Tablet dispenser and tablet feeder

Abstract

To provide a tablet dispenser capable of dispensing a single tablet and a half tablet at arbitrary timing with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A tablet dispenser comprising: a housing part that includes a tablet outlet allowing tablets to pass, and houses the tablets; a rotor disposed inside the housing part rotatably in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction and provided with at least one guide part configured to guide the tablet inside the housing part to the tablet outlet by rotating the tablet; a division part for dividing the tablets positioned in the guide part; a first passage for dispensing the integer number of tablets passing through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the first direction; and a second passage for dispensing the half tablets passing through the tablet outlet by the rotation of the rotor in the second direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tablet dispensing device and a tablet supplying device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a tablet dispensing device capable of dividing a tablet into half tablets and dispensing it is known. As an example of this type of tablet dispensing device, Patent Document 1 describes a half tablet cutting device including a tablet holding rotor in which a tablet holding path for holding tablets is formed, a tablet discharge path for discharging tablets held by the tablet holding rotor, and a cutter section for cutting the tablets held in the tablet holding path into half tablets. The half tablet cutting device of Patent Document 1 is provided with a bypass valve that is arranged upstream of the cutter section in the rotation direction of the tablet holding rotor, is configured to be openable and closable, and maintains the tablet held in the tablet holding path in the tablet holding path when in a closed state, and discharges the tablet from the tablet holding path to the tablet discharge path when in an open state. The half tablet cutting device of Patent Document 1 dispenses tablets without cutting them by rotating the tablet holding rotor with the bypass valve in an open state, while cutting the tablet into two half tablets (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as half tablets) with the cutter section by rotating the tablet holding rotor with the bypass valve in a closed state, and dispenses the lower half tablet and the upper half tablet after passing through the cutter section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-235200 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The half-tablet cutting device requires a bypass valve that can switch between dispensing a whole tablet (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a whole tablet or an integer number of tablets) or half a tablet, which creates the problem that the configuration for freely dispensing both a whole tablet and half a tablet becomes complicated.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a tablet dispensing device and a tablet supplying device that are simply configured and capable of dispensing either a whole tablet or a half tablet at any desired timing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is a tablet dispensing device comprising: a storage section for storing tablets and having a tablet outlet through which the tablets pass; a rotor arranged inside the storage section so as to be rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and provided with at least one guiding section that guides the tablet inside the storage section to the tablet outlet by rotating it; a dividing section that divides a tablet located in the guiding section into two half tablets; a first passage for dispensing whole tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the first direction; and a second passage for dispensing half tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the second direction.

[0007] According to this configuration, a single tablet and a half tablet can be dispensed at any timing with a simple configuration. Specifically, when the rotor is rotated in a first direction, a single tablet located in the guide section is dispensed through a first passage. Also, when the rotor is rotated in a second direction, a half tablet generated by the dividing section dividing the single tablet located in the guide section is dispensed through a second passage. As described above, according to this configuration, a single tablet and a half tablet can be dispensed at any timing with a simple configuration in which a first passage and a second passage are provided and the rotation direction of the rotor is controlled.

[0008] In one embodiment, the second passage may be provided with an opening and closing portion that is movable between an open position that allows the passage of the half tablet and a closed position that prevents the passage of the half tablet and retains the half tablet.

[0009] According to this simple configuration, each of the single tablet and the half tablet can be dispensed at any timing. When the rotor is rotated in the second direction, the upper half tablet of the two half tablets generated by the dividing unit dividing the single tablet located in the guide unit is supported by the dividing unit, while the lower half tablet of the two half tablets enters the second passage. At this time, the opening and closing unit is set to the open position, and the half tablet that entered the second passage is dispensed through the second passage. Furthermore, when the rotor is further rotated in the second direction from this state, the half tablet supported by the dividing unit enters the second passage. At this time, the opening and closing unit is set to the closed position, and the opening and closing unit holds the half tablet. The half tablet held by the opening and closing unit is dispensed through the second passage by setting the opening and closing unit to the open position at any timing. As described above, according to this configuration, each of the single tablet and the half tablet can be dispensed at any timing by controlling the rotation direction of the rotor and the operation of the opening and closing unit.

[0010] In one embodiment, a detection unit may be provided for detecting the presence or absence of a half tablet held in the opening and closing portion.

[0011] The tablet dispensing device may be attached to a tablet packaging device for use. In such a tablet dispensing device, if the presence or absence of a half tablet held in the opening / closing section cannot be detected, the half tablet may remain in the second passage after the tablet dispensing device is removed from the tablet packaging device. In contrast, according to this configuration, when the tablet dispensing device is removed from the tablet packaging device, if the detection section detects the presence of a half tablet held in the opening / closing section, the opening / closing section is set to the open position to discharge the half tablet from the second passage, thereby preventing the half tablet from remaining in the second passage of the removed tablet dispensing device.

[0012] In one embodiment, the opening / closing portion may extend so as to intersect obliquely with respect to the up-down direction when in the closed position.

[0013] According to this configuration, when the half tablet is held in the opening / closing section, the half tablet is guided to the lowest part of the opening / closing section. Therefore, by setting the height at which the detection section detects the half tablet to the height of the lowest part of the opening / closing section, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy by the detection section.

[0014] A second aspect of the present invention is a tablet supplying device comprising a tablet dispensing device which dispenses tablets, and a tablet packaging device which divides the tablets dispensed from the tablet dispensing device into packages, wherein the tablet dispensing device has a tablet outlet through which the tablets pass, a storage section which stores the tablets, a rotor which is arranged inside the storage section so as to be rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and is provided with at least one guide section which guides the tablet inside the storage section to the tablet outlet by rotating it, and a dividing section which divides the tablet located in the guide section, and the tablet packaging device comprises a first passage for dispensing a single tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the first direction, and a second passage for dispensing a half tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the second direction.

