Drug dispensing device, adjustment method

Abstract

To provide a medicine photographing device that can reduce the work required by a user when measuring the shape of a medicine, and a medicine shape measuring device and a medicine dispensing device that are equipped with the same. [Solution] The medicine photographing device 7 includes a medicine holding unit 81, an illumination unit 82, a photographing unit 83, a housing 71, and a rotation support unit. The medicine holding unit 81, the illumination unit 82, and the photographing unit 83 are housed in a light-blocking housing, and the medicine holding unit 81 is disposed between the illumination unit 82 and the photographing unit 83, can hold the medicine at a light-transmitting portion, and can be rotated by the rotation support unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug photographing device used when measuring the shape of a drug, and a drug shape measuring device and a drug dispensing device including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a drug dispensing device that includes a plurality of tablet cassettes each containing a predetermined type of tablet, and automatically dispenses the tablets contained in each of the tablet cassettes (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 recent years, there has also been known a drug dispensing device capable of corresponding to the dispensing of any type of tablet by setting the driving conditions of the tablet cassette according to the shape of the tablet. The driving conditions of the tablet cassette are, for example, the width and height of the dispensing path of the tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette. When using this type of tablet cassette, it is necessary to measure the shape of the tablet in advance. However, the work of manually measuring the shape of the tablet by the user is complicated. In addition, when the user measures the shape of the tablet and sets the driving conditions, there is a risk of human error.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a drug photographing device capable of reducing the labor of the user when measuring the shape of a drug, and a drug shape measuring device and a drug dispensing device including the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The drug photographing apparatus according to the present invention includes a photographing unit, a drug holding unit, a housing, and a rotation support unit. The photographing unit includes an illumination unit and a photographing unit. The drug holding unit is disposed between the illumination unit and the photographing unit and can hold a drug at a light-transmissive portion. The housing houses the photographing unit and the drug holding unit. The housing has light-shielding properties. The rotation support unit rotatably supports one or both of the photographing unit and the drug holding unit.

[0007] Thereby, the user can easily photograph the shadow image of the drug from different directions by the photographing unit and the illumination unit only by rotating the drug holding unit rotatably supported by the rotation support unit. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the labor of the user when specifying the shape of the drug by image processing based on the shadow images of the drug photographed from different directions.

[0008] In particular, it is conceivable that the rotation support unit rotatably supports the drug holding unit, and the illumination unit and the photographing unit are fixed to the housing. Thereby, since it is only necessary to have a space in which the drug holding unit disposed between the illumination unit and the photographing unit can rotate, it is possible to reduce the size of the drug photographing apparatus as compared with the case where the illumination unit and the photographing unit are rotated.

[0009] Further, it is conceivable that the rotation support unit rotatably supports the drug holding unit between a first posture and a second posture predetermined as postures during photographing by the photographing unit. Thereby, the user can easily shift the state of the drug holding unit to the first posture and the second posture by rotating the drug holding unit to the limit in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

[0010] Further, the chemical holding part may include a chemical placing part having a chemical placing surface on which the chemical is placed, a pair of holding parts having holding surfaces for holding the chemical placed on the chemical placing part, and a placing reference part provided on the chemical placing surface and having a placing reference surface for determining a placing reference position of the chemical in a direction perpendicular to the holding direction of the chemical by the holding parts and parallel to the chemical placing surface. Thereby, the user can easily set the chemical with respect to the chemical holding part at a predetermined position. More specifically, it is conceivable that the first posture is a posture in which the photographing part is located in a direction perpendicular to the chemical placing surface, and the second posture is a posture in which the photographing part is located in a direction perpendicular to the holding direction and parallel to the chemical placing surface.

[0011] Further, the chemical placing surface may have an inclination at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane or a vertical plane in each of the first posture and the second posture, may be inclined downward toward the placing reference surface in the first posture, and may be inclined upward toward the placing reference surface in the second posture. Thereby, the chemical placed on the placing reference surface can reduce the risk of the chemical falling from the placing reference surface in both the first posture and the second posture.

[0012] At this time, it is conceivable that the rotation support part rotatably supports the chemical holding part with a predetermined position of the placing reference part as a rotation center, and the photographing part is fixed at a position where it can photograph the chemical placed on the chemical placing surface of the chemical holding part in the second posture from the side of the placing reference surface. Thereby, the change in the distance from the chemical of the chemical holding part to the photographing part in the first posture and the distance from the chemical of the chemical holding part to the photographing part in the second posture is suppressed.

[0013] Further, it is conceivable that the holding surfaces of the pair of holding parts expand toward the placing reference surface. Thereby, when the chemical holding part is rotated, the risk of the chemical falling from the chemical placing surface is reduced.

[0014] In addition, it is conceivable that the chemical imaging device further includes a clamping support portion that supports the pair of clamping portions so as to be relatively close to and separable from each other, an elastic member that increases the movement resistance of the clamping support portion, and a pressing portion that separates the elastic member from the clamping support portion in response to a pressing operation. As a result, the position of the clamping support portion is stabilized, and it is also possible for the user to easily operate the clamping support portion.

[0015] In addition, it is conceivable that the chemical imaging device further includes a first rotation restricting portion that increases the rotational resistance of the chemical holding portion in the direction of departing from the first posture, and a second rotation restricting portion that increases the rotational resistance of the chemical holding portion in the direction of departing from the second posture. As a result, since the free rotation of the chemical holding portion is restricted, it can be stabilized in the first posture or the second posture.

[0016] Incidentally, the present invention may be regarded as an invention of a chemical shape measuring device including the chemical imaging device and a shape measuring means for measuring the shape of the chemical based on a captured image captured by the imaging unit in a plurality of states in which the rotational postures of the chemical holding portion are different. Here, it is conceivable that the shape measuring means measures either one or both of the shape type and dimensions of the chemical as the shape of the chemical.

[0017] By using the chemical shape measuring device, the user can easily and accurately obtain a measurement result of the shape of the chemical by simply performing a simple imaging operation using the chemical imaging device to image the chemical.

[0018] In particular, in a configuration where the illumination unit and the imaging unit are fixed to the housing, and the rotation support unit rotatably supports the chemical holding unit between a first posture and a second posture that are predetermined as postures during imaging by the imaging unit, it is conceivable that the shape measurement means selects the shape type of the chemical from a plurality of predetermined shape types. Specifically, it is conceivable that the shape measurement means selects the shape type of the chemical according to a combination of the contour shape of the chemical identified based on a first captured image captured in the first posture and the contour shape of the chemical identified based on a second captured image captured in the second posture. According to such a configuration, since it is not necessary to identify an arbitrary shape type, it is possible to identify the shape type of the chemical by a predetermined simple processing step.

[0019] Moreover, it is conceivable that the chemical shape measurement device further includes an attitude detection means and an imaging control means. The attitude detection means detects the rotation attitude of the chemical holding unit. The imaging control means illuminates the chemical with the illumination unit and images the chemical with the imaging unit when a predetermined rotation attitude is detected by the attitude detection means. Thereby, the user can image the chemical only by displacing the rotation attitude of the chemical holding unit.

[0020] Also, it is conceivable that the attitude detection means detects the rotation attitude of the chemical holding unit according to the presence or absence of a predetermined specific image included in the captured image. Thereby, since it is not necessary to add hardware for detecting the rotation attitude, the number of components can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention may be regarded as a medicine dispensing device including the medicine shape measuring device, a medicine cassette, drive condition setting means, and drive control means. The medicine cassette can dispense any type of medicine by changing drive conditions. The drive condition setting means sets the drive conditions of the medicine cassette according to the shape of the medicine measured by the medicine shape measuring device. The drive control means drives the medicine cassette according to the drive conditions set by the drive condition setting means to dispense the medicine from the medicine cassette.

[0022] In the medicine dispensing device, by setting the drive conditions according to the shape of the medicine measured by the medicine shape measuring device, it is possible to drive the medicine cassette to dispense the medicine. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing device, it is possible to dispense even a medicine for which drive conditions have not been set in advance using the medicine cassette.

[0023] More specifically, the medicine dispensing device may further include a storage unit that stores drive correspondence information in which the shape of the medicine specified by the medicine shape measuring device or the drive conditions corresponding to the shape of the medicine are associated with medicine information that can identify the medicine, and allocation means for allocating the medicine information to one of the medicine cassettes when the medicine information of the dispensing target is input. Then, the drive control means drives the medicine cassette to which the medicine information has been allocated by the allocation means according to the drive conditions associated with the medicine information in the drive correspondence information.

[0024] For example, the drive conditions include any one or more of pre-drive conditions related to adjustment of the medicine cassette before starting to dispense the medicine from the medicine cassette, drive-in conditions related to drive control during dispensing the medicine from the medicine cassette, and drive-stop conditions related to drive control when stopping dispensing the medicine from the medicine cassette.

[0025] Specifically, it is conceivable that the chemical cassette includes a path adjustment means for changing either one or both of the height and width of the dispensing path for dispensing the chemical from the chemical storage section in which the chemical is stored. In this case, it is conceivable that the pre-driving condition includes either one or both of the height and width of the dispensing path.

[0026] Further, it is conceivable that the chemical cassette includes a conveying means for conveying the chemical from the chemical storage section in which the chemical is stored toward the dispensing port. In this case, it is conceivable that the condition during driving includes the conveying speed of the chemical by the conveying means. Also, it is conceivable that the condition at the time of stopping driving includes the slow-down timing or deceleration of the conveying speed of the chemical when stopping the dispensing of the chemical from the chemical cassette. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the condition at the time of stopping driving includes the presence or absence of the reverse rotation operation of the conveying means when stopping the dispensing of the chemical from the chemical cassette.

Advantages of the Invention

[0027] According to the present invention, there are provided a chemical photographing device capable of reducing the work of measuring the shape of a chemical by a user, and a chemical shape measuring device and a chemical dispensing device including the same.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] 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 merely examples of embodying the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0030] <First Embodiment> First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the schematic configuration of the medicine dispensing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the medicine dispensing device 100 includes a prescription control unit 1, a tablet supply unit 2, a powder supply unit 3, a hand - dispensing unit 4, a packaging unit 5, a packaging control unit 6, a medicine imaging device 7, and a barcode reader 8, etc. In the present embodiment, a case where the prescription control unit 1 and the medicine imaging device 7, which are part of the components included in the medicine dispensing device 100, constitute the medicine shape measuring device according to the present invention will be described as an example. On the other hand, it is also conceivable as another embodiment that a medicine shape measuring device including the medicine imaging device 7 and a control device that executes the medicine shape measurement process described later is connected to the medicine dispensing device 100.

[0032] The prescription control unit 1, the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, the manual dispensing unit 4, the packaging unit 5, and the packaging control unit 6 are connected by an internal bus N1. Further, the medicine photographing device 7 is communicably connected to the prescription control unit 1 via a cable N2 such as a USB cable, an RS232C cable, or a LAN cable. Furthermore, the prescription control unit 1 and the barcode reader 8 are capable of wireless communication according to a communication standard such as wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark). Then, the medicine dispensing device 100 is controlled by the prescription control unit 1 and the packaging control unit 6, and packages and dispenses tablets and powders supplied from the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, and the manual dispensing unit 4 in packaging units such as the taking time by the packaging unit 5.

[0033] [Tablet supply unit 2] The tablet supply unit 2 includes a plurality of fixed cassettes 21 capable of dispensing a predetermined specific type of tablet one by one (unit amount), and a plurality of variable cassettes 22 (an example of a medicine cassette) capable of dispensing any type of tablet one by one (unit amount) by changing drive conditions.

[0034] Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 1, 54 fixed cassettes 21 with a vertical 6 × horizontal 9 arrangement are provided, and 4 variable cassettes 22 with a vertical 1 × horizontal 4 arrangement are provided. The tablets that can be dispensed by the fixed cassettes 21 and the variable cassettes 22 include solid medicines in various forms such as disk-shaped, spherical, or capsule-shaped. It is also conceivable as another embodiment that the tablet supply unit 2 does not have the fixed cassettes 21 and has only a plurality of the variable cassettes 22.

[0035] Each of the fixed cassettes 21 is configured to be detachable from each of the mounting portions 211 provided in the tablet supply unit 2. Each of the mounting portions 211 includes a first drive unit 23 for individually driving the fixed cassette 21. Each of the first drive units 23 includes a drive motor 231 and an RFID reader / writer 232. The drive motor 231 supplies a driving force to the drive mechanism of the fixed cassette 21. The RFID reader / writer 232 is an information reading means for reading and writing information using the radio communication technology of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) with respect to an RFID tag (not shown) provided in the fixed cassette 21.

[0036] Note that the installation positions of the RFID tag (not shown) and the RFID reader / writer 232 may be relatively determined as long as the RFID reader / writer 232 can read and write information of the RFID tag (not shown) in a state where the fixed cassette 21 is mounted on the mounting portion 211.

[0037] The RFID tag (not shown) is a non-volatile recording medium in which cassette identification information for identifying each of the fixed cassettes 21 and the like is stored, and the cassette identification information is written by the prescription control unit 1 in the initial setting of the medicine dispensing device 100 and the like.

[0038] Each of the variable cassettes 22 is configured to be detachable from each of the mounting portions 221 provided in the tablet supply unit 2. Note that a configuration in which each of the variable cassettes 22 can be pulled out with respect to the mounting portion 221 is also considered as another embodiment. Each of the mounting portions 221 includes a second drive unit 24 for individually driving the variable cassette 22.

[0039] Each of the second drive units 24 includes a drive motor 241 to 244 and an RFID reader / writer 245. The drive motors 241 to 244 supply a driving force to the drive mechanism of the variable cassette 22. The RFID reader / writer 245 is information reading means for reading and writing information using RFID wireless communication technology with respect to an RFID tag 26 (see FIG. 6) provided on the variable cassette 22.

[0040] Note that the installation locations of the RFID tag 26 and the RFID reader / writer 245 may be relatively determined as long as the RFID reader / writer 245 can read and write information of the RFID tag 26 in a state where the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221.

[0041] The RFID tag 26 is a non-volatile recording medium on which cassette identification information for identifying each of the variable cassettes 22 and drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 in a later-described drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11) are recorded.

[0042] The drug information is information capable of identifying the type of tablets (drugs), and is, for example, a drug name, a drug ID, a drug code, a JAN code, an RSS code, a QR code (registered trademark), etc. Note that the JAN code and the RSS code are information of numerical values or characters expressed by a one-dimensional code (barcode, GS1 code), and the QR code (registered trademark) is information of numerical values or characters indicated by a two-dimensional code.

[0043] Incidentally, the number of the variable cassettes 22 and the number of the mounting portions 221 do not necessarily have to match. For example, it is conceivable that a user can select an arbitrary one of the variable cassettes 22 in a number larger than the number of the mounting portions 221 and mount it on the mounting portion 221. In particular, a configuration including a plurality of variable cassettes 22 that can be mounted corresponding to each of the mounting portions 221 is conceivable. This also applies to the fixed cassette 21 and the mounting portion 211.

[0044] [Fixed cassette 21] Here, with reference to FIG. 3, an example of the fixed cassette 21 will be described. Note that the structure of the fixed cassette 21 described here is merely an example, and other structures may be used as long as they have the same function. FIG. 3 is a view in which a cover member covering the upper part of the fixed cassette 21 is omitted.

[0045] In each of the fixed cassettes 21, since the type of tablets to be stored is predetermined, for example, on the front surface of each of the fixed cassettes 21, the drug information of the tablets stored in the fixed cassette 21 is pre-recorded.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed cassette 21 includes a tablet storage portion 212 for storing a large number of tablets, and a tablet discharge portion 213 for individually discharging the tablets stored in the tablet storage portion 212. The tablet discharge portion 213 is provided in a recess formed in a substantially central portion of the tablet storage portion 212, and the tablets in the tablet storage portion 212 sequentially descend toward the tablet discharge portion 213.

[0047] The tablet discharge portion 213 includes a rotor 214 rotatably supported by the housing of the fixed cassette 21, and an inner wall 214A covering the outer periphery of the rotor 214. When the fixed cassette 21 is mounted on the mounting portion 211, the rotor 214 is connected to the drive motor 231 of the first drive portion 23 via a drive transmission system (not shown) such as various gears. Further, ribs 215 and 216 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 214 at predetermined arrangement intervals. As a result, gaps 217 surrounded by the rib 215, the rib 216, and the inner wall 214A are intermittently formed on the outer periphery of the rotor 214. The width of the gap 217 is determined according to the type of tablets predetermined as the tablets stored in the fixed cassette 21, and corresponds to the width of one tablet of the tablets.

