ES2775225T3 - Medicine container ampoule dispenser box - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing box (1) for a medicine container ampoule (2), the dispensing box (1) comprising: a storage unit (30) in which at least two dividing members (31) are vertically superimposed one on top of the other to forming a multilayer structure, each dividing member (31) comprising dividing walls (311) to divide a plurality of unit cells in which the ampoules (2) are stored; a shutter (40) that opens or closes a lower portion of each of the unit cells divided by the partition member; a power unit (20) that operates the shutter (40); a conveyor (50) that receives the blisters (2) dropped from the plurality of unit cells when the lower portion of each of the unit cells is opened; a discharge port (121) adjacent one end of the conveyor (50) to dispense the ampule (2) seated on the conveyor (50) when the conveyor (50) is operated; a first sensing part (610), arranged at one end of the conveyor (50) in the dispensing direction, configured to detect if there is no ampoule (2) present at the end of the conveyor (50) in the dispensing direction by means of the use of an infrared sensor or a proximity sensor; a supplement determination unit (710), which determines whether a blister (2) is present on the conveyor (50) when the supplement determination unit (710) receives a signal from the first detector part (610) reporting that there is no ampule (2) present on the conveyor (50) in the dispensing direction; An ampoule supplement control unit (720) that controls the drive unit (20) to allow ampules (2) to drop onto the conveyor (50) from the storage unit (30) when it is determined that there is no ampule ( 2) present on the conveyor (50) by the supplement determination unit (710).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Dispenser box for medicine container ampoule

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dispenser box for a drug-containing ampoule and more particularly, to an apparatus for storing and dispensing a drug-containing ampoule. 2. Description of Related Art

In general, several classes and several types of drugs can be included in one drug dose in the patient's prescription. The drug dose can be contained in a basket and transferred to a patient.

Various medications contained in a basket can be collected in the basket from boxes in which the respective medications are contained, depending on the class and number of medications written on the patient's prescription. Then, the basket in which the medicines are collected can be transferred to a patient, and thus the patient can take the medicines collected in the basket.

In conventional modes, to collect multiple medications in a basket, medical experts, such as pharmacists, can manually select medications according to the patient's prescription, to collect the selected medications in the basket. Thus, it may be necessary to determine the accuracy of the collection of drugs, again. There is a possibility of misfortune with the drug, because it is difficult to ensure accuracy in administration. In addition, it takes a long time to collect medications according to the patient's prescription, because the collection process is complicated, to deteriorate the work efficiency, in addition to the possibility of misfortune with the medication. Thus, studies are needed in relation to methods and technologies to improve the precision and efficacy in the collection of drugs for each unit dose according to the patient's medical prescription, to provide convenience to users such as pharmacists, and, first, to prevent misfortunes occur with the medicine.

EP 2 500 878 describes a medicine feeding apparatus including a cartridge, a cartridge mount, a discharge mechanism and a discharge action mechanism. Furthermore, the cartridge has a discharge port formed in a front position at the bottom thereof, through which the medical product is discharged from the cartridge, by operation of the discharge mechanism. The cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mount and the cartridge mount has an external discharge port for discharging the medical product. Thus, the cartridge mount, with the cartridges, serves as a conveyor and thus the medical product is conveyed by means of the conveyor to the discharge port.

WO 2009/023632 describes systems and methods for high speed automatic filling packaging of pharmaceutical product by means of a conveyor system. A filling station is illustrated extending over a portion of the conveyor system. The conveyor system preferably transfers product package templates. In addition, the filling station comprises a hopper containing a bulk supply of pharmaceutical products to be deposited.

Document US 2003/00119881 describes an auxiliary tray for manual dispensing used in dispensing medicines and a packaging device with a disc tray for manual dispensing of pills mounted on the front side. An opening / closing plate is mounted on the lower surface of an auxiliary tray body having a plurality of tablet containing portions.

US 6 170 699 discloses a tablet dispensing apparatus for a tablet dispensing system including a conveyor belt carried on a driving roller and a driven roller, a plurality of tablet receiving trays and a plurality of hoppers. A tablet release means is provided adjacent to a rear portion of said conveyor belt, for releasing tablets at a plurality of tablet inlet ports, correspondingly located above the tablet receiving trays.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a dispensing apparatus having a structure for easily automatically dispensing a drug having a certain pattern, particularly a drug-containing ampoule.

The present invention also provides a dispensing apparatus for successively dispensing a drug containing vial stored therein.

The present invention also provides a dispensing apparatus having a cam structure with various shapes to operate a shutter for each level in which an ampoule is stored.

The present invention also provides a dispensing apparatus having a conveyor structure for stably successively dispensing a dropping drug containing ampoule for dispensing.

The present invention also provides a dispensing apparatus for a drug containing vial, which detects and controls the vial to supply the vial at a suitable time, and a method of controlling the same.

The present invention also provides a method of controlling the timing of the shutter operation to drop medicine-containing vials for dispensing.

