Medicine Packaging Equipment

Abstract

To provide a medicine packaging device capable of supplying a medicine to a medicine route after an operator confirms that the medicine route is cleaned by a cleaning material.SOLUTION: A medicine packaging device includes: a supply part for supplying a medicine from a medicine container for storing a medicine; a medicine route through which the medicine supplied from the supply part passes; a packaging part for packaging the medicine passing through the medicine route; and a control part for controlling the medicine packaging device. The medicine container further stores a cleaning material. When a medicine for which cleaning of the medicine route by the cleaning material is necessary after packaging is included in pharmacy data, the control part starts supply of the medicine to the medicine route after receiving an input from an operator operating the medicine packaging device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical packaging machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2016-130972 (Patent Document 1) discloses a powder medicine packaging device that includes a plurality of medicine containers for storing powder medicines by type, a distribution unit that distributes the powder medicines discharged from the medicine containers, and a medicine packaging device that performs a packaging operation to individually package the powder medicines. The above document describes that a cleaning device is provided around the distribution unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-130972 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A medicine packaging device is being devised in which a medicine container that contains a medicine further contains a cleaning material, and the medicine path through which the medicine passes can be cleaned with the cleaning material. In such a medicine packaging device, it is desirable that an operator who operates the medicine packaging device can confirm that the medicine path is cleaned with the cleaning material before the medicine is supplied to the medicine path according to the prescription data.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a medicine packaging device that allows an operator to confirm that the medicine path is to be cleaned with a cleaning material before supplying medicine to the medicine path. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a medicine packaging device including a supply unit that supplies a medicine from a medicine container that contains a medicine, a medicine path through which the medicine supplied from the supply unit passes, and a packaging unit that packages the medicine that has passed through the medicine path. The medicine packaging device further includes a control unit that controls the medicine packaging device. The medicine container further contains a cleaning material. When the dispensing data includes a medicine that requires cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging, the control unit starts supplying the medicine to the medicine path after receiving an input from an operator who operates the medicine packaging device. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the medicine packaging device according to the present disclosure, the operator can confirm that the medicine path is to be cleaned with a cleaning material before supplying medicine to the medicine path. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a dispensing system. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a medicine packaging device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the medicine packaging device. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an intermediate container (outer drug container). [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a weighing device. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the process of supplying and packaging medicines. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the process of supplying and packaging medicines. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the process of supplying and packaging medicines. [Figure 10] 13 is a diagram showing a display unit that displays a selection screen for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging. FIG. [Figure 11] 13 is a diagram showing a display unit that displays a condition setting screen for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material. FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is a diagram showing a display unit that displays a selection screen for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material before packaging. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing an example process for cleaning a medicine channel with a cleaning material. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for manually cleaning a hopper. [Figure 15] 13 is a diagram showing a display unit that displays a captured image of the inner surface of a hopper. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a dispensing system 100. Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a medicine packing device 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the medicine packing device 1.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, a dispensing system 100 includes a medicine packaging device 1 and a measuring device 80.

[0012] The medicine packaging device 1 supplies and packages medicine. In order to supply medicine, the medicine packaging device 1 can measure out one or more medicines. In this specification, measuring out medicine means taking out the required amount of medicine contained in a medicine container or the like. The medicine packaging device 1 measures out powder medicine (powdered, finely granulated, or granular medicine) as the medicine. The medicine packaging device 1 may be capable of packaging tablets in addition to powder medicine.

[0013] The measuring device 80 is installed outside the medicine packing device 1. The measuring device 80 can measure out medicines instead of the medicine packing device 1. The medicine packing device 1 and the measuring device 80 are installed in, for example, a pharmacy or a hospital.

[0014] The medicine packing device 1 supplies and packs medicines based on prescription data input by an operator.

[0015] The medicine packaging device 1 can also only package medicines. In this case, a weighing device 80 or the like is used to measure the medicine. The weighing device 80 weighs the medicine that the operator has removed from a medicine bottle or the like. The medicine packaging device 1 can also only measure the medicine. In this case, the weighed medicine is output to the outside of the medicine packaging device 1 without being packaged. The medicine packaging device 1 stores the weighed medicine in a container so that the operator can remove the container.

[0016] In the following description, the medicine packaging device 1 packaging a medicine is referred to as a first operation, and the medicine packaging device 1 weighing a medicine without subsequently packaging it is referred to as a second operation. In the first operation, the medicine packaging device 1 may or may not weigh a medicine. The first operation also includes the case where the medicine packaging device 1 packages a medicine that has been weighed (measured) by a measuring device 80 or the like outside the medicine packaging device 1.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, the drug packaging device 1 includes a first storage section 11, a second storage section 12, and a third storage section 13. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the drug packaging device 1 also includes a transport section 14, a drug container 15, a first information processing section 16, a measuring section 30, a second information processing section 19, a third information processing section 20, a display section 21, an operation section 22, a drug discharge section 32, a packaging section 33, a cleaning section 38, a control section 50, a locking mechanism 52, and image capture devices 54 and 56.

[0018] The first storage section 11 can store a plurality of intermediate containers 91 that do not contain medicine. The intermediate containers 91 are prepared to contain medicine to be supplied and packaged and to transport the medicine to each part of the medicine packaging device 1. The configuration of the intermediate containers 91 will be described later.

[0019] First storage unit 11 can be configured, for example, to have a plurality of support stands for storing a plurality of intermediate containers 91, with each support stand supporting the bottom surface of each intermediate container 91. However, as long as first storage unit 11 can substantially store intermediate containers 91, the configuration of first storage unit 11 can be changed as desired.

[0020] The second storage section 12 can store a plurality of external drug containers 92 that do not contain drugs. The external drug container 92 contains drugs prepared by an operator outside the drug packaging device 1, and is used as a container introduced into the drug packaging device 1 for packaging the drugs. When the weighing device 80 or the like in FIG. 1 performs weighing instead of the drug packaging device 1, the external drug container 92 is prepared in the drug packaging device 1 to contain the drugs to be measured by the weighing device 80, and to introduce the measured drugs into the drug packaging device 1 in a state where they are contained therein. The configuration of the external drug container 92 will be described later.

[0021] The third storage unit 13 can store a plurality of output containers 93 that do not contain medicines. The output containers 93 are prepared in the medicine packaging device 1 to contain the weighed medicines and output the medicines from the medicine packaging device 1 to another medicine packaging device 95 when the medicine packaging device 1 does not pack the medicines after weighing.

[0022] The second storage unit 12 and the third storage unit 13 can be configured to support the bottom surface of the external drug container 92 or the output container 93, for example, in the same manner as the first storage unit 11.

[0023] The intermediate container 91 will be described. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the intermediate container 91 (external drug container 92). As shown in Fig. 4, the intermediate container 91 includes a storage section 91a, a discharge path section 91b, an opening / closing section 91c, an information display section (display section) 91d, and an information recording section (information recording member) 91e.

[0024] The storage section 91a is a portion where the intermediate container 91 substantially stores the medicine. The storage section 91a is formed in a hollow shape with an open upper portion.

[0025] The discharge path portion 91b is configured as a narrow passage that connects the internal space of the storage portion 91a to the external space thereof. The discharge path portion 91b is formed so as to communicate with an end portion of the storage portion 91a.

[0026] The opening / closing portion 91c is configured as a shutter-like movable member and is capable of opening and closing the connection portion between the storage portion 91a and the discharge path portion 91b.

[0027] The information display unit 91d is a display capable of displaying prescription data and information related to prescription. The information display unit 91d can be configured as, for example, a microcapsule type or an electrophoretic type electronic paper.

[0028] The information recording unit 91e has, for example, a non-volatile memory, and can record container-specific information. The container-specific information includes container identification information. The container-specific information may include information indicating the type of container (intermediate container 91, external drug container 92, output container 93). The information recording unit 91e can be configured, for example, as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag.

[0029] In the medicine packaging device 1 of this embodiment, a plurality of intermediate containers 91 of the same shape are prepared. Note that a plurality of types of intermediate containers 91 having different sizes of the storage portions 91a may be prepared. In this case, it is possible to respond to various situations in which measuring is required, such as measuring a variety of medicines.

