JP2005192702A - Automatic dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate preparation of collation data and establishment of conformity with drug shape even if there are many drug feeders. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic dispenser 10 is provided with drug cassettes 20 deliverably storing drugs 1, base parts 30 detachably supporting the drug cassettes 20 and driving the delivery, a drug feeder storage 12 storing multiple base parts 30, readers 31 attached to the base parts 30 respectively and reading identification information 21 attached to the drug cassettes 20, and a collating means comparing the reading result and prestored collation data. The respective base parts 30 are mounted with microprocessors 40 and, the collating means, the collation data and history information of the cassette are distributedly incorporated therein. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing device that stores various drugs and automatically discharges a desired drug for packaging and the like in accordance with a prescription or a dispensing instruction. The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing device that performs collation when attached to and detached from a base portion.

  In automatic dispensing devices such as tablet dispensing machines and injection drug dispensing devices, various drugs are classified and stored in drug cassettes such as tablet feeders, and only the desired amount of drugs are stored according to prescriptions and dispensing instructions based on them. It can be taken out. In many models, the medicine cassette can be attached and detached so that the medicine cassette can be easily replenished. A means for limiting to is added.

  As such means, there is a mechanical method using the alignment of the key (projection) and the groove (hole), but from the viewpoint of cost, flexibility, expandability, miniaturization, etc. Information reading methods are becoming mainstream. That is, a different identification number is assigned to each medicine cassette, it is read electrically or magnetically, the result of reading is compared with preset collation data, and an alarm is issued when there is a mismatch. It is like that. Furthermore, there is a dispensing system in which proper arrangement of the medicine cassette is more reliably maintained even when the identification information reading method is adopted by performing wide and narrow multiple checks when collating (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

JP 2002-272812 A

However, if there are many types of medicines, the number of medicine feeders stored will increase, and if the number of medicines exceeds several hundreds, initial setting / preparation of collation data is not easy.
Further, the discharge member of the medicine feeder must be adapted to the shape of the medicine, that is, the dosage form. However, since the dosage form is further diversified, it is not easy to prepare various medicine feeders suitable for various dosage forms.
Therefore, it is a technical problem to improve an automatic dispensing apparatus so that preparation of verification data and establishment of conformity to a dosage form can be easily performed even when there are many and various drug feeders.

  The automatic dispensing device of the present invention (Solution means 1) has been devised to solve such a problem, and includes a medicine cassette that accommodates the medicine so that the medicine can be discharged, and detachably supports the medicine cassette. A base unit that performs the discharge driving, a medicine feeder storage that stores a large number of the base parts, a reading device that reads the identification information attached to each of the base parts and attached to the medicine cassette, and the reading results are stored in advance. In the automatic dispensing device provided with the collating means for comparing the collated data, the base unit is equipped with a microprocessor and a memory or a microprocessor with a built-in memory, and the collating means and the collating data are distributed to them. It is incorporated.

Further, the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solving means 2) is the automatic dispensing device of the above-mentioned solving means 1, and when the comparison result in the collating means is inconsistent, the corresponding one of the base portions is discharged. By stopping, information to be output when the corresponding one of the medicine cassettes is empty is output.
Furthermore, the automatic dispensing apparatus of the present invention (Solution means 3) is an automatic dispensing apparatus of the above-described solving means 1 and 2, and comprises an overwriting means for overwriting and storing the identification information read by the reading device in the collation data. It is characterized by that.

  Moreover, the automatic dispensing apparatus of the present invention (solving means 4) is an automatic dispensing apparatus according to the above-described solving means 1 to 3, wherein a communication means is added to the microprocessor, and a plurality of different colors are provided for each of the base portions. An indicator is provided, and one of the indicators displays a medicine dischargeable state, and any of the indicators displays a communicable state of the microprocessor. .

The automatic dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is (solving means 5), which is the automatic dispensing apparatus according to any one of the above-described solving means 1 to 4, wherein the microprocessor performs an operation of discharging the corresponding one of the base portions in the memory. Dispensing history information relating to the state is accumulated.
The automatic dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is (solving means 6), and is an automatic dispensing apparatus according to any of the above-mentioned solving means 1 to 5, wherein the microprocessor attaches and detaches a medicine cassette to the corresponding one of the base parts in the memory It is characterized by accumulating attachment / detachment history information according to the above.
Moreover, the automatic dispensing device of the present invention is (the solution means 7), the automatic dispensing device of the solution means 5 and 6, wherein the microprocessor includes the history information (that is, the dispensing history information and the attachment / detachment history information). In the storage of either one or both of them, a normal operation and an abnormal operation are separated.

Moreover, the automatic dispensing apparatus of the present invention is (the solution means 8), the automatic dispensing apparatus of the above solution means 1 to 7, wherein the microprocessor relates to the specification selection of the corresponding one of the medicine cassettes in the memory. It is characterized by accumulating selection history information.
Moreover, the automatic dispensing device of the present invention is (the solution means 9), the automatic dispensing device of the above solution means 1-8, wherein the microprocessor relates to the manufacturing process of the corresponding one of the drug cassettes in the memory. The manufacturing history information is accumulated.
The automatic dispensing apparatus according to the present invention (solving means 10) is the automatic dispensing apparatus according to any one of the above-described solving means 5 to 9, wherein the microprocessor includes transmission means for transmitting the history information stored in the memory to the outside. It is characterized by

In such an automatic dispensing device of the present invention (Solution means 1), in addition to a reading device for reading the identification information medicine attached to the medicine cassette, a microprocessor or the like incorporating a collating means and collation data is also available. By mounting on the base part of the cassette attachment / detachment destination, the collating means and the collation data are distributed to a large number of medicine feeders, and thereby the suitability of the medicine cassette loading is determined by the corresponding base part.
In this way, since the matching of the medicine cassette can be processed in the base unit for each medicine feeder, the correspondence of the object to be collated can be confirmed directly by visual observation or the like. Preparation becomes easy. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an automatic dispensing apparatus in which preparation of collation data is easy even if there are a large number of medicine feeders.