The technical objectives of the present invention are not limited to those described above and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description that the present invention includes other technical objectives not specifically mentioned herein.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser box for a drug containing ampoule, the dispenser box including: a dividing member including a dividing wall for dividing a plurality of unit cells in which the ampoules are stored; a shutter that opens or closes a lower portion of each of the divided unit cells by the partition member; a power unit that operates the shutter; a conveyor on which a blister sits that falls when the lower end of each of the unit cells is opened; and a discharge port defined at one end of the conveyor to dispense the ampoule seated on the conveyor when the conveyor is operated.

The plug may include a vertically penetrated gate so that the vial passes through, and a vial support portion that divides adjacent gates from one another.

The shutter can be operated in an open state, in which the dividing wall and the ampoule support part are vertically aligned, and in a closed state, in which the dividing wall and the ampoule support part are not vertically aligned. each.

The shutter may further include a sensing target portion that protrudes in a shutter movement direction when the shutter is opened or closed, the dispenser box may further include a switching sensing piece, which detects whether the sensing target portion is arranged in a specific position, in a movement path of the part to be detected.

The conveyor may include: a conveyor belt rotated around an unlimited orbit; a pair of orbital axes respectively disposed at both ends of the conveyor belt to rotate the conveyor belt; a driving wheel arranged on one side of the discharge hole and exposed to the outside, the driving wheel being rotated by an external force; and at least one transmission wheel that transmits the rotational force of the driving wheel to one of the pair of orbital axes.

The conveyor belt may further include a belt dividing wall that divides a space in which each of the ampoules sits.

The dispenser box may further include a storage unit in which at least two partition members are vertically superimposed on top of each other to form a multi-layer structure, wherein the shutter may be disposed at a lower end of the plurality of partition members. .

The dispenser box may further include: a supplement determination unit, which determines if the ampoule is dispensed on the conveyor; and a vial supplement control unit, which enables the vial to fall onto the conveyor from the storage unit when it is determined that the vial is not present on the conveyor by the supplement determination unit.

The dispenser box may further include a first steering part, which detects if there is at least one ampule present on the conveyor.

The first detecting part can detect whether the ampoule is arranged at one end of the conveyor in a dispensing direction.

The dispensing box may further include a second detector part, which detects the ampoule dispensed through the discharge port, wherein the supplement determination unit can add the number of dispensed ampoules detected by the second sensing part to determine if the ampoule is supplied on the carrier.

When it is assumed that an operating range in which the conveyor dispenses an ampoule is defined as one step, the dispenser box may further include a third sensing part that detects the number of steps of the conveyor.

The ampoule supplement control unit may open a first level relative to the lowest level of the storage unit to allow the ampoules stored in the first level to drop when the ampoules are filled.

The ampoule supplement control unit can successively open or close a second level with respect to the lowermost level of the storage unit and the levels arranged above the second level after the ampoules are supplied.

The dispenser box may further include a fourth detecting part, which detects whether the shutters are arranged in an open position or in a closed position.

The dispensing box may further include a housing, wherein the housing may have a surface on which an ampoule feed gate can be arranged, which is opened or closed respectively to feed ampoules to the unit cells.

The dispenser box may further include an accommodated status display unit to assist a user so that the user identifies whether the ampule is accommodated within each of the unit cells.

The accommodated state display unit may include an illuminated portion that emits reflected light through the bulb accommodated within the unit cell or passes through the bulb accommodated within the unit cell so that the user observes whether the bulb is accommodated within the unit cell through the ampoule feed gate, from the outside.

The accommodated status display unit may include: a fifth detecting part for detecting whether the ampoule is accommodated within each of the unit cells; and a plurality of display elements respectively arranged within the unit cells, the plurality of display elements turning on or off based on the ampoule being accommodated within each of the unit cells corresponding to the result detected by the fifth detector part .

The plurality of display elements can be configured to be viewed through the ampule feed gate from the outside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when exemplary embodiments thereof are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser box for a medicine container ampoule according to an example of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser box for the medicine container ampoule, having an open side, according to one example;

Figures 3 and 4 are cutaway perspective views illustrating successive operations of a locking device according to one example;

Figure 5 is a cutaway perspective view of the dispenser box for the medicine-containing ampoule according to an example;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the power unit according to an example of the present invention; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a partition member according to one example;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a shutter according to an example;

Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating a coupled state between the partition member and the plug according to one example;

Figure 10 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a detector part and a part to be detected according to an example;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a conveyor according to one example;

Figures 12 and 13 are partial cutaway perspective views of a state in which each of the unit cells is open or closed;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a block diagram illustrating an overall appearance of the dispenser box for the drug-containing vial according to an example;

Figures 16 to 21 are partial cutaway perspective views illustrating successive states in the that the medicine container ampoule is dispensed;

Figure 22 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a dispenser box for a drug-containing vial including an accommodated status display unit according to another example;

Figure 23 is a partial cutaway perspective view of a dispenser box for a drug-containing vial including an accommodated status display unit according to yet another example; and

Figure 24 is a flow chart illustrating successive operations of the dispenser box for the drug-containing vial.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. If there is no concrete definition or reference, the term representing an address used in this description is based on a state illustrated in the drawings. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same member throughout the embodiments. In the drawings, a thickness or a size may be exaggerated for convenience of description, but this is not to say that the thickness or size of each item does not fully reflect an actual size.

