Medicine setting apparatus

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of improving the efficiency of the work of a pharmacist or the like for setting a medicine package to a medication calendar to make it usable.SOLUTION: In a medicine setting device for setting a medicine package to a medicine setting tool 80, a plural-object setting operation for setting the medicine package to each of a plurality of medicine setting tools 80 is executed. The medicine setting device can perform a partial setting operation for setting only a part of the plurality of medicine packages to be set when setting the plurality of medicine packages to one medicine setting tool 80. In the plural-object setting operation, the partial setting operation is performed on the medicine setting tool 80, the partial setting operation is subsequently performed on another medicine setting tool 80, the partial setting operation is further performed on still another medicine setting tool 80 as necessary, and this operation is repeated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medication setting device for setting packaged medications in a medication calendar. [Background technology]

[0002] Devices known as medication calendars or medicine calendars are used in nursing homes, hospitals, etc. Medication calendars have multiple medicine storage compartments, and packages (medication packages) containing medicines corresponding to patients and their dosing periods are set in each medicine storage compartment. One such medication calendar is disclosed in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-258999 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, such medication calendars are usually prepared for use by a pharmacist or other person manually placing the medication packages into the medication storage compartment (hereinafter simply referred to as "preparing a medication calendar"). However, if a person places the medication packages incorrectly, it could lead to an incorrect medication being administered to a patient. For this reason, this work requires careful attention. Therefore, when a large number of medication calendars must be produced for a large facility such as a large hospital, the work becomes extremely time-consuming.

[0005] Let's consider the case of creating a weekly medication calendar (28 medication calendars) for a patient group consisting of 28 patients, divided by medication period (four medication periods per day). In this case, one medication calendar needs to contain 28 medication packages, each containing medication for 28 patients. Each medication package contains medications for the same period, such as the medication that "X1" takes after breakfast on the first day, the medication that "X2" takes after breakfast on the first day, etc.

[0006] Therefore, it becomes necessary to package the medication for each of the 28 people who need to take the medication at the same time. However, packaging only the medication for a specific period based on the prescriptions of 28 people is inefficient, cumbersome, and prone to errors.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can improve the efficiency of the work of pharmacists and others who set drug packages on medication calendars and make them ready for use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is a drug setting device that sets drug packages in a drug setting device that can set drug packages containing drugs in each of multiple drug storage units, and is equipped with a package transport means that moves the drug packages to the drug storage units, and when multiple drug packages are set in multiple drug storage units of one drug setting device, a partial setting operation is possible in which the drug packages are set in some of the multiple drug storage units, and a multiple-target setting operation is possible in which the drug packages are set in each of the multiple drug setting devices, and in the multiple-target setting operation, the partial setting operation is performed on one drug setting device, then the partial setting operation is performed on another drug setting device, and if necessary, the partial setting operation is performed on yet another drug setting device, and this operation is repeated. A specific aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is a medicine setting device that sets medicine packages in a medicine setting device that can set medicine packages containing medicines in each of a plurality of medicine storage sections, the medicine setting device comprising a package transport means that moves the medicine packages to the medicine storage sections, and when a plurality of the medicine packages are set in a plurality of medicine storage sections of one medicine setting device, a partial setting operation is possible in which the medicine packages are set in some of the plurality of medicine storage sections, and a multiple target setting operation is possible in which the medicine packages are set in each of the plurality of medicine setting devices, and in the multiple target setting operation, the partial setting operation is performed on the medicine setting device, and when only a portion of the medicine packages to be set have been set, the partial setting operation is performed on other medicine setting devices, and when only a portion of the medicine packages to be set have been set, a similar partial setting operation is performed on further other medicine setting devices as necessary, and this operation can be repeated.

[0009] According to this aspect, drug packages can be automatically set into multiple drug setting devices, thereby reducing the workload. Furthermore, it is possible to repeat the process of setting only some of the drug packages to be set into one drug setting device and then setting only some of the drug packages to be set into another drug setting device. Therefore, for example, it is possible to set drug packages containing drugs prescribed for a first patient with different dosing periods into one drug setting device and another drug setting device, and then set drug packages containing drugs prescribed for a second patient with different dosing periods into one drug setting device and another drug setting device, respectively. This simplifies the preparation of drug packages. These factors contribute to the efficiency of the work of pharmacists and others.

[0010] In the above-mentioned aspect, in the multiple-target setting operation, it is preferable to perform the partial setting operation on each of the multiple drug setting devices, and then perform the partial setting operation again on each of the multiple drug setting devices for which the partial setting operation has already been performed, and repeat this operation to set the necessary drug packaging on each of the multiple drug setting devices. In the above-described aspect, in the multiple target setting operation, it is preferable to perform the partial setting operation on each of the multiple drug setting devices to set only a portion of all the drug packaging to be set, and then perform the partial setting operation again on each of the multiple drug setting devices for which the partial setting operation has already been performed, and repeat this operation to set the drug packaging required for each of the multiple drug setting devices.

[0011] In this preferable aspect, a plurality of medicine setting devices can be automatically made ready for use, which makes it possible to further improve the efficiency of the work of pharmacists and the like.

[0012] The above-mentioned aspect has a package setting area in which one of the drug setting devices can be placed, and the drug packaging is set in the drug setting device placed in the package setting area, and in the multiple target setting operation, it is preferable that one of the drug setting devices is moved to the package setting area to perform the partial setting operation, and after moving one of the drug setting devices from the package setting area, another of the drug setting devices is moved to the package setting area to perform the partial setting operation for the other of the drug setting devices.

[0013] In this preferable aspect, it is not necessary to provide a large number of devices for setting medicine packages in the medicine setting tool, and it is possible to reduce the size of the device and the manufacturing cost.

[0014] In the above aspect, it is preferable that the drug setting device has multiple drug storage units arranged in a matrix, and the partial setting operation is an operation of setting the drug packaging to the drug storage units belonging to one row.

[0015] The above aspect preferably has a plurality of drug packaging supply units to which the drug packaging is supplied, and each of the drug packaging supply units is capable of mounting a drug packaging strip in which a plurality of the drug packages are connected in a strip shape.

[0016] The preferred aspect described above is that a wrapping strip cutting operation is possible to cut the pharmaceutical packaging strip to form one pharmaceutical package, and the pharmaceutical package formed by the wrapping strip cutting operation is set in the pharmaceutical storage unit, and it is even more preferable to perform the wrapping strip cutting operation on each of the pharmaceutical packaging strips attached to each of the multiple pharmaceutical package supply units, and to set multiple pharmaceutical packages formed one by one from each of the multiple pharmaceutical packaging strips in one pharmaceutical setting device.

[0017] In this more preferable aspect, the pharmacist or the like does not need to cut the medicine packaging strip, which makes it possible to further improve the efficiency of the work of the pharmacist or the like.

[0018] The above-mentioned preferred aspect is that the system has a packaging supply unit group to which two or more of the pharmaceutical packaging supply units belong, the packaging transport means has an upstream conveying unit that transports the pharmaceutical packaging from the pharmaceutical packaging supply unit, and one of the upstream conveying units is associated with one of the packaging supply unit groups and transports the pharmaceutical packaging from the pharmaceutical packaging supply unit that belongs to the associated packaging supply unit group, and it is even more preferable that while one of the upstream conveying units is performing the operation of transporting the pharmaceutical packaging from one of the pharmaceutical packaging supply units that belongs to one of the packaging supply unit groups, the pharmaceutical packaging strip can be attached to another of the pharmaceutical packaging supply units that belong to one of the packaging supply unit groups.

[0019] In this more preferable aspect, preparations for the subsequent operation of setting drug packaging in the drug setting device can be made while the preceding operation of setting drug packaging in the drug setting device is being carried out, thereby making it possible to further improve the efficiency of the work of pharmacists and others.

[0020] The above aspect preferably has a plurality of drug packaging supply units to each of which the drug packaging is supplied, and the drug packaging or an attached part of the drug packaging is provided with a drug information label for obtaining information about the drug packaging, and by reading the drug information label, the drug packaging supply unit to which the drug packaging having the drug information label attached to it or an attached part is to be set is identified, and the drug packaging is set in the identified drug packaging supply unit.

[0021] This preferable aspect is advantageous in that mistakes are less likely to occur when setting (supplying) the medicine packages to the medicine package supply section.

[0022] In this preferred aspect, by reading the drug information display, the drug packaging supply unit that supplies the drug packaging to which the drug information display is attached on itself or an attached part is identified, and it is more preferable that a setting guidance operation is performed to prompt the user to set the drug packaging in the identified drug packaging supply unit.

[0023] In this manner, it is possible to more reliably prevent setting errors (supply errors) from occurring.

[0024] In the above aspect, the multiple target setting operation can be selectively performed as either a first setting operation or a second setting operation, and the first setting operation is an operation of sequentially performing the partial setting operation once for each of n (n is an integer of 2 or more) of the drug setting devices, and then again performing the partial setting operation once for each of the same n drug setting devices on which the partial setting operation has already been performed, and it is preferable that the second setting operation is an operation of sequentially performing the operation of setting all of the drug packaging to be set by multiple partial setting operations for each of the first to nth drug setting devices.

[0025] In the above aspect, it is preferable that the drug setting device has an information display unit that displays specified information, the drug packaging or an attached part of the drug packaging has a drug information display attached thereto for obtaining information about the drug packaging, and the information display unit displays information obtained based on information read from the drug information display.

[0026] This aspect is preferable because the information to be displayed on each medicine setting device can be displayed correctly.

[0027] Another aspect of the present invention is a drug setting device that sets drug packages in drug setting devices that can set drug packages containing drugs in each of a plurality of drug storage units, the drug setting device comprising a package transport means for moving the drug packages to the drug storage units, and sets a plurality of the drug packages to be set in each of the plurality of drug setting devices, and creates a drug setting device group in which the drug packages to be set in each of the plurality of drug setting devices are set, each of the drug setting devices belonging to the drug setting device group has the same number of drug storage units arranged in the same distribution, and the drug setting device sets drug packages containing drugs prescribed for the same patient in one drug storage unit of one of the drug setting devices and in the drug storage units of the other drug setting devices that corresponds to the one drug storage unit of the one drug setting device among the drug setting devices belonging to the drug setting device group.

