Image processing apparatus, program

Abstract

To provide an inspection support system and a tablet packaging device that can support the inspection work of pharmacists. [Solution] The inspection support system (1) displays, in units of packages, images of tablets dispensed from either or both of a tablet cassette (41) and a manual dispensing unit (42) based on prescription data in a tablet packaging device (4) taken before the tablets are packaged in packaging material, and is equipped with an inspection display processing unit (211) that displays the results of the inspection process performed based on the tablet identification information contained in the photographed images of the tablets and the prescription data, thereby supporting the pharmacist's inspection work performed on tablets packaged by the tablet packaging device (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection support system and a tablet packaging device that support the inspection of dispensing performed based on prescription data.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, there is known a tablet packaging device that includes a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing a predetermined type of tablet, and is capable of packaging the tablets contained in each of the tablet cassettes in dosage units based on prescription data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a tablet packaging device may be provided with a manual dispensing unit for dispensing the tablets input in dosage units in a matrix of a plurality of cells in cell units (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a medical facility such as a hospital or a pharmacy, a pharmacist performs an inspection operation to confirm whether the tablets packaged by the tablet packaging device are appropriate for the prescription data.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection support system and a tablet packaging device that can support the inspection operation of a pharmacist.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The inspection support system according to the present invention includes an inspection display processing unit that displays, in a packaging unit (one-packaging unit), a photographed image of tablets taken before the tablets dispensed from either one or both of a tablet cassette and a hand-dispensing unit are packaged with a packaging material based on prescription data, and also displays the result of an inspection process executed based on the identification information of the tablets included in the photographed image of the tablets and the prescription data.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to support the inspection work of pharmacists.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are an example of embodying the present invention and do not have the character of limiting the technical scope of the present invention. Also, it is possible to arbitrarily combine by selecting the configurations and processing functions of the following embodiments.

[0010] [First Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, an inspection support system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a server 2, one or more client terminals 3, one or more tablet packaging devices 4, and one or more dispensing devices 5. Note that the server 2 alone may be regarded as the inspection support system according to the present invention.

[0011] Each of the server 2, the client terminal 3, the tablet packaging device 4, and the dispensing device 5 is connected so as to be able to communicate wirelessly or by wire via a communication network N1 such as a LAN or the Internet. Further, an upper system 6 such as an electronic medical record system or a prescription input terminal for inputting prescription data to the server 2 is connected to the server 2 via the communication network N1. Note that it is also conceivable that the server 2 can read prescription data from a prescription form or that prescription data can be input by a user operation in the server 2.

[0012] [Server 2] The server 2 is a personal computer including a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication I / F 23, a display unit 24, an operation unit 25, a drive device 26, a code reading unit 27, and the like. The server 2 is arranged inside or outside the medical institution where the inspection support system 1 is used.

[0013] The control unit 21 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM (registered trademark). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile storage unit, and the EEPROM is a non-volatile storage unit. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. Then, the control unit 21 uses the CPU to execute various processes according to various control programs stored in advance in the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 22.

[0014] The memory unit 22 is a storage unit such as a hard disk drive or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various types of data. Specifically, the memory unit 22 stores in advance an auditing support program for causing a computer such as the control unit 21 to execute the auditing support process (see FIG. 7) described later.

[0015] Also, the memory unit 22 stores various databases such as a pharmaceutical master, a patient master, a cassette master, and a pharmacy master. The pharmaceutical master includes information regarding each pharmaceutical such as a drug ID, a drug code, a drug name, a YJ code, a JAN code (or RSS code), a vial code, a classification (dosage form: powder, tablet, aqueous solution, topical drug, etc.), the shape of a tablet (capsule tablet, spherical tablet, flat tablet (disc-shaped tablet), etc.), the size of a tablet, specific gravity, drug type (ordinary drug, poison, narcotic, potent drug, antipsychotic drug, therapeutic drug, etc.), formulation change, excipient drug, precautions, etc. The patient master includes information regarding a patient such as a patient ID, name, gender, age, medical history, prescription drug history, family information, department of medicine, ward, and room. The pharmacy master includes information regarding a pharmacy such as a pharmacy name, the name of a pharmacist, and the ID of a pharmacist. Further, the cassette master is information indicating the correspondence relationship between the cassette identification information of each of the drug cassettes 41 described later that the tablet packaging device 4 has and the tablets assigned to each of the drug cassettes 41.

[0016] Furthermore, in the memory unit 22, for each drug, a drug database in which information such as drug code, drug name, JAN code, RSS code, drug bottle code, dosage form, unit, specific gravity, drug type, formulation change, excipient drug, precautions, allergy information, and attached document information is associated is stored separately from the pharmaceutical master. In particular, in the drug database, for tablets, information such as identification information of the tablets formed on the tablets, the shape of the tablets, and external appearance images (front and back) of the tablets is stored. Note that the drug database is read from a recording medium such as a CD or DVD by the drive device 26, for example, or received from an external device via the communication network N1 and stored in the data storage unit 22. The drug database is used in the auditing support system 1 when importing information into various masters such as the pharmaceutical master or when referring to the information of the attached documents for each drug. For example, in the auditing support system 1, the drug database can be displayed according to user operations on the server 2 or the client terminal 3. Also, the control unit 21 may be configured to be able to read the drug database from an external device or a website via the communication network N1 as needed.

[0017] The communication I / F 23 is a communication interface having a network card or the like that executes wireless or wired data communication with external devices such as the client terminal 2, the tablet packaging device 4, and the dispensing equipment 5 via the communication network N1 according to a predetermined communication protocol.

[0018] The display unit 24 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal monitor that displays various information and operation screens according to control instructions from the control unit 21. The operation unit 25 is an operation unit such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel that receives user operations, and inputs an operation signal corresponding to the user operation to the control unit 21. The operation unit 25 receives various operation inputs such as a selection operation of prescription data on the display screen displayed on the display unit 24 and an issuance operation of prescription data that requests the start of dispensing of the prescription data.

[0019] The drive device 26 can read the audit support program from a computer-readable recording medium 261 on which the audit support program is recorded. The recording medium 261 is a CD, DVD, BD, USB memory, etc., and the drive device 26 is a CD drive, DVD drive, BD drive, USB port, etc. In the server 2, the control unit 21 stores the audit support program read from the recording medium 261 using the drive device 26 in the storage unit 22.

[0020] The code reading unit 27 is a barcode reader capable of reading code information (such as a barcode or two-dimensional code). For example, the code reading unit 27 is used to read prescription data from the code information described on the prescription form. The prescription data read from the prescription form is stored in the storage unit 22 by the control unit 21.

[0021] In the server 2 configured as described above, the control unit 21 includes an audit display processing unit 211, a list display processing unit 212, an operation display processing unit 213, and a re-execution processing unit 214. Specifically, the control unit 21 functions as the audit display processing unit 211, the list display processing unit 212, the operation display processing unit 213, and the re-execution processing unit 214 by executing various processes according to the audit support program. Note that the control unit 21 also has a function of generating prescription data for dispensing (dispensing data) for executing dispensing processes such as the packaging process by the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 based on the prescription data, and inputting the prescription data into the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5. Thereby, in the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5, dispensing processes such as the packaging process are executed based on the prescription data.

[0022] The inspection display processing unit 211 displays, for each packaging unit (one-pack unit), the captured image of the tablets taken before the tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual dispensing unit 42 (to be described later) based on the prescription data in the tablet packaging device 4 are packaged with a packaging material such as packaging paper, etc., on the client terminal 3 or the like. Further, the inspection display processing unit 211 displays the result of the inspection process executed based on the identification information (characters, symbols, etc.) of the tablets included in the captured image of the tablets and the prescription data on the client terminal 3 or the like. For example, in the inspection process, the identification information recognized by character recognition processing from the captured image of the tablets is compared with the identification information of the tablets included in the prescription data. Also, in the inspection process, the image of the identification information included in the captured image of the tablets may be compared with the correct image registered in advance corresponding to the identification information of the tablets included in the prescription data.

[0023] When the result of the inspection process is an error, the list display processing unit 212 displays a list of the cause of the error together with the administration date and administration time of the tablets that caused the error. For example, the list display processing unit 212 causes the NG list area A37 (see FIG. 11) in the inspection details screen D31 (to be described later) to be displayed on the client terminal 3 or the like.

[0024] The operation display processing unit 213 displays, on the first display screen on which the inspection result of the drug dispensed by the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 is displayed or the second display screen displayed after a predetermined operation on the first screen, an operation unit for individually re-executing part or all of the dispensing process based on the prescription data executed by the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the operation display processing unit 213 displays, on the inspection details screen D31 (see FIG. 11), which is the first display screen on which the result of the inspection process is displayed by the inspection display processing unit 211, as the operation unit for re-executing part or all of the packaging process executed by the tablet packaging device 4, an operation key K33, an operation key K34, an input field K35, an operation key K36, etc., to be described later.

[0025] The re-execution processing unit 214 causes part or all of the dispensing process executed by the tablet packing device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 to be re-executed by the tablet packing device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 according to a user operation on the operation unit displayed by the operation display processing unit 213. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the re-execution processing unit 214 can cause part or all of the packing process executed by the tablet packing device 4 to be re-executed by the tablet packing device 4 according to a user operation on the operation unit displayed by the operation display processing unit 213.

[0026] [Client terminal 3] On the other hand, the client terminal 3 is a personal computer including a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a communication I / F 33, a display unit 34, an operation unit 35, a drive device 36, a code reading unit 37, and the like. Each of the client terminals 3 is arranged in a medical institution where the auditing support system 1 is used and is an operation terminal operated by a user such as a pharmacist.

[0027] The control unit 31 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile storage unit, and the EEPROM is a non-volatile storage unit. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as temporary storage memories (working areas) for various processes executed by the CPU. Then, the control unit 31 uses the CPU to execute various processes according to various control programs stored in advance in the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 32.

[0028] The memory unit 32 is a non-volatile memory unit such as a hard disk or an SSD that stores various application programs and various data executed by the control unit 31. Specifically, the memory unit 32 stores an operating system (OS) and application programs such as browser software. The browser software is application software for causing the display unit 34 to display various operation screens and the like by accessing the server 2 via the communication network N1, and for transmitting an input operation on the operation screen using the operation unit 35 to the server 2. Specifically, when address information such as a URL (Universal Resource Locator) corresponding to the server 2 is input to a predetermined position of the operation screen displayed by the browser software, the control unit 31 accesses the server 2 based on the address information.

[0029] The communication I / F 33 is a communication interface having a network card or the like that performs wireless or wired data communication with an external device such as the server 2 via the communication network N1 according to a predetermined communication protocol.

[0030] The display unit 34 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays various information according to a control instruction from the control unit 31. The operation unit 35 is an operation unit operated by a user to input various information to the client terminal 3. Specifically, the operation unit 35 includes a keyboard and a mouse (pointing device) that receive input operations on various operation screens displayed on the display unit 34. Further, the operation unit 35 may include a touch panel that receives a touch operation on various operation screens displayed on the display unit 34, or a voice input device that receives input of various information by voice recognition.

[0031] The drive device 36 can read the OS, browser software, etc. from a computer-readable recording medium 361 on which the OS or the browser software is recorded. The recording medium 361 is a CD, DVD, BD, USB memory, etc., and the drive device 36 is a CD drive, DVD drive, BD drive, USB port, etc. In the client terminal 3, the control unit 31 stores the OS, browser software, etc. read from the recording medium 361 using the drive device 36 in the storage unit 32.

[0032] The code reading unit 37 is a barcode reader capable of reading code information (such as a barcode or two-dimensional code). For example, the code reading unit 37 is used to read the code information described on the medicine package 451.

[0033] In the auditing support system 1, a server-client system is configured by the server 2 and the client terminal 3. A case where the server 2 executes various processes in response to a user operation of the client terminal 3 will be described. Therefore, "display", "operation", "selection", "input", etc. described below are performed using the display unit 34 and the operation unit 35 of the client terminal 3. For example, the control unit 21 of the server 2 transmits data described in a page description language such as HTML to the client terminal 3 to display various screens on the client terminal 3.

[0034] Note that a part or all of the auditing support program is installed in any one or more of the server 2, the client terminal 3, and the tablet packaging device 4, and it is also conceivable that the auditing support process described later is executed in cooperation by the server 2, the client terminal 3, the tablet packaging device 4, etc.

[0035] As another embodiment, it is also conceivable that, separately from the server 2, an auditing support system having an auditing support function for executing the auditing support process (see FIG. 7) described later is provided in the auditing support system 1. The auditing support system is an information processing device such as a personal computer or a tablet terminal, and is capable of communicating with the server 2, the client terminal 3, the tablet packing device 4, and the dispensing device 5 provided in the auditing support system 1. It is also conceivable that the auditing support system is installed in a dispensing device such as the tablet packing device 4.

[0036] [Tablet packing device 4] The tablet packing device 4 is a dispensing device used for dispensing drugs. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tablet packing device 4 includes a control unit 40, a tablet cassette 41, a manual sprinkling unit 42, a separation unit 43, a rotating unit 44, a packing unit 45, a photographing unit 46, and a passage detection unit 47, etc. And the tablet packing device 4 can automatically dispense tablets from either or both of the tablet cassette 41 and the manual sprinkling unit 42 based on the prescription data and pack them in dosage units. The dashed line in FIG. 2 indicates the movement path of the tablets.

[0037] The photographing unit 46 includes cameras 461 to 467 provided on the movement path of the tablets from the tablet cassette 41 to the packing unit 45 and on the movement path of the tablets from the manual sprinkling unit 42 to the packing unit 45. The cameras 461 to 467 are used to photograph the tablets one by one or in plural before the tablets discharged from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual sprinkling unit 42 are packed with packing paper by the packing unit 45. Note that the images photographed by the cameras 461 to 467 are in color or monochrome. And the photographed images of the tablets by the cameras 461 to 467 are stored in a storage unit 49 which is a storage device such as a hard disk provided in the tablet packing device 4 by the control unit 40 and transmitted to the server 2.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the camera 461 is used to photograph the tablets supplied from the tablet cassette 41 to the rotating unit 44. The cameras 462 and 463 are used to photograph a plurality of different regions (such as the front and back surfaces) on the outer periphery of the tablets rotating in a tablet rotating portion 441, which will be described later, provided in the rotating unit 44. The camera 464 is used to photograph the tablets accommodated in the manual scattering unit 42. The camera 465 is used to photograph the tablets supplied from the manual scattering unit 42 to the separating unit 43. The camera 466 is used to photograph the tablets supplied from the separating unit 43 to the rotating unit 44. The camera 467 is used to photograph the tablets in a dosage unit (sub-packaging unit) stored in a storage portion 443, which will be described later, provided in the rotating unit 44. When the tablet packaging device 4 does not include the storage portion 443, which will be described later, the camera 467 is used to photograph the tablets falling from the rotating unit 44 during the fall. Further, instead of the storage portion 443, a drug introduction portion 80 (see FIGS. 48 and 49) that guides the tablets falling from the rotating unit 44 to the packaging material disposed below may be provided. In this case, the camera 467 may be disposed at a position where it can photograph a photographing range including the drug introduction portion 80, the tablets, and the packaging material, instead of the tablets stored in the storage portion 443.

[0039] Further, the passage detection unit 47 includes passage detection sensors 471 to 475, such as optical sensors, that detect the passage of the tablets in the movement path of the tablets from the tablet cassette 41 to the sub-packaging unit 45 and in the movement path of the tablets from the manual scattering unit 42 to the sub-packaging unit 45. Then, the detection signals of the tablets by the passage detection sensors 471 to 475 are input to the control unit 40.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the passing detection sensor 471 detects the tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 41, and the passing detection sensor 472 detects the tablets that fall from the tablet cassette 41 to the rotating unit 44. Further, the passing detection sensor 473 detects the tablets dispensed from the manual dispensing unit 42, and the passing detection sensor 474 detects the tablets that fall from the separating unit 43 to the rotating unit 44. Further, the passing detection sensor 475 detects the tablets that fall from the tablet rotating part 441 (to be described later) to the storage part 443 in the rotating unit 44.

[0041] The control unit 40 includes a processor such as a CPU and a storage unit such as a RAM and an EEPROM, and comprehensively controls the tablet packaging device 4. Specifically, the control unit 40 controls the operation of the tablet packaging device 4 based on the prescription data input from the server 2, thereby executing a packaging process of packaging one or more types of tablets corresponding to the prescription data for each dosing time.

[0042] Further, the control unit 40 executes a photographing process of photographing an image by the photographing unit 46 according to the detection timing of the tablet by the passing detection unit 47. For example, when a tablet falling from the tablet cassette 41 to the tablet rotating unit 441 is detected by the passing detection sensor 472, photographing by the camera 461 is performed. Note that photographing by the camera 462 and the camera 463 is performed at a preset photographing interval (several ms) during the execution of the packaging process in the tablet packaging apparatus 4. On the other hand, photographing by the camera 464 is performed when an operation input indicating that the operation of manually scattering tablets onto the manual scattering unit 42 has been completed. Further, when a tablet discharged from the manual scattering unit 42 is detected by the passing detection sensor 473, photographing by the camera 465 is performed, and when a tablet falling from the separation unit 43 to the tablet rotating unit 441 is detected by the passing detection sensor 474, photographing by the camera 466 is performed. Furthermore, when the passing detection sensor 475 detects tablets corresponding to the number of tablets for one dose, photographing by the camera 467 is performed. Also, when the tablet packaging apparatus 4 does not include the storage unit 443, photographing by the camera 467 is performed each time a tablet falling from the rotating unit 44 is detected by the passing detection sensor 475, and the tablets falling from the rotating unit 44 are photographed. Note that the photographing timings by the cameras 461 to 467 are not limited to these, and may be preset according to the use of each photographed image or the like. In the tablet packaging apparatus 4, the control unit 40 can determine the progress of the tablets discharged from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual scattering unit 42 toward the packaging unit 45 based on the detection results by the passing detection sensors 471 to 475. Therefore, the control unit 40 can determine, for example, when the discharge of the tablets has not been performed normally, how far the tablets have moved and notify (display) the user. In the tablet packaging apparatus 4, a configuration in which an exterior member on the path along which the tablets move is formed of a transparent or translucent member and the movement state of the tablets can be visually recognized from the outside is also conceivable.

[0043] Then, the control unit 40 can execute an automatic inspection process based on the captured image of the tablet captured by the camera 462 or the camera 463 and the prescription data. In the automatic inspection process, when the identification information of the tablet included in the captured image of the tablet is recognized, it is collated whether the identification information of the tablet matches the drug information included in the prescription data. In this way, the control unit 40 inspects whether the subcontracting process is properly performed based on the captured image captured by the camera 462 or the camera 463 before the tablet is subcontracted with the drug package 451 in the subcontracting process. Here, as the automatic inspection process for automatically inspecting the propriety of the subcontracting process, the control unit 40 when executing an image inspection process for collating the identification information of the tablet included in the captured image and the prescription data is an example of an image inspection processing unit. Note that, as a method for acquiring the identification information of the tablet from the captured image of the tablet in the automatic inspection process, various conventional techniques such as a technique for reading the identification information by pattern matching processing are used. And when the collation result is a match, it is determined to be appropriate, and when the collation result is a mismatch, it is determined as an error.

[0044] Also, when the control unit 40 executes the automatic inspection process using the identification information of the tablet acquired from the captured image of the tablet, the original image when the identification information is read from the tablet among the captured images of the tablet captured by the camera 462 or the camera 463 is transmitted to the server 2 together with the result (match or error) of the automatic inspection process. Note that the control unit 40 can extract the area of the tablet from the captured image captured by the camera 462 or 463 in the automatic inspection process and read the identification information of the tablet based on the extracted trimmed image. In this case, the control unit 40 transmits the trimmed image to the server 2 as the original image instead of or together with the captured image.

[0045] The tablet cassette 41 is a cassette that houses tablets of a predetermined type, and a plurality of the tablet cassettes 41 are provided in the tablet packaging device 4. Then, in the tablet packaging device 4, the tablets included in the prescription data are automatically dispensed from the tablet cassette 41.

[0046] The manual dispensing unit 42 includes a mass provided in a matrix shape, and tablets that are not suitable for dispensing from the tablet cassette 41, such as half tablets, are put into each of the masses. Then, the manual dispensing unit 42 can dispense the tablets accommodated in each of the masses in units of the masses. The separation unit 43 can separate the tablets dispensed from the manual dispensing unit 42 one by one and supply them to the rotating unit 44. Although various configurations can be considered as the configuration of the separation unit 43, for example, it is configured to supply the tablets placed in alignment in a V-shaped groove portion one by one from the tip of the groove portion by vibrating the groove portion to convey the tablets.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotating unit 44 includes six tablet rotating portions 441, a unit rotating portion 442, and a storage portion 443. The unit rotating portion 442 is rotatably supported by a base portion (not shown). Note that FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the rotating unit 44 viewed from above.

[0048] Each of the tablet rotating parts 441 can displace the posture of a tablet by rotating the tablet supplied from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual dispensing unit 42. Six of the tablet rotating parts 441 are arranged at intervals of 60° around a predetermined rotation axis in the unit rotating part 442, and the unit rotating part 442 can rotate the tablet rotating part 441 around the predetermined rotation axis. Specifically, the unit rotating part 442 can move each of the tablet rotating parts 441 in order to six positions: the dropping position P1 of the tablet from the separation unit 43, the dropping position P2 of the tablet from the tablet cassette 41, the photographable position P3 by the camera 462, the photographable position P4 by the camera 463, a standby position P5, and the dropping position P6 to the storage part 443.

[0049] In the tablet packaging device 4, as shown in FIG. 4, when one tablet 17 discharged from the tablet cassette 41 drops onto the tablet rotating part 441, or when one tablet 17 discharged from the separation unit 43 drops onto the tablet rotating part 441, the unit rotating part 442 rotates the tablet rotating part 441 by 60°. As a result, each of the tablets discharged from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual dispensing unit 42 moves in order from the dropping position P1 or the dropping position P2 toward the dropping position P6 while being individually placed on the tablet rotating part 441. Then, at the photographable position P3 and the photographable position P4, the tablet 17 is photographed by the camera 462 and the camera 463.

[0050] Thereafter, the tablet 17 placed on the tablet rotating part 441 drops from the dropping position P6 into the storage part 443. The storage part 443 is used to temporarily store tablets in a dosage unit during the dropping from the rotating unit 44 to the packaging unit 45. Then, after the tablets in a dosage unit are stored in the storage part 443, the bottom surface is opened, and the tablets in a dosage unit accommodated in the storage part 443 are supplied to the packaging unit 45.

[0051] Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, above the rotating unit 44, lighting devices 468 and 469 for illuminating the tablets at positions where they can be photographed by the cameras 462 and 463 are fixed. The lighting devices 468 and 469 irradiate the tablet rotating portion 441 with light at different angles or different illuminances so that the cameras 462 and 463 can photograph images with different lighting environments. For example, the lighting device 468 performs lighting suitable for reading the identification information of the tablets formed by engraving on the tablets. For example, it is conceivable that the tablets are irradiated with light from the side or obliquely above so that the identification information of the tablets is clearly photographed. Note that in the lighting device 468, light may be irradiated from a plurality of directions onto the tablets. This is because when the identification information of the tablets formed on the tablets is an engraving, unevenness is generated on the surface of the tablets by the engraving, and the way the identification information appears in the photographed image of the tablets may change depending on the irradiation angle of light with respect to the unevenness. Here, the camera 462 and the lighting device 468 are an example of a first photographing unit. Also, the lighting device 469 performs lighting suitable for reading the identification information of the tablets formed by printing on the tablets. For example, it is conceivable that the tablets are irradiated with light from above so that the identification information of the tablets is clearly photographed. This is because when the identification information of the tablets formed on the tablets is a print, the identification information is formed on the surface of the tablets by a paint or a developer, etc., so no unevenness occurs on the tablets and the way the identification information appears in the photographed image of the tablets is less likely to change. Here, the camera 463 and the lighting device 469 are an example of a second photographing unit. Note that regarding whether the identification information of the tablets, such as characters or symbols formed on the tablets, is formed on the tablets by either engraving or printing, it is pre-registered in the pharmaceutical master, etc. The pharmaceutical master may be stored not only in the storage unit 22 of the server 2 but also in the storage unit 49 provided in the tablet packaging device 4.For example, in the pharmaceutical master, for tablets with the identification information being engraving, it is conceivable that the engraving flag is set to "1", and for tablets with the identification information being printing, the printing flag is set to "1". In the pharmaceutical master, for tablets with the identification information being engraving, the engraving flag may be set to "1", and for tablets with the identification information being printing, the engraving flag may be set to "0". In the tablet packaging device 4, among the captured images by the camera 462 and the camera 463, a captured image suitable for the method of forming the identification information (engraving or printing) of the tablet with respect to the tablet is used for the automatic inspection process. As described above, the method of forming the identification information includes, for example, engraving in which the identification information is formed by unevenness on the surface of the tablet, and printing in which the identification information is formed by applying a paint or developer to the surface of the tablet. Also, an image with a high degree of coincidence such as pattern matching when recognizing the identification information of the tablet among the captured images by the camera 462 and the camera 463, or an image in which the identification information of the tablet is clearly captured may be used for the automatic inspection process.

