JP2003237713A - Medicine feeding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medicine feeding apparatus in which information such as a direction for using a medicine provided can be printed in an easy style on a container and a label of the container. <P>SOLUTION: The medicine feeding apparatus 1 is provided with tablet cases 3 for storing the medicines and fills the medicine discharged from the tablet case 3 in a packaging paper 72 and is provided with a printer 73. This printer 73 has a color printing function and the printer 73 displays a time region for taking the medicine by color-coded classification. The printer 73 performs heat transfer on a packaging paper 72 by using a color ribbon. <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 a medicine supply device for supplying medicine contained in a tablet case to a container (bottle, bag, etc.) in a quantity specified by a prescription in a hospital or a dispensing pharmacy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in hospitals and dispensing pharmacies, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-5282 (B65B1 / 30).
The drug supply device (referred to as a tablet packing machine in the publication) as shown in FIG. 1 is used to provide a drug prescribed by a doctor to a patient. In such a method, the medicines (tablets, capsules, etc.) in the quantity described in the prescription are discharged one by one from the discharge drum (referred to as an alignment plate in the above publication) in the tablet case, collected by the hopper through the chute,
After that, it was wrapped with wrapping paper or bottled.

[0003]

Here, the name of the patient who provides the medicine, the time zone of taking the medicine (before meal, after meal), etc. are printed on the wrapping paper or the like filled with the medicine by a printer. At that time, especially for elderly people, in pharmacies and the like, a pharmacist sometimes draws a line on the wrapping paper with magic ink or the like to make it easier to understand by taking different dose time zones by color.

In view of such a situation, the present invention provides a drug supply device capable of easily printing information such as usage of a drug to be provided on a container or a label of the container.

[0005]

A medicine supply device of the present invention comprises a tablet case for accommodating a medicine, and the medicine discharged from the tablet case is filled in a container such as a bag or a bottle. A printer for printing on a container or a label of this container is provided, and this printer is characterized by having a color printing function.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the drug supply device as described above, wherein the printer performs thermal transfer to the container or the label by the color ink ribbon.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the drug supply device according to each of the above inventions, wherein the printer displays the drug ingestion time zone in different colors.

According to the present invention, a container or a label of this container is provided in a drug supply device that is provided with a tablet case for containing a drug and fills the drug discharged from the tablet case into a container such as a bag or a bottle. Since the printer has a color printing function, the color ink ribbon according to claim 2 is used to display the drug ingestion time zone in different colors according to claim 3. The usage of medicines can be displayed in different colors in an easy-to-understand manner, which greatly improves convenience.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view (excluding a top plate 1A) of a drug supply device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drug supply device in which a door panel 6 of each shelf 2 ... Is removed and a lower panel 4 is opened. 1 is a front view of FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a vertical side view of the drug supply device 1, FIG. 4 is another front view of the drug supply device 1, FIG. 5 is a side view of the drug supply device 1, and FIG. A plan view, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shelf 2, and FIG. 8 is a tablet case 3.
1 is a perspective view of the shelf 2 with the storage container 51 removed, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the storage container 51 of the tablet case 3, and FIG.
0 is an exploded perspective view of the drive base 52 of the tablet case 3, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the shelf 2 and the identification sensor 33, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the tablet case 3 and the identification sensor 33.

The drug supply device 1 of the present invention is installed in a hospital or a dispensing pharmacy, and comprises a horizontally long rectangular main body 7 and a control personal computer PC which will be described later. Body 7
Is an upper structure 7A and a lower structure 7B that can be separated from each other.
The upper structure 7A is laminated on and connected to the lower structure 7B. In addition, a case storage portion 8 that is open at the front and the bottom is formed in the upper structure 7A for storing a tablet case 3 described later, and the top surface of the case storage portion 8 is a removable top plate 1A. Have been blocked.

The lower structure 7B has an open front surface and an upper surface, and the upper surface communicates with the upper structure 7A.
A packaging machine 13 or the like is stored and installed in the lower structure 7B as a filling device which will be described later, and the opening on the front surface is openably and closably closed by lower panels 4 and 4 of a double door type.

In the case storage portion 8 of the upper structure 7A, there are four rows of left and right, five rows of upper and lower shelves (20 in total) 2.
・ Has been installed. Door panels 6 are attached to the front ends of the shelves 2, and all the shelves 2 ... Are housed in the case housing 8 and the door panels 6 ... The front opening of the storage part 8) is closed. A vertically open passage 9 is formed in the center of the shelf 2 in the front-rear direction, and eight drive bases 52 of the tablet case 3 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction on both left and right sides of the passage 9. Attached (FIGS. 7 and 8).
The tablet case 3 is composed of the drive base 52 and the storage container 51 connected thereto.

The drive base 52 accommodates a drum motor 14 as a drum driving motor composed of a brushed DC motor from above, and the drum motor 14 is covered by the cover 1.
It is fixed to the drive base 52 by 6 and the fastener 17.
In this state, the drive shaft 14A of the drum motor 14 is attached to the cover 1
It projects above 6 (Fig. 10). Also, drive base 5
The discharge port 21 formed in 2 has an optical agent detection sensor 1
8 is attached, and a discharge chute 19 extending obliquely downward from the discharge port 21 is formed in the drive base 52 located below the agent detection sensor 18 (FIG. 10).
The discharge chute 19 communicates with and opens in the passage 9.

