Chemical storage device

Abstract

To prevent advance collision of a storage container to a hand-operated opening / closing shutter, and to enable selecting a use mode of a mounting member.SOLUTION: An opening / closing detection mechanism 30 for detecting whether or not an opening / closing shutter 12 is stored in a housing 11 to a site where the front surface of a storage 14 is totally released is incorporated in the vicinity of a shutter storage part 13 in a side end part of the storage 14, and when storage in the housing of the opening / closing shutter 12 cannot be confirmed by the detection of the opening / closing detection mechanism 30, forward extrusion of a storage container 20 is suppressed. A horizontal plate-like mounting member 50 capable of being forward pulled out and backward pushed back is assembled in a middle step position of the storage 14, and the forward and backward movement of the mounting member 50 is suppressed in a forward pull-out position, a backward push-back position, and an intermediate position therebetween.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0004]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug storage device such as a drug storage apparatus, a drug shelf, a dispensing table, and a medical instrument storage, and more particularly to a drug storage device having a plurality of pull-out storage containers capable of manually taking in and out drugs such as pharmaceuticals and medical materials, and selectively enabling the withdrawal of drugs therefrom based on drug dispensing information.

Background Art

[0002] If the storage target is not limited to drugs, typical examples of storage cabinets with a sorting storage function include general-purpose lockers and equipment supply tables in which the storage part is divided into a number of compartments and each compartment has a door. On the other hand, when the storage target is drugs, in addition to storing drugs such as ampoules in a number of cassettes (storage containers) for sorting storage, a drug storage device has been developed that automatically performs the selection of drugs therein and the opening operation.

[0003] This drug storage device (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3) includes a number of storage containers for storing drugs, a storage section that holds them arranged vertically and horizontally in a state where they can be pulled forward, a motor disposed behind each of the storage containers, and an extrusion mechanism having an eccentric cam or a link mechanism attached to its rotating shaft, and a number of opening drive mechanisms that push and advance the corresponding storage containers of their respective installation positions with the corresponding extrusion mechanisms.

[0004] Among them, from the viewpoints of security and maintenance during non-use, etc., some are equipped with a shutter that can be stored at the top of the housing (a shutter for opening and closing the front of the storage section, hereinafter simply referred to as an opening and closing shutter) so that the front of the device can be opened and closed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Regarding the opening drive mechanism that contributes to improving convenience, an eccentric cam is adopted in the extrusion mechanism to reduce costs (see, for example, Patent Document 2), a link mechanism is adopted in the extrusion mechanism to increase the extrusion distance of the storage container (see, for example, Patent Document 3), and various improvements have been made.

[0005] Furthermore, a drug rack has been developed that includes multiple compartmentalized shelves capable of holding a large number of drugs side by side, a shelf frame that houses these compartmentalized shelves in a state where they can be individually pulled out from the front, and a base that is positioned below the shelf frame to support the shelves from below (see, for example, Patent Document 4). The medicine cabinet has a horizontal plate-shaped support member incorporated into the upper end of the base, which can be extended and retracted by pulling it forward or pushing it backward. The support member is equipped with means to stabilize the pushed-in state, such as a magnetic catch or latch mechanism, to maintain its unused position. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-007093 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-255724 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-195494 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-154008 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In conventional chemical storage devices, such as those that use an eccentric cam to advance the storage container (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 mentioned above), the advancement distance of the storage container is short. Therefore, even if the storage container is inadvertently driven forward when the opening / closing shutter is closed, there is little possibility that the storage container will hit the opening / closing shutter. Furthermore, because the storage container and extrusion mechanism are relatively rigid, even if the storage container does hit the opening / closing shutter, there is no need to worry about undesirable situations such as damage to the storage container or extrusion mechanism components.

[0008] In contrast, in chemical storage devices that employ a link mechanism in the extrusion mechanism to greatly extend the forward distance of the storage container (see Patent Document 3 mentioned above), the forward distance of the storage container is long, and the components of the extrusion mechanism are relatively complex and fragile. Therefore, if the storage container is inadvertently driven forward when the opening / closing shutter is closed, the storage container will certainly collide with the opening / closing shutter, and the reaction force will be applied to the extrusion mechanism via the storage container, making it highly likely that the link mechanism there will be damaged. For this reason, this type of chemical storage device avoids the installation of an opening / closing shutter.

[0009] However, as the latter type of chemical storage device with a larger forward movement (see Patent Document 3 mentioned above) became more widespread, requests began to be received from users who had previously used the former type of chemical storage device with an opening / closing shutter (see Patent Documents 1 and 2 mentioned above) to also equip the latter type of chemical storage device (see Patent Document 3 mentioned above) with an opening / closing shutter. However, for the latter type of chemical storage device (see Patent Document 3 mentioned above), which increases the forward distance of the storage container at the expense of the rigidity of the extrusion mechanism, simply adding an opening and closing shutter to the existing machine is insufficient, as it may damage the linkage mechanism of the extrusion mechanism and the front end of the storage container, as described above.

[0010] Another possible solution is to extend the front-to-back length of the enclosure in addition to installing a shutter, thereby increasing the distance between the rear of the opening / closing shutter and the front of the storage container. However, this would increase the occupied area of ​​the device while not increasing the number of chemicals that can be stored, leading to a decrease in storage efficiency, which is undesirable. On the other hand, from the perspective of cost and durability, it is desirable that the opening / closing shutter installed be manually operated rather than electrically operated. Therefore, the first technical challenge is to realize a chemical storage device that prevents the storage container from colliding with the shutter even when a manually operated shutter is installed.

[0011] Furthermore, we have also received requests to equip drug storage devices with horizontal plate-shaped support members that can be pulled out forward and pushed back backward, similar to drug storage shelves that have a shelf frame with retractable compartmentalized shelves for holding drugs and a base below it (see Patent Document 4 mentioned above). However, unlike drug storage racks with a base where the frequency of retrieval of drugs differs greatly between the compartmentalized shelves above the support member and the base below the support member, drug storage devices may be retrieved at a frequency comparable to that of the drug storage containers above the support member.

