Drug dispensing device

Abstract

To provide a medicine dispenser that can detect a situation causing excess or shortage in the amount of powder in a package.SOLUTION: The medicine dispenser includes: a medicine feeder for discharging powder; a medicine distribution plate 35 that rotates by motive power; a scraper 37 for scraping powder that is put in the distribution plate 35; and a medicine packaging device 53. With powder supplied from the medicine feeder to the distribution plate 35, the powder on the distribution plate 35 is scraped out by the dose with the scraper 37, put in the medicine packaging device 53, and packaged for each dose. It is possible to watch the discharged amount of the powder from the medicine feeder and to discharge a target amount of the powder from the medicine feeder. In the event that discrepancies exist for more than a specific amount in the discharge per unit time of the powder from the medicine feeder, a prescribed action is implemented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug dispensing device, and more particularly to a drug dispensing device provided with a dispensing dish for dispensing powder drugs.

Background Art

[0002] In large hospitals and large-scale pharmacies, drug dispensing devices equipped with a powder drug packaging function have been introduced. Conventional drug dispensing devices have a structure as disclosed in Patent Document 1, which is a combination of a dispensing dish and a powder feeder. The operation of packaging powder drugs using a conventional drug dispensing device is performed by a pharmacist operating the device according to a doctor's prescription. That is, the pharmacist checks the doctor's prescription, takes out the medicine bottle containing the prescribed powder drug from the medicine shelf, and measures the total weight of the specific powder drug prescribed using a scale such as a balance.

[0003] Then, the measured powder drug is put into the input hopper of the powder feeder, and the trough of the powder feeder is vibrated. Also, the dispensing dish is rotated at a constant rotational speed. The powder drug put into the input hopper moves slowly toward the tip side as the trough vibrates, and falls into the groove of the dispensing dish.

[0004] When the dropping of the powder drug onto the dispensing dish is completed, the rotation of the dispensing dish is stopped. Then, the disk of the scraping device is dropped into the groove of the dispensing dish. Further, thereafter, the dispensing dish is rotated by an amount (angle) corresponding to the number of packages to be dispensed. Then, the disk is rotated, and the powder drug for a predetermined angle is scraped out of the dispensing dish by a scraping plate and put into a packaging hopper. The powder drug dropped from the packaging hopper is packaged by a packaging device.

[0005] When using the conventional drug dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, although most of the work of packaging powder drugs one dose at a time can be automated, there are still steps that have to rely on manual labor, and it is hard to say that it is a device that can completely automate the packaging of powder drugs.

[0006] Therefore, the applicant of the present application developed a medicine dispensing device that automates the operations of taking out a medicine bottle containing the desired powder medicine from a medicine shelf and measuring out a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the medicine bottle, and disclosed it in Patent Document 2. The medicine dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a container storage unit that houses a plurality of medicine containers and a robot (container moving means). There is also a container placement device around the dispensing tray. The container placement device has a function of vibrating the medicine container to discharge the powder medicine from the medicine container and a function of monitoring the weight of the medicine container. In the medicine dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 2, a medicine container filled with powder medicine that matches the doctor's prescription is selected from the medicine containers stored in the container storage unit, and the robot takes out the medicine container and places it on the container placement device. Then, the container placement device is vibrated to discharge the powder medicine from the medicine container, and the weight of the medicine container is monitored to indirectly monitor the weight of the powder medicine discharged from the medicine container. When a predetermined amount of powder medicine is discharged from the medicine container, the scraping device is driven to scrape the powder medicine out of the dispensing tray and package it with the packaging device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] According to the medicine dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the sub-packaging of powder medicine can be almost completely automated. When using the medicine dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 2 to perform the sub-packaging of powder medicine, the pharmacist does not necessarily have to constantly monitor the movement of the device. Therefore, it is also assumed that the pharmacist may leave the medicine dispensing device during the sub-packaging of powder medicine. An unexpected situation may occur when the pharmacist takes their eyes off.

[0009] For example, in a drug container, the powder medicine may adhere and form a lump. And the lump of powder medicine may be discharged from the drug container in a granular state without being loosened and fall onto the dispensing tray. When this powder medicine falls onto the dispensing tray in a lump state, the distribution of the powder medicine on the dispensing tray becomes uneven, and uneven distribution occurs on the dispensing tray. If the powder medicine is divided and packaged by a scraping plate in this state, there will be a difference in the amount of medicine during packaging. In addition, the lid of the drug container may come off, and a large amount of medicine may be put on the dispensing tray, or the weight of the lid may be misdetected as the weight of the medicine.

[0010] It is also conceivable to configure the device to discharge the powder medicine for one dose from the drug container and package it with a packaging device without using the dispensing tray. However, even in this case, there will be a difference in the amount of medicine during packaging.

