Medicine packaging machine

Abstract

To reduce a burden on manpower when collecting remaining medicines from a general-purpose medicine feeder.SOLUTION: A medicine packaging machine 10 comprises a plurality of medicine feeder row shelves 20, 20, etc. with their being able to be pulled out from a housing. Each medicine feeder row shelf 20 includes general-purpose medicine feeders 52, 52, etc. mounted thereon, each general-purpose medicine feeder formed by integrating a container part and a sequential discharge mechanism part. A shelf plate 23 (a pull-out mechanism) includes a pulled-out state detecting member and a remaining medicine collecting container detecting member (27) attached thereto, and when pull-out of a medicine feeder row shelf 20 and mounting of a remaining medicine collection container 100 on the medicine feeder row shelf 20 are detected, remaining medicines are discharged from the corresponding medicine feeder. The remaining medicine collection container 100 is configured to expose a part of an opening 102 thereof when being mounted thereon. Alternatively, positioning marks (26 and 105) are attached thereto. Further, a positioning member (28) is provided in the pull-out mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug packaging machine equipped with a large number of drug feeders adapted to automatically supply granular solid drugs such as tablets and ampoules in order to automate the dispensing performed in hospitals, pharmacies, etc. More specifically, it relates to the expansion and enhancement of functions related to the recovery of remaining drugs from the drug feeder. Even more specifically, it relates to the recovery of remaining drugs from a multi-drug adaptable type drug feeder (a general-purpose drug feeder in which the container part and the base are integrated, a container part fixed type feeder), which will be described in detail later.

Background Art

[0002] The drug feeder is composed of an upper container part (passive part) for accommodating drugs and a lower base part (driving part) for sequentially discharging drugs therefrom. A so-called specialized drug feeder (specific drug dedicated type drug feeder, container part detachable type feeder) that employs a detachable drug cassette in the container part has limited drugs to be handled, but the convenience of cassette attachment and detachment has been evaluated and it is widely used (see Background Art 1 described below). On the other hand, a so-called general-purpose drug feeder (multi-drug adaptable type drug feeder, container part fixed type feeder) in which the container part and the base are integrated has high evaluation in terms of the convenience of handling various drugs, and its usage frequency is increasing as improvements progress (see Background Art 3 described later).

[0003] [Background Art 1: Specialized drug feeder (specific drug dedicated type drug feeder, container part detachable type feeder)] Among drug packaging machines equipped with a large number of drug cassettes (see Patent Documents 1 and 2), some are configured to give machine-readable container identification information to the detachable drug cassette and incorporate a reading device in each base part where the drug cassette is attached and detached. When the drug cassette is attached to the base part, the container identification information of the drug cassette is read by the reading device of the base part and collated based on a correspondence table to automatically determine the suitability of the cassette mounting destination.

[0004] And (see Patent Document 1), as a dispensing system including such a medicine packaging machine, there is known one equipped with one or more medicine packaging machines and a dispensing server capable of communicating with their control units via a wired LAN or the like. Such a dispensing server is connected to an external prescription ordering system via a network for input of prescription data, or is provided with a prescription reading device. The dispensing server may be a programmable general-purpose computer as long as it has a hard disk or the like with a storage capacity sufficient for data retention, and stores prescription data received from a prescription ordering system or the like, the status of the packaging machine received from the medicine packaging machine, and a medicine master that summarizes medicine information regarding each medicine handled in this system.

[0005] In addition, such a dispensing server is also installed with a program for inputting prescription data and issuing a dispensing instruction to the medicine packaging machine based on the data, a replenishment instruction creation program for creating a replenishment instruction according to a shortage occurrence notification from the medicine packaging machine (specifically, a status report that the medicine cassette has become empty) or the inventory management status and displaying it on the reading device, and a work data recording program for recording the progress of operations such as sending a replenishment instruction to the reading device and receiving the completion of replenishment from the reading device.

[0006] The medicine packaging machine is equipped with a plurality of medicine storage compartments in the upper part of the housing that can be individually pulled out. Inside each medicine storage compartment, a pair of a medicine cassette and a base part are arranged vertically and horizontally. A packaging device is stored in the lower part of the housing, and a control device (control unit) is placed in the electrical installation space inside the housing. The medicine cassette is detachable and can accommodate a large number of tablets or the like (medicine) of one of various medicines and can sequentially discharge them. The base part is a fixing part for detachably mounting each medicine cassette, and can drive the mounted medicine cassette to discharge the medicine. A medicine collection mechanism for guiding the sequentially discharged medicine to the lower packaging device is also provided. Among them, the upper medicine collection mechanism is attached or incorporated into the medicine storage compartment, and the lower medicine collection mechanism is installed between the upper medicine collection mechanism and the packaging device.

[0007] Such a medicine packaging machine is configured such that the control device controls the operation of the medicine cassette and the packaging device according to the dispensing instruction received from the dispensing server, discharges an appropriate medicine from each medicine cassette, and packages it with the packaging device. Further, when it is detected that the medicine cassette has become empty and medicine discharge is no longer possible, a shortage occurrence notification is transmitted to the dispensing server. Furthermore, identification information is assigned to each medicine cassette, and when the association between the identification information and the medicine cassette is registered in the control device, it is transferred to the dispensing server and registered in the drug master.

[0008] Also, in such a medicine packaging machine (see Patent Document 1), all the medicine cassettes are stored in the medicine feeder storage in the housing, and when replenishing the medicine, the medicine feeder storage at the cassette detachment destination had to be taken in and out of the housing for cassette detachment. On the other hand (see Patent Document 2), there is also a medicine packaging machine in which the medicine feeder located at the forefront in the medicine feeder storage is equipped in a front-exposed state. In this medicine packaging machine, medicine replenishment can be performed without pulling out the medicine feeder storage from the housing as long as it is the medicine cassette in the front-exposed state.

[0009] [Background Art 2: Medicine Sprinkling Device] Next (see Patent Document 3), in many medicine packaging machines, a medicine scattering device is incorporated between or near the medicine feeder storage and the lower medicine collection mechanism. The medicine scattering device is configured such that the main body part capable of detaching and attaching the preliminary scattering cassette can be pulled out or pushed into the housing of the medicine packaging machine. By scattering medicine in the preliminary scattering cassette, it becomes possible to include even the medicine not stored in the medicine feeder of the medicine feeder storage in the object of automatic packaging. In addition to such an incorporated medicine scattering device, there is also a stationary-type medicine scattering device configured separately from the medicine packaging machine, and by using them in combination, regarding the operation of scattering medicine in the preliminary scattering cassette, it is possible to proceed in parallel with the preparatory work related to subsequent packaging, which is scheduled after the currently ongoing packaging.

[0010] [Background Art 3: General-purpose medicine feeder (multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeder, container part fixed type feeder)] Furthermore (see Patent Documents 4 to 13), a type of medicine feeder in which the container part and the base are integrated will be described. A typical example of this type of medicine feeder is an alignment supply type medicine feeder that conveys the same-shaped tablets etc. (medicine) while aligning them in a row. As an example of its configuration, an outer annular rotating body that can rotate about an axis centered on a vertical line, an inclined rotating body that is equipped inside the annular rotating body in a state where it can rotate about an axis centered on an inclined line inclined from the vertical line and closes the hollow of the annular rotating body, and a regulating member that aligns the solid medicine carried onto the upper peripheral edge of the upper end of the annular rotating body from above it when the inclined rotating body rotates during the rotation of the annular rotating body are provided, and such a medicine feeder has been developed and put into practical use.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0011]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0012] In such a general-purpose drug feeder (a multi-drug adaptable type drug feeder, a container part fixed type feeder), it is no longer necessary to provide a fixed rectifying guide inside the rotating body, and the common range for drugs of various shapes and sizes has been expanded (see the above Background Art 3 and Patent Document 4). In addition (see the above Background Art 3 and Patent Documents 5 to 13), after causing the subsequent regulating mechanism for regulating the width of the drug to also bear the height regulating function, by loosening the height regulating function of the sorting member located upstream thereof, from hard and durable drugs to brittle drugs, and further from drugs that are difficult to roll such as plate-shaped drugs to drugs that are easy to roll such as spherical or spindle-shaped drugs, various solid drugs can be aligned in a row without difficulty in the drug conveyance path at the upper end peripheral part of the annular rotating body.

[0013] However, in the case of a general-purpose drug feeder in which the drug storage unit and the drive unit are integrated (see Patent Documents 4 to 13), unlike a specialized drug feeder that can detachably attach a drug storage cassette (see Patent Documents 1 and 2), and also unlike a drug manual dispenser that can detachably attach a preliminary dispensing cassette (see Patent Document 3), since it does not have a detachable cassette, cassette replacement cannot be performed. Therefore, in order to collect the remaining drug from the general-purpose drug feeder installed in the drug packaging machine, either the so-called "collection of remaining drug using packaging paper" in which the drug is packaged and collected with packaging paper, or the so-called "collection of remaining drug using a container" in which the drug is discharged into the lower collection container and collected, must be carried out.

