Feeder unit with lock cover for drug distribution system

Abstract

A locking cover for a feeder unit comprises a cover body and a grip, the cover body being positioned to substantially cover the open end of the feeder unit; a locking plate connected to the cover body and biased to a locked position; and a locking mechanism including a rotating locking tube that is rotatable from the locked position to an open position and allows the locking plate to slide to the open position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Background A medicament dispensing container can hold solid medicaments, particularly pills, tablets or capsules, and the container comprises a dispensing mechanism configured to selectively dispense a quantity of the solid medicaments from an outlet at the bottom side of the container. A dispensing system can accommodate a series of medicament dispensing containers, and is configured to selectively dispense a quantity of the solid medicaments from one or more of the medicament dispensing containers and package the dispensed quantity.

Background Art

[0002] Such devices and methods are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,865,342 and 10,173,830 respectively. U.S. Patent No. 5,865,342 describes a dispensing drum that is disposed on the bottom side of a tablet case and drops medicaments through an outlet from a tabled case when rotating. The dispensing drum is provided with a plurality of grooves to which medicaments from the tablet case are supplied, and the grooves drop the medicaments therefrom when aligned with the outlet. The dispensing drum is provided with a separating member protruding into or onto the groove aligned with the outlet in such a way that it can reliably hold the medicaments thereon. U.S. Patent No. 10,173,830 describes a dispensing device having a dispensing mechanism that uses a separating member, a standby chamber, and a detection mechanism to ensure that a desired quantity of medicaments is dispensed.

[0003] A plurality of such medicament dispensing containers are used in a system configured to selectively discharge a quantity of the medicaments from one or more of the medicament dispensing containers and package the discharged quantity. The system comprises an array of container positions arranged adjacent to each other in a plane, and each of the array of container positions comprises a holder for one of the medical dispensing containers and a through-opening for passing the discharged medicaments. The through-opening may include a detection and / or counting mechanism for detecting and / or counting the discharged medicaments.

[0004] These dispensing containers are often filled with medication and stored until needed before being placed in a system for use. Since many medications are expensive and / or regulated substances, it is desirable that unauthorized persons do not gain access to them. If dispensing containers are pre-filled, this may mean that the filled containers must be placed in a secure storage location, such as a storage locker, and locked. However, since typically many containers are stored together, and therefore many different people may need access to such a secure storage location, ensuring that each container is protected from unauthorized access can still be challenging.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 11,246,800 discloses a lockable canister for preventing drug diversion and unauthorized removal of drugs. The canister includes a cover having first and second locking tabs for engaging with recesses, and a pivotable locking element pivotably mounted to the cover. The locking mechanism includes a magnetic part for moving the locking element to an unlocked position, and the canister can only be unlocked by placing the canister housing and canister cover within a cover removal fixture. Such a fixture includes a base for receiving the canister, and first and second arms extending from the base, each having a magnet for engaging with the first and second locking mechanisms within the canister cover and for unlocking them. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Summary of the present invention According to a first embodiment, the lock cover for a feeder unit includes a cover body and a grip, the cover body being positioned to substantially cover the open end of the feeder unit; a lock plate connected to the cover body and biased to a locked position; and a locking mechanism including a rotating lock tube that is rotatable from the locked position to an open position and allows the lock plate to slide to the open position. The locking mechanism may be, for example, a magnetic locking mechanism, but in other embodiments it may be a slide lock having a solenoid, a worm gear, or other blocking element.

[0007] Such a locking cover provides a simple mechanical mechanism to ensure that the locking cover remains locked to the feeder unit when needed, thereby preventing access to the contents within the feeder unit, while also being easily rotated to the open position when necessary. The simple mechanical design within the locking cover allows for easy connection to any feeder unit, enabling the locking cover to operate and interact with the distribution system, just like an unlocked cover. The simple design ensures that manufacturing and / or maintenance are not complex and / or expensive, and that the locking cover can be retrofitted to and operate on existing containers.

