Medicine dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a medicine dispensing device which has a function of reducing human errors in weighing and which further has no need of cleaning a loading hopper and troughs.SOLUTION: In a medicine feeder 10a in use for a medicine dispensing device 1, a container vibration table 11 and a manual medicine container 5a are separate bodies. The container vibration table 11 is installed near distribution trays 7a, 7b. The manual medicine container 5a is provided with a medicine discharge part 20a and a medicine input part 21b. A pharmacist weighs medicine by directly introducing medicine from the medicine input part 21 of the manual medicine container 5a into the manual medicine container 5a. Then, the manual medicine container 5a is moved to be placed on the container vibration table 11 of the body device 2. The container vibration table 11 is vibrated, with the manual medicine container 5a vibrated, and with powder medicine inside moved to the medicine discharge part 20a side to make the powder directly fall onto the distribution trays 7a, 7b from the medicine discharge part 20a. In the medicine dispensing device 1, there are no conventional troughs, so that there is no need for cleaning troughs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug dispensing device and a drug dispensing method for dispensing powdered medicine in doses. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, large hospitals and large pharmacies have introduced powder medicine packaging devices and drug dispensing devices equipped with powder medicine packaging functions. Here, a powder medicine packaging device is a device that packages powder medicine, etc., individually for one dose. By using a powder medicine packaging device, most of the work of packaging powder medicine, etc., for one dose can be automated. The powder medicine packaging device 200 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a device that packages powder medicine individually in single doses, and as shown in Figure 25, has inside a medicine supply device 201, a powder medicine dispensing device 202, and a medicine packaging device 203. A medicine supplying device 201 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is composed of an input hopper 205 and a powder feeder 206, as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 26, the powder feeder 206 has two piezoelectric elements 207 and 208 provided below a trough 210, and vibrates the trough 210.

[0003] 25, the powdered medicine dispensing device 202 is composed of a dispensing plate 212 and a scraping device 215. The dispensing plate 212 has an arc-shaped cross section and a groove 216 that is annular in plan view. The dispensing plate 212 is rotated at a constant speed by a motor 219. The scraping device 215 has a disk 217 that can be raised and lowered and rotated, and a scraper plate 218 is provided on the disk 217.

[0004] The medicine packaging device 203 is composed of a packaging hopper 220 and a packaging device 221 as shown in FIG.

[0005] Next, a procedure for packaging powdered medicine using powdered medicine packaging device 200 will be described. The work of packaging powder medicine is performed by a user such as a pharmacist (hereinafter simply referred to as a pharmacist) who operates the powder medicine packaging device 200 according to a doctor's prescription. That is, the pharmacist checks the doctor's prescription, and takes out the medicine bottle containing the prescribed powder medicine from a medicine shelf (not shown). Then, the pharmacist uses a scale such as a balance to measure the total weight of the specific powder medicine prescribed. That is, if the powder is to be taken three times a day, 1.0 gram per dose is prescribed, and a 20-day supply is prescribed, then (1.0 x 3 x 20 = 60) grams of powder will be taken out. More specifically, the container is placed on a scale and tared, and the powder is removed from the medicine bottle using a medicine spoon, and then placed in the container on the scale, measuring out 60 grams of powder.

[0006] Then, 60 grams of the measured powdered medicine is fed into the feeding hopper 205 of the medicine feeder 201. At the same time, the piezoelectric elements 207, 208 (FIG. 26) of the powder feeder 206 are energized to vibrate the trough 210, and further the distribution plate 212 is rotated at about 20 to 30 revolutions per minute. The powdered medicine put into the input hopper 205 falls from the opening at the bottom of the input hopper 205 into the trough 210 of the powder feeder 206. Then, as the trough 210 vibrates, the powdered medicine slowly moves toward the tip side and is rectified. As the powdered medicine moves on the trough 210, the rectification progresses and the flow of the medicine becomes laminar. That is, the distribution of the medicine in the cross section perpendicular to the flow becomes constant, and the distance the medicine travels per unit time also becomes constant. As a result, 60 grams of powdered medicine is uniformly dispersed and moves slowly toward the tip side at a constant speed per hour. Finally, the powdered medicine moving at the front reaches the tip of the trough 210, and the powdered medicine moving at the front falls from the tip of the trough 210 into the groove 216 of the distribution plate 212. The following powdered medicines fall into the distribution plate 212 at a constant rate per hour. Finally, the last powdered medicine falls into the distribution plate 212, and all 60 grams of the powdered medicine enters the groove 216.

[0007] Meanwhile, since the distribution plate 212 rotates at a predetermined speed, the powdered medicine falling from the trough 210 is evenly distributed into the grooves 216 of the distribution plate 212 . That is, the powder feeder 206 causes the powdered medicine to drop little by little into the distribution dish 212, and since the distribution dish 212 rotates at a constant speed, the powdered medicine is evenly distributed in the grooves 216 of the distribution dish 212.

[0008] When the powdered medicine has finished falling onto the distribution plate 212, the rotation of the distribution plate 212 is temporarily stopped. After that, the disk 217 of the scraping device 215 is dropped into the groove 216 of the distribution plate 212. After that, the distribution plate 212 is rotated by an angle according to the number of pieces to be distributed. In the previous example, since 60 grams of powdered medicine is to be divided into 60 packets, the distribution plate 212 is rotated by (60 / 360) degrees, and the powdered medicine is collected on the front side of the disk 217 by (60 / 360) degrees. Then, the disk 217 is rotated, and the powdered medicine by (60 / 360) degrees is scraped out of the distribution plate 212 by the scraping plate 218 and thrown into the packaging hopper 220. The powdered medicine that has fallen from the packaging hopper 220 is packaged by the packaging device 221.

[0009] As mentioned above, when dividing and packaging powdered medicine, a pharmacist must remove the medicine bottle containing the prescribed powdered medicine and perform a weighing operation using a scale such as a balance to measure the total weight of the specific powdered medicine prescribed. This weighing task does not allow for any errors, so the applicant has completed a system to assist in the task of weighing out the total weight of powdered medicine, and disclosed it in Patent Document 2.

[0010] The medicine weighing system disclosed in Patent Document 2 is composed of a medicine weighing device that weighs medicines and a powder medicine packaging device that distributes and packages the medicines. The powder medicine packaging device has a configuration substantially the same as that described above, and is also equipped with an RFID reader that reads information from an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag. The drug weighing device employed in the invention of Patent Document 2 is equipped with a balance platform as a weighing means, as well as a barcode reader, and can read the prescription and the type of drug contained in the drug bottle from the barcode attached to the prescription, the label on the drug bottle, etc. The drug weighing device also has an RFID reader / writer, and can read information from and write information to an RFID tag. The medicine weighing device also has a touch panel, which functions as a display means and an input means. In the medicine weighing system disclosed in Patent Document 2, a medicine sheet is used when weighing medicines. The medicine sheet functions as a tray for temporarily holding medicines, and has an RFID tag attached thereto.

[0011] In the medicine weighing system disclosed in Patent Document 2, information regarding dispensing written on a prescription is read into a control device of a medicine weighing device using a barcode reader. The pharmacist then places the medicine sheet on a balance table, places medicine on the medicine sheet, and weighs it using a medicine weighing device. At that time, the barcode attached to the medicine bottle or the like can be read with a barcode reader to confirm that the medicine is the one prescribed. Prescription information, the pharmacist's name, and the type and amount of weighed medicine (hereinafter collectively referred to as dispensing-related information) are written to the RFID tag on the medicine sheet by an RFID reader / writer in the medicine weighing device.

[0012] The pharmacist then carries the medicine sheet on which the weighed medicines are placed to a powder medicine packaging device, and deposits the medicines into the feeding hopper of the powder medicine packaging device. In addition, information about dispensing is read into the medicine packaging device from the RFID tag on the medicine sheet. The powder medicine packaging device packages the powder medicine according to the information obtained from the RFID tag. Therefore, from then on, the medicines put into the hopper are divided into individual packets and packaged by the powder medicine packaging device.

[0013] Moreover, Patent Document 3 discloses a powdered medicine packaging device having a function of automatically cleaning the distribution tray 212. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0014] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-85703 A [Patent Document 2] WO2013 / 154202 A1 Publication [Patent Document 3] JP 2007-229456 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] The medicine weighing system disclosed in Patent Document 2 eliminates human error when weighing medicine. In addition, by using the cleaning means described in Patent Document 3 in combination, the distribution tray can be cleaned after the packaging work is completed. However, even if the cleaning means described in Patent Document 3 is adopted, pharmacists and the like are not freed from the task of cleaning the medicine packaging device. That is, the medicine supplying device 201 employed in the powder medicine dispensing and packaging device 200 of the prior art is composed of the input hopper 205 and the powder feeder 206 as described above. The medicine is then poured into the feeding hopper 205 , falls from an opening at the bottom of the feeding hopper 205 into the trough 210 of the powder feeder 206 , travels along the trough 210 and falls from the tip of the trough 210 into the groove 216 of the distribution dish 212 .

[0016] In this way, when the medicine is packaged, the medicine passes not only through the distribution plate 212 but also through the input hopper 205 and the trough 210, and there is a possibility that the medicine will remain in the input hopper 205 and the trough 210. Therefore, in order to completely prevent contamination of the medicine, not only the distribution plate 212 but also the input hopper 205 and the trough 210 must be cleaned. However, this work is tedious and improvements are needed.

