Weighing device

Abstract

To provide a safe weighing apparatus capable of preventing mixture of different kinds of medicines (cross contamination).SOLUTION: A weighing apparatus 1 comprises: a dispensing unit 2 that has a plurality of powdered drug containers 21 each of which can accommodate powdered drugs and has a dispensing opening; a plurality of supporters 22 that detachably supports the plurality of powdered drug containers; a transfer mechanism 23 for transferring the plurality of powdered drug containers supported by the supporters; and a dispensing mechanism for making the powdered drug containers which have been transferred to a prescribed dispensing position on a transfer path of the plurality of powdered drug containers dispense a powdered drug; and a weighing unit 3 that is located below the dispensing position and weighs the powdered drug dispensed by the powdered drug container into a tray T. A dispensing position P1 is a position different from an attaching / detaching position P2 in a horizontal direction, but near the attaching / detaching position, while the attaching / detaching position is one to three supporters away from the dispensing position. The powdered drug containers cannot be attached to or detached from the supporters in any position other than the attaching / detaching position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a weighing device for weighing powders.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when dispensing powders (also referred to as "powdery medicines") at a pharmacy or the like, a pharmacist or the like takes out a powder bottle containing the powder onto a dispensing table and supplies the powder from the powder bottle to a tray that receives the powder placed on an electronic balance for weighing. This tray is called a weighing pan. There was a sub-packaging device for dividing and packaging the powder for each single-dose amount, but since the operation of weighing the total amount of powder required for sub-packaging was performed manually before putting it into the device, there was room for improvement.

[0003] Also, there is a "powder supply device" described in Patent Document 1. This device is configured to dispense and weigh powder from an arbitrary cassette stored in a cassette storage unit to a cup supplied from a cup supply unit, and convey the cup by a cup lifting and lowering unit and a cup reflux unit to a sub-packaging unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, the attachment / detachment position of the cassette was not particularly considered from the viewpoint of mixing of different types of drugs (cross-contamination), so there was room for improvement.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a safe weighing device that can prevent mixing of different types of drugs (cross-contamination). [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The weighing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a dispensing unit having a plurality of powder containers, each capable of containing powder and having a dispensing outlet; a plurality of holders that detachably hold the plurality of powder containers; a moving mechanism for moving the plurality of powder containers held by the holders; and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing powder from the powder containers that have been moved to a predetermined dispensing position on the moving trajectory of the plurality of powder containers; and a weighing unit located below the dispensing position, on which a tray is placed to receive the powder dispensed from the powder containers, and for weighing the powder dispensed onto the tray, wherein the plurality of powder containers are arranged horizontally in the dispensing unit, the moving mechanism moves the plurality of powder containers horizontally, and the powder containers are moved by the moving mechanism The powder is moved to the dispensing position by the dispensing mechanism and dispensed by the dispensing mechanism, and the powder is dropped and placed in the tray on the weighing unit. The plurality of holders are configured to revolve on a circular orbit extending from the front side to the back side, and the attachment / detachment position where the powder container can be attached to and detached from the holder is located in the front side range of the circular orbit, and the dispensing position is provided in the front side range of the circular orbit, and is located at a horizontally different position from the attachment / detachment position, and is located close to the attachment / detachment position, and the attachment / detachment position is located one to three holders away from the dispensing position, and the powder container cannot be attached to or detached from the holder at positions other than the attachment / detachment position.

[0008] Furthermore, the attachment / detachment position can be configured to be located two to three positions away from the dispensing position of the retainer.

[0009] Furthermore, the powder container may be configured to have a dispensing outlet at its bottom, and the weighing unit may be positioned vertically above the powder container at the dispensing position.

[0010] Furthermore, the circular track may be configured to include a pair of straight tracks on the front and rear sides, where the holder moves in a straight line, and a pair of curved tracks where the holder moves in a curved direction, with the dispensing position and the attachment / detachment position being located within the range of the straight track on the front side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] As described above, the present invention prevents powder remaining in the dispensing outlet or holder of a powder container from accidentally falling into the weighing unit or the tray placed on the weighing unit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent cross-contamination (mixing of different drugs) and provide a safe weighing device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the external appearance of a weighing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the weighing device according to the same embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the main part of the weighing device according to the same embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a front view of the main part of the weighing device according to the same embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the main part of the weighing device according to the same embodiment, and is a plan view when weighing is performed automatically. [Figure 6] This is a plan view of the main part of the weighing device according to the same embodiment, and is a plan view when weighing is performed manually. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the weighing apparatus according to the same embodiment, illustrating the state in which the dispensing port of the powder container and the opening formed in the table are aligned at the dispensing position. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram showing the configuration related to the control of the weighing device according to the same embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a diagram illustrating the information displayed on the information display unit of the weighing device according to the same embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a schematic plan view showing a tray integration part of a weighing device according to another embodiment. [Embodiment for Carrying out the Invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, the weighing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The indication of directions in the following description corresponds to the directions shown in FIG. 3. Note that the "width direction" is also referred to as the "left - right direction". Further, the tray T (see FIG. 9) used in the present embodiment moves in the order of the tray standby part 4, the weighing part 3, and the tray integration part 6. Therefore, with respect to the arrangement relationship of each component, in the example of the flow of the moving direction of the tray T, there may be cases where explanations are made using expressions such as "upstream".

[0014] [Overview] The weighing device 1 of the present embodiment can mechanically perform the weighing operation of powders, which was conventionally manually performed by an operator such as a pharmacist when dispensing powders, and can also be performed manually by an operator if necessary. This weighing device 1 can supply and weigh powders to the tray T placed on the weighing part 3 either mechanically or manually. One type of powder is supplied to each tray T of the present embodiment, and the operator mixes different types of powders as necessary in a subsequent process (such as when inputting to a packaging device). However, in some cases, it is also possible to supply a plurality of types of powders to each tray T.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the weighing device 1 of the present embodiment mainly includes a dispensing part 2, a weighing part 3, a tray standby part 4, a tray transfer part 5, a tray integration part 6, an information writing part 7, a device - side display part 8, a control part 9, and a housing 10. Hereinafter, the main configurations of each part will be described.

[0016] [Dispensing Part] The dispensing section 2 includes a powder container 21 capable of accommodating powder, a holder 22 that detachably holds the powder container 21, a moving mechanism 23 that moves the powder container 21 held by the holder 22, and a dispensing mechanism 24 that dispenses the powder from the powder container 21. Furthermore, it includes a table 25 that supports the powder container 21, the holder 22, the moving mechanism 23, and the dispensing mechanism 24 respectively. In FIGS. 3 to 6, a state where the powder container 21 is not attached to some of the holders 22 is shown.

[0017] (Powder container) A plurality of powder containers 21 are provided in the horizontal direction. The powder container 21 is moved by the moving mechanism 23 to a dispensing position P1 for dispensing the powder. The powder dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 24 falls from the powder container 21 and is accommodated in a tray T placed on a weighing section 3 located below. In the present embodiment, 14 powder containers 21 are provided. However, the number of powder containers 21 is not limited to this. Normally, powders of different types are accommodated in each of the powder containers 21 of the present embodiment. That is, one type of powder is accommodated in one powder container 21. However, for example, for powders with a large usage amount, one type of powder can also be accommodated in two or more powder containers 21.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 7, the powder container 21 has a cylindrical body portion 211, a bottom portion 212 provided at one end (lower end) of the body portion 211, and a lid portion 213 provided at the other end (upper end) of the body portion 211. The powder container 21 defines a space for accommodating the powder M by the body portion 211 and the bottom portion 212, and closes the other end of the body portion 211 with the lid portion 213 to store the accommodated powder M in the powder container 21. And, based on the weighing detection value in the weighing section 3, a certain amount of the powder M is configured to be dispensed from the dispensing mechanism 24 onto the tray T. Hereinafter, the axial direction of the body portion 211 is the vertical direction. The powder container 21 of the present embodiment is arranged such that the axial direction substantially coincides with the vertical direction and stands on a horizontal plane. The powder container 21 is attached to and detached from the holder 22 with the bottom portion 212 positioned downward.

[0019] The body portion 211 is formed in a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the body portion 211 is made of, for example, a transparent material. Therefore, the powder M contained within the body portion 211 is visible from the outside of the body portion 211. This makes it possible to determine the amount of powder M in the powder container 21 from the outside. The transparent material may occupy the entire body portion 211, or it may occupy only a portion that serves as a viewing window.

[0020] An outlet 212a for dispensing the powder M is formed at the bottom 212, and the powder M is dispensed from the outlet 212a.