Further, in the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solution means 2), when the collation result is inconsistent, the discharge drive of the base portion is stopped, and correspondingly, information when the medicine cassette is empty However, the control to stop the discharge drive is easy to do with the drug feeder alone, and the output of empty information is one of the standard basic functions, so it can be realized with the aid of a microprocessor that performs distributed processing of verification. convenient.
As a result, malfunction prevention and warning issuance based on the collation result can be easily realized by extending the functions of the microprocessors installed in each medicine feeder.

Furthermore, in the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solution means 3), by executing the overwriting means, the identification information read by the reading device from the medicine cassette mounted on the base portion is overwritten on the collation data. .
Since collation data is set in a state where the corresponding medicine cassette and the base unit are actually combined in this way, preparation of collation data is further facilitated.

  Further, in the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (Solution means 4), the medicine discharge enabled state and the communicable state in the medicine feeder are displayed in different colors at the corresponding locations, which is abnormal. The specific confirmation of the state can be easily performed visually.

In the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solution 5), dispensing history information related to the operation state of medicine discharge is stored in each medicine feeder, thereby causing a problem in the discharging operation. Data useful for confirming compatibility between such dosage forms and drug cassettes is conveniently collected.
Thereby, for a medicine feeder having a malfunction in the discharge operation, it is possible to examine whether the cause of the malfunction is due to incompatibility between the dosage form and the medicine cassette by examining the dispensing history information accumulated in the medicine feeder, Further, when the cause is non-conformity, it becomes possible to find out the cause and countermeasure, so that the medicine cassette can be changed to one more suitable for the dosage form.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an automatic dispensing apparatus that can easily establish conformity to a dosage form in addition to preparing collation data even if there are various drug feeders.

  Further, in the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solution 6), since the attachment / detachment history information related to the attachment / detachment of the medicine cassette is stored in each medicine feeder, When confirming the compatibility, it becomes easy to refer to the attached / detached state of the medicine cassette. As a result, it is possible to investigate whether or not the cause of the malfunction is due to incompatibility between the dosage form and the drug cassette by examining the attachment / detachment history information accumulated in the medicine feeder with the malfunction. In the case of a cause, it becomes possible to find out the cause and countermeasures, so that the medicine cassette can be changed to one more suitable for the dosage form. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an automatic dispensing apparatus that can easily establish conformity to a dosage form in addition to preparing collation data even if there are various drug feeders.

  In the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solution 7), referring to the accumulated dispensing history information and attachment / detachment history information, it can be immediately determined whether it relates to normal operation or abnormal operation. It has become. For this reason, by examining the history information accumulated for a defective drug feeder, it can be easily determined whether the cause of the defect is due to a mismatch between the dosage form and the drug cassette. In the case of a cause, it becomes possible to find out the cause and countermeasures, so that the medicine cassette can be changed to one more suitable for the dosage form. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an automatic dispensing apparatus that can easily establish conformity to a dosage form in addition to preparing collation data even if there are various drug feeders.

  In the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solution 8), since the selection history information related to the specification selection of the medicine cassette is stored in each medicine feeder, It becomes easy to refer to the specifications of the medicine cassette when confirming the compatibility of the medicine cassette. As a result, it is possible to check whether the cause of the failure is due to incompatibility between the dosage form and the drug cassette by checking the selection history information accumulated in the drug feeder with the failure. In the case of a cause, it becomes possible to find out the cause and countermeasures, so that the medicine cassette can be changed to one more suitable for the dosage form. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an automatic dispensing apparatus that can easily establish conformity to a dosage form in addition to preparing collation data even if there are various drug feeders.

  In the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solution 9), since the manufacturing history information related to the manufacturing process of the drug cassette is stored in each drug feeder, the dosage form, the drug cassette, It becomes easy to refer to information at the time of manufacturing the pharmaceutical cassette when confirming the compatibility of the medicine cassette. As a result, it is possible to investigate whether or not the cause of the defect is due to incompatibility between the dosage form and the drug cassette by examining manufacturing history information accumulated in the drug feeder having a defect. In the case of a cause, it becomes possible to find out the cause and countermeasures, so that the medicine cassette can be changed to one more suitable for the dosage form. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an automatic dispensing apparatus that can easily establish conformity to a dosage form in addition to preparing collation data even if there are various drug feeders.

In the automatic dispensing device of the present invention (solution 10), various history information distributed and accumulated in the medicine feeder is transmitted to the outside of the medicine feeder, for example, automatic dispensing. Various history information can be collected and integratedly managed by a controller or the like responsible for operation control and data management of the entire apparatus.
Therefore, because the cause and countermeasures for nonconformity can be found not only from a local viewpoint but also from an overall viewpoint, an automatic dispensing device that makes it easier to establish conformity to the dosage form in addition to preparing collation data even if the drug feeder is diverse Can be realized.