[0017] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine dispensing device which does not require cleaning of the input hopper and trough. The present invention also provides a medicine dispensing device having neither a medicine shelf area nor a robot. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] One aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a drug dispensing method for a drug dispensing device comprising a main unit, a drug weighing device, and a manual drug container, wherein the main unit has a distribution tray, a plurality of container vibrating tables which are installed near the distribution tray and which are manually moved and placed on the manual drug container, and a main unit side information reading means, the manual drug container has an information recording member on which information relating to the dispensing of powdered medicine contained therein is written by an information writing means provided in the drug weighing device, and the powdered medicine weighed by the drug weighing device is manually inserted, the drug dispensing method comprising: reading the information written on the information recording member by the main unit side information reading means; determining a container vibrating table to which the manual drug container is to be attached from the plurality of container vibrating tables based on the information read; and discharging the powdered medicine in the manual drug container onto the distribution tray by the determined container vibrating table. In a preferred embodiment, when there are two distribution trays, each of which has multiple container vibrating tables, the drug dispensing method includes the operations of reading the information written in the information recording member with an information reading means on the main body, determining which of the two distribution trays to use, and determining which of the multiple container vibrating tables near the determined distribution tray to attach the manual drug container to. In a further preferred embodiment, the main device further includes a weight measuring means provided on the container vibration table, and the method for dispensing medicine according to claim 1 or 2 includes the steps of: putting powdered medicine into a manual medicine container; placing the manual medicine container on the container vibration table of the main device while the powdered medicine is still in the manual medicine container; vibrating the manual medicine container on the container vibration table; discharging the powdered medicine from the manual medicine container onto a distribution tray; and detecting a change in weight of the powdered medicine discharged from the manual medicine container by the weight measuring means. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a drug dispensing device comprising a main body device and a manual drug container, the manual drug container having a lid and a drug discharge section, the main body device having a container vibrating table on which the manual drug container is placed and vibrated, and a powdered drug dispensing device, the powdered drug dispensing device being capable of dividing the powdered drug supplied from the manual drug container into individual doses, the manual drug container being manually moved to the main body device and placed on the container vibrating table, the manual drug container being vibrated by the container vibrating table, and the powdered drug in the manual drug container being discharged from the drug discharge section of the manual drug container. A preferred embodiment is a drug dispensing device which further has a weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the manual drug container, and which includes an operation in which the manual drug container is placed on a container vibrating table, the manual drug container is vibrated on the container vibrating table, and when the powdered medicine in the manual drug container is discharged from the drug discharge portion of the manual drug container, a change in weight of the manual drug container is detected by the weight measuring means. In a further preferred embodiment, the manual drug container has a drug insertion section that opens upward based on the position in which it is placed on the container vibration table, a lid is provided on the top of the drug insertion section, and powdered medicine is inserted into the manual drug container by opening the lid. In a further preferred embodiment, the main device further includes a medicine packaging device having a packaging device and a packaging paper supplying device, the medicine packaging device packages powdered medicine divided into single doses and discharged by the powdered medicine dispensing device, and the packaging paper supplying device supplies sheet-shaped packaging paper to the packaging device. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a medicine dispensing device comprising a main unit, a medicine weighing device located away from the main unit, and a manual medicine container for storing medicines other than those stored in the main unit, the main unit being surrounded by a housing, the housing having a medicine shelf area inside, and a container storage device for placing the stored medicine containers in the medicine shelf area, the main unit having a container vibration table for vibrating the manual medicine container, and a powdered medicine dispensing device, the medicine weighing device having a prescription information reading means and a stored medicine information reading means. and a drug dispensing device which, when the contained drug read by the contained drug information reading means corresponds to any of the prescribed drugs read by the prescription etc. information reading means, selects the prescribed drug as the drug to be weighed and is capable of weighing the selected drug by the drug weighing device, manually pours the weighed drug into a manual drug container, manually moves the manual drug container to the main device, places the manual drug container on a container vibrating table, vibrates the manual drug container on the container vibrating table, and discharges the drug from the manual drug container to a powdered drug dispensing device. A preferred embodiment is a drug dispensing device further comprising a drug container temporary placement section provided in the main body device, and a robot for moving manual drug containers, in which the manual drug containers are manually moved to the main body device, and then manually attached to the drug container temporary placement section and placed on the container vibration table by the robot. In a further preferred embodiment, the medicine dispensing device has a plurality of container vibrating tables, and further has a display device that displays which of the plurality of container vibrating tables is to be used. Another aspect of the present invention, which has been developed to solve the above problems, is a medicine dispensing device comprising a main unit, a medicine weighing device located away from the main unit, and a manual medicine container for containing medicines other than those stored in the main unit, the main unit being surrounded by a housing, the housing having a medicine shelf area inside, and a container storage device for placing the contained medicine containers in the medicine shelf area, the main unit having a container vibration table for vibrating the manual medicine container, and a powdered medicine dispensing device, the medicine weighing device having prescription information reading means and contained medicine information reading means, This drug dispensing device is capable of selecting the prescribed drug as the one to be weighed when the contained drug read by the means corresponds to any of the prescribed drugs read by the prescription information reading means, and weighing the selected drug by the drug weighing device, manually placing a manual drug container on the drug weighing device, manually introducing the selected drug into the manual drug container to weigh the drug, manually moving the manual drug container to the main device, manually placing the manual drug container on a container vibrating table, vibrating the manual drug container on the container vibrating table, and discharging the drug from the manual drug container to a powdered drug dispensing device. In a further preferred embodiment, the manual drug container further has a rewritable information recording member, and the main unit further has a main unit side information reading means, the prescription information recorded on the information recording member is read by the main unit side information reading means, and the prescription information is sent to the main unit in association with the manual drug container. In an even more preferred embodiment, the main device further comprises a container confirmation means for recognizing a manual drug container, and when weighing a drug using the drug weighing device, the container confirmation means reads information identifying the manual drug container, and information associating the prescription information with the information identifying the manual drug container is transmitted from the drug weighing device, the main device receives the associated information, and the container confirmation means individually identifies the manual drug container, and divides and packages the drug in accordance with the prescription information associated with the manual drug container. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a drug dispensing device comprising a main unit, a drug weighing device located away from the main unit, and a manual drug container for containing drugs other than those stored in the main unit, the main unit being surrounded by a housing, the housing having a drug shelf area inside which a container storage device for placing a contained drug container is provided, the main unit having a container vibrating table for vibrating the manual drug container, and a powdered drug dispensing device, the drug weighing device having a contained drug information reading means, the drug weighing device receiving prescribed drugs, and if the contained drug read by the contained drug information reading means corresponds to any of the received prescribed drugs, selecting the prescribed drug as a drug to be weighed and being able to weigh the drug selected by the drug weighing device, the drug dispensing device being capable of manually putting the weighed drugs into the manual drug container, manually moving the manual drug container to the main unit, placing the manual drug container on the container vibrating table, vibrating the manual drug container on the container vibrating table, and discharging the drugs from the manual drug container to the powdered drug dispensing device. In a preferred embodiment, the drug weighing device is a drug dispensing device that includes an operation of receiving prescribed drugs from a prescription computer in which the prescribed drugs have been input. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a medicine dispensing device comprising a main unit, a medicine weighing device located away from the main unit, and a manual medicine container for storing medicines other than those stored in the main unit, the main unit being surrounded by a housing and having a medicine shelf area inside the housing, the medicine shelf area being provided with a container storage device for placing the stored medicine containers, the main unit having a container vibration table for vibrating the manual medicine container and a powdered medicine dispensing device, and being capable of selecting medicines to be weighed based on prescription information and weighing the medicines selected by the medicine weighing device, This is a medicine dispensing device in which a weighed medicine is placed into a manual medicine container, the manual medicine container is manually moved to the main body device, the manual medicine container is placed on a container vibration table, the manual medicine container is vibrated on the container vibration table, and powdered medicine is discharged from the manual medicine container to a powdered medicine dispensing device. A preferred embodiment is a drug dispensing device further comprising a drug container temporary placement section provided in the main device, and a robot for moving manual drug containers, in which the manual drug containers are manually moved to the main device, then attached to the drug container temporary placement section, and placed on the container vibration table by the robot. In a further preferred embodiment, the medicine dispensing device has a plurality of container vibrating tables, and further has a display device that displays which of the plurality of container vibrating tables is to be used. A further preferred embodiment is a medicine dispensing device in which, when weighing medicines with the medicine weighing device, a manual medicine container is placed on the medicine weighing device and medicines are poured into the manual medicine container and weighed. In a further preferred embodiment, the manual drug container further has a rewritable information recording member, the prescription information recorded on the information recording member is read by a main body side information reading means, and the prescription information is sent to the main body side device in association with the manual drug container. In an even more preferred embodiment, the main device further comprises a container confirmation means for recognizing a manual drug container, and when weighing the drug using the drug weighing device, a barcode reader reads information identifying the manual drug container, and information associating the prescription information with the information identifying the manual drug container is transmitted from the drug weighing device. The main device receives the information, and the container confirmation means individually identifies the manual drug container, and the drug dispensing device divides and packages the drug in accordance with the prescription information related to the manual drug container. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a drug dispensing device comprising a main unit, a drug weighing device located away from the main unit, and a manual drug container for containing drugs other than those stored in the main unit, wherein the main unit is surrounded by a housing, the housing has a drug shelf area inside, and a container storage device for placing a contained drug container is provided in the drug shelf area, the main unit has a container vibrating table for vibrating the manual drug container, and a powdered drug dispensing device, and is capable of selecting a drug to be weighed based on prescription information and weighing the selected drug by the drug weighing device, placing the manual drug container on the drug weighing device, introducing the selected drug into the manual drug container to weigh the drug, manually moving the manual drug container to the main unit, placing the manual drug container on the container vibrating table, vibrating the manual drug container on the container vibrating table, and discharging powdered drug from the manual drug container to the powdered drug dispensing device. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a drug dispensing device comprising a main unit, a drug weighing device, and a drug container, wherein the drug weighing device has a weight detection means for detecting the weight of the drug, the main unit has a container vibrating table on which the drug container is placed and vibrated, the drug container has a drug storage section in which the drug is temporarily stored, and a drug discharge section that opens sideways when placed on the container vibrating table of the main unit, and the drug is poured into the drug container and weighed by the weight detection means, the drug container is placed on the container vibrating table of the main unit with the drug still in the drug container, the drug container is vibrated by the container vibrating table, and the drug is discharged from the drug discharge section to a drug distribution device. An invention related to the present invention is a medicine dispensing device comprising a main unit and a medicine container, the main unit having a container vibrating table on which the medicine container is placed and vibrated, a powdered medicine dispensing device, and a robot, the powdered medicine dispensing device having a distribution tray and a scraping device and capable of dividing the powdered medicine supplied to the distribution tray into individual doses, the medicine container having a medicine storage section in which the medicine is temporarily stored and a medicine discharge section, the medicine container containing an amount of medicine equivalent to the total weight of a specific prescribed powdered medicine, the medicine container being placed on the container vibrating table by the robot with the medicine still in the container, the medicine container being vibrated by the container vibrating table, and all of the medicine in the medicine container being discharged from the medicine discharge section of the medicine container into the distribution tray. An invention related to the present invention is a drug dispensing device that has a function of reducing human error during weighing, and is equipped with a separate main unit, a drug weighing device, and a drug container, wherein the drug weighing device has a weight detection means for detecting the weight of the drug, a dispensing information reading means for reading information related to dispensing, and an information writing means and / or a weighing device side information reading means, and the main unit has a container vibration table on which the drug container is placed and vibrated, a drug distribution device that divides powdered medicine into predetermined amounts and divides it into multiple pieces, and a main unit side information reading means, and the drug container has a drug storage section where the drug is temporarily stored, a drug discharge section that opens horizontally when placed on the container vibration table of the main unit, and an information recording member and / or a container identification member, and the drug dispensing device is characterized in that information related to dispensing is sent to the main unit in association with the drug container.

