Medicine dispensing device

Abstract

To put out prescription medicine efficiently.SOLUTION: Upon receipt of stop notification for stopping put-out from a drug station, a put-out control device (800) transmits put-out instructions for prescription medicine whose put-out has been stopped to a tablet packaging machine (300) or a put-out auxiliary device (600). Upon receipt of stop notification for stopping put-out from the tablet packaging machine or the put-out auxiliary device, the put-out control device transmits put-out instructions for the prescription medicine whose put-out has been stopped to the drug station.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medicine dispensing system and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Medicine dispensing devices for dispensing medicines have been developed, examples of which are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a medicine dispensing device that removes medicine sheets from medicine-containing cassettes transported from a cassette shelf to a delivery section and moves a medicine tray so that the medicine tray can receive the medicine sheets. This medicine dispensing device can reduce the total time required to dispense medicine sheets.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses an automatic medicine supply device equipped with a medicine picking unit having multiple supply units to which medicine-containing cassettes transported from a cassette shelf are delivered. Each of the multiple supply units has a medicine outlet for inserting and removing medicines and an opening / closing cover that can open and close the medicine outlet. In this automatic medicine supply device, only the opening / closing cover of the supply unit to which the medicine-containing cassette is delivered is controlled to be open, so that even if multiple medicine-containing cassettes are delivered to the medicine picking unit, the desired medicine can be taken out without error.

[0005] The method of Patent Document 3 also transports medical supply packs from a first receiving location within the access area of ​​the operator unit to a discharge location within the access area of ​​the operator, and from a refill location within the access area of ​​the operator to a second receiving location within the access area of ​​the operator unit.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Documents 4 and 5 disclose dispensing inspection devices that inspect the appropriateness of dispensing. The dispensing inspection device of Patent Document 4 detects the number of drugs by capturing images of the drugs to be inspected placed on a mounting table from three or more predetermined points in the rotational direction of the mounting table. The dispensing inspection device of Patent Document 5 detects the number of drug sheets from an image of the drug sheets placed on a mounting table captured by an imaging device, and detects the number of drugs contained in the remaining sheets from an image of the remaining sheets placed on another mounting table captured by another imaging device. This detects the total number of drugs placed on the two mounting tables. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 047487 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-79642 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6424217 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-220911 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-127407 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Furthermore, Patent Documents 1 to 5 do not disclose a configuration that can detect that the position of a medicine-containing cassette stored on a cassette shelf may have been changed when the power of the medicine dispensing device is off. One aspect of the present invention aims to realize a medicine dispensing device that can dispense medicines while taking safety into consideration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A drug dispensing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a drug dispensing device equipped with a cassette shelf capable of storing a plurality of cassettes containing drugs, and is equipped with an opening / closing door installed on the cassette shelf, and a detection unit that detects when the opening / closing door is in an open state when the power of the drug dispensing device is turned off. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the medicine dispensing device according to one aspect of the present invention, medicines can be dispensed with safety in mind. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a medicine dispensing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a drug station. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a drug station. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the main configuration of a drug station. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the structure of a cassette that can be stored on a cassette shelf. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are perspective views showing an example of a main unit and a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a main unit cassette transfer section; [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of cassette storage. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a cassette gripping portion. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the operation of a cassette gripping unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a main unit and a picking unit. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a picking unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a picking cassette transport unit. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a cassette gripping operation by a first picking cassette transporting unit. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the operation of a first picking cassette transport unit and a second picking cassette transport unit. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the first shutter. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a dispensing control device. [Figure 17] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing of the dispensing control device. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a control device. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the processing example shown in FIG. 18. [Figure 20] 4 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the arrangement of a first detection unit and a second detection unit. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a second detection unit. [Figure 22] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of the operation of a second detection unit. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the second touch panel. [Figure 24] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining number reference data. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine list image. [Figure 27] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the first touch panel. [Figure 28] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the first touch panel. [Figure 29] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of a payout image, a deletion confirmation image, and a reservation confirmation image displayed on the second touch panel. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a pending details list image displayed on the first touch panel. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation image displayed on the first touch panel. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a guide image displayed on a second touch panel. [Figure 33]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a filling image displayed on the first touch panel. [Figure 34] FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of a filled medicine list included in the filled image of FIG. 33. [Figure 35] 10 is a table for explaining whether a cassette can be filled and how to manage lot number information and expiration date information. [Figure 36] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a drug station. [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a payout selection image displayed on the first touch panel. [Figure 38] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a filling image displayed on the first touch panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] [Basic configuration] <Medicine dispensing system> A medicine dispensing system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the medicine dispensing system 100 according to this embodiment.

[0013] The medicine dispensing system 100 is a system that dispenses medicines based on prescription data. The medicine dispensing system 100 includes devices used for dispensing medicines based on prescription data, such as a drug station 1, a prescription input device 200, a tablet packaging machine 300, a powder medicine packaging machine 400, a PTP dispensing device 500, a dispensing assist device 600, and a dispensing control device 800. The medicine dispensing system 100 also includes a medicine shelf 700. In the following description, the tablet packaging machine 300, the powder medicine packaging machine 400, the PTP dispensing device 500, and the dispensing assist device 600 may be referred to as various devices. The drug station 1, the various devices, and the medicine shelf 700 are installed in, for example, a hospital or a pharmacy.

[0014] The prescription input device 200 is a device that accepts input of information about drugs prescribed to a patient by a doctor (e.g., the type of drug (e.g., drug name, drug identification information), dosage (number of drugs), and administration method). The prescription input device 200 transmits information about the prescribed drugs to the dispensing control device 800 as prescription data. The prescription input device 200 may also issue a prescription on which information about the prescribed drugs is printed. The prescription may be issued by the dispensing control device 800, which will be described later. The prescription input device 200 and the dispensing control device 800 may also issue dispensing instructions corresponding to the drug station 1 and each of the above-mentioned devices, instead of a prescription. The dispensing instructions are printed with information contained in the dispensing data, which will be described later and which is created by the dispensing control device 800.

[0015] The prescription data may include information about drugs prescribed to each of a plurality of patients, and in this case, the information may be collected for each of a plurality of patients. The prescription input device 200 may also divide the information about the prescribed drugs into predetermined prescription periods (e.g., one day) and generate prescription data for each predetermined prescription period.

[0016] The dispensing control device 800 controls the dispensing of drugs in the drug dispensing system 100. For example, the dispensing control device 800 determines which of the drug station 1 and the various devices described above will be used to dispense the drugs indicated in the prescription data received from the prescription input device 200. The drugs indicated in the prescription data are drugs prescribed to the patient and may also be referred to as prescribed drugs. The dispensing control device 800 includes a control unit 801 and a memory unit 802.

[0017] The control unit 801 controls all the units included in the dispensing control device 800. The control unit 801 includes a determination unit 811 and a transmission / reception unit 812. The determination unit 811 determines which device will be used to dispense the drugs indicated in the prescription data. The transmission / reception unit 812 receives prescription data from the prescription input device 200, or notifications from the drug station 1 or various devices. Based on the result determined by the determination unit 811, the transmission / reception unit 812 transmits dispensing data including information about the drugs to be dispensed (information indicating the type of drug, etc.) to the drug station 1 or various devices. The dispensing data can also be considered prescription data transmitted to the drug station 1 or various devices.

[0018] The memory unit 802 stores, for example, various programs used by the control unit 801 and a drug database (drug master) that manages information about multiple types of drugs stored in the drug station 1. The information about the drugs includes, for example, the type of drug (e.g., drug name, drug identification information), expiration date, and lot number. The memory unit 802 also stores, for example, a drug database that manages information about multiple types of drugs stored in the tablet packaging machine 300, and a drug database that manages information about multiple types of drugs stored in the powder medicine packaging machine 400. The drug station 1, the tablet packaging machine 300, and the powder medicine packaging machine 400 also store their own drug databases.

[0019] The dispensing control device 800 updates the drug database stored in the memory unit 802 when updating the drug database stored in the memory unit of drug station 1. Specifically, when there is a change in the type of drugs stored in drug station 1, the dispensing control device 800 receives information indicating the change from drug station 1. Based on this information, the dispensing control device 800 updates the drug database of drug station 1 stored in memory unit 802. The dispensing control device 800 may update the drug database stored in memory unit 802 when drug station 1 is started up. Similarly, the dispensing control device 800 updates the drug database of tablet packing machine 300 or the drug database of powder packing machine 400 for tablet packing machine 300 and powder packing machine 400.

[0020] The drug station 1 is a device (first drug dispensing device, drug dispensing device) that dispenses drugs stored in the drug station 1. The specific configuration of the drug station 1 will be described later.

[0021] The tablet packaging machine 300, the powder medicine packaging machine 400, and the PTP dispensing device 500 are examples of second medicine dispensing devices (pharmacy equipment) that dispense medicines. The tablet packaging machine 300 is a device that dispenses medicines indicated in the dispensing data from the dispensing control device 800, i.e., tablets stored in the tablet packaging machine 300. The powder medicine packaging machine 400 is a device that dispenses medicines indicated in the dispensing data from the dispensing control device 800, i.e., powder medicines (powdered medicines) stored in the powder medicine packaging machine 400. The PTP dispensing device 500 is a device that dispenses PTP (Press Through Package) sheets (medicine sheets) containing the medicines indicated in the dispensing data from the dispensing control device 800, i.e., the medicines stored in the PTP dispensing device 500.

[0022] The dispensing assistance device 600 is a device that assists in dispensing medicines from a medicine shelf 700 that stores medicines. The dispensing assistance device 600 presents information such as the type of medicine indicated in the dispensing data from the dispensing control device 800. This allows medical professionals such as pharmacists, nurses, or doctors, and workers at the drug station 1, to retrieve medicines from the medicine shelf 700. The workers at the drug station 1 retrieve medicines from the drug station 1 and are unqualified individuals who do not hold qualifications such as pharmacists, nurses, or doctors. However, the workers may also be qualified individuals who hold the relevant qualifications. In the following description, qualified medical professionals such as pharmacists, nurses, or doctors may be simply referred to as users.

[0023] <Drug Station> 2 and 3 are perspective views showing an example of the configuration of the drug station 1. Fig. 2 is a view of the main unit 2 as seen from the front side, and Fig. 3 is a view of the main unit 2 as seen from the rear side. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the main configuration of the drug station 1.

[0024] The drug station 1 is a device for storing, filling, and dispensing drugs. As shown in FIGS.

[0025] (Main unit) The main unit 2 is a unit for storing medicines. Specifically, the main unit 2 functions as a medicine storage shelf capable of storing a plurality of cassettes Ca containing medicines. The main unit 2 is a device that transfers the stored cassettes Ca to the picking unit 3 by using the main cassette transfer section 22 (22a and 22b shown by reference numerals 6001 and 6002 in FIG. 6). The main unit 2 is also a device that transfers the cassettes Ca returned from the picking unit 3 to their original storage positions. In other words, the main unit 2 stores a plurality of cassettes Ca and functions as a cassette handling device that delivers and receives the cassettes Ca to and from the picking unit 3.

[0026] The main unit 2 can store a variety of medicines (e.g., approximately 1,500 to 2,000 types) expected for use in a single facility such as a hospital or pharmacy. In this embodiment, the main unit 2 stores, as medicines, for example, medicine sheets (e.g., PTP sheets), topical medicines such as ointments or eye drops, or powdered medicines. The main unit 2 may also store, for example, ampoules or vials containing medicines. In this specification, medicines that are not medicine sheets (medicines in a form other than medicine sheets) include topical medicines such as ointments or eye drops, and powdered medicines, as well as ampoules or vials containing medicines. The main unit 2 may store any medicine as long as it is a medicine that can be stored in the main unit 2.

[0027] The main unit 2 includes a cassette shelf 21, a main cassette transfer section 22, and a cassette holding section .

[0028] The cassette shelf 21 is a medicine storage shelf capable of storing a plurality of cassettes Ca. In this embodiment, the cassette shelf 21 is capable of storing cassettes Ca of different sizes (types). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a cassette Ca that can be stored on the cassette shelf 21, where reference numeral 5001 is a perspective view showing an example of a large cassette Ca1, reference numeral 5002 is a perspective view showing an example of a medium-sized cassette Ca2, and reference numeral 5003 is a perspective view showing an example of a small cassette Ca3. Reference numeral 5004 in FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a large cassette Ca1.

[0029] In the reference numeral 5001, a large cassette Ca1 is provided with dividers Ca11 that form multiple locations where medicines can be stored. This allows multiple types of medicine to be stored in one large cassette Ca1. In this embodiment, the large cassette Ca1 is provided with four dividers Ca11, forming five medicine storage areas (storage positions). The medium-sized cassette Ca2 is a cassette that is smaller in width (length in the short direction) than the large cassette Ca1 and larger in width than the small cassette Ca3. In addition, in the reference numeral 5002, a divider Ca21 is also provided in the medium-sized cassette Ca2 (two storage areas are formed in this embodiment).

[0030] The small cassette Ca3 may also be provided with a partition, forming multiple storage areas. The large cassette Ca1 and the medium cassette Ca2 may not be provided with a partition, and the large cassette Ca1 and the medium cassette Ca2 may function as cassettes capable of storing a single type of drug sheet. The partition Ca11 is removable from the cassette Ca. Therefore, the size and number of storage areas in the large cassette Ca1 can be set arbitrarily. The number of types of cassettes Ca is not limited to three; two or four or more types of cassettes with different widths may be prepared, or even just one type.

[0031] In this way, by providing partitions in each of the multiple types of cassettes Ca, multiple storage areas for storing medicines can be formed in the cassette Ca.

[0032] Furthermore, a claw receiving portion Ca12 is provided on a side wall (longitudinal end) extending in the short direction of the large cassette Ca1. The claw receiving portion Ca12 is adapted to hook onto a claw portion 2212 (see FIG. 8) of the main cassette transfer unit 22 and a protrusion 351a (see reference numeral 12002 in FIG. 12) of the picking cassette transfer unit 35. When the claw receiving portion Ca12 is hooked onto the claw portion 2212 or the protrusion 351a, the main cassette transfer unit 22 and the picking cassette transfer unit 35 can remove or place the cassette Ca from or on the cassette shelf 21 or the cassette holding unit 23.

[0033] The claw receiving portion Ca12 is also provided with a notch Ca13. The position of the notch Ca13 is detected by a position sensor 2214 (see FIG. 8), allowing the main body cassette transporter 22 to transport the cassette gripper 221 (see FIG. 8) directly in front of the large cassette Ca1 to be transported. This allows the large cassette Ca1 to be reliably removed.

[0034] Furthermore, two claw receiving portions Ca12 provided at both longitudinal ends of the large cassette Ca1 are each provided with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) ​​tag (not shown), and each RFID tag stores claw receiving portion identification information for identifying the corresponding claw receiving portion Ca12.

[0035] The orientation of the cassette Ca when placed in the medicine delivery / reception unit 32 differs depending on whether the cassette Ca is removed from one of the claw receiving portions Ca12 or the other claw receiving portion Ca12. When a single cassette Ca contains multiple types of medicines, such as a large cassette Ca1, the positional relationship of the medicines with respect to the medicine delivery / reception unit 32 changes depending on the orientation in which the cassette is placed. Therefore, if the control device 10 cannot recognize the orientation in which the cassette is placed, there is a possibility that the shutter 322 cannot be opened to match the storage position of the medicine to be taken out.

[0036] By recording the claw receiving part identification information as described above and providing an RFID reader (not shown) in main body cassette transport section 22 (e.g., cassette drawer 2211 (see FIG. 8)), control device 10 can determine the orientation of cassette Ca based on the claw receiving part identification information read from the RFID tag by the RFID reader when cassette Ca is removed from cassette shelf 21. Therefore, control device 10 can open shutter 322 in medicine delivery / reception section 32 to match the storage position of the medicine sheet to be removed.

[0037] The claw receiving portion Ca12, the notch Ca13, and the RFID tag are also provided on the medium-sized cassette Ca2 and the small-sized cassette Ca3. That is, they are provided on all the cassettes Ca stored on the cassette shelf 21.

[0038] The RFID reader may also be provided in the picking cassette transport unit 35 (e.g., protrusion 351a). In this case, when the cassette Ca is removed from the delivery cassette holding unit 231 (state of reference numeral 13003 in FIG. 13), the control device 10 can determine the orientation of the cassette Ca based on the claw receiving portion identification information read from the RFID tag by the RFID reader, as described above.

[0039] The cassette Ca is also provided with a barcode Ca14. The barcode Ca14 includes, for example, cassette identification information for identifying the cassette Ca and size information indicating the size (type) of the cassette Ca (information indicating whether the cassette is a large cassette Ca1, a medium cassette Ca2, or a small cassette Ca3). The barcode Ca14 is merely an example, and the information may be provided on each cassette Ca so that it can be read by a barcode reader (not shown) provided on the cassette gripper 221 or the like. By reading the information on the barcode Ca14, the control device 10 can compare the information with data (described later) stored in the memory device 15. Therefore, for example, the main cassette transport device 22 can reliably retrieve the cassette Ca containing the medicine to be dispensed or the medicine to be filled. Furthermore, for example, the control device 10 can open the shutter 322 when the comparison result shows that the information matches the data.

[0040] The main body cassette transfer unit 22 transfers the cassette Ca between the cassette shelf 21 and the cassette holding unit 23. When dispensing medicines, the main body cassette transfer unit 22, for example, removes the cassette Ca containing the medicines included in the dispensing data from the cassette shelf 21 and transfers it to the cassette holding unit 23. Then, the main body cassette transfer unit 22 transfers the cassette Ca placed on the cassette holding unit 23 (the cassette Ca from which the specified number of medicines has been removed by the picking unit 3 and returned from the picking unit 3) to the cassette shelf 21. When filling medicines, the main body cassette transfer unit 22 removes the cassette Ca containing the type of medicine indicated by the medicine identification information read by the barcode reader 34 from the cassette shelf 21 and transfers it to the cassette holding unit 23. Then, the main cassette transfer unit 22 transfers the cassette Ca placed on the cassette holding unit 23 (the cassette Ca filled with medicines in the picking unit 3 and returned from the picking unit 3) to the cassette shelf 21.

[0041] By providing the main cassette transport unit 22, the cassette Ca can be taken out from the cassette shelf 21 and transported to the picking unit 3, and the cassette Ca can be returned to the cassette shelf 21.

[0042] The cassette holding unit 23 is a buffer that temporarily holds the cassette Ca transferred from the cassette shelf 21 or the picking unit 3. The cassette holding unit 23 includes a delivery cassette holding unit 231 and a receiving cassette holding unit 232. The delivery cassette holding unit 231 temporarily holds the cassette Ca that is taken out from the cassette shelf 21 and delivered to the medicine delivery unit 32 of the picking unit 3. The receiving cassette holding unit 232 temporarily holds the cassette Ca that is returned from the medicine delivery unit 32 to the receiving cassette shelf 21. In other words, the delivery cassette holding unit 231 and the receiving cassette holding unit 232 each function as a platform on which the cassette Ca is temporarily placed.

[0043] The main unit 2 is also provided with a first touch panel 5. The first touch panel 5 is a display device that displays various information related to the drug station 1, and also functions as an input device that accepts input operations by the operator. However, the first touch panel 5 may function only as a display device.

[0044] The main unit 2 is also provided with a plurality of doors 25 (opening and closing doors) on both the front and rear surfaces. A user can directly access the cassette shelf 21 by opening the doors 25. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the door 25 provided on a part of the rear surface is open. The doors 25 may be transparent or semi-transparent so that the cassette shelf 21 can be seen from outside the main unit 2.

[0045] 2 and 3, one picking unit 3 is provided on the front side of the main unit 2, but this is not limiting and multiple picking units 3 may be provided. Although not shown, the present specification will be described assuming that two picking units 3 are provided.

[0046] (Picking unit) The picking unit 3 is a device that dispenses medicines stored in the main unit 2. To dispense the medicines, the picking unit 3 functions as a device that allows an operator to perform a picking operation to remove medicines. The picking unit 3 also functions as a device that allows an operator to perform a filling operation to fill the main unit 2 with medicines. In other words, the picking unit 3 functions as a device that allows an operator to remove medicines from a cassette Ca stored in the main unit 2 or to fill the cassette Ca with medicines (a medicine handling device that enables an operator to handle medicines).

[0047] The picking unit 3 includes a second touch panel 31, a medicine delivery section 32, a barcode reader 34, a picking cassette transport section 35, a printer 36, a medicine placement table 37, a tray placement table 38, and a tray close button 39. These components are provided on a workbench 40 where an operator handles medicines.

[0048] The picking unit 3 transfers the cassette Ca transferred from the main unit 2 to the medicine transfer section 32 using the picking cassette transfer section 35. While checking the display content on the second touch panel 31, the operator removes the medicines from the cassette Ca transferred to the medicine transfer section 32 and places them on the medicine placing table 37 or the transport tray Tr placed on the tray placing table 38. The medicines placed on the medicine placing table 37 are eventually placed on the transport tray Tr.

[0049] The user transports the transport tray Tr containing the medicines to the inspection unit. The inspection unit is a unit that allows the user to perform a final inspection of the medicines dispensed from the main unit 2. The drug station 1 may be equipped with an inspection unit in addition to the main unit 2 and the picking unit 3. The work of filling the medicines into the cassette Ca is performed by the user.

[0050] Like the first touch panel 5, the second touch panel 31 displays various information related to the drug station 1 and accepts input operations by the operator. When removing drugs from a cassette Ca (when dispensing drugs), the second touch panel 31 displays, for example, the type and quantity of drugs that the operator should remove from the drug transfer unit 32. When loading drugs into a cassette Ca, the second touch panel 31 also accepts input operations to specify, for example, the type of drugs to be loaded or the cassette Ca containing the drugs.

[0051] Medicine transfer section 32 allows an operator to take out medicines from cassette Ca or to put medicines into cassette Ca (allowing an operator to transfer medicines). When cassette Ca contains a medicine sheet containing multiple medicines, medicine transfer section 32 allows the operator to take out all or part of the medicine sheet from cassette Ca or to put all or part of the medicine sheet into cassette Ca.

[0052] In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the term "fractional sheet" refers to a medication sheet cut out from a full medication sheet containing a specified amount of medication. The term "medication sheet" refers to either the entire medication sheet or a collective term for the entire medication sheet or a portion thereof (fractional sheet).

[0053] In this embodiment, the medicine transfer section 32 includes an opening 321 and a shutter 322. The opening 321 is an opening that allows an operator to access (take out or fill (input) medicines) the cassette Ca that has been transferred to the medicine transfer section 32. The shutter 322 is provided at the opening 321 and controls the operator's access to the cassette Ca. The shutter 322 is an opening / closing section that opens and closes the opening 321. The shutter 322 is normally in a closed state and becomes in an open state when the cassette Ca has been transferred to the medicine transfer section 32. The opening width of the shutter 322 can be changed depending on the cassette Ca that is to be taken out or filled (input) with medicines.

[0054] The shutter 322 includes a first shutter 322a and a second shutter 322b. The first shutter 322a opens and closes in the Y-axis direction, and the second shutter 322b opens and closes in the direction (X-axis direction) substantially perpendicular to the first shutter 322a. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 15, the first shutter 322a is controlled to open and close in accordance with the size of the storage area of ​​the cassette Ca. This control of opening and closing allows the operator to access only the storage area containing the medicines to be dispensed. The second shutter 322b is also controlled to open and close in accordance with the sizes of cassettes Ca of various widths (e.g., large cassette Ca1, medium cassette Ca2, small cassette Ca3). This control of opening and closing reduces the possibility that medicines removed from the cassette Ca by the operator will fall through a gap formed between the cassette Ca and the first shutter 322a in the X-axis direction (the short side direction of the medicine delivery / reception unit 32). The first shutter 322a and the second shutter 322b may be opened and closed simultaneously, or one of them may be opened and closed first.

[0055] The barcode reader 34 is a device that reads barcodes attached to medicines when a filling operation is performed to fill the cassette Ca with the medicines. The barcode includes, for example, a GS1 code attached to the medicine sheet itself, a package in which multiple medicine sheets are packaged (pillow-packaged), a package in which multiple packaged powder medicines are pillow-packaged, or a box containing such packages. The barcode may also include, for example, a GS1 code attached to a box containing medicines other than medicine sheets (e.g., ointments, eye drops). The barcode may include medicine identification information for identifying the medicine, and the GS1 code is one example. In other words, the picking unit 3 may be provided with a reading device capable of reading medicine identification information. In this embodiment, the barcode reader 34 is attached to a corner of the workbench 40 so as not to interfere with the operator's work of removing or filling medicines at the workbench 40.

[0056] The picking cassette transport section 35 transports the cassette Ca between the main body unit 2 and the picking unit 3 (specifically, between the cassette holding section 23 and the medicine delivery section 32). This allows the cassette Ca to be removed from the main body unit 2 and transported to the medicine delivery section 32, and the cassette Ca to be returned to the main body unit 2.

[0057] For example, when dispensing medicines, the picking cassette transfer unit 35 transfers the cassette Ca (the cassette Ca placed on the delivery cassette holding unit 231) from which medicines are to be removed or filled in the medicine delivery and receiving unit 32 to the medicine delivery and receiving position P1 (see FIG. 13) of the medicine delivery and receiving unit 32. When a cassette Ca is located at the medicine delivery and receiving position P1, the picking cassette transfer unit 35 transfers the cassette Ca from which medicines are to be removed or filled next to the cassette Ca to a waiting position P2 (see FIG. 13) provided near the medicine delivery and receiving unit 32, where the cassette Ca waits. The picking cassette transfer unit 35 transfers the cassette Ca from which medicines have been removed in the medicine delivery and receiving unit 32 to the receiving cassette holding unit 232.

[0058] The printer 36 outputs printed matter such as a journal on which information about the medicines taken out from the cassette Ca (for example, the type of medicine, the number of medicines taken out) is printed.

[0059] Medicine placing table 37 is a placing section on which medicines are placed in order to count the number of medicines. Medicine placing table 37 may function as a fractional sheet placing section on which fractional sheets are placed in order to count the number of medicines contained in the fractional sheets. The fractional sheets may be cut out from a medicine sheet removed from cassette Ca in medicine transfer section 32, or may be removed from cassette Ca. A medicine sheet (full sheet) may be placed on medicine placing table 37. In this case, medicine placing table 37 functions as a fractional sheet placing section on which medicine sheets are placed in order to count the number of medicines contained in the medicine sheet. One or multiple fractional sheets may be placed on medicine placing table 37. Similarly, one or multiple medicine sheets may be placed on medicine placing table 37.

[0060] In this embodiment, an imaging unit 371 is provided above the medicine placing table 37 to capture an image of a fractional sheet, a medicine sheet, or a combination of a fractional sheet and a medicine sheet placed on the medicine placing table 37. In addition, a backlight 372 (illumination unit) that illuminates the medicine placing table 37 is provided below the medicine placing table 37. When the imaging unit 371 captures an image of the medicine sheet or fractional sheet placed on the medicine placing table 37, the backlight 372 is turned on and illuminates the medicine sheet or fractional sheet from the opposite direction to the image capturing direction of the medicine by the imaging unit 371.

[0061] It is also possible to provide an imaging unit 371 below the medicine placing table 37 and an illumination unit above the medicine placing table 37. In this case, the area of ​​the medicine placing table 37 where the medicine is placed may be transparent or semi-transparent so that the imaging unit 371 can acquire the shape of the medicine.

[0062] For example, when the drug station 1 is started up, the control device 10 turns on the backlight 372 and sets the imaging unit 371 to an imaging state. That is, in this case, while the drug station 1 is running, the imaging unit 371 continues to image the medicine placing table 37 regardless of whether a fractional sheet (or a medicine sheet (full sheet)) is placed on the medicine placing table 37. If a fractional sheet is not placed on the medicine placing table 37, the imaging unit 371 does not capture an image of the medicine, and the control device 10 does not perform a medicine counting process based on the captured image. That is, the control device 10 performs a medicine counting process based on the captured image only when a fractional sheet is placed on the medicine placing table 37 and the imaging unit 371 captures an image of the fractional sheet.

