JP2004073858A - Selective feeder for medicine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the travelling time of medicines to reach a discharge port and to improve the packaging speed of the medicines using a single dose packaging apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A selective feeder for medicines is provided with a hopper 3, and a plurality of medicine containers 4 are arranged at predetermined intervals on the upper part of the periphery of the hopper in the peripheral direction. Medicines discharged from the medicine containers, are received by the hopper and are discharged from the discharge port 3a on the lower part of the hopper. A plurality of medicine guiding passages 10 for guiding the medicines dropped on the periphery of the hopper are arranged radially from the discharge port 3a to the periphery of the hopper so that each of the passage faces the each medicine container. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drug selective supply device, more specifically, a plurality of drug containers which are mainly installed in hospitals and the like and which store drugs such as tablets and capsules, and which are selected according to a prescription for each patient and the like. The present invention relates to a medicine selective supply device provided with a hopper for receiving medicines such as tablets, capsules, and the like to be discharged.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a drug selective supply device provided with this kind of hopper, for example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-72802.
[0003]
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the medicine selection and supply device 1 described in the above-mentioned publication places a plurality of medicine storage containers 4 arranged in a vertical direction on a common guide path 5 arranged in a vertical direction according to a prescription or the like. A plurality of medicine selection / supply units 2 configured to select and dispense a predetermined medicine (not shown) from the medicine container 4 (arrow F), and discharge the medicine from the guide path 5 of the medicine selection / supply unit 2. And a hopper 3 having a discharge hole 3a for temporarily receiving the medicine to be supplied and supplying it to a packaging device (not shown) provided below, and the guide path is provided on the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3. A guide plate 6 extending radially from the discharge hole 3a is provided in order to prevent the medicine discharged from the hopper 5 from spirally moving inside the hopper 3 and reaching the discharge hole 3a. Things.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the drug selective supply device having the above configuration has the following problems.
That is, since the guide plate 6 extending radially from the discharge hole 3a is provided on the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3, the medicine selective supply device 1 having the above-described configuration is discharged to the outer peripheral portion in the hopper 3. It is intended to prevent the medicine from moving in the hopper 3 in a spiral shape, thereby shortening the movement time until reaching the discharge hole 3a and improving the packaging speed through the packaging device. However, if the guide plate 6 is provided on the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 extending radially from the discharge hole 3a, as shown in FIG. A guide space 7 for a medicine having a predetermined included angle H and a substantially fan shape in a plan view is formed on the discharge hole 3a side.
[0005]
Therefore, since each adjacent guide plate 6 is provided in the radial direction from the discharge hole 3a as described above, at least the aforementioned one end face of each guide plate 6 located on the discharge hole 3a side is provided between the opposed one end surfaces. The medicine passing space 6a having the included angle H is required so that the medicine having the largest size handled by the medicine selection and supply device 1 can be smoothly guided to the discharge hole 3a without any stress. It becomes.
[0006]
Therefore, each of the adjacent guide plates 6 is provided with a medicine passage space 6a having a predetermined included angle H between opposing end surfaces of the respective guide plates 6 always located on the discharge hole 3a side in a plan view. Since a substantially fan-shaped medicine guide space 7 is formed, the medicine discharged to the outer peripheral portion in the hopper 3 does not necessarily go to the discharge hole 3a at the shortest distance, but is a substantially fan-shaped medicine guide space 7 in plan view. Jumps in the guide space 7 near the other end of the hopper 3, that is, in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion in the hopper 3, and reaches the discharge hole 3a with some irregular movement, so that a slight time loss occurs.
[0007]
However, the present invention is extremely excellent in that it is possible to actually realize each of shortening the moving time of the medicine discharged into the hopper to the discharge hole and improving the packaging speed through the packaging device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drug selective supply device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention invents a completely new drug selection and supply device, and employs the following means.
[0009]
That is, the present invention includes a hopper that receives medicines discharged from a plurality of medicine storage containers arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction above the outer periphery of the hopper and discharges the medicines from a lower discharge hole. Since the medicine guide paths for guiding the medicine that has fallen to the outside are provided radially from the discharge hole side to the outer periphery of the hopper so as to face each of the medicine storage containers, the movement time of the medicine until reaching the discharge hole And the packaging speed via the packaging device can be actually improved.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a medicine selective supply in which a plurality of medicine storage containers 4 are set at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery of a rotating support 2a that rotates via a driving device (not shown) at predetermined intervals and in a vertical direction. A unit 2 and a hopper 3 having a discharge hole 3a for temporarily receiving the medicine discharged from the guide path 5 of the medicine selection and supply unit 2 and supplying the medicine to a packaging device (not shown) provided below. 1 shows a drug selection and supply device consisting of:
[0012]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a plurality of partition walls 8 formed from a pair of partition walls 8 and 8 erected at a predetermined height so as to face each other at a constant interval from the discharge hole 3a side of the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 toward the outer periphery. Independent drug guide paths are shown, and the drug guide paths 10 are radially arranged on the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 via a pair of partition walls 8, 8 and form a pair to form one drug guide path 10. One end of each of the partition walls 8, 8 on the discharge hole 3 a side is slightly closer to each other on the discharge hole 3 a side, and the other end is provided via the partition members 8, 8 protruding from the outer periphery of the hopper 3. Each of the medicine guide paths 10 projecting from the outer periphery of the hopper 3 and projecting therefrom is provided so as to face each of the medicine storage containers 4 set in the medicine selection and supply unit 2.
