JP2000024086A - Medicine dispenser for preparation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medicine dispenser suitable for various specifications speedily and at a low cost. SOLUTION: This medicine dispenser 10 for dispensing medicines for preparation has a number of medicine cassettes 20 to store medicines for preparation and a medicine carrying mechanism to take out a required medicine for preparation from the cassettes storing the medicine among the medicine cassettes 20 and carry the medicine to a prescribed position 37. The medicine cassettes 20 vary in size, and are exchangeable among a plural number of cassettes. Therefore, even if the medicines for preparation vary in size in a wide range, the medicine cassettes can be previously mass-produced and the produced medicine cassettes can be utilized without waste.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus for supporting dispensing work in a hospital pharmacy or the like, and more particularly, dispensing medicines in various forms are stored in a cassette in advance. The present invention relates to a medicine dispensing device for dispensing automatically when necessary.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a medicine dispensing device for dispensing, a tablet dispensing machine and a powder dispensing dispensing machine, which have been advanced, and a device for picking and extracting a sheet pack packed with tablets (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-284) discloses a method in which an ampoule of a liquid material is extruded and dropped by gravity.
No. 06) is also known.

[0003]

In such a conventional medicine dispensing apparatus for dispensing, the medicine for dispensing is taken out by a method such as extrusion, gravity drop, or picking. The application of drug removal by dropping is limited to solid tablets, bottled drugs, boxed drugs, and the like. In addition, in taking out a medicine by picking, it is necessary to appropriately cooperate a plurality of picking members and to adjust the shape of the picking member for each of various kinds of dosage forms and medicine packaging forms. For this reason, in order to expand the application range of the medicine dispensing device for dispensing so that various kinds of medicines can be handled, complication of the structure is inevitable.

[0004] On the other hand, there are many types of drugs dispensed in hospital pharmacies and the like, and their forms are also various. Specifically, there are basic tablets, granules, powders, capsules, bottled solutions, ampoule-type and vial-type injections, sheet-pack type PTP tablets, and external medicines such as ointments and patches. Yes, in a broader sense, it also includes accessories such as bandages and gauze. There are so-called round ones such as eye drops and ointments in tubes, and there are also pre-packaged sachets mixed with tablets and powders. Demands for automatic dispensing and automatic dispensing are also increasing.

Therefore, it is important to automate various types of drugs such as patches and pre-packaged sachets as well as solid relatively easy-to-handle drugs. However, which of the various medicines is to be automated with priority is different for each hospital pharmacy or the like. If the type of the medicine for dispensing is not determined, the accommodation form is not determined. For this reason, the medicine dispensing device for dispensing is mainly made-to-order and manufactured individually, so that the delivery time is long and the cost tends to be high. In addition, the tendency becomes remarkable with the expansion of the target drug for automatic dispensing.

[0006] Therefore, under the situation where the size of the medicine for dispensing is diversified and the size of the medicine cassette or the like accommodating the medicine is likely to diverge, how to increase the mass productivity and reduce the cost. It is a technical issue how to reduce it. The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medicine dispensing device for dispensing that meets various specifications quickly and inexpensively.

[0007]

The constitution, operation and effect of the dispensing device for dispensing medicine of the present invention which has been made to solve such problems will be described below.

[0008] The dispensing device for dispensing medicine of the present invention (as described in the first aspect of the present invention) comprises a plurality of medicine cassettes for accommodating dispensing medicines and a desired dispensing medicine among the medicine cassettes. In a dispensing drug dispensing apparatus including a dispensing transport mechanism that removes the drug from the drug and transports the drug to a predetermined position, the drug cassettes are different in size, and the drug cassettes are mixed. It is characterized in that it is compatible with a plurality (only by itself or together with a supporting member such as a shelf on which they are mounted).

Here, the above-mentioned "compatibility with a plurality" refers to the external requirement that even if it is difficult to replace one-to-one because the size is different, if a plurality of pieces come together, they are completely replaced. Typically, one and a plurality have the same width or height, or a plurality and another have the same width or height.

In the medicine dispensing device for dispensing having such a configuration, when exchanging medicine cassettes having different widths or changing the number of cassettes, the degree of freedom of combination is high, and a suitable combination is selected. It is easy to find. Therefore, if several kinds of medicine cassettes that meet the compatibility standards are prepared, as soon as a medicine to be dispensed is determined, a medicine cassette for accommodating the medicine can be selected, and further, it can be stored exactly, It is possible to start manufacturing the entire device. Thus, even if the dispensing medicines are of various sizes, the medicine cassettes can be mass-produced in advance and used without waste. Therefore, according to the present invention, a medicine dispensing device for dispensing that meets various specifications can be provided quickly and inexpensively. .

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment for implementing the dispensing drug dispensing device of the present invention achieved by such a solution will be described.

[First Embodiment] In a first embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of medicine cassettes accommodating medicines for dispensing are provided.
A drawer shelf which is provided in a plurality of stages above and below, each of which detachably accommodates some of the medicine cassettes; and a predetermined position where the medicines are taken out of the medicine cassettes containing the desired medicine for dispensing. In the dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus provided with a dispensing conveyance mechanism for conveying the medicine cassette, the medicine cassettes having different widths are mixed, and their widths (preferably any width) are the total width (preferably any width). Is the divisor of the entire drawer shelf) or its complement.