[0063] However, the control device 10 may turn on the backlight 372 and capture an image of at least the remaining sheets with the imaging unit 371, for example, when it receives an input operation indicating that the specified number of sheets has been removed (e.g., when it detects that the tray close button 39 has been pressed). That is, in this case, the control device 10 turns on the backlight 372 and sets the imaging unit 371 to an imaging state only when it receives the input operation. The specified number is the number specified as the quantity of medicines to be removed from the cassette Ca transferred from the main unit 2 to the medicine delivery / reception unit 32. The specified number of each medicine is specified, for example, in the dispensing data received from the dispensing control device 800. Alternatively, the specified number of medicines to be removed may be specified by an input operation by the operator.

[0064] Tray placing table 38 is a table for placing transport tray Tr onto which medicines taken out from medicine giving and receiving unit 32 are put. Tray placing table 38 also functions as a medicine placing unit for placing medicines in order to count the number of medicines taken out from medicine giving and receiving unit 32. When a medicine sheet is taken out from medicine giving and receiving unit 32, tray placing table 38 functions as a sheet placing unit for placing the medicine sheet in order to count the number of medicines contained in the medicine sheet. Tray placing table 38 includes sensor 381 and weighing unit 382.

[0065] The sensor 381 detects a transport tray Tr placed on the tray placement table 38. In this embodiment, the sensor 381 is a transmission type sensor having a light source on one side and a light detection unit on the other side that detects light emitted from the light source. When a transmission type sensor is used, the presence or absence of a transport tray Tr can be recognized with high accuracy. However, a reflective type sensor that detects light emitted from the light source and reflected by the placed transport tray Tr may also be used. In this embodiment, the sensor 381 is provided on both side walls of the tray placement table 38.

[0066] The weighing unit 382 weighs the medicines placed in the transport tray Tr placed on the tray mounting base 38. The weighing unit 382 may, for example, weigh a medicine sheet or a combination of a medicine sheet and a remainder sheet. The weighing unit 382 is provided below the bottom of the tray mounting base 38. For example, a load cell is used as the weighing unit 382.

[0067] It is also possible that the weight of each transport tray Tr is not stored in the memory unit 15, and the weighing unit 382 calculates the weight of the medicines placed on the tray placing table 38 by subtracting the tare weight. Specifically, after the transport tray Tr is placed on the tray placing table 38, the weighing unit 382 subtracts the tare weight. Thereafter, the operator places medicines on the transport tray Tr, and the weighing unit 382 can measure only the weight of the medicines.

[0068] The tray close button 39 is a mechanical operation button that switches the first shutter 322a and the second shutter 322b from an open state to a closed state when pressed by an operator. The tray close button 39 has a lighting function and may light up when the button is switched from the open state to the closed state.

[0069] The upper surface of the workbench 40 is inclined relative to the horizontal plane. To make it easier for an operator to take out or fill medicines into the cassette Ca, the upper surface is inclined so as to become lower from the main unit 2 side toward the standing position of the operator (toward the -Y axis direction).

[0070] In the drug station 1 of this embodiment, the user transports the transport tray Tr containing the medicine to the inspection unit, but this is not limited to this. A tray transport unit may be provided in the drug station 1, and the transport tray Tr may be automatically transported from the picking unit 3.

[0071] (Control device) The control device 10 controls all the units of the drug station 1. The control device 10 includes a main unit control unit 11, a picking unit control unit 12, a touch panel control unit 14, and a storage unit 15.

[0072] The main unit control unit 11 controls all the components of the main unit 2. The main unit control unit 11 includes, for example, a cassette identification unit 111, a main unit cassette transfer control unit 112 (transfer control unit), a position identification unit 113, a cassette management unit 114, and a medicine management unit 115. The position identification unit 113, the cassette management unit 114, and the medicine management unit 115 will be described in any of the embodiments described below.

[0073] The cassette identification unit 111 identifies the cassette Ca to be removed from the cassette shelf 21 based on the dispensing data, an input operation by an operator on the first touch panel 5 or the second touch panel 31, or the reading result of the barcode reader 34. The cassette identification unit 111 also identifies the orientation of the cassette Ca based on the claw receiving portion identification information read by the RFID reader.

[0074] The main body cassette transfer control unit 112 controls the driving of the main body cassette transfer unit 22. Specifically, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 controls the main body cassette transfer unit 22 to transfer the cassette Ca identified by the cassette identification unit 111 to the delivery cassette holding unit 231. In addition, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 transfers the cassette Ca placed on the receiving cassette holding unit 232 to the storage position (original position) of the cassette Ca.

[0075] When controlling the main body cassette transport unit 22 based on the dispensing data, the main body cassette transport control unit 112 transports the cassette Ca, which is identified by the cassette identification unit 111 and contains the medicines included in the dispensing data, to the delivery cassette holding unit 231. Thereafter, the picking cassette transport unit 35 of the picking unit 3 transports the cassette Ca, which has been transferred from the medicine delivery unit 32 to the receiving cassette holding unit 232, to the storage position of the cassette Ca.

[0076] The picking unit control unit 12 comprehensively controls each unit of the picking unit 3. The picking unit control unit 12 includes, for example, a picking cassette transport control unit 121 (transport control unit), a shutter control unit 122, a drug determination unit 124, an identification unit 125, and an image acquisition unit 126. The identification unit 125 and the image acquisition unit 126 will be described in any of the embodiments described below.

[0077] The picking cassette transfer control unit 121 controls the driving of the picking cassette transfer unit 35 based on the dispensing data, an input operation by an operator on the first touch panel 5 or the second touch panel 31, or the reading result of the barcode reader 34. When controlling the picking cassette transfer unit 35 based on the dispensing data, the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 transfers the cassette Ca from which the medicine included in the prescription data is to be taken out to the medicine delivery position P1 or the standby position P2.

[0078] The shutter control unit 122 controls the opening and closing operation of the shutter 322. The shutter control unit 122 controls the first shutter 322a and the second shutter 322b independently.

[0079] Based on the image of the medicine captured by imaging unit 371, medicine determination unit 124 determines whether or not the designated number of medicines defined by the dispensing data are placed on medicine placing table 37. In the case of medicine sheets, based on the image of the fractional sheet captured by imaging unit 371, medicine determination unit 124 determines whether or not the quantity of medicines to be dispensed as fractional sheets out of the designated number are placed on medicine placing table 37. Furthermore, medicine determination unit 124 determines whether or not the designated number of medicines defined by the dispensing data are placed on tray placing table 38 based on the weight of the medicine weighed by weighing unit 382. In the case of medicine sheets, based on the weight of the medicine sheet (full sheet) weighed by weighing unit 382, ​​medicine determination unit 124 determines whether or not the quantity of medicines to be dispensed as medicine sheets (full sheet) out of the designated number are placed on tray placing table 38. That is, the medicine determination unit 124 functions as a counting unit that counts the number of medicines placed on the medicine placing stand 37 and / or the number of medicines placed on the tray placing stand 38.

[0080] If the medicine to be dispensed is a medicine included in a medicine sheet, the medicine determination unit 124, for example, analyzes the image to identify the shape of the fractional sheet placed on the medicine placing table 37. The medicine determination unit 124 may count the number of medicines included in the fractional sheet based on the shape and the fractional sheet size per medicine (the size of a fractional sheet containing only one medicine tablet) stored for each medicine type in the memory unit 15. An example of a counting method in this case will be described in embodiment 2.

[0081] Furthermore, the drug determination unit 124 may count the number of drugs contained in the fractional sheets based on, for example, the shape, the number of sheet drugs contained in one drug sheet (full sheet) stored for each drug type in the memory unit 15, and the area of ​​one drug sheet stored for each drug type in the memory unit 15. The sheet drug number is a number defined as the number of drugs contained in one drug sheet (the number of drugs contained in the vertical direction of the drug sheet multiplied by the number of drugs contained in the horizontal direction of the drug sheet). In this case, for example, the drug determination unit 124 may calculate the ratio of the area of ​​the shape to the area of ​​the drug sheet, and multiply the number of drug sheets by this ratio to count the number of drugs contained in the fractional sheets.

[0082] The memory unit 15 may also store information indicating the length of the ear portion ER (see FIG. 19) and information indicating the sum of the length of the ear portion ER and the length of a fractional sheet containing one drug adjacent to the ear portion ER (symbol "ERA" in FIG. 19). By using this information, the drug determination unit 124 can count the number of drugs contained in the fractional sheet, taking the ear portion ER into consideration.

[0083] Furthermore, information indicating the length (longitudinal length or lateral length) of a fractional sheet containing a predetermined number of adjacent medicines on one medicine sheet may be stored in memory unit 15. In this case, medicine determination unit 124 can count the number of medicines contained in the fractional sheet based on the shape and the length of the fractional sheet.

[0084] Furthermore, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines contained in the medicine sheets placed on the tray loading platform 38 based on the weight of the medicine sheets measured by the weighing unit 382 and the weight per medicine sheet for each medicine type stored in the memory unit 15. For example, the medicine determination unit 124 may count the number of medicines by multiplying the value obtained by dividing the measured weight of the medicine sheet by the weight per medicine sheet by the number of medicines on the medicine sheet.

[0085] When a medicine sheet (full sheet) is placed on medicine placing table 37, medicine determination unit 124 may count the number of medicines contained in the medicine sheet based on the image. Medicine determination unit 124 may count the number of medicines contained in the medicine sheet based on the shape of the medicine sheet identified by analyzing the image and the number of medicines on the sheet. Medicine determination unit 124 may count the number of medicines contained in the medicine sheet based on the shape of the medicine sheet identified by analyzing the image and the size of the remaining sheets, for example.

[0086] Furthermore, the storage unit 15 only needs to store information required according to the above-mentioned counting method used by the drug determination unit 124.

[0087] Furthermore, in the case of medicines that are not medicine sheets (e.g., ointments, eye drops), the medicine determination unit 124 can count the number of medicines, for example, as follows: The medicine determination unit 124 may count the number of medicines placed on the tray placement base 38 based on the weight of the medicine measured by the weighing unit 382 and the weight per medicine for each medicine type stored in the memory unit 15.

[0088] If the drug determination unit 124 determines that the number of drugs placed on the drug placement stand 37, the number of drugs placed on the tray placement stand 38, or the total number thereof matches the specified number, it determines that the drugs to be dispensed have been properly removed from the cassette Ca.

[0089] Here, the modes for counting the number of medicines contained in a medicine sheet include, for example, a first counting mode and a second counting mode.

[0090] When the first counting mode is set, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines for the remaining sheets placed on the medicine placing table 37 based on the image capture result of the image capture unit 371. For the medicine sheets placed on the tray placing table 38, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines based on the weight of the medicine sheets measured by the weighing unit 382. If each counting result matches the number of medicines to be placed on each table, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the number of medicines taken out by the operator matches the specified number. When the touch panel control unit 14 displays the match determination result on the second touch panel 31, the operator confirms this display, then bundles the medicine sheets and remaining sheets together with a rubber band, and places them into the transport tray Tr placed on the tray placing table 38. In addition, when multiple drug sheets placed on the tray loading platform 38 are bound together with rubber bands, the drug determination unit 124 calculates the weight of the drug sheets placed in the transport tray Tr as the weight of the drug sheets minus the weight of each rubber band.

[0091] Furthermore, when the second counting mode is set, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines for the remaining sheets placed on the medicine placing table 37 based on the image capture result of the image capture unit 371. If the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the number of medicines included in the remaining sheets matches the number of medicines to be placed on the medicine placing table 37, the touch panel control unit 14 displays a determination result indicating a match on the second touch panel 31. After confirming this display, the operator bundles the medicine sheets removed from the cassette Ca and the remaining sheets removed from the medicine placing table 37 with a rubber band and places them on the transport tray Tr placed on the tray placing table 38. The weighing unit 382 measures the total weight of the medicine sheets and remaining sheets bundled with the rubber band after they are placed on the tray placing table 38. The medicine determination unit 124 determines whether the designated number of medicines has been placed on the transport tray Tr based on the measurement result of the weighing unit 382.

[0092] For example, the medicine determination unit 124 calculates a weight by subtracting from the measured weight the weight per rubber band and the value obtained by multiplying the weight per medicine to be dispensed (the weight of the fractional sheet containing one medicine) by the number of medicines to be dispensed as fractional sheets. This allows the medicine determination unit 124 to calculate the weight of the medicine sheets placed in the transport tray Tr. If the weight of this medicine sheet approximately matches (is equal to or within the margin of error) the value obtained by multiplying the weight per medicine sheet by the number of medicine sheets to be dispensed, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the specified number of medicines have been placed in the transport tray Tr. The medicine determination unit 124 may also determine whether the measured weight approximately matches the total weight of the medicine sheets and fractional sheets corresponding to the medicine to be dispensed, which are stored in the memory unit 15, and the weight per rubber band, which is stored in the memory unit 15.

[0093] In the first counting mode, the medicine determination unit 124 determines whether the number of medicine sheets and the number of remainder sheets taken out from the medicine delivery unit 32 are appropriate based on the weighing results of the weighing unit 382 and the imaging results of the imaging unit 371, respectively. Therefore, the medicine determination unit 124 can accurately determine whether the numbers are appropriate. However, in the first counting mode, the determination result by the medicine determination unit 124 is output before the medicine sheets and the remainder sheets are bundled together with a rubber band and placed in the transport tray Tr. Therefore, after confirming that the numbers are appropriate, it is up to the operator to remember to bundle the medicine sheets and the remainder sheets with a rubber band and place them in the transport tray Tr.

[0094] In the second counting mode, the medicine determination unit 124 determines whether the specified number of medicines have been placed in the transport tray Tr after the operator has bundled the medicine sheets and any remaining sheets with a rubber band and placed them in the transport tray Tr. This reduces the possibility that the operator will forget to bundle the medicine sheets and any remaining sheets with a rubber band and place them in the transport tray Tr. However, the weighing unit 382 weighs the medicine sheets and any remaining sheets while they are still bundled with a rubber band. Therefore, the counting accuracy based on the weighing may be lower than in the first counting mode (when only the medicine sheets are placed in the transport tray Tr before weighing by the weighing unit 382).

[0095] The first counting mode and the second counting mode may be selected as appropriate at a hospital or the like that receives the drug station 1. Whether the first counting mode or the second counting mode is set may be determined based on whether the reliability of the operation of bundling the drug sheets and the remaining sheets with a rubber band and placing them on the transport tray Tr at the receiving location is more important, or the reliability of the counting accuracy based on the weighing by the weighing unit 382.

[0096] In the first counting mode, the weighing unit 382 measures the weight of the drug sheets and leftover sheets held together by rubber bands after they are placed on the tray loading platform 38, and the drug determination unit 124 may determine whether the specified number of drugs have been placed on the transport tray Tr based on the measurement results.

[0097] The touch panel control unit 14 controls the display of the first touch panel 5 and the second touch panel 31.

[0098] For example, the touch panel control unit 14 displays on the second touch panel 31 the number of medications to be taken out by the operator. For medications that are not medication sheets, the touch panel control unit 14 displays a designated number as the number of medications to be taken out by the operator. For medication sheets, the touch panel control unit 14 displays the number of medication sheets (full sheets) and the number of medications to be dispensed as fractional sheets as the number of medications to be taken out by the operator. The touch panel control unit 14 may also display the total number of medication sheets and the number of medications to be dispensed as fractional sheets (i.e., the designated number). This display allows the operator to place the designated number of medications on the medication placing table 37 and / or the tray placing table 38. For example, the operator can insert a predetermined number of medication sheets into a transport tray Tr placed on the tray placing table 38 and place the fractional sheets containing the predetermined number of medications on the medication placing table 37.

[0099] Here, the control device 10 determines whether the drug to be dispensed is a drug included in a drug sheet or a drug not included in a drug sheet based on information stored in the memory unit 15 for each drug type, indicating whether the drug is included in a drug sheet.

[0100] When the drugs to be dispensed are drugs contained in a drug sheet, the control device 10 calculates the number of drug sheets and fractional sheets to be dispensed based on the specified number and, for example, the fractional sheet size or number of drugs per sheet stored for each drug type in the memory unit 15. For example, if the number of drugs specified on one drug sheet is 10 and the specified number is 32, the control device 10 calculates that there will be three drug sheets to be dispensed and two drugs to be dispensed as fractional sheets. The touch panel control unit 14 displays this calculation result on the second touch panel 31. Thereafter, the drug determination unit 124 determines whether the sum of the number of drugs placed on the drug placement table 37 by the operator and the number of drugs placed on the transport tray Tr placed on the tray placement table 38 by the operator matches the specified number.

[0101] If the medicine determination unit 124 determines that they match, it determines that the medicine to be dispensed has been properly removed from the cassette Ca. In this case, the touch panel control unit 14 displays, via the second touch panel 31, a message indicating that the medicine has been properly removed. After visually confirming this message, the operator presses the tray close button 39 to close the shutter 322. This causes the control device 10 to transport the cassette Ca containing the next medicine to be dispensed to the medicine delivery unit 32. On the other hand, if the medicine determination unit 124 determines that they do not match, it determines that the medicine to be dispensed has not been properly removed from the cassette Ca. In this case, the touch panel control unit 14 displays, via the second touch panel 31, an error message indicating that the medicine has not been properly removed. Note that these controls are also applied to cases where the medicine to be dispensed is not a medicine sheet.

[0102] Here, consider a case where, during activation of the drug station 1, the imaging unit 371 continues to capture images of the medicine placing table 37, regardless of whether or not a fractional sheet is placed on the medicine placing table 37. In this case, the imaging unit 371 captures an image of the fractional sheet each time a fractional sheet is placed on the medicine placing table 37, and the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines contained in the fractional sheet based on the captured image. When a fractional sheet containing medicines less than the quantity to be dispensed as the fractional sheet is placed on the medicine placing table 37, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the counted number of medicines does not match the quantity to be dispensed. However, the touch panel control unit 14 does not display this determination result on the second touch panel 31. In other words, in this case, the operator is not notified (an error message is displayed) that the quantity of medicines to be dispensed has not been properly dispensed. On the other hand, when a fractional sheet containing the amount of medicines to be dispensed is placed on the medicine placing table 37, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the counted number of medicines matches the amount of medicines to be dispensed, and the touch panel control unit 14 displays this determination result on the second touch panel 31. That is, in this case, the operator is notified that the amount of medicines to be dispensed has been properly dispensed. Then, after displaying the determination result, the control device 10 automatically proceeds to the next process (step). Also, when a fractional sheet containing more medicines than the amount to be dispensed is placed on the medicine placing table 37, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the counted number of medicines does not match the amount of medicines to be dispensed, and the touch panel control unit 14 displays this determination result on the second touch panel 31. That is, in this case, the operator is notified (an error message) that the amount of medicines to be dispensed has not been properly dispensed.

[0103] Furthermore, the control device 10 may be able to set, by a user's input operation, an allowable mode that allows a fractional sheet containing only one medicine to be placed on the medicine placing table 37, and a non-allowable mode that does not allow it. In this case, the control device 10 may change the method of counting the number of medicines depending on whether the allowable mode or the non-allowable mode is selected.

[0104] The memory unit 15 stores various data required by the control device 10. For example, the memory unit 15 stores, for each drug type, reference data specifying the size of the remaining sheets or the number of drugs per sheet, data indicating the weight per drug, and data indicating the weight per drug sheet. The memory unit 15 also stores data indicating the weight per rubber band. If a drug is contained in the drug sheet, data indicating the weight of the remaining sheet containing one drug may be stored for each drug type. The memory unit 15 also stores, for example, information specified for each drug type that indicates whether or not a drug is contained in the drug sheet. In addition, the memory unit 15 stores, for example, (1) Data associating cassette identification information with the storage position of the cassette Ca on the cassette shelf 21; (2) Data associating cassette identification information of the cassette Ca (or storage position information indicating the storage position in the cassette Ca) with drug identification information; (3) type information indicating the type of each cassette Ca; I remember.

[0105] The type information may be, for example, information indicating a large cassette Ca1, a medium cassette Ca2, or a small cassette Ca3. The storage position information may specify, for example, the storage position from one end of the cassette Ca (e.g., the distance from the end).

[0106] Furthermore, images captured by the imaging unit 371 are stored in the storage unit 15. This allows evidence of the picking work to be left behind.

[0107] (Example of operation of Drag Station 1) An example of the operation of the drug station 1 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0108] (Operation when dispensing medicine) First, when dispensing data is read into the drug station 1, the main cassette transport section 22 of the main unit 2 grasps the cassette Ca containing the drug to be prescribed (to be dispensed, to be removed) from among the cassettes Ca stored in the main unit 2, and places it on the cassette holding section 23.

[0109] The cassette Ca placed on the cassette holding unit 23 is transferred to the medicine transfer unit 32 by the picking cassette transfer unit 35. The operator checks the second touch panel 31 to remove a specified number of medicines from the cassette Ca at the medicine transfer unit 32. The operator places the removed medicines on the medicine placing table 37 and / or the transport tray placed on the tray placing table 38. Thereafter, the control device 10 determines whether the specified number of medicines has been placed on the medicine placing table 37 or the transport tray Tr based on the imaging result of the imaging unit 371 as well as the medicine weighing result of the weighing unit 382.

[0110] When the medicine to be dispensed is a medicine sheet, it is gathered into a predetermined shape with a rubber band and placed into the transport tray placed on the tray placement table 38. The predetermined shape refers to, for example, the following shapes.

[0111] (1) When there is one or more drug sheets, the predetermined shape refers to the planar shape of the drug sheets.

[0112] (2) In the case of only fractional sheets, the predetermined shape refers to the planar shape of the fractional sheets.

[0113] (3) When one or more medicine sheets and remaining sheets are bundled together, the predetermined shape refers to the planar shape when one or more remaining sheets are placed on top of one or more medicine sheets. For example, when dispensing 22 medicine tablets, each consisting of 10 tablets, the predetermined shape is two medicine sheets stacked on top of each other with the remaining sheet for two tablets placed on top of them.

[0114] When all the medications to be stored in one transport tray have been stored, the user transports the transport tray Tr to the inspection unit, where a final inspection is performed. The number of medications to be stored in one transport tray Tr may be specified, for example, in the dispensing data, or may be determined by the control device 10 based on the dosage and method of administration, etc. The number of medications may be specified, for example, as the number of medications prescribed to patients (i.e., the number of medications per patient).

[0115] (Operation when filling medicine) First, the user uses the barcode reader 34 to input the drug identification information of the drug to be filled into the main unit 2 to the drug station 1. When the input of this drug identification information is accepted, the main unit cassette transfer unit 22 in the main unit 2 transfers the cassette Ca to be filled to the cassette holding unit 23 based on the drug identification information.

[0116] In the picking unit 3, the picking cassette transport section 35 transports the cassette Ca placed on the cassette holding section 23 to the medicine delivery section 32. The user puts medicines into the cassette Ca that has been transported to the medicine delivery section 32. When the putting of medicines into the cassette Ca is completed (for example, when a completion operation is received on the second touch panel 31), the picking cassette transport section 35 transports the cassette Ca to the cassette holding section 23. Thereafter, in the main unit 2, the main body cassette transport section 22 returns the cassette Ca placed on the cassette holding section 23 to the cassette shelf 21.

[0117] <Main unit structure> Next, the specific structure of the main unit 2 will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 10. In Figure 6, reference numeral 6001 is a perspective view showing an example of the main unit 2, and reference numeral 6002 is a diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of the main cassette transfer section 22. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of storage of cassettes Ca.

[0118] (Cassette shelf and cassette transfer section) As indicated by reference numerals 6001 and 6002 in Fig. 6, the cassette shelf 21 can store the cassettes Ca in a matrix along a vertical plane. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, the cassette shelf 21 includes a plurality of cassette mounting plates 211 on which the cassettes Ca are placed, and mounting plate supports 212 that support each cassette mounting plate 211.

[0119] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, the same type of cassettes Ca are placed on each cassette placement plate 211. That is, the width (length in the X-axis direction) of the cassette placement plate 211 and the widths of the large cassette Ca1, medium cassette Ca2, and small cassette Ca3 are specified so that the same type of cassettes Ca can be placed on each cassette placement plate 211. In the example of Fig. 7, the same type of cassettes Ca are placed on each cassette placement plate 211, but this is not limiting, and the above two widths may be specified so that different types of cassettes Ca can be placed on each cassette placement plate 211.

[0120] As shown by the reference numeral 6001, a first cassette shelf 21a and a second cassette shelf 21b are provided facing each other as the cassette shelves 21. A main body cassette transfer section 22 is provided between the first cassette shelf 21a and the second cassette shelf 21b. In the same drawing, an example is shown in which a first main body cassette transfer section 22a and a second main body cassette transfer section 22b are provided as the main body cassette transfer section 22.

[0121] Under the control of the main cassette transfer control unit 112, the main cassette transfer unit 22 pulls out a cassette Ca stored in the first cassette shelf 21a or the second cassette shelf 21b, and then places it on the cassette holding unit 23 (specifically, the delivery cassette holding unit 231). The main cassette transfer unit 22 also pulls out a cassette Ca placed in the cassette holding unit 23 (specifically, the receiving cassette holding unit 232), and then returns it to the first cassette shelf 21a or the second cassette shelf 21b. This makes it possible to remove or return a cassette Ca from or to the cassette shelf 21 that stores cassettes Ca in a matrix along a vertical plane. The main cassette transfer control unit 112 independently controls the first main cassette transfer unit 22a and the second main cassette transfer unit 22b.

[0122] As indicated by reference numerals 6001 and 6002, the first main cassette transfer unit 22a includes a first cassette gripper 221a and a first cassette transfer mechanism 222a. Similarly, the second main cassette transfer unit 22b includes a second cassette gripper 221b and a second cassette transfer mechanism 222b.

[0123] The first cassette gripping unit 221a and the second cassette gripping unit 221b, under the control of the main body cassette transfer control unit 112, pull out and grip the cassette Ca from the cassette shelf 21 or the cassette holding unit 23 (specifically, the receiving cassette holding unit 232). Furthermore, the first cassette gripping unit 221a and the second cassette gripping unit 221b move vertically and / or horizontally to transport the gripped cassette Ca to the cassette shelf 21 or the cassette holding unit 23 (specifically, the delivery cassette holding unit 231) and place it on the cassette shelf 21 or the delivery cassette holding unit 231.

[0124] Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the cassette gripping portion 221 (first cassette gripping portion 221a and second cassette gripping portion 221b). Also, reference numerals 9001 to 9003 in Fig. 9 are diagrams showing an example of the operation of the cassette gripping portion 221. As shown in Fig. 8, the cassette gripping portion 221 includes a cassette pull-out portion 2211, a claw portion 2212, a cassette support portion 2213, a position sensor 2214, and a rotation drive portion 2215.

[0125] 8, the cassette pull-out section 2211, under the control of the main body cassette transfer control section 112, pulls in the cassette Ca placed on the cassette shelf 21 or the cassette holding section 23 into the cassette gripping section 221. The cassette pull-out section 2211 is slidably supported on rails (not shown) extending in the depth direction of the cassette gripping section 221 below the cassette gripping section 221, and moves in the depth direction. This allows the cassette Ca to be pulled out from the cassette shelf 21 or the cassette holding section 23 and delivered to the cassette shelf 21 or the cassette holding section 23.

[0126] The claw portion 2212 is a member for hooking onto the claw receiving portion Ca12 provided on the cassette Ca. As shown by reference numeral 9001 in FIG. 9, when the cassette gripping portion 221 is positioned in front of the cassette Ca to be moved, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 moves the cassette drawing portion 2211 so that the claw portion 2212 is positioned below the claw receiving portion Ca12, as shown by reference numeral 9002 in FIG. 9. Thereafter, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 raises the cassette gripping portion 221. As a result, the claw portion 2212 is temporarily locked in the claw receiving portion Ca12. In this state, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 moves the cassette drawing portion 2211 to its original position, as shown by reference numeral 9003 in FIG. 9, thereby drawing the cassette Ca into the cassette gripping portion 221.

