Canister assembly system and control method thereof

Abstract

A canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a system for assembling canisters used in a drug packaging device that allows a drug to be dispensed from a canister in which the drug is stored based on a drug dispensing request, and then allows the dispensed drug to be packaged in a drug packaging bag and separated and discharged by single dose, wherein the drug packaging device is equipped with a plurality of canisters based on the size and shape of the drug to be stored. The system may include: a component information storage unit that stores information about a component constituting each of the plurality of canisters; an information input unit that receives drug information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the drug to be stored; a component selection unit that selects a component of a canister that enables the storage and dispensing of the drug based on the drug information received through the information input unit, within the component information storage unit; and a component assembly information output unit that outputs information about the component of the canister selected by the component selection unit and the assembly order of the component of the canister.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a canister assembly system and a control method thereof, and more specifically, to a canister assembly system and a control method thereof that allows a plurality of canisters mounted on a pharmaceutical packaging device to be adjusted according to the convenience of the user. Background Technology

[0003] Generally, a drug packaging device is a device that automatically dispenses drugs from multiple canisters in which drugs are stored according to drug dispensing information, such as a so-called prescription, and then packages them into single-dose packages.

[0004] This drug packaging device undergoes a series of processes to finally be packaged into a drug packaging sheet, and the drug packaged in the packaging sheet is distributed by patient or ward, etc.

[0005] Conventional pharmaceutical packaging devices are equipped with multiple canisters, and each canister is manufactured in advance by the manufacturer of the pharmaceutical packaging device and supplied to a hospital or pharmacy.

[0006] Among the multiple canisters provided as described above, a specific canister is selected by a doctor or pharmacist based on a prescription, etc., and the selected canister is mounted on a drug packaging device to proceed with the dispensing of the drug and packaging for each single dose.

[0007] Here, since the canisters to be mounted in conventional pharmaceutical packaging devices are manufactured and provided in advance by the manufacturer, there may be cases where they cannot cover all types of drugs that need to be dispensed based on prescriptions, etc.

[0008] That is, if a single dose contains 10 doses of medication A, and among the canisters pre-manufactured and provided by the manufacturer, there are only 5 canisters capable of storing and dispensing medication A, then it is inevitable that 5 canisters must be used and the dispensing process must be performed twice to package a single dose.

[0009] Such a packaging process inevitably causes problems in terms of packaging efficiency, and for the reasons mentioned above, the potential for utilizing pharmaceutical packaging devices is bound to be consequently limited.

[0010] Therefore, there is an urgent need for research to maintain and improve the efficiency of drug packaging regardless of the type and quantity of a single dose. The problem to be solved

[0012] The objective of the present invention is to provide a canister assembly system and a control method thereof that can maintain and improve the efficiency of pharmaceutical packaging regardless of the type and quantity of single-dose pharmaceuticals requiring packaging, by allowing a canister used in a pharmaceutical packaging device to be assembled and mounted according to the convenience of a user, such as a doctor or pharmacist. means of solving the problem

[0014] A canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a system for assembling canisters used in a drug packaging device that allows a drug to be dispensed from a canister in which the drug is stored based on a drug dispensing request, and then allows the dispensed drug to be packaged in a drug packaging bag and separated and discharged by single dose, wherein the drug packaging device is equipped with a plurality of canisters based on the size and shape of the drug to be stored. The system may include: a component information storage unit that stores information about a component constituting each of the plurality of canisters; an information input unit that receives drug information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the drug to be stored; a component selection unit that selects a component of a canister that enables the storage and dispensing of the drug based on the drug information received through the information input unit, within the component information storage unit; and a component assembly information output unit that outputs information about the component of the canister selected by the component selection unit and the assembly order of the component of the canister.

[0015] The information input unit of the canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention may be characterized by receiving pharmaceutical information regarding the size and thickness of the pharmaceutical as numerical values, and receiving pharmaceutical information regarding the shape of the pharmaceutical by selecting one of a plurality of sample shapes stored in advance.

[0016] The component selection unit of a canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention may be characterized by obtaining location information where the selected canister component exists in a canister component kit in which components constituting each of the plurality of canisters are stored.

[0017] The component assembly information output unit of the canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention may be characterized by outputting the acquired position information.

