Medicine picking apparatus

Abstract

To provide a technique which can miniaturize a medicine picking apparatus, and can effectively utilize an installation space.SOLUTION: A medicine picking apparatus comprises: a storage module 30 including plural storage parts 32 arranged vertically and horizontally; plural trays 40 stored in each of the plural storage parts so as to be inserted and drawn out; a take-out module 60 supporting the trays at a take-out position for taking out each medicine 10 in each tray; and a movement mechanism for moving the trays from the plural storage parts toward the take-out position. At least a part of the take-out module is located between the plural storage parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for picking medicines. [Background technology]

[0002] Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic medicine picking device that includes a main body that stores medicines and a picking table. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Yuyama Manufacturing Co., Ltd. "Automatic drug picking device Drug Station" [online], [searched on Wednesday, May 8, 2024], Internet (https: / / www.yuyama.co.jp / product / products / drugstation.html) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] According to Non-Patent Document 1, the picking table protrudes significantly from the main body that stores the medicines. This increases the installation space of the picking device. In addition, the space above the picking table becomes wasted space.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can reduce the size of a medicine picking device and make effective use of installation space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The drug picking device comprises a storage module including a plurality of storage sections arranged vertically and horizontally, a plurality of trays stored in a removable manner in each of the plurality of storage sections, a removal module that supports the trays at a removal position for removing drugs from the trays, and a moving mechanism that moves the trays from the plurality of storage sections toward the removal position, wherein at least a portion of the removal module is located between the plurality of storage sections. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this medicine picking device, the medicine picking device can be made smaller and the installation space can be used effectively. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a medicine picking device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the medicine picking device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing module and the dispensing module. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the medicine picking device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] {Embodiment} Hereinafter, the medicine picking device according to the embodiment will be described.

[0010] <Overall structure> The overall configuration of the medicine picking device will now be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic front view showing the medicine picking device 20, and Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the same medicine picking device 20.

[0011] The medicine picking device 20 includes a storage module 30, a plurality of trays 40, a removal module 60, and a moving mechanism 50. In this embodiment, the medicine picking device 20 further includes a dispensing module 70. The dispensing module 70 may be omitted.

[0012] In this medication picking device 20, a plurality of trays 40 are stored in a storage module 30. Each tray 40 stores medications. A moving mechanism 50 moves the trays 40 stored in the storage module 30 toward a removal module 60. The trays 40 moved to the removal module 60 can be pulled outward. The medications stored in the trays 40 are removed in the removal module 60. A dispensing module 70 serves as work equipment for dispensing the medications removed from the trays 40 for a specific patient.

[0013] More specifically, the medicine picking device 20 has a housing 22 in which a storage module 30, a take-out module 60, a moving mechanism 50, and a dispensing module 70 are assembled.

[0014] The housing 22 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box with at least one open side. For ease of explanation, the open side of the housing 22 may be referred to as the front side, and the opposite side as the rear side.

[0015] The storage module 30, the removal module 60, and the dispensing module 70 are located on the front side within the housing 22. That is, when the medicine picking device 20 is viewed from the front, the arrangement area of ​​the storage module 30, the arrangement area of ​​the removal module 60, and the arrangement area of ​​the dispensing module 70 can be observed.

[0016] If the storage module 30 is located near the front of the drug picking device 20, the trays 40 stored in the storage module 30 can be easily accessed from the front of the device 20. If the removal module 60 and the dispensing module 70 face forward in the drug picking device 20, a person positioned in front of the device 20 can easily remove drugs from the removal module 60 and dispense them using the dispensing module 70.

[0017] The moving mechanism 50 is located at the rear side within the housing 22. The moving mechanism 50 operates behind the storage module 30 and the removal module 60, and can move the tray 40 in and out of the storage module 30 and the removal module 60. Note that a storage module may be provided behind the moving mechanism 50. In this case, the moving mechanism 50 may be configured to move the tray 40 in and out of the storage modules in front and behind it.

[0018] The storage module 30 includes a plurality of storage sections 32 arranged vertically and horizontally. In this embodiment, the storage module 30 is provided in a first area 30A, a second area 30B, and a third area 30C. In each of the areas 30A, 30B, and 30C, the plurality of storage sections 32 are arranged vertically and horizontally.

