Patent Publication Number: US-7909418-B2

Title: Dispensing system for tools

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to dispensing systems, and particularly to controlled access dispensing systems storing tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Such storage and dispensing systems are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,366, which discloses a pharmaceutical dispensing device for providing access to items to be dispensed and for maintaining an inventory of the items. A dispensing unit is provided having an enclosure with an interior and with a plurality of storage locations distributed over a surface of the enclosure. Sensors associated with at least some of the individual storage locations are provided. The unit further includes a multiplicity of receptacles disposed within at least some of the storage locations. Sensors associated with at least some of the individual receptacles are provided. A processor is disposed on the enclosure and connected to receive signals from the storage location-associated sensors and the receptacle-associated sensors to track item replenishment or removal from the receptacles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,507 discloses a dispensing machine having various items to be dispensed arranged in a selected pattern. The system responds to a request for an item by verifying the authority of the user and dispensing the requested item. Pneumatic matrix switching is provided to control the selection and dispensing of the items. The pneumatic matrix has a plurality of fluid cylinders, each cylinder arranged to provide a dispensing stroke, is assigned a selected column address and a row address, and is maintained under an initial fluid pressure. The pneumatic matrix further has first actuator means, second actuator means, and means to selectively activate one each of said first and second actuator means. The first actuator means comprises a fluid valve for each column address connected in common fluid communication to each fluid cylinder having the same column address and operative to condition each cylinder at said column address for actuation. The second actuator means comprises a fluid valve for each row address connected in common fluid communication to each fluid cylinder having the same row address operative to condition each cylinder at said row address for actuation. The means to selectively activate one each of said first and second actuator means conditions the cylinders having one column address and one row address for actuating and activates the cylinder having said one column and said one row address to provide a dispensing stroke. The invention facilitates operating a pneumatic matrix of M columns by N rows having M×N cylinders using M+N actuators. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispensing system. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is preferably provided a dispensing system having at least one drawer comprising a plurality of bins each occupying at least one cell of a drawer cell array having an integer number M cell columns and an integer number N cell rows. The bins are provided with lockable lids and are selectively transferable between bin released and bin locked positions by actuators, wherein the number of actuators for the at least one drawer is not greater than M per drawer. 
     Preferably, the at least one drawer comprises at most N compartments defined each between adjacent drawer dividers extending transversely to a sliding direction of the drawer. 
     Further preferably, each drawer divider comprises a plurality of bin partition slots arrayed equidistantly therealong defining M equally-sized divider segments thereon, each divider segment comprising spaced-apart lid hinge apertures and a locking slot located therebetween. 
     Generally, each drawer divider accommodates a locking bar transferable between bar locking and bar releasing positions and comprising M locking latches extending therefrom and arrayed equidistantly therealong. Each locking latch comprises a bolt portion extending parallel to the locking bar. When the locking bar is in the bar locking position, each bolt portion extends across the locking slot associated therewith, and when the locking bar is in the bar releasing position, each bolt portion is withdrawn from the associated locking slot. 
     If desired, each lid is transferable from a lid closed position, in which the lid covers the bin, to a lid open position, in which the lid is lifted from the bin to allow access thereto. 
     If further desired, each lid is provided with at least one catch comprising a strike having a strike aperture formed therein, the strike extending forwardly through a strike slot formed at a catch front portion. 
     Typically, the catch can be transferred relative to the lid from a catch closed position to a catch open position, so that in the catch closed position, a catch top face is generally parallel to a lid top face and the catch front portion extends below a lid bottom face. In the catch open position, the catch front portion is raised above the lid top face. 
     Preferably, the catch is biased towards the catch open position. 
     Further preferably, in the bin locked position, the lid is in a lid closed position, the catch is in the catch closed position, the strike is located in the locking slot of the divider segment adjacent thereto, and the bolt portion of the locking latch associated with the locking slot extends through the strike aperture. 
     Yet further preferably, when the bin is in the bin released position, the bolt portion is withdrawn from the strike aperture and the catch is transferred to the catch open position by the biasing force of the catch biasing spring. 
     Generally, the drawer is slidable relative to an associated drawer support fixed to a cabinet, the drawer support comprising a securing beam having a single row of M equally-spaced actuators extending transversely to the sliding direction, each actuator being transferable between actuator securing and actuator releasing positions. 
     If desired, each actuator is associated with a lid securing lever transferable between lever lowered and lever raised positions. 
