Tablet sorting equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a tablet sorting device that includes a stage on which tablets to be photographed are placed, an upper surface photographing unit that is provided above the stage and photographs the upper surface of the tablet placed on the stage, a lower surface photographing unit that is provided below the stage and photographs the lower surface of the tablet placed on the stage, and a control unit that receives images of the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet photographed by the upper surface photographing unit and the lower surface photographing unit and recognizes characters engraved on the tablet from the images, and the upper and lower cameras that photograph the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet are provided with shielding plates at the tips of the cameras that photograph the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet, respectively, to limit the angle of view to a corresponding range, so that when photographing the surface of the tablet, the camera on the opposite side is not recognized as an object, and clear images of the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet can be obtained, and if the characters engraved on the tablet cannot be recognized from the photographed images of the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet, wind is blown on the tablet located in the photographing area to correct the tablet's orientation, and then the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet are photographed again, thereby resolving the inability to recognize the characters engraved on the tablet.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tablet sorting device, and more specifically to a tablet sorting device that photographs the top and bottom surfaces of tablets and sorts them based on the images of the top and bottom surfaces of the tablets, which has previously been done mainly by hand. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, in large hospitals, patients take medications prescribed for various illnesses while hospitalized. However, when the prescription for a medication changes, the remaining medication is collected and collected at pharmacies.

[0003] At this time, pharmacists at pharmacies will accurately reclassify the collected drugs and return them to their original bottles. This process of drug classification ultimately depends on the pharmacist's manual work, and by its very nature, accurate classification is essential to prevent drug misuse and abuse, so the work requires considerable concentration.

[0004] For this reason, methods have been devised to reduce the workload of pharmacists by mechanically sorting the tablets.

[0005] Known prior art documents that can be referred to in this regard include Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0717384 (Prior Document 1) and Korean Patent Publication No. 2010-0128916 (Prior Document 2).

[0006] Prior Art 1 comprises a drug name input unit in which a predetermined user inputs a drug name through a user terminal, a drug information unit that searches for drug information corresponding to the drug name input through the drug name input unit using a predetermined program, a drug classification unit that classifies the drug information searched for by the drug information unit into levels according to a classification system, a color assignment unit that generates colored drug information by assigning colors to the drug information classified into levels by the drug classification unit, a colored drug information storage unit that stores the colored drug information generated by the color assignment unit, and a transmission unit that transmits the colored drug information stored in the colored drug information storage unit to the user terminal through a wired or wireless connection network. As a result, drugs can be separated by their respective colors, allowing anyone to easily recognize the ingredients and effects of drugs, and since many drugs can be easily distinguished by color alone, it is expected to have the effect of preventing accidents such as misuse and overuse of medicines in advance.

[0007] Prior Art Document 2 describes an automatic medicine sorting device that is composed of a transport unit that moves medicines loaded in an input unit in a loop through the inside of the main body, a shadow recognition unit that is installed inside the main body and recognizes the outline of the medicine passing through the transport unit and generates outline information, a robot arm that grasps and transfers the medicine based on the outline information, a barcode recognition unit that recognizes the barcode of the medicine being grasped and transferred and obtains medicine information, and a control unit that controls the operation of the outlet and transport unit from which the medicines with obtained medicine information are discharged and the operation of the robot arm based on the outline information, and stores the medicine information. This is expected to have the effect of enabling the next medicine to be automatically sorted continuously without stopping even if recognition fails when recognizing a large amount of medicines. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0717384 [Patent Document 2] Korean Patent Publication No. 2010-0128916 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in the past, in order to photograph the top and bottom surfaces of a tablet, cameras were placed on both the top and bottom sides based on the position where the tablet was placed.However, when photographing the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet, the camera on the opposite side was recognized as the subject, which led to the problem of not being able to properly focus on the tablet.In addition, when photographing the tablet, the lighting on the top and bottom surfaces interfered with each other, making it impossible to obtain high-resolution images.

[0010] Furthermore, if the tablet is not placed in the correct position in the imaging area, the characters engraved on the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet cannot be recognized correctly.

