AU2017275023A1

AU2017275023A1 - Conveyance system and medicine dispensing system

Info

Publication number: AU2017275023A1
Application number: AU2017275023A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Masahiro Kadosaka; Eiji Nakai; Takuya TSUGUI
Original assignee: Yuyama Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yuyama Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-30
Filing date: 2017-05-26
Publication date: 2018-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-26
Also published as: JP6881446B2; AU2017275023B2; CN109153506A; JPWO2017208986A1; CN109153506B; WO2017208986A1

Abstract

[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a conveyance system in which failure of conveyance of a container can be suppressed to a minimum; and a medicine dispensing system using the conveyance system. [Solution] A conveyance system 30 comprises a conveyance direction changing unit 45, a detecting unit 46 that detects arrival of a tray T at the conveyance direction changing unit 45, and a control unit 100. The detecting unit 46 includes: a first detecting device 46g capable of detecting the presence/absence of an object at a downstream side in the conveyance direction in the conveyance direction changing unit 45; and a second detecting device 46h capable of detecting the presence/absence of an object at an upstream side, in the conveyance direction, relative to the first detecting device 46g. When the tray T is normally positioned at the conveyance direction changing unit 45, the first detecting device 46g detects the tray T but the second detecting device 46h does not detect the tray T. Under a condition that each of the first detecting device 46g and the second detecting deice 46h have detected an object, the control unit 100 determines occurrence of a failure in arrangement of the tray T.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE OF INVENTION

CONVEYANCE SYSTEM AND MEDICINE PRESCRIPTION SYSTEM [0001] The present invention relates to a conveyance system and a medicine prescription system using the same.

BACKGROUND [0002] Conventionally, a medicine box dispensing apparatus for such as a wrapped medicine, for example, medicines wrapped in a box disclosed in the following Patent Literature 1 have been introduced in an out-pharmacy as one which constructs a medicine dispensing system for prescribing to a patient. A medicine box dispensing apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 does not dispense the medicine by every tablet and dispenses medicines in a box (medicine box) as a unit in which a plurality of medicines is contained. The medicine box dispensing apparatus may dispense the medicine box depending on a formulation based on the formulation instructed by a host control apparatus so called as HIS (Hospital Information System).

PRIOR ART LITERATURE

PATENT LITERATURE [0003] Patent Literature 1: Japan Patent Publication (Laid-Open) No. 2012-085892

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY INVENTION [0004] When a dispensing apparatus for wrapped medicines such as the above described medicine box dispensing apparatus is adopted, it provides severe impact on an efficiency of sequential work how appropriately a container such as a tray for receiving the medicines as an article to be conveyed is conveyed or not. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a conveyance system being able to suppress defective conveyance of a container and a medicine prescription system adopting the same.

MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEM [0005] The present invention provided so as to solve the above problem is a conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising: a first conveying direction conversion part for changing a conveying direction of the container on the conveying path; a sensor part for detecting an arrival of the container at the first conveying direction conversion part; and a controller part for controlling conveyance of the container; the sensor part comprising; a first sensor device capable of detecting presence or absence of an object at a downstream side of a conveying direction at the first conveying direction conversion part; a second sensor device capable of detecting presence or absence of an object at an upstream side of conveying direction from the first conveying direction conversion part; wherein where the container is placed normally at the first conveying direction conversion part, a state that the container is detected by the first sensor device and the container is not detected by the second sensor device is provided; and further wherein with setting a state that an object is detected by both of the first sensor device and the second sensor device as a condition, a determination that a defected arrangement of the container at the first conveying direction conversion part occurs is performed by the controller part.

[0006] The conveyance system of the present invention has the construction that the conveying direction is changed at the first conveying direction conversion part disposed on the conveying path. Thus, when the conveying direction is changed before the container arrives normally at the first conveying direction conversion part, a defected conveyance of the container would occur and this may become fear for malfunction of the conveyance system and damages to the containers as well as stagnation of container conveyance.

[0007] Thus in the conveyance system of the present invention, determination is made by detection information of the first sensor device and the second sensor device whether or not the container is placed normally at the first conveying direction conversion part. Particularly, in the present conveying system, the second sensor device is disposed at the position that the container should not be detected when the container arrives at the position detectable with the first sensor device. Thus, in the conveyance system of the present invention, when the state, that an object is detected by the second sensor device as well as the first sensor device, occurs, the controller part performs the determination that the defected conveyance of the container occurs at the first conveying direction conversion part. Therefore, according to the conveyance system of the present invention may understand correctly whether or not the container is placed normally at the first conveying direction conversion part so that occurrence of the defected conveyance of the container, malfunction of the conveyance system and damages to the containers as well as stagnation of container conveyance may be suppressed.

[0008] Here, the above described first sensor device and the second sensor device may be ones that detect the object by projecting light such as photoelectronic sensors, When using such sensors as the first sensor device and the second sensor device, there are fears that the container may not be detected well if the container has a part through which the light passes due to apertures and parts having light transparency (light passing part). Thus, even when the container having the part with light transparency is used, it is preferred that the container may be detected precisely by the first sensor device and the second sensor device.

[0009] The conveyance system provided based on the above findings is configured such that the container comprises a light passing part allowing passage of light at two lateral faces opposite each other and any one or both of the first sensor device and second sensor device may project light to the container from a lateral side for detecting an object and may be able to project light toward a bottom of the container through the light passing part.

[0010] According to the above construction, even if the container to which the light passing part is disposed is used, the container may be detected precisely by the first sensor device and the second sensor device projectable the light toward the bottom of the container through the light passing part.

[0011] In the conveyance system of the present invention, it is preferred that the first conveying direction conversion part changes a conveying direction to any one or both of an upand-down direction from a horizontal direction and a horizontal direction from an up-and-down direction.

[0012] In the present conveyance system of the present invention, the container is moved three-dimensionally at the first conveying direction conversion part. When the container is moved three-dimensionally as such, the maximum care will be payed so as not to fall down the container, and the like. Thus, in the present invention, a part associating with up-and-down movement is defined as the first conveying direction conversion part and motion control may be performed after determining precisely occurrence of the defected arrangement of the container at the first conveying direction conversion part. Therefore, the conveyance system of the present invention, when the container is conveyed with the conveying path associated with the up-anddown movement of the container, may convey the container stably while caring that dropping down of the container does not occur.

[0013] Here, when conveying the container using a conveyance apparatus such as a conveyer, there may be a case that the container does not go straightly due to light weight of the container. In such case, the container can not be moved to the downstream side well such that there are fears for the defected conveyance.

[0014] The conveyance system provided depending on the above findings is a conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising: a second conveying direction conversion part for changing a conveying direction of the container on the conveying path in a crossing direction; a container detection sensor capable of detecting presence of the container at the second conveying direction conversion part in a region beyond a width of the conveying path at the downstream side; wherein with setting a state that presence of the container is detected by the container detection sensor as a condition, a determination that a defected arrangement of the container in the second conveying direction conversion part occurs is performed by a controller part.

[0015] In the present conveying system, the second conveying direction conversion part changing the conveying direction of the container to a crossing direction on the conveying path. Here, in the case that the container arrives at the second conveying direction conversion part and when the container is present in a region beyond a width of of the conveying path at the downstream side, there are fears that the container is not moved well when the container is intended to move to the downstream side in its posture as is. Thus, in the conveyance system of the present invention, the container detection sensor is disposed at he second conveying direction conversion part to make it possible to detect whether or not the container arrives at the second conveying direction conversion part is present at the region beyond the width of the conveying path at the downstream side. Thereby, the present conveyance system of the present invention may determine appropriately whether or not the container arrived at the second conveying direction conversion part may be movable to the downstream side without problems and may suppress the detected conveyance of the container.

[0016] Here, when the width of the conveying path is narrower in the downstream side than that of the upstream side, it is considered that the posture of the container arrived at the second conveying direction conversion part may provide larger effect in occurring the defected conveyance of the container.

[0017] In the conveyance system of the present invention provided based on the above findings, the conveying path has a narrower width of the conveying path at a downstream side in a conveying direction than that at an upper stream side with respect to the second conveying direction conversion part.

[0018] According to the above construction, when the conveying path has a narrower width of the conveying path at a downstream side in a conveying direction than that at an upper stream side with respect to the second conveying direction conversion part, it may be possible to determine whether or not the posture of the container arrived at the second conveying direction conversion part and to suppress the defected conveyance of the container.

[0019] Here, it is supposed that the container as the conveying object that the width direction is shorter than the length direction such as a container having a rectangular in a plane shape. In addition, when such container is used, it is considered that conveying direction is changed in two embodiments that the container is conveyed to the length direction in the upstream side in the conveying direction and on the way the conveying direction is changed such that the container is conveyed to the width direction (first conveying embodiment) and the container is conveyed to the width direction in the upstream side of the conveying direction and on the way the conveying direction is changed such that the container is conveyed to the length direction (second conveying embodiment). Now, even if the inclination of the container when arrived at the second conveying direction conversion part, it is considered that the case that the container is conveyed in the former embodiment in the two conveying embodiments (first conveying embodiment) provides larger effect due to the inclination of the container to occurrence of the defected conveyance compared to the case conveying in the latter embodiment (second conveying embodiment). Therefore, it is desired that the container detection sensor is disposed at he second conveying direction conversion part as the conveyance system of the present invention described above so as to provide the construction detectable for occurrence of the defected conveyance of the container.

[0020] In the conveyance system of the present invention provided based on the above findings, the container is one which has a shorter width direction than a length direction and the conveying path is one which conveys the container in the length direction at an upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the second conveying direction conversion part and that conveys the container in the width direction at a downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the second conveying direction conversion part.

[0021] According to the above construction, even if the container conveyed along to the length direction of the container is conveyed on the conveying path along to the width direction of the container, the defected arrangement may be appropriately determined and the defected conveyance of the container may be suppressed.

[0022] Now, it may be possible to adopt the construction being disposed with a pushing mechanism for making the container arrive at a predetermined position by pushing and moving from its back so as to make the container certainly to the predetermined position. On the other hand, when the container is formed from material having elasticity with lightweight such as resin, there is a possibility that the container is rebounded to the upstream side by repulsive force generated by effect of force acted to the container when the container is push by the pushing mechanism. Thus, in the case that the pushing mechanism described above is disposed and when the rebound of the container to the upstream side due to the effect of the repulsive force is suspected, it is desirable that measures for suppressing such phenomenon is prepared.

[0023] In the conveyance system of the present invention provided based on the above findings, a conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising: a third conveying direction conversion part for changing a conveying direction of the container on the conveying path; a pushing mechanism for pushing in the container to the third conveying direction conversion part from an upstream side in a conveying direction; a rebound suppressing part for suppressing a rebound of the container arrived at the third conveying direction conversion part toward an upstream side in a conveying direction; wherein; a step is disposed such that the conveying path becomes lower than that of an upper stream side at the third conveying direction conversion part; the container comprises a brim part protruding outwardly; in a state that by pushing in the container to the third conveying direction conversion part from an upstream side of a conveying direction with the pushing mechanism the container is lowered due to the step, the rebound suppressing part is disposed at a position adjacent to an upstream side of a conveying direction with respect to the brim part.

[0024] The conveyance system of the present invention comprises a pushing mechanism for pushing in the container to the third conveying direction conversion part as well as a rebound suppressing part for suppressing a rebound of the container arrived at the third conveying direction conversion part toward an upstream side in a conveying direction. Thus, the conveyance system of the present invention the container may be pushed in the container certainly toward the third conveying direction conversion part by the pushing mechanism while suppressing the rebound of the container to the upstream side. Thereby, the conveyance direction of the container may be changed without stagnation at the third conveying direction conversion part and probability of the defective conveyance at the third conveying direction conversion part may be significantly decreased at the third conveying direction conversion part. [0025] Besides, the conveyance system of the present invention, a step is disposed such that the conveying path becomes lower than that of an upper stream side at the third conveying direction conversion part. Thereby, the container arrived at the third conveying direction conversion part becomes low than that of the upstream side of the conveying path so that the container becomes harder to rebound to the upstream side. Furthermore, when the container is lowered due to the step at the third conveying direction changing part, the rebound suppressing part becomes adjacent to a brim part of the container at the upstream side so that the rebound suppressing part becomes an obstacle for suppressing the rebound of the container. Therefore, according to the construction described above, the rebound of the container at the third conveying direction conversion part will be suppressed in the maximum extent.

[0026] The conveyance system of the present invention is a conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising: the container comprises a brim part protruding outwardly; and a lowering unit capable of moving from an upward direction to a downward direction while supporting the container within container moving space formed along to an up-and-down direction; wherein; the lowering unit comprising: actuating pawls switchable between a state protruding to the container moving space from a lateral side and a state being evacuated from the container moving space; moving pawls movable in an up-and-down direction in a state protruding to the container moving space from a lateral side; and wherein; the plurality of actuating pawls is each disposed at predetermined positions at an up-and-down direction; the plurality of moving pawls is disposed at positions corresponding to the respective actuating pawls; the container is capable of lowering by moving the moving pawls to a lower side while keeping a state that the actuating pawls are evacuated from the container moving space; and the container is supportable with the brim part by any one or both of the actuating pawls and the moving pawls under a state that the moving pawls arrives at a position corresponding to the actuating pawls.

