Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This Patent Appl ication claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102021000032987 filed on December 29 , 2021 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cabinet , in particular for drug storage .

Background Art

As is known, a drug storage cabinet comprises a fixed structure and at least one storage module , for example a drawer, extractable from the fixed structure and comprising a plurality of compartments for storing drugs . The height of the compartments is normally limited to allow manual removal of the drugs by an operator . I f there are also compartments very high of f the ground so as to maximise the storage capacity, a ladder must be used to manually withdraw the drug from the upper compartments . The use of the ladder entails losses of time and energy, and safety risks . Therefore , there is a need for a cabinet that maximises the storage capacity while easily allowing the manual withdrawal of drugs .

Depositories that allow the withdrawal of articles via automatic handling are also known . The use of automatic handling entails an increase in complexity, maintenance requirements and the possibility o f breakdowns . Furthermore , solutions of this type cannot be used, for example , in the hospital sector, due to costs , complications , and safety standards related to the presence of electromechanical drives . Therefore , there is a need for a cabinet for drug storage that does not use electromechanical drives .

A purpose of the present invention is to manufacture a cabinet which can overcome the above problems .

Disclosure of the Invention

The aforementioned purpose is achieved by a cabinet as claimed in claim 1 .

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described below, by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings , wherein :

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet according to the present invention;

- Figures 2 to 6 are elevated side views of the cabinet of Figure 1 , in di f ferent operating positions ; and

- Figure 7 is an elevated, schematic side view of a cabinet according to a further embodiment of the present invention . Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to Figure 1 , there is indicated by 1 a cabinet according to the present invention .

The cabinet 1 comprises a fixed structure 2 , a first storage module 3 and a second storage module 4 that can be housed within the fixed structure 2 in an overlapping position with each other, and a mechanism 5 configured to constrain the first module 3 and the second module 4 together .

The first module 3 and the second module 4 are extractable from the fixed structure 2 , as described in detail hereinafter, to be arranged in an extracted configuration corresponding to an open configuration of the cabinet 1 , wherein the second module 4 is extracted from the fixed structure 2 and hori zontally interposed between the fixed structure 2 and the first module 3 , and wherein the first module 3 and the second module 4 are laterally accessible .

The fixed structure 2 is substantially shaped as a parallelepiped, and comprises two vertical , front uprights 11 , 12 , two vertical , rear uprights 13 , 14 , and a plurality of hori zontal beams 15 that connect the uprights 11 - 14 together . The fixed structure 2 also comprises side walls 16 and a rear wall 17 carried by the uprights 11- 14 and the beams 15 . The first module 3 comprises a structure substantially shaped as a paral lelepiped and provided below with a pair of carriages 24 movable along linear guides (not illustrated) extending along an extraction direction . The first module 3 is si zed so as to be housed inside the fixed structure 2 in a first position, corresponding to a closed configuration of the cabinet 1 .

The second module 4 comprises a structure substantially shaped as a parallelepiped and movable between the kinematism 5 , as described in detail hereinafter . The second module 4 is si zed to be housed within the f ixed structure 2 in a first position, corresponding to the closed configuration of the cabinet 1 , wherein the second module 4 is above the first module 3 .

The first module 3 and the second module 4 each comprise a plurality of compartments 31 overlapping one another, and a plurality of movable septs 32 for subdividing the compartments 31 into a plural ity of housings 33 for respective drugs . Preferably, each compartment comprises a pair of drawers 34 , 35 that can be extracted, on opposite sides , transversely to the extraction direction of the modules 3 , 4 , and each provided with a plurality of movable septs 32 . In particular, the second module 4 has a smaller number of compartments 31 than the first module 3 , and carries two walls 36 that extend below the last compartment 31 and are arranged parallel to the side walls 16 . The height of the first module 3 is substantially equal to the sum of the heights of the second module 4 and the walls 36 .

