Drug delivery system and goods delivery system

Abstract

To improve efficiency of work for taking out medicines from a warehouse, executing prescribed processing, and packaging them.SOLUTION: A medicine delivery system 1 includes a storage station 10 including a warehouse 11 in which medicines A are stored, a processing station 20 for executing prescribed processing for the medicines, a packaging station 30 where the medicines are packaged, a conveyor path 40 for circulating between the storage station, the processing station, and the packaging station, and trays 50 moving on the conveyor path. The medicines are taken out from the warehouse and placed on the trays at the storage station and conveyed to the processing station on the conveyor path. The medicines placed on the trays are subjected to prescribed processing at the processing station and conveyed to the packaging station on the conveyor path. The medicines placed on the trays are taken out from the trays and packaged at the packaging station. The trays from which the medicines are taken out are conveyed to the storage station on the conveyor path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to drug delivery systems and article delivery systems. [Background technology]

[0002] At the pharmacy, workers such as pharmacists take out medicines from a warehouse, perform predetermined processes such as sorting and inspection on the medicines, and package the medicines.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an automated warehouse in which the work of taking medicines out of the warehouse is automated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-316308 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The work area for taking out medicines from the warehouse, the work area for carrying out predetermined processes such as sorting and inspection of the medicines, and the work area for packaging the medicines are located in different locations.

[0006] In pharmacies, workers must travel between each work area to transport medicines between them, which can lead to waste and inefficiency in the process of retrieving medicines from the warehouse, performing prescribed processing on the medicines, and packaging them.

[0007] Even if the automated warehouse described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a pharmacy, only the task of retrieving medicines from the warehouse is automated, and the problem of workers having to move between each work location themselves to transport the medicines between them remains.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to improve the efficiency of the work of retrieving medicines from a warehouse, performing predetermined processing on the medicines, and packaging the medicines. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The drug delivery system of the present disclosure comprises a storage station including a warehouse in which drugs are stored, a processing station in which predetermined processing is performed on the drugs, a packing station in which the drugs are packaged, a conveyor transport path that circulates between the storage station, the processing station, and the packing station, and trays that move on the conveyor transport path, wherein the drugs are removed from the warehouse at the storage station and placed on the trays and transported to the processing station by the conveyor transport path, the drugs placed on the trays are subjected to the predetermined processing at the processing station and transported to the packing station by the conveyor transport path, the drugs placed on the trays are removed from the trays and packaged at the packing station, and the trays from which the drugs have been removed are transported to the storage station by the conveyor transport path.

[0010] According to this configuration, the storage station for retrieving medicines from the warehouse, the processing station for performing predetermined processing on the medicines, and the packing station for packing the medicines are located at different locations. A conveyor path circulates between the storage station, the processing station, and the packing station, and trays move along the conveyor path.

[0011] The trays with and without medications are moved between the storage, processing and packing stations by conveyor paths, and the user himself does not have to travel between the storage, processing and packing stations to transport the medications between the storage, processing and packing stations.

[0012] In pharmacies, the efficiency of the work of taking medicines out of the warehouse, subjecting the medicines to predetermined processing, and packaging the medicines can be improved.

[0013] In one embodiment, the trays include a first tray and a second tray that move on the conveyor transport path, the drugs are removed from the warehouse at the storage station and placed on the first tray, and then transported to the processing station by the conveyor transport path, the drugs placed on the first tray undergo the specified processing at the processing station and are removed from the first tray and transferred to the second tray, the drugs placed on the second tray are transported to the packing station by the conveyor transport path, and are removed from the second tray at the packing station and packed, and the first tray and the second tray from which the drugs have been removed are transported to the storage station by the conveyor transport path.

[0014] With this configuration, at least two trays (a first tray and a second tray) move along the conveyor path, which is advantageous in terms of improving the efficiency of the work of retrieving medicines from the warehouse, performing the required processing on the medicines, and packaging them, compared to when there is only one tray.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first tray is divided into a plurality of compartments.

[0016] According to this configuration, the medicines can be divided and placed in the compartments of the first tray, and a plurality of medicines can be transported at one time.

[0017] In one embodiment, the processing station includes an inspection section where the medication is inspected for prescription compliance.

[0018] This configuration can prevent medication mix-ups.

[0019] In one embodiment, the processing station includes a sorting section where the medications are sorted and placed into pouches before being inspected in the inspection section.

[0020] This configuration can improve the efficiency of a series of predetermined processes for the medicine in the processing station.

[0021] In one embodiment, the conveyor transport path includes a main path leading from the storage station to the inspection section via the sorting section, and a bypass path leading from the storage station to the inspection section, bypassing the sorting section.

[0022] With this configuration, when sorting of medicines in the sorting section is required, the medicines can be routed through the sorting section via the main passage before reaching the inspection section, whereas when sorting of medicines in the sorting section is not required, the medicines can be routed through the bypass passage to bypass the sorting section before reaching the inspection section.

