JP7318891B2 - PTP cassette and PTP dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a PTP cassette for storing and sequentially discharging PTP packaging agents in which several medicines are classified and stored in one sheet or PTP packaging agents which are sheet-like packaging agents equivalent to PTP packaging agents in an orderly manner.
Moreover, in addition to such a PTP cassette, the present invention also relates to a PTP dispenser equipped with a base on which the cassette can be attached and detached.
A typical example of a sheet-like packaging agent equivalent to a PTP packaging agent is a blister packaging agent.

A PTP packaging agent or the like has one flat surface, and the other surface is formed with pockets (protrusions for compartmentalized storage) in which drugs are confined and arranged vertically and horizontally.
PTP cassettes that store a large number of such PTP packaging materials and sequentially discharge them are sometimes used alone, but in most cases, they are arranged in multiple rows on the shelf of a PTP dispensing device, which is a kind of drug storage device. They are often arranged in multiple stages (see Patent Document 1, for example).

In addition, the PTP cassette has individual PTP packaging materials, etc., placed in a vertical posture, and then lined up in front and behind to hold them, and by vibrating them in small increments, they are fed forward in order and ejected in sequence. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
Furthermore, there is also a PTP cassette that holds a large number of individual PTP packaging materials, etc., in a sideways posture, stacking them vertically, and sequentially feeding them in the longitudinal direction from the bottom to discharge them sequentially ( For example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3).

Any PTP cassette has a box-shaped alignment storage section (upper unit) that defines a drug storage space and a sequential discharge mechanism (lower unit) provided below it. Since it is intended for types, the alignment storage unit holds the PTP packaging agents, etc., each horizontally, placed on the inner bottom member of the drug storage space, stacked vertically, and stored in an aligned state. The sequential discharge mechanism laterally feeds and discharges the PTP packaging materials and the like held in the aligned storage section from the bottom in order (see Patent Documents 2 and 3, for example).

The arrangement storage part has a similar structure in any cassette, and the medicine storage space above the inner bottom is surrounded by the front plate and both side plates to maintain the alignment state. The top is free. In addition, to facilitate the replenishment work, the back and rear surfaces are opened, and the inner bottom member of the drug storage space is slightly inclined forward and downward to stabilize the aligned state. In addition, for horizontal discharge, the front plate is cut out at the front end of the inner bottom to form a discharge port, and a discharge sensor (passing sensor) is placed below the discharge port to confirm discharge. ing. The front plate is equipped with an adjustment member that adjusts the opening of the discharge port located above the discharge port. (See Patent Document 2, for example).

The sequential discharge mechanism is elongated in the front-to-rear direction in accordance with the alignment storage section, and contacts the lowermost PTP packaging material, etc. among the PTP packaging materials, etc. held in the alignment storage section. All of the cassettes have a movable member (forward feed member) and a drive mechanism that moves the member to laterally feed the lowermost PTP packaging material or the like, thereby ejecting it forward from the discharge port. However, there are several types of movable members, which are used according to the properties of the PTP packaging material, such as hardness and curling. A claw-shaped hooking member (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3) and a protruding extruded member are movable members that are moved by the circular motion of an endless belt that is stretched back and forth. An example of an unnecessary movable member is a friction type rotating wheel.

JP 2011-019928 A JP 2014-135994 A JP 2015-150309 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-103050 (application) Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-105183 (application)

In addition, since the size of the PTP packaging material is wide-ranging, it is difficult to provide a dedicated PTP cassette without any omissions for PTP packaging materials that are used less frequently and even for PTP packaging materials that have been introduced later. However, a PTP cassette with an adjustable width that can be adapted to PTP packaging materials with different widths and lengths has also been developed and put into practical use (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The convenience of the PTP cassette, which allows expansion and contraction of the storage space), has been recognized, and as its use has increased, there has been an increasing demand for the user to be able to adjust the expansion and contraction of the drug storage space.

Therefore, a PTP cassette has been developed that allows a user to relatively easily adjust the width, etc. of the drug storage space to match the PTP packaging material, etc., having a different width.
Specifically (see Patent Literatures 4 and 5), a front plate located above the discharge port, a front plate lifting mechanism that manually moves the front plate up and down when the height of the discharge port is desired to be variably adjusted, A left side plate and a right side plate which are divided into left and right and stand sequentially above the ejection mechanism, a manually operated width expansion/reduction mechanism capable of expanding and contracting the gap between the left side plate and the right side plate, and a front plate lifting mechanism placed in the center of both side plates. A PTP cassette has been developed in which a width tracking mechanism that is positioned in the alignment storage section is provided.

Also, the base that detachably holds such a PTP cassette is equipped with an external gear that is axially rotated by a motor and protrudes rearward, so that the PTP cassette can be placed on the base from above the rear side of the base. A PTP dispensing device has also been developed in which, when the PTP cassette is advanced as far as possible with respect to the base, positioning is achieved and the internal gear of the PTP cassette meshes with the external gear of the base to establish a rotational transmission state. (see Patent Document 5).