[0021] The lid portion 213 is the part that closes one end of the body portion 211. The lid portion 213 is rotatably mounted to the body portion 211 around an axis parallel to the radial direction of the body portion 211.

[0022] (holding body) The holder 22 is a part that detachably holds the powder container 21. The holder 22 comprises a holding body 221 that holds the powder container 21 and a fixed part 223 that is fixed to the moving mechanism 23. In this embodiment, the holder 22 is configured to hold one powder container 21. Therefore, the number of holders 22 is provided corresponding to the number of powder containers 21. In this embodiment, 14 holders 22 are provided. However, the holder 22 may be configured to hold multiple powder containers 21 together.

[0023] The holding body 221 has a communication port 221a formed at a position corresponding to the dispensing port 212a of the powder container 21. As shown in Figure 7, the powder M dispensed from the powder container 21 passes through the communication port 221a and falls.

[0024] The fixed portion 223 is screwed to the moving mechanism 23, which will be described later, thereby fixing the holder 22 to the moving mechanism 23.

[0025] (Moving mechanism) The moving mechanism 23 is a mechanism for moving the powder containers 21 held by the holder 22. Specifically, the moving mechanism 23 moves the powder containers 21 by moving the holder 22. The moving mechanism 23 moves a plurality of powder containers 21 in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the moving mechanism 23 moves the holder 22 in a circular motion within the horizontal plane. Figure 5 shows the movement trajectory Q of the powder containers 21. The moving mechanism 23 in this embodiment has a moving body 231 that moves the holder 22 and a moving drive unit 232 for driving the moving body 231. Furthermore, in order to detect the powder containers 21 at the dispensing position P1 and attachment / detachment position P2 described later, an RFID reader / writer 233 capable of reading and writing information to the RFID tag 214 (see Figure 7) provided on the powder container 21 is provided at a position corresponding to the RFID tag 214 on the powder container 21 at the dispensing position P1 and attachment / detachment position P2.

[0026] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the moving track Q has a dispensing position P1 for dispensing powder from the powder container 21. The moving track Q also has an attachment / detachment position P2 for attaching and detaching the powder container 21 to the holder 22. The attachment / detachment position P2 can be made detachable by, for example, ensuring space above the powder container 21 only at the attachment / detachment position P2, while making it impossible to attach or detach the powder container 21 in other parts by having it catch on the ceiling part inside the housing 10.

[0027] The attachment / detachment position P2 is located at a horizontally different position from the dispensing position P1. In this embodiment, the attachment / detachment position P2 is a position close to the dispensing position P1, where one to three powder containers 21 adjacent to it are held. The reason why the attachment / detachment position P2 is not at the same position as the dispensing position P1 is that the tray T is located below the dispensing position P1, so there is a possibility that powder attached to the powder container 21 being attached / detached may fall off, or that the powder may fall from the holder 22 due to vibrations during attachment / detachment, potentially causing unintended contamination of the tray T with powder. This positional relationship allows the powder container 21 that has run out of powder to be moved to the attachment / detachment position P2, the powder container 21 to be removed from the holder 22, and the powder to be quickly replenished. Furthermore, the powder container 21 after replenishment can be quickly moved to the dispensing port 212a. Therefore, the time from when the powder runs out until dispensing resumes can be shortened. Furthermore, if the containers are only one away, the worker's hand or the container being attached or detached may come into contact with the container at the dispensing position P1 when attaching or detaching the powder container 21 at the attachment / detachment position P2, potentially causing unintended powder to fall. Therefore, it is preferable for the containers to be two or more adjacent.

[0028] In this embodiment, the moving mechanism 23 moves the holder 22 in a circular motion, so the movement trajectory Q of the powder container 21 is a circular trajectory. The moving mechanism 23 can move the powder container 21 in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions as needed (for example, in the direction that minimizes the distance traveled to the dispensing position P1). The movement trajectory Q in this embodiment is oval-shaped. Therefore, the movement trajectory Q, which is a circular trajectory in this embodiment, consists of a pair of straight trajectories Q1 in which the holder 22 moves in a straight line, and a pair of curved trajectories Q2 in which it moves while curving. The movement trajectory Q, which is a circular trajectory, is not limited to an oval shape, but may be circular, elliptical, rectangular, etc. Furthermore, the moving mechanism 23 is not limited to moving the holder 22 in a circular motion, but may also move it back and forth in a straight line or curved direction within a predetermined range.

[0029] In this embodiment, the weighing unit 3, tray waiting unit 4, tray transfer unit 5, and tray accumulation unit 6 are each located below the front side (front half) of the movement trajectory Q.

[0030] Hereinafter, one side of the pair of straight trajectories Q1 will be referred to as the front side and the other side as the back side (depth side), and the direction in which the pair of straight trajectories Q1 face each other will be referred to as the depth direction (sometimes called the front-to-back direction). The direction in which the pair of curved trajectories Q2 face each other will be referred to as the width direction (sometimes called the left-to-right direction). The dispensing position P1 is set within the front side range of the movement trajectory Q. The attachment / detachment position P2 is also set within the front side range of the movement trajectory Q. In this embodiment, the size of the housing 10 is determined in accordance with the length (size) of the movement trajectory Q of the powder container 21. That is, the length in the depth direction of the housing 10 is determined based on the distance between the pair of straight trajectories Q1 in the movement trajectory Q of the powder container 21, and the length in the width direction of the housing 10 is determined based on the distance between the pair of curved trajectories Q2.

[0031] The mobile body 231 in this embodiment is configured as a belt type with its surface arranged along the vertical direction. The fixed portion 223 of the holder 22 is fixed to this belt. The mobile body 231 is formed in an annular shape. The center of the annular belt is the circumferential center on which the holder 22 moves around. The mobile body 231 is formed in an oval shape. A movement trajectory Q of the powder container 21 is formed along the circumferential direction of the mobile body 231, and the holder 22 and the powder container 21 circumferentially move around the outer circumference of the mobile body 231. The mobile body 231 is provided with fixing portions 231a for fixing the fixed portion 223 of the holder 22 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0032] The mobile drive unit 232 moves the mobile body 231 in a circular motion. The mobile drive unit 232 drives or stops the mobile body 231 based on commands from the control unit 9.

[0033] (Dispensing mechanism) The dispensing mechanism 24 is a mechanism for dispensing powder from the powder container 21 when it has moved to a predetermined dispensing position P1 on the movement track Q of the powder container 21. The dispensing mechanism 24 is configured to dispense a predetermined amount of powder to the dispensing outlet 212a.

[0034] The dispensing drive unit 241 is located at the dispensing position P1 in the dispensing unit 2 and generates driving force in the dispensing mechanism 24 when dispensing. Based on a command from the control unit 9, the dispensing drive unit 241 drives or stops the connected dispensing mechanism 24.

[0035] (table) Table 25 supports the powder container 21, the holder 22, the moving mechanism 23, and the dispensing mechanism 24. Table 25 is formed in a plate shape. Table 25 is formed in a rectangular shape with a long side and a short side, corresponding to the moving trajectory Q of the powder container 21. The moving trajectory Q is set approximately at the center of the table 25. The moving body 231 is installed on the table 25 such that its longitudinal direction coincides with the direction in which it extends. The moving body 231 is installed in the center of the table 25. Table 25 is installed horizontally, and the powder container 21 and the holder 22 are arranged horizontally.

[0036] Table 25 has an opening 251 formed at a position corresponding to the dispensing position P1 on the movement (circular) trajectory of the powder container 21. That is, when the holder 22 and the powder container 21 are located at the dispensing position P1, the dispensing outlet 212a of the powder container 21, the communication port 221a of the holder 22, and the opening 251 of the table 25 overlap in the vertical direction. As a result, the powder inside the powder container 21 is dispensed.

[0037] Table 25 is provided with a shutter on its underside that opens and closes the opening 251 of table 25. The shutter in this embodiment is formed in the shape of a plate. The shutter may be located, for example, below the holding body 221. Note that the shutter on table 25 is not essential for the dispensing section 2 and may be omitted.

[0038] [Weighing section] The weighing unit 3 places a tray T containing the powder dispensed from the powder container 21 and weighs the powder supplied to the tray T. It also weighs the powder supplied to the tray T by the dispensing mechanism 24 without dispensing it from the powder container 21. The weighing unit 3 is located below the dispensing unit 2, overlapping it vertically. Specifically, the weighing unit 3 is located below the table 25. In this embodiment, the weighing unit 3 is an electronic balance. The weighing detection value from the weighing unit 3 is sent to the control unit 9. The weighing detection value is then displayed on the display unit of the weighing unit (electronic balance) 3, and this display is visible to the operator when supplying the powder to the tray T by manual means, etc., without dispensing it from the powder container 21 by the dispensing mechanism 24.