[0048] Also, a gap 218 extending across the entire outer peripheral surface of the rotor 214 is formed between the rib 215 and the rib 216. Here, the heights of the upper ends of the rib 215 and the rib 216 are determined according to the types of tablets predetermined as the tablets to be accommodated in the fixed cassette 21. Specifically, the height of the upper end of the rib 215 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the height of three tablets, and three tablets are inserted into each of the gaps 217 of the rotor 213. Further, the height of the upper end of the rib 216 corresponds to the height of one tablet.

[0049] On the other hand, a discharge port 219 for discharging tablets from the rotor 214 is formed in the inner wall 214A, and a partition plate 220 inserted into the gap 218 is provided at the discharge port 219. Thereby, at the discharge port 219, among the three tablets inserted into the gap 217, the upper two tablets are restricted from falling by the partition plate 220, and only the lower one tablet is discharged. Therefore, in the fixed cassette 21, when the rotor 214 is driven by the drive motor 231, the tablets accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion 212 are discharged one by one.

[0050] [Variable cassette 22] Next, an example of the variable cassette 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. Note that the structure of the variable cassette 22 described here is merely an example, and any other structure may be used as long as it can dispense any tablet one by one. For example, other examples of the variable cassette 22 are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-535683 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-115493.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the variable cassette 22 includes a tablet storage portion 222 that stores a large number of tablets, and a first rotating body 223 and a second rotating body 224 that dispense tablets from the tablet storage portion 222. FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams in which a cover member covering the upper portion of the variable cassette 22 is omitted. Further, the variable cassette 22 only needs to be able to dispense tablets in predetermined unit amounts, and for example, it may be configured to be able to dispense tablets in plural units instead of in single-tablet units.

[0052] The first rotating body 223 is a disk-shaped member that constitutes the bottom surface of the tablet storage portion 222. The rotation axis of the first rotating body 223 is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction, and the upper surface of the first rotating body 223 is inclined by the predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane. Further, radial ribs 223A are formed on the upper surface of the first rotating body 223 at predetermined intervals. The first rotating body 223 is rotatably supported by the housing of the variable cassette 22 and is connected to a drive gear 223B shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0053] The second rotating body 224 is a hollow annular member disposed around the first rotating body 223 in a plan view, and is an example of a conveying member that conveys the tablets in the tablet storage portion 222 to a discharge port 225 and discharges them from the discharge port 225. The upper end portion of the first rotating body 223 is located on the same horizontal plane as the second rotating body 224. The second rotating body 224 is rotatably supported by the housing of the variable cassette 22, and a drive gear 224A shown in FIG. 6 is formed on the outer peripheral surface.

[0054] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting portion 221 includes a drive gear 221A that is connected to the drive gear 223B of the first rotating body 223 when the variable cassette 22 is mounted, and a drive gear 221B that is connected to the drive gear 224A of the second rotating body 224. The drive gear 221A is connected to the drive motor 241 of the second drive portion 24, and the drive gear 221B is connected to the drive motor 242 of the second drive portion 24.

[0055] Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the variable cassette 22 includes a height regulating member 226 and a width regulating member 227 disposed on the dispensing path of the tablets conveyed to the discharge port 225 by the second rotating body 224.

[0056] The height regulating member 226 regulates the height dimension of the tablets that can be conveyed to the discharge port 225 by the second rotating body 224, and the width regulating member 227 regulates the width dimension of the tablets that can be conveyed to the discharge port 225 by the second rotating body 224. Thus, in the variable cassette 22, only the tablets that fit within the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 among the tablets placed on the second rotating body 224 are discharged from the discharge port 225. Therefore, in the variable cassette 22, when the height h1 and the width w1 are greater than the height and width of one tablet and less than the height and width of at least two tablets accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion 222, the tablets can be discharged one by one.

[0057] The variable cassette 22 includes a height adjusting portion 226A for changing the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 and a width adjusting portion 227A for changing the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227. Here, the height adjusting portion 226A and the width adjusting portion 227A are examples of path adjusting means. On the outer peripheral surface of the width adjusting portion 227A, a pinion gear meshing with a rack (gear) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the long hole 227B formed in the width regulating member 227 is formed.

[0058] The height adjusting portion 226A is rotatably supported by the housing of the variable cassette 22 and is connected to a drive gear 226B shown in FIG. 6. The height adjusting portion 226A is rotationally driven to move the position of the lower end portion of the height regulating member 226 up and down, thereby changing the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226.

[0059] The width adjustment part 227A is rotatably supported by the housing of the variable cassette 22 and is connected to the drive gear 227C shown in FIG. 6. When the width adjustment part 227A is rotationally driven, the protruding amount of the width regulating member 227 toward the tablet accommodating part 222 is changed, and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 is changed. Specifically, the protruding amount of the width regulating member 227 toward the tablet accommodating part 222 is changed by the relative movement of the width adjustment part 227A and the long hole 227B in the direction of arrow R3 (see FIG. 4) due to the rotation of the width adjustment part 227A.

[0060] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting part 221 includes a drive gear 221C connected to the drive gear 226B and a drive gear 221D connected to the drive gear 227C when the variable cassette 22 is mounted. The drive gear 221C is connected to the drive motor 243 of the second drive part 24, and the drive gear 221D is connected to the drive motor 244 of the second drive part 24.

[0061] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the variable cassette 22 and the mounting part 221 include a drive gear 228A and a drive gear 228B that are connected when the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting part 221. The drive gear 228A is connected to a lifting mechanism (not shown) that moves the first rotating body 223 up and down in the vertical direction, and the drive gear 228B is connected to a drive motor (not shown). Thereby, when the drive motor is driven, the driving force is transmitted from the drive gear 228B to the drive gear 228A, and the first rotating body 223 can be moved up and down by the lifting mechanism. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing device 100, by moving the first rotating body 223 up and down, it is possible to change the volume inside the tablet accommodating part 222, and it is possible to arbitrarily adjust the number of tablets that can be accommodated in the tablet accommodating part 222. Therefore, the variable cassette 22 can be used for both applications with a small number of tablets to be accommodated and applications with a large number of tablets to be accommodated.

[0062] In the variable cassette 22, when the first rotating body 223 rotates in the rotation direction R1 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), the tablets in the tablet storage portion 222 are discharged from the first rotating body 223 to the second rotating body 224. Further, in the variable cassette 22, when the second rotating body 224 rotates in the rotation direction R2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), the tablets on the second rotating body 224 are conveyed toward the discharge port 225. Here, the second rotating body 224 is an example of a conveying means.

[0063] However, among the tablets conveyed by the second rotating body 224, the tablets stacked in the height direction come into contact with the height regulating member 226 and are returned to the tablet storage portion 222. Further, among the tablets conveyed by the second rotating body 224, the tablets conveyed side by side in the width direction come into contact with the width regulating member 227 and are returned to the tablet storage portion 222.

[0064] As a result, in the variable cassette 22, the tablets having a size corresponding to the height h1 regulated by the height regulating portion 226 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 are conveyed to the discharge port 225 in a state where they are arranged one by one in the circumferential direction on the second rotating body 224. Therefore, in the variable cassette 22, it is possible to dispense the tablets stored in the tablet storage portion 222 one by one, and it is possible to control the dispensing amount of the tablets.

[0065] Thus, by using the variable cassette 22, since the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 can be changed, it is possible to dispense any type of tablet one by one.

[0066] Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of the variable cassettes 22 is provided with a display portion 25 whose display content can be changed. Here, the display portion 25 is an electronic paper that maintains the display of the display content even in a non-energized state after the display content is written by energization.

[0067] Specifically, each of the variable cassette 22 and the mounting portion 221 is provided with a contact-type connector (not shown) that is connected when the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221. Here, the display unit 25 is connected to the connector on the variable cassette 22 side, and the prescription control unit 1 is connected to the connector on the mounting portion 221 side. When the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221, the display unit 25 and the prescription control unit 1 are electrically connected by the connector. Thereby, the prescription control unit 1 can change the display of each of the display units 25. Note that the display unit 25 is not limited to an electronic paper, and may be other display means such as a liquid crystal display. Further, it is also conceivable that the display unit 25 is provided in the mounting portion 221 on which the variable cassette 22 is mounted corresponding to each of the variable cassettes 22.

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the variable cassettes 22 incorporates an RFID tag 26 that stores various types of information. The RFID tag 26 is a non-volatile recording medium whose stored information can be rewritten by the RFID reader / writer 245, and is used for storing, as described above, the cassette identification information of each of the variable cassettes 22 and the drug information assigned to each of the variable cassettes 22. The RFID tag 26 is mounted on a control board provided in each of the variable cassettes 22, and the control board also has a function of changing the display of the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 according to a control signal from the prescription control unit 1. Note that the control board is driven by electric power supplied via the connector, electric power supplied from a power storage unit such as a battery mounted on the control board, or electric power supplied when information is written to the RFID tag 26. Also, it is considered as another embodiment that each of the variable cassettes 22 has another recording medium such as an EEPROM to which the prescription control unit 1 can read and write information via the connector instead of the RFID tag 26.

[0069] [Powder supply unit 3] As shown in FIG. 1, the powder supply unit 3 includes two input parts 31 and 32, and supplies the powder input into each of the input parts 31 and 32 to the packaging unit 5 in packaging units such as the taking time preset by the prescription control unit 1.

[0070] Specifically, the powder supply unit 3 includes a discharging part that evenly spreads the powder input into the input part 31 on a disk and scrapes it out at predetermined angles corresponding to the packaging unit, and a discharging part that evenly spreads the powder input into the input part 32 on a disk and scrapes it out at predetermined angles corresponding to the packaging unit. The powder input into the powder supply unit 3 has been previously weighed using a weighing device as the total amount of the prescription drugs prescribed for the patient.

[0071] [Manual dispensing unit 4] The manual dispensing unit 4 includes a manual storage part provided with a plurality of cells into which tablets are input in packaging units such as a preset taking time, and a manual discharging part that discharges the tablets stored in each cell to the packaging unit 5 for each cell. In the manual storage part, the plurality of cells are arranged in a matrix. The manual discharging part can be configured to discharge the tablets stored in the cell by individually opening and closing the bottom surface of the cell of the manual storage part, for example. In the drug discharging device 100, the manual dispensing unit 4 is used to discharge tablets such as half tablets smaller than one tablet, for example, and since it is well known in the art, the description thereof is omitted here. Conventionally, the manual dispensing unit 4 has also been used when discharging any tablets not previously stored in the fixed cassette 21, but in the drug discharging device 100, any tablets can be discharged using the variable cassette 22. Of course, it is also possible to use the manual dispensing unit 4 to discharge any tablets not stored in the fixed cassette 21.

[0072] [Packaging unit 5] The sub-packaging unit 5 stores the drugs supplied from the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, and the manual dispensing unit 4 in a single sub-packaging paper in sub-packaging units such as the dosing time. For example, the sub-packaging unit 5 packages the drugs in the sub-packaging unit with a transparent or semi-transparent roll-shaped drug packaging sheet and seals it by welding or the like. Thereby, the drug packaging sheet in which the drugs are stored in the sub-packaging unit is discharged from the sub-packaging unit 5.

[0073] Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the drug packaging sheet 51 discharged from the sub-packaging unit 5. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of sub-packaging papers 52 in which a plurality of tablets are packaged in the sub-packaging unit are continuously formed on the drug packaging sheet 51, and between each of the sub-packaging papers 52, a cutting dotted line 52A (perforation) for easily separating each of the sub-packaging papers 52 is formed. When the prescription data includes powder, in the sub-packaging unit 5, it is also possible to co-pack the powder supplied from the powder supply unit 3 in the sub-packaging paper 52. Further, the sub-packaging unit 5 is provided with a printing unit (not shown) for printing information on each of the sub-packaging papers 52, and on the surface of each of the sub-packaging papers 52, prescription information such as the patient's name, dosing time, prescription drug, or prescribed dose can be printed by the printing unit (not shown).

[0074] [Sub-packaging control unit 6] As shown in FIG. 2, the sub-packaging control unit 6 includes a control unit 61 and a storage unit 62, and causes the drug dispensing device 100 to execute a sub-packaging operation by controlling the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, the manual dispensing unit 4, the sub-packaging unit 5, and the like. The sub-packaging control unit 6 is built in the drug dispensing device 100.

[0075] The control unit 61 is a control means having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, etc. The control unit 61 causes the CPU to execute various processes according to various programs pre-stored in storage means such as the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 62. Note that the RAM and the EEPROM are used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. Note that the control unit 61 may be an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or a DSP.

[0076] The storage unit 62 is a storage means such as a hard disk device or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various data. Specifically, the storage unit 62 pre-stores a packet control program for causing a computer such as the control unit 61 to execute a packet control process (see the right side of FIG. 11) described later. Note that the packet control program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a semiconductor memory, and is read from the recording medium by a reading device such as a disk drive (not shown) and installed in the storage unit 12. The present invention can be regarded as an invention of the computer-readable recording medium on which the packet control program is recorded.

[0077] [Barcode reader 8] The barcode reader 8 reads a code for identifying a drug, and is a portable terminal such as a PDA that reads a JAN code, an RSS code, or a QR code (registered trademark) described on a storage container (box, bottle, etc.) of tablets or a PTP sheet provided on a drug shelf in a pharmacy. Note that the barcode reader 8 may be a conventionally well-known picking assistance device used by, for example, a pharmacist for drug picking. The picking assistance device is used when a pharmacist or the like takes out a drug from a drug shelf according to a prescription and manually dispenses it. For example, the drug is read from the JAN code described on the storage container, and the read drug is collated with prescription data.

[0078] Then, the information read by the barcode reader 8 is input from the barcode reader 8 to the prescription control unit 1 by wireless communication. By using wireless communication in this way, the barcode reader 8 can be freely carried to the medicine dispensing device 100, the medicine shelf, etc., and the operation of putting tablets into the variable cassette 22 can be performed at any place. Of course, it is also conceivable that the barcode reader 8 is wired to the prescription control unit 1. When a plurality of the medicine dispensing devices 100 are provided in a pharmacy, the barcode readers 8 respectively pre-associated with each of the medicine dispensing devices 100 are provided individually.

[0079] [Prescription control unit 1] The prescription control unit 1 is a computer that comprehensively controls the medicine dispensing device 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the prescription control unit 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a monitor 13, an operation unit 14, a communication IF 15, etc.

[0080] The control unit 11 is a control means having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, etc. The control unit 11 causes the CPU to execute various processes according to various programs pre-stored in storage means such as the ROM, the EEPROM, or the storage unit 12. The CPU is a processor that executes various processes, and the RAM and the EEPROM are used as temporary storage memories (working areas) for various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 11 may be an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or a DSP.

[0081] The storage unit 12 is a storage means such as a hard disk device or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various data. Specifically, the storage unit 12 pre-stores a medicine dispensing program for causing a computer such as the control unit 11 to execute a medicine dispensing process (refer to the left side of FIG. 11) and an adjustment process (refer to FIG. 22) described later.

[0082] Incidentally, the drug dispensing program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, DVD, or semiconductor memory, and is read from the recording medium by a reading device such as a disk drive (not shown) and installed in the storage unit 12. The present invention can be regarded as an invention of the computer-readable recording medium on which the drug dispensing program is recorded.

[0083] In addition, various databases such as a pharmaceutical master, a patient master, a cassette master, and a pharmacy master are also stored in the storage unit 12. Incidentally, the control unit 11 can update the various databases stored in the storage unit 12 based on data read by a reading device such as a disk drive (not shown) from a recording medium such as a CD, DVD, or semiconductor memory. Further, the control unit 11 can also change the contents of the various databases according to a user operation on the operation unit 14.

[0084] The pharmaceutical master includes information on each drug such as drug ID, drug code, drug name, JAN code (or RSS code), medicine bottle code, classification (dosage form: powder, tablet, aqueous solution, external medicine, etc.), size of the tablet (height and width), specific gravity, drug type (ordinary drug, poison, narcotic, powerful drug, antipsychotic drug, therapeutic drug, etc.), formulation change, excipient, and precautions. The patient master includes information on patients such as patient ID, name, gender, age, medical history, prescription drug history, family information, department of medicine, ward, and room. The pharmacy master includes information on the pharmacy such as pharmacy name, name of the pharmacist, and ID of the pharmacist. In addition, the cassette master is information indicating the correspondence relationship between the cassette identification information of each of the fixed cassettes 21 and the drug information assigned to each of the fixed cassettes 21. The cassette master is registered by the control unit 11 according to a user operation of the operation unit 14 in the initial setting of the drug dispensing device 100, for example.

[0085] Further, the storage unit 12 stores allocation information 121 indicating the allocation state between the variable cassette 22 and the drug information, and drive correspondence information 122 indicating the correspondence between the drug information and the drive conditions of the variable cassette 22. The allocation information 121 and the drive correspondence information 122 are used in a drug dispensing process described later that is executed by the control unit 11.