  The form for implementing such an automatic dispensing apparatus of this invention is demonstrated. First, a specific device structure of the tablet packaging machine 10 as a typical example will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A is an external perspective view of a tablet packaging machine 10, FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the tablet packaging machine 10, and FIG. 1C is an external view of the left side of a drug feeder 13 incorporated therein. (D) is a front view thereof, (e) is a longitudinal left side view, (f) is a bottom view of the medicine cassette 20, (g) is a plan view of the base portion 30, and (h) is a block relating to in-device communication. FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of each microprocessor 40. FIGS. 3A and 3B are both decision tables (decision tables) for ranking when collecting information. 4A is a data structure of dispensing history information, FIG. 4B is a data structure of attachment / detachment history information, FIG. 5A is a data structure of manufacturing history information, and FIG. The data structure of selection history information. 5 (c) to 5 (d) are a plan view and a front view of the tablet, and show several dosage forms as selection criteria for the drug cassette 20.

  This tablet packaging machine 10 (see FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b)) contains a large number of various drugs 1 (disc-shaped drugs, balls, capsules, cylindrical drugs, tablets, etc.) classified and stored. Medicine feeder 13, medicine collection mechanisms 14 and 15 for collecting medicine 1 discharged from these medicine feeders 13, packaging device 17 for packaging medicine 1 received from the medicine collection mechanisms 14 and 15, and microprocessor A controller 18 (main control device) comprising a system or the like is provided.

  Then, under the control of the controller 18, the required number of medicines 1 are discharged from the corresponding medicine feeder 13 in accordance with prescription data, derived dispensing instruction data, etc., and collected by the medicine collecting mechanisms 14 and 15, and the lower medicines are collected. The product is fed into the input unit 16 (collected medicine input port) and further packaged by the packaging device 17. The sachets are packaged by the wrapping band 2 (packaging paper) while being divided into dosage units and application units.

  More specifically, in the case of the tablet packaging machine 10, a medicine container 11 (medicine shelf part, medicine container storage part) is provided on the upper side, and a packaging device 17 is provided on the lower side. Between these, a conduit 14 (duct, chute, guide path, upper drug collecting path) and a collecting member 15 (hopper-like member, funnel-shaped member, lower drug collecting path) as a drug collecting mechanism communicate with each other. A plurality of medicine feeder storages 12 (medicine storages) that can be slid individually are arranged side by side in the storage 11, and each medicine feeder storage 12 has several to several tens of detachable medicine feeders. 13 are stored side by side vertically and horizontally.

Each medicine feeder 13 (see FIGS. 1C to 1G) includes a medicine cassette 20 that accommodates a number of medicines 1 in a releasable manner, and a base that supports the medicine cassette 20 so as to be detachable and drives the ejection thereof. The medicine 30 is roughly divided into parts 30 and the medicine 1 is discharged by the designated number of tablets.
The drug cassette 20 includes a container 13b (cup, drug container, drug container) with a lid 13a and an alignment board 13c (rotor, alignment member) provided with a partition 13d (molded blade, wing-like protrusion, alignment member). , The discharge member) is attached to the frame plate 13e (the detachable coupling portion), and when the alignment plate 13c is rotated via the cylinder portion 13g (detachable transmission member), the medicine in the container portion 13b 1 enters one after another between the partition walls 13d and is aligned, and falls one by one from the discharge port 13f.

  The base unit 30 includes a base 13k (basic fixing member) attached to the medicine feeder storage 12, a motor 13j (drive source) fixed thereto, and a spline shaft 13i (detachable) connected to the rotation shaft thereof. The spline shaft 13i is fitted into the cylindrical portion 13g with the attachment so that the medicine cassette 20 can be easily attached and detached. In this state, the rotation of the motor 13j is cylindrical via the spline shaft 13i. It is transmitted to the part 13g. The base 13k is also formed with a through-hole 13h (medicine drop path), which communicates with the discharge port 13f when the drug cassette 20 is mounted.

  In the medicine feeder storage 12 (see FIG. 1 (b)), a conduit 14 extending up and down substantially in the center is incorporated, and a discharge port 13f of each medicine feeder 13 serves as a through-hole 13h in the base 13k and an appropriate extension pipe. Etc., and communicates with a nearby conduit 14. Then, the medicine 1 discharged from the medicine feeder 13 is guided to the conduit 14 through the through-hole 13h, spontaneously falls in the conduit 14, and is guided to the collecting member 15. Such a conduit 14 is provided for each medicine feeder storage 12. Thereby, the conduit | pipe 14 among the collection mechanisms becomes a some guide way part which runs between many medicine feeders 13 in parallel.

  The collecting member 15 is incorporated below the chemical container 11 and above the packaging device 17, and opens wide enough that the upper opening covers the lower ends of all the conduits 14, while the lower opening is the packaging device 17. It is squeezed toward the medicine charging section 16, and the medicine 1 guided by any of the conduits 14 is collected toward the lower opening and sent to the packaging device 17. Thus, the collecting member 15 of the collecting mechanism is a common path portion from all the conduits 14 to the packaging device 17.

  And according to the operation of the operation panel 19 based on the designation of the prescription etc. describing the dose, the usage, etc. or the dispensing instruction in the appropriate input device or prescription ordering system (not shown), several drugs are controlled under the control of the controller 18 The medicine 1 discharged from the feeder 13 falls into the collecting member 15 through the respective conduits 14, is collected by the collecting member 15, and is put into the medicine feeding section 16 of the packaging device 17 from the outlet below the collecting member 15. . Through such a medicine collection route, the medicine 1 is packaged into the packaging band 2 by the packaging device 17. The packaging device 17 delivers the packaging band 2 by a predetermined length and performs packaging while heating and sealing. As described above, when the medicine is automatically packaged, the medicine 1 is supplied from the appropriate medicine feeder 13 through the collecting mechanisms 14 and 15 to the packaging device 17 in one tablet or multiples thereof.

