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US 12,543,852 B2Granted
Secure receptacle with container carousel
AssigneeCareFusion 303, Inc.
InventorsMichael K. Rahilly, Edward Stephen Ferner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A secure receptacle includes within it a vertically-aligned carousel having a plurality of securable containers horizontally disposed around the carousel. Each container includes a securable lid preventing access to the contents of the container, and the vertically-aligned carousel is configured to lock in a secured position. A sensor within the secure receptacle determines a position of the carousel, and a motorized controller rotates the carousel to a requested position. On determining a requested container, the carousel is rotated so that the requested container is moved from a current position to the opening of the secure receptacle, and the securable lid of the requested container is actuated to provide access to its contents.
Claims20
A secure receptacle, comprising:
- a body forming a compartment therein and comprising an opening to the compartment;
- a docking interface comprising one or more electrical connectors disposed on an outer portion of the body for docking the secure receptacle with a docking station and communicating with a processor of the docking station;
- a vertically-aligned carousel disposed within the compartment and comprising a plurality of securable containers formed within a single structure and horizontally disposed around a rotational axis of the vertically-aligned carousel in the single structure such that respective floors of each of the plurality of securable containers form a polygon that rotates around the rotational axis, each securable container comprising a securable lid preventing access to the secure container when the securable lid is in a closed position, wherein the vertically-aligned carousel is configured to lock in a secured position in which each securable lid of each of the plurality of secure containers in the closed position;
- a sensor for determining a position of the vertically-aligned carousel and identifying which of the plurality of securable containers is positioned at the opening of the compartment;
- a motorized controller configured to rotate the vertically-aligned carousel based on one or more commands received via the docking interface from the processor of the docking station,
- wherein the secure receptacle is configured to receive the one or more commands from the docking interface and, in response to the one or more commands, determine based on the one or more commands a requested container of the plurality of securable containers, obtain a current position of the requested container using the sensor, and rotate the vertically-aligned carousel so that the requested container is moved from the current position to the opening of the compartment, and actuate the securable lid of the requested container to provide access to an interior of the requested container through the opening of the compartment.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving an access request to access a secure receptacle and an identity of a user, the secure receptacle being docked with a docking station and comprising a vertically-aligned carousel disposed within a compartment of the secure receptacle, the vertically-aligned carousel comprising a plurality of securable containers formed within a single structure and horizontally disposed around a rotational axis of the vertically-aligned carousel in the single structure such that respective floors of each of the plurality of securable containers form a polygon that rotates around the rotational axis, each secure container comprising a securable lid preventing access to the secure container when the securable lid is in a closed position, wherein the vertically-aligned carousel is configured to lock in a secured position in which each securable lid of each of the plurality of securable containers in the closed position;
- determining, based on one or more commands, a requested container of the plurality of secure containers;
- rotating the vertically-aligned carousel so that the requested container is moved from a current position to an opening of the securable receptacle;
- actuating the securable lid of the requested container to open the securable lid and provide access to an interior of the requested container through an opening of the secure receptacle;
- receiving, from a lid sensor within the secure receptacle, a signal indicating that the securable lid of the requested container has been closed;
- securing the securable lid of the requested container;
- and
- recording, in a memory device associated with the secure receptacle, an association between the identity of the user and the requested container in the vertically-aligned carousel.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.