Drug dispensing device
The drug packaging device addresses the separate storage needs of drugs and cleaning materials by providing dedicated sections for each, enhancing access and efficiency in dispensing and cleaning operations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TAKAZONO CORP
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-04
Smart Images
Figure 0007870101000001 
Figure 0007870101000002 
Figure 0007870101000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention mainly relates to a drug packaging device.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, a drug supply device for supplying drugs contained in a drug container has been known. Patent Document 1 discloses this type of drug supply device.
[0003] The drug supply device of Patent Document 1 includes a container transport unit. The container transport unit receives and transports the drug container stored in the container storage unit, and sets the drug container in a drug discharge unit provided near the dispensing tray. The drug discharge unit discharges the drug contained in the drug container onto the dispensing tray. Further, Patent Document 1 describes a suction unit configured to suck the drug adhering to each part by negative pressure.
[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a cleaning method for supplying a cleaning material to the dispensing tray. By supplying the cleaning material to the dispensing tray, the cleaning material can be brought into contact with the drug path to clean the drug path.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] Patent Document 1 does not describe a cleaning method using a cleaning material. Therefore, an appropriate storage position or storage structure of the cleaning material is not known. However, since the drug and the cleaning material have different uses, usage purposes, usage timings, etc., naturally, appropriate storage modes are also different.
[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its main objective is to provide a drug packaging device for storing cleaning materials in an appropriate manner. Means and effects for solving the problem
[0008] The problems that this invention aims to solve are as described above, and next, the means for solving these problems and their effects will be explained.
[0009] According to the aspects of the present invention, a drug packaging device having the following configuration is provided. That is, the drug packaging device comprises a housing, a drug container storage section, a cleaning material container storage section, a drug discharge section, and a packaging section. The drug container storage section is located inside the housing and stores a plurality of drug containers containing drugs. The cleaning material container storage section is located inside the housing and is provided separately from the drug container storage section, and stores cleaning material containers containing cleaning materials. The drug discharge section is, It is provided separately from the aforementioned drug container storage section and the aforementioned cleaning material container storage section. The aforementioned drug container or cleaning material container can be selectively set, and the drug or cleaning material in the set container is discharged. The packaging section is supplied with the drug or cleaning material discharged by the drug discharge section and packages at least the drug. The cleaning material is filled outside the housing. The cleaning material container storage section is arranged so that the stored cleaning material containers can be removed by the user outside the housing.
[0010] As a result, the drug container and the cleaning material container are stored separately, allowing the cleaning material container to be stored in a location or manner suitable for the cleaning material container.
[0011] In the aforementioned drug packaging device, it is preferable that the cleaning material containers stored in the cleaning material container storage section are positioned closer to the drug discharge section than the drug containers stored in the drug container storage section.
[0012] In the aforementioned drug packaging device, The following configuration is preferable: that is, the housing is provided with a door. The cleaning material containers stored in the cleaning material container storage section are more than the drug containers stored in the drug container storage section. The aforementioned door It is positioned close to the edge. 。
[0013] This allows users to easily access the cleaning material container, making it possible to refill the cleaning material, for example, without any hassle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0014] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a drug packaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A perspective view showing a simplified layout of a drug packaging device. [Figure 3] A timing chart showing the relationship between the timing of cleaning operations performed before or after dispensing medication. [Figure 4] A timing chart showing the relationship between the operating timings of each part of a drug packaging device during the dispensing process. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a drug packaging device according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0015] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a drug packaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The drug packaging device comprises a drug supply device 1 and a packaging unit 41. The drug packaging device packages the drug supplied to the drug supply device 1 in the packaging unit 41.
[0016] The drug supply device 1 shown in Figure 1 can store multiple drug containers 14 containing drugs. This drug supply device 1 supplies the drugs contained in the drug containers 14 to the packaging section 41. The drug in this embodiment is a powder, but it may also be in tablet form.
[0017] Furthermore, the drug supply device 1 can store at least one cleaning material container 64 containing a cleaning material such as lactose. The drug supply device 1 supplies the cleaning material contained in the cleaning material container 64 to the packaging section 41.
[0018] On the outer surface of each medicine container 14 stored in the medicine supply device 1, a magnetic member is provided. This magnetic member is used for transporting the medicine container 14 by a container transport unit 15 described later. Further, an information tag is attached to the outer surface of each medicine container 14. This information tag stores data related to the unique identification information of the medicine container 14, the information of the medicine contained therein, and the weight of the contained medicine.
[0019] On the outer surface of the cleaning material container 64 stored in the medicine supply device 1, a magnetic member is provided in the same manner as the medicine container 14. This magnetic member is used for transporting the cleaning material container 64 by a container transport unit 15 described later. Further, an information tag is attached to the outer surface of each cleaning material container 64. This information tag stores data related to the unique identification information of the cleaning material container 64 and the type of the cleaning material contained therein.
[0020] The medicine supply device 1 includes a medicine container storage unit 11, a cleaning material container storage unit 61, a container transport unit 15, a medicine discharge unit 21, a dispensing tray 31, a medicine extraction unit 35, a first suction unit 52, a measurement processing unit, a first reader / writer unit 71, a second reader / writer unit 75, a container temporary placement unit 81, an interface unit 91, and a control device 95. The interface unit 91 and the control device 95 also function as the interface unit and the control device of the medicine packaging device.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the medicine packaging device includes a housing 5. Inside the housing 5, each part of the medicine supply device 1 and a packaging unit 41 are arranged.