[0086] Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the allocation information 121, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the drive correspondence information 122.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 9, in the allocation information 121, a drug ID indicating the type of tablet currently allocated to each of the variable cassettes 22 is stored as drug information. Of course, drug information such as a tablet name, a drug code, a JAN code (or an RSS code) may be stored instead of the drug ID. Also, here, it is assumed that cassette numbers “C1” to “C4” are preset as the cassette identification information for four of the variable cassettes 22 arranged in order from left to right in the tablet supply unit 2. The cassette identification information is also stored in the RFID tag 26 of each of the variable cassettes 22. Note that in the allocation information 121, it is stored that the variable cassette 22 to which drug information is not currently allocated is unallocated. Specifically, in the allocation information 121 shown in FIG. 9, drug information of drug ID “M1” is allocated to the variable cassette 22 with cassette number “C1”, and drug information of drug ID “M2” is allocated to the variable cassette 22 with cassette number “C3”. It is indicated that drug information has not yet been allocated to cassette numbers “C2” and “C4”. Note that the data structure of the allocation information 121 shown in FIG. 9 is merely an example, and the allocation information 121 may be stored in the storage unit 12 as, for example, one item of the drug master. In this case, the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 allocated to each drug included in the drug master is stored in association with each drug.

[0088] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the drive correspondence information 122 stores drive conditions that are preset corresponding to each of the drug information. The drive conditions include three types of conditions: a pre-drive condition related to the adjustment of the variable cassette 22 before starting the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22, a drive-in condition related to the drive control during the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22, and a drive-stop condition related to the drive control when stopping the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22.

[0089] Specifically, in the example of the drive correspondence information 122 shown in FIG. 10, as the drive conditions corresponding to each tablet with drug IDs "M1", "M2", "M3", and "M4", information regarding each item of the height of the dispensing path, the width of the dispensing path, the dispensing speed, the first slowdown, the second slowdown, and the reverse rotation operation is stored. Note that the drive conditions are merely examples, and for example, when the variable cassette 22 dispenses tablets one by one by vibration, it is conceivable that the vibration frequency or amplitude of the vibration is defined as the drive condition.

[0090] The height of the dispensing path and the width of the dispensing path are examples of the pre-drive conditions, and are the values of the height h1 and the width w1 (see FIG. 5) that are preset as values that enable the second rotating body 224 of the variable cassette 22 to dispense tablets one by one from the dispensing outlet 225.

[0091] The dispensing speed is an example of the driving conditions, and is a rotational speed suitable for each drug information as the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224 when dispensing tablets from the variable cassette 22. For example, if the size of the tablets is small, when the rotational speed of the drive motor 242 is high, the tablets are likely to be dispensed in excess before the drive motor 242 stops. On the other hand, if the size of the tablets is large, even if the rotational speed of the drive motor 242 is high, the tablets will not be dispensed in excess before the drive motor 242 stops. Therefore, for example, it is conceivable that the dispensing speed of the tablets set as the driving conditions, that is, the conveyance speed of the tablets by the second rotating body 224, varies depending on the size of the tablets. Specifically, it is conceivable that the dispensing speed when the size of the tablets is large is set to a value slower than the dispensing speed when the size of the tablets is small. Note that the dispensing speed is not limited to the format of [tablets / min] shown in FIG. 10, and may be stored in a format such as the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224 or the rotational speed of the drive motor 242. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that not only the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224 but also the rotational speed of the first rotating body 223 is set as the driving condition.

[0092] The first slowdown and the second slowdown are examples of the drive stop conditions, and are information regarding the execution timing of the slowdown that gradually decelerates the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224 when stopping the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22. The first slowdown defines the timing at which the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224 is decelerated to a predetermined first rotational speed. Further, the second slowdown defines the timing at which the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224 is decelerated from the first rotational speed to a slower second rotational speed. For example, when the shape of the tablets stored in the variable cassette 22 is rounded and easy to roll, there is a risk that the tablets will roll out after the drive of the second rotating body 224 is stopped. Therefore, for example, for tablets having a shape that is easy to roll, such as spherical tablets, the start timing of each of the first slowdown and the second slowdown is set earlier. In the present embodiment, the start timing of the first slowdown and the second slowdown is set according to the remaining number of tablets to be dispensed from the variable cassette 22. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the tablets from being dispensed in excess when the dispensing of the tablets from the variable cassette 22 is stopped. On the other hand, for tablets having a shape that is difficult to roll when the drive of the second rotating body 224 is stopped, the start timing of the first slowdown and the second slowdown is set late, so that the delay in the dispensing time due to the unnecessary slowdown is suppressed.

[0093] In addition, in the present embodiment, as the drive stop condition, the case where the start timing of the first slowdown and the second slowdown is set will be described. However, it is also conceivable that the deceleration rate of the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224 is set as the drive stop condition. For example, when the second rotating body 224 is suddenly stopped for tablets having a shape that is easy to roll, such as spherical tablets, there is a risk that they will roll and be dispensed in excess thereafter. Therefore, for example, for tablets having a shape that is easy to roll, it is conceivable to set the deceleration rate to be small.

[0094] In addition, the item of the reverse rotation operation is an example of the drive stop condition, and is information regarding whether or not to execute the reverse rotation operation that switches the tablet conveyance direction by the second rotating body 224 in the reverse direction when stopping the tablet payout from the variable cassette 22. For example, for tablets having a shape that is easy to roll, such as a spherical shape, where there is a risk that the tablets remaining on the second rotating body 224 may roll and be paid out excessively by simply stopping the drive of the second rotating body 224, the reverse rotation operation is set to "Yes". Thereby, it is possible to prevent the tablets from being paid out excessively when stopping the tablet payout from the variable cassette 22. For tablets having a shape that is not easy to roll when the drive of the second rotating body 224 is stopped, the reverse rotation operation is set to "No", and the unnecessary reverse rotation operation is not executed.

[0095] Note that the data structure of the drive correspondence information 122 shown in FIG. 10 is merely an example, and the drive conditions defined by the drive correspondence information 122 may be stored in the storage unit 12, for example, as one item of the drug master.

[0096] In addition, in the present embodiment, in the drive correspondence information 122, as the drive conditions (see FIG. 10) corresponding to each chemical information, the case where each item of the height of the dispensing path, the width of the dispensing path, the dispensing speed, the first slowdown, the second slowdown, and the reverse rotation operation is included will be described as an example. On the other hand, it is also conceivable as another embodiment that the chemical dispenser 100 uses any one or more of the items of the height of the dispensing path, the width of the dispensing path, the dispensing speed, the first slowdown, the second slowdown, and the reverse rotation operation as the drive conditions. That is, in the chemical dispenser 100, it is conceivable that any one or more of the pre-drive conditions, the in-drive conditions, and the drive-stop conditions are preset as the drive conditions corresponding to each chemical information. Further, a plurality of conditions such as the pre-drive conditions, the in-drive conditions, and the drive-stop conditions are preset as the drive conditions corresponding to each chemical information, and in the chemical dispenser 100, a configuration in which any one or more of the conditions such as the pre-drive conditions, the in-drive conditions, and the drive-stop conditions can be selected as the drive conditions to be used is also conceivable.

[0097] The monitor 13 is a display means such as a liquid crystal monitor that displays various information and operation screens according to a control instruction from the control unit 11. For example, various information such as a prescription data input screen and a prescription data selection screen is displayed on the monitor 13.

[0098] The operation unit 14 is an operation means 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 11. The operation unit 14 receives various operation inputs such as an input operation of prescription data on the input screen displayed on the monitor 13, a selection operation of prescription data on the selection screen, and an issuance operation of prescription data that requests the start of packaging of the prescription data.

[0099] The communication IF15 is a communication interface for connecting the medicine dispensing device 100 to a communication network N3 such as a LAN, and performs data communication with a higher-level system such as a prescription input terminal 200 connected via the communication network N3. The prescription input terminal 200 is, for example, an electronic medical record system arranged in a hospital, a long-term care facility, etc., or a dispensing management system arranged in a pharmacy inside or outside the hospital. The communication IF15 also includes a wireless communication interface such as a wireless communication card that performs wireless data communication with various wireless communication devices such as the barcode reader 8.

[0100] Then, the communication IF15 acquires prescription data from the prescription input terminal 200 and inputs the prescription data to the control unit 11. For example, the communication IF15 monitors whether prescription data is stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage means provided in the prescription input terminal 200, and reads the prescription data from the predetermined storage area when the prescription data is stored in the predetermined storage area. Of course, the communication IF15 may receive the prescription data transmitted from the prescription input terminal 200.

[0101] [Medicine Dispensing Process and Subpackaging Control Process] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 11, an example of the procedure of the medicine dispensing process executed by the control unit 11 of the prescription control unit 1 and the subpackaging control process executed by the control unit 61 of the subpackaging control unit 6 in the medicine dispensing device 100 will be described. Here, the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 11 are referred to as steps S1, S2, ···, and the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 61 are referred to as steps S11, S12, ···. It is also conceivable that a series of processes that can obtain the same processing results as the processing results of the medicine dispensing process and the subpackaging control process are executed by either the control unit 11 or the control unit 61.

[0102] (On the Prescription Control Unit 1 Side: Step S1) First, in step S1, the control unit 11 determines whether there is a request for issuing prescription data. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines that a request for issuing prescription data has been made when an issuing operation for issuing the pre-registered prescription data is performed on the operation unit 14. The prescription data is the prescription data acquired from a higher-level system such as the prescription input terminal 200 or registered by a user operation on the operation unit 14 and stored in the storage unit 12.

[0103] Here, the control unit 11 waits in step S1 until a request for issuing the prescription data is made (on the No side of S1). On the other hand, when the control unit 11 determines that there is a request for issuing the prescription data (on the Yes side of S1), the process proceeds to step S2. It is also conceivable as another embodiment that when the control unit 11 receives the prescription data from a higher-level system such as the prescription input terminal 200, the control unit 11 determines that there is a request for issuing the prescription data without requiring the issuing operation and proceeds the process to step S2.

[0104] (Prescription control unit 1 side: step S2) Next, in step S2, the control unit 11 determines whether there exists the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to all the drug information input as the drug information indicating the tablets to be dispensed according to the prescription data. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines, based on the cassette master stored in the storage unit 12, whether tablets not included in each of the fixed cassettes 21 are included as prescription drugs in the prescription data. The cassette master is updated by the control unit 11 based on the drug information read from RFID tags (not shown) provided in each of the fixed cassettes 21 by a reading device such as the RFID reader / writer 232 provided in each of the mounting parts 211. Also, the control unit 11 can display an editing screen for editing the cassette master on the monitor 13 and update the cassette master according to a user operation of the operation unit 14 on the editing screen.

[0105] Here, if it is determined that the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information to be dispensed does not exist (No side of S2), that is, if the prescription drug included in the prescription data includes a type of tablet that is not contained in the fixed cassette 21, the control unit 11 transitions the processing to step S3.

[0106] On the other hand, when it is determined that the fixed cassettes 21 corresponding to all of the medicine information to be dispensed exist (Yes side of S2), that is, when all types of tablets included as prescription drugs in the prescription data are stored in the fixed cassettes 21, the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S7. In this case, in step S7, a request to start a packaging operation similar to the conventional one is sent to the control unit 61 using each of the fixed cassettes 21, and the control unit 61 executes a process for executing the packaging operation.

[0107] In addition, in a configuration in which the medicine dispensing device 100 does not include the fixed cassette 21, the processing of step S2 can be omitted, and the control unit 11 can shift the processing to step S3 when it determines in step S1 that a request for issuance of the prescription data has been made.

[0108] In addition, it is conceivable that the storage unit 12 stores allocation exclusion drug information preset as drug information for which allocation to the variable cassette 22 is not executed. And when the control unit 11 determines that the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information of the dispensing target does not exist and the drug information of the dispensing target corresponds to the allocation exclusion drug information, it is conceivable that the monitor 13 is caused to display that the manual dispensing unit 4 should be used without executing the allocation to the variable cassette 22. For example, if a tablet with a high possibility of colored powder adhering to the inside of the variable cassette 22 is set as the allocation exclusion drug information, it is possible to prevent the colored powder from adhering to the tablets to be subsequently stored in the variable cassette 22. Also, for drugs with a shape for which dispensing with the variable cassette 22 is not appropriate, it is conceivable that the monitor 13 is caused to display that the manual dispensing unit 4 should be used. Note that it is also conceivable as another embodiment that the control unit 11 determines whether the drug information of the dispensing target corresponds to the allocation exclusion drug information without determining whether the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the drug information of the dispensing target exists. In this case, it is also conceivable as another embodiment that when the drug information of the dispensing target corresponds to the allocation exclusion drug information, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 to display that the manual dispensing unit 4 should be used without executing the allocation to the variable cassette 22.

[0109] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S3) In step S3, the control unit 11 allocates drug information for which the corresponding fixed cassette 21 does not exist among the drug information of the dispensing target input according to the prescription data to the unallocated variable cassette 22. Note that when the prescription data includes a plurality of pieces of drug information for which the corresponding fixed cassette 21 does not exist, the control unit 11 executes the allocation of the variable cassette 22 for each piece of such drug information. In this way, when drug information of the dispensing target is input according to the prescription data, the control unit 11 when executing the process (allocation step) for allocating the drug information to the variable cassette 22 is an example of allocation means.

[0110] Specifically, the control unit 11 executes a process of identifying the variable cassette 22 that is currently communicable (controllable) among each of the variable cassettes 22. For example, the control unit 11 determines that the variable cassette 22 in which information has been successfully read from the RFID tag 26 by the RFID reader / writer 232 among the variable cassettes 22 is in a communicable state.

[0111] Then, the control unit 11 determines whether there is an assignment of current drug information to each of the variable cassettes 22 that are currently communicable, based on the assignment information 121 (see FIG. 9), and assigns the drug information to be dispensed to the variable cassette 22 that has not been assigned. At this time, when the control unit 11 determines the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is to be assigned, the control unit 11 updates the content of the assignment information 121 according to the assignment result. In this way, the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned can communicate with the control unit 11, and the control unit 11 can write information to the electronic paper 25. Note that the control unit 11 may use each of the variable cassettes 22 as a candidate for an assignment target without determining the communicability of each of the variable cassettes 22.

[0112] Here, it is conceivable that there are a plurality of candidates for the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is to be assigned. In this case, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to assign the drug information based on, for example, a preset priority order among the variable cassettes 22, and it is conceivable to assign the drug information to the variable cassette 22 that is first determined to be unassigned. Further, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to assign the drug information in order from the variable cassette 22 with a lower number of uses so that the number of uses of each of the variable cassettes 22 becomes equal, and it is also conceivable to assign the drug information to the variable cassette 22 that is first determined to be unassigned. Furthermore, the control unit 11 may also select the variable cassette 22 in which the drug information assigned immediately before among each of the variable cassettes 22 is the same as the drug information to be assigned this time or the drug information with a tablet size close to that of the drug information to be assigned this time. Note that when there is no unassigned variable cassette 22, the control unit 11 notifies the user by displaying to that effect on the monitor 13.

[0113] Also, in step S3, the control unit 11 controls the RFID reader / writer 232 to record the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 in the RFID tag 26 of each of the variable cassettes 22 to which the drug information is assigned. At this time, the control unit 11 may also record various information such as the dispensing amount of the tablets indicated by the drug information, the patient name, the dispensing date and time, the name of the pharmacist in charge, and the identification information of the prescription based on the prescription data together with the drug information.

[0114] On the other hand, it is also conceivable in another embodiment that the drug information is not recorded in the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22. Specifically, it is conceivable that the cassette identification information is pre-recorded in the RFID tag 26 and the RFID reader / writer 245 is an RFID reader that can only read information. Even in this case, the control unit 11 can recognize the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 based on the cassette identification information read from the RFID tag 26 and the assignment information (see FIG. 9).

[0115] (On the side of the prescription control unit 1: Step S4) In step S4, the control unit 11 specifies drive conditions corresponding to the drug information of the dispensing target based on the drive correspondence information 122 (see FIG. 10), and transmits the drive conditions and the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned to the control unit 61. As a result, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 according to the drive conditions. By executing the process of step S4 in this way, the control unit 11 when driving the variable cassette 22 according to the drive conditions may be regarded as drive control means.

[0116] It is also conceivable in another embodiment that the control unit 11 displays the cassette identification information of each of the variable cassettes 22 and the setting content of the drive conditions corresponding to each of the variable cassettes 22 on the monitor 13, and changes the setting content of the drive conditions according to a user operation on the operation unit 14. The changed content of the drive conditions is notified from the control unit 11 to the control unit 61. As a result, it is possible to change the drive conditions of the variable cassette 22 when dispensing tablets from the variable cassette 22 by an arbitrary operation input of the user. Also, the user can confirm the setting content of the drive conditions corresponding to the drug information of the dispensing target by referring to the monitor 13.