[0019] Each storage section 32 is a section that can store an individual tray 40. For example, the storage section 32 may be a section that corresponds to one tray 40 on a shelf 32S on which trays 40 can be arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In this case, the shelf 32S may have a groove or partition that allows the tray 40 to slide forward and backward. The storage section may be a section that has a pair of support rails that support both sides of the tray 40 so that the tray 40 can slide, or may be a section that supports the tray 40 by suspending it.

[0020] The first area 30A is set to extend across the entire storage space in the vertical direction on one widthwise side of the housing 22. For example, the first area 30A is set with seven storage sections 32 in the horizontal direction and sixteen rows in the vertical direction. A tray 40 is stored in each storage section 32 so that it can be inserted and removed.

[0021] In this embodiment, a portion of the storage section 32 is omitted from the first area 30A, and a slide table 38 is provided in the omitted portion. For example, the slide table 38 is provided in a vertically intermediate portion of the first area 30A, adjacent to the take-out module 60. The slide table 38 may be movable between a storage position on the same plane as the forefront of the drug picking device 20 or further back, and an extended position extending forward of the drug picking device 20. The slide table 38 may be located adjacent to the take-out module 60 or the drug picking device 20. The slide table 38 may be located at a height corresponding to the top surface of the dispensing table 72 of the dispensing module 70. For example, the height position of the top surface of the slide table 38 may be set to within ±5 cm, more preferably within ±2 cm, of the height position of the top surface of the dispensing table 72.

[0022] The second area 30B is set to extend over a partial space above the storage space on the other widthwise side of the housing 22. For example, in the second area 30B, five rows of storage sections 32 are set in the left-right direction and six rows in the up-down direction.

[0023] The third area 30C is set to extend into a partial space below the storage space on the other widthwise side of the housing 22. For example, in the third area 30C, five rows of storage sections 32 are set in the left-right direction and two rows in the up-down direction.

[0024] The sum of the height dimension of the second area 30B and the height dimension of the third area 30C is smaller than the height dimension of the first area 30A. Because the sum of the height dimension of the second area 30B and the height dimension of the third area 30C is smaller than the height dimension of the first area 30A, there is an excess space in the vertical direction in the housing 22. The take-out module 60 and the dispensing module 70 are disposed in the excess space in the vertical direction.

[0025] The tray 40 is a case that can be moved while storing medicines. For example, the tray 40 may be box-shaped with an opening at the top. The upper opening of the tray may be closed with an openable lid. In this embodiment, the tray 40 is a rectangular box-shaped box that is long in the front-to-rear direction and flat in the vertical direction, and has an opening at the top (see FIG. 3). Medicines can be put in and taken out of the tray 40 through the upper opening of the tray 40.

[0026] The tray 40 is stored in the storage section 32 and the removal module 60 so as to be removable from the rear. The tray 40 supported by the removal module 60 can be pulled out to the front of the removal module 60.

[0027] The front of each of the areas 30A, 30B, and 30C in the housing 22 is preferably open, allowing access to each storage section 32 from the front of the device 20. This allows drugs to be stored in and removed from each storage section 32 without going through the removal module 60.

[0028] The front opening of the housing 22 may be covered by a door 23 that can be opened and closed. When the front opening is covered by the door 23, unintentional insertion and removal of medicines is prevented. The door 23 may be a lockable door. The door 23 may be transparent to the extent that the presence or absence of medicine and the type of medicine can be identified.

[0029] The moving mechanism 50 is a mechanism for moving the trays 40 from the storage sections 32 to the removal position in the removal module 60 .

[0030] For example, the movement mechanism 50 includes a horizontal movement mechanism 52 , a vertical movement mechanism 54 , and an entrance / exit mechanism 56 .

[0031] The loading / unloading mechanism 56 is a mechanism for loading and unloading the tray 40 into and from the storage section 32 and the take-out module 60. For example, the loading / unloading mechanism 56 has a loading surface 56f on which the tray 40 is placed and supported, and a retractable arm 56a. The arm 56a can be driven to move in and out by driving an actuator such as a motor. The arm 56a is advanced toward the storage section 32 to engage with the tray 40, and in this state, the arm 56a is retracted. This allows the tray on the storage section 32 to be retracted onto the loading surface 56f. The arm 56a is also advanced to push the tray 40 on the loading surface 56f into the storage section 32. This allows the tray on the loading surface 56f to be transferred to and loaded into the storage section 32. The loading / unloading mechanism 56 also loads and unloads the tray 40 into and from the take-out module 60 in the same manner as described above.

