Drug cassette transport system

Abstract

To transport a drug cassette more easily and quickly than by manual work.SOLUTION: A drug cassette transport system comprises: a main storage device that stores a drug cassette and dispenses a drug from the drug cassette; an auxiliary storage device that stores the drug cassette; and a transport device that transports the drug cassette between a predetermined main attachment / detachment area for attaching or detaching the drug cassette with respect to the main storage device and a predetermined auxiliary attachment / detachment area for attaching or detaching the drug cassette with respect to the auxiliary storage device. The main storage device has a main storage section including a main holding part which holds the drug cassette and a main moving mechanism which moves the drug cassette held by the main holding part to the main attachment / detachment area. The auxiliary storage device has an auxiliary storage section including an auxiliary holding part which holds the drug cassette and an auxiliary moving mechanism which moves the drug cassette held by the auxiliary holding part to the auxiliary attachment / detachment area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medication cassette delivery system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a medicine packaging machine that dispenses and packages necessary medicines from multiple medicine cassettes. This medicine packaging machine includes a medicine storage unit that detachably holds multiple medicine cassettes, a packaging device that receives and separates and seals the medicines, a medicine collection mechanism that collects the medicines discharged from the medicine cassettes and delivers them to the packaging device, and a spare storage unit that detachably holds multiple spare medicine cassettes. When one of the medicine cassettes in the medicine storage unit becomes empty, the medicine cassette can be removed from the medicine storage unit and replaced with a spare medicine cassette in the spare storage unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-187053 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the medicine packaging machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, the work of removing medicine cassettes from the reserve storage section and installing them in the medicine storage section was done manually, which was a cumbersome and time-consuming task. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A medicine cassette transport system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a main storage device for storing a medicine cassette and dispensing medicines from the medicine cassette; a secondary storage device for storing a drug cassette; and a transport device that transports the drug cassette between a predetermined main mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the main storage device and a predetermined secondary mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the secondary storage device, The main accommodation device is a main holder for holding the medicine cassette; and a main storage section including a main moving mechanism that moves the medicine cassette held by the main holding section to the main attachment / detachment area; The secondary storage device is a sub-holding portion for holding the medicine cassette; and The medicine cassette storage device further includes a sub-storage section including a sub-moving mechanism that moves the medicine cassette held by the sub-holding section to the sub-attaching / detaching area.

[0006] The present disclosure can be realized not only as a drug cassette transport system having the above-described characteristic configuration, but also as a drug cassette transport method, a drug packaging system to which the drug cassette transport system is applied, or a control device for controlling the transport of drug cassettes. The present disclosure can be realized as a computer program that causes a computer to function as a control device, or as a semiconductor integrated circuit as part or all of the control device. Furthermore, the present disclosure can be realized as individual devices of a drug cassette transport system having the above-described characteristic configuration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the drug cassette transport system of the present disclosure, the drug cassette held in the main holder of the main storage unit is moved to the main removable area by the main movement mechanism, the drug cassette held in the auxiliary holder of the auxiliary storage unit is moved to the auxiliary removable area by the auxiliary movement mechanism, and the drug cassette is transported from one of the main removable area and the auxiliary removable area to the other by the transport device. Therefore, the drug cassette can be transported more easily and quickly than by manual work. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of a medicine packaging system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the overall configuration of the medicine packaging system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the overall configuration of the medicine packaging system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing the main attachment / detachment area in the main storage unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a medicine dispensing structure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a support structure for electric wires. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the rotation range of the main storage section. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a support structure for electric wires. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view showing the secondary attachment / detachment area in the secondary storage device. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the transport device. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a front view of the conveying section of the conveying device. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a plan view of the transport section of the transport device. [Figure 17A] FIG. 17A is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the transport device. [Figure 17B] FIG. 17B is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the transport device. [Figure 17C] FIG. 17C is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the transport device. [Figure 17D]FIG. 17D is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the transport device. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the medicine cassette. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a schematic front view showing another example of the configuration of the medicine packaging system. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic front view showing yet another configuration example of the medicine packaging system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] <Summary of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> The following provides an outline of embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0010] (1) The medicine cassette transport system according to this embodiment includes: a main storage device for storing a medicine cassette and dispensing medicines from the medicine cassette; a secondary storage device for storing a drug cassette; and a transport device that transports the drug cassette between a predetermined main mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the main storage device and a predetermined secondary mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the secondary storage device, The main accommodation device is a main holder for holding the medicine cassette; and a main storage section including a main moving mechanism that moves the medicine cassette held by the main holding section to the main attachment / detachment area; The secondary storage device is a sub-holding portion for holding the medicine cassette; and The medicine cassette storage device further includes a sub-storage section including a sub-moving mechanism that moves the medicine cassette held by the sub-holding section to the sub-attaching / detaching area.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the drug cassette held in the main holder of the main storage unit can be moved to the main removable area by the main movement mechanism. Furthermore, the drug cassette held in the auxiliary holder of the auxiliary storage unit can be moved to the auxiliary removable area by the auxiliary movement mechanism. The drug cassette can then be transported from one of the main removable area and the auxiliary removable area to the other by the transport device. This allows for simpler and faster transport of the drug cassette than manual operation. Furthermore, since one of the main movement mechanism, the auxiliary movement mechanism, and the transport device can be operated simultaneously while the other two or one of them is operating, the drug cassette can be transported more efficiently in a shorter time. Since the drug cassette can be moved to the main removable area by the main movement mechanism and then to the auxiliary removable area by the auxiliary movement mechanism, the transport distance by the transport device can be shortened, allowing for a more compact transport device. Furthermore, the number of drug cassettes transported per unit time by the transport device can be increased. In the above configuration, the main holder and the sub-holder may hold one medicine cassette or may hold a plurality of medicine cassettes.

[0012] (2) In the above (1), the main storage device includes two of the main storage sections, The main movement mechanism in one of the main storage sections and the main movement mechanism in the other main storage section operate independently.

[0013] According to this configuration, the main movement mechanisms of both main storage sections can individually move the medicine cassettes held in the main holding sections to the main attachment / detachment area, allowing the medicine cassettes to be transported more quickly. In the present disclosure, the main storage device may include three or more main storage sections, as long as two of them have the above configuration.

[0014] (3) In the above (2), the main holding section holds a plurality of the medicine cassettes, The main moving mechanism moves each of the drug cassettes to the main loading / unloading area.

[0015] According to this configuration, each of the plurality of medicine cassettes can be moved to the main loading / unloading area and transported by the transport device.

[0016] (4) In the above (3), the main holding section holds a plurality of medicine cassettes in a line, The main movement mechanism moves each of the plurality of drug cassettes in the direction in which the drug cassettes are arranged.

[0017] (5) In the above (4), the main holding section holds the plurality of medicine cassettes arranged in a circular shape.

[0018] According to this configuration, by arranging the plurality of drug cassettes in a circular pattern, it is possible to accommodate a larger number of cassettes in a limited space, and the plurality of drug cassettes can be moved in a circulating manner.

[0019] (6) In any one of the above (2) to (5), the main attachment / detachment area is set for each of the two main storage sections, The transport device includes one transport section that mounts or detaches the medicine cassette in the main mounting / detaching areas of both of the main storage sections.

[0020] According to this configuration, the medicine cassettes moved to the main attachment / detachment areas set in each main storage section can be transported by one transport section.

[0021] (7) In any one of the above (2) to (6), the two main storage sections are arranged vertically, The main accommodation device is a common passage through which both the medicine dispensed from the medicine cassette held in the main holding section of the upper main storage section and the medicine dispensed from the medicine cassette held in the main holding section of the lower main storage section pass; an upper outlet communicating the medicine cassette held in the main holding portion of the upper main storage portion with the passage; a lower outlet communicating the medicine cassette held in the main holding portion of the lower main storage portion with the passage; and an intrusion prevention member at least a portion of which is disposed above the lower outlet and which prevents the medicine from intruding into the lower outlet from above.

[0022] This configuration can prevent the medicine discharged from the upper discharge port from entering the lower discharge port.

[0023] (8) In any one of the above (2) to (7), the main accommodation device is A bearing is provided to connect the main holding portion in one of the main accommodating portions and the main holding portion in the other main accommodating portion so that they can move relative to each other. According to this configuration, by interposing a bearing between the two main accommodating parts, one main accommodating part can support the other main accommodating part, thereby simplifying the support structure for the main accommodating parts.

[0024] (9) In any one of the above (1) to (8), two main attachment / detachment areas are set for the main storage section.

[0025] This configuration allows the drug cassettes in the main storage section to be attached or detached in two main attachment / detachment areas, improving the efficiency of transport by the transport device. Note that in this configuration, it is sufficient to have at least two main attachment / detachment areas, and three or more main attachment / detachment areas may be set.

[0026] (10) In the above (9), the transport device includes two transport units that mount or detach the medicine cassette in each of the main mounting and detaching areas.

[0027] According to this configuration, the two transport units can mount or detach the drug cassette in the corresponding main mounting / detaching areas, thereby improving the efficiency of transport by the transport device. Note that if three or more main mounting / detaching areas are set, three transport units may be provided. Of these, two main mounting / detaching areas and two transport units may have the above configuration.

[0028] (11) In the above (10), one of the transporting units mounts the medicine cassette in one of the main mounting / removal areas, and the other of the transporting units detaches the medicine cassette in the other of the main mounting / removal areas.

[0029] According to this configuration, by operating the two transport units simultaneously, it is possible to simultaneously move drug cassettes from the main storage device to the auxiliary storage device and from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device, thereby achieving faster transport.