[0039] The weighing unit 3 in this embodiment is configured to be movable in the depth direction. In the automatic weighing mode (first mode) described later, the weighing unit 3 is positioned at a first position S1 on the rear side (farthest from the operator) in the depth direction, and in the manual weighing mode (second mode) described later, it can be positioned at a second position S2 on the front side (closer to the operator) in the depth direction. The weighing unit 3 is mounted on a stand 101 that is movable in the depth direction, and the weighing unit 3 moves as the stand 101 moves. The stand 101 is pulled out by the operator grasping the handle 102. However, a drive unit for pulling out can also be provided, so that the stand 101 is automatically pulled out when the system switches to manual weighing mode.

[0040] In this configuration, a locking mechanism 3a is provided on the door 10b located on the front side of the weighing unit 3 within the housing 10. In automatic weighing mode, the locking mechanism 3a prevents the door 10b from being opened, thereby holding the weighing unit 3 immovably in the first position S1 and preventing it from being moved to the second position S2. Alternatively, the locking mechanism 3a could be provided on the stand 101, and configured to lock the weighing unit 3 in the automatic weighing mode.

[0041] As shown in Figure 5, the first position S1 is a position where the weighing unit 3 overlaps with the dispensing unit 2 (table 25) in the vertical direction by at least a portion. The first position S1 is set below the dispensing position P1. Therefore, the first position S1 is a position suitable for automatic weighing. The second position S2 is a position where the weighing unit 3 is in front of the dispensing unit 2 (table 25). In the second position S2, the area above the weighing unit 3 is open as a workspace, and as will be described later, space is secured for manual weighing operations in manual weighing mode (second mode). Therefore, the second position S2 is a position suitable for manual weighing. Thus, as long as the first position S1 corresponds to the position during automatic weighing and the second position S2 corresponds to the position during manual weighing, the first position S1 and the second position S2 are not limited to a positional relationship in the depth direction as in this embodiment, but can have various positional relationships.

[0042] [Tray waiting area] The tray waiting section 4 is the part that holds the trays T before they are moved to the weighing section 3. The tray waiting section 4 holds a plurality of trays T (nine in this embodiment, but not limited to nine). The tray waiting section 4 is configured to place the trays T on it and transport them so that the trays T can be grasped by the tray transport section 5. At least a portion of the tray waiting section 4 (a portion on the rear side in this embodiment) is located below the dispensing section 2, overlapping it vertically with respect to the dispensing section 2. The tray waiting section 4 has a waiting tray transport section 41 for placing and transporting the trays T, and a waiting drive section 42 for driving the waiting tray transport section 41.

[0043] The standby tray transfer unit 41 is composed of a belt conveyor extending in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the standby tray transfer unit 41 extends in the depth direction. Multiple trays T are arranged and stacked in the direction in which the standby tray transfer unit 41 extends (depth direction). Figure 3 shows, as an example, a state in which three trays T are arranged in the depth direction, with one tray T stacked on top of each tray T, resulting in a total of three layers of stacked trays T (nine trays T). In this embodiment, the standby tray transfer unit 41 is installed below the table 25 in the dispensing unit 2. The standby tray transfer unit 41 is positioned such that more than half of it overlaps with the table 25 in the vertical direction in the depth direction. The standby tray transfer unit 41 moves from the front side to the back side, moving the placed trays T to the rear side in the depth direction, to below the transfer unit body 51 of the tray transfer unit 5.

[0044] The standby drive unit 42 drives the standby tray transfer unit 41. The standby drive unit 42 drives or stops the standby tray transfer unit 41 based on a command from the control unit 9.

[0045] [Tray transfer section] The tray transfer unit 5 is the part that transfers the tray T. The tray transfer unit 5 is configured to remove the tray T from the weighing unit 3 after weighing. Specifically, the tray transfer unit 5 is configured to move the tray T from the tray waiting unit 4 to the weighing unit 3 prior to dispensing the powder, and to remove the tray T from the weighing unit 3 after dispensing the powder. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tray transfer unit 5 places the tray T on the tray accumulation unit 6 after removing it from the weighing unit 3. Thus, the tray transfer unit 5 is the part that performs a series of transfers of the tray T from the tray waiting unit 4, through the weighing unit 3, to the tray accumulation unit 6. The tray transfer unit 5 is located below the dispensing unit 2, overlapping it in the vertical direction.

[0046] The tray transfer unit 5 includes a transfer unit body 51 for transferring trays T and a transfer drive unit 52 for driving the transfer unit body 51.

[0047] The transfer unit body 51 moves in the left-right direction (X direction) and the up-down direction (Y direction). The transfer unit body 51 is configured to grip the tray T. The transfer unit body 51 in this embodiment has a pair of arms 51a. The transfer unit body 51 grips the tray T with the pair of arms 51a and transfers the tray T. The pair of arms 51a are spaced apart in the left-right direction and are configured to move toward and away from each other.

[0048] The transfer unit body 51 is located above the tray standby unit 4 when the tray T is not being transferred. The position in the standby state is defined as the standard position of the transfer unit body 51. The transfer unit body 51 is configured to be movable in the vertical and horizontal directions relative to this standard position. In this embodiment, the transfer unit body 51 does not move in the depth direction, but it can also be configured to be movable in that direction. When the transfer unit body 51 transfers the tray T placed on the tray standby unit 4 to the weighing unit 3, it moves downward from the standard position (descends) to grasp the tray T, and then moves upward (rises) while grasping the tray T. The transfer unit body 51 moves to the right in the horizontal direction (right side in Figure 3) via the standard position and stops above the weighing unit 3. Subsequently, the transfer unit body 51 moves downward to place the tray T on the weighing unit 3, releases the tray T after placement, and waits in the position where the tray T was released.

[0049] The transfer unit body 51 grasps the tray T containing the powder after the powder has been dispensed into the tray T. Then, while holding the tray T, it rises and moves to the right. The transfer unit body 51 moves above the tray accumulation unit 6, and at a predetermined position, it descends and places the tray T on the tray accumulation unit 6. After placing the tray T, the transfer unit body 51 releases it and moves upward. Then, the transfer unit body 51 moves to the left (left side in Figure 3) and returns to the standard position.

[0050] [Tray stacking section] The tray accumulation unit 6 is a post-weighing tray storage area where trays T containing the weighed powder are placed. The trays T placed in the tray accumulation unit 6 are removed by an operator and sent to the next process (packaging device). After being sent to the next process, the empty trays T are cleaned by a suction device or the like to remove any remaining powder, and then returned to the tray waiting unit 4 by an operator.

[0051] The tray stacking unit 6 is located above and overlapping the dispensing unit 2 (table 25). The tray stacking unit 6 is configured to hold multiple trays T (three in this embodiment, but not limited to three). In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, of the three trays T arranged in the left-right direction, the two on the right are exposed to the front, and these two trays T can be removed by an operator from the weighing device 1. The tray stacking unit 6 is configured to hold and transport the trays T. The tray stacking unit 6 has a stacking tray transfer unit 61 for holding and transporting the trays T, and a stacking drive unit 62 for driving the stacking tray transfer unit 61.

[0052] The accumulation tray transfer unit 61 is composed of a belt conveyor extending in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the accumulation tray transfer unit 61 extends in the left-right direction. Multiple trays T are arranged in the direction in which the accumulation tray transfer unit 61 extends (left-right direction). Figure 3 shows, as an example, a state in which three trays T are arranged in the left-right direction (three trays T). In this embodiment, the accumulation tray transfer unit 61 is installed under the table 25 in the dispensing unit 2. The accumulation tray transfer unit 61 is positioned so that almost its entire area overlaps with the table 25 in the vertical direction. When the transfer unit body 51 places the tray T on the accumulation tray transfer unit 61 and returns to the standard position, the accumulation tray transfer unit 61 moves from left to right in the left-right direction, moving the placed tray T from left to right. As a result, the tray T moves to a position where it can be removed from the weighing device 1.

[0053] The integrating drive unit 62 drives the integrating tray transfer unit 61. The integrating drive unit 62 drives or stops the integrating tray transfer unit 61 based on a command from the control unit 9.

[0054] Furthermore, the tray transfer unit 5 can remove the tray T from the weighing unit 3 and then accumulate the tray T in the tray accumulation unit 6 according to the supply instructions corresponding to the prescription information. To accommodate this, for example, as shown in Figure 10, parallel tray accumulation units 6X, 6Y can be formed by arranging multiple tray accumulation transfer units 61 in parallel using belt conveyors, and the tray T can be divided and placed in each tray accumulation unit 6X, 6Y according to the supply instructions. In this case, the tray transfer unit 5 is configured to move the tray T above the belt conveyors corresponding to the tray accumulation units 6X, 6Y. In other words, the tray transfer unit 5 functions as a sorting means that distributes multiple trays T according to the supply instructions corresponding to the prescription information.

