Medicine dispenser

Abstract

To provide a device which can be suitably introduced into a hospital, a pharmacy and the like, and can simplify provision business of powdery medicine formed by pulverizing a tablet.SOLUTION: A medicine dispenser which has a distribution tray, divides medicine charged on the distribution tray into a prescribed number and wraps them individually has: a pulverizing part which can perform operation pf charging powdery medicine after pulverizing the tablet onto the distribution tray and pulverizes tablets; and an intermediate discharge device capable of discharging charged pulverized medicine little by little. In operation discharging the pulverized medicine onto the distribution tray, the pulverized medicine pulverized by the pulverization part is charged to the intermediate discharge device, and charged onto the distribution tray from the intermediate discharge device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug dispensing device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, drug dispensing devices having a function of dispensing bulk drugs have been introduced in large-scale hospitals, pharmacies, and the like. Here, the conventional drug dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires an operation of taking out a medicine bottle containing bulk drugs prescribed from a medicine shelf by hand and measuring the total weight of the specific bulk drugs prescribed using a scale or the like, and it is hard to say that it is a fully automatic device. Therefore, in order to address this problem, the applicant of the present application has commercialized the drug dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 2.

[0003] The drug dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 2 can automatically move a drug container containing bulk drugs to a discharge position, and when discharging the drug from the drug container, it is possible to detect (measure) the discharge amount.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Here, the drug dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 2 had room for improvement from the viewpoint of automating the operation of crushing tablets into powders (making them into bulk drugs) and the operation of packaging the powdered tablets (hereinafter also referred to as crushed drugs) in predetermined amounts without human intervention. That is, the operation of pulverizing tablets with a mortar and pestle is laborious. In particular, when a plurality of pulverized drugs are enclosed in a package for one dose, the burden on the operator is large. Therefore, a technology capable of reducing such a burden on the operator has been desired. That is, in a drug dispensing device having a function of dispensing powders, there has been a desire to fully automate the operation including packaging the pulverized drug. In addition, there has been a desire to provide a device for supporting such operations at a lower cost and to enable the operation of packaging drugs efficiently.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be suitably introduced into hospitals, pharmacies, etc., and can simplify the business of providing powdered drugs formed by pulverizing tablets.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems is a drug dispensing device having a dispensing dish, dividing the drugs put into the dispensing dish into a predetermined number, and further individually packaging them, which is capable of putting the powdered pulverized drug formed by pulverizing tablets into the dispensing dish, having a pulverizing section for pulverizing tablets, and an intermediate discharging device capable of discharging the put-in pulverized drug little by little. In the operation of putting the pulverized drug into the dispensing dish, the pulverized drug pulverized by the pulverizing section is put into the intermediate discharging device and then put into the dispensing dish from the intermediate discharging device.

[0008] According to this aspect, since the tablets are automatically crushed into powder, the powdered crushed medicine is divided by the dispensing tray, and can be individually packaged, the burden on the operator in the business of providing crushed medicine can be reduced. Further, since the crushed medicine discharged from the crushing unit is put into the intermediate discharge device and then put into the dispensing tray from the intermediate discharge device, compared with a configuration in which the crushed medicine is directly discharged from the crushing unit to the dispensing tray, the input of the crushed medicine into the dispensing tray can be more appropriately executed. That is, when crushing one or more tablets, at the moment of crushing, one or more crushed tablets are discharged all at once toward the dispensing tray, preventing the problem that a larger amount of crushed medicine than intended falls into the dispensing tray in a lump. For this reason, the operation of supplying an appropriate amount of crushed medicine to the dispensing tray evenly (discharging the discharge amount per unit time uniformly or substantially uniformly) can be more reliably executed. Also, for example, when discharging medicine from different crushing units for each type of tablet, the input of the crushed medicine into the dispensing tray can be appropriately executed without providing a function for adjusting the discharge amount for each crushing unit. For this reason, it is possible to provide a medicine dispensing device at low cost while suppressing the occurrence of defects during the input into the dispensing tray, and it can be preferably introduced into pharmacies and the like.

[0009] Preferably, it has a sorting unit, the sorting unit has a sieve member, the sieve member is provided with a mesh portion that allows the passage of objects smaller than a certain size, and after performing the operation of putting the crushed medicine into the sieve member, the crushed medicine that has passed through the mesh portion is put into the dispensing tray.

[0010] According to such an aspect, finer crushed medicine can be packaged.

[0011] Preferably, it has a plurality of medicine containers formed including a tablet storage unit for storing tablets, the crushing unit, and the sorting unit, and after moving one of the medicine containers selected from the plurality of medicine containers to a predetermined position, the operation of discharging the crushed medicine that has passed through the sorting unit to the outside of the medicine container is executed.

[0012] According to such an aspect, by introducing different types of tablets into each drug container, when continuously performing the operation of crushing different types of tablets, it is not always necessary to clean the crushing unit or the sorting unit every time the operation of crushing the tablets is performed, and efficient operation becomes possible.

[0013] Preferably, it has a sieve vibrating unit that applies vibration to the sieve member, and simultaneously performs the operation of discharging the crushed drug from the crushing unit and introducing it into the sieve member and the operation of vibrating the sieve member.

[0014] According to such an aspect, sorting by the sieve member can be performed more efficiently.

[0015] Preferably, the crushing unit has an inner mortar member and an outer mortar member, a gap portion is formed between the inner mortar member and the outer mortar member, and the drug is crushed into a powder state by passing through the gap portion while one of the inner mortar member and the outer mortar member rotates relative to the other, and it has a gap adjusting mechanism for adjusting the size of the gap portion.

[0016] According to such an aspect, it is possible to package crushed drugs with various coarsenesses, and the cleaning after the operation of crushing the tablets can be facilitated.

[0017] Preferably, it has an intermediate container, and performs the operation of introducing the crushed drug discharged from the crushing unit into the intermediate container, the operation of moving the intermediate container into which the crushed drug has been introduced from the crushing unit side to the intermediate discharge device side, and the operation of introducing the crushed drug from the intermediate container that has moved to the intermediate discharge device side into the intermediate discharge device.

[0018] According to such an aspect, when the crushing unit and the intermediate discharge device are arranged at separated positions, etc., it is possible to introduce the crushed drug into the intermediate discharge device without moving each of them. By measuring the weight of the crushed drug introduced into the intermediate container, it is possible to easily measure the weight of the crushed drug before being introduced into the intermediate discharge device.

[0019] Preferably, it is provided with a discharge amount adjustment function for adjusting the discharge amount of the pulverized drug per unit time from the intermediate discharge device.

[0020] According to such an aspect, it becomes possible to supply the drug to the distribution tray more appropriately.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device that can be suitably introduced into hospitals, pharmacies, etc., and that can simplify the business of providing powdered drugs formed by pulverizing tablets.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Note that the following embodiments are examples that embody the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. Also, the directions of front and back, up and down, left and right are described based on the posture of FIG. 1 unless otherwise specified.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment is surrounded by a housing member 2, and its interior is divided into a medicine container placement area 10, a medicine division area 11, and a medicine packaging area 12. Note that the medicine dispensing device 1 incorporates a control device (control unit, not shown). The control device has arithmetic means such as a CPU and storage means such as a memory, and a program for executing each operation described later is stored in the storage means. That is, the control device can transmit and receive signals to and from various devices incorporated therein (specific details will be described later), can receive values acquired by sensors and the like (measurement means, detection means, etc.) of various devices, and can transmit signals for controlling various operations described later. Also, a dehumidifying device (not shown) and a temperature regulator (not shown) are provided inside the housing member 2, and it is possible to maintain the internal temperature and humidity within a certain range. Furthermore, the medicine dispensing device 1 has an input means (not shown). The input means is a part that receives the input of an operator, such as a keyboard or a touch pad, and in this embodiment, a so-called touch panel is adopted. That is, the input means of the present embodiment also serves as a display means. In other words, the medicine dispensing device 1 has a display means and an input means.

[0025] The housing member 2 has a door portion 16 in a part that forms the outer wall surface. The door portion 16 is a part for taking in and out a medicine container (a first medicine container 30 and a second medicine container 31 described later) into and out of the housing member 2, and a container temporary placement portion where the medicine container can be temporarily placed is provided inside thereof. Although the detailed illustration of the medicine container temporary placement part is omitted, it is a part that can hold the medicine container by mechanical engagement. By placing the medicine container, the medicine container and the medicine container temporary placement part are in an engaged state. And when the medicine container and the medicine container temporary placement part are in the engaged state, by lifting the medicine container, they are in a disengaged state. That is, this door part 16 and the medicine container temporary placement part function as an introduction part when introducing the medicine container into the housing member 2, and also function as a take-out part when taking out the medicine container from the housing member 2. In addition, the medicine container temporary placement part may be such that one medicine container temporary placement part can place both the first medicine container 30 and the second medicine container 31. Alternatively, the medicine container temporary placement part may have a first medicine container temporary placement part capable of placing the first medicine container 30 and a second medicine container temporary placement part capable of placing the second medicine container 31, and may be configured to include a separate first medicine container temporary placement part and a second medicine container temporary placement part.

[0026] The medicine container arrangement area 10 is an area where the first container storage part 20, the second container storage part 21, and the container retreat part 22 are arranged. Also, in the area from the medicine container arrangement area 10 to the medicine division area 11, a container moving device 25 and a container unit lifting device 26 are arranged.

[0027] The first container storage part 20 is a member that holds a plurality of first medicine containers 30. For the convenience of drawing, only some of the first medicine containers 30 are labeled, and the labels for others are omitted. Also, in the following description, when there are a plurality of similar members, only some of them are labeled as necessary, and the labels for others are omitted.

[0028] Although the detailed illustration of the first medicine container 30 is omitted, it is a container with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, in which bulk medicine or powdered medicine is stored, and it has a medicine discharge part for discharging the stored medicine to the outside. This first medicine container 30 has information storage means (first container side information storage means) for storing information about the stored medicine. In this embodiment, an RFID tag is adopted as the information storage means.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the second container storage unit 21 is a shelf-like member capable of accommodating a plurality of second drug containers 31. More specifically, the second container storage unit 21 has a plurality of container storage areas 35, and one second drug container 31 is arranged in each container storage area 35. Although detailed illustration of the container storage area 35 is omitted, it has a container holding means and an information reading means.

[0030] The container holding means of the container storage area 35 may be, for example, an electromagnet. That is, the container holding means may be an adsorption holding means structured to adsorb and hold a part of the second drug container 31 by energization and to cancel (reduce) the adsorption force to enable the separation of the second drug container 31 by de-energization. That is, the container holding means may be an adsorption holding means such as magnetic force or vacuum adsorption by sucking in air. Further, the container holding means may be a robot hand-like member constituted by two clamping pieces. That is, the container holding means may switch between a holding state of holding the second drug container 31 and a holding release state of not holding it by bringing at least a part of the two clamping pieces closer to and separating from each other with at least a part of the second drug container 31 positioned between the two clamping pieces. That is, the container holding means may be a holding means that physically holds the second drug container 31 (by contact between objects). In addition, the container holding means may be a recess capable of accommodating at least a part (for example, the lower part) of the second drug container 31 approximately exactly. That is, it may be such that by engaging with at least a part of the second drug container 31 (placing it in a state of accommodating at least a part), it becomes a holding state of holding the second drug container 31, and by releasing the engagement, it becomes a holding release state. In this embodiment, an electromagnet is adopted as the container holding means.

[0031] The information reading means can acquire information from the information storage means 99 (the second container side information storage means, which will be described in detail later) of the second drug container 31, and in this embodiment, it is an RFID reader. From this, the drug dispensing device 1 can acquire information from each of the second drug containers 31 stored in the second container storage unit 21. Also, from this, the drug dispensing device 1 can detect the position (in which container accommodation area 35) in the second container storage unit 21 where each second drug container 31 is stored.

[0032] Note that the second container storage unit 21 of this embodiment is provided with an optical sensor and can detect whether the second drug container 31 is stored in the correct position and with the correct orientation. That is, when the second drug container 31 is arranged at a position deviated from the position where it should originally be stored, or is tilted, or a part of the second drug container 31 protrudes from the position where it should originally be stored, the protruding part is detected by the optical sensor. That is, the optical sensor functions as a storage position detection means for detecting whether the storage position of the second drug container 31 is correct, and also functions as a storage posture detection means for detecting whether the posture of the second drug container 31 during storage is correct.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second drug container 31 has a tablet storage unit 40, a pulverizing unit 41, and a sorting unit 42, and these are integrated members. That is, the second drug container 31 can pulverize the tablets stored in the tablet storage unit 40 in the pulverizing unit 41 to make them powdery, and can sort out the ones with a small particle size from the individual particles constituting the powdered drug in the sorting unit 42. Thus, the second drug container 31 is a container that can take the tablets introduced therein as raw materials and discharge to the outside a powdered drug (pulverized drug) composed of individual particles with a small particle size. That is, the second drug container 31 processes tablets, which are solid large granular drugs, into a powder (an aggregate of fine individual particles), sorts the individual particles constituting the powder based on the particle size (size), removes the individual particles with a particle size larger than a certain size, and then can discharge them.

[0034] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the second drug container 31 includes a cylindrical portion 45, a first lid portion 46, a particle size adjusting member 47, a rotating shaft portion 48, an inner mortar member 49, an auxiliary member 50, a middle plate member 51, a biasing member 52, an outer mortar member 53, a sieve member 54, and a second lid portion 55. In the description of each member of the second drug container 31 below, one end portion (the end portion on the side of the first lid portion 46) in the length direction of the second drug container 31 is also referred to as the first end portion, and the other end portion is also referred to as the second end portion.

[0035] The cylindrical portion 45 is a cylindrical member having a space inside, and includes a first cylindrical portion 45a and a second cylindrical portion 45b. Both the first cylindrical portion 45a and the second cylindrical portion 45b are cylindrical members, and a part of the second cylindrical portion 45b is fitted inside a part of the first cylindrical portion 45a, and they are integrally fixed by inserting a fastening element (not shown) such as a screw through the overlapping portion.

[0036] The first lid portion 46 is attached to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 45 and has a plate-like portion 46a that closes a part of the one-side opening of the cylindrical portion 45. The plate-like portion 46a has a mounting hole portion 57, and the mounting hole portion 57 is a hole that penetrates the central portion of the plate-like portion 46a in the thickness direction (the length direction of the second drug container 31). Further, a screw thread 58 (lid-side engaging portion) is formed on the inner peripheral surface portion surrounding the mounting hole portion 57.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the particle size adjusting member 47 includes a substantially cylindrical central cylinder portion 47a, an outer peripheral wall portion 47b that surrounds the central cylinder portion 47a at a position away from the central cylinder portion 47a to the outside, and a bottom wall portion 47c (see FIG. 4) that connects the lower portions of the central cylinder portion 47a and the outer peripheral wall portion 47b to each other. From this, the particle size adjustment member 47 has a shaft insertion hole portion 60 which is an inner hole of the central cylindrical portion 47a. The shaft insertion hole portion 60 is also a hole that penetrates the particle size adjustment member 47 in the length direction of the second drug container 31. Further, the particle size adjustment member 47 has an adjustment member side concave portion 61 that is recessed toward the inner side (second end side) of the second drug container 31 at a position adjacent to the central cylindrical portion 47a. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a gripping portion 62 is provided inside the adjustment member side concave portion 61. The gripping portion 62 is a standing plate-like portion that protrudes from the bottom wall portion 47c toward the outside of the second drug container 31. In the present embodiment, a plurality of gripping portions 62 are formed at positions separated in the circumferential direction of the central cylindrical portion 47a.

[0038] On the outer peripheral surface portion of the outer peripheral wall portion 47b, as shown in FIG. 4, a screw thread 63 (adjustment member side engaging portion) is formed. This screw thread 63 is a portion that engages (threads) with the screw thread 58 of the first lid portion 46, and forms an engaging portion that mates with the screw thread 58 of the first lid portion 46. Then, when the screw thread 63 of the outer peripheral wall portion 47b and the screw thread 58 of the first lid portion 46 engage, at least a part of the particle size adjustment member 47 is positioned inside the mounting hole portion 57 of the first lid portion 46, and the particle size adjustment member 47 is attached to the first lid portion 46.

[0039] The rotating shaft portion 48 is a rod-shaped member that extends in the length direction of the second drug container 31 (the vertical direction in FIG. 4). A rotating shaft side engaging portion 65 is provided on one end side in the same length direction, and an inner socket member 49 is fixed to the other end side. The rotating shaft side engaging portion 65 is constituted by a plurality of recesses (groove portions) formed on the outer peripheral surface portion of the rotating shaft portion 48, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0040] The inner socket member 49 has a supply side portion 68 and a discharge side portion 69, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), and these are integrally formed. The supply side portion 68 and the discharge side portion 69 are arranged in this order from the first end side (the upper side in Fig. 5(b)). The supply side portion 68 is a substantially frustum-shaped portion that expands in diameter (widens in the horizontal direction) as it goes toward the second end side (the lower side in Fig. 5(b)). The discharge side portion 69 is a substantially frustum-shaped portion that contracts in diameter as it goes toward the second end side. Note that the boundary portion between the supply side portion 68 and the discharge side portion 69 has a rounded shape.

[0041] For the inner socket member 49, the radial length L1 of the rotary shaft portion 48 at the end on the first end side (the upper end in Fig. 5(b)) is larger than the radial length L2 of the rotary shaft portion 48 at the end on the second end side. Also, for the inner socket member 49, the end face on the first end side (the upper face in Fig. 5(b)) and the end face on the second end side (the lower face in Fig. 5(b)) are parallel to each other.