[0012] Therefore, if the mechanism for extending the support member remains a simple binary choice of either extending or retracting, it becomes difficult to visually confirm whether the storage container below the extended support member is to be removed or not. This raises concerns that situations where the support member cannot be used or is difficult to use may frequently occur. Therefore, the second technical challenge is to enable dispensing staff and others to select how to use the mounting support member when attaching it to a drug storage device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 1) was devised to solve the above problems, A chemical storage device comprising: a number of storage containers for containing chemicals; a compartment for holding the storage containers in a state that allows them to be individually pulled forward; a number of opening drive mechanisms disposed behind each of the storage containers; a housing housing the same; and an opening / closing shutter that can be stored inside the housing by pushing the compartment toward the end, and which opens the front of the compartment when stored but closes the front of the compartment when pulled out, wherein the opening drive mechanism comprises: a drive unit equipped with an electric motor; an extrusion mechanism that, when driven by the drive unit, pushes the storage container to the location where it is installed to move forward; and a locking mechanism that, when driven by the drive unit, detaches from the storage container prior to the push of the extrusion mechanism, allowing the storage container to be pulled forward, but when the storage container is pushed backward, engages with the storage container and prevents the storage container from being pulled forward, An opening / closing detection mechanism is built into the side end of the housing to detect whether the opening / closing shutter is stored in the housing to the extent that the front of the storage compartment is fully open. The device is characterized in that, when it is not possible to confirm, based on the detection by the opening / closing detection mechanism, that the opening / closing shutter is housed in the housing, the drive of the extrusion mechanism by the drive unit is suppressed.

[0014] Furthermore, the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 2) is the chemical storage device of Solution 1 described above, characterized in that the opening / closing detection mechanism is disposed near the shutter storage section of the housing that houses the opening / closing shutter, and the detection state is switched when the leading end of the opening / closing shutter is positioned midway between the shutter storage section and the storage section when it is pulled out.

[0015] Furthermore, the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 3) is the chemical storage device of Solution 2 described above, characterized in that the opening / closing detection mechanism comprises a mechanical switch for switching a detection signal, a responsive member that swings in accordance with the contact and separation of the opening / closing shutter that moves in and out of the shutter storage section, a transmission mechanism that transmits the swinging motion of the responsive member to the mechanical switch, a responsive member biasing the responsive member toward contact with the opening / closing shutter, a transmission member biasing the transmission mechanism toward the non-detection side of the opening / closing shutter when the mechanical switch is switched, and a buffer member incorporated into the transmission mechanism that mitigates the transmission state by elastic deformation.

[0016] Furthermore, the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 4) is the chemical storage device of Solution 3 described above, characterized in that the responding member, the transmission mechanism, and the mechanical switch are arranged in the vertical direction.

[0017] Furthermore, the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 5) is a chemical storage device according to Solutions 1 to 4 above, characterized in that a horizontal plate-shaped support member that can be pulled out forward and pushed back is incorporated at the middle position of the storage compartment, and the forward and backward movement of the support member is restricted at the forward pull-out position, the rearward push-back position and intermediate positions between them.

[0018] Furthermore, the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 6) is a chemical storage device according to Solutions 1 to 4 above, wherein a horizontal plate-shaped mounting support member that can be pulled out forward and pushed back is incorporated in the middle position of the storage compartment, a rear wheel is attached to the rear of the aforementioned mounting support member, and a front wheel is attached in front of the rear wheel but behind the center, and an upper guide member that guides the forward and backward movement of the rear wheel from above and a lower guide member that guides the forward and backward movement of the front wheel from below are installed in the part of the storage compartment where the aforementioned mounting support member is incorporated in an upper and lower opposing arrangement. In one or both of the upper guide member and the lower guide member, there are formed three or more cutouts that are dispersed in the front and rear directions and into which a part of the wheel to be guided, among the front wheel and the rear wheel, fits and hinders the smooth rolling of the wheel. This is the gist.

[0019] Further, the drug storage device of the present invention (Solution Means 7) is the drug storage device of the above Solution Means 6, and a rearward movement restraining portion that abuts on a sliding member that slides on the upper surface of the placement receiving member and moves rearward to restrain the rearward movement of the sliding member is provided at a rear portion of the upper surface of the placement receiving member. This is the gist.

[0020] Further, the drug storage device of the present invention (Solution Means 8) is the drug storage device of the above Solution Means 1 to 7, and is provided with means for communicating with a host device. When it is not possible to confirm based on the detection of the opening / closing detection mechanism that the opening / closing shutter is stored in the housing, and a dispensing instruction is received from the host device, a reply indicating that the dispensing instruction cannot be followed is sent to the host device. This is the gist.

Effect of the Invention

[0021] In such a drug storage device of the present invention (Solution Means 1), when mounting the opening / closing shutter, an opening / closing detection mechanism is also equipped, and it is detected whether the opening / closing shutter is stored in the housing until the front surface of the storage part is released. Also, when it is not possible to confirm the storage of the opening / closing shutter in the housing and thus the release of the front surface of the storage part, the drive of the extrusion mechanism is suppressed. As a result, regardless of the magnitude of the forward movement distance of the storage container, a collision between the storage container and the opening / closing shutter is surely avoided.

[0022] In addition, since a device for storing various drugs so that they can be individually taken out generally has a front-back width and a depth that are narrower than the lateral width and the left-right width, by incorporating the opening / closing detection mechanism in the side end portion of the housing, even if the device size is increased by mounting the opening / closing detection means, an increase in the occupied area is suppressed to a small extent. Further, if the opening / closing detection means can be housed inside the side plate or the like, an increase in the device size can be completely avoided. Therefore, according to this invention, even if a manually operated opening and closing shutter is installed, it is possible to realize a chemical storage device in which forward collision of the storage container with the shutter is suppressed, thereby solving the first technical problem, and also avoiding or suppressing a decrease in storage efficiency.

