Medicine preparation part

Abstract

To suppress bouncing of a tablet when the tablet collides with a medicine preparation part, due to an impact of the collision.SOLUTION: A medicine preparation part (10) is formed with a buffer region (Ba) being a region that elastically deforms to relax an impact when the medicine preparation part (10) collides with a tablet (2) that has passed a tablet passage path (30) and has been discharged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug preparation unit in a drug dispensing device that supplies tablets discharged through a tablet passage path to a packaging unit that stores the tablets one pack at a time in each of a plurality of storage units and packages the tablets for one pack in packaging paper.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a drug dispensing device that packages tablets for one pack in packaging paper is known. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses the following drug dispensing device. That is, the drug dispensing device of Patent Document 1 includes a drug preparation unit having a plurality of storage units. In the drug dispensing device of Patent Document 1, tablets for one pack are discharged through a hopper (tablet passage path) to each of the plurality of storage units provided in the drug preparation unit. Then, the tablets for one pack are supplied from each of the plurality of storage units to a packaging unit that packages the tablets in packaging paper, and thus the tablets for one pack are packaged in the packaging paper.

[0003] Further, the drug preparation unit of Patent Document 1 includes a partition forming body in which a plurality of storage units are formed, and a drug preparation unit main body that can accommodate the partition forming body. The partition forming body is accommodated in the drug preparation unit main body in a rotatable state. Further, an opening is formed in the bottom surface of the drug preparation unit main body. In the storage unit that has come to a position corresponding to the opening, the shutter provided in the storage unit opens, and the tablets in the storage unit are supplied to the packaging unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the prior art as described above, if the tablet discharged through the tablet passage path bounces due to the impact of the collision with the medicine preparation unit, the following situations may occur. That is, when the tablet bounces due to the impact during the collision, the timing of storing the tablet in the desired storage unit among the plurality of storage units may be delayed, and the tablet may be stored in a storage unit different from the desired storage unit.

[0006] Also, in the prior art as described above, if at least one of the powder and fragments generated from the tablets held in the storage unit is present outside the storage unit on the bottom surface of the medicine preparation unit main body, the following situations may occur. That is, at least one of the powder and fragments present outside the storage unit on the bottom surface of the medicine preparation unit main body may be supplied from the opening formed on the bottom surface of the medicine preparation unit main body to the packaging unit as the partition forming body rotates, for example.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention aims to suppress a tablet discharged through a tablet passage path from bouncing due to the impact of a collision with a medicine preparation unit in a medicine dispensing device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A medicine preparation unit according to one aspect of the present invention is a medicine preparation unit that holds one package of tablets discharged through a tablet passage path in each of a plurality of storage units in a medicine dispensing device, and is provided with a top plate facing the outlet of the tablet passage path, and a gap that facilitates elastic deformation is provided between the top plate and the side wall of the storage unit when colliding with the tablet discharged through the tablet passage path.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, in a medicine dispensing device, there is an effect that it is possible to suppress a tablet discharged through a tablet passage path from bouncing due to the impact of a collision with a medicine preparation unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] 〔Embodiment 1〕 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will not be repeated. In the following description, "n" and "m" each represent an integer of "1" or more. Also, when it is necessary to distinguish a plurality of members with the same member number from each other, one capital letter of the alphabet is attached, for example, "storage part 100A", "storage part 100B", ···, "storage part 100Z" are denoted to distinguish each of them. Further, for example, when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish each of "storage part 100A", "storage part 100B", ···, "storage part 100Z", it may be simply described as "storage part 100".

[0012] To facilitate the understanding of the drug preparation unit 10 (drug preparation unit) according to one aspect of the present invention, first, the outline of the drug dispensing device 1 including the drug preparation unit 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0013] (Outline of the drug dispensing device) FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the drug dispensing device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the drug dispensing device 1 is a device for wrapping tablets 2 in wrapping paper, and in particular, it is a device for wrapping one pack of tablets 2 in wrapping paper. The drug dispensing device 1 includes a drug preparation unit 10, a plurality of cassettes 20, a tablet passage path 30, and a wrapping unit 40.

[0014] The cassette 20 stores one or more tablets 2. In particular, each of the plurality of cassettes 20 stores one or more (for example, a plurality of) tablets 2. Specifically, the cassette 20A stores a certain type of tablet 2 (for example, tablets 2A-1, 2A-2, ···, 2A-n), and similarly, the cassette 20B stores another type of tablet 2 (for example, tablets 2B-1, 2B-2, ···, 2B-m).

[0015] The tablet passage path 30 is a path through which the tablet 2 stored in the cassette 20 is discharged to the drug preparation unit 10.

[0016] The drug preparation unit 10 includes a plurality of storage units 100, retains one package of the tablets 2 (in particular, one package of tablets 2) discharged through the tablet passage path 30 in each of the plurality of storage units 100, and supplies them to the packaging unit 40. That is, the tablets 2 stored in each of the plurality of cassettes 20 are discharged through the tablet passage path 30 to each of the plurality of storage units 100.

[0017] Here, it is possible that all of the "one package of tablets 2" retained in the storage unit 100 are the same type of tablets 2. For example, when all of the "one package of tablets 2" retained in the storage unit 100A are a certain type of tablets 2, the tablets 2 stored in the cassette 20 are discharged to the storage unit 100A through the tablet passage path 30 as follows. That is, for example, a certain type of tablets 2 (for example, tablets 2A-1, 2A-2, ···, 2A-n) stored in the cassette 20A are discharged to the storage unit 100A through the tablet passage path 30.

[0018] In addition, the "tablets for one dose 2" stored in the storage unit 100 may include a plurality of different types of tablets 2. For example, when the "tablets for one dose 2" stored in the storage unit 100B include a certain type of tablet 2 and another type of tablet 2, the tablets 2 stored in the cassette 20 are discharged to the storage unit 100B through the tablet passage path 30 as follows. That is, for example, a certain type of tablet 2 stored in the cassette 20A and another type of tablet 2 stored in the cassette 20B are discharged to the storage unit 100B through the tablet passage path 30. For example, a certain type of tablets 2A-1, 2A-2, ···, 2A-n stored in the cassette 20A and another type of tablets 2B-1, 2B-2, ···, 2B-m stored in the cassette 20B are discharged to the storage unit 100B through the tablet passage path 30. When packaging a plurality of types of tablets 2 into one package, the cassettes 20 corresponding to each type of tablet 2 (for example, each of the above-mentioned cassettes 20A and 20B) discharge each type of tablet 2 to the storage unit 100. Then, in the storage unit 100, the plurality of types of tablets 2 are grouped as tablets for one dose 2.

[0019] The packaging unit 40 packages the tablets 2 in packaging paper, and in particular, packages the tablets for one dose 2 in packaging paper. For example, the packaging unit 40 packages a certain tablets for one dose 2 (for example, tablets 2A-1, 2A-2, ···, 2A-n) stored in the storage unit 100A in packaging paper. Similarly, the packaging unit 40 packages another tablets for one dose 2 (for example, tablets 2B-1, 2B-2, ···, 2B-m) stored in the storage unit 100B in packaging paper.

[0020] Before explaining the details of the medicine preparation unit 10 based on FIG. 1 and the like, if the outline of the medicine preparation unit 10 is explained, it is as follows. That is, in the medicine preparation unit 10 of the medicine dispensing device 1, the tablets 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 are stored one dose at a time in each of the plurality of storage units 100, and the tablets for one dose 2 are supplied to the packaging unit 40. In the medicine preparation unit 10, a buffer region Ba is formed, which is a region that elastically deforms to reduce the impact when colliding with the tablets 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30.

[0021] When the buffer area Ba collides with the tablet 2, a relatively narrow area centered on the position where the collision with the tablet 2 occurs may be rapidly deformed into a concave shape (U-shaped), or a relatively wide area centered on the position where the collision with the tablet 2 occurs may be deformed so as to gently sink. That is, when the buffer area Ba collides with the tablet 2, the position of the buffer area Ba where the collision with the tablet 2 occurs deforms in the moving direction of the tablet 2 before the collision with the buffer area Ba (for example, a substantially vertically downward direction), and the surrounding area deforms rapidly or gently.

[0022] The buffer area Ba absorbs the impact during the collision with the tablet 2 by elastically deforming during the collision with the tablet 2, and suppresses the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision.

[0023] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 can achieve the effect of suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the drug preparation unit 10 (particularly, the buffer area Ba) by the buffer area Ba.

[0024] Here, if the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the drug preparation unit 10 and jumps, for example, above the partition forming body 11, the following situation may occur. That is, if the tablet 2 jumps above the partition forming body 11 due to the impact during the collision, the timing of storing the tablet 2 in the desired storage unit 100 (for example, the storage unit 100B) where the tablet 2 should be stored among the plurality of storage units 100 is delayed.

[0025] And, although details will be described later, the partition forming body 11 provided with the plurality of storage units 100 rotates about the vertical axis 16. Therefore, while the tablet 2 is jumping above the partition forming body 11 (in other words, while the timing of storing the tablet 2 in the storage unit 100B is delayed), the partition forming body 11 may rotate. As a result, there is a possibility that the tablet 2 may be stored in a storage unit 100 different from the desired storage unit 100B (for example, the storage unit 100C).

[0026] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 absorbs the impact during the collision with the tablet 2 by the buffer area Ba, and suppresses the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision.

[0027] Accordingly, the drug preparation unit 10 further has the effect of being able to avoid the situation where "the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision, the timing of the tablet 2 being stored in the desired storage unit 100B is delayed, and the tablet 2 is stored in a storage unit 100C different from the desired storage unit 100B".

[0028] Note that the buffer area Ba elastically deforms due to the collision with the tablet 2 to absorb the impact, and then returns to the original state, that is, returns to the state before deformation.

[0029] (Overview of the drug preparation unit) Hereinafter, the drug preparation unit 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 etc. includes a partition forming body 11 having a plurality of storage units 100, a top plate 12, and a bottom plate 14. In the drug preparation unit 10, the partition forming body 11 is between a top plate 12 arranged substantially horizontally and a bottom plate 14 arranged substantially horizontally. In the partition forming body 11, the storage unit 100 has openings vertically upward (on the side of the top plate 12) and vertically downward (on the side of the bottom plate 14), and the bottom of the storage unit 100 is closed by the bottom plate 14.

[0030] (Overview of the partition forming body and the top plate) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the overall overview of the drug preparation unit 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of storage units 100 are formed in the partition forming body 11. As exemplified in FIG. 1, the partition forming body 11 has, for example, an outer appearance shape that is substantially disk-shaped, and specifically, is cylindrical with a "vertical height that is sufficiently large compared to the dimensions of the tablet 2". A plurality of storage units 100 are formed along the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11, inside the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11. For example, the plurality of storage units 100 may be formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction along the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11.

[0031] In the exemplary partition forming body 11 shown in FIG. 1, six storage parts 100 are formed, each of which houses one tablet 2 of one package. Specifically, storage parts 100A to 100F are formed. In the present embodiment, an example in which six storage parts 100 are formed in the partition forming body 11 will be described, but it is not essential that the number of storage parts 100 formed in the partition forming body 11 is six. The number of storage parts 100 formed in the partition forming body 11 is arbitrary.

[0032] In the partition forming body 11, the storage part 100 is a region where the upper and lower vertical directions are open, and is formed as a region surrounded by the side walls of the storage part 100 (the horizontal surroundings). The height of the storage part 100 in the vertical direction is designed to be sufficient to hold the tablet 2, in other words, it is sufficiently larger than the dimensions of the tablet 2.

[0033] The top plate 12 is a thin plate provided substantially vertically above the partition forming body 11 and faces the outlet of the tablet passage path 30. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the top plate 12 is, for example, a thin plate in a disk shape. The top plate 12 may be joined (adhered) to the partition forming body 11. For example, the top plate 12 and the partition forming body 11 may be integrally formed. However, it is not essential that the top plate 12 and the partition forming body 11 are joined, and the top plate 12 may be joined to the shaft 16 described later.

[0034] An opening 1201, which is an opening surrounded by the edge portion 1211, is formed in the top plate 12. In particular, a plurality of openings 1201, each surrounded by each of the plurality of edge portions 1211, are formed. For example, the opening 1201A is surrounded by the edge portion 1211A, and similarly, the opening 1201B is surrounded by the edge portion 1211B.

[0035] Each of the plurality of openings 1201 in the top plate 12 corresponds to the opening of each of the plurality of storage portions 100 of the partition forming body 11. For example, the opening 1201A corresponds to the opening of the storage portion 100A. Similarly, the opening 1201B corresponds to the opening of the storage portion 100B. The storage portion 100 is configured to be able to receive the tablets 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 via the openings 1201 provided in the top plate 12. The top plate 12 rotates about an axis 16, which will be described later, together with the partition forming body 11 such that each of the plurality of openings 1201 is at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of storage portions 100 of the partition forming body 11.

[0036] A gap 13 is provided directly below the edge portion 1211. By providing the gap 13 directly below the edge portion 1211, the edge portion 1211 is more easily elastically deformed compared to the case where the gap 13 is not provided. For example, when the edge portion 1211 collides with the tablet 2, the position of the edge portion 1211 that collides with the tablet 2 deforms in the moving direction of the tablet 2 before colliding with the edge portion 1211 (e.g., a substantially vertically downward direction), and the surrounding area deforms suddenly or gently. For example, a gap 13A is provided directly below the edge portion 1211A, and similarly, a gap 13B is provided directly below the edge portion 1211B.

[0037] The partition forming body 11 is configured to be rotatable about an axis 16 in the vertical direction (in other words, the thickness direction of the partition forming body 11) by receiving power transmission via a drive mechanism (not shown), for example. In particular, the partition forming body 11 rotates relative to the bottom plate 14 about the axis 16 together with the top plate 12. The axis 16 may be located at a substantially central position of the partition forming body 11, that is, a position where the distances from each of the plurality of storage portions 100 are substantially equal.