[0027] The conveyance system of the present invention comprises the lowering unit capable of moving the container while supporting it from the upper direction to the lower direction. The conveyance system of the present invention is disposed with the actuation pawls such that the actuating pawls may be protrude to and be evacuated from the container moving space of the lowering unit and the container may be moved to lower direction by the moving pawls in the state that the actuating pawls are evacuated.

[0028] The conveyance system of the present invention, it may be desirable that with setting a state that the actuating pawls become impossible to be evacuated from the container moving space as a condition, a lowering region of the container is limited within a region defined by the actuating pawls becoming impossible to be evacuated and the actuating pawls above thereof. [0029] The conveyance system of the present invention comprises the lowering unit capable of moving the container while supporting it from the upper direction to the lower direction. In the conveyance system of the present invention, the actuating pawls are disposed such that the container may be moved to the lower direction by the moving pawls in the state that the actuating pawls are evacuated. Thus, when the actuating pawls become to the state that they are impossible to be evacuated, the container cannot be moved below the actuating pawls becoming impossible to be evacuated. In contrast, the lowering unit used in the present invention, if a part of the actuating pawls become impossible to be evacuated, may be moved to the lower direction with supporting the container within the range defined by the actuating pawls becoming impossible to be evacuated and the actuating pawls at upper side thereof. Therefore, as the present invention, when a part of the actuating pawls become impossible to be evacuated from the container moving space, the lowering unit may be used in the maximum extent within the available range by limiting the lowering range of the container in the the range defined by the actuating pawls becoming impossible to be evacuated and the actuating pawls at upper side thereof [0030] The conveyance system of the present invention is a conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising: a lowering unit capable of moving from an upward direction to a downward direction with supporting the container within a container moving space formed along to an upand-down direction; wherein a plurality of stop-positions of container allowing the container to stop are disposed along to an up-and-down direction in the container moving space and the container is movable such that the container is aligned in turn with respect to a position defined as a reference position among a plurality of stop-positions of the container.

[0031] According to the conveyance system of the present invention, in the container moving space, the container may be arranged with gathering together at the position that a worker such as pharmacist, and the like desires ad the reference.

[0032] The conveyance system of the present invention in the container moving space, a plurality of stop-positions of container allowing the container to stop are disposed along to an up-and-down direction; and with setting a state that a part of a plurality of the container stoppositions is in a stopping state that the container is stopped and the other stop-position of the container is in a non-stopping state that the container is not stopped as a condition, stoppositions of the container in the non-stopping state may be able to set as the stopping state by moving at least one of the container in the container moving space while keeping stopping states of the container in at least a part of the stop positions of the container in the stopping state.

[0033] According to the above construction, the containers may be arranged with gathering together to the stop-position of the container in a non-stopping state (so called to an empty state). Thereby, the conveyance system of the present invention may arrange effectively containers to the stop-position of the container in the non-stopping state becoming to the empty state.

[0034] The conveyance system of the present invention in the container moving space a plurality of stop-positions of container allowing the container to stop are disposed along to an up-and-down direction; and the container may be movable such that the container is aligned in turn at each of stop-positions of the container disposed in an upward direction or a downward direction with respect to a position defined as a reference position among a plurality of stop11 positions of the container.

[0035] According to the above construction, depending on demands of the worker the container may be arranged to the position taking out easily. For example, when the containers are arranged with space filling to the upper direction from the stop-position of the container at the lower direction as the reference, the worker such as a pharmacist, and the like can take out the container while sitting on a chair, and the like. Besides, for example, when the containers are arranged with space filling in turn to the lower direction from the stop-position of the container at the upper direction as the reference, a taking out work of the container may become easy in the state that the worker such as pharmacist, and the like is stand up.

[0036] The conveyance system of the present invention in the container moving space a plurality of stop-positions of container allowing the container to stop are disposed along to an up-and-down direction; and the stop-positions become to a stopping state that the container is stopped or a non-stopping state that the container is not stopped; with setting a state that the stop-position of the container in the non-stopping state is present between two of stop-positions of the container in the stopping state as a condition, the container may be able to set as a state that the containers are aligned in turn along to an up-and-down direction by moving the container to stop-position of the container in the non-stopping state.

[0037] According to the above construction, the containers may be arranged with gathering together to the stop-position of the container in a non-stopping state (so called to an empty state). Thereby, the conveyance system of the present invention may arrange effectively containers to the stop-position of the container.

[0038] The above conveyance system of the present invention, the lowering unit is able to take out the container in the container moving space from a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite each other in a direction crossing to a protrusion direction of the actuating pawls and the moving pawls and comprises; a first lateral sensor for detecting the container protruded to the first lateral side from the container moving space; a second lateral sensor for detecting the container protruded to the second lateral side from the container moving space; and it is desirable that with setting detection of the container by any one of the first lateral sensor and the second lateral sensor as a condition, up-and-down movement of the container is inhibited. [0039] According to the above construction, it is inhibited that an up-and-down movement of the container under the unstable state with inclining to the first lateral side or the second lateral side in the lowering unit.

[0040] A medicine prescription system of the present invention comprises: a medicine dispensing apparatus with preparing a plurality of kinds of medicines in wrapped state beforehand for dispensing and being capable of dispensing a medicine selected based on formulation data output from a host controller device; and a conveyance system above described, wherein the conveyance system is able to convey by collecting the medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing apparatus in the container to gather a part or all of the medicines to be prescribed to a patient.

[0041] The medicine prescribing system of the present invention comprises the above described conveyance system of the present invention. Thus, the medicines dispensed from the medicine dispensing apparatus to the container may be conveyed to a predetermined position appropriately. Thereby, troubles accompanied with the defected conveyance of the container such as out of use of the medicine dispensing system, and the like may be suppressed in the minimum extent to contribute for improving efficiency of prescribing work.

[0042] The medicine prescription system described above, in the conveying path, an up-anddown device for moving the container between a conveying region at a lower side and a conveying region at an upper side; an upper side moving device for moving the container in the conveying region at the upper side; a lower side moving device for moving the container in the conveying region at the lower side; a completed container reservoir part for reserving the container allocated to a formulation that preparation of medicines to be gathered in the container is completed by dispensing of the medicine dispensing apparatus as a completed container; and an uncompleted container reservoir part for reserving the container allocated to a formulation that preparation of medicines to be gathered in the container is short with dispensing of the medicine dispensing apparatus as an uncompleted container are disposed; with setting that all of the up-and-down device, the upper moving device and the completed container reservoir part may be available as a condition, the completed container is made to arrive at the completed container reservoir part through the up-and-down device and the upper side moving device to reserve; and with setting that a part or all of the up-and-down device, the upper moving device and the completed container reservoir part becomes to out of use as a condition, the completed container may be made to arrive at the uncompleted container reservoir part through the lower side moving device to reserve.

[0043] In the medicine prescription system of the present invention, the completed container may be made to arrive at and reserved in the completed container reservoir part through the upand-down device and the upper side moving device. Thus, the path for conveying the completed container may be at a ceiling side of a medicine prescription room, and the like and space may be used effectively. Furthermore, according to the medicine prescription system of the present invention, with setting that all of the up-and-down device, the upper moving device and the completed container reservoir part may be available as a condition, the completed container is made to arrive at the completed container reservoir part through the up-and-down device and the upper side moving device to reserve. As described above, in the medicine prescription system of the present invention, the uncompleted container reservoir part may be used for a backup when the up-and-down device, the upper moving device and the completed container reservoir part become out of use. Therefore, according to the present invention, if the up-anddown device and the upper moving device become out of use, it may be possible to suppress the incident that the medicine prescription system goes to a halt, and the like to lower the efficiency of the medicine prescription work in the minimum extent.

ADVANTAGE OF INVENTION [0044] According to the present invention, a conveyance system being able to suppress defective conveyance of a container and a medicine dispensing system adopting the same may be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0045] [Fig. 1] A perspective view of a medicine prescription system and a conveyance system of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] A perspective view of a tray.

[Fig. 3] An explanatory drawing illustrating an inner structure of a medicine dispensing apparatus.

[Fig. 4] (a) is a perspective view of an upper side moving device and (b) is a perspective illustrating major parts.

[Fig. 5] An enlarged view of major parts of Fig. 4.

[Fig. 6] A perspective view of an up-and-down device.

[Fig. 7] A perspective view of an up-and-down mechanism enclosed in an up-anddown device of Fig. 6.

[Fig. 8] A perspective view of a structure near a loading part in an up-and-down mechanism of Fig. 7.

[Fig. 9] A perspective view of a structure near a loading part in an up-and-down mechanism of Fig. 7.

[Fig. 10] A perspective view of a third conveying direction conversion part and a completed container reservoir part.

[Fig. 11] An enlarged view of major parts of a conveying direction conversion part shown in Fig. 10.

[Fig. 12] (a) is a perspective view of an inner structure of a third conveying direction conversion part shown in Fig. 10 and (b) is an enlarged view of a part A in (a).

[Fig. 13] A schematic perspective view of an uncompleted container reservoir part.

[Fig. 14] A flowchart of a conveying direction control method in a first conveying direction conversion part.

[Fig. 15] A flowchart of a conveying direction control method in a second conveying direction conversion part.

[Fig. 16] A flowchart of a conveying direction control method in a third conveying direction conversion part and a completed container reservoir part.

[Fig. 17] A flowchart of a backup action by an uncompleted container reservoir part.

[Fig. 18] A front view of a stop-position of a container formed in a container moving space.

[Fig. 19] Arrangement of actuating pawls and moving pawls, (a) is a plane view and (b) is a side view.

[Fig. 20] A schematic drawing illustrating a movable range of actuating pawls, (a) illustrates a state that actuating pawls protrude to container moving state from a lateral side and (b) illustrates a state that actuating pawls are evacuated from a container moving space.

[Fig. 21] A schematic view of a movable range pf moving pawls, (a) illustrates a state that moving pawls protrude to container moving state from a lateral side and (b) illustrates a state that moving pawls are swung so as to be evacuated from a container moving space.

[Fig. 22] In (a) and (b), movement of moving pawls 58 under a state that a tray is positioned at a container stop-position A2 is illustrated in turn.

[Fig. 23] In a case that loading down in up reference is performed, an example of arrangement of trays with respect to each of stop-positions of container, (a-1) and (a-2) illustrate states that trays sent in turn are arranged; (b-1) and (b-2) illustrate a state that four trays are each positioned at stop-positions A1-A4 of the container and a state that two trays are drawn out each positioned at A2 and A3 therefrom; and (C-l) and (c-2) illustrate a state that stop-positions becoming to empty states are subjected to space filling and a new tray is conveyed.

[Fig. 24] An example of an arrangement of trays in a case that loading down in bottom reference is performed; (a-1) and (a-2) illustrate states that trays sent in turn are positioned; (b1) and (b-3) illustrate states that automatic loading down is performed; and (c-l) and (c-2) illustrate a state that stop-positions becoming to empty states are subjected to space filling and a new tray is conveyed.

[Fig. 25] A flowchart illustrating a subroutine for loading down processing.

[Fig. 26] A flowchart illustrating a subroutine for loading down processing in top reference.

[Fig. 27] A flowchart illustrating a subroutine for loading down processing in bottom reference.

[Fig. 28] A flowchart illustrating a subroutine for automatic loading down processing.

MODE FOR PRACTICING INVENTION [0046] Hereinafter, a medicine prescription system 10 and a conveyance system 30 will be explained with referring to drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, a medicine prescription system 10 comprises a medicine dispensing apparatus 20, a conveyance system 30 and a controller part 100. The medicine prescription system 10 may dispense medicines kept in a condition with wrapped in a package such as a box in the medicine dispensing apparatus 20 depending on formulation information. In addition, the medicine prescription system 10 may gather the medicines to be prescribed to a patient by collecting the medicines dispensed from the medicine dispensing apparatus 20 in a tray T (container) and may convey to a predetermined position by the conveyance system 30.

[0047] Any container for gathering the medicines may be used; however, according to the present invention, a tray T as shown in Fig. 2 is used. The tray T may be one which is made from raw materials such as resin, metal, wood, paper such as corrugated board. According to the present embodiment, the tray T is one formed by the raw material such as resin and so on having elasticity. Furthermore, the tray T may be shaped to any shape such as, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped, a cube, a polyhedral body, a cylinder and according to the present embodiment, the tray T is one having an appearance shape of the rectangular parallelepiped.

[0048] The tray T has almost a rectangular shape in which a length direction is longer than a width direction in a planer view and has four lateral sides, a bottom face T1 being closed and a top face side being opened. At four lateral sides, many apertures S, each of which has a slit shape, are formed. Thus, the tray T may pass light between the lateral sides facing opposite each other.

[0049] The tray T provides a receptacle space for receiving medicines within a region enclosed by five faces including the lateral sides (peripheral faces) and the bottom face Tl. Furthermore, at an upper side of the tray T (open end side), a brim part T2 is disposed. The brim part T2 is formed to extend outwardly of the container space. The brim part T2 is a part for providing a function of a grip upon bringing or moving the tray T2.