[0042] Here, the inner socket member 49 is provided with a plurality (five in this embodiment) of inner socket side introduction grooves 73 and a plurality of inner socket side pulverization grooves 74. As shown in Figs. 5(a) to 5(c), the inner socket side introduction groove 73 is a portion formed by missing the end face on the first end side (the upper face in Fig. 5(b)) of the inner socket member 49, the outer peripheral surface of the supply side portion 68, and the outer side surface of the discharge side portion 69, and extends across these portions. This inner socket side introduction groove 73 extends toward one side in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft portion 48 as it goes toward the second end side, and is a groove that extends while curving so that at least a part of the extending direction becomes a curved portion that gently curves.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 5, the inner socket side pulverization groove 74 is a groove that extends from around the end on the second end side of the inner socket side introduction groove 73 toward the second end side, and extends to the end on the second end side of the outer peripheral surface of the discharge side portion 69. Therefore, most of the inner socket side pulverization groove 74 is located on the second end side of the inner socket side introduction groove 73. The inner socket side pulverization groove 74 extends toward one side in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft portion 48 as it goes toward the second end side, and is a groove that extends while curving so that at least a part of the extending direction becomes a curved portion that gently curves. In this embodiment, the inner acetabular side crushing groove 74 is provided so as to be more numerous than the inner acetabular side introduction groove 73. And each inner acetabular side crushing groove 74 is a groove that is more elongated than the inner acetabular side introduction groove 73, has a smaller groove width than the inner acetabular side introduction groove 73, and is longer in length than the inner acetabular side introduction groove 73. For a plurality of inner acetabular side crushing grooves 74, the end on the first end side in a part of the longitudinal direction (extending direction) is continuous with the end on the second end side of the inner acetabular side introduction groove 73. That is, a part of the inner acetabular side crushing groove 74 is a groove continuous with the inner acetabular side introduction groove 73. On the other hand, for the other inner acetabular side crushing grooves 74, the end on the first end side in the longitudinal direction (extending direction) is arranged at a position separated from the portion on the second end side of the inner acetabular side introduction groove 73 in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft portion 48, and is a groove not continuous with the inner acetabular side introduction groove 73.

[0044] Here, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the plurality of inner acetabular side introduction grooves 73 are provided so as to be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft portion 48. The plurality of inner acetabular side crushing grooves 74 are also provided so as to be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft portion 48. At this time, the interval between two adjacent inner acetabular side introduction grooves 73 is wider than the interval between two adjacent inner acetabular side crushing grooves 74. Also, as shown in FIG. 5(b), when the inner acetabular member 49 is viewed from the side, each inner acetabular side introduction groove 73 extends along a locus that draws an arc that curves convexly toward one side in the width direction of the inner acetabular member 49 (the right side in FIG. 5(b)). In contrast, the inner acetabular side crushing groove 74 extends along a locus that draws an arc that curves convexly toward the other side in the width direction (the left side in FIG. 5(b)). Further, the inner acetabular side crushing groove 74 is formed such that at least the portion on the second end side (the lower end side in FIG. 5(b)) (the whole in this embodiment) becomes narrower in width as it goes toward the second end side.

[0045] The auxiliary member 50 is a member externally fitted to a part of the rotary shaft portion 48, as shown in FIG. 4, and is composed of a first auxiliary member 50a and a second auxiliary member 50b. The first auxiliary member 50a is a substantially cylindrical member having a flange portion at the end on the second end side (the lower end in FIG. 4), and the second auxiliary member 50b is a substantially cylindrical member having a flange portion at the end on the first end side (the upper end in FIG. 4).

[0046] At the boundary between the first auxiliary member 50a and the second auxiliary member 50b, the respective flange portions are butted against each other, and the flange portions are arranged in a state of surface contact with each other. Most of the first auxiliary member 50a is located within the shaft insertion hole portion 60. That is, a part of the first auxiliary member 50a is interposed between the rotary shaft portion 48 and the shaft insertion hole portion 60. Further, the flange portion of the first auxiliary member 50a is located inside the second medicine container 31 (the lower side in FIG. 4, the second end side) rather than the particle size adjusting member 47. Further, the second auxiliary member 50b is located further inside the second medicine container 31 (the lower side in FIG. 4) than the first auxiliary member 50a.

[0047] The middle plate member 51 is a substantially disc-shaped member having a thickness in the length direction of the second medicine container 31 (rotary shaft portion 48). The middle plate member 51 has a middle plate side shaft insertion hole 78, and the middle plate side shaft insertion hole 78 is a through hole that penetrates the central portion of the middle plate member 51 in the thickness direction. Note that the middle plate member 51 is provided at a position different from the middle plate side shaft insertion hole 78 and has a plurality of communication hole portions (not shown) that penetrate the middle plate member 51 in the thickness direction.

[0048] The biasing member 52 is a coil spring. The biasing member 52 is arranged in a state where one end portion in the length direction of the second medicine container 31 is in contact with the second auxiliary member 50b and the other end portion is in contact with the outer surface (the upper surface in FIG. 4) of the middle plate member 51. This biasing member 52 is arranged in a compressed state and constantly biases the second auxiliary member 50b outward (the upper side in FIG. 4).

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, the outer mortar member 53 is a substantially mortar-shaped member, which is tapered toward the second end side (the lower side in FIG. 6(c)), and has an internal space 80 surrounded by an inner wall portion. The outer mortar member 53 has an inlet portion 83 at the end on the first end side (the upper side in FIG. 6(c)), and an outlet portion 84 at the end on the second end side (the upper side in FIG. 6(c)), and the internal space 80 communicates with the outside through the inlet portion 83 and the outlet portion 84. That is, the inlet portion 83 and the outlet portion 84 are opening portions that communicate the inside and outside of the outer mortar member 53.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 6(b) and the like, the outer mortar member 53 has, in order from the first end side (the upper side in FIG. 6(b)), a first introduction portion 87, a second introduction portion 88, and a gap forming portion 89, which are continuously formed. The first introduction portion 87 has an inner wall surface whose diameter becomes smaller toward the second end side (the lower side in FIG. 6(c)). The second introduction portion 88 is continuously annular and has a vertical wall-shaped inner wall surface with the same diameter extending in the length direction of the second drug container 31 (the vertical direction in FIG. 6(c)). The gap forming portion 89 has an inner wall surface whose diameter becomes smaller toward the second end side (the lower side in FIG. 6(c)). The inner wall surface (tapered surface) of the gap forming portion 89 and the inner wall surface (tapered surface) of the first introduction portion 87 have different inclinations (gradients), and the inner wall surface of the gap forming portion 89 is a surface with a steeper inclination. The boundary portion between the inner wall surface of the second introduction portion 88 and the inner wall surface of the gap forming portion 89 has a rounded shape, and specifically, forms a curved surface that is continuously annular.

[0051] In addition, on the inner wall portion of the outer acetabular member 53, an outer acetabular side introduction groove portion 91 is provided in a portion from the first introduction portion 87 to the second introduction portion 88. The outer acetabular side introduction groove portion 91 is a missing portion formed to be recessed outward (outward in the spreading direction of the cross section of the second drug container 31). In the present embodiment, a plurality of outer acetabular side introduction groove portions 91 are provided, and these are formed so as to be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft portion 48 (in the present embodiment, at positions separated by 90 degrees in a plan view). The outer acetabular side introduction groove portion 91 of the present embodiment has a substantially triangular portion and a substantially elliptical portion in a front view with the recessed direction as the line-of-sight direction (see FIG. 6(b)).

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the sieve member 54 has a substantially cylindrical temporary storage portion 94, a net portion 95, and a sieve side engaging portion 96. As shown in FIG. 7, the net portion 95 is a metal net and is attached to a portion inside the temporary storage portion 94 and from one end portion in the longitudinal direction (the lower end in FIG. 7 and the end portion on the second end side). The net portion 95 is a member that prevents the passage of objects larger than the mesh among the objects introduced into the temporary storage portion 94 and prevents the movement from the inside of the temporary storage portion 94 to the outside (movement to the outside on the second end side).

[0053] The sieve side engaging portion 96 has a protruding portion 96a protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the temporary storage portion 94 and a plurality of small piece portions 96b further protruding from a portion on the protruding end side of the protruding portion 96a. The sieve side engaging portion 96 is a portion that constitutes an engaging portion that mates with an external engaging piece portion 110b. In addition, the sieve side engaging portion 96 is provided with a mounting hole 97. As shown in FIG. 7, the mounting hole 97 is a through hole that penetrates the protruding portion 96a in the length direction of the second drug container 31 (the vertical direction in FIG. 7), and is a hole into which a mounting piece 98 formed integrally with the cylindrical portion 45 is loosely fitted. The sieve member 54 is attached to the cylindrical portion 45 via the mounting piece 98 and is relatively movable with respect to the cylindrical portion 45. Specifically, the sieve member 54 is movable in the length direction of the second drug container 31 and movable in the spreading direction of the cross section of the second drug container 31 with the cylindrical portion 45 fixed.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 8, the second lid portion 55 is a lid member that is rotatable about the vertical axis (with the virtual rotation axis line α2 as the center of rotation). When the second lid portion 55 rotates, the open state and the closed state at the second end of the second drug container 31 are switched. The virtual rotation axis line α2 is a virtual line extending in the length direction of the second drug container 31 (the vertical direction in FIG. 8). By setting the second end of the second drug container 31 to the open state, it becomes possible to discharge the drug from the inside of the second drug container 31 to the outside, and by setting it to the closed state, it becomes impossible to discharge the drug from the inside of the second drug container 31 to the outside. Note that an information storage means 99 (see FIG. 4) is provided on the outer surface of the second lid portion 55. The information storage means 99 can store information about the stored drug, and in this embodiment, an RFID tag is adopted.

[0055] In the second drug container 31 of the present embodiment, tablets are previously stored in the tablet storage portion 40 manually or by an external device. At this time, the end on the first end side (the upper end in FIG. 4) serves as the tablet introduction port. That is, the first lid portion 46 is removed from the cylindrical portion 45 and the tablets are introduced. In addition to removing the first lid portion 46, the particle size adjusting member 47 may be removed from the first lid portion 46 and moved slightly upward, and the tablets may be introduced through the gap between the first lid portion 46 and the particle size adjusting member 47. That is, the mounting hole portion 57 may function as a drug introduction hole. Further, a drug introduction hole may be provided in the plate-like portion 46a of the first lid portion 46 separately from the mounting hole portion 57. In this case, a lid portion capable of opening and closing the drug introduction hole may be provided. Also, the second drug container 31 is an end portion on the side opposite to the tablet introduction port side, and the end portion on the second end side (the lower end in FIG. 4) located on the side opposite to the tablet storage portion 40 with the crushing portion 41 interposed therebetween serves as the tablet discharge port.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 9, in the second drug container 31 of the present embodiment, a mortar gap portion 100 (gap portion) is formed between the outer side surface of the inner mortar member 49 (discharge side portion 69) and the inner side surface of the outer mortar member 53. As will be described in detail later, when the second drug container 31 performs an operation of crushing a drug (a crushing operation described later), the tablet enters the mortar gap portion 100, passes through the inside of the mortar gap portion 100, and is gradually ground and pulverized in the process of being discharged from the mortar gap portion 100 to the outside. Here, the second drug container 31 of the present embodiment can adjust the coarseness (the fineness, which is the size of the individual particle diameters) of the pulverized drug by adjusting the size (narrowness) of the gap of the mortar gap portion 100. That is, the second drug container 31 of the present embodiment has a gap adjustment mechanism for adjusting the gap of the mortar gap portion 100.

[0057] Specifically, by hanging a finger on the gripping portion 62 (see FIG. 3) of the particle size adjustment member 47 or the like, the particle size adjustment member 47 is rotated around the vertical axis. As described above, since the thread 58 of the first lid portion 46 and the thread 63 are screwed (engaged) with each other, while the first lid portion 46 and the particle size adjustment member 47 maintain an engaged state, the particle size adjustment member 47 moves in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 45 (the vertical direction in FIG. 9). That is, the particle size adjustment member 47 relatively rotates with respect to the first lid portion 46, and while maintaining the state of being held by the first lid portion 46, relatively moves with respect to the first lid portion 46. Specifically, by rotating the particle size adjustment member 47 to one side in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft portion 48, the particle size adjustment member 47 moves to the second end side (the lower side in FIG. 9), and by moving it to the opposite side, it moves to the first end side (the upper side in FIG. 9). Note that one side and the other side in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft portion 48 are the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction in a plan view with the length direction of the cylindrical portion 45 as the line-of-sight direction.

[0058] Here, a rotation shaft portion 48 is attached to the particle size adjustment member 47 via a retaining member (not shown). That is, the rotation shaft portion 48 is attached to the particle size adjustment member 47 in a state where it does not relatively move in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 45 (the vertical direction in FIG. 9) and is relatively rotatable around the vertical axis (with the rotation axis line α1 as the rotation center). Therefore, when the rotary shaft portion 48 moves in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 45, the inner socket member 49 fixed integrally with the rotary shaft portion 48 also moves in the same direction. Then, when the inner socket member 49 moves, as shown in FIG. 9, the inner peripheral surface of the inner socket member 49 approaches and separates from the outer peripheral surface of the outer socket member 53, and the width (size) of the socket gap portion 100 increases and decreases.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 9(b), when the inner socket member 49 and the outer socket member 53 are brought close to each other and the socket gap portion 100 is made smaller (the width of the socket gap portion 100 is narrowed), the coarseness of the formed powdery drug becomes finer (the average value of the particle sizes of the respective individual particles constituting the powdery drug becomes smaller). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9(a), when the inner socket member 49 and the outer socket member 53 are separated from each other and the socket gap portion 100 is made larger (the width of the socket gap portion 100 is widened), the coarseness of the formed powdery drug becomes coarser (the average value of the particle sizes of the respective individual particles constituting the powdery drug becomes larger).

[0060] Here, the lower end portion that serves as the discharge port when the drug is discharged from the socket gap portion 100 is an annular continuous opening portion that surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the inner socket member 49 (discharge side portion 69), although detailed illustration is omitted. And the socket gap portion 100 becomes smaller as the maximum length in the cross section of the second drug container 31 is positioned downward. Note that the "maximum length in the cross section of the second drug container 31" here is also the maximum length in the direction orthogonal to the length direction of the rotary shaft portion 48 (second drug container 31). In the present embodiment, the maximum length of the socket gap portion 100 in the cross section of the second drug container 31 is also the diameter of the outer peripheral edge of the socket gap portion 100 in the same cross section. That is, in the socket gap portion 100, the maximum length L3 (diameter of the outer peripheral edge) at the upper end portion is the longest among the maximum lengths of each part, and the maximum length L4 at the lower end portion is the shortest among the maximum lengths of each part. That is, the socket gap portion 100 communicates with the discharge port portion 84 (discharge portion). And the socket gap portion 100 is formed between a portion of the discharge side portion 69 of the inner socket member 49 (a portion that contracts in diameter as it goes toward the discharge port portion 84 side) and a portion of the outer socket member 53 that contracts in diameter as it goes toward the discharge port portion 84 side. According to such a configuration, when discharging the powdered drug from the mortar gap 100 downward, it is possible to narrow (make thinner) the range (discharge path) of the portion through which the drug passes when it falls downward. Further, it is possible to narrow the range where the powdered drug falls (the range on the sieve member 54, which will be described in detail later).

[0061] As shown in FIG. 1, the container retraction portion 22 is a member capable of accommodating a plurality (three in this embodiment) of second drug containers 31. Although the container retraction portion 22 differs from the above-described second container storage portion 21 in that the number of second drug containers 31 that can be accommodated is different, since they have substantially the same structure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. That is, the container retraction portion 22 has a plurality (three in this embodiment) of container accommodation regions 35, and each container accommodation region 35 has container holding means and information reading means. Further, the container retraction portion 22 has accommodation position detection means and accommodation posture detection means constituted by one or a plurality of optical sensors.

[0062] The container moving device 25 has a structure including a robot arm and an arm elevating mechanism, and the robot arm portion can be moved in the vertical direction by the elevating mechanism. The robot arm has an arm portion configured to include an articulated robot, and a container holding portion (holding portion on the moving device side) provided on the tip side of the arm portion. Although a detailed illustration of the container holding portion of the container moving device 25 is omitted, it has a first container holding portion that holds the first drug container 30 and a second container holding portion that holds the second drug container 31. The first container holding portion has a magnet that attracts an iron plate portion integrally attached to the first drug container 30. The second container holding portion is a hand portion capable of gripping the second drug container 31. As described above, the container moving device 25 is a drug container conveying device that holds drug containers (the first drug container 30 and the second drug container 31) at a predetermined position by the container holding portion of the arm portion and conveys the held drug containers to other positions.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 10, the container unit lifting device 26 includes a plurality of container holding base portions 102 and a lifting device (not shown) for lifting the container holding base portions 102. The lifting device is a device for lifting the base plate portion 106 (to be described in detail later) of the container holding base portion 102. For example, a device (lifting mechanism) formed by winding a wire around a roller member rotated by a motor can be adopted. The lifting device of the present embodiment has a lifting mechanism corresponding to each container holding base portion 102, and it is possible to individually lift and lower each container holding base portion 102 (base plate portion 106).

[0064] As shown in FIG. 11, the container holding base portion 102 includes a base plate portion 106, a motor box portion 107 (motor arrangement portion), a gear box portion 108 (gear arrangement portion), a container holding portion 109 (holding base side holding portion), a sieve vibration portion 110, and an opening / closing operation portion 111.

[0065] The base plate portion 106 is a flat plate-shaped portion having a thickness in the vertical direction, and is the portion on which the above-described respective portions are placed. The base plate portion 106 has a chemical agent passage hole 106a. The chemical agent passage hole 106a is a through hole that penetrates the base plate portion 106 in the thickness direction.

[0066] The motor box portion 107 is a box-shaped portion that houses various motors. In the present embodiment, a motor (gear power portion) that is a power source for the output gear 117 of the gear box portion 108 is housed.

[0067] The gear box portion 108 includes a gear side housing portion 116, a gear group composed of an output gear 117, an intermediate gear 118, and a shaft side gear 119, and a gear lifting device (not shown).

[0068] The gear side housing portion 116 has a flat bottom plate portion 116a and a side wall portion 116b that continuously extends in a square ring shape above the bottom plate portion 116a. Further, the gear side housing portion 116 has a shaft arrangement portion 122, which is a missing portion provided across the bottom plate portion 116a and the side wall portion 116b. The shaft arrangement portion 122 is provided on the front side in the mounting direction of the second drug container 31 (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 11, which is also the insertion direction of the rotary shaft portion 48) in the gear-side housing portion 116 (gear box portion 108), and is an area where a part of the above-described rotary shaft portion 48 can be arranged.

