CN106806135B

CN106806135B - Medicine box assembly capable of picking medicine particles and intelligent medicine box

Info

Publication number: CN106806135B
Application number: CN201510875676.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张明
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-12-02
Filing date: 2015-12-02
Publication date: 2023-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-02
Also published as: CN106806135A

Abstract

The invention relates to a medicine box component capable of picking medicine particles and an intelligent medicine box comprising the medicine box component, wherein the medicine box component comprises the following components: the medicine grain storage and conveying device comprises a driving and control unit (10) and a medicine grain storage and conveying unit (20) driven by the driving and control unit (10), wherein the medicine grain storage and conveying unit (20) is provided with a thread structure, and when the medicine grain storage and conveying unit (20) is driven by the driving and control unit (10) to rotate, medicine grains are arranged and conveyed by means of the thread structure, so that at most one medicine grain is output for picking every revolution.

Description

Medicine box assembly capable of picking medicine particles and intelligent medicine box

Technical Field

The invention relates to a medicine box component capable of picking medicine particles and an intelligent medicine box comprising the medicine box component.

Background

In daily life, many people must regularly take medicines at regular time and quantity for a long period of time due to various needs. However, for some special people, especially the elderly, the effects of taking the medicine are adversely affected because the physical functions, especially the memory and cognition, are often forgotten to take the medicine on time with the age, or whether the medicine is taken again after taking the medicine on time cannot be determined.

For this reason, it is often possible to assist people in taking medicines by using smart kits. However, some intelligent medicine boxes at present only play a role in reminding and recording the taking time and the taking times, and cannot provide assistance for the medicine taking in quantitative aspect. Other intelligent medicine boxes can additionally help a user to take medicines quantitatively, but the user is required to put medicines into a series of separate containers in sequence according to the types and the amounts of the medicines to be taken, and after the intelligent medicine boxes are reminded of the time when the medicines are needed to be taken, the user is required to take the medicines according to the reminding and opening the shown grids. In addition, due to the small weight or size of some medications, errors are likely to occur when the existing smart cartridges are picked, resulting in a picking error. In view of the complicated preparation work such as picking up and counting medicines by manpower, the preparation of the intelligent medicine box at a time is usually only carried out for a short time due to the limited space which can be contained by the separation container of the intelligent medicine box, and the effect is poor in practical application.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to overcome the defects, a novel medicine box assembly capable of picking up medicine grains and an intelligent medicine box comprising the medicine box assembly are provided, so that medicine grains (tablets, capsules, pills and the like) required to be taken can be put into the medicine box assembly in a large amount at one time, and the medicine grains are accurately and quantitatively given at the preset medicine taking time, thereby simplifying preparation work such as manual medicine distribution and the like and better assisting a person taking the medicine to take the medicine at fixed time and fixed quantity.

To achieve the above object, a cartridge assembly capable of picking up medicine pellets according to the present invention includes: the medicine grain storage and conveying unit is provided with a thread structure, and when the medicine grain storage and conveying unit is driven by the driving and control unit to rotate, the medicine grains are arranged and conveyed by means of the thread structure. According to the invention, one medicine can be output for picking up at most every revolution.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the thread structure of the pellet storage and delivery unit is selected from the group consisting of: cylindrical thread, tapered thread, combination of cylindrical and tapered threads, irregularly shaped thread comprising at least partially tapered threads