     If further desired, when the lid securing lever is in the lever lowered position, and the actuator is in the actuator securing position, the lid securing lever is prevented from transferring to the lever raised position. 
     If yet further desired, when the lid securing lever is in the lever lowered position, and the actuator is in the actuator securing position, the lid securing lever urges lids and catches sliding adjacent thereto to the lid closed and catch closed positions. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is preferably provided a method for selectively transferring a given bin between bin locked and bin released position, the bin occupying at least one cell in a drawer cell array of M cell columns and N cell rows defined in a slidable drawer. The method comprises:
         a. providing at least one non-sliding actuator ( 138 ) associated with the at least one cell column ( 96 );   b. sliding the drawer ( 34 ) from a fully pushed-in towards a fully pulled-out position; and   c. selectively transferring the at least one non-sliding actuator ( 138 ) from an actuator securing position to an actuator releasing position as the given bin ( 40 ) slides adjacent thereto, thereby facilitating selective transferring of the given bin from the bin locked to the bin released position.       

     If desired, the given bin is defined between two adjacent drawer dividers extending transversely to a sliding direction of the slidable drawer, at least one drawer divider comprising a locking bar slidable therein between bar locking and bar releasing positions, the locking bar comprising at least one locking latch having a bolt portion extending parallel thereto, the drawer divider having at least one locking slot associated with the given bin, and the lid comprising at least one strike having a strike aperture formed therein. 
     The method may then further comprise:
         d. initially positioning the lid in a lid closed position and the locking bar in the bar closed position, with the strike extending into the associated locking slot and the bolt portion extending through the strike aperture, thereby positioning the bin in the bin locked position; and   e. transferring the locking bar to the bar releasing position as the drawer slides the given bin slides adjacent to the at least one actuator, thereby withdrawing the bolt portion from the strike aperture and releasing the bin to be selectively transferable to the bin released position.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried out in practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispensing system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a drawer and an associated drawer support of the dispensing system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the drawer shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top rear perspective view of a drawer divider of the drawer shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the drawer divider shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is detail view of the drawer divider shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a locking bar of the drawer divider shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a detail view of the locking bar shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic top view of a cell array of the drawer shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the drawer shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a detail perspective view of a bin of the drawer shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a detail top rear perspective view of a securing cross-beam of the drawer support shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom front perspective view of the securing cross-beam shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic cross section of the drawer and drawer support showing a lid securing lever in a lever lowered position, taken along the plane XIV-XIV in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 15  is schematic cross section of the drawer and drawer support showing a lid securing lever in a lever raised position, taken along the plane XIV-XIV in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Attention is drawn to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A dispensing system  30  has a cabinet  32  accommodating a plurality of drawers  34 . Each drawer  34  slides in and out of the cabinet  32  along a rear-to-front sliding direction S, through a cabinet opening  36  formed at a cabinet front face  38 . The drawer  34  is continuously positionable between fully pushed-in and fully pulled-out positions. It should be noted that directional terms appearing throughout the specification and claims, e.g. “front”, “rear”, etc., (and derivatives thereof) are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. The drawer  34  stores items in a plurality of bins  40  provided with lockable and selectively-releasable lids  42 . The lids  42  are controlled by an access-control system (not shown). The access-control system may have, for example, a combined display and input device, e.g., a touch screen  44 , through which users may issue dispensing or restocking requests, and a user identification means (not shown) such as card readers or biometric means, so that the system may identify the user and determine whether the user is authorized to withdraw or replenish a specific item. However, the access-control system does not constitute the subject matter of the present invention, and therefore it will not be described further herein. Each drawer  34  is associated with a drawer support  46  secured to the cabinet  32  and having drawer guide wheels  48  on which the drawer  34  slides in and out of the cabinet  32 . When the drawer  34  is in the fully pushed-in position, a drawer front panel  50  is flush with the cabinet front face  38 . 
     As is best shown in  FIG. 3 , the drawer  34  has a drawer tub  52  in which the bins  34  are located. The drawer tub  52  is supported by drawer right and left side-rails  54   R ,  54   L  mounted to right and left tub sidewalls  55   R ,  55   L , respectively. The drawer right and left side-rails  54   R ,  54   L  are connected to the drawer front panel  50  and extend rearwardly therefrom. The terms “left” and “right” are defined from a point of view of the user standing in front of the cabinet  32  and facing the cabinet front face  38 . Each of the right and left side-rails  54   R ,  54   L  is provided with a slide  56  to support the drawer  34  on the guide wheels  48  of the drawer support  46 . Each of the right and left tub sidewalls  55   R ,  55   L  has (N+1) of divider slots  59  formed therein and spaced equidistantly therealong. 
