JP2006204493A - Medicine feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a structure when a label is automatically stuck on the vial, in a medicine feeder for infilling a medicine into the vial from a plurality of tablet cases. <P>SOLUTION: This medicine feeder for filling the vial V with the medicine discharged from the tablet case comprises: a discharge drum for discharging the medicine in the tablet case; a label sticking device 56 which does printing on the label for being stuck on the vial, so as to offer the label to a prescribed label sticking position; and a filling device 28 for filling the vial with the medicine which is discharged from the tablet case. The filling apparatus comprises a holding device 29 for holding the vial by a holding roller 34, a carrying device 31 for moving the holding device so as to arrange the vial below the tablet case and in the label sticking position, and a motor 38 for rotation. When the vial is positioned below the tablet case, the discharge drum is driven by the motor for rotation. When the vial is in the label sticking position, it is turned by the motor for turning, so that the label can be stuck on the vial. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a medicine supply device for filling medicine bottles in medicine bottles in a quantity specified by a prescription in hospitals, dispensing pharmacies, and the like.

  Conventionally, hospitals and dispensing pharmacies provide patients with drugs prescribed by doctors using drug supply devices. That is, in this kind of medicine supply apparatus, the quantity of medicines (tablets, capsules, etc.) described in the prescription is discharged one by one from the discharge drum in the tablet case and filled in the medicine bottle.

In this case, a plurality of tablet cases arranged in parallel on the left and right are arranged in a plurality of layers in the vertical direction, and the medicine bottles are transported to a predetermined tablet case by moving on the back side thereof. The medicine discharged from is filled (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
US Pat. No. 6,085,938 US Pat. No. 6,659,2005

  Thus, in a medicine supply device that fills medicine bottles with medicines, it is necessary to put a label on which the name of a patient who is a recipient, a medicine name, a usage, and the like are printed on the outer surface of the medicine bottle. In the past, this labeling was done manually, or a labeling device was loaded with a medicine bottle and attached automatically, but in any case, the handling of the medicine bottle increased and the work was complicated. It was.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional technical problem, and in a medicine supply device for filling medicine into a medicine bottle from a plurality of tablet cases, a structure for automatically attaching a label to the medicine bottle The purpose is to simplify.

  The medicine supply device of the present invention fills a medicine bottle with medicine discharged from a tablet case, and prints on a label attached to the medicine bottle and a discharge means for discharging the medicine in the tablet case. A label affixing means provided at a label affixing position; and a filling means for filling a medicine bottle discharged from the tablet case into a medicine bottle. The filling means includes a medicine bottle holding means for holding a medicine bottle by a holding roller; and It has a transport means for moving the medicine bottle holding means to place the medicine bottle below the tablet case and at the labeling position, and a drive means. When the medicine bottle is located below the tablet case, the discharge means is driven by the drive means. And when a medicine bottle exists in a label sticking position, a medicine bottle is rotated by a drive means and a label is stuck on the medicine bottle concerned.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medicine supply device comprising a drive gear and a drive roller provided on the drive shaft of the drive means, and the filling means is configured such that when the medicine bottle is positioned below the tablet case, The drive gear is driven to engage with the discharge means while being separated from the bottle, and when the medicine bottle is at the label attaching position, the drive roller is brought into contact with the outer surface of the medicine bottle and rotated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the medicine supply device according to the first aspect, wherein the medicine bottle holding means includes a pair of holding arms that are approached / separated from each other, and each holding arm is provided with a pair of holding rollers, Each holding arm is approached and the medicine bottle is rotatably held by each holding roller.

  In the present invention, in a medicine supply device that fills a medicine bottle discharged from a tablet case, a discharge means for discharging the medicine in the tablet case and a label attached to the medicine bottle are printed on a predetermined label attaching position. Provided label attaching means, and filling means for filling a medicine bottle discharged from the tablet case into the medicine bottle, the filling means comprising a medicine bottle holding means for holding the medicine bottle by a holding roller, and the medicine bottle holding means. And a drive means for moving the medicine bottle to the lower side of the tablet case and the label attaching position, and a drive means. When the medicine bottle is located under the tablet case, the discharge means is driven by the drive means, Since the medicine bottle is rotated by the driving means when the label is at the label application position, the label is attached to the medicine bottle. From filling of the medicine into the medicine bottle to label application Becomes a series of operations to be able to automate, it is possible to improve also remarkable workability.