[0069] The output gear 117 is attached to the output shaft of the motor arranged in the motor box portion 107, and is a gear that rotates when the motor operates. The output shaft of the motor to which the output gear 117 is attached extends vertically from the motor box portion 107 into the gear box portion 108. That is, the output gear 117 is a gear that rotates around a vertical axis.

[0070] The intermediate gear 118 is a gear that rotates around a shaft extending upward from the bottom plate portion 116a, and is a power transmission member that transmits the power of the output gear 117 to the shaft-side gear 119. The shaft-side gear 119 is a gear-shaped member having a shaft insertion hole portion 119a at the central portion. The shaft insertion hole portion 119a is a through hole that penetrates the shaft-side gear 119 in the thickness direction, and is a hole into which a part (rotary shaft-side engagement portion 65) of the rotary shaft portion 48 can be inserted just right. Note that the gear group of the gear box portion 108 may have a structure in which the intermediate gear 118 is not provided and the output gear 117 is in direct contact with the shaft-side gear 119.

[0071] The gear lifting device (not shown) is a lifting device that lifts the shaft-side gear 119. That is, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the shaft-side gear 119 is movable in the vertical direction. As the gear lifting device, for example, a device including a plurality of solenoids can be adopted. In this case, the lifting device (not shown) can move the shaft-side gear 119 upward by protruding a protruding piece, and can support the shaft-side gear 119 at the position where it has been moved (see FIG. 11). On the other hand, the lifting device can move the shaft-side gear 119 downward by retracting the protruding piece in a state where the shaft-side gear 119 is located above (see FIG. 11), and can make the shaft-side gear 119 in a state where it is located below (see FIG. 12).

[0072] As shown in FIG. 11, the container holding part 109 has two clamping piece parts 109a and 109b, and is a container holding means capable of holding the second drug container 31 by the two clamping piece parts 109a and 109b. That is, the container holding part 109 switches between the holding state and the holding release state by making the distance between at least a part of the two clamping piece parts 109a and 109b approach and separate. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in a state where at least a part of the second drug container 31 is positioned between the two clamping piece parts 109a and 109b, by bringing at least a part of the two clamping piece parts 109a and 109b closer to each other, it shifts to the holding state of holding the second drug container 31. Also, by separating at least a part of the two clamping piece parts 109a and 109b from the holding state, it becomes the holding release state in which the holding of the container holding part 109 is released. Note that the container holding part 109, similar to the container holding means in the container accommodation region 35 described above, only needs to be able to hold the second drug container 31, and for example, it may be an electromagnet or the like.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 12, the sieve vibration part 110 has a housing part 110a, an engagement piece part 110b (see FIG. 7) at least a part of which protrudes and retracts from the housing part 110a, a vibration adding means (not shown) for adding vibration to the engagement piece part 110b, and a motor that is a power source for the protruding and retracting operation of the engagement piece part 110b.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 7, the engagement piece part 110b is provided with a vibration device side engagement part 125 at the tip part. The vibration device side engagement part 125 is an engagement part that pairs with the above-described sieve side engagement part 96. In this embodiment, it is a plurality (two) of holes into which the small piece part 96b of the sieve side engagement part 96 can be inserted.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 11, the opening and closing operation part 111 includes an opening and closing side arm part 111a configured to include a small multi-joint robot, an opening and closing side lifting device (not shown) for lifting and lowering the arm part, and a lid engagement part 111b provided at the tip side of the opening and closing side arm part 111a. The lid engagement part 111b is a part that can engage with a recess (not shown) provided at the lower part of the above-described second drug container 31 (second lid part 55). That is, the opening / closing operation unit 111 can open the second lid portion 55 (see FIG. 12) while the second drug container 31 is held by the container holding portion 109. Specifically, with the second drug container 31 held, the opening / closing side arm portion 111a is operated to move the lid engaging portion 111b, the lid engaging portion 111b is brought close to the second lid portion 55 from the lower side, and the lid engaging portion 111b is engaged with a recess (not shown) of the second lid portion 55. Then, with the lid engaging portion 111b and the second lid portion 55 engaged, the opening / closing side arm portion 111a is operated to move the lid engaging portion 111b, whereby the second lid portion 55 can be rotated. This enables the switching between the open state and the closed state of the second lid portion 55 described above (see FIG. 8).

[0076] The container holding base portion 102 of the present embodiment forms a container unit (see FIG. 12) by attaching a drug container (second drug container 31). In other words, the container holding base portion 102 is part of a container unit having a drug container and the container holding base portion 102.

[0077] When holding the second drug container 31 in the first container holding base portion 102a and discharging the drug in the second drug container 31, as shown in FIG. 11, the second drug container 31 is brought close to the first container holding base portion 102a by the container moving device 25 or manually.

[0078] At this time, the second drug container 31 is brought close in a posture where the rotation shaft portion 48 extends along the vertical direction, and the upper portion of the rotation shaft portion 48 is arranged in the shaft arrangement portion 122. At this time, the upper end portion of the rotation shaft portion 48 is in a state of being located below the shaft side gear 119 (not shown).

[0079] In this state, the container holding unit 109 is operated so that the container holding unit 109 holds the second drug container 31. Further, the shaft-side gear 119 is lowered so that a part of the rotary shaft portion 48 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole portion 119a of the shaft-side gear 119 (see FIG. 12). Specifically, the rotary shaft-side engaging portion 65 (see FIG. 11) is disposed within the shaft insertion hole portion 119a, and the rotary shaft-side engaging portion 65 engages with a protruding portion (gear-side engaging portion, not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft insertion hole portion 119a. As a result, the shaft-side gear 119 and the rotary shaft portion 48 are attached in a state where they do not rotate relative to each other, and the rotary shaft portion 48 of the second drug container 31 in the held state is connected to the shaft-side gear 119.

[0080] Subsequently, the engaging piece portion 110b of the sieve vibration unit 110 is moved toward the second drug container 31 in the held state (see FIG. 7), and the vibration device-side engaging portion 125 of the engaging piece portion 110b and the sieve-side engaging portion 96 of the sieve member 54 are brought into an engaged state. Thereby, the sieve member 54 of the second drug container 31 in the held state and the sieve vibration unit 110 are connected. Furthermore, as described above, by operating the opening / closing operation unit 111, the second lid portion 55 of the second drug container 31 in the held state is shifted from the closed state to the open state.

[0081] As described above, the container unit shifts to a dischargeable state in which the tablets in the second drug container 31 can be crushed and discharged downward. Note that the connection operation of the shaft-side gear 119 of the rotary shaft portion 48, the connection operation of the sieve vibration unit 110 and the sieve member 54, and the operation of opening the second lid portion 55 may be executed sequentially or simultaneously. When executed sequentially, the execution order of each operation may be appropriately changed. In addition, some of these operations may be executed in parallel, such as executing two of the three operations simultaneously and executing the other one before and after them.

[0082] When the container unit is in the dischargeable state, by operating the gears in the gear box portion 108, a crushing operation for crushing the tablets into powdered crushed medicine is executed. Specifically, when the motor is operated to rotate the output gear 117, the power of the output gear 117 is transmitted to the shaft-side gear 119 via the intermediate gear 118, and the shaft-side gear 119 rotates (see FIG. 12). Then, as shown in FIG. 13, when the shaft-side gear 119 rotates, the rotating shaft portion 48 connected to the shaft-side gear 119 rotates around the vertical axis (with the virtual rotation axis line α1 as the rotation center). The virtual rotation axis line α1 is a virtual line passing through the center of the rotating shaft portion 48.

[0083] At this time, as the rotating shaft portion 48 rotates, the inner socket member 49 attached integrally with the rotating shaft portion 48 rotates inside the outer socket member 53. When the inner socket member 49 rotates, the inner socket side introduction groove 73 of the inner socket member 49 (see FIGS. 15 and 13, etc.) also moves in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft portion 48 inside the outer socket member 53. From this, each inner socket side introduction groove 73 is sequentially switched between a state of being close to the outer socket side introduction groove portion 91 of the outer socket member 53 (see FIGS. 6 and 13, etc.) and a state of being arranged at a position separated from the outer socket side introduction groove portion 91 as the inner socket member 49 rotates.

[0084] Then, the tablet enters the introduction groove formed by the inner socket side introduction groove 73 and the outer socket side introduction groove portion 91 facing each other, and enters while being crushed into the mortar gap portion 100 formed between the outer side surface of the inner socket member 49 and the inner side surface of the outer socket member 53 from this introduction groove. Then, the tablet passes through the mortar gap portion 100 and becomes powdery in the process of passing through the mortar gap portion 100. Further, the drug (the tablet that has become powdery) that has passed through the mortar gap portion 100 reaches the lower end portion of the mortar gap portion 100 and falls downward from the portion where the discharge port portion 84 is located.

[0085] Then, the powdery drug discharged from the pulverizing portion 41 falls onto the sieve member 54. Here, after the execution of the connection operation between the sieve vibration portion 110 and the sieve member 54 described above, vibration is applied to the engaging piece portion 110b by the vibration means, and a sieving operation of vibrating the sieve member 54 is executed. That is, the sieving operation is an operation of slightly swinging the sieve member 54 in a direction including the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by vibrating the sieve member 54.

[0086] As a result, from the powdered drug that has fallen onto the sieve member 54, for example, chips of the sugar coating of a sugar-coated tablet or portions of the tablet that have not been finely crushed (individual particles with a large particle size) are removed. That is, among the powdered drug, the objects to be removed such as the above-mentioned chips of the sugar coating remain on the mesh portion 95, and the individual particles with a small particle size pass through the mesh portion 95 of the sieve member 54. As a result, the discharged powdered crushed drug becomes fine, composed of individual particles with a small particle size. In addition, in this embodiment, the crushing operation (the operation of rotating the inner mortar member 49) and the sieving operation are executed simultaneously, but the sieving operation may be executed after the completion of the crushing operation. Also, the crushing operation and the sieving operation may start simultaneously and be executed simultaneously, or may start sequentially and be executed simultaneously after the later-starting operation is started.

[0087] The crushed drug that has passed through the sieve member 54 falls downward as it is and is discharged to the outside through the opening on the second end side located below the second drug container 31. Then, the crushed drug discharged from the second drug container 31 falls downward as it is and is discharged to the lower part (outside the container unit) of the container unit through the inside of the drug passage hole 106a.

[0088] As described above, the drug dispensing device 1 of this embodiment executes a crushing operation and a sieving operation as the discharging operation of the crushed drug. Therefore, when completing the discharging operation of the crushed drug, the crushing operation and the sieving operation are sequentially stopped. Specifically, the sieving operation is stopped on the condition that a predetermined time has elapsed after the stop of the crushing operation. When removing the second drug container 31 from the container unit in a state where it can be discharged, it is removed in the reverse procedure of the above. That is, the second lid portion 55 is shifted to the closed state, and a plurality of connection release operations for releasing each connection are executed to shift from the state where the drug can be discharged to a state where the drug cannot be discharged. Then, the second drug container 31 is shifted from the held state to the released state, and the second drug container 31 is moved automatically or manually.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 1, the drug division area 11 is an area where the distribution dish 132 is installed, and includes a scraping device 133, a drug input section 134, a holding table 135 for the first container (holding table for the bulk drug container), a pulverized drug supply means 136 (intermediate discharge device), and a cleaning device (not shown) around the distribution dish 132.

[0090] Similar to a known one, the distribution dish 132 is provided with a drug input groove that is continuously annular and is in a rotatable state by a rotation mechanism (not shown).

[0091] Similar to a known one, the scraping device 133 is provided with a rotating plate (scraping member) at the tip of the scraping arm. That is, the scraping device 133 can perform a scraping operation of collecting a part of the powdery drug (bulk drug and / or pulverized drug) supplied to the distribution dish 132 and spread on the drug input groove to the periphery of the rotating plate. Further, the scraping device 133 can perform a scraping operation of scooping up the bulk drug collected by the scraping operation and inputting it into the drug input section 134.

[0092] The drug input section 134 is a part where the drug scooped up by the scraping device 133 is input.

[0093] The holding table 135 for the first container has a structure including a vibrating table portion and a weight measuring means. The vibrating table portion has a container holding means for holding the first drug container 30 and a vibration adding means for adding vibration to the first drug container 30. In this embodiment, a magnet (electromagnet) is adopted as the container holding means. The weight measuring means is a measuring device capable of measuring the weight of the first drug container 30 held on the vibrating table portion and the bulk drug contained in the first drug container 30.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 14, the pulverized drug supply means 136 includes a hopper member 140, a tray member 141, and a mounting table member 142.

[0095] As shown in Fig. 14(a), the hopper member 140 has a hopper main body portion 140a and two mounting piece portions 140b (one of which is not shown) that protrude outward from a pair of side surfaces of the hopper main body portion 140a, respectively.

[0096] The tray member 141 has a tray bottom plate portion 141a whose planar shape is substantially rectangular, and a tray side wall portion 141b formed so as to protrude upward from the edge of the tray bottom plate portion 141a. Here, the tray member 141 has tray side wall portions 141b on three sides, namely, one end side in the longitudinal direction and both sides in the short direction of the tray bottom plate portion 141a, and these continuously form a side wall portion. On the other hand, the tray member 141 does not have a vertical wall-shaped side wall portion formed on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the tray bottom plate portion 141a, and the side is in an open state. And this open portion on the side constitutes the drug discharge portion 145.

[0097] Here, two hopper mounting members 147 (one of which is not shown, see Fig. 14(a)) are attached to the tray member 141 of the pulverized drug supply means 136, and the hopper member 140 is attached to the two hopper mounting members 147. That is, the hopper member 140 is attached to the tray member 141 via the hopper mounting member 147.

[0098] Specifically, although detailed illustration is omitted, the tray member 141 has flat tray side mounting base portions (not shown) that protrude outward from the outer surfaces of a pair of tray side wall portions 141b located on both sides in the short direction. And for each of these two tray side mounting base portions, a separate hopper mounting member 147 is attached via a spring member (not shown). That is, the two hopper mounting members 147 are each in a state of being attached to the tray member 141 via a spring member not shown, and can be moved downward by pushing downward against the biasing force of the spring member not shown.

[0099] The hopper mounting member 147 has a hopper engaging portion 147a at its upper part. The hopper engaging portion 147a is a portion that can engage with the mounting piece portion 140b of the hopper member 140, and is formed to include a recess capable of holding the mounting piece portion 140b. That is, by engaging the two mounting piece portions 140b (one is not shown) of the hopper member 140 with the hopper engaging portions 147a of different hopper mounting members 147 respectively, the hopper member 140 is in a state of being attached to the two hopper mounting members 147. Here, since the hopper mounting member 147 is attached to the tray member 141 via a spring member (not shown) as described above, the hopper member 140 is attached to the tray member 141 via the hopper mounting member 147 and the spring member.

[0100] As shown in Fig. 14(b), the mounting base member 142 has a base portion 150, a mounting base portion 151, a vibration means 152, a support base portion 153, and a weight measuring means 154.

[0101] The base portion 150 is a plate-shaped member made of metal. The mounting base portion 151 is a member attached to the base portion 150 via a spring member (elastic member) not shown. The vibration means 152 is a piezoelectric element having a plate shape, and vibrates when a voltage is applied.

[0102] Here, the pulverized drug supply means 136 of the present embodiment has a plurality (two) of vibration means 152. The lower part of each vibration means 152 is fixed to the mounting base portion 151, and the support base portion 153 is attached to the upper part of each vibration means 152. That is, the base portion 150 supports the upper members (mounting base portion 151, vibration means 152, support base portion 153) via a spring member (detailed illustration is omitted) interposed between the base portion 150 and the mounting base portion 151. From this, when the vibration means 152 vibrates, the mounting base portion 151 vibrates due to the vibration of the pulverizing agent supply means 136. That is, the vibration means 152 functions as a vibration device that vibrates the mounting base portion 151 and the tray member 141 attached to the mounting base portion 151. In the present embodiment, as described above, the hopper member 140 is attached to the tray member 141, and when the tray member 141 vibrates, the hopper member 140 attached to the tray member 141 also vibrates.

[0103] The support base portion 153 has tray fixing means for fixing the tray member 141. In the present embodiment, an electromagnet is employed as this tray fixing means. That is, the tray fixing means becomes in a state where it can adsorb the tray member 141 by being energized, and becomes in a state where the tray member 141 can be separated by not being energized.

[0104] The weight measuring means 154 is a load cell and can detect the weight of the agent on the tray member 141 attached to the mounting base member 142.

[0105] From the above, the pulverizing agent supply means 136 can specify the weight of the powdery agent placed on the tray member 141 via the inside of the hopper member 140 from above. Also, in a state where the powdery agent is placed on the tray member 141, by vibrating the support base portion 153 and the tray member 141 with the vibration means 152, the agent can be moved to the agent discharge portion 145 side and dropped (discharged) downward from the agent discharge portion 145.

[0106] The cleaning device (not shown) has a cleaning brush capable of rotational operation and suction means, similar to a known one. The agent dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment can execute a dispensing dish cleaning operation for automatically cleaning the dispensing dish 132 and a scraping device cleaning operation for automatically cleaning the scraping device 133. Note that the agent dispensing device 1 may be configured to separately have a cleaning device for the dispensing dish 132 and a cleaning device for the scraping device 133, or may be configured such that one cleaning device serves both. In the cleaning operation of the dispensing tray 132, an operation of moving at least a part of the cleaning brush of the cleaning device into the chemical input groove of the dispensing tray 132 is performed. Subsequently, an operation of rotating the dispensing tray 132 while rotating the cleaning brush and an operation of sucking the powdered chemical by the suction means are performed. In the cleaning operation of the scraping device 133, a turntable (not shown) built below the scraping device 133 is rotated to turn the entire scraping device 133 and move the scraping device 133 to the vicinity of the cleaning device. Then, the tip of the scraping arm is pressed against the cleaning brush, and a suction operation by the suction means is performed while rotating the cleaning brush.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 1, the chemical packaging area 12 is an area where the chemical packaging device 158 is built in. The chemical packaging device 158 is a machine for packaging chemicals one dose at a time. Although detailed illustration is omitted, it has a sub-packaging paper supply device (sub-packaging paper supply unit) with a mounting part where a roll paper can be mounted and a sub-packaging device (sealing part) for sealing the sub-packaging paper fed out from the roll paper. Further, the chemical packaging device 158 has a chemical packaging conveyance means for conveying the chemical packaging to the outside of the chemical dispensing device 1, and can convey the formed chemical packaging to the outside of the device.