[0023] In one embodiment, the conveyor transport path is provided with a retraction section into which one of the trays retracts so as not to interfere with the movement of the other trays traveling on the conveyor transport path.

[0024] According to this configuration, the other trays are retracted to the retraction section, allowing the one tray to move along the conveyor transport path, thereby preventing congestion on the conveyor transport path between the one tray and the other trays.

[0025] In one embodiment, the conveyor transport path includes a full tray path along which the trays loaded with the medicines move, and an empty tray path along which the trays not loaded with the medicines move.

[0026] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent trays with medicines and trays without medicines from mixing on the conveyor transport path 40.

[0027] In one embodiment, at the storage station, a medicine box containing the medication is removed from the warehouse, some of the medication is removed from the medicine box and placed on the tray, and the medicine box containing the remaining medication is returned to the warehouse.

[0028] According to this configuration, the work of removing medicines from the medicine box and placing them on the tray at the storage station can be made more efficient.

[0029] In one embodiment, the warehouse stores room temperature drugs and drugs that require refrigeration, and the trays include trays for room temperature drugs and trays for refrigerated drugs that move along the conveyor transport path, and at the storage station, the room temperature drugs are removed from the warehouse and placed on the trays for room temperature drugs, and then the refrigerated drugs are removed from the warehouse and placed on the trays for refrigerated drugs.

[0030] This configuration can prevent medicines that need to be kept refrigerated from being heated.

[0031] In one embodiment, the conveyor path is surrounded by a cover in areas different from the storage station, the processing station and the packaging station.

[0032] This configuration can prevent foreign matter from entering the trays moving on the conveyor transport path, and can prevent medicines placed on the trays from falling off the conveyor transport path.

[0033] The item transport system of the present disclosure comprises a storage station including a warehouse in which items are stored, a processing station in which predetermined processing is performed on the items, a packing station in which the items are packed, a conveyor transport path that circulates between the storage station, the processing station, and the packing station, and trays that move on the conveyor transport path, wherein the items are removed from the warehouse at the storage station and placed on the trays and transported to the processing station by the conveyor transport path, the items placed on the trays are subjected to the predetermined processing at the processing station and transported to the packing station by the conveyor transport path, the items placed on the trays are removed from the trays and packed at the packing station, and the trays from which the items have been removed are transported to the storage station by the conveyor transport path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0034] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the work of retrieving medicines from a warehouse, performing predetermined processing on the medicines, and packaging the medicines. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a drug delivery system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a tray according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows the removal of medicines from a warehouse in the storage station according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a predetermined treatment for the drug in the treatment station according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows the packaging of medicines in a packaging station according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a conveyor path according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows the removal of medicines from a warehouse in a storage station according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its applications, or its uses.

[0037] First Embodiment (Medication delivery system) A drug delivery system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows the drug delivery system 1. The drug delivery system 1 is applied to, for example, a pharmacy. Note that pharmacies include not only those operated independently but also those attached to clinics or hospitals. The drug delivery system 1 is a system for delivering drug A.

[0038] The medicine delivery system 1 includes a storage station 10, a processing station 20, a packaging station 30, a conveyor path 40, a tray 50, and a controller 60.

[0039] (tray) 2 shows the tray 50. The tray 50 includes a first tray 51 and a second tray 52. ​​The first tray 51 and the second tray 52 are different from each other.

[0040] The first tray 51 is divided into a plurality of compartments 51a by partition walls. In this example, the first tray 51 is divided into six compartments 51a, 2 x 3. The compartments 51a in the first tray 51 correspond to a plurality of drugs A. In detail, the compartments 51a in the first tray 51 correspond to the types, usages, quantities, etc. of the plurality of drugs A.

[0041] The second tray 52 is not divided into multiple compartments. The second tray 52 has only one compartment 52a. The size of one compartment 52a in the second tray 52 is approximately equal to the combined size of all the compartments 51a in the first tray 51. The second tray 52 may be covered with a hood.

[0042] A code 53 is attached to the tray 50. A plurality of readers 49 for reading the code 53 are arranged at a plurality of locations on the conveyor transport path 40 of the medicine transport system 1, and are connected to a controller 60 (see FIG. 1). By having each reader 49 read the code 53 attached to the tray 50, the time at which the tray 50 passed through each location (and thus the position of the tray 50 at each time) can be determined. In addition, the type, usage, and quantity of the medicine A placed on the tray 50 can also be determined. The code 53 can be, for example, a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark).

[0043] (Storage Station) As shown in FIG. 1, the storage station 10 includes a warehouse 11. The warehouse 11 is an automated warehouse. Drug A is stored in the warehouse 11. In this example, there are multiple warehouses 11. However, there may be only one warehouse 11. The warehouse 11 stores a medicine box B containing multiple small drugs A. The warehouse 11 also stores large drugs A (e.g., drugs A contained in medicine bottles, etc.) as they are.