[0011] The present invention aims to provide a tablet sorting device that is equipped with a shielding plate at the tip of the upper and lower cameras that photograph the top and bottom surfaces of tablets, respectively, to limit the angle of view to a certain range, so that when photographing the surface of the tablet, the opposite camera is not recognized as the subject, allowing clear images of the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet to be obtained, and if the characters engraved on the tablet cannot be recognized in the photographed images of the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet, wind is blown on the tablet located in the photographing area to correct the tablet's position, and then the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet are photographed again, thereby eliminating the inability to recognize the characters engraved on the tablet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The tablet sorting device according to the present invention further includes a stage on which tablets to be photographed are placed, an upper surface photographing unit provided above the stage and photographing the upper surface of the tablet placed on the stage, a lower surface photographing unit provided below the stage and photographing the lower surface of the tablet placed on the stage, a control unit that receives the images of the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet photographed by the upper surface photographing unit and the lower surface photographing unit and recognizes the type of tablet, and a transfer arm that is provided adjacent to the stage and receives tablets supplied from an external source and transfers the tablets to one side or the other of the stage under the control of the control unit, and the transfer arm is electrically connected to the control unit and, if the control unit cannot recognize characters engraved on the tablet from the images of the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet photographed by the upper surface photographing unit and the lower surface photographing unit, blows air onto the tablet placed on the stage to correct its posture under the control of the control unit.

[0013] The stage according to the present invention is plate-shaped and arc-shaped, and has an imaging area on one side where the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet transported by the transfer arm are photographed, and an ejection hole on the opposite end where the tablet transported by the transfer arm is ejected.

[0014] Here, the photographing area of ​​the stage according to the present invention has a view-through hole formed through it from top to bottom, and includes a support plate made of a transparent material that is provided in the view-through hole and supports the tablet transferred to the photographing area, and a lower illumination means that is provided below the photographing area of ​​the stage and selectively irradiates light onto the underside of the tablet placed on the support plate.

[0015] At this time, the support plate according to the present invention includes a UV filter for blocking ultraviolet rays.

[0016] In addition, the transfer arm according to the present invention rotates along the surface of an arc-shaped stage, forms a receiving hole for receiving tablets pulled to the outside, and is provided on the inner surface of the receiving hole with an upper lighting means for selectively irradiating light onto the upper surface of the tablet received in the receiving hole.

[0017] The top surface photographing unit according to the present invention includes an upper camera that is positioned at the center of the upper side of the photographing area of ​​the stage and photographs the top surface of a tablet placed in the photographing area of ​​the stage, and an upper shielding plate that is provided below the upper camera and forms a first photographing hole having a diameter corresponding to the angle of view, allowing the tablet to be photographed at that angle of view.

[0018] In addition, the bottom surface photographing unit according to the present invention includes a bottom camera that is positioned at the center below the photographing area of ​​the stage and photographs the bottom surface of a tablet placed in the photographing area of ​​the stage, and a bottom shielding plate that is provided above the bottom camera and forms a second photographing hole having a diameter corresponding to the angle of view, allowing the tablet to be photographed at that angle of view. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The effects achieved by the tablet sorting device according to the present invention are as follows.

[0020] The upper and lower cameras, which photograph the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet, are equipped with shielding plates at the tips of the cameras that limit the angle of view to that range. When photographing the surface of the tablet, the camera on the opposite side is not recognized as the subject, and clear images of the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet can be obtained.

[0021] If the characters engraved on the tablet cannot be recognized in the photographed images of the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet, wind can be blown onto the tablet located in the photographing area to correct the tablet's position, and then the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet can be photographed again, thereby resolving the inability to recognize the characters engraved on the tablet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a simplified exemplary diagram illustrating a tablet sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 10 is an exemplary view showing the rotation of a transfer arm in a stage of a tablet sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3]10 is an exemplary view showing a state in which the orientation of a tablet is corrected by blowing in the tablet sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is an image of the top and bottom surfaces of a tablet captured by a tablet sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is an exemplary diagram showing a tablet sorting system including a tablet sorting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] The photographs show images of tablets taken on a support plate equipped with ordinary glass, PP material, and a UV filter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and phrases used in the specification and claims should not be interpreted in a limited manner to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the technical concept of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to best describe his / her invention.