A dispenser box for a drug-containing ampoule may be an apparatus for dispensing a drug-containing ampoule (hereinafter, for convenience of description, referred to as an "ampoule") formed of a vitreous material, such as a ampoule or vial. The dispensing box for the drug-containing ampoule according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit, a shutter, a motor unit, a discharge unit and a discharge port. The storage unit can be a component that is divided into several levels and into several rows for storing a plurality of ampoules. The shutter can be a component that is operated to vertically open or close each of the storage rooms and the power unit can be a component to operate the shutter. For example, the discharge unit may be a component that is arranged at a lower end of the storage unit for seating the falling blisters and for transferring the settled blisters, such as a conveyor according to the current embodiment. Hereinafter, although the conveyor is exemplified as the discharge unit, the present invention is not limited thereto.

A housing and a component related to the locking device will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser box for a drug-containing ampoule according to an embodiment of the present invention and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser box for the medicine container ampoule, having an open side according to one embodiment. Figures 3 and 4 are cutaway perspective views illustrating successive operations of a locking device according to one embodiment.

A dispenser box 1 for a drug containing ampoule according to the current embodiment includes a housing 10 defining an external appearance thereof. In the current example, the housing 10 has a rectangular shape. The housing 10 includes a housing body 110, a front portion 120, and an ampule feed gate 130. A discharge port 121 for discharging an ampoule is defined in the front portion 120, arranged in a front surface of the housing 10. A drive wheel 140 for transmitting power transmitted from the outside is arranged on the conveyor to be described later, in a state in which the driving wheel 140 is exposed to the outside. The discharge port 121 has a shape that slopes downward and outward. The sloped configuration of the discharge port 121 can minimize an impact due to a stepped portion of the discharge port 121, to prevent damage to the ampoule or vial, which is formed of a vitreous material and is dispensed into the housing 10.

An ampoule feed gate 130, for feeding the ampoule to the housing 10, is disposed on a side surface of the housing 10. In the current example, the ampoule feed gate 130 can be opened in a state that one side of the ampoule feed gate 130 is secured by a hinge. As shown in Figure 2, a hook piece 132, having a hook shape, is disposed within the ampule feed gate 130. Hook piece 132 may be a component that corresponds to hook piece 633 disposed within housing 10. Hook piece 633 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 3. Furthermore, a plurality of ampoules 2 are accommodated in housing 10. As described above, a lexical and semantic ampoule, as well as various medications, each having a shape similar to the ampoule, which is formed of glass or an alternative material, such as a vial.

As shown in Figure 3, a locking device 60, corresponding to hook piece 132, is disposed within housing 10. Locking device 60 may be a component that fixes or releases hook piece 132 to lock or unlocking the vial feed gate 130.

In detail, the locking device 60 includes a locking piece 61, a first rotating piece 62 and a second rotating piece 63. The locking piece 61 is disposed within a rear surface of the housing 10. The locking piece 61 may be arranged so that it can be rotated through the use of an available key. Furthermore, the locking piece 61 has an outer surface having a long radius and a short radius, which are defined radially with respect to an axis of rotation.

The first rotary part 62 is disposed within the rear surface of the housing 10. The first rotary part 62 is attached so that a first end 621 and a second end 623 thereof are disposed so that they can rotate about a first axis 622 of rotation within a predetermined range. Furthermore, the first end 621 of the first rotatable piece 62 can make contact with the outer surface of the lock piece 61. In a locked state, as shown in Figure 3, the first end 621 of the first rotatable piece 62 may contact a short radius portion of the lock piece 61.

The second rotary part 63 is disposed within a side surface of the housing 10. A first end 631 of the second rotary part 63 may contact an upper portion of the second end 623 of the first rotary part 62. The first and second ends 631 and 633 of the second rotary part 63 may also be arranged so that they can rotate about a second axis 632 of rotation. In the locked state, the hook piece 132 is hooked to the second end 633 of the second rotary piece 63, in a state that the ampoule feed gate 130 is closed. Hereinafter, the first and second rotary parts 62 and 63 are collectively referred to as a rotary power transmission part and the second end 633 of the second rotary part 63 is defined as the engaging part.

When an operating method in an open state is explained with reference to FIG. 4, as the locking piece 61 is rotated, a long radius portion of the locking piece 61 contacts the first end 621 of the first piece 62 rotary and the first end 621 is pushed in one direction. When the first end 621 of the first rotary part 62 is rotated about the first axis of rotation 622 in a counterclockwise direction, while the first end 621 is pushed by the long radius portion of the part 61 of locking, the second end 623 of the first rotatable piece 62 can also be rotated in the same direction, that is, counterclockwise. When the first end 631 of the second rotary part 63 is raised upward by the second end 623 of the first rotary part 62, the latch part 633 is rotated about the second axis of rotation 632 in a clockwise direction. . In this case, since the latch piece 633 is rotated to descend, the hook piece 132 is released, so that the hook piece 132 is opened from the locked state.