[0022] The housing 5 is provided with a door 6. The user can access, for example, the medicine container storage unit 11 or the cleaning material container storage unit 61 by opening the door 6. Further, the housing 5 is provided with a touch panel display 7. The touch panel display 7 displays information related to the supply or packaging of medicine. The user operates the touch panel display 7 to give an instruction to the medicine packaging device. Instead of the touch panel display 7, a display (display device) without a touch panel function and a hardware key (operation device) may be provided.
[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the front side of the housing 5 is the front side of the device. From another perspective, the front side of the device is the side on which the door 6 is located. Alternatively, the front side of the device is the side on which the touch panel display 7 (i.e., the display device and / or operating device) is located.
[0024] The drug container storage section 11 can store multiple drug containers 14. The drug container storage section 11 includes a rotating member 12 and a drug container placement section 13.
[0025] The rotating member 12 is installed in an upright position. The rotating member 12 can rotate about its vertical axis by the driving force of the motor.
[0026] Multiple drug container placement sections 13 are arranged in a row on the outer circumference of the rotating member 12, both vertically and rotationally. One drug container 14 can be placed in each drug container placement section 13. The drug container placement section 13 is, for example, a mounting plate capable of accommodating a drug container 14. The drug container placement section 13 rotates integrally with the rotating member 12 as the rotating member 12 rotates. This changes the position of the drug container placement section 13 in the drug container storage section 11. Subsequently, the container transport section 15, described later, receives the drug container 14 from the drug container storage section 11 or transfers the drug container 14 to the drug container storage section 11.
[0027] Only one drug container 14 is placed in each drug container placement section 13. The drug container placement section 13 in which a drug container 14 is placed is predetermined according to that drug container 14, and it will not be placed in any other drug container placement section 13. However, the system may be configured to allow different drug containers 14 to be placed in the same drug container placement section 13. In this case, the drug container 14 placed in the drug container placement section 13 is identified by reading the data stored in the information tag attached to the drug container 14.
[0028] The cleaning material container storage section 61 can store cleaning material containers 64. The cleaning material container storage section 61 includes a support member 62 and a cleaning material container placement section 63.
[0029] The cleaning material container storage section 61 is provided separately from (independently from) the drug container storage section 11. "Provided separately" means that the drug container storage section 11 and the cleaning material container storage section 61 are located in different positions. More specifically, "provided separately" means that the rotating member 12, which forms the base of the drug container storage section 11, and the supporting member 62, which forms the base of the cleaning material container storage section 61, are different. Therefore, if one of the drug container placement sections 13 of the drug container storage section 11 is used as the cleaning material container placement section 63, it does not fall under the category of "provided separately."
[0030] The support member 62 is a block-shaped member. The support member 62 is fixed to a table on which the distribution tray 31 is provided, for example. However, there are various methods for fixing the support member 62, and it may be fixed to the wall surface of the housing 5, for example. The support member 62 is not limited to a block shape and may have another shape (for example, a flat plate). Also, unlike the rotating member 12, the support member 62 does not have a movable mechanism.
[0031] The cleaning material container placement section 63 is provided on the support member 62. The support member 62 is provided with at least one (multiple in this embodiment) cleaning material container placement section 63. One cleaning material container 64 can be placed in each cleaning material container placement section 63. The cleaning material container placement section 63 is a recess or fixing mechanism for placing and fixing the cleaning material container 64 on the support member 62. Alternatively, the cleaning material container placement section 63 may be configured in the same way as the drug container placement section 13. The container transport section 15, described later, can receive the cleaning material container 64 from the cleaning material container placement section 63 or transfer the drug container 14 to the cleaning material container placement section 63. As described above, since the support member 62 does not have a movable mechanism, the container transport section 15 can receive or transfer the cleaning material container 64 without changing the position of the cleaning material container placement section 63.
[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the cleaning material container storage section 61 is located on the front side of the drug supply device 1 relative to the drug container storage section 11. Therefore, the cleaning material containers 64 stored in the cleaning material container storage section 61 are positioned closer to the front of the device than the drug containers 14 stored in the drug container storage section 11. In other words, in a plan view, the distance from the cleaning material containers 64 stored in the cleaning material container storage section 61 to the front of the device is shorter than the distance from the drug containers 14 stored in the drug container storage section 11 to the front of the device. When multiple drug containers 14 or cleaning material containers 64 are stored, for example, the drug container 14 closest to the front is compared with the cleaning material container 64 closest to the front.
[0033] This layout positions the cleaning material container 64 closer to the door 6 than the chemical container 14. As a result, the user can easily access the cleaning material container 64, making it easier to remove the cleaning material container 64 from the chemical supply device 1 and fill it with cleaning material.
[0034] Furthermore, the cleaning material containers 64 stored in the cleaning material container storage section 61 are positioned closer to the drug discharge section 21 than the drug containers 14 stored in the drug container storage section 11. In other words, the distance from the cleaning material containers 64 stored in the cleaning material container storage section 61 to the drug discharge section 21 is shorter than the distance from the drug containers 14 stored in the drug container storage section 11 to the drug discharge section 21. If multiple drug containers 14 or cleaning material containers 64 are stored, for example, the drug container 14 closest to the drug discharge section 21 is compared with the cleaning material container 64 closest to the drug discharge section 21. Also, if multiple drug discharge sections 21 are provided, the distances to the nearest drug discharge sections 21 are compared.
