EP-4736145-A1 - FEEDER UNIT WITH LOCKING COVER FOR MEDICATION DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract

A locking cover for a feeder unit includes a cover body and a grip, the cover body arranged to substantially cover an open end of the feeder unit; a locking plate connected to the cover body and biased in a locked position; and a locking mechanism comprising a rotating locking tube rotatable from a locked position to an open position allowing the locking plate to slide to an open position.

Inventors

• JOCHEMSEN, CORNELIS JAN

Assignees

• VMI Holland B.V.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240621

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1. A locking cover for a feeder unit, the locking cover comprising: a cover body (104) and a grip (105), the cover body arranged to substantially cover an open end of the feeder unit (2); a locking plate (112) connected to the cover body and biased in a locked position; and a locking mechanism comprising a rotating locking tube (123) rotatable from a locked position to an open position allowing the locking plate (112) to slide to an open position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a rotating locking tube (123) extending from a position adjacent to a part of the locking plate (112) at least partially into the grip (105); and a ferromagnetic rod (126) extending across the rotating locking tube (123) in the part of the rotating locking tube inside the grip (105); wherein the rotating locking tube (123) comprises an interruption (124) to allow movement of the locking plate (112) to an open position when the rotating locking tube (123) is rotated to an open position; and wherein the locking plate (112) comprises a lock pin (125) extending into the rotating locking tube (123) when in a locked position; and wherein when the rotating locking tube (123) is rotated to an open position, the lock pin (125) is able to slide through the interruption (124) such that the locking plate (112) moves to an open position. 2. The locking cover of claim 1, wherein the grip (105) comprises a grip neck (106), and the locking mechanism is at least partially located in the grip neck (106). 3. The locking cover of any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism is biased into a locked position. 4. The locking cover of any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking plate comprises: a catch (118) which engages the feeder unit in a locked position to prevent movement of the locking cover (102) to an open position; and an arm (113) extending from the locking plate (112) for sliding the locking plate into the open position when the locking mechanism is in the open position thereby disengaging the catch (118) from the feeder unit. 5. The locking cover of any of the preceding claims, and further comprising: a key (120) for unlocking the locking mechanism. 6. The locking cover of claim 5, wherein the key comprises: a handle (121); a first arm (122) comprising a first magnet (127) extending from the handle (121); and a second arm (122) comprising a second magnet (127) extending from the handle (121); wherein the first and second arm (122) extend from the handle (121) with an opening between the arms sized to fit around at least a part of the grip (105) such that the first and second magnets (127) are positioned near ends of the ferromagnetic rod (126) in the grip (105). 7. The locking cover of any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (102) is able to rotate around a hinge (103) between the cover body (104) and the feeder unit chamber (101) to open the cover when the locking plate (112) has been moved to an open position. 8. A feeder unit (2) with a locking cover (102) according to any of the preceding claims. 9. A dispensing device (1) comprising: a holding device (3) provided with an array of feeder unit positions arranged adjacently in a plane, wherein the holding device at each of said array of feeder unit positions is provided with a feeder unit (2) of claim 10 with a through opening for passing discharged solid medications there through, a collection frame (4) arranged below the holding device, wherein the collection frame and the holding device are movable with respect to each other, wherein said collection frame is provided with a series of collection trays (41, 41’), said trays have an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction which extends parallel to said plane and over a length of at least two of said through openings, wherein said trays each comprise a receiving opening at a side facing said holding device for capturing said discharged solid medications and each comprises an output, a packing unit (5) arranged for collecting the captured solid medications from the output of a tray and packing said solid medications, and a controller (8) for controlling the working of said system and the feeder units arranged on said holding device (3). 10. A method of forming a locking cover (102) for a feeder unit, the method comprising: forming a cover body (104) to cooperate with an open end of the feeder unit chamber and a grip (105) extending from the cover body (104); connecting a locking plate (112) to the cover body (104) such that the locking plate is biased in a locked position and slidable with respect to the cover body (104); and forming a locking mechanism at least partially in the grip (105), the locking mechanism being rotatable from a locked position keeping the locking plate (112) in the locked position to an open position allowing the locking plate to be slid to an open position; wherein the step of forming a locking mechanism at least partially in the grip (105) comprises: positioning a rotating locking tube (123) of the locking mechanism at least partially inside the grip (105) such that it is rotatable with respect to the grip (105) and extends out of the grip (105) to a position adjacent to a part (125) of the locking plate (112); and positioning a ferromagnetic rod (126) in the rotating locking tube (123) such that the ferromagnetic rod (126) is positioned in the part of the rotating locking tube (123) inside the grip (105); wherein the rotating locking tube (123) comprises an interruption (124) to allow movement of the locking plate (112) to an open position when the rotating locking tube is rotated to an open position; the method further comprising: connecting the locking cover (102) to a feeder unit chamber (101) such that the locking cover (102) can rotate between open and closed positions. 11. A method of unlocking a locking cover rotatably connected to an open end of a feeder unit chamber (101), the method comprising: fitting first and second arms (122) of a key (120) around a grip (105) of the locking cover, each of the first and second arms (122) comprising a magnet (127); rotating the key (120) around the grip (105) to rotate a locking mechanism inside the locking cover (102), the locking mechanism comprising an interrupted rotatable tube (123) with a ferromagnetic rod (126) extending across an inside diameter of the interrupted tube (123), wherein the magnets (127) on the first and second arms (122) of the key (120) move ends of the ferromagnetic rod (126) in the rotating motion to rotate the interrupted rotatable tube (123) from a locked position to an open position where the interruption aligns with a lock pin (125) from a locking plate (112); sliding the locking plate (112) to an open position where the lock pin (125) moves through the interruption (124) in the interrupted rotatable tube (124); and rotating the cover (102) around a hinge (103) to an open position.

