Medication support device

Abstract

To provide a medication support device capable of reducing a burden on a nurse by automatically delivering medicine from a combination of medicine deliveries that are searched for.SOLUTION: A medication support device 300 includes: a medication-related information reading unit 65 for reading medication-related information 6c including a medicine taker's name and medicine taking timing added to a cartridge 10 and a sub-dividing box 34 of a medicine delivery tray 30; a pack information managing system 212 for managing the medication-related information; and a medicine delivery search system 230 for finding a combination of the cartridge 10 from which a specific pack 2 is taken out and the sub-dividing box 34 for delivering the specific pack 2 from the medication-related information reading result read by the medication-related information reading unit 65 and a medicine delivery information reading result. Medicine is automatically delivered from the combination of medicine deliveries searched for by the medicine delivery search system 230.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 24

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medication support device. [Background technology]

[0002] A known technique for distributing single-dose medication packs (hereinafter simply referred to as "packs" or "medicine packs") to medication trays in care facilities and other locations where medications are to be taken by multiple people involves reading information written on the pack or storage unit, comparing it with medication-related information stored in a PC (hereinafter also referred to as a "personal computer"), and transporting the pack removed from the storage unit to a specific position on the medication tray or other location (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The invention described in Patent Document 1 requires that the nursing facility create the drug information to be recorded on the storage unit (the QR code (registered trademark) to be affixed to the cartridge) and input and set medication-related information such as distribution timing using a PC app, etc., and manage the drug information and information on the timing of taking the medication within a single facility (currently, this is done using a PC app connected to the device). All of this needs to be done by the nurses at the facility, which creates a problem of a heavy burden on the nurses. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a medication support device that can reduce the burden on nurses and others by automatically dispensing medication from searched medication combinations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a medication support device that includes a storage means for storing medication packs, a medication dispensing means for placing a specific medication pack at a specific position, a removal and transport means for removing the specific medication pack from the storage means and transporting it to the specific position in the medication dispensing means, a pack information reading means provided in the removal and transporting means for reading medication-related information including the name of the recipient and the timing of taking the medication that is added to at least one of the storage means and the medication pack, and medication dispensing information including the name of the recipient and the timing of taking the medication that is added to the medication dispensing means, a pack information management system for managing the medication-related information, a medication dispensing information management system for managing the medication dispensing information, and a medication dispensing search system for finding a combination of the storage means for removing the specific medication pack and the medication dispensing means for dispensing the specific medication pack from the medication-related information reading result of the medication-related information read by the pack information reading means and the medication dispensing information reading result of the medication dispensing information read by the pack information reading means, and that automatically dispenses medication from the medication combinations searched for by the medication dispensing search system. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, a medication support device can be provided that can reduce the burden on nurses and others by automatically dispensing medication from a searched medication combination. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2A is a front view of a main part of a medication dispensing device constituting a medication support device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a side view of FIG. [Diagram 2] (a) is a plan view of a single unitary drug pack, (b) is a side view of the unitary drug pack in (a) as viewed from the direction of arrow A, (c) is a side view of a combined unitary drug pack, and (d) is a diagram showing the general shape of a pack continuum. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing one configuration example of a medicine distribution tray. [Figure 4]FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of attaching a label with a QR code (registered trademark) to be placed inside a subdivision box, and FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining a display example of a label with a QR code (registered trademark). [Diagram 5] FIG. 2A is a vertical cross-sectional view of an example of a cartridge, and FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cartridge according to another embodiment different from that shown in FIG. 5(a), and FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a plan sectional view of a main part showing a cartridge mounting / removal mechanism provided in a drawer section. FIG. [Figure 8] 11 is a schematic plan view illustrating an identification configuration for a cartridge provided in a drawer section. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1A is a front view showing the configuration of the carriage, and FIG. [Figure 10] 11A to 11C are front views showing the transition of the operation of the carriage. [Figure 11] 11 is a front view showing the progress of the carriage operation following FIG. 10. [Figure 12] 12 is a front view showing the progress of the carriage operation following FIG. 11. [Figure 13] 13 is a front view showing the operation of reading medication-related information displayed on the cartridge. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 1A is a front view showing the main configuration of the transfer section, and FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing the main control configuration of the medication dispensing device. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the medication support device. [Figure 17] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams of a cartridge detection sensor that detects the attachment and detachment (insertion and removal) of a cartridge. [Figure 18] FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a cartridge tray in a state where a cartridge has not been set, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a state where a cartridge has been set in the cartridge tray. [Figure 19]11 is a bottom view of a plurality of cartridge trays each having a cartridge detection sensor disposed thereon. FIG. [Figure 20] 1A is an operational diagram of a cartridge detection sensor detecting a state in which a cartridge integrated group, in which multiple cartridges are integrated, is not yet attached (not yet set) to a cartridge tray set section, and FIG. 1B is an operational diagram of a cartridge detection sensor detecting a state in which a cartridge integrated group is attached (set) to a cartridge tray set section. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which management is separated for each cartridge tray in a medicine dispensing device. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of an operation screen of a management application. [Diagram 23] 11 is a control flowchart of a reading determination in the embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the system configuration within the medication distribution device. [Diagram 25] 1 is a table illustrating an example of management data in a pack information management system. [Figure 26] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of management data in a medication distribution information management system. [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a search example of the medication search system. [Figure 28] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a combination image of medication data in the medication search system. [Figure 29] 13 is a flowchart showing a medication distribution operation flow of a medication distribution control unit. [Diagram 30] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration image of a display management system. [Diagram 31] 1A is a front view showing an example of the arrangement of a monitor, a patrol lamp, and a group of LEDs for displaying the status of a cartridge tray and a dispensing box connected to a medication dispensing device, and FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. [Diagram 32] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a status display using a monitor. [Diagram 33] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a status display using a patrol lamp. [Diagram 34]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of LEDs for displaying the state of a dividing box. [Diagram 35] FIG. 1A is a front view of the medication dispensing device, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of the operation button arrangement portion for issuing medication dispensing instructions to the medication dispensing device of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, each example, etc., components (members and components) having the same function, shape, etc. will be denoted by the same reference numerals after being described once, unless there is a risk of confusion, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0009] The main configuration of the main parts of a medication dispensing device constituting a medication support device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1(a) is a front view showing the main configuration of the main parts of the medication dispensing device, and Fig. 1(b) is a side view showing the side configuration of Fig. 1(a). As shown in FIG. 1, the main parts of the medication dispensing device 200 include a cartridge 10, also called the first storage section, a cartridge tray 20, also called the second storage section, a drawer section 80, a medication dispensing tray 30, a carriage 50, also called the removal section, a transport section 90, and a first entrance / exit section 41 to a fourth entrance / exit section 44. In Figure 1, the left-right direction or horizontal direction (also the width direction) of the medication dispensing device 200 is the X direction, the front-back direction or depth direction is the Y direction, and the up-down direction or vertical direction (also the vertical direction) is the Z direction (the same applies to the figures described below).

[0010] The cartridge 10 functions as a first storage means of the present invention for storing in layers single-drug package packs and single-drug package combination packs (described later) in which drugs are packaged in a single package, which are included as drug packs as described later. A plurality of cartridges 10 are arranged in the middle and lower tiers of a main body frame 199 as the device main body of the drug dispensing device 200, via a cartridge tray 20. The cartridges 10 are configured to be freely attached to and detached from the cartridge tray 20 as a second storage means. Here, "storing in layers" means storing the packs in a substantially horizontal state or in a flat stacked state.

[0011] As will be described later, the cartridge tray 20 is configured to be able to position and store a plurality of cartridges 10. The cartridge tray 20 functions as a second storage means for placing and holding at least one cartridge 10.

[0012] A plurality of cartridges 10 are arranged in a drawer section 80 via cartridge trays 20 provided at the bottom and center of a main body frame 199 as the main body of the drug dispensing device 200. In the example of FIG. 1, 4×5=20 cartridges 10 are placed and held in one drawer section 80 (cartridge tray 20) (see FIG. 7 described later). Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the drawer section 80 may be referred to as the cartridge tray 20. Each of the multiple cartridges 10 is placed and stored within a lattice-like partitioned side wall and bottom wall of the cartridge tray 20. The bottom wall of the cartridge tray 20 corresponding to each cartridge 10 is formed with a rectangular through opening 21 (see FIG. 7 described later) for removing a pack from below the cartridge 10 by utilizing the elasticity or free deformation of the pack, as described in the operation described later.

[0013] The drawer section 80 is configured to be able to position and hold the cartridge tray 20. A pair of slide rails 81 are attached to the outer walls of the drawer section 80, and a main body rail (not shown) is provided on the main body frame 199 so as to be able to fit with the slide rails 81 of the drawer section 80. This fitting configuration between the main body rails and the slide rails 81 allows the drawer section 80, in which the cartridge tray 20 is stored and held, to be pulled out from the main body frame 199.

[0014] The medication distribution tray 30 functions as a medication distribution means or medication distribution table of the present invention, which places a specific pack transferred by the transfer section 90. As shown in Fig. 1, two medication distribution trays 30 are arranged in a state of being placed further above the cartridge 10 attached to the cartridge tray 20 in the uppermost drawer section 80. Hereinafter, the installation site of the medication distribution tray 30 (meaning the location where the pack is handed over to the medication distribution tray 30 to be automatically distributed) is referred to as a medication distribution section 29.

[0015] The carriage 50 is an ejection section for ejecting a specific pack from the cartridge 10, and functions as the ejection means of the present invention. The transport section 90 functions as a transport means of the present invention for transporting the pack removed from the cartridge 10 by the carriage 50 . The removal means (carriage 50) and the transport means (transport section 90) function as removal and transport means in the present invention, which removes a specific drug pack from the storage means (cartridge 10) and transports it to a specific position in the dispensing means (dispensing tray 30).

[0016] The first entrance / exit section 41 and the second entrance / exit section 42 function as a storage means entrance / exit section that allows the cartridge 10 and the cartridge tray 20 to enter and exit the main body frame 199 via the drawer section 80. The cartridge 10 is inserted and set in the main body frame 199 through the first entrance / exit section 41 and the second entrance / exit section 42, respectively. The doors of the first entrance / exit section 41 and the second entrance / exit section 42 are opened, and the drawer section 80 in which the cartridge tray 20 is set is pulled out to the front, and the cartridge 10 and the cartridge tray 20 are attached and detached.

[0017] The third entrance / exit section 43 and the fourth entrance / exit section 44 function as entrance / exit means for the medicine dispensing means that allows each of the two medicine dispensing trays 30 arranged side by side on the top level of the medicine dispensing device 200 to enter and exit the main body frame 199. The third entrance / exit section 43 and the fourth entrance / exit section 44 are provided so that the pack can be removed immediately after being placed on the medicine dispensing tray 30 (hereinafter also referred to as "set" or "inserted"). In the medicine dispensing device 200, as described above, two medicine dispensing trays 30 are arranged, and as described later, a medicine dispensing tray is provided for each medicine taking timing, for example, morning, afternoon, evening, before going to bed, etc. Since the third entrance / exit section 43 and the fourth entrance / exit section 44 for the medicine dispensing tray are also provided for each medicine dispensing tray, it is possible to take out another medicine dispensing tray even while a medicine dispensing operation is being performed on another medicine dispensing tray.

[0018] 1 is arranged in two locations, one above the other, below the topmost medicine distribution tray 30, but this is not limiting and the trays may be arranged either above or below. Depending on the number of people in the care facility, the cartridge trays 20 may be arranged in three tiers to achieve the same effect.

[0019] The outline of the drug pack that is the subject of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2(a) is a plan view showing a general form of a single single-dose drug pack, Fig. 2(b) is a side view of the single-dose drug pack of Fig. 2(a) seen from the direction of arrow A, Fig. 2(c) is a side view of a combined single-dose drug pack in which single-dose drug packs are stacked, and Fig. 2(d) is a diagram showing a general form of a continuous pack body. Note that Figs. 2(b) and 2(c) are somewhat schematic, with the drugs omitted.

