Novel first-in first-out dispensing cabinet

Abstract

This invention provides a novel first-in, first-out (FIFO) medicine dispensing cabinet, comprising a cabinet body, a dispensing channel, a storage bin, a trolley, and a platform scale. The cabinet body is composed of several stacked medicine boxes. The dispensing channel is located in the middle of the cabinet body, and each medicine box is connected to the dispensing channel. A trolley is installed at the bottom of the dispensing channel, and a platform scale is mounted on the trolley. The storage bin is placed on the platform scale to receive the medicines falling from the dispensing channel and to weigh them in real time. This invention solves the problem of FIFO management of medicinal materials through ingenious structural design, and simultaneously realizes the integration of storage, automatic dispensing, and weighing, with significant advantages such as high reliability, space saving, and convenient operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of medicine cabinets, and in particular relates to a novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet. Background Technology

[0002] In places where Chinese medicinal materials are dispensed, such as pharmacies, drugstores, and medical institutions, the storage and management of these materials are crucial. Medicinal materials, especially processed Chinese medicinal herbs, have a clearly defined shelf life and optimal usage period; their quality and efficacy naturally decline with prolonged storage. Therefore, adhering to the "first-in, first-out" principle in warehousing and logistics—that is, prioritizing the use of materials that were first stored—is a key management requirement to ensure the freshness of medicinal materials, avoid waste due to expiration, and guarantee clinical efficacy and medication safety. Currently, the situation with the medicine dispensing cabinets is that newly replenished medicinal materials are used first, while the medicinal materials that were stored earlier are left in the cabinets. Over time, the medicinal materials that "sink to the bottom" expire and deteriorate, which not only causes economic losses but also creates potential safety hazards in the use of medicines. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention aims to propose a novel first-in-first-out (FIFO) medicine dispensing cabinet. Through ingenious structural design, it solves the problem of "first-in-first-out" management of medicinal materials, and realizes the integration of storage, automatic dispensing and weighing. It has significant advantages such as high reliability, space saving and convenient operation.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows: The new first-in-first-out medicine dispensing cabinet includes a cabinet body, a medicine dispensing channel, a storage bin, a robotic cart, and a platform scale. The cabinet is composed of several stacked medicine boxes. The medicine dispensing channel is located in the middle of the cabinet. Each medicine box is connected to the medicine dispensing channel. A machine cart is installed at the bottom of the medicine dispensing channel. A platform scale is installed on the machine cart. A collection bucket is placed on the platform scale to receive the medicines falling from the medicine dispensing channel and to weigh them in real time.

[0005] Furthermore, the cabinet is equipped with two rows of medicine boxes, each row having several medicine boxes arranged from top to bottom, and the medicine dispensing channel is located between the two rows of medicine boxes.

[0006] Furthermore, both sides of the drug dispensing channel are provided with drug inlets.

[0007] Furthermore, the medicine box is composed of a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, and a bottom panel; The front panel has an H-shaped structure, the rear panel has an inverted U-shaped structure, and the bottom panel is set at an angle. The front end of the bottom panel is connected to the bottom of the front panel, and the rear end of the bottom panel is connected to the middle of the rear panel, so that the inner cavity of the medicine box has a sloping structure. The notch above the front plate is used for feeding material, and the notch below it is used for discharging material. The lower notch and the bottom plate form a discharge port.

[0008] Furthermore, the discharge port is provided with a transition unloading platform, including a transition plate, a first transition side plate and a second transition side plate. The two ends of the transition plate are respectively installed on the front plate through the first transition side plate and the second transition side plate, and the transition plate is inclined upward.

[0009] Furthermore, the No. 1 transition side plate is installed on the side close to the drug dispensing channel, with the edge of the No. 1 transition side plate flush with the edge of the drug inlet.

[0010] Furthermore, the two stacked medicine boxes have a notch at the top of the front panel of the lower medicine box and a bottom panel of the upper medicine box forming a medicine inlet; at the same time, a notch at the back panel of the upper medicine box and a back panel of the lower medicine box also form a medicine inlet for feeding medicine into the lower medicine box; thus enabling the medicine boxes to be filled with medicine from both the front and back sides.