[0028] In this aspect, similarly to the above aspect, the workload can be reduced and the drug packaging can be easily produced, thereby improving the efficiency of the work of pharmacists and the like. Another specific aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is a drug setting device that sets drug packages in a drug setting tool that can set drug packages containing drugs in each of multiple drug storage units, the drug setting device having multiple drug package supply units to which the drug packages are supplied, the multiple drug package supply units being separate from the main body of the drug setting device and comprising an integrated set of a packaging band attachment unit that can attach a drug packaging band consisting of multiple drug packages connected in a strip-like shape, and a dispensing mechanism that pays out the drug packaging band, the drug package supply unit being operable when pressed into the main body of the drug setting device, and the drug setting device having a cutting means that cuts the drug packaging band to form a single drug package, and a package transport means that moves the drug package to the drug storage unit. In each of the above aspects, the drug packaging supply unit has a core unit on which the drug packaging strip in a rolled state is attached, a tension pulley, and a package gripping unit that grips a portion of the unwound drug packaging strip, and it is preferable that the package gripping unit has two rollers, and that the core unit and tension pulley are attached to a common wall surface and integrated with the two rollers. The preferred method of using the above-described drug setting devices is to attach a drug packaging strip containing drug packages prescribed for one patient in a strip-like pattern to one drug packaging supply unit, and to attach a drug packaging strip containing drug packages prescribed for another patient in a strip-like pattern to another drug packaging supply unit. A preferred method of using the above-mentioned drug setting devices of each aspect is to use any of the above-mentioned drug setting devices to set drug packaging into a drug setting tool having a sheet-like base material with multiple pocket-like drug storage sections. A preferred method of using the medicine setting device of each of the above aspects is to use any of the medicine setting devices described above to set medicine packages into a tray whose inner space is divided into small spaces to form a medicine storage section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] The present invention can improve the efficiency of the work of pharmacists and others who set drug packages on medication calendars to make them ready for use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a medicine setting system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the inside of the medicine setting system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic view of the main parts of the drug packaging device of FIG. 2, where (a) shows how individual drug packages are produced one by one, and (b) shows how a drug packaging strip is produced. [Figure 4]3 is an explanatory diagram showing a drug packaging band made by the drug dispensing device of FIG. 2, where (a) shows a bandage for the same patient, and (b) shows a bandage for the same dosing period. [Figure 5] 3 is a front view showing the transport means within the setting device, the inter-device package transport means, the robot arm, and the medicine packaging device of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic view of a main part of the inter-device package transport means of FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 7] 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a part of the inter-device package transport means, a robot arm, and a part of the medicine packaging device in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a front view showing a medication calendar for setting medicine packages in the medicine setting system of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 9] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing how a plurality of medication calendars are introduced into the medicine setting device of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cart of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] 10 is an explanatory diagram following FIG. 9, which shows a schematic diagram of a state in which a plurality of medication calendars are held in the medicine setting device, in the order of (a) and (b). [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of medication calendars are held in a first set device storage section. [Figure 13] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how medicine packages are transported from the medicine dispensing device to the medicine setting device, in the order of (a) to (e). FIG. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing how multiple medicine packages are simultaneously conveyed by a conveying means within the setting device, in which the medicine packages are conveyed in the order (a) and (b). [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing a schematic view of the first line setting operation being performed on the first medication calendar, in which the setting is performed in the order of (a) and (b). [Figure 16] This is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of the first medication calendar that has undergone the first row setting operation being moved from the first set tool storage section to the second set tool storage section, in the order of (a) and (b). [Figure 17]10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing a schematic view of the first row setting operation being performed on the second medication calendar, in which the setting is performed in the order of (a) and (b). [Figure 18] This is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of the process of performing the first row set operation on multiple medication calendars that have been previously introduced, and then introducing multiple new medication calendars, in the order of (a) and (b). [Figure 19] 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement of one of a plurality of newly introduced medication calendars to a package setting area, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement of one of a plurality of newly introduced medication calendars to a second set tool storage section and the movement of one of a plurality of previously introduced medication calendars to a first set tool storage section. [Figure 20] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the first row setting operation has been completed for all of the medication calendars belonging to the medication calendar group, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the first medication calendar for which the second row setting operation has been performed is moved to the second setting tool storage unit, and another medication calendar is moved to the first setting tool storage unit. [Figure 21] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing a schematic view of the second row setting operation being performed on the first medication calendar, in which the setting is performed in the order of (a) and (b). [Figure 22] 1(a) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of four medicine packages being set in the first row of a first medication calendar, and FIG. 1(b) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of three medicine packages being set in the first row of a second medication calendar. [Figure 23] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of the operation of setting a plurality of medicine packages in one medicine container in the first row setting operation for the first medication calendar, in which the medicine packages are set in the order of (a) to (c). FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 9 is a front view showing a medication calendar different from that shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 25]This is an explanatory diagram showing how a multiple-target setting operation is performed, which is different from the above-mentioned embodiment, and is a diagram that schematically shows how the operation of setting all of the drug packaging that should be set on one medication calendar is performed, and the settings are made in the order of (a) to (c). [Figure 26] FIG. 25 is a front view showing a medication calendar different from those shown in FIGS. 8 and 24. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a medicine setting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the inside of the medicine setting device of FIG. 27. [Figure 29] 29(a) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the AA cross section of the medicine supplying device of FIG. 28, and FIG. 29(b) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the BB cross section of the medicine supplying device of FIG. 28. [Figure 30] 28A and 28B are diagrams showing the drawing section of FIG. 27, in which (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a plan view. [Figure 31] 29A and 29B are explanatory views showing a schematic view of the state in which drug packages are conveyed by the supply-side package conveying means and the inter-device package conveying means in FIG. 28, in which the drug packages are conveyed in the order of (a) and (b). [Figure 32] 31A and 31B are explanatory diagrams showing examples of drawer sections different from those in FIG. 30, in which (a) and (b) show different drawer sections. [Figure 33] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a medication tray, which is a medicine setting tool different from the medication calendar of FIG. 8. [Figure 34] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a medicine set system according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a plan view. [Figure 35] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a medicine setting device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, a medicine setting system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a medicine dispensing device 2, a medicine setting device 3, and a display device 4.

[0033] The display device 4 is a device capable of displaying various information, and specifically, is a touch panel that combines an information display device such as a liquid crystal panel with a position input device such as a touchpad. In other words, the display device 4 is also a part (input receiving part) that accepts operations (input) by the user, and by inputting to the display device 4, various operations can be requested from the medicine setting system 1 or each device and apparatus belonging to the medicine setting system 1.

[0034] The medicine dispensing device 2 has a control unit (not shown). The control unit includes a calculation unit such as a CPU, a memory unit (storage means) having a main memory device such as a ROM or RAM, and a communication unit such as an I / O port. This allows the medicine dispensing device 2 to transmit and receive various signals and information to and from external devices (such as a host control device (not shown), dispensing devices such as the medicine setting device 3, and an external PC (not shown)). The control unit is also capable of storing various information.

[0035] The medicine dispensing device 2 is a tablet packaging machine that packages tablets into packaging paper for each dose based on prescription data. Note that the medicine dispensing device 2 of this embodiment is capable of receiving prescription data from a higher-level control device (higher-level control system) not shown.

[0036] The prescription data is information relating to the prescription of the medicines contained in each medicine package 25 (see FIG. 3) dispensed from the medicine dispensing device 2. In other words, it is information relating to the prescription of the medicines contained in each of all medicine packages 25 contained in the medication calendar 80 (medicine setting device) (details will be described later).

[0037] The prescription data includes information about the contents of the prescription required to dispense the medicine contained in each medicine package 25, and information for identifying and managing the prescription itself. Specifically, information about prescription contents includes, for example, information about the patient to whom the drug is prescribed, such as the patient's name, age, sex, height, and weight, as well as information about the drug provided to the patient, such as the drug name, amount, usage, dosage, and duration of administration.In addition, information for identifying and managing prescriptions includes the prescription number, RP number (recipe number), and date of issuance of the prescription. In other words, the prescription data is data that includes the necessary information among these.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the medicine dispensing device 2 has a medicine storage unit 10, a manual medicine supply unit 11 capable of supplying medicines by hand, and a medicine packaging device 12.

[0039] The medicine storage unit 10 is a shelf member on which a plurality of medicine cassettes (medicine containers) each containing medicines (tablets) are arranged. Furthermore, a medicine feeder (not shown) provided integrally with each medicine cassette (or provided on the shelf member) can automatically supply the medicines contained in each medicine cassette to the medicine packaging device 12. In contrast, the manual medicine supply unit 11 is a section where a person manually supplies medicines to the medicine dispensing device 2.

[0040] As described above, the medicine dispensing device 2 can automatically supply medicines from a medicine cassette in the operation of producing medicine packages 25 (or medicine packaging strips 26) described below, or manually supply medicines by manually supplying them to the manual medicine supply unit 11. It can also be semi-automatically supplied, in which some of the medicines contained in medicine packages 25 are supplied automatically and the other parts are supplied manually.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the medicine packaging device 12 has a medicine packaging paper holding means for holding a roll of medicine packaging paper 15, a sheet feeding means 16 for unwinding and feeding the roll of medicine packaging paper 15, a hopper device 17, a bag forming device 18, and a cutting device 19 (cutting means). Hopper device 17 has an internal lid portion 17a that can be opened and closed, and is a device into which unpackaged medicines (tablets) that have been supplied to medicine packaging device 12 are poured. In this embodiment, medicines are poured into hopper device 17 with lid portion 17a in a closed state, and after the medicines temporarily remain inside hopper device 17, lid portion 17a transitions to an open state, and the medicines are discharged to the bottom of hopper device 17.

[0042] The bag forming device 18 is a device that folds the medicine packaging paper 15 fed by the sheet feeding means 16 in half at approximately the center in the width direction, and after medicine is poured from the hopper device 17 between the inner surfaces of the folded medicine packaging paper 15, it presses the folded medicine packaging paper 15 into a bag shape.

[0043] The cutting device 19 is equipped with a cutter (cutting blade) capable of cutting the medicine packaging paper 15, and forms medicine packaging 25 by cutting the medicine packaging paper 15 which has been formed into a bag shape with medicine contained inside (see Figure 3(a)).

[0044] Furthermore, the medicine packaging device 12 of this embodiment has a camera (photographing means) not shown. In this embodiment, the camera is provided at a position where it can photograph the medicines in the hopper device 17, and by photographing the medicines in the hopper device 17, it is possible to perform a pre-packaging confirmation operation (confirmation operation) to confirm whether the medicines contained in the medicine package 25 match the prescription contents.

[0045] Specifically, the medicines in the hopper device 17 are photographed, and the color of each medicine photographed, the contents of the markings, the number of medicines photographed, and other obtainable information are obtained from the image obtained by photographing. Then, the number (quantity) and type (drug type) of the medicines to be packaged are identified based on the information obtained by photographing and the medicine confirmation information stored in advance in the memory unit of the medicine dispensing device 2. In other words, it identifies how many tablets are to be packaged and what type of tablets are to be packaged. The "drug confirmation information" is a database or the like that stores information that can be obtained by photography in association with information that can identify the type of drug, such as the drug name and the number (ID) assigned to the drug. The "drug confirmation information" may also be a master image of the drug. The master image here may be the image (image information) itself created in advance by photography, or may be information that has been stored (registered) in association with the drug name, etc.

[0046] The specified information (information on the number and type of drugs) and prescription data, etc. (information created based on the prescription data or prescription, information related to the prescription) are then referenced. This allows a discrimination operation to be performed for each packet (for one dosing period) to determine whether the number of drugs and the type of each drug to be packaged match the contents of the prescription. Various operations are then performed depending on the results of this discrimination operation. That is, if there is a match, the operation to package the drugs is performed as is. On the other hand, if there is no match, the packaging continues, but an operation to notify the user of the discrimination result or an operation to stop packaging is performed.

[0047] The confirmation operation performed by the medicine dispensing device 2 of this embodiment is not limited to this, and may be a post-packaging confirmation operation to confirm whether the medicines already contained in the medicine packaging 25 match the prescription contents. In this case, a camera (photographing means) (not shown) is provided in a position where it can photograph the prepared medicine packaging 25, and at least a portion of the medicine packaging paper 15 is made transparent. That is, the medicine packaging 25 is formed so that the medicine inside can be seen. Then, by photographing the medicine packaging 25, the medicines contained therein are prepared, and an operation similar to the pre-packaging confirmation operation described above is performed. The checking operation performed by the medicine dispensing device 2 may be either a pre-packaging checking operation or a post-packaging checking operation, or both. One or more cameras may also be provided as needed.

[0048] Furthermore, in the dispensing operation of preparing and dispensing a plurality of medicine packages 25, the medicine dispensing device 2 of this embodiment is capable of preparing and dispensing the medicine packages 25 individually (single) (see FIG. 3(a)) (individual dispensing operation). In addition to this, it is also capable of preparing and dispensing medicine packaging bands 26 (see FIG. 3(b)) (medicine bandage dispensing operation). In either case, in this embodiment, one medicine package 25 contains (contains) one dose of medicine.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4, drug packaging strip 26 is a continuous body of drug packages 25 formed by connecting a plurality of drug packages 25 in a strip shape. Drug packaging strip 26 has a header section 28 (attached section) at the beginning, and a plurality of drug packages 25 are continuous following header section 28. Header section 28 is an empty sachet (blank packet) that does not contain any drug. For convenience of drawing, only some of the drug packages 25 are labeled with reference numerals, and reference numerals are omitted for other drug packages 25. Similarly, in the following description, when the same item or items with the same main parts are depicted multiple times in each drawing, some of the reference numerals will be omitted as necessary.

[0050] The medicine dispensing device 2 of this embodiment can produce, as the medicine packaging band 26, bandages 30 for the same patient (see FIG. 4(a)) and bandages 31 for the same dosing period (see FIG. 4(b)).