[0015] According to this configuration, a single tablet and a half tablet can be dispensed at any desired timing with a simple configuration.

[0016] A third aspect of the present invention is a tablet dispensing device comprising: a storage section for storing tablets, the storage section having a tablet outlet through which the tablets pass; a rotor arranged inside the storage section so as to be rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and provided with at least one guide section for guiding the tablets inside the storage section to the tablet outlet by rotating them; a dividing section for dividing the tablets located in the guide section into two half tablets; a first passage for dispensing an integral number of tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the first direction; and a second passage for dispensing one of the two half tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the second direction, and configured to dispense the one half tablet into the second passage by rotation of the rotor in the second direction, and then dispense the other of the two half tablets into the second passage.

[0017] According to this configuration, a single tablet and a half tablet can be dispensed at any desired timing with a simple configuration.

[0018] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a tablet dispensing device comprising: a storage section for storing tablets, the storage section having a tablet outlet through which the tablets pass; a rotor arranged inside the storage section so as to be rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and provided with at least one guide section for guiding the tablets inside the storage section to the tablet outlet by rotating them; a dividing section for dividing the tablets located in the guide section into two half tablets; a first passage for dispensing an integral number of tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the first direction; and a second passage for dispensing one of the two half tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the second direction, and configured to dispense the one half tablet into the second passage and then dispense the other of the two half tablets into the first passage by rotation of the rotor in the second direction.

[0019] According to this configuration, a single tablet and a half tablet can be dispensed at any timing with a simple configuration. The tablet dispensing device according to the fourth aspect differs from the tablet dispensing device according to the third aspect in that the other of the two half tablets is dispensed to the first passage instead of the second passage.

[0020] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the second passage may be provided with an opening / closing portion that is movable between an open position that allows the passage of the half tablet and a closed position that prevents the passage of the half tablet and retains the half tablet.

[0021] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a tablet dispensing device comprising: a storage section having a tablet outlet through which the tablets pass and for storing tablets; a rotor arranged inside the storage section so as to be rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, and provided with at least one guide section that guides the tablets inside the storage section to the tablet outlet by rotating them; a dividing section that divides a tablet located in the guide section into two half tablets; and a passage for dispensing an integral tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the first direction, and dispensing the two half tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the second direction, wherein the rotation of the rotor in the second direction is configured to dispense a first half tablet of the two half tablets located below the dividing section into the passage, and then dispense a second half tablet of the two half tablets located above the dividing section into the passage, and after the second half tablet has been discharged from the passage, the first half tablet is discharged from the passage.

[0022] According to this configuration, a single tablet and a half tablet can be dispensed at any desired timing with a simple configuration. Effect of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tablet dispensing device and a tablet supplying device that are capable of dispensing both whole tablets and half tablets at any desired timing with a simple configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a tablet supplying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a tablet cassette of the tablet supplying device shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view of a tablet cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of the tablet cassette shown in FIG. 3, seen obliquely from behind. [Diagram 5] 4 is an exploded perspective view of the tablet cassette shown in FIG. 3, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rotor shown in FIG. 5 . [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a top view of the tablet cassette shown in FIG. 3 with the case, top cover, and divider block removed. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the tablet cassette shown in FIG. 3 with the case, top cover, and divider block removed. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the tablet supplying device shown in FIG. [Figure 10] 4 is a table showing the operation of the rotor and the positions of the opening and closing parts in the dispensing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a first schematic development view of a rotor for illustrating a dispensing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a second schematic development view of the rotor for illustrating the dispensing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a third schematic development view of the rotor for illustrating the dispensing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a fourth schematic development view of the rotor for illustrating the dispensing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a fifth schematic development view of the rotor for illustrating the dispensing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a sixth schematic development view of the rotor for illustrating the dispensing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a top view of a tablet cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention with the case, top cover, and divider block removed; [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a first schematic development of a rotor for illustrating a dispensing operation according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a second schematic development of the rotor for illustrating the dispensing operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a third schematic development view of the rotor for illustrating the dispensing operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21]FIG. 13 is a fourth schematic development view of the rotor for illustrating the dispensing operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. In the drawings, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0026] In addition, for ease of explanation, in the following, terms indicating directions such as "up," "down," "front," "back," and "side" are used assuming a state of normal use, but this is not meant to limit the state of use of the tablet dispensing device of the present invention.

[0027] (First embodiment) [Overall configuration] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tablet supplying device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, the tablet supplying device 1 includes a tablet cassette 2 and a tablet packaging device 3 to which the tablet cassette 2 is attached.

[0028] The tablet cassette 2 is a device for dividing and dispensing tablets. The tablet cassette 2 is attached to a tablet packaging device 3 when in use. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the tablet supplying device 1 has a total of 54 tablet cassettes 2 in 6 rows and 9 columns. The tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment is an example of the tablet dispensing device according to the present invention.

[0029] The tablet packaging device 3 includes a packaging unit 31 arranged at the bottom of the tablet packaging device 3, and a control unit 32. The packaging unit 31 is a packaging unit known to those skilled in the art, which packages tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 2 into a medicine packaging sheet. The control unit 32 in this embodiment is a personal computer in the example shown in Fig. 1. The control unit 32 includes a display unit 321 such as a display, and an input unit 322 such as a keyboard.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the tablet cassette 2 of the tablet supplying device 1 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the tablet packaging device 3 has a mounting part 3a to which the tablet cassette 2 can be detachably attached. The mounting part 3a is provided in a shelf shape on a wall part 3b of the tablet packaging device 3. A first motor 3c for driving a rotor 22 of the tablet cassette 2, which will be described later, is built into the mounting part 3a. The mounting part 3a also has a tablet discharge passage 3d through which tablets that have passed through a tablet outlet 214, which will be described later, of the tablet cassette 2 pass. On both sides of the tablet discharge passage 3d, a counting sensor (not shown) is provided for detecting tablets discharged to the outside from the tablet outlet 214 among the tablets contained in the case 212 of the cassette main body 21, which will be described later. The tablet discharge passage 3d is connected to a tablet drop path 3e provided on the back surface of the wall part 3b. The lower end of the tablet drop path 3e is connected to a packaging unit 31 (shown in FIG. 1). This allows the tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 2 to be packaged by the packaging unit 31. One tablet discharge passage 3d is provided for each tablet cassette 2, and tablets that have passed through each tablet discharge passage 3d are discharged to a tablet drop path 3e.