[0030] (12) In any one of the above (1) to (11), the secondary storage device includes two of the secondary storage sections, The sub-movement mechanism in one of the sub-storage sections and the sub-movement mechanism in the other sub-storage section operate independently.

[0031] According to this configuration, the secondary movement mechanisms of both secondary storage sections can individually move the drug cassettes held in the secondary holding sections to the secondary attachment / detachment area, allowing the drug cassettes to be transported more quickly. In the present disclosure, the secondary storage device may include three or more secondary storage sections, as long as two of them have the above configuration.

[0032] (13) In the above (12), the auxiliary holding unit holds a plurality of the medicine cassettes, The auxiliary movement mechanism moves each of the medicine cassettes to the auxiliary attachment / detachment area.

[0033] According to this configuration, each of the plurality of medicine cassettes can be moved sequentially to the auxiliary attachment / detachment area.

[0034] (14) In the above (13), the auxiliary holding section holds the plurality of medicine cassettes arranged in a ring shape, The auxiliary movement mechanism moves each of the medicine cassettes in the direction in which the plurality of medicine cassettes are arranged.

[0035] According to this configuration, by arranging the plurality of drug cassettes in a circular pattern, it is possible to accommodate a larger number of cassettes in a limited space, and the plurality of drug cassettes can be moved in a circulating manner.

[0036] (15) In the above (13), the auxiliary movement mechanism moves the cassette along a circular movement path including a first movement path facing the main storage device and a second movement path disposed on the opposite side of the first movement path from the main storage device, The secondary attachment / detachment area is set on the first movement path.

[0037] According to this configuration, the medicine cassette located on the second movement path can be moved to the secondary attachment / detachment area of the first movement path closer to the main storage device, thereby shortening the distance the medicine cassette is transported by the transport device.

[0038] (16) In any one of the above (1) to (15), the secondary storage device includes a base that supports the secondary holding portion, The auxiliary holder has a roller that rolls on the base.

[0039] (17) In any one of the above (12) to (15), the secondary attachment / detachment area is set for each of the two secondary storage sections, The transport device has one transport section that mounts or detaches the medicine cassette in the secondary mounting / detaching areas of both of the secondary storage sections.

[0040] According to this configuration, the medicine cassettes moved to the secondary attachment / detachment areas set in the respective secondary storage sections can be transported by a single transport section.

[0041] (18) In any one of the above (1) to (17), two of the secondary attachment / detachment areas are set for the secondary storage section.

[0042] This configuration allows the drug cassettes in the sub-container to be attached or detached in two sub-detachable areas, improving the efficiency of transport by the transport device. Note that in this configuration, it is sufficient to have at least two sub-detachable areas, and three or more sub-detachable areas may also be provided.

[0043] (19) In the above (18), the transport device includes two transport units that mount or detach the medicine cassette in each of the sub-mounting and detaching areas.

[0044] According to this configuration, the medicine cassettes of the sub-container can be attached to or detached from the two transporting units in the corresponding sub-attaching and detaching areas, thereby improving the efficiency of transport by the transporting device.

[0045] (20) In the above (19), one of the transporting units mounts the medicine cassette in one of the auxiliary mounting and dismounting areas, and the other transporting unit detaches the medicine cassette in the other auxiliary mounting and dismounting area.

[0046] According to this configuration, by operating the two transport units simultaneously, it is possible to simultaneously move drug cassettes from the main storage device to the auxiliary storage device and from the auxiliary storage device to the main storage device, thereby achieving faster transport.

[0047] (21) In any one of the above (1) to (20), the main storage device, the transport device, and the secondary storage device are arranged in this order.

[0048] (22) In the above (21), one of the main storage devices, two of the sub-storage devices, and two of the transport devices are included, One of the secondary storage devices, one of the transport devices, the main storage device, the other of the transport devices, and the other of the secondary storage device are arranged in this order.

[0049] With this configuration, it is possible to transport medicine cassettes stored in both of the two auxiliary storage devices to the main storage device. It is also possible to transport a medicine cassette stored in one auxiliary storage device to the other auxiliary storage device via one transport device, the main storage device, and the other transport device.

[0050] (23) In the above (21), two of the main storage devices, one of the sub-storage devices, and two of the transport devices are included, One of the main storage devices, one of the transport devices, the secondary storage device, the other of the transport devices, and the other of the main storage device are arranged side by side in this order.

[0051] With this configuration, a medicine cassette stored in one auxiliary storage device can be transported to both of the two main storage devices. It is also possible to transport a medicine cassette stored in one main storage device to the other main storage device via one transport device, the auxiliary storage device, and the other transport device.

[0052] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments may be combined in any combination of parts.

[0053] [Overall configuration of the drug packaging system] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of a medicine packaging system according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the overall configuration of the medicine packaging system, and Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the overall configuration of the medicine packaging system. The medicine packaging system 10 includes a main storage device 12, a packaging device (packaging device) 11, an auxiliary storage device 13, and a conveying device 14. The medicine packaging system 10 also includes a housing 20 that covers the packaging device 11, the main storage device 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, and the conveying device 14. In the following description, the left-right direction, the front-rear direction, and the up-down direction are based on three mutually perpendicular directions indicated by arrows X, Y, and Z in Figures 1 to 3. Specifically, in the following description, the left-right direction is an example of the first direction X, the front-rear direction is an example of the second direction Y, and the up-down direction is an example of the third direction Z. However, the descriptions of these directions do not limit the present disclosure.

[0054] The packaging device 11 is a device that packages medicines in packages. The medicines in this embodiment are tablets. The main storage device 12 stores medicine cassettes (hereinafter simply referred to as "cassettes") 50, dispenses the medicines in these cassettes 50, and supplies them to the packaging device 11. The packaging device 11 and the main storage device 12 are arranged vertically. Specifically, the main storage device 12 is arranged on top, and the packaging device 11 is arranged on the bottom. Medicines dispensed from the main storage device 12 fall downward and are supplied to the packaging device 11. The packaging device 11 and the main storage device 12 are covered by a common housing 20A. A door 20A1 is provided on the front of the housing 20A for inserting and removing the cassette 50 into and from the main storage device 12.

[0055] The medicine packaging system 10 of this embodiment handles two types of medicine cassettes 50, 60. One cassette 50 is dedicated to a specific type of medicine. Each cassette 50 stores one type of medicine. The main storage device 12 stores multiple cassettes 50, each storing different types of medicine, to accommodate multiple types of medicine. As shown in FIG. 18, the cassette 50 is a box-shaped body formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from above. A lid 50C that can be freely opened and closed is provided at the top end of the cassette 50. Medicines can be filled into the cassette 50 by opening this lid 50C. Recesses 50B are formed on both side surfaces of one end of the cassette 50 (the long base side of the trapezoid when viewed from above). A dispensing mechanism 50A (see FIG. 7) that dispenses the stored medicine one tablet at a time is provided inside the cassette 50, and this dispensing mechanism 50A is operated by a drive mechanism 51 (see FIG. 7) provided in the main storage device 12.

[0056] The other cassette 60 stores a drug selected from multiple types of drugs other than the drugs stored in cassette 50. Cassette 60 is a cassette that can accommodate multiple types of drugs. Specifically, cassette 60 is capable of adjusting the size of the drug discharge path, and can dispense the drug by adjusting the size of the discharge path according to the size of the drug selected from the multiple types of drugs. One cassette 50, for example, stores a drug that is used frequently, and the other cassette 60 stores a drug that is used less frequently. In addition to main storage device 12 and auxiliary storage device 13, drug packaging system 10 also includes an auxiliary storage unit 21 that stores the other cassette 60.

[0057] The auxiliary storage device 13, like the main storage device 12, stores and holds a plurality of cassettes 50. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores cassettes 50 that cannot be stored in the main storage device 12 and is used to supply cassettes 50 to the main storage device 12 as needed. Therefore, the auxiliary storage device 13 does not have the function of dispensing medicines from cassettes 50 to the packaging device 11, as the main storage device 12 does.

[0058] The main storage device 12 is an example of a medicine cassette storage device that stores the medicine cassette 50 and dispenses medicines from the medicine cassette 50. The auxiliary storage device 13 is an example of a medicine cassette storage device that stores the medicine cassette 50.

[0059] The transport device 14 transports cassettes 50 between the main storage device 12 and the auxiliary storage device 13. When it is necessary to dispense medicine from a cassette 50 stored in the auxiliary storage device 13, the transport device 14 removes the cassette 50 from the auxiliary storage device 13, transports it to the main storage device 12, and attaches the cassette 50 to the main storage device 12. The transport device 14 also removes an unused cassette 50 from the main storage device 12, transports it to the auxiliary storage device 13, and attaches it to the auxiliary storage device 13. The main storage device 12, the transport device 14, and the auxiliary storage device 13 constitute a "drug cassette transport system" that transports drug cassettes 50 between the two storage devices 12, 13.

[0060] The packing device 11, the main storage device 12, the conveying device 14, and the auxiliary storage device 13 are arranged side by side in this order. In this embodiment, the packing device 11, the main storage device 12, the conveying device 14, and the auxiliary storage device 13 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction (first direction) X. The conveying device 14 and the auxiliary storage device 13 are covered by a common housing 20B. Therefore, the housing 20 of the medicine packaging system 10 includes a housing 20A that covers the packing device 11 and the main storage device 12, and a housing 20B that covers the conveying device 14 and the auxiliary storage device 13. A door 20B1 is provided on the front of the housing 20B for inserting and removing a cassette 50 into and from the auxiliary storage device 13.