[0055] [Information writing section] The information writing unit 7 writes information to the information display unit T1, located on the tray T, to identify the powdered medicine contained in the tray T, such as prescription information. The writing is performed by contactless (wireless) power supply. Writing is performed in both the automatic weighing mode and the manual weighing mode, which will be described later. The information display unit T1 displays the prescription information of the contained powdered medicine. The information display unit T1 of the tray T will be described later. The information writing unit 7 is configured to write an optically readable identifier to the information display unit T1. The information writing unit 7 is installed upstream of the weighing unit 3 and writes prescription information to the information display unit T1 before the tray T is placed on the weighing unit 3.

[0056] In this embodiment, the information writing unit 7 is located, for example, on the front side of the transfer unit body 51 at the standard position (the position shown by the dashed line in Figure 3). The information writing unit 7 writes prescription information to the information display unit T1 along the path in which the tray T moves from the tray waiting unit 4 to the weighing unit 3. That is, the information writing unit 7 writes prescription information to the information display unit T1 before the powder is supplied to the tray T. For example, the information writing unit 7 may write prescription information to the tray T after it has been lifted from the tray waiting unit 4 by the transfer unit body 51 and stopped at the standard position. However, the information writing unit 7 is not limited to this, and it is sufficient to write the prescription information to the information display unit T1 before the tray T is placed on the tray accumulation unit 6. This helps to prevent errors when the operator takes the tray T out of the tray accumulation unit 6. However, if manual weighing mode is to be performed, the information writing unit 7 must write the prescription information to the information display unit T1 before the tray T is placed on the weighing unit 3. This prevents the supply of the wrong powder when manually supplying the powder to the tray T without dispensing it from the powder container 21 using the dispensing mechanism 24.

[0057] Furthermore, the information writing unit 7 can also write prescription information to the information display unit T1 after weighing has been performed in the weighing unit 3. In this case, the information written can include not only prescription information but also information related to the actual supply (for example, weighed value (actual value) or whether the amount of powder dispensed from the powder container has not reached the target amount). This allows the operator to be alerted if there is a shortage of powder dispensed into tray T, and prevents the powder from being mistakenly sent to a later process (such as packaging) without being replenished.

[0058] [Device side display] The device-side display unit 8 is a part that displays predetermined information regarding the supply of powder. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the device-side display unit 8 is located on the front side of the housing 10. In this embodiment, the device-side display unit 8 is a monitor. The device-side display unit 8 may also serve as an operation unit (operation panel) for the operator to perform predetermined operations.

[0059] [Control Unit] The control unit 9 controls the operation of the entire weighing device 1. The main parts connected to the control unit 9 are shown in Figure 8. The control unit 9 switches between two modes depending on the target value of the amount of powder related to the supply instruction input via the connected instruction input unit 9a: an automatic weighing mode, which is a first mode in which the dispensing mechanism 24 dispenses powder from the powder container 21 while the weighing unit 3 weighs the powder; and a manual weighing mode, which is a second mode in which the weighing unit 3 weighs the powder that is placed in the tray T without the dispensing mechanism 24 dispensing the powder. The supply instruction includes, for example, the type of powder to be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 24, the supply amount of each powder, and the target value of the supply. The instruction input unit 9a can take various forms, such as an input unit that receives prescription information from a host system installed in a pharmacy, a barcode reader, an RFID reader, a keyboard, or a touch panel.

[0060] In automatic weighing mode, the control unit 9 drives the dispensing drive unit 241 to dispense powder from the powder container 21. The control unit 9 controls the drive of the dispensing drive unit 241 according to the weighing detection value input from the weighing unit 3, and dispenses the amount of powder specified in the supply instruction. Several control patterns of the control unit 9 in this embodiment can be exemplified as follows.

[0061] The control unit 9 can switch to automatic weighing mode if the powder subject to the supply order is contained in the powder container 21, and to manual weighing mode if it is not. Specifically, when the powder to be dispensed is drug A, the control unit 9 is input with the powder subject to the supply order as drug A, along with a target value for the amount of powder to be supplied. If drug A is contained in the powder container 21, the control unit 9 causes the dispensing mechanism 24 to dispense drug A (automatic weighing mode). On the other hand, if drug A is not contained in the powder container 21, the control unit 9 does not instruct the dispensing mechanism 24 to dispense and executes manual weighing mode. In this embodiment, in automatic weighing mode, the powder is automatically weighed according to the target value for the amount of powder subject to the supply order. In manual weighing mode, dispensing by the dispensing mechanism 24 is not performed, so for example, the operator transfers drug A from the powder bottle containing drug A to tray T and weighs it with the weighing unit 3.

[0062] Furthermore, the control unit 9 can be configured to allow the operator to choose whether to replenish the powder container 21 and continue dispensing in automatic weighing mode, or to switch to manual weighing mode, if the amount of powder dispensed in automatic weighing mode is insufficient. That is, if the powder container 21 becomes empty, or if it is predicted that the amount of powder in the powder container 21 will be insufficient to meet the target value by the end of dispensing, the operator can choose to replenish the powder container 21 and continue automatic weighing (automatic weighing mode), or to manually weigh the amount of powder that is insufficient to meet the target value (manual weighing mode). The operator can make this selection, for example, on the operation panel (device-side display unit 8, etc.).

[0063] Here, the emptying of the powder container 21 can be detected by the absence of a change (specifically, an increase) in the weighed value detected by the weighing unit 3 for a certain period of time. Furthermore, insufficient powder quantity in the powder container 21 can be predicted by comparing the target amount of powder specified in the supply instruction with the remaining amount of powder known before dispensing begins.

[0064] Furthermore, if the amount of powder dispensed in automatic weighing mode is insufficient, the control unit 9 can terminate the operation related to automatic weighing mode and switch to manual weighing mode. That is, the control unit 9 may automatically switch from automatic weighing mode to manual weighing mode without the operator's judgment. In this case, the operator may be able to set in advance whether or not to have the control unit 9 perform the aforementioned control. The control unit 9 can display the amount of powder that needs to be supplied to tray T in manual weighing mode on the device-side display unit 8. Specifically, the control unit 9 calculates the amount of powder that is insufficient from the weighed value of the powder contained in tray T after the automatic weighing mode has been terminated due to insufficient powder, and the target value of the amount of powder that should be supplied to tray T, and displays the insufficient amount of powder on the device-side display unit 8. As a result, when switched to the second mode, the operator only needs to supply the displayed amount of powder to tray T, making manual weighing work easier. Alternatively, the display unit 8 on the device side may not display the amount of powder that is lacking, but instead display the weighed value of the powder contained in tray T and the target value of the amount of powder that should be supplied to tray T. Any display that allows the operator to understand the amount of powder that is lacking is acceptable.

[0065] Furthermore, if the supply instructions involve multiple types of powders, some of which are contained in one of the multiple powder containers 21 and others that are not, the control unit 9 can be configured to allow the operator to choose whether to first enter automatic weighing mode and then manual weighing mode, or first enter manual weighing mode and then automatic weighing mode. Alternatively, the control unit 9 can enter automatic weighing mode and then manual weighing mode without requiring any selection. Furthermore, the control unit 9 can enter manual weighing mode before automatic weighing mode and then enter automatic weighing mode after manual weighing mode has finished, without requiring any selection.

[0066] Furthermore, if the control unit 9 is instructed to execute manual weighing mode while executing automatic weighing mode when dispensing multiple types of powders, it can interrupt automatic weighing mode and switch to manual weighing mode once the dispensing of the currently executed powders is complete.

[0067] In this embodiment, the control unit 9 activates the locking mechanism 3a during automatic weighing mode to prevent, for example, the door 10b located on the front side of the weighing unit 3 from being opened. The control unit 9 also deactivates the locking mechanism 3a during manual weighing mode.

[0068] The control unit 9 moves the powder container 21 to the dispensing position P1, and then the tray transfer unit 5 moves the tray T from the tray waiting unit 4 to the weighing unit 3. In other words, the control unit 9 controls the system so that the powder container 21 does not pass the dispensing position P1 while the tray T is placed on the weighing unit 3.