[0011] The present invention improves the conventional medicine dispensing device, and an object thereof is to provide a medicine dispensing device capable of detecting a situation that causes an excess or deficiency in the amount of powder medicine during packaging. In addition, the present invention provides a medicine dispensing device that can cope even when the remaining amount of powder medicine in the medicine container decreases below a certain threshold value.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] One aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a medicine dispensing device including a medicine feeder, a medicine input groove, a distribution plate having the medicine input groove, a scraping device, and a medicine packaging device. The device discharges bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the distribution plate, inputs the bulk medicine discharged onto the distribution plate from the distribution plate into the medicine packaging device, and performs a subcontracting operation of packaging the bulk medicine in single-dose portions. After discharging the bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the distribution plate, the scraping device is placed in the medicine input groove of the distribution plate, and the distribution plate is rotated to gather the bulk medicine distributed in a certain range of the medicine input grooves. A medicine gathering step is performed, and a scraping step of scraping out the bulk medicine from the medicine input groove is performed. When inputting a single-dose portion of bulk medicine into the medicine packaging device, it is possible to perform the medicine gathering step and the scraping step a plurality of times. First, the scraping device is placed in the medicine input groove of the distribution plate, and the scraping step is performed without going through the medicine gathering step. Then, the medicine gathering step and the scraping step are performed a plurality of times to input a single-dose portion of bulk medicine into the medicine packaging device. In the medicine gathering step performed a plurality of times, the amount of bulk medicine gathered in one medicine gathering step becomes smaller as the process progresses to the subsequent steps. In the scraping step performed a plurality of times, the amount of movement in the rotation direction of the distribution plate becomes smaller as the subsequent scraping step progresses. It is a medicine dispensing device. A preferred embodiment is a drug dispensing device including a drug feeder, a drug input groove, a dispensing dish having the drug input groove, a scraping device, and a drug packaging device. The drug feeder discharges loose drugs onto the dispensing dish, the loose drugs discharged onto the dispensing dish are put from the dispensing dish into the drug packaging device, and a subcontracting operation of packaging the loose drugs in doses per single dose is performed. After discharging the loose drugs from the drug feeder onto the dispensing dish, a drug collection step is performed in which the scraping device is placed in the drug input groove of the dispensing dish and the dispensing dish is rotated to gather the loose drugs distributed in a certain range of the drug input grooves, and a scraping step of scraping out the loose drugs from the drug input groove is performed. When putting the loose drugs for a single dose into the drug packaging device, it is possible to perform the drug collection step and the scraping step a plurality of times. First, the scraping device is placed in the drug input groove of the dispensing dish and the scraping step is performed without going through the drug collection step, and then the drug collection step and the scraping step are performed a plurality of times to put the loose drugs for a single dose into the drug packaging device. Among the plurality of scraping steps, the movement amount of the drug collection step corresponding to the last scraping step is made less than the other movement amounts. Even more preferred embodiments are After putting the loose drugs for a single dose into the drug packaging device and packaging the first pack of loose drugs, the same series of steps are performed to send the second pack of loose drugs to the drug packaging device and package the second pack of loose drugs. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a medicine dispensing device including a medicine feeder, a medicine input groove, a dispensing tray having the medicine input groove, a scraping device, and a medicine packaging device. The device discharges bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the dispensing tray, inputs the bulk medicine discharged onto the dispensing tray from the dispensing tray to the medicine packaging device, and performs a subcontracting operation of packaging the bulk medicine in single-dose portions. After discharging the bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the dispensing tray, a medicine collecting step is performed in which the scraping device is placed in the medicine input groove of the dispensing tray and the dispensing tray is rotated to gather the bulk medicine distributed in a certain range of the medicine input grooves, and a scraping step of scraping out the bulk medicine from the medicine input groove is performed. When inputting a single-dose portion of bulk medicine into the medicine packaging device, it is possible to perform the medicine collecting step and the scraping step a plurality of times. First, the scraping device is placed in the medicine input groove of the dispensing tray and the scraping step is performed without going through the medicine collecting step. Then, the medicine collecting step and the scraping step are performed once or a plurality of times to input a single-dose portion of bulk medicine into the medicine packaging device. This is the medicine dispensing device. A preferred aspect is a medicine dispensing device in which when bulk medicine is discharged from the medicine feeder to the dispensing tray, the rotation speed of the dispensing tray is automatically set according to the particle size of the bulk medicine. A more preferred aspect is a medicine dispensing device including a particle size determination means which is an external storage means storing the particle size of the bulk medicine or an optical bulk medicine dropping sensor for determining the particle size of the bulk medicine. The particle size of the bulk medicine at the time of discharge is specified by the storage means or the particle size determination means, and when the bulk medicine is discharged, an operation is included in which the rotation speed of the dispensing tray is automatically set according to the specified particle size of the bulk medicine. A further preferred aspect is that the number of dispensing trays is two, and it further includes a medicine input port. When inputting the bulk medicine on one of the two dispensing trays into the medicine packaging device and when inputting the bulk medicine on the other of the two dispensing trays into the medicine packaging device, the bulk medicine is input into the same medicine input port. After information regarding a first prescription and information regarding a second prescription are input and the supply of bulk medicine based on the information regarding the first prescription is started for one dispensing tray and the supply of bulk medicine based on the information regarding the second prescription is started for the other dispensing tray, the bulk medicine on the dispensing tray is input into the medicine input port in the order in which the supply of bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the dispensing tray is completed first. This is the medicine dispensing device. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a medicine dispensing device having a medicine container, a medicine feeder having the medicine container and discharging a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the medicine container, a dispensing tray, a medicine packaging device, and an operation display unit. The medicine dispensing device discharges a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the medicine container to the dispensing tray based on prescription information, puts the predetermined amount of powder medicine discharged to the dispensing tray into the medicine packaging device from the dispensing tray, and performs a series of operations including executing a sub-packaging operation of packaging the predetermined amount of powder medicine one dose at a time. When discharging a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the medicine container to the dispensing tray, when the remaining amount of the powder medicine in the medicine container decreases to a certain threshold value or less, the sub-packaging operation of the medicine container with the remaining amount of the powder medicine decreased to a certain threshold value or less is interrupted before performing the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription, and a warning that the medicine container will be out of stock is displayed on the operation display unit. One of the following operations (1) to (4): (1) The user manually cancels the displayed warning that the medicine container will be out of stock, and then performs the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription. (2) The sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription is performed on the condition that a predetermined amount of powder medicine is filled in the medicine container targeted by the out-of-stock warning. (3) The warning that the medicine container will be out of stock is displayed on the operation display unit for a certain period of time. If the user does not manually cancel the displayed warning that the medicine container will be out of stock during the certain period of time, the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription becomes possible. (4) Even when a warning that the medicine container will be out of stock is displayed, the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription becomes possible without displaying a filling guide for filling the powder medicine into the medicine container. This is a medicine dispensing device in which any one of the operations can be selected. A preferred aspect is that the medicine dispensing device further includes a memory having an area where prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored and an area where a list of out-of-stock prescriptions is stored. The prescription information for using the medicine container targeted by the out-of-stock warning is removed from the area where the prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored and moved to the area where the list of out-of-stock prescriptions is stored. This is a medicine dispensing device including the operation. A more preferred embodiment is that when the prescription information using the drug container targeted for out-of-stock notice is removed from the area where the prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored and moved to the area where the out-of-stock prescription list is stored, the operations (5) to (6) below: (5) When a predetermined powder drug is filled into the drug container targeted for out-of-stock notice and the drug container is returned to the container storage unit, the information based on the prescription targeted for out-of-stock notice is returned from the area where the out-of-stock prescription list is stored to the area where the prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored, and the packing operation is started in the order of the earlier prescription reception times. (6) The out-of-stock prescription list is displayed on the operation display unit, and the packing operation is started by the user's selection. A drug dispensing device in which any one of the operations can be selected. A more preferred embodiment further has a container storage unit, and operation (2) is an operation of performing a packing operation based on the next prescription on the condition that a predetermined powder drug is filled into the drug container targeted for out-of-stock notice and the drug container is returned to the container storage unit. A drug dispensing device. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a drug dispensing device having a drug container, a drug feeder having the drug container and discharging a predetermined amount of powder drug from the drug container, a dispensing tray, a drug packaging device, and an operation display unit. The drug dispensing device discharges a predetermined amount of powder drug from the drug container to the dispensing tray based on prescription information, puts the predetermined amount of powder drug discharged to the dispensing tray from the dispensing tray into the drug packaging device, and performs a series of operations of performing a packing operation of packing a predetermined amount of powder drug in one-dose portions. It is provided with a memory having an area where the prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored and an area where the out-of-stock prescription list is stored. When a predetermined amount of powder drug is being discharged from the drug container to the dispensing tray, when the remaining amount of the powder drug in the drug container decreases to a certain threshold or less, the packing operation of the drug container whose remaining amount of the powder drug has decreased to a certain threshold or less is interrupted before performing the packing operation based on the next prescription, and a notice that the drug container is out of stock is displayed on the operation display unit. If the notice that the drug container is out of stock is displayed on the operation display unit for a certain period of time and the user does not manually cancel the displayed notice that the drug container is out of stock during the certain period of time, the packing operation based on the next prescription becomes possible. A drug dispensing device. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a medicine dispensing device having a medicine container, a medicine feeder having the medicine container and discharging a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the medicine container, a dispensing tray, a medicine packaging device, and an operation display unit, wherein the medicine dispensing device discharges a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the medicine container to the dispensing tray based on prescription information, puts the predetermined amount of powder medicine discharged to the dispensing tray into the medicine packaging device from the dispensing tray, and performs a series of operations for executing a sub-packaging operation of packaging the predetermined amount of powder medicine one dose at a time, and is provided with a memory having a region in which prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored and a region in which a list of out-of-stock prescriptions is stored. When discharging a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the medicine container to the dispensing tray, when the remaining amount of the powder medicine in the medicine container decreases to a certain threshold value or less, the sub-packaging operation of the medicine container in which the remaining amount of the powder medicine has decreased to a certain threshold value or less is interrupted before performing the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription, and a warning that the medicine container will be out of stock is displayed on the operation display unit. Even when a warning that the medicine container will be out of stock is displayed, a medicine dispensing device that enables a sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription without displaying a filling guide for filling the powder medicine into the medicine container. A preferred aspect is a medicine dispensing device including an operation in which prescription information for using a medicine container targeted for a warning of out-of-stock is removed from the region where the prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored and moved to the region where the list of out-of-stock prescriptions is stored. A more preferred aspect is that when the prescription information for using a medicine container targeted for a warning of out-of-stock is removed from the region where the prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored and moved to the region where the list of out-of-stock prescriptions is stored, the operations of the following (5) to (6): (5) Filling a predetermined amount of powder medicine into the medicine container targeted for a warning of out-of-stock, and when the medicine container is returned to the container storage unit, the information based on the prescription targeted for a warning of out-of-stock is returned from the region where the list of out-of-stock prescriptions is stored to the region where the prescription information for performing the series of operations is stored, and the sub-packaging operation is started in the order of the earlier prescription reception time. (6) The list of out-of-stock prescriptions is displayed on the operation display unit, and the sub-packaging operation is started by the user's selection. A medicine dispensing device in which any one of the operations can be selected. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems has a powder feeder for discharging powder medicine and a medicine packaging device, and in a medicine dispensing device that automatically performs a sub-packaging operation of putting the powder medicine discharged from the powder feeder into the medicine packaging device one dose at a time and packaging the powder medicine one dose at a time, while the powder medicine is being discharged from the medicine container, it is possible to monitor the discharge amount of the powder medicine from the powder feeder and discharge a target amount of the powder medicine from the powder feeder, store the past weight change amount per unit time of the powder medicine from the powder feeder, and when the current weight change amount per unit time increases beyond the normal range with respect to the stored past weight change amount per unit time. It is a medicine dispensing device that performs a predetermined operation. A preferred aspect is a medicine dispensing device in which the monitoring of the discharge amount of the powder medicine is performed by detecting the weight change per unit time of the powder medicine. A more preferred aspect is that the powder feeder is composed of a medicine container and a container mounting device, has a weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the medicine container, and the monitoring of the discharge amount of the powder medicine is performed by detecting the weight change per unit time of the powder medicine by the weight measuring means. It is a medicine dispensing device. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems has a powder feeder for discharging powder medicine and a medicine packaging device, and in a medicine dispensing device that puts the powder medicine discharged from the powder feeder into the medicine packaging device one dose at a time and packages the powder medicine one dose at a time, the powder feeder is composed of a medicine container and a container mounting device, has a weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the medicine container, and detects the discharge amount of the powder medicine per unit time from the weight change per unit time. While the powder medicine is being discharged from the medicine container, it is possible to monitor the discharge amount of the powder medicine from the powder feeder and discharge a target amount of the powder medicine from the powder feeder, store the past weight change amount per unit time of the powder medicine from the powder feeder, and when the current weight change amount per unit time increases beyond the normal range with respect to the stored past weight change amount per unit time, it is a medicine dispensing device that performs a predetermined operation. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a drug dispenser having a powder feeder for discharging powder filled in a drug container and a drug packaging device, which automatically performs a sub-packaging operation of putting the powder discharged from the powder feeder into the drug packaging device one dose at a time and packaging the powder one dose at a time. The drug container has a removable lid, monitors the discharge amount of the powder discharged from the powder feeder per unit time, and detects that the lid has come off from the drug container based on the change in the discharge amount of the powder per unit time. Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems is a drug dispenser having a powder feeder for discharging powder and a drug packaging device, which puts the powder discharged from the powder feeder into the drug packaging device one dose at a time and packages the powder one dose at a time. It is possible to monitor the discharge amount of the powder from the powder feeder and discharge a target amount of powder from the powder feeder. The drug dispenser is characterized in that when there is a variation of a certain level or more in the discharge amount of the powder per unit time from the powder feeder, a predetermined operation is executed.

[0013] As the "predetermined operation", it is conceivable to display a warning or the like on a display device, stop the discharge of the drug from the powder feeder, and the like. In the drug dispenser of this aspect, when there is a variation of a certain level or more in the discharge amount of the powder per unit time, a predetermined operation is executed. Therefore, it is possible to know that a situation has occurred where the powder is discharged in a lump form.

[0014] In the above-described aspect, it is desirable to detect the discharge amount of the powder per unit time during the discharge of the powder, store the detected value as a reference discharge amount, and compare the current discharge amount of the powder per unit time with the reference discharge amount.

[0015] In each of the above-described aspects, the powder feeder is composed of a drug container and a container mounting device, has a weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the drug container, can detect the discharge amount of the drug by the weight measuring means, detects the weight change per unit time of the drug container during the discharge of the powder, stores the value of the weight change as a reference weight change amount, and compares the current weight change per unit time of the drug container with the reference weight change amount.

[0016] Another aspect for solving the same problem has a powder feeder for discharging powder and a drug packaging device, and in a drug dispensing device that puts the powder discharged from the powder feeder into the drug packaging device one dose at a time and packages the powder one dose at a time, the powder feeder is composed of a drug container and a container mounting device, and has a weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the drug container, and detects the discharge amount of the powder per unit time from the weight change per unit time, can constantly monitor the discharge amount of the powder from the powder feeder and discharge a target amount of powder from the powder feeder, stores the discharge amount of the powder per unit time from the powder feeder, and when there is a sudden weight change during the discharge of the powder from the powder feeder and there is a variation greater than a certain level beyond the normal range between the stored discharge amount per unit time and the current discharge amount per unit time, a drug dispensing device characterized by executing a predetermined operation.

[0017] Also in this aspect, it is possible to know a situation where the powder is discharged from the powder feeder in a lump form.

[0018] In each of the above-described aspects, it is desirable to have a discharge amount comparison function for comparing the actual powder amount discharged from the powder feeder with the target amount, and a comparison display means for displaying the comparison result.

[0019] For example, display whether the actual discharge amount is more or less than the target amount. It is desirable to display how much the difference is. In each of the above-described aspects, there is a dispensing plate rotated by power and a scraping device for scraping out the bulk medicine put into the dispensing plate. The bulk medicine is supplied from a medicine feeder to the dispensing plate, and the bulk medicine on the dispensing plate is scraped out by the scraping device and put into a medicine packaging device. It is desirable to have a plurality of the dispensing plates and be able to put the bulk medicine on the dispensing plates into the medicine packaging device in the order in which the supply of the bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the dispensing plates is completed.

[0020] According to this aspect, unnecessary waiting time is eliminated, and the total working time in the case of performing a plurality of medicine sub-packaging operations in parallel can be shortened. Also, the number of sub-packaged items per unit time can be increased.

[0021] In each of the above-described aspects, the medicine feeder is composed of a medicine container and a container mounting device. The medicine container is detachable from the container mounting device, and has a container storage section for installing and storing a plurality of medicine containers and container moving means. The medicine container is transported from the container storage section to the container mounting device by the container moving means and fixed to the container mounting device. When there is a problem with the container moving means, it is desirable that the operator can carry the medicine container in from the outside by hand and attach it to the container mounting device.

[0022] According to this aspect, even when the container moving means fails, the medicine sub-packaging operation can be performed.

[0023] In each of the above-described aspects, the medicine feeder is composed of a medicine container and a container mounting device, and has a discharge monitoring sensor for optically confirming that medicine is being discharged from the medicine container. The container mounting device is provided with vibration means for vibrating the medicine container to discharge the medicine little by little from the medicine discharge section. It is desirable that the initial vibration intensity from the start of vibration until the discharge monitoring sensor detects the initial discharge of the medicine and the normal vibration intensity after the initial discharge is detected can be made different.

[0024] According to this aspect, the time for the medicine in the medicine container to reach the medicine discharge port of the medicine container can be shortened.

[0025] In each of the above-described aspects, there is a distribution plate having a chemical agent input groove and rotated by power, and a scraping device for scraping out the powder medicine put into the distribution plate. The powder medicine is supplied from a chemical agent feeder to the distribution plate, and with the scraping device placed in the chemical agent input groove of the distribution plate, the distribution plate is rotated to gather the powder medicine distributed in a certain range of the chemical agent input grooves in a medicine gathering step, and a scraping step of scraping out the powder medicine is performed. The powder medicine on the distribution plate is scraped out by the scraping device and put into a medicine packaging device. It is desirable that the scraping step can be carried out with the scraping device placed in the chemical agent input groove of the distribution plate without going through the medicine gathering step, and then the medicine gathering step and the scraping step are carried out once or multiple times to perform a divided scraping for putting a single dose of powder medicine into the medicine packaging device.