When the cabinet 1 is in the closed configuration ( Figure 2 ) , and thus the first module 3 and the second module 4 are in the respective first positions , the walls 36 are interposed between the side walls 16 and an upper portion of the first module 3 .

When the cabinet 1 is in the open configuration ( Figure 6 ) , the first module 3 and the second module 4 are in respective second positions . In particular, the first module

3 is completely extracted from the fixed structure 2 and at the maximum possible distance from it , and the second module

4 is interposed between the fixed structure 2 and the first module 3 .

The cabinet 1 also comprises a front wall 21 , rigidly fixed to the structure of the first module 3 and extending for a height substantially equal to the sum of the heights of the first module 3 and the second module 4 . The front wall 21 is movable between a first position, in the closed configuration of the cabinet 1 , wherein the front wall 21 is in contact with the front uprights 11 , 12 and closes a front opening of the cabinet 1 si zed to allow the release of the second module 4 , and a second position, in the open configuration of the cabinet 1 . The front wall 21 is provided, at the front , with a handle 22 and a pedal 23 configured to allow an operator to handle it .

The kinematism 5 is configured to constrain the first and second modules 3 , 4 to each other such that :

- in response to a hori zontal movement of the first module 3 from the first position thereof to the second position thereof , extracted from the fixed structure 2 , the second module 4 moves from the first position thereof to the second position thereof ; and

- in response to a movement of the first module 3 from the second position thereof to the first position thereof , the second module 4 moves from the second position thereof to the first position thereof .

In particular, the kinematism 5 comprises guiding means 41 configured to guide the second module 4 between the first position thereof and the second position thereof , and coupling means 42 operable by the first module 3 and configured to control the motion of the second module 4 between the first position thereof and the second position thereof .

The guiding means 41 and the coupling means 42 comprise duplicate structures arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical midplane of the cabinet 1 on the two sides of the cabinet 1 itsel f . For the sake of simplicity, these structures are described hereinafter with reference to only one of these sides , i . e . only one structure is described for each pair of these structures . For example , what is described for the rear upright 13 also applies to the other rear upright 14 .

The guiding means 41 comprise a first articulated parallelogram 51 comprising a first rod 52 and a second rod 53 parallel to each other . The first rod 52 and the second rod 53 have respective first ends 54 , 55 hinged to the fixed structure 2 around, respectively, a first hori zontal axis A and a second hori zontal axis B vertically spaced apart , and respective second ends 56 , 57 hinged to the second module 4 .

In particular, the hori zontal axes A, B are orthogonal to the midplane and the first ends 54 , 55 are hinged to the rear upright 13 . The first end 54 of the first rod 52 is higher than the f irst end 55 of the second rod 53 . The second end 56 of the first rod 52 is hinged to the second module 4 near an upper vertex thereof facing towards the front wall 21 , and the second end 57 of the second rod 53 is hinged to the second module 4 near a lower vertex thereof facing towards the front wall 21 . Therefore , when the cabinet 1 is in the closed configuration, and thus the second module 4 is in its first position, the second ends 56 , 57 are near the front wall 21 . Furthermore , when the second module 4 moves from its first position to its second position, each point of the second module 4 describes a circular traj ectory having a radius equal to the length of the first rod 52 ( and thus also of the second rod 53 ) .

The coupling means 42 comprise a second articulated parallelogram 61 configured to support the first articulated parallelogram 51 .

The second articulated parallelogram 61 comprises a third rod 62 and a fourth rod 63 parallel to each other . The third rod 62 and the fourth rod 63 have respective first ends 64 , 65 hinged to the fixed structure 2 around, respectively, a third hori zontal axis C and a fourth hori zontal axis D that are vertically spaced apart , and respective second ends 66 , 67 that are slidable along, respectively, the first rod 52 and the second rod 53 .