[0011] Compared with existing technologies, the novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet of this invention has the following advantages: (1) The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet of the present invention has a unique sloping structure and outlet design, which allows the medicinal materials to slide naturally in sequence under the action of gravity. Each time medicine is taken out, the medicine material that was put in first and is located at the front will be pushed out first. The physical structure forces the automatic execution of the "first-in-first-out" principle, completely avoiding the medicine material from expiring and deteriorating due to accumulation, and ensuring the quality of medicine use.

[0012] (2) The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet of the present invention adopts a layout of vertically stacked double-row medicine boxes and a shared medicine dispensing channel in the middle, which realizes a larger storage capacity of medicinal materials within a limited area, and is particularly suitable for deployment in terminal scenarios with limited space such as pharmacies and drugstores.

[0013] (3) The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet of the present invention has two medicine inlets, one at the front and one at the back. When replenishing medicine, the operator can replenish the lower medicine box from the front of the equipment or the upper medicine box from the rear of the equipment. This design makes the replenishment operation more convenient, and the maintenance of multiple medicine boxes can be completed without complicated movement, thus improving the operational efficiency.

[0014] (4) The novel first-in-first-out medicine dispensing cabinet of the present invention relies mainly on gravity to drive the flow of medicinal materials, and the mechanical structure is simple and reliable. The design of the transition feeding platform ensures a smooth transition of medicinal materials from the medicine box to the dispensing channel, preventing jamming. The simple structure also means a lower failure rate and more convenient daily maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet described in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet described in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the medicine box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Cabinet; 11. Medicine box; 12. Front panel; 13. Rear panel; 14. Side panel; 15. Bottom panel; 16. Transition unloading platform; 161. Transition plate; 162. First transition side panel; 163. Second transition side panel; 2. Medicine unloading channel; 21. Medicine inlet; 3. Storage bin; 4. Machine cart; 5. Platform scale. Detailed Implementation

[0017] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0018] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0020] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0021] New type of first-in-first-out medicine cabinet, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, it includes cabinet 1, medicine dispensing channel 2, storage bin 3, robot cart 4, and platform scale 5; The cabinet 1 is composed of several stacked medicine boxes 11. The medicine dispensing channel 2 is located in the middle of the cabinet 1. Each medicine box 11 is connected to the medicine dispensing channel 2. A machine cart 4 is installed at the bottom of the medicine dispensing channel 2, and a platform scale 5 is installed on the machine cart 4. A collection bucket 3 is placed on the platform scale 5 to receive the medicines falling from the medicine dispensing channel 2 and to weigh them in real time. The machine cart 4 at the bottom of the medicine dispensing channel 2 can carry the collection bucket 3 to the designated medicine receiving position, and work with the platform scale 5 to realize the real-time and automatic weighing of the fallen medicines. This design seamlessly connects the "first-in, first-out" medicine dispensing process with the accurate weighing process, reduces manual intervention, and improves the efficiency and accuracy of medicine dispensing.

[0022] Preferably, the cabinet 1 has two rows of medicine boxes 11, with several medicine boxes 11 arranged in each row from top to bottom, and the medicine dispensing channel 2 is located between the two rows of medicine boxes 11. By adopting a layout of vertically stacked double rows of medicine boxes 11 and sharing the medicine dispensing channel 2 in the middle, a larger storage capacity of medicinal materials is achieved within a limited floor area, which is particularly suitable for deployment in terminal scenarios with limited space, such as pharmacies and drugstores.

[0023] Preferably, both sides of the drug dispensing channel 2 are provided with drug inlets 21.

[0024] Preferably, the medicine box 11 is composed of a front panel 12, a rear panel 13, two side panels 14 and a bottom panel 15; The front panel 12 has an H-shaped structure, the rear panel 13 has an inverted U-shaped structure, and the bottom panel 15 is inclined. The front end of the bottom panel 15 is connected to the bottom of the front panel 12, and the rear end of the bottom panel 15 is connected to the middle of the rear panel 13, so that the inner cavity of the medicine box 11 has a sloping structure. The notch above the front plate 12 is used for feeding material, and the notch below it is used for discharging material. The lower notch and the bottom plate 15 form a discharge port.