The drive unit will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a cutaway perspective view of the dispenser box for the medicine container ampoule according to an example and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a drive unit according to an example of the present invention.

The power unit 20 may be a component for operating a shutter which will be described later. As shown in Figure 5, the power unit 20 is arranged adjacent to one end of the storage unit 30. Referring to Figure 6, a cam part 230 includes a cam shaft 231, a first cam 232, a second cam 233, and a third cam 234. Each of the first, second, and third cams 232, 233, and 234 has a long radius portion and a short radius portion with respect to the camshaft 231. In addition, the first, second, and third cams 232, 233, and 234 are rotated together with each other about the cam axis 231. A motor 210 generates physical rotational force through the use of current. Sprockets 220 transmit the rotational force generated from motor 210 to cam part 230. An outer surface of each of the first, second, and third cams 232, 233, and 234 contacts one end of each of the shutters that will be described later. When the first, second, and third cams 232, 233, and 234 are rotated, the first, second, and third cams 232, 233, and 234 are operated to successively push the disposed shutters from the lowest level to the highest level.

The storage unit, the shutter and related components will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 10. Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a partition member according to an example and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a shutter according to an example. Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating a coupled state between the partition member and the shutter according to an example and Figure 10 is a partial cut-away perspective view of a detector part and a part to be detected according to an example.

The storage unit 30 according to the current embodiment includes a plurality of partition members 31. The plurality of dividing members 31 may form a plurality of levels. Furthermore, the dividing members 31a, 31b, and 31c can divide a plurality of portions 313 of space for storing the ampoules. Here, a member dividing the space parts 313 and disposed between the space parts 313 may be referred to as a partition wall 311. Furthermore, a dividing member support portion 314 which protrudes towards a lower end to connect the partition members 311 with each other is disposed at a lower end of one side of each of the partition walls 311. A partition member side wall 312 connecting the partition walls 311 to each other is disposed on the other side surface of the partition wall 311. The partition member side wall 312 may have a predetermined thickness and project laterally from the partition member 31.

An accommodation slot 315 is defined at one end of the partition member 31. The accommodation slot is configured to accommodate and / or secure one end of an elastic member which will be described later.

When the dividing members 31a, 31b and 31c are superimposed on top of each other, a predetermined space between the dividing members 31a, 31b and 31c can be defined by the dividing member support portion 314. The plug can be inserted through the gap portion defined by the partition member support portion 314 and each of the partition members 31a, 31b and 31c. Hereinafter, the gap portion is referred to as a shutter accommodating portion.

As shown in Figure 8, the plug 40 may have a plate shape in which a plurality of through holes are defined vertically. The plug 40 includes through gates 43, so that the plurality of blisters pass along a longitudinal direction thereof. Each of the gates 43 may have a short side that has a length greater than a width of each of the blisters and equal to or less than a width of the space portion 313. Here, a member for dividing each of the gates 43 may be referred to as a blister support portion 41. The vial support portion 41 connects side surface members of the plug 40 to each other and divides the gate 43. A projection 43 is disposed at one end of the plug 40. An accommodation slot 431, to accommodate and / or fix the elastic member , is defined on the boss 43. The boss 43 has the other surface that contacts an outer surface of each of the cams 232, 233 and 234 of the cam part 230. That is, when cams 232, 233, and 234 are rotated, protrusion 43 can be pushed by the long radius portion of each of cams 232, 233, and 234, and thus the entire plug 40 can be pushed and moved. .

A portion 44 to be sensed (hereinafter referred to as a sensing target portion 44) is disposed at one end of the shutter 40. The sensing target portion 44 may project a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the plug 40. The sensing part 44 may be a component that is sensed by a switch sensing piece, which will be described later, to determine whether the shutter 40 moves or the present position of the shutter 40.

Referring to Figure 9, the plurality of dividing members 31 are superimposed on top of each other. The shutters 40a, 40b and 40c are inserted between the shutter accommodating portions defined by the distance between the partition members 31a, 31b and 31c and the partition member support portions 314. Here, the vial support portion 41 of the plug 40 adjacent the partition walls 311 adjacent the partition member 31 forms a predetermined portion of space in which a single vial is stored. Hereinafter, the space portion is referred to as a unit cell.

A short side of the unit cell may have a length corresponding to that of the short side of the plug 40. Although not shown, it can be detected whether the vial is disposed within the unit cell by employing various types of sensors. Furthermore, a case where the ampoule is not discharged in the unit cell may occur due to a malfunction of the shutter 40. That is, to determine whether the ampoule should be supplied in the storage unit 30 or if the ampoule is not discharged By malfunctioning to stay, sensors can be employed to determine whether the ampoule is disposed within the unit cell. For example, whether the ampoule is stored in the unit cell can be confirmed by using a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, or a pressure sensor.

In addition to the method employing the sensors, to confirm whether the ampule is disposed within the unit cell, at least one illumination may be provided to irradiate the storage unit 30, or a portion of the housing 10 may be open or formed of a transmitter material. light to observe the unit cell.