[0050] In the tray T, a memory medium T3 is attached for storing (recording) identifier information for associating to prescription information. The memory medium T3 may be attached in any place and, according to the present embodiment, is disposed at the bottom face Tl. Any memory medium T3 may be used such as, for example, a barcode, and the like and according to the present embodiment, RF-ID is used. By disposing a reader device which may read the identifier information on a conveying path, it may become possible to check confirmation of passthrough of the tray T and/or a location of the tray T.

[0051] The medicine dispensing apparatus 20 is an apparatus which may prepare a plurality of kinds of medicines in a wrapped state for dispensing beforehand and may appropriately select and dispense medicines based on the formulation data output from the host controller device. Any medicine dispensing apparatus 20 may be used so far as it may exhibit such function, and for example, it may be one which is shown in Fig. 3.

[0052] The medicine dispensing apparatus is an apparatus for preparing many medicines in a wrapped state such as in a package beforehand and for selecting appropriately as well as for dispensing the medicines prepared depending on a formulation. The medicine dispensing apparatus 20 has a plurality of medicine paths 22 in an up-and-down to direction and a rightand-left direction in a plane view state. The medicine paths 22 are constructed with members each having a shape that longitudinal both ends are opened, i.e. gutters so called as channel material.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 3, the medicine paths 22 are disposed such that those longitudinal directions extend to a depth direction, that is to say, from a front side to a back side of the medicine dispensing apparatus 20. In the medicine paths 22, the opened ends located at the back- side function as introduction ports for charging the medicines and the opened ends located at the front side function as discharge ports for dispensing the medicines. The medicine paths 22 are disposed with inclination for providing a slope from an introduction side to a discharge side. Furthermore, a path width of the medicine path 22 may be similar to or slightly larger than a thickness of the medicine prepared. Therefore, the medicine path 22 may allows the medicines to move smoothly from the introduction side to the discharge side due to free fall.

[0054] As shown in Fig. 3, at the discharge side of the medicine path 22, a discharge regulation member 26 is disposed. The discharge regulation member 26 may usually stop the medicine prepared in the medicine path 22 at the discharge side, and when a state that the medicines must be dispensed, may discharge the medicine by throwing up thereof upwardly from the bottom side of the medicine path 22.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 3, the medicine dispensing apparatus 20 comprises a medicine gathering part 28 at the front side with respect to the above medicine paths 22. The medicine gathering part 28 collects the medicines discharged from the medicine paths 22 and also dispenses outside of the medicine dispensing apparatus 20. The medicine gathering part 28 is constructed by a belt conveyer and may collect the medicine dispensed from the medicine paths 22 and may discharge the medicine from the discharge port disposed at a lateral side of the medicine dispensing apparatus 20.

[0056] The conveyance system 30 is one which receives the medicines as an article to be conveyed in the tray T and conveys along to a predetermined conveying path. As shown in Fig.

1, in the present embodiment, the conveying path is formed by in addition to a lower side moving device 32 disposed on a floor of a room such as a prescription room, moving devices such as an upper side moving device 34 disposed at an upper side above a head present indoor (ceiling side) and an up-and-down device 36, a completed container reservoir part 38 and a uncompleted container reservoir part 40, and the like.

[0057] The lower side moving device 32 is one which conveys the tray T receiving the medicines and so on dispensed from the medicine dispensing apparatus 20 described above. The lower side moving device 32 may be constructed by an appropriate conveyance device such as a roller conveyer or a belt conveyer which are conventionally known. The lower side moving device 32 may convey the tray T along to the conveying path reaching to each place such as the up-and-down device 36 and/or the uncompleted container reservoir part 40.

[0058] The upper side moving device 34 may be constructed, likely to the lower side moving device 32, by an appropriate conveyance device such as a roller conveyer or a belt conveyer which are conventionally known. The upper side moving device 34 may convey the tray T, which is lifted to the ceiling side by the up-and-down device 36, through the predetermined path at the ceiling side. The upper side moving device 34 may make the tray T arrive at the completed container reservoir part 38.

[0059] To the upper side moving device 34 and the lower side moving device 32, a conveying direction conversion part 33 (a second conveying direction conversion part), which changes conveying directions of the tray T between crossing directions within the same plane, may be disposed. According to the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the conveying direction conversion part 33 is disposed to the upper side moving device 34. In the conveying direction conversion part 33, the tray T, which was conveyed with facing a first lateral side to a front with respect to a first direction at the upper stream therefrom, is conveyed with facing a second lateral side crossing to the first lateral side to a front toward a second direction which crosses with the first direction. According to the present embodiment, the tray T, which was conveyed with facing the lateral side along to the width direction as a front, is conveyed to the second direction with facing the lateral side along to the length direction to the top in a second direction crossing with the first direction at the down stream from the conveying direction conversion part 33 as a boarder. Here, a width of the conveying path may be same with the upper stream side and the lower stream side with respect to the conveying direction conversion part 33; however, according to the present embodiment, as described above, and considering the conveying direction of the tray T may be changed, the width of the conveying path may be constructed to be larger at the upstream side of the conveying direction than that at the downstream side with respect to the conveying direction conversion part 33.

[0060] To the conveying direction conversion part 33, a container detection sensor 35 is disposed. The container detection sensor 35 may detect presence of the tray T in a region beyond the width direction of the conveying path at the downstream side from the conveying direction conversion part 33. The container detection sensor 35 may be constructed from any kind of sensors and in the present embodiment, a photoelectronic sensor is used.

[0061] Now, as shown in Fig. 4, if the roller conveyer is disposed at a place that the conveying direction of the tray T is changed almost at a right angle such as the conveying direction conversion part 33 or the conveying direction conversion part 31 which is disposed at the upstream side from the conveying direction conversion part 33, the tray T goes between each of rollers for constructing the roller conveyer depending on weights of articles contained in the tray T such that there may be possibility that an one end side of the tray T may be raised up or the tray T may fall down. Therefore, it may be desired that raising up of the tray T described above is prevented when the conveyance device having gaps such as the roller conveyer at the position wherein the conveying direction of the tray T is changed almost at a right angle as the conveying direction conversion parts 31, 33.

[0062] Based on the above findings, according to the present embodiment as the conveying direction conversion part 31, 33, when the conveyer device having gaps to the conveying direction at the upstream side or the downstream side, as shown Fig. 4 (a), (b), it may be desired to dispose a falling-down protection part 29 at the adjacent position. The dropping-down protection part 29 is one which a guide plate 29a standing from and extending along to a frame of a conveyer constructing the conveying direction conversion part 31, 33 is disposed and a guide tip 29b is disposed to the guide plate 29a. The guide tip 29b is a member having a tip shape which is disposed extending laterally at the position corresponding to a height corresponding to the tray T above a conveying face of the conveying direction conversion part 31, 33. By disposing the guide tip 29b, raising up or dropping down of the tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 31,33 may be regulated by the conveying face and the guide tip 29b. Thereby, the defective conveyance of the tray T may be suppressed caused by deviation of weight of the articles contained in the tray T, and the like.

[0063] Furthermore, the upper side moving device 34 is connected to a lowering unit 50 to the completed container reservoir part 38 described later. Thereby, the tray T conveyed by the upper side moving device 34 may be delivered to the the complete container reservoir part 38. Here, the complete container reservoir part 38 makes the tray T move from the upper side to the lower side by the lowering unit 50. Thus, an upper part of the completed container reservoir part 38 connected to the upper side moving device 34 becomes a conveying direction conversion part 37 which makes the conveying direction of the tray T change from the horizontal direction to the up-and-down direction (a third conveying direction conversion part).

[0064] To the upper side moving device 34, a pushing mechanism 39 for pushing in (pushing and moving) the tray T from the upper stream in the conveying direction toward the conveying direction conversion part 37. Any pushing mechanism 39 may be used as far as the pushing mechanism 39 can perform pushing in action to the tray T and in the present embodiment, it is formed as one which is depicted in Fig. 5. Particularly, the pushing mechanism 39 comprises a pushing tip 39a and a sliding mechanism 39b which makes the pushing tip 39a slide in the directions becoming close or apart with respect to the conveying direction conversion part 37. The pushing tip 39a is disposed almost at the center part of a width direction of the upper side moving device 34 and is urged to protrude above beyond the conveying face. The pushing tip 39a becomes to the pushed-down state when the tray T conveyed from the upstream side passes thereon; however, the pushing part 39a will return to the protruded state after passing through of the tray T. Thus, after the tray T has passed through the pushing tip 39a, by sliding the pushing tip 39a with the sliding mechanism 39b toward the conveying direction conversion part 37 side, the tray T may be pushed and moved with the pushing tip 39a.

[0065] The up-and-down device 36 is one which moves the tray T to the up-and-down directions between the lower side moving device 32 defining the lower side conveying region and the upper side moving device 34 defining the upper side conveying region. Any up-and down device 36 may be used, and in the present embodiment, is is formed as one as shown in Fig. 6 that comprises an introduction part 42 at the lower end side and a discharge part 44 at the upper end side. Furthermore, the up-and-down device 36 comprises therein an up-and-down mechanism 46 (refer to Fig. 7) that moves up and down between the introduction part 42 and the discharge part 44. The introduction part 42 is a part into which the tray T conveyed by the lower side moving device 32 is introduced. In turn, the discharge part 44 is a part which discharges the tray T to the upper side moving device 34 from the up-and-down device 36. The up-and-down mechanism 46 is a mechanism for moving the tray T introduced from the introduction part 42 to the discharge part 44. The up-and-down device 36 may change the conveying direction of the tray T from the horizontal direction to the up-and-down direction at the introduction part 42 and may change the conveying direction of the tray T from the up-anddown direction to the horizontal direction. As described above, the up-and-down device 36 functions as a conveying direction conversion part 45 (a first conveying direction conversion part) which is able to change the conveying direction of tray T three dimensionally.

[0066] As for further detailed explanation, as shown in Fig. 6, the up-and-down device 36 comprises an introduction port 42a at a part providing the introduction part 42 and may receive the tray T conveyed from the lower side moving device 32 through the introduction port 42a. Furthermore, the up-and-down device 36 comprises a discharge port 44a at a part providing the discharge part 44 and may discharge the tray T to the upper side moving device 34 through the discharge port 44a.

[0067] As shown in Fig. 7-Fig. 9, the up-and-down mechanism 46 comprises a loading part 46a, a horizontal moving part 46b, an up-and-down moving part 46c and a sensor part 46d.

At the loading part 46a, the horizontal moving part 46b and the sensor part 46d are mounted.

Besides, the loading part 46a may be able to move up and down by actuating the up-and-down moving part 46c. The up-and-down mechanism 46 may move upwardly and downwardly under the condition that the tray T is placed on the horizontal moving part 46b mounted on the loading part 46a.

[0068] The horizontal moving part 46b is one which performs an action for drawing the tray T into the loading part 46a introduced from the introduction port 42a and an action for discharging it from the loading part 46a. Any horizontal moving part 46b may be used so far as it can perform drawing and discharging of the tray T such as a roller conveyer or a belt conveyer and according to the present embodiment, in the present invention, the belt conveyer is adopted. The horizontal moving part 46b may be actuated so as to change the conveying directions to a normal direction and a reverse direction by controlling movement of a motor 46m. The horizontal moving part 46b is disposed at the loading part 46a. Thus, by moving the horizontal moving part 46b to the normal direction, the tray T can be drawn into the loading part 46a and be mounted thereon. In turn, by moving the horizontal moving part 46b to the reverse direction, the tray T on the horizontal moving part 46b can be discharged.

[0069] The up-and-down moving part 46c is one for which makes the loading part 46a move upwardly and downwardly. Any up-and-down moving part 46c may be used so far as it can move the loading part 46a upwardly and downwardly. As shown in Fig. 7, according to the present embodiment, the up-and-down moving part 46c is constructed by connecting the loading part 46a with a belt 46v wrapped around between pulleys 46e, 46f each disposed at a top end and a bottom end of the up-and-down device 36 and a motor 46n is connected to one of the pulleys 46e, 46f (according to the present embodiment, the pulley 46f). The up-and-down moving part 46c may move the up-and-down device 36 upwardly and downwardly by actuating the motor 46n and rotating the belt 46v between the pulleys 46e, 46f. The up-and-down device 36 may provide a state being capable of receiving the tray T by making the up-and-down moving part 46c move until the loading part 46a arrive at the introduction part 42. Besides, the up-and-down device 36 may provide a state being capable of discharging the tray T to the upper side moving device 34 by making the up-and-down moving part 46c move the tray T on the horizontal moving part 46b upwardly until the loading part 46a arrives at the discharge part 44. [0070] The sensor part 46d is one which detects an arrival of the tray T at the up-and-down device 36 constructing the conveying direction conversion part 45. According to the present invention, the sensor part 46d is used for sensing (determining) whether or not the tray T is in the state that it is mounted normally on the horizontal moving part 46b. Here, the state that the tray T is mounted normally on the horizontal moving part 46b means, even when the up-anddown moving part 46c is moved, the tray T on the horizontal moving part 46b is movable smoothly without interfering each position.