[0108] Subsequently, the operations that can be performed by the chemical dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0109] The chemical dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment can perform a chemical supply operation of supplying the chemical in the chemical container to the dispensing tray 132 based on the prescription data, and dividing the chemical supplied to the dispensing tray 132 into predetermined amounts (for example, one dose at a time) and putting it into the chemical input part 134. thing Moreover, a chemical packaging operation of packaging the chemical put into the chemical input part 134 in predetermined amounts can be performed. That is, the chemical dispensing device 1 can perform a sub-packaging operation of sub-packaging the chemicals (powdered drugs and / or crushed chemicals) contained in the chemical container, and as this sub-packaging operation, a series of operations including a chemical supply operation, a chemical division operation, and a chemical packaging operation are performed. Note that the prescription data is data related to a doctor's prescription, and includes data such as information indicating the drug name, information identifying the drug prescribed to the patient, information identifying the dosage, information identifying the patient to whom the prescription was made, etc. The prescription data can be automatically received by the drug dispensing device 1 from an external computer, and can also be manually input by an operator into the drug dispensing device 1.

[0110] (Drug supply operation) The drug dispensing device 1 of this embodiment can supply one or both of the powder drugs stored in the first drug container 30 and the crushed drugs obtained by pulverizing the tablets stored in the second drug container 31 to the dispensing tray 132. At this time, the drug dispensing device 1 can supply one or more types of either the powder drugs or the crushed drugs to the dispensing tray 132. That is, the drug dispensing device 1 can supply the dispensing tray 132 with one or more types of powder drugs and / or crushed drugs based on one or more types of tablets.

[0111] Specifically, the drug dispensing device 1 can execute a first drug supply operation for supplying the powder drugs stored in the first drug container 30 to the dispensing tray 132 and a second drug supply operation for pulverizing the tablets stored in the second drug container 31 and supplying them to the dispensing tray 132.

[0112] The first drug supply operation includes a first container moving operation of moving the first drug container 30 held by the first container storage unit 20 or the first drug container 30 manually introduced from the door portion 16 by the container moving device 25. The first container moving operation of this embodiment moves the first drug container 30 to the first container holding base 135 and places it on the first container holding base 135.

[0113] After the first drug container 30 is placed on the first container holding base 135, the vibrating table portion of the first container holding base 135 starts a vibrating operation, and the drug stored in the first drug container 30 falls into the dispensing tray 132. As a result, the drug is supplied (discharged) from the first drug container 30 to the dispensing tray 132. Note that when the drug dispensing device 1 supplies the drug to the dispensing tray 132, it executes an operation of rotating the dispensing tray 132.

[0114] Here, while the drug dispensing device 1 is executing the operation of discharging the drug from the first drug container 30, the weight measuring means of the first container holding table 135 continues to measure the weight of the first drug container 30 and the drug inside it. And based on the value detected by the weight measuring means, it is possible to specify the discharge amount of the drug from the start of discharge to each point in time. And based on the specified value of the drug discharge amount, it is possible to adjust the intensity of the vibration by the vibrating table section.

[0115] Then, when a prescribed amount of the drug is supplied from the first drug container 30 to the dispensing tray 132, the vibrating operation is stopped. Here, the prescribed amount referred to here is the target discharge amount, or an amount that is less than the target discharge amount by a predetermined amount. For example, when powders are specified in the prescription data, specifically, when the prescription data includes information such as prescribing "X powder, Y g", and the type of powder and its dosage (weight to be taken) can be obtained from the prescription data, the "prescribed amount" may be Y g obtained from the prescription data. After the vibrating operation is stopped, the container moving device 25 closes the lid of the first drug container 30 and moves the first drug container 30 from the first container holding table 135 to the first container storage section 20 or the door section 16.

[0116] In the first drug supply operation, it is possible to supply powders using a plurality of first drug containers 30. When using a plurality of first drug containers 30, one first drug container 30 is moved to one first container holding table 135, and after supplying the drug from one first drug container 30, the above-described operation may be repeated by moving another first drug container 30 to one first container holding table 135. Also, a plurality of first drug containers 30 may be placed on different first container holding tables 135 respectively, and an operation of supplying powders from the plurality of first drug containers 30 to the dispensing tray 132 may be executed. At this time, when the number of first drug containers 30 to be used is equal to or more than the number of first container holding tables 135 (three in this embodiment), the supply is executed by replacing the first drug container 30 on at least one first container holding table 135.

[0117] Here, when the first drug supply operation uses a plurality of first drug containers 30, it is possible to use a plurality of first drug containers 30 each containing a different type of drug, such as one first drug container 30 containing drug A and another first drug container 30 containing drug B. As a result, the drug dispensing device 1 can supply a plurality of types of powder drugs (powdered drugs) to the dispensing tray 132.

[0118] The second drug supply operation includes a second container moving operation of moving the second drug container 31 held in the second container storage unit 21 or the second drug container 31 manually introduced from the door portion 16 by the container moving device 25. The second container moving operation moves the second drug container 31 to the container unit lifting device 26 (a position close to the container holding table portion 102). Further, after the execution of the second container moving operation, a unit forming operation is executed to hold the second drug container 31 in a held state by the container holding portion 109 of the container holding table portion 102.

[0119] Here, in the present embodiment, when the container holding table portion 102 executes a holding operation of holding the second drug container 31 (when the container holding table portion 102 receives the second drug container 31), the container holding table portion 102 waits at the standby position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the container holding table portion 102 sets the uppermost position within the moving range (for example, the position in FIG. 15(a) for the first container holding table portion 102a) as the standby position. Further, the container holding table portion 102 sets the lowermost position within the moving range and the position closest to the pulverized drug supply means 136 (for example, the position in FIG. 15(b) for the first container holding table portion 102a) as the discharge position. The discharge position is the position where the container holding table portion 102 is arranged when discharging the drug from the second drug container 31. That is, the standby position is a position farther from the pulverized drug supply means 136 than the discharge position.

[0120] When the container holding base portion 102 holds the second drug container 31 to form a container unit, the container unit is shifted from a non-dischargeable state to a dischargeable state by the above-described procedure. Thereafter, the container unit (the container holding base portion 102 holding the second drug container 31) is moved to a discharge position, and a discharge operation for discharging the above-described pulverized drug is executed. In the present embodiment, the operation of moving the container unit to the discharge position is executed after shifting the container unit from the non-dischargeable state to the dischargeable state. However, the operation of shifting the container unit to the dischargeable state may be executed after the operation of moving the container unit to the discharge position. Further, one of the operation of shifting the container unit to the dischargeable state and the operation of moving the container unit to the discharge position may be executed partially or entirely simultaneously (in parallel) with the other operation.

[0121] Here, when the discharge operation of the pulverized drug is executed, the pulverized drug falls below the container holding base portion 102 and is supplied to the pulverized drug supply means 136 (see FIG. 15 etc.). That is, the pulverized drug falls onto the tray member 141 through the hopper member 140.

[0122] Here, in the present embodiment, while the discharge operation of the pulverized drug is being executed, a weight measurement operation for measuring the weight of the drug that has fallen onto the pulverized drug supply means 136 (the tray member 141) is performed based on the value detected by the weight measurement means 154 of the pulverized drug supply means 136. Thereby, it is possible to detect that the pulverized drug has been discharged onto the pulverized drug supply means 136, and it is possible to measure the discharge amount discharged up to each time point after the pulverized drug has been discharged.

[0123] When a prescribed amount (first prescribed amount) of the pulverized drug is supplied to the pulverized drug supply means 136 (the tray member 141), the discharging operation of the pulverized drug is stopped. Here, the prescribed amount means the target discharge amount or an amount increased or decreased by a predetermined amount from the target discharge amount. For example, when tablets are specified in the prescription data, specifically, when the prescription data includes information such as "prescribe X tablets as Y tablets" and the type of tablet and the number of tablets to be taken (the number of tablets to be taken) can be obtained from the prescription data, the "prescribed amount" may be Y × A (A is the weight per tablet of X tablets). At this time, the weight per tablet of each tablet may be stored in the storage means in advance. That is, the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment may execute a dosage calculation operation of calculating the weight (discharge target amount, dosage) of the pulverized drug based on the number of tablets taken obtained from the prescription data. After the completion (stop) of the discharging operation of the pulverized drug, the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment executes a discharging operation of discharging the pulverized drug from the pulverized drug supply means 136 to the dispensing tray 132. That is, after executing the first discharging operation of creating the pulverized drug based on the tablets and discharging it to the pulverized drug supply means 136, a second discharging operation of discharging the pulverized drug from the pulverized drug supply means 136 to the dispensing tray 132 is executed.

[0124] In the second discharging operation, discharging (supply) is performed while constantly calculating the discharge amount (supply amount). That is, the weight measuring means 154 constantly obtains the weight of the pulverized drug on the pulverized drug supply means 136 (the tray member 141). As a result, similar to the above-described drug supply operation (discharging operation) from the second drug container 31 to the dispensing tray 132, discharging can be performed while constantly specifying (calculating) the discharge amount. Also, when supplying the pulverized drug to the dispensing tray 132 in the second discharging operation, an operation of rotating the dispensing tray 132 is executed together with the second discharging operation. In this way, according to the configuration in which the pulverized agent is supplied to the distribution tray 132 while calculating the constant supply amount, by increasing or decreasing the intensity of the vibration by the vibration means 152 based on the calculated value, the discharge amount of the pulverized agent per unit time can be made uniform or substantially uniform. That is, even when the second chemical agent container 31 (container unit) does not have a mechanism for quantitative discharge, it is possible to make the discharge amount per unit time uniform or substantially uniform. That is, the pulverized agent supply means 136 of the present embodiment has a discharge amount adjustment function for adjusting the discharge amount per unit time.

[0125] On the condition that the supply amount of the pulverized agent to the distribution tray 132 reaches a specified amount (second specified amount), the supply (second discharge operation) of the pulverized agent to the distribution tray 132 is terminated (stopped). Here, the specified amount (second specified amount) in the second discharge operation may be the same as or less than the specified amount (first specified amount) in the above-described first discharge operation. And this second specified amount can be set as the target discharge amount, or an amount increased or decreased by a predetermined amount from the target discharge amount. In the present embodiment, the total amount of the pulverized agent supplied to the pulverized agent supply means 136 is supplied to the distribution tray 132. According to such a configuration, when supplying the pulverized agent to the distribution tray 132, multiple measurements (twice) are performed, and further, the final supply amount to the distribution tray 132 can be adjusted by the pulverized agent supply means 136, so that the supply of the pulverized agent to the distribution tray 132 can be made more accurate.

[0126] When a part of the pulverized agent is left on the receiving member 141 and supplied to the distribution tray 132, the receiving member 141 is manually or automatically cleaned before the next pulverized agent is supplied to the receiving member 141. That is, in the case of manual cleaning, the chemical agent dispensing device 1 may have a manual cleaning device (manual cleaning means) including a nozzle portion having a suction port and a hose portion extending from the nozzle portion, or an external manual cleaning device (manual cleaning means) such as a small wireless cleaner may be used. When cleaning automatically, the drug dispensing device 1 is configured to include a cleaning device (automatic cleaning means) for the tray member 141 having at least one of a cleaning brush and a suction means. Also, the cleaning by the manual cleaning means and the cleaning by the automatic cleaning means may be configured such that both are possible and either one can be selected and implemented, or both may be implemented. In the present embodiment, it is configured to clean automatically.

[0127] After the supply of the pulverized drug to the dispensing tray 132 is completed, the container unit is shifted from a state where it can be discharged to a state where it cannot be discharged. Then, the container unit on the pulverized drug supply means 136 is moved upward. That is, the second drug container 31 in which the tablets serving as the pulverized drug were accommodated and the container holding base portion 102 holding the second drug container 31 are moved to an upper standby position. Then, the second drug container 31 is transferred from the container holding base portion 102 to the container moving device 25 in the reverse procedure to the above, and the second drug container 31 is moved by the container moving device 25 to a specified position such as the second container storage portion 21 and the container temporary placement portion of the door portion 16 of the container unit lifting device 26.

[0128] Here, the second drug supply operation of the present embodiment enables the supply of the pulverized drug using a plurality of second drug containers 31. As shown in FIG. 15, when using a plurality of second drug containers 31, in the same manner as above, the first second drug container 31 is moved to the vicinity of one container holding base portion 102 (for example, the first container holding base portion 102a), and the first second drug container 31 is held by one container holding base portion 102. Further, the container holding base portion 102 is moved to the discharge position, and the discharge operation of the pulverized drug is executed (see FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b)). That is, a first discharge operation of supplying the pulverized drug from the first second drug container 31 to the pulverized drug supply means 136 and a second discharge operation of supplying the pulverized drug from the pulverized drug supply means 136 to the dispensing tray 132 are executed.

[0129] Then, in the same manner as above, after the completion of the second discharge operation, the first second drug container 31 and one container holding base portion 102 are moved to the standby position (see FIG. 15(c)). On the other hand, move the second second drug container 31 to the vicinity of another container holding base portion 102 (for example, the second container holding base portion 102b), and hold the second second drug container 31 on the other container holding base portion 102. Then, as shown in FIG. 15(c), following the operation of moving the container unit including the first second drug container 31 to the standby position after the discharging operation, move the container unit including the second second drug container 31 to the discharging position, and execute the first discharging operation and the second discharging operation. Similarly, when using three or more second drug containers 31, remove the first second drug container 31 from one container holding base portion 102, and instead hold the third second drug container 31 on one container holding base portion 102. After the first discharging operation using the second second drug container 31 and the subsequent second discharging operation are completed, move the second second drug container 31 and the other container holding base portion 102 to the standby position. Subsequently, move the container unit including the third second drug container 31 to the discharging position, and execute the first discharging operation and the second discharging operation.

[0130] When performing the second drug supply operation and using a plurality of second drug containers 31, it is possible to use a plurality of second drug containers 31 each containing a different type of tablet, such as one second drug container 31 containing drug A and another second drug container 31 containing drug B. As a result, a plurality of types of tablets can be pulverized and supplied to the dispensing tray 132 respectively.

[0131] When performing the second drug supply operation using three or more second drug containers 31, after removing the second drug container 31 from which the internal drug has been pulverized and discharged from the container holding base portion 102, it may be temporarily placed in the container storage portion 22 before moving it to a specified position such as the second container storage portion 21 or the container temporary placement portion of the door portion 16. By temporarily placing it in the container storage portion 22 close to the container moving device 25 before moving one or more second drug containers 31 to the specified position (returning), the speed until the entire second drug supply operation is completed can be increased.

[0132] In this embodiment, the standby position and the discharge position of the container holding base portion 102 are set to different positions, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also conceivable to set the standby position and the discharge position to the same position. In this case, the container unit (container holding base portion 102) may not need to move in the vertical direction. That is, it is also conceivable to provide a unit installation base for installing the container unit (container holding base portion 102) instead of the container unit lifting device 26. However, according to the above-described configuration, the transfer of the second drug container 31 can be performed at a position where there are no other devices arranged around and a wide space can be secured, and the transfer operation of the second drug container 31 can be facilitated. Further, since the container unit can execute the discharge operation of the pulverized drug in the vicinity of the pulverized drug supply means 136, it is possible to more reliably drop the pulverized drug onto the pulverized drug supply means 136. That is, it is possible to achieve both the facilitation of the transfer operation of the second drug container 31 and the improvement of the discharge accuracy (more reliable discharge of the pulverized drug onto the pulverized drug supply means 136).

[0133] In the above-described embodiment, the standby position and the discharge position are set to both end portions of the movement range of the container holding base portion 102, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the standby position and the discharge position may be in the middle portion of the movement range of the container holding base portion 102. Further, the standby position (automatic standby position) when transferring the second drug container 31 held in the second container storage unit 21 to the container holding base portion 102 and the standby position (manual standby position) when transferring to the second drug container 31 manually introduced from the door portion 16 may be set to different positions. That is, the manual standby position and the automatic standby position are both positions farther from the pulverized drug supply means 136 than the discharge position, and the manual standby position may be closer to the door portion 16 than the automatic standby position.

[0134] (Drug splitting operation) The drug splitting operation performs an operation of lowering the tip side portion of the scraping device 133 and bringing it close to the dispensing tray 132. Then, the dispensing tray 132 is rotated by an angle corresponding to the number of splits, and a predetermined amount (for example, a dose of medicine) is brought to the periphery of the tip side portion of the scraping device 133. In this state, the scraping device 133 is operated to scoop up the medicine brought to the periphery of the scraping device 133 and put it into the medicine input section 134. Then, the medicine put into the medicine input section 134 reaches the medicine packaging area 12 and is supplied to the medicine packaging device 158.

[0135] (Medicine packaging operation) Also, in the above-described medicine packaging operation, the medicine packaging device 158 receives the medicine that has fallen from the medicine input section 134 (supplied from the medicine input section 134) with the sub-packaging paper in an upwardly open state, and seals the sub-packaging paper that has received the medicine. As a result, a medicine package containing a single dose of medicine is formed. Then, the medicine packaging is conveyed to the outside of the medicine packaging device 158 by the medicine packaging conveying means of the medicine packaging device 158. At this time, the medicine packaging device 158 may form a medicine packaging band in which a plurality of medicine packages are continuously configured and convey it to the outside of the device, or may form one or a plurality of individual medicine packages and convey them to the outside of the device.

[0136] In the above-described embodiment, a first specified amount of the pulverized medicine is supplied from the second medicine container 31 to the pulverized medicine supply means 136 (the tray member 141), and a second specified amount of the pulverized medicine is supplied from the pulverized medicine supply means 136 to the dispensing tray 132. At this time, as described above, the first specified amount may be set to an amount larger than the discharge amount, and the second specified amount may be set to the same amount as the discharge amount (an amount smaller than the first specified amount), and the discharge operation may be performed. Also, both the first specified amount and the second specified amount may be set to the same amount as the discharge amount, or both may be set to an amount smaller than the discharge amount.