[0019] A control method for a canister assembly system according to another embodiment of the present invention may include: a first step of receiving information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of a drug to be stored by an information input unit; a second step of selecting, by a part selection unit, a part that enables the drug to be stored and dispensed by a part that stores information regarding a part of the canister selected by the part selection unit, and a third step of outputting information regarding the part of the canister selected by the part selection unit and the assembly order of the part of the canister, and the assembly order of the part of the canister, by a part assembly information output unit.

[0020] The first step of the control method of a canister assembly system according to another embodiment of the present invention may be characterized by receiving numerical input of drug information regarding the size and thickness of the drug, and receiving input of drug information regarding the shape of the drug by selecting one of a plurality of sample shapes stored in advance.

[0021] The second step of the control method for a canister assembly system according to another embodiment of the present invention may be characterized by including the step of obtaining location information where the selected canister part exists in a canister part kit in which parts constituting each of the plurality of canisters are stored. Effects of the invention

[0023] According to the canister assembly system and control method of the present invention, by assembling and mounting a canister used in a pharmaceutical packaging device to suit the convenience of a user such as a doctor or pharmacist, the efficiency of pharmaceutical packaging can be maintained and improved regardless of the type and quantity of a single dose of pharmaceutical that needs to be packaged.

[0024] In addition, user convenience, such as doctors or pharmacists, can be improved by making it possible to assemble the canister in a simple way. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a pharmaceutical packaging device according to the present invention. FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3 are schematic perspective views illustrating an example of a canister mounted on a pharmaceutical packaging device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a canister assembly system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of a canister assembly system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining the process of measuring the size and thickness of a drug to be stored. Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the process of inputting drug information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the measured drug. FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a canister parts kit in which parts of a canister are stored. FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a situation in which information about the parts of a canister to be assembled is output. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the assembly sequence of canister parts is output. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing an assembled canister after assembling the necessary parts from a canister parts kit. FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a canister assembled by a canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 13 and 14 are drawings for explaining the operating state of a division block in a canister assembled by a canister assembly system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0027] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the concept of the present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments. Those skilled in the art who understand the concept of the present invention may easily propose other inventions that are inferior or other embodiments included within the scope of the concept of the present invention by adding, changing, or deleting other components within the same scope of the concept, and such are also to be considered to be included within the scope of the concept of the present invention.

[0029] Additionally, components with the same function within the scope of the same concept appearing in the drawings of each embodiment are described using the same reference numeral.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a pharmaceutical packaging device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic perspective views illustrating an example of a canister mounted on the pharmaceutical packaging device according to the present invention.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the drug packaging device (100) according to the present invention may be a device that allows drugs to be dispensed from canisters (110) in which various types of drugs are stored individually, based on a drug dispensing request (e.g., a patient's prescription, etc.), and then packaged and discharged in a drug packaging sheet so that they are separated into single doses.

[0034] The above canister (110) is referred to as a pharmaceutical cassette in the industry, and each canister (110) can store a specific pharmaceutical and can be mounted on a mounting part (120) to operate.

[0035] The above mounting part (120) is a component that allows the stored medicine to be dispensed from the mounted canister (110), and one canister (110) can be mounted in one mounting part (120).

[0036] After the canister (110) is mounted on the mounting unit (120), when a request for drug dispensing, such as a patient's prescription, is received by a communication unit (not shown), which is a component of the drug packaging device (100), from a server such as a hospital, or when a request for drug dispensing is input through an input unit (130), the mounting unit (120) is operated by a control unit (not shown), which is a component of the drug packaging device (100). When the mounting unit (120) is operated, the canister (110) mounted on the mounting unit (120) is also operated, and the drug is dispensed from the canister (110).

[0037] The principle of dispensing the medicine from the canister (110) mounted on the above-mentioned mounting part (120) is disclosed in detail in the applicant's previously filed Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2008-0006339, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0053331, and Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0117425, etc., so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0038] The canister (110) may be implemented by assembling a plurality of parts, and the plurality of parts may include, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2, FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 11, a body (111) that provides a space for storing a drug, a division block (112) that is mounted within the body (111) and rotated by the rotation of a mounting part (120), a drug blocking unit (113) that blocks the discharge of another drug when a drug is discharged through the space (S) of the division block (112), a guide unit (114) that guides the installation position of the drug blocking unit (113), an installation unit (115) that enables the installation of the guide unit (114), a first fixing unit (116) and a second fixing unit (117) for fixing the position of the drug blocking unit (113).