The illumination radiating from the storage unit 30 can be usefully employed in a case where the ampoule feed gate (see reference numeral 130 of Figure 2) is opened to feed the ampoule, even if the housing portion 10 is not open or is not formed of the light transmitting material.

As shown in Figure 10, a side wall insertion slot 113 is defined in a side surface of the interior of housing 10. The partition member side wall (see reference numeral 312 of Figure 7) is inserted and secured in the side wall insertion slot 113. Although slot 113 of Side wall insert is provided as a slot having a predetermined depth in an internal surface of housing 10, a stepped portion 112 may be provided around side wall insert slot 113 to form side wall insert slot 113 which has a predetermined depth. Furthermore, a guide slot 114 may be defined between the side wall insertion slots 113 in a longitudinal direction of the side wall insert slot 113. The guide groove 114 can guide the movement of the plug 40 in a longitudinal direction thereof in a state in which a lateral surface of the plug is accommodated in the guide groove 114.

The switch detector part 60 is disposed on an internal surface of the housing 10. The switch detector part 60 detects whether the object detection part 44 of the shutter 40 moves. The switch detector part 60 according to the current example is provided in a pair. When the shutter 40 is moved towards the switch detector part 60, a first switch part 61 detects the part 44 to be detected. When the shutter 40 is disposed on one side of the switch detector part 60 or moves in an opposite direction, a second switch detector part 62 also detects the part 44 to be detected. Thus the first and second switch pieces 61 and 62 can be used to confirm whether the shutter 40 is normally provided. The infrared sensor, which includes a light emitting part and a light receiving part, can be used as the switch detector part 60.

The conveyor will be described with reference to Figure 11. Figure 12 is a perspective view of a conveyor according to one embodiment.

Conveyor 50 may be a component on which the falling vial sits to discharge the seated vial to the outside. Conveyor 50 includes a conveyor belt 52, an orbital shaft 512, and at least one drive wheel 511. The conveyor belt 52 includes a belt body 521 and a belt partition wall 522. Tape body 521 can be rotated through an unlimited orbit by an outer surface of orbital axis 512. The tape dividing wall 522 is disposed on the tape body 52 to divide and form a space portion in which the blister sits. The tape dividing walls 522 may have a distance from one another that is equal to that between the dividing walls (see reference numeral 311 of Figure 7) of the dividing member and that between the ampule support portions (see numerical reference 41 of Figure 8) of the shutter.

The orbital axis 512 can be provided in a pair, to take over two axes of rotation in the unlimited orbit. Drive wheel 511 can transmit rotational force transmitted from drive wheel 140 protruding from the front surface of the housing to one of orbital axes 512.

A method of operation and a structure for opening or closing each of the unit cells of the storage unit will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 14. Figures 12 and 13 are partial cutaway perspective views of a state in which each of the unit cells is open or closed and Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 13.

Referring to Figure 12, when the cam piece 230 is not rotated, the vial support portions 41a, 41b, and 41c of the plugs 40 lock vertically adjacent unit cells to each other. This state can be defined as a closed state of each of the unit cells or levels.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the second level plug 40b from a lower side is pushed by the cam 233, and the blisters 41b of the second level plug 40b are pushed and inserted between the dividing walls 311b and 311c of the second and third level. Here, the second level can be defined as an open state. Here, the first level and the third level are in the closed state, as always.

As shown in Figure 14, an elastic member 45 is disposed between the protrusion 43 of the plug 40 and one end of the dividing member 31 adjacent the protrusion 43. The elastic member 45 may have both ends which are respectively accommodated and / or fixed in the accommodation slot 431 of the projection 43 and the accommodation slot 315 of the partition member 31. The shutter 40 can be returned to its initial position by the elastic force of the elastic member 45, from the state in which one side of the shutter 40 is pushed by the above-described cam. That is, the elastic member 45 can provide restoring force to restore a position of the plug 40.

The entire dispensing box for the drug-containing ampoule including the components described above will be described with reference to Figure 15. Figure 15 is a block diagram illustrating an overall appearance of the dispensing box for the drug-containing ampoule according to a realization.

In the current embodiment, various sensing parts may be further provided, to determine whether the ampoule should be additionally supplied on the conveyor 50, and a control unit to control the ampule filling.

A first detecting part 610 can directly detect whether the ampoule remains on the carrier 50 through the use of the infrared sensor or the proximity sensor. Here, the first detector part 610 may be arranged at one end of the conveyor in the dispensing direction to detect the ampoule. When the ampoule is not present at the end of the carrier 50 in the dispensing direction, it can be determined that the ampule is no longer present on the carrier 50. When the ampule is no longer present, the first detector part 610 can transmit a signal to reporting the absence of the ampoule to the control unit 70.

The second detector part 620 can directly detect the ampule dispensed through the discharge port 121. The second detector part 620 detects the dispensed vial to transmit a signal to report the dispensing of the vial to the control unit 70 each time the vial is dispensed. A third detecting part 630 detects the power transmission part 511, that is, the number of rotations of the wheels for power transmission or of the orbital axis. To dispense a vial, each of the wheels and the orbital axis must be rotated a predetermined number of rotations. The number of rotations required to dispense an ampule can be defined as one step. The third detecting part 630 can detect the step number to transmit the detected value to the control unit 70.

