Drug dispensing unit for blister pack, and blister packing apparatus for drug comprising same

Abstract

Disclosed are: a drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, wherein the drug dispensing unit dispenses and drops, single doses of drugs, according to the prescriptions, into respective drug pockets of a blister sheet having a plurality of the drug pockets; and a blister packing apparatus for drugs, wherein the blister packing apparatus comprises the drug dispensing unit. The drug dispensing unit for a blister pack disclosed herein has a drug tester which receives falling drugs, inspects whether the drugs are normal drugs corresponding to single doses of the drugs, or defective drugs that are not the normal drugs, and drops the tested drugs down again. The drug tester has a rotating body which rotates about an axis parallel to the direction of gravity, and has an upper panel and a lower panel spaced apart from and parallel to each other and a drug carrier interposed between the upper panel and the lower panel. As the rotating body rotates, the drug carrier circulates by sequentially passing through a drug input position, at which the drugs falling into the drug tester are accommodated in the drug carrier, a drug testing position, at which the drugs accommodated in the drug carrier are tested to determine whether the drugs are normal drugs or defective drugs, and a drug drop position, at which the drugs are released from the drug carrier and dropped down below the rotating body.

Description

Drug dispensing unit for blister pack and blister packing device for drug having the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug dispensing unit for a blister pack that dispenses a drug in a single dose onto a blister sheet, and a blister packing device for a drug having the drug dispensing unit for the blister pack.

[0002] At hospitals or pharmacies, medications prescribed according to a prescription are individually packaged in plastic bags or sealed in blister packs. The blister packs include a blister sheet having a plurality of medication pockets arranged in a matrix, and a cover attached to the upper side of the blister sheet so that the plurality of medication pockets are sealed. The method of sealing and packaging medications using blister packs is increasing in use because it prevents theft, loss, and misuse of medications, and also helps with correct medication administration even in complex cases, such as when the medications to be taken after lunch and dinner are different.

[0003] In order to improve the efficiency of the work of packaging a drug into a blister pack according to a prescription, a blister packing device for a drug that automatically dispenses the drug into a single dose and packages it into a blister pack is required, and the blister packing device must be equipped with a drug dispensing unit for a blister pack that automatically dispenses the drug falling through a hopper into a plurality of drug pockets of a blister sheet into a single dose.

[0004] Prior art document: Korean Patent Publication No. 10-0343788

[0005] The present invention provides a blister pack drug dispensing unit that automatically performs the task of determining whether a drug falling from a drug supply unit contains an error based on a prescription, and dispensing and dispensing a single dose into a plurality of drug pockets of a blister sheet if there is no error, and a blister packing device for a drug having the same.

[0006] The present invention provides a drug dispensing unit for a blister pack having a drug inspector. The drug dispensing unit for the blister pack dispenses and drops a single dose of drug according to a prescription into each drug pocket of a blister sheet having a plurality of drug pockets formed therein. The drug inspector receives the falling drug, inspects whether it is a normal drug corresponding to the single dose of drug or a defective drug other than the normal drug, and drops the drug after the inspection is completed downward again. The drug inspector has a rotating body. The rotating body rotates around an axis parallel to the direction of gravity, and includes an upper panel and a lower panel spaced apart from each other in parallel, and a drug carrier interposed between the upper panel and the lower panel. As the above-mentioned rotor rotates, the drug carrier sequentially passes through a drug injection position where the drug falling to the drug inspection device is received inside the drug carrier, a drug inspection position where the drug received inside the drug carrier is inspected to determine whether the drug is normal or defective, and a drug dropping position where the drug is released from the drug carrier and dropped below the rotor.

[0007] The drug dispensing unit for a blister pack of the present invention may further include a drug direction changer, a distribution block, and a shutter. The bad drug direction changer changes the direction of travel of the drug dispensed from the drug inspection device so that the travel direction of the normal drug and the travel direction of the defective drug can be distinguished. The distribution block is disposed below the drug direction changer, and a plurality of pocket-corresponding holes are formed that correspond one-to-one to the plurality of drug pockets. The shutter closes the openings at the bottom of the plurality of pocket-corresponding holes in an openable manner. In this case, normal drugs that have passed through the drug direction changer are sequentially injected into the plurality of pocket-corresponding holes while the openings at the bottom of the plurality of pocket-corresponding holes are closed by the shutter. When the openings at the bottom of the plurality of pocket-corresponding holes, which are closed by the shutter, are opened while the blister sheet is positioned below the distribution block so as to be aligned with the distribution block, the drugs contained in the plurality of pocket-corresponding holes can be injected into the plurality of drug pockets.

[0008] The above drug inspection device may further include a camera and a mirror. The camera captures images of the interior of the drug carrier located at the drug inspection location. The mirror refracts the path of light emitted from the drug inspection location toward the camera so that the camera is positioned so that it does not overlap vertically with the rotating body.

[0009] The drug carrier may be movable between a first position between the upper panel and the lower panel and a second position closer to the axis than the first position. In this case, the drug carrier may be positioned at the first position at the drug injection position and the drug inspection position, and at the second position at the drug dispensing position.