[0039] The multiple parts constituting the above canister (110) are not necessarily limited to the aforementioned parts and can be changed in various ways according to convenience.

[0040] Meanwhile, the above canister (110) may have various shapes depending on the type of medicine being stored, for example, the size, thickness, and shape of the medicine, and there may be various types, such as a canister like Fig. 2 or a canister like Fig. 3.

[0041] Depending on the type of canister (110), the components constituting the canister or the installation location of the components may also change. For example, the installation location of the drug blocking unit (113) on the first fixed unit (116) that blocks the discharge of other drugs when a drug is discharged may change.

[0042] A canister (110) mounted on a pharmaceutical packaging device (100) according to the present invention can be assembled by a canister assembly system (200) and a control method thereof, which will be described later. A doctor or pharmacist, etc., can freely assemble and mount the necessary canister (110) based on the type and quantity of a single dose of pharmaceutical that needs to be packaged, thereby improving the efficiency of pharmaceutical packaging and increasing convenience.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for a canister assembly system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 4, the canister assembly system (200) according to the present invention is a system for assembling canisters (110) used in a drug packaging device (100) that allows drugs to be dispensed from a canister (110) in which drugs are stored based on a drug dispensing request, and then the dispensed drugs are packaged in a drug packaging bag and separated and discharged by single dose. The drug packaging device (100) may be equipped with a plurality of canisters (110) based on the size and shape of the drugs stored.

[0047] The above canister assembly system (200) may include a part information storage unit (210), an information input unit (220), a part selection unit (230), and a part assembly information output unit (240).

[0048] The above-mentioned component information storage unit (210) may store information about a component constituting each of a plurality of canisters (110) that can be mounted on a pharmaceutical packaging device (100), and may be a storage means such as a memory.

[0049] Information regarding the above parts may be stored in the part information storage unit (210) such that the parts constituting one canister (110) form a set, and the criteria may be the size, thickness, and shape of the medicine to be stored.

[0050] The information regarding the above parts may include information on the parts required for the assembly of each of the plurality of canisters (110), namely, as shown in FIG. 11, the body (111), the division block (112), the drug blocking unit (113), the guide unit (114), the installation unit (115), the first fixing unit (116), and the second fixing unit (117), and may be selected by the part selection unit (230). The information input unit (220) is a component that receives drug information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the drug to be stored, and may receive drug information regarding the size and thickness measured by the drug measuring jig (300, see FIG. 6).

[0051] The above-mentioned part selection unit (230) can select a part of a canister (110) that can store and dispense medicine based on medicine information received through the above-mentioned information input unit (220) within the part information storage unit (210).

[0052] The component assembly information output unit (240) is a component capable of outputting information about the component of the canister (110) selected by the component selection unit (230) and the assembly order of the component of the canister (110), and, for example, may be a display.

[0053] A canister assembly system (200) as described above can be controlled by a first step (S10) in which information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of a drug to be stored is received by an information input unit (220); a second step (S20) in which a component of a canister (110) capable of storing and dispensing the drug is selected by a component selection unit (230) from a component information storage unit (210) in which information regarding a component constituting each of the plurality of canisters (110) is stored; and a third step (S30) in which information regarding the component of the canister (110) selected by the component selection unit (230) and the assembly order of the component of the canister (110) are output by a component assembly information output unit (240).

[0054] A control method for the canister assembly system described above will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11.

[0056] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the process of measuring the size and thickness of a drug to be stored, and Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the process of inputting drug information regarding the measured size, thickness, and shape of the drug.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 6, the first step (S10) of the control method of the canister assembly system (200) may be a step of receiving pharmaceutical information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the pharmaceutical (M) to be stored by the information input unit (220).

[0059] Here, the size and thickness of the drug (M) can be measured manually by a drug measuring jig (300), but are not necessarily limited thereto and can also be measured automatically by an image or other means of shooting.

[0060] Once the size and thickness of the drug (M) are measured by the drug measuring jig (300) as described above, drug information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the drug (M) is input by the information input unit (220) as shown in FIG. 7.

[0061] The above information input unit (220) may be a touch display or various input means, and may receive numerical information regarding the size and thickness of the drug (M) as shown in FIG. 7.

[0062] Here, the information regarding the shape of the drug (M) input by the information input unit (220) is input by selecting one of a plurality of sample shapes that have been stored in advance as drug information regarding the shape of the drug (M).