[0035] This layout reduces the time required to transport the cleaning material container 64 from the cleaning material container storage section 61 to the chemical discharge section 21, thus enabling cleaning to be completed in a shorter time.
[0036] In this embodiment, the drug container storage section 11 and the cleaning material container storage section 61 are not shared. Therefore, the cleaning material container 64 is not placed in the drug container placement section 13, and similarly, the drug container 14 is not placed in the cleaning material container placement section 63.
[0037] The container transport unit 15 can transport drug containers 14 between the drug container storage unit 11 and the drug discharge unit 21, and transport cleaning material containers 64 between the cleaning material container storage unit 61 and the drug discharge unit 21. Specifically, the container transport unit 15 can perform the following three operations on the drug containers 14 and the cleaning material containers 64.
[0038] The first action with respect to the drug container 14 is to move it between the drug container storage unit 11 and the drug dispensing unit 21 (first action). The second action with respect to the drug container 14 is to remove it from one of the drug container placement units 13 in the drug container storage unit 11 (second action). The third action with respect to the drug container 14 is to return the drug container 14 to one of the drug container placement units 13 (third action).
[0039] Similarly, the first action for the cleaning material container 64 is to move it between the cleaning material container storage unit 61 and the chemical discharge unit 21 (first action). The second action for the cleaning material container 64 is to remove it from one of the cleaning material container placement units 63 in the cleaning material container storage unit 61 (second action). The third action for the cleaning material container 64 is to return it to one of the cleaning material container placement units 63 (third action).
[0040] The container transport unit 15 comprises a holding arm unit 16 and a transport operation mechanism 17.
[0041] The holding arm portion 16 can hold and release the container (medicine container 14 or cleaning material container 64). In this embodiment, the tip of the holding arm portion 16 is provided with an electromagnet that can be attached to and detached from the magnetic member on the outer surface of the container. Therefore, the holding arm portion 16 can hold and release the container using the electromagnet. The base end of the holding arm portion 16 is connected to the transport mechanism 17.
[0042] The transport mechanism 17 can move the holding arm 16 between each storage section (drug container storage section 11, cleaning material container storage section 61) and the drug discharge section 21 using the driving force of the motor.
[0043] With the above configuration, when the tip of the holding arm 16 is approaching the outer circumference of the drug container storage section 11 due to the transport mechanism 17, the holding arm 16 can take out the drug container 14 that is placed in the drug container placement section 13. Also, when the tip of the holding arm 16 is approaching the outer circumference of the drug container storage section 11, the holding arm 16 can return the drug container 14 that it is holding to the drug container placement section 13. Also, when the tip of the holding arm 16 is approaching the vicinity of the cleaning material container storage section 61 due to the transport mechanism 17, the holding arm 16 can take out the cleaning material container 64 that is placed in the cleaning material container placement section 63. Also, when the tip of the holding arm 16 is approaching the vicinity of the cleaning material container storage section 61, the holding arm 16 can return the cleaning material container 64 that it is holding to the cleaning material container placement section 63.
[0044] On the other hand, with the tip of the holding arm 16 approaching the drug discharge section 21 due to the transport mechanism 17, the holding arm 16 can set a container (drug container 14 or cleaning material container 64) in the drug discharge section 21. Also, with the tip of the holding arm 16 approaching the drug discharge section 21, the holding arm 16 can release the set container and remove it from the drug discharge section 21.
[0045] The drug discharge unit 21 is capable of discharging the drug (or cleaning material) from the container it is set in. The drug discharge unit 21 is equipped with a vibrator 22 for vibrating the drug discharge unit 21. When the container set in the drug discharge unit 21 vibrates, the drug (or cleaning material) in the drug container 14 is shaken out.
[0046] The drug supply device 1 is equipped with a plurality (two in this embodiment) of drug discharge units 21. One drug container 14 can be set in one drug discharge unit 21. Therefore, if drug containers 14 are set in each of the plurality of drug discharge units 21, it is possible that drugs may be discharged from the plurality of drug discharge units 21 simultaneously.
[0047] The dispensing tray 31 is located near the drug discharge section 21. The dispensing tray 31 functions as a receiving tray for the drug (or cleaning material, hereinafter the same) shaken out from the drug container 14.
[0048] The distribution plate 31 comprises a plate portion 32 and a rotation drive unit 33.
[0049] The dish portion 32 is formed in the shape of a horizontal disc. The dish portion 32 is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis in the vertical direction. The drug discharged from the drug discharge portion 21 can be placed on top of the dish portion 32.
[0050] The rotary drive unit 33 can rotate the dish portion 32 in the circumferential direction using the driving force of the motor. As the dish portion 32 rotates and receives the drug from the drug discharge portion 21, the drug is evenly distributed on the dish portion 32 in the circumferential direction.
[0051] The drug dispensing unit 35 is located near the dispensing tray 31. The drug dispensing unit 35 uses the driving force of a motor to scoop up the drug from a portion of the circumferential region of the tray 32 (dispensing operation). The drug dispensing unit 35 can supply the scooped-up drug to the packaging unit 41.
[0052] The packaging unit 41 can package the drug. The packaging unit 41 is equipped with a hopper 42 which serves as the drug input port. When the drug dispensing unit 35 puts a single dose of drug into the hopper 42, the packaging unit 41 packages the drug. The packaged drug is then supplied to the outside of the drug packaging device.