     Attention is additionally drawn to  FIGS. 4 to 10 . A row of bins  40  defines a compartment  58  (see  FIG. 10 ). Each compartment is bounded by a pair of adjacent drawer dividers  60 . Each drawer divider  60  is of a generally elongated rectangular shape, extending perpendicularly to the sliding direction S between two opposing divider slots  59  disposed in the right and left tub sidewalls  55   R ,  55   L . Each drawer divider  60  accommodates an elongated, flat locking bar  62  having an integrally formed releasing rod  64  extending rightwardly thereof. M locking latches  66  extend upwardly from the locking bar  62  and are spaced equidistantly therealong. Each locking latch  66  is of an L-shape, and has a bolt portion  68  extending parallel to the locking bar  62 . A bar mounting slot  70  is formed in the locking bar  62 . The bar mounting slot  70  accommodates a locking spring  72  confined between a divider bolt  74  and a mounting slot right end  76 . The divider bolt  70  extends through the bar mounting slot  70  and is affixed to the drawer divider  60 . The locking spring  72  biases the locking bar  62  rightwards to a bar locking position. The locking bar  62  may be urged leftwards to a bar releasing position, as will be further discussed below. The releasing rod  64  of the drawer divider  60  protrudes through a tub right side-wall  55   R  to a side-wall outer side  80  of the drawer tub  52 . 
     Each drawer divider  60  has a plurality of bin partition slots  82  spaced equidistantly therealong defining M equally-sized divider segments  84 . Two spaced-apart lid hinge apertures  86  and one locking slot  88  located therebetween are formed in each divider segment  84 . When the locking bar  62  is in the bar locking position, each bolt portion  68  thereof extends across the locking slot  88  associated therewith. When the locking bar  62  is in the bar releasing position, each bolt portion  68  thereof is withdrawn from the locking slot  88 . 
     Referring now particularly to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the divider slots  59  and the bin partition slots  82  define a drawer cell array  90  having a plurality of identical cells  92 . The cells  92  of the cell array  90  are arranged in N cell rows  94  and M cell columns  96 . Each cell row  94  extends transversely to the sliding direction S. Each cell column  96  extends parallel to the sliding direction S. Numerals  1 R,  2 R, and  1 C,  2 C, shown in  FIG. 9 , indicate an ordinal number of row and columns, respectively. 
     Each compartment  58  may extend over one or more cell rows  94 . Each compartment  58  may be divided into individual bins  40  by placing bin partitions  98  in opposing bin partition slots  82  of the two adjacent drawer dividers  60  defining the compartment  58 . All the bins  40  in a given compartment  58  extend over the same number of cell rows  94 ; however different bins  40  of the same compartment  58  may extend over differing numbers of cell columns  96 . 
     As is best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 11 , the lid  42  has opposing lid top and lid bottom faces  100 ,  102 . The lid  42  is hinged by a plurality of lid hinges  104  located adjacent a lid rear end  106  thereof to the drawer divider  60  adjacent the lid rear end  106 . Each lid hinge  104  is located in the corresponding lid hinge aperture  86  of the drawer divider  60  adjacent thereto. The lid  42  can be shifted from a lid closed position to a lid open position. In the lid closed position, the lid  42  covers the bin  40  and prevents access thereto. In the lid open position, the lid  42  is lifted from the bin  40  to allow access thereto and to the items stored therein. 
     Each lid  42  is provided with at least one catch  108  located at a catch aperture  110  formed adjacent and opening to a lid front end  112 . Generally, bins  40  extending over several cell columns  96  may be provided with lids  42  having more than one catch  108 . The catch  108  has a catch lid portion  114  having opposing catch top and bottom faces  116 ,  118 . A catch front portion  120  is integrally-formed with the catch lid portion  114  and extends from the catch bottom face  118  in a direction away from the catch top face  116  perpendicularly thereto. A strike  124  having a strike aperture  126  is fixed to the catch bottom face  118  and extends forwardly from the catch front portion  120  through a strike slot  122  formed therein. The catch  108  is hinged to the lid  42  at a catch rear end  128 , and can be rotated about the catch rear end  128  from a catch open to a catch closed position. In the catch closed position, the catch top face  116  is typically flush with the lid top face  100 , and the catch front portion  120  extends below the lid bottom face  102 . In the catch open position, the catch front portion  120  is raised above the lid top face  100 . The catch  108  is biased towards the catch open position by a catch biasing spring  130 . 