[0052] Note that in the storage unit 49, similar to the server 2, for each drug, a drug database in which information such as drug code, drug name, JAN code, RSS code, medicine bottle code, dosage form, unit, specific gravity, drug type, formulation change, excipient drug, precautions, allergy information, and attached document information is associated is stored separately from the pharmaceutical master. In particular, in the drug database, for tablets, information such as the identification information formed on the tablet, the shape of the tablet, and the appearance image (front and back) of the tablet is stored. The drug database is read from a recording medium such as a CD or DVD by a drive device (not shown) provided in the tablet packaging device, for example, or received from an external device such as the server 2 via the communication network N1 and stored in the storage unit 49. Also, the control unit 40 may be configured to be able to read the drug database from an external device such as the server 2 or a website via the communication network N1 as needed.

[0053] Here, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, an example of the tablet rotating unit 441 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tablet rotating unit 441 includes a pair of rotating rollers 100, a pair of support plates 101 that individually support each of the rotating rollers 100, and a spring 102 that biases the pair of support plates 101 in a direction approaching each other. Further, in the tablet rotating unit 441, arms 103 extend from both end portions of each of the support plates 101, and gears 104 that mesh with each other are formed at the tip portions thereof. Thereby, in a normal state, each of the rotating rollers 100 is in a state of approaching each other, and the tablet 17 can be supported by the pair of rotating rollers 100. On the other hand, the pair of rotating rollers 100 are separated and contacted synchronously by the rotation of the gears 104, and the drug 17 is rotatably supported in a state of contact or proximity, and in a separated state, the drug 17 falls from the pair of rotating rollers 100 toward the storage unit 443.

[0054] In addition, driven gears 100a are integrally formed at one end portions of the rotation axes of each of the rotating rollers 100. Driving gears 106 integrally formed at one end side of a drive shaft 105 are meshed with each of the driven gears 100a. A driven roller (not shown) is integrally formed at the other end side of the drive shaft 105. The driven roller is composed of a magnetic gear. Further, in the rotating unit 44, when the tablet rotating unit 441 moves to the photographable position P3 by the camera 462 or the photographable position P4 by the camera 463, a connecting magnetic gear (not shown) connected to a predetermined drive motor is provided at a position directly below the tablet rotating unit 441 and away from the tablet rotating unit 441.

[0055] When the tablet rotating part 441 moves to the photographable position P3 of the camera 462 or the photographable position P4 of the camera 463, the driving force from the predetermined driving motor is transmitted to the driven roller via the connecting magnetic gear. As a result, the driving force of the predetermined driving motor is transmitted to the pair of rotating rollers 100 via the driven roller and the drive shaft 105, and the pair of rotating rollers 100 rotate synchronously in the same direction. Therefore, when the tablets 17 are placed on the pair of rotating rollers 100, the tablets 17 rotate. Therefore, in the tablet rotating part 441, it is possible to change the posture of the tablet 17 photographed by the camera 462 and the camera 463, and the outer peripheral surface of the tablet 17 can be photographed from different directions. That is, the outer peripheral surface including the identification information formed on the tablet 17 by engraving or the like can be photographed when the tablet 17 rotated by the tablet rotating part 441 is intermittently or continuously photographed by the camera 462 and the camera 463.

[0056] Note that the configuration of the tablet rotating part 441 described here is merely an example, and the tablet rotating part 441 may be configured to be able to displace the tablet into a state where an image capable of reading the identification information of the tablet can be photographed by the camera 462, the camera 463, etc. However, it is desirable that the photographing is performed in a state where the identification information of the tablet appears clearly in the photographed image. Further, in the tablet packaging device 4, as long as it is possible to photograph the outer peripheral surface of the tablet from different directions, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which the tablet is photographed from the front and back sides of the placement plate in a state where the tablet is placed on a transparent placement plate.

[0057] Incidentally, it is conceivable that the control unit 40 compares all the captured images with the positive image associated with the tablet, or attempts to read the identification information of the tablet from all the captured images. However, such processing may increase the load or reduce the reading accuracy of the identification information of the tablet. On the other hand, when the tablet is a flat tablet, the accuracy of the automatic inspection process can be improved by comparing the captured images of the front and back surfaces of the flat tablet taken by the camera 462 or the camera 463 from a direction perpendicular to those surfaces with the positive image, or by reading the identification information of the tablet from the captured images. This is because when the tablet is a flat tablet, the identification information of the tablet is located on either one or both of the front and back surfaces of the flat tablet. Therefore, when the tablet is a flat tablet, the control unit 40 can specify the captured image to be compared with the positive image among the plurality of captured images, or the captured image used to acquire the identification information of the tablet, according to the area of the tablet included in the plurality of captured images.

[0058] First, the control unit 40 determines whether the tablet is a flat tablet according to the transition of the area of the tablet in each of the captured images. For example, when the ratio of the maximum value and the minimum value of the area of the tablet in each of the captured images is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value, that is, when the change amount of the area of the tablet is large, it is conceivable to determine that the tablet is a flat tablet. Note that the control unit 40 may also determine whether the tablet is a flat tablet based on the pharmaceutical master or the drug database. Then, when the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is a flat tablet, it specifies the captured image that is captured between the two captured images with the largest area of the tablet among the plurality of captured images and has an area of the tablet equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

[0059] For example, when the areas of the tablets in each of the captured images are arranged in the order of shooting of each of the captured images, the control unit 40 may specify, as the captured image with the maximum area of the tablet, the captured image immediately before the captured image in which the transition (slope) of the area of the tablet changes from an increase to a decrease. Thereby, two captured images with the maximum area of the tablet are specified from the plurality of captured images corresponding to one round of the outer peripheral surface of the tablet. That is, the two captured images with the maximum area of the tablet are the top two images in terms of the area of the tablet among the captured images corresponding to one round of the outer peripheral surface of the tablet captured at a predetermined shooting interval. Then, between the two captured images with the maximum area of the tablet, the captured image immediately before the captured image in which the area of the tablet is equal to or greater than the threshold value and the transition (slope) of the area of the tablet changes from a decrease to an increase is specified as the image capturing the front surface or the back surface of the tablet from the front.

[0060] Here, FIG. 24A is a diagram showing the transition of the area of the tablet when the flat tablet as the tablet is continuously photographed while rotating by the tablet rotating unit 441. As shown in FIG. 24A, the area of the tablet in each of the captured images transitions between the maximum area a1 and the minimum area a2 according to the rotation of the tablet in the tablet rotating unit 441. Specifically, when the front surface or the back surface of the tablet with the identification information attached thereto is slightly inclined with respect to the camera 462 or the camera 463 of the photographing unit 46 and both the front surface or the back surface of the tablet and the side surface of the tablet are photographed, the area of the tablet in the captured image becomes the maximum area a1. When only the side surface of the tablet is photographed, the area of the tablet in the captured image becomes the minimum area a2. Here, although the captured images f1 to f9 shown in FIG. 24A are taken as an example for description, in the tablet packaging apparatus 4, one or more captured images are also captured between each of the captured images f1 to f9.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 24A, the captured images f1, f3, f5, f7, and f9 corresponding to the times t1, t3, t5, t7, and t9 when the area of the tablet is the maximum area a1 include the front or back surface of the tablet and a part of the side surface. Also, the captured images f2 and f6 corresponding to the times t2 and t6 when the area of the tablet is the minimum area a2 include only the side surface of the tablet. Further, the captured images f4 and f8 corresponding to the times t4 and t8 when the area of the tablet is less than the area a1 and is equal to or greater than a preset area a3 for each type of the tablet include the front or back surface of the tablet. That is, either one of the captured images f4 and f8 is an image of the front surface of the tablet captured from the front, and the other is an image of the back surface of the tablet captured from the front. Note that the area a3 is a value smaller than the area a1 and larger than the area a2, and is a value preset as an index for distinguishing between the area of the front or back surface of the tablet and the area of the side surface of the tablet. For example, the area a3 is a value smaller by a preset predetermined value than the area when the front or back surface of the tablet is captured from the front.

[0062] Then, the control unit 40 extracts the captured image with the smallest area of the tablet among the captured images taken between two captured images where the area of the tablet is the maximum area a1 and where the area of the tablet is less than the area a1 and equal to or greater than the area a3. Here, the control unit 40 specifies the captured image extracted as the odd-numbered image among the extracted captured images as the captured image f4, and specifies the captured image extracted as the even-numbered image as the captured image f8. Also, the control unit 40 specifies the captured image f4 as the image of the front surface of the tablet and the captured image f8 as the back surface of the tablet.

[0063] As a result, the control unit 40 can compare the captured images f4 and f8 that capture the front surface and the back surface of the tablet from the front with the positive image, or can read the identification information of the tablet from the captured images f4 and f8 with high accuracy. Note that the shooting time per tablet of the tablet shot by the camera 462 and the camera 463 in the packaging process is determined to be equal to or longer than the required time, for example, based on the tablet with the longest required time among the various tablets registered in the pharmaceutical master during the times t1 to t9. As a result, at least one captured image f4 and at least one captured image f8 are captured as captured images of the front surface and the back surface of the tablet.

[0064] In addition, when the areas of the tablets in each of the captured images are arranged in the shooting order of each of the captured images, the control unit 40 may also specify the captured image captured at the timing when the smoothed value of the area of the tablet peaks as the captured image of the front surface or the back surface of the tablet. For example, the smoothed value is the simple moving average value of the areas of the tablets in a plurality of captured images. Here, FIG. 24B is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the area of the tablet when the flat tablet as the tablet is continuously photographed while rotating at the tablet rotating unit 441. FIG. 24B shows the results of a total of 20 shootings at shooting timings t11 to t30. In FIG. 24B, the solid line indicates the measured value of the area of the tablet in the captured image captured at each of the shooting timings t11 to t30, and the one-dot chain line indicates the smoothed value of the area of the tablet in the captured image captured at each of the shooting timings t11 to t30. In the example shown in FIG. 24B, since the smoothed value is the peak value at the shooting timing t19, the captured image captured at the shooting timing t19 is specified as the captured image of the front surface or the back surface of the tablet. More specifically, the odd-numbered peak values among the smoothed values are specified as the captured images of the front surface of the tablet, and the even-numbered peak values are specified as the captured images of the back surface of the tablet.

[0065] The sub-packaging unit 45 can sub-package the tablets of the dosage unit supplied from either one or both of the tablet cassette 41 and the manual dispensing unit 42 through the rotating unit 44 with a medicine package 451 which is a packaging material. Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the medicine package 451 discharged from the tablet sub-packaging device 4. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of tablets are packaged in each of the medicine packages 451 in a dosage unit, and a cutting dotted line (perforation) 452 for easily separating each of the medicine packages 451 is formed between each of the medicine packages 451.

[0066] Incidentally, the medicine package 451 used for sub-packaging in the sub-packaging unit 45 or the sub-packaging paper (roll paper) for forming the medicine package 451 is a consumable that is replenished or replaced as necessary. The tablet sub-packaging device 4 has a function of detecting the remaining amount of the medicine package 451 or the sub-packaging paper, and the remaining amount is appropriately notified to the server 2 by the control unit 40. By the way, in the tablet sub-packaging device 4, instead of the medicine package 451, a blister pack or the like that can accommodate the tablets of the dosage unit may be used. The blister pack is a packaging material in which a plurality of packaging portions are formed by joining a packaging member having a plurality of packaging areas with one side open to a flat member. Incidentally, in the tablet sub-packaging device 4, the tablets stored in the tablet cassette 41 are also an example of consumables, and the tablet sub-packaging device 4 has a function of detecting the remaining amount of the tablets stored in the tablet cassette 41, and the remaining amount is also appropriately notified to the server 2 by the control unit 40.

[0067] Further, the sub-packaging unit 45 is provided with a printing unit 453 for printing information on each of the medicine packages 451, and information such as the patient's name, administration time, prescription drug, or prescribed dose can be printed on the surface of each of the medicine packages 451 by the printing unit 453. Incidentally, the ink ribbon used for printing in the printing unit 453 is a consumable that is replenished or replaced as necessary. The tablet sub-packaging device 4 has a function of detecting the remaining amount of the ink ribbon, and the remaining amount is appropriately notified to the server 2 by the control unit 40.

[0068] [Dispensing Machine 5] Similar to the tablet packaging device 4, the dispensing machine 5 is a device used when dispensing drugs based on prescription data. In addition to the tablet packaging device 4, the dispensing machine 5 includes, for example, a powder packaging device, a liquid medicine dispenser, a sheet ejection device, and a picking assistance device. The powder packaging device has a plurality of powder cassettes containing a plurality of types of powders, and can automatically package a predetermined amount of the powders contained in the powder cassettes according to the prescription data. The liquid medicine dispenser has a plurality of medicine bottles containing a plurality of types of liquid medicines, and discharges a required amount of the liquid medicine from the medicine bottles according to the prescription data. The sheet ejection device ejects from a plurality of sheet cassettes containing PTP sheets pre-packaged with tablets or heat seals according to the prescription data. The picking assistance device is used when a pharmacist manually dispenses drugs, reads the drug name from the identification information (such as a barcode) attached to a drug shelf or a medicine bottle, and collates the read drug name with the drug name included in the prescription data.

[0069] By the way, in a medical facility such as a hospital or a pharmacy, a pharmacist performs an inspection operation to confirm whether the tablets packaged by the tablet packaging device 4 are appropriate for the prescription data. In contrast, in the inspection support system 1, the pharmacist's inspection operation is supported by executing an inspection support process (see FIG. 7) described later.

[0070] [Inspection Support Process] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7, an example of the procedure of the inspection support process executed by the control unit 21 of the server 2 in the inspection support system 1 will be described. The inspection support process is executed when a login operation is performed by a pharmacist having a preset final inspection authority on the client terminal 3, or when an inspection start operation for performing a final inspection process is performed after the login operation. Note that "display" and "operation" described below are performed using the display unit 33 and the operation unit 34 of the client terminal 3 on which the login operation has been performed.

[0071] <Step S11> First, in step S11, the control unit 21 causes the client terminal 3 to display an inspection waiting list screen D1 for displaying a list of prescription data to be inspected. Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the inspection waiting list screen D1.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 8, an item list display area A11 in which a list of prescription data to be inspected is displayed is shown on the inspection waiting list screen D1. Specifically, in the item list display area A11, prescription ID (prescription identification information), patient name (patient identification information), start date of administration, and number of days information included in the prescription data, as well as status information of a plurality of dispensing devices such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 connected to the inspection support system 1 are displayed.

[0073] Here, as shown in FIG. 8, in the server 2, the powder packaging device among the dispensing devices 5 is registered in advance as machine No. 1, the sheet dispensing device is registered in advance as machine No. 3, and the tablet packaging device 4 is registered in advance as machine No. 2. The status information is pre-classified into, for example, "packaging completed", "dispensing completed", "in packaging", "operating", "waiting to start", and "out of stock". "Packaging completed" and "dispensing completed" indicate that the dispensing of the drug is completed, and are displayed in a first specific color such as blue with a predetermined background or text. "In packaging" and "operating" indicate that the dispensing of the drug is in progress, and are displayed together with the waiting time until completion. "Waiting to start" is a standby state until the start of drug dispensing, and is displayed together with the waiting time until start. "Out of stock" indicates that the dispensing cannot be started because drugs, the drug package 451, the packaging paper, or consumables such as the ink ribbon used in the dispensing based on the prescription data are out of stock, and the background or text is displayed in a second specific color such as red with a predetermined color.

[0074] In addition, on the inspection waiting list screen D1, operation keys K11 to K12 for receiving user operations are displayed. The operation key K11 is an operation key for displaying an inspection history screen D2 for displaying the inspection history in the server 2, and the operation key K12 is an operation unit for displaying an inspection screen D3 (an example of a first display screen) for executing inspection processing in the server 2. That is, the control unit 21 can start an inspection of the dispensing performed by a plurality of dispensing devices such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 according to the operation on the inspection waiting list screen D1.

[0075] <Step S12> In step S12, the control unit 21 determines whether or not a display operation of the inspection history screen D2 has been performed. Specifically, when the operation key K11 on the inspection waiting list screen D1 is operated, the control unit 21 determines that a display operation of the inspection history screen D2 has been performed. Then, when the control unit 21 determines that a display operation of the inspection history screen D2 has been performed (S12: Yes), the process proceeds to step S13, and if the display operation of the inspection history screen D2 has not been performed (S12: No), the process proceeds to step S14.

[0076] <Step S13> In step S13, the control unit 21 causes the client terminal 3 to display the inspection history screen D2. In this way, the control unit 21 can display the inspection history of the dispensing performed by a plurality of dispensing devices such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 according to the user operation on the inspection waiting list screen D1.

[0077] Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the inspection history screen D2. As shown in FIG. 9, on the inspection history screen D2, a list display area A21 is displayed in which a list of prescription data for which inspection has already been completed is shown. In the list display area A21, information such as a prescription ID (prescription identification information), patient name (patient identification information), start date of administration, inspector, and inspection date and time included in the prescription data is displayed. Also, in the list display area A21, as the inspection result of the drug dispensed by each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 connected to the inspection support system 1, “OK” indicating that the determination result is appropriate, or “NG” indicating that the determination result is an error, etc. are displayed. Specifically, the inspection result corresponding to the tablet packaging device 4 is the result of the automatic inspection process. Note that “OK” is displayed in a third specific color such as blue whose background or characters are predetermined, and “NG” is displayed in a fourth specific color such as red whose background or characters are predetermined. Also, when “NG” is displayed, the content of the measure taken in response to the determination result being an error (for example, “corrected”, etc.) is displayed.

[0078] Also, on the inspection history screen D2, there are displayed an operation key K21 for selecting either “patient ID” or “period” as a search item, an input field K22 for inputting the search content of the item selected by the operation key K21, and an operation key K23 for executing the search, etc. When search content is input into the input field K22 and the operation key for “execute search” is operated, the control unit 21 searches for the prescription data corresponding to the search content and displays it in the list display area A21. Note that on the inspection history screen D2, there is displayed an operation key K24 for displaying an inspection screen similar to the inspection screen D3 described later that displays the details of the inspection history of the prescription data displayed in the list display area A21.

[0079] <Step S14> In step S14, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the audit start operation has been performed. Specifically, when the operation key K12 is operated in a state where the prescription data is selected on the audit waiting list screen D1, the control unit 21 determines that the audit start operation has been performed. Then, when the control unit 21 determines that the audit start operation has been performed (S14: Yes), it causes the process to proceed to step S15, and when the audit start operation has not been performed (S14: No), it causes the process to proceed to step S16.

[0080] <Step S15> In step S15, the control unit 21 causes the client terminal 3 to display the audit screen D3 for performing an audit on the prescription data selected on the audit waiting list screen D1. Here, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the audit screen D3. As shown in FIG. 10, the audit screen D3 displays a basic information area A31, an audit result area A32, and a device information area A33. Information such as a prescription ID (prescription identification information), patient name (patient identification information), gender, age, administration date, and usage method included in the prescription data is displayed in the basic information area A31.

[0081] In the inspection result area A32, the content of the prescription data selected on the inspection waiting list screen D1 and the inspection results regarding the prescription data are displayed for each record (Rp1 to Rp3). Specifically, in the inspection result area A32, the drug name, dosage, form, machine number of the dispensing device, dosage, and determination result are displayed. Note that the determination result is, for example, the pass / fail determination result in the automatic inspection process executed in each of the tablet packing device 4 and the dispensing device 5, such as the automatic inspection process executed by the tablet packing device 4, and is appropriately input from each of the tablet packing device 4 and the dispensing device 5 to the server 2. Further, the automatic inspection process may be executed by the control unit 21 of the server 2 that has acquired various types of information such as images from the tablet packing device 4 and the dispensing device 5. Specifically, in the server 2, the control unit 21 stores, in the storage unit 22, the inspection results of the appropriateness of the dispensing processes executed in each of the tablet packing device 4 and the dispensing device 5 in association with prescription identification information such as the prescription ID of the prescription data. Then, the control unit 21 can display, on one screen, the inspection results of each of the tablet packing device 4 and the dispensing device 5 associated with the prescription ID of the prescription data, like the inspection result area A32 of the inspection screen D3. Thereby, the user can collectively confirm the inspection results of a plurality of the dispensing devices 5 including the tablet packing device 4 that executes dispensing based on the prescription data. For example, in the inspection screen D3 shown in FIG. 10, it is conceivable that Rp1 is the drug dispensed by the tablet packing device 4, Rp2 is the drug dispensed by the powder packing device among the dispensing devices 5, and Rp3 is the drug dispensed by the sheet dispensing device among the dispensing devices 5.

[0082] In the machine information area A33, remaining amount information of consumables in the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 connected to the server 2 is displayed. The remaining amount information of the consumables displayed in the machine information area A33 is appropriately input from each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 to the server 2, or read by the server 2 from each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5. Thereby, the user can easily confirm the remaining amounts of the consumables in the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, as information on the consumables of the tablet packaging device 4 of "Machine No. 2", a state is shown where the remaining amount of "packaging paper" is small and the remaining amount of "ink ribbon" is sufficient. Similarly, as information on the consumables of the powder packaging device of "Machine No. 1", a state is shown where the remaining amount of "packaging paper" is sufficient and the remaining amount of "ink ribbon" is small. Thus, the control unit 21 can display, in a list, information on consumables in a plurality of dispensing devices such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 on the inspection screen D3. Therefore, the user can easily manage the consumables of the entire inspection support system 1. Thereby, the arrangement of the consumables and the like can be carried out without omission, and continuous operation of a plurality of dispensing devices such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing device 5 is possible even with a small number of personnel.

[0083] <Step S16> In step S16, the control unit 21 determines whether a detailed confirmation operation for confirming details of the determination result displayed on the inspection screen D3 has been performed. Specifically, when a display location of a determination result corresponding to any of the records included in the prescription data displayed on the inspection screen D3 is selected on the inspection screen D3, it is determined that the detailed confirmation operation has been performed. Here, when the control unit 21 determines that the detailed confirmation operation has been performed (S16: Yes), the process proceeds to step S17, and if the detailed confirmation operation has not been performed (S16: No), the process proceeds to step S18.

[0084] <Step S17> In step S17, the control unit 21 causes a detailed inspection screen D31 (an example of the second display screen) to be displayed, on which details of the determination result displayed on the inspection screen D3 are shown. Note that the displays such as the inspection screen D3 and the detailed inspection screen D31 are executed by the inspection display processing unit 211 of the control unit 21.

[0085] Here, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the detailed inspection screen D31. As shown in FIG. 11, on the detailed inspection screen D31, a basic information area A31, a prescription information area A35, a dispensing details area A36, an NG list area A37, etc. are displayed. In the prescription information area A35, as the prescription information of the record corresponding to the determination result, a drug name (drug identification information), the number of tablets for each administration time, and an image of the drug are displayed.

[0086] In the dispensing details area A36, the contents of the tablets sub-packaged in the medicine package 451 corresponding to each administration time (the number of tablets for each administration time) of each administration day are displayed. More specifically, the control unit 21 causes the photographed images of the tablets to be displayed in the dispensing details area A36 of the detailed inspection screen D31 in an arrangement format in which the administration day is displayed on one of the columns or rows and the administration time is displayed on the other.

[0087] In particular, the control unit 21 arranges and displays the photographed images of the tablets in the sub-packaging unit corresponding to each combination in the display positions corresponding to each combination of the administration day and the administration time in a predetermined display order in a direction parallel to the order of the administration times. For example, the display order of the photographed images of the tablets is the same as the order of the tablets displayed in the prescription information section A35. In the dispensing details area A36 displayed in this way, when the determination result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate, the photographed images of the same type of tablets are arranged in the arrangement direction of the administration days (the horizontal direction in FIG. 11). Therefore, the pharmacist can easily confirm the appropriateness of each of the photographed images of the tablets.

[0088] Also, in the dispensing details area A36, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the background of the display area of the photographed image of the tablet that caused the error is displayed in a fifth specific color such as a predetermined red color. That is, the control unit 21 causes the photographed image of the tablet that caused the error to be displayed in the dispensing details area A36 in a distinguishable manner. Thereby, the photographed image of the tablet is displayed in the unit of the packaging unit and the result of the automatic inspection process is displayed, and the efficiency of the pharmacist's inspection work is improved. In particular, the pharmacist can easily identify and confirm the photographed image of the tablet that caused the error by referring to the display of the fifth specific color.