[0137] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the discharge operation of the pulverized agent was stopped on the condition that the first specified amount of the pulverized agent was supplied to the pulverized agent supply means 136. In such a case, however, it is conceivable that the pulverized agent may fall onto the pulverized agent supply means 136 after the discharge operation is stopped. For this reason, as described above, it is also conceivable that the first specified amount is set to an amount less than the discharge target amount (an amount slightly less). The first specified amount may also be set to an amount slightly less than the value obtained by adding the above-described set value (for example, set value Y1) to the discharge target amount.

[0138] In the above-described embodiment, when the second agent supply operation is executed using a plurality of second agent containers 31, after the tablets contained in the first second agent container 31 are pulverized and supplied to the pulverized agent supply means 136 and the dispensing tray 132, the tablets contained in the second second agent container 31 are pulverized and supplied to the pulverized agent supply means 136 and the dispensing tray 132, and examples such as this were shown. That is, an example was shown in which a series of operations of supplying to the pulverized agent supply means 136 and the dispensing tray 132 are sequentially executed for each pulverized agent discharged from each second agent container 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Two container units may be arranged at the discharge position, and the pulverized agent may be simultaneously supplied from both the first second agent container 31 (for example, the first one) and the second second agent container 31 (for example, the second one) to the pulverized agent supply means 136. That is, on the pulverized agent supply means 136, the pulverized agent discharged from one second agent container 31 and the pulverized agent discharged from the other second agent container 31 may be mixed, and the pulverized agent in which these are mixed may be supplied to the dispensing tray 132.

[0139] That is, in the above-described embodiment, when supplying two types of tablets as pulverized agents to the dispensing tray 132, after all of the first type of pulverized agent is supplied to the dispensing tray 132, the second type of pulverized agent is supplied to the pulverized agent supply means 136. In contrast, when supplying two types of tablets as pulverized agents to the dispensing tray 132, after supplying the first type of pulverized agent and the second type of pulverized agent to the pulverized agent supply means 136, the first type of pulverized agent and the second type of pulverized agent may be supplied from the pulverized agent supply means 136 to the dispensing tray 132 together. That is, the supply of the second type of pulverized agent may be started before all of the first type of pulverized agent is supplied to the dispensing tray 132. At this time, in addition to supplying the first type of pulverized agent and the second type of pulverized agent to the pulverized agent supply means 136 at the same time, after supplying the first type of pulverized agent to the pulverized agent supply means 136, the second type of pulverized agent is supplied to the pulverized agent supply means 136, and then, the first type of pulverized agent and the second type of pulverized agent may be supplied to the dispensing tray 132 at the same time.

[0140] That is, after supplying the pulverized agent from one of the second drug containers 31 to the pulverized agent supply means 136, the pulverized agent is supplied from the other second drug container 31 to the pulverized agent supply means 136, and then, the pulverized agent discharged from one of the second drug containers 31 and the pulverized agent discharged from the other second drug container 31 may be supplied to the dispensing tray 132 together. At this time, the pulverized agent may be discharged in a state where the container unit including one of the second drug containers 31 is disposed at the discharge position, and the container unit including the other second drug container 31 may be moved to the discharge position in a state where this container unit has left the discharge position. Note that the state where the container unit has left the discharge position is a state where the container unit is located at the standby position or an intermediate position until it reaches the standby position.

[0141] In the above-described embodiment, the second drug container 31 is configured to include a tablet storage unit 40, a pulverizing unit 41, and a sorting unit 42 (sieving member 54). Such a configuration has the advantage that it is not necessary to clean the sieving member 54 every time the discharging operation is performed. Specifically, the second drug container 31 stores a large number of tablets of the same type (the same drug name and the same size) in the tablet storage portion 40. Each time the discharge operation using the second drug container 31 is executed, a part of the plurality of tablets stored in the tablet storage portion 40 is pulverized and discharged. Therefore, when the discharge operation using the same second drug container 31 is executed multiple times, the pulverized drug sorted by the sieve member 54 of the one second drug container 31 will all be pulverized drugs made from tablets of the same type. For this reason, even if there are residues from previous discharge operations remaining on the sieve member 54, they are not residues based on other types of tablets, and there is no risk of contamination on the sieve member 54. Therefore, it is not always necessary to clean the sieve member 54 every time the discharge operation is executed.

[0142] However, the sorting unit 42 (sieve member 54) does not necessarily have to be provided integrally with the second drug container 31. That is, the second drug container may be configured not to have the sorting unit 42, and a sieving device (sorting unit, not shown) including a sieve member and a sieve vibration unit may be provided outside the second drug container. In this case, for example, the sieving device may be provided below the container holding base portion 102 (the back side of the base plate portion 106) such that the net portion 95 is located below the drug passage hole 106a. That is, when discharging (supplying) from the container unit to the pulverized drug supply means 136, the sieving device may be provided such that the net portion 95 is located between the discharge port of the second drug container and the pulverized drug supply means 136 (hopper member 140). In addition, the sieving device may be provided in the drug dividing region 11 such that the net portion 95 is located between the drug discharge portion 145 of the pulverized drug supply means 136 and the drug input groove of the distribution dish 132. That is, the sorting unit (sieving device) only needs to be arranged such that the net portion is located at any part of the discharge path of the pulverized drug from the discharge port portion 84 of the pulverizing unit 41 through a part of the pulverized drug supply means 136 to the drug input groove of the distribution dish 132. However, as described above, it is more preferable that the net portion is arranged between the discharge port of the second drug container and the pulverized drug supply means 136, that is, on the upstream side of the pulverized drug supply means 136 and between the pulverizing unit 41 and the pulverized drug supply means 136.

[0143] Also, when arranging a sieving device such that a sieve part is located between the pulverizing part 41 and the pulverizing agent supply means 136, the sieving device may be configured to have a sieve-side weight measuring means capable of detecting the weight of the sieve member. In this case, since the weight of the sieve member increases due to the residue being disposed on the sieve part, the weight of the residue can be specified by subtracting the original weight (the weight of the sieve member) from the increased weight. That is, an operation of specifying the weight of the residue based on the value detected by the sieve-side weight measuring means can be executed. Then, when discharging (supplying) from the container unit to the pulverizing agent supply means 136, the operation of discharging from the container unit to the pulverizing agent supply means 136 may be stopped on the condition that the total value (total weight) of the weight of the residue and the weight of the pulverizing agent supplied onto the pulverizing agent supply means 136 (receptacle member 141) passing through the sieve member (sieve part) reaches a specified amount (first specified amount). At this time, the specified amount may be the target discharge amount or an amount slightly less than the target discharge amount. In addition, in a drug container in which a sorting part 42 (sieve member 54) is integrally provided, such as the second drug container 31 described above, it is conceivable to provide a sieve-side weight measuring means capable of detecting the weight of the sieve member 54 in the drug container. That is, the second drug container 31 described above may further be configured to have a sieve-side weight measuring means.

[0144] By the way, in the present embodiment, as described above, it is assumed that a part of a tablet such as the sugar-coated part of a sugar-coated tablet is removed by the sorting part 42 (sieve member 54). Therefore, when pulverizing the specified number of tablets (the same amount as the total weight of the specified number of tablets) in the prescription data, it is conceivable that the discharge amount will be less than the total weight (target discharge amount) of the specified number of tablets by the amount removed. And the amount removed by the sorting part 42 during pulverization is considered to differ depending on the type of tablet. For example, in the case of a tablet with a large amount of sugar coating in the whole, the amount removed will be large.

[0145] Therefore, as described above, when the sorting unit (sieving device) is provided outside the second drug container, the discharge amount (first specified amount) discharged from the second drug container to the pulverized drug supply means 136 may be set to be larger than the discharge amount (target discharge amount) specified based on the prescription data. In this case, the discharge amount discharged to the pulverized drug supply means 136 is the discharge amount of the drug discharged from the second drug container (pulverizing unit), that is, the amount of the pulverized drug before passing through the sorting unit. And this "amount larger than the discharge amount (target discharge amount)" may be an amount defined based on a set value set according to the type of drug.

[0146] Specifically described, for example, as described above, a configuration is adopted in which a sieving device (sorting unit) is provided such that a net portion 95 is located between the drug discharge portion 145 of the pulverized drug supply means 136 and the drug input groove of the distribution tray 132. At this time, in advance, by experiments or the like, a set value corresponding to the removal amount (loss amount) for each type of drug is defined and stored in the storage means. For example, if drug A has a sugar-coated portion (a portion where removal is predicted) accounting for 10% of the whole, the set value Y is 1.1, and if drug B has a sugar-coated portion accounting for 20% of the whole, the set value Y is 1.2, and so on. And when the target discharge amount is X g when pulverizing and discharging drug A (the total weight of the tablets with the target discharge number is X g), the actual discharge amount (first specified amount) discharged from the second drug container to the pulverized drug supply means 136 is set to X×Y (in this case, X×1.1), and so on. That is, the drug dispensing device 1 may execute a discharge amount calculation operation for calculating the discharge amount (corrected discharge amount) of the pulverized drug discharged from the second drug container (pulverizing unit) based on the target discharge amount X and a predetermined set value Y.

[0147] When performing the operation of discharging the crushed drug from the second drug container, instead of the above-described discharge amount calculation operation, an operation of crushing and discharging a number of tablets greater than the number of discharges defined in the prescription data may be performed. For example, when the discharge amount of drug A defined in the prescription data is Y tablets (Y is a positive integer representing the number of tablets to be taken), it may be crushed and discharged by a predetermined number of tablets A1 more than Y tablets. That is, in the above-described configuration, the first specified amount may be set as the weight corresponding to Y + A1 tablets, and the tablets for Y + A1 tablets may be crushed as a value greater than the weight corresponding to the target discharge amount. In this case, in advance, by experiments or the like, a set value (the additional number of tablets A1) corresponding to the removal amount is defined for each type of drug and stored in the storage means. For example, for drug A, the additional amount is 1 tablet for every 5 tablets, and for drug B, the additional amount is 1 tablet for every 3 tablets. That is, if discharging 5 tablets of drug A, 6 tablets are crushed, and if discharging 10 tablets, 12 tablets are crushed. In this case, if the discharge amount of drug A is equivalent to 1 tablet to 4 tablets, the amount corresponding to the discharge amount is crushed respectively, and if it is equivalent to 5 tablets to 9 tablets, the amount corresponding to the discharge amount + 1 tablet is crushed. In this case, the set value A1 is not a fixed value but a variable value determined based on the type of drug and the target discharge amount (target crushing amount). And the discharge amount calculation operation is an operation of calculating the discharge amount (corrected discharge amount) of the crushed drug discharged from the second drug container (crushing unit) based on the discharge target amount and this set value A1. In addition to, or instead of, the configuration in which the predetermined number of tablets A1 (additional amount) is automatically set as described above, the additional amount A1 may be set by the operator manually inputting it.

[0148] In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, an example of the inner mortar member 49 in which the maximum width in a side view (the maximum length in the left-right direction in FIG. 5) is shorter than the length in the vertical direction has been described. However, an inner mortar member 180 in which the maximum width in a side view (the maximum length in the left-right direction in FIG. 16) is longer than the length in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 16 may also be used. In this case, an outer mortar member 181 shown in FIG. 17 may be adopted as a member that forms the crushing part (mortar part) together with the inner mortar member 180.

[0149] As shown in FIG. 16, the inner mortar member 180 of the present embodiment has a supply side portion 185 and a discharge side portion 186 that are both substantially frustum-shaped. The inner mortar member 180 is provided with a plurality (five in the present embodiment) of inner mortar side introduction grooves 189 and a plurality of inner mortar side pulverization grooves 190.

[0150] The inner mortar side introduction groove 189 of the present embodiment is a portion formed by lacking the outer peripheral surface of the supply side portion 185 and the outer side surface of the discharge side portion 186, and extends across these outer peripheral surfaces. The inner mortar side introduction groove 189 extends toward one side in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft portion 48 as it goes toward the second end side (the lower end side in FIG. 16(b)). The inner mortar side pulverization groove 190 is a portion formed by lacking the outer side surface of the discharge side portion 186, and extends to the end portion on the second end side of the outer peripheral surface of the discharge side portion 186. Also, as shown in FIG. 16(b), when the inner mortar member 180 is viewed from the side, the inner mortar side pulverization groove 190 extends toward one side in the width direction of the inner mortar member 180 (the right end side in FIG. 16(b)) as it goes toward the second end side (the lower end side in FIG. 16(b)). That is, the inner mortar side pulverization groove 190 extends in a direction including a direction component toward the second end side and a direction component in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the discharge side portion 186.

[0151] Here, the inner mortar member 180 has a plurality of first inner mortar side pulverization grooves 190a and a plurality of second inner mortar side pulverization grooves 190b as the inner mortar side pulverization grooves 190.

[0152] The first inner-mortar-side pulverizing groove 190a is a groove continuous with the inner-mortar-side introducing groove 189, and the end on the first end side (the upper end in FIG. 16(b)) is connected to the end on the second end side of the inner-mortar-side introducing groove 189 (the lower end in FIG. 16(b)). The first inner-mortar-side pulverizing groove 190a is formed such that at least the portion on the second end side (the lower end side in FIG. 16(b)) becomes narrower as it goes toward the second end side. More specifically, the first inner-mortar-side pulverizing groove 190a in the present embodiment has a portion extending in the extending direction with the same groove width in the portion on the first end side (the upper end side in FIG. 16(a)), and the portion on the second end side becomes a portion whose width becomes narrower as it goes toward the end on the second end side.

[0153] The end on the first end side of the second inner-mortar-side pulverizing groove 190b is arranged at a position separated from the inner-mortar-side introducing groove 189 in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft portion 48 (the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the discharge side portion 186), and it is a groove not continuous with the inner-mortar-side introducing groove 189. The second inner-mortar-side pulverizing groove 190b is formed such that its width becomes wider as it goes toward the end on the second end side. Note that when the inner-mortar-side pulverizing groove 190 is formed such that its width becomes wider as it goes toward the end on the second end side in this way, it is possible to make it difficult to form pulverized medicine when pulverizing tablets to form pulverized medicine. That is, the groove (inner-mortar-side pulverizing groove) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner-mortar member may be formed such that at least a part or the whole becomes wider as it goes toward the downstream side (the second end side) in the moving direction of the medicine, or conversely, it may be formed to become narrower. Also, a groove that becomes wider as it goes toward the second end side for a part or the whole and a groove that becomes narrower as it goes toward the second end side for a part or the whole may be mixed. Note that it is preferable from the viewpoint of making it difficult for the pulverized medicine to clog to make the plurality of inner-mortar-side pulverizing grooves into grooves that become wider as they go toward the second end side as a whole.

[0154] As shown in FIG. 17, the outer-mortar member 181 has an introducing portion 196 and a gap forming portion 197 in order from the first end side (the upper side in FIG. 17(c)). That is, it is different from the above-described outer-mortar member 53 in that a portion corresponding to the second introducing portion 88 is not formed. The inner wall surface of the introduction part 196 and the inner wall surface of the gap forming part 197 both have a narrowing shape as they go downstream in the moving direction of the drug (the lower side in Fig. 17(b)). And the inner wall surface (tapered surface) of the gap forming part 197 and the inner wall surface (tapered surface) of the introduction part 196 have different inclinations (gradients), and the inner wall surface of the gap forming part 197 is a surface with a steeper inclination. The gap forming part 197 is a part that houses substantially the entire discharge side part 186 of the above-described inner mortar member 180. That is, although not shown in the figure, a gap (mortar gap part) is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the discharge side part 186 and the inner peripheral surface (inner wall surface) of the gap forming part 197.

[0155] In the outer mortar member 181 of the present embodiment, an outer mortar side introduction groove part 201 is provided on the inner wall surface of the part from the introduction part 196 to the gap forming part 197. Further, an outer mortar side pulverization groove 202 is provided on the inner wall surface of the gap forming part 197. That is, the mortar part of the present embodiment is different from the above-described mortar part in that pulverization grooves are provided not only in the inner mortar member 180 but also in the outer mortar member 181.

[0156] Both the outer mortar side introduction groove part 201 and the outer mortar side pulverization groove 202 are missing parts formed to be recessed outward (outward in the spreading direction of the cross section of the second drug container 31). A plurality of outer mortar side introduction groove parts 201 are provided and are formed to be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the outer mortar member 181 ( the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft part 48). As shown in Fig. 17(b), the outer mortar side introduction groove part 201 is a groove having an overall substantially elliptical shape and extends toward one side in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the outer mortar member 181 as it goes toward the second end part side.

[0157] Here, the outer mortar member 181 has a plurality of first outer mortar side pulverization grooves 202a and a plurality of second outer mortar side pulverization grooves 202b as the outer mortar side pulverization groove 202.

[0158] The first outer acetabular side crushing groove 202a is a groove continuous with the outer acetabular side introduction groove portion 201, and the end portion on the first end side (the upper end in FIG. 17(b)) is connected to the end portion on the second end side of the outer acetabular side introduction groove portion 201 (the lower end in FIG. 17(b)). The first outer acetabular side crushing groove 202a is a groove whose width becomes narrower toward the second end side. The second outer acetabular side crushing groove 202b is such that the end portion on the first end side is formed at a position away from the entire outer acetabular side introduction groove portion 201 and is a groove not continuous with the outer acetabular side introduction groove portion 201. The second outer acetabular side crushing groove 202b is formed such that its width becomes wider toward the end portion on the second end side in the extending direction.

[0159] In the above-described embodiment, the inner acetabular member 49 is made movable in the longitudinal direction of the second drug container 31 (the vertical direction when the second drug container 31 is placed vertically), so that the size of the mortar gap portion 100 can be increased or decreased (see FIG. 9). According to such a configuration, as described above, there is an advantage that the coarseness of the crushed drug can be adjusted and the cleaning can be facilitated. More specifically, after using the second drug container 31, the second lid portion 55 is opened, and the inner acetabular member 49 is moved upward to make the space between the outer peripheral surface of the inner acetabular member 49 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer acetabular member 53 larger than when in use. As a result, pieces of tablets or the like sandwiched between the mortar gap portions 100 can be dropped from the opening on the second end side of the second drug container 31 (the cylindrical portion 45). That is, it is possible to clean the mortar portion without taking out the tablets in the tablet storage portion 40 or inserting a cleaning tool into the mortar gap portion 100.