In this case, the number of types of medicine cassettes having different widths is limited to a relatively small number, and the ratio of each width is a relatively simple ratio between integers. When the combination is changed by changing the number of cassettes or changing the number of cassettes, the degree of freedom of the combination is high, and it is easy to find a suitable combination.
Therefore, an integral multiple of the common divisor of the width of each medicine cassette (preferably a power such as the cube of the third power and its complement) is used.
If there are several types of drug cassettes with a width corresponding to, the drug cassette containing the drug can be selected as soon as the drug to be dispensed is determined, and it can be stored exactly on the drawer shelf. It is possible to start the whole production. As a result, interchangeability of a plurality of drug cassettes alone is obtained, and even if the size of the dispensing drug varies widely, it is possible to mass-produce the drug cassettes in advance and use them without waste. it can. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a medicine dispensing device for dispensing that meets various specifications can be provided quickly and inexpensively.

[Second Embodiment] In a second embodiment of the present invention, a number of medicine cassettes accommodating medicines for dispensing are provided.
A dispensing and dispensing mechanism, comprising a dispensing and conveying mechanism for taking out the desired medicine from the medicine cassette containing the medicine for dispensing and conveying the medicine to a predetermined position; It is characterized by comprising a friction member for taking out a medicine, and means for expanding and contracting a movable range of a friction surface facing the medicine cassette among the friction members.

In this case, when the dispensing medicine stored in any of the medicine cassettes is to be dispensed, the medicine cassette and the dispensing conveyance mechanism are associated with each other by moving the dispensing conveyance mechanism or the like, and the medicine cassette is dispensed. The friction surface of the friction member of the dispensing / transporting mechanism is directed to the medicine take-out site in, and its movable range is enlarged or reduced according to the size of the corresponding cassette or the corresponding medicine. Then, when the contact state between the friction surface of the friction member and the medicine at the take-out position is secured without excess or deficiency, when the friction member moves, the desired medicine is reliably taken out and dispensed to a desired place.
This ensures that the dispensing medicine is dispensed even if the height and width of the medicine cassette are different. Moreover,
Since the friction member is used for taking out the medicine, the expansion and contraction of the working range can be easily realized by selectively performing the driving range or partially covering the friction surface. Therefore, according to the present invention, a medicine for dispensing can be dispensed without inconvenience even if medicine cassettes of various sizes having different heights and widths are mixed based on a wide variety of medicine shapes and packaging forms.

Further, in this case, when a desired medicine for dispensing is taken out of the medicine cassette, the medicine is dragged by the frictional force with the friction member, taken out so as to come out, and then dispensed to a desired place. As described above, the dispensing medicine is taken out by pushing out, picking, or so-called rubbing that does not depend on gravity drop, so that the dispensing medicine has a simple structure as compared with a picking mechanism, etc. It can be applied irrespective of the fine form of the drug for use or the hardness of the drug, so that the applicable range is expanded. More specifically, a desired number of medicines can be taken out of the medicine cassette, sequentially, as well as medicines in a box that can be pushed out, sheet packs that can be picked out, and ampoules that can be dropped by gravity, as well as bagged medicines. It is possible to pay out. From this point of view, even if the medicine shape and the packaging form are various, the medicine for dispensing can be dispensed without inconvenience in a wide range.

[Third Embodiment] A third embodiment of the present invention is the dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, wherein the friction member is provided on a friction surface facing the medicine cassette (desirably). (Comprising an elastic member).

In the dispensing device for dispensing medicine of this type, when the dispensing medicine is rubbed against the friction member, fine vibrations occur due to sticking and slipping of the projections one after another on the contact surface. . This vibration is
It is transmitted to the dispensing agent and lowers the coefficient of friction between the dispensing agents. Thus, when a desired dispensing agent is extracted by frictional force, the subsequent dispensing agent is well separated, and only the dispensing agent during friction is reliably taken out.

In particular, when the friction member is moved such that the friction member advances upward or obliquely upward at the contact surface when the friction member is rubbed by the dispensing agent, the dispensing agent and the subsequent dispensing agent can be moved. In addition to the interaction with gravity acting downward, the vibration is strongly excited, and the separation between the dispensing agent during friction and the subsequent dispensing agent is further improved. Thereby, only the desired dispensing medicine can be reliably dispensed.

[Fourth Embodiment] A fourth embodiment of the present invention is a medicine dispensing device for dispensing according to the above-mentioned solution means and the embodiment, wherein the medicine cassettes are each easily housed. The dispensing / conveying mechanism, wherein the dispensing agent is arranged so as to receive the dispensing agent in a horizontal line and provided with a means for urging the dispensing agent being accommodated toward the medicine removing position. Includes a medicine taking-out means and a medicine carrying means, wherein the medicine taking-out means is provided with the friction member corresponding to each of the medicine cassettes, or one of the medicine cassettes or A plurality of the friction members are provided, and means for moving the friction member or any of the friction members to a take-out position of any one of the medicine cassettes is connected. Wherein the medicine transporting means is provided at a position between a position at which a medicine for dispensing taken out of the medicine cassette by the medicine taking out means can be received from the medicine taking out means and a predetermined dispensing position. It has one or a plurality of connected transport mechanisms or drug discharge mechanisms.

[Fifth Embodiment] A fifth embodiment of the present invention is a dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus according to the above-described solving means and the embodiment, wherein a plurality of the dispensing and conveying mechanisms are arranged in a line. Or one provided alone and responsible for taking out the medicine, and a drive mechanism for moving these members in any of the vertical and horizontal directions toward any of the medicine cassettes. I do.

