JP2003230619A - Ampul storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unerringly dispense a required number of ampuls 2 one by one while changing the direction of the ampuls despite a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The ampuls 2 are stored, facing sideways with respect to the dispensation direction. A belt conveyor 5 is arranged at the bottom, and transports the ampuls 2 sideways. An ampul regulation member 10 is arranged so as to form a clearance that only one ampul 2 can pass through above the belt 6 of the belt conveyor 5. A stopper 13 butting against one end of the ampul 2 passing through the clearance and changing the transport direction of the ampul 2 to the longitudinal direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ampoule container capable of accommodating a plurality of ampoules and automatically dispensing a desired quantity as needed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an ampoule storage container used for automatically supplying a predetermined number of ampules, a large number of ampules are accommodated in a state of being overlapped with each other, and a movable bottom plate is slid so that the ampules are individually accommodated. There is a payment method (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-192369

[0004]

However, the ampoule container does not have the function of changing the direction of the ampoule, and the measures against clogging of the ampoule are insufficient. If the ampoule is damaged, it will be difficult to scatter the chemical solution or to perform subsequent cleaning. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately prevent an unreasonable increase in the load on the ampoule, which is particularly caused by clogging of the ampoule.

Therefore, the present invention is to provide an ampoule container capable of surely dispensing a desired number of ampules one by one while changing the direction of the ampules despite having a simple structure. It is an issue.

[0006]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention accommodates a plurality of ampules sideways with respect to the dispensing direction, and the ampules can be dispensed one by one. In the container, a belt conveyor that conveys the ampoule in a horizontal direction, and an ampoule restriction member that is arranged above the belt of the belt conveyor so as to form a gap through which only one ampule can pass, and the gap passes through the gap. It is provided with a stopper that comes into contact with one end side of the ampoule and converts the carrying direction of the ampoule into a vertical direction.

With this structure, when the belt conveyor is driven, the ampoules placed on the belt are sequentially conveyed to the ampoule restriction member side. Since the ampoule restricting member restricts the ampoule from entering the gap with the belt, the ampoule surely moves one by one toward the stopper side. When the ampoule is dispensed, the stopper comes into contact with one end of the ampoule, and the moving direction is smoothly changed to the vertical direction.

Further, if a pressing member is provided which presses against the upper side of the ampoule discharged through the gap, it is possible to properly discharge a necessary number of ampules or more by the pressing member when the driving of the belt conveyor is stopped. It is preferable because it can be prevented.

When a plurality of ridges are formed at predetermined intervals on the belt of the belt conveyor to engage each ampoule and enable the ampoule to be conveyed in the payout direction, and when the ampoule cannot be conveyed. If the protruding portion passes through under the ampoule, the protruding portion will pass through the ampoule even if the ampoule is clogged.
It is preferable because the ampoule is not damaged. Alternatively, on the belt of the belt conveyor, a plurality of recesses are formed at predetermined intervals to engage each ampoule so that the ampoule can be conveyed in the payout direction, and adjacent to each other when the ampoule cannot be conveyed. The belt portion between the recesses may pass under the ampoule.

Further, when the pressing member is provided with a friction forming member which comes into contact with the ampoule while forming a predetermined frictional force,
This is preferable in that it is possible to dispense the ampule without forming a ridge on the belt conveyor, and it is possible to prevent the ampule from being dispensed carelessly from the gap when the belt conveyor is stopped.

The pressure contact member may be an elastic member,
Alternatively, the elastic member may be urged in a direction in which it is pressed against the ampoule.

It is preferable that the ampoule storage container is provided with a projecting piece that comes into contact with the first ampoule loaded in the ampoule storage container at the head of the second stage ampoule payout direction. With this projecting piece, the head ampoule of the second stage is pushed into the first stage, so that the ampoule is not jammed and is reliably dispensed. The lower edge of the projecting piece is preferably located between a center line connecting the centers of the second-stage ampoule and a tangent line on the outer peripheral upper surface of the ampoule. More preferably, the projecting piece is located slightly above a center line connecting the centers of the second-stage ampoules.