[0038] Specifically, an outer peripheral gear-shaped flange portion 17 is provided on the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the teeth formed on the flange portion 17 mesh with a gear that rotates receiving power from a motor (not shown). Therefore, when the motor operates, power is transmitted to the flange portion 17 via the gear, and the partition forming body 11 joined to the flange portion 17 rotates about the shaft 16. When the partition forming body 11 and the top plate 12 are joined, the two are integrated and rotate about the shaft 16. However, in the drug preparation unit 10, it is not essential to provide the flange portion 17 on the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11, and the partition forming body 11 only needs to be able to rotate about the shaft 16.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a top view of the drug preparation unit 10 as viewed vertically from above. The partition forming body 11 rotates about the shaft 16 together with the top plate 12, and rotates counterclockwise, for example, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0040] A first region 121 is formed on the top plate 12 in a region that can collide with the tablets 2 discharged from the tablet passage path 30, in other words, a region that can face the outlet of the tablet passage path 30. The top plate 12 further includes a second region 122 that is a region other than the first region 121. In the top plate 12, the first region 121 and the second region 122 are made of the same material. Further, the first region 121 includes an edge portion 1211.

[0041] As described above, in the partition forming body 11, the storage portion 100 is open at the vertical upper side and the vertical lower side. In the partition forming body 11, the side wall surrounding the periphery of the storage portion 100 is roughly divided into a front wall 111 that is the front side wall with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body 11 and a rear wall 112 that is the rear side wall with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body 11. For example, the storage portion 100A is surrounded by a side wall including the front wall 111A and the rear wall 112A, and similarly, the storage portion 100B is surrounded by a side wall including the front wall 111B and the rear wall 112B.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the front wall 111 is planar and the rear wall 112 is curved. That is, the cross-section of the rear wall 112 in the horizontal plane is arc-shaped, and the cross-section of the front wall 111 in the horizontal plane substantially corresponds to the chord connecting both ends of the arc that is the cross-section of the rear wall 112 in the horizontal plane. The front wall 111 and the rear wall 112 are integrally formed to form side walls surrounding the four sides of the storage portion 100.

[0043] That is, in the drug preparation unit 10, at least one side wall (for example, the front wall 111) of the side walls of the storage portion 100 is planar. According to the above configuration, the drug preparation unit 10 can suppress the occurrence of a situation where the timing of supplying the tablets 2 from the storage portion 100 to the packaging unit 40 is delayed due to the tablets 2 rotating inside the storage portion 100 along the side walls of the storage portion 100.

[0044] Here, if the tablets 2 rotate inside the storage portion 100 along the side walls of the storage portion 100, a situation where the timing of supplying the tablets 2 from the storage portion 100 to the packaging unit 40 is delayed may occur for the following reasons.

[0045] That is, although details will be described later, the partition forming body 11 including a plurality of storage portions 100 rotates relative to the bottom plate 14 about the vertical axis 16. Then, when the bottom of the storage portion 100 comes to a position corresponding to the supply port 1401 formed in the bottom plate 14, a pack of tablets 2 held in the storage portion 100 is supplied to the packaging unit 40 through the supply port 1401. That is, the tablets 2 at the bottom of the storage portion 10 are supplied to the packaging unit 40 through the supply port 1401 when the supply port 1401 formed in the bottom plate 14 comes to a position corresponding to the bottom of the storage portion 100.

[0046] However, if the tablets 2 rotate inside the storage portion 100 along the side walls of the storage portion 100, the timing for the tablets 2 to reach the bottom of the storage portion 100 may be delayed. And because the timing for the tablets 2 to reach the bottom of the storage portion 100 is delayed, the timing of "the tablets 2 being supplied to the packaging unit 40 through the supply port 1401 located at the bottom of the storage portion 100" will also be delayed.

[0047] (Overview of the bottom plate) FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the drug preparation unit 10 as seen from vertically below. The bottom plate 14 is a thin plate provided substantially vertically below the partition forming body 11, and closes the bottom of the storage portion 100 that is open in the partition forming body 11. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bottom plate 14 is, for example, a thin plate in the shape of a disc. The bottom plate 14 is not adhered to the partition forming body 11. The partition forming body 11 and the top plate 12 are integrated and rotate with respect to the bottom plate 14 about the axis 16, for example, rotate counterclockwise with respect to the bottom plate 14.

[0048] A supply port 1401, which is an opening, is formed in the bottom plate 14. The tablets 2 stored in the storage portion 100 are supplied from the supply port 1401 to the packaging portion 40. That is, the partition forming body 11 rotates with respect to the bottom plate 14 about the axis 16. Then, when the bottom of the storage portion 100 formed in the partition forming body 11 comes to a position corresponding to the supply port 1401, one pack of tablets 2 stored in the storage portion 100 is supplied to the packaging portion 40.

[0049] For example, one pack of tablets 2 (for example, tablets 2A-1, 2A-2, ···, 2A-n) stored in the storage portion 100A is supplied to the packaging portion 40 through the supply port 1401 when the bottom of the storage portion 100A comes to a position corresponding to the supply port 1401. Similarly, another pack of tablets 2 (for example, tablets 2B-1, 2B-2, ···, 2B-m) stored in the storage portion 100B is supplied to the packaging portion 40 through the supply port 1401 when the bottom of the storage portion 100B comes to a position corresponding to the supply port 1401.

[0050] The bottom plate 14 is formed with a fifth region 141 which is an area capable of colliding with the tablets 2 discharged from the tablet passage path 30. The bottom plate 14 further includes a sixth region 142 which is an area other than the fifth region 141. In the bottom plate 14, the fifth region 141 and the sixth region 142 are made of the same material. The fifth region 141 is provided, for example, at a position where the approximate center of the fifth region 141 faces the outlet of the tablet passage path 30 via the partition forming body 11.

[0051] Here, as described above, the partition forming body 11 and the top plate 12 are integrated and rotate with respect to the bottom plate 14 about the axis 16. Therefore, the position where the fifth region 141 is provided on the bottom plate 14 can also be expressed as follows. That is, the fifth region 141 is provided on the bottom plate 14 at a position "opposite to the opening 1201 (that is, the position corresponding to the bottom of the storage portion 100) when the opening 1201 of the top plate 12 and the storage portion 100 come to a position opposite to the outlet of the tablet passage path 30".

[0052] The bottom plate 14 illustrated in FIG. 4 is further provided with a discharge port 15 capable of discharging powder generated from the tablets 2 and having a size through which the tablets 2 cannot pass. The discharge port 15 may further be capable of discharging fragments generated from the tablets 2.

[0053] Note that it is not essential to provide the discharge port 15 on the bottom plate 14, and the discharge port 15 may be provided on the side wall of the storage portion 100. Further, the discharge port 15 may be provided on both the bottom plate 14 and the side wall of the storage portion 100.

[0054] That is, the drug preparation unit 10 is provided with a discharge port 15 having a size capable of discharging powder (or "powder and fragments") generated from the tablets 2 and through which the tablets 2 cannot pass on at least one of the side wall of the storage portion 100 and the bottom plate 14.

[0055] According to the above configuration, the drug preparation unit 10 has an effect of suppressing the occurrence of a situation where powder generated from the tablets 2 remains in the storage portion 100.

[0056] (Details of the Compartment Forming Body and the Top Plate) FIG. 5 is a top view of the top plate 12 and the compartment forming body 11 provided in the chemical preparation unit 10 as viewed vertically from above. As described above, the top plate 12 including the first region 121 and the second region are integrated with the compartment forming body 11 and rotate about the axis 16 with respect to the bottom plate 14. Further, the opening directly above the storage portion 100 of the compartment forming body 11 corresponds to the opening 1201 of the top plate 12, and the storage portion 100 is surrounded by side walls formed by integrating the front wall 111 and the rear wall 112.

[0057] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image of a cross-section taken along the line X1-X2 in FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, the scales of the respective members and the gap 13 are exaggerated so as to facilitate understanding of the relationship between the respective members and the gap 13.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 6, in the compartment forming body 11, the rear wall 112 is substantially vertically downward. In contrast, the front wall 111 is inclined toward the rear wall 112 up to an intermediate position from the side of the top plate 12 (top surface side) to the side of the bottom plate 14 (bottom surface side), and is substantially vertically downward from this intermediate position. That is, the front wall 111 includes a front wall 111 (SL) which is an "inclined wall inclined with respect to the vertical direction such that the area of the horizontal plane surrounded by the side walls of the storage portion 100 decreases as it goes downward in the vertical direction", and a front wall 111 (VE) which is a vertical wall extending in the vertical direction.

[0059] However, it is not essential that the front wall 111 includes the front wall 111 (SL) and the front wall 111 (VE). The front wall 111 may consist only of the front wall 111 (SL), for example, the entire front wall 111 may be inclined so as to approach the rear wall 112 as it goes from the top surface side to the bottom surface side. That is, the front wall 111 may not include the front wall 111 (VE) which is a vertical wall.

[0060] The side wall of the storage part 100 is constituted by a side wall plate which is a thin plate. The side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage part 100 includes a third side wall plate 1111 which is a thin plate constituting the front wall 111 (SL), and a fourth side wall plate 1112 which is a thin plate constituting each of the front wall 111 (VE) and the rear wall 112. However, the front wall 111 (VE) may also be constituted by the third side wall plate 1111, and only the rear wall 112 may be constituted by the fourth side wall plate 1112. Further, when the front wall 111 does not include the front wall 111 (VE), that is, when the front wall 111 consists only of the front wall 111 (SL), the front wall 111 will be constituted by the third side wall plate 1111.

[0061] The third side wall plate 1111 and the fourth side wall plate 1112 are made of the same material (material quality). And the thickness of the third side wall plate 1111 constituting the front wall 111 (SL) is thinner than the thickness of the fourth side wall plate 1112 constituting the side wall (for example, the rear wall 112) of the storage part 100 other than the front wall 111 (SL).

[0062] As shown in FIG. 6, a gap 13 is provided between the front wall 111 and the top plate 12. That is, a portion where the front wall 111 and the top plate 12 do not contact is formed as the gap 13. For example, the gap 13 is provided as a through hole that penetrates substantially horizontally a portion located directly below the edge portion 1211 of the side wall plate (particularly, the third side wall plate 1111) constituting the side wall of the storage part 100. By providing the gap 13 between the front wall 111 and the top plate 12, when the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 collides with the edge portion 1211, the edge portion 1211 is more likely to elastically deform compared to the case where the gap 13 is not provided.

[0063] For example, when the edge portion 1211 collides with the tablet 2, the position where the edge portion 1211 collides with the tablet 2 deforms in the moving direction (for example, substantially vertically downward direction) of the tablet 2 before colliding with the edge portion 1211, and the surrounding area thereof deforms suddenly or gently. The vertical width of the gap 13 is a dimension through which the tablet 2 cannot pass.

[0064] Incidentally, the gap 13 may be provided at any position (height) of the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage portion 100. For example, the gap 13 may be provided at a position close to the bottom of the storage portion 100 on the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage portion 100. By providing the gap 13 at an arbitrary position of the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage portion 100, the edge portion 1211 is more likely to elastically deform when it collides with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 as compared with the case where the gap 13 is not provided. However, the edge portion 1211 is most likely to elastically deform when the gap 13 is provided at a portion of the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage portion 100 that is located directly below the edge portion 1211. That is, when the gap 13 is provided between the front wall 111 and the top plate 12, the edge portion 1211 is most likely to elastically deform.

[0065] In particular, when the vertical thickness of the first region 121 including the edge portion 1211 is made thin to make the edge portion 1211 easily elastically deformable, by providing the gap 13 directly below the edge portion 1211, the edge portion 1211 becomes more easily elastically deformable.

[0066] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an image of a cross section taken along the Y1 - Y2 arrow in FIG. 5. Note that, in FIG. 7, the scales of the respective members are exaggerated so as to facilitate understanding of the relationship between the respective members. As shown in FIG. 7, the top plate 12 is a thin plate and includes a first region 121 which is a region that can collide with the tablet 2 discharged from the tablet passage path 30, and a second region 122 which is a region other than the first region 121. The vertical thickness of the first region 121 is thinner than the vertical thickness of the second region 122. Since the vertical thickness of the first region 121 is thinner than the vertical thickness of the second region 122, the first region 121 is more likely to elastically deform, that is, absorb the impact of the collision, when it collides with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 as compared with the second region 122.

[0067] For example, when the first region 121 collides with the tablet 2, the position where the first region 121 collides with the tablet 2 deforms in the moving direction of the tablet 2 before colliding with the first region 121 (for example, a substantially vertically downward direction), and the surrounding region thereof deforms rapidly or gently. In the top plate 12, by making the thickness of the first region 121, which is the region where the tablet 2 can collide, thinner than the thickness of the second region 122, which is the region other than the first region 121, it is possible to prevent the tablet 2 from bouncing due to the impact of the collision when the tablet 2 collides with the top plate 12.

[0068] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the partition forming body 11 as viewed from vertically below. FIG. 8 shows an example in which six storage portions 100 (specifically, storage portions 100A to 100F) are formed in the circumferential direction along the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11. The plurality of storage portions 100 may be formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction along the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11.

[0069] In the partition forming body 11, the bottom of the storage portion 100 is open, and the storage portion 100 is surrounded by side walls composed of a flat front wall 111 and a curved rear wall 112. The rear wall 112 extends substantially vertically from the side of the top plate 12 (top surface side) to the side of the bottom plate 14 (bottom surface side), and the front wall 111 includes a portion (that is, the front wall 111 (SL)) that is inclined toward the rear wall 112 up to a position midway from the top surface side to the bottom surface side.

[0070] (Details of the bottom plate) FIG. 9 is a top view of the bottom plate 14 provided in the drug preparation unit 10 as viewed from vertically above. The thin bottom plate 14 is provided with a supply port 1401 for supplying a single package of the tablet 2 held in the storage portion 100 to the packaging portion 40, and a discharge port 15 for discharging the powder generated from the tablet 2. As described above, the discharge port 15 may be provided on the side wall of the storage portion 100 instead of the bottom plate 14, or may be provided on both the bottom plate 14 and the side wall of the storage portion 100.

[0071] Figure 10 is a bottom view looking up at the bottom plate 14 from directly below. As shown in Figure 10, in addition to the supply port 1401 and the discharge port 15, the bottom plate 14 is provided with a fifth region 141 at a position where it can collide with the tablets 2 discharged from the tablet passage path 30. The region of the bottom plate 14 other than the fifth region 141 is referred to as the sixth region 142.