  Further, since the driving of the discharging means for discharging the medicine from the tablet case and the rotation of the medicine bottle at the time of label sticking can be performed by the same driving means, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the cost.

  In particular, a drive gear and a drive roller provided on the drive shaft of the drive means as in claim 2 are provided, and the filling means is a state in which the drive roller is separated from the drug bottle when the drug bottle is located below the tablet case. The drive gear is engaged with the discharge means and is driven, and when the medicine bottle is at the labeling position, the drive roller is brought into contact with the outer surface of the medicine bottle to rotate it. The discharge and rotation of the medicine bottle can be performed smoothly, and the medicine bottle does not rotate when the medicine is discharged. Therefore, even when the outer surface of the medicine bottle is tapered, It will not move.

  Further, the medicine bottle holding means is provided with a pair of holding arms that are approached / separated from each other, and each holding arm is provided with a pair of holding rollers, and each holding arm is brought close to each holding roller. If the medicine bottle is held rotatably by the medicine bottle holding means, even if the position of the medicine bottle when the medicine bottle is held by the medicine bottle holding means is shifted, Since the holding roller comes into contact with the medicine bottle and cooperates while rotating to guide the medicine bottle to a predetermined position, positioning of the medicine bottle in such a case can be achieved with high accuracy.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medicine supply device 1 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view partially illustrating the internal structure of the medicine supply device 1, and FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view, FIG. 5 is a plan view, FIG. 6 is a front view, and FIG. 7 is a side view.

  The drug supply device 1 according to the embodiment is installed in a hospital, a dispensing pharmacy, or the like, fills a drug bottle specified by a doctor's prescription, and provides it to a recipient such as a patient. The filling unit 2 having a horizontally long shape and a providing unit 3 (providing means) having a low and high rectangular shape, which is connected to the left side of the filling unit 2 in a state where the inside communicates, are also configured.

(1) Filling unit 2
First, the structure of the filling unit 2 will be described. The height dimension of the filling unit 2 is, for example, in a range of 900 mm to 1000 mm, and is set to a normal table height, a width is in a range of 1600 mm to 1700 mm, and a depth is in a range of 800 mm to 900 mm. The filling unit 2 is closed at the front by a panel 4 that can be opened and closed, and a case housing 6 is formed in the upper part of the filling unit 2. The case housing portion 6 has an open top surface, and the top surface opening is detachable or closed by a top table 7 that is pivotally supported on one side. It is assumed that the top table 7 has a predetermined strength capable of placing an article (such as a medicine in a cardboard box) used in a hospital or a dispensing pharmacy.

  A mounting plate 11 for mounting the tablet case 9 shown in FIG. 8 on a single flat surface is attached to the bottom surface of the case storage portion 6, and a total of 200 tablets of 20 × 10 in length are attached to the mounting plate 11. Similarly, 200 mounting bases 12 as shown in FIG. 11 for mounting the case 9 in a single stage are mounted. On the upper surface of each mounting base 12..., An engagement shaft 14 (constituting the discharge means) that engages with a discharge drum 13 (discharge means) of a tablet case 9 to be described later protrudes. Extends to the lower surface of the mounting base 12, and an engagement gear 16 (which constitutes a discharging means) is attached to the lower end portion thereof.

  Further, the mounting base 12 is formed with a chute 17 having a rectangular cross section projecting directly downward, and the chute 17 is opened up and down. Furthermore, a tablet case sensor 18 (shown in FIG. 20, detecting means) for detecting whether or not the tablet case 9 is attached to the attachment base 12 is also attached to each attachment base 12.

  The tablet case 9 is composed of a storage container 21 as shown in FIG. 8, and as shown in FIG. 6, two types of storage containers 21 are prepared, one having a low height and one having a high height. And the height dimension in the said case storage part 6 is made into the dimension which can attach the tablet case 9 with the high height of the storage container 21. FIG. The storage container 21 has an opening on the upper surface, and the opening is closed so as to be openable and closable by a lid 22 pivotally supported on one side. As a result, the medicine can be charged into the storage container 21 of the tablet case 9 from above.