[0127] When placing the held cassette Ca on the cassette shelf 21 or the cassette holding unit 23, the reverse operation to that for pulling in the cassette Ca is performed. That is, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 moves the cassette holding unit 221 to a position where the cassette Ca is to be placed in the state indicated by reference numeral 9003, and then moves the cassette drawer 2211 in front of the cassette holding unit 221, as indicated by reference numeral 9002. Thereafter, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 lowers the cassette holding unit 221, thereby releasing the temporary engagement between the claw portion 2212 and the claw receiving portion Ca12. Thereafter, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 moves the cassette drawer 2211 to its original position, as indicated by reference numeral 9001.

[0128] Returning to FIG. 8, the cassette support portion 2213 supports the cassette Ca drawn out by the cassette drawing portion 2211.

[0129] The position sensor 2214 detects whether the cassette gripping part 221 is located directly in front of the cassette Ca to be moved. The position sensor 2214 includes, for example, a light-emitting part that emits light and a light-receiving part that receives the light. As described above, the cassette Ca is provided with the notch Ca13. The stopping position of the cassette gripping part 221 and the storage position (loading position) of the cassette Ca are positioned so that the light emitted from the position sensor 2214 is irradiated onto the notch Ca13 when the cassette gripping part 221 is located directly in front of the cassette Ca to be moved.

[0130] Therefore, when the cassette gripper 221 is located directly in front of the cassette Ca, light is irradiated onto the notch Ca13, and the light is not received by the light receiving unit. In this case, the position sensor 2214 detects that the cassette gripper 221 is located directly in front of the cassette Ca. On the other hand, when the cassette gripper 221 is located at a position shifted from directly in front of the cassette Ca, light is not irradiated onto the notch Ca13, but onto the wall surface of the claw receiving unit Ca12, and the light reflected from the wall surface is received by the light receiving unit. In this case, the position sensor 2214 cannot detect that the cassette gripper 221 is located directly in front of the cassette Ca. Therefore, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 moves the cassette gripper 221 so that the position sensor 2214 detects that the cassette gripper 221 is located directly in front of the cassette Ca. That is, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 finely adjusts the position of the cassette gripping unit 221 so that the light emitted by the position sensor 2214 is irradiated onto the notch Ca13 but is not received by the notch Ca13. This allows the cassette gripping unit 221 to reliably pull out the cassette Ca.

[0131] The rotation drive unit 2215 rotates the cassette gripping unit 221 around the vertical axis so that the cassette gripping unit 221 (specifically, the cassette pull-out unit 2211) can be moved to the first cassette shelf 21a, the second cassette shelf 21b, or the cassette holding unit 23.

[0132] Specifically, under the control of the main body cassette transfer control unit 112, the rotation drive unit 2215 rotates the cassette gripping unit 221 so that the cassette pull-out unit 2211 faces the placement position of the cassette Ca while or after the cassette gripping unit 221 moves to the placement position of the cassette Ca. This makes it possible to remove the cassette Ca from the placement position or to place the cassette Ca at the placement position.

[0133] For example, the rotation drive unit 2215 rotates the cassette gripping unit 221 so that the cassette pull-out unit 2211 faces the storage position of the cassette Ca to be removed on the first cassette shelf 21 a or the second cassette shelf 21 b, and then pulls out the cassette Ca from that storage position. This makes it possible to remove the cassette Ca from either the first cassette shelf 21 a or the second cassette shelf 21 b, which are arranged along different vertical planes.

[0134] 6, the first cassette transfer mechanism 222a includes a first beam 223a and a first support column 224a. Similarly, the second cassette transfer mechanism 222b includes a second beam 223b and a second support column 224b.

[0135] The first beam portion 223a and the second beam portion 223b extend in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the cassette shelf 21, and slidably support the first support portion 224a and the second support portion 224b, respectively. The first support portion 224a and the second support portion 224b extend in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the cassette shelf 21, and slidably support the first cassette gripping portion 221a and the second cassette gripping portion 221b, respectively.

[0136] The first beam portion 223a and the second beam portion 223b are spaced a predetermined distance apart. This predetermined width is set to a width that allows the first cassette gripping portion 221a and the second cassette gripping portion 221b to move along the width direction of the cassette shelf 21. The predetermined width is also set to a width that prevents the first cassette gripping portion 221a and the second cassette gripping portion 221b from colliding with the first cassette shelf 21a and the second cassette shelf 21b even when the first cassette gripping portion 221a and the second cassette gripping portion 221b rotate about a rotation axis that is in the vertical direction. Note that by setting the predetermined width as small as possible, the main unit 2 can be made smaller.

[0137] The main body cassette transfer control unit 112 then moves the first support pillar 224a along the first beam 223a, and also moves the first cassette gripper 221a along the first support pillar 224a (similarly to the second cassette transfer mechanism 222b). As a result, the desired cassette Ca can be moved between the cassette shelf 21 and the cassette holder 23.

[0138] Furthermore, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 controls the movements (positions) of the first cassette gripping unit 221a and the second cassette gripping unit 221b so that the first cassette gripping unit 221a and the second cassette gripping unit 221b do not collide with each other.

[0139] Specifically, the first cassette gripping portion 221a and the second cassette gripping portion 221b are supported in a cantilevered state by the first beam portion 223a and the second beam portion 223b, which are provided at a predetermined distance apart as described above. The first cassette transfer mechanism 222a and the second cassette transfer mechanism 222b are controlled so as not to interfere with each other in the movable area of ​​the first cassette gripping portion 221a and the second cassette gripping portion 221b (the area between the first beam portion 223a and the second beam portion 223b). Therefore, the first cassette gripping portion 221a and the second cassette gripping portion 221b can move between the cassette shelf 21 (the storage position of the cassette Ca) and the cassette holding portion 23 without colliding with each other.

[0140] Therefore, the cassette Ca can be transferred between the cassette shelf 21 and the cassette holding portion 23 by the plurality of cassette gripping portions 221, and therefore the efficiency of transferring the cassette Ca can be improved.

[0141] The first cassette shelf 21a and the second cassette shelf 21b do not necessarily have to be arranged facing each other, as long as they are arranged so that the vertical planes on which the cassettes Ca are stored are different from each other. Arranging them in this manner makes it possible to save space in the storage area for a large number of cassettes Ca. However, by arranging the first cassette shelf 21a and the second cassette shelf 21b facing each other, it is possible to store cassettes Ca at a high density while further saving space. The number of cassette shelves 21 may be one, or may be three or more.

[0142] Furthermore, the number of main body cassette transfer sections 22 is not limited to two, and may be one, or three or more. However, by providing the first main body cassette transfer section 22a and the second main body cassette transfer section 22b and allowing the first cassette gripping section 221a and the second cassette gripping section 221b to move without colliding with each other, it becomes possible to efficiently transfer cassettes Ca in the main body unit 2, which has a large capacity and is compact.

[0143] (Cassette holder) As indicated by reference numeral 6001 in FIG. 6, the cassette holding section 23 includes a first cassette holding section 23a, a second cassette holding section 23b, a third cassette holding section 23c, and a fourth cassette holding section 23d. In this embodiment, two picking units 3 are provided in the main body unit 2. Each picking unit 3 is provided with two medicine transfer sections 32 (four in total). The first cassette holding section 23a, the second cassette holding section 23b, the third cassette holding section 23c, and the fourth cassette holding section 23d are provided to correspond to the four medicine transfer sections 32, respectively. In this way, it is sufficient that one cassette holding section 23 is provided for one medicine transfer section 32.

[0144] 10, the cassette holding section 23 is provided to correspond to a picking cassette transfer section 35 provided in the picking unit 3 so as to enable transfer of the cassette Ca between the cassette holding section 23 and the medicine delivery section 32. Specifically, a picking cassette transfer section 35 is provided for each of the first cassette holding section 23a, the second cassette holding section 23b, the third cassette holding section 23c, and the fourth cassette holding section 23d. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the main unit 2 and the picking unit 3.

[0145] 10, each of the first cassette holding unit 23a, the second cassette holding unit 23b, the third cassette holding unit 23c, and the fourth cassette holding unit 23d includes a delivery cassette holding unit 231 and a receiving cassette holding unit 232. In the example of FIG. 10, in one cassette holding unit 23 provided corresponding to one medicine transfer unit 32, two delivery cassette holding units 231 and two receiving cassette holding units 232 are provided alternately along the vertical direction. Note that one cassette holding unit 23 may be provided with three or more delivery cassette holding units 231 and three or more receiving cassette holding units 232.

[0146] In this way, a plurality of delivery cassette holding units 231 and a plurality of receiving cassette holding units 232 may be provided for one medicine transfer unit 32. When a plurality of delivery cassette holding units 231 and a plurality of receiving cassette holding units 232 are provided, it becomes possible to hold more cassettes Ca to be transferred to the medicine transfer unit 32 near the medicine transfer unit 32. This makes it possible to transfer cassettes Ca to the medicine transfer unit 32 efficiently. However, a configuration in which one delivery cassette holding unit 231 and one receiving cassette holding unit 232 are provided for one medicine transfer unit 32 may also be used.

[0147] In this specification, the cassette holding unit 23 is described as being provided in the main unit 2, but it may also be provided in the picking unit 3. When provided in the picking unit 3, the location of the cassette holding unit 23 of the main unit 2, indicated by reference numeral 6001 in Fig. 6, functions as an insertion section into which the cassette holding unit 23 provided in the picking unit 3 is inserted. In other words, it is sufficient that the cassette shelf 21, main unit cassette transport unit 22, and cassette holding unit 23 realize the basic configuration of the cassette handling device described above.

[0148] <Picking unit structure> Next, a specific structure of the picking unit 3 will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 15. Figure 11 is a perspective view showing an example of the picking unit 3. Note that Figure 11 illustrates only a portion of the picking unit 3 where the medicine delivery section 32 is provided.

[0149] 11, a picking cassette transport unit 35 is provided below the medicine delivery unit 32. Specifically, one picking cassette transport unit 35 is provided for one medicine delivery unit 32 (one opening 321 and a shutter 322 (see FIG. 2) provided corresponding to the opening 321).

[0150] In this embodiment, the picking unit 3 is provided with a first medicine delivery and reception section 32a and a second medicine delivery and reception section 32b as the medicine delivery and reception section 32. A picking cassette transfer section 35 including a first picking cassette transfer section 35a and a second picking cassette transfer section 35b is provided below the first medicine delivery and reception section 32a. A picking cassette transfer section 35 including the first picking cassette transfer section 35a is provided below the second medicine delivery and reception section 32b.

[0151] In this embodiment, for example, when dispensing medicines based on dispensing data, the picking unit 3 uses a first medicine transfer section 32a and a picking cassette transport section 35 provided below the first medicine transfer section 32a. That is, in this embodiment, the first medicine transfer section 32a is a medicine transfer section to which a cassette Ca containing medicines to be dispensed based on the dispensing data is transferred. Note that the main unit 2 uses a first cassette holding section 23a provided corresponding to the picking cassette transport section 35.

[0152] As described above, the picking cassette transport unit 35 is provided with the first picking cassette transport unit 35a and the second picking cassette transport unit 35b. The first picking cassette transport unit 35a and the second picking cassette transport unit 35b are independently controlled by the picking cassette transport control unit 121 so that the first cassette gripper 351 and the second cassette gripper 355 (see FIG. 12) move without colliding with each other. Therefore, compared to when the picking cassette transport unit 35 is configured with a single picking cassette transport unit, it is possible to more efficiently dispense medicines based on the dispensing data.

[0153] On the other hand, the second medicine transfer unit 32b, the picking cassette transport unit 35 provided below the second medicine transfer unit 32b, and the second cassette holding unit 23b are used when dispensing medicines not included in the dispensing data. In other words, the second medicine transfer unit 32b side is used when dispensing individual medicines (for example, when performing interrupt processing for the dispensing data), and therefore only needs to be equipped with the first picking cassette transport unit 35a. In other words, the second medicine transfer unit 32b is a medicine transfer unit to which cassettes Ca other than the cassette Ca transferred to the first medicine transfer unit 32a are transferred.

[0154] However, when dispensing medicines based on dispensing data, the second medicine delivery and reception unit 32b may be used, and when dispensing individual medicines, the first medicine delivery and reception unit 32a may be used. Also, the second medicine delivery and reception unit 32b may be provided with the first picking cassette transport unit 35a and the second picking cassette transport unit 35b, or the first medicine delivery and reception unit 32a may be configured to include only the first picking cassette transport unit 35a. Providing multiple picking cassette transport units for one medicine delivery and reception unit 32 enables efficient dispensing of medicines.

[0155] Furthermore, when a filling operation is performed, either the first medicine delivery and reception unit 32a side or the second medicine delivery and reception unit 32b side may be used.

[0156] Furthermore, it is not necessarily required that the picking unit 3 be provided with a plurality of medicine delivery and reception sections 32, and the picking unit 3 may be provided with one medicine delivery and reception section 32. Furthermore, one picking unit 3 may be provided for the main unit 2. In this case, only one cassette holding section 23 corresponding to one picking unit 3 may be provided in the main unit 2.

[0157] (Structure of the picking cassette transfer section) The specific structure of the picking cassette transfer unit 35 will be described with reference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the picking cassette transfer unit 35. Reference numeral 12001 in FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the picking cassette transfer unit 35 as viewed from the main unit 2 side. Reference numeral 12002 in FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a and the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b constituting the picking cassette transfer unit 35. Reference numeral 12003 in FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating an example of the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a and the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b as viewed from the workbench 40 side. Reference numeral 12004 in FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a and the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b as viewed from the main unit 2 side. For ease of explanation, FIG. 12 only illustrates the picking cassette transfer unit 35 corresponding to the first medicine delivery / reception unit 32a. Further, reference numeral 12001 in FIG. 12 illustrates only a portion of the picking unit 3 where the medicine delivery section 32 is provided.

[0158] As indicated by reference numerals 12001 and 12002, the picking cassette transport unit 35 corresponding to the first medicine delivery unit 32a includes a first picking cassette transport unit 35a and a second picking cassette transport unit 35b.

[0159] The first picking cassette transfer unit 35a and the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b are each a transfer mechanism that receives the cassette Ca placed on the delivery cassette holding unit 231 and transfers it to the first medicine delivery unit 32a side. Also, the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a and the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b are each a transfer mechanism that transfers the cassette Ca present on the first medicine delivery unit 32a side to the receiving cassette holding unit 232.

[0160] As indicated by the reference numeral 12002, the first picking cassette transport unit 35a includes a first cassette gripping unit 351 and a first cassette transport mechanism 352.

[0161] The first cassette gripping portion 351 is a member that grips the cassette Ca. In this embodiment, the first cassette gripping portion 351 is configured as a frame body, and a side wall (longitudinal end) extending in the short direction (X-axis direction) of the frame body is provided with a protrusion 351a that hooks onto the claw receiving portion Ca12 (see FIG. 5) of the cassette Ca. The frame body has a hollow portion that allows the bottom of the cassette Ca and the cassette holding portion 23 (here, the first cassette holding portion 23a) to pass through when the first cassette gripping portion 351 moves in the vertical direction, and is large enough to be hooked onto the protrusion 351a. When the first cassette gripping portion 351 moves vertically upward in the cassette holding portion 23, the protrusion 351a hooks onto the claw receiving portion Ca12 placed on the cassette holding portion 23, and the cassette Ca is gripped by the first cassette gripping portion 351.

[0162] The first cassette transfer mechanism 352 moves the first cassette gripping part 351. The first cassette transfer mechanism 352 includes a first beam part 353 and a first support part 354. The first beam part 353 extends in the depth direction (Y-axis direction) of the picking unit 3 and slidably supports the first cassette gripping part 351. The first support part 354 extends in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the picking unit 3 and slidably supports the first beam part 353. The picking cassette transfer control part 121 moves the first beam part 353 along the first support part 354 and moves the first cassette gripping part 351 along the first beam part 353. This allows the desired cassette Ca to be moved between the cassette holding part 23 and the medicine giving and receiving part 32.

[0163] As indicated by the reference numeral 12002, the second picking cassette transfer section 35b includes a second cassette gripping section 355 and a second cassette transfer mechanism 356. Similar to the first cassette gripping section 351, a side wall extending in the short direction of the second cassette gripping section 355 is provided with a protrusion that catches on the claw receiving section Ca12 of the cassette Ca. The second cassette transfer mechanism 356 also includes a second beam section 357 and a second support section 358. The structure and function of the second cassette gripping section 355 and the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 are similar to those of the first cassette gripping section 351 and the first cassette transfer mechanism 352, respectively.

[0164] Furthermore, as shown by symbols 12003 and 12004, the first beam portion 353 and the second beam portion 357 are spaced apart to such an extent that the first cassette gripping portion 351 and the second cassette gripping portion 355 can move along the depth direction of the picking unit 3.

[0165] Furthermore, the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 controls the movements (positions) of the first cassette gripping unit 351 and the second cassette gripping unit 355 so that the first cassette gripping unit 351 and the second cassette gripping unit 355 do not collide with each other.

[0166] Specifically, the first cassette gripping portion 351 and the second cassette gripping portion 355 are supported in a cantilevered state by the first beam portion 353 and the second beam portion 357, which are provided at a distance as described above. The first cassette transfer mechanism 352 and the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 are controlled so as not to interfere with each other in the movable region of the first cassette transfer mechanism 352 and the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 (the region between the first beam portion 353 and the second beam portion 357). Therefore, the first cassette gripping portion 351 and the second cassette gripping portion 355 can move between the cassette holding portion 23 and the medicine giving and receiving portion 32 without colliding with each other.

[0167] Therefore, the cassette Ca can be transferred by the multiple cassette gripping parts between the cassette holding part 23 and the medicine delivery part 32. This makes it possible to improve the transfer efficiency of the cassette Ca.

[0168] Next, the operation of gripping the cassette Ca by the first picking cassette transport unit 35a will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Reference numerals 13001 to 13005 in Fig. 13 show the operation of gripping the cassette Ca by the first picking cassette transport unit 35a.

[0169] First, with the cassette Ca placed on the delivery cassette holding part 231, the first beam part 353 moves vertically along the first support part 354 so as to move the first cassette gripping part 351 to a position directly below the delivery cassette holding part 231. Thereafter, as indicated by reference numeral 13001 in FIG. 13, the first cassette gripping part 351 moves horizontally toward the delivery cassette holding part 231 and stops at a position directly below the delivery cassette holding part 231 as indicated by reference numeral 13002 in FIG.

[0170] 13, the first beam 353 moves vertically upward along the first support pillar 354, and after the delivery cassette holding part 231 passes through the hollow part of the first cassette gripping part 351, the protrusion 351a of the first cassette gripping part 351 catches on the claw receiving part Ca12 of the cassette Ca and temporarily locks it in place. This allows the first cassette gripping part 351 to grip the cassette Ca.

[0171] In this basic configuration, the first cassette gripping portion 351 is provided with two protrusions 351a that face the two claw receiving portions Ca12 when the first cassette gripping portion 351 is positioned facing the cassette Ca. However, the first cassette gripping portion 351 may be configured to have only one protrusion 351a. Even in this case, the first cassette gripping portion 351 can grip the cassette Ca by temporarily engaging one of the claw receiving portions Ca12. In other words, the first cassette gripping portion 351 may be configured to grip two opposing portions (both sides) of the cassette Ca, or may be configured to grip one side of the cassette Ca. The same applies to the second cassette gripping portion 355.

[0172] Next, the first cassette gripping portion 351, while gripping the cassette Ca, moves along the first beam portion 353 so as to be positioned below the opening 321. Along with this movement, the first beam portion 353 moves vertically upward along the first support portion 354 so that the first cassette gripping portion 351 is positioned directly below the opening 321. This allows the first cassette gripping portion 351 to transport the cassette Ca to directly below the opening 321, as shown by reference numeral 13004 in FIG. 13. Then, the operator can remove medicines from the cassette Ca gripped by the first cassette gripping portion 351 or fill medicines into the cassette Ca.

[0173] The position directly below the opening 321 (that is, the position where an operator can take out medicines from the cassette Ca or fill medicines into the cassette Ca) is referred to as a medicine transfer position P1.

[0174] After the operator completes their work at the medicine transfer position P1, the first beam 353 moves vertically downward along the first support 354 so as to move the first cassette gripping portion 351 to a position directly above the receiving cassette holding portion 232. The first cassette gripping portion 351 also moves along the first beam 353 toward the receiving cassette holding portion 232. Thereafter, the operation reverse to the operation indicated by reference numeral 13003 in FIG. 13 is performed. In other words, the first beam 353 moves vertically downward along the first support 354, thereby placing the cassette Ca on the receiving cassette holding portion 232. At this time, the protrusion 351a separates from the claw receiving portion Ca12, and the temporary locked state is released. Thereafter, the receiving cassette holding portion 232 passes through the hollow portion of the first cassette gripping portion 351 , and the first cassette gripping portion 351 can move to the delivery cassette holding portion 231 .

[0175] Meanwhile, the second picking cassette transporter 35b can also move in the same manner as the first picking cassette transporter 35a. For example, the second picking cassette transporter 35b grips a cassette Ca containing medicines to be removed or filled next after the cassette Ca gripped by the first cassette gripper 351, and transports the cassette Ca to the medicine transfer position P1.

[0176] However, as shown by reference numeral 13005 in FIG. 13, when the first cassette gripping section 351 is located at the medicine transfer position P1, the second cassette gripping section 355 moves to a standby position P2 provided near the medicine transfer section 32 (specifically, near the medicine transfer position P1). Thereafter, the first cassette gripping section 351 moves toward the receiving cassette holding section 232, and then the second cassette gripping section 355 moves to the medicine transfer position P1. After returning the cassette Ca to the receiving cassette holding section 232, the first cassette gripping section 351 grips a new cassette Ca placed on the delivery cassette holding section 231 and moves to the standby position P2. This operation is repeated.

[0177] 13, in this embodiment, standby position P2 is located below medicine transfer position P1 and is located farther from the main unit 2 than medicine transfer position P1 in the depth direction of the picking unit 3. This prevents the cassette gripping part located at medicine transfer position P1 from colliding with the cassette gripping part located at standby position P2 when it moves toward receiving cassette holding part 232.

[0178] (Example of operation of the picking cassette transfer unit) Next, an example of the operation of the picking cassette transport unit 35 will be described with reference to FIG. 14. Reference numerals 14001 to 14008 in FIG. 14 show an example of the operation of the first picking cassette transport unit 35a and the second picking cassette transport unit 35b. The shaded arrows in FIG. 14 indicate the movement direction of the first cassette gripping unit 351, the filled arrows indicate the movement direction of the second cassette gripping unit 355, and the hollow arrows indicate the movement direction of the cassette Ca by the main cassette transport unit 22. Here, an example of the operation will be described from a state in which the first cassette gripping unit 351 is positioned at the medicine transfer position P1 while gripping the cassette Ca, and the second cassette gripping unit 355 is positioned at the standby position P2 while gripping the cassette Ca.

[0179] In this embodiment, the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a (the first cassette gripping unit 351 and the first cassette transfer mechanism 352) is accessible to the upper delivery cassette holding unit 231 and the receiving cassette holding unit 232, as indicated by reference numerals 14003 to 14006. Furthermore, the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b (the second cassette gripping unit 355 and the second cassette transfer mechanism 356) is accessible to the lower delivery cassette holding unit 231 and the receiving cassette holding unit 232, as indicated by reference numerals 14003 and 14006 to 14008. In FIG. 14, the upper delivery cassette holding unit 231 and the receiving cassette holding unit 232 are referred to as the delivery cassette holding unit 231a and the receiving cassette holding unit 232a, respectively. Similarly, the lower delivery cassette holding unit 231 and the lower receiving cassette holding unit 232 are respectively referred to as a delivery cassette holding unit 231b and a receiving cassette holding unit 232b.

[0180] The positions of the delivery cassette holding section 231 and the receiving cassette holding section 232 in the cassette holding section 23 may be freely set. In other words, it may be freely set which position in the cassette holding section 23 functions as the delivery cassette holding section 231 or the receiving cassette holding section 232. This setting may be switched by the control device 10 at any time depending on the operating status of the drug station 1 including the main unit 2 (e.g., the drug dispensing status).

[0181] In other words, the cassette Ca mounting table constituting the cassette holding unit 23 may be switched between functioning as the delivery cassette holding unit 231 and functioning as the receiving cassette holding unit 232 under the control of the control device 10, depending on the operating status. In this case, the mounting table can be made to function as either the delivery cassette holding unit 231 or the receiving cassette holding unit 232, depending on the operating status. This allows the cassette holding unit 23 to efficiently hold the cassette Ca depending on the operating status. Note that the mounting table may also be switched between functioning as the delivery cassette holding unit 231 and functioning as the receiving cassette holding unit 232 without taking the operating status into consideration (for example, based on an input operation).

[0182] In addition, the access positions of the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a and the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b with respect to the cassette holding unit 23 may also be freely set. This setting may also be switched at any time by the control device 10 depending on the above-mentioned operating conditions.

[0183] First, as indicated by reference numeral 14001, as described above, the first cassette transfer mechanism 352 of the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a transfers the first cassette gripping unit 351 gripping the cassette Ca to the medicine transfer position P1. In this state, the shutter 322 opens, and the cassette Ca gripped by the first cassette gripping unit 351 is picked up. Furthermore, the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 of the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b transfers the second cassette gripping unit 355 gripping the cassette Ca to the standby position P2. In other words, the second cassette gripping unit 355 is waiting at the standby position P2 while gripping the cassette Ca.

[0184] While the picking operation is being performed, the main body cassette transporter 22 places a new cassette Ca on the delivery cassette holding section 231a, as shown by reference numeral 14002.

[0185] When the picking operation for the cassette Ca held by the first cassette gripping unit 351 is completed and, for example, the tray close button 39 is pressed, the shutter 322 closes. When the shutter 322 closes, as indicated by the reference numeral 14003, the first cassette transfer mechanism 352 moves the first cassette gripping unit 351 to the receiving cassette holding unit 232a and then places the cassette Ca held by the first cassette gripping unit 351 on the receiving cassette holding unit 232a. After the first cassette gripping unit 351 moves to free up the medicine transfer position P1, the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 moves the second cassette gripping unit 355 to the medicine transfer position P1. In this state, the shutter 322 opens, and the picking operation for the cassette Ca held by the second cassette gripping unit 355 is performed.

[0186] Next, as indicated by reference numeral 14004, the main body cassette transfer unit 22 returns the cassette Ca placed on the receiving cassette holding unit 232a by the first cassette transfer mechanism 352 to its storage position on the cassette shelf 21. The first cassette transfer mechanism 352 also moves the first cassette gripper 351 from the receiving cassette holding unit 232a to the delivery cassette holding unit 231a. Thereafter, the first cassette transfer mechanism 352 causes the first cassette gripper 351 to grip the cassette Ca placed on the delivery cassette holding unit 231a.

[0187] Next, as indicated by the reference numeral 14005, the first cassette transfer mechanism 352 moves the first cassette gripping unit 351 gripping the cassette Ca to the standby position P2, and waits until the picking operation for the cassette Ca gripped by the second cassette gripping unit 355 is completed. Also, while the picking operation for the cassette Ca gripped by the second cassette gripping unit 355 is being performed, the main body cassette transfer unit 22 places a new cassette Ca on the delivery cassette holding unit 231b.

[0188] When the picking operation for the cassette Ca held by the second cassette gripping unit 355 is completed and, for example, the tray close button 39 is pressed, the shutter 322 closes. When the shutter 322 closes, as indicated by the reference numeral 14006, the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 moves the second cassette gripping unit 355 to the receiving cassette holding unit 232b and then places the cassette Ca held by the second cassette gripping unit 355 on the receiving cassette holding unit 232b. Furthermore, after the second cassette gripping unit 355 moves to free up the medicine transfer position P1, the first cassette transfer mechanism 352 moves the first cassette gripping unit 351 to the medicine transfer position P1. In this state, the shutter 322 opens, enabling the cassette Ca held by the first cassette gripping unit 351 to be picked.