[0026] In each of the above-described aspects, there is a distribution plate having a chemical agent input groove and rotated by power, and a scraping device for scraping out the powder medicine put into the distribution plate. The powder medicine is supplied from a chemical agent feeder to the distribution plate, and with the scraping device placed in the chemical agent input groove of the distribution plate, the distribution plate is rotated to gather the powder medicine distributed in a certain range of the chemical agent input grooves in a medicine gathering step, and a scraping step of scraping out the powder medicine is performed. The powder medicine on the distribution plate is scraped out by the scraping device and put into a medicine packaging device. When putting a single dose of powder medicine into the medicine packaging device, it is possible to perform the medicine gathering step and the scraping step multiple times. It is desirable that the scraping step can be carried out with the scraping device placed in the chemical agent input groove of the distribution plate without going through the medicine gathering step, and then the medicine gathering step and the scraping step are carried out multiple times to put a single dose of powder medicine into the medicine packaging device.

[0027] In each of the above-described aspects, when performing the medicine gathering step and the scraping step multiple times when putting a single dose of powder medicine into the medicine packaging device, in the final medicine gathering step, it is desirable that the moving amount in the rotation direction of the distribution plate is smaller than that in other medicine gathering steps.

[0028] In each of the above-described aspects, the scraping device rotates within the chemical agent input groove and scrapes out the chemical agent within a certain scraping width among the chemical agent scattered within the chemical agent input groove. As one of the conditions, it is recommended that divided scraping be performed, provided that the distribution area of the dispensing tray for the chemical agent to be scraped out as one dose is twice or more the scraping width.

[0029] A recommended aspect is a chemical agent dispensing device having a chemical agent feeder for discharging the chemical agent, a dispensing tray rotated by power, a scraping device for scraping out the chemical agent put on the dispensing tray, one chemical agent input port, and one chemical agent packaging device. The chemical agent is supplied from the chemical agent feeder to the dispensing tray, the chemical agent on the dispensing tray is scraped out by the scraping device and put into the chemical agent packaging device, and in the chemical agent dispensing device for packaging the chemical agent one dose at a time, two of the dispensing trays are provided. When the chemical agent on one dispensing tray is put into the chemical agent packaging device and when the chemical agent on the other dispensing tray is put into the chemical agent packaging device, the chemical agent is put into the same chemical agent input port. After information based on a first prescription and information based on a second prescription are input, and the supply of the chemical agent based on the first prescription to one dispensing tray is started and the supply of the chemical agent based on the second prescription to the other dispensing tray is started, the chemical agent on the dispensing tray can be put into the chemical agent packaging device in the order in which the supply of the chemical agent from the chemical agent feeder to the dispensing tray is completed first. Another aspect related to this aspect is a chemical agent dispensing device having a chemical agent feeder for discharging the chemical agent, a dispensing tray rotated by power, a scraping device for scraping out the chemical agent put on the dispensing tray, and a chemical agent packaging device. The chemical agent is supplied from the chemical agent feeder to the dispensing tray, the chemical agent on the dispensing tray is scraped out by the scraping device and put into the chemical agent packaging device, and in the chemical agent dispensing device for packaging the chemical agent one dose at a time, a plurality of the dispensing trays are provided, and the chemical agent on the dispensing tray can be put into the chemical agent packaging device in the order in which the supply of the chemical agent from the chemical agent feeder to the dispensing tray is completed.

[0030] Also, a recommended embodiment has a dosing groove, a dispensing dish rotated by power, a scraping device for scraping out the powder medicine put into the dispensing dish, and a powder medicine supply means for supplying the powder medicine to the dispensing dish. With the dispensing dish rotated, the powder medicine supply means supplies the powder medicine to the dosing groove. With the scraping device inserted into the dosing groove of the dispensing dish, the dispensing dish is rotated to gather the powder medicine distributed in a certain range of the dosing groove in a medicine gathering step, and a scraping step of scraping out the powder medicine is performed. The powder medicine on the dispensing dish is scraped out by the scraping device and put into a medicine packaging device. When putting one dose of the powder medicine into the medicine packaging device, it is possible to perform the medicine gathering step and the scraping step a plurality of times. It is possible to perform the scraping step without going through the medicine gathering step with the scraping device inserted into the dosing groove of the dispensing dish, and then perform the medicine gathering step and the scraping step once or a plurality of times to put a total of one dose of the powder medicine into the medicine packaging device. A medicine dispensing device is characterized by this.

[0031] Also, a related embodiment has a dosing groove, a dispensing dish rotated by power, a scraping device for scraping out the powder medicine put into the dispensing dish, and a powder medicine supply means for supplying the powder medicine to the dispensing dish. With the dispensing dish rotated, the powder medicine supply means supplies the powder medicine to the dosing groove. With the scraping device inserted into the dosing groove of the dispensing dish, the dispensing dish is rotated to gather the powder medicine distributed in a certain range of the dosing groove in a medicine gathering step, and a scraping step of scraping out the powder medicine is performed. The powder medicine on the dispensing dish is scraped out by the scraping device and put into a medicine packaging device. When putting one dose of the powder medicine into the medicine packaging device, it is possible to perform the medicine gathering step and the scraping step a plurality of times. It is possible to perform the scraping step without going through the medicine gathering step with the scraping device inserted into the dosing groove of the dispensing dish, and then perform the medicine gathering step and the scraping step a plurality of times to put one dose of the powder medicine into the medicine packaging device. A medicine dispensing device is characterized by this.

Advantages of the Invention

[0032] According to the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, an appropriate amount of powder medicine can be contained during packaging.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033]

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MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be further described. First, the basic configuration of the drug dispensing device 1 of this embodiment will be described. The drug dispensing device 1 includes a housing 10 that constitutes the main body as shown in FIG. 1, and an operation display unit 3. A large number of drug containers 4 are accommodated in the drug dispensing device 1. Each drug container 4 is filled with powder medicine. The drug dispensing device 1 is a device that selects a desired drug container 4 by operating the operation display unit 3, automatically takes out the powder medicine accommodated in the drug container 4, measures it, divides it into a predetermined number, and performs sub-packaging.

[0035] Various devices are built into the housing 10 of the drug dispensing device 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the housing 10 is divided into a container placement area 12, a drug division area 13, and a drug packaging area 14.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, a door portion 16 and a small door 33 are provided on a portion of the outer wall surface of the container placement area 12 of the housing 10.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, a container storage unit 23 for holding the drug container 4 is provided in the container placement area 12 of the housing 10. The container storage unit 23 is a device including a drum member 25 installed in an upright posture.

[0038] A plurality of container installation portions are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drum member 25, and the drug container 4 is held in this container installation portion. The drug container 4 is combined with a container placement device 36 to form a drug feeder 8.

[0039] Container moving means 28 is provided in the area from the container placement area 12 to the drug division area 13. The container moving means 28 is a kind of robot and has an arm portion 30, a lifting mechanism 31, and a hand portion 47.

[0040] An electromagnet (not shown) for adsorbing the drug container 4 is provided on the hand portion 47. Further, an open / close detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the open / closed state of the lid member 78 of the drug container 4 is provided on the hand portion 47.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, the drug division area 13 is provided with dispensing trays 35R and 35L, a container placing device (drug discharging means) 36, a scraping device 37, a cleaning device 38, a drug inlet 39, and a camera member (imaging device) 40. In the drug division area 13, devices for dividing drugs into a desired number are arranged by a dispensing tray method. In the present embodiment, two dispensing trays 35R and 35L are installed in parallel in the drug division area 13. The number of the dispensing trays 35R and 35L is not limited, and it may be one, but it is desirable to have a plurality of dispensing trays 35.

[0042] A container placing device 36, a scraping device 37, and a cleaning device 38 are provided around each of the dispensing trays 35R and 35L. Specifically, one dispensing tray 35 is associated with three container placing devices 36, one scraping device 37, and one cleaning device 38. The scraping device 37 is the same as a known one, and is composed of a scraping arm 26 and a scraping mechanism 27 provided at the tip of the scraping arm 26. The scraping mechanism 27 has a disk-shaped scraping plate 57 that rotates by power and a scraping plate 58.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 12, the scraping plate 57 is a disk made of a thin plate. The scraping plate 58 is composed of a scraping portion 100 and a partition plate 101. The partition plate 101 is a thin plate arranged in parallel with the scraping plate 57 with the scraping portion 100 interposed therebetween, and has a shape close to a fan shape.

[0044] The scraping portion 100 is a member having a certain width, and scraping rubber is attached thereto. The scraping portion 100 rotates together with the scraping plate 57 and discharges the scattered drugs within a certain scraping width W. That is, when the scraping plate 57 rotates in the drug input groove 32, the scattered drugs existing within the scraping width W corresponding to the width of the scraping portion 100 are scraped out.

[0045] It is the periphery of the dispensing dish 35, and between the two dispensing dishes 35, a medicine inlet 39 for supplying powdered medicine to the medicine packaging area 14 one pack at a time is provided. In FIGS. 2 and 3, a lid 17 is provided at the medicine inlet 39. The lid 17 automatically opens when medicine is being put into the medicine inlet 39. The dispensing dish 35 is provided with an annularly continuous medicine inlet groove 32. The dispensing dish 35 is rotatable by a rotation mechanism (not shown). The rotation mechanism includes a motor.

[0046] The container placement device 36 is combined with the medicine container 4 to form the medicine feeder 8. As shown in FIG. 4, the container placement device 36 includes a vibrating table 50 and a weight measuring means (measuring means) 52. The vibrating table 50 is provided with a vibration means 51, and when the vibration means 51 is energized, the vibrating table 50 vibrates.

[0047] The vibrating table 50 is provided with a container holding means for holding the medicine container 4. In this embodiment, a magnet (electromagnet not shown) is adopted as the container holding means. The weight measuring means (discharge amount detecting means) 52 directly or indirectly measures the weight of the medicine container 4.

[0048] In this embodiment, it is possible to place the medicine container 4 on the container placement device 36, vibrate the medicine container 4, and discharge the powdered medicine contained in the medicine container 4 onto the dispensing dish 35. And the change in the weight of the medicine container 4 accompanying the discharge of this powdered medicine can be detected by the weight measuring means 52. In this embodiment, the weight measuring means 52 functions as a discharge amount detecting means, and the discharge amount of the powdered medicine is detected based on the change in the weight of the medicine container 4.

[0049] In the medicine packaging area 14, a medicine packaging device 53 and a printing means are provided. The medicine packaging device 53 is a machine for packaging medicine one pack at a time, and is formed by a sheet supply device and a sealing device.

[0050] The medicine container 4 is a container with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and can store powdered medicine inside. The medicine container 4 is composed of a container body 6 and a lid 73 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The lid 73 can be removed from the container body 6. In this embodiment, the lid 73 is removed from the container body 6 to greatly open one end side of the container body 6, and the powdered medicine is filled. Also, as shown in FIG. 5(a), a lid member 78 is swingably attached to the main body portion of the lid 73, and the lid member 78 can be opened to open a part. The internal powdered medicine can be discharged from the opening (medicine discharge portion) 72 formed by opening the lid member 78. In addition, iron plates 70 and 71 are attached to two different sides of the medicine container 4 respectively. The iron plate 70 provided on one surface is a portion for being adsorbed by the magnet of the arm portion 30 when holding the medicine container 4 with the arm portion 30. Also, the iron plate 71 provided on the other surface is a portion for being adsorbed by the electromagnet 41 of the container placement device 36 when installing it on the container placement device 36 to be described later.