[0053] A first suction unit 52 and a second suction unit 53 are provided near the dispensing tray 31. The first suction unit 52 can apply suction force to the dispensing tray 31 and the drug dispensing unit 35. The second suction unit 53 is provided near the packaging unit 41. The second suction unit 53 can apply suction force to the packaging unit 41 (in this embodiment, the inside of the hopper 42). The first suction unit 52 and the second suction unit 53 remove the drug adhering to each part by sucking it up with negative pressure.
[0054] The measurement processing unit comprises a first measurement unit 55 and a second measurement unit 56.
[0055] The first measuring unit 55 is a device for measuring the weight of the drug in the drug container 14. The first measuring unit 55 is provided in the drug discharge unit 21. In this embodiment, one first measuring unit 55 is provided in each drug discharge unit 21.
[0056] The second measuring unit 56, like the first measuring unit 55, is a device that measures the weight of the drug in the drug container 14. The second measuring unit 56 is located in the container temporary storage unit 81, which will be described later.
[0057] The first reader / writer unit 71 can read data stored in the information tag attached to the drug container 14. The first reader / writer unit 71 can also write data to the information tag. The first reader / writer unit 71 is provided in each drug dispensing unit 21.
[0058] The second reader / writer unit 75 can perform the same processing as the first reader / writer unit 71. The second reader / writer unit 75 is provided in the container temporary storage unit 81.
[0059] The container temporary storage section 81 can temporarily hold drug containers 14 that are transported between the drug container storage section 11 and the drug discharge section 21. The container temporary storage section 81 can be configured in various ways, but for example, it can be configured as a platform on which drug containers 14 can be placed.
[0060] The interface unit 91 implements user interface functions. The interface unit 91 can be configured to include, for example, a display device that displays the status of the dispensing process and user input information, and an operating device for the user to input instructions.
[0061] The control device 95 is a computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The ROM stores a control program for operating the drug packaging device. The operation of the drug container storage unit 11, container transport unit 15, drug discharge unit 21, dispensing tray 31, drug removal unit 35, packaging unit 41, first suction unit 52, second suction unit 53, first reader / writer unit 71, second reader / writer unit 75, and interface unit 91 is controlled by the control device 95.
[0062] Next, an example of the processing of the control device 95 will be described in detail. Figure 3 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the timing of the cleaning process performed before or after the dispensing process. Figure 4 is a timing chart showing an example of the dispensing process of a drug packaging device. The example described below shows a dispensing process using two drug containers 14, with cleaning processes using cleaning material performed before and after that process.
[0063] The user inputs the type of medication to be used for dispensing, the amount per package, the number of packages, etc., via the interface unit 91, according to the prescription data. Once the user has finished inputting the necessary information and has given an instruction to start the dispensing process, the medication packaging device begins the dispensing process.
[0064] Furthermore, the user can configure the cleaning process using cleaning material via the interface unit 91. The user configures these settings in advance before starting the dispensing process. The settings allow the user to configure various conditions for supplying the cleaning material to the dispensing tray 31, such as the type and amount of cleaning material, the timing of the cleaning process (before dispensing / after dispensing / before and after dispensing), etc.
[0065] If cleaning is to be performed before dispensing, the control device 95 starts the cleaning process. When the cleaning process starts, the control device 95 moves the tip of the holding arm 16 closer to the cleaning material container 63 where the cleaning material container 64 containing the cleaning material specified by the user is located, in order to remove the cleaning material container 64 from the cleaning material container storage unit 61.
[0066] The control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to remove the cleaning material container 64 from the cleaning material container placement unit 63.
[0067] When the tip of the holding arm 16 holds the cleaning material container 64, the control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to transport and set the cleaning material container 64 to the chemical discharge unit 21. In this embodiment, the cleaning material container 64 is set in the first chemical discharge unit 21. When the cleaning material container 64 is set in the first chemical discharge unit 21, the control device 95 causes the first reader / writer unit 71 of the first chemical discharge unit 21 to read the data stored in the information tag of the cleaning material container 64. The data read at this time includes, for example, unique identification information and information regarding the type of cleaning material.
[0068] The control device 95 determines, based on the unique identification information acquired by the first reader / writer unit 71, whether the cleaning material container 64 set in the first chemical discharge unit 21 matches the cleaning material container 64 containing the cleaning material specified by the user.
[0069] When the control device 95 confirms that the cleaning material container 64 set in the first chemical discharge unit 21 is correct, it starts the vibration device 22 of the first chemical discharge unit 21 to vibrate and rotates the distribution plate 31. This shakes the cleaning material out of the cleaning material container 64. The cleaning material from the cleaning material container 64 is discharged onto the rotating distribution plate 31.
[0070] Next, when the amount of cleaning material required for the cleaning process has been discharged from the cleaning material container 64, the control device 95 stops the vibration device 22 of the first chemical discharge unit 21, and ends the shaking of the cleaning material from the cleaning material container 64.
[0071] The control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to return the cleaning material container 64 to the cleaning material container storage unit 61. When returning the cleaning material container 64 to the cleaning material container storage unit 61, the control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to hold the cleaning material container 64, which is set in the first drug discharge unit 21, in the holding arm unit 16, and transport the cleaning material container 64 to the cleaning material container storage unit 61.