[0008] While lock covers are described in relation to covering and locking feeder units and dispensing devices, lock covers are not limited to such uses and may be used in other situations with respect to other units or containers. Such lock covers can provide a simple design to ensure that access to any contents within the container is prevented, whether it be pharmaceuticals, valuables, hazardous materials, animals / insects, or anything else that may be stored in the container, by the cover remaining locked. In some cases, lock covers may also be used to ensure that a container remains empty (and / or sanitary) before anything is added to it.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a rotating locking tube extending at least partially into the grip from a position adjacent to a portion of the locking plate, and a ferromagnetic rod extending across the rotating locking tube in the portion of the rotating locking tube within the grip, wherein the rotating locking tube includes a discontinuity to allow the locking plate to move to the open position when the rotating locking tube is rotated to the open position. The connected discontinuity locking tube and ferromagnetic rod allow a magnetic key to control the rotational movement of the rod, thereby positioning the discontinuity in a predetermined position and allowing or preventing the locking plate from moving to the open position. Optionally, the locking mechanism may be biased to the locked position, for example by a spring that biases the discontinuity locking tube to the locked position, requiring a key for the unlocked position, and returning to the locked position when the key is removed. In other embodiments, the locking mechanism may have two different stable positions, namely a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the lock plate includes a lock pin that extends at least partially into the rotating lock tube when in the locked position, and when the rotating lock tube is rotated to the open position, the lock pin can slide through a discontinuity so that the lock plate moves to the open position. This provides a simple mechanical method for locking a closed cover on a feeder unit and then allowing the cover to be opened by enabling the movement of the lock plate through a discontinuity in the rotating lock tube.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the grip includes a grip neck, and the locking mechanism is located at least partially within the grip neck. This positioning of the locking mechanism allows for easy placement of a key for moving the locking mechanism to the open position.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the lock plate includes one or more catches that engage with the feeder unit in the locked position to prevent the lock cover from moving to the open position, and an arm extending from the lock plate for disengaging one or more catches from the feeder unit by sliding the lock plate to the open position when the lock mechanism is in the open position. The arm is a simple method for manually moving the lock plate to the open position, and the catches are a simple but effective method for engaging with the feeder unit to prevent movement. For example, one or more catches may extend from the end of the lock plate and engage with one or more recesses or lips inside the chamber of the feeder unit. Other configurations are also possible that enable engagement and disengagement of the lock plate and the feeder unit.

[0013] According to one embodiment, a key is provided for unlocking a locking mechanism. Optionally, the key includes a handle, a first arm including a first magnet extending from the handle, and a second arm including a second magnet extending from the handle, the first and second arms extending from the handle and having an opening between the arms sized to fit around at least a portion of the grip (e.g., the grip neck) such that the first and second magnets are positioned near the ends of a ferromagnetic rod located within the grip. Such a key provides a simple method for allowing the sliding movement of the lock plate, and thus access to the internal chamber of the feeder unit, by rotating the lock tube (via the ends of the ferromagnetic material). The use of such a simple, small key also allows for easy storage and transport of the key, as well as the transfer of the key to other people and / or places for unlocking, in contrast to the need for a machine for unlocking (as in some prior art systems), and therefore the need to transport each feeder unit to a specific location for unlocking.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the cover can rotate around a hinge between the cover body and the feeder unit chamber to open the cover when the lock plate is moved to the open position. This allows access to the internal chamber for filling, inspecting and / or removing pharmaceuticals, while ensuring that the cover and the feeder unit remain connected, thereby preventing loss of the cover and avoiding potential damage (e.g., due to the cover falling) or the extra space required to store the cover during filling.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the feeder unit includes the aforementioned locking cover. This makes it possible to lock the feeder unit when filled, thereby preventing anyone without a key to unlock the cover from accessing expensive and / or regulated substances, and avoiding the need for additional storage space and / or lockers.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the dispensing device is a holding device comprising an array of adjacent feeder unit positions arranged in a single plane, wherein each of the array of feeder unit positions comprises a feeder unit having a lock cover (as described above) and a through-opening for allowing a solid drug to be discharged to pass through; and a collection frame disposed below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable relative to each other, and the collection frame comprises a series of collection trays, each having an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction parallel to the plane and extending over the length of at least two of the through-openings, each tray having a receiving opening on a side facing the holding device for capturing the solid drug to be discharged, and each tray having an output section; a packaging unit configured to collect the captured solid drug from the output section of the tray and package the solid drug; and a controller for controlling the operation of the system and the feeder units disposed on the holding device. Such a system enables the efficient dispensing of different types of pharmaceuticals, and the feeder units with lock covers ensure that the pharmaceuticals loaded into the feeder units are protected and, once loaded, are not easily accessible. This allows for early loading of the replenishment feeder unit even when the internal pharmaceuticals are expensive and / or regulated and need to be protected from those who access them. The feeder unit's locking cover prevents access by anyone without a key to unlock the cover in a simple but effective manner.