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge assembly further comprises a pellet picking and outputting unit cooperating with the pellet storing and delivering unit, the pellet picking and outputting unit having a pellet outlet through which the pellets delivered by the pellet storing and delivering unit are further outputted.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive and control unit is configured as a base, the pellet storage and delivery unit is arranged on the drive and control unit, and the pellet pick-up and output unit is arranged on top of the pellet storage and delivery unit. However, the drive and control unit may be arranged in different positions with respect to the pellet storage and delivery unit. Preferably, the medicine grain storage and conveying unit and the matched medicine grain picking and outputting unit are driven to rotate by the driving and controlling unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pellet storage and delivery unit is arranged on the drive and control unit at an angle relative to the vertical.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall of the pellet storage and delivery unit has a screw structure so as to deliver the pellets by screw. For transporting the pellets, the pellet storage and transport unit has a transport structure, for example a stud, in the center instead of or in addition to this.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thread depth and the thread groove width of the thread structure of the pellet storage and delivery unit and the angle of inclination of the pellet storage and delivery unit disposed on the drive and control unit are selected according to the size, shape, weight, etc. of the stored pellets.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the angle of the pellet storage and delivery unit with respect to the vertical is preferably 20-100 °, in particular 40 °, wherein 90 ° is placed horizontally and 100 ° is tilted slightly downwards. The value of the thread depth of the thread structure is larger than the distance from the gravity center of the medicine granule to the edge of the medicine granule, and the width of the thread groove of the thread structure is 1.2 times to 2 times of the thickness of the medicine granule.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pellet picking and outputting unit has a closing member for closing the discharge port, the closing member being capable of opening the discharge port at an angle in response to rotation of the pellet picking and outputting unit. The closure assembly preferably includes a pivotable weight mechanism. Or the medicine grain picking and outputting unit comprises a heavy hammer, an executing piece, a driving component, a cam mechanism and a reset spring. Or the medicine grain picking and outputting unit comprises a slot and picks up medicine grains by reciprocating rotation. Or the medicine grain picking and outputting unit comprises a picking disc and picks up medicine grains by reciprocating rotation. Preferably, the pellet picking and delivery unit may be a cap closing the top of the pellet storage and delivery unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pellet storage and delivery unit may be a medicine bottle so that a medicine sold in the market can be directly replaced with the pellet storage and delivery unit and used. In addition, auxiliary additives such as a drying agent and the like can be properly placed in the medicine grain storage and conveying unit so as to avoid the influence of the outside such as damp and the like on the medicine grains. In addition, the pellet storage and delivery unit and the pellet pick-up and delivery unit may also be opaque to avoid the effects of solar radiation on the pellets.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pellet storage and delivery unit and the pellet pick-up and delivery unit may be made of plastic, metal or alloy.

In addition, the intelligent medicine box according to the invention comprises at least one medicine box component and a collecting unit, wherein the collecting unit is connected with a medicine outlet of the medicine grain picking and outputting unit in the medicine box component so as to collect medicine grains picked and outputted by the medicine grain picking and outputting unit, and a control system, a communication system and a power supply unit are arranged in the driving and controlling unit so as to control the driving of the medicine grain storing and conveying unit and the medicine grain picking and outputting unit according to the requirement, thereby controlling the picking quantity of the medicine grains.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the collecting unit comprises a collecting cartridge, and the drug particles exiting from the drug outlet reach the collecting cartridge via a channel in the collecting unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the collecting unit comprises a sensor for sensing the drug particles, the sensing signal of the sensor being transmitted to the control system via the communication system. Preferably, the sensor is disposed in the channel. The sensor may be a photoelectric sensor or an electromechanical sensor.

In addition, the intelligent medicine box can have an extended function, namely a plurality of intelligent medicine boxes can be combined together, so that the functions of communication, power management and the like can be realized, and meanwhile, the medicine taking behavior of a user can be notified to a preset contact person or guardian through additionally arranging measures such as network transmission and the like.

Drawings

Specific embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, however, the embodiments shown in the drawings are only illustrative and not limiting of the invention. In the drawings:

figure 1 schematically shows a cartridge assembly according to the invention,

figures 2A and 2B show perspective and cross-sectional views of one embodiment of a pellet storage and delivery unit of a cartridge assembly according to the present invention with a pellet therein,

figures 3A to 3C show a further embodiment of a pill storage and delivery unit of a cartridge assembly according to the invention together with a drive and control unit in perspective view, perspective view and cross-sectional view respectively,

figure 4 schematically illustrates an exemplary arrangement of a pill storage and delivery unit of a pill box assembly according to the present invention,

figures 5A to 5C show cross-sectional views of further embodiments of a pellet storage and delivery unit of a cartridge assembly according to the present invention,

fig. 6 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the cartridge assembly, showing the pellet pick-up and output unit,

fig. 7A to 7D are top cross-sectional views showing one embodiment of the pellet picking and outputting unit of the cartridge assembly according to the present invention, showing a process in which pellets conveyed by the pellet storing and conveying unit are outputted through the discharge port of the pellet picking and outputting unit, wherein the pellet picking and outputting unit includes a weight mechanism,

fig. 8A is a detailed perspective view showing one embodiment of a pellet picking and outputting unit of a cartridge assembly according to the present invention, wherein the pellet picking and outputting unit includes a weight mechanism, fig. 8A to 8D are respectively showing a process of driving a closing assembly to move by using the weight mechanism,