  Each medicine feeder 13 (see FIGS. 1C to 1G) further includes a collation means for reading and collating the identification information in order to confirm whether or not the loaded medicine cassette 20 is appropriate. It is attached. That is, an identification information carrier 21 that holds identification information is attached to the medicine cassette 20, and a reading device 31 that reads the identification information from the identification information carrier 21 and a one-chip type micro that has a memory built in the base portion 30. A processor 40 is attached. The identification information carrier 21 is a seal having a reading surface in which, for example, 11 white or black marks are arranged in a line, and is attached to the lower surface of the medicine cassette 20. The reading device 31 has the same number of reflective photosensors as the marks on the identification information carrier 21 arranged in a row, and is provided on the upper surface of the base portion 30. In a state where the medicine cassette 20 is mounted on the base portion 30, the reading device 31 and the identification information carrier 21 face each other so as to be readable.

  In order to perform collation using the reading result of the reading device 31 by each medicine feeder 13, the reading device 31 is connected to the microprocessor 40 attached together, and the collation data is stored in the memory of the microprocessor 40. A collation routine that is stored and compares the collation data with the reading result of the reading device 31 is installed in the microprocessor 40 (see FIG. 1H). The microprocessor 40 is further provided with communication means including a communication circuit and a communication routine, which is connected to an in-device communication means 60 such as a wired or wireless LAN, and the microprocessor 40 is connected to the controller 18. You can communicate.

  In addition, the base unit 30 (see FIGS. 1C to 1G) is provided with a plurality of indicators 32, such as a green LED and a red LED, which indicate a communicable state or a medicine discharge impossible state. Yes. A discharge sensor 33 that detects passage of the medicine 1 through the through-hole 13h is also provided. Further, the base unit 30 (not shown in FIG. 1) is provided with an attachment / detachment sensor 34 such as a mechanical switch for detecting whether or not the medicine cassette 20 is mounted on the base unit 30. A writing switch 35 operated by maintenance personnel when initializing or updating the verification data is also provided in a state hidden in a small hole or the like. These (32, 33, 34, 35) are also connected to the microprocessor 40 and are controlled thereby.

  More specifically (see FIG. 2), the memory 50 of the microprocessor 40 stores collation data 51 and history information 52. The microprocessor 40 has a communication routine 41 as communication means, and time management means. A timer routine 42 for generating a time stamp, an over-mixing detection routine 43 for detecting an abnormal discharge of medicine as a detecting means for dispensing abnormalities such as mixing and excessive, an information collection routine 44 as a history information storage unit, and a cassette attachment / detachment detection An attachment / detachment detection routine 45 as means, an information transmission routine 46 as transmission means, a collation routine 47 as collation means and overwriting means, and a discharge control routine 48 as discharge drive control means are installed.

  The communication routine 41 receives a command from the controller 18 via the in-device communication means 60 and transmits a status and data to the controller 18. The commands to be received include a medicine discharge command, history information upload command, history information download command, and time adjustment command. Of these, the drug discharge command includes the number and number of tablets (numerical data) to be discharged. 48. In addition, the history information upload command designates one, a plurality, or all of the information to be uploaded among the dispensing history information, the attachment / detachment history information, the manufacturing history information, and the selection history information, which will be described later. It is delivered to the routine 46.

  Furthermore, the history information download command includes one or both of manufacturing history information and selection history information, and the communication routine 41 delivers it to the information collection routine 44. The time adjustment command is to create a command by including the time managed by the controller 18 as appropriate serial value data, etc., and to send it to each microprocessor 40 at regular intervals. The communication routine 41 that has received is delivered to the timer routine 42. Further, the communication routine 41 turns on the green one of the indicators 32 when communication is possible, and extinguishes the green indicator 32 otherwise.

  The timer routine 42 locally performs time management such as clock progress using a built-in or external clock in the microprocessor 40 or by using a constant cycle interrupt or the like, and a time stamp is obtained based on the time. It is generated and supplied to the information collection routine 44. Further, when a time adjustment command is delivered from the communication routine 41, the time for generating a time stamp managed by itself is adjusted.

  The excessive mixing detection routine 43 prepares information to be accumulated among the dispensing history information related to the operation state of the discharge drive of the base unit 30 to which the microprocessor 40 is attached. Specifically, the detection output of the discharge sensor 33 is input and transferred to the discharge control routine 48, and the consistency between the discharge detection result and the motor 13j driving state of the discharge control routine 48 is checked. When the discharge of the medicine 1 is detected even though the motor 13j is not driven, it is determined that an undesired “mixing” has occurred, and the dispensation includes information to that effect and the time of the timer routine 42 History information is generated and delivered to the information collection routine 44 for storage.

  Further, when the motor 13j is driven and the discharge of more medicines 1 than the number specified in the medicine discharge command is detected, the overmixing detection routine 43 determines that an undesirable “excess” has occurred. Dispensing history information including the information to that effect and the time of the timer routine 42 is generated, and it is delivered to the information collecting routine 44 for accumulation. When the discharge of the medicine 1 is detected by the same number as the number of locks specified in the medicine discharge command when the motor 13j is driven, there is no inconsistency, so the over-mixing detection routine 43 does nothing. Yes. Further, the excessive contamination detection routine 43 determines that an undesired “mixing” has occurred when the discharge of a medicine other than the designated medicine in the medicine discharge command is detected when the motor 13j is driven. Dispensing history information including information to that effect and the time of the timer routine 42 is generated and delivered to the information collecting routine 44 for accumulation.

