Drawer assembly and associated method for controllably limiting the slideable extension of a drawer

• US 8,662,606 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Santmyer, Paul, Kijowski, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Jayne, Darnell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Kimberley S
• Application Number:
  US13/050,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 312/209, 312/330.1, 312/334.1, 312/333, 312/348.3, 312/319.5, 312/319.7, 312/215, 221151-153, 700/236, 700/240, 700/242, 700/243
• US Class Current: 312/319.7
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/57 preventing complete withdrawal of the drawer
• 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 cabinet, a drawer assembly and an associated method are provided for controllably limiting the slideable extension of a drawer relative to a cabinet body. The cabinet is configured to store a plurality of medications and includes a cabinet body and a drawer assembly that, in turn, includes a drawer slideably disposed within the cabinet body and an extension control rod. The drawer may include a plurality of pockets for storing respective medications. The drawer may also include an outwardly extending engagement member. The extension control rod may include a plurality of outwardly extending projections that are arranged helically about the rod. As such, engagement of a projection of the extension control rod with the engagement member of the drawer limits further slideable extension of the drawer relative to the cabinet body.

Claims

1. A cabinet for storing a plurality of medications, the cabinet comprising:

a cabinet body;

a drawer slideably disposed within the cabinet body and configured for slidable movement in a lengthwise direction, wherein the drawer comprises a plurality of pockets for storing respective medications, and wherein the drawer comprises an outwardly extending engagement member; and

an extension control rod extending in the lengthwise direction alongside the drawer, the extension control rod comprising a plurality of outwardly extending projections that are arranged helically about the rod such that engagement of a projection of the extension control rod with the engagement member of the drawer limits further slideable extension of the drawer relative to the cabinet body,

wherein the extension control rod is configured to be rotatably positioned prior to opening of the drawer to permit access to a respective pocket and to remain in position without further rotation while the drawer is opened to permit access to the respective pocket.

2. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the extension control rod is rotatable about a longitudinal axis so as to bring different respective projections into contact with the engagement member of the drawer.

3. A cabinet according to claim 2 further comprising a motor for controllably rotating the extension control rod.

4. A cabinet according to claim 3 further comprising a counter for cooperating with the motor to control rotation of the extension control rod.

5. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the outwardly extending projections of the extension control rod are spaced lengthwise along the rod by a pitch corresponding to a pitch of the pockets.

6. A cabinet according to claim 1 wherein the outwardly extending projections of the extension control rod are at different angular positions about the rod, and wherein the extension control rod is positionable such that only a single projection of the extension control rod engages the engagement member of the drawer.

7. A drawer assembly comprising:

a drawer comprising a plurality of pockets for storing respective medications, wherein the drawer comprises an outwardly extending engagement member; and

an extension control rod extending in a lengthwise direction alongside the drawer, the extension control rod comprising a plurality of outwardly extending projections, wherein the projections are spaced lengthwise along the rod and are positioned at different angular positions about the rod,

wherein engagement of a projection of the extension control rod with the engagement member of the drawer limits further slideable extension of the drawer in the lengthwise direction,

wherein the extension control rod is configured to be rotatably positioned prior to opening of the drawer to permit access to a respective pocket and to remain in position without further rotation while the drawer is opened to permit access to the respective pocket.

8. A drawer assembly according to claim 7 wherein the plurality of outwardly extending projections are arranged helically about the rod.

9. A drawer assembly according to claim 7 wherein the extension control rod is rotatable about a longitudinal axis so as to bring different respective projections into contact with the engagement member of the drawer.

10. A drawer assembly according to claim 9 further comprising a motor for controllably rotating the extension control rod.

11. A drawer assembly according to claim 10 further comprising a counter for cooperating with the motor to control rotation of the extension control rod.

12. A drawer assembly according to claim 7 wherein the outwardly extending projections of the extension control rod are spaced lengthwise along the rod by a pitch corresponding to a pitch of the pockets.

13. A drawer assembly according to claim 7 wherein the extension control rod is positionable such that only a single projection of the extension control rod engages the engagement member of the drawer.

14. A drawer assembly according to claim 7 wherein a distal end of the engagement member of the drawer comprises chamfered corner portions.

15. A method for controlling extension of a drawer in a lengthwise direction, the drawer comprising a plurality of pockets, the method comprising:

rotating an extension control rod that extends in the lengthwise direction alongside the drawer and comprises a plurality of outwardly extending projections that are arranged helically about the rod, wherein rotating the extension control rod comprises positioning the rod such that a respective projection extends toward the drawer, and wherein rotating the extension control rod comprises rotatably positioning the extension control rod prior to opening of the drawer to permit access to a respective pocket; and

limiting the extension of the drawer as a result of engagement of the respective projection of the extension control rod with an engagement member of the drawer with the extension control rod remaining in position without further rotation while the drawer is opened to permit access to the respective pocket.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein limiting the extension of the drawer comprises permitting at least one pocket to be accessed while preventing at least one other pocket from being accessed.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the outwardly extending projections of the extension control rod are spaced lengthwise along the rod by a pitch corresponding to a pitch of the pockets.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein positioning the rod comprises positioning the rod such that only a single projection of the extension control rod engages the engagement member of the drawer.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein rotating the extension control rod comprises rotating the extension control rod about a longitudinal axis so as to bring different respective projections into contact with the engagement member of the drawer.

20. A method according to claim 15 further comprising unlocking the drawer following rotation of the extension control rod to permit subsequent extension of the drawer to a limit imposed by the engagement of the respective projection of the extension control rod with the engagement member of the drawer.