Only one of the first to third detector parts 610, 620 and 630 may be selected to determine whether the vial should be supplied on the carrier 50. Alternatively, to improve accuracy, at least two detector parts may be provided.

The control unit 70 includes a supplement determination unit 710 and a blister supplement control unit 720. The supplement determination unit 710 may determine that supply of the blister is needed when the supplement determination unit 710 receives the signal to report that the blister is no longer present on the conveyor 50. In addition, the blister determination unit 710 The supplement may receive a signal from the second detector part 620 to calculate the number of ampoules dispensed. If the number of ampoules dispensed reaches the total number of ampoules supplied, it can be determined that the additional ampoule supplement may be needed. In addition, the supplement determination unit 710 can calculate the number of ampoules dispensed each time the step is performed or the step number is received from the third detector part 630 to calculate the number of ampoules dispensed to determine the supplement of the blister.

When it is determined that the ampule is no longer present on the conveyor by the supplement determination unit 710, the ampule supplement control unit 720 controls the drive unit 20 so that the ampule falls onto the conveyor 50 from the unit 30. storage. Hereinafter, a method for controlling the dispensing box for the drug containing vial will be described in detail with reference to the vial supplement control unit 720.

A method of controlling the dispensing box for the drug-containing vial will be described with reference to Figures 16 to 21. Figures 16 to 21 are partial cutaway perspective views illustrating successive states in which the drug-containing vial is dispensed;

Figure 16 illustrates an initial state of the dispenser box in which the ampoules 2 are accommodated. As shown in Figure 16, ampules 2 can be fed to conveyor 50 at an initial time. As described above, the conveyor 50 is operated using external power. When power is transmitted to the conveyor 50 to dispense the ampoules 2, as shown in Figure 17, the ampoule 2 can be dispensed from the end in the dispensing direction to the outside. After the ampoules 2 are fully discharged onto the conveyor 50, as described above, the control unit can perform control to replenish the ampoules when it is determined that replenishment of the ampoules is necessary.

When the filling of the ampoule begins, the control unit controls the drive unit 230 to open the first level of the storage unit 30. As shown in Figure 19, when the third cam 234 is rotated in a direction D1 to push the third shutter 43c in the dispensing direction, the first level 30c of the storage unit 30 opens. When the first level 30c of the storage unit 30 is opened, the ampoules stored in the first level 30c can fall onto the conveyor 50 to complete the filling of the ampoule. When the ampule replenishment is complete, the dispensed ampoule or step number can be started, which is added when determining the ampule supply.

Thereafter, the control unit can set the storage unit 30 to a supplement standby state. The replenishment wait state may represent that the vials are successively filled at each level, from the lowest level, so that the vials are replenished on the carrier. As shown in Figure 20, the control unit can control the cam part 230 to further rotate the cam part 230 in the direction D1, so that the second level 43b of the storage unit 30 is pushed in the direction dispensing D2. When the second level 43b opens, blisters stored in the second level 43b may fall. Then, as shown in Figure 21, the control unit can control the cam part 230 to further rotate the cam part 230, so that the third level 43a of the storage unit 30 is pushed in the dispensing direction. D2. When the third level 43a is opened, the ampoules stored in the second level 43a may drop.

The blisters accommodated on the first level can drop only when the ampoule is no longer present on the carrier. On the other hand, blisters arranged above the second levels can fall at different intervals. The cam can be rotated at a predetermined speed to successively open the first, second and third levels, regardless of the operation of the conveyor. Furthermore, when the blister is no longer present on the carrier, the blebs arranged above the second levels can drop successively.

As described above, various methods or devices can be employed to determine whether the bleb is present within the unit cell. An accommodated state display unit can be realized to visualize whether the ampoule is present within the unit cell, in the unit cell by using illuminations or various sensors. For example, the accommodated status display unit can assist the user, so that the user identifies a previously supplied unit cell and the unit cells that need to be ampouled, in real time, while the user supplies ampoules to the unit cells. .

Examples of the accommodated state display unit will be described to assist the user in determining whether the ampule is present within the unit cell, with reference to Figures 22 and 23. Figure 22 is a perspective view Partially cutaway view of a dispenser box for a drug-containing ampoule including an accommodated status display unit according to another example, and Figure 23 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a dispenser box for a drug-containing ampoule including a unit of display of accommodated status according to yet another example.

An accommodated status display unit may include an illumination piece to assist a user so that the user identifies if a blister is present.

For example, as shown in Figure 21, the accommodated state display unit may include illumination 3121 for each unit cell on a side wall 312, to emit light in the unit cell. The light emitted from the illumination piece 3121 passes through the interior of the unit cell and then exits to the exterior. Here, if the ampoule is not present within the unit cell, the light emitted from the illumination piece 3121 can go outside as it is. On the other hand, if the blister is present within the unit cell, the blister can absorb or reflect a portion of the light. As a result, an amount of light identified from the outside can be reduced compared to that of the case where the ampoule is not present inside the unit cell.