[0061] Housing 20A and housing 20B are constructed separately and are connected to each other. Housing 20A and housing 20B can be disconnected and disassembled. Therefore, when introducing medicine packaging system 10 to a facility such as a hospital or pharmacy, two housings 20A and 20B can be transported in a disassembled state to the installation site, and then connected and installed after delivery.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 1 , the medicine packaging system 10 includes a cassette filling device 15. The cassette filling device 15 is a device for filling the main storage device 12 and the sub-storage device 13 with cassettes 50. The cassette filling device 15 is disposed in front of the conveying device 14. The cassette filling device 15 includes an operation unit 16 and a transfer unit 17.

[0063] The operation unit 16 is used by an operator to operate the medicine packaging system 10. The operation unit 16 includes input units 16A and 16B for the operator to input information about the medicine. The input units 16A and 16B include, for example, a barcode reader, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader 16A, and a display 16B. For example, a pharmaceutical company supplies medicine containers containing medicines. The medicine containers are affixed with barcodes that record information about the medicines contained therein. The operator reads the barcodes on the medicine containers using the barcode reader 16A. This allows information about the medicines (including the medicine IDs) to be input into the operation unit 16. An RF tag is affixed to the cassette 50, and this RF tag records a cassette number for identifying the cassette 50 and the medicine ID of the medicine to be contained in the cassette 50. After the operator places medicines in the cassette 50, the operator reads the RF tag on the cassette 50 using an RFID reader. The read medicine ID and cassette number are displayed on the display 16B, and the operator can check the cassette number against the medicine ID.

[0064] The transfer section 17 receives cassettes 50 to be loaded into the main storage device 12 and the secondary storage device 13. The transfer section 17 includes a transfer opening 17A formed in the housing 20B. The transfer opening 17A is covered with a lid that can be opened and closed. An operator can load a cassette 50 into the transfer opening 17A with the lid open. The cassette 50 loaded into the transfer opening 17A is transported by the transport device 14 to the main storage device 12 or the secondary storage device 13 and stored therein.

[0065] The operation unit 16 and the receiving unit 17 are disposed in the front of the housing 20B. The receiving opening 17A opens at the front of the housing 20B. The input unit 16A is also provided at the front of the housing 20B. This allows the operator to concentrate on operating the cassette loading device 15 at the front of the housing 20B.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 1 , the medicine packaging system 10 includes an auxiliary storage unit 21. The auxiliary storage unit 21 stores a plurality of cassettes 60. The auxiliary storage unit 21 stores four cassettes 60 arranged in the left-right direction X. The auxiliary storage unit 21 can dispense medicines from each cassette 60. The auxiliary storage unit 21 is disposed in front of the main storage device 12.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 1 , the medicine packaging system 10 further includes a manual distribution unit 22. The manual distribution unit 22 is also referred to as a DTA (Detachable Tablet Adapter). The manual distribution unit 22 is used to dispense tablets that are not suitable for dispensing from the cassettes 50, 60, such as half tablets or quarter tablets that are less than one tablet. The manual distribution unit 22 is provided below the main storage device 12 and the auxiliary storage unit 21. The manual distribution unit 22 is a drawer-like box, and inside it are multiple compartments arranged in a grid pattern that can accommodate medicines. When using the manual distribution unit 22, the operator pulls out the manual distribution unit 22, places medicines in the compartments, and then returns the manual distribution unit 22.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 1, the medicine packaging system 10 is provided with an air conditioner 90 on the top surface of the housing 20. The air conditioner 90 adjusts the temperature and humidity inside the housing 20. If the medicine packaging system 10 is installed in a room that is not air-conditioned 24 hours a day, the temperature inside the housing 20 may become high, for example, at night in summer, which may adversely affect the medicines stored therein. Therefore, in this embodiment, the air conditioner 90 adjusts the temperature and humidity inside the housing 20, enabling appropriate management of the medicines. The air conditioner 90 may adjust only one of the temperature and humidity inside the housing 20. Alternatively, the air conditioner 90 may be a device that blows air into the housing 20.

[0069] [Specific configuration of the main accommodation device] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the main storage device 12 includes a main storage section 30 that stores a plurality of cassettes 50. The main storage device 12 includes a plurality of main storage sections 30. The plurality of main storage sections 30 are arranged side by side. In this embodiment, three main storage sections 30 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z in three tiers: an upper tier, a middle tier, and a lower tier. Each main storage section 30 stores a plurality of cassettes 50 side by side. Specifically, each main storage section 30 stores a plurality of cassettes 50 lined up horizontally. Furthermore, each main storage section 30 stores a plurality of cassettes 50 lined up in a ring shape. Specifically, each main storage section 30 stores a plurality of cassettes 50 lined up in a perfect circle. By storing a plurality of cassettes 50 lined up in a perfect circle in this manner, more cassettes 50 can be stored in a limited space.

[0070] Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in Fig. 4. Each main storage section 30 includes a main holder 31 that holds cassettes 50 and a main movement mechanism 32 that moves the cassettes 50 held by the main holder 31. The main holder 31 has multiple support plates 34 on which each cassette 50 is placed and supported from below. Each support plate 34 is formed in a trapezoidal shape, approximately the same as the cassette 50, when viewed from above. The multiple support plates 34 are arranged in a perfect circle when viewed from above. A drive mechanism 51, such as a motor, for driving a drug dispensing mechanism 50A (see FIG. 7) for dispensing the drug in the cassette 50 and a sensor 52 for detecting the presence or absence of the cassette 50 on the support plate 34 are provided on and around the support plate 34. Note that the dispensing mechanism 50A may employ a conventionally known configuration in which a rotor provided in the cassette 50 is rotated by a motor to guide the drug in the cassette 50 to a dispensing location (a passage member 46, described below).

[0071] Each main holding portion 31 has a rotating cylinder 35 to which multiple support plates 34 are connected. The rotating cylinder 35 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The rotating cylinder 35 rotates around a rotation axis C in the vertical direction Z. The multiple support plates 34 protrude radially from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating cylinder 35. The rotating cylinder 35 includes an outer cylinder 35a and an inner cylinder 35b. The outer cylinder 35a is a substantially polygonal cylinder. The inner cylinder 35b is a cylindrical cylinder. The inner cylinder 35b is disposed radially inside the outer cylinder 35a. The outer cylinder 35a may be cylindrical. The inner cylinder 35b may be a polygonal cylinder.

[0072] An upper flange 39 is provided at the upper end of the outer cylindrical body 35a, and a lower flange 36 is provided at the lower end. An annular upper mounting member 40 is provided on the upper flange 39. A lower mounting member 37 is provided at the radially outer end of the lower flange 36. A support plate 34 is attached to the lower flange 36 and the lower mounting member 37. A driven gear 38 is provided on the lower surface of the lower mounting member 37.

[0073] The main movement mechanisms 32 are attached to support columns 33 that extend in the vertical direction Z. The support columns 33 extend in the vertical direction Z. The main movement mechanisms 32 in all of the main storage sections 30 are attached to a common support column 33. All of the main movement mechanisms 32 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z.

[0074] The main movement mechanism 32 has a drive motor 32a and a drive gear 32b. The drive gear 32b has a smaller diameter than the driven gear 38 and is in mesh with the driven gear 38. The drive motor 32a drives the drive gear 32b to rotate. When the drive gear 32b rotates, the meshed driven gear 38 rotates around the rotation axis C. This causes the main holding unit 31 to rotate, and the cassettes 50 held by the main holding unit 31 to circulate along a circular path in the direction in which the multiple cassettes 50 are lined up.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 5 , the main retaining portions 31 of adjacent main accommodating portions 30 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other. Specifically, the upper mounting member 40 of the lower main accommodating portion 30 and the lower mounting member 37 of the upper main accommodating portion 30 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other by a bearing 41. The bearing 41 is capable of bearing radial loads and axial loads, and is, for example, a rolling bearing such as a deep groove ball bearing or a tapered roller bearing. Another example of the bearing 41 is a cross roller bearing. This cross roller bearing has multiple cylindrical rollers arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring with 90-degree V-grooves, with their axes alternately intersecting at right angles.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 5 , the main holder 31 in the lower main accommodating section 30 is rotatably supported by a lower base 42 via a bearing 45. The lower base 42 is fixed to the housing 20A or the like and, unlike the main holder 31, does not rotate. The lower base 42 has a support plate 42a disposed below the lower main accommodating section 30 and an annular mounting member 42b provided on the support plate 42a. The mounting member 42b of the lower base 42 and the lower mounting member 37 in the lower main accommodating section 30 are rotatably connected by a bearing 45. The bearing 45 is the same as the bearing 41 described above.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 5, the main holding section 31 in the upper main storage section 30 is rotatably supported by an upper base 43 via a bearing 45. The upper base 43 is provided at the upper end of a central cylinder 44, which is disposed radially inward of the rotating cylinder 35 at a distance T (a medicine passage described below). The upper base 43 and the central cylinder 44 are fixed to the housing 20A or the like and, unlike the main holding section 31, do not rotate. The upper base 43 has a support plate 43a disposed above the upper main storage section 30 and an annular mounting member 43b attached to the support plate 43a. The upper mounting member 40 in the upper main storage section 30 and the mounting member 43b of the upper base 43 are rotatably connected by a bearing 45. The bearing 45 is the same as the bearing 41 described above.

[0078] Therefore, the plurality of main holding parts 31 are rotatably supported as a whole by the lower base 42 and the upper base 43 via bearings 45. The main holding parts 31 arranged vertically are rotatably supported relative to each other via bearings 41 disposed between them.