[0044] Different types of medicines A are stored in the warehouse 11. The different types of medicines A are contained in different types of medicine boxes B.

[0045] 3 shows the removal of a drug A from the warehouse 11 at the storage station 10. At the storage station 10, a drug box B containing a plurality of drugs A is removed from the warehouse 11. At the storage station 10, a portion of the plurality of drugs A, drug Ap, is removed from the drug box B and placed on a tray 50. At the storage station 10, the drug box B containing the remaining drug Aq of the plurality of drugs A is returned to the warehouse 11.

[0046] The first user U1 manually takes out the drug A from the warehouse 11 and places it on the tray 50 in the storage station 10. The warehouse 11 may be provided with a feed conveyor for sending the drug A from the warehouse 11 to the first user U1, and a return conveyor for returning the drug A from the first user U1 to the warehouse 11.

[0047] In the storage station 10, small medicines A taken out from the medicine box B are placed on the first tray 51. The small medicines A are sorted according to type, usage, quantity, etc., and placed in a plurality of compartments 51a in the first tray 51. For example, medicine A is sorted into one of three usages, morning, noon, and evening, and placed in one of the compartments 51a in the first tray 51 corresponding to the usage of medicine A.

[0048] Large medicines A (for example, medicines A contained in medicine bottles) stored as they are in the warehouse 11 may not fit into each compartment 51a of the first tray 51. For this reason, large medicines A may be placed in the second tray 52 instead of the first tray 51.

[0049] In the storage station 10, the operation of taking out the drug A from the warehouse 11 and placing it on the tray 50 may be performed multiple times depending on the prescription.

[0050] In the storage station 10, a take-out instruction 12a for the drug A is displayed on the display 12b. The take-out instruction 12a may include, for example, the type and quantity of the drug A to be taken out from the warehouse 11, the type and quantity of the drug A to be taken out from the medicine box B, the type and quantity of the drug A to be placed on the tray 50, the tray 50 (first tray 51 or second tray 52) on which the drug A should be placed, and the section 51a of the first tray 51 into which the drug A should be placed.

[0051] At the storage station 10, the first user U1 compares the drug A in front of him / her with the removal instructions 12a displayed on the display 12b, and takes out the drug A from the warehouse 11, takes out the drug A from the medicine box B, or places the drug A on the tray 50.

[0052] (Processing Station) In the processing station 20, a predetermined process is performed on the drug A. As shown in FIG. 1, the processing station 20 is located downstream of the storage station 10. The processing station 20 includes an inspection unit 21 and a sorting unit 22. FIG. 4 shows the predetermined process performed on the drug A in the processing station 20.

[0053] In the processing station 20, the inspection unit 21 is located after the sorting unit 22. In the inspection unit 21 of the processing station 20, as a predetermined process for the drug A, the inspection unit 21 inspects whether the drug A is as prescribed. In the inspection unit 21, prescription instructions 21a based on a prescription from a doctor are displayed on the display 21b. In the inspection unit 21, a second user U2 (especially a qualified pharmacist) visually inspects whether the drug A is as prescribed by comparing the drug A in front of them with the prescription instructions 21a displayed on the display 21b.

[0054] In the processing station 20, the sorting unit 22 is located in an earlier process than the inspection unit 21. In the sorting unit 22, the medicines A are sorted and placed into the medicine bag C before the inspection unit 21 inspects whether the medicines A are as prescribed. In the sorting unit 22, sorting instructions 22a on how the medicines A should be sorted are displayed on the display 22b. In the sorting unit 22, a third user U3 sorts the medicines A and places them into the medicine bag C while comparing the medicines A in front of them with the sorting instructions 22a displayed on the display 22b.

[0055] As described above, in the storage station 10, the medicines A may be sorted according to type, usage, quantity, etc., and placed in multiple compartments 51a on the first tray 51. In this case, in the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20, the third user U3 simply places the medicines A, which have already been sorted and placed in each compartment 51a on the first tray 51, into the medicine bag C while comparing them with the sorting instructions 22a displayed on the display 22b.

[0056] If the medicines A have not been sorted in the storage station 10, the third user U3 may sort the medicines A in the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20 according to type, usage, quantity, etc., and place them into medicine bags C.

[0057] Then, the third user U3 places the medicine bag C containing the medicine A into the second tray 52.

[0058] When the inspection section 21 of the processing station 20 inspects whether the drug A is as prescribed, and when the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20 sorts the drug A and places it into a drug bag C, the drug A may be temporarily removed from the tray 50.

[0059] (Packing Station) The drug A is packed in the packing station 30. As shown in Fig. 1, the packing station 30 is located after the processing station 20. Fig. 5 shows the packing of the drug A in the packing station 30.