[0010] The above-mentioned drug carrier has an inner surface that is connected in a closed curve so that an inner space is provided with an upper opening and a lower opening formed at the upper and lower sides, and an upper panel aperture that overlaps the upper opening of the drug carrier located at the first position may be formed in the upper panel, and a lower panel aperture that overlaps the lower opening of the drug carrier located at the second position may be formed in the lower panel.

[0011] The above drug inspection device comprises a camera for photographing the inside of a drug carrier located at the first position at the drug inspection position, a mirror disposed above the rotating body for refracting a path of light emitted from the drug inspection position toward the camera so that the camera is positioned at a position where it does not overlap the rotating body vertically, and a lower light disposed below the rotating body for projecting light onto the drug carrier located at the first position at the drug inspection position, and a transparent window may be provided on the lower panel so that light projected from the lower light passes through the lower panel and is irradiated onto the drug carrier.

[0012] The transparent window can be detachably attached to the lower panel so that an old transparent window with many scratches can be replaced with a new transparent window without scratches.

[0013] The above drug inspection device may further include a guide cam that guides a drug carrier that moves from the drug inspection position to the drug drop position along a first curved path by rotation of the rotating body from the first position to the second position, and guides a drug carrier that has passed through the drug drop position from the second position to the first position along a second curved path that is different from the first curved path.

[0014] The upper panel has a guide aperture formed therein that extends radially from the axis line, and the drug carrier has a guide protrusion that penetrates the guide aperture and protrudes toward the upper side of the upper panel, and when the guide protrusion is located at one end of the guide aperture farthest from the axis line, the drug carrier can be located at a first position, and when the guide protrusion is located at the other end of the guide aperture closest to the axis line, the drug carrier can be located at a second position.

[0015] The above drug carrier is provided in multiple numbers, and the multiple drug carriers can be arranged at equiangular intervals around the axis line.

[0016] The above-mentioned drug diverter may be provided with a defective drug receiving container into which the defective drug is dropped and received, a normal drug guiding channel for guiding the normal drug toward the distribution block, and a direction changing valve for guiding the drug dropped from the drug inspector to one of the defective drug receiving container and the normal drug guiding channel based on the inspection result from the drug inspector.

[0017] The above distribution block can sequentially receive the drug into a plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures with closed openings at the bottom while moving in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

[0018] The shape of the above shutter is a flat plate shape, the shutter is placed below the distribution block, and the shutter can move between a closed position that closes the openings at the bottoms of all the pocket-corresponding apertures of the distribution block, and an open position that opens the openings at the bottoms of all the pocket-corresponding apertures of the distribution block.

[0019] Meanwhile, in another aspect of the present invention, a blister packing device for a drug comprises a drug dispensing unit for the blister pack, a drug supply unit, a blister sheet supply unit, a cover attachment unit, and a blister sheet transport unit. The drug supply unit is disposed above the drug dispensing unit for the blister pack and drops the drug to the drug inspection device. The blister sheet supply unit supplies blister sheets, which are not filled with a drug, by dropping them one by one into the plurality of drug pockets. The cover attachment unit attaches a cover to the upper surface of the blister sheets, which are filled with a drug in the plurality of drug pockets, to form a blister pack in which the plurality of drug pockets are closed. The blister sheet transport unit transports the blister sheets dropped from the blister sheet supply unit to a position aligned with the distribution block below the distribution block, and transports the blister sheets, in which the drugs dropped from the distribution block are filled in the plurality of drug pockets, to the cover attachment unit.

[0020] Between the time the shutter is closed and the time the shutter is opened, the blister sheet can be transported by the blister sheet transport unit to a position aligned with the distribution block below the distribution block.

[0021] The drug dispensing unit for a blister pack according to the present invention automatically determines whether a drug falling from a drug supply unit is normal based on a prescription, and if the drug is normal, dispenses and dispenses a single dose into multiple drug pockets of a blister sheet. Accordingly, the speed of the drug blister packing operation is improved.

[0022] A preferred embodiment of the present invention, a blister pack dispensing unit having multiple drug carriers, drops a single dose of medication three or more times per rotation of the rotor. Therefore, the speed of blister packing the medication is further improved.

[0023] A blister packing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention moves the blister sheet to a position aligned below the distribution block between the time when the distribution block begins to be filled with the medicament and the time when the shutter is opened. In other words, the operation of the blister sheet supply unit, the operation of the blister sheet transport unit, and the operation of the blister pack drug dispensing unit can be performed with time overlap, thereby further improving the speed of the blister packing operation.

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a blister pack for pharmaceutical packaging.

[0025] Figure 2 is a front view of a blister packing device for a drug according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 is a side view of the drug dispensing unit of Figure 2.

[0027] Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the rotation block and error checker of Figure 3.

[0028] Figure 5 is a plan view showing the grid block of Figure 3 and the grid block frame supporting it.

[0029] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a drug dispensing unit for a blister pack and a blister packing device for a drug having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The terminology used in this specification is a terminology used to appropriately express a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention of the user or operator or the customary practices in the field to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be determined based on the contents throughout this specification.

[0030] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a blister pack for packaging pharmaceuticals. Referring to Fig. 1, a blister sheet (2) for packaging pharmaceuticals used for packaging pharmaceuticals according to a prescription has a flat portion (3) and a plurality of pocket portions (5) that protrude downwardly convexly from the flat portion (3). The plurality of pocket portions (5) are formed to be spaced apart from each other. A plurality of upwardly open pharmaceutical pockets (6) are formed to accommodate a single dose of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed by the plurality of pocket portions (5). The plurality of pharmaceutical pockets (6) are arranged in a matrix, and the illustrated blister sheet (2) has the pharmaceutical pockets (6) arranged in 7 rows and 4 columns so that a maximum of one week's worth of pharmaceuticals can be filled.