[0051] Next, the basic operation of the medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment will be described. The medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment can perform a sub-packaging operation in which information regarding a prescription is input and powdered medicine is packaged one dose at a time based on that information.

[0052] That is, the medicine dispensing device 1 automatically performs the operations of storing the medicine container 4 in the container storage unit 23, taking out the medicine container 4 from the container storage unit 23, moving the taken-out medicine container 4 to the vicinity of the dispensing tray 35, placing the medicine container 4 on the container placement device 36 to form the medicine feeder 8, putting a predetermined amount of medicine into the dispensing tray 35, supplying the medicine from the dispensing tray 35 to the medicine packaging device 53 one dose at a time, and returning the medicine container 4 to the container storage unit 23. Note that each of these operations is an operation controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0053] As a preparation stage, the medicine container 4 is filled with powdered medicine, and some of them are mounted on the container storage unit 23 in the container arrangement area 12.

[0054] The medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment receives information regarding a prescription, and based on this information, the packaging operation is automatically executed.

[0055] That is, in the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, based on the information regarding the prescription, a medicine container 4 filled with the necessary powder medicine is selected, and the necessary medicine container 4 is transported from the container storage unit 23 to the container placement device 36 by the container moving means 28. Then, the medicine container 4 is held by an electromagnet 41 built into the vibration table 50. The medicine container 4 is integrated with the container placement device 36 by the electromagnet 41, and a medicine feeder 8 is configured. Subsequently, an electric current of a constant frequency is passed through the vibration generating means 51 to generate vibration, and the vibration table 50 is vibrated by this vibration. Also, the dispensing tray 35 is rotated before and after the start of vibration.

[0056] Before and after the start of vibration, the weight of the medicine container 4 is measured by the weight measuring means 52. The weight of the medicine container 4 is obtained by subtracting a certain value from the detected weight of the weight measuring means 52. The weight of the medicine container 4 immediately after being installed on the vibration table 50 is stored as the original weight G. Also, the weight of the medicine container 4 is constantly monitored. That is, the current weight of the medicine container 4 is monitored as the current weight g.

[0057] When the vibration table 50 starts vibrating, the medicine container 4 vibrates. As a result, the powder medicine stored in the medicine container 4 slowly moves toward the opening 72 side, is discharged from the opening 72, and falls.

[0058] It is confirmed that the powder medicine is falling by the decrease in the weight of the medicine container 4. Also, the discharge amount of the powder medicine is detected by the weight measuring means 52. That is, in the present embodiment, even while the powder medicine is falling from the opening 72 of the medicine container 4, the current weight (current weight g) of the medicine container 4 is continuously monitored by the weight measuring means 52. Then, the original weight G of the medicine container 4 immediately after being installed on the vibration table 50 and the current weight g are compared, and the falling amount H (G minus g) of the powder medicine is constantly calculated. When the total dropping amount H of the powder medicine reaches the desired weight, the vibration of the vibrating table 50 is stopped. That is, when the current weight g of the medicine container 4 measured by the weight measuring means 52 becomes less than the original weight G before the start of vibration measured by the weight measuring means 52 by the desired weight and the target amount of powder medicine is discharged from the medicine feeder 8, the vibration of the vibrating table 50 is stopped.

[0059] After that, the rotation of the distribution plate 35 is stopped. Then, the scraping arm 26 of the scraping device 37 is swung, the tip side is lowered to lower the scraping mechanism 27, and the disk-shaped scraping plate 57 of the scraping mechanism 27 is put into the medicine input groove 32 of the distribution plate 35. Furthermore, the distribution plate 35 is rotated by an angle corresponding to the number of distributions, and the powder is scraped toward the scraping plate 57 (powder collecting step). Subsequently, the scraping plate 57 is rotated, the powder medicine is scooped up by the scraping plate 58 and discharged from the distribution plate 35, and the medicine is put into the medicine input port 39 (scraping step).

[0060] In principle, the medicine for one dose is put into the medicine input port 39 by one scraping and scooping up operation, but there are cases where the medicine for one dose is divided into a plurality of scraping and scooping up operations and put into the medicine input port 39.

[0061] The medicine put into the medicine input port 39 falls through the powder medicine input hopper (FIG. 7 75) and is conveyed to the medicine packaging device 53, and is packaged by the medicine packaging device 53. This operation is sequentially repeated to discharge all the medicine in the distribution plate 35, and each is packaged by the medicine packaging device 53. In parallel with this, the container moving means 28 is activated, and the medicine container 4 is returned to the drum member 25 of the container storage unit 23.

[0062] Next, the improvements added to the basic configuration will be described. (1) Monitoring of the variation in the powder medicine distribution on the distribution plate and detection of lid removal In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the medicine discharge amount per unit time from the medicine container 4 (medicine feeder 8) is monitored so that there is no variation in the powder medicine distribution on the distribution plate 35. As a result, it is also possible to detect the removal of the lid of the medicine container 4. As described above, in the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, even when the powder medicine is falling from the opening 72 of the medicine container 4, the current weight (current weight g) of the medicine container 4 is continuously monitored by the weight measuring means 52.

[0063] In the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the state of the weight change of the medicine container 4 is also monitored. And during the discharge of the powder medicine, if there is an irregular weight change, a display notifying it is made on the operation display unit 3. For example, when the weight of the medicine container 4 is steadily decreasing at a rate of 2 grams per second, if there is a weight decrease of 5 grams per second, when there is a sudden weight change during the discharge of the powder medicine from the medicine feeder 8, a display notifying it is made on the operation display unit 3. Also, when the change amount is extremely large, the vibration of the vibration table 50 is stopped and the discharge of the medicine from the medicine container 4 is interrupted.

[0064] Furthermore, a display for selecting whether to continue or stop the dispensing operation may be displayed on the operation display unit 3. When it is selected to continue the dispensing operation, the powder medicine already distributed in the dispensing tray 35 is utilized, and if necessary, the insufficient amount is additionally supplied from the medicine feeder 8. When it is selected to stop dispensing, the powder medicine already supplied to the dispensing tray 35 will be recovered.

[0065] In the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, when there is a variation in the discharge amount of the powder medicine per unit time exceeding a certain level, the above-described display will be made. Specifically, the variation in the discharge amount is monitored as follows. In the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, while the vibration table 50 is vibrating and the powder medicine is being discharged from the medicine container 4, the current weight of the medicine container 4 is monitored by the weight measuring means 52, and the discharge amount of the powder medicine per unit time is detected from the weight change of the medicine container 4 per unit time. And the past discharge amount per unit time (weight change of the medicine container 4) is stored as a reference discharge amount in a memory (not shown) for a certain period of time. Then, the discharge amount per unit time of the current powder medicine is compared with the stored reference discharge amount. As a result, if there is a difference exceeding the normal variation range between the two, a predetermined display is made on the operation display unit 3.

[0066] In this embodiment, the variation in the discharge amount of the medicine is monitored. As a means for this, the change in the weight of the medicine container 4 is monitored. Therefore, for example, even when the lid 73 of the medicine container 4 comes off from the container main body 6 due to the vibration of the vibration table 50, it can be detected.

[0067] (2) Error display of discharge amount As described above, in the medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment, the original weight G of the medicine container 4 immediately after being installed on the vibration table 50 is compared with the current weight g, and the falling amount H (G minus g) of the powder medicine is constantly calculated. When the total falling amount H of the powder medicine reaches the desired weight, the vibration of the vibration table 50 is stopped. In addition to this, in the medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment, the current weight g of the medicine container 4 in a state where the vibration of the vibration table 50 is stopped is remeasured. Then, the remeasured current weight g is compared with the original weight G of the medicine container 4 immediately after installation, and the falling amount H (G minus g) of the powder medicine actually discharged from the medicine container 4 is calculated. Then, the actual falling amount (discharge amount) H of the powder medicine is compared with the target amount (discharge amount comparison function), and the comparison result is displayed on the operation display unit (comparison display means) 3.

[0068] The content to be displayed indicates whether the actual falling amount (discharge amount) H of the powder medicine is an appropriate amount, an excessive amount, or a deficient amount with respect to the target amount. The display is performed by character displays such as "too much" and "too little", or by symbols that graphically represent these. Also, the specific difference may be displayed as a numerical value or a percentage. For example, specific weights such as plus 0.03 grams and minus 0.02 grams may be displayed. It may also be displayed as a percentage such as 2 percent more than the target value. Furthermore, color-coded displays may be used to draw the operator's attention. For example, when the difference between the actual drop amount (discharge amount) H and the target amount is significantly large, a warning may be given in red. If the difference is within the allowable range, a yellow display may be used, and if it can be considered within the error range, a blue display may be used. Warnings may be accompanied by sounds or lights.

[0069] The current weight g of the medicine container 4 described above may be re-measured using another weighing instrument. For example, the medicine container 4 may be transferred from the container placement device 36 where it was initially placed to another container placement device 36 for re-measurement. Alternatively, a weighing instrument for re-measurement may be provided. Also, information storage members 18 such as RFID attached to the medicine container 4 may store the weight history and the like, and the original weight G before discharging the powder medicine may be compared with the current weight g.

[0070] (3) Confirmation of the amount of scattered medicine when the lid member is opened When the medicine container 4 is installed on the container placement device 36 by the container moving means 28 and the lid member 78 of the medicine container 4 is opened, the scattered medicine adhering to the periphery of the lid member 78 may scatter and fall onto the distribution plate 35. When the vibration of the vibrating table 50 is started from this state and the weight change from the start of vibration is monitored, the weight of the scattered medicine that has fallen onto the distribution plate 35 when the lid member 78 is opened will be outside the measurement target. Therefore, there is a concern that the amount of scattered medicine distributed on the distribution plate 35 will be more than the calculated amount. There is also a concern that the distribution of the scattered medicine on the distribution plate 35 will vary.

[0071] In this embodiment, by accurately measuring the weight of the medicine container 4, it is possible to confirm the amount of scattered medicine when the lid member 78 of the medicine container 4 is opened and closed. For example, when the lid member 78 of the medicine container 4 is opened and the amount of scattered medicine in the medicine container 4 immediately before starting the vibration is calculated and compared with the remaining amount of scattered medicine stored in the information storage member 18 attached to the medicine container 4. If the difference is large, a display will be made on the operation display unit 3 to inform of this. Furthermore, an indication for selecting whether to continue or stop the dispensing operation may be displayed on the operation display unit 3. The amount of powder in the medicine container 4 immediately before starting the vibration can be known, for example, by subtracting the weight of the empty medicine container 4 from the weight of the medicine container 4 immediately before starting the vibration.

[0072] (4) Overtaking the prescription being dispensed As described above, the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment includes two dispensing trays 35. As described above, when information based on the first prescription is input, the medicine container 4 filled with the necessary powder is selected in the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, and the necessary medicine container 4 is transported from the container storage unit 23 to the container placement device 36 by the container moving means 28, and the powder is supplied to the dispensing tray 35R. While the powder is being supplied to one dispensing tray 35R, if information regarding a new different prescription (second prescription) is input, the medicine container 4 filled with the necessary powder is selected, and the powder is supplied to the other dispensing tray 35L.