However, in that method, in order to maintain the positioning state and the rotational transmission state, it is necessary to equip the mounting maintenance member with a knob portion and an insertion portion, and to perform a manual operation to fix the mounting state. And it took an extra effort.
Therefore, the first technical issue is to make further improvements to eliminate the need for even such an effort, and to make it possible to continue the attached state when the PTP cassette is attached to the base.

In addition, the range of PTP packaging materials that can use the PTP cassette has been expanded by providing the width expansion/reduction mechanism. There is also a possibility that the width of the medicine storage space in the part may fluctuate.
Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of such an undesirable situation, the second technical issue is to improve the operating portion of the width expansion/reduction mechanism so that it becomes difficult to operate when the PTP cassette is attached to the base. .

The PTP dispensing device of the present invention (Solution 1) was invented to solve the first technical problem described above,
It is equipped with an alignment storage unit that holds PTP packaging agents in which drugs are classified and stored in sheets or PTP packaging agents that are equivalent sheet-like packaging agents, etc., in a row, and is equipped under the alignment storage unit. A PTP dispensing device comprising: a PTP cassette also equipped with a sequential ejection mechanism for ejecting the PTP packaging materials, etc. forward in order;
The base includes a rotation driving portion with a rotation output shaft facing backward, a base rear engaging portion with an engaging direction facing rearward, and a base rear engaging portion provided forward of the base rear engaging portion with the engaging direction facing rearward. and a base front engaging portion,
The sequential discharge mechanism includes a rotary driven shaft that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with respect to the rotary output shaft, a discharge mechanism rear engaging portion that can be engaged and disengaged with the base rear engaging portion from the rear, and a discharge mechanism front engaging portion that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with respect to the base front engaging portion;
When the ejection mechanism rear engagement portion and the base rear engagement portion are pressed against each other from the separated state and further pushed, they are brought into a connected state, maintained in a connected state even after the pushing is released, and then connected when pushed again in that state. is released.

Further, the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 2) is a PTP cassette specified from the PTP dispensing device of the solution 1,
an aligning storage unit that holds PTP packaging agents in which drugs are classified and stored in sheets or PTP packaging agents that are equivalent sheet-like packaging agents, etc., arranged in a row; In a PTP cassette provided with a sequential ejection mechanism for ejecting PTP packaging materials etc. forward in order,
A base rear engaging portion having a rotation drive portion with a rotation output shaft facing backward and an engaging direction facing backward and a base front engaging portion provided further forward than that and having an engaging direction facing rearward. a rotary driven shaft that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with the rotary output shaft of the base on which the sequential discharge mechanism can be mounted in the forward/backward allowed state; A discharge mechanism rear engagement portion that can be engaged and disengaged from the base front engagement portion, and a discharge mechanism front engagement portion that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear side with respect to the base front engagement portion,
When the ejecting mechanism rear engaging portion is pressed against the base rear engaging portion from the separated state and further pushed into a connected state, the connected state is maintained even after the pushing is released, and then pushed again in that state. and the connection is released.

Furthermore, the PTP dispensing device of the present invention (solution 3) is the PTP dispensing device of the solution 1,
The sequential discharge mechanism incorporates a width expansion/reduction mechanism that expands/contracts the width of the drug storage space of the alignment/storage section, and the width expansion/reduction mechanism includes a rod-shaped operating member capable of axial rotation. wherein the operation member has a front end facing forward that can be pinched with fingers to rotate the shaft,
In the base, the front engaging portion of the base has an outer fitting portion, and the outer fitting portion can insert the front end portion of the operating member from behind. It is characterized in that the front end portion functions as the ejecting mechanism front engaging portion.

Further, the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 4) is a PTP cassette specified from the PTP dispensing device of the solution 3, and is the PTP cassette of the solution 2,
The sequential discharge mechanism incorporates a width expansion/reduction mechanism that expands/contracts the width of the drug storage space of the alignment/storage section, and the width expansion/reduction mechanism includes a rod-shaped operating member capable of axial rotation. The operating member has a front end that can be pinched with fingers and rotated axially, and the front end is engaged with the front of the discharge mechanism. It is characterized in that it can be inserted into the outer fitting portion of the front engaging portion of the base as the joining portion from behind.

In the PTP cassette and the PTP dispensing device of the present invention (Solutions 1 and 2), when the PTP cassette is placed on the base and slid forward, the rotation output shaft and the rotation driven shaft are engaged. In addition to being able to drive the sequential ejection mechanism of the PTP cassette by the rotary drive portion of the base, the rear engagement portion of the base and the rear engagement portion of the ejection mechanism are engaged, and the front engagement portion of the base and the ejection mechanism are engaged. Since the front engaging portion of the mechanism engages, the relative position between the PTP cassette and the base is fixed except in the front-rear direction. Moreover, just by performing the above-described operation of sliding the PTP cassette forward on the base until the ejection mechanism rear engaging portion and the base rear engaging portion are in a connected state, even after stopping the operation, Since the connected state is continued, the relative positions of the PTP cassette and the base are fixed, including in the front-rear direction, until the next disconnection operation is performed.

