Multi-compartment step-drawer

• US 8,972,051 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Rahilly, Michael, Ton-That, Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/482,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20130325175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 700241-242, 700/237, 700/243, 221/154
• US Class Current: 700/243
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/46 for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/005 Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/18 Recessed drawers
• 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 multi-pocket step-drawer is disclosed that includes a dispensing drawer and a control module. The dispensing drawer has a body comprising at least one fixed wall forming at least two open-top compartments that are arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis and a ladder fixedly coupled to the body. The ladder has a plurality of cross arms arranged along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis. The control module includes a housing and a latching element coupled to the housing and disposed proximate to the ladder. The latching element has a first position wherein the latching element engages one of the plurality of cross-arms so as to prevent the dispensing drawer from moving toward the front and a second position wherein the latching element allows the dispensing element to move toward the front.

Claims

1. A step-drawer for preventing the deterioration of electrical components comprising:

a dispensing drawer having a front, a back, and a front-to-back axis, and configured such that no electrical interconnection is required between controlling components and the dispensing drawer to automatically control movement of the dispensing drawer, the dispensing drawer comprising;

a body comprising at least one fixed wall forming at least two open-top compartments that are arranged along a first axis parallel to the front-to-back axis, the body configured to move in a sliding motion along the first axis; and

a ladder fixedly coupled to the body, the ladder comprising a plurality of cross-arms arranged along a second axis parallel to the front-to-back axis, the ladder configured to move with the body in a sliding motion along the second axis; and

a control module comprising;

a housing including an opening for storing the ladder and enabling the sliding motion of the ladder with the body along the second axis; and

a latching element coupled to the housing, configured to remain in a static position within the housing during relative sliding movement between the ladder and the housing, and disposed proximate to the ladder, the latching element having (i) a first position wherein the latching element extends into a space between adjacent cross-arms, such that the latching element engages one of the plurality of cross-arms so as to limit dispensing drawer movement toward the front and (ii) a second position wherein the latching element is withdrawn from the space between and is out-of-plane with respect to the adjacent cross-arms, such that the latching element allows the dispensing drawer to move toward the front.

2. The step-drawer of claim 1, wherein the dispensing drawer and control module are configured such that the dispensing drawer moves with respect to the control module solely along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis.

3. The step-drawer of claim 2, wherein the dispensing drawer and control module are aligned with each other along an axis parallel to the front-to-back axis.

4. The step-drawer of claim 3, wherein a portion of one of the dispensing drawer and control module extends in a direction parallel to the front-to-back axis so as to overlap the other of the dispensing drawer and control module.

5. The step-drawer of claim 4, wherein:

the body of the dispensing drawer comprises a back end;

the ladder extends from the back end of the body and into the control module; and

the latching element is disposed with the housing.

6. The step-drawer of claim 4, wherein:

the housing of the control module comprises a front end;

the control module further comprises a tab fixedly coupled to the housing, the tab extending from the front end of the housing and adjacent to the dispensing drawer, the tab comprising a front end; and

the latching element is coupled to the tab proximate to the front end of the tab.

7. The step-drawer of claim 6, wherein:

the body of the dispensing drawer comprises a bottom;

the ladder is disposed on the bottom; and

the tab extends adjacent to the bottom.

8. The step-drawer of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to sense an attribute being one of a position and a displacement of the dispensing drawer relative to the control module, the sensor further configured to provide a signal comprising information related to the sensed attribute.

9. The step-drawer of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the latching element and the housing, the actuator configured to selectively move the latching element between the first and second positions.

10. The step-drawer of claim 1, wherein all electrical devices are disposed within the housing of the control module.

11. The step-drawer of claim 1, wherein there are no electrical wire coupled between the dispensing drawer and the control module.

12. The step-drawer of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of lids hingedly coupled to the body, the plurality of lids configured to respectively cover at least a portion of the plurality of open-top compartments.