  The attachment / detachment detection routine 45 is for preparing the attachment / detachment history information related to the attachment / detachment of the medicine cassette 20 to / from the base unit 30 to which the microprocessor 40 is attached. Specifically, the detection output of the attachment / detachment sensor 34 is input, and based on a change in the detected value or based on a significant signal output at the time of attachment / detachment, the medicine cassette 20 is attached to the base portion 30, and the base portion 30 It is detected that the base unit 30 has been removed from the computer, generates attachment / detachment history information including information to that effect and the time of the timer routine 42, and passes it to the information collection routine 44 for storage. Yes.

  When the history information download command is received from the communication routine 41, the information collection routine 44 additionally stores the history information 52 in the history information 52 if it includes the manufacturing history information, and the history information download command includes the selection history information. If so, it is additionally stored in the history information 52. At that time, if the history information download command includes the time (time stamp data), the history information is stored as it is. However, if the time is not included, the time of the timer routine 42 is added, and then the history is stored. Accumulate information.

  The information collection routine 44 also accumulates data in the history information 52 when it receives dispensing history information from the excess contamination detection routine 43 and when it receives attachment / detachment history information from the attachment / detachment detection routine 45. In this case, prior to accumulation in the history information 52, in order to make it easy to understand whether the history information to be accumulated is related to normal operation, abnormal operation, or an intermediate operation, ranking processing is performed. After the rank is added to the history information, the history information 52 is additionally stored. The criteria for determining the ranking, the data structure of dispensing history information, attachment / detachment history information, manufacturing history information, selection history information, and the like will be described in detail later with reference to the drawings.

  When the information transmission routine 46 receives the history information upload command from the communication routine 41, the information transmission routine 46 delivers the specified one of the history information 52 stored in the memory 50 to the communication routine 41 and transmits it to the outside as a reply. Is requested to the communication routine 41. When there are multiple or many history information 52, unless there is a special instruction by the history information upload command, transmission is repeated in units of storage such as records, and a series of history information is sent, but the record number, time zone, etc. are specified If so, only the corresponding history information is transmitted.

  Upon receipt of the medicine discharge command from the communication routine 41, the discharge control routine 48 rotates the motor 13j, and the discharge sensor 33 detects that the medicine 1 has been discharged by the number and number of tablets specified by the medicine discharge command. If confirmed, the motor 13j is stopped. If the discharge operation cannot be performed within a predetermined time, it is determined that the discharge is impossible, the red one of the indicators 32 is turned on, and if not, the red indicator 32 is extinguished to discharge the medicine. The possible status is displayed. Status report including status and status transition at the appropriate timing based on device parameters, etc. for status report, etc. In addition to creating a sentence, the communication routine 41 is requested to send the sentence to the outside.

  The collation routine 47 is configured to appropriately store the collation data 51 stored in the collation data 51 in advance and the reading result of the reading device 31 when the medicine cassette 20 is attached to the base unit 30 or when the medicine cassette 20 is being attached. Are compared. The collation data 51 is, for example, 11-bit data that is the same as the mark of the identification information carrier 21 so that it can be immediately determined whether or not they match if compared with the reading result of the reading device 31. When the comparison results do not match, the collation routine 47 notifies the discharge control routine 48 of an instruction to that effect with a flag or the like in order to stop the discharge drive of the corresponding base unit 30. Upon receiving the instruction, the discharge control routine 48 does not rotate the motor 13j even if it receives a medicine discharge command from the communication routine 41.

  When the comparison result between the reading result of the identification information carrier 21 and the comparison data 51 of the memory 50 matches, the verification routine 47 cancels the discharge drive stop instruction to the discharge control routine 48, and accordingly. Thus, the discharge control routine 48 resumes the rotation of the motor 13j according to the medicine discharge command from the communication routine 41. For this reason, when a medicine cassette 20 that does not correspond to the base 30 is erroneously mounted, undesired discharge of the medicine 1 is prevented and treated as one of the undischargeable states. Thus, the display is made by the red display 32 and the status is also reported via the in-device communication means 60. In this way, the medicine feeder 13 is configured to output the same information as that which is taken out when the medicine cassette 20 is empty.

  The verification data 51 is written to the memory 50 using a data writing jig composed of a general-purpose ROM writer or a dedicated writer, and a single memory 50 is temporarily mounted on the jig and the specified data is written to a specified address. However, if the medicine cassette 20 is mounted on the base portions 30 corresponding to each other and the identification information can be transferred to the memory 50, it is convenient and there is no error. For this reason, the collation routine 47 also serves as an overwriting means for the collation data 51 in addition to the above-described collating means. When the writing switch 35 is operated, the medicine cassette mounted on the base portion 30 at that time. The identification information is read by the reading device 31 from the 20 identification information carriers 21, and the read identification information is overwritten and stored in the collation data 51.

  Furthermore, the criteria for determining the ranking performed by the information collection routine 44 and the data structure of various history information will be described in detail. First, as a determination criterion for ranking (see FIG. 3), for example, two decision tables (decision tables) are used depending on the situation. Of these, the first decision table (see FIG. 3 (a)) is used when there is an attachment / detachment history immediately before overmixing occurs, and the second decision table (see FIG. 3 (b)) is used. This is used when there is no attachment / detachment history immediately before the occurrence of occurrence, and in any case, the rank is determined based on the presence / absence of mixing, the presence / absence of excess, and the presence / absence of cassette attachment / detachment. The rank is divided into, for example, AA, A, B, C, D, E, etc., AA indicates an abnormality with high importance and urgency, E is normal but is considered to be useful for analyzing other abnormalities A to D indicate intermediate positions.

