Urine collection cup labeling device

Abstract

To provide a label sticking device for urine collection cups that can reduce the overall height dimension of the device.SOLUTION: A label sticking device for urine collection cups of the present invention comprises: a cup housing part 20 in which cups can be stacked downward and stored; label production and sticking means arranged above the cup housing part; second cup transfer means 40 which receives a cup from below the cup housing part and raises the received cup to a label sticking position of the label production and sticking means; a cup discharge part which discharges the cup after sticking the label to the cup discharge part arranged on the upper front of the device; and a control device which controls the operation of the cup housing part, the label production and sticking means, the cup transfer means, and the cup discharge part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a urine collection cup labeling device that automatically attaches an identification label to a urine collection cup. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when a subject uses a urine collection cup to collect urine for a urinalysis in a hospital or other facility, the subject's name is written on the urine collection cup with a magic marker or the like in order to identify whose the cup belongs to after the urine has been collected. However, writing the patient's name on the surface of the urine test cup every time a urine test is performed is a tedious task, and the curved surface of the cup makes it difficult to write the patient's name properly, leading to problems such as the patient being unable to read the written name during the test.Furthermore, in the case of patients of the same sex with the same name, there is the problem that they cannot be identified by name alone. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the applicant has already proposed several urine collection cup labeling devices that automatically attach identification labels to urine collection cups (Patent Documents 1 and 2). The urine collection cup labeling device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an integrated device comprising a cup holder, a label printing and affixing unit, and a magnetic card reader. When a new urine collection cup is attached to the cup holder and the magnetic card of a patient or the like is read by the magnetic card reader, the cup holder moves the urine collection cup to the label affixing position, and the label printing and affixing unit automatically creates a label corresponding to that patient and automatically affixes the created identification label to the surface of the urine collection cup. The device described in Patent Document 2 is an automatic reception desk for blood and urine collection that has the function of attaching labels to urine collection cups, and is equipped with a magnetic card reader, a cup storage section that stacks and stores empty urine collection cups, a cup holder that receives the urine collection cup from the cup storage section and carries the urine collection cup to a removal position after attaching a label, and a label printing and affixing unit that automatically creates and affixes a patient label corresponding to the patient identification information read by the magnetic card reader.This automatic reception desk for blood and urine collection is configured to accept applications for blood and urine collection, issue numbered tickets, and, in the case of patients who require urine collection, automatically affix an identification label to the urine collection label using the label affixing mechanism.