[0069] If the table 25 is equipped with a shutter, the control unit 9 closes the shutter of the table 25 while the multiple powder containers 21 are being moved by the moving mechanism 23, and opens the shutter after the tray transfer unit 5 has moved the tray T to the weighing unit 3. The control unit 9 also opens the shutter before dispensing the powder from the powder containers 21. Specifically, the control unit 9 opens the shutter after the tray T has been placed on the weighing unit 3 and after the weighing unit 3 has been zeroed (tare).

[0070] [Cabinet] The housing 10 is configured to enclose the dispensing unit 2, weighing unit 3, tray standby unit 4, tray transfer unit 5, tray accumulation unit 6, information writing unit 7, device-side display unit 8, and control unit 9. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the housing 10 has a detachable window 10a for attaching and detaching the powder container 21 at a position P2 corresponding to the attachment / detachment position of the powder container 21. The housing 10 also has a door 10b on the front side of the weighing unit 3 (Figures 1 and 2 show the door 10b in the open state). In manual weighing mode, the operator opens the door 10b and pulls the weighing unit 3 to the second position S2 to perform manual weighing. In addition to the parts described above, the housing 10 can be equipped with various mechanisms to support the work necessary for supplying powders, such as a journal printer for printing prescription information and information on supply results of the supplied powders onto paper, and a barcode reader for managing the powder containers 21.

[0071] [Tray] The tray T used in the weighing device 1 of this embodiment is for containing the supplied powder. This tray T is shaped to be able to weigh the supplied powder when placed on the weighing unit 3 and to be transported by the tray transfer unit 5. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, it is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is flat and has an open upper end. It is preferable that this tray T is shaped so that multiple trays can be stacked on top of each other, as shown in Figure 3. In addition, this tray T has lateral projections T2 that can engage with a pair of arms 51a of the tray transfer unit 5 or that an operator can grip with their fingers.

[0072] As shown in Figure 9, the tray T is equipped with an information display unit T1 that displays prescription information of the contained powder. The information display unit T1 is located on one of the four sides. In this embodiment, the information display unit T1 is configured to be attached to the main body of the tray T by insertion, as shown in the figure, but it can also be attached to the side of the tray T, for example. In this embodiment, a display unit equipped with electronic paper is used as the information display unit T1. Electronic paper can retain display content without requiring power, so it can contribute to energy saving compared to, for example, a liquid crystal display. In addition, the information displayed on the information display unit T1 can be rewritten by the information writing unit 7. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the information display unit T1 is configured so that the display written by the information writing unit 7 is retained until the next writing by the information writing unit 7. It is also possible to configure the information display unit T1 so that the identifier displayed on it is read in a subsequent processing device (such as a packaging device), and the display on the information display unit T1 including the identifier is erased.

[0073] The information display unit T1 can display various types of information. For example, as shown in Figure 9, prescription information such as reception number J1, reception date and time J2, patient name J3, age J4, drug name J5, drug type code J6, weighing value J7, barcode J8, and RP number J9 can be displayed. Prescription information also includes patient information (patient name, patient ID, patient's date of birth, patient's age), drug information (drug name, drug code, dosage), usage information (usage, usage code), medication information (oral, topical, etc.), type of consultation (outpatient, inpatient, etc.), and prescription issuance date and time. The reception number J1 is a number assigned to each prescription when a host system installed in a dispensing pharmacy or the like receives prescription information from a higher-level computer such as a prescription ordering system. The reception date and time J2 is the date and time the host system received the prescription information. In the host system, prescription information received from the higher-level computer is grouped according to specific conditions such as drug type, dosage, and time of administration, and each grouped data is assigned an RP number (RP1, RP2, etc.) in order to assign dispensing instructions to each dispensing machine. In addition, the prescription information received from the higher-level system has information necessary to operate each dispensing machine extracted (patient name, patient ID, patient's date of birth, patient's age, drug name, drug code, dosage, dosage, dosage code, etc.). The host system then stores the reception number and reception date and time, the RP number of each grouped data, and the extracted prescription information corresponding to each data, linking them together, and dispensing information necessary to operate each dispensing machine is generated. The control unit 9 acquires this dispensing information and issues a supply instruction based on the acquired dispensing information.

[0074] In addition to the barcode (one-dimensional code) shown in the illustration, the display corresponding to barcode J8 may also be an optically readable identifier such as a two-dimensional code. This identifier stores information unique to each dispensing information generated by the host system. Since the information of this identifier can be easily read by a reading means such as a barcode reader, it has the advantage of facilitating mechanical processing in subsequent processes. For example, by reading this identifier with a reading means, it is possible to construct a system in which the dispensing information stored in the host system is retrieved, and the dispensing information can be automatically input from the host system to the dispensing device. Furthermore, the information display unit T1 may also be provided with an electrically readable identifier such as an RFID tag instead of, or together with, an optically readable identifier.

[0075] [Instructions for use] The following outline of how to use the weighing device 1 according to this embodiment, which is configured as described above, will now be explained. Note that the following method of use is merely an example and is not limited to this. Prior to use, the operator puts powder into each of the multiple powder containers 21. At this time, different types of powder can be put into each powder container 21, or two or more powder containers 21 can be put into the same type of powder. Next, the operator attaches the powder containers 21 containing the powder to the holder 22 at the attachment / detachment position P2.

[0076] Next, prescription information is input to the weighing device 1 via the instruction input unit 9a. The control unit 9 then controls the tray transfer unit 5 to move the tray T in the tray waiting unit 4 to the weighing unit 3, and activates the transfer mechanism 23 to move the holder 22 in a circular motion. The control unit 9 activates the information writing unit 7 to write the prescription information to the information display unit T1 provided on the tray T while the tray T is in motion. When the powder container 21 containing the powder to be dispensed reaches the dispensing position P1, the control unit 9 stops the transfer mechanism 23. When the powder container 21 containing the powder to be dispensed is located at the dispensing position P1, the tray T is moved to the weighing unit 3.

[0077] Next, the control unit 9 activates the dispensing mechanism 24 to start dispensing the powder. Based on the weighing detection value sent from the weighing unit 3, the control unit 9 controls the dispensing mechanism 24, and when the amount of powder corresponding to the prescription information is supplied to the tray T, it stops driving the dispensing mechanism 24.

[0078] Next, the control unit 9 controls the tray transfer unit 5 to move the tray T containing the powder from the weighing unit 3 to the tray accumulation unit 6. The worker then takes the tray T that has moved to the tray accumulation unit 6 by hand and places it into a packaging device or the like.

[0079] The above description concerns the usage method in automatic weighing mode. In manual weighing mode, similar to automatic weighing mode, the tray T located in the tray standby unit 4 is moved to the weighing unit, and during the movement, the information writing unit 7 is activated to write prescription information to the information display unit T1 provided on the tray T. When the tray T is moved to the weighing unit, the control unit 9 releases the lock on the lock unit 3a. This allows the door 10b to be opened. The operator opens the door 10b, grasps the handle 102, and pulls the weighing unit 3, along with the stand 101, to the second position S2. Alternatively, the tray T may not be moved to the weighing unit 3 by the tray transfer unit 5, and the operator may place the tray T on the weighing unit 3. In this case, the operator operates the device-side display unit 8, etc., which causes the control unit 9 to release the lock on the lock unit 3a. After pulling the weighing unit to the second position S2, the powder is supplied from the powder bottle to the tray T. The operator adjusts the supply amount to correspond to the prescription information while visually checking the weighed value displayed on the display unit of the weighing unit 3. The operator removes the tray T containing the powder from the weighing unit 3 and places it into a packaging device or the like. Alternatively, after supplying the powder to the tray T, the weighing unit may be returned to the first position S1, and, similar to the automatic weighing mode, the control unit 9 may control the tray transfer unit 5 to move the tray T containing the powder from the weighing unit 3 to the tray accumulation unit 6.

[0080] [Summary of Embodiments] The following describes the combinations of components in the weighing apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment, and the effects that can be expected from such combinations, divided into five embodiments.

[0081] (First embodiment) The weighing device 1 of the first embodiment includes a powder container 21 capable of containing powder, a dispensing unit 2 for dispensing powder from the powder container 21, a weighing unit 3 on which a tray T is placed to receive the powder dispensed from the powder container 21 and for weighing the powder dispensed onto the tray T, a tray transfer unit 5 for removing the tray T from the weighing unit 3 after weighing, and a tray accumulation unit 6 on which a plurality of trays T containing the weighed powder are placed.