[0073] When the supply of powder to each of the dispensing trays 35R and 35L is completed, the rotation of the dispensing trays 35R and 35L is stopped, and the powder is scooped up by the scraping mechanism 27 and the medicine is put into the medicine input port 39. Here, in the present embodiment, although there are two dispensing trays 35, there is only one medicine input port 39 and one medicine packaging device 53. Therefore, it is necessary to determine in advance the order in which the powder is put into the medicine input port 39. The following Plan A and Plan B can be considered as methods for determining the priority. In the present embodiment, either Plan A or Plan B can be selected. Plan A: A method following the order in which the prescriptions are input Plan B: A method performed in the order in which the supply of powder to the dispensing tray 35 is completed

[0074] For example, assume that the second prescription is input after the first prescription, but the supply of powder to the dispensing tray (second dispensing tray) 35L based on the second prescription is completed earlier than that based on the first prescription. When Option A is selected, when the supply of powder medicine to the dispensing tray (second dispensing tray) 35L based on the second prescription ends, the operation is temporarily stopped in that state, waiting for the supply of powder medicine to the dispensing tray (first dispensing tray) 35R based on the first prescription to end, and further waiting for all the powder medicine in the dispensing tray (first dispensing tray) 35R to be completely input into the medicine input port 39. After all the powder medicine in the dispensing tray (first dispensing tray) 35R has been completely input into the medicine input port 39, the powder medicine in the dispensing tray (second dispensing tray) 35L based on the second prescription is input into the medicine input port 39 and packaged.

[0075] On the contrary, if Option B is selected, the powder medicine in the dispensing tray (second dispensing tray) 35L based on the second prescription, which has finished inputting the powder medicine first, is input into the medicine input port 39 and packaged. That is, according to Option B, in the order that the supply of powder medicine from the medicine feeder 8 to the dispensing tray 35 is completed, the powder medicine on the dispensing tray 35 is input into the medicine packaging device 53. According to Option B, the waiting time for sub-packaging is short, and the number of sub-packaging processes per day can be increased.

[0076] (5) Countermeasures when the container moving means fails In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, based on the information regarding the prescription, the medicine container 4 filled with the necessary powder medicine is selected, and the necessary medicine container 4 is transported from the container storage unit 23 to the container mounting device 36 by the container moving means 28. In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, when any problem occurs in the container moving means 28, it is displayed on the operation display unit 3 to that effect, and in order to ensure safety, the container moving means 28 stops and cannot be moved by normal operations.

[0077] In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, even when the container moving means 28 falls into a state where its function stops, the medicine container 4 can be attached to the container mounting device 36 by the user's hand and dispensing can be performed. For example, the medicine dispensing device 1 has a front door 34 as shown in FIG. 1. The user can manually open the front door 34 and insert the medicine container 4 into the medicine dispensing device 1 from the outside and attach it to the container mounting device 36. Also, as shown in Fig. 1, since there is a small door 33 on the front door 34, the medicine container 4 may be inserted through the small door 33 and attached to the container mounting device 36.

[0078] Also, in order to improve workability and safety, it is also recommended to use automatic doors that open and close the front door 34 and the small door 33 by power. When the medicine container is attached to the container mounting device 36 by the user's hand, an open-type medicine container 60 as shown in Fig. 6 may be used.

[0079] (6) Control for performing initial discharge early In this embodiment, the vibration frequency and amplitude of the vibrating table 50 can be changed. In the initial stage of discharging the bulk medicine, there are problems such as unstable discharge amount, and the behavior of the bulk medicine in the medicine container 4 varies depending on the type of bulk medicine. Therefore, the vibration pattern of the vibrating table 50 of the container mounting device 36 can be changed according to the medicine type, discharge time, and total discharge amount. Also, in this embodiment, the vibration is strengthened until the medicine reaches the opening 72 at the tip of the medicine container 4. When the medicine reaches the opening 72 at the tip and the bulk medicine starts to fall, it shifts to normal vibration. In this embodiment, it has a discharge monitoring sensor that optically checks whether the bulk medicine has started to fall. In this embodiment, it has a monitoring camera 40 that monitors whether the bulk medicine is being discharged from the medicine container 4, and utilizes the monitoring camera 40 as a discharge monitoring sensor.

[0080] In this embodiment, until the monitoring camera 40 captures the fall of the bulk medicine from the medicine container 4, the vibrating table 50 vibrates more strongly than in the normal case. In this embodiment, the initial vibration intensity from the start of vibration until the discharge monitoring sensor detects the initial discharge of the medicine is made stronger than the normal vibration intensity after detecting the initial discharge. When it reaches the opening 72 and starts to fall, it shifts to normal vibration. As a result, the moving speed of the bulk medicine in the medicine container 4 is increased, and it reaches the opening (medicine discharge part) 72 in a short time.

[0081] (7) Slow stop of the distribution tray In this embodiment, after discharging the target amount of powder medicine from the medicine container 4, the dispensing tray 35 is decelerated, and the dispensing tray is slowly stopped over a certain period of time. That is, after discharging the target amount of powder medicine, instead of suddenly braking the dispensing tray 35, the rotation speed of the motor that rotates the dispensing tray 35 is gradually decreased until it stops.

[0082] The time required until it stops is preferably 2 seconds or more, and more preferably 3 seconds or more.

[0083] According to this method, the inertia applied to the powder medicine when the dispensing tray 35 stops is alleviated. Therefore, when the dispensing tray 35 stops, the powder medicine in the dispensing tray 35 does not collapse, and the powder medicine maintains a uniformly distributed state in the dispensing tray 35.

[0084] (8) Detection of the remaining capacity of the dust collection bag of the dust collection means In this embodiment, it has a dust collection means as shown in FIG. 7. The dust collection means, similar to the known one, generates negative pressure to suck dust together with air and collects the dust in the dust collection bag 43. The dust collection means is connected to the hopper 75 of the medicine inlet 39 as shown in FIG. 7. It is also connected to the cleaning device 38 described above. Furthermore, it has a manual nozzle (not shown) and can manually clean each part as needed. The means for generating negative pressure is a vacuum pump 76, specifically a centrifugal blower like a blower, which is rotated by a motor. Also, a dust collection bag 43 for collecting dust is built-in. In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the motor of the blower is detected. When the rotation speed of the motor becomes a certain value or more, it is determined that the remaining capacity of the dust collection bag 43 has decreased, and a display prompting the replacement of the dust collection bag 43 is displayed on the operation display unit 3.

[0085] Alternatively, the current supplied to the motor can be detected. When the current becomes a certain value or less, it is determined that the remaining capacity of the dust collection bag 43 has decreased, and a display prompting the replacement of the dust collection bag 43 is displayed on the operation display unit 3.

[0086] The reason for this is that when the remaining capacity of the dust collection bag 43 decreases and it becomes clogged, the amount of air moved by the blower decreases, and the workload of the motor decreases. As a result, the rotational speed of the motor tends to increase. Also, the current value tends to decrease. Therefore, by monitoring the rotational speed and current of the motor, the remaining capacity of the dust collection bag 43 can be estimated, and the arrival of the replacement time can be known.

[0087] (9) Management of the expiration date of drugs In the drug container 4 employed in this embodiment, an information storage member 18 such as an RFID is attached, and information on the drug stored in the drug container 4 is stored in the information storage member 18. For example, in some cases, solid drugs such as tablets are crushed and taken in powder form. The crushed drug can be stored in the drug container 4 and sub-packaged by the drug dispensing device 1 of this embodiment. Here, there is no rule regarding the expiration date of a drug obtained by crushing a solid drug and reprocessing it into a powder form, but it should be consumed earlier compared to the solid drug. Therefore, in this embodiment, the information storage member 18 stores information on the date when the solid drug was crushed and the original expiration date. Alternatively, information related to the expiration date for use of the drug stored in the drug container 4 is stored in a separate database. When using the drug stored in the drug container 4, a display prompting attention regarding the expiration date is displayed on the operation display unit 3.

[0088] For example, regarding a powder obtained by crushing a solid drug, a separate expiration date is determined within the pharmacy, separate from the expiration date of the solid drug. For example, an upper limit of the storage days is determined. When the drug container 4 containing a powder that has exceeded the above-mentioned storage days or a powder whose storage days are approaching is in the container storage unit 23, regardless of whether there is a scheduled use, the operation display unit 3 displays to that effect. Also, it is displayed on the operation display unit 3 when the drug dispensing device 1 is started, such as at the start of business, or when the corresponding prescription is issued and input. In addition, a message is displayed on the operation display unit 3 so that the pharmacist can determine whether to use the powder medicine after confirmation.

[0089] (10) Medicine container temporary placement part In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, medicine container temporary placement parts 80 and 81 are provided in the housing 10. One of the medicine container temporary placement parts 80 is provided on the door part 16 as shown in FIG. 8 and protrudes outside the housing 10 by opening the door part 16. When the door part 16 is closed, the medicine container temporary placement part 80 is housed in the housing 10. The other medicine container temporary placement part 81 is installed on the inner wall of the housing 10. The medicine container temporary placement parts 80 and 81 are composed of a placement table 82, an engagement lever 83, and a holding member 85. The placement table 82 is composed of a backrest part 86 and a pedestal part 87. The placement table 82 is provided with weight measuring means (not shown) for measuring the weight of the medicine container 4.

[0090] Above the positions directly above the medicine container temporary placement parts 80 and 81, a scraping member 90 (cleaning part) is provided. The scraping member 90 has a concave part 91 (container contact part) whose cross-sectional shape follows the shape of the container body 6. In addition, a suction port 92 is opened inside the concave part 91 (container contact part), and the suction port 92 is connected to a suction device (not shown).

[0091] A lid confirmation sensor 93 is provided on the medicine container temporary placement part 80 provided on the door part 16. The medicine container temporary placement part 80 provided on the door part 16 is used for temporarily placing the medicine container 4 when the medicine container 4 is carried into the housing 10 from the outside. The container body 6 is installed on the medicine container temporary placement part 80, and the initial weight of the container body 6 is detected. In addition, the lid confirmation sensor 93 can detect whether the lid 73 is correctly attached to the container body 6.

[0092] The medicine container temporary placement part 81 attached to the inner wall of the housing 10 is used for the purpose of checking the weight of the medicine container 4 before or after discharging the powder medicine from the medicine container 4. As described above, the medicine container 4 is attached to the medicine container temporary placement part 81 by using a human hand or the hand part 47 of the container moving means 28. However, when attaching the medicine container 4 to the medicine container temporary placement part 81 by using the container moving means 28, it is desirable to wipe the side surface of the medicine container 4 with the scraping member 90 and then attach it to the container placing device 36.

[0093] Also, before returning the medicine container 4 after the discharge of the powder medicine to the container storage part 23, the medicine container 4 is placed on the medicine container temporary placement part 81 for weight measurement and cleaning. For the cleaning operation, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the side surface of the medicine container 4 is pressed against the concave part 91 (container contact part) of the scraping member 90 by the container moving means 28, and the medicine container 4 is slid downward or upward. At the same time, a suction device (not shown) is activated. At this time, as shown in the figure, it is recommended that the lid member 78 be in an open state. By cleaning with the lid member 78 in an open state, it is possible to remove the residue of the powder medicine remaining on the back surface of the lid member 78 (the surface facing the inside of the medicine container 4), etc.

[0094] (11) Movement path of the medicine container In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the medicine container 4 is moved by the container moving means 28. For example, the necessary medicine container 4 is transported from the container storage part 23 to the container placing device 36 by the container moving means 28. Here, the movement path of the medicine container 4 is arbitrary. As one measure, for example, it is conceivable to move linearly from the initial position to the target position. This measure is recommended in terms of the short time required for movement.