[0031] [Tablet cassette configuration] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment as viewed obliquely from the front, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment as viewed obliquely from the rear.

[0032] 3 and 4, the tablet cassette 2 of this embodiment includes a cassette body 21 that stores a large number of tablets. The cassette body 21 includes a base 211, a case 212 fixed to the base 211, and an upper cover 213 rotatably attached to the case 212. The tablets are stored in the case 212 of the cassette body 21. The case 212 according to this embodiment is an example of a storage section according to the present invention.

[0033] 4, the cassette body 21 has a tablet outlet 214 for dispensing the tablets stored inside the case 212 to the outside of the tablet cassette 2. Specifically, the tablet outlet 214 is formed in the case 212 and is an opening exposed to the outside of the cassette body 21.

[0034] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment, as viewed obliquely from the front.

[0035] 5, the tablet cassette 2 of this embodiment includes a rotor 22 accommodated inside a cassette body 21, and a transmission mechanism 23 for transmitting a driving force from a first motor 3c (shown in FIG. 2) to the rotor 22. The rotor 22 is rotatable about a rotation axis C by the driving force transmitted from the transmission mechanism 23.

[0036] In the following description, the direction in which the rotation axis C extends may be simply referred to as the axial direction, the radial direction of a virtual circle centered on the axial direction may be simply referred to as the radial direction, and the circumferential direction of the virtual circle may be simply referred to as the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the rotation axis C extends along the up-down direction. Therefore, in the following description, one side in the axial direction may be referred to as the upper side or upper side, and the other side in the axial direction may be referred to as the lower side or lower side.

[0037] In the following description, in the rotation about the rotation axis C, the clockwise direction as viewed from above may be referred to as the forward direction, and the counterclockwise direction as viewed from above, i.e., the direction opposite to the forward direction, may be referred to as the reverse direction. Also, in the following description, the rotation in the forward direction about the rotation axis C may be simply referred to as the forward rotation, and the rotation in the reverse direction about the rotation axis C may be simply referred to as the reverse direction. The forward direction in this embodiment is an example of the second direction according to the present invention, and the reverse direction in this embodiment is an example of the first direction according to the present invention.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 5, the base 211 of the cassette body 21 in this embodiment is substantially U-shaped with an opening at the rear (tablet outlet 214 side) when viewed from above. The upper side of the base 211 is open, and a case 212 of the cassette body 21 is fixed to the upper side of the base 211 so as to cover the upper opening of the base 211. The tablet cassette 2 is attached to the tablet packaging device 3 (shown in Fig. 2) by mounting the base 211 to the mounting part 3a (shown in Fig. 2).

[0039] The case 212 of this embodiment includes an insertion section 212a into which tablets are inserted, and a bottomed cylindrical tube section 212b configured to cover the rotor 22 from the radially outer side in the circumferential direction. The case 212 is semi-transparent so that the stored tablets can be visually observed from the outside. The insertion section 212a is open at the top. The upper opening of the insertion section 212a can be opened and closed by an upper lid 213. The case 212 of the cassette body 21 of this embodiment is fixed to the base 211 so as to cover the upper opening of the base 211.

[0040] The rotor 22 in this embodiment is substantially cylindrical. The rotor 22 is disposed in the tubular portion 212b of the case 212. As a result, the rotor 22 is covered from the radial outside by the tubular portion 212b of the case 212. The rotor 22 is also mechanically connected to the transmission mechanism 23 housed in the base portion 211. The rotor 22 rotates about the rotation axis C by transmitting a rotational driving force from the first motor 3c (shown in FIG. 2) via the transmission mechanism 23. The rotor 22 is rotatable in both the forward and reverse directions.

[0041] The tablet cassette 2 includes a partition block 24 disposed radially outside the rotor 22. The partition block 24 has an inner surface that is generally arc-shaped in plan view and configured to cover a portion of the circumference of the rotor 22 from the radial outside. The partition block 24, together with the cylindrical portion 212b of the case 212, covers the rotor 22 from the radial outside over the entire circumference. The partition block 24 is provided with a connector 24a that is electrically connected to the tablet packaging device 3 when the cassette body 21 is attached to the tablet packaging device 3 and that reads information on the tablet cassette 2. Instead of the connector, a reading method using a wireless communication method such as an RFID chip may be adopted. In addition, the partition block 24 is provided with a cutter portion 241 for dividing tablets in a guide path 223 described later and a plate-shaped partition portion 242 for restricting the entry of tablets to the lowest portion of the guide path 223 described later.

[0042] The cutter portion 241 protrudes radially inward from the inner surface of the partition block 24. As a result, the cutter portion 241 protrudes from the radially outer side into a lower circumferential groove 225 of the rotor 22, which will be described later. The cutter portion 241 of this embodiment is an example of a dividing portion according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the cutter portion 241 is a so-called outer blade that protrudes from the radially outer side into a guide path 223, which will be described later, but the dividing portion according to the present invention is not limited to this and may be, for example, a so-called inner blade described in JP 2021-7628 A. In addition, the dividing portion according to the present invention may be composed of both an outer blade and an inner blade.

[0043] The partition portion 242 in this embodiment is brush-shaped. The partition portion 242 protrudes radially inward from the inner surface of the partition block 24. As a result, the partition portion 242 protrudes from the radially outward side into an upper circumferential groove 224 (described later) of the rotor 22. In addition, the partition portion 242 is provided in a range in the circumferential direction corresponding to the range in which the tablet outlet 214 is provided.