[0020] The form of the drug pack according to the present invention (hereinafter, simply referred to as "pack" or "drug pack") includes a single packaged drug pack 2, a combination of packaged drug packs 2 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "combined pack 2A") in which a plurality of packaged drug packs 2 (two in FIG. 2(c)) are stacked in the stacking direction and joined, for example, by stapling, and the like. In FIG. 2 and the like, pack 2 is mainly illustrated as a representative, but it goes without saying that the combination of packs 2A and the like are also included. As shown in FIG. 2(a), one single-dose drug pack 2 is formed, for example, from a resin film, and contains small portions of drug 3, such as capsules or tablets, packed in bags. The single-dose drug pack 2 has a bag portion 2a that covers the drug 3, and a crimped portion 4, which is indicated by hatching and has three sides crimped or welded. The side on the bag portion 2a side is usually folded in half, with the drug 3 sandwiched between them, and the crimped portion 4 forms a leak prevention portion that prevents the drug 3 from leaking from the bag portion 2a. The drug 3 in one single-dose drug pack 2 is usually a unit for one dose for a patient.

[0021] The single-dose drug packs 2 are made (packaged) by a drug packaging machine installed in a pharmacy or the like. The packaging paper (packaging sheet) used for packaging the exterior part is a long rolled sheet that is rolled in a folded and overlapped state, and the drug 3 to be taken is sandwiched between the sheets. The three sides other than the folds around the drug 3 are sealed and divided into multiple doses by a crimping part 4, and the single-dose drug packs 2 for the required number of doses are made into a continuous sheet. This continuous sheet-like single-dose drug pack is called a "continuous pack." The continuous pack 1 shown in Figure 2(d) is a state in which multiple single-dose drug packs 2 (three doses in the example shown in the figure) are connected in a strip shape. The pack series 1 is a general form that is usually provided and sold at pharmacies and the like to users (including those who actually take the medicine in the single-dose drug pack, and the caregivers and supporters who assist and support the user in taking the medicine, as well as staff of various nursing homes and medical facilities (a concept that includes pharmacists, nurses, caregivers, and medication supporters). For the sake of simplicity, the following explanation illustrates one pack containing medicine of the same form (capsules, tablets, etc.), but it goes without saying that one pack may contain different medicines depending on the user's use and purpose, etc.

[0022] In the example shown in Figure 2, the single-dose drug pack 2 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The packaging method in which three sides are crimped and sealed, as in this example, is generally called three-sided packaging, and most drug packaging machines on the market create packs using this method.

[0023] The pressure-sealed portion 4 has a band-like width of approximately 10 to 15 mm, and is more rigid than the transparent or semi-transparent film-like bag portion 2a through which the medicine 3 can be seen. In the production (packaging) of the medicine packaging machine, a boundary portion 2b with a perforation 5 is formed in the center of the pressure-sealed portion 4 of the single-dose medicine packs 2, where the multiple single-dose medicine packs 2 constituting the pack continuum 1 are adjacent to each other in a continuous manner from the upstream side to the downstream side. A user who has good dexterity can tear the single-dose medicine pack 2 by hand at the perforation 5, or cut it near the perforation 5 with scissors or a special cutter, to obtain one single-dose medicine pack 2.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2(c), a pack assembly 2A may be used. The pack assembly 2A may be a combination of multiple (two shown in Fig. 2c) drug package packs 2 fastened together at the center of the three crimped portions 4 by stapling 8 (see Fig. 2c), or may be integrated with tape, or may be an integrated package of a Chinese medicine pack or a PTP (Press Through Pack) packaging sheet.

[0025] First medication-related information (hereinafter simply referred to as "medication-related information") is added as information related to medication including the name of the recipient and the timing of medication (also called "dosing timing") to the surface of the bag portion 2a of the single-dose medication pack 2. In the pack 2 shown in Fig. 2, the following medication-related information is added: medication-related information 6a, which represents the name of the recipient who will take the medication 3 in the pack 2 as a character string; medication-related information 6b, which represents the time (dosing timing) when the medication 3 will be taken as a character string; and medication-related information 6c, which represents the name of the recipient and the timing of medication as a QR code (registered trademark). In the pack 2 shown in Figure 2, medication-related information 6a, 6b in the form of character strings and medication-related information 6c in the form of a QR code (registered trademark) are added, but this is not limited to this and it is also possible to use a barcode or an RFID tag used to read tag information using short-range wireless communication.

[0026] Further examples of medication-related information include the type of medication prescribed in the pack (including the shape of the medication) and the number of tablets, and information imprinted on the medication itself. Medication-related information may be acquired and used individually, or multiple pieces of information may be acquired and used in combination. For example, when only checking the person taking the medication, only the name of the person taking the medication is sufficient, and when preventing important medication from being forgotten, the name of the person taking the medication and the number of tablets and shape of the medication in the pack can be confirmed together. In other words, medication-related information includes at least one of the following information: the name of the person taking the medication, the time when the medication in the pack is taken (timing of taking the medication), and the type and number of tablets of the medication prescribed in the pack.

[0027] The medicine distribution tray will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing one configuration example of the medicine distribution tray. As shown in FIG. 3, the medicine distribution tray 30 has partition walls 31, which are partition members as a plurality of partitions for arranging specific packs, and is divided by four erected partition walls 31. The 20 sections 33 formed in the medicine distribution tray 30 can be expressed as components of a matrix consisting of five columns in the X direction (row feed direction) and four rows in the Y direction (character feed direction). As a result, each of the 20 sections 33 in the medicine distribution tray 30 can be uniquely positioned by the components and addresses of the matrix of five columns and four rows. Furthermore, the medicine distribution tray 30 has a bottom wall 32 on which the arranged packs 2 are placed. In this way, the medicine distribution tray 30 is configured such that a specific pack (not shown) arranged in a specific section 33 is reliably arranged in the specific section 33 by the multiple (four) partition walls 31 and the common bottom wall 32 so that the specific pack (not shown) arranged in the specific section 33 does not mix with the packs (not shown) in the other sections 33 or fall off the bottom wall 32.

[0028] In the medication tray 30 shown in Figure 3, the "Floor A After Lunch Medication Tray" displayed on the front outer wall indicates that this is a medication tray on which packs to be taken after lunch (which is also breakfast time according to the medication-related information 6a, 6b of pack 2 shown in Figure 2) for multiple medication users living on the same floor A in a nursing home, for example, are placed.

[0029] The medication tray 30 shown in the figure uses a removable subdivision box 34 in each compartment 33. The subdivision box 34 holds packs 2 containing medicines to be taken after lunch for a total of 20 people, from Mr. A to Mr. T, who are residents of a care facility, for example. That is, the medication tray 30 shown in the figure is used when placing specific packs via the subdivision box 34 in a predetermined (specific) compartment 33 separated by a plurality of partitions. Note that the operation of placing packs 2 on the medication tray 30 may not use the subdivision box 34.

[0030] An example of a label with a QR code (registered trademark) placed in a subdivision box used in a medicine distribution tray will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4(a) is a diagram showing an example of attaching a label with a QR code (registered trademark) placed in a subdivision box used in a medicine distribution tray, and Fig. 4(b) is a diagram explaining an example of display of a label with a QR code (registered trademark). In order to specify the distribution location of the pack 2 taken out of the cartridge 10, a label with a QR code 7 on which medication-related information 6a indicating the name of the person taking the medicine, medication-related information 6b indicating the timing of taking the medicine, and medication-related information 6c expressing the medication-related information 6a and 6b as a QR code (registered trademark) are printed is attached and placed by adhering it to the bottom surface inside the subdivision box 34 of the medicine distribution tray 30.

[0031] 9 below, the QR code (registered trademark) on the QR code label 7 is read, and the coordinates of the X and Y positions, which are the position information of the carriage 50, are linked to the QR code (registered trademark) (name of the recipient, timing of taking the medicine), so that the pack taken out of the cartridge can be dispensed to an appropriate position. The QR code label 7 may be a sticker-like label attached directly to the subdivision box 34, or may be attached to a plate (not shown) and placed inside the subdivision box 34. Also, a QR code label may be attached to each compartment 33 of the medication tray 30, or a plate not shown in the figure may be installed (when the subdivision box 34 is not used). In this case, by using the subdivision box 34, the subdivision box 34 containing the packs 2 can be taken out from the medication tray 30 and the appropriate pack 2 can be moved under the resident (medicine user), so there is no need to worry about taking the wrong pack or dropping the pack.

[0032] In each compartment 33 of the medication tray 30, the set or insertion position is determined for each recipient according to the pack to be taken. In other words, multiple compartments 33 in the medication tray 30 may be assigned to multiple recipients at the same medication timing. In addition, if a specific recipient does not take medicine at a specific medication timing, it is also possible to prevent a pack from being placed for the specific recipient at the specific medication timing.

[0033] Not limited to the above-mentioned medicine distribution tray 30, the medicine distribution tray 30 may have a plurality of compartments 33 allocated for each timing of taking medicine by each recipient. Specifically, the plurality of compartments 33 may be allocated for each timing of taking the pack 2 in the morning, midday, evening, and before going to bed, and for each recipient. In the medicine distribution tray 30 of such an example, the medicine distribution tray 30 can be managed for each floor or room in which multiple recipients reside, and the packs 2 for that day (or several days) can be distributed in advance to the medicine distribution tray 30.

[0034] According to the above example, each section is assigned to a medication timing, such as morning, afternoon, evening, before bedtime, etc., so that the timing of taking the medicine for each patient can be prevented. There are various possible combinations of the patient and the timing of taking the medicine, not limited to the above-mentioned configuration example of the medication distribution tray 30, but since this goes beyond the scope of the present disclosure, the above description will be omitted.

[0035] An example of the cartridge will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge, Figure 6(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cartridge different from that of Figure 5(a), and Figures 5(b) and 6(b) are bottom views of the cartridges of Figures 5(a) and 6(a). In each of the vertical cross-sectional views of Figures 5(a) and 6(a), in order to simplify the drawings, the pack 2 is shown in a schematic manner with the crimping portion 4 (see Figure 2) of the pack 2 stored in the cartridge 10 omitted. For the same purpose, the cross-sectional hatching of the support portions (right support portion 12, left support portion 13, etc.) is also omitted and shown in a schematic manner. The cartridges 10 shown in Figures 5 and 6 have the same configuration with respect to shape, etc., but differ in the display position and display member of the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c. The configuration with respect to shape, etc. will be described representatively with reference to Figure 5.

[0036] The cartridge 10 is mainly composed of a case portion 11, a lid portion 14, a pack removal opening 17, a movable plate 16, a pack orientation maintaining portion 15, and a right support portion 12 and a left support portion 13 serving as supports. The case portion 11 has a function of storing a plurality of packs 2 and a pack combination 2A (hereinafter, the pack 2 will be described as a representative). The case portion 11 is formed integrally or separately, for example, using resin. The lid portion 14 has a function of allowing the pack 2 to be inserted. The pack removal opening 17 is formed in the lower portion or bottom of the case portion 11, and is an opening for removing the pack 2 from the cartridge 10, and has a function of passing the pack 2 removed from the cartridge 10 by the carriage 50 (see Figures 1, 9, etc.).

[0037] The movable plate 16 has a function of preventing the packs 2 from falling over, and after the first pack of the maximum number of packs 2 that can be stored in the case part 11 has been taken out, moves the lowest pack 2 to the vicinity of the pack removal opening 17. The pack posture maintaining part 15 has a function of maintaining the posture of the pack 2. The right support part 12 and the left support part 13 also have a function of supporting or holding the pack 2 in the case part 11.

[0038] In this embodiment, the portion to be removed of the pack 2 removed from the cartridge 10 by the carriage 50 is located at the lower or bottom portion within the cartridge 10. That is, the portion to be removed is configured to include a right support portion 12 and a left support portion 13 as support portions or support members that support the pack 2 removed from the cartridge 10 at multiple points, and a pack removal opening 17.

[0039] When the pack 2 is removed from the cartridge 10 by the carriage 50, the right support portion 12 and the left support portion 13 are configured to allow the pack 2 to pass through. On the other hand, when the pack 2 is not to be removed from the cartridge 10, the right support portion 12 and the left support portion 13 are configured to restrict the passage of the pack 2 so that a plurality of packs 2 are stored and held within the case portion 11.