fig. 9A shows a top view of another embodiment of a pellet picking and outputting unit of a cartridge assembly according to the present invention, wherein the pellet picking and outputting unit comprises a weight, an implement, a driving member, a cam mechanism, a return spring, etc., fig. 9B to 9H show perspective views of a process of driving the weight and thus the closing assembly to move by using the cam mechanism and the return spring, respectively,

fig. 10A shows a top view of still another example of a pellet picking and outputting unit of a cartridge assembly according to the present invention, wherein the pellet picking and outputting unit includes a slot, fig. 10A to 10J show top views of processes of outputting pellets through the pellet picking and outputting unit, respectively, fig. 10K and 10L show perspective and partially cut-away perspective views of the pellet picking and outputting unit of the embodiment shown in fig. 10A,

fig. 11A to 11H are top cross-sectional views respectively showing a process in which a medicine grain conveyed by still another embodiment of the medicine grain picking and outputting unit of the medicine cassette assembly according to the present invention is outputted through a medicine outlet of the medicine grain picking and outputting unit, fig. 11I, 11J and 11K are respectively showing a partially cut-away perspective view and a perspective view of the medicine grain picking and outputting unit combined with the medicine grain storing and outputting unit, wherein the medicine grain picking and outputting unit includes a picking tray,

figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the drive and control unit, pellet storage and delivery unit and pellet pick-up and delivery unit of the assembled cartridge assembly,

figure 13 shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the drive and control unit, pellet storage and delivery unit and pellet pick-up and output unit of the cartridge assembly,

figure 14 shows an exploded cross-sectional view of the drive and control unit, pellet storage and delivery unit and pellet pick-up and output unit of the cartridge assembly,

figures 15A to 15C show perspective, cross-sectional and perspective views respectively of a further embodiment of the drive and control unit, the pellet storage and delivery unit and the pellet pick-up and delivery unit of the cartridge assembly assembled together,

fig. 16 shows an exploded perspective view of a smart medicine cartridge according to the present invention, which includes a driving and controlling unit, a medicine granule storing and transporting unit, a medicine granule picking and outputting unit and a collecting unit,

fig. 17 shows a perspective view of a smart cartridge according to the present invention in a state of being assembled with the cartridge, and

fig. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of a smart cartridge according to the present invention in a state of being packed in a cartridge.

Detailed Description

There are various embodiments according to the design concept of the present invention to achieve the object of the present invention, and the structure, configuration and operation principle of the cartridge assembly and the smart cartridge of the present invention will be explained with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.

In the present specification, the terms "upper", "lower", "left" and "right" are relative to the drawings. Furthermore, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Referring to fig. 1, a cartridge assembly 1 capable of picking up drug pellets according to the present invention includes: the medicine grain storage and conveying unit 20 is provided with a thread structure, and when the medicine grain storage and conveying unit 20 is driven by the driving and control unit 10 to rotate, the medicine grains are arranged and conveyed by the thread structure. Preferably, the medicine grains are arranged and conveyed by the thread structure, so that at most one medicine grain is output for picking every revolution.

Referring to fig. 2A and 2B, which show one embodiment of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 of the cartridge assembly 1 according to the present invention in perspective view and in cross-section, respectively, the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 may be of a cylindrical structure, and in fig. 1, a screw structure is shown in dotted lines, which may be a spiral groove provided on an inner wall of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20, by means of which pellets may be aligned and delivered to achieve a maximum of one pellet output per revolution for picking when the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is driven to rotate by the drive and control unit 10. Such a spiral groove provided on the inner wall of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is only one example of a screw structure of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 according to the present invention. Instead of or in addition to such an inner wall provided with a spiral groove, for example, the pellet storage and delivery unit may have a delivery structure, such as a stud, in the center. Those skilled in the art may also consider embodiments employing other screw configurations depending on the size, shape, weight, etc. of the pellets placed in the pellet storage and delivery unit 20. Furthermore, the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 may be any other suitable shape, such as a truncated cone shape, an oval cylinder shape, a prismatic shape, a combined shape of a lower cylinder section and an upper truncated cone section, a combined shape of truncated cone sections of different tapers, an irregular shape including at least a partial taper, etc.