[0019] The medicine dispensing device related to the present invention includes a main body device and a medicine weighing device. The medicine weighing device has substantially the same functions as the medicine weighing device disclosed in Patent Document 2, and includes a weight detection means for detecting the weight of medicine, a dispensing information reading means for reading information related to dispensing, and an information writing means and / or a weighing device side information reading means. The main unit does not have the input hopper and trough used in the conventional technology, but instead has a container vibration table. The medicine dispensing device according to the present invention includes a medicine container. The medicine container includes an information recording member and / or a container identification member. The medicine container also includes a medicine storage section where the medicine is temporarily stored, and a medicine discharge section that opens laterally when the medicine container is placed on the container vibration table of the main unit. In the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, the weighed medicine is placed in a medicine container, and the medicine container is placed in this state on the container vibration table of the main body device. The medicine container is then vibrated on the container vibration table and dropped directly from the medicine discharge section into the medicine dispensing device. The medicine dispensing device of the present invention drops medicines directly from the medicine container and does not have a hopper and trough, so there is no need to clean the hopper and trough.

[0020] The weight detection means of the drug weighing device has a container mounting section on which the drug container is placed, and the weight detection means detects the weight of the drug introduced from the drug input section to the drug storage section of the drug container, and it is desirable that the drug container has a drug input section that opens upward when placed on the container mounting section of the drug weighing device.

[0021] According to this aspect, with the container placed on the container placement section of the medicine weighing device, the medicine can be weighed by adding the medicine through the medicine input section.

[0022] One aspect of the present invention described above is that the main body device has a main body-side information reading means, the drug container has an information recording member, information related to dispensing is recorded on the information recording member, and the information recorded on the information recording member is desirably read by the main body-side information reading means. The drug container may have an information recording member, the information recording member being rewritable, the drug weighing device may have an information writing means, information related to dispensing may be recorded on the information recording member by the information writing means, and the information recorded on the information recording member may be read by a main body side information reading means, so that the information related to dispensing is associated with the drug container and sent to the main body device.

[0023] The main body side information reading means may be a receiving means for receiving a signal, the drug container may have a container identification member, and the drug weighing device may have a weighing device side information reading means, whereby information identifying the drug container is read by the weighing device side information reading means, information related to dispensing and information identifying the drug container are transmitted from the drug weighing device, and the information is transmitted directly or indirectly to the main body device, and the information related to dispensing is received by the main body side information reading means and sent to the main body device in association with the drug container.

[0024] The information related to the preparation that is sent to the main device in association with the medicine container may be configured to include information on the weight of the medicine detected by the weight detection means.

[0025] It is preferable that an iron plate is attached to the bottom of the drug container, and an electromagnet is provided on the container vibration table, and the manual drug container is fixed to the container vibration table by operating the electromagnet. The drug container becomes horizontally long when placed on the container mounting section of the drug weighing device, with one longitudinal end open to form a drug discharge section, and further has a drug input section that opens upward when placed on the container mounting section of the drug weighing device, and it is desirable that the drug input section has a larger opening than the drug discharge section. It is desirable that the main body device has a packaging device for packaging medicines and a printing means, and that information related to the prescription is printed by the printing means.

[0026] The main device may have a display means, and may be configured to be capable of displaying, on the display means, information related to the preparation sent to the main device in association with the medicine container. Another aspect is a drug dispensing method for dispensing drugs using a drug dispensing device, the drug dispensing device comprising a main device, a drug weighing device, and a drug container, the drug weighing device having a weight detection means for detecting the weight of the drug, a dispensing information reading means for reading information related to dispensing, and an information writing means and / or a weighing device side information reading means, the main device having a container vibration table on which the drug container is placed and vibrated, a drug dispensing device for dividing powdered medicine into a predetermined amount and dividing it into a plurality of pieces, and a main device side information reading means, the drug container having a drug discharge section, an information recording member and / or a container identification member, information related to dispensing is sent to the main device in association with the drug container, the drug is poured into the drug container and the drug is weighed by the weight detection means, the drug container is placed on the container vibration table of the main device with the drug still in the drug container, the drug container is vibrated by the container vibration table, and the drug is discharged from the drug discharge section to the drug dispensing device. Effect of the Invention

[0027] According to the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, the operator is relieved from the task of cleaning the input hopper and the trough. According to the medicine dispensing device of the related invention, the human error in weighing can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a main body device, a drug weighing device, and a manual drug container of a drug dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the main unit of FIG. 1 in a see-through manner. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view of a medicine container introduction door portion of the main body device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a drug feeder employed in a drug dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 1 is a perspective view of a manual drug container used in a drug dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the manual drug container of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the manual drug container of FIG. 5, showing the behavior of the drug inside when it is discharged. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a built-in drug container. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container vibrating table employed in the medicine dispensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the container vibrating table of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional perspective view of the container vibrating table of FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional side view of the container vibrating table of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a medicine dividing device of the main body device of FIG. 1. [Figure 14] 2 is a schematic side view showing a longitudinal section of a part of the medicine dividing device of the main body device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a medicine weighing device. [Figure 16] FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a manual drug container is placed on the drug weighing device. [Figure 18] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the medicine weighing device. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the medicine feeder. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a manual drug container. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another modified example of the manual drug container. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the medicine container shown in FIG. 21, showing a state in which medicine is poured in by a normal method. [Figure 23] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the medicine container shown in FIG. 21, illustrating a state in which a medicine is introduced by another method. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the inside of a main unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 25] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a powdered medicine packaging device disclosed in Patent Document 1. [Figure 26] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a powder feeder disclosed in Patent Document 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The medicine dispensing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be further described below. For ease of understanding, the outline and general operation of the present invention will be described first, and then the specific configuration of each component will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, a medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment is made up of a main body device 2, a medicine weighing device (medicine inspection system) 3, and a manual medicine container 5a. The main body device 2 has a powder medicine dispensing device 18 and a medicine packaging device 6, similar to the powder medicine packing device 200 disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 (see Figs. 2, 13 and 14). The powder medicine dispensing device 18 includes dispensing trays 7a and 7b and a scraping device 8, and can divide the supplied powder medicine into individual doses. The divided powder medicine can be packaged into individual doses by the medicine packaging device 6. The medicine packaging device 6 also includes a printing means 13, which can print a desired pattern on the packaging bag.

[0030] The medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment employs a medicine feeder 10a having a structure as shown in Fig. 4, instead of the medicine supplying device 201 disclosed in Patent Document 1. The medicine feeder 10a is composed of a container vibrating table 11 and a manual medicine container 5a. The container vibrating table 11 and the manual medicine container 5a constituting the medicine feeder 10a are separate entities, and the two can be integrated by applying an electromagnet 12 (see Fig. 9) provided on the container vibrating table 11. The container vibrating table 11 is vibrated by vibration means 15a and 15b. Further, the container vibrating table 11 is equipped with an RFID reader 16 as a main body side information reading means. The container vibrating table 11 is installed near the distribution trays 7a and 7b as shown in FIGS. 1, the main unit 2 has a touch panel 106. The touch panel 106 serves as both a display means and an input means.

[0031] 5, 6, and 7, and its container body 25 is open at the top and tip. The manual drug container 5a has a bottom and a drug storage section 9 where the drug is temporarily stored. In addition, a flow straightening member 17a is provided inside the manual drug container 5a. That is, the manual medicine container 5a has a medicine discharge part 20a that opens in the lateral direction based on the position placed on the container vibration table 11. The opening on the upper surface side functions as a medicine input part 21a. An RFID tag 22, which is an information recording member, is attached to the outer surface of the manual drug container 5a. A fixing iron plate portion 26 is attached to the bottom of the manual drug container 5a. In this embodiment, a barcode 24 is also provided in addition to the RFID tag 22. The barcode 24 is a container identification member for identifying the manual medicine container 5a.