[0032] The vertical movement mechanism 54 moves the access mechanism 56 up and down. For example, the vertical movement mechanism 54 includes a column 54a that supports the access mechanism 56 so that it can be raised and lowered. The access mechanism 56 is driven to move up and down along the column 54a by driving an actuator such as a motor. By moving the access mechanism 56 up and down along the column 54a, the access mechanism 56 moves to a vertical position corresponding to a predetermined removal position in any of the storage sections 32 or removal modules 60.

[0033] The horizontal movement mechanism 52 moves the column 54a along the horizontal direction. For example, the horizontal movement mechanism 52 includes upper and lower rails 52a. The upper and lower ends of the column 54a are supported by the upper and lower rails 52a so as to be horizontally movable. The column 54a is driven to move along the rails 52a by driving an actuator such as a motor. As the column 54a moves horizontally along the rails 52a, the loading / unloading mechanism 56 supported by the column 54a moves to a left-right position corresponding to a predetermined removal position in one of the storage sections 32 or removal module 60.

[0034] The medicine picking device 20 may further include an additional storage module 100. The additional storage module 100 includes a plurality of additional storage sections 112 arranged in a row vertically and horizontally. The additional storage sections 112 may have the same configuration as the storage section 32. The additional storage section 112 is arranged inside the housing 110. The additional storage module 100 does not need to be provided with the above-mentioned retrieval module 60 and dispensing module 70. Therefore, a large number of storage sections 32 are arranged vertically and horizontally. In this embodiment, six columns of storage sections 32 are set in the left-right direction and 16 rows in the up-down direction.

[0035] Since the movement mechanism 50 also moves the tray 40 in and out of the expansion storage sections 112, the upper and lower rails 52a may extend into the expansion storage module 100. For example, the side of the housing 22 facing the expansion storage module 100 may be omitted, and the space inside the housing 22 and the space inside the expansion storage module 100 may be connected. The upper and lower rails 52a extend from the space inside the housing 22 to the inside of the expansion storage module 100, and the column 54a and the entry / exit mechanism 56 supported by the column 54a can move back and forth between the inside of the housing 22 and the space inside the expansion storage module 100. This allows the column 54a and the entry / exit mechanism 56 supported by the column 54a to move to a rear position of each expansion storage section 112, allowing the tray 40 to be moved in and out of each expansion storage section 112. The moving mechanism 50 can then move the trays 40 from each additional storage section 112 towards the removal position of the removal module 60 .

[0036] <About the extraction module> The dispensing module 60 will now be described in more detail. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the dispensing module 60 and the dispensing module 70.

[0037] 1 to 3, the removal module 60 is configured to support the tray 40 in a removal position for removing the medications 10 in the tray 40. For example, the removal module 60 has a removable drawer 62 at the front of the device 20. In this embodiment, the removal module 60 has multiple drawers 62.

[0038] More specifically, the removal module 60 has a plurality of drawer openings 61. For example, the drawer openings 61 are formed so as to be aligned vertically and horizontally. Here, the plurality of drawer openings 61 are formed so as to be aligned in four rows in the left-right direction and two rows in the up-down direction.

[0039] A drawer section 62 is arranged in each drawer opening 61. The drawer section 62 has a drawer main body section 62a in which the tray 40 can be placed, and a front door section 62b. The drawer main body section 62a is formed in the shape of a shallow box on which the tray 40 can be placed. The rear of the drawer main body section 62a is preferably open so that the tray 40 can be inserted and removed. The drawer main body section 62a may have a locking section that can be locked onto the bottom or side of the tray 40 to prevent the tray 40 from shifting.

[0040] The front door portion 62b protrudes upward from the front of the drawer main body portion 62a, and is formed in the shape of a plate that can close the drawer opening 61.

[0041] With the drawer section 62 disposed in the take-out module 60, the tray 40 is pushed into the drawer section 62 by the moving mechanism 50 so that the front door section 62b closes the drawer opening 61. When the drawer section 62 is taken out, the tray 40 placed in the drawer section 62 is taken out together with the drawer section 62. Because the top of the drawer section 62 is open, the drugs 10 in the tray 40 can be taken out from above the drawer section 62.

[0042] In each of the drawer openings 61, the position where the drawer 62 receives the tray 40 is the extraction position for extracting the medicines 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, the extraction module 60 includes a plurality of extraction positions. The moving mechanism 50 can move the tray 40 from the plurality of storage sections 32 toward the plurality of extraction positions.