[0014] The former "collection of remaining drug using packaging paper" does not require the addition of mechanical members and can be realized only by expanding the control function. However, since the drug packages for the prescribed drugs and the packaging bodies for collecting the remaining drugs not subject to the prescription are mixed in a series of packaging groups, careful attention is required when handling the packaging groups such as the separation work, and the time required to collect the remaining drug and make it available for the next prescription tends to be long. On the other hand, for the latter "collection of remaining drug using a container", after pulling out the general-purpose drug feeder from the housing of the drug packaging machine at the installation location, a collection container is positioned immediately below it, and in this state, the drug is discharged from the target drug feeder into the lower collection container and collected (see Patent Documents 12 and 13). Therefore, there is no packaging body for collecting the remaining drugs not subject to the prescription in the first place, so the above-mentioned separation work is unnecessary, and the time required to collect the remaining drug is also short.

[0015] However, when we tried the "residual drug recovery using a container" method, where a general-purpose drug feeder is pulled out from the housing and the drug is discharged into the lower recovery container, we received quite high evaluations. However, this was not the end of it, and further improvement requests also arose. Specifically, since the residual drug recovery is performed for each drug feeder and the recovery container is held manually, the operator is restricted during the residual drug recovery process. Moreover, when there are multiple drug feeders for which residual drug recovery is targeted, the workload and thus the burden on the operator increase due to sequential operations. When it is necessary to keep track of the correspondence between the drug feeder where the residual drug was recovered and the recovered residual drug, and thus the type of the recovered residual drug, in order to reuse the recovered residual drug without wasting it, this also increases the burden on the operator.

[0016] Therefore, for a drug packaging machine capable of performing "residual drug recovery using a container", where a general-purpose drug feeder is pulled out from the housing and the drug is discharged into the lower recovery container, it becomes a technical issue to improve the functions and workability related to the residual drug recovery of the drug packaging machine so that the manual burden required for residual drug recovery is further reduced.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0017] The drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution Means 1) was devised to solve such problems. In a drug packaging machine comprising a plurality of drug feeders having a container part for randomly accommodating a large number of drugs and a sequential discharge mechanism part for dropping each drug one by one and discharging it downward, a packaging device for receiving and packaging the discharged drugs, and a housing capable of incorporating the drug feeders and the packaging device. Among the drug feeders, a plurality of them are general-purpose drug feeders that integrate the container part and the sequential discharge mechanism part, and are mounted separately on a plurality of drawing mechanisms that can be pulled forward from the housing. Each of the plurality of drawing mechanisms is attached with a drawing state detection member for detecting the drawn state, and a residual drug recovery container detection member for detecting whether a detachable residual drug recovery container is attached to the drug discharge destination of the general-purpose drug feeder mounted thereon. Regarding the above general-purpose drug feeder, it is possible to confirm that among the drawing mechanisms, the one at the mounting destination is drawn forward based on the detection state of the drawing state detection member, and it is possible to confirm that the remaining drug collection container is attached to the drug discharge destination based on the detection state of the remaining drug collection container detection member. Then, the drug discharge operation is executed for the drug feeder mounted on the drawing mechanism at the mounting destination of the remaining drug collection container among the above general-purpose drug feeders. This is the characteristic.

[0018] Also, the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 2) is the drug packaging machine of the above Solution 1, and an alignment mark corresponding to the mark attached to the remaining drug collection container is attached to the drawing mechanism. When the remaining drug collection container is attached to the drawing mechanism with these marks corresponding to each other, the opening of the remaining drug collection container is located at the drug discharge destination of the above general-purpose drug feeder, and the attachment of the remaining drug collection container is detected by the remaining drug collection container detection member. This is the characteristic.

[0019] Furthermore, the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 3) is the drug packaging machine of the above Solution 2, and when the remaining drug collection container is attached to the drawing mechanism with the above marks corresponding to each other, a part of the remaining drug collection container interferes with a part of the drawing mechanism so that the displacement between the two is suppressed. This is the characteristic.

[0020] Also, the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 4) is the drug packaging machine of the above Solution 2, and in a state where the remaining drug collection container is attached to the drawing mechanism with the above marks corresponding to each other, a part of the opening of the remaining drug collection container is exposed. This is the characteristic.

[0021] Also, the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 5) is the drug packaging machine of the above Solutions 2 to 4, and a plurality of the above general-purpose drug feeders are mounted on the drawing mechanism, and correspondingly, a plurality of remaining drug storage parts are formed in the remaining drug collection container. This is the characteristic.

[0022] Further, the medicine packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 6) is the medicine packaging machine of the above Solutions 1 to 5, and corresponding to the fact that the attaching / detaching means of the residual medicine collecting container to the drawing mechanism is a permanent magnet, iron or other magnetic materials are adopted at the attaching / detaching part of the permanent magnet in the drawing mechanism, and iron or other magnetic materials are also adopted at the holding part when the residual medicine collecting container is not in use, such as the side surface, in the outer surface part of the housing.

[0023] Further, the medicine packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 7) is the medicine packaging machine of the above Solutions 1 to 6, and is provided with data holding means for holding the recording data of the medicine discharge based on the dispensing instruction and the recording data of the medicine discharge for residual medicine collection for the general-purpose medicine feeder, and the one for executing the medicine discharge operation toward the residual medicine collecting container among the general-purpose medicine feeders is limited to the one that has discharged the medicine based on the dispensing instruction by referring to the recording data but has not discharged the medicine for residual medicine collection thereafter.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] In the medicine packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 1), a plurality of general-purpose medicine feeders are provided, and they are separately mounted on a plurality of drawing mechanisms. In addition to detecting whether they are drawn forward from the housing, it is also detected whether a detachable residual medicine collecting container is attached to the medicine discharge destination of the drawn general-purpose medicine feeder. Then, for the general-purpose medicine feeder, when it is automatically confirmed that the corresponding medicine feeder is drawn forward from the housing and a residual medicine collecting container is attached to the medicine discharge destination, the medicine is discharged from the corresponding medicine feeder, so that the feasibility of the residual medicine collection operation is automatically confirmed, and after the start of the residual medicine collection operation, the operation is automatically carried out. Therefore, the manual burden required for residual medicine collection is greatly reduced.

[0025] Further, in the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution Means 2), when the residual drug collection container is attached to the drawing mechanism with the marks corresponding to each other, the opening of the residual drug collection container is positioned at the drug discharge destination of the general-purpose drug feeder, and the attachment of the residual drug collection container is detected by the residual drug collection container detection member. As a result, the work of attaching the residual drug collection container becomes easier.

[0026] Furthermore, in the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution Means 3), when the residual drug collection container is attached to the drawing mechanism with the marks corresponding to each other, a part of the residual drug collection container and a part of the drawing mechanism interfere with each other, and the displacement between the two is suppressed. As a result, the work of attaching the residual drug collection container is easy and accurate.

[0027] Also, in the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution Means 4), when the residual drug collection container is attached to the drawing mechanism with the marks corresponding to each other, a part of the opening of the residual drug collection container is exposed in that state. As a result, the residual drug collection state can be visually confirmed from the exposed part of the opening, so it is possible to easily know visually whether there is any residual drug collected without waiting for the removal of the residual drug collection container.

[0028] In addition, in the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution Means 5), a plurality of residual drug storage parts are formed in the residual drug collection container corresponding to the number and arrangement of the general-purpose drug feeders mounted on the drawing mechanism. By attaching one residual drug collection container to one drawing mechanism, it becomes possible to immediately collect the residual drugs from a plurality of drug feeders. Therefore, even when a plurality of general-purpose drug feeders are mounted on each drawing mechanism, the residual drugs can be collected simply and accurately.

[0029] In addition, in the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution Means 6), a permanent magnet is adopted as the attaching / detaching means for the residual drug collection container, and a magnetic body such as iron is adopted for the attachable / detachable part of the drawing mechanism. As a result, the attaching / detaching means can be realized easily and inexpensively. Furthermore, in addition to this, by adopting a magnetic material such as iron on the outer surface of the housing, etc., when the remaining drug collection container is not used, it can be held by magnetic force on the outer surface of the housing, etc. Therefore, even if the remaining drug collection container is detachable, it can be stored so as not to get in the way when not in use, and can be easily and quickly picked up when in use.

[0030] Also, in the drug packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 7), by limiting the general-purpose drug feeder that executes the drug discharge operation in response to the remaining drug collection instruction to those that have performed drug discharge based on the dispensing instruction but have not yet performed drug discharge for remaining drug collection, it is possible to avoid operating the drug feeder that is clearly not holding the remaining drug unnecessarily.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0031]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0032] Regarding such a medicine packaging machine of the present invention, a specific form for implementing it will be described by the following Example 1. Example 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 12 embodies all of the above-described solution means 1 to 7 (claims 1 to 7 at the time of filing). In the illustrations thereof, for the sake of simplification etc., fasteners such as bolts, connectors such as hinges, drive sources such as electric motors, transmission members such as timing belts, electric circuits such as motor drivers, and electronic circuits such as controllers are omitted from the illustrations, and the illustrations are centered on those necessary for the description of the invention and related ones.