     When the lid  42  is in the lid closed position, the bin  40  may be brought to a bin locked position, by securing the lid in the lid closed position, as will be discussed below, to prevent the lid  42  from being able to be transferred to the lid open position. The bin  40  is brought to the bin locked position by bringing the catch  108  to the catch closed position and placing the strike  124  of the catch  108  in the locking slot  88  of the drawer divider  60  adjacent thereto (see  FIG. 6 ). By shifting the bolt portion  68  adjacent the strike  124  to a position in which it extends through the strike aperture  126 , the catch  108  is locked in position and cannot be raised to the catch open position. Consequently, the lid  42  is also locked and cannot be brought to the lid open position. In order to gain access to the bin  40 , the bin  40  is brought to a bin released position, by withdrawing the bolt portion  68  from the strike aperture  126 . The catch  108  is now free to move to the catch open position under the influence of the biasing force of the catch biasing spring  130 . As soon as the catch  108  is in the catch open position, the lid  42  may be transferred to the lid open position. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  12  and  13 , the drawer support  46  has a securing beam  132  extending between right and left mounting flanges  134   R ,  134   L . The right and left mounting flanges  134   R ,  134   L  are affixed to the cabinet  32  by any suitable means. The right mounting flange  134   R  has a releasing member  136  extending inwardly therefrom. The securing beam  132  has M equally-spaced actuators  138  mounted thereon in a single row extending transversely to the sliding direction S. Preferably, the actuators  138  are of the electromechanical type, e.g., solenoids, and are individually connected to, and controlled by, the access-control system. Each actuator  138  has a stop member  139  in a form of a short rod extending transversely to the sliding direction S from an actuator side surface  139 ′. The stop member  139  is movable from an extended position, in which the actuator  138  is in an actuator securing position, to a retracted position (or a partially extended position), in which the actuator  138  is in an actuator releasing position  138 . Each actuator  138  is associated with a lever through-slot  140  extending through the securing beam  132  and located adjacent the actuator side surface  139 ′. The lever through-slots  140  are elongated in form, each lever through-slot  140  extending parallel to the sliding direction S. Each lever through-slot  140  has a lid securing lever  142  located therein. 
     The lid securing lever  142  is rotatably secured to a plate  143  which is affixed to the securing beam  132 . The lid securing lever  142  may be rotated about an axis of rotation A parallel to the actuator side surface  139 ′ from a lever lowered position to a lever raised position. In the lever lowered position, the actuator  138  may be brought to the actuator securing position, to prevent the lid securing lever  142  from moving to the lever raised position. Bringing the actuator  138  to the actuator releasing position allows the lid securing lever  142  to move to the lever raised position. The lid securing lever  142  is biased towards the lever lowered position by its weight. 
     Attention is now drawn to  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The method of operation of the dispensing system  30  will be discussed below with respect to a given bin  40  occupying a single cell  92 . The given bin&#39;s  40  lid  42  has a single given catch  108 . It will be appreciated that the method of operation applies equally well to bins extending over several cell columns and/or having lids provided with several catches. Initially, the drawer  34  is in the fully pushed-in position with all its bins  40  in the bin locked position. As the drawer  34  is pulled out from the cabinet  32 , the given catch  108  slides forwardly under the corresponding lid securing lever  142 . The locking bar  62  adjacent the given catch  108  passes along, and is engaged by, the releasing member  136 . The releasing member  136  pushes against the releasing rod  64  and shifts the locking bar  62  to the bar releasing position. However, as long as the access-control system determines that the given bin  40  should be kept in the bin locked position, the actuator  138  associated with the lid securing lever  142  remains in the actuator securing position. In this position, the stop member  139  is in the extended position and is located directly above the lid securing lever  142  (see  FIGS. 12 ,  14 ), thereby preventing upward movement of the lid securing lever  142 . Thus, the lid securing lever  142  is forced to remain in the lever lowered position. When in the lever lowered position, the lid securing lever  142  abuts the catch top face  116 , thereby preventing the given catch  108  from moving from the catch closed position. As the drawer  34  is drawn further forwardly, the releasing rod  64  clears the releasing member  136 , the biased locking bar  62  returns to the bar locking position, and the given catch  108  is again secured in the catch closed position, thereby securing the lid  42  in the lid closed position and the bin  40  in the bin locked position. 