[0043] At least a portion of the removal module 60 is located between the plurality of storage sections 32. "At least a portion of the removal module 60 is located between the plurality of storage sections 32" means that at least a portion of the removal module 60 is located between the plurality of storage sections 32 in at least two directions. If at least a portion of the removal module 60 is located between the plurality of storage sections 32, it is easy to reduce the amount of protrusion of the removal module 60 from the device 20.

[0044] In this embodiment, the removal module 60 is located between the storage section 32 located in the second area 30B as the upper storage section and the storage section 32 located in the third area 30C as the lower storage section. Therefore, the removal module 60 can be easily located at a height suitable for work by a standing person, rather than being located at an extremely low or extremely high position.

[0045] At least a portion of the removal module may be located between the upper storage section and the side storage section, or between the lower storage section and the side storage section.

[0046] It is preferable that the amount of protrusion of the removal module 60 from the front surface of the storage module 30 be as small as possible. In this embodiment, the front surface of the removal module 60 is located on an extension of the front surface of the storage module 30. For example, the front surface of the storage module 30 is the front surface serving as a boundary portion located between each of the drawer openings 61. The front surface of the storage module 30 is, for example, the front surface of the door 23. When the front surface of the removal module 60 is located on an extension of the front surface of the storage module 30, this includes a positional relationship within an assembly error. For example, even if the front surface of the removal module 60 is located within ±1 cm in the front-to-rear direction from the extension of the front surface of the storage module 30, it can still be said that the front surface of the removal module 60 is located on an extension of the front surface of the storage module 30.

[0047] When storing the drugs 10 in the tray 40 of the storage section 32, the drawer section 62 may be pulled out while the tray 40 is placed in the drawer section 62, and the drugs 10 may be placed in the tray 40, and then the tray 40 may be pushed back. Thereafter, the moving mechanism 50 moves the tray 40 in the drawer section 62 to one of the storage sections 32, whereby the drugs 10 are stored in the tray 40 of the storage section 32. In other words, the removal position is used as the storage position.

[0048] The take-out module 60 may include a display unit 66. The display unit 66 displays various visually recognizable information. For example, the display unit 66 is a light-emitting unit such as a light-emitting diode, and displays various information by lighting up or not, flashing or not, the flashing pattern, the light color, etc.

[0049] For example, a plurality of display units 66 are provided corresponding to a plurality of removal positions, respectively. When a tray 40 storing drugs 10 is transferred to the drawer unit 62 at the removal position, the display unit 66 corresponding to that removal position may be illuminated. Furthermore, when prescriptions for a plurality of patients are processed simultaneously or consecutively, the removal positions of the drugs 10 prescribed for each patient may be distinguished by the illuminated color of the display unit 66.

[0050] The display unit 66 may be a liquid crystal display device that displays text information.

[0051] The display unit 66 can be configured to display various types of information, for example, it may be possible to distinguish between when the tray 40 arrives and when it is waiting, or to distinguish between when the drug 10 is removed and when it is stored.

[0052] <Pharmacy Module> The dispensing module 70 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the dispensing module 70 includes a dispensing table 72. The dispensing table 72 is a table that provides a work surface 72f for dispensing medication. The work surface 72f is a surface on which, for example, medications 10, medicine bags, prescriptions, etc. can be temporarily placed. The work surface 72f is an upward-facing surface. The work surface 72f may be a horizontal surface or an inclined surface.

[0053] At least a portion of the dispensing module 70 is located between the plurality of storage sections 32. As with the description of the removal module 60, at least a portion of the dispensing module 70 being located between the plurality of storage sections 32 means that at least a portion of the dispensing module 70 is located between the plurality of storage sections 32 in at least two directions.

[0054] In this embodiment, the dispensing module 70 is located above the take-out module 60. The dispensing module 70 is located between the take-out module 60 and the storage section 32 of the upper second area 30B.

[0055] In a plan view, the dispensing module 70 is positioned so as to overlap the take-out module 60. In this embodiment, on the other widthwise side of the device 20, the group of storage units 32 of the second area 30B, the dispensing module 70, the take-out module 60, and the group of storage units 32 of the second area 30B are arranged in this order from top to bottom.