[Sixth Embodiment] In a sixth embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of medicine cassettes are provided side by side, each containing a medicine for dispensing, and a desired medicine for dispensing among the medicine cassettes And a dispensing and dispensing mechanism for dispensing the dispensing and transporting mechanism for taking out the drug from the one containing the drug and transporting the drug to a predetermined position, wherein the drug cassette has a mixture of different widths, and The width of a pair of adjacent medicine cassettes is a divisor of the total width or its complement.

In this case, two kinds of drugs used simultaneously for dissolution and the like at the time of use are double-set in the paired adjacent cassettes. It is sufficient that the cassettes used simultaneously based on such a close relationship are matched in a pair with respect to the conditions for mass production required for the usual drug cassette. The width of each of the other drug cassettes having no such relationship is individually set to a divisor of the total width or its complement, so that the number of types of drug cassettes or cassette pairs having different widths is relatively small. In addition, since the ratio of each width is a relatively simple ratio of integers, when performing replacement by replacing drug cassettes or cassette pairs of different widths at a predetermined width or changing the number of cassettes, The degree of freedom of combination is high, and it is easy to find a suitable combination.

Therefore, there are several types of drug cassettes or cassette pairs having a width corresponding to an integral multiple (preferably a power of three or the like and its complement) based on the common divisor of the width of each drug cassette or cassette pair. If it is prepared, a drug cassette containing the drug that needs to be dissolved at the time of use can be immediately selected as soon as the drug to be dispensed is determined, even if the drug needs to be dissolved at the time of use. It can also be stored exactly at the installation location of the width, and it becomes possible to start manufacturing the entire device. As a result, interchangeability of a plurality of drug cassettes alone is obtained, and even if the size of the dispensing drug varies widely, it is possible to mass-produce the drug cassettes in advance and use them without waste. it can.
Therefore, according to the present invention, a medicine dispensing device for dispensing that meets various specifications can be provided quickly and inexpensively.

[Seventh Embodiment] A seventh embodiment of the present invention is directed to a large number of medicine cassettes containing medicines for dispensing,
A drawer shelf which is provided in a plurality of stages above and below, each of which detachably accommodates some of the medicine cassettes; and a predetermined position where the medicines are taken out of the medicine cassettes containing the desired medicine for dispensing. In the dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus provided with a dispensing and conveying mechanism for conveying to the drawers, different heights are assigned to the respective stages of the drawer shelves, and these heights are mixed (preferably any height). Also, it is characterized by being a divisor of the combined height (preferably the height of all the steps) or its complement.

In this case, the heights of the drawer shelves having different heights and the types of medicine cassettes are limited to a relatively small number, and the ratio of the heights is a relatively simple ratio between integers. When changing the shelf by changing the shelf or changing the number of shelves, the degree of freedom of combination is high,
It is easy to find a suitable combination. Therefore, if several types of drug cassettes having heights corresponding to integer multiples thereof (preferably a power of three, such as the cube of the square and its complement) are prepared based on the common divisor of the height of each step, the As soon as a medicine is determined, a medicine cassette for containing the medicine can be selected, and the height of a drawer shelf for containing the medicine cassette can be set, so that production of the entire apparatus can be started.
As a result, a plurality of medicine cassettes and a supporting member such as a shelf on which the medicine cassettes are mounted can be exchanged to obtain a plurality of medicine cassettes. Even if the dispensing medicines are of various sizes, the medicine cassettes can be mass-produced in advance. In addition, they can be used without waste. Therefore, according to the present invention, a medicine dispensing device for dispensing that meets various specifications can be provided quickly and inexpensively.

[Eighth Embodiment] An eighth embodiment of the present invention is a dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus according to the above-described solving means and the embodiment, wherein the dispensing and transporting mechanism includes a mounting area of the medicine cassette. A plurality of members are arranged in a row across the horizontal width (or vertical width) for taking the medicine, and a drive for moving these members vertically (or horizontally) toward any of the medicine cassettes And a mechanism.

[Ninth Embodiment] In a ninth embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of medicine cassettes which are provided side by side and individually accommodate dispensing medicines, and these medicine cassettes can be pulled out in the horizontal direction. In a dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus, comprising a frame portion supporting the dispensing medicine in a proper state, and a dispensing and conveying mechanism for taking out the medicine from a medicine cassette containing the desired dispensing medicine and conveying the medicine to a predetermined position. The widths of the medicine cassettes are different from each other, and the widths thereof (preferably, any width) are a divisor of the total width (preferably the entire width) or its complement. Features.

In this case, the types of medicine cassettes having different widths are limited to a relatively small number, and the ratio of each width is a relatively simple ratio between integers. When the rearrangement is performed at the width or by changing the number of cassettes, the degree of freedom of the combination is high, and it is easy to find a suitable combination. Therefore, if several types of drug cassettes having a width corresponding to an integral multiple of the common divisor of the width of each drug cassette (preferably a power of three, such as the cube of 3 and its complement) are prepared, As soon as is determined, a medicine cassette accommodating the medicine cassette can be selected, and further, it can be exactly housed in a housing having a predetermined width, so that the manufacture of the entire apparatus can be started. As a result, interchangeability of a plurality of drug cassettes alone is obtained, and even if the size of the dispensing drug varies widely, it is possible to mass-produce the drug cassettes in advance and use them without waste. it can. Therefore, according to the present invention, a medicine dispensing device for dispensing that meets various specifications can be provided quickly and inexpensively.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific description of a dispensing device for dispensing medicine of the present invention will be given in the following first to sixth embodiments.
The first example (FIGS. 1 to 4) embodies the above-described solution and the first to fifth embodiments, and the second example (FIG. 5) also embodies the sixth embodiment. The third embodiment (FIG. 6) is also an embodiment of the above-described seventh embodiment. Further, the fourth example (FIG. 7) embodies the eighth embodiment in place of the fifth embodiment described above, and the fifth example (FIG. 8) implements the eighth embodiment described above. This is embodied in a mode that does not correspond to the second to fifth embodiments. Further, the sixth embodiment (FIG. 9) embodies the above-described solution and the ninth embodiment.