Dispensing history information among the history information 52 (see FIG. 4A) is data relating to the operation state of the discharge drive of the corresponding base unit 30. Specifically, one record includes a time stamp of time, It is composed of abnormal operation data indicating whether it is mixed or excessive, and a rank based on the above-mentioned determination criteria, and such records are stored in order of occurrence.
The attachment / detachment history information in the history information 52 (see FIG. 4B) is data relating to the attachment / detachment of the medicine cassette 20 with respect to the corresponding base unit 30. Specifically, one record includes a time stamp of time, It is composed of detachment data indicating whether a cassette is attached or removed, and ranks based on the above-mentioned determination criteria, and such records are stored in order of occurrence.

  Of the history information 52, the manufacturing history information (see FIG. 5) is data relating to the manufacturing process of the corresponding drug cassette 20, and specifically, one record includes a time stamp of the time when the manufacturing process is advanced, and manufacturing. It is composed of a process number determined in advance corresponding to each stage of the process and the number of the worker in charge of the process, and such records are stored in the order of process progress. Since the production history information is written in the manufacturer's factory, a dedicated jig is used for this. For example, when the jig is connected to the in-device communication means 60 together with the manufactured medicine feeder 13, a series of history information download commands are transmitted to the communication routine 41 of the microprocessor 40 of the medicine feeder 13 through the jig. ing.

  The selection history information in the history information 52 is data relating to the specification selection of the corresponding medicine cassette 20, and specifically, a time stamp of the time when one record has been used or re-used, and the medicine cassette. 20, dosage form data indicating the dosage form of the medicine 1 accommodated in the symbol, capsule data indicating whether or not the medicine 1 is in a capsule, and whether the alignment board 13c and the partition wall 13d conform to the standard list. Furthermore, if it is compatible, it is composed of compatibility data indicating the number in the list, and such a record is accumulated in time series every time a specification is selected. The writing of the selection history information is performed using the dedicated jig as described above when performed at the manufacturer's factory, but is performed using the operation panel 19 when performed after the tablet packaging machine 10 is delivered to the user. Although illustration is omitted, a program for supporting the microprocessor 40 is also installed in the microprocessor 40.

As a specific example of the dosage form data, if the typical shape of a tablet is given, a round tablet with a constant thickness is referred to as “F type” (see FIG. 5 (c)). The tablet whose thickness is thicker is referred to as “FR type” (see FIG. 5D), and the tablet that appears round from the top and looks oval from the front is referred to as “R shape” (see FIG. 5E). .
The capsule only shows whether or not the medicine 1 is contained in the capsule, but the shape and material of the capsule may be included in the selection history information.

  The standard list of compatibility is finely defined according to not only the dosage form of tablets and capsules but also the size, etc. If the alignment board 13c and the partition wall 13d are standard parts, they can be specified by numbers in the list. . Even if it is a standard part, the size and shape of the alignment board 13c and the partition wall 13d are various, and the standard list reflecting them includes a large number of sub-lists. The standard list itself is not stored in the memory 50 or the like, but what is stored in the memory 50 as the history information 52 is the number in the list.

  About the tablet packaging machine 10 of this embodiment, the characteristic matter at the time of the manufacture and the use aspect and operation | movement after manufacture are demonstrated. Regarding the latter, the steady state, the time of drug replenishment, and the time of reselecting the drug cassette 20 will be described.

  In manufacturing the tablet packaging machine 10, what is different from the related art is that, with respect to each drug feeder 13, an identification information carrier 21 is affixed to the drug cassette 20, and a reading device 31, a display 32, a discharge sensor 33, The attachment / detachment sensor 34 and the microprocessor 40 are attached, and the collating means and the collation data are distributed and incorporated in the microprocessor 40 and the memory 50. The microprocessor 40 is also installed with the other routines described above, and is connected to the in-device communication means 60.

  Further, during the manufacture of the base unit 30 and the medicine cassette 20 attached to the base unit 30, the time and the worker number are recorded in the process management document every time each process is completed, and the microprocessor 40 of the base unit 30 can communicate with each other. When the history information download command can be further processed, the manufacturing history information up to that time is written into the memory 50 using a dedicated jig. Thereafter, every time each process is completed, manufacturing history information is written using a dedicated jig. In particular, when the alignment board 13c or the like is selected at the time of manufacture of the medicine cassette 20, the selection history information is again written in the memory 50 of the microprocessor 40 of the corresponding base unit 30 using a dedicated jig.

  After the tablet packaging machine 10 is manufactured, the tablet packaging machine 10 is installed in a pharmacy or the like of a hospital, and in a steady state, the controller 18 determines the base unit 30 of the corresponding drug feeder 13 according to prescription data, derived dispensing instruction data, and the like. The medicine discharge command is sent to the microprocessor 40, the designated number of tablets 1 are discharged from the corresponding medicine cassette 20, collected by the medicine collecting mechanisms 14 and 15, and further packed into the packaging band 2 by the packaging device 17. And packaged. Such medicine discharge and packaging processing are automatically and repeatedly performed.

Since the time adjustment command is also repeatedly transmitted from the controller 18 via the in-device communication means 60, the clock is adjusted by each microprocessor 40 that has received it.
In a normal state in which both communication and medicine discharge are properly performed, the green indicator 32 is turned on and the red indicator 32 is extinguished in any medicine feeder 13, so that there is no abnormality in the medicine feeder 13. It can be easily confirmed visually. When the tablet packaging machine 10 is stopped due to an abnormality in the in-device communication means 60 and the like, the green display 32 is extinguished. I can know.