[0040] As described above, the right support part 12 and the left support part 13 are support parts that support or hold the pack 2 in the cartridge 10, and are also provided in an immovable state so that the removal operation of the pack 2 from the cartridge 10 by the carriage 50 can be stabilized. The right support part 12 and the left support part 13 are fixed members that are fixed or secured to the bottom wall inner surfaces 11e of the right and left bottom wall ends of the pack removal opening 17, respectively. The pack removal opening 17 has a function of passing a suction pad 52 of a carriage 50 shown in Fig. 9 etc. described later in order to remove the pack 2, and also has a function of passing the removed pack 2 and the suction pad 52. In other words, the pack removal opening 17 and the right bottom wall end and the left bottom wall end provided in a state surrounding the pack removal opening 17 function as pack removal passages.

[0041] In the cartridge 10 in FIG. 5, a position 52' (hereinafter also referred to as "suction pad position") where the suction pad 52 (see FIG. 11(d) described later) suctions the pack 2 stored in the cartridge 10 is indicated by a circular two-dot chain line in FIG. 5(b). The right support part 12 and the left support part 13 support the pack 2 in the cartridge 10 so that the pack 2 in the cartridge 10 does not fall from the pack removal opening 17. As will be described in the operation of the carriage 50 described later, when the pack 2 at the bottom of the cartridge 10 is removed while being sucked by the suction pad 52, the suction pad 52 is positioned to suck the pack 2 at two suction pad positions in the Y direction near both ends of the right support part 12. When the pack 2 at the bottom of the cartridge 10 is removed by the suction pad 52, the two suction pads 52 pass near both ends of the right support part 12 in the Y direction to suck and hold the pack 2.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 5, by locating suction pad positions at two locations near both ends of the right support portion 12 in the Y direction, it is possible to prevent the packs 2 from being unable to be sucked by the suction pads 52 and remove the packs. That is, since the packs 2 on both sides in the Y direction are sucked by the suction pads 52, the film bag portion 2a of the pack 2 is stretched by the suction of the two suction pads and can withstand deformation. This makes it possible to reliably support or hold the pack 2 in the cartridge 10 while also making it easy to smoothly remove the pack 2.

[0043] The pack attitude maintaining portion 15 is made of sponge rubber having appropriate elasticity. The movable plate 16 is made of, for example, resin or metal. The pack attitude maintaining portion 15 and the movable plate 16 also properly maintain the attitude of the multiple packs 2 stored in the case portion 11 (as shown in FIG. 5(a) , they also maintain the attitude of the packs 2 in an orderly and substantially horizontal state along the Z direction). In order to fulfill the above function, the movable plate 16 is set to reliably move at least one pack 2 remaining in the case portion 11 to the vicinity of the pack removal opening 17 by descending downward in the Z direction within the case portion 11 by its own weight. As shown in Fig. 5(a), a long groove 11a is formed in the side wall of the case 11, extending in the Z direction with a predetermined width in the X direction. A flanged shaft 16a is provided at one end of the movable plate 16 so as to protrude from the long groove 11a. The movable plate 16 can hold the position of the pack 2 in the Z direction by guiding the shaft 16a along the long groove 11a in the Z direction. In Fig. 5, the packs 2 in the cartridge 10 are stacked in a substantially horizontal state, and are stored with the drug-encapsulated portion on the left side of the figure in a bulging position (not shown), but the detailed state of these packs 2 is omitted.

[0044] The packs 2 are set in the case 11 and stored in order from the pack removal openings 17 on the right support part 12 and the left support part 13 toward the top. The timing for refilling the cartridge 10 with packs 2 may be, for example, when a user (resident) in a nursing facility is examined (usually every two weeks) or when the packs 2 in the cartridge 10 run out. If there are packs 2 remaining in the cartridge 10 when refilling, refilling is performed starting from behind the remaining packs 2. The setting of pack 2 into cartridge 10 and the refilling of pack 2 are typically performed by staff at a care facility or the like, but this is not necessarily the case if the storage section is made into a cartridge and the operation is automated.

[0045] The lid portion 14 is intended to enable staff at a care facility or the like to insert and remove the pack 2 stored in the cartridge 10, and is formed long in the Z direction of the case portion 11 and with a predetermined opening width, as shown in Figure 5(a).

[0046] As shown in Fig. 5(b), the types of packs 2 in the cartridge 10 are classified according to the timing of taking the medicine, such as a 14-day supply of morning medicine for person A (as a specific example, Midori Ebina). Therefore, if person A (Midori Ebina) takes medicine in the afternoon, evening, and before bedtime in addition to the morning, a total of four cartridges 10 are required. The example is not limited to the above, and may be a single cartridge 10 set for each medication recipient (person), and the order from pack removal opening 17, which is the pack removal direction of cartridge 10, upwards may be morning → noon → evening → before bedtime on the first day → morning → noon → evening, etc.

[0047] The technology proposed by the present applicant in JP 2021-185976 A discloses a technology relating to a combination of the left flap part 12 (a torsion coil spring having a predetermined range of biasing force is attached between the rotation shaft 12a and the right bottom wall end) of the flap mechanism as shown in FIG. 8A and the right flap part 13 (provided so as to be swingable and openable and closable around a rotation shaft (not shown) provided at the right bottom wall end of the pack removal opening 17). However, in the above technology, when removing a pack from the cartridge (storage section), the pack gets caught between the left flap part 12 or the right flap part 13 and the bottom wall inner surface 11e of the pack removal opening 17, which causes a problem that the removal operation of the pack 2 is unstable.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, to solve the above problem, the right support part 12 and the left support part 13 are fixed as fixing members to the inner bottom wall surface 11e of the pack removal opening 17 of the case part 11 so that the removal operation of the pack 2 from the cartridge 10 by the carriage 50 is always stable. In other words, the right support part 12 and the left support part 13 are arranged in the pack removal opening 17 at the bottom of the cartridge 10 in a fixed state, with the right support part 12 and the left support part 13 for holding both ends of the drug pack (pack 2, pack combination 2A, etc.).

[0049] The end support part of the pack 2 on the side to be adsorbed is supported by the right support part 12, and the opposite end support part is supported by the left support part 13, so that the pack 2 stored and set in the cartridge 10 does not fall in the set state. The right support part 12 and the left support part 13 have different support lengths for supporting the pack 2, with the right support part 12 having a shorter support length. When the bottommost pack 2 stored in the cartridge 10 is adsorbed by the suction pad 52 and pulled out of the cartridge 10, the drug pack such as the pack 2 is configured and operates to bend due to elasticity or free deformation, making it easy to pull out (see FIG. 11(d) described later).

[0050] At this time, because the support parts (right support part 12 and left support part 13) are fixed, they can securely hold the tip of the next pack 2 and it will not fly out or fall due to being pulled by the previous pack 2. In addition, because the support parts (right support part 12 and left support part 13) do not swing or rotate, the pack 2 will not get pinched during the return movement or deformed when pushed in, and it will be held in a stable state.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 5, medication-related information 6a, 6b, and 6c displayed on the medicine packs (pack 2, combined packs 2A, etc.) are exposed from pack removal opening 17 of cartridge 10, and medication-related information 6c on the medicine packs can be read by QR code reader 66 mounted on carriage 50 as shown in Fig. 9 described below. In Fig. 5, for the sake of simplicity, medication-related information 6c is displayed only on pack 2, combined packs 2A, etc. stored at the bottom of cartridge 10, but it goes without saying that the medication-related information 6c is displayed on all packs 2, combined packs 2A, etc. stored in cartridge 10.

[0052] Also, in cases where it is not possible to provide medication-related information 6c such as a QR code (registered trademark) to a medicine pack (pack 2, combined pack 2A, etc.) (for example, when a packaging machine that produces pack 2, etc. is not capable of printing a QR code (registered trademark)), a method as shown in FIG. 6 may be used. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a label with a QR code (registered trademark) related to medication-related information 6c is attached to the bottom surface of the left support part 13 near the pack removal opening 17. This makes it possible to obtain the medication-related information 6c of the medicine pack (pack 2, combined pack 2A, etc.) stored in the cartridge 10. Note that, to obtain the medication-related information 6c, the QR code (registered trademark) may be directly printed on the cartridge 10 instead of attaching a label.

[0053] The mechanism for mounting and dismounting the cartridge provided in the drawer section and its operation will be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a plan sectional view of the main part showing the mechanism for mounting and dismounting the cartridge provided in the drawer section, and Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view explaining the identification configuration of the cartridge provided in the drawer section. As shown in Fig. 7, the drawer section 80 is configured to make a plurality of cartridges 10 mountable and dismountable via the cartridge tray 20. The cartridges 10 configured to be mountable and dismountable in this manner are generally called "storage sections". The drawer section 80 is configured integrally with the cartridge tray 20 to hold the cartridge tray 20. Slide rails 81 are provided on the left and right outer wall surfaces of the case section 22 of the cartridge tray 20 in the drawer section 80, respectively, and each slide rail 81 is slidable on a main body rail (not shown) arranged on the main body frame 199 (see Fig. 1). As a result, the drawer section 80 (cartridge tray 20) can be mounted and dismounted by being pulled out from within the main body frame 199 (see Fig. 1) via the engagement between the slide rails 81 and the main body rails (not shown).

[0054] 7, the cartridge 10 is attached to and detached from the cartridge tray 20 of the drawer section 80 via engagement and disengagement between a pair of protrusions 23a formed on the inner wall surface of the case section 22 of the drawer section 80 and protruding inward, and a pair of recesses 11c formed on the outer wall surface of the case section 11 of the cartridge 10, and between the inner wall surface of the case section 22 and four hemispherical protrusions 11d formed on the outer wall surface of the case section 11. The above-described attachment and detachment configuration of the drawer section 80 allows the attachment and detachment of multiple cartridges 10 to be performed simply and with good operability. In the above example, the case 22 and the case 11 are detachably attached through the fitting and engagement of the concave and convex portions, but the present invention is not limited to this. The same effect can be obtained by providing an elastic material in the gap between the inner wall surface of the case 22 and the outer wall surface of the case 11, by using a magnetic force, or by using a snap-fit ​​structure. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, an opening 21 is formed in the bottom wall of the cartridge tray 20 of the drawer 80, and the opening 21 communicates with the pack removal opening 17 (see Figs. 5 and 6) of the cartridge 10 when each cartridge 10 is attached to each storage section 23 of the cartridge tray 20. The shape of the opening 21 of the cartridge tray 20 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is shown as a slightly small through rectangular shape, but it goes without saying that the opening 21 is formed according to the embodiment as shown in Figs. 18 to 20 described later.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 8, the cartridge tray 20 of the drawer section 80 has a storage section 23 for storing 20 cartridges 10, which are arranged in four horizontal columns from A to D and five vertical rows from 1 to 5. The drawer section 80 is provided with guide display sections such as LEDs (light-emitting diodes) 25a1 to 25d5 for indicating the locations of the cartridges 10 near the handle 26 that is gripped by hand during attachment and detachment operations. This allows the user to know at a glance where the target cartridge 10 is located in the drawer section 80 or cartridge tray 20. In the same figure, the LED 25a1 detects the presence or absence of a cartridge 10 to be attached or detached corresponding to the storage section A1 (representing a portion or section uniquely determined by vertical columns and horizontal rows) of the cartridge tray 20. Similarly, LED 25a2 corresponds to the portion of storage section A2 of cartridge tray 20, LED 25a3 corresponds to the portion of storage section A3 of cartridge tray 20, LED 25a4 corresponds to the portion of storage section A4 of cartridge tray 20, and LED 25a5 corresponds to the portion of storage section A5 of cartridge tray 20. Similarly, for storage sections 1 to 5 in columns B to D, as shown in Fig. 8, LEDs are provided corresponding to each storage section to indicate the presence or absence of a cartridge 10 to be inserted or removed from each storage section. In the case of guidance display parts such as LEDs 25a1-25d5, there is a possibility that a staff member who is an operator who mounts the cartridge 10 in the storage part 23 may misread the lit up parts of the LEDs 25a1-25d5 and mount (mismount) the cartridge 10 in a storage part other than the specified storage part 23. Therefore, instead of guidance display parts such as LEDs 25a1-25d5, for example, by providing a detection means such as a sensor or a switch in each storage part 23, the presence or absence of the cartridge 10 may be electrically (automatically) identified.