On the other hand, the storage container 51 of the tablet case 3
Has an opening on the upper surface, and this opening is closed by a lid 22 that can be opened and closed (FIG. 9). A discharge drum 23 is attached to the inner bottom of the storage container 51, and a plurality of vertical grooves 24 are formed around the side surface of the discharge drum 23 at predetermined intervals. The medicine is filled into the storage container 51 from the upper surface opening (the lid 22 is opened), and two medicines are inserted into the vertical groove 24 of the discharge drum 23. An identification code (bar code or the like) 26 that can be optically identified is attached to the lower side surface of the storage container 51. The identification code 26 is a code for identifying the type of medicine filled in the storage container 51.

The storage container 51 is the drive base 5 described above.
It is placed on the table 2 and is detachably connected. In this case, the identification code 26 is attached so as to face the outside of the shelf 2 (the side opposite to the passage 9). With this, the tablet case 3 is configured. At this time, the discharge drum 2
3 is detachably engaged with the drive shaft 14A of the drum motor 14. When the drum motor 14 is normally driven,
The discharge drum 23 is normally rotated, the vertical groove 24 thereof is sequentially aligned with the discharge port 21 of the drive base 52, and the medicines therein are dropped one by one onto the discharge chute 19.

The medicine passing through the discharge port 21 is detected by the medicine detecting sensor 18. In addition, the discharge chute 19
The medicine that has dropped inside is discharged into the passage 9 of the shelf 2. Further, when the medicine in the storage container 51 becomes empty, the storage container 51 is removed from the drive base 52 and replenished.

As described above, a plurality of tablet cases 3 ...
The shelf 2 to which is attached is a pair of left and right drawer rails 27 attached in the case storage portion 8 of the upper structure 7A,
27 is detachably screwed. As a result, the shelf 2 and the plurality of tablet cases 3 attached to the shelf 2 ...
Is stored in the case storage portion 8 so that it can be pulled out freely, and can be detached from the drawer rail 27 in the pulled out state (FIG. 5).

A tablet case 3 is provided at the rear end of the shelf 2.
A harness 28 for energizing (supplying power) the drum motor 14 and transmitting the output from the agent detection sensor 18 is detachably attached via a connector 29. The harness 28 has a dimension longer than the pull-out distance of the shelf 2. Further, it is attached to the upper structure 7A and is held by the wiring holding member 31 which can be expanded and contracted by folding (FIG. 8).

Further, in the state where the shelves 2 ... Are stored in the case storage portion 8, the passages 9 of the upper and lower shelves 2 ... Correspond to each other, whereby a series of upper and lower communication is established. The shoot 32 of. Therefore, in the embodiment, the four rows of the chutes 32 ... Which extend vertically are formed in the case storage portion 8. In this way, the plurality of upper and lower shelves 2 that can be independently pulled out are provided in the case storage portion 8. Therefore, when the storage container 51 of the tablet case 3 is replaced, each shelf 2 is pulled out. You will be able to do it.

This makes it possible to reduce the space to be formed between the upper and lower shelves 2 and 2 for exchanging the storage container 51, as compared with the structure in which the shelves 2 in the vertical direction are pulled out at the same time. As a result, the number of tablet cases 3 that can be stored in the case storage portion 8 can be increased. Further, since the passage 9 is formed in the center of the shelf 2, and the chute 32 that extends vertically in a state where the upper and lower shelves 2 ... Are stored in the case storage portion 8, is configured.
The interval between the chutes 32 located at the left and right ends can be reduced as compared with the case where the chutes are formed on the side portions of. This makes it possible to reduce the upper surface opening area of the shutters 53, 53 and the hopper 54, which will be described later, to reduce the size.

On the left and right side surfaces of the case storage portion 8 of the upper structure 7A, a plurality of optical systems are provided at positions corresponding to the tablet cases 3 of the shelves 2 located at the left and right ends. Identification sensors 33 ... Are attached (Fig. 1
1, FIG. 12). Each identification sensor 33 has a tablet case 3 on the side corresponding to the left and right side surfaces of the case storage portion 8 of each shelf 2.
Are arranged in correspondence with the respective identification codes 26 and are used to read the information of the identification code 26 in a non-contact manner.

Here, the case storage portion 8 of the upper structure 7A.
Four stays 34, which serve as restricting means, are provided in the upper and lower portions in the inner rear portion so as to correspond to the rear of the left and right rows of the shelves 2 ... (FIGS. 13 to 15). . The stays 34 ... Are attached rotatably around the shafts 36 at the upper and lower ends. Also, the stay 34 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, it has an L-shaped cross-section, and the upper and lower engaging holes 3
.. is formed, and a release side 34B that extends vertically from the end thereof. A coil spring 38 is engaged with the stay 34, and the restoring force of the coil spring 38 causes each side 34A, as shown in FIG.
34B is configured to be stably held in a released state in which 34B faces rearward and in a regulated state in which the regulation side 34A faces forward.