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3035091 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-121644 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the urine collection cup labeling device of Patent Document 1 has the problem of being inefficient because the urine collection cup must be attached to the cup holder each time a label is to be attached to the urine collection cup. Furthermore, in the automatic reception desk for blood and urine collection in Patent Document 2, the label printing and pasting unit is located below the cup storage section, which is configured to stack and store empty urine collection cups, so if the position for receiving the labeled cups, i.e., the position at which the labeled cups are discharged from the label printing and pasting unit, is to be set to an optimal height, the cup storage section extends above that, resulting in a problem that the height of the entire device becomes high. If the height of the entire device becomes high in this way, then, as mentioned above, if the urine collection cup label pasting device and the identification information reading device are configured separately, it will be impossible to install the identification information reading device above the urine collection cup label pasting device. Furthermore, the urine collection cup labeling devices and the automated blood and urine collection reception devices disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 are both equipped with an integrated magnetic card reader and are configured to read the subject's identification information using the magnetic card reader and create and attach labels to the urine collection cups based on the read information, which creates the following problem: In recent years, storage media that store patient identification information are not limited to magnetic cards, and various forms of storage media such as IC cards and barcodes have come to be used, and the format of storage media that store patient identification information varies depending on the facility. Therefore, if a reading device that reads identification information from an identification information storage medium such as a magnetic card reader is provided as an integrated device, a problem arises in that the identification information reading device must be replaced to match the storage medium used at each facility. The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology and to provide a urine collection cup labeling device that can reduce the height of the entire device, and also to provide a urine collection cup labeling device that can accommodate various types of storage media. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the labeling device for urine collection cups of the present invention is characterized by comprising a cup storage section that can store cups stacked face down, a labeling means arranged above the cup storage section, a cup transporting means that receives a cup from below the cup storage section and raises the received cup to a labeling position on the labeling means, a cup discharging section that discharges the cup after labeling into a cup removal section arranged at the top front of the device, and a control device that controls the operation of the cup storage section, the labeling means, the cup transporting means, and the cup discharging section. The cup receiving section, the labeling means, the cup transporting means, the cup discharging section and the control device may be accommodated in a single housing, and a mounting plate may be provided on the upper surface of the housing. The cup transfer means may be composed of a second cup transfer means arranged to the side of the cup storage section and lifting the cup from below to the label application position, and a first cup transfer means arranged below the cup storage section and spanning the cup supply position of the cup storage section and the cup receiving position of the second cup transfer means. The second cup transfer means may be configured to lift the cup along the cup holding portion from a cup receiving position located below the cup holding portion to a label applying position of the label creating and applying means located above. The control device may be configured to be connectable to a reception device that reads the patient's identification number and at least accepts urine collection requests. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The urine collection cup labeling device of the present invention comprises a cup storage section that can store cups stacked face down, a label creating and applying means located above the cup storage section, a cup transporting means that receives a cup from below the cup storage section and raises the received cup to a label applying position on the label creating and applying means, a cup discharging section that ejects the cup after labeling into a cup removal section located at the top front of the device, and a control device that controls the operation of the cup storage section, label creating and applying means, cup transporting means, and cup discharging section; the cup is transported from below to above, and a label is applied at the top before being ejected, thereby enabling the height of the entire device to be kept low. By accommodating the cup storage section, label creation and attachment means, cup transport means, cup discharge section and control device in a single housing and providing a mounting plate on the top surface of the housing, it becomes possible to mount and use a reception device on the mounting plate that reads the patient's identification number and at least accepts urine samples. The cup transfer means is composed of a second cup transfer means that is arranged to the side of the cup storage section and lifts the cup from below to the label application position, and a first cup transfer means that is arranged below the cup storage section and straddles the cup supply position of the cup storage section and the cup receiving position of the second cup transfer means.By configuring the second cup transfer means to lift the cup along the cup storage section from the cup receiving position located below the cup storage section to the label application position of the label creation and application means located above, the width of the entire device can be minimized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a label sticking device for a urine collection cup according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the urine collection cup labeling device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the urine collection cup label sticking device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view of the urine collection cup label sticking device shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the front right direction. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a state in which the label creating and pasting unit is pulled out and the front door is open. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4, illustrating a state in which the cup receiving section is pulled out. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the urine collection cup labeling device, showing a state in which the cup has been supplied to the cup supply position. [Figure 8] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the urine collection cup labeling device, showing the state in which the cup has fallen onto the cup lifting guide member at the cup receiving position. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the urine collection cup labeling device, showing a state in which the cup lifting guide member has been raised to a labeling position. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the cup storage section and the first cup transfer means when viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 11]10 is a diagram showing a state in which the cup is handed over from the second cup transfer means to the cup discharge means. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a cup is discharged by the cup discharging means. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a blood collection and urine collection reception device is combined with a urine collection cup label sticking device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a label sticking device for a urine collection cup according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front view of a urine collection cup labeling device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a right side view of the urine collection cup labeling device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the urine collection cup labeling device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the urine collection cup labeling device shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the front right. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing, in which a label producing and applying unit 10 is provided at the upper left when viewed from the front inside the housing 1, a cup storage unit 20 is provided below the label producing and applying unit 10, a first cup transfer means 30 is disposed below the cup storage unit 20, a second cup transfer means 40 is disposed on the right when viewed from the front, and a cup discharge unit 50 is disposed at the upper right when viewed from the front. Also, a control device 60 is provided at the rear of the housing 1 for controlling the operations of the label producing and applying unit 10, cup storage unit 20, first cup transfer means 30, and second cup transfer means 40.

[0009] 4 to 6, a flat mounting plate 2 is provided on the top surface of the housing 1, and this mounting plate 2 allows the housing 1 to function as a mounting base on which a blood collection and urine collection reception device, etc., described below, can be placed. Note that the reference numeral 2a in the figures indicates a wiring hole through which a connection wire passes to connect the control device 60 provided inside the housing 1 with, for example, a separate blood collection and urine collection reception device placed on the mounting plate 2. 5 and 6, the storage section 3 of the label producing and pasting section 10 and the storage section 4 of the cup storage section 20 in the housing 1 are configured to be removable toward the front of the device. Furthermore, a front door 5 that can be opened and closed is provided in the portion of the housing 1 that corresponds to the front of the second cup transport means 40.

[0010] The label creating and applying unit 10 comprises a supply roller 12 that loads a label-attached backing roll 11, a label creating means 13 (e.g., a printer and / or a data writing device) that prints information about the patient on the labels of the label-attached backing roll 11 and / or stores the information about the patient in an RFID tag attached to the label, a peeling plate 14 that peels off the labels after they have been created, an application roller 15 that attaches the peeled labels to urine collection cups, and a backing recovery roller 16 that recovers the backing after the labels have been peeled off (see Figures 5 and 7).