[0017] In a further embodiment, a method for forming a lock cover for a feeder unit is provided. The method includes forming a cover body cooperating with an open end of a feeder unit chamber and a grip extending from the cover body; connecting a lock plate to the cover body such that the lock plate is biased to a locked position and slidable relative to the cover body; and forming at least partially a lock mechanism within the grip, the lock mechanism being rotatable to an open position, which allows the lock plate to be slid from a locked position that maintains the lock plate in a locked position to an open position. Optionally, the step of forming at least partially a lock mechanism within the grip includes positioning at least partially a rotating lock tube of the lock mechanism within the grip such that the rotating lock tube is rotatable relative to the grip and extends from the grip to a position adjacent to a portion of the lock plate; and positioning a ferromagnetic rod within the rotating lock tube such that the ferromagnetic rod is positioned in a portion of the rotating lock tube within the grip, the rotating lock tube including a discontinuity for allowing the lock plate to move to an open position when the rotating lock tube is rotated to an open position. All or some of the components may be made of plastic, for example, by injection molding and / or machining. Such a method provides a simple but effective way to form a lock cover for the feeder unit, making it possible to protect the contents inside the feeder unit.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the method further includes connecting the lock cover to the feeder unit chamber so that the lock cover can rotate between an open position and a closed position. This allows a person with a key to unlock the locking mechanism to access the feeder unit chamber (for example, for replenishing or inspecting pharmaceuticals), while protecting access from a person without a key. The rotating hinge provides a simple method for opening the cover while the cover and the feeder unit remain connected.

[0019] In a further embodiment, a method for unlocking a lock cover rotatably connected to the open end of a feeder unit chamber includes mounting first and second arms of a key around a grip of the lock cover, each of the first and second arms including a magnet; rotating the key around the grip to rotate a lock mechanism within the lock cover, the lock mechanism including a discontinuous rotatable tube, with a ferromagnetic rod extending across the inner diameter of the discontinuous tube, the magnets on the first and second arms of the key causing the ends of the ferromagnetic rod to rotate, thereby rotating the discontinuous rotatable tube from a locked position to an open position where the discontinuous portion aligns with a lock pin from a lock plate; sliding the lock plate to an open position where the lock pin moves through the discontinuous portion within the discontinuous rotatable tube; and rotating the cover around a hinge to an open position. This method, by having most of the lock's components within the lock cover, provides a simple way to unlock a locked feeder unit and access its contents, thereby protecting the components and making efficient use of space. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] Brief explanation of the drawing [Figure 1A] This is a schematic diagram of a distribution device. [Figure 1B] Figure 1A is a top view of the distribution device. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the feeder unit. [Figure 3A] This is a perspective top view of the lock cover. [Figure 3B] Figure 3A is a perspective view of the lock cover from below. [Figure 3C] Figure 3A is an exploded view of the lock cover. [Figure 4A] This diagram shows a schematic representation of a feeder unit with a locking cover, in the process of unlocking the cover with a key. [Figure 4B]The top view of the feeder unit having a lock cover in the step of unlocking the cover with a key is shown. [Figure 4C] The schematic view of the feeder unit having a lock cover in the step of unlocking the cover with a key is shown. [Figure 4D] The top view of the feeder unit having a lock cover in the step of unlocking the cover with a key is shown. [Figure 4E] The schematic view of the feeder unit having a lock cover in the step of unlocking the cover with a key is shown. [Figure 4F] The top view of the feeder unit having a lock cover in the step of unlocking the cover with a key is shown. [Figure 4G] The schematic view of the feeder unit having a lock cover in the step of unlocking the cover with a key is shown.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0021] Detailed Description FIG. 1A is a schematic view of the dispensing device 1, and FIG. 1B is a top view of the dispensing device 1. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing device 1 houses a series of pharmaceutical dispensing containers for selectively dispensing a certain amount of the solid pharmaceutical agent from one or more pharmaceutical dispensing containers and packaging the dispensed amount. The system 1 houses a series of dispensing containers or feeder units 2, 21 configured to selectively discharge a certain amount of solid pharmaceutical agents such as pills, tablets or capsules for packaging from one or more feeder units 2, 21. The system 1 includes a holding device 3 having an array of container positions 31 (see FIG. 2) arranged adjacent to each other in a plane P, and a collection frame 4 disposed below the holding device 3. The collection frame 4 for capturing the solid pharmaceutical agents discharged from the feeder units 2, 21 includes a series of collection trays 41, 41', each collection tray 41 includes an output portion 42, a collection frame 4, and a packaging unit 5 disposed below the collection frame 4 for collecting the captured solid pharmaceutical agents from the output opening 42 of the tray 41 and packaging the solid pharmaceutical agents.

[0022] In this example, the holding device 3 includes a holder at each of the above arrays of container positions 31 for holding one of the feeder units 2, 21. In addition, the holding device 3, in particular the table, includes a through-opening 32 for allowing the discharged solid drug to pass through. As schematically shown in Figure 2, each feeder unit position 31 has a corresponding through-opening 32. Figure 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view along line II in Figure 1B.