In addition, when the PTP cassette is further pushed forward to disconnect the PTP dispensing device in such a connected state, the relative movement between the PTP cassette and the base in the front-rear direction becomes free. Since the PTP cassette can be separated from the base by sliding it backward on the base, the cassette can be easily attached and detached.
Therefore, according to the present invention, when the PTP cassette is attached to the base, the attached state is continued accordingly, and the manual operation for fixing the attached state can be omitted. resolved.

Further, in the PTP cassette and PTP dispensing device of the present invention (solutions 3 and 4), the front end portion of the operation member of the width expansion/reduction mechanism functions as the discharge mechanism front engagement portion and also functions as the base front engagement portion. By inserting it into the outer fitting part, when the PTP cassette is mounted on the base, the front end part of the operating member of the width expanding/reducing mechanism is surrounded by the front engaging part of the base, making it difficult to touch with fingers.
Therefore, according to the present invention, when the PTP cassette is attached to the base, it becomes difficult to operate the operation part of the width expansion/reduction mechanism, and the width does not change even if the operation part of the width expansion/reduction mechanism is unintentionally touched. , the above second technical problem is also solved.

1 shows the appearance of a base to which the PTP cassette is attached and detached in Example 1 of the PTP cassette and PTP dispensing device of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view of a single unit, and (b) is a perspective view of a state in which it is arranged on a shelf. be. (a) and (b) are both left side views of the PTP cassette. It shows the separated state. (a) to (d) are all front views of the PTP cassette, (a) showing the state in which the left side plate and the right side plate are separated to widen the width of the drug storage space, and (b) the left side plate and the left side plate. (c) shows a state in which the widened alignment storage section and the sequential ejection mechanism are vertically separated, and (d) shows a contracted state. 1 shows a state in which the aligning storage section and the sequential discharge mechanism are separated vertically. Both (a) and (b) are plan views of the width expanding/reducing mechanism, with (a) showing the expanded state and (b) showing the reduced width state. (a) is a longitudinal front view of the left side plate portion, (b) is a developed view thereof, and (c) is a side view of the relevant portion. (a) to (d) are front views of the width following mechanism and the front plate lifting mechanism, with (a) showing the width following mechanism in a widened state and (b) showing the width following mechanism in a reduced width state. , (c) shows the front plate lifting mechanism that lifts the front plate, and (d) shows the front plate lifting mechanism that lowers the front plate. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a base and a PTP cassette not mounted thereon; Both (a) and (b) are external perspective views of the base and the PTP cassette, (a) showing a state in the middle of attachment and detachment, and (b) showing a mounted state.

A specific embodiment for carrying out the PTP cassette and PTP dispenser of the present invention will be described in Example 1 below.
Embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 embodies all of the above-described solutions 1 to 4 (claims 1 to 4 at the time of filing the application).

A specific configuration of Example 1 of the PTP cassette 30 and the PTP dispensing device 20+30 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1A and 1B show the appearance of the base 20. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the base alone, and FIG.
2A is a left side view of the PTP cassette 30, and FIG. 2A is a left side view when the PTP cassette 30 is unfolded into the sequential ejection mechanism 40 and the alignment storage section 50. FIG.

Further, FIG. 3(a) is a front view of the PTP cassette 30 in which the left side plate portion 51 and the right side plate portion 61 are separated to widen the width of the drug storage space, and FIG. 3(c) is a front view of the PTP cassette 30 in which the width of the drug storage space is reduced by bringing the right side plate 61 closer to each other, and FIG. FIG. 3(d) is a front view of the aligning and storing section 50 in a reduced width state and the sequential discharge mechanism 40 separated vertically.

4(a) is a plan view of the width expanding/reducing mechanism 70 in the expanded state, and FIG. 4(b) is a plan view of the width expanding/reducing mechanism 70 in the reduced width state.
5A is a longitudinal front view of the left side plate portion 51, FIG. 5B is a developed view thereof, and FIG. 5C is a side view of the corresponding portion of the left side plate portion 51. FIG.
6(a) is a front view of the width following mechanism 80 in a widened state, FIG. 6(b) is a front view of the width following mechanism 80 in a narrowed state, and FIG. FIG. 6(d) is a front view of the front plate lifting mechanism 32 with the front plate 31 lowered. FIG.

7 is an external perspective view of the base 20 and the PTP cassette 30 not mounted thereon.
FIG. 8(a) is an external perspective view of the base 20 and the PTP cassette 30 in the process of attachment/detachment.
FIG. 8(b) is an external perspective view of the PTP dispensing device 20+30 in which the PTP cassette 30 is attached to the base 20 and is operable.

The PTP dispensing device 20+30 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) is a combination of a fixed base 20 and a detachable PTP cassette 30, of which the base 20 (see FIG. 1) is used for power reception and signal transmission/reception. It is fixed to the upper surface 12 of the shelf 10 in a normal state. On the other hand, the PTP cassette 30 (see FIGS. 2 to 8) is detached from the base 20 when the PTP packaging material 5 is replenished (see FIG. 7), but when the PTP packaging material 5 is stored, the PTP cassette 30 is detached from the base 20 (see FIG. 7). , is mounted on the base 20 in preparation for drug ejection (see FIG. 8(b)), and is driven by the base 20 when the drug is ejected.

