Medical cabinet access belt optimization system

• US 9,345,644 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Inventors: Michael, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US14/256,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• 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 cabinet comprising:

a drawer housing;

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 belt having a first opening, the belt being moveably supported by the drawer unit and being moveable to align the first opening with either the first compartment or the second compartment;

a belt actuator configured to move the belt in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction; and

an electronic controller in communication with the belt actuator, wherein the controller is configured to control the belt actuator to move the belt to align the first opening with either the first compartment or the second compartment, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to move the belt in the first direction or the second direction to lower the travel distance of the belt required to align the first opening with either the first compartment or the second compartment.

2. The secured cabinet of claim 1 further comprising a sensor that detects the position of the belt, wherein the controller receives and stores data indicative of the position of the first opening relative to the first and second compartments from the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to move the belt in the first direction or the second direction based upon the data received from the sensor.

3. The secured cabinet of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to move the belt in the first direction or the second direction to minimize the travel distance of the belt required to align the first opening with either the first compartment or the second compartment.

4. The secured cabinet of claim 1 wherein the movement in both the first direction and the second direction is movement that occurs above the first compartment and the second compartment.

5. The secured cabinet of claim 4 further comprising a first roller supported at a first end of the drawer and a second roller supported at a second end of the drawer.

6. The secured cabinet of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of additional drawer units each having a belt and belt actuator.

7. The secured cabinet of claim 1 wherein the belt includes a second opening larger than the first opening.

8. The secured cabinet of claim 1 further comprising a user interface configured to receive user requests and to communicate the user requests to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the belt actuator based on the user requests.

9. The secured cabinet of claim 8 wherein the controller receives the user requests from the user interface via wireless communication.

10. The secured cabinet of claim 1 further comprising a first medical product located in the first compartment and a second medical product located in the second compartment.

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

a drawer unit having a plurality of compartments formed therein;

a cover disposed above the compartments of the drawer unit and having at least a opening formed therein, the cover being selectably moveable in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction to align the opening with a compartment of the drawer unit to provide access to the plurality of compartments while restricting access to at least one of the plurality of compartments; and

a cover actuator housed inside the drawer unit and coupled to the cover that moves the cover;

a user interface configured to receive user requests; and

a controller in communication with the user interface and the cover actuator, wherein the controller is configured to control the cover actuator to move the cover in either the first direction or the second direction based on the user request.

12. The storage system of claim 11 further comprising a housing, wherein the drawer unit is slidable within the housing, wherein the controller is configured to cause movement of the cover only when the drawer is fully received within the housing.

13. The storage system of claim 11 wherein the cover actuator is a bi-directional motor that selectively moves the cover in the first direction or in the second direction.

14. The storage system of claim 11 wherein the cover comprises a belt extending around the drawer unit, and wherein the first direction is movement of the belt in a direction from a rear of the drawer unit toward the front of the drawer unit and the second direction is movement of the belt in a direction from the front of the drawer unit toward the rear of the drawer unit.

15. A secured cabinet comprising:

a drawer housing;

a plurality of drawer units slidable within the drawer housing between an extended position and a retracted position, each of the plurality of drawer units comprising;

an interior divided into at least a first compartment and a second compartment;

a belt having an opening, the belt being moveably supported by the drawer unit and being moveable to align the opening with either the first compartment or the second compartment;

a belt actuator supported by the drawer unit and configured to move the belt in both a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction; and

an electronic controller in communication with the belt actuators of each drawer unit, wherein the controller is configured to control the belt actuator of each drawer unit to move the belt of each drawer unit to provide access to the compartments of the drawer unit, wherein the controller, in response to a user request to access one of the compartments of one of the drawer units, is configured to determine whether movement of the belt of the requested drawer unit in the first direction or in the second direction will decrease the travel distance of the belt required to align the opening with a compartment requested by the user, wherein the controller directs the belt actuator of the drawer unit to move the belt in the determined direction.

16. The secured cabinet of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to cause movement of the belt of each drawer unit only when the drawer unit is in the retracted position within the housing.

17. The secured cabinet of claim 15 further comprising a sensor arrangement that detects the positions of the belts of each drawer unit, wherein the controller determines the determined direction based on the detected position of the belt of the requested drawer unit.

18. The secured cabinet of claim 17 wherein the movement in both the first direction and the second direction of each belt is movement that occurs above the first compartment and the second compartment of the requested drawer unit.

19. The secured cabinet of claim 18 further comprising a first roller supported at a first end of each drawer unit and a second roller supported at a second end of each drawer unit, wherein the movement in the first direction is movement in a direction from the first roller toward the second roller and movement in the second direction is movement in a direction from the second roller toward the first roller.

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

a drawer unit having a plurality of compartments formed therein;

a cover disposed above the compartments of the drawer unit and having at least a opening formed therein, the cover being selectably moveable in both a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction to align the opening with a compartment of the drawer unit to provide access to the plurality of compartments while restricting access to at least one of the plurality of compartments; and

a cover actuator coupled to the cover that moves the cover;

a user interface configured to receive user requests; and

a controller in communication with the user interface and the cover actuator, wherein the controller is configured to control the cover actuator to move the cover in either the first direction or the second direction based on the user request; and

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether movement in the first direction or in the second direction will minimize the travel distance of the cover required to align the opening with a compartment designated by the user request, wherein the controller directs the cover actuator to move the cover in the determined movement direction.