[0160] Here, in the above-described embodiment, the inner acetabular member 49 is made movable in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 45 (the second drug container 31), and the outer acetabular member 53 is fixed in the cylindrical portion 45 and does not move. Then, the inner acetabular member 49 is moved to increase or decrease the size of the mortar gap portion 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, like the second drug container 210 shown in FIG. 18, the inner mortar member 49 may be structured not to move in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 211 (second drug container 210), and the outer mortar member 212 may be structured to be movable in the same longitudinal direction. That is, the size of the mortar gap portion 213 (gap portion) may be increased or decreased by moving the outer mortar member 212 in the same longitudinal direction. That is, by moving at least one of the inner mortar member and the outer mortar member, one of the inner mortar member and the outer mortar member is relatively moved with respect to the other, and it is sufficient that the gap formed between the outer peripheral wall (outer peripheral surface) of the inner mortar member and the inner peripheral wall (inner peripheral surface) of the outer mortar member can be increased or decreased.

[0161] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, the outer mortar member 212 includes an outer mortar member main body 220, a guide member 221, a cam portion 222 (outer mortar moving means), an outer mortar side auxiliary plate portion 223, and a biasing member 224.

[0162] The outer mortar member main body 220 is a substantially cylindrical member having a length in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 211, and includes an inner mortar housing portion 230, a guide insertion hole 231, and a biasing member arrangement portion 232. The inner mortar housing portion 230 is a through hole that penetrates the outer mortar member main body 220 in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 211, and is formed in the central side portion (portion including the center of the cross section of each part of the outer mortar member main body 220). The inner mortar housing portion 230 has an introduction portion 230a located on the first end side (upper side in FIG. 18) and a gap formation portion 230b located on the second end side (lower side in FIG. 18), and these are continuously formed. The introduction portion 230a is a portion where the inner peripheral wall (inner peripheral surface) has the same shape and extends in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 211. The gap formation portion 230b is a portion where the inner peripheral wall (inner peripheral surface) decreases in diameter toward the second end side.

[0163] The guide insertion hole 231 is a through hole that extends from the end portion on the first end side (upper end in FIG. 18) of the outer mortar member main body 220 to the bottom portion of the biasing member arrangement portion 232. The biasing member arrangement portion 232 is a recessed portion formed on the surface on the second end side (lower surface in FIG. 18) of the outer mortar member main body 220, and is a portion that is recessed toward the first end side. The guide insertion hole 231 and the biasing member placement portion 232 form a series of through holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 211, and the biasing member placement portion 232 is a hole formed to be thicker than the guide insertion hole 231 (the cross-sectional area of each part is larger). The guide insertion hole 231 and the biasing member placement portion 232 are provided outside (on the side of the cylindrical portion 211) the inner socket accommodating portion 230 in plan view.

[0164] The guide member 221 is a rod-shaped member and extends along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 211. One end portion in the longitudinal direction of the guide member 221 is fixed to a first lid portion (a lid portion that covers at least a part of the opening on the first end side of the second medicine container 210, not shown in the figure), and the other end portion is fixed to the outer socket side auxiliary plate portion 223. Further, a part of the guide member 221 is inserted exactly into the guide insertion hole 231, and a part is arranged inside the biasing member placement portion 232.

[0165] The cam portion 222 has a cam main body portion 222a, a rotation shaft portion 222b, and a cam side connecting portion (not shown in the figure). The cam main body portion 222a is an eccentric cam in which the distance from the rotation center to the outer peripheral surface changes in the circumferential direction (detailed illustration is omitted). The rotation shaft portion 222b is a rod-shaped member extending in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis line α1. The cam main body portion 222a is fixed to one end portion in the longitudinal direction, and a cam side engaging portion (not shown in the figure) is fixed to the other end portion on the opposite side. And the rotation shaft portion 222b extends across the inside and outside of the cylindrical portion 211.

[0166] That is, the cam portion 222 is connected to an external socket moving device (a cam operating device, not shown in the figure), so that the cam main body portion 222a can rotate around a horizontal axis (with the virtual rotation axis line α3 as the rotation center) by the power supplied from the socket moving device. The virtual rotation axis line α3 is a virtual line passing through the central portion of the rotation shaft portion 222b and is a virtual line extending in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis line α1. Incidentally, although not shown in the drawings, the mortar moving device has a motor that serves as a power source when rotating the cam main body portion 222a, and a device-side engaging portion directly or indirectly attached to the output shaft of the motor. The device-side engaging portion is a portion that can engage with the cam-side engaging portion, and when these engage, the mortar moving device and the cam portion 222 are connected. That is, the mortar moving device is formed such that the portion including the motor and the device-side engaging portion can move horizontally together with the mounting portion on which they are placed, and by the automatic movement of the portion including the motor and the device-side engaging portion, the device-side engaging portion can be engaged with the cam-side engaging portion.

[0167] The outer mortar side auxiliary plate portion 223 is a disk-shaped member having a thickness in the length direction of the cylindrical portion 211, and has a drug passage hole portion 223a. The drug passage hole portion 223a is a hole that penetrates the outer mortar side auxiliary plate portion 223 in the thickness direction, and is arranged at a position further away from the opening portion on the second end side (the lower end side in FIG. 18) of the inner mortar accommodating portion 230 toward the second end side.

[0168] The biasing member 224 is a coil spring, is externally fitted to a part of the guide member 221, a part on one end side is arranged in the biasing member arrangement portion 232, and a part on the other end side is in contact with the outer mortar side auxiliary plate portion 223 from the first end side (the upper side in FIG. 18). This biasing member 224 constantly biases the outer mortar member body 220 toward the first end side (the upper side in FIG. 18).

[0169] From the above, when the cam main body portion 222a is rotated to change its posture in a state where the outer socket member main body 220 is located at the most first end side (the upper side in FIG. 18) within the movable range (see FIG. 18(a)), the outer socket member main body 220 moves toward the second end side (the lower side in FIG. 18). That is, as the posture of the cam main body portion 222a changes, the cam main body portion 222a presses the outer socket member main body 220 toward the second end side against the biasing force of the biasing member 224, and the outer socket member main body 220 moves toward the second end side. Conversely, when the cam main body portion 222a is rotated to change its posture in a state where the outer socket member main body 220 is located at the most second end side within the movable range (see FIG. 18(b)), the outer socket member main body 220 moves toward the first end side (the upper side in FIG. 18). That is, the outer socket member main body 220 moves toward the first end side by the biasing force of the biasing member 224. Note that, by stopping the rotation (posture change) of the cam main body portion 222a in a state where the outer socket member main body 220 is disposed at an intermediate position within the movable range, the state where the outer socket member main body 220 is disposed at the intermediate position can be maintained. That is, in the socket portion of the present embodiment, the outer socket member main body 220 can be arranged at a predetermined position within the movable range.

[0170] When the second drug container 210 of the present embodiment is adopted instead of the above-described second drug container 31, the container holding base portion 102 described above may be configured to further include the above-described socket moving device. Thereby, the size of the socket gap portion 213 can be automatically varied before the execution of the discharging operation of the pulverized drug, and the coarseness of the pulverized drug can be adjusted. Also, when the rotation of the inner socket member 49 stalls during the execution of the discharging operation, the rotation of the inner socket member 49 may be temporarily stopped, and the socket gap portion 213 may be temporarily enlarged to eliminate the clogging. Then, after that, the socket gap portion 213 may be returned to the original size, and the rotation of the inner socket member 49 may be resumed. Furthermore, after the execution of the discharging operation, the socket gap portion 213 may be made larger than when in use, and an operation of automatically dropping pieces of tablets or the like caught in the socket gap portion 213 may be executed.

[0171] Incidentally, as described above, the mortar moving device may be arranged at a position away from the container unit lifting device 26 (container holding base portion 102) and used as an adjusting device for adjusting the coarseness of the pulverized medicine within the housing member 2. That is, the second medicine container 210 may be moved to the adjusting device by the container moving device 25, the gap of the mortar gap portion 213 may be automatically adjusted, and then the second medicine container 210 may be moved to the medicine container arrangement area 10 or the door portion 16 (it may be returned to the original position). Further, when performing the discharge operation of the pulverized medicine, the second medicine container 210 may be moved to the adjusting device to automatically adjust the gap of the mortar gap portion 213, and then the second medicine container 210 may be moved to the container unit lifting device 26 (container holding base portion 102).

[0172] Incidentally, when using the above-described second medicine container 210, after performing the discharge operation of the pulverized medicine, the mortar gap portion 213 may be automatically widened, and an operation (cleaning operation) of vibrating the entire mortar portion (inner mortar member 49, outer mortar member 212) by vibration means (mortar vibration means) may be performed. By performing such a cleaning operation, the powdery residual medicine adhering to the mortar portion can be more effectively removed. At this time, the vibration means (mortar vibration means) may include an ultrasonic generator (ultrasonic element) or the like and may be vibration means for vibrating the mortar portion with ultrasonic waves. That is, the medicine dispensing device 1 of the above-described embodiment may have vibration means for vibrating the entire second medicine container 31, the entire second medicine container 210, or a part including the mortar portion, and may perform a cleaning operation of vibrating the mortar portion. The vibration means may be provided on the container holding base portion 102 or may be provided at a location away from the container holding base portion 102.

[0173] The above-described container holding base portion 102 may be configured to have a torque measuring device capable of measuring the load torque applied to the rotating shaft portion 48 during the pulverization operation. Then, on the condition that the value of the load torque specified based on the value detected by the torque measuring device becomes equal to or greater than a certain value, the rotating shaft portion 48 may be reversely rotated for a certain period of time or by a predetermined angle. That is, if the rotating shaft portion 48 is rotating clockwise in a plan view, it is rotated counterclockwise in the plan view for a certain period of time or by a predetermined angle. With such a configuration, when a tablet fragment or the like gets caught for some reason within the mortar gap 100, the snag can be eliminated. Note that, on the condition that the value of the load torque becomes equal to or greater than a certain value (equal to or greater than a first reference value), the reverse rotation of the rotary shaft portion 48 may be started, and the rotary shaft portion 48 may be continuously reversely rotated until it again becomes equal to or greater than a certain value (equal to or greater than a second reference value). In this case, the first reference value and the second reference value may be the same value or different values. Note that the operation based on the value of the load torque described above or to be described later may also be executed based on the resistance value of a motor, which is a power source for the rotational operation of the rotary shaft portion 48, by providing resistance value detection means for detecting the resistance value of the motor.

[0174] For the above-described pulverizing operation, the rotational speed of the inner mortar member 49 (the rotational speed of the output shaft of the motor serving as the power source when rotating the rotary shaft portion 48) may be changed according to the type of the drug to be pulverized. For example, if a tablet that is vulnerable to heat is to be pulverized, the rotational speed of the inner mortar member 49 may be decreased. In this case, prescribed values (for example, speed prescribed value 1, speed prescribed value 2, ··· speed prescribed value 7, etc.) may be assigned in advance according to the type of each tablet by experiments or the like. If the tablet has a speed prescribed value of 1, the rotational speed of the motor may be set to XX rpm, and the rotational speed of the motor may be changed according to each prescribed value in this manner. At this time, each time the speed prescribed value increases (or decreases), the rotational speed of the motor may be changed so that the rotational speed of the inner mortar member 49 increases. With such a configuration, a more appropriate pulverizing operation according to the type of the tablet becomes possible.

[0175] For the above-described pulverizing operation, on the condition that the inner mortar member 49 has rotated for a predetermined time t1, the rotation of the inner mortar member 49 may be temporarily stopped (stopped for a predetermined time t2). That is, when a motor, which is a power source when rotating the rotary shaft portion 48, has elapsed a prescribed continuous operation time (predetermined time t1), the motor is once stopped. With such a configuration, the occurrence of an unintended failure can be suppressed.

[0176] The container moving device 25 of the above-described embodiment is configured to include a first container holding part and a second container holding part as container holding parts. However, the container holding part is not limited to such a configuration, and a configuration in which one container holding part can hold both the first drug container 30 and the second drug container 31 may be adopted. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which an iron plate portion is integrally attached to the side surface of the second drug container 31, and the above-described first container holding part can hold both the first drug container 30 and the second drug container 31. However, if it is configured to include a first container holding part and a second container holding part, it becomes possible to simultaneously hold and convey different drug containers (the first drug container 30 and the second drug container 31) having different shapes and holding structures.

[0177] The second lid part 55 of the above-described embodiment is a lid member that can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the length direction of the second drug container 31, but is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be considered in which the second lid part is attached to the cylindrical part 45 via a hinge member so as to be swingable, and the second lid part swings to switch between an open state and a closed state. In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which the second lid part is slid in one direction in the radial direction of the cylindrical part 45 to switch between the open state and the closed state. The opening / closing operation part 111 is also not limited to the above-described configuration, and may be appropriately changed according to the structure of the second lid part. For example, as described above, when the second lid part is slid in the radial direction of the cylindrical part 45 to open and close, the opening / closing operation part may be a device that presses the side of the second lid part by a pressing member and slides the second lid part in each of a predetermined direction and the reverse direction. That is, it may be a device that contacts (engages) the side part instead of the lower part of the second lid part and moves the second lid part. At this time, the pressing member that presses the second lid part in a predetermined direction and the pressing member that presses in the reverse direction may be the same or different. In addition, the pressing member may have a structure having a flat pressing piece.

[0178] The above-described container unit lifting device 26 is configured to have two container holding base portions 102, and each container holding base portion 102 is configured to move up and down individually. However, the container unit lifting device 26 is not limited to this, and may be configured to have three or more container holding base portions 102. In this case, it is also conceivable that the container unit lifting device is configured such that two or more base plate portions 106 selected from a group of three or more container holding base portions 102 move up and down in conjunction with each other by the same lifting mechanism.

[0179] Subsequently, a drug dispensing device 300 different from the above-described embodiment will be described. Also, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0180] As shown in FIG. 19, the drug dispensing device 300 is surrounded by a housing member 2 (not shown in FIG. 19) in the same manner as the above-described drug dispensing device 1, and has a drug container arrangement area 310, a drug division area 311, and a drug packaging area 12 (not shown in FIG. 19). Further, the drug dispensing device 300 incorporates a control device capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from various built-in devices.

[0181] In the drug division area 311, a dispensing tray 132, a scraping device 133, a drug input portion 134, a pulverized drug supply means 136, and a cleaning device (not shown) are arranged, and it is different from the above-described drug division area 11 in that the holding base 135 for the first container is not arranged. Also in the drug division area 311 of the present embodiment, the above-described drug division operation is possible. The drug packaging area 12 is the same part as the above-described drug dispensing device 1, and the above-described drug packaging operation is possible.

[0182] In the drug container arrangement area 310 of the present embodiment, a tablet supply unit 318, a pulverized container arrangement unit 319, a pulverized drug transfer device 320, a pulverized container holding base portion 321, an unused container arrangement unit (not shown), and a used container arrangement unit (not shown) are arranged. In addition, a container transfer device (not shown) is disposed in the region from the drug container arrangement region 310 to the drug division region 311. The container transfer device of the present embodiment is different from the above-described container transfer device 25 in that a robot hand portion capable of holding the pulverizing container 340 (pulverizing portion) and the intermediate container (first intermediate container 334, second intermediate container 350) is provided at the tip of the arm portion. And the container transfer device of the present embodiment can lift and move the pulverizing container 340 and the intermediate container. Further, it is possible to change the posture at a predetermined position in a state where the pulverizing container 340 and the intermediate container are lifted (for example, changing from a posture where the bottom surface is horizontal to an inclined posture).

[0183] The tablet supply unit 318 includes a plurality of tablet containers 330 (tablet storage units), a tablet container holding unit (tablet cassette shelf, not shown) that holds the plurality of tablet containers 330, and a tablet transfer device 331.

[0184] The tablet container 330 is a tablet cassette capable of storing tablets therein, and can discharge a specified number (discharge target number) of tablets downward. The tablet transfer device 331 is a device capable of transferring the first transfer table 335 with the first intermediate container 334 placed thereon. In the present embodiment, a conveyor device having an annular continuous transfer path is employed. That is, the tablet transfer device 331 can transfer the first transfer table 335 from below the tablet container 330 (tablet container holding unit) to the vicinity of the pulverizing container arrangement unit 319, and can transfer it from the vicinity of the pulverizing container arrangement unit 319 to below the tablet container 330 (tablet container holding unit). The first intermediate container 334 is a dish-shaped container with an open top. The first transfer table 335 has a weight measuring means, and is a table capable of measuring the weight of the placed object based on the value detected by the weight measuring means. Therefore, when the first intermediate container 334 is placed on the first transfer table 335, it is possible to measure the weight of the placed first intermediate container 334 and the tablets stored in the first intermediate container 334.

[0185] The pulverizing container arrangement unit 319 is a shelf member on which a plurality of pulverizing containers 340 can be placed. Here, the pulverizing container 340 has substantially the same structure as the above-described second drug container 31, and is different from the above-described second drug container 31 in that a tablet introduction port portion 341a (see FIG. 20) is provided at the upper part. The tablet introduction port portion 341a is a through hole provided in the first lid portion 46 (plate-like portion 46a) or the particle size adjusting member 47 (see FIG. 3), and communicates the inside and outside of the pulverizing container 340.

[0186] The pulverizing container arrangement portion 319 has a plurality of container accommodation regions, and one pulverizing container 340 is arranged in each container accommodation region. The pulverizing container arrangement portion 319 includes container holding means corresponding to each container accommodation region, information reading means, pestle operating means for rotating the rotating shaft portion 48 of the pulverizing container 340, weight measuring means (crushing side weight measuring means) capable of measuring the weight of the pulverizing container 340, lid opening and closing means, a tablet introduction path, and a tablet discharge path.

[0187] The information reading means acquires information from the information storage means 99 of the pulverizing container 340. The lid opening and closing means opens and closes the second lid portion 55 of the pulverizing container 340 when discharging the pulverized drug while the pulverizing container 340 is arranged in the pulverizing container arrangement portion 319 (specifically described later), and is substantially the same as the above-described opening and closing operation portion 111. In the present embodiment, when opening and closing the second lid portion 55, the held pulverizing container 340 is temporarily moved upward, and after opening and closing the second lid portion 55, an operation of returning it to the lower side is executed. The tablet introduction path is formed to include a funnel-shaped member disposed above the container accommodation region, and is a path extending from the funnel-shaped member to the container accommodation region. That is, the tablets introduced from above into the tablet introduction path (funnel-shaped member) pass through the tablet introduction path and reach the tablet introduction port portion 341a (see FIG. 20) of the pulverizing container 340 arranged in the container accommodation region. Then, they are introduced into the pulverizing container 340 from the tablet introduction port portion 341a. The tablet discharge path is a through hole formed below the container accommodation region. When the pulverized drug is discharged from the pulverizing container 340 arranged in the container accommodation region, the pulverized drug is discharged downward through the tablet discharge path (the lower side of the container accommodation region and the lower side of the pulverizing container arrangement portion 319).