Description

FEEDER UNIT WITH LOCKING COVER FOR MEDICATION DISPENSING SYSTEM BACKGROUND A medication dispensing container can hold solid medications, in particular pills, tablets or capsules, and which container is provided with a dispensing mechanism which is arranged for selectively dispensing an amount of said solid medications from an outlet at the bottom side of said container. A dispensing system can accommodate a series of medication dispensing containers, and is arranged for selectively dispensing an amount of said solid medications from one or more medication dispensing containers and for packing said dispensed amount. Such a device and method is, for example, disclosed in each of U.S. Patent No. 5,865,342 and U.S. Pat. No. 10,173,830. U.S. Patent No. 5,865,342 describes a dispensing drum which is arranged at a bottom side of a tablet case, and which lets the medications fall through an outlet from the tabled case as it rotates. The dispensing drum is equipped with a plurality of grooves into which the medications from the tablet case are fed and which let the medication fall there from when they are aligned with the outlet. The dispensing drum is provided with a separating member in such a manner that it juts out into or over the groove aligned with the outlet and is capable of securely retaining a medication thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 10,173,830 describes a dispensing device with a dispensing mechanism which uses separating members, waiting chambers and a detection arrangement for ensuring that the desired amounts of medication are dispensed. A plurality of such medication dispensing containers are used in a system which is arranged for selectively discharging an amount of said medications from one or more medication dispensing containers and for packing said discharged amount. Said system is provided with an array of container positions arranged adjacently in a plane, each of said array of container positions is provided with a holder for one of said medical dispensing containers and with a through opening for passing discharged medication there through. At the through opening a detecting and/or counting arrangement can be included for detecting and/or counting the discharged medication. Before these dispensing containers are placed into the system for use, they are often filled with medicaments and stored until they are needed. As many medicines are costly and/or controlled substances, it is desirable that no unauthorized persons gain access to the medicaments. When dispensing containers are filled in advance, this can mean having to lock the filled containers in a secure storage location, for example a storage locker. However, it can still be difficult to ensure each container is secured against unauthorized access as there is typically a number of containers stored together, and a therefore a number of different people may need access to such a secure storage location. U.S. Pat. No. 11,246,800 discloses a lockable canister to prevent drug diversion and unauthorized removal of medication. The canister includes a cover with first and second locking tabs for engaging recesses, and pivoting locking elements pivotably attached to the cover. The locking mechanism includes a magnetic portion to move the locking elements to unlocked positions, and the canister can be unlocked only by placing the canister housing and canister cover into a cover removal fixture. Such a fixture includes a base to receive the canister and first and second arms extending from the base, each with magnets for engaging the first and second locking mechanisms in the canister cover and unlocking them. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect, a locking cover for a feeder unit comprises a cover body and a grip, the cover body arranged to substantially cover an open end of the feeder unit; a locking plate connected to the cover body and biased in a locked position; and a locking mechanism comprising a rotating locking tube rotatable from a locked position to an open position allowing the locking plate to slide to an open position. The locking mechanism can be, for example, a magnetic locking mechanism though in other embodiments it could be a sliding lock with solenoid, worm gear or other blocking element. Such a locking cover provides a simple mechanical way of ensuring that the locking cover stays locked to the feeder unit when desired, thereby preventing access to the contents inside the feeder unit, but can also be easily rotated to an open position when needed. The simple mechanical design within the locking cover allows for easily connecting the locking cover to any feeder unit such that it can work with and interact with dispensing system in the same manner as non-locking covers. The simple design also ensures it is not complicated and/or expensive to manufacture and/or maintain, and even existing containers could be retrofitted to working with the locking cover. While the locking cover is described in relation to covering a