[0117] Also, in step S4, when the drive conditions corresponding to the drug information are not stored in the drive correspondence information 122, it is conceivable that the control unit 11 executes an adjustment process described later and then shifts the process to step S5. As a result, it becomes possible to dispense tablets corresponding to the drug information not stored in the drive correspondence information 122 using the variable cassette 22.

[0118] (On the side of the subcontracting control unit 6: Step S11) On the other hand, in the subcontracting control unit 6, the control unit 61 determines, in step S11, whether or not the driving conditions are received from the control unit 11. Here, when the driving conditions are received (Yes side in S11), the control unit 61 causes the process to proceed to step S12, and while the driving conditions are not received (No side in S11), the control unit 61 causes the process to proceed to step S13. Note that the control unit 61 stores the driving conditions received from the control unit 11 in the storage unit 62 in association with the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned.

[0119] (Subcontracting control unit 6 side: Step S12) In step S12, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 corresponding to the cassette identification information received together with the driving conditions according to the pre-driving conditions among the driving conditions, and changes the height and width of the dispensing path. Thus, in the drug dispensing device 100, when the pre-driving conditions are included in the driving conditions, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 according to the pre-driving conditions (height and width of the dispensing path), and then executes the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22 (S14).

[0120] Specifically, the control unit 61 changes the type of tablets that can be dispensed from the variable cassette 22 in one-tablet units to the tablets indicated by the drug information assigned in step S3 by controlling the height adjustment unit 226A and the width adjustment unit 227A according to the driving conditions. First, the control unit 61 returns the positions of the height restricting member 226 and the width restricting member 227 to their initial states by driving the drive motor 233 and the drive motor 234. Then, the control unit 61 drives the height adjustment unit 226A by the drive motor 233, and changes the height h1 restricted by the height restricting member 226 of the variable cassette 22 to the height of the dispensing path determined by the driving conditions. Further, the control unit 61 drives the width adjustment unit 227A by the drive motor 234, and changes the width w1 restricted by the width restricting member 227 of the variable cassette 22 to the width of the dispensing path determined by the driving conditions. Of course, if the current states of the height restricting member 226 and the width restricting member 227 can be detected, the control unit 61 may drive the drive motor 233 and the drive motor 234 based on the detection results.

[0121] When the height h1 and the width w1 of the dispensing path are changed according to the driving conditions in this way, in the variable cassette 22, it becomes possible to dispense the tablets indicated by the drug information assigned in step S3 in one-tablet units, and the dispensing amount of the tablets can be controlled. Here, the control unit 61 when executing the process (drive control step) of step S12 is an example of drive control means.

[0122] In addition, when the drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22, a state where the variable cassette 22 is not attached to the attachment portion 221 may be considered. In this case, in step S12, the variable cassette 22 cannot be driven according to the pre-driving conditions. Therefore, the control unit 61 stores and updates at any time the flag information indicating whether the driving conditions received from the control unit 11 are reflected in the variable cassette 22 in the storage unit 62. Then, the control unit 61 refers to the flag information at the start of the subcontracting operation in step S14 described later, and if the driving conditions are not reflected in the variable cassette 22 used in the subcontracting operation, the variable cassette 22 is driven according to the pre-driving conditions before executing the subcontracting operation, and the height h1 and width w1 of the dispensing path are changed.

[0123] In addition, a configuration in which the pre-driving conditions are not included in the driving conditions and the height h1 and width w1 of the dispensing path can be arbitrarily adjusted by manually operating the height adjustment unit 226A and the width adjustment unit 227A of the variable cassette 22 is also considered as another embodiment. In this case, after the user adjusts the height h1 and width w1 of the dispensing path of the variable cassette 22, the variable cassette 22 is attached to the attachment portion 221 of the tablet supply unit 2. Note that the height adjustment unit 226A and the width adjustment unit 227A may be configured to be operable by a rotational operation using a tool such as a driver.

[0124] (Prescription control unit 1 side: Step S5) Next, in step S5, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information was assigned in step S3 to display the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22.

[0125] For example, the control unit 11 extracts information on display items preset from the prescription data and causes the display unit 25 to display it. Specifically, the drug name (drug ID), dispensed quantity, and JAN code (barcode) of the tablets assigned to the variable cassette 22 are displayed on the display unit 25. Note that various types of information such as the patient's name, dispensing date and time, or the person in charge of assignment may be displayed on the display unit 25.

[0126] Here, since the display unit 25 is an electronic paper, after the drug information is displayed in step S5, even if the variable cassette 22 is removed from the mounting unit 221, the display state of the display unit 25 is maintained. Therefore, the user can confirm the drug information to be put into the variable cassette 22 based on the display of the display unit 25 even if the variable cassette 22 is moved to a medicine shelf or the like, for example. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress human error of the user when tablets are put into the variable cassette 22. Also, a configuration may be considered in which the control unit 11 prohibits the removal of the variable cassette 22 from a locking mechanism provided in the mounting unit 221 until the drug information is displayed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22. Note that it is also conceivable that the control unit 11 executes step 5 on the condition that the adjustment of the height and width of the dispensing path in the variable cassette 22 is completed according to the pre-drive condition in the variable cassette 22.

[0127] (Prescription control unit 1 side: step S6) After that, in step S6, the control unit 11 determines whether a filling completion operation indicating that the filling of tablets into the variable cassette 22 has been completed has been performed on the operation unit 14. Specifically, when the drug information is assigned to the variable cassette 22 in step S3 and the drug information is displayed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22, the user removes the variable cassette 22 from the tablet supply unit 2. Then, the user puts the required number of tablets into the variable cassette 22 while referring to the prescription form corresponding to the prescription data or the drug information displayed on the display unit 25. After that, the user attaches the variable cassette 22 to the tablet supply unit 2 and performs the filling completion operation on the operation unit 14. When a plurality of drug information is assigned to a plurality of the variable cassettes 22 in step S3, in step S6, it is determined whether the filling completion operation of the tablets into all the variable cassettes 22 corresponding to each drug information has been performed.

[0128] Here, until the filling completion operation is performed (No side of S6), the control unit 11 waits for the process in step S6. On the other hand, when it is determined that the filling completion operation has been performed (Yes side of S6), the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S7.

[0129] (Prescription control unit 1 side: step S7) In step S7, the control unit 11 transmits a start request for the packaging operation based on the prescription data to the control unit 61.

[0130] In particular, for the packaging operation of the tablets included in the drug information indicated as the dispensing target in the prescription data and not present in the fixed cassette 21, the control unit 11 transmits a start request according to, for example, the following procedure.

[0131] First, the control unit 11 reads the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 from the RFID tag 26 of the variable cassette 22 mounted on each of the mounting units 221, and identifies the variable cassette 22 currently mounted on each of the mounting units 221. As a result, since the control unit 11 can identify the variable cassette 22 mounted on each of the mounting units 221, the user can mount each of the variable cassettes 22 on any of the mounting units 221. For example, even when a plurality of drug information is assigned to a plurality of the variable cassettes 22 in step S3 and each of the variable cassettes 22 is removed and then the mounting locations of each of the variable cassettes 22 are swapped and mounted, the control unit 11 can determine the mounting unit 221 on which each of the variable cassettes 22 is mounted.

[0132] Then, based on the prescription data, the control unit 11 identifies each of the variable cassettes 22 in which the tablets indicated by each of the drug information are stored among the variable cassettes 22 based on the allocation information 121. After that, for each of the drug information shown in the prescription data, the control unit 11 transmits information necessary for the packaging operation, such as the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned, the identification information of the mounting unit 221 on which the variable cassette 22 is mounted, and the dispensing amount of the tablets, to the control unit 61.

[0133] (On the side of the packaging control unit 6: Step S13) On the other hand, in the packaging control unit 6, the control unit 61 determines whether there is a start request for the packaging operation from the control unit 11 in step S13. Here, when the start request for the packaging operation is received (on the Yes side of S13), the control unit 61 shifts the process to step S14, and while the start request for the packaging operation has not been received (on the No side of S13), the control unit 61 shifts the process to step S14.

[0134] (On the side of the packaging control unit 6: Step S14) In step S14, in accordance with the start request of the sub-packaging operation, the control unit 61 causes the tablet supply unit 2, the powder supply unit 3, and the manual dispensing unit 4 to dispense the necessary drugs, and executes a sub-packaging operation in which the sub-packaging unit 5 performs sub-packaging in sub-packaging units such as the taking time. Note that since the control of the powder supply unit 3, the manual dispensing unit 4, and the sub-packaging unit 5 is the same as the conventional one, the description thereof is omitted here, and only the tablet dispensing operation by the tablet supply unit 2 will be described.

[0135] For the tablet supply unit 2, the control unit 61 changes the rotational speed of the drive motor 242 of the second drive unit 24 that is driven when dispensing tablets from the variable cassette 22 according to the drive conditions corresponding to the drug information assigned in step S3. That is, the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224 when dispensing the tablets from the variable cassette 22 is changed, and the tablet dispensing speed from the variable cassette 22 is changed according to the type of the tablets. Here, the control unit 61 when executing such processing is an example of drive control means.

[0136] Specifically, the control unit 61 drives the drive motor 241 and the drive motor 242 corresponding to the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information to be dispensed is assigned, and rotates the first rotating body 223 and the second rotating body 224 to dispense the tablets. At this time, the control unit 61 drives the drive motor 242 according to the dispensing speed defined as the drive condition corresponding to the drug information in the drive correspondence information 122. As a result, in the variable cassette 22, the tablet dispensing speed by the second rotating body 224 is changed to a speed suitable for the tablets. In this way, in the drug dispensing device 100, when the drive conditions include the driving in-condition, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 according to the driving in-condition (dispensing speed) to dispense the tablets from the variable cassette 22.

[0137] In addition, if the variable cassette 22 is not provided with the height restricting member 226 and the width restricting member 227, it is also conceivable to change only the dispensing speed of the tablets from the variable cassette 22. Further, the driving speed of the drive motor 241 may be constant or may be changed according to the type of tablets. In the packaging operation, the number of tablets dispensed from the variable cassette 22 is counted by a counter having an optical sensor (not shown) provided at the dispensing port 225 of the variable cassette 22 and input to the control unit 61 as the discharge number. Thereby, the control unit 61 controls the driving of the variable cassette 22 based on the discharge number input from the counter, and dispenses only a preset dispensing amount (prescription amount) from the variable cassette 22.

[0138] In addition, the control unit 61 executes stop control of the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22 according to the set values of the first slowdown and the second slowdown defined as the driving conditions corresponding to the drug information in the drive correspondence information 122. Here, the control unit 11 when executing such processing is an example of drive control means. Thus, in the drug dispensing device 100, when the drive stop condition is included in the drive conditions, when the dispensing of the prescription amount defined in the prescription data is completed, the control unit 61 stops the driving of the variable cassette 22 according to the first slowdown and the second slowdown which are the drive stop conditions.

[0139] Specifically, consider a case where in the drive correspondence information 122, the first slowdown is set to "6 tablets" and the second slowdown is set to "1 tablet". In this case, when the control unit 61 determines, based on the number of tablets counted by the counter using the optical sensor (not shown) provided at the payout port 225, that the remaining number of tablets in the payout amount has reached "6 tablets", the control unit 61 decelerates the rotational speed of the drive motor 242 to the first rotational speed. After that, when the control unit 61 determines, based on the number of tablets counted by the counter using the optical sensor (not shown) provided at the payout port 225, that the remaining number of tablets in the payout amount has reached "1 tablet", the control unit 61 further decelerates the rotational speed of the drive motor 242 to the second rotational speed. Thereby, when a tablet that is likely to roll is placed on the second rotating body 224, it is possible to prevent the tablet from being excessively paid out from the payout port 225.

[0140] Further, the control unit 61 executes stop control of the payout of tablets from the variable cassette 22 according to the presence or absence of the reverse rotation operation defined as the drive condition corresponding to the drug information in the drive correspondence information 122. Here, the control unit 11 when executing such processing is an example of drive control means. Thus, in the drug payout device 100, when the drive stop condition is included in the drive conditions, when the payout of the prescription amount defined in the prescription data is completed, the control unit 61 drives the variable cassette 22 according to the presence or absence of the reverse rotation operation which is the drive stop condition, and then stops the drive of the variable cassette 22.

[0141] Specifically, when the reverse rotation operation is set to "enabled" in the drive correspondence information 122, the control unit 61 executes a reverse rotation operation to switch the conveyance direction of the state by the second rotating body 224 in the reverse direction when stopping the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22. For example, when the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches the dispensing amount using the optical sensor (not shown) provided at the dispensing outlet 225, the control unit 61 reversely rotates the drive motor 242 for a preset predetermined time. Thereby, when tablets that are likely to roll are placed on the second rotating body 224, it is possible to prevent the tablets from being dispensed excessively from the dispensing outlet 225. Note that an opening / closing shutter may be provided at the dispensing outlet 225, and the opening / closing shutter may be configured to close when the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches the dispensing amount.

[0142] On the other hand, when the reverse rotation operation is set to "disabled" in the drive correspondence information 122, the control unit 61 does not execute the unnecessary reverse rotation operation when stopping the dispensing of tablets from the variable cassette 22. Also, the timing to start the reverse rotation operation may be when the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches a value that is less than the dispensing amount by a predetermined number determined in advance. When starting the reverse rotation operation at such timing, the predetermined number corresponding to each drug information may be stored in advance in the drive correspondence information 122. Thereby, for example, the reverse rotation operation can be started before the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches the dispensing amount, and it is possible to prevent excessive dispensing of tablets from the dispensing outlet 225. Further, after the number of tablets counted by the counter reaches a value that is less than the dispensing amount by the predetermined number, it is conceivable to start the reverse rotation operation each time one tablet is dispensed.

[0143] Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the case where the height h1 of the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 of the width regulating member 227 in the variable cassette 22 are changed according to the driving conditions in step S4 has been described as an example. On the other hand, it is also conceivable in another embodiment that the control unit 61 executes the height h1 of the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 of the width regulating member 227 immediately before the start of the subcontracting operation in step S7. That is, the reflection of the pre-driving conditions on the variable cassette 22 may be executed at any timing until the subcontracting operation is started.

[0144] (Subcontracting control unit 6 side: step S15) Thereafter, when the subcontracting operation in step S14 ends, the control unit 61 transmits a completion notice of the subcontracting operation to the control unit 11 in the subsequent step S15.

[0145] (Prescription control unit 1 side: step S8) On the other hand, in the prescription control unit 1, the control unit 11 is waiting for the completion notice of the subcontracting operation from the control unit 61 (No side of S8). When the completion notice of the subcontracting operation is received (Yes side of S8), the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S9.

[0146] (Prescription control unit 1 side: step S9) In the subsequent step S9, the control unit 11 displays that the dispensing has been completed on the display unit 25 of the variable cassette 22 for which the dispensing has been completed. For example, in step S9, it is conceivable that the characters "Dispensing completed" are displayed on the display unit 25, or the display of the drug information on the display unit 25 is erased.

[0147] As described above, in the drug dispensing device 100, for any tablets not previously stored in each of the fixed cassettes 21, the user can automatically dispense the tablets simply by putting the tablets together into the variable cassette 22. Therefore, compared with the case of putting tablets into each of the cells of the manual dispensing unit 4 as in the prior art, the work load of the user is reduced, and input errors by the user are also prevented.

[0148] In addition, since a plurality of the variable cassettes 22 are provided in the drug dispensing device 100, it is possible to assign different drug information to each of the variable cassettes 22. Therefore, in the drug dispensing device 100, even when the prescription data includes a plurality of tablets not in the fixed cassette 21 as dispensing targets, the packaging operation based on the prescription data can be executed using the plurality of variable cassettes 22. Also, in the drug dispensing device 100, it is possible to continuously execute the packaging operations based on a plurality of the prescription data using the plurality of variable cassettes 22.

[0149] [Adjustment function] By the way, in the drug dispensing device 100, in order to dispense an arbitrary tablet from the variable cassette 22, it is necessary to preset the driving conditions of the variable cassette 22 for each tablet corresponding to the drug information. On the other hand, the drug dispensing device 100 has an adjustment function of setting the driving conditions for dispensing tablets one by one from the variable cassette 22 using the drug imaging device 7. Thereby, in the drug dispensing device 100, it is possible to set the driving conditions for tablets not registered in the driving correspondence information previously stored in the storage unit 12 by the adjustment function. Hereinafter, the adjustment function will be described.

[0150] [Drug imaging device 7] 12 to 14 are views showing the external appearance of the medicine photographing apparatus 7, and Fig. 15 is a view showing an internal configuration of the medicine photographing apparatus 7, which is a see-through view of the exterior of the medicine photographing apparatus 7. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, front / back, up / down, and left / right defined in Figs. 12 to 15 may be used.