[0056] The dispensing module 70 has a work space 72S that opens forward and extends from the front opening to the rear. The work space 72S extends further rearward than the front surface of the storage module 30 in the front-rear direction. The work space 72S also extends above the work surface 72f. The work space 72S is partitioned on the left, right, rear, and upper sides by both side surfaces, the rear surface, and the ceiling. The work space 72S is a space formed between the take-out module 60 and the storage section 32 of the second area 30B.

[0057] The work surface 72f and the work space 72S are located above the take-out module 60. This makes it easy to take out the drugs 10 from the tray 40 of the drawn-out drawer 62 and move the drugs 10 into the work space 72S to perform various tasks. Furthermore, the storage section 32 can be omitted above the take-out module 60, and the work space 72S can be secured instead. This makes it easy to secure the work space 72S while reducing the amount of projection of the dispensing module 70 from the device 20.

[0058] Medicine picking device 20 may be equipped with inspection devices 78, 79 for medicines dispensed on dispensing table 72. Here, dispensing refers to the act of preparing medicines based on a prescription, and includes, for example, an adjustment act of preparing the specified amount of medicine based on the prescription, and a dispensed medicine inspection act of checking whether the prepared medicine is correct against the prescription.

[0059] The inspection devices 78 and 79 are devices for inspecting the dispensed drugs. For example, the inspection device 78 may be a display device that displays the type and amount of the drug 10 for each patient. The display device may be a tablet terminal equipped with a touch panel function for accepting various inputs. The inspection device 79 may be a barcode reader that reads the barcode attached to the drug 10. The inspection device may also be an input device that accepts prescriptions, an electronic scale for checking the type and amount of dispensed drugs by weight, a printer for printing inspection results on paper, or a camera for recording image data of the prescribed drug 10 as the dispensing result.

[0060] <Block diagram> FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the drug picking device 20. The drug picking device 20 includes a control unit 80. The control unit 80 is configured by a computer including a processor 81 and a storage unit 82. The processor 81 includes an electric circuit that executes arithmetic processing in accordance with a program 82a stored in the storage unit 82. The storage unit 82 is a non-volatile memory such as a magnetic recording medium or a flash memory. The storage unit 82 stores a program 82a for retrieving drugs 10 from each storage unit 32. The processor 81 executes arithmetic processing in accordance with the procedure described in the program 82a, causing the moving mechanism 50 to execute processing to move the trays 40 from each storage unit 32 toward the retrieval position.

[0061] For example, the storage unit 82 stores an inventory table 82b in which the storage positions of the plurality of trays 40 are associated with the medicine-specific information in each tray 40.

[0062] Prescription data for a patient to whom a prescription is to be given is provided to the control unit 80. The prescription data may be data provided from another terminal.

[0063] The prescription data specifies drug specification information and the amount of each drug prescribed to the patient. The control unit 80 specifies the storage location of the prescribed drugs based on the prescription data and the inventory table. The control unit 80 is connected to the movement mechanism 50. The control unit 80 then commands the movement mechanism 50 to move the tray 40 stored in the specified storage location to the removal position. The movement mechanism 50 moves the tray 40 from the storage position to the removal position. The control unit 80 is connected to the display unit 66. When the tray 40 moves to the removal position, the control unit 80 may light up the display unit 66, for example, to notify the user that the tray containing the drugs is located at the removal position.

[0064] The above control is performed for each drug 10 specified in the prescription data. As a result, the drugs prescribed to the patient are sequentially arranged on the tray 40 at the storage position. The pharmacist sequentially pulls out the drawer 62 at each removal position to dispense each drug.

[0065] The control unit 80 is connected to inspection devices 78 and 79. After dispensing is completed, inspection is performed by checking the drug 10 using the inspection devices 78 and 79. After the inspection, the dispensed drug is delivered to the patient.

[0066] <Effects, etc.> According to the medicine picking device 20 configured as described above, the medicine picking device 20 can be made smaller, and the installation space for the medicine picking device 20 can be used effectively.

[0067] For example, in a picking device equipped with a storage shelf and a moving device, if the picking position is located in front of the storage shelf, the picking position will protrude from the storage shelf, increasing the installation space and leaving the space above the picking position as wasted space.

[0068] As in this embodiment, if at least a portion of the removal module 60 is located between multiple storage sections 32, the amount by which the removal module 60 protrudes from the storage module 30 can be reduced, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the drug picking device 20. Furthermore, if the storage section 32 is located above at least a portion of the removal module 60, the space above the removal position is less likely to be wasted, and the installation space for the drug picking device 20 can be used effectively.