[0089] In the NG list area A37, a list of errors occurring in the dispensing details area A36 is displayed. Specifically, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 21 lists the cause of the error together with the administration date and administration time of the tablet that caused the error. Here, such processing is executed by the list display processing unit 212 of the control unit 21. Thereby, the pharmacist can easily grasp the cause of the error, the administration date and administration time of the tablet by referring to the list display. Note that the cause of the error displayed in the NG list area A37 is specified in any one of the tablet packaging device 4, the dispensing equipment 5, or the server 2 based on the result of the automatic inspection process. For example, when a tablet different from the tablet that should be packaged in the medicine pack 451 according to the prescription data is stored in the medicine pack 451, the cause of the error is specified as "dispensing mistake". Also, when there is a shortage in the tablets that should be packaged in the medicine pack 451 and the missing tablets are stored in the medicine pack 451 that is consecutive before and after the medicine pack 451, the cause of the error is specified as "delay".

[0090] In the inspection details screen D31, photographed images of the tablets contained in all the medicine packages 451 are displayed in the dispensing details area A36. However, for example, in the NG list area A37, only the taking date, taking time, and photographed images of the tablets corresponding to the medicine packages 451 for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error are displayed, and the information of the medicine packages 451 for which the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate is not displayed. As a result, the user can easily grasp only the parts that need to be confirmed by looking at the inspection details screen D31, and the inspection work can be made more efficient.

[0091] In addition, on the inspection details screen D31, together with the dispensing details area A36, operation parts such as an operation key K33, an operation key K34, an input field K35, an operation key K36, and a check box K37 are displayed. The operation part is an example of an operation part for individually re-executing part or all of the dispensing process based on the prescription data executed by the tablet packing device 4, and the display of the operation part is executed by the operation display processing part 213 of the control part 21. Specifically, in the tablet packing device 4, a packing process is executed as the dispensing process, and the operation part is an operation part for re-executing part or all of the packing process.

[0092] The operation key K33 is an example of a first operation unit for re-executing all of the dispensing processes (sub-packaging processes) corresponding to the record. The operation key K34 is an example of a second operation unit for re-executing a part of the dispensing processes (sub-packaging processes) that are determined to be in error in the automatic inspection process among the dispensing processes (sub-packaging processes) corresponding to the record. The input field K35 and the operation key K36 are an example of a third operation unit for re-executing a part of the dispensing processes (sub-packaging processes) selected by a user operation on the input field K35 among the dispensing processes (sub-packaging processes) corresponding to the record. In the input field K35, it is possible to specify the range (from which package to which package) of the medicine packages 451 to be re-executed for the dispensing process, or to specify only a specific one of the medicine packages 451, etc. Thereby, as will be described later, the pharmacist can selectively use any two or three of the operation key K33, the operation key K34, and the input field K35 and the operation key K36 to arbitrarily execute a part or all of the sub-packaging process on the tablet sub-packaging device 4.

[0093] The check box K37 is an operation key for setting not to re-execute the dispensing process of the medicine that is the cause of the error when the cause of the error is "delay". When the check box K37 is checked, the control unit 21 does not re-execute the medicine whose cause of the error is "delay" even when the operation key K33, the operation key K34, or the operation key K36 is operated. Thereby, for example, when an error of "delay" occurs in the tablet sub-packaging device 4, it is possible to cope with an operation in which the pharmacist manually moves the tablets between the front and rear medicine packages 451.

[0094] <Step S18> In step S18, the control unit 21 determines whether an approval operation for the result of the automatic inspection process of the prescription data has been performed. Specifically, the control unit 21 determines whether the approval key K31 displayed on the inspection screen D3 has been operated. Here, when the control unit 21 determines that the approval operation has been performed (S18: Yes), it transfers the process to step 19, and if the approval operation has not been performed (S19: No), it transfers the process to step S20.

[0095] <Step S19> In step S19, the control unit 21 executes an approval process for approving the result of the automatic inspection process of the prescription data. For example, in the approval process, the control unit 21 associates the fact that the result of the automatic inspection process of the prescription data has been approved and the identification information (name or ID) of the user, who is the pharmacist who performed the approval operation, with the prescription data together with the result of the automatic inspection process and stores them in the storage unit 22.

[0096] <Step S20> Then, in step S20, the control unit 21 determines whether a full reissue operation has been performed on the inspection details screen D31. Specifically, when the operation key K33 displayed on the inspection details screen D31 is operated, it is determined that the full reissue operation has been performed. Here, when the control unit 21 determines that the full reissue operation has been performed (S20: Yes), it transfers the process to step S21, and if the full reissue operation has not been performed (S20: No), it transfers the process to step S22.

[0097] <Step S21> In step S21, the control unit 21 transmits a control instruction for re-executing all the dispensing processes corresponding to the record corresponding to the determination result to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing device 5 that executed the dispensing process. For example, as the control instruction, the prescription data for dispensing corresponding to the record is re-input to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing device 5. As a result, in the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing device 5, all the dispensing processes corresponding to the record are re-executed. For example, in the tablet packaging device 4, all the tablet packaging processes corresponding to the record are re-executed.

[0098] <Step S22> In step S22, the control unit 21 determines whether or not a reissue operation for only the NG packages has been performed on the inspection details screen D31. Specifically, when the operation key K34 displayed on the inspection details screen D31 is operated, it is determined that a reissue operation for only the NG packages has been performed. Here, when the control unit 21 determines that a reissue operation for only the NG packages has been performed (S22: Yes), the process proceeds to step S23, and if a reissue operation for only the NG packages has not been performed (S22: No), the process proceeds to step S24.

[0099] <Step S23> In step S23, the control unit 21 transmits a control instruction for re-executing only the dispensing processes (NG packages) in which an error has occurred among the dispensings corresponding to the record corresponding to the determination result to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing device 5 that executed the dispensing process. For example, as the control instruction, a part of the prescription data corresponding to the dispensing process in which the error has occurred among the prescription data for dispensing corresponding to the record is re-input to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing device 5. As a result, in the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing device 5, only a part of the dispensing processes in which the error has occurred is re-executed. For example, in the tablet packaging device 4, a part of the tablet packaging process corresponding to the record is re-executed.

[0100] <Step S24> In step S24, the control unit 21 determines whether a reissue operation for only the specified package has been performed on the inspection details screen D31. Specifically, when the operation key K36 displayed on the inspection details screen D31 is operated, it is determined that a reissue operation for only the specified package has been performed. Here, when the control unit 21 determines that a reissue operation for only the specified package has been performed (S24: Yes), the process proceeds to step S25, and if a reissue operation for only the specified package has not been performed (S24: No), the process proceeds to step S26.

[0101] <Step S25> In step S25, the control unit 21 sends a control instruction for re-executing only the dispensing process (specified package) specified in the input field K35 among the dispensings corresponding to the record corresponding to the determination result to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing equipment 5 that executed the dispensing process. For example, as the control instruction, a part of the prescription data corresponding to the dispensing process specified in the input field K35 among the prescription data for dispensing corresponding to the record is re-input to the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing equipment 5. Thereby, in the tablet packaging device 4 or the dispensing equipment 5, only a part of the dispensing processes specified in the input field K35 is re-executed. For example, in the tablet packaging device 4, a part of the tablet packaging process corresponding to the record is re-executed.

[0102] <Step S26> In step S26, the control unit 21 determines whether a preset inspection end operation for ending the inspection support process has been performed. For example, when the operation key corresponding to "End" on the inspection waiting list screen D1 is operated, the control unit 21 determines that the inspection end operation has been performed. Here, when the control unit 21 determines that the inspection end operation has been performed (S26: Yes), the inspection support process is ended, and if the inspection end operation has not been performed (S26: No), the process returns to step S12.

[0103] As described above, in the audit support system 1, by the control unit 21 executing the processes of steps S20 to S25, it is possible to individually re-execute part or all of the dispensing processes already executed in each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 on each of the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5. Here, such a process is executed by the re-execution processing unit 214 of the control unit 21. Thereby, the work efficiency of pharmacists in hospitals or pharmacies where the audit support system 1 is used can be improved.

[0104] For example, regarding the tablet packaging device 4, based on the identification information of the tablets read from the photographed image of the tablets photographed by the photographing unit 46 and the prescription data, or based on the photographed image of the tablets photographed by the photographing unit 46 and the correct image, the automatic audit process is executed, and re-execution of the packaging process in units of the medicine packages 451 can be performed by an arbitrary operation of the user corresponding to the execution result of the automatic audit process. Therefore, the labor of the pharmacist who conducts the final inspection of the medicine packages 451 dispensed from the tablet packaging device 4 can be omitted, and the efficiency of the pharmacist's inspection work can be increased.

[0105] Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the case where the control unit 21 causes the tablet packaging device 4 to re-execute the dispensing has been mainly described. However, the control unit 21 can arbitrarily re-execute part or all of the dispensing performed by a plurality of dispensing devices such as the tablet packaging device 4 and the dispensing equipment 5 according to a user operation on the audit screen D3 or the detailed audit screen D31 displayed in response to a user operation on the audit screen D3.

[0106] For example, when the dispensing device 5 is a powder packaging device, the control unit 21 can re-execute part or all of the powder packaging process performed by the powder packaging device. Note that the powder packaging device includes a powder cassette in which powder is stored, a feeder that automatically discharges a predetermined amount from the powder cassette, a distribution unit that distributes the powder discharged from the powder cassette by the feeder for each dosing time, and a packaging unit that packages the powder for each dosing time distributed by the distribution unit with packaging paper. The distribution unit includes, for example, a rotating disk on which the powder supplied from the feeder is placed and a scraping member that scrapes out the powder placed on the rotating disk in predetermined amounts. In the powder packaging device, for example, a predetermined amount of powder is supplied from the feeder while the rotating disk is stopped, and the scraping member scrapes it out, so that the packaging process can be executed in unit packages.

[0107] [Other Embodiments] Hereinafter, other functions of the auditing support system 1 or other embodiments of the auditing support system 1 will be described.

[0108] [Re-packaging Verification Function] As described in the above embodiment, the control unit 21 can re-execute part or all of the packaging process corresponding to the record of the prescription data on the tablet packaging device 4 according to the user operation on the audit details screen D31. At this time, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 has a re-packaging verification function for verifying the medicine package 451 re-executed by the tablet packaging device 4.

[0109] For example, after a request to re-execute the packaging process for the tablet packaging device 4, as shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 21 may display a verification screen D32 that prompts the reading of code information (one-dimensional code or two-dimensional code) described on the medicine package 451 after re-executed dispensing, superimposed on the inspection details screen D31. Then, when the code information read from the medicine package 451 using the code reading unit 27 of the server 2 or the code reading unit 37 of the client terminal 3 is appropriate, the control unit 21 changes the dispensing result of the record to "corrected". As a result, when the inspection history screen D2 is displayed, the record is displayed as "NG → corrected".

[0110] For example, the propriety of the code information is determined according to whether the code information on the medicine package 451 before re-execution and the code information on the medicine package 451 after re-execution are both read. Also, it is conceivable that the propriety of the code information is determined according to whether the code information on the medicine packages 451 corresponding to before and after the medicine package 451 to be re-executed among the plurality of medicine packages 451 obtained as the packaging result corresponding to the record is read. Thereby, mistakes in the replacement position of the medicine packages 451 before and after re-execution are suppressed. Note that it is also conceivable that the determination is made according to whether the code information printed on either one or both of the first and last medicine packages 451 before re-execution and the code information printed on the medicine package 451 after re-execution are both read.

[0111] [Progress monitoring function] The control unit 21 may have a progress monitoring function that can appropriately check a captured image of the tablets taken on the path of the tablets supplied from the tablet cassette 41 or the manual dispensing unit 42 to the packaging unit 45 using the cameras 461 to 467 of the imaging unit 46 of the tablet packaging device 4. Specifically, the captured image of the tablets captured by the imaging unit 46 is transmitted from the tablet packaging device 4 to the server 2 and stored in the storage unit 22 of the server 2.

[0112] When an operation key (not shown) corresponding to the progress monitoring function, which is displayed on an operation screen such as the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31, is operated, the control unit 21 can cause the client terminal 4 to display a progress monitoring screen D4 for displaying captured images of the tablets captured by the cameras 461 to 467 of the imaging unit 46.

[0113] As a result, when an error occurs in the dispensing by the tablet packaging device 4, the user can confirm the captured images of the tablets at each time point captured by the imaging unit 46 regarding the dispensing of the tablets in the tablet packaging device 4, and can easily confirm the location and cause of the error.

[0114] Here, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the progress monitoring screen D4. On the progress monitoring screen D4 shown in FIG. 13, an image display area A41 and a guidance display area A42 are displayed together with the basic information area A31 and the prescription information area A35. In the image display area A41, captured images of the tablets captured by the cameras 461 to 467 of the imaging unit 46 are displayed in association with the identification codes of the cameras 461 to 467. Specifically, the image display area A41 includes a display area A411 in which a captured image of the tablet captured by the camera 461 is displayed, a display area A412 in which captured images of the tablets captured by the cameras 464 to 466 are displayed, a display area A413 in which captured images of the tablets captured by the cameras 462 and 463 are displayed, and a display area A414 in which a captured image of the tablet captured by the camera 467 is displayed. Further, in the guidance display area A42, guidance information for indicating the imaging locations of the cameras 461 to 467 in the tablet packaging device 4 is displayed. Thereby, the user can easily grasp the position of the image displayed in the image display area A41.

[0115] When the control unit 21 stores the captured image in the storage unit 22, it stores each captured image in association with prescription identification information such as the prescription ID of the prescription data that was the target of the sub-packaging process when each captured image was taken. As a result, even after the sub-packaging process and the inspection support process are completed, when the prescription ID of the prescription data is specified, the control unit 21 can display each of the captured images corresponding to the specified prescription ID.

[0116] [Manual Scattering Confirmation Monitor Function] In addition, the control unit 21 has a manual scattering confirmation monitor function for confirming the state after the tablet manual scattering operation in the manual scattering unit 42. Specifically, when the tablet sub-packaging is performed using the manual scattering unit 42 in the tablet sub-packaging device 4, after the tablet manual scattering operation on the manual scattering unit 42, the camera 464 captures an image of the manual scattering unit 42.

[0117] For example, in the tablet sub-packaging device 4, when an operation key for inputting that the tablet manual scattering operation on the manual scattering unit 42 has ended is operated, the control unit 40 uses the camera 464 to capture an image of the manual scattering unit 42. Also, when the manual scattering unit 42 is configured to be pulled out from the tablet sub-packaging device 4 during use, the tablets are scattered, and then stored in the tablet sub-packaging device 4, the camera 464 may be provided inside the tablet sub-packaging device 4, and the control unit 40 may use the camera 464 to capture an image of the manual scattering unit 42 at the timing when the manual scattering unit 42 is stored in the tablet sub-packaging device 4.

[0118] Then, the tablet sub-packaging device 4 transmits the manually scattered image captured by the camera 464 to the server 2 together with the information for identifying the prescription data. As a result, in the server 2, the control unit 21 stores the manually scattered image in the storage unit 22 in association with the prescription data. Note that the dispensing management device 2 may be configured to read the manually scattered image stored in the tablet sub-packaging device 4.

[0119] On the other hand, when an operation key (not shown) corresponding to the hand-scattering confirmation monitor function, which is displayed on an operation screen such as the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31, is operated, the control unit 21 reads out the hand-scattering image corresponding to the currently displayed prescription data from the storage unit 22. Then, the control unit 21 causes the client terminal 3 to display a hand-scattering confirmation screen D5 on which the hand-scattering image is displayed. As a result, when an error occurs in the dispensing by the tablet packaging device 4, the user can check the hand-scattering image taken by the camera 464 for the dispensing of the tablets in the tablet packaging device 4, and can easily check whether the cause of the error is a mistake in scattering the tablets onto the hand-scattering unit 42.

[0120] Here, FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the hand-scattering confirmation monitor screen D5. On the hand-scattering confirmation monitor screen D5 shown in FIG. 14, a hand-scattering unit image area A51 and an operation explanation area A52 are displayed together with the basic information area A31 and the prescription information area A35. In the hand-scattering unit image area A51, the hand-scattering image obtained by photographing the hand-scattering unit 42 from above by the camera 464 is displayed. As a result, the user can check the state immediately after the tablets are scattered onto the hand-scattering unit 42.

[0121] Note that an explanation of the operation content in the hand-scattering unit image area A51 is displayed in the operation explanation area A52. For example, in the operation explanation area A52, it is displayed together with a finger gesture and an image that the image is enlarged by a pinch-out operation and reduced by a pinch-in operation.

[0122] [Cassette filling monitor function] Further, the control unit 21 has a cassette filling monitor function for checking the state during the operation of filling the tablet cassette 41 with tablets. Specifically, it is conceivable that the tablet packaging device 4 includes a workbench for filling the tablet cassette 41 with tablets and a camera for taking an image of the tablet cassette 41 placed on the workbench. The workbench is provided in front of the tablet packaging device 4 and, as shown in FIG. 15, is pulled out from the tablet packaging device 4 when the tablet cassette 41 is filled with tablets and can be stored in the tablet packaging device 4 when not in use. In the tablet packaging device 4, when the filling of the tablet cassette 41 with tablets is performed, the control unit 40 takes an image of the tablet cassette 41 using the camera.

[0123] For example, in the tablet packaging device 4, when an operation key for inputting that the operation of filling the tablet cassette 41 with tablets has been completed is operated, the control unit 40 takes an image of the tablet cassette 41 using the camera. Then, the tablet packaging device 4 transmits the cassette image taken by the camera to the server 2 together with drug identification information such as the tablet name for identifying the tablets. As a result, in the server 2, the cassette image is stored in the storage unit 22 in association with the tablets by the control unit 21. Note that the dispensing management device 2 may be configured to read the cassette image stored in the tablet packaging device 4.

[0124] On the other hand, after a tablet to be displayed is selected on an operation screen such as the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31, when an operation key (not shown) corresponding to the cassette filling monitor function displayed on the operation screen is operated, the control unit 21 reads out the cassette image corresponding to the tablet from the storage unit 22. Then, the control unit 21 causes the client terminal 3 to display a cassette filling monitor screen D6 on which the cassette image is displayed. Thereby, when an error occurs in the packaging process by the tablet packaging device 4, the user can easily check whether the cause of the error is an incorrect filling of the tablet into the tablet cassette 41 by checking the cassette image captured by the camera.

[0125] For example, when a specific type of tablet is selected on an operation screen such as the inspection screen D3 or the inspection details screen D31, the control unit 21 displays the inspection result of the selected type of tablet on a pop-up screen D25 shown in FIG. 25. In the pop-up screen D25, the tablets with inspection results being errors are displayed in an identifiable manner. For example, for the tablets with inspection results being errors, the background area A251 is displayed in red. Then, when an operation key K251 corresponding to the cassette filling monitor function is operated on the pop-up screen D25, the control unit 21 displays a cassette filling monitor screen D6 on which the cassette image corresponding to the tablet is displayed.

[0126] Here, FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the cassette filling monitor screen D6. On the cassette filling monitor screen D6 shown in FIG. 15, a cassette image area A61 is displayed together with the basic information area A31, the prescription information area A35, and the operation instruction area A52. In the cassette image area A61, the cassette image obtained by photographing the tablet cassette 41 from above by the camera is displayed. Thereby, the user can confirm the filling state of the tablets into the tablet cassette 41. Further, FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a cassette filling monitor screen D26 which is another example of the cassette filling monitor screen D6. In the cassette filling monitor screen D26, the cassette image is displayed in the cassette image area A61 in the same manner as in the cassette filling monitor screen D6, and information such as the filler who performed the filling operation into the tablet cassette 41 and the final filling date and time is also displayed.

[0127] [Another example of the inspection screen] Here, as another example of the inspection details screen D31 displayed on the client terminal 3 by the control unit 21, the inspection details screen D301 according to the first display form and the inspection details screen D302 according to the second display form will be described respectively.

[0128] [First display form of the inspection screen] Here, FIGS. 16 and 17 are diagrams showing an inspection details screen D301 which is another example of the inspection details screen D31. Note that FIG. 16 shows the inspection details screen D301 when the inspection result is appropriate, and FIG. 17 shows the inspection details screen D301 when an error has occurred in the inspection result.

[0129] As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, on the inspection details screen D301, a basic information area A311, a dispensing details area A312, and an inspection result area A313 are displayed. The basic information area A31 is an area where patient information, prescription data, etc. are displayed in the same manner as the basic information section A31. The dispensing details area A312 is displayed in place of the dispensing details area A36, and the contents of the tablets packaged in the medicine packages 451 in units of the medicine packages 451 are displayed.

[0130] More specifically, in the dispensing details area A312 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the drug name, type, result, and positive image are displayed. Specifically, in the type, it is discriminatively displayed whether the tablet corresponding to the drug name is dispensed from either the tablet cassette 41 or the detachable tablet adapter 42. For example, when the dispensing source of the tablet is the tablet cassette 41, "C" or "ka" etc. are displayed as identification codes, and when it is the detachable tablet adapter 45, "D" or "hand" etc. are displayed as identification codes. Also, in the result, it is individually displayed whether the inspection result for the tablet corresponding to the drug name is appropriate. The positive image is a registered image registered in advance in the pharmaceutical master etc. as the correct image of the tablet. For example, in the pharmaceutical master, two images corresponding to the front and back surfaces of each tablet are registered as the registered images in association with each tablet. Note that the registered image may be one image in which an area including the identification information of the tablet on the outer peripheral surface of the tablet is photographed.

[0131] Also, in the dispensing details area A312, the photographed images of the tablets photographed by the photographing unit 46 before being individually packaged in each of the medicine packages 451 are displayed in association with each tablet. Here, the control unit 21 causes the photographed images of the tablets corresponding to each combination of the tablet name and the packaging order to be displayed in an arrangement form in which the tablet name (drug name) is displayed on one of the columns or rows and the packaging order (first package, second package, etc.) is displayed on the other. Note that in the dispensing details area A312 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the tablet names are arranged and displayed in the vertical direction, and the packaging order is displayed in the horizontal direction. Thus, since the photographed images of the same type of tablets are arranged in the arrangement direction of the packaging order, the pharmacist can easily confirm the propriety of each of the photographed images of the tablets.

[0132] Further, the control unit 21 includes at least the original image in which the identification information of the tablet is read by the tablet packaging device 4, or the original image compared with the positive image, and displays a plurality of captured images corresponding to different outer peripheral surfaces of the tablet captured for each tablet in the tablet packaging device 4 for each tablet. Thereby, when it is difficult for a pharmacist to determine the suitability of a tablet based on only one captured image of the tablet, for example, the pharmacist can refer to a plurality of captured images of the tablet to determine the suitability. Further, in the dispensing details area A312, since the positive image of the tablet and the captured image of the tablet are displayed side by side, the pharmacist can easily determine the suitability of the tablet by comparing the registered image of the tablet with the captured image of the tablet.

[0133] For example, in the dispensing details area A312 shown in FIG. 16, as captured images of the tablets packaged in the first drug package 451, two captured images of three tablets, "Tranxamine Capsules 250 mg", "Cephalanthin Tablets 1 mg", and "Reflex Tablets 15 mg", are displayed. At this time, when the tablet is a flat tablet, two images of the front and back surfaces of the tablet are displayed, and when the tablet is in the shape of a capsule tablet or the like, two images of the surface containing the identification information of the tablet and the surface not containing the identification information of the tablet are displayed.

[0134] Further, the control unit 21 acquires the identification information included in the captured image of the tablet, and detects the inclination of the characters included in the identification information, so that the top and bottom of the characters included in the identification information match the top and bottom of the inspection details screen D301. The captured image of the tablet is rotation-corrected and displayed in the dispensing details area A312. That is, the control unit 21 aligns the orientation of the characters of the identification information of the tablet and displays the captured image of the tablet. Thereby, the user can easily confirm the identification information of the tablet together with the image of each tablet. Note that the rotation correction of the captured image of the tablet may be performed by the tablet packaging device 4.

[0135] Also, when the number of the medicine packages 451 exceeds the number that can be simultaneously displayed in the dispensing details area A312, a scroll key K311 is displayed in the dispensing details area A312, and the control unit 21 scrolls and displays the information on the number of each package of the medicine packages 451 displayed in the dispensing details area A312 according to the operation of the scroll key K311. Further, in the dispensing details area A312, it is also conceivable that the taking date and taking time are displayed together with the package number information such as the first package, the second package, etc. indicating the number of packages of the medicine package 451, or instead of the package number information.

[0136] In particular, as shown in FIG. 17, in the dispensing details area A312, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error for a drug included in the record of the prescription data displayed on the inspection details screen D301, the background of one or a plurality of areas A314 corresponding to the drug is displayed in a sixth specific color such as a predetermined red color. Thereby, the user can easily grasp the drug for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error by checking the position of the area A314.