[0071 ] The sensor part 46d is mounted on the loading part 46a together with the horizontal moving part 46b. Any sensor part 46d may be used so far as it may detect the arrival of the tray T at the up-and-down moving part 36. According to the present embodiment, as described above, the sensor part 46d is constructed to be one which comprises a first sensor device 46g and a second sensor device 46h so as to make it possible to determine whether or not the tray T is mounted normally. The first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h are the sensors issuing signals upon detecting an article to be on-states, respectively.

[0072] The first sensor device 46g is a sensor for detecting presence or absence of the article at the downstream side of the conveying direction for the tray T arrived at the introduction part 42. In the present embodiment, the first detection device 46g is disposed at a position of the downstream side along to the conveying direction from the conveying device providing the horizontal moving part 46b. Particularly, the first sensor device 46g is disposed at the position opposite to the introduction port 42a. In turn, the second sensor device 46h is a sensor for detecting presence or absence of the article at the upstream side of the conveying direction from the first sensor device 46g. In the present embodiment, the second sensor device 46h is disposed at the position of the upstream side of the conveying direction from the conveying device providing the horizontal moving part 46b. Particularly, the second sensor device 46h is disposed at the position of the introduction port 42a side with respect to the first sensor device 46g. More particularly, the second sensor device 46h is disposed at the position apart upwardly with respect to the first sensor device 46g for a size of the tray T. According to the present invention, since the tray T is conveyed to the horizontal moving part 46b in the posture facing the length direction (longitudinal direction) of the tray T to the conveying direction, a distance between the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h is set to be longer than the length of the tray T. Here, when the tray T is conveyed to the horizontal moving part 46b in the posture facing the width direction (short direction) of the tray T to the conveying direction, the distance between the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h is set to be longer than the width of the tray T.

[0073] The first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h ones that detect the article by projecting light laterally to the tray T, respectively. Here, as described above, the apertures S (light passing part) providing light transparency are disposed at four lateral sides for the tray T and thus, there may be the case that presence of the tray T is not accurately detected because the light is passed through. Thus, in the present embodiment, as indicated by an arrow in Fig. 9, the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h are arranged with facing light axes to a diagonally downward direction. Thereby, the light emitted from the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h (sensing light) may be mounted in the state that the light is capable of projecting to the bottom face of the tray T that has no light passing part or has lesser light passing parts through the apertures S.

[0074] When the tray T is disposed normally on the horizontal moving part 46b, the state, that the article (tray T) is detected by the first sensor device 46g and the article (tray T) is not detected by the second sensor 46h, is provided. Contradictory to this, when the state that the tray T is not disposed normally on the horizontal moving part 46b occurs, because medicines fall down to the position adjacent to the downstream side of the conveying direction for the tray T arrived at the horizontal moving part 46b, the article can be detected not only by the first sensor device 46g but is also detected by the second sensor device 46h. That is to say, when the state that the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h both detect the article is realized, it is suspected that the tray T is in the state that it sticks out to the upstream side of the conveying direction (the second sensor 46h side) beyond its normal position.

[0075] The complete container reservoir part 38 reserves the container as the completed container which is assigned to the formulation that preparation of the medicines to be gathered in the tray T is completed by dispensing by the medicine dispensing apparatus 20. The completed container reservoir part 38 may be disposed, for example, near to a counter of the prescription room, and the like. Here, as described above, the complete container reservoir part 38 is connected to the upper side moving device 34 at the top part thereof. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 10, at the top end side of the complete container reservoir part 38, a part, which becomes to the conveying direction conversion part 37 for changing the conveying direction of the tray T from the horizontal direction to the up-and-down direction, is formed.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 11, to the conveying direction conversion part 37, a step 37b is disposed such that the conveying path becomes to be lower than that of the upstream side (the conveying face of the upper side moving device 34). Then, when the tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37, the tray T becomes to the state that the tray T is lowered by the step 37b. In addition, to the conveying direction conversion part 37, a rebound suppressing part 37a is disposed. The rebound suppressing part 37a is one that suppressses rebound of the tray T pushed into the conveying direction conversion part 37 by the above described pushing mechanism 39 to the upstream side of the conveying direction. Any rebound suppressing part 37a may be used so far as it can exhibit the function and according to the present embodiment, in the present embodiment, it is composed from a tip shaped member. The rebound suppressing part 37a is disposed such that it arrives at the position adjacent to the brim part T2 at the upstream side of the conveying direction in the state that the tray T is lowered due to the step 37b of the conveying direction conversion part 37. Then, when the tray T is pushed into and arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37 by the pushing mechanism 39, the brim part T2 interferes with the rebound suppressing part 37a and does not rebound if the tray T tries to rebound toward the upstream side. Thereby, the tray T may be held at a predetermined conveying position.

[0077] The complete container reservoir part 38 comprises a lowering unit 50 below the conveying direction conversion part 37 described above. As shown in Fig. 10, the lowering unit 50 comprises a container moving space 54 which is formed so as to communicate upwardly with a body 52 of the complete container reservoir part 38. The flowering unit 50 is one which, in the container moving space 54, may make the tray T move to from the upstream side to the downward side while supporting the tray T. The lowering unit 50 is connected to the upper side moving device 34 described above at the upper end side. Thus, the lowering unit 50 may receive the tray T conveyed by the upper side moving device 34 and may lower the tray T to the position that the pharmacist etc. can take out easily in the prescription room and reserve them. Besides, the lowering unit 50 may take out the tray T from apertures disposed at a pair of a first lateral side 52a and a second lateral side 52b opposing each other which forms the body 52. Thus, by positioning pharmacists etc. at the first lateral side 52a side and the second lateral side 52b side, the complete container reservoir 38 may be used in a usage method that both workers can share.

[0078] As shown in Fig. 12 and so on, the lowering unit 50 comprises two kinds of pawls such as actuating pawls 56 and moving pawls 58, an actuating pawl actuation mechanism 60 and a moving pawl actuation mechanism 62 each of which makes these pawls actuate. The actuation pawls 56 are ones which are able to alter protrusion states between the state protruding from the lateral side to the container moving space 54 and the state evacuated from the container moving space 54. The actuating pawls 56 are disposed at predetermined positions of the up-and-down directions, respectively. Any actuating pawl actuation mechanism 60 may be used so far as it can actuate the actuating pawl 56 and in the embodiment of the present invention, it comprises an actuator such as a motor so that it may actuate the actuating pawls 56 cooperatively with the actuation of the actuator.

[0079] The moving pawls 58 are ones which are capable of moving upwardly and downwardly with keeping the state protruding from the lateral side toward the container moving space 54. A plurality of moving pawls 58 are disposed so as to provide an arrangement corresponding to each of the actuating pawls 56. The moving pawls 58 are disposed at the leftand-right side positions adjacent to the actuating pawls 56. Any moving pawl actuation mechanism 62 may be used as far as it can make the moving pawls 58 upwardly and downwardly. In the present embodiment, the moving pawl actuation mechanism 62 is constructed by fixing the moving pawls 58 at every predetermined spacing to belts 62c, 62d wrapped around between pulleys 62a, 62b which are disposed at the upper end side and the lower end side of the lowering unit 50 and moving power of a motor 62e is able to transfer to one of the pulleys 62a, 62b (in the present embodiment, the pulley 62a).

[0080] The lowering unit 50 may lower the tray T by keeping the state that the actuating pawls 56 are evacuated from the container moving space 54 while moving the moving pawls 58 downwardly. Furthermore, under the condition that the moving pawls 58 arrive at the position corresponding to the actuating pawls 56, the tray T may be supported by the actuating pawls 56 and the moving pawls 58 from the lower direction with the brim part T2. Particularly, the lowering unit 50 can support the tray T from the lower direction with the brim part T2 by the actuating pawls 58 and the moving pawls 58 under the condition that the moving pawls 58 arrive at the position corresponding to the actuating pawls 56 protruding from the lateral sides toward the container moving space 54(supportable unit).

[0081] The lowering unit 50 comprises a first lateral sensor 64 and a second lateral sensor 66 as well as the actuating pawls 56 and the moving pawls 58. The first lateral sensor 64 and the second lateral sensor 66 are ones that detect the tray T protruding from the container moving space 54 to the first lateral side 52a or the second lateral side 52b, respectively.

[0082] The uncompleted container reservoir part 40 reserves the tray T which is allocated to the formulation that preparation of the medicine to be gathered in the tray T is short by dispensing from the medicine dispensing apparatus 20 as an uncompleted container. Any uncompleted container reservoir part 40 may be used so far as it can be able to reserve the uncompleted container and for example, it may be one which illustrated in Fig. 13.

[0083] The uncompleted container reservoir part 40 of the present embodiment comprises a lifter 70 being capable of lifting the tray T. The uncompleted container reservoir part 40 may bring up by the lifter 70 and reserves a plurality of trays T with respect to the uncompleted formulation in a vertically aligned state. The lifter 70 comprises a pair of pawl members 72, 72 disposed along to the face of the left and right sides of the uncompleted container reservoir part 40. The lifter 70 may support almost horizontally the tray T by supporting the brim part T2 of the tray T from the lower direction by the pawl members 72, 72. Besides, a moving mechanism for moving the pawl members 72, 72 upwardly is disposed (not shown). Thus, by moving the pair of the pawl members 72, 72 supporting the tray T from both sides, the tray T can be moved upwardly with keeping the tray T almost horizontally.

[0084] The controller part 100 is one which controls motion of the medicine dispensing apparatus 20 and the conveyance system 30 each constructing the medicine prescribing system

10. The controller part 100 has its feature in conveyance control for the conveying direction conversion part 45 (first conveying direction conversion part), the conveying direction conversion part 33 (second conveying direction conversion part) and the conveying direction conversion part 37 (third conveying direction conversion part) and in motion control with respect to the complete container reservoir part 38 and the uncompleted container reservoir part

40. Hereafter, about the motion control for each part by the controller part 100 will be described in detail with referring to drawings.

[0085] «With respect to conveyance control of tray T at conveying direction conversion part 45»

When there is a tray T to be moved toward the upper side moving device 34 from the lower side moving device 32, the controller part 100 performs the conveyance control at the conveying direction conversion part 45 using a control flow shown in Fig. 14.

[0086] (Stepl-1)

In the step 1-1, the controller part 100 determines whether or not there is a tray T to be moved to the upper side moving device 34. As the result, when determination is made that there is the tray T to be moved to the conveying direction conversion part 34, the process flow proceeds to step 1-2.

[0087] (Step 1-2)

In the step 1-2, the controller part 100 makes the loading part 46a move to the introduction part 42 side in the up-and-down device 36. Thereby, the horizontal moving part 46b is waited at the introduction part 42. Then, the control flow proceeds to step 1-3.

[0088] (Step 1-3)

In the step 1-3, the controller part 100 actuates the lower side moving device 32.

Thereby, the tray T (completed tray) to be moved to the upper moving device 34 may be moved to the up-and-down device 36 side.

[0089] (Step 1-4)

In the step 1-4, the controller part 100 determines whether or not the tray T (completed tray) arrives at the introduction port 42a of the up-and-down device 36. Determination whether or not the tray T (completed tray) arrives at the introduction port 42a may be done by the second sensor device 46h or by detection information of a sensor disposed separately from the second sensor device 46h. Here, when the determination that the tray T arrives at the introduction port

42a is made, the process flow proceeds to step 1-5.

[0090] (Step 1-5)

In the step 1-5, the controller part 100 actuates the horizontal moving part 46b which is waited at the introduction part 42 of the up-and-down device 36. Thereby, the tray T is drawn on the horizontal moving part 46b. Then, the control flow proceeds to step 1-6.

[0091] (Step 1-6)

In the step 1-6, the controller part 100 confirms whether or not the detection signal of the first sensor device 46g becomes to the on-state. Here, when the detection signal of the first sensor device 46g becomes to the on-state, it is considered that the tray T or any article is present. Thus, when the detection signal output from the first sensor device 46g is confirmed to be the on-state, the control flow proceeds to step 1-7.

[0092] (Step 1-7)

In the step 1-7, the controller part 100 terminates motion of the horizontal moving part 46b. Thereby, the motion for draw in the tray T is completed. Then, the control flow proceeds to step 1-8.

[0093]

In the step 1-8, the controller part 100 confirms whether or not the detection signal of the second sensor device 46h is to be the on-state. Here, as described above, when the tray T is placed normally on the conveying direction conversion part 45, the tray is detected by the first sensor device 46g while the tray T is not detected by the second sensor device 46h. However, if the detection signal of the first sensor device 46g is to be the on-state due to dropping down of contents of the tray T (article to be conveyed) in front of the tray T or presence of another obstacle, and the like, it is supposed that the tray T is present in the position displaced to the introduction part 42a side due to the dropping down article. Therefore, when the detection signal of the second sensor device 46h is in the on-state, it is considered that the tray T is not drawn into the normal position due to the dropping down article in front of the tray T.

[0094] Based on the above findings, the detection signal of the second sensor device 46h is to be the on-state in the step 1-8, determination by the controller part 100 is made that the tray T does not arrive at the normal position and the control step proceeds to step 1-11. On the other hand, when the detection signal of the second sensor device 46h is to be an off-state in the step 1-8, determination is made by the controller part 100 that the tray T is drawn into the normal position and the control flow proceeds to step 1-9.

