"AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR DEVICE FOR OBJECTS"

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an automatic distributor device for objects, such as for example clothes, tools or other, particularly but not restrictively able to be used in the medical and/or surgical field, such as for example theater gowns, masks, gloves, caps or others. In particular, the device according to the present invention is applied in the automated mass distribution of such objects and the automated monitoring thereof during both distribution, storage and supply.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automated distributor devices are known, for the mass distribution of objects of various types, such as for example clothes and equipment used in the hospital, medical, or surgical sector. Known automated devices, hereafter referred to simply as distributors, normally comprise a frame defining inside it a compartment in which a plurality of shelves are fixed, disposed so as to divide the compartment into an equal number of distinct containing sectors.

The objects to be distributed are grouped according to type or other desired order in each containing sector.

Each containing sector is normally selectively accessible from the outside through a corresponding panel hinged on a front zone of the frame.

It is also known that to automate the distribution of the objects and to monitor their storage in the relative sectors, known distributors are provided with transmission-reception antennas attached co-planar to the shelves and connected to one or more control units.

The antennas are able to detect specific signals emitted by relative transmitter elements, such as for example TAG RFID, applied on the objects contained; whereas the control units are able to process the signals detected by the antennas so as to supply predefined data to manage and monitor the objects.

To optimize detection, by the antennas, of the signals emitted by the TAG RFID, the latter must be positioned substantially parallel, even though on different planes, inside the relative sectors, with respect to the relative antenna.

One of the disadvantages of known distributors is that, since they have panels to access the different sectors, the objects are removed and inserted frontally, that is, in a direction substantially parallel to the planes on which the TAG RFID and antennas lie. The frontal removal and insertion can, however, cause a misalignment of the parallel position of one or more objects with respect to the antenna, which causes consequent errors in the detection by the antenna, and hence in the processing of the data by the control unit.

Known distributors can therefore be imprecise in communicating data, especially when an automatic warning is provided for supplying the objects.

Another disadvantage of known distributors is that the panels are normally provided with different parts, also made of metal, such as for example the hinges, the closing devices, possible handles or other, which can generate electromagnetic interferences with the field of reception of the antenna. Furthermore, in a possible application of known distributors in sterile environments, for example surgical rooms where an automatic opening/closing of the panels is required, it is necessary to provide the installation of specific electromechanical opening/closing actuators on board the panels, with relative cabling of the cables to command and feed them. The frontal disposition of the panels with the relative electromechanical actuators entails the need to take the electric signal from a rear zone of the frame, where all the sources of electric feed are normally housed, to the front zone of the frame, passing laterally to the containing sectors.

This not only causes the electromechanical system in itself and the cabled cables to be rather bulky, which is due to the need to position them in conformity with the position of the sources of electric feed, but it also causes an increase in the electromagnetic interferences in the detection of the antenna, increasing said disadvantages.

For this reason, the known solutions of completely automated opening of the panels in known distributors has gradually been abandoned.

Another disadvantage of known distributors is that the possible washing and sterilization of the individual sectors must be done manually, since the common industrial washing and sterilization plants could accidentally damage both the

metal parts and also the various electric and electronic components provided therein.

One purpose of the present invention is therefore to achieve a distributor device, for the mass distribution of objects located therein, which allows them to be automatically managed completely and reliably, both in the distribution step, the storage step and the supply step.

Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve a distributor device which will reduce to a minimum the possible interference due to metal parts and electric, electromechanical and electronic components. Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve a distributor device which can be washed and sterilized simply and effectively with industrial washing and sterilization plants, without any risk of functional damage to the parts.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

An automatic distributor device according to the present invention is applied for the mass distribution of objects provided with relative electronic identification means, such as for example TAG RFID or others, hereafter denoted generically only as TAG RFID. In accordance with the above purpose, the device according to the present invention comprises at least a frame, completely made of nonmagnetic material and defining at least an internal containing compartment, and at least a transmission-reception member, such as for example an antenna, disposed inside each containing compartment and able to detect the signals emitted by the relative TAG RFID mounted on the objects.

According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the device comprises at least a containing drawer completely made of nonmagnetic material and able to define a specific housing sector in which the objects are able to be

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disposed and maintained in a predetermined order of efficient reading by the antenna of the signals emitted by the relative TAG RFID.

Each containing drawer is open upward and is slidingly associated with the frame, so that it can be selectively positioned between a first position inside the containing compartment, able to prevent the objects from being removed or inserted, and a second position, at least partly outside the containing compartment, able to allow the objects to be removed or inserted from above.

The device also comprises opening means, completely disposed in a rear zone of the frame, and able to cooperate with a rear wall of the containing drawer so as to effect thereon at least a thrust able to take it automatically from said first position to said second position.

With the present invention said characteristic drawer allows the objects to be removed and inserted only from above, limiting to a minimum the possibility that the removal or loading of the object disposed higher up might accidentally cause the displacement of one or more of the objects underneath.

This solution is particularly advantageously if the antenna and the TAG RFID provided must always be kept with a reciprocally parallel position, or substantially parallel, so as to guarantee the best interchange of data.