[0051] Each patient dressing 30 contains multiple medication packages 25 that are prescribed for the same patient at different times (does not overlap). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4(a), a total of 28 medication packages 25 belong to the same patient dressing 30. The first medication package 25 contains medication prescribed for "Sato" and is to be taken after breakfast on a specific date. The second to fourth medication packages 25 all contain medication prescribed for the same "Sato," and from the second onwards, they contain medications to be taken "after lunch," "after dinner," and "before bedtime," respectively, on the same day. The fifth medication package 25 contains medication prescribed for the same "Sato" and is to be taken "after breakfast" on the following day (the day after the specific date).

[0052] Similarly, the multiple medication packages 25 belonging to this same patient dressing 30 contain medications corresponding to 28 doses (4 doses per day for 7 days) for the same person, Mr. Sato, with each medication to be taken at one time being packaged in a separate medication package 25. In other words, medications packaged in one medication package 25 belonging to the same patient dressing 30 are to be taken at a different time than medications packaged in any other medication packages 25 belonging to the same patient dressing 30. Note that "different times" here refers to differences in at least one of the date (date) and time of administration (roughly speaking, before, between, or after meals).

[0053] A same-dose-period bandage 31 contains multiple medication packages 25 that are prescribed for different patients and have the same dosing period. For example, in the example shown in Figure 4(b), a total of 28 medication packages 25 belong to the same medication-period bandage 31. The first medication package 25 contains medication prescribed for a first person, "Sato," to be taken after breakfast on a specific date. The second medication package 25 contains medication prescribed for a second person, "Suzuki," to be taken after breakfast on the same day. Similarly, medications for 28 different people are contained in separate medication packages 25, and the medications contained in each medication package 25 are all to be taken at the same time. Note that "at the same time" here refers to the same date and time of administration.

[0054] The above-described drug packaging band 26 (same-patient bandages 30, same-dose-period bandages 31) is a continuation of a plurality of drug packages 25, each containing related drugs. Here, the plurality of drug packages 25 containing such related drugs can also be produced individually by an individual dispensing operation. That is, when separate drug packages 25 are produced one by one by an individual dispensing operation, the plurality of drug packages 25 produced in succession may contain drugs prescribed for different patients with the same dosing period, each packaged separately for each patient. Similarly, the plurality of drug packages 25 produced in succession may contain drugs prescribed for the same patient with different dosing periods, each packaged separately for each dosing period.

[0055] When producing one drug package 25 using an individual dispensing operation, the drug package 25 is produced by cutting off the leading and trailing ends (the leading and trailing ends in the feeding direction of the drug packaging paper 15) of the part corresponding to the drug package 25 (see Figure 3(a)). On the other hand, when producing drug packaging strip 26, the leading end of the portion corresponding to the leading portion (header portion 28 or first drug package 25) and the trailing end of the portion corresponding to the last drug package 25 are cut (see FIG. 3(b)). That is, both drug packages 25 and drug packaging strip 26 are formed by cutting.

[0056] Here, the medicine packaging device 12 (see FIG. 2) has a printing means (not shown). Therefore, when producing medicine packages 25 (individual medicine packages 25 or medicine packaging strips 26), as shown in FIG. 4, desired printing can be applied to each of the medicine packages 25 or their associated parts (header portions 28, etc.).

[0057] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, a drug information display 33 is attached to the header section 28 of the drug packaging strip 26. The drug information display 33 is a code (sign or code) containing packaging-related information, which is information about the drug package 25 connected to the header section 28 to which the display is attached, and in this embodiment, it is a barcode. Note that the drug information display 33 is not limited to a one-dimensional code, and may be a two-dimensional code. It is sufficient that the information can be acquired by a reading device (not shown) described below.

[0058] The packaging-related information included in the drug information label 33 is information that can identify the drug contained in the drug package 25 that belongs to the drug packaging band 26 to which the drug information label 33 is attached. In other words, by reading the packaging-related information, it is possible to obtain information such as the person who takes the drug contained in the drug package 25 that belongs to the drug packaging band 26 (the patient to whom the drug has been prescribed), the time of taking the drug, etc. The packaging-related information is information associated with prescription data, etc., and may be information that can identify, together with prescription data, etc., a drug contained in drug packaging 25 belonging to drug packaging strip 26. For example, the packaging-related information may be an ID, etc., of an individually assigned drug packaging strip 26, and this ID may be associated with information about the drug contained in drug packaging 25 belonging to drug packaging strip 26 and stored as prescription data, etc. (data created from prescription data). Then, by referencing the prescription data based on the packaging-related information, information such as the person taking the drug contained in drug packaging 25 and the timing of taking the drug is obtained.

[0059] Furthermore, when performing a dispensing operation to dispense the prepared medicine packages 25 (individual medicine packages 25 or medicine packaging strips 26), the medicine dispensing device 2 can switch between an external dispensing mode and a supply mode.

[0060] In the external dispensing mode, a dispensing operation is performed in which the medicine packages 25 are dispensed from a dispensing outlet 37 (see FIG. 1) formed in the housing 36 of the medicine dispensing device 2. In this embodiment, when a plurality of medicine packages 25 are dispensed in the external dispensing mode, a medicine packaging strip 26 is created and dispensed. The dispensing opening 37 is a hole that connects the inside and outside of the housing 36, and opens in a direction different from the direction in which the medicine setting device 3 is located. Therefore, by dispensing the medicine packaging strip 26 from the dispensing opening 37, the medicine packaging strip 26 is directly dispensed to a position (place) where a user of the system (such as a pharmacist) can receive it.

[0061] The supply mode is a mode in which the medicine packages 25 are supplied to the medicine setting device 3, and a dispensing operation is performed to dispense the medicine packages 25 from inside the medicine dispensing device 2 into the medicine setting device 3. In this embodiment, when the medicine packages 25 are supplied to the medicine setting device 3, they are dispensed by an individual dispensing operation. That is, the medicine packages 25 are transported one by one toward the medicine setting device 3 (this transport operation will be described in detail later). In other words, the supply mode is an operation in which the medicine packages 25 are supplied to an apparatus performing a downstream process when a series of operations (described in detail later) of producing and transporting the medicine packages 25 and setting them in the medication calendar 80 is performed.

[0062] 2, the medicine setting device 3 has two medicine setting tool storage sections 40, each consisting of a first setting tool storage section 40a and a second setting tool storage section 40b. Each medicine setting tool storage section 40 is capable of storing a plurality of medication calendars 80 (described in detail below).

[0063] The first set tool accommodating section 40a is a portion located on the lower side of the internal space of the housing 42 of the medicine setting device 3, and the second set tool accommodating section 40b is a portion located above it. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 42 of the medicine setting device 3 is provided with a door section 45. The door section 45 is located on the front side of the first set tool accommodating section 40a, and by opening the door section 45 (see FIG. 9), the first set tool accommodating section 40a is opened to the outside. That is, it is possible to introduce multiple medication calendars 80 into the first set tool accommodating section 40a (see FIG. 9) and remove multiple medication calendars 80 from the first set tool accommodating section 40a. The housing 42 is formed with a door 45 and a window 46 above it, so that the interior can be seen from the outside even when the door 45 is closed.

[0064] As shown in Figure 2, the interior of the medicine setting device 3 is provided with a setting device internal transport means 50, a first set tool moving device 51, a second set tool moving device 52, a first calendar holding device 53, and a second calendar holding device 54. The medicine setting device 3 also has a control unit (not shown) equipped with a calculation unit, a memory unit, and a communication unit. Therefore, the medicine setting device 3 can send and receive various signals and various information to and from external devices (such as a higher-level control device (not shown), dispensing devices such as the medicine setting device 3, and an external PC (not shown)), and can store various information as needed.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the in-setting device transport means 50 has a base member 57 and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) pickup devices 58 attached to the base member 57. Pickup device 58 has an arm portion and a hand portion, and is a device that can use the hand portion to clamp (grab) drug package 25. Note that the hand portion is not limited to a gripping tool and may be a vacuum pad or the like, as long as it can grip, clamp, hold, etc. drug package 25 and transport it.

[0066] As shown in Fig. 2, the first set tool moving device 51 is a device that grips one medication calendar 80 in the first set tool storage section 40a and transports it to the second set tool storage section 40b (see Fig. 16, etc.). That is, it has two holding devices that grip the two left and right held portions 85a (see Fig. 8) of the medication calendar 80, respectively, and a belt-type lifting device that lifts and lowers the two holding devices.

[0067] As shown in Fig. 2, the second set tool moving device 52 is a device that grasps one medication calendar 80 in the second set tool storage section 40b and transports it to the first set tool storage section 40a (see Fig. 19, etc.). The second set tool moving device 52 also has two holding devices that grasp the two left and right held portions 85a (see Fig. 8) of the medication calendar 80, respectively, and a belt-type lifting device that raises and lowers the two holding devices.

[0068] As shown in Figure 2, the first calendar holding device 53 is a device capable of holding multiple medication calendars 80 within the first set tool storage section 40a, and has a one-side holding device 53a and an other-side holding device 53b arranged on the left and right sides, respectively. The one-side holding device 53a and the other-side holding device 53b are devices that can respectively hold the held portion 85a on one side and the held portion 85a on the other side of the medication calendar 80. Each device has a built-in robot equipped with an engaging piece that can engage with one of the held portions 85a, and a moving device formed of a support pulley and belt (or sprocket and rail) that moves the engaging piece in the forward and backward directions.

[0069] Therefore, the first calendar holding device 53 is capable of moving the held medication calendar 80 in the forward and backward directions (in the direction approaching the door section 45) while holding the medication calendar 80 with the one-side holding device 53a and the other-side holding device 53b. In addition, the first calendar holding device 53 is configured so that the one-side holding device 53a and the other-side holding device 53b can be simultaneously raised and lowered by a belt-type lifting device or the like.

[0070] 2, the second calendar holding device 54 is a device capable of holding a plurality of medication calendars 80 within the second set tool accommodating section 40b, and like the first calendar holding device 53, has a one-side holding device 54a and an other-side holding device 54b arranged on the left and right, respectively. Robots are built into the one-side holding device 54a and the other-side holding device 54b, and are capable of moving the held medication calendar 80 in the forward and backward directions while holding the medication calendar 80. Specifically, the second calendar holding device 54 can move the medication calendar 80 on the opposite side from the first calendar holding device 53, in a direction away from the door section 45.

[0071] 2, the medicine setting system 1 of this embodiment has an inter-device packet transport means 63 provided across the medicine dispensing device 2 and the medicine setting device 3. That is, holes (not shown) communicating the inside and outside are provided in the side wall portion of the housing 36 of the medicine dispensing device 2 and the side wall portion of the housing 42 of the medicine setting device 3, and the inter-device packet transport means 63 is arranged between the inside of the medicine dispensing device 2 and the inside of the medicine setting device 3.

[0072] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the inter-device package transport means 63 has one long-distance conveyor section 64 and multiple short-distance conveyor sections 65 lined up in a row. That is, from the downstream side in the transport direction, it has a first short-distance conveyor section 65a to a fourth short-distance conveyor section 65d. A gap is provided between the long-distance conveyor section 64 and the fourth short-distance conveyor section 65d and between two adjacent short-distance conveyor sections 65. Each conveyor section can be operated and stopped independently.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 6, the long-distance conveyor section 64 is made up of an upper conveyor section 67 and a lower conveyor section 68. The upper conveyor section 67 has a one-side conveyor section 67a having two pulleys arranged at positions separated in the conveying direction and rotating on a vertical axis, a belt member suspended with tension between the two pulleys, and a roller train section 67b having multiple rollers rotating on a vertical axis arranged at intervals in the conveying direction. The rollers belonging to the roller train section 67b are attached so as to rotate idly without being driven independently. The lower conveyor section 68 is a belt conveyor having two pulleys that rotate on horizontal axes and a belt member suspended under tension between the two pulleys.

[0074] As a result, long-distance conveyor section 64 is capable of transporting drug packages 25 in an upright position (see FIG. 13). That is, drug packages 25 are placed above lower conveyor section 68, and drug packages 25 are sandwiched and transported between one-side conveyor section 67a and rollers belonging to roller train section 67b.

[0075] As shown in Figure 6, the short-distance conveyor unit 65 is also made up of an upper conveyor unit 67 and a lower conveyor unit 68. These have substantially the same configuration as the long-distance conveyor unit 64 except for the fact that the conveying distance is shorter, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The upper conveyor unit 67 may have one or more rollers.