[0095] (Step 1-9)

In the step 1-9, the controller part 100 actuates the up-and-down moving part 46c to make the loading part 46a arrive at the discharge part 44. Thereby, the horizontal moving part 46b and the tray T placed thereon arrive at the discharge part 44 together with the loading part 46a. Then, the control flow proceeds to step 1-10.

[0096] (Step 1-10)

In the step 1-10, the controller part 100 actuates the horizontal moving part 46b to the reverse direction against the direction for draw-in movement. Thereby, the tray T is discharged from the discharge port 44a to the upper side moving device 34 and the sequential control flow is terminated.

[0097] (Step 1-11)

In the step 1-11, the controller part 100 performs processing for reporting that the tray T is to be the state that it cannot arrive at the normal position due to the dropped down article, and the like. Particularly, the action control by the controller part 100 may be performed such that the report will be performed with sounds or displays by a reporting device such as a buzzer, a speaker, and a display, and the like which are separately disposed or by an operation panel disposed in association with the controller part 100. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0098] «With respect to conveyance control of tray T at conveying direction conversion part 33»

Subsequently, the motion control performed by the controller part 100 will be explained in detail when the conveying direction of the tray T is changed at the conveying direction conversion part 33 with referring to Fig. 15. Here, in the present embodiment, the construction in which the conveying direction conversion part 33 is disposed to the upper side moving device 34 is exemplarily shown; however, the control method described below can control similarly in the case that one which corresponds to the conveying direction conversion part 33 is disposed at the other part such as to the lower side moving device 32.

[0099] (Step 2-1)

In the step 2-1, the controller part 100 confirms whether or not the tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 33. Arrival of the tray T can be confirmed by a sensor disposed to the conveying direction conversion part 33. When the arrival of the tray T is confirmed in the step 2-1, the control flow proceeds to the step 2-2.

[0100] (Step 2-2)

In the step 2-2, the controller part 100 confirms whether or not presence of the tray T is detected by the container detection sensor 35. Now, as described above, there may be a case that the tray T protrudes to the region beyond the width direction of the conveying path of the downstream side because the tray T is in a slanted posture in the conveying direction conversion part 33. In such case, if the tray T is intended to convey to the downstream side beyond the conveying direction conversion part 33, conveyance cannot be performed smoothly because the tray T interferes to each place. The container detection sensor 35 is a sensor that is capable of detecting whether or not the tray T is present in the state that the tray T protrudes to the region beyond the width direction of the conveying path at the downstream side from the conveying direction conversion part 33. Thus, it is confirmed whether or not the tray T is detected by the container detection sensor 35 in the step 2-2 and if detected, the control flow is proceeded to step 2-3 and if not detected, the control flow is proceeded to step 2-4 is performed.

[0101] (Step 2-3)

As described above, when the presence of the tray T is detected by the container detection sensor 35 in the step 2-2, the posture of the tray T is in the condition being not adequate for conveying thereof to the downstream side beyond the conveying direction conversion part 33. Therefore, in the step 2-3, reporting processing that the tray T is in the state being not adequate for conveying to the downstream side is performed by the controller part 100. Particularly, the action control by the controller part 100 may be performed such that the report will be performed with sounds or displays by a reporting device such as a buzzer, a speaker, and a display and the like which are separately disposed or by an operation panel disposed in association with the controller part 100. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0102] (Step 2-4)

As described above, when the presence of the tray T is not detected by the container detection sensor 35 in the step 2-2, it is considered that the posture of the tray T is in the state that there is no problem for conveying to the downstream side beyond the conveying direction conversion part 33. Thus, in the step 2-4, the motion control is performed so as to perform the motion for dispatching the tray T to the downstream side beyond the conveying direction conversion part 33. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0103] «With respect to conveyance control of tray T at conveying direction conversion part 37 and completed container reservoir part 38»

Next, the conveyance control of the tray T at the conveying direction conversion part will be described in detail with referring to Fig. 16.

[0104] (Step 3-1)

In the step 3-1, the determination whether or not the state allows to move the tray T to the conveying direction conversion part 37 is made by the controller part 100. The determination whether or not the tray T is allowed to be moved is performed using a determination condition that the other tray T is not present at the conveying direction conversion part 37 by a sensor disposed to the conveying direction conversion part 37, and the like. When the determination that the tray T is allowed to be moved is made, the control flow proceeds to step 3-2.

[0105] (Step 3-2)

In the step 3-2, the control for conveying the tray T to the conveying direction conversion part 37 is performed. Particularly, the motion control by the controller part 100 to actuate the conveyer at the upstream side is performed Thereby, the tray T is conveyed to the conveying direction conversion part 37. Besides, when the tray T arrives at the position to which the pushing mechanism 39 is disposed, the pushing mechanism 39 is actuated. Thereby, the tray T is pushed into the conveying direction conversion part 37. Then, the control flow is proceeded to step 3-3.

[0106] (Step 3-3)

In the step 3-3, the controller part 100 determines whether or not the tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37. Arrival of the tray T may be possible by a sensor disposed to the conveying direction conversion part 37. In the step 3-3, when the arrival of the tray T is confirmed, the control flow proceeds to step 3-4.

[0107] (Step 3-4)

In the step 3-4, the determination whether or not the state allows the tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37 to move the completed container reservoir part 38 connected to the conveying direction conversion part 37 is performed by the controller part 100. Particularly, confirmation is performed whether or not free space for reserving the tray T is present in the completed container reservoir part 38. Here, when it is determined that the tray T cannot be moved to the completed container reservoir part 38 side, the control flow is suspended in the step 3-4 until the state allows the movement. On the other hand, when it is determined that the tray T is allowed to be moved to the completed container reservoir part 38, the control flow proceeds to step 3-5.

[0108] (Step 3-5)

In the step 3-5, the confirmation whether or not the state is in that the tray T protrudes only to one side of the first lateral side 52a or the second lateral side 52b from the container moving space 54 (tray protrusion state) is made by the controller part 100. It may be possible by an appropriate method whether or not the tray protrusion state occurs, and in the present invention, the determination is made depending on the detection signal output from the first lateral sensor 64 and the second lateral sensor 66. Particularly, the determination to be the tray protrusion state is performed by the controller part 100 using the condition that the detection signal is output only from one of the first lateral sensor and the second lateral sensor. When the lowering unit 50 is actuated under the tray protrusion state, it is suspected to suffer unpredictable faults such as dropping down of the tray, and the like. Thus, when the determination is made that the tray is to be in the tray protrusion state, the control flow is proceeded to step 3-6 for issuing a notice therefor or for inhibiting the movement of the lowering unit 50. On the other hand, when the determination is made that the tray is not to be in the tray protrusion state, the control flow proceeds to step 3-7, because there is no problem for moving the lowering unit.

[0109] (Step 3-6)

In the step 3-6, the controller part 100 performs processing for noticing the tray protrusion state and for inhibiting the movement of the lowering unit 50. Then, the control flow is reverted to the step 3-5.

[0110] (Step 3-7)

In the step 3-7, the controller part 100 performs confirmation whether or not one which becomes to the state becoming impossible to be evacuated from the container moving space 54 among the actuating pawls 56 disposed upwardly and downwardly with the predetermined spacing is present. The determination whether or not each of the actuating pawls 56 is allowed to make evacuation movement is made by an appropriate method including a method determined based on an output signal from a separately disposed sensor and a method determined by information input by a user, and the like. In the present embodiment, the confirmation whether or not the evacuation movement is possible is made by actual actuation of each actuating pawl 56. When the determination is made that there is an actuating pawl 56 becoming impossible for evacuation in the step 3-7, the control flow is proceeded to step 3-8 and when the determination that there is no actuating pawl 56 becoming impossible for evacuation, the control flow is proceeded to step 3-9.

[0111] (Step 3-8)

In the step 3-8, the controller part 100 performs processing for limiting a range for allowing falling down of the tray T (range allowing falling down) in the completed container reservoir part 38 (processing for limiting movable range). In the present embodiment, the range allowing falling down is limited within the range defined by the position where the actuating pawl 56 determined to be impossible for evacuation and the upper region therefrom. Then, the control flow is proceeded to step 3-9.

[0112] (Step 3-9)

In the step 3-9, the controller part 100 actuates the lowering unit 50 to perform processing for lowering one or 2 or more tray T in turn to the lower direction (loading down processing) by sending in turn the tray T to the position of the actuating pawl 56 in an empty state confirmed in the step 3-8 and the like. Particularly, the controller part 100, for example, performs the loading down processing as described later with referring to Fig. 26. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0113] «Back up action by uncompleted container reservoir part 40»

In the medicine prescription system 10, the tray T (completed tray) may be conveyed in the path going through the up-and-down device 36 and the upper side moving device 34 and may be reserved in the completed container reservoir part 38 as the condition that all of the upand-down device 36, the upper side moving device 34 and the complete container reservoir part 38 is allowed to use. However, any one of the up-and-down devices 36, the upper side moving device 34 and the complete container reservoir part 38 becomes out of use, complementation may become impossible by conveying the tray T to the completed container reservoir part 38. As for preparing to such event, with setting the case that a part or all of the up-and-down device 36, the upper side moving device 34 and the complete container reservoir part 38 becomes out of use as a condition, the medicine prescription system 10 of the present embodiment is constructed to be able to perform a backup action by using the uncompleted container reservoir part 40 as a reservoir for the tray T. Hereinafter, the backup action by the uncompleted container reservoir part 40 will be explained in detail with referring to Fig. 17.

[0114] (Step 4-1)

In the step 4-1, the controller part 100 confirms whether or not the state allows the sequential processing (completed container conveying and reserving operation) from conveying the tray T (completed tray) to and reserving in the completed container reservoir part 38. As for particular example, in the present embodiment, Confirmation is performed whether or not all of the up-and-down device 36, the upper side moving device 34 and the complete container reservoir part 38 is to be in the usable state. As the result, when the completed container conveying and reserving operation is impossible (according to the present embodiment, when it is confirmed that a part or all of the up-and-down device 36, the upper side moving device 34 and the complete container reservoir part 38 becomes out of use.), the control flow is proceeded to step 4-2.

[0115] (Step 4-2)

In the step 4-2, the controller part 100 performs control to convey the tray T (completed container) to the uncompleted container reservoir part 40 by the lower side moving device 32. Then, the control flow is proceeded to step 4-3.

[0116] (Step 4-3)

In the step 4-3, the controller part 100 makes the uncompleted container reservoir part actuate and performs processing for reserving the tray T (completed container) to be originally reserved in the completed container reservoir part 38 to the uncompleted container reservoir part 40. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0117] As described above, in the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the tray T is in the state normally placed on the conveying direction conversion part 45 depending on the detection information of the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h. Therefore, the conveyance system 30 can precisely understand whether or not the tray T is in the state normally placed on the conveying direction conversion part 45 and may suppress occasion of the defective conveyance, malfunction of the conveyance system and the damage of the tray T.

[0118] Furthermore, in the conveyance system 30, the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h are disposed in a mounting condition that light axes are directed so as to be able to project light to the bottom face T1 of the tray T through the apertures S provided to the tray T. Thus, even when the tray T having the apertures S, the tray T can be detected accurately by the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h. Now, in the present embodiment, the construction, that the light axes of the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h are directed as described above, is exemplarily described; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Particularly, it may be possible to dispose any one of or both of the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h to the different mounting condition from the above described one. Furthermore, the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h may be constructed with ones other than the photoelectronic sensors; one without the light passing part such as the apertures S may be used as the tray T and so on to solve apprehension for detection defects caused by passage of the light through the apertures S. [0119] In the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the tray T is present at the normal position at the conveying direction conversion part 45 disposed at the part that changes the conveying direction of the tray T in a stereo (threedimensional) fashion and permission for up-and-down movement of the tray T to be performed thereafter is determined. Thus, in the conveyance system 30, even when the tray T is conveyed through a conveyance path associating with the up-and-down movement, the tray T may be conveyed stably with considering that dropping down of the tray T and so on may not occur. [0120] Here, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the tray T arrives at the normal position in the conveying direction conversion part 45 disposed at the part that the conveying direction of the tray T is changed in stereo (three-dimensional) fashion by the first sensor device 46g and the second sensor device 46h; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Particularly, it may be determined by using the similar construction and the control whether or not the tray T arrives at the normal position in the case that the conveying direction of the tray T dos not associate changes along to the height direction and changes two dimensionally.

[0121] In the conveying system 30 of the present embodiment, the conveying direction conversion part 33, which changes the conveying direction of the tray T to the crossing direction, is disposed on the conveyance path. In addition, the container detection sensor 35 is disposed to the conveying direction conversion part 33 and by detecting whether or not the tray T protrudes to the region beyond the width of the conveying path at the downstream side due to inclination of the tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 33, it is determined whether or not the tray T is to be in the state that the tray T is able to move without no problem from the conveying direction conversion part 33 to the downstream side. Thus, in the conveyance system 30, the defective conveyance may be prevented before anything happens upon changing the conveying directions at the conveying direction conversion part 33.