[0044] 2 and 5, the transmission mechanism 23 includes a rotating shaft 231, a first bearing member 232, a second bearing member 233, and a gear 234.

[0045] An upper end of the rotating shaft 231 is fixed to a rotor body 221 (described later) of the rotor 22. A lower end of the rotating shaft 231 is fixed to a gear 234 mechanically connected to the first motor 3c.

[0046] The gear 234 is configured to mesh with a drive gear driven by the first motor 3c. That is, the gear 234 in this embodiment is a driven gear. As shown in FIG. 4, the gear 234 is provided so as to be exposed to the outside from the cassette body 21.

[0047] The rotating shaft 231 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation axis C by being supported by the first bearing member 232 and the second bearing member 233. When the gear 234 is driven by the first motor 3c, the rotating shaft 231 rotates about the rotation axis C. In detail, when the gear 234 is driven, the rotating shaft 231 rotates forward or reverse about the rotation axis C. When the rotating shaft 231 rotates forward, the rotor 22 rotates forward about the rotation axis C. When the rotating shaft 231 rotates reversely, the rotor 22 rotates reversely about the rotation axis C.

[0048] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rotor 22 according to this embodiment. Referring to Fig. 6, the rotor 22 includes a cylindrical rotor body 221 and a substantially conical cap 222 attached to the upper side of the rotor body 221.

[0049] The rotor 22 of this embodiment is provided with six guide paths 223 (only three are shown in FIG. 6) formed on the outer surface of the rotor body 221 and extending in the axial direction. The guide paths 223 of this embodiment are groove-shaped recessed radially inward from the outer surface of the rotor body 221. The six guide paths 223 of this embodiment are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. That is, the six guide paths 223 of this embodiment are provided at intervals of 60 degrees around the rotation axis C. Also, the guide path 223 has a width (dimension in the circumferential direction) capable of holding only one tablet. The guide path 223 accommodates tablets lined up in the axial direction. The guide path 223 rotates around the rotation axis C in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor 22 around the rotation axis C. The guide path 223 guides the tablet inside the case 212 to the tablet outlet 214 by rotating around the rotation axis C. The guide path 223 of this embodiment is an example of a guide portion according to the present invention.

[0050] The rotor 22 of this embodiment includes an upper circumferential groove 224 formed on the outer surface of the rotor body 221 and extending in the circumferential direction of the rotor 22. Specifically, the upper circumferential groove 224 is formed on the outer surface of the rotor body 221 over the entire circumference. The upper circumferential groove 224 is formed so as to cross the guide path 223. The axial dimension of the upper circumferential groove 224 is larger than the thickness dimension of the partition portion 242. Since the partition portion 242 is disposed in the upper circumferential groove 224 having an axial dimension larger than the thickness dimension of the partition portion 242, the partition portion 242 does not contact the rotor 22. The upper circumferential groove 224 is formed so that a portion of the guide path 223 located below the upper circumferential groove 224 has a height (axial dimension) capable of holding only one tablet. In this way, by inserting the partition 242 into the upper circumferential groove 224 , the partition 242 restricts the entry of the tablet into the lowermost part of the guide path 223 , that is, the part located below the upper circumferential groove 224 .

[0051] The rotor 22 of this embodiment is provided with a lower circumferential groove 225 formed on the outer surface of the rotor body 221 and extending in the circumferential direction of the rotor 22. The lower circumferential groove 225 is provided on the entire circumference of the rotor 22, below the upper circumferential groove 224. The lower circumferential groove 225 is formed so as to cross the guide path 223. More specifically, the lower circumferential groove 225 is formed so as to pass through the center in the axial direction in a portion of the guide path 223 below the upper circumferential groove 224. The axial dimension of the lower circumferential groove 225 is larger than the thickness dimension of the cutter portion 241. Since the cutter portion 241 is disposed in the lower circumferential groove 225 having an axial dimension larger than the thickness direction of the cutter portion 241, the cutter portion 241 does not contact the rotor 22. The tablet cassette 2 is configured so that the guide path 223 crosses the cutter portion 241 when the rotor 22 rotates about the rotation axis C. As a result, when the rotor 22 rotates about the rotation axis C, the cutter portion 241 can divide a tablet located in the portion of the guide path 223 below the upper circumferential groove 224 into two half tablets.

[0052] Fig. 7 is a top view of the tablet cassette 2 shown in Fig. 3 with the case 212, the top cover 213, and the partition block 24 removed. Fig. 8 is a rear view of the tablet cassette 2 shown in Fig. 3 with the case 212, the top cover 213, and the partition block 24 removed.

[0053] 7 and 8, the tablet cassette 2 of this embodiment includes a cylindrical guide member 25 for guiding a tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 to the tablet discharge passage 3d of the tablet packaging device 3. The inner space of the guide member 25 is divided into a first passage 251 for guiding a single tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 to the tablet discharge passage 3d (shown in FIG. 2) of the tablet packaging device 3, and a second passage 252 for guiding a half tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 to the tablet discharge passage 3d. Specifically, the guide member 25 is provided with a partition wall 253 that divides the inner space of the guide member 25 into the first passage 251 and the second passage 252. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the first passage 251 and the second passage 252 are shown diagrammatically. The first passage 251 and the second passage 252 are arranged at positions corresponding to the tablet outlet 214 in the circumferential direction.

[0054] The first passage 251 dispenses one tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the reverse rotation of the rotor 22. The first passage 251 is disposed downstream of the second passage 252 in the forward rotation direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 7).