[0076] As described above, the medicine dispensing device 2 can switch between an external dispensing mode and a supply mode. As shown in Figure 7, the medicine packaging device 12 of the medicine dispensing device 2 is provided with a packet standby area 70 downstream of the cutting device 19 (see Figure 3).

[0077] Packet standby area 70 is an area where drug packages 25 sent from the upstream side (cutting device 19) temporarily wait when an individual dispensing operation or the like is performed. A robot arm 73 is provided near packet standby area 70 and inter-device packet transport means 63 (long-distance conveyor section 64). This robot arm 73 can grip and transport drug packages 25.

[0078] In the supply mode, one drug package 25 produced by cutting device 19 is transported to package standby area 70 and waits in package standby area 70. Then, robot arm 73 grabs the waiting drug package 25 and moves it to long-distance conveyor section 64, after which drug package 25 is transported by inter-device package transport means 63 (details will be described later). Conversely, in the external dispensing mode, the prepared medicine packaging strip 26 (see FIG. 4) passes through the packet standby area 70, is conveyed along the discharge path 75, and is dispensed from the dispensing opening 37 (see FIG. 1).

[0079] Next, the medication calendar 80 (medicine setting tool) into which the medicine packages 25 are set in the medicine setting system 1 of this embodiment (will be described in detail later) will be described.

[0080] 8, medication calendar 80, also known as a medicine calendar, has a sheet-like (flat) base material 81 and a plurality of medicine storage sections 82 provided on it. This medication calendar 80 also has electronic paper 83 (information display section), a hanging hook section 84, and a holding rod section 85.

[0081] The medicine containing section 82 is a pocket-shaped (bag-shaped) section that has a structure that allows items to be placed inside from the top. Each medicine containing section 82 is formed so as to be able to contain one or more medicine packages 25.

[0082] In the medication calendar 80 of this embodiment, the medicine containing sections 82 are distributed in a planar matrix when viewed from the front. In this embodiment, 28 medicine containing sections 82 are provided in a 4×7 matrix. More specifically, this medication calendar 80 is a group medication calendar 80 (first medication setting device) intended for a group of 28 different people. That is, each of the plurality of medication storage sections 82 is a section for storing medication packages 25 containing medications prescribed for different people (patients). Furthermore, the medication packages 25 stored in each of the plurality of medication storage sections 82 contain medications to be taken at the same time (after breakfast on a certain month and day). That is, this medication calendar 80 contains a plurality of medication packages 25, each containing medications prescribed for different patients and having the same dosing period.

[0083] Electronic paper 83 is a visual display medium that allows predetermined display content, such as characters, to be electrically rewritten. Specifically, electronic paper 83 can change the display content based on signals received from an external device and has an internal battery. Furthermore, once the display content has been displayed (or rewritten), the display content remains displayed even when power is turned off. Note that "characters, etc." here refers to letters, numbers, symbols, figures, graphs, tables, pictures, or other codes.

[0084] Here, the medicine setting device 3 of this embodiment is capable of a setting device information display operation in which the electronic paper 83 displays information (setting device related information) relating to the medication calendar 80 to which the electronic paper 83 is attached. The "setting tool related information" referred to here may be information about the medication calendar 80 to which the electronic paper 83 displaying information is attached, as well as information about the medication package 25 to be contained in the medication calendar 80. For example, it may be the name of the facility where the medication calendar 80 is used, or the name of the hospital, ward, or room of the hospital where the medication calendar 80 is used. It may also be the date and time of administration of the medication package 25 contained in the medication calendar 80, or information identifying the inspector who inspected the medication contained in the medication package 25 (inspector name, staff ID, etc.). It may also be a combination of the above information. Furthermore, the "setting tool-related information" may be displayed as identification information in the form of a one-dimensional code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). In other words, information whose contents cannot be directly confirmed visually may be used as the "setting tool-related information." In this case, an external device equipped with a scanner or the like may be configured to read the setting tool-related information, thereby acquiring information about the drug package 25 contained in the medication calendar 80 displaying the setting tool-related information. Furthermore, this external device may be capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from devices belonging to the medicine setting system 1. In other words, the information about the drug package 25 may be acquired based on information acquired by reading the setting tool-related information and information stored in a memory unit of one of the devices belonging to the medicine setting system 1.

[0085] For example, in the example of Fig. 8, a group identification display showing the name of the group to which multiple patients belong and a dosage time specification display showing the dosage time are displayed as set-tool related information on one of the multiple electronic papers 83. The group identification display is the part that displays the characters "Group A," and the dosage time specification display is the part that displays the characters "Month, Day, After Breakfast."

[0086] Furthermore, recipient identification information corresponding to each medicine containing section 82 is written on the base material 81 at a position adjacent to each medicine containing section 82. The recipient identification information is information that identifies which patient (recipient) the medicine package 25 to be contained (set) in the corresponding medicine containing section 82 belongs to. Specifically, it is the portion in which the recipient's surname is written in characters, and in the example in the upper left of Figure 8 (the medicine containing section 82 in the (1,1) element of the matrix), it is the portion written as "Sato". In other words, the medicine containing section 82 corresponding to the recipient identification information "Sato" contains a medicine package 25 containing medicine to be taken by Sato after breakfast on a certain month and day. The same is true for the other medicine containing sections 82.

[0087] The hanging hook portion 84 is a portion used when hanging the medication calendar 80 from the hanging rod portion 93 of the cart 88 (see Figure 9), and extends upward from the upper side of the base material 81 so that the tip portion is curved.

[0088] The held rod-shaped portion 85 is a portion that extends in the left-right direction (horizontal direction, width direction) when the medication calendar 80 is viewed from the front. This held rod-shaped portion 85 has held portions 85a at one end and the other end in the left-right direction. One held portion 85a is a portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from a portion where one end (left end) of the base material 81 is located toward the outside (left side), and the other held portion 85a is a portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from a portion where the other end (right end) of the base material 81 is located toward the outside (right side). In other words, the held portions 85a are located at the same height, and both are located outside the base material 81 in the width direction of the base material 81.

[0089] Note that the suspension hook portion 84 and the held rod-shaped portion 85 may be formed integrally. In this case, the suspension hook portion 84 and the held rod-shaped portion 85 may be made separable (detachable) from the base material 81 by, for example, forming the lower end of the held rod-shaped portion 85 into a clip shape.

[0090] Next, a procedure for forming a medication calendar group (medication set device group) using the medicine set system 1 of this embodiment will be described. A medication calendar group is a group of multiple medication calendars 80, and each medication calendar 80 belonging to the group is in a state in which all of the medication packages 25 that should be set have been set. In one medication calendar 80, the state in which "all of the medication packages 25 that should be set have been set" means that, if there are one or more medication packages 25 that should be stored in each of the multiple medication storage sections of the medication calendar 80, all of them are stored, and the medication storage sections 82 that should be emptied are empty.

[0091] In this embodiment, a multiple target set operation is possible in which all drug packaging 25 to be set on each of multiple medication calendars 80 is set, and this multiple target set operation can target up to 28 medication calendars 80. In other words, if the number of medication calendars 80 belonging to a medication calendar group is 28 or less, it is possible to form the medication calendar group by performing a single multiple target set operation. In the following explanation, a case where a medication calendar group to which 28 medication calendars belong is formed will be described.

[0092] The medication calendars 80 belonging to the medication calendar group formed in this embodiment are intended to be used at different times. That is, the medication periods for the medications contained in the medication packages 25 set in each medication calendar 80 are different for each medication calendar 80. That is, the first medication calendar 80 is for setting a medication package 25 containing medication to be taken after breakfast on a certain date (see Figure 8). The next, second medication calendar 80 is for setting a medication package 25 containing medication to be taken after lunch on the same day (see Figure 17). Similarly, the third, fourth, and fifth medication calendars 80 (detailed illustrations omitted) set the medication contained in the medication package 25 to be taken after dinner on the same day, before going to bed on the same day, and after breakfast the next day, respectively.

[0093] 15 and 17, for example, all of the medicine containers 82 in the (1,1) element of the matrix are assigned to "Sato", and all of the medicine containers 82 in the (1,2) element of the matrix are assigned to "Suzuki". In other words, the same patient is assigned to the medicine containers 82 in corresponding parts of the multiple medication calendars 80 (medication packages 25 containing medicines prescribed for the same patient are set inside).

[0094] From the above, for example, medication packages 25 containing medications to be taken by "Sato" and "Suzuki" after breakfast on a certain month and date are set in the medication containers 82 in the (1,1) and (1,2) components of the first medication calendar 80. Similarly, medication packages 25 containing medications to be taken by "Sato" and "Suzuki" after lunch on a certain month and date are set in the medication containers 82 in the (1,1) and (1,2) components of the second medication calendar 80. In this way, medication packages 25 containing medications prescribed for the same patient are set in corresponding parts of each medication calendar 80, and medication packages 25 containing medications with the same dosing timing are set in the same medication calendar 80.

[0095] 9, the medicine setting system 1 of this embodiment executes a calendar introduction process in which a plurality of medication calendars 80 are introduced into the medicine setting device 3 by a cart 88. In the calendar introduction process, the maximum number of medication calendars 80 that can be introduced at one time is half the maximum number (28) of medication calendars 80 that can be targeted in the multiple target setting operation, which is 14 in this embodiment.

[0096] As shown in Figure 10, the cart 88 has a handle portion 89 which is the part that the user holds, a connecting portion 90, a wheel mounting portion 91, multiple (four in this embodiment) casters 92 (wheels), and a hanging rod portion 93.

[0097] The connecting portion 90 is a frame-shaped portion located between the handle portion 89 and the wheel mounting portion 91 to integrally connect them.

[0098] The wheel mounting portion 91 is a frame-like portion having a substantially rectangular ring shape in a plan view, and the caster 92 is fixed to the lower side thereof.

[0099] The suspension rod portion 93 is a rod-shaped portion that is provided forward of the handle portion 89 and extends in the front-to-rear direction (horizontal direction). In this embodiment, the suspension rod portion 93 has a locking recess 93a formed on the upper side that can lock the above-mentioned suspension hook portion 84 (see FIG. 8). A plurality of locking recesses 93a (14 in this embodiment) are provided and are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the suspension rod portion 93. The cart 88 of this embodiment is of a type that is used by a person holding a handle 89 located at the rear and pushing it forward (see FIG. 10).

[0100] In the calendar introduction step, as shown in Fig. 9, a plurality of medication calendars 80 are hung from the hanging rods 93 of the cart 88, thereby locking the plurality of medication calendars 80 to the cart 88. That is, the hanging hooks 84 (see Fig. 8) of each medication calendar 80 are locked in the locking recesses 93a (see Fig. 10).

[0101] At this time, the medication calendars 80 are all hung in a position in which the front side (the side where the medicine containing section 82 is located) faces backward in the direction of travel. Here, the multiple medication calendars 80 introduced in the calendar introduction step are all medication calendars 80 for the same target group and are of the same shape (substantially the same shape). That is, the size of each base material 81, the number of drug containing sections 82, the position of each drug containing section 82 relative to the base material 81, the positions and sizes of the drug containing sections 82 in corresponding sections (having the same matrix components), etc. are all the same. In addition, the positions of other sections (electronic paper 83, hanging hook section 84, held rod section 85) relative to the base material 81, the number and size of each other section, etc. are all the same. That is, the multiple medication calendars 80 all have the same number of drug containing sections 82 arranged in the same distribution (see Figures 15 and 17).

[0102] When a part or all of the cart 88 and the plurality of medication calendars 80 are introduced into the first set tool housing 40a, as shown in Fig. 11, the one-side holding device 53a of the first calendar holding device 53 is positioned below one of the held portions 85a of each of the plurality of medication calendars 80. Then, the other-side holding device 53b of the first calendar holding device 53 is positioned below the other held portion 85a. At this time, the wheel mounting portion 91 and the plurality of casters 92 of the cart 88 are positioned within a gap 95 formed below the medicine setting device 3 (inter-device package transport means 63) (see FIG. 9).