It is preferable to incline the belt conveyor downward in the direction of delivering the ampoule, because the ampule can be delivered more reliably.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 show an ampoule container 1 according to this embodiment. The ampoule storage container 1 has a substantially box-like shape with an open upper surface, and the ampoule 2 is stored laterally with respect to the dispensing direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the ampoule storage container 1 is detachably attached to a drug supply unit 4 fixed to the drug supply device 3 in a matrix and used.

The ampoule storage container 1 is provided with a belt conveyor 5 at the center of the bottom surface, and inclined surfaces 1a and 1b are formed on both sides of the bottom and on the front side of the bottom, respectively. A guide wall 8 that supports the head portion 2a of the ampoule 2 is formed along one lower edge of the inclined surface 1a. The belt conveyor 5 has a structure in which a belt 6 is stretched over rotating shafts 5a and 5b arranged at both ends. On the outer surface of the belt 6, a plurality of laterally extending ridges 7 are provided in parallel along the transport direction. Ridge 7
Are adjacent to each other with a distance substantially equal to or larger than the diameter of the ampoule 2, and move the ampoule 2 in the lateral direction, and before the ampoule 2 is damaged by an external force that hinders the movement during the movement. In addition, the ampoule 2 has a height that allows it to be overridden, in other words, to pass under the ampoule 2.

An ampoule restriction member 10 is arranged on the rear end surface of the ampoule container 1. Ampoule restriction member 10
Forms an ampoule passage 11 having a gap allowing only one ampoule 2 to pass through between the belt conveyor 5 and the belt 6. As shown in FIG. 2B, the ampoule restriction member 10 is provided with a pressure contact member 12 and a stopper 13. The pressure contact member 12 has a plate shape (may be a film shape, a protrusion shape, or the like) made of a synthetic resin material, rubber, or the like that projects obliquely downward in the payout direction of the ampoule 2, and the ampoule 2
By pressing against the outer peripheral surface of the ampoule 2, the careless dispensing of the ampoule 2 from the ampoule passage 11 is prevented when the belt conveyor 5 is stopped. The stopper 13 is a plate-shaped member provided on one side of the ampoule passage 11, and contacts the head 2 a of the ampoule 2 to rotate the ampoule 2 conveyed by the belt conveyor 5 in the vertical direction. A door 14 that covers substantially the lower half of the rear end surface of the ampoule container 1 is provided near the ampoule restriction member 10 so as to be rotatable around a support shaft 14a, and is biased in a closing direction by a spring (not shown). There is.

As shown in FIG. 4, the medicine supply section 4 comprises a medicine supply container 16 and a rotor 17 disposed inside thereof.

The drug supply container 16 has a substantially box shape with an open upper surface, and is inclined obliquely downward toward the dispensing direction of the ampoule storage container 1. The ampoule 2 dispensed to the medicine supply container 16 has an ampoule detection sensor 18 provided on the side wall.
Detected by. The rotor 17 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a plurality of holding recesses (not shown) are formed on the outer peripheral surface at a predetermined pitch.

Next, the operation of the medicine supply device 3 will be described.

In the supply operation of the ampoule 2, first, a sensor (not shown) detects whether or not the ampoule 2 is present in the holding recess of the rotor 17 stopped at a fixed position. If the ampoule 2 in the holding recess is detected, the rotor 17 is rotated to supply the ampoule 2, and if not detected, is the ampoule 2 in the medicine supply container 16 based on the detection signal from the ampoule detection sensor 18? Detect whether or not.

When the ampoule 2 is detected in the drug supply container 16, the rotor 17 is rotated to hold and supply the ampoule 2 in its holding recess.

On the other hand, if the ampoule 2 is not detected, the belt conveyor 5 is driven. The belt conveyor 5 is normally rotated for 5 seconds and reversely rotated for 1 second, and this is repeated. By driving the belt conveyor, the ampoule 2 in the ampoule container 1 is conveyed to the medicine supply container 16. Ampoule 2 is laterally conveyed by ridge 7 formed on belt 6, and only ampoule 2 directly placed on belt 6 by ampoule restriction member 10 passes through ampoule passage 11. At the exit of the ampoule passage 11, the stopper 1 is attached to the head 2 a of the ampoule 2.
3, the ampoule 2 continues to move while rotating, and is rotated about 90 degrees to be oriented vertically, and is dispensed to the medicine supply container 16.