It is rare that the PTP dispensing device 20+30 is provided alone, and in most cases, a large number are mounted in the drug storage section of an automatic dispensing device. (a)), and arranged in rows on the upper surface 12 of the row-mounted shelf 10 with an appropriate pitch (see FIG. 1(b)). Although it is not essential, the PTP cassette 30 is often used in a state where the front is slightly lowered. Although the lined shelf 10 with a thin front end 13 is illustrated, the lined shelf 10 may be a plate-like one or a plate-like body having appropriate unevenness.

In order to discharge the arranged PTP packaging materials 5 in order (see FIGS. 7 and 8), the PTP cassettes 30 are in a state in which the PTP packaging materials 5 are placed horizontally and vertically stacked and stored in an aligned manner. 2 and 3), and a sequential discharge mechanism 40 for feeding forward the lowest one of the PTP packaging materials 5 one by one. , the sequential discharge mechanism 40 is mounted on the alignment storage section 50 . By improving the sequential ejecting mechanism 40, mounting the PTP cassette 30 on the base 20 (see FIG. 8(b)) and removing the PTP cassette 30 from the base 20 (see FIG. 7) can be easily accomplished. It can be easily performed by moving it forward and backward from the rear (see FIG. 8(a)). In addition, by improving the alignment storage part 50 and the like, it is possible to easily expand and contract the width of the drug storage space between the side plates 51 and 61 and adjust the height of the discharge port 34 (FIGS. 3 and 6 ( c), see (d)).

More specifically, the base 20 (see FIG. 1) consists of a bottom plate 21 attached to the upper surface 12 of the rows of shelves 10 and mounting members 22 to 28 provided thereon. The mounting members 22 to 28 include left and right side frames 22, 22 that are long in the front-rear direction, left and right side plates 23, 23 that are erected on the outside behind them, and a power motor 25 that is provided inside the rear. , an external gear 24 for extending the rotary output shaft fitted movably forward and backward on the rear end of the rotary output shaft projecting rearward from the motor 25; The back of the base consists of a coil spring that biases the tip and the strike part (grabbed part) of the push latch device, and the tip and action part are projected further rearward from the rear end of the bottom plate 21 and the engagement direction is directed backward. It includes an engaging portion 26 and a passage sensor 27 provided near the front end for detecting upward passage of the PTP packaging material 5 .

In addition to these, the base 20 also includes a base front engaging portion 28 that stands near the front end in front of the base rear engaging portion 26 (see FIG. 1(a)). The base front engaging portion 28 has a through-hole formed at its upper end that extends forward and backward, and the through-hole is an operation portion 72 (see FIG. 4) that is the front end of a rod-shaped operation member 71 of a width expansion/reduction mechanism 70, which will be described later. ) can be inserted from behind (see FIG. 8(b)).
Since the upper end of the base front engaging portion 28 is fitted to the front end (72) of the operating member 71, the base front engaging portion 28 serves as a rod-shaped operating member of the lateral width expansion/reduction mechanism 70, which will be described later. The front end (72) of 71 is also made to function as a discharge mechanism front engaging portion.

The sequential ejection mechanism 40 for the PTP cassette 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) includes a frame 41 that is long in the front-rear direction, a pair of rotating wheels 43, 43 mounted in the front and rear of the frame, and an endless belt 44 stretched therebetween. , a hook-shaped forward feed member 42 protruding from the outer periphery of the endless belt 44, and a rear portion of the frame body 41 that is installed behind the rotation output shaft of the base 20 when the PTP cassette 30 is attached to and detached from the base 20. It consists of an internal gear 45 (rotary driven shaft) that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with the external gear 24 at the end, and an arm hook portion (grasping portion) of a push latch device. The ejecting mechanism rear engaging portion 46 is provided with an action direction and a gripping direction facing forward and capable of engaging and disengaging from the rear base rear engaging portion 26 of the base 20 .

The ejection mechanism rear engaging portion 46 and the base rear engaging portion 26 constitute a pair/one pair of a push latch device that is often used for locking the opening/closing door of cupboards. When these 46, 26, and in turn the PTP cassette 30 and the base 20 are pushed from the front and back in the separated state (see FIG. 7) and further pushed, they are connected (see FIG. 8(b)). The spring force causes the spring to return only slightly, but the connected state is maintained after that, and when pushed again in that connected state, the connection is released.

Further, the frame body 41 of the sequential discharge mechanism 40 (see FIGS. 2 to 4) is provided with the above-described rod-shaped operation member 71, which operates according to the axial rotation operation of the operation portion 72 (front engagement portion of the discharge mechanism). A width expanding/contracting mechanism 70 for expanding/contracting the width of the drug storage space of the alignment storage section 50 is also incorporated (see FIG. 3). The width expanding/reducing mechanism 70 will be described in detail later (see FIG. 4). Where the right side plate portion 61 is erected (see FIG. 3), horizontally long racks 53, 63 (see FIG. 3) protrude downward from the left bottom plate portion 52 of the left side plate portion 51 and the right bottom plate portion 62 of the right side plate portion 61 (see FIG. 3). 2, see FIGS. 3(c) and 3(d)) are formed in the upper surface of the frame 41 (see FIG. 2(b)) to accommodate the cutouts 41e, 41e for restricting the forward and backward movement. Due to the engagement between 41e and racks 53 and 63 (protruding engaging portions) (see FIG. 2(a)), left and right plate portions 51 and 61 are permitted to move left and right, but cannot move forward and backward. ing.