[0103] In this state, an operation is performed to raise the one-side holding device 53a and the other-side holding device 53b. As a result, the multiple medication calendars 80 held on the cart 88 are held by the one-side holding device 53a and the other-side holding device 53b (see FIG. 11(b)). That is, for each medication calendar 80, one held portion 85a is held (placed) by the one-side holding device 53a, and the other held portion 85a is held (placed) by the other-side holding device 53b. In addition, the hanging hook portion 84 transitions from a state in which it is locked (hanging) from the hanging rod portion 93 to a state in which it is unlocked. The operation of raising the one-side holding device 53a and the other-side holding device 53b may be performed on the condition that a sensor provided in the first set tool storage section 40a detects the cart 88, or may be performed when the user makes a specified input to the display device 4.

[0104] 12, multiple medication calendars 80 are placed in the first set tool storage section 40a and held by the first calendar holding device 53. In this state, the cart 88 is removed (discharged) and the door section 45 is closed. The cart 88 may be manually discharged by a person, or may be automatically discharged by providing a push-out mechanism (push-out section) not shown.

[0105] In this embodiment, before starting the operation of setting the medicine packages 25, the medicine setting device 3 sends a signal to the electronic paper 83 of all introduced medication calendars 80, causing the electronic paper 83 to perform the above-mentioned setting tool information display operation. This operation of displaying information on the electronic paper 83 may be performed during the operation of setting multiple medicine packages 25, or may be performed after the operation of setting multiple medicine packages 25 is completed. It may be performed between the time the medication calendar 80 is introduced into the medicine setting device 3 and the time it is removed. In this embodiment, the medicine setting device 3 acquires or creates information to be displayed on the electronic paper 83 based on prescription data and displays it.

[0106] Here, a package setting area 98 is provided on the front side of the first setting tool accommodating section 40a (near the door section 45 (see FIG. 1)), and an operation of setting the drug package 25 on the medication calendar 80 arranged in the package setting area 98 is performed. This package setting area 98 may be formed by providing a mechanism capable of holding the medication calendar 80 on the front side of the first calendar holding device 53. That is, it may be an area where the medication calendar 80 held by the mechanism is located. It may also be an area where the medication calendar 80 held on the frontmost side of the first calendar holding device 53 is located. When a plurality of medication calendars 80 are introduced into the first setting tool receiving portion 40a, one medication calendar 80 is positioned in the package setting area 98 (or moved to the package setting area 98).

[0107] Meanwhile, the medicine dispensing device 2 dispenses the medicine packages 25 in the supply mode. That is, as described above, drug packages 25 are prepared one by one and transported to long-distance conveyor section 64. Then, drug packages 25 introduced into long-distance conveyor section 64 are transported to a predetermined position as shown in FIG.

[0108] Specifically, drug packages 25 introduced into long-distance conveyor section 64 are transported via long-distance conveyor section 64 to one of four short-distance conveyor sections 65, and are made to wait at that short-distance conveyor section 65. That is, first short-distance conveyor section 65a to fourth short-distance conveyor section 65d become first waiting positions to fourth waiting positions for drug packages 25, respectively.

[0109] First, when transporting drug packages 25 to first short-distance conveyor unit 65a, long-distance conveyor unit 64 and four short-distance conveyor units 65 are operated. Then, after drug packages 25 are transported by long-distance conveyor unit 64, they are transferred from long-distance conveyor unit 64 to fourth short-distance conveyor unit 65d. At this time, first, a part of drug packages 25 is positioned on the lower conveyor unit 68 of long-distance conveyor unit 64, and another part is positioned on the lower conveyor unit 68 of fourth short-distance conveyor unit 65d (a state in which drug packages 25 straddle the gap between the conveyors). After this state, they are transported by fourth short-distance conveyor unit 65d.

[0110] Similarly, the medicine packages 25 are transferred from the fourth short distance conveyor 65d to the third short distance conveyor 65c, then from the third short distance conveyor 65c to the second short distance conveyor 65b, and then from the second short distance conveyor 65b to the first short distance conveyor 65a. Then, the operation of the first short distance conveyor 65a is stopped, so that the medicine packages 25 are placed in a standby state at the first standby position (first short distance conveyor 65a).

[0111] Furthermore, when transporting drug packages 25 to second short distance conveyor 65b, long distance conveyor 64 and second short distance conveyor 65b to fourth short distance conveyor 65d are operated, and first short distance conveyor 65a is stopped. Then, in the same procedure as above, drug packages 25 are transferred in the order of long distance conveyor 64, fourth short distance conveyor 65d, third short distance conveyor 65c, and second short distance conveyor 65b. Then, operation of second short distance conveyor 65b is stopped, so that drug packages 25 are placed in a standby state at the second standby position (second short distance conveyor 65b).

[0112] That is, when a drug package 25 is to be transported to one of the short-distance conveyor sections 65, the operation of the short-distance conveyor section 65 located downstream of the destination short-distance conveyor section 65 is stopped, and the transport is performed with the other conveyor sections operating. For example, when transporting to the third short-distance conveyor section 65c, the operation of the first short-distance conveyor section 65a and the second short-distance conveyor section 65b is stopped, and when transporting to the fourth short-distance conveyor section 65d, the operation of the first short-distance conveyor section 65a to the third short-distance conveyor section 65c is stopped.

[0113] If there are multiple destinations, priority is given to the destination that is further downstream. For example, when two separately formed drug packages 25 are to be transported to the first standby position and the third standby position, respectively, they are transported to the first standby position, and then to the third standby position. Therefore, when four separately formed drug packages 25 are to be transported to four standby positions, they are transported to the first standby position, then to the second standby position, then to the third standby position, and finally to the fourth standby position.

[0114] Next, when the drug packaging 25 is waiting at one or more of the multiple (four) waiting positions, the drug packaging 25 is transported from the waiting position to the drug storage section 82 of the medication calendar 80 by the transport means 50 within the setting device, as shown in Figures 14 and 15.

[0115] That is, the medicine setting system 1 of this embodiment has a package transport means for transporting the medicine package 25 from the production position (the position where it is produced) to the medicine storage section 82 of the medication calendar 80. As shown in Fig. 5, this package transport means is made up of an internal transport path (not shown) of the medicine packaging device 12, a robot arm 73 in the medicine dispensing device 2, an inter-device package transport means 63, and an in-setting device transport means 50.

[0116] 14, each pickup device 58 of the in-setting device conveying means 50 corresponds to a different standby position, and specifically, four pickup devices 58 correspond to the first standby position to the fourth standby position in order from the left. Each pickup device 58 is capable of clamping a drug package 25 at the corresponding standby position.

[0117] Therefore, when drug packages 25 are transported by the in-setting device transport means 50, multiple (four) pickup devices 58 are simultaneously brought close to multiple (four) waiting positions. When a drug package 25 is present at each of the four waiting positions, the four pickup devices 58 clamp the drug package 25. For example, as shown in Figure 14, when drug packages 25 are waiting at each of the four waiting positions, each of the four pickup devices 58 clamps the drug package 25 at its corresponding waiting position.

[0118] Then, the base member 57 and the four pickup devices 58 are moved upward (see FIG. 14) and positioned near the medication calendar 80 placed in the package setting area 98 (see FIG. 15(a)). Here, the setting device internal transport means 50 performs an operation of setting a drug package 25 for each row of the plurality of drug containers 82 arranged in a matrix. That is, the four pickup devices 58 move to the upper side of the drug containers 82 belonging to a predetermined row (the first row at the top in FIG. 15 ) and release (release) the drug package 25 that they were holding, thereby putting (inserting) the drug package 25 into the drug container 82.

[0119] In this way, in the multiple target setting operation, an operation (hereinafter referred to as the first row setting operation) is performed to set the medicine packages 25 that should be set (need to be set) in the medicine storage section 82 belonging to the first row for the first medication calendar 80a. Then, when the first row setting operation is performed for the first medication calendar 80a, as shown in Figure 16, the first setting tool moving device 51 (see Figure 2) moves the first medication calendar 80a from the package setting area 98 to the second setting tool storage section 40b. Then, the first medication calendar 80a is held by the second calendar holding device 54 of the second setting tool storage section 40b.

[0120] Around the same time (or simultaneously), the second medication calendar 80b is moved to the package setting area 98. Then, the first row setting operation is executed for the second medication calendar 80b (see FIG. 17). That is, an operation (partial setting operation) is performed to set the medicine packages 25 that need to be set in only some (only the medicine containers 82 belonging to the first row) of the multiple medicine containers 82 of the first medication calendar 80a. Then, before performing the operation to set the medicine packages 25 that need to be set in the medicine containers 82 of the other rows of the first medication calendar 80a, an operation to set the medicine packages 25 that need to be set is performed in only some of the second medication calendar 80b.

[0121] In other words, after the operation of setting the medicine packages 25 on one medication calendar 80a has begun, the operation of setting the medicine packages 25 on one medication calendar 80a is temporarily suspended when only a portion of all the medicine packages 25 to be set have been set (when the partial setting operation has been performed). Then, before all the medicine packages 25 to be set on one medication calendar 80a have been set, the operation of setting the medicine packages 25 on another medication calendar 80b is initiated. In this case, the medicine storage units 82 in which the medicine packages 25 are set in the first medication calendar 80a and the medicine storage units 82 in which the medicine packages 25 are set in the second medication calendar 80b both belong to the first row. In other words, these are corresponding parts of the multiple medicine storage units 82 arranged in the same distribution on each of the medication calendars 80a and 80b.

[0122] When the first row setting operation is completed for the second medication calendar 80b (see FIG. 17(b)), the second medication calendar 80b is moved to the second setting tool storage section 40b (not shown) in the same manner as the first medication calendar 80a. By repeating this process, as shown in FIG. 18(a), a state is reached in which a plurality of (14) medication calendars 80 are held in the second setting tool storage section 40b. At this time, all of the plurality of medication calendars 80 held in the second setting tool storage section 40b have already undergone the first row setting operation.

[0123] In this embodiment, the medication calendars 80 are moved sequentially from the first medication calendar 80a to the second set tool storage section 40b, with the medication calendar 80 moved next being positioned in front of the medication calendar 80 that was moved immediately before. Therefore, the 14 medication calendars 80 held in the second set tool storage section 40b are arranged in this order from the back, starting with the first medication calendar 80a, followed by the second medication calendar 80b, etc. At this time, each medication calendar 80 is also positioned with the front side facing forward.

[0124] In this state, as shown in Figure 18(a), a plurality (14) of new medication calendars 80 are introduced into the first set device storage section 40a, and the door section 45 is closed (see Figure 18(b)). This introduction is performed in the same manner as above. These plurality (14) medication calendars 80 are the remaining medication calendars 80 of the above-mentioned medication calendar group.

[0125] 19(a), for the 15th medication calendar 80 (the first of the multiple newly introduced medication calendars 80), this medication calendar 80 is moved to the package setting area 98 as necessary, and the first row setting operation is performed.

[0126] 19(b), an operation of moving the 15th medication calendar 80 from the package setting area 98 to the second set tool storage section 40b and an operation of moving the 16th medication calendar 80 to the package setting area 98 are performed. Also, an operation of moving the first medication calendar 80 from the second set tool storage section 40b to the first set tool storage section 40a is performed. Specifically, the first medication calendar 80 is moved to the rear side of the 28th medication calendar 80. These operations may be performed in parallel, or may be performed one by one in a predetermined order.

[0127] After the first row setting operation is performed on the 16th medication calendar 80, the operation of moving this medication calendar 80 to the second setting tool storage section 40b and the operation of moving the 17th medication calendar 80 to the package setting area 98 are performed in the same manner as above (not shown). In addition, the operation of moving the second medication calendar 80 from the second setting tool storage section 40b to the first setting tool storage section 40a is performed (not shown). Then, by repeating this operation, as shown in Figure 20(a), all (28) medication calendars 80 introduced into the medicine setting device 3 have already undergone the first row setting operation.

[0128] At this time, the multiple (14) medication calendars 80 introduced earlier are positioned in the first set tool storage section 40a, and from the front, the first medication calendar 80a, the second medication calendar 80b, the third medication calendar 80, etc. are lined up in this order. At this time, the front side of each medication calendar 80 faces the front side. The remaining multiple (14) medication calendars 80 introduced subsequently are positioned in the second set tool storage section 40b. At this time, from the back, the 15th medication calendar 80 (the first of the newly introduced ones), the 16th medication calendar 80 (the second of the newly introduced ones), the 17th medication calendar 80, etc. are lined up in this order, with the front side facing forward.