In particular, the hori zontal axes C, D are parallel to the rear wall 17 , and the first ends 64 , 65 are hinged to the rear upright 13 . The first end 64 of the third rod 62 is hal fway up with respect to the first ends 54 , 55 of the respective rods 52 , 53 , and the first end 65 of the fourth rod 63 is lower than the first end 55 of the second rod 53 . In other words , the third and fourth axes C, D are arranged below the first axis A and, respectively, the second axis B .

The second ends 66 , 67 of the respective rods 62 , 63 are connected to each other by a vertical rod 68 , and carry respective wheel s 69 to allow them to support , and slide along, respectively the first rod 52 and the second rod 53 .

The coupling means 42 also comprise a lever assembly 71 configured to selectively constrain the first module 3 to the second articulated parallelogram 61 .

The lever assembly 71 comprises a lever 72 having an upper end 73 pivoted to the fixed structure 2 above the first and second axes A, B, and a lower end 74 coupled to the first module 3 via a lost-motion coupling .

In particular, the upper end 73 of the lever 72 is hinged to the rear upright 13 around a fi fth hori zontal axis E orthogonal to the midplane .

The lever 72 comprises a main portion 75 , which is substantially vertical in the closed configuration of the cabinet 1 , an upper portion 76 extending in a substantially hori zontal direction from the main portion 75 to the upper end 73 , and a lower portion 77 extending in a substantially hori zontal direction from the main portion 75 to the lower end 74 . When the cabinet 1 is in the closed configuration, the lower end 74 of the lever 72 is near the connection between the rear upright 13 and the lower beam 15 of the side wall 16 adj acent thereto .

The third rod 62 carries an intermediate element 81 slidably coupled to the lever 72 . In particular, the intermediate element 81 comprises a wheel 82 carried by the third rod 62 and hinged to an intermediate portion thereof , a rod 83 hinged to the wheel 82 and to the third rod 62 in an intermediate position thereof , and two wheels 84 carried by the rod 83 and hinged to respective ends thereof . The wheels 82 , 84 allow the third rod 62 to support , and slide along, the main portion 75 of the lever 72 .

The lost-motion coupling between the lower end 74 of the lever 72 and the first module 3 defines a first constraint condition, wherein the first module 3 is movable with respect to the lower end 74 of the lever 72 , and a second constraint condition, wherein the first module 3 is coupled to the lower end 74 of the lever 72 .

In particular :

- in response to a movement of the first module 3 from the first position thereof to the second position thereof , the lost-motion coupling passes from the first constraint condition to the second constraint condition; and

- in response to a movement of the first module 3 from the second position thereof to the first position thereof , the lost-motion coupling passes from the second constraint condition to the first constraint condition .

The lost-motion coupling is defined by a rod 91 hinged to the lower end 74 of the lever 72 and provided with a groove 92 slidingly engaged by a pin 93 carried by the first module 3 .

The rod 91 extends parallel to the side wall 16 , and comprises a main portion 94 , attached to the lower end 74 of the lever 72 , and an end portion 95 , opposite the lower end 74 of the lever 72 . The main portion 94 has an elongated shape and comprises a first section 96 and a second section 97 forming a V-shaped profile with an obtuse angle therebetween . The end portion 95 extends transversely from the main portion 94 upwards . The rod 91 also comprises a lower proj ection 98 , near the end portion 95 , delimited below by a convex profi le with an inclined side 99 facing towards the lower end 74 of the lever 72 . The proj ection 98 is configured to cooperate with a stop roller 101 hinged to the lower beam 15 of the fixed structure 2 near the front upright 11 , as described in detail hereinafter .

When the cabinet 1 is in the closed configuration, the rod 91 is interposed between the first module 3 and the side wall 16 , the main portion 94 has the first section 96 hori zontal , and the end portion 95 is higher up than the lower end 74 .

The groove 92 has a main portion 102 extending longitudinally with respect to the rod 91 and an end portion 103 opposite the lower end 74 of the lever 72 and extending transversely to the main portion 102 along the end portion 95 of the rod 91 . In particular, the main portion 102 of the groove 92 has a V-shaped profile that follows the V-shaped profile of the main portion 94 of the rod 91 .