On the other hand, an action member 39 extending rearward is attached to the rear surface of each shelf 2 ... The acting member 39 is provided in each of the engaging holes 37 of the stay 34.
.. is provided corresponding to the height of .., and has an L-shaped action side 39A protruding rearward and an L-shaped engagement side 39B also located in the front.

If all of the shelves 2, ...
No. 4 is in a released state as shown in FIG. This state is stably held by the coil spring 38. At this time, the action side 39A of the action member 39 is the regulation side 34A of the stay 34.
It is located on the rear side of. When any of the shelves 2 is pulled out to this side in this state, the working side 39A presses the regulation side 34A to rotate the stay 34 clockwise in FIG. 16 (FIG. 17). When the acting member 39 moves forward of the stay 34, the restricting side 34A of the stay 34 faces forward and the releasing side 34B faces rightward.

In this regulation state, the regulation side 3 of the stay 34 is
Since the engaging sides 39B of the action members 39 of the other shelves 2 ... In the vertical direction enter into the engaging holes 37 of 4A and engage with each other (FIG. 18), the other shelves 2 ... I can't withdraw. Next, when the shelf 2 that has been pulled out is pushed in, the action side 39A of the action member 39 eventually becomes the release side 34B of the stay 34.
19 (FIG. 19) and press it backwards to attach the stay 34
Is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 19 (FIG. 20). As a result, the engaging side 39B of the other shelf 2 to the regulating side 34A
Are separated from each other, the engagement between the engagement holes 37 ... And the engagement side 39B is released. As a result, the other shelves 2 ... Can be pulled out. Then, when the shelf 2 is completely stored in the case storage portion 8, the stay 34 returns to the initial released state and is stably held by the coil spring 38 (FIG. 21).

With such a structure, only one of the shelves 2 ... Can be pulled out in a line in the vertical direction, and a plurality of shelves 2 cannot be pulled out at the same time.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the plurality of shelves 2 in the upper and lower rows are pulled out at the same time and the load causes the main body 7 to fall forward.

A lock member 41 is attached to each of the stays 34 ... A keep solenoid 42 as a locking means is attached to the upper structure 7A corresponding to the front side of the lock member 41 of each stay 34 ..., and these plungers 42A project rearward.
When the plunger 42A is projected rearward, the keep solenoid 42 comes into contact with the lock member 41 in the released state and prohibits its rotation (FIG. 22). As a result, the stay 34 cannot rotate, and the action member 39 cannot move from the state shown in FIG.
... cannot be pulled out.

Then, when the plunger 42A is sucked, the stay 34 is rotatable and unlocked as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 43 denotes a lock sensor provided at a position where the tip 41A of the lock member 41 enters when the stay 34 is in the released state. In this state, the lock member 41 is detected, and the stay 34 is moved as shown in FIG. When the tip end 41A of the lock member 41 separates from the lock sensor 43 by rotating, the detection is stopped. As a result, the state of the stay 34 can be identified.

Further, 44 is an unlocking bar as a manual unlocking means, and each keep solenoid 42.
.. are provided corresponding to. The lock release bar 44 has an L shape, and its rear end is attached to a position where it engages with the plunger 42A. The coil spring 46 always pulls it backward, and in that state, it is separated from the plunger 42A (FIGS. 22 and 23). And this lock release bar 44
When is pulled toward you, the plunger 42A is pulled toward the keep solenoid 42 side to unlock the keep solenoid 42 (FIG. 24). As a result, it is possible to manually unlock all the shelves 2 ...

In the embodiment, a plurality of shelves 2 are arranged in units of upper and lower rows.
Although the simultaneous withdrawal is prohibited and the lock is performed, the present invention is not limited to this, and the simultaneous withdrawal may be prohibited and the lock may be performed in units of right and left stages. In that case,
Lateral stays will be attached in correspondence with the upper and lower five stages.

On the other hand, the packaging machine 13 (filling device) is housed in the lower part of the lower structure 7B of the main body 7 as described above. Although the structure of the packaging machine 13 will be described in detail later, the packaging machine 13 is detachably screwed to the pull-out rails 47 mounted on the left and right sides of the bottom surface in the lower structure 7B as shown in FIG. Thereby, the packaging machine 13
When the lower panels 4 and 4 are open, they can be pulled out forward from the inside of the lower structure 7B, and can be detachably attached to the pull-out rails 47 and 47 in the pulled-out state. 4
Reference numeral 8 denotes a harness for the packaging machine, which is detachably connected to the packaging machine 13 and the lower structure 7B by a connector, and has a length that allows a sufficient amount of the packaging machine 13 to be pulled out.

Two shutters 53, 53 are arranged side by side on the upper part of the lower structure 7B. Each shutter 53, 53 corresponds to the lower part of the chute 32 ... Above it, the shutter 53 on the right side faces the right end and the chute 32, 32 on the left side, and the shutter 53 on the left side faces. It corresponds to the left end and the shoots 32, 32 on the right side thereof. Then, it plays a role of temporarily receiving the medicines falling from the chutes 32 ...

The hopper 54 is provided in the lower structural body 7B below the shutters 53, 53. The hopper 54 has a rectangular funnel shape in which the upper surface is wide open and is narrowed toward the lower end. The hopper 54 receives the medicine dropped from the chutes 32 ... It is discharged from 54A.