[0079] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing the main attachment / detachment area in the main storage unit. 3 and 6, the main storage section 30 of the main storage device 12 has main loading / unloading areas Ra1 and Ra2 for loading or unloading cassettes 50. The main loading / unloading areas Ra1 and Ra2 are set on a movement path of the cassettes 50 in the main storage section 30. The main movement mechanism 32 of the main storage section 30 moves each cassette 50 held in the main holder 31 to the main loading / unloading areas Ra1 and Ra2. The transport device 14 removes and transports the cassettes 50 that have moved to the main loading / unloading areas Ra1 and Ra2, and conversely, mounts the transported cassettes 60 in the main holders 31 in the main loading / unloading areas Ra1 and Ra2.

[0080] In this embodiment, two main attachment / detachment areas Ra1, Ra2 are set in each of the main storage sections 30. In each main storage section 30, one main attachment / detachment area Ra1 and the other main attachment / detachment area Ra2 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction Y.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 6, the main mounting / detaching areas Ra1 on one side of the plurality of main storage sections 30 are all arranged in the same phase relative to one another in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis C. In other words, the main mounting / detaching areas Ra1 on one side of the plurality of main storage sections 30 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z. Similarly, the main mounting / detaching areas Ra2 on the other side of the plurality of main storage sections 30 are all arranged in the same phase relative to one another in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis C. In other words, the main mounting / detaching areas Ra2 on the other side of the plurality of main storage sections 30 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the transport device 14, which will be described later, can mount or detach a cassette 50 simply by changing the height of the main mounting / detaching areas Ra1, Ra2, which are in the same phase.

[0082] In this embodiment, a plurality of main storage sections 30 are provided, and a main movement mechanism 32 moves the cassettes 50 held in the main holding section 31 to the main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2 for each main storage section 30. Therefore, a plurality of main movement mechanisms 32 can simultaneously move cassettes 50 to the main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2. Therefore, while a predetermined cassette 50 is being moved to the main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2 in one main storage section 30, another predetermined cassette 50 can be moved to the main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2 in another main storage section 30, and the cassettes 50 can be moved more efficiently and in a shorter time than if these were done at different times.

[0083] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a medicine dispensing structure. The main holding section 31 of each main storage section 30 has a passage member 46 for each cassette 50 it holds. The passage member 46 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Specifically, the passage member 46 is formed in a square cylindrical shape. One end (lower end) of the passage member 46 is connected to the inner cylinder 35b of the rotary cylinder 35. A discharge port 35c communicating with the passage member 46 is formed in the inner cylinder 35b. The other end (upper end) of the passage member 46 penetrates the outer cylinder 35a of the rotary cylinder 35 and the support plate 34, and opens above the support plate 34. The passage member 46 is inclined so that the one end connected to the inner cylinder 35b is lower and the other end penetrating the support plate 34 is higher.

[0084] The upper end of the passage member 46 communicates with the interior of the cassette 50 on the support plate 34. The drugs M stored in the cassette 50 are guided one by one to the passage member 46 by the dispensing mechanism 50A and dispensed from the passage member 46 to the outside. The drugs M passing through the passage member 46 are discharged from the discharge port 35c of the inner cylinder 35b and fall downward through the gap T between the central cylinder 44 and the rotating cylinder 35 (inner cylinder 35b). Therefore, the gap T serves as a path for the drugs dispensed from the cassette 50. This drug path T is formed in a ring shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction, centered on the rotation axis C. Therefore, the drugs dispensed from all the cassettes 50 accommodated in the main storage device 12 pass through the common drug path T. Furthermore, because the drug path T is formed in a ring shape, the drugs can pass through even if the rotating cylinders 35 of each main storage unit 30 rotate individually and the respective discharge ports 35c move circumferentially.

[0085] The main storage device 12 includes a hopper 47. The hopper 47 is formed in a generally conical (funnel) shape, and is open at both the top and bottom ends. The bottom end of the inner cylindrical body 35b of the lower rotary cylinder 35 is inserted into the top opening of the hopper 47. The interior of the hopper 47 also serves as a medicine passage.

[0086] The main storage device 12 is equipped with a valve device 48 that opens and closes the hopper 47. The valve device 48 is equipped with a valve element 48a and a drive mechanism 48b that raises and lowers the valve element 48a. The valve element 48a is disposed inside the central cylinder 44. The valve element 48a is inserted into the central cylinder 44 so as to be movable in the vertical direction Z. The valve element 48a is formed in a generally conical shape that tapers downward. The outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the valve element 48a is close to the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder 44, and the valve element 48a moves in the vertical direction Z while being guided by the inner peripheral surface of the central cylinder 44. The drive mechanism 48b raises and lowers the valve element 48a using a motor and a link member or the like that is rotated by the motor. The drive mechanism 48b may be composed of a winding transmission mechanism, a cylinder, or the like.

[0087] The valve device 48 closes the hopper 47 by lowering the valve element 48a to contact the inner surface of the hopper 47. The valve device 48 opens the hopper 47 by raising the valve element 48a to move away from the hopper 47. In this embodiment, the main storage device 12 closes the hopper 47 using the valve device 48 while drugs are being dispensed from the cassettes 50. When all of the drugs M to be packaged as a single dose have been dispensed from the cassettes 50 and accumulated in the hopper 47, the main storage device 12 opens the hopper 47 using the valve device 48. This allows the drugs M for one dose to be simultaneously discharged from the hopper 47. This ensures that the drugs for one dose can be reliably packaged into one package. The drugs M for one dose may be dispensed from a single cassette 50 or from multiple cassettes 50 contained in the main storage device 12.

[0088] Each main storage unit 30 of this embodiment stores a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged in a perfect circle. Therefore, in each main storage unit 30, the distance traveled by the drug M dispensed from each cassette 50 to reach the hopper 47 is constant, and the time taken to reach the hopper 47 can also be made approximately constant. This makes it easy to determine whether the drug M dispensed from the cassette 50 has reached the hopper 47, and allows the timing for opening the valve device 48 to be accurately set.

[0089] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the main storage device 12 includes an intrusion prevention member 49. The intrusion prevention member 49 is provided corresponding to the discharge outlet 35c of the rotary cylinder 35 in the middle and lower main storage sections 30. The intrusion prevention member 49 is formed in an annular shape and is disposed within the drug passage T. The intrusion prevention member 49 has an annular guide portion 49a and an annular covering portion 49b. The guide portion 49a is formed in a conical shape whose diameter increases upward, and its upper end is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylinder body 35b. The guide portion 49a is disposed above the corresponding discharge outlet 35c. The covering portion 49b is formed in a cylindrical shape and extends downward from the lower end of the guide portion 49a. The covering portion 49b covers the upper side of the corresponding discharge outlet 35c from the radially inner side.

[0090] When the medicine M is dispensed from the cassettes 50 housed in the upper and middle main storage units 30, discharged through the outlets 35c, and falls down the medicine passage T, the medicine M is guided radially inward (toward the central cylinder 44) by the guide portion 49a of the intrusion prevention member 49 disposed below the outlets 35c and passes through the radially inner side of the covering portion 49b. Therefore, the medicine M falling from above is prevented from entering the outlets 35c of the middle and lower main storage units 30. In other words, the intrusion prevention member 49 prevents the medicine M discharged from the upper outlets 35c (upper outlets) from entering the lower outlets 35c (lower outlets). In this embodiment, because the medicines dispensed from all the cassettes 50 pass through the common annular medicine passage T, it is sufficient to provide one annular intrusion prevention member 49 for each of the middle and lower main holding units 31. This simplifies the configuration of the main storage unit 30.

[0091] Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the support structure for the electric wires, Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the rotation range of the main housing section, and Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the support structure for the electric wires. Each of the multiple main storage sections 30 is equipped with a control board (control section) 55. The control board 55 controls a drive mechanism 51 that drives a dispensing mechanism 50A inside the cassette 50. A signal from a sensor 52 that detects the presence or absence of a cassette 50 in the main holding section 31 is input to the control board 55. The control board 55 is connected to electrical components such as the drive mechanism 51 and the sensor 52 by electric wires 53 such as power lines and signal lines.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 4 , the main holding section 31 has a plurality of support plates 34 arranged around the rotation axis C, each holding a cassette 50. One of the support plates 34 does not hold a cassette 50, and a control board 55 is provided in the space above this support plate 34. The control board 55 rotates around the rotation axis C, just like the cassette 50. Therefore, the relative positions of the control board 55 and the electrical components 51 and 52, and the relative positions of these components and the electrical wires 53, do not change. Therefore, the control board 55 and the drive mechanism 51, etc. can be connected by the shortest possible electrical wires 53, and the wiring path of the electrical wires 53 can be simplified, making it easy to connect the electrical wires 53.

[0093] The main storage unit 12 is equipped with a control device 56 that controls the overall operation. The control device 56 is disposed on the upper portion of the main storage unit 12. The control device 56 and each control board 55 are connected by electric wires 57, such as power lines and signal lines. Each electric wire 57 is supported by a support member. The support member includes ducts 58a to 58c and support bases 59a to 59c. The ducts 58a to 58c include an inner duct (first duct) 58a through which the electric wires 57 connected to the upper-stage control board 55 pass, an intermediate duct (second duct) 58b through which the electric wires 57 connected to the middle-stage control board 55 pass, and an outer duct (third duct) 58c through which the electric wires 57 connected to the lower-stage control board 55 pass. Each of the ducts 58a to 58c is bent in a substantially U-shape. The lower end of each of the ducts 58a to 58c is fixed to the support plate 34 of the corresponding stage.