[0151] As shown in Figs. 12 to 15, the medicine photographing device 7 includes a housing 71, an opening / closing unit 72, an operation unit 73, a medicine holding unit 81, an illumination unit 82, and a photographing unit 83. A unit including the illumination unit 82 and the photographing unit 83 is an example of a photographing unit according to the present invention, and the unit is hereinafter referred to as a photographing unit 84. Note that the photographing unit 84 is not an integral configuration of the illumination unit 82 and the photographing unit 83, and in the medicine photographing device 7, the illumination unit 82 and the photographing unit 83 are provided in the housing 71 as separate parts. Of course, the illumination unit 82 and the photographing unit 83 may be supported by a common frame.

[0152] The housing 71 and the opening / closing part 72 configure the exterior of the medicine photographing apparatus 7, and house the medicine holding part 81, the photographing unit 84, and the like. The housing 71 and the opening / closing part 72 are formed of aluminum, iron, or the like having light-shielding properties. That is, when the opening / closing part 72 is in a closed state, a darkroom in which external light is blocked is formed in the medicine photographing apparatus 7.

[0153] The opening / closing unit 72 is rotatably supported by the housing 71 via a rotation shaft 721, and can be opened and closed with respect to the housing 71. Here, Figures 12 and 13 show the opening / closing unit 72 in a closed state, and Figure 14 shows the opening / closing unit 72 in an open state.

[0154] The operation unit 73 is an operation knob operated by a user to rotate the medicine holding unit 81, and is connected to the medicine holding unit 81. Here, Figures 12 and 13 are diagrams showing states where the operation unit 73 is rotated to different positions by 90 degrees.

[0155] [Drug Holding Unit 81] Here, FIGS. 16 to 19 are diagrams showing the configuration of the drug holding unit 81. As shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, the drug holding unit 81 includes a drug placement unit 810, a pair of clamping units 811 and 812, a placement reference unit 813, a clamping support unit 814, a pressing unit 815, an anti-slip unit 816, a contact unit 817, a contact unit 818, and a contact unit 819. Here, the drug placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813, which constitute the part of the drug holding unit 81 that holds tablets, are formed of a material that transmits the light irradiated from the lighting unit 82. For example, the drug placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813 are formed of a transparent or milky white material having light transmittance, such as polyvinyl chloride or acrylic resin.

[0156] The drug placement unit 810 has a drug placement surface 810A on which the tablets to be imaged by the drug imaging device 7 are placed. The pair of clamping units 811 and 812 have clamping surfaces 811A and 812A that can clamp the tablets placed on the drug placement unit 810. Further, the placement reference unit 813 has a placement reference surface 813A that determines the placement reference position of the tablets in a direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the clamping direction (front-back direction) of the tablets by the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A and parallel to the drug placement surface 810A. The placement reference surface 813A is perpendicular to the drug placement surface 810A. Note that the placement reference surface 813A may have a slight inclination with respect to the direction perpendicular to the drug placement surface 810A.

[0157] Further, the clamping portion 811 is fixed to the chemical placement portion 810 and the placement reference portion 813, and the clamping portion 812 is slidably supported by the clamping support portion 814 in a direction parallel to the placement reference surface 813A. That is, the clamping surface 812A of the clamping portion 812 can approach and separate from the clamping surface 811A of the clamping portion 811. Note that the clamping support portion 814 may be configured to slidably support one or both of the clamping portion 811 and the clamping portion 812 as long as the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A can relatively approach and separate. Also, it is conceivable that one of the clamping portion 811 and the clamping portion 812 is formed of a material such as soft polyvinyl chloride having elasticity, and the other is formed of a material such as hard acrylic resin. Thereby, the tablet is stably held by the clamping portion 811 and the clamping portion 812.

[0158] The anti-slip portion 816 is provided on the clamping support portion 814 and is an elastic member having a high friction coefficient such as rubber that increases the sliding resistance (moving resistance) of the clamping support portion 814 by contacting the back surface 810B of the chemical placement portion 810. Also, a biasing member such as a spring is interposed between the pressing portion 815 and the anti-slip portion 816, and the anti-slip portion 816 is biased by the biasing member toward the back surface 810B side of the chemical placement portion 810. Thereby, displacement of the clamping portion 812 is prevented, and the clamping state of the tablet by the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A is maintained.

[0159] The pressing portion 815 reduces the sliding resistance (moving resistance) of the clamping support portion 814 by separating the anti-slip portion 816 from the back surface 810B of the chemical placement portion 810 in response to a pressing operation by the user. Thereby, the user can press the pressing portion 815 to easily move the clamping support portion 814.

[0160] The medicine holding part 81 is rotatably supported on the front and back surfaces of the opening and closing part 72 via the rotation shafts 731 and 732. Here, the rotation shafts 731 and 732 are an example of a rotation support part. The rotation shaft 731 connects the medicine holding part 81 and the operation part 73, and rotates the medicine holding part 81 in the same direction as the operation part 73 according to the rotation operation of the operation part 73 by the user.

[0161] Here, the medicine holding part 81 is rotatable between a first posture and a second posture that are predetermined as postures during imaging by the imaging part 83. Specifically, the first posture is a posture in which the imaging part 83 is located in a direction perpendicular to the medicine placement surface 810A. The second posture is a posture in which the imaging part 83 is located in a direction perpendicular to the clamping direction and parallel to the medicine placement surface 810A. That is, the first posture is a posture in which the tablet can be imaged by the imaging part 83 from a direction perpendicular to the medicine placement surface 810A, and the second posture is a posture in which the tablet can be imaged by the imaging part 83 from a direction perpendicular to the clamping direction and parallel to the medicine placement surface 810A. Here, the medicine placement surface 810A is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane and the vertical plane in each of the first posture and the second posture. In particular, the inclination of the medicine placement surface 810A with respect to the horizontal plane in the first posture is smaller than the inclination with respect to the horizontal plane in the second posture. For example, the inclination of the medicine placement surface 810A with respect to the horizontal plane in the first posture is about 2 degrees to 5 degrees. The second posture is a state in which the medicine holding part 81 has rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the first posture when the medicine imaging device 7 is viewed from the front. Here, FIG. 16 shows the medicine holding part 81 in the first posture, and FIG. 19 shows the medicine holding part 81 in the second posture.

[0162] Further, the contact portions 817, 818, and 819 are used to restrict the rotation of the chemical holding portion 81 at a predetermined position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, on the opening / closing portion 72, there is provided a contact portion 722 that contacts the contact portion 817 at a position where the chemical holding portion 81 rotates counterclockwise to reach the first posture, thereby restricting the rotation of the chemical holding portion 81. Also, on the opening / closing portion 72, there is provided a contact portion 723 that contacts the contact portion 818 at a position where the chemical holding portion 81 rotates clockwise to reach the second posture, thereby restricting the rotation of the chemical holding portion 81. Thus, the chemical holding portion 81 is rotatable within the ranges of the first posture and the second posture by the rotation shafts 731, 732, the contact portions 817, 818, and the contact portions 722, 723.

[0163] The contact portion 722 is a ferromagnetic material such as iron, and a magnet is provided at the contact location of the contact portion 817 with the contact portion 722. Thereby, when the chemical holding portion 81 shifts to the first posture, an adsorption force acts on the contact portion 722 and the contact portion 817, enabling the user to recognize that the chemical holding portion 81 has shifted to the first posture. Also, the magnets of the contact portion 722 and the contact portion 817 increase the rotational resistance in the direction of separating from the first posture of the chemical holding portion 81. Thereby, the chemical holding portion 81 can be stabilized in the first posture. Here, the contact portion 722 and the contact portion 817 are an example of a first rotation restricting portion. Note that each of the contact portion 722 and the contact portion 817 may have a configuration in which magnets with polarities that exert an adsorption force on each other are provided.

[0164] Similarly, the contact portion 723 is a ferromagnetic material such as iron, and a magnet is provided at the contact location of the contact portion 818 with the contact portion 723. Thereby, when the chemical holding portion 81 shifts to the second posture, an attracting force acts on the contact portion 723 and the contact portion 818, so that the user can be made aware that the second posture has been shifted to. Further, the magnets of the contact portion 723 and the contact portion 818 increase the rotational resistance in the direction of separating from the second posture of the chemical holding portion 81. Thereby, the chemical holding portion 81 can be stabilized in the second posture. Here, the contact portion 723 and the contact portion 818 are an example of a second rotation restricting portion. Note that each of the contact portion 723 and the contact portion 818 may be configured to have magnets with polarities on which an attracting force acts on each other.

[0165] Furthermore, on the housing 71, a contact portion 711 (see FIG. 15) is provided at a position facing the contact portion 819 when the opening / closing portion 72 is opened. And the contact portion 819 contacts the contact portion 711 when the chemical holding portion 81 is rotated clockwise in a state where the opening / closing portion 72 is opened, restricting the clockwise rotation of the chemical holding portion 81. Note that the counterclockwise rotation of the chemical holding portion 81 in a state where the opening / closing portion 72 is opened is restricted by the contact portion 722 and the contact portion 817 as described above.

[0166] Thereby, the user can place and remove tablets from the chemical holding portion 81 with the rotation of the chemical holding portion 81 restricted and in a stable state. Further, since the chemical holding portion 81 will be opened and closed in the first posture, the vertical width of the opening / closing portion 72 may be within a range through which the chemical holding portion 81 can pass in the first posture.

[0167] In addition, when the chemical holding part 81 shifts from the first posture to the second posture with the opening / closing part 72 closed, a configuration can be considered in which a part of the chemical holding part 81 engages with a part of the housing 71 to restrict the opening of the opening / closing part 72. More specifically, in the state of the second posture, a protrusion provided on the chemical holding part 81 is inserted into a recess formed in the housing 71, and in the state of the first posture, a configuration can be considered in which the protrusion escapes from the recess. Thereby, even if the vertical width of the chemical holding part 81 in the state of the second posture is larger than the vertical width of the opening / closing part 72, the chemical holding part 81 is prevented from contacting the housing 71 and being damaged, so the degree of freedom in the design of the chemical holding part 81 is increased.

[0168] Here, FIG. 20 is a schematic main part diagram showing the state where the chemical holding part 81 is in the first posture, and FIG. 21 is a schematic main part diagram showing the state where the chemical holding part 81 is in the second posture. As shown in FIG. 20, the first posture is a posture in which the chemical placement surface 810A of the chemical placement part 810 inclines downward toward the placement reference surface 813A of the placement reference part 813. Further, as shown in FIG. 21, the second posture is a posture in which the chemical placement surface 810A of the chemical placement part 810 inclines upward toward the placement reference surface 813A of the placement reference part 813.

[0169] The medicine holding unit 81 is rotatably supported by the rotation shafts 731 and 732 about a predetermined position P1 on the placement reference unit 813. Further, the imaging unit 83 is fixed at a position where it can image a tablet placed on the medicine placement surface 810A of the medicine holding unit 81 in the second posture from the side of the placement reference surface 810A. According to such a configuration, the change in the distance between the tablet placed on the medicine placement surface 810A and the imaging unit 83 in each of the first posture and the second posture is suppressed. Therefore, for example, the out-of-focus of the image captured by the imaging unit 83 is suppressed, and the error in the measured dimension due to the change in the distance from the imaging unit 83 to the tablet is suppressed. More specifically, the position P1 is a position in the middle of the width in the direction perpendicular to the medicine placement surface 810A on the placement reference unit 813. It is conceivable that the width of the placement reference surface 813A in the direction perpendicular to the medicine placement surface 810A is the average value of the thickness dimensions of a plurality of tablets assumed to be used in advance. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the error in the measured dimension due to the change in the distance from the imaging unit 83 to the tablet from being extremely biased depending on the size of the tablet.

[0170] Here, FIG. 22 is a view of the chemical holding part 81 in the first posture as seen from above, and FIG. 23 is a view of the chemical holding part 81 in the first posture as seen from the right side. As shown in FIG. 22, the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A are wider at intervals closer to the placement reference part 813, and are shaped to expand toward the placement reference surface 813A. More specifically, the clamping surface 811A is perpendicular to the placement reference surface 813A. On the other hand, the clamping part 812A is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the placement reference surface 813A. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 19, when the chemical holding part 81 is in the second posture, the fall of the tablets placed on the chemical placement surface 810A of the chemical placement part 810 is prevented. Note that the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A may both be inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the placement reference surface 813A such that the interval between the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A becomes wider as it gets closer to the placement reference surface 813A. Also, the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A may both be perpendicular to the placement reference part 813.

[0171] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 23, the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A are wider at intervals closer to the chemical placement surface 810A, and are shaped to expand toward the chemical placement surface 810A. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 19, when the chemical holding part 81 is in the second posture, the lifting or tilting of the tablets placed on the chemical placement surface 810A of the chemical placement part 810 is prevented. Note that the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A may both be inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the chemical placement surface 810A such that the interval between the clamping surfaces 811A and the clamping part 812A becomes wider as it gets closer to the chemical placement surface 810A. Also, the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A may both be perpendicular to the chemical placement surface 810A.

[0172] Incidentally, in a configuration in which the clamping surface 812A is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the chemical placement surface 810A such that the distance between the clamping surface 811A and the clamping portion 812A becomes wider as it approaches the chemical placement surface 810A, a part of the tablet placed on the chemical placement surface 810A may be blocked by the clamping surface 812A when viewed from the imaging unit 83. On the other hand, in the chemical imaging device 7, the position of the imaging unit 83 and the inclination angle of the clamping surface 812A are set so that the tablet placed on the chemical placement surface 810A is within the imaging range of the imaging unit 83 by utilizing the angle of view of the imaging unit 83. For example, the inclination angle of the clamping surface 812A with respect to the direction perpendicular to the chemical placement surface 810A is set to 1 degree or 2 degrees or less. Note that the inclination angle of the clamping surface 812A with respect to the direction perpendicular to the chemical placement surface 810A is not limited to this as long as it is smaller than the inclination angle of the clamping surface 811A with respect to the direction perpendicular to the chemical placement surface 810A.

[0173] Further, in the chemical imaging device 7, the position of the optical axis of the lens of the camera 831 described later in the clamping direction of the clamping surface 811A and the clamping surface 812A is offset by a predetermined value to the clamping surface 811A side in a state where the clamping surface 811A and the clamping surface 812A are open. Thereby, even for a tablet with a small size, the omission of the captured image of the tablet due to the inclination of the clamping surface 812A is suppressed.

[0174] [Illumination unit 82] Here, FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of the illumination unit 82. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the chemical imaging device 7 as viewed from the front, which is a diagram in which the exterior of the chemical imaging device 7 is seen through. Further, FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the chemical holding unit 81 in the state of the first posture as viewed from the front. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the illumination unit 82 includes a plurality of light sources 821 and a light source support unit 822. Each of the light sources 821 includes an LED that irradiates light to the tablet through the chemical placement surface 810A. The light source support unit 822 is fixed to the housing 71 and fixedly supports each of the light sources 821 in a state inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction.

[0175] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 25, the light source 821 is supported by the light source support portion 822 in a state where it is inclined by an angle that can illuminate the tablets placed on the chemical placement surface 810A from a direction perpendicular to the chemical placement surface 810A of the chemical holding portion 81 in the first posture. Thereby, in the state of the second posture in which the chemical holding portion 81 is rotated 90 degrees from the first posture, the illumination unit 82 can illuminate the tablets placed on the chemical placement surface 810A from a direction perpendicular to the placement reference surface 813A. Further, in the chemical imaging device 7, the control unit 11 can individually control the lighting and extinguishing of the two light sources 821 arranged on the left side and the two light sources 821 arranged on the right side.

[0176] [Imaging unit 83] Also, as shown in FIG. 25, the imaging unit 83 includes a camera 831 and a camera support portion 832. The camera 831 can capture the tablets held by the chemical holding portion 81 as color images. The camera support portion 832 is fixed to the housing 71 and fixedly supports the camera 831 in a state where it is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction.

[0177] Specifically, the camera 831 is supported by the camera support portion 832 in a state where it is inclined by an angle that can capture the tablets held by the chemical holding portion 81 from a position that is perpendicular to the chemical placement surface 810A of the chemical holding portion 81 in the first posture and that faces the illumination unit 82. Thereby, in the chemical imaging device 7, as the captured image of the imaging unit 83, the chemical placement portion 810, the sandwiching portions 811, 812, and the placement reference portion 813 do not appear as white-out due to the illumination from the illumination unit 82, and a shadow image of the tablets can be obtained. Note that the image captured by the camera 831 is input to the control unit 11. Thereby, the control unit 11 can measure the shape of the tablets based on the captured image by the chemical imaging device 7. And in the chemical dispensing device 100, it is possible to set the driving conditions of the variable cassette 22 based on the shape of the tablets measured using the chemical imaging device 7.