[0072] When the discharge process of the cleaning material from the cleaning material container 64 is complete and the cleaning material necessary for the cleaning process is placed on the distribution tray 31, the control device 95 causes the chemical dispensing unit 35 to scoop up the cleaning material from the distribution tray 31 and put the cleaning material into the hopper 42 of the packaging unit 41. The control device 95 also causes the cleaning material scooped up by the chemical dispensing unit 35 to be packaged in the packaging unit 41.
[0073] The cleaning material container 64 is returned to the cleaning material container storage unit 61, and the supplied cleaning material is packaged in the packaging unit 41, thereby ending the cleaning process.
[0074] In this way, during the cleaning process, the drug supply device 1 can supply cleaning material to the dispensing tray 31 in the same way as the drug. The cleaning material is removed from the cleaning material container 64 and packaged while in contact with the drug pathway of the drug packaging device, thereby cleaning the drug pathway that the cleaning material comes into contact with.
[0075] Once the cleaning process is complete, the dispensing process begins. When the dispensing process begins, the control device 95 moves the tip of the holding arm 16 close to the drug container placement section 13 where the drug container 14 containing the drug specified by the user is located, in order to retrieve the drug container 14 from the drug container storage section 11. In the following description, the drug container 14 may be referred to as the first drug container 14.
[0076] The control device 95 rotates the rotating member 12 to adjust the position of the drug container placement section 13 where the first drug container 14 is located. This makes it possible to remove the first drug container 14 from the drug container placement section 13 using the tip of the holding arm 16 of the container transport section 15. At timing T1 shown in Figure 4, the control device 95 rotates the drug container storage section 11 while moving the holding arm 16. By performing the movement of the holding arm 16 and the adjustment of the position of the drug container placement section 13 simultaneously, the transport operation of the drug container 14 becomes smoother.
[0077] The control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to remove the first drug container 14 from the drug container placement unit 13.
[0078] When the tip of the holding arm 16 holds the first drug container 14, the control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to transport and set the first drug container 14 in the drug discharge unit 21, which does not currently contain the drug container 14. In this embodiment, the first drug container 14 is set in the first drug discharge unit 21.
[0079] When the first drug container 14 is set in the first drug dispensing unit 21, the control device 95 causes the first reader / writer unit 71 of the first drug dispensing unit 21 to read the data stored in the information tag of the first drug container 14. The data read at this time includes, for example, unique identification information, drug information, and data related to the weight of the drug.
[0080] The control device 95 determines, based on the unique identification information acquired by the first reader / writer unit 71, whether the drug container 14 set in the first drug dispensing unit 21 matches the drug container 14 containing the drug specified by the user (i.e., the drug container 14 containing the drug to be used in this dispensing process). The control device 95 also determines, based on the drug weight data acquired by the first reader / writer unit 71, whether the drug container 14 contains the amount of drug required for this dispensing process.
[0081] When the control device 95 confirms that the drug container 14 set in the first drug dispensing unit 21 is correct and that the drug container 14 contains the amount of drug required for dispensing, the control device 95 starts vibrating the vibrator 22 of the first drug dispensing unit 21 and rotates the dispensing tray 31 (end of timing T2). As a result, the drug is shaken out of the first drug container 14.
[0082] The drug in the first drug container 14 is discharged onto the rotating dispensing tray 31. Therefore, the drug is placed on the dispensing tray 31 so that its thickness is uniform.
[0083] During the process in which the first drug discharge unit 21 discharges the drug from the first drug container 14, the first measuring unit 55 continuously measures the weight of the drug in the first drug container 14. As the drug is shaken out of the first drug container 14, the weight of the drug in the first drug container 14 gradually decreases. When the decrease in the weight of the drug in the first drug container 14 becomes equal to the weight of the drug to be used in the dispensing process, the control device 95 stops the vibration device 22 of the first drug discharge unit 21 and terminates the discharge of the drug from the first drug discharge unit 21. In this way, the control device 95 monitors the change in the weight of the drug in the first drug container 14 during the discharge operation. This makes it possible to accurately discharge a predetermined amount of drug from the first drug container 14.
[0084] After setting the first drug container 14 in the first drug dispensing unit 21, the control device 95 instructs the container transport unit 15 to retrieve another drug container 14 containing the drug specified by the user (i.e., the drug container 14 to be used in this dispensing process) from the drug container storage unit 11. To this end, the control device 95 brings the tip of the holding arm unit 16 closer to the drug container placement unit 13 where the drug container 14 containing the drug is located. In the following description, this drug container 14 may be referred to as the second drug container 14.
[0085] The control device 95 rotates the rotating member 12, similar to the case of timing T1, to adjust the position of the drug container placement section 13 where the second drug container 14 is located. This makes it possible to remove the second drug container 14 with the tip of the holding arm section 16. At timing T3 shown in Figure 4, the drug container storage section 11 is rotated in parallel with the movement of the holding arm section 16, similar to timing T1. Therefore, the transport operation of the drug container 14 becomes smoother.
[0086] The control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to remove the second drug container 14 from the drug container placement unit 13.
[0087] When the tip of the holding arm 16 holds the second drug container 14, the control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to transport and set the second drug container 14 in the drug discharge unit 21, which does not currently contain the drug container 14. In this embodiment, the second drug container 14 is set in the second drug discharge unit 21.
[0088] When the second drug container 14 is set in the second drug dispensing unit 21, the control device 95 causes the first reader / writer unit 71 of the second drug dispensing unit 21 to read the data stored in the information tag of the second drug container 14.