[0072] Figure 11 is a diagram showing an image of a cross-section taken along the Z1-Z2 arrow direction of Figure 10. Note that in Figure 11, the scales of the respective members are exaggerated so as to facilitate understanding of the relationships between the respective members. As shown in Figure 11, in the bottom plate 14, the vertical thickness of the fifth region 141 provided at a position where it can collide with the tablets 2 discharged from the tablet passage path 30 is thinner than the vertical thickness of the sixth region 142, which is the region other than the fifth region 141. Since the vertical thickness of the fifth region 141 is thinner than the vertical thickness of the sixth region 142, the fifth region 141 is more likely to elastically deform when colliding with the tablets 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30, that is, it is more likely to absorb the impact of the collision, compared to the sixth region 142.

[0073] For example, when the fifth region 141 collides with the tablets 2, the position where the fifth region 141 collides with the tablets 2 deforms in the moving direction of the tablets 2 before colliding with the fifth region 141 (for example, a substantially vertically downward direction), and the surrounding region deforms suddenly or gently. By making the thickness of the fifth region 141, which is the region where the tablets 2 can collide in the bottom plate 14, thinner than the thickness of the sixth region 142, which is the region other than the fifth region 141, it is possible to prevent the tablets 2 from bouncing off due to the impact of the collision when the tablets 2 collide with the bottom plate 14.

[0074] (Position where the buffer region is formed) Regarding the drug preparation unit 10 described so far, the position where the buffer region Ba, which is "a region that elastically deforms to mitigate the impact when colliding with the tablets 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30", is formed can be organized as follows.

[0075] (1. Form a buffer region on the top plate) In the drug preparation unit 10, the plurality of storage units 100 are formed inside the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11 along the outer periphery of the partition forming body 11. In the drug preparation unit 10, a top plate 12 facing the outlet of the tablet passage path 30 is provided substantially vertically above the partition forming body 11. Each of the plurality of storage units 100 is enabled to receive the tablets 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 via each of the plurality of openings 1201 provided in the top plate 12. And in the drug preparation unit 10, the buffer region Ba is formed in the top plate 12.

[0076] The buffer region Ba formed in the top plate 12 elastically deforms during the collision with the tablets 2, thereby absorbing the impact during the collision with the tablets 2 and suppressing the possibility that the tablets 2 bounce due to the impact during the collision.

[0077] Therefore, according to the above configuration, the drug preparation unit 10 has the effect of being able to absorb the impact when the tablets 2 collide with the top plate 12 by the buffer region Ba formed in the top plate 12 and suppressing the possibility that the tablets 2 bounce due to the impact during the collision with the top plate 12.

[0078] If the tablets 2 bounce due to the impact of the collision, the timing of storing the tablets 2 in the desired storage unit 100 (for example, the storage unit 100B) where the tablets 2 should be stored is delayed. And the partition forming body 11 provided with the plurality of storage units 100 rotates about the vertical axis 16 together with the top plate 12. Therefore, if the timing of storing the tablets 2 in the storage unit 100B is delayed, the partition forming body 11 and the top plate 12 rotate during that time, and as a result, the tablets 2 may be stored in a storage unit 100 (for example, the storage unit 100C) different from the storage unit 100B.

[0079] Therefore, when the partition forming body 11 and the top plate 12 rotate relative to the outlet of the tablet passage path 30 and the bottom plate 14 about the vertical axis 16, by forming the buffer region Ba on the top plate 12, the drug preparation unit 10 further has the following effects. That is, when the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the top plate 12 and the timing of storing the tablet 2 in the storage unit 100B is delayed, the drug preparation unit 10 can avoid the situation where the tablet 2 is stored in the storage unit 100C different from the storage unit 100B.

[0080] (1.1. The first region of the top plate is the buffer region) The top plate 12 includes a first region 121 which is a region where the tablet 2 discharged from the tablet passage path 30 can collide, and a second region 122 which is a region other than the first region 121. The first region 121 and the second region 122 are made of the same material. By making the vertical thickness of the first region 121 thinner than the vertical thickness of the second region 122, the first region 121 is formed as the buffer region Ba.

[0081] According to the above configuration, the drug preparation unit 10 can absorb the impact when the tablet 2 collides with the first region 121 formed as the buffer region Ba on the top plate 12, and can suppress the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact. That is, on the top plate 12, since the thickness of the first region 121 is thinner than the thickness of the second region 122 and it is easy to elastically deform, the first region 121 can suppress the tablet 2 from bouncing when it collides with the top plate 12.

[0082] Further, when the partition forming body 11 and the top plate 12 rotate about the vertical axis 16, the drug preparation unit 10 further has the following effects due to the first region 121 with a thin thickness. That is, when the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the top plate 12 and the timing of storing the tablet 2 in the desired storage unit 100 (for example, the storage unit 100B) is delayed, the drug preparation unit 10 can further avoid the situation where the tablet 2 is stored in the storage unit 100C.

[0083] Here, as a method for suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact during the collision with the top plate 12 (first region 121), it is conceivable to separately provide an impact-absorbing material such as a sponge in the first region 121.

[0084] However, when an additional member such as an impact-absorbing material is separately provided in the region where it can collide with the tablet 2, damage, peeling, etc. of the additional member may occur for some reason, and there is a possibility that the additional member together with the tablet 2 is wrapped in the wrapping paper.

[0085] Therefore, the medicine preparation unit 10 suppresses the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact during the collision by making the vertical thickness of the first region 121 thinner than the vertical thickness of the second region 122 without using an additional member such as an impact-absorbing material.

[0086] Therefore, the medicine preparation unit 10 can achieve the effect of suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact during the collision while eliminating the possibility that a mono other than the tablet 2 is wrapped in the wrapping paper together with the tablet 2.

[0087] In addition, when providing an additional member such as an impact-absorbing material, additional costs such as the cost of the additional member are incurred, but the medicine preparation unit 10 does not require such an additional member to suppress the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact during the collision with the top plate 12.

[0088] Therefore, the medicine preparation unit 10 can achieve the effect of suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact during the collision while suppressing the cost required for realization compared to the case of providing an additional member for suppressing the bounce of the tablet 2.

[0089] (1.2. The edge portion of the top plate is a buffer region) In the medicine preparation unit 10, a gap 13 is provided between the top plate 12 and the side wall of the storage unit 100 to facilitate the elastic deformation of the edge portion 1211 when the edge portion 1211 collides with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30.

[0090] That is, compared with the case where the gap 13 is not provided, in the drug preparation part 10, when the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage 30 collides with the edge part 1211 due to the gap 13, the edge part 1211 is more likely to elastically deform. For example, when the edge part 1211 collides with the tablet 2, the position of the edge part 1211 that collides with the tablet 2 deforms in the moving direction of the tablet 2 before colliding with the edge part 1211 (for example, the substantially vertically downward direction), and the surrounding area thereof deforms rapidly or gently.

[0091] By making the edge part 1211 more likely to elastically deform due to the gap 13, compared with the case where the gap 13 is not provided, the edge part 1211 can absorb more of the impact during the collision with the tablet 2, that is, it is possible to more effectively suppress the tablet 2 from bouncing off when it collides with the edge part 1211.

[0092] Therefore, the drug preparation part ۱۰ has the effect that, compared with the case where the gap 13 is not provided, by providing the gap 13, the edge part 1211 can more easily elastically deform during the collision with the tablet 2 to absorb the impact of the collision, and the tablet 2 can be prevented from bouncing off when it collides with the edge part 1211.

[0093] Further, when the partition forming body 11 and the top plate 12 are rotating about the vertical axis 16, the gap 13 causes the drug preparation part 10 to have the following further effect. That is, the drug preparation part 10 can further avoid the situation where the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact of the collision with the edge part 1211 and the timing of the tablet 2 being stored in the desired storage part 100 (for example, the storage part 100B) is delayed, and the tablet 2 is stored in the storage part 100C.

[0094] Here, in particular, the thickness of the top plate 12 (for example, the vertical thickness of the first region 121) is preferably thinner than the thickness of the side wall plate that constitutes the side wall of the storage portion 100 (specifically, the thickness of at least one of the third side wall plate 1111 and the fourth side wall plate 1112 described later). When the vertical thickness of the first region 121 is thinner than the thickness of the side wall plate that constitutes the side wall of the storage portion 100, by providing a gap 13 between the top plate 12 and the side wall of the storage portion 100, compared to the case where the gap 13 is not provided, it is possible to further suppress the tablet 2 from colliding with and bouncing off the edge portion 1211. That is, by making the vertical thickness of the first region 121 including the edge portion 1211 thinner, the edge portion 1211 is more likely to elastically deform. Furthermore, by providing the gap 13, the edge portion 1211 is more likely to elastically deform compared to the case where the gap 13 is not provided.

[0095] In the drug preparation unit 10, the gap 13 is a portion where the top plate 12 and the side wall plate that constitutes the side wall of the storage portion 100 are not in contact, that is, a gap 13 is provided between the top plate 12 and the side wall plate that constitutes the side wall of the storage portion 100. For example, the top plate 12 and the side wall of the storage portion 100 may be joined except for the gap 13. And the gap 13 is a through-hole that penetrates the side wall plate that constitutes the side wall of the storage portion 100 in a substantially horizontal direction, and may be a through-hole provided in a portion of the side wall plate that constitutes the side wall of the storage portion 100 and located directly below the edge portion 1211.

[0096] According to the above configuration, in the drug preparation unit 10, the edge portion 1211 is more likely to elastically deform due to the gap 13 compared to the case where the gap 13 is not provided. For example, when the edge portion 1211 collides with the tablet 2, the position where the edge portion 1211 collides with the tablet 2 deforms in the moving direction of the tablet 2 before colliding with the edge portion 1211 (for example, a substantially vertically downward direction), and the surrounding area deforms rapidly or gently.

[0097] The edge portion 1211, which is more likely to elastically deform due to the gap 13, can absorb more impact during the collision with the tablet 2 compared to the case where the gap 13 is not provided, that is, it is possible to further suppress the tablet 2 from colliding with and bouncing off the edge portion 1211.

[0098] Therefore, by providing the gap 13, the medicine preparation unit 10 can, compared with the case where the gap 13 is not provided, more easily elastically deform the edge portion 1211 upon collision with the tablet 2 to absorb the impact of the collision, and can suppress the tablet 2 from bouncing off after colliding with the edge portion 1211.

[0099] Further, when the partitioning member 11 and the top plate 12 are rotating about the vertical axis 16, the medicine preparation unit 10 has the following further effect due to the gap 13 provided between the top plate 12 and the side wall of the storage unit 100. That is, the medicine preparation unit 10 can avoid a situation where the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact of the collision with the edge portion 1211 and the timing of the tablet 2 being stored in a desired storage unit 100 (for example, the storage unit 100B) is delayed, and the tablet 2 is stored in the storage unit 100C.

[0100] Here, as a method for suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact during the collision with the edge portion 1211, it is conceivable to separately provide an impact absorbing material such as a sponge on the edge portion 1211.

[0101] However, when an additional member such as an impact absorbing material is separately provided on the edge portion 1211, the additional member may be damaged or peeled off due to some cause, and the additional member may be wrapped in the wrapping paper together with the tablet 2.

[0102] Therefore, without using an additional member such as an impact absorbing material, the medicine preparation unit 10 provides the gap 13 to make the edge portion 1211 easily elastically deformable, thereby suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact during the collision with the edge portion 1211.

[0103] Therefore, the medicine preparation unit 10 can suppress the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact during the collision with the edge portion 1211 while eliminating the possibility that a mono other than the tablet 2 is wrapped in the wrapping paper together with the tablet 2.

[0104] Also, when providing an additional member such as a shock absorber, additional costs such as the cost of the additional member are incurred. However, the drug preparation unit 10 does not require such an additional member to suppress the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the edge portion 1211.

[0105] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 can suppress the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the edge portion 1211 while suppressing the cost required for realization as compared with the case of providing an additional member for suppressing the bounce of the tablet 2.

[0106] The gap 13, which is a through-hole penetrating the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage unit 100 in a substantially horizontal direction, may be provided at any position (height) of the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage unit 100. For example, the gap 13 may be provided at a position close to the bottom of the storage unit 100 on the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage unit 100. By providing the gap 13 (that is, a through-hole penetrating the side wall plate in a substantially horizontal direction) at an arbitrary position of the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage unit 100, the edge portion 1211 is more likely to elastically deform when it collides with the tablet 2 than when the gap 13 is not provided. However, the edge portion 1211 is most likely to elastically deform when the gap 13 is provided directly below the edge portion 1211 on the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage unit 100, that is, when the gap 13 is provided between the top plate 12 and the side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage unit 100.

[0107] The vertical width of the gap 13 is a dimension through which the tablet 2 cannot pass. According to the above configuration, in the drug preparation unit 10, since the vertical width of the gap 13 is a dimension through which the tablet 2 cannot pass, the drug preparation unit 10 can prevent a situation where the tablet 2 passes through the gap 13 and exits the storage unit 100.

[0108] The partition forming body 11 rotates about the vertical axis 16. The tablet 2 is discharged through the tablet passage path 30 between "the rear wall 112B of the desired storage part 100 (for example, the storage part 100B)" and "the rear wall 112A of the storage part 100A which is the storage part 100 immediately before the storage part 100B in the rotation direction of the partition forming body 11". The gap 13 is provided between the front wall 111 of the storage part 100 and the top plate 12.

[0109] Since the tablet 2 is discharged between the rear wall 112B of the desired storage part 100B and the rear wall 112A of the storage part 100A immediately before the desired storage part 100B, it may collide with the edge portion 1211B of the top plate 12 which is vertically above the "front wall 111B of the desired storage part 100B".

[0110] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 makes the edge portion 1211B vertically above the "front wall 111B of the desired storage part 100B" more easily elastically deformable compared to the case where the gap 13 is not provided, by providing the gap 13 in the "front wall 111 of the storage part 100". That is, the edge portion 1211B vertically above the "front wall 111B of the desired storage part 100B" is more easily elastically deformable due to the gap 13B than in the case where the gap 13B is not provided. Therefore, compared to the case where the gap 13B is not provided, the edge portion 1211B in the case where the gap 13B is provided is more easily elastically deformed when colliding with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30, that is, it absorbs more of the impact of the collision with the tablet 2.