[0055] The second passage 252 dispenses half tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the forward rotation of the rotor 22. The second passage 252 is disposed upstream of the first passage 251 in the forward rotation direction. A part of the second passage 252 is disposed downstream of the cutter unit 241 in the forward rotation direction. It is preferable that the circumferential dimension W of the part of the second passage 252 disposed downstream of the cutter unit 241 in the forward rotation direction is larger than the circumferential dimension of the guide path 223. The part of the second passage 252 disposed downstream of the cutter unit 241 in the forward rotation direction corresponds to the discharge (drop) position of the upper half tablet T2 described later.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 8, the second passage 252 is provided with a plate-shaped opening / closing section 26 that opens and closes the second passage 252. The opening / closing section 26 is movable between an open position (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8) that allows the tablet to pass through the second passage 252 and a closed position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 8) that prohibits the tablet from passing through the second passage 252 and holds the tablet. In this embodiment, the opening / closing section 26 is configured to rotate between the open position and the closed position. The opening / closing section 26 is mechanically connected to the second motor 26a and is driven by the second motor 26a. The opening / closing section 26 may be configured to slide between the open position and the closed position. In this embodiment, when the opening / closing section 26 is in the closed position, the opening / closing section 26 extends so as to cross obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. Therefore, when the opening / closing section 26 is in the closed position, the tablet that has entered the second passage 252 is guided downward along the opening / closing section 26 and held in the lowest part of the opening / closing section 26. The opening / closing unit 26 may be driven by a solenoid actuator instead of the second motor 26a.

[0057] The tablet cassette 2 includes a first detection sensor 27 for detecting tablets dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 and entering the tablet discharge passage 3d of the tablet packaging device 3, and a second detection sensor 28 for detecting tablets held in the second passage 252 by the opening / closing unit 26. The first detection sensor 27 is disposed below the lower end of the partition wall 253 of the guide member 25. The second detection sensor 28 is disposed above the first detection sensor 27. The second detection sensor 28 is disposed at a height corresponding to the lowest part of the opening / closing unit 26 in the closed position. The first detection sensor 27 of this embodiment is a transmissive photosensor having a light emitting unit 27a and a light receiving unit 27b. The second detection sensor 28 of this embodiment is a reflective photosensor. The guide member 25 and the opening / closing unit 26 are translucent to the light emitted by the first detection sensor 27 and the second detection sensor 28. The second detection sensor 28 of this embodiment is an example of a detection unit according to the present invention.

[0058] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the tablet supplying device 1 of this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 9, the control unit 32 of the tablet packaging device 3 includes a control unit 323. The control unit 323 is electrically connected to the first motor 3c, the second motor 26a, the first detection sensor 27, and the second detection sensor 28. The control unit 323 receives a dispensing instruction from the user, a detection result of the first detection sensor 27, and a detection result of the second detection sensor 28. The dispensing instruction from the user may be input via the input unit 322, or may be input via a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the tablet packaging device 3. The control unit 323 controls the operation of the first motor 3c and the operation of the second motor 26a based on the dispensing instruction from the user, the detection result of the first detection sensor 27, and the detection result of the second detection sensor 28, thereby dispensing one tablet or half a tablet.

[0059] The control unit 323 may display a warning on the display unit 321 when the second detection sensor 28 detects that there is a tablet held in the opening / closing unit 26 (shown in FIG. 8) when the tablet cassette 2 is removed from the tablet packaging device 3. Furthermore, when the second detection sensor 28 detects that there is a half tablet held in the opening / closing unit 26 when the tablet cassette 2 is removed from the tablet packaging device 3, the control unit 323 may move the opening / closing unit 26 from the closed position to the open position, and discharge the half tablet held in the opening / closing unit 26 from inside the second passage 252 (shown in FIG. 8).

[0060] [Discharge operation] The operation of the tablet cassette 2 when dispensing tablets (hereinafter referred to as dispensing operation) will be described below. The tablet dispensing operation is performed by the control unit 323 controlling the operation of the first motor 3c to control the operation (forward or reverse) of the rotor 22, and controlling the operation of the second motor 26a to control the position (open position or closed position) of the opening / closing unit 26.

[0061] The dispensing operation will be described using an example of an operation when a plurality of half tablets are continuously dispensed (pattern 1), an example of an operation when a plurality of full tablets are continuously dispensed (pattern 2), and an example of an operation when half tablets and full tablets are alternately dispensed (pattern 3). FIG. 10 is a table showing the operation of the rotor 22 and the position of the opening / closing part 26 in patterns 1 to 3. FIG. 11 is a schematic first development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. FIG. 12 is a schematic second development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. FIG. 13 is a schematic third development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. FIG. 14 is a schematic fourth development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. FIG. 15 is a schematic fifth development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. FIG. 16 is a schematic sixth development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. In FIGS. 11 to 16, the left-right direction corresponds to the circumferential direction. 11 to 16, the direction from right to left is the forward rotation direction, and the direction from left to right is the reverse rotation direction.

[0062] 10, in pattern 1, the control unit 323 rotates the rotor 22 in the forward direction with the opening / closing unit 26 positioned in the open position until the number of half tablets to be dispensed (five in the example shown in FIG. 10) have been dispensed. Specifically, the control unit 323 rotates the rotor 22 in the forward direction with the opening / closing unit 26 positioned in the open position until the first detection sensor 27 detects that the number of half tablets to be dispensed have been discharged from the tablet outlet 214.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 11, when the rotor 22 is rotated forward, a tablet located below the partition portion 242 in the guide path 223 is divided into two half tablets T1, T2 when the guide path 223 crosses the cutter portion 241. Of the two half tablets T1, T2, the half tablet T1 located below the cutter portion 241 is dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 through the second passage 252 to the tablet packaging device 3 (shown in Fig. 1). This causes the first half tablet to be dispensed. On the other hand, of the two half tablets T1, T2, the half tablet T2 located above the cutter portion 241 is supported by the cutter portion 241 and held in the guide path 223.