[0082] According to the above configuration, multiple trays T containing powder are placed on the tray accumulation unit 6, so the trays T are temporarily held in the tray accumulation unit 6. Therefore, while the trays T are placed on the tray accumulation unit 6, the powder can be supplied to the next tray, and there is no need to remove the trays T containing the powder from the weighing device 1 each time the powder is supplied. In addition, the powder to be packaged next can be weighed even if the packaging is not yet complete, so the operating rate of the weighing device is not reduced. Compared to a configuration in which post-processing such as packaging is performed immediately after weighing, in this configuration, the operator can dispense the powder contained in any tray T from among the multiple trays T using other dispensing devices such as a packaging device, thus increasing the degree of freedom in post-processing after weighing. In addition, multiple types of powder can be weighed and each powder can be packaged in parallel using multiple packaging devices.

[0083] Furthermore, the weighing device 1 is equipped with an information writing unit 7 that writes information for identifying the powder contained in the tray T to an information display unit T1 provided on the tray T.

[0084] According to the above configuration, information for identifying the powder contained in the tray is displayed on the information display unit provided on the tray T, thereby preventing operators from mistakenly selecting the wrong tray T. It also prevents operators from supplying the wrong powder to a packaging device or the like in a subsequent process. Furthermore, it prevents the supply of the wrong powder when supplying the powder to the tray T by manual means, without dispensing it from the powder container 21 using the dispensing unit 2.

[0085] Furthermore, the information writing unit 7 writes an optically readable identifier to the information display unit T1.

[0086] According to the above configuration, the information writing unit 7 writes an optically readable identifier to the information display unit T1. Therefore, by providing the dispensing device with a device to read the identifier, the dispensing device can identify the powder contained in tray T.

[0087] Furthermore, electronic paper is used as the information display unit T1.

[0088] According to the above configuration, the content displayed on the information display unit T1 can be retained without requiring power. In addition, the information writing unit 7 can rewrite the information displayed on the information display unit T1.

[0089] Furthermore, the tray transfer unit 5 removes the tray T from the weighing unit 3, and then accumulates the tray T in the tray accumulation unit 6 according to the supply instructions corresponding to the prescription information.

[0090] According to the above configuration, trays are grouped together in the tray collection unit according to the supply instructions corresponding to the prescription information, making it difficult for workers to confuse which supply instruction a tray T corresponds to.

[0091] As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is not necessary to remove the tray T containing the powder from the weighing device 1 each time the powder is supplied, and the next batch of powder to be packaged can be weighed even if the previous batch of packaging is not finished, thus not reducing the operating rate of the weighing device 1. Furthermore, the degree of freedom for subsequent processes after weighing can be increased. In addition, multiple types of powder can be packaged in parallel using, for example, multiple packaging devices. Therefore, it is possible to provide a weighing device 1 that can weigh powder efficiently and is easy to use.

[0092] (Second embodiment) The weighing device 1 of the second embodiment includes a dispensing unit 2 having a plurality of powder containers 21, each capable of containing powder and having a dispensing outlet 212a; a moving mechanism 23 for moving the plurality of powder containers 21; and a dispensing mechanism 24 for dispensing powder from the powder containers 21 that have moved to a predetermined dispensing position P1 on the moving trajectory Q of the plurality of powder containers 21; a weighing unit 3 on which a tray T is placed to receive the powder dispensed from the powder containers 21 and weighs the powder dispensed onto the tray T; and a weighing unit 3 for weighing the powder before it is moved to the weighing unit 3. The dispensing unit 2 includes a tray waiting unit 4 for holding a number of trays T, a tray transfer unit 5 for moving the trays T from the tray waiting unit 4 to the weighing unit 3 and removing the trays T from the weighing unit 3 after dispensing, and a post-weighing tray storage area 6 on which the trays T containing the weighed powder are placed. The dispensing unit 2 has the multiple powder containers 21 arranged horizontally, and the tray waiting unit 4, the tray transfer unit 5, the weighing unit 3, and the post-weighing tray storage area 6 are all located below the dispensing unit 2 and overlapping each other.

[0093] According to the above configuration, multiple powder containers 21 are arranged horizontally in the dispensing unit 2, and the tray waiting unit 4, tray transfer unit 5, weighing unit 3, and post-weighing tray storage area 6 are all located below the dispensing unit 2. Therefore, the space below the dispensing unit 2 can be effectively utilized. As a result, the components within the device can be arranged three-dimensionally, making the device smaller in the width and depth directions, and allowing it to be installed in narrow spaces.

[0094] Furthermore, multiple trays T are arranged in the depth direction within the tray standby section 4.

[0095] According to the above configuration, since the trays T on the tray standby section 4 are arranged in the depth direction, the number of trays that can be held in the tray standby section 4 can be increased without increasing the width dimension of the device.

[0096] Furthermore, the weighed tray storage area 6 is a tray accumulation section 6 on which a plurality of trays T containing the weighed powder are placed, and the tray accumulation section 6 is located above and overlapping the dispensing section 2.

[0097] According to the above configuration, since the tray accumulation section 6 on which multiple trays T are placed is located above and below the dispensing section 2, multiple trays T after weighing can be placed in the space below the dispensing section 2. Therefore, even when multiple trays T are placed in the post-weighing tray storage area 6, the device can be accumulated while remaining compact without expanding the device in the width and depth directions.

[0098] Furthermore, the dispensing unit 2 has a plurality of holders 22 that detachably hold the plurality of powder containers 21, and the plurality of holders 22 are configured to orbit on a circular orbit Q that extends from the front side to the back side.

[0099] According to the above configuration, the holder 22 is configured to orbit on a circular trajectory Q that extends from the front side to the back side, so that the movement trajectory Q can overlap on the front side and the back side when viewed from the front. For this reason, the weighing device 1 can be made smaller in the width direction.

[0100] Furthermore, the tray waiting section 4, the tray transfer section 5, the weighing section 3, and the post-weighing tray storage area 6 are each located below the frontal area of ​​the circular orbit Q.

[0101] According to the above configuration, the tray waiting section 4, tray transfer section 5, weighing section 3, and post-weighing tray storage area 6 are located below the front side of the circular track Q, making it easy for the operator to access each section from the front side where they perform their work, and facilitating manual dispensing or removal of the weighed tray T.

[0102] As described above, according to the second embodiment, the components within the device can be arranged three-dimensionally, so the device can be made smaller in the width and depth directions and can be installed in narrow spaces. Therefore, a weighing device 1 that can be used in narrow installation locations can be provided.

[0103] (Third embodiment) The weighing device 1 of the third embodiment includes a dispensing unit 2 having a plurality of powder containers 21, each capable of containing powder and having a dispensing outlet 212a; a plurality of holders 22 that detachably hold the plurality of powder containers 21; a moving mechanism 23 for moving the plurality of powder containers 21 held by the holders 22; and a dispensing mechanism 24 for dispensing powder from the powder containers 21 that have moved to a predetermined dispensing position P1 on the moving trajectory Q of the plurality of powder containers 21; and a tray T located below the dispensing position P1 for receiving the powder dispensed from the powder containers 21. The dispensing unit 2 includes a weighing unit 3 that weighs the powder dispensed onto the tray T, the plurality of powder containers 21 are arranged horizontally in the dispensing unit 2, the moving mechanism 23 moves the plurality of powder containers 21 horizontally, the powder containers 21 are moved to the dispensing position P1 by the moving mechanism 23, the powder dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 24 falls and is contained in the tray T placed on the weighing unit 3, and a detachable position P2 to which the powder containers 21 can be attached to and detached from the holder 22 is provided at a position horizontally different from the dispensing position P1.

[0104] According to the above configuration, the position where the powder is dispensed from the powder container 21 and the position where the powder container 21 is attached to and detached from the holder 22 are set to different positions in the horizontal direction. Therefore, when attaching or detaching the powder container 21, the tray T is not located below the powder container 21 being attached or detached. As a result, it is possible to prevent powder adhering to the dispensing port 212a of the powder container 21 or the holder 22 from accidentally falling onto the weighing unit 3 or the tray T placed on the weighing unit 3.

[0105] Furthermore, the plurality of holders 22 are configured to orbit on a circular orbit Q that extends from the front side to the back side, and the attachment / detachment position P2 is located in the front side of the circular orbit Q.

[0106] According to the above configuration, since the attachment / detachment position P2 is located on the front side in the orbital orbit Q, the operator can easily access the powder container 21 from the front side where they are working, resulting in good workability for attachment and detachment.

[0107] Furthermore, the attachment / detachment position P2 may be located on one to three adjacent retaining bodies 22, relative to the dispensing position P1.

[0108] According to the above configuration, since the attachment / detachment position P2 is set to a location where the holder 22 is located one to three positions away from the dispensing position P1, the powder container 21 can be quickly moved from the dispensing position P1 to the attachment / detachment position P2. Furthermore, after attaching the powder container 21 at the attachment / detachment position P2, the powder container 21 can be quickly moved back to the dispensing position P1, thus reducing the time required for attaching and detaching the powder container 21.