  When any one of the medicine cassettes 20 becomes empty, the state is detected by the discharge control routine 48 of the microprocessor 40 of the mounting base 30 and the detection result is reported to the controller 18 via the communication routine 41. At the same time, since the red display 32 is lit, the operator can easily and accurately know the presence and location of the empty medicine cassette 20 by the alarm issued by the controller 18 and the lighting of the display 32. When the medicine to be replenished in the cassette is not immediately available, the controller 18 is instructed by the operation panel 19 or the like whether to advance the packaging without the medicine or to cancel the automatic dispensing for the prescription. When the supplementary medicine can be prepared immediately, the supplementary work is performed.

  When replenishing the medicine cassette 20 to the medicine cassette 20, the medicine cassette 20 that has been emptied is removed from the base portion 30, and the medicine 1 is stored in the container portion 13b, and then the medicine cassette 20 is reinserted into the original base portion 30. At that time, when the medicine cassette 20 is attached / detached, the microprocessor 40 of the attaching base unit 30 uses the detection routine 45 and the information collection routine 44 to record the attachment / detachment history information one record at a time. To be added. Further, when the medicine cassette 20 is remounted, the identification information is read by the identification information carrier 21 from the identification information carrier 21 attached thereto, and the comparison result is compared with the verification data 51 by the verification routine 47.

When the comparison result is inconsistent, the discharge control routine 48 maintains the discharge impossible state in response to the notification from the collation routine 47, so that even when another drug cassette 20 is mistakenly mounted, the inconvenient drug is discharged. There is no worry of dispensing. If the red indicator 32 is not turned off even when the medicine cassette 20 is attached, the suitability of the medicine cassette 20 is reconfirmed, and the appropriate medicine cassette 20 is attached to the base portion 30.
Then, the comparison result of the reading result of the identification information carrier 21 and the comparison data 51 of the memory 50 coincides, the discharge control routine 48 resumes the control of the discharge operation, and the medicine feeder 13 returns to the state where the medicine can be discharged. A report to that effect is sent from the discharge control routine 48 to the controller 18, and the red display 32 is turned off, and the discharge of the medicine is resumed.

  By the way, when the dosage form cannot be accurately grasped by the time when the specification of the medicine cassette 20 is determined, or when the dosage form is changed after the practical use of the tablet packaging machine 10, the selected alignment board 13c is used. The compatibility between the incorporated medicine cassette 20 and the medicine contained and replenished thereto may not be good. In such cases, undesired things such as contamination and excess may occur, but the occurrence is rare and irregular, so it is difficult to find and confirm promptly even if it is watched. Often found in the work.

  On the other hand, in the medicine feeder 13 of the tablet packaging machine 10, when an abnormal discharge causing mixing or excess occurs, this is detected by an excessive mixing detection routine 43 and further by an information collecting routine 44. The records are divided into ranks, and one record of the dispensing history information is created, and this is additionally stored in the history information 52. Therefore, if an admixture or excess of a drug is found in an auditing operation after dispensing, the operator operates the operation panel 19 of the tablet packaging machine 10 in the field to grasp the situation at the time of occurrence of an abnormality, and the manufacturer's factory, etc. If it is a remote place, a history information upload command is sent to the microprocessor 40 of each medicine feeder 13 via the controller 18 using an external communication means connected to the tablet packaging machine 10 such as the Internet or a dedicated line.

  Then, the history information 52 of each memory 50 is transmitted via the in-device communication means 60 in the information transmission routine 46, and the dispensing history information and the attachment / detachment history information are displayed on the display screen of the operation panel 19 at the site, and at a remote place. Dispensing history information and attachment / detachment history information are also displayed on the screen in a browser or the like, and this is used as a reference to search for the cause of mixing or excess. If necessary, the selection history information and the manufacturing history information are displayed on the screen in the same manner, and a solution is devised with reference to this. In this way, the situation can be grasped easily and quickly both at the site and at a remote location, so that the maintenance staff who rushed to the site can quickly deal with it, or when it is difficult for the on-site personnel to judge or when it is difficult to deal with Advice, instructions, assistance, etc. are sent from the remote site to the site, but since the work site and the remote site establish a common awareness based on the same information, the joint work is carried out. Collaborate quickly and accurately.

  When the alignment panel 13c and the like of the medicine cassette 20 are selected again, a new medicine cassette 20 is mounted on the replacement base section 30, and the writing switch 35 is operated. Then, the identification information is read by the reading device 31 from the identification information carrier 21 attached thereto, and the reading result is overwritten on the verification data 51 by the verification routine 47. As a result, thereafter, the new medicine cassette 20 corresponds to the base part 30 to be replaced. Further, by operating the operation panel 19, selection history information including specification data of the reselected drug cassette 20 is added to the history information 52 of the memory 50 of the corresponding microprocessor 40.

In this way, when the medicine cassette 20 is replaced or the specification of the medicine cassette 20 is changed after the tablet packaging machine 10 is operated, the update of the matching data 51 and the accumulation of the history information 52 corresponding thereto are easily performed on site. It is done accurately.
These additional information is also displayed on the screen for reference when the operation status is grasped or the specification is changed thereafter.

[Others]
The arrangement of the medicine feeder 13 is not limited to the vertical and horizontal matrix arrangement described above, and may be a cylindrical arrangement, for example. The medicine feeder storage 12 may be movable.
Further, the microprocessor 40 is not limited to the one-chip type, and the memory 50 may be externally attached. The memory 50 is preferably non-volatile, but it may not be, for example, a battery-equipped memory.