[0069] Furthermore, if the front surface of the take-out module 60 is positioned on an extension of the front surface of the storage module 30, the amount of protrusion of the take-out module 60 can be reduced, allowing the medicine picking device 20 to be made even more compact.

[0070] Furthermore, if at least a portion of dispensing module 70 is located between storage units 32, the amount by which dispensing module 70 protrudes from storage module 30 can be reduced, thereby enabling the miniaturization of drug picking device 20. Furthermore, since storage units 32 are disposed above at least a portion of dispensing module 70, the installation space for drug picking device 20 can be effectively utilized.

[0071] Furthermore, the dispensing module 70 is located above the take-out module 60, and overlaps the take-out module 60 in a plan view. Therefore, the dispensing module 70 and the take-out module 60 do not need to be arranged in separate spaces in a plan view. This allows the medicine picking device 20 to be made more compact. Furthermore, because the dispensing module 70 is located above the take-out module 60, medicines can be taken out from the tray 40 located at the take-out position in the take-out module 60, facilitating the dispensing work using the dispensing module 70.

[0072] The dispensing module 70 also has a working space 72S that extends beyond the front surface of the storage module above the dispensing table 72. This makes it easy to ensure the working space 72S while reducing the amount of projection of the dispensing module 70.

[0073] Furthermore, the medicine picking device 20 further includes inspection devices 78, 79 for the medicines 10 dispensed on the dispensing table 72, so that inspection of the dispensing work can be easily carried out.

[0074] Furthermore, the removal module 60 is located between the storage section 32 of the second area 30B as the upper storage section and the storage section 32 of the third area 30C as the lower storage section. This makes it easy to arrange the removal module 60 at a height that makes removal work easy, for example, at a height that is easy for a standing person to reach. Also, trays 40 located in the upper and lower storage sections 32 near the removal module 60 can be easily moved to the removal module 60 quickly. In other words, the number of storage sections 32 near the removal module 60 can be increased.

[0075] Furthermore, the take-out module 60 includes a plurality of take-out positions, and the moving mechanism 50 moves the tray 40 from a plurality of storage sections 32 toward a plurality of take-out positions, so that a plurality of types of medicines can be efficiently taken out.

[0076] The removal module 60 also includes a display 66 that can display various notices or information that are useful for removing the medication 10 from the removal module 60 .

[0077] Furthermore, the drug picking device 20 further includes an additional storage module 100, which is disposed adjacent to the storage module 30, and the moving mechanism 50 moves the trays from the multiple additional storage sections 112 toward the removal position. This makes it easy to add additional storage sections 112.

[0078] The configurations described in the above embodiment and modifications can be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually contradictory.

[0079] <Additional Notes> The present disclosure discloses the following aspects.

[0080] The first aspect is a drug picking device comprising a storage module including a plurality of storage sections arranged vertically and horizontally, a plurality of trays stored in a removable manner in each of the plurality of storage sections, a removal module supporting the trays at a removal position for removing drugs from the trays, and a moving mechanism for moving the trays from the plurality of storage sections toward the removal position, wherein at least a portion of the removal module is positioned between the plurality of storage sections.

[0081] According to this medicine picking device, since at least a portion of the removal module is located between the multiple storage units, the amount of extension of the removal module from the storage module can be reduced, allowing the medicine picking device to be made smaller. Furthermore, since the storage unit is located above at least a portion of the removal module, the installation space of the medicine picking device can be effectively utilized.

[0082] The configurations according to the second and subsequent aspects may be adopted as optional configurations that are not essential.

[0083] A second aspect is the medicine picking device according to the first aspect, wherein a front surface of the removal module is located on an extension of a front surface of the storage module.

[0084] This reduces the amount of protrusion of the removal module, allowing the medicine picking device to be made smaller.

[0085] A third aspect is a drug picking device according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a dispensing module including a dispensing table, at least a portion of the dispensing module being located between the plurality of storage sections.

[0086] In this case, since at least a portion of the dispensing module is located between the multiple storage units, the amount of protrusion of the dispensing module from the storage module can be reduced, allowing for a more compact drug picking device. In addition, since the storage units are located above at least a portion of the dispensing module, the installation space for the drug picking device can be effectively utilized.