[0056] In addition, to identify each storage unit, it is advisable to provide the storage unit with a number, barcode, QR code (registered trademark), or non-contact IC tag, and have the system memorize whose medicine is in which storage unit. Then, after the drawer unit with the storage unit attached is set in the device body, the device body will identify each storage unit. This allows the device to take out and pick the correct pack.

[0057] In addition, the cartridge tray 20 provided in the drawer section 80 shown in Figures 7 and 8 is also provided with a configuration for detecting the attachment / detachment (insertion and removal) of the cartridge 10 using a sensor, as described below. Since this corresponds to a key part of this embodiment, the details of this configuration will be described later with reference to Figure 15, etc.

[0058] The configuration and operation of the carriage (ejection section, ejection means) will be described with reference to Fig. 9 to Fig. 12. Fig. 9(a) is a front view showing the configuration of the carriage, Fig. 9(b) is a plan view of Fig. 9(a), and Figs. 10 to 12 are front views showing the operation transition of the carriage. In order to simplify the drawings, the connection relationship diagram of the negative pressure generator 45 etc. in the carriage configuration is shown only in Fig. 9(a) and is omitted in Figs. 10, 13 etc. described later. As shown in Fig. 9, the carriage 50 has an adsorption section 51 that removes and holds the pack 2 from the cartridge 10. The adsorption section 51 has a function of adsorbing and peeling off the pack 2. When adsorbing the pack 2, the adsorption section 51 has a function of adsorbing the pack 2 by using negative pressure air converted by a negative pressure generator 45 serving as a negative pressure switching means. Also, when peeling off the pack 2, the adsorption section 51 has a function of peeling off the pack 2 by using pressurized air converted by the negative pressure generator 45.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 9(a), the above-mentioned suction unit 51 converts positive pressure from an air compressor 46, which is an air compression means, into negative pressure in a negative pressure generator 45 via an air tank 47, thereby creating a negative pressure state and suctioning the packs 2. The air compressor 46 is installed outside the transfer unit 90, and is connected to the suction unit 51 by communication members such as an air pipe 49 via the air tank 47 and the negative pressure generator 45. The air pipe 49 between the negative pressure generator 45 and the suction unit 51 is configured so that it can be determined that the suction unit 51 has suctioned the packs 2 when the negative pressure measured by a pressure sensor (not shown) that measures the negative pressure falls to a predetermined value or less.

[0060] The air piping 49 is provided through a cable bear (registered trademark) together with a harness so that the carriage 50 does not become taut even when it moves inside the drug dispensing device 200. That is, as shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b), the air piping 49 has a path of one turn each in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. The air piping 49 is first extended from the negative pressure generator 45 along the Z-axis direction and makes one turn, then extended along the X-axis and makes one turn, and finally extended along the Y-axis and makes one turn to be connected to the suction part 51.

[0061] The suction unit 51 also has a suction pad 52 that suctions the pack 2, and a suction duct 53 connected to the suction pad 52. The negative pressure generator 45 is also called a vacuum ejector valve, and is connected to the suction duct 53 via an air pipe 49. The suction pad 52 functions as an air suction means or suction member that suctions and removes the pack 2 from the cartridge 10. One end of the suction pad 52, the upper end in FIG. 9(a), is disposed to suction the pack 2 as described above. The other end of the suction pad 52, the lower end in FIG. 9(a), is attached and fixed to one end of the suction duct 53, the upper end in FIG. 9(a). The other end of the suction duct 53, the lower end in FIG. 9(a), is attached and fixed to a suction pad support member 54. The suction pad 52 and the suction duct 53 are provided as a pair in the Y direction.

[0062] The carriage 50 also has a position changing means for changing the position of the pack 2 removed from the cartridge 10 to a substantially vertical position. The position changing means in the carriage 50 includes, as main components, a suction pad support member 54 connected to a suction portion base member 57 via a rotating shaft 55, a guide member 59 in which a uniquely shaped guide groove 59a is formed, a guide shaft 56 which is always fitted into the guide groove 59a of the guide member 59 to guide the suction pad support member 54, and a suction portion up and down movement portion. The suction pad support member 54 is connected to the suction unit base member 57 via a rotation shaft 55. The suction pad support member 54 may be provided so as to be rotatable (i.e. swingable) within a predetermined angle range around the rotation shaft 55 fixed to the suction pad support member 54, or may be provided so as to be swingable around the rotation shaft 55 fixed to the suction unit base member 57. In other words, in Fig. 9, the distance connecting the center of the rotation shaft 55 and the center of a guide rod 58 (described later) in the X direction is set to be always kept constant when the suction unit base member 57 moves in the vertical direction Z along the guide rod 58.

[0063] The suction unit vertical movement part has a pair of guide rods 58 provided in the Y direction to guide the suction unit base member 57 in the Z direction, an endless belt 62 wound around a drive pulley 60 and a driven pulley 61, and a drive motor 63 connected to the drive pulley 60 via a drive transmission member such as a gear or a belt. The drive motor 63 is a drive means or drive source of the suction unit vertical movement part.

[0064] The suction unit base member 57 is connected and fixed to the belt 62 by a belt gripping portion 62a fixed to the right end of the suction unit base member 57. The guide rods 58 extend in the Z direction and are provided in a pair in the Y direction. A guided hole 57a into which the guide rod 58 is inserted is formed on the right end side of the suction unit base member 57. The drive pulley 60 and the driven pulley 61 have pulley shafts (not shown) rotatably supported by a stationary member on the take-out frame 50a side. The drive motor 63 is fixed to a stationary member on the take-out frame 50a side of the carriage 50.

[0065] When the suction unit base member 57 moves up and down by the operation of the drive motor 63, the suction unit base member 57 moves in the Z direction along each guide rod 58, so that it is possible to keep the posture of the suction unit base member 57 in the XY plane constant in a substantially horizontal state. Note that the suction unit up and down movement unit is not limited to the above-mentioned belt-driven up and down reciprocating motion mechanism, and may be a reciprocating linear motion mechanism using a rack and pinion or the like.

[0066] A pair of guide members 59 are provided on both sides of the suction portion 51 in the Y direction with the suction pad support member 54 in between, and their lower ends are fixed to the bottom frame 50b. The guide shafts 56 are provided to protrude from both ends of the suction pad support member 54 in the Y direction and are provided to always fit into guide grooves 59a of the guide members 59 to guide the suction pad support member 54. As shown in Fig. 9(a), the guide shafts 56 are provided below the rotation shaft 55 of the suction pad support member 54 in the Z direction with a certain distance from the rotation shaft 55.

[0067] When the suction unit base member 57 moves in the Z direction by operating the drive motor 63, the posture of the suction unit base member 57 in the XY plane is kept constant in an approximately horizontal state, and the guide shaft 56 of the suction pad support member 54 moves in the Z direction along the uniquely shaped guide groove 59a, so that the posture of the suction pad 52 can be rotated approximately 90 degrees (in FIG. 9(a) , the state when the suction unit 51 is rotated approximately 90 degrees is shown by a thick dashed line). Here, the approximately horizontal state includes the horizontal state, and also means being within a predetermined angle tolerance range with respect to the horizontal.

[0068] The uniquely shaped guide groove 59a comprises a first guide groove portion formed to extend relatively far in the Z direction so as to maintain the position of the suction pad 52 facing upward as shown by the solid line in Figure 9(a) via the suction pad support member 54 in a substantially horizontal state by the guidance of the guide shaft 56, and a second guide groove portion which communicates with and connects to this first guide groove portion and is formed to gradually draw a gentle arc to the right as it goes downward, thereby rotating the position of the suction pad support member 54 and the suction pad 52 by approximately 90 degrees.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 9, the carriage 50 is equipped with a QR code reader 66 as a medication-related information reading section or pack information reading means for reading medication-related information 6c (see FIG. 5) in the form of a QR code (registered trademark) displayed on the pack 2 or the like stored in the cartridge 10. The QR code reader 66 has an upper reading section 66a at its upper portion for reading the medication-related information 6c, and also functions as a medication-related information reading section 65 (see FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 described later). The QR code reader 66 is attached to the side of the carriage 50. The QR code reader 66 is also used when reading the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c displayed on a label (see FIG. 6) affixed to the left support section 13 of the pack removal opening 17 of the cartridge 10. The operation of reading the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c by the upper reading portion 66a of the QR code reader 66 will be described as being performed immediately before the operation of removing the pack 2 from the cartridge 10 by the carriage 50.

[0070] 9, the carriage 50 also has a medication-related information reading section 65 or a QR code reader 67 serving as pack information reading means for reading the QR code (registered trademark) relating to the medication-related information 6c on the label 7 affixed to the dispensing box 34 described in FIG. 4. The QR code reader 67 has a lower reading section 67a at its lower part, which also functions as the medication-related information reading section 65 and as the pack information reading means for reading medication information, and is attached to the side of the carriage 50 below the QR code reader 66. The reading operation of the QR code (registered trademark) relating to the medication-related information 6c on the dispensing box 34 by the lower reading section 67a of the QR code reader 67 will be described as being performed immediately before the dispensing operation of the pack 2 removed from the cartridge 10 to the dispensing box 34 of the medication tray 30.

[0071] The operation of the carriage 50 will be described with reference to Figs. 10 to 12. In order to simplify the explanation and make it easier to understand, it is assumed that the carriage 50 is moved by the movement of the transport unit 90 in Fig. 1 to be located near the bottom of the cartridge tray 20 held in the upper drawer unit 80 of the two drawer units 80 arranged above and below the main body frame 199 in Fig. 1. It is assumed that the cartridge 10 shown in Fig. 5 and the cartridge tray 20 shown in Fig. 1 are used. In order to simplify the illustrations and make it easier to understand, the QR code (registered trademark) and the upper QR code reader 66 and the lower QR code reader 67 related to the medication-related information 6c are intentionally omitted in each of Figs. 11(b) to 11(g), 12(i), and 12(j).

[0072] In Fig. 10(a), the carriage 50 can be moved in the X and Y directions in the lower area of ​​the cartridge 10 and the cartridge tray 20 by the transport unit 90 in Fig. 1. First, as shown in the figure, the carriage 50 moves below the cartridge tray 20 holding the cartridge 10 storing the pack 2 to be removed, and occupies a position as described below. That is, the upper reading unit 66a of the QR code reader 66 of the carriage 50 occupies a position that is approximately directly below the cartridge tray 20 and the cartridge 10 (reading range 9 from the opening 21 of the cartridge tray 20 to the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c of the pack 2 stored at the bottom inside the cartridge 10 can be read). With the carriage 50 in the above position, the upper reading unit 66a of the QR code reader 66 reads the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c displayed on the pack 2.

[0073] Next, the carriage 50 is moved slightly to the right in the X direction from the position shown in FIG. 10(a) to a position where the lowest pack 2 can be taken out from the same cartridge 10 by the transfer unit 90 shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 11(b), and the carriage 50 is stopped. At this time, the drive motor 63 of the suction unit vertical movement unit is stopped, and the suction pad 52 is located below the upper surface position of the take-out unit (meaning the upper surface position of the take-out frame 50a of the carriage 50). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11(c), the drive motor 63 is operated to move the suction pad 52 upward, enter through the pack take-out opening 17 between the right support unit 12 and the left support unit 13, and contact the pack 2 located at the lowest position of the cartridge 10, and simultaneously suck the pack 2. At this time, the negative pressure generator 45 is driven in advance to generate negative pressure, and the pack 2 can be sucked.

[0074] Next, as shown in FIG. 11(d), the drive motor 63 rotates in the reverse direction, causing the suction pad 52 to move downward while suctioning the pack 2, thereby pulling out the tip side (meaning the side that is suctioned by the suction pad 52; the same applies below) of the pack 2 from within the cartridge 10.