[0189] Next, as indicated by reference numeral 14007, the main body cassette transfer unit 22 returns the cassette Ca placed on the receiving cassette holding unit 232b by the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 to its storage position on the cassette shelf 21. The second cassette transfer mechanism 356 also moves the second cassette gripper 355 from the receiving cassette holding unit 232b to the passing cassette holding unit 231b. Thereafter, the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 causes the second cassette gripper 355 to grip the cassette Ca placed on the passing cassette holding unit 231b.

[0190] Next, as shown by the symbol 14008, the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 moves the second cassette holding portion 355 holding the cassette Ca to the standby position P2, and waits until the picking operation for the cassette Ca held by the first cassette holding portion 351 is completed.

[0191] When the transfer process of the cassette Ca is being performed based on the dispensing data, the above-mentioned operation is repeated until the picking operation for all the drugs included in the dispensing data is completed. Also, when drugs are being filled sequentially, the above-mentioned operation may be repeated until the filling operation for all the drugs is completed.

[0192] In addition, in the cases of reference numerals 14005 and 14006, when the second cassette gripping portion 355 is not present at the medicine transfer position P1, the first cassette transfer mechanism 352 may directly transfer the first cassette gripping portion 351 to the medicine transfer position P1. Similarly, in the case of reference numeral 14008, when the first cassette gripping portion 351 is not present at the medicine transfer position P1, the second cassette transfer mechanism 356 may directly transfer the second cassette gripping portion 355 to the medicine transfer position P1.

[0193] In this way, the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a and the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b transfer the cassette Ca from which the drug sheets are to be removed or filled to the drug transfer position P1. When a cassette Ca is located at the drug transfer position P1, the first picking cassette transfer unit 35a and the second picking cassette transfer unit 35b transfer the next cassette Ca from which drugs are to be removed or filled to the drug transfer position P2 and make it wait.

[0194] Specifically, the first cassette gripping portion 351 and the second cassette gripping portion 355 grip the cassette Ca pulled out from the cassette holding portion 23 and transfer it between the cassette holding portion 23, the medicine transfer position P1, and the standby position P2. In addition, the first cassette gripping portion 351 and the second cassette gripping portion 355 move so as not to collide with each other.

[0195] This allows the cassette Ca to be worked on at the medicine transfer position P1, and the next cassette Ca to be worked on can be placed on standby near the medicine transfer position P1 at the standby position P2. Therefore, after the work on the cassette Ca at the medicine transfer position P1 is completed, the cassette Ca that was on standby at the standby position P2 can be moved to the medicine transfer position P1. This allows the user to efficiently work on multiple cassettes Ca.

[0196] Therefore, the picking unit 3 can efficiently provide the user with the cassette Ca from which the user can take out or fill the tablet sheets.

[0197] (Example of operation of the first shutter) Next, an example of the operation of the first shutter 322a will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Reference numerals 15001 to 15003 in Fig. 15 are diagrams showing an example of the operation of the first shutter 322a.

[0198] As described above, the first shutter 322a performs opening and closing operations under the control of the shutter control unit 122. Specifically, as indicated by reference numeral 15001, the shutter control unit 122 closes the first shutter 322a when the cassette Ca is not positioned at the medicine transfer unit 32 (specifically, at the medicine transfer position P1). As indicated by reference numerals 15002 and 15003, the shutter control unit 122 opens the first shutter 322a after the picking cassette transport unit 35 stops the cassette Ca at the medicine transfer position P1. The shutter control unit 122 also controls the opening and closing of the second shutter 322b in the same manner as the first shutter 322a. This allows the operator to pick or fill the cassette Ca with medicines.

[0199] The picking cassette transfer control unit 121 and the shutter control unit 122 identify the type of cassette Ca and the type of medicine to be stored in which storage position of the cassette Ca. Therefore, in the case of a cassette Ca without a partition, the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 and the shutter control unit 122 can identify that only one type of medicine is to be stored. Therefore, after the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 transfers the cassette Ca so that the center of the cassette Ca is near the center of the opening 321, the shutter control unit 122 fully opens the first shutter 322a, as shown by reference numeral 15002. At this time, the shutter control unit 122 opens the second shutter 322b according to the width of the cassette Ca.

[0200] On the other hand, in the case of a cassette Ca having a partition, the picking cassette transport control unit 121 transports the cassette Ca so that the storage position of the medicine to be dispensed or filled is near the center of the opening 321. Thereafter, the shutter control unit 122 opens the first shutter 322a by the width of the storage area in which the medicine is stored, as indicated by reference numeral 15003. At this time, the shutter control unit 122 also opens the second shutter 322b in accordance with the width of the cassette Ca.

[0201] In this way, the opening width of the first shutter 322a is changed depending on the type of cassette Ca transported to the medicine transfer position P1.

[0202] Furthermore, if the next drugs to be dispensed or filled are contained in the same cassette Ca as the drugs currently being dispensed or filled, the cassette Ca only needs to be repositioned. In this case, after the dispensing or filling of the drugs currently being dispensed or filled is completed, the shutter control unit 122 closes the first shutter 322a and the second shutter 322b. The picking cassette transport control unit 121 then moves the cassette Ca so that the drugs to be next dispensed or filled are located near the center of the opening 321. The shutter control unit 122 then opens the first shutter 322a by the width of the storage area in which the drugs are contained. At this time, the shutter control unit 122 also opens the second shutter 322b in accordance with the width of the cassette Ca.

[0203] Therefore, by providing a partition in the cassette Ca to form multiple storage areas in one cassette Ca, it is possible to store, for example, medicines that are likely to be dispensed at the same time in the same cassette Ca, thereby enabling more efficient dispensing of medicine sheets.

[0204] [Embodiment 1] In this embodiment, the processing of the dispensing control device 800 will be described. As described above, the determination unit 811 determines which device among the drug station 1, tablet packaging machine 300, powder medicine packaging machine 400, PTP dispensing device, and dispensing assistance device 600 to use to dispense the drugs indicated in the prescription data, in accordance with predetermined regulations.

[0205] For example, determination unit 811 may compare the type of drug indicated in the prescription data with the type of drug included in the drug database of each device stored in storage unit 802, and determine a device having a drug database including the drug indicated in the prescription data as the device that will dispense the drug. Furthermore, when the drug indicated in the prescription data is included in multiple drug databases, determination unit 811 may determine a device that will dispense the drug according to a preset priority order. When the drug indicated in the prescription data is not included in any drug database, determination unit 811 may determine dispensing assistance device 600 as the device to be used to dispense the drug, so that drug shelf 700 is the drug destination (removal destination) for the drug.

[0206] Furthermore, for prescription drugs that can be packaged in a single package, the determination unit 811 may preferentially determine the tablet packaging machine 300 or the powder packaging machine 400 as the device that will dispense the drug. Additionally, the determination unit 811 may perform the following processing. Prescription drugs that can be packaged in a single package are prescription drugs that have been prescribed to a patient and that are multiple prescription drugs that are to be taken at the same time each day (e.g., morning, midday, or evening).

[0207] <Example of processing by a dispensing control device> Consider a case where some of the prescribed drugs prescribed to a patient and dispensed in package units (predetermined units) from tablet packaging machine 300 are drugs that are not stored in tablet packaging machine 300. In this case, determination unit 811 may determine drug station 1 as the device that dispenses some of the prescribed drugs.

[0208] The above-mentioned medicines are, for example, manually prepared medicines that are put by a user into a manual preparation unit (not shown) of the tablet packaging machine 300. The manual preparation unit includes a plurality of manually prepared storage sections (compartments) into which the user puts medicines in packets, and a manual preparation dispensing section that dispenses the medicines stored in each manual preparation storage section. This allows even medicines that are not stored in the tablet packaging machine 300 to be packaged together with medicines stored in the tablet packaging machine 300 and dispensed by the tablet packaging machine 300.

[0209] Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the dispensing control device 800. As shown in Fig. 16, when the transmitting / receiving unit 812 receives prescription data from the prescription input device 200 (S1), the determining unit 811 determines whether or not a prescription drug that can be packaged in a single dose is included among the multiple prescription drugs indicated in the prescription data (S2).

[0210] When determining that the prescribed drugs that can be packaged are included (YES in S2), the determining unit 811 determines whether the prescribed drugs that can be packaged are manually prepared drugs (S3). When the drug database of the tablet packaging machine 300 stored in the memory unit 802 does not include any prescribed drugs that can be packaged, the determining unit 811 determines that manually prepared drugs are included.

[0211] When determining that the prescribed drugs that can be packaged include manually prepared drugs (YES in S3), the determination unit 811 determines that the device that dispenses the manually prepared drugs is drug station 1 (S4). When the drug database of drug station 1 stored in the memory unit 802 includes manually prepared drugs to be dispensed, the determination unit 811 determines that the device that dispenses the manually prepared drugs is drug station 1.

[0212] Of the prescribed drugs that can be packaged, the prescribed drugs other than the manually prepared drugs are drugs included in the drug database and are therefore drugs stored in the tablet packaging machine 300. Therefore, the determination unit 811 determines that the device that dispenses the prescribed drugs other than the manually prepared drugs is the tablet packaging machine 300 (S4).

[0213] The transmitting / receiving unit 812 transmits dispensing data including information about the manually prepared drugs together with a dispensing instruction for the manually prepared drugs to the drug station 1. The transmitting / receiving unit 812 also transmits dispensing data including information about prescribed drugs other than the manually prepared drugs together with a dispensing instruction for the prescribed drugs to the tablet packaging machine 300 (S5).

[0214] When the control device 10 of the drug station 1 receives a dispensing instruction for the manually prepared drug, it dispenses the manually prepared drug based on the information about the manually prepared drug included in the dispensing data. The user puts the manually prepared drug dispensed from the drug station 1 into the manual dispensing unit of the tablet packaging machine 300. This allows the tablet packaging machine 300 to package (package) the manually prepared drug together with prescribed drugs other than the manually prepared drug for which the dispensing instruction was issued.

[0215] If the prescription data does not include any prescription drugs that can be packaged (NO in S2), or if the prescription drugs that can be packaged do not include any manually prepared drugs, the determination unit 811 determines the device that will dispense the prescribed drugs according to a predetermined rule (S6). For example, as described above, the determination unit 811 determines the device that has a drug database that includes the prescribed drugs as the device that will dispense the prescribed drugs. Furthermore, if the drug database of drug station 1 stored in memory unit 802 does not include any manually prepared drugs to be dispensed, the determination unit 811 determines drug shelf 700 as the destination for the manually prepared drugs.

[0216] In this way, dispensing control device 800 can cause manually prepared drugs dispensed from tablet packaging machine 300 to be dispensed from drug station 1. Therefore, the user can manually distribute the prescribed drugs dispensed from drug station 1 to tablet packaging machine 300, and dispense them from tablet packaging machine 300 together with other prescribed drugs. This reduces the user's effort of searching for and retrieving prescribed drugs from drug shelf 700 and the occurrence of incorrect drug retrieval from drug shelf 700, making it possible to efficiently dispense prescribed drugs. Note that in this process, it is sufficient that at least drug station 1 and tablet packaging machine 300 are provided as devices used to dispense prescribed drugs.

[0217] <Another example of processing by the dispensing control device> In a device that has transmitted a dispensing instruction for a prescribed drug, the device may stop dispensing the prescribed drug, for example, in accordance with a user's instruction, because the prescribed drug is out of stock. An example of the processing of the dispensing control device 800 in this case will be described. Figure 17 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing of the dispensing control device 800.

[0218] 17, when the transmitting / receiving unit 812 receives prescription data from the prescription input device 200 (S11), the determining unit 811 determines a device to dispense each of the prescribed drugs indicated in the prescription data in accordance with a predetermined rule (S12). Based on the result determined by the determining unit 811, the transmitting / receiving unit 812 transmits dispensing data including information about the prescribed drugs and a dispensing instruction for the prescribed drugs to each device (S13).

[0219] Thereafter, the determination unit 811 determines whether a cancellation notice to cancel dispensing of at least one prescribed drug determined to be dispensed using the drug station 1 has been received from the drug station 1 via the transceiver unit 812 (S14). If the determination unit 811 has received a cancellation notice from the drug station 1 (YES in S14), the determination unit 811 determines the tablet packing machine 300, the powder medicine packing machine 400, or the PTP dispensing device 500 as the device to dispense the prescribed drug whose dispensing has been canceled from the drug station 1 (S15). The determination unit 811 may determine from which of the tablet packing machine 300, the powder medicine packing machine 400, or the PTP dispensing device 500 the prescribed drug will be dispensed by, for example, referring to the drug database of each device as described above and according to the priority order for dispensing the prescribed drug.

[0220] The transmitting / receiving unit 812 transmits a dispensing instruction for the prescribed drug whose dispensing has been stopped from the drug station 1, together with dispensing data including information about the prescribed drug, to the tablet packing machine 300, powder medicine packing machine 400, or PTP dispensing device 500 determined by the determination unit 811 (S15). This allows the prescribed drug whose dispensing from the drug station 1 has been stopped to be dispensed from any of the tablet packing machine 300, powder medicine packing machine 400, and PTP dispensing device 500.

[0221] Here, when the determination unit 811 groups multiple prescribed drugs, for example, by patient (predetermined unit) in the dispensing data it transmits to each device, each device can accept a stop instruction to stop dispensing the prescribed drugs for that patient. For example, consider a case where the transmission / reception unit 812 receives from drug station 1 a stop notification to stop dispensing a prescribed drug for a certain patient among the prescribed drugs indicated in the dispensing data transmitted to drug station 1. In this case, the determination unit 811 determines the tablet packing machine 300, powder medicine packing machine 400, or PTP dispensing device 500 as the device that will dispense the prescribed drug for the certain patient whose dispensing has been stopped. The transmission / reception unit 812 transmits a dispensing instruction for the prescribed drug whose dispensing from drug station 1 has been stopped, together with dispensing data including information about the prescribed drug, to the tablet packing machine 300, powder medicine packing machine 400, or PTP dispensing device 500 determined by the determination unit 811. This allows for the prescription medicine to be dispensed using another device even if the dispensing of prescription medicines for each patient is stopped at the drug station 1.

[0222] In a situation where a cancellation notice has not been received from drug station 1 (NO in S14), determination unit 811 determines whether or not a cancellation notice to cancel dispensing of at least one prescribed drug that has been decided to be dispensed using tablet packing machine 300 has been received from tablet packing machine 300 (S17). If a cancellation notice has been received from tablet packing machine 300 (YES in S17), determination unit 811 determines drug station 1 as the device that will dispense the prescribed drug whose dispensing has been stopped from tablet packing machine 300 (S18).

[0223] If the prescribed drug is included in the drug database of drug station 1 stored in memory unit 802, determination unit 811 determines that the device to dispense the prescribed drug is drug station 1. Note that if the prescribed drug is not included in the drug database of drug station 1 stored in memory unit 802, determination unit 811 may determine that the device to be used to dispense the prescribed drug is dispensing assistance device 600.

[0224] The transmitting and receiving unit 812 transmits a dispensing instruction for the prescribed drug whose dispensing from the tablet packing machine 300 has been stopped, together with dispensing data including information about the prescribed drug, to the drug station 1 determined by the determination unit 811 (S19). This allows the prescribed drug whose dispensing from the tablet packing machine 300 has been stopped to be dispensed from the drug station 1.

[0225] Similarly, in S17, when the transmitting / receiving unit 812 receives a cancellation notice from the powder medicine packing machine 400, the determining unit 811 determines that the device to be used to dispense the prescribed medicine whose dispensing from the powder medicine packing machine 400 has been stopped is drug station 1. The transmitting / receiving unit 812 transmits a dispensing instruction for the prescribed medicine to drug station 1 together with dispensing data including information about the prescribed medicine. The same applies when the transmitting / receiving unit 812 receives a cancellation notice from the PTP dispensing device 500.

[0226] Furthermore, when the determination unit 811 receives a cancellation notice from the drug station 1, it may determine that the device to be used to dispense the prescribed drug whose dispensing from the drug station 1 has been canceled is the dispensing assistance device 600. The transmission / reception unit 812 may transmit a dispensing instruction for the prescribed drug to the dispensing assistance device 600 together with dispensing data including information about the prescribed drug. This allows the prescribed drug to be taken out from the drug shelf 700.

[0227] On the other hand, when the determination unit 811 receives a cancellation notification from the dispensing assistance device 600 in a situation where the prescription drug to be removed is not present in the medicine shelf 700, the determination unit 811 may determine that the device to be used to dispense the prescription drug whose removal from the medicine shelf 700 has been canceled is drug station 1. The transmission / reception unit 812 may transmit a dispensing instruction for the prescription drug to drug station 1 together with information about the prescription drug. This allows the prescription drug to be dispensed from drug station 1.

[0228] If no cancellation notification is received from any device (NO in S17), this process may be ended.

[0229] According to the above process, even if the dispensing of prescribed drugs from various devices such as drug station 1, tablet packaging machine 300, or drug shelf 700 is stopped, the dispensing of the prescribed drugs can be realized using another device. Therefore, the prescribed drugs can be dispensed efficiently.

[0230] In this process, in addition to the drug station 1, a second drug dispensing device (e.g., tablet packaging machine 300, powder medicine packaging machine 400, or PTP dispensing device 500) or dispensing assist device 600 may be provided as a device for dispensing prescribed drugs. The second drug dispensing device may be at least one of the tablet packaging machine 300, powder medicine packaging machine 400, and PTP dispensing device 500. The second drug dispensing device may be at least one of the devices for dispensing prescribed drugs other than the drug station 1.

[0231] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated. This also applies to the following embodiments. In this embodiment, the description will be given assuming that the medicines taken out from the medicine delivery / receiving unit 32 and put into the transport tray Tr (i.e., the medicines to be dispensed) are medicine sheets (whole or partial medicine sheets).

[0232] As described above, picking unit 3 includes medicine delivery / reception section 32, tray mounting table 38, and medicine mounting table 37. Tray mounting table 38 includes weighing section 382. Therefore, by placing a medicine sheet (full sheet) containing a specified number of medicines, which has been removed from medicine delivery / reception section 32, on tray mounting table 38, the number of medicines contained on the medicine sheet can be counted.

[0233] The picking unit 3 also includes an imaging unit 371 that captures an image of the fractional sheets placed on the medicine placing table 37, and a backlight 372 that illuminates the medicine placing table 37. The backlight 372 illuminates the fractional sheets from the opposite side to the imaging direction of the fractional sheets captured by the imaging unit 371, so the shape of the fractional sheets can be obtained more clearly. This allows the control device 10 to more accurately count the number of medicines contained in the fractional sheets from the imaging results.

[0234] The imaging unit 371 and the backlight 372 may be provided above the medicine placing table 37. In this case, however, the reflectance obtained from the imaging result may differ depending on the material of the fractional sheet. When the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines and distinguishes between medicines and fractional sheets based on the reflectance, it may not be able to distinguish between medicines and fractional sheets depending on the material. Therefore, in order to accurately distinguish between medicines and fractional sheets, it has been necessary to employ a relatively high-performance (relatively expensive) imaging unit 371.

[0235] In this embodiment, as described below, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines based on the shape of the fraction sheet. That is, the medicine determination unit 124 only needs to be able to identify the shape (i.e., the edge) from the imaging results. Therefore, by having the backlight 372 illuminate the fraction sheet from the opposite side to the imaging direction of the fraction sheet by the imaging unit 371, the shape can be detected with high accuracy without using a high-performance imaging unit 371. Therefore, the medicine determination unit 124 can more accurately count the number of medicines contained in the fraction sheet from the imaging results.

[0236] Therefore, drug station 1 can accurately count the number of medicines contained in medicine sheets and / or fractional sheets, thereby enabling efficient dispensing of medicines. Medicine sheets may be placed on medicine placing table 37. In this case, imaging unit 371 can capture an image of the medicine sheet placed on medicine placing table 37.

[0237] <Control device> The control device 10 of this embodiment includes a medicine determination unit 124, an identification unit 125, and an image acquisition unit 126, and counts the number of medicines contained in a fractional sheet placed on the medicine placement table 37. Specifically, when a fractional sheet is removed from the medicine transfer unit 32, the identification unit 125 identifies the fractional sheet size of the fractional sheet by referring to the reference data stored in the memory unit 15. The imaging unit 371 captures an image of the fractional sheet removed from the medicine transfer unit 32 and placed on the medicine placement table 37. The image acquisition unit 126 acquires an image of the fractional sheet contained in the image captured by the imaging unit 371. If the medicine determination unit 124 can identify the image as a fractional sheet, it counts the value obtained by dividing the size of the image of the fractional sheet by the fractional sheet size identified by the identification unit 125 as the number of medicines contained in the fractional sheet placed on the medicine placement table 37. Using this method, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines corresponding to the number of fractional sheets acquired by the image acquisition unit 126. This allows the medicine determination unit 124 to count the number of medicines contained in all fractional sheets placed on the medicine placement table 37.

[0238] Control device 10 may also count the number of drug sheets (full sheets) placed on drug placing table 37 by including drug determination unit 124, identification unit 125, and image acquisition unit 126. Specifically, when a drug sheet is removed from drug transfer unit 32, identification unit 125 identifies the number of sheet drugs on the drug sheet by referring to the above-mentioned reference data stored in memory unit 15. Imaging unit 371 captures an image of the drug sheet removed from drug transfer unit 32 and placed on drug placing table 37. Image acquisition unit 126 acquires an image of the drug sheet included in the image captured by imaging unit 371. Drug determination unit 124 counts the value obtained by multiplying the number of acquired drug sheet images by the number of sheet drugs identified by identification unit 125 as the number of drugs included in all of the drug sheets placed on drug placing table 37. For example, if the medicine determination unit 124 can identify an image as a medicine sheet, it counts the number of medicine sheets identified by the identification unit 125 as the number of medicines per medicine sheet. The medicine determination unit 124 performs this counting for the number of medicine sheet images acquired, thereby counting the number of medicines contained in all of the medicine sheets placed on the medicine placing table 37. In this way, the medicine determination unit 124 can count the number of medicines contained in all of the medicine sheets placed on the medicine placing table 37.

[0239] When a medicine sheet and a remainder sheet are placed on the medicine placing table 37, the medicine determining unit 124 can count the number of medicines included in the combination of the medicine sheet and the remainder sheet.

[0240] The number of drugs contained in a drug sheet may be counted as follows. For example, when a drug sheet is removed from drug transfer section 32, identification section 125 identifies the fractional sheet size of the drug sheet by referring to the reference data stored in memory section 15. Imaging section 371 captures an image of the drug sheet removed from drug transfer section 32 and placed on drug placement table 37. Image acquisition section 126 acquires an image of the drug sheet included in the image captured by imaging section 371. If drug determination section 124 can identify the image as a drug sheet, it counts the value obtained by dividing the size of the drug sheet image by the fractional sheet size identified by identification section 125 as the number of drugs contained in the drug sheet placed on drug placement table 37. Using this method, drug determination section 124 counts the number of drugs equal to the number of drug sheets acquired by image acquisition section 126. This allows drug determination section 124 to count the number of drugs contained in all drug sheets placed on drug placement table 37.

[0241] If the image of the drug sheet acquired by image acquisition unit 126 is not rectangular, control device 10 determines that a portion of the drug sheet placed on drug placing table 37 is outside the imaging range of imaging unit 371. In this case, control device 10 may guide the user to re-place the drug sheet on drug placing table 37. For example, touch panel control unit 14 may display information on first touch panel 5 or second touch panel 31 that instructs the user to re-place the drug sheet on drug placing table 37. This allows control device 10 to execute counting of the number of drugs based on the imaging results of imaging unit 371.

[0242] <Controller processing> An example of the process of counting the number of drugs contained in a drug sheet or a remainder sheet in the control device 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 18 and 19. Figure 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of the control device 10. Figure 19 is a diagram for explaining the example of the process shown in Figure 18. In the following description, the drug sheets and the remainder sheets may be collectively referred to simply as "sheets."

[0243] As shown in FIG. 18, the identification unit 125 acquires reference data that specifies the number of sheet medicines included in one medicine sheet and the fractional sheet size per medicine for each medicine (S31). The identification unit 125 identifies the fractional sheet size of the medicine to be dispensed by referring to the acquired reference data (S32). That is, the identification unit 125 identifies the size of the fractional sheet containing one medicine that has been removed from the medicine delivery unit 32 and is the image target of the imaging unit 371. The fractional sheet size may, for example, specify the vertical length and horizontal length of the fractional sheet containing one medicine. The identification unit 125 also identifies the number of sheet medicines of the medicine to be dispensed by referring to the acquired reference data (S32).

[0244] When imaging unit 371 captures an image of a drug sheet or fractional sheet placed on drug placement table 37, image acquisition unit 126 acquires an image of the fractional sheet or drug sheet included in the captured image (S33). Acquisition of the sheet image from the captured image may be performed using known technology. In addition, image acquisition unit 126 identifies the number of images of drug sheets or fractional sheets included in the image (referred to as the number of sheets) (S34).

[0245] Reference numeral 19001 in FIG. 19 indicates an example of image IM1 captured by the imaging unit 371. In this example, the image acquisition unit 126 acquires, in image IM1, images I11 and I12 of the fractional sheet and image I13 of the medicine sheet. In reference numeral 19001, image I13 is an image of a medicine sheet (full sheet) containing 2 × 3 medicines (fractional sheets). The image acquisition unit 126 also determines that the image contains three images, i.e., the number of sheets is three. In the acquired image, an area having a predetermined width that does not contain medicines MD is the edge portion ER of the sheet. In this example, image I13 includes the edge portion ER.

[0246] The image acquisition unit 126 may extract an R (red), G (green), and B (blue) image from the captured image, and may apply a filter (e.g., a median filter) to remove noise to the B image, thereby obtaining a clearer image from the image.

[0247] The drug determination unit 124 determines whether the drug counting process is incomplete for all drug sheets or remaining sheets included in the image (S35). The drug determination unit 124 determines that the drug counting process is incomplete if the number of sheets on which the number of drugs was counted in S38 and S45 is less than the number of sheets specified by the image acquisition unit 126. When the number of sheets on which the number of drugs was counted in S38, etc. matches the number of sheets specified by the image acquisition unit 126, it determines that the drug counting process is complete for all sheets included in the image (NO in S35), and this flow ends.

[0248] When the drug determination unit 124 determines that the drug counting process is incomplete (YES in S35), it identifies the image of one sheet to be counted among the images of sheets included in the image (S36). At this time, as shown by reference numeral 19001, the drug determination unit 124 identifies, for each sheet, a row formed along the prescribed drug arrangement direction as an object OB. Information indicating the drug arrangement direction prescribed for each drug type is stored in the storage unit 15, and the drug determination unit 124 identifies the arrangement direction in the sheet image by referring to this information.

[0249] The drug determination unit 124 determines whether the identified sheet image is an image of a drug sheet (full sheet) (S37). For example, the drug determination unit 124 determines whether the sheet image substantially matches the length of the specified drug sheet image by referencing information indicating the length of the drug sheet specified for each drug type stored in the memory unit 15. The specified drug sheet length may be the vertical length and horizontal length of the drug sheet. If the drug determination unit 124 determines that the identified sheet image substantially matches the length of the specified drug sheet, it determines that the sheet image is an image of a drug sheet.

[0250] When the drug determination unit 124 determines that the identified sheet image is an image of a drug sheet (YES in S37), it counts the number of drugs contained in the sheet using the method described above (S38). For example, the drug determination unit 124 counts the number of sheet drugs identified by the identification unit 125 as the number of drugs per drug sheet placed on the drug placing table 37. In addition, for example, the drug determination unit 124 counts the value obtained by dividing the area of ​​the drug sheet image by the fractional sheet size (area here) identified by the identification unit 125 as the number of drugs contained in the drug sheet placed on the drug placing table 37. In addition, as in the case of a fractional sheet described below, when the drug sheet includes an edge portion ER, the drug determination unit 124 may count the number of drugs contained in the drug sheet based on the area excluding the portion corresponding to the edge portion ER from the drug sheet image.

