Aseptic dispensing system

A system for maintaining and dispensing articles for dental, medical or like applications in an aseptic environment, said system comprising:

• a cabinet having two banks of shelves, said banks having open ends and closed ends such that each open end is oriented toward a central dispensing chute;
• a plurality of horizontally adjustable shelves laterally disposed in said bank of said cabinet, said shelves being divided by a plurality of vertical dividing means wherein said vertical dividing means define article feed slots in the shelves to thereby store and maintain said articles in an aseptic condition;
• said dispensing chute located adjacent the open end of said banks adapted to provide gravity feed of an article maintained in an aseptic condition;
• a plurality of drive means fixed to the interior of the closed end of said bank, one drive means being fixed to the interior wall of the closed end of the bank adjacent each of said slots in the shelves;
• auger means disposed longitudinally within said feed slot being operatively and detachably connected to said drive means for feeding said articles in an aseptic condition toward said dispensing chute and discharging the leading article to said chute to drop by gravity;
• and
• means for controlling the delivery of articles in an aseptic condition to the dispensing chute.

A modular system for maintaining and dispensing articles for dental, medical or like applications in an aseptic environment, said system comprising:

• a cabinet having a bank of shelves, said bank having an open end and a closed end;
• a dispensing chute adjacent the open end of said bank adapted to provide gravity feed of an article maintained in an aseptic condition, said dispensing chute further comprises a curtain extending over said open end of said bank of shelves thereby maintaining said articles in an aseptic condition;
• a plurality of downwardly inclined shelves laterally disposed in said bank of said cabinet, said shelves being divided by a plurality of vertical dividers wherein said vertical dividers define feed slots in the shelves for receiving a cartridge filled with articles in an aseptic condition to be maintained and dispensed in an aseptic condition;
• said cartridge comprising a detachable auger having an elongated helical coil with windings secured at a rear end to a circular plate including a drive shaft connected to said plate and operatively connectable to a drive unit and adapted to be angularly driven, said helical coil having sufficient spacing to receive an article between said windings, wherein said article is to be maintained in an aseptic condition, and said rear end means adapted to be angularly driven;
• a plurality of drive means positioned at the interior of the closed end of said bank, each drive means being mounted to a support wall located interiorly of the closed end of the bank and adjacent each of said slots in the shelves;
• means for feeding said articles in an aseptic condition toward said dispensing chute and discharging the leading article to drop by gravity, said means for feeding further comprises a removable auger feed contained within a protective sleeve;
• and
• means for controlling the delivery of articles in an aseptic condition to the dispensing chute, said control means is a keypad having a plurality of keys such that one key is associated with one slot in one of the shelves in one of the banks of shelves, said keypad located on the outer surface of said cabinet;said keypad further comprising a clear replaceable film or sheet adapted to cover said keypad, thereby maintaining an aseptic condition.

A process for maintaining and delivering an article in an environment where cross-contamination is important comprising the steps of:

• providing a cabinet having at least one bank of shelves, said bank having an open proximal end and a closed distal end such that the open proximal end is oriented toward a dispensing chute;
• providing a plurality of shelves laterally disposed in said bank of said cabinet, said shelves being divided by a plurality of vertical dividing means wherein said vertical dividing means defines feed slots in the shelves for guiding said articles and maintaining in an aseptic condition;
• placing a cartridge of said articles in an aseptic condition in said slots said cartridge comprising an auger having an elongated helical coil with windings secured at a rear end to a plate including a drive shaft connected to said plate and operatively connectable to a drive means and adapted to be angularly driven;
• storing said cartridge of articles in an aseptic condition to be dispensed on one of said shelves;
• feeding said articles in an aseptic condition along said slot toward the open proximal end of said bank to a delivery chute;
• and
• discharging the leading article to the user in an aseptic condition.

A process for maintaining and delivering an article in an environment where cross-contamination is important comprising the steps of:

• providing a cabinet having at least one bank of shelves, said bank having an open proximal end and a closed distal end such that the open proximal end is oriented toward a dispensing chute;
• providing a plurality of shelves laterally disposed in said bank of said cabinet, said shelves being divided by a plurality of vertical dividing means wherein said vertical dividing means defines slots in the shelves for guiding said articles and maintaining an aseptic condition;
• placing a preloaded cartridge of said articles in an aseptic condition in said slots wherein said cartridge comprises an auger having an elongated helical coil with windings secured at a rear end to a circular plate including a drive shaft connected to said plate and operatively connectable to a drive unit and adapted to be angularly driven, said helical coil having sufficient spacing to receive an article between said windings, said rear end means being adapted to be angularly driven;
• and a protective sleeve encircling said auger containing articles in an aseptic condition to be dispensed;
• storing said cartridge of articles in an aseptic condition to be dispensed on one of said shelves;
• feeding said articles in an aseptic condition along said slot toward the open proximal end of said bank to a delivery chute;
• and
• discharging the leading article to the user in an aseptic condition.