[0075] Next, as shown in FIG. 11(e), the carriage 50 is moved in the X direction, which is the horizontal direction, by the operation of the transport unit 90, and the rear end side of the pack 2 is pulled out from the cartridge 10. Immediately after that, as shown in FIG. 11(f) to FIG. 11(g), the drive motor 63 rotates the substantially horizontal state of the pack 2, which is sucked and held by the suction pad 52, by approximately 90 degrees, changing the substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state (hereinafter also referred to as a substantially vertical state). The rotational motion at this time is performed by the guide shaft 56 provided on the suction pad support member 54 moving along the guide groove 59a of the guide member 59, so that the attitude of the pack 2 can be changed from the substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state. The drive source at this time can be a series of operations of the single drive motor 63.

[0076] 12(h), the carriage 50 equipped with the suction pad 52 holding the pack 2 in a substantially vertical position is carried to a predetermined position by the transport unit 90. When the lower reading unit 67a of the QR code reader 67 of the carriage 50 thus occupies the above-mentioned predetermined position where the QR code (registered trademark) relating to the medication-related information 6c displayed at the bottom of a predetermined subdivision box 34 (or a predetermined section 33) of the medication tray 30 is within the reading range 9, the lower reading unit 67a reads the QR code (registered trademark) relating to the medication-related information 6c.

[0077] Next, the carriage 50 is moved slightly to the right in the X direction as shown in FIG. 12(i) from the position state of FIG. 12(h) by the transport unit 90 of FIG. 1, and stops moving at a position where the removed pack 2 can be inserted into a predetermined subdivision box 34 (or a predetermined section 33) of the same medicine distribution tray 30. When the carriage 50 is thus transported to approximately directly above the predetermined subdivision box 34 (or the predetermined section 33) of the medicine distribution tray 30 where the pack 2 can be inserted, the negative pressure generator 45 is driven for a short time to generate a pressurized (positive) pressure from the negative pressure. As a result, pressurized air is blown from the suction pad 52 to the pack 2, releasing the suction and holding of the pack 2, and the pack 2 is inserted into the predetermined subdivision box 34 (or the predetermined section 33) of the medicine distribution tray 30 (see FIG. 12(j)).

[0078] After repeating the above operation multiple times and inserting the required packs 2 into the designated compartments 33 (or designated subdivision boxes 34) of the medication tray 30, the medication tray 30 is ejected from the device through the third entrance / exit section 43 (see Figure 1) and is received by staff at a care facility or a medication support person.

[0079] The operation of reading the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c of the cartridge 10 shown in Fig. 6 by the upper reading section 66a of the QR code reader 66 in Fig. 9 will be described with reference to Fig. 13. The cartridge 10 shown in Fig. 6 differs from the cartridge 10 shown in Fig. 5 only in that the display position of the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c has been changed from the bag section 2a of the pack 2 to the bottom wall surface of the left support section 13 of the cartridge 10.

[0080] 13, in order to read the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c displayed on the bottom wall surface of the left support part 13 of the cartridge 10, the carriage 50 is moved to the left in the X direction to a position where the upper reading part 66a of the QR code reader upper part 66 of the carriage 50 is in a reading range 9 where the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c displayed on the bottom wall surface of the left support part 13 of the cartridge 10 can be read. With the carriage 50 in the above position, the upper reading part 66a of the QR code reader upper part 66 reads the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c displayed on the bottom wall surface of the left support part 13 of the cartridge 10. The operation of the carriage 50 other than the above is the same as that described in FIGS. 11(b) to 11(g) and 12(h) to 12(i).

[0081] As described above, in the above embodiment, when removing the pack 2 from the cartridge 10, the carriage 50 is positioned below the cartridge 10 and the cartridge tray 20, and the pack 2 is removed from below the cartridge 10. In this way, by removing the pack 2 from below the cartridge 10, the next pack 2 automatically moves downward (towards the pack removal opening 17) by the weight of the pack 2 remaining in the cartridge 10 and the movable plate 16, so that the carriage 50 can perform the same operation with a simple configuration regardless of the remaining amount of packs 2 in the cartridge 10.

[0082] The configuration and operation of the transport unit 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14(a) is a front view showing the main configuration of the transport unit, and FIG. 14(b) is a side view of FIG. 14(a). As in the configuration of the drug dispensing device 200 in FIG. 1, the cartridges 10 are arranged on a plane below the drug dispensing tray 30 arranged at the top of the main body frame 199 in the Z direction, and the drug dispensing tray 30 is located above the upper cartridge 10, so the carriage 50 moves in three directions, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. In this way, the transport unit 90 has a configuration for moving the carriage 50 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction in order to transport the pack 2 taken out of the cartridge 10 by the carriage 50 to the drug dispensing tray 30 for delivery.

[0083] The configuration for moving the carriage 50 in the X direction is the X-direction transport section 91, the configuration for moving the carriage 50 in the Y direction is the Y-direction transport section 101, and the configuration for moving the carriage 50 in the Z direction is the Z-direction transport section 111, and each has a similar configuration.

[0084] The X-direction transport section 91 has an X adapter 96 attached to the carriage 50, an X guide member 97 that guides the carriage 50 in the X direction via the X adapter 96, an endless belt 94 wound around a drive pulley 92 and a driven pulley 93, and a drive motor 95 for X-direction transport that is connected to the drive pulley 92 via a drive force transmission member such as a gear or a belt. Three rollers 98 (two of the three are hidden by the carriage 50 and cannot be seen) are attached to the X adapter 96 so as to be able to roll while pinching the X guide member 97. The X adapter 96 is also connected and fixed to the endless belt 94 via a belt gripping section (not shown).

[0085] With the above-described configuration of the X-direction transport unit 91, when the drive motor 95 is driven, the drive force is transmitted to the endless belt 94 via the drive force transmission member and the drive pulley 92, so that the endless belt 94 rotates and moves, and the carriage 50 moves in the X direction along the X guide member 97 together with the X adapter 96.

[0086] Y-direction transport unit 101 has a Y adapter 106 attached to carriage 50, a Y guide member 107 that guides carriage 50 in the Y direction via Y adapter 106, an endless belt 104 wound around drive pulley 102 and driven pulley 103, and a drive motor 105 for transport in the Y direction that is connected to drive pulley 102 via a driving force transmission member such as a gear or a belt. Three rollers 108 are attached to Y adapter 106 so as to be able to roll while clamping Y guide member 107. In addition, Y adapter 106 is connected and fixed to endless belt 104 via belt gripping portion 104a.

[0087] With the above-described configuration of the Y-direction transport section 101, when the drive motor 105 is driven, the drive force is transmitted to the endless belt 104 via the drive force transmission member and the drive pulley 102, causing the endless belt 104 to rotate and run, and the carriage 50 moves in the Y direction along the Y guide member 107 together with the Y adapter 106.

[0088] The Z-direction transfer section 111 includes a pair of Z adapters 116 attached to both ends of the X-direction of the X-guide member 97, a pair of Z guide members 117 that guide the carriage 50 in the Z direction via the X-guide member 97 and the pair of Z adapters 116, an endless belt 114 wound around a driving pulley 112 and a driven pulley 113, and a drive motor 115 for Z-direction transfer that is connected to the driving pulley 112 via a driving force transmission member such as a gear or a belt. In the Z-direction transfer section 111, the driving pulley 112, the driven pulley 113, and the endless belt 114 are provided on both sides in the X direction, but the drive motor 115 is provided only on one of the driving pulleys 112. Three rollers 118 are attached to each of the Z adapters 116 so as to be rotatable while clamping the Z guide member 117. Also, each of the Z adapters 116 is connected and fixed to each of the endless belts 114 via each of the belt gripping parts 114a.

[0089] With the above-described configuration of the Z-direction transport section 111, when the drive motor 115 is driven, the drive force is transmitted to the endless belt 114 via the drive force transmission member and the drive pulley 112, causing the endless belt 114 to rotate and move, and the carriage 50 moves in the Z direction along the Z guide member 117 together with the X guide member 97 and the Z adapter 116.

[0090] In FIG. 14, the carriage 50 moves in three axial directions, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis. However, in a configuration in which, for example, the cartridge 10 is arranged on the upper side of the carriage 50 and the medication tray 30 is arranged on the lower side, the carriage 50 only needs to move in the X-axis and the Y-axis, thereby reducing the number of axes of movement by one.

[0091] As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the QR code reader as pack information reading means is configured to be divided into two parts: upper QR code reader 66 with an upper reading portion 66a, and lower QR code reader 67 with a lower reading portion 67a; however, they may be integrated into one.

[0092] The QR code (registered trademark) reading operation can be controlled to automatically start when the cartridge or the medicine distribution tray, or both, are detected as being stored, as described below. In addition, the reading operation can be performed immediately before the medicine pack is removed from the cartridge or immediately before the medicine is distributed to the medicine distribution tray, or can be set arbitrarily by the user, and there is no need to limit the implementation method.

[0093] The QR code (registered trademark) on the carriage side and the QR code (registered trademark) on the medication tray (subdivision box) side are read and each piece of information is stored and used for data comparison when dispensing medication (see Figure 16 described below).

[0094] The control configuration of the drug dispensing device 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a control block diagram showing the main control configuration of the drug dispensing device. As shown in Fig. 15, the drug dispensing device 200 is equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) having a function as a control unit 150, which is a control means for controlling the operation of each part of the drug dispensing device 200. The CPU has a built-in memory unit, timer unit, etc. The CPU issues notifications to staff and instructions for device operation at a timing according to a program based on various inputs including those from sensors described later.

[0095] The CPU may have a timer (timekeeping) function in addition to the calculation and control functions. The storage unit 152 on the control unit 150 side has a RAM (a memory that can be read and written at any time), also called a main storage device (main memory), and a ROM (read only memory). The ROM stores programs that the CPU can read (for example, programs such as control flowcharts described later) and various data in advance. Examples of the various data include relationship data between the sections 33 and multiple subdivision boxes 34 of the medicine distribution tray 30 assigned to each recipient and the medicine packs, relationship data between the sections 33 and multiple subdivision boxes 34 of the medicine distribution tray 30 assigned to each medication timing and the medicine packs, and relationship data between the sections 33 and multiple subdivision boxes 34 of the medicine distribution tray 30 assigned to each medication order and the medicine packs.

[0096] The input / output port of the CPU is electrically connected to a touch panel 151 as a user interface. The touch panel 151 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a combination of a keyboard and an LED display unit with an input unit and a display unit separate from each other.

[0097] The input port of the CPU is electrically connected to various sensors, including a medicine tray detection sensor 156 that detects the type of medicine tray 30 stored in the device and the presence or absence of the medicine tray 30, and a cartridge detection sensor 157 that detects the presence or absence of the cartridge 10. The input port of the CPU is also electrically connected to various sensors, including drawer entrance opening / closing sensors 159a and 159b that detect the opening and closing of the first entrance / exit section 41 and the second entrance / exit section 42, and medicine tray entrance / exit section opening / closing sensors 160a and 160b that detect the opening and closing of the third entrance / exit section 43 and the fourth entrance / exit section 44. The medicine tray detection sensor 156, the cartridge detection sensor 157, the drawer entrance / exit section opening / closing sensors 159a and 159b, and the medicine tray entrance / exit section opening / closing sensors 160a and 160b are shown only in FIG. 15. Also electrically connected to the input port of the CPU are an HP sensor 99 for an HP sensor X that detects a home position (hereinafter abbreviated as "HP") of an X-direction transfer portion 91 of the carriage 50, an HP sensor 109 for an HP sensor Y that detects an HP of a Y-direction transfer portion 101 of the carriage 50, and an HP sensor 119 for an HP sensor Z that detects an HP of a Z-direction transfer portion 111 of the carriage 50. Also electrically connected to the input port of the CPU is an HP sensor 158 for an HP sensor P that detects the HP of an adsorption portion 51 (particularly, an adsorption pad 52) of the carriage 50.

[0098] The input port of the CPU is also electrically connected to an upper QR code reader 66 (upper reading portion 66a) as a medication-related information reading unit 65 arranged on the carriage 50, and a lower QR code reader 67 (lower reading portion 67a) as a medication-related information reading unit 65.