That is, as shown in Figure 21, in a case where an ampule needs to be supplied because the uppermost cell is empty, the user can supply ampoules to the corresponding unit cells one by one. Here, if the illumination piece 3121 is turned on, it can be easily determined whether an ampule is accommodated in a particular unit cell. Furthermore, the user can effectively identify a unit cell in which the ampoule is already supplied by the user and a unit cell in which the ampule is to be ampoule supplied by the user in real time, while the user supplies a plurality of blisters to unit cells.

Furthermore, unlike the illumination transmitting part of Figure 21, an illumination reflector part may be provided. For example, as shown in Figure 22, the illumination reflector piece 3127 may be disposed within the unit cell or on an inlet side of a vial feed gate 130.

A portion of light emitted from the lighting piece 3127 can be reflected by a bulb 2 and then transmitted to the user. That is, the user can directly observe if a blister is present within the unit cell using the light from the illumination piece 3127.

The above-described lighting pieces can be arranged in various positions. That is, the lighting pieces can be arranged in a predetermined position within the side wall 312 or the unit cell, regardless of the type of lighting piece, such as the lighting transmitting or reflecting piece.

Alternatively, the accommodated state display unit can be realized using a sensor, in addition to just the lighting piece.

For example, as shown in Figure 23, an infrared sensor that includes a light emitting part 3123 and a light receiving part 3125 for the accommodated status display unit. The light emitting part 3123 may be disposed on the side wall 312 and the light receiving part 3125 may be accommodated in a corresponding position of sensor accommodating parts 135, defined in the ampoule feed gate 130. The light-emitting part 3123 can emit infrared rays and the light-receiving part 3125 can receive the infrared rays emitted from the light-emitting part 3123, to detect if an object is present that blocks a path of the infrared rays between the part 3123 light emitting and light receiving part 3125.

That is, when the bulb 2 is accommodated within the unit cell and is disposed between the light-emitting part 3123 and the light-receiving part 3125, an amount of light received in the light-receiving part 3125 can vary, to change a amount of current generated in light receiving part 3125. Thus, it can be determined whether the bulb 2 is disposed between the light emitting part 3123 and the light receiving part 3125 using the change in the amount of current.

After it is detected whether the ampoule 2 is accommodated, using a particular light receiving part 3125, the detected result can be displayed on a particular display element 3129 corresponding to the particular light receiving part 3125. The display element 3129 may be arranged to correspond to the unit cell to display whether an ampoule is accommodated within a corresponding unit cell, according to a preset on / off state of that.

Alternatively, a pressure sensor or a proximity sensor may be employed in addition to the infrared sensor to determine whether the bulb 2 is accommodated within the unit cell. In the case of the infrared sensor of Figure 23, it can be determined whether the vial 2 is accommodated only when the vial feed gate 130 is closed. That is, if the ampoule feed gate 130 is open, it cannot be determined whether the ampule 2 is accommodated using the infrared sensor. On the other hand, in the case where the pressure sensor or the proximity sensor are arranged in each unit cell, it can be detected whether the ampoule 2 is accommodated in real time, regardless of the open or closed state of the supply gate 130 of ampoules to display the result detected in the display element 3129.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an apparatus for automatically dispensing a drug containing ampoule, which is capable of dispensing drugs with ease by easily distinguishing a region in which an ampule is accommodated from a region in which an ampule is not accommodated. when ampoules are supplied.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a dispensing apparatus that displays a predetermined sign to inform that a unit cell should be supplied with an ampoule when ampoules are replenished, as well as displays a particular sign to inform of the unit cells in which they are not replenished. ampoules in real time, so that the user identifies if the ampoule is present within the unit cell.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the user can identify whether an ampoule is accommodated within the unit cell by employing the illumination transmitting or receiving part. Furthermore, it can be detected whether an ampoule is accommodated within the unit cell by employing a sensing unit to display the detected result, thereby informing the user of the detected result. Thus, the user can easily distinguish the unit cells to which to supply the ampoules.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, when the lighting reflector or transmitting parts are provided, or the predetermined sensor is provided, the sign to report the unit cell in which the ampoule is not supplied can be displayed in real time to allow the user replenish blisters more easily.

In summary, as shown in FIG. 24, when external power is transmitted in a state that an ampoule is supplied in the dispenser box (S20), the ampoules seated on the carrier (S30) are dispensed. Each time one of the ampoules is dispensed, as described above, it is detected whether ampoules need to be dispensed on the carrier (S49). If ampoules are to be supplied on the conveyor, the uppermost level and the lowest level of the storage unit can be opened and closed in succession to supply the ampoules to the conveyor and the ampoules are arranged on the lower level of the storage unit.

According to the present invention, a drug storage array can be provided in which the drug-containing ampoule is stored, and a shutter device for dispensing the drug-containing ampule can be provided to easily dispense the drug-containing ampoule.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the stored drug-containing ampoule can successively fall onto the carrier in a shutter drip mode and the drug-containing ampoule Dropping medicine can be dispensed successively according to the operation of the conveyor. Furthermore, according to the present invention, various types of cams may be provided to operate the shutters provided at the various levels, to provide the dispensing apparatus that corresponds to various environments and requirements.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the conveyor structure may be provided to successively and stably dispense the drug-containing ampoule when the drug-containing ampule falls on the carrier.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the drug containing ampoules can be dispensed according to various ranges, methods and types to prevent the drug containing ampoules from being damaged due to collisions with each other, thereby stably dispensing the drug containing ampoules.