[0023] A collection frame 4 is positioned below the holding device 3. The collection frame 4 and the holding device 3 are movable relative to each other. In this example, the holding device 3 is positioned to hold a series of feeder units 2, 21 in a substantially stationary position. In particular, the feeder units 2, 21 are positioned stationary within the device 1, and the collection frame 4 moves beneath these stationary feeder units 2, 21. The collection frame 4 is rotatable around a rotation axis R, which extends substantially perpendicular to the plane P. The rotation of the collection frame 4 is driven by a motor 43.

[0024] The collection frame 4 comprises a series of collection trays 41, 41', also called collection hoppers, arranged around a rotation axis R. The trays 41, 41' have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction extending substantially parallel to the plane P and across the length of the multiple through-openings 32. Each of the trays 41 includes a receiving opening 44 on a side facing the holding device 3 for capturing the discharged solid drug. The trays 41 have a substantially open top surface, which defines the receiving opening 44 of the tray. As shown in Figure 1, the open top surface extends substantially parallel to the plane P. The longitudinal direction of the trays 41 is arranged substantially radially with respect to the rotation axis R. By rotating the collection frame 4, the collection trays 41, 41' move under the holding device 3 and a series of feeder units 2, 21 positioned at its container position 31. Each of the collection trays 41 and 41' can capture and store one or more solid drugs selectively discharged from one or more feeder units 2 and 21 arranged in a substantially circular path above the collection trays 41 and 41', as shown in Figure 2.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, the trays 41, 41' extend from a position near the rotation axis R to the edge 33 of the holding device 3. Each of the collection trays 41, 41' can collect one or more solid drugs from substantially any one or any combination of the feeder units 2, 21 located within the circular region T. As shown in Figure 1, each of the trays 41, 41' includes a bottom surface 45 positioned to slope downward toward the output unit 42. The output unit 42 is equipped with a closure member, which is movable to a first position for closing the output unit 42 and to a second position for allowing the solid drugs to exit the trays 41, as will be described in more detail below.

[0026] Below the collection frame 4, a packaging unit 5 is positioned to collect the solid drug captured from the output section 42 of the tray 41 and to package the solid drug. The packaging unit 5 is positioned in a stationary position within the system 1, below the movable collection tray 41. When the output opening 42 of the tray 41 is aligned with the stationary position of the packaging unit 5, the closing member is moved to a second position that allows the solid drug in the tray 41 to move through the output opening 42 to the packaging unit 5. The packaging unit 5 is configured to package the solid drug from each of the trays 41 into preferably individual foil bags 59.

[0027] System 1 may also include a supply member 71 for supplying one or more new and / or full feeder units 24 to System 1, and a manipulator system 6 for transferring at least one of the new and / or full feeder units 24 from the supply member 71 to one of the container positions 31 on the holding device 3. In addition, a discharge member 72 may be provided for removing one or more feeder units 25, in particular empty dispensing containers, from the holding device 3.

[0028] The manipulator 6 includes robotic arms 61 and 62 positioned on the holding device 3. As shown in Figure 1, the robotic arms 6 are positioned on the holding device 3 at or near the rotation axis R of the collection frame 4. By positioning the robotic arms 61 and 62 centrally on the holding device 3, the gripper 63 for picking up one or more dispensing containers is positioned to reach at least each of the container positions 31 on the holding device 3, and preferably also the supply member 71 and the discharge member 72.

[0029] The control system 8 provides control commands to system 1, particularly the output unit 42 of tray 41, the motor 43, the packaging unit 5, the manipulator 6, and / or the supply member 71 and discharge member 72, as schematically shown in Figure 1. In addition, the control system 8 directly or indirectly provides control commands to the feeder units 2, 21 to discharge a predetermined amount of drug from one or more of the feeder units 2, 21 into a specific collection tray 41. The control system 8 selects a specific distribution feeder unit 2, 21 according to a predetermined type of drug by using information stored in the control system 8's memory.

[0030] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an example of a feeder unit 2. The feeder unit 2 includes a supply chamber 101 having a lid or cover 102 on top. The cover 102 is connected to the supply chamber 101 by a hinge 103. Thus, the cover 102 can swing around the hinge 103 to open the top of the feeder unit 2 to gain access to a filling opening at the top of the container for refilling the supply chamber 101. In the closed position as shown in Figure 2, the cover 102 substantially closes the filling opening. The cover 102 can be fixed in the closed position and / or locked by a lock cover 102, which will be described in detail in relation to Figures 3A to 4G.