[0122] Here, in the present embodiment, as a representative example for providing the apprehension for causing problems upon changing the conveying direction by becoming the inclined posture of the tray T, the part that the width of the conveying path becomes narrower at the downstream side than that at the upstream side of the conveying direction conversion part 33; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Particularly, in the case that the width of the conveying path is almost same at the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the position where the conveying direction is changed, or in the case that the width of the conveying path becomes wider at the downstream side than that at the upstream side with respect to the position where the conveying direction is changed, it may be possible to dispose one corresponding to the container detection sensor 35 similar to the conveying direction conversion part 33.

[0123] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as a representative example for providing the apprehension of causing problems upon changing the conveying direction by becoming the inclined posture of the tray T, the part as the conveying direction conversion part 33 in that the tray T is conveyed along to the longitudinal direction at the upstream side of the conveying direction and the tray T is conveyed along to the width direction at the downstream side of the conveying direction from the conveying direction conversion part 33; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Particularly, contradictory to the above, the part for changing the conveying direction of the tray which has been conveyed with the width direction to the length direction may have the similar construction with the above described conveying direction conversion part 33.

[0124] In the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment, in addition to the pushing mechanism for pushing in the tray T toward the conveying direction conversion part 37, the rebound suppressing part 37a for suppressing the rebound of the tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37 to the upstream side along to the conveying direction. Thus, tray T can be certainly pushed into the conveying direction conversion part 37 by the pushing mechanism 39 while suppressing the rebound of the tray T toward to the upstream side. Furthermore, in the conveyance system 30, the rebound of the tray T to the upstream side is further suppressed by providing the step 37b to make lower than the upstream side of the conveying direction at the conveying direction conversion part 37. Therefore, according to the above construction, the rebound of the tray T toward the upstream side at the conveying direction conversion part 37 may be suppressed at the maximum extent. Here, according to the present embodiment, an example that the step 37b as well as the rebound suppressing part 37a are disposed is explained; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Particularly, instead of providing the rebound suppressing part 37a, the rebound of the tray T may be suppressed by the other strategy. Furthermore, the conveyance of the tray T to the conveying direction conversion part 37 is practiced by the conveyer and pushing into the conveying direction conversion part 37 may be practiced by various methods such as accelerating in front of the conveying direction conversion part 37 and so on, and the step 37b may be disposed for suppressing the rebound of the tray T caused therefrom.

[0125] In the conveying system 30 of the present embodiment, when the actuating pawls 56 become to the state that the the actuating pawls 56 are impossible for the evacuation in the lowering unit 50, rather than making the entire lowering unit 50 out of use, the tray T is moved to the lower direction while supporting the tray T with limiting movement within the range defined by the position where the actuating pawl 56 determined to be impossible for the evacuation and the upper region therefrom. Thus, in the conveyance system 30, even if a part of the actuating pawls 56b cannot be evacuated, the lowering unit 50 may be used effectively at the maximum extent within the available range.

[0126] In the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment, with setting the case that at he lowering unit 50 the tray T is detected only by any one of the first lateral sensor 64 and the second lateral sensor 66 as the condition. By performing such control, the up-and-down movement of the tray T under the unstable deviated state to the first lateral face side 52a or the second lateral face side 52b.

[0127] In the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment, the tray T conveyed through the upper side moving device 34 disposed at the ceiling side may be transferred to the completed container reservoir part 38 through the conveying direction conversion part 37 and the may be lowered toward the floor side at the completed container reservoir part 38.

Furthermore, by disposing reader devices each of which can read the memory medium T3 of the tray T, the conveying status of the tray T may be managed based on the read information. Here, in the case adopting the construction described above, when a reading error of the memory medium T3 with respect to the tray T passing through now on the upper side moving device 34, a termination of the conveyance of the tray T at the upper side moving device 34 makes apprehension for cumbersome work such as recovery of the tray T that caused the error by preparing a stepladder. Therefore, when the reading error of the memory medium T3 occurs about the tray T passing through the upper side moving device 34, rather than terminating the conveyance of the tray T at the upper side moving device 34, it may be desired that the tray T is lowered toward the floor side through the completed container reservoir part 38 as making the recognizable state that the tray T is one that the error has happened. By adopting such construction, load to a user may be suppressed at the minimum extent.

[0128] The medicine prescription system 10 of the present embodiment is one which comprises the conveyance system 30 described above. Thus, the medicine dispensed to the tray T from the medicine dispensing apparatus 20 may be conveyed appropriately to a predetermined position. Thereby, troubles such as a halt of the medicine prescription system 10 associated with the defective conveyance of the tray T may be suppressed at the minimum extent and thereby contributing to making prescription work effective.

[0129] In the medicine prescription system 10, the completed tray may be made to arrive at the completed container reserving part 38 through the up-and-down device 36 and the upper side moving device 34 and may be reserved therein. Thus, a path for moving the completed tray may be disposed at the ceiling side of the prescription room and so on so that space may be used effectively. Now, according to the present embodiment, an example that space at the ceiling side of the prescription room etc. is used effectively for moving the completed tray and the uncompleted tray is transferred in the space of the floor side has been presented; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Particularly, the construction that the space of the ceiling side of the prescription room and so on is utilized not only for moving the completed tray but also is utilized effectively for moving the uncompleted tray, or the construction that the space of the ceiling side is utilized for moving the uncompleted tray and the completed tray is moved in the space at the floor side may be possible. Furthermore, from a point of view for effective utilization of the indoor space, it is desired that any one or both of the completed tray and the uncompleted tray may be moved in the space at the ceiling side; however, the construction that both of the completed tray and the uncompleted tray may be moved at the floor side may also be possible.

[0130] Besides, in the medicine prescription system of the present embodiment 10, with setting the case that the up-and-down device 36, the upper side moving device 34, and the completed container reservoir part 38 for transferring the completed tray become out of use as the condition, the completed tray may be made to be arrived at the uncompleted container reservoir part 40 through the lower side moving device 32 and may be reserved therein. As described above, in the medicine prescription system 10 of the present embodiment, the uncompleted container reservoir pat 40 may be utilized as for the backup in the case that the upand-down device 36, the upper side moving device 34, or the completed container reservoir part 38 become out of use. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, if the up-and-down device 36 and the upper side moving device 34 becomes out of use, lowering of the efficiency of the prescription work due to the halt of the entire medicine prescription system 10 and so on may be suppressed at the minimum extent.

[0131] Now, in the present embodiment, an example that the uncompleted container reservoir pat 40 is utilized as for the backup in the case that the up-and-down device 36, the upper side moving device 34, and the completed container reservoir part 38 become out of use is explained; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Particularly, there may be the construction that even if that the up-and-down device 36, the upper side moving device 34, and the completed container reservoir part 38 become out of use, the uncompleted container reservoir part 40 is not used as for the backup and the construction that a reservoir room for the backup which is capable of reserving the completed tray may be provided.

[0132] «Failing down operation of tray»

Falling down operation of the tray T in the completed container reservoir part 38 will be further described in detail with referring to drawings.

[0133] To the container moving space 54 in the complete container reservoir part 38, a plurality of stop-positions A of the container for stopping the tray T are disposed along to the up-and-down direction. For example, in the container moving space 54, seven stop-positions A1-A7 of the container are disposed in the upper and the lower directions, Furthermore, to each of the stop-positions A of the container, the actuating pawls 56 and the moving pawls 58 are disposed. In the completed container reservoir part 38, the tray T may be stopped at each of the stop-positions A of the container by supporting the brim part T2 of the tray T by the actuating pawls 56. Besides, in the completed container reservoir part 38, the tray T may be moved upwardly and downwardly in the state that the brim part T2 of the tray T is supported by the moving pawls 58 from the lower direction.

[0134] More particularly, as shown in Fig. 19 (a) and (b), the lowering unit 50 comprises a pair of actuating pawls 56 disposed to every stop-position A of the container. Besides, the lowering unit 50 comprises a plurality of moving pawls 58 disposed movably along to the upand-down direction at a lateral side of the actuating pawl 56. The pair of the actuation pawls 56 are disposed with facing each other through the container moving space 54. The moving pawls 58 are also disposed similar to the actuating pawls 56 with facing each other through the container moving space 54 so as to form the pairs.

[0135] The actuating pawls 56 are controlled by the controller part 100 and are switched between the state that they protrude from the lateral side to the container moving space 54 (supportable state) and the state that they are evacuated from the container moving space 54 (evacuation state). More particularly as shown in Fig, 20, the actuating pawls 56 are held swingably with one end as supporting point for swinging. The actuation pawls 56 may be switchable between the posture that the other free end is protruded to the container moving space 54 from the lateral side (refer to Fig. 20 (a)) and the posture that the other end is positioned upper and evacuated from the container moving space 54 (refer to Fig. 20 (b)). By such actions, the actuating pawls 56 may be switched between the supportable state and the evacuation state.

[0136] As shown in Fig. 19 (b), in the completed container reservoir part 38, by making the actuating pawls 56 to be the supportable state, the tray T may be stopped at the stop-position A of the container (stop-position). In the present embodiment, the brim part T2 of the tray T is supported by the moving pawls 58 in the stopping state as well as the actuating pawls 56. The moving pawls 58 are pressed from the upper direction at the stopping state and support the tray T while keeping the almost horizontal posture.

[0137] As shown in Fig. 19 (a) etc., the moving pawls 58 are disposed at both sides of one actuating pawl 56. The moving pawls 58 are attached swingably and freely to a predetermined angle with respect to the belt 62c, 62d. More particularly, as shown in Fig. 21 (a), the moving pawls 58, when load is exerted from the upper direction, protrude to the container moving space 54 from the lateral sides and keep the almost horizontal posture. Therefore, by moving the moving pawls 58 upwardly and downwardly in the state mounting the brim part T2 of the tray T on the moving pawls 58, the tray T may be moved within the container moving space 54.

[0138] In addition, as shown in Fig. 21 (b), the moving pawls 58, when outer force from the lower direction to push up is exerted, swing to the upper direction with making the part attached to the belts 62c, 62d as the swing point. Thus, even in the case that as shown in Fig. 22 the tray T is assumed still present as the stopping state at the stop-positions A of the container (in Fig.

22, shown exemplarily as the stop-position A2 of the container), the moving pawls 58 can be moved from the upper direction side of the tray T to the lower direction. In further detailed description, in the state that the tray is stopped at the stop-position A2 of the container as shown in Fig. 22 (a), the belt 60c is moved to the lower direction while keeping the actuating pawls 56 positioned at the stop-position A2 of the container protruded toward the container moving space 54 (supportable state), the moving pawls 58 come to the brim part T2 of the tray T from the upper direction of the stop-position A2 of the container.

[0139] Here, as described above, the moving pawls 58 are evacuated by exerting the pushing up force from the lower direction so as to be swung the free end side to the upper direction. Besides, as shown in Fig. 22 (b), when the moving pawls 58 moved to the lower direction with respect to the movement of the belt 62c become contact with the brim part T2 of the tray T, the pushing up force is exerted to the moving pawls 58. Thereby, the moving pawls 58 are pushed to be removed upwardly and become to the evacuation posture from the container moving space 54. Thus, even in the case that the tray T is kept present as the stopping state at the stop-position A of the container, the presence of the tray T kept in the stopping state may not become an obstacle and the moving pawls 58 may be moved. The moving pawls 58 further move to the lower direction with passing through the position of tray T kept as the stopping state and then recover to the state protruded from the lateral side to the container moving space 54 to return to the supportable state for the tray T.

[0140] «With respect to loading down operation»

The conveyance system 30 makes the lowering unit 50 actuate by the controller part

100 and may lower in turn one, two, or more trays T (loading down). Besides, the conveyance system 30, in the loading down operation, in the case that there are the stop-positions A of the container at the stopping state and the stop-positions A of the container in the state that the actuating pawls 56 do not support the tray T (empty position) among the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container, may place the tray T at the other stop-positions A of the container by lowering at least one of the tray T while keeping arrangement to the stop-positions A of the container of one, two or more of the tray T. Furthermore, the conveyance system 30, in the loading down operation among the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container, when the stop-positions A of the container becoming to be the empty state between two or more stop-positions A of the container becoming to be the stopping state, may position the tray T to one or more stop-positions A of the container becoming to be the empty state by lowering the tray T (space filling).

[0141] Furthermore, the lowering unit 50, in the loading down operation, among each of the stop-positions A of the container (in the present embodiment, the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container) disposed in up-and-down direction of the container moving space 54, may move the tray T such that the tray T becomes to a space-filled state along to the upper direction or the lower direction with respect to an optional position as a reference. That is to say, the lowering unit 50 may move the tray T such that the state that each of the tray T is positioned at the stoppositions A of the container disposed to the upper direction or the lower direction with respect to the stop-position A of the container as the reference.