[0060] At the packing station 30, the fourth user U4 packs the medicine bag C containing the medicine A into a packing container D such as a cardboard box or an envelope.

[0061] At the packing station 30, packing instructions 30a are displayed on the display 30b. The packing instructions 30a include which drug A should be packed, which packaging container D should be used, etc. At the packing station 30, the fourth user U4 places the drug A into the packaging container D and packs it while comparing the drug A and packaging container D in front of them with the packing instructions 30a displayed on the display 30b.

[0062] In the packing station 30, the drug A may be simply wrapped in packaging paper, film, or the like without using the packing container D.

[0063] (Conveyor transport path) 1, a conveyor path 40 circulates between a storage station 10, a processing station 20, and a packaging station 30. Trays 50 move along the conveyor path 40. Specifically, a first tray 51 and a second tray 52 move along the conveyor path 40.

[0064] FIG. 6 shows a conveyor path 40. The conveyor path 40 is, for example, a belt conveyor mechanism. In the conveyor path 40, a belt 41 is hung around a pulley 42, and the belt 41 is driven to move in a translational manner as the pulley 42 rotates. Trays 50 are placed on the belt 41 of the conveyor path 40. As the belt 41 of the conveyor path 40 is driven, the trays 50 move along the conveyor path 40. The trays 50 circulate between the storage station 10, the processing station 20, and the packing station 30 via the conveyor path 40.

[0065] The conveyor path 40 is covered with a cover 43 in an area R different from the storage station 10, the processing station 20, and the packing station 30. The cover 43 is, for example, tunnel-shaped with a substantially semicircular cross section. The belt 41 extends through the internal cavity of the cover 43.

[0066] The conveyor path 40 may be, for example, a chain conveyor mechanism in which a chain is driven by the rotation of a sprocket.The conveyor path 40 may also be a roller conveyor mechanism in which the trays 50 move on a plurality of rotating rollers.The conveyor path 40 may also be a suspension type in which the trays 50 are suspended from rails.

[0067] (Main passage and bypass passage) 1, the conveyor path 40 includes a main path 44 and a bypass path 45. The main path 44 of the conveyor path 40 leads from the storage station 10 to the inspection section 21 via the sorting section 22 in the processing station 20. The bypass path 45 of the conveyor path 40 leads from the storage station 10 to the inspection section 21, bypassing the sorting section 22 in the processing station 20.

[0068] (controller) The controller 60 is configured with, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MCU (Micro Controller Unit). The controller 60 executes a predetermined program using the CPU or MCU. The program is stored in a memory. The memory may be built into the controller 60 or may be provided externally to the controller 60.

[0069] The controller 60 controls each component in the drug delivery system 1. The controller 60 receives as input information about a prescription for a certain patient. Based on the input prescription, the controller 60 outputs the type, dosage, quantity, etc. of drug A required for the patient.

[0070] The controller 60 displays removal instructions 12a for drug A on the display 12b at the storage station 10. The controller 60 displays prescription instructions 21a for drug A on the display 21b at the inspection section 21 of the processing station 20. The controller 60 displays sorting instructions 22a for drug A on the display 22b at the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20. The controller 60 displays packing instructions 30a for drug A on the display 30b at the packing station 30.

[0071] The controller 60 controls the conveyor path 40. Specifically, the controller 60 controls the rotation of the pulley 42 on the conveyor path 40, thereby controlling the drive of the belt 41. In this way, the controller 60 can control the movement of the tray 50 on the conveyor path 40.

[0072] The controller 60 stores the position of the tray 50 (and the drug A placed on the tray 50) at each time, which is obtained by each reader 49 reading the code 53 attached to the tray 50.

[0073] (Evacuation area) 1, the conveyor path 40 is provided with a retraction section 46. The retraction section 46 is connected to the conveyor path 40 on the downstream side of the storage station 10 and on the upstream side of the processing station 20.

[0074] The retracting section 46 has a space that allows the retraction of at least one tray 50. In the retracting section 46, the other tray 50b is retracted so as not to interfere with the movement of one tray 50a moving on the conveyor transport path 40.

[0075] If one tray 50a and another tray 50b are present at the same location on the conveyor path 40, the one tray 50a and the other tray 50b will become congested on the conveyor path 40 and will be unable to move along the conveyor path 40. When the other tray 50b retreats to the retreat section 46, the one tray 50a will be able to move along the conveyor path 40.

[0076] By providing the retraction section 46 on the conveyor transport path 40, it is possible to prevent a plurality of trays 50 from jamming on the conveyor transport path 40.

[0077] Furthermore, by providing a retreat section 46 on the conveyor transport path 40, it is possible to synchronize the timing at which multiple trays 50 are gathered at the processing station 20 (inspection section 21, sorting section 22) and the packing station 30, which are located downstream of the retreat section 46.