The upper and left ends of the hopper 54 are detachably screwed to the pull-out rails 56, 56 attached to the upper and left sides of the upper portion of the lower structure 7B, and the shutters 53, 53 are also pulled-out rails 56, 56. Is located above and is detachably screwed to the drawer rails 56, 56. By this, the hopper 54 and the shutter 5
When the lower panels 4 and 4 are opened, the reference numerals 3 and 53 can be simultaneously pulled out forward from the inside of the lower structure 7B, and can be detachably attached to the pull-out rails 56 and 56 in the pulled-out state ( Figure 5). Although not shown, the shutter 53
There is also provided a detachable harness for this, and this harness also has a length that can sufficiently allow the amount of pulling out the shutter 53.

With such a structure, when carrying out maintenance such as replacement of the tablet case 3, cleaning of the chute 32 formed by each passage 9, ..., Cleaning of the hopper 54, and replacement of parts of the packaging machine 13. Then, they can be detached from the upper structure 7A or the lower structure 7B of the main body 7 and then attached and detached.

As a result, it is possible to significantly improve the maintenance workability of the medicine supply device 1 and realize smooth medicine filling. In particular, the plurality of tablet cases 3 are simultaneously drawn out from the upper structure 7A together with the shelves 2, and the storage containers 51 are detachably attached, so that the workability of exchanging the storage containers 51 of the tablet case 3 is further improved.

Further, since the shutters 53, 53 are also pulled out from the lower structure 7B and detachably attached,
The maintenance workability of the shutters 53, 53 for temporarily receiving the medicine falling on the hopper 54 can be improved. In particular, since the shutters 53, 53 and the hopper 54 are attached so as to be simultaneously drawn out from the lower structure 7B, the shutter 53 and the hopper 54 are
It is possible to further improve the workability in maintenance of.

In the center of the upper part of the lower structure 7B,
An additional medicine feeder (UTC) 57 is attached between the shutters 53, 53. In this case, the additional drug feeder 57 is independently pulled out forward without being covered by the lower panels 4 and 4, and is detachably attached (FIGS. 1 and 6). The additional medicine feeder 57 is a feeder for arbitrarily supplying an additional medicine, and the feeder 57 communicates with the inside of the hopper 54.

Next, the structure of each shutter 53 will be described with reference to FIGS. The shutter 53 as a whole has a left-right substantially symmetrical shape that is long in the depth direction of the lower structure 7B, has left and right inclined walls 61A and 61B that are spaced apart while inclining from the bottom to the top, and has a wide upper surface. Main body 62 having a rectangular funnel shape and the main body 6
A pair of opening / closing plates 6 for opening / closing the two narrowed lower end openings 62A
3A, 63B and the like.

Each of the opening / closing plates 63A, 63B is operated by a shutter solenoid 64 and a coil spring 68 provided at the rear portion and a link mechanism 66, and the opening / closing plates are substantially continuous from the lower ends of the left and right inclined walls 61A, 61B as shown in FIG. 63A
And 63B are in contact with each other at their lower ends to close the lower end opening 62A of the main body 62, and the open / close plate 63A as shown in FIG.
Is rotated clockwise in the drawing, and the opening / closing plate 63B is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing so that their lower ends are separated from each other, and the lower end opening 62A is opened to be opened.

Further, a curtain 67 as a cushioning member is attached inside the shutter 53. This curtain 67 falls from the chute 32 and the left and right inclined walls 61
It is made of a material such as a thin cloth, rubber, or synthetic resin that has the flexibility to absorb the kinetic energy of the medicine that collides with A and 61B and bounces off. Is further lowered from the lower end opening 62A of the main body 62 and extends to a position where it is sandwiched between the opening / closing plates 63A and 63B in a closed state as shown in FIG.

With this structure, the chemicals that fall into the shutter 53 and jump off are absorbed in the kinetic energy by the curtain 67, and quickly open from the lower end opening 62A to the opening / closing plates 63A, 6A.
Gather on 3B and come to rest. In particular, since the curtain 67 extends from the upper part to the lower end of the shutter 53, the splashing agent is likely to hit the curtain 67,
The shock absorbing effect is further improved, and the time until the drug becomes stationary is further shortened. Further, since the curtain 67 is sandwiched between the opening / closing plates 63A, 63B, the opening / closing plates 63A, 63A,
The noise generated when the lower end of 63B comes into contact with each other is also absorbed.

Next, the structure of the packaging machine 13 will be described with reference to FIG. 71 is wrapping paper 72 that can be heat-welded
A roll (constituting a container) is wound, 73 is a printer, 74 is a nozzle attached to the lower end opening 54A of the hopper 54, 76 is a heat seal head made of silicone rubber, and 77 is drawn from the roll 71. Wrapping paper 72
, 79 is a cutter that cuts the wrapping paper 72, 81 is a conveyor that conveys the wrapping paper 72 that has been packaged and cut to an outlet 82 provided in the lower panel 4, and They are sequentially provided along the transport path. Incidentally, 83 is a motor for operating the heat seal head 74, 78 is a motor for driving the roller 77, and 8 is a motor.
4 is a motor of the conveyor 81.