[0031]

First Embodiment A first embodiment of a dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are external perspective views of the entire apparatus, in which FIG. 1A shows a state in which a door is closed, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the door is opened. FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show the internal structure in a simplified manner. FIG. 2A is a rear view, and FIG. 2B is an AA vertical sectional side view. FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal side view around the medicine take-out position, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the arrangement of the friction members as viewed from the back. In the drawings, the left-right direction, ie, the side direction, is defined as the X direction, the up-down direction, ie, the vertical direction, is defined as the Y direction, and the front-back direction, ie, the depth direction, is defined as the Z direction.

The dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus 10 is provided with a door 41 on the front side, and the dispensing medicine is dispensed to a dispensing box 37 hung on the door 41 (FIG. 1).
(See (a)). The door 41 is provided with a pair of doors that rotate left and right to separate when opened (see FIG. 1B). Then, when the door 41 is opened, a medicine cassette 20 described later appears.

Inside, a pair of left and right inner plates 11 (in FIG. 2A, one is near the right end and the other is slightly near the center from the left end. In FIG. 2B, only one is visible). A plurality of shelves 13 (five in FIG. 2) are mounted on rails 12 mounted in a horizontal state via sliding members such as bearings, and each shelf 13 can be pulled out toward the front. (See the uppermost one in FIGS. 1B and 2B).

A plurality of cassettes 20 (four in FIG. 2A) are mounted on each shelf 13 in a row on the left and right sides (X direction). Each cassette 20 of each stage has a width of 1: 2: 3:
The ratio is 4, but this is an example, and the combination may be different for each shelf board 13. Thereby, the medicine dispensing device 10 for dispensing has a large number of medicine cassettes 20 arranged vertically and horizontally so as to be able to be pulled out in the horizontal direction. Further, the medicine cassettes 20 having different sizes are mixed.

Further, the width of these cassettes 20 is equal to an integral multiple thereof with reference to the pitch of a rubber belt 35 described later, and a plurality of single and double cassettes are arranged. It can be replaced with the same width as one triple, and a plurality of double and double ones can be replaced with the same width as one quadruple. A plurality of doubles can be exchanged with the same width as a plurality of ones and fours. As a result, a plurality of the cassettes 20 are compatible with each other based on the installation interval of the rubber belt 35 and the like, which are members that take out the medicine.

Each of the cassettes 20 is formed in an elongated box shape in the front and rear direction (Z direction).
Means for attaching to and detaching from the shelf 13 are also provided, but there is no lid portion. Then, if the patch 1 or the like (pharmaceutical preparation) is slightly smaller in width than its inner width, a large number of the patches 1 are placed and aligned.
Direction)) (FIG. 2 (b),
See FIG. 3). Thereby, each medicine cassette 2
Numeral 0 indicates that the upper part is open and the medicines for dispensing are arranged side by side in a row.

Each cassette 20 has a rear end (a front end in the Z direction) corresponding to the medicine take-out position, which is slightly inclined and tends to open upward, and has a cutout 24 formed therein. (A), see FIG. 3). Notch 24 is for Patch 1
Rubber belt 35 (friction member) described below as long as the
Are formed in a size that can be freely inserted. Also, the cassette 20
A pusher 21 that can move freely in the longitudinal direction is provided therein.
, A winding unit 22 attached to the pressing tool 21, and a spring 23 having one end wound around the winding unit 22 and the other end attached to the rear end of the cassette 20. Utilizing the winding around the take-up portion 22, the pusher 21 is advanced toward the back (Z direction) with a substantially constant force. And the pusher 21
When the patch 1 is accommodated between the patch 1 and the rear end (24), the patch 1 is pressed toward the notch 24. Thus, the medicine cassettes 20 are provided with means for individually urging the stored medicine for dispensing toward the medicine take-out position.

The dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus 10 is also provided with a dispensing and conveying mechanism 30 for taking out the medicine from a medicine cassette 20 containing a desired medicine for dispensing and conveying the medicine to a predetermined position. Have been. The pay-out transport mechanism 30 mainly includes a rear portion of the apparatus (see FIG. 2B, Z
(Positive side in the direction) and are roughly divided into medicine take-out sections 34, 35, support / drive sections 31, 32, 33 responsible for the movement thereof, and medicine transport section 36.

The dispensing section of the dispensing and transporting mechanism 30 includes a bucket 34 mounted on a movable member 33 and a movable member 3.
3 and a rubber belt 35 that can enter and exit the notch 24 of the cassette 20. Rubber belt 35
Is an endless flexible band stretched between a pair of rollers 35b. The notch 24 is provided by a driving device (not shown) so as not to interfere with the cassette 20 when the movable member 33 moves.
(See FIG. 2 (b)), when the dispensing medicine such as the patch 1 is taken out from the cassette 20, it enters the notch 24 and is brought into contact with the endmost patch 1 (see FIG. 2 (b)). 3).