[0011] As shown in Figures 6 to 10, the cup storage section 20 consists of a cylindrical rotating body 22 with six rows of cup storage grooves 21 extending vertically at 60 degree intervals so that cups can be stacked and stored vertically.In this embodiment, each cup storage groove 21 is configured to be able to store 50 cups stacked with the openings of the cups facing downwards. A radially movable claw member is provided at the lower end of each cup storage groove 21, and is configured to drop and supply the cups stored in the cup storage groove 21 one by one from the lower end thereof to the first cup transfer means 30 at the cup supply position P1. When the cup in the cup receiving groove 21 corresponding to the cup supply position P1 is exhausted, the cylindrical rotor 22 configured as described above rotates so that the next cup receiving groove 21 is positioned at the position corresponding to the cup discharge position P1.

[0012] The first cup transfer means 30 is disposed below the cup holder 20 so as to straddle the gap between a cup supply position P1 of the cup holder 20 and a cup delivery position P2 to the second cup transfer means 40, which will be described later, and comprises a pair of cup guide members 31 positioned diametrically opposite each other, a disc member 32 configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis 33, and a cup support member 34 disposed below the disc member 32 with a gap therebetween. Each of the pair of cup guide members 31 on the disc member 32 has a through-hole sized to allow a cup to pass through, and the cup support member 34 also has a through-hole sized to allow a cup to pass through at a position corresponding to the second cup transfer means 40 (i.e., cup delivery position P2). With the above-described configuration, a cup that is dropped onto cup guide member 31 at cup supply position P1 is supported on cup support member 34 (FIG. 7). When disk member 32 is rotated in this state, the cup slides on cup support member 34 while being guided by cup guide member 31, and moves together with disk member 32. When cup guide member 31 containing the cup reaches cup transfer position P2, the cup drops downward through a through-hole formed in cup support member 34 and is attached to cup lifting guide member 41 (FIG. 8).

[0013] The second cup transfer means 40 includes a vertical guide member 42 that extends vertically from below the cup transfer position P2 at the rear of the housing 1 to above the label application position P3 of the label production unit 10, a lifting bracket 43 that is attached to the vertical guide member 42 so that it can be raised and lowered, and a support bar 44 that extends from the lifting bracket 43 toward the front of the housing 1 and supports the cup lifting guide member 41 at its front portion. The cup lifting guide member 41 can be formed to a shape that matches the inside of the cup to be used, and is sized so that its lower portion protrudes downward from the edge of the cup opening when fully inserted into the cup, as shown in Figures 8, 9, and 11. A horizontally extending auxiliary bar 45 is provided behind the support bar 44. The second cup transfer means 40 also includes a regulating member 46 that is positioned below the label application position P3. The support bar 44 is rotatable and is normally maintained in a position where it vertically supports the cup lifting guide member 41 by a spring or the like. However, when the cup lifting guide member 41 is raised, the auxiliary bar 45 abuts the regulating member 46. When the cup lifting guide member 41 is further raised from that position to the label application position P3, the support bar 44 rotates against the force of the spring or the like, tilting the cup lifting guide member 41 toward the label application unit 10 (see FIG. 9 ). This angle of inclination is determined according to the angle of inclination of the side of the urine collection cup being used. For example, if the urine collection cup has a side that slopes at an angle of 6 degrees from bottom to top, the regulating member 46 is positioned at the label application position P3 so as to tilt the cup lifting guide member 41 by 6 degrees. This allows the side of the cup to abut parallel to the application roller 15 at the label application position P3, enabling a label to be neatly applied to a cup with tapered sides. When the cup lifting guide member 41 is lowered after the label is attached, the auxiliary bar 45 is released from the regulating member 46, and the support bar 44 returns to a position where the cup lifting guide member 41 is vertical due to the force of a spring or the like.