[0137] Specifically, in the dispensing details area A312 of FIG. 17, a case is shown where the display areas for the drug name, the photographed image of the tablet, and the order of the medicine packages 451 are set as the area A314. Further, when the number of the medicine packages 451 exceeds the number that can be simultaneously displayed in the dispensing details area A312 and there is a drug for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 21 automatically moves the scroll key K311 and causes the information corresponding to the medicine package 451 in which the error has occurred to be displayed in the dispensing details area A312.

[0138] In addition, in the inspection result area A313, the results of the automatic inspection process for the dispensing of all the drugs included in the record of the prescription data displayed on the inspection details screen D301 are displayed. Specifically, in FIG. 16, "OK" indicating that the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate is displayed together with a background of a seventh specific color such as blue that has been predetermined, and in FIG. 17, "NG" indicating that the result of the automatic inspection process is an error is displayed together with a background of an eighth specific color such as red that has been predetermined and is different from the seventh specific color. Thereby, the user can easily grasp the propriety of the inspection result for the entire record by checking the inspection result area A313.

[0139] Particularly, in the dispensing details area A312, the results of the inspection process are individually displayed for each tablet included in the record of the prescription data. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 17, for "Tranamin Capsules 250 mg" and "Cephalanthin Tablets 1 mg", "○" indicating that the result of the inspection process is appropriate is displayed, and for "Reflex Tablets 15 mg", "×" indicating that an error has occurred in the result of the inspection process is displayed. Thereby, the pharmacist can easily grasp, for example, the tablet that has caused the error in the result of the inspection process.

[0140] When a selection operation is performed on the photographed image of the tablet displayed in the dispensing details area A312, as shown in FIG. 18, the control unit 21 can display an enlarged screen D33 on the client terminal 3 that enlarges the photographed image of the tablet that is the target of the selection operation and displays it as an enlarged image P331. Further, on the enlarged screen D33, an enlarged image obtained by enlarging the positive image corresponding to the tablet that is the target of the selection operation and the enlarged image P331 may be displayed side by side vertically or horizontally. Note that on the enlarged screen D33, the packaging order (~ package number) of the medicine package 451 in which the tablet selected by the selection operation is packaged is displayed, and the user can easily grasp which package number of the medicine package 451 the tablet being checked is packaged in. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 changes the tablets displayed on the enlarged screen D33 according to the packaging order of the medicine package 451 in response to a predetermined user operation such as a flick operation in the vertical or horizontal direction on the enlarged screen D33. For example, when the tablets packaged in the 7th medicine package 451 are displayed on the enlarged screen D33, the tablets packaged in the 6th or 8th medicine package 451 are displayed in response to the predetermined user operation. Note that it is also conceivable that the control unit 21 sequentially displays only the tablets that are the cause of the error in response to the predetermined user operation. In addition, the control unit 21 may switch the medicine package 451 to be displayed in response to a flick operation in one of the vertical and horizontal directions on the enlarged screen D33, and switch the type of the tablet to be displayed to another tablet packaged in the same package in response to a flick operation in the other direction.

[0141] [Second display form of the inspection screen] Here, FIGS. 19 and 20 are diagrams showing an inspection details screen D302, which is another example of the inspection details screen D31. Note that FIG. 19 shows the inspection details screen D302 when the inspection result is appropriate, and FIG. 20 shows the inspection details screen D302 when an error has occurred in the inspection result.

[0142] As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, on the inspection details screen D302, the basic information area A311 and the inspection result area A313 similar to those on the inspection details screen D301 are displayed, and a dispensing details area A322 is displayed instead of the dispensing details area A312.

[0143] More specifically, in the dispensing details area A322 shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, similar to the dispensing details area A312, the drug name, type, result, and positive image are displayed. On the other hand, in the dispensing details area A322, different from the dispensing details area A312, only one image including the identification information of the tablet is displayed as the photographed image of the tablet. Thereby, the number of sub-packages that can be simultaneously displayed in the dispensing details area A322 can be increased. This is because generally, the identification information of the tablet can be confirmed when the outer peripheral surface of the drug is viewed from one direction, and in many cases, images of other outer peripheral surfaces are not required.

[0144] Also, when a selection operation is performed on the photographed image of the tablet displayed in the dispensing details area A322, as shown in FIG. 21, the control unit 21 can display an enlarged screen D34 for enlarging the photographed image of the tablet that is the target of the selection operation and displaying it as an enlarged image P341 on the client terminal 3. Further, in the enlarged screen D34, the control unit 21 can display an enlarged image P342 obtained by enlarging the image including the identification information among the positive images corresponding to the tablet that is the target of the selection operation together with the enlarged image P341. Note that the arrangement direction of the enlarged image P341 and the enlarged image P342 may be either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. Also, as the enlarged image P342, a plurality of images registered in advance as the positive images corresponding to the tablet that is the target of the selection operation may be displayed.

[0145] In addition, in the dispensing details area A322, it is also conceivable that the dosing date and dosing time are displayed together with the package number information such as the first package, the second package, etc. indicating the number of packages of the drug package 451, or instead of the package number information. Further, the control unit 21 may alternately switch and display a plurality of captured images of the tablets (for example, a front surface image and a back surface image) in response to a selection operation of the captured image of the tablets in the dispensing details area A322. Thereby, it is possible to confirm the state of the tablets viewed from a plurality of directions while suppressing the size of the display area during normal times.

[0146] Incidentally, as shown in FIGS. 16, 17, 19, and 20, in the inspection details screen D301 according to the first display form and the inspection details screen D302 according to the second display form, the control unit 21 arranges the captured images of the tablets corresponding to the plurality of drug packages 451 dispensed in a series of packaging processes in the order of the first package, the second package, etc. and displays them in units of packages. Here, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 can arbitrarily select a first arrangement (see FIG. 27) in which the drug packages 451 to be displayed are arranged for each dosing time and a second arrangement (see FIG. 28) in which they are arranged in the order of dosing date and dosing time according to a user operation or the like. Note that the control unit 21 switches the first arrangement and the second arrangement in response to a setting operation in the initial setting of, for example, the server 2 or the tablet packaging device 4.

[0147] For example, consider a case where, based on one record of the prescription data, the medicine packets 451 corresponding to nine times in the morning, noon, and night from July 1st to July 3rd are dispensed. In this case, in the first arrangement, as shown in FIG. 27, the photographed images of the tablets packed in the medicine packet 451 are arranged and displayed in the order of the morning of July 1st, the morning of July 2nd, the morning of July 3rd, the noon of July 1st, the noon of July 2nd, the noon of July 3rd, the night of July 1st, the night of July 2nd, and the night of July 3rd. On the other hand, in the second arrangement, as shown in FIG. 28, the photographed images of the tablets packed in the medicine packet 451 are arranged and displayed in the order of the morning of July 1st, the noon of July 1st, the night of July 1st, the morning of July 2nd, the noon of July 2nd, the night of July 2nd, the morning of July 3rd, the noon of July 3rd, and the night of July 3rd. Thereby, it is possible to change the display mode of the inspection detail screen D301 or D302 according to the operation in the medical institution where the inspection support system 1 is used, and a system configuration with excellent versatility is realized.

[0148] [Inspection Mode Switching Function] Incidentally, in the above embodiment, in the automatic inspection process of the tablet packing device 4, the suitability of all the tablets in the medicine packets 451 dispensed based on the prescription data is determined. On the other hand, in the tablet packing device 4, as an inspection mode in the automatic inspection process, a first inspection mode in which all the tablets in the medicine packets 451 are inspection targets and a second inspection mode in which tablets in a predetermined part of the medicine packets 451 are inspection targets can be considered. The control unit 21 switches the inspection mode in the automatic inspection process to either the first inspection mode or the second inspection mode in the initial setting of the tablet packing device 4 performed according to a user operation.

[0149] Here, it is conceivable that the inspection target in the second inspection mode is one or both of the first and last medicine packs 451 subcontracted based on the prescription data. Also, it is conceivable that the inspection target in the second inspection mode is one or both of the first and last medicine packs 451 corresponding to a change in the dosing pattern in the prescription data. Further, the inspection target in the second inspection mode may be the medicine pack 451 in which the supplier of the contained tablets is a preset supplier (for example, the manual dispensing unit 42 or a specific tablet cassette 41, etc.). For example, the second inspection mode is applied to the medicine pack 451 containing at least one type of tablet whose supplier is the manual dispensing unit 42 or the specific tablet cassette 41. In this way, it is possible to perform inspections without omission on only the medicine packs 451 that are particularly in need of inspection among the medicine packs 451, and it is possible to streamline the inspection work by pharmacists. By the way, the switching between the first inspection mode and the second inspection mode is not limited to the unit of the medicine pack 451, and may be a unit of a series of the medicine packs 451 subcontracted based on one prescription data.

[0150] In addition, in the second inspection mode, the case where tablets of some of the medicine packs 451 are the inspection target has been described as an example. On the other hand, as another example of the second inspection mode, when tablets are continuously dispensed from the same tablet cassette 41 in the subcontracting process based on the prescription data, it is conceivable that only the first tablet dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 is the inspection target. Also, as another example of the second inspection mode, for each type of various tablets dispensed in the subcontracting process based on the prescription data, it is conceivable that only the first tablet dispensed for each type is the inspection target.

[0151] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the tablet packaging device 4 includes a third inspection mode in which the presence or absence of the automatic inspection process is automatically switched by the control unit 40. In the third inspection mode, the automatic inspection process is not executed for the tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette 41 in the packaging process, and the automatic inspection process is executed for the tablets dispensed from the manual dispensing unit 42. Thereby, when the manual dispensing unit 42, which has a high risk of human error, is used, the automatic inspection process is executed to suppress dispensing errors, and when the manual dispensing unit 42 is not used and the tablet cassette 41 is used, the automatic inspection process is not executed and the required time for the packaging process is shortened. When the automatic inspection process is not executed, the photographing of the tablets by the camera 462 or 463 of the photographing unit 46 may be executed or may be omitted.

[0152] Also, in the third inspection mode, it is also conceivable that the inspection method is changed according to whether the manual dispensing unit 42 is used in the packaging process. For example, when at least one type of the tablets included in the prescription data targeted for the packaging process has a supply source of the manual dispensing unit 42, that is, when the manual dispensing unit 42 is used in the packaging process, the control unit 40 executes an image inspection process of collating the identification information of the tablets obtained from the photographed image with the prescription data as the automatic inspection process. Here, the control unit 40 when executing the image inspection process is an example of an image inspection processing unit. On the other hand, when the manual dispensing unit 42 is not used and the tablet cassette 41 is used in the packaging process, the control unit 40 executes a counting inspection process of collating the number of dispensed tablets with the prescription data. Here, the control unit 40 when executing the counting inspection process is an example of a counting inspection processing unit.

[0153] Specifically, in the tablet packaging device 4, the control unit 40 uses the passing detection sensor 475 to detect the number of tablets contained in each medicine pack 451. The control unit 40 when detecting the number of tablets using the passing detection sensor 475 is an example of a tablet number detection unit. The passing detection sensor 475 is arranged at a position where the tablets are detected at the timing before the tablets are discharged from the rotating unit 44 and accommodated in the medicine pack 451. That is, the control unit 40 detects the number of tablets using the passing detection sensor 475 on the downstream side in the tablet discharge direction from the position where the tablets are photographed by the cameras 462 and 463. For example, it is also conceivable that after the tablets are accommodated in the medicine pack 451, the medicine pack 451 is photographed by a camera or the like, and the control unit 40 detects the number of tablets accommodated in the medicine pack 451 from the photographed image. Then, the control unit 40 collates the number of tablets to be contained in the medicine pack 451 based on the prescription data with the number of tablets detected by the passing detection sensor 475.

[0154] Thereby, when the manual dispensing unit 42 which has a high risk of human error is used, the image inspection process is executed as the automatic inspection process, and dispensing errors are suppressed with high accuracy. On the other hand, when the manual dispensing unit 42 is not used and the tablet cassette 41 is used, the required time for the packaging process is shortened because the image inspection process is not executed, and dispensing errors are also suppressed because the counting inspection process is executed.

[0155] In addition, when a component such as the camera 462 or 463 used in the image inspection process malfunctions in the tablet packaging device 4, it is also conceivable that one of the inspection modes is a failure mode in which the counting inspection process is executed without executing the image inspection process as the automatic inspection process. For example, when a malfunction is detected in a component used in the image inspection process, the control unit 40 may display an operation screen for selecting whether to switch to the failure mode, and execute whether to switch to the failure mode according to a user operation. Thereby, even when a component for executing the image inspection process of the tablet packaging device 4 malfunctions, it is possible to execute the normal packaging process using the tablet packaging device 4. Note that the failure mode may be an inspection mode in which neither the image inspection process nor the counting inspection process is executed.

[0156] [Display change function when front and back surfaces are the same] By the way, on the inspection details screen D301, two captured images are displayed for each tablet, and on the inspection details screen D302, one captured image is displayed for each tablet. Therefore, when displaying images of tablets corresponding to the same number of the medicine packages 451, the size of each of the captured images is smaller on the inspection details screen D301 than on the inspection details screen D302.

[0157] On the other hand, even when the control unit 21 displays the inspection details screen D301, for tablets with the same identification information attached to the front and back surfaces, it is conceivable to have a display change function of enlarging one of the captured images of the front and back surfaces of the tablet within the area where the captured images of the front and back surfaces are displayed and displaying it on the inspection details screen D301.

[0158] For example, the control unit 21 determines whether the identification information on the front and back surfaces of the tablet is the same by comparing the identification information of the tablet obtained from the front and back surfaces of the tablet, respectively. Also, for each type of tablet, information on whether the front and back surfaces are the same is registered in advance in the pharmaceutical master, and it is also conceivable that the control unit 21 determines whether the front and back surfaces of the tablet are the same based on the drug information of the tablet included as the dispensing target in the prescription data and the pharmaceutical master.

[0159] According to such a configuration, when the identification information attached to the front and back surfaces of the tablet is the same, the captured image corresponding to either the front or back surface of the tablet is enlarged and displayed, so that the identification information of the tablet can be easily confirmed. Note that, for a tablet with different identification information attached to the front and back surfaces, the control unit 21 causes the captured images corresponding to both the front and back surfaces of the tablet to be displayed on the inspection details screen D301.

[0160] For example, among the tablets shown in FIGS. 16 and 19, etc., the "Cefalanthene Tablet 1 mg" has different identification information attached to the front and back surfaces, but for a tablet such as "Candesartan OD Tablet 2 mg", the identification information attached to the front and back surfaces is the same. Therefore, when the tablet to be sub-packaged is "Candesartan OD Tablet 2 mg", as shown in FIG. 29, only one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet is displayed on the inspection details screen D301. In the example shown in FIG. 29, in order to enable confirmation that the identification information on the front and back surfaces of the positive image of the tablet is the same, the positive images of both the front and back surfaces are displayed. On the other hand, it is also conceivable that only one of the front and back surfaces of the tablet is displayed for the positive image as well.

[0161] [Image display function at error time] As described above, in the inspection support system 1, the results of the automatic inspection process and the photographed images of the tablets are displayed on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302. Further, on the enlarged screen D33 or the enlarged screen D34, magnified photographs of the photographed images of the tablets contained in each medicine package can be displayed.

[0162] On the other hand, it is conceivable that the inspection support system 1 has an error-time image display function for displaying a plurality of types of photographed images of the tablets that are the target of the error, taken from different angles, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error. First, the case where the server 2 has the error-time image display function will be described below, and the case where the tablet packaging device 4 has the error-time image display function will be described later.

[0163] Specifically, in the server 2, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 21 can display, for each tablet, a plurality of photographed images corresponding to different outer peripheral surfaces of the tablet photographed for each tablet in the tablet packaging device 4, as the photographed images of the tablet that caused the error. Such display processing is executed by the inspection display processing unit 211 of the control unit 21.

[0164] Specifically, in the tablet packaging device 4, as described above, the imaging by the camera 462 and the camera 463 is performed at a preset imaging interval (for example, at intervals of several milliseconds). Therefore, as imaging images of the tablets rotating in the tablet rotating unit 441 provided in the rotating unit 44, a plurality of imaging images in which a plurality of different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablets are imaged are obtained. The imaging interval is an interval preset so that a plurality of different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablets are imaged by the camera 462 and the camera 463. In the automatic inspection process in which the identification information of the tablets read from the imaging images is used, the identification information of the tablets is read from any of the plurality of imaging images of the tablets imaged for each tablet, and it is determined whether the identification information matches the prescription data. For example, in the pharmaceutical master, identification information formed by engraving or printing for each tablet is registered. In the automatic inspection process, the drug name of the tablets is specified based on the pharmaceutical master and the identification information of the tablets read from the imaging images, and it is determined whether the drug name matches the drug name of the tablets included in the prescription data. In the automatic inspection process performed using the imaging images and the reference images, any of the plurality of imaging images of the tablets imaged for each tablet is compared with the reference image to determine whether they match or the degree of matching.

[0165] Then, when the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate, the control unit 40 transmits one or a plurality of imaging images including the original image when the identification information of the tablets is read from the tablets among the imaging images of the tablets taken by the camera 462 or the camera 463, or the original image compared with the reference image, together with the result of the automatic inspection process to the server 2. On the other hand, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 40 transmits a plurality of imaging images in which a plurality of different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablets are imaged among the imaging images of the tablets taken by the camera 462 or the camera 463, together with the result of the automatic inspection process to the server 2. Note that all the imaging images of each tablet may be transmitted from the tablet packaging device 4 to the server 2.

[0166] In addition, the errors in the automatic inspection process include a first error in which the tablet specified by the identification information included in the captured image does not match the tablet included in the prescription data, and a second error in which the identification information included in the captured image does not match the identification information of all the tablets registered in the pharmaceutical master. Therefore, for the tablets whose automatic inspection process result is the first error, the control unit 40 may transmit the captured image of the tablet when the identification information is read, or the captured image compared with the positive image to the server 2 in the same manner as when the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate. And for the tablets whose automatic inspection process result is the second error, the control unit 40 may transmit a plurality of captured images in which different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablet are captured among the captured images of the tablet to the server 2.

[0167] Thus, when the captured image is transmitted from the tablet packaging device 4 to the server 2, the control unit 21 can display one or a plurality of captured images of the tablet when displaying the inspection details screen D301 (see FIG. 17) or the inspection details screen D302 (see FIG. 20) on the display unit 24 of the server 2 or the display unit 34 of the client terminal 3. Note that the control unit 21 stores each of the captured images acquired from the tablet packaging device 4 in the storage unit 22 in association with the prescription data together with the result of the automatic inspection process.

[0168] Specifically, on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302, for tablets where the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate or a first error, the control unit 21 displays at least the captured image when the identification information of the tablet is read, or the captured image compared with the positive image. For tablets where the result of the automatic inspection process is a second error, it is conceivable to display any captured image of the tablet's captured images. For example, for tablets where the result of the automatic inspection process is a second error, the control unit 21 may display either or both of the first captured image and the last captured image among the captured images of the tablet. Also, for tablets where the result of the automatic inspection process is a second error, the control unit 21 may display a captured image containing identification information with a high degree of pattern matching with the identification information of the tablet among the captured images of the tablet, or display a captured image in which characters are detected among the captured images of the tablet, etc.

[0169] Further, on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302, when a user operation for selecting any of the captured images of the tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate is performed, the control unit 21 causes an enlarged image of the captured image of the tablet to be displayed on the enlarged screen D33 (see FIG. 18) and the enlarged screen D34 (see FIG. 21). Note that the user operation is, for example, an operation of selecting a captured image of a tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302.

[0170] On the other hand, when a user operation for selecting any one of the captured images of the tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error is performed on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302, the control unit 21 displays an error details screen D35 on which a plurality of captured images of the tablets are shown. Note that the user operation is, for example, an operation of selecting the captured image of the tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process is an error on the inspection details screen D301 or the inspection details screen D302. Also, for the tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is the first error, the control unit 21 may display the enlarged screen D33 or the enlarged screen D34 in the same manner as when the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate, instead of the error details screen D35.

[0171] In addition, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 21 may also display on the error details screen D35 whether the error is the first error or the second error. For example, when the result of the automatic inspection process is the first error, the control unit 21 may display on the error details screen D35 a message such as "drug type mistake" indicating that it is the first error, along with the drug name of the tablet corresponding to the identification information read from the captured image of the tablet. Also, when the result of the automatic inspection process is the second error, the control unit 21 may display on the error details screen D35 a message such as "unknown drug type" indicating that it is the second error.

[0172] Here, FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the error detail screen D35. As shown in FIG. 22, on the error detail screen D35, together with the drug name of the tablet selected on the inspection detail screen D301 or the inspection detail screen D302, a plurality of captured images P351 to P353 in which different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablet are captured are displayed as the captured image of the tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process was an error. At this time, the control unit 21 causes the error detail screen D35 to display a predetermined number of captured images continuously captured at the capture interval, or a plurality of captured images corresponding to a predetermined interval, among the plurality of captured images corresponding to the tablet, thereby displaying captured images of different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablet. In particular, for the tablet for which the result of the automatic inspection process is the first error, the control unit 21 may display one or a plurality of captured images including the captured image when the identification information was read, or the captured image compared with the positive image, on the error detail screen D35. Thereby, the pharmacist can determine the suitability by referring to, for example, the plurality of captured images of the tablets displayed on the error detail screen D35.

[0173] For example, rotation correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the rotation amount (rotation time) of the roller 100 in the tablet rotation unit 441 and the rotation amount of the tablet is stored in the storage unit 22, and it is conceivable that the control unit 21 selects a plurality of captured images in which different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablet are captured based on the rotation correspondence information and the imaging interval. Specifically, when imaging by the camera 462 or the camera 463 is performed every 1 ms, and it is known that the tablet rotates 10° every 10 ms in the rotation correspondence information, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 selects a plurality of captured images captured every 45 ms, or selects a plurality of captured images captured every 90 ms. Thereby, a plurality of captured images in which the posture of the tablet on the outer peripheral surface of the tablet differs every 45° or every 90° will be selected by the control unit 21. Further, in the tablet packaging device 4, when the imaging interval by the camera 462 or the camera 463 is 45 ms, the control unit 21 selects a plurality of consecutive captured images, so that a plurality of captured images in which the rotation angle of the tablet differs every 45° will be selected.

[0174] As described above, in the inspection support system 1, when an error is included in the result of the automatic inspection process, the control unit 21 can display the error detail screen D35 on which a plurality of captured images in which different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablet are captured are displayed. Therefore, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the pharmacist can grasp the reason for the error by referring to the plurality of captured images.

[0175] In the error details screen D35 shown in FIG. 22, three captured images P351 to P353 are displayed, but the number of captured images displayed on the error details screen D35 is not limited to this. For example, it is conceivable that two captured images of different regions of the outer peripheral surface of the tablet are displayed, or four or more captured images are displayed. Further, the control unit 21 may sequentially display a plurality of captured images of the tablet one by one or in plural in response to a flick operation in the left-right direction or the up-down direction on the error details screen D35. Note that a slide bar that can be slid in the left-right direction or the up-down direction is displayed on the error details screen D35, and the control unit 21 may sequentially display a plurality of captured images of the tablet one by one or in plural in response to the slide operation of the slide bar.

[0176] Further, when any one of the captured images displayed on the error details screen D35 is selected, the control unit 21 may display an enlarged screen D36 for enlarging and displaying the captured image. Here, FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the enlarged screen D36. Specifically, on the enlarged screen D36 shown in FIG. 23, similar to the enlarged screen D34 (see FIG. 18), a captured image P361 of the selected tablet and an enlarged image P362 of the positive image corresponding to the tablet are displayed side by side in the up-down direction or the left-right direction. Note that it is also conceivable that the enlarged image P362 is displayed together with the captured images P351 to P353 on the error details screen D35.

[0177] As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 21 includes a release processing unit 215 that can release the error about the tablet in response to a user operation performed after the display of the captured image of the tablet that caused the error in the automatic inspection process. Further, the release processing unit 215 can release the error and record the identification information of the user when the user operation is performed in association with the prescription data. Note that the control unit 21 functions as the release processing unit 215 by executing various processes according to the inspection support program.

[0178] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, an error release key K351 for releasing an error that is the result of the automatic inspection process is displayed on the error detail screen D35 and the enlarged screen D36. When the error release key K351 is operated, the control unit 21 releases the error occurring in the tablets in the currently displayed medicine pack among the results of the automatic inspection process of the prescription data. Thereby, when the pharmacist can confirm that there is no problem by referring to each of the photographed images of the tablets, for example, even if an error has occurred in the automatic inspection process for the prescription data, the pharmacist can operate the error release key K351 to normally end the inspection of the prescription data.

[0179] Further, when the error release key K351 is operated, the control unit 21 associates information indicating that the error has been released and the identification information (name or ID) of the pharmacist who is the currently logged-in user with the prescription data together with the result of the automatic inspection process and records the information in the storage unit 22. Thereby, the control unit 21 can output (display) information on the user who has released the error among the results of the automatic inspection process for the prescription data. Also, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 associates information such as the date and time when the error release key K351 was operated or a comment on the reason for releasing the error arbitrarily input with the prescription data together with the result of the automatic inspection process and records the information in the storage unit 22.