[0023] Furthermore, in the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 2), by placing the installation location of the opening / closing detection mechanism near the opening / closing shutter storage section, the response of the opening / closing detection mechanism, which is performed when closing the opening / closing shutter, is completed in the initial stage. Therefore, even if the opening / closing shutter is manually operated and its movement speed is prone to variation, detection during the closing operation is performed quickly and stably. Furthermore, even if the opening / closing detection mechanism is mechanical, the fact that contact occurs in the slow initial stage means that the impact on the opening / closing detection mechanism is small, which is an advantage.

[0024] Furthermore, in the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 3), when realizing the opening / closing detection mechanism, a mechanical switch is adopted, which is expected to operate more stably than optical detection, which is said to be susceptible to dust and other contaminants. In addition, instead of directly operating the mechanical switch with the opening / closing shutter, a responding member that directly contacts and disengages from the opening / closing shutter is interposed to mitigate direct impact on the mechanical switch. Moreover, in the transmission path from the responding member to the mechanical switch, a buffer member is provided in addition to an appropriate biasing member to mitigate indirect impacts as well. As a result, even if the opening / closing shutter is manually operated and the opening / closing detection mechanism is exposed to various impacts, the impact on the mechanical switch is sufficiently reduced and mitigated, so that the opening / closing detection mechanism operates stably over a long period of time.

[0025] Furthermore, in the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 4), by arranging the responding member, transmission mechanism, and mechanical switch constituting the opening / closing detection mechanism vertically, the opening / closing detection mechanism becomes small in plan view. This makes it possible to incorporate the opening / closing detection mechanism into narrow spaces such as narrow gaps along the movement path of the opening / closing shutter, thereby avoiding and suppressing an undesirable increase in the device's occupied area.

[0026] Furthermore, in the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 5), the forward and backward movement of the mounting support member is restricted to a forward pull-out position, a rearward push-back position, and intermediate positions between them. As a result, in addition to the rearmost push-back position and the frontmost pull-out position, there are also intermediate positions located between these two positions that correspond to an intermediate state between a fixed state and a free-moving state for the mounting support member, so to speak, a stable stopping position. Therefore, according to this invention, when using the mounting support member attached to the chemical storage device, it is possible to easily select a stable stopping position by pushing the member all the way into the storage compartment, pulling the member all the way out of the storage compartment, or pulling the member only partway out of the storage compartment, thus solving the second technical problem in addition to the first technical problem.

[0027] Furthermore, in the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 6), since the front wheel is attached to the rear part of the mounting support member, when the front wheel is placed on the lower guide member, the rear part of the mounting support member tries to rise, but the rise of the rear wheel is suppressed by the upper guide member, so the mounting support member maintains a sideways posture. Then, when the mounting support member is moved back and forth and a part of the wheel fits into one of the multiple notches, the mounting support member becomes stable at that point, so in addition to the rearmost push-back position and the frontmost pull-out position, there are also intermediate positions where the mounting support member can be safely stopped.

[0028] Such intermediate-positioned support members maintain to some extent the function of temporarily holding chemicals removed from storage containers while making the storage containers below easier to see. Furthermore, the diversification of such pulling-out methods broadens the range of applications for the support members. In addition, by slightly lifting the front end of the support member, the wheel engagement with the notch is released, so the support member does not stop fixedly but only stably, and there is no inconvenience in moving the support member back and forth. Therefore, according to this invention, when using the mounting support member attached to the chemical storage device, it is possible to easily choose whether to push the member into the storage compartment, pull the member out completely from the storage compartment, or pull the member out partway from the storage compartment, thus solving the second technical problem in addition to the first technical problem.

[0029] Furthermore, in the chemical storage device of the present invention (Solution 7), when the front end of the mounting support member is slightly lifted or the mounting support member is pulled forward before moving the mounting support member, which is stably stopped by the fitting of the wheels into the notches, the placed items such as chemicals and paper that were already placed on the mounting support member may easily slide backward or roll backward. However, even if such sliding or rolling occurs, the backward movement of the placed items is prevented by contact with the backward movement restraining part, thus preventing the undesirable situation of the placed items falling into the storage compartment from the rear of the mounting support member.

[0030] Furthermore, in the pharmaceutical storage device of the present invention (Solution 8), when the opening and closing shutter is closed, even if a dispensing instruction is sent from a higher-level device, the device cannot immediately perform the action required to comply with that instruction. Therefore, a reply to that effect is sent back to the higher-level device. This makes it possible to widely publicize the need to open the shutter of the relevant pharmaceutical storage device, and also helps in the decision to select a different device as the pharmaceutical storage device to be used. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0031] [Figure 1] The structure of the chemical storage device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention is shown as follows: (a) is a perspective view with the opening / closing shutter closed, (b) is a perspective view with the opening / closing shutter open, (c) is a perspective view with several storage containers pushed out and the support member extended, and (d) is a perspective view with the lower storage containers pushed out and the extension of the support member reduced. [Figure 2]This is a plan view of the storage container and its drawer frame and opening mechanism, with (a) showing the storage container in the pushed-in state and (b) showing the storage container in the pushed-out state. [Figure 3] This is a rear view showing the relationship between the opening / closing shutter and the opening / closing detection mechanism. (a) shows the open state, (b) is a magnified view of the mechanical switch, (c) is a magnified view of the main part in the open state, and (d) is a magnified view of the main part at the beginning of closing. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram outlining the control system. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the mounting mechanism. (a) shows the mounting support member in the pushed-in state, (b) shows the mounting support member pulled out about halfway, and (c) shows the mounting support member pulled out fully. [Figure 6] The internal structure of the mounting mechanism is shown, (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional right side view of the mounting support member, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional right side view of the guide mechanism, (c) is an enlarged cross-sectional view AA of the guide mechanism, and (d) to (f) are longitudinal cross-sectional right side views of the mounting mechanism, with (d) showing the mounting support member in the pushed-in state, (e) showing the mounting support member pulled out about halfway, and (f) showing the mounting support member pulled out fully. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] A specific embodiment of the chemical storage device of the present invention will be described in the following Example 1. Embodiment 1, shown in Figures 1-6, embodies all of the solutions 1-8 (claims 1-8 in the original application) described above. In addition, for the sake of clarity, the illustrations omit the base, frame, fasteners such as bolts, connectors such as hinges, drive sources such as electric motors, transmission members such as timing belts, and electrical circuits such as motor drivers, and instead focus on illustrating only what is necessary or related to the explanation of the invention. [Examples]

[0033] The specific configuration of Embodiment 1 of the pharmaceutical storage device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance and general configuration of the pharmaceutical storage device 10, where (a) shows the state in which the opening / closing shutter 12 is closed, (b) shows the state in which the opening / closing shutter 12 is open, (c) shows the state in which the storage containers 20a and 20b located above the mounting support member 50 that are to be dispensed are pushed forward and the mounting support member 50 is pulled out to its maximum extent, and (d) shows the state in which the storage containers 20a and 20b located below the mounting support member 50 are also pushed forward and the degree to which the mounting support member 50 is pulled out is limited.