[0094] A plurality of support bases 59a to 59c are provided corresponding to the plurality of main storage sections 30. The plurality of support bases 59a to 59c are arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z. The plurality of support bases 59a to 59c are fixed to a cylindrical support column 62 extending upward from the central cylinder 44.

[0095] The support bases 59a to 59c include an upper support base (first support base) 59a that supports the electric wires 57 connected to the lower-stage control board 55, an intermediate support base (second support base) 59b that supports the electric wires 57 connected to the middle-stage control board 55, and a lower support base (third support base) 59c that supports the electric wires 57 connected to the upper-stage control board 55. The upper end of the inner duct 58a is connected to the lower support base 59c. The upper end of the intermediate duct 58b is connected to the intermediate support base 59b. The upper end of the outer duct 58c is connected to the upper support base 59a. Each of the ducts 58a to 58c passes radially outside each of the main accommodating sections 30 in the up-down direction Z. The ducts 58a to 58c and the support bases 59a to 59c are provided in numbers corresponding to the main accommodating sections 30.

[0096] The multiple ducts 58a-58c are arranged in positions where they do not overlap one another in the circumferential direction. The multiple ducts 58a-58c are also arranged in positions where they can overlap one another in the radial direction. Specifically, the outer duct 58c is arranged outside the intermediate duct 58b in the up-down direction Z and radial direction, and the intermediate duct 58b is arranged outside the inner duct 58a in the up-down direction Z and radial direction.

[0097] The main holding parts 31 of the main storage parts 30 each rotate within a range W (for example, a range of approximately 300° to 330°) in which the ducts 58a to 58c move between the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 9. This range W avoids the main movement mechanism 32 of the main storage part 30. Therefore, interference between the ducts 58a to 58c and the main movement mechanism 32 is prevented.

[0098] As shown in Fig. 10, electric wire 57 is supported by support bases 59a to 59c in a state in which it is wound loosely in a spiral shape around support pole 62. When ducts 58a to 58c move from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, electric wire 57 is wound approximately one more turn around support pole 62 than in the state in which it was wound loosely. However, the length of electric wire 57 is set so that electric wire 57 is not pulled even when wound more. Therefore, electric wire 57 can follow the movement of ducts 58a to 58c without being pulled.

[0099] The electric wires 57 may run from the control board 55 of each main storage unit 30 through the rotary cylinder 35 and the central cylinder 44, and then through the central cylinder 44 and the support pillar 62 to be connected to the control device 56. However, in this case, the electric wires 57 cross the annular drug passage T, which may interfere with the passage of the drug. Therefore, it is preferable that the electric wires 57 run from the control board 55 to the radially outer side of each main storage unit 30 and be connected to the control device 56, as in the above embodiment.

[0100] [Specific configuration of packaging device] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging device 11 packages medicines dispensed from cassettes 50 housed in the main storage device 12, medicines dispensed from cassettes 60 housed in the auxiliary storage unit 21, and medicines dispensed from the manual dispensing unit 22. The packaging device 11 forms a packaging strip using a strip-shaped sheet material. The packaging strip is a continuous strip of bag-shaped packaging bodies. The packaging device 11 also supplies medicines dispensed from the cassettes 50, 60 to each packaging body on the packaging strip and packages them. The packaged medicines are discharged from an outlet 63 on the front surface of the housing 20A.

[0101] [Specific configuration of secondary storage device] Fig. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in Fig. 2. Fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in Fig. 11. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 11, the auxiliary storage device 13 has an auxiliary storage section 70 that stores a plurality of cassettes 50. The auxiliary storage device 13 has a plurality of auxiliary storage sections 70. The plurality of auxiliary storage sections 70 are arranged side by side. In this embodiment, the plurality of auxiliary storage sections 70 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z. In this embodiment, the main storage device 12 has three main storage sections 30 in the vertical direction Z, whereas the auxiliary storage device 13 has four or more auxiliary storage sections 70 in the vertical direction Z. The number of cassettes 50 that can be stored in the auxiliary storage device 13 is greater than the number of cassettes 50 that can be stored in the main storage device 12. As shown in Figure 2, the auxiliary storage device 13 is arranged in an area that spans between the main storage device 12 and the packaging device 11 in the vertical direction Z.

[0102] Each sub-storage section 70 accommodates a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged side by side. Each sub-storage section 70 accommodates a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged horizontally. Each sub-storage section 70 accommodates a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged in a ring shape. Specifically, each sub-storage section 70 accommodates a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged in an oval shape. More specifically, each sub-storage section 70 accommodates a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged in an oval shape that is long in the front-rear direction (second direction) Y and short in the left-right direction (first direction) X. In this embodiment, three or four cassettes 50 are arranged side by side along the linear portion of the oval, which is the arrangement form of the cassettes 50, and one or two cassettes 50 are arranged along the semicircular portion of the oval. Therefore, more cassettes 50 can be accommodated in the linear portion of the oval than in the semicircular portion. Because the sub-storage section 70 accommodates a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged side by side in an oval shape, more cassettes 50 can be accommodated in a limited space.

[0103] 3, the length L1 of the auxiliary storage unit 70 in the left-right direction X is smaller than the length L2 in the front-rear direction Y. Furthermore, the length L1 of the auxiliary storage unit 70 in the left-right direction X is smaller than the length of the main storage unit 30 in the left-right direction X, and the length L2 of the auxiliary storage unit 70 in the front-rear direction Y is larger than the length of the main storage unit 30 in the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, the auxiliary storage unit 70 is configured compactly in the left-right direction (first direction) X, which is the direction in which the main storage device 12, the conveying device 14, and the auxiliary storage device 13 are aligned. This allows the entire medicine packaging system 10 to be configured compactly in the left-right direction X.

[0104] The auxiliary storage section 70 includes an auxiliary holding section 71 that holds the cassettes 50, and an auxiliary movement mechanism 72 that moves the cassettes 50. The auxiliary holding section 71 has multiple support plates 74 on which each cassette 50 is placed and supported from below. Each support plate 74 is formed in approximately the same shape as the cassette 50 when viewed from above. The multiple support plates 74 are arranged in an oval shape when viewed from above.

[0105] The sub-storage section 70 further has a base 75. The base 75 is disposed below the multiple support plates 74 and supports the multiple support plates 74 from below. The base 75 is formed in an oval shape when viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 12 , rotatable rollers 74a are provided on the underside of the support plate 74. The rollers 74a allow the support plate 74 to run on the upper surface of the base 75.

[0106] The auxiliary movement mechanism 72 has a winding transmission mechanism 76 and a drive unit 79. The winding transmission mechanism 76 has a pair of rotating bodies 77 and a cord-like body 78 wound around the pair of rotating bodies 77. The rotating bodies 77 are, for example, pulleys or sprockets. The cord-like body 78 is, for example, an endless belt or chain. In this embodiment, the pair of rotating bodies 77 are arranged with a gap in between in the front-to-rear direction Y. Each rotating body 77 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 80 extending in the up-down direction Z. Each rotating body 77 rotates around an axis in the up-down direction Z. The support shaft 80 is provided across multiple auxiliary storage sections 70 and is shared by multiple auxiliary storage sections 70.

[0107] A plurality of support plates 74 are connected in a line to the outer circumferential surface of the cord-like body 78. When the cord-like body 78 is transported, the plurality of support plates 74 move in the line-up direction, that is, move along an elliptical path.

[0108] The drive unit 79 has a motor 79a and a transmission mechanism 79b. The motor 79a has a horizontal output shaft. The transmission mechanism 79b has a drive gear attached to the output shaft of the motor 79a and a driven gear that meshes with the drive gear and rotates integrally with the rotating body 77. In this embodiment, the drive gear and driven gear are bevel gears. When the motor 79a is driven, one of the rotating bodies 77 rotates via the transmission mechanism 79b, and the cord-like body 78 is sent forward. When viewed from above, the drive unit 79 is disposed in a space surrounded by multiple cassettes 50. This allows the sub-storage unit 70 to be configured compactly.

[0109] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view showing the secondary attachment / detachment area in the secondary storage device. 3 and 13, the sub-accommodation section 70 of the sub-accommodation device 13 has sub-mounting and unmounting areas Rb1 and Rb2 for loading and unloading the cassettes 50. The sub-mounting and unmounting areas Rb1 and Rb2 are set on the movement path of the cassettes 50 in the sub-accommodation section 70. Therefore, the sub-movement mechanism 72 of the sub-accommodation section 70 moves each cassette 50 held in the sub-holding section 71 to the sub-mounting and unmounting areas Rb1 and Rb2. The transport device 14 removes and transports the cassettes 50 that have moved to the sub-mounting and unmounting areas Rb1 and Rb2, and conversely, mounts the transported cassettes 50 in the sub-holding sections 71 in the sub-mounting and unmounting areas Rb1 and Rb2.

[0110] In this embodiment, two secondary attachment / detachment areas Rb1, Rb2 are set in each of the multiple secondary storage sections 70. In each secondary storage section 70, one secondary attachment / detachment area Rb1 and the other secondary attachment / detachment area Rb2 are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction Y.