[0095] As another measure, there is a method of moving to the destination by detouring over the dispensing tray 35. For example, when the drug container 4 is linearly moved from the container storage unit 23 toward the container placing device 36, in many cases, the drug container 4 will pass over the dispensing tray 35. Here, if powder medicine adheres to the outer surface of the drug container 4 or to the movable part of the lid member 78, there is a concern that the powder medicine will fall onto the dispensing tray 35 when the drug container 4 passes over the dispensing tray 35. As a measure to solve this problem, a method of moving around the dispensing tray 35 and then moving to the destination can be considered. In the present embodiment, a method of moving around the dispensing tray 35 and then moving to the destination is adopted.

[0096] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement locus of the container moving means 28. The drug container 4 is installed on any one of the container placing devices 36a, 36b, 36c belonging to the dispensing tray 35R side on the right, and the passing locus of the drug container 4 when it is returned is shown. In the present embodiment, the drug container 4 is moved by passing over the container placing devices 36a, 36b, 36c and installed on any one of the container placing devices 36a, 36b, 36c, thereby preventing the powder medicine from falling onto the dispensing tray 35. The same applies when returning the drug container 4 from the container placing devices 36a, 36b, 36c to the container storage unit 23, and it is transported by bypassing over the dispensing tray 35.

[0097] Ventilation inside the housing In the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, a fan (not shown) is provided in the housing 10. The fan is normally operated in principle except when the front door 34 is open and when supplying or dividing the powder medicine to the dispensing tray 35. However, when the difference between the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means (not shown) inside the housing 10 and the detected value of the outside air temperature detecting means (not shown) is small, the fan is stopped. Also, when the heater for adjusting the temperature inside the housing 10 is operated in an energy-saving mode, the fan is stopped. By stopping the fan, a noise reduction effect and a power consumption suppression effect can be expected.

[0098] (13) Standby position of the container moving means When the door portion 16 or the small door 33 of the housing 10 is opened, in order to ensure safety, the power supply to the container moving means 28 is stopped and it cannot be moved by normal operation. When the door portion 16 or the small door 33 is closed, the power supply to the container moving means 28 is turned on and the container moving means 28 returns to the standby position. That is, the container moving means 28 performs the operation of confirming the origin. Here, in the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, there are a plurality of standby positions (origins). In the present embodiment, when the door portion 16 or the like is closed and the container moving means 28 returns to the standby position, it moves to the standby position closer to the current position. Therefore, the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment requires a short time for the initialization operation.

[0099] (14) Remaining medicine detection sensor In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a remaining medicine detection sensor 48 is provided above the dispensing tray 35. The remaining medicine detection sensor 48 is a sensor for confirming that there is no scattered medicine remaining on the dispensing tray 35 after cleaning. The remaining medicine detection sensor 48 is an optical sensor, and the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion are integrated. In the remaining medicine detection sensor 48, the dispensing tray 35 is irradiated with light from the light projecting portion. When there is no dirt or remaining medicine on the dispensing tray 35, the light irradiated from the light projecting portion is specularly reflected on the surface of the dispensing tray 35 and does not return to the light receiving portion. On the other hand, if there is dirt or remaining medicine on the dispensing tray 35, the light irradiated from the light projecting portion hits the remaining medicine or the like and is diffusely reflected, and a part of it enters the light receiving portion of the remaining medicine detection sensor 48. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether there is dirt or remaining medicine in the irradiation portion.

[0100] In the present embodiment, the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion of the remaining medicine detection sensor 48 are covered with a filter member 56. The filter member 56 is specifically a purple resin plate, and more specifically a purple acrylic plate.

[0101] By providing the purple filter member 56, external disturbance light can be shielded, and chattering and false detection of the remaining medicine detection sensor 48 can be prevented. That is, the housing 10 of the drug dispensing device 1 is transparent and has translucency. Therefore, illumination light such as that from an LED installed indoors passes through the housing 10 and enters the interior of the housing 10, where it diffusely reflects and enters the light-receiving portion of the remaining drug detection sensor 48, which may cause chattering or false detection. The purple acrylic plate can efficiently block light of wavelengths emitted from LED lighting or the like, and can prevent the light emitted from LED lighting or the like from entering the remaining drug detection sensor 48.

[0102] (15) Scraping together of bulk drugs (divided scraping out) In the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the bulk drugs for one dose can be divided into multiple scooping-up operations (scraping-out steps) and the drugs can be introduced into the drug inlet 39. In the present embodiment, a special operation can be performed at that time.

[0103] For example, the bulk drugs can be scraped together in three portions and introduced into the drug inlet 39. Specifically, the drug collection step is executed and then the scraping-out step is performed, and this is repeated three times to introduce the bulk drugs for one dose into the drug inlet 39. Here, in the present embodiment, in the drug collection step performed in three portions, the amount of bulk drugs collected in one time is not the same, and it is set to be smaller as the process goes to the later step. That is, the amount of movement (rotation angle) in the rotation direction of the dispensing tray 35 becomes smaller as the process goes to the later step. Also, in the present embodiment, prior to the first drug collection step, the scraping plate 57 of the scraping mechanism 27 is placed in the drug inlet groove 32 of the dispensing tray 35, and without rotating the dispensing tray 35, the scraping plate 58 is rotated to scoop up the bulk drugs near the scraping plate 58 and an initial introduction step of introducing them into the drug inlet 39 is performed.

[0104] The following will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. In the present embodiment, the angle of the dispensing tray 35 is pulse-controlled by an encoder. Assuming that the amount of movement in the rotation direction corresponding to the amount of bulk drugs for one dose is 5000 pulses, for example, as shown in FIG. 13(a), it is collected in three portions of 3500 pulses of drug collection, 900 pulses of drug collection, and 600 pulses of drug collection, and discharged respectively.

[0105] Explaining step by step, as shown in Fig. 13(b), the target amount of powder is discharged from the chemical feeder 8, and the powder is evenly distributed on the distribution plate 35. Then, the scraping plate 57 of the scraping mechanism 27 is inserted into the chemical input groove 32 of the distribution plate 35.

[0105] Then, without rotating the distribution plate 35 as shown in Fig. 13(c), the scraping plate 58 is rotated to scoop up the powder near the scraping plate 58 and put it into the chemical input port 39. That is, the first scraping process is performed as the initial input process. Subsequently, the first powder collection process and the second scraping process are performed. In the first powder collection process, as shown in Fig. 13(d), the distribution plate 35 is rotated 3500 pulses to scrape the powder in front of the scraping plate 57. Then, as shown in Fig. 14(e), the scraping plate 58 is rotated to scoop up the powder and discharge it from the distribution plate 35, and the chemical is put into the chemical input port 39. In the subsequent second powder collection process, as shown in Fig. 14(f), the distribution plate 35 is rotated 900 pulses to scrape the powder in front of the scraping plate 57. As the third scraping process, as shown in Fig. 14(g), the scraping plate 58 is rotated to scoop up the powder and discharge it from the distribution plate 35, and the chemical is put into the chemical input port 39. In the last (third) powder collection process, as shown in Fig. 14(h), the distribution plate 35 is rotated 600 pulses to scrape the powder in front of the scraping plate 57. As the fourth scraping process, as shown in Fig. 14(i), the scraping plate 58 is rotated to scoop up the powder and discharge it from the distribution plate 35, and the chemical is put into the chemical input port 39.

[0106] Through the above steps, the total amount of powder for one dose is sent to the drug packaging device 53 and packaged into one package. Hereinafter, for the second package and the third package, the powder for one dose is divided into multiple times and sent to the drug packaging device 53 according to the same procedure, and each is packaged into one package. This method divides a series of steps of putting the powder for one dose into the chemical input port 39 into four scraping processes and three powder collection processes, and discharges the powder for one dose from the distribution plate 35 by divided scraping. According to the method (divided scraping) of the present embodiment, there is little spilling of the powder medicine during scraping, and there is little variation in the amount of powder medicine contained in one package.

[0107] In particular, when the moving amount of the dosing tray 35 in the powder collecting step corresponding to the final scraping (the third time in the above embodiment) during the scraping for one dose is made smaller than the moving amounts of the other times, it is not necessary to scrape up a large amount of powder medicine during the final scraping (the fourth scraping step). Therefore, there is little chance that the current powder medicine spills and remains in the area of the subsequent scraping for one dose. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, further improvement in dispensing accuracy can be achieved.

[0108] In the present embodiment, the powder medicine for one dose is also sent to the medicine packaging device 53 in multiple portions for the second package and subsequent packages. However, for the second package and subsequent packages, the powder medicine for one dose may be sent to the medicine packaging device 53 by one scraping. Also, for the second package and subsequent packages, the initial charging step may be omitted. In the present embodiment, the powder medicine for one dose is scraped and collected in a ratio of 3.5:0.9:0.6, but the ratio of the scraping and collecting amount is arbitrary. However, it is recommended that the scraping and collecting amount in the final time be less than that in other times. Alternatively, in the final scraping step, it is also recommended that the scraping plate 57 rotate more slowly than usual.

[0109] The divided scraping described above discharges the powder medicine for one dose through the first scraping step, the first powder collecting step, the second scraping step, the second powder collecting step, the third scraping step, the third powder collecting step, and the fourth scraping step. However, the number of scraping steps and powder collecting steps is arbitrary. An example of the case with the fewest number of steps is the case where the powder medicine for one dose is discharged by the first scraping step, the first powder collecting step, and the second scraping step. Since the divided scraping requires collecting the powder medicine in front of the scraping plate 57 by at least one powder collecting step, it is difficult to apply when the distribution area of the powder medicine corresponding to one dose on the dosing tray 36 is excessively small.

[0110] Therefore, it is recommended that the divided scraping be performed when the distribution area of the powder medicine on the dispensing tray to be scraped out as one dose is at least twice the scraping width corresponding to the width of the scraping portion 100. That is, if the divided scraping is performed when the distribution area of the powder medicine on the dispensing tray to be scraped out as one dose is at least twice the scraping width corresponding to the width of the scraping portion 100, more accurate powder medicine dispensing can be achieved.

[0111] (16) Selection of powder medicine discharge mode In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the following method can be selected as a method for discharging the powder medicine from the divided tray 35. A: Normal discharge mode B: Full divided scraping mode C: Partial divided scraping mode

[0112] The "normal discharge mode" is a discharge mode in which the powder medicine for one dose is discharged from the dispensing tray 35 by one medicine collecting step and one scraping step. The normal discharge mode takes a short time to discharge all the powder medicine on the dispensing tray 35 and is a discharge mode that emphasizes speed.

[0113] The "full divided scraping mode" is a discharge mode in which all the sub-packages are performed by divided scraping. The full divided scraping mode is a discharge mode selected when the amount of powder medicine for one dose is large or when it is desired to sub-package the powder medicine more precisely. The full divided scraping mode is a scraping mode recommended when the movement amount (rotation amount) of the dispensing tray corresponding to one dose is relatively large. When implemented in such a case, more accurate powder medicine dispensing can be achieved. Only carried out. The "full divided scraping mode" can be selected on the condition that the distribution area of the powder medicine on the dispensing tray 35 to be scraped out as one dose is at least twice the scraping width corresponding to the width of the scraping portion 100.

[0114] The "partial divided scraping mode" is a discharge mode in which some of the sub-packages are performed in the divided scraping mode. For example, the powder in the first pack is discharged from the dispensing tray 35 by dividing and scraping, and for the second pack and subsequent packs, the powder for one dose is discharged from the dispensing tray 35 by one powder collecting step and one scraping step.

[0115] The switching of the discharge mode may be performed according to the judgment of the pharmacist, or may be automatically selected. For example, it may have a control program such that when the single dose exceeds a certain amount, the full division and scraping mode is automatically selected.

[0116] As another option, distinctions such as "speed priority" or "accuracy priority" may be made. When "speed priority" is selected, the normal discharge mode may be executed, and when "accuracy priority" is selected, the full division and scraping mode or the partial division and scraping mode may be executed.