[0031] When the plurality of drug pockets (6) are filled with drugs, a sheet-shaped cover (7) that seals the plurality of drug pockets (6) is attached to the upper surface of the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2). The blister pack (1) seals and contains the drugs separately for each single dose. The blister pack (1) is configured with a blister sheet (2) containing the drugs, and a cover (7) attached to the blister sheet (2). The lower surface of the cover (7) attached to the upper surface of the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2) is an adhesive surface coated with an adhesive. When the cover (7) is pressed and torn using a finger or a tool, the drugs filled in the drug pockets (6) can be taken out and taken.

[0032] Fig. 2 is a front view of a blister packing device for a drug according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 together, the blister packing device (20) for a drug is a device that automatically divides a compounded drug into single doses, fills a plurality of drug pockets (6) (see Fig. 1) of a blister sheet (2), seals the blister sheet (2) with a cover (7), and forms a blister pack (1), and is mainly equipped in large hospitals or pharmacies.

[0033] The blister packing device (20) of the above-mentioned drug comprises a cabinet-shaped housing (21), and a drug supply unit (22), a drug distribution unit (30) for a blister pack, a blister sheet supply unit (110), a cover attachment unit (120), and a blister sheet transport unit (100) inside the housing (21). Inside the housing (21), the drug supply unit (22) is positioned at the upper side, and the drug distribution unit (30) for a blister pack, the blister sheet supply unit (110), the cover attachment unit (120), and the blister sheet transport unit (100) are positioned at the lower side of the drug supply unit (22). In addition, the blister packing device (20) of the above-described drug further includes a controller (29) that controls the operation of the drug supply unit (22), the drug dispensing unit for blister packs (30), the blister sheet supply unit (110), the cover attaching unit (120), and the blister sheet transport unit (100).

[0034] The drug supply unit (22) has a plurality of drug cassettes (23) and hoppers (26, 27). The plurality of drug cassettes (23) contain different types of drugs. The hoppers (26, 27) guide the drugs discharged from the drug cassettes (23) to be sequentially discharged downward. Specifically, drugs are discharged from a drug cassette (23) filled with a specific drug according to a prescription input through a server or a user interface, and fall downward through a drug drop channel (not shown). The drugs are collected in a plurality of intermediate hoppers (26) arranged below the plurality of drug cassettes (23), fall in an adjusted dropping order, and sequentially fall through the final hopper (27) in single doses based on the prescription.

[0035] The drug dispensing unit (30) for the blister pack receives the drug discharged from the final hopper (27) of the drug supply unit (22), checks whether the drug is a single dose based on the prescription, and distributes and dispenses the drug for the single dose into a plurality of drug pockets (6) of the blister sheet (2). The blister sheet supply unit (110) is arranged on the left side of the drug dispensing unit (30) and supplies blister sheets (2) that are not filled with the drug by dropping them one by one into the plurality of drug pockets (6). The cover attachment unit (120) is arranged on the right side of the drug dispensing unit (30) and attaches a cover (7) to the upper surface of the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2) in which the drug is filled into the plurality of drug pockets (6) to form a blister pack (1).

[0036] FIG. 3 is a side view of the drug dispensing unit of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the rotating block and error checker of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the grid block of FIG. 3 and the grid block frame supporting the same. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 together, the blister sheet transport unit (100) transports the blister sheet (2) dropped from the blister sheet supply unit (110) to the bottom of the drug dispensing unit (30). In addition, the blister sheet transport unit (100) transports the blister sheet (2) filled with drugs in a plurality of drug pockets (6) by the drug dispensing unit (30) to the cover attachment unit (120).

[0037] Specifically, the blister sheet transport unit (100) includes a blister sheet tray (101), a tray driver (108), and a pair of guide rails (107). The blister sheet tray (101) is intermittently movable in a direction parallel to the X-axis under the blister sheet supply unit (110), the drug dispensing unit (30), and the cover attaching unit (120). The tray driver (108) moves the blister sheet tray (101) in a direction parallel to the X-axis. The pair of guide rails (107) extend in a direction parallel to the X-axis to guide the movement of the blister sheet tray (101).

[0038] Guide rollers (105) are installed on the front and back surfaces of the blister sheet tray (101). The guide rollers (105) are fitted into the guide rail (107) to guide the blister sheet tray (101) to move in a direction parallel to the X-axis.

[0039] A blister sheet tray (101) has a flat support surface (102) and a plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures (103). The flat support surface (102) supports the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2). The plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures (103) are fitted into a plurality of downwardly protruding pocket portions (5) provided on the blister sheet (2) in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0040] The inner surface (104) of the above pocket portion corresponding hole (103) is formed to be tapered so that the pocket portion (5) protruding downwards is supported by making surface contact. Accordingly, even if the blister sheet tray (101) on which the blister sheet (2) is installed moves at a high speed, the blister sheet (2) does not come off from the blister sheet tray (101).