The wrapping paper 72 wound around the roll 71 has a substantially V-shaped cross section which is opened at the top and folded at the lower end, and is pulled obliquely downward to the right from the roll 71 by a roller 77 or the like. After that, the printer 73 prints on the surface thereof as described later. Next, the medicine discharged from the nozzle 74 is put into the wrapping paper 72, and the wrapping paper 72 is divided into individual packages by heat welding by the heat seal head 76. The divided and packaged wrapping paper 72 is then cut by a cutter 79 and conveyed by a conveyor 81 to an outlet 82 on the upper left side.

As shown in FIG. 29, the nozzle 74 is in the shape of a rectangular tube having upper and lower openings, and the lower end of the nozzle 74 has an insertion guide side 86 which is inserted into the wrapping paper 72. And the wrapping paper 72 on the opposite side
The paper guide side 87 is formed so as to close the upper surface opening. The upper end opening of the nozzle 74 faces the lower end opening 54A of the hopper 54. As a result, the medicine received by the hopper 54 enters the nozzle 74 and is thrown into the wrapping paper 72 guided by the insertion guide side 86.

Further, the hopper 54 is configured so that the nozzle 74 can be swung in the direction (front-back direction) orthogonal to the traveling direction of the wrapping paper 72 (shown by the arrow in FIG. 28) by the rotating shaft 89 of the holding member 88. Is attached to. Accordingly, even if the positions of the hopper 54 and the nozzle 74 and the position of the wrapping paper 72 of the packaging machine 13 do not exactly match, the nozzle 7
4 swings by the amount of the error, and the insertion guide side 86 can be inserted into the wrapping paper 72 without hindrance, and the medicine can be introduced. Therefore, the workability at the time of attaching these members can be improved.

Next, the printer 73 will be described. The printer 73 is a thermal transfer type printer using an ink ribbon, and as shown in FIG.
The wrapping paper 72 is pressed against the sheet 1 by the pressing plate 92, and the heat transfer head 93 performs predetermined printing on the surface of the wrapping paper 72. still,
Reference numeral 94 is an opening / closing lid of the printer 73. Further, the traveling directions of the color ink ribbon 91 and the wrapping paper 72 are indicated by arrows in the figure.

FIG. 31 shows the positional relationship between the printer head 93 and the heat seal head 76 with respect to the wrapping paper 72, and shows a state in which printing is performed between them. In the case of the embodiment, the color ink ribbon 91 is formed with four different color bands in the width direction as shown in FIG. 32, and the widest band C1 for printing is, for example, black and then blue, for example. A band C2, then a red band C3, for example, and finally a yellow band C4 are provided.

The printer 73 has the above-mentioned structure.
For example, the name, the date of administration, the time of administration, etc. are printed in black on the sash C1, and the black line L1 is used for the sachets taken before going to bed, and the blue line L2 is used for the sachets taken after dinner. A yellow line L4 is printed on the sachets to be taken after breakfast to display the dosing time in different colors. As a result, it becomes possible to easily determine the time period for taking the drug, and it is possible to effectively eliminate the occurrence of accidental ingestion. Incidentally, each line L
Each dosing time zone may be printed in characters in 1, L2 and L4 as shown in FIG.

Next, FIG. 34 shows a block diagram of an electric circuit of the controller 95 of the medicine supplying apparatus 1. Control device 9
Reference numeral 5 is a general-purpose microcomputer 9 that constitutes a control means.
7 and the output of the microcomputer 97 is connected to each of the tablet cases 3 through the driver circuit 94.
..Drum motor 14, packaging machine 13, printer 7
3, shutter solenoids 64, 64 and each keep solenoid 42 ... Are connected. The microcomputer 97 controls the driver circuit 94 to apply a DC 24V power supply to the drum motors 14 ..., And these drum motors 14 ...

Further, the input of the microcomputer 97, the output of the current transformer 96 for detecting the energization current of each drum motor 14 ,.
..Each agent detection sensor 18 ... Each identification sensor 33 ..
.. are connected to the output. Further, the microcomputer 97 is connected to the above-mentioned personal computer PC so as to be capable of data communication.

The operation of the medicine supply apparatus 1 of the present invention having the above configuration will be described. It is assumed that the shutters 53, 53 are closed when the power is turned on. Further, it is assumed that the shelves 2 ... With the tablet cases 3 ... Respectively containing predetermined medicines are attached in the case accommodating portion 8 of the upper structure 7A as described above. .

Next, when the power of the medicine supply device 1 is turned on,
The microcomputer 97 of the control device 95 uses the identification sensors 33, ... To detect the case 8 of the upper structure 7A.
The identification codes of the tablet cases 3 ... of the shelves 2 ... As a result, the data relating to the type of drug stored in each tablet case 3 is stored together with the position of the tablet case 3, and this data is also transmitted to the personal computer PC.

It should be noted that the microcomputer 97 has a database relating to the type of drug in each tablet case 3 ... Stored in the case storage portion 8 and the position of the tablet case 3, and the database is a personal computer PC. It has been sent to. The identification code read by the identification sensor 33 ... Is also added to this database.