[0034] Figure 2 is a plan view relating to the storage container 20, its drawer frame 25, and the opening drive mechanism 21, where (a) shows the storage container 20 being pushed into the drawer frame 25 by hand, and (b) shows the storage container 20 being pushed out by the opening drive mechanism 21. Figure 3 is a rear view showing the arrangement of the opening / closing shutter 12 and the opening / closing detection mechanism 30, where (a) shows the state when the opening / closing shutter 12 is open, (b) is an enlarged view of the mechanical switch 31, (c) is a partial enlarged view showing the state of the main part when the shutter is open, and (d) is a partial enlarged view showing the state of the main part just before the shutter starts to close or just before the shutter finishes opening.

[0035] Figure 4 is an overview block diagram of the control system relating to the control unit 40 of the drug storage device 10 and the higher-level group control device 200 and dispensing server 100. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the mounting mechanism 50 & 60, where (a) shows the state when the mounting support member 50 is pushed into the guide mechanism 60, (b) shows the state when the mounting support member 50 is pulled out about halfway from the guide mechanism 60, and (c) shows the state when the mounting support member 50 is pulled out fully from the guide mechanism 60.

[0036] Figure 6 shows the detailed structure of the mounting mechanisms 50 and 60, where (a) is a longitudinal right side view of the mounting support member 50, (b) is a longitudinal right side view of the guide mechanism 60, (c) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the guide mechanism 60 (see (b) for the view of arrow A), and (d) to (f) are all longitudinal right side views of the mounting mechanisms 50 and 60. Of these, (d) shows the state when the mounting support member 50 is pushed into the guide mechanism 60, (e) shows the state when the mounting support member 50 is pulled out about halfway from the guide mechanism 60, and (f) shows the state when the mounting support member 50 is pulled out largely from the guide mechanism 60.

[0037] The chemical storage device 10 (see Figures 1(a) to (d)) is equipped with a vertically elongated rectangular prism-shaped housing 11 that is close to the height of a person. A shutter storage section 13 is built into the upper part of the housing 11 (see Figure 1(b)), and electrical components and other parts not shown are built into the lower part of the housing 11. A storage section 14 is allocated to the middle part of the housing 11, which is the most easily accessible area (see Figures 1(b) to (d)). When the opening and closing shutter 12 is pulled down from the shutter storage section 13, the front of the storage section 14 is closed (see Figure 1(a)). An opening and closing detection mechanism 30 for detecting the open and closed state of the storage section 14 is also built into the housing 11 near the shutter entrance of the shutter storage section 13, which will be described in detail later (immediately to the upper left of the storage section 14 in Figures 1(a) and (b)).

[0038] The storage compartment 14 holds numerous storage containers 20 arranged vertically and horizontally, each individually retractable forward. When the opening / closing shutter 12 is opened, the front ends of the storage containers 20 are revealed (see Figure 1(b)). The storage containers 20 are long, box-shaped bodies with open tops, allowing pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and other chemicals to be manually inserted and removed from the open top. A retractable support member 50 is also incorporated into the storage compartment 14, slightly below the middle section (see Figures 1(b) to 1(d)). The support member 50 is a horizontal plate with a generally flat top surface. As will be described in more detail later, it is designed to be stable when pushed into the storage compartment 14 (see Figure 1(b)), fully extended from the storage compartment 14 (see Figure 1(c)), and in intermediate positions (see Figure 1(d)).

[0039] The opening and closing shutter 12 (see Figure 1(a)) is a standard type consisting of long, rectangular members arranged in a bellows-like fashion. By placing your hand on the exposed front end (the lower end in Figure 1(a)) and pushing it towards the shutter storage section 13 (upwards in Figure 1(a)), it is guided by the guide rails and pushed into the shutter storage section 13 for storage (see Figure 1(b)). Alternatively, by placing your hand on the front end (hidden just above the front of the storage section 14 in Figures 1(b) to (d)) and pulling it, it can be pulled out of the shutter storage section 13 (shutter case) and unfolded according to the guide rails on both the left and right ends of the front of the housing 11, covering the front of the housing 11 (see Figure 1(a)). Although not required and therefore not shown in the illustration, locking is also possible.

[0040] The storage container 20 is a publicly known product, so to put it simply (see, for example, Patent Document 3), both large and small items (see Figures 1(b) to (d)) are housed in drawer frames 25 of the corresponding size (see Figure 2(a)), and can be pushed forward by an opening drive mechanism 21 (see Figure 2(b)), pulled out further forward by hand, or pushed back by hand. The left portion of the front end of the drawer frame 25 (see Figure 2) is equipped with a lighting unit 26, mainly consisting of color LEDs, which can be turned on and off under the control of a control unit 40 (see Figure 4). The portion of the drawer frame 25 behind the storage container 20 houses the opening drive mechanism 21, which is responsible for pushing the storage container 20 backward (see Figure 2).

[0041] The opening drive mechanism 21 can also be a known product, so to put it simply (see, for example, Patent Document 3), it comprises a drive unit (not shown) equipped with an electric motor or the like that operates under the control of a control unit 40 (see Figure 4), an extrusion mechanism 22 consisting of a link mechanism that, when driven by the drive unit, pushes the storage container 20 to be installed backward and moves it forward, and a locking mechanism 23 that, when driven together with the extrusion mechanism 22 by the drive unit, detaches from the storage container 20 before the push operation of the extrusion mechanism 22 and allows the storage container 20 to be pulled forward, but when the storage container 20 is pushed backward, engages with the storage container 20 and prevents the storage container 20 from being pulled forward.

