Medicine Packaging Apparatus Error Correction via Standby Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medicine packaging apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing errors during the packaging process, as printing and packaging units are spaced apart, making it difficult to correct errors once printing has commenced, and lack the capability to include essential information like use-by dates and lot numbers on packaging papers.
Innovation Solution
A medicine packaging apparatus with a medicine supply means, printing means, packaging paper conveyance means, and control means that allows for precise correlation of printed data with packaged medicines, incorporating a medicine detecting means to prevent errors and ensure accurate packaging, and memory means to store and print relevant information like use-by dates and lot numbers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If printing and packaging units are spaced apart to occupy necessary space, then each unit can be provided at its required position, but it becomes impossible to cope with errors quickly since printing is completed before packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a medicine standby means that temporarily holds medicines after supply but before packaging, allowing the system to detect errors in medicine supply before the packaging process begins. This preliminary detection and standby mechanism enables error correction without requiring re-printing, thus resolving the contradiction between spatial separation of units and error correction capability.
2Loss of information
If more printing items such as use-by date and lot number are added to packaging paper, then traceability and medicine management are improved, but more time is spent on restoration work when errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The medicine standby means enables detection of supply errors before packaging, preventing the need for restoration work even when multiple information items are printed. By catching errors early in the process, the system can maintain complete traceability information without incurring additional restoration time penalties.
Solution Approach 2:
The medicine standby means acts as an intermediary between the medicine supply means and the packaging means, providing a buffer zone where errors can be detected and corrected. This intermediary mechanism allows comprehensive printing information to be included without increasing restoration time, as errors are caught before they propagate to the packaging stage.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional printing methods are used with printing unit spaced from packaging unit, then printing can be performed on packaging paper, but precise correlation between printed data and packaged medicine cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a medicine detecting means that provides feedback on the medicine supplied to the standby means. This feedback mechanism ensures precise correlation between the printed data on packaging paper and the actual medicine to be packaged, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacturing and correlation accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a medicine packaging method, which is capable of rapidly coping with errors occurring during processes. The medicine packaging method includes the following steps: a medicine supplying step for supplying a relevant medicine according to a prescription data; a medicine standby step for allowing the supplied medicine to temporarily stand by; a medicine detecting step for detecting the standing by medicine; a printing step for printing a packaging paper when the medicine based on the prescription data is detected; a conveying step for conveying the packaging paper; and a packaging step for supplying the temporarily standing by medicine to a printed portion of the packaging paper and packaging the medicine. The steps are performed in sequence.