The pin 93 is rigidly coupled to the structure of the first module 3 near a lower vertex thereof opposite the front wall 21 , extends transversely to the rod 91 and is configured to slide within the groove 92 . In particular, the pin 93 engages the main portion 102 of the groove 92 in the first constraint condition, and engages the end portion 103 of the groove 92 in the second constraint condition .

The cabinet 1 also comprises a spring 111 , preferably a gas spring, and a braking element 112 , preferably a hydraulic decelerator, each operationally interposed between the fixed structure 2 and the kinematism 5 .

The spring 111 and the braking element 112 have respective first ends 113 , 114 hinged to the fixed structure 2 and respective second ends 115, 116 hinged to one of the third 62 and the fourth rod 63 . In particular, the spring 111 has the first end 113 hinged to the intermediate beam 15 and the second end 114 hinged to an intermediate portion of the fourth rod 63 and the braking element 112 has the first end 114 hinged to the intermediate beam 15 and the second end 116 hinged to an intermediate portion of the fourth rod 63 .

The cabinet 1 al so comprises an optical reader 121 for capturing drug identi fication codes , and an LED strip 122 for each drawer 34, 35.

The optical reader 121 and the LED strip 122 are connectable to a control unit (not illustrated) , for example a PC or a dedicated "totem", configured to receive signals from the optical reader 121 and selectively activate a portion of LED strip 122 associated to a housing 33. In particular, each LED strip 122 is fixed to the respective drawer 34, 35 transversely to the housings 33.

The optical reader 121 is conveniently fixed to the first module 3 so as to exit with it, when extracted.

If the cabinet 1 has two faces, i.e. drugs can be withdrawn from both sides of the modules 3, 4, there may be two optical readers 121, one for each side.

Conveniently, the control unit is provided with a memory unit containing a table that associates each drug with the housing 33 in which it is arranged and the quantity available .

Finally, the cabinet 1 is preferably provided with an electric lock (not illustrated) , which is also connected to the control unit. The lock is normally kept closed and is opened using a withdrawal control, for example by typing a drug identification code (e.g. the name or a code) into the control unit.

The module 1 described may be used individually or constitute a module of a depository consisting of several cabinets placed side by side . In such a case , each module is preferably provided with an indicator light which is connected to the control unit and can be activated to identi fy the cabinet from which to withdraw the drugs .

The operation of the cabinet 1 is described starting from the closed configuration of the cabinet 1 ( Figure 2 ) , wherein the first module 3 and the second module 4 are in their respective first positions .

Following a withdrawal command, the control unit activates the light to identi fy the cabinet from which to withdraw the drugs , unlocks the related electric lock, and lights the portion of LED strip 122 associated with the housing 33 that contains the drug .

In order to open the cabinet 1 , the operator pulls the handle 22 to extract the first module 3 . Initially, the lost- motion coupling is in the first constraint condition, i . e . the first module 3 is movable in relation to the lower end 74 of the lever 72 . In particular, the pin 93 slides along the main portion 102 of the groove 92 of the rod 91 . As long as the lost-motion coupling is in the first constraint condition, the second module 4 remains in its first position .

During the last part of the extraction of the first module 3 , the pin 93 engages the main portion 102 of the groove 92 corresponding to the second section 97 of the main portion 94 of the rod 91 causing the rod 91 to rotate downwards, since the height of the pin 93 is constant while the second section 97 of the main portion 94 of the rod 91 is tilted.

When (Figure 3) the pin 93 reaches the end portion 103 of the groove 92, the lost-motion coupling passes from the first constraint condition to the second constraint condition, i.e. the first module 3 is coupled to the lower end 74 of the lever 72 via the rod 91. Therefore, a further extraction of the first module 3 determines a movement of the second module 4 via the kinematism 5.