Further, the writing of the collation data 51 performed by operating the writing switch 35 is not limited to the above-mentioned work on site, and can be used at the time of manufacturing in a factory.
In the above-described example, the detection result of the discharge sensor 33 is input to the excessive mixing detection routine 43 and notified to the discharge control routine 48. Conversely, the discharge control routine 48 is input to input the excessive mixing detection routine. 43 may be notified, or a dedicated routine for inputting the detection result of the discharge sensor 33 may be provided to notify both of the excessive mixing detection routine 43 and the discharge control routine 48.

1 shows the overall structure of an embodiment of the automatic dispensing device of the present invention, (a) is an external perspective view of a tablet packaging machine, (b) is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the tablet packaging machine, and (c) is it. (D) is a front view thereof, (e) is a longitudinal left side view, (f) is a bottom view of the drug cassette, and (g) is a plan view of a base portion. (H) is a block diagram regarding in-device communication. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part function of each microprocessor about the said embodiment. In the above embodiment, both (a) and (b) are determination tables (decision tables) for ranking when collecting information. About the said embodiment, the data structure of log | history information is shown, (a) is dispensing log | history information, (b) is attachment / detachment log | history information. About the said embodiment, the data structure of log | history information is shown, (a) is manufacture log | history information, (b) is selection log | history information. (C)-(d) are all the top views and front views of a tablet, and have shown several dosage forms used as a cassette selection reference | standard.

Explanation of symbols

1 drugs (disc-shaped drugs, balls, capsules, cylindrical drugs, tablets)
2 Wrapping band (wrapping paper)
10 Tablet packaging machine (automatic dispensing equipment, dispensing equipment)
11 medicine storage (medical shelf, medicine storage compartment)
12 Drug feeder storage (drug storage)
13 Drug feeder (drug cassette and base)
13a Lid (drug cassette lid)
13b Container part (cassette, cup, medicine container, medicine container)
13c Alignment board (cassette, rotor, alignment member, discharge member)
13d Bulkhead (cassette, molding blade, wing projection, alignment member)
13e Frame plate (attachment / detachment part to base part in cassette)
13f Discharge port (drug drop port in cassette)
13g Tube part (detachable transmission member in the cassette)
13h Through-hole (drug path of drug at base)
13i spline shaft (detachable transmission member at base)
13j motor (drive source in base)
13k base (basic fixing member at base)
14 Conduit (duct, chute, guideway, upper drug collection route)
15 Collection member (hopper-like / funnel-like member, lower drug collection route)
16 Drug input part (collected drug input)
17 Packaging equipment 18 Controller (main control equipment)
19 Operation panel 20 Drug cassette (drug feeder)
21 Identification information carrier (affixing member printed with identification information)
30 Base part (medicine feeder)
31 Reader (Reflective photo sensor group)
32 Display (Multiple LEDs with different colors)
33 Discharge sensor (Dropping medicine fall detection means)
34 Attaching / detaching sensor (cassette attaching / detaching detection means)
35 Write switch (operation member for collation data setting)
40 Microprocessor 41 Communication routine (communication means)
42 Timer routine (time stamp generation, time management means)
43 Excessive contamination detection routine (detection means for abnormal discharge / dispensing)
44 Information collection routine (history information storage means)
45 Attachment / detachment detection routine (cassette attachment / detachment detection means)
46 Information transmission routine (transmission means)
47 Verification routine (verification and overwriting)
48 Discharge Control Routine (Discharge Drive Control Unit)
50 memory (internal memory, external memory)
51 Verification data 52 History information (Dispensing history / Removal history / Manufacturing history / Selection history)
60 In-device communication means (LAN, wired / wireless communication means)

Claims (10)

  A medicine cassette for detachably containing medicine, a base part that supports the medicine cassette so as to be detachable and drives the medicine cassette, a medicine feeder storage that stores a large number of the base parts, and a base part that is attached to each of the base parts. In an automatic dispensing device including a reading device that reads identification information attached to a medicine cassette and a matching unit that compares the reading result with previously stored matching data, a microprocessor and a memory or An automatic dispensing device, wherein a microprocessor with a built-in memory is mounted, and the collating means and collation data are distributed and incorporated therein.   When the comparison result in the collating means is inconsistent, the information output when the corresponding one of the medicine cassettes is empty is output by stopping the discharge driving of the corresponding one of the base portions. The automatic dispensing apparatus according to claim 1.   The automatic dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an overwriting unit that overwrites and stores the identification information read by the reading device in the collation data.   A communication means is added to the microprocessor, and a plurality of indicators having different colors are attached to each of the base portions, and any one of the indicators can display a medicine dischargeable state. The automatic dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the other device displays a communicable state of the microprocessor.   5. The microprocessor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the microprocessor accumulates dispensing history information relating to an operation state of discharge driving of the corresponding one of the base units in the memory. Automatic dispensing device.   6. The microprocessor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the microprocessor stores, in the memory, attachment / detachment history information related to attachment / detachment of a medicine cassette to a corresponding one of the base portions. Automatic dispensing device.   7. The automatic dispensing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the microprocessor separates a normal operation and an abnormal operation when the history information is accumulated.   8. The automatic according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor accumulates selection history information related to specification selection of a corresponding one of the medicine cassettes in the memory. Dispensing device.   9. The automatic according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor accumulates manufacturing history information relating to a manufacturing process of the corresponding one of the medicine cassettes in the memory. Dispensing device.   The automatic dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the microprocessor includes transmission means for transmitting the history information stored in the memory to the outside.

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