[0099] The input port of the CPU is also electrically connected to a cartridge detection sensor 70 as an example of a storage detection means for detecting the attachment or detachment of the cartridge 10 to the main body frame 199 of the drug dispensing device 200. The storage detection means and the cartridge detection sensor 70 will be described in detail later.

[0100] The output port of the CPU is electrically connected to the drive motor 95 of the X-direction transport section 91, the drive motor 105 of the Y-direction transport section 101, the drive motor 115 of the Z-direction transport section 111, and the drive motor 63 for changing the attitude of the suction pad 52, through various motor drivers X to Z and P, respectively. The output port of the CPU is also electrically connected to the negative pressure generator (ejector valve) 45, which is an actuator for the negative pressure generator, through a driver for the negative pressure generator. An alarm unit may be electrically connected to the output port of the CPU. This alarm unit notifies the state of each of the above devices and components by light such as LED, sound including voice, and vibration. The device is provided with a speaker, light, etc. for notifying the timing of taking medicine even when the staff is away from the device.

[0101] The external medicine information is also input to the CPU through the I / O, stored in the memory unit 152, and used for allocating medicines to recipients, etc. The LEDs 25a1 to 25d5 of the drawer unit 80 may be electrically connected.

[0102] When input information from the touch panel 151, various signals from the various HP sensors 99, 109, 119, 158, and various sensors (not shown) are input to the CPU, the CPU outputs the following command signals: That is, the CPU outputs instructions to the sound device and light device of the display device (including the above-mentioned notification section) of the touch panel 151, the LEDs 25a1 to 25d5, the negative pressure generator 45, the drive motor 63, the drive motor 95, the drive motor 105, the drive motor 115, or drivers corresponding to the LEDs.

[0103] An HP sensor 158 for the HP sensor P and a drive motor 63 outputted via a motor driver P are used to drive and control the suction unit up and down movement mechanism. The CPU has a function of executing various control operations described below and shown in the control flowcharts.

[0104] The control configuration of the medication support device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 shows a control block diagram of the medication support device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 16, the medication support device 300 of the present invention is configured to include the above-mentioned medication distribution device 200 and a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as "PC") 210 connected to the medication distribution device 200 so as to be able to communicate (transmit and receive). The PC 210 is configured with five well-known device components. That is, the PC 210 is configured to include a control device, a calculation device, a storage device, an input device, and an output device. The control device includes a CPU, and executes programs and issues instructions to other devices. The calculation device executes programs and performs calculations. The storage device includes a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device, and stores data such as programs and text. The input device includes a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, etc., and transmits data and instructions to the computer. The output device includes a display, a printer, a speaker, etc., and outputs data from the computer.

[0105] The PC 210 is set to enhance the functions of the drug dispensing device 200 and solve the above-mentioned problems that the present invention is intended to solve, including various problems that may arise, and serves as a host computer that manages and supports the drug dispensing device 200. The PC 210 is connected to a pharmacy or the like that supplies drugs via a network line (not shown).

[0106] A pack information management system 212 set in the management application 211 reads and manages medication-related information on the medicine pack. A medicine distribution information management system 213 set in the management application 211 reads and manages medication distribution information including at least the name of the recipient and the timing of medication.

[0107] The pack information management system 212 and the drug distribution information management system 213 may be realized as a management application 211 in the PC 210, for example, or may be a system consisting of the drug distribution device 200 and the PC 210, which manages the drug distribution device 200 by communicating with the drug distribution device 200 as shown in the figure. The management application 211 reads a drug distribution information file 219 that includes drug information for each drug recipient and drug distribution timing, etc., generated externally (for example, a pharmacy that supplies drugs based on a prescription issued by a doctor, etc.). The management application 211 also reads data input from a setting file 217 that records setting information, etc., that was set once in the PC 210.

[0108] Data output from the management application 211 as needed includes a file output as a log file 216 according to the change contents, a medication distribution history file 215 that summarizes the medication distribution history, etc. Furthermore, as needed, each form 218 is output from the PC 210 via the management application 211. Note that the functions of the management application 211 of the PC 210, etc. may be provided in the medication distribution device 200.

[0109] In other words, the medication distribution information management system 213 has the advantage of storing the results of medication distribution and change history as records, thereby storing the actual results of medication distribution as traceability information, which can be reviewed in the event of a problem.

[0110] The pack information management system 212 manages medication-related information on a medicine pack, including at least the name of the recipient and the timing of medication, and the operation of the above-mentioned medication dispensing device 200 will be described below in more detail. As shown in Fig. 9, the medication dispensing device 200 has an upper QR code reader 66 and a lower QR code reader 67 mounted on a carriage 50. The carriage 50 moves to the vicinity of the cartridge 10 that stores the medicine pack (the unit-drug package 2 or the combined pack 2A), and the upper reading section 66a of the upper QR code reader 66 can read the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c.

[0111] When the medication-related information 6c is displayed on the surface of the medicine pack as shown in Fig. 5, the QR code (registered trademark) is visible from the pack removal opening 17 as shown in Fig. 10(a) and can be read by the upper reading unit 66a of the QR code reader 66. Even when the medication-related information 6c is displayed on the left support portion 13 of the bottom wall surface of the cartridge 10 as shown in Fig. 13, the medication-related information 6c is displayed at the pack removal opening 17, so the QR code (registered trademark) relating to the medication-related information 6c can be similarly read by the upper reading unit 66a of the QR code reader 66.

[0112] 12(h), when the carriage 50 moves to above the subdivision box 34 of the medication tray 30 while holding the pack 2 removed from the cartridge 10, the QR code (registered trademark) relating to the medication-related information 6c can be similarly read by the lower reading unit 67a of the lower QR code reader 67. The information thus read by the upper QR code reader 66 or the lower QR code reader 67 is transmitted to the pack information management system 212 in the PC 210 via the communication module 214.

[0113] Since the upper QR code reader 66 and the lower QR code reader 67 are mounted on the carriage 50, it is possible to detect the name of the recipient and the location of the cartridge 10 in which the drug pack to be taken by the recipient is stored by moving the carriage 50 within the medication dispensing device 200 (see FIG. 1, etc.). In other words, when the QR code (registered trademark) of the cartridge 10 is read by the upper QR code reader 66 for the position coordinates (e.g., X: row, Y: column, Z: row) of the cartridge 10 corresponding to the location of the cartridge 10 within the medication dispensing device 200, it is possible to link the position coordinates of the carriage 50 corresponding to the location of the cartridge 10 with the QR code (registered trademark) related to the medication-related information 6c.

[0114] However, the medication-related information read by the upper QR code reader 66 or the lower QR code reader 67 becomes indefinite if the user performs an operation such as directly removing a medicine pack from the cartridge or refilling a medicine pack into the cartridge. Therefore, if the medication-related information is not updated, in the worst case, the medicine may be mis-distributed, which is a serious problem. Therefore, when dispensing again after turning the power of the medication dispensing device 200 off / on or dispensing again after dispensing, if there is a possibility that the cartridge has been replaced, it is necessary to read the medication-related information again. However, when there are a huge number of cartridges, reading the medication-related information of all the cartridges every time medication is dispensed requires a huge amount of time for reading, which results in a long medication distribution time. Therefore, by using a sensor to detect the attachment and removal of the cartridge (hereinafter also referred to as "removal and insertion") and re-reading the medication-related information only in the areas that have changed due to the insertion and removal of the cartridge, the reading time can be significantly reduced.

[0115] The principle of detecting the mounting / removal (insertion / removal) of a cartridge by a sensor will be described with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17(a) and FIG. 17(b) are explanatory diagrams of a cartridge detection sensor 70 that detects the mounting / removal (insertion / removal) of a cartridge. As shown in FIG. 17(a), it is assumed that there is a cartridge 10X to be detected, and that this is detected by an optical sensor, for example, a reflective photosensor, as a storage detection means. The cartridge detection sensor 70, which is made up of an optical sensor, emits detection light 71a from a light emitting portion 71, and when the cartridge 10X is present, receives reflected light 72a from the cartridge 10X with a light receiving portion 73, thereby being able to detect the presence or absence of the cartridge 10X to be detected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17(b), when the cartridge 10X to be detected is not present, the reflected light of the detection light 71a does not enter the light receiving portion 73, so that it is possible to detect the absence of the cartridge 10X to be detected.

[0116] By arranging the cartridge detection sensor 70 consisting of such an optical sensor on the cartridge tray 20 (for example, by attaching and fixing via a mounting plate 74) as shown in Figure 17(c), it is possible to detect the attachment and detachment (insertion and removal) of the cartridge 10. When arranging the cartridge detection sensor 70 on the cartridge tray 20, it goes without saying that the cartridge detection sensor 70 is arranged by the mounting plate 74 at a position that does not interfere with the carriage 50, etc., during the reading operation by the upper reading unit 66a of the QR code reader 66 shown in Figures 10(a) and 13(a).

[0117] The cartridge detection sensor 70 may be, other than the optical sensor, a distance sensor that detects the change in distance from the cartridge 10 to detect the attachment / detachment (insertion / removal) of the cartridge 10, or a weight sensor that detects the change in weight of the cartridge 10 to detect the attachment / detachment (insertion / removal) of the cartridge 10. The cartridge detection sensor 70 is not limited to the optical sensor, distance sensor, or weight sensor, and may be a push switch or the like that comes into contact with the cartridge 10 to detect the attachment / detachment (insertion / removal) of the cartridge 10.

[0118] With reference to Figs. 18 and 19, an embodiment in which the attachment / detachment (insertion / removal) of the cartridge 10 is detected by a cartridge detection sensor 70 consisting of an optical sensor provided for each of the plurality of cartridges will be described. Fig. 18(1) is a diagram showing the cartridge tray 20 in a state in which the cartridge 10 is not set, and Fig. 18(2) is a diagram showing a state in which the cartridge 10 is set in the cartridge tray 20. Fig. 18(1)(a) is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge tray 20 and its surroundings in a state in which the cartridge 10 is not set, and Fig. 18(1)(b) is a bottom view of the cartridge tray 20 in a state in which the cartridge 10 is not set. Fig. 18(2)(a) is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 10 and the cartridge tray 20 and its surroundings in a state in which the cartridge 10 is set, and Fig. 18(2)(b) is a bottom view of the cartridge 10 and the cartridge tray 20 in a state in which the cartridge 10 is set. Fig. 19 is a bottom view of a plurality of cartridge trays 20 in which the cartridge detection sensor 70 is disposed.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 18(2), when the cartridge 10 is attached and set in the cartridge tray 20, the cartridge detection sensor 70 arranged on the outer bottom surface of the cartridge tray 20 turns on and reacts to the bottom surface of the cartridge 10, thereby making it possible to know that the cartridge 10 has been attached and set in the cartridge tray 20.

[0120] By providing the cartridge detection sensor 70 on the cartridge tray 20 in this manner, it is possible to check whether each cartridge 10 is being inserted or removed from the cartridge tray 20, and these cartridge trays 20 may be connected together as shown in FIG.

[0121] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 19, by detecting the insertion and removal of a cartridge for each cartridge, it is possible to accurately determine which cartridge has been operated on. However, providing a sensor for each cartridge may cause problems such as a strike or the need to electrically wire the storage detection means such as the cartridge detection sensor 70 for each cartridge detection sensor 70.

[0122] An embodiment in which a storage detection means is provided to collectively detect the mounting and removal states of a plurality of storage sections will be described with reference to Figures 20 and 21. Figure 20(a) is an operational diagram of a cartridge detection sensor 70 detecting a state in which a cartridge integrated group 24 shown in Figure 20(b), in which a plurality of cartridges are integrated into a cartridge tray setting section 25, is not mounted (not set). Figure 20(b) is an operational diagram of a cartridge detection sensor 70 detecting a state in which a cartridge integrated group 24 is mounted (set) in a cartridge tray setting section 25. The cartridge integrated group 24 shown in FIG. 20(b) is configured such that a plurality of cartridges (a total of nine cartridges in the figure) are integrated together and detachably mounted to the cartridge tray setting portion 25. As shown in FIG.