[0030] The external drug container 92 will be described. As shown in Fig. 4, the external drug container 92 has substantially the same configuration as the intermediate container 91. The external drug container 92 includes a storage section 92a, a discharge path section 92b, an opening / closing section 92c, an information display section 92d, and an information recording section 92e.

[0031] The storage section 92a, discharge path section 92b, opening / closing section 92c, information display section 92d, and information recording section 92e have the same configuration as the storage section 91a, discharge path section 91b, opening / closing section 91c, information display section 91d, and information recording section 91e in the intermediate container 91, so their explanations are omitted.

[0032] In the drug packaging device 1 of this embodiment, a plurality of external drug containers 92 of the same shape are prepared. Note that a plurality of types of external drug containers 92 having different sizes of the storage portions 92a may be prepared. In this case, it is possible to respond to various situations in which external measurement is performed, such as the external measurement of various types of drugs.

[0033] The output container 93 will be described. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the output container 93. As shown in Fig. 5, the output container 93 corresponds to the intermediate container 91 from which the discharge path section 91b and the opening / closing section 91c are omitted. The output container 93 includes a storage section 93a, an information display section 93d, and an information recording section 93e.

[0034] The container section 93a, the information display section 93d, and the information recording section 93e have the same configurations as the container section 91a, the information display section 91d, and the information recording section 91e in the intermediate container 91, and therefore their explanation will be omitted.

[0035] In the drug packaging device 1 of this embodiment, a plurality of output containers 93 of the same shape are prepared. Note that a plurality of types of output containers 93 having different sizes of the storage portions 93a may be prepared. In this case, it is possible to respond to various situations in which measuring is required, such as measuring a variety of drugs.

[0036] The transport unit 14 is capable of transporting the intermediate container 91, the external drug container 92, and the output container 93. As shown in Fig. 2, the transport unit 14 includes a first transport unit 14a and a second transport unit 14b.

[0037] The operation of each of the first conveying unit 14a and the second conveying unit 14b is controlled by the control unit 50. The first conveying unit 14a and the second conveying unit 14b differ only in the range in which they convey, and are substantially the same in the configuration in which they convey, so the following description will be given taking the first conveying unit 14a as an example.

[0038] The first transport unit 14a includes a container holding unit for holding the intermediate container 91, the external drug container 92, or the output container 93. The container holding unit is configured to be movable along a path determined in the drug packaging device 1. The first transport unit 14a transports the intermediate container 91, the external drug container 92, or the output container 93 by moving the container holding unit while the intermediate container 91, the external drug container 92, or the output container 93 is held in the container holding unit.

[0039] In this manner, in this embodiment, the intermediate container 91, the external drug container 92, and the discharge container 93 are configured to be transported by the common first transport unit 14a. Therefore, it is preferable that the portions attached to the first transport unit 14a (container holding unit) of the three types of containers have the same configuration, since this simplifies the configuration of the first transport unit 14a.

[0040] The intermediate container 91, the external drug container 92, and the discharge container 93 are similar to each other in terms of configuration and function. Therefore, the intermediate container 91 can also be used as the external drug container 92 used in the first operation. The intermediate container 91 can also be used as the discharge container 93 used in the second operation. The external drug container 92 can also be used as the intermediate container 91 used in the first operation. The external drug container 92 can also be used as the discharge container 93 used in the second operation. By reducing the types of containers, a simplified configuration can be achieved.

[0041] In Fig. 2, the path of the first conveyor 14a is indicated by a dashed line, and the path of the second conveyor 14b is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The first conveyor 14a and the second conveyor 14b are provided with separate drive sources and can operate independently. Therefore, the medicine packaging device 1 can simultaneously and in parallel convey the containers by the first conveyor 14a and the containers by the second conveyor 14b.

[0042] The transport unit 14 may have various configurations for holding the containers, for example, a container holding unit may be provided at the tip of an extendable or rotatable arm, and the position of the container holding unit may be changed by extending or rotating the arm. In addition, for example, the containers may be gripped with a chuck or held by suction.

[0043] The medicine containers 15 contain the medicine to be measured out. Each medicine container 15 has an opening for discharging and removing the medicine from the container.

[0044] In principle, different types of medicine are contained in each of the plurality of medicine containers 15. However, for example, in the case of a medicine that is used frequently, the same medicine may be contained in multiple medicine containers 15.

[0045] The medicine packaging device 1 can also handle excipients in addition to medicines. Any of the multiple medicine containers 15 may contain an excipient. When it is necessary to form a medicine (powder), the medicine packaging device 1 takes out the excipient from the medicine container 15. In this case, the excipient can be supplied in the same way as the medicine. Any of the multiple medicine containers 15 may contain a cleaning material. In this case, the cleaning material can be supplied in the same way as the medicine. The cleaning material is taken out of the medicine container 15 and packaged while contacting the medicine path of the medicine packaging device 1, thereby cleaning the medicine path that the cleaning material comes into contact with. The cleaning material may contain an excipient. The excipient and / or the cleaning material may be lactose.

[0046] An information recording unit 71 is provided on the outer surface of the medicine container 15. The information recording unit 71 can be, for example, an RFID tag. The information recording unit 71 can store information about the medicine contained in the medicine container 15 (contained medicine information). The contained medicine information includes the name of the medicine, the remaining amount of the medicine in the medicine container 15, the expiration date of the medicine, the date of the previous refill, the operating conditions of the measuring unit 30, and the like. The medicine packaging device 1 can obtain the contained medicine information by reading the information recording unit 71. Note that the information recording unit 71 may store only the identification information of the medicine container 15, and when the information recording unit 71 is read by the medicine packaging device 1, the above-mentioned contained medicine information may be called from the storage unit 61 described below.

[0047] The first information processing unit 16 can read the contained medicine information from the information recording unit 71. The first information processing unit 16 can be configured as, for example, an RFID reader / writer. The first information processing unit 16 is provided at an arbitrary position of the medicine packing device 1.

[0048] Measuring section 30 includes medicine removal section 17 and measuring section 18. Medicine removal section 17 removes medicine from medicine container 15. Measuring section 18 measures the medicine removed from medicine container 15.

[0049] The medicine removal unit 17 detachably holds a plurality of medicine containers 15. The medicine removal unit 17 moves the held medicine container 15 to a predetermined position, and at the predetermined position, removes the medicine contained in the medicine container 15 downward through an opening. The operation of the medicine removal unit 17 is controlled by the control unit 50 based on the contained medicine information read by the first information processing unit 16.

[0050] The weighing unit 18 includes a mounting table 18a and a detection unit 18b. The mounting table 18a is disposed below the above-mentioned predetermined position of the medicine removal unit 17. An intermediate container 91 or an output container 93 can be mounted on the mounting table 18a. The first transport unit 14a can transport the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93 held in the container holding unit, and place it on the mounting table 18a or remove it from the mounting table 18a.

[0051] The detection unit 18b can weigh the medicine inside the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93 when the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93 is placed on the placement table 18a. In other words, the weighing unit 18 is configured as an electronic balance, and the placement table 18a corresponds to the weighing dish of the electronic balance. The detection unit 18b can be configured as, for example, an electromagnetic or load cell type load sensor.

[0052] The weighing unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 50 so as to weigh out the entire dose of each of the medicines indicated by the medicine information. The control unit 50 appropriately moves the medicine container 15 containing the medicines indicated by the medicine information to directly above the mounting table 18a using the medicine removal unit 17. Thereafter, the control unit 50 removes the medicines downward from the medicine container 15, stores the removed medicines in the intermediate container 91 or the discharge container 93 placed on the mounting table 18a, and weighs the contained medicines using the detection unit 18b.

[0053] Second information processing unit 19 acquires container-specific information stored in information recording unit 91e of intermediate container 91 or information recording unit 93e of output container 93, which are set in weighing unit 18. Second information processing unit 19 can also change the display content of information display unit 91d of intermediate container 91 or information display unit 93d of output container 93, which are set in weighing unit 18. Second information processing unit 19 is configured as, for example, an RFID reader / writer.

