Door assembly for storage and dispensing unit

A door assembly including:

• a frame including an opening having a first portion and a second portion;
• a first panel movable between a closed position in which said first panel generally covers said first portion of said opening and an open position in which said first panel generally does not cover said first portion;
• a second panel movable between a closed position in which said second panel generally covers said second portion of said opening and an open position in which said second panel generally does not cover said second portion, and wherein said second panel is lockable in its closed position to block the first panel from moving from its closed position to its open position;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to said second panel to selectively lock said second panel in its closed position, wherein at least one of said frame or said second panel includes at least one recess and the other one of said frame or said second panel includes at least one protrusion, and wherein said at least one protrusion is misaligned with said at least one recess when said second panel is in a lower position and said second panel is attempted to be moved from its closed position to its open position to thereby block such attempted movement of said second panel, and wherein said frame and said second panel are configured such that when said second panel is raised relative to said frame, said at least one protrusion becomes aligned with said at least one recess to thereby allow said second panel to move from its closed position to its open position.

A method for operating a door assembly including:

• providing a door assembly including a frame having an opening with a first portion and a second portion, the door assembly including a first panel movable between a closed position in which said first panel generally covers said first portion of said opening and an open position in which said first panel generally does not cover said first portion, and a second panel movable between a closed position in which said second panel generally covers said second portion of said opening and an open position in which said second panel generally does not cover said second portion, wherein said second panel is configured to block the first panel from moving to its open position when said second panel is in its closed position, the door assembly further including a controller operatively coupled to said second panel;
• operating said controller to enable movement of said second panel from its closed position to its open position;
• locking said second panel in its open position;
• and
• unlocking said second panel when it is sensed that said first panel is in a nearly-closed position in which said first panel is positioned immediately adjacent to its closed position.

A door assembly including:

• a frame including an opening having a first portion and a second portion;
• a first panel movable between a closed position in which said first panel generally covers said first portion of said opening and an open position in which said first panel generally does not cover said first portion;
• a second panel movable between a closed position in which said second panel generally covers said second portion of said opening and an open position in which said second panel generally does not cover said second portion, wherein said door assembly is configured such that said first panel when opened is generally independently movable relative to said second panel, and wherein said door assembly is configured that said second panel is prevented from moving from its open position to its closed position unless said first panel is first or simultaneously moved to its closed position or a nearly-closed position;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to said second panel to selectively block or enable movement of said second panel from its open position to its closed position.

A door assembly including:

• a frame including an opening having a first portion and a second portion;
• a first panel movable between a closed position in which said first panel generally covers said first portion of said opening and an open position in which said first panel generally does not cover said first portion;
• and
• a second panel movable between a closed position in which said second panel generally covers said second portion of said opening and an open position in which said second panel generally does not cover said second portion, wherein said door assembly is configured such that said first panel when opened is generally independently movable relative to said second panel, and wherein said door assembly is configured that said second panel is prevented from moving from its open position to its closed position unless said first panel is first or simultaneously moved to its closed position or a nearly-closed position, and wherein said door assembly is configured such that said second panel is prevented from moving away from its closed position unless said first panel is first or simultaneously moved away from its closed position.