Furthermore, unlike the panel, the drawer does not need metal parts since also the possible guides that slide with respect to the frame can be completely made of nonmagnetic material, thus substantially eliminating the possible interference of the electromagnetic field of reception of the antenna of the signals emitted by the

TAG RFID.

The complete absence of metal parts in the drawer means that it can be washed even with normal industrial washing plants, without risk of damage.

Another advantage of the distributor device according to the present invention is that the opening means, since it is disposed in a rear zone of the frame, even if it comprises electromechanical elements or other, does not generate particular interference with the reception field of the antenna of the signals emitted by the TAG RFID.

In fact the electric cabling is made directly in the rear zone of the frame, substantially without affecting the containing drawer and the relative housing sector.

In a preferential form of embodiment, the antenna is disposed substantially parallel to the direction of removal of the drawer, and is associated with an upper or lower wall of the frame. In this way, every time the drawer is opened and closed, the TAG RFID cross the bulk of the relative antenna completely, passing through the electromagnetic reception field, both during opening and also during closing of the drawer.

With this solution we therefore have a systematic control of the objects contained every time the drawer is opened and closed, and it is also possible to detect all the TAG RFID present in the drawer, irrespective of their position inside the housing sector.

Thanks to the great reliability and accuracy of detection given by the containment in drawers of the objects, it is possible to further automate the distributor device according to the present invention, consequently reducing possible errors in loading and removing the objects, and possible deficiencies or excesses in supply.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: - fig. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a distributor device according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a front view, partly in section, of the distributor device in fig. 1;

- fig. 3 shows a section from III to III in fig. 2;

- fig. 4 shows a section from IV to IV in fig. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF

EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, a distributor device, hereafter more simply distributor 10 according to the present invention, is applied for the mass distribution of objects. In this case, the objects distributed are of the type usable in the medical/ hospital field, such as for example clothes such as gowns 11, gloves, caps, trousers or others, on each of which a specific identification TAG RFID 12 is heat welded. In a substantially known manner, each TAG RFID contains and

transmits a plurality of information concerning the garment to which it is heat welded, for example the type, size, color or other.

In this case, the distributor 10 comprises a frame 13 substantially cubic in shape and defining an internal containing compartment 15 open at the front, in which four containing drawers 16 are slidingly disposed, substantially all the same and able to selectively close the front aperture of the internal compartment

15.

Both the frame 13 and the four containing drawers 16, and also other elements explained in detail hereafter, such as wheels 27, sliding guides 29, horizontal divisions 17 and vertical divisions 19, are made completely of nonmagnetic material, for example plastic.

The device 10 also comprises a plurality of antennas 20, in this case two, both fixed to the horizontal division 17, so that each of them emits an electromagnetic reception field which affects vertically a relative pair of containing drawers 16 disposed respectively above and below said antenna 20.

Each antenna 20 has an electric power of about at least IW, and is able to detect the signals emitted by the TAG RFID 12 heat welded to the objects, including the gowns 11, contained in the relative vertical pair of containing drawers 16, according to their sizes, so that antennas 20 with higher powers can also be provided.

Advantageously, the antennas 20 extend with a usable surface compared with the surface of the relative containing drawers 16, so that the electromagnetic reception field emitted by them completely affects the specific housing sectors 21, detecting all the signals emitted by the TAG RFID 12. The antennas 20 are also connected to a control unit 14, through an electric cabling that is advantageously made in correspondence with a rear zone of the frame 13.

Said control unit 14 is able to process the signals detected by the antennas 20 so as to deduct therefrom data relating to the state of fullness of the individual containing drawers 16. In this way, depending on predetermined programmed or programmable parameters, the control unit 14 emits specific signals, for example, to command the possible supply of new objects, or an alarm signal in the event of an anomalous removal of the objects.

The control unit 14 is advantageously provided with an interface 18, such as for example a console, which allows a user to display and/or inspect the data processed and to program, at least partly, the control unit 14 itself, to insert or modify the processing parameters. Each containing drawer 16 is traditionally open upward and defines inside a housing sector 21 in which the objects are positioned and maintained in a predetermined order. In this case, the objects are maintained tidily stacked on each other, so that the relative TAG RFID 12 are substantially parallel to each other and to the relative antenna 20. In particular, each containing drawer 16 comprises a lower wall 22, two lateral walls 23, a rear wall 25 and a front wall 26.

The lower wall 23 is substantially parallel to the antenna 20 and to the horizontal division 17, whereas the two lateral walls 23 comprise respective sliding wheels 27, which are able to slide in a substantially known manner inside respective sliding guides 29 made in the internal compartment of the frame 13.

The wheels 27 sliding in the sliding guides 29 allow the selective movement of the containing drawer 16 between a first position inside the internal compartment 15, in which it closes the internal compartment 15 frontally and prevents the gowns 11 or other objects from being removed from or inserted into the housing sector 21, and a second position, at least partly outside or extracted from the internal compartment 15, in which it allows the gowns or other objects to be removed from or inserted into the housing sector 21.