[0054] The third information processing unit 20 acquires the container specific information stored in the information recording unit 91e of the intermediate container 91 stored in the first storage unit 11. The acquisition of container specific information by the third information processing unit 20 is similarly performed for the external drug container 92 stored in the second storage unit 12 or the output container 93 stored in the third storage unit 13.

[0055] The third information processing unit 20 may change the display content for the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93. In this case, the second information processing unit 19 may change the display content for only the weighing result for the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93 set in the weighing unit 18.

[0056] The display unit 21 is a device having a display screen capable of displaying various information related to the medicine packing device 1. As the display unit 21, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, etc., can be considered. The display unit 21 is disposed at an appropriate position of the medicine packing device 1.

[0057] The operation unit 22 is operated by an operator to give various instructions to the medicine packing device 1. The operation unit 22 is disposed at an appropriate position (for example, near the display unit 21) of the medicine packing device 1. The operation unit 22 may be configured to include a keyboard, or the display unit 21 may be configured as a touch panel and the operation unit 22 may be incorporated into the display unit 21.

[0058] The intermediate container 91 or the external drug container 92 transported by the second transport unit 14b is set in the drug discharge unit 32. The drug discharge unit 32 can discharge the drug in the set intermediate container 91 or external drug container 92. It is also possible to manually set the intermediate container 91 or the external drug container 92 in the drug discharge unit 32.

[0059] The medicine discharge section 32 includes a container attachment section 32a. The container attachment section 32a is configured to be capable of attaching an intermediate container 91 or an external medicine container 92. The intermediate container 91 or the external medicine container 92 is attached to the container attachment section 32a automatically or manually by the second transport section 14b.

[0060] The container attachment section 32a includes an actuator that moves the opening / closing sections 91c, 92c of the container from a closed state to an open state. Before the container attachment section 32a is attached, the connection between the storage sections 91a, 92a and the discharge path sections 91b, 92b is in a closed state. When the container is attached to the container attachment section 32a, the actuator moves the opening / closing sections 91c, 92c. This opens the connection between the storage sections 91a, 92a and the discharge path sections 91b, 92b, allowing the drug to be discharged from the container.

[0061] The medicine discharge section 32 includes a vibration device 32b. The vibration device 32b is configured to include a motor that generates vibrations, etc. The vibration device 32b is controlled by the control section 50. The vibration device 32b generates vibrations in response to a control signal from the control section 50. The vibrations generated by the vibration device 32b are transmitted to the intermediate container 91 or the external medicine container 92 attached to the container attachment section 32a.

[0062] The packaging unit 33 is configured to be able to package the medicine weighed out by the measuring unit 30. The packaging unit 33 is controlled by the control unit 50 so as to package the medicine weighed out by the measuring unit 30 into individual doses. The packaging unit 33 includes a distribution unit 34 and a packaging unit 35.

[0063] The distribution unit 34 distributes the medicine discharged from the container by the medicine discharge unit 32 into individual doses. The distribution unit 34 includes a distribution plate 34a and a feed unit 34b. The distribution plate 34a is configured to be rotatable about a vertical axis. The medicine discharge unit 32 discharges the medicine from the container and supplies the discharged medicine onto the rotating distribution plate 34a. The feed unit 34b drops the medicine supplied to the distribution plate 34a downward in predetermined amounts.

[0064] The supply unit of the embodiment is made up of a measuring unit 30 that takes out the medicine from the medicine container 15 that contains the medicine and puts it into the intermediate container 91, a transport unit 14 that transports the intermediate container 91, and a medicine discharge unit 32 that discharges the medicine from the intermediate container 91 and supplies it to a distribution tray 34a. The packaging unit 33 packages the medicine supplied by the supply unit.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 2, the drug dispensing device 1 includes a plurality of (specifically, two) distribution sections 34. Each distribution section 34 includes a plurality of (specifically, two) drug discharge sections 32. Drugs are supplied onto one distribution plate 34a from either one or both of the two drug discharge sections 32. From the two drug discharge sections 32, the same type of drug may be supplied to one distribution plate 34a, different types of drugs may be supplied to one distribution plate 34a, or a drug and an excipient may be supplied to one distribution plate 34a.

[0066] The packaging unit 35 packages the medicine distributed by the distribution unit 34 in the packaging material 40. The packaging unit 35 includes a hopper 35a and a heater 35b. The hopper 35a receives the medicine that is supplied from the container to the distribution tray 34a and drops from the distribution tray 34a. The hopper 35a forms a medicine path through which the medicine that drops from the distribution tray 34a toward the packaging material 40 passes. The packaging unit 35 repeats an operation of dropping the medicine distributed by the distribution unit 34 in doses into the packaging material 40 through the hopper 35a and an operation of heat-sealing the packaging material 40 by the heater 35b. By repeating these operations, the medicine is enclosed in the packaging material 40 in doses. The packaging material 40 containing the medicine is sent to a storage unit outside or inside the medicine packaging device 1.

[0067] The distribution tray 34a and the hopper 35a constitute a medicine path in this embodiment through which the medicine supplied from the medicine discharge unit 32 passes. The packaging unit 35 packages the medicine that has passed through the medicine path.

[0068] The supply standby section 23 is provided between the measuring section 30 that measures the medicine and the medicine discharge section 32 that discharges the medicine. An intermediate container 91 that contains the medicine or an external medicine container 92 can be placed in the supply standby section 23 and kept on standby as necessary.

[0069] The cleaning unit 38 can clean the intermediate container 91 or the external drug container 92. The cleaning may be performed by any means, such as blowing compressed air onto the inner surface of the intermediate container 91 or the external drug container 92, suction, wiping with a brush, or the like. By performing cleaning, the drug remaining on the inner surface of the container is removed.

[0070] A cleaning standby section 37 is provided near the cleaning section 38. The intermediate container 91 or the external chemical container 92 before being cleaned can be placed in the cleaning standby section 37 to wait as necessary.

[0071] The supply standby section 23 and the cleaning standby section 37 can be configured, for example, as a plate-like member on which a container can be placed, but are not limited to this.

[0072] The control unit 50 can control each unit of the medicine packaging device 1 (specifically, the transport unit 14, the measuring unit 30, the medicine discharge unit 32, the packaging unit 33, etc.) based on the dispensing data. The control unit 50 may be configured as a part of the medicine packaging device 1, or may be configured as a part of a dispensing device control device that controls other dispensing devices such as other medicine packaging devices 95.

[0073] In detail, the control unit 50 is configured as a known computer, and includes a calculation device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a flash memory or a hard disk, and an input / output unit for communicating with the outside. Various programs and setting values ​​are stored in the storage device. The calculation device reads out the various programs from the storage device, and controls the operation of each part of the drug packaging device 1 based on the detection values ​​of the sensors provided in each part of the drug packaging device 1 and the various setting values ​​stored in the storage device. The control unit 50 makes the above-mentioned software and hardware work together to perform processing in the storage unit 61, the weighing selection unit 62, and the guidance unit 65 shown in FIG. 4, and outputs a command signal as a result of the processing, thereby operating the drug packaging device 1.

[0074] The storage unit 61 can store dispensing data input from the outside as described above. The storage unit 61 also stores the contained drug information of the drug container 15 read by the first information processing unit 16 as arrangement information of the drug container 15 arranged in the drug packing device 1. The storage unit 61 can also store various setting values ​​necessary for operating the drug packing device 1.

[0075] The storage unit 61 also stores various data such as drug master information, which is unique information about drugs. This master information includes, for example, drug code, drug name, JAN code (or RSS), medicine bottle (medicine container) code, classification (dosage form: powder, tablet, external medicine, etc.), specific gravity, drug type (ordinary medicine, poison, narcotic, powerful drug, antipsychotic, therapeutic drug, etc.), combination changes, precautions, normal dosage, information on prohibited simultaneous use, etc.

[0076] Furthermore, the storage unit 61 can store container-specific information (container identification number, container type, etc.) as container master information.