Example

[0033] Regarding Example 1 of the medicine packaging machine of the present invention, its specific configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a dispensing system including the medicine packaging machine 10. FIGS. 2 to 3 show the overall structure of the medicine packaging machine 10. Among them, FIG. 2(a) is a front view of the exterior, FIG. 2(b) is a front view of the interior, and FIGS. 3(a) to (d) are left side views of the exterior. FIG. 3(e) is a perspective view of the front of the medicine storage unit 13, and FIGS. 4(a) to (c) are all perspective views of the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20.

[0034] FIG. 5(a) and (b) are left side views of the medicine packaging machine 10, and FIGS. 5(c) to (e) are all perspective views of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30. FIG. 6 shows the main part of the drawing-out lock mechanism 40, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) and (d) are front views. FIG. 7 shows two types of medicine feeders of different types. FIG. 7(a) is a front view of the cassette detachable dedicated medicine type medicine feeder 51 (container part detachable feeder, specialized type medicine feeder), and FIG. 7(b) is an external view of the multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeder 52 (container part fixed feeder, general-purpose type medicine feeder), which are, in order from top, a left side view, a front view, and a right side view.

[0035] FIG. 8(a) is a functional block diagram related to the controller 80 (control unit) of the medicine packaging machine 10 and the controller 53 (control unit) of the medicine feeder 52, and FIGS. 8(b) to (e) are all examples of screen displays of the touch panel 15. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the residual medicine collection container 100. (a) is an external perspective view seen from diagonally above, (b) is an enlarged view related to the detachable permanent magnet 104 and the mark 105, and (c) is a two-point perspective view seen from diagonally below in the direction of arrow C.

[0036] FIG. 25 is an external perspective view of the residual medicine collection container 100. (a) is an external perspective view seen from diagonally above, (b) is an enlarged view related to the detachable permanent magnet 104 and the mark 105, and (c) is a two-point perspective view seen from diagonally below in the direction of arrow C. FIG. 10 shows a situation when attempting to attach the residual drug collection container 100 to the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20. (a) is a perspective view of the container 100 just before attachment and the shelf 20 waiting for it. (b) is an enlarged perspective view of a portion related to the mark 105 of the residual drug collection container 100 and the mark 26 of the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20. (c) is a two-point perspective view of the contact portions 107 and 28 between the residual drug collection container 100 before attachment and the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20.

[0037] FIG. 11 shows a state where the residual drug collection container 100 is attached to the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20. (a) is an external perspective view of the corresponding medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20, and (b) is an external perspective view of the medicine packaging machine 10. FIGS. 12(a) to (d) are examples of screen displays on the touch panel 15, and FIG. 12(e) is an external perspective view of the used residual drug collection container 100 attached to the side of the housing of the medicine packaging machine 10.

[0038] The medicine packaging machine 10 (see FIG. 1) may be used alone in small pharmacies or the like, but in large-scale dispensing departments, multiple machines are often used under the dispensing server 200. The dispensing server 200 can transmit and receive data with the upper prescription ordering system and the lower medicine packaging machine 10 via a LAN or the like. By executing the program as described in the background art section 1, it can receive and hold prescription data from the prescription ordering system, and based on this, issue dispensing instructions to the medicine packaging machine 10 or any other corresponding medicine packaging machine (if any) not shown in the figure. In addition, the dispensing server 200 holds the operating state of the medicine packaging machine 10 as the packaging machine status and also holds a medicine master in which known drug information related to various drugs is registered in advance.

[0039] The medicine packaging machine 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2(a)) includes a lower packaging device 11, a medicine manual dispensing device-equipped part 12 above it, a medicine storage part 13 further above it, a touch panel 15 (operation input part, display part) supported by an arm for easier position change, and a controller 80 (control part of the medicine packaging machine) housed inside the housing. In the medicine storage part 13, a plurality of medicine feeder arrangement storages 14 and a plurality of medicine feeder arrangement shelves 20 are incorporated in a state where they can be pulled out forward respectively. Two horizontally arranged rows of the medicine feeder arrangement storages 14 are shown side by side, but it may be three or more horizontally arranged rows, or a single row, and each row may be further divided vertically and each may be pulled out forward arbitrarily.

[0040] Three medicine feeder arrangement shelves 20 are shown arranged in three vertical rows and one horizontal row, but it is not limited to this, and other arrangements may be possible. Inside the medicine feeder arrangement storage 14 in the medicine storage part 13 that occupies the upper part of the medicine packaging machine 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2(b)), a medicine feeder arrangement shelf 18 on which a plurality of specific medicine dedicated type medicine feeders 51 (specialized medicine feeders, container part detachable feeders, see FIG. 7(a)) can be arranged side by side in the front-rear direction is equipped in a state of being arranged in six vertical rows and two horizontal rows, and an upper medicine collection mechanism 17 is equipped in a shape that vertically penetrates between the two horizontal rows (see FIG. 2(b)). And the medicine discharged from the medicine feeder 51 is guided by the upper medicine collection mechanism 17 to the lower medicine collection mechanism 16 below.

[0041] Also (see FIGS. 1 and 2(b)), inside the installation locations of the medicine feeder arrangement shelves 20, 20, 20 that occupy a corner of the medicine storage section 13, a multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 is also installed in a state hidden behind the front plate 25 (to be described later) of those medicine feeder arrangement shelves (see FIGS. 3(d) and (e)) (see FIGS. 1, 2(b), and 5). The handle 33 installed on the front surface of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 is also hidden behind the front plate 25. This multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 guides the feeder-discharged medicine to the lower medicine collection mechanism 16 below, similar to the upper medicine collection mechanism 17. However, it receives the discharged medicine not from the specific medicine dedicated type medicine feeder 51 (specialized medicine feeder, container part detachable feeder, see FIG. 7(a)) of the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 18 but from the multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeder 52 (general-purpose medicine feeder, container part fixed feeder, see FIG. 7(b)) of the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20. The medicine feeder arrangement shelves 20 for receiving such medicine are not just one but a plurality of them 20, 20, 20 connected vertically.

[0042] As shown in the figure, the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 (see FIG. 3) is provided with a handle 21 on the front surface (see FIG. 3(a)) and is supported by a drawing member 22 (drawing mechanism) (see FIG. 3(b)), and each one from the upper stage to the lower stage can be individually pulled forward or pushed backward (see FIGS. 3(a) to (d)). Also (see FIGS. 3(d), (e), and 4), four multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeders 52 (general-purpose medicine feeders, container part fixed feeders) can be arranged in a row front and back on the shelf board 23 (drawing mechanism) supported by the drawing member 22. Further, on the front plate 25 at the front end of the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 (see FIGS. 3(e) and 4(a)), in addition to the handle 21, a swing plate body 24, a manual lock 43, and an LED display (not shown) are also attached.

[0043] The multi-drug type drug feeder 52 (general-purpose drug feeder, fixed container part feeder) is different from the dedicated drug type drug feeder 51 (specialized drug feeder, detachable container part feeder) for specific drugs with almost no change in the filled drug. As described above, by performing simple adjustments, specifically, for example, by replacing the sample drug or obtaining drug dimension data from the dispensing server 200, it can be used properly for drugs of various shapes and sizes (see also Patent Documents 4 to 12). From the perspective of minimizing mistakes such as taking the wrong drug during the drug replenishment operation, except during maintenance work, the drug storage part is fixed in a normal state, so to speak, a unit full-fixed type is adopted. Although not essential, this multi-drug type drug feeder 52 (see Fig. 8(a)) incorporates a controller 53 (control unit) and is designed to cooperate by performing data transmission and reception with the controller 80.

[0044] Also (see Figs. 3(d), (e) and Fig. 4), on the drug feeder array shelf 20, a lid 52a and lid opening / closing state detection means 29 are attached corresponding to each of the mounted drug feeders 52. The lid 52a is for opening and closing the drug inlet on the upper surface of the corresponding multi-drug type drug feeder 52, and the rear end part (the upper right part in the figure) is pivotally supported and can swing. Moreover, in the horizontal state, the drug inlet is closed (see Fig. 4(a)), and in the vertical or nearly vertical state, the drug inlet is opened to a state where drugs can be inserted (see Fig. 4(b)), and the two states transition via an intermediate diagonal state.

[0045] The lid opening / closing state detection means 29 (see Fig. 4(a)) mainly consists of, for example, a magnetic sensor, and is attached to the back plate portion of the shelf board 23 (drawing mechanism) of the medicine feeder array shelf 20. It is located behind the corresponding multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeder 52 and detects the opening / closing state of the corresponding lid 52a. However, it not only detects whether the lid 52a is fully opened to the state where medicine can be inserted (see Fig. 4(b)), but also detects whether the lid 52a is fully closed to the state where spillage of medicine can be prevented (see Fig. 4(c)). Such detection can be realized by a plurality of magnetic sensors with different sensitivity levels, or can also be realized by comparing the output value of a single magnetic sensor with a plurality of thresholds with different levels.