[0109] As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to prevent powder remaining in the dispensing port 212a or holder 22 of the powder container 21 that is to be attached or detached from the weighing unit 3 or the tray T placed on the weighing unit 3 from accidentally falling onto the weighing unit 3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent different types of powders from mixing (cross-contamination) and to provide a safe weighing device 1.

[0110] (Fourth embodiment) The weighing device 1 of the fourth embodiment includes a powder container 21 capable of containing powder, a dispensing unit 2 for dispensing powder from the powder container 21, a weighing unit 3 on which a tray T is placed to receive the powder dispensed from the powder container 21 and for weighing the powder dispensed onto the tray T, and a control unit 9 for controlling the operation of the entire device. The control unit 9 can switch between an automatic weighing mode (first mode) in which the dispensing unit 2 dispenses powder from the powder container 21 while the weighing unit 3 weighs the powder that is put into the tray T, according to a target value of the amount of powder related to the input supply instruction, and a manual weighing mode (second mode) in which the weighing unit 3 weighs the powder that is put into the tray T without the dispensing unit 2 dispensing the powder from the powder container 21.

[0111] According to the above configuration, it is possible to switch between an automatic weighing mode (first mode) and a manual weighing mode (second mode). Therefore, when supplying powder that is not contained in the powder container 21 and cannot be dispensed in automatic weighing mode (first mode) (including cases where it cannot be dispensed due to insufficient remaining amount), it is possible to switch to manual weighing mode (second mode) and weigh the desired amount of powder.

[0112] Furthermore, the control unit 9 sets the automatic weighing mode (first mode) if the powder supplied is contained in the powder container 21, and sets the manual weighing mode (second mode) if the powder is not contained in the container 21.

[0113] According to the above configuration, even if the powder container 21 does not contain the powder specified in the supply instruction, the powder that is not prepared in the dispensing unit 2 can be weighed by performing the operation in manual weighing mode (second mode).

[0114] Furthermore, the control unit 9 allows the operator to choose whether to replenish the powder in the powder container 21 and continue dispensing in the automatic weighing mode (first mode) or to switch to the manual weighing mode (second mode) if the amount of powder dispensed in the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is insufficient.

[0115] According to the above configuration, the powder container 21 can be refilled with powder during dispensing, allowing dispensing to continue. Alternatively, the powder can be weighed manually without refilling the powder container 21. In this way, the operator can decide whether to dispense in automatic weighing mode (first mode) or manual weighing mode (second mode), increasing the flexibility of the work.

[0116] Furthermore, if the amount of powder dispensed in the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is insufficient, the control unit 9 terminates the operation related to the automatic weighing mode (first mode) and switches to the manual weighing mode (second mode).

[0117] According to the above configuration, if the amount of powder dispensed in automatic weighing mode (first mode) is insufficient, the system automatically switches to manual weighing mode (second mode), thereby simplifying the work.

[0118] Furthermore, the weighing device 1 is further equipped with a device-side display unit 8, and the control unit 9 displays the amount of powder that needs to be placed in the tray in the manual weighing mode (second mode) on the device-side display unit 8.

[0119] According to the above configuration, the amount of powder that needs to be put into tray T in manual weighing mode (second mode) can be displayed on the device-side display unit 8, so that the operator can understand the amount of powder that is insufficient to be supplied to tray T, and the burden of manual weighing work can be reduced.

[0120] Furthermore, the dispensing unit has a plurality of powder containers 21, each of which contains powders of different types. If, among the plurality of powders related to the supply instruction, some powders are contained in one of the plurality of powder containers 21 and others are not, the control unit 9 can choose to first switch to the automatic weighing mode (first mode) and then to the manual weighing mode (second mode), or to first switch to the manual weighing mode (second mode) and then to the automatic weighing mode (first mode).

[0121] According to the above configuration, by selecting to run the manual weighing mode (second mode) after the automatic weighing mode (first mode), the operator can prepare for the manual weighing mode (second mode) while the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is running. Alternatively, by selecting to run the automatic weighing mode (first mode) after the manual weighing mode (second mode), the manual weighing mode (second mode) can be completed first by manual operation, so the operator does not need to wait until the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is finished while the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is running.

[0122] Furthermore, the dispensing unit has a plurality of powder containers 21, each of which contains powders of different types. If, among the plurality of powders related to the supply instruction, some powders are contained in one of the plurality of powder containers 21 and others are not, the control unit 9 first switches to the automatic weighing mode (first mode) and then to the manual weighing mode (second mode).

[0123] According to the above configuration, the time while the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is in operation (during automatic dispensing) can be used to prepare for manual work required in the manual weighing mode (second mode), for example. Therefore, it is possible to immediately switch to the manual weighing mode (second mode) after the automatic weighing mode (first mode) has finished, and weighing can be performed efficiently.

[0124] Furthermore, if the control unit 9 is instructed to execute the manual weighing mode (second mode) while the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is being executed when dispensing multiple types of powders, it will interrupt the automatic weighing mode (first mode) and switch to the manual weighing mode (second mode) once the dispensing of the currently executed powders is complete.

[0125] With the above configuration, for example, when it is necessary to quickly supply powdered material that needs to be dispensed urgently by hand, the automatic weighing mode (first mode) can be interrupted and the material can be supplied manually. Also, when the operator has free time while automatic supply is being performed by the automatic weighing mode (first mode), the powdered material can be supplied manually. In this way, even when the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is running, it is possible to switch to the manual weighing mode (second mode) at the desired timing, so that the operator can respond flexibly to the operator's work situation.

[0126] Furthermore, the dispensing unit 2 has a plurality of powder containers 21, each of which contains powders of different types. If, among the plurality of powders related to the supply instruction, some powders are contained in one of the plurality of powder containers 21 and others are not, the control unit 9 sets to the manual weighing mode (second mode) before the automatic weighing mode (first mode), and sets to the automatic weighing mode (first mode) after the manual weighing mode (second mode) has finished.

[0127] According to the above configuration, the manual weighing mode (second mode) can be completed first by manual operation, so during the subsequent execution of the automatic weighing mode (first mode), the operator does not need to wait until the automatic weighing mode (first mode) is completed.

[0128] Furthermore, the weighing device 1 includes an information writing unit 7 that writes information to an information display unit T1, which is provided on the tray T and displays prescription information of the contained powder, before weighing begins in the weighing unit 3.

[0129] According to the above configuration, the information display unit T1 is displayed before weighing begins in the weighing unit 3, so that the wrong powder is supplied manually, and the tray T can then be immediately and accurately passed on to the next process.

[0130] Furthermore, the display of the information display unit T1 is retained until the next writing operation by the information writing unit 7.

[0131] According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine what powder was contained in tray T during the previous supply, and this can be used as an indicator for cleaning tray T.

[0132] Furthermore, the weighing unit 3 is configured to be movable and includes a locking unit 3a that prevents the weighing unit 3 from moving during the automatic weighing mode (first mode), and the control unit 9 releases the locking unit 3a during the manual weighing mode (second mode).

[0133] With the above configuration, even if an operator mistakenly attempts to use the weighing unit 3 while automatic feeding is in progress during automatic weighing mode (first mode), the locking unit 3a prevents the weighing unit 3 from moving, thus preventing the automatic weighing mode (first mode) from being interrupted. Furthermore, in manual weighing mode (second mode), the weighing unit 3 can be moved to the working position.

[0134] Furthermore, the weighing unit 3 is configured to be movable, and the control unit 9 positions the weighing unit 3 below the dispensing position P1, which is the position from which the powder is dispensed from the powder container 21, when in the automatic weighing mode (first mode), and moves the weighing unit 3 to a position that secures workspace for manually dispensing the powder when in the manual weighing mode (second mode).

[0135] According to the above configuration, in automatic weighing mode (first mode), the weighing unit 3 is immovable from a location below the dispensing position P1, which is difficult for the operator to reach, thereby preventing the operator from accidentally moving the weighing unit 3 during automatic weighing mode (first mode). Furthermore, in manual weighing mode (second mode), the weighing unit 3 can be moved to a position where sufficient workspace can be secured, making it easier for the operator to work.

[0136] As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when dispensing powder that is not contained in the powder container 21 and cannot be dispensed in automatic weighing mode (first mode) (including cases where the remaining amount is insufficient), the system can be switched to manual weighing mode (second mode) to weigh the desired amount of powder. Therefore, a weighing device that can efficiently prepare powder according to supply instructions can be provided.

