Patent ID: 7809470
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: G08B,G16H

Abstract:
1. A controlled supply cabinet arrangement in which supply items are stored in respective drawers from which said items can later be removed by a user without removing the respective drawer from the supply cabinet, comprising at least one rack of drawers, said drawers being disposed in respective spaces that are arrayed vertically in said rack; said drawers being slidable horizontally out of and into the respective spaces, and each of said drawers having a drawer pull thereon, each of said drawers containing at least one of said supply items; a secure locking enclosure in which said rack of drawers is disposed, and having an interior defining a vertical shaftway adjacent said rack of drawers; the enclosure having a front wall with an access door therein, the access door being situated adjacent said shaftway and alongside said at least one rack; wherein each of said at least one rack of drawers is configured as a cart having wheels permitting the rack to be moved by rolling it horizontally into and out of said secure locking enclosure; and wherein said enclosure includes a locking door that permits the cart to be rolled horizontally into place therein; a transport mechanism movable vertically in said shaftway for fetching a selected one of said drawers, bringing the drawer to the access door where the user can remove one or more of said supply items from said drawer, and thereafter returning the drawer to its respective space in the rack; the transport mechanism including a processor storing the identity of the contents of each said drawer and the location of the respective space for each said drawer, including control means for automatically directing the transport mechanism to the selected drawer, and causing the transport mechanism to bring the drawer from its respective space in the rack, present the selected drawer at said access door, and thereafter return the drawer to its space in the rack.