[0188] The pulverized drug conveying device 320 is a device capable of conveying the second transfer table 351 on which the second intermediate container 350 is placed. In this embodiment, a conveyor device with an annular continuous conveying path is adopted. That is, the pulverized drug conveying device 320 can convey the second transfer table 351 from below the pulverizing container arrangement section 319 (pulverizing container 340) to a position away from the vicinity of the pulverized drug supply means 136 upward, and can convey it from a position away from the vicinity of the pulverized drug supply means 136 upward to below the pulverizing container arrangement section 319. In this embodiment, as the second intermediate container 350, a member substantially the same as the first intermediate container 334 is adopted, and as the second transfer table 351, a member substantially the same as the first transfer table 335 is adopted.

[0189] The pulverizing container holding base portion 321 is a member substantially the same as the above-described container holding base portion 102, and detailed description thereof is omitted. That is, in the holding state of holding the pulverizing container 340 containing tablets, by rotating the inner mortar member 49 in the pulverizing container 340, it is possible to discharge the pulverized drug downward.

[0190] The unused container arrangement section (not shown) is a shelf-like member for arranging unused intermediate containers (the first intermediate container 334, the second intermediate container 350). The used container arrangement section (not shown) is a shelf-like member for arranging the intermediate containers used for the movement of tablets or powdered drugs in the past. In the drug dispensing device 300 of this embodiment, the container moving device moves an unused intermediate container from the unused container arrangement section to the transfer tables (the first transfer table 335, the second transfer table 351) on the conveying devices (the tablet conveying device 331, the pulverized drug conveying device 320) and can place it on the transfer table. Also, the container moving device moves the intermediate container used for drug conveyance from the transfer table to the used container arrangement section and can place it at a predetermined position on the used container arrangement section. In this embodiment, after the drug conveyance operation, the operation of exchanging the intermediate container on the transfer table can be appropriately executed.

[0191] Subsequently, the drug supply operation that can be executed by the drug dispensing device 300 of this embodiment will be described.

[0192] As shown in FIG. 20, the drug dispensing device 300 of this embodiment is capable of two supply operations, namely, a first supply operation and a second supply operation. The first supply operation is an operation of introducing tablets into the pulverizing container 340, then moving the pulverizing container 340 to the pulverizing container holding table portion 321, and supplying the pulverized drug from the pulverizing container 340 held by the pulverizing container holding table portion 321 to the pulverized drug supply means 136. The second supply operation is an operation of introducing tablets into the pulverizing container 340, then supplying the pulverized drug from the pulverizing container 340 to the second intermediate container 350 while the pulverizing container 340 is arranged in the pulverizing container arrangement portion 319, moving the second intermediate container 350 toward the pulverized drug supply means 136 side, and supplying the pulverized drug from the second intermediate container 350 to the pulverized drug supply means 136. Hereinafter, each supply operation will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20.

[0193] (First supply operation) The first supply operation includes a tablet introduction operation of introducing tablets from the drug dispensing device 300 into the pulverizing container 340 via the first intermediate container 334. In the tablet introduction operation, the tablet conveyance device 331 moves the first conveyance table 335 on which the first intermediate container 334 is placed below the tablet container 330 (tablet container holding portion). At this time, the position where the first intermediate container 334 and the first conveyance table 335 wait becomes the reception standby position (tablet reception position) where the first intermediate container 334 waits when receiving tablets. Then, when it is confirmed that the first intermediate container 334 is arranged at the reception standby position, a prescribed number (discharge target number) of tablets are discharged from the drug dispensing device 300. At this time, based on the value detected by the weight measuring means of the first conveyance table 335, a weight specifying operation (first weight specifying operation) of measuring the total weight of the tablets introduced into the first intermediate container 334 is executed. If the obtained total weight of the tablets is the same as the total weight of the prescribed number of tablets, it is determined that the tablets have been correctly introduced. And when the tablets are correctly introduced into the first intermediate container 334, the first intermediate container 334 into which the tablets have been introduced together with the first conveyance table 335 on which it is placed are conveyed by the tablet conveyance device 331 from the reception standby position to the vicinity of the pulverizing container arrangement portion 319 by the tablet conveyance device 331.

[0194] Subsequently, when the first intermediate container 334 into which the tablets have been introduced reaches the vicinity of the pulverizing container placement section 319, the first intermediate container 334 is lifted by the container moving device and further reoriented. As a result, the tablets inside the first intermediate container 334 are introduced into the pulverizing container 340. That is, the tablets in the first intermediate container 334 fall onto the tablet introduction path of the pulverizing container placement section 319 and are introduced into the pulverizing container 340 through the tablet introduction path. Note that the empty first intermediate container 334 that has supplied the internal tablets is returned onto the first transfer table 335 by the container moving device and is transferred together with the first transfer table 335 to a position away from the pulverizing container placement section 319 by the tablet transfer device 331.

[0195] Note that instead of the above-described tablet introduction operation, the container moving device may move the tablet container 330 above the pulverizing container placement section 319 and introduce the tablets from the tablet container 330 into the pulverizing container 340 without passing through the first intermediate container 334. In this case, the tablets discharged from the tablet container 330 fall toward the tablet introduction path and are introduced into the pulverizing container 340 through the tablet introduction path. Note that the tablet container 330 and the pulverizing container placement section 319 may be relatively moved, and the pulverizing container placement section 319 may be configured to be movable and moved below the tablet container 330, and the tablets may be introduced from the tablet container 330 into the pulverizing container 340 without passing through the first intermediate container 334. That is, the drug dispensing device 300 may have a mechanism for relatively moving the tablet container 330 and the pulverizing container placement section 319 and introducing the tablets from the tablet container 330 into the pulverizing container 340 arranged in the pulverizing container placement section 319.

[0196] Here, in the present embodiment, while the tablets are being introduced into the pulverizing container 340, the weight of the pulverizing container 340 is measured based on the value detected by the weight measuring means of the pulverizing container placement section 319. From this, the drug dispensing device 300 of the present embodiment can specify the weight of the tablets introduced into the pulverizing container 340. That is, the drug dispensing device 300 executes a weight specifying operation (second weight specifying operation) for specifying the weight of the tablets introduced into the pulverizing container 340.

[0197] As a result of the weight-specific operation, when the total weight of the tablets introduced into the pulverizing container 340 is the same as the weight of the specified number (discharge target number) of tablets, it is determined that the specified number (specified amount) of tablets has been correctly introduced. Then, after the tablets are correctly introduced into the pulverizing container 340, the pulverizing container 340 is moved by the container moving device to the vicinity of the pulverizing container holding base portion 321, and the pulverizing container 340 is held by the pulverizing container holding base portion 321.

[0198] Then, the pulverizing container holding base portion 321 operates the inner mortar member 49 of the pulverizing container 340, and discharges the pulverized medicine from the pulverizing container 340 to the pulverized medicine supply means 136. Note that the operation of discharging (supplying) the pulverized medicine to the pulverized medicine supply means 136 is the same as the above-described first discharging operation, and the weight measuring means 154 of the pulverized medicine supply means 136 measures the weight of the pulverized medicine that has fallen onto the pulverized medicine supply means 136 (the tray member 141) (supply means side measuring operation).

[0199] Here, in the present embodiment, based on the total weight of the tablets specified by the above-described first weight-specific operation and the total weight of the pulverized medicine specified by the supply means side measuring operation, the reduction amount when the tablets are pulverized is obtained. Specifically, as described above, by performing sorting by the sorting unit 42 when the tablets are made into pulverized medicine, etc., it is considered that the weight of the pulverized medicine is reduced compared to the total weight of the tablets. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by subtracting the weight of the pulverized medicine from the total weight of the tablets, the weight (reduction amount) of the portion lost during pulverization is obtained. By obtaining each value in this way, the yield (yield rate) and loss rate during pulverization can be calculated. Note that the yield rate is the ratio of the total weight of the pulverized medicine to the total weight of the tablets, and the loss rate is the ratio of the reduction amount of the pulverized medicine to the total weight of the tablets. In the present embodiment, every time the discharging operation of the pulverized medicine is executed, the yield rate and the loss rate are obtained and recorded in the storage means.

[0200] In addition, in this embodiment, when performing the operation of discharging the pulverized agent to the pulverized agent supply means 136, the discharging operation is stopped on the condition that the increase in the weight of the fallen pulverized agent has ceased (the state where the measured value is a predetermined value has continued for a certain period of time). That is, when the state where the measured value is a predetermined value has continued for a certain period of time, it is determined that all the tablets in the pulverization container 340 have been pulverized into powder and discharged, and the discharging operation of the pulverized agent is stopped. Then, after the completion (stop) of the discharging operation of the pulverized agent, an discharging operation of discharging the pulverized agent from the pulverized agent supply means 136 to the distribution tray 132 is performed in the same manner as the above-described second discharging operation.

[0201] (Second supply operation) The second supply operation also includes the above-described tablet introduction operation. Since the tablet introduction operation is the same as the above, duplicate detailed descriptions are omitted. And also in the second supply operation, while the tablets are being introduced into the pulverization container 340, a weight specifying operation (second weight specifying operation) for specifying the weight of the tablets introduced into the pulverization container 340 is performed.

[0202] In the second supply operation, before and after the operation of introducing the tablets into the pulverization container 340, the pulverized agent conveyance device 320 moves the second conveyance table 351 on which the second intermediate container 350 is placed to below the pulverization container 340 (pulverization container arrangement portion 319). At this time, the position where the second intermediate container 350 and the second conveyance table 351 wait becomes the receiving standby position (pulverized agent receiving position) where the second intermediate container 350 waits when receiving the pulverized agent.

[0203] And on the conditions that the total weight of the tablets introduced into the pulverization container 340 has reached the specified value and that the second intermediate container 350 is arranged at the receiving standby position, the operation of pulverizing the tablets (the operation of rotating the inner mortar member 49) is automatically started. Here, the "specified value" in this embodiment is set to the same value as the total weight of the specified number (discharge target number) of tablets. That is, in this embodiment, one of the conditions is that it is determined that all the tablets scheduled to be introduced have been introduced, and the operation of pulverizing the tablets is started. However, it is also conceivable to make one of the conditions that it is determined that a part of the tablets scheduled to be introduced has been introduced. Also, in the present embodiment, as one of the conditions, the operation of pulverizing the tablets is started on the condition that the second intermediate container 350 is arranged at the reception standby position. However, the operation of pulverizing the tablets may be started in a state where the second intermediate container 350 is not arranged at the reception standby position (a state before arriving at the reception standby position). In this case, the operation of pulverizing the tablets is executed with the second lid portion 55 of the second intermediate container 350 in the closed state, and as one of the conditions, the second lid portion 55 may be in the open state on the condition that the second intermediate container 350 is arranged at the reception standby position. That is, the inner portion of the second lid portion 55 may be temporarily made to function as a receiving portion for receiving the pulverized medicine. As described above, in the second supply operation, while the pulverizing container 340 is held (placed) in the pulverizing container placement portion 319, the pulverizing container placement portion 319 operates the inner mortar member 49 of the pulverizing container 340 and executes the discharge operation of the pulverized medicine.

[0204] Here, in the present embodiment, while the discharge operation of the pulverized medicine is being executed after introducing the tablets into the pulverizing container 340, the above-described second weight measurement operation is continued. That is, the weight of the medicine (tablets before pulverization and tablets that have been partially or entirely pulverized) in the pulverizing container 340 is continuously specified. On the other hand, while the discharge operation of the pulverized medicine is being executed, the second transfer table 351 executes a weight specifying operation (third weight measurement operation) for measuring the total weight of the pulverized medicine introduced into the second intermediate container 350 based on the value detected by the weight measuring means. Then, on the condition that at least one of the following is satisfied: the weight of the tablets in the pulverizing container 340 becomes a value within a specified range (0 or a value approximated to 0), and it is determined that the tablets in the pulverizing container 340 have disappeared, and the total weight of the pulverized medicine introduced into the second intermediate container 350 has reached the specified value, the discharge operation of the pulverized medicine is stopped.

[0205] Then, when the discharging operation of the pulverized agent stops and the introduction of the pulverized agent into the second intermediate container 350 is completed, the second intermediate container 350 on which the pulverized agent is placed (accommodated) is conveyed from the receiving standby position together with the second carrier 351 on which it is placed to the side of the pulverized agent supply means 136. In the present embodiment, it is conveyed to a position above and away from the vicinity of the pulverized agent supply means 136 (hereinafter also referred to as the position on the supply means side). In this way, the second intermediate container 350 is an intermediate container that receives the pulverized agent discharged from the pulverizing container 340 and conveys it to the side of the pulverized agent supply means 136.

[0206] Then, when the second intermediate container 350 moves to the position on the supply means side, the second intermediate container 350 is lifted by the container moving device, moved in a direction including a slight horizontal component, and then further repositioned. As a result, the pulverized agent in the second intermediate container 350 falls onto the tray member 141 through the hopper member 140 and is supplied to the pulverized agent supply means 136. At this time, similar to the first discharging operation described above, a weight measuring operation is performed by the weight measuring means 154 of the pulverized agent supply means 136 to measure the weight of the pulverized agent that has fallen onto the pulverized agent supply means 136 (tray member 141). After the supply of the pulverized agent to the pulverized agent supply means 136 is completed, a discharging operation is performed to discharge the pulverized agent from the pulverized agent supply means 136 to the dispensing tray 132, similar to the second discharging operation described above.

[0207] In the above-described embodiment, an example of automatically introducing the tablets into the pulverizing container 340 has been described. In addition to this, it is also possible to manually introduce the tablets into the pulverizing container 340. That is, the door portion of the housing member (not shown) of the medicine dispensing device 300 may be opened, and the operator may manually introduce the tablets from the container held in the hand into the pulverizing container 340. Further, the above-described medicine dispensing device 300 may be provided with a first container storage unit 20 or the like as in the above-described medicine dispensing device, and may be configured to supply one or both of the powder medicine and the powdered tablet medicine to the dispensing tray 132.

[0208] The above-described drug dispensing device 300 is assumed to discharge all the tablets introduced into the grinding container 340 as ground drugs. That is, it has a drug container (tablet container 330) having a tablet storage portion that stores the tablet storage portion in its original shape for long-term storage, and a container (grinding container 340) having a grinding portion that grinds the tablets into powder as separate containers. That is, the drug dispensing device 300 uses the grinding container 340 as a grinding device that pulverizes and discharges the introduced drug without delay. Here, the above-described grinding container arrangement portion 319 and the grinding container holding base portion 321 may be configured to have a torque measuring device capable of measuring the load torque applied to the rotating shaft portion 48 (the shaft to which the inner mortar member 49 of the grinding container 340 is fixed) during the execution of the grinding operation. Then, the following operations may be performed based on the value of the load torque specified based on the value detected by the torque measuring device.

[0209] Specifically, when performing the grinding operation, obtain the value of the load torque applied to the rotating shaft portion 48 and the weight of the ground drug discharged to the second intermediate container 350 or the ground drug supply means 136 (the discharge amount discharged up to each time point since the ground drug was discharged). If the value of the load torque is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and the weight of the discharged ground drug is increasing (increasing by a predetermined value or more within a predetermined time), it is determined that the grinding operation is being performed normally, and the grinding operation is continued as it is. Also, if the value of the load torque is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and the weight of the discharged crushed drug has not increased (has not increased by a predetermined value or more within a predetermined time), the rotational operation of the inner mortar member 49 is stopped. In this case, since there is a possibility that hard foreign matter that cannot be crushed has entered the mortar gap or the tablets are clogged, the operation of the motor that is the power source for the rotational operation of the inner mortar member 49 is stopped. That is, since there is a possibility that the rotation (substantive rotation) of the inner mortar member 49 has stopped due to clogging or the like, the operation of the motor is stopped and the rotational operation of the inner mortar member 49 is stopped. After stopping the rotational operation of the inner mortar member 49, a notification operation of notifying the operator to that effect (that an error has occurred) may be executed. The notification operation may execute one or both of an operation of emitting sound from a speaker or the like and an operation of displaying a message on a display device.

[0210] Furthermore, if the value of the load torque is less than a predetermined value and the weight of the discharged crushed drug is increasing, it is considered that the crushed drug is falling on the way to the second intermediate container 350 or the crushed drug supply means 136 after the crushing of the tablets is completed. That is, in this case, it is determined that the crushing operation is being normally executed, and the crushing operation is continued as it is. On the other hand, when the value of the load torque is less than a predetermined value and the weight of the discharged crushed drug has not increased, it is determined that the crushing operation is completed, and the crushing operation is completed (ended). In this case, a notification operation of notifying that the crushing operation has been completed may be executed.

[0211] The reasons for pulverization may include that the size of the medicine is easy for the patient to take, or that the patient has difficulty in eating and swallowing. Eating and swallowing disorders refer to the state where there are difficulties in eating and swallowing, such that the patient cannot properly consume food or water, or cannot swallow them. For patients with such eating and swallowing disorders, it is difficult to normally take medicines such as tablets and capsules. If taken in their original form, the medicine that is supposed to be swallowed and transported to the gastrointestinal tract may remain in the mouth or throat, or in the esophagus, which may affect the efficacy of the medicine, or there may be a risk of mucosal damage or ulcers occurring at the part where the tablet remains. To avoid such situations, medicines are pulverized to make them easier to take, and in some cases, the addition of a formulation for patients with swallowing difficulties can be calculated by pulverizing tablets for patients with swallowing difficulties. Also, since the size and form of the medicine that is easy for the patient to take and easy to swallow vary from patient to patient, care must be taken to make the medicine into a size and form suitable for the patient when pulverizing. (Modification Example 1) Modification Example 1 is a form in which the mortar gap portions (gap portions) 100 and 213 (Figs. 9 and 18) are adjusted based on the pulverization-related information described later, and the fineness of the tablets to be pulverized is adjusted. Fig. 21 is a conceptual diagram showing the exchange of information between a hospital and a pharmacy, Fig. 22 is a diagram showing the content of the pulverization-related information, and Fig. 23 is a flowchart for performing a series of subcontracting operations based on the pulverization-related information.