[0087] A fourth aspect is the medicine picking device according to the third aspect, wherein the dispensing module is located above the removal module, and the dispensing module may overlap the removal module in a plan view.

[0088] In this case, the dispensing module and the take-out module do not need to be arranged in separate spaces in a plan view. This allows the drug picking device to be made more compact. Furthermore, since the dispensing module is located above the take-out module, drugs can be taken from a tray located at the take-out position of the take-out module, facilitating dispensing work using the dispensing module.

[0089] A fifth aspect is a drug picking device according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the dispensing module has a working space above the dispensing table and extending beyond the front of the storage module.

[0090] In this case, the dispensing module has a working space above the dispensing table and extending further back than the front surface of the storage module, so that it is easy to ensure a working space while reducing the protrusion of the dispensing module.

[0091] A sixth aspect is the medicine picking device according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, further comprising an inspection device for medicines dispensed on the dispensing table.

[0092] This makes it easier to audit dispensing operations.

[0093] A seventh aspect is a drug picking device described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the plurality of storage sections include an upper storage section and a lower storage section, and the removal module is located between the upper storage section and the lower storage section.

[0094] In this case, since the removal module is located between the upper and lower storage sections, it is easy to arrange the removal module at a height that is convenient for removal work. Also, it is easy to quickly move trays from the upper and lower storage sections near the removal module to the removal module.

[0095] An eighth aspect is a drug picking device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the removal module includes a plurality of removal positions, and the moving mechanism moves the tray from the plurality of storage sections toward the plurality of removal positions.

[0096] This allows multiple types of drugs to be extracted efficiently.

[0097] A ninth aspect is the medicine picking device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the take-out module includes a display unit.

[0098] This allows the display unit to display various notices or information that are helpful in removing medication from the removal module.

[0099] A tenth aspect is a drug picking device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, further comprising an expansion storage module including a plurality of expansion storage sections arranged in a vertical and horizontal array, the expansion storage module being arranged next to the storage module, and a forward movement mechanism moving the tray from the plurality of expansion storage sections towards the removal position.

[0100] This makes it easy to add more storage units.

[0101] Although the present invention has been described in detail as above, the above description is merely illustrative in all respects and does not limit the present invention. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be envisioned without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 10 Drugs 20. Drug picking device 30 Storage Module 30A Area 1 30B Area 2 30C Third Area 32 Storage area 40 trays 50 Moving mechanism 60 Extraction module 61 Drawer opening 62 Drawer section 66 Display section 70 Pharmacy Module 72 Dispensing table 72S Work Space 72f Work surface 78, 79 Auditing equipment 100 Expansion Storage Module 112 Additional storage area

Claims

1. a storage module including a plurality of storage sections arranged vertically and horizontally; a plurality of trays removably stored in each of the plurality of storage sections; a removal module supporting the tray in a removal position for removing medications from the tray; a moving mechanism that moves the tray from the plurality of storage units toward the removal position; Equipped with A medication picking device, wherein at least a portion of the removal module is located between the plurality of storage sections.

2. The drug picking device according to claim 1, A medication picking device, wherein the front surface of the removal module is positioned on an extension of the front surface of the storage module.

3. The drug picking device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a dispensing module including a dispensing table; The medication picking device, wherein at least a portion of the dispensing module is located between the plurality of storage sections.

4. The medicine picking device according to claim 3, A medicine picking device, wherein the dispensing module is positioned above the removal module and overlaps the removal module in a plan view.

5. The medicine picking device according to claim 3, The medicine picking device, wherein the dispensing module has a work space above the dispensing table and extending beyond the front surface of the storage module.

6. The medicine picking device according to claim 3, The medication picking device further comprises an auditing device for medications dispensed on the dispensing table.

7. The drug picking device according to claim 1 or 2, the plurality of storage sections include an upper storage section and a lower storage section; The drug picking device, wherein the removal module is located between the upper storage section and the lower storage section.

8. The drug picking device according to claim 1 or 2, the removal module includes a plurality of the removal positions; The moving mechanism moves the tray from the plurality of storage sections toward the plurality of removal positions.

9. The drug picking device according to claim 1 or 2, The drug picking device, wherein the removal module includes a display unit.

10. The drug picking device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an expansion storage module including a plurality of expansion storage sections arranged in rows and columns; the expansion storage module is positioned adjacent to the storage module; A medicine picking device, wherein a forward movement mechanism moves the tray from the plurality of additional storage sections toward the removal position.

Images