[0014] The cup discharge section 50 has a pair of flap members 51 that receive the cup from the vertical guide member 42 after the label has been attached, a discharge plate member 52 that receives the cup from the flap members 51 and is provided with a protrusion 52a that rotates the cup, and a cup removal section 53 that receives the cup rotated by the discharge plate member 52 (see Figures 11 and 12). The pair of flap members 51 are provided on the movement path of the cup lifting guide member 41 of the second cup transfer means 40, and each is configured to be rotatable around one side as an axis. FIG. 11(a) shows the flap members 51 in a reference position, and each flap member 51 is normally biased by a spring or the like to remain in its home position. When the cup lifting guide member 41, with a cup attached, moves upward toward the label attachment position P3, it abuts against the flap member 51 in its home position. As the cup lifting guide member 41 moves upward, it opens the flap member 51 upward (see FIG. 11(b)). When the cup lifting guide member 41 is raised to a position where the flap member 51 clears the edge of the opening of the cup attached to the cup lifting guide member 41, the flap member 51 rotates downward in a closing direction due to the biasing force of the spring or the like, and as a result, the leading end of each flap member 51 abuts against the side of the cup lifting guide member 41 (see FIG. 11(c)). When the cup lifting / lowering guide member 41 is tilted at a position slightly above this position and a label is attached to the cup as described above, the cup lifting / lowering guide member 41 is then lowered, causing the pair of flap members 51 to rotate downward in the closing direction while engaging with the opening edge of the cup. As a result, when the cup lifting / lowering guide member 41 is lowered below the flap members 51, only the cup is released from the cup lifting / lowering guide member 41 and remains on the upper surface of the flap members 51. 12, the flap member 51 is inclined downward toward the front of the housing, and the discharge plate member 52 is disposed forward of the tip of the flap member 51 and spaced downward from the flap member 51, and this discharge plate member 52 is also inclined downward toward the front of the housing. As a result, after a label is attached to the cup on the flap member 51, the cup slides down from the flap member 51 onto the discharge plate member 52 (see FIG. 12(a)). The discharge plate member 52 has a protrusion 52a on its upper surface, and when a cup slides down from the flap member 51, its leading edge catches on this protrusion 52a and the cup rotates as it falls into the cup removal section 53 (see Figures 12(b) and 12(c)). The cup removal section 53 protrudes from the front door 5 of the housing 1 to the front of the device, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. This allows the labeled cup that slides down from the flap member 51 and discharge plate member 52 to rotate and fit into the cup removal section 52, enabling the user to remove it.

[0015] The urine collection cup label sticking device configured as described above is controlled in operation by the control device 60 by connecting the control device 60 to a separate blood and urine collection reception device 70 . FIG. 13 shows a state in which a blood / urine collection reception device 70 is mounted on the mounting plate 2 of the urine collection cup label sticking device. The blood and urine collection reception device 70 is equipped with an identification information reader 71 that reads patient identification information from a storage medium that stores the patient's identification information, and a printer 72 that issues blood collection serial number tickets. When the blood and urine collection reception device 70 reads the patient's identification information, it checks whether blood and / or urine collection is required for that patient based on that identification information against data in a host computer or its own storage device. If the result of the check indicates that blood collection is required, it issues a blood collection serial number, links that serial number to the patient identification information, stores it as blood collection reception information, and outputs a serial number ticket via printer 72. If the result of the check indicates that the patient requires urine collection, it outputs patient identification information to the control device 60 of the urine collection cup label affixing device. When patient identification information is input from the blood / urine collection reception device 70, the control device 60 initially operates the claw members provided in the cup storage groove 21 of the cup storage unit 20 to drop the cup located at the cup supply position P1 onto the cup guide member 31 of the first cup transfer means 30. The control device 60 then rotates the disc member 32 of the first cup transfer means 30 to move the cup to the cup delivery position P2, where the cup drops onto the cup lift-up guide member 41 through the opening of the cup support member 34. The control device 60 then raises the cup lift-up guide member 41 of the second cup transfer means 40 with the cup attached. The cup lift-up guide member 41 lifts while opening the flap member 51. After the flap member 51 clears the edge of the cup opening, the cup lift-up guide member 41 is raised to the label application position P3. The auxiliary bar 45 is regulated by the regulating member 46, and the cup lift-up guide member 41 tilts toward the label creation and application unit 10. Furthermore, the positions of the regulating member 46 and the flap member 51 are determined so that after the flap member 51 passes the edge of the cup opening, the flap member 51 remains in a position where it engages with the side of the cup lifting guide member 41, and the cup lifting guide member 41 reaches the label attachment position P3 and is tilted (see Figure 9). Meanwhile, the control device 60 operates the label producing and applying unit 10 to print and / or store the patient identification information on the label, and causes the printed and / or stored label to wait at the peeling plate 14 position. When cup lifting guide member 41 reaches label application position P3, label creation and application unit 10 applies a label to the side of the cup. After the label is applied, cup lifting guide member 41 is lowered, causing the labeled cup to remain on flap member 51 and slide down from flap member 51 to discharge plate member 52, where it rotates around protrusion 52a and falls into cup removal unit 53. In the above explanation, the urine collection cup labeling device supplies the cup from the cup storage section 20 to the first cup transfer means 30 after patient identification information is input from the blood and urine collection reception device 70, but this operation is not limited to this embodiment, and it is of course possible, for example, to supply the cup from the cup storage section 20 to the cup guide member 31 of the first cup transfer means 30 in advance at the cup supply position P1, and then, when patient identification information is input from the blood and urine collection reception device 70, to transfer the cup waiting at the cup guide member 31 to the cup transfer position P2.