[0013]
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the hopper 3 is in contact with all the upper edges of the partition walls 8, 8 forming the medicine guide path 10, and downward from the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the hopper 3 for receiving the medicine. Each of the medicine guide paths 10 has a predetermined height space (arrow B) at a surface portion 9a facing the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 so as to be in a substantially closed state up to a position near the discharge hole 3a. An inverted truncated cone-shaped upper space shield 9 is provided detachably (arrow C). Therefore, the medicine guide paths 10 and the upper space shield 9 form a means for preventing the medicine from jumping.
[0014]
Since the medicine selection and supply device according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, the upper space shield 9 reliably prevents the medicine discharged from the hopper 3 and colliding with the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 from jumping upward. Meanwhile, the medicine can be forcibly introduced into the medicine guide path 10 and guided and moved to the discharge hole 3a in a linear state, so that the medicine discharged into the hopper 3 continuously jumps to the discharge hole 3a. Not only can the movement be reliably prevented to prevent cracking or chipping of the drug, but also the drug can be smoothly guided in a straight line to the discharge hole 3a, thereby leading to the discharge hole 3a. There is an advantage that it is possible to actually realize the shortening of the moving time of the medicine and the improvement of the packaging speed via the packaging device.
[0015]
<Second embodiment>
Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the medicine jumping prevention means includes a plurality of medicine guide paths 10 and an upper space shield 9, and the upper space shield 9 is formed in a substantially inverted truncated cone shape. However, it is not always necessary to have a substantially inverted truncated pyramid shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner space 3b of each medicine guide path 10 is opposed to the upper space shield 9 provided in the hopper 3. A plurality of arm members 11a and the like, each of which is provided with an elevating portion 9b having a surface portion 9a to be opposed to each of the medicine guide paths 10, and each of the elevating portions 9b is provided in an elevating drive device 11 or the like, and is individually movable up and down. (Arrows D), and in this case, each of the raising and lowering portions 9b of the upper space shielding body 9 has a height space between the opposing inner surface 3b and the surface portion 9a (arrows B1, B2). With respect to the inner surface 3b so that Since it is configured to be detachable, it is possible to appropriately adjust the height space appropriately in accordance with the size of each medicine handled by the medicine selection and supply device 1, and thus collides with the inner surface 3 b of the hopper 3. It is possible to reliably measure the time required for the medicine to move through the inner surface 3b and to be discharged from the discharge hole 3a depending on the type, size, etc. of each medicine, thereby improving the accuracy of the time required for discharging the medicine. It has the advantage that it can be improved.
[0016]
<Third embodiment>
In each of the above embodiments, the means for preventing the medicine from jumping is composed of the upper space shield 9 and the plurality of medicine guide paths 10, and the medicine guide path 10 is provided from the discharge hole 3 a side of the inner surface 3 b of the hopper 3. The medicine guide path 10 is formed by a pair of partition walls 8, 8 erected at a predetermined height so as to face each other at a constant interval toward the outer periphery. Although it is arranged radially on the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3, the means for preventing the medicine from jumping in the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. The surface portion 9a of the upper space shield 9 is brought closer to the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 having no medicine guide path 10 through the bodies 8, 8, and the discharge hole 3a is located below the periphery of the hopper 3 for receiving the medicine. Hopper close to May have a certain height space (arrow B3) at the surface portion 9a facing the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3. Even in this case, the medicine is discharged into the hopper 3 and the medicine collides with the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3. This has the advantage that the medicine can be guided and moved to the discharge hole 3a along the inner surface 3b so that the medicine can be prevented from jumping to the upper space shield 9 without fail so as to be in a substantially linear state.
[0017]
<Fourth embodiment>
Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the upper space shield 9 forms a constant height space (arrow B3) between the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 and the facing surface 9a. ), The entire upper space shield 9 may be moved up and down (arrow E) via an arm member 11a or the like provided on the lift drive device 11 or the like. In this case, the upper space shield 9 The height space (arrows B4, B5) formed between the surface portion 9a of the hopper 3 and the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 can be freely adjusted, and even in this case, it is discharged into the hopper 3 and the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 Not only can the upper space shield 9 prevent the upward splatter of the medicine that has collided with the medicine, but also the height at which the medicine moves in accordance with the size of various kinds of medicine handled by the medicine selection and supply device 1 as appropriate. Can fine-tune the space It has the advantage of becoming a performance.