[0041] When a blister sheet (2) dropped from a blister sheet supply unit (110) is settled on a blister sheet tray (101) located below the blister sheet supply unit (110), the blister sheet tray (101) moves to a position aligned with a distribution block (72) below the drug dispensing unit (30) and stops. In the drug dispensing unit (30), drugs corresponding to a prescription are dropped down from the distribution block (72) at the same time, and the drugs are filled in a plurality of drug pockets (6).

[0042] When the blister sheet tray (101) in which the blister sheet (2) filled with the drug is placed in the plurality of drug pockets (6) moves under the cover attachment unit (120) and stops, the cover (7) is attached to the upper surface of the flat portion (3) of the blister sheet (2), thereby completing the blister pack (1).

[0043] The above blister pack (1) is lifted upwards away from the blister sheet tray (101), and the blister sheet tray (101) separated from the blister sheet (2) returns to a position where a new blister sheet (2) with a plurality of unfilled drug pockets (6) falls and settles, that is, below the blister sheet supply unit (110).

[0044] The blister packing device (20) of the drug further comprises a blister pack discharge conveyor (130). The blister pack discharge conveyor (130) may be arranged between a pair of guide rails (107) of the blister sheet transport unit (110) below the cover attachment unit (120). The blister pack discharge conveyor (130) discharges a completed blister pack (1) with a cover (7) attached thereto to a loading position outside the cover attachment unit (120), specifically, outside the housing (21).

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 together, the drug dispensing unit (30) includes a drug inspector (31), a drug direction changer (60), a distribution block (72), and a shutter (75). The drug inspector (31) receives the drug that falls through the final hopper (27) and inspects whether it is a normal drug corresponding to a single dose of the drug or a defective drug that is not the normal drug. The drug inspector (31) includes a rotating body (32), a camera (54), a mirror (56), a lower light (58), a ring-shaped upper light (57), and a guide cam (46).

[0046] The above-described rotating body (32) rotates around an axis (CX) that is parallel to the direction of gravity, that is, parallel to the Z-axis, and includes upper and lower panels (33, 36) and a plurality of drug carriers (41). The upper and lower panels (33, 36) have a diamond shape that is spaced apart from each other in parallel. The plurality of drug carriers (41) are interposed between the upper panel (33) and the lower panel (36). The plurality of drug carriers (41) are arranged at equiangular intervals at positions that deviate from the axis (CX). In the illustrated embodiment, four drug carriers (41) are arranged at 90° intervals around the axis (CX), but three drug carriers (41) may be arranged at 120° intervals around the axis (CX).

[0047] As the rotor (32) rotates, each drug carrier (41) circulates while sequentially passing through the drug injection position, drug inspection position, drug drop position, and standby position. Referring to Fig. 4, the rotor (32) rotates counterclockwise, and among the four drug carriers (41), the drug carrier (41) with the largest Y-axis coordinate value is the drug carrier located at the drug injection position. In addition, the position where the drug injection position is rotated 90° counterclockwise around the axis (CX) is the drug inspection position, and the position where the drug injection position is rotated 180° counterclockwise around the axis (CX) is the drug drop position. In addition, the position where the drug injection position is rotated 270° counterclockwise around the axis (CX) is the standby position.

[0048] The above-mentioned drug injection position is a position where the drug falling from the final hopper (27) (see FIG. 2) to the drug inspection device (31) is received inside the drug carrier (41). The above-mentioned drug inspection position is a position where it is tested to see whether the drug received inside the drug carrier (41) at the drug injection position is a normal drug corresponding to a single dose of drug according to a prescription, or a defective drug rather than a normal drug. The above-mentioned drug dropping position is a position where the drug tested at the drug inspection position is discharged from the drug carrier (41) and dropped below the rotor (32). The above-mentioned waiting position is a position where the drug carrier (41), which has not been filled with drug inside since the drug was discharged from the drug dropping position, waits before entering the drug injection position again. Meanwhile, in the case of an embodiment in which only three drug carriers spaced at equal angular intervals are provided on the rotor, unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the above-mentioned waiting position is not provided.

[0049] Each drug carrier (41) is movable between a first position between the upper panel (33) and the lower panel (36) and a second position closer to the axis (CX) than the first position.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 4, in the drug injection position, drug inspection position, and standby position, the drug carrier (41) is positioned at the first position, and in the drug dispensing position, the drug carrier (41) is positioned at the second position.

[0051] In Fig. 4, the drug carrier (41) located at the first position is illustrated in a solid line, and the drug carrier (41) located at the second position is illustrated in a dotted line. Each drug carrier (41) has an inner surface (42). The inner surface (42) is connected in a closed curve so as to provide an internal space in which an upper opening and a lower opening are formed at the upper and lower sides. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the planar shape of the inner surface (42) is circular. Each drug carrier (41) has a constant length in a direction parallel to the Z-axis.

[0052] An upper panel aperture (34) is formed in the upper panel (33) to overlap with the upper opening of the drug carrier (41) located at the first position, and a lower panel aperture (73) is formed in the lower panel (36) to overlap with the lower opening of the drug carrier (41) located at the second position. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the inner diameters of the upper panel aperture (34) and the lower panel aperture (73) are the same as the inner diameter of the inner surface (42) of the drug carrier (41). However, Fig. 4 is exemplary, and the shapes of the upper panel aperture (34) and the lower panel aperture (73) and the planar shape or size of the inner surface (42) of the drug carrier (41) may be different from each other.