Fig. 3A to 3C show a perspective view, a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of another embodiment of a pill storage and delivery unit 20 of a pill cartridge assembly according to the present invention, together with a drive and control unit 10. Unlike the embodiment shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 in this embodiment has a truncated cone shape, and the inner wall thereof is provided with a spiral groove to form a tapered thread. The taper of the tapered thread may be selected according to the requirements of the drug pellet being delivered.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates an exemplary arrangement of a pill storage and delivery unit 20 of a pill cartridge assembly according to the present invention. The pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is generally frustoconical and has a central axis I-I. As shown, the central axis I-I of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is disposed at an angle Φ, which may be 20 ° to 100 °, with respect to the vertical V-V, where 90 ° indicates that the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is horizontally disposed and greater than 90 ° indicates that the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is slightly downwardly inclined. In fig. 4, B represents the groove width of the thread on the inner wall of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20, C represents the depth of the thread on the inner wall of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20, and D represents the bottom diameter of the round of thread on the side of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 closest to the discharge port. According to the invention, the value of B preferably ranges from 1.2 to 2 times the thickness of the pellet; the value of C should preferably be greater than the distance from the centre of gravity of the pellet to the edge of the pellet, i.e. the centre of gravity of the pellet is to be maintained in the groove of the thread; the value of D should preferably be greater than 1.5 times the pellet diameter and less than 4 times the pellet diameter.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above arrangements of angles and dimensions of threads etc. in relation to a pellet storage and delivery unit having a frusto-conical shape are equally applicable to pellet storage and delivery units having a cylindrical shape as well as any other suitable shape. For example, fig. 5A-5C show cross-sectional views of other embodiments and arrangements of a pellet storage and delivery unit 20 of a cartridge assembly according to the present invention, respectively. Wherein fig. 5A shows an embodiment in which the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 has a combined shape of a lower cylindrical section and an upper truncated conical section, fig. 5B shows an embodiment in which the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 has a truncated conical shape as a whole, and fig. 5C schematically shows an embodiment in which the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is horizontally arranged as a whole in a truncated conical shape. The arrangement of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 may be modified as desired by those skilled in the art.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates another perspective view of the cartridge assembly 1 of fig. 1, and also illustrates a pellet pick-up and output unit 30 mated with the pellet storage and delivery unit 20, relative to fig. 1. When the pellet storing and transporting unit 20 is driven to rotate, the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 engaged therewith also rotates synchronously. The medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30 has a medicine outlet 32 (see fig. 7C and 7D), and the medicine grains conveyed by the medicine grain storing and conveying unit 20 are further outputted through the medicine outlet 32 of the medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30. The medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30 includes a picking mechanism so as to pick up medicine grains. According to various embodiments, the picking mechanism may include, for example, a weight mechanism 33, or a weight, an actuator, a driving member, a cam mechanism, and a return spring assembly, or a slot assembly, or a picking plate assembly, etc., so as to output at most one medicine for picking per revolution.

Fig. 7A to 7D are top cross-sectional views showing the process in which the medicine pellets conveyed by the medicine pellet storing and conveying unit reach the medicine pellet picking and conveying unit and are output through the medicine outlet of the medicine pellet picking and conveying unit 30, together with the medicine pellet picking and conveying unit according to the present invention. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the pellet picking and delivery unit 30 closes the top of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 as a cap, the pellet picking and delivery unit 30 may have a closing assembly 31 to close the discharge port, and the closing assembly 31 may be capable of opening the discharge port 32 at a specific angle with rotation of the pellet picking and delivery unit 30, and the closing assembly 31 may include a pivotable weight mechanism 33 (see, for example, fig. 6) that closes or opens the discharge port 32 of the pellet picking and delivery unit 30 by gravity (see fig. 7A to 7D for the delivery process).

Fig. 8A shows a detailed perspective view of one embodiment of the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 according to the present invention, in particular in detail in this embodiment the weight mechanism 33 of the pellet picking and outputting unit 30, comprising a drive member 38 and a weight 39 connected to the closure assembly 31. As shown in fig. 8A, the weight 39 is, for example, a sector member provided on the cover, a weight pivot fixed to the cover is provided on one side of the apex angle of the sector member, the sector member is free to rotate about the weight pivot by gravity, and teeth are provided at the deployment end of the sector member for engagement with teeth on the outer periphery of the drive member 38. The drive member 38 is pivotally connected to the lid by a drive member pivot which is connected to the closure assembly 31 on the other side of the lid. Thus, when the medicine grain picking and delivering unit 30 as a cap rotates with the medicine grain storing and delivering unit, the weight 39 pivots by gravity, and the driving member 38 is rotated by the teeth, thereby driving the closing member 31 to rotate, thereby opening or closing the medicine outlet 32.