  In addition, a manual lock (lock mechanism) 23 for holding the lid 22 in a closed state is provided on the non-pivot side of the lid 22 at the upper opening edge of the storage container 21. Consideration is given to prevent the lid 22 from being inadvertently opened when the case 9 is lifted for removal. Further, the above-described discharge drum 13 is attached to the inner bottom portion of the storage container 21 for dropping and discharging the drugs one by one downward. A plurality of vertical grooves 24 are formed around the side surface of the discharge drum 13 at a predetermined interval, and the medicine charged and filled from the upper surface opening of the storage container 21 by releasing the lock 23 and opening the lid 22 is discharged into the discharge drum. 13 into the vertical grooves 24. Then, as will be described later, when the discharge drum 13 is rotated and the vertical groove 24 is aligned with the upper portion of the chute 17 of the mounting base 12, the internal medicine is naturally dropped onto the chute 17 one by one.

  In this case, the storage container 21 is inclined at an approximately middle height in the vertical direction from one side wall (in the embodiment, the pivotal support side of the lid 22) to the other side wall obliquely downward. A partition member 26 is attached. The tip of the partition member 26 is opposed to the other side wall with an interval through which the drug can pass, so that the drug put in from the upper surface opening passes through the tip from the partition member 26. The storage container 21 is divided into upper and lower parts in a state in which the passage to the lower discharge drum 13 is allowed.

  Here, especially in the tablet case 9 having a high storage container 21, the amount of medicine to be stored increases, so that a great load is applied to the discharge drum 13. Rotation will be hindered. However, if the inside of the storage container 21 is partitioned up and down by the partition member 26 in this way, most of the load due to the medicine in the upper part is received by the partition member 26. Therefore, the load applied to the discharge drum 13 is reduced and rotation failure ( It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as poor drug discharge).

  And when attaching such a tablet case 9 to the attachment base 12, the top table 7 is opened and it attaches to the attachment base 12 so that attachment or detachment is possible from the upper direction. At this time, the upper end portion of the engagement shaft 14 of the mounting base 12 is engaged with the discharge drum 13 from below, and the rotational force is transmitted to the discharge drum 13. The tablet case sensor 18 described above is turned on when the tablet case 9 is attached, and is turned off when the tablet case 9 is not attached. Further, when the medicine is refilled into the storage container 21, the top table 7 is similarly opened to release the lock 23 of the tablet case 9, the lid 22 is opened, and the medicine is put into the storage container 21 from above. That is, since the replenishment of the medicine can be performed with the tablet case 9 attached to the mounting base 12 by such a configuration, the medicine can be replenished to the tablet case 9 while filling the medicine bottle V described later. Can be done.

  A filling device 28 (filling means) is provided in the lower part of the filling unit 2 so as to be located below the case housing 6. The filling device 28 conveys the holding device 29 for holding the medicine bottle V (filling medicine bottle holding means), the holding device 29 and the medicine bottle V held by the holding device 29 to a lower side of a predetermined tablet case 9. And a transporting device (filling transporting means) 31 for arranging them. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the transfer device 31 has a rail 32 installed horizontally in the vertical direction (depth direction, X axis) and the rail 32 moved horizontally in the horizontal direction (Y axis). The transfer motors 32M and 33M are attached to end portions of the rails 32 and 33, respectively. By driving the motors 32M and 33M, the holding device 29 (medicine bottle V) is moved on the horizontal XY axis under the tablet case 9 attached to the case storage unit 6 on a predetermined direction. It is arranged below the tablet case 9 and the subsequent movement is performed. The motor 33M is located at the end of the lower part of the filling unit 2 opposite to the providing unit 3, and the storage container 21 is doubled horizontally (horizontal direction) using the installation space (dead space) of the motor 33M. The tablet case 9 can be attached to the storage container 21 at the lower end and the attachment base 12 in common.

