Medication cabinetry
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A drawer assembly providing selectable access to contents of the drawer, the drawer assembly comprising:
- a drawer unit including a first compartment and a second compartment;
a belt including a first opening sized to provide access to the first compartment and a second opening sized to provide access to the second compartment;
an electric actuator coupled to the belt and configured to move the belt relative to the drawer unit to align the first opening with the first compartment and to align the second opening with the second compartment; and
a controller configured to control the electric actuator to cause movement of the belt between;
a first position in which the belt blocks access to both the first compartment and the second compartment;
a second position in which the first opening is aligned with the first compartment to provide access to the contents of the first compartment and in which the belt blocks access to the second compartment; and
a third position in which the second opening is aligned with the second compartment to provide access to the contents of the second compartment and in which the belt blocks access to the first compartment;
wherein the controller receives a user input signal from a user interface and controls the electric actuator to cause movement of the belt to the second position or the third position based on the user input signal.
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Abstract
An exemplary embodiment includes a cabinet having at least one drawer with selectable access for storing items, such as medications. A slidable cover with a first opening allows for closure and/or access to items in an interior of the drawer. The cabinet further includes an actuator coupled to the cover and a controller coupled to the actuator to control movement of the first opening relative to the drawer interior in response to signals generated from a user interface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A drawer assembly providing selectable access to contents of the drawer, the drawer assembly comprising:
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a drawer unit including a first compartment and a second compartment; a belt including a first opening sized to provide access to the first compartment and a second opening sized to provide access to the second compartment; an electric actuator coupled to the belt and configured to move the belt relative to the drawer unit to align the first opening with the first compartment and to align the second opening with the second compartment; and a controller configured to control the electric actuator to cause movement of the belt between; a first position in which the belt blocks access to both the first compartment and the second compartment; a second position in which the first opening is aligned with the first compartment to provide access to the contents of the first compartment and in which the belt blocks access to the second compartment; and a third position in which the second opening is aligned with the second compartment to provide access to the contents of the second compartment and in which the belt blocks access to the first compartment; wherein the controller receives a user input signal from a user interface and controls the electric actuator to cause movement of the belt to the second position or the third position based on the user input signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cabinet having at least one drawer providing selectable access to contents of the drawer, the cabinet comprising:
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a drawer housing including an opening; a drawer unit slidable within the drawer housing between an extended position and a retracted position, the drawer unit including walls defining an interior, wherein the interior is divided into at least a first compartment and a second compartment; a cover covering the drawer unit and including an opening extending through the cover, wherein the cover is a flexible belt extending over the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein the cover is moveable between; a first position in which the cover blocks access to both the first compartment and the second compartment; a second position in which the opening is aligned with the first compartment to provide access to the contents of the first compartment and the cover blocks access to the second compartment; and a third position in which the opening is aligned with the second compartment to provide access to the contents of the second compartment and the cover blocks access to the first compartment; and an electronic actuator coupled to the cover to move the cover between the first, second and third positions; wherein at least a portion of the drawer unit extends through the opening of the drawer housing in the extended position such that at least one of the first and second compartments is located outside of the drawer housing and wherein both the first and second compartments are located within the drawer housing in the retracted position such that the drawer housing blocks access to the first compartment and the second compartment; wherein the electronic actuator is supported by the drawer unit such that the electronic actuator moves with the drawer unit as the drawer unit slides between the extended position and the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A selectable access cabinet control system for providing controlled access to medical products comprising:
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an electronic controller in communication with a user interface, a database including cabinet contents information and a cabinet having at least one cabinet drawer providing selectable access to the medical products, the cabinet drawer including a first compartment, a second compartment and a flexible cover covering the drawer and extending over the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein the flexible cover includes a first opening and a second opening; wherein the electronic controller is configured to control movement of the flexible cover between; a first position in which the flexible cover blocks access to both the first compartment and the second compartment; a second position in which the first opening is aligned with the first compartment to provide access to the contents of the first compartment and the flexible cover blocks access to the second compartment; and a third position in which the second opening is aligned with the second compartment to provide access to the contents of the second compartment and the flexible cover blocks access to the first compartment; wherein the electronic controller is configured to receive a user input signal from the user interface and to control an electric actuator to cause movement of the belt to the second position or the third position based on the user input signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification