Medicine dispensing device and medicine dispensing program

Abstract

To provide a medicine dispensing device capable of reducing user's work for dispensing an arbitrary kind of a medicine, and to provide a medicine dispensing program, and a computer readable recording medium with a medicine dispensing program recorded thereon.SOLUTION: The medicine dispensing device including a plurality of medicine cassettes from which an arbitrary kind of a medicine can be dispensed allocates the medicine to any of the medicine cassettes in the case where medicine information to be dispensed is inputted by prescription data or the like, drives the medicine cassette according to a drive condition set in advance correspondingly to the medicine information allocated to the medicine cassette to dispense the medicine from the medicine cassette.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a medicine dispensing device that automatically dispenses medicines from a plurality of medicine cassettes.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a medicine dispensing device that includes a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing a predetermined type of tablet, and automatically dispenses the tablets contained in each of the tablet cassettes based on prescription data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this type of medicine dispensing device, since the type of tablet that can be dispensed is predetermined for each tablet cassette, a large number of tablet cassettes are required to handle a large variety of tablets, resulting in an increase in the size of the device.

[0003] On the other hand, there is also known a medicine dispensing device that includes a manual dispensing unit capable of dispensing tablets inserted into a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix in units of the cells (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this type of medicine dispensing device, since any type of tablet can be automatically dispensed in units of cells using the manual dispensing unit, it is possible to handle a large variety of tablets without including a large number of tablet cassettes.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the operation of putting tablets into each cell of the manual dispensing unit is troublesome for the user and has a problem of a large user workload. In particular, the operation of putting a plurality of types of tablets with different administration times into each of the cells corresponding to each administration time is very troublesome. Further, since the user performs the operation of putting tablets into each of the cells, there is also a risk of a prescription error due to a human error.

[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a drug dispensing device, a drug dispensing method, a drug dispensing program, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the drug dispensing program that can reduce the user's work for dispensing any type of drug.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The drug dispensing device according to the present invention includes a plurality of drug cassettes, an allocation means, and a drive control means. The drug cassette can dispense any type of tablet. The allocation means allocates the drug information to any one of the drug cassettes when the drug information of the dispensing target is input. The drive control means drives the drug cassette according to a preset drive condition corresponding to the drug information allocated by the allocation means, and causes the drug cassette to dispense a drug. The drug is, for example, a tablet.

[0008] The drug dispensing method according to the present invention includes an allocation step of allocating the drug information to any one of a plurality of drug cassettes capable of dispensing any type of drug when the drug information of the dispensing target is input, and a drive control step of driving the drug cassette according to a preset drive condition corresponding to the drug information allocated by the allocation step and causing the drug cassette to dispense a drug.

[0009] The drug dispensing program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute an allocation step of allocating the drug information to any one of a plurality of drug cassettes capable of dispensing any type of drug when the drug information to be dispensed is input, and a drive control step of driving the drug cassette according to a preset drive condition corresponding to the drug information allocated by the allocation step to dispense the drug from the drug cassette. It is a program for making it execute.

[0010] The recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which the drug dispensing program is recorded.

Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, the work of the user for dispensing any type of drug can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

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MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are merely examples of embodying the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0014] <First Embodiment> First, while referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the schematic configuration of the medicine dispensing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the medicine dispensing device 100 includes a prescription control unit 1, a tablet supply unit 2, a powder supply unit 3, a hand - dispensing unit 4, a packaging unit 5, a packaging control unit 6, and a barcode reader 7, etc. Note that the prescription control unit 1, the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, the hand - dispensing unit 4, the packaging unit 5, and the packaging control unit 6 are connected by an internal bus N1. Also, the prescription control unit 1 and the barcode reader 7 can perform wireless communication according to a communication standard such as wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark). And the medicine dispensing device 100 is controlled by the prescription control unit 1 and the packaging control unit 6, and the tablets and powders supplied from the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, and the hand - dispensing unit 4 are packaged and dispensed by the packaging unit 5 in packaging units such as the taking time.

[0016] Note that although the medicine dispensing device 100 includes the powder supply unit 3 and the hand - dispensing unit 4, a configuration in which either one or both of the powder supply unit 3 and the hand - dispensing unit 4 are not provided is also considered as another embodiment.

[0017] [Tablet Supply Unit 2] The tablet supply unit 2 includes a plurality of fixed cassettes 21 (corresponding to medicine - specific cassettes) capable of dispensing a predetermined specific type of tablet one by one (unit amount), and a plurality of variable cassettes 22 (corresponding to medicine cassettes) capable of dispensing any type of tablet one by one (unit amount). Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 1, 54 fixed cassettes 21 with a vertical 6×horizontal 9 arrangement are provided, and 4 variable cassettes 22 with a vertical 1×horizontal 4 arrangement are provided. Note that the tablets that can be dispensed by the fixed cassettes 21 and the variable cassettes 22 include solid medicines in various forms such as disk - shaped, spherical, or capsule - shaped.

[0018] Each of the fixed cassettes 21 is configured to be detachable from each of the mounting portions 211 provided in the tablet supply unit 2. Each of the mounting portions 211 includes a fixed drive unit 23 for individually driving the fixed cassette 21. Each of the fixed drive units 23 includes a drive motor 231 that supplies a driving force to the drive mechanism of the fixed cassette 21 and an RFID reader / writer 232 that is an information reading / writing means for reading and writing information to and from an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag (not shown) provided in the fixed cassette 21 using RFID wireless communication technology.

[0019] Note that the installation positions of the RFID tag (not shown) and the RFID reader / writer 232 may be relatively determined as long as the RFID reader / writer 232 can read and write information of the RFID tag (not shown) in a state where the fixed cassette 21 is mounted on the mounting portion 211.

[0020] The RFID tag (not shown) is a non-volatile recording medium in which cassette identification information for identifying each of the fixed cassettes 21 and the like are stored, and the cassette identification information is written by the prescription control unit 1 in the initial setting of the medicine dispensing device 100 and the like. Note that it is also conceivable as another embodiment that the tablet supply unit 2 does not have the fixed cassette 21 and has only a plurality of the variable cassettes 22.

[0021] In addition, each of the variable cassettes 22 is configured to be detachable from each of the mounting portions 221 provided in the tablet supply unit 2. It should be noted that a configuration in which each of the variable cassettes 22 can be pulled out with respect to the mounting portion 221 is also conceivable as another embodiment. Each of the mounting portions 221 includes a variable drive unit 24 that individually drives the variable cassette 22. Each of the variable drive units 24 includes a plurality of drive motors 241 to 244 (an example of driving means) that supply a driving force to the drive mechanism of the variable cassette 22 and an RFID reader / writer 245 that is an information reading / writing means for reading and writing information to and from an RFID tag 26 (see FIG. 6) provided on the variable cassette 22 using RFID wireless communication technology.

[0022] It should be noted that the installation locations of the RFID tag 26 and the RFID reader / writer 245 may be relatively determined as long as the RFID reader / writer 245 can read and write information of the RFID tag 26 in a state where the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221.

[0023] The RFID tag 26 is a non-volatile recording medium in which cassette identification information for identifying each of the variable cassettes 22 and drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 in a drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11) described later are recorded.

[0024] The drug information is information that can identify the type of tablet (drug), and examples thereof include drug name, drug ID, drug code, JAN code, RSS code, QR code (registered trademark), and the like. It should be noted that the JAN code and the RSS code are information of numerical values or characters expressed by a one-dimensional code (barcode), and the QR code (registered trademark) is information of numerical values or characters indicated by a two-dimensional code.

[0025] Incidentally, the number of the variable cassettes 22 and the number of the mounting portions 221 do not necessarily have to match. For example, it is conceivable that a user can select any one of the variable cassettes 22 in a number greater than the number of the mounting portions 221 and mount it on the mounting portion 221. In particular, a configuration including a plurality of the variable cassettes 22 that can be mounted corresponding to each one of the mounting portions 221 is conceivable. This also applies to the fixed cassette 21 and the mounting portion 211.

[0026] [Fixed Cassette 21] Here, with reference to FIG. 3, an example of the fixed cassette 21 will be described. Note that the structure of the fixed cassette 21 described here is merely an example, and other structures may be used as long as they have the same function. Note that FIG. 3 is a view in which a cover member covering the upper part of the fixed cassette 21 is omitted.

[0027] In each of the fixed cassettes 21, since the type of tablets to be accommodated is predetermined, for example, drug information of the tablets accommodated in each of the fixed cassettes 21 is pre-described on the front surface of each of the fixed cassettes 21.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed cassette 21 includes a tablet accommodation portion 212 that accommodates a large number of tablets, and a tablet discharge portion 213 that individually discharges the tablets accommodated in the tablet accommodation portion 212. The tablet discharge portion 213 is provided in a recess formed in a substantially central portion of the tablet accommodation portion 212, and the tablets in the tablet accommodation portion 212 sequentially descend toward the tablet discharge portion 213.

[0029] The tablet discharging portion 213 includes a rotor 214 rotatably supported by the housing of the fixed cassette 21 and an inner wall 214A covering the outer periphery of the rotor 214. When the fixed cassette 21 is attached to the attachment portion 211, the rotor 214 is connected to the drive motor 231 of the fixed drive portion 23 via a drive transmission system (not shown) such as various gears. Further, ribs 215 and 216 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 214 at predetermined arrangement intervals. As a result, gaps 217 surrounded by the rib 215, the rib 216, and the inner wall 214A are intermittently formed on the outer periphery of the rotor 214. The width of the gap 217 is determined according to the type of tablet predetermined as the tablet accommodated in the fixed cassette 21 and corresponds to the width of one tablet of the tablet.

[0030] In addition, a gap 218 extending over the entire outer peripheral surface of the rotor 214 is formed between the rib 215 and the rib 216. Here, the height of each upper end of the rib 215 and the rib 216 is determined according to the type of tablet predetermined as the tablet accommodated in the fixed cassette 21. Specifically, the height of the upper end of the rib 215 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the height of three tablets of the tablet, and three tablets are inserted into each of the gaps 217 of the rotor 213. Further, the height of the upper end of the rib 216 corresponds to the height of one tablet of the tablet.

[0031] On the other hand, a discharge port 219 for discharging the tablet from the rotor 214 is formed in the inner wall 214A, and a partition plate 220 inserted into the gap 218 is provided at the discharge port 219. As a result, at the discharge port 219, among the three tablets inserted into the gap 217, the upper two tablets are restricted from falling by the partition plate 220, and only the lower one tablet is discharged. Therefore, in the fixed cassette 21, when the rotor 214 is driven by the drive motor 231, the tablets accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion 212 are paid out in units of one tablet.

[0032] [Variable cassette 22] Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, an example of the variable cassette 22 will be described. Note that the structure of the variable cassette 22 described here is merely an example, and any other structure may be used as long as it can dispense one tablet at a time. For example, other examples of the variable cassette 22 are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-535683 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-115493.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the variable cassette 22 includes a tablet storage portion 222 that stores a large number of tablets, and a first rotating body 223 and a second rotating body 224 that dispense tablets from the tablet storage portion 222. Here, the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224 are examples of a dispensing means and a driving mechanism. FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams in which a cover member that covers the upper portion of the variable cassette 22 is omitted. Further, the variable cassette 22 only needs to be able to dispense tablets in predetermined unit amounts, and for example, a configuration that can dispense tablets in plural units instead of one tablet unit may be used.

[0034] The first rotating body 223 is a disk-shaped member that forms the bottom surface of the tablet storage portion 222. The rotation axis of the first rotating body 223 is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction, and the upper surface of the first rotating body 223 is inclined by the predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane. Further, radial ribs 223A are formed on the upper surface of the first rotating body 223 at predetermined intervals. The first rotating body 223 is rotatably supported by the housing of the variable cassette 22 and is connected to a drive gear 223B shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0035] The second rotating body 224 is a hollow annular member disposed around the first rotating body 223 in a plan view, and is an example of a conveying member that conveys the tablets in the tablet storage portion 222 to the dispensing port 225 and dispenses them from the dispensing port 225. The upper end portion of the first rotating body 223 is located on the same horizontal plane as the second rotating body 224. The second rotating body 224 is rotatably supported by the housing of the variable cassette 22, and a drive gear 224A shown in FIG. 6 is formed on the outer peripheral surface. On the one hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting portion 221 includes a drive gear 221A connected to the drive gear 223B of the first rotating body 223 and a drive gear 221B connected to the drive gear 224A of the second rotating body 224 when the variable cassette 22 is mounted. The drive gear 221A is connected to the drive motor 241 of the variable drive unit 24, and the drive gear 221B is connected to the drive motor 242 of the variable drive unit 24.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the variable cassette 22 includes a height regulating member 226 and a width regulating member 227 disposed on the dispensing path of the tablets conveyed to the discharge port 225 by the second rotating body 224.

[0037] The height regulating member 226 regulates the height dimension of the tablets that can be conveyed to the discharge port 225 by the second rotating body 224, and the width regulating member 227 regulates the width dimension of the tablets that can be conveyed to the discharge port 225 by the second rotating body 224. Thereby, in the variable cassette 22, only the tablets that fit within the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 among the tablets placed on the second rotating body 224 are dispensed from the discharge port 225. Therefore, in the variable cassette 22, when the height h1 and the width w1 are the height and width of one tablet accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion 222, it is possible to dispense the tablets in units of one tablet.

[0038] And the variable cassette 22 includes a height adjusting portion 226A for changing the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 and a width adjusting portion 227A for changing the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227. Here, the height adjusting portion 226A and the width adjusting portion 227A are examples of path adjusting means and a drive mechanism. A pinion gear meshing with a rack (gear) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the long hole 227B formed in the width regulating member 227 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the width adjusting portion 227A.

[0039] The height adjustment part 226A is rotatably supported by the housing of the variable cassette 22 and is connected to the drive gear 226B shown in FIG. 6. When the height adjustment part 226A is rotationally driven, the position of the lower end part of the height regulating member 226 is moved up and down, and the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 is changed.

[0040] The width adjustment part 227A is rotatably supported by the housing of the variable cassette 22 and is connected to the drive gear 227C shown in FIG. 6. When the width adjustment part 227A is rotationally driven, the protruding amount of the width regulating member 227 toward the tablet storage part 222 is changed, and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 is changed. Specifically, the protruding amount of the width regulating member 227 toward the tablet storage part 222 is changed by the relative movement of the width adjustment part 227A and the long hole 227B in the direction of arrow R3 (see FIG. 4) due to the rotation of the width adjustment part 227A.

[0041] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting part 221 includes a drive gear 221C connected to the drive gear 226B and a drive gear 221D connected to the drive gear 227C when the variable cassette 22 is mounted. The drive gear 221C is connected to the drive motor 243 of the variable drive part 24, and the drive gear 221D is connected to the drive motor 244 of the variable drive part 24.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the variable cassette 22 and the mounting portion 221 are provided with drive gears 228A and 228B that are connected when the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221. The drive gear 228A is connected to a lifting mechanism (not shown) that raises and lowers the first rotating body 223 in the vertical direction, and the drive gear 228B is connected to a drive motor (not shown). Thus, when the drive motor is driven, the driving force is transmitted from the drive gear 228B to the drive gear 228A, and the first rotating body 223 can be raised and lowered by the lifting mechanism. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing device 100, by raising and lowering the first rotating body 223, it is possible to arbitrarily adjust the number of tablets that can be accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion 222.

[0043] And in the variable cassette 22, when the first rotating body 223 is rotated in the rotation direction R1 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), the tablets in the tablet accommodating portion 222 are discharged from the first rotating body 223 to the second rotating body 224. Also, in the variable cassette 22, when the second rotating body 224 is rotated in the rotation direction R2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), the tablets on the second rotating body 224 are conveyed toward the discharge port 225.

[0044] However, among the tablets conveyed by the second rotating body 224, the tablets stacked in the height direction come into contact with the height regulating member 226 and are returned to the tablet accommodating portion 222. Also, among the tablets conveyed by the second rotating body 224, the tablets conveyed side by side in the width direction come into contact with the width regulating member 227 and are returned to the tablet accommodating portion 222.

[0045] As a result, in the variable cassette 22, the tablets having a size corresponding to the height h1 regulated by the height regulating portion 226 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 are conveyed to the discharge port 225 in a state where they are arranged one by one in the circumferential direction on the second rotating body 224. Therefore, in the variable cassette 22, it is possible to dispense the tablets accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion 222 one by one, and it is possible to control the dispensing amount of the tablets.

[0046] Thus, by using the variable cassette 22, since the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 can be changed, it is possible to dispense any type of tablet in single tablet units.

[0047] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of the variable cassettes 22 is provided with a display unit 25 (an example of a drug display means) whose display content can be changed. Here, the display unit 25 is an electronic paper that maintains the display of the display content even in a non-powered state after the display content is written by energization.

[0048] Specifically, each of the variable cassette 22 and the mounting portion 221 is provided with a contact type connector (not shown) that is connected when the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221. Here, the display unit 25 is connected to the connector on the variable cassette 22 side, and the prescription control unit 1 is connected to the connector on the mounting portion 221 side. When the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221, the display unit 25 and the prescription control unit 1 are electrically connected by the connector. Thereby, the prescription control unit 1 can change the display of each of the display units 25. Note that the display unit 25 is not limited to electronic paper and may be other display means such as a liquid crystal display. Further, it is also conceivable that the display unit 25 is provided in the mounting portion 221 on which the variable cassette 22 is mounted corresponding to each of the variable cassettes 22.

[0049] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the variable cassettes 22 has an RFID tag 26 built therein for storing various types of information. The RFID tag 26 is a non-volatile recording medium whose stored information can be rewritten by the RFID reader / writer 245, and is used for storing, as described above, the cassette identification information of each of the variable cassettes 22 and the drug information assigned to each of the variable cassettes 22. The RFID tag 26 is mounted on a control board provided in each of the variable cassettes 22, and the control board also has a function of changing the display of the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 according to a control signal from the prescription control unit 1. Note that the control board is equipped with an electric circuit driven by power supplied via the connector, power supplied from a power storage unit such as a battery mounted on the control board, or power supplied when information is written to the RFID tag 26. Also, as another embodiment, it is conceivable that each of the variable cassettes 22 has another recording medium such as an EEPROM to which the prescription control unit 1 can read and write information via the connector, instead of the RFID tag 26.

[0050] [Powder supply unit 3] As shown in FIG. 1, the powder supply unit 3 includes two input units 31 and 32, and supplies the powder input to each of the input units 31 and 32 to the packaging unit 5 in packaging units such as the administration time preset by the prescription control unit 1.

[0051] Specifically, the powder supply unit 3 includes two dispensing units: a dispensing unit that evenly spreads the powder input to the input unit 31 on a disk and scrapes it out at predetermined angles corresponding to the packaging units, and a dispensing unit that evenly spreads the powder input to the input unit 32 on a disk and scrapes it out at predetermined angles corresponding to the packaging units. The powder input to the powder supply unit 3 has been previously weighed using a weighing device as the total amount of prescription drugs prescribed for the patient.

[0052] [Manual dispensing unit 4] The manual dispensing unit 4 includes a manual storage portion provided with a plurality of cells into which tablets are inserted in sub-packaging units such as a preset administration time, and a manual dispensing portion that discharges the tablets stored in each of the cells to the sub-packaging unit 5 for each cell. In the manual storage portion, the plurality of cells are arranged in a matrix. The manual dispensing portion can be configured to discharge the tablets stored in the cell by individually opening and closing the bottom surface of the cell in the manual storage portion, for example. In the pharmaceutical dispensing device 100, the manual dispensing unit 4 is used to discharge tablets such as half tablets smaller than one tablet, for example, and since it is well-known in the art, the description thereof is omitted here. Conventionally, the manual dispensing unit 4 has also been used when discharging any tablets not previously stored in the fixed cassette 21. However, in the pharmaceutical dispensing device 100, any tablets can be discharged using the variable cassette 22. Of course, it is also possible to use the manual dispensing unit 4 to discharge any tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21.

[0053] [Sub-packaging unit 5] The sub-packaging unit 5 is an example of a sub-packaging means for storing the pharmaceuticals supplied from the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, and the manual dispensing unit 4 in a single sub-packaging paper in sub-packaging units such as the administration time. For example, the sub-packaging unit 5 packages the pharmaceuticals in the sub-packaging unit with a transparent or semi-transparent roll-shaped medicine packaging sheet and seals it by welding or the like. Thereby, the medicine packaging sheet containing the pharmaceuticals in the sub-packaging unit is discharged from the sub-packaging unit 5.

[0054] Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the medicine wrapping sheet 51 discharged from the subcontracting unit 5. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of subcontracting papers 52 in which a plurality of tablets are packaged in the subcontracting unit are continuously formed on the medicine wrapping sheet 51, and between each of the subcontracting papers 52, there are formed cutting dotted lines 52A (perforations) for easily separating each of the subcontracting papers 52. When the prescription data includes powders, in the subcontracting unit 5, it is also possible to co-package the powders supplied from the powder supply unit 3 into the subcontracting paper 52. Further, the subcontracting unit 5 is provided with a printing unit (not shown) for printing information on each of the subcontracting papers 52, and on the surface of each of the subcontracting papers 52, prescription information such as the patient's name, taking time, prescription medicine, or prescription amount can be printed by the printing unit (not shown).

[0055] [Subcontracting control unit 6] As shown in FIG. 2, the subcontracting control unit 6 includes a control unit 61 and a storage unit 62, and causes the medicine dispensing device 100 to execute a subcontracting operation by controlling the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, the manual dispensing unit 4, the subcontracting unit 5, etc. Note that the subcontracting control unit 6 is built in the medicine dispensing device 100.

[0056] The control unit 61 is a control means having a CPU, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, etc. The control unit 61 causes the CPU to execute various processes according to various programs preliminarily stored in storage means such as the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 62. Note that the RAM and the EEPROM are used as temporary storage memories (working areas) for various processes executed by the CPU. Note that the control unit 61 may be an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or a DSP.

[0057] The memory unit 62 is a storage means such as a hard disk drive or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various types of data. Specifically, the memory unit 62 stores in advance a sub-packet control program for causing a computer such as the control unit 61 to execute a sub-packet control process (see the right side of FIG. 11) described later. The sub-packet control program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a semiconductor memory, and is read from the recording medium by a reading device such as a disk drive (not shown) and installed in the memory unit 12. The present invention can be regarded as an invention of the computer-readable recording medium on which the sub-packet control program is recorded.

[0058] [Barcode reader 7] The barcode reader 7 reads a code for identifying a drug, and is a code reading means for reading a JAN code, an RSS code, or a QR code (registered trademark) described on a storage container (box, bottle, etc.) of tablets or a PTP sheet provided on a drug shelf in a pharmacy, etc., and is, for example, a portable terminal such as a PDA. The barcode reader 7 may be, for example, a conventionally well-known picking assistance device used by a pharmacist or the like for picking drugs. The picking assistance device is used when a pharmacist or the like manually dispenses drugs by taking them out of a drug shelf according to a prescription, and, for example, reads a drug from the JAN code described on the storage container and collates the read drug with prescription data.

[0059] The information read by the barcode reader 7 is input from the barcode reader 7 to the prescription control unit 1 by wireless communication. By using wireless communication in this way, the barcode reader 7 can be freely carried to the medicine dispensing device 100 or the medicine shelf, etc., and the operation of putting tablets into the variable cassette 22 can be performed at any location. Of course, it is also conceivable that the barcode reader 7 is wired to the prescription control unit 1. When a plurality of the medicine dispensing devices 100 are provided in a pharmacy, the barcode readers 7 respectively pre-associated with each of the medicine dispensing devices 100 are provided individually.

[0060] [Prescription control unit 1] The prescription control unit 1 is a computer that comprehensively controls the medicine dispensing device 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the prescription control unit 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a monitor 13, an operation unit 14, a communication IF 15, etc.

[0061] The control unit 11 is a control means having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, etc. The control unit 11 causes the CPU to execute various processes according to various programs pre-stored in storage means such as the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 12. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 11 may be an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or a DSP.

[0062] The storage unit 12 is a storage means such as a hard disk device or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various data. Specifically, the storage unit 12 pre-stores a medicine dispensing program for causing a computer such as the control unit 11 to execute a medicine dispensing process (see the left side of FIG. 11) described later.

[0063] Incidentally, the drug dispensing program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, DVD, or semiconductor memory, and is read from the recording medium by a reading device such as a disk drive (not shown) and installed in the storage unit 12. The present invention can be regarded as an invention of the computer-readable recording medium on which the drug dispensing program is recorded.

[0064] In addition, the storage unit 12 stores various databases such as a pharmaceutical master, a patient master, a cassette master, and a pharmacy master. Incidentally, the control unit 11 can update the various databases stored in the storage unit 12 based on data read by a reading device such as a disk drive (not shown) from a recording medium such as a CD, DVD, or semiconductor memory. Further, the control unit 11 can also change the contents of the various databases according to a user operation on the operation unit 14.

[0065] The pharmaceutical master includes information on each pharmaceutical such as drug ID, drug code, drug name, JAN code (or RSS code), medicine bottle code, classification (dosage form: powder, tablet, aqueous solution, topical medicine, etc.), size of the tablet (height and width), specific gravity, drug type (ordinary drug, poison, narcotic, potent drug, antipsychotic drug, therapeutic drug, etc.), formulation change, excipient, and precautions. The patient master includes information on patients such as patient ID, name, gender, age, medical history, prescription drug history, family information, department of medicine, ward, and room. The pharmacy master includes information on the pharmacy such as pharmacy name, name of the pharmacist, and ID of the pharmacist. Further, the cassette master is information indicating the correspondence relationship between the cassette identification information of each of the fixed cassettes 21 and the drug information assigned to each of the fixed cassettes 21. The cassette master is registered by the control unit 11 according to a user operation of the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the drug dispensing device 100, for example.

[0066] Further, the storage unit 12 stores allocation information 121 indicating the allocation state between the variable cassette 22 and the drug information, and drive correspondence information 122 indicating the correspondence between the drug information and the drive conditions of the variable cassette 22. Note that the storage unit 12 is an example of an allocation information storage means and a drive correspondence information storage means. The allocation information 121 and the drive correspondence information 122 are used in a drug dispensing process described later that is executed by the control unit 11.

[0067] Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the allocation information 121, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the drive correspondence information 12.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 9, in the allocation information 121, a drug ID indicating the type of tablet currently allocated to each of the variable cassettes 22 is stored as drug information. Of course, drug information such as a tablet name, a drug code, a JAN code (or an RSS code) may be stored instead of the drug ID. Also, here, it is assumed that cassette numbers "C1" to "C4" are preset as the cassette identification information for the four variable cassettes 22 arranged in order from left to right in the tablet supply unit 2. The cassette identification information is also stored in the RFID tag 26 of each of the variable cassettes 22. Note that in the allocation information 121, it is stored that the variable cassette 22 to which drug information is not currently allocated is unallocated. Specifically, in the allocation information 121 shown in FIG. 9, drug information with a drug ID of "M1" is allocated to the variable cassette 22 with a cassette number of "C1", and drug information with a drug ID of "M2" is allocated to the variable cassette 22 with a cassette number of "C3", and it is shown that drug information has not yet been allocated to the cassette numbers "C2" and "C4". Note that the data structure of the allocation information 121 shown in FIG. 9 is merely an example, and the allocation information 121 may be stored in the storage unit 12 as, for example, one item of the drug master. In this case, the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 allocated to each drug included in the drug master is stored in association with each drug.

[0069] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, in the drive correspondence information 122, drive conditions preset corresponding to each chemical information are stored. The drive conditions include three types of conditions: pre-drive conditions related to the adjustment of the variable cassette 22 before starting the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22, drive-in conditions related to drive control during the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22, and drive-stop conditions related to drive control when stopping the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22.

[0070] Specifically, in the example of the drive correspondence information 122 shown in FIG. 10, as the drive conditions corresponding to each tablet with drug IDs "M1", "M2", "M3", and "M4", information regarding each item of the height of the dispensing path, the width of the dispensing path, the dispensing speed, and reverse rotation control is stored. Note that the drive conditions are only an example, and for example, when the variable cassette 22 dispenses tablets one by one by vibration, it is conceivable that the vibration frequency or amplitude of the vibration is defined as the drive condition.

[0071] The height of the dispensing path and the width of the dispensing path are an example of the pre-drive conditions, and are the values of the height h1 and the width w1 (see FIG. 5) preset as values that enable the second rotating body 224 of the variable cassette 22 to dispense tablets one by one from the dispensing outlet 225.

[0072] The dispensing speed is an example of the driving condition, and is a rotation speed of the second rotating body 224 suitable for each drug information when dispensing tablets from the variable cassette 22. For example, if the size of the tablet is small, when the rotation speed of the drive motor 242 is high, it is difficult for the tablet to be dispensed excessively until the drive motor 242 stops. On the other hand, if the size of the tablet is large, even if the rotation speed of the drive motor 242 is high, the tablet will not be dispensed excessively until the drive motor 242 stops. Therefore, for example, it is conceivable that the dispensing speed of the tablet set as the driving condition, that is, the conveyance speed of the tablet by the second rotating body 224, varies depending on the size of the tablet. Specifically, it is conceivable that the dispensing speed when the size of the tablet is large is set to a value slower than the dispensing speed when the size of the tablet is small. Note that the dispensing speed is not limited to the format of [tablets / min] shown in FIG. 10, and may be stored in a format such as the rotation speed of the second rotating body 224 or the rotation speed of the drive motor 242. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that not only the rotation speed of the second rotating body 224 but also the rotation speed of the first rotating body 223 is set as the driving condition.

[0073] Also, the reverse rotation control item is an example of the driving stop condition, and is information regarding whether or not to execute a reverse rotation operation that switches the conveyance direction of the tablet by the second rotating body 224 in the reverse direction when stopping the dispensing of the tablet from the variable cassette 22. For example, when only the drive of the second rotating body 224 is stopped, for tablets with an easily rollable shape such as spherical tablets, there is a risk that the tablets remaining on the second rotating body 224 will roll and be dispensed excessively, and the reverse rotation operation is set to "enabled". Thereby, it is possible to prevent the tablets from being dispensed excessively when the dispensing of the tablets from the variable cassette 22 is stopped. Note that for tablets with a shape that is difficult to roll when the drive of the second rotating body 224 is stopped, the reverse rotation operation is set to "disabled", and the unnecessary reverse rotation operation is not executed.

[0074] Note that the data structure of the drive correspondence information 122 shown in FIG. 10 is merely an example, and the drive conditions defined by the drive correspondence information 122 may be stored in the storage unit 12 as, for example, one item of the drug master.

[0075] In the present embodiment, as an example, a case will be described in which, in the drive correspondence information 122, for each drug information, the drive conditions (see FIG. 10) include items such as the height of the dispensing path, the width of the dispensing path, the dispensing speed, and reverse rotation control.

[0076] On the other hand, in other embodiments, it is also conceivable that the drug dispensing device 100 uses any one or more of the items of the height of the dispensing path, the width of the dispensing path, the dispensing speed, and reverse rotation control as the drive conditions.

[0077] That is, in the drug dispensing device 100, it is conceivable that any one or more of the pre-drive conditions, the during-drive conditions, and the drive-stop conditions are preset as the drive conditions corresponding to each drug information.

[0078] In addition, a plurality of conditions such as the pre-drive conditions, the during-drive conditions, and the drive-stop conditions are preset as the drive conditions corresponding to each drug information, and in the drug dispensing device 100, a configuration in which any one or more of the conditions such as the pre-drive conditions, the during-drive conditions, and the drive-stop conditions can be selected as the drive conditions to be used is also conceivable.

[0079] The monitor 13 is a display means such as a liquid crystal monitor that displays various information and operation screens according to control instructions from the control unit 11. For example, various information such as a prescription data input screen and a prescription data selection screen is displayed on the monitor 13.

[0080] The operation unit 14 is an operation means such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel that accepts user operations, and inputs an operation signal corresponding to the user operation to the control unit 11. The operation unit 14 accepts various operation inputs such as, for example, an input operation of prescription data on the input screen displayed on the monitor 13, a selection operation of prescription data on the selection screen, and an issuance operation of prescription data that requests the start of subcontracting of the prescription data.

[0081] The communication IF 15 is a communication interface for connecting the medicine dispensing device 100 to a communication network N2 such as a LAN, and executes data communication with a higher-level system such as a prescription input terminal 200 connected via the communication network N2. Note that the prescription input terminal 200 is, for example, an electronic medical record system arranged in a hospital and a long-term care facility, a dispensing management system arranged in a pharmacy inside or outside the hospital, or the like. Further, the communication IF 15 also includes a wireless communication interface such as a wireless communication card that performs wireless data communication with various wireless communication devices such as the barcode reader 7.

[0082] Then, the communication IF 15 acquires prescription data from the prescription input terminal 200 and inputs the prescription data to the control unit 11. For example, the communication IF 15 monitors whether prescription data is stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage means provided in the prescription input terminal 200, and reads the prescription data from the predetermined storage area when the prescription data is stored in the predetermined storage area. Of course, the communication IF 15 may receive the prescription data transmitted from the prescription input terminal 200.

[0083] [Medicine Dispensing Process and Subcontracting Control Process] Next, while referring to FIG. 11, an example of the procedure of the medicine dispensing process executed by the control unit 11 of the prescription control unit 1 and the subcontracting control process executed by the control unit 61 of the subcontracting control unit 6 in the medicine dispensing device 100 will be described. Here, the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 11 are referred to as steps S1, S2, ···, and the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 61 are referred to as steps S11, S12, ···. It should be noted that it is also conceivable that a series of processes that can obtain the same processing results as the processing results of the medicine dispensing process and the subcontracting control process are executed by either one of the control unit 11 and the control unit 61.

[0084] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S1) First, in step S1, the control unit 11 determines whether there is a request for issuing prescription data. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines that a request for issuing prescription data has been made when an issuing operation for issuing pre-registered prescription data is performed on the operation unit 14. The prescription data is prescription data acquired from a higher-level system such as the prescription input terminal 200 or registered by a user operation on the operation unit 14 and stored in the storage unit 12.

[0085] Here, the control unit 11 waits in step S1 until a request for issuing the prescription data is made (No side of S1). On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that there is a request for issuing the prescription data (Yes side of S1), the process proceeds to step S2. It is also conceivable as another embodiment that when the control unit 11 receives the prescription data from a higher-level system such as the prescription input terminal 200, it determines that there is a request for issuing the prescription data without requiring the issuing operation and proceeds to step S2.

[0086] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S2) Next, in step S2, the control unit 11 determines whether there is a fixed cassette 21 corresponding to all the drug information input as drug information indicating the tablets to be dispensed according to the prescription data. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines, based on the cassette master stored in the storage unit 12, whether tablets not included in each of the fixed cassettes 21 are included in the prescription data as prescription drugs. Note that the cassette master is updated by the control unit 11 based on drug information read from RFID tags (not shown) provided in each of the fixed cassettes 21 by a reading device such as the RFID reader / writer 232 provided in each of the mounting units 211. Further, the control unit 11 can also display an editing screen for editing the cassette master on the monitor 13 and update the cassette master according to a user operation of the operation unit 14 on the editing screen.

[0087] Here, when it is determined that the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information of the dispensing target does not exist (No side of S2), that is, when the prescription data contains tablets of a type not accommodated in the fixed cassette 21, the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S3.

[0088] On the other hand, when it is determined that the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to all the drug information of the dispensing target exists (Yes side of S2), that is, when all types of tablets included as prescription drugs in the prescription data are accommodated in the fixed cassette 21, the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S7. In this case, in step S7, a request to start a conventional sub-packaging operation is transmitted to the control unit 61 using each of the fixed cassettes 21, and a process for executing the sub-packaging operation is executed by the control unit 61.

[0089] Note that in a configuration where the drug dispensing device 100 does not include the fixed cassette 21, the process of step S2 can be omitted, and when the control unit 11 determines that there is a request for issuing the prescription data in step S1, the process can be shifted to step S3.

[0090] Also, it is conceivable that the storage unit 12 stores assignment exclusion drug information preset as drug information for which assignment to the variable cassette 22 is not executed. Then, when the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information to be dispensed does not exist and the drug information to be dispensed corresponds to the assignment exclusion drug information, the control unit 11 may cause the monitor 13 to display that the manual dispensing unit 4 should be used without executing the assignment to the variable cassette 22. For example, if a tablet with a high possibility of colored powder adhering to the inside of the variable cassette 22 is set as the assignment exclusion drug information, it is possible to prevent the colored powder from adhering to the tablets to be subsequently stored in the variable cassette 22. Also, for drugs with a shape for which dispensing by the variable cassette 22 is not appropriate, it is conceivable to cause the monitor 13 to display that the manual dispensing unit 4 should be used. Note that it is also conceivable as another embodiment that the control unit 11 determines whether the drug information to be dispensed corresponds to the assignment exclusion drug information without determining whether the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information to be dispensed exists. In this case, as another embodiment, when the drug information to be dispensed corresponds to the assignment exclusion drug information, the control unit 11 may cause the monitor 13 to display that the manual dispensing unit 4 should be used without executing the assignment to the variable cassette 22.

[0091] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S3) In step S3, the control unit 11 allocates the drug information for which there is no corresponding fixed cassette 21 among the drug information of the dispensing target input according to the prescription data to the variable cassette 22 that is not allocated. When there is a plurality of pieces of drug information for which there is no corresponding fixed cassette 21 included in the prescription data, the control unit 11 executes the allocation to the variable cassette 22 for each piece of such drug information. In this way, when the drug information of the dispensing target is input according to the prescription data, the control unit 11 when executing the process (allocation step) for allocating the drug information to the variable cassette 22 is an example of an allocation means.

[0092] Specifically, the control unit 11 executes a process of identifying the variable cassettes 22 that are currently communicable (controllable) among each of the variable cassettes 22. For example, the control unit 11 determines that the variable cassette 22 for which the information has been successfully read from the RFID tag 26 by the RFID reader / writer 232 among the variable cassettes 22 is in a communicable state.

[0093] Then, the control unit 11 determines the presence or absence of the allocation of the current drug information to each of the variable cassettes 22 that are currently communicable based on the allocation information 121 (see FIG. 9), and allocates the drug information of the dispensing target to the variable cassette 22 that is not allocated. At this time, when the control unit 11 determines the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is to be allocated, it updates the content of the allocation information 121 according to the allocation result. In this way, the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is allocated is communicable with the control unit 11, and the control unit 11 can write information to the electronic paper 25. Note that the control unit 11 may use each of the variable cassettes 22 as a candidate for the allocation target without determining the communicability of each of the variable cassettes 22.

[0094] Here, it is conceivable that there are a plurality of candidates for the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is to be assigned. In this case, the control unit 11 determines the presence or absence of the assignment of the drug information based on, for example, a preset priority order among the variable cassettes 22, and it is conceivable to assign the drug information to the variable cassette 22 that is first determined to be unassigned. Further, the control unit 11 determines the presence or absence of the assignment of the drug information in order from the variable cassette 22 with a lower number of uses so that the number of uses of each of the variable cassettes 22 becomes equal, and it is also conceivable to assign the drug information to the variable cassette 22 that is first determined to be unassigned. Furthermore, the control unit 11 may also select the variable cassette 22 in which the drug information assigned immediately before among each of the variable cassettes 22 is the same as the drug information to be assigned this time or the drug information with a tablet size close to that of the drug information to be assigned this time. In addition, when there is no unassigned variable cassette 22, the control unit 11 notifies the user by displaying that fact on the monitor 13.

[0095] Also, in step S3, the control unit 11 controls the RFID reader / writer 232 to record the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 in the RFID tag 26 of each of the variable cassettes 22 to which the drug information is assigned. At this time, the control unit 11 may also record various information such as the dispensing amount of the tablets indicated by the drug information, the patient name, the dispensing date and time, the name of the pharmacist in charge, and the identification information of the prescription based on the prescription data together with the drug information.

[0096] On the other hand, it is also conceivable in another embodiment that the drug information is not recorded in the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22. Specifically, it is conceivable that the cassette identification information is pre-recorded in the RFID tag 26 and the RFID reader / writer 245 is an RFID reader that can only read information. Even in this case, the control unit 11 can recognize the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 based on the cassette identification information read from the RFID tag 26 and the assignment information (see FIG. 9).

[0097] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S4) In step S4, the control unit 11 specifies drive conditions corresponding to the drug information of the dispensing target based on the drive correspondence information 122 (see FIG. 10), and transmits the drive conditions and the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned to the control unit 61. As a result, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 according to the drive conditions. When driving the variable cassette 22 according to the drive conditions by executing the process of step S4 in this way, the control unit 11 may be regarded as drive control means.

[0098] It is also conceivable as another embodiment that the control unit 11 displays the cassette identification information of each of the variable cassettes 22 and the setting contents of the drive conditions corresponding to each of the variable cassettes 22 on the monitor 13, and changes the setting contents of the drive conditions according to a user operation on the operation unit 14. The changed content of the drive conditions is notified from the control unit 11 to the control unit 61. As a result, it is possible to change the drive conditions of the variable cassette 22 when dispensing tablets from the variable cassette 22 by an arbitrary operation input of the user. Also, the user can confirm the setting contents of the drive conditions corresponding to the drug information of the dispensing target by referring to the monitor 13.

[0099] (Packaging control unit 6 side: Step S11) On the other hand, in the packaging control unit 6, the control unit 61 determines whether the drive conditions are received from the control unit 11 in step S11. Here, when the drive conditions are received (Yes side of S11), the control unit 61 shifts the process to step S12, and when the drive conditions are not received (No side of S11), the control unit 61 shifts the process to step S13. The control unit 61 stores the drive conditions received from the control unit 11 in the storage unit 62 in association with the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned.

[0100] (Subcontract control unit 6 side: Step S12) In step S12, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 corresponding to the cassette identification information received together with the drive conditions according to the pre-drive conditions among the drive conditions, and changes the height and width of the payout path. Thus, in the drug payout device 100, when the pre-drive conditions are included in the drive conditions, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 according to the pre-drive conditions (height and width of the payout path), and then executes the payout of tablets from the variable cassette 22 (S14).

[0101] Specifically, the control unit 61 controls the height adjustment unit 226A and the width adjustment unit 227A according to the drive conditions, so as to change the type of tablet that can be paid out in one-tablet units from the variable cassette 22 to the tablet indicated by the drug information assigned in step S3. First, the control unit 61 drives the drive motor 233 and the drive motor 234 to return the positions of the height regulating member 226 and the width regulating member 227 to the initial state. Then, the control unit 61 drives the height adjustment unit 226A by the drive motor 233, and changes the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 of the variable cassette 22 to the height of the payout path determined by the drive conditions. Also, the control unit 61 drives the width adjustment unit 227A by the drive motor 234, and changes the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 of the variable cassette 22 to the width of the payout path determined by the drive conditions. Of course, if the current states of the height regulating member 226 and the width regulating member 227 can be detected, the control unit 61 may drive the drive motor 233 and the drive motor 234 based on the detection results.

[0102] When the height h1 and width w1 of the dispensing path are changed according to the driving conditions as described above, in the variable cassette 22, it becomes possible to dispense the tablets indicated by the drug information assigned in step S3 one tablet at a time, and the dispensing amount of the tablets can be controlled. Here, the control unit 61 when executing the process (driving control step) of step S12 is an example of driving control means.

[0103] In addition, when the drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22, a state where the variable cassette 22 is not mounted on the mounting portion 221 is also conceivable. In this case, in step S12, the variable cassette 22 cannot be driven according to the pre-driving conditions. Therefore, the control unit 61 stores in the storage unit 62 and updates as needed the flag information indicating whether or not the driving conditions received from the control unit 11 are reflected in the variable cassette 22. Then, the control unit 61 refers to the flag information at the start of the packaging operation in step S14 described later, and if the driving conditions are not reflected in the variable cassette 22 used in the packaging operation, the variable cassette 22 is driven according to the pre-driving conditions before executing the packaging operation, and the height h1 and width w1 of the dispensing path are changed.

[0104] Also, a configuration in which the pre-driving conditions are not included in the driving conditions and it is possible to manually operate the height adjustment unit 226A and the width adjustment unit 227A of the variable cassette 22 to arbitrarily adjust the height h1 and width w1 of the dispensing path is considered as another embodiment. In this case, after the user adjusts the height h1 and width w1 of the dispensing path of the variable cassette 22, the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221 of the tablet supply unit 2. Note that the height adjustment unit 226A and the width adjustment unit 227A may be configured to be operable by a rotational operation using a tool such as a driver.

[0105] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S5) Next, in step S5, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information was assigned in step S3 to display the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22. Here, the control unit 11 when executing the display process is an example of display control means.

[0106] For example, the control unit 11 extracts information on preset display items from the prescription data and causes the display unit 25 to display it. Here, FIG. 12(A) is a diagram showing an example of the display of drug information on the display unit 25. As shown in FIG. 12(A), on the display unit 25, the drug name (drug ID) of the tablets assigned to the variable cassette 22, which is "Tablet A (M1)", the dispensed quantity, which is "15 tablets", and the JAN code (barcode) are displayed. Note that the display example of the drug information shown in FIG. 12(A) is merely an example, and various types of information such as the patient's name, the dispensing date and time, or the person in charge of assignment may be displayed on the display unit 25.

[0107] Here, since the display unit 25 is an electronic paper, after the drug information is displayed in step S5, even if the variable cassette 22 is removed from the mounting unit 221, the display state of the display unit 25 is maintained. Therefore, for example, even if the user moves the variable cassette 22 to a medicine shelf or the like, the user can confirm the drug information to be put into the variable cassette 22 based on the display of the display unit 25. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress human error by the user when tablets are put into the variable cassette 22. Also, it is conceivable that the control unit 11 prohibits the removal of the variable cassette 22 from the lock mechanism provided in the mounting unit 221 until the drug information is displayed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22. Note that it is also conceivable that the control unit 11 executes step 5 on the condition that the adjustment of the height and width of the dispensing path in the variable cassette 22 is completed according to the pre-driving condition in the variable cassette 22.

[0108] (Prescription control unit 1 side: step S6) After that, in step S6, the control unit 11 determines whether a filling completion operation indicating that the filling of tablets into the variable cassette 22 has been completed has been performed on the operation unit 14. Specifically, when the drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22 in step S3 and the drug information is displayed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22, the user removes the variable cassette 22 from the tablet supply unit 2. Then, the user puts the necessary number of tablets into the variable cassette 22 while referring to the prescription form corresponding to the prescription data or the drug information displayed on the display unit 25. After that, the user attaches the variable cassette 22 to the tablet supply unit 2 and performs the filling completion operation on the operation unit 14. When a plurality of drug information is assigned to a plurality of the variable cassettes 22 in step S3, in step S6, it is determined whether the filling completion operation of the tablets into all the variable cassettes 22 corresponding to each drug information has been performed.

[0109] Here, until the filling completion operation is performed (No side of S6), the control unit 11 waits for the process in step S6. On the other hand, when it is determined that the filling completion operation has been performed (Yes side of S6), the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S7.

[0110] Note that the mounting portion 221 is provided with a detachment detection sensor for detecting the attachment and detachment of the variable cassette 22, and a configuration may be considered in which the control unit 11 notifies that the tablets have not been filled into the variable cassette 22 based on the detection result of the detachment detection sensor. That is, the control unit 11 notifies the user of an error when the filling completion operation is performed in a state where the detachment of the variable cassette 22 has not been detected even once by the detachment detection sensor during the period from when the drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22 until the filling completion operation is performed. Note that the notification is performed by a notification means such as the monitor 13 or a speaker (not shown). Further, in step S6, when the control unit 11 detects the insertion and removal of the variable cassette 22 by the detachment detection sensor, it may be considered that the control unit 11 determines that the filling of the tablets into the variable cassette 22 has ended and shifts the process to step S7.

[0111] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S7) In step S7, the control unit 11 transmits a start request for the packaging operation based on the prescription data to the control unit 61.

[0112] In particular, for the packaging operation of the tablets indicated by the drug information included as the dispensing target in the prescription data and not present in the fixed cassette 21, the control unit 11 transmits a start request according to, for example, the following procedure.

[0113] First, the control unit 11 reads the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 from the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22 mounted on each of the mounting units 221, and identifies the variable cassette 22 currently mounted on each of the mounting units 221. As a result, since the control unit 11 can identify the variable cassette 22 mounted on each of the mounting units 221, the user can mount each of the variable cassettes 22 on any of the mounting units 221. For example, even when a plurality of drug information is assigned to a plurality of the variable cassettes 22 in step S3 and each of the variable cassettes 22 is removed and then the mounting locations of each of the variable cassettes 22 are swapped and mounted, the control unit 11 can determine the mounting unit 221 on which each of the variable cassettes 22 is mounted. As another example of the tablet supply unit 2, a configuration in which each of the mounting units 221 and each of the variable cassettes 22 can be mounted in a structurally one-to-one relationship is also conceivable. For example, it is conceivable that uneven shapes that fit together are formed on each of the mounting unit 221 and the variable cassette 22, and only a specific variable cassette 22 can be mounted on a specific mounting unit 221. In this case, since the variable cassette 22 that can be mounted on the mounting unit 221 is determined, it is conceivable that information indicating the correspondence between each of the mounting units 221 and the drug information is stored in the storage unit 12 as the allocation information 122 (see FIG. 9).

[0114] Then, the control unit 11 identifies each of the variable cassettes 22 that contain the tablets indicated by each of the drug information among the variable cassettes 22 based on the prescription data and based on the allocation information 121. After that, for each of the drug information shown in the prescription data, the control unit 11 transmits information necessary for the packaging operation, such as the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned, the identification information of the mounting unit 221 on which the variable cassette 22 is mounted, and the dispensed amount of the tablets, to the control unit 61.

[0115] (On the side of the packaging control unit 6: step S13) On the other hand, in the subcontracting control unit 6, the control unit 61 determines whether there is a start request for the subcontracting operation from the control unit 11 in step S13. Here, when the control unit 61 receives the start request for the subcontracting operation (Yes side in S13), it transfers the process to step S14, and while the start request for the subcontracting operation has not been received (No side in S13), it also transfers the process to step S14.

[0116] (Subcontracting control unit 6 side: Step S14) In step S14, according to the start request for the subcontracting operation, the control unit 61 executes a subcontracting operation of dispensing necessary drugs by the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, and the hand - sprinkling unit 4, and subcontracting in subcontracting units such as the dosing time by the subcontracting unit 5. Since the control of the powder supply unit 3, the hand - sprinkling unit 4, and the subcontracting unit 5 is the same as before, the description is omitted here, and only the tablet dispensing operation by the tablet supply unit 2 will be described.

[0117] For the tablet supply unit 2, the control unit 61 changes the rotation speed of the drive motor 242 of the variable drive unit 24 that is driven when dispensing tablets from the variable cassette 22 according to the drive condition corresponding to the drug information assigned in step S3. That is, the rotation speed of the second rotating body 224 when dispensing tablets from the variable cassette 22 is changed, and the tablet dispensing speed from the variable cassette 22 is changed according to the type of tablets. Here, the control unit 11 when executing such a process is an example of drive control means.

[0118] Specifically, the control unit 61 drives the drive motors 241 and 242 corresponding to the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information to be dispensed is assigned, and rotates the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224 to dispense tablets. At this time, the control unit 61 drives the drive motor 242 according to the dispensing speed defined as the drive condition corresponding to the drug information in the drive correspondence information 122. As a result, in the variable cassette 22, the dispensing speed of the tablets by the second rotating body 224 is changed to a speed suitable for the tablets. In this way, in the drug dispensing device 100, when the drive-in operation condition is included in the drive condition, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 according to the drive-in operation condition (dispensing speed) to dispense tablets from the variable cassette 22. If the variable cassette 22 does not include the height regulating member 226 and the width regulating member 227, it is also conceivable to change only the dispensing speed of the tablets from the variable cassette 22. Further, the driving speed of the drive motor 231 may be constant or may be changed according to the type of tablet. In the sub-packaging operation, the number of tablets dispensed from the variable cassette 22 is counted by a counter (an example of counting means) having an optical sensor (not shown) provided at the dispensing port 225 of the variable cassette 22 and input to the control unit 61 as the discharge number. As a result, the control unit 61 controls the drive of the variable cassette 22 based on the discharge number input from the counter, and dispenses only a preset dispensing amount (prescription amount) from the variable cassette 22.

[0119] Further, the control unit 61 executes stop control of the tablet dispensing from the variable cassette 22 according to the presence or absence of the reverse rotation operation defined as the drive condition corresponding to the drug information in the drive correspondence information 122. Here, the control unit 11 when executing such processing is an example of drive control means. Thus, in the drug dispensing device 100, when the drive stop condition is included in the drive condition, when the dispensing of the prescribed amount defined by the prescription data is completed, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 according to the drive stop condition (presence or absence of the reverse rotation operation), and then stops the drive of the variable cassette 22.

[0120] Specifically, when the reverse rotation operation is set to "present" in the drive correspondence information 122, the control unit 61 executes a reverse rotation operation to switch the conveyance direction of the state by the second rotating body 224 in the reverse direction when stopping the tablet dispensing from the variable cassette 22. For example, when the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches the dispensing amount using the optical sensor (not shown) provided at the dispensing port 225, the control unit 61 reversely rotates the drive motor 242 for a preset predetermined time. Thereby, when a tablet that is likely to roll is placed on the second rotating body 224, it is possible to prevent the tablet from being dispensed excessively from the dispensing port 225. Note that an opening / closing shutter may be provided at the dispensing port 225, and the opening / closing shutter may be configured to close when the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches the dispensing amount.

[0121] On the other hand, when the reverse rotation operation is set to "none" in the drive correspondence information 122, the control unit 61 does not execute the unnecessary reverse rotation operation when stopping the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22. Further, the timing to start the reverse rotation operation may be when the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches a value that is less than a predetermined number by a predetermined amount from the dispensing amount. When starting the reverse rotation operation at such a timing, the predetermined number corresponding to each drug information may be stored in advance in the drive correspondence information 122. Thereby, for example, the reverse rotation operation can be started before the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches the dispensing amount, and excessive dispensing of tablets from the dispensing outlet 225 can be prevented. Further, after the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches a value that is less than the dispensing amount by the predetermined number, it is conceivable to start the reverse rotation operation each time one tablet is dispensed.

[0122] Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the case where the height h1 of the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 of the width regulating member 227 in the variable cassette 22 are changed according to the drive conditions in step S4 has been described as an example. On the other hand, it is also conceivable as another embodiment that the control unit 61 executes the height h1 of the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 of the width regulating member 227 immediately before the start of the packaging operation in step S7. That is, the reflection of the pre-drive conditions on the variable cassette 22 may be executed at any timing until the packaging operation is started.

[0123] (On the side of the packaging control unit 6: Step S15) Thereafter, when the packaging operation in step S14 ends, the control unit 61 transmits a completion notification of the packaging operation to the control unit 11 in the subsequent step S15.

[0124] (On the side of the prescription control unit 1: Step S8) On the other hand, in the prescription control unit 1, the control unit 11 is waiting for the completion notification of the packing operation from the control unit 61 (No side of S8). When the completion notification of the packing operation is received (Yes side of S8), the control unit 11 causes the process to shift to step S9.

[0125] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S9) In the subsequent step S9, the control unit 11 displays a dispensing completion indication on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 for which dispensing has been completed.

[0126] Here, FIG. 12(B) is a diagram showing an example of the dispensing completion indication. In the example shown in FIG. 12(B), while the drug information is still displayed on the display unit 25, a large × mark is displayed across the entire display unit 25. Thereby, it is possible to notify the user that the dispensing of the tablets in the variable cassette 22 provided with the display unit 25 has been completed. As shown in FIG. 12(B), if the × mark indicating the completion of dispensing displayed on the display unit 25 does not interfere with the JAN code, it is also possible to read the JAN code with the barcode reader 7 or the like after the completion of dispensing.

[0127] Also, as other examples of the dispensing completion indication, it is conceivable that the characters "Dispensing completed" are displayed on the display unit 25, or the display of the drug information on the display unit 25 is erased.

[0128] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S10) When the packing operation is completed, no tablets should remain in each of the variable cassettes 22 used in the packing operation. However, if the user has accidentally or intentionally inserted an extra number of tablets into the variable cassette 22, the remaining tablets will be dispensed when the variable cassette 22 is used next. Therefore, if tablets remain in the variable cassette 22, it is necessary to collect those tablets.

[0129] Therefore, in step S10, the control unit 11 transmits a request to execute the remaining drug collection process for discharging tablets from the variable cassette 22 used in the sub-packaging operation to the control unit 61. Note that the control unit 11 does not transmit the request to execute the remaining drug collection process to the control unit 61 when the variable cassette 22 is not used in the sub-packaging operation. Further, it is also conceivable that the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 to display a selection screen for allowing selection of whether or not to execute the remaining drug collection process for the variable cassette 22 used in the sub-packaging operation, and switches whether or not to execute the remaining drug collection process according to a user operation on the operation unit 14.

[0130] (Sub-packaging control unit 6 side: Step S16) On the other hand, in step S16, the control unit 61 determines whether or not there is a request to execute the remaining drug collection process. When the request to execute the remaining drug collection process is received from the control unit 11 (Yes side of S16), the process proceeds to step S17. On the other hand, while the request to execute the remaining drug collection process has not been received from the control unit 11 (No side of S16), the process proceeds to step S11.

[0131] (Sub-packaging control unit 6 side: Step S17) In step S17, the control unit 61 drives the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224 of the variable cassette 22 for a preset predetermined time to execute a remaining drug collection process of discharging the tablets from the variable cassette 22. Here, the control unit 61 when executing such a remaining drug collection process is an example of a remaining drug collection means. At this time, the control unit 61 may change the discharge destination of the tablets discharged from the variable cassette 22 from the packaging unit 5 to a drug discharge tray (not shown) provided in the drug dispensing device 100. Thereby, when tablets remain in the variable cassette 22, the tablets can be discharged to the drug discharge tray during the predetermined time, and the remaining of the tablets in the variable cassette 22 can be prevented. Further, after driving the variable cassette 22 for the predetermined time, the control unit 61 may also cause the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 to display that the collection of the tablets from the variable cassette 22 has been completed. Note that if only the completion of the collection of the tablets from the variable cassette 22 is to be displayed, simple display means such as an LED that can display that fact by a lighting method or a lighting color may be used.

[0132] Further, instead of discharging into the medicine discharge tray, it is also conceivable that the tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 are discharged in a state of being wrapped in wrapping paper by the packaging unit 5. In this case, the control unit 61 can print one or more of the name of the tablet, medicine ID, medicine code, JAN code, patient name, collection date and time, and collection person on the wrapping paper by controlling a printing unit (not shown) provided in the packaging unit 5. Here, when collecting tablets from a plurality of the variable cassettes 22, it is desirable that only one type of the tablets is wrapped in one wrapping paper. Thereby, the control unit 61 can collate the content of the JAN code of the wrapping paper read by using the barcode reader 7 with the JAN code described in the storage container of the tablets on the medicine shelf where the tablets are to be returned. Therefore, the user can accurately return the tablets wrapped in the wrapping paper to the medicine shelf. Note that the control unit 61 causes the monitor 13 of the prescription control unit 1 to display the collation result, and stores the collation result in the storage unit 12 as the return history of the tablets. Further, the display of the collation result is not limited to the monitor 13, and for example, it is also conceivable to display the collation result by voice output from a speaker (not shown) provided in the medicine dispensing device 100 or the barcode reader 7. Furthermore, when an information processing device such as a computer communicably connected to the medicine dispensing device 100 is provided on the medicine shelf, it is also conceivable that the control unit 61 causes a display unit provided in the information processing device to display the collation result.

[0133] Incidentally, it is conceivable that a large number of tablets remain in the variable cassette 22 after the subcontracting operation is completed. In this case, it may not be possible to fit the tablets in one piece of the subcontracting paper 52. Therefore, when the control unit 61 collects the tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 with the subcontracting paper 52, it is conceivable that the control unit 61 packs the tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 in one piece of the subcontracting paper 52 for each preset number. Further, when the number of tablets collected from the variable cassette 22 reaches a preset predetermined number, it is conceivable that the control unit 61 stops the residual medicine collection process. Thereby, when a large number of tablets remain in the variable cassette 22, it is possible to suppress waste of time for collecting the tablets and waste of the subcontracting paper 52. In this case, the control unit 61 transmits a control signal indicating that a large number of tablets remain in the variable cassette 22 to the control unit 11. Thereby, the control unit 11 can recognize that the residual medicine collection process has ended because the number of tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 is equal to or more than the predetermined number, and can notify the user using, for example, the monitor 13.

[0134] As described above, in the medicine dispensing device 100, for any tablets not previously stored in each of the fixed cassettes 21, the user can automatically dispense the tablets simply by putting the tablets together into the variable cassette 22. Therefore, compared with the case of putting tablets into each of the meshes of the manual dispensing unit 4 as in the prior art, the work load of the user is reduced, and input mistakes by the user are also prevented.

[0135] In addition, since the drug dispensing device 100 is provided with a plurality of the variable cassettes 22, it is possible to assign different drug information to each of the variable cassettes 22. Therefore, even when the prescription data includes a plurality of tablets not contained in the fixed cassette 21 as dispensing targets, the drug dispensing device 100 can execute the packaging operation based on the prescription data using the plurality of variable cassettes 22. Further, in the drug dispensing device 100, it is also possible to continuously execute the packaging operations based on a plurality of the prescription data using the plurality of variable cassettes 22.

[0136] [Dispensing method using the drug dispensing device 100] Here, a specific example of the dispensing method performed by the user using the drug dispensing device 100 will be described. Here, an example will be described in which dispensing is performed on prescription data LP1 including one type of tablet stored in the fixed cassette 21 and two types of tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21 as prescription drugs.

[0137] First, the user operates the operation unit 14 to select the prescription data LP1 input to the drug dispensing device 100 and perform an issuance operation of the prescription data LP1. As a result, among the drug information included in the prescription data LP1, the drug information of two types of tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21 is assigned to two unassigned variable cassettes 22 among the variable cassettes 22. At this time, the height h1 of the height restricting member 226 and the width w1 of the width restricting member 227 in each of the variable cassettes 22 are also changed according to the driving conditions corresponding to the drug information. Then, the drug information assigned to each variable cassette 22 is displayed on the display unit 25 of each variable cassette 22.

[0138] Next, the user checks the drug information displayed on the display unit 25 and removes the variable cassette 22 from the drug dispensing device 100. Then, the user puts the required number of the tablets taken out from the drug shelf into the variable cassette 22 and mounts the variable cassette 22 on the mounting portion 221 of the drug dispensing device 100. This operation is performed for the two variable cassettes 22. At this time, the user can also use a verification function (to be described later) of the drug dispensing device 100 to verify the tablets indicated by the drug information displayed on the display unit 25 and the tablets taken out from the drug shelf.

[0139] After that, the user operates the operation unit 14 to perform a filling completion operation indicating that the filling of the tablets for each of the variable cassettes 22 is completed. As a result, in the drug dispensing device 100, one type of tablet stored in the fixed cassette 21 and two types of tablets stored in the two variable cassettes 22 are dispensed to the packaging unit 5 in packaging units such as the taking time, and are packaged in packaging paper in the packaging unit by the packaging unit 5.

[0140] [Other functions of the drug dispensing device 100] Hereinafter, other functions of the drug dispensing device 100 will be described. Note that the implementation methods of the various functions described below are merely examples, and as long as the same functions can be achieved, the implementation methods are not limited to those described here.

[0141] [Verification function during tablet filling] The drug dispensing device 100 has a verification function of verifying the tablets taken out from the drug shelf by using the JAN code (barcode) displayed on the display unit 25. Specifically, when the user fills the variable cassette 22 with tablets, the barcode reader 7 reads the JAN code displayed on the display unit 25 and the JAN code described on the storage container of the tablets taken out from the medicine shelf or the PTP sheet. Thereby, the control unit 11 collates the information of both JAN codes read by the barcode reader 7. Then, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 of the prescription control unit 1 to display the collation result. For example, when the prescription data is displayed on the monitor 13 of the prescription control unit 1, the control unit 11 may apply coloring for identifying that the collation result is a match to the display area of the drug information in which the collation result matches among the drug information included in the prescription data.

[0142] In this way, in the medicine dispensing device 100, since it is possible to collate the tablets indicated by the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 with the tablets to be put into the variable cassette 22, it is possible to suppress human errors of the user when putting tablets into the variable cassette 22. In a configuration where the JAN code is not displayed on the display unit 25, it is also conceivable that the control unit 11 collates whether the tablets indicated by the JAN code read by the barcode reader 7 from the storage container of the tablets or the PTP sheet match the tablets indicated by the drug information included in the prescription data.

[0143] [Fixing function of variable cassette 22] The medicine dispensing device 100 has a fixing function for handling the variable cassette 22 in the same manner as the fixed cassette 21.

[0144] Specifically, when a predetermined operation input preset for the operation unit 14 is performed, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 to display an initial setting screen for presetting chemical information corresponding to each of the variable cassettes 22. Then, when an operation input for selecting chemical information corresponding to any one of the variable cassettes 22 is performed on the initial setting screen, the control unit 11 assigns the selected chemical information to the variable cassette 22. At this time, the control unit 11 executes the change of the driving condition of the variable cassette 22 and the display of the chemical information on the display unit 25 in the same manner as in steps S4 and S5 of the chemical dispensing process. Further, the control unit 11 performs a tablet fixing display indicating that the tablets to be dispensed are fixed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22.

[0145] Here, FIG. 12(C) is a diagram showing an example of the tablet fixing display. In the example shown in FIG. 12(C), the name of the tablet, the drug ID, and the JAN code are displayed on the display unit 25, and a black frame 251 is displayed as the tablet fixing display at the edge of the display unit 25. As other examples of the fixed tablet display, it is conceivable that the character "fixed" is displayed, a preset fixed mark is displayed, or the black-and-white display is reversed.

[0146] In this way, the variable cassette 22 (hereinafter referred to as "quasi-fixed cassette 22A") in which the corresponding chemical information is preset on the initial setting screen is excluded from the allocation targets in step S3 of the chemical dispensing process.

[0147] Specifically, the control unit 11 updates the allocation state of the quasi-fixed cassette 22A among the variable cassettes 22 to "fixed" in the allocation information 121 stored in the storage unit 12. Thereby, in step S3 of the chemical dispensing process, the control unit 11 excludes the quasi-fixed cassette 22A from the candidates of the variable cassette 22 to which the chemical information is to be allocated.

[0148] Of course, the control unit 11 can also cancel the assignment of the drug information to the pseudo-fixed cassette 22A according to an operation input to the operation unit 14 on the initial setting screen, and return the assignment state of the variable cassette 22 to the initial state.

[0149] As described above, in the drug dispensing device 100, the variable cassette 22 can be handled in the same manner as the fixed cassette 21 as needed. Therefore, for example, a user with a low usage frequency of the variable cassette 22 can effectively utilize a part of the variable cassette 22 as the pseudo-fixed cassette 22A. Further, when the drug dispensing device 100 has no fixed cassette 21 and only has the variable cassette 22, the flexibility of the system is enhanced because the balance between the advantages of the fixed cassette 21 and the advantages of the variable cassette 22 can be arbitrarily set.

[0150] By the way, in step S9 of the drug dispensing process, when the dispensing from the variable cassette 22 is completed, a dispensing completion display is performed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22. On the other hand, when the variable cassette 22 is used as the pseudo-fixed cassette 22A, even if the dispensing of the tablets from the pseudo-fixed cassette 22A is completed, the pseudo-fixed cassette 22A is still used in other packaging operations in the same manner as the fixed cassette 21 thereafter. Therefore, the control unit 11 does not perform the dispensing completion display on the display unit 25 even when the dispensing of the pseudo-fixed cassette 22A in the variable cassette 22 is completed.

[0151] [Cassette notification function] The drug dispensing device 100 is provided with a cassette notification function for easily discriminating the variable cassette 22 to be filled when filling the variable cassette 22 with tablets. Specifically, when any of the drug information included in the prescription data displayed on the monitor 13 is selected by a user operation on the operation unit 14, the control unit 11 changes the display on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned. For example, the control unit 11 may blink the display screen of the display unit 25, or invert the black and white of the display screen of the display unit 25, etc.

[0152] Thereby, the user can easily determine the variable cassette 22 into which the tablets should be inserted by visually observing the display unit 25. Note that a light-emitting part such as an LED corresponding to the variable cassette 22 is individually provided on the variable cassette 22 or the mounting part 221 of the variable cassette 22, etc., and it is also conceivable that the control unit 11 changes the lighting method (lighting, blinking) or lighting color, etc. of the light-emitting part.

[0153] [Status display function] The drug dispensing device 100 has a status display function for displaying status information indicating the usage status of the corresponding variable cassette 22 on the display unit 25 of each variable cassette 22.

[0154] Specifically, when no drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22, the control unit 11 displays "unassigned" on the display unit 25; when drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22, it displays "assigned"; when the driving conditions of the variable cassette 22 are being changed, it displays "calibrating"; when the dispensing operation using the variable cassette 22 is being executed, it displays "dispensing"; when the dispensing operation is completed, it displays "dispensing completed", etc., to display the usage status of the variable cassette 22 on the display unit 25. Here, the control unit 11 when executing such display processing is an example of display control means. Thereby, the user can easily recognize the usage status of each of the variable cassettes 22 by visually checking the display unit 25 of each of the variable cassettes 22. Note that the display method of the various status information may be characters, but it is conceivable to use various display forms such as display marks, numbers, or blinking that are preset as the display forms indicating the respective states.

[0155] [Calibration Function] The drug dispensing device 100 has a calibration function for registering the height and width of the dispensing path, which are the pre-driving conditions for dispensing one tablet at a time from each of the variable cassettes 22.

[0156] Specifically, the control unit 11 executes calibration processing in response to a request to execute a calibration operation in the initial setting of the drug dispensing device 100. Also, when the control unit 11 determines in step S4 that the height and width of the dispensing path corresponding to the drug information are not registered in the drive-corresponding information 122, it is also conceivable to display on the monitor 13 whether to execute the calibration processing and execute the calibration processing according to a user operation on the operation unit 14. Note that the calibration processing may be executed by the control unit 61.

[0157] In the calibration process, the control unit 11 first causes the monitor 13 to display a selection screen for selecting the variable cassette 22, and selects the variable cassette 22 to be used in the calibration process according to a user operation on the operation unit 14. Then, when any one of the variable cassettes 22 is selected, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 to display a message indicating that tablets should be loaded into the selected variable cassette 22, and waits for a tablet loading completion operation by a user operation on the operation unit 14.

[0158] Thereafter, when the loading completion operation is performed, the control unit 11 drives the height adjustment part 226A and the width adjustment part 227A of the selected variable cassette 22, and changes the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 to a preset minimum size and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 to a preset maximum size. Then, the control unit 11 drives the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224. At this time, since the height h1 is the minimum size, the conveyance of the tablets on the second rotating body 224 is regulated by the height regulating member 226.

[0159] Subsequently, with the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224 being driven, the control unit 11 controls the height adjustment unit 226A to gradually increase the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226. At this time, since the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 is the maximum size, the tablet that has passed through the height regulating member 226 is conveyed to the discharge port 225. Then, when the height h1 reaches the height dimension of one tablet accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion 223, the tablet passes through the height regulating member 226 and is discharged from the discharge port 225. As a result, when the control unit 11 detects that the tablet has been discharged from the discharge port 225 by the optical sensor (not shown) provided at the discharge port 225, the control unit 11 stops the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224. At this time, the control unit 11 registers the value of the height h1 corresponding to the driving time of the height adjustment unit 226A until the passage of the tablet is detected by the optical sensor (not shown) as the driving condition corresponding to the drug information of the tablet. Of course, the driving time may be registered as the driving condition.

[0160] Next, the control unit 11 controls the width adjustment unit 227A to transition the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 to a preset minimum size, and drives the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224. At this time, since the height h1 is a height through which the tablet can pass, the tablet on the second rotating body 224 is conveyed to the width regulating member 227. On the other hand, since the width w1 is the minimum size, the conveyance of the tablet on the second rotating body 224 is regulated by the width regulating member 227. Subsequently, the control unit 11 controls the width adjustment unit 227A to gradually increase the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 while driving the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224. Then, when the width w1 reaches the width dimension of one tablet of the tablets stored in the tablet storage unit 223, the tablet passes through the width regulating member 227 and is discharged from the discharge port 225. As a result, when the control unit 11 detects that the tablet has been discharged from the discharge port 225 by the optical sensor (not shown) provided at the discharge port 225, the control unit 11 stops the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224. At this time, the control unit 11 registers the value of the width w1 corresponding to the driving time of the width adjustment unit 227A until the passage of the tablet is detected by the optical sensor (not shown) as the driving condition corresponding to the drug information of the tablet. Of course, the driving time may be registered as the driving condition.

[0161] As described above, in the drug dispensing device 100, the calibration function can automatically register the preliminary driving conditions for drug information for which the preliminary driving conditions are not registered in the driving correspondence information 122.

[0162] <Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment, with reference to FIG. 13, another example of the medicine dispensing process executed by the control unit 11 will be described. Specifically, in the medicine dispensing process according to the second embodiment (refer to the left side of FIG. 13), the medicine information read by the barcode reader 7 is input as the medicine information to be dispensed and assigned to the variable cassette 22. Here, the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 11 are referred to as steps S21, S22, ···. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same processes as the medicine dispensing process and the subcontracting control process shown in FIG. 11, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0163] (Step S21) First, in step S21, the control unit 11 determines whether a JAN code is input from the barcode reader 7 as the medicine information to be dispensed. That is, the user does not first perform an issuing operation for issuing the prescription data, but refers to a prescription form or the like on which the prescription data is described, takes out tablets from a medicine shelf or the like, and causes the barcode reader 7 to read the medicine information of the tablets from the storage container of the medicine shelf, a PTP sheet, or the like.

[0164] Here, the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S25 until the medicine information of the tablets to be dispensed is input from the barcode reader 7 (the No side of S21). On the other hand, when the medicine information of the tablets to be dispensed is input from the barcode reader 7 (the Yes side of S21), the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S22.

[0165] (Step S22) Next, in step S22, the control unit 11 assigns the drug information of the payout target input in step S21 to the unassigned variable cassette 22. In this way, when the drug information of the payout target is input by reading the drug information by the barcode reader 7, the control unit 11 when executing the process for assigning the drug information to the variable cassette 22 is an example of an assignment means. Note that since the assignment of the variable cassette 22 is performed by the same method as in step S3 (see FIG. 11), the description thereof is omitted here.

[0166] Further, it is also conceivable that the control unit 11 determines whether or not the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information input in step S21 exists, and executes the processes after step S22 only when the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information does not exist. Note that when it is determined that the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information exists, the control unit 11 may, for example, display to that effect on the monitor 13 of the prescription control unit 1 and return the process to step S21.

[0167] (Steps S23 to S24) In steps S23 to S24, the control unit 11 executes the same processes as in steps S4 to S5 (see FIG. 11). That is, the control unit 11 transmits the drive conditions of each of the variable cassettes 22 to which the drug information is assigned in step S22 to the control unit 61 together with the cassette identification information of each of the variable cassettes 22 (S23). Further, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 25 of each of the variable cassettes 22 to which the drug information is assigned in step S22 to display the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 and the like (S24).

[0168] (Step S25) Then, in step S25, the control unit 11 determines whether there is a request for issuing prescription data in the same manner as in step S1 (see FIG. 11). Specifically, the control unit 11 determines that the issuance request has been made when an issuance operation for issuing pre-registered prescription data is performed on the operation unit 14.

[0169] Here, when the control unit 11 determines that there is no request for issuing the prescription data (No side of S25), the process proceeds to step S21. On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that there is a request for issuing the prescription data (Yes side of S25), the process proceeds to step S6 and subsequent processes are executed. Note that a detachment detection sensor for detecting the attachment and detachment of the variable cassette 22 is provided in the mounting unit 221, and a configuration in which the control unit 11 notifies that the tablets have not been filled into the variable cassette 22 based on the detection result of the detachment detection sensor is also conceivable. That is, the control unit 11 notifies the user of an error when the prescription data issuance operation is performed in a state where the detachment of the variable cassette 22 has not been detected by the detachment detection sensor between when the drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22 and when the prescription data issuance operation is performed. Note that the notification is performed by a notification means such as the monitor 13 or a speaker (not shown).

[0170] [Dispensing method using the drug dispensing device 100 according to the second embodiment] Here, a specific example of the dispensing method performed by the user using the drug dispensing device 100 according to the second embodiment will be described. Here, a case where dispensing is performed for prescription data LP1 including one type of tablet stored in the fixed cassette 21 and two types of tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21 as prescription drugs will be described as an example.

[0171] First, the user uses the barcode reader 7 to read the JAN codes of two types of tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21 from the storage containers of the storage shelves where each of the tablets is stored, PTP sheets, or the like. As a result, in the medicine dispensing device 100, two types of medicine information among the medicine information included in the prescription data LP1 for which the corresponding fixed cassette 21 does not exist are assigned to the two variable cassettes 22. At this time, the medicine information assigned to the variable cassette 22 is displayed on the display unit 25 of each variable cassette 22.

[0172] Next, the user checks the medicine information displayed on the display unit 25 and removes the variable cassette 22 from the medicine dispensing device 100. Then, the user inserts the required quantity of the tablets taken out from the medicine shelf into the variable cassette 22 and mounts the variable cassette 22 on the mounting unit 221 of the medicine dispensing device 100. This operation is performed for the two variable cassettes 22.

[0173] After that, the user operates the operation unit 14 to select the prescription data LP1 input to the medicine dispensing device 100 and perform an issuance operation of the prescription data LP1. As a result, in the medicine dispensing device 100, one type of tablet stored in the fixed cassette 21 and two types of tablets stored in the two variable cassettes 22 based on the prescription data LP1 are dispensed to the packaging unit 5 in packaging units such as the taking time, and are packaged in packaging paper in the packaging unit by the packaging unit 5.

[0174] <Third Embodiment> In the third embodiment, a medicine dispensing device 300, which is a modified example of the medicine dispensing device 100 described in the first embodiment, will be described. Note that the description of the same configuration as that of the medicine dispensing device 100 for the medicine dispensing device 300 will be omitted.

[0175] The medicine dispensing device 300 includes an RFID reader / writer 28 provided on the mounting table of a medicine shelf that stores tablets before being filled in the variable cassette 22. The RFID reader / writer 28 has a wireless communication function for performing data communication via wireless communication with the prescription control unit 1 of the medicine dispensing device 300 through the communication IF 15. Then, the RFID reader / writer 28 detects the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22, detects that the variable cassette 22 is placed on the mounting table, and notifies the prescription control unit 1. Also, it receives information transmitted from the prescription control unit 1 and writes it to the RFID tag 26.

[0176] Note that the installation locations of the RFID tag 26 and the RFID reader / writer 28 on each of the variable cassette 22 and the mounting table may be relatively determined within a range where the RFID reader / writer 28 can read and write information of the RFID tag 26 when the variable cassette 22 is placed on the mounting table. Also, when an information processing device or the like connected to the RFID reader / writer 28 is provided on the medicine shelf, a system including the medicine dispensing device 300 and the information processing device may be regarded as the medicine dispensing device according to the present invention.

[0177] In the medicine dispensing device 300 according to the third embodiment, a medicine allocation process (see FIG. 14) and a medicine dispensing process (see the left side of FIG. 15) described later are executed by the control unit 11. Note that the control unit 11 executes the processing procedures shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 in parallel.

[0178] Hereinafter, an example of the procedures of the medicine allocation process and the medicine dispensing process executed by the control unit 11 in the medicine dispensing device 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. Here, the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 11 are referred to as step S31, S32, ··· and step S41, S42, ···. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same processes as the medicine dispensing process and the subcontracting control process shown in FIG. 11, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0179] Alternatively, it is also conceivable as another embodiment that the processing procedure shown in FIG. 14 is executed by the information processing device provided in the medicine shelf, and the processing procedure shown in FIG. 15 is executed by the control unit 11 of the medicine dispensing device 300. In this case, the information processing device refers to and edits the allocation information 121 stored in the storage unit 12 of the medicine dispensing device 300.

[0180] [Drug Allocation Processing] (Step S31) First, in the drug allocation process shown in FIG. 14, in step S31, the control unit 11 determines whether the variable cassette 22 is placed on the placement table of the medicine shelf. Specifically, when the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22 is detected by the RFID reader / writer 28 of the medicine shelf, the control unit 11 determines that the variable cassette 22 is placed on the placement table. Note that in the medicine dispensing device 300, it is also conceivable that only the unallocated variable cassette 22 can be removed from the mounting portion 221, and the allocated variable cassette 22 is mechanically locked and cannot be removed.

[0181] Here, when the variable cassette 22 is not placed on the placement table of the medicine shelf (No side of S31), the control unit 11 waits for the process in step S31. On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the variable cassette 22 is placed on the placement table of the medicine shelf (Yes side of S31), the process proceeds to step S32.

[0182] (Step S32) In step S32, the control unit 11 determines whether a JAN code has been read by the barcode reader 7 as medicine information to be dispensed, in the same manner as in step S21 (see FIG. 13). That is, the user refers to a prescription note or the like on which the prescription data is described, takes out tablets from a medicine shelf or the like, and reads the medicine information of the tablets from the storage container or PTP sheet of the medicine shelf using the barcode reader 7.

[0183] Here, when the control unit 11 determines that the drug information of the tablet to be dispensed has not been input from the barcode reader 7 (No side of S32), the process returns to step S31. On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the drug information of the tablet to be dispensed has been input from the barcode reader 7 (Yes side of S32), the process is shifted to step S33.

[0184] (Step S33) In step S33, the control unit 11 assigns the drug information of the dispensing target input in step S32 to the variable cassette 22 placed on the mounting table of the medicine shelf. In this way, when the drug information of the dispensing target is read by the barcode reader 7, the control unit 11 when executing the process for assigning the drug information to the variable cassette 22 is also an example of an assignment means. At this time, the control unit 11 reflects the assignment state between the drug information and the variable cassette 22 in the assignment information 121.

[0185] (Step S34) Then, in step S34, the control unit 11 performs data communication with the RFID reader / writer 28 via the communication IF 15 to record the drug information on the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22 placed on the mounting table of the medicine shelf. At this time, in the variable cassette 22, the control board on which the RFID tag 26 is mounted causes a part or all of the drug information recorded on the RFID tag 26 to be displayed on the display unit 25 (see Fig. 12(A)).

[0186] [Drug Dispensing Process] (Step S41) On the other hand, in the drug dispensing process shown in FIG. 15, in step S41, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting unit 221 of the drug dispensing device 300. That is, the control unit 11 determines whether there is a change in the state of each mounting unit 221 from the unmounted state to the mounted state of the variable cassette 22. Note that the presence or absence of the mounting of the variable cassette 22 on the mounting unit 221 is determined by, for example, the presence or absence of detection of the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22 by the RFID reader / writer 245 provided on the mounting unit 221. Of course, it is also conceivable that the attachment / detachment of the variable cassette 22 is detected mechanically or optically by an attachment / detachment detection sensor provided on the mounting unit 221.

[0187] Here, if the control unit 11 does not detect the mounting of the variable cassette 22 (No side of S41), the process proceeds to step S44. On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the mounting of the variable cassette 22 has been detected (Yes side of S41), the process proceeds to step S42. Note that when the control unit 11 does not detect the mounting of the variable cassette 22, it includes the state in which the variable cassette 22 is already mounted.

[0188] (Step S42) Next, in step S42, the control unit 11 reads the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 from the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22 determined to be mounted in step S41. At this time, if there is a difference between the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 and the content of the assignment information 121, the control unit 11 displays an error on the monitor 13 and interrupts the drug dispensing process. Note that the control unit 11 may prioritize the drug information read from the RFID reader / writer 26 and update the assignment information 121.

[0189] (Step S43) Then, in step S43, the control unit 11 transmits the drive conditions corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 to the control unit 61 together with the cassette identification information of each of the variable cassettes 22. As a result, the control unit 61 changes the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 of the variable cassette 22 according to the pre-drive conditions among the drive conditions corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22.

[0190] (Step S44) Thereafter, in step S44, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a prescription data issuance request has been made in the same manner as in step S25 (see FIG. 13). Here, when the control unit 11 determines that the prescription data issuance request has not been made (No side of S44), the process returns to step S41. On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that there is a prescription data issuance request (Yes side of S44), the process proceeds to step S7. In the drug dispensing device 300, since it is considered that tablets are put into the variable cassette 22 in the drug shelf, step S6 in the drug dispensing process shown in FIG. 15 is omitted, but step S6 may be executed before step S7.

[0191] [Dispensing method using the drug dispensing device 300] Here, a specific example of the dispensing method performed by the user using the drug dispensing device 300 will be described. Here, a case where dispensing is performed for prescription data LP1 including one type of tablet stored in the fixed cassette 21 and two types of tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21 as prescription drugs will be described as an example.

[0192] First, the user removes two unassigned variable cassettes 22 from the medicine dispensing device 300, moves them to the medicine shelf, and places the first variable cassette 22 on the mounting table provided with the RFID reader / writer 28. Then, the user uses the barcode reader 7 to read the JAN code of the first of the two types of tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21 from the storage container or PTP sheet of the storage shelf where the tablets are stored. As a result, in the medicine dispensing device 300, the first tablet is assigned to the variable cassette 22 placed on the mounting table. At this time, the medicine information is recorded on the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22, and the medicine information assigned to the variable cassette 22 is displayed on the display unit 25. Then, the user inserts the required quantity of the first tablet taken out from the medicine shelf into the variable cassette 22.

[0193] Subsequently, the user places the second variable cassette 22 on the mounting table provided with the RFID reader / writer 28. Then, using the barcode reader 7, the user reads the JAN code of the second of the two types of tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21 from the storage container or PTP sheet of the storage shelf where the tablets are stored. As a result, in the medicine dispensing device 300, the second tablet is assigned to the variable cassette 22 placed on the mounting table. At this time, the medicine information is recorded on the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22, and the medicine information assigned to the variable cassette 22 is displayed on the display unit 25. Then, the user inserts the required quantity of the second tablet taken out from the medicine shelf into the variable cassette 22.

[0194] After that, the user attaches each of the variable cassettes 22 to each of the attachment parts 221 of the medicine dispensing device 300. As a result, in the medicine dispensing device 300, the medicine information recorded on the RFID tag 26 of each of the variable cassettes 22 is read out.

[0195] Then, the user operates the operation unit 14 to select the prescription data LP1 input to the medicine dispensing device 300 and perform an issuance operation of the prescription data LP1. As a result, in the medicine dispensing device 300, one type of tablet stored in the fixed cassette 21 and two types of tablets stored in the two variable cassettes 22 based on the prescription data LP1 are dispensed to the packaging unit 5 in packaging units such as the taking time, and are packaged by the packaging unit 5 in packaging paper in the packaging unit.

[0196] [Fourth Embodiment] Here, FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a medicine dispensing device 400 which is a modification of the medicine dispensing device 100 described in the first embodiment. Note that descriptions of the same configurations as those of the medicine dispensing device 100 for the medicine dispensing device 400 are omitted. For example, in the medicine dispensing device 400, by executing a next prescription allocation process (see FIG. 17) described later, the work efficiency of the user using the medicine dispensing device 400 is improved.

[0197] As shown in FIG. 16, in the medicine dispensing device 400, the control unit 11 includes a dispensing control unit 111 and an allocation control unit 112. Note that the control unit 11 functions as the dispensing control unit 111 and the allocation control unit 112 by executing processes according to various programs preliminarily stored in storage means such as the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 12 using the CPU. Note that the dispensing control unit 111 executes the medicine dispensing process (see FIG. 11). Then, the allocation control unit 112 executes a next prescription allocation process (see FIG. 17) described later. Note that the medicine dispensing process and the next prescription allocation process are executed substantially in parallel.

[0198] [Next Prescription Allocation Process] The next prescription assignment process is a process for controlling the assignment to the variable cassette 22 for the next prescription data when, in the medicine dispensing device 400, the issuance of the next prescription data is performed before the dispensing of the medicine for the previously issued prescription data is completed. Here, FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the next prescription assignment process executed by the assignment control unit 112 in the medicine dispensing device 400.

[0199] <Step S51> First, in step S51, the assignment control unit 112 determines whether a request for issuance of the next prescription data for the currently issued prescription data has been made. Hereinafter, the currently issued prescription data will be referred to as the current prescription data, and the next prescription data will be referred to as the next prescription data. Here, when the assignment control unit 112 determines that a request for issuance of the next prescription data has been made (Yes side in S51), the process proceeds to step S52. Also, when the assignment control unit 112 determines that a request for issuance of the next prescription data has not been made (No side in S51), the process waits at step S51. In a configuration where requests for issuance can be made simultaneously for a plurality of the prescription data, the assignment control unit 112 proceeds to step S52 when there is prescription data whose issuance order is second or later. Also, when other prescription data has been issued after the next prescription data, the process similarly proceeds to step S52.

[0200] <Step S52> In step S52, the allocation control unit 112 determines whether the allocation of the drug information to the variable cassette 22 for the current prescription data is completed. Here, when the allocation control unit 112 determines that the allocation of the drug information is completed (Yes side of S52), the process proceeds to step S53. Note that the allocation control unit 112 waits in step S52 until the allocation of the drug information is completed (No side of S52). If the dispensing of the current prescription data ends while the process is waiting in step S52, the allocation control unit 112 transfers the process to step S51.

[0201] <Step S53> In step S53, the allocation control unit 112 determines whether there is a fixed cassette 21 corresponding to all the drug information input as the drug information indicating the tablets to be dispensed according to the next prescription data. That is, in step S53, it is determined whether the prescription drugs included in the next prescription data include tablets of types not stored in the fixed cassette 21. Here, when it is determined that there is no fixed cassette 21 corresponding to all the drug information included in the next prescription data (No side of S53), the allocation control unit 112 transfers the process to step S54. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a fixed cassette 21 corresponding to all the drug information included in the next prescription data (Yes side of S53), the allocation control unit 112 returns the process to step S51. That is, when all types of tablets included as prescription drugs in the prescription data are stored in the fixed cassette 21, it is determined that the allocation of the drug information to the variable cassette 22 is not necessary.

[0202] <Step S54> In step S54, the allocation control unit 112 determines whether there is an unallocated variable cassette 22 in the variable cassette 22. The allocation control unit 112 can determine the presence or absence of the unallocated variable cassette 22 by referring to the allocation information 121 (see FIG. 9). Here, when the allocation control unit 112 determines that there is an unallocated variable cassette 22 (Yes side of S54), the process proceeds to step S55. When the allocation control unit 112 determines that there is no unallocated variable cassette 22 (No side of S54), the process returns to step S51. That is, when there is drug information that requires allocation to the variable cassette 22 and there is no unallocated variable cassette 22, the allocation control unit 112 waits at step S51 until the variable cassette 22 is used and becomes unallocated. Then, when the variable cassette 22 becomes unallocated after being used in the prescription data prior to the next prescription data (Yes side of S54), the allocation control unit 112 moves the process to step S55. During the waiting of the process in step S54, if the dispensing of the current prescription data is completed, the allocation control unit 112 moves the process to step S51.

[0203] <Step S55> In step S55, the allocation control unit 112 allocates the drug information among the drug information input by the next prescription data for which the corresponding fixed cassette 21 does not exist to the unallocated variable cassette 22. At this time, when there are a plurality of drug information that requires allocation to the variable cassette 22 in the next prescription data, the allocation control unit 112 allocates the drug information with the highest priority at the current time among the drug information not allocated to the variable cassette 22 according to a preset priority condition to the unallocated variable cassette 22. That is, for the same next prescription data, each time step S55 is executed, one drug information with the highest priority at that time is allocated to the variable cassette 22.

[0204] Here, examples of the priority conditions will be described. For example, the allocation control unit 112 executes step S55 using a priority condition selected in advance by a user operation on the operation unit 14 in initial settings or the like from among the first to fourth priority conditions described later. Note that it is also conceivable to combine any two or more of the first to fourth priority conditions. For example, when there are two pieces of drug information determined to have the highest priority according to the second priority condition, it is conceivable to determine the priority order of the two pieces of drug information according to the first priority condition.

[0205] Here, FIGS. 18 to 21 are diagrams showing the transition of the allocation information 121 when the first to fourth priority conditions are used. As described above, in the allocation information 121, cassette numbers "C1" to "C4" are preset as the cassette identification information in the four variable cassettes 22 arranged in order from left to right in the tablet supply unit 2. Also, in FIGS. 18 to 21, "RP1" is attached to the drug ID of the drug information in the current prescription data, and "RP2" is attached to the drug ID of the drug information in the next prescription data.

[0206] <First Priority Condition> First, as a first priority condition, which is an example of the priority condition, it is conceivable that it is determined to preferentially allocate the drug information with an earlier notation order in the prescription data to the variable cassette 22. For example, consider a case where the current prescription data includes drug information with drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3", and the next prescription data includes drug information with drug IDs "M4" and "M5". Here, assume that in the next prescription data, the notation order is such that the drug information with drug ID "M4" is earlier than the drug information with drug ID "M5", the dispensing quantity of the drug information with drug ID "M4" is 10 tablets, and the dispensing quantity of the drug information with drug ID "M5" is 30 tablets.

[0207] In this case, as shown in FIG. 18(A), after drug information of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3" is respectively assigned to the variable cassettes 22 with cassette numbers "C1" to "C3", as shown in FIG. 18(B), drug information of the drug ID "M4" with an earlier notation order is first assigned to the variable cassette 22 with the cassette number "C4". Then, as shown in FIG. 18(C), when the dispensing of the drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3" is completed, as shown in FIG. 18(D), drug information of "M5" is assigned to the variable cassette 22 with the unassigned cassette number "C1". Therefore, by using the first priority condition, the order in which the variable cassettes 22 are assigned is consistent with the notation order of the drug information included in the next prescription data, so an easy-to-understand operation for the user is realized.

[0208] <Second Priority Condition> Also, as another example of the priority condition, as the second priority condition, it is conceivable that it is determined to preferentially assign the drug information with a large dispensing amount among the drug information included in the next prescription data to the variable cassette 22. For example, consider a case where the current prescription data includes drug information of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3", and the next prescription data includes drug information of drug IDs "M4" and "M5". Here, assume that in the next prescription data, the notation order is such that the drug information of the drug ID "M4" is earlier than the drug information of the drug ID "M5", the dispensing amount of the drug information of the drug ID "M4" is 10 tablets, and the dispensing amount of the drug information of the drug ID "M5" is 30 tablets.

[0209] In this case, as shown in FIG. 19(A), after drug information of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3" is respectively assigned to the variable cassettes 22 with cassette numbers "C1" to "C3", as shown in FIG. 19(B), drug information of drug ID "M5" with a large dispensing amount is first assigned to the variable cassette 22 with cassette number "C4". Then, as shown in FIG. 19(C), when the dispensing of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3" is completed, as shown in FIG. 19(D), drug information of drug ID "M4" is assigned to the variable cassette 22 with the unassigned cassette number "C1". Therefore, by using the second priority condition, during the execution of drug dispensing for the current prescription data, it becomes possible to fill the variable cassette 22 with the drug corresponding to the drug information of drug ID "M5" with a large dispensing amount, and the work efficiency of the user can be improved.

[0210] <Third Priority Condition> Furthermore, as another example of the priority condition, as the third priority condition, it is considered that it is determined to preferentially assign to the variable cassette 22 the drug information among the drug information included in the next prescription data, excluding the drug information also included in the current prescription data. For example, consider a case where the current prescription data includes drug information of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3", and the next prescription data includes drug information of drug IDs "M4" and "M2".

[0211] In this case, as shown in FIG. 20(A), after drug information of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3" is respectively assigned to the variable cassettes 22 with cassette numbers "C1" to "C3", as shown in FIG. 20(B), drug information of drug ID "M4" is first assigned to the variable cassette 22 with cassette number "C4". That is, drug information of drug ID "M4" excluding the drug information of drug ID "M2" included in the current prescription data is preferentially assigned to the variable cassette 22. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 20(C), when the dispensing of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3" is completed, as shown in FIG. 20(D), the drug information of drug ID "M2" is assigned to the variable cassette 22 of cassette number "C2" to which the drug information of drug ID "M2" was assigned among the unassigned cassette numbers "C1" to "C3". Therefore, by using the third priority condition, the same drug information as that in the current prescription data among the drug information included in the next prescription data will be assigned to the same variable cassette 22. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent the variable cassette 22 from being filled with drugs of a color different from that of the previous drug and prevent powders of the previous drug from adhering to the subsequent drug.

[0212] <Fourth Priority Condition> Also, as another example of the priority condition, as the fourth priority condition, it is conceivable that it is determined to preferentially assign the drug information included in the next prescription data and also included in the current prescription data to the unassigned variable cassette 22. For example, consider a case where the current prescription data includes drug information of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3", and the next prescription data includes drug information of drug IDs "M4" and "M2".

[0213] In this case, as shown in FIG. 21(A), after drug information of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3" is respectively assigned to the variable cassettes 22 with cassette numbers "C1" to "C3", as shown in FIG. 21(B), drug information of drug ID "M2" is first assigned to the variable cassette 22 with cassette number "C4". That is, the drug information of drug ID "M2" included in the current prescription data is preferentially assigned to the variable cassette 22. Then, as shown in FIG. 21(C), when the dispensing of drug IDs "M1", "M2", and "M3" is completed, as shown in FIG. 21(D), the drug information of drug ID "M4" is assigned to the variable cassette 22 with the unassigned cassette number "C1". Therefore, by using the fourth priority condition, when filling the drug corresponding to the drug information of drug ID "M2" included in the current prescription data into the variable cassette 22 with cassette number "C2", the same drug can also be filled into the variable cassette 22 with cassette number "C4" to which the drug information of drug ID "M2" included in the next prescription data is assigned, and the working efficiency of the user can be improved.

[0214] It is also conceivable as another embodiment that the assignment of the drug information included in the next prescription data to the variable cassette 22 is executed only when the number of variable cassettes 22 corresponding to all the drug information that requires assignment of the variable cassette 22 in the next prescription data is unassigned. Thereby, in the drug dispensing device 100, the assignment to the variable cassette 22 is not performed at different timings for one prescription data, and the user can fill the drugs into the variable cassette 22 in units of the prescription data.

[0215] <Step S56> Thereafter, in step S56, the assignment control unit 112 transmits the drive conditions corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 in step S55 to the control unit 61. Note that step S56 is the same process as step S4 (see FIG. 11).

[0216] <Step S57> In step S57, the allocation control unit 112 causes the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 to display the drug information allocated to the variable cassette 22 in step S55. As a result, the user can fill the variable cassette 22 with drugs. Note that step S57 is the same process as step S5 (see FIG. 11). By the way, in the next prescription allocation process described here, each time the allocation control unit 112 allocates drug information that needs to be allocated to the variable cassette 22 among the drug information included in the next prescription data to the variable cassette 22, steps S56 to S57 are executed. On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the processes of steps S56 to S57 are executed when the allocation of all the drug information that needs to be allocated to the variable cassette 22 among the drug information included in the next prescription data to the variable cassette 22 is completed by the allocation control unit 112.

[0217] <Step S58> Next, in step S58, the allocation control unit 112 determines whether all the drug information included in the next prescription data for which the corresponding fixed cassette 21 does not exist has been allocated to the variable cassette 22. Here, when the allocation control unit 112 determines that all the drug information for which the corresponding fixed cassette 21 does not exist has been allocated to the variable cassette 22 (Yes side in S58), the process returns to step S54. Also, when the allocation control unit 112 determines that all the drug information for which the corresponding fixed cassette 21 does not exist has not been allocated to the variable cassette 22 (No side in S58), the process proceeds to step S54. Thereby, when there are a plurality of pieces of drug information that need to be allocated to the variable cassette 22 among the drug information included in the next prescription data, the allocation of the drug information to the variable cassette 22 (S55) is repeatedly executed as long as there is an unallocated variable cassette 22. Note that when there are a plurality of pieces of drug information that need to be allocated to the variable cassette 22 and there are a plurality of unallocated variable cassettes 22, it is also conceivable to allocate each piece of drug information to each variable cassette 22 in step S55.

[0218] Incidentally, the drug dispensing device 400 may also have a manual automatic allocation function that automatically allocates the drug information to the manual dispensing unit 4 when the drug information that needs to be allocated to the variable cassette 22 is included in the next prescription data and there is no unallocated variable cassette 22 in the variable cassette 22.

[0219] Specifically, when the allocation control unit 112 determines that there is no unallocated variable cassette 22 in step S54 (on the No side of S54), it is conceivable to determine whether the manual dispensing automatic allocation function is valid or invalid. Note that the setting of the validity and invalidity of the manual dispensing automatic allocation function is executed by the control unit 11 according to a user operation on the operation unit 14 at the initial setting of the drug dispensing device 400 or when issuing the next prescription data. It is also conceivable that the validity and invalidity of the manual dispensing automatic allocation function are predetermined for each drug information. When the manual dispensing automatic allocation function is set to be valid, the allocation control unit 112 allocates one or more pieces of drug information that do not have the corresponding fixed cassette 21 and cannot be allocated to the variable cassette 22 to the manual dispensing unit 4. At this time, the allocation control unit 112 causes the monitor 13 to display the result of allocating the drug information to the manual dispensing unit 4. On the other hand, when the allocation setting for the manual dispensing unit 4 is set to be invalid, the allocation control unit 112 returns the process to step S54. Also, when the manual dispensing unit 4 is used in the current prescription data, the allocation control unit 112 determines that the allocation setting of the drug information to the manual dispensing unit 4 is invalid and returns the process to step S54.

[0220] Thereby, the user can put the tablets corresponding to the drug information of the next prescription data into the manual dispensing unit 4 during the execution of dispensing the current prescription data, and the working efficiency can be improved. Also, in step S55, the allocation control unit 112 may preferentially allocate each piece of drug information included in the next prescription data to the variable cassette 22 in descending order of the dispensing amount, and in step S58, allocate the remaining drug information to the manual dispensing unit 4. Thereby, the amount of drugs that the user manually dispenses into the manual dispensing unit 4 can be minimized.

[0221] In the drug dispensing device 400 according to the fourth embodiment, in step S1 of the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11), the dispensing control unit 111 transfers the process to step S2 not only at the issuance timing of the prescription data but also when the next prescription data exists when the dispensing of the current prescription data is completed. Further, in steps S3 to S5, processing is executed for the drug information included in the next prescription data that is not assigned to the variable cassette 22 or the manual dispensing unit 4 in the next prescription assignment process. Thereafter, in step S6, when the filling completion operation is performed for each of the variable cassettes 22 corresponding to each of the drug information included in the next prescription data, a start request for the packaging operation based on the next prescription data is transmitted to the control unit 61 (S7). By the way, in step S6, the dispensing control unit 111 not only determines the presence or absence of the filling completion operation but also determines that the filling of the drug into the variable cassette 22 is completed when the variable cassette 22 is inserted or removed based on the detection result by the attachment / detachment detection sensor.

[0222] Hereinafter, other functions provided in the drug dispensing device 400 according to the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0223] [Continuous use function] In the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11), after the packaging operation is completed for the prescription data, the process returns to step S1. At this time, in the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11), a configuration is conceivable in which it is possible to assign the variable cassette 22 used at the time of dispensing the previous prescription data as the variable cassette 22 to be used at the time of dispensing the next prescription data without inserting or removing the variable cassette 22. Hereinafter, the function that permits continuous use without the need to insert or remove the variable cassette 22 after the use of the variable cassette 22 is referred to as the continuous use function.

[0224] On the other hand, in the medicine dispensing device 400, the control unit 11 can set the enabling and disabling of the continuous use function according to the user operation of the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the medicine dispensing device 400. Further, in the medicine dispensing device 400, the control unit 11 can also set the enabling and disabling of the continuous use function for each variable cassette 22 or for each prescription data according to the user operation of the operation unit 14 at the time of issuing the prescription data.

[0225] Here, when the continuous use function is disabled, after the step S10 of the medicine dispensing process (see FIG. 11), the dispensing control unit 111 does not assign the variable cassette 22 for which insertion / removal is not detected by the attachment / detachment detection sensor as the variable cassette 22 to be used at the time of dispensing the next prescription data. That is, in this case, after the dispensing of the medicine from the variable cassette 22 is completed, the user inserts and removes the variable cassette 22 once before the next assignment of the medicine information to the variable cassette 22, and inserts and removes the variable cassette 22 to fill the medicine after the next assignment of the medicine information to the variable cassette 22. As a result, it becomes necessary to insert and remove the variable cassette 22 after using the variable cassette 22, so that the user can be prompted to check the presence or absence of remaining medicine in the variable cassette 22 or the state in the variable cassette 22 (for example, the presence or absence of powder).

[0226] In addition, the continuous use function included in the medicine dispensing device 400 includes a same-kind continuous function and a different-kind continuous function. The same-kind continuous function is a function that permits continuous use of the variable cassette 22 when the medicine information previously assigned to the variable cassette 22 is the same as the medicine information to be next assigned to the variable cassette 22. Even when the same-kind continuous function is set to be effective, if the medicine information previously assigned to the variable cassette 22 is different from the medicine information to be next assigned to the variable cassette 22, the processing is the same as when the continuous use function is ineffective. The different-kind continuous function is a function that permits continuous use of the variable cassette 22 when the medicine information previously assigned to the variable cassette 22 is different from the medicine information next assigned to the variable cassette 22.

[0227] In the medicine dispensing device 400, the control unit 11 can individually change the settings of enabling and disabling the same-kind continuous function and the different-kind continuous function according to the user operation of the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the medicine dispensing device 400. It is also conceivable to have a configuration in which the setting of a combination where the same-kind continuous function is ineffective and the different-kind continuous function is effective cannot be selected. Hereinafter, in the medicine dispensing device 400, when at least one of the same-kind continuous function or the different-kind continuous function is set to be effective, it is assumed that the continuous use function is set to be effective.

[0228] In addition, when the same-kind continuous function is set to be effective and the drug information previously assigned to the variable cassette 22 is the same as the drug information next assigned to the variable cassette 22, it is conceivable that the control unit 11 does not automatically execute the remaining drug collection process. That is, in the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11), the dispensing control unit 111 does not send the remaining drug collection request to the control unit 61. Therefore, after the tablets are dispensed from the variable cassette 22, since the control unit 61 does not execute the remaining drug collection process, the tablets in the variable cassette 22 can be continuously used when the next prescription data is dispensed. In this case, the dispensing control unit 111 omits steps S4 to S6 of the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11). Thereby, when the variable cassette 22 is assigned the same drug information for consecutive prescription data, in the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11), the subcontracting operation can be started without going through the operation of filling the drug into the variable cassette 22.

[0229] [Status display function] Next, the status display function provided in the drug dispensing device 400 will be described. As described above, according to the status display function, the user can easily recognize the usage status of each variable cassette 22 by visually checking the display unit 25 of each variable cassette 22.

[0230] As shown in FIG. 16, in the drug dispensing device 400, each variable cassette 22 includes a status indicator lamp 27 together with the display unit 25. The display unit 25 is an electronic paper that maintains the display of the display content even in a non-energized state after the display content is written by energization. The status indicator lamp 27 is arranged, for example, on the front surface of the variable cassette 22 together with the display unit 25. Note that the drug dispensing device 400 may be configured not to include the status indicator lamp 27.

[0231] The status indicator lamp 27 is a light source such as an LED used to indicate the usage status of the variable cassette 22 by means of the emission color or emission mode. The emission mode includes states such as, for example, being turned off, being lit, or blinking. Note that the status indicator lamp 27 is connected to the connector on the variable cassette 22 side in the same manner as the display unit 25. When the variable cassette 22 is attached to the attachment portion 221, the status indicator lamp 27 and the prescription control unit 1 are electrically connected by the connector. Thereby, the prescription control unit 1 can change the display of the status indicator lamp 27. Note that it is also conceivable that the status indicator lamp 27 is provided on the attachment portion 221 to which the variable cassette 22 is attached.

[0232] Also, in the medicine dispensing device 400, the control unit 11 includes a display control unit 113 that controls the display contents of the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27. Note that the control unit 11 functions as the display control unit 113 by executing processing according to various programs stored in advance in storage means such as the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 12 using the CPU. Here, the display control unit 113 is an example of display control means. Note that it is also conceivable that the control unit 61 of the subcontracting control unit 6 includes the display control unit 113.

[0233] The display control unit 113 executes the display control process (see FIGS. 22 and 23) described later, and uses the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 to display the dispensing information regarding the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 and the status information regarding the usage status of the variable cassette 22. The dispensing information includes, for example, any one or more pieces of information such as the drug name, drug code, dispensed quantity, lot number, expiration date, remaining quantity, shortage quantity, and the name of the patient targeted for prescription of the drug corresponding to the drug information. In particular, it is desirable that the display control unit 113 display at least the drug name, dispensed quantity, name of the patient targeted for prescription, and the status information of the drug corresponding to the drug information on the display unit 25. Thereby, the user can refer to various information regardless of whether the variable cassette 22 is in the mounted state or the unmounted state, and the work efficiency is improved.

[0234] Note that the display control unit 113 can acquire the information on the dispensed quantity and the patient name from the prescription data including the drug information. Further, the display control unit 113 can acquire information such as the lot number and the expiration date when a barcode or the like attached to a storage container such as the original medicine bottle in which the drug in the variable cassette 22 was stored is read by the barcode reader 7. By the way, in the drug dispensing device 400 having the status display function, since the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 are controlled by the display control unit 113, steps S5 and S9 in the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11) are omitted.

[0235] Next, an example of the display control process executed by the display control unit 113 will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 to 24. The display control process is executed substantially in parallel with the medicine dispensing process (see FIG. 11) and the next prescription assignment process (see FIG. 17). Further, the display control unit 113 individually executes the display control process for each of the variable cassettes 22. Note that FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a display example of the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 in the display control process. Also, the difference in the pattern of the status indicator lamp 27 in FIG. 24 indicates a difference in the display color or display mode of the status indicator lamp 27.

[0236] <Step S61> First, in step S61, the display control unit 113 waits for the assignment of the medicine information to the variable cassette 22 in the medicine dispensing process (see FIG. 11) or the next prescription assignment process (see FIG. 17) (No side of S61). When waiting for the assignment of the medicine information, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 to display an initial screen (see FIG. 24(A) or FIG. 24(B)) described later, indicating that the medicine information has not been assigned and is in an unassigned state. Then, when the display control unit 113 determines that the medicine information has been assigned (Yes side of S61), the process proceeds to step S62.

[0237] <Step S62> In step S62, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display the dispensing information and the status information indicating that the variable cassette 22 is in a medicine filling waiting state (an example of a usage state).

[0238] Here, FIG. 24(C) shows an example of the display of the drug filling waiting state. As shown in FIG. 24(C), the display unit 25 includes a display area 252 to 25 for displaying the dispensing information and a display area 256 for displaying the status information. The display area 252 is an area where the drug name corresponding to the drug information is displayed, and for example, "Arinamin" is displayed. The display area 253 is an area where the patient name shown in the prescription data including the drug information is displayed, and for example, "Taro Yuyama" is displayed. The display area 254 is an area where the JAN code of the drug corresponding to the drug information is displayed by a barcode. Note that the JAN code is an example of a one-dimensional code indicating the identification information of the drug, and a one-dimensional code such as an RSS code (GS1 DataBar) or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) may be used instead of the JAN code. The display area 255 is an area where the dispensing amount (prescription amount) of the drug corresponding to the drug information shown in the prescription data including the drug information is displayed, and for example, "50 tablets" is displayed. Note that the display control unit 113 reads out various information to be displayed in the display areas 252 to 256 from the storage unit 12 or the RFID tag 26 and displays it on the display unit 25.

[0239] In addition, in the display area 256, the status information is displayed by numbers, characters (Chinese characters or alphabets), symbols, figures, or color schemes predetermined for each use state of the variable cassette 22. In FIG. 24(C), in the display area 256, the fact that it is in the drug filling waiting state is indicated by the character "D1". Also, it is conceivable that the status information is displayed in characters that allow the user to recall the state at a glance, such as a character string of "filling" or a single character of "fill" suggesting that it is waiting for drug filling, instead of the character "D1". Note that it is also conceivable that one use state (for example, the drug filling waiting state) is indicated by making the display area 256 non-displayed.

[0240] Furthermore, in the status indicator lamp 27, the fact that it is in the chemical filling waiting state is indicated by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display of the status indicator lamp 27 corresponding to the chemical filling waiting state is a green blinking. Here, the case where the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27 are the same for states that are somewhat similar will be described. On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the content of the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27 differs depending on the usage state of the variable cassette 22.

[0241] <Step S63> In step S63, the display control unit 113 determines whether the variable cassette 22 has been filled with chemicals. For example, when a filling completion operation is performed on the operation unit 14, or when the insertion and removal of the variable cassette 22 is executed by the attachment / detachment detection sensor that detects the attachment / detachment of the variable cassette 22, the display control unit 113 determines that the variable cassette 22 has been filled with chemicals. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the chemicals have been filled (Yes side of S63), the process proceeds to step S64. Note that the display control unit 113 waits in step S63 until the chemicals are filled (No side of S63).

[0242] <Step S64> In step S64, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display the status information indicating that the variable cassette 22 is in the dispensing state (an example of the usage state).

[0243] Here, FIG. 24(D) shows an example of the display of the dispensing state. In FIG. 24(D), in the display area 256, the fact that it is in the dispensing state is displayed as the character "D2". Also, the status information may be, instead of the character "D2", a character string of "dispensing" or the single character "dispense" suggesting that the drug is being dispensed. Further, in the status indicator lamp 27, the dispensing state is indicated by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the dispensing state is the lighting of green. Also, as shown in FIG. 24(D), even in the dispensing state, as the dispensing information, "Arinamin" is displayed in the display area 252, "Taro Yamanashi" is displayed in the display area 253, the JAN code is displayed in the display area 254, and "50 tablets" is displayed in the display area 255, respectively.

[0244] <Step S65> In step S65, the display control unit 113 determines whether the drug in the variable cassette 22 is insufficient with respect to the dispensing amount of the drug corresponding to the drug information shown in the prescription data including the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22. For example, the display control unit 113 determines that the drug is insufficient when the drug is not dispensed from the variable cassette 22 when the variable cassette 22 is driven for a predetermined time in a state where the amount of the drug dispensed from the variable cassette 22 has not reached the dispensing amount. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the drug is insufficient (on the Yes side of S65), the process proceeds to step S651. Note that when the display control unit 113 determines that the drug is not insufficient (on the No side of S65), the process proceeds to step S66.

[0245] <Step S651> In step S651, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display status information indicating that the drug in the variable cassette 22 is in a shortage state (an example of a usage state) and the shortage amount of the drug. Thereafter, the display control unit 113 moves the process to step S63 and waits for the filling of the drug into the variable cassette 22 (the No side of S63).

[0246] Here, FIG. 24(E) shows an example of the display of the drug shortage state. In FIG. 24(E), in the display area 256, the fact that it is in the drug shortage state is displayed as the character "D3". Further, the status information may be a character string of "out of stock" or a single character "missing" suggesting a state where the drug is out of stock instead of the character "D3". Furthermore, in the status indicator lamp 27, the drug shortage state is indicated by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the drug shortage state may be a green blinking, which is the same as the drug filling waiting state. Also, as shown in FIG. 24(E), even in the drug filling waiting state, as the dispensing information, "Arinamin" is displayed in the display area 252, "Taro Yamanashi" is displayed in the display area 253, and the JAN code is displayed in the display area 254, respectively.

[0247] On the other hand, the display control unit 113 causes the quantity of the drug that needs to be filled in the variable cassette 22, that is, the shortage amount of the drug, to be displayed in the display area 255 instead of the dispensed amount. In FIG. 24(E), "15 tablets" is displayed as the shortage amount of the drug. Specifically, the display control unit 113 calculates the difference between the dispensed amount (prescribed amount) shown in the prescription data including the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 and the dispensed amount already dispensed from the variable cassette 22 as the shortage amount.

[0248] Also, when the display of the dispensing state in step S64 is being performed, it is conceivable that the display control unit 113 decrements the dispensed amount displayed in the display area 255 each time the dispensing of the drug is detected by the counter. Thereby, when the drug shortage state is reached, the shortage amount with respect to the dispensed amount will be displayed in the display area 255. Note that it is also conceivable that the display control unit 113 displays that the drug is insufficient without displaying the shortage amount of the drug, or displays the shortage amount of the drug without displaying that the drug is insufficient. Further, when displaying the shortage amount of the drug without displaying that the drug is insufficient, the display control unit 113 may indicate the state where the drug is insufficient, for example, by blinking the display of the shortage amount.

[0249] <Step S66> In step S66, the display control unit 113 determines whether or not the dispensing of the drug by the variable cassette 22 has been completed. For example, the display control unit 113 determines whether or not the dispensing has been completed according to whether or not it has received from the control unit 61 a control signal indicating that the drug in the dispensed amount indicated in the prescription data has been dispensed from the variable cassette 22. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the dispensing has been completed (Yes side in S66), it shifts the process to step S67. Note that if the display control unit 113 determines that the dispensing has not been completed (No side in S66), it returns the process to step S65.

[0250] <Step S67> In step S67, the display control unit 113 branches the process according to whether or not to execute the remaining drug collection process of automatically collecting the drugs in the variable cassette 22. Note that the setting regarding whether or not to execute the remaining drug collection process is executed by the control unit 11 according to a user operation on the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the drug dispensing device 400 or the like. Also, at this point, when the display control unit 113 determines that the same-kind continuous function is valid and the drug information assigned by the previous prescription data is the same as the drug information to be assigned by the next prescription data, it is also conceivable that the display control unit 113 determines not to execute the remaining drug collection process. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that it is set to execute the remaining drug collection process (Yes side of S67), the process is shifted to step S671. On the other hand, when the display control unit 113 determines that it is set not to execute the remaining drug collection process (No side of S67), the process is shifted to step S68.

[0251] <Step S671> In step S671, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display the status information indicating that the variable cassette 22 is in a state of collecting remaining drugs (an example of a usage state).

[0252] Here, FIG. 24(F) shows an example of the display of the state during the remaining drug collection. In FIG. 24(F), in the display area 256, the fact that it is in the state of collecting the remaining drug is displayed as the character "D4". Also, the status information may be, instead of the character "D4", the character string "collection" or the single character "collect" suggesting that the drug is being collected. Note that the status information corresponding to the state during the remaining drug collection may be the same as the status information corresponding to the state during the dispensing. Further, in the status indicator lamp 27, the state during the remaining drug collection is shown by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the state during the collection is the lighting of green, and it is conceivable that it is the same as the state during the dispensing. Also, as shown in FIG. 24(F), even in the state during the remaining drug collection, as the dispensing information, "Arinamin" is displayed in the display area 252, "Taro Yamanashi" is displayed in the display area 253, the JAN code is displayed in the display area 254, and "50 tablets" is displayed in the display area 255, respectively.

[0253] <Step S672> Then, in step S672, the display control unit 113 waits for the end of the remaining drug collection process (No side of S672). And when the display control unit 113 determines that the remaining drug collection process has ended (Yes side of S672), it causes the process to shift to step S68.

[0254] For example, the display control unit 113 determines the end of the remaining drug collection process based on a control signal transmitted from the control unit 61 at the end of the remaining drug collection process. Note that the control unit 61 drives the first rotator 223 and the second rotator 224 of the variable cassette 22 for a preset collection time in the remaining drug collection process. Thereby, when tablets remain in the variable cassette 22, the tablets are dispensed from the variable cassette 22. At this time, it is conceivable that the control unit 61 ends the remaining drug collection process when a preset number of tablets are dispensed from the variable cassette 22. Thereby, it is possible to end the remaining drug collection process halfway when a large amount of tablets remain in the variable cassette 22. Then, the control unit 61 transmits information indicating whether the remaining drug collection process was ended halfway at the end of the remaining drug collection process to the control unit 11 together with the control signal. Thereby, the display control unit 113 of the control unit 11 can determine whether the remaining drug collection process was ended halfway, that is, whether there is a possibility that tablets remain in the variable cassette 22.

[0255] <Timing of drug information allocation> Incidentally, in the drug dispensing device 400, after the drug is dispensed from the variable cassette 22 or after the end of the remaining drug collection process, the next timing of allocating the drug information to the variable cassette 22 differs depending on whether the change unit of the allocation state of the variable cassette 22 is in units of drugs or prescriptions. Note that the setting regarding the change unit of the allocation state is executed by the control unit 11 according to a user operation on the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the drug dispensing device 400 or the like.

[0256] First, when the unit for changing the allocation status of the variable cassette 22 is a drug unit, the dispensing control unit 111 changes the allocation status of a certain variable cassette 22 among the plurality of variable cassettes 22 used in the prescription data to unallocated when the dispensing of drugs from one of the variable cassettes 22 is completed. In this case, in the drug dispensing device 400, the control unit 61 individually notifies the control unit 11 of whether the dispensing from each of the variable cassettes 22 is completed. Therefore, even when a plurality of variable cassettes 22 are used in one prescription data, the allocation control unit 112 can allocate the drug information of the next prescription data in order from the variable cassette 22 in which the dispensing of drugs is completed among the plurality of variable cassettes 22 in the next prescription allocation process. Note that when the continuous use function is set to invalid, the dispensing control unit 11 may individually set the allocation status of the variable cassette 22 to unallocated on the condition of the insertion / removal operation of the variable cassette 22.

[0257] On the other hand, when the unit for changing the allocation status of the variable cassette 22 is a prescription unit, the dispensing control unit 111 changes the allocation status of each of the variable cassettes 22 to unallocated when the dispensing of drugs from all the variable cassettes 22 used in the prescription data is completed. In this case, the allocation control unit 112 will allocate the drug information of the next prescription data when the dispensing of drugs from all the variable cassettes 22 used in one prescription data is completed in the next prescription allocation process. Note that when the continuous use function is set to invalid, after the dispensing of drugs from all the variable cassettes 22 used in the prescription data is completed, the dispensing control unit 111 may individually set the allocation status of the variable cassette 22 to unallocated on the condition of the insertion / removal operation of the variable cassette 22.

[0258] <Step S68> Then, in the display control process, as shown in FIG. 23, in steps S68 to S70, the display of the display unit 25 is changed according to the timing of assigning the next drug information to the variable cassette 22. Specifically, first, in step S68, the display control unit 113 branches the process according to whether the change unit of the assignment state of the drug information for each of the variable cassettes 22 is a drug unit or a prescription unit. Here, when the change unit of the assignment state of the variable cassette 22 is a prescription unit (No side of S68), the display control unit 113 shifts the process to step S69. On the other hand, when the change unit of the assignment state of the variable cassette 22 is a drug unit (Yes side of S68), the display control unit 113 shifts the process to step S70.

[0259] <Step S69> In step S69, the display control unit 113 waits for the completion of the dispensing of the drugs corresponding to all the drug information in the prescription data (No side of S69). For example, when the display control unit 113 receives the sub-packaging completion notification from the control unit 61, it determines that the dispensing for the prescription data has been completed. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the dispensing for the prescription data has been completed (Yes side of S69), it shifts the process to step S70.

[0260] <Step S70> Then, in step S70, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display the status information indicating that the variable cassette 22 is in the dispensed complete state (an example of the usage state). That is, in the display control process, when the assignment state of the variable cassette 22 is changed in drug units, the dispensed complete state is displayed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 when the dispensing of the drug from the variable cassette 22 is completed. On the other hand, when the assignment state of the variable cassette 22 is changed in prescription units, the dispensed complete state is displayed on the display unit 25 of each of the variable cassettes 22 when the dispensing of all the drugs from all the variable cassettes 22 used in one prescription data is completed.

[0261] Here, FIG. 25(A) is a conceptual diagram showing the change timing of the allocation state when the change unit of the allocation state of the variable cassette 22 is a drug unit, and FIG. 25(B) is a conceptual diagram showing the change timing of the allocation state when the change unit of the allocation state of the variable cassette 22 is a prescription unit. In FIGS. 25(A) and 25(B), an example of the change timing of the allocation state when the variable cassettes 22 with cassette numbers "C1", "C2", and "C3" are used in the prescription data is shown.

[0262] As shown in FIG. 25(A), when the change unit of the allocation state of the variable cassette 22 is a drug unit, when the dispensing from the variable cassette 22 with the cassette number "C1" is completed, it is displayed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 with the cassette number "C1" that the dispensing is completed. Then, when the variable cassette 22 with the cassette number "C1" is inserted and removed, the allocation state of the variable cassette 22 with the cassette number "C1" is changed to unallocated, and the variable cassette 22 becomes available for use. For each of the variable cassettes 22 with the cassette numbers "C2" and "C3", similar to the variable cassette 22 with the cassette number "C1", the display indicating that the dispensing is completed and the change of the allocation state of the variable cassette 22 are performed independently of the other variable cassettes 22.

[0263] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 25(B), when the change unit of the allocation state of the variable cassette 22 is the prescription unit, even if the dispensing from the variable cassette 22 with the cassette number "C1" is completed, the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 with the cassette number "C1" does not display that the dispensing is completed. And when the dispensing is completed for each of the variable cassettes 22 with the cassette number "C2" and the cassette number "C3", it is displayed on the display unit 25 of each of the variable cassettes 22 with the cassette numbers "C1" to "C3" that the dispensing is completed. Thereafter, each of the variable cassettes 22 with the cassette numbers "C1" to "C3" is inserted and removed, so that the allocation state is changed to unallocated and the variable cassette 22 becomes available.

[0264] Also, in step S70, the display control unit 113 switches the display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the dispensing completed state according to whether the remaining drug collection process for the variable cassette 22 has ended halfway. Here, FIGS. 24(G) and 24(H) show display examples of the dispensing completed state.

[0265] Specifically, when the display control unit 113 has received a notification from the control unit 61 that the remaining drug collection process has ended normally, as shown in FIG. 24(G), in the display area 256, "D5" indicating the dispensing completed state corresponding to the case where the remaining drug collection process has ended normally is displayed. For example, "D5" may be a character string of "Paid" or a single character "Paid" suggesting the dispensed state.

[0266] On the other hand, when the display control unit 113 has received a notification from the control unit 61 that the remaining drug collection process has ended halfway, as shown in FIG. 24(H), in the display area 256, "D6" indicating the dispensing completed state corresponding to the case where the remaining drug collection process has ended halfway is displayed. For example, "D6" may be a character string of "Remaining" or a single character "Remaining" suggesting a state where there may be a remainder.

[0267] Note that, as shown in FIGS. 24(G) and 24(H), in the status indicator lamp 27, the payout completion state is indicated by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the payout completion state is the lighting of orange. Further, as shown in FIGS. 24(G) and 24(H), even in the payout completion state, as the payout information, "Arinamin" is displayed in the display area 252, "Tarou Yamanashi" is displayed in the display area 253, the JAN code is displayed in the display area 254, and "50 tablets" is displayed in the display area 255, respectively.

[0268] <Step S71> In step S71, the display control unit 113 branches the process according to whether the setting of the continuous use function is valid or invalid. Note that the display control unit 113 determines that the continuous use function is valid when at least one of the same-kind continuous function and the different-kind continuous function is valid. Then, when the continuous use function is set to be valid (Yes side of S71), the display control unit 113 shifts the process to step S711 and executes the continuous use display process (FIG. 26) described later. Also, when the continuous use function is set to be invalid (No side of S71), the display control unit 113 shifts the process to step S72.

[0269] <Step S72> In step S72, the display control unit 113 waits for the insertion / removal operation of the variable cassette 22 (No side of S72). Step S72 is a process for estimating that the user has confirmed that no medicine remains in the variable cassette 22. Note that the payout control unit 111 determines the presence or absence of the insertion / removal operation of the variable cassette 22 according to the detection result of the attachment / detachment detection sensor that detects the attachment / detachment of the variable cassette 22 provided in the attachment part 221. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the insertion / removal operation of the variable cassette 22 has been performed (Yes side of S72), the display control unit 113 shifts the process to step S73.

[0270] <Step S73> In step S73, the display control unit 113 branches the process according to the presence or absence of the previous drug display setting for displaying, on the display unit 25, the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 for the previous prescription data as the previous drug information. Note that the setting regarding the validity and invalidity of the previous drug display setting is executed by the control unit 11 according to a user operation on the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the drug dispensing device 400 or the like. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the previous drug display setting is set to invalid (on the No side of S73), the process proceeds to step S74. Also, when it is determined that the previous drug display setting is set to valid (on the Yes side of S73), the process proceeds to step S731.

[0271] <Step S74> In step S74, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display the status information indicating that the variable cassette 22 is in the unassigned state (an example of the usage state).

[0272] Here, FIG. 24(A) shows an initial screen corresponding to the case where the previous drug display setting is invalid and the variable cassette 22 is in the unassigned state. In the initial screen shown in FIG. 24(A), the display areas 252 to 256 are not displayed, and only the character string "Not registered" is displayed. Note that it is also conceivable that the display control unit 113 makes the display unit 25 non-display. Also, in the status indicator lamp 27, the unassigned state is indicated by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the unassigned state is off.

[0273] <Step S731> On the other hand, in step S731, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display the status information indicating that the variable cassette 22 is in the unassigned state (an example of the usage state).

[0274] Here, FIG. 24(B) is a display example when the previous drug display setting is valid, and it shows that it is in the unassigned state. In FIG. 24(B), the drug name "Arinamin" corresponding to the drug information that was previously assigned to the variable cassette 22 is displayed in the display area 252, and the JAN code corresponding to the drug information is displayed in the display area 254. Also, in FIG. 24(B), "D7" is displayed in the display area 256 as the status information indicating the unassigned state when the previous display setting is valid. For example, "D7" may be considered as the character string "previous" or the single character "pre" suggesting the state indicating the previous drug. Further, in the status indicator lamp 27, the unassigned state is indicated by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the unassigned state is off.

[0275] In addition, when the drug dispensing device 400 has the immobilization function for fixing the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22, a configuration may be considered in which the control unit 11 causes the display unit 25 to display the name and JAN code of the drug fixed by the immobilization function. On the other hand, in step S731, "D7" indicating that the information of the drug used last time is displayed in the display area 256 is displayed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22. Therefore, it becomes clear whether the drug information displayed on the display unit 25 is the drug fixedly assigned to the variable cassette 22 by the immobilization function or the drug used last time. When drug information is fixedly assigned to the variable cassette 22 by the immobilization function, it is conceivable that the display control unit 113 causes the status information indicating that the drug information has been fixed by the immobilization function to be displayed in the display area 256.

[0276] As described above, in the medicine dispensing device 400, the display contents of the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of each of the variable cassettes 22 are appropriately changed by the status display function. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the status of each of the variable cassettes 22 by referring to the dispensing information and the status information of each of the variable cassettes 22 displayed by the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of each of the variable cassettes 22.

[0277] [Continuous use display process] Next, with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27, the continuous use display process executed in step S711 will be described. Here, FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the continuous use display process, and FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a display example of the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 in the continuous use display process.

[0278] <Step S75> In step S75, the display control unit 113 determines whether the next prescription data has been issued. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the next prescription data has been issued (on the Yes side of S75), the process proceeds to step S76. On the other hand, when the display control unit 113 determines that the next prescription data has not been issued (on the No side of S75), the continuous use display process is terminated and the process proceeds to step S72.

[0279] <Step S76> In step S76, the display control unit 113 determines whether drug information of the same type as the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 in the previous prescription data is assigned to the variable cassette 22 for the next prescription data. Here, in the drug dispensing device 400, when the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 for the previous prescription data is included in the next prescription data, the dispensing control unit 111 assumes that the drug information of the next prescription data is assigned to the same variable cassette 22. That is, in the drug dispensing device 400, drug information of the same type included in consecutive prescription data is assigned to the same variable cassette 22. Note that the dispensing control unit 111 acquires the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 in the previous prescription data from the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22 or the allocation information 121 stored in the storage unit 12.

[0280] Then, when the display control unit 113 determines that drug information of the same type is assigned to the variable cassette 22 (Yes side in S76), the process proceeds to step S761. Also, when the display control unit 113 determines that different types of drug information are assigned to the variable cassette 22 (No side in S76), the process proceeds to step S77.

[0281] <Step S761> In step S761, the display control unit 113 changes the display content of the dispensing state in step S64 to display content indicating that it is the dispensing state (an example of the usage state) when the variable cassette 22 is continuously used. Thereafter, the display control unit 113 causes the process to proceed to step S64. As a result, in step S64, the display content displayed on the display unit 25 by the display control unit 113 becomes the display content corresponding to the dispensing state when the variable cassette 22 is continuously used.

[0282] Here, FIG. 27(A) shows an example of the display of the dispensing state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22. In FIG. 27(A), in the display area 256, it is indicated by the character "D8" that it is the dispensing state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22. Also, it is conceivable that the status information is, instead of the character "D8", a character string of "continuous" or a single character "Ji" suggesting the continuous use state. Further, in the status indicator lamp 27, the dispensing state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22 is indicated by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the dispensing state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22 is the green light on. Also, in FIG. 27(A), as the dispensing information, "Arinamine" is displayed in the display area 252, "Tarou Yamanashi" is displayed in the display area 253, the JAN code is displayed in the display area 254, and "50 tablets" is displayed in the display area 255, respectively.

[0283] Note that after the dispensing state is displayed in step S64 executed after step S761, if a shortage occurs in the drug in the variable cassette 22, as shown in FIG. 27(B), the display of the drug shortage state is performed in step S651. On the other hand, after the display of the drug shortage state is performed, when the variable cassette 22 is filled with drugs, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 to display the display content indicating the dispensing state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22 set in step S761, as shown in FIG. 27(A).

[0284] <Step S77> On the other hand, when the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 is not the same type of drug information (No side of S76), in step S77, the display control unit 113 determines whether the different-type continuation function is set to be effective. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the different-type continuation function is effective (Yes side of S77), the process proceeds to step S771. Further, when the display control unit 113 determines that the different-type continuation function is ineffective (No side of S77), the continuous use display process is terminated and the process proceeds to step S72.

[0285] <Step S771> In step S771, the display control unit 113 changes the display content of the drug filling waiting state in step S62 to the display content indicating that it is the drug filling waiting state (an example of the use state) during the continuous use of the variable cassette 22. After that, the display control unit 113 causes the process to proceed to step S62. As a result, the display content displayed in step S62 becomes the display content corresponding to the drug filling waiting state during the continuous use of the variable cassette 22.

[0286] Here, FIG. 27(C) shows an example of the display of the drug filling waiting state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22. In FIG. 27(C), in the display area 256, it is displayed in the characters of "D9" that it is the drug filling waiting state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22. Also, the status information may be, instead of the characters of "D9", a character string of "visible", or a single character of "vis" suggesting that confirmation by visual inspection is required during filling. Further, in the status indicator lamp 27, the drug filling waiting state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22 is shown by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the drug filling waiting state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22 is the lighting of green. Also, in FIG. 27(C) as well, as the dispensing information, "Buffalin" is displayed in the display area 252, "Taro Yuyama" is displayed in the display area 253, the JAN code is displayed in the display area 254, and "50 tablets" is displayed in the display area 255, respectively.

[0287] In addition, when the drug filling waiting state is displayed in step S62 executed after step S771, if the variable cassette 22 is filled with drugs, the display control unit 113 initializes the display content corresponding to the drug filling waiting state changed in step S771. As a result, when the drug filling waiting state is displayed thereafter, as shown in FIG. 27(D), instead of "D9" corresponding to the drug filling waiting state during continuous use of the variable cassette 22, "D2" corresponding to the normal drug filling waiting state is displayed.

[0288] [Exception display function] By the way, during the execution of drug dispensing using the variable cassette 22, an abnormality such as a sudden restart of the drug dispensing device 400 may occur, or a deletion operation of the prescription data may be performed. In addition, when the deletion operation of the prescription data is performed, the prescription data of the operation target is deleted by the control unit 11, and the dispensing of the drug for the prescription data is stopped.

[0289] Therefore, it is conceivable that the display control unit 113 has an exception display function for causing the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of each of the variable cassettes 22 to display their exceptional states. Here, with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29, an example of the procedure of the exception display process executed by the display control unit 113 to display the exceptional state will be described. The exception display process is executed in parallel with other processes such as the medicine dispensing process, the next prescription assignment process, and the display control process executed by the control unit 11. Here, FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the exception display process, and FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 in the exception display process.

[0290] <Step S81> First, in step S81, the display control unit 113 determines whether an abnormality such as an unexpected restart of the medicine dispensing device 400 has occurred. Note that the content of the abnormality is not limited to the restart of the medicine dispensing device 400, and may include various types of abnormality contents preset in the medicine dispensing device 400. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the abnormality has occurred (Yes side of S81), the process proceeds to step S82. Also, when the display control unit 113 determines that the abnormality has not occurred (No side of S81), the process proceeds to step S811.

[0291] <Step S811> Also, in step S811, the display control unit 113 determines whether a deletion operation of the prescription data including the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 has been performed during the drug dispensing in the drug dispensing device 400. Note that the deletion operation of the prescription data is, for example, a user operation on the operation unit 14 performed when the selection screen of the prescription data is displayed on the monitor 13. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the deletion operation of the prescription data has been performed (Yes side of S811), the process proceeds to step S812. Also, if the display control unit 113 determines that the deletion operation of the prescription data has not been performed (No side of S811), the process proceeds to step S81. Note that the deletion operation of the prescription data described here does not include a deletion operation performed before the issuance of the prescription data (before the assignment to the variable cassette 22) or before the start of the drug dispensing for the prescription data.

[0292] In this way, while executing the display control process (Figs. 22 and 23), the display control unit 113 monitors the occurrence of the abnormality and the deletion operation of the prescription data as interrupt events. Then, in response to the occurrence of the interrupt event, the display control process 113 interrupts the display control process and executes the process after step S82 or step S812 described later.

[0293] <Step S82> In step S82, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display the status information indicating that the abnormality has occurred (an example of the usage state).

[0294] Here, FIG. 29(A) shows an example of displaying the occurrence state of the abnormality. In FIG. 29(A), in the display area 256, it is indicated by the character "D10" that the abnormality has occurred. Also, the status information may be, instead of the character "D10", a character string of "Collection" or the single character "C" suggesting a state where manual collection of the drug in the variable cassette 22 is required due to the occurrence of an abnormality. Further, in the status indicator lamp 27, the occurrence state of the abnormality is indicated by the display color and display mode of the status indicator lamp 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display state of the status indicator lamp 27 indicating the occurrence state of the abnormality is the lighting of orange (or red). Also, in FIG. 29(A), as the dispensing information, "Arinamin" is displayed in the display area 252, "Taro Yamanashi" is displayed in the display area 253, the JAN code is displayed in the display area 254, and "50 tablets" is displayed in the display area 255, respectively.

[0295] Also, FIGS. 29(B) and 29(C) show other display examples indicating the occurrence state of the abnormality. In the example shown in FIG. 29(B), the display content of the display unit 25 is the same as the display content shown in FIG. 29(A), but by inverting the character color and background color of the display areas 252 to 256 in the display unit 25, the occurrence state of the abnormality is emphasized and displayed. Note that, as a method of emphasizing and displaying the occurrence state of the abnormality, a display mode such as blinking the entire display content of the display unit 25 is also conceivable. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 29(C), the display areas 252 to 256 of the display unit 25 are not displayed, and only the character string "Abnormality occurred" is emphasized and displayed. Thus, when the abnormality occurs, by performing a display that is clearly different from the normal time on the display unit 25, the user can easily recognize the occurrence state of the abnormality.

[0296] <Step S812> Also, in step S812, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display the status information indicating that it is the deletion state (an example of the usage state) of the prescription data.

[0297] Here, FIG. 29(D) shows an example of displaying the deletion state of the prescription data. In FIG. 29(D), in the display area 256, it is displayed in the characters of "D11" that the state is the deletion state of the prescription data. Also, it is conceivable that the status information is, instead of the characters of "D11", a character string of "Deleted" or a single character of "Del" suggesting the state where the prescription data has been deleted. Further, in the status indicator light 27, the deletion state of the prescription data is shown by the display color and display mode of the status indicator light 27. For example, it is conceivable that the display state of the status indicator light 27 indicating the deletion state of the prescription data is the lighting of orange (or red). Also, in FIG. 29(D) as well, as the dispensing information, "Arinamin" is displayed in the display area 252, "Tarou Yamanashi" is displayed in the display area 253, the JAN code is displayed in the display area 254, and "50 tablets" is displayed in the display area 255, respectively.

[0298] <Step S83> Thereafter, in step S83, the display control unit 113 waits for the insertion / removal operation of the variable cassette 22 in the same manner as in step S72 (No side of S83). Step S83 is a process for estimating that the state in the variable cassette 22 has been confirmed by the user after the occurrence of the abnormality or the deletion of the prescription data. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the insertion / removal operation of the variable cassette 22 has been performed (Yes side of S83), the process proceeds to step S84. Note that in the drug dispensing device 400, the dispensing control unit 111 does not execute the dispensing of the drug for the next prescription data until each of the variable cassettes 22 is inserted / removed after the occurrence of the abnormality or the deletion of the prescription data. Thereby, it is suppressed that the dispensing of the drug for the next prescription data is started while the state of each of the variable cassettes 22 remains indefinite.

[0299] <Step S84> In step S84, the display control unit 113 branches the process according to whether the previous drug display setting is valid or invalid, similar to step S73. Here, when the display control unit 113 determines that the previous drug display setting is set to be valid (Yes side of S84), it shifts the process to step S841. Also, when the display control unit 113 determines that the previous drug display setting is set to be invalid (No side of S84), it shifts the process to step S85.

[0300] <Step S841> In step S841, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display that it is in the unassigned state, similar to step S731 (see Fig. 24(B)). After that, the display control unit 113 returns the process to step S81 and resumes the display control process from step S61.

[0301] <Step S85> On the other hand, in step S85, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 of the variable cassette 22 to display that it is in the unassigned state, similar to step S74 (see Fig. 24(A)). After that, the display control unit 113 returns the process to step S81 and resumes the display control process from step S61.

[0302] As described above, in the drug dispensing device 400, when an exceptional situation such as the occurrence of an abnormality or the deletion of prescription data occurs, the exception display function can cause the display unit 25 and the status indicator lamp 27 to display that fact. Therefore, when the exceptional situation occurs, the user can be prompted to check the variable cassette 22.

[0303] [Example of transition of display state] Here, while referring to FIGS. 30 and 31, a specific example of the relationship between the state of the variable cassette 22 and the display content of the display unit 25 in the medicine dispensing device 400 will be described. Here, FIG. 30 is a transition table showing the transition of the state of the variable cassette 22 and the display content of the display unit 25, and FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a specific display example of the display unit 25 in each state of the transition table.

[0304] As shown in the transition table of FIG. 30, the state of the variable cassette 22 is roughly classified into 11 stages from state ST0 to state ST10, and the display content of the display unit 25 and the state display lamp 27 is assigned to each of the states ST0 to ST10.

[0305] Specifically, the state ST0 is a "not registered" state in which no medicine information is assigned to the variable cassette 22. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST0 is "no display", and the lighting content of the state display lamp 27 is "off". And in the transition table shown in FIG. 30, when an event of "prescription registration" in which medicine information corresponding to prescription data is assigned to the variable cassette 22 occurs in the state ST0, it is shown that the state shifts to ST2.

[0306] Next, the state ST1 is a state in which, in the state ST7, the state ST9, or the state ST10, the variable cassette 22 is inserted and removed, and it is confirmed that there is no remaining medicine in the variable cassette 22. Also, in the state ST1, it is a "not registered" state in which no medicine information is assigned to the variable cassette 22. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST1 is "(A)" corresponding to the display example of FIG. 31(A), and the lighting content of the state display lamp 27 is "off". And when an event of "prescription registration" in which medicine information corresponding to prescription data is assigned to the variable cassette 22 occurs in the state ST1, it is shown that the state shifts to ST2.

[0307] Further, the state ST2 is a "waiting for replenishment" state until the variable cassette 22 is replenished with chemicals. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST2 is "(B)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(B), and the lighting content of the state indicator lamp 27 is "green flashing". And in the state ST2, when an event of "power-on startup" occurs in which the power supply of the chemical dispensing device 400 is reset, the state shifts to the state ST10. Note that the same applies to "power-on startup" for the other states ST3 to ST6 and the state ST8. Also, when an event of "chemical replenishment" occurs in which it is determined that the variable cassette 22 has been inserted and removed and chemicals have been replenished, the state shifts to the state ST3. Further, when an event of "prescription deletion" occurs in which the prescription data including the chemicals assigned to the variable cassette 22 is deleted, the state shifts to the state ST9. Note that the same applies to "prescription deletion" for the other states ST3 to ST5 and the state ST8.

[0308] The state ST3 is a "dispensing in progress" state in which the subcontracting process using the variable cassette 22 is being executed. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST3 is "(B)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(B), and the lighting content of the state indicator lamp 27 is "green on". And in the state ST3, when an event of "out-of-stock" occurs in which the chemicals in the variable cassette 22 are insufficient, the state shifts to the state ST5. On the other hand, in the state ST3, when an event of "dispensing completed" occurs in which the dispensing of the chemicals from the variable cassette 22 is completed, if the remaining chemical collection process is executed, the state shifts to the state ST6, and if the remaining chemical collection process is not executed, the state shifts to the state ST7.

[0309] The state ST4 is a state in which at least one of the same-kind continuous function and the different-kind continuous function is valid in the state ST7, and an event of "continuous prescription registration" in which the same drug as the previous time is assigned has occurred. Also, in the state ST4, it is a state of "dispensing" in which the subcontracting process using the variable cassette 22 is being executed. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST4 is "(F)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(F), and the lighting content of the state display lamp 27 is "green on". And in the state ST4, the state transitions in the same way as in the state ST3.

[0310] The state ST5 is a state of "waiting for out-of-stock replenishment" until the drug in the variable cassette 22 is replenished after it becomes insufficient. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST5 is "(C)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(C), and the lighting content of the state display lamp 27 is "green flashing". And in the state ST5, when an event of "drug replenishment" occurs, if the previous stage of the state ST5 was the state ST3, it returns to the state ST3, and if the previous stage of the state ST5 was the state ST4, it returns to the state ST4.

[0311] The state ST6 is a state of "automatically collecting" in which the remaining drug collection process is being executed for the variable cassette 22. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST6 is "(B)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(B) if the previous stage of the state ST6 was the state ST3, and "(F)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(F) if the previous stage of the state ST6 was the state ST4. In both cases, the lighting content of the state display lamp 27 is "orange on". And in the state ST6, when an event of "automatic collection completed" in which the remaining drug collection process ends occurs, it transitions to the state ST7.

[0312] The state ST7 is the "sub-packaging completed" state where the sub-packaging process using the variable cassette 22 is completed. Note that in the state of the state ST7, the insertion and removal of the variable cassette 22 has not been performed. When the display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST7 is the case where the remaining drug collection process has ended normally, it is "(D)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(D), and when the remaining drug collection process has ended because the maximum collectible number of tablets has been collected, it is "(H)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(H). In both cases, the lighting content of the state indicator lamp 27 is "orange lighting".

[0313] In the state ST7, when an event of "confirmation of remaining drugs in the cassette" occurs where the variable cassette 22 is inserted and removed and it is confirmed that there are no remaining drugs in the variable cassette 22, the state shifts to the state ST0 or the state ST1 according to the invalidation ("X") or validation ("Y") of the previous drug display setting as the standby display pattern of the display unit 25.

[0314] Also, in the state ST7, when an event of "continuous prescription registration (the same drug as the previous one)" occurs where prescription data for the same drug as the drug assigned to the variable cassette 22 is issued to the drug cassette 22, the state transitions according to the validity or invalidity of the same-kind continuation function and the different-kind continuation function. Specifically, when at least one of the same-kind continuation function and the different-kind continuation function is valid "(b), (c)", the state shifts to the state ST4. On the other hand, when both the same-kind continuation function and the different-kind continuation function are "invalid" "(a)", the state ST7 continues.

[0315] On the other hand, in the state ST7, when an event of "continuous prescription registration (a drug different from the previous one)" occurs where prescription data for a drug different from the drug assigned to the variable cassette 22 is issued to the drug cassette 22, the state also transitions according to the validity or invalidity of the same-kind continuation function and the different-kind continuation function. Specifically, when the different-kind continuation function is valid "(c)", the state shifts to the state ST8. On the other hand, when the different-kind continuation function is "invalid" "(a), (b)", the state ST7 continues.

[0316] The state ST8 is a "waiting for replenishment" state until the drug assigned to the variable cassette 22 in the state ST7 is replenished. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST8 is "(E)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(E), and the lighting content of the state display lamp 27 is "orange lighting". And in the state ST8, when the event of "drug replenishment" occurs, the state shifts to the state ST3.

[0317] The state ST9 is a "waiting for confirmation of tablets after prescription deletion" state until the variable cassette 22 is inserted and removed and the remaining drugs in the variable cassette 22 are confirmed after the event of "prescription deletion" occurs. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST9 is "(G)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(G), and the lighting content of the state display lamp 27 is "orange lighting". And in the state ST9, when the event of "confirmation of remaining drugs in the cassette" occurs, depending on the invalidation ("X") or validation ("Y") of the previous drug display setting, the state shifts to the state ST0 or the state ST1.

[0318] The state ST10 is a "waiting for manual collection" state until the variable cassette 22 is inserted and removed and the remaining drugs in the variable cassette 22 are confirmed after the event of "power-on" occurs. The display content of the display unit 25 corresponding to the state ST10 is "(I)" corresponding to the display example in FIG. 31(I), and the lighting content of the state display lamp 27 is "orange lighting". And in the state ST10, when the event of "confirmation of remaining drugs in the cassette" occurs, depending on the invalidation ("X") or validation ("Y") of the previous drug display setting, the state shifts to the state ST0 or the state ST1.

[0319] [Fixed Cassette Display Function] Also, as shown in FIG. 16, each of the fixed cassettes 21 is provided with a display unit 291 and a status indicator lamp 292, and it is conceivable that the display control unit 113 has a fixed cassette display function for controlling the display of the display unit 291 and the status indicator lamp 292. Note that the display unit 291 and the status indicator lamp 292 may be provided in the mounting portion 211 on which the fixed cassette 21 is mounted corresponding to each of the fixed cassettes 21. Here, the display unit 291 is an example of a drug identification display means.

[0320] The display unit 291 is an electronic paper provided on the front surface of the fixed cassette 21, similar to the display unit 25. Note that the display unit 291 may be a liquid crystal display panel or the like. The status indicator lamp 292 is provided on the front surface of the fixed cassette 21 together with the display unit 291, and is a light source such as an LED used to display the usage status of the fixed cassette 21 by a light emission color or a light emission mode. The light emission mode includes, for example, states such as being turned off, being lit, or blinking. Then, the display control unit 113 changes the display of the status indicator lamp 292 according to the usage status of the fixed cassette 21.

[0321] In the drug dispensing device 400 configured as described above, the display control unit 113 can display various pieces of information preset in the display unit 291 as necessary. Here, the display control unit 113 when executing the display process is an example of specific display control means. The various pieces of information include information regarding the drugs stored in the fixed cassette 21, such as drug identification information, remaining quantity, lot number, and expiration date. The drug identification information is a drug name, a drug code, a JAN code (barcode), an RSS code (GS1 data bar), or a QR code (registered trademark). Note that the JAN code (barcode), the RSS code (GS1 data bar), or the QR code (registered trademark) may include information such as the lot number or expiration date of the drug. Thereby, the user can easily confirm the drug identification information, remaining quantity, lot number, expiration date, etc. of the drugs stored in the fixed cassette 21.

[0322] In particular, it is desirable that the display control unit 113 can display the remaining amount of the drug stored in the fixed cassette 21 on the display unit 291. For example, when filling the drug into the fixed cassette 21, the display control unit 113 receives an input of the filling amount through a user operation of the operation unit 14 or the like. In addition, when the barcode described on the storage container such as the original medicine bottle of the drug to be filled into the fixed cassette 21 is read by the barcode reader 7, it is also conceivable that the display control unit 113 receives the drug amount included in the barcode information as the filling amount. Here, the display control unit 113 when receiving the input of the filling amount is an example of the filling amount receiving means.

[0323] Then, the display control unit 113 increases the remaining amount of the drug displayed on the display unit 291 according to the filling amount. For example, when the current remaining amount of the drug in the fixed cassette 21 is 0, the filling amount is displayed on the display unit 291 as the remaining amount of the drug. When the remaining amount of the drug in the fixed cassette 21 is not 0, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 291 to display, as the remaining amount of the drug, a value obtained by adding the filling amount to the remaining amount of the drug.

[0324] On the other hand, the display control unit 113 obtains the dispensed amount of the drug from a counter (an example of specific counting means) that detects and counts the tablets dispensed from the fixed cassette 21 using an optical sensor or the like. It is also conceivable that the display control unit 113 obtains the dispensed amount of the drug from the fixed cassette 21 based on the prescription data issued by the drug dispensing device 400. Then, the display control unit 113 decreases the remaining amount of the drug displayed on the display unit 291 according to the dispensed amount. Thereby, the current remaining amount of the drug is displayed on the display unit 291 of the fixed cassette 21.

[0325] [Dispensing cassette display function] Also, as shown in FIG. 16, in the medicine dispensing device 400, it is also conceivable that the powder medicine supply unit 3 includes a plurality of powder medicine cassettes 33 capable of dispensing pre-filled powder medicine. In the medicine dispensing device 400 configured in this way, since it is possible to automatically dispense powder medicine from each of the powder medicine cassettes 33, the labor of measuring the powder medicine by the user and inputting the powder medicine is reduced.

[0326] Specifically, it is conceivable that the powder medicine supply unit 3 further includes a cassette mounting portion, a cassette moving mechanism, and a powder medicine dispensing mechanism. A plurality of the powder medicine cassettes 33 are mounted on the cassette mounting portion. The cassette moving mechanism moves the powder medicine cassette 33 selected by the dispensing control unit 111 according to the input of the prescription data among the powder medicine cassettes 33 from the cassette mounting portion to the input portion 31 or the input portion 32 of the powder medicine supply unit 3. The cassette moving mechanism is, for example, a robot arm that grips and moves the powder medicine cassette 33. The powder medicine dispensing mechanism measures the amount of powder medicine dispensed from each of the powder medicine cassettes 33 and dispenses the powder medicine. The powder medicine dispensing mechanism includes a vibration feeder that vibrates the powder medicine cassette 33 to dispense a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the powder medicine cassette 33 at a time, and a weighing unit that weighs the amount of the powder medicine conveyed by the vibration feeder.

[0327] Also, as shown in FIG. 16, a display unit 331 and a status indicator lamp 332 are provided on each of the powder medicine cassettes 33, and it is conceivable that the display control unit 113 has a powder medicine cassette display function of controlling the display of the display unit 331 and the status indicator lamp 332. Note that the display unit 331 and the status indicator lamp 332 may be provided at the mounting portion where the powder medicine cassette 33 is mounted corresponding to each of the powder medicine cassettes 33.

[0328] Similar to the display unit 25, the display unit 331 is an electronic paper provided on the front surface of the powder medicine cassette 33. Note that the display unit 331 may be a liquid crystal display panel or the like. The status indicator lamp 332 is provided on the front surface of the powder medicine cassette 33 together with the display unit 331, and is a light source such as an LED used to display the usage status of the powder medicine cassette 33 by the emission color or emission mode. The emission mode includes states such as turning off, turning on, or blinking. Then, the display control unit 113 changes the display of the status indicator lamp 332 according to the usage status of the powder medicine cassette 33.

[0329] In the medicine dispensing device 400 configured as described above, the display control unit 113 can display various pieces of information preset in the display unit 331 as needed. Here, the display control unit 113 when executing the display process is also an example of display control means. The various pieces of information include information regarding the medicine stored in the powder medicine cassette 33, such as medicine identification information, remaining quantity, lot number, and expiration date. The medicine identification information is a medicine name, medicine code, JAN code (barcode), RSS code (GS1 DataBar), or QR code (registered trademark), etc. Note that it is also conceivable that information such as the lot number or expiration date of the medicine is included in the JAN code (barcode), RSS code (GS1 DataBar), or QR code (registered trademark).

[0330] In particular, it is desirable that the display control unit 113 can display the remaining quantity of the medicine stored in the powder medicine cassette 33 on the display unit 331. For example, when filling the powder medicine cassette 33 with medicine, the display control unit 113 accepts the input of the filling quantity by a user operation of the operation unit 14 or the like. Note that when the barcode described on the storage container such as the original medicine bottle of the medicine to be filled into the powder medicine cassette 33 is read by the barcode reader 7, it is also conceivable that the display control unit 113 accepts the medicine quantity included in the barcode information as the filling quantity. Here, the display control unit 113 when accepting the input of the filling quantity is an example of filling quantity acceptance means.

[0331] Then, the display control unit 113 increases the remaining amount of the drug displayed on the display unit 331 according to the filling amount. For example, when the current remaining amount of the drug in the powder medicine cassette 33 is 0, the filling amount is displayed on the display unit 331 as the remaining amount of the drug. When the remaining amount of the drug in the powder medicine cassette 33 is not 0, the display control unit 113 causes the display unit 331 to display, as the remaining amount of the drug, a value obtained by adding the filling amount to the remaining amount of the drug.

[0332] On the other hand, the display control unit 113 acquires the dispensing amount of the powder medicine dispensed from the powder medicine cassette 33 from the powder medicine dispensing mechanism. It is also conceivable that the display control unit 113 acquires the dispensing amount of the powder medicine from the powder medicine cassette 33 based on the prescription data issued by the drug dispensing device 400. Then, the display control unit 113 decreases the remaining amount of the drug displayed on the display unit 331 according to the dispensing amount.

[0333] [Residual drug reuse function] In the drug dispensing device 400, when the residual drug collection process is executed and there is still drug remaining in the variable cassette 22 even after the required amount of drug has been dispensed from the variable cassette 22, it is possible to collect the residual drug. In particular, in the drug dispensing device 400, the control unit 61 uses the sub-packaging unit 5 to store the drugs in each variable cassette 22 in different sub-packaging papers 52 for each drug type in the residual drug collection process. Specifically, the drug in one variable cassette 22 is collected by being stored in one sub-packaging paper 52. Therefore, in the residual drug collection process, the same number of sub-packaging papers 52 as the number of variable cassettes 22 used at the time of dispensing the drug for the prescription data are output. Hereinafter, the sub-packaging paper 52 in which the residual drug collected from the variable cassette 22 is stored is referred to as a collection package 521. The user stores the collection package 521 in a container or the like provided near the drug dispensing device 400.

[0334] Then, as will be described below, the medicine dispensing device 400 has a residual medicine reuse function that supports the reuse of the residual medicine collected in the collection package 521 by the residual medicine collection process. Specifically, in the medicine dispensing device 400, as shown in FIG. 16, the control unit 11 includes a residual medicine control unit 114 that executes a process for supporting the reuse of the medicine collected in the wrapping paper 52 by the residual medicine collection process. Note that the control unit 11 functions as the residual medicine control unit 114 by executing a process according to various programs stored in advance in a storage means such as the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 12 using the CPU. Here, the residual medicine control unit 114 is an example of residual medicine control means.

[0335] Also, as shown in FIG. 16, the medicine dispensing device 400 includes a printer 53 (an example of printing means) capable of printing information such as characters or images on the wrapping paper 52 used in the wrapping unit 5 based on a control instruction from the control unit 11 or the control unit 61. In the medicine dispensing device 400, after the medicine is dispensed from the tablet supply unit 5 and before the medicine is stored in the wrapping paper 52, it is possible to perform printing on the wrapping paper 52 in which the medicine is stored by the printer 53. Such a configuration is also disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-62945.

[0336] Specifically, the tablet supply unit 5 is provided with one or a plurality of buffer units that temporarily store the medicine dispensed from the fixed cassette 21 or the variable cassette 22 in the front stage of the wrapping unit 5. Then, after the medicine is dispensed from the fixed cassette 21 or the variable cassette 22, the control unit 61 causes the printer 53 to print information such as the dispensed amount of the medicine from the fixed cassette 21 or the variable cassette 22 on the wrapping paper 52. Thereafter, the control unit 61 controls the wrapping unit 5 to package the medicine waiting in the buffer unit with the wrapping paper 52 when the wrapping paper 52 is conveyed to the medicine input unit in the wrapping unit 5.

[0337] At this time, the control unit 61 causes the printer 53 to print information such as the drug name, drug code, JAN code (barcode), recovery amount, and recovery No. of the drug accommodated in the recovery package 521 from the variable cassette 22 by the residual drug recovery process on the recovery package 521. Thereby, the user can easily grasp the drug or the recovery amount accommodated in the recovery package 521. Here, the drug name, the drug code, and the JAN code are examples of identification information for identifying the drug. Note that the JAN code is an example of a one-dimensional code indicating the identification information of the drug, and a one-dimensional code such as an RSS code (GS1 DataBar) or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) may be used instead of the JAN code. Further, the control unit 61 acquires the recovery amount of the drug from the counter that counts the drug dispensed from the variable cassette 22 in the residual drug recovery process. Note that the recovery No. is a number assigned in sequence to the recovery package 521 by the control unit 61, for example. The control unit 61 when executing the printing process for printing information on the recovery package 521 using the printer 53 in this way is an example of printing control means.

[0338] Here, FIG. 32(A) is a diagram showing an example of the printing result of the medicine package sheet 51 output from the medicine dispensing device 400 for one of the prescription data. As shown in FIG. 32(A), on the packaging paper 52 in which the drug packaged based on the prescription data among the medicine package sheets 51 is accommodated, the patient name, administration time, drug name, and number of drugs are printed. Further, on the first packaging paper 52 among the medicine package sheets 51, inspection printing information 522 for inspecting the drugs packaged in each of the packaging papers 52 of the medicine package sheet 51 based on the prescription data is printed.

[0339] And at the end of the medicine package sheet 51, the same number of the collection packages 521 as the number of the variable cassettes 22 used at the time of dispensing the medicines of the prescription data are included. Each of the collection packages 521 is printed with a collection No. for identifying the collection package 521 and a character string of "collection package" indicating that the remaining medicines collected from the variable cassette 22 are stored therein. Further, the collection package 521 is printed with the medicine name corresponding to the remaining medicines stored in the collection package 521, a barcode indicating the JAN code corresponding to the remaining medicines, and the collection amount of the remaining medicines stored in the collection package 521. For example, as shown in FIG. 32(A), the collection package 521 with the collection No. of "1" is printed with "Medicine M1" as the medicine name of the remaining medicines, and "4 tablets" as the collection amount. Similarly, the collection package 521 with the collection No. of "2" is printed with "Medicine M2" as the medicine name of the remaining medicines, and "3 tablets" as the collection amount.

[0340] Hereinafter, an example of the procedure of the remaining medicine control process executed by the remaining medicine control unit 114 will be described with reference to FIG. 33. The remaining medicine control process is executed substantially in parallel with other processes such as the medicine dispensing process, the next prescription allocation process, the display control process, and the exception display process executed by the control unit 11.

[0341] In addition, in the medicine dispensing device 400 having the remaining medicine reuse function, steps S10, S16, and S17 in the medicine dispensing process and the subcontracting control process (see FIG. 11) are omitted. Then, in the medicine dispensing device 400, the dispensing control unit 111 notifies whether or not the remaining medicine collection process is to be performed when requesting the start of the subcontracting operation in step S7. Further, when the control unit 61 receives a notification from the dispensing control unit 111 to execute the remaining medicine collection process, the control unit 61 executes the remaining medicine collection process continuously with the subcontracting operation in step S14. Then, the control unit 61 transmits the medicine name, medicine code, and the number of packages of the recovery package 521 of the remaining medicine dispensed from each of the variable cassettes 22 in the remaining medicine collection process to the control unit 11 as remaining medicine information. Note that it is conceivable that the control unit 61 does not transmit the remaining medicine information to the control unit 11 when no remaining medicine is dispensed from each of the variable cassettes 22 in the remaining medicine collection process.

[0342] <Step S91> First, in step S91, the remaining medicine control unit 114 waits to receive the remaining medicine information from the control unit 61 (No side of S91). Then, when the remaining medicine control unit 114 receives the remaining medicine information (Yes side of S91), the process proceeds to step S92.

[0343] <Step S92> In step S92, the remaining drug control unit 114 stores the remaining drug information in the storage unit 12 as recovery information 123 regarding the drug recovered by the remaining drug recovery process. Here, the remaining drug control unit 114 when executing the storage process is an example of storage control means. Note that the recovery information 123 includes information on the recovery package 521 that remains unused after being recovered in the remaining drug recovery process in the drug dispensing device 400. Here, FIG. 34(A) shows an example of the recovery information 123. The recovery information 123 shown in FIG. 34(A) includes the recovery No. of the unused recovery package 521, the drug code of the remaining drug contained in the unused recovery package 521, and the drug name of the remaining drug. Thereby, the remaining drug control unit 114 can determine the presence or absence of the recovery package 521 and the number of packages of the recovery package 521 for each drug type based on the recovery information 123. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 34(A), it can be seen that there are 2 packages of the recovery package 521 with the drug name "Drug M1" and 1 package of the recovery package 521 with the drug name "Drug M2" remaining.

[0344] <Step S93> Then, in step S93, the remaining drug control unit 114 causes the monitor 13 to display the recovery information 123. Here, the remaining drug control unit 114 when executing the display process for displaying information regarding the recovery information 123 is an example of recovery information display means. Specifically, the remaining drug control unit 114 causes the monitor 13 to display a recovery package monitor screen 131 showing information on the unused recovery package 521 based on the recovery information 123. Note that the recovery package monitor screen 131 may be pop-up displayed overlaid on a sub-package monitor screen 132 (see FIG. 36) described later. Also, the remaining drug control unit 114 can cause the monitor 13 to display the recovery package monitor screen 131 showing the recovery information 123 in response to an operation of an operation key provided for displaying the recovery information 123 on the sub-package monitor screen 132 (see FIG. 36). Thereby, the user can refer to the recovery information 123 to determine whether the drug in the recovery package 521 can be used when filling the variable cassette 22 with the drug.

[0345] Here, FIGS. 35(A) and 35(B) are diagrams showing an example of the collection package monitor screen 131. Specifically, in the collection package monitor screen 131 shown in FIG. 35(A), for each type of remaining medicine, the medicine code and medicine name of the remaining medicine, and the number of packages of the collection package 521 in which the remaining medicine is stored are displayed. Here, when any one of the remaining medicines is selected and the operation key K1 is operated, the remaining medicine control unit 114 displays the collection package monitor screen 131 shown in FIG. 35(B). In the collection package monitor screen 131 shown in FIG. 35(B), for each collection package 521 in which the same type of remaining medicine is stored, the collection No. of the collection package 521, the medicine code and medicine name of the remaining medicine, and the number of packages of the collection package 521 in which the remaining medicine is stored are displayed.

[0346] In addition, when the operation key K2 displayed on the collection package monitor screen 131 of FIGS. 35(A) and 35(B) is operated, the remaining medicine control unit 114 closes the collection package monitor screen 131. Further, after any one of the collection packages 521 displayed on the collection package monitor screen 131 of FIG. 35(B) is selected and the operation key K1 is operated, the remaining medicine control unit 114 displays detailed information regarding the selected collection package 521. For example, the detailed information regarding the collection package 521 includes identification information (such as prescription ID) of the prescription data when the remaining medicine was collected, the patient name of the prescription data, the collection time of the remaining medicine, the lot number of the remaining medicine, and the expiration date of the remaining medicine.

[0347] <Step S94> In step S94, the remaining medicine control unit 114 determines whether medicine information has been assigned to the variable cassette 22 in the medicine dispensing process (see FIG. 11). Here, when the remaining medicine control unit 114 determines that medicine information has been assigned to the variable cassette 22 (Yes side of S94), the process proceeds to step S95. On the other hand, until the medicine information is assigned to the variable cassette 22 (No side of S94), the remaining medicine control unit 114 returns the process to step S91.

[0348] <Step S95> In step S95, the remaining drug control unit 114 determines, based on the collection information 123 stored in the storage unit 12, whether there is a collection package 521 that contains a drug of the same type as the drug corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22. Here, the remaining drug control unit 114 when executing the determination process is an example of a determination means. And when the remaining drug control unit 114 determines that there is a collection package 521 that contains a drug of the same type as the drug corresponding to the drug information (Yes side of S95), the process proceeds to step S96. Also, when the remaining drug control unit 114 determines that there is no collection package 521 that contains a drug of the same type as the drug corresponding to the drug information (No side of S95), the process returns to step S91.

[0349] <Step S96> In step S96, the remaining drug control unit 114 causes a remaining drug display unit 1322 indicating the presence of the collection package 521 that contains a drug of the same type as the drug corresponding to the drug information to be displayed on a sub-packaging monitor screen 132 including a prescription display unit 1321 where the information of the prescription data is displayed. Thereby, the user can easily determine whether the drug in the collection package 521 can be used when filling the variable cassette 22 with a drug. That is, in the drug dispensing device 400, the reuse of the drug in the collection package 521 when filling the variable cassette 22 with a drug is supported. Note that the remaining drug control unit 114 when executing the display process for displaying the remaining drug display unit 1322 is also an example of collection information display means.

[0350] Here, FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of the subcontracting monitor screen 132. In the prescription display section 1321, information such as patient ID, patient name, department of medicine, number of packages, and number of drugs (FT drug number) using the variable cassette 22 is displayed as the content of the prescription data for the issued subcontracting target. Further, in the remaining drug display section 1322, drug information corresponding to the drugs of the same type as the unused collection package 521 among the drug information included in the prescription data is displayed. Note that when the prescription data includes a plurality of drug information corresponding to drugs of the same type as the unused collection package 521, a plurality of drug information is displayed in the remaining drug display section 1322.

[0351] <Step S97> In step S97, the remaining drug control unit 114 causes the monitor 13 to display a usage confirmation screen 133 for allowing the user to select whether to use the unused collection package 521 for the drug information corresponding to the drugs of the same type as the unused collection package 521 among the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22. For example, the usage confirmation screen 133 is displayed as a pop-up screen while the subcontracting monitor screen 132 is being displayed. Note that it is also conceivable as another embodiment that the usage confirmation screen 133 is displayed when a selection operation of the drug information displayed in the remaining drug display section 1322 is performed by the remaining drug control unit 114. Further, when there are a plurality of the collection packages 521, the remaining drug control unit 114 may display a collection package selection screen similar to the collection package monitor screen 131 (see FIG. 35(B)) to allow the user to select the collection package 521.

[0352] Here, FIG. 37(A) is a diagram showing an example of the usage confirmation screen 133. In the usage confirmation screen 133 shown in FIG. 37(A), a message indicating that the drug used in the variable cassette 22 remains as the collection package 521 and a message asking whether to use the collection package 521 are displayed. Further, operation keys K11 and K12 for selecting whether to use the collection package 521 are displayed on the usage confirmation screen 133.

[0353] <Step S98> And in step S98, the remaining medicine control unit 114 branches the process according to the response operation of the user on whether to use the collection package 521. Specifically, when the remaining medicine control unit 114 determines that it is selected to use the collection package 521 by operating the operation key K11 (on the Yes side of S98), it shifts the process to step S99. Also, when the remaining medicine control unit 114 determines that it is selected not to use the collection package 521 by operating the operation key K12 (on the Np side of S98), it shifts the process to the step S91.

[0354] <Step S99> In step S99, the remaining medicine control unit 114 causes the monitor 13 to display a verification screen 134 for assisting the verification operation of the collection package 521. Here, FIG. 37(B) is a diagram showing an example of the verification screen 134. A procedure for verifying the collection package 521 is displayed on the verification screen 134 shown in FIG. 37(B). Specifically, it is displayed on the verification screen 134 that first, the barcode displayed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 needs to be read, and then the barcode printed on the collection package 521 needs to be read. Thereby, the user is made to read the barcode displayed on the display unit 25 and the barcode printed on the collection package 521 in order using the barcode reader 7.

[0355] <Step S100> In step S100, the remaining medicine control unit 114 waits for the barcode reader 7 to read information from the barcode (on the No side of S100). Here, when the remaining medicine control unit 114 determines that information has been read from the barcode by the barcode reader 7 (on the Yes side of S100), it shifts the process to step S101.

[0356] <Step S101> In step S101, the remaining drug control unit 114 causes the drug code and drug name specified based on the information read from the barcode to be displayed in the display fields for the drug code and drug name on the verification screen 134.

[0357] <Step S102> In step S102, the remaining drug control unit 114 waits again for the barcode reader 7 to read information from the barcode (No side of S102). Here, when the remaining drug control unit 114 determines that information has been read from the barcode by the barcode reader 7 (Yes side of S102), it causes the process to proceed to step S103.

[0358] <Step S103> In step S103, the remaining drug control unit 114 verifies whether the drug information indicated by the barcode read in step S100 matches the drug information indicated by the barcode read in step S102. Here, the remaining drug control unit 114 when executing the verification process is an example of a verification means. It is also conceivable that the remaining drug control unit 114 determines whether the drug information read from two barcodes read in any order using the barcode reader 7 matches.

[0359] Also, it is conceivable that the information indicated by the barcode displayed on the display unit 25 and the information indicated by the barcode printed on the collection bag 521 each contain distinguishable information. In this case, the remaining drug control unit 114 can determine from which of the display unit 25 or the collection bag 521 the barcode read by the barcode reader 7 was read. For example, it is conceivable that when the remaining drug control unit 114 first reads the barcode of the collection bag 521 by the barcode reader 7, an error is displayed.

[0360] Furthermore, in step S103, it is also conceivable that the remaining drug control unit 114 checks that the collection No. included in the barcode read in step S102 is stored in the collection information 123, that is, the collection package 521 corresponding to the collection No. is unused. Also, the remaining drug control unit 114 may check that the collection package 521 is currently usable based on information such as the lot number or expiration date of the drug contained in the collection package 521 corresponding to the collection No. Then, when the remaining drug control unit 114 determines that the collection package 521 has been used or is not usable, it is conceivable to display that fact on the monitor 13 to notify the user.

[0361] <Step S104> And in step S104, the remaining drug control unit 114 branches the process according to the verification result in step S103. Specifically, when the verification result is a match (the Yes side of S104), the remaining drug control unit 114 transfers the process to step S105. Also, when the verification result does not match (the No side of S104), the remaining drug control unit 114 displays "NG" or the like in the display column of the verification result on the verification screen 134, and then transfers the process to step S97.

[0362] <Step S105> In step S105, the remaining drug control unit 114 displays "OK" or the like in the display column of the verification result on the verification screen 134 to notify the user that the collection package 521 is usable. As a result, the user fills the variable cassette 22 with the drug contained in the collection package 521. Accordingly, it is prevented that the variable cassette 22 is filled with the wrong drug.

[0363] <Step S106> Also, in step S106, the remaining drug control unit 114 deletes the information of the collection package 521 corresponding to the barcode read in step S102 from the collection information 123 in the storage unit 12. As a result, only the information of the unused collection package 521 remains in the collection information 123.

[0364] For example, if the collection information 123 and the barcode of the collection package 521 do not contain information such as the collection No. for identifying each of the collection packages 521, the remaining drug control unit 114 may be considered to decrease the number of packages of the collection package 521 containing the drug corresponding to the barcode read in step S102 by one. Also, in step S92, the remaining drug control unit 114 adds the numerical value stored in the collection information 123 as the number of packages of the collection package 521 corresponding to the same type of drug based on the remaining drug information. The remaining drug reuse function can also be realized by such a simple management method.

[0365] Also, if the barcode of the collection package 521 contains identification information such as the collection No. of the collection package 521 that can identify the collection package 521, the remaining drug control unit 114 can delete the information of the collection package 521 specified based on the identification information from the collection information 123 in step S106. Note that it is also conceivable that the remaining drug control unit 114 stores the information of the collection package 521 as a history together with information such as the usage time and the prescription data of the usage target even after the use of the collection package 521.

[0366] As described above, in the drug dispensing device 400, the remaining drug reuse function can assist in the reuse of the drugs in the collection package 521 collected in the remaining drug collection process when dispensing the drugs in the prescription data issued in the past. Therefore, for example, waste of the drugs in the collection package 521 can be prevented, and the labor of the user who returns the drugs in the collection package 521 to the storage containers (boxes, bottles, etc.) provided in the drug shelf or the like can also be reduced.

[0367] Note that the application of the remaining drug reuse function is not limited to the case where the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11) described in the first embodiment is executed, in which drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22 by issuing the prescription data. For example, the remaining drug reuse function is also applicable when drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22 before the issuance of the prescription data as in the second and third embodiments.

[0368] Incidentally, in the drug dispensing device 400, it is conceivable that the collection bag 521 is also output for the variable cassette 22 in which no remaining drug was dispensed in the remaining drug collection process among the variable cassettes 22 to which drug information is assigned for the prescription data. However, in the drug dispensing device 400, after the drug is dispensed from the variable cassette 22 and before the drug is stored in the collection bag 521, it is possible to print information on the collection bag 521 by the printer 53. Therefore, it is also conceivable that the control unit 61 omits the output of the collection bag 521 corresponding to the variable cassette 22 in which no remaining drug was dispensed in the remaining drug collection process. This prevents waste of the collection bag 521.

[0369] On the other hand, as the drug dispensing device 400, a configuration is also conceivable in which the printer 53 cannot print information on the collection bag 521 after the drug is dispensed from the variable cassette 22 and before the drug is stored in the collection bag 521. In this case, since the number of drugs dispensed from the variable cassette 22 is unknown at the time of printing by the printer 53, the control unit 61 omits the printing of information regarding the collected amount for the collection bag 521. Also, in such a configuration, since it is unknown whether or not a remaining drug is dispensed from the variable cassette 22 at the time of printing by the printer 53, the same number of the collection bags 521 as the number of variable cassettes 22 to which drug information is assigned for the prescription data are always added to the drug package sheet 51. That is, when no drug remains in the variable cassette 22, the collection bag 521 corresponding to the variable cassette 22 is output as an empty bag.

[0370] Also, in the medicine dispensing device 400, in the remaining medicine collection process, the control unit 61 can also use the packaging unit 5 to collect the medicines in each variable cassette 22 together and store them in one of the packaging papers 52. The setting regarding the content of the remaining medicine collection process is set by the control unit 11 according to the user operation of the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the medicine dispensing device 400. For example, the control unit 11 can select, according to the user operation of the operation unit 14, either a method of individually packaging the medicines in each variable cassette 22 into the packaging paper 52 or a method of packaging the medicines in each variable cassette 22 together into the packaging paper 52.