[0024] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there are equivalent alternatives available at the time of this application.

[0025] The present invention relates to a tablet sorting device that automates the classification of tablets (pills), which has previously been done mainly by hand, by photographing the top and bottom surfaces of the tablets, acquiring tablet information through communication with a database using the images of the top and bottom surfaces of the tablets, and then sorting tablets based on the acquired tablet information.The following is a description of the device with reference to the drawings.

[0026] 1 to 6, a tablet sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stage (100), a transfer arm (200), an upper surface photographing unit (300), a lower surface photographing unit (400), and a control unit (500). First, the stage (100) is a device on which tablets supplied from the outside are placed so that they can be photographed at the corresponding position. Looking at the stage (100) in more detail, the stage (100) is plate-shaped and has a semicircular arc shape, and on one side thereof is formed a photographing area (110) where photographs of the upper and lower surfaces of tablets transferred by the transfer arm (200) are taken, and on the other opposite side thereof is formed a discharge hole (120) where tablets transferred by the transfer arm (200) are discharged.

[0027] At this time, a vertically penetrating viewing hole (111) is formed in the photographing area (110) of the stage (100), and a transparent support plate (112) is provided in the viewing hole (111). The support plate (112) supports the tablet transferred to the photographing area (110), allowing the underside of the tablet to be seen through to the bottom and photographed.

[0028] Here, the support plate (112) is made of an HMC UV filter (97% light transmittance) with high visible light transmittance, and blocks unnecessary ultraviolet light reflected by the light source when photographing the top surface of the tablet, thereby enabling a clear image to be obtained.

[0029] The UV filter may be coated on the surface of the support plate (112) or may be provided on the surface of the support plate (112) as a separate member.

[0030] Figure 6 shows images of a tablet taken with a general glass support plate, an image of a tablet taken with a PP support plate, and an image of a tablet taken with a support plate equipped with the UV filter. While the general glass and PP support plates contain optical noise due to the reflection of the illumination light, the image taken with the support plate equipped with the UV filter does not contain optical noise, allowing for a clear image to be obtained.

[0031] A lower illumination means (130) is provided below the photographing area (110) of the stage (100), and the lower illumination means (130) selectively irradiates light onto the lower surface of the tablet placed on the support plate (112).

[0032] At this time, the lower illumination means (130) is provided with a diffusion plate (131) to evenly diffuse the light irradiated from the lower illumination means (130) so that a high-quality image without shadows on the tablet can be obtained. The lower illumination means (130) is linked to the lower camera (410) of the lower surface photographing unit (400), and when the lower camera (410) of the lower surface photographing unit (400) photographs the lower surface of the tablet placed in the photographing area (110) of the stage (100), it irradiates light onto the lower surface of the tablet so that the photograph can be taken.

[0033] 2, the transfer arm 200 rotates along the surface of the arc-shaped stage 100. One end of the transfer arm 200 is connected to the rotation shaft of a driving means provided on the line of the center point of the arc-shaped stage 100, and the transfer arm 200 rotates to one side or the other of the stage 100 around the one end as an axis in conjunction with the rotation of the rotation shaft of the driving means.

[0034] At this time, the driving means is an electric motor and is electrically connected to the control unit 500. The driving means controls the rotation direction of the rotation shaft according to a control signal from the control unit, so that the transfer arm 200 can rotate to one side or the other side of the stage 100.

[0035] The transfer arm (200) is formed with a receiving hole (201) for receiving tablets supplied from the outside.

[0036] Here, an upper lighting means (210) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving hole (201), and the upper lighting means (210) selectively irradiates light onto the upper surface of the tablet received in the receiving hole (201).

[0037] At this time, the upper lighting means (210) is provided with a diffusion plate (211) to evenly disperse the light irradiated from the upper lighting means (210) and to obtain a high-quality image without shadows on the tablet. The upper lighting means (210) is linked to the upper camera (310) of the upper surface photographing unit (300). When the upper camera (310) of the upper surface photographing unit (300) photographs the upper surface of the tablet placed in the photographing area (110) of the stage (100), it is preferable that the upper surface of the tablet is photographed by irradiating light onto the tablet.