[0251] The medicine determination unit 124 adds the number of medicines counted in S38 to the previous number of medicines (initial value: 0) in, for example, a buffer (not shown) (S39). This allows the total value of the counting process for all sheet images included in the image to be stored.

[0252] The medicine determination unit 124 adds the number of sheets for which counting processing has been completed to the previous number of sheets (initial value: 0) in, for example, a buffer (not shown) (S40), thereby enabling the medicine determination unit 124 to execute the processing of S35.

[0253] If the drug determination unit 124 determines that the identified sheet image is not an image of a drug sheet, i.e., is an image of a fractional sheet (NO in S37), it determines whether the identified sheet image includes an ear portion ER (S41). The memory unit 15 stores information indicating the presence or absence of an ear portion ER for each drug type. This information also includes size information that defines, for each drug type, the total length of the ear portion ER and the length of the fractional sheet including one drug adjacent to the ear portion ER. The ERAs in reference numerals 19001 and 19002 indicate this total value. Reference numeral 19002 shows another example of an image acquired by the image acquisition unit 126. For example, the drug determination unit 124 can determine whether the identified sheet image and the identified object OB include an ear portion ER by referring to the fractional sheet size and the above information.

[0254] Furthermore, the information indicating the presence or absence of the selvage parts ER also includes information indicating whether the selvage parts ER are present in the alignment direction of the medicine or in a direction different from the alignment direction (perpendicular to the alignment direction). Therefore, by referring to this information, the medicine determination unit 124 can determine whether the selvage parts ER are present in the alignment direction when the identified sheet image includes the selvage parts ER.

[0255] For example, in the case of images I11 and I12 of reference numeral 19001, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that no ear portion ER exists. In the case of image I13 of reference numeral 19001, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that an ear portion ER exists on the sheet containing the medicine to be dispensed, and that the ear portion ER exists in the arrangement direction. In the case of image 19002, an ear portion ER exists on the sheet containing the medicine to be dispensed, but the ear portion ER exists in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. Therefore, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the ear portion ER exists in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. In other words, in the case of reference numeral 19002, the medicine determination unit 124 can determine that the ear portion ER does not exist in the arrangement direction, i.e., that no ear portion ER exists in the object OB.

[0256] If the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the image of the identified sheet includes an ear portion ER (YES in S41), it determines whether the counting process for all objects OB is incomplete (S42). For the image of the fractional sheet, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines included in the fractional sheet for each object OB. This allows the number of fractional sheets to be counted more accurately.

[0257] Here, after counting the number of drugs in S45, the drug determination unit 124 counts the number of objects OB (objects OB for which the counting process has been completed) for which the number of drugs has been counted in S45. When the number of counted objects OB matches the number of objects OB included in the identified sheet (objects OB identified in S36), the drug determination unit 124 determines that the drug counting process has been completed for all objects OB included in the identified sheet. In this case (NO in S42), the drug determination unit 124 executes the process of S39.

[0258] If the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the medicine counting process is incomplete (YES in S42), it determines whether the length (e.g., vertical length) of the object OB excluding the ear portion ERA is approximately equal to an integer multiple of the fractional sheet size (e.g., vertical length) of the medicine to be dispensed (S43). The fractional sheet size of the medicine to be dispensed is included in the reference data stored in the memory unit 15. Furthermore, the length of the identified sheet image and the length of the object OB identified in the sheet image can be calculated by known image processing.

[0259] If the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the length of the object OB excluding the ear portions ERA is an integral multiple of the fractional sheet size (YES in S43), it subtracts the length of the ear portions ER (e.g., vertical length) from the length of the object OB (S44). The medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines included in the object using the method described above (S45). Thereafter, the medicine determination unit 124 returns to the process of S42.

[0260] If the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the length of the object OB excluding the ear portions ERA is not an integral multiple of the fractional sheet size (NO in S43), the medicine determination unit 124 subtracts an integral multiple of the fractional sheet size from the length of the object OB excluding the ear portions ERA, thereby calculating the remaining length (S46).

[0261] As described above, in S45, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the value obtained by dividing the size of the image of the fractional sheet by the fractional sheet size identified by the identification unit 125 as the number of medicines included in the fractional sheet placed on the medicine placement table 37. In this embodiment, the value obtained by dividing the size of the image of a certain object OB constituting the fractional sheet by the fractional sheet size identified by the identification unit 125 is counted as the number of medicines included in the object OB. For example, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the value obtained by dividing the vertical length (length in the arrangement direction) of the image of the object OB by the vertical length indicated by the fractional sheet size identified by the identification unit 125 as the number of medicines included in the object OB. The medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines included in the fractional sheet by repeating the same process for all objects OB included in the fractional sheet.

[0262] The drug determination unit 124 determines whether the length of the remainder is equal to or greater than the length (e.g., vertical length) of 0.5 tablets of the fractional sheet per drug to be dispensed (S47). If the drug determination unit 124 determines that the length of the remainder is equal to or greater than the length of 0.5 tablets (YES in S47), it subtracts the length of the remainder from the length of the object OB (S48). Thereafter, the drug determination unit 124 executes the processes of S44 and S45. If the drug determination unit 124 determines that the length of the remainder is less than the length of 0.5 tablets (NO in S47), it skips the process of S48 and proceeds to the process of S44.

[0263] If there is a remainder when the size of the image of the object OB is divided by the fractional sheet size identified by the identification unit 125, the medicine determination unit 124 rounds off the value to the nearest 1 digit and counts the number of medicines included in the object OB. Therefore, if the length of the remainder is equal to or greater than the length of 0.5 tablets, the rounding process results in the number of medicines being counted as one more. Therefore, if the length of the remainder is equal to or greater than the length of 0.5 tablets, the medicine determination unit 124 subtracts the length of the remainder from the length of the object OB.

[0264] The process of counting the number of medicines from the identified object OB will be described using reference numerals 19003 to 19006 in Fig. 19. In this example, it is assumed that medicines MD with a fractional sheet size of 10 mm are to be dispensed.

[0265] In reference numeral 19003, object OBA is identified for the acquired image IA, and the length of the image of object OBA is calculated to be 30 mm. Regarding object OBA, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the length of the image of object OBA, 30 mm, matches the fractional sheet size of 10 mm × 3. Therefore, the medicine determination unit 124 counts 30 mm / 10 mm = 3, that is, the number of medicines MD is 3.

[0266] In reference numeral 19004, object OBB is identified for the acquired image IB, and the length of the image of object OBB is calculated to be 33 mm. Regarding object OBB, the drug determination unit 124 determines that the length of the image of object OBB, 33 mm, does not match an integer multiple (here, 3 times) of the fractional sheet size of 10 mm. In this case, the drug determination unit 124 calculates 33 mm / 10 mm=3.3. That is, the drug determination unit 124 calculates the remainder length to be 3 mm. Because the remainder length of 3 mm is less than the length of 0.5 tablets, 5 mm, the drug determination unit 124 does not subtract the remainder length of 3 mm from the length of object OBB, 33 mm, but rounds off the above calculation result "3.3" and counts the number of drugs MD to be 3.

[0267] In reference numeral 19005, an object OBC is identified for the acquired image IC, and the length of the object OBC image is calculated to be 36 mm. Regarding the object OBC, the drug determination unit 124 determines that the length of the object OBC image, 36 mm, does not match an integer multiple (here, 3 times) of the fractional sheet size of 10 mm. In this case, the drug determination unit 124 calculates 36 mm / 10 mm=3.6. That is, the drug determination unit 124 calculates the remaining length to be 6 mm. Because the remaining length of 6 mm is greater than the length of 0.5 tablets, 5 mm, the drug determination unit 124 subtracts the remaining length of 6 mm from the length of the object OBC, 36 mm. The drug determination unit 124 then calculates 30 mm / 10 mm=3, thereby counting the number of drugs MD to be three.

[0268] Objects OBD1 to OBD3 are identified for the acquired image ID in reference numeral 19006. The length of object OBD1 is calculated to be 10 mm, the length of object OBD2 is 13 mm, and the length of object OBD3 is 33 mm.

[0269] For the object OBD1, the medicine determination unit 124 determines that the length of the image of the object OBD1, 10 mm, matches an integer multiple (here, 1) of the fractional sheet size, 10 mm. Therefore, the medicine determination unit 124 counts 10 mm / 10 mm=1, that is, the number of medicines MD is 1.

[0270] For object OBD2, the drug determination unit 124 determines that the length of the image of object OBD2, 13 mm, does not match an integer multiple (here, 1x) of the fractional sheet size of 10 mm. In this case, the drug determination unit 124 calculates 13 mm / 10 mm = 1.3. That is, the drug determination unit 124 calculates that the remainder length is 3 mm. Because the remainder length of 3 mm is smaller than the length of 0.5 tablets, 5 mm, the drug determination unit 124 does not subtract the remainder length of 3 mm from the length of object OBD2, 13 mm, but rounds off the above calculation result "1.3" and counts the number of drugs MD as 1.

[0271] The object OBD3 is the same as the object OBB denoted by the reference numeral 19004. Therefore, the medicine determination unit 124 counts the number of medicines MD included in the object OBD3 as three.

[0272] In the process of S38, that is, in counting the number of medicines included in a medicine sheet (full sheet), the above-described method for counting medicines in a fractional sheet may also be used.

[0273] [Embodiment 3] When the power supply (hereinafter simply referred to as the power supply) of the drug station 1 is off, a user may open the door 25 and remove a cassette Ca from the cassette shelf 21 or place a new cassette Ca on the cassette shelf 21. In this case, the position of the cassette Ca when the power supply is turned on may differ from the position of the cassette Ca before the power supply was turned off.

[0274] For example, if an open / close sensor is provided to detect the open / close state of the door 25, the open / close sensor can detect that the door 25 has changed from a closed state to an open state. Therefore, the control device 10 can determine that the location of the cassette Ca may have been changed. However, the open / close sensor performs its detection function while the power is on, and cannot perform its function when the power is off. Therefore, unless the control device 10 performs a process to identify the location of the cassette Ca after the power is turned on, it may not be able to detect the change even if the location of the cassette Ca changed while the power was off. If the control device 10 cannot identify the new location of the cassette Ca, it may transfer a cassette Ca different from the cassette Ca containing the drug to be dispensed to the picking unit 3.

[0275] The drug station 1 of this embodiment includes a second detector 27 (detector) that detects that the door 25 has been opened when the power is off after the power is turned on. Therefore, if it is assumed that the position of the cassette Ca has been changed when the power is off, the control device 10 can re-identify the position of the cassette Ca after the power is turned on. This allows for safe drug dispensing.

[0276] Fig. 20 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the arrangement of the first detection unit 26 and the second detection unit 27. In Fig. 20, reference numeral 20001 indicates a case where the door 25 is in a closed state, and reference numeral 20002 indicates a case where the door 25 is in an open state.

[0277] 20, a first detector 26 and a second detector 27 that detect the open / closed state of the door 25 are provided at an upper end 21U (also shown in FIG. 3) of the cassette shelf 21. The first detector 26 and the second detector 27 are provided for each of the plurality of doors 25 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0278] First detection unit 26 is, for example, a reflective optical sensor, and detects the closed state of door 25 by detecting light emitted by first detection unit 26 when door 25 is closed. While the power is on, first detection unit 26 detects the open / closed state of door 25. In other words, first detection unit 26 functions as the open / close sensor described above. Note that control device 10 may detect the open / closed state of door 25 depending on whether first detection unit 26 detects light.

[0279] The second detection unit 27 has a pin 271. As shown by reference numeral 20001, the pin 271 is pushed into the second detection unit 27 when the door 25 is in a closed state, and as shown by reference numeral 20002, the pin 271 is in a state of protruding from the second detection unit 27 when the door 25 is in an open state. The movement of the pin 271 linked to the door 25 enables the second detection unit 27 to detect the open / closed state of the door 25.

[0280] Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing an example of the second detection unit 27. Fig. 21 shows the state of the second detection unit 27 when the door 25 is in the open state. As indicated by reference numeral 21001 in Fig. 21, the second detection unit 27 includes a pin holding portion 281, a detection holding portion 282, and an attachment portion 283.

[0281] The pin holding portion 281 holds the pin 271. Furthermore, the pin holding portion 281 holds a dog 275 indicated by reference numeral 21002 in FIG.

[0282] The detection holder 282 holds the second detection unit 27. Specifically, the detection holder 282 holds the pin holder 281, as well as the spring receiving portion 274, the solenoid 276, and the groove-shaped optical sensor 277, all of which are indicated by the reference numeral 21002.

[0283] The attachment portion 283 is a member for attaching the second detection unit 27 to the upper end portion 21U of the drug station 1. The attachment portion 283 has the detection holder 282 attached thereto.

[0284] As indicated by reference numeral 21002 , the second detection unit 27 includes a pin 271 , a dog movable portion 272 , a spring 273 , a spring receiving portion 274 , a dog 275 , a solenoid 276 , and a groove-shaped optical sensor 277 .

[0285] One end of the pin 271 can come into contact with the door 25, and the other end is built into the spring receiving portion 274. A spring 273 is provided on the pin 271. The spring 273 moves the pin 271 in the ±Y-axis directions depending on whether the door 25 is open or closed, and is provided between the dog movable portion 272 and the inner wall of the spring receiving portion 274 with which the other end of the pin 271 comes into contact.

[0286] When the door 25 is in the closed state, the pin 271 is pushed into the second detection unit 27 (in the -Y-axis direction) by the door 25. Specifically, the pin 271 is pushed into the second detection unit 27 to a position where the other end of the pin 271 contacts the inner wall of the spring receiving portion 274. At this time, the spring 273 is in a biased state. Therefore, when the door 25 is in the open state, as shown in FIG. 21 , the pin 271 moves in a direction away from the spring receiving portion 274 (in the +Y-axis direction) due to the biasing force of the spring 273, and the door 25, which is in the closed state, is in a pressed-in state. This allows the pin 271 to move in the ±Y-axis directions according to the open / closed state of the door 25.

[0287] The dog movable part 272 is fixed to the pin 271, and moves the dog 275 in the +Y-axis direction in response to movement of the pin 271 in the +Y-axis direction. In this embodiment, the dog movable part 272 is in contact with the outer wall of the spring receiving part 274 when the door 25 is in the closed state. When the door 25 changes from the closed state to the open state, the dog movable part 272 inserts the dog 275, which is in contact with the dog movable part 272, into the insertion part 277A (see reference numeral 21003 in FIG. 21 ) of the groove-shaped optical sensor 277. The dog 275 is not inserted into the insertion part 277A when the door 25 is in the closed state (except when the door 25 changes from the open state to the closed state while the power is off), and the dog 275 is inserted into the insertion part 277A when the door 25 changes to the open state. The size and positioning of the dog movable portion 272, the dog 275 and the groove-shaped optical sensor 277, as well as the amount of movement of the pin 271, etc., may be determined so that such an operation can be realized.

[0288] The spring receiving portion 274 accommodates the other end of the pin 271 so that the pin 271 can move, and also accommodates the spring 273 provided at the other end of the pin 271 .

[0289] The dog 275 is a moving part that moves in conjunction with the operation of the door 25 when the door 25 is in the open state. As described above, the dog 275 moves in conjunction with the movement of the dog movable part 272 that is linked to the movement of the pin 271.

[0290] The solenoid 276 presses the dog 275 inserted into the insertion portion 277A in the -Y axis direction to move it to the outside of the insertion portion 277A. When the second detection unit 27 detects that the door 25 is closed and the control device 10 receives a user's input operation to reset the detection state, the solenoid 276 is driven under the control of the control device 10 to move the dog 275 to the outside of the insertion portion 277A. The control device 10 may automatically drive the solenoid 276 after a predetermined time (e.g., 0.5 to 1 second) has elapsed after the power is turned on.

[0291] The grooved optical sensor 277 has a substantially C-shaped insertion portion 277A into which the dog 275 is inserted, as indicated by the reference numeral 21003, and is a movement detection unit that detects the dog 275 inserted into the insertion portion 277A. The grooved optical sensor 277 (specifically, the insertion portion 277A) is, for example, a transmission-type optical sensor including an emission portion that emits light and a light receiving portion that receives the light. If the dog 275 is inserted into the insertion portion 277A while the power is off, the light receiving portion cannot receive light after the power is turned on because the dog 275 blocks the light emitted by the emission portion. This allows the grooved optical sensor 277 to detect the dog 275. In other words, the second detection unit 27 detects that the door 25 is in the open state by detecting the dog 275. In addition, the control device 10 may detect that the door 25 has entered the open state when the power is turned off by receiving a detection signal indicating that the second detection unit 27 has detected the dog 275.

[0292] Fig. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the second detection unit 27. Reference numeral 22001 in Fig. 22 indicates the state of the second detection unit 27 when the door 25 is in the closed state. At this time, the pin 271 is pressed down by the door 25, causing the spring 273 to be compressed by the dog movable part 272, and the pin 271 is pushed into the second detection unit 27. In reference numeral 22001, the spring 273 is compressed inside the spring receiving part 274. Furthermore, the dog 275 is located outside (on the dog movable part 272 side in this embodiment) the groove-shaped optical sensor 277 (specifically, the insertion part 277A).

[0293] Assume that the power is turned off when the door 25 is in the closed state (the state of the second detection unit 27 indicated by reference numeral 22001). Reference numeral 22002 in FIG. 22 indicates the state of the second detection unit 27 when the door 25 is in the open state with the power turned off. At this time, the pin 271 moves in the +Y-axis direction due to the biasing force of the spring 273. In conjunction with this movement, the dog movable part 272 also moves in the +Y-axis direction. Then, the dog movable part 272 presses down on the dog 275 while moving in the +Y-axis direction. As a result, the dog 275 moves in the +Y-axis direction in conjunction with the movement of the dog movable part 272 and is inserted into the groove-shaped optical sensor 277. That is, when the door 25 is in the open state, the dog 275 is inserted into the insertion part 277A. By inserting the dog 275 into the insertion part 277A, the second detection unit 27 can detect that the door 25 is in the open state after the power is turned on.

[0294] Reference numeral 22003 in FIG. 22 indicates the state of the second detection unit 27 when the door 25 returns from the open state to the closed state while the power is off. When the door 25 is closed, the pin 271 is pushed into the second detection unit 27 (in the −Y-axis direction) by the door 25. In conjunction with the movement of the pin 271, the dog movable part 272 also moves in the −Y-axis direction. Meanwhile, the dog 275 is maintained in a state corresponding to the open state even when the door 25 returns from the open state to the closed state. Specifically, the dog 275 is maintained in a state inserted into the insertion part 277A due to the frictional force generated between the dog 275 and the insertion part 277A (including the viscosity of the grease applied between the dog 275 and the insertion part 277A). Therefore, even if the door 25 returns to the closed state while the power is off, the second detection unit 27 can detect that the door 25 has returned to the open state after the power is turned on.

[0295] Assume that the power is turned on from the state indicated by reference numeral 22002 or 22003. Here, the memory unit 15 stores data associating the cassette identification information with the storage position of the cassette Ca on the cassette shelf 21. In other words, the cassette Ca and the position of the cassette Ca on the cassette shelf 21 are associated in advance.

[0296] For example, after the power is turned on, the position identification unit 113 of the control device 10 associates the cassette Ca with the position of the cassette Ca on the cassette shelf 21, and updates the data in the memory unit 15. This makes it possible to identify the position of the cassette Ca again after the power is turned on, in the case where it is assumed that the door 25 was in the open state when the power was turned off and the position of the cassette Ca was changed.

[0297] The position identifying unit 113 updates the above data when the second detection unit 27 detects that the door 25 is open after the power is turned on. At this time, the position identifying unit 113 may identify the positions of the cassettes Ca on all the cassette shelves 21. However, as described above, the cassette shelf 21 can store 1500 to 2000 types of medicine. In other words, the cassette shelf 21 can store a large number of cassettes Ca that can accommodate the medicines. Therefore, if the positions of the cassettes Ca on all the cassette shelves 21 were to be identified every time the power was turned on, this would require a significant amount of processing time.

[0298] In order to reduce the processing time, the position identifying unit 113 may identify the position of the cassette Ca on some of the cassette shelves 21 among all of the cassette shelves 21. In other words, the position identifying unit 113 may again associate the cassette Ca with the position on the cassette shelf 21 for the cassette Ca housed in the area corresponding to the door 25 whose open state has been detected by the second detection unit 27, among the cassettes Ca housed on the cassette shelf 21.

[0299] Identification information of the second detection unit 27 provided in each door 25 and information indicating the area corresponding to the door 25 are associated with each other and stored in the memory unit 15. When the position identification unit 113 receives a detection signal indicating that the open state of the door 25 has been detected from the second detection unit 27 that detected the open state of the door 25, the position identification unit 113 identifies that the detection signal is from the second detection unit 27. The position identification unit 113 identifies the placement position of the cassette Ca stored in the area of ​​the cassette shelf 21 associated with the identified second detection unit 27.

[0300] As a result, the position specifying unit 113 re-specifies only the placement position of the cassette Ca accommodated in the area corresponding to the door 25 that was in the open state when the power was turned off. In other words, the position specifying unit 113 does not specify the placement position of the cassette Ca accommodated in the area corresponding to the door 25 that remained in the closed state when the power was turned off. Therefore, the process of specifying the placement position of the cassette Ca can be performed efficiently.

[0301] Furthermore, after the power is turned on, as indicated by reference numeral 22003, when the second detection unit 27 detects the open state of the door 25, the control device 10 receives a user input operation to reset the detection state, or a predetermined time has elapsed since the power was turned on. In this case, as indicated by reference numeral 22004 in FIG. 22, the solenoid 276 is driven under the control of the control device 10 to move the dog 275 outside the groove-shaped optical sensor 277 (in the -Y-axis direction). This places the second detection unit 27 in the same state as indicated by reference numeral 22001. Therefore, even when the power is turned off next time, the second detection unit 27 can detect that the door 25 has entered the open state. Note that in the state indicated by reference numeral 22002, the control device 10 may drive the solenoid 276 when the control device 10 receives a user input operation to reset the detection state, or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the power was turned on.

[0302] Here, in order to detect the open state of the door 25 when the power is off, it is conceivable to install a battery in the drug station 1, for example, so that the open / close sensor remains energized even when the power is off. However, if a battery is used, the battery needs to be replaced, for example, every few years. Furthermore, batteries (e.g., lithium ion batteries) are relatively expensive. As described above, in this embodiment, a mechanically operated second detection unit 27 is provided to detect the open state of the door 25 when the power is off. Therefore, the open state of the door 25 when the power is off can be detected more cheaply than when a battery is provided, and without the hassle of periodic replacement.

[0303] <Modification> Although the configuration has been described in which the second detection unit 27 detects that the door 25 has entered the open state when the power is off, the present invention is not limited to this. The second detection unit 27 may be configured to detect, after the power is turned on, that at least one cassette Ca placed on the cassette shelf 21 has moved when the power is off. In this case, the second detection unit 27 may be provided at a position on the cassette shelf 21 where the movement of each cassette Ca can be detected.

[0304] The operation of the second detection unit 27 in this modified example is the same as that described above, except that it is performed based on the movement of the cassette Ca instead of the movement of the door 25. That is, the dog 275 moves in conjunction with the movement of the cassette Ca when the cassette Ca moves, and the second detection unit 27 detects the movement of the cassette Ca by detecting the dog 275. Even if the cassette Ca that moved while the power was off returns to its original position, the dog 275 is maintained in a state corresponding to the state before the cassette Ca returned to its original position. Specifically, when the cassette Ca moves, the dog 275 is inserted into the insertion portion 277A, and even if the moved cassette Ca returns to its original position, the dog 275 is maintained in a state inserted into the insertion portion 277A due to the frictional force generated between the insertion portion 277A and the dog 275.

[0305] Furthermore, when the second detection unit 27 detects the open state of the door 25 or the movement of the cassette Ca while the power is off, the control device 10 may report the door 25 or the cassette Ca. For example, the correspondence between the second detection unit 27 provided in each door 25 or each cassette Ca and the door 25 or the cassette Ca is stored in the memory unit 15. When the control device 10 receives a detection signal indicating that the open state of the door 25 or the movement of the cassette Ca has been detected from the second detection unit 27 that detected the open state of the door 25 or the movement of the cassette Ca, the control device 10 refers to the memory unit 15 and identifies the door 25 or the cassette Ca to which the second detection unit 27 is provided. The touch panel control unit 14 reports the position of the identified door 25 or the cassette Ca via the first touch panel 5.

[0306] The second detection unit 27 also operates when the door 25 is opened when the power is turned on and when it is subsequently closed. That is, the second detection unit 27 is in the state indicated by reference numeral 22002 when the door 25 is opened when the power is turned on, and in the state indicated by reference numeral 22003 when the door 25 is subsequently closed. Here, if the door 25 is opened when the power is turned on and then closed, the first detection unit 26 detects that the door 25 has returned to the closed state. After a predetermined time (e.g., several seconds) has elapsed since the detection, the control device 10 activates the solenoid 276, thereby returning the second detection unit 27, which has been in the above state, to the initial state indicated by reference numeral 22004 (reference numeral 22001). Therefore, even if the second detection unit 27 operates when the power is turned on, the second detection unit 27 can detect that the door 25 has been opened when the power is turned off.

[0307] [Embodiment 4] In this embodiment, the description will be given assuming that the medicines taken out from the medicine delivery / reception unit 32 and put into the transport tray Tr (that is, the medicines to be dispensed) are medicine sheets (whole or fractional sheets of a medicine sheet).

[0308] For example, if a patient is prescribed a remainder sheet containing only one medication, the patient may mistakenly take the medication from the remainder sheet and swallow it (i.e., the entire sheet) without removing the medication. This embodiment reduces the possibility of such accidental ingestion, allowing for safe dispensing of medication sheets.

[0309] The second touch panel 31 of this embodiment functions as a guide unit that, under the control of the touch panel control unit 14, guides the user to place a remainder sheet containing two or more medicines on the medicine placing table 37 when the following conditions are met: Condition: When the specified number specified as the quantity of drugs to be removed from the cassette Ca transferred from the cassette shelf 21 to the drug delivery section 32 is divided by the number of sheets of drug contained in one drug sheet (full sheet), the remainder is 1.

[0310] Specifically, the control device 10 identifies the number of sheets of medicine associated with the identified medicine to be dispensed by referring to the storage unit 15. The control device 10 also identifies the designated number of medicines to be dispensed, for example, by referring to the dispensing data. The control device 10 determines whether the remainder when the designated number is divided by the number of sheets of medicine is 1. If the remainder is 1, as described above, the touch panel control unit 14 guides the user via the second touch panel 31 to place the remaining sheets containing two or more medicines on the medicine placing table 37.

[0311] For example, when the control device 10 determines that the remainder is 1, the touch panel control unit 14 may guide, via the second touch panel 31, the user to place fractional sheets containing the number of medicines obtained by adding 1 to the number of sheets of medicine on the medicine placing table 37. At this time, the touch panel control unit 14 guides the user to place, on the tray placing table 38, the number of medicine sheets obtained by subtracting 1 from the plurality of medicine sheets (full sheets) containing the number of medicines obtained by subtracting 1 from the designated number.

[0312] Consider the case where the first counting mode (a mode in which the number of drugs contained in a drug sheet is counted based on weight and the number of drugs contained in a fractional sheet is counted based on an image) is set as described above. In this case, too, the drug determination unit 124 may determine whether the weight of the drug sheet placed on the tray mounting base 38 and weighed by the weighing unit 382 substantially matches the value obtained by multiplying the specified weight of one drug sheet of the drugs to be dispensed by the number of drug sheets determined to be dispensed. In other words, the drug determination unit 124 refers to the weight of one specified drug sheet and calculates the total weight of the number of drug sheets obtained by subtracting one from the number of drug sheets containing the specified number of drugs. The drug determination unit 124 may then determine whether the calculated weight substantially matches the weight of the drug sheets placed on the tray mounting base 38.

