Omnicell has been granted a patent for a climate-controlled drawer with compartments and lids. The drawer includes insulation, a refrigeration system, dividers, actuators, and an air flow channel. The refrigeration system is located outside the climate-controlled interior, while the evaporator is inside. The actuators unlock the compartments, and the air flow channel is located beneath the drawer’s insulation panel. GlobalData’s report on Omnicell gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Omnicell, Automated drug dispensing systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Omnicell's grant share as of September 2023 was 61%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Climate-controlled drawer with refrigeration system, compartments, and actuators
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11732955B2) describes a climate-controlled drawer with various features. The drawer includes insulation that creates a climate-controlled interior, along with a refrigeration system that consists of a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The compressor and condenser are located outside the climate-controlled interior, while the evaporator is placed within it. The drawer also features dividers that create compartments within the climate-controlled interior, and lids that cover these compartments.
To lock and unlock the compartments, the drawer is equipped with actuators that are controlled by an electrical interface. These actuators may be located outside the climate-controlled interior. Additionally, the drawer may have lights corresponding to the compartments, which can be controlled through the electrical interface.
The drawer includes an air flow channel that is partially situated within an insulation panel beneath the climate-controlled interior. This channel allows air to be drawn into the drawer through an air inlet at the front, pass through the air flow channel and the condenser, and then be exhausted out of the back side of the drawer. The air inlet is cleverly hidden within a handle at the front of the drawer.
The insulation of the drawer includes a top insulation panel that can slide to provide access to the compartments. In case of any issues with the actuators, an override mechanism is accessible from outside the drawer. This mechanism allows for manual unlocking of the compartments.
The actuators in the drawer are solenoids, and one of the lids is equipped with a lever that can be blocked from rotating by one of the solenoids. This prevents the corresponding lid from opening when the solenoid is not energized.
Lastly, the actuators are mounted on printed circuit boards that are located outside the climate-controlled interior defined by the insulation.
Overall, this patented drawer design offers climate-controlled storage compartments with locking mechanisms, lighting options, and an efficient air flow system.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