The aligning storage section 50 has a left side plate portion 51 with a left bottom plate portion 52 and a right side plate with a right bottom plate portion 62 in order to define a medicine storage space capable of aligning and storing a large number of PTP packaging materials 5 as described above. In addition to this, it also has a front plate 31, a front plate lifting mechanism 32, and an operation portion 33 (see FIGS. 6(c) and 6(d)). The front plate elevating mechanism 32 is attached to a lateral center maintenance member 81 of a lateral width follow-up mechanism 80, which will be described in detail later. It is designed to let The elevation position of the front plate 31 is such that only one sheet of PTP packaging material 5 can pass through the ejection opening 34 directly below the front panel 31, but the PTP packaging material 5 above hits the ejection opening 34. It is adjusted so that it does not move forward in contact.

As described above, the left side plate portion 51 has the racks 53 (protruding engaging portions) that locally protrude further downward from the left bottom plate portion 52, which is the end of contact with the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism 40. (See FIGS. 2 and 4), and the right side plate portion 61 also has a rack 63 (protruding engagement member) that locally protrudes further downward from the right bottom plate portion 62, which is the end of contact with the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism 40. joints) are provided in the front and rear (see FIG. 4), which can be said to be a part of a width expanding/reducing mechanism 70, which will be described in detail later (see FIG. 4).

The left side plate portion 51 is provided with a support shaft frame 58 that pivotally supports the left end portion of the lateral width follow-up mechanism 80, which will be described in detail later. , most of the left side plate portion 51 except for the upper end portion in FIGS. 3 and 5), and two plates such as an outer plate 51a and an inner plate 51b are combined from the left and right to form a two-ply portion (see FIG. 5). ), the upper end of the support shaft frame 58 (the portion forming the convex portion 58a) is passed through the upper cutout 56 formed in the upper step of the outer plate 51a, and the lower cutout 55 formed in the middle step of the inner plate 51b is inserted. The contact surfaces of the two plates 51a and 51b are adhered to each other while the sliding portion 58b of the support shaft frame 58 is passed through the gap. It's becoming

The in-gap sliding portion 58b of the lower end portion of the support shaft frame 58 (see FIG. 5) is accommodated in the gap connecting downward through the lower cutout 55, that is, the gap between the outer plate 51a and the inner plate 51b, and is lightly sandwiched. Since the lower end of the support shaft frame 58 is held by the left side plate portion 51 in the folded state, the lower end portion of the support shaft frame 58 is not displaced by pressure when the PTP packaging material 5 is delivered, but is formed inside the two-ply portion. Since the lower cutout 55 is long in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 2(a)), it can be easily slid in the front-rear direction by explicitly operating it with a fingertip or the like (see FIGS. 2(a) and 5(a)). c) see).

A projection 58a is formed on the upper end of the support shaft frame 58 (see FIG. 5B), and the projection 58a is fitted into the punched hole 57 of the left side plate portion 51. (See FIGS. 2(a) and 5), the portion of the upper end portion of the support shaft frame 58 that is accommodated in the upper cutout 56 is thin and easily bendable, so that the projection 58a that normally stays in the punched hole 57 may be a fingertip. If the support shaft frame 58 is explicitly operated by means such as the like, it can easily come out of the punched hole 57 and slide on the surface surrounding the punched hole 57 . A large number of such punched holes 57 are formed in the front-rear direction along the upper cut-out 56 that is long in the front-rear direction. It is a thing.

Since the right side plate portion 61 is the laterally inverted version of the left side plate portion 51 described above, detailed repetitive description will be omitted, and portions useful for explaining the width expansion/reduction mechanism 70 and the width following mechanism 80 will be described. The right side plate portion 61 (see FIG. 3) has a support shaft frame 68 that pivotally supports the right end portion of the width follow-up mechanism 80. , the support shaft frame 68 can be easily moved back and forth by hand. The right side plate portion 61 also includes a right bottom plate portion 62 which is an abutment end to the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism 40, and the above-described right bottom plate portion 62 which partially protrudes further downward therefrom.