[0078] For example, suppose three trays 50a for a first patient as one tray 50a and three trays 50b for a second patient as other trays 50b are flowing from the storage station 10 to the processing station 20. Unless all three trays 50a for the first patient are sent to the processing station 20 and aligned, the trays 50a for the first patient cannot be sent to the packing station 30. Alternatively, unless all three trays 50a for the first patient are sent to the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20 and aligned, the trays 50a for the first patient cannot be sent to the inspection section 21 of the processing station 20.

[0079] Therefore, when the trays 50a for the first patient and the trays 50b for the second patient flow alternately on the conveyor transport path 40, the tray 50b for the second patient is temporarily evacuated to the evacuation section 46. Then, after all three trays 50a for the first patient are first sent to the processing station 20 and aligned, the tray 50b for the second patient can be sent from the evacuation section 46 to the processing station 20.

[0080] Alternatively, when trays 50a for a first patient and trays 50b for a second patient flow alternately on the conveyor transport path 40, both the trays 50a for the first patient and the trays 50b for the second patient may be temporarily evacuated to the evacuation section 46. Then, the trays 50a for the first patient or the trays 50b for the second patient that have all three of them in the evacuation section 46 may be sent from the evacuation section 46 to the processing station 20.

[0081] By quickly arranging all three trays 50a for the first patient at the processing station 20, the trays 50a for the first patient can be quickly sent to the packaging station 30, thereby preventing the trays 50a for the first patient from being left behind.

[0082] In this way, the retraction section 46 is structured to be able to buffer one or both of the tray 50a for the first patient and the tray 50b for the second patient.

[0083] (Aisles for full trays and aisles for empty trays) 1 and 6, the conveyor transport path 40 includes a full tray path 47 and an empty tray path 48. The full tray path 47 and the empty tray path 48 are different from each other. The full tray path 47 and the empty tray path 48 are arranged, for example, in two rows, one above the other.

[0084] Actual trays 50c carrying medicine A move in the actual tray passage 47. Empty trays 50d carrying no medicine A move in the empty tray passage 48. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 6, a first tray 51 carrying medicine A moves in the actual tray passage 47, and a second tray 52 carrying no medicine A moves in the empty tray passage 48.

[0085] (Medicine flow) The flow of drug A will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, drug A is removed from warehouse 11 at storage station 10, placed on tray 50, and transported to processing station 20 by conveyor transport path 40. Drug A placed on tray 50 undergoes a predetermined process at processing station 20 and is transported to packing station 30 by conveyor transport path 40. Drug A placed on tray 50 is removed from tray 50 and packaged at packing station 30. Tray 50 from which drug A has been removed is transported (returned) to storage station 10 by conveyor transport path 40.

[0086] In detail, the drug A is removed from the warehouse 11 at the storage station 10, placed on a first tray 51, and transported to the processing station 20 by the conveyor transport path 40. The drug A placed on the first tray 51 undergoes a predetermined process at the processing station 20, and is then removed from the first tray 51 and transferred to a second tray 52. ​​The drug A placed on the second tray 52 is transported by the conveyor transport path 40 to the packing station 30, where it is removed from the second tray 52 and packaged. The first tray 51 and second tray 52 from which the drug A has been removed are transported to the storage station 10 by the conveyor transport path 40.

[0087] As described above, as shown in FIG. 3, in the storage station 10, a medicine box B containing small medicines A is taken out from the warehouse 11. In the storage station 10, the medicines A are taken out of the medicine box B by the first user U1 and placed on the first tray 51. Specifically, in the storage station 10, the medicines A are taken out of the medicine box B and placed in each compartment 51a of the first tray 51 according to the type, usage, and quantity of the medicines A.

[0088] As described above, as shown in Fig. 4, in the inspection unit 21 of the processing station 20, the second user U2 inspects whether the medicine A is as prescribed as a predetermined process for the medicine A. In the sorting unit 22 of the processing station 20, before the inspection unit 21 inspects whether the medicine A is as prescribed as a predetermined process for the medicine A, the third user U3 sorts the medicine A and places it in a medicine bag C.

[0089] The first tray 51 carrying small medicines A placed in each compartment 51a travels from the storage station 10 through the main passage 44 of the conveyor transport path 40, and then passes through the sorting section 22 in the processing station 20 to reach the inspection section 21. In the processing station 20, the medicines A placed on the first tray 51 are first sorted by the sorting section 22 and placed into medicine bags C.

[0090] The medicine A placed on the first tray 51 is removed from the first tray 51 and transferred to the second tray 52 in the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20. In the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20, the first tray 51 is in a state where no medicine A is placed thereon, i.e., is empty.

[0091] The first tray 51 emptied in the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20 is transported back to the storage station 10 via the conveyor transport path 40.

[0092] The medicine A placed on the second tray 52 is inspected by the inspection unit 21 of the processing station 20 to determine whether it is as prescribed.