[0142] Particularly, as shown in Fig. 23, the lowering unit 50, with using the stop-positions A of the container (for example, stop-position Al of the container) at the upper side of the container moving space 54 among the stop-positions Al-A7 of the container, may perform the operation (hereinbelow referred to “loading down operation in a top reference”) that the tray T is lowered so as to position the tray T in the space-filled state in turn toward the lower direction from the stop-position Al of the container. Besides, as shown in Fig. 2, the lowering unit 50, with using the stop-positions A of the container (for example, stop-position A7 of the container) at the lower side of the container moving space 54 among the stop-positions Al-A7 of the container, may perform the operation (hereinbelow referred to “loading down operation in a bottom reference”) that the tray T is lowered so as to position the tray T in the space filled state in turn toward the upper direction from the stop-position A7 of the container.

[0143] «Loading down operation in top reference»

Fig. 23 illustrates a schematic view of an example of an arrangement of the tray T when the tray T is loaded down in the top reference. When the tray T is subjected to the loading down operation in the top reference, the controller 100 performs the operation control to lower the tray T such that the tray T is arranged to fill the space in turn from the stop-position Al of the container.

[0144] For, example, as shown in Fig. 23 (a-1), when the tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37 in the state that the tray T is not present at any one of the stoppositions A1-A7 of the container, the controller 100 performs the operation control to arrange the tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37 (hereafter sometimes referred to “new tray T”) to the stop-position Al of the container at the top shelf. Besides, as shown in Fig. 23 (a-2), when the new tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37 in the state that the tray T is present at the stop-position Al of the container, the controller 100 performs the operation control for conveying the new tray T to the stop-position Al of the container by sending in turn the tray T positioned at the stop-position Al of the container to the stop-position A2 of the container.

[0145] Besides, as shown in Fig. 23 (b-1) and (b-2), in the state that a plurality of tray T are arranged in the upper reference and one, two or more tray T is drawn out from the completed container reservoir part 38, the space filling operation is not performed. More particularly, as shown in Fig. 23 (b-1), when the tray T positioned at the stop-positions A2, A3 of the container are drawn out as shown in Fig. 23 (b-2) from the state that the tray Ts are arranged at each of the stop-positions A1-A4 of the container, the trays T positioned at the stop-positions Al and A4 of the container are not lowered and the arrangement is kept.

[0146] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 23 (c-1) and (c-2), when one or more stoppositions of the container leaved as the empty state is present between two or more stoppositions of the container in the stopping state and a new tray T arrives to the conveying direction conversion part 37, the space filling operation is performed. More particularly, when the stopping states A2, A3 of the container in the empty state are present between the stopposition Al of the container and the stop-position A4 of the container in the stopping state (refer to Fig. 23 (c-1)) and the new tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37, the tray T positioned at the stop-position Al of the container is lowered to the stop-position A2 of the container while keeping the arrangement of the tray T positioned at the stop-position A4 of the container. Thereby, the lowering unit 50 can lower the tray T such that the tray T is arranged as the space filling to the upper side as the top reference.

[0147] «Loading down operation in down operation»

Fig. 24 illustrates a schematic view of an example when the tray T is loading down in the bottom reference. When the tray T is loading down in the bottom reference, the controller 100 performs the operation control to lower the tray T such that the tray T is arranged to fill the space in turn from the stop-position A7 of the container.

[0148] For example, as shown in Fig. 24 (a-1), when the new tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37 in the state that the tray T is not present at any one of the stoppositions A1-A7 of the container, the controller 100 performs the operation control to arrange the new tray T to the stop-position A7 of the container located at the bottom shelf. Besides, as shown in Fig. 24 (a-2), in the state that the tray T is present at the stop-position Al of the container, when the new tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37, the controller 100 performs the operation control for conveying the new tray T to the stop-position A6 of the container while keeping the position of the tray T positioned at the stop-position A7 of the container such that the new tray T is arranged so as to fill at the lower side in the container moving space 54.

[0149] «Automatic loading down operation in loading down in the bottom reference»

The controller 100, when performing the loading down in the bottom reference, performs the loading down (automatic loading down) if a predetermined condition is satisfied regardless whether or not the new tray T arrives to the conveying direction conversion part 37. Particularly, the controller part 100, when performing the loading down in the bottom reference, performs the automatic loading down when the tray T positioned at the stop-position A of the container is drawn and the stop-positions A of the container in the empty state is present below the stop-position A of the container in the stopping state.

[0150] For example, as shown in Fig. 24 (b-1), when the tray Ts positioned at the stoppositions A5, A6 of the container are drawn out as shown in Fig. 24 (b-2) from the state that the trays T are positioned at each of the stop-position Al-A7 of the container, the automatic space filling operation is performed. The controller 100 performs the operation control such that the tray T is arranged to fill the stop-position A5, A6 of the container while keeping the arrangement of the tray T positioned at the stop-position A7 of the container to lower the tray T positioned in the stop-position A4 of the container to the stop-position A6 of the container becoming to the empty state (refer to Fig. 24 (b-3)).

[0151] Furthermore, when the loading down is performed and the new tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37, the space filling operation is performed by satisfying a predetermined condition. Particularly, the controller part 100 performs the space filling operation with setting that there are one or more stop-positions of the container in the empty state between two stop-positions in the stopping state among the stop-positions Al-A7 of the container as the condition.

[0152] For example, as shown in Fig. 24 (c-1), when there are two stop-positions of the container in the empty state A5, A6 between two stop-positions A4, A7 of the container in the stopping state and the new tray T arrives at the conveying direction conversion part 37, the space filling operation is performed. In the space filling operation, the controller 100 performs the operation control such that the tray T stopped at the stop-position A4 of the container is made to lower while keeping the state that the arrangement of the tray T to the stop-position A7 of the container. Besides, after the operation for lowering the tray T positioned at the stopposition A4 of the container to the stop-position A6 of the container, the operation control for conveying the new tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37 to the stopposition A5 of the container (refer to Fig. 24 (c-3)).

[0153] «With respect to control for the loading down operation»

Subsequently, the control of the loading down operation of the tray T in the completed container reservoir part 38 will be described in detail with referring to Fig. 25. Here, Fig. 25 illustrates a subroutine for the loading down processing in the conveying direction conversion part 37 and the completed container reservoir part 38 in Fig. 16.

[0154] (Step 4-1)

In the step 4-1, the controller part 100 performs the processing whether or not the loading down in the top reference is set. Particularly, the controller part 100 performs the processing whether or not the loading down (loading down in the top reference) with using the upper direction of the container moving space 54 as the reference (top reference) is set. Here, it may be set by user selections for performing the loading down in the top reference or performing the loading down in the bottom reference. Then, when it is determined in the step 41 that the loading down in the top reference is set, the processing for proceeding the control flow to step 4-2 is performed and when it is determined in the step 4-1 that the loading down in the top reference is not set, the processing for proceeding the control flow to step 4-3 is performed.

[0155] (Step 4-2)

In the step 4-2, the controller part 100 performs the loading down processing in the top reference described later in detail using Fig. 26. In the loading down in the top reference processing, the controller part 100 performs the operation control for sending-in-tum processing and so on in the top reference. When the processing in the step 4-2 is ended, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0156] (Step 4-3)

In the step 4-3, the controller part 100 performs the loading down processing in the bottom reference described later in detail using Fig. 27. In the processing of the loading down in the bottom reference, the controller part 100 performs the operation control for sending-in-tum processing and so on in the bottom reference. When the processing in the step 4-3 is ended, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0157] «With respect to processing of loading down in top reference»

Subsequently, the processing of the loading down in the top reference is described using Fig. 26. Fig. 26 is a drawing of a subroutine for the processing of the loading down in the top reference.

[0158] (Step 5-1)

In the step 5-1, the controller part 100 performs the processing in which the stoppositions A of the container is to be in the empty state within a lowering permission range of the stop-positions A of the container among the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container. Particularly, the controller 100, within the lowering permission range of the stop-positions A of the container among the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container, performs the processing for determining and specifying the stop-position A of the container becoming to be the state that the actuating pawls 56 do not support the tray T (the empty state). Determination of the stop-positions A of the container becoming to be the empty state may be performed with determining the stop-positions of the container where the tray T is not detected by sensors disposed at the position corresponding to the stop-position of the container of the lowering unit 50. For example, the determination of the empty state of the stop-positions A of the container may be performed with setting the case that both of the first lateral sensor 64 or the second lateral sensor 66 do not detect the tray T as the condition. Alternatively, the determination for the empty state of the stop-positions A of the container may be performed with setting the state that the sensors disposed on the actuating pawls 56 do not detect the presence of the tray T as the condition. Besides, after the processing for determining the stop-positions of the container in the empty state is performed, the control step is proceeded to Step 5-2.

[0159] (Step 5-2)

In the step 5-2, the controller part 100 performs the processing whether or not the stopposition Al of the container is to be in the empty state. In the step 502, when the stop-position

Al of the container is in the empty state, the control flow is proceeded to step 5-3 and when the stop-position of the container Al is not in the empty state, the control flow is proceeded to step

5-4.

[0160] (Step 5-3)

In the step 5-3, the controller part 100 performs the processing for conveying to the top shelf. In the processing for conveying to the top shelf, the operation control for conveying the new tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37 to the stop-position Al of the container as the top shelf of the stop-position A of the container. Thereby, sequential control flow is completed.

[0161] (Step 5-4)

In the step 5-4, the controller part 100 performs the processing for determining whether or not the stop-position A of the container to be subjected to the space filling is present among the stop-positions A of the container within the lowering permission region. Particularly, the controller part 100 performs the processing whether or not in the stop-positions A of the container within the lowering permission region the stop-positions A of the container in the empty state between two stop-positions A of the container in the stopping state (stop-positions A of the container subjected to the space filling) is present. Then, when the determination that there is the stop-positions A of the container for subjected to the space filling among the stoppositions A of the container within the lowering permission range is made, the control flow is proceeded to step 5-6 and when the determination that there is not the stop-positions A of the container for subjected to the space filling among the stop-positions A of the container within the lowering permission range is made, the control flow is proceeded to step 5-5.

[0162] (Step 5-5)

In the step 5-5, the controller part 100 performs the sending-in-tum processing. In this processing, the controller part 100 performs the operation processing in which the tray T in the stopping state at the stop-positions A of the container and the new tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37 is lowered in turn by controlling the movement of the actuating pawls 56 and the moving pawls 58. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed. [0163] (Step 5-6)

In the step 5-6, the controller part 100 performs the space filling processing. In this processing, the controller 100 performs the operation control, by controlling the movement of the actuating pawls 56 and the moving pawls 58 while keeping positioning to the stop-positions A of the container at least one of tray T among a plurality of trays T, for lowering the other tray and the new tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0164] «With respect to loading down operation in bottom reference»

Subsequently, the loading down processing in the bottom reference will be described using Fig. 27. Fig. 27 is a drawing illustrating a subroutine for the loading down processing in the bottom reference.

[0165] (Step 6-1)

In the step 6-1, the controller part 100 performs the processing for determining whether or not any of the stop-positions A of the container among the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container to be in the lowering permission region. Particularly, the controller 100 performs the processing for determining the stop-positions A of the container in which the actuating pawls 56 does not support the tray T (empty state) among the stop-positions Al-A7 of the container within the lowering permission region. Besides, after the processing for determining the stoppositions A of the container to be in the empty state is performed, the control flow is proceeded to step 6-2.

[0166] (Step 6-2)

In the step 6-2, the controller part 100 performs the processing for determining whether or not all of the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container is in the empty state. In the step 6-2, when all of the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container is in the empty state, the process flow is proceeded to step 6-4 and when any one of the stop-positions A1-A7 of the container is not in the empty state, the process flow is proceeded to step 6-3.

[0167] (Step 6-3)

In the step 6-3, the controller part 100 performs the processing for determining whether or not the stop-positions A of the container to be subjected to the space filling is present among the stopping state A of the container within the lowering permission region. Particularly, the controller part 100 performs the processing whether or not, in the stop-positions A of the container within the lowering permission region, there are the stop-positions A of the container in the empty state between two stop-positions A of the container in the stopping state (stoppositions A of the container subjected to the space filling). Then, when the determination that there are the stop-positions A of the container for subjected to the space filling in the stoppositions A of the container within the lowering permission range, the control flow is proceeded to step 6-5 and when the determination that there is not the stop-positions A of the container for subjected to the space filling in the stop-positions A of the container within the lowering permission range, the control flow is proceeded to step 6-4 [0168] (Step 6-4)

In the step 6-4, the controller part 100 performs the sending-in-tum in the bottom reference processing. In this processing, the controller 100 performs the operation control, by controlling the movement of the actuating pawls 56 and the moving pawls 58 while keeping positioning to the stop-positions A of the container at least one of tray T among a plurality of trays T, for lowering in turn the other tray and the new tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0169] (Step 6-5)

In the step 6-5, the controller part 100 performs the space filling processing. In this processing, the controller 100 performs the operation control, by controlling the movement of the actuating pawls 56 and the moving pawls 58 while keeping positioning to the stop-positions A of the container at least one of tray T among a plurality of trays T, for lowering the other tray and the new tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0170] «Automatic loading down processing»

Subsequently, the automatic loading down processing is explained with referring to Fig. 28. The controller 100 performs the loading down (automatic loading down) if a predetermined condition is satisfied regardless whether or not the new tray T arrives to the conveying direction conversion part 37. Particularly, the controller part 100 performs the automatic loading down with setting the case that the tray T positioned at the stop-positions A of the container is drawn and the stop-positions A of the container which allows the tray T to be subjected to the loading down in the bottom reference is present as the condition.