In this position, the projection 98 of the rod 91 comes into contact with the roller 101. Continuing to pull the handle 22, the roller 101 cooperates with the tilted side 99 of the projection 98, allowing a further downward rotation of the rod 91 during which the pin 93 engages the end portion 103 of the groove 92, locking itself in it and preventing further downward rotation of the rod 91 (Figure 4) . In this condition, the rod 91 is constrained, in two directions, to the first module 3 in the horizontal direction.

Continuing to pull the handle 22 (Figure 4) , the lever 72 is brought into rotation about the axis E anticlockwise (with reference to the figures) by the rod 91. The rotation of the lever 72 guides the movement of the second module 4 from its first position to its second position.

In particular, the weight of the second module 4 exerts on the first rod 52 and on the second rod 53 of the first articulated paral lelogram 51 a downward force , which in the first direction of the second module 4 is balanced by the reaction exerted by the third rod 62 and by the fourth rod 63 of the second articulated parallelogram 61 , in turn locked by the constraint exerted by the lever 72 on the intermediate element 81 . By rotating the lever 72 , the intermediate element 81 slides on the main portion 75 of the lever 72 , allowing the downward rotation o f the third rod 62 and of the fourth rod 63 of the second articulated parallelogram 61 . The movement of the second articulated parallelogram 61 is countered by the spring 111 , which balances at least in part the weight of the second module 4 , and by the braking element 112 , which slows down the descent of the second module 4 . The movement of the second articulated parallelogram 61 entails , in turn, the movement of the first articulated parallelogram 51 ( Figure 5 ) , in particular the downward rotation ( clockwise , with reference to the figures ) of the first rod 52 and the second rod 53 . Therefore , the second module 4 moves from its first position to its second position .

When ( Figure 6 ) the second module 4 reaches its second position, the first module 3 also reaches its second position, since it is completely extracted from the fixed structure 2 and at the maximum possible distance from it , and the cabinet 1 reaches the open configuration .

The operator can thus withdraw the drug .

Conveniently, the withdrawal of a drug is recorded by detecting the code of the drug withdrawn via the optical reader 121 . When the corresponding signal reaches the control unit , the quantity of the drug is decreased by one unit .

Optionally, the control unit can activate LEDs of di f ferent colours , for example green i f the number of drugs present in the respective housing 33 is above a predetermined threshold and red otherwise . In this way, when the quantity of a drug present in the cabinet 1 goes below the threshold level , the operator is alerted to the need to resupply the cabinet 1 .

In order to close the cabinet 1 in the open configuration, the operator pushes the handle 22 and/or the pedal 23 to make the first module 3 go back in .

Since the pin 93 is locked in the end portion 103 of the groove 92 , the movement of the first module 3 involves rotation about the axis E in a clockwise direction (with reference to the figures ) of the lever 72 via the rod 91 .

The movement of the lever 72 entails the movement of the second articulated parallelogram 61 , which slides on the main portion 75 o f the lever 72 via the intermediate element 81 , rotating the third rod 62 and the fourth rod 63 upwards . The movement of the second articulated parallelogram 61 , assisted by the spring 111 , entail s in turn the movement of the first articulated parallelogram 51 , in particular the rotation of the first rod 52 and of the second rod 53 upwards . Therefore , the second module 4 moves from its second position to its first position .

Continuing to push the handle 22 and/or the pedal 23 , the lost-motion coupling passes from the second constraint condition to the first constraint condition, i . e . the first module 3 is movable with respect to the lower end 74 of the lever 72 .

In particular, this occurs because the proj ection 98 of the end portion 95 of the rod 91 comes into contact with the roller 101 causing the upward rotation of the rod 91 and unlocking the pin 93 from the end portion 103 of the groove 92 .

Since the lost-motion coupling is in the first constraint condition, the first module 3 can continue the stroke towards its first position while the second module 4 remains in its first position .

When the first module 3 reaches its first position, the cabinet 1 reaches the closed configuration .