[0178] [Adjustment Process] Next, with reference to FIGS. 26 to 35, an example of the procedure of the adjustment process executed by the control unit 11 in the medicine dispensing device 100 will be described. Note that the control unit 11 executes the adjustment process in response to a user's execution request operation on the operation unit 14 of the medicine dispensing device 100. Further, when the control unit 11 determines in step S4 of the medicine dispensing process (FIG. 11) that the drive condition corresponding to the medicine information is not registered in the drive correspondence information 122, it is also conceivable to display an operation key for selecting whether or not to execute the adjustment process on the monitor 13 and execute the adjustment process according to a user operation on the operation unit 14. Note that the adjustment process may be executed by the control unit 61.

[0179] <Step S31> First, as shown in FIG. 26, in step S31, the control unit 11 displays an operation screen for selecting the variable cassette 22 and inputting the medicine information on the monitor 13.

[0180] <Step S32> Next, in step S32, the control unit 11 waits for a selection operation of the variable cassette 22 on the operation unit 14 by the user (S32: No side). Here, when the variable cassette 22 is selected (S32: Yes side), the process proceeds to step S33.

[0181] In the medicine dispensing device 100, since each mounting portion 221 of the variable cassette 22 is configured to drive the height adjustment portion 226A and the width adjustment portion 227A of the variable cassette 22, any variable cassette 22 can be selected. That is, in this adjustment process, the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 of the variable cassette 22 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 are adjusted by any mounting portion 221 on which the variable cassette 22 selected in step S31 is mounted.

[0182] <Step S33> In step S33, the control unit 11 waits for the input of drug information of the tablets accommodated in the variable cassette 22 with respect to the operation unit 14 by the user (S33: No side). Here, when the drug information is input (S33: Yes side), the process proceeds to step S34. Note that the order of step S32 and step S33 may be reversed.

[0183] Also, when the control unit 11 determines in step S4 of the drug dispensing process (FIG. 11) that the drive condition corresponding to the drug information is not registered in the drive correspondence information 122, the selection of the variable cassette 22 and the input of the drug information may be automatically performed. That is, it is conceivable that the control unit 11 selects the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned as an object of adjustment processing, and inputs the drug information assigned to the variable cassette 22 as the drug information of the tablets accommodated in the variable cassette 22.

[0184] <Step S34> In step S34, the control unit 11 executes a drug shape measurement process for measuring the shape of the tablets based on the captured images captured by the imaging unit 83 in a plurality of states where the rotation posture of the drug holding unit 81 is different. Here, the control unit 11 includes a shape measurement unit 111 (see FIG. 2) that executes the drug shape measurement process. Specifically, the control unit 11 functions as the shape measurement unit 111 (an example of shape measurement means) by executing a process according to the drug dispensing program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0185] Here, an example of the procedure of the drug shape measurement process will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 to 30. Note that it is also conceivable as another embodiment that the drug imaging device 7 is provided with a control unit such as a CPU or an electronic circuit, and the drug shape measurement process in step S34 is executed by the control unit.

[0186] [Drug Shape Measurement Process] <Step S41> First, as shown in FIG. 27, in step S41, the control unit 11 waits for a shooting start operation for shooting an image of the medicine holding unit 81 in the first posture with the shooting unit 83 (S41: No side).

[0187] For example, in step S41, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 to display a shooting start key for receiving the shooting start operation. Further, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 to display a message prompting the user to set a tablet in the medicine shooting device 7 and operate the shooting start key. Thereby, after the user sets a tablet to be measured in the medicine shooting device 7, the user operates the shooting start key displayed on the operation unit 14. Here, when the shooting start operation is performed (S41: Yes side), the process proceeds to step S42.

[0188] <Step S42> In step S42, the control unit 11 controls the medicine shooting device 7 to illuminate a tablet placed on the medicine placement unit 810 with the light source 821 of the illumination unit 82 and shoot an image of the tablet with the camera 831 of the shooting unit 83. That is, the illumination unit 82 starts illumination when an image is shot by the camera 831 and turns off after the shooting by the camera 831 ends. Note that the control unit 11 turns on all four light sources 821 of the illumination unit 82. Here, the captured image captured by the camera 831 is stored in the storage unit 12. Hereinafter, in step S42, an image captured by the shooting unit 83 with the medicine holding unit 81 in the first posture is referred to as an upward captured image.

[0189] Note that the range captured as the upper captured image by the imaging unit 83 is, for example, a range including only the chemical placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813 among the chemical holding unit 81. It is also conceivable that the imaging unit 83 captures a range including the outside of the chemical placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813, and the control unit 11 trims an image of the range of the chemical placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813 from the captured image as the upper captured image.

[0190] <Step S43> Next, in step S43, the control unit 11 obtains the contour of the tablet included in the upper captured image by performing image processing on the upper captured image. Here, an example of the procedure of the image processing will be described with reference to FIG. 28.

[0191] [Image Processing] <Step S51> First, in step S51, the control unit 11 reads the upper captured image from the storage unit 12. Here, FIG. 32(A) is a diagram showing an example of the upper captured image captured by the camera 831 in step S42. As shown in FIG. 32(A), the upper captured image includes a shadow image M11 of the tablet formed by the light irradiated from the illumination unit 82 being blocked by the tablet placed on the chemical placement surface 810A. On the other hand, since the chemical placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813 have translucency, in the upper captured image, the information of the chemical placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813 is lost due to whiteout.

[0192] <Step S52> In step S52, the control unit 11 performs a grayscale conversion process of converting the upper captured image, which is a color image captured by the camera 831, into a grayscale image (grayscale image). Note that since the grayscale conversion process is a well-known image process, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0193] <Step S53> Next, in step S53, the control unit 11 executes a binarization process of converting the grayscale image after the conversion in step S52 into a monochrome binary image. Since the binarization process is a well-known image process, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0194] <Step S54> Thereafter, in step S54, the control unit 11 executes an opening process of repeating a shrinking process and a dilation process a predetermined number of times on the binary image after the conversion in step S53. In the opening process, after the shrinking process is executed on the binary image, the dilation process is executed, so that noises such as dust are removed from the upper captured image. For example, in the opening process, the shrinking process and the dilation process are repeatedly executed three times.

[0195] <Step S55> Then, in step S55, the control unit 11 executes an edge detection process of detecting an edge on the upper captured image after noise removal in step S54. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 32(B), the control unit 11 can detect an upper contour image M12 that is a contour of the shadow image M11 included in the upper captured image. Since the edge detection process is a well-known image process, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0196] Also, it is also conceivable that the control unit 11 executes a difference process of erasing unnecessary portions by comparing the initial captured image stored in advance as the captured image in the first posture with the upper captured image in the image processing. Thereby, when a part of the chemical holding unit 81 is reflected in the upper captured image captured by the imaging unit 83, that part can be removed to extract an image of the tablet. For example, since the imaging accuracy required for the illumination unit 82 and the imaging unit 83 is lowered, it is conceivable to simplify the configuration of the chemical imaging device 7.

[0197] <Step S44> Next, returning to FIG. 27, in step S44, the control unit 11 executes an outer rectangle acquisition process for acquiring the outer rectangle of the tablet based on the upper contour image M12 acquired in step S43. The control unit 11 sequentially detects the left edge, right edge, upper edge, and lower edge of the upper contour image M12, and detects a rectangle including these as the outer rectangle of the upper contour image M12. Here, FIG. 32(C) shows an example of the outer rectangle M121 of the upper contour image M12.

[0198] <Step S45> Subsequently, in step S45, the control unit 11 waits for a shooting start operation for shooting an image of the medicine holding unit 81 in the second posture by the shooting unit 83 (S45: No side).

[0199] For example, in step S45, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 to display a shooting start key for receiving the shooting start operation. In addition, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 13 to display a message prompting the user to operate the shooting start key after shifting the medicine holding unit 81 to the second posture. Thereby, after the user operates the operation unit 73 of the medicine shooting device 7 to shift the medicine holding unit 81 to the second posture, the user operates the shooting start key displayed on the operation unit 14. Here, when the shooting start operation is performed (S45: Yes side), the process proceeds to step S46.

[0200] In addition, a configuration in which the chemical imaging device 7 includes a posture detection means such as a mechanical sensor or an optical sensor that detects that the chemical holding unit 81 has shifted to the second posture is also conceivable as another embodiment. In this case, in step S45, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the second posture predetermined by the posture detection means is detected. As a result, when the second posture is detected by the posture detection means, the control unit 11 starts photographing the tablet in the next step S46, reducing the labor of user operation. In addition, when the control unit 11 detects with a mechanical sensor or an optical sensor or the like that the opening / closing unit 72 has been closed while the chemical holding unit 81 is in the first posture, starting the photographing of the upper photographed image is also conceivable as another embodiment.

[0201] Furthermore, in step S45, it is also conceivable that the control unit 11 determines that the chemical holding unit 81 is in the second posture based on the presence or absence of a specific image included in the photographed image by the camera 831 regardless of the presence or absence of the placement of the tablet on the chemical placement unit 810. In this case, the control unit 11 and the camera 831 are examples of the posture detection means. According to such a configuration, without providing a sensor for detecting whether or not the chemical holding unit 81 is in the second posture, the control unit 11 can determine the timing of starting the photographing of the horizontal photographed image based on the video photographed by the camera 831 and automatically start the photographing.

[0202] For example, the control unit 11 may detect whether the chemical holding unit 81 is in the second posture by identifying the presence or absence of an image (an example of a specific image) of part or all of the chemical holding unit 81 when the chemical holding unit 81 is in the second posture. Further, it is also conceivable that a specific mark (an example of a specific image) is provided on the chemical holding unit 81 which is located within the imaging range of the camera 831 in the second posture and outside the imaging range of the camera 831 in the first posture. In this case, the control unit 11 can detect whether the rotation posture of the chemical holding unit 81 is in the second posture according to the presence or absence of the specific mark based on the video captured by the camera 831.

[0203] <Step S46> In step S46, the control unit 11 controls the chemical imaging device 7 to illuminate the tablets placed on the chemical placement unit 810 with the light source 821 of the illumination unit 82 and capture an image of the tablets with the camera 831 of the imaging unit 83. However, in step S46, unlike step S42, the control unit 11 turns off the two rightmost light sources 821 among the light sources 821 of the illumination unit 82 and turns on only the two leftmost light sources 821. Thereby, the chemical placement unit 81 is irradiated by each of the light sources 821 in the second posture. Therefore, it is possible to prevent halation that may occur when all the light sources 821 are turned on, and the measurement accuracy of the shape of the tablets can be improved. Here, the captured image captured by the camera 831 is stored in the storage unit 12. Hereinafter, in step S46, the image of the tablets captured by the imaging unit 83 with the chemical holding unit 81 in the second posture is referred to as a horizontally captured image.

[0204] Note that the range captured as the horizontal captured image by the imaging unit 83 is, for example, a range including only the chemical placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813 among the chemical holding unit 81. It is also conceivable that the imaging unit 83 captures a range including the outside of the chemical placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813, and the control unit 11 trims an image of the range of the chemical placement unit 810, the clamping units 811 and 812, and the placement reference unit 813 from the captured image as the horizontal captured image.

[0205] <Step S47> Next, in step S47, the control unit 11 executes the same image processing (see FIG. 28) as in step S43 on the horizontal captured image. As a result, a horizontal contour image M14 (see FIG. 33(B)), which is the contour of the shadow image M13 (see FIG. 33(A)) of the tablet included in the horizontal captured image, is detected. Also in this case, it is conceivable that the control unit 11 executes a difference process of eliminating unnecessary portions by comparing the initial captured image stored in advance as the captured image in the second posture with the horizontal captured image in the image processing.

[0206] <Step S48> Then, in step S48, the control unit 11 executes the same circumscribed rectangle acquisition process as in step S44 on the horizontal contour image M14. As a result, the control unit 1 detects the left edge, right edge, upper edge, and lower edge of the horizontal contour image M14 in order, and detects a rectangle including these as the circumscribed rectangle of the horizontal contour image M14. Here, FIG. 33(C) shows an example of the circumscribed rectangle M141 of the horizontal contour image M14.

[0207] <Step S49> Then, in step S49, the control unit 11 executes a shape identification process for identifying the shape type and dimensions of the tablet based on the upper contour image M12, the circumscribed rectangle M121, the horizontal contour image M14, the circumscribed rectangle M141, and the like. Here, an example of the shape identification process will be described with reference to FIG. 29.

[0208] [Shape Identification Process] <Step S61> In step S61, the control unit 11 determines whether the tablet is placed on the drug placement unit 810 in a predetermined normal state. Here, if it is determined that the tablet is not placed in a normal state (S61: No side), the process proceeds to step S611. On the other hand, if it is determined that the tablet is placed in a normal state (S61: Yes side), the process proceeds to step S62. Note that the normal state of the tablet when placed on the drug placement unit 810 is the same state as when the tablet is placed on and conveyed by the second rotating body 224 of the variable cassette 22. Specifically, the state of the tablet in the payout path when conveyed by the second rotating body 224 is such that the conveyance direction by the second rotating body 224 and the direction in which the dimension of the tablet is the longest are parallel, and the width direction of the payout path and the direction in which the dimension of the tablet is the second longest are parallel. That is, the state in which the plane including the direction in which the dimension of the tablet is the longest and the direction in which the dimension of the tablet is the second longest is parallel to the drug placement surface 810A is the normal placement state of the tablet on the drug placement unit.

[0209] For example, when the dimension in the direction parallel to the clamping direction by the clamping surfaces 811A and 812A in the circumscribed rectangle M121 of the upper contour image M12 taken in the first posture (hereinafter referred to as the width direction) is larger than the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the clamping direction and parallel to the drug placement surface 810A (hereinafter referred to as the longitudinal direction), the control unit 11 determines that the tablet is not placed in a normal state. Further, when the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the drug placement surface 810A (hereinafter referred to as the height direction) in the circumscribed rectangle M141 of the lateral contour image M14 taken in the second posture is larger than the dimension in the width direction, the control unit 11 determines that the tablet is not placed in a normal state.

[0210] In this way, since it is confirmed that the tablet is placed on the drug placement surface 810A in a normal state, the height direction of the tablet is not misjudged as the width direction or the longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the size in the height direction of the tablet regulated by the height regulating member 226 of the variable cassette 22 from being inappropriately adjusted. Similarly, since it is confirmed that the tablet is placed on the drug placement surface 810A in a normal state, the width direction of the tablet is not misjudged as the height direction or the longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the size in the width direction of the tablet regulated by the width regulating member 227 of the variable cassette 22 from being inappropriately adjusted.

[0211] Note that if the configuration is such that complex image processing can be executed based on the image data of the tablet photographed by the drug photographing device 7, it is possible to accurately measure the shape of the tablet even when the tablet is placed on the drug placement surface 810A in an arbitrary posture. However, in this case, since a configuration capable of executing complex image processing is required, the hardware or software for measuring the shape of the tablet becomes expensive.

[0212] On the other hand, in the drug imaging device 7 used in the drug dispensing device 100, a normal state of the tablet when the user places the tablet on the drug placement surface 810A is defined. And in the drug dispensing device 100, it is confirmed that the tablet is placed on the drug placement surface 810A in a normal state. Therefore, in the drug dispensing device 100, since hardware or software capable of executing complex image processing based on the image data of the tablet is not required, the cost required for the configuration for measuring the shape of the tablet is suppressed. For this reason, it is also possible to inexpensively realize the drug imaging device 7 including a control unit capable of measuring the shape of the tablet based on the image data captured by the imaging unit 83 and being usable independently of the drug dispensing device 100. Also, among the drug dispensing programs, a shape measurement program for causing a computer to function as the shape measurement unit 111 is installed in a PC (personal computer) such as an arbitrary laptop, and the drug imaging device 7 is connected to the PC via a cable N2 such as a USB cable, an RS232C cable, or a LAN cable. Thereby, it is possible to measure the shape (dimensions, shape type, etc.) of the tablet using the PC and the drug imaging device 7. And in the drug dispensing device 100, it is conceivable that the prescription control unit 1 receives the shape (dimensions, shape type, etc.) of the tablet measured by the PC from the PC instead of the drug shape measurement process in step S34 of the adjustment process, and sets the drive conditions based on the shape of the tablet. In this case, the prescription control unit 1 may not have a function of executing the shape measurement process.

[0213] Further, when the area of the circumscribed rectangle 141 in the horizontal contour image M14 is larger than the area of the circumscribed rectangle 121 in the upper contour image M12, the control unit 11 may determine that the tablet is not placed in a normal state. Note that the abnormality detection in step S61 is not limited to being executed after the upper captured image and the horizontal captured image are captured. For example, as another embodiment, it is conceivable that when the upper captured image is captured, abnormality detection based on the circumscribed rectangle M121 of the upper contour image M12 is performed, and when the horizontal captured image is captured, abnormality detection based on the circumscribed rectangle M141 of the horizontal contour image M14 is performed.