[0025] Preferably, the discharge port is provided with a transition unloading platform 16, including a transition plate 161, a first transition side plate 16214 and a second transition side plate 16314. The two ends of the transition plate 161 are respectively installed on the front plate 12 through the first transition side plate 16214 and the second transition side plate 16314, and the transition plate 161 is inclined upward.

[0026] Preferably, the first transition side plate 16214 is installed on the side close to the drug dispensing channel 2, and the edge of the first transition side plate 14 is flush with the edge of the drug inlet 21.

[0027] Preferably, in the two stacked medicine boxes 11, the notch above the front plate 12 of the lower medicine box 11 and the bottom plate 15 of the upper medicine box 11 form a medicine inlet 21; simultaneously, the notch between the rear plate 13 of the upper medicine box 11 and the rear plate 13 of the lower medicine box 11 also forms a medicine inlet 21 for feeding medicine into the lower medicine box 11; thus, the medicine boxes 11 can be filled with medicine from both the front and rear sides. The medicine box 11 is designed with two medicine inlets 21, one at the front and one at the rear. When replenishing medicine, the operator can replenish the lower medicine box 11 from the front of the equipment or the upper medicine box 11 from the rear of the equipment. This design makes the replenishment operation more convenient, allowing maintenance of multiple medicine boxes 11 to be completed without complicated movements, thus improving operational efficiency.

[0028] Each type of medicinal material is stored in a separate medicine box 11. The sloping bottom plate 15 of the medicine box 11 allows the medicinal materials to slide naturally to the lower discharge port under the action of gravity. Since the discharge port is located at the lower front of the medicine box 11, the medicinal materials that are put in first and are in the front row will reach the discharge port first, providing a physical basis for "first in first out". The outermost medicinal materials are manually put into the medicine channel 2 and finally into the storage bucket 3 to complete the medicine retrieval work.

[0029] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A novel first-in-first-out (FIFO) medicine cabinet, characterized in that: This includes the cabinet, dispensing channel, storage bins, robotic cart, and platform scale; The cabinet is composed of several stacked medicine boxes. The medicine dispensing channel is located in the middle of the cabinet. Each medicine box is connected to the medicine dispensing channel. A machine cart is installed at the bottom of the medicine dispensing channel. A platform scale is installed on the machine cart. A collection bucket is placed on the platform scale to receive the medicines falling from the medicine dispensing channel and to weigh them in real time.

2. The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cabinet has two rows of medicine boxes, each row with several medicine boxes arranged from top to bottom, and the medicine dispensing channel is located between the two rows of medicine boxes.

3. The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: Both sides of the drug dispensing channel are equipped with drug inlets.

4. The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet according to claim 3, characterized in that: The medicine box is composed of a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, and a bottom panel; The front panel has an H-shaped structure, the rear panel has an inverted U-shaped structure, and the bottom panel is set at an angle. The front end of the bottom panel is connected to the bottom of the front panel, and the rear end of the bottom panel is connected to the middle of the rear panel, so that the inner cavity of the medicine box has a sloping structure. The notch above the front plate is used for feeding material, and the notch below it is used for discharging material. The lower notch and the bottom plate form a discharge port.

5. The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that: The discharge port is provided with a transition unloading platform, including a transition plate, a first transition side plate and a second transition side plate. The two ends of the transition plate are respectively installed on the front plate through the first transition side plate and the second transition side plate, and the transition plate is inclined upward.

6. The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet according to claim 5, characterized in that: The No. 1 transition side plate is installed on the side close to the drug dispensing channel, and the edge of the No. 1 transition side plate is flush with the edge of the drug inlet.

7. The novel first-in-first-out medicine cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that: Two stacked medicine boxes have a notch at the top of the front panel of the lower medicine box that forms a medicine inlet with the bottom panel of the upper medicine box; at the same time, a notch at the back panel of the upper medicine box and the back panel of the lower medicine box also form a medicine inlet for feeding medicine into the lower medicine box; thus, the medicine boxes can be filled with medicine from both the front and back sides.

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