counterbalance includes a cable connected at one end to a spring and fixed at another end either to the frame or to another drawer. The cabinet may be provided with locking arms carried by each of the drawers for locking each of the drawers in its fully open position. The locking arms are pivotable and are balanced such that upon opening a drawer to its fully extended position, the locking arms pivot into a position to lock the drawer in its open position. The drawers may each carry a switch such that the drawers are unlocked in response to the switch, the controller, or both.

Claims

1. A dispensing cabinet, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of shelves movably connected to said frame at an angle with respect thereto;

a plurality of drawers each carried by one of said shelves such that each of said drawers is capable of moving between a fully open position extending outwardly and downwardly from said frame and a fully closed position;

each of said drawers carrying at least one dispenser;

each of said drawers carrying a lock for locking each of said drawers to said frame when said drawers are in their respective fully closed positions;

a counterbalance, each of said drawers connected to said counterbalance, said counterbalance comprising a cable connected at one end to a spring and fixed at another end, said counterbalance configured to exert a force opposing the opening of any drawer when any other drawer is in a fully open position, thereby enabling only one drawer at a time to be in its fully open position; and

a controller for controlling said dispensers and said locks.

2. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein said cable is fixed at said another end to said frame.

3. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein said cable is fixed at said another end to one of said drawers.

4. The cabinet of claim 1 additionally comprising a locking arm carried by each of said drawers for locking each of said drawers in its fully open position.

5. The cabinet of claim 4 wherein said locking arms are pivotable and are balanced such that upon opening a drawer to its fully extended position, said locking arm pivots into a position to lock the drawer in its open position.

6. The cabinet of claim 5 additionally comprising a switch carried by each of said drawers, and wherein each drawer'"'"'s lock is responsive to that drawer'"'"'s switch and said controller.

7. A dispensing cabinet, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of shelves movably connected to said frame;

a plurality of drawers each movably carried by one of said shelves between a fully open position and a closed position;

each of said drawers carrying at least one dispenser;

each of said drawers carrying a lock for locking each of said drawers to said frame when said drawers are in their respective fully closed positions;

each of said drawers carrying a switch for unlocking said drawer'"'"'s lock;

a counterbalance, each of said drawers connected to said counterbalance, said counterbalance comprising a cable connected at one end to a spring and fixed at another end, said counterbalance configured to exert a force opposing the opening of any drawer when any other drawer is in a fully open position, thereby enabling only one drawer at a time to be in its fully open position, and

a controller for controlling said dispensers and said locks.

8. The cabinet of claim 7 wherein said cable is fixed at said another end to said frame.

9. The cabinet of claim 7 wherein said cable is fixed at said another end to one of said drawers.

10. The cabinet of claim 7 additionally comprising a locking arm carried by each of said drawers for locking each of said drawers in its fully open position.

11. The cabinet of claim 10 wherein said locking arms are pivotable and are balanced such that upon opening a drawer to its fully extended position, said locking arm pivots into a position to lock the drawer in its open position.

12. The cabinet of claim 7 wherein each of said shelves and drawers are carried at an angle with respect to said frame such that in said open position said drawer extends outwardly and downwardly from said frame and in said fully closed position said drawer is substantially within said frame.

13. A dispensing cabinet, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of shelves movably connected to said frame at an angle with respect thereto;

a plurality of drawers each carried by one of said shelves such that each of said drawers is capable of moving between a fully open position extending outwardly and downwardly from said frame and a fully closed position;

each of said drawers carrying at least one dispenser;

each of said drawers carrying a lock for locking each of said drawers to said frame when said drawers are in their respective fully closed positions;

each of said drawers carrying a switch for unlocking said drawer'"'"'s lock;

a counterbalance, each of said drawers connected to said counterbalance, said counterbalance comprising a cable connected to one end to a spring and fixed to another end, said counterbalance configured to exert a force opposing the opening of any drawer when any other drawer is in a fully open position, thereby enabling only one drawer at a time to be in its fully open position; and

a controller for controlling said dispensers.

14. The cabinet of claim 13 wherein said cable is fixed at said another end to said frame.

15. The cabinet of claim 13 wherein said cable is fixed at said another end to one of said drawers.

16. The cabinet of claim 13 additionally comprising a locking arm carried by each of said drawers for locking each of said drawers in its fully open position.

17. The cabinet of claim 16 wherein said locking arms are pivotable and are balanced such that upon opening a drawer to its fully extended position, said locking arm pivots into a position to lock the drawer in its open position.

18. The cabinet of claim 13 wherein each drawer'"'"'s lock is additionally responsive to said controller.

19. The cabinet of claim 18 additionally comprising a locking arm carried by each of said drawers for locking each of said drawers in its fully open position.

20. The cabinet of claim 19 additionally comprising a switch carried by each of said drawers, and wherein each drawer'"'"'s lock is responsive to that drawer'"'"'s switch and said controller.

21. The cabinet of claim 20 additionally comprising a locking arm carried by each of said drawers for locking each of said drawers in its fully open position.

22. The cabinet of claim 20 wherein each of said shelves and drawers are carried at an angle with respect to said frame such that in said open position said drawer extends outwardly and downwardly from said frame and in said fully closed position said drawer is substantially within said frame.

23. The cabinet of claim 22 additionally comprising a locking arm carried by each of said drawers for locking each of said drawers in its fully open position.

24. A dispensing cabinet, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of shelves movably connected to said frame at an angle with respect thereto;

a plurality of drawers each carried by one of said shelves such that each of said drawers is capable of moving between a fully open position extending outwardly and downwardly from said frame and a fully closed position;

each of said drawers carrying at least one dispenser;

each of said drawers carrying a lock for locking each of said drawers to said frame when said drawers are in their respective fully closed positions;

a counterbalance, each of said drawers connected to said counterbalance, said counterbalance comprising means to enable only one drawer at a time to be in its fully open position; and

a controller for controlling said dispensers and said locks.

25. The cabinet of claim 24 wherein said locking arms are pivotable and are balanced such that upon opening a drawer to its fully extended position, said locking arm pivots into a position to lock the drawer in its open position.

26. A dispensing cabinet, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of shelves movably connected to said frame;

a plurality of drawers each movably carried by one of said shelves between a fully open position and a closed position;

each of said drawers carrying at least one dispenser;

each of said drawers carrying a lock for locking each of said drawers to said frame when said drawers are in their respective fully closed positions;

each of said drawers carrying a switch for unlocking said drawer'"'"'s lock;

a counterbalance, each of said drawers connected to said counterbalance, said counterbalance comprising means to enable only one drawer at a time to be in its fully open position; and

a controller for controlling said dispensers and said locks.

27. The cabinet of claim 26 wherein said locking arms are pivotable and are balanced such that upon opening a drawer to its fully extended position, said locking arm pivots into a position to lock the drawer in its open position.

28. A dispensing cabinet comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of shelves movably connected to said frame at an angle with respect thereto;

a plurality of drawers each carried by one of said shelves such that each of said drawers is capable of moving between a fully open position extending outwardly and downwardly from said frame and a fully closed position;

each of said drawers carrying at least one dispenser;

each of said drawers carrying a lock for locking each of said drawers to said frame when said drawers are in their respective fully closed positions;

each of said drawers carrying a switch for unlocking said drawer'"'"'s lock;

a counterbalance, each of said drawers connected to said counterbalance, said counterbalance comprising means to enable only one drawer at a time to be in its fully open position; and

a controller for controlling said dispensers.

29. The cabinet of claim 28 wherein said locking arms are pivotable and are balanced such that upon opening a drawer to its fully extended position, said locking arm pivots into a position to lock the drawer in its open position.