[0038] Referring to Figure 3, the transfer arm (200) includes a blower (220). The blower (220) is electrically connected to the control unit (500). When the control unit (500) is unable to recognize the characters engraved on the tablet in the images of the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet photographed by the upper surface photographing unit (300) and the lower surface photographing unit (400), the blower (220) blows air onto the tablet placed in the photographing area (110) of the stage (100) under the control of the control unit (500) to correct the posture of the tablet.

[0039] Therefore, the tablet sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention can eliminate errors in recognizing characters engraved on the tablets by blowing air onto the tablets located in the photographing area (110) to correct the tablet's posture, and then photographing the top and bottom surfaces of the tablets again.

[0040] The top surface photographing unit (300) is provided on the top of the stage (100). The top surface photographing unit (300) photographs the top surface of the tablet placed on the stage (100) and includes an upper camera (310) and an upper shielding plate (320).

[0041] The upper camera (310) is placed at the center above the imaging area (110) of the stage (100) and captures an image of the upper surface of a tablet placed in the imaging area (110) of the stage (100).

[0042] An upper shielding plate (320) is provided below the upper camera (310), and the upper shielding plate (320) forms a first photographing hole (321) having a diameter corresponding to the angle of view, so that the tablet can be photographed at that angle of view.

[0043] The bottom surface photographing unit (400) is provided below the stage (100). The bottom surface photographing unit (400) photographs the bottom surface of the tablet placed on the stage (100) and includes a bottom camera (410) and a bottom shielding plate (420).

[0044] The lower camera (410) is placed at the center below the imaging area (110) of the stage (100) and captures an image of the lower surface of a tablet placed in the imaging area (110) of the stage (100).

[0045] A lower shielding plate (420) is provided above the lower camera (410). The lower shielding plate (420) forms a second photographing hole (421) having a diameter corresponding to the angle of view, so that the tablet is photographed at the angle of view.

[0046] Here, in the tablet sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, when photographing the top and bottom surfaces of the tablets, it is preferable to photograph the top and bottom surfaces of the tablets sequentially. The upper and lower shielding plates (320 and 420) provided at the tip of the upper camera (310) and the lower camera (410), respectively, prevent the camera on the opposite side from being recognized as the background, thereby improving tablet discrimination performance.

[0047] Figure 5 shows a tablet sorting system equipped with a tablet sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, which includes a supply device (10), a tablet alignment and transport device (20), a tablet discrimination device (30), a classification device (40), a database (50) and a main control unit (60), and the tablet sorting device according to one embodiment of the present invention is included in the tablet discrimination device.

[0048] The feeding device (10) causes the drawn-in number of tablets to drop and feed them to the tablet aligning and transferring device (20).

[0049] The tablet aligning and transferring device (20) is provided adjacent to the supply device (10) and transfers the tablets supplied through the supply device (10) from one side to the other while aligning them in a line.

[0050] The tablet discrimination device 30 is provided on one side of the tablet aligning and conveying device 20. The tablet discrimination device 30 individually photographs the tablets aligned in a line at regular intervals by the tablet aligning and conveying device 20, and discriminates the tablets based on the photographed tablet images.

[0051] In this case, the tablet discrimination device (30) comprises a stage (100) on which tablets to be photographed are placed, an upper surface photographing unit (300) provided on the upper part of the stage (100) for photographing the upper surface of the tablet placed on the stage (100), a lower surface photographing unit (400) provided on the lower part of the stage (100) for photographing the lower surface of the tablet placed on the stage (100), a control unit (500) that receives the images of the upper and lower surfaces of the tablet photographed by the upper surface photographing unit (300) and the lower surface photographing unit (400) and recognizes the characters engraved on the tablet from the images, and a tablet sorting device that is provided adjacent to the stage (100), receives tablets supplied from outside, and transports the tablets to one side or the other of the stage (100) under the control of the control unit (500).