[0089] The control device 95 determines, based on the unique identification information acquired by the first reader / writer unit 71, whether the drug container 14 set in the second drug dispensing unit 21 matches the drug container containing the drug specified by the user. The control device 95 also determines, based on the drug weight data acquired by the first reader / writer unit 71, whether the drug container 14 contains the amount of drug required for the current dispensing process.
[0090] When the control device 95 confirms that the drug container 14 set in the second drug discharge unit 21 is correct and that the drug container 14 contains the amount of drug required for dispensing, the control device 95 starts the vibration device 22 of the second drug discharge unit 21 to vibrate (end of timing T4). This causes the drug to be shaken out of the first drug container 14. In the example in Figure 4, the drug discharge timings in the first drug discharge unit 21 and the second drug discharge unit 21 overlap.
[0091] Next, when the amount of drug required for dispensing is discharged from the first drug container 14, the control device 95 stops the vibration device 22 of the first drug discharge unit 21, ending the shaking of the drug from the first drug container 14. After that, the control device 95 causes the first reader / writer unit 71 of the first drug discharge unit 21 to perform a writing process. That is, the control device 95 stores the weight data of the drug in the first drug container 14 at the end of the drug shaking process in the information tag of the first drug container 14 (timing T5).
[0092] After the weight data is written to the information tag of the first drug container 14, the control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to return the first drug container 14 to the drug container storage unit 11.
[0093] As shown in Figure 4, the drug supply device 1 can transport the drug container 14 (first drug container 14) that has finished discharging (in this example, the second drug container 14) back to its original position while the other drug container 14 (second drug container 14) is discharging the drug. In this way, drug discharge and the movement of drug container 14 can be performed simultaneously, allowing the entire operation to be carried out quickly.
[0094] As described above, the drug supply device 1 can open the drug discharge section 21 while the drug container 14 is discharging the drug. Furthermore, even while the drug container 14 (second drug container 14) is discharging the drug, the drug supply device 1 can pre-set the drug container 14 to be used for the next dispensing process in the now-empty drug discharge section 21 (first drug discharge section 21). In this sense as well, the drug supply device 1 is able to perform dispensing processes efficiently.
[0095] When returning the first drug container 14 to the drug container storage unit 11, the control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to hold the first drug container 14, which is set in the first drug discharge unit 21, in the holding arm unit 16. The control device 95 then instructs the container transport unit 15 to first transport the first drug container 14 to the temporary container storage unit 81.
[0096] The transported first drug container 14 is temporarily placed in the container temporary storage section 81. When the first drug container 14 is placed in the container temporary storage section 81, the control device 95 causes the second reader / writer unit 75 to read the weight data stored in the information tag of the first drug container 14 (timing T6). The second measurement unit 56 also measures the weight of the drug inside the first drug container 14. The control device 95 then checks whether the weight data acquired by the second reader / writer unit 75 (i.e., the measurement result of the first measurement unit 55) and the measurement result of the second measurement unit 56 are consistent. In this way, the drug supply device 1 strictly checks whether a predetermined amount of drug has been accurately discharged by measuring the weight of the drug inside the drug container 14 twice after the drug has been discharged. The weight data showing the measurement result of the second measurement unit 56 may be stored in the information tag of the first drug container 14 by the second reader / writer unit 75.
[0097] After confirming the amount of drug discharged, the control device 95 instructs the container transport unit 15 to transport the first drug container 14, which is located in the temporary container storage unit 81, to the drug container storage unit 11.
[0098] Furthermore, similar to the case when removing the drug container 14 from the drug container storage unit 11, the control device 95 rotates the rotating member 12 to adjust the position of the drug container placement unit 13 to which the first drug container 14 should be returned. This makes it possible to return the first drug container 14 to the drug container placement unit 13 at the tip of the holding arm 16. The rotation of the drug container storage unit 11 is performed by the time the movement of the holding arm 16 is completed (timing T7), as in the cases described above (timing T1, T3). This makes the transport operation of the drug container 14 smoother.
[0099] Next, when the amount of drug required for dispensing is discharged from the second drug container 14, the control device 95 stops the vibration device 22 of the second drug discharge unit 21, ending the shaking of the drug from the second drug container 14. After that, the control device 95 causes the first reader / writer unit 71 of the second drug discharge unit 21 to perform a writing process. That is, the control device 95 stores the weight data of the drug in the second drug container 14 at the end of the drug shaking process in the information tag of the second drug container 14 (timing T8).
[0100] When the dispensing of the drugs from the first drug container 14 and the second drug container 14 is complete and the drugs necessary for dispensing are placed on the dispensing tray 31, the control device 95 causes the drug dispensing unit 35 to scoop up the drugs from the dispensing tray 31 and put the drugs into the hopper 42 of the packaging unit 41 (timing T9). The control device 95 also causes the drug dispensing unit 35 to package the drugs in the packaging unit 41 (timing T9). In Figure 4, the timing of the operation of the packaging unit 41 is omitted, but the packaging unit 41 operates at approximately the same timing as the drug dispensing unit 35. As shown in Figure 4, the drug supply device 1 can transport the drug containers 14 while the drug dispensing unit 35 is performing the drug dispensing operation. In this way, drug dispensing and drug container 14 can be performed simultaneously, allowing the entire operation to be carried out quickly.