[0129] Next, for each medication calendar 80, an operation is performed to set the medicine package 25 to be set in the medicine storage section 82 belonging to the second row (second row from the top) (hereinafter referred to as the second row setting operation).

[0130] That is, an operation is performed to move the first medication calendar 80 to the package setting area 98 as necessary, and a second row setting operation is performed on the first medication calendar 80 (see FIG. 21). Then, an operation is performed to move the first medication calendar 80 for which the second row setting operation has been completed to the second set tool storage section 40b, and an operation is performed to move the second medication calendar 80 to the package setting area 98 (see FIG. 20(b)). Also, an operation is performed to move the 15th medication calendar 80 (the first of the newly introduced ones) from the second set tool storage section 40b to the first set tool storage section 40a. Then, by repeating this operation, all (28) medication calendars 80 introduced into the medicine setting device 3 have already been subjected to the first row setting operation and the second row setting operation.

[0131] Similarly, for all (28) medication calendars 80, the third row setting operation is performed one by one, the fourth row setting operation is performed one by one, and the fifth row setting operation is performed one by one, in this order. In this manner, starting from the top row, the α-th row setting operation (a partial setting operation, where α is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and is the number of rows) is performed one by one for all medication calendars 80. The α-th row setting operation is an operation for setting a medicine package 25 that needs to be set in a medicine container 82 belonging to the target row. In this embodiment, by performing up to the seventh row setting operation, all of the medicine packages 25 that need to be set have been set in each of all (28) medication calendars 80. In other words, a medication calendar group is formed.

[0132] At this time, the multiple (14) medication calendars 80 introduced first are positioned in the first set tool storage section 40a, and the remaining multiple (14) medication calendars 80 are positioned in the second set tool storage section 40b. Then, the door section 45 is changed from the closed state to the open state, the cart 88 is introduced into the first set tool storage section 40a, and the multiple medication calendars 80 are removed from the first set tool storage section 40a in the reverse order of the above-mentioned introduction. Thereafter, the multiple (14) medication calendars 80 held in the second set tool storage section 40b are moved to the first set tool storage section 40a, and the operation of removing the multiple medication calendars 80 from the first set tool storage section 40a is performed in the same manner.

[0133] In the above-mentioned αth row setting operation, among the multiple drug storage sections 82 belonging to the target row, the drug storage section 82 that has the drug packaging 25 to be set therein is set, while the drug packaging 25 is not set in the drug storage section 82 that is to be emptied.

[0134] For example, as shown in FIG. 22, a first medication calendar 80 is set with medication packages 25 containing medications to be taken after breakfast on a specified day (see FIG. 22(a)). A second medication calendar 80 is set with medication packages 25 containing medications to be taken after lunch on the same day (see FIG. 22(b)). Then, the medication storage sections 82 belonging to the first row of each medication calendar 80 are assigned to Mr. Sato, Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Takahashi, and Mr. Watanabe from left to right. Then, medications to be taken after breakfast on a specified day are prescribed to each of the four people, and medications to be taken after lunch on a specified day are prescribed to Mr. Sato, Mr. Takahashi, and Mr. Watanabe. In this case, in the first row setting operation for the first medication calendar 80, the target medication packages 25 are set in each of the four medication storage units 82. Then, in the subsequently executed first row setting operation for the second medication calendar 80, the target medication packages 25 are set in each of the three medication storage units 82. Specifically, of the four pickup devices 58, the pickup device 58 associated with the second column of the queue (the medication storage unit 82 assigned to "Suzuki") does not hold (carry) the medication package 25. On the other hand, the three pickup devices 58 associated with the other columns each hold a medication package 25. Then, the pickup device 58 that does not hold (carry) the medication package 25 does not set the medication package 25 in the medication storage unit 82 associated with it, and sets the medication package 25 in the medication storage unit 82 associated with the other three pickup devices 58. As a result, no medicine package 25 is set in the medicine container 82 at the (1,2) element of the matrix assigned to "Suzuki," and medicine packages 25 are set in the other medicine containers 82 in the same row.

[0135] In the above-mentioned multiple target set operation, when the αth row set operation is performed for multiple medication calendars 80 one by one, it may be the case that all of the drug storage sections 82 belonging to the target row in one of the medication calendars 80 should be emptied. In this case, the αth row setting operation may not be performed on the medication calendar 80, and the calendar may be moved from the package setting area 98.

[0136] For example, in the first medication calendar 80, there are medication packages 25 that should be set in each of the four medication storage sections 82 belonging to the first row, and in the second medication calendar 80, all four medication storage sections 82 belonging to the first row should be emptied. In this case, when the first line set operation is performed on each of the multiple medication calendars 80, after the first line set operation is performed on the first medication calendar 80, the first medication calendar 80 is moved from the package set area 98. Then, after the second medication calendar 80 is moved to the package set area 98, the second medication calendar 80 may be moved from the package set area 98 without performing the first line set operation on the second medication calendar 80.

[0137] Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the α-th row setting operation in the case where a plurality of medicine packages 25 are set in one medicine container 82 will be described. Specifically, we will explain the case where, in one medication calendar 80, of the four medication storage sections 82 belonging to the first row, there are two medication packages 25 to be set in one medication storage section 82 in the (1,1) element of the matrix, and there is one medication package 25 to be set in each of the other three medication storage sections 82. In this case, first, an operation is performed to transport four drug packages 25 from the standby position, and one drug package 25 is set in each drug container 82 belonging to the first row (see Figure 23(a)). Then, without moving the medication calendar 80 from the package setting area 98, an operation is performed to transport one drug package 25 from the standby position, and one drug package 25 is set in the drug container 82 at the (1,1) component of the matrix (see Figure 23(b)). As a result, a total of two drug packages 25 are set in the drug container 82 at the (1,1) component of the matrix, and one drug package 25 is set in each of the other three drug containers 82 belonging to the first row.

[0138] That is, in the αth row setting operation for one medication calendar 80, the operation of transporting drug packages 25 from the standby position and setting them in the drug storage units 82 may be performed one or more times. The number of times this operation is performed is the maximum number of drug packages 25 to be set in each of the drug storage units 82 belonging to the target row.

[0139] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a medicine package 25 is set in a medication calendar 80 (see FIG. 8) that contains multiple medicine packages 25, each containing medicines prescribed to different patients with the same dosing period. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, an operation may be performed in which a medicine package 25 is set in a medication calendar 100 (medicine setting device, second medicine setting device) that contains multiple medicine packages 25, each containing medicines prescribed to one patient with different dosing periods.

[0140] 25, the multiple target setting operation may be an operation (second setting operation) in which all of the medicine packages 25 to be set are set on one medication calendar 100. That is, the multiple target setting operation is not limited to the operation (first setting operation) in which a partial setting operation is performed on each of the above-described multiple medication calendars 80 and the operation is repeated. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 25, the first medication calendar 100 is moved to the package setting area 98, and the first row setting operation is performed on the first medication calendar 100 (see FIG. 25(a)). Thereafter, while the first medication calendar 80 remains in the package setting area 98, the second row setting operation is performed on the first medication calendar 80 (see FIG. 25(b)). Similarly, the operations are sequentially performed up to the seventh row setting operation (see FIG. 25(c)), until all of the medication packages 25 to be set on the first medication calendar 80 have been set. Then, the first medication calendar 80 is moved to the second setting tool storage section 40b, and the second medication calendar 80 is moved to the package setting area 98. Similarly, an operation is performed to set all of the medication packages 25 to be set on each of the multiple medication calendars 80, one by one. This forms a medication calendar group.

[0141] 26, the medication calendar 101 (medication setting device) into which the medication packages 25 are set may be a group medication calendar 80 (first medication setting device) for a group of seven different people. This medication calendar 80 corresponds to a predetermined date (day of the week), and the medication storage sections 82 arranged in a matrix are assigned to different patients in each row and different medication times in each column.

[0142] In the above-described embodiment, the maximum number of medication calendars 80 that can be introduced at one time is set to half (14) of the maximum number of medication calendars 80 that can be targeted in the multiple-target setting operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By enlarging the housing 42 of the medicine setting device 3, the maximum number of medication calendars 80 that can be introduced at one time may be set to the same number (28) as the maximum number of medication calendars 80 that can be targeted in the multiple-target setting operation. In this case, the number of medication calendars 80 that can be held on the cart 88 (that can be hung from the hanging rod portion 93) may also be set to the same number (28) as the maximum number of medication calendars 80 that can be targeted in the multiple-target setting operation. In this case, the multiple-target setting operation can be performed continuously without interruption. Furthermore, the operation of moving the medication calendars 80 that were moved to the second setting tool storage portion 40b after the α-th setting operation to the first setting tool storage portion 40a may be performed at an appropriate timing. In addition, it is preferable that the medication calendar 80 that has been moved to the second set tool storage section 40b after the αth set operation has been performed is moved from the second set tool storage section 40b to the first set tool storage section 40a before the αth set operation for the last (28th) medication calendar 80 is completed.

[0143] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which either an individual package production operation in which individual drug packages 25 are produced one by one using a cutting device 19, or a band production operation in which drug package bands 26 are produced, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, cutting device 19 may be configured to produce only drug packaging strip 26, and when performing the individual packet production operation, drug packaging strip 26 may be cut at another position downstream of cutting device 19. That is, a second cutting device (cutting means) may be provided in drug dispensing device 2 at a portion downstream of cutting device 19 of drug packaging device 12, and when performing the individual packet production operation, drug packaging strip 26 may be cut by the second cutting device to form individual drug packages 25.

[0144] A packaging strip cutting device (cutting means) may also be provided between the medicine dispensing device 2 and the medicine setting device 3. That is, the medicine packaging strip 26 may be supplied (transported) from the medicine dispensing device 2 to the packaging strip cutting device, the packaging strip cutting device may cut the medicine packaging strip 26 to create individual medicine packages 25, and the packaging strip cutting device may supply the medicine packages 25 one by one to the medicine setting device 3.

[0145] Alternatively, a cutting device (cutting means) and a packet standby section where individual drug packages 25 are kept on standby may be provided inside the drug setting device 3, and drug packaging strip 26 may be supplied from the drug dispensing device 2 to the drug setting device 3. That is, the drug setting device 3 cuts the supplied drug packaging strip 26 to prepare individual drug packages 25 and transports the prepared drug packages 25 to the packet standby section. Then, the drug packages 25 are transported from the packet standby section to below the pickup device 58 by a robot arm or conveyor. In this case, it is preferable that the drug packaging strip 26 supplied to the drug setting device 3 are bandages 30 for the same patient. That is, the production of the individual medicine packages 25 by cutting may be carried out by any device (any equipment) belonging to the medicine set system 1.

[0146] Here, in addition to the drug packaging 25 described above, drug packaging (or drug containers) with shapes that are difficult to handle with the device, or drug packaging containing drugs that are preferably handled by hand, may be set in the drug storage section 82 of the medication calendar 80. In such a case, in a multiple-target setting operation, no drug packaging may be set in the drug storage section 82 where such drug packaging (or drug container) should be set, and only those drug packaging that can be set by the drug setting device 3 may be set among the drug packaging that should be set.

[0147] That is, the multiple target setting operation described above is an operation of setting all of the medicine packages 25 to be set in each of the multiple medication calendars 80, but the present invention is not limited to this. The multiple target setting operation may be an operation of setting only a portion (only those that can be set by the medicine setting device 3) of all of the medicine packages 25 to be set in each of the multiple medication calendars 80. In such a case, after the multiple target setting operation is completed, an operation may be performed in which a person manually sets the medicine packages in appropriate ones of the multiple medication calendars 80 removed from the medicine setting device 3.

[0148] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which information to be displayed on the electronic paper 83 is acquired or created based on prescription data, and the created information is displayed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each medicine package 25 may be provided with an information display such as a code that can acquire information about itself, and the medicine setting device 3 may be provided with information acquisition means that reads information from this code, and the information acquired from the medicine package 25 may be displayed on the electronic paper 83. Furthermore, the information acquired from the medicine package 25 and information that can be acquired or created from information based on prescription data may be displayed on the electronic paper 83. Similarly, characters printed on medicine packaging 25 may be read (character analysis) and the read characters or information that can be obtained or created from information based on the read characters and prescription data may be displayed on electronic paper 83.