[0031] The grip 105 is located on the top of the feeder unit 2. In an example as shown in Figure 2, the grip 105 is connected to or part of the cover 102 via a grip neck 106. The grip 105 is generally W-shaped, as shown in the top view of Figure 6. This shape includes left-right symmetry in the longitudinal section, and the plane is defined by the central axis h of the feeder unit 2 and the line of symmetry P of the grip 105. As shown in the top view of Figure 6, the grip 105 includes three recesses 107, 108, and 108'. The first recess 107 is located at the bottom of the W shape and is separated by the line of symmetry P, while the two further recesses 108 and 108' are located at the top of the W shape, with recesses 108 and 108' positioned at a distance from the line of symmetry P in a mirror symmetry with respect to the line of symmetry P. This makes it possible to grasp the grip 105 by hand using three fingers or by a robotic arm 63 having three gripping fingers. This shape of the grip 105 provides a unique orientation for the medical distribution feeder unit 2 when grasped by a hand or robotic arm 63, so that the feeder unit 2 can be picked up in only one direction and positioned in the correct orientation at the feeder unit position 31 on the holding device 3.

[0032] In some embodiments, the grip 105 may include a display chamber for holding a sample of solid pharmaceutical material to be filled or to be filled into the supply chamber 101. The display chamber has substantially transparent walls on the outward-facing sides of the grip 105 so that the display chamber and its contents are visible from the outside of the feeder unit 2.

[0033] The drug distribution feeder unit 2 includes a distribution mechanism 200. In this embodiment, the distribution mechanism 200 is located below the supply chamber 101. The distribution mechanism 200 includes a placement body 201 having a plurality of passages 202, each of which is arranged to accommodate two or more of the solid drugs 203 in a row. The placement body 201 includes a conical top surface 204 for guiding the drugs 203 in the supply chamber 101 toward the passages 202 arranged around the placement body 201. In the illustrated embodiment, the placement body 201 includes a central axis substantially coinciding with the central axis h of the feeder unit 2.

[0034] Below the main body 201, a first wall member 205 including an output opening is positioned. The first wall member is fixed within the drug dispensing container and is therefore stationary within the drug dispensing container, and the main body 201 is rotatable around this central axis to align one of the plurality of passages 202 with the output opening 206.

[0035] A separating member is positioned above the output opening, and this separating member may include a plate or brush extending into at least one of the passages 202 aligned with the output opening. The distance between the separating member and the first wall member 205 is substantially equal to the length 1 of one solid agent when placed within the passage 202.

[0036] When the first passage 202 reaches above the output opening, the first solid drug 203' positioned against the first wall member 205 and adjacent to it falls through the output opening, while the solid mediations 203 positioned above the first solid drug 203 are substantially held in place by the separating member 207. Thus, only one solid drug 203 falls through the output opening. The placement body 201 is then rotated to a position where the first passage 202 is freed from the separating member, and the solid drug 203 can now move downward within the first passage 202, allowing the next solid drug to be positioned adjacent to the first wall member 205.

[0037] Below the first wall member 205, the storage unit body 208 is positioned. The storage unit body 208 includes a plurality of standby chambers 209. Each standby chamber 209 is configured to receive and contain solid drugs 203 from one of the passages 202 when the passage 202, the output opening, and the standby chamber 209 are aligned. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage unit body 208 includes a central axis substantially coinciding with the central axis h of the feeder unit 2. In addition, the storage unit body 208 is rotatable around this central axis to subsequently align one of the plurality of standby chambers 209 with the output opening.

[0038] As schematically shown in Figure 2, the cross-sectional area Al of the passage 202 in a plane substantially parallel to the first wall member 205 is smaller than the cross-sectional area A2 of the waiting chamber 209.

[0039] Below the storage unit body 208, a second wall member 210 is positioned, which has an outlet opening 211' for distributing the drug 203 from the drug distribution feeder unit 2. The second wall member 210 is fixed within the drug distribution feeder unit 2 and therefore stationary within the drug distribution container, and the storage unit body 208 is then rotatable relative to the second wall member 210 to align the plurality of standby chambers 209 with the outlet opening 211'. The outlet opening 211' is positioned so as not to align with the output opening 206, for example, the outlet opening 211 is offset from the output opening 206 by a distance such that the drug 203 that has fallen into the standby chamber 209 remains in the standby chamber 209 and is therefore not immediately distributed from the feeder unit 2. In order to distribute the drug from the standby chamber 209, the storage unit body 208 must be rotated to align the standby chamber 209 containing the drug with the outlet opening 211'.

[0040] As schematically shown in the example in Figure 2, the exit opening 211' is smaller than the cross-sectional area A2 of the standby chamber 209. Alternatively, the exit opening 211 may be substantially equal in size to the size of the standby chamber 209 in at least one plane substantially parallel to the second wall member 210.