[0032] The drug weighing device 3 is substantially similar to that disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, and includes a balance platform (container mounting portion) 30, an RFID reader / writer 134, a barcode reader 32, and a touch panel 133 as shown in FIG. The barcode reader 32 functions as a dispensing information reading means and a contained drug confirmation means, and in this embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing information written on the prescription is read into the control unit 131 of the drug weighing device 3 using the barcode reader 32. The pharmacist then places the manual drug container 5a on the balance table (container placement section) 30, and directly introduces the drug into the manual drug container 5a from drug input section 21 of the manual drug container 5a, thereby weighing the drug. At that time, the type of medicine contained in the medicine bottle (not shown) is read by the barcode reader 32 from the barcode attached to the medicine bottle or the like, and it is possible to confirm that the medicine is the one prescribed. Prescription information, the name of the pharmacist, and the type and amount of the weighed medicine are written into the RFID tag 22 of the manual medicine container 5a by the RFID reader / writer 134 of the medicine weighing device. That is, the RFID reader / writer 134 functions as an information writing means.

[0033] Then, the manual drug container 5a is moved manually or using a robot, and the manual drug container 5a is placed on the container vibration table 11 of the main body device 2. Here, an RFID reader 16 serving as a main body side information reading means is provided near the container vibrating table 11, and the prescription information is read into the main body device 2 by the RFID reader 16. The read prescription information is then displayed on a touch panel 106 provided on the main body device 2. Therefore, the pharmacist can check the prescription information displayed on the touch panel 106.

[0034] Furthermore, if the dispensing information includes any items that require additional work or work that is different from the regular work, or if there are any special precautions, such information is displayed on the touch panel 106. The pharmacist can review the displayed information and operate the touch panel 106 to instruct the main unit 2 on the work items, etc. In other words, the touch panel 106 can be used to instruct additional work or change the work content.

[0035] An example of a caution that should be displayed on the touch panel 106 is when the type and amount of medicine written on the prescription differs from the type and amount of medicine contained in the manual medicine container 5a. For example, when multiple types of medicine are packaged together in the same package, the prescription lists three types of medicine, but the manual medicine container 5a contains only two types, and the main device 2 must put the remaining medicine into the distribution tray 7. Similarly, when multiple types of medicine are packaged together in the same package, there may be cases where the medicines are poured into the distribution tray 7 from multiple manual medicine containers 5a. In such cases, the pharmacist operates the touch panel 106 to operate the main unit 2 so as to perform the appropriate operation. Also, although not directly related to the present invention, when the amount of drug contained in the drug container 4 to be distributed together is less than the prescribed amount, a support screen for drug filling work may be displayed on the screen of the touch panel 106 so that the filling work can be performed in advance.

[0036] Furthermore, when powdered medicine and tablets are packaged together, a predetermined operation is instructed from touch panel 106. For example, when a main body device equipped with a function for dispensing solid medicine such as tablets is used, or when a main body device equipped with a "manual dispensing function" for individually packaging tablets, etc. is used, a predetermined operation is instructed from touch panel 106.

[0037] Also, when combining drugs contained in the self-contained drug container 4 employed in an embodiment described later, the pharmacist operates the touch panel 106 to cause the main unit 2 to perform the necessary operations. Furthermore, when the drugs required for combining are not contained in the self-contained drug container 4 or are insufficient, and new drugs need to be filled into the self-contained drug container 4, the pharmacist operates the touch panel 106 to cause the main unit 2 to perform the necessary operations.

[0038] Then, when the pharmacist has finished the prescription inspection and given additional instructions, and the pharmacist operates touch panel 106 to input a confirmation signal, the following packaging operation begins. Note that the confirmation signal is given by touching a specific display part of touch panel 106, but the confirmation display is optional, and possible displays include "Confirm" and "Start operation." In short, the pharmacist creates an opportunity to start packaging of their own volition. In the packaging operation, the distribution plate 7 is rotated and the container vibration table 11 is vibrated at the same time. As a result, the manual drug container 5a on the container vibration table 11 vibrates, and the powdered medicine inside slowly moves toward the drug discharge section 20, and finally falls from the drug discharge section 20 onto the distribution plate 7. That is, in this embodiment, the powdered medicine falls directly from the manual drug container 5a onto the distribution plate 7 without passing through a trough as in the conventional case. When all the powdered medicine has fallen, the rotation of the distribution tray 7 is stopped. After that, according to the prescription information read by the RFID reader 16, the powdered medicine on the distribution tray 7 is divided into a predetermined number of pieces, and the medicine is scraped out by the scraping device 8 and put into the medicine packaging device 6, where it is individually packaged. Also, predetermined characters are printed on the packaging bags. After the series of operations is completed, the manual drug container 5a is removed from the container vibration table 11. The medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment vibrates the manual medicine container 5a to directly dispense powdered medicine from the manual medicine container 5a into the distribution tray 7, so it does not have a trough 210 as in the conventional case, and there is no need to clean the trough 210.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the manual drug container 5a was placed on the balance table 30 of the drug weighing device 3 and the drug was poured into it, but a sheet or the like may be placed on the balance table 30 to weigh the drug, and then the drug may be transferred from the sheet to the manual drug container 5a.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the manual drug container 5a is provided with an RFID tag 22 as a writable information recording member, the dispensing information is recorded on the information recording member, and the dispensing information is transmitted from the information recording member to the main device 2. That is, in the above embodiment, the manual drug container 5a has an RFID tag 22 as an information recording member, the RFID tag 22 is rewritable, the drug weighing device 3 has an RFID reader / writer 134 as an information writing means, the information related to dispensing is recorded on the RFID tag 22 by the RFID reader / writer 134, and the information recorded on the RFID tag 22 is read by the RFID reader 16 as the main device side information reading means, whereby the information related to dispensing is sent to the main device 2 in association with the manual drug container 5a.

[0041] Alternatively, the drug dispensing information may be transmitted directly to the main unit 2 from the drug weighing device 3 by wire or wirelessly. Also, the drug dispensing information may be transmitted from the drug weighing device 3 to the main unit 2 via another central control device or the like. When this method is adopted, a receiving means for receiving a signal is provided as a main body side information reading means in the main body device 2. Also, a barcode 24 provided on the manual type drug container 5a is used. Then, the drug weighing device 3 makes the barcode reader 32 function as a weighing device side information reading means to read information identifying the manual type drug container 5a. Furthermore, the main body device 2 is provided with a container confirmation means for recognizing the container identification member. The container confirmation means is, for example, a barcode reader. Note that the RFID tag 22 provided on the manual drug container 5a may be used as the container identification member, and the RFID reader 16 may be used as the container confirmation means.

[0042] When the drug is weighed using the drug weighing device 3, information identifying the manual drug container 5a is read using the barcode reader 32, and information related to dispensing is associated with the information identifying the manual drug container 5a and transmitted from the drug weighing device 3, and this information is received by the main unit 2. Thereafter, the manual drug container 5a is individually identified by the container identification means of the main body device 2, and the drug is divided and packaged in accordance with the prescription information related to the manual drug container 5a.

[0043] The outline of the present invention has been described above. Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail. The medicine dispensing device 1 described below is composed of a main body device 2, a medicine weighing device 3, a self-contained medicine container 4, and a manual medicine container 5a, as shown in Figure 1. The self-contained medicine container 4 is an accessory member and is not directly related to the present invention. The main body device 2 of this embodiment is surrounded by a housing 40, and the inside is divided into a medicine shelf area 100, a medicine division area 101, and a medicine packaging area . The medicine shelf area 100 is provided with a container storage device 103 (FIG. 2) for storing the self-contained medicine containers 4. Each component of the medicine shelf area 100 is also an accessory component and has no direct relation to the present invention. The container storage device 103 has a vertical drum member 105 that rotates in a substantially horizontal direction, and a plurality of container installation devices (not shown) are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the drum member 105. The container storage device 103 stores a large number of self-contained drug containers 4 as shown in Fig. 8. The containers stored in the container storage device 103 are self-contained drug containers 4 of the type that do not have a drug input section as shown in Fig. 8.

[0044] The drum member 105 is rotated by a motor (not shown), and a desired self-contained drug container 4 is brought close to the robot 110 and is attached or detached by the robot 110.

[0045] The housing 40 of the medicine shelf area 100 is provided with a door member 111. The door member 111 is a wing-type door that opens and closes by a hinge as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a medicine container temporary placement section 112 is provided inside the door member 111. Also, inside the door member 111, a main body side information reading means (door section) 113 such as an RFID reader is provided.

[0046] A robot 110 is provided in the area extending from the medicine shelf area 100 to the medicine division area 101.

[0047] The medicine dividing area 101 is an area where the powdered medicine dispensing device 18 is provided. As shown in Figs. 2 and 13, the medicine dividing area 101 has a table member 38, and is an area where two dispensing trays 7a, 7b are installed in a buried state in the table member 38, and a container vibration table 11 and a cleaning device 43 are arranged around the area. The medicine dividing area 101 is also provided with a scraping device 8. The table member 38 is provided with a medicine input opening 68. The distribution plates 7a and 7b are members provided with a medicine insertion groove 45 on the upper surface side. The medicine insertion groove 45 is also called an "R groove" and has an arc-shaped cross section. The medicine insertion groove 45 is located near the outer edge of the distribution plates 7a and 7b.

[0048] The distribution plates 7a and 7b can be rotated at a constant speed by a plate rotation mechanism (not shown), or can be rotated by a predetermined angle.