[0171] (Step 7-1)

In the step 7-1, the controller part 100 performs the processing whether or not the loading down in the top reference is set. In the step 7-1, when the determination that the loading down in the bottom reference is set, the process flow is proceeded to step 7-2 and when it is determined in the step 7-1 that the loading down in the top reference is not set, the process flow is proceeded to control step 7-3.

[0172] (Step 7-2)

In the step 7-2, the controller part 100 performs the processing for determining whether or not drawing out of the tray T has been occurred. The determination whether or not the drawn out of the tray T has been occurred may be performed by detecting switching from the state that the tray T is detected (ON state) to the state that the tray T is not detected (OFF state) with the sensors disposed at the position corresponding to the stop-position Al-A7 of the container in the lowering unit 50. In the step 7-2, when it is determined that the drawing out of the tray T has occurred, the control flow is proceeded to step 7-3, and when it is determined that the drawing out of the tray T has not occurred, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0173] (Step 7-3)

In the step 7-3, the controller part 100 performs the processing for determining whether or not the stop-positions A of the container to be subjected to the space filling is present among the stop-positions A of the container within the lowering permission region. Particularly, the controller part 100 performs the processing whether or not in the stop-positions A of the container within the lowering permission region the stop-positions A of the container in the empty state between two stop-positions A of the container in the stopping state (stop-positions A of the container subjected to the space filling) are present. Then, when the determination that there are the stop-positions A of the container for subjected to the space filling in the stoppositions A of the container within the lowering permission range, the control flow is proceeded to step 7-4 and when the determination that there is no stop-position A of the container for subjected to the space filling in the stop-positions A of the container within the lowering permission range, the control flow is proceeded to step 7-5.

[0174] (Step 7-4)

In the step 7-4, the controller part 100 performs the space filling processing. In this processing, the controller 100 performs the operation control, by controlling the movement of the actuating pawls 56 and the moving pawls 58 while keeping positioning to the stop-positions A of the container at least one of tray T among a plurality of trays T, for lowering the other tray and the new tray T arrived at the conveying direction conversion part 37. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0175] (Step 7-5)

In the step 7-5, the controller part 100 performs the sending-in-tum in the bottom reference processing. In this processing, the controller part 100 performs the operation processing in which the tray T is lowered to the lower direction in turn. Thereby, the sequential control flow is completed.

[0176] As described above, the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment may perform both of the loading down in the top reference and the loading down in the bottom reference. Therefore, in the conveyance system 30, by selections of a worker such as a pharmacist and so on, the loading down in the top reference and the loading down in the bottom reference may be selected. Thereby, the conveyance system 30 may convey the tray T conveyed to the completed container reservoir part 38 to the position for taking out the tray T easily depending on demands of the workers.

[0177] Furthermore, the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment, by performing the space filling operation, the tray T may be effectively positioned to the stop-positions A of the container becoming to the empty state.

[0178] Here, the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment is described using an embodiment which is capable of performing both of the loading down in the top reference and the loading down in the bottom reference; however, the conveyance system of the present invention is not limited thereto. That is to say, the conveyance system of the present invention may be capable of performing any one of the loading down in the top reference and the loading down in the bottom reference. Furthermore, the conveyance system of the present invention may be one which the loading down processing is performed with respect to an intermediate position along to the up-and-down direction as the reference, such as, for example, the stoppositions of the container at the intermediate position set by demands of workers along to the up-and-down direction among the stop-positions A of the container.

[0179] Furthermore, the conveyance system of the present invention may be able to set timing for conveying the tray T to a reference position by demands of workers. Particularly, the conveyance system of the present invention may be one which the tray T is conveyed to the preset reference position in the timing that predetermined number of the stop-positions A of the container become the stopping state within the predetermined region. For example, the conveyance system of the present invention may be one which the tray T is lowered to the stoppositions A of the container located at the lower direction in the timing that two or more of the stop-positions A of the container located at the upper direction become to the stopping state.

[0180] Moreover, the conveyance system 30 of the present embodiment, by disposing the moving pawls 58 swingably to the belts 60c, 60d, may avoid obstruction by the brim part T2 of the tray T supported at the stop-positions A of the container when lowering the moving pawls 58 during the the space filling motion and so on; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the moving pawls 58 may be ones which are operation controlled by the controller part 100 from the protruded state to the container moving space to the evacuated state.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0181] The present invention may be preferably applied generally in a conveying system for conveying an article to be conveyed in a container such as a tray. Furthermore, the present invention may by preferably used to a general medicine prescription system which may gather the medicine to be prescribed to patients by collecting the medicines dispensed from the medicine dispensing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SIGNS [0182] 10 medicine prescription system medicine dispensing apparatus conveyance system lower side moving device conveying direction conversion part (second conveying direction conversion part) upper side conveying direction conversion part container detection sensor up-and-down device conveying direction conversion part (third conveying direction conversion part)

37a rebound suppression part completed container reservation part pushing mechanism uncompleted container reservation part conveying direction conversion part (first conveying direction conversion part) detection part

46g first detection device

46h second detection device lowering unit

52a first lateral side

52b second lateral side container moving space actuating pawl moving pawl first lateral sensor second lateral sensor

100 controller part

S aperture (light passing part)

T tray

T1 bottom face

T2 brim part

A stop-positions

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1] A conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising:

a first conveying direction conversion part for changing a conveying direction of the container on the conveying path;

a sensor part for detecting an arrival of the container at the first conveying direction conversion part; and a controller part for controlling conveyance of the container;

the sensor part comprising;

a first sensor device capable of detecting presence or absence of an object at a downstream side of a conveying direction at the first conveying direction conversion part;

a second sensor device capable of detecting presence or absence of an object at an upstream side of conveying direction from the first conveying direction conversion part;

wherein where the container is placed normally at the first conveying direction conversion part, a state that the container is detected by the first sensor device and the container is not detected by the second sensor device is provided;

further wherein with setting a state that an object is detected by both of the first sensor device and the second sensor device as a condition, a determination that a defected arrangement of the container at the first conveying direction conversion part occurs is performed by the controller part.
[Claim 2] The conveyance system of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a light passing part allowing passage of light at two lateral faces opposite each other and any one or both of the first sensor device and second sensor device may project light to the container from a lateral side for detecting an object and may be able to project light toward a bottom of the container through the light passing part.
[Claim 3] The conveyance system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first conveying direction conversion part changes a conveying direction to any one or both of an up-and-down direction from a horizontal direction and a horizontal direction from an up-and-down direction.
[Claim 4] A conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising:

a second conveying direction conversion part for changing a conveying direction of the container on the conveying path in a crossing direction;

a container detection sensor capable of detecting presence of the container at the second conveying direction conversion part in a region beyond a width of the conveying path at the downstream side;

wherein with setting a state that presence of the container is detected by the container detection sensor as a condition, a determination that a defected arrangement of the container in the second conveying direction conversion part occurs is performed by a controller part.
[Claim 5] The conveyance system of claim 4, wherein the conveying path has a narrower width of the conveying path at a downstream side in a conveying direction than that at an upper stream side with respect to the second conveying direction conversion part.
[Claim 6] The conveyance system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the container is one which has a shorter width direction than a length direction and the conveying path is one which conveys the container in the length direction at an upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the second conveying direction conversion part and that conveys the container in the width direction at a downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the second conveying direction conversion part.
[Claim 7] A conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising:

a third conveying direction conversion part for changing a conveying direction of the container on the conveying path;

a pushing mechanism for pushing in the container to the third conveying direction conversion part from an upstream side in a conveying direction;

a rebound suppressing part for suppressing a rebound of the container arrived at the third conveying direction conversion part toward an upstream side in a conveying direction;

wherein;

a step is disposed such that the conveying path becomes lower than that of an upper stream side at the third conveying direction conversion part;

the container comprises a brim part protruding outwardly;

in a state that by pushing in the container to the third conveying direction conversion part from an upstream side of a conveying direction with the pushing mechanism the container is lowered due to the step, the rebound suppressing part is disposed at a position adjacent to an upstream side of a conveying direction with respect to the brim part.
[Claim 8] A conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising:

the container comprises a brim part protruding outwardly; and a lowering unit capable of moving from an upward direction to a downward direction while supporting the container within container moving space formed along to an up-and-down direction;

wherein;

the lowering unit comprising:

actuating pawls switchable between a state protruding to the container moving space from a lateral side and a state being evacuated from the container moving space;

moving pawls movable in an up-and-down direction in a state protruding to the container moving space from a lateral side;

and wherein;

the plurality of actuating pawls is each disposed at predetermined positions at an upand-down direction;

the plurality of moving pawls is disposed at positions corresponding to the respective actuating pawls;

the container is capable of lowering by moving the moving pawls to a lower side while keeping a state that the actuating pawls are evacuated from the container moving space; and the container is supportable with the brim part by any one or both of the actuating pawls and the moving pawls under a state that the moving pawls arrives at a position corresponding to the actuating pawls.
[Claim 9] The conveyance system of claim 8, wherein with setting a state that the actuating pawls become impossible to be evacuated from the container moving space as a condition, a lowering region of the container is limited within a region defined by the actuating pawls becoming impossible to be evacuated and the actuating pawls above thereof.
[Claim 10] A conveyance system for conveying an article to be conveyed and received in a container along to a predetermined conveying path comprising:

a lowering unit capable of moving from an upward direction to a downward direction with supporting the container within a container moving space formed along to an up-and-down direction;

wherein a plurality of stop-positions of container allowing the container to stop are disposed along to an up-and-down direction in the container moving space and the container is movable such that the container is aligned in turn with respect to a position defined as a reference position among a plurality of stop-positions of the container.
[Claim 11] The conveyance system of any one of claims 8-10, wherein a plurality of stop-positions of container allowing the container to stop are disposed along to an up-and-down direction in the container moving space; and with setting a state that a part of a plurality of the container stop-positions is in a stopping state that the container is stopped and the other stop-position of the container is in a non-stopping state that the container is not stopped as a condition, stop-positions of the container in the non-stopping state are able to set as the stopping state by moving at least one of the container in the container moving space while keeping stopping states of the container in at least a part of the stop positions of the container in the stopping state.
[Claim 12] The conveyance system of any one of claims 8-11, wherein a plurality of stoppositions of container allowing the container to stop are disposed along to an up-and-down direction in the container moving space; and the container is movable such that the container is aligned in turn at each of stoppositions of the container disposed in an upper direction or a lower direction with respect to a position defined as a reference position among a plurality of stop-positions of the container.
[Claim 13] The conveyance system of any one of claims 8-12, wherein a plurality of stop-positions of container allowing the container to stop are disposed along to an up-and-down direction in the container moving space; and the stop-positions become to a stopping state that the container is stopped or a nonstopping state that the container is not stopped;

with setting a state that the stop-position of the container in the non-stopping state is present between two of stop-positions of the container in the stopping state as a condition, the container is able to set as a state that the containers are aligned in turn along to an up-and-down direction by moving the container to stop-position of the container in the non-stopping state.
[Claim 14] The conveyance system of any one of claims 8-13, wherein the lowering unit is able to take out the container in the container moving space from a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite each other in a direction crossing to a protrusion direction of the actuating pawls and the moving pawls and comprises;

a first lateral sensor for detecting the container protruded to the first lateral side from the container moving space; and a second lateral sensor for detecting the container protruded to the second lateral side from the container moving space;

wherein with setting detection of the container by any one of the first lateral sensor and the second lateral sensor as a condition, up-and-down movement of the container is inhibited.
[Claim 15] A medicine prescription system comprising:

a medicine dispensing apparatus with preparing a plurality of kinds of medicines in wrapped state beforehand for dispensing and being capable of dispensing a medicine selected based on formulation data output from a host controller device; and a conveyance system of any one of claims 1-14;

wherein the conveyance system is able to convey by collecting the medicine dispensed from the medicine dispensing apparatus in the container to gather a part or all of the medicines to be prescribed to a patient.
[Claim 16] The medicine prescription system of claim 15, wherein;

in the conveying path, an up-and-down device for moving the container between a conveying region at a lower side and a conveying region at an upper side;

an upper side moving device for moving the container in the conveying region at the upper side;

a lower side moving device for moving the container in the conveying region at the lower side;

a completed container reservoir part for reserving the container allocated to a formulation that preparation of medicines to be gathered in the container is completed by dispensing of the medicine dispensing apparatus as a completed container; and an uncompleted container reservoir part for reserving the container allocated to a formulation that preparation of medicines to be gathered in the container is short with dispensing of the medicine dispensing apparatus as an uncompleted container are disposed;

5 with setting that all of the up-and-down device, the upper moving device and the completed container reservoir part is available as a condition, the completed container is made to arrive at the completed container reservoir part through the up-and-down device and the upper side moving device to reserve; and with setting that a part or all of the up-and-down device, the upper moving device and

10 the completed container reservoir part becomes to out of use as a condition, the completed container is made to arrive at the uncompleted container reservoir part through the lower side moving device to reserve.