[0052] Here, after blowing air onto the tablet located in the photographing area (110) of the stage (100) to correct the tablet's posture, the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet are photographed again, thereby eliminating errors in recognizing the characters engraved on the tablet.

[0053] The sorting device (40) sorts the tablets into the corresponding classification spaces from among a large number of classification spaces based on the information of the tablets identified by the tablet identification device (30).

[0054] Furthermore, the database 50 transmits tablet information corresponding to the tablet based on the image of the tablet taken by the tablet discrimination device 30. The main control unit 60 is electrically connected to and capable of communicating with the supply device 10, the tablet aligning and conveying device 20, the tablet discrimination device 30, the sorting device 40, and the database 50. The main control unit 60 controls the operation of the supply device 10, the tablet aligning and conveying device 20, the tablet discrimination device 30, and the sorting device 40 based on the detection signals detected by the tablet detection sensors provided in the supply device 10, the tablet aligning and conveying device 20, the tablet discrimination device 30, and the sorting device 40, and the tablet information transmitted from the database 50.

[0055] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, these are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

[0056] [Mode for carrying out the invention] The mode for carrying out the invention is substantially the same as the best mode for carrying out the invention described above. [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] The present invention can be utilized in a technology for preparing pills based on images, and therefore has industrial applicability.

Claims

1. A stage on which the tablets to be photographed are placed, a top surface photographing unit provided above the stage for photographing the top surface of the tablet placed on the stage; a bottom surface photographing unit provided below the stage for photographing the bottom surface of the tablet placed on the stage; A tablet sorting device comprising the top surface photographing unit and a control unit that receives images of the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet photographed by the bottom surface photographing unit and recognizes the type of tablet.

2. The tablet sorting device according to claim 1, The tablet sorting device further includes a transfer arm that is disposed adjacent to the stage, receives tablets from an external source, and transfers the tablets to one side and the other side of the stage under the control of the control unit.

3. The tablet sorting device according to claim 2, The stage is A tablet sorting device having an arc-shaped plate-like structure, with an imaging area formed on one side where the top and bottom surfaces of tablets transported by the transfer arm are photographed, and a discharge hole formed on the opposite end where the tablets transported by the transfer arm are discharged.

4. The tablet sorting device according to claim 3, The imaging area of ​​the stage includes: Form a vertically penetrating viewing hole, a support plate made of a transparent material that is provided in the viewing hole and supports the tablet transferred to the imaging area; A tablet sorting device including a lower illumination means provided below the imaging area of ​​the stage for selectively irradiating light onto the lower surfaces of tablets placed on the support plate.

5. The tablet sorting device according to claim 4, The support plate is A tablet sorting device equipped with a UV filter that blocks ultraviolet rays.

6. The tablet sorting device according to claim 3, The transfer arm The stage rotates along the surface of the arc-shaped stage, forming a receiving hole for receiving the tablet drawn to the outside; The tablet sorting device is provided with upper illumination means on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving hole for selectively irradiating light onto the upper surface of the tablet received in the receiving hole.

7. The tablet sorting device according to claim 6, The transfer arm includes: A tablet sorting device equipped with a blower electrically connected to the control unit, which, when the control unit cannot recognize the characters engraved on the tablet in the images of the top and bottom surfaces of the tablet captured by the top surface photographing unit and the bottom surface photographing unit, blows air onto the tablet placed on the stage to correct the tablet's posture under the control of the control unit.

8. The tablet sorting device according to claim 1, The top surface imaging unit is An upper camera that is arranged at the center above the imaging area of ​​the stage and captures an image of the top surface of a tablet placed in the imaging area of ​​the stage; an upper shielding plate provided below the upper camera, which forms a first shooting hole having a diameter corresponding to the angle of view, thereby enabling tablets to be photographed at the angle of view.

9. The tablet sorting device according to claim 1, The bottom surface imaging unit is A lower camera is arranged at the center below the imaging area of ​​the stage and captures an image of the lower surface of a tablet placed in the imaging area of ​​the stage; a lower shielding plate provided above the lower camera, which forms a second shooting hole having a diameter corresponding to the angle of view, thereby enabling tablets to be photographed at the angle of view.

Images