Secured dispensing cabinet and methods

• US 7,571,024 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Inventors: Kidney, Scott L., Arnold, Brian R., Duncan, Mark Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFREY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US11/206,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/686.2, 340/686.6, 340/687, 700/242, 705/22, 705/23, 705/28, 705/29, 221/4, 221/241, 221/242
• US Class Current: 700/242
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/60 the storage containers or supports being rectilinearly movable
• 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: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A device for dispensing items comprises a cabinet having an interior for storing items. A dispenser frame is coupled to the cabinet and is configured to be accessed, such as by pulling the dispenser frame from the cabinet. The dispenser frame includes a plurality of dividers that are configured to hold the plurality of dispensing mechanisms that each hold multiple items within the storage area. Further, the dividers are reconfigurable to permit the arrangement of the dispensing mechanisms to be adjusted. A lockable door is coupled to the front of the cabinet in front of the dispenser frame. The door may be opened to provide access to the interior of the cabinet and to the dispenser frame. A dispense drawer is positioned below the storage area so that items dispensed from the dispensing mechanisms.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing items, the device comprising:

a cabinet having a front, a back, a pair of sides and an interior having a storage area;

a dispenser frame coupled to the cabinet, wherein the dispenser frame includes a plurality of dividers, wherein the plurality of dividers are configurable;

a plurality of dispensing mechanisms coupled to the dividers, wherein the dispensing mechanisms are configured to hold a plurality of items within the storage area;

a lockable door coupled to the front of the cabinet so as to be positioned in front of the dispenser frame, wherein the door is openable to provide access to the interior of the cabinet and to the dispenser frame;

a dispense drawer coupled to the cabinet below the storage area such that items dispensed from the dispensing mechanisms fall into the dispense drawer;

a computer that is operably coupled to the dispensing mechanisms;

a plurality of sensor mechanisms each being associated with one of the plurality of dispensing mechanisms, wherein each sensor mechanism is configured to generate a signal when an item from the associated dispensing mechanism is dispensed, wherein the signal is usable by the computer to identify the associated dispensing mechanism, and wherein the computer is configured to determine whether the associated dispensing mechanism needs to be replenished with an item based at least in part on the signal received from the sensor mechanism; and

a divider configuration sensor coupled with the computer configured to automatically sense that the plurality of dividers have been repositioned and resized, to automatically determine the plurality of divider'"'"'s newly configured positions and sizes, and to transmit the plurality of divider'"'"'s newly configured positions and sizes to the computer.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to receive an input assigning the item to the associated dispensing mechanism.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the sensor mechanisms are each actuatable to indicate to the computer that the associated dispensing mechanism is to be restocked.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein the dispense drawer extends across essentially the entire length of the front.

5. A method for restocking items, the method comprising:

providing a dispensing device comprising a cabinet having an interior;

a dispenser frame coupled to the cabinet, wherein the dispenser frame includes a plurality of configurable dividers that are configured to hold a plurality of dispensing mechanisms that each hold a plurality of items within the interior;

a lockable door coupled to the front of the cabinet so as to be positioned in front of the dispenser frame, a dispense drawer coupled to the cabinet for receiving dispensed items and a computer;

providing a sensor mechanism associated with at least one of the dispensing devices;

generating, by the sensor mechanism, a signal when an item from the associated dispensing mechanism is dispensed, wherein the signal is used to identify the associated dispensing mechanism;

determining, by the computer, whether the associated dispensing mechanism needs to be replenished with at least one item, based at least in part on the signal generated by the sensor mechanism;

entering restock information into the computer;

entering restock user identification information into the computer;

entering a request to restock items into the computer;

unlocking and opening the door;

actuating visual indicators associated with the dispensing mechanisms that are to be restocked, wherein the visual indicators continuously light a name of at least one item to be restocked;

restocking the at least one item into at least one of the dispensing mechanisms having an actuated visual indicator;

automatically sensing that the plurality of dividers have been repositioned and resized;

automatically determining the plurality of divider'"'"'s newly configured positions and sizes; and

transmitting the plurality of divider'"'"'s newly configured positions and sizes to the computer.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the visual indicators comprise lights, and further comprising flashing the lights on the dispensing mechanisms that need restocking.

7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising pressing a button on one of the dispensing mechanism to indicate that one or more items are to be restocked.

8. A method as in claim 7, further comprising continuously lighting the light on the dispensing mechanism after pressing the button, and displaying the name of the item using the computer.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising verifying the count of items in the dispensing mechanism and entering the verification into the computer.

10. A method as in claim 8, further comprising pressing the button on the dispensing mechanism to signal that restocking is completed.

11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising turning off the light upon pressing of the button.

13. A dispensing mechanism as in claim 11, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light.

14. A dispensing mechanism as in claim 11, wherein the sensing mechanism comprises a button.

15. A dispensing mechanism as in claim 11, wherein the dispensing device is selected from a group of devices consisting of motors and solenoids.

12. A dispensing mechanism, comprising:

a housing that is configured to hold a plurality of items that are to be dispensed;

an electrical interface that is adapted to electrically couple the housing to a dispensing cabinet, wherein the interface is electrically coupled to a computer;

a dispensing device that is configured to receive an electrical signal from the interface to cause at least one of the items to be dispensed from the housing;

a visual indicator operably coupled to the housing, wherein the visual indicator is configured to be actuated to indicate that the dispensing mechanism is to be restocked or modified;

a sensing mechanism associated with the dispensing device and operably coupled to the housing, wherein the sensing mechanism is electrically coupled to the interface to generate an electrical signal when an item from the associated dispensing mechanism is dispensed, and wherein the computer is configured to determine that the associated dispensing mechanism needs to be replenished with at least one item, based at least in part on the signal received from the sensor mechanism; and

a divider configuration sensor coupled with the computer configured to automatically sense that a plurality of configurable dividers have been repositioned and resized, to automatically determine the plurality of divider'"'"'s newly configured positions and sizes, and to transmit the plurality of divider'"'"'s newly configured positions and sizes to the computer.