[0371] Here, FIG. 32(B) is a diagram showing an example of the medicine packaging sheet 51 when the remaining medicines collected from one or more of the variable cassettes 22 used in one prescription data are stored in one collection package 523. As shown in FIG. 32(B), only the character string "collection package" indicating that it is a collection package in which the remaining medicines collected from the variable cassette 22 are stored is printed on the collection package 523. That is, information such as the medicine name, JAN code, and collection amount of the medicine is not printed on the collection package 253. In this way, in the configuration where the remaining medicines collected from the variable cassettes 22 used in one prescription data are always collected in one collection package 253, the usage amount of the collection package 253 is suppressed.

[0372] [Another example of the remaining medicine control process] Incidentally, in the remaining drug control process (see Fig. 33), it is also conceivable that the remaining drug control unit 114 manages the number of tablets of the remaining drugs stored in each of the collection packages 521. In this case, in addition to the drug name, drug code of the remaining drugs dispensed from each of the variable cassettes 22 in the remaining drug collection process, and the number of packages of the collection packages 521, the control unit 61 transmits the number of tablets stored in each of the collection packages 521 to the control unit 11 as the remaining drug information. Note that the control unit 61 acquires information on the number of tablets of the remaining drugs from the counter that counts the tablets dispensed from each of the variable cassettes 22. Hereinafter, an example of the remaining drug control process when the remaining drugs stored in each of the collection packages 521 are managed in units of the number of tablets will be described. Note that the description of the same process as when the remaining drugs stored in each of the collection packages 521 are managed in units of the number of packages in the remaining drug control process will be omitted.

[0373] <Step S92> In step S92, the remaining drug control unit 114 stores the remaining drug information in the storage unit 12 as the collection information 123 regarding the drugs collected by the remaining drug collection process. At this time, the collection information 123 includes the drug name, drug code of the remaining drugs dispensed from the variable cassette 22, the number of packages of the collection package 521, and information on the number of tablets of the remaining drugs stored in each of the collection packages 521. Here, Fig. 34(B) is a diagram showing another example of the collection information 123. In the collection information 123 shown in Fig. 34(B), in addition to the collection No. of each unused collection package 521 and the drug code and drug name of the remaining drugs stored in each unused collection package 521, the number of tablets stored in each of the collection packages 521 is stored. Thereby, the remaining drug control unit 114 can determine the presence or absence of the collection package 521, the number of packages of the collection package 521, and the total number of tablets stored in each of the collection packages 521 for each drug type of the drugs stored in the collection package 521 based on the collection information 123.

[0374] <Step S93> Next, in step S93, the remaining drug control unit 114 causes the recovery pack monitor screen 131 to display, based on the recovery information 123, as information on the unused recovery pack 521, the drug code and drug name of the remaining drug, and the total number of the remaining drugs contained in the recovery pack 521. Here, FIGS. 38(A) and 38(B) are diagrams showing other examples of the recovery pack monitor screen 131. Specifically, in the recovery pack monitor screen 131 shown in FIG. 38(A), based on the recovery information 123, for each type of remaining drug, the drug code and drug name of the remaining drug, and the total number of tablets of the remaining drug contained in each of the recovery packs 521 are displayed. Here, when any one of the remaining drugs is selected and the operation key K1 is operated, the remaining drug control unit 114 displays the recovery pack monitor screen 131 shown in FIG. 38(B). In the recovery pack monitor screen 131 shown in FIG. 38(B), for each recovery pack 521 containing the same type of remaining drug, the recovery No. of the recovery pack 521, the drug code and drug name of the remaining drug, and the number of tablets of the remaining drug contained in the recovery pack 521 are displayed.

[0375] <Step S95> In step S95, it is conceivable that the remaining drug control unit 114 determines whether the recovery pack 521 can be used based on the preset usage conditions of the recovery pack 521. For example, in the drug dispensing device 400, it is conceivable that the following first usage condition, second usage condition, and third usage condition can be selected in advance as the usage conditions. Note that the usage conditions are selected by the remaining drug control unit 114 according to a user operation on the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the drug dispensing device 400 or the operation setting for each issuance of the prescription data.

[0376] <First Usage Condition> First, as the first usage condition, it is conceivable that it is determined that there is at least one recovery pack 521 containing a drug of the same type as the drug corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22.

[0377] For example, when there is no recovery pack 521 containing tablets of the drug name "Drug M2" assigned to the variable cassette 22, the remaining drug control unit 114 determines in step S95 that the recovery pack 521 is not available for use. On the other hand, when there is at least one recovery pack 521 containing tablets of the drug name "Drug M2" assigned to the variable cassette 22, the remaining drug control unit 114 determines in step S95 that the recovery pack 521 is available for use (on the Yes side of S95), and causes the use confirmation screen 133 to be displayed in step S96. That is, when there is even one recovery pack 521 containing the drug corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22, the recovery pack 521 is determined to be available for use regardless of whether the number of tablets of the drug contained in the recovery pack 521 has reached the required dispensing amount.

[0378] Here, FIG. 39(A) is a diagram showing an example of the use confirmation screen 133 displayed when the first use condition is used. In FIG. 39(A), on the use confirmation screen 133, a message indicating that the drug to be used in the variable cassette 22 remains as the recovery pack 521 and a message asking whether to use the recovery pack 521 are displayed. Further, the message includes the number of packs (1 pack) of the recovery pack 521 available for use with respect to the variable cassette 22 and the total number of tablets (4 tablets) of each of the recovery packs 521. Thus, when the first use condition is used, it is possible to encourage the user to use the recovery pack 521 as much as possible and prevent the long-term storage state of the recovery pack 521.

[0379] <Second Use Condition> Also, as the second use condition, in addition to the first use condition, it is considered that it is determined that the total number of tablets of each recovery pack 521 containing a drug of the same type as the drug corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 has reached the dispensing amount (prescription amount) of the drug shown in the prescription data.

[0380] For example, when the dispensed quantity corresponding to the drug information of the drug name "Drug M1" assigned to the variable cassette 22 among the drug information included in the prescription data is 9 tablets, and the total number of tablets of the drug with the drug name "Drug M1" contained in each of the collection packages 521 is 8 tablets, the remaining drug control unit 114 determines in step S95 that the collection package 521 cannot be used.

[0381] On the other hand, when the dispensed quantity corresponding to the drug information of the drug name "Drug M1" assigned to the variable cassette 22 among the drug information included in the prescription data is 9 tablets, and the total number of tablets of the drug with the drug name "Drug M1" contained in each of the collection packages 521 is 12 tablets, the remaining drug control unit 114 determines in step S95 that the collection package 521 can be used, and causes the use confirmation screen 133 to be displayed in step S96. That is, it is determined that the collection package 521 can be used on the condition that there exists a collection package 521 containing the drug corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22, and the number of tablets of the drug contained in the collection package 521 has reached the required dispensed number.

[0382] Here, FIG. 39(B) is a diagram showing an example of the use confirmation screen 133 displayed when the second use condition is used. In FIG. 39(B), a message indicating that the drug to be used in the variable cassette 22 remains as the collection package 521 and a message asking whether to use the collection package 521 are displayed on the use confirmation screen 133. Further, the message includes the number of packages (3 packages) of the collection package 521 that can be used for the variable cassette 22 and the total number of tablets (12 tablets) of each of the collection packages 521.

[0383] Thus, when using the second usage condition, it is notified that the recovery package 521 can be used only when the payout amount to be filled in the variable cassette 22 has been reached by using one or more of the recovery packages 521. Therefore, for example, even if the recovery package 521 is used, if it is ultimately necessary to separately take out the drug to be filled in the variable cassette 22 from a drug shelf or the like, the use of the recovery package 521 is not encouraged, and the use of the recovery package 521 is encouraged only when it is not necessary to separately take out the drug to be filled in the variable cassette 22 from a drug shelf or the like.

[0384] <Third usage condition> Furthermore, as the third usage condition, in addition to the first usage condition, it is conceivable that it is determined that the total number of tablets in each of the recovery packages 521 containing drugs of the same type as the drug corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 matches the payout amount (prescription amount) of the drug indicated in the prescription data.

[0385] For example, among the drug information included in the prescription data, the payout amount corresponding to the drug information of the drug name "Drug M1" assigned to the variable cassette 22 is 9 tablets, and when the total number of tablets of the drug when combining one or more of the one or more recovery packages 521 containing drugs of the same type is not 9 tablets (less than 9 tablets or 10 tablets or more), the remaining drug control unit 114 determines in step S95 that the recovery package 521 cannot be used.

[0386] On the one hand, when the dispensed quantity corresponding to the drug information of the drug name "Drug M1" assigned to the variable cassette 22 among the drug information included in the prescription data is 9 tablets, and when the total number of tablets of the drug when combining one or more of the recovery packages 521 containing the same type of drug becomes 9 tablets, the remaining drug control unit 114 determines in step S95 that the recovery package 521 is usable and causes the use confirmation screen 133 to be displayed in step S96. That is, the recovery package 521 containing the drug corresponding to the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 exists, and on the condition that the total number of tablets of the drug contained in one or more of the recovery packages 521 matches the required dispensed quantity, it is determined that the recovery package 521 is usable.

[0387] Here, FIG. 39(C) is a diagram showing an example of the use confirmation screen 133 displayed when the third use condition is used. In FIG. 39(C), on the use confirmation screen 133, a message indicating that the drug to be used in the variable cassette 22 remains as the recovery package 521 and a message asking whether to use the recovery package 521 are displayed. Further, the message includes the number of packages of the recovery package 521 (3 packages), the number of combined recovery packages 521 (2 packages), and the total number of tablets (9 tablets).

[0388] Thus, when the third use condition is used, it is notified that the recovery package 521 is usable only when the number of tablets of the drug contained in one of the recovery packages 521 or the total number of tablets of the drug contained in a plurality of the recovery packages 521 matches the dispensed quantity to be filled in the variable cassette 22. Thereby, when there is a remainder when using one or more of the recovery packages 521, the use of the recovery package 521 is not promoted, and the use of the recovery package 521 is promoted only when the tablets contained in one or more of the recovery packages 521 can be used up without remainder.

[0389] <Fourth Embodiment> In the above-described residual drug collection process, a configuration in which the residual drugs in the variable cassette 22 can be automatically packaged in packaging paper using the packaging unit 5 and collected has already been described. It is conceivable that the necessity of executing such a residual drug collection process is preset in the initial settings. However, when the number of tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 is large, a large amount of packaging paper is required, so it may not be desirable to collect the tablets in a state of being automatically packaged in packaging paper. Hereinafter, in the fourth embodiment, a configuration in which it is possible to appropriately switch whether or not to execute a residual drug collection process of packaging the tablets in the variable cassette 22 in packaging paper and collecting them will be described.

[0390] The tablets filled in the variable cassette 22 are taken out by the user from an individual packaging container such as a PTP sheet in which the tablets are individually packaged, or a multi-packaging container such as a medicine bottle in which a large number of tablets are collectively stored without being individually accommodated. Here, when the tablets filled in the variable cassette 22 are stored in the individual packaging container, it is highly likely that only the number of tablets required for this dispensing is taken out from the individual packaging container and filled in the variable cassette 22. Therefore, even if the user accidentally overfills the variable cassette 22 with tablets, the number of extra tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 is considered to be small (for example, 1 or 2 tablets). In this case, it is possible to collect the residual drugs in the variable cassette 22 in one piece of packaging paper.

[0391] On the one hand, when the tablets filled in the variable cassette 22 are contained in the multiple packaging containers, it is more convenient for the user to collectively fill a large number of tablets from the multiple packaging containers without counting the required number of tablets. However, in this case, after the required number of tablets have been dispensed from the variable cassette 22, there is a high possibility that a large number of tablets will remain in the variable cassette 22. Therefore, in order to store and collect the tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 in the sub-packaging paper, a large number of sub-packaging papers are required. Also, if there is an upper limit set on the number of sub-packaging papers used in one residual drug collection process, sub-packaging papers exceeding that upper limit will not be consumed. However, since both the collection operation using the sub-packaging paper and the subsequent manual collection operation of the tablets from the variable cassette 22 by the user will be performed, the working efficiency will deteriorate.

[0392] Therefore, in the pharmaceutical master stored in the storage unit 12, it is conceivable that information regarding whether each drug is a tablet contained in the individual packaging container or the multiple packaging containers is stored in advance. Note that the tablets contained in the multiple packaging containers are also referred to as loose tablets. Then, the control unit 11 determines whether the tablets contained in the variable cassette 22 are drugs supplied from the individual packaging container or the multiple packaging containers based on the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 and the pharmaceutical master.

[0393] Here, when the control unit 11 determines that the tablets assigned to the variable cassette 22 are drugs supplied from the individual packaging container, the control unit 11 causes the residual drug collection process for the variable cassette 22 to be executed. Specifically, in step S10 (see FIG. 11), the control unit 11 transmits a request for execution of the residual drug collection process to the control unit 61. As a result, the tablets in the variable cassette 22 will be collected using the sub-packaging paper. At this time, since the number of tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 is likely to be small, it is possible to collect the residual drugs with one sub-packaging paper.

[0394] On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that the tablets assigned to the variable cassette 22 are the drugs supplied from the multiple packaging containers, the control unit 11 does not execute the remaining drug collection process for the variable cassette 22. Specifically, in step S10 (see FIG. 11), the control unit 11 does not transmit a request to execute the remaining drug collection process to the control unit 61. In this way, when there is a high possibility that the number of tablets remaining in the variable cassette 22 is large, the tablets in the variable cassette 22 are not collected using the sub-packaging paper, so that waste of the sub-packaging paper or waste of the execution time of the remaining drug collection process is suppressed. In this case, the user will manually collect the tablets from the variable cassette 22.

[0395] In this way, the control unit 11 switches the presence or absence of the remaining drug collection process according to whether the tablets assigned to the variable cassette 22 are the tablets supplied from either the individual packaging container or the multiple packaging containers. Here, the control unit 11 when executing such a process is an example of a collection switching means. When the remaining drug collection process is not executed for the variable cassette 22, the control unit 11 may cause the display unit 25 provided in the variable cassette 22 to display information prompting the confirmation of the remaining drugs in the variable cassette 22 and the necessity of collecting the remaining drugs.

[0396] In addition, the method for determining whether the tablets filled in the variable cassette 22 are contained in either the individual packaging container or the multiple packaging container is not limited to being based on the drug master. For example, as described above, when filling the variable cassette 22 with tablets, identification information such as the JAN code described on the storage container or PTP sheet in which the tablets are stored may be read using the barcode reader 7 or the like. In this case, it is also conceivable that the identification information includes information indicating whether the container in which the tablets are stored is either the individual packaging container or the multiple packaging container. Therefore, based on the identification information, the control unit 11 determines whether the tablets filled in the variable cassette 22 are contained in either the individual packaging container or the multiple packaging container, and it is conceivable to determine whether it is necessary to execute the remaining drug collection process for the variable cassette 22.

[0397] Note that whether it is necessary to execute the remaining drug collection process may be determined by the control unit 61 of the subcontracting control unit 6. In this case, the control unit 61 is an example of the collection switching means. For example, when the control unit 61 receives a request to execute the remaining drug collection process in step S16, it is conceivable to switch the execution of the remaining drug collection process according to whether the tablets assigned to the variable cassette 22 are contained in either the individual packaging container or the multiple packaging container.

[0398] <Outline of the Embodiment> The drug dispensing device according to the present invention includes a plurality of drug cassettes, an assignment means, and a drive control means. The drug cassette can dispense any type of tablet. The assignment means assigns the drug information to one of the drug cassettes when the drug information of the dispensing target is input. The drive control means drives the drug cassette according to the drive conditions preset corresponding to the drug information assigned by the assignment means, and causes the drug cassette to dispense the drug. The drug is, for example, a tablet.

[0399] According to the present invention, in order to dispense any type of tablet, the user only needs to put the tablets to be dispensed into the medicine cassette. Therefore, the user's work can be reduced compared to the case of putting tablets into each cell of the manual dispensing unit as in the prior art. In addition, since there is no need to put tablets into each cell, prescription errors caused by human errors can be prevented.

[0400] For example, it is conceivable that the medicine dispensing device includes driving means for transmitting a driving force to a driving mechanism provided in the medicine cassette, and the drive control means drives the medicine cassette by controlling the driving means according to the driving conditions.

[0401] Here, it is conceivable that the allocation means allocates the medicine information to any one of the medicine cassettes when the medicine information to be dispensed is input according to the prescription data. Further, it is also conceivable that the medicine dispensing device further includes code reading means for reading the medicine information from a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code, and the allocation means allocates the medicine information to any one of the medicine cassettes when the medicine information to be dispensed is input by the code reading means.

[0402] Incidentally, a configuration is conceivable in which the medicine dispensing device further includes a plurality of medicine specific cassettes capable of dispensing a predetermined specific type of medicine. In this case, it is conceivable that the allocation means allocates the medicine information to any one of the medicine cassettes when there is no medicine specific cassette corresponding to the medicine information to be dispensed. Thereby, when the medicine indicated by the medicine information to be dispensed is stored in the medicine specific cassette, it is possible to prevent the user from performing a useless operation of putting the medicine into the tablet cassette.

[0403] Furthermore, a configuration can be considered in which the medicine dispensing device includes a hand - dispensing storage unit provided with a plurality of masses into which medicines are input in sub - package units, and a hand - dispensing dispensing unit that dispenses the medicines stored in each of the masses for each mass. In this case, when there is no medicine - specific cassette corresponding to the medicine information of the medicine to be dispensed and the medicine information of the medicine to be dispensed is pre - set assignment - excluded medicine information, it can be considered to display that the hand - dispensing storage unit should be used without performing the assignment to the medicine cassette. Also, when the medicine information of the medicine to be dispensed is pre - set assignment - excluded medicine information regardless of whether there is a medicine - specific cassette corresponding to the medicine information of the medicine to be dispensed, it can also be considered to display that the hand - dispensing storage unit should be used without performing the assignment to the medicine cassette.

[0404] Moreover, the medicine dispensing device may further include drive - correspondence information storage means for storing drive - correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the medicine information and the drive conditions, and the drive control means may specify the drive conditions corresponding to the medicine information of the medicine to be dispensed based on the drive - correspondence information.

[0405] Furthermore, the medicine dispensing device includes assignment - information storage means for storing assignment information indicating the assignment state between the medicine cassette and the medicine information, and the assignment means may assign the medicine information of the medicine to be dispensed to an unassigned medicine cassette based on the assignment information.

[0406] For example, the drive conditions include any one or more of pre - drive conditions related to the adjustment of the medicine cassette before starting the dispensing of the medicine from the medicine cassette, drive - during conditions related to the drive control during the dispensing of the medicine from the medicine cassette, and drive - stop conditions related to the drive control when stopping the dispensing of the medicine from the medicine cassette.

[0407] And, the drug cassette has a dispensing means for dispensing the drug from a drug storage section in which the drug is stored, and it is conceivable that the driving condition during driving includes the dispensing speed of the drug by the dispensing means. Thereby, it becomes possible to dispense the tablets at a dispensing speed suitable for each tablet.

[0408] Further, the drug cassette has a path adjusting means for changing either one or both of the height and width of a dispensing path for dispensing the drug from a drug storage section in which the drug is stored, and it is also conceivable that the pre-driving condition includes either one or both of the height and width of the dispensing path. Thereby, for example, by changing the dispensing path to a size capable of dispensing the tablets one by one, it becomes possible to dispense the tablets from the drug cassette one by one.

[0409] Furthermore, in a configuration where the drug cassette has a dispensing means for dispensing the drug by driving a conveying member that conveys the drug from a drug storage section in which the drug is stored toward a dispensing port, the condition at the time of driving stop is considered to include a condition regarding the execution of a reverse rotation operation for switching the conveying direction of the drug by the dispensing means in the reverse direction when stopping the dispensing of the drug from the drug cassette. Thereby, for example, when dispensing a drug that is likely to roll, the reverse rotation operation can be executed, and it becomes possible to prevent excessive dispensing when stopping the dispensing of the drug by the dispensing means.

[0410] In addition, it is conceivable that the drug dispensing device includes a drug display means provided in the drug cassette or the mounting portion of the drug cassette corresponding to each drug cassette, and a display control means for causing the drug display means corresponding to the drug cassette to display either one or both of the drug information assigned to the drug cassette and the status information indicating the usage state of the drug cassette. Thereby, in the drug dispensing device, the user can easily confirm either one or both of the drug information assigned to the drug cassette and the status information indicating the usage state of the drug cassette by the drug display means.

[0411] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the medicine cassette is detachable from the medicine dispensing device, and the medicine display means is an electronic paper provided on each of the medicine cassettes. And it is conceivable that the display control means displays at least the medicine information on the electronic paper. Thereby, even after the user removes the medicine cassette from the medicine dispensing device, the user can confirm the information of the tablets assigned to the medicine cassette by the display on the electronic paper, so that it is possible to prevent the mistake of putting in the tablets. In particular, it is conceivable that the display control means displays the dispensed amount of the medicine corresponding to the medicine information on the electronic paper.

[0412] Also, it is conceivable that the display control means displays the patient name indicated in the prescription data including the medicine information on the electronic paper. Furthermore, when the medicine in the medicine cassette is insufficient with respect to the dispensed amount of the medicine corresponding to the medicine information indicated in the prescription data including the medicine information, the display control means displays either or both of the fact that the medicine is insufficient and the insufficient amount of the medicine on the electronic paper. It is also conceivable that the display control means displays at least one of the remaining amount, lot number, and expiration date of the medicine corresponding to the medicine information on the electronic paper. By displaying various kinds of information on the electronic paper in this way, the user can refer to various kinds of information regardless of whether the medicine cassette is in the mounted state or the unmounted state, and the working efficiency is improved.

[0413] Also, it is conceivable that the medicine dispensing device further includes a remaining medicine collecting means for driving the medicine cassette to dispense the medicine after the medicine is dispensed from the medicine cassette by the drive control means. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the remaining of the medicine in the medicine cassette.

[0414] Here, it is conceivable that the drug dispensing device is configured to include a packaging means for accommodating the drug supplied from the drug cassette in packaging paper in a predetermined packaging unit. In this case, it is conceivable that the remaining drug collection means uses the packaging means to accommodate the drugs in each drug cassette in different packaging papers for each drug type. As a result, since the drugs are accommodated in one packaging paper for each drug type, for example, the user can easily perform the operation of returning the drugs to a drug storage section such as a drug shelf.

[0415] Further, it is conceivable that the drug dispensing device includes a printing means for printing information on the packaging paper, and a printing control means for printing the identification information of the drug accommodated in the packaging paper by the remaining drug collection means on the packaging paper using the printing means. Thereby, the user can easily grasp the drug accommodated in the packaging paper.

[0416] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the drug dispensing device includes a counting means for counting the drugs dispensed from the drug cassette. In this case, it is conceivable that the printing control means uses the printing means to print the recovery amount of the drug counted by the counting means and the identification information of the drug on the packaging paper when the drug is accommodated in the packaging paper by the remaining drug collection means. Thereby, the user can easily grasp the recovery amount of the drug accommodated in the packaging paper.

[0417] Moreover, it is conceivable that the drug dispensing device includes a storage control means for storing the recovery information regarding the drug recovered by the remaining drug collection means in a storage means, and a recovery information display means for displaying the recovery information. Thereby, the user can refer to the recovery information and determine whether the drug recovered by the remaining drug collection means can be used when filling the drug cassette with drugs.

[0418] Further, it is conceivable that the medicine dispensing device includes a determination means for determining, based on the collection information, whether or not there is a wrapper paper containing the same type of medicine as the medicine corresponding to the medicine information assigned to the medicine cassette. In this case, it is conceivable that the collection information display means displays the existence of the wrapper paper when it is determined by the determination means that there is a wrapper paper containing the same type of medicine as the medicine corresponding to the medicine information. Thereby, when filling the medicine cassette with medicine, the user can easily determine whether or not the medicine collected by the remaining medicine collection means can be used. That is, in the medicine dispensing device, the reuse of the medicine in the wrapper paper is supported when filling the medicine cassette with medicine.

[0419] Furthermore, the medicine dispensing device may include medicine display means provided in the medicine cassette or the mounting portion of the medicine cassette corresponding to each medicine cassette, display control means for causing the medicine display means to display identification information of the medicine corresponding to the medicine information assigned to the medicine cassette, printing means for printing information on the wrapper paper, printing control means for causing the printing means to print the identification information of the medicine contained in the wrapper paper by the remaining medicine collection means on the wrapper paper, and collation means for collating the identification information of the medicine read from the medicine display means and the wrapper paper. Note that the identification information of the medicine displayed on the medicine display means and the identification information of the medicine printed on the wrapper paper may be a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code. Thereby, since the medicine to be filled in the medicine cassette is collated with the medicine contained in the wrapper paper, it is possible to prevent incorrect filling of the medicine cassette.

[0420] In addition, in a configuration in which the medicine dispensing device includes a wrapping means for wrapping the medicine supplied from the medicine cassette in a wrapper paper in a predetermined wrapping unit, it is also conceivable that the remaining medi...

Claims

【Claim 1】 A plurality of medicine storage units that are configured to be detachable from a mounting unit provided in a medicine dispensing device and that store medicine; Path adjustment means for changing either one or both of the height and width of a dispensing path for dispensing the medicine from the medicine storage unit; Allocation means for allocating medicine information input to identify the medicine to be dispensed to any one of the medicine storage units; After the medicine information is allocated to the medicine storage unit by the allocation means, when the insertion and removal of the medicine storage unit is detected, the medicine information is allocated by the allocation means, and the height and width of the dispensing path are adjusted by the path adjustment means. A control unit that causes the driving mechanism provided in the medicine storage unit and for dispensing medicine from the medicine storage unit via the dispensing path to supply a driving force to execute the dispensing of the medicine from the medicine storage unit after being adjusted according to the medicine to be dispensed corresponding to the medicine information; A medicine dispensing device comprising:

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