[0053] The upper panel (33) is formed with guide holes (35) extending radially from the axis (CX). The number of guide holes (35) corresponds to the number of drug carriers (41). Each drug carrier (41) is provided with a guide protrusion (44) corresponding to the plurality of guide holes (35) on a one-to-one basis. The guide protrusion (44) penetrates the guide hole (35) and protrudes toward the upper side of the upper panel (33). When the guide protrusion (44) is located at one end of the guide hole (35) that is furthest from the axis (CX), the drug carrier (41) is located at the first position. Conversely, when the guide protrusion (44) is located at the other end of the guide hole (35) that is closest to the axis (CX), the drug carrier (41) is located at the second position.

[0054] The medicine discharged from the final hopper (27) (see Fig. 2) falls to the position of the upper panel aperture (34) of the medicine injection position. Therefore, the medicine passes through the upper panel aperture (34) and fills the internal space defined by the inner surface (42) of the medicine carrier (41). At this position, the lower opening of the medicine carrier (41) is closed by the lower panel (36), so the medicine is trapped in the internal space of the medicine carrier (41) and is not dropped below it. At the medicine inspection position, the medicine carrier (41) is also located at the first position, so the medicine is trapped in the internal space of the medicine carrier (41) and is not dropped below it.

[0055] However, at the drug dispensing position, the drug carrier (41) moves to the second position, where the lower opening of the drug carrier (41) overlaps with the lower panel aperture (73) and opens downward. Accordingly, the drug trapped in the internal space of the drug carrier (41) is discharged downward from the rotating body (32) through the lower panel aperture (73).

[0056] The guide cam (46) is separated from the rotor (32) and does not rotate, and is positioned on the upper side of the rotor (32) to overlap the drug dispensing position. The guide cam (46) has first and second curved paths (47, 48). The first and second curved paths (47, 48) guide the drug carrier (41) by interfering with the guide protrusions (44) of the drug carrier (41). The first curved path (47) is a curved path that guides the drug carrier (41), which moves from the drug inspection position to the drug dispensing position by the rotation of the rotor (32), from the first position to the second position, and the second curved path (48) is a curved path that guides the drug carrier (41), which passes through the drug dispensing position by the rotation of the rotor (32) and moves to the standby position, from the second position to the first position.

[0057] In detail, the drug carrier (41) located at the first position at the drug inspection position rotates together with the rotation of the rotating body (32) and moves to the drug dispensing position, but the upper end of the guide projection (44) is blocked by the first curved path (47) extended like a ridge, so that it cannot move to the first position of the drug dispensing position and moves to the second position of the drug dispensing position along the first curved path (47).

[0058] In this way, the drug carrier (41) located at the second position at the drug injection position rotates together with the rotation of the rotor (32) and moves to the standby position. In this case, the drug carrier (41) is pressed away from the axis (CX) by centrifugal force, and at the same time, the guide protrusion (44) is blocked by the second curved path (48) extended like a ridge, so that it gradually moves to the first position along the second curved path (48).

[0059] Meanwhile, the means for moving the drug cassette (41) from the first position to the second position at the drug dispensing position is not limited to the guide cam (46), and for example, a spring may be used to elastically press the drug carrier from the first position to the second position. However, the means for using the spring has a more complex structure and takes up more space than the guide cam (46) illustrated in FIG. 4, which may be disadvantageous for designing a compact blister packing device (20) for drugs. Reference numeral '51' denotes a motor (51) that provides power to rotate the rotor (32), and reference numeral '52' denotes a reducer that reduces the rotational speed of the motor (51) so that the rotational speed of the rotor (32) can be precisely controlled.

[0060] In order to inspect whether the drug contained in the drug carrier (41) is a normal drug or a defective drug, the camera (54) captures the inside of the drug carrier (41) located at the first position at the drug inspection position. The mirror (56) is separated from the rotor (32) and does not rotate, and is positioned on the upper side of the rotor (32) so as to overlap the drug inspection position. The mirror (56) refracts the path of light emitted from the drug inspection position toward the camera (54) so ​​that the camera (54) is positioned at a position where it does not overlap with the rotor (32) above and below. Accordingly, the camera (54) can be positioned to avoid the hoppers (26, 27), which can be advantageous in designing a compact blister packing device (20) for drugs.

[0061] The photo file of the drug captured by the camera (54) is transmitted to the controller (29). The controller (29) examines the photo file of the drug to determine whether the drug contained in the drug carrier (41) located at the drug inspection position is a normal drug or a defective drug. The lower light (58) is separated from the rotating body (32) and does not rotate, and is positioned on the lower side of the rotating body (32) to overlap the drug inspection position. The ring-shaped upper light (57) is separated from the rotating body (32) and does not rotate, and is positioned on the upper side of the rotating body (32) and below the mirror (56) to overlap the drug inspection position. The lower light (58) and the ring-shaped upper light (57) project light from the drug inspection position to the drug carrier (41) located at the first position so that a brighter and clearer photo file of the drug is captured by the camera (54).