First, the dispensing operation will be described. When an operator inputs prescription data from the personal computer PC based on a doctor's prescription, the microcomputer 97 of the drug supply device 1 causes the tablet case 3 in which the drug specified based on the prescription data is stored from the database. Then, the drum motor 14 is normally rotated by the driver 94, and the discharge drum 23 is rotated (normally rotated) to rotate the vertical groove 2
The medicines in 4 are discharged to the discharge port 21 one by one.

At this time, the microcomputer 97 inputs a drug detection signal from the drug detection sensor 18 and counts the discharged drug. Then, the drum motor 14 is stopped when the predetermined amount is discharged. The discharged drug is discharged from the chute 19 to the chute 3 constituted by the passage 9.
2 enters and is temporarily received by the shutter 53.

Then, the microcomputer 97 energizes the shutter solenoid 64 to open the opening / closing plate 63 as described above.
A and 63B are opened (FIG. 27), the medicine is dropped into the hopper 54, the medicine is put into the wrapping paper 72 through the nozzle 74, and is packed in the packing machine 13 as described above, and then the takeout port 82. More externally. At this time, when the medicine drops from the shutter 53 to the hopper 54, the next medicine is discharged, whereby the microcomputer 97 shortens the time required for packaging. The above-mentioned printing on the medicine to be packed is performed by the printer 73 before the medicine is put in.

Here, in the case of the embodiment, 320 tablet cases 3 ... Are stored in the case storage portion 8. Therefore, although a maximum of 320 kinds of medicines can be supplied and packaged, if the kinds of medicines to be handled cannot fit in the case storage section 8, the shelves located at the left and right ends of the case storage section 8 can be carried out. The storage container 51 (side wall side of the case storage portion 8) of each tablet case 3 of 2 ... is replaced with the storage container 51 in which a necessary type of drug is stored. The identification code of the exchanged storage container 51 is also read by the identification sensor 33 and input to the microcomputer 97. Then, the read data of the new drug is also added to the database.

At this time, when the tablet case 3 of one or more kinds of medicines to be put in is not present in the case storage section 8, the microcomputer 97 transmits data to the personal computer PC and the tablet is displayed on the screen of the personal computer PC. A guide is displayed for the replacement of Case 3. At that time, the microcomputer 97 transmits data to the personal computer PC,
The position (address) of the storage container 51 of the tablet case 3 that can be removed is displayed on the screen. This allows
For example, when a plurality of types of medicines are put into one sachet, in order to attach a non-existing medicine storage container 51, the storage container 51 in which another medicine to be put in the sachet is stored is removed. Avoid the inconvenience.

Next, the microcomputer 97 controls the driver 94 to periodically perform the reverse rotation of the drum motor 14 for a predetermined short time (for example, 10 ms), and then to perform the abnormality detection operation of performing the normal rotation for the same time. Each time of reverse rotation / normal rotation in this abnormality detection operation is set to be sufficiently shorter than the time interval (medicine discharge interval) in which the vertical groove 24 is aligned with the discharge port 21 by the rotation of the discharge drum 23.

Then, the microcomputer 97 uses the current transformer 96 to take in the value of the energizing current of the drum motor 14 during this abnormality detecting operation. If no current is flowing, the winding of the drum motor 14 is broken. It is determined that the alarm is present and the alarm action is executed. The alarm data is transmitted to the personal computer PC and displayed on the screen. This abnormality detection operation applies to all tablet cases 3.
Are sequentially performed for the drum motor 14 of. In this case, as described above, each time of reverse rotation / normal rotation in the abnormality detection operation is sufficiently shorter than the medicine discharge interval, so that the medicine is not discharged.

Particularly, since the drum motor 14 is first rotated in the reverse direction, the previous discharge operation (drum motor 1
(4 is normal rotation) and the medicine is about to fall from the vertical groove 24 to the outlet 21, the medicine is mistakenly discharged from the outlet 21.
There is no inconvenience of being discharged.

Further, the microcomputer 97 energizes the keep solenoids 42 corresponding to the shelves 2 in one row to all the rows specified by the input operation to the personal computer PC on the basis of the command data from the personal computer PC, and the plungers. 42A
To be locked backwards. As a result, all the shelves 2 in the row (including all rows) corresponding to the keep solenoid 42 cannot be pulled out as described above (FIG. 2).
2). The lock is released by energizing the keep solenoid 42 in the opposite direction based on the input operation to the personal computer PC. At this time, the plunger 42A is sucked as described above (FIG. 23).

In this case, the operation access right for locking and unlocking is set in the personal computer PC by the user (password or the like). This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience that the shelf 2 is pulled out carelessly and different medicines are stored in the tablet case 3.

Here, the microcomputer 97 determines whether the stay 34 is in the released state or the regulated state by the lock sensor 43, and one of the shelves 2 is pulled out, and the stay 34 is regulated. The above-mentioned lock operation is not executed for the keep solenoid 42 corresponding to the row in the state. This avoids the inconvenience that the lock member 41 of the stay 34 in the restricted state is caught by the plunger 42A of the keep solenoid 42 and cannot be rotated.

As described above, the keep solenoid 42 is
The locked state can be manually released by pulling the lock release lever 44. Thus, even if the keep solenoid 42 fails and the locked state cannot be released, the drawer 2 of the shelf 2 is not hindered.

