Patent ID: 8103379
Filing Date: 2012-01-24
Classification: A47B,G06F,G07F

Abstract:
1. A drawer assembly having at least one drawer with selectable access, the drawer assembly comprising: at least one drawer housing; a belt having a first opening; a drawer unit which is slidable within the drawer housing, the drawer unit including walls defining an interior, wherein the belt is moveable relative to the drawer unit such that the belt provides a closure for the drawer unit, and the first opening provides access to a portion of the drawer interior; an electric actuator coupled to the belt; 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; wherein the drawer unit further includes a roller supported at each end thereof, and the belt is moveably supported relative to the drawer unit by at least the rollers; wherein the interior of the drawer is divided into a plurality of separate compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to store corresponding articles such as individual medications, unit of use medications or other items for medical use; wherein the actuator is an electric motor coupled to one of the rollers to selectively move the first opening relative to the compartments in response to the controller; wherein an interlock is coupled to the controller to prevent operation of the electric motor when a substantial portion of the drawer unit is not located within the drawer housing; wherein the belt includes a second opening larger than the first opening, the compartments having sizes which correspond to the sizes of the first and second openings, and the controller is configured to actuate the electric motor to align the first and second openings with the compartments to permit selected access to the compartments.