[0049] The scraping device 8 is made up of a drive unit (not shown), a scraping arm 46 shown in FIG. 14, and a scraping mechanism 47 provided at the tip of the scraping arm 46.

[0050] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a turntable 48 is provided under the distribution trays 7a and 7b, and the entire scraping device 8 can be rotated by rotating the turntable 48.

[0051] The cleaning device 43 has a cleaning arm 50 which projects in a cantilever manner from the table member 38 and whose tip side can be raised and lowered by power, and has a cleaning brush 51 attached to the tip of the cleaning arm 50.

[0052] The table member 38 is provided with a container vibrating table 11. In this embodiment, there are three sets of container vibrating tables 11 around each of the distribution dishes 7a and 7b. The structure of the container vibrating table 11 is as shown in Figures 9 to 12. The container vibrating table 11 has a mounting table 52 on which the self-contained drug container 4 and the manual drug container 5a are mounted, and a weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the drug containers (the self-contained drug container 4 and the manual drug container 5a). The container vibration table 11 is provided with an electromagnet 12 as a container holding means for temporarily fixing the drug container to the container vibration table 11. More specifically, the container holding means is an electromagnet having a structure called a self-holding solenoid. The self-holding solenoid uses a permanent magnet and an electromagnet in combination, and normally exerts an attractive force mainly by the permanent magnet. When an object that is magnetically attracted to the self-holding solenoid is to be detached, electricity is passed through the electromagnet, which generates a magnetic force in the opposite direction to the permanent magnet, thereby canceling the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. In this embodiment, the manual drug container 5a is placed on the container vibration table 11, and the drug can be discharged from the manual drug container 5a by vibrating the container vibration table 11. The change in weight of the manual drug container 5a at that time is detected by the weight measuring means.

[0053] 9 to 12, the container vibration table 11 is composed of, from the top, a mounting table 52, vibration means 15a and 15b, an intermediate table 53, a vibration isolation table 55, a vibration isolation member 62, a weight measuring means 56, and a base member 57. An RFID reader 16 is provided near the mounting table 52.

[0054] The mounting table 52 is a block-shaped mounting table and has an external shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, as shown in Figs. An electromagnet 12 is built into the placement surface 61 .

[0055] The vibration means 15a and 15b are piezoelectric elements. As shown in FIG. 10, the intermediate stand 53 has a generally "H" shape in plan view. There is a large cavity 60 inside the intermediate base 53, and the back surface of the intermediate base 53 is largely open. As shown in FIG. 10, the vibration isolation table 55 is a plate body with a protruding center portion to provide an internal space.

[0056] Next, there will be described the positional relationship of each component of the container vibration table 11. In the container vibration table 11, vibration means 15a and 15b are provided between a mounting table 52 and an intermediate table 53 as shown in FIGS.

[0057] In this embodiment, the vibration means 15a and 15b are present between the mounting table 52 and the intermediate table 53, and the mounting table 52 is not supported at any portion other than the vibration means 15a and 15b. Therefore, the mounting table 52 is supported in midair from the intermediate table 53 by the vibration means 15a and 15b.

[0058] Further, a vibration isolation table 55 is disposed below the intermediate table 53. In this embodiment, the only member connecting the intermediate table 53 and the vibration isolation table 55 is the vibration isolation member 62. Therefore, the intermediate table 53 is supported in midair from the vibration isolation table 55 by the vibration isolation member 62.

[0059] 10, 11 and 12, a weight measuring means 56 is disposed below the vibration isolating table 55, and a base member 57 is disposed further below that. The weight measuring means 56 is mostly located within a convex rib 63 provided in the center of the vibration-proof table 55, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, and an upper installation surface 64 of the weight measuring means 56 is connected to the inner surface of the top surface of the convex rib 63 of the vibration-proof table 55. On the other hand, the lower installation surface 66 of the weight measuring means 56 is attached to the base member 57 . The base member 57 is attached near the distribution plates 7a, 7b of the medicine dividing region 101 via a vibration isolating member 67, as in the previous embodiment.

[0060] The medicine packaging area 102 includes a medicine packaging device 6. The medicine packaging device 6 is a machine that packages medicines into individual doses, and is composed of a packaging paper supply device and a packaging device, as is well known. Also, a medicine hopper is provided to feed medicines into the packaging section. The medicine packaging device 6 basically comprises a packaging paper supplying device 58, a packaging device 59, and printing means 13. The packaging paper supplying device 58 is a part that supplies sheet-shaped packaging paper to the packaging section. The packaging device 59 is a section that folds a sheet-like packaging paper, introduces powdered medicine into it, and then fuses the sides of the sheet to form a bag. The packaging paper supply device 58, the packaging device 59, and the printing means 13 employed in this embodiment are all well known, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0061] Next, the manual drug container 5a will be described. The manual drug container 5a is a type of drug container having a drug input portion 21a as shown in FIGS. The manual drug container 5a is composed of a container body 25, a fixing iron plate portion 26, a discharge side lid member 120, an input side lid member 121, an RFID tag (information recording member) 22, and a barcode 24. Container body 25 is a vertically long container made of resin, with one end in the longitudinal direction being open to form medicine discharge section 20a. There is also a large opening on the side of container body 25, which functions as medicine input section 21a. Medicine discharge section 20a provided on container body 25 opens in the horizontal direction based on the position placed on container vibration table 11. Medicine input section 21a opens upward based on the position placed on container vibration table 11. The same is true when the position placed on medicine weighing device 3 is used as the reference, and medicine discharge section 20a opens in the horizontal direction and medicine input section 21b opens upward.

[0062] Medicine injection section 21a has a flange section 28 formed around the periphery of the opening. An input side cover member 121 is attached to the flange portion 28. An RFID tag (information recording member) 22 and a barcode 24 are attached to the outer side surface of the container body 25.

[0063] The discharge side cover member 120 is composed of a cover main body 125, a movable cover portion 124, a rectifying coil 126, and a comb-shaped rectifying member 130. In addition, the discharge side cover member 120 is provided with a desiccant 182 as shown in FIG. Movable cover 124 has knob 147, and movable cover 124 opens when knob 147 is pressed. Movable cover 124 is maintained in the open state. The discharge side cover member 120 is attached to the medicine discharge portion 20a of the container body 25 as shown in FIG.

[0064] The fixing iron plate part 26 is a steel plate containing a magnetic component such as ferrite. The fixing iron plate part 26 is attached to the peripheral wall underside 27 of the container body 25. The surface to which the fixing iron plate part 26 is attached faces the surface to which the medicine input part 21a is provided.

[0065] Next, the contained type drug container 4 will be described. The contained type drug container 4 is an accessory part of the present invention and does not directly affect the effect of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the contained type drug container 4 is a type of drug container that does not have a drug input part. The contained type drug container 4 has a transport iron plate part 157 provided on the container body 25. In this embodiment, the transport iron plate part 157 is divided into two small transport iron plate parts 157a, 157b. The transport iron plate part 157 is made of a steel plate containing a magnetic component such as ferrite. The configuration of the self-contained drug container 4 and other components is the same as that of the manual drug container 5a, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0066] In the main body device 2 of this embodiment, a drug container (a storage type drug container 4 or a manual type drug container 5a) and a container vibrating table 11 constitute a set of drug feeder 10a. That is, the medicine container (storage type medicine container 4 or manual type medicine container 5a) and the container vibrating table 11 are separate entities, and when powdered medicine is packaged, the two are combined to form medicine feeder 10a. The main body device 2 employed in this embodiment can selectively use a self-contained drug container 4 and a manual drug container 5a. The self-contained drug container 4 is filled with a specific drug in advance and stored in a container storage device 103 in the drug shelf area 100. Medicines according to a prescription for a particular patient are manually placed into the manual medicine container 5a by a pharmacist, one by one. The present invention is characterized in that a manual drug container 5a is used. The manual drug container 5a is placed on a container vibration table 11 without being stored in a container storage device 103. The medicine feeder 10a has a function of fixing the manual medicine container 5a to a container vibration table 11 by an electromagnet 12 built into a mounting table 52, and vibrating the manual medicine container 5a to discharge the powdered medicine.

[0067] Next, the drug weighing device will be described. The drug weighing device includes a weighing means, a prescription information reading means, a contained drug information reading means, an information writing means, and a control means. The weighing means weighs the drug. The prescription information reading means reads prescription information from the prescription, including prescription drug identification information that identifies one or more prescribed drugs recorded on the prescription. The contained medicine information reading means reads contained medicine information, which is contained medicine identification information for identifying a contained medicine recorded in a medicine container such as a medicine bottle, from the medicine bottle or the like. When the contained drug read by the contained drug information reading means corresponds to any of the prescribed drugs read by the prescription etc. information reading means, the control means selects the prescribed drug as the object to be weighed and causes the display means to display a weighing screen in which the prescribed drug is to be weighed. Furthermore, the necessary information is written to the RFID tag 22 of the manual medicine container 5a by the information writing means.

[0068] The following describes a schematic configuration of the drug weighing device 3. As shown in Fig. 15, the drug weighing device 3 includes a control unit 131, a balance unit 132, a touch panel 133, an RFID reader / writer 134, a data storage unit 135, a USB port 136, a barcode reader 32, a printer 140, and the like. In particular, the device body of the drug weighing device 3 is integrally provided with at least a balance platform 30, a control unit 131, a balance unit 132, and a touch panel 133.

[0069] The control unit 131 is a computer that includes a CPU, ROM, RAM (EEPROM, etc.), and generally controls the drug weighing device 3. The CPU is a processor that executes various types of arithmetic processing according to various programs. The ROM is a non-volatile memory in which the programs executed by the CPU are stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile memory used for loading various programs by the CPU and temporarily storing data for various arithmetic processing.