[0180] Note that when the error release key K351 is operated, it is also conceivable that the control unit 21 does not release the error but associates information indicating that a confirmation operation has been performed on the error (the judgment result of the user) and the identification information of the pharmacist who is the user who executed the confirmation operation with the prescription data together with the result of the automatic inspection process and records the information in the storage unit 22. Thereby, the control unit 21 can output (display) information such as the result of the automatic inspection process in the tablet packaging apparatus 4, the judgment result of the user as to whether there is a confirmation operation by the pharmacist, and the identification information of the pharmacist who performed the confirmation operation.

[0181] Incidentally, in the audit support system 1, the results of the automatic audit process for the prescription data and the data of the captured images are stored in the storage unit 22 of the server 2. Here, the control unit 21 may delete, at the end of the audit support process (see FIG. 7) (S26: Yes), the captured images of the tablets for which the error has been cleared by an operation such as the error release key K351, among the data of the captured images stored in the storage unit 22. Thereby, the storage capacity required to be secured in the storage unit 22 can be suppressed. Further, the control unit 21 may accumulate only one or a plurality of captured images arbitrarily selected by the user operation on the error details screen D35 among the captured images of the tablets for which the error has been cleared by an operation such as the error release key K351, and delete the other captured images in the storage unit 22.

[0182] Next, a case where the tablet packaging device 4 has the error-time image display function will be described. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the tablet packaging device 4 includes an operation display unit 48 such as a liquid crystal display and a touch panel, and a storage unit 49 such as a hard disk or an SSD. And the control unit 40 can display the inspection details screens D301, D302, the enlarged screens D34, D35, the error details screen D35, and the enlarged screen D36, etc. on the operation display unit 48, in the same manner as the control unit 21. That is, when the result of the automatic inspection process is an error, the control unit 40 can display, on the operation display unit 48, the error details screen D35 on which a plurality of captured images corresponding to different outer peripheral surfaces of the tablets captured for each tablet in the tablet packaging device 4 are displayed for each tablet, as the captured image of the tablet that caused the error. Here, the control unit 40 when executing such a process is an example of an inspection display processing unit.

[0183] In addition, for tablets whose result of the automatic inspection process is the first error, the control unit 40 may cause the operation display unit 48 to display a captured image of the tablet when the identification information is read, or a captured image of the tablet compared with the normal image, in the same manner as when the result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate. And for tablets whose result of the automatic inspection process is the second error, the control unit 40 may cause the operation display unit 48 to display a plurality of captured images in which different regions on the outer peripheral surface of the tablet are captured among the captured images of the tablet.

[0184] It is also conceivable that the control unit 40 sequentially displays the plurality of captured images of the tablet one by one or in multiple pieces in response to a flick operation in the left - right direction or up - down direction on the error details screen D35. Also, a slide bar that can be slid in the left - right direction or up - down direction is displayed on the error details screen D35, and it is also conceivable that the control unit 40 sequentially displays the plurality of captured images of the tablet one by one or in multiple pieces in response to the slide operation of the slide bar.

[0185] In addition, when the error release key K351 is operated, the control unit 40 associates the fact that the error has been released and the identification information (name or ID) of the pharmacist who is currently logged in to the tablet packaging device 4 with the result of the automatic inspection process and records them in the storage unit 49. Further, when transmitting the result of the automatic inspection process and the captured image of the tablet to the server 2, the control unit 40 also transmits the fact that the error has been released and the identification information of the pharmacist. Thereby, on the server 2, when the control unit 21 outputs (displays) the result of the automatic inspection process for the prescription data, it is possible to output (display) the fact that the error has been released and the identification information of the pharmacist, etc.

[0186] In addition, when the error release key K351 is operated, the control unit 40 may record, in the storage unit 49 in association with the prescription data, that a confirmation operation for the error has been performed without releasing the error, and identification information of the pharmacist who is the user who executed the confirmation operation, together with the result of the automatic inspection process. As a result, the control unit 40 can output (display) information such as the result of the automatic inspection process in the tablet packaging device 4, the presence or absence of a confirmation operation by the pharmacist, and the identification information of the pharmacist who performed the confirmation operation. For example, when the control unit 40 transmits the result of the automatic inspection process and the photographed image of the tablet to the server 2, it also transmits that a confirmation operation for the error has been performed and the identification information of the pharmacist.

[0187] In the tablet packaging device 4, the control unit 40 stores the result of the automatic inspection process for the prescription data and the data of the photographed image in the storage unit 49. Therefore, among the data of the photographed images stored in the storage unit 22, the control unit 21 may delete the photographed images of the tablets for which the result of the automatic inspection process is normal and the photographed images for which the error has been released by operating the error release key K351 or the like at the end of the inspection support process (see FIG. 7) (S26: Yes). Thereby, the storage capacity required to be secured in the storage unit 22 can be suppressed. It is also conceivable that the result of the automatic inspection process and the data of the photographed image are stored in either the storage unit 22 of the server 2 or the storage unit 49 of the tablet packaging device 4, and the result of the automatic inspection process and the data of the photographed image are deleted in the other at the end of the inspection support process.

[0188] [Printing Inspection Function] In the tablet packaging device 4, the printing unit 453 may print character information such as the patient's name, administration time, drug name, or prescribed dose on the medicine package 451. Further, a medicine inspection code for determining the appropriateness of the packaging process when the medicine package 451 is packaged may be printed on the medicine package 451 in a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code. On the other hand, it is conceivable that the tablet packaging device 4 has a printing inspection function for automatically inspecting whether the printing on the medicine package 451 by the printing unit 453 is performed normally.

[0189] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the tablet packaging device 4 includes an image reading unit 50 that reads an image of the medicine package 451. The image reading unit 50 is disposed on the downstream side in the moving direction of the medicine package 451 in the packaging unit 45 relative to the position where the printing on the medicine package 451 is performed by the printing unit 453. More specifically, the image reading unit 50 is provided on the downstream side in the moving direction of the medicine package 451 relative to the position where the printing on the medicine package 451 is performed by the printing unit 453, and at a position before the tablets are accommodated in the medicine package 451. Note that the image reading unit 50 may be provided at a position after the tablets are accommodated in the medicine package 451.

[0190] The image reading unit 50 includes an image sensor such as a CCD or CIS that reads an image from the medicine package 451. Then, based on the image read by the image reading unit 50, the control unit 40 acquires the character information printed on the medicine package 451 by a well-known character recognition process (OCR) or the like. Further, when the inspection medicine code is included in the image read by the image reading unit 50, the control unit 40 reads inspection medicine information from the inspection medicine code.

[0191] After that, the control unit 40 collates the character information or inspection drug information, which is the printed content of the medicine package 451 read by the image reading unit 50, with the character information or inspection drug information that should be printed on the medicine package 451. Then, if the collation result does not match, the control unit 40 displays this fact on the operation display unit 48 to notify the user, and records it in the storage unit 49 as the result of the printing inspection process in association with the prescription data. Thereby, it is possible to automatically detect printing omission or printing mistakes on the medicine package 451, and it is possible to support the inspection work of the printed content of the medicine package 451 by a pharmacist.

[0192] Note that the collation process of the printed content is not limited to the tablet packaging device 4, and may be executed on the server 2. Specifically, the image of the medicine package 451 read by the image reading unit 50 is input from the tablet packaging device 4 to the server 2. Then, the control unit 21 of the server 2 determines the propriety of the information printed on the medicine package 451 based on the image of the medicine package 451 read by the image reading unit 50 in the tablet packaging device 4 and the prescription data.

[0193] [Drug reuse function] Regarding the medicine package 451 containing tablets for which the inspection result by the automatic inspection process executed in the tablet packaging device 4 is an error, it is necessary to re-execute the packaging process in the tablet packaging device 4. At this time, when a plurality of tablets are contained in the medicine package 451 and the inspection result by the automatic inspection process is an error only for some of the tablets, the tablets with proper inspection results will be discarded uselessly. Or, it is necessary to return the tablets with proper inspection results to the tablet cassette 41 corresponding to the tablets. Therefore, when a plurality of tablets are contained in the medicine package 451 and the inspection result by the automatic inspection process is an error only for some of the tablets, the tablet packaging device 4 may have a drug reuse function that can support the reuse of the tablets with proper inspection results in the re-execution of the packaging process.

[0194] Specifically, when the control unit 40 re-executes the sub-packaging process for the medicine package 451 containing tablets with an inspection result of error, it determines whether the already sub-packaged medicine package 451 contains tablets with an appropriate inspection result. And when the control unit 40 determines that the medicine package 451 contains tablets with an appropriate inspection result, it causes the operation display unit 48 to display a guidance notification prompting the input of those tablets into the manual scattering unit 42. For example, in the guidance notification, guidance on which tablets among the tablets contained in the medicine package 451 should be input to which position is displayed by an image, characters, or the like.

[0195] Then, when re-executing the sub-packaging process for the medicine package 451, the control unit 40 executes the sub-packaging process using the tablets scattered into the manual scattering unit 42. Thereby, the tablets with an appropriate inspection result can be effectively utilized without being wasted, and the work for the user to return the tablets to the tablet cassette 41 is also unnecessary. Note that for tablets of the type with an inappropriate inspection result, when there is a corresponding tablet cassette 41 for those tablets, they are supplied from the tablet cassette 41. On the other hand, when there is no tablet cassette 41 corresponding to the type of tablets with an inappropriate inspection result, in the guidance notification, it is displayed that the tablets should be input into the manual scattering unit 42 together with the tablets with an appropriate inspection result, and the sub-packaging process is executed using the manual scattering unit 42.

[0196] Incidentally, even when the sub-packaging process is re-executed, the control unit 40 executes the automatic inspection process and transmits the inspection result and the captured image of the automatic inspection process to the server 2. In this case, on the server 2, the control unit 21 will display the inspection result of the automatic inspection process for the re-executed sub-packaging process on the inspection detail screen D31, D301, D302, or the like. For example, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 can sequentially switch and display the inspection results of the automatic inspection processes executed in the past for the same prescription data automatically or in response to a user operation on the inspection detail screen D31, D301, D302, or the like.

[0197] In addition, it is also conceivable that the control unit 21 rewrites and displays the inspection result of the latest automatic inspection process only for the tablets for which the subcontracting process has been re-executed among the inspection results of the past automatic inspection processes. Even in this case, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 accumulates and stores the inspection results of the automatic inspection process for the same prescription data in the storage unit 22. Thereby, it is possible to refer to the history of the inspection results of the automatic inspection process in the server 2.

[0198] [Capsule Image Processing Function] When the tablets dispensed in the subcontracting process are capsule tablets, the automatic inspection process is executed based on the identification information attached to the left and right capsule pieces constituting the capsule tablets. However, when there is identification information engraved or printed on the left and right capsule pieces constituting the capsule tablets, the position of the identification information may be shifted in the circumferential direction.

[0199] Therefore, it is conceivable that the control unit 40 has a capsule image processing function of acquiring a photographed image (divided image) of each of the capsule pieces of the capsule tablet in the automatic inspection process when the tablet is a capsule tablet.

[0200] Specifically, the control unit 40 determines whether the tablet is a capsule tablet according to the transition of the area of the tablet in a plurality of the photographed images in which the tablet is photographed. For example, when the ratio of the maximum value and the minimum value of the area of the tablet in each of the photographed images is equal to or less than a preset threshold value, that is, when the change amount of the area of the tablet is extremely small, it is conceivable to determine that the tablet is a capsule tablet. Also, when there is a line segment that divides the tablet in the image of the tablet in each of the photographed images, or when the colors of the left and right images of the tablet are different, it is also conceivable that the tablet is determined to be a capsule tablet. Note that the control unit 40 may determine whether the tablet is a capsule tablet based on the pharmaceutical master or the drug database.

[0201] When the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is a capsule tablet, it divides the image of the capsule tablet in each of the captured images into each of the capsule pieces to obtain a divided image. For example, the divided image is an image obtained by dividing the captured image along a line segment indicating the boundary line between the capsule pieces or along the center of the capsule tablet. After that, in the automatic inspection process, the control unit 40 collates the suitability of the capsule tablet based on the divided images of each of the capsule pieces. Specifically, in the pharmaceutical master, a divided positive image that is divided into two parts on the left and right as the positive image of the capsule tablet, or a divided positive image that is divided into four parts on the top, bottom, left, and right is stored. It is conceivable that the control unit 40 collates the divided positive image for each of the divided images obtained by dividing the captured image of the capsule tablet into two parts on the left and right, or into four parts on the top, bottom, left, and right. In addition, the identification information of the tablets included in the divided images may be individually read and compared with the identification information of the tablets included in the divided positive images to collate the suitability of the capsule tablets.

[0202] In addition, the control unit 40 transmits, to the server 2, at least the divided image compared with the divided positive image among the divided images of each of the capsule pieces, or the divided image when the identification information is read, together with the result of the automatic inspection process. Then, in the server 2, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 synthesizes the divided images each including the identification information of each of the capsule pieces of the capsule tablet as the captured image of the capsule tablet to generate a single synthesized image, and displays the synthesized image on the inspection details screen D302. Thereby, the user can confirm the identification information of each of the capsule pieces of the capsule tablet on the inspection details screen D302 by the synthesized image.

[0203] In addition, when two images are displayed as in the inspection details screen D301, it is also conceivable that the control unit 21 displays, on the inspection details screen D301, the image of the capsule tablet where the identification information on the right side of the capsule tablet exists and the image of the capsule tablet where the identification information on the left side of the capsule tablet exists.

[0204] By the way, when the tablets dispensed in the subcontracting process are capsule tablets, it is conceivable that the characters of the identification information are formed along the circumferential direction of the capsule tablets. Here, FIG. 61A is a diagram showing an example of a photographed image of a capsule tablet in which the characters “Altatt 75” and “TZ321” are formed along the circumferential direction as the characters of the identification information on the left and right capsule pieces, respectively. As shown in FIG. 61A, in each of the photographed images of the capsule tablets, only a part of the characters of the identification information of the capsule tablets appears.

[0205] Therefore, for the capsule tablets in which the characters of the identification information are formed along the circumferential direction, the control unit 40 may generate a composite image by combining a plurality of photographed images corresponding to different positions in the circumferential direction of the capsule tablets, and determine the suitability of the capsule tablets using the composite image. This will be described below. Here, it is assumed that the pharmaceutical master stores a divided positive image including the character “Altatt 75” and a divided positive image including the character “TZ321” as the identification information corresponding to each capsule piece of the capsule tablets.

[0206] Specifically, the control unit 40 executes distortion correction processing, combined feature point extraction processing, image combination processing, and boundary removal processing, etc. on a plurality of photographed images of the capsule tablets photographed by the camera 462 or 463 in the subcontracting process.

[0207] First, since the capsule tablet is columnar, in the captured image of the capsule tablet, the characters of the identification information are distorted at the end in the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the capsule tablet. Therefore, in the distortion correction process, the control unit 40 corrects the distortion of the characters of the identification information by expanding each of the captured images in the short direction of the capsule tablet. More specifically, the shrinkage degree of the characters of the identification information in the short direction increases as it gets closer to the end from the center in the short direction of the capsule tablet. Therefore, in the distortion correction process, the control unit 40 performs the correction process of the captured image so that the expansion degree of the characters of the identification information in the short direction increases as it gets closer to the end from the center in the short direction of the capsule tablet according to the preset weighting based on the diameter of the capsule tablet or the like. For example, the control unit 40 may set target points at gradually narrowing intervals from the center to the end in the short direction of the capsule tablet in the captured image, and then expand the captured image so that the target points are equally spaced. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 61B, a captured image with the distortion of the characters of the identification information corrected is obtained.

[0208] Next, in the combined feature point extraction process, the control unit 40 trims an image of a preset necessary range including the identification information from each of the captured images after the distortion correction process, and extracts feature points for synthesizing each of the trimmed captured images. Then, in the image combining process, the control unit 40 generates a composite image by sequentially overlapping and synthesizing each of the captured images based on the feature points. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 61C, a composite image in which each of the captured images is combined is obtained. Further, in the boundary removal process, the control unit 40 performs a process for removing the boundary line generated by the combination of the captured images from the composite image. For example, in the boundary removal process, the boundary line is removed using a well-known gradient domain method. Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 61D, a captured image with the distortion of the characters of the identification information corrected is obtained.

[0209] Then, the control unit 40 determines the suitability of the capsule tablets by executing the image inspection process using the composite image as the captured image. Specifically, the control unit 40 extracts character regions (for example, regions A41 and A42 in FIG. 61D) from the composite image, and determines the suitability of the characters of the identification information by performing a matching process between each image of the character regions and the divided correct image. As a result, in the tablet packaging apparatus 4, it becomes possible to determine the suitability of the capsule tablets by the image inspection process even for capsule tablets having characters of identification information formed in the circumferential direction.

[0210] [Omission display function] Also, when the control unit 21 determines that at least one of the captured images of the tablets on the inspection details screen D301 does not contain the identification information of the tablets, it is conceivable to have an omission display function that omits the display of that captured image and enlarges and displays the other captured image. In particular, it is conceivable to exclude information of preset specific identification information from each of the captured images of the tablets on the inspection details screen D301 and determine the presence or absence of the identification information in each of the captured images.

[0211] Specifically, in the pharmaceutical master, it is conceivable that the manufacturer name or logo of the tablets is set as the information of the specific identification information and stored in the storage unit 22. On the other hand, the control unit 21 acquires, as the identification information of the tablets, information excluding the information of the specific identification information from the identification information of the tablets acquired from the captured image of the tablets. As a result, when only the specific identification information is included in the captured image of the tablets, the identification information of the tablets cannot be acquired from the captured image of the tablets.

[0212] Then, when the control unit 21 includes identification information in the photographed images of the front and back surfaces of the tablet on the inspection details screen D301, it displays the photographed images of the front and back surfaces. On the other hand, when the control unit 21 does not include identification information in either one of the photographed images of the front and back surfaces of the tablet on the inspection details screen D301, it omits the display of the photographed image that does not include the identification information and displays only the photographed image that includes the identification information. At this time, the control unit 21 enlarges and displays the photographed image within the area where the photographed images of the front and back surfaces are displayed. Note that when only the specific identification information exists on both the front and back surfaces of the tablet, only the photographed image of either the front or back surface of the tablet is enlarged and displayed.

[0213] Accordingly, when only the specific identification information exists on either the front or back surface of the tablet, the display of the photographed image of the surface where only the specific identification information exists is omitted and the photographed image of the other surface is enlarged, so that the pharmacist can easily confirm the identification information of the tablet.

[0214] [Information registration function] In the inspection support system 1, images of various tablets pre-registered in the pharmaceutical master are used for collation and result display in the automatic inspection process. By the way, for new drugs and the like not registered in the pharmaceutical master, it is necessary to appropriately register information such as images of the new drugs in the pharmaceutical master. Therefore, the inspection support system 1 has an information registration function in which the tablet packaging device 4 supports a registration operation for registering the identification information and shape information of the tablet in the pharmaceutical master. Note that the information of the pharmaceutical master registered in the tablet packaging device 4 is also transmitted to the server 2 and used by the server 2 as well.

[0215] Specifically, the information registration function is realized by the information registration process being executed by the control unit 40. In the information registration process, identification information of the tablet is obtained from a captured image that satisfies preset conditions among a plurality of captured images of the tablet, and the identification information of the tablet is registered in the pharmaceutical master or the like as collation source data corresponding to the type of the tablet. Specifically, the collation source data includes, as the positive image, an image of the tablet including at least the area of the identification information of the tablet among the captured images, and in the image inspection process, the suitability of the tablet is determined by collating the positive image with the captured image. Further, the identification information of the tablet registered as the positive image may be an image of the entire area of the captured image, not limited to an image of a partial area including the identification information in the captured image. Note that the control unit 40 when executing the information registration process is an example of a registration processing unit.

[0216] Here, FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the information registration process executed by the control unit 40. For example, the control unit 40 can execute the information registration process as part of the initial setting process in the tablet packaging apparatus 4. Further, when the information of the tablet included in the prescription data to be subjected to the packaging process is not registered in the pharmaceutical master, or when the inspection result by the automatic inspection process is an error, etc., it is conceivable that the control unit 40 executes the information registration process in response to a user's execution request or automatically.

[0217] <Step S31> First, in step S31, the control unit 40 executes a process of obtaining a plurality of captured images of the outer periphery of the tablet captured from different directions. Specifically, the control unit 40 dispenses the tablet from the tablet cassette 41 or the hand dispensing unit 42 in which the tablet to be registered is accommodated. Then, the control unit 40, in the same manner as when executing the packaging process, captures the state in which the tablet is being rotated by the rotation unit 44 a plurality of times using the cameras 462 and 463 of the imaging unit 46. Here, the control unit 40 when executing such an imaging process is an example of an imaging processing unit.

[0218] More specifically, before photographing the tablet, the control unit 40 causes the operation display unit 48 to display a selection screen for selecting whether the identification information of the tablet is formed on the tablet by either engraving or printing. Next, the control unit 40 specifies whether the identification information of the tablet is either engraved or printed according to the user's selection operation on the operation display unit 48. Here, the control unit 40 when executing such a specifying process is an example of a specifying unit. In addition, when a tablet to be registered is designated by a user operation from among the drug databases, and the formation method of the identification information of the tablet is registered in the drug databases, the control unit 40 can also specify whether the identification information of the tablet is engraved or printed based on the drug databases.

[0219] Then, the control unit 40 selects either the first photographing unit including the camera 462 and the lighting device 468 or the second photographing unit including the camera 463 and the lighting device 469 according to the formation method of the identification information, and photographs the tablet. Specifically, when it is specified that the identification information of the tablet is engraved, photographing of the tablet is executed using the first photographing unit suitable for the engraving, and when it is specified that the identification information of the tablet is printed, photographing of the tablet is executed using the second photographing unit suitable for the printing. In this way, when registering the positive image as the collation source data, the control unit 40 selects the first photographing unit or the second photographing unit suitable for the formation method (engraving or printing) of the identification information of the tablet and photographs the tablet. Therefore, a positive image registered in the pharmaceutical master as the collation source data of the tablet is acquired from a photographed image in which the identification information of the tablet is clearly photographed. Thereby, in the image inspection process, the accuracy of the matching process performed using the positive image is improved.

[0220] Incidentally, if the subcontracting process has already been executed and a plurality of the captured images of the tablets have been acquired in the automatic inspection process, the control unit 40 may read from the storage unit 49 the plurality of the captured images corresponding to the tablets as the captured images of the tablets to be registered. That is, the control unit 40 can register the information of the tablets in the pharmaceutical master not only when the information registration process is executed before the execution of the subcontracting process but also as a series of processes during the execution of the subcontracting process. In this case, the control unit 40 causes the tablets to be photographed by both of the cameras 462 and 463 in the subcontracting process, and it is conceivable to read, as the captured images of the tablets to be registered, the captured images photographed by the camera 462 or 463 suitable for the engraving or printing selected by the user operation as described above.

[0221] By the way, when the captured image of the tablet is acquired in step S31, in the tablet rotating unit 441 of the rotating unit 44, the tablet may rotate in a state where the side surface of the tablet faces the camera 462 or 463 (hereinafter referred to as "vertical rotation state"). In this case, the front or back surface of the tablet where the identification information of the tablet exists is not photographed by the camera 462 or 463. Therefore, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the tablet is in the vertical rotation state, and if it is in the vertical rotation state, executes a process for applying vibration to the tablet to change the orientation of the tablet. Note that the control unit 40 executes the same process not only in the information registration process but also when photographing the tablet using the camera 462 or 463 during the execution of the subcontracting process.

[0222] Specifically, when the photographing of the photographed image of the tablet is executed in step S31, it is determined whether the tablet is rotating in the vertical rotation state based on the photographed image by the camera 462 or 463. Here, the control unit 40 when executing such processing is an example of a tablet determination processing unit. For example, the control unit 40 determines whether the aspect ratio of the tablet in a predetermined number or more of the photographed images among the plurality of photographed images is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio set in advance. Specifically, when the predetermined number is 5 and the predetermined ratio is 1.2, the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is rotating in the vertical rotation state when the vertical / horizontal value of the tablet in 5 or more of the photographed images is 1.2 or more. When the camera 462 or 463 is disposed at a position where the tablet rotation unit 441 is photographed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary roller 100, the lateral direction of the tablet is parallel to the axial direction of the rotary roller 100, and the longitudinal direction of the tablet is a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the rotary roller 100 and the camera 462 or 463 and the axial direction of the rotary roller 100.