[0117] (17) Automatic setting of the rotation speed of the dispensing tray In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the dispensing tray 35 can be changed. In particular, in the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the dispensing tray 35 at the time of powder dropping is automatically changed according to the properties of the powder. It is also recommended to automatically change the rotation speed of the dispensing tray 35 when rotating the dispensing tray 35 by an angle corresponding to the number of dispensed items and scraping it toward the scraping plate 57 (powder collecting step) according to the properties of the powder. Furthermore, the rotation speed of the scraping plate 57 of the scraping device 37 may be automatically changed according to the properties of the powder. The properties of the powder are stored, for example, in an external storage means and input into the medicine dispensing device 1 as one of the information related to the prescription. As a modification, it is also conceivable to provide a particle size discrimination means for discriminating the particle size of the prescribed powder, and to automatically set the rotation speed of the dispensing tray 35 according to the determination of the particle size discrimination means.

[0118] As the particle size discrimination means, an optical powder dropping sensor may be provided near the container mounting device 36, and the particle size may be discriminated according to the dropping state of the powder detected by the powder dropping sensor. The above-mentioned powder dropping sensor detects whether powder is dropping from the medicine container 4 into the dispensing tray 35. For example, a transmissive optical sensor or a reflective optical sensor can be adopted. The powder dropping sensor shines light on the dropping path of the powder and determines whether the powder is dropping based on the transmission state or reflection state of the light. According to the research of the present inventors, in the initial stage when the powder drops from the medicine container 4, the detection state of the powder dropping sensor varies depending on the particle size of the powder. That is, in the initial stage of powder discharge, the discharge amount is often unstable, but there is a tendency for the instability to vary depending on the particle size of the powder. When the particle size of the powder is large, the detection and non-detection of the powder are repeated in small increments. That is, when the particle size of the powder is large, the ON state in which the powder is detected and the OFF state in which the powder is not detected change in small increments. On the other hand, when the particle size of the powder is small, the time of the ON state in which the powder is detected is relatively long compared to the case where the particle size is small.

[0119] When adopting the above-mentioned "control for performing initial discharge early", and strengthening the vibration until the medicine reaches the opening 72 at the tip of the medicine container 4, and when the medicine reaches the opening 72 at the tip and the powder starts to drop, shifting to normal vibration, it is desirable to monitor the detection state of the powder dropping sensor before shifting to normal vibration to determine the particle size of the powder.

[0120] (18) Control when using an open-type medicine container The above-mentioned medicine dispensing device 1 can automatically perform the operations of taking out the medicine container 4 from the container storage unit 23, moving the taken-out medicine container 4 near the dispensing tray 35, placing the medicine container 4 on the container placement device 36 to form the medicine feeder 8, supplying a predetermined amount of medicine to the dispensing tray 35, supplying the medicine from the dispensing tray 35 to the medicine packaging device 53 one dose at a time, and returning the medicine container 4 to the container storage unit 23. Hereinafter, this series of operations is referred to as a fully automatic packaging operation using the sealed-type medicine container 4. The medicine dispensing device 1 can also use an open-type medicine container 60 as shown in FIG. 6. When using the medicine container 60, a predetermined amount of powder medicine is weighed externally and put into the medicine container 60, the small door 33 is opened, and the medicine container 60 is placed on the container placement device 36 in the housing 10. Then, the vibrating table 50 is vibrated to drop all the powder medicine in the medicine container 60 from the medicine container 60 onto the dispensing tray 35. The medicine container 60 from which the powder medicine has been discharged is taken out of the housing 10. The operation of placing the medicine container 60 on the container placement device 36 and the operation of taking the medicine container 60 out of the housing 10 are both performed manually. Hereinafter, a series of operations when using the medicine container 60 are referred to as a semi-automatic packaging operation using the open-type medicine container 60.

[0121] In the semi-automatic packaging operation, when the dropping of the powder medicine from the medicine container 60 is completed, the operation of the medicine dispensing device 1 is stopped until the medicine container 60 is taken out of the housing 10 manually.

[0122] Also, the packaging operation in the medicine dispensing device 1 is carried out in the order of the prescription information input to the medicine dispensing device 1. In this way, when the packaging operation is carried out in the order input to the medicine dispensing device 1, when using the open-type medicine container 60 and finishing supplying the powder medicine from the medicine container 60 to the dispensing tray 35, there is a dissatisfaction that the processing based on the next prescription cannot be performed until the used medicine container 60 is taken out of the housing 10.

[0123] For example, assume that information regarding the following first prescription, second prescription, and third prescription is input in order. First prescription Medicine A (using an open-type medicine container 60 for semi-automatic packaging) Medicine B (fully automatic packaging possible, using a sealed medicine container 4) Second prescription Medicine B (fully automatic packaging possible, using a sealed medicine container 4) Medicine C (fully automatic packaging possible, using a sealed medicine container 4) Medicine D (fully automatic packaging possible, using a sealed medicine container 4) Third prescription Drug B (using a fully automatic and sealable drug container 4) Drug C (using a fully automatic and sealable drug container 4)

[0124] In the above-described drug dispensing device 1, three container placement devices 36 are installed for one dispensing tray 35, and powder drugs can be dropped from three drug containers 4 onto the dispensing tray 35. In the above-described example, in the first prescription, drug A and drug B are prescribed, and two container placement devices 36 are used. In the second prescription, drug B, drug C, and drug D are prescribed, and three container placement devices 36 are used. In the third prescription, drug B and drug C are prescribed, and two container placement devices 36 are used.

[0125] Here, if the open drug container 60 is forgotten to be taken out after supplying powder drugs to the dispensing tray 35 based on the first prescription, the processing based on the next second prescription cannot be started. That is, in the above-described drug dispensing device 1, three container placement devices 36 are installed for one dispensing tray 35, and powder drugs can be supplied from three drug containers 4 to the dispensing tray 35. However, at the stage when the processing of the first prescription is completed, an open drug container 60 remains on one container placement device 36. In contrast, for the second prescription, since drugs A, B, and C are prescribed, it is necessary to use three container placement devices 36. However, since an open drug container 60 remains on one container placement device 36, only two container placement devices 36 can be used, and the second prescription cannot be processed.

[0126] As a countermeasure against this, it is conceivable to adopt control that automatically changes the processing order of prescriptions and implements a processable prescription. That is, in the normal case, the packaging operation is carried out in the order input to the drug dispensing device 1. When a semi-automatic packaging operation using an open-type drug container 60 is carried out during the process and there is still an open-type drug container 60 remaining on the container placement device 36, the processing of the second prescription is postponed and the processing of the third prescription is carried out. That is, it is detected whether there are drug containers 4 and 60 on the container placement device 36. In other words, the number of available container placement devices 36 is detected, and prescription information that can supply the necessary powders to the dispensing tray 35 only with the available container placement devices 36 is selected for packaging processing. If this control method is adopted, the stop time of the drug dispensing device 1 can be shortened, and the number of processed cases per day can be increased.

[0127] (19) Order of placing drug containers on the container placement device As described above, for one dispensing tray 35, three container placement devices 36 are installed in the drug dispensing device 1, and powders can be dropped from three drug containers 4 into the dispensing tray 35. For example, a drug container 4 filled with drug E is taken out from the container storage unit 23, the drug container 4 is placed on one container placement device 36, the vibrating table 50 is vibrated, and drug E is dropped from the drug container 4 into the dispensing tray 35. During this period, a drug container 4 filled with drug F is taken out from the container storage unit 23, the drug container 4 is placed on the empty container placement device 36, and the dropping of drug F is started. Furthermore, during this period, a drug container 4 filled with drug G is taken out from the container storage unit 23, the drug container 4 is placed on the empty container placement device 36, and the dropping of drug G is started.

[0128] Here, the order of placing the drug containers 4 on the container placement device 36 is in the order of the decreasing total amount of the prescribed powders. That is, the larger the total amount of the prescribed powders, the longer the time required to finish supplying the required amount to the dispensing tray 35 is expected. Therefore, the drug container 4 filled with the powder that takes a long time to finish supplying is placed on the container placement device 36 first, and by starting the dropping of the powder at an early stage, the time required for all the powders (drug E, drug F, drug G) to finish dropping can be shortened.

[0129] However, the time required to drop a certain amount of powder medicine from the medicine container 4 is not the same for all types of powder medicine. Some powder medicine is easy to be discharged from the medicine container 4, while some is difficult to be discharged. Therefore, even if the total amount to be dropped is small, there is still some powder medicine that takes a long time to drop the required amount. In order to flexibly respond to such powder medicine, the user may be able to arbitrarily set the placement order of the medicine container 4 on the container placement device 36. Alternatively, a coefficient may be assigned to each type of powder medicine, and a configuration may be adopted in which the placement order of the medicine container on the container placement device is automatically set in consideration of the coefficient and the total amount of the powder medicine prescribed. Also, simply setting priorities for each type of powder medicine or for each medicine container 4, and installing the medicine containers 4 on the container placement device 36 in order from the highest priority may be sufficient.

[0130] (20) Out-of-stock display In the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, by performing a predetermined operation, the remaining amount of the powder medicine in the medicine container 4 can be displayed on the operation display unit 3. For example, operate the operation display unit 3 to call up the information of a specific medicine container 4. The information of the medicine container 4 includes the remaining amount of the powder medicine inside. Also, in the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the operation display unit 3 can be operated to search for the medicine container 4 with a reduced remaining amount. For example, a threshold value is set for the remaining amount in each medicine container 4, and only the medicine containers 4 that are below the threshold value can be selected and displayed on the operation display unit 3. Furthermore, without operating the operation display unit 3, the number etc. of the medicine container 4 with the remaining amount of the powder medicine below the threshold value may be displayed on the operation display unit 3. That is, after the processing for one prescription is completed, if the remaining amount of the powder medicine in the medicine container 4 is below the threshold value, it is automatically notified to the operation display unit 3 without any special operation, and the medicine container 4 with the reduced remaining amount is identified.

[0131] (21) Processing in the case of a small prescription For example, in a prescription for an infant, the amount of powder medicine prescribed may be small. In contrast, in the medicine dispensing device 1, there is a lower limit for the amount of each powder medicine supplied to the dispensing tray 35. Therefore, in principle, if the total amount of the powder medicine included in the prescription contains a powder medicine with a total amount less than the lower limit, sub-packaging cannot be performed. That is, in the medicine dispensing device 1, while rotating the dispensing tray 35, powder medicine is dropped onto the dispensing tray 35 to evenly disperse the powder medicine in the medicine input groove 32. However, when the amount of the medicine is excessively small, it is difficult to evenly disperse the powder medicine in the medicine input groove 32.

[0132] In the present embodiment, when the total amount of the powder medicine is small, powder medicine equal to or more than the lower limit is dropped onto the dispensing tray 35. Then, the powder medicine in the dispensing tray 35 is divided into a number larger than the required number, and the amount of the powder medicine contained in each package is adjusted to the amount according to the usage method of the prescription. For example, assume that it is necessary to package 0.1 gram of Medicine H in one package and make 3 packages. On the other hand, assume that the lower limit of the powder medicine that can be sub-packaged is 0.5 gram. In such a case, 0.5 gram of the powder medicine is dropped from the medicine container 4 and dispersed on the dispensing tray 35.

[0133] Then, the powder medicine dispersed on the dispensing tray 35 is divided into 5 portions, which are put into the medicine input port 39 to make 5 medicine packages of 0.1 gram per package. Then, 3 packages are handed to the patient. The remaining 2 packages are discarded or the packages are opened to take out the powder medicine and returned to the original medicine container 4. Hereinafter, the medicine packages made more than necessary are referred to as "waste packages".