[0042] The opening / closing detection mechanism 30 (see Figure 3) is used to detect whether the opening / closing shutter 12 is stored in the housing 11 to the point where the front of the storage compartment 14 is fully open. Therefore, it is installed near the entrance / exit of the opening / closing shutter 12 in the shutter storage compartment 13, in a location that does not obstruct the opening and closing of the shutter 12. In this example (see Figure 1(b)), the opening / closing detection mechanism 30 is mounted just inside the left side panel of the housing 11, overlooking the front and lower part of the left side of the shutter storage compartment 13. As will be described in detail later, the detection state of the opening / closing detection mechanism 30 is switched when the front end of the opening / closing shutter 12 (the end that is at the front when pulled out) is located midway between the shutter storage compartment 13 and the storage compartment 14.

[0043] This opening / closing detection mechanism 30 (see Figure 3) utilizes a general mechanical switch 31 in which a signal output terminal 31a and an operating part 31c are incorporated into the switch body 31b (see Figure 3(b)). However, if the operating part 31c of the mechanical switch 31 is directly operated by the opening / closing shutter 12, the operating part 31c and other parts are likely to be damaged. Therefore, the mechanical switch 31 that switches the detection signal indicating the opening / closing state of the opening / closing shutter 12 is mounted near the upper end of the vertically elongated retaining frame 32. In addition to the responsive member 34 that performs contact and detachment with the opening / closing shutter 12, transmission mechanisms 36-38 that transmit the oscillating motion of the responsive member 34 to the mechanical switch 31 are also mounted on the retaining frame 32 (see Figures 3(c), (d)).

[0044] The transmission mechanism 36-38 is a combination of a swinging member 36, a cushioning member 37, and a leaf spring 38. The leaf spring 38 is positioned above the mechanical switch 31, and the swinging member 36 is positioned below the responding part biasing member 35. Transmission occurs through contact and separation between the leaf spring 38 and the operating part 31c of the mechanical switch 31, through direct contact between the leaf spring 38 and the swinging member 36, and through the cushioning member 37 between the swinging member 36 and the responding member 34. The leaf spring 38 also serves as the transmission part biasing member. Coil springs are used for the responding part biasing member 35 and the cushioning member 37. This type of opening / closing detection mechanism 30 has its main components, a mechanical switch 31, transmission mechanisms 36-38, and a responding member 34, arranged vertically. Because it is long and narrow vertically, it fits inside the bent portion at the front end of the side panel, thus eliminating the need to widen the housing 11.

[0045] The responding member 34 is a vertically elongated plate-shaped member that swings in response to the opening and closing shutter 12 moving in and out of the shutter storage section 13, with a rounded contact / separation portion 34a protruding from the lower part toward the storage section 14. In addition, the responding member 34 is supported by a support shaft 33 at a point slightly above the center, allowing it to swing, and its lower end is supported by a responding part biasing member 35 to Therefore, it is biased in a direction that causes it to swing toward the opening / closing shutter 12. That is, the contact / separation portion 34a of the responding member 34 comes into contact with the opening / closing shutter 12, and the responding member biasing member 35 is biased in that direction. Responsive member 34 It is designed to provide bias in that regard.

[0046] Therefore, when the opening / closing shutter 12 is housed in the shutter storage section 13 (see Figure 3(c)), the contact / separation section 34a protrudes downward from the opening / closing shutter 12 without interfering with it. In contrast, when the opening / closing shutter 12 is pulled out from the shutter storage section 13 and the tip of the opening / closing shutter 12 lowers to the position of the contact / separation section 34a (see Figure 3(d)), the contact / separation section 34a is pushed by the leading end 12a of the opening / closing shutter 12 when it is pulled out, causing the responding member 34 to swing around the support shaft 33 against the biasing force of the responding biasing member 35.

[0047] Furthermore, as described above, when the responding member 34 swings (see Figures 3(c) and (d)), the buffer member 37, to which one end 37a is attached, stretches, causing the swinging member 36, to which the other end 37b of the buffer member 37 is attached, to swing around the pivot shaft 33. However, since the motion transmission from the responding member 34 to the swinging member 36 is done via the expandable buffer member 37, the swinging motion of the swinging member 36 is performed quite gently, not only if the contact between the leading end 12a of the opening / closing shutter 12 and the contact / separation portion 34a of the responding member 34 is gentle, but even if it is sudden. The buffer member 37 mitigates the transmission state through elastic deformation.

[0048] Furthermore, as described above, when the swinging member 36 swings (see Figures 3(c) and (d)), the opening / closing detection mechanism 30 causes the lower end of the leaf spring 38, which is also its non-fixed / free end, to be pushed by the upper end of the swinging member 36 and move toward the mechanical switch 31. Consequently, the middle part of the leaf spring 38, which was in contact with the retaining frame 32, moves away from the retaining frame 32 and approaches the operating part 31c of the mechanical switch 31, and further reaches the operating part 31c, ultimately pushing the operating part 31c into the switch body 31b and activating the mechanical switch 31 (see Figure 3(d)).

[0049] Although a detailed explanation that would be repeated is omitted, when the opening / closing shutter 12 is pushed back from the front of the storage compartment 14 to the shutter storage compartment 13, the opening / closing detection mechanism 30 operates in the reverse order of the above-mentioned sequence, so that the opening / closing detection mechanism 30 can reliably and accurately detect the open state of the front of the storage compartment 14. At that time, the responding member 34 is biased by the responding biasing member 35, but the oscillating member 36 is biased mainly by the repulsive force of the leaf spring 38, so it can be said that the leaf spring 38 also serves as a transmission biasing member that biases the transmission mechanisms 36-38 in the direction in which the switching state of the mechanical switch 31 becomes the undetected side of the opening / closing shutter 12.