[0123] As shown in Fig. 20(a), the cartridge tray setting section 25 is provided with a cartridge detection sensor 70, and the cartridge integrated groups 24(a) and 24(b) are set in the drug dispensing device 200 shown in Fig. 21 to detect the setting. A sensor similar to the cartridge detection sensor 70 can be used as the storage detection means at this time. In the medicine dispensing device 200 shown in Fig. 21, an embodiment in which management is divided for each cartridge tray is shown. The cartridges are divided into two groups, 24(a) and 24(b), and if the cartridge group 24(a) is inserted or removed, it is only necessary to check the information of the cartridge group 24(a) again (confirmation of insertion or removal of the cartridge group 24(a) by the cartridge detection sensor 70 and reading of the medication-related information 6c by the upper reading unit 66a of the QR code reader 66). In the embodiment shown in Figures 20 and 21, the insertion and removal of cartridges into and from the cartridge tray set section 25 is detected by the cartridge detection sensor 70 on a cartridge tray basis (cartridge integrated groups 24(a), 24(b)) rather than on a cartridge basis, thereby making it possible to perform detection at a reduced cost.

[0124] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the operation screen of the management application. For some users, from the viewpoint of safety, it may be desirable to update the information of all cartridges each time, rather than just updating the information of the changed parts. Therefore, the management application shown in FIG. 22 has a function to switch between checking all cartridges and checking only the cartridges that have been changed, and the user can select it as desired. For example, to check only the cartridges that have been changed, the user can move the black button to the "Check Changes" column displayed at the top on the operation screen of the management application in FIG. 22 by dragging the mouse or using the four-way arrow key, and then press and select the execute button 221.

[0125] As a result, if safety is prioritized, selecting "all check" will set the all-location reading mode to update all cartridge information. On the other hand, if productivity is prioritized, selecting "changed location check" will set the changed location reading mode to update only the changed locations, minimizing update time and improving productivity of the medication distribution device and, ultimately, the medication support device.

[0126] The control flow of the reading decision by the medication-related information reading means (QR code reader 66) described in the above embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 23. First, in Fig. 23, it is confirmed whether or not all checks have been selected (step S1). If all checks have been selected, the process proceeds to step S2, where the carriage 50 equipped with the QR code reader 66 having the upper reading unit 66a is moved to the leading cartridge. After the movement, reading is performed by the upper reading unit 66a, and the cartridge information is updated. If there is a cartridge that has not yet been read, the carriage 50 is similarly moved to the next cartridge, and this operation is repeated until all cartridge information can be updated (step S5).

[0127] On the other hand, if the full check is not selected in step S1, it is checked whether the cartridge has been changed (step S6), and if there has been no change, the cartridge information update process ends. If the full check is not selected and the cartridge has been changed, the process proceeds to step S7, the carriage 50 moves to the cartridge where the change has been made, the upper reading unit 66a reads the cartridge, and the cartridge information is updated (steps S8 to S9). This is performed for all cartridges that have been changed, and the process is completed (step S10). As described above, by performing the information updating process only for the area where the cartridge has been changed, it is possible to maintain safety while minimizing the number of read operations each time.

[0128] A system configuration diagram within the medication dispensing device will be described with reference to Fig. 24. When the medication-related information reading unit 65 (upper QR code reader 66, lower QR code reader 67) reads the QR code related to the medication-related information 6c attached to the cartridge 10 (see Fig. 13, for example), the medication dispensing device 200 shown in Fig. 24 notifies the pack information management system 212 of the QR code information. Also, when the QR code attached to the subdivision box 34 is read (see Fig. 12(h), for example), the medication dispensing information management system is notified of the QR code information. The pack information management system 212 and the medication distribution information management system 213 each analyze and process the QR code data notified from the medication-related information reading unit 65 as necessary, and appropriately store the information.

[0129] Triggered by a user's medication instruction, the system queries the medication distribution information management system 213 and the pack information management system 212 for information, and finds a combination of the medication destination (position of the subdivision box 34) of the medicine pack containing the appropriate medicine and the medicine storage location (location of the cartridge 10) to be distributed. The system notifies the medication distribution control unit 240 of the combination, and executes the medication distribution. The medicine distribution control unit 240 takes out the medicine pack 2 from the cartridge 10 notified by the medicine distribution search system 230, and distributes the medicine pack 2 appropriately to the designated subdivision box 34. When the medication is dispensed, the display management system 250 displays the status of the medication dispensing device 200 to the user in a timely manner, such as "medication being dispensed," "medication completed," or "error state," depending on the status within the medication dispensing device 200.

[0130] An example of the management data in the pack information management system 212 will be described with reference to Fig. 25. As shown in the figure, the data notified by the medication-related information reading unit 65 may include, for example, the facility name (created at a pharmacy and needs to be identified since multiple facilities may be handled), the name (identification information of the person taking the medication), the medication type (information on the type of medication), timing (timing of taking the medication), dispensing date (freshness management based on the creation date), cartridge position information, and other data.

[0131] An example of the data managed in the drug distribution information management system 213 will be described with reference to Fig. 26. As shown in the figure, the data notified by the drug-taking related information reading unit 65 includes, for example, the name (identifying information of the person taking the drug), timing (drug taking timing), and separation box position information. In addition, the drug distribution information management system 213 may also include other data as described in Fig. 25.

[0132] A search example of the medication distribution search system 230 will be described with reference to Fig. 27. The medication distribution search system 230 queries the medication distribution information management system 213 for information on a person who needs medication distribution, and obtains information such as the name and timing, and the position information of the subdivision box to which the medication is distributed. Next, the pack information management system 212 searches for the target medicine pack based on the information such as the name and timing, obtains cartridge position information where the medicine pack is stored, and creates medication distribution combination data based on this information.

[0133] 28 is an example of a combination of medication data in the medication search system 230. The combination of medication data includes the name, timing, cartridge position information which is the storage destination of the medicine pack, and subdivision box position information which is the medication destination. If either the cartridge position information or the subdivision box position information is missing at this time, it is possible to skip it during the medication dispensing operation and perform the medication dispensing operation only for the combination.

[0134] The flow of the medicine distribution operation of the medicine distribution control unit will be described with reference to Fig. 29. As shown in Fig. 29, the operation starts with confirming the cartridge position information and subdivision box position information of the first person in the medicine distribution search system (step S11). In the medicine distribution control unit 240 shown in Fig. 30, the carriage 50 is moved based on the cartridge position information in which the medicine distribution target is stored as a result of the search by the medicine distribution search system 230, the medicine pack 2 is removed from the cartridge 10, and the removed medicine pack 2 is moved and placed in the subdivision box 34 based on the subdivision box position information to which the medicine is to be distributed (steps S12 to S16). By executing this for all the results searched by the medicine distribution search system 230, medicine can be distributed to all the subdivision boxes placed in the subdivision box. Furthermore, if either the cartridge position information or the dispensing box position information referenced from the medication search system is missing (step S12), the system can skip to the next step, allowing all medications to be automatically dispensed only if there is a correct combination, without stopping the operation (step S20).

[0135] Similarly, for example, if an error occurs when removing a medicine pack in steps S13 to S15 (step S19), the system skips to the next step and distributes the next medicine, allowing all possible medicines to be distributed without stopping the medicine distribution device 200. If an error occurs at this time, the display management system 250 shown in FIG. 24 grasps the error information and displays the error information in a timely manner. Then, as shown in step S17, the operation flow of step S18 is repeatedly executed based on the cartridge position information and dispensing box position information of the next person in the medication search system until the medication distribution operation flow by the medication distribution control unit is completed for all people.

[0136] The configuration of the display management system will be described with reference to Fig. 30. As shown in Fig. 30, the display management system 250 has a device status display function 251 that refers to the status of the entire medication distribution device, including the medication-related information reading unit 65 (upper QR code reader 66, lower QR code reader 67), medication distribution information management system 213, pack information management system 212, medication distribution search system 230, and medication distribution control unit 240, grasps the device status inside the medication distribution device, and displays appropriate information according to the situation. It also has an error display function 252 that grasps error status and displays where the error occurred so that the user can deal with it.

[0137] A specific example of the display function of FIG. 30 connected to the drug dispensing device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 31. FIG. 31(a) is a front view including the display function of the main part of the drug dispensing device, and FIG. 31(b) is a side view of FIG. 31(a). As shown in FIG. 31, the drug dispensing device 200 is electrically connected to the monitor 253, the patrol lamp 260, the LED group 120 for displaying the state of the cartridge tray, the LED group 35 for displaying the state of the subdivision box 34, and the like, which are also shown in the form of images in FIG. 30. Of course, other display methods may be used. These monitors 253, the patrol lamp 260, the LED group 120 for displaying the state of the cartridge tray, the LED group 35 for displaying the state of the subdivision box 34, and the like are omitted in the control block diagram of FIG. 15, but of course they are control components of the present invention as shown in FIG. 30.

[0138] Each display unit, such as the monitor 253, the patrol lamp 260, the cartridge tray status display LED group 120, and the subdivision box status display LED group 35, has a function of constantly grasping the status of each unit of the medicine dispensing device 200 and notifying the user of the status at appropriate times. For example, the system status may be displayed in text on the monitor 253 shown in FIG.

[0139] As shown in Fig. 32, the monitor 253 can be used to notify the user of the current status in detail. As shown in Fig. 32(a), the initial screen of the monitor 253 displays "Device Status: Standby" in green. When the user issues a medication distribution instruction in this state, as shown in Fig. 32(b), the device status is displayed in blue as "Dispensing," and the five subdivision boxes 34 on the left side of the figure are displayed in blue. Normally, as shown in Fig. 32(c), when all of the subdivision boxes 34 have been dispensed, the device status is displayed as "medication complete" in green, and the five subdivision boxes 34 on both the left and right sides in the figure are displayed in blue. After this, by removing the subdivision box 34 from the section 33, the device returns to the standby state in Fig. 32(a).

[0140] However, if an error occurs in removing a medicine pack during medication distribution, the device status is displayed in blue as "Dispensing" and in red as "Error Occurred" as shown in FIG. 32(d). The error status of the repartition box 34 that was originally supposed to be distributed and the cartridge to be removed is displayed (e.g., the display color is turned red), and the next medication is distributed. Then, when all medication distribution is completed, the completion of medication distribution and the occurrence of an error are displayed as shown in FIG. 32(e), so that the user can be prompted to confirm. Incidentally, in FIG. 32(e), the specific details of the error are displayed in red, and the processing details for the user are displayed in red, such as "An error has occurred. Please check repartition box: 1-4-2, cartridge: 2-3-1".

[0141] An example of a status display using a patrol lamp will be described with reference to Fig. 33. Since the screen display of the monitor 253 cannot be seen from a distance and the device status cannot be known, for example, a patrol lamp 260 or the like may be installed on the upper part of the main body frame 199 of the medicine dispensing device 200 to display the device status. As the device status using the patrol lamp 260, for example, when the device is in standby as shown in Fig. 33(a), the top green lamp 261 is turned on, and when the device is in medication dispensing operation as shown in Fig. 33(b), the top green lamp 261 is blinked to indicate that the device is in operation. Note that the state in which the lamps of each color that constitute the patrol lamp 260 are turned on is shown by parallel solid lines, and the state in which the lamps of each color are blinking is shown by parallel dotted lines. Also, as shown in FIG. 33(c), it is conceivable that completion of medication distribution may be notified by lighting up blue lamp 263 (the third lamp from the top). Also, as shown in FIG. 33(d), the device status may be notified of the door open / close status by turning on or off the second yellow lamp 262 from the top.

[0142] Regarding error conditions, as shown in FIG. 33(e), in order to continue dispensing medication as much as possible without interruption even if an error occurs, the green lamp 261 on the top row flashes, and the red lamp 264 on the bottom row lights up when an error occurs to notify the occurrence of an error, but operation continues as is. As shown in FIG. 33(f), when the medication has been completely dispensed, the red lamp 264 is made to flash to prompt the user to check for an error.