[0212] (When the pulverization-related information of the patient is recorded only in the hospital) A case where the pulverization-related information for each patient is recorded only in the hospital and not in the pharmacy will be explained. The pulverization-related information is information indicating to what extent the tablets in the prescription data are to be pulverized for each patient. Fig. 22 is an example of the pulverization-related information, and the pulverization-related information is information related to pulverization such as pulverization level information, information indicating the fineness of the tablets, and linking information. In addition, the pulverization-related information may be individually recorded as data for the pulverization level information, the information indicating the fineness of the tablets, and the linking information, and each may be associated with each other.

[0213] The pulverization level information represents the level (stage) set corresponding to the fineness of the tablets to be pulverized. From the finest to the coarsest, there are levels 1 to 4. Corresponding to this level, the mortar gap portions (gap portions) 100 and 213 (Figs. 9 and 18) are adjusted to adjust the fineness of the tablets to be pulverized. The information representing the fineness of the tablets is, from the finest to the coarsest, powder, fine granules, granules, and coarse crushing. The linking information is, from the finest to the coarsest, "pediatric" and "assistance required for taking medicine". "Pediatric" means that the patient is a pediatric patient, and "assistance required for taking medicine" means that the patient needs assistance when taking medicine. The person providing the assistance can be a helper, nurse, caregiver, family member, etc.

[0214] In Fig. 22, the pulverization level information is associated with the information representing the fineness of the tablets, such that powder corresponds to level 1, fine granules correspond to level 2, granules correspond to level 3, and coarse crushing corresponds to level 4. Also, the pulverization level information is associated with the information representing the fineness of the tablets and the linking information, such that "pediatric" corresponds to level 1 (powder) and "assistance required for taking medicine" corresponds to level 2 (fine granules).

[0215] As shown in Fig. 21, the hospital is equipped with a storage device (DB1) that stores patient information. Here, the patient information is the information including the above-mentioned prescription data and pulverization-related information. As described above, the prescription data is the data related to the doctor's prescription, and includes data such as information indicating the drug name, information identifying the drug prescribed to the patient, information identifying the dosage, and information identifying the prescribed patient. The pulverization-related information is as described above. In addition, the prescription data and the pulverization-related information are linked.

[0216] As shown in Fig. 21, the doctor issues a prescription to the patient. The case where the pulverization-related information is described on this prescription will be explained. The recorded grinding-related information includes at least one of grinding level information, information representing the fineness of tablets, and linking information. The following describes a series of subcontracting operations when information representing the fineness of tablets is described in a prescription as grinding-related information.

[0217] A pharmacy is equipped with a medicine dispensing device 1, 300 and a storage device (DB3). At the pharmacy, the patient hands the prescription to a pharmacist or the like (pharmacist, staff, etc.). The pharmacist or the like receives the patient's prescription and checks the grinding-related information.

[0218] As shown in FIG. 23, the pharmacist or the like uses an input means (not shown) of the medicine dispensing device 1, 300 to input prescription data and information representing the fineness of tablets based on the prescription, and stores them in the storage means of the control device (S1). In addition, when the prescription is handed over from the patient, the pharmacist may obtain patient information (grinding-related information) from the storage device (DB1) of the hospital to the storage device (DB3) of the pharmacy using the information on the prescription. Such a system has been used in regions where medical cooperation has been carried out conventionally. Next, the control device uses the adjustment device to adjust the mortar gap portions (gap portions) 100, 213 (FIGS. 9, 18) with the grinding level information "level 1" corresponding to "powder" based on the information representing the fineness of tablets (for example, "powder") (S2). In the case of "level 1", the mortar gap portions (gap portions) 100, 213 are adjusted (set) so that the tablets become the finest particles. Next, with the adjusted mortar gap portions (gap portions) 100, 213, a grinding operation is performed (S3), and the above-described medicine supply operation is performed (S4). Finally, the above-described medicine splitting operation is performed (S5), and the above-described medicine packaging operation is performed (S6). The above is the description of a series of subcontracting operations.

[0219] The pharmacist or the like hands the subcontracting paper containing the ground tablets to the patient based on the information representing the fineness of the tablets.

[0220] Further, in the above aspect, information representing the fineness of the tablets is used as the pulverization-related information, but pulverization level information and linking information may be used as the pulverization-related information. For example, when "granules", which is information representing the fineness of the tablets, is input as the pulverization-related information to the input means of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300, "level 3", which is the pulverization level information, is specified based on the pulverization-related information (Fig. 22) in the storage device of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300. Thereafter, it is the same as the above-described subcontracting operation (S2 to S6). For example, when "pediatric", which is linked information, is input as the pulverization-related information to the input means of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300, "level 1", which is the pulverization level information, is specified based on the pulverization-related information (Fig. 22) in the storage device of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300. Thereafter, it is the same as the above-described subcontracting operation (S2 to S6).

[0221] In this way, in the case of "pediatric", since tablets and granular medicines cannot be swallowed, the pulverized powdered medicine (level 1) can be given to the pediatric patient to drink.

[0222] When the patient depends on a caregiver such as a helper, when the helper gives the medicine to the patient, if the medicine is a finely pulverized powdered medicine, the medicine is likely to scatter in the air and it is difficult to give it to the patient to drink. Therefore, it is preferable to set the pulverization-related information to "assistance required for taking medicine". In this case, "assistance required for taking medicine", which is linked information, is input to the control means as the pulverization-related information. Then, "level 2", which is the pulverization level information, is specified based on the pulverization-related information (Fig. 22) in the storage device of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300. Thereafter, it is the same as the above-described subcontracting operation (S2 to S6).

[0223] In this way, corresponding to "medication assistance required (level 2)", tablets at a level that are not overly finely crushed can be crushed. Also, information about those who assist the patient in taking the medicine, such as helpers, nurses, care workers, family members, etc., may be input as linked information. In this case, information such as "helpers, nurses, care workers, family members" is stored in the "medication assistance required" section of FIG. 22, and the corresponding crushing level may be specified accordingly.

[0224] In addition, the adjustment device is adjusted so that at least one of the inner mortar member or the outer mortar member is moved in this order corresponding to levels 1 to 4, so that the tablets become coarser and the mortar gap portions (gap portions) 100, 213 become larger. Note that the crushing level is not limited to the above four levels, and there may be any number of levels as long as there are multiple levels.

[0225] Note that the patient may use an app on an information terminal such as a smartphone to send patient information and prescription data including crushing-related information to the pharmacy.

[0226] Next, a method will be described in which a pharmacist at the pharmacy obtains prescription data from a hospital or the like from personal information such as the patient's name, rather than receiving the prescription from the patient. There are the following four methods of obtaining.

[0227] (1) Hospital → Management server → Pharmacy As shown in FIG. 21, the first method is a method that complies with the operation of the electronic prescription of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare using the My Number Card that started in 2023. In the first method, prescription data (which may include crushing-related information) is transmitted from the storage device (DB1) of the hospital to the management server (DB2), and from the management server (DB2) to the storage device (DB3) of the pharmacy. Note that the management server is also referred to as an external data system. In the case of the operation of electronic prescriptions, when a patient authenticates with their My Number card at a hospital and selects "Use electronic prescription" on a touch panel or the like, prescription data is sent from the hospital's storage device (DB1) to the management server (DB2). Then, when the patient authenticates with their My Number card at the pharmacy, the prescription data is sent from the management server (DB2) to the pharmacy's storage device (DB3). In addition, prescription data may be automatically sent periodically from the hospital's storage device (DB1) to the pharmacy's storage device (DB3) without going through the management server (DB2).

[0228] Also, the storage devices of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 automatically receive prescription data from at least one of the hospital's storage device (DB1), the management server (DB2), and the pharmacy's storage device (DB3). In addition, in the above aspect, the pharmacy's storage device (DB3) may be the storage device of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300.

[0229] In addition, when a pharmacist or the like inputs the patient's personal information into the input means of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300, the storage devices of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 may receive prescription data from at least one of the hospital's storage device (DB1), the storage device of an external data system (DB2), and the pharmacy's storage device (DB3).

[0230] As described above, the storage devices of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 have prescription data (which may include pulverization-related information). When a pharmacist or the like inputs personal information such as the patient's name into the input means of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300, the patient's prescription data can be obtained, and when the prescription data includes pulverization-related information, the pulverization-related information can also be obtained at the same time. Thereafter, it is the same as the above subcontracting operation (S1 to S6), so the description is omitted.

[0231] (2) Hospital → Pharmacy The second method is a method in which prescription data is transmitted from the hospital's storage device (DB1) to the pharmacy's storage device (DB3) with the patient's permission, as shown in FIG. 21. There are areas where such medical cooperation has been conventionally carried out. The subcontracting operation is the same as above, so the explanation is omitted.

[0232] (3) Hospital → Patient's information terminal → Pharmacy The third method is a method in which prescription data is transmitted from the hospital's storage device (DB1) to the patient's information terminal (such as a smartphone) with the patient's permission, and then from the patient's information terminal to the pharmacy's storage device (DB3). The subcontracting operation is the same as above, so the explanation is omitted.

[0233] (4) Hospital → Management server → Patient's information terminal → Pharmacy The fourth method is a method in which, with the patient's permission, it is transmitted from the hospital's storage device (DB1) to the management server (DB2), then from the management server (DB2) to the patient's information terminal, and then from the patient's information terminal to the pharmacy's storage device (DB3). Prescription data is transmitted. The subcontracting operation is the same as above, so the explanation is omitted.

[0234] (When only the pharmacy records the patient's crushing-related information) The case where the crushing-related information for each patient is recorded only in the pharmacy will be explained. FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram of a pharmacy when the crushing-related information for each patient is recorded only in the pharmacy. As shown in FIG. 24, the pharmacy is equipped with a storage device (DB4) in which prescription data for each patient is stored, and a storage device (DB5) in which the medication history information for each patient or pharmacy-specific patient information (hereinafter referred to as pharmacy patient information) is stored. In the storage device (DB5), the medication history information for each patient, or / and the pharmacy patient information, has the above-mentioned crushing-related information for each patient recorded.

[0235] (1) When the patient delivers a prescription to the pharmacy (including the app) As shown in FIG. 21, the patient delivers the prescription to the pharmacy. In addition, only the prescription data for each patient is described in this prescription, and the pulverization-related information is not described. Pharmacists and the like use the input means of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 to input the patient's prescription data and personal information such as name. The control means of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 refers to the storage device (DB5) from the personal information and associates the patient's pulverization-related information with the input prescription data. The control means performs the above-described series of packaging operations using the prescription data and the pulverization-related information. Pharmacists and the like hand the packaging paper containing the tablets pulverized based on the pulverization level information to the patient.

[0236] (2) When performing a series of packaging operations from the patient's personal information As described above, when authentication (electronic prescription etc.) is performed using the patient's My Number card, the prescription data can be received by the pharmacy's storage device (DB4) from the management server (DB2). In addition, the prescription data may be transmitted from the hospital's storage device (DB1) to the pharmacy's storage device (DB4). In addition, the prescription data may be transmitted from the storage device (DB2) of an external data system to the storage device (DB4) of the pharmacy. In this case, the storage device (DB2) of the external data system may automatically receive the prescription data from the hospital's storage device (DB1).

[0237] In addition, the storage device of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 has received the prescription data from at least one of the hospital's storage device (DB1), the external data system's storage device (DB2), and the pharmacy's storage device (DB4).

[0238] A series of packaging operations in this case will be described. The patient visits the pharmacy and conveys personal information such as the patient's name to the pharmacist or the like. It may be conveyed by phone, email, etc. Pharmacists and the like use the input means of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 to input personal information such as the patient's name. The control means of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 refers to the storage device (DB5) based on the personal information, and associates the pulverization-related information with the received prescription data. The control means performs a series of packaging operations using the prescription data and the pulverization-related information. Pharmacists, etc. Hand the packaging paper containing the tablets pulverized based on the pulverization-related information to the patient. Note that the storage device (DB4) and the storage device (DB5) of the pharmacy may be the storage devices of the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300.

[0239] (Delivery of medicine) The delivery of medicine including the packaging paper containing the tablets pulverized based on the pulverization-related information will be described. FIG. 24 is also a conceptual diagram showing the receipt of medicine between the pharmacy and the facility, and between the pharmacy and the home. As shown in FIG. 24, there are three cases of (A) to (C). (A) The patient visits the pharmacy, and the pharmacist, etc. of the pharmacy hands the patient the medicine including the packaging paper containing the tablets pulverized based on the pulverization-related information of the patient. (B) The helper at the facility receives the medicine from the pharmacist, etc. of the pharmacy on behalf of the patient, and administers the medicine to each patient in the facility (the lower left figure in FIG. 24). (C) At the patient's home, the patient's family member or the patient's helper receives the medicine from the pharmacist, etc. of the pharmacy on behalf of the patient, and administers the medicine to the patient at home (the lower right figure in FIG. 24).

[0240] (Modification example 2) Modification example 2 is a mode in which the tablets are pulverized manually separately after being packaged by the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300. In the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300, there are tablets for which the pulverization accuracy cannot be achieved, or tablets that cannot be pulverized by the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 due to reasons such as highly attention-required medicines such as powerful drugs and poisons, or the hardness of the tablets being too high. In that case, those tablets are pulverized manually separately.

[0241] In the above case, in order to know which sub-packaging paper contains tablets that require manual crushing, printing (such as a mark, color, characters, barcode, etc.) indicating that manual crushing is necessary may be performed on the sub-packaging paper. Also, when there are tablets to be crushed and tablets not to be crushed in one sub-packaging paper, it may be printed to that effect, or the tablets to be crushed may be in a separate sub-packaging paper. The pharmacist can tell from the printing which sub-packaging paper contains the tablets that require manual crushing.

[0242] (Another aspect) Here, another aspect different from the above aspect will be described. Another aspect is an aspect in which a crusher (the crusher according to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-7189) that crushes the tablets packaged in the sub-packaging paper by hitting from the outside of the sub-packaging paper is used. In the said crusher, when passing through a continuous sub-packaging band including sub-packaging papers that require crushing and those that do not, it may be configured to identify barcodes etc. recorded for each sub-packaging paper and determine whether to crush the tablets or not for each sub-packaging paper.

[0243] In addition, in the hospital of FIG. 21, a prescription form with crushing-related information was given to the patient, but it may also be a piece of paper with crushing-related information separately described.

[0244] In addition, in the hospital of FIG. 21, data of patient information with crushing-related information added is stored in the hospital's recording device (DB1), but the prescription data and the data of crushing-related information are separately linked to the recording device (DB1) and stored, and those data may be separately transmitted to other recording devices.

[0245] In addition, the invention according to the present application may be appropriately combined as long as no contradiction occurs.

[0246] Before a pharmacist performs a packaging operation including pulverization using the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300, a function for prompting the pharmacist to conduct prescription inspection may be provided. This function is performed by the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300, the reception terminals in a pharmacy, etc., and is notified by display on a monitor, printing, voice, etc. After pulverization, prescription inspection cannot be performed, so it is necessary to conduct prescription inspection before pulverization. By notifying the pharmacist with a display or the like prompting prescription inspection and having the pharmacist input the completion of the inspection, the medicine dispensing devices 1 and 300 can start the packaging operation including pulverization.

Explanation of Signs

[0247] 1,300; medicine dispensing device, 40; tablet storage section, 41; pulverizing section, 42; sorting section, 49, 180; inner mortar member, 53, 181, 212; outer mortar member, 54; sieve member, 95; mesh section, 100, 213; mortar gap section (gap section), 110; sieve vibration section, 132; distribution dish, 136; pulverized medicine supply means (intermediate discharge device), 330; tablet container (tablet storage section), 340; pulverizing container (pulverizing section), 350; second intermediate container (intermediate container)

Claims

1. A drug dispensing device having a dispensing dish, which divides the drug put into the dispensing dish into a predetermined number and further individually packages it, is capable of performing an operation of putting a powdered crushed drug obtained by crushing tablets into the dispensing dish, has a crushing part for crushing tablets and an intermediate discharge device capable of discharging the put crushed drug little by little, In the operation of putting the crushed drug into the dispensing dish, the crushed drug crushed by the crushing part is put into the intermediate discharge device and then put into the dispensing dish from the intermediate discharge device. The drug dispensing device.

2. having a sorting part, The sorting part has a sieve member, and the sieve member is provided with a net part that allows objects smaller than a certain size to pass through, After performing an operation of putting the crushed drug into the sieve member, the crushed drug that has passed through the net part is put into the dispensing dish. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1.

3. having a plurality of drug containers formed including a tablet storage part for storing tablets, the crushing part, and the sorting part, After moving one of the drug containers selected from the plurality of drug containers to a predetermined position, an operation of discharging the crushed drug that has passed through the sorting part to the outside of the drug container is performed. The drug dispensing device according to claim 2.

4. having a sieve vibration part for applying vibration to the sieve member, The drug dispensing device according to claim 2 or 3, which simultaneously performs an operation of discharging the crushed drug from the crushing part and putting it into the sieve member and an operation of vibrating the sieve member.

5. The crushing part has an inner mortar member and an outer mortar member, A gap part is formed between the inner mortar member and the outer mortar member, and the drug passes through the gap part while one of the inner mortar member and the outer mortar member rotates relative to the other, so that the drug is crushed into powder. Yes, The drug dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, which has a gap adjustment mechanism for adjusting the size of the gap part.

6. having an intermediate container, Performing an operation of putting the crushed drug discharged from the crushing part into the intermediate container, an operation of moving the intermediate container into which the crushed drug has been put from the crushing part side to the intermediate discharge device side, and the intermediate container that has moved to the intermediate discharge device side. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, which performs an operation of putting the crushed drug into the intermediate discharge device.

7. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, which has a discharge amount adjustment function for adjusting the discharge amount of the crushed drug per unit time from the intermediate discharge device.

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