[0064] When the rotor 22 is further rotated in the normal direction from the state shown in FIG. 11 and the guide path 223 is moved to a position displaced from the cutter portion 241 in the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. 12, the half tablet T2 held in the guide path 223 is dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 through the second passage 252 to the tablet packaging device 3. This causes the second half tablet to be dispensed. The third and subsequent half tablets are dispensed by repeating the dispensing operation of the first and second half tablets. After the fifth (odd-numbered) half tablet is dispensed, as shown in FIG. 11, the half tablet T2 supported by the cutter portion 241 remains in the guide path 223. This half tablet T2 may be dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 to the second passage 252 by further rotating the rotor 22 in the normal direction and moving the guide path 223 to a position displaced from the cutter portion 241 in the circumferential direction after the opening / closing portion 26 is moved from the open position to the closed position. The half tablets T2 dispensed into the second passage 252 are not dispensed into the tablet packaging device 3, but are retained within the second passage 252 by the opening / closing part 26 in the closed position.

[0065] 10, in pattern 2, the control unit 323 reverses the rotor 22 until one tablet of the number to be dispensed (five in the example shown in FIG. 10) is dispensed. Specifically, the control unit 323 reverses the rotor 22 until the first detection sensor 27 detects that one tablet of the number to be dispensed has been discharged from the tablet outlet 214. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the opening / closing unit 26 is always maintained in the open position, but may be maintained in the closed position. When the second detection sensor 28 detects that there is a half tablet held by the opening / closing unit 26, the control unit 323 controls the second motor 26a to maintain the opening / closing unit 26 in the closed position.

[0066] 13, when the rotor 22 is rotated in the reverse direction and the guide path 223 is aligned with the tablet outlet 214 in the circumferential direction, the tablet T located below the partition 242 in the guide path 223 is dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 through the first passage 251 to the tablet packaging device 3. At this time, the remaining tablets in the guide path 223 are held in the guide path 223 by the partition 242. The second and subsequent tablets are dispensed by repeating the first dispensing operation.

[0067] 10, in pattern 3, control unit 323 controls the operation of rotor 22 and the position of opening / closing unit 26 so as to alternately dispense half tablets and full tablets. Specifically, in pattern 3, control unit 323 controls the operation of rotor 22 and the position of opening / closing unit 26 so as to dispense half tablets at the first, third, and fifth positions, and to dispense full tablets at the second and fourth positions.

[0068] First, the first half tablet is dispensed by rotating the rotor 22 in the normal direction in the same manner as the first half tablet in pattern 1 (see FIG. 11).

[0069] 14, after the opening / closing unit 26 is moved to the closed position, the rotor 22 is further rotated in the forward direction to move the guide path 223 to a position circumferentially offset from the cutter unit 241, thereby dispensing the upper half tablet T2 from the tablet outlet 214 to the second passage 252. The half tablet T2 dispensed to the second passage 252 is not dispensed to the tablet packaging device 3, but is retained in the second passage 252 by the opening / closing unit 26 in the closed position.

[0070] Furthermore, the rotor 22 is rotated in the reverse direction from the state shown in Fig. 14. When the guide path 223 is aligned with the tablet outlet 214 in the circumferential direction as shown in Fig. 15, the tablet T in the guide path 223 is dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 through the first passage 251 to the tablet packaging device 3. As a result, the second tablet is dispensed. At this time, the opening / closing part 26 is maintained in the closed position, and the half tablet T2 remains held in the second passage 252.

[0071] 16, when the rotor 22 is stopped and the opening / closing unit 26 is moved from the closed position to the open position, the half tablet held in the second passage 252 is dispensed by the opening / closing unit 26 to the tablet packaging device 3. As a result, the third half tablet is dispensed.

[0072] The fourth tablet is dispensed by the same operation as the dispensing operation of the second tablet. At this time, in the example shown in Figure 10, the opening and closing part 26 is in the open position, but it may be in the closed position.

[0073] The fifth half tablet is dispensed by a similar operation to that of the first half tablet.

[0074] Regardless of the above patterns 1 to 3, when dispensing a half tablet, the control unit 323 may dispense the half tablet by moving the opening / closing unit 26 from the closed position to the open position when the second detection sensor 28 detects that there is a half tablet held by the opening / closing unit 26. Furthermore, when dispensing a half tablet, the control unit 323 may dispense the half tablet by rotating the rotor 22 forward and dividing the tablet into two half tablets by the cutter unit 241 when the second detection sensor 28 detects that there is no half tablet held by the opening / closing unit 26.

[0075] [effect] The tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment can provide the following advantages.

[0076] According to this embodiment, a single tablet and a half tablet can be dispensed at any timing with a simple configuration. Specifically, when the rotor 22 is rotated in the reverse direction, a single tablet in the guide path 223 is dispensed through the first passage 251. Also, when the rotor 22 is rotated in the forward direction, a half tablet generated by the cutter section 241 dividing the single tablet in the guide path 223 is dispensed through the second passage 252. As described above, according to this configuration, a single tablet and a half tablet can be dispensed at any timing with a simple configuration in which the first passage 251 and the second passage 252 are provided and the rotation direction of the rotor 22 is controlled.

[0077] When the rotor 22 is rotated forward, the upper half tablet of the two half tablets generated by the cutter unit 241 dividing the single tablet in the guide path 223 is supported by the cutter unit 241, while the lower half tablet of the two half tablets enters the second passage 252. At this time, the opening and closing unit 26 is set to the open position, and the half tablet that entered the second passage 252 is dispensed through the second passage 252. Furthermore, when the rotor 22 is further rotated forward from this state, the half tablet supported by the cutter unit 241 enters the second passage 252. At this time, the opening and closing unit 26 is set to the closed position, and the opening and closing unit 26 holds the half tablet. The half tablet held by the opening and closing unit 26 is dispensed through the second passage 252 by setting the opening and closing unit 26 to the open position at any timing. As described above, according to this embodiment, by controlling the rotation direction of the rotor 22 and the operation of the opening and closing unit 26, a single tablet or a half tablet can be dispensed at any timing.