According to the present invention, it can be detected whether the ampoules must be supplied on the carrier by employing various sensing parts to prevent the ampules from being damaged due to collisions with each other.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the stored ampoules can be controlled so that the ampoules are arranged in the standby position, to efficiently dispense drug-containing ampoules.

Claims (12)

1 . A dispenser box (1) for a medicine container vial (2), the dispenser box (1) comprising: a storage unit (30) in which at least two dividing members (31) are vertically superimposed one on top of the other to form a multi-layer structure, each dividing member (31) comprising dividing walls (311) for dividing a plurality of unit cells in which the ampoules (2) are stored; a shutter (40) that opens or closes a lower portion of each of the unit cells divided by the partition member; a power unit (20) that operates the shutter (40); a conveyor (50) that receives the blisters (2) dropped from the plurality of unit cells when the lower portion of each of the unit cells is opened; a discharge port (121) adjacent one end of the conveyor (50) for dispensing the ampoule (2) seated on the conveyor (50) when the conveyor (50) is operated; a first sensing part (610), arranged at one end of the conveyor (50) in the dispensing direction, configured to detect if there is no ampoule (2) present at the end of the conveyor (50) in the dispensing direction by means of the use of an infrared sensor or a proximity sensor; a supplement determination unit (710), which determines whether a blister (2) is present on the conveyor (50) when the supplement determination unit (710) receives a signal from the first detector part (610) reporting that there is no ampule (2) present on the conveyor (50) in the dispensing direction; An ampoule supplement control unit (720) that controls the drive unit (20) to allow ampules (2) to drop onto the conveyor (50) from the storage unit (30) when it is determined that there is no ampule ( 2) present on the conveyor (50) by the supplement determination unit (710). 2 . The dispenser box of claim 1, wherein the shutter (40) comprises a gate (43) vertically penetrated so that the ampule (2) passes through it and an ampule support portion (41) dividing the gates (43) adjacent to each other. 3 . The dispenser box of claim 2, wherein the shutter (40) is operated in an open state, in which the dividing wall (311) and the ampule support portion (41) are vertically aligned, and a closed state , wherein the dividing wall (311) and the ampule support portion (41) are not vertically aligned with each other. 4 . The dispenser box of claim 1, wherein the conveyor (50) comprises: a conveyor belt (52) rotated through an unlimited orbit; a pair of orbital shafts (512) respectively disposed at both ends of the conveyor belt (52) to rotate the conveyor belt (52); a drive wheel (140) disposed on one side of the discharge port and exposed to the outside, the drive wheel being rotated by external force; and at least one transmission wheel (511) that transmits the rotational force of the driving wheel to one of the pair of orbital axes. 5 . The dispenser box of claim 4, wherein the conveyor belt (52) further comprises a belt dividing wall (522) dividing a space in which the blister (2) sits. 6 . The dispenser box of claim 1, further comprising a second detector part (620) that detects the ampule (2) dispensed through the discharge port (121), wherein the supplement determination unit (710) employs the number of ampoules (2) dispensed detected by the second detector part to determine if the ampoule (2) is supplied on the carrier (50). 7 . The dispenser box of claim 1, when it is assumed that an operating range in which the conveyor (50) dispenses an ampoule (2) is defined as a step, further comprising a third detector part (630) that detects the number of conveyor steps (50), wherein the supplement determining unit (710) uses the number of steps detected by the third detecting part to determine whether the ampule (2) is supplied to the conveyor (50). 8 . The dispenser box of claim 1, wherein the ampoule supplement control unit (720) opens a first level with respect to the lowermost level of the storage unit (30) to allow the ampules (2) stored in the first tier fall when ampoules are replenished (2). 9 . The dispensing box of claim 1, further comprising a housing (10), wherein the housing (10) has a surface on which a vial feed gate (130) is arranged, which is respectively opened or closed to feed ampoules to unit cells. 10 . The dispenser box of claim 9, further comprising an accommodated status display unit to assist a user so that the user identifies whether the ampule is accommodated within each of the unit cells. 11 . The dispenser box of claim 10, wherein the accommodated state display unit further comprises an illumination piece (3121) that emits reflected light through the bulb (2) accommodated within the unit cell or passing through the bulb (2) accommodated within the unit cell, so that the user observes whether the ampoule (2) is accommodated inside the unit cell through the ampoule feeding gate (130) from the outside. 12 . The dispenser box of claim 10, wherein the accommodated status display unit comprises: a fifth detecting part for detecting whether the blister (2) is accommodated within each of the unit cells; and a plurality of display elements (3129) respectively disposed within the unit cells, the plurality of display elements (3129) turning on or off based on whether the ampoule is accommodated within each of the unit cells, which corresponds to the result detected by the fifth detector part.