[0077] When at least one of the drugs included in the dispensing data cannot be packaged due to the capacity of the packaging unit 33, the measuring selection unit 62 allows the operator to select whether or not to execute a measuring operation by the measuring unit 30 for the drugs that can be measured by the measuring unit 30. There are various configurations for realizing the selection, but for example, the measuring selection unit 62 may display options (for example, a button for executing / not executing) on ​​the display unit 21 and allow the operator to select using the operation unit 22.

[0078] The guidance unit 65 can provide guidance (instructions) to the operator. For example, when at least one of the medicines included in the dispensing data cannot be packaged due to the capacity of the packaging unit 33, the guidance unit 65 can inform the operator that the medicines weighed out by the weighing unit 30 should be packaged using another medicine packaging device 95. In addition, when the amount of medicine supplied from the medicine container 15 to the intermediate container 91 is insufficient for the total amount of dose based on the dispensing data, the guidance unit 65 can inform the operator that an external weighing response is possible as a response to enable the packaging operation by the packaging unit 33 to be performed.

[0079] The external measurement response is a response in which the operator prepares an external drug container 92 that contains a predetermined amount of drug (total dose) outside the drug packaging device 1, and introduces the external drug container 92 into the drug packaging device 1. At this time, the operator can be notified that a refill response or a drug container introduction response is possible. The refill response is a response in which the drug container 15 is refilled with drugs. The drug container introduction response is a response in which the drug container 15 containing the required amount of drug is introduced into the drug packaging device 1.

[0080] There are various methods for the guidance unit 65 to provide guidance to the operator, and for example, it is possible to display an appropriate message on the display unit 21. The guidance may be provided by voice, a notification lamp, or the like, for example.

[0081] Hopper 35a is removable from the housing of medicine packaging device 1. Locking mechanism 52 locks hopper 35a to prevent removal from medicine packaging device 1. When the locking by locking mechanism 52 is released, hopper 35a becomes removable from medicine packaging device 1 and can be moved to the outside of the housing of medicine packaging device 1. Locking and unlocking of hopper 35a by locking mechanism 52 are controlled by control unit 50.

[0082] The imaging device 54 is disposed above the hopper 35a. The imaging device 54 can capture an image of the inside of the hopper 35a. The imaging device 54 may be capable of reciprocating between a position directly above the hopper 35a and a position not directly above the hopper 35a. The imaging device 56 is attached to the upper part of the cleaning unit 38. The imaging device 56 can capture an image of the containers contained in the cleaning unit 38. The imaging devices 54, 56 are controlled by the control unit 50. Images captured by the imaging devices 54, 56 are displayed on the display unit 21. The control unit 50 receives the images captured by the imaging devices 54, 56, and outputs a control command to the display unit 21 to display the images.

[0083] Next, various positions set in the medicine packing device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Any of these positions can be the source and destination of containers transferred by the transfer unit 14.

[0084] The first standby position P1 is a position where an intermediate container 91 that does not contain a medicine can wait in the first storage section 11. The first standby position P1 can also be said to be a storage position where a plurality of intermediate containers 91 are stored in the first storage section 11.

[0085] The second standby position P2 is a position where the external drug container 92 that does not contain a drug can wait in the second storage section 12. The second standby position P2 can also be said to be a storage position where a plurality of external drug containers 92 are stored in the second storage section 12.

[0086] The third standby position P3 is a position where an output container 93 that does not contain a drug can wait in the third storage section 13. The third standby position P3 can also be said to be a storage position where a plurality of output containers 93 are stored in the third storage section 13.

[0087] The measuring position P4 is a position where the measuring section 18 measures the medicine contained in the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93.

[0088] The first removal position P5 is a position for removing the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93 to the outside of the medicine packaging device 1. For example, when the medicine is measured from the medicine container 15 to the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93 in the measuring unit 30, and the amount of medicine contained in the medicine container 15 is insufficient, and the amount of medicine removed (measured amount) is insufficient for the total amount of medicine, which is the target amount, the first removal position P5 is used to remove the intermediate container 91 or the output container 93 that contains the amount of medicine that does not meet the target amount to the outside of the medicine packaging device 1. This removal is performed via the first removal unit 25 provided in the medicine packaging device 1.

[0089] In this embodiment, the first removal position P5 is set at a position different from the weighing position P4. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the weighing position P4 may be set to double as the first removal position P5.

[0090] The second removal position P6 is a position for removing the external drug container 92 before containing a drug to the outside of the drug packaging device 1 when the drug is measured using the weighing device 80 instead of the drug packaging device 1. This removal is performed via the second removal section 26 provided in the drug packaging device 1. The second removal position P6 may also serve as a position (introduction position) for setting the external drug container 92 or intermediate container 91 containing the drug measured by the weighing device 80 for introduction into the drug packaging device 1.

[0091] The third removal position P7 is a position for removing the discharge container 93 to the outside of the medicine packaging device 1. For example, when the medicine packaging device 1 measures medicine but does not package it, the third removal position P7 is used to remove the discharge container 93 containing the medicine measured by the measuring unit 30 to the outside of the medicine packaging device 1. This removal is performed via the third removal unit 27 provided in the medicine packaging device 1.

[0092] The supply standby position P8 is a position where the intermediate container 91 is kept on standby after the weighing of the medicine is completed by the weighing unit 30 and before the medicine is discharged from the container in the packing unit 33 and supplied to the distribution tray 34a. The supply standby position P8 is also a position (introduction position) where the external medicine container 92 or the intermediate container 91 containing the medicine weighed by the weighing device 80 is set for introduction into the medicine packing device 1. The supply standby position P8 is set in the above-mentioned supply standby unit 23. The supply standby position P8 may also serve as the first removal position P5, the second removal position P6, or the third removal position P7.

[0093] The supply position P9 is the position of the intermediate container 91 or the external drug container 92 when drugs are supplied to the distribution tray 34a in the drug discharge section 32. The second transport section 14b transports the intermediate container 91 from the supply standby position P8 to the supply position P9. When an external drug container 92 or an intermediate container 91 containing drugs is introduced into the drug packaging device 1 from outside the drug packaging device 1, the introduction position of the container may be set to the supply position P9 and the operator may directly set the container in the drug discharge section 32. As described above, the drug packaging device 1 has a plurality of (specifically, four) drug discharge sections 32, and the supply position P9 is assigned to the four drug discharge sections 32.

[0094] The cleaning standby position P10 is a position where the intermediate container 91 or the external chemical container 92 waits for cleaning in the cleaning unit 38. The cleaning standby position P10 is set in the cleaning standby unit 37 described above.

[0095] The cleaning position P11 is a position where the intermediate container 91 or the external medicine container 92 is cleaned by the cleaning unit .

[0096] In this embodiment, the supply standby position P8 and the cleaning standby position P10 function as relay points for the transport of the container by the transport unit 14.

[0097] Specifically, the first transport unit 14a is configured to transport containers between the first standby position P1, the second standby position P2, the third standby position P3, the weighing position P4, the first take-out position P5, the second take-out position P6, the third take-out position P7, the supply standby position P8, and the cleaning standby position P10. On the other hand, the second transport unit 14b is configured to transport containers between the supply standby position P8, the supply position P9, and the cleaning standby position P10.

[0098] Therefore, after the control unit 50 has transported the intermediate containers 91, etc. to the supply standby position P8 by the first transport unit 14a, the transported intermediate containers 91, etc. can be transported from the supply standby position P8 by the second transport unit 14b at an appropriate timing. Also, after the second transport unit 14b has transported the intermediate containers 91, etc. to the cleaning standby position P10, the transported intermediate containers 91, etc. can be transported from the cleaning standby position P10 by the first transport unit 14a at an appropriate timing.

[0099] In this embodiment, the external drug container 92 stored in the second storage unit 12 is transported to the second removal position P6 by the first transport unit 14a so that it can be removed to the outside of the drug packaging device 1. However, the external drug container 92 stored in the second storage unit 12 may be removed by an operator. In this case, the second storage unit 12 may be provided outside the drug packaging device 1.