[0093] 5, at the packing station 30, the drug A placed on the second tray 52 is removed from the second tray 52 and packed by the fourth user U4. At the packing station 30, the second tray 52 is empty, i.e., no drug A is placed on it.

[0094] The second tray 52 emptied at the packing station 30 is transported back to the storage station 10 via the conveyor path 40 .

[0095] If the drug A is large (if the drug A is contained in a medicine bottle or the like), the drug A may be stored as is in the warehouse 11 in the storage station 10. In this case, the drug A taken out from the warehouse 11 may be placed on the second tray 52 in the storage station 10.

[0096] In this case, the second tray 52 carrying the drug A may travel from the storage station 10 through the bypass passage 45 of the conveyor transport path 40, bypassing the sorting section 22 in the processing station 20 and reaching the inspection section 21.

[0097] (Action and effect) In this embodiment, the storage station 10 for retrieving drug A from the warehouse 11, the processing station 20 for performing predetermined processing such as sorting and inspection on drug A, and the packing station 30 for packing drug A are located in different locations.

[0098] A conveyor path 40 circulates between the storage station 10, the processing station 20 and the packaging station 30, and trays 50 move along the conveyor path 40.

[0099] Trays 50 carrying drug A and trays 50 not carrying drug A are moved between the storage station 10, the processing station 20 and the packaging station 30 by a conveyor transport path 40.

[0100] Therefore, the user himself / herself does not need to move between the storage station 10, the processing station 20 and the packing station 30 in order to transport the drug A between the storage station 10, the processing station 20 and the packing station 30.

[0101] In the pharmacy, the work of taking out the drug A from the warehouse 11, performing a predetermined process on the drug A, and packaging the drug A can be made more efficient.

[0102] Since at least two trays 50 (first tray 51 and second tray 52) move on the conveyor transport path 40, this is advantageous in terms of improving the efficiency of the work of taking out drug A from the warehouse 11, performing the specified processing on drug A, and packaging drug A, compared to when there is only one tray 50.

[0103] Since the first tray 51 is divided into a plurality of compartments 51a, the medicines A can be divided into the compartments 51a of the first tray 51 to correspond to the types, uses and quantities of the medicines A, and a plurality of medicines A can be transported at one time.

[0104] In the inspection unit 21 of the processing station 20, as a predetermined process for the drug A, it is inspected whether the drug A is as prescribed. This makes it possible to prevent the drug A from being mixed up.

[0105] In the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20, the drugs A are sorted and placed in the drug bag C as a predetermined process for the drugs A before the drugs A are inspected in the inspection section 21. This makes it possible to improve the efficiency of the series of predetermined processes for the drugs A in the processing station 20.

[0106] The conveyor transport path 40 includes a main path 44 and a bypass path 45. As a result, when sorting work of the drugs A in the sorting unit 22 is required, the drugs A can be made to pass through the sorting unit 22 via the main path 44 before reaching the inspection unit 21. On the other hand, when sorting work of the drugs A in the sorting unit 22 is not required, the drugs A can be made to bypass the sorting unit 22 via the bypass path 45 before reaching the inspection unit 21.

[0107] The conveyor path 40 is provided with a retraction section 46. When the other tray 50b retracts into the retraction section 46, the one tray 50a can move along the conveyor path 40. This prevents the one tray 50a and the other tray 50b from jamming on the conveyor path 40.

[0108] The conveyor transport path 40 includes a full tray path 47 and an empty tray path 48. This makes it possible to prevent full trays 50c carrying medicine A and empty trays 50d not carrying medicine A from mixing on the conveyor transport path 40.

[0109] At the storage station 10, the medicine box B containing the medicine A is taken out from the warehouse 11, some of the medicine Ap is taken out from the medicine box B and placed on the tray 50, and the medicine box B containing the remaining medicine Aq is returned to the warehouse 11. This makes it possible to efficiently perform the work of taking the medicine A out of the medicine box B and placing it on the tray 50 at the storage station 10.

[0110] Since the periphery of the conveyor transport path 40 is covered with the cover 43, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the tray 50 moving on the conveyor transport path 40 and to prevent the medicine A placed on the tray 50 from falling off the conveyor transport path 40.

[0111] Since a code 53 is attached to the tray 50 and readers 49 are arranged at multiple locations on the conveyor transport path 40, the position of the tray 50 at each time can be ascertained by each reader 49 reading the code 53 attached to the tray 50. In addition, the type, usage, and quantity of drug A placed on the tray 50 can also be ascertained. This makes it easy to determine when and where the mix-up occurred in the event of a mix-up of drug A, ensuring traceability.

[0112] Second Embodiment A medicine delivery system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same components as those in the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof may be omitted.

[0113] FIG. 7 shows the removal of a drug A from the warehouse 11 in the storage station 10 according to the second embodiment.

