Medicine Sorting Apparatus with Flexible Cassette Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medicine sorting apparatuses lack the ability to accurately identify and store medicines with different characteristics such as type, shape, size, and expiration date in a non-aligned state, leading to inefficiencies and errors in dispensing, and require a large number of dedicated cassettes, resulting in a bulky system.
Innovation Solution
A medicine sorting apparatus that includes an identifying part to determine the direction, posture, and characteristics of medicines, a storing part that allows for flexible storage based on identified information, and a conveying system to transfer medicines through gaps between containers, eliminating the need for multiple cassettes and reducing system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dedicated cassettes are provided for each type of medicine, then medicines can be stored and dispensed, but the system becomes bulky and requires large space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal cassette structure that can store multiple types of medicines simultaneously through divided storage compartments. Instead of requiring separate dedicated cassettes for each medicine type, a single cassette can accommodate various medicines by organizing them in different compartments, thereby reducing the total number of cassettes needed and minimizing system volume while maintaining full adaptability for different medicine types
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple medicine storage functions into a single integrated cassette unit. By merging the storage capabilities for different medicine types into one cassette with multiple compartments, the system reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby decreasing overall system size and space requirements while preserving the ability to handle diverse medicine types
2Extent of automation
If medicines are photographed and analyzed to detect position, then automatic identification is achieved, but profile shapes become unclear when medicines contact or overlap, preventing accurate detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary positioning mechanisms that arrange medicines in predetermined patterns or orientations before photographing and analysis. By pre-organizing medicines to prevent overlapping and ensure proper spacing, the system maintains clear profile shapes in images, enabling accurate position detection while preserving automatic identification capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary positioning structures or guide mechanisms that facilitate proper medicine arrangement during the photographing process. These intermediaries ensure medicines are positioned optimally for image capture, preventing contact and overlap that would obscure profile shapes, thereby maintaining both automation and detection precision
3Ease of operation
If containing cassettes are drawn from the containing part for storing medicines, then medicines can be accessed, but the containing part gets bigger requiring more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where smaller storage compartments are arranged within a compact containing part. Medicines are stored in organized compartments that fit efficiently within the containing part's volume, allowing easy access to individual medicines while maintaining a compact overall size. The nested arrangement maximizes space utilization and prevents the containing part from expanding unnecessarily
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to automatically identify a direction, a posture and characteristics such as a shape, a size, a type and an expiration date of a medicine and store the medicine with ensuring a high degree of freedom. A medicine supplying apparatus 1 includes an identifying part and a storing part. A storing area is defined at the time of storing the medicine according to a size of a medicine contained in characteristics of the medicine identified by the identifying part. The medicine is stored in the storing part in a state that identification information of the medicine is associated with the storing area. Further, the medicine supplying apparatus has a determination processing part which can determine whether or not the medicine is a target to be treated based on the characteristics of the medicine identified by the identifying part.