[0214] <Step S611> In step S611, the control unit 11 notifies that the tablet is not placed in a normal state on the drug placement unit 810, and ends the drug shape measurement process. For example, in step S611, the control unit 11 causes the monitor 14 to display an error message indicating that the tablet is not set properly.

[0215] <Step S62> Then, in step S62, the control unit 11 executes a shape type specifying process for specifying the shape type of the tablet based on the upper contour image M12 and the horizontal contour image M14. The shape type specifying process will be described later.

[0216] <Step S63> In step S63, the control unit 11 determines whether the horizontal contour image M14 is flat. Here, when it is determined that the horizontal contour image M14 is flat (on the Yes side of S63), the process proceeds to step S65. On the other hand, when it is determined that the horizontal contour image M14 is not flat (on the No side of S63), the process proceeds to step S64. Note that being flat means having a shape with two straight lines parallel to the longitudinal direction, two straight lines parallel to the short transverse direction, and curves connecting them, as shown in FIG. 34.

[0217] When the horizontal contour image M14 is flat, the possibility that the tablet is placed obliquely on the drug placement surface 810A is low, but there is a possibility that it may be determined that the inclination is large based on the position of the end portion on the diagonal line of the horizontal contour image M14 in step S64 described later. Therefore, in step S63, a determination is made to exclude a flat shape in which there is little possibility that the tablet placed on the drug placement surface 810A will be inclined from the inclination determination process in step S64.

[0218] <Step S64> In step S64, the control unit 11 determines whether or not an inclination equal to or greater than a predetermined allowable amount has occurred in the horizontal contour image M14. Specifically, the control unit 11 detects the amount of displacement in the height direction at both end portions in the width direction of the horizontal contour image M14, and when the amount of displacement exceeds a predetermined allowable value, it is determined that an inclination equal to or greater than the allowable amount has occurred in the horizontal contour image M14. Here, when it is determined that an inclination equal to or greater than the allowable amount has occurred in the horizontal contour image M14 (on the Yes side of S64), the process proceeds to step S611, and when it is determined that an inclination equal to or greater than the allowable amount has not occurred (on the No side of S64), the process proceeds to step S65.

[0219] <Step S65> Then, in step S65, the control unit 11 executes a dimension specifying process for specifying the dimensions of the tablet in the longitudinal direction, width direction, and height direction based on the upper contour image M12 and the horizontal contour image M14. Note that the control unit 11 may adopt either the dimension of the upper contour image M12 or the horizontal contour image M14 as the size of the tablet in the width direction, or may adopt the average value of the upper contour image M12 and the horizontal contour image M14. Also, when an error equal to or greater than a predetermined error tolerance value occurs between the dimension in the width direction in the upper contour image M12 and the dimension in the width direction in the horizontal contour image M14, the control unit 11 may notify an error.

[0220] Furthermore, when an inclination less than the allowable amount occurs in the horizontal contour image M14, it is desirable for the control unit 11 to execute a correction process for correcting dimensions such as the width direction and height direction of the tablet in the upper contour image M12 and the horizontal contour image M14 in consideration of the inclination. For example, when the control unit 11 sets the angle of the inclination as θ, the dimension in the width direction of the upper contour image M12 or the horizontal contour image M14 as α, and the original dimension of the tablet in the width direction as β, the dimension β is calculated according to β = α / cos(θ).

[0221] [Shape type identification process] Here, an example of the procedure of the shape type identification process executed in step S62 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 30 and 31. Note that, for the detection process of a straight line, a circle, or the like executed in the type identification process, an image processing technique such as the Hough transform is used, for example.

[0222] <Step S71> First, as shown in FIG. 30, in step S71, the control unit 11 determines whether the circumscribed rectangle M121 of the upper contour image M12 obtained from the upper captured image captured in the first posture is a rectangle. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines that it is a rectangle when the ratio of the dimension in the vertical direction to the dimension in the width direction of the circumscribed rectangle M121 (dimension in the width direction / dimension in the vertical direction) is 1.1 or more. Here, when it is determined that the circumscribed rectangle M121 is a rectangle (S71: Yes side), the process proceeds to step S72. On the other hand, when it is determined that the circumscribed rectangle M121 is not a rectangle (S71: No side), the process proceeds to step S78 (see FIG. 31).

[0223] <Step S72> In step S72, the control unit 11 determines whether the upper contour image M12 is oval. Specifically, when there is at least one straight line in the vertical direction that is 1 / 3 or more of the dimension in the vertical direction in the upper contour image M12, or when there are two straight lines in the vertical direction that are 1 / 4 or more of the dimension in the vertical direction in the upper contour image M12, the control unit 11 determines that the upper contour image M12 is oval. Here, when it is determined that the upper contour image M12 is oval (on the Yes side of S72), the process proceeds to step S73. On the other hand, when it is determined that the upper contour image M12 is not oval (on the No side of S72), the process proceeds to step S75.

[0224] <Step S73> In step S73, the control unit 11 determines whether the horizontal contour image M14 obtained from the horizontally captured image captured in the second posture is round. Here, when it is determined that the horizontal contour image M14 is round (on the Yes side of S73), the process proceeds to step S74. On the other hand, when it is determined that the horizontal contour image M14 is not round (on the No side of S73), the process proceeds to step S731.

[0225] <Step S74> In step S74, the control unit 11 specifies the shape type of the tablet as "capsule tablet". Here, FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a list of the shape types of the tablets. As shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is oval and the horizontal contour image M14 is round, the shape type of the tablet is specified as "capsule tablet".

[0226] <Step S731> On the other hand, in step S731, the control unit 11 specifies the shape type of the tablet as "oval". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is oval and the horizontal contour image M14 is not round but flat or bulging, etc., the shape type of the tablet is specified as "oval". Note that an oval, as shown in FIG. 34, is a shape having two straight lines parallel to the longitudinal direction and a curve connecting them.

[0227] <Step S75> In step S75, the control unit 11 determines whether the upper contour image M12 is an ellipse. Specifically, when there is no straight line in the upper contour image M12 and there is only one peak in the upper contour image M12 (when there is no concavity or convexity), the control unit 11 determines that the upper contour image M12 is an ellipse. Here, when it is determined that the upper contour image M12 is an ellipse (on the Yes side of S75), the process proceeds to step S76. On the other hand, when it is determined that the upper contour image M12 is not an ellipse (on the No side of S75), the process proceeds to step S81 (see FIG. 31).

[0228] <Step S76> In step S76, the control unit 11 determines whether the lateral contour image M14 is round. Here, when it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is round (on the Yes side of S76), the process proceeds to step S77. On the other hand, when it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is not round (on the No side of S76), the process proceeds to step S761.

[0229] <Step S77> In step S74, the control unit 11 specifies the shape type of the tablet as "oval". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is an ellipse and the lateral contour image M14 is round, the shape type of the tablet is specified as "oval".

[0230] <Step S761> In step S761, the control unit 11 determines whether the lateral contour image M14 is an ellipse. Specifically, when there is no straight line in the height direction of the lateral contour image M14, the control unit 11 determines that the lateral contour image M14 is an ellipse. Here, when it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is an ellipse (on the Yes side of S761), the process proceeds to step S762. On the other hand, when there is a straight line in the height direction of the lateral contour image M14 and it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is not an ellipse (on the No side of S761), the process proceeds to step S763.

[0231] <Step S762> <In step S762, the control unit 11 specifies that the shape type of the tablet is "bulging shape (others)". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is an ellipse and the lateral contour image M14 is also an ellipse, the shape type of the tablet is specified as "bulging shape (others)". Note that the bulging shape is a shape having two straight lines parallel to the short axis direction and a curve connecting them, as shown in FIG. 34.>

[0232] <Step S763> <Also, in step S763, the control unit 11 specifies that the shape type of the tablet is "elliptical". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is an ellipse and the lateral contour image M14 is a flat or bulging shape that is neither round nor elliptical, the shape type of the tablet is specified as "elliptical".>

[0233] <Step S78> <Next, as shown in FIG. 31, in step S78, the control unit 11 determines whether the upper contour image M12 is round. Here, if it is determined that the upper contour image M12 is round (on the Yes side of S78), the process proceeds to step S79. On the other hand, if it is determined that the upper contour image M12 is not round (on the No side of S78), the process proceeds to step S81.>

[0234] <Step S79> <In step S79, the control unit 11 determines whether the lateral contour image M14 is round. Here, if it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is round (on the Yes side of S79), the process proceeds to step S80. On the other hand, if it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is not round (on the No side of S79), the process proceeds to step S791.>

[0235] <Step S80> In step S80, the control unit 11 specifies that the shape type of the tablet is "spherical". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is round and the lateral contour image M14 is also round, the shape type of the tablet is specified as "spherical".

[0236] <Step S791> In step S791, the control unit 11 determines whether the lateral contour image M14 is an ellipse in the same manner as in step S761. Here, when it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is an ellipse (on the S791: Yes side), the process proceeds to step S792. On the other hand, when it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is not an ellipse (on the S791: No side), the process proceeds to step S793.

[0237] <Step S792> In step S792, the control unit 11 specifies that the shape type of the tablet is "bulging shape (round)". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is round and the lateral contour image M14 is an ellipse, the shape type of the tablet is specified as "bulging shape (round)".

[0238] <Step S793> In step S793, the control unit 11 specifies that the shape type of the tablet is "round shape". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is round and the lateral contour image M14 is flat or bulging and not an ellipse or round, the shape type of the tablet is specified as "round shape".

[0239] <Step S81> In step S81, the control unit 11 determines whether the lateral contour image M14 is flat. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines that the lateral contour image M14 is flat when there are straight lines in both the vertical and width directions of the lateral contour image M14. Here, when it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is flat (on the S81: Yes side), the process proceeds to step 82. On the other hand, when it is determined that the lateral contour image M14 is not flat (on the S81: No side), the process proceeds to step S811.

[0240] <Step S82> In step S82, the control unit 11 identifies the shape type of the tablet as "deformed tablet". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is not oblong, elliptical, or round, and the horizontal contour image M14 is flat or bulging and not round or elliptical, the shape type of the tablet is identified as "deformed tablet".

[0241] <Step S811> In step S811, the control unit 11 determines whether the horizontal contour image M14 is bulging. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines that the horizontal contour image M14 is bulging when a straight line exists in the vertical direction of the horizontal contour image M14 and an arc exists in the width direction of the horizontal contour image M14. Here, when it is determined that the horizontal contour image M14 is bulging (on the Yes side of S811), the process proceeds to step 82, and the shape type of the tablet is identified as "deformed tablet". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is not oblong, elliptical, or round, and the horizontal contour image M14 does not correspond to any of round, elliptical, flat, or bulging, the shape type of the tablet is identified as "deformed tablet". On the other hand, when it is determined that the horizontal contour image M14 is not bulging (on the No side of S811), the process proceeds to step S812.

[0242] <Step S812> In step S812, the control unit 11 identifies the shape type of the tablet as "bulging (others)". That is, as shown in FIG. 34, when the upper contour image M12 is not oblong, elliptical, or round, and the horizontal contour image M14 is bulging, the shape type of the tablet is identified as "bulging (others)".

[0243] In this way, in the shape type identification process, according to the combination of the shapes of the upper contour image M12 and the horizontal contour image M14, the shape type of the tablet is identified by selection from nine predetermined shape types. Thereby, the labor of measuring the shape of the tablet by the user can be reduced. In addition, since the process for recognizing the shapes of the upper contour image M12 and the horizontal contour image M14 can be realized only by general-purpose processes such as the Hough transform, the configuration required for measuring the shape of the tablet can be made simple and inexpensive.

[0244] <Step S35> Thereafter, returning to FIG. 26, in step S35, the control unit 11 executes a setting process of setting the driving conditions (pre-driving conditions, driving conditions during driving, driving stop conditions) of the variable cassette 22 based on the shape of the tablet measured in the drug shape measurement process. Here, the control unit 11 includes a driving condition setting unit 112 (see FIG. 2) that executes the setting process of the driving conditions. Specifically, the control unit 11 functions as the driving condition setting unit 112 (an example of driving condition setting means) by executing a process according to the drug dispensing program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0245] Here, FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of setting information indicating the relationship between the shape of the tablet and the setting contents of the driving conditions, and the setting information is stored in advance in the storage unit 12 and the like. In the example shown in FIG. 35, for each shape of the tablet, the setting contents of each item of the driving conditions, namely, the height of the dispensing path, the width of the dispensing path, the dispensing speed, the first slowdown, the second slowdown, and the reverse rotation operation are determined. Then, the control unit 11 sets the driving conditions corresponding to the tablet based on the shape of the tablet measured in the drug shape measurement process and the setting information.

[0246] For example, the height and width of the dispensing path indicate the relationship between the height and width of the tablet measured in the drug shape measurement process and the set values of the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 of the variable cassette 22 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227. Specifically, when the shape of the tablet is a capsule tablet, the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 is set to a value 1.3 times the height dimension of the capsule tablet. Similarly, when the shape of the tablet is a capsule tablet, the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 is set to a value 1.4 times the width dimension of the capsule tablet.

[0247] Also, the dispensing speed indicates the dispensing speed of the tablets by the variable cassette 22, that is, the rotational speed of the second rotating body 224. Here, the dispensing speed is a value preset for each shape type of the tablets so that an extra number of tablets are not dispensed from the variable cassette 22. More specifically, for tablets that are easy to roll, if the dispensing speed is high, there is a high possibility of extra dispensing. Also, for tablets with a bulge at the side end, adjacent tablets may be conveyed in a state where they overlap vertically, and the pitch during the conveyance of the tablets becomes narrow, increasing the possibility of extra tablets being dispensed. Therefore, it is desirable to determine the dispensing speed for each shape type of the tablets in consideration of factors such as ease of rolling and ease of overlapping.

[0248] Specifically, the dispensing speeds v21 to v24 shown in FIG. 35 are in the relationship of v21 > v22 > v23 > v24. For example, when the shape type of the tablets is spherical, oval, etc. that are easy to roll, the dispensing speed is set slower compared to the case of round tablets, deformed tablets, etc. that are difficult to roll. Also, when the shape type of the tablets is oval, etc. that are easy to overlap, it is set slower compared to the case of capsule tablets, round tablets, etc. that are difficult to overlap.

[0249] Furthermore, for the tablets of the same type of shape, it is also conceivable that the dispensing speeds different for each dimension of the tablets are preset. Specifically, even if the shape types are the same, for tablets with a larger size, the pitch becomes larger when they are arranged and conveyed in the dispensing path from the variable cassette 22, and for tablets with a smaller size, the pitch becomes smaller. Therefore, even for tablets of the same shape type, it is conceivable that the dispensing speeds corresponding to each dimension are set. Specifically, the smaller the size of the tablets and the smaller the pitch between the tablets when they are conveyed in the conveyance path, the higher the accuracy of the counter of the variable cassette 22 required to count the tablets without counting errors. Therefore, it is conceivable that the relationship between the dimension of the tablets and the dispensing speed is set such that the dispensing speed becomes faster as the size of the tablets becomes larger and the dispensing speed becomes slower as the size of the tablets becomes smaller. Thereby, it is possible to prevent counting errors of the counter when the size of the tablets is small without wastefully suppressing the dispensing speed when the size of the tablets is large. Also, for example, it is possible to use an inexpensive sensor as the optical sensor used for the counter.

[0250] Also, the first slowdown and the second slowdown indicate the timing of the slowdown when the dispensing of the tablets by the variable cassette 22 stops. Here, the number of tablets set in the items of the first slowdown and the second slowdown is a value preset for each shape type of the tablets so that an extra number of tablets are not dispensed from the variable cassette 22. For example, when the shape type of the tablets is an easily rollable spherical shape, the number of tablets of the first slowdown and the second slowdown is set to be larger than in the case of a long oval or elliptical shape that is difficult to roll.

[0251] Note that the reverse rotation operation indicates the setting content of whether to execute the reverse rotation operation when the tablet dispensing by the variable cassette 22 stops. Here, the reverse rotation operation is preset for each tablet shape type so that an extra number of tablets are not dispensed from the variable cassette 22. For example, for spherical tablets that are easy to roll, the reverse rotation operation is executed, and for round tablets or deformed tablets that are difficult to roll, the reverse rotation operation is set not to be executed.

[0252] <Step S36> Thereafter, in step S36, the control unit 11 executes a storage process of registering the drive conditions set in step S35 in association with the drug information of the tablets in the drive correspondence information 122. As a result, since the drive conditions corresponding to the tablets not registered in the drive correspondence information 122 are registered in the drive correspondence information 122, after the execution of the adjustment process, it is possible to dispense the tablets from the variable cassette 22 in the drug dispensing process (see FIG. 11).