Referring to fig. 8B to 8D, the movement of the closure member 31 is illustrated by the weight mechanism 33, wherein the weight 39 tends to keep the potential energy to a minimum by gravity, and the weight 39 is free to pivot about the weight pivot when the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 rotates, and the teeth at the fanned-out end thereof engage with the teeth at the periphery of the driving member 38, thereby driving the driving member 38 to rotate. Since the driving member 38 is provided to be connected to the closure assembly 31, the closure assembly 31 is rotated accordingly, and functions to close and open the medicine outlet 32. The weight 39 and the drive member 38 are here schematically shown as being driven by teeth, but may also be driven by friction or the like.

Fig. 9A shows a top view of another embodiment of the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 according to the present invention, wherein the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 comprises a weight 35, an actuator 36, a driving member 38, a cam mechanism 50 and a return spring 37. As shown in fig. 9A, the cam mechanism 50 is provided as a rotationally fixed member with respect to the pellet picking and outputting unit 30, which may be integrally provided on the drive and control unit 10, for example. The weight 35 is, for example, a sector member provided on the cover, provided with a weight pivot fixed to the cover on one side of the apex angle of the sector, the sector member being free to rotate about the weight pivot under the force of gravity, and having teeth at the open end of the sector for engagement with the teeth on the outer periphery of the drive member 38. Specifically, the weight 35 has an actuator 36 (such as a roller, a cylindrical pin, a slider, etc.) at one end, and the pivot axis of the weight 35 is disposed along with the core of the medicine. The drive member 38 is connected to the closure assembly 31 on the other side of the lid by a moving member pivot. The other end of the return spring 37 is fixed to the pellet picking and outputting unit 30, and when the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 serving as a cap rotates with the pellet storing and delivering unit, the weight 35 is pivoted by gravity, and is acted on by the fixed cam mechanism 50 and/or the return spring through the actuator 36 under different angles during rotation, thereby driving the driving member 38 to rotate by means of the teeth to drive the closing assembly 31 to rotate, thereby opening or closing the discharge port 32.

Fig. 9B to 9H show the process of driving the movement of the closure member 31 by the gravity of the weight 35 using the cam mechanism 50 and the return spring 37, respectively. Wherein, since the cam mechanism 50 is fixed in position and does not rotate with the pellet picking and outputting unit 30, when the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 rotates to a specific angle, the cam mechanism 50 interacts with the actuator 36 to prevent further rotation of the weight 35. With further rotation of the pellet picking and outputting unit 30, the return spring 37 is gradually compressed, and due to the arrangement that the pivot axis of the weight 35 is eccentric to the rotation axis of the pellet picking and outputting unit 30, the weight 35 does not continue to pivot, but the geometric position thereof is still changed with further rotation of the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 until the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 rotates to another specific angle, the actuator 36 passes over the cam mechanism 50, at this time the return spring 37 releases its elastic force, pushing the movement of the weight 35, which is transmitted to the driving member 38. Since the driving member 38 is connected to the closure assembly 31, the closure assembly 31 rotates accordingly, and functions to close and open the medicine outlet 32. Compared with the embodiment using gravity only by using the weight mechanism shown in fig. 8A to 8D, the scheme of driving the weight and thus the sealing assembly with the assistance of the cam mechanism and the return spring has higher stability and is less affected by factors such as friction and vibration in the motion system.

Fig. 10A shows a top view of yet another embodiment of the pellet picking and output unit 30 of the cartridge assembly according to the present invention wherein the pellet picking and output unit includes a slot 60 and is accomplished by reciprocal rotation/oscillation of the pellet picking and output unit 30 between a pellet drop position and a pellet output position. As shown in fig. 10A, at the outer periphery of the medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30 formed as a cover, a part of the outer wall is protruded outward to form a slot 60 through which medicine grains pass, the inner side end of the slot 60 communicates with the inside, the outer side end forms an opening to the outside, and the size of the whole slot is similar to the size of the medicine grains. Fig. 10B to 10J are top views showing the process of the medicine grain picking and outputting unit being outputted together with medicine grains, respectively, and fig. 10K and 10L are perspective views showing the medicine grain picking and outputting unit, respectively. Referring to fig. 10B to 10J, there may be cases where 2 or more pellets are continuously arranged together from the pellets conveyed by the pellet storage and conveying unit 20. In the schematic illustration, two consecutive pellets are taken as an example. The pellets are continuously conveyed while the pellet storing and conveying unit 20 and the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 are rotated in the forward direction. Upon forward rotation to the pellet entry position, for example, one of two consecutive pellets drops into the inboard end of the slot 60 of the pellet picking and delivery unit 30. Because the slot is similar in size to the pellet, when one pellet is dropped into the inside end of slot 60, the remaining pellets will be retained inside the inside end of the slot and still be located inside the cartridge on the threads of pellet storage and delivery unit 20. When the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 continues to rotate forward to the pellet dropping position, the pellets not in the slot will drop back into the pellet storing and transporting unit 20 or the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 due to gravity. When the pellet picking and delivering unit 30 rotates to the pellet dropping position (where pellets not in the slot have dropped), the pellet storing and delivering unit 20 and the pellet picking and delivering unit 30 start to rotate reversely, and the pellets remaining in the slot remain in the slot due to the blocking of the side wall of the slot. Due to the shape of the slot 60, the pellets retained in the slot fall out of the opening at the outboard end of the slot due to gravity as the pellet picking and delivery unit 30 moves to the pellet delivery position. When the pellets are dropped, the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 and the pellet pick-up and delivery unit 30 may stop moving or resume forward rotation to begin the next cycle, depending on the medication need. The shape and size of the slot 60, the drop position of the medicine granule, and the output position of the medicine granule can be changed according to the shape and size of the medicine granule.

Fig. 11A to 11H are respectively plan views showing a process in which the medicine pellets are outputted by still another embodiment of the medicine pellet picking and outputting unit 30 according to the present invention, and fig. 11I, 11J and 11K are respectively perspective views showing a combination of the medicine pellet picking and outputting unit 30 and the medicine pellet storing and transporting unit 20. Wherein the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 includes a picking tray 70 and an output blocking member (e.g., a shutter). The pickup plate 70 is a discontinuous ring-shaped member fixedly fitted over the top of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 without rotating with the pellet storage and delivery unit 20. The discontinuous portion of the pickup plate 70 forms a gap from which the drug pellets can fall. The output blocking member is disposed above the picking tray 70 and is formed by two spaced walls extending radially outwardly from the body of the pellet picking and output unit 30, the interior of the channel formed between the two walls leading to the interior of the cartridge assembly and the space therebetween being available for one pellet to pass through but preventing the pellet from rolling around in the picking tray 70. There may be cases where two or more pellets are continuously arranged together, two continuous pellets being exemplified here, from the pellets conveyed by the pellet storage and conveying unit 20. As the pellet storing and transporting unit 20 and the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 are rotated in the forward direction, the pellets are continuously transported upward to the pellet picking and outputting unit 30. Upon forward rotation to the pellet entry position, i.e., the passage opening of the output blocking member into the interior, one of the two consecutive pellets falls into the passage opening on the pellet pick-up and output unit 30. Because the depth of this channel is similar to the size of the pellets, when one pellet is dropped therein, the remaining pellets will be caught outside the pickup tray 70. When the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 continues to rotate forward to the pellet dropping position, the pellets not in the pickup tray 70 will drop back into the pellet storage and conveying unit 20 or the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 due to gravity. When the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 rotates to the pellet dropping position and the pellets not in the picking tray 70 fall, the pellet storing and delivering unit 20 and the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 start to rotate reversely, and the pellets remaining in the picking tray 70 continue to remain in the picking tray 70 until the pellets move to the pellet outputting position, i.e. the notch of the picking tray 70, and the pellets fall out from the notch of the picking tray 70 due to gravity. When the medicine particles fall out, the medicine particle picking and outputting unit 20 and the medicine particle picking and outputting unit 30 stop, or resume the normal rotation to start the next cycle. The shape and size of the pickup tray 70, the drop position of the medicine particles, and the output position of the medicine particles may be changed according to the shape and size of the medicine particles.

Further, fig. 11J and 11K show different preferred embodiments according to the present invention, in which the inner wall of the medicine grain storage and delivery unit 20 has cylindrical threads and tapered threads, respectively, and the medicine grain picking and delivery unit 30 has the above-described pickup tray.

For the above embodiments, a sensor may be provided on the pellet picking and outputting unit 30 to sense the position and state of being transferred onto the pellet picking and outputting unit 30.

Fig. 12 shows a sectional view of the drive and control unit, the pellet storage and delivery unit and the pellet pick-up and delivery unit assembled together according to a preferred embodiment, wherein the drive and control unit 10 is configured as a base, the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is disposed on the drive and control unit 10, and the pellet pick-up and delivery unit 30 is disposed on top of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20. In particular, the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 and the associated pellet pick-up and output unit 30 are rotated by the drive and control unit 10. Wherein the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 is preferably disposed on the drive and control unit 10 at an angle Φ with respect to the vertical direction, and the thread depth and the thread groove width of the thread structure of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 and the angle Φ of the pellet storage and delivery unit 20 with respect to the drive and control unit 10 are selected according to the size, shape, weight, etc. of the stored pellets. With the above arrangement, the rotation of the medicine grain storing and conveying unit 20 and the medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30 is driven by the driving and controlling unit 10 so that at most one medicine grain is output to the medicine outlet 32 per one rotation.

Fig. 13 and 14 show an exploded perspective view and an exploded cross-sectional view, respectively, of a drive and control unit, a pellet storage and delivery unit and a pellet pick-up and delivery unit to be assembled. The engagement between them may be any engagement known in the art that enables the above technical features of the present invention to be achieved. And it is considered that the medicine bottle is designed to have the same specification as the medicine grain storage and delivery unit 20 according to the present invention at the time of shipment of the medicine, and is constructed even as a combination of the storage and delivery unit 20 and the medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30, so that the medicine bottle can be directly coupled with the driving and controlling unit 10 at the time of use, omitting the step of transferring the medicine grain between different containers, thereby avoiding pollution and loss of the medicine grain which may occur during the transfer.

Fig. 15A to 15C show perspective, perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, of another example of a drive and control unit, a pellet storage and delivery unit and a pellet pick-up and delivery unit of a cartridge assembly assembled together, which is a combination of the embodiment shown in fig. 11J and 11K with the drive and control unit 10.

Fig. 16 shows an exploded perspective view of a smart cartridge according to the present invention, fig. 17 shows a perspective view of the smart cartridge according to the present invention in a state of the smart cartridge, and fig. 18 shows a sectional view of the smart cartridge according to the present invention in a state of the smart cartridge. The intelligent medicine cartridge according to the present invention includes a collecting unit 40 in addition to the driving and controlling unit 10, the medicine grain storing and transporting unit 20, and the medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30. The collecting unit 40 is coupled with the medicine outlet 32 of the medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30 in the medicine cartridge assembly to collect the medicine grains picked and outputted by the medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30, and a control system, a communication system and a power supply unit are provided in the driving and controlling unit 10 to control the driving of the medicine grain storing and transporting unit 20 and the medicine grain picking and outputting unit 30 as needed to control the picking number of the medicine grains. Wherein the collection unit 40 may include a drug cassette 42, and drug particles exiting from the drug outlet 32 reach the drug cassette 42 via a channel within the collection unit 40. Preferably, the collecting unit 40 comprises a sensor 41 to sense the drug particles, the sensing signal of the sensor 41 being transmitted to the control system through the communication system, the sensor 41 being for example a photoelectric sensor or an electromechanical sensor and being arranged in the channel.

In addition, the intelligent medicine box can have an extended function, namely a plurality of intelligent medicine boxes can be combined together, so that the functions of communication, power management and the like can be realized, and meanwhile, the medicine taking behavior of a user can be notified to a preset contact person or guardian through additionally arranging measures such as network transmission and the like. A person skilled in the art can also combine a plurality of intelligent medicine boxes according to the invention together in a well-known connection manner as required to realize the purpose of assisting the person taking the medicine to take a plurality of different medicines in a timed and quantitative manner.