The width expanding/reducing mechanism 70 (see FIG. 4) includes a rod-shaped operation member 71 that is long in the front-rear direction, an operation portion 72 that is equipped at the front end of the rod-shaped operation member and is suitable for being gripped with fingertips or the like and manually rotated, and a rod-shaped operation member. It comprises worms 73, 73 mounted on the front portion and the rear portion of 71, and two worm gears (also pinions) 74, 74 on the front and rear sides, which are provided so as to intersect the worm 73 one by one. there is Such a width expansion/reduction mechanism 70 is incorporated in the sequential discharge mechanism 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and the racks 53 and 63 mesh with the pinion (also a worm gear) 74 from the front and rear, so that the operating portion 72 is operated to rotate the rod-shaped operating member 71, the operating direction is changed by the worm 73, the pinion/worm gear 74, and the racks 53 and 63, and the racks 53 and 63 linearly move in opposite directions. (See FIGS. 4A and 4B), the gap between the left side plate portion 51 and the right side plate portion 61 above the sequential discharge mechanism 40, and thus the width of the drug storage space increases (see FIG. 3A), It is designed to narrow (see FIG. 3(b)).

The width follow-up mechanism 80 (see FIG. 6) keeps the front plate 31 centered between the two side plates 51 and 61 even if the horizontal separation distance between the left side plate 51 and the right side plate 61 changes. For this reason, the upper left parallel link 82 spanned between the left side portion of the lateral center maintaining member 81 and the support shaft frame 58 of the left side plate portion 51, and the right side portion of the lateral center maintaining member 81 and the right side plate portion 61 are supported. A right upper parallel link 83 spanned over the axle frame 68, a hanging bar 87 extending downward from the bottom of the lateral center maintaining member 81, and a horizontal lower link 86 attached to the hanging bar 87 so as to be vertically movable. , a left lower link 84 that spans between the left end of the lower link 86 and the lower portion of the shaft frame 58, and a right side that spans between the right end of the lower link 86 and the lower portion of the shaft frame 68. It has a lower link 85 and a coil spring 88 (elastic member) that is attached to a portion of the hanging rod 87 below the lower link 86 in a compressed state.

The upper left parallel link 82 maintains the horizontal center maintaining member 81 and the support shaft frame 58 in parallel, and the upper right parallel link 83 maintains the parallel state between the horizontal center maintaining member 81 and the support shaft frame 68 . As a result, the parallel state of the support shaft frame 58 and the support shaft frame 68 and the parallel state of the left side plate portion 51 and the right side plate portion 61 are maintained, and the vertical state is maintained by the hanging bar 87 at the center of the both side plate portions 51 and 61. is maintained. Moreover, since the coil spring 88 is incorporated in the lower part of the lower link 86 in a compressed state, the lower link 86 is always pushed up by the elastic force of the coil spring 88, and the left and right links 84 and 85, which are connected to the lower link 86, move left and right. Since a force acts on the support shaft frames 58, 68 in a direction to widen the separation distance, a biasing force acts on the width follower mechanism 80 and thus the alignment storage portion 50 to extend it to the left and right. The width is defined and regulated by the width expansion/reduction mechanism 70 below, so that the top and bottom are kept the same or the top and bottom are slightly opened.

The usage and operation of the PTP cassette 30 and the PTP dispensing device 20+30 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

Prior to use of the PTP cassette 30, the required number of bases 20 to be attached and detached are arranged in rows on the upper surface 12 of the row installation shelf 10 (see FIG. 1), and a power supply line (not shown) is connected to the motor 25 or passed through. A signal line (not shown) is connected to the sensor 27 so that the operation can be controlled by a controller (not shown) or the like.
The PTP cassette 30 is a single unit, and the width of the drug storage space is first adapted to the PTP packaging medium 5 to be handled, and the longitudinal length of the drug storage space is also adapted to the PTP packaging medium 5 to be handled. Furthermore, the height of the discharge port 34 is also adapted to the PTP packaging material 5 .

To adjust the width of the drug storage space (see FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b)), the width of the PTP packaging material 5 is measured, and then the distance between the lower ends of the side plates 51 and 61 is slightly larger than the measured value. By operating the operation part 72 of the width expansion/reduction mechanism 70 so as to widen, or by inserting one or a few PTP packaging agents 5 into the drug storage space, the PTP packaging media 5 maintains a slight gap in the drug storage space. By operating the operating portion 72 of the width expanding/reducing mechanism 70 so that it fits in the bottom of the container, the operation can be easily, quickly and accurately performed. In this case, the distance between the lower ends of the side plates 51 and 61 and the width of the bottom of the drug storage space are subject to determination because the resilience of the coil spring 88 causes the width of the drug storage space to extend vertically. This is in consideration of the constant or slightly upward opening.

The longitudinal length of the drug storage space can be adjusted (see FIGS. 2(a), 5(c), and 6) by adjusting the lateral center of the lateral width following mechanism 80 held between the left and right pivot frames 58, 68. It can be easily performed by a simple manual operation such as pinching the maintenance member 81 and the front plate lifting mechanism 32 from the front and back with the fingertips and moving the front and back. Moreover, at that time, if the horizontal center maintaining member 81 and the like are not forcibly tilted, the convex portion 58a of the upper end portion of the support shaft frame 58 naturally fits into any of the appropriate punched holes 57 of the left side plate portion 51. The protrusion 68a at the upper end of the support shaft frame 68 fits into the punched hole 67 at the position facing the above-described punched hole 57 among the plurality of punched holes 67 at the upper end of the right side plate portion 61. 81 and thus the front plate 31 maintains a proper posture.