[0070] The balance unit 132 has a stainless steel balance platform 30 and is a weighing means for weighing a medicine placed on the balance platform 30. Specifically, the balance unit 132 is a balance unit used in a conventionally known electronic balance that includes a balancing circuit, a force coil, a current / voltage conversion circuit, an A / D conversion circuit, etc. The weight of the medicine weighed by the balance unit 132 is input to the control unit 131 as digital data.

[0071] When a pharmacist or the like weighs a medicine using the medicine weighing device 3, the pharmacist places the manual medicine container 5a on the balance table 30 and then puts the medicine into the manual medicine container 5a. As described above, the manual medicine container 5a is provided with an RFID tag 22 as a recording medium to and from which various information is read and written. The RFID tag 22 is provided at a position where data can be read and written by the RFID reader / writer 134 when the manual drug container 5a is placed on the balance platform 30. The balance unit 132 determines the weighed value of the medicine by subtracting the preset weights of the manual medicine container 5a and the RFID tag 22 from the weighed value.

[0072] Touch panel 133 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel that displays various screens and various information according to control instructions from control unit 131, and a detection unit that detects the operation of an operation key displayed on the display unit and inputs a detection signal to control unit 131. That is, touch panel 133 serves both as a display means and an input means in drug weighing device 3. Specifically, control unit 131 causes touch panel 133 to display the weighed value weighed by balance unit 132.

[0073] The RFID reader / writer 134 uses RFID wireless communication technology to read an RFID tag or It records information on an RFID label or reads information from an RFID tag or RFID label. The RFID reader / writer 134 is provided adjacent to the balance platform 30, and is used to read and write information from and to the RFID tag 22 when the manual drug container 5a is placed on the balance platform 30. Of course, the RFID reader / writer 134 may be built into the drug weighing device 3.

[0074] Data storage unit 135 is a USB memory or other recording medium in which control programs such as a medicine weighing program executed by control unit 131 and various data such as a medicine master are stored.

[0075] The drug weighing program is software that causes a computer such as the control unit 131 to execute each processing step of the drug weighing process (see FIG. 18) described below. It also includes an audit program that causes the control unit 131 to audit whether the weighed value of the drug is within the range of a recommended dose (appropriate amount to be taken per day or once) previously set for each drug. Therefore, the drug weighing device 3 can independently weigh the drug and audit the recommended dose without using another information processing device such as a computer.

[0076] The pharmaceutical master data includes the drug code, drug name, JAN code (or RSS), medicine bottle code, classification (dosage form: powder, tablet, liquid, topical medication, etc.), specific gravity, drug type (ordinary medicine, poison, narcotic, highly toxic drug, antipsychotic, therapeutic drug, etc.), formulation changes, excipients, precautions, usual dosage (equivalent to appropriate dosage information), and information on prohibited simultaneous use.

[0077] The JAN code (RSS) is information corresponding to the contained drug name recorded on a medicine bottle etc. supplied by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, and the JAN code is recorded (written) on the medicine bottle by a barcode. The medicine bottle code is information corresponding to the contained drug name recorded on a medicine bottle when a medicine in a medicine box supplied by a pharmaceutical manufacturer is divided into medicine bottles, and the medicine bottle code is recorded on the medicine bottle by a barcode. The control unit 131 can learn the contained drug name corresponding to each barcode by referring to the pharmaceutical agent master.

[0078] In the present embodiment, the case where the drug name is used as information for identifying the drug will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this and a drug code or the like may be used. The usual dose is a proper amount to be taken per day or once, which is predetermined for each drug. The prohibited simultaneous use information is information on drugs that are prohibited from being taken at the same time, which is predetermined for each drug.

[0079] The barcode reader 32 reads information from one-dimensional barcodes such as JAN codes and RSS codes, and two-dimensional codes such as QR codes (registered trademark).

[0080] In the drug weighing device 3, the control unit 131 reads prescription information including one or more prescribed drug names recorded (written) on the prescription from a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) recorded on the prescription using the barcode reader 32. The prescription information includes the date of issuance of the prescription, the patient ID, the patient name, the patient's date of birth, drug information (drug code, drug name, dosage, dosage form information "oral medication such as tablets or powder, external medication such as ointment"), usage information (e.g., three times a day after each meal), and the like.

[0081] In addition, in the medicine weighing device 3, the control unit 131 reads the contained medicine information including the contained medicine name recorded (written) on the medicine bottle from the JAN code or medicine bottle code recorded (written) on the medicine bottle as a bar code, using the bar code reader 32. Here, the control unit 131 when executing such a reading process corresponds to the contained medicine information reading means.

[0082] The method of reading the prescription information and contained drug information from the prescription or medicine bottle is not limited to using a barcode, but may also use character recognition technology or image recognition technology.

[0083] It is also conceivable that the medicine bottle is provided with an information recording medium such as an RFID tag or RFID label, and contained medicine information including the name of the medicine contained in the medicine bottle is recorded on the information recording medium.

[0084] Similarly, it is conceivable that a prescription is provided with an information recording medium such as an RFID tag or an RFID label, and prescription information, including the names of the prescribed drugs recorded on the prescription, is recorded on the information recording medium. Alternatively, prescription information may be input in advance into a receipt computer or the like, and transmitted from the receipt computer or the like via a LAN (wired or wireless) to the drug weighing device 3, which then receives it.

[0085] Printer 140 prints out print data input from control unit 131 via USB port 136. Specifically, printer 140 is used to print the weighing results obtained by drug weighing device 3 and the like.

[0086] Next, the function of the medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment will be described by following the actual operation procedure. The medicine dispensing device 1 can perform fully automatic packaging using a storage-type medicine container 4 and manual packaging using a manual-type medicine container 5a. The medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment is characterized by the latter manual packaging, and the manual packaging using the manual type medicine container 5a will be described below. The manual packaging procedure is roughly divided into a “medicine weighing operation” and a “medicine packaging operation.” The medicine weighing operation is performed using the medicine weighing device 3, and the medicine packaging operation is performed using the main device 2. The main body device 2 has two types of drug containers, but in this embodiment, a manual drug container 5a is used. The "drug weighing operation" will be described below with reference to the flowchart in Figure 18. The flowchart shows an example of the procedure of a drug weighing process that the control unit 131 in the drug weighing device 3 executes according to a drug weighing program.

[0087] The drug weighing process is a process executed by the control unit 131 when the drug weighing device is powered on. Here, an example is described in which prescription dispensing information such as the date of issue of the prescription, patient ID, patient name, patient date of birth, drug information (drug code, drug name, dosage, dosage form information "oral medicine such as tablets, powder, external medicine such as ointment"), and usage information (three times a day after each meal, etc.) are recorded in a two-dimensional code. In addition, the prescribed drug names include three types of drugs, drug A, drug B, and drug C. It is assumed that the above-mentioned three types of medicines are not contained in the self-contained medicine container 4 stored in the container storage device 103.

[0088] The first worker places an empty manual drug container 5a on the balance table 30. At this time, the input side cover member 121 of the manual drug container 5a is removed in advance, and the drug input section 21a is left open. When the manual drug container 5a is placed on the balance table 30, the drug input section 21a is open upward. The control unit 131 of the medicine weighing device 3 waits for the prescription information to be read (Step 1).

[0089] The pharmacist reads the prescription information from the two-dimensional code attached to the prescription by operating the barcode reader 32 of the medicine weighing device 3. When the two-dimensional code is read by the barcode reader 32 (YES side of step 1), the control unit 131 advances the process to step 2. The dispensing information read from the two-dimensional code here includes information recorded on the prescription, such as the date of prescription issuance, patient ID, patient name, patient date of birth, drug information (drug code, drug name, dosage, dosage form information (oral medications such as tablets and powders, topical medications such as ointments)), and usage information (e.g., three times a day after each meal).

[0090] In step 2, the control unit 131 displays a prescription screen (not shown) on the touch panel 133 based on the prescription information read in step 1. The prescription screen displays the dispenser name, patient name, age, weight, prescription days, minutes, drug name, dosage form, prescription amount, and the like.

[0091] Next, in step 3, the control unit 131 waits for the contained medicine name to be read (NO side of step 3). Specifically, the control unit 131 determines that the contained medicine name has been read when the contained medicine information indicated by the JAN code or medicine bottle code recorded on the medicine bottle is read by the barcode reader 32. Then, when the pharmacist holds the JAN code or medicine bottle code of the medicine bottle over the barcode reader 32 and the JAN code or medicine bottle code is read by the barcode reader 32 (YES side of step 3), the control unit 131 shifts the process to step 4.

[0092] That is, in the medicine weighing process, the prescription information and the like are read first, and then the contained medicine name is read. Therefore, if the contained medicine name is read first, the medicine weighing device 3 does not start weighing.

[0093] Then, in step 4, the control unit 131 branches the process depending on the result of matching between the contained drug name of the contained drug information read in step 3 and the contained drug name of the prescription information etc. read in step 1. Specifically, in step 4, the control unit 131 determines whether the contained drug name corresponds to any of the prescribed drug names.

[0094] Here, if the contained drug name corresponds to any of the prescribed drug names (YES in step 4), processing proceeds to step 5; if the contained drug name does not correspond to any of the prescribed drug names (NO in step 4), processing proceeds to step 13.

[0095] In step 5, the control unit 131 selects the prescription drug name that matches the contained drug name from among the prescription drug names included in the prescription information as the weighing target. That is, if the contained drug name corresponds to any of the prescription drug names, the prescription drug name to be weighed from among the prescription drug names included in the prescription information is automatically selected.