  The holding device 29 is shown in FIGS. The holding device 29 has a pair of holding arms 36 and 36 each having a pair of holding rollers 34 and 34 arranged at a predetermined interval with the vertical direction as a rotation axis (the tip is directed to the providing unit 3 side). A medicine detection sensor (medicine detection means) 37 (not shown in FIGS. 12 and 13) provided on the upper side of the holding arm 36, and a rotation motor (drive means) 38 for rotating the discharge drum 13. The holding arms 36, 36 are moved closer to or away from each other to hold or release the medicine bottle V, the holding arms 39, the holding arms 36, 36, the medicine detection sensor 37, and the rotation motor 38. Also, an elevating motor (elevating means) 41 for elevating and lowering the holding motor 39 is integrated.

  For example, the holding motor 39 rotates forward to bring the holding arms 36 and 36 close to each other, holds the medicine bottle V between the holding arms 36 and 36, and rotates reverse to move the holding arms 36 and 36 to each other. The medicine bottle V which is separated and held is released. At this time, the medicine bottle V is held rotatably by a total of four holding rollers 34... Further, when the holding arms 36 and 36 hold the medicine bottle V, the medicine bottle V is held at a predetermined holding position such that the upper surface opening of the medicine bottle V is below the medicine detection sensor 37 and comes to a very close position. It is configured as follows. Further, the drive shaft 42 of the rotation motor 38 extends upward in the vicinity of the base of the holding arms 36, 36, and a drive gear 43 is attached to the tip of the holding device 29 which is the highest position. A drive roller 44 is attached to the drive shaft 42 at a position corresponding to between the base portions 36 and 36.

  Here, the holding arms 36, 36 and the holding motor 39 are movable in the direction connecting the bases from the tips of the holding arms 36, 36 (horizontal direction in FIG. 12), and are always coil springs (biasing means) 46. Thus, the medicine bottle V held by the holding arms 36 and 36 is urged away from the drive roller 44. Therefore, the medicine bottle V held by the holding arms 36, 36 does not always come into contact with the drive roller 44 (FIGS. 12 and 13). However, when the holding arms 36 and 36 and the holding motor 39 are moved in the direction of the base of the holding arm 36 against the coil spring 46, the drive roller 44 contacts the side surface of the medicine bottle V as shown in FIGS. . Since the medicine bottle V is rotatably held between the rollers 34..., The medicine bottle V is also rotated when the driving roller 44 is rotated with the driving roller 44 in contact with the side surface. ing. In addition to the above configuration, for example, as shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, if a coil spring (biasing means) 35 for biasing the holding arms 36 and 36 to always approach is provided, in the event of a power failure The medicine bottle V is mechanically held between the holding arms 36 and 36 and is prevented from dropping.

  Further, for example, the lifting motor 41 rotates normally to raise the holding arms 36 and 36, the medicine detection sensor 37, the rotation motor 38, and the holding motor 39 (right side of FIG. 14; FIG. 19), and reversely lowers. (FIG. 11, left side of FIG. 14). The drive gear 43 at the highest position in this lowered state is at a position lower than the lower end of the chute 17 described above. Accordingly, the holding device 29 can move in the horizontal direction below the chute 17 of each mounting base 12. Further, the medicine bottle V corresponds to the lower portion of the chute 17 in a state where the holding device 29 is moved below the predetermined tablet case 9. In this state, when the holding arms 36, 36, the medicine detection sensor 37, the rotation motor 38, and the holding motor 39 are raised by the lifting motor 41, the drive gear 43 is engaged with the mounting base 12 as shown in FIG. Engageably engages with the gear 16 in the vertical direction. Thus, when the rotation motor 38 is driven, the rotational force is transmitted to the drive gear 43, the engagement gear 16, the engagement shaft 14, and the discharge drum 13, and the discharge drum 13 is rotated, as described above. The medicines are discharged into the chute 17 one by one and fall into the medicine bottle V through there.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, if the projecting dimension of the chute 17 is A and the distance from the mounting base 12 of the drug detection sensor 37 in the raised state is B, B becomes larger than the allowable A (in the embodiment, 0. 1 mm). The upper surface opening of the medicine bottle V approaches the lower end opening of the chute 17 in the raised state, but the medicine detection sensor 37 is located outside them and at a height between them according to the setting described above. Become. The drug detection sensor 37 detects the drug in a region including the entire area of the chute 17 and the opening of the medicine bottle V. With such a setting, the medicine detection sensor 37 is extremely close to the opening of the medicine bottle V and the chute 17. The drug can be detected at the position. Further, since the medicine bottle detection sensor 37 is located at least as much as the size of the chute 17 and away from the discharge drum 13 of the tablet case 9, dust in the medicine bottle adheres to the medicine bottle detection sensor 37, and the detection accuracy is increased. Decreasing inconvenience is prevented or suppressed.