[0114] The warehouse 11 stores room temperature medicines Ar and refrigerated medicines As as medicines A. More specifically, the warehouse 11 includes a room temperature medicine warehouse 11a and a refrigerated medicine warehouse 11b. The room temperature medicine warehouse 11a stores room temperature medicines Ar. The refrigerated medicine warehouse 11b stores refrigerated medicines As. The room temperature medicines Ar can be stored at room temperature (e.g., room temperature). The refrigerated medicines As cannot be stored at room temperature and must be refrigerated. The refrigerated medicine warehouse 11b is equipped with a refrigeration function.

[0115] The trays 50 include a tray 54 for room temperature medicines and a tray 55 for medicines that need to be refrigerated. The tray 54 for room temperature medicines and the tray 55 for medicines that need to be refrigerated move along the conveyor transport path 40. The tray 54 for room temperature medicines and the tray 55 for medicines that need to be refrigerated may have different structures or the same structure.

[0116] In the storage station 10, room temperature drugs Ar are taken out from the room temperature drug warehouse 11a as the warehouse 11 and placed on a room temperature drug tray 54, and then refrigerated drugs As are taken out from the refrigerated drug warehouse 11b as the warehouse 11 and placed on a refrigerated drug tray 55.

[0117] In the storage station 10, a take-out instruction 12a is displayed on the display 12b. The take-out instruction 12a includes information such as which of the room-temperature drugs Ar and the refrigerated drugs As should be taken out from the warehouse 11 (room-temperature drug warehouse 11a, refrigerated drug warehouse 11b), which of the room-temperature drugs Ar and the refrigerated drugs As should be placed on the tray 50, and which of the room-temperature drug trays 54 and the refrigerated drug trays 55 should be used.

[0118] The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0119] According to this embodiment, the refrigerated medicine As can be stored in the refrigerated medicine warehouse 11b for as long as possible by preventing the refrigerated medicine As from being taken out of the warehouse 11 before the room temperature medicine Ar. This prevents the refrigerated medicine As from being heated.

[0120] The room temperature medicine warehouse 11a (without refrigeration function) in which room temperature medicine Ar is stored and the refrigerated medicine warehouse 11b (with refrigeration function) in which refrigerated medicine As is stored may be integrated into one warehouse 11.

[0121] <Other embodiments> Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, such description is not limiting, and it goes without saying that various modifications, substitutions, or combinations are possible.

[0122] Only one tray 50 may move along the conveyor path 40 .

[0123] The retracting section 46 is not limited to the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1. The retracting section 46 may be provided midway (at a straight section, a corner, etc.) on the conveyor transport path 40. The tray 50 may be retracted not only horizontally but also vertically relative to the retracting section 46.

[0124] The description of the evacuation section 46 in the first embodiment is valid even if the tray for the first patient (one tray) 50a and the tray for the second patient (another tray) 50b are interchanged. Also, the number of trays 50a, 50b for each patient does not have to be three. The number of trays 50a, 50b for each patient may differ from each other. A new tray for a third patient may be added.

[0125] In the above embodiment, the evacuation section 46 is connected to the conveyor transport path 40 downstream of the storage station 10 and upstream of the processing station 20, but this is not limited to this. The evacuation section 46 may be connected, for example, downstream of the processing station 20 and upstream of the packing station 30, or downstream of the sorting section 22 and upstream of the inspection section 21. The evacuation section 46 may be omitted.

[0126] The full tray paths 47 and empty tray paths 48 in the conveyor transport path 40 are not limited to being arranged in two rows, one above the other, but may also be arranged in two rows side by side. The conveyor transport path 40 may be configured in a single row, without being divided into the full tray paths 47 and the empty tray paths 48. In this case, the types and states (empty or full) of the trays 50 may be managed by the controller 60 to transport them together, and the trays may be branched off downstream as appropriate.

[0127] The second tray 52 carrying the drug A may travel from the storage station 10 through the main passage 44 of the conveyor transport path 40, via the sorting section 22 in the processing station 20, and then to the inspection section 21.

[0128] In the above embodiment, the removal instructions 12a at the storage station 10, the prescription instructions 21a at the inspection section 21 of the processing station 20, the sorting instructions 22a at the sorting section 22 of the processing station 20, and the packing instructions 30a at the packing station 30 are displayed on the displays 12b, 21b, 22b, and 30b, but this is not limited to this, and the form of such instructions may be other forms, such as a lamp, a buzzer, a sound, or a vibration.

[0129] In the above embodiment, four users, the first user U1, the second user U2, the third user U3, and the fourth user U4, are involved in the task of retrieving the drug A from the warehouse 11, performing a predetermined process on the drug A, and packaging the drug A. However, this is not limited to this. The number of users involved may be reduced by automating all or part of the task.

