Medical cabinet access belt optimization system

• US 8,744,621 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: AutoMed Technologies Incorporated (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Michael, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/087,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 221/122, 221/133, 700/242, 700/243, 700/236
• US Class Current: 700/242
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/90 Constructional details of drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/975 in the form of repositionable partition walls
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/994 in the form of trays or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/105 Cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/185 Drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/18 Cupboards; Drawers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/462 for two or more drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/18 Recessed drawers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A cabinet for securely storing items includes a drawer enclosure, a drawer, a cover, an electric actuator, and a switch. The drawer is slidable at least partially into and out of the enclosure, and includes a compartment. A cover which is configured as a metal belt is designed to selectively block access to the compartments of the drawer when the cover is in a first configuration, and to allow access to the compartment when the cover is in a second configuration. The electric actuator is designed to move the cover from the first configuration to the second configuration in one of two directions. The actuator selects the direction to reduce the time required to make such movement.

Claims

1. A secured drawer for a supply cabinet, the drawer comprising:

a plurality of compartments arranged end to end from a first end to a second end;

a first roller supported at the first end;

a second roller supported at the second end;

a belt having a first opening and a second opening larger than the first opening, the belt being moveably supported by the rollers and being moveable in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction above the plurality of compartments, the belt moveable to align at least one of the openings with one of the compartments while restricting access to at least one of the compartments; and

a belt actuator operable to selectively move the belt in either the first direction or the second direction to change access from one of the compartments to another of the compartments, the actuator being configured to move the belt in either the first direction or the second direction based upon a determination of which direction minimizes the time required to change access from one compartment to another.

2. The drawer of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller in communication with the belt actuator, wherein the controller receives data indicative of the position of the first opening and of the second opening relative to the compartments, wherein the controller is configured to make the determination of which direction minimizes the time required to change access from one compartment to another based upon the position of at least one of the openings relative to at least one of the compartments and wherein the controller directs the belt actuator to move the belt in either the first or the second direction based on the determination.

3. The drawer claim 2, wherein the controller directs the belt actuator to move the belt in the first direction when the distance of belt movement required between an opening to be aligned with one of the compartment in the first direction is less than distance of belt movement required between the opening and the compartment in the second direction.

4. A storage system for securely storing items therein, comprising:

a drawer unit having a plurality of compartments;

a belt rotatably disposed about the compartments of the drawer unit and having at least a first opening, the belt being rotatable in both a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction to align the first opening with a compartment to provide access to a designated compartment of the plurality of compartments while restricting access to at least one of the plurality of compartments; and

a belt actuator which selectively rotates the belt in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to provide access to one of the plurality of compartments, wherein the belt actuator is controlled to rotate the belt in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to minimize the time required to move the first opening to provide access to the designated compartment.

5. The storage system of claim 4, further comprising:

a controller in communication with the belt actuator, wherein the controller stores data indicative of the position of the first opening relative to the compartments, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation will minimize the time required to move the first opening to provide access to the designated compartment, and wherein the controller directs the belt actuator to move the belt in the determined direction.

6. The storage system of claim 5, wherein the controller directs the belt actuator to move the belt in the clockwise direction when the travel distance between the first opening and the designated compartment in the clockwise direction is less than the travel distance between the first opening and the designated compartment in the counter-clockwise direction.

7. The storage system of claim 6, wherein the belt further comprises a second opening formed therein.

8. The storage system of claim 7, wherein the first opening has a greater area than the area of the second opening.

9. The storage system of claim 8, wherein the first opening is substantially twice as wide as the second opening.

10. The storage system of claim 9, wherein the drawer unit includes a structure for receiving a partition that divides a compartment of the plurality of compartments into two smaller compartments, and wherein when the compartment is divided the controller directs the belt actuator to align the second opening with a designated one of the smaller compartments to allow access thereto during operational use of the system.

11. A storage system for securely storing items therein, comprising:

a drawer unit comprising a plurality of compartments each including a compartment entrance providing access to the compartment;

a cover comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening;

an actuator configured to move the cover in both a first direction and a second direction above the compartment entrances, the second direction opposite the first direction; and

a controller in communication with the actuator, wherein the controller directs the actuator to move the cover such that either the first opening or the second opening is aligned with a designated compartment, depending upon the size of the designated compartment, wherein the controller stores data indicative of the position of the first opening and the second opening relative to the compartments, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether movement in the first direction or the second direction will minimize the travel distance of the cover required to align either the first opening or the second opening with the designated compartment, wherein the controller directs the actuator to move the cover in the determined direction.

12. The storage system of claim 11, wherein the drawer unit further comprises a structure for receiving a partition that divides a compartment into two smaller compartments.

13. The storage system of claim 12, wherein when the compartment is divided into the two smaller compartments the controller operates the actuator to align the second opening with a designated one of the smaller compartments to allow access thereto during operational use of the system.

14. The storage system of claim 13, wherein the cover comprises a belt extending around the drawer unit, and wherein the second opening can be aligned with the designated one of the smaller compartments if the belt is moved in the first direction around the drawer unit or if the belt is moved in the second direction around the drawer unit.

15. The storage system of claim 14, wherein the actuator is a bi-directional motor that selectively moves the cover in the first direction or in the second direction during operational use of the system.

16. The storage system of claim 15, wherein the controller directs the bi-directional motor to move the cover in the first direction when the travel distance between the second opening and the designated one of the smaller compartments in the first direction is less than the travel distance between the second opening and the designated one of the smaller compartments in the second direction.

17. A storage system for securely storing items therein, comprising:

a drawer unit comprising a plurality of compartments formed therein;

a cover covering the plurality of compartments, wherein the cover comprises an opening that may be selectively aligned with a designated compartment of the plurality of compartments to allow access thereto;

an actuator configured to move the cover in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction to align the opening of the cover with the designated compartment;

a sensor configured to detect a position of the cover; and

a controller in communication with the actuator and the sensor, wherein the controller receives data from the sensor that is representative of the position of the cover relative to the drawer unit, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether movement in the first direction or second direction will minimize the travel distance of the cover required to align the opening with the designated compartment and the controller is configured to direct the actuator to move the cover in the determined direction such that the opening is aligned with the designated compartment during operational use of the system.

18. The storage system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

19. The storage system of claim 18, wherein the cover comprises indicia representative of locations on the cover, and wherein the optical sensor detects the indicia during operational use of system.

20. The storage system of claim 19, wherein the cover is a belt extending around the drawer unit.

21. The storage system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of compartments are formed side-by-side along a length of the drawer unit.

22. The storage system of claim 21, wherein the actuator is a bi-directional electric motor connected to a rotating element that interfaces with the cover.

23. The storage system of claim 17, wherein the controller stores data indicative of the frequency that each of the plurality of compartments is accessed, wherein, when the drawer is being accessed, the controller is configured to direct the actuator to position the opening of the cover relative to the compartments based on the data indicative of frequency.