[0062] The lower panel (36) is provided with a transparent window (38) detachably attached thereto so that light projected from the lower light (58) passes through the lower panel (36) and is irradiated to the drug carrier (41) located at the first position at the drug inspection position. The detachable transparent window (38) is arranged to overlap the drug carrier (41) and is provided to correspond one-to-one with a plurality of drug carriers (41). In detail, the detachable transparent window (38) is mounted on the lower panel (36) by being pushed toward the axis (CX) from the outside of the outer circumferential surface of the lower panel (36), and can be separated from the lower panel (36) by being pulled out in a radial direction away from the axis (CX). The lower panel through-hole (73) may be formed in the detachable transparent window (38).

[0063] When the drug tester (31) is used for a long time, the drug carrier (41) slides on the transparent window (38) and repeatedly moves in the direction toward and in the opposite direction of the axis line (CX). Accordingly, many scratches may occur on the transparent window (38). If many scratches occur on the transparent window (38) in this way, the shape or number of drugs may not be clearly visible in the drug photo file captured by the camera (54), and this may cause an inspection error in which the controller (29) determines a normal drug as a defective drug or a defective drug as a normal drug. Therefore, the transparent window (38) with many scratches may be removed from the lower panel (36) and replaced with a new product without scratches and mounted on the lower panel (36).

[0064] The drug diverter (60) has a hopper (61) after drug inspection, a defective drug receiving container (63), a normal drug guiding channel (62), and a direction changing valve (64). Drugs dropped downward from the drug inspector (31) pass through the hopper (61) after drug inspection and are collected. The upper opening of the hopper (61) after drug inspection is aligned with the lower panel hole (73) provided at the drug discharging position of the rotor (32). The defective drug receiving container (63) is a container into which the defective drug that has passed through the hopper (61) after drug inspection falls and is received when the drug is defective, and may be, for example, a cup-shaped container with a handle. Usable drugs among those received in the defective drug receiving container (63) can be transferred to a drug cassette (23) containing drugs of the same type.

[0065] The normal drug guide channel (62) is a channel that guides the normal drug that has passed through the hopper (61) after the drug inspection to fall toward the distribution block (72) if the normal drug is dropped from the drug inspector (31) and collected in the hopper (61) after the drug inspection to one of the defective drug receiving container (63) and the normal drug guide channel (62). In other words, when the controller (29) determines that the drug captured by the camera (54) at the drug inspection position is a normal drug corresponding to a single dose, the controller (29) controls the operation of the directional switch valve (64) so ​​that the drug is guided to the normal drug guide channel (62) when the captured drug is dropped from the drug drop position and passes through the hopper (61) after the drug inspection. In addition, if the controller (29) determines that the drug captured by the camera (54) at the drug inspection location is a defective drug that does not correspond to a single dose, the controller (29) controls the operation of the direction change valve (64) so ​​that the drug captured is discharged from the drug dispensing location and passes through the hopper (61) after the drug inspection, and the controller (29) guides the drug to the defective drug receiving container (63).

[0066] The distribution block (72) is a block having a substantially rectangular shape with a constant thickness and is placed below the drug direction changer (60). In the distribution block (72), a plurality of pocket-corresponding holes (73) that are open in the vertical direction, i.e., that penetrate the distribution block (72) in the thickness direction, are formed. The plurality of pocket-corresponding holes (73) correspond one-to-one to the plurality of drug pockets (6) of the blister sheet (2). In other words, the plurality of pocket-corresponding holes (73) of the distribution block (72) illustrated in FIG. 5 are arranged in a matrix of 7 rows and 4 columns, similar to the plurality of drug pockets (6), and the spacing between adjacent pocket-corresponding holes (73) is the same as the spacing between adjacent drug pockets (6).

[0067] The distribution block (72) can move quickly in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction in which gravity acts, that is, in a direction parallel to the X-axis and a direction parallel to the Y-axis. The mechanism for moving the distribution block (72) in the horizontal direction is not particularly limited. The shutter (75) openably closes the openings at the bottoms of the plurality of pocket-corresponding holes (73) formed in the distribution block (72). The shutter (75) has a flat plate shape, and the shutter (75) is arranged below the distribution block (72). Specifically, the shutter (75) may be a rectangular plate having a length that is almost the same as the length of the distribution block (72) in a direction parallel to the X-axis and a length that is greater than the length of the distribution block (72) in a direction parallel to the Y-axis.

[0068] The shutter (75) is movable between a closed position that closes the openings at the bottom of all pocket-corresponding apertures (73) of the distribution block (72), and an open position that opens the openings at the bottom of all pocket-corresponding apertures (73) of the distribution block (72). The shutter (75) can move in a direction parallel to the Y-axis. In FIGS. 3 and 5, the shutter (75) is positioned in the closed position. However, when the shutter (75) moves in a direction parallel to the Y-axis and is positioned in the open position, the shutter (75) does not overlap with the distribution block (72) in the vertical direction, and therefore, the openings at the bottom of all pocket-corresponding apertures (73) of the distribution block (72) are opened.

[0069] The shutter drive motor (77) provides power to reciprocate the shutter (75) between the open position and the closed position. The distribution block holder (70) fixedly supports the distribution block (72) and the shutter drive motor (77), and supports the shutter (75) to reciprocate between the open position and the closed position. The holder support frame (66) fixedly arranged under the drug tester (31) supports the distribution block holder (70) to move in a horizontal direction parallel to the X-axis and the Y-axis. Reference numeral '67' is a Y-direction drive motor that provides power to move the distribution block holder (70) in a direction parallel to the Y-axis. The X-direction drive motor that provides power to move the distribution block holder (70) in a direction parallel to the X-axis is omitted in the drawing.