When the roller 35b is rotated by a driving device (not shown), the rubber belt 35 rubs the contact surface with the patch 1 obliquely upward, whereby the patch is lifted above the rubber belt 35 (in the direction B). 1 falls on the inclined plate 34a attached to the bucket 34 and falls into the bucket 34 (see arrow C). Thus, the dispensing and transporting mechanism 30 includes the rubber belt 35 as a friction member for taking out the medicine. Notch 2
The rubber belt 35 advances and retreats to the roller 35 as shown in FIG.
b, but the roller 35b is not moved, or in addition to the movement of the roller 35b, the rubber belt 3 is moved by a slippery contact plate or the like disposed between the rollers 35b.
5 may be extruded into the notch 24. The bottom of the bucket 34 is opened and closed so that the received patch 1 and the like are temporarily stored and collectively and appropriately discharged.

The rubber belt 35 has a large number of small projections 35a formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The projection 35a may be cylindrical (see FIGS. 3 and 4), may be conical in consideration of ease of die cutting, and may be prismatic or pyramid in consideration of ease of cutting. . Normally, the base material of the rubber belt 35 is made of the same material, but a different elastic piece may be implanted or adhered to the base in order to increase the friction coefficient of a part in direct contact with the base. This allows
The friction member 35 has a large number of protrusions 35 a formed of an elastic member formed on a friction surface facing the medicine cassette 20.

Further, the rubber belt 35 is arranged in the left and right directions (X direction).
A plurality (four in FIG. 4) is arranged in a row, and the pitch, that is, the arrangement interval corresponds to the interval of the notch 24 in the cassette 20, and the number is equal to the maximum number of the notch 24 in the cassette 20. Match. Thereby, the medicine taking-out section of the dispensing / transporting mechanism 30 is provided with a plurality of friction members 35 corresponding to the medicine cassette having the widest width, and these friction members 35 directly act on the medicine 1 for dispensing as members taking out medicines. It is something to do.

The support / drive portion of the pay-out transport mechanism 30 is provided with a vertical guide 31 erected in parallel with the inner plate 11, a horizontal guide 32 mounted on the vertical guide 31, and a horizontal guide 32 mounted on the horizontal guide 32. With a movable device 33 and a driving device including a ball screw or a timing belt (not shown),
The horizontal guide 32 is guided by the vertical guide 31 to move vertically (moves in the Y direction), and the movable member 33 is guided by the horizontal guide 32 to move horizontally (moves in the X direction). The movable range covers at least from the point where the right end rubber belt 35 reaches the rightmost notch 24 in each step to the point where the leftmost rubber belt 35 reaches the leftmost notch 24 in each step. ing.
Thus, the support / drive unit of the dispensing / transporting mechanism 30 moves any one of the plurality of friction members 35 to a position where an arbitrary one of the medicine cassettes 20 is taken out.

The inner plate 11 of the dispensing device 10
A conveyor 36 is provided in the space further to the left (see FIG. 2A). The conveyor 36 is installed horizontally extending and extending forward and backward (see FIG. 2 (b)). One end of the conveyor 36 reaches the movable range of the bucket 34, and the other end penetrates the front panel and is placed at the front. It has reached above the dispensed box 37. Then, when the patch 1 or the like is discharged from the bottom of the bucket 34 that has moved above the conveyor 36, the patch 1 or the like is conveyed from the back side to the front side by the conveyor 36 and discharged to the payout box 37. Thereby, the medicine transporting means 30 has the transporting mechanism 36 provided between a position where the dispensing medicine taken out from the medicine cassette 20 by the medicine taking out means can be received from the medicine taking out means and a predetermined dispensing position. It has become something.

The controller 14 is mainly composed of a microprocessor system, and is installed in a space below the conveyor 36 or the like. The controller 14 responds to an operation of an operation panel (not shown) provided on the front side, while referring to the arrangement information of each cassette 20 stored in the memory and the medicine information about the patch 1 and the like stored in the memory,
It controls the operation of the driving device connected via an appropriate interface. In particular, when controlling the rotation of the rollers 35b that can be individually driven, selective control is performed so that only the number of rubber belts 35 equal to the number of the notches 24 in the corresponding cassette 20 is operated. Or,
Selective control is performed so that only the rubber belt 35 facing the corresponding notch 24 enters. Thereby, the friction member 35 is provided with means for expanding and contracting the movable range of the friction surface facing the medicine cassette 20.

The usage and operation of the dispensing device for dispensing medicine of the first embodiment will be described.

First, an appropriate number of patches 1 and the like are stored in each cassette 20 in an appropriate number, and the patches 1 and the like are urged by the pressing tool 21 toward the medicine removing position. Then, the shelves 13 are pulled out, and each cassette 20 is placed thereon.
And push back the shelf 13. Similarly, the cassette 20 is mounted on the shelf 13 at another stage. At this time, the controller 14 is also operated to operate the operation panel or read necessary information from a created recording medium, and set appropriate arrangement information and medicine information. Thus, patch 1
A large number of cassettes 20 containing the same are set in a state in which the medicine can be taken out.