[0111] 13, the secondary loading / unloading areas Rb1 on one side of the multiple secondary storage units 70 are all arranged in the same phase relative to one another in the circumferential direction in which the cassette 50 moves. In other words, the secondary loading / unloading areas Rb1 on one side of the multiple secondary storage units 70 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z. Similarly, the secondary loading / unloading areas Rb2 on the other side of the multiple secondary storage units 70 are all arranged side by side in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the transport device 14, which will be described later, can load or unload the cassette 50 simply by changing the height of the secondary loading / unloading areas Rb1, Rb2 that are in the same phase.

[0112] In the auxiliary storage section 70, the multiple cassettes 50 move along two straight paths included in the oval movement path, one of which (first movement path) faces the transport device 14 and the main storage section 30, and the other straight path (second movement path) is located on the opposite side of the one straight path from the transport device 14 and the main storage section 30. The auxiliary loading / unloading areas Rb1, Rb2 are set on one of the straight paths, but because the auxiliary storage section 70 circulates the multiple cassettes 50 along the oval movement path, even a cassette 50 placed on the other straight path can be moved to the auxiliary loading / unloading areas Rb1, Rb2.

[0113] [Relationship between the main and secondary attachment / detachment areas] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 13 , each of the main storage sections 30 has two main loading / unloading areas Ra1 and Ra2, and each of the sub-storage sections 70 has two sub-loading / unloading areas Rb1 and Rb2. In this embodiment, a transport device 14 (described below) transports cassettes 50 between one main loading / unloading area Ra1 of any of the main storage sections 30 and one sub-loading area Rb1 of any of the sub-storage sections 70, and transports cassettes 50 between the other main loading / unloading area Ra2 of any of the main storage sections 30 and the other sub-loading area Rb2 of any of the sub-storage sections 70. In other words, in this embodiment, cassettes 50 are not transported between one main loading / unloading area Ra1 and the other sub-loading area Rb2, or between the other main loading / unloading area Ra2 and one sub-loading area Rb1. However, this transport mode is merely an example and is not limiting.

[0114] [Transportation equipment] Fig. 14 is a plan view of the transport device, Fig. 15 is a front view of the transport section of the transport device, and Fig. 16 is a plan view of the transport section of the transport device. The conveying device 14 conveys cassettes 50 between the main attachment / detachment areas Ra1, Ra2 set in the main storage device 12 and the auxiliary attachment / detachment areas Rb1, Rb2 set in the auxiliary storage device 13. The conveying device 14 of this embodiment has two conveying sections 81. The two conveying sections 81a, 81b are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction Y. In other words, the two conveying sections 81a, 81b are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the left-to-right direction (first direction) X, which is the direction in which the main storage device 12, the packing device 11, the conveying device 14, and the auxiliary storage device 13 are aligned. This allows the entire medicine packaging system 10 to be configured compactly in the left-to-right direction X.

[0115] Of the two transport units 81a, 81b, one transport unit 81a transports the cassette 50 between one main loading / unloading area Ra1 and one auxiliary loading / unloading area Rb1, as indicated by arrow A1 in FIG. 14. The other transport unit 81b transports the cassette 50 between the other main loading / unloading area Ra2 and the other auxiliary loading / unloading area Rb2, as indicated by arrow A2. More specifically, one transport unit 81a transports the cassette 50 from one main loading / unloading area Ra1 to one auxiliary loading / unloading area Rb1, as indicated by arrow A1 in FIG. 14. The other transport unit 81b transports the cassette 50 from the other auxiliary loading / unloading area Rb2 to the other main loading / unloading area Ra2, as indicated by arrow A2. Therefore, one main loading / unloading area Ra1 is used to detach the cassette 50, and the other main loading / unloading area Ra2 is used to attach the cassette 50. Furthermore, one of the secondary attachment / detachment areas Rb1 is used to attach the cassette 50, and the other secondary attachment / detachment area Rb2 is used to detach the cassette 50. As described above, by having the two transport units 81a and 81b each transport the cassette 50 in one direction, it is possible to simplify the control of the transport units 81a and 81b, as well as the control of the main storage unit 30 and the secondary storage unit 70.

[0116] The transport section 81 has a support pillar 82 and a transport mechanism 83 supported by the support pillar 82. The support pillar 82 extends in the vertical direction Z over a range spanning the height of the secondary storage device 13 in the vertical direction Z. The support pillar 82 is equipped with an elevating mechanism 82a that moves the transport mechanism 83 in the vertical direction Z. This elevating mechanism 82a may be a known configuration such as a winding transmission mechanism using a belt or chain, or a fluid pressure cylinder.

[0117] The transport mechanism 83 is connected to the lifting mechanism 82a and is movable in the vertical direction Z along the support 82. The transport mechanism 83 includes an upper arm (first arm) 83a connected to the support 82, a lower arm (second arm) 83b connected to the upper arm 83a, and a gripper 83c connected to the lower arm 83b.

[0118] The upper arm 83a protrudes horizontally from the support column 82. The upper arm 83a is formed in the shape of a rod or block that is long in the horizontal direction. The upper arm 83a moves in the vertical direction Z by an elevating mechanism 82a of the support column 82. The upper arm 83a includes a drive mechanism 83a1 that operates (rotates) the lower arm 83b. The drive mechanism 83a1 includes a motor, a variable speed gear, etc.

[0119] The lower arm 83b is connected to the tip of the upper arm 83a. The lower arm 83b is formed in the shape of a rod or block that is long in the horizontal direction. The lower arm 83b is connected to the upper arm 83a at the center of its longitudinal direction so as to be rotatable about an axis c1 in the vertical direction Z. The lower arm 83b is rotated by a drive mechanism 83a1 of the upper arm 83a. The lower arm 83b is equipped with a drive mechanism 83b1 that operates (rotates and moves linearly) the gripper 83c. The drive mechanism 83b1 includes known drive components such as a motor and an actuator (a fluid pressure cylinder, an electric cylinder, a linear slider, a winding transmission mechanism, etc.).

[0120] The gripper 83c is connected to one end of the lower arm 83b. The gripper 83c is connected to the lower arm 83b so as to be rotatable about an axis c2 in the vertical direction Z. The gripper 83c is rotated by a drive mechanism 83b1 of the lower arm 83b. The gripper 83c is also moved linearly along the longitudinal direction of the lower arm 83b by the drive mechanism 83b1 of the lower arm 83b.

[0121] The gripping portion 83c includes a pair of gripping claws 83c1 and a drive mechanism 83c2 that operates the gripping claws 83c1. The pair of gripping claws 83c1 grip the cassette 50 by pinching both side surfaces of the cassette 50. The gripping claws 83c1 of this embodiment grip the cassette 50 by pinching recesses 50B formed on both side surfaces of the cassette 50. The drive mechanism 83c2 opens and closes the spacing between the pair of gripping claws 83c1 to switch between a gripping mode and a release mode for the cassette 50.

[0122] The specific operation of the transport section 81 of the transport device 14 will be described below. As an example, the transfer of cassettes 50 from the secondary storage section 70 of the secondary storage device 13 to the main storage section 30 of the main storage device 12 will be described. Figures 17A to 17D are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the transport device. 17A, the sub-movement mechanism 72 of the sub-storage unit 70 moves the cassette 50 held by the sub-holding unit 71 to the sub-removal area Rb. The transport unit 81 moves the transport mechanism 83 to the height of the sub-removal area Rb using the lifting mechanism 82a of the support column 82. Thereafter, the transport unit 81 moves the gripping unit 83c closer to the sub-removal area Rb by rotating the lower arm 83b and rotating and linearly moving the gripping unit 83c, and grips the cassette 50 with the gripping claws 83c1.

[0123] Next, as shown in FIG. 17B, the transport unit 81 linearly moves the gripping unit 83c in a direction away from the auxiliary loading / unloading area Rb to remove the cassette 50 from the auxiliary storage unit 70. Then, as shown in FIG. 17C, the transport unit 81 uses the lifting mechanism 82a of the support column 82 to move the transport mechanism 83 to the height of the main loading / unloading area Ra, and rotates the lower arm 83b to change the orientation of the cassette 50 so that it faces the main loading / unloading area Ra of the main storage unit 30. Finally, as shown in FIG. 17D, the transport unit 81 horizontally moves the gripping unit 83c linearly to approach the main loading / unloading area Ra, and installs the gripped cassette 50 in the main storage unit 30. Transport from the main storage unit 30 to the auxiliary storage unit 70 is performed in the reverse order of the above.

[0124] Each of the plurality of main storage sections 30 of the main storage device 12 is provided with two main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2, and the transport device 14 is provided with two transport units 81a, 81b corresponding to each of the main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2. Therefore, the two transport units 81a, 81b can load or unload cassettes 50 into or from the main storage section 30 in the corresponding main loading / unloading area Ra1, Ra2. Similarly, each of the plurality of sub-storage sections 70 of the sub-storage device 13 is provided with two sub-loading / unloading areas Rb1, Rb2, and the transport device 14 is provided with two transport units 81a, 81b corresponding to each of the sub-loading / unloading areas Rb1, Rb2. Therefore, the two transport units 81a, 81b can load or unload cassettes 50 in the corresponding sub-loading / unloading area Rb1, Rb2. Therefore, the cassette 50 can be transported more quickly than when one transport section loads or unloads the cassette 50 in the two main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2 and the two sub loading / unloading areas Rb1, Rb2.