[0253] <Step S37> Then, in step S37, the control unit 11 transmits the drive conditions set in step S35 to the control unit 61. As a result, the control unit 61 will drive the variable cassette 22 according to the drive conditions. Specifically, the control unit 61 controls the height adjustment part 226A and the width adjustment part 227A of the variable cassette 22, and adjusts the height h1 regulated by the height regulating member 226 and the width w1 regulated by the width regulating member 227 according to the drive conditions set in step S35. In addition, the control unit 61 sets the dispensing speed of the tablets by the variable cassette 22, the timings of the first slowdown and the second slowdown when the dispensing of the tablets by the variable cassette 22 stops, and the presence or absence of the reverse rotation operation when the dispensing of the tablets by the variable cassette 22 stops. When executing the adjustment process of the variable cassette 22 to which the drug information is assigned, the control unit 11 transmits the cassette identification information of the variable cassette 22 to the control unit 61 together with the drive conditions. Here, the control unit 11 when executing the process for driving the variable cassette 22 according to the drive conditions by transmitting the drive conditions to the control unit 61 may be regarded as an example of drive control means.

[0254] Note that in the adjustment process, step S37 can be omitted. That is, in the adjustment process, it is conceivable that only the measurement of the shape of the tablets and the setting of the drive conditions according to the shape of the tablets are executed. As a result, it is possible to register the drive conditions corresponding to the tablets in advance in the drive correspondence information 122 without driving the variable cassette 22.

[0255] As described above, in the medicine dispensing device 100, by executing the adjustment process using the medicine photographing device 7, the driving conditions can be set for tablets for which the driving conditions are not registered in the driving correspondence information 122, and the tablets can be dispensed from the variable cassette 22. In the adjustment process, the user can easily take an image necessary for specifying the shape of the tablet using the medicine photographing device 7. Further, in the medicine photographing device 7, since a photographed image of the tablet excluding the portion holding the tablet is obtained, the image processing executed by the medicine photographing device 7 and the like can be simple processing that does not include difficult image processing. Therefore, it is not necessary to use expensive image processing software for the medicine shape measurement process, and it is possible to realize the shape measurement of the tablet using the medicine photographing device 7 at low cost.

[0256] Furthermore, in the medicine photographing device 7, the camera 831 and the light source 821 are fixed, and only the medicine holding portion 81, which is disposed therebetween and has a small turning radius, is rotatable. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the medicine photographing device 7 as compared with a configuration in which the camera 831 and the light source 821 are rotated. Also, the electronic components used in the medicine photographing device 7 are only the light source 821 and the camera 831, and the medicine photographing device 7 can be configured at low cost in that other configurations are realized by a mechanical structure. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, in the medicine photographing device 7, a configuration is also conceivable in which the medicine holding portion 81 is fixedly and non-rotatably attached to the opening / closing portion 72, and a rotation support portion that rotatably supports the photographing unit 84 including the camera 831 and the lighting portion 82 around the medicine holding portion 81 is provided. In this case, for example, the rotation support portion may be considered to have a frame member that supports the camera 831 and the lighting portion 82, and a rotation shaft that rotatably supports the frame member at a position coaxial with the position P1. Also, a configuration in which rotation support portions that rotatably support the medicine holding portion 81 and the photographing unit 84 are provided is also conceivable.

[0257] [Other Usage Examples of the Pharmaceutical Imaging Device 7] Incidentally, by using the pharmaceutical imaging device 7, it is possible to determine not only the driving conditions of the variable cassette 22 for dispensing the tablets but also the internal structure of the fixed cassette 21. That is, by using the pharmaceutical imaging device 7, it is possible to easily obtain the shape type and dimensions of the tablets necessary for manufacturing the fixed cassette 21 corresponding to the tablets.

[0258] More specifically, the present invention may be regarded as a pharmaceutical shape measurement device including the pharmaceutical imaging device 7 and an information processing device such as a personal computer. Then, the information processing device executes the pharmaceutical shape measurement process (see FIG. 27) to measure the shape type and dimensions of the tablets based on the upper contour image M12 and the lateral contour image M14 captured by the pharmaceutical imaging device 7. As a result, it becomes possible to easily design the internal structure of the fixed cassette 21 that conforms to the shape type and dimensions of the tablets. In addition, the labor of manually measuring the dimensions of the tablets is reduced, and errors due to human factors of the operator who specifies the shape type and dimensions of the tablets by visual inspection and manual measurement are also prevented.

[0259] For example, based on the shape type and dimensions of the tablets corresponding to the fixed cassette 21, it is conceivable to approximate the internal shape of the gap 217 to the tablets by forming concave or convex portions corresponding to the shape of the tablets on one or more wall portions in the gap 217. As a result, since the internal shape of the gap 217 of the fixed cassette 21 can be made to match the shape of the tablets, the rocking of the tablets in the gap 217 is suppressed.

[0260] <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the drug dispensing device 100 with a relatively small number of available variable cassettes 22 was taken as an example for explanation. On the other hand, the present invention can also be applied to a drug dispensing device 300 in which a large number of the variable cassettes 22 are available. Here, FIGS. 36 and 37 are external views of the drug dispensing device 300. A configuration including a large number of drug cassettes is also described in, for example, International Publication No. 2013 / 118838. As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the drug dispensing device 300 includes the drug imaging device 7, an adjustment unit 301, a vial dispensing unit 302, an operation monitor 303, and the like. Further, the drug dispensing device 300 includes a control device (not shown) that executes the adjustment process (see FIG. 26) in the same manner as the control unit 11. A plurality of the variable cassettes 22 can be mounted on the drug dispensing device 300, and in the drug dispensing device 300, vials containing tablets supplied from each of the variable cassettes 22 are dispensed from the vial dispensing unit 302.

[0261] In the drug dispensing device 300 configured as described above, providing a mechanism for changing the width w1 and height h1 of the tablet conveyance path in the variable cassette 22 for each of the variable cassettes 22 increases the size of the device and the cost. Therefore, in the drug dispensing device 300, an adjustment unit 301 common to the plurality of variable cassettes 22 is provided. The adjustment unit 301 has the same configuration as the mounting unit 221 of the drug dispensing device 100 and can change the width w1 and height h1 of the tablet conveyance path in the variable cassette 22. In the drug dispensing device 300 configured as described above, the control device (not shown) executes the adjustment process on the variable cassette 22 mounted on the adjustment unit 301, so that the variable cassette 22 can be adapted to arbitrary tablets for use. Therefore, the configuration of the drug dispensing device 300 can be miniaturized and the cost can be reduced.

[0262] <Third Embodiment> Here, FIGS. 38 and 39 are diagrams showing modified examples of the variable cassette 22 and the mounting portion 221, and are schematic views of the state in which the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221 as viewed from the front. As shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, a front cover 2210 is mounted on the mounting portion 221. Also, regarding the variable cassette 22 and the mounting portion 221, descriptions of configurations similar to those described in the first embodiment will be omitted. Here, the drug dispensing device 100 will be described, but the drug dispensing device 300 can be configured in the same manner.

[0263] As described above, in the variable cassette 22, the first rotating body 223 can be moved up and down by the lifting mechanism (not shown), and the volume in the tablet storage portion 222 can be changed by moving the first rotating body 223 up and down. Also, in the drug dispensing device 100, a tablet detection unit such as an optical sensor for detecting the tablets placed on the second rotating body 224 is provided, and the tablet detection unit detects whether there are tablets on the second rotating body 224.

[0264] In the drug dispensing device 100 configured as described above, when the tablet detection unit does not detect a tablet, the drive gear 228B is driven by the drive motor, and the first rotating body 223 rises in the tablet storage portion 222. As a result, the tablets in the tablet storage portion 222 are supplied from the first rotating body 223 to the second rotating body 224. The driving of the first rotating body 223 continues, for example, until the tablet detection unit detects a tablet or until a preset time has elapsed.

[0265] Also, when the interval at which the tablets are detected by the counter provided at the discharge port 225 of the variable cassette 22 exceeds a predetermined time, a configuration is conceivable in which the drive gear 228B is driven by a drive motor and the first rotating body 223 rises. In this case, the driving of the first rotating body 223 is continued, for example, until the tablets are detected by the counter or until a preset time elapses. Note that the elevating mechanism is also described in, for example, International Publication No. 2013 / 118838.

[0266] By the way, when the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221, if the user cannot grasp the remaining number of tablets stored in the variable cassette 22, it is difficult to determine the timing of replenishing the tablets into the variable cassette 22.

[0267] Therefore, in the drug dispensing device 100 according to the third embodiment, the front portion 2211 forming the exterior of the variable cassette 22 and the tablet storage portion 222 are formed of a material such as a resin that is transparent or translucent. Note that the transparency of the front portion 2211 and the tablet storage portion 222 only needs to be such that the lifting position of the first rotating body 223 in the variable cassette 22 can be visually recognized. Also, the gripping portion 2212 provided on the front surface of the variable cassette 22 for the user to grip may also be transparent or translucent. Further, a scale 2213 indicating the position of the first rotating body 223 in the lifting direction D1 is provided on the front portion 2211. In the scale 2213, positions serving as indicators for grasping the remaining amount of tablets in the variable cassette 22 are indicated at preset intervals within the lifting range of the first rotating body 223.

[0268] Here, in FIGS. 38 and 39, the first rotating body 223 that can be visually recognized from the outside of the variable cassette 22 is shown by a dashed line. As shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, in the drug dispensing device 100 according to the third embodiment, even when the variable cassette 22 is mounted on the mounting portion 221, the user can visually recognize the current position of the first rotating body 223 in the elevating direction D1 from the outside of the variable cassette 22. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, since the variable cassette 22 is provided with the scale 2213 for easily recognizing the position of the first rotating body 223 in the elevating direction R1, by visually observing the scale 2213 and the position of the first rotating body 223, it is possible to easily grasp the remaining amount of tablets in the variable cassette 22.

[0269] Therefore, the user can grasp the remaining number of tablets stored in the variable cassette 22 with the variable cassette 22 mounted on the mounting portion 221. Therefore, when the user notices that the amount of tablets in the variable cassette 22 has decreased, it is possible to replenish the variable cassette 22 with tablets in a timely manner. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent the tablets in the variable cassette 22 from being insufficient during dispensing by the drug dispensing device 100 and the need for a replenishment operation at that timing.

[0270] In addition, since the state inside the variable cassette 22 can be visually recognized from the outside, for example, it is possible to visually recognize that the first rotating body 223 of the variable cassette 22 is rotating, so the user can recognize that tablets are being dispensed from the variable cassette 22. For example, the user recognizes that the variable cassette 22 is being driven when gripping the gripping portion 2212 of the variable cassette 22. Therefore, in the drug dispensing device 100, it is possible to prevent the variable cassette 22 being driven from being taken out by the user.

[0271] Incidentally, in the present embodiment, although the variable cassette 22 has been described as being configured such that tablets can be dispensed by the rotation operation of the first rotating body 223 and the volume of the tablet storage portion 222 can be varied by the lifting operation of the first rotating body 223, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the concept of the invention extracted from the present embodiment includes a configuration in which the variable cassette 22 includes a dispensing operation unit that receives a driving force from a predetermined driving source and executes an operation for dispensing tablets, and a volume changing unit that receives a driving force from a predetermined driving source and changes the volume of the tablet storage portion 222. An example of the dispensing operation unit includes, in addition to a mechanism involving the rotation operation of the first rotating body 223, a mechanism that dispenses tablets using vibration, for example. An example of the volume changing unit includes, in addition to a lifting mechanism that performs the lifting operation of the first rotating body 223, a mechanism that can change the volume by moving the inner wall surface or partition plate of the tablet storage portion 222 by a rotation operation or a slide operation, for example.

[0272] And, with respect to the variable cassette 22 provided with the dispensing operation unit and the volume changing unit as described above, a configuration in which the front surface portion 2211 is transparent or translucent as described above and the state inside the variable cassette 22 can be visually recognized from the outside is preferable. That is, since the user can visually recognize the presence or absence of the operation of the dispensing operation unit, removal of the variable cassette 22 during the tablet dispensing operation is prevented, and since the user can visually recognize the state of the volume changing unit, it is possible to easily grasp the remaining amount of tablets in the tablet storage portion 222. Note that, as long as there is no influence on the tablet dispensing function of the variable cassette 22, a configuration in which an opening through which the state inside the variable cassette 22 can be visually recognized from the outside is provided in a part of the exterior of the variable cassette 22 is also conceivable. Further, if the upper surface, side surface, or back surface of the variable cassette 22 is in a state where it can be visually recognized from the outside when the variable cassette 22 is attached to the medicine dispensing device 100, it is also conceivable that the surface that can be visually recognized from the outside is transparent or translucent, or that an opening is provided in the surface that can be visually recognized from the outside. In addition, a color image of the tablet captured by the camera 831 may be registered in the pharmaceutical master. Each registered color image may be transmitted to another medicine dispensing device 100 together with the medicine code.

Explanation of Symbols

[0273] 7: Medicine photographing device 71: Housing 72: Opening / closing part 73: Operation part 81: Medicine holding part 810: Medicine placing part 810A: Medicine placing surface 811: Clamping part 811A: Clamping surface 812: Clamping part 812A: Clamping surface 813: Placing reference part 813A: Placing reference surface 82: Lighting part 821: Light source 822: Light source support part 83: Photographing part 831: Camera 831: Camera support part 100: Medicine dispensing device S1, S2 ···: Processing procedure (step) numbers

Claims

1. a first accommodating part capable of dispensing a predetermined specific type of tablets to be accommodated; a second accommodating part capable of changing at least one of the height and width of the tablet dispensing path to a size that allows the tablet to be dispensed by driving according to driving conditions corresponding to the type of tablet; a packaging unit for packaging tablets dispensed from either one or both of the first accommodating part and the second accommodating part; A pharmaceutical dispensing device comprising: The pharmaceutical dispensing device determines whether the driving conditions corresponding to the type of tablet are stored in a storage unit provided in the pharmaceutical dispensing device when the tablets to be dispensed include a type of tablet not accommodated in the first accommodating part, and when the driving conditions are stored in the storage unit, the control unit executes a process for dispensing the tablets from the second accommodating part by controlling the second accommodating part according to the driving conditions. The driving conditions are at least one of the height and width of the dispensing path in the second accommodating part, The first accommodating part and the second accommodating part are detachable from the pharmaceutical dispensing device. Pharmaceutical dispensing device.

2. When the tablets to be dispensed include a type of tablet not accommodated in the first accommodating part and the driving conditions corresponding to the type of tablet are not stored in the storage unit, the control unit displays an operation key for selecting whether to execute an adjustment process for storing the driving conditions corresponding to the type of tablet in the storage unit based on the shape of the tablet on a display unit provided in the pharmaceutical dispensing device, and executes the adjustment process according to a user operation of the operation key using an operation unit provided in the pharmaceutical dispensing device. The pharmaceutical dispensing device according to Claim 1.

3. a first accommodating part capable of dispensing a predetermined specific type of tablets to be accommodated; a second accommodating part capable of changing at least one of the height and width of the tablet dispensing path to a size that allows the tablet to be dispensed by driving according to driving conditions corresponding to the type of tablet; A packaging unit that packages tablets dispensed from either one or both of the first storage unit and the second storage unit; and a control unit that controls a medicine dispensing device, wherein the first storage unit and the second storage unit are detachable from the medicine dispensing device, and the driving condition is at least one of the height and width of the dispensing path in the second storage unit. When the tablets to be dispensed contain tablets of a type not stored in the first storage unit, it is determined whether the driving condition corresponding to the type of the tablets is stored in a storage unit provided in the medicine dispensing device. When the driving condition is stored in the storage unit, a program for executing a step of causing the tablets to be dispensed from the second storage unit by controlling the second storage unit according to the driving condition.

4. When the tablets to be dispensed contain tablets of a type not stored in the first storage unit and the driving condition corresponding to the type of the tablets is not stored in the storage unit, an operation key for selecting whether to execute an adjustment process of storing the driving condition corresponding to the type of the tablets in the storage unit based on the shape of the tablets is displayed on a display unit provided in the medicine dispensing device, and the adjustment process is executed according to a user operation of the operation key using an operation unit provided in the medicine dispensing device. The program according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

7. The program according to claim 3, further comprising the step of: when the tablets to be dispensed contain tablets of a type not stored in the first storage unit and the driving condition corresponding to the type of the tablets is not stored in the storage unit, an operation key for selecting whether to execute an adjustment process of storing the driving condition corresponding to the type of the tablets in the storage unit based on the shape of the tablets is displayed on a display unit provided in the medicine dispensing device, and the adjustment process is executed according to a user operation of the operation key using an operation unit provided in the medicine dispensing device.

Images