[0096] Therefore, a pharmacist can verify the contained drug name and the prescribed drug name and select the drug to be weighed in the drug weighing device 3 simply by having the barcode reader 32 read the JAN code or the drug bottle code recorded on the drug bottle. Therefore, when the prescription information contains multiple prescribed drug names, the operation of selecting the prescribed drug name to be weighed can be omitted, and the efficiency of dispensing by the doctor or pharmacist can be improved.

[0097] In step 6, the control unit 131 causes the touch panel 133 to display a weighing screen (not shown) for weighing the drug with the prescribed drug name corresponding to the contained drug name from the prescription information, etc. At this time, the control unit 131 causes the weighing screen to display the weighed value of the drug by the balance unit 132 and the target weighing value of the drug with the prescribed drug name.

[0098] For example, the target prescribed amount of "drug A" is displayed as "0.9 g," and the actual weighed value by the balance unit 132 is displayed as "0.0 g."

[0099] Then, in step 7, the control unit 131 waits for the weighing of the prescribed drug name to be completed (NO side of step 7). Specifically, the control unit 131 determines that the weighing of the prescribed drug name is completed by operating the decision key (not shown) displayed on the weighing screen. Then, when the control unit 131 determines that the weighing of the prescribed drug name is completed (YES side of step 7), it shifts the processing to step 8. Note that when the weighing of the prescribed drug name is completed, the control unit 131 stores that fact in the data storage unit 135 (RAM) or the like.

[0100] In step 8, the control unit 131 causes the touch panel 133 to display a progress screen (not shown) showing the progress of weighing the prescribed drug name in the prescription information etc.

[0101] In step 9, the control unit 131 writes the dispensing information and the weighing result (an example of weighed drug information) to the RFID tag 22 of the manual drug container by the RFID reader / writer 134. The dispensing information includes information recorded on the prescription, such as the date of issuance of the prescription, patient ID, patient name, patient date of birth, drug information (drug code, drug name, dosage, dosage form information "oral medicine such as tablets, powder, external medicine such as ointment"), and usage information (three times a day after each meal, etc.). The weighing result includes the name of the drug to be weighed, the target weighing value, the actual weighing value, and the result of matching the prescribed drug name with the contained drug name. In addition, if the prescribed drug name included in the prescription information is replaced with the generic drug name and weighed, the weighing result also includes information to that effect.

[0102] In step 9, the control unit 131 may record only a part of the prescription information in the RFID tag 22. For example, if a RFID tag with a small storage capacity is used, it is not possible to record all of the prescription information and weighing results. In this case, the control unit 131 may store at least the name of the drug to be weighed in the RFID tag 22. In this case, the drug weighing device 3 and the main unit 2 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network such as a LAN or the Internet, and the control unit 131 may transmit information that is not recorded in the RFID tag 22 to the main unit 2. The main unit 2 receives the transmitted information with a control device (not shown) and stores it.

[0103] In a configuration in which the drug weighing device 3 and the main device 2 are connected via a communication network, simple fixed information (such as an identification number of information) stored in association with the prescription information and weighing results in the drug weighing device 3 may be recorded in the RFID tag 22. In this case, when the fixed information is read by the main device 2, a request is made from the main device 2 to the drug weighing device 3 to transmit the prescription information and weighing results corresponding to the fixed information. This causes the prescription information and weighing results corresponding to the fixed information to be transmitted from the drug weighing device 3 to the main device 2 via the communication network. The main device 2 receives and stores the transmitted information with a control device (not shown).

[0104] The processing procedures of steps 8 and 9 may be executed in the reverse order or may be executed substantially in parallel. That is, immediately after it is determined in step 7 that weighing is completed, the prescription information and the weighing result may be recorded in the RFID tag 22 in step 9.

[0105] Thereafter, in step 10, the control unit 131 judges whether or not the next contained medicine name has been read by the barcode reader 32. Here, if the control unit 131 judges that the next contained medicine name has been read (YES side of step 10), it shifts the process to step 4. On the other hand, if the next contained medicine name has not been read (NO side of step 10), the control unit 131 shifts the process to step 11.

[0106] In step 11, the control unit 131 judges whether or not all weighing corresponding to the prescription information has been completed. Specifically, when a completion key (not shown) is operated or when weighing of all the drugs to be weighed included in the prescription information has been completed, it is judged that all weighing related to the prescription information has been completed.

[0107] Then, when the control unit 131 determines that all weighing related to the prescription information has been completed (YES side of step 11), it shifts the process to step 12. On the other hand, when the control unit 131 determines that all weighing related to the prescription information has not been completed (NO side of step 11), it shifts the process to step 10.

[0108] However, when the completion key (not shown) is operated, if there is a prescription drug name that has not been weighed in the prescription information, the pharmacist may have forgotten to weigh it. Therefore, when the control unit 131 determines that the completion key (not shown) has been operated in step 11, if there is a prescription drug name that has not been weighed in the prescription information, the completion of which has been input by operating the completion key, the control unit 131 may display that fact on the touch panel 133. This makes it possible to warn the pharmacist of forgetting to weigh it. The control unit 131 determines whether or not the weighing of each prescription drug name has been completed according to the information stored in the data storage unit 135 (RAM) in step 7. Here, the control unit 131 when executing the display process corresponds to an incomplete display means. The control unit 131 may display the display by characters, images, sounds, or lights.

[0109] Then, when all weighing related to the prescription information is completed, in the following step 12, the control unit 131 causes the printer 140 to print the prescription information and the weighing results. Specifically, the patient name, name of the drug to be weighed, target weighing value, actual weighed value in the drug weighing device 3, comparison result between the prescribed drug name and the contained drug name, weighing time, weighing operator, etc., included in the prescription information read in step 1 are printed. In other words, the control unit 131 causes the printer 140 to print only records related to the drugs weighed in the drug weighing device 3.

[0110] On the other hand, in step 4, if the contained drug name read in step 3 does not correspond to any of the prescribed drug names (NO side in step 4), the control unit 131 proceeds to step 13, displays a warning screen (not shown) indicating that the drug is incorrect on the touch panel 133, and returns the process to step 3. This makes it possible to warn the pharmacist that the selection of the medicine bottle is incorrect, and to prevent the prescription of the wrong drug.

[0111] As described above, a pharmacist using the drug weighing device 3 can accurately and easily weigh drugs according to a prescription by having the barcode reader 32 sequentially read the two-dimensional code of the prescription, etc. and the barcode of the medicine bottle.

[0112] In particular, when the pharmacist causes the barcode reader 32 to read the barcode on the medicine bottle, the medicine weighing device 3 checks the contained medicine name against the prescribed medicine name and selects the name of the prescribed medicine to be weighed, which will now be weighed. Therefore, when multiple prescribed medicine names are recorded on a prescription, the pharmacist can save the trouble of selecting the name of the prescribed medicine to be weighed.

[0113] Through the above steps, the "medicine weighing operation" is completed. After this, the "medicine packaging operation" is carried out. In this embodiment, when the "medicine weighing operation" is completed, the pharmacist manually attaches the input side cover member 121 to the medicine input portion 21a of the manual medicine container 5a. The manual drug container 5a is then moved to the main body device 2 by the pharmacist, and the door member 111 provided on the housing 40 of the drug shelf area 100 shown in Figure 1 is opened, and the manual drug container 5a is attached to the drug container temporary placement section 112 (Figure 3). After that, the packaging work is automatically performed by the main device 2. That is, the information regarding the preparation written in the RFID tag 22 of the manual type medicine container 5a is read by the main body side information reading means (door portion) 113 such as an RFID reader provided inside the door member 111. Then, the main body side information reading means (door section) 113 automatically determines the installation destination of the manual drug container 5a based on the information read in. In this embodiment, since two distribution trays 7a and 7b are provided, it is determined which of the distribution trays 7a and 7b will be used. In this embodiment, since three container vibration tables 11 are provided near each of the distribution trays 7a and 7b, it is determined which of the container vibration tables 11 the manual drug container 5a will be installed on.

[0114] Then, the manual drug container 5a is placed on any one of the determined container vibration tables 11 by the robot 110. That is, the robot 110 holding the manual drug container 5a does not head toward the container storage device 103, but directly heads toward the container vibration table 11 and places the manual drug container 5a on the container storage device 103. In addition, the distribution trays 7a, 7b to be used may be selected depending on the properties of the medicine, such as its color. When the manual drug container 5a is placed on the container vibrating table 11, the information regarding dispensing written in the RFID tag 22 of the manual drug container 5a is also read there. That is, in this embodiment, an RFID reader 16 is provided near the container vibrating table 11, and the information regarding dispensing is also read by the RFID reader 16 on the container vibrating table 11 side. Then, the powdered medicine is divided according to the information on the preparation. That is, either the distribution plate 7a or 7b rotates, and at the same time, the container vibration table 11 is vibrated. As a result, the manual medicine container 5a on the container vibration table 11 vibrates, and the powdered medicine inside slowly moves toward the medicine discharge part 20a, and finally falls from the medicine discharge part 20a onto the distribution plate 7. That is, in this embodiment, the powdered medicine falls directly from the manual medicine container 5a onto the distribution plate 7 without passing through a trough as in the conventional case. When all the powdered medicine has fallen, the rotation of the distribution tray 7 is stopped. After that, the powdered medicine on the distribution tray 7 is divided into a specified number of pieces according to the prescription information, and the medicine is scraped out by the scraping device 8 and put into the medicine packaging device 6, where it is individually packaged. In addition, specified characters are printed on the packaging bags.