[0223] Then, when the control unit 40 determines that the tablet is rotating in the vertical rotation state, it executes processing for applying vibration to the tablet placed on the tablet rotation unit 441 to change the orientation of the tablet. Here, the control unit 40 when executing such processing is an example of a vibration application processing unit. Specifically, the rotation unit 44 or the tablet rotation unit 441 is provided with a vibration application unit that applies vibration to the tablet by applying vibration to the rotation unit 44 or the tablet rotation unit 441, and the control unit 40 can drive the vibration application unit so that the tablet falls. The vibration application unit, for example, applies vibration in the axial direction of the rotary roller 100 to the tablet rotation unit 441. Also, the control unit 40 can execute a rocking process of reciprocating the rotation unit 44 by a predetermined width using the unit rotation unit 442 of the rotation unit 44. As a result, the tablet is toppled in the tablet rotation unit 441 and the orientation of the tablet is changed, and the front and back surfaces of the tablet are photographed by the camera 462 or 463.

[0224] Thus, in step S31, the operation of changing the orientation of the tablet using the vibration unit may be performed. Until a captured image necessary for acquiring the captured images of the front and back surfaces of the tablet is captured, the control unit 40 does not execute the rotation operation of each of the tablet rotation units 441 by the rotation unit 442 to the next process. Then, when it is determined based on the captured image by the camera 462 or 463 that the tablet is not rotating in the vertical rotation state, and when a preset number or more of captured images are acquired, the control unit 40 ends the capturing and executes the rotation operation of each of the tablet rotation units 441 by the rotation unit 442 to the next process. Note that when the control unit 40 determines based on the captured image by the camera 462 or 463 that the tablet is rotating in the vertical rotation state, it is also conceivable to notify an error and interrupt the process.

[0225] <Step S32> Each time the control unit 40 executes step S32, among the plurality of captured images corresponding to the tablet, the captured images to be processed in steps S33 to S35 are sequentially selected. Then, in steps S33 to S35, various processes are executed on the captured image selected in step S32.

[0226] <Step S33> In step S33, the control unit 40 identifies the tablet area where the tablet exists from the captured image. For example, when the color of the rotating roller 100 provided in the tablet rotation unit 441 is black, the background area of the tablet in the captured image becomes black. In this case, the control unit 40 can acquire the area excluding black in the captured image as the tablet area. Specifically, the control unit 40 uses the black color of the rotating roller 100 in the captured image as a reference color (threshold value), and acquires the area with a lighter color than the reference color as the tablet area. For example, the reference color is represented by the component values of R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

[0227] <Step S34> In step S34, the control unit 40 obtains the area value of the tablet region specified from the captured image. When a plurality of the tablet regions are specified in step S33, the control unit 40 selects the circumscribed region of the tablet region having the largest area value among the tablet regions as the tablet region corresponding to the tablet.

[0228] <Step S35> In step S35, the control unit 40 obtains an index value such as an average value or a deviation value of gray values in the tablet region. The gray value is a value when the color of each pixel included in a grayscale image is expressed in a plurality of gradations such as 256 gradations or 65536 gradations from white to black. For example, "0" of the gray value is white, and "255" of the gray value is black. Also, "255" of the gray value is white, and "0" of the gray value is black.

[0229] Specifically, when the captured image is a color image, the control unit 40 converts the captured image into a grayscale image and obtains the index value of the gray value of the tablet region of the converted captured image. The index value is used to extract identification information such as printed characters or markings in the tablet region.

[0230] For example, in the tablet region, it is considered that the ratio of the area occupied by the identification information on the front or back surface of the tablet is small. Therefore, for example, when "0" of the gray value is white and "255" of the gray value is black, and the color of the tablet is closer to black than the identification information, the average value of the gray value is larger than the gradation value of the identification information. Therefore, when the average value of the gray value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 40 can extract a region having a gray value smaller than the average value in the tablet region as the identification information.

[0231] Also, for example, if "0" of the gray value is white, "255" of the gray value is black, and the color of the tablet is closer to white than the identification information, the average value of the gray value will be smaller than the gradation value of the identification information. Therefore, when the average value of the gray value is less than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 40 can extract, as the identification information, an area of the tablet region where the gray value is greater than the average value.

[0232] <Step S36> In step S36, the control unit 40 determines whether or not the processing of steps S33 to S35 has been completed for all the captured images corresponding to the tablet. Here, if it is determined that the processing has been completed (S36: Yes), the processing proceeds to step S37, and if it is determined that the processing has not been completed (S36: No), the processing proceeds to step S32.

[0233] <Step S37> In step S37, the control unit 40 specifies, as registration images, one or more captured images among the plurality of captured images corresponding to the tablet that include the identification information of the tablet. When the tablet is a flat tablet, in step S37, the registration images are specified for each of the front and back surfaces of the tablet. As described above, the control unit 40 may determine, as the front surface image, the odd-numbered captured images among the plurality of captured images specified as the captured images f4 or f8 that capture the front and back surfaces of the tablet as shown in FIG. 24A, and determine the even-numbered captured images as the back surface images. Then, the processing of steps S38 to S39 described later is executed for each of the one or more registration images corresponding to the front surface of the tablet and the one or more registration images corresponding to the back surface of the tablet.

[0234] For example, the control unit 40 acquires the amount of edges included in the tablet region of each of the captured images, and identifies the reference captured image with the largest amount of edges among the captured images as the registration image. Note that the amount of edges is obtained by counting the number of edges where the difference in gradation values of adjacent pixels is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value. Thereafter, when there is a captured image among the plurality of captured images whose ratio of the amount of edges of the captured image to the amount of edges of the reference captured image is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value (for example, 80% or 90%), the control unit 40 also identifies that captured image as the registration image.

[0235] Note that the control unit 40 may register the reference captured image as the correct image of the tablet in the pharmaceutical master. Further, the reference captured image registered as the correct image is transmitted by the control unit 40 to the server 2 and is also registered in the pharmaceutical master stored in the storage unit 22 of the server 2. Thereby, the server 2 can display the reference captured image as the correct image in the inspection support process.

[0236] In addition, as another embodiment, it is also conceivable that the control unit 40 registers, in the pharmaceutical master, the captured image selected by a user operation among the plurality of captured images corresponding to the tablet as the correct image. For example, in step S37, the control unit 40 causes the operation display unit 48 to display the plurality of captured images corresponding to the tablet, accepts the selection of the captured image by a user operation using the operation display unit 48, and registers the captured image in the pharmaceutical master.

[0237] Furthermore, when the control unit 40 registers the positive image in the pharmaceutical master in step S37, it is conceivable to register the correct orientation of the positive image specified by a user operation in the pharmaceutical master. Specifically, in step S37, the control unit 40 causes the operation display unit 48 to display the captured image to be registered as the positive image, and accepts the designation of the upward position (correct orientation of the identification information) in the captured image by a user operation using the operation display unit 48. Then, the control unit 40 rotates the captured image so that the upward position specified by the user operation is at the top, and registers it as the positive image in the pharmaceutical master. That is, the correct position is indicated as the upward position in the positive image according to the orientation of the positive image which is the collation source data. As a result, by registering the positive image rotated so that the upward position in the captured image is at the top as the collation source data in the pharmaceutical master, the control unit 40 can collate the positive image and the captured image in a state where the orientation of the identification information included in the positive image is correct, and determine the appropriateness of the identification information in the image inspection process. Note that it is also conceivable that the control unit 40 registers the captured image as the positive image without rotating it, and registers information such as coordinates indicating the upward position in association with the positive image as part of the collation source data. Thus, even when information indicating the upward position in the positive image is registered in the pharmaceutical master as part of the collation source data, the control unit 40 can collate the positive image and the captured image in a state where the orientation of the identification information included in the positive image is correct, and determine the appropriateness of the identification information in the image inspection process.

[0238] It is also conceivable that the initial correct image of the tablet, in which the identification information of the tablet is photographed in the correct orientation, is stored in advance in the drug database. In this case, the control unit 40 may determine the upward position (correct orientation of the identification information) in the correct image based on the initial correct image stored in the drug database, rather than the user operation. For example, the control unit 40 executes a matching process of gradually rotating the correct image and comparing the correct image in each rotation state with the initial correct image. Then, the control unit 40 determines that the state in which the difference between the correct image and the initial correct image is the smallest is the correct state of the correct image according to the comparison result between the correct image and the initial correct image, and registers the correct image in that state in the pharmaceutical master. Further, it is also conceivable that the control unit 40 registers the correct image without rotating the photographed image as the correct image according to the comparison result between the correct image and the initial correct image, and registers information such as coordinates indicating the upward position in association with the correct image as part of the collation source data. Note that the control unit 40 can register the information registered in the drug database as the initial information of the pharmaceutical master, and for tablets not subject to registration in the information registration process, it is also conceivable that the initial correct image in the drug database is registered in the pharmaceutical master as the correct image.

[0239] <Step S38> In step S38, the control unit 40 specifies the shape of the tablet based on the registration image and creates data of a tablet model corresponding to the shape. The data of the tablet model includes information used to specify the shape of the tablet, such as the height, width, and area value of the tablet. The data of the tablet model also includes information such as the position and range of the identification information included in the tablet.

[0240] In particular, the control unit 40 registers the information on the front and back surfaces of the tablet separately in the tablet model. Specifically, the control unit 40 creates a tablet model corresponding to the front surface of the tablet based on one or more of the registration images corresponding to the front surface extracted in step S37, and creates a tablet model corresponding to the back surface of the tablet based on one or more of the registration images corresponding to the back surface extracted in step S37. Then, the data of the tablet model is used, for example, to verify the suitability of the shape or size of the tablet in the automatic inspection process, or to identify the area where the identification information of the tablet exists in the captured image in the automatic inspection process.

[0241] In addition, when a plurality of the registration images are specified in step S37, it is also conceivable that the control unit 40 acquires information such as the position and range of the identification information in the tablet based on the plurality of registration images. For example, a value obtained by averaging the values indicating the position and range of the identification information specified based on each of the registration images is created as the tablet model. Also, the tablet model may be created in consideration of a preset weighting corresponding to the ratio of the edge amount of the registration image to the edge amount of the reference captured image for the values indicating the position and range of the identification information specified based on each of the registration images. Thereby, the control unit 40 can create a highly accurate tablet model even when there is a defect or the like in the identification information in a part of the registration image.

[0242] <Step S39> In step S39, the control unit 40 acquires the identification information of the tablet from the reference captured image or the registration image, and registers it in the pharmaceutical master in association with the pharmaceutical identification information such as the drug name or drug code indicating the type of the tablet. As a result, the identification information of the tablet obtained by this information registration process is registered in the pharmaceutical master as the collation source data of the identification information of the tablet in the automatic inspection process. For example, the control unit 40 acquires the identification information on the surface of the tablet based on one or more of the registration images corresponding to the surface, and acquires the identification information on the back surface of the tablet based on one or more of the registration images corresponding to the back surface.

[0243] <Step S40> In step S40, the control unit 40 acquires the minimum value and the maximum value of the area value of the tablet from one or more of the registration images. For example, the minimum value and the maximum value of the area value of the tablet are used to acquire the tablet area from the captured image in the automatic inspection process, or are used to calculate the circumference of the tablet. Note that the minimum value and the maximum value of the area value of the tablet may be acquired from a plurality of the captured images, not limited to the registration images.

[0244] <Step S41> In step S41, the control unit 40 acquires the minimum value and the maximum value of each color component of the tablet from one or more of the registration images. For example, the control unit 40 acquires the minimum value and the maximum value for each color component of RGB. Note that the minimum value and the maximum value of each color component of the tablet may be acquired from a plurality of the captured images, not limited to the registration images.

[0245] <Step S42> In step S42, the control unit 40 registers the shape information of the tablet, which is the processing target of the information registration process, in the pharmaceutical master in association with the pharmaceutical identification information such as the drug name or drug code indicating the type of the tablet. Specifically, the shape information of the tablet includes the height, width, and area value of the tablet specified in step S38, the minimum and maximum values of the area value of the tablet acquired in step S39, and the minimum and maximum values of each color component of the tablet acquired in step S40.

[0246] When the shape information of the tablet is registered in the pharmaceutical master in this way, in the tablet packaging device 4, it is conceivable that the control unit 40 determines the suitability of the tablet based on the photographed image of the tablet and the shape information of the tablet in the automatic inspection process. More specifically, in the automatic inspection process, the control unit 40 collates the shape of the tablet included in the photographed image with the shape of the tablet included in the tablet model corresponding to the tablet included in the prescription data. Then, when the collation result of the shape of the tablet based on the tablet model is a match, the control unit 40 subsequently collates the identification information of the tablet included in the photographed image with the identification information of the tablet registered in the information registration process.

[0247] On the other hand, when the collation result of the shape of the tablet based on the tablet model is inconsistent, the control unit 40 determines that it is an error as the inspection result of the automatic inspection process without determining the suitability of the tablet based on the identification information included in the photographed image. That is, in the automatic inspection process, the determination of the suitability of the tablet based on the identification information of the tablet is executed only when the collation result of the shape of the tablet is appropriate. Therefore, in the tablet packaging device 4, it is possible to omit as much as possible the processes with large loads such as the process of acquiring the identification information from the photographed image and the collation of the tablet based on the identification information.

[0248] [Device Selection Function] As described above, a plurality of the tablet packaging devices 4 may be connected to the inspection support system 1. Therefore, the control unit 21 has a device selection function of selecting, based on preset conditions, the tablet packaging device 4 that executes the packaging process based on the prescription data. Hereinafter, the device selection function will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32.

[0249] Here, among the plurality of tablet packaging devices 4 that can be connected to the inspection support system 1, there may be included a tablet packaging device 4 (hereinafter referred to as the first tablet packaging device 401) capable of executing the packaging process and the image inspection process, and a tablet packaging device 4 (hereinafter referred to as the second tablet packaging device 402) capable of executing the packaging process but not capable of executing the image inspection process. For example, it is conceivable that the second tablet packaging device 402 does not have the photographing unit 46. Further, when the first tablet packaging device 401 is capable of executing the image inspection process and can switch between enabling and disabling the image inspection process, the tablet packaging device 4 in which the execution of the image inspection process is set to be disabled is recognized as the second tablet packaging device 402 by the server 2. Hereinafter, when the first tablet packaging device 401 and the second tablet packaging device 402 are collectively referred to, they are simply referred to as "tablet packaging device 4".

[0250] The selection setting information D11 used for the selection of the tablet packaging device 4 is stored in the storage unit 22 of the server 2. Here, FIG. 31 shows an example of the selection setting information D11. As shown in FIG. 31, the selection setting information D11 includes items of automatic inspection function setting and distribution function setting. The selection setting information D11 is input from the first tablet packaging device 401 to the control unit 21 of the server 2, or is read by the control unit 21 of the server 2 from the first tablet packaging device 401.

[0251] In the items of the automatic inspection function setting, the availability of the automatic inspection process is stored in association with each tablet packaging device number, which is identification information for identifying the tablet packaging device 4. In addition, when the validity and invalidity of the automatic inspection process can be switched as described above, the setting state of the validity or invalidity of the automatic inspection process is stored.

[0252] The items of the distribution function setting include a preset first priority condition and a second priority condition. The first priority condition is a condition for determining whether to execute the automatic inspection process, and the second priority condition is a condition for selecting the tablet packaging device 4 regardless of the necessity of the automatic inspection process. In the inspection support system 1, in the initial setting process and the like, the control unit 21 can set each of the first priority conditions to either valid or invalid according to a user operation. Further, the control unit 21 can set the priority levels in the plurality of second priority conditions for each of the second priority conditions according to a user operation.

[0253] The first priority condition includes items of "DTA hit priority", "tablet number condition priority", and "high-risk drug priority". "DTA hit priority" is a condition under which the first tablet packaging device 401 is selected when the hand-feeding unit 42 is used in the packaging process. "Tablet number condition priority" is a condition under which the first tablet packaging device 401 is selected when the number of tablets per pack is equal to or greater than a preset threshold in the packaging process. "High-risk drug priority" is a condition under which the first tablet packaging device 401 is selected when the drug to be packaged in the packaging process is a preset high-risk drug. In the example shown in FIG. 31, "DTA hit priority" and "high-risk drug priority" are valid, and "tablet number condition priority" is set to invalid.

[0254] The second priority condition includes items of "priority of implementation hit rate", "priority of empty buffer rate", and "priority of arbitrary designation". "Priority of implementation hit rate" is a condition under which the tablet packaging device 4 with the largest number of types of drugs filled in the tablet cassette 41 among the drugs to be packaged in the sub-packaging process is selected. "Priority of empty buffer rate" is a condition under which the tablet packaging device 4 with the smallest amount of prescription data waiting as the object of the sub-packaging process is selected. "Priority of arbitrary designation" is a condition under which the tablet packaging device 4 arbitrarily designated by the user is selected. In the example shown in FIG. 31, the priority of "priority of arbitrary designation" is set to "1", the priority of "priority of implementation hit rate" is set to "2", and the priority of "priority of empty buffer" is set to "3". Note that the second priority condition is not limited to those with priorities set, and may be alternatively selected.

[0255] Then, the control unit 21 executes a device selection process of selecting the tablet packaging device 4 that executes the sub-packaging process corresponding to each of the prescription data based on at least one of the content of the prescription data and the content of the sub-packaging process and the selection setting information D11. Note that the control unit 21 when executing the device selection process is an example of a selection processing unit. Here, FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of the device selection process. The control unit 21 executes the device selection process for the prescription data that requires the sub-packaging process using the tablet packaging device 4 among the prescription data.

[0256] <Step S51> First, in step S51, the control unit 21 determines whether at least one of the content of the prescription data and the content of the sub-packaging process satisfies any of the conditions of the first priority condition. Then, when the control unit 21 determines that any of the conditions of the first priority condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S511, and when it determines that all of the first priority conditions are not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S52.

[0257] Here, among the first priority conditions, "DTA hit priority" and "high-risk drug priority" are effectively set. Therefore, when the manual dispensing unit 42 is used in the subcontracting process for the prescription data, or when the drug to be subcontracted is a high-risk drug, it is determined that it meets the first priority condition.

[0258] <Step S511> In step S511, the control unit 21 selects the first tablet subcontracting device 401 capable of executing the image inspection process as the tablet subcontracting device 4 that executes the subcontracting process based on the prescription data, and transmits the prescription data to the selected tablet subcontracting device 4. That is, when at least one of the first priority conditions is satisfied, the first tablet subcontracting device 401 is selected. Therefore, when it is desirable to execute the image inspection process, it is possible to execute the subcontracting process using the first tablet subcontracting device 401.

[0259] <Step S52> When it is determined in step S51 that the first priority condition is not satisfied, in the subsequent steps S52 to S53, the tablet subcontracting device 4 is selected according to the second priority condition. Specifically, in step S52, the control unit 21 adds 1 to the value of the counter N used to specify the priority value of the second priority condition. The initial value of the counter N is 0, and it is reset to 0 at the start or end of the device selection process.

[0260] <Step S53> In step S53, the control unit 21 determines whether any of the tablet packaging devices 4 can be selected based on the second priority condition with a preset priority value among the second priority conditions and the counter N. For example, when there is one tablet packaging device 4 that meets the second priority condition, it is determined that the tablet packaging device 4 can be selected. Here, when the control unit 21 determines that the tablet packaging device 4 can be selected (S53: Yes), the process proceeds to step S54, and when it determines that the tablet packaging device 4 cannot be selected (S53: No), the process returns to step S52.

[0261] Note that even when the value of the counter N is the same as the number of the second priority conditions (here, "3"), if it is determined that the tablet packaging device 4 cannot be selected, it is conceivable that a preset specific one of the tablet packaging devices 4 is selected. Also, when the value of the counter N has narrowed down a plurality of the tablet packaging devices 4 as selection targets from a plurality of the tablet packaging devices 4 based on the second priority condition, and even when it is the same as the number of the second priority conditions, if it is determined that the tablet packaging device 4 cannot be selected, it is conceivable that the tablet packaging device 4 with the largest or smallest tablet packaging device number among the tablet packaging devices 4 is selected.

[0262] <Step S54> In step S54, the control unit 21 selects the tablet packaging device 4 that executes the packaging process based on the second priority condition whose priority is the value of the counter N, and transmits the prescription data to the selected tablet packaging device 4. Thereby, the packaging process is executed by the tablet packaging device 4 selected according to the priority of the second priority condition.

[0263] Also, in step S54, it is conceivable that the first tablet packaging device 401 is not selected. That is, in step S54, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 selects any one of the second tablet packaging devices 402 based on the second priority condition whose priority is the value of the counter N. Thereby, when not all of the first priority conditions are satisfied, the second tablet packaging device 402 in which the image inspection process is not executed is used, and the dispensing process based on the prescription data is performed quickly.

[0264] In the image inspection process, based on a captured image captured by the camera 462 or the camera 463 before the tablets are packaged in the medicine package 451, it is determined whether or not the collation result between the type of each tablet and the type of tablet included in the prescription data is a match, thereby inspecting whether or not the result of the packaging process is appropriate. That is, in the image inspection process, by determining whether or not the tablets before being packaged in the medicine package 451 are appropriate, the suitability of the medicine package 451 obtained as the result of the packaging process is determined. On the other hand, the image inspection process is not limited to this. For example, it may include a photographing unit that photographs the medicine package 451 after the tablets are packaged in the medicine package 451, and based on the captured image captured by the photographing unit, it is determined whether or not the collation result between the type of each tablet and the type of tablet included in the prescription data is a match. Further, in the image inspection process, it may be determined whether or not the collation result between the number of tablets of each tablet and the number of tablets included in the prescription data is a match based on the captured image of the tablets. That is, the image inspection process may be any process that determines whether or not part or all of each step in the packaging process is appropriately performed based on the captured image of the tablets or the medicine package 451.

[0265] [Inspection recording function] Incidentally, when the sub-packaging process is executed by the first tablet sub-packaging device 401, since the automatic inspection process is being executed by the first tablet sub-packaging device 401, the workload of the pharmacist's inspection work for the sub-packaging process is reduced. However, even when either the first tablet sub-packaging device 401 or the second tablet sub-packaging device 402 is selected by the device selection function and the sub-packaging process is executed, the pharmacist cannot recognize whether the medicine package 451 was executed by the first tablet sub-packaging device 401 by looking at the medicine package 451.

[0266] Therefore, it is conceivable that the tablet sub-packaging device 4 has an inspection recording function of recording whether the image inspection process has been executed as the automatic inspection process in the first or last medicine package 451 among a series of the medicine packages 451 dispensed in the sub-packaging process. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is conceivable that the first tablet sub-packaging device 401 includes a stamp unit 454 capable of recording the presence or absence of execution of the image inspection process on the medicine package 451 after the sub-packaging process, separately from the printing unit 453. The stamp unit 454 can record inspection information such as characters or images indicating that the image inspection process has been executed on the medicine package 451 by means of a stamp. For example, as shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B, the inspection information includes a character string "automatic check target" indicating that it is a check target by the image inspection process, or "CH", which is the initial letter of CHECK indicating that it has been checked by the image inspection process.

[0267] Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the stamp unit 454 includes a stamp for recording "automatic check target" or "CH" as described above, and a stamp for recording "NG" as the inspection relevant information on the medicine package 45 as shown in FIG. 33C. When the result of the image inspection process is OK, "automatic check target" or "CH" is recorded on the medicine package 451 as described above. When the result of the image inspection process is an error, "NG" is recorded on the medicine package 451 as the inspection relevant information. Note that the fact that the image inspection process has not been executed is indicated by the absence of recording of the inspection relevant information such as "automatic check target", "CH", or "NG" on the medicine package 451.

[0268] Also, the control unit 40 may print "automatic check target" or "CH" on the medicine package 451 as information indicating whether it is the target of the image inspection process using the printing unit 453. Furthermore, a configuration is also conceivable in which the image inspection process for the tablets already packaged in the medicine package 451 is completed at the timing when the inspection relevant information can be recorded on the medicine package 451 by the printing unit 453. In this case, when the result of the image inspection process is OK, the control unit 40 prints "automatic check target" or "CH" as the inspection relevant information on the medicine package 451 using the printing unit 453, and when the result of the image inspection process is an error, it prints "NG" as the inspection relevant information.

[0269] [Second Embodiment] Next, the inspection support system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Configurations not described here are the same as those in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, in the inspection support system 1 according to the present embodiment, after describing an example of the procedure of the automatic inspection process executed by the tablet packaging device 4, other display examples in the inspection support process executed by the server 2 will be described.

[0270] [Automatic Inspection Function] As described above, the tablet packaging device 4 has an automatic inspection function for executing the automatic inspection process of determining the suitability of the tablets contained in the medicine package 451 packaged by the packaging process. Here, a specific example of the automatic inspection process will be described.