[0143] As shown in FIG. 32, in addition to displaying the error location on the monitor 253, a display means such as an LED may be added to each column on the subdivision box 34, as in the group of LEDs 35 for displaying the subdivision box status shown in FIG. 34, and the user may be physically notified of the error location. In the group of LEDs 35 for displaying the subdivision box status shown in FIG. 34, the LEDs 35a on the left end of the front row of the LED group 35 to the right side, LED 35f, are lit in blue when the drug distribution is complete, and the LED 35g to the right of LED 35f is blinking in blue (dotted line display with a cross). The LED 35l (L) in the second row where the error occurred is lit in red. Furthermore, in the arrangement part of the subdivision box 34 of the drug distribution tray 30, the drug distribution order 36 is performed in the order of the thick arrow direction, so that the drug distribution is completed and a progress display function is provided by providing an LED other than the error display to indicate the progress. Similarly, cartridge errors may also be notified by providing an LED or the like above the cartridges (per row). This allows the user to more intuitively know what they need to check, improving usability (because when there are many subdivision boxes and cartridges, it can become difficult to check on the screen). Also, the monitor 253 may be displayed in combination with the group of LEDs 35 for displaying the subdivision box status or the group of LEDs 120 for displaying the cartridge status (see FIG. 31).

[0144] The operation button for issuing a drug dispensing instruction will be described with reference to Fig. 35. Fig. 35(b) is an enlarged view of an operation button arrangement section for issuing a drug dispensing instruction to the drug dispensing device 200 shown in Fig. 35(a). As shown in FIG. 35, the drug dispensing device 200 is provided with an execute button 77, a pause button 78, and a stop button 79. After the user sets the required number of cartridges or each cartridge tray and the required number of subdivision boxes in the drug dispensing device 200, the user can issue a drug dispensing instruction to the drug dispensing device 200 by pressing the execute button 77. In addition, when it is necessary to urgently remove a medicine pack during drug dispensing, the drug dispensing can be paused by pressing the pause button 78, and the drug pack can be removed. To resume the drug dispensing operation, the execute button 77 is pressed again.

[0145] In addition, there are cases where you want to cancel the medication distribution itself, such as when you have mistakenly distributed medication to a wrong person after distributing the medication. In such cases, you can stop the medication distribution itself by pressing the stop button 79. In addition, you can immediately stop the medication distribution operation by pressing the stop button 79 in cases such as when you need to stop it urgently.

[0146] It can be said that the above embodiment, the above examples, etc. essentially describe the following aspects and effects.

[0147] The first aspect includes a storage means such as a cartridge 10 for storing a medicine pack such as a medicine pack 2, a medicine distribution means such as a medicine distribution tray 30 for placing a specific medicine pack at a specific position, a removal and transport means (removal means such as a carriage 50 and a transport means such as a transport unit 90) for removing the specific medicine pack from the storage means and transporting it to the specific position in the medicine distribution means, and a medicine-taking-related information reading means for reading medicine-taking-related information 6c that includes the name of a recipient and the timing of taking medicine and that is added to at least one of the storage means and the medicine pack, and medicine distribution information that includes the name of a recipient and the timing of taking medicine and that is added to the medicine distribution means. A medication support device such as medication support device 300 includes pack information reading means such as reading unit 65, a pack information management system such as pack information management system 212 that manages the medication-related information, and a medication dispensing search system such as medication dispensing search system 230 that finds a combination of the storage means for extracting the specific medication pack and the medication dispensing means for dispensing the specific medication pack from the medication-related information reading result of the medication-related information read by the pack information reading means and the medication dispensing information reading result of the medication dispensing information read by the pack information reading means, and automatically dispenses medication from the medication dispensing combination searched for by the medication dispensing search system.

[0148] With this configuration, according to the first aspect, the drug distribution search system can find a combination of a storage means for extracting a specific pack and a drug distribution means for dispensing the specific pack from the results of reading the medication-related information and the results of reading the medication distribution information. Since the drug can be automatically distributed from this combination of medication, the burden on nurses, etc. can be reduced.

[0149] The second aspect is characterized in that in the first aspect, the dispensing means has a compartment such as compartment 33 in which a specific drug pack is placed at a specific position, or a housing such as a subdivision box 34 that is detachable from the compartment, and automatically performs dispensing operations for all of the compartments or housings that are set. With this configuration, according to the second aspect, it is possible to automatically carry out a medicine dispensing operation for all of the compartments or housings that are set.

[0150] The second aspect will be described in more detail below. In the first aspect, when there is one combination / pair of a recipient and a medication timing, for example, recipient A's medication information relating to a medication timing such as daytime (medication-related information 6c on a medicine pack attached to a cartridge 10 (for example, 1, 1st column, 1st row of cartridge tray 20 = 1-1-1)), the medication-related information 6c on the medicine pack attached to the cartridge 10 is read by the medication-related information reading unit 65 (on a QR code reader 66). Next, the medication information relating to a medication timing such as daytime for recipient A is read from the medication distribution tray 64 (on a QR code reader 66). The medication-related information 6c (for example, 1, 1st column, 1st row of the subdivision box 34 = 1-1-1) of the subdivision box 34, which is a housing that can be attached and detached to the section 33 of the tray 30, is read by the medication-related information reading unit 65 (below the QR code reader 67). In this way, the medicine pack automatically taken out from the cartridge 10 as a daytime medicine pack can be automatically dispensed to (1-1-1) of the subdivision box 34 as a daytime medicine pack. That is, in the first embodiment, for example, a combination of a pair of Mr. A's morning cartridge and a Mr. A's morning dispensing box is searched for and medication is automatically dispensed.

[0151] In the second aspect, the technical content is that the above-mentioned pair combination in the first aspect is searched for and dispensed in all the dispensing boxes set based on the dispensing box. The processing content is that all the QR codes of the cartridge trays are read first, and it is known who and when each cartridge tray is used, and when the QR code of the dispensing box is read, the corresponding cartridge is searched for, and a medicine pack is automatically taken from the cartridge and dispensed. After the medicine is dispensed, it moves to the next dispensing box, the QR code is read, and the medicine pack is similarly taken from the corresponding cartridge, and this is automatically repeated for all the dispensing boxes set.

[0152] The third aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, if there is no medication-related information that matches the medication dispensing information read by the pack information reading means, the pack information reading means automatically skips and performs the next medication dispensing operation. With this configuration, according to the third aspect, if there is no cartridge (storage means) that matches the read compartment or housing (portioning box), it is automatically skipped, making it possible to dispense only what is available without stopping the medication support device.

[0153] A fourth aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, if dispensing of the medicine pack fails during dispensing, the dispensing operation is automatically skipped and the next dispensing operation is performed. With this configuration, according to the fourth aspect, when medication distribution fails due to a failure to adsorb, etc., it is possible to skip the process and complete as much medication distribution as possible without stopping the medication support device, thereby consolidating the procedure at the end and improving work efficiency.

[0154] The fifth aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, the location of the compartment or the housing of the medication dispensing means where an error has occurred is notified to the user. With this configuration, according to the fifth aspect, the location of the compartment or housing (subdivision box) where the error occurred is notified to the user by an LED or the like, so that the malfunction can be immediately recognized and appropriate measures can be taken.

[0155] A sixth aspect is a medication support device according to the second aspect, characterized in that it notifies the user of the location in the storage means where an error has occurred. With this configuration, according to the sixth aspect, the location of the storage means where the error occurred is notified to the user by an LED or the like, so that the user can immediately recognize the malfunction and take appropriate measures.

[0156] The seventh aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, the location of the compartment or the housing of the medication dispensing means performing the current medication dispensing operation is notified to the user. With this configuration, according to the seventh aspect, it is possible to notify the user of the location where the medicine dispensing operation is currently being performed.

[0157] The eighth aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, the user is notified of the location of the compartment or the housing where medication distribution has been completed. With this configuration, according to the eighth aspect, medication is distributed sequentially based on the medication tray of the medication distribution means, and the progress can be known to some extent by displaying the completed location.

[0158] The ninth aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, the delivery of medication can be temporarily suspended. With this configuration, according to the ninth aspect, the medicine dispensing operation can be temporarily stopped when, for example, it is necessary to manually remove a medicine pack in an emergency during the medicine dispensing operation.

[0159] The tenth aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, medication can be stopped and cancelled. With this configuration, according to the tenth aspect, medication distribution can be stopped midway if some kind of malfunction occurs after medication distribution, such as a setting error.

[0160] The eleventh aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, removal of the storage means is detected and a read operation is carried out only when reconfirmation of information is required. With this configuration, according to the eleventh aspect, once the QR code of the storage means (cartridge) is read, the QR code will not be read again unless the cartridge tray is pulled out, thereby improving productivity.

[0161] The twelfth aspect is characterized in that in the second aspect, the user is notified that the medication distribution has been completed. With this configuration, according to the twelfth aspect, by notifying the user that medication distribution has been completed, the user can know the appropriate time to remove the medication tray or dispensing box.

[0162] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such a specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention described in the claims unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description. For example, the technical matters described in the above embodiment and examples may be appropriately combined.

[0163] The effects appropriately described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0164] 2. Single-dose drug pack (example of drug pack) 2A Pack Combination (Example of a Drug Pack) 3. Drugs 6c Medication-related information (example of medication-related information) 10 Cartridge (an example of a storage unit or storage means) 20 Cartridge tray (an example of a second storage means) 30 Medication tray (an example of a medication distribution method) 33 Plots 34 Subdivision box (example of housing) 35 LED group for displaying the status of the subdivision box 50 Carriage (an example of a removal unit, removal means, or removal transport means) 65 Medication-related information reading unit (an example of a pack information reading means) 66 QR code reader (an example of pack information reading means) 67 QR code reader (an example of pack information reading means) 70 Cartridge detection sensor (an example of a storage detection means) 77 Run button 78 Pause button 79 Stop button 90 Transfer section (an example of a transfer means) 120 Cartridge status display LED group 150 Control section 170 Storage section 200 Drug distribution device 230 Medication Search System 240 Medication Control Department 250 Display Management System 253 Monitor 260 Patrol Lamp 300 Medication Support Device [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0165] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-051361 A

Claims

1. a storage means for storing the drug pack; A dispensing means for disposing a particular said drug pack at a particular location; a removal and transport means for removing a specific drug pack from the storage means and transporting the specific drug pack to the specific position in the drug dispensing means; A pack information reading means is provided in the removal and transport means and reads medication-related information, including a recipient's name and a medication timing, added to at least one of the storage means and the medicine pack, and medication distribution information, including a recipient's name and a medication timing, added to the medication distribution means; a pack information management system for managing the medication-related information; A medication distribution information management system for managing the medication distribution information; a medication search system for finding a combination of the storage means for extracting the specific drug pack and the medication dispensing means for dispensing the specific drug pack from the medication-related information read by the pack information reading means and the medication dispensing information read by the pack information reading means; Equipped with A medication support device that automatically dispenses medication from medication combinations searched for by the medication search system.

2. The medication support device according to claim 1, The dispensing means has a compartment for disposing a specific drug pack at a specific position, or a housing that is detachable from the compartment; A medication support device characterized by automatically performing medication dispensing operations for all of the compartments or casings that are set.

3. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device characterized in that, if there is no medication-related information that matches the medication distribution information read by the pack information reading means, the device automatically skips and performs the next medication distribution operation.

4. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device characterized in that if medication fails during medication distribution from the medicine pack, the device automatically skips and performs the next medication distribution operation.

5. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device characterized by notifying a user of the location of the section or housing of the medication dispensing means where an error has occurred.

6. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device that notifies a user of the location of the storage means where an error has occurred.

7. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device characterized by notifying a user of the location of the section or housing of the medication dispensing means where a current medication dispensing operation is being performed.

8. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device characterized by notifying a user of the location of the compartment or housing where medication distribution has been completed.

9. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device capable of temporarily suspending medication distribution.

10. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device capable of stopping and canceling medication distribution.

11. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device characterized in that the removal of the storage means is detected and a reading operation is performed only when reconfirmation of information is required.

12. The medication support device according to claim 2, A medication support device that notifies a user that medication distribution has been completed.

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