Further, the microcomputer 97 uses the drum motors 14 in the above-described medicine discharging / packing operation.
The operating time of ... Is added up. Further, the microcomputer 97 uses the shutter solenoids 64,
64 and keep solenoid 42 operation times, packaging machine 13
Heat seal head 76, thermal transfer head 9 of printer 73
The number of operations such as 3 is added up. Furthermore, the service life limit values of these consumable parts are input and set in the microcomputer 97.

Then, the microcomputer 97 transmits failure forecast data to the personal computer PC when the operating time or the number of times of operation of these consumable parts approaches the service life limit value or when the service life limit value is reached. Then, it is displayed on the screen of the personal computer PC that the risk of failure of the consumable part has increased. As a result, the user has approached or reached the end of its useful life in advance, the drum motor 14, the shutter solenoid 64, and the keep solenoid 4.
2, the heat seal head 76, and the heat transfer head 93 can be exchanged in advance, and it is possible to avoid a delay in drug supply due to failure of these consumable parts.

Here, FIG. 35 shows an extension unit 98 which can be attached to the medicine supply apparatus 1. For example, in the case of a large-scale hospital, the case of 320 tablet cases 3 ... In the state of FIG. 1 may be insufficient. Therefore, in such a case, the top plate 1A of the upper structure 7A is removed, and the extension unit 9 is mounted on the upper structure 7A having an opening on the upper surface.
8 is connected and fixed (the top plate 1A is attached to the upper surface of the extension unit 98). The extension unit 98 is provided with four racks 1 ... As a result, the number of tablet cases 3 increases by 64.

The passage 9 of each shelf 2 ... The lower end is the passage 9 of the upper shelf 2 in the lower case storage portion 8.
... The shoots 32, which correspond to the upper ends and are continuous, are formed. And this expansion unit 9
The drum motor 14 and the agent detection sensor 18 of each tablet case 3 of No. 8 are also connected to the microcomputer 97, and the discharging operation similar to the above is executed.

A shelf 2A having a height twice that of the above-described shelf 2 as shown in FIGS. 36 and 37 can be erected in the case storage portion 8 so as to be freely drawn out. In this case, the shelf 2A has a large-capacity storage container 51 as shown in each drawing.
A tablet case 3A having A is attached.
Incidentally, FIG. 36 shows an example in which the normal tablet case 3 and the large-capacity tablet case 3A are mixed and attached,
FIG. 37 shows an example in which only the large-capacity tablet case 3A is attached, and the harness 28 described above is connected to the connector in each case.

Further, a shelf 2B to which a tablet case 3B for a half tablet (a tablet lacking in half) as shown in FIG. 38 is attached can also be erected freely installed in the case storage portion 8. Then, the harness 28 described above is also connected to the shelf 2B by a connector. Furthermore, the case storage section 8
A shelf 2C to which a tablet case as shown in FIG. 39 is not attached can also be erected freely inside. On the shelf 2C, for example, a medicine before unpacking packed in a cardboard is placed, but naturally the harness is not connected.

As described above, various shelves such as the shelves 2A and 2B to which different tablet cases are attached or the shelves 2C to which the power source is not connected can be erected in the case storage portion 8 so as to be freely drawn out. The convenience of the device 1 is significantly improved.

Next, FIG. 40 shows another lower structure 7C.
Is shown. This lower structure 7C can also be connected to the lower end of the upper structure 7A, and constitutes the main body 7 of the drug supply device 1 in the connected state. A bottling machine 99 as a filling device is installed in the lower structure 7C, and further, four hoppers 101 ... Which correspond to the lower ends of the chutes 32 of the upper structure 7A are provided on the upper side thereof. Are juxtaposed. The shutter 53 is not provided.

The bottle filling machine 99 is a catcher 1 having gripping arms 103, 103 capable of gripping a bottle 102 as a container.
04, a transfer device 106 for moving the catcher 104 left and right and up and down, and a conveyor 1 for transporting the bottle 102.
It is composed of 07 etc. Then, the bottle 102 conveyed by the conveyor 107 from the insertion port 109 is grasped by the grasping arms 103, 103 of the catcher 104, and in this state, the medicine is discharged from the bottle 102 by the transfer device 106 and dropped. It is transferred to the lower side of the lower end opening of the incoming hopper 101. Thereby, the medicine is filled in the bottle 102. Then, the bottle 102 filled with the medicine is conveyed to the outlet 108 by the conveyor 107.

Here, in addition to the above-mentioned packaging machine 13 and bottling machine 99 housed as the lower structure, a so-called blister packaging machine housing a filling device is also conceivable. In this way, the lower structures 7B and 7C having different types of filling devices can be selectively connected to the lower side of the common upper structure 7A, thereby providing a case storage portion and different filling devices. It is not necessary to prepare each of the medicine supply devices, the versatility of the medicine supply device is significantly improved, and the production cost can be reduced.

In the embodiment, the data input to the drug supply device 1 is performed by a separate personal computer PC, but the present invention is not limited to this, or in addition to that, a control panel is provided on the door panel 6 of any of the shelves 2. 111 may be attached and data such as a prescription may be input from there, or an alarm display or the like may be performed there.