[0111] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 provides the gap 13 in the "front wall 111 of the storage part 100", so that the edge portion 1211B is more easily elastically deformable compared to the case where the gap 13 is not provided, and has the effect of suppressing the situation where the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision.

[0112] In addition, the drug preparation unit 10 further has the effect of avoiding the situation where the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the edge portion 1211B and the timing of storing the tablet 2 in the desired storage part 100B is delayed, and the tablet 2 is stored in the storage part 100C.

[0113] (2. Using the inclined wall of the storage part 100 as a buffer area) At least a part (for example, the front wall 111(SL)) of the side wall (for example, the front wall 111) of the storage part 100 is an inclined wall that is inclined so that the area of the horizontal plane surrounded by the side wall of the storage part 100 becomes smaller as it goes downward in the vertical direction. And the buffer area Ba is formed in the inclined wall (for example, the front wall 111(SL)).

[0114] According to the above configuration, in the drug preparation part 10, the front wall 111(SL) is inclined so that the area of the horizontal plane surrounded by the side wall of the storage part 100 becomes smaller as it goes downward in the vertical direction. For example, the front wall 111(SL) is inclined toward the rear wall 112 facing the front wall 111(SL). Therefore, the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 may collide with the front wall 111(SL).

[0115] The drug preparation part 10 can absorb the impact when the tablet 2 collides with the front wall 111(SL) by the buffer area Ba formed in the front wall 111(SL), and can suppress the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the front wall 111(SL).

[0116] Also, when the partition forming body 11 rotates around the vertical axis 16, by using the inclined wall (for example, the front wall 111(SL)) of the storage part 100 as the buffer area Ba, the drug preparation part 10 further has the following effects. That is, the drug preparation part 10 can avoid the situation where the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the front wall 111(SL), delaying the timing when the tablet 2 is stored in the desired storage part 100 (for example, the storage part 100B), and the tablet 2 is stored in the storage part 100C.

[0117] In the drug preparation unit 10, the thickness of the third side wall plate 1111, which is a thin plate forming the front wall 111 (SL), is smaller than the thickness of the fourth side wall plate 1112, which is a thin plate forming the side wall of the storage unit 100 other than the front wall 111 (SL). That is, in the drug preparation unit 10, the front wall 111 (SL) is formed as a buffer region Ba.

[0118] According to the above configuration, the drug preparation unit 10 absorbs the impact when the tablet 2 collides with the front wall 111 (SL) by the front wall 111 (SL) formed as the buffer region Ba, and suppresses the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision. The thickness of the third side wall plate 1111 forming the front wall 111 (SL) is smaller than the thickness of the fourth side wall plate 1112 forming the side wall of the storage unit 100 other than the front wall 111 (SL) and is more easily elastically deformed. Therefore, compared with the side wall of the storage unit 100 other than the front wall 111 (SL), the front wall 111 (SL) suppresses the tablet 2 from bouncing when it collides with the front wall 111 (SL).

[0119] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 has the effect that the front wall 111 (SL) formed as the buffer region Ba elastically deforms during the collision with the tablet 2 to absorb the impact of the collision, and suppresses the tablet 2 from bouncing when it collides with the front wall 111 (SL).

[0120] Further, when the partition forming body 11 rotates about the vertical axis 16, the drug preparation unit 10 has the following further effect by the front wall 111 (SL) formed as the buffer region Ba. That is, the drug preparation unit 10 has the effect of avoiding the situation where the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the front wall 111 (SL) and the timing of the tablet 2 being stored in the desired storage unit 100 (for example, the storage unit 100B) is delayed, and the tablet 2 is stored in the storage unit 100C.

[0121] Here, as a method for suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the front wall 111 (SL), it is also conceivable to separately provide an impact absorbing material such as a sponge on the front wall 111 (SL).

[0122] However, when an additional member such as a shock absorber is separately provided on the front wall 111 (SL), damage, peeling, etc. of the additional member may occur due to some cause, and there is a possibility that the additional member may be wrapped in the wrapping paper together with the tablet 2.

[0123] Therefore, without using an additional member such as a shock absorber, the medicine preparation unit 10 makes the thickness of the third side wall plate 1111 thinner than the thickness of the fourth side wall plate 1112, thereby suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the front wall 111 (SL).

[0124] Therefore, the medicine preparation unit 10 can achieve the effect of suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the front wall 111 (SL), while eliminating the possibility that a mono other than the tablet 2 is wrapped in the wrapping paper together with the tablet 2.

[0125] Also, when providing an additional member such as a shock absorber, additional costs such as the cost of the additional member are incurred. However, the medicine preparation unit 10 does not require such an additional member to suppress the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the front wall 111 (SL).

[0126] Therefore, the medicine preparation unit 10 can achieve the effect of suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the front wall 111 (SL), while suppressing the cost required for realization as compared with the case of providing an additional member for suppressing the bounce of the tablet 2.

[0127] (3. Form a buffer region on the bottom plate) In the partition forming body 11, the bottom of the storage part 100 is open. The drug preparation part 10 includes a bottom plate 14 that constitutes the bottoms of a plurality of storage parts 100, and is provided substantially vertically below the partition forming body 11. When the partition forming body 11 rotates relative to the bottom plate 14 about the vertical axis 16, the tablets 2 held in the storage part 100 are supplied from the supply port 1401, which is an opening provided in the bottom plate 14, to the packaging part 40. In the drug preparation part 10, a buffer area Ba is formed in the bottom plate 14.

[0128] According to the above configuration, the drug preparation part 10 can absorb the impact when the tablets 2 collide with the bottom plate 14 by the buffer area Ba formed in the bottom plate 14, and can suppress the possibility that the tablets 2 bounce due to the impact during the collision with the bottom plate 14.

[0129] In addition, the drug preparation part 10 can further avoid the situation where the tablets 2 bounce due to the impact of the collision with the bottom plate 14 and the timing of the tablets 2 being stored in a desired storage part 100 (for example, the storage part 100B) is delayed, and the tablets 2 are stored in the storage part 100C.

[0130] The bottom plate 14 includes a fifth area 141, which is an area that can collide with the tablets 2 discharged from the tablet passage 30, and a sixth area 142, which is an area other than the fifth area 141. The fifth area 141 and the sixth area 142 are made of the same material. By making the vertical thickness of the fifth area 141 thinner than the vertical thickness of the sixth area 142, the fifth area 141 is formed as the buffer area Ba.

[0131] According to the above configuration, the drug preparation part 10 can absorb the impact when the tablets 2 collide with the fifth area 141 formed as the buffer area Ba on the bottom plate 14, and can suppress the possibility that the tablets 2 bounce due to the impact during the collision. That is, on the bottom plate 14, since the thickness of the fifth area 141 is thinner than the thickness of the sixth area 142 and it is easier to elastically deform, the fifth area 141 can suppress the tablets 2 from bouncing when they collide with the bottom plate 14.

[0132] In addition, the drug preparation unit 10 has the effect of further avoiding a situation where the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the bottom plate 14 and the timing of the tablet 2 being stored in a desired storage unit 100 (for example, the storage unit 100B) is delayed, and the tablet 2 is stored in the storage unit 100C.

[0133] Here, as a method for suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the bottom plate 14 (the fifth region 141), it is also conceivable to separately provide an impact absorbing material such as a sponge in the fifth region 141.

[0134] However, when an additional member such as an impact absorbing material is separately provided in the fifth region 141, damage, peeling, etc. of the additional member may occur due to some cause, and the additional member may be packaged in the packaging paper together with the tablet 2.

[0135] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 suppresses the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision by making the vertical thickness of the fifth region 141 thinner than the vertical thickness of the sixth region 142 without using an additional member such as an impact absorbing material.

[0136] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 has the effect of suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision while eliminating the possibility that a mono other than the tablet 2 is packaged in the packaging paper together with the tablet 2.

[0137] In addition, when an additional member such as an impact absorbing material is provided, additional costs such as the cost of the additional member are incurred, but the drug preparation unit 10 does not require such an additional member to suppress the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the bottom plate 14.

[0138] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 has the effect of suppressing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact during the collision with the bottom plate 14 while suppressing the cost required for realization as compared with the case where an additional member for suppressing the bounce of the tablet 2 is provided.

[0139] (Regarding the discharge position of the tablet and the storage in the storage part of the tablet) FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the position of the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30. In particular, FIG. 12 illustrates the position of the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 when the "desired storage part 100 where the tablet 2 should be stored" is the storage part 100A.

[0140] As shown in FIG. 12, in the medicine dispensing device 1, the tablet 2 has already been discharged from the tablet passage path 30 to the top plate 12 before the opening directly above the desired storage part 100A (that is, the opening 1201A of the top plate 12) reaches the position facing the outlet of the tablet passage path 30. Specifically, the tablet 2 is discharged through the tablet passage path 30 between the "rear wall 112A of the desired storage part 100A" and the "rear wall 112B of the storage part 100B which is the storage part 100 immediately before the storage part 100A with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body 11".

[0141] Therefore, the medicine dispensing device 1 can advance the timing at which the tablet 2 is stored in the desired storage part 100A compared to the case where the tablet 2 is discharged to the medicine preparation part 10 after the opening directly above the desired storage part 100A reaches the position facing the outlet of the tablet passage path 30.

[0142] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the state in which the tablet 2 is stored in the storage part 100. Similar to FIG. 12, FIG. 13 explains the state in which the tablet 2 is stored in the desired storage part 100A when the "desired storage part 100 where the tablet 2 should be stored" is the storage part 100A.

[0143] As shown in Fig. 13(A), in the drug dispensing device 1, the tablet 2 is discharged from the tablet passage 30 to the top plate 12 before the opening directly above the desired storage part 100A comes to face the outlet of the tablet passage 30. Specifically, the tablet 2 is discharged through the tablet passage 30 between "the rear wall 112A of the desired storage part 100A" and "the rear wall 112B of the storage part 100B which is the storage part 100 immediately before the storage part 100A with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body 11".

[0144] The tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage 30 between "the rear wall 112A of the desired storage part 100A" and "the rear wall 112B of the storage part 100B" collides with, for example, the region between the rear wall 112A and the rear wall 112B of the top plate 12 as shown in Fig. 13(B).

[0145] As the partition forming body 11 rotates, the tablet 2 on "the region between the rear wall 112A and the rear wall 112B of the top plate 12" is pushed by "the inner wall on the rear side of the tablet passage 30 with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body 11" and moves on the top plate 12, approaching the opening 1201A.

[0146] Then, as shown in Fig. 13(C), the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage 30 between "the rear wall 112A of the desired storage part 100A" and "the rear wall 112B of the storage part 100B" is put into the desired storage part 100A from the opening 1201A.

[0147] As shown in Fig. 13(D), at the timing when the tablet 2 reaches the bottom of the desired storage part 100A, the following situation is realized for the bottom plate 14 closing the bottom of the desired storage part 100A. That is, at the timing when the tablet 2 reaches the bottom of the desired storage part 100A, the fifth region 141 with a vertical thickness thinner than the vertical thickness of the sixth region 142 closes the bottom of the desired storage part 100A. Therefore, the drug preparation part 10 absorbs the impact when the tablet 2 collides with the fifth region 141 by the fifth region 141 formed as the buffer region Ba on the bottom plate 14, and suppresses the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact at the time of the collision.

[0148] Even if the tablet 2 collides with the bottom plate 14, it will not bounce due to the impact of the collision. Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 can avoid the situation where the timing of storing the tablet 2 in the desired storage unit 100A is delayed and the tablet 2 is stored in a storage unit 100F different from the desired storage unit 100A.

[0149] Here, the tablet 2 discharged between the "rear wall 112A of the desired storage unit 100A" and the "rear wall 112B of the storage unit 100B" through the tablet passage path 30 does not necessarily collide with the area between the rear wall 112A and the rear wall 112B of the top plate 12. For example, the tablet 2 discharged between the "rear wall 112A of the desired storage unit 100A" and the "rear wall 112B of the storage unit 100B" may collide with the edge portion 1211A vertically above the "front wall 111A of the desired storage unit 100A".

[0150] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 makes the edge portion 1211A vertically above the "front wall 111A of the desired storage unit 100A" more likely to elastically deform compared to the case where no gap 13 is provided by providing a gap 13 in the "front wall 111 of the storage unit 100". That is, the edge portion 1211A is more likely to elastically deform due to the gap 13A. When the edge portion 1211A collides with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30, it elastically deforms to absorb the impact of the collision, thereby suppressing the tablet 2 from bouncing due to the impact of the collision.

[0151] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 can avoid the situation where the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the edge portion 1211A, the timing of storing the tablet 2 in the desired storage unit 100A is delayed, and the tablet 2 is stored in a storage unit 100F different from the desired storage unit 100A.

[0152] Also, the tablet 2 discharged between the "rear wall 112A of the desired storage unit 100A" and the "rear wall 112B of the storage unit 100B" may collide with the front wall 111(SL) that "is inclined toward the rear wall 112 in the storage unit 100".

[0153] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 makes the thickness of the third side wall plate 1111 that forms the front wall 111 (SL) thinner than the thickness of the fourth side wall plate 1112 that forms the side wall of the storage unit 100 other than the front wall 111 (SL). That is, in the drug preparation unit 10, the front wall 111 (SL) that may collide with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 is more likely to elastically deform. When the front wall 111 (SL) collides with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30, it elastically deforms to absorb the impact of the collision, thereby suppressing the tablet 2 from bouncing due to the impact of the collision.

[0154] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 can avoid a situation where the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the front wall 111 (SL), delaying the timing when the tablet 2 is stored in the desired storage unit 100A and causing the tablet 2 to be stored in a storage unit 100F different from the desired storage unit 100A.

[0155] Furthermore, the tablet 2 discharged between the "rear wall 112A of the desired storage unit 100A" and the "rear wall 112B of the storage unit 100B" through the tablet passage path 30 may collide with the bottom plate 14 that closes the bottom of the storage unit 100.