[0101] When the process of scooping the drug from the dispensing tray 31 is complete, the dispensing tray 31 stops. The first suction unit 52 then applies a suction flow to the dispensing tray 31 and the drug dispensing unit 35 (timing T10). As shown in Figure 4, the drug supply device 1 can transport the drug container 14 while the first suction unit 52 is performing the suction operation (first suction operation). In this way, the suction operation and the movement of the drug container 14 can be performed simultaneously, allowing the entire operation to be carried out quickly.
[0102] After the packaging unit 41 has finished processing (in other words, after the supply of the drug from the first drug container 14 and the drug from the second drug container 14 has finished), the second suction unit 53 applies a suction flow to the packaging unit 41 (timing T11). The drug supply device 1 can transport the drug containers 14 while the second suction unit 53 is performing the suction operation (second suction operation). In this way, the suction operation and the movement of the drug containers 14 can be performed simultaneously, so the entire operation can be carried out quickly.
[0103] The dispensing process is completed when the necessary medications are packaged and the first and second aspiration operations are performed.
[0104] If cleaning is to be performed after dispensing, the control device 95 starts the cleaning process after the dispensing process is completed. The cleaning process after dispensing is performed by the same operation as the cleaning process before dispensing, in which the cleaning material is removed from the cleaning material container 64 and packaged while in contact with the drug pathway of the drug packaging device, thereby cleaning the drug pathway that the cleaning material comes into contact with.
[0105] Next, a second embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the drug packaging device according to the second embodiment. In the description of this embodiment, the same or similar components as those in the previously described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and their descriptions may be omitted.
[0106] In the drug packaging device of the first embodiment described above, the drug supply device 1 was equipped with a second measuring unit 56 and a second reader / writer unit 75. In this respect, in the drug packaging device of the second embodiment shown in Figure 5, the drug supply device 2 is not equipped with either the second measuring unit 56 or the second reader / writer unit 75. Furthermore, the drug supply device 2 is equipped with a container removal unit 82 instead of a container temporary storage unit 81.
[0107] The container retrieval section 82 is provided so that it can be easily accessed by the user from the outside. The user can retrieve the drug container 14 that has been transported to the container retrieval section 82. The structure of the container retrieval section 82 can be various, but for example, it can be a pedestal on which the drug container 14 is placed. In this case, the container retrieval section 82 is provided on the inside of the door 6. Alternatively, the container retrieval section 82 may be configured as a port that connects the inside and outside of the drug supply device 2, for example.
[0108] In the drug supply device 2 of this embodiment, the container removal section 82 is not equipped with a device for measuring weight. Therefore, the weight of the drug in the drug container 14 placed in the container removal section 82 is not measured.
[0109] If the first measurement unit 55 determines that the amount of drug contained in the drug container 14 is insufficient for dispensing, the control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to transport the drug container 14 to the container retrieval unit 82. The user can then retrieve the drug container 14 via the container retrieval unit 82 and replenish the drug. Alternatively, a reader / writer unit may be provided in the drug container placement unit 13 or the holding arm unit 16, and this reader / writer unit may read data regarding the weight of the drug stored in the information tag of the drug container 14. Based on the data acquired by this reader / writer unit, if the amount of drug contained in the drug container 14 is insufficient for dispensing, the control device 95 controls the container transport unit 15 to transport the drug container 14 to the container retrieval unit 82.
[0110] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the control device 95 can perform the following actions: to directly return the drug container 14 set in the drug discharge unit 21 to the drug container storage unit 11, and to transport drug containers 14 that do not contain the amount of drug necessary for dispensing to the container removal unit 82. In this embodiment, the second measurement unit 56 is omitted, so the drug supply device 2 performs dispensing based on the measurement results of the first measurement unit 55 located in the drug discharge unit 21.
[0111] As described above, the drug supply devices 1 and 2 of the above embodiment include a drug container storage unit 11, a cleaning material container storage unit 61, a drug discharge unit 21, and a container transport unit 15. The drug container storage unit 11 stores a plurality of drug containers 14 containing drugs. The cleaning material container storage unit 61 is provided separately from the drug container storage unit 11 and stores cleaning material containers 64 containing cleaning materials. The drug discharge unit 21 can selectively set either drug containers 14 or cleaning material containers 64 and discharges the drug or cleaning material from the set container. The container transport unit 15 can transport drug containers 14 between the drug container storage unit 11 and the drug discharge unit 21, and transport cleaning material containers 64 between the cleaning material container storage unit 61 and the drug discharge unit 21.
[0112] As a result, the drug container 14 and the cleaning material container 64 are stored separately, allowing the cleaning material container 64 to be stored in a suitable position or manner.
[0113] Furthermore, in the above embodiments of the drug supply devices 1 and 2, the cleaning material container 64 stored in the cleaning material container storage section 61 is positioned closer to the drug discharge section 21 than the drug container 14 stored in the drug container storage section 11.
[0114] This reduces the time required to transport the cleaning material container 64 to the chemical discharge section 21, allowing cleaning to be completed in a shorter time.
[0115] Furthermore, in the drug supply devices 1 and 2 of the above embodiment, the drug container storage unit 11 transfers the drug container 14 to the container transport unit 15 after changing the position of the drug container placement unit 13 where the drug container 14 is placed. The cleaning material container storage unit 61 transfers the cleaning material container 64 to the container transport unit 15 without changing the position of the cleaning material container placement unit 63 where the cleaning material container 64 is placed.
[0116] Generally, there are many types of drug containers 14 compared to fewer types of cleaning material containers 64, so the advantages of changing the position of the cleaning material container placement section 63 are less apparent with the cleaning material containers 64. On the other hand, by not changing the position of the cleaning material container placement section 63, cleaning can be performed in a shorter time.