Further, in the embodiment, the door panels 6 are attached to the plurality of shelves 2 ... Stored in the case storage portion 8 so as to be freely drawn to close the front opening of the upper structure 7A (case storage portion 8). However, the present invention is not limited to this.
As shown in 3, door panels are not attached to each shelf 2 ...
The upper structure 7 in the upper panel 112, 112
The front opening of A may be opened and closed.
In this case, the locking operation for prohibiting the pulling out of all the shelves 2 ... Is achieved by locking the upper panels 112, 112.

Further, in the embodiment, the printer 7 is attached to the wrapping paper 72.
Although the color printing is performed in No. 3, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the case of FIG. 40, a printer for color printing the same information as in FIGS. 32 and 33 is provided in the lower structure 7C on the label attached to the bottle 102. May be.

[0080]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in a drug supply device that is provided with a tablet case for accommodating a drug and fills the drug discharged from the tablet case into a container such as a bag or a bottle, Alternatively, a printer for printing on the label of this container is provided. Since this printer has a color printing function, the color ink ribbon or the like according to claim 2 is used, and the time period for taking the medicine as described in claim 3 is used. The color-coded display makes it possible to display the usage of the drug or the like in an easy-to-understand color-coded manner, which greatly improves convenience.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (excluding a top plate) of a drug supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the drug supply device of FIG. 1 with a door panel of each shelf removed and a lower panel opened.

3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the drug supply device of FIG.

4 is another front view of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

5 is a side view of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

6 is a plan view of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

7 is a perspective view of a shelf of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the shelf shown in FIG. 7 with the storage container of the tablet case removed.

9 is a perspective view of a storage container of a tablet case of the drug supply device of FIG.

10 is an exploded perspective view of a drive base of the tablet case of the drug supply device of FIG.

11 is a perspective view of a shelf and an identification sensor of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

12 is a perspective view of a tablet case and an identification sensor of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

13 is a perspective front view showing the relationship between the shelves and stays of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

14 is a perspective plan view showing a positional relationship of stays of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

15 is a perspective side view showing the relationship between shelves and stays of the medicine supply device of FIG.

16 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the stay of the medicine supply device of FIG.

17 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the stay of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1.

18 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the stay of the drug supply device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 is also a view explaining the operation of the stay of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1.

20 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the stay of the drug supply device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the stay of the drug supply device of FIG. 1.

22 is a view for explaining the operation of the keep solenoid of the medicine supply device of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the keep solenoid of the drug supply device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 24 is a view for explaining the operation of the lock release lever of the drug supply device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 25 is a vertical sectional side view of a shutter of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1.

26 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of the shutter of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

27 is another vertical cross-sectional front view of the shutter of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

28 is a front view of the packaging machine of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

29 is a perspective view of a nozzle of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a printer of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1.

31 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the printer head and the heat seal head with respect to the wrapping paper of the medicine supply device of FIG.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a result of printing on a wrapping paper in the medicine supply device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing another example of the printing result on the packaging paper in the medicine supply device of FIG. 1.

34 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a control device of the medicine supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

35 is a perspective view of an extension unit of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of a shelf of another example of the drug supply device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a shelf of another example of the drug supply device of FIG. 1.

38 is a perspective view of a shelf of another example of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

39 is a perspective view of a shelf of another example of the drug supply device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of another example of the lower structure of the drug supply device of FIG. 1.

41 is a perspective view of a catcher portion of the lower structure of FIG. 40. FIG.

42 is another perspective view of the catcher portion of the lower structure of FIG. 40. FIG.

FIG. 43 is a perspective view (excluding a top plate) of a drug supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 medicine supply device 2, 2A, 2B, 2C Shelf 3A, 3B tablet case 6 door panel 7 body 7A Upper structure 7B, 7C lower structure 8 case storage 9 passages 13 Packing machine (filling device) 14 drum motor 23 drums 26 identification code 27, 47, 56 Draw-out rail 28 harness 32 passages 33 identification sensor 34 stay 39 Working member 42 keep solenoid 43 Lock sensor 44 Lock release lever 53 shutter 54, 101 hopper 63A, 63B open / close plate 67 curtains 71 rolls 72 wrapping paper 73 Printer 74 nozzles 91 color ink ribbon 93 Thermal transfer head 95 Control device 96 Current Transformer 97 Microcomputer 98 expansion unit 99 Bottling machine (filling device) 102 bottles PC PC

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shinya Uema             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Manabu Haraguchi             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3E056 AA02 BA04 BA11 DA01 EA01                       FA02 FB01 GA04                 3E118 AA02 AA07 AB07 BA02 BA03                       BA07 BA10 BB02 BB06 BB07                       BB08 BB12 CA06 CA10 CA18                       DA02 DA09 EA01 FA08 FA11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A medicine supply device comprising a tablet case for accommodating a medicine and filling the medicine discharged from the tablet case into a container such as a bag or a bottle, which is printed on the container or the label of the container. And a printer for use in the printer, the printer having a color printing function. 2. The drug supply device according to claim 1, wherein the printer performs thermal transfer to the container or the label with a color ink ribbon. 3. The medicine supply device according to claim 1, wherein the printer displays the medicine ingestion time zone in different colors.