Guided Container Insertion With Lateral Locking for Stable Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hospitals face challenges in securely storing and dispensing medications like narcotics, requiring a mechanism that securely connects containers to Automatic Dispensing Machines (ADMs) while ensuring only authorized access, and ensuring reliable electrical connections despite vertical motions induced by shock and moments.
Innovation Solution
A lidded container and docking station system that guides vertical insertion, using shaped surfaces and horizontal alignment elements to induce lateral motion, allowing the container to engage retention features on the docking station without additional space for lateral motion, thus restraining vertical motion and ensuring secure electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple vertical mating connector is used to achieve electrical connection between container and tray, then the connection is achieved, but additional active latching scheme is required to restrain the connector against vertical motions induced by shock and moments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the vertical insertion motion into lateral motion through a redirection feature with a shaped surface. The container's vertical downward motion is redirected at an angle by the shaped surface, causing the container to move laterally and engage the alignment element with the alignment hole, thereby eliminating the need for separate vertical restraint mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The redirection feature acts as an intermediary mechanism between the container and tray. It mediates the insertion process by converting vertical motion into lateral motion, enabling the alignment elements to engage properly without requiring additional active latching schemes or complex restraint mechanisms
2Area of stationary object
If additional space is provided for lateral motion of the container during insertion, then the container can be properly aligned, but the insertion process requires more space and time
Solution Approach 1:
The redirection feature with its shaped surface converts the container's vertical insertion motion into lateral motion in real-time. This eliminates the need for dedicated lateral motion space, as the lateral alignment is achieved through the redirection of vertical motion rather than through separate lateral movement
Solution Approach 2:
The container's own vertical insertion motion is self-sufficient to achieve lateral alignment. The shaped surface of the redirection feature guides the container's lateral movement automatically during insertion, without requiring external guidance mechanisms or additional space for lateral adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
A drawer assembly is disclosed that includes a removable container ad a receiving tray. The container has a housing having at least one shaped surface and at least one horizontal alignment element coupled to and projecting from the housing. The receiving tray has a base having a redirection feature and at least one horizontal alignment hole in the base that is configured to accept the horizontal alignment element. The container and receiving tray are configured such that downward motion of the container with the shaped surface of the housing in contact with the redirection feature of the base induces a lateral motion of the container according to the engagement of the shaped surface and the redirection feature that causes the horizontal alignment element to slide into the horizontal alignment hole.