[0313] For example, when 41 medicines are to be dispensed, control device 10 of this embodiment determines that 30 medicines will be dispensed using three medicine sheets and 11 medicines will be dispensed using the remaining number of medicines. In this case, medicine determination unit 124 determines whether the weight of the medicine sheet placed on tray mounting base 38 and weighed by weighing unit 382 is approximately equal to the weight of one specified medicine sheet of the medicine to be dispensed multiplied by 3, which is the number of medicine sheets determined to be dispensed.

[0314] Here, when multiple drug sheets containing the specified number of drugs minus one are placed on the tray placing table 38, it is assumed that 40 drugs will be dispensed using four drug sheets. Based on this assumption, the drug determination unit 124 may determine whether three drug sheets containing 30 drugs are placed on the tray placing table 38 as follows. That is, the drug determination unit 124 compares the weight of the drug sheets placed on the tray placing table 38 with the specified weight of one drug sheet of the drug to be dispensed multiplied by the value obtained by subtracting one from the number of drug sheets based on the above assumption (4) (i.e., 3). The drug determination unit 124 may make the above determination based on this comparison.

[0315] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of an image (screen) displayed on the second touch panel 31. Reference numeral 23001 is an example of an image providing guidance to remove a remainder sheet containing only one drug from the drug delivery unit 32. Reference numeral 23002 is an example of an image providing guidance to remove a remainder sheet containing two or more drugs from the drug delivery unit 32, and is an example of guidance in this embodiment. In the example of FIG. 23, the number of drug sheets is 10, and the specified number is 41. That is, the control device 10 calculates the specified number 41 / number of drug sheets 10 = 4 remainder 1.

[0316] The image with reference numeral 23001 displays "ABC" and "4 sheets 1T 41T" ("T" indicates the number of tablets). That is, based on the calculation results, touch panel control unit 14 guides the user to remove the specified number of 41 medicines for the medicine to be dispensed, with the name of the medicine "ABC", by removing four medicine sheets and a remainder sheet containing one medicine from medicine delivery / reception unit 32. In other words, touch panel control unit 14 guides the user to place the remainder sheet containing only one medicine from medicine delivery / reception unit 32 on medicine placement table 37 for the medicine "ABC" to be dispensed.

[0317] In this case, the worker who sees the image of reference numeral 23001 places a fractional sheet containing only one medicine on the medicine placing table 37, and then places the fractional sheet into the transport tray Tr placed on the tray placing table 38. Therefore, since the fractional sheet is prescribed to the patient, there is a possibility that the patient may accidentally swallow the fractional sheet, as described above.

[0318] In some cases, hospital or pharmacy regulations (internal rules) require prescription sheets to be cut out to prevent the generation of fractional sheets containing only one medication. Even in this case, if image 23001 is displayed, there is a possibility that prescription sheets or fractional sheets will be dispensed in accordance with the instructions in the image. Therefore, even if such internal rules exist, there is a possibility that fractional sheets containing only one medication will be dispensed.

[0319] On the other hand, the image with reference numeral 23002 displays "ABC" and "3 sheets 11T 41T." That is, in this embodiment, the touch panel control unit 14 determines that the above-mentioned condition is met from the above calculation result. As a result, the touch panel control unit 14 guides the user to remove three drug sheets and 11 drug sheets as fractional sheets for the drug "ABC" to be dispensed from the drug delivery unit 32, thereby removing the specified number of 41 drugs.

[0320] In other words, touch panel control unit 14 guides the user to take out 11 medicines, which is the number of sheets of medicines (10 plus one), from medicine delivery / reception unit 32 and place them as fractional sheets on medicine placement table 37. Touch panel control unit 14 also guides the user to place three medicine sheets, which is the number of medicines (40, which is the specified number of 41 minus one) minus one, on tray placement table 38.

[0321] It is unlikely that an operator who sees the image of reference numeral 23002 would take one medicine as a fractional sheet and then further separate the remaining 10 medicines into fractional sheets and take them out, given the operator's normal dispensing operations. It is also unlikely that an operator who sees the image of reference numeral 23002 would take one medicine as a fractional sheet and then take out the remaining 10 medicines as medicine sheets. When providing such dispensing guidance, touch panel control unit 14 displays the image of reference numeral 23001.

[0322] Therefore, when an operator visually recognizes the image of the symbol 23002, there is a high possibility that the operator will remove 11 medicines as fractional sheets from the medicine delivery / reception unit 32 (for example, remove a fractional sheet containing five medicines and a fractional sheet containing six medicines) and place them on the medicine placement table 37. This possibility becomes even higher when the above-mentioned internal regulations are stipulated. Therefore, by displaying the image of the symbol 23002, the possibility of the above-mentioned accidental ingestion occurring can be reduced.

[0323] In this way, when there is a possibility that a remainder sheet containing only one medicine will be generated, control device 10 of this embodiment can guide the operator who removes the medicine sheets to place the remainder sheet containing two or more medicines on medicine placing table 37. This reduces the possibility of the above-mentioned accidental ingestion, thereby realizing safe dispensing of medicine sheets.

[0324] The touch panel control unit 14 may provide the guidance via the first touch panel 5. If the above-described guidance is possible, the guidance may be provided by various notification techniques, such as guidance by lighting or guidance by sound (e.g., voice), instead of image display.

[0325] [Embodiment 5] In this embodiment, an information processing device 900 is described that presents a method for storing medicine containers containing multiple medicines in each of multiple cassettes Ca stored in a drug station 1. In this embodiment, the medicine containers are, for example, packages in which medicine sheets or powder medicines are packaged (pillow-packaged) in units of multiple units, or boxes in which such packages are stored. The medicine containers may also be, for example, boxes in which medicines other than medicine sheets (e.g., ointments, eye drops) are stored. The information processing device 900, which will be described later, makes it possible to store various types of medicines in cassettes Ca while reducing the burden on the user required to consider which type of cassette Ca (see FIG. 5) each of the multiple types of medicines should be stored in and how. This allows medicines to be stored in cassettes Ca efficiently.

[0326] 24 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of an information processing device 900. The information processing device 900 includes an operation unit 901, a display unit 902, a control unit 903, and a storage unit 904. The information processing device 900 may be, for example, a PC (Personal Computer) or a portable information terminal (e.g., a tablet or a smartphone). The operation unit 901 and the display unit 902 may be external devices communicably connected to the information processing device 900. Furthermore, the information processing device 900 may be realized by, for example, the control device 10 of the drug station 1.

[0327] The operation unit 901 accepts input operations from the user. The operation unit 901 accepts input operations for, for example, a medicine list image (medicine list screen) shown in Fig. 26 described later. The display unit 902 displays various information. The display unit 902 displays, for example, an image for inputting information via the operation unit 901 (e.g., the medicine list image shown in Fig. 26).

[0328] The control unit 903 controls all the units included in the information processing device 900. The control unit 903 includes a determination unit 931 and an output unit 932.

[0329] The determination unit 931 determines the type of cassette Ca that contains the target medicine, the number of cassettes Ca of each type, and the number of medicine containers that can be contained in each cassette Ca of each type, based on the quantity reference data and the number of dispensed medicines described below.

[0330] The number reference data is data that specifies the number of drug containers that can be accommodated in a cassette Ca for each type of drug based on the dimensions of each of multiple types of cassettes Ca of different sizes and the dimensions of each of multiple types of drug containers that can be accommodated in the cassette Ca. The multiple types of cassettes Ca are, for example, a large cassette Ca1, a medium cassette Ca2, and a small cassette Ca3 shown in Figure 5.

[0331] The dispensing number is the number of target drugs contained in the cassette Ca that will be dispensed from the drug station 1 within a predetermined period. The predetermined period is set appropriately based on an index indicating how many drugs are desired to be stored on the cassette shelf 21 at the hospital or other facility that receives the drug station 1, i.e., how long the drugs are desired to be dispensed without being refilled. For example, if it is desired to store the amount of drugs that is estimated to be dispensed without being refilled for three days (the dispensing number), the predetermined period is set to three days.

[0332] Furthermore, as described above, by providing partitions in each of the multiple types of cassettes Ca, multiple storage areas for storing drug containers can be formed in the cassette Ca. The quantity reference data may further specify the number of drug containers that can be stored in the cassette Ca for each type of drug based on the dimensions of the storage areas. In this case, the type of cassette Ca, the number of cassettes Ca, and the number of drug containers that can be stored in each cassette Ca can be determined taking into account the dimensions of the storage areas formed in each cassette Ca. However, when multiple types of cassettes Ca are used without partitions, it is not necessarily necessary to specify the quantity reference data taking into account the dimensions of the storage areas.

[0333] The output unit 932 outputs the determination result of the determination unit 931 to the printing device 950. The printing device 950 receives the output from the output unit 932 and prints out the determination result of the determination unit 931. This makes it possible to present the determination result of the determination unit 931 to the user as a report. Note that the output unit 932 may display the determination result of the determination unit 931 on, for example, the display unit 902. In this case, it is not necessarily necessary for the printing device 950 to be connected to the information processing device 900.

[0334] The storage unit 904 stores, for example, various programs used by the control unit 903 and the number reference data described above.

[0335] <Number standard data> Figure 25 is a diagram for explaining the number-based data. Reference numeral 25001 in Figure 25 is a diagram for explaining the number-based data used when a box containing medicines is stored in a cassette Ca. Reference numeral 25002 in Figure 25 is a diagram for explaining the number-based data used when a package containing a medicine sheet (pillow package) is stored in a cassette Ca.

[0336] In FIG. 25, "L," "M," and "S" indicate the type of cassette Ca, and respectively indicate the large cassette Ca1, medium cassette Ca2, and small cassette Ca3 shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, "L / 5" indicates one storage area when the large cassette Ca1 is divided into five equal parts by the partition Ca11, as shown by reference numeral 5001 in FIG. 5. "L / 2" indicates one storage area when the large cassette Ca1 is divided into two equal parts by the partition Ca11. "M / 2" indicates one storage area when the medium cassette Ca2 is divided into two equal parts by the partition Ca21. "S / 2" indicates one storage area when the small cassette Ca3 is divided into two equal parts by the partition. "L / 5," "L / 2," "M / 2," and "S / 2" may also indicate the type of cassette Ca.

[0337] The large cassette Ca1 has insertion portions into which dividers can be inserted at positions that allow the large cassette Ca1 to be divided into five equal parts and in half. The medium cassette Ca2 has insertion portions into which dividers can be inserted at positions that allow the medium cassette Ca2 to be divided into two equal parts. The same is true for the small cassette Ca3.

[0338] In the example of reference numeral 25001, patterns Pa1 and Pa2 are defined as patterns for storing boxes in various cassettes Ca or storage areas. Pattern Pa1 is a pattern that can store one box in "L", one in "L / 2", one in "S", or one in "S / 2". Pattern Pa2 is a pattern that can store two boxes in "L" or two in "L / 2".

[0339] A proposer of a cassette Ca storage method identifies which cassette Ca or storage area can store the cassette Ca for each of multiple types of boxes that can be stored in the cassette Ca. For example, for a box that can store at least one in "S / 2" and is expected to store only one in the cassette Ca or storage area, "pattern Pa1" is assigned to the drug identification information (e.g., YJ code, GS1 code) of the drug stored in that box. For example, for a box that cannot be stored in "S / 2" but can store two in "M" and is expected to store two in the cassette Ca, "pattern Pa2" is assigned to the drug identification information of the drug stored in that box. The assigned pattern is stored in memory unit 904 in association with the drug identification information.

[0340] In the example of the reference numeral 25002, patterns Pa11 to Pa23 are defined as patterns for storing packages in various cassettes Ca or storage areas.

[0341] For example, pattern Pa11 is a pattern that can accommodate 10 packages in "L", 5 in "L / 2", 8 in "M", 4 in "M / 2", or 2 in "L / 5". Pattern Pa11 is a pattern selected for packages that can accommodate at least 4 packages in "M / 2" or 2 packages in "L / 5". Patterns Pa12 to Pa15 can be explained in the same way as pattern Pa11.

[0342] Pattern Pa16 is a pattern that cannot fit into "L / 5" but can fit at least one package into "S / 2". Specifically, pattern Pa16 is a pattern that can fit six packages into "L", four into "L / 2", five into "M", three into "M / 2", two into "S", or one into "S / 2". Patterns Pa17 to Pa18 can be explained in the same way as pattern Pa16.

[0343] Pattern Pa19 is a pattern that cannot accommodate packages in "L / 5," "S," and "Half," but can accommodate at least three packages in "M." "Half" is a general term for "L / 2," "M / 2," and "S / 2." Specifically, pattern Pa19 is a pattern that can accommodate four packages in "L" and three packages in "M." Patterns Pa20 to Pa22 can be explained in the same way as pattern Pa11. Furthermore, pattern Pa23 is a pattern that can accommodate only one package in "L."

[0344] The proposer identifies which cassette Ca or storage area can accommodate each of multiple types of packages that can be stored in a cassette Ca. For example, for a package that can accommodate two drugs in an "L / 5" size and four drugs in an "M / 2" size, "pattern Pa11" is assigned to the drug identification information of the drug contained in the package. For example, for a package that cannot be stored in an "L / 5" size but can accommodate one drug in an "S / 2" size, "pattern Pa16" is assigned to the drug identification information of the drug contained in the package. For example, for a package that cannot be stored in an "L / 5," "S," or "Half" size but can accommodate a package that can accommodate three drugs in an "M" size, "pattern Pa19" is assigned to the drug identification information of the drug contained in the package. For example, for a package that can only accommodate one drug in an "L" size, "pattern Pa23" is assigned to the drug identification information of the drug contained in the package. The assigned patterns are stored in memory 904 in association with the drug identification information.

[0345] Here, the quantities (actual usage) of various drugs used during a predetermined usage period (e.g., 90 days) at a hospital or other facility that has installed drug station 1 are managed, for example, by dispensing control device 800 shown in FIG. 1 . Control unit 903 acquires, from dispensing control device 800, for example, drug identification information for drugs used at the hospital or other facility that has installed drug station 1. Control unit 903 identifies the pattern assigned to the acquired drug identification information by referring to memory unit 904. This allows control unit 903 to define a pattern (the number of drug containers that can be stored in each cassette Ca or each storage area) for each type of drug (drug that can be stored in drug station 1) used at the hospital or other facility that has installed drug station 1. Control unit 903 creates the thus-defined data as quantity reference data and stores it in memory unit 904.

[0346] The content and number of the above-mentioned patterns are merely examples, and may be set appropriately based on the size of each of the multiple types of cassettes Ca and the size of the drug containers that can be accommodated.

[0347] <Calculating the number of payouts> The control unit 903 calculates the number of the above-mentioned various drugs to be dispensed, for example, based on the quantity of each drug used during a specified period of use (e.g., 90 days) at the hospital or other facility where the drug station 1 is installed, using the following (1) or (2).

[0348] (1) Maximum daily usage x average number of times per day x refill interval x specified period (e.g., 3 days).

[0349] (2) The specified period (e.g., 3 days) during which the number of items is the greatest.

[0350] In (1), the "maximum daily usage amount" refers to the maximum usage amount of the target drug per day during a specified usage period. The "average daily occurrence count" is the cumulative number of times the target drug is used during a specified usage period divided by the specified usage period. If the target drug is used at least once per day during the specified usage period, the control unit 903 counts the number of times the target drug is used as 1. For example, if the target drug is used on 81 days out of 90 days, the control unit 903 counts the cumulative number of times the target drug is used as 81. In this case, the control unit 903 calculates the "average daily occurrence count" as 81 / 90 = 0.9. The "refill interval" refers to the period from when the target drug is refilled to the next time the target drug is refilled during a specified usage period. If there are multiple periods, the average value may be used.

[0351] In (1), the control unit 903 calculates the unit dispensed number of the target drug per day by multiplying the maximum daily usage amount x the average number of times it is dispensed per day x the refill interval, and calculates the dispensed number by multiplying the unit dispensed number per day by the specified period.

[0352] In (2), the control unit 903 calculates the number of target drugs used during a predetermined period for each predetermined period. Number of target drugs used on days 1, 2, and 3; Number of target drugs used on days 2, 3, and 4; … Number of target drugs used on days 87, 88, and 89; Number of target drugs used on days 88, 89, and 90; The control unit 903 calculates the maximum number of these calculated numbers of target medicines as the number to be dispensed.

[0353] <Processing Example of the Determining Unit 931> The determination unit 931 determines the type of cassette Ca that will contain the target drug based on the number of target drugs to be dispensed calculated in this manner and the number reference data for the target drug (a combination of the number of drug containers contained in each of the various cassettes Ca and storage areas specified by the pattern).

[0354] For example, consider a case where the pattern specified for the target drug is pattern Pa11 and 55 packages are to be stored in a cassette Ca. In this case, the determination unit 931 refers to pattern Pa11 to identify combinations that can store 55 packages, and determines one of those combinations as the storage method for the target drug.

[0355] For example, the determination unit 931 determines that the types of cassettes Ca that contain the target drug are "L" and "L / 2." In this case, the determination unit 931 determines the number of "L"s to be 5, the number of target drugs that can be contained in each "L" to be 50, the number of "L / 2"s to be 1, and the number of target drugs that can be contained in each "L / 2" to be 5.

[0356] The determination unit 931 may determine the type and number of cassettes Ca to be used by, for example, selecting from the above combinations the combination that has the highest storage rate in the various cassettes Ca when the target drug is stored in the various cassettes Ca. The determination unit 931 may also determine the type and number by, for example, selecting from the above combinations the combination that has the smallest total value of the area (storage area) of the bottoms of the selected various cassettes Ca. This selection of the combination may be performed, for example, according to a predetermined agreement.

[0357] The determination unit 931 determines the type of cassette Ca that will accommodate the target drugs for all of the target drugs, etc. This makes it possible to present to the user the number of cassettes Ca required for each type when all of the multiple types of drugs that can be accommodated in the cassette Ca are accommodated, and the number of drug containers that can be accommodated in the cassette Ca.

[0358] The determination unit 931 may determine the types of cassettes Ca containing the target drugs for all of the target drugs using a combination different from the combination selected as described above. In this case, the output unit 932 can output two or more types of information regarding the required number of cassettes Ca for each type. Therefore, it is possible to present two or more types of information regarding the required number of cassettes Ca for each type to the user.

[0359] The determination unit 931 may determine the type of the cassette Ca using, for example, the following two methods. -Determining the type of cassette Ca, etc., assuming that all types of cassette Ca ("L", "M", and "S") and storage areas ("L / 5", "L / 2", "M / 2", and "S / 2") will be used. - Deciding on the type of cassette Ca, etc., assuming that all types of cassette Ca ("L", "M", and "S") will be used, but that the storage areas ("L / 5", "L / 2", "M / 2", and "S / 2") will not be used. In this case, the output unit 932 can output the two types of determination results to the printing device 950, making it possible to present the two types of determination results to the user.

[0360] Furthermore, the determination unit 931 may determine the type of cassette Ca that contains the target drug, etc., within a range that does not exceed the total number of various cassettes Ca used in the drug station 1. Furthermore, the determination unit 931 may determine the type of cassette Ca that contains the target drug, for example, based on the selection of the above combination, even if the number exceeds the total number of various cassettes Ca used in the drug station 1. In this case, the output unit 932 may output the type and number of cassettes Ca that are in short supply, and the type and number may be used as materials for considering equipment expansion.

[0361] The determination result of the determination unit 931 may be stored in the memory unit 904. For example, the type of cassette Ca, the number of cassettes Ca, and cassette identification information are stored in association with the drug name and drug identification information in the memory unit 904. The number of drugs stored for each cassette Ca (or for each storage area) may also be stored.

[0362] The types of cassettes Ca may include, for example, the number of partitions in the cassette Ca, in addition to the cassette size, such as a large cassette Ca1, a medium cassette Ca2, and a small cassette Ca3.

[0363] For example, in the case of a large cassette Ca1 with 0 partitions, the type of cassette Ca indicates a large cassette Ca1 that is not divided by partitions (the above-mentioned "L"). For example, in the case of a large cassette Ca1 with 1 partition, the type of cassette Ca may indicate a single storage area of ​​the large cassette Ca1 that is formed by dividing it into two equal parts by partitions (the above-mentioned "L / 2"). For example, in the case of a large cassette Ca1 with 4 partitions, the type of cassette Ca may indicate a single storage area that is formed by dividing it into four equal parts by partitions (the above-mentioned "L / 5"). The same applies to the medium-sized cassette Ca2 and the small-sized cassette Ca3.

[0364] Here, when the drug station 1 is brought into a hospital or the like and put into operation, the user needs to store available drugs in the cassette shelf 21. However, as described above, the cassette shelf 21 can store 1,500 to 2,000 types of drugs, which are expected to be used in a single facility such as a hospital. In some cases, the cassette shelf 21 may store several thousand types (e.g., 3,000 types) of drugs. This means that a larger number of drugs can be stored than in the tablet packaging machine 300, and the cassette shelf 21 can also function as the drug shelf 700. There are multiple types of cassettes Ca that can be used in the drug station 1. Furthermore, depending on the cassette Ca, the number of drug types that can be stored per cassette Ca can be increased by providing a partition.

[0365] When storing medicines on the cassette shelf 21, the user had to determine the number of medicines to store on the cassette shelf 21 for each of the thousands of types of medicines based on the number of medicines dispensed in the past, etc. Furthermore, the user had to consider the type and number of cassettes Ca to store the medicines, including whether or not they have dividers, taking into account the determined number of medicines and the actual size of the box or package containing the medicines, for each of the thousands of types of medicines. Furthermore, even if the number of types of medicines stored on the cassette shelf 21 is not large, the user may prepare multiple cassettes Ca containing the same type of medicine.

[0366] In such a situation, the user had to check the number of drugs that could be stored for each drug type, and decide whether to use the large cassette Ca1, the medium cassette Ca2, or the small cassette Ca3, how to attach the dividers, or whether to not attach dividers at all, etc. Therefore, the task of storing drugs on the cassette shelf 21 was a heavy burden for the user.

[0367] In this embodiment, as described above, the determination unit 931 determines the type and number of cassettes Ca to accommodate various drugs based on the quantity reference data and the dispensing quantity calculated based on the past usage quantities (dispensing records) of various drugs. This allows the type and number of cassettes Ca to be determined automatically, instead of by trial and error as described above. Therefore, the burden on the user can be significantly reduced.

[0368] As described above, the quantity reference data is created for each box or package. Therefore, the types and number of cassettes Ca determined by the determination unit 931 are based on the premise that each box or package will be stored on the cassette shelf 21. In other words, the user will store various medicines in cassettes Ca for each box or package.

[0369] Therefore, the user can store the medicine in the cassette Ca without removing the medicine from the box or package, which improves the efficiency of the work of storing (filling) the medicine in the cassette Ca.

[0370] Furthermore, because the medicines are stored in the cassette shelf 21 in an unopened state with light-blocking properties maintained, they can be returned to the medicine wholesaler as is. Furthermore, it is also possible to quickly lend the medicines to other pharmacies, etc. It is also possible to return medicines that have been opened and stored in boxes or packages to the medicine wholesaler or lend them to other pharmacies, etc., but in such cases, the medicines must be returned to the box or package. In particular, because a lot number is attached to the box or package, but the medicine sheet itself may not have a lot number, returning the medicines to the box or package is also required from the perspective of ensuring safety. Storing the box or package on the cassette shelf 21 reduces the user's effort of returning the medicines to the box or package.

[0371] Furthermore, in hospitals and other facilities that are introducing the drug station 1 for the first time, even medicines that are used very infrequently may be temporarily stored on the cassette shelf 21. Such medicines are likely to be subject to return later. Therefore, it is particularly effective for such hospitals and other facilities to store medicines on the cassette shelf 21 in an unopened state.

[0372] <Medicine list image> 26 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine list image (medicine list screen) IM11 that lists information about medicines used during a predetermined use period. The medicine list image IM11 is an image that the control unit 903 displays on the display unit 902.

[0373] The medication list image IM11 includes a medication list 2601, which is a list of records associated with various information about medications used during a specified usage period. The medication list image IM11 also includes a "Select not to include in tray" button 2602, a "Cancel not to include in tray" button 2603, a "Fix to 'Box'" button 2604, a "Fix to 'Pillow'" button 2605, and a "Calculate" button 2606.

[0374] In the example of Figure 26, the "Fix to 'Pillo'" button 2605 is selected. Therefore, the control unit 903 displays in the used medicine list 2601 the medicines that the cassette Ca is to contain as a package. Also, in the used medicine list 2601, a check mark is placed in the "Pillo" column, which indicates that the cassette Ca is to contain as a package. Note that when the "Fix to 'Box'" button 2604 is selected, the control unit 903 displays in the used medicine list 2601 the medicines that the cassette Ca is to contain as a box. Also in this case, a check mark is placed in the "Box" column, which indicates that the cassette Ca is to contain as a box.

[0375] Information such as "identification information" (drug identification information; type of drug), "drug name" (type of drug), "dosage type," "prescribed drug type," "quantity," and "estimated amount used within the refill period" about drugs used during a specified use period is input into the used drug list 2601. The control unit 903 can display this information on the display unit 902 by acquiring it from, for example, the dispensing control device 800.

[0376] "Dosage type" indicates the form of the medication taken by the patient. "Controlled drug type" indicates the type of medication that will not be stored in drug station 1. The control unit 903 identifies medications that fall into the "controlled drug type" as medications that will not be stored in cassette Ca. "Controlled drug type" may be set in advance or may be specified by the proposer. "Quantity" indicates the number of medications stored in one package. "Expected usage amount within filling period" indicates the quantity of medication to be used during a specified usage period.

[0377] The "storage pattern" column displays the pattern indicated by the quantity reference data defined for each type of medicine shown in Fig. 25. Based on this pattern and the number of dispensed medicines, the determination unit 931 determines the number of medicine containers to be stored in each cassette Ca for the target medicine.

[0378] By accepting an input operation by the proposer in the "Fixed Tray Size" field of the medication list 2601, the control unit 903 can specify the type of cassette Ca that will contain the medication, regardless of the quantity reference data. When the type of cassette Ca is specified in the "Fixed Tray Size" field, the control unit 903 can specify the number of cassettes Ca in the "Specify Number of Trays" field by accepting an input operation by the proposer. Target medications for which the type and number of cassettes Ca have been specified are not subject to processing by the determination unit 931.

[0379] The "Not for tray" column of the medication list 2601 is a column where the proposer can select a medication that will not be stored in the cassette Ca by inputting an input operation. When the proposer selects a medication from the list and touches the "Select not for tray" button 2602, the control unit 903 checks the "Not for tray" column and identifies the medication as one that will not be stored in the cassette Ca. When the proposer selects a medication that will not be stored in the cassette Ca and touches the "Cancel not for tray" button 2603, the control unit 903 unchecks the "Not for tray" column and re-identifies the medication as one that will be stored in the cassette Ca.

[0380] When the proposer touches the "calculate" button 2606, the determination unit 931 executes processing for the target drugs, excluding drugs not contained in the cassette Ca, among the drugs used during the predetermined use period.

[0381] [Embodiment 6] Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 27 to 28. Figures 27 and 28 are diagrams showing examples of images displayed on the first touch panel 5. As described above, the drug station 1 includes a picking unit 3 having a drug transfer section 32 that can take out drugs from cassettes Ca containing drugs or put drugs into cassettes Ca, and a cassette shelf 21 that can store a plurality of cassettes Ca.