[0046] The detection result of such lid opening / closing state detection means 29 is notified to the controller 80 of the medicine packaging machine 10 via the controller 53 of the medicine feeder 52. Then, upon receiving these, the controller 80 that manages medicine input etc. determines that medicine input has started for the corresponding medicine feeder 52 when it can be known from the detection value of the lid opening / closing state detection means 29 that the corresponding lid 52a has opened from the state where it was fully closed (see Fig. 4(a)) to the state where medicine can be inserted (see Fig. 4(b)). Also, when the controller 80 can know from the detection by the lid opening / closing state detection means 29 that the lid 52a has fully closed to the point where it can prevent spillage of medicine from that state (see the change from Fig. 4(b) to Fig. 4(a)), it determines that the medicine input for the corresponding medicine feeder 52 has been completed.

[0047] The swing plate body 24 has its lower end connected to the lower end of the front surface of the front plate 25 via a swing support shaft (see FIGS. 3(d), (e), and 4), and can be gently swung by the fingertips or the tips of the fingers. When the free end and the swing end are lifted upward (see FIGS. 3(a) to (c)), it assumes a vertical posture and appears to be attached to the front plate 25. On the other hand, when the free end and the swing end are lowered (see FIGS. 3(d), (e), and 4), it assumes a horizontal posture and is in a state like a small table, allowing small items such as medicine bottles and dispensing instruction slips to be placed on it.

[0048] As described above, the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 (see FIG. 5) is disposed immediately beside the three-stage medicine feeder arranged shelves 20, 20, 20 and guides the medicine discharged therefrom downward to make it fall. This is also supported inside the medicine storage section 13 by a multi-stage drawing mechanism 37 (see FIGS. 5(a) and (b)) and can be drawn forward from the medicine storage section 13 (see FIG. 5(b)). Further, the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 has a shorter length in the front-rear direction than the medicine feeder arranged shelves 20 and is always located behind the left end portions of the front plates 25, 25, 25 of the right-side medicine feeder arranged shelves 20, 20, 20 (see FIGS. 2, 5(a), and 5(b)).

[0049] The front plates 25, 25, 25 with their left end portions protruding forward of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 in this way all serve as relative drawing position regulating means for preventing the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 from being drawn forward from the medicine feeder arranged shelves 20, and also as members for regulating the drawing of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 forward from the medicine storage section 13. Further, the medicine feeder arranged shelves 20 each having such a front plate 25 are provided only on the right side among the left and right sides of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 (see FIG. 2(b)). Since there is no regulating member like the front plate 25 on the left side of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30, when the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 is drawn forward from the medicine storage section 13 (see FIG. 5(b)), the left side of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 is released.

[0050] Furthermore, the multi-stage chemical collecting mechanism 30 (see FIGS. 5(c) to 5(e)) mainly includes a shallow box-shaped main body 31 and a detachable side plate 35 disposed on the left release side surface of the two side surfaces of the main body 31, which is farther from the chemical feeder arrangement shelves 20, 20, 20, and closes the corresponding side surface during installation. Chemical inlets 32, 32, 32 for receiving the chemicals discharged from the chemical feeder arrangement shelves 20, 20, 20 are formed by openings on the right side plate of the main body 31. A handle 33 is equipped at the front end of the main body 31. A side plate holding member 34 for receiving the lower end of the side plate 35 from below is equipped at a position below the release side surface among the lower end portions of the main body 31.

[0051] For example, a small lever-operated latching member 36 is equipped on the upper part of the side plate 35. After placing the lower end of the side plate 35 on the side plate holding member 34 to be received and then standing up the side plate 35 and latching the latching member 36 to the main body 31, the release side surface of the main body 31 can be closed (see FIG. 5(c)). Also, when all the latching members 36, 36 are removed, the upper part of the side plate 35 is separated from the release side surface of the main body 31 (see FIG. 5(d)). Since the side plate holding member 34 is, for example, a hook member and receives the lower end of the side plate 35 with a little play, the side plate 35 is held in a slightly inclined state. Furthermore, when lifting the side plate 35 by, for example, putting hands on both the left and right ends of the side plate 35 in such a state, the side plate 35 is completely separated from the main body 31, and the inside of the main body 31 is largely exposed (see FIG. 5(e)).

[0052] As described above, a manual lock 43 is provided on the front plate 25 of the medicine feeder array shelf 20 (see FIGS. 3(e) and 4(a)). The drawer lock mechanism 40 including this manual lock 43 (see FIG. 6) is attached to the front end of the medicine feeder array shelf 20 and the front end of the medicine storage section 13. Specifically, the drawer lock mechanism 40 includes a swing member 44 equipped on the medicine feeder array shelf 20 together with the manual lock 43, an electromagnetic drive section 41 equipped on the frame section of the medicine storage section 13, and a reciprocating member 42 that can move forward and backward from the electromagnetic drive section 41 toward the swing member 44. The reciprocating member 42 is constantly biased toward the forward side (leftward) by a spring or the like (not shown) and protrudes from the frame section of the medicine storage section 13 toward the medicine feeder array shelf 20. When the tip of the reciprocating member 42 comes in front of the swing member 44 (see FIG. 6(a)), the medicine feeder array shelf 20 is in a locked state where it cannot be pulled forward from the medicine storage section 13.

[0053] Moreover (see FIG. 6(b)), a slope is formed at the tip of the reciprocating member 42. When the swing member 44 abuts thereon, the reciprocating member 42 retreats toward the electromagnetic drive section 41 (moves rightward in the figure) due to the component force. Therefore, when the pulled-out medicine feeder array shelf 20 is pushed into the medicine storage section 13, the swing member 44 temporarily retreats the reciprocating member 42 and moves backward (see the two-dot chain line and the one-dot chain line in FIG. 6(b)). Thus, the pulling out of the medicine feeder array shelf 20 is normally locked, while the pushing in of the medicine feeder array shelf 20 can be performed at any time. Also, although illustration is omitted as it would become complicated since it can be configured with a magnetic sensor or the like, a drawer state detection member for detecting whether or not the medicine feeder array shelf 20 is located within the lockable range of the drawer lock mechanism 40 is also provided corresponding to each medicine feeder array shelf 20.

[0054] Furthermore (see FIG. 6(c)), when the electromagnetic drive section 41 is caused to perform an exciting operation under the control of the controller 80, the reciprocating member 42 retreats toward the electromagnetic drive section 41 (moves rightward in the figure) due to an electromagnetic force stronger than the spring force. Therefore, the state of the medicine feeder array shelf 20 becomes such that it can not only be pushed in but also be pulled out. That is, electric unlocking is possible. Moreover (see Fig. 6(d)), when the key 45 is inserted into the manual lock 43 and turned to the unlocking side, the swinging member 44 rotates accordingly, and the swinging member 44 assumes a posture / state where it does not engage with the advancing / retreating member 42, enabling manual unlocking.

[0055] Also, when the controller 80 determines based on the detection by the lid opening / closing state detection means 29 and the notification from the controller 53 that the lid 52a of the chemical feeder 52 mounted on the chemical feeder array shelf 20 is firmly closed (see Fig. 4(a)), the controller 80 determines that it is normal even if the chemical feeder array shelf 20 is pushed into the housing. Otherwise, for example, if the lid 52a is closed in a halfway state not detected by the lid opening / closing state detection means 29 (see Fig. 4(c)), and when it is detected by the above-described drawing-out state detection member that the corresponding chemical feeder array shelf 20 is pushed into the housing and is located within the lockable range of the drawing-out lock mechanism 40, an alarm is issued.

[0056] To repeat and summarize for simplicity, the chemical feeder 51 (see Fig. 7(a)) is the above-described dedicated type chemical feeder for specific chemicals (specialized chemical feeder, container part detachable feeder), and is of the cassette detachable type consisting of a fixed base 51b (drive part) and a cassette 51a (container part). When the motor of the base 51b is actuated under the control of the controller 80 in the cassette-mounted state, the movable member of the cassette 51a is driven, and the chemicals are dropped and discharged one by one.

[0057] On the other hand, the chemical feeder 52 (see Fig. 7(b)) is the above-described multi-type chemical adaptable type chemical feeder (general-purpose chemical feeder, container part fixed feeder), where the container part and the base are integrated (see Patent Documents 4 - 11), and is normally fixed to the chemical feeder array shelf 20. This chemical feeder 52 operates with the built-in motor etc. rotating according to the control of the controller 80, and the outer annular rotating body and the inner inclined rotating body rotate, and the chemical feeder 52 also discharges the chemicals one by one.

[0058] In addition, the medicine packaging machine 10 is configured to perform an operation input function in addition to the screen display by the controller 80 controlling the touch panel 15 (see Fig. 1 etc.). When the controller 80 of the medicine packaging machine 10 receives a dispensing instruction from the dispensing server 200, it automatically processes within the possible range, but guides the dispensing operator etc. on the screen display or receives instructions from the dispensing operator as necessary. For example, when a medicine not held in the specialized medicine feeder 51 is included in the dispensing instruction and a general-purpose medicine feeder 52 is selected as the dispensing destination, if the assistance of the dispensing operator is necessary, an instruction to input the medicine into the corresponding medicine feeder 52 is displayed on the touch panel 15 on the screen.

[0059] When the data etc. necessary for automatic discharge are complete and the preparation for automatic discharge is ready, an instruction for automatic discharge is transmitted as data from the controller 80 of the medicine packaging machine 10 to the controller 53 of the target medicine feeder 52 (see Fig. 1, Fig. 8(a)). If the corresponding medicine feeder 52 is pushed into the housing of the medicine packaging machine 10 (see the upper and middle medicine feeder arrangement shelves 20 in the upper, middle, and lower three stages shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3(e)), the medicine is automatically discharged from there. The medicine discharged from the medicine feeder 52 (see Fig. 2(b), Fig. 5) is sent to the lower medicine collection mechanism 16 via the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 shared by the upper and lower medicine feeder arrangement shelves 20 and further sent to the packaging device 11.

[0060] Also, each time the drug is discharged or packaged according to the dispensing instruction in this way, the controller 80 always records and holds, as recording data, the specific information and discharge information of the drug feeder, as well as time data and the like, in a data holding means such as a hard disk (not shown), regardless of whether the drug discharged is from the dedicated drug feeder 51 for specific drugs (a specialized drug feeder, a container part detachable feeder) or the multi-drug adaptable drug feeder 52 (a general-purpose drug feeder, a container part fixed feeder). In addition, each time the drug discharge for the remaining drug collection described below is performed, the controller 80 also records and holds, as recording data, the specific information of the drug feeder, the actual information of the remaining drug collection, as well as time data and the like, regardless of whether the drug collected is from the general-purpose drug feeder 51 or the general-purpose drug feeder 52. The so-called log data and history data automatically recorded and held by the controller 80 for abnormality diagnosis and the like also correspond to the recording data if they include the above information.

[0061] In addition, when there is extra drug remaining in the multi-drug adaptable drug feeder 52 after the automatic drug discharge, the remaining drug will be collected. This drug packaging machine 10 is equipped with four ways as means for collecting the remaining drug from the target drug feeder 52 (see Fig. 8(a)). Each means is carried out by the cooperation between the controller 80 of the drug packaging machine 10 and the controller 53 of the drug feeder 52 for the remaining drug collection target. There are three means (the first to the third remaining drug collection methods) for giving a remaining drug collection instruction to instruct the release of the remaining drug to the multi-drug adaptable drug feeder 52 through the display and operation of the touch panel 15, and one means (the fourth remaining drug collection method) that does not require such an operation.

[0062] Three types of means using the touch panel 15 will be described first. In the first to third remaining drug collection methods, when a remaining drug collection instruction for instructing the discharge of the remaining drug to the multi-drug type drug feeder 52 is given by the display and operation input via the touch panel 15, accordingly, the discharge operation mode selection program 81 of the controller 80 of the drug packaging machine 10 automatically selects one of the automatic discharge program 54, the device-by-device collection program 55, and the shelf-by-shelf collection program 56 from the program groups 54 to 56 of the controller 53 of the drug feeder 52 as a cooperation partner. On the other hand, in the fourth remaining drug collection method described later, the discharge operation mode selection program 81 selects the shelf-by-shelf collection program 56 according to the detection of the remaining drug collection container detection member 27.

[0063] The automatic discharge program 54 (the first remaining drug collection method) is to perform the above-mentioned "remaining drug collection using the packaging paper" in which the remaining drug is discharged and packaged while the drug feeder row installation shelf 20 equipped with the target multi-drug type drug feeder 52 is pushed into the housing of the drug packaging machine 10 and locked by the drawer lock mechanism 40. In this case, it is also possible to print the drug name on the part of the packaging paper for packaging the remaining drug, and it has the advantage of being easy to manage the collected drugs. Such an automatic discharge program 54 can be easily diverted and used in combination with the one used for normal packaging by specifying the number of discharged drugs.

[0064] The device-specific recovery program 55 (the second residual drug recovery method) executes the aforementioned "residual drug recovery using containers" (see Fig. 8(a)). Specifically, for the medicine feeder array shelf 20 equipped with the multi-type medicine feeder 52 for various types of drugs targeted for residual drug recovery, the lock of the corresponding drawer lock mechanism 40 is released. When it is detected that the position has deviated from the locked position based on the detection by the aforementioned drawer state detection member (not shown), it is determined that the medicine feeder array shelf 20 is in a state of being pulled out forward from the housing of the medicine packaging machine 10. In this state (refer to the lower medicine feeder array shelf 20 among the upper and lower three tiers shown in Figs. 1 and 3(e)), when an instruction for discharging residual drugs is received from the controller 80 of the medicine packaging machine 10, the discharging operation is continuously performed on the medicine feeder 52 for the residual drugs to be recovered until it becomes empty accordingly.

[0065] In this "residual drug recovery using containers", it is difficult to recover residual drugs in parallel from a plurality of multi-type medicine feeders 52 for various types of drugs. Basically, only one medicine feeder 52 for the drugs targeted for residual drug recovery is limited. However, for the containers to be used, the restrictions are loose, and general-purpose cups or mugs can also be used as long as there is no damage, dirt, etc. Regarding the cooperative operation among the dispensing operator, and the two controllers 80 and 53 by the device-specific recovery program 55 performed according to the operation of the touch panel 15, it will be described with reference to the screen display examples (see Figs. 8(b) to (e)) in the operation description to be described later.

[0066] The shelf-specific recovery program 56 as the third residual drug recovery method activated by the operation of the touch panel 15 and the shelf-specific recovery program 56 as the fourth residual drug recovery method activated according to the detection by the residual drug recovery container detection member 27 have different activation modes (see Fig. 8(a)). However, after activation, in both cases, control is performed to recover residual drugs simultaneously and in parallel from a plurality of multi-type medicine feeders 52,..., 52 mounted on one medicine feeder array shelf 20. Since it is premised on using the residual drug recovery container 100 corresponding to the medicine feeder array shelf 20, before explaining the functions, etc. of the shelf-specific recovery program 56, the configuration of the residual drug recovery container 100, etc. will be explained.

[0067] The residual drug collection container 100 (see Fig. 9) is separate from the drug packaging machine 10 and has a long plate-shaped body 101 detachably attached to the lower surface of the drug feeder array shelf 20 as a base. On this plate body 101, a plurality (four in this example) of openings 102 are formed corresponding to the arrangement of the drug feeders 52 on the drug feeder array shelf 20, and a residual drug storage part 103 (container part) is connected below each opening 102. The drugs input into the openings 102 from above are separated and stored in a plurality (four in this example) of residual drug storage parts 103.

[0068] On the upper surface of the plate body 101 of the residual drug collection container 100, a plurality (three in this example) of sets of permanent magnets 104 and marks 105 are provided (see Figs. 9(a) and (b)). The permanent magnet 104 is fixed to the upper surface of the plate body 101 by screws or the like, and a type that emits a magnetic force capable of holding the residual drug collection container 100 on the lower surface of the shelf board 23 (drawing mechanism) of the drug feeder array shelf 20 is adopted. The mark 105 corresponds to the mark 26 on the drug feeder array shelf 20 to be described later not only in terms of the number but also in terms of the position and orientation. When the residual drug collection container 100 is placed under the shelf board 23 of the drug feeder array shelf 20 with the marks 105 and 26 facing each other, the openings 102 (four in this example) of the residual drug collection container 100 are positioned one-to-one at the drug discharge outlets of the multi-drug adaptable type drug feeders 52 (four in this example) mounted on the shelf board 23 (see Fig. 11(a)).

[0069] Also, on the side surfaces of both sides of the residual drug collection container 100 near the mark 105 (see Figs. 9(a) and (b)), handles 106 useful for carrying the residual drug collection container 100 and the like are provided, and on the opposite side surface (see Fig. 9(c)), small protruding alignment parts 107 are formed. The end of this alignment part 107 is bent toward the residual drug storage part 103 so that it can be smoothly positioned by being placed on the positioning member 28 (see Fig. 10(c)) of the drug feeder array shelf 20 to be described later.

[0070] For the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 to which such a residual medicine collection container 100 is detachably attached to the lower surface, in any of the upper, middle, and lower sections 20 (see Fig. 10), corresponding to the fact that the detaching and attaching means of the residual medicine collection container 100 to the shelf board 23 (drawing mechanism) is the permanent magnet 104, a magnetic material such as iron is adopted for at least the detaching and attaching part of the permanent magnet 104 in the shelf board 23. However, since it is common to use iron materials for the members of the shelf or the housing, magnetic materials such as iron plates are also adopted for the side surfaces and the like of the outer surface part of the housing.

[0071] Also, a mark 26 is provided on the side surface of the shelf board 23 that corresponds to the upper side of the mounting side of the residual medicine collection container 100 (see Figs. 10(a) to (c)). As described above, the mark 26 of the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 and the mark 105 of the medicine packaging machine 10 are made to correspond, for example, so that the arrows face each other (see Fig. 10(b)). When the residual medicine collection container 100 is mounted under the shelf board 23 (drawing mechanism) of the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20, the position of the opening 102 of the residual medicine storage part 103 of the residual medicine collection container 100 (see Fig. 11(a)) corresponds one-to-one to the medicine discharge port 23a that hits the medicine discharge destination of the multi-type medicine feeder 52 mounted on the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 (see Fig. 10(c)). Note that these medicine discharge ports 23a are for sending the discharged medicine of the medicine feeder 52 to the medicine receiving port 32 of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 when the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 is pushed into the housing.