The height adjustment of the discharge port 34 at the lower end of the front surface of the drug storage space (see FIGS. 6C and 6D) can be easily performed by pinching and rotating the operating portion 33 with the fingertips.
After adjusting the width and length of the drug storage space as well as the height of the discharge port 34 in this way, the PTP packaging material 5 is loaded into the drug storage space from the rear of the PTP cassette 30 (see FIG. 7). (Although only one sheet of the PTP packaging material 5 is shown to clarify the position of the forward feeding member 42, a large number of sheets are usually stacked). Since the expanding/contracting mechanism 70 and other mechanisms are not provided, the PTP packaging material 5 can be loaded not only from the rear but also from above the rear side, so that the loading operation can be easily and quickly performed.

The PTP cassette 30 containing the PTP packaging material 5 is gently held by hand and carried to the oblique upper rear area of the base 20 to be mounted (see FIG. 7), and then the front portion of the sequential ejection mechanism 40 of the PTP cassette 30 is placed on the base. 20, the front portion of the lower end sliding portion 41a of the discharge mechanism 40 is inserted into the rear gap 23a of the base 20 (see FIG. 8(a)), and the lower end sliding portion 41a is further lowered to the base. 20 is brought into contact with the upper surface 22a.
Then, while maintaining the contact state, the PTP cassette 30 is advanced until the rear contact portion 41b of the ejection mechanism 40 comes into contact with the rear end of the side frame 22 of the base 20, and the movement of the PTP cassette 30 is blocked. Therefore, the PTP cassette 30 is released.

Immediately before that, the ejection mechanism rear engagement portion 46 of the ejection mechanism 40 and the base rear engagement portion 26 of the base 20 are in the engagement initial state of the push latch device, so the PTP cassette 30 is released. Then, the PTP cassette 30 retreats a little and then stops and is mounted on the base 20, and the engaging portions 26 and 46 continue to engage (see FIG. 8(b)). In this mounted state, the rear stepped portion 41c and the front stepped portion 41d of the frame 41 of the discharge mechanism 40 are sequentially inserted into the rear gap 23a and the front gap 22b of the base 20 in accordance with the above-described operation. , it is allowed to move forward from the base 20 by a slight retraction distance immediately after the hand is released, but movement in other directions is blocked.

Further, since the external gear 24 (rotational output shaft) of the base 20 and the internal gear 45 (rotational driven shaft) of the sequential discharge mechanism 40 mesh with each other, when the motor 25 is operated, the external gear 24 and the internal gear are engaged. The forward feed member 42 advances sequentially on the upper surface of the discharge mechanism 40 via the rollers 45 , 43 , 43 and the endless belt 44 .
Further, since the operating portion 72 of the width expanding/reducing mechanism 70 of the PTP cassette 30 is loosely fitted into the through hole at the upper end of the base front engaging portion 28 of the base 20, erroneous operation of the operating portion 72 is prevented.

In this way, the preparation for automatically discharging the PTP packaging material 5 from the PTP dispensing device 20+30 is completed. After that, since it is the same as the conventional one, the description will be brief. The lowermost PTP packaging material 5 is pushed forward by the rear end thereof and is further sent forward from the discharge port 34, and the discharge is detected by the passage sensor 27 and notified to the controller. In addition, since the PTP packaging material 5 above it is prevented from advancing by the front plate 31, the PTP packaging material 5 is discharged one by one, and each time the stack of the PTP packaging material 5 is fed forward by one sheet. descend. Since the width of the drug storage space is constant or slightly narrowed down, the lower the layered body of the PTP packaging agent 5 is, the closer it is to the center of the drug storage space.

Then, when the drug storage space of the PTP cassette 30 is empty or the remaining amount is small and the PTP packaging material should be replenished, the rear end of the PTP cassette 30 or the like is pushed with a hand or the like to sequentially hit the discharge mechanism 40 backward. The PTP cassette 30 is advanced until the contact portion 41b contacts or is close to the rear end of the side frame 22 of the base 20.例文帳に追加Then, the push latch device consisting of the ejection mechanism rear engaging portion 46 and the base rear engaging portion 26 performs a latch releasing operation, and the PTP cassette 30 is slightly pushed rearward along with the release of the engagement, and the PTP is released. The longitudinal movement of the cassette 30 becomes free. Then, when the PTP cassette 30 is moved backward while holding it by hand, the PTP cassette 30 is smoothly removed from the base 20 .
Therefore, the PTP cassette 30 can be attached/detached to/from the base 20 easily and quickly.

The application of the present invention is not limited to the "PTP cassette or PTP dispensing device that forwards the bottom one of the PTP packaging materials etc." It can also be applied to a PTP cassette or a PTP payout device that forwards the bottom one by two.