[0117] Furthermore, in the above embodiments of the drug supply devices 1 and 2, the cleaning material container 64 stored in the cleaning material container storage section 61 is positioned closer to the front of the device than the drug container 14 stored in the drug container storage section 11.
[0118] This allows users to easily access the cleaning material container 64, making it possible to replenish the cleaning material, for example, without any hassle.
[0119] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above configuration can be modified as follows, for example.
[0120] The drug discharge section 21 is not limited to two, but may be one or three or more.
[0121] There does not need to be any time overlap between the rotation of the drug container storage unit 11 and the movement of the container transport unit 15 between the drug container storage unit 11 and the drug discharge unit 21 (hereinafter referred to as the movement operation).
[0122] There does not need to be any time overlap between at least one of the first suction operation of the first suction unit 52 and the second suction operation of the second suction unit 53 and the movement operation of the container transport unit 15. Furthermore, at least one of the first suction unit 52 and the second suction unit 53 can be omitted.
[0123] There does not need to be any time overlap between the dispensing operation of the drug dispensing unit 35 and the movement operation of the container transport unit 15.
[0124] In the above embodiment, the holding arm 16 uses electromagnetic force to hold and release the drug container 14 and the cleaning material container 64. However, a hand may be provided at the tip of the holding arm 16, and the drug container 14 and the cleaning material container 64 may be mechanically held and released by the hand.
[0125] If it is not necessary to move the holding arm portion 16, the control device 95 may perform control to keep the holding arm portion 16 in a predetermined standby position.
[0126] The number of dispensing trays 31 can be changed as appropriate, taking into account the number of drug discharge units 21. For example, if 4 to 6 drug discharge units 21 are provided, two dispensing trays can be provided to receive the drugs discharged from 2 to 3 of the drug discharge units 21.
[0127] The drug packaging device may be equipped with a notification unit to inform the user of any abnormalities in the dispensing process. If the drug container 14 set in the drug dispensing unit 21 cannot be confirmed to be the drug container 14 containing the drug specified by the user, the control device 95 may notify the user of this fact via the notification unit. The notification unit can also be activated if the amount of drug required for dispensing cannot be confirmed, or if the measurement results of the first measurement unit 55 and the second measurement unit 56 do not match. The configuration of the notification unit is not particularly limited and can be, for example, a buzzer or a lamp.
[0128] If the drug container 14 set in the drug dispensing unit 21 cannot be confirmed to be the drug container 14 containing the drug specified by the user, the control device 95 may have the container transport unit 15 transport the drug container 14 to the drug container storage unit 11. The same applies if the amount of drug contained in the drug container 14 is insufficient for the dispensing process.
[0129] In the above embodiment, the control device 95 determines whether or not the drug container 14 set in the drug dispensing unit 21 contains the amount of drug necessary for dispensing based on the weight data stored in the information tag. However, the control device 95 may also make the determination based on the measurement results of the first measurement unit 55.
[0130] The second reader / writer unit 75 may be changed to a read-only device (reader device). In this case, the information tag of the drug container 14 returned to the drug container storage unit 11 will store data related to the measurement results of the first measurement unit 55, rather than data related to the measurement results of the second measurement unit 56.
[0131] The container transport unit 15 in the above embodiment is configured to include a holding arm unit 16 and a transport operation mechanism 17. Alternatively, the container transport unit 15 may be composed of different components from the holding arm unit 16 and the transport operation mechanism 17, and these different components may be used to receive the cleaning material container 64 from the cleaning material container placement unit 63 or to transfer the cleaning material container 64 to the cleaning material container placement unit 63.
[0132] In the above embodiment, the cleaning material container 64 is taken outside the chemical supply device 1 and filled with cleaning material. Alternatively, an opening may be provided in the housing 5, and the cleaning material introduced through this opening may be introduced into the cleaning material container 64 via a chute or the like, thereby filling the cleaning material container 64 with cleaning material. [Explanation of symbols]
[0133] 1. Drug supply device 11. Drug container storage section 13. Drug container placement section 14. Medication container 21 Drug discharge section 61 Cleaning material container storage section 63 Cleaning material container arrangement section 64 Cleaning material container
Claims
1. The casing and The enclosure includes a drug container storage section, which is located inside the housing and stores multiple drug containers containing drugs, A cleaning material container storage section is located inside the aforementioned housing and is provided separately from the aforementioned drug container storage section, and is where cleaning material containers containing cleaning materials are stored. A separate unit is provided, apart from the aforementioned drug container storage unit and cleaning material container storage unit, which allows for the selective setting of the drug container or the cleaning material container, and which discharges the drug or cleaning material from the set container. The drug or cleaning material discharged from the drug discharge section is supplied to a packaging section that packages the drug, Equipped with, The cleaning material container is filled with the cleaning material outside the housing. The drug packaging device is characterized in that the cleaning material container storage section is arranged so that the stored cleaning material containers can be removed by the user to the outside of the housing.
2. A drug packaging device according to claim 1, A drug dispensing device characterized in that the cleaning material containers stored in the cleaning material container storage section are positioned closer to the drug discharge section than the drug containers stored in the drug container storage section.
3. A drug packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned enclosure is provided with a door, A drug packaging device characterized in that the cleaning material containers stored in the cleaning material container storage section are positioned closer to the door than the drug containers stored in the drug container storage section.