[0115] In this embodiment, when all the medicines in the distribution trays 7a and 7b have been discharged, a groove cleaning operation is performed. That is, the scraping arm 46 of the scraping device 8 shown in FIG. 14 is swung and the tip side is raised to remove the scraping mechanism 47 from the distribution trays 7a and 7b. Next, the cleaning arm 50 of the cleaning device 43 is rotated to lower the cleaning brush 51 attached to the tip thereof, and the cleaning brush 51 is placed in the chemical supply groove 45 of the distribution trays 7a, 7b. Then, while rotating the cleaning brush 51, the distribution plates 7a and 7b are rotated. As a result, the medicine residue remaining in the medicine insertion groove 45 of the distribution trays 7a and 7b is scraped off by the cleaning brush 51, and the floating residue is sucked up by the suction means. In this way, the inside of the medicine insertion groove 45 is cleaned. When the groove cleaning operation is completed, the cleaning arm 50 is rotated to raise the cleaning brush 51 provided at the tip thereof, and the cleaning brush 51 is removed from the drug supply groove 45 of the distribution trays 7a, 7b.

[0116] Then, the scraping section cleaning operation is carried out. That is, the turntable 48 built in under the table is rotated, and the entire scraping device 8 is turned to move the scraping mechanism 47 of the scraping device 8 to the vicinity of the cleaning device 43. Then, the cleaning arm 50 of the cleaning device 43 is slightly tilted, and the cleaning brush 51 is pressed against the scraping mechanism 47 and rotated. As a result, the residual agent adhering to the scraping mechanism 47 is scraped off by the cleaning brush 51 and enters the brush cover. The residual agent in the brush cover is then sucked by the suction means. As a result, the scraping mechanism 47 is cleaned.

[0117] The main body device employed in this embodiment does not have a trough 210 as in the conventional device, so there is no need to clean the trough 210.

[0118] In the embodiment described above, the main device 2 has a container storage device 103 (FIG. 2) in which the self-contained drug container 4 is placed. The main device 2 also has a robot 110. However, the container storage device 103 and the robot 110 are not essential, and the main device 2 may not have them, as in the case of a main device 170 shown in FIG. 24. In the above-mentioned main device 2, an RFID reader 16 is attached to each container vibrating table 11 as a main device side information reading means, but it is not necessary to provide an RFID reader 16 to all of them. It is sufficient that an RFID reader is provided at any part of the main device 2, or an RFID reader is connected to the housing of the main device 2. Also, an RFID reader 16 may be provided only to one container vibrating table 11. The main body device 170 shown in FIG. 24 is a type of main body device 170 that does not have the medicine shelf area 100 or the robot 110, and other configurations are the same as those of the main body device 2 described above, so detailed description will be omitted.

[0119] Since the main body device 170 shown in FIG. 24 does not have the medicine shelf area 100 and the robot 110, the pharmacist places the manual medicine container 5a on the container vibration table 11 while holding the manual medicine container 5a by hand. Also, which distribution trays 7a, 7b to use and which container vibrating table 11 to use are displayed on a touch panel (not shown) provided on the main device 170. That is, the RFID reader 16 reads the prescription information into the main device 170, and the prescription information is displayed on the touch panel 106 provided on the main device 2, and in addition, an instruction is given as to which container vibrating table 11 the manual drug container 5a should be placed on. The pharmacist places the manual drug container 5a on the indicated container vibrating table 11 in accordance with the display.

[0120] As described above, as an example of a manual drug container, manual drug container 5a with input side lid member 121 has been disclosed. This manual drug container 5a does not spill the drug inside even when transported in a vertical position, so it is suitable for a configuration in which robot 110 is used to move manual drug container 5a. However, when the medicine container is moved manually as in the main body device 170 shown in Fig. 24, the input side cover member 121 is not necessary, and for example, a manual medicine container 5b as shown in Fig. 20 can be adopted. The manual medicine container 5b is a container having a shape that can be described as a boat or trough shape as shown in Fig. 20, and is open on the top side and the tip side. The manual medicine container 5b has a bottom and is provided with a medicine storage section 9 where the medicine is temporarily stored. In addition, a flow straightening member 17 is provided inside the manual medicine container 5b. That is, manual drug container 5b has drug discharge portion 20b that opens in the lateral direction based on the position placed on container vibration table 11. The opening on the upper surface side functions as drug input portion 21b. An RFID tag 22, which is an information recording member, is attached to the outer surface of the manual drug container 5b. An iron plate 23b is attached to the bottom of the manual drug container 5b.

[0121] When using main body device 170 in combination with manual drug container 5b, an operator (pharmacist) directly holds manual drug container 5b with his or her hands, moves manual drug container 5b, and places manual drug container 5b on container vibrating table 11. Thereafter, when the pharmacist completes the prescription inspection and any prescribed additional instructions, and inputs a confirmation signal by operating touch panel 106, the packaging operation is started.

[0122] FIG. 21 shows a further modified example of a manual drug container. 21 has a large opening (drug insertion portion) 150 on the upper surface of the peripheral wall of container body 25c, and a large lid 151 is provided on opening 150. In drug container 5c, large lid 151 can be opened to insert a drug into the container. In addition, the shape of the top surface of large lid 151 when turned upside down is designed to match the shape of the bottom surface of container body 5c. Since the bottom surface side of large lid 151 when turned upside down is larger than the top surface, when large lid 151 is turned upside down and placed on a desk, large lid 151 maintains a stable position. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, by removing the large lid 151 and placing it upside down on the container body 25c, it can be used as a stand for the container body 25c.

[0123] As described above, the medicine may be weighed on the sheet or the like on the balance table 30 and then the medicine may be transferred from the sheet to a manual medicine container. When this method is adopted, the manual medicine container 5c shown in FIG. 21 is recommended. As shown in FIG. 23, a funnel-shaped member 355 may be attached to the cover member 120 side to transfer the medicine.

[0124] As described above, the medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment also has a function of performing full automatic packaging using the storage-type medicine container 4. The fully automatic packaging will now be described. The fully automated packaging is carried out using self-contained drug containers 4. As described above, self-contained drug containers 4 are filled with specific drugs in advance and stored in container storage device 103 in drug shelf area 100. The container vibrating table 11 employed in this embodiment has a weight measuring means 56 for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the self-contained drug container 4. The main unit 2 employed in this embodiment described above also has a container storage device 103. Therefore, the main unit 2 described above has a function of automatically selecting a self-contained drug container 4 containing a drug according to a prescription, and further automatically weighing the drug within the main unit 2. This function is achieved by using the self-contained drug container 4. In the main body device 2 of this embodiment, a predetermined drug is stored in the self-contained drug container 4 in advance, and the self-contained drug container 4 filled with the drug is stored in the container storage device 103. Then, drum member 105 of container storage device 103 is rotated to bring a desired self-contained drug container 4 closer to robot 110. Then, robot 110 holds self-contained drug container 4 and places said self-contained drug container 4 on container vibration table 11 by operating an arm or the like. When multiple medicines are mixed and enclosed in one package, multiple drug containers 4 are placed on the container vibration table 11.

[0125] Then, the container vibrating table 11 is vibrated. As a result, the powdered medicine in the receptacle type medicine container 4 moves slowly, is discharged from the receptacle type medicine container 4, and falls onto the distribution trays 7a and 7b. Also, around the time of the start of vibration, distribution plates 7a and 7b are rotated. Around the time of the start of vibration, the weight of the self-contained drug container 4 is measured. During this time, the weight of the self-contained drug container 4 is monitored, and when the total amount of powdered medicine falling reaches a desired weight, the vibration of the container vibration table 11 is stopped. That is, the weight measuring means 56 measures the original weight of the receptacle type drug container 4 before the drug is discharged, and when the powdered drug is discharged little by little from the receptacle type drug container 4, the weight measuring means 56 monitors the weight of the receptacle type drug container 4. Then, when the current weight of the receptacle type drug container 4 matches or nearly matches the value obtained by subtracting the target discharge amount from the original weight, the discharge of the powdered drug from the receptacle type drug container 4 is stopped.

[0126] Thereafter, the rotation of the distribution plates 7a and 7b is stopped and the division is carried out. This function (fully automatic packaging) is very convenient, but not essential. In other words, weight measuring means 56 is not essential. This is because the total amount of medicine to be dispensed to distribution trays 7a and 7b is weighed in advance by medicine weighing device 3, so there is no need to stop the dispensing operation midway. Therefore, it is sufficient to be able to confirm whether or not medicine is being discharged by an optical sensor or the like, and to be able to detect that all medicine has been discharged from manual medicine container 5. That is, the weight measuring means 56, the container storage device 103, the robot 110, etc., which are provided on the container vibrating table 11, are not essential to the present invention. In this embodiment, the main body side information reading means is provided on both the door member 111 and the container vibrating table 11, but it may be provided on only one of them. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 1. Drug dispensing device 2,170 Main Unit 3. Drug weighing device 5a, 5b Manual drug container 6. Drug packaging equipment 11 Container shaking table 13 Printing means 18 Powder dispensing equipment 20 Drug discharge section 21 Drug injection section 22 RFID tags 24 Barcode 30 Balance stand 113 Main body side information reading means (door section) 133 Touch Panel 134 RFID Reader / Writer

Claims

[Claim 1] A drug dispensing method for a drug dispensing device including a main body device, a drug weighing device, and a manual drug container, comprising: The main body device has a distribution tray, a plurality of container vibration tables that are installed near the distribution tray and that are manually moved to vibrate manual medicine containers placed thereon, and a main body side information reading means; The manual medicine container has an information recording member on which information regarding the dispensing of the powdered medicine contained therein is written by an information writing means provided in the medicine weighing device, Powdered medicine weighed by a medicine weighing device is manually added, The information written in the information recording member is read by the main body side information reading means; Based on the read information, a container vibration table on which the manual drug container is to be mounted is selected from among a plurality of container vibration tables; A drug dispensing method in which powdered medicine in a manual drug container is discharged into a distribution tray using a determined container vibration table.

Images