[0100] Next, the weighing device 80 will be described. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the weighing device 80. As shown in Fig. 6, the weighing device 80 includes a control unit 81, a weighing unit 82, an information processing unit 83, and a display unit 84. The weighing unit 82, the information processing unit 83, and the display unit 84 are each electrically connected to the control unit 81. The weighing device 80 can weigh the drug contained in the external drug container 92. When the intermediate container 91 is used for external weighing, the weighing device 80 weighs the drug contained in the intermediate container 91.

[0101] The control unit 81 is capable of communicating with the control unit 50 of the medicine packaging device 1 and can receive dispensing data stored in the memory unit 61 of the medicine packaging device 1. Upon completion of measurement (such as measuring the medicine that is insufficient for the target amount), the measuring device 80 transmits the measurement result to the medicine packaging device 1.

[0102] The weighing unit 82 has substantially the same configuration as the weighing unit 18 of the medicine packaging device 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. The weighing device 80 weighs the medicine that the operator has taken out from an appropriate medicine bottle or the like onto a weighing dish or the like. Note that the weighing device 80 may also weigh the medicine together with the external medicine container 92 while the medicine is contained in the external medicine container 92.

[0103] The information processing unit 83 is disposed near the weighing unit 82. The information processing unit 83 has a barcode reader and an RFID reader / writer. The barcode reader can read barcodes provided on the medicine bottles and the like. The RFID reader / writer can read the contents of the information recording unit 92e of the external medicine container 92.

[0104] The information processing unit 83 performs a process of reading information stored in the barcode of the medicine bottle or the like and the information recording unit 92e of the external medicine container 92. Specifically, the information processing unit 83 reads medicine-specific information of the medicine bottle or the like from the barcode provided on the medicine bottle or the like, and the control unit 81 identifies the medicine contained in the medicine bottle or the like. The information processing unit 83 also reads container-specific information stored in the information recording unit 92e of the external medicine container 92. The weighing device 80 acquires dispensing data corresponding to the read container-specific information from the control unit 50 of the medicine packaging device 1. At that time, the weighing device 80 also acquires information on the medicine to be metered (including the target amount of the medicine).

[0105] Then, the control unit 81 identifies which of the drugs indicated by the drug information included in the dispensing data acquired from the control unit 50 of the drug packaging device 1 corresponds to the drug identified based on the drug identification information. When the control unit 81 determines that the drug identified based on the drug identification information matches any of the drugs indicated by the drug information included in the dispensing data, it selects the drug indicated by the matching drug information as the drug to be weighed. After completing the weighing of the drug selected as the drug to be weighed, the weighing device 80 transmits the weighing result including the measured amount of the drug together with the dispensing data acquired from the control unit 50 of the drug packaging device 1 via the control unit 81 to the control unit 50 of the drug packaging device 1. The control unit 50 of the drug packaging device 1 receives the weighing result and updates the dispensing data stored in the storage unit 61.

[0106] The information processing unit 83 can change the display content of the information display unit 92d of the external drug container 92. When the weighing of the drug by the weighing device 80 is completed, the information processing unit 83 causes the information display unit 92d of the external drug container 92 to display the measured amount (weighing result). In addition, as information regarding dispensing, the information display unit 92d may display a message indicating that an amount of drug equivalent to a target amount is contained and that the drug is ready to be introduced into the drug packaging device 1.

[0107] The display unit 84 is a device having a display screen capable of displaying characters and the like. The display unit 84 is disposed at an appropriate position of the weighing device 80. The display unit 84 can be configured, for example, as a display with a touch panel. For example, the name of the drug and the target amount and measured amount of the drug can be displayed on the display unit 84. In addition, the display unit 84 can display the result of the determination made by the control unit 81 as to whether or not the drug in the medicine bottle or the like matches the drug to be measured. This makes it possible to confirm that the drug in the medicine bottle or the like is the required drug based on the dispensing data.

[0108] Next, there will be described the process of supplying and packaging medicines, which is carried out using the medicine packaging device 1. Figures 7 to 9 are flow charts showing the flow of the process of supplying and packaging medicines.

[0109] First, as a preparation, drug information is registered in the drug packing device 1 (step S101). Specifically, information about the drug to be packaged by the drug packing device 1 is stored in the storage unit 61 for each type of drug. The control unit 50 may display a drug information registration screen on the display unit 21, and the operator may input the drug information to this registration screen using the operation unit 22. Alternatively, the drug information may be input to the drug packing device 1 from an external device via communication.

[0110] The storage unit 61 stores the first determination flag in association with the medicine information. The first determination flag indicates whether or not cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is required after packaging the medicine. The presence / absence of the first determination flag can be changed by the operator. In addition to medicines that tend to remain in the medicine path, poisons, narcotics, psychotropic drugs, powerful drugs, and colored medicines are set to have the first determination flag.

[0111] The storage unit 61 also stores a second determination flag in association with the medicine information. The second determination flag indicates whether or not cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is required before packaging the medicine. The operator can change whether or not the second determination flag is present. White medicines and medicines for children are set to have the second determination flag.

[0112] Next, dispensing data is input to the medicine packaging device 1 by communication from an external information processing device such as a dispensing device control device (step S102). The control unit 50 displays the input dispensing data on the display unit 21. The dispensing data includes, for example, one or more names of drugs to be taken, dosage form (powder / tablet / capsule / liquid / external medicine), method of taking, dosage, etc. The method of taking refers to the number of times a day to take the drug, the timing of taking the drug, and the number of days to take the drug, and the dosage refers to the total amount taken (e.g., weight), the amount taken in one day (weight), the amount taken per dose (weight), etc. The dispensing data also includes the recipient, the target amount, the measurement result (the amount measured or the amount that is insufficient or surplus to the target amount), and identification information (dispensing data number, etc.) that identifies each dispensing data.

[0113] In addition to the configuration in which the dispensing data is input to the medicine packaging device 1 through communication from an information processing device, the operator may manually input the dispensing data. In this case, the control unit 50 displays an input screen for the dispensing data on the display unit 21. The operator inputs the dispensing data on this input screen using the operation unit 22. The dispensing data input by the operator is stored in the memory unit 61 of the control unit 50.

[0114] When the input of the prescription data is completed, the control unit 50 checks the first determination flag for the medicine included in the prescription data (step S103). Based on the check result of the first determination flag, the control unit 50 determines whether or not cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is required after packaging.

[0115] When some or all of the medicines included in the prescription data are set to have the first determination flag, the control unit 50 determines that the medicine data includes medicines that require cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging. The control unit 50 sets the medicine path to be cleaned with a cleaning material after packaging, and displays that fact on the display unit 21.

[0116] If all of the medicines included in the prescription data are set to "no" for the first judgment flag, the control unit 50 assumes that the medicine path is sufficiently cleaned by the standard cleaning process and does not allow cleaning of the medicine path after packaging. The control unit 50 sets so that cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is not performed after packaging, and displays this on the display unit 21 (step S104).

[0117] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the display unit 21 that displays a selection screen for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging. The display unit 21 shown in Fig. 10 displays the text "Cleaning with cleaning material (after packaging)" in the upper part of the screen, displays two icons 211 and 212 that constitute a selection section in the central part of the screen, and displays icon 213 that constitutes a confirmation section in the lower right part of the screen.

[0118] 10 illustrates the display unit 21 in a case where the dispensing data includes a medicine that requires cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging, and the control unit 50 sets the medicine path to be cleaned with a cleaning material after packaging. The setting to clean the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging is displayed on the display unit 21 by clearly displaying an icon 211 displaying the text "Yes" and unclearly displaying an icon 212 displaying the text "No". The operator operating the medicine packaging device 1 can confirm by looking at the display unit 21 that cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material will be performed after packaging.

[0119] Whether or not to clean the drug path with a cleaning material after packaging can be changed by an operator's input. The control unit 50 can accept an operator's input for setting whether or not to clean the drug path with a cleaning material after packaging. For example, by operating the operation unit 22, the operator can change the setting for cleaning the drug path with a cleaning material after packaging to a setting for not cleaning the drug path with a cleaning material after packaging. The display of the display unit 21 is changed so that the icon 211 having the character "Yes" is displayed unclearly and the icon 212 having the character "No" is displayed clearly on the display unit 21, whereby the operator can confirm the setting change.

