Medicine Box Storage Module With Vertical Sorting Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pharmacies face challenges in efficiently storing and dispensing medicine boxes while maintaining a customer-facing sales area, as existing automated systems require larger premises and reduce the direct sales area, which is not profitable for pharmacists.
Innovation Solution
A compact installation with a module comprising superimposed and juxtaposed channels and a sorting circuit arranged above and below, featuring a gripping device, conveyor belt, and lifting mechanism to facilitate efficient sorting and storage of medicine boxes without altering the pharmacy layout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated drug storage and dispensing facilities are installed to reduce storage time, then productivity is improved, but the area occupied increases, reducing the customer-facing sales area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies vertical stacking of storage channels and sorting circuits arranged at different heights (upper and lower zones), transforming a horizontal space-consuming system into a vertical compact structure. This allows automated storage and sorting functions to be integrated within a small footprint that does not encroach on customer sales area.
Solution Approach 2:
The sorting circuit is positioned within the vertical space above and below the storage channels, effectively nesting the sorting function inside the storage structure. This nested arrangement allows both storage and sorting operations to occur in the same footprint without requiring additional horizontal space.
2Area of stationary object
If sorting circuits are arranged above and below storage channels to save space, then area is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The installation is divided into modular units with storage channels in the middle zone, sorting circuits in upper and lower zones, and dedicated gripping devices for each channel. This segmentation allows the complex multi-level system to be organized into manageable, repeatable modules that can be assembled systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping device is designed to perform multiple functions: introducing boxes into storage channels, removing boxes from channels, and transferring boxes between zones. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the multi-level arrangement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The facility has a module (1) comprising a set of channels (2) that are superimposed and juxtaposed to receive medicine boxes, and a sorting circuit arranged partially above and below the module of channels for sorting the boxes so as to store the boxes in the channels. A gripping device is configured to introduce and/or withdraw the boxes from the channels. A delivery device delivers the boxes outside the channels. The sorting circuit includes a conveying device (3) i.e. conveyor belt, to receive the boxes before the sorting of the boxes and to form a buffer zone.