[0050] Furthermore, the chemical storage device 10 is also equipped with a control unit 40, mainly consisting of a microcomputer, located at the bottom of the housing 11 (see Figure 4). The control unit 40 controls the operation of the opening drive mechanism 21 and the lighting unit 26, as well as inputting detection signals for the open / closed state of the mechanical switch 31. The control unit 40 is capable of sending and receiving various data with a higher-level group control device 200, which is separate from the drug storage device 10, via a communication means such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Based on the dispensing instruction data received, it causes only the storage containers 20a and 20b to be dispensed from among the many storage containers 20 to be pushed out by the opening drive mechanism 21.

[0051] However, the control unit 40 can only perform the above-mentioned push-out operation control. This control is limited to when the control unit 40 can confirm, based on the detection of the opening / closing detection mechanism 30, that the opening / closing shutter 12 is stored in the shutter storage section 13 of the housing 11. If the control unit 40 cannot confirm, based on the detection of the opening / closing detection mechanism 30, that the opening / closing shutter 12 is stored in the shutter storage section 13 of the housing 11, it will not perform the control related to the push-out of the storage container 20 by the push-out mechanism 22 of the opening drive mechanism 21, thereby suppressing the drive of the push-out mechanism 22 to the storage container 20. Furthermore, in response to a dispensing instruction received from the host device 200, the control unit 40 will send a reply to the host device 200 stating that it cannot comply with the dispensing instruction because the storage section 14 is closed by the opening / closing shutter 12.

[0052] The group control device 200 consists of a computer equipped with a display unit 201 such as a panel display. When it receives a reply from the drug storage device 10 indicating that it cannot follow a dispensing instruction, it displays an instruction on the display unit 201 for the operator to open the opening / closing shutter 12 of the drug storage device 10. The dispensing system also includes a dispensing server 100 that receives and collects prescription data based on prescriptions from an external prescription ordering system, etc. The dispensing server 100 stores data on equipment related to numerous dispensing devices, including the group control device 200 and the drug storage device 10 under its management, as well as data on a drug master that summarizes information on the numerous drugs handled.

[0053] This dispensing server 100 is also equipped with a display unit 101 such as a panel display, and when a reply indicating that the dispensing instruction cannot be followed is transmitted from the group control device 200, it displays an instruction for the worker to open the opening / closing shutter 12 of the corresponding drug storage device 10 on the display unit 101. Although only one group control device 200 is shown in Figure 4, in general, in large-scale systems, multiple group control devices 200 are installed, and many dispensing devices such as drug storage devices 10 and drug packaging machines (not shown) are installed. In small-scale systems, the number of dispensing devices is small, and group control devices 200 etc. may be omitted.

[0054] Returning to the description of the configuration of the chemical storage device 10 itself, the mounting support member 50, which has already been outlined (see Figure 1), is specifically (see Figures 5 and 6(a)) a movable member belonging to the mounting mechanism 50 & 60 incorporated in the middle section of the storage compartment 14. It comprises a roughly rectangular horizontal plate body 51 with a flat top surface, an elongated rearward movement restraining part 52 erected on the rear part of its top surface and extending almost the entire width to the left and right, rear wheels 54 mounted near the lower rear ends of both the left and right sides of the horizontal plate body 51, and front wheels 53 mounted on both the left and right sides of the horizontal plate body 51 in a position forward of the rear wheels 54 but behind the center. The front wheels 53 are located slightly lower than the rear wheels 54.

[0055] Of the mounting and receiving members 50, the rearward movement restraint portion 52 is intended to contact a sliding object that moves backward by sliding on the upper surface of the horizontal plate body 51 and restrain the backward movement of the sliding object. However, since the upper end of the rearward movement restraint portion 52 is bent forward and facing forward (see Figure 6(a)), even if thin paper such as prescription slips move backward in a slightly upward manner, the rear end of the paper gets under the upper end of the rearward movement restraint portion 52 and collides with the raised portion of the rearward movement restraint portion 52, and its upward movement is suppressed by the upper end of the rearward movement restraint portion 52. As a result, not only medicines but also thin items such as paper can be kept on the mounting and receiving member 50 with a high degree of accuracy.

[0056] The guide mechanism 60, which holds the mounting support member 50 of the mounting mechanism 50 & 60 so that it can move back and forth (see Figures 5, 6(b), (c)), consists of a long, straight member with a U-shaped cross-section. An elongated plate-shaped upper guide member 61, corresponding to the upper horizontal line of the U, and an elongated plate-shaped lower guide member 62, corresponding to the lower horizontal line of the U, extend straight back and forth in a parallel, opposing state. The lower guide member 62 has a rolling suppression notch 65 formed near the front end, a rolling suppression notch 64 formed behind it, and a rolling suppression notch 63 formed further behind but forward of the rear end, all of which penetrate the lower guide member 62. However, the upper guide member 61 does not have such notches. The rolling suppression notches 63-65 only need to be small enough for the lowest part of the front wheel 53 of the mounting support member 50 to fit into, and could also be recesses that do not penetrate.

[0057] The mounting mechanism 50 & 60 (see Figures 5, 6(d) to (f)) is a combination of a mounting support member 50 and a guide mechanism 60, and is assembled by inserting the mounting support member 50 between a pair of guide mechanisms 60, 60 that are mounted facing each other on the inside of both sides of the housing 11. During insertion, both the rear wheel 54 and front wheel 53 of the guide mechanism 60 are loosely inserted between the upper guide member 61 and the lower guide member 62 of the guide mechanism 60, and the mounting support member 50 is pushed all the way into the guide mechanism 60, allowing the mounting mechanisms 50 and 60 to be easily assembled (see Figures 5(a) and 6(d)).

[0058] Furthermore, in the mounting mechanisms 50 and 60 (see Figures 5(a) to (c), and Figures 6(d) to (f)), since the front wheel 53 is incorporated in a part of the mounting support member 50 that is behind the center of gravity, the front wheel 53 is guided from below as it rides on the lower guide member 62 of the guide mechanism 60, and the rear wheel 54 is guided from above as it contacts the upper guide member 61 of the guide mechanism 60 from below. Also, as described above, since the front wheel 53 of the mounting support member 50 can fit slightly into the rolling suppression notches 63 to 65, when the guide mechanism 60 is moved back and forth lightly, the smooth rolling of the front wheel 53 is hindered when it reaches the rolling suppression notches 63 to 65, causing it to stop. However, when the mounting support member 50 is pushed or pulled strongly, or when the front end of the mounting support member 50 is slightly lifted while being pushed or pulled even with a weak force, it will move again. In such mounting mechanisms 50 and 60, the forward and backward movement of the mounting support member 50 is restricted to a forward pull-out position, a rearward push-back position, and intermediate positions between these two positions.