[0070] In a state where the openings at the bottoms of the plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures (73) of the distribution block (72) are closed by the shutter (75) located in the closed position, normal medications are dropped one dose at a time from the bottom of the normal medication guide channel (62) and sequentially injected into and received in the plurality of closed pocket-corresponding apertures (73). In other words, when the first single dose of normal medication is dropped from the bottom of the normal medication guide channel (62), the pocket-corresponding aperture (73) at the position of the first row and the first column is positioned to be aligned vertically with the bottom of the normal medication guide channel (62). When the second single dose of normal medication is dropped from the bottom of the normal medication guide channel (62), the distribution block (72) moves slightly in a direction parallel to the X-axis so that the pocket-corresponding aperture (73) at the position of the first row and the second column is positioned to be aligned vertically with the bottom of the normal medication guide channel (62). For example, in this manner, a single dose of normal medication is sequentially filled from the pocket-corresponding hole (73) in the 1st row, 1st column position to the pocket-corresponding hole (73) in the 7th row, 4th column position. However, depending on the prescription entered into the blister packing device (20) of the medication, some of the pocket-corresponding holes (73) may not be filled with medication.

[0071] When the regular medication is filled in the plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures (73) according to the prescription, the distribution block (72) moves horizontally so as to be aligned vertically with the blister sheet (2) moving downward of the medication distribution unit (30) while being supported by the blister sheet tray (101). At this time, all the pocket-corresponding apertures (73) of the distribution block (72) and all the medication pockets (6) of the blister sheet (2) are aligned one-to-one. In this state where the distribution block (72) is aligned on the blister sheet (2), the shutter (75) moves to the open position, so that the openings at the bottom of the plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures (73) that were closed by the shutter (75) are opened. As a result, the regular medication accommodated in the plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures (73) are simultaneously dropped into and accommodated in the plurality of medication pockets (6). A blister sheet tray (101) supporting a blister sheet (2) filled with a regular medication according to a prescription in multiple medication pockets (6) moves to a lower point of a cover attachment unit (120) and stops.

[0072] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, between the time when the drug starts to be filled into the distribution block (72) while the shutter (75) is closed, i.e., the shutter (75) is positioned in the closed position, and the time when the shutter (75) is opened, i.e., the shutter (75) moves to the open position, the blister sheet (2) is transported to a position aligned with the distribution block (72) below the distribution block (72) by the blister sheet transport unit (100) (see FIG. 2).

[0073] In other words, rather than moving the blister sheet (2) from the blister sheet supply unit (110) to the bottom of the drug distribution unit (30) after the normal drug is filled in the distribution block (72) and the drug is ready to be dropped, the blister sheet (2) is configured to move to a position where it can receive the drug falling from the distribution block (72) and wait before the drug is ready to be dropped from the distribution block (72) onto the blister sheet (2). As a result, the time interval between the point in time when the drug is filled in the distribution block (72) and the point in time when the shutter (75) is opened is reduced, and as a result, the productivity of the blister packing operation through the drug blister packing device (20) is improved.

[0074] The blister pack drug dispensing unit (30) described above automatically determines whether the drug falling from the drug supply unit (22) is normal based on a prescription, and if it is normal, dispenses and drops the drug into a plurality of drug pockets (6) of the blister sheet (2) in single doses. Therefore, the speed of the blister pack drug dispensing unit (30) is improved. In addition, the blister pack drug dispensing unit (30) drops a single dose of normal drug three or more times each time the rotor (32) rotates once. Therefore, the speed of the blister pack drug dispensing unit is further improved.

[0075] And, the blister packing device (20) of the above-described drug moves to a position where the blister sheet (2) is aligned below the distribution block (72) between the time when the drug starts to be filled in the distribution block (72) and the time when the shutter (75) is opened. In other words, the operation of the blister sheet supply unit (110), the operation of the blister sheet transport unit (100), and the operation of the drug distribution unit (30) for the blister pack can be performed while overlapping in time, so that the speed of the operation of blister packing the drug is further improved.

[0076] While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, these are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be defined solely by the appended claims.

[0077] The present invention can be used in fields such as pharmacies, hospitals, silver towns, and pharmaceutical packaging companies that separately package prescribed drugs.

Claims

1. Dispense and inject a single dose of medication according to the prescription into each medication pocket of a blister sheet having multiple medication pockets formed therein. A drug inspection device is provided that receives the falling drug, checks whether it is a normal drug corresponding to the single dose of the drug, or a defective drug other than the normal drug, and drops the drug that has completed the inspection back down; The above drug tester comprises a rotating body having an upper panel and a lower panel spaced parallel to each other and a drug carrier interposed between the upper panel and the lower panel, which rotates around an axis parallel to the direction of gravity. A blister pack drug dispensing unit, characterized in that as the above-mentioned rotating body rotates, the drug carrier sequentially passes through a drug injection position where the drug falling to the drug inspection device is received inside the drug carrier, a drug inspection position where the drug received inside the drug carrier is inspected to determine whether the drug is normal or defective, and a drug dropping position where the drug is released from the drug carrier and dropped below the rotating body.

