RFID ENABLED CABINET HAVING TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED DRAWER

摘要

An automated system and associated method for storing items comprises a cabinet having at least one refrigerated drawer using a temperature control device and a non-temperature controlled drawer. The drawer design is such that temperature gradients throughout the drawer are minimized. Faraday cages are provided about each drawer to support separate RFID readers to monitor the items in each drawer. The temperature-controlled drawer is insulated so that adjacent non-temperature controlled drawers are not significantly affected by the temperature of the temperature-controlled drawer and they may exist at room temperature. An automatic RFID data detection system determines the temperature requirements of medical items in the temperature-controlled drawer and controls the temperature control device to maintain the required temperature. A temperature logging system for the temperature controlled drawer is provided. A separate RFID reader determines if a temperature-controlled item has been placed in a non-temperature controlled drawer and if so, an alert is provided.

主权项

1. A cabinet for storing items, the cabinet having a depth and comprising:
a plurality of drawer cavities, each cavity configured to receive a drawer, each cavity having a front opening through which the drawer is moved to a closed position within the cavity and through which each drawer is moved to an open position in which the drawer is at least partially outside of the cavity; an electrically conductive cage formed about a first cavity, the cage having a cage front located at the front opening of the cavity; a plurality of drawers, each of which is received by a respective cavity and which is movable to an open position and to a closed position, with a first drawer being received by the first cavity having the electrically conductive cage; a temperature control device configured to provide temperature control for a single drawer, the temperature control device mounted to at least one of: the first drawer so as to move with the drawer; and at a fixed position in relation to the first cavity; a second cavity adjacent the first cavity, the second cavity having no temperature control device and being at ambient temperature; thermal insulation disposed between the first and second cavities, the thermal insulation located and configured to inhibit cooling provided by the temperature control device of the first cavity from reaching a drawer that is located in the second cavity; and an RFID reader disposed within the first cavity and configured to read RFID tag data from an RFID tag located within the first drawer.