[0156] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 makes the vertical thickness of the fifth region 141, which is the region where the tablet 2 discharged from the tablet passage path 30 may collide, thinner than the vertical thickness of the sixth region 142, which is the region other than the fifth region 141, on the bottom plate 14. That is, in the drug preparation unit 10, the fifth region 141 that may collide with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30 is more likely to elastically deform than the sixth region 142. When the fifth region 141 collides with the tablet 2 discharged through the tablet passage path 30, it elastically deforms to absorb the impact of the collision, thereby suppressing the tablet 2 from bouncing due to the impact of the collision.

[0157] Therefore, the drug preparation unit 10 can avoid a situation where the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the bottom plate 14, the timing of storing the tablet 2 in the desired storage part 100A is delayed, and the tablet 2 is stored in a storage part 100F different from the desired storage part 100A.

[0158] For example, the vertical thickness of the first region 121 and the vertical thickness of the second region 122 are each from 0.1 millimeter (hereinafter abbreviated as "mm") to 10 mm. As described above, the vertical thickness of the first region 121 is thinner than the vertical thickness of the second region 122.

[0159] Also, for example, the thickness of the third side wall plate 1111 and the thickness of the fourth side wall plate 1112 are each from 0.1 mm to 10 mm. As described above, the thickness of the third side wall plate 1111 is thinner than the thickness of the fourth side wall plate 1112.

[0160] It is desirable that the vertical thickness of the first region 121 is thinner than the thickness of the third side wall plate 1111. The first region 121 having a vertical thickness thinner than the thickness of the third side wall plate 1111 is more easily elastically deformed than the third side wall plate 1111. Therefore, the edge portion 1211 included in the first region 121 is more easily elastically deformed than the third side wall plate 1111. Further, by providing the gap 13 directly below the edge portion 1211 of the first region 121, the edge portion 1211 becomes even more easily elastically deformed than in the case where the gap 13 is not provided.

[0161] Furthermore, for example, the vertical thickness of the fifth region 141 and the vertical thickness of the sixth region 142 are each from 0.1 mm to 10 mm. As described above, the vertical thickness of the fifth region 141 is thinner than the vertical thickness of the sixth region 142.

[0162] 〔Embodiment 2〕 FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the entirety of the drug dispensing device 1A according to Embodiment 2. As shown in FIG. 14, the drug dispensing device 1A includes a drug preparation unit 10A, a plurality of cassettes 20, a tablet passage path 30, a packaging unit 40, a tablet standby unit 50, a manual dispensing unit 60, a touch panel 70, and a control unit 80. The cassette 20 is a fixed cassette in which the type of tablet 2 to be accommodated is fixed. However, the drug dispensing device 1A may include a variable cassette as the cassette 20 in which the type of tablet 2 to be accommodated can be changed. Note that the drug preparation unit 10A is located below the tablet standby unit 50. Also, in FIG. 14, in order to illustrate the tablet standby unit 50, the drug dispensing device 1A in a state where the tablet standby unit 50 and the like are pulled out to the front side from their original positions is shown.

[0163] The control unit 80 is a control circuit that comprehensively controls the operation of the drug dispensing device 1A. Although the control unit 80 is arranged outside the drug dispensing device 1A for reasons of illustration, it may actually be built into the drug dispensing device 1A. The packaging unit 40, the manual dispensing unit 60, and the touch panel 70 will be described in another embodiment to be described later.

[0164] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the tablet standby unit 50. As shown in FIG. 15, the tablet standby unit 50 is for waiting for the tablet 2 until a single-dose tablet 2 is supplied from the cassette 20 via the tablet passage path 30, and includes a standby hopper 51, a movable lid 52, and a rib 53. The standby hopper 51 has an opening 51a at the center and is a funnel-shaped member that slopes downward toward the center. The movable lid 52 is a lid that opens and closes the opening 51a. The movable lid 52 opens and closes the opening 51a by moving up and down by an operating mechanism (not shown). When the opening 51a is closed, the tablet standby unit 50 causes the tablet 2 supplied from the cassette 20 to wait in the standby hopper 51. When the opening 51a is open, the tablet standby unit 50 supplies the tablet 2 that has been waiting in the standby hopper 51 from the opening 51a to the drug preparation unit 10A.

[0165] When the opening 51a is closed, the rib 53 is a partition for preventing the tablets 2 from rotating and moving along the circumferential direction of the standby hopper 51 inside the standby hopper 51. In the example shown in FIG. 15, four ribs 53 are provided at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the standby hopper 51 and the movable lid 52 between the standby hopper 51 and the movable lid 52. However, the number and position of the ribs 53 are not limited to this.

[0166] FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the rib 53. As shown in FIG. 16, slits 53a and 53b are formed near the upper part of the rib 53. The slit 53a is formed from the side of the rib 53 facing the standby hopper 51. The slit 53b is formed from the side of the rib 53 facing the movable lid 52. In FIG. 16, the slit 53a is formed longer than the slit 53b. However, if the rib 53 exhibits the effects described later, it may have slits with different arrangement positions, shapes, and numbers from the slits 53a and 53b.

[0167] By providing the slits 53a and 53b, the portion of the rib 53 above the slit 53a flexes when the tablet 2 collides with the upper end of the rib 53, thereby absorbing the impact caused by the collision of the tablet 2.

[0168] Here, if the tablet 2 supplied from the cassette 20 bounces above the tablet standby unit 50 due to a collision with the upper end of the rib 53, the timing for the tablet 2 to standby at the bottom of the tablet standby unit 50 will be delayed. After a predetermined time has elapsed after the control unit 80 discharges a pack of tablets 2 from the cassette 20 (after a time has elapsed when it can be determined that a pack of tablets 2 has been accommodated in the tablet standby unit 50), the control unit 80 operates the movable lid 52 to discharge the tablet 2 from the opening 51a to the drug preparation unit 10A. Therefore, while the tablet 2 is bouncing above the tablet standby unit 50, the movable lid 52 may operate and the opening 51a may open and close. As a result, there is a possibility that the tablet 2 that should be discharged from the tablet standby unit 50 to the drug preparation unit 10A at the timing of the opening and closing will not be discharged.

[0169] Therefore, the rib 53 absorbs the impact when the tablet 2 collides with the upper end by means of the slits 53a and 53b, and reduces the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces off due to the impact. Accordingly, the tablet standby section 50 has the effect of reducing the possibility that the tablet 2 bounces due to the impact of the collision with the rib 53 and that the tablet 2 that should be discharged from the tablet standby section 50 to the drug preparation section 10A at a desired timing fails to be discharged.

[0170] Note that the widths of the slits 53a and 53b may be set to such an extent that the above-described effects are achieved, and may be, for example, 1.5 mm or less. The width may be set in consideration of the material of the tablet standby section 50, the arrangement position of the slits, the number thereof, and the like.

[0171] In the example shown in FIG. 16, the rib 53 is a single member having the slits 53a and 53b. However, the rib 53 may have an upper member and a lower member that are arranged with a gap therebetween. The gap between the upper member and the lower member may also be set to 1.5 mm or less, for example. The upper member is movable by the amount of the gap with respect to the lower member when the tablet 2 collides. In this case, since the impact caused by the tablet 2 colliding with the upper member of the rib 53 is absorbed by the movement of the upper member, the same effect as that of the rib 53 having the slits 53a and 53b is achieved.

[0172] FIG. 17 is a top view of the drug preparation section 10A as viewed vertically from above. FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the drug preparation section 10A as viewed vertically from below. The drug preparation section 10A includes a partition forming body 11A instead of the partition forming body 11. Similar to the above-described partition forming body 11, the partition forming body 11A includes a storage section 100 with an open bottom. The drug preparation section 10A includes a bottom plate 14A instead of the bottom plate 14. Similar to the above-described bottom plate 14, the bottom plate 14A has a portion capable of closing the bottom of the storage section 100 and a supply port 1401 capable of supplying the tablets 2 held in the storage section 100 to the packaging section 40.

[0173] The drug preparation unit 10A, similar to the drug preparation unit 10, stores a plurality of tablets 2 in the plurality of storage units 100 one pack at a time and supplies them to the packaging unit 40 that packages one pack of tablets 2 in packaging paper. The drug preparation unit 10A supplies the tablets 2 stored in the storage unit 100 to the packaging unit 40 by the relative movement of the partitioning body 11A with respect to the bottom plate 14A. Specifically, with the bottom plate 14A stationary, the partitioning body 11A rotates around the shaft 16. However, in the drug preparation unit 10A, the bottom plate 14A may rotate around the shaft 16 with the partitioning body 11A stationary. In either case, the tablets 2 stored in the storage unit 100 move with respect to the bottom plate 14A and are supplied from the supply port 1401 (see FIG. 19) provided in the bottom plate 14A to the packaging unit 40.

[0174] FIG. 19 is a top view of the bottom plate 14A provided in the drug preparation unit 10A as viewed from directly above vertically. In FIG. 19, the region 15C is the region where the storage unit 100 faces, and is the region where the tablets 2 stored in the storage unit 100 can move along with the relative movement of the partitioning body 11A with respect to the bottom plate 14A. The region 15C is defined by the movement path along which the tablets 2 can move along with the relative movement, and may be a region having a width corresponding to the width of the supply port 1401 in the direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the drug preparation unit 10A. For example, when the width of the region between the grooves 15A and 15B corresponds to the width of the supply port 1401, the width of the region between the grooves 15A and 15B is equal to the width of the region 15C.

[0175] Unlike the bottom plate 14, the bottom plate 14A does not have a discharge port 15 on the movement path along which the tablets 2 move as the partitioning body 11 rotates. Annular grooves 15A and 15B are provided in the outer region of the region 15C on the bottom plate 14A. Specifically, the groove 15A is provided at a position farther from the shaft 16 than the region 15C. Also, the groove 15B is provided at a position closer to the shaft 16 than the region 15C. It can also be said that the region 15C is the inner region of the grooves 15A and 15B. The grooves 15A and 15B will be described later.

[0176] Note that the bottom plate 14A may have the fifth region 141 similar to the bottom plate 14. However, the fifth region 141 is not essential in the bottom plate 14A. Also, the first region 121 is not essential in the top plate 12 included in the drug preparation unit 10A. In addition, in the drug preparation unit 10A, a buffer region Ba included in the drug preparation unit 10, such as a gap 13 formed between the top plate 12 and the storage unit 100, is not essential.

[0177] FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the partition forming body 11A as viewed from vertically below. As shown in FIG. 20, the partition forming body 11A further includes a removal portion 18 in addition to the configuration of the partition forming body 11. The removal portion 18 is a block-shaped member disposed on the bottom surface of the partition forming body 11A. The removal portion 18 rotates around the shaft 16 integrally with the partition forming body 11A in a state of being in contact with the bottom plate 14A.

[0178] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the partition forming body 11A and the bottom plate 14A in a plan view. As shown in FIG. 21, the removal portion 18 is provided at a position facing the movement path (i.e., the region 15C) of the tablet 2 held in the storage unit 100. Further, the removal portion 18 is provided at the rear side of the storage unit 100 when the moving direction of the partition forming body 11A with respect to the bottom plate 14A (i.e., the moving direction of the tablet 2 held in the storage unit 100) is taken as the front side.

[0179] Also, in FIG. 21, a part of the removal portion 18 faces the groove 15A, and another part of the removal portion 18 faces the groove 15B. In this case, at least one of the powder and chips generated from the tablet 2 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as powder or the like) present in the region 15C can be guided along the removal portion 18 to the groove 15A or 15B. Therefore, the powder or the like can be more reliably accommodated in the groove 15A or 15B. Such powder or the like is generated, for example, by the collision of the tablet 2 against the wall surface during the process of passing through the tablet passage path 30, or the friction between the tablet 2 held in the storage unit 100 and the bottom plate 14.

[0180] In the drug preparation unit 10A, at least a part of the removal unit 18 may face the groove 15A or 15B in the vertical direction. In other words, at least a part of the removal unit 18 may be located vertically above the groove 15A or 15B. In this case, the removal unit 18 can guide the powder or the like existing in the region 15C along the removal unit 18 to the groove 15A or 15B. Therefore, the powder or the like can be more reliably accommodated in the groove 15A or 15B.

[0181] The removal unit 18 has a contact surface 18a with which the powder or the like comes into contact due to the relative movement of the partition forming body 11A with respect to the bottom plate 14A. The contact surface 18a may be inclined with respect to a straight line PL perpendicular to the movement path of the tablet 2 when the partition forming body 11A is viewed in plan from the bottom side of the storage unit 100. In the present embodiment, the straight line PL is a straight line perpendicular to the grooves 15A and 15B, which extends along the radial direction of the drug preparation unit 10A from the center of the drug preparation unit 10A. By inclining the contact surface 18a with respect to the straight line PL in this way, the powder or the like can be accurately removed to the outside of the region 15C.

[0182] In the present embodiment, the contact surface 18a is separated from the straight line PL toward the rear side in the rotational direction of the partition forming body 11A as it goes from the inside to the outside of the drug preparation unit 10A (that is, as it goes from the groove 15B side to the groove 15A side). Therefore, due to the relative movement of the partition forming body 11A with respect to the bottom plate 14A, the powder or the like discharged from the storage unit 100 comes into contact with the removal unit 18 and is pushed out to the groove 15A side or bounced off. Specifically, the angle formed by the contact surface 18a with respect to the straight line PL in the above plan view may be an angle greater than 0° and equal to or less than 4.5°. By making the above angle greater than 0°, the contact surface 18a can be directed toward the outer peripheral side of the drug preparation unit 10A, so that the possibility of pushing out or bouncing off the powder or the like to the outer peripheral side of the region 15C is increased. Also, 4.5° is the maximum angle when considering the positional relationship between the removal unit 18 and the peripheral components (e.g., the storage unit 100) in the drug preparation unit 10A. The closer the above angle is to the maximum angle, the more the possibility of pushing out or bouncing off the powder or the like to the outer peripheral side of the region 15C can be enhanced.