[0271] First, when the packaging process based on the prescription data is executed by the control unit 40, the tablets are photographed by the cameras 461 to 467 of the photographing unit 46. Further, when the packaging process is executed, the control unit 40 counts the number of tablets detected by the passage detection sensor 475 of the passage detection unit 47 for each medicine package 451. Note that the control unit 40 when counting the number of tablets is an example of a tablet number detection unit. Then, when the packaging process is completed, the control unit 40 executes the automatic inspection process according to, for example, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 34, thereby determining the suitability of the tablets contained in each of the medicine packages 451 packaged by the packaging process. The automatic inspection process is executed for each medicine package 451. Note that the control unit 40 may execute the automatic inspection process and the packaging process in parallel.

[0272] <Step S61> First, in step S61, the control unit 40 determines whether it is necessary to execute the image inspection process. If it is determined that it is necessary to execute the image inspection process (S61: Yes), the process proceeds to step S62. For example, the control unit 40 determines the necessity of executing the image inspection process according to the current inspection mode (any one of the first inspection mode to the third inspection mode) that can be switched by the inspection mode switching function. Note that if the image inspection process is always executed in the tablet packaging device 4, this step S61 is omitted.

[0273] <Step S62> Then, in steps S62 to S65, the control unit 40 executes an image inspection process of collating the identification information of the tablets obtained from the captured image with the identification information of the tablets included in the prescription data for each tablet contained in the medicine package 451.

[0274] More specifically, the control unit 40 determines whether the shape of the tablet matches the shape of the tablet registered in the pharmaceutical master in association with the tablet included in the prescription data. Then, when the shape of the tablet does not match, the control unit 40 determines that the verification result is inconsistent. On the other hand, when the shape of the tablet matches, the control unit 40 acquires the identification information of the tablet from the captured image, and executes an image verification process of comparing the identification information with the identification information of the tablet registered in the pharmaceutical master in association with the tablet included in the prescription data. Here, the control unit 40 when executing such a process is an example of an image verification processing unit. For example, in the image verification process, the control unit 40 extracts an image of the tablet including the identification information of the tablet from the captured image, and executes a matching process between the image of the tablet in the captured image and the image of the identification information of the tablet in the reference image. Also, the characters of the identification information may be recognized from the captured image by well-known character recognition processing (OCR), and the verification may be performed using the characters of the identification information. As described above, when the tablet is a flat tablet having a front and a back surface, the control unit 40 specifies the captured images f4 and f8 corresponding to the front and back surfaces of the tablet as shown in FIG. 24A, and acquires the identification information from the captured images f4 and f8. Also, when the tablet is a capsule tablet, the control unit 40 acquires the identification information from the left and right capsule pieces of the capsule tablet.

[0275] <Step S63> In step S63, when the verification result in step S62 is consistent (S63: Yes), the control unit 40 causes the process to proceed to step S64, and when the verification result is inconsistent (S63: No), the control unit 40 causes the process to proceed to step S631.

[0276] <Step S64> In step S64, the control unit 40 records in the storage unit 49 that the inspection result of the tablets in the prescription data is appropriate. That is, the control unit 40 determines that the inspection result of the image inspection process is appropriate when the shape and identification information of the tablets match the shape and identification information of the tablets registered in the pharmaceutical master.

[0277] <Step S631> In step S631, the control unit 40 determines whether another type of tablet not included in the prescription data as the type of the tablets is detected. For example, when the type of the tablets is not detected, there may be a defect in the identification information attached to the tablets. In addition, since the collation by the image inspection process cannot be performed on the tablets without the identification information, even when the tablets have no identification information, another type of tablet will not be detected. On the other hand, when another type of tablet is detected, the tablets are clearly incorrect. Therefore, in step S631, when another type of tablet is detected (S631: Yes), the process proceeds to step S632, and when another type of tablet is not detected (S631: No), the process proceeds to step S633. Note that for the tablets without the identification information, it is also conceivable to determine whether the appearance such as the shape, size, and color of the tablets registered in the pharmaceutical master matches, and when the appearance matches, the process proceeds to step S632, and when the appearance does not match, the process proceeds to step S633. Further, when the matching process is executed in step S62, in step S631, it is determined whether the value of the degree of coincidence (matching rate) obtained as a result of the matching process is less than a preset threshold value, and when it is less than the threshold value, it is conceivable that the process proceeds to step S632.

[0278] <Step S632> Then, in step S632, the control unit 40 records in the storage unit 49 that the inspection result of the image inspection process for the tablet is an error. That is, the control unit 40 determines that the inspection result of the image inspection process is an error when the identification information of the tablet is clearly different from the identification information of the tablet registered in the pharmaceutical master.

[0279] <Step S633> On the other hand, in step S633, the control unit 40 records in the storage unit 49 as the inspection result of the tablet that the inspection result of the image inspection process for the tablet may not be appropriate and visual inspection is required. That is, the control unit 40 determines that the inspection result of the image inspection process requires checking if the identification information of the tablet is not clearly different from the identification information of the tablet registered in the pharmaceutical master. In addition, in the image inspection process, it is conceivable that the inspection result of the image inspection process is also determined to require checking when the degree of coincidence in the collation result of the identification information of the tablet is equal to or less than a predetermined value set in advance.

[0280] <Step S65> Next, in step S65, when the control unit 40 determines that the image inspection process has been completed for all the tablets in the medicine package 451 (S65: Yes), the process proceeds to step S66, and if not (S65: No), the process returns to step S62.

[0281] <Step S66> In step S66, the control unit 40 executes a counting verification process to determine whether the number of tablets detected by the passing detection sensor 475 in the sub-packaging process matches the number of tablets to be sub-packaged in the medicine package 451 in the prescription data. Specifically, the passing detection sensor 475 (see FIG. 2) is disposed on the downstream side of the photographing position of the tablets by the cameras 462 and 463 and at a position where the tablets can be detected before the tablets are accommodated in the medicine package 451. Thereby, in the counting verification process, the propriety of the number of tablets counted at least on the downstream side of the photographing position of the tablets until the medicine package 451 is sealed is determined. Here, the control unit 40 when executing such a counting verification process is an example of a counting verification processing unit.

[0282] <Step S67> In step S67, when the collation result in step S66 is a match (S67: Yes), the control unit 40 causes the process to proceed to step S68, and when the collation result is a mismatch (S67: No), the control unit 40 causes the process to proceed to step S671.

[0283] <Step S68> In step S68, the control unit 40 records in the storage unit 49 that the verification result of the counting verification process for the tablets is appropriate, in association with the tablets that were the collation target in step S66.

[0284] <Step S671> In step S671, the control unit 40 records in the storage unit 49 that the verification result of the counting verification process for the tablets is an error, in association with the tablets that were the collation target in step S66.

[0285] Thus, when the execution of the image inspection process is effectively set, in the automatic inspection process, both the image inspection process and the counting inspection process are executed. When the inspection results of both are appropriate, it is determined that the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate. When the inspection result of either one is an error, the inspection result of the automatic inspection process becomes an error.

[0286] Then, when the automatic inspection process is executed for all the tablets in the medicine packages 451 subcontracted by the subcontracting process, the control unit 40 transmits the result of the image inspection process to the server 2 together with the captured image. Also, the number of the tablets used in the counting inspection process is transmitted to the server 2 by the control unit 40. Thereby, in the inspection support process executed by the control unit 21 in the server 2, it is possible to display the result of the image inspection process, the result of the counting inspection process, the captured image, etc. as needed.

[0287] [Display example in inspection support process] Specifically, in the inspection support process (see FIG. 7) executed by the control unit 21, various display screens are displayed as described above. Here, other examples of the various display screens displayed in the inspection support process will be described.

[0288] Here, FIGS. 35A, 36, and 37A are diagrams showing an inspection detail screen D303 which is another example of the inspection detail screen D302 (see FIGS. 19 and 20). Specifically, FIG. 35A shows a display example when the inspection result by the automatic inspection process is appropriate, FIG. 36 shows a display example when the inspection result by the automatic inspection process is an error, and FIG. 37A shows a display example when the inspection result by the automatic inspection process requires checking.

[0289] As shown in FIG. 35A, when the inspection result by the automatic inspection process is appropriate, on the inspection details screen D303, in the inspection result area A313, "Pending Approval" is displayed as the inspection result of the automatic inspection process. Also, on the inspection details screen D303, the result display column A323 showing the result of the automatic inspection process for each tablet in the dispensing details area A322 is in a blank state. Further, on the inspection details screen D303, an approval key K311 for performing an operation to approve the displayed inspection result is displayed.

[0290] Then, when the approval key K311 is operated on the inspection details screen D303, the control unit 21 accepts the approval of the inspection result of the automatic inspection process and stores it in association with the prescription data. Also, as shown in FIG. 35B, the control unit 21 causes "Approval OK" to be displayed as the inspection result of the automatic inspection process in the inspection result area A313 on the inspection details screen D303. Further, as shown in FIG. 35B, the control unit 21 causes a "○" indicating that the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is appropriate to be displayed in the result display column A321 on the inspection details screen D303. Note that, as shown in FIG. 35B, when the inspection result by the automatic inspection process becomes "Approval OK", it is displayed that the approval key K311 is disabled for operation, such as being grayed out.

[0291] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 36, when the inspection result by the automatic inspection process is an error, on the inspection details screen D303, "NG" indicating that the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is an error is displayed in the inspection result area A313. Further, as shown in FIG. 37A, when the inspection result by the automatic inspection process requires checking, on the inspection details screen D303, "CHECK" indicating that the inspection result of the automatic inspection process requires checking is displayed in the inspection result area A313. In particular, when the identification information of the tablet cannot be obtained in the image inspection process, that is, when there is no character printing or engraving on the tablet as in the tablet " Tic Tac " shown in FIG. 37B, the control unit 21 also displays that it is necessary to check for all the medicine packages 451 in which the tablet is contained. When the inspection result of the automatic inspection process requires checking, as shown in FIGS. 37A and 37B, the approval key K311 can be operated. However, when the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is an error, as shown in FIG. 36, the approval key K311 becomes inoperable due to being grayed out or the like.

[0292] In addition, operation keys K312 to K314 are displayed on the inspection details screen D303. The operation key K312 is an operation key for re - executing the sub - packaging process for one or more of the medicine packages 451. When the re - issue key K312 is operated, the control unit 21 displays a re - issue operation screen D304 for setting the method of re - executing the sub - packaging process. Here, FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of the re - issue operation screen D304.

[0293] As shown in FIG. 38, on the reissue operation screen D304, “all sub-packages”, “CHECK sub-packages only”, “NG sub-packages only”, “CHECK and NG sub-packages”, and “designated packages” can be selected as the targets for re-executing the sub-packaging process. When “all sub-packages” is selected, all the medicine packages 451 are targeted. When “CHECK sub-packages only” is selected, only the medicine packages 451 that require inspection are targeted. Also, when “NG sub-packages only” is selected, the medicine packages 451 with inspection results being errors are targeted. When “CHECK and NG sub-packages” is selected, the medicine packages 451 with inspection results being errors and the medicine packages 451 that require inspection are targeted. Furthermore, in the case of “designated packages”, it is possible to arbitrarily specify the medicine packages 451 to be re-executed. For example, continuous specification or individual specification is possible. Note that, as will be described later, when the medicine packages 451 to be re-executed for the sub-packaging process have already been specified on another screen, identification information such as the package numbers of the already specified medicine packages 451 is displayed in the input field for the designated packages.

[0294] And on the reissue operation screen D304, a reissue key K315 for starting the execution of reissue is displayed. The control unit 21 transmits a control instruction for re-executing the sub-packaging process of the specified medicine packages 451 to the tablet sub-packaging device 4 according to the operation of the reissue key K315. Thereby, in the tablet sub-packaging device 4, the sub-packaging process for the medicine packages 451 specified on the reissue operation screen D304 is re-executed according to the control instruction.

[0295] Also, the operation key K313 is an operation key for displaying the manual scattering confirmation screen D5. Note that the operation key K313 is operable when the manual scattering unit 42 is used in the sub-packaging process, and becomes inoperable, such as being grayed out, when the manual scattering unit 42 is not used in the sub-packaging process. And when the operation key K313 is operated, the control unit 21 displays the manual scattering confirmation screen D5 (see FIG. 14) on which the manual scattering image is displayed.

[0296] In addition, the operation key K314 is an operation unit for changing the display size of the list display of inspection results on the inspection details screen D303. When the display size is changed by operating the operation key K314, the control unit 21 changes the number of the medicine packages 451 simultaneously displayed on the inspection details screen D303. Four types of display sizes, namely "large", "medium", "small", and "extremely small", can be arbitrarily selected with the operation key K314. Thereby, when referring to the result of the automatic inspection process, the user can select a display mode according to the purpose such as enlarging and checking each of the captured images or grasping the overall result of the automatic inspection process.

[0297] Incidentally, as described above, when a captured image of a specific tablet in a specific medicine package 451 is selected on the inspection details screen D303, the control unit 21 displays the enlarged screen D34 corresponding to the tablet. Here, FIGS. 39A and 39B show an enlarged screen D341 as another example of the enlarged screen D34. As shown in FIGS. 39A and 39B, on the enlarged screen D341, an enlarged image P342 corresponding to the positive image and an enlarged image P343 of the captured image corresponding to the selected tablet are displayed side by side. Note that the control unit 21 may display the enlarged screen D34 only for the captured images of the tablets for which the inspection result of the automatic inspection process is an error or requires checking among the captured images, or may be able to display the enlarged screen D34 for the captured images of all tablets.

[0298] In addition, the control unit 21 can switch and display a plurality of the captured images corresponding to the tablet at predetermined intervals for the enlarged image P343 displayed on the enlarged screen D341, for example, as shown in FIGS. 39A and 39B. More specifically, when the enlarged screen D341 is displayed, the control unit 21 starts switching the enlarged image P343. Thereby, the user can determine the suitability of the tablet by referring to a plurality of the captured images of the outer periphery of the tablet taken from different angles.

[0299] On the enlarged screen D341, operation keys K361 to K364 are displayed. When the operation key K361 is operated, the control unit 21 temporarily stops the automatic switching of the enlarged image P343, and when the operation key K361 is operated again, the automatic switching of the enlarged image P343 is resumed. It is also conceivable that the control unit 21 starts the automatic switching of the enlarged image P343 when the operation key K361 is operated after the display of the enlarged screen D341.

[0300] Also, when the operation key K362 is operated while the inspection result of the automatic inspection process of the tablet being displayed is "requiring check" or "error", the control unit 21 records that it has been determined to be appropriate by visual confirmation as the inspection result of that tablet. Further, when the operation key K363 is operated, the control unit 21 selects and records the medicine package 451 containing the tablet being displayed as the target for reissuance. Here, for the tablet or the medicine package 451 selected as the target for reissuance, as shown in FIG. 36, it is conceivable that additional information A324 such as characters or symbols indicating that it is the target for reissuance is displayed in association on the inspection details screen D303.

[0301] Also, when the operation key K364 is operated, the control unit 21 records that a measure such as manually replacing the tablets contained in the medicine package 451 including the tablet being displayed is to be executed. Also in this case, for the tablet selected as the target for the manually executed measure, as shown in FIG. 37A, additional information A325 such as characters or symbols indicating that it is the target for the manually executed measure is displayed in association on the inspection details screen D303.

[0302] Furthermore, when the inspection result of the automatic inspection process for the tablet displayed on the enlarged screen D341 requires checking, as shown in FIG. 40, the control unit 21 may display a similar drug list P361 showing information on one or more types of tablets similar to the tablet and the identification information on the enlarged screen D341. When no identification information is attached to the tablet displayed on the enlarged screen D341, the control unit 21 may display information on one or more types of tablets similar in shape to the tablet in the similar drug list P361. Thus, by displaying the similar drug list P361, the user can easily determine the suitability of the tablet by referring to the similar drug list P361. As shown in FIG. 40, the operation key K362 may include an operation key that simultaneously accepts an operation for switching the tablets to be displayed on the enlarged screen D341 in order forward and backward and an operation for inputting that it is appropriate by visual confirmation.

[0303] Incidentally, as shown in FIGS. 36 and 37A, when an error or a check is required is included in the inspection result of the automatic inspection process, the control unit 21 causes the inspection detail screen D303 to display both the tablets with an OK inspection result of the automatic inspection process and the tablets with an error or a check required. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 41, when an error or a check is required is included in the inspection result of the automatic inspection process, it is conceivable that the control unit 21 causes the inspection detail screen D303 to display only the tablets with an error or a check required in the inspection result of the automatic inspection process. That is, the display of the tablets with an appropriate inspection result of the automatic inspection process is omitted. As a result, the user can easily grasp only the inspection results that require confirmation, and the confirmation work of the inspection results of the automatic inspection process is streamlined. When tablets with an error are included in the inspection result of the automatic inspection process, "NG" is displayed in the inspection result area A313. When tablets with an error are not included in the inspection result of the automatic inspection process but tablets that require a check are included, "CHECK" is displayed in the inspection result area A313. Also, as shown in FIG. 37A, a "Δ" mark indicating that a check is required is displayed in the result display column A323 corresponding to the tablets that require a check in the inspection result. A "×" mark indicating that there is an error is displayed in the result display column A323 corresponding to the tablets with an error in the inspection result, and a "○" mark indicating that the inspection result is appropriate is displayed in the result display column A323 corresponding to the tablets with an appropriate inspection result.

[0304] Also, in the inspection detail screen D303 shown in FIGS. 35A, 36, and 37A, etc., the image inspection process is displayed. On the other hand, instead of the inspection detail screen D303, the control unit 21 may display an inspection detail screen D305 on which the inspection results of both the image inspection process and the counting inspection process are displayed. Here, FIGS. 42A and 42B are diagrams showing an example of the inspection detail screen D305.

[0305] Specifically, on the inspection details screen D305 shown in FIGS. 42A and 42B, the counting inspection process is executed for all medicine packages 451 by the automatic inspection process, and the image inspection process is executed only for the first medicine package 451 for each taking time, and the inspection results are displayed in the first array (see FIG. 27). On the inspection details screen D305, a "quantity mode" indicating that part or all of the image inspection process is omitted and the counting inspection process is being executed is displayed in the display area A327.

[0306] In particular, on the inspection details screen D305 shown in FIG. 42A, the control unit 21 displays the captured images used in the image inspection process only for the first medicine package 451 for each taking time. That is, for the tablets in the medicine package 451 for which the image inspection process is not executed, although the tablets are photographed by the cameras 462 and 463, the captured images of the tablets are not displayed. Thereby, the user can easily grasp whether the image inspection process is executed. The captured images used in the image inspection process are images trimmed to extract the tablet areas from the actually captured images by the cameras 462 and 463.

[0307] Also, on the inspection details screen D305 shown in FIG. 42B, the control unit 21 displays the captured images used in the image inspection process for the first medicine package 451 for each taking time. On the other hand, for the tablets for which the image inspection process is not executed, the control unit 21 directly displays the captured images actually captured by the cameras 462 and 463 and not trimmed during the execution of the image inspection process. Thereby, the user can easily grasp whether the image inspection process is executed.

[0308] On the one hand, since the control unit 21 executes the counting inspection process for all the medicine packages 451, on the inspection details screen D305, the number of tablets used in the counting inspection process for each of the medicine packages 451 is displayed in the tablet number display area A326. As a result, the user can easily grasp that there is no problem with the number of tablets detected in the counting inspection process.

[0309] Also, the control unit 21 can display the inspection results of each of the image inspection process and the tablet number inspection process on the inspection details screen D305. Specifically, when an error occurs in the image inspection process, for the tablets in which the error occurs, the background of the captured image is displayed in the sixth specific color such as red indicating that the result of the automatic inspection process is an error. Also, when an error occurs in the counting inspection process, for the medicine package 451 in which the error occurs, for example, the background of the display area of the tablet number is displayed in the sixth specific color such as red indicating that it is an error.

[0310] By the way, when the tablet packaging device 4 is provided with a camera that captures the medicine package 451 after the tablets are packaged in the packaging unit 45, it is also conceivable that the control unit 21 displays the captured image after packaging captured by the camera on the details screen D305. For example, the captured image after packaging is displayed side by side below the tablet number display area A326.

[0311] [Backshift detection function] In the tablet packaging device 4, for example, when a plurality of tablets are packaged in the medicine package 451 in the packaging process executed by the packaging unit 45, there is a possibility that a backshift occurs in which some of the tablets are shifted and packaged into the next medicine package 451. In contrast, it is conceivable that the tablet packaging device 4 has a backshift detection function for detecting the backshift.

[0312] Specifically, the tablet packaging device 4 is provided with a detection unit 476 for detecting whether or not the tablets to be accommodated in the medicine package 451 are present on the downstream side of the medicine package 451 when the medicine package 451 is closed. Then, the control unit 40 detects the backward shift of the tablets to be accommodated in the medicine package 451 based on the detection result by the detection unit 476. Hereinafter, the backward shift detection function will be described with reference to FIGS. 43 to 52.

[0313] As shown in FIG. 43, the packaging unit 45 is provided below the rotating unit 44 and is capable of packaging the tablets M dispensed one by one from the rotating unit 44. The packaging unit 45 includes a packaging paper supply unit 450A and a packaging mechanism 450B. The packaging paper supply unit 450A is a mechanism that feeds out the packaging paper S wound around the roll shaft 450C and sends it to the packaging mechanism 450B side. The packaging paper S is a sheet-shaped and long heat-sealable sheet, and is wound around the roll shaft 450C in a state of being folded in half in the short side direction. The packaging mechanism 450B includes a sheet support portion 450D, a guide member 450E, and a sealing device 450F. The packaging mechanism 450B can package the medicine M supplied from the rotating unit 44 side by pressing the packaging paper S sent from the packaging paper supply unit 450A to form a bag shape.

[0314] More specifically, the guide member 450E has a function as a guide for guiding the wrapping paper S sent from the wrapping paper supply unit 42. The sealing device 50 can crimp a part (downstream side) at one longitudinal end of the wrapping paper S supplied while being guided by the guide member 44b to form a semi-bag shape, or can crimp and close the open portion of the semi-bag-shaped wrapping paper S to form a bag shape. More specifically, by crimping the wrapping paper S with the sealing device 50, a medicine pack 451 containing the medicine M can be formed as shown in FIG. 47. The sealing device 450F forms a longitudinal seal (first longitudinal seal AS1 or second longitudinal seal AS3) that closes the portion on the downstream side in the advancing direction of the wrapping paper S in the short-hand direction of the wrapping paper S in the medicine pack 451 to be created, and also forms a transverse seal WS2. Thereby, a semi-bag-shaped wrapping paper S (medicine pack 451) having an open portion is formed in the portion on the upstream side in the advancing direction of the wrapping paper S. After the medicine M is put into the semi-bag-shaped wrapping paper S (medicine pack 451) in this state, the open portion is closed by the sealing device 450F. That is, when a part of the transverse seal WS2 is unsealed, the unsealed portion is closed by the sealing device 450F, and a longitudinal seal (second longitudinal seal AS3) that closes in the short-hand direction of the wrapping paper S is formed and sealed on the upstream side in the advancing direction of the wrapping paper S.

[0315] As shown in FIG. 44, the main part of the sealing device 450F is constituted by a pair of roller frames 450a and 450b. Although a protective cover 450c is provided on the roller frame 50a side of the sealing device 450F, when the protective cover 450c is removed, as shown in FIG. 45, the roller frames 50a and 50b are substantially symmetric about the vertical axis when they are butted against each other.

[0316] As shown in FIG. 45 and the like, the roller frames 450a and 450b are each formed of a metal frame having a substantially "U" shape (gate shape) when viewed from the front. The roller frames 450a and 450b are provided with a support shaft 450d extending in the vertical direction, and a vertical seal member 450e and a horizontal seal member 450f are attached thereto. The vertical seal member 450e and the horizontal seal member 450f are each attached so as to be rotatable with respect to the support shaft 450d. Further, the vertical seal member 450e and the horizontal seal member 450f are each connected to a separate power source (not shown) via a separate power transmission mechanism (not shown), and are rotatable independently of each other. By changing the rotation speed of the vertical seal member 450e and the rotation speed of the horizontal seal member 450f, it is possible to change the bag length of the medicine package 451.

[0317] The vertical seal member 450e is made of metal and has a substantially linear shape when viewed from the front as shown in FIG. 45. As shown in FIG. 46, the vertical seal member 450e has a disk-shaped lower end portion 450i and a plate-shaped heating portion 450k. The heating portion 450k is located between the upper end portion 450g and the lower end portion 450i forming the horizontal seal member 450f described later, and is substantially perpendicular to both of them. On both side surfaces of the heating portion 450k, heaters 450h and cut-off line forming portions 450j are linearly arranged from the upper end portion 450g side toward the lower end portion 450i side. The heaters 450h, 450h are capable of heat-sealing the packaging paper S. Therefore, by rotating the vertically arranged vertical seal members 450e, 450e and passing the packaging paper S folded in two between them, a seal (vertical seal) extending in the short side direction of the packaging paper S can be formed.

