Medication cabinetry

• US 9,888,774 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Inventors: Biba, Scott I., Koplin, Randall S., Lee, Daniel J., Soukup, Kathy L., Michael, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/792,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20150305500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 700231, 700232, 700237, 700241-243, 221199, 221 91, 221133, 221 83, 3123191
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2210/0002 Guide construction for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/457 operated by electrically-powered actuation means
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/463 self-opening
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/467 self-closing
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/57 preventing complete withdrawal of the drawer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A drawer assembly providing selectable access to contents of the drawer assembly, 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

an interlock configured to prevent operation of the electric actuator when a substantial portion of the drawer unit is not located within a drawer housing.

2. The drawer assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic control system configured to control the electric actuator to cause movement of the belt based on a user input signal; and

a user interface coupled to the electronic control system, wherein the electronic control system receives the user input signal from the user interface.

3. The drawer assembly of claim 2, wherein the electronic control system receives signals from a user interface via wireless communication.

4. The drawer assembly of claim 2, further comprising an optical sensor unit coupled to the electronic control system, wherein the belt includes a plurality of spaced apertures and the optical sensor unit is supported relative to the spaced apertures to generate a sensor signal representative of a location of the first and second openings relative to the compartments.

5. The drawer assembly of claim 2, wherein the electronic control system is configured to move the belt in two directions in order to align the first opening with the first compartment and to align the second opening with the second compartment.

6. The drawer assembly of claim 1, wherein the electric actuator is configured to resist movement of the belt in response to a force applied to the outside of the belt.

7. The drawer assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first medical product located in the first compartment and a second medical product located in the second compartment.

8. The drawer assembly of claim 1, wherein the drawer unit further includes a first roller and a second roller, the first and second rollers supported at opposing ends of the drawer unit, and the belt is moveably supported relative to the drawer unit by the first and second rollers.

9. A cabinet having at least one drawer comprising:

a drawer housing including an opening;

a drawer unit moveable within the drawer housing between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the drawer housing, the drawer unit including walls defining an interior, wherein the interior is divided into at least a first compartment and a second compartment;

a flexible cover covering the drawer unit and including at least one opening extending through the cover, wherein the flexible cover is moveable between at least three different positions to provide access to the first compartment, to provide access to the second compartment and to block the first and second compartment;

an electronic actuator coupled to the flexible cover to move the flexible cover between the at least three different positions, wherein the electronic actuator is supported by the drawer unit such that the electronic actuator moves with the drawer unit as the drawer unit moves between the extended position and the retracted position; and

an electronic controller configured to control the electronic actuator to cause movement of the flexible cover between the at least three different positions.

10. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein the electronic controller is configured to communicate wirelessly with a user interface, wherein the electronic controller controls the electronic actuator to move the cover in response to a user input received wirelessly from the user interface.

11. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein the drawer unit is slidable within the drawer housing between the extended position in which at least one of the first and second compartments are located outside of the drawer housing and a fully retracted position in which both the first and second compartments are located within the drawer housing, wherein the electronic controller is configured to cause movement of the cover only when the drawer unit is in the fully retracted position.

12. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein, when the drawer unit is in the retracted position, the electronic controller is communicably coupled to the electronic actuator.

13. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein, when the drawer unit is the extended position, the electronic controller is communicably decoupled from the electronic actuator.

14. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein the flexible cover is a flexible belt extending over the first compartment and over the second compartment between first and second rollers supported by the drawer unit, wherein the flexible cover is moveable in two directions relative to the first and second compartments.

15. A drawer assembly providing selectable access to contents of the drawer assembly, the drawer assembly comprising:

a drawer unit including a first compartment and a second compartment;

a flexible cover covering the drawer unit and including at least one opening extending through the cover;

a first roller supported from a first end of the drawer unit;

a second roller supported from a second end of the drawer unit opposite the first end, wherein the flexible cover is moveably supported above the first compartment and above the second compartment by the first and second rollers; and

an electric actuator coupled to at least one of the first and second rollers, wherein operation of the electric actuator causes rotation of the first and second rollers causing movement of the flexible cover relative to the drawer unit.

16. The drawer assembly of claim 15, wherein the flexible cover is a contiguous cover that extends above both the first and second compartments and that extends below both the first and second compartments.

17. The drawer assembly of claim 15, wherein the electric actuator is supported by the drawer unit.

18. The drawer assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second rollers are rotatable in two directions such that the flexible cover is moveable in two directions relative to the first and second compartments.