[0059] The usage and operation of the chemical storage device of this Embodiment 1 will be explained with reference to the drawings. Since the overall usage and operation of the chemical storage device 10 are the same as those known, a detailed explanation of those will be omitted, and here we will describe in detail the usage and operation of the opening / closing shutter 12 and the mounting support member 50.

[0060] When it is determined that the drug storage device 10 will not be used for dispensing, either outside of dispensing hours or at the completion of work during dispensing hours, or when necessary from a safety or operational standpoint, the opening / closing shutter 12 is manually pulled out from the shutter storage section 13 and lowered to the front of the storage section 14, before cutting off the power supply to the drug storage device 10, or while continuing to supply power (see Figure 1(a)). In this case, the drug storage device 10 detects the pulling out of the opening / closing shutter 12 as soon as the tip of the opening / closing shutter 12 emerges from the opening / closing detection mechanism 30 and approaches the upper end of the storage section 14 (see Figure 3(d)), and this is recognized by the control unit 40.

[0061] However, if the control unit 40 of the drug storage device 10 stops operating when the front of the storage compartment 14 is about to close or is closed by the opening / closing shutter 12, then data transmission from the group control device 200 to the drug storage device 10 is impossible in the first place. As a result, dispensing instructions do not reach the drug storage device 10, and the control unit 40 does not control the opening drive mechanism 21. Therefore, the undesirable situation in which the storage container 20 automatically moves forward and collides with the opening / closing shutter 12 does not occur. Furthermore, the group control device 200 and the dispensing server 100 can determine the operational stop status of the drug storage device 10 based on the detection of a communication failure with the drug storage device 10.

[0062] In contrast, when the control unit 40 of the drug storage device 10 continues to operate, the control unit 40 suppresses the operation control of the opening drive mechanism 21 unless the opening / closing shutter 12 is fully opened, so the undesirable situation of the storage container 20 moving forward and colliding with the opening / closing shutter 12 does not occur. Moreover, when dispensing instruction data is transmitted from the group control device 200 to the drug storage device 10, a reply indicating that the dispensing instruction cannot be followed is transmitted from the drug storage device 10 to the group control device 200, and also forwarded from the group control device 200 to the dispensing server 100. Then, the fact that the storage compartment 14 of the drug storage device 10 is closed is displayed on the indicators 201 and 101 by the higher-level devices 200 and 100. Therefore, dispensing staff can quickly grasp the situation.

[0063] When the control unit 40 of the drug storage device 10 is operating, the opening / closing shutter 12 is opened, or when the control unit 40 is operating while the opening / closing shutter 12 is open, in short, when the drug storage device 10 is operating normally and the opening / closing shutter 12 is open (see Figure 1(b)), when the drug storage device 10 receives a dispensing instruction from the group control device 200, in response to that dispensing instruction, the drug storage device 10 pushes the storage containers 20a and 20b containing the drugs to be dispensed forward by the opening drive mechanism 21, causing the storage containers 20a and 20b to move forward, and the front ends of the storage containers 20a and 20b protrude forward from the storage compartment 14 (see Figures 1(c), (d), and 2(b)). Since the lock mechanism 23 of the storage containers 20a and 20b is released, if you pull them further manually, the storage container 20b will protrude far forward from the storage compartment 14, allowing you to see inside the container all the way to the back, making it easy to take out the drugs.

[0064] When you want to temporarily place the medicines, their containers, and other items such as prescription slips, but there is no suitable place nearby such as a desk or workbench, you can place your hand on the front end of the mounting support member 50 stored in the housing 11 (see Figure 1(b)), lift the front end slightly, and pull it forward. Once the front wheels 53 of the mounting support member 50 reach the foremost rolling-suppression notch 65 of the guide mechanism 60, release your hand from the mounting support member 50, and the mounting support member 50 will stabilize (see Figures 1(c) and 6(f)). The wide top surface of the mounting support member 50 can then be used as a temporary place to put items during dispensing. A rearward movement suppression part 52 is provided at the rear of the top surface of the mounting support member 50, so you can place not only medicines but also prescription slips and writing instruments on it without worrying about them falling backward, allowing for safe use.

[0065] However, such a large extension of the mounting support member 50 can make it difficult to visually inspect or remove the lower mounting support member 50 during dispensing, especially when the storage container 20 located below the mounting support member 50 is included in the drug removal process. Therefore, when extending the mounting support member 50, or when pushing it back in because it has been extended too far, releasing your hand from the mounting support member 50 when the front wheels 53 of the mounting support member 50 reach the rolling-suppression notch 64 in the middle position of the guide mechanism 60 will stabilize the mounting support member 50 at that point (see Figures 1(d) and 6(e)). As a result, the degree to which the mounting support member 50 obstructs the visual inspection of the lower storage containers 20a and 20b is minimized, and the upper surface of the mounting support member 50 used as a resting place is still adequately secured, albeit narrower, allowing for a moderate enjoyment of the benefits of both mechanisms.