[0041] Figure 3A is a perspective top view of the lock cover 102 for the feeder unit 2, Figure 3B is a perspective bottom view of the lock cover 102, and Figure 3C is an exploded view of the lock cover 102. The lock cover 102 includes a cover body 104, a lock plate 112, a chamber piece 109, and a grip 105 having a grip neck 106.

[0042] The chamber piece 109 fits between the lock plate 112 and the cover body 104 to form a chamber for containing a dry material, and the dry material chamber is separated from the inside of the supply chamber 101 (see Figure 2) by a grid 111. The grid 111 is located on the cover lock plate 112 and provides fluid communication between the dry material chamber and the inside of the supply chamber 101. In this example, the dry material chamber is located between the cover body 104 and the lock plate 112, and the chamber piece 109 helps to form a partially open cavity through a hole or grid on the side facing the inside of the supply chamber 101. At least in the closed position of the cover 102, the grid 111 allows fluid communication between the dry material chamber and the inside of the supply chamber 101. Two limiters 115, 1116 can be pressed to gain access to the dry material chamber. Subsequently, the cover lock plate 112 is further pressed against the loaded spring 114, pushing the arm 113 through the hole 117 in the cover 102, causing it to exit the cover body 104.

[0043] The cover lock plate 112 is configured to hold or lock the cover 102 in a closed position, as shown in Figure 2, and to prevent the cover 112 from opening when the drug distribution feeder unit 2 is lifted, for example, by a robot arm 63 that grips the grip 105 to move the feeder unit 2. Holding (without locking) may simply be by a spring 114 that biases the lock plate 112 to the position shown in Figures 3A-3B and a catch 118 that cooperates with a recess and / or lip 119 located on the inner wall of the feeder unit supply chamber 101. These catches 118 can disengage from the recess / lip 119 in the supply chamber 101 by pushing the arm 113 toward the grip 105, sliding the lock plate 112 in that direction, and allowing the cover 102 to open by rotation around the hinge 103. The sliding movement of the spring-loaded lock plate 112 is limited by two limiters 115, 116.

[0044] The cover 102 can also be locked in the closed position, requiring the key 120 to allow the aforementioned sliding and opening movement. This is useful, for example, when a drug is counted and then access to the supply chamber 101 should be limited and / or strictly controlled. Thus, a simple latch retention mechanism can be complemented by a locking system that, using the key, allows the sliding plate 112 to slide only to a position where the cover 102 opens and access to the supply chamber 101 is possible. The locking mechanism and how it works are schematically shown in Figures 4A to 4G.

[0045] The locking mechanism is formed of a rotating locking tube 123 having a discontinuity 124, a locking pin 125, a ferromagnetic rod 126, and a return spring 129. The ferromagnetic rod 126 is fixed to the rotating locking tube 123 and extends across the inner diameter of the rotating locking tube 123 such that the movement or rotation of the ferromagnetic rod 126 causes the locking tube 123 to move or rotate, and vice versa. The return spring 129 is connected to the locking tube 123 and / or the ferromagnetic rod 126 and biases the locking tube 123 to the locked position (however, in some embodiments, it may be biased toward the unlocked position). The locking pin 125 is connected to the locking plate 112 and moves with the locking plate 112. The locking pin 125 may be integrally formed with the locking plate 112 or may be separate and connected to each other.

[0046] The key 120 includes a handle 121 and arms 122 extending from the handle 121 and sized to fit around the grip neck 106. Each arm 122 includes a magnet 127 on the inner surface of the arm 122.

[0047] Figure 4A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the lock cover 102 connected to the supply chamber 101 and in the locked position. The lock plate 112 is biased by a spring 114 so that when an upward force is applied to the grip 105, the catch 118 engages with the lip 119, preventing the cover 102 from rotating and opening. The lock tube 123 is biased by a spring 129 to a locked position so that the locking pin 125 of the lock plate 112 is inside the lock tube 123 and therefore prevents the sliding movement of the lock plate 112 to the open position (i.e., in the direction of the spring 114 which allows the catch 118 to disengage from the lip 119 and thus rotation around the hinge 103).