Thus, despite the simple structure of the ampoule restricting member 10, the pressure contact member 12, and the stopper 13, the direction of the ampoule 2 can be easily changed from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. Then, the ampoule restricting member 10 can move only the ampoule 2 directly placed on the belt 6 in the payout direction, and the pressure contact member 12 can prevent the ampoule 2 from being carelessly paid out, so that the desired quantity can be reliably ensured. It is possible to dispense the ampoule 2 of. Moreover, the pressure contact member 12 causes the ampoule 2
Since the ampoule 2 can be rotated by the stopper 13 while pressing, the direction of the ampoule 2 can be accurately changed from horizontal to vertical.

When the ampoule 2 is dispensed through the ampoule passage 11, even if an unreasonable load acts on the ampoule 2 that is being dispensed due to tilting of the ampoule 2 stacked above and the like, the ampoule 2 projects below the ampoule 2. The ridge portion 7 passes through, in other words, the ampoule 2 gets over the ridge portion 7 (the ridge portion 7
The ampoule 2 is not damaged because it itself is compressed.

The ampoule 2 dispensed into the medicine supply container 16 is detected by the ampoule detection sensor 18. When the sensor 18 detects the ampoule 2, the belt conveyor 5 is stopped. When the ampoule 2 in the rotor 17 is dispensed,
The belt conveyor 5 is driven again in the same cycle.

Similarly, the above operation is repeated until a predetermined number of ampoules 2 are supplied. When the predetermined number of ampoules 2 are supplied, the belt conveyor 5 is stopped.
Since the ampoule 2 in the ampoule passage 11 is prevented from being unintentionally dispensed by the pressure contact member 12, the ampoule 2 is not dispensed more than necessary when the belt conveyor 5 is stopped.

The ampoule 2 supplied from the rotor 17 of the medicine supply container 16 is, as shown in FIG.
A belt conveyor 2 provided at the bottom of the drug supply device 3 by a lifter (not shown) provided behind the drug supply unit 4 inside.
3 is lowered onto the tray 22. The tray 22 is conveyed on the belt conveyor 23 while similarly receiving other medicines from the medicine supply units 4. The medicine in the tray 22 is stored in the bucket 24 supplied from the bucket stocker 25. The bucket 24 accommodates a medicine bag supplied from a medicine bag roll 26 and printed with a patient name and the like by a printer 27, and a paper supplied from a paper roll 28 and having prescription information printed by the printer 27. The bucket 24 containing the medicine, the medicine bag, and the paper is delivered to the outside of the medicine supply device 3.

If the ampule 2 cannot be detected by the sensor 18 for 30 seconds even after the above operation, it is determined that the product is out of stock, and a notification to that effect is given. The worker removes the ampoule container 1 from the drug supply unit 4 of the drug supply device 3 according to the notification command. The ampoule 2 located near the door 14 of the ampoule storage container 1 does not pop out because the pressure contact member 12 is in pressure contact. For this reason, when the ampoule container 1 is removed, the door 14 is not obstructed from rotating and is smoothly closed.

When the rotor 17 causes a rotation failure due to clogging of the ampoule 2 or the like during the supply operation of the ampoule 2, the rotor 17 is first reversely rotated for a predetermined time and then normally rotated. As a result, the clogging of the ampoule 2 and the like can be quickly eliminated and a good supply state can be restored. If the rotation failure of the rotor 17 is not resolved by the reverse rotation processing, the error is notified and the apparatus may be stopped.

In the above embodiment, the stopper 13 is fixed to the ampoule restriction member 10 and the direction of the ampoule 2 is changed immediately after passing through the ampoule passage 11. However, the door 14 is provided with a protrusion such as a pin. By ampoule 2
The configuration may be such that the direction can be changed immediately before reaching the rotor 17.

In the above embodiment, the pressure contact member 12 is provided on the ampoule restriction member 10, but the structure shown in FIG. 5 may be used.