[0066] [others] In the above embodiment, the chemical storage device 10 is shown as a floor-standing, fixed type, but the chemical storage device 10 may also be a push cart with casters or a transportable, mobile type mounted on rails. In the above embodiment, the size of the storage container 20 shown in Figure 1 differed between the two lower tiers and those above them, but all storage containers 20 may be the same size.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the guide mechanism 60 had three notches 63-65 for preventing rolling, but the number of notches is not limited to three and may be four or more. The mounting mechanisms 50 and 60 are not limited to one set and may be equipped in multiple sets. In the above embodiment, the rolling suppression notches 63-65 were formed in the lower guide member 62, but the rolling suppression notches 63-65 may also be formed in the upper guide member 61. In that case, the position of the rolling suppression notches 63-65 should be set to the rear by an amount corresponding to the distance between the front wheel 53 and the rear wheel 54.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the lighting unit 26, which is provided for each storage container 20, was installed on the left side of the storage container 20. However, the installation location of the lighting unit 26 is not limited to the left side of the storage container 20; it may also be on the right side or above and below, as long as it is easily visible. The direction of light emission from the lighting unit 26 is not limited to forward; it may also be upward, sideways, or even diagonally. The number and color of the lighting units 26 are not limited to a single unit; there may be multiple units. For example, different colors may be used to distinguish between medications to be dispensed, allowing multiple dispensing operations to be processed in parallel using the same drug storage device 10. [Industrial applicability]

[0069] The pharmaceutical storage device of the present invention was developed primarily to prevent collisions between the storage container and the manually operated opening and closing shutter when the container moves forward automatically. However, the present invention is not without merit, although cost considerations may be necessary, for devices in which collisions with the opening and closing shutter do not occur when the storage container moves forward automatically. For example, since the lock is released when the storage container moves forward automatically, shaking such as an earthquake may cause the storage container to move further forward and come into contact with the opening and closing shutter, potentially damaging the storage container when the shutter is opened. The pharmaceutical storage device of the present invention is beneficial because it can avoid such undesirable situations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10…Chemical storage device, 11... Enclosure, 12... Opening / closing shutter, 12a...Front end when pulled out, 13...Shutter storage section, 14...Storage section, 20, 20a, 20b... storage containers, 21...Opening drive mechanism, 22...Extrusion mechanism (drive unit, electric motor), 23... Locking mechanism, 25... Drawer frame, 26... Lighting unit (light-emitting member, light-transmitting member) 30...Open / close detection mechanism, 31... Mechanical switch, 31a…Output terminal, 31b…Switch body, 31c…Operating unit, 32...holding frame, 33...support shaft, 34... responsive member, 34a... contact / separation part, 35... biasing member for the responsive part, 36-38...Transmission mechanism, 36...Oscillating member, 37...cushioning member, 38...leaf spring (transmission biasing member), 40... Control unit, 50 & 60... Mounting mechanism, 50... Mounting support member, 51...Horizontal plate body, 52...Backward movement restraint part, 53...Front wheel, 54...Rear wheel, 60... Information system, 61... Upper guide member, 62... Lower guide member, 63, 64, 65... Notches for preventing rolling 100... Dispensing server, 101... Display unit, 200...Group control device, 201...Display device

Claims

1. A chemical storage device comprising: a number of storage containers for containing chemicals; a compartment for holding the storage containers in a state that they can be individually pulled forward; a number of opening drive mechanisms disposed behind each of the storage containers; a housing housing the same; a shutter storage compartment provided on the top of the housing; and an opening / closing shutter that can be stored inside the housing by a pushing operation into the shutter storage compartment, which opens the front of the compartment when stored but closes the front of the compartment when pulled out, wherein the opening drive mechanism comprises: a drive unit equipped with an electric motor; an extrusion mechanism that, when driven by the drive unit, pushes the storage container to the location where it is installed to move forward; and a locking mechanism that, when driven by the drive unit, detaches from the storage container prior to the push of the extrusion mechanism, allowing the storage container to be pulled forward, but when the storage container is pushed backward, engages with the storage container and prevents the storage container from being pulled forward, An opening / closing detection mechanism is built into the side end of the housing to detect whether the opening / closing shutter is stored in the housing to the extent that the front of the storage compartment is fully open. A chemical storage device characterized in that, when it is not possible to confirm, based on the detection by the opening / closing detection mechanism, that the opening / closing shutter is housed in the housing, the drive of the extrusion mechanism by the drive unit is suppressed.

2. The chemical storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening / closing detection mechanism is disposed in the vicinity of the shutter storage section of the housing, and the detection state is switched when the leading end of the opening / closing shutter is positioned midway between the shutter storage section and the storage section when it is pulled out.

3. The chemical storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening / closing detection mechanism comprises a mechanical switch for switching a detection signal; a responsive member that swings in accordance with the contact and separation of the opening / closing shutter moving in and out of the shutter storage section; a transmission mechanism that transmits the swinging motion of the responsive member to the mechanical switch; a responsive member biasing the responsive member toward contact with the opening / closing shutter; a transmission member biasing the transmission mechanism toward the non-detection side of the opening / closing shutter when the mechanical switch is switched; and a buffer member incorporated into the transmission mechanism that mitigates the transmission state by elastic deformation.

4. The chemical storage device according to claim 3, characterized in that the responding member, the transmission mechanism, and the mechanical switch are arranged in the vertical direction.

5. A chemical storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a horizontal plate-shaped support member that can be pulled out forward and pushed back is incorporated at the middle position of the storage compartment, and the forward and backward movement of the support member is restricted at a position pulled out forward, a position pushed back, and an intermediate position between them.

6. A horizontal plate-shaped mounting support member that can be pulled forward and pushed back is incorporated into the middle position of the storage compartment, a rear wheel is attached to the rear of the aforementioned mounting support member, and a front wheel is attached in front of the rear wheel but behind the center, and an upper guide member that guides the forward and backward movement of the rear wheel from above and a lower guide member that guides the forward and backward movement of the front wheel from below are installed in the part of the storage compartment where the aforementioned mounting support member is incorporated in an upper and lower opposing arrangement. A chemical storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one or both of the upper guide member and the lower guide member have three or more notches formed in a front-to-rear arrangement, into which a part of the wheel to be guided (either the front wheel or the rear wheel) fits, thereby hindering the smooth rolling of the wheel.

7. The chemical storage device according to claim 6, characterized in that it has an elongated rearward movement restraining portion erected on the rear portion of the upper surface of the mounting support member and extending almost the entire width to the left and right.

8. A drug storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is equipped with means for communicating with a higher-level device, and when it is not possible to confirm from the detection of the opening / closing shutter that the opening / closing shutter is housed in the housing, it sends a reply to the higher-level device indicating that it cannot comply with the dispensing instruction.

Images