[0318] Further, the cut-off line forming portion 450j is capable of forming perforations in the packaging paper S. In the present embodiment, the cut-off line forming portion 450j on the roller frame 450b side is constituted by a cutter for forming perforations, and the cut-off line forming portion 450j on the roller frame 450a side is constituted by a receiving blade provided corresponding to the cutter.

[0319] As shown in FIG. 45, the horizontal seal member 450f includes the above-described upper end portion 450g and the heater 450m. The upper end portion 450g is a disk-shaped member provided above the heating portion 450k of the vertical seal member 450e. A heater 450m is provided over the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the upper end portion 450g. Therefore, by rotating the horizontally arranged parallel horizontal seal members 450f, 450f and passing the folded-in-half wrapping paper S between the upper end portions 450g, 450g, a seal (horizontal seal) extending in the longitudinal direction of the wrapping paper S can be formed.

[0320] As shown in FIG. 45, in the sealing device 450F, the vertical seal members 450e, 450e and the horizontal seal members 450f, 450f are arranged substantially parallel to each other with a predetermined clearance within a substantially "C" - shaped (rectangular) region surrounded by the roller frames 450a, 450b. The sealing device 450F can form the medicine package 451 by rotating the vertical seal members 450e, 450e and the horizontal seal members 450f, 450f and passing the wrapping paper S through these clearances to form a horizontal seal and a vertical seal.

[0321] As shown in FIG. 48, the rotation unit 44 is provided with a medicine introduction portion 80 for supplying the tablets M individually discharged from the rotation unit 44 to the packaging unit 45. The medicine introduction portion 80 may be any device as long as it can supply the tablets M into the wrapping paper S. In this embodiment, it is constituted by a hopper. As shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, the medicine introduction portion 80 is inserted into the open portion of the unsealed medicine package 451 formed by the wrapping paper S by the sealing device 450F, and the tablets M can be introduced into the medicine package 451. Specifically, the medicine introduction portion 80 is arranged such that the base end portion faces the rotation unit 44 side and the tip end portion is inserted into the unsealed medicine package 451 in the process of being formed by the sealing device 450F. That is, the medicine introduction portion 80 is inserted inside the wrapping paper S folded in half on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the wrapping paper S with respect to the sealing device 450F.

[0322] In addition, in the tablet packaging device 4, the drug package 451 accommodated in the drug package 451 may be affected by the heat from the heaters 450h and 450m. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 49, in the tablet packaging device 4, a blower fan 51 capable of blowing air to the packaging paper S is provided at a position where the tablets are supplied from the drug introduction unit 80 to the packaging paper S. Thereby, the packaging paper S is cooled by the blowing air from the blower fan 51, and the influence of the heat from the heaters 450h and 450m is suppressed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 49, the blower fan 51 is disposed above the passage path of the packaging paper S, and can blow air from the open portion of the packaging paper S into the interior of the packaging paper S. Note that the blower fan 51 may be disposed at a position where it can blow air from other directions such as below the passage path of the packaging paper S.

[0323] Also, as shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, the packaging unit 45 is provided with a detection unit 476 for detecting the presence of the tablets M in the introduction path of the tablets M by the drug introduction unit 80. As shown in FIG. 48, the detection unit 476 includes a camera 476a capable of photographing the introduction path of the tablets M by the drug introduction unit 80 and an illumination device 476b. The camera 476a is disposed so as to be able to photograph (detect) the inside of the packaging paper S on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the packaging paper S from the seal device 450F. In the present embodiment, the camera 476a is arranged from the proximal end side to the distal end side of the drug introduction unit 80. Also, as described above, the drug introduction unit 80 is located upstream of the seal device 450F. Therefore, the camera 476a is arranged so as to be able to photograph (detect) a region on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the packaging paper S from the seal device 450F. The illumination device 476b includes a light source such as a light emitting diode or a light bulb. The illumination device 476b is arranged so as to be able to irradiate the internal region of the drug introduction unit 80 from the proximal end side to the distal end side of the drug introduction unit 80 in the same manner as the camera 476a. The control unit 40 stores the photographed image by the camera 476a in the storage unit 22 and also transmits it to the server 2.

[0324] Then, in the tablet packaging device 4, based on the detection data input from the detection unit 476, the control unit 40 can determine the occurrence of packaging defects caused by the tablets M overflowing from the medicine packet 451 in which the tablets M should originally be packaged.

[0325] Subsequently, a method for forming the medicine packet 451 by the sealing device 450F performed in the tablet packaging device 4 and a method for determining packaging defects occurring in the process of forming the medicine packet 451 will be described. In the following description, first, the method for forming the medicine packet 451 will be outlined based on FIG. 51, and then a subroutine related to the process of forming the second longitudinal seal will be described based on FIG. 52.

[0326] [Regarding the method for forming the medicine packet 451] The control unit 40 forms the medicine packet 451 according to the control flow shown in FIG. 51. Hereinafter, the specific operations and controls will be described according to FIG. 51.

[0327] <Step S71> When forming the medicine packet 451, first, in step S71, a longitudinal seal (hereinafter, also referred to as "first longitudinal seal AS1") for closing the upstream end of the medicine packet 451 is formed by the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e at the leading position in the advancing direction of the packaging paper S (see FIG. 47). Thereafter, the control flow proceeds to step S72.

[0328] <Step S72> In step S72, a horizontal seal WS2 (see FIG. 47) for closing the end portion on the side opposite to the fold of the packaging paper S supplied in a double-folded state is formed. Specifically, the horizontal seal members 450f, 450f are rotated, and the packaging paper S is passed between them to form a horizontal seal.

[0329] <Step S73> In step S73, it is confirmed whether the horizontal seal WS2 has been formed until the wrapping paper S reaches the position (sealing position) where the medicine package 451 is to be sealed. If it is determined that the horizontal seal WS2 has reached the sealing position (step S73: YES), the control flow proceeds to step S74. If it is determined that the horizontal seal WS2 has not reached the sealing position (step S73: NO), the control flow returns to step S72.

[0330] <Step S74> In step S74, a longitudinal seal (hereinafter also referred to as "second longitudinal seal AS3") for closing the end portion on the downstream side in the advancing direction of the wrapping paper S in the medicine package 451 is formed according to the subroutine of FIG. 52 which will be described in detail later. Here, the second longitudinal seal AS3 also functions as the first longitudinal seal AS1 of the medicine package 451 to be formed next. Therefore, the second longitudinal seal AS3 functions as a seal forming the boundary of the medicine packages 451 formed continuously in the longitudinal direction of the wrapping paper S. When the second longitudinal seal AS3 is formed, the control flow proceeds to step S75.

[0331] <Step S75> In step S75, it is confirmed whether the medicine package 451 sealed by the second longitudinal seal AS3 in step S74 is the last one. If the medicine package 451 sealed in step S74 is not the last one (step S75: NO), the control flow returns to step S72. If it is the last one (step S75: YES), the series of control flows is completed.

[0332] [Regarding the formation process of the second longitudinal seal AS3] Subsequently, the subroutine regarding the formation process of the second longitudinal seal AS3 according to step S74 described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 52.

[0333] <Step S74-1> In step S74-1, in order to form the second longitudinal seal AS3, the rotation of the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e is started so that the heating parts 450k, 450k face each other. Then, the control flow proceeds to step S74-2.

[0334] <Step S74-2> In step S74-2, as shown in FIG. 6, it is confirmed whether or not the heating parts 450k, 450k of the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e have reached the point in time (contact start timing) when they start to contact the wrapping paper S. Here, whether or not the contact start timing has been reached can be confirmed by various methods. Specifically, for example, a timer that starts timing from the timing when the rotation of the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e is started in step S74-1 is provided, and it is confirmed that a predetermined time has elapsed by this timer; a rotation detection device capable of detecting the rotation amount of the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e is provided, and it is confirmed whether or not the detected rotation amount has reached a predetermined amount; or a detection device capable of detecting the angle or posture of the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e is provided, and it is confirmed whether or not the heating parts 450k, 450k of the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e have reached the angle or posture at which they start to contact. When it is confirmed by these methods that the contact start timing has been reached (step S74-2: YES), the control flow proceeds to step S74-3, and when it is not confirmed (step S74-2: NO), the control flow continues at step S74-2.

[0335] <Step S74-3> In step S74-3, control is performed to temporarily stop the rotation of the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e. As a result, the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e are in a state of being temporarily stopped in the posture in which the heating parts 450k, 450k have started to contact. Then, the control flow proceeds to step S74-4.

[0336] <Step S74-4> In step S74-4, the detection unit 476 detects the presence or absence of the tablet M in the internal area of the drug introduction unit 80 and in the area on the upstream side in the conveyance direction from the vertical seal (first vertical seal AS1 or second vertical seal AS3) that has already been formed by the sealing device 450F inside the wrapping paper S (sealing detection). At this time, the lighting device 450b is turned on, and the internal area of the drug introduction unit 80 is illuminated. The detection data by the detection unit 476 is input to the control unit 40. The detection data may be any data as long as it is effective for determining the presence or absence of the tablet M. However, in this embodiment, the image data captured by the camera 467a is input to the control unit 40 as the detection data. Specifically, when the tablet M does not exist, an image of only the drug introduction unit 80 is acquired as shown in FIG. 50A, and when the tablet M exists, an image containing the tablet M is acquired as shown in FIG. 50B. Such image data is input to the control unit 40 as the detection data. Thereafter, the control flow proceeds to step S74-5.

[0337] <Step S74-5> In step S74-5, the determination unit 102 of the control unit 40 determines the presence or absence of the tablet M based on the detection data (image data) obtained by the sealing detection performed in step S74-4. In the present embodiment, since the image data is obtained as the detection data, the presence or absence of the tablet M is determined by a method utilizing the image data such as image analysis. The determination of the presence or absence of the tablet M may be performed by any method. For example, when the tablet M does not exist, an image obtained by the camera 92 is prepared as a master image, and the presence or absence of the tablet M may be determined using the image actually obtained by the camera 476a and the master image. In the case of performing the determination using the master image as described above, when the wrapping paper S appears in the image obtained by the camera 476a, it is desirable to prepare different master images according to the type of the wrapping paper S. Specifically, the wrapping paper S is supplied in a double-folded state with both sides overlapping. The wrapping paper S includes those that are transparent on both sides, or those that have an opaque portion (for example, a band having a color such as white) on the other side of the side that is transparent on one side. It is obvious that there are differences in the images obtained by the camera 476a between the case where the wrapping paper S of the former type is used and the case where the wrapping paper S having an opaque portion as described above is used. Therefore, in order to cope with the difference in the wrapping paper S, it is desirable to prepare master images according to the type of the wrapping paper S. After the determination of the tablet M is performed as described above, the control flow proceeds to step S74-6.

[0338] <Step S74-6> In step S74-6, it is confirmed whether or not the tablet M has been detected as a result of the determination in step S74-5. Here, when the tablet M is not detected (step S74-6: YES), it is assumed that the tablets M to be sub-packaged are packaged without leaking from the medicine pack 451. In this case, it is determined that the sub-packaging of the tablet M is being carried out normally, and the control flow proceeds to step S74-7. On the other hand, when the tablet M is detected (step S74-6: NO), as shown in FIG. 48, it is highly likely that the tablets M to be sub-packaged in the previous medicine pack 451 (the lower medicine pack 451a in the figure) have leaked from the medicine pack 451 and moved to the subsequently formed medicine pack 451 (the medicine pack 451b being formed on the upper side in the figure). In this case, it is determined that a sub-packaging defect has occurred, and the control flow proceeds to step S74-9.

[0339] <Step S74-7> In step S74-7, control is performed to resume the rotation of the vertical seal members 450e, 450e that had been temporarily stopped in step S74-3. As a result, the vertical seal members 450e, 450e begin to make surface contact with the heating parts 450k, 450k, and the second vertical seal AS3 is formed.

[0340] <Step S74-8> In step S74-8, it is confirmed whether or not the formation of the second vertical seal AS3 has been completed. When it is determined that the formation of the second vertical seal AS3 has been completed (step S74-8: YES), the series of control flows is completed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the formation of the second vertical seal AS3 is incomplete (step S74-8: NO), the control of step S74-8 continues.

[0341] <Step S74-9> In step S74-9, a process for dealing with the fact that leakage of the tablet M was confirmed in step S74-6 described above (process at the time of defective secondary packaging) is performed. Specifically, a process of notifying that a defective secondary packaging has occurred by means such as voice, image display, or lamp lighting is executed as the process at the time of defective secondary packaging. Thereby, the series of control flows shown in FIG. 52 is completed.

[0342] As described above, in the tablet secondary packaging apparatus 4 of the present embodiment, within the period before the timing when the tablet M for secondary packaging into the next medicine package 451 is introduced, after the timing when sealing of the medicine package 451 into which the tablet M is introduced is started, it is determined that a defective secondary packaging has occurred on the condition that the presence of the tablet M is detected by the detection unit 476. By doing so, it is possible to accurately detect a defective secondary packaging caused by the tablet M overflowing from the medicine package 451 that should originally be secondarily packaged, and it is possible to minimize the labor required for inspection.

[0343] Further, in the tablet secondary packaging apparatus 4 described above, the timing when the longitudinal seal member 450e contacts the secondary packaging paper S to form the second longitudinal seal AS3 is set as the timing when sealing of the medicine package 451 into which the tablet M is introduced is started, and at this timing, the joining of the secondary packaging paper S by the sealing device 450F is interrupted and the tablet M is detected by the detection unit 476. Thereby, it is possible to detect a defective secondary packaging caused by the tablet M leaking out during the sealing of the medicine package 451 with higher detection accuracy. In addition, it is possible to suppress problems such as the tablet M leaking out from the medicine package 451 being caught between the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e.

[0344] In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which, in order to form the second longitudinal seal AS3, the timing at which the longitudinal seal member 450e contacts the wrapping paper S is regarded as the timing at which the sealing of the medicine package 451 is started, and the tablet M is detected by the detection unit 476. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and similar processing may be performed by regarding other timings as the timing at which the sealing of the medicine package 451 is started. Further, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the tablet M is detected by the detection unit 476 at the timing when the sealing of the medicine package 451 is started. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the presence of the tablet M may be detected at any timing (for example, after sealing) within the period from the timing when the sealing of the medicine package 451 is started until the sealing is completed. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the sealing by the longitudinal seal member 450e is temporarily stopped at the timing when the tablet M is detected by the detection unit 476. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, the sealing by the longitudinal seal member 450e may not be stopped when the detection unit 476 detects the presence or absence of the tablet M, or the sealing formation speed by the longitudinal seal member 450e may be reduced.

[0345] In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which, in order to be able to handle medicine packages 451 having different lengths, the sealing device 450F is configured such that the roller-shaped longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e and the transverse seal members 450f, 450f can be individually driven and controlled. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when the bag length of the medicine package 451 may be constant, the sealing device 450F may be configured such that the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e and the transverse seal members 450f, 450f are driven integrally.

[0346] In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the wrapping paper S is sandwiched and sealed by the roller-shaped longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e and the transverse seal members 450f, 450f to form the medicine package 451. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the wrapping paper S may be sealed by other forms and methods to form the medicine package 451.

[0347] In addition, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the medicine package 451 is formed by folding the sub-packaging paper S in half and applying a seal to the doubled portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, it may be such that two sheets of sub-packaging paper S are supplied and the medicine package 451 is formed by overlapping and joining them.

[0348] In this embodiment, an example is given in which the detection unit 476 is provided with a camera 476a as a detection device for detecting the tablet M. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any device capable of detecting the presence of the tablet M may be used. Specifically, as the detection unit 476, an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, or the like capable of detecting the presence or absence of the tablet M inside the sub-packaging paper S and upstream of the seal device 450F in the conveyance direction of the sub-packaging paper S may be provided. When using an optical sensor or the like as the detection unit 476, it is preferable to take measures to obtain sufficient detection accuracy in consideration of the characteristics of these sensors. Specifically, if the detection distance of an optical sensor or the like is set short, there is a concern that the detection accuracy of the presence of a small tablet M will decrease. That is, when the size of the tablet M is small, the distance from the optical sensor or the like to the surface of the tablet M is larger than when the size of the tablet M is large. Therefore, if the detection distance of an optical sensor or the like is set short, there is a concern that the detection accuracy of a small tablet M will decrease. On the other hand, if the detection distance of an optical sensor or the like is set long, there is a concern that the longitudinal seal member 450e or the like will be detected as the tablet M. Therefore, when adopting an optical sensor or the like as the detection unit 476, it is preferable to take measures such as setting the detection distance in consideration of the size of the tablet M to be handled.

[0349] Also, the detection unit 476 may be disposed at any position inside the sub-packaging paper S as long as it is a position capable of detecting the presence of the tablet M upstream of the seal device 450F in the conveyance direction of the sub-packaging paper S. Specifically, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 49, a detection unit 476X similar to the detection unit 476 may be disposed at the tip side of the medicine introduction unit 80, or a detection unit 476Y may be disposed further upstream of the medicine introduction unit 80.

[0350] In addition, in order to improve the detection accuracy of the accurate packaging of the tablets M, other sensors or the like may be provided in addition to the detection unit 476. Specifically, a dropping sensor for detecting the dropping of the tablets M may be provided in the drug introduction unit 80 or the like. If it is determined that the tablets M are detected by the dropping sensor and no leakage of the tablets M is detected based on the detection result by the detection unit 476, it is possible to more accurately detect whether or not the tablets M dispensed for packaging are accurately packaged.

[0351] In the present embodiment, an example in which the detection unit 476 is utilized to detect that the tablets M are accurately packaged at the time of sealing the medicine package 451 has been shown. However, the detection unit 476 may be utilized for other purposes. Specifically, the presence of the tablets M may be detected by the detection unit 476 at the time when the tablets M for packaging should be introduced from the drug introduction unit 80 into the packaging paper S. That is, the detection unit 476 may be used not only for the above-described sealing detection but also for introduction detection for detecting the introduction of the tablets M into the packaging paper S by the drug introduction unit 80. In such a case, the detection unit 476 can also be effectively used to confirm whether or not the tablets M have been supplied into the packaging paper S. Therefore, it is possible to confirm both that there is no leakage of the tablets M at the time of sealing the packaging paper S (formation of the medicine package 451) by the above-described sealing detection and that the tablets M have been surely supplied by the introduction detection. By determining that the tablets M are normally packaged only when both are confirmed, it is possible to further improve the determination accuracy of the accurate packaging of the tablets M.

[0352] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the presence or absence of the tablet M is detected by the detection unit 476 at the timing of starting the formation of the second longitudinal seal AS3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, after the timing of starting the sealing of the medicine pack 451 into which the tablet M has been introduced, within the period before the timing at which the tablet M for sub-packaging into the next medicine pack 451 to be formed via the medicine introduction unit 80 is introduced (hereinafter, also referred to as the "detectable period"), the detection unit 476 may detect the tablet M at any timing. Specifically, the detection of the tablet M by the detection unit 476 may be performed within the period before the timing at which the tablet M for sub-packaging into the next medicine pack 451 to be formed is introduced after the completion of the sealing of the medicine pack 451 into which the tablet M has been introduced (after the formation of the second longitudinal seal AS3). Further, the detection by the detection unit 476 may be performed not only at a predetermined timing (time point) within the above-described detection period, but also continuously over a predetermined period included within the above-described detectable period, or intermittently within the above-described detectable period.

[0353] In this embodiment, as the sealing device 450F, a roller-shaped member including the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e and the transverse seal members 450f, 450f for sandwiching and joining the packaging paper S is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a device capable of joining the packaging paper S by another method may be employed instead of the sealing device 450F. Specifically, a pair of plate-shaped heating elements having a planar shape such as a T-shape may be provided, and a device capable of sandwiching and joining the packaging paper S between the heating elements may be used instead of the sealing device 450F of the present embodiment.

[0354] [Packaging view display function] Incidentally, in the process (see Fig. 52) executed to realize the backward shift detection function, when the heating parts 450k, 450k of the longitudinal seal members 450e, 450e start to contact the wrapping paper S (contact start timing), the camera 476a takes a picture. On the other hand, it is conceivable that the control unit 40 takes a picture of the image when the drug package 451 formed in the wrapping unit 45 is put into the drug introduction unit 80 via the rotation unit 44 using the camera 476a at a timing different from the contact start timing.

[0355] Here, it is conceivable that the input timing when the tablets are input is the detection timing of the tablets by the passage detection sensor 475. Also, the input timing is a timing preset as the timing when the tablets discharged from the paper feed cassette 41 or the manual dispensing unit 42 in the tablet wrapping device 4 are input from the rotation unit 44 to the drug introduction unit 80. As a result, the imaging range of the camera 476a includes the drug introduction unit 80, the tablets, and the drug package 451. When there is no backward shift, in the captured image captured at the input timing, the tablets input to the drug introduction unit 80 or the drug package 451 are captured, but in the captured image captured at the contact start timing, since the tablets move to the downstream side of the longitudinal seal member 450e, the tablets are not captured.

[0356] Then, the control unit 40 stores the captured image by the camera 476a in the storage unit 22 and transmits it to the server 2. As a result, in the tablet wrapping device 4 or the server 2, it is possible to realize a packaging view display function in which the control unit 40 or the control unit 21 displays the captured image.

[0357] For example, in the server 2, when the control unit 21 selects the package identification information such as the package number for identifying the medicine package 451 on the inspection detail screens D301 to D303, etc., it causes the display of a package individual information screen D306 showing a list of tablets contained in the medicine package 451. Here, FIG. 53 is a diagram showing an example of the package individual information screen D306.

[0358] As shown in FIG. 53, on the package individual information screen D306, the medicine names, front images, and photographed images of each of the tablets contained in the medicine package 451 of the third package in the sub-packaging process are displayed. Also, on the package individual information screen D306, for the tablets whose inspection results in the automatic inspection process are in error among the tablets contained in the currently displayed medicine package 451, the background of the display area of the photographed image is displayed in the sixth specific color such as red indicating that the result of the automatic inspection process is in error.

[0359] Also, an operation key K371 is displayed on the package individual information screen D306, and the control unit 21 causes the display of a packaging screen D307 on which the photographed images of the tablets contained in the medicine package 451 photographed by the detection unit 476 are displayed in response to the operation of the operation key K371.

[0360] Here, FIG. 54 is a diagram showing an example of the packaging screen D307. As shown in FIG. 54, on the packaging screen D307, the photographed images of the tablets photographed by the detection unit 476 are displayed in the order of photography as the tablets fall from the rotating unit 44 through the medicine introduction unit 80 toward the medicine package 451. As described above, the photographed range photographed in the photographed image includes the tablet introduction unit 80, the tablets, and the medicine package 451. Thereby, the user can easily grasp the state at the time of the fall of each of the tablets into the medicine package 451 by referring to the packaging screen D307.

[0361] Note that the control unit 21 may display, in the packaging view D307, a captured image taken at the contact start timing instead of, or together with, the captured image taken at the input timing. Further, when the occurrence of a delay is detected by the delay detection function, the control unit 21 may display, in the packaging view D307, a message indicating that the delay has occurred and a captured image taken at the contact start timing.

[0362] Incidentally, the configurations and functions described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment can be arbitrarily combined. Further, the subject having the configurations and processing functions described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is not limited to what is described here, and it is sufficient if at least one of the server 2, the client terminal 3, and the tablet packaging device 4 included in the inspection support system 1 has them. For example, it is conceivable that a process corresponding to the automatic inspection process is executed by the control unit 21 in the server 2, and a process corresponding to the inspection support process is executed by the control unit 40 in the tablet packaging device 4.

[0363] [Third Embodiment] Subsequently, the inspection support system 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that configurations not described here are the same as those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

[0364] As described in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, in the audit support system 1, the control unit 40 executes an image audit process of collating, using an image, the identification information of the tablet acquired from the captured image and the identification information of the tablet corresponding to the type of tablet included in the prescription data. Specifically, in the image audit process, a matching process is executed in which an image corresponding to the identification information of the tablet included in the captured image and the positive image registered in advance corresponding to the identification information of the tablet included in the prescription data are collated by image comparison. Note that the positive image corresponding to the identification information of the tablet included in the prescription data is a registered image registered in advance in a pharmaceutical master or the like as a correct image of the tablet corresponding to the identification information.

[0365] First, with reference to FIG. 55, a case where the image aud...

Claims

【Claim 1】 A first processing unit that identifies whether the method of forming the identification information of the tablet is either engraving or printing according to a selection operation by the user, photographs the tablet in a preset lighting environment corresponding to the identified forming method, and registers the photographed image as a registered image; A second processing unit that determines whether the tablet corresponding to the photographed image and the tablet corresponding to the registered image are of the same type by comparing the photographed image of the tablet photographed by the photographing unit used for photographing the tablet when the registered image is registered by the first processing unit with the registered image; Comprising: The lighting environment corresponding to the case where the forming method is engraving is an environment in which light is irradiated on the tablet from the side or obliquely above; The lighting environment corresponding to the case where the forming method is printing is an environment in which light is irradiated on the tablet from above. Device.

Images