[0130] The item transport system 1 of the present disclosure comprises a storage station 10 including a warehouse 11 where item A is stored, a processing station 20 where predetermined processing is performed on item A, a packing station 30 where item A is packed, a conveyor path 40 that circulates between the storage station 10, the processing station 20, and the packing station 30, and a tray 50 that moves on the conveyor path 40.

[0131] Item A is removed from warehouse 11 at storage station 10, placed on tray 50, and transported to processing station 20 by conveyor transport path 40. Item A placed on tray 50 undergoes a predetermined process at processing station 20 and is transported to packing station 30 by conveyor transport path 40. Item A placed on tray 50 is removed from tray 50 and packed at packing station 30. Tray 50 from which item A has been removed is transported to storage station 10 by conveyor transport path 40.

[0132] Item A is not limited to medicine, and may be any item that can be placed on the tray 50. [Industrial Applicability]

[0133] The present disclosure is applicable to drug delivery systems and article delivery systems, and is therefore extremely useful and has high industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0134] A. Drugs (items) Ap Some drugs Aq Remaining drug Ar room temperature agent As refrigerated medicines B Medicine Box C. Medicine bag D Packaging container R region U1 First User U2 Second user U3 Third user U4 4th user 1. Drug delivery system (goods delivery system) 10 Storage Station 11 Warehouse 11a Room temperature drug storage 11b Refrigerated medicine storage 12a Removal instruction 12b Display 20 Processing Stations 21 Inspection Department 21a Prescription Instructions 21b Display 22 Sorting Department 22a Sorting instructions 22b Display 30 Packaging Station 30a Packing Instructions 30b Display 40 Conveyor transport path 41 Belt 42 Pulley 43 Cover 44 Main Passage 45 Bypass Passage 46 Evacuation area 47 Passage for actual trays 48 Empty tray aisle 49 Leader 50 trays 50a First Tray (Tray for the First Patient) 50b Other tray (tray for second patient) 50c real tray 50d empty tray 51 First Tray Section 51a 52 Second Tray Section 52a 53 Code 54 Room temperature medicine tray 55 Refrigerated medication tray 60 Controller

Claims

1. a storage station including a warehouse where the medication is stored; a processing station in which a predetermined process is performed on the drug; a packaging station in which the medication is packaged; a conveyor path circulating between the storage station, the processing station, and the packaging station; a tray that moves along the conveyor transport path, The medicines are taken out from the warehouse at the storage station, placed on the trays, and transported to the processing station by the conveyor transport path; The medicines placed on the tray are subjected to the predetermined processing in the processing station and are transported to the packing station by the conveyor transport path, The medicines placed on the trays are removed from the trays and packaged at the packaging station; The tray from which the medicines have been removed is transported to the storage station by the conveyor transport path; The warehouse stores room-temperature medicines and medicines that require refrigeration as the medicines, The trays include trays for room temperature medicines and trays for refrigerated medicines that move along the conveyor transport path, In the storage station, the room temperature medicines are taken out from the warehouse and placed on the tray for room temperature medicines, and then the medicines that need to be refrigerated are taken out from the warehouse and placed on the tray for medicines that need to be refrigerated.

2. The trays include a first tray and a second tray that move along the conveyor transport path, the medicine is taken out from the warehouse at the storage station, placed on the first tray, and transported to the processing station by the conveyor transport path; The medicines placed on the first tray are subjected to the predetermined processing in the processing station, and then are removed from the first tray and transferred to the second tray; The medicines placed on the second tray are transported to the packing station by the conveyor transport path, and are removed from the second tray and packed at the packing station; The drug delivery system according to claim 1 , wherein the first tray and the second tray from which the drugs have been removed are transported to the storage station by the conveyor transport path.

3. The drug delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the first tray is partitioned into a plurality of compartments.

4. 3. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the processing station includes an inspection section for inspecting whether the drug is as prescribed.

5. The medicine delivery system according to claim 4 , wherein the processing station includes a sorting section in which the medicines are sorted and placed into medicine bags before being inspected by the inspection section.

6. 6. The drug delivery system of claim 5, wherein the conveyor transport path includes a main passageway extending from the storage station to the inspection section via the sorting section, and a bypass passageway extending from the storage station to the inspection section, bypassing the sorting section.

7. 3. The medicine delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor transport path is provided with a retraction section for retracting one of the trays so as not to interfere with the movement of the other trays along the conveyor transport path.

8. 3. The medicine delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor transport path includes a full tray path along which the trays carrying the medicines move, and an empty tray path along which the trays not carrying the medicines move.

9. At the storage station: A medicine box containing the medicine is taken out from the warehouse; A portion of the medication is removed from the medicine box and placed on the tray; 3. The drug delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the medicine box containing the remaining medicines is returned to the warehouse.

10. 3. The drug delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor transport path is surrounded by a cover in an area different from the storage station, the processing station, and the packaging station.

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