The opening or closing movement of the containing drawer 16 causes the TAG RFID 12 to cross systematically inside the electromagnetic reception field of the antenna 20, so that it is thus possible to monitor the gowns 11 or other objects present in the housing sector 21, contained in every containing drawer 16.

Advantageously, the containing drawers 16 have their respective front wall 26 at least partly transparent so that it is easily possible to inspect visually the objects contained in the respective housing sector 21. The containing drawers 16 are completely made of nonmagnetic material and can be completely removed from the internal compartment 15, which allows them to be washed and sterilized effectively in known traditional industrial plants, substantially without any risk of damage to the parts, thus facilitating the

relative operations.

The device 10 also comprises, for every containing drawer 16, an opening mechanism 30 disposed in a rear zone of the internal compartment 15 of the frame 13, and able to cooperate with the rear wall 25 of the relative containing drawer 16.

In this case, the opening mechanism 30 comprises a spring element 31, electronically commanded, so as to selectively thrust the containing drawer 16 and take it from its first internal position to its second external position.

The disposition of the opening mechanism 30 in association with the rear wall 25 of the containing drawer 16 allows the feed and command cabling thereof to be completely disposed in the rear part of the frame 13, and therefore without affecting the containing drawers 16; this gives the advantage that possible interference with the electromagnetic field of the antennas 20 is reduced, and there can be a single cabling with the feed cables of the antennas 20. The opening mechanism 30 also comprises holding means, not shown, which allows to hold the containing drawer 16 in its first internal position. Consequently, the spring element 31 is suitable to exert a thrust force such as to overcome the holding action actuated by the holding means and to consequently move the containing drawer 16. According to some variants, the holding means may provide, for example, a retractable step positioned on the sliding guide 29 and able to prevent the free sliding of the sliding wheels, or one or more snap-in teeth made in the internal compartment 15 and able to cooperate with the walls 22, 23 or 25 of the containing drawer 16, or a mechanical hook or other. The opening mechanism 30 is also electronically connected to said control unit 14 so that, according to the programming of the latter, the automated opening of a specific containing drawer 16 may be commanded.

In this way the control unit 14, or a user through the interface 18, can intervene to command one or another of the four containing drawers 16 to open. It is also possible to provide the simultaneous opening of two or more containing drawers 16.

The electric connection between the opening mechanism 30 and the control unit 14 is also made in the rear part of the frame 13, to prevent interference with

the electromagnetic field of the antennas 20.

The complete automation of the opening of the containing drawers 16 thus allows to reduce possible human errors in removing and loading the objects.

In fact, if the control unit 14 detects for example a number of gowns 11 below a determinate threshold, a corresponding supply signal will be emitted and, with the programmed times and methods, only the containing drawer 16 in which the gowns 11 are to be placed will be opened. The opening of only the specific containing drawer 16 where the gowns 11 are to be placed promotes the univocal loading of the gowns 11 inside it. During both opening and closing of the containing draw 16 all the TAG RFID 12 present in the housing sector 21 pass through the electromagnetic field of the relative antenna 20, so that the control unit 14 can compare the signals detected by the antenna 20 before and after loading and thus verify that the gowns 11 have actually been loaded. Otherwise the control unit 14 can be programmed to emit a specific error signal.

On the contrary when a gown 11 has to be removed, the user inserts a particular code, also a personal identification code, through the interface 18 and determines the command to open only the containing drawer 16 where the gowns 11 are disposed.

According to a variant the control unit 14 is programmed to provide autonomously the automatic opening of the specific containing drawer 16, for example according to a timer and/or as a consequence of the previous removal of another object and/or the execution of specific operations or other. In this way it is possible to prevent the accidental removal of other clothes from other containing drawers 16, which might cause contamination.

In this case too, both when the containing drawer 16 is opened and when it is closed, all the TAG RFID 12 present in the housing sector 21 pass through the electromagnetic field of the relative antenna 20, so that the control unit 14 can compare the signals detected by the antenna 20 before and after removal, and verify that the gowns 11 were removed in the quantity and manner established.

Otherwise the control unit 14 can be programmed to emit a specific error signal.

It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the device 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the device 10 is formed by a plurality of modules, each consisting of a semi- frame in which two containing drawers 16 are housed, between which a relative antenna is disposed.

It also comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the opening mechanism 30 is also conformed to provide the automated closing of the containing drawers 16, once the objects have been removed or loaded, for example by means of a pneumatic actuator, a gas spring, a belt operatively connected to the sliding wheels 27 or other.

According to a variant, the interface 18 can provide optical, biometric, electromagnetic or other reading systems, to identify the user and/or the command parameters that determine the automatic opening of a specific one of the containing drawers 16.

According to another variant, instead of the sliding wheels 27 there are specific longitudinal ribs, shaped straight, dove-tailed or other, made on the lateral walls 23 of the containing drawer 16 and able to slide in corresponding grooves made on the internal walls of the internal compartment 15 and the vertical division 19.

According to another variant, with every containing drawer 16 servo- movement members are associated, and /or members to damp the movement of opening and/or closing. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of automatic distributor device for objects, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.