[0048] To unlock the cover from the feeder unit 2, the key 120 is moved to a position around the grip neck 106, as shown in Figures 4C to 4D. Specifically, the arm 122 with the magnet 127 is positioned around the grip neck 106 so that it is near the end of the ferromagnetic rod 126 in the lock tube 123, as shown in Figure 4D. The key 120 is then moved around the grip neck 106, as indicated by arrow A. The magnetic force between the magnet 127 of the key 120 and the end of the ferromagnetic rod 126 rotates the ferromagnetic rod 126 and the lock tube 123 together, moving them to the open position shown in Figure 4D. Specifically, the lock tube 123 rotates so that the locking pin 125 of the lock plate 112 aligns with the discontinuity 124 of the lock tube 123, allowing the lock plate 112 to slide toward the spring 114, thereby releasing the catch 118 from the lip 119. This movement of the locking pin 125, at least partially protruding from the lock tube 123, is shown in Figures 4E–4F. As previously mentioned, this movement may be achieved by sliding the arm 113 toward the grip 105, thereby moving the lock plate 112 (having the locking pin 125 and catch 118) in that direction. Once the catch 118 separates from the lip 119, the lock cover 102 can rotate around the hinge 103, thereby allowing access to the supply chamber 101 as shown in Figure 4G.

[0049] To lock the lock cover onto the feeder unit 2, the cover body 104 is simply rotated back around the hinge 3 so that it can cover the top of the supply chamber 101. The lock plate 112 may be held in the open position by the arm 113 during rotation to close, or, in some embodiments, the beveled or inclined bottom edge of the catch 118 (or other similar mechanism) may allow it to move back to the locked position without needing to be held or pushed by the arm 113. When in position over the chamber 101, the lock plate 112 is biased away from the spring 114, and slides back to the position shown in Figure 4C as the locking pin slides back inside the rotating lock tube 123 through the discontinuity 124. When the lock plate 112 is biased by the spring 114 into the locked position where the catch 118 cooperates with the lip 119, the locking pin 125 is inside the lock tube 123, and when the key 120 is removed from around the grip neck 106, the spring 129 rotates the lock tube 123 back to the locked position shown in Figures 4A and 4B. This position prevents the lock plate 112 from moving toward the unlocked position toward the spring 114.

[0050] Therefore, the lock cover 102 provides a simple but effective method to ensure that access to the inside of the supply chamber 101 (and thus the internal drug) is controlled. The rotating lock tube 123 and ferromagnetic rod 125 having a discontinuity 124 cooperate with the locking pin 125 on the lock plate 112, allowing only the movement of the lock plate 112 to the open position by the use of the key 120. The key 120, having an arm 122 with a magnet 127, provides a simple method to rotate the lock tube 123, thereby allowing the movement of the lock plate 112, and thus access to the internal chamber 101 of the feeder unit 102. The use of such a simple and small key also allows the key 120 to be transported to another person and / or location for unlocking, in contrast to the need for a machine for unlocking (as in some prior art systems), which therefore requires each feeder unit to be transported to a specific location for unlocking.

[0051] As described in the background technology, when filling the feeder unit 2 with expensive and / or regulated substances, if pre-filled, the containers of the prior art typically had to be stored in a safe place or locker until it was time to use. Such solutions did not allow for individual locking or control. The lock cover 102 allows for individual locking of the filled feeder unit 2 and protects each individual feeder unit 2 from someone accessing the pharmaceuticals inside without requiring additional storage space and / or lockers.

[0052] The lock cover 102 securely protects access to the feeder unit 2 through a simple mechanical locking mechanism inside the lock cover, preventing access to the internal pharmaceuticals by anyone without the key 120. This protection does not require any additional locks or other mechanisms on the outside of the feeder unit 2, thereby maintaining the normal external shape of the feeder unit for normal interaction with the overall system shown in Figures 1A and 1B. Since such a lock cover 102 also has the same overall external shape as the previous cover, it can be easily added to an existing feeder unit in place of a non-locking cover.

[0053] While lock covers are described in relation to covering and locking feeder units and distribution devices, lock covers are not limited to such uses and may be used in other situations with respect to other units, devices, or containers. A simple solution is provided when it is necessary to control access to the inside of a container or device for any reason.

[0054] The present invention has been described above with reference to several exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. Several modifications and alternative forms of parts or elements are possible and fall within the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lock cover for a feeder unit, A cover body (104) and a grip (105), wherein the cover body is positioned to substantially cover the open end of the feeder unit (2), A lock plate (112) connected to the cover body and biased to the locked position, A locking mechanism including a rotating locking tube (123) that is rotatable from a locked position to an open position and allows the locking plate (112) to slide in the open position, wherein the locking mechanism is A rotating lock tube (123) extends at least partially into the grip (105) from a position adjacent to a part of the lock plate (112), A ferromagnetic rod (126) extends across the rotating lock tube (123) in the portion of the rotating lock tube located within the grip (105), including, Locking mechanism, Includes, The rotating lock tube (123) includes a discontinuity (124) that allows the lock plate (112) to move to the open position when the rotating lock tube (123) is rotated to the open position. The lock plate (112) includes a lock pin (125) that extends into the rotating lock tube (123) when in the locked position, and when the rotating lock tube (123) is rotated to the open position, the lock pin (125) can slide through the discontinuous portion (124) so ​​that the lock plate (112) moves to the open position. Rock cover.