[0120] If cleaning of the drug path with a cleaning material is to be performed after packaging, the display shown in FIG. 10 remains unchanged; if cleaning of the drug path with a cleaning material is not to be performed after packaging, the display is changed to that shown in FIG. 10 and then the operator operates icon 213 to confirm the setting of whether or not cleaning with a cleaning material is to be performed after packaging.

[0121] Based on the setting of the control unit 50 according to the first determination flag and the setting change by the operator, a determination is made as to whether or not to clean the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging (step S105).

[0122] When cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is performed after packaging (YES in step S105), the control unit 50 accepts an input from an operator to set conditions for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material (step S106). The control unit 50 is capable of setting cleaning operations. Figure 11 is a diagram showing the display unit 21 displaying a condition setting screen for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material.

[0123] When setting the cleaning operation, it is possible to set, for example, the type of cleaning material to be used for cleaning, the chemical container 15 that supplies the cleaning material, the amount of cleaning material to be supplied, the number of packets, the number of empty packets, the packaging speed, the length of packaging material 40 per packet (paper width), the maximum capacity per packet (g / packet), the distribution section 34 that supplies the cleaning material (selection of whether to clean only the distribution section 34 that distributes chemicals that require cleaning or to clean all distribution sections 34), and various conditions for supplying the cleaning material to the distribution tray 34a.

[0124] The amount of cleaning material to be supplied may be set to an amount equal to or greater than the total amount of the medicine to be packaged. When the distributor 34 that supplies the cleaning material is set to "only distributor 34 that distributes medicine that requires cleaning", the amount of cleaning material to be supplied may be set to an amount equal to or greater than the total amount of the medicine to be distributed by the distributor 34. The number of packages may be set based on the amount of cleaning material to be supplied and the maximum capacity per package. By maximizing the capacity of cleaning material per package, the number of packages is minimized, and the amount of packaging material 40 consumed can be minimized, so that the packaging material 40 used to supply the cleaning material can be saved.

[0125] As a preparation before inputting the prescription data in step S102, the operator may set the cleaning operation in advance. Similarly to the setting of the cleaning operation, the operator may set the packaging operation in advance. The control unit 50 is capable of setting the packaging operation and the cleaning operation.

[0126] When it is determined in step S105 that cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material will not be performed after packaging (NO in step S105), the setting of the cleaning operation is not performed and the process of step S106 is skipped.

[0127] Next, the control unit 50 checks the second determination flag for the medicine included in the prescription data (step S107). Based on the result of checking the second determination flag, the control unit 50 determines whether or not cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is required before packaging.

[0128] When some or all of the medicines included in the prescription data are set to have the second determination flag, the control unit 50 determines that the medicine data includes medicines that require cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material before packaging. The control unit 50 sets the medicine path to be cleaned with a cleaning material before packaging, and displays that fact on the display unit 21.

[0129] If all of the medicines included in the prescription data are set to "no" for the second judgment flag, the control unit 50 assumes that the medicine path has been sufficiently cleaned by the routine cleaning process in the previous packaging operation, and does not allow the medicine path to be cleaned before packaging. The control unit 50 sets the medicine path not to be cleaned with a cleaning material before packaging, and displays that fact on the display unit 21 (step S108).

[0130] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the display unit 21 that displays a selection screen for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material before packaging. The display unit 21 shown in Fig. 12 displays the text "Cleaning with cleaning material (before packaging)" in the upper part of the screen, displays two icons 221 and 222 that constitute a selection section in the central part of the screen, and displays an icon 223 that constitutes a confirmation section in the lower right part of the screen.

[0131] As with the post-packaging cleaning described with reference to FIG. 10, the operator can confirm that cleaning of the drug pathway with a cleaning material will be performed before packaging by looking at icons 221, 222 on display unit 21. Whether or not cleaning of the drug pathway with a cleaning material will be performed before packaging can be changed by an input from the operator. Control unit 50 can accept an input from the operator setting whether or not cleaning of the drug pathway with a cleaning material will be performed before packaging. The operator operates icon 223 to confirm the setting of whether or not cleaning with a cleaning material will be performed before packaging.

[0132] Based on the setting of the control unit 50 according to the second determination flag and the setting change by the operator, a determination is made as to whether or not to clean the medicine path with a cleaning material before packaging (step S109).

[0133] When cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material before packaging (YES in step S109), the control unit 50 receives input from the operator to set conditions for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material (step S110). The control unit 50 is capable of setting the cleaning operation. The cleaning operation is set by displaying the condition setting screen shown in FIG. 11, similar to the post-packaging cleaning.

[0134] In the setting of the cleaning operation, the amount of cleaning material to be supplied may be set to an amount equal to or greater than the total amount of medicine packaged in the previous packaging operation. When the distributor 34 that supplies the cleaning material is set to "only distributor 34 that distributes medicine that needs cleaning", the amount of cleaning material to be supplied may be set to an amount equal to or greater than the total amount of medicine packaged by the distributor 34 in the previous packaging operation.

[0135] When it is determined in step S109 that cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is not to be performed before packaging (NO in step S109), the setting of the cleaning operation is not performed, and the process of step S110 is skipped.

[0136] Note that, instead of the above-described example in which the processes related to post-packaging cleaning in steps S103 to S106 are followed by the processes related to pre-packaging cleaning in steps S107 to S110, the processes related to post-packaging cleaning in steps S103 to S106 and the processes related to pre-packaging cleaning in steps S107 to S110 may be executed in parallel. The processes related to post-packaging cleaning in steps S103 to S106 may be executed after the processes related to pre-packaging cleaning in steps S107 to S110.

[0137] When the setting of the cleaning operation is completed, the operator inputs a packaging start command to the control unit 50 using the operation unit 22 (step S111, FIG. 8). Note that when the setting of the cleaning operation is completed, the control unit 50 may automatically issue a packaging start command. When the input of the prescription data is completed, the setting of the cleaning operation by the operator may be omitted and the packaging start command may be automatically issued.

[0138] Next, it is determined whether or not cleaning of the hopper 35a after the previous drug packaging operation is completed (step S112). The determination of step S112 is repeated until cleaning of the hopper 35a after the previous drug packaging is completed, during which time the supply of drugs to the distribution tray 34a is put on hold. The cleaning of the hopper 35a will be described in detail later.

[0139] When it is determined that cleaning of the hopper 35a after the previous drug packaging is completed (YES in step S112), a determination is made to confirm whether or not to clean the drug path with a cleaning material before packaging, based on the setting of the control unit 50 in accordance with the second judgment flag and any setting changes made by the operator (step S113).

[0140] When it is determined that cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is to be performed before packaging (YES in step S113), the cleaning material is supplied from the medicine container 15 to the medicine path, thereby cleaning the medicine path with the cleaning material (step S114).

[0141] 13 is a flow diagram showing an example of a process for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material. In cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material, first, an intermediate container 91 to which the cleaning material is supplied is transported to a measurement position P4 (step S201).

[0142] Next, the cleaning material is measured out from the chemical container 15 (step S202). The control unit 50 controls the measuring unit 30 to take out a required amount of cleaning material from the chemical container 15 in which the cleaning material is stored, into the intermediate container 91. Instead of the configuration in which the control unit 50 controls the measuring unit 30 to take out the cleaning material from the chemical container 15 into the intermediate container 91, the operator may take out the cleaning material from the chemical container 15 by operating the operation unit 22.

[0143] The cleaning material may be lactose, the type of lactose used as an excipient, or other types of lactose, or other types of powdered compounds such as starch, sodium bicarbonate, etc.

[0144] Next, based on the setting of the cleaning operation, the cleaning material is supplied from the intermediate container 91 that contains the cleaning material to the distribution tray 34a (step S203), and the cleaning material is packaged in the packaging unit 35 (step S204). When the cleaning material passes through the same path as the path through which the medicine passes when packaged, the cleaning material collides with the residual medicine adhering to the inner surface of the medicine path and is peeled off from the inner surface, thereby cleaning the path with the cleaning material. When the packaging of the cleaning material is completed, cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material is completed (END in FIG. 13).