That is, the friction forming member 20 is provided on the lower surface of the tip of the pressure contact member 12. For the friction forming member 20, for example, urethane rubber (polyurethane), nitrile rubber (butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer), silicone rubber (organic polysiloxane), cork, felt or the like can be used. A friction forming member may be provided instead of the pressure contact member 12. Furthermore, it is preferable to incline the belt conveyor 5 downward in the payout direction of the ampoule 2.

With this structure, when the belt conveyor 5 is driven, the ampoule 2 is conveyed in the payout direction according to the friction between the ampoule 2 and the pressurizing member 12 while being elastically deformed. At this time, since the ampoule 2 is sandwiched between the friction forming member 20 and the belt conveyor 5, even if the ampoule 2 in the ampoule storage container 1 becomes small, the ampoule 2 does not slip and cannot be dispensed. More specifically, if the friction forming member 20 is not provided in FIG. 5, the sliding between the pressure contact member 12 and the ampoule 2 causes the ampoule 2 to rotate clockwise in the drawing and cannot be ejected. This prevents this, and the ampoule 2 is reliably dispensed.

As described above, by providing the friction forming member 20, the ampoule 2 can be reliably ejected while preventing the ampoule 2 from being inadvertently ejected from the ampoule passage 11 when the belt conveyor 5 is stopped. It will be possible. Further, the presence of the friction forming member 20 enables the ampoule 2 to be reliably discharged without providing the protrusion 7 on the surface of the belt conveyor 5, so that the belt conveyer due to peeling of the protrusion 7 or the like. 5 can be prevented from shortening the life. Further, since the ridge portion 7 is unnecessary, the belt 6
The diameters of the rotating shafts 5a and 5b for bridging can be suppressed to be small, and the ampoule container 1 can be downsized (in the vertical direction).

Further, in the above embodiment, the protrusions 7 are provided on the belt 6 of the belt conveyor 5, but as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of recesses 21 are formed on the surface of the belt 6 at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction. It may be provided. Each recess 21 extends in the lateral direction of the belt 6, whereby the ampoule 2 is engaged with the recess 21 and is conveyed in the lateral direction. Further, when the ampoule 2 is clogged or the like, the belt portion between the adjacent recesses 21 passes under the ampoule 2, so that the ampoule 2 is not damaged.

Further, in the above embodiment, the elastic member itself is used as the pressure contact member 12, but as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pressure contact member 31 urged by the elastic member 30 in the direction of pressure contact with the ampoule 2. May be used. In the embodiment shown in the figure, a shelf-shaped ampoule restriction member 32 protruding inward is provided on the rear end surface of the ampoule storage container 1, and a plate-shaped pressure contact member 31 is provided on the lower surface of the ampoule restriction member 32.
It is rotatably attached by a pin 33 at the end portion on the upstream side in the payout direction. The pressure contact member 31 is urged by the elastic member 30 formed of a spring in a direction in which it is in pressure contact with the ampoule 2. The friction forming member 20 as described in FIG. 5 is attached to the lower surface of the press contact member 31. The operations of the pressure contact member 31 and the friction forming member 20 during the dispensing of the ampoule 2 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

Between the lower surface of the ampoule restriction member 32 and the belt conveyor 5, an ampoule passage 11 having a gap through which one ampoule 2 passes is formed. The upper surface of the ampoule restriction member 32 is formed with an inclined surface 34 that inclines downward in a direction opposite to the payout direction of the ampoule 2. Slope 3
A projecting piece 3 projecting in a direction opposite to the ampoule payout direction at the lower end of the 4
5, the lower edge of the projecting piece 35 is located between the center line C connecting the centers of the plurality of ampoules 2 loaded in the second stage and the tangent line T of the outer peripheral upper surface of the ampoule 2, preferably the above-mentioned. Center line C
It is located just above. If the upper edge of the projecting piece 35 is at a high position, the ampoule 2 coming down from the inclined surface 34 may be damaged when it falls on the belt conveyor 5, so the upper edge of the projecting piece 35 should be located at the lowest possible position. Preferably there is. The inclined surface 3 of the ampoule restriction member 32
4 may be curved, as shown in FIG.