The technical features described above are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Claims

1. A cartridge assembly (1) capable of picking up drug pellets, comprising: a driving and controlling unit (10), a medicine grain storage and conveying unit (20) driven by the driving and controlling unit (10), wherein the medicine grain storage and conveying unit (20) is provided with a thread structure, when the medicine grain storage and conveying unit (20) is driven by the driving and controlling unit (10) to rotate, the medicine grains are arranged and conveyed by the thread structure,

wherein the central axis of the pellet storage and delivery unit (20) is arranged on the drive and control unit (10) at an angle (phi) relative to the vertical, said angle (phi) being 20-100 deg..

2. Cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the thread structure of the pellet storage and delivery unit (20) is selected from the group of: cylindrical threads, tapered threads, combinations of cylindrical and tapered threads, irregularly shaped threads comprising at least partially tapered threads.

3. The cartridge assembly (1) of claim 2, wherein the cartridge assembly (1) further comprises a pellet pick-up and delivery unit (30) cooperating with the pellet storage and delivery unit (20), the pellet pick-up and delivery unit (30) having a pellet outlet (32), the pellets delivered by the pellet storage and delivery unit (20) being further delivered through the pellet outlet (32) of the pellet pick-up and delivery unit (30).

4. A cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the drive and control unit (10) is configured as a base, the pellet storage and delivery unit (20) is arranged on the drive and control unit (10), and the pellet pick-up and output unit (30) is arranged on top of the pellet storage and delivery unit (20).

5. Cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall and/or the centre of the pellet storage and delivery unit (20) has a screw thread structure.

6. The cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the thread depth and the thread groove width of the thread structure of the pellet storage and delivery unit (20) and the angle (Φ) at which the pellet storage and delivery unit (20) is arranged on the drive and control unit (10) are selected according to the size, shape, weight of the stored pellets.

7. A cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the value of the thread depth of the thread structure is greater than the distance from the centre of gravity of the pellet to the edge of the pellet.

8. A cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the thread groove width of the thread structure is 1.2 to 2 times the thickness of the drug pellet.

9. A cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pellet picking and delivery unit (30) has a closure assembly (31) to close the outlet (32) which is capable of opening the outlet (32) at an angle in response to rotation of the pellet picking and delivery unit (30).

10. Cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the closure assembly (31) comprises a pivotable weight mechanism (33).

11. Cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the closure assembly (31) comprises a weight (35), an actuator (36), a driving member (38), a cam mechanism (50) and a return spring (37).

12. The cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the pellet picking and output unit (30) comprises a slot and picks up the pellets by reciprocal rotation.

13. The cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the pellet picking and output unit (30) comprises a picking tray (70) and picks up pellets by reciprocal rotation.

14. A cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pellet pick-up and delivery unit (30) acts as a lid closing the top of the pellet storage and delivery unit (20).

15. The cartridge assembly (1) according to the preceding claim 14, wherein said pellet picking and outputting unit (30) comprises means selected from the group consisting of: a weight mechanism (33); a weight (35), an actuator (36), a driving member (38), a cam mechanism (50) and a return spring (37) assembly; a slot (60); a pick-up tray (70) and an output blocking member assembly.

16. A cartridge assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pellet storage and delivery unit (20) is a vial.

17. A smart cartridge comprising at least one cartridge assembly (1) according to claim 3, a collecting unit (40) and a control system, wherein the collecting unit (40) is coupled with a drug outlet (32) of a drug pellet picking and outputting unit (30) in the cartridge assembly (1) for collecting drug pellets picked and outputted by the drug pellet picking and outputting unit (30).

18. The intelligent medicine box according to claim 17, wherein the driving and controlling unit (10) further comprises a communication system and a power supply unit to control driving of the medicine grain storing and conveying unit (20) and the medicine grain picking and outputting unit (30) as required to control the picking amount of the medicine grains.

19. The intelligent medicine box according to claim 18, characterized in that the collecting unit (40) comprises a medicine box (42), and that the medicine particles exiting from the medicine outlet (32) reach the medicine box (42) via a channel in the collecting unit (40).

20. The smart cartridge of claim 19 wherein the collection unit (40) includes a sensor (41) to sense the drug particles, the sensing signal of the sensor (41) being transmitted to the control system via the communication system.

21. Smart kit according to claim 20, wherein said sensor (41) is arranged in said channel.

22. A smart cartridge unit comprising a plurality of smart cartridges according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the smart cartridges have an extended function such that a plurality of smart cartridges can be combined together.