A STORAGE DEVICE FOR STORING E.G. MEDICINES

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage device for storing e.g. medicines, said device being provided with closing means for preventing access to same. According to the invention the closing means are coupled to an input device into which an individual user code is to be input and/or read in before the storage device can be opened, which device is further provided with registration means with the aid of which at least the individual user code is registered.

Description: A STORAGE DEVICE FOR STORING E.G. MEDICINES The invention relates to a storage device for storing e.g. medicines, said device being provided with closing means for preventing access to same. Such a storage device is known. The known storage device is provided with a lock that can be opened by anyone who is in possession of the appropriate key. The known storage device has the disadvantage that it is impossible to check who had access to the storage device at what, moment . The invention aims at providing a storage device in whichi the above-mentioned disadvantage does not occur or is at least minimized. In accordance with the invention this is achieved in thatt the closing means are coupled to an input device into which am individual user code is to be input and/or read in before thee storage device can be opened, which device is further providedl with registration means with the aid of which at least the individual user code is registered. Thus it is possible, on the basis of the individual user code that has been input or read in, to check who has had access to the storage device. According to an inventive feature, the registration means record the point of time at which the storage device is opened. In this manner it is possible to check who opened the storage device at what point of time. According to an inventive feature, the input device comprises a keyboard. With the aid of the keyboard the individual user code can be input. According to again another inventive feature, the input device is connected to a computer comprising the management system. By means of the management system it is possible to check, on the basis of the access codes keyed in, what persons had access to the storage device at what time. For the purpose of keeping the contents of the storage device in a cooled condition, according to an inventive feature the storage device is provided with cooling means. Especially when the storage device is constituted by a device in which means for a cattle farm can be kept, it is advantageous according to the invention that the cooling means are connected to the cooler of a milk tank. This renders an extra cooler for the storage device superfluous. In order to store the means in the storage device in a very hygienic manner, according to> another inventive feature, said device is provided with ex cleaning device comprising a cleaning program with the aid of: which the storage space is cleaned periodically. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the≥ storage device is provided with means with the aid of which att least part of the contents of the storage space can be weighesd and, if desired, be represented on a display. With the aid cof the weighing means it is possible to ascertain at any mome t what quantity of a specific means is still present in t ie storage device. With the aid of the weighing means it is furthe?r possible to weigh out a specific quantity of the means. According to another inventive feature, the storage devicte comprises a printer by means of which the data collected by the management program can be printed. The invention also relates to a method of preventing that data relating to the administration of means, such as e.g. medicines, to human beings and/or animals get lost, in which method said means are stored in a storage device and can be taken therefrom after an individual user code has been input and/or read in into an input device, which individual user code is subsequently registered with the aid of registration means. According to an inventive feature, with the aid of the registration means there is recorded what person or what animal is treated with a specific means. Thus it is possible to produce a treatment card for that person or animal. According to a further inventive feature, the registration means record the point of time at which the means is taken from the storage space. According to again another inventive feature, the registration means also record the quantity of the means to be administered. In accordance with again another aspect of the invention, the registration means are coupled to dosing means for dosing a specific means, while, after the quantity to be dosed has been input, the correct quantity can automatically be taken from the storage space . According to a further inventive feature, the registration means are coupled to signalling means which supply a signal as soon as the registration means have ascertained that the stock of a specific means has come below a previously adjusted quantity.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A storage device for storing e.g. medicines, said device being provided with closing means for preventing access to same, characterized in that the closing means are coupled to an input device into which an individual user code is to be input and/or read in before the storage device can be opened, which device is further provided with registration means with the aid of which at least the individual user code is registered. 2. A storage device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the registration means record the point of time at which the storage device is opened. 3. A storage device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the input device comprises a keyboard. 4. A storage device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the input device is connected to a computer comprising a management system. 5. A storage device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the storage device is provided with cooling means with the aid of which the contents of the storage device can be cooled. 6. A storage device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the cooling means are connected to the cooler of a milk tank. 7. A storage device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage device is provided with a cleaning device with the aid of which the storage space can be cleaned. 8. A storage device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the cleaning device comprises a cleaning program with the aid of which the storage space is cleaned periodically. 9. A storage device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage device is provided with weighing means with the aid of which at least part of the contents of the storage space can be weighed and, if desired, be represented on a display. 10. A storage device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage device comprises a printer by means of which the data collected by the management program can be printed. 11. A method of preventing that data relating to the administration of means, such as e.g. medicines, to human beings and/or animals get lost, in which method these means are stored in a storage device and can be taken therefrom after an individual user code has been input and/or read in into an input device, which individual user code is subsequently registered with the aid of registration means. 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that with the aid of the registration means there is recorded what person or what animal is treated with a specific means . 13. A method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the registration means record the point of time at which the means is taken from the storage space. 14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the registration means record the quantity of the means to be administered. 15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the registration means are coupled to dosing means for dosing a specific means and that, after the quantity to be dosed has been input, the correct quantity can automatically be taken from the storage device. 16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the registration means are coupled to signalling means which supply a signal as soon as the registration means have ascertained that the stock of a specific means has come below a previously adjusted quantity. 17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that, after there has been recorded with the aid of the registration means what animal has been treated with a specific means, via signalling means there is supplied a signal to an implement for treating an animal, such as e.g. a milking robot or an automatic milking machine, whereupon the relevant implement for treating an animal recognizes the treatment to which the animal has been submitted and, on the basis thereof, performs a procedure in which said treatment is taken into account. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the procedure comprises the separation of the milk obtained, possibly per udder quarter. 19. A method as claimed in claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the procedure comprises the separation of the animal . 20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the procedure comprises cleaning and/or additional cleaning of parts of the animal, such as e.g. the animal's teats, and/or cleaning and/or additional cleaning of a milking implement with the aid of which the animal has been milked. 21. An implement for automatically milking animals, such as e.g. cows, comprising a milking robot for automatically connecting teat cups to the animal to be milked, as well as a storage device connected to said implement, as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, which implement is adapted for applying the method as described in any one of claims 11 to 20.

Inventors: VAN DEN BERG KAREL, VAN DEN BERG, KAREL
Applicants: BERG KAREL VAN DEN, MAASLAND NV, MAASLAND N.V., VAN DEN BERG, KAREL
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G07F7
IPC codes: A61J1, A61J3, A61J7, G07C11