Dual-Function Receptacle Latch for Lid and Tray Securing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transportable controlled-access containers for medications in healthcare facilities are prone to damage due to exposed latching engagement members and muscle wires, leading to increased costs and reduced reliability, as each receptacle requires separate actuators for securing and releasing.
Innovation Solution
A receptacle with a dual-function latching apparatus that uses a single actuator to secure and release both the lid and the tray, eliminating the need for multiple actuators and associated circuitry, thereby reducing costs and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate actuators are used for securing the lid and securing the receptacle in the drawer, then the latching functions are reliable, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate latching functions (lid securing and receptacle securing) into a single actuator mechanism. The actuator can selectively engage either the lid latch or the drawer latch, eliminating the need for separate actuators and reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable latching functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuator is designed to perform multiple functions by selectively engaging different latching mechanisms. It can secure the lid to the receptacle body and also secure the entire receptacle to the drawer, making one component universal for both latching operations.
2Ease of operation
If latching engagement members are exposed when receptacle docking location is empty, then the latching mechanism is accessible, but the components are susceptible to damage from dropped objects
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is removed from the drawer and relocated to the receptacle itself. This extraction of the actuator from the drawer environment eliminates its exposure to damage risks from dropped objects, while the latching function remains fully accessible and operational.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle becomes self-sufficient by housing its own actuator, eliminating the need for external actuators in the drawer that would be vulnerable to damage. The receptacle performs its own latching and unlatching operations independently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single large PCBA covers the bottom of the drawer to provide all muscle wires and drive circuits, then all latching functions are provided, but the replacement cost is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The latching control system is segmented from the drawer PCBA and relocated to the receptacle. Each receptacle becomes an independent unit with its own actuator and control circuitry, allowing individual replacement rather than requiring replacement of a large, expensive drawer-wide PCBA.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having a centralized PCBA that controls all receptacles, each receptacle is equipped with its own control circuitry that replicates the necessary latching functions. This copying of control capability to individual units reduces the cost and complexity of the central system.
Data Source
AI summary
A receptacle adapted for removable placement on a retention tray is disclosed. The receptacle includes a lid having a closed position and a lid hook. The receptacle includes a latching apparatus with a lid latch configured to engage the lid hook when the lid is in the closed position. The latching apparatus also has a tray latch configured to engage a tray hook that is coupled to the retention tray when the receptacle is placed on the retention tray. The latching apparatus has an actuator configured to selectably release either the lid hook or the tray hook, thus eliminating a need for a second set of actuators in the retention tray to releasably secure the receptacles to the tray.