2. In paragraph 1, It further comprises: a drug direction changer that changes the direction of travel of the drug injected from the drug inspection device so that the direction of travel of the normal drug and the direction of travel of the defective drug can be distinguished; a distribution block that is positioned below the drug direction changer and has a plurality of pocket-corresponding holes formed that correspond one-to-one to the plurality of drug pockets; and a shutter that opens and closes the openings at the bottom of the plurality of pocket-corresponding holes. The normal drug that has passed through the drug direction changer is sequentially injected into the plurality of pocket corresponding holes while the opening at the bottom of the plurality of pocket corresponding holes is closed by the shutter, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that when the opening at the bottom of the plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures closed by the shutter is opened while the blister sheet is positioned below the distribution block so as to be aligned with the distribution block, the drug contained in the plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures is injected into the plurality of drug pockets.

3. In paragraph 1, A blister pack drug dispensing unit, characterized in that the drug inspection device further comprises a camera for photographing the inside of a drug carrier located at the drug inspection position, and a mirror for refracting the path of light emitted from the drug inspection position toward the camera so that the camera is positioned so as not to overlap vertically with the rotating body.

4. In paragraph 1, The drug carrier is movable between a first position between the upper panel and the lower panel and a second position closer to the axis than the first position, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the drug carrier is located at the first position at the drug injection position and drug inspection position, and at the second position at the drug dispensing position.

5. In paragraph 4, The above drug carrier has an inner surface that is connected in a closed curve so that an inner space is provided with an upper opening and a lower opening formed on the upper and lower sides, An upper panel aperture is formed in the upper panel to overlap with the upper opening of the drug carrier located at the first position, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that a lower panel aperture is formed in the lower panel to overlap the lower opening of the drug carrier located at the second position.

6. In paragraph 5, The above drug inspection device comprises a camera for photographing the inside of a drug carrier located at the first position at the drug inspection position, a mirror located above the rotating body for refracting the path of light emitted from the drug inspection position toward the camera so that the camera is located at a position where it does not overlap with the rotating body, and a lower light located below the rotating body for projecting light from the drug inspection position onto the drug carrier located at the first position. A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the lower panel is provided with a transparent window so that light projected from the lower light passes through the lower panel and is irradiated onto the drug carrier.

7. In paragraph 6, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the transparent window is detachably attached to the lower panel so that an old transparent window with many scratches can be replaced with a new transparent window without scratches.

8. In paragraph 4, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the drug inspection device further comprises a guide cam that guides a drug carrier moving from the drug inspection position to the drug dispensing position along a first curved path by rotation of the rotating body from the first position to the second position, and guides a drug carrier passing through the drug dispensing position from the second position to the first position along a second curved path different from the first curved path.

9. In paragraph 8, In the upper panel, a guide hole extending radially from the axis line is formed, The above drug carrier has a guide protrusion that penetrates the guide hole and protrudes toward the upper side of the upper panel, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the drug carrier is positioned at a first position when the guide protrusion is positioned at one end of the guide aperture farthest from the axis, and the drug carrier is positioned at a second position when the guide protrusion is positioned at the other end of the guide aperture closest to the axis.

10. In paragraph 1, The above pharmaceutical carrier is provided in multiple units, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the plurality of drug carriers are arranged at equiangular intervals around the axis line.

11. In paragraph 2, A blister pack drug dispensing unit, characterized in that the drug direction changer comprises a defective drug receiving container into which the defective drug is dropped and received, a normal drug guiding channel for guiding the normal drug toward the distribution block, and a direction change valve for guiding the drug dropped from the drug inspector to one of the defective drug receiving container and the normal drug guiding channel according to the inspection result from the drug inspector.

12. In paragraph 11, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the above distribution block moves in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity and sequentially receives drugs into a plurality of pocket-corresponding apertures with closed openings at the bottom.

13. In paragraph 2, The shape of the above shutter is a flat plate shape, and the shutter is placed below the distribution block, A drug dispensing unit for a blister pack, characterized in that the shutter moves between a closed position that closes the openings at the bottoms of all the pocket-corresponding apertures of the distribution block, and an open position that opens the openings at the bottoms of all the pocket-corresponding apertures of the distribution block.

14. A blister packing device for a drug, characterized by comprising: a drug dispensing unit for a blister pack according to any one of claims 1 to 13; a drug supply unit disposed above the drug dispensing unit for the blister pack and discharging a drug to the drug inspection device; a blister sheet supply unit for supplying blister sheets, one by one, not filled with a drug, by dropping them into the plurality of drug pockets; a cover attaching unit for attaching a cover to an upper surface of a blister sheet filled with a drug in the plurality of drug pockets to form a blister pack in which the plurality of drug pockets are closed; and a blister sheet transfer unit for transferring a blister sheet dropped from the blister sheet supply unit to a position aligned with the distribution block below the distribution block, and transferring the blister sheet filled with the drug dropped from the distribution block into the plurality of drug pockets to the cover attaching unit.

15. In paragraph 14, A blister packing device for a drug, characterized in that between the time when the drug starts to be filled into the distribution block while the shutter is closed and the time when the shutter is opened, the blister sheet is transported to a position aligned with the distribution block below the distribution block by the blister sheet transport unit.

Images