[0137] (Fifth embodiment) The weighing device 1 of the fifth embodiment includes a dispensing unit 2 having a plurality of powder containers 21, each capable of containing powder and having a dispensing outlet 212a; a moving mechanism 23 for moving the plurality of powder containers 21; and a dispensing mechanism 24 for dispensing powder from the powder containers 21 that have been moved to a predetermined dispensing position P1 on the moving trajectory Q of the plurality of powder containers 21; a weighing unit 3 located below the dispensing position P1, on which a tray T is placed to receive the powder dispensed from the powder containers 21, and for weighing the powder dispensed onto the tray T; and a holding unit for the plurality of trays T before they are moved to the weighing unit 3. The apparatus comprises a tray waiting unit 4, a tray transfer unit 5 that moves the tray T from the tray waiting unit 4 to the weighing unit 3 and removes the tray T from the weighing unit 3 after dispensing, and a control unit 9 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The powder container 21 is moved to the dispensing position P1 by the transfer mechanism 23, the powder dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 24 falls and is placed in the tray T on the weighing unit 3, the control unit 9 moves the powder container 21 to the dispensing position P1, and then the tray transfer unit 5 moves the tray T from the tray waiting unit 4 to the weighing unit 3.

[0138] According to the above configuration, the control unit 9 moves the powder container 21 to the dispensing position P1, and then the tray transfer unit 5 moves the tray T from the tray waiting unit 4 to the weighing unit 3. Therefore, when the powder container 21 containing powder that is not to be dispensed passes over the tray T, even if powder adhering to the dispensing opening 212a and its surroundings of the powder container 21 falls, the tray T is not placed below the dispensing opening 212a, thus preventing the fallen powder from entering the tray T. In this way, according to the above configuration, cross-contamination caused by powder that is not to be dispensed being contained in the tray T can be prevented.

[0139] Furthermore, the device is equipped with a shutter located between the dispensing unit 2 and the weighing unit 3 to prevent powder from falling from the powder container 21, which moves above the weighing unit 3, into the weighing unit 3. The control unit 9 closes the shutter while the multiple powder containers 21 are being moved by the moving mechanism 23, and opens the shutter after the tray transfer unit 5 has moved the tray T to the weighing unit 3.

[0140] According to the above configuration, the control unit 9 closes the shutter while the multiple powder containers 21 are being moved by the moving mechanism 23, and opens the shutter after the tray transfer unit 5 has moved the tray T to the weighing unit 3. Therefore, the shutter can be kept closed until the tray T is placed on the weighing unit 3, preventing powders that are not to be dispensed from falling onto the weighing unit 3 or the tray T.

[0141] Furthermore, the control unit 9 opens the shutter after the tray T is placed on the weighing unit 3 and after the zero adjustment of the weighing unit 3, and dispenses the powder from the powder container.

[0142] According to the above configuration, the shutter is opened after the weighing unit 3 has been zeroed, so the powder can be weighed accurately.

[0143] As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, cross-contamination caused by powders that are not to be dispensed being contained in tray T can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent different types of powders from mixing (cross-contamination) and to provide a safe weighing device.

[0144] [Possibility of modifying the embodiment] It should be noted that the weighing apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In other words, even configurations not explicitly stated in the embodiments above can be modified within the scope of the present invention if they perform the same function as the explicitly stated configurations, and their absence from explicit mention does not mean they are intentionally excluded.

[0145] For example, with respect to the tray stacking unit 6, a display unit corresponding to each section on which each tray T is placed can be provided. In this case, for example, when a packaging device in a subsequent process retrieves packaging information, the corresponding display unit can be configured to show the information. For example, an LED lamp can be used as the display unit. This configuration is advantageous because it allows the operator to recognize the section on the tray stacking unit 6 corresponding to the packaging information, making it easy for the operator to identify the tray T needed for packaging.

[0146] Furthermore, the weighing unit 3 can also be provided with two weighing units: a first weighing unit that weighs the powder dispensed from the powder container 21 onto the tray T, and a second weighing unit that weighs the powder manually placed onto the tray. In this case, the tray transfer unit 5 can be configured to distribute the tray T to either the first weighing unit or the second weighing unit depending on whether it is in automatic weighing mode or manual weighing mode.

[0147] Furthermore, with respect to the control unit 9, if multiple supply instructions are input to the weighing device 1 and one of these instructions is for dispensing the same type of powder, the control unit 9 can also set the order so that the same powder is dispensed consecutively. This shortens the overall dispensing time for multiple supply instructions.

[0148] Furthermore, with respect to the control unit 9, it is possible to determine whether to set it to automatic weighing mode or manual weighing mode depending on the information about the type of powder included in the supply order. For example, in the case of regulated drugs (poisons, highly toxic drugs, narcotics, psychotropic drugs, etc.), if cross-contamination occurs, serious adverse effects may occur. Therefore, if information about regulated drugs is included in the supply order, the dispensing of regulated drugs can be set to be done manually.

[0149] Furthermore, the control unit 9 can be configured to include a camera capable of photographing the display unit of the weighing unit (electronic balance) 3, and to verify whether the display information of the weighing detection value in the weighing unit 3 obtained by the camera matches the weighing value J7 displayed on the information display unit T1 of the tray T.

[0150] Furthermore, regarding the tray T, although the above embodiment described a case where electronic paper is used as the information display unit T1, it is not limited to this. Various display means such as a liquid crystal screen can be used, for example. Moreover, although convenience is reduced, a printable sheet such as paper may be used as the information display unit T1 and a printer may be used as the information writing unit 7.

[0151] Furthermore, each tray T can be assigned unique identification information. In this case, the control unit 9 can store the correspondence between a specific tray T and the powder contained in that tray T, thereby fixing the powder contained in that tray T. This prevents cross-contamination that may occur if a different type of powder remains in the tray T.

[0152] Furthermore, multiple trays T with different capacities can be used. In this case, the control unit 9 can store the correspondence between a tray T of a specific capacity and the powder contained in that tray T. This allows a larger capacity tray T to be used for powders with large dispensing volumes, and a smaller capacity tray T to be used for powders with small dispensing volumes. Thus, it becomes easier to remove the powder when sending it to a subsequent process. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0153] 1...Weighing device, 2...Dispensing unit, 21...Powder container, 211...Body, 212...Bottom, 212a...Dispensing port, 213...Lid, 214...RFID tag, 22...Holder, 221...Holder body, 221a...Communication port, 223...Fixed part, 23...Moving mechanism, 231...Moving body, 231a...Fixed part, 232...Moving drive unit, 24...Dispensing mechanism, 241...Dispensing drive unit, 25...Table, 251...Opening, 3...Weighing unit, 3a...Locking unit, 4...Tray standby unit, 41...Standby tray transfer unit, 42...Standby drive unit, 5...Tray transfer unit, 51...Transfer unit body, 51a...Arm, 52...Transfer drive unit, 6...Tray stacking unit (post-weighing tray storage area), 6X, 6Y...Parallel tray stacking unit, 61...Stacking tray transfer unit, 62...Stacking drive unit, 7...Information writing unit, 8...Device-side display unit, 9...Control unit, 9a...Instruction input unit, 10...Housing, 10a...Removable window, 101...Stand, M...Powder, P1...Dispensing position, P2...Removable position, Q...Tracking trajectory (circular trajectory), Q1...Straight trajectory, Q2...Curved trajectory, S1...First position, S2...Second position, T...Tray, T1...Information display unit

Claims

1. Multiple holders for holding multiple powder containers, A moving mechanism for circumferencing the plurality of powder containers held by the plurality of holders in the horizontal direction, A dispensing mechanism for dispensing powder from a powder container located at a predetermined dispensing position on the movement trajectory of the plurality of powder containers, A table formed in accordance with the movement trajectories of the plurality of powder containers, with an opening formed at a position corresponding to the dispensing position, A weighing unit is located below the table, below the dispensing position, on which a tray is placed, and which weighs the powder dispensed from the powder container onto the tray. A weighing device comprising: a shutter provided on the table and located between the dispensing position and the weighing unit, which opens and closes the opening, and which, by closing the opening, prevents powder from falling from the powder container moving above the weighing unit to the weighing unit.

2. The plurality of holders detachably hold the plurality of powder containers, At a predetermined attachment / detachment position on the movement trajectory of the plurality of powder containers, the powder container is attached to and detached from the holder. The weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment / detachment position is located at a position different horizontally from the dispensing position.

3. The weighing device according to claim 2, wherein the attachment / detachment position is located within the frontal range of the moving track.

4. The weighing device according to claim 3, wherein the dispensing position is located within the frontal range of the moving track.

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