[0078] Furthermore, since the tablet cassette 2 is provided with the first passage 251, the second passage 252, and the opening / closing part 26, it is possible to dispense either a whole tablet or half a tablet at any desired timing using an existing tablet packaging device.

[0079] If it is not possible to detect the presence or absence of a tablet held in the opening / closing section 26, a half tablet may remain in the second passage 252 after the tablet cassette 2 is removed from the tablet packaging device 3. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, when the tablet cassette 2 is removed from the tablet packaging device 3, if the detection section detects that a half tablet is held in the opening / closing section 26, the opening / closing section 26 is set to the open position to discharge the half tablet from the second passage 252, thereby preventing the half tablet from remaining in the second passage 252 of the removed tablet cassette 2.

[0080] According to this embodiment, when the half tablet is held in the opening / closing section 26, the half tablet is guided to the lowest part of the opening / closing section 26. Therefore, by setting the height at which the second detection sensor 28 detects the half tablet to the height of the lowest part of the opening / closing section 26, it is possible to improve the accuracy and precision of tablet detection by the second detection sensor 28.

[0081] Second embodiment The tablet cassette 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The tablet cassette 2 according to the second embodiment differs from the tablet cassette 2 according to the first embodiment in that the first passage 251 dispenses half tablets in addition to whole tablets. In the following description of the tablet cassette 2 according to the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, configurations that are the same as or equivalent to those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. Also, in the second embodiment, descriptions that overlap with those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0082] FIG. 17 is a top view of the tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment with the case 212, the top cover 213, and the partition block 24 removed.

[0083] The first passage 251 according to this embodiment dispenses one tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the reverse rotation of the rotor 22 and the upper half tablet T2 that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the forward rotation of the rotor 22. In the first passage 251 according to this embodiment, the one tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the reverse rotation of the rotor 22 and the upper half tablet T2 that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the forward rotation of the rotor 22 are configured to pass through the same space, but this is not limited thereto. For example, a partition may be provided inside the first passage 251 so that the one tablet that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the reverse rotation of the rotor 22 and the upper half tablet T2 that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the forward rotation of the rotor 22 pass through different spaces. In this case, inside the guide member 25, the space through which a single tablet passes, the space through which the lower half tablet T1 passes, and the space through which the upper half tablet T2 passes may be arranged in the following order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the forward rotation direction of the rotor 22: the space through which the lower half tablet T1 passes, the space through which the upper half tablet T2 passes, and the space through which a single tablet passes.

[0084] The second passage 252 according to this embodiment dispenses only the lower half tablet T1 that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 due to the forward rotation of the rotor 22. With reference to Fig. 17, the second passage 252 according to this embodiment is disposed upstream of the downstream end of the cutter portion 241 in the forward rotation direction as a whole. As a result, when the guide path 223 is aligned with the second passage 252 in the circumferential direction, the upper half tablet T2 is supported by the cutter portion 241, and therefore the second passage 252 according to this embodiment can dispense only the lower half tablet T1.

[0085] The first passage 251 and the second passage 252 of this embodiment may constitute a passage according to a fifth aspect of the present invention.

[0086] In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a part of the second passage 252 may be disposed downstream of the cutter unit 241 in the forward rotation direction. In this case, the circumferential dimension W (shown in FIG. 7) of the part of the second passage 252 disposed downstream of the cutter unit 241 in the forward rotation direction needs to be set so that the upper half tablet T2 is not discharged through the second passage 252 when the guide path 223 is aligned with the second passage 252 in the circumferential direction.

[0087] [Discharge operation] The dispensing operation of the tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment will be described below. The dispensing operation will be described using an example of an operation in which a half tablet is dispensed first, a single tablet is dispensed second, and a half tablet is dispensed third. FIG. 18 is a schematic first development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. FIG. 19 is a schematic second development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. FIG. 20 is a schematic third development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. FIG. 21 is a schematic fourth development view of the rotor 22 for explaining the dispensing operation. In FIGS. 18 to 21, the left-right direction corresponds to the circumferential direction. In FIGS. 18 to 21, the direction from the right to the left is the forward rotation direction, and the direction from the left to the right is the reverse rotation direction.

[0088] As shown in Fig. 18, the control unit 323 (shown in Fig. 9) rotates the rotor 22 in the normal direction with the opening / closing unit 26 in the closed position. When the rotor 22 is rotated in the normal direction, the tablet located below the partition unit 242 in the guide path 223 is divided into two half tablets T1, T2 when the guide path 223 crosses the cutter unit 241. Of the two half tablets T1, T2, the half tablet T1 located below the cutter unit 241 is dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 to the second path 252 when the guide path 223 is aligned with the second path 252 in the circumferential direction. The half tablet T1 dispensed to the second path 252 is held in the second path 252 by the opening / closing unit 26 in the closed position without being dispensed to the tablet packaging device 3 (shown in Fig. 1). On the other hand, of the two half tablets T1, T2, the half tablet T2 located above the cutter portion 241 is supported by the cutter portion 241 and held within the guide path 223.

[0089] Next, as shown in Fig. 19, the control unit 323 further rotates the rotor 22 in the forward direction from the state shown in Fig. 18. When the guide path 223 is aligned with the first passage 251 in the circumferential direction, the upper half tablet T2 is dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 through the first passage 251 to the tablet packaging device 3. This causes the first half tablet to be dispensed. Note that in this embodiment, the rotor 22 does not stop at the position shown in Fig. 18, but rotates continuously until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 19. This simplifies the rotation control of the rotor 22.

[0090] Next, the control unit 323 reverses the rotor 22 from the state shown in Fig. 19. When the guide path 223 is aligned with the tablet outlet 214 in the circumferential direction as shown in Fig. 20, the tablet T in the guide path 223 is dispensed from the tablet outlet 214 through the first passage 251 to the tablet packaging device 3. This causes the second tablet to be dispensed. At this time, the opening / closing unit 26 is maintained in the closed position, and the half tablet T1 remains held in the second passage 252.