[0149] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the α-th row setting operation is performed as the partial setting operation, and the α-th row setting operation is performed sequentially from the top row of the medication calendar 80. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The partial setting operation may be performed, for example, on a predetermined column. That is, it is sufficient that a predetermined portion of all the medicine container sections 82 of the medication calendar 80 is the target. Furthermore, the α-th row setting operation may be performed sequentially from the bottom row. That is, when multiple partial setting operations are performed on one medication calendar 80, the order of the portions (some of the medicine container sections 82) to be operated on in each of the first to n-th setting operations may be changed as appropriate. For example, the α-th row setting operation may be performed by performing the fifth row setting operation, followed by the second row setting operation.

[0150] In the above-described embodiment, the medicine dispensing device 2 is a tablet packaging machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the medicine dispensing device 2 may be a powder medicine packaging machine that packages powder medicine into packaging paper for each dose based on prescription data. Like the above-described tablet packaging machine, this powder medicine packaging machine may be capable of performing a dispensing operation by automatic supply and a dispensing operation by manual supply. In the dispensing operation by automatic supply, a weighing operation may be performed to measure the weight of the powder medicine.

[0151] Next, a medicine setting device 201 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same parts as those described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0152] The medicine setting device 201 of this embodiment has a medicine bag supplying device 202, a main device 203, and a display device 4. The main device 203 has substantially the same structure as the medicine setting device 3 in the above-described embodiment, and therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In other words, the medicine setting device 201 of this embodiment is formed by integrating the medicine setting device 3 and the medicine bag supplying device 202 described above. Medicine package supply device 202 also has a control unit (not shown) equipped with a calculation unit, a memory unit, and a communication unit, and is capable of transmitting and receiving various signals and various information to and from external devices (such as a host control device (not shown), a dispensing device such as a medicine packaging machine, and an external PC (not shown)). It is also capable of storing various information.

[0153] Medicine bag supplying device 202 has a housing 236 provided with a plurality (four) of drawer groups 220 (package supply unit groups) consisting of first drawer group 220a to fourth drawer group 220d. Each of the plurality of drawer groups 220 has a plurality of drawer sections 222 (medicine packaging supply sections), and in this embodiment has two drawer sections 222 consisting of a first drawer section 222a and a second drawer section 222b. At this time, the plurality of drawer groups 220 are formed at positions offset in the horizontal direction.

[0154] As shown in FIG. 28, medicine package supplying device 202 has therein supply-side package transport means 225 for transporting medicine packages 25 from each drawer 222 to inter-device package transport means 263 below.

[0155] Here, the medicine setting device 201 of this embodiment has a package transport means for transporting the medicine package 25 from the production position (the position where it is produced) to the medicine storage section 82 of the medication calendar 80. This package transport means is composed of a supply-side package transport means 225, an inter-device package transport means 263, and an in-setting device transport means 50.

[0156] The supply-side package conveying means 225 has a plurality (four) of individual conveying means 226 (upstream conveying sections) consisting of first individual conveying means 226a to fourth individual conveying means 226d (see Figure 29(a)). Each individual conveying means 226 has a hand unit capable of clamping a drug package 25, a forward / backward movement mechanism (for example, an extension / retraction mechanism for an arm portion) that moves the hand unit in the forward / backward direction (front to back direction), and a belt-type lifting device that raises and lowers the hand unit and the forward / backward movement mechanism.

[0157] The plurality of individual conveying means 226 are each associated with a different drawer group 220 in a one-to-one relationship. Specifically, first individual conveying means 226a is associated with first drawer group 220a, and similarly, second individual conveying means 226b to fourth individual conveying means 226d are associated with second drawer group 220b to fourth drawer group 220d, respectively. Each individual conveying means 226 conveys drug packages 25 produced in drawer sections 222 belonging to the associated drawer group 220 to inter-device package conveying means 263.

[0158] For example, first individual conveying means 226a is a device that conveys drug packages 25 from one of drawer sections 222 (first drawer section 222a, second drawer section 222b) belonging to first drawer group 220a to inter-device package conveying means 263. Similarly, second individual conveying means 226b to fourth individual conveying means 226d each convey drug packages 25 from one of two drawers 222 belonging to second drawer group 220b to fourth drawer group 220d.

[0159] The inter-device package transport means 263 is substantially the same as the inter-device package transport means 63 described above, and is capable of transporting drug packages 25 in an upright position. The inter-device package transport means 263 of this embodiment differs from the above embodiment in the structure of the upper conveyor section (detailed illustration omitted), and a second-side conveyor section (not shown) is provided instead of the roller train section 67b (see FIG. 6). The second-side conveyor section has two pulleys that rotate on vertical axes and a belt member. In other words, the drug packages 25 are sandwiched between the one-side conveyor section 67a and the second-side conveyor section.

[0160] As shown in FIG. 30, the pull-out section 222 has therein a wrapping band attachment section 230, a wrapping body gripping section 231, a tension pulley section 232, and a wrapping body cutting device 233 (cutting means).

[0161] Packaging band attachment section 230 is a section where medicine packaging band 26 (see FIG. 4) wound in a roll is attached, and has a core. Packet gripping section 231 is a section that grips a portion of unwound medicine packaging strip 26, and has two rollers that rotate on vertical axes. That is, the two rollers pinch and grip a portion of medicine packaging strip 26.

[0162] At least one of the core of packaging strip attachment unit 230 and the two rollers of packet gripping unit 231 can be driven to rotate by a motor or other power source (not shown). That is, pull-out unit 222 has a pay-out mechanism for automatically paying out and feeding medicine packaging strip 26.

[0163] The tension pulley portion 232 is a roller that rotates on a vertical axis, and is a roller that is applied to the unwound medicine packaging strip 26 to apply a certain tension to the unwound medicine packaging strip 26.

[0164] The packaging cutting device 233 has a main body 233a equipped with a cutter (cutting blade) capable of cutting medicine packaging strip 26 (medicine packaging paper), and a sensor 233b that detects the cutting position of medicine packaging strip 26. In other words, the packaging cutting device 233 is a device that performs a packaging strip cutting operation to cut medicine packaging strip 26, thereby forming one medicine package 25.

[0165] That is, each drawer section 222 can be switched between a state in which it is pulled out from the main body (housing 236) of medicine package supplying device 202 and a state in which it is pushed in, and in the pulled-out state, medicine packaging strip 26 can be attached. Also, each drawer section 222 is capable of a packaging strip cutting operation for cutting medicine packaging strip 26 to create one medicine package 25.

[0166] The wrapping strip cutting operation may be an operation in which a portion of the medicine wrapping strip 26 is gripped by a hand portion of the individual conveying means 226, and the medicine wrapping strip 26 is cut by the wrapping cutter 233. In this case, the individual conveying means 226 conveys one (single packet) medicine package 25 formed by the gripped portion as is. Furthermore, for the wrapping band cutting operation, a holding means (not shown) for holding one prepared drug package 25 may be provided downstream of the main body 233a of the wrapping body cutting device 233. In this case, one drug package 25 is prepared by cutting, and the drug package 25 is kept waiting by the holding means. Then, the individual conveying means 226 grasps the drug package 25 waiting by the holding means with a hand portion and conveys it downward.

[0167] Next, a procedure for forming a medication calendar group using the medicine setting device 201 of this embodiment will be described. Note that the following describes an example in which a medication calendar group similar to the above is formed.

[0168] First, the medicine bag supplying device 202 performs a medicine bag supplying operation in which it prepares medicine packages 25 and transports them one package at a time toward the medicine setting device 201. Prior to this medicine bag supplying operation, a plurality of medication calendars 80 are introduced into the main device 203 by the cart 88, as described above. Furthermore, prior to the medicine bag supplying operation, medicine packaging strips 26 are set in the first drawer sections 222a belonging to each of the first to fourth drawer groups 220a to 220d of the medicine bag supplying device 202.

[0169] Specifically, the first drawer section 222a of the first drawer group 220a is fitted with a single patient bandage 30 (see Figure 4) formed by a series of medication packages 25, each containing medication prescribed for Mr. Sato. That is, in each medication calendar 80 (see FIG. 8) belonging to the medication calendar group, the medication packages 25 to be set in the medication storage section 82 located at the (1,1) component of the matrix are connected to form the same patient dressing 30. That is, the first medication package 25 belonging to the same patient dressing 30 is the medication package to be set in the medication storage section 82 located at the (1,1) component of the first medication calendar 80. The second medication package 25 is the medication package to be set in the medication storage section 82 located at the (1,1) component of the second medication calendar 80. Similarly, each of the medication packages 25 is to be set in a different medication calendar 80, and each is to be set in the medication storage section 82 located at the (1,1) component of the medication calendar 80.

[0170] Similarly, the bandages 30 for the same patient to be attached to the first drawer section 222a of the second drawer group 220b are formed by a series of drug packages 25 to be set in the drug storage sections 82 located in the (1, 2) components of different medication calendars 80. In addition, the bandages 30 for the same patient that are attached to the first drawer section 222a of the third drawer group 220c are formed by connecting drug packages 25 that should be set in drug storage sections 82 located in the (1, 3) components of different medication calendars 80. The bandages 30 for the same patient to be attached to the first drawer section 222a of the fourth drawer group 220d are formed by a series of drug packages 25 to be set in the drug storage section 82 located at the (1, 4) component of each separate medication calendar 80.

[0171] That is, a medicine packaging strip 26 including a series of medicine packages 25 to be set in the first row setting operation is attached to the first drawer section 222a of each of the first drawer group 220a to fourth drawer group 220d. That is, each drawer group 220 is associated with a medicine storage section 82 in a different column of the medication calendar 80. Therefore, the four medicine packaging strips 26 attached to each of the four drawer groups 220 at this time each include medicine packages 25 to be set in medicine storage sections 82 in different positions (columns) of the same row (first row).

[0172] The medicine packaging strip 26 to be attached to the drawer section 222 is prepared in advance by an external device (a tablet packaging machine) or the like. When the medicine packaging strip 26 is attached to the drawer section 222, the medicine information display 33 (see FIG. 4) on the medicine packaging strip 26 is read by a reading device (not shown) equipped with a scanner or the like. This executes a supply unit identification operation to identify the drawer section 222 to which the medicine packaging strip 26 is to be attached. The reading device may be formed integrally with the medicine setting device 201, or may be a portable device capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from the medicine setting device 201.

[0173] Specifically, the reading device reads the drug information display 33 to acquire information from the drug information display 33. Then, based on the acquired information and information such as prescription data stored in the control unit of the drug setting device 201, the drawer unit 222 to which the drug packaging strip 26 bearing the drug information display 33 should be attached is identified. This completes the supply unit identification operation.

[0174] Then, when the supply unit specifying operation is completed, a set guidance operation is executed to notify the user of the result of the supply unit specifying operation. The set guidance operation may be, for example, an operation of automatically shifting the specified drawer unit 222 to a state where it is pulled out toward the user (sliding it toward the user). Alternatively, the set guidance operation may be an operation in which all drawers 222 are assigned an ID or the like (a unique number) in advance, and a message such as "Please install in drawer number XX" is displayed on the display device 4 to encourage the user to install the medicine packaging strip 26 in the specified drawer unit 222. Furthermore, the set guidance operation may be an operation of outputting a similar message by voice or the like. Alternatively, the set guidance operation may be an operation in which all drawers 222 are provided with a lamp member such as an LED, and the lamp member of the specified drawer unit 222 is turned on or flashes. The set guidance operation may be an operation in which a plurality of these operations are executed.

[0175] In the medicine package supply operation, a first individual conveying operation is performed in which medicine packages 25 are prepared in first drawer section 222a of first drawer group 220a and conveyed by first individual conveying means 226a to inter-device package conveying means 263. In parallel with this, a second individual conveying operation is performed in which medicine packages 25 are prepared in first drawer section 222a of second drawer group 220b and conveyed by second individual conveying means 226b to inter-device package conveying means 263. Similarly, in parallel, a third individual conveying operation and a fourth individual conveying operation are performed in which medicine packages 25 are conveyed from drawer sections 222 belonging to the associated drawer group 220 by third individual conveying means 226c and fourth individual conveying means 226d.