[0072] Furthermore, as described above (see Fig. 10), when the marks 105 and 26 are made to correspond to each other and the residual medicine collection container 100 is mounted on the shelf board 23 (drawing mechanism) of the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20, and after the alignment part 107 is placed on the positioning member 28 and stabilized, the residual medicine collection container 100 is moved closer to or pressed against the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20, or further, the alignment part 107 is moved closer to the residual medicine collection container detection member 27 (see Fig. 10(c)), the alignment part 107 of the residual medicine collection container 100 surely positions at the detection target of the residual medicine collection container detection member 27, and a part of the opening 102 of the residual medicine storage part 103 is exposed (see Fig. 11(a)), and the state becomes such that the recovery state of the residual medicine can be visually confirmed.

[0073] Moreover, in such a mounted state, a part of the residual medicine collection container 100 interferes with a part of the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20, suppressing the displacement between the two. Even in a situation where the residual medicine collection container 100 is about to be detached from the shelf board 23 due to an unexpected external force exceeding the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 104 or the like, the occurrence of an undesired situation such as the residual medicine collection container 100 falling to the floor can be prevented with high accuracy by the interference between the alignment portion 107 and the positioning member 28. Further, since the residual medicine collection container 100 is located in front of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 (see Fig. 11(b)), an accidental pulling out of the multi-stage medicine collection mechanism 30 is surely prevented.

[0074] Such a medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 (see Fig. 10(c)) is all provided with a residual medicine collection container detection member 27 for detecting whether or not a detachable residual medicine collection container 100 is mounted from below at the medicine discharge destination (23a), although it is mounted on the shelf board 23 (drawing mechanism) among the multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeders 52. Also, when the residual medicine collection container 100 is mounted under the shelf board 23 (drawing mechanism) of the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 with the mark 105 corresponding to the mark 26, the opening 102 of the residual medicine collection container 100 is positioned at the medicine discharge destination of the multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeder 52, and the mounting of the residual medicine collection container 100 is detected by the residual medicine collection container detection member 27.

[0075] Since the description of the components of the residual drug collection container 100 and the medicine feeder array shelf 20 related to its attachment and detachment has been completed, the functions of the shelf-by-shelf collection program 56 that controls the "collection by shelf" performed by temporarily attaching the residual drug collection container 100 to the medicine feeder array shelf 20 will be described (see Fig. 8(a)). This shelf-by-shelf collection program 56 (the third and fourth residual drug collection methods) cooperates with the controller 80 to control the simultaneous parallel collection of residual drugs from a plurality of medicine feeders 52,..., 52 mounted on one medicine feeder array shelf 20. It is premised on the temporary attachment of the residual drug collection container 100 equipped with a plurality of residual drug storage parts 103,..., 103 arranged corresponding to the arrangement of the plurality of medicine feeders 52,..., 52. After the attachment, the residual drugs are automatically collected into the residual drug collection container 100 by discharging the residual drugs from the medicine feeders 52,..., 52 of the medicine feeder array shelf 20 at the attachment destination.

[0076] Specifically, when "collection by shelf container" is selected by operating the touch panel 15 (see Fig. 12(a)), the discharge operation mode selection program 81 is executed by the controller 80 and the shelf-by-shelf collection program 56 is executed by the controller 53, and the "third residual drug collection method" is realized by the cooperation of the two, 80 and 53. In this case, a residual drug collection instruction for discharging the residual drugs is given from the controller 80 to a plurality of general-purpose medicine feeders 52 in units of the medicine feeder array shelf 20. For the medicine feeder array shelf 20 in a state where withdrawal is permitted when the medicine discharge is completed, etc., the lock of the corresponding withdrawal lock mechanism 40 is released and it becomes possible to manually pull it forward from the housing. Then, when the withdrawable medicine feeder array shelf 20 is pulled forward from the housing, the controller 80 can determine and confirm this based on the detection state of a withdrawal state detection member (not shown).

[0077] Moreover, the touch panel 15 is configured to display a prompt to attach the residual medicine collection container 100 under the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 in the pulled-out state (see Fig. 12(b)). When prompted by this display to appropriately attach an empty residual medicine collection container 100 to the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 to be collected (see Figs. 10 and 11), the fact of the attachment and the attachment destination are detected by the residual medicine collection container detection member 27 of the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 at the attachment destination. Accordingly, for the corresponding medicine feeder 52, the residual medicine collection operation automatically proceeds (see Fig. 12(c)). When all the medicine feeders 52 to be collected become empty, it is determined that the residual medicine collection is completed, and the removal of the residual medicine collection container 100 is prompted (see Fig. 12(d)).

[0078] Also, when it is detected by the above-mentioned withdrawal state detection member (not shown) that the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 has been pulled out from the housing, and the attachment of the residual medicine collection container 100 to the medicine feeder arrangement shelf 20 is detected by the residual medicine collection container detection member 27 (see Figs. 10(a), 10(c), 11(a), 8(a)), the shelf-by-shelf collection program 56 functions as the "fourth residual medicine collection method" based on the discharge operation mode selection program 81. In this case, different from the above-mentioned third residual medicine collection method, the selection of the collection method (see Fig. 12(a)) and the prompt for attaching the residual medicine collection container 100 (see Fig. 12(a)) are not performed. Instead, promptly, for the corresponding medicine feeder 52, the residual medicine collection operation automatically proceeds (see Fig. 12(c)). When all the medicine feeders 52 to be collected become empty, it is determined that the residual medicine collection is completed, and the removal of the residual medicine collection container 100 is prompted (see Fig. 12(d)).

[0079] Furthermore, for the plurality (four in the illustrated example) of general-purpose drug feeders 52 targeted for collecting residual drugs using the residual drug collection container 100, whether it is when operating as the third residual drug collection method by operating the touch panel 15 or when operating as the fourth residual drug collection method in response to the detection by the residual drug collection container detection member 27 without waiting for the operation of the touch panel 15, the residual drug collection operation is not always performed on all the drug feeders 52. Instead, the residual drug collection operation is only performed on the drug feeders 52 for which drug discharge based on the dispensing instruction has already been performed but the residual drug collection operation has not yet been carried out. Whether a drug feeder 52 corresponds to one where drug discharge has been performed but the residual drug collection operation has not been carried out can be easily determined by referring to the above-described recording data.

[0080] Also, the completion of the residual drug collection can be determined by the drug feeder 52 becoming empty, and the fact that the drug feeder 52 has become empty can be detected relatively easily by, for example, the waiting time for detecting the dropped drug expiring (time over, time out) (see, for example, Patent Document 13). In such "residual drug collection using the residual drug collection container 100", it is necessary to prepare the residual drug collection container 100 as the container to be used. However, since the residual drugs can be collected in parallel from the plurality of drug feeders 52, the efficiency is good, and since the correspondence relationship between the arrangement of the drug feeders 52 on the drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 and the residual drug storage section 103 in the residual drug collection container 100 is maintained, the management of the drugs after collection is also easy.

[0081] Regarding the cooperation operation (the third residual drug collection method) between the two controllers 80 and 53 and the dispensing operator by the shelf-by-shelf collection program 56 performed in response to the operation of the touch panel 15, and also regarding the cooperation operation (the fourth residual drug collection method) between the two controllers 80 and 53 performed in response to the container detection by the residual drug collection container detection member 27 without requiring the operation of the touch panel 15 by the dispensing operator, it will be briefly described while referring to the screen display examples (see FIGS. 12(a) to (d)) in the following operation explanation.

[0082] Regarding the drug packaging machine 10 of Example 1 as described above, its usage mode and operation will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1 to 12 described above.

[0083] When a dispensing instruction is sent from the dispensing server 200 to the drug packaging machine 10 by operating the touch panel 15 etc. (see FIG. 1), and the controller 80 of the drug packaging machine 10 receives it, the content of the dispensing instruction is displayed on the touch panel 15 for confirmation. At the same time, if the drug to be automatically dispensed among the dispensing instructions is stored in the drug feeder 51 of the drug feeder arrangement storage 14, the controller 80 automatically makes an appropriate allocation. Then, when the preparation is complete, after the dispensing operator operates the touch panel 15 to complete the confirmation, the drug to be dispensed is automatically discharged from the drug feeder 51, collected while falling, and reaches the packaging device 11, where it is separately stored in the packaging paper.

[0084] Although the drug to be automatically dispensed can be handled by any of the dedicated type drug feeders 51 for specific drugs, if it happens that it is not stored in any of the drug feeders 51, a display asking the dispensing operator whether to store the target drug in the corresponding drug feeder 51, select any of the multi-drug adaptable type drug feeders 52 and store the target drug in it, or manually sprinkle the target drug using the drug manual sprinkling device 12 is made on the touch panel 15 (not shown). Therefore, from the viewpoints of convenience and efficiency, usually, if possible, they are selected in that order. When the dispensing operator selects the drug feeder 51, after putting the target drug into the drug feeder 51 and performing the confirmation panel operation, automatic dispensing is performed as described above.