     If, however, the access-control system determines that the given bin  40  is to be opened it transfers the actuator  138  associated with the lid securing lever  142  to the actuator releasing position, as the given catch  108  slides forwardly under the associated lid securing lever  142 . With the actuator  138  in the actuator releasing position, the stop member  139  is in the retracted position, so that it is no longer located directly above the lid securing lever  142 . Consequently, upward movement of the lid securing lever is no longer prevented. When the locking bar  62  is shifted to the bar releasing position, as it engages the releasing member  136 , the catch  108  is released and urged by the catch biasing spring  130  to the catch open position. As the given catch  108  is urged to the catch open position, it urges the lid securing lever  142  to the lever raised position, against the biasing weight thereof (see  FIG. 15 ), as the upward movement of the lid securing lever  142  is no longer inhibited when the actuator  138  is in the actuator releasing position, with the stop member  139  being in the retracted position. 
     As the drawer is pulled further forwardly to the fully-opened position the releasing rod  64  clears the releasing member  136  and the biased locking bar  62  returns to the bar locking position. However, since the given catch  108  is in the catch open position, and is raised (see  FIG. 15 ), its strike  124  is above the drawer divider  60  adjacent thereto and the bolt portion  68  of the locking bar  62  associated therewith. Therefore, as the biased locking bar  62  returns to the bar locking position, the bolt portion  68  does not pass through the strike aperture  126 , but instead passes below the strike  124 . When the now-released catch  108  clears the associated lid securing lever  142 , the lid securing lever  142  returns to the lever lowered position by own biasing weight, allowing the control system to return the actuator  138  to the actuator securing position by extending the stop member  139  to the extended position. The catch  108  remains in the catch open position, with its strike above the associated bolt portion  68 , indicating that the given bin  40  is released and the lid  42  thereof may be opened to gain access to the items stored in the given bin  40 . 
     When the given drawer  34  is urged rearwardly into the cabinet  32  to the drawer pushed-in position, the given bin  40  passes under the securing beam  132 . The lid securing lever  142  associated with the given bin  40 , and now locked by the actuator  138  in the lever lowered position, urges the given lid  42  and catch  108  to the lid and catch closed positions, respectively. As the releasing rod  64  engages the releasing member  136 , the locking bar  62  is urged to the bar releasing position against the biasing force of the locking spring  72 , causing the bolt portion  68  to withdraw from the locking slot  88 . Consequently, the strike  124  of the given catch  108  can enter its locking slot  88 . Further rearwards movement of the given drawer  34  causes the releasing rod  64  to clear the releasing member  136 . The biased locking bar  62  then returns to the bar locking position while the lid securing lever  142  keeps the given catch  108  in the catch closed position. The bolt portion  68  can then pass through the strike aperture  126 , thereby securing the bin  40  in the bin locked position. The present invention, therefore, facilitates independent and individual locking and releasing of a plurality of bins  40  of a given drawer  34  configured in an N×M cell array by employing only M individually-controlled actuators. Thus, and as can be seen from  FIGS. 2 ,  10  and  12 , the same actuator controls all catches  108  associated with a given column, and thereby controls a plurality of lockable lids  42  associated with different cell rows and belonging to different bins  40 . 
     It can be seen that a device as disclosed herein potentially provides a number of advantages 
     First, it may facilitate secured storage of items while providing controlled access thereto and dispensing thereof. 
     Second, it may provide modular, easily configurable storage for a plurality of diverse items, while significantly reducing the required number of actuators needed to operate the dispensing system, by reducing electromechanical actuators count to M, for a given drawer having a cell array of M columns by N rows, as compared with M×N or, at least, M+N actuators required by prior-art devices, thereby contributing to reduced costs and increased reliability of the dispensing system. 
     Also, positioning the electromechanical actuators in fixed positions in the cabinet, eliminates electrical connections between stationary and movable assemblies of the dispensing system, which may further contribute to increased reliability of the dispensing system and therefor in better availability of the items stored therein. 
     Although the present invention has been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that alterations and modifications to the present invention may possibly be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.