2. The lock cover according to claim 1, wherein the grip (105) includes a grip neck (106), and the locking mechanism is located at least partially within the grip neck (106).

3. The locking mechanism is biased to the locked position, as described in claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned lock plate is A catch (118) engages with the feeder unit in the locked position to prevent the lock cover (102) from moving to the open position, An arm (113) extends from the lock plate (112) and, when the lock mechanism is in the open position, slides the lock plate to the open position to disengage the catch (118) from the feeder unit, A lock cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, including the following:

5. A key (120) for unlocking the aforementioned locking mechanism. A lock cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

6. The aforementioned key is, Handle (121) and, A first arm (122) including a first magnet (127) extending from the handle (121), A second arm (122) including a second magnet (127) extending from the handle (121), Includes, The first arm (122) and the second arm (122) extend from the handle (121) and have openings between the arms that are sized to fit around at least a portion of the grip (105), such that the first magnet (127) and the second magnet (127) are positioned within the grip (105) near the end of the ferromagnetic rod (126). The lock cover according to claim 5.

7. The lock cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cover (102) can rotate around a hinge (103) between the cover body (104) and the feeder unit chamber (101) so as to open the cover when the lock plate (112) is moved to the open position.

8. A feeder unit (2) having a lock cover (102) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A holding device (3) comprising an array of feeder unit positions arranged adjacent to each other in a single plane, wherein the holding device comprises a feeder unit (2) according to claim 10, each of the array of feeder unit positions having a through-opening for allowing a solid drug to be discharged to pass through, A collection frame (4) positioned below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable relative to each other, the collection frame comprises a series of collection trays (41, 41'), each tray having an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction parallel to the plane and extending over the length of at least two of the through-openings, each tray having a receiving opening on the side facing the holding device for capturing the discharged solid drug, and each having an output section, the collection frame (4) and A packaging unit (5) is configured to collect the captured solid drug from the output unit of the tray and to package the solid drug, A controller (8) for controlling the operation of the feeder unit arranged on the system and the holding device (3), A distribution device (1) including the above.

10. A method for forming a lock cover (102) for a feeder unit, A cover body (104) that cooperates with the open end of the feeder unit chamber and a grip (105) extending from the cover body (104) are formed. The lock plate (112) is connected to the cover body (104) in such a way that the lock plate is biased to the locked position and is slidable relative to the cover body (104). A locking mechanism is formed at least partially within the grip (105), wherein the locking mechanism is rotatable to an open position, enabling the locking plate (112) to slide from the locked position to an open position, maintaining the locking plate in the locked position. Includes, The step of forming a locking mechanism at least partially within the grip (105) is: The rotational lock tube (123) of the locking mechanism is positioned at least partially within the grip (105) such that the rotational lock tube (123) is rotatable relative to the grip (105) and extends from the grip (105) to a position adjacent to the portion (125) of the lock plate (112). Positioning the ferromagnetic rod (126) within the rotating lock tube (123), such that the ferromagnetic rod (126) is positioned in the portion of the rotating lock tube (123) located within the grip (105), Includes, The rotating lock tube (123) includes a discontinuity (124) that allows the lock plate (112) to move to the open position when the rotating lock tube is rotated to the open position. The aforementioned method, The lock cover (102) is connected to the feeder unit chamber (101) so that it can rotate between an open position and a closed position. Methods that further include the above.

11. A method for unlocking a lock cover rotatably connected to the open end of a feeder unit chamber (101), The first arm and the second arm (122) of the key (120) are attached around the grip (105) of the lock cover, wherein each of the first arm and the second arm (122) includes a magnet (127). The rotation of the key (120) around the grip (105) in order to rotate the locking mechanism within the lock cover (102), wherein the locking mechanism includes a discontinuous rotatable tube (123), a ferromagnetic rod (126) extending across the inner diameter of the discontinuous tube (123), and the magnets (127) on the first arm and the second arm (122) of the key (120) move the end of the ferromagnetic rod (126) by the rotational motion, rotating the discontinuous rotatable tube (123) from the locked position to the open position where the discontinuous portion aligns with the lock pin (125) from the lock plate (112), The lock plate (112) is slid to an open position where the lock pin (125) moves through the discontinuous portion (124) within the discontinuous rotatable tube (124), Rotating the cover (102) around the hinge (103) to the open position, Methods that include...

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