Next, when dispensing a medicine for dispensing, for example, patch 1, the operation panel is operated to designate the type and the number. Then, the controller 1 that inputs this
The following processing is performed according to the control of No. 4. That is, the cassette 20 (FIG. 2) in which the patch 1 is accommodated.
In this case, the movable member 33 moves to the position of the second cassette from the top (the second cassette from the right), and the rubber belt 35 moved along with the movable member 33 faces the corresponding cassette 20. Since the cassette 20 has three cutouts 24, only three of the four rubber belts 35 (the three leftmost belts excluding the rightmost belt in FIG. 2A) are opposed to each other.

The three rubber belts 35 enter the notches 24, and the rollers 35b rotate for a predetermined time (FIG. 3).
reference). Then, the patch 1 that has been in contact with the rubber belt 35 is lifted obliquely upward by the rubber belt 35 (see arrow B), and thereafter falls by gravity to fall into the bucket 3.
4 (see arrow C). At that time, the contact between the rubber belt 35 and the patch 1 is maintained through a large number of projections 35a, and the projections 35a sometimes cause stick-slip at individual timings when rubbing with the patch 1, so that the whole is fine. Small vibrations occur. In this way, only one patch 1 is reliably taken out of the cassette 20 without pulling out the subsequent patch 1 not in contact with the rubber belt 35 together.

When such operations are repeated by the specified number, the necessary number of patches 1 are secured in the bucket 34. In addition, if payment for other types of dispensing drugs is also specified,
Cassette 20 in which movable member 33 contains the dispensing medicine
And the number of rubber belts 35 corresponding to the cutouts 24 of the cassette 20 (that is, any one of 1 to 4) is operated, and the specified number of dispensing medicines are also added to the bucket 34. Is done. In this way, as many kinds of specified dispensing medicines as necessary are needed,
Collected at 4.

Then, when the movable member 33 moves and the bucket 34 comes above the conveyor 36, the bucket 3
The bottom of 4 opens and closes. Then, the collected medicine for dispensing falls onto the conveyor 36, is conveyed by the conveyor 36, and is finally put into the dispensing box 37. In this way, the medicine is taken out of the medicine cassette 20 containing the desired medicine for dispensing, and the medicine is transported to a predetermined position, that is, a medicine dispensing position such as the dispensing box 37, and the medicine is automatically dispensed. Is completed.

The manufacturing method of the dispensing device for dispensing medicine of the first embodiment will be described.

The cassettes 20 are mass-produced in advance in four types from the above-described one to four times width. Several kinds of the shelf boards 13 corresponding to the width in which some of the cassettes 20 are arranged are mass-produced in advance. According to the width of the shelf 13, the payout transport mechanism 3
Also, several types of 0s and housings are mass-produced in advance. In this way, a considerable portion is expected to be produced, but the types are not many.

When the kind of the medicine for dispensing is designated by an order, the cassette is allocated to accommodating the medicine narrower than the single-width cassette, and the medicine which is wider than the double-width cassette and smaller than the double-width cassette is assigned. A double-width cassette is allocated for storage, a triple-width cassette is allocated for storing a drug that is wider but narrower than a triple-width cassette, and a drug that is wider but narrower than a quadruple-width cassette is stored. Allocates a quadruple width cassette.

Then, the total length of these cassettes is divided by the number of stages of the shelf, and a shelf that is equal to or wider than that is selected. Then, each cassette is allocated to each shelf. At that time, for empty shelves,
The vacant space and the next cassette are replaced with other cassettes having the total width of the vacant space, so that the vacant space is eliminated as much as possible. The remaining area is filled with a cassette of the minimum width. In this way, members prepared in advance can be used, and after receiving an order, by selecting and assembling necessary members, it is possible to provide a device with individual specifications in a short period of time. In addition, the number of types of members to be expectedly produced is relatively small, and the selection of members can be easily performed without waste by trying several replacements.

[0056]

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 shows a second example of a specific medicine cassette.
An example will be described. This dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus is different from that of the first embodiment in that a large number of cassettes 2 are used.
0 is that a pair of adjacent cassettes 20a and 20b has a specific relationship. The width of the cassette 20a is 1.1 times wider (see the solid line), which is slightly wider than the above-described cassette of 1 time width (see the two-dot chain line).
The width of b is 1.9 times wider (see the solid line), which is slightly narrower than the double width cassette (see the two-dot chain line). As a result, these cassettes 20a and 20b are not individually interchangeable, but when they are combined, they have the same width as the triple-width cassette, and are compatible.

The width of these cassettes 20a and 20b is such that even if different medicines are applied at the same time, one of the packaging forms is slightly wider than an integral multiple of the reference pitch and the other packaging form is the reference. Used when the pitch is slightly smaller than an integral multiple of the pitch. Therefore, the ratio is not limited to 1.1 to 1.9, but may be 0.9 to 2.1, or 2.8 to 2.2. The total width of such paired cassettes is offset by the excess and deficiency of each other, thereby saving a width of one pitch.

The cassette 20 having such a specific relationship
a, 20b are manufactured by the same number during the expected production,
When assembling after an order has been received, the same number will be assembled adjacently. In use, a set of specific dispensing medicines which are closely related to each other such as simultaneous application are stored in the cassettes 20a and 20b. Also, at the time of automatic dispensing, there is only a small difference between the width of the cassettes 20a and 20b and the width of the standard cassette 20 corresponding to each. It is taken out without inconvenience.