[0176] 31, the lower end sides of the first individual conveying means 226a to the fourth individual conveying means 226d are standby positions for the medicine packages 25 on the medicine package supply device 202 side. As in the above-described embodiment, the lower end sides of the four pickup devices 58 are standby positions for the medicine packages 25 on the main device 203 side (first standby position to fourth standby position from the downstream side).

[0177] That is, when the first individual conveying operation is performed, drug packages 25 are introduced from first individual conveying means 226a to inter-device packet conveying means 263 and conveyed to the first standby position. As in the above-described embodiment, in this embodiment, drug packages 25 whose standby position on the main device 203 side is further downstream are conveyed preferentially. Therefore, for example, if drug packages 25 are conveyed to the lower end by the second individual conveying operation before the first individual conveying operation, these drug packages 25 are made to wait at the standby position for drug packages 25 on the drug packet supplying device 202 side. Similarly, the second, third, and fourth individual conveying operations are performed, respectively, and then drug packages 25 are conveyed by inter-device packet conveying means 263, whereby drug packages 25 are conveyed to the second, third, and fourth standby positions on the main device 203 side.

[0178] When all of the medicine packages 25 to be transported have been transported to the lower end sides of the four pickup devices 58, the operation of transporting the medicine packages 25 is performed by the transport means 50 within the setting device, as in the above embodiment. That is, one to four medicine packages 25 are transported from the standby position on the main device 203 side to the medicine storage section 82 of the medication calendar 80. Then, as in the above embodiment, the first row setting operation is performed for the first medication calendar 80.

[0179] Next, similarly to the above, an operation is performed to transport the medicine packaging 25 to be used in the first row set operation for the second medication calendar 80, and the first row set operation is performed for the second medication calendar 80. Similarly, as in the above embodiment, the first row set operation is performed one by one for all medication calendars 80 belonging to the medication calendar group.

[0180] At this time, while the first row setting operation is being performed for one medication calendar 80, an operation is performed to prepare the medication package 25 to be set in the first row setting operation to be performed later for another medication calendar 80. Also, an operation is performed to transport the prepared medication package 25 to a standby position on the main device 203 side. That is, the operation of setting the medication package 25 on the medication calendar 80, the operation of preparing the medication package 25, and the operation of transporting the medication package 25 are performed in parallel.

[0181] When the first row setting operation is performed on the plurality of medication calendars 80 in this manner, a reservation setting process is performed in which medicine packaging strips 26 are attached to the four second drawer sections 222b of the medicine bag supplying device 202.

[0182] In this step, a drug packaging band 26 including a series of drug packages 25 to be set in the second row setting operation is attached to the second drawer section 222b of each of the first drawer group 220a to fourth drawer group 220d. Specifically, the same patient dressing 30 attached to the second drawer section 222b of the first drawer group 220a is formed by a series of drug packages 25 to be set in the drug storage section 82 located at the (2,1) component of the matrix in each medication calendar 80 belonging to the medication calendar group. Similarly, the same patient dressing 30 including a series of drug packages 25 to be set in the drug storage section 82 located at the (2,2) component of the medication calendar 80 is set in the second drawer section 222b of the second drawer group 220b.

[0183] That is, the four medicine packaging strips 26 attached to the four second drawer sections 222b respectively contain medicine packages 25 to be set in different columns of the same row (second row). At this time, the medicine packaging strips 26 including the medicine packages 25 to be set in the medicine containing sections 82 in the columns corresponding to the drawer group 220 to which the respective second drawer sections 222b belong are attached.

[0184] Then, when the first line setting operation is completed for all the medication calendars 80 belonging to the medication calendar group, the second line setting operation is executed one by one for the plurality of medication calendars 80 for which the first line setting operation has already been completed.

[0185] At this time, in the medicine package supply operation, the first to fourth individual conveying operations convey drug packages 25 prepared in second drawer sections 222b of first to fourth drawer groups 220a to 220d, respectively. That is, each individual conveying operation conveys drug packages 25 from each second drawer section 222b to inter-apparatus package conveying means 263. Then, drug packages 25 are supplied to main body device 203 in the same manner as described above. In other words, in the operation of performing the second row set operation on the medication calendar 80, the drawer section 222 that produces the medication packaging 25 and is the source of the medication packaging 25 is different from the operation of performing the first row set operation on each medication calendar 80.

[0186] Then, when the second row setting operation is performed on the plurality of medication calendars 80, a reservation setting process is performed in which medicine packaging strips 26 are attached to the four first drawer sections 222a of the medicine bag supply device 202. This reservation setting process is an operation in which medicine packaging strips 26 each including a series of medicine packages 25 to be set in the third row setting operation are set in each of the first drawer sections 222a.

[0187] That is, the reserved setting process is a process of attaching medicine packaging strips 26 to either one of the four first drawer sections 222a or the four second drawer sections 222b that were not used in the previous (currently being executed) α-th row setting operation. At this time, a medicine packaging strip 26 carrying a series of medicine packages 25 to be set in the subsequent α-th row setting operation is attached to each drawer section 222. The medicine packaging strip 26 attached to each drawer section 222 includes medicine packages 25 to be stored in medicine storage sections 82 located in the row corresponding to that drawer section.

[0188] By repeating the above operations and steps, all of the medicine packages 25 to be set are set in each of all of the medication calendars 80. In other words, a medication calendar group is formed.

[0189] In the above embodiment, the medicine package supplying device 202 is located on the right side of the medicine setting device 201 (see FIG. 28), but this is not limiting and it may be located on the left side of the medicine setting device 201. In the above embodiment, the medicine packaging strip 26 is unwound to the left as viewed from the front, but may be unwound to the right as shown in FIG. 32. In this case, the medicine packaging strip 26 may be wound clockwise (see FIG. 32(a)) or counterclockwise (see FIG. 32(b)). The medicine packaging strip 26 may be wound counterclockwise when the medicine bag supplying device 202 is positioned to the right of the medicine setting device 201, and may be wound clockwise when the medicine bag supplying device 202 is positioned to the left. In either case, it is preferable to wind the medicine packaging strip 26 so that the printed portion is positioned at the front of the drawer, as shown in FIG. 32.

[0190] In the above embodiment, the medication packaging strip 26 is provided with a header portion 28, but the medication packaging strip 26 does not necessarily have to be provided with a header portion 28. In this case, the above-mentioned code may be attached to each medication package 25 belonging to the medication packaging strip 26. Then, the code or characters may be read from the medication package 25, and the supply unit identification operation may be performed based on this read information. Furthermore, in addition to the header portion 28, the above-mentioned medication information display 33 may be attached to any part of the prepared medication packaging strip 26.

[0191] In the above embodiment, an example in which the medication calendar 80 is used as the medication setting device is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the medication setting device may be a medication distribution tray 380 (medication setting device) shown in Figure 33.

[0192] The medication tray 380 is a container that is open at the top, and the inner space is divided into 28 small spaces 382 (medicine storage sections) by partition members 380a, and each small space 382 is a place (portion) for setting a medication package 25. In this medication tray 380, the multiple small spaces 382 are distributed in a matrix in plan view.

[0193] Similar to the medication calendar 80 described above, this medication tray 380 may accommodate a plurality of medication packages 25, each containing medications prescribed to different patients with the same dosing period. Alternatively, it may accommodate a plurality of medication packages 25, each containing medications prescribed to a single patient with different dosing periods. Furthermore, each row of the plurality of small spaces 382 may be assigned to a different patient, and each column may be assigned to a different dosing period. That is, the medication tray 380 is used to set one or more drug packages 25 to be set in each small space 382, ​​similar to the medication calendar 80 described above.

[0194] Next, the medicine setting system 1 for setting the medicine packages 25 on such a medicine distribution tray 380 will be described in detail below.

[0195] A medicine setting system 301 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a medicine dispensing device 2 and a medicine setting device 303, as shown in FIG. The medicine setting device 303 includes a setting tool supply device 310, a setting tool storage device 311, a medicine setting section 312, a transport conveyor 313, and a tray receiving device 314.

[0196] The set tool supply device 310 is a device capable of holding a plurality of medication trays 380 in a vertically stacked state, and is a device capable of supplying the medication trays 380 to the set tool storage device 311 one by one. The left interior of the setting tool storage device 311 is a first setting tool storage section 311a, and the right interior is a second setting tool storage section 311b. The transport conveyor 313 transports the medication tray 380, on which all of the drug packages 25 to be set have been set, from the second setting tool storage section 311b to the tray receiving device 314. The tray receiving device 314 is a device that can hold multiple medication trays 380, each with a drug package 25 set, in a vertically stacked state, and is capable of removing the medication trays 380.

[0197] In this medicine setting system 301, medicine packages 25 are supplied from the medicine dispensing device 2 to the medicine setting unit 312. Meanwhile, a medicine dispensing tray 380 is supplied from the first setting tool storage unit 311a to the medicine setting unit 312. Then, a partial setting operation is performed to set only some of the medicine packages 25 that need to be set on the medicine dispensing tray 380. Then, the medicine dispensing tray 380 on which the medicine packages 25 have been set is transported to the second setting tool storage unit 311b. That is, the medicine setting system 301 has a transport device that transports the medicine packages 25 from the medicine dispensing device 2 to the medicine setting unit 312, a transport device (pickup device) that sets the medicine packages 25 on the medicine dispensing tray 380, and a transport device that transports the medicine dispensing tray 380 from the medicine dispensing device 2 to the second setting tool storage unit 311b.

[0198] The first set tool storage section 311a and the second set tool storage section 311b are also devices that can hold a plurality of medication trays 380 stacked vertically. A device for moving the medication trays 380 from the second set tool storage section 311b to the first set tool storage section 311a is provided near the upper end.

[0199] From the above, the drug setting system 301 of this embodiment, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, circulates multiple drug dispensing trays 380, performing a partial setting operation on each one, and by repeating this, it is possible to set the drug packaging 25 that should be set on each of the multiple drug dispensing trays 380.

[0200] That is, the medication trays 380 transported from the medicine setting section 312 to the second setting tool storage section 311b are stacked so that the trays that have been partially set earlier are at the top. Then, of the stacked medication trays 380, the one located at the top is transported to the first setting tool storage section 311a.

[0201] In the first setting tool storage section 311a, the lowest one of the stacked medication distribution trays 380 is supplied to the medicine setting section 312. Then, the medication distribution trays 380 stacked on the medication distribution trays 380 each move downward.

[0202] 35, in the above-described medicine setting system 301, a medicine package supplying device 202 may be provided instead of the medicine dispensing device 2 to form a single medicine setting device 401. The above-described medicine setting device 303 serves as the main device of this medicine setting device 401. [Explanation of symbols]

[0203] 3,201,303,401; drug setting device, 25; drug packaging, 26; drug packaging strip, 28; header section (accessory section) 33; drug information display, 80, 80a, 80b, 100, 101; medication calendar (drug setting device), 82; drug storage section, 83; electronic paper (information display section), 98; package setting area, 220; drawer group (packaging supply section group), 222; drawer section (drug packaging supply section), 226; individual conveying means (upstream conveying section), 380; medication distribution tray (drug setting device), 382; small space (drug storage section)

Claims

[Claim 1] A medicine setting device that sets medicine packages containing medicines in a medicine setting tool that can set medicine packages containing medicines in each of a plurality of medicine storage sections, The pharmaceutical packaging system includes a plurality of pharmaceutical packaging supply units to which the pharmaceutical packaging is supplied, The plurality of medicine package supply units are separate from the main body of the medicine setting device, and are an integrated set of a packaging band attachment unit capable of attaching a medicine packaging band in which a plurality of medicine packages are connected in a band shape, and a feeding mechanism for feeding out the medicine packaging band, The medicine packaging supply unit is operable in a state where it is pushed into the main body of the medicine setting device, A medicine setting device comprising: cutting means for cutting a medicine packaging strip to form a single medicine package; and package transport means for moving the medicine package to the medicine storage section.

Images