[0063] For example, the drug information regarding the shape of the drug (M) input by the information input unit (220) is selected and input as (F).

[0065] Figure 8 is a drawing illustrating a canister parts kit in which parts of the canister are stored.

[0067] When information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the drug (M) to be stored is received by the information input unit (220), a second step (S20) may be performed in which a component of a canister (110) capable of storing and dispensing the drug (M) is selected by the component selection unit (230) from a component information storage unit (210) in which information regarding the component constituting each of the plurality of canisters (110) is stored.

[0068] Here, the second step (S20) may include the step of obtaining location information where the selected canister part exists in a canister part kit (K) in which parts constituting each of the plurality of canisters are stored, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0069] The above location information may include the location of the part in the canister part kit (K) in terms of layer, row, and column, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0070] The above location information is information that enables a user, such as a doctor or pharmacist, to easily find the parts of the selected canister within the canister parts kit (K).

[0071] After obtaining information about the part and location information where the part exists through the part selection unit (230) as described above, a third step (S30) of outputting this information can be performed.

[0073] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which information about the parts of a canister to be assembled is output, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the assembly sequence of the parts of a canister is output, and FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a canister assembled after the necessary parts are collected from a canister parts kit.

[0075] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, once information about a part and location information where the part exists is obtained by the part selection unit (230), a third step (S30) may be performed in which information about the part of the canister (110) selected by the part selection unit (230) and the assembly order of the part of the canister (110) are output by the part assembly information output unit (240).

[0076] Here, the third step (S30) may include the step of outputting location information where the selected canister part exists in a canister part kit (K) in which the parts constituting each of the plurality of canisters are stored as shown in FIG. 9 (in FIG. 9, only location information for the body (111) is shown as an example).

[0077] Therefore, users such as doctors or pharmacists can easily find the necessary parts from the canister parts kit (K) based on the output location information.

[0078] Meanwhile, the third step (S30) may include a step of outputting the assembly order of the parts of the canister (110) selected by the part selection unit (230) as illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0079] A user, such as a doctor or pharmacist, can finally assemble the canister (110) shown in Fig. 11(b) by selecting the canister part as shown in Fig. 11(a) from the canister part kit (K) and assembling the selected part according to the assembly order output as shown in Fig. 10.

[0081] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a canister assembled by a canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are drawings for explaining the operating state of a division block in a canister assembled by a canister assembly system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] First, referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, when a canister (110) is assembled by a canister assembly system (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a user such as a pharmacist puts a medicine that needs to be dispensed into the canister (110).

[0084] In this case, the drug injected during the process of injecting the drug must not be discharged through the space (S) of the division block (112), and to this end, the division block (112) must be prevented from rotating before the canister (110) is mounted on the mounting part (120).

[0085] The above canister (110) may include a rotation prevention part (11) to prevent rotation of the division block (112) before being mounted on the mounting part (120), and the rotation prevention part (11) may be inserted into a recess (G) formed on the lower side of the division block (112) as shown in FIG. 13 to prevent rotation of the division block (112).

[0086] In the state shown in FIG. 13, after all the medication required to be dispensed into the canister (110) is poured in, the canister (110) is mounted on the mounting part (120), and as shown in FIG. 14, the regulating part (12) is pressurized and moves upward.

[0087] When the above adjustment part (12) is moved upward, the rotation prevention part (11), which is connected to the above adjustment part (12) in a meshing relationship such as a gear, rotates, and as a result, the rotation prevention part (11) inserted into the recess (G) is detached from the recess (G).

[0088] Accordingly, the division block (112) can be rotated by the operation of the mounting part (120), thereby enabling the dispensing of medicine from the canister (110).

[0089] Meanwhile, when the canister (110) that was mounted on the mounting part (120) is separated from the mounting part (120), the adjustment part (12) moves back to its original position downward by the elastic force of the elastic part (13), and as a result, the anti-rotation part (11) also rotates.

[0090] When the above-mentioned rotation prevention part (11) is rotated, the above-mentioned rotation prevention part (11) is inserted back into the recessed part (G), and as a result, further rotation of the division block (112) is prevented, thereby preventing abnormal dispensing of the drug.

[0092] As described above, according to the canister assembly system (200) and the control method thereof according to the present invention, by assembling and mounting the canister used in the pharmaceutical packaging device to suit the convenience of the user, such as a doctor or pharmacist, the efficiency of pharmaceutical packaging can be maintained and improved regardless of the type and quantity of a single dose of pharmaceutical that needs to be packaged.