[0091] Thereafter, the control unit 323 stops the rotor 22 and moves the opening / closing unit 26 from the closed position to the open position, as shown in Fig. 21. When the opening / closing unit 26 moves to the open position, the half tablet T1 held in the second passage 252 by the opening / closing unit 26 is dispensed to the tablet packaging device 3. As a result, the third half tablet is dispensed. In this embodiment, after the half tablet T2 above the cutter unit 241 of the two half tablets T1, T2 is dispensed through the first passage 251, the half tablet T1 below the cutter unit 241 of the two half tablets T1, T2 is dispensed through the second passage 252.

[0092] [effect] The tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment can achieve the same effects as the tablet cassette 2 according to the first embodiment.

[0093] In the tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment, the first passage 251 is configured to dispense the lower half tablet T1 of the two half tablets T1, T2 into the second passage 252, and then dispense the upper half tablet T2 that has passed through the tablet outlet 214 by further rotation of the rotor 22 in the normal direction. With this configuration, with the opening / closing unit 26 in the closed position, it is possible to dispense one of the two half tablets and hold the other half tablet in the second passage 252 without dispensing it by simply controlling the rotor 22 to rotate in the normal direction until the rotor 22 is aligned with the first passage 251 in the circumferential direction. In other words, in the tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment, in the control for dispensing one of the two half tablets and holding the other half tablet in the second passage 252 without dispensing it, it is not necessary to control the operation of the opening / closing unit 26 during the normal rotation of the rotor 22. In other words, the tablet cassette 2 of this embodiment does not require complex control as in the first embodiment, which controls the operation of the opening / closing section 26 between the dispensing of the lower half tablet T1 and the dispensing of the upper half tablet T2, and with simple control, one of the two half tablets can be dispensed while the other half tablet is retained in the second passage 252 without being dispensed.

[0094] In the tablet cassette 2 according to this embodiment, dispensing of a single tablet T by reverse rotation of the rotor 22 and dispensing of the upper half tablet T2 by forward rotation of the rotor 22 are performed through the first passage 251. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a space in the second passage 252 for dispensing the upper half tablet T2 by forward rotation of the rotor 22. As a result, the circumferential dimension of the second passage 252 can be made smaller than when the second passage 252 has a space for dispensing the upper half tablet T2 by forward rotation of the rotor 22.

[0095] The tablet cassette 2 according to the first and second embodiments may be configured as follows.

[0096] The tablet cassette 2 does not necessarily have to have the first detection sensor 27 and the second detection sensor .

[0097] The opening and closing portion 26 may extend horizontally when in the closed position.

[0098] The first passage 251, the second passage 252, and the opening / closing unit 26 may be provided in the tablet packaging device 3 instead of the tablet cassette 2. In this case, the first passage 251, the second passage 252, and the opening / closing unit 26 may be provided in the tablet discharge passage 3d. In this case, the first detection sensor 27 and the second detection sensor 28 may be provided in the tablet discharge passage 3d, and the guide member 25 may be omitted. In this case, the first passage 251 and the second passage 252 provided in the tablet discharge passage 3d may constitute a passage according to the fifth aspect of the present invention.

[0099] In the first and second embodiments, an example has been described in which the second motor 26a, the first detection sensor 27, and the second detection sensor 28 are provided in the tablet cassette 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. Electrical components such as the second motor 26a, the first detection sensor 27, and the second detection sensor 28 may be provided in the tablet packaging device 3.

[0100] For example, in the first embodiment, the groove-shaped guide path 223 has been described as an example of the guide part according to the present invention, but the guide part according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the guide part according to the present invention does not have to be a groove provided on the outer surface of the rotor 22, but may be a passage provided inside the rotor 22, or may be a protrusion provided on the outer surface of the rotor 22 for holding a tablet.

[0101] The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and variations and modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 1 Tablet supply device 2 Tablet Cassettes 21 Cassette body 211 Base 212 cases 212a Input section 212b Cylinder part 213 Top lid 214 Tablet Exit 22 Rotor 221 Rotor body 222 Cap 223 Guideway (Guide) 224 Upper circumferential groove 225 Lower circumferential groove 23 Transmission Mechanism 231 Rotating Shaft 232 First bearing member 233 Second bearing member 234 Gears 24 Partition Block 24a Connector 241 Cutter part (split part) 242 Partition 25 Guide member 251 1st aisle 252 2nd aisle 253 Partition Wall 26 Opening and closing section 26a Second motor 27 First detection sensor 27a Light emitting part 27b Light receiving section 28 Second detection sensor (detection section) 3 Tablet packaging device 3a Attachment part 3b wall 3c First motor 3d pill ejection passage 3e Tablet drop path 31 Packaging unit 32 Control Unit 321 Display section 322 Input section 323 Control Unit

Claims

1. a storage section that stores tablets and has a tablet outlet through which the tablets pass; a rotor disposed inside the storage section so as to be rotatable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the rotor having at least one guide section that rotates the tablet inside the storage section to guide the tablet to the tablet outlet; A dividing unit that divides the tablet located in the guide unit into two half tablets; a passage for dispensing whole tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the first direction, and for dispensing half tablets that have passed through the tablet outlet by rotation of the rotor in the second direction; A tablet dispensing device comprising:

2. A motor that drives the rotor; a control unit for controlling the motor; Equipped with The tablet dispensing device described in claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the motor to continuously rotate the rotor in the first direction when continuously dispensing integer tablets through the passage, and controls the motor to continuously rotate the rotor in the second direction when continuously dispensing half tablets through the passage.

3. A tablet dispensing device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the passage dispenses one half tablet out of two half tablets split by the splitting section, while not dispensing the other half tablet out of the two half tablets.

4. A tablet dispensing device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the passage is positioned upstream of the dividing section in the first direction of rotation.

Images