[0125] 14, the front conveying unit 81a conveys the cassette 50 supplied to the transfer unit 17 of the cassette filling device 15 to the main storage device 12 or the sub-storage device 13. In this case, the conveying unit 81a moves the conveying mechanism 83 to the height of the transfer unit 17 using the lifting mechanism 82a, and then rotates the lower arm 83b and rotates and linearly moves the gripping unit 83c to bring the gripping unit 83c closer to the transfer unit 17, and grips the cassette 50 with the gripping claws 83c1. Next, the conveying unit 81a linearly moves the gripping unit 83c in a direction away from the transfer unit 17, thereby removing the cassette 50 from the transfer unit 17. Thereafter, the conveying unit 81 moves the conveying mechanism 83 to the height of the main attachment / detachment area Ra or the secondary attachment / detachment area Rb using the lifting mechanism 82a of the support 82, rotates the lower arm 83b to face the cassette 50 directly to the main attachment / detachment area Ra1 or the secondary attachment / detachment area Rb1, and attaches the cassette 50 to the main attachment / detachment area Ra1 or the secondary attachment / detachment area Rb1 by moving the gripping unit 83c horizontally in a straight line.

[0126] In the medicine packaging system 10 described above, the main storage device 12 moves the cassettes 50 stored in the main storage section 30 to the main attachment / detachment areas Ra1 and Ra2, the auxiliary storage device 13 moves the cassettes 50 stored in the auxiliary storage section 70 to the auxiliary attachment / detachment areas Rb1 and Rb2, and the conveying device 14 conveys the cassettes 50 between the main attachment / detachment areas Ra1 and Ra2 and the auxiliary attachment / detachment areas Rb1 and Rb2. Therefore, the cassettes 50 can be conveyed more easily and quickly between the main storage device 12 and the auxiliary storage device 13 than when the cassettes 50 are conveyed manually.

[0127] Furthermore, at least two of the operations of the main storage device 12 moving the cassettes 50 to the main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2, the secondary storage device 13 moving the cassettes 50 to the secondary loading / unloading areas Rb1, Rb2, and the transport device 14 transporting the cassettes 50 can be performed simultaneously, so the transport of the cassettes 50 can be performed efficiently in a short time. Furthermore, the multiple main storage sections 30 of the main storage device 12 individually move the cassettes 50 to the main loading / unloading areas Ra1, Ra2, and the multiple secondary storage sections 70 of the secondary storage device 13 individually move the cassettes 50 to the secondary loading / unloading areas Rb1, Rb2, so the transport of the cassettes 50 can be performed even more efficiently in a short time.

[0128] In the above embodiment of the pharmaceutical packaging system 10, the main storage device 12 moves the cassette 50 to the main attachment / detachment areas Ra1, Ra2, and the secondary storage device 13 moves the cassette 50 to the secondary attachment / detachment areas Rb1, Rb2, so that the transport distance by the conveying device 14 can be shortened, the conveying device 14 can be made smaller, and the number of cassettes 50 transported per unit time by the conveying device 14 can be increased.

[0129] In the medicine packaging system 10, the cassettes 50 are stored in both the main storage device 12 and the auxiliary storage device 13. This increases the number of cassettes 50 that can be stored in the entire medicine packaging system 10. Furthermore, the cassettes 50 stored in the main storage device 12 can directly dispense and package medicines, while the cassettes 50 stored in the auxiliary storage device 13 can be transported to the main storage device 12 and then dispense and package medicines.

[0130] When continuously packaging medications required for each patient for a predetermined period (e.g., one month's supply), the medications can be continuously dispensed from one or more cassettes 50 and packaged sequentially. However, when packaging medications to be taken by many hospitalized patients in a large hospital, etc., a single packet of medication to be taken only at a specific time of day (e.g., after breakfast on Xth month and Yth day) may be continuously packaged for many patients. In this case, because the medications taken by each patient are different, the medications must be dispensed from a different cassette 50 for each packet. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare more cassettes 50 and to frequently transport the cassettes 50 between the main storage device 12 and the auxiliary storage device 13. The medication packaging system 10 of the above embodiment can store many cassettes 50 using the main storage device 12 and the auxiliary storage device 13, and can rapidly transport the cassettes 50 as described above, so that even when multiple different medications are continuously packaged, the medications can be packaged in a short time.

[0131] [Example of drug packaging system configuration] Fig. 19 is a schematic front view showing another example of the configuration of the medicine packaging system. Fig. 20 is a schematic front view showing yet another example of the configuration of the medicine packaging system. The medicine packaging system 10 described above has one packing device 11, one main storage device 12, one conveying device 14, and one auxiliary storage device 13 arranged in this order in the left-right direction (first direction) X, but is not limited to such a configuration example. For example, as shown in Fig. 19, the medicine packaging system 10 may have one packing device 11, one main storage device 12, two conveying devices 14, and two auxiliary storage devices 13, and one auxiliary storage device 13, one conveying device 14, the packing device 11, the main storage device 12, the other conveying device 14, and the other auxiliary storage device 13 may be arranged in this order in the left-right direction (first direction) X.

[0132] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 20, the pharmaceutical packaging system 10 may include two packaging devices 11 and a main storage device 12, two conveying devices 14, and one auxiliary storage device 13, with one packaging device 11 and main storage device 12, one conveying device 14, auxiliary storage device 13, the other conveying device 14, and the other packaging device 11 and main storage device 12 arranged in this order in the left-right direction (first direction) X.

[0133] 19, as shown by arrow A, one transport device 14 can transport a cassette 50 between one secondary storage device 13 and the main storage device 12, and the other transport device 14 can transport a cassette 50 between the other secondary storage device 13 and the main storage device 12. Furthermore, by performing these transport operations for one cassette 50, the cassette 50 can be transported between one secondary storage device 13 and the other secondary storage device 13, as shown by arrow C.

[0134] 20, as shown by arrow A, one transport device 14 can transport a cassette 50 between one main storage unit 12 and a secondary storage unit 13, and the other transport device 14 can transport a cassette 50 between the other main storage unit 12 and a secondary storage unit 13. Furthermore, by performing these transport operations for one cassette 50, the cassette 50 can be transported between one main storage unit 12 and the other main storage unit 12, as shown by arrow D.

[0135] As another configuration example, the required number of devices 12 to 14 can be arranged in succession next to the secondary storage device 13 on the right or left side as shown in Fig. 19, such as a conveying device 14, a main storage device 12, a conveying device 14, a secondary storage device 13, etc. As yet another configuration, the required number of devices 12 to 14 can be arranged in succession next to the main storage device 12 on the right or left side as shown in Fig. 20, such as a conveying device 14, a secondary storage device 13, a conveying device 14, a main storage device 12, etc. In this way, even if the devices 12 to 14 are arranged in succession, only the dimension in the left-right direction (first direction) X increases, and the dimension in the front-rear direction Y remains unchanged.

[0136] [Variations] The above-described embodiment is an example, and the medicine packaging system 10 is not limited to the embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the main storage section 30 of the main storage device 12 stores the multiple cassettes 50 arranged in a perfect circle, but the cassettes may be stored in an oval, elliptical, or other shape. Also, the main storage section 30 may hold the multiple cassettes 50 arranged in a straight line.

[0137] In the above-described embodiment, the sub-storage section 70 of the sub-storage device 13 stores a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged in an oval shape, but the cassettes may be stored in a perfect circle, an ellipse, etc. Also, the sub-storage section 70 may hold a plurality of cassettes 50 arranged in a straight line.

[0138] In the above-described embodiment, the transport device 14 includes two transport units 81, but may include a single transport unit 81, or may include three or more transport units 81. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, one of the two transport units 81a, 81b, the transport unit 81a, transports the cassettes 50 from the main storage device 12 to the secondary storage device 13, and the other transport unit 81b transports the cassettes 50 from the secondary storage device 13 to the main storage device 12, but both transport units 81 may transport the cassettes 50 in both directions between the main storage device 12 and the secondary storage device 13.

[0139] In the above embodiment, the housing 20 of the medicine packaging system 10 is divided into the housing 20A that covers the main storage device 12 and the packaging device 11, and the housing 20B that covers the conveying device 14 and the auxiliary storage device 13, but this is not limited to this. For example, the housing 20 may cover all the devices 11 to 14. Alternatively, the housing 20 may cover the main storage device 12 and the packaging device 11, the conveying device 14, and the auxiliary storage device 13 individually.

[0140] In the medicine packaging system (medicine cassette transport system) 10, the arrangement of the main storage device 12, transport device 14, and auxiliary storage device 13 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the main storage device 12 and auxiliary storage device 13 may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction (first direction) X, and the transport device 14 may be arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction (second direction) Y relative to these devices 12 and 13. One of the main storage device 12 and auxiliary storage device 13 and the transport device 14 may be arranged side by side in the left-to-right direction (first direction) X, and the other storage device may be arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction (second direction) Y relative to these devices.

[0141] The medicine packaging system 10 may have a function of separating the medicine-packaged packages one by one from the band-shaped packaging strip formed by the packaging device 11 and storing each package in an individual case. For example, the medicine packaging system 10 may further include a cutting device that separates the packages one by one from the packaging strip, and a storing device that stores the separated packages in predetermined cases.

[0142] [Note] (Appendix 1) a main storage device for storing a medicine cassette and dispensing medicines from the medicine cassette; a secondary storage device for storing a drug cassette; and a transport device that transports the drug cassette between a predetermined main mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the main storage device and a predetermined secondary mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the secondary storage device, The main storage device has two main storage sections, Each of the main storage units includes a main holder that holds the medicine cassette, and a main moving mechanism that moves the medicine cassette held by the main holder to the main attachment / detachment area, The medicine cassette transport system, wherein the main movement mechanism in one of the main storage units and the main movement mechanism in the other main storage unit operate independently. In the configuration of Supplementary Note 1, the main accommodation device may have three or more main accommodation sections, and it is sufficient that two of them have the above configuration.