[0382] When the main unit control unit 11 receives the dispensing data, it stores information about the drugs included in the dispensing data (information about the drugs to be dispensed from the drug station 1) in the drug list stored in the memory unit 15. The drug list is a database that manages information about the drugs included in the dispensing data in the dispensing order specified in the dispensing data. In other words, the drug list can be said to be a database that includes at least one drug preset as a drug to be removed from the picking unit 3. Thereafter, the main unit control unit 11 and the picking unit control unit 12 operate each component of the drug station 1 as described above to dispense the drugs in the dispensing order indicated in the drug list. Specifically, the main unit cassette transfer control unit 112 controls the main unit cassette transfer unit 22 to sequentially transfer cassettes Ca containing drugs included in the drug list from the cassette shelf 21 to the picking unit 3. Furthermore, the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 controls the picking cassette transfer unit 35 to transfer the drug cassette Ca to the drug delivery position P1 or the standby position P2 of the picking unit 3, enabling the operator to sequentially take out the drugs. Furthermore, the main unit control unit 11 may store information about the drugs that have been dispensed in the memory unit 15 as history information.

[0383] 27 and 28, in the dispensing mode, the touch panel control unit 14 displays various information related to the dispensing of medicines on the first touch panel 5. The dispensing mode is a mode in which medicines stored in the drug station 1 are dispensed based on the dispensing data.

[0384] For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the touch panel control unit 14 can display a dispensing image IM12 (dispensing screen) on the first touch panel 5. The dispensing image IM12 shows a list of medicines to be dispensed in the order of patients. Specifically, the dispensing image IM12 includes a patient-by-patient list 2701, which is a list of records in which information such as the order of patients to be dispensed, patient names, dispensing status, and expected waiting time is associated with each other. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 28, the touch panel control unit 14 can display a dispensing image IM13 (dispensing screen) on the first touch panel 5. The dispensing image IM13 shows a list of medicines to be picked in the order of medicines to be dispensed (the order of medicines to be picked), medicine names (types of medicines), medicine forms, the total amount of medicines to be dispensed, patient names, expected waiting time, and other information is associated with each other. The records included in the patient unit list 2701 and the drug unit list 2801 are displayed in the order in which they are dispensed.

[0385] Furthermore, the touch panel control unit 14 displays a dispensing list selection tab 2702A, a picking list selection tab 2702B, and a reserved detail selection tab 2702C on the first touch panel 5. The dispensing list selection tab 2702A, the picking list selection tab 2702B, and the reserved detail selection tab 2702C function as buttons for receiving an input operation by the touch panel control unit 14 to select the type of list to be displayed on the first touch panel 5. When the worker touches the dispensing list selection tab 2702A, the touch panel control unit 14 displays a patient-based list 2701 on the first touch panel 5. When the worker touches the picking list selection tab 2702B, the touch panel control unit 14 displays a medication-based list 2801 on the first touch panel 5. When the worker touches the reserved detail selection tab 2702C, the touch panel control unit 14 displays a reserved medication list 3001 shown in FIG. 30 .

[0386] Furthermore, while the patient-based list 2701 or the medication-based list 2801 is displayed, the first touch panel 5 can accept an input operation to select each record included in each list. When this input operation is accepted, the touch panel control unit 14 changes the display of the selected record so that it is different from the unselected records. For example, as shown in FIG. 27 , the touch panel control unit 14 may associate "-" with the unselected records and "◯" with the selected records.

[0387] <Delete function> The control device 10 has a deletion function that irreversibly halts the dispensing of a drug that is being dispensed or waiting to be dispensed. Specifically, the control device 10 has a drug management unit 115 that manages drugs handled at the drug station 1. For example, the drug management unit 115 functions as a drug deletion unit that deletes a drug designated based on an input operation by an operator (user) from the drug list in the memory unit 15. Note that "being dispensed" refers to a state in which a cassette Ca has been removed from the cassette shelf 21 for drug dispensing and the cassette Ca is not present on the cassette shelf 21. "Waiting for dispensing" refers to a state in which a cassette Ca containing a drug to be dispensed is waiting on the cassette shelf 21.

[0388] As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 , the first touch panel 5 displays a delete button 2703 in addition to a patient unit list 2701 or a drug unit list 2801. For example, consider a case where, while the drug unit list 2801 is displayed, an operator selects one or more drug records by inputting an input operation, and then performs an input operation to select the delete button 2703. In this case, the drug management unit 115 deletes information about the selected drugs from the drug list in the memory unit 15. The drug management unit 115 also outputs deletion information indicating that the information about the drugs has been deleted from the drug list in the memory unit 15 to the main body cassette transport control unit 112.

[0389] When the main cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 acquire the deletion information, they stop the removal from the picking unit 3 of the drug that the drug management unit 115 has deleted from the drug list in the memory unit 15. That is, when a process to stop the dispensing of a certain drug is executed based on an input operation by the operator, the main cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 stop the dispensing of the cassette Ca that contains the drug.

[0390] Furthermore, the cassette management unit 114 of the control device 10, for example, regards the cassette Ca containing the medicine whose dispensing has been stopped as a cassette Ca that does not contain the medicine and is out of stock, and stores (registers) this as history information of the medicine in the storage unit 15. The storage unit 15 stores stock quantity information indicating the number of medicines contained in the cassette Ca (i.e., the stock quantity of the medicine) in association with the cassette identification information of the cassette Ca. Therefore, the cassette management unit 114 updates the stock quantity information associated with the cassette identification information of the cassette Ca containing the medicine whose dispensing has been stopped to information indicating 0 (i.e., out of stock). Note that the above-described function of the cassette management unit 114 is an example of the function of the cassette management unit 114, and the cassette management unit 114 may be any unit that manages the cassettes Ca stored in the cassette shelf 21.

[0391] When dispensing of a drug is stopped and information about the drug is deleted from the drug list in memory unit 15, it may be necessary to separately load the drug into the transport tray Tr in order to provide the drug to the patient. In this case, if information about the drug is simply deleted from the drug list in memory unit 15, the user may not notice the deletion. In this case, the user may provide the drug to the patient with only a partial supply.

[0392] In this embodiment, the control device 10 stores the deleted drug from the drug list in the memory unit 15 as being out of stock in the history information, and then transports the cassette Ca containing the subsequent drug to the drug delivery position P1 or the standby position P2 to continue dispensing the subsequent drug. The history information can be displayed on the first touch panel 5 or output as a journal from the printer 36, for example. Therefore, the user can view the history information using the first touch panel 5 or the journal. Therefore, the user can recognize the drug that was deleted by input operation and not dispensed from the drug station 1, and can recognize that the drug needs to be separately placed in the transport tray Tr. This reduces the possibility that the drug that should be provided to the patient will not be provided.

[0393] Here, for example, consider a case where an input operation is performed to stop the dispensing of medicines contained in a cassette Ca that is currently being dispensed. In this case, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 stop the dispensing from the cassette Ca and return the cassette Ca from the picking unit 3 or the cassette holding unit 23 to the cassette shelf 21. The picking cassette transfer control unit 121 transfers a cassette Ca (a subsequent cassette) that contains medicines to be dispensed next after the medicine whose dispensing has been stopped, from the cassette holding unit 23 or the standby position P2 to the medicine transfer position P1 (i.e., the medicine transfer unit 32).

[0394] As another example, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 return the cassette Ca waiting at the standby position P2 to the cassette shelf 21 and stop dispensing of the medicine contained in the cassette Ca. In this case, the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 transfers the cassette Ca containing the medicine to be dispensed next to the current medicine to the standby position P2 where the cassette Ca containing the medicine whose dispensing was stopped was waiting.

[0395] Note that the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 does not remove the cassette Ca containing the medicine whose dispensing has been stopped if it has not been removed from the cassette shelf 21. Instead, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 removes the cassette Ca containing the medicine to be dispensed next to the medicine in question and transfers it to the picking unit 3.

[0396] In the above example, a case where drugs to be discontinued for dispensation are selected on a drug type basis has been described, but dispensation may also be discontinued on a patient basis. That is, the drug management unit 115 may delete information about drugs from the drug list in the storage unit 15 on a drug-by-drug or patient-by-patient basis. The drug management unit 115 may also delete information about drugs from the drug list in the storage unit 15 on a predetermined basis, such as various prescription units (e.g., dosage periods), rather than on a patient-by-patient basis.

[0397] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, consider the case where, with the patient-based list 2701 displayed, the operator selects a patient record by input operation and touches the delete button 2703. In this case, as in the above example, the medicine management unit 115 deletes information about the medicines prescribed to the selected patient from the medicine list in the memory unit 15. The main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 stop dispensing the medicines deleted from the medicine list in the memory unit 15. Specifically, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 return the cassette Ca for all medicines prescribed to the patient to the cassette shelf 21. In addition, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 transfer the cassette Ca containing the medicines prescribed to the patient who is next in the dispensing order to the picking unit 3, i.e., the medicine transfer position P1 or the standby position P2.

[0398] Furthermore, when the above-described deletion operation is performed, the touch panel control unit 14 deletes the record of the selected drug or patient from the patient-by-patient list 2701 or drug-by-drug list 2801 displayed on the first touch panel 5.

[0399] As described above, in the drug station 1, when drug removal by the picking unit 3 is stopped, a cassette Ca (subsequent cassette) containing the drug to be dispensed next after the drug whose removal was stopped can be transferred to the picking unit 3. Therefore, even if the removal of a certain drug is stopped, the dispensing of drugs included in the drug list in the memory unit 15 can be continued. In other words, drugs can be efficiently dispensed. Furthermore, in the drug station 1, the cassette Ca from which drug removal was stopped is treated as out of stock, so that the subsequent cassette can be transferred to the picking unit 3.

[0400] When the control device 10 deletes information about a drug from the drug list in the memory unit 15 on a patient-by-patient basis, the control device 10 may transmit a cancellation notice to the dispensing control device 800 to cancel the dispensing of the drug. In this case, as described in the first embodiment, the dispensing control device 800 may determine another device (e.g., the tablet packaging machine 300) included in the drug dispensing system 100 as the drug dispensing destination. When the control device 10 deletes information about a drug from the drug list in the memory unit 15 on a drug-by-drug basis, the same processing may be performed.

[0401] Furthermore, the control device 10 may delete information about a drug from the drug list in the memory unit 15 and cancel the dispensing of the drug not only through the first touch panel 5 but also through an input operation on the second touch panel 31. As shown by reference numeral 29001 in Fig. 29, the touch panel control unit 14 causes the second touch panel 31 to display a dispensing image IM14 (dispensing screen) including information for removing the drug to be removed from the drug delivery / receiving unit 32.

[0402] The dispensing image IM14 includes a delete button 2901 (a button indicated as "Forced Audit" in FIG. 29). When the second touch panel 31 receives an input operation to select the delete button 2901, the touch panel control unit 14 causes the second touch panel 31 to display a delete confirmation image IM15 (delete confirmation screen) as indicated by reference numeral 29002 in FIG. 29.

[0403] The deletion confirmation image IM15 includes a confirm button 2903, a cancel button 2904, and a subsequent cancel button 2905. Consider a case where the second touch panel 31 receives an input operation to select the confirm button 2903. In this case, the medicine management unit 115 deletes information about the medicine (the medicine to be removed from the medicine delivery unit 32) contained in the cassette Ca at the medicine delivery position P1 when the input operation is received from the medicine list in the memory unit 15. At this time, the shutter control unit 122 also closes the shutter 322. The subsequent processing is the same as the processing related to deletion described above.

[0404] For example, consider the case where the delete button 2901 and the confirm button 2903 are selected during the dispensing of drug "A" out of drug "A," drug "B," and drug "C" prescribed to patient "X." In this case, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 stop the dispensing of drug "A." Then, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 transfer the cassette Ca containing drug "B," the next drug to be dispensed, to the drug transfer position P1.

[0405] When the second touch panel 31 receives an input operation to select the cancel button 2904, the touch panel control unit 14 stops displaying the deletion confirmation image IM15 on the second touch panel 31 and switches to displaying the dispensing image IM14.

[0406] Consider a case where the second touch panel 31 receives an input operation to select the subsequent cancel button 2905. In this case, the medicine management unit 115 deletes information about the medicine contained in the cassette Ca at the medicine transfer position P1 when the input operation is received from the medicine list in the memory unit 15. At this time, the shutter control unit 122 also closes the shutter 322. Furthermore, information about the medicines that were to be dispensed after the prescribed medicine for the patient is also deleted from the medicine list in the memory unit 15. The subsequent processing is the same as the processing related to deletion described above.

[0407] For example, consider the case where the delete button 2901 and the subsequent cancel button 2905 are selected during the dispensing of drug "A" among drugs "A," "B," and "C" prescribed to patient "X." In this case, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 stop the dispensing of all drugs "A," "B," and "C." Then, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 transfer the cassette Ca containing the drugs prescribed to the patient, who is the next target for dispensing, to the drug transfer position P1.

[0408] In this way, at the drug station 1, the drug to be dispensed can be deleted from the drug list in the memory unit 15 via the second touch panel 31, thereby stopping the drug from being taken out by the picking unit 3. In addition, a cassette Ca containing the next drug to be dispensed can be transported to the picking unit 3.

[0409] <Hold function> The control device 10 has a hold function for reversibly suspending the dispensing of a medicine that is being dispensed or waiting to be dispensed. Specifically, the medicine management unit 115 functions as a take-out hold unit that performs a hold process for putting the take-out of a medicine designated by an operator (user) from the medicine list in the storage unit 15 into a hold state based on an input operation by the operator (user).

[0410] As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 , the first touch panel 5 displays a hold button 2704 in addition to a patient list 2701 or a medication unit list 2801. When an input operation to select the hold button 2704 is received while a record of a certain medication is selected in the patient list 2701 displayed on the first touch panel 5, the medication management unit 115 performs the above-described hold processing. Furthermore, when an input operation to select the hold button 2704 is received while a record of a certain patient is selected in the medication unit list 2801 displayed on the first touch panel 5, the medication management unit 115 performs the above-described hold processing. That is, the medication management unit 115 places medication removal in a hold state for each medication or for each patient. Note that the medication management unit 115 may place medication removal in a hold state not only for each patient, but also for various prescription units (e.g., for each dosing period) or other predetermined units.

[0411] Specifically, the medicine management unit 115 stores information about the medicines to be reserved in a reservation list in the storage unit 15, and then deletes the information from the medicine list in the storage unit 15. The reservation list is a database in which information about medicines whose dispensing is reserved is stored in the order of reservation.

[0412] The main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 determine that the medicine that has been put on hold by the medicine management unit 115 has been stopped from being taken out from the picking unit 3. When the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 stop the dispensing of the medicine that has been put on hold, they transfer the cassette Ca that contains the medicine to be dispensed next to the medicine to the picking unit 3, that is, the medicine delivery / reception position P1 or the standby position P2.

[0413] Therefore, just as when information about a drug is deleted from the drug list in the memory unit 15, if the removal of a drug by the picking unit 3 is stopped, a cassette Ca containing the drug that is to be next dispensed can be transported to the picking unit 3.

[0414] The cassette management unit 114 may store the cassette Ca containing the medicine that has been put into the reserved state in the storage unit 15 as a cassette Ca that does not contain the medicine and is out of stock.

[0415] As described above, the reserved details selection tab 2702C is displayed on the first touch panel 5. When the first touch panel 5 receives an input operation to select the reserved details selection tab 2702C, the touch panel control unit 14 causes the first touch panel 5 to display a reserved details list image IM17 as shown in FIG.

[0416] The hold details list image IM17 (hold details list screen) includes a hold medication list 3001 that lists medications that have been put on hold for removal. The hold medication list 3001 is a list of records that correspond to information such as the patient name, the name (type) of the held medication, the form of the medication, and the total amount of the medication. The hold medication list 3001 displays each record in the order in which it was put on hold. The hold details list image IM17 also includes a detail unit selection button 3002, a dispensing data unit selection button 3003, and a hold release button 3004.

[0417] When the detail unit selection button 3002 is selected, the drug records displayed in the pending detail list image IM17 can be selected in units of one drug type. On the other hand, when the dispensing data unit selection button 3003 is selected, the drug records displayed in the pending detail list image IM17 can be selected in units of dispensing data (patients).

[0418] For example, consider a case where drug "A," drug "B," and drug "C" have been prescribed to a certain patient "X," and dispensing of drug "A," drug "B," and drug "C" is on hold. In this case, if drug "A" is selected while the detail unit selection button 3002 is selected, only drug "A" will be selected. On the other hand, if drug "A" is selected while the dispensing data unit selection button 3003 is selected, all of drug "A," drug "B," and drug "C" will be selected.

[0419] When a drug is selected and an input operation to select the release hold button 3004 is received, the drug management unit 115 releases the drug from the hold state. The drug management unit 115 stores information about the drug whose hold state has been released in the drug list of the storage unit 15 again. In addition, the information about the drug whose hold state has been released is displayed again in the patient-based list 2701 or the drug-based list 2801 displayed on the first touch panel 5.

[0420] Furthermore, the control device 10 may place a medicine in a hold state and stop dispensing of the medicine not only through the first touch panel 5 but also through an input operation on the second touch panel 31. As shown by reference numeral 29001 in Fig. 29, the dispensing image IM14 displayed on the second touch panel 31 includes a hold button 2902. When an input operation to select the hold button 2902 is received, the touch panel control unit 14 causes the second touch panel 31 to display a hold determination image IM16 (hold determination screen) as shown by reference numeral 29003 in Fig. 29.

[0421] The reservation determination image IM16 includes a confirm button 2906 and a cancel button 2907. Consider a case where the second touch panel 31 receives an input operation to select the confirm button 2906. In this case, the medicine management unit 115 stores information about the medicines contained in the cassette Ca at the medicine transfer position P1 when the input operation is received (the medicines to be taken out from the medicine transfer unit 32) in the reservation list of the memory unit 15. The medicine management unit 115 also temporarily deletes the information about the medicines from the medicine list of the memory unit 15. At this time, the shutter control unit 122 also closes the shutter 322. Then, the main body cassette transfer control unit 112 and the picking cassette transfer control unit 121 transfer the cassette Ca containing the medicines to be next dispensed to the medicine transfer position P1.

[0422] When the second touch panel 31 receives an input operation to select the cancel button 2907, the touch panel control unit 14 stops displaying the reservation determination image IM16 on the second touch panel 31 and switches to displaying the dispensing image IM14.

[0423] In this way, similar to the case where information about a drug is deleted from the drug list in the memory unit 15, the picking unit 3 can stop the drug from being taken out for the drug that has been put on hold via the second touch panel 31. In addition, the cassette Ca containing the drug to be dispensed next can be transported to the picking unit 3.

[0424] <Swap function> The control device 10 has a switching function for switching the order in which medicines waiting to be dispensed are dispensed.

[0425] Consider a case where a record is selected and moved to another position in the patient unit list 2701 or the medication unit list 2801 while the patient unit list 2701 or the medication unit list 2801 is displayed on the first touch panel 5. In this case, the touch panel control unit 14 causes a confirmation image IM18 (confirmation screen) such as that shown in Fig. 31 to be displayed on the first touch panel 5. The confirmation image IM18 includes a confirm button 3101 and a cancel button 3102 that accept input operations by the operator.

[0426] When the Confirm button 3101 is selected, the control device 10 changes the dispensing order of the medicines to the changed order in the medicine list in the memory unit 15. This allows the control device 10 to dispense the medicines in the changed order. On the other hand, when the Cancel button 3102 is selected, the dispensing order is not changed and the dispensing order before the change is maintained.

[0427] When the dispensing order is changed, the touch panel control unit 14 changes the selected record in the patient unit list 2701 or the medicine unit list 2801 to the position designated by the operator's input operation and displays it.

[0428] [Embodiment 7] The drug station 1 can continuously fill a predetermined unit of one type of drug. The predetermined unit here is, for example, a box unit containing a plurality of drugs of a certain type.

[0429] When a filling operation to fill drugs into the drug station 1 is performed, the control device 10 accepts an input operation by the operator instructing the operator to start the filling operation. When the input operation is accepted, the touch panel control unit 14 displays, on the second touch panel 31, a guide image IM19 (guide screen) that guides the operator in reading the barcode, as shown by reference numeral 32001 in FIG. 32. While the guide image IM19 is displayed, the control device 10 acquires drug identification information (e.g., GS1 code) read by the barcode reader 34 from the barcode attached to the box. Upon acquiring the drug identification information, the main cassette transfer unit 22 transfers the cassette Ca containing the drugs to be filled, which are indicated by the drug identification information, to the cassette holding unit 23. Thereafter, the picking cassette transfer unit 35 transfers the cassette Ca to the drug delivery unit 32.

[0430] When the cassette Ca containing the medicine to be filled reaches the medicine delivery section 32, the touch panel control section 14 displays a guide image IM20 (guide screen) prompting the user to verify (authenticate) the medicine, as shown by reference numeral 32002 in Fig. 32, on the second touch panel 31. When the barcode reader 34 reads the medicine identification information while the guide image IM20 is displayed, the control device 10 determines whether the acquired medicine identification information matches the medicine identification information of the medicine to be filled.

[0431] If they match, the control device 10 allows the loading of the target drug into the cassette Ca (i.e., loading of the box containing the drug into the cassette Ca). That is, if the control device 10 succeeds in the collation based on the second barcode reading, it allows the loading of the drug into the cassette Ca.

[0432] When the control device 10 permits the loading of medicines into the cassette Ca, the shutter control unit 122 opens the shutter 322. This allows the operator to load a box containing the medicines to be loaded into the cassette Ca. Furthermore, when the control device 10 permits the loading of medicines into the cassette Ca, the touch panel control unit 14 causes the second touch panel 31 to display information related to the loading of medicines, such as the name of the medicine to be loaded.

[0433] Furthermore, when the control device 10 permits the loading of drugs into the cassette Ca, it acquires quantity information contained in the barcode, indicating the number of drugs contained in the box. The control device 10 temporarily stores the acquired quantity information in a buffer (not shown) as quantity information indicating the number of drugs to be loaded contained in the cassette Ca. Note that the quantity information may be stored for each type of drug in a server (not shown) that manages the drugs. For example, when the quantity information cannot be acquired from the acquired barcode, the control device 10 may acquire, from the server, quantity information associated with the drug identification information contained in the barcode.

[0434] The touch panel control unit 14 displays the number of medicines to be filled (quantity) indicated in the acquired quantity information on the second touch panel 31. For example, when one box contains 100 medicines and this one box is to be filled into a cassette Ca, the touch panel control unit 14 displays "100" on the second touch panel 31.

[0435] When the worker fills the shutter 322 with medicines while the shutter 322 is open and closes the shutter 322 by input operation of the worker, the control device 10 determines that the filling operation is complete. When the control device 10 determines that the filling operation is complete, it adds the number of medicines to be filled, which is indicated in the acquired quantity information, to the inventory number indicated in the inventory number information of the medicines stored in the memory unit 15. The control device 10 stores the number obtained by adding the number of medicines to be filled to the inventory number of the medicines in the memory unit 15 as the new inventory number of the medicines.

[0436] As described above, the control device 10 calls the cassette Ca containing the medicines to be filled (transfers the cassette Ca to the medicine delivery unit 32), performs verification for filling the cassette Ca with medicines, and opens the shutter 322. After the verification, the barcode reader 34 again reads the barcode attached to the box of medicines to be filled into the called cassette Ca.

[0437] In this case, the control device 10 successfully verifies the drugs to be filled, and then again successfully verifies the drugs. If verification of the drugs to be filled is successful twice consecutively after calling the cassette Ca in this way, the control device 10 determines that the drugs will be continuously filled. If continuous filling is to be performed, the control device 10 updates the quantity information temporarily stored in the buffer. Specifically, the control device 10 adds the same number of drugs as the number indicated by the quantity information temporarily stored in the buffer, and stores the result in the buffer as new quantity information. Furthermore, the touch panel control unit 14 displays the new quantity information updated in the buffer on the second touch panel 31.

[0438] Also, consider a case where the barcode reader 34 reads the barcode attached to the drug box to be filled into the called cassette Ca multiple times when the shutter 322 is in the open state. In this case, each time the control device 10 acquires new drug identification information, it adds the same number of drugs to the number of drugs indicated by the quantity information temporarily stored in the buffer, and stores the new quantity information in the buffer. For example, consider a case where one box contains 100 drugs, and the control device 10 acquires the same drug identification information twice after successfully verifying the information the first time. In this case, the control device 10 adds "200" (2 times the "100" indicated by the quantity information) to "100" indicated in the quantity information acquired during the first verification (when acquiring the drug identification information), resulting in "300," and stores the new quantity information in the buffer.

[0439] After updating the incoming quantity information stored in the buffer, if the shutter 322 is closed by an input operation by the operator, the control device 10 adds the number indicated in the new incoming quantity information to the stock quantity indicated in the stock quantity information stored in the memory unit 15. In this way, the control device 10 updates the stock quantity information. Note that after calling the cassette Ca, the control device 10 may add the number indicated in the incoming quantity information obtained at the first verification to the stock quantity each time verification is successful.

[0440] During continuous filling, if drug identification information different from the drug identification information attached to the box of the drug being filled is acquired, the touch panel control unit 14 may display an error notification on the second touch panel 31 indicating that continuous filling is not possible. Furthermore, the control device 10 may determine that drugs are being continuously filled into one cassette Ca based on user input. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of a filling image IM30 displayed on the first touch panel 5. FIG. 38 includes a continuous filling reception area 3801. For example, if the user checks the continuous filling reception area 3801, the control device 10 may determine that drugs are being continuously filled into one cassette Ca. That is, when the continuous filling reception area 3801 is checked, the control device 10 may recognize the reading of consecutive barcodes as being for continuous filling and count the number of drugs contained in the cassette Ca as the number of barcodes read.

[0441] [Embodiment 8] As described above, when drugs are to be filled into the drug station 1, the control device 10 guides the operator to have the barcode reader 34 read the barcode attached to the drug in order to call the cassette Ca containing the drugs to be filled to the picking unit 3. The barcode may be attached, for example, to the drug itself (e.g., a drug sheet), a container containing the drug, or a box containing the drug. The control device 10 also guides the operator to have the barcode reader 34 read the barcode attached to the drug in order to place the drugs to be filled into the cassette Ca that has arrived at the drug transfer section 32. That is, the control device 10 permits the drugs to be filled into the cassette Ca when two verifications using the barcodes are successful.

[0442] When the filling mode is selected by an input operation by the operator, the control device 10 sets the barcode reading mode to a call mode in which a cassette Ca containing the drug to be filled is called from the cassette shelf 21 to the picking unit 3. The filling mode is a mode in which the operator fills the drug station 1 with drugs. In the call mode, the control device 10 refers to the memory unit 15 to transfer the cassette Ca indicated by the cassette identification information associated with the drug identification information indicated by the barcode from the cassette shelf 21 to the picking unit 3.

[0443] When the cassette Ca arrives at the drug delivery / reception unit 32, the control device 10 switches the barcode reading mode to a verification (authentication) mode in which the control device 10 verifies whether the drugs contained in the arriving cassette Ca match the drugs filled by the operator. In the verification mode, the control device 10 refers to the memory unit 15 to verify the drug identification information indicated by the barcode with the drug identification information associated with the cassette identification information of the arriving cassette Ca. If the two pieces of drug identification information match, the control device 10 determines that the verification is successful and opens the shutter 322. This allows the operator to fill the cassette Ca with drugs. Thereafter, for example, when the operator presses the tray close button 39, the shutter 322 closes.

[0444] During the call mode, i.e., until the cassette Ca containing the drugs to be filled arrives at the drug delivery / reception unit 32, the control device 10 sequentially acquires the drug identification information indicated by the barcodes read by the barcode reader 34 and manages it as information on drugs waiting to be filled. That is, the control device 10 can manage the drug identification information in the order in which it was acquired (the order in which it is waiting to be filled) in the filling waiting list in the memory unit 15. Therefore, after the filling of a certain drug into the cassette Ca is completed (after the shutter 322 is closed), if the drug identification information of the next drug to be filled is managed, the control device 10 can continue to perform verification for drug filling. When the filling of all drugs indicated by the drug identification information managed in the memory unit 15 is completed, the control device 10 switches the barcode reading mode from the verification mode to the call mode.