[0183] Note that the contact surface 18a may be spaced apart from the straight line PL on the rear side in the rotation direction of the partition forming body 11A from the outside to the inside of the drug preparation unit 10A (that is, as it goes from the groove 15A side to the groove 15B side). In this case, powders or the like discharged from the storage unit 100 are pushed out to the groove 15B side or bounced off by contacting the removal unit 18.

[0184] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a cross section of the drug preparation unit 10A in a plane parallel to the shaft 16. As shown in FIG. 22, in the drug preparation unit 10A, a gap 143 having a dimension that makes it difficult for the tablets 2 to pass through is formed between the storage unit 100 and the bottom plate 14A. The height of the gap 143 is, for example, in the range of 0.3 mm to 1 mm, and is appropriately adjusted during the manufacture of the drug dispensing device 1A according to the thickness of the tablets 2. Powders or the like are discharged from the storage unit 100 through the gap 143 by the relative movement of the partition forming body 11A with respect to the bottom plate 14A. The removal unit 18 removes powders or the like generated from the tablets 2 and discharged from the storage unit 100 by contacting the powders or the like by the relative movement of the partition forming body 11A with respect to the bottom plate 14A. Powders or the like that have contacted the removal unit 18 are pushed by the removal unit 18 or bounced off by the relative movement. Thereby, it becomes possible to remove powders or the like existing outside the storage unit 100 from the region 15C.

[0185] The removal unit 18 is made of a material having higher slidability with respect to the bottom plate 14A than the material of the partition forming body 11A. For example, the bottom surface of the partition forming body 11A is formed of aluminum, the side wall of the storage unit 100 is formed of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). Further, the removal unit 18 is formed of a polymer. Further, the bottom plate 14A is formed of POM (Polyoxymethylene). By configuring the removal unit 18 and the bottom plate 14A with such materials, wear of the removal unit 18 and the bottom plate 14A can be reduced.

[0186] The above-described grooves 15A and 15B are grooves for accommodating powder and the like removed by the removing portion 18. In the chemical preparation unit 10A, since the grooves 15A and 15B are provided in the bottom plate 14A, the possibility that powder and the like removed from the region 15C by the removing portion 18 is supplied from the supply port 1401 to the packaging unit 40 can be further reduced. When cleaning the grooves 15A and 15B that accommodate powder and the like, the bottom plate 14A may be removed and wiped dry. However, the grooves 15A and 15B are not essential in the chemical preparation unit 10A, and one or both of them may be omitted.

[0187] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the structure around the removing portion 18. As shown in FIG. 23, the partition forming body 11A includes a pressing portion 19 that presses the removing portion 18 against the bottom plate 14A. By pressing the removing portion 18 against the bottom plate 14A with the pressing portion 19, powder and the like present on the surface of the bottom plate 14A can be more reliably brought into contact with the removing portion 18.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 23, the pressing portion 19 includes a pin 19a that fixes the position of the removing portion 18 in a plan view, and a spring 19b (elastic member) that expands and contracts in the vertical direction. The removing portion 18 is movable relative to the pin 19a in the vertical direction. The spring 19b biases the removing portion 18 when the partition forming body 11A is attached to the bottom plate 14A. Therefore, the removing portion 18 can be more reliably pressed against the bottom plate 14A.

[0189] Note that the chemical preparation unit 10A does not necessarily need to include a plurality of storage units 100, and may include a single storage unit 100. Further, the partition forming body 11A does not necessarily need to rotate around the shaft 16. For example, the partition forming body 11A may be configured such that the storage unit 100 moves linearly along a predetermined axis within a region including the supply port 1401.

[0190] In addition, in the drug preparation unit 10A, there may be cases where the removal unit 18 cannot completely remove powder or the like from the region 15C. However, in such cases, the powder or the like on the region 15C that is pushed or bounced off by the removal unit 18 will be packaged in the same packaging paper as the tablet 2 which is the source of the powder or the like. Therefore, when the drug preparation unit 10A includes a plurality of storage units 100, it is possible to reduce the possibility that powder or the like generated from the tablets 2 accommodated in a certain storage unit 100 will mix into the packaging paper of the tablets 2 accommodated in another storage unit 100 and be packaged together.

[0191] In addition, the drug preparation unit 10A does not necessarily need to be realized by the above-described block as the removal unit 18. For example, the drug preparation unit 10A may include a suction mechanism that sucks powder or the like as the removal unit 18 instead of the above-described block. Even with such a removal unit 18, it is possible to remove powder or the like existing outside the storage unit 100 in the region 15C from the region 15C. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the grooves 15A and 15B in the bottom plate 14A.

[0192] 〔Embodiment 3〕 The rotation of the partition forming body 11A in the drug preparation unit 10A will be described below. Note that the following description is also applicable to the rotation of the partition forming body 11 in the drug preparation unit 10. Also, in the present embodiment, the partition forming body 11A is described as rotating with respect to the bottom plate 14, but the same description can be made even if the bottom plate 14 rotates with respect to the partition forming body 11A.

[0193] In the drug preparation unit 10A, the partition forming body 11A rotates by 60 degrees around the axis 16. That is, stop positions are provided every 60 degrees for the rotation of the partition forming body 11A. However, this angle is just an example and may be appropriately changed according to the number of storage units 100 that the drug preparation unit 10A has.

[0194] At the stop position of the partition forming body 11A, the bottom of any of the storage parts 100 is located at a position on the bottom plate 14 that does not correspond to the supply port 1401. While the partition forming body 11A rotates 60 degrees from one stop position to the next stop position, the bottom of any of the storage parts 100 passes through a position corresponding to the supply port 1401, whereby the tablet 2 passes through the supply port 1401. Thereby, the tablet 2 can be supplied from the storage part 100 to the packaging part 40.

[0195] In the present embodiment, the control unit 80 temporarily stops the rotation of the partition forming body 11 at the timing when the bottom of any of the storage parts 100 passes through a position corresponding to the supply port 1401. If the partition forming body 11 does not temporarily stop rotating at the timing when the bottom of any of the storage parts 100 passes through a position corresponding to the supply port 1401, the following situations may occur. That is, due to the rotation of the partition forming body 11, before all the tablets 2 held in the storage part 100 are supplied to the supply port 1401, the bottom of the storage part 100 moves to a position that does not correspond to the supply port 1401. In other words, the tablets 2 held in the storage part 100 pass over the supply port 1401 without falling from the supply port 1401. As a result, there is a possibility that the tablets 2 to be packaged remain in the storage part 100 and are not packaged. Also, after the partition forming body 11 makes one full rotation, the tablets 2 remaining in the storage part 100 may be supplied to the supply port 1401, resulting in packaging that is different from the prescription.

[0196] Therefore, the control unit 80 temporarily stops the rotation of the partition forming body 11 at the timing when any of the storage parts 100 passes through a position corresponding to the supply port 1401. Thereby, the partition forming body 11 can achieve the effect of reducing the possibility of a situation where the tablets 2 to be packaged remain in the storage part 100 and are not packaged, and a situation where packaging different from the prescription is performed.

[0197] In the partition forming body 11, the rotation speed from the stop position until any one of the storage units 100 reaches the position corresponding to the supply port 1401 is defined as the first rotation speed. Further, after any one of the storage units 100 reaches the position corresponding to the supply port 1401 and the rotation is temporarily stopped, the rotation speed from the resumption of rotation until reaching the next stop position is defined as the second rotation speed. At this time, the first rotation speed is preferably set to a speed slower than the second rotation speed.

[0198] When the partition forming body 11 temporarily stops rotating at the timing when the storage unit 100 passes through the position corresponding to the supply port 1401, the tablets 2 accommodated in the storage unit 100 may collide with each other, and the tablets 2 may bounce significantly. Such a phenomenon particularly occurs when there are large tablets 2 and small tablets 2 in the storage unit 100. Specifically, when the large tablet 2 collides with the small tablet 2, the small tablet 2 is bounced off and jumps significantly. Further, before the tablet 2 falls again to the bottom surface of the storage unit 100, the partition forming body 11 resumes rotation, and there is a possibility that the tablet 2 does not pass through the supply port 1401.

[0199] By setting the first rotation speed to be slower than the second rotation speed, the upward bounce of the tablet 2 when the rotation of the partition forming body 11 is temporarily stopped can be reduced. Therefore, the possibility that the tablet 2 is not supplied to the supply port 1401 due to the upward bounce can be reduced. Also, by setting the second rotation speed to be faster than the first rotation speed, while reducing the above possibility, the number of times the tablet 2 is supplied from the storage unit 100 to the packaging unit 40 via the supply port 1401 per unit time can be increased. That is, the number of tablets 2 packaged per unit time can be increased.

[0200] 〔Embodiment 4〕 For each of the plurality of cassettes 20, the medicine dispensing device 1A holds information on the expiration date of the tablets 2 contained therein and the expiration date arbitrarily determined by the user for the tablets 2 contained therein. Even for tablets 2 of the same type, if the expiration date or the expiration date for use is different, they are stored in different cassettes 20. The expiration date for use is generally set to a date earlier than the expiration date, but it is not limited to this.

[0201] When dispensing the tablets 2, the control unit 80 determines whether the expiration date or the expiration date for use of each cassette 20 containing the tablets 2 is the same as or later than the last day of the period for which taking is scheduled (the last taking day). Regarding which of the expiration date or the expiration date for use to determine, the user of the medicine dispensing device 1A may arbitrarily set it by an input operation.

[0202] The information indicating the period for which taking is scheduled is included in the prescription data transmitted from a dispensing instruction device (not shown) to the medicine dispensing device 1A. However, the prescription data may be read into the medicine dispensing device 1A by a two-dimensional code described on a prescription. Also, the prescription data may be input into the medicine dispensing device 1A manually by the user, for example, via the touch panel 70. The taking date may be calculated by the control unit 80 based on the said information.

[0203] The dispensing instruction device creates prescription data indicating the prescription content input by the user and including information on the medicine to be dispensed from at least one medicine dispensing device communicably connected to the dispensing instruction device. The dispensing instruction device transmits the created prescription data to the medicine dispensing device that dispenses the medicine indicated by the prescription data. In the present embodiment, the dispensing instruction device is communicably connected to the medicine dispensing device 1A, creates prescription data including information on the tablets 2 to be dispensed from the medicine dispensing device 1A, and transmits it to the medicine dispensing device 1A. The medicine dispensing device 1A dispenses the tablets 2 based on the received prescription data.

[0204] The control unit 80 supplies the tablet 2 from the cassette 20 to the tablet standby unit 50 only when the expiration date or the use-by date of the tablet 2 is the same as or later than the last day of taking the tablet 2. Thereby, the drug dispensing device 1A can dispense the tablet 2 within the expiration date or the use-by date. That is, the drug dispensing device 1A can package the tablet 2 in consideration of the time of taking the tablet 2 to be taken by the patient. Therefore, the possibility of passing the tablet 2 whose expiration date or use-by date has passed to the patient can be reduced.

[0205] When there are a plurality of cassettes 20 of the same drug type in which the expiration date or the use-by date of the tablet 2 is the same as or later than the last day of taking the tablet 2, the drug dispensing device 1A supplies the tablet 2 from the cassette 20 whose expiration date or use-by date is the closest in time to the tablet standby unit 50 for the period scheduled for taking. Thereby, the drug dispensing device 1A can dispense from the tablet 2 whose expiration date or use-by date is the closest in time for the period scheduled for taking. However, if this point is not considered, the control unit 80 may specify any of the plurality of cassettes 20 in which the expiration date or the use-by date of the tablet 2 is the same as or later than the last day of taking the tablet 2 as the cassette 20 for dispensing the tablet 2.

[0206] When there is no cassette 20 in which the expiration date or the use-by date of the tablet 2 is the same as or later than the last day of taking the tablet 2, the drug dispensing device 1A supplies the tablet 2 scattered using the scattering unit 60 described later to the tablet standby unit 50.

[0207] Here, an example of the determination of whether the tablet 2 can be dispensed in the comparison between the expiration date and the last day of taking will be described. For example, · The expiration date of the tablet 2 stored in the cassette 20 with the cassette number No. 1 is March 19, 2021, · The expiration date of the tablet 2 stored in the cassette 20 with the cassette number No. 2 is March 23, 2021, · The expiration date of the tablet 2 stored in the cassette 20 with the cassette number No. 3 is March 26, 2021, Let's assume that.

[0208] For example, when the final dosing date is March 19, 2021, the expiration dates of the tablets 2 stored in the cassettes 20 with cassette numbers No. 1 to No. 3 are the same as or later than the final dosing date. Therefore, the control unit 80 can identify the cassettes 20 with cassette numbers No. 1 to No. 3 as the dispensing targets for the tablets 2. In this embodiment, however, the cassette 20 with cassette number No. 1, which has the expiration date or use-by date closest in time to the period for which dosing is scheduled, is identified as the cassette 20 for dispensing the tablets 2.

[0209] Also, for example, when the final dosing date is March 22, 2021, the control unit 80 can identify the cassettes 20 with cassette numbers No. 2 to No. 3 as the dispensing targets for the tablets 2. In this embodiment, however, the cassette 20 with cassette number No. 2, which has the expiration date or use-by date closest in time to the period for which dosing is scheduled, is identified as the cassette 20 for dispensing the tablets 2.

[0210] The manual dispensing unit 60 is a unit for the user to manually dispense the tablets 2. The manual dispensing unit 60 includes a plurality of compartments 61 into which the tablets 2 are manually dispensed, and indicators 62 corresponding to each of the plurality of compartments 61. The indicator 62 is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0211] The touch panel 70 is an input / output device for the control unit 80 to display information to the user and for the user to input information to the drug dispensing device 1A. For example, the control unit 80 causes an image for the user to input information about the tablets 2 to be dispensed to be displayed on the touch panel 70. The user inputs information about the tablets 2 to be dispensed (information associating the tablets 2 to be dispensed with the compartment 61 that houses the tablets 2) with respect to the image displayed on the touch panel 70. The drug dispensing device 1A displays an image indicating the compartment 61 that houses the tablets 2 and lights up the indicator 62 corresponding to the compartment 61 according to the input information. Therefore, the user can dispense the tablets 2 into the appropriate compartment 61.