With this structure, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the first-stage ampoule 2 is conveyed by the belt conveyor 5 in the ampoule payout direction (leftward direction in FIG. 10), the second-stage ampoule 2 is conveyed. Ampoule 2 also moves in the same direction. And
As shown in FIG. 10 (b), 5 at the beginning of the second row
When the No. 2 ampoule 2 comes into contact with the projecting piece 35 at the lower end of the inclined surface 34, the No. 5 ampoule 2 is pressed downward and pushed between the No. 3 and No. 4 ampules 2 in the first stage. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10C, the fifth ampoule 2 is
Even if it is sandwiched between the projecting piece 35 and the ampoule 2 on the one-step surface, the belt bear 5 repeats forward rotation for 5 seconds and reverse rotation for 1 second as described above.
The ampoule No. 2 drops onto the belt conveyor 5, as shown in FIG. Then, in the empty space of the second stage, the ampoules 2 and 3 rolling from the inclined surface 34
Ampoule 2 of the stage enters. In this way, the ampoule 2 is reliably dispensed without jamming.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to change only the direction of the ampoule placed directly on the belt by the ampoule restricting member while the stopper can change the direction. Therefore, the orientation of the ampoule can be surely changed despite the simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A is a plan view of an ampoule storage container according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a front view thereof.

2A is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2B is a side view.

FIG. 3 is an overall schematic diagram of a drug supply device to which the ampoule storage container shown in FIG. 1 is attached and detached.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the ampoule storage container shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a drug supply unit of a drug supply device.

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of an ampoule storage container according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of an ampoule storage container according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ampoule storage container according to still another embodiment.

8 is a sectional view of the ampoule container of FIG.

9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the ampoule container of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view sequentially showing the ampoule payout status of the ampoule container of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Ampule container 2 ... Ampoule 3 ... Drug supply device 4 ... Drug supply section 5 ... Belt conveyor 6 ... Belt 7 ... ridge 10 ... Ampule regulating member 11 ... Ampoule passage (gap) 12 ... Pressure contact member 16 ... Drug supply container 17 ... Rotor 18 ... Ampoule detection sensor 21 ... Recess 30 ... Elastic member 31 ... Pressure contact member 32 ... Ampule regulating member 35 ... Protrusion

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Ken Kodama             33-1 Meishinguchi, Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture Stock             Company Yuyama Works

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An ampoule storage container in which a plurality of ampules are accommodated laterally with respect to the dispensing direction and the ampules can be dispensed one by one. Above the belt, an ampoule restricting member arranged so as to form a gap through which only one ampule can pass, and one end side of the ampule that passes through the gap is abutted, and the conveying direction of the ampule is set to the vertical direction. An ampoule storage container having a converting stopper. 2. The ampoule storage container according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure contact member which is in pressure contact with an upper side of the ampoule discharged through the gap. 3. The belt of the belt conveyor is formed with a plurality of ridges which are engaged with each of the ampules and can convey the ampules in a payout direction at predetermined intervals, so that the ampules cannot be conveyed. The ampoule container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the projecting portion is adapted to pass under the ampoule when the ampoule is opened. 4. The belt of the belt conveyor is formed with a plurality of recesses at predetermined intervals which engage with each ampoule and allow the ampoule to be conveyed in the dispensing direction, and when the ampoule cannot be conveyed. The ampoule storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a belt portion between the concave portions adjacent to each other passes under the ampoule. 5. The ampoule storage container according to claim 2, wherein the pressing member is provided with a friction forming member that comes into contact with the ampoule to form a predetermined frictional force. 6. The ampoule storage container according to claim 2, wherein the press-contact member is made of an elastic member. 7. The pressing member is biased by an elastic member in a direction of pressing the ampoule.
Ampoule storage container described in. 8. The ampoule storage container according to claim 1, wherein the ampoule storage container is provided with a projecting piece that comes into contact with the first ampoule loaded in the ampoule storage container at the head of the second stage ampoule payout direction. container. 9. The lower edge of the projecting piece is located between a center line connecting the centers of the ampules of the second stage and a tangent line of the outer peripheral upper surface of the ampules. Ampoule storage container. 10. The ampoule storage container according to claim 9, wherein the projecting piece is positioned slightly above a center line connecting the centers of the second-stage ampoules. 11. The ampoule storage container according to claim 1, wherein the belt conveyor is inclined downward in a payout direction of the ampoule.