[0094] Meanwhile, the canister assembly system (220) according to the present invention can disassemble the assembled canister (110) and then store the parts that constituted the canister (110) back in a predetermined location of the canister parts kit (K) where they were originally located.

[0095] The above canister assembly system (220) can provide information on the storage location of a component when an information code for the component that constituted the canister (110) is entered after the assembled canister (110) is disassembled, thereby preventing in advance the problem of confusion regarding the component when assembling the canister (110) in the future.

[0097] Meanwhile, the canister assembly system (220) according to the present invention allows for easy identification of the location of the identical part within the canister part kit (K) when one or more of the parts constituting the assembled canister (110) are damaged and need to be replaced with the same part.

[0098] In other words, when the name of the medicine stored in the assembled canister (110) is entered into the canister assembly system (220) according to the present invention, it can provide information about the components constituting the canister (110), and a user such as a doctor or pharmacist can know the location of the corresponding components accurately and conveniently based on this.

[0100] Meanwhile, the canister (110) assembled by the canister assembly system (220) according to the present invention stores the name of the stored medicine, the name of the part, the canister number, etc. in a memory chip or RFID, and during after-sales service, information regarding the name of the medicine and the part name, etc. can be retrieved through the inquiry of the memory chip or the RFID.

[0101] Additionally, when the canister (110) is mounted on the mounting part (120) of the pharmaceutical packaging device (110), the name of the pharmaceutical product and the name of the part stored in the memory chip or the RFID can be uploaded to the server.

[0103] Although the structure and features of the present invention have been described above based on embodiments according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention; therefore, it is noted that such changes or modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0105] 100: Pharmaceutical packaging device 110: Canister 120: Mounting part 200: Canister Assembly System 300: Drug measurement jig

Claims

Claim 1 A canister assembly system for assembling canisters used in a drug packaging device that dispenses a drug from a canister in which the drug is stored based on a drug dispensing request, and then packages the dispensed drug in a drug packaging bag and separates and discharges it by single dose, wherein the drug packaging device is equipped with a plurality of canisters based on the size and shape of the drug being stored; the canister assembly system comprising: a component information storage unit storing information on a component constituting each of the plurality of canisters; an information input unit receiving drug information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the drug to be stored; a component selection unit selecting a component of a canister that enables the storage and dispensing of the drug based on the drug information received through the information input unit, within the component information storage unit; and a component assembly information output unit outputting information on the component of the canister selected by the component selection unit and the assembly order of the component of the canister. Claim 2 A canister assembly system according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit receives pharmaceutical information regarding the size and thickness of the pharmaceutical as numerical values, and receives pharmaceutical information regarding the shape of the pharmaceutical by selecting and inputting one of a plurality of sample shapes stored in advance. Claim 3 A canister assembly system according to claim 1, wherein the part selection unit obtains location information where the selected canister part exists in a canister part kit in which parts constituting each of the plurality of canisters are stored. Claim 4 A canister assembly system characterized in that, in paragraph 3, the component assembly information output unit outputs the acquired position information. Claim 5 A control method for a canister assembly system for assembling canisters used in a drug packaging device that allows a drug to be dispensed from a canister in which the drug is stored based on a drug dispensing request, and then allows the dispensed drug to be packaged in a drug packaging bag and separated and discharged by single dose, wherein the drug packaging device is equipped with a plurality of canisters based on the size and shape of the drug to be stored, comprising: a first step of receiving drug information regarding the size, thickness, and shape of the drug to be stored by an information input unit; a second step of selecting, based on the received drug information, a component of a canister capable of storing and dispensing the drug from a component information storage unit in which information regarding a component constituting each of the plurality of canisters is stored by a component selection unit; and a third step of outputting information regarding the component of the canister selected by the component selection unit and the assembly order of the component of the canister by a component assembly information output unit. Claim 6 A control method for a canister assembly system according to claim 5, wherein the first step is characterized by receiving numerical input of drug information regarding the size and thickness of the drug, and receiving input of drug information regarding the shape of the drug by selecting one of a plurality of sample shapes stored in advance. Claim 7 A control method for a canister assembly system according to claim 5, wherein the second step comprises obtaining location information where the selected canister part exists in a canister part kit in which parts constituting each of the plurality of canisters are stored.

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