[0018]
In the above-described embodiment, the upper space shielding body 9 has a substantially inverted frustum shape, but it is needless to say that the upper space shielding body 9 is not necessarily limited to the substantially inverted frustum shape. If the inner space 3b of the hopper 3 has a surface portion 9a facing the inner surface 3b so as to have a predetermined height space so as to prevent the medicine colliding with 3b from jumping upward, a specific example of the upper space shield 9 is provided. Neither is the shape, quantity, location of attachment, etc. limited.
[0019]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the medicine selecting / supplying device 1 having the medicine jump-preventing means includes a plurality of medicine accommodating containers 4 on the outer periphery of the rotating support 2a which rotates via a driving device (not shown). A medicine selecting and supplying unit 2 which is set at several intervals in the vertical direction at intervals, and a packing device (not shown) which is provided below the medicine once supplied with the medicine discharged from the guide path 5 of the medicine selecting and supplying unit 2 And a hopper 3 having a discharge hole 3a for supplying the medicine to the container. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A plurality of medicine selection and supply units configured to select and dispense a predetermined medicine from the medicine storage container according to a prescription or the like on a common guideway arranged in the vertical direction from the medicine selection and supply unit; And a hopper 3 having a discharge hole 3a for temporarily receiving the medicine discharged from the inner passage and supplying the medicine to a packaging device (not shown) provided below. A jump preventing means may be provided, and the specific configuration of the drug selection / supply unit 2 is not limited at all. In short, the drug selection / supply provided with the hopper 3 for receiving the drug selected and discharged from the drug selection / supply unit 2 Needless to say, the specific shape, size, and number of hoppers 3 used in the apparatus 1 are not limited.
[0020]
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a plurality of independent medicine guide paths formed by a pair of partition walls 8 are formed on the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3, but the pair of partition walls are not necessarily formed on the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3. There is no need to form a plurality of the guides 8, 8; for example, a medicine guide path formed by a pair of partition bodies 8, 8 may be radially provided on the surface portion 9a of the upper space shield 9. In this case, However, it is possible to form a plurality of independent medicine guide paths 10 whose periphery is formed in a substantially closed state from the vicinity of the periphery of the hopper 3 for receiving the medicine to the vicinity of the discharge hole 3a located below. The medicine discharged into the inside and colliding with the inner surface 3b of the hopper 3 can be forcibly introduced into the medicine guide path 10 to be guided and moved in a straight line to the discharge hole 3a. medicine With the shortening of the travel time, the outstanding advantage that it is possible to realize the respective increase of the packing speed through the packing device to the maximum.
[0021]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the medicine jumping prevention means is provided at an upper position in the hopper of the medicine selection and supply device or on the inner surface of the hopper. For example, the medicine jumping prevention means is spread on the hopper inner surface. Various buffer members (not shown) such as a processing sheet may be used, and a medicine splash preventing means reduces the falling speed of the medicine falling to be discharged from the medicine selection and supply unit into the hopper by reducing the falling speed of the hopper 3. Pressurized air may be blown against the falling medicine in order to prevent the medicine from jumping in the inside, or the medicine may also jump in the hopper 3 by decreasing the falling speed of the falling medicine. Various contact members or the like may be used to slide and drop the medicine to the vicinity of the inner surface of the hopper 3 in order to prevent the medicine. The invention is not limited, short drug bounce preventing means may be provided in the vicinity of the hopper or the hopper.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the medicine guide paths for guiding the medicine dropped to the outer periphery of the hopper are provided radially from the discharge hole side to the outer periphery of the hopper so as to face each of the medicine storage containers. Therefore, it is possible to actually realize the reduction of the moving time of the medicine to the discharge hole and the improvement of the packaging speed via the packaging device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a medicine selection and supply device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of a main part of a partial cross section showing a medicine selection and supply unit and a hopper, and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is an exploded front view showing the structure of a hopper of the drug selective supply device of the present invention.
3A and 3B show a hopper of a medicine selection and supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a plan view, and FIG. .
4A and 4B show a hopper of a drug selection and supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional medicine selection and supply device, and FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a main part of a partial cross section showing a medicine selection and supply unit and a hopper, and FIG. 5B is a GG of FIG. Line sectional view.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Drug selection and supply device 2 ... Drug selection and supply unit 3 ... Hopper 3a ... Discharge hole 3b ... Inner surface of hopper 4 ... Drug storage container 5 ... Guide path 6 ... Guide plate

Claims (3)

A hopper (3) for receiving medicines discharged from a plurality of medicine containers (4) arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction above the outer periphery of the hopper and discharging the medicines from a lower discharge hole (3a);
A medicine guide path (10) for guiding the medicine dropped to the outer periphery of the hopper is provided radially from the discharge hole (3a) side toward the outer periphery of the hopper so as to face each medicine container (4). A drug selective supply device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medicine guide path (10) comprises a partition (8) standing upright on an inner surface (3b) of the hopper (3). 3. The medicine selective supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer member on an inner surface of the hopper.

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