[0145] In the setting of the cleaning operation, if the distributor 34 that supplies the cleaning material is set to "only the distributor that distributed the chemical that needs to be cleaned", only the places in the chemical path through which the chemical that needs to be cleaned passed will be cleaned, and the places that need to be cleaned can be cleaned with a small amount of cleaning material. Instead of packaging the cleaning material supplied from the chemical container 15 in the packaging unit 35, the cleaning material supplied to the hopper 35a may be sucked and collected without being packaged in the packaging unit 35. Alternatively, the cleaning material supplied from the chemical container 15 may be supplied to the hopper 35a and then collected in the cleaning material container. In this case, if the cleaning material container is configured to supply the cleaning material contained in the same manner as the chemical container 15, the collected cleaning material can be reused.

[0146] Returning to FIG. 8, if it is determined that the drug pathway will not be cleaned with a cleaning material before packaging (NO in step S113), the inner surface of the drug pathway is deemed to have been sufficiently cleaned by the cleaning process performed the previous time the drug was packaged, so the drug pathway will not be cleaned with a cleaning material before packaging, and step S114 is skipped.

[0147] Next, the medicine is weighed out from the medicine container 15 (step S115). In the process of step S115, if the necessary medicine container 15 has not been introduced into the medicine packing device 1, the above-mentioned medicine container introduction procedure can be performed to continue the weighing. Alternatively, instead of the medicine container introduction procedure, external weighing can be performed.

[0148] Next, it is determined whether or not the cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material in step S114 has been completed (step S116). Until the cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material is completed, the determination in step S116 is repeated, and during that time, the supply of the weighed medicine to the distribution tray 34a and the start of packaging are put on hold.

[0149] When it is determined that cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material has been completed (YES in step S116), the medicine is supplied from the container containing the medicine weighed out in step S115 to the distribution tray 34a (step S117), and the medicine is packaged in the packaging unit 35 (step S118).

[0150] Next, it is determined whether or not the packaging of the medicine in step S118 is completed (step S119). The determination in step S119 is repeated until the packaging is completed. When it is determined that the packaging is completed (YES in step S119), a determination is made to confirm whether or not to clean the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging based on the setting of the control unit 50 according to the first determination flag and the setting change by the operator (step S120, FIG. 9).

[0151] When it is determined that cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is to be performed after packaging (YES in step S120), the medicine path is cleaned with a cleaning material by supplying the cleaning material from the medicine container 15 to the medicine path (step S120). This cleaning is performed by supplying the cleaning material from the medicine container 15 to the medicine path according to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 13, similar to the cleaning before packaging.

[0152] Next, it is determined whether or not the cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material in step S121 is completed (step S122). The determination in step S122 is repeated until the cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material is completed.

[0153] If it is determined in step S120 that the drug pathway will not be cleaned with a cleaning material after packaging (NO in step S120), it is assumed that the inner surface of the drug pathway will be sufficiently cleaned by the standard cleaning process, and the drug pathway will not be cleaned with a cleaning material after packaging, and steps S121 and S122 are skipped.

[0154] When it is determined that cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material is completed (YES in step S122), a standard cleaning process of the medicine path is executed (step S123). The standard cleaning process of the medicine path may be performed by any means, such as blowing compressed air, suction, wiping with a brush, or a combination of these, against the inner surface of the hopper 35a. By performing cleaning, the medicine remaining on the inner surface of the hopper 35a is removed. The distribution unit 34 is also cleaned by any means, such as blowing compressed air, suction, wiping with a brush, or a combination of these, to remove the medicine remaining in the distribution unit 34. Then, the process ends (END in FIG. 9).

[0155] The cleaning of the drug path can be performed by combining the cleaning with the cleaning material and manual cleaning. An individual judgment flag (third judgment flag) indicating whether or not to perform manual cleaning of the drug path may be stored in the storage unit 61 in association with the drug information, and based on the confirmation result of the third judgment flag, both cleaning with the cleaning material and manual cleaning may be performed, or only cleaning with the cleaning material may be performed and manual cleaning may be omitted.

[0156] Manual cleaning will now be described. FIG. 14 is a flow diagram showing an example of the flow of a process for manually cleaning the hopper 35a. To manually clean the hopper 35a, first, an image of the inside of the hopper 35a is captured (step S301), and the captured image is displayed on the display unit 21 (step S302). The control unit 50 outputs a control signal to the imaging device 54 disposed above the hopper 35a to capture an image of the inner surface of the hopper 35a. The imaging device 54, which has received the control signal, performs imaging. The imaging device 54 transmits the captured image to the control unit 50. The control unit 50, which has received the image, causes the display unit 21 to display the received image.

[0157] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing display unit 21 displaying a captured image of the inner surface of hopper 35a. Display unit 21 shown in Fig. 15 displays hopper inner surface image 230, which is an image of the inner surface of hopper 35a captured by imaging device 54. An operator using medicine packaging device 1 can determine whether manual cleaning of hopper 35a is necessary by looking at the captured image shown in Fig. 15. If it is determined that manual cleaning of hopper 35a is not necessary, the process may be ended as is.

[0158] Instead of the example in which an image captured by imaging device 54 is displayed on display unit 21 and an operator judges whether manual cleaning is necessary by viewing the image, a configuration may be adopted in which control unit 50 or another computer automatically judges whether manual cleaning is necessary by analyzing the image captured by imaging device 54. In this case, if manual cleaning is necessary, the operation of medicine packaging device 1 may be put on hold to notify the operator that manual cleaning is necessary.

[0159] Next, the hopper 35a is cleaned (step S303). The operator manually cleans the hopper 35a. The cleaning of the hopper 35a may be performed in any manner, such as suction, blowing compressed air, wiping with a brush or the like, washing with water, or a combination of these. When the control unit 50 receives an input from the operator, it is determined that the manual cleaning of the hopper 35a is completed. When the manual cleaning of the hopper 35a is completed, the process ends (END in FIG. 14). The distribution tray 34a can also be manually cleaned in the same manner as the hopper 35a.

[0160] For medicines that require cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging, after packaging is completed in step S119, the cleaning material is supplied from the medicine container 15 to the distribution tray 34a in step S121. The cleaning material cleans the remaining medicine adhering to the inner surface of the medicine path, thereby ensuring that the medicine path is cleaned. Since the supply of the cleaning material is executed prior to packaging of the next medicine and the timing of cleaning and packaging of the medicine is optimized, contamination of the medicine does not occur when packaging the next medicine. Therefore, the quality of the medicine packaging can be improved.

[0161] For a drug that requires cleaning of the drug path with a cleaning material after packaging, in step S104, a message indicating that cleaning of the drug path with a cleaning material will be performed after packaging is displayed on display unit 21, and after receiving input from the operator such as a setting change to not perform cleaning of the drug path with a cleaning material (step S104), a cleaning operation setting (step S106), and a packaging start command (step S111), supply of the drug to the drug path is started in step S117. By looking at display unit 21, the operator can confirm that the drug path will be cleaned with a cleaning material. After receiving the operator's input via display unit 21, control unit 50 can start supplying the drug to the drug path.

[0162] 10, the control unit 50 can receive an input from an operator to set whether or not to clean the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging. The control unit 50 can receive the operator's input via the display unit 21, and then start supplying the medicine to the medicine path.

[0163] 11, the control unit 50 can receive an input from an operator to set conditions for cleaning the medicine path with a cleaning material. The control unit 50 can receive the operator's input via the display unit 21, and then start supplying the medicine to the medicine path.

[0164] For drugs that require cleaning of the drug pathway with a cleaning material before packaging, cleaning with the cleaning material is completed in step S116, and then supply of the drug to the drug pathway is started in step S117. The cleaning material cleans the remaining drug adhering to the inner surface of the drug pathway, thereby ensuring that the drug pathway is cleaned. Since the supply of the cleaning material is performed prior to packaging of the drug and the timing of cleaning and packaging of the drug is optimized, contamination of the drug does not occur when packaging the drug. This improves the quality of packaging of the drug.