[0059]

Third Embodiment A description will be given of a third embodiment whose external perspective view is shown in FIG. This medicine dispensing device for dispensing is
The difference from the second embodiment is that the intervals between the shelves 13 are different. While the rails 12 are provided at a fixed pitch in the vertical direction, that is, at a fixed interval, the shelf 13 supported by these rails has a short shelf 13a occupying twice the height of the rail pitch, The shelf plate 13b, which is not short, occupying three times the height of the above, and the tall shelf plate 13c, which is four times the height of the rail pitch, are mixed.

The rail pitch is 30 mm, the height occupied by the shelf 13a is 60 mm, and the height occupied by the shelf 13b is 9 mm.
0 mm, the height occupied by the shelf 13 c is 120 mm, and so on. The rails 12 may be all mounted, but may not be mounted where they do not engage with the shelf, in which case there are only screw holes for rail mounting. I do. As a result, the shelf boards 13a, 13b, and 13c are compatible with each other based on the mounting pitch of the members that support the shelf boards 13a so that they can be pulled out. The cassettes 20 mounted on such a shelf board have compatibility with a plurality of them together with the shelf board.

In this case, three types of shelves having the same width but different heights are mass-produced in advance. Then, the kind of dispensing medicine is specified by the order, and when the height is determined in addition to the width of the cassette for accommodating them, a shelf board having a width and height suitable for these cassettes is also selected, and the case is selected. Incorporate in the body. In this way, even when there is a significant difference in the storage state of the dispensing medicine, the storage space is not wasted, and the members prepared in advance can be used without waste to meet individual specifications in a short period of time. Apparatus is provided.

When the rails 12 are mounted at all the mounting positions, even after the device is delivered to a hospital pharmacy or the like, it is necessary to reflect fluctuations in the amount of used medicine and the preference of the worker. Each of the shelves 13a, 13b, 13c can be easily used by utilizing the compatibility of a plurality of shelves 13a, 13b, 13c.
The top and bottom of c can be interchanged.

[0063]

Fourth Embodiment A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus is different from those of the first to third embodiments in that the number of rubber belts 35 increases and spreads in a horizontal line, and accordingly, a guide is provided instead of the movable member 33 and the bucket 34. 38a
And a conveyor 38b. Such a dispensing / conveying mechanism can also be manufactured and stocked in advance for some typical combinations of the pitch and the number of the rubber belts 35.

In this case, since the movable member 33 is not provided, the rubber belt 35 and the guide 38a do not move laterally (in the X direction). However, the rubber belt 35 extends over a range covering the entire cassette 20 on the corresponding shelf 13. Therefore, by driving any appropriate rubber belt 35 based on the selection of the controller 14, a desired medicine for dispensing can be taken out of the cassette 20 into the guide 38 a.
The dispensed medicine taken out is transferred onto the conveyor 36 by the horizontal conveyance of the conveyor 38b and the vertical movement of the horizontal guide 32, and then discharged to the dispensing box 37.

[0065]

Fifth Embodiment A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus is different from that of the fourth embodiment in that a rubber belt 35 is used.
Is replaced by a push pin 42. Along with that, the illustration is omitted, but the cassette 20
Also, a type in which the movement of the push pin 42 is not directly transmitted to the medicine for dispensing but is transmitted to a member such as a gate and opened and closed to take out the medicine is used (JP-A-2-28406). reference).

In this case, these push pins 42 indirectly act on the medicine for dispensing as members for taking out the medicine. In addition, each cassette 20
Means that a plurality of push pins 42 can be interchanged with each other based on the installation interval. Further, such a dispensing / conveying mechanism can also be manufactured and stocked in advance for some typical combinations of the pitch and the number of the push pins 42.

[0067]

Sixth Embodiment A specific configuration of a sixth embodiment of the dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 9A is an external perspective view, FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a medicine cassette, FIGS. 9C and 9D are partial views of a medicine removing mechanism, and FIGS. 9E and 9F are perspective views of a medicine for dispensing. FIG.

This medicine dispensing device for dispensing includes a plurality of medicine cassettes 51, 52, and 53 which are divided into two upper and lower stages in a frame portion 50 and arranged side by side in each stage (FIG. 9).
(See (a)). These drug cassettes are unified to the same height but have different widths. The width of the medicine cassette 51 is narrow and only 40 mm, the width of the medicine cassette 53 is twice as wide as 80 mm, and the width of the medicine cassette 52 is 60 mm in between. As a result, these cassettes all correspond to integral multiples of a common divisor of 20 mm, and as a result, are compatible with a plurality of cassettes.

Since the structure of the drug cassettes 51 to 53 is the same except for the difference in width, the drug cassette 51 will be described in detail. The container will be a rectangular parallelepiped container for accommodating a large number of dispensing drugs. A handle 51c is implanted on the front surface of the handle, and the handle 51c can be pulled out from the frame portion 50 in the horizontal direction by holding the handle 51c and pulling it toward the user. In order not to hinder the drawer, there is no obstacle in the bottom plate or the like of the frame 50 in the front-rear direction (Z direction), such as a protrusion. Or,
A Teflon sheet with a small coefficient of friction is laid or a thrust bearing is inserted so as to facilitate the pull-out. Thus, the frame 50 supports the medicine cassettes 51 to 53 in a state where the medicine cassettes 51 to 53 can be pulled out in the horizontal direction.