[0085] On the contrary, when the drug feeder 51 cannot be used, if the multi-drug adaptable type drug feeder 52 is available and empty, the drug feeder 52 is selected instead of the drug manual sprinkling device 12 (referred to as "selection of drug filling into the multi-drug adaptable type drug feeder 52" in the following reference). Then, on the touch panel 15 of the medicine packaging machine 10, the name of the medicine, the number of prescriptions, and a list of available medicine feeders 52 are displayed on the screen. Thus, an appropriate medicine feeder 52 is selected by screen operation. Then, the unlocking operation of the drawing lock mechanism 40 of the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 equipped with the selected medicine feeder 52 is performed, and the corresponding medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 becomes pullable, and this is notified by screen display or the like. So, the dispensing operator pulls it out (see Fig. 3(e)), and opens and closes the lid 52a with respect to the corresponding medicine feeder 52 shown explicitly on the screen display or the like (see Fig. 4(a)) to put in the medicine. At that time, the medicine is put in either the number specified by the dispensing instruction or a number exceeding that.

[0086] Then, after the dispensing operator finishes putting in the medicine and pushes back the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 equipped with the multi - type medicine - adaptable medicine feeder 52 into the casing of the medicine packaging machine 10, and confirms the lock by the drawing lock mechanism 40, the automatic dispensing of the medicine packaging machine 10 is started by screen operation or the like on the touch panel 15. After the start of automatic dispensing, in any case, the appropriate number of medicines are discharged from the appropriate medicine feeders 51 and 52 according to the prescription instruction and are further sub - packaged by the packaging device 11. After the dispensing according to the prescription instruction is completed, if there is any remaining medicine in the multi - type medicine - adaptable medicine feeder 52 used for it, in most cases, except when the remaining medicine can be used for subsequent different dispensings fortunately, the remaining medicine is collected to empty the multi - type medicine - adaptable medicine feeder 52 for use in other dispensings.

[0087] When there are no other prescription instructions for the medicine packing machine 10, or even if there are other prescription instructions but it is not necessary to start the dispensing immediately, by operating the touch panel 15, after displaying the "UF recovery" screen for recovering the remaining medicine from the multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeder 52 (see Fig. 8(b)), when "pack and recover" is selected, control by the coordinated operation of the discharge operation mode selection program 81 of the controller 80 of the medicine packing machine 10 and the automatic discharge program 54 of the controller 53 of the medicine feeder 52 (the first remaining medicine recovery method) enables the remaining medicine to be immediately and easily recovered wrapped in the packing paper without even pulling out the corresponding medicine feeder 52 or the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 from the housing of the medicine packing machine 10.

[0088] On the other hand, when it is desired to quickly cause the medicine packing machine 10 to perform another automatic dispensing according to other prescription instructions, or when there is no desire to recover the remaining medicine using the packing paper in the first place, the dispensing operator operates the touch panel 15 to display the "UF recovery" screen for recovering the remaining medicine from the multi-type medicine adaptable type medicine feeder 52, and then one of "recover with a container for each device" and "recover with a container for each shelf" will be selected as the remaining medicine recovery method. Here, first, the case where "recover with a container for each device" (the second remaining medicine recovery method), which does not require a special container and can use general-purpose cups or mugs, etc., is selected will be described (see Fig. 8(b)).

[0089] Then, a screen for requesting the selection of the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be recovered is displayed on the touch panel 15 (see Fig. 8(c)), so the dispensing operator performs an operation to specify the target (in the example of Fig. 8(c), "12" indicating the second medicine feeder 52 from the front in the medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 at the bottommost stage is selected). Then, the lower medicine feeder row installation shelf 20 on which the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be recovered is mounted is specified (in the example of Fig. 8(d), "UF1 shelf"), and a screen for instructing to pull it out is displayed on the touch panel 15 (Fig. 8(d) Refer to).

[0090] Therefore, unlock the lock of the drawer lock mechanism 40 attached to the medicine feeder column storage shelf 20, and then pull out the medicine feeder column storage shelf 20 forward from the housing (refer to the lowermost medicine feeder column storage shelf 20 in FIGS. 1 and 3(a)). When the lock of the corresponding shelf is thus released and it is detected that the shelf has been pulled out further forward than the locked position, it is determined that the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be collected has been sufficiently pulled out from the housing, and a screen prompting the dispensing operator to place a collection container under the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be collected is displayed on the touch panel 15 (refer to FIG. 8(e)).

[0091] Therefore, the dispensing operator can quickly and accurately place a collection container under the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be collected (not shown). When the dispensing operator instructs the start of the remaining medicine collection by operating the screen of the touch panel 15 (refer to the lower right part of the screen display example in FIG. 8(e)), the controller 53 executes the individual collection program 55 under the control of the controller 80, and the remaining medicine is successively discharged downward from the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be collected by their cooperative control, so that the remaining medicine is quickly transferred into the collection container.

[0092] During the discharge of the remaining medicine, the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be collected must keep the lid 52a closed in order to prevent the undesired scattering of the medicine, etc. However, when the discharge is completed, this is detected by the expiration of the waiting time for detecting the dropped medicine, etc., and the lock of the lid 52a is released. Therefore, as a precaution, the dispensing operator opens the lid 52a of the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be collected as much as possible and visually checks the presence or absence of the remaining medicine (refer to FIG. 4(b)). Then, when the dispensing operator confirms that the medicine feeder 52 for which the remaining medicine is to be collected is surely empty, the lid 52a is closed and the empty medicine feeder 52 is made available for the next use.

[0093] In this way, the remaining drugs can be collected from the drug feeder 52 after automatic discharge into a general-purpose collection container. At this time, for the drug feeders 52 installed on the drug feeder arrangement shelves 20 that do not carry the drug feeder 52 targeted for remaining drug collection (the upper and middle drug feeder arrangement shelves 20 in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 3(e)), regardless of whether the drug feeder arrangement shelves 20 carrying the drug feeder 52 targeted for remaining drug collection (the lower drug feeder arrangement shelves 20 in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 3(e)) are housed in the housing of the drug packaging machine 10 or protrude forward from the housing, since it has no effect on the drug discharge operation, it is possible to concurrently supply them to another automatic dispensing according to another prescription instruction.

[0094] Furthermore, when the dispensing operator displays the screen of "UF collection" for collecting the remaining drugs from the multi-type drug-adaptable type drug feeder 52 by operating the touch panel 15 (see FIGS. 8(b) and 12(a)), the case where "collection by shelf-specific container" is selected instead of "collection by device-specific container" as the remaining drug collection method will be described (see FIG. 12(a)). In this case (the third remaining drug collection method), since the configuration has been described in detail, to briefly describe it in an easy-to-understand manner regarding the usage and operation, the dispensing operator first selects "collection by shelf-specific container" on the touch panel 15 (see FIG. 12(a)), and accordingly pulls out the corresponding one of the drug feeder arrangement shelves 20 with the drawer lock released forward from the housing.

[0095] Then, a guidance prompting to attach the remaining drug collection container 100 under the pulled-out drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 is displayed on the touch panel 15 (see FIG. 12(b)), and accordingly the dispensing operator executes the attachment of an empty remaining drug collection container 100. After that, in the drug packaging machine 10, it is automatically detected that the remaining drug collection container 100 is properly attached to the drug feeder arrangement shelf 20, and the remaining drugs are collected for the drug feeders 52 that have already completed drug discharge but have not yet performed the remaining drug collection operation (see FIG. 12(c)). When the collection of the remaining drugs is completed, the removal of the remaining drug collection container 100 is prompted (see FIG. 12(d)).

[0096] In this way, the pharmacist is involved in the selection of the collection method and the attachment of the residual drug collection container 100. However, since the subsequent residual drug collection operation is performed automatically, the pharmacist can be quickly released from the residual drug collection work and can promptly move on to other dispensing operations and the like. For example, while performing residual drug collection from the drug feeders 52,..., 52 of the lower row drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 to the residual drug collection container 100, after the residual drug collection operation enters an automatic continuous state, the pharmacist can perform preparatory work for the next automatic dispensing, such as putting drugs into the drug feeders 52,..., 52 of the upper and middle row drug feeder arrangement shelves 20, and can also return to the operation of removing the residual drug collection container 100 from the lower row drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 at an appropriate time.

[0097] In addition, the residual drug collection performed with the residual drug collection container 100 attached to the drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 is automatically started when it is detected that the drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 has been pulled out from the housing and the residual drug collection container 100 has been attached to the drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 as described above. In this case, the residual drug collection (the fourth residual drug collection method) is started without the need for manual operation of the touch panel 15 or the like. Moreover, since the start condition is only the sufficient forward pulling out of the drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 and the appropriate attachment of the residual drug collection container 100 thereto, it can be used not only in the expected situations but also in unexpected situations in many scenarios.