According to a further embodiment ( Figure 7 ) , the handle 22 is elastically coupled to the first module 3 and the cabinet 1 comprises an electrical servoing device 201 controlled by a manual operation o f the handle 22 . It is to be noted that the servoing device 201 cannot be considered an automatic handling, since it only intervenes i f manual driving occurs . In other words , the servoing device 201 acts in addition to , and not in replacement of , a manual operation .

Preferably, the cabinet 1 comprises a sensor 211 configured to detect a force exerted on the handle 22 and to produce a signal indicative thereo f , and a control unit 212 comprising processing means configured to receive and process such signal . The control unit 212 may be the control unit described above or a speci fic control unit for the servoing device 201 .

The servoing device 201 comprises an electrical motor 221 operatively connected to the second module 4 , and the control unit 212 is configured to control the electrical motor 221 on the basis of the signal received by the sensor 211 .

In particular, the servoing device 201 comprises a cable mechanism 222 configured to operationally connect the electrical motor 221 to the second module 4 and comprising a first cable 231 , configured to pull the second module 4 upwards , and a second cable , configured to pull the second module 4 downwards .

For this purpose , the first cable 231 connects the electrical motor 221 , in particular a first drum 241 brought into rotation by the electrical motor 221 , to a bracket 242 j oining the pair of rods 52 , via an idler 243 carried by a bracket 244 j oining respective upper portions of the rear uprights 13 , 14 . The second cable 232 connects the electrical motor 221 , in particular a second drum 251 rotatable together with the first drum 241 and having a greater diameter than it , to a lower portion 252 of the second module 4 facing towards the rear uprights 13 , 14 , via a pair of idlers 253 carried by a bracket 254 j oining respective lower portions of the rear uprights 13 , 14 . The idlers 253 are arranged hori zontally towards the first module 3 .

The first cable 231 and the second cable 232 are wound on respective drums 241 , 251 in opposite directions ( respectively anticlockwise and clockwise , with reference to Figure 7 ) .

The electrical motor 221 , with a horizontal axis , is carried by a bracket 261 j oining respective intermediate portions of the rear uprights 13 , 14 .

The sensor 211 , for example a proximity sensor and preferably an ultrasonic sensor , is associated to the handle 22 and is configured to detect whether the handle 22 is moving away from the front wall 21 and thus the operator is pulling the handle 22 , and whether the handle 22 is moving closer to the front wall 21 and thus the operator is pushing the handle 22 . The operation of the cabinet 1 is similar to that described above , with the addition that the servoing device 201 intervenes when the operator pulls the handle 22 to extract the second module 4 and when the operator pushes the handle 22 to make the second module 4 go back in, in both cases reducing the manual ef fort required from the operator .

In particular, i f the operator pulls the handle 22 to extract the second module 4 , in addition to the first module 3 , the control unit 212 controls the electrical motor 221 so that the drums 241 , 251 rotate in the same direction in which the second cable 232 is wound on the second drum 251 ( clockwise , with reference to Figure 7 ) . Therefore , the second cable 232 pulls the second module 4 downwards .

Vice versa, i f the operator pushes the handle 22 to make the second module 4 go back in, in addition to the first module 3 , the control unit 212 controls the electrical motor 221 so that the drums 241 , 251 rotate in the same direction in which the first cable 231 is wound on the first drum 241 ( anticlockwise , with reference to Figure 7 ) . Therefore , the first cable 231 pulls the second module 4 upwards .

Upon examination of the characteristics of the cabinet 1 , the advantages of the present invention are clear .

In particular, the cabinet 1 maximises the storage capacity while easily allowing the manual withdrawal of drugs , without using electromechanical drives . Furthermore, the cabinet 1 has a simple, reliable, and inexpensive structure. The kinematism 5, which can be produced relatively economically, is entirely contained inside the cabinet 1, thus minimising the additional bulk compared to the storage volume of the cabinet 1.

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the cabinet 1 without going beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims.

For example, the guiding means 41 may be linear guides.