The medicine cassette 51 is provided with an elevating plate 51a at the inner bottom thereof (see FIG. 9B), on which each medicine pack 51b and (see FIG. 9E). , A plurality of bundled medicine packs 51b (see FIG. 9 (f)),
A large number of them are accommodated in the vertical direction (Y direction). The elevating plate 51a is provided with a driving unit (not shown) under the control of the controller, and can be moved up and down.

The medicine cassette 51 is provided with a reciprocating mechanism 51d below the top plate (FIG. 9).
(B)). The movable portion of the reciprocating mechanism 51d is provided with a suction pad 51e with a suction port directed downward (see FIG. 9C). The suction pad 51e has a flexible hose extending from a not-shown exhaust pump or the like. It is connected. Although not shown, a medicine transport mechanism such as the conveyer 38b or the conveyer 36 in the above-described embodiment is also provided on the rear portion of the frame 50 or the like.

In the case of such a medicine dispensing device for dispensing,
At the time of production, the medicine cassette 51 and the like are manufactured and stocked in advance, and are assembled into an appropriate frame 50 after receiving an order. When a desired medicine package 51b is required during operation at a hospital pharmacy or the like, the medicine cassette 51 accommodating the medicine package 51b is suctioned by the suction pad 51e and the elevating plate 51a is controlled according to the control of the controller. When the uppermost medicine package 51b reaches the suction pad 51e and is sucked, the elevating plate 51a returns downward, and the movable part of the reciprocating mechanism 51d moves backward (Z direction). (See FIG. 9D). Then, the suction by the suction pad 51e is stopped, and the medicine package 51b is delivered to the medicine transport mechanism at the back of the frame 50. Thus, in this case,
The medicine is automatically taken out of the medicine cassette containing the desired medicine for dispensing and transported to a predetermined dispensing position.

[0073]

As is clear from the above description, in the medicine dispensing device for dispensing of the present invention, the compatibility of a plurality of medicine cassettes makes it possible to vary the size of the medicine for dispensing. Therefore, the medicine cassettes can be mass-produced in advance and used without waste, so that a medicine dispensing device for dispensing that meets various specifications can be provided quickly and inexpensively. This has the advantageous effect of becoming

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment of a dispensing medicine dispensing device of the present invention, in which (a) is a state in which a door is closed,
(B) has shown the state which opened the door.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure,
(A) corresponds to a rear view, and (b) corresponds to a side view.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal side view around the medicine take-out position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the arrangement of the friction members as viewed from the back.

FIG. 5 is a partial view showing a specific medicine cassette in the second embodiment of the medicine dispensing device for dispensing of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a third embodiment of the dispensing medicine dispensing device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a dispensing and conveying mechanism of a fourth embodiment of the dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of a dispensing and conveying mechanism of a dispensing medicine dispensing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

9 (a) is a perspective view of an external appearance, FIG. 9 (b) is a perspective view of a drug cassette, and FIGS. 9 (c) and 9 (d) are parts of a drug removing mechanism according to a sixth embodiment of the drug dispensing device for dispensing of the present invention. Figure,
(E) and (f) are perspective views of the drug for dispensing.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 patch (sheet, softener, packaging, dispensing medicine) 10 dispensing medicine dispensing device 11 inner plate (fixing member, cassette supporting means) 12 rail (drawing member, cassette supporting means) 13 shelf plate (movable) Parts, cassette support means) 13a, 13b, 13c shelf board 14 controller (control device) 20 cassette (drug cassette) 20a, 20b cassette (adjacent pair of drug cassettes) 21 pusher (advancing / retracting member, biasing means) 22 rolls Take-out part (spring force transmitting member, urging means) 23 Spring (elastic body, forward force generating member, urging means) 24 Notch (friction member entry site, medicine take-out position) 30 Dispensing and transport mechanism (medicine take-out means + friction member) Moving means + medicine conveying means 31 vertical guide (Y-direction guide member, vertical drive means,
Shelf moving means) 32 Horizontal guide (X direction guide member, left and right driving means,
In-shelf moving means) 33 Movable member (XY moving section, friction member mounting body, moving means between cassettes) 34 Bucket (temporary receiving box, medicine removing means) 34a Inclined plate (guide member for taking out medicine, medicine taking out means) 35 Rubber belt (Elastic body, endless member, friction member,
Drug take-out means) 35a Projection (elastic body, friction member, medicine take-out means) 35b Roller (endless member, friction member drive means,
Drug take-out means) 36 Conveyor (medicine transport means) 37 Dispensing box (dispensing position of dispensing medicine) 38a Guide (temporary receiving section, drug take-out means) 38b Conveyor (medicine take-out means and drug transport means) 41 Door 42 Push pin ( 50) Frame 51 Drug cassette (narrow width cassette) 51a Elevating plate (biasing means) 51b Medicine package (packing bag, packaging medicine, packaging agent, medicine for dispensing) 51c Handle (medicine) Cassette pull-out means) 51d Reciprocating mechanism (drug taking-out means) 51e Suction pad (drug taking-out means) 52 Drug cassette (cassette not narrow in width) 53 Drug cassette (wide-width cassette)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of medicine cassettes accommodating a medicine for dispensing, and a dispensing / conveying mechanism for taking out the medicine from a medicine cassette accommodating a desired medicine and conveying the medicine to a predetermined position. In the dispensing medicine dispensing device provided, the dispensing medicine dispensing device is characterized in that the medicine cassettes are different in size and that they are interchangeable with each other. apparatus.