[0134] Here, in the medicine dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, the following measures are taken so that no error occurs during the final inspection before administering the medicine to the patient. (A) Display the number of waste packages on the dispensing record sheet The dispensing record sheet is printed out from the medicine dispensing device 1 or the control device connected to the medicine dispensing device 1. The number of medicine packages to be handed to the patient and the number of waste packages are displayed on this dispensing record sheet. (B) Print a mark indicating that it is a "waste package" on the medicine package In the drug packaging area 14 of the drug dispensing device 1, as described above, a printing means is provided. And by the printing means, patient names and the like are printed on individual drug packages. In the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, characters, symbols, etc. indicating that it is a "disposable package" are printed on the drug package of the disposable package.

[0135] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, on the disposable package, the type of the bulk drug inside and characters or symbols for identifying the original drug container 4 are printed. Also, characters or symbols for distinguishing whether the bulk drug in the disposable package is of one type or a plurality of types are printed. For example, although not shown in the figure, conventionally, drug dispensing devices have been equipped with a device that automatically draws a line on the drug package with a pen, and by this automatic line-drawing device, different-colored lines may be applied to the drug sub-packages so that it can be determined whether it is a single type of drug or a drug in which a plurality of drugs are mixed. Also, for example, a readable code such as a barcode for identifying the original drug container 4 or the drug bottle is printed on the drug package. When a plurality of bulk drugs are mixed in the disposable package, it cannot be reused and thus will be discarded. If the bulk drug in the disposable package is of one type, since it cannot be reused, the bulk drug can be returned to a specific drug container 4 or the like as needed. In this case, the code on the drug package is read by a code reader. Then, the drug container 4 is identified using the read code, and the bulk drug in the disposable package is returned to the drug container 4.

[0136] (22) Display of usage amount, etc. In the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, there is an inner container storage section 23, and a large number of drug containers 4 are held in the container storage section 23. In the drug dispensing device 1, in principle, the drug container 4 housed in the drug dispensing device 1 is moved to the container placement device 36 by the container moving means 28, and the bulk drug is supplied from the drug container 4 to the dispensing tray 35. On the other hand, the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment can move the drug container 4 stored externally to the container placement device 36 manually or by the container moving means 28, and can also drop the powdered drug from the drug container 4 stored externally onto the dispensing tray 35.

[0137] In addition, in the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, by operating the operation display unit 3, the consumption amount of the powdered drug within a certain period can be displayed for each drug type. Furthermore, it can also be sorted based on predetermined conditions. For example, it can be sorted and displayed in descending order of the consumption amount within a certain period. Or it can also be sorted and displayed in descending order of the number of prescriptions. Furthermore, it can also be displayed which drug container 4 the drug is stored in. At this time, the location of the drug container 4 can also be displayed. That is, in the drug dispensing device 1, in principle, the powdered drug is dropped from the drug container 4 stored in the drug dispensing device 1 onto the dispensing tray 35, but the drug container 4 stored externally on a shelf or the like can be moved to the container placement device 36 manually or by the container moving means 28, and the powdered drug can also be dropped from the drug container 4 stored externally onto the dispensing tray 35. In the drug dispensing device 1 of the present embodiment, it can be displayed which drug container 4 the drug sorted according to predetermined conditions is stored in, and further whether the drug container 4 is held in the container storage unit 23 within the drug dispensing device 1 or stored on an external shelf or the like.

[0138] According to the present embodiment, it is possible to know which drug container 4 has a high usage frequency. Therefore, for example, if a drug container 4 with a low usage frequency is within the drug dispensing device 1 and a drug container 4 with a high usage frequency is outside the drug dispensing device 1, the two can be swapped, and the drug container 4 with a high usage frequency can be accommodated within the drug dispensing device 1.

[0139] In the medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment, the remaining amount of the bulk medicine in each medicine container 4 is monitored. When the remaining amount of the bulk medicine in the medicine container 4 decreases to a certain threshold or less, a message to that effect is displayed on the operation display unit 3. That is, the medicine container 4 and the type of the bulk medicine are specified, and a predetermined "out-of-stock notice" is displayed on the operation display unit 3. Also, a predetermined filling guide is displayed. Specifically, the medicine container 4 with the decreased remaining amount and the name of the bulk medicine to be stored in the medicine container 4 are displayed as the filling guide.

[0140] In the medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment, in order to prevent the bulk medicine in the medicine container 4 from running out when the bulk medicine is being supplied from the medicine container 4 to the dispensing tray 35, when an out-of-stock notice is displayed on the operation display unit 3, the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription is interrupted until the user performs a predetermined process. Specifically, after the sub-packaging operation is performed based on one prescription, when an out-of-stock notice is displayed on the operation display unit 3, the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription does not start until the user manually cancels it.

[0141] In the medicine dispensing device 1 of this embodiment, as an initial setting or user setting, it is possible to select one of the following four types of possible measures when an out-of-stock notice is displayed on the operation display unit 3. (A) When an "out-of-stock notice" is displayed, if the user manually cancels it, the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription becomes possible. (B) When an "out-of-stock notice" is displayed, the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription becomes possible on the condition that a predetermined bulk medicine is filled in the medicine container 4 targeted by the "out-of-stock notice" and the medicine container 4 is returned to the container storage unit 23. (C) An "out-of-stock notice" is displayed for a certain period of time. If the user does not manually cancel the "out-of-stock notice" during that time, the sub-packaging operation based on the next prescription becomes possible. However, the prescription information for using the medicine container 4 targeted by the "out-of-stock notice" is moved to a specific memory area as an "out-of-stock prescription list" and is removed from the normal processing order. Even when a "stock shortage warning" is displayed, the secondary packaging operation based on the next prescription can be performed without displaying the filling guidance. However, the prescription information for using the drug container 4 that is the subject of the "stock shortage warning" is moved to a specific memory area as a "stock shortage prescription list" and removed from the normal processing order.

[0142] When the setting of C or lower described above is adopted, it is possible to prevent the interruption time of the secondary packaging operation from becoming excessively long. That is, when a "stock shortage warning" is displayed as in A, the secondary packaging operation based on the next prescription can be performed on the condition that the user manually cancels it, or when a predetermined powder medicine is additionally filled in the drug container 4 that is the subject of the "stock shortage warning" as in B, the secondary packaging operation based on the next prescription can be performed. If the user does not notice the "stock shortage warning", the interruption time of the secondary packaging operation may become long. On the other hand, when the setting of C or lower is adopted, even if the user does not notice the "stock shortage warning", the secondary packaging operation based on the next prescription can be started, so it is possible to prevent the interruption time of the secondary packaging operation from becoming excessively long.

[0143] The handling of the prescription moved as the "stock shortage prescription list" can be selected from the following two types as the initial setting or the user setting. (A) When a predetermined powder medicine is filled in the drug container 4 that is the subject of the "stock shortage warning" and the drug container 4 is returned to the container storage unit 23, the information based on the prescription is returned from the "stock shortage prescription list" to the original memory area, and the secondary packaging operation is started in the order of the prescription reception time. (B) The "stock shortage prescription list" is displayed by a predetermined operation, and the secondary packaging operation is started by the user's selection.

[0144] The drug dispensing device 1 described above has the dispensing trays 35R and 35L, supplies powder medicine from the drug feeder 8 to the dispensing trays 35, and divides it into single-dose portions and inputs the powder medicine into the drug packaging device 53. However, the dispensing trays 35R and 35L may not be provided, and the powder medicine may be discharged from the drug feeder 8 in single-dose portions and input into the drug packaging device 53. Alternatively, the container moving means 28 may not be provided, and the chemical agent container 4 may be attached to the container mounting device 36 by the operator's hand.

Explanation of Signs

[0145] 1 Chemical agent dispensing device 3 Operation display unit 4 Chemical agent container 8 Chemical agent feeder 28 Container moving means 35R, 35L Distribution trays 36 Container mounting device 37 Scraping device 40 Monitoring camera (discharge monitoring sensor) 43 Dust collection bag 50 Vibration table 52 Weight measuring means 53 Chemical agent packaging device 72 Opening (chemical agent discharge part) 73 Lid 76 Vacuum pump

Claims

1. A medicine dispensing device comprising a medicine feeder, a medicine input groove, a distribution dish having the medicine input groove, a scraping device, and a medicine packaging device, which discharges bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the distribution dish, inputs the bulk medicine discharged to the distribution dish from the distribution dish to the medicine packaging device, and performs a subcontracting operation of packaging the bulk medicine in single-dose portions, which, after discharging the bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the distribution dish, performs a medicine collecting step of rotating the distribution dish with the scraping device inserted into the medicine input groove of the distribution dish to gather the bulk medicine distributed in a certain range of the medicine input grooves, and a scraping step of scraping out the bulk medicine from the medicine input grooves, wherein it is possible to perform the medicine collecting step and the scraping step a plurality of times when inputting a single-dose portion of bulk medicine into the medicine packaging device, first, the scraping device is inserted into the medicine input groove of the distribution dish, and the scraping step is performed without going through the medicine collecting step, and then the medicine collecting step and the scraping step are performed a plurality of times to input a single-dose portion of bulk medicine into the medicine packaging device, in the medicine collecting step performed a plurality of times, the amount of bulk medicine collected in one medicine collecting step becomes smaller as the process goes to the later process, A medicine dispensing device in which, in the scraping step performed a plurality of times, the moving amount in the rotation direction of the distribution dish becomes smaller as the later scraping step goes.

2. A medicine dispensing device comprising a medicine feeder, a medicine input groove, a distribution dish having the medicine input groove, a scraping device, and a medicine packaging device, which discharges bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the distribution dish, inputs the bulk medicine discharged to the distribution dish from the distribution dish to the medicine packaging device, and performs a subcontracting operation of packaging the bulk medicine in single-dose portions, which, after discharging the bulk medicine from the medicine feeder to the distribution dish, performs a medicine collecting step of rotating the distribution dish with the scraping device inserted into the medicine input groove of the distribution dish to gather the bulk medicine distributed in a certain range of the medicine input grooves, and a scraping step of scraping out the bulk medicine from the medicine input grooves, wherein it is possible to perform the medicine collecting step and the scraping step a plurality of times when inputting a single-dose portion of bulk medicine into the medicine packaging device, first, the scraping device is inserted into the medicine input groove of the distribution dish, and the scraping step is performed without going through the medicine collecting step, and then the medicine collecting step and the scraping step are performed a plurality of times to input a single-dose portion of bulk medicine into the medicine packaging device, A medicine dispensing device that reduces the moving amount of the medicine collecting step corresponding to the final scraping step among the plurality of scraping steps compared to other moving amounts.

3. The number of distribution dishes is two, and it further includes a medicine input port. When the powder medicine on one of the two dispensing trays is put into the medicine packaging device and when the powder medicine on the other dispensing tray of the two dispensing trays is put into the medicine packaging device, the powder medicine is put into the same medicine input port. The medicine dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information regarding a first prescription and information regarding a second prescription are input, powder medicine supply based on the information regarding the first prescription is started for one dispensing tray, powder medicine supply based on the information regarding the second prescription is started for the other dispensing tray, and then, in the order in which the powder medicine supply from the medicine feeder to the dispensing tray is completed first, the powder medicine on the dispensing tray is put into the medicine input port.

4. After putting the powder medicine for one dose into the medicine packaging device to package the powder medicine for the first pack, The medicine dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the series of similar steps are performed to send the powder medicine for the second pack to the medicine packaging device and package the powder medicine for the second pack.

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