[0212] When the user manually scatters the tablet 2 onto the manual scattering unit 60, the control unit 80 may accept an input of information indicating the expiration date of the tablet 2 to be manually scattered. For example, when the control unit 80 accepts an input of the GS1 code assigned to the tablet 2 to be manually scattered, it compares the expiration date of the tablet 2 indicated by the GS1 code with the last day of taking the medicine.

[0213] The GS1 code is an example of information for specifying the type and expiration date of the tablet 2, and is printed on the PTP sheet or outer box of the tablet 2 to be manually scattered. The medicine dispensing device 1A includes, for example, a reading unit 75 (see FIG. 14) that reads the GS1 code, and the control unit 80 accepts an input of the GS1 code via the reading unit 75. For example, when the GS1 code is printed on a PTP sheet or the like in barcode format, the reading unit 75 may be a barcode reader.

[0214] When the control unit 80 determines that the expiration date of the tablet 2 to be manually scattered is the same as or later than the last day of taking the medicine, it permits the acceptance of the manual scattering of the tablet 2 for all scheduled taking dates. That is, the control unit 80 displays a section 61 for accepting the tablet 2 until the last day of taking the medicine on the touch panel 70 and lights up an indicator 62 corresponding to the section 61. Thereafter, when the control unit 80 accepts an instruction indicating that the tablet 2 is accommodated in all the sections 61 for accepting the tablet 2 via, for example, the touch panel 70, it causes the packaging unit 40 to package the manually scattered tablet 2.

[0215] When the control unit 80 determines that the expiration date of the tablet 2 is earlier than the last day of taking the medicine, it permits the acceptance of the manual scattering of the tablet 2 to be manually scattered only for the scheduled taking dates until the expiration date. Thereafter, when the control unit 80 accepts an instruction indicating that the tablet 2 is accommodated in all the sections 61 for accepting the tablet 2 via, for example, the touch panel 70, it causes the packaging unit 40 to package the manually scattered tablet 2.

[0216] For a period after the expiration date of the tablet 2 that the user is about to dispense, the control unit 80 requests the user to dispense another tablet 2 of the same drug type. However, if the expiration date of the tablet 2 is before the final day of administration, the control unit 80 does not accept the dispensing of the tablet 2 that the user is about to dispense at all, and may request the user to dispense another tablet 2 whose expiration date is the same as or after the final day of administration.

[0217] The control unit 80 performs the above determination for another tablet 2 as well. As a result, the user can be made to dispense the tablet 2 within the expiration date as the tablet 2 until the final day of administration. Also, for all the tablets 2 to be dispensed, until those within the expiration date are dispensed until the final day of administration, the control unit 80 sets the collation result as inappropriate and does not cause the packaging unit 40 to perform packaging. However, the control unit 80 may have a function to skip the above determination based on the user's input. By having this function, the control unit 80 can accept the dispensing of even a tablet 2 without a GS1 code. In this case, the user may confirm the expiration date of the tablet 2.

[0218] 〔Embodiment 5〕 The packaging unit 40 is a device that packages the tablet 2 with packaging paper. The packaging unit 40 has a supply device that supplies the packaging paper. The supply device has the packaging paper mounted in the state of a roll paper. The roll paper is formed by winding a strip-shaped packaging paper (wrapping paper) around a tubular core member into a roll shape. The roll paper of the present embodiment is formed by winding the packaging paper that has become strip-shaped in a double-folded state into a roll shape. However, the roll paper mounted on the packaging unit 40 is not limited to this.

[0219] In addition, the subcontracting unit 40 has a printing mechanism (not shown). In the subcontracting unit 40, the subcontracting paper fed out from the roll paper is introduced into the printing mechanism. The printing mechanism prints information such as, for example, the patient's name, the name of the tablet 2, and the administration time (date and time of administration) (information related to the prescription and information related to the provided tablet 2) on the subcontracting paper. Thereafter, the subcontracting paper printed with this information is opened upward. And in that state, it receives the tablet 2 that has fallen (been supplied) from the supply port 1401.

[0220] Furthermore, the subcontracting unit 40 has a sealing mechanism (not shown). In the subcontracting unit 40, the subcontracting paper that has received the tablet 2 is introduced into the sealing mechanism. The sealing mechanism sequentially packages the received tablet 2 by sealing the subcontracting paper that has received the tablet 2 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The horizontal direction is the feeding direction (delivery direction) of the subcontracting paper. Also, the vertical direction is the direction that intersects (is orthogonal to) the feeding direction of the subcontracting paper. As a result, a sub-packaged product containing one dose of the tablet 2 is formed. Furthermore, the subcontracting unit 40 has a conveying mechanism that conveys the sub-packaged product to the outside of the subcontracting unit 40.

[0221] The conveying mechanism of the subcontracting unit 40 conveys the sub-packaged product to the outside of the subcontracting unit 40 in a state of a group of sub-packaged products connected in multiple packages. However, the conveying mechanism may convey one or a plurality of individual sub-packaged products to the outside of the subcontracting unit 40.

[0222] Further, an identifier may be provided to the core member of the roll paper described above. The identifier is, for example, a memory element that stores information capable of individually identifying the roll paper. Examples of information capable of individually identifying the roll paper include, for example, information regarding the manufacturer of the roll paper (such as the manufacturer name), information regarding the manufacturing date, or the type of roll paper wound around the core member. Further, as another example of information capable of individually identifying the roll paper, the order number of the roll paper, the shipping date, the customer information of the delivery destination, the model name of the subcontracting unit 40 to which the roll paper is attached, the model code, or other ID (Identification), etc. may be mentioned. Specific examples of such an identifier include a memory such as an IC tag. Further, the identifier may be a code such as a one-dimensional code (barcode) or a two-dimensional code. When a code is adopted as the identifier, the identifier may be attached to the label of the roll paper.

[0223] When the roll paper is attached to the subcontracting unit 40, the control unit 80 may determine whether the roll paper is correctly attached to the subcontracting unit 40. Further, the identifier may store information for identifying that the roll paper is unused. In this case, when the roll paper is attached to the subcontracting unit 40, the control unit 80 may determine whether the roll paper is unused.

[0224] Furthermore, the identifier may store information regarding the remaining amount of the wrapping paper. In this case, during the wrapping operation of wrapping the tablets 2 by the subcontracting unit 40, the control unit 80 may cause the identifier to store the remaining amount of the wrapping paper. Further, after the completion of the wrapping operation by the subcontracting unit 40, the control unit 80 may cause the identifier to store the remaining amount of the wrapping paper. That is, the control unit 80 may cause the identifier to store information regarding the remaining amount of the wrapping paper at an arbitrary timing during the wrapping operation by the subcontracting unit 40.

[0225] In addition, the subcontracting unit 40 has a forward subcontracting function of subcontracting the subcontracted products in a state where the subcontracted products are arranged in the order of taking the tablets 2. Further, the subcontracting unit 40 has a reverse subcontracting function of subcontracting the subcontracted products in a state where the subcontracted products are arranged in the reverse order of taking the tablets 2. The subcontracted product is a medicine package in which the tablets 2 are contained by a subcontracting paper.

[0226] For example, consider the case of subcontracting the tablets 2 taken three times a day, in the morning, at noon, and at night. In the forward subcontracting function, the subcontracting unit 40 subcontracts the tablets 2 in the order of the morning dose, the noon dose, and the night dose in order from the first day of the dosing period. On the other hand, in the reverse subcontracting function, the subcontracting unit 40 subcontracts the tablets 2 in the order of the night dose, the noon dose, and the morning dose in order from the last day of the dosing period.

[0227] When subcontracting a plurality of types of tablets 2 as the same subcontracted product, depending on the combination of the types of tablets 2, there may be a pharmaceutical change between those tablets. Examples of pharmaceutical changes include coloring or discoloration. In order to avoid such changes, there may be a case where a plurality of types of tablets 2 with the same patient, dosing date, and dosing time are subcontracted as a plurality of different subcontracted products.

[0228] Normally, the subcontracting unit 40 prints information about the tablets 2 contained in the subcontracted product only on one surface of the subcontracted product. For this reason, there may be a case where a plurality of subcontracted products with the same patient, dosing date, and dosing time are crimped using a crimping machine with the surfaces on which the information is printed facing outward. Specifically, among a plurality of groups of subcontracted products with the same patient, dosing date, and dosing time, any one is set as a base subcontracted product group. Then, other subcontracted product groups with the same patient, dosing date, and dosing time are superimposed on the surface of the base subcontracted product group where the information is not printed in a state where the surface on which the information is not printed faces the base subcontracted product group side and crimped.

[0229] When a plurality of sub-packaged product groups are all sub-packaging tablet 2 in a consecutive state according to the order of administration, in order to perform the above-mentioned crimping, it is necessary to individually separate the sub-packaged products and then perform crimping for each sub-packaged product with the same patient, administration date, administration time, etc. For this reason, since the operation of separating occurs and the number of crimping increases, it takes an enormous amount of working time and labor.

[0230] In this embodiment, the control unit 80 causes the sub-packaging unit 40 to sub-package only, for example, the base sub-packaged product group among a plurality of sub-packaged product groups with the same patient, administration date, administration time, etc. by the forward sub-packaging function, and causes the other sub-packaged product groups to be sub-packaged by the reverse sub-packaging function. When the control unit 80 receives an instruction to sub-package the tablet 2 prescribed for a certain patient using the reverse sub-packaging function, for example, via the touch panel 70, the control unit 80 causes the sub-packaging unit 40 to sub-package the tablet 2 using the forward sub-packaging function and the reverse sub-packaging function as described above. As a result, even in a state where the sub-packaged products are consecutive, the base sub-packaged product group and the other sub-packaged product groups can be crimped with the surfaces on the side opposite to the printed surface facing each other so that the administration times correspond between the base sub-packaged product group and the other sub-packaged product groups. For this reason, since the operation of separating does not occur and the number of crimping decreases, the working time and labor are reduced.

[0231] Also, in the sub-packaged product group crimped in this way, the printed surfaces of both the base sub-packaged product group and the other sub-packaged product groups can be visually recognized with the top and bottom being the same. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether all the crimped sub-packaged products belong to the patient and whether the administration dates and times are the same.

[0232] Also, the sub-packaging content (the type or number of tablet 2 to be sub-packaged) may be different for each administration time. In other words, the sub-packaging content may be uneven. When the tablet 2 with uneven sub-packaging content is manually scattered by the manual scattering unit 60, since the tablet 2 scattered for each partition 61 is different, there is a possibility of scattering errors. Such scattering errors are particularly likely to occur when the user refers to an instruction manual in which the types and numbers of the tablet 2 to be manually scattered are described in the order of administration and manually scatters the tablet 2 in the reverse order of the description.

[0233] Therefore, the control unit 80 determines whether the sub-packaging content is uneven among a plurality of sub-packaged products. When the control unit 80 determines that the sub-packaging content is uneven, it causes a printer (not shown) to print an instruction sheet listing the types and quantities of the tablets 2 to be scattered in the reverse order of the taking order, or displays the content of the instruction sheet on the touch panel 70. By having the user scatter the tablets 2 in accordance with the order of the instruction sheet, the possibility of scattering errors can be reduced.

[0234] In addition, when the number of sub-packaged products is different between the base sub-packaged product group and other sub-packaged product groups, the sub-packaging unit 40 may add empty packages that do not contain the tablets 2 to the sub-packaged product group with the smaller number to make the number of sub-packaged products match.

[0235] In this case, the control unit 80 determines whether the number of sub-packaged products matches between the generated base sub-packaged product group and other sub-packaged product groups. That is, the control unit 80 determines whether the taking times included in the prescription content for generating the base sub-packaged product group match the taking times included in the prescription content for generating other sub-packaged product groups. When the control unit 80 determines that the number of sub-packaged products does not match between the generated base sub-packaged product group and other sub-packaged product groups, based on the above two prescription contents, it determines the position where the empty package is to be added in the sub-packaged product group with the smaller number of sub-packaged products. Then, when generating the sub-packaged product group with the smaller number of sub-packaged products, the control unit 80 adds an empty package at the determined position. That is, the control unit 80 adds an empty package at a position corresponding to the taking time that exists in the prescription content for generating the sub-packaged product group with the larger number of sub-packaged products but does not exist in the prescription content for generating the sub-packaged product group with the smaller number of sub-packaged products in the sub-packaged product group with the smaller number of sub-packaged products.

[0236] For example, consider a case where the tablets 2 included in the base sub-packaged product group are to be taken in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and the tablets 2 included in other sub-packaged product groups are to be taken only in the morning and evening. In this case, for other sub-packaged product groups, the sub-packaging unit 40 sub-packages the tablets 2 so that an empty package is in a continuous state between the sub-packaged product containing the tablets 2 to be taken in the morning and the sub-packaged product containing the tablets 2 to be taken in the evening.

[0237] Thus, even when the number of sub-packaged products is different between the base sub-packaged product group to be generated and other sub-packaged product groups, or even when the sub-packaged products remain in a continuous state, the base sub-packaged product group and other sub-packaged product groups can be crimped so that the taking times correspond between the base sub-packaged product group and other sub-packaged product groups.

[0238] 〔Embodiment 6〕 A case where the drug dispensing device 1A pre-packages the tablets 2 stored in the cassette 20 (when performing pre-packaging for sub-packaging) will be described. In this case, the control unit 80 performs sub-packaging for pre-packaging based on the drug information received from a dispensing instruction device (not shown).

[0239] In the above-described dispensing instruction device, when receiving an instruction to perform pre-packaging by the drug dispensing device 1A, the dispensing instruction device transmits the drug information for pre-packaging to the drug dispensing device 1A. The drug information for pre-packaging includes, for example, information for specifying the type of the tablets 2 to be pre-packaged (e.g., information included in the GS1 code), and information indicating the number of tablets per package. The drug information for pre-packaging includes, as information indicating the printing content on the drug package, in addition to the information indicating the number of tablets per package, the tablet name. Further, the drug information for pre-packaging may include the usage method of the tablets 2. However, the dispensing instruction device does not transmit information included in normal prescription data (e.g., the number of drug packages for packaging the tablets 2, a fraction indicating the number of times of taking per day, information such as the number of days of taking). Note that the drug information for pre-packaging and the instruction to perform pre-packaging for sub-packaging may be input on the touch panel 70.