[0016] As described above, the urine collection cup labeling device of this embodiment is configured so that the labeling unit 10 is located above the cup storage unit 20, which can store cups in a stacked state, the cups are supplied to the first cup transport means 30 from below the cup storage unit 20, the cups are transported by the second cup transport means 40 to the labeling unit 10 located above, where labels are affixed, and the cups after labeling are discharged. This allows the height of the entire device to be low, and the cup discharge unit 50 to be positioned at a height that makes it easy to remove. Furthermore, the urine collection cup labeling device of this embodiment does not itself have an identification information reading device, but is configured to be able to create labeled cups by connecting it to a separate blood and urine collection reception device 70, so it can accommodate various types of storage media and does not require any mechanical modifications depending on the facility where it will be used. Furthermore, the urine collection cup label sticking device according to this embodiment has the placement plate 2 on the top surface of the housing 1, making it easy to install the separate blood and urine collection reception device 70. Furthermore, the labeling device for urine collection cups according to this embodiment has a cup storage section 20 formed of a cylindrical rotor 22 having multiple cup storage grooves 21 on its circumference in which cups can be stacked and stored, making it possible to store a large number of cups. Furthermore, in the labeling device for blood collection cups according to this embodiment, the storage section 4 that stores the cup storage section 20 in the housing 1 is configured to be slidable forward, so that the cup can be inserted into the cup storage groove 21 from above, making it easy to refill the cups. Furthermore, in the label application device for blood collection cups according to this embodiment, the label creation and application unit 10 is positioned at the top, and the storage unit 3 that houses the label creation and application unit 10 in the housing 1 is configured to be slidable forward, making it easy to perform maintenance of the label creation and application unit 10, such as replenishing labels. [Explanation of symbols]

[0017] 1. Housing 2. Mounting plate 2a Wiring hole 3 Label creation and pasting unit housing 4 Cup holder compartment 5 Front door 10 Label creation and pasting section 11 Label backing roll 12 Supply roller 13 Label creation means (printer and / or data writing device) 14 Peeling board 15 Application roller 16 Backing paper collection roller 20 Cup storage area 21 Cup receiving groove 22 Cylindrical Rotating Body 30 First cup transfer means 31 Cup guide member 32 Disc member 33 Rotation axis 34 Cup support member 40 Second cup transfer means 41 Cup lifting guide member 42 Vertical guide member 43 Lifting bracket 44 Support bar 45 Support bar 46 Regulatory member 50 Cup discharge section 51 Flap member 52 Discharge plate member 52a protrusion 53 Cup removal section 60 Control device 70 Blood and urine collection reception device 71 Identification information reader 72 printers P1 Cup supply position P2 Cup delivery position P3 Label placement position

Claims

1. a cup storage section capable of storing cups stacked face down; a label creating and attaching means disposed above the cup storage section; a first cup transfer means for receiving a cup from below the cup storage portion and transferring the cup by rotating the cup around a vertical axis; a second cup transport means for lifting the cup transported by the first cup transport means to a label application position of the label creating and applying means while the cup faces downward; a cup discharge unit that discharges the labeled cup to a cup removal unit located at the top front of the device; a control device for controlling operations of the cup storage unit, the label creating and pasting means, the first cup transporting means, the second cup transporting means, and the cup discharging unit; A label sticking device for a urine collection cup, comprising:

2. a housing that accommodates the cup storage unit, the label creation and attachment means, the first cup transfer means, the second cup transfer means, the cup discharge unit, and the control device; A mounting plate is provided on the upper surface of the housing.

2. The urine collection cup labeling device according to claim 1.

3. the second cup transfer means is disposed on the side of the cup storage section and lifts the cup from below to the label application position; The first cup transfer means is disposed below the cup storage section and is disposed between a cup supply position of the cup storage section and a cup receiving position of the second cup transfer means.

3. The label sticking device for a urine collection cup according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The second cup transfer means is configured to lift the cup along the cup storage section from the cup receiving position located below the cup storage section to the label application position of the label creating and applying means located above.

4. The urine collection cup labeling device according to claim 3.

5. The control device is configured to be connectable to a reception device that reads the patient's identification number and accepts at least the urine collection request.

5. The urine collection cup labeling device according to claim 1, wherein the labeling device is a label attachment device for attaching a label to a urine collection cup.

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