[0098] To describe a typical example of an expected situation, it is to execute the residual drug collection (the fourth residual drug collection method) using the residual drug collection container 100 after the above-mentioned "selection of drug filling to the multi-drug adaptable type drug feeder 52" and before the execution of the drug filling. Specifically, the dispensing operator selects the drug filling for the multi-drug type drug feeder 52 by operating the touch panel 15 as described above. Accordingly, after the drawing lock mechanism 40 of the corresponding drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 is unlocked, the corresponding drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 is manually pulled forward from the housing. Then, only when it is desired to perform residual drug collection prior to drug filling, the residual drug collection container 100 is attached to the drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 to automatically perform residual drug collection, and it is sufficient to remove the residual drug collection container 100 after the collection. Then, the drug filling operation for the multi-drug type drug feeder 52 may be performed.

[0099] In this way, whether or not to perform residual drug collection using the residual drug collection container 100 prior to drug filling into the multi-drug type drug feeder 52 can be arbitrarily determined by the dispensing operator, and the timing of the determination can be delayed until immediately before the execution of drug filling for the drug feeder 52. Therefore, the burden on the dispensing operator is light and the practicality is high. Also, even if the residual drug collection from the drug feeder 52 of the drug feeder arrangement shelf 20 has already been completed, whether using the residual drug collection container 100 or other individual containers, when re-execution is instructed, the recorded data is referred to prior to the execution of the residual drug collection, and based on that data, the drug feeder 52 for which the residual drug collection is to be executed is limited to "those for which drug discharge based on the dispensing instruction has been performed but subsequent drug discharge for residual drug collection has not been performed". Therefore, even when it is desired to confirm whether the residual drug collection has been completed, there is no need to spend time on the confirmation work and it is easy to attempt residual drug collection.

[0100] Finally, regarding the handling of the residual drug collection container 100 after use, as described above, since a magnetic material such as iron is also used for the side plates of the housing of the drug packaging machine 10, when the residual drug collection container 100 is not in use, the permanent magnet 104 of the residual drug collection container 100 can be brought into contact with the side plate of the housing of the residual drug collection container 100, etc., so that the residual drug collection container 100 can be temporarily attached to the drug packaging machine 10 (see Fig. 12(e)). Therefore, it can be stored simply and without getting in the way, and can be removed and used immediately when needed.

[0101] [Others] In the above embodiment, in addition to the drug packaging machine 10 being equipped with the controller 80, each drug feeder 52 was individually equipped with the controller 53. However, it is not essential for the drug feeder 52 to be individually equipped with the controller 53. For example, the control units of a plurality or a large number of drug feeders 52 may be combined into a single or a small number of controllers, or the functions of the controller 53 may be substituted by a program installed in the controller 80 of the drug packaging machine 10, and the functions of the control units of the drug feeders 52 may be combined into the control unit of the drug packaging machine 10 in this way. The functions of the container-specific collection program 55 and the shelf-specific collection program 56 can also be installed in the controller 80.

[0102] Also, in the above embodiment, when the shelf-specific collection program 56 functions as the third residual drug collection method or even as the fourth residual drug collection method based on the discharge operation mode selection program 81, the progress is displayed on the touch panel 15 to notify the dispensing operator (see Figs. 12(c) and (d)). However, the time required for residual drug collection is mostly only about several tens of seconds, and when all the multi-drug type drug feeders 52 targeted have already completed residual drug collection, it will end instantly. Therefore, there is no inconvenience even if the display and notification of the progress as shown in the figure are omitted.

Industrial Applicability

[0103] The drug packaging machine of the present invention may be a stand-alone type that does not assume cooperation with a host device such as a dispensing server as long as it is equipped with means capable of acquiring dispensing instruction data.

Explanation of Signs

[0104] 10…Drug packaging machine, 11…Packaging device, 12…Drug manual sprinkling device equipment section, 13…Drug storage section, 14…Drug feeder arrangement storage (specific drug dedicated type drug feeder storage), 15…Touch panel (operation input section and display section of the drug packaging machine), 16, 16a…Lower drug collection mechanism, 17…Upper drug collection mechanism, 18…Drug feeder arrangement shelf (for specific drug dedicated type drug feeder), 19…Drug feeder arrangement shelf (for multi-drug adaptable type drug feeder), 20…Drug feeder arrangement shelf (for multi-drug adaptable type drug feeder), 23…Shelf board (drawing mechanism), 23a…Drug discharge port, 24…Swinging plate body, 25…Front plate (relative drawing position regulating means, member for regulating the forward drawing of the multi-stage drug collection mechanism), 26…Mark (alignment mark), 27…Residual drug collection container detection member, 28…Positioning member, 29…Lid opening / closing state detection means (magnetic sensor), 30…Multi-stage drug collection mechanism, 31…Main body part, 32…Drug receiving port, 33…Handle, 34…Side plate holding member, 35…Side plate, 36…Hooking member, 37…Multi-stage drawing mechanism, 40…Drawing lock mechanism, 41…Electromagnetic drive part, 42…Advancing / retreating member (engaging member), 43…Manual lock, 44…Swinging member (engaging member), 45…Key, 51…Drug feeder (specific drug dedicated type, specialized drug feeder), 51a…Cassette (container part), 51b…Base (drive part), 52…Drug feeder (multi-drug adaptable type, general-purpose drug feeder), 52a…Lid, 53…Controller (control unit for a multi-drug adaptable type and general-purpose drug feeder), 54…Automatic discharge program, 55…Device-specific collection program (residual drug collection program, residual drug collection instruction receiving means), 56…Shelf-specific collection program (residual drug collection program, residual drug collection instruction receiving means), 80…Controller (control unit of the drug packaging machine), 81…Discharge operation mode selection program, 100…Residual drug collection container, 101…Plate body, 102…Opening, 103…Residual drug storage part, 104…Permanent magnet (detachable means), 105…Mark (alignment mark), 106…Handle, 107…Alignment part (detectable part) 200…Dispensing server

Claims

1. A medicine packing machine including a plurality of medicine feeders each having a container section for randomly storing a large number of medicines and a sequential discharge mechanism section for dropping each medicine one by one from the container and discharging it downward, a packaging device for receiving the discharged medicines and packaging them, and a housing capable of housing the medicine feeders and the packaging device, a plurality of the drug feeders are general-purpose drug feeders in which the container unit and the sequential discharge mechanism unit are integrated together, and are mounted separately on a plurality of drawer mechanisms that can be drawn forward from the housing; a withdrawal state detection member for detecting a withdrawal state of each of the plurality of withdrawal mechanisms, and a remaining medicine collecting container detection member for detecting whether a removable remaining medicine collecting container is attached to a medicine discharge destination of one of the general-purpose medicine feeders; The drug packaging machine is characterized in that, for the above-mentioned general-purpose drug feeder, when it is possible to confirm that the one of the pull-out mechanisms to which the remaining drug collection container is attached is pulled forward based on the detection state of the pull-out state detection member, and when it is possible to confirm that the remaining drug collection container is attached to the drug discharge destination based on the detection state of the remaining drug collection container detection member, the drug feeder mounted on the pull-out mechanism to which the remaining drug collection container is attached is caused to perform a drug discharge operation.

2. The medicine packaging machine described in claim 1, characterized in that the pull-out mechanism has alignment markings corresponding to the markings on the remaining medicine collection container, and when the remaining medicine collection container is attached to the pull-out mechanism with these markings aligned, the opening of the remaining medicine collection container is positioned at the medicine discharge destination of the general-purpose medicine feeder and the attachment of the remaining medicine collection container is detected by the remaining medicine collection container detection member.

3. The medicine packaging machine of claim 2, characterized in that when the remaining medicine recovery container is attached to the withdrawal mechanism with the marks corresponding to each other, a part of the remaining medicine recovery container interferes with a part of the withdrawal mechanism, thereby suppressing misalignment between the two.

4. 3. The medicine packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein when the remaining medicine collecting container is attached to the drawing mechanism with the marks corresponding to each other, a part of the opening of the remaining medicine collecting container is exposed.

5. A medicine packaging machine as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a plurality of the general-purpose medicine feeders are mounted on the pull-out mechanism, and a corresponding plurality of remaining medicine storage sections are formed in the remaining medicine collection container.

6. A medicine packaging machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means for attaching and detaching the remaining medicine recovery container to the withdrawal mechanism is a permanent magnet, so that iron or other magnetic material is used in the attachment and detachment portion of the permanent magnet in the withdrawal mechanism, and iron or other magnetic material is also used in the holding portion of the remaining medicine recovery container when not in use, such as the side surface of the outer surface portion of the housing.

7. A medicine packaging machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is equipped with a data retention means for retaining record data of medicine discharge based on a dispensing instruction and record data of medicine discharge for remaining medicine recovery for the general-purpose medicine feeder, and by referring to the record data, it is possible to limit the general-purpose medicine feeders that are to perform the medicine discharge operation toward the remaining medicine recovery container to those that have discharged medicine based on a dispensing instruction but have not subsequently discharged medicine for remaining medicine recovery.

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