[0165] For a drug that requires cleaning of the drug path with a cleaning material before packaging, in step S108, a message indicating that cleaning of the drug path with a cleaning material will be performed before packaging is displayed on display unit 21, and after receiving input from the operator such as a setting change to not perform cleaning of the drug path with a cleaning material (step S108), a cleaning operation setting (step S110), and a packaging start command (step S111), supply of the drug to the drug path is started in step S117. By looking at display unit 21, the operator can confirm that the drug path will be cleaned with a cleaning material. After receiving the operator's input via display unit 21, control unit 50 can start supplying the drug to the drug path.

[0166] 12, the control unit 50 can receive an input from an operator to set whether or not to clean the medicine path with a cleaning material before packaging. The control unit 50 can receive the operator's input via the display unit 21, and then start supplying the medicine to the medicine path.

[0167] For medicines that require cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging, after packaging is completed in step S119, the start of packaging of the next medicine is put on hold until cleaning of the medicine path is completed in steps S122 and S123. By optimizing the timing of cleaning of the medicine path and packaging of the medicine in this way, the medicine path can be cleaned reliably. In addition, although it is possible that residual medicine attached to the medicine path may peel off from the inner surface due to cleaning, since packaging of the next medicine is not started until cleaning is completed, contamination of the medicine does not occur when packaging the next medicine. Therefore, the quality of packaging of the medicine can be improved.

[0168] For medicines that require cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging, after packaging is completed in step S119, the supply of the next medicine to distribution plate 34a is put on hold until cleaning of the medicine path is completed in steps S122 and S123. If medicines have already been supplied to distribution plate 34a when hopper 35a is suctioned and cleaned, the medicines on distribution plate 34a may also be sucked in. By not starting the supply of the next medicine to distribution plate 34a until cleaning is completed, it is possible to reliably avoid suctioning the next medicine during cleaning.

[0169] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, when the prescription data includes a medicine that requires cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material after packaging, immediately after packaging according to the prescription data is completed in step S119, cleaning of the medicine path with a cleaning material is performed in steps S120 and S121. After packaging according to the prescription data is completed, the medicine path is cleaned with a cleaning material without performing a standard cleaning operation, thereby shortening the time required to clean the medicine path with a cleaning material. This improves the efficiency of packaging the medicine.

[0170] As shown in Fig. 9, after the cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material is completed in step S122, a routine cleaning operation of the medicine path is performed in step S123. By consecutively performing the cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material and the routine cleaning operation, the medicine path can be reliably cleaned. Since it is possible to suppress the occurrence of medicine contamination when packaging the next medicine, it is possible to improve the quality of the medicine packaging.

[0171] As described with reference to Fig. 2, the first conveying unit 14a and the second conveying unit 14b can operate independently. After the second conveying unit 14b moves the container from the supply standby position P8 so that there is no container at the supply standby position P8, the first conveying unit 14a can convey the intermediate container 91 containing the medicine weighed out from the medicine container 15 to the supply standby position P8. By removing the next medicine from the medicine container 15 before the packaging of the medicine is completed and overlapping the time for packaging the medicine and the time for measuring the next medicine, the time required for measuring and packaging the medicine can be shortened.

[0172] 2, the medicine packaging device 1 is equipped with an imaging device 54 that captures an image of the inside of the hopper 35a. An operator using the medicine packaging device 1 can view the image captured by the imaging device 54, confirm the state of the inside of the hopper 35a, and then select whether or not to manually clean the hopper 35a. If the operator confirms, as a result of checking the image, that the hopper 35a has been sufficiently cleaned by normal cleaning, he or she can select that manual cleaning is not necessary, in which case the time required for packaging medicines can be shortened.

[0173] 2 and 15, the medicine packaging device 1 is provided with a display unit 21 that displays an image captured by the imaging device 54. An operator using the medicine packaging device 1 can check the situation inside the hopper 35a by looking at the hopper inner surface image 230 displayed on the display unit 21.

[0174] By having an operator look at the hopper inner surface image 230 displayed on the display unit 21 and manually cleaning the hopper 35a, the operator can prevent the next medicine from passing through the hopper 35a with residual medicine adhering to its inner surface when packaging the medicine. This prevents the medicine from becoming contaminated, thereby improving the quality of the medicine packaging.

[0175] When the excipient contained in drug container 15 can be used as a cleaning material, there is no need to separately store the excipient and cleaning material in drug container 15, and it becomes possible to store more types of drugs in drug container 15, so that more types of drugs can be measured out using drug packaging device 1.

[0176] Although the embodiment has been described above, the disclosed embodiment should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include the meaning equivalent to the claims, and all modifications within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0177] 1 Drug packaging device, 14 Conveying section, 14a First conveying section, 14b Second conveying section, 15 Drug container, 17 Drug removal section, 18 Measuring section, 18a Placement table, 18b Detection section, 21 Display section, 22 Operation section, 23 Supply standby section, 30 Weighing section, 32 Drug discharge section, 32a Container mounting section, 32b Vibration device, 33 Packaging section, 34 Distribution section, 34a Distribution tray, 34b Feeding section, 35 Packaging section, 35a Hopper, 35b Heater, 37 Cleaning standby section, 38 Cleaning section, 40 Packaging material, 50 Control section, 52 Locking mechanism, 54, 56 Imaging device, 61 Memory section, 62 Weighing selection section, 65 Guide section, 91 Intermediate container, 92 External drug container, 93 Discharge container, 100 Dispensing system, 211, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223 icons, 230 image of inner surface of hopper, P1 first waiting position, P2 second waiting position, P3 third waiting position, P4 weighing position, P5 first removal position, P6 second removal position, P7 third removal position, P8 supply waiting position, P9 supply position, P10 cleaning waiting position, P11 cleaning position.

Claims

1. A supply unit that supplies the medicine from a medicine container that contains the medicine; a drug path through which the drug supplied from the supply unit passes; A medicine packaging device comprising: a packaging unit that packages the medicine that has passed through the medicine path, A control unit for controlling the medicine packaging device, A portion of the chemical container contains a cleaning material; The control unit is configured to perform cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material after packaging when the medicine that requires cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material after packaging is included in the prescription data, and to not perform cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material after packaging when the medicine that requires cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material after packaging is not included in the prescription data, A setting as to whether or not to perform cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material after packaging can be changed by an input from an operator who operates the medicine packaging device, The control unit starts supplying the medicine to the medicine path after receiving an input from an operator specifying whether or not to perform cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material after packaging.

2. The medicine packaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit receives an input from an operator that sets conditions for cleaning the medicine path with the cleaning material when cleaning the medicine path with the cleaning material after packaging.

3. A drug packaging device as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control unit does not accept input from an operator to set conditions for cleaning the drug path with the cleaning material when cleaning of the drug path with the cleaning material is not performed after packaging.

4. A supply unit that supplies the medicine from a medicine container that contains the medicine; a drug path through which the drug supplied from the supply unit passes; A medicine packaging device comprising: a packaging unit that packages the medicine that has passed through the medicine path, A control unit for controlling the medicine packaging device, A portion of the chemical container contains a cleaning material; The control unit is configured to perform cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material before packaging when the medicine that requires cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material before packaging is included in the prescription data, and to not perform cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material before packaging when the medicine that requires cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material before packaging is not included in the prescription data, A setting as to whether or not to perform cleaning of the medicine path with the cleaning material before packaging can be changed by an input from an operator who operates the medicine packaging device, The control unit starts supplying the medicine to the medicine path after receiving an input from an operator specifying whether or not to clean the medicine path with the cleaning material before packaging.

5. The medicine packaging device according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit receives an input from an operator that sets conditions for cleaning the medicine path with the cleaning material when cleaning the medicine path with the cleaning material before packaging.

6. A drug packaging device as described in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the control unit does not accept input from an operator to set conditions for cleaning the drug path with the cleaning material when cleaning of the drug path with the cleaning material is not performed before packaging.

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