5 ... PTP packaging agent,
10... row installation shelf, 11... rear end, 12... upper surface, 13... front end,
20 + 30 ... PTP dispensing device,
20... Base (holding portion, driving portion),
21... Bottom plate, 22... Side frame, 22a... Upper surface (sequential discharge mechanism mounting surface),
22b... front gap, 23... side plate, 23a... rear gap,
24... External gear (rotation output shaft), 25... Motor (rotation drive unit),
26 ... Base rear engaging portion (strike portion of push latch device),
27... Passing sensor, 28... Base front engaging portion (fitting hole, outer fitting portion),
30... PTP cassette,
31... front plate, 32... front plate elevating mechanism, 33... operation part, 34... ejection port,
40 Sequential discharge mechanism (lower unit),
41... Frame, 41a... Lower end sliding part, 41b... Rear contact part,
41c... rear stepped portion, 41d... front stepped portion, 42... forward feeding member,
43... Rotating wheel, 44... Endless belt, 45... Internal gear (rotary driven shaft),
46 ... Ejection mechanism rear engaging portion (arm hook portion of push latch device),
50... Alignment storage unit,
51... left plate portion, 52... left bottom plate portion (contact end),
53... Rack (protruding engaging portion), 54... Two-ply portion, 55... Bottom cutout,
56 ... Upper cutout, 57 ... Punched hole (sliding suppressing portion),
58... Support shaft frame (left side plate connection part), 58a... Convex part, 58b... In-gap sliding part,
61... right side plate portion, 62... right bottom plate portion (contact end),
63... rack (protruding engaging portion), 64... two-ply portion,
67... Punched hole (sliding suppressing portion), 68... Support shaft frame (right side plate connecting portion),
70... Width scaling mechanism,
71... Rod-shaped operating member, 72... Operating portion (front end, discharge mechanism front engaging portion),
73 ... worm (operation direction conversion unit),
74 ... pinion and worm gear (operation direction conversion part),
80... Width tracking mechanism,
81... Lateral center maintaining member, 82... Upper left parallel link, 83... Upper right parallel link,
84...lower left link, 85...lower right link, 86...lower link,
87... Drooping bar, 88... Coil spring (elastic member)

Claims (4)

An alignment storage unit is provided for holding PTP packaging agents, etc. corresponding to either PTP packaging agents in which drugs are classified and stored in sheets or equivalent sheet-like packaging agents, etc., in a row, and the alignment storage unit. PTP dispensing provided with a PTP cassette equipped with a sequential ejection mechanism installed below and ejecting the PTP packaging materials, etc. forward in order, and a base on which the sequential ejection mechanism can be mounted in a forward/backward allowable state. in the device,
The base includes a rotation driving portion with a rotation output shaft facing backward, a base rear engaging portion with an engaging direction facing rearward, and a base rear engaging portion provided forward of the base rear engaging portion with the engaging direction facing rearward. and a base front engaging portion,
The sequential discharge mechanism includes a rotary driven shaft that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with respect to the rotary output shaft, a discharge mechanism rear engaging portion that can be engaged and disengaged with the base rear engaging portion from the rear, and a discharge mechanism front engaging portion that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with respect to the base front engaging portion;
When the ejection mechanism rear engagement portion and the base rear engagement portion are pressed against each other from the separated state and further pushed, they are brought into a connected state, maintained in a connected state even after the pushing is released, and then connected when pushed again in that state. is released. An aligning storage unit that holds PTP packaging agents, etc., which are either PTP packaging agents in which drugs are classified and stored in sheets or equivalent sheet-like packaging agents, etc., in a row, and below the aligning storage unit In a PTP cassette equipped with a sequential ejection mechanism for ejecting the PTP packaging materials etc. forward in the order in which they are arranged,
A base rear engaging portion having a rotation drive portion with a rotation output shaft facing backward and an engaging direction facing backward and a base front engaging portion provided further forward than that and having an engaging direction facing rearward. a rotary driven shaft that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with the rotary output shaft of the base on which the sequential discharge mechanism can be mounted in a forward/backward allowed state; A discharge mechanism rear engagement portion that can be engaged and disengaged from the base front engagement portion, and a discharge mechanism front engagement portion that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear side with respect to the base front engagement portion,
When the ejecting mechanism rear engaging portion is pressed against the base rear engaging portion from the separated state and further pushed into a connected state, the connected state is maintained even after the pushing is released, and then pushed again in that state. A PTP cassette, characterized in that it is adapted to be decoupled from the PTP cassette. The sequential discharge mechanism incorporates a width expansion/reduction mechanism that expands/contracts the width of the drug storage space of the alignment/storage section, and the width expansion/reduction mechanism includes a rod-shaped operating member capable of axial rotation. wherein the operation member has a front end facing forward that can be pinched with fingers to rotate the shaft,
In the base, the front engaging portion of the base has an outer fitting portion, and the outer fitting portion can insert the front end portion of the operating member from behind. 2. The PTP dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the front end portion functions as the ejection mechanism front engaging portion. The sequential discharge mechanism incorporates a width expansion/reduction mechanism that expands/contracts the width of the drug storage space of the alignment/storage section, and the width expansion/reduction mechanism includes a rod-shaped operating member capable of axial rotation. The operating member has a front end that can be pinched with fingers and rotated axially, and the front end is engaged with the front of the discharge mechanism. 3. The PTP cassette according to claim 2, wherein the mating portion can be inserted into the outer fitting portion of the front engaging portion of the base from behind.

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