[0143] (Appendix 2) The drug cassette transport system according to claim 1, wherein each of the two main storage units is provided with a control unit that moves together with the drug cassette held in the main holding unit by the main moving mechanism and controls the main holding unit.

[0144] (Appendix 3) the main moving mechanism moves the medicine cassette and the control unit held by the main holding unit along a circular path; an electric wire connected to the control unit; 3. The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 2, further comprising: a support base that supports the electric wire in a spiral shape around the center of the annular path.

[0145] (Appendix 4) the main moving mechanism moves the medicine cassette held by the main holding portion along a circular path; the main storage device has a common drug passage disposed inside the path and passing drugs discharged from the drug cassettes held in the two main holding sections; 4. The medicine cassette transportation system according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the medicine passage is formed in a ring shape concentric with the path.

[0146] (Appendix 5) the main holding portion includes a cylindrical rotating cylinder that rotates around a predetermined rotation axis, and a support member that is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the rotating cylinder and supports the medicine cassette, The main storage device has a cylindrical central cylinder arranged radially inside the rotary cylinder, 5. The drug cassette transport system of claim 4, wherein the drug passage is formed radially between the rotating cylinder and the central cylinder.

[0147] (Appendix 6) The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the main storage device includes a valve device that switches between a mode that allows the medicine to pass through the medicine passage and a mode that prevents the medicine from passing through the medicine passage.

[0148] (Appendix 7) 7. The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 6, wherein the valve device comprises a valve body disposed within the central cylinder and a drive mechanism that moves the valve body along the central cylinder.

[0149] (Appendix 8) a main storage device for storing a medicine cassette and dispensing medicines from the medicine cassette; a secondary storage device for storing a drug cassette; and a transport device that transports the drug cassette between a predetermined main mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the main storage device and a predetermined secondary mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the secondary storage device, The secondary storage device has two secondary storage sections, Each of the auxiliary storage units includes an auxiliary holding unit that holds the medicine cassette, and an auxiliary moving mechanism that moves the medicine cassette held by the auxiliary holding unit to the auxiliary attachment / detachment area, The medicine cassette transport system, wherein the sub-movement mechanism in one of the sub-storage units and the sub-movement mechanism in the other sub-storage unit operate independently. In the configuration of Supplementary Note 8, the secondary storage device may have three or more secondary storage sections, and it is sufficient that two of them have the above configuration.

[0150] (Appendix 9) The auxiliary holding section holds the plurality of medicine cassettes arranged in a circular shape, the auxiliary movement mechanism moves each of the medicine cassettes along a circular path in the arrangement direction of the plurality of medicine cassettes; 9. The medicine cassette storage device according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary movement mechanism is disposed in a space surrounded by a plurality of the medicine cassettes arranged in a circular shape.

[0151] (Appendix 10) the main storage device, the transport device, and the sub-storage device are arranged side by side in a predetermined first direction; 10. The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 9, wherein the auxiliary holding section holds the plurality of medicine cassettes arranged in an elliptical shape that is short in the first direction and long in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0152] (Appendix 11) a main storage device for storing a medicine cassette and dispensing medicines from the medicine cassette; a secondary storage device for storing a drug cassette; and a transport device that transports the drug cassette between a predetermined main mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the main storage device and a predetermined secondary mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the secondary storage device, Two of the main attachment / detachment areas or two of the sub attachment / detachment areas are set, The drug cassette transport system includes two transport units that mount or detach the drug cassette in both main mounting / detaching areas or both sub mounting / detaching areas. In the configuration of Supplementary Note 11, it is sufficient that at least two main or sub-attachment / detachment areas are set, and three or more may be set. The transport device is sufficient that at least two transport units are set, and may have three or more transport units.

[0153] (Appendix 12) the main storage device, the transport device, and the secondary storage device are arranged in this order in a predetermined first direction; 13. The medicine cassette transport device according to claim 11, wherein the two transport units are arranged side by side in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

[0154] (Appendix 13) A drug cassette transport system according to any one of appendices 1 to 13; a packaging device that packages the medicines discharged from the medicine cassettes contained in the main storage device of the medicine cassette transport system in packages for each dose.

[0155] [Additional Note] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the above-described embodiments, and includes meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 10: Drug packaging system (drug cassette transport system) 11: Packaging device 12: Main containment unit 13: Secondary storage device 14:Transportation device 30: Main containment area 31: Main holding part 32: Main movement mechanism 35c: Outlet 41: Bearing 49: Intrusion prevention member 50:Medicine cassette 70: Secondary storage area 71: Sub-holding part 72: Sub-movement mechanism 74a: Laura 75: Foundation 81a: Transport section 81b: Transport section

Claims

1. a main storage device for storing a medicine cassette and dispensing medicines from the medicine cassette; a secondary storage device for storing a drug cassette; and a transport device that transports the drug cassette between a predetermined main mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the main storage device and a predetermined secondary mounting / removal area for mounting or removing the drug cassette to or from the secondary storage device, The main accommodation device is a main holder for holding the medicine cassette; and a main storage section including a main moving mechanism that moves the medicine cassette held by the main holding section to the main attachment / detachment area; The secondary storage device is a sub-holding portion for holding the medicine cassette; and A medicine cassette transport system comprising a sub-storage section including a sub-moving mechanism that moves the medicine cassette held by the sub-holding section to the sub-attaching / detaching area.

2. The main storage device includes two of the main storage sections, The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 1 , wherein the main movement mechanism in one of the main storage sections and the main movement mechanism in the other of the main storage sections operate independently.

3. the main holder holds a plurality of the medicine cassettes; The drug cassette transport system according to claim 2 , wherein the main moving mechanism moves each of the drug cassettes to the main loading / unloading area.

4. the main holder holds a plurality of medicine cassettes in a line; The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 3 , wherein the main moving mechanism moves each of the medicine cassettes in a direction in which the plurality of medicine cassettes are arranged.

5. the main attachment / detachment area is set for each of the two main storage sections, 5. The drug cassette transport system according to claim 2, wherein the transport device has one transport section that mounts or detaches the drug cassette in the main mounting / detaching areas of both of the main storage sections.

6. The two main storage sections are arranged one above the other, The main accommodation device is a common passage through which both the medicine dispensed from the medicine cassette held in the main holding section of the upper main storage section and the medicine dispensed from the medicine cassette held in the main holding section of the lower main storage section pass; an upper outlet communicating the medicine cassette held in the main holding portion of the upper main storage portion with the passage; a lower outlet communicating the medicine cassette held in the main holding portion of the lower main storage portion with the passage; The medicine cassette transport system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising an intrusion prevention member, at least a portion of which is disposed above the lower discharge port and which prevents medicine from intruding into the lower discharge port from above.

7. The main accommodation device is 5. The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 2, further comprising a bearing that connects the main holding portion in one of the main storage portions and the main holding portion in the other of the main storage portions so that they can move relative to each other.

8. two main attachment / detachment areas are defined for the main storage section; 5. The drug cassette transport system according to claim 1, wherein the transport device includes two transport sections that mount or detach the drug cassette in each of the main mounting and dismounting areas.

9. The drug cassette transport system according to claim 8 , wherein one of the transport units loads the drug cassette at one of the main loading / unloading areas, and the other of the transport units detaches the drug cassette at the other of the main loading / unloading areas.

10. The secondary storage device includes two of the secondary storage sections, The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 1 , wherein the sub-movement mechanism in one of the sub-containers and the sub-movement mechanism in the other of the sub-containers operate independently.

11. The auxiliary holding unit holds a plurality of the medicine cassettes, The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary movement mechanism moves each of the medicine cassettes to the auxiliary attachment / detachment area.

12. The auxiliary holding section holds the plurality of medicine cassettes arranged in a circular shape, The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 11 , wherein the auxiliary movement mechanism moves each of the medicine cassettes in an arrangement direction of the plurality of medicine cassettes.

13. the auxiliary movement mechanism moves the cassette along a circular movement path including a first movement path facing the main storage device and a second movement path disposed on the opposite side of the first movement path from the main storage device, The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary attachment / detachment area is set on the first movement path.

14. the secondary storage device includes a base that supports the secondary holding portion, 14. The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary holder has a roller that rolls on the base.

15. the secondary attachment / detachment area is set for each of the two secondary storage sections, The drug cassette transport system according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the transport device has one transport section that mounts or detaches the drug cassette in the secondary mounting / detaching areas of both of the secondary storage sections.

16. 14. The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 1, wherein two of the sub-detachable areas are defined for the sub-storage section.

17. the transport device includes two transport units that mount or detach the medicine cassette in each of the sub-mounting and detaching areas, 17. The drug cassette transport system according to claim 16, wherein one of the transport units mounts the drug cassette in one of the secondary mounting / removal areas, and the other transport unit detaches the drug cassette in the other secondary mounting / removal area.

18. 14. The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 1, wherein the main storage device, the transport device, and the auxiliary storage device are arranged in this order.

19. One of the main storage devices, two of the secondary storage devices, and two of the transport devices, 19. The medicine cassette transport system according to claim 18, wherein one of the auxiliary storage devices, one of the transport devices, the main storage device, the other of the transport devices, and the other of the auxiliary storage device are arranged in this order.

20. two of the main storage devices, one of the secondary storage devices, and two of the transport devices; 19. The drug cassette transport system according to claim 18, wherein one of the main storage devices, one of the transport devices, the secondary storage device, the other of the transport device, and the other of the main storage device are arranged in this order.

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