[0445] FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a filling image IM21 (filling screen) displayed on the first touch panel 5 in the filling mode. As shown in FIG. 33, the filling image IM21 includes a filling medicine list 3301, which is a list of records in which various information related to the medicine selected as the medicine to be filled is associated. The filling medicine list 3301 includes information such as the medicine name and inventory quantity associated with the cassette number. Furthermore, the touch panel control unit 14 displays "◯" in the "Target" column of the filling medicine list 3301 in association with the record of the medicine to be filled, and displays "-" in association with the record of the medicine excluded from the medicine to be filled. The touch panel control unit 14 switches the display between "◯" and "-" according to the operator's input operation into the "Target" column.

[0446] The filling image IM21 (filling screen) also includes a mode display area 3302 that displays the status of the barcode reading mode. In the example of FIG. 33, the mode display area 3302 displays "Barcode mode: cassette call." That is, this filling image IM21 indicates that the barcode reading mode is set to the call mode. When a cassette Ca containing the medicines to be filled arrives at the medicine delivery and reception unit 32, the control device 10 switches the display of "Barcode mode: cassette call" in the mode display area 3302 to "Barcode mode: cassette arrival," which indicates the verification mode.

[0447] Here, consider a case in which the control device 10 automatically switches the barcode reading mode from the call mode to the verification mode when a cassette Ca containing drugs to be filled arrives at the drug transfer unit 32, and multiple types of drugs are being filled. As described above, during the call mode, the control device 10 sequentially acquires drug identification information indicated by the barcodes read by the barcode reader 34 and manages it in a filling waiting list. However, after the cassette Ca arrives at the drug transfer unit 32, the control device 10 switches to the verification mode. Therefore, when the control device 10 acquires a barcode attached to a new drug to be filled after the switch, the control device 10 does not add the drug identification information indicated by the barcode to the filling waiting list. Instead, the control device 10 uses the acquired drug identification information to verify it against the drug identification information associated with the cassette identification information of the cassette Ca that arrived at the drug transfer unit 32. In this case, because the two drug identification information are different from each other, the control device 10 notifies the operator of an error indicating that verification has failed.

[0448] Therefore, if there are multiple types of drugs to be filled and the drug identification information for all of the drugs cannot be added to the filling waiting list during the call mode, the following event occurs: The operator cannot read the barcodes that could not be read during the call mode in order to call the cassette Ca until the filling of the drugs whose barcodes were read is completed and the system returns to the call mode. In other words, the operator must wait until the system returns to the call mode before reading the barcodes to call the cassette Ca.

[0449] In this embodiment, the control device 10 can accept a barcode mode switching instruction from the worker. For example, the control device 10 may display, on the first touch panel 5, a refilling image IM21 including a mode switching button (not shown) that accepts an input operation by the worker to switch the barcode reading mode. The control device 10 may also display, on the first touch panel 5, the above-mentioned refilling waiting list.

[0450] When the cassette Ca arrives at the drug delivery / receiving section 32, the control device 10 switches the barcode reading mode from the call mode to the verification mode. If the barcodes of all the drugs to be filled have not been read, the operator touches the mode switching button to call the cassette Ca. This causes the control device 10 to acquire a barcode mode switching instruction from the first touch panel 5 and switch from the verification mode to the call mode. Therefore, the control device 10 acquires the barcode as the barcode for calling the cassette Ca and can add the drug identification information indicated by the barcode to the filling waiting list. Therefore, the operator can make a reservation for the call of the cassette Ca containing all the drugs to be filled, and does not have to wait for the reservation until the filling of the drugs whose barcodes have been read is completed and the mode returns to the call mode.

[0451] When the operator switches to the call mode through an input operation, if the shutter 322 is open, the control device 10 closes the shutter 322 once.

[0452] After the operator adds the drug identification information of all drugs to be filled to the filling waiting list, he or she touches the mode switching button. This causes the control device 10 to acquire a barcode mode switching instruction from the first touch panel 5, switch from call mode to verification mode, and guide the operator to read the barcodes in the order of waiting. As the operator follows the instructions to read the barcodes, the control device 10 can verify the drug identification information of all drugs included in the filling waiting list in the order of waiting.

[0453] [Embodiment 9] The method for managing the lot numbers and expiration dates of drugs at drug station 1 will be described below.

[0454] The drug station 1 manages the lot number and expiration date of each drug for each type of drug contained in the cassette Ca. For example, the storage unit 15 stores, in association with each other, cassette identification information of the cassette Ca, information indicating the type of drug contained in the cassette Ca (e.g., drug identification information), lot number information indicating the lot number of the drug, and expiration date information indicating the expiration date of the drug. When multiple types of drugs are contained in the cassette Ca, the drug identification information, lot number information, and expiration date information are associated with storage position information indicating the storage position in the cassette Ca.

[0455] Consider a case where a drug whose inventory quantity in the drug station 1 is 0 is filled, i.e., where the lot number information and expiration date information for the drug are not stored in the memory unit 15. In this case, the control device 10 acquires the lot number information and expiration date information for the drug, for example, from a barcode (e.g., GS1 code) read by the barcode reader 34. The control device 10 stores the acquired lot number information and expiration date information in the memory unit 15 in association with the drug identification information for the drug and the cassette identification information for the cassette Ca containing the drug.

[0456] The lot number information and expiration date information may be stored for each type of drug in a server (not shown) that manages the drugs. For example, if the lot number information and expiration date information cannot be obtained from the acquired barcode, the control device 10 may obtain the lot number information and expiration date information associated with the drug identification information included in the barcode from the server.

[0457] Furthermore, if the acquired expiration date information indicates the year and month but does not include information indicating the date, the control device 10 stores the last day of the expiration date month as the expiration date of the filled medicine in the storage unit 15. That is, the storage unit 15 manages the expiration date as the year, month, and day.

[0458] Fig. 34 is a diagram showing an example of a filling medicine list 3301 included in the filling image IM21 of Fig. 33. As shown in Figs. 33 and 34, the worker can view information such as the lot number and expiration date of the medicine via the first touch panel 5. Note that only a portion of the filling medicine list 3301 is shown in the filling image IM21. Therefore, the worker can grasp the entire filling medicine list 3301 as shown in Fig. 34 by scrolling the filling medicine list 3301 in the filling image IM21.

[0459] The touch panel control unit 14 causes the first touch panel 5 to display the expiration date of the drug in the year and month of the expiration date of the drug. For example, when drugs are stored in a box, the expiration date written on the box is often the year and month. Also, drugs are often filled into the drug station 1 box by box. Therefore, by displaying the expiration date on the first touch panel 5 in accordance with the notation of boxes that are filled relatively frequently, the worker can easily check whether the expiration date matches or does not match between the notation on the box and the display on the first touch panel. However, the touch panel control unit 14 may also display the expiration date (i.e., the year, month, and day) indicated by the expiration date information stored in the memory unit 15.

[0460] The storage unit 15 also stores the cassette identification information or storage location information of each cassette Ca in association with the following first and second settings. That is, the first and second settings are set for each type of drug stored in each cassette Ca (drug identification information associated with the cassette identification information or storage location information of each cassette Ca). When a drug with an inventory quantity of one or more in the drug station 1 is filled, the control device 10 manages whether or not the drug can be filled, and the lot number information and expiration date information of the storage unit 15, based on the first and second settings set for each type of drug.

[0461] FIG. 35 is a table for explaining whether or not the cassette Ca can be filled, and the method of managing the lot number information and expiration date information.

[0462] In the control device 10, a first setting that determines what processing to perform when lot number information and expiration date information cannot be obtained from the barcode is defined for each type of drug. For example, as shown in FIG. 35, one of a "fill" setting and a "do not fill" setting is applied as the first setting to each drug stored in each cassette Ca or each storage area (i.e., for each type of drug). The "fill" setting allows the drug to be filled into the cassette Ca even if lot number information and expiration date information cannot be obtained from the barcode attached to the drug. The "do not fill" setting does not allow the drug to be filled into the cassette Ca if the lot number information and expiration date information cannot be obtained. When the control device 10 obtains drug identification information for a drug, it refers to the memory unit 15 and obtains the first setting to be applied to the drug. Based on the obtained first setting, the control device 10 determines whether or not to allow the drug to be filled.

[0463] Consider the case where lot number information and expiration date information can be acquired from the barcode (when "Actual Input" is "Inputted" in Figure 35). As shown in Figure 35, in the case of "Inputted," both the "Fill" setting and the "Do Not Fill" setting allow drugs to be filled into the cassette Ca, except when the cassette Ca cannot be filled based on the second setting described below (the case of "No Filling (Error)"). That is, the setting is either "Fill as is" or "Overwrite Filling," described below. Therefore, the control device 10 allows the drug to be filled into the cassette Ca with the barcode attached (the drug for which expiration date information, etc., can be acquired), regardless of whether the "Fill" setting or the "Do Not Fill" setting is applied as the first setting.

[0464] Next, consider the case where lot number information and expiration date information cannot be obtained from the barcode (when "actual input" is "not input" in Figure 35). As shown in Figure 35, in the case of "not input", the "fill" setting is set to allow the drug to be filled into cassette Ca ("fill as is"). Therefore, even if the "fill" setting is applied as the first setting to the drug with the barcode (a drug for which expiration date information, etc., could not be obtained), the control device 10 allows the drug to be filled into cassette Ca.

[0465] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 35, in the case of "Not Input", the "Do Not Fill" setting is set to a setting that prevents the filling of medicine into cassette Ca ("No Filling (Error)"). Therefore, when the "Do Not Fill" setting is applied as the first setting to medicines with the above barcodes (medicines for which expiration date information, etc., could not be obtained), control device 10 does not allow the filling of the medicine into cassette Ca. When not allowing the filling of medicine into cassette Ca, touch panel control unit 14 may, for example, display an error image on first touch panel 5 notifying that filling is not allowed.

[0466] In addition, a second setting is defined for each type of medicine. The second setting is a setting related to the process when the lot number information and expiration date information acquired from the barcode differ from the lot number information and expiration date information associated with the medicine identification information of the medicine to which the barcode is attached, stored in the memory unit 15. Specifically, the second setting is a setting that determines whether or not the cassette Ca can be filled in that case, and whether or not the lot number information and expiration date information can be rewritten.

[0467] For example, as shown in Fig. 35, for each drug contained in each cassette Ca or each storage area (i.e., for each type of drug), one of the following settings is applied as the second setting: "overwrite and fill", "fill as is", or "do not fill". Also, although not shown, a "do not manage expiration date" setting may be applied as the second setting to the drugs contained in each cassette Ca or each storage area.

[0468] The control device 10 makes a determination for a certain drug based on the first setting, and if filling of the drug is permitted, it again refers to the storage unit 15 and acquires the second setting applied to the drug. Based on the acquired second setting, the control device 10 determines whether or not to fill the drug and whether or not to rewrite the lot number information and expiration date information.

[0469] First, a case will be described in which a medicine is filled to which the "Do not fill" setting is applied as a second setting when the acquired lot number information and expiration date information differ from the lot number information and expiration date information stored in the memory unit 15. Note that the following explanation is based on the premise that the lot number information and expiration date information have been acquired, so please refer to the "Input present" line in Figure 35. Also, in the following, the lot number information will be omitted, and the expiration date information will be exemplified for explanation.

[0470] 35, if the expiration date information of the medicine to be newly filled differs from the expiration date information of the medicine of the same type already contained in the cassette Ca (if "actual input" is "≠"), the setting is such that the medicine cannot be filled into the cassette Ca ("no filling (error)"). Therefore, in this case, the control device 10 does not allow the medicine to be newly filled into the cassette Ca.

[0471] On the other hand, consider the case where the expiration date information of the newly filled medicine matches the expiration date information of the same type of medicine already contained in the cassette Ca (when "actual input" is "="). In this case, as shown in FIG. 35, the setting is such that the cassette Ca can be filled with medicine, and the expiration date information in the memory unit 15 is not changed ("fill as is"). Therefore, in this case, the control device 10 allows the newly filled medicine to be filled into the cassette Ca without changing the expiration date information in the memory unit 15.

[0472] Therefore, if the acquired expiration date information differs from the expiration date information in the memory unit 15, for drugs to which the "do not fill" setting is applied, only drugs with the same expiration date are stored in the cassette Ca. This allows drugs with the same expiration date to be stored in the cassette Ca for drugs to which this setting is applied. This reduces the possibility of incorrect management, such as drugs remaining stored in the cassette Ca even after the expiration date has passed.

[0473] Next, a case where a medicine is filled to which the "overwrite and fill" setting is applied as the second setting will be described.

[0474] As shown in FIG. 35, "overwrite filling" is set regardless of whether the expiration date information of the newly filled medicine matches the expiration date information of the same type of medicine already contained in the cassette Ca. In other words, this setting allows medicine to be filled into the cassette Ca, and the expiration date information in the memory unit 15 is rewritten with the acquired expiration date information. Therefore, in this case, the control device 10 allows the newly filled medicine to be filled into the cassette Ca. Furthermore, the control device 10 overwrites the expiration date information of the medicine stored in the memory unit 15 with the expiration date information acquired from the barcode of the newly filled medicine.

[0475] Therefore, if the acquired expiration date information differs from the expiration date information in the storage unit 15, the expiration date information in the storage unit 15 is overwritten with new expiration date information each time a drug is filled, for which the "overwrite and fill" setting is applied. Therefore, this setting can be effectively applied to drugs, such as frequently used drugs, which can be used before the expiration date of the drug filled before the update expires, even if the expiration date information is updated.

[0476] Next, a case where a medicine is filled to which the "fill as is" setting is applied as the second setting will be described.

[0477] As shown in Figure 35, "fill as is" is set regardless of whether the expiration date information of the newly filled medicine matches the expiration date information of the same type of medicine already contained in the cassette Ca. In other words, the setting is such that the medicine can be filled into the cassette Ca, and the expiration date information in the memory unit 15 is not rewritten with the acquired expiration date information. Therefore, in this case, the control device 10 allows the newly filled medicine to be filled into the cassette Ca. Furthermore, the control device 10 does not change the expiration date information of the medicine stored in the memory unit 15.

[0478] Here, the expiration date of the medicine to be filled is likely to be closer to the date of filling than the expiration date of the medicine already contained in the cassette Ca. In other words, the expiration date of the medicine already contained in the cassette Ca is likely to be older than the expiration date of the medicine to be filled. Therefore, if the acquired expiration date information differs from the expiration date information in the memory unit 15, for medicines to which the "fill as is" setting is applied, it is likely that the oldest expiration date among the expiration dates of the medicines in the cassette Ca can be managed as the expiration date of the medicine. Therefore, even if the cassette Ca can be filled with medicines with different expiration dates and new medicines are filled into the cassette Ca, it is likely that the new medicines can be used before the expiration date of the previously filled medicines expires.

[0479] Next, a case where a medicine is filled to which the second setting of "not managing expiration dates" is applied will be described.

[0480] For medicines to which this setting is applied, expiration date information for the medicine is not stored in the memory unit 15. When the medicine is filled, the control device 10 allows the filling of the medicine regardless of whether expiration date information has been acquired or the date indicated by the expiration date. Therefore, this setting can be effectively applied to medicines such as patches or items such as instruction manuals, for which expiration dates do not need to be managed.

[0481] [Embodiment 10] The control device 10 may have a notification function that, when dispensing data is received while a filling operation is being performed in the picking unit 3, notifies the worker that the dispensing data has been received.

[0482] For example, when the drug station 1 receives dispensing data from the dispensing control device 800, the touch panel control unit 14 displays information indicating that the dispensing data has been received on the first touch panel 5. For example, the touch panel control unit 14 may display a reception notification area 3303 on the first touch panel 5 indicating that the dispensing data has been received.

[0483] According to the above configuration, even while the worker is performing the refilling operation, the worker can easily recognize that the drug station 1 has received the dispensing data. This reduces the possibility that the worker will continue the refilling operation without realizing that there is a drug to be dispensed using the drug station 1, which will delay the start of the dispensing operation.

[0484] In addition to the display on the first touch panel 5, the drug station 1 may output a sound from a speaker (not shown) to notify the worker that the dispensing data has been received.

[0485] [Embodiment 11] The control device 10 may have a function to output a report showing the usage history of the drug station 1. By outputting the report, the user can understand the usage history (operating status) of the drug station 1. The control device 10 may output the report from, for example, a printer connected to the control device 10. The control device 10 may display the contents shown in the report on, for example, the first touch panel 5.

[0486] The control device 10 manages the usage history of the drug station 1 and stores data indicating the usage history in the memory unit 15. For example, the control device 10 may store data indicating the usage history when dispensing prescription data for a certain prescription period received from the dispensing control device 800 in the memory unit 15. By referring to the memory unit 15, the control device 10 can output the usage history of the drug station 1 in a form report.

[0487] The usage history may include, for example, information (received data) received from the dispensing control device 800. The received information may include information indicating the total number of prescriptions. The total number of prescriptions indicates the total number of prescriptions issued during a specified prescription period.

[0488] In drug dispensing system 100, the total number of prescriptions may be the total number of prescriptions included in the prescription data received by dispensing control device 800 (the total number of prescriptions issued by prescription input device 200 or dispensing control device 800). In other words, the total number of prescriptions may be the total number of prescriptions (total number of prescriptions) including drugs dispensed using all of the various devices included in drug dispensing system 100, such as drug station 1 and tablet packaging machine 300.

[0489] When drug station 1 is used alone, the total number of prescriptions indicates the total number of prescriptions (total number of prescriptions) included in the prescription data received by drug station 1 from prescription input device 200. When drug station 1 is used alone, this refers to a case where drug station 1 is not included in drug dispensing system 100 and drug station 1 does not dispense drugs in conjunction with various devices.

[0490] The received information may also include drug station prescription information indicating the number of prescriptions issued for which drug station 1 was involved in dispensing medication. When drug station 1 is used in drug dispensing system 100, the drug station prescription information can indicate how many medications have been dispensed at drug station 1 for prescriptions included in the prescription data. When drug station 1 is used alone, the total number of prescriptions will match the number of prescriptions indicated by the drug station prescription information.

[0491] By outputting the received information in a form report, the user can ascertain the number of prescriptions handled in the entire medicine dispensing system 100 or the number of prescriptions handled at drug station 1. Furthermore, when drug station 1 is used in medicine dispensing system 100, the user can ascertain not only the number of prescriptions handled at drug station 1 but also the ratio of the number of prescriptions handled at drug station 1 to the total number of prescriptions handled in the entire medicine dispensing system 100.

[0492] In addition, the usage history may include, for example, information indicating the form of the dispensed drug, information indicating the number of types of drug dispensed (e.g., the total number of types and the number of types for each form), and information indicating the operating time of drug station 1. The form of the drug indicates the type of drug administered to the patient, such as tablet, capsule, powder, etc. The operating time may include, for example, the total operating time of drug station 1, as well as the operating time per prescription (e.g., per patient) and the operating time per drug.

[0493] [Embodiment 12] 36 is a perspective view showing an example configuration of a drug station 1 equipped with two picking units 3. As described in the basic configuration above, two picking units 3 may be provided on the front side of the main unit 2. Also, as described in the basic configuration above, in the drug dispensing system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing control device 800 determines which drugs to dispense from the drug station 1 from among the drugs indicated in the prescription data received from the prescription input device 200, and transmits dispensing data including information about the drugs to the drug station 1.

[0494] When the medicine dispensing system 100 is installed in a hospital, the prescription input device 200 can receive information indicating a prescription category based on a user input. The prescription category refers to, for example, a category related to the medical treatment that a patient who has been prescribed a medicine will receive, and indicates, for example, the type of medical treatment that the patient will receive and the medical department (medical specialty category) in which the patient will receive treatment. A prescription category is assigned to each patient.

[0495] Examples of medical treatment modes include a mode in which a patient visits a hospital and a mode in which a patient visits a hospital other than a hospital. Examples of medical treatment modes in which a patient visits a hospital include "outpatient," which indicates that the patient visits a hospital, "emergency," which indicates that the patient visits a hospital for emergency treatment, and "same-day," which indicates that the patient visits a hospital on the day of the appointment. Examples of medical treatment modes in which a patient visits a hospital other than a hospital include a mode in which a patient is hospitalized. Examples of such modes include "hospitalized" and "temporary." "Hospitalized" is used by the prescription input device 200 to transmit input prescription data for hospitalized patients to the dispensing control device 800 in a lump sum at a set time. That is, prescription data for a patient assigned "hospitalized" is transmitted from the prescription input device 200 to the dispensing control device 800 at a set time. "Temporary" is used by the prescription input device 200 to transmit prescription data for hospitalized patients input as a temporary patient to the dispensing control device 800. That is, prescription data for a patient to whom "temporary" has been assigned is transmitted from the prescription input device 200 to the dispensing control device 800 when information about the drug prescribed for that patient is entered into the prescription input device 200. In addition, examples of medical departments include "internal medicine" and "surgery."

[0496] The prescription input device 200 generates prescription data including information associating patients with prescription categories as well as information associating patients with prescribed drugs. Therefore, the dispensing control device 800 receives the prescription data including this information, and the control device 10 of the drug station 1 receives the dispensing data including this information. The dispensing control device 800 may receive the information associating patients with prescription categories separately from the prescription data, and the control device 10 may receive this information separately from the dispensing data.

[0497] The storage unit 15 of the drug station 1 stores classification information indicating prescription classifications and unit identification information for identifying picking units 3 in association with each other. For example, classification information indicating the type of medical treatment a patient receives by visiting a hospital (e.g., "outpatient," "emergency," and "same day") is associated with unit identification information indicating one of the picking units 3. Classification information indicating the type of medical treatment a patient receives by a method other than visiting a hospital (e.g., "regular" and "hospitalization") is associated with unit identification information indicating the other of the picking units 3. Furthermore, for example, classification information indicating "internal medicine" may be associated with unit identification information indicating one of the picking units 3, and classification information indicating "surgery" may be associated with unit identification information indicating the other of the picking units 3. The association between classification information and unit identification information can be changed as appropriate.

[0498] The control device 10 determines the picking unit 3 that will dispense the medicine for each of the multiple types of medicine indicated in the dispensing data, based on the classification information included in the dispensing data. In this embodiment, the control device 10 determines, based on the information, which of the two picking units 3 will be the picking unit 3 that will dispense the medicine.

[0499] When the control device 10 receives dispensing data from the dispensing control device 800, it compares the classification information contained in the dispensing data with the classification information stored in the memory unit 15 to determine the picking unit 3 to which each drug will be dispensed.

[0500] Data associating drug identification information with storage location information or cassette identification information is stored in memory 15. Therefore, by referring to memory 15, main unit control unit 11 transfers cassette Ca storing the drug to be dispensed for each type of drug indicated in the dispensing data to picking unit 3 determined as the drug to be dispensed.

[0501] In this embodiment, the drug station 1 is described as having two picking units 3 as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to a configuration having three or more picking units 3.

[0502] Consider a case in which classification information is assigned to each patient to whom a drug is prescribed in the dispensing data, the classification information and unit identification information are associated and managed, and the drug station 1 is equipped with multiple picking units 3. In this case, the control device 10 determines, based on the input classification information, a picking unit 3 from among the multiple picking units 3 that will dispense the drug indicated in the prescription data. This allows the control device 10 to determine the picking unit 3 to which the drug will be dispensed, depending on the prescription classification. Therefore, the control device 10 can dispense drugs collectively from one picking unit 3 for each medical treatment type or medical department.

[0503] The control device 10 may determine, for each patient indicated in the dispensing data, a picking unit 3 from among the plurality of picking units 3 that will dispense the medicines indicated in the dispensing data. In this case, it is sufficient that information for identifying the patient and unit identification information are stored in association with each other in the storage unit 15. In this case, the control device 10 can also dispense medicines collectively from one picking unit 3 for each medical treatment type or department.

[0504] The control by the control device 10 described above may be executed by the control unit 801 of the dispensing control device 800. In this case, the sorting information and unit identification information may be stored in the memory unit 802 of the dispensing control device 800. In this case, the control unit 801 may transmit information indicating the picking unit 3 determined based on the input sorting information to the control device 10.

[0505] [Embodiment 13] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 36, an example will be described in which the drug station 1 has two picking units 3. Fig. 37 is a diagram showing an example of a dispensing selection image IM25 displayed on the first touch panel 5. In the example of Fig. 37, one picking unit 3 is referred to as the "main machine" and the other picking unit 3 is referred to as the "sub machine."

[0506] As shown in Fig. 37, the dispensing selection image IM25 includes check boxes for accepting the selection of "Packaging / Manual Dispensing Available," "Dispensing of Multiple Types or Less," and "Completed Prescription" for each picking unit 3. The example in Fig. 37 shows a state in which "Completed Prescription" has been selected for one picking unit 3 (main machine).

[0507] "Packaging / Manual Dispensing" is an item for selecting the picking unit 3 as the destination for medications that will be packaged by a packaging machine or crushed by a crusher in the process after being dispensed from the drug station 1. "Manual dispensing" refers to medications that are manually dispensed by the manual dispensing unit of the packaging machine and then packaged by the packaging machine.

[0508] Consider a case where "Packaging / Manual Dispensing Available" is selected in one of the picking units 3. In this case, if the dispensing data includes information indicating a drug that requires packaging or pulverization, the control device 10 transfers the cassette Ca containing that drug to the picking unit 3 for which "Packaging / Manual Dispensing Available" is selected. This allows drugs that the user needs to package or pulverize in the process after being dispensed from the drug station 1 to be dispensed together from a single picking unit 3. This improves the user's work efficiency.

[0509] Based on user input, the prescription input device 200 can assign a flag indicating that a drug requires packaging o...

Claims

1. A medicine dispensing device having a cassette shelf capable of storing a plurality of cassettes containing medicines, an opening and closing door installed on the cassette shelf; A drug dispensing device comprising: a detection unit that detects after the power is turned on that the opening / closing door has been opened while the power of the drug dispensing device is off, even if the opening / closing door changes from a closed state to an open state while the power of the drug dispensing device is off and then returns from the open state to a closed state.

2. The cassette and its position on the cassette shelf are associated in advance, 2. The drug dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a position identification unit that re-associates a cassette with a position on the cassette shelf for a cassette stored in an area corresponding to the opening / closing door whose open state has been detected by the detection unit.

3. The detection unit a moving unit that moves in conjunction with the operation of the opening and closing door when the opening and closing door is in an open state; By detecting the moving part, it is detected that the opening and closing door is in an open state, The drug dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein even if the opening / closing door returns from an open state to a closed state while the power is off, the moving part is maintained in a state corresponding to the open state.

4. The detection unit an insertion section into which the moving section is inserted, and a movement detection section that detects the moving section inserted into the insertion section; The moving unit is When the opening and closing door is in the open state, the device is inserted into the insertion portion, The drug dispensing device of claim 3, wherein even when the opening / closing door returns from an open state to a closed state, the door remains inserted into the insertion portion due to the frictional force generated between the insertion portion and the moving portion.

5. A drug dispensing device equipped with a cassette shelf capable of storing a plurality of cassettes containing drugs, an opening and closing door installed on the cassette shelf; a detection unit that detects that the opening and closing door is in an open state when the power supply of the medicine dispensing device is off, The cassette and its position on the cassette shelf are associated in advance, The drug dispensing device further includes a position identification unit that re-associates the cassette with its position on the cassette shelf for a cassette stored in an area corresponding to the opening / closing door whose open state has been detected by the detection unit, among the cassettes stored on the cassette shelf.

6. A drug dispensing device equipped with a cassette shelf capable of storing a plurality of cassettes containing drugs, an opening and closing door installed on the cassette shelf; a detection unit that detects that the opening and closing door is in an open state when the power supply of the medicine dispensing device is off, The detection unit a moving unit that moves in conjunction with the operation of the opening and closing door when the opening and closing door is in an open state; By detecting the moving part, it is detected that the opening and closing door is in an open state, The medicine dispensing device, wherein even if the opening / closing door returns from an open state to a closed state while the power is off, the moving part is maintained in a state corresponding to the open state.

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