[0240] When the control unit 80 receives the drug information for pre-packaging, it identifies the cassette 20 that stores the tablets 2 indicated by the drug information, and causes the sub-packaging unit 40 to sub-package the tablets 2 from the cassette 20. At this time, the control unit 80 sub-packages by the number of tablets per package indicated by the drug information for pre-packaging. The control unit 80 causes the sub-packaging unit 40 to perform sub-packaging until the tablets 2 are out of stock.

[0241] The control unit 80 manages the number of tablets 2 stored in each cassette 20. When the control unit 80 determines that the number of tablets 2 stored in the cassette 20 containing the tablets 2 to be pre - prepared has become 0 (out of stock), without specifying that it is an error state where the tablets 2 cannot be sub - packed due to out - of - stock, the control unit 80 ends the sub - packing operation by the sub - packing unit 40. The control unit 80 may notify, via, for example, the touch panel 70, that the sub - packing of the tablets 2 to be pre - prepared is completed instead of notifying that the cassette 20 is out of stock.

[0242] Through the above - mentioned processing, considering the number of sub - packs, the burden on the user for creating a prescription for pre - preparation and sub - packing can be reduced.

[0243] Note that instead of the cassette 20 (fixed cassette), the tablets 2 to be pre - prepared may be dispensed from a variable cassette. In this case, the drug information for pre - preparation includes the size information of the drug. Also, when the control unit 80 receives the drug information for pre - preparation, it displays, for example, on the touch panel 70, information indicating that the tablets 2 to be pre - prepared should be put into the variable cassette. After the user puts the tablets 2 into the variable cassette, when an instruction to start sub - packing is received via, for example, the touch panel 70, the sub - packing unit 40 sub - packs the tablets 2 to be pre - prepared until the variable cassette is out of stock.

[0244] For the medicine bottle of the tablets 2 that are not individually packaged (loose tablets) (whether new or in use), simply putting the tablets 2 in the medicine bottle into the variable cassette can easily create pre - preparation for the number of tablets put in.

[0245] 〔Example of Realization by Software〕 The function of the drug dispensing device 1A is a program for causing a computer to function as the device, and can be realized by a program for causing a computer to function as each control block (particularly the control unit 80) of the device. In this case, the above device includes a computer having at least one control device (for example, a processor) and at least one storage device (for example, a memory) as hardware for executing the above program. By executing the above program with this control device and storage device, each function described in the above embodiments is realized.

[0246] The above program may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media, which are not temporary. This recording medium may or may not be provided in the above device. In the latter case, the above program may be supplied to the above device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0247] Also, part or all of the functions of each of the above control blocks can also be realized by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit functioning as each of the above control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present disclosure. In addition to this, for example, it is also possible to realize the functions of each of the above control blocks by a quantum computer.

[0248] [Others] The drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a drug preparation unit in a drug dispensing device that stores the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path one by one in each of a plurality of storage units and supplies the tablets of one dose to a packaging unit that packages the tablets of one dose in packaging paper. A buffer region is formed, which is a region that elastically deforms to mitigate impact when it collides with the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path. The plurality of storage units are formed inside the outer periphery along the outer periphery of a partition forming body, and a top plate facing the outlet of the tablet passage path is provided vertically above the partition forming body. Each of the plurality of storage units is configured to be able to receive the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path through each of a plurality of openings provided in the top plate. A gap is provided between the top plate and the side wall of the storage unit to facilitate elastic deformation when the edge portion of the top plate forming the opening collides with the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path.

[0249] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the buffer region may be formed on the top plate.

[0250] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the top plate includes a first region, which is a region that can collide with the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path, and a second region, which is a region other than the first region. The first region and the second region are formed of the same material, and by making the vertical thickness of the first region thinner than the vertical thickness of the second region, the first region may be formed as the buffer region.

[0251] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the gap may be provided between the top plate and a side wall plate that constitutes the side wall of the storage unit.

[0252] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the vertical width of the gap may be a dimension through which the tablets cannot pass.

[0253] In the medicine preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the partition forming body rotates about an axis in the vertical direction, and the tablet is discharged through the tablet passage between (A) a side wall of a desired storage portion among the plurality of storage portions, which is a rear side wall with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body, and (B) a side wall of a storage portion immediately before the desired storage portion with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body, which is a rear side wall with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body. The gap may be provided between a front side wall of the side wall of the storage portion with respect to the rotation direction of the partition forming body and the top plate surface.

[0254] In the medicine preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, at least a part of the side wall of the storage portion is an inclined wall inclined such that the area of the horizontal plane surrounded by the side wall of the storage portion decreases as it goes downward in the vertical direction, and the buffer region may be formed in the inclined wall.

[0255] In the medicine preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the inclined wall may be formed as the buffer region by making the thickness of a third side wall plate, which is a side wall plate constituting the inclined wall, thinner than the thickness of a fourth side wall plate, which is a side wall plate constituting the side wall of the storage portion other than the inclined wall.

[0256] In the medicine preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom of the storage portion in the partition forming body is open, and a bottom plate surface constituting the bottoms of the plurality of storage portions is provided substantially vertically below the partition forming body. By rotating the partition forming body relative to the bottom plate surface about an axis in the vertical direction, the tablet retained in the storage portion is supplied from a supply port, which is an opening provided in the bottom plate surface, to the packaging portion, and the buffer region may be formed in the bottom plate surface.

[0257] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom plate includes a fifth region that is a region where the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path can collide with the tablets, and a sixth region that is a region other than the fifth region. The fifth region and the sixth region are formed of the same material, and by making the vertical thickness of the fifth region thinner than the vertical thickness of the sixth region, the fifth region may be formed as the buffer region.

[0258] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the side walls of the storage unit may be planar.

[0259] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom of the storage unit in the partition forming body is open, and a bottom plate constituting the bottoms of the plurality of storage units is provided substantially vertically below the partition forming body. By rotating the partition forming body relative to the bottom plate about an axis in the vertical direction, the tablets stored in the storage unit are supplied from a supply port, which is an opening provided in the bottom plate, to the sub-packaging unit. At least one of the side wall of the storage unit and the bottom plate may be provided with a discharge port having a size that can discharge powder generated from the tablets and through which the tablets cannot pass.

[0260] The pharmaceutical preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a pharmaceutical preparation unit in a pharmaceutical dispensing device that stores the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path one package at a time in each of a plurality of storage units and supplies the tablets of one package to a packaging unit that packages the tablets in packaging paper. The plurality of storage units are formed along the outer periphery and include a partition forming body that rotates about a vertical axis, and a top plate that is located vertically above the partition forming body and faces the outlet of the tablet passage path. The top plate includes a region that receives the tablets discharged from the tablet passage path before one of the plurality of storage units comes to a position facing the outlet of the tablet passage path. Each of the plurality of storage units is configured to be able to receive the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path through each of a plurality of openings provided in the top plate. A gap is provided between the top plate and the side wall of the storage unit to facilitate elastic deformation of an edge portion of the top plate that forms the opening and is a part of the region when the edge portion collides with the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path.

[0261] The pharmaceutical preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a pharmaceutical preparation unit in a pharmaceutical dispensing device that stores the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path one package at least in one storage unit and supplies the tablets of one package to a packaging unit that packages the tablets in packaging paper. The pharmaceutical preparation unit includes a partition forming body in which the storage unit with an open bottom is formed, and a bottom plate provided vertically below the partition forming body and relatively movable with respect to the partition forming body. The bottom plate has a portion capable of closing the bottom of the storage unit and an opening capable of supplying the tablets stored in the storage unit to the packaging unit. The pharmaceutical preparation unit further includes a removing unit that removes at least one of powder and fragments generated from the tablets from a region along the movement path of the tablets on the bottom plate in the storage unit and having a width corresponding to the width of the opening in a direction perpendicular to the movement path.

[0262] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the removal unit is provided at a position facing the movement path in the partition forming body, and is provided on the rear side of the storage unit when the movement direction of the partition forming body with respect to the bottom plate is defined as the front side. A gap having a dimension through which the tablets hardly pass is formed between the storage unit and the bottom plate. The removal unit may remove at least one of the powder and chips from the storage unit through the gap by contacting at least one of the powder and chips discharged from the storage unit through the gap due to the relative movement of the partition forming body with respect to the bottom plate to the outside of the region.

[0263] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the removal unit has a contact surface with which at least one of the powder and chips comes into contact due to the relative movement. The contact surface may be inclined with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the movement path when the partition forming body is viewed in plan from the bottom side of the storage unit.

[0264] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the partition forming body moves relative to the bottom plate by rotating relative to the bottom plate about an axis in the vertical direction. The removal unit may remove at least one of the powder and chips that have come into contact due to the relative rotation of the partition forming body with respect to the bottom plate to the outside of the region.

[0265] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, at least one groove for accommodating at least one of the powder and chips removed by the removal unit may be provided in the outer region of the region on the bottom plate.

[0266] A part of the removal unit may face the groove.

[0267] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a pressing unit for pressing the removal unit against the bottom plate may be provided.

[0268] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the pressing portion includes an elastic member that expands and contracts in the vertical direction, and the elastic member may bias the removing portion in a state where the partition forming body is attached to the bottom plate.

[0269] Also, one aspect of the present invention aims to suppress the tablet discharged through the tablet passage path from bouncing due to the impact of collision with the drug preparation unit in a drug dispensing device.

[0270] Another aspect of the present invention aims to reduce the possibility that at least one of the powder and fragments of the tablets stored in the storage portion is sub-packaged.

[0271] A drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present invention is a drug preparation unit in a drug dispensing device that stores the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path one by one in each of a plurality of storage portions and supplies the tablets of one pack to a sub-packaging unit that sub-packages the tablets of one pack into a sub-packaging paper. When colliding with the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path, a buffer region is formed, which is a region that elastically deforms to mitigate the impact.

[0272] Also, a drug preparation unit according to another aspect of the present invention is a drug preparation unit in a drug dispensing device that stores the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path in at least one storage portion in one pack and supplies the tablets of one pack to a sub-packaging unit that sub-packages the tablets of one pack into a sub-packaging paper. It includes a partition forming body in which the storage portion with an open bottom is formed, and a bottom plate provided vertically below the partition forming body and moving relative to the partition forming body. The bottom plate has a portion capable of closing the bottom of the storage portion and an opening capable of supplying the tablets stored in the storage portion to the sub-packaging unit. And a removing portion that removes at least one of the powder and fragments generated from the tablets from a region along the movement path of the tablets on the bottom plate of the storage portion and having a width corresponding to the width of the opening in a direction perpendicular to the movement path.

[0273] According to one aspect of the present invention, in a drug dispensing device, there is an effect that it is possible to suppress the tablets discharged through the tablet passage path from bouncing due to the impact of collision with the drug preparation unit.

[0274] Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to reduce the possibility that at least one of the powder and fragments of the tablets retained in the storage unit is sub-packaged.

[0275] Also, a drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a drug preparation unit in a drug dispensing device that supplies tablets discharged through a tablet passage path to a sub-packaging unit that stores one package of the tablets in at least one storage unit and sub-packages the tablets of one package into sub-packaging paper. The drug preparation unit includes a partition forming body in which the storage unit with an open bottom is formed, a bottom plate provided vertically below the partition forming body and moving relative to the partition forming body, a portion capable of closing the bottom of the storage unit, and a bottom plate having an opening capable of supplying the tablets retained in the storage unit to the sub-packaging unit. The drug preparation unit further includes a removing unit that removes at least one of the powder and fragments generated from the tablets from a region including the moving path defined along the moving path of the tablets on the bottom plate of the tablets retained in the storage unit, the region having a width corresponding to the width of the opening in a direction perpendicular to the moving path.

[0276] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a gap with a dimension through which the tablets hardly pass is formed between the storage unit and the bottom plate, and the removing unit may remove at least one of the powder and fragments from the storage unit through the gap by contacting at least one of the powder and fragments discharged from the storage unit through the gap by the relative movement of the partition forming body with respect to the bottom plate to the outside of the region.

[0277] In the drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the removing unit has a contact surface with which at least one of the powder and fragments comes into contact by the relative movement, and the contact surface may be inclined with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the moving path when the partition forming body is viewed in plan from the bottom side of the storage unit.

[0278] In a drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the partition forming body moves relative to the bottom plate by rotating relative to the bottom plate about an axis in the vertical direction, and the removing unit may remove at least one of the powder and chips that has come into contact by the relative rotation of the partition forming body with respect to the bottom plate to the outside of the region.

[0279] In a drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, at least one groove for accommodating at least one of the powder and chips removed by the removing unit may be provided in the outer region of the region on the bottom plate.

[0280] In a drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a part of the removing unit may face the groove.

[0281] A drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure may include a pressing unit that presses the removing unit against the bottom plate.

[0282] In a drug preparation unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the pressing unit includes an elastic member that expands and contracts in the vertical direction, and the elastic member may bias the removing unit in a state where the partition forming body is attached to the bottom plate.

[0283] 〔Supplementary Notes〕 The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0284] 1, 1A Drug dispensing device 2 Tablet 10, 10A Drug preparation unit 11, 11A Partition forming body 12 Top plate 13 Gap 14, 14A Bottom plate 15 Discharge port 15A and 15B grooves 15C region 18 removal part 18A contact surface 19 pressing part 19b elastic member 30 tablet passage route 40 packaging part 100 storage part 111 front wall 111(SL) front wall (tilted wall) 112 rear wall 121 first region 122 second region 141 fifth region 142 sixth region 143 gap 1111 third side wall plate 1112 fourth side wall plate 1201 opening 1211 edge part 1401 supply port Ba buffer region

Claims

【Claim 1】 In a drug dispensing device, a drug preparation unit that holds tablets discharged through a tablet passage path one package at a time in each of a plurality of storage units, a top plate facing the outlet of the tablet passage path is provided, A drug preparation unit provided with a gap that facilitates elastic deformation when colliding with the tablet discharged through the tablet passage path is provided between the top plate and the side wall of the storage unit.

Images