(2) Provision unit 3
Next, the structure of the providing unit 3 will be described. In the upper part of the providing unit 3, an alignment conveyor 47 and a providing indicator 48 are provided for distinguishing and providing filled medicine bottles V filled with medicines for each recipient, and an empty medicine is provided in the providing unit 3. Three medicine bottle units (medicine bottle storage parts) 51 in which a large number of bottles V are stored, two lid units 52, 52, a transport device (providing transport means) 53, and a holding device (providing medicine bottle holding means) ) 54, a label sticking device (label sticking means) 56, a photographing device (photographing means) 57, a closing device 58 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 20), and two delivery tables 61. 62, a touch panel type display 71, and the like.

  The alignment conveyor 47 is partitioned into a plurality of rows on the upper surface of the providing unit 3 and conveys the filled medicine bottles V from the rear to the front. In front of each of the alignment conveyors 47,..., The provision display 48 is provided correspondingly, and the provision display 48 displays the name of a recipient such as a patient. Further, the providing device 55 is provided on the back portion in the providing unit 3, and the conveying device 53 has a rail 63 installed in the vertical direction (vertical direction, X axis) and the rail 63 horizontally as shown in FIG. 2. It comprises rails 64 for moving in the direction (Y-axis), and a transport motor (not shown) similar to the transport device 31 described above is attached to the ends of the rails 63 and 64. By driving the motor, the holding device 54 (medicine bottle V) is moved on the XY axis in the vertical and horizontal directions in the back of the providing unit 3. The holding device 54 has the same holding arm 36 and motors as the holding device 29 described above, but moves the holding arm 36 back and forth instead of moving up and down. Further, in this case, the tips of the holding arms 36 and 36 face forward, and do not have a configuration corresponding to a rotation motor.

  Further, the medicine bottle unit 51... And the lid units 52, 52 are respectively attached to the three medicine bottle storage portions and the two lid storage portions of the provision unit 3 detachably attached to the provision unit 3 from the front. In this case, the internal configuration of the medicine bottle unit 51 differs depending on the size of the medicine bottle V to be stored, but the outer shape and the basic structure are the same, and the medicine bottle unit 51 containing the medicine bottle V of any size is used. Even if it exists, it can be attached to any of three medicine bottle storage parts. Thereby, it is comprised so that the medicine bottle unit 51 to be used can be freely selected and attached according to the dimensions of the medicine bottle V to be used. That is, when many large-sized medicine bottles V are used, it is assumed that all or two medicine bottle units 51 contain the large-sized medicine bottles V, and the other one is used with a small-sized medicine bottle V. The stored medicine bottle unit 51 is used. On the contrary, when many small-sized medicine bottles V are used, all or two medicine bottle units 51 are assumed to contain such small-sized medicine bottles V, and the remaining one is used as a large-sized medicine bottle V. The medicine bottle unit 51 can be used.

  Here, the medicine bottle V is a substantially cylindrical container made of a hard synthetic resin and having an upper surface opened. The medicine bottle V has, for example, two large and small dimensions as described above according to the size and amount of the medicine to be filled. To do. Moreover, since it is made of such a hard resin, the peripheral side surface of the medicine bottle V is slightly tapered so as to expand toward the opening of the upper surface. The lid unit 52 stores a large number of lids for sealing the upper opening of the medicine bottle V.

  Further, the label sticking device 56 is disposed on the filling unit 2 side in the front part of the providing unit 3, the adhesive is applied to the back surface, and the label 66 wound in a roll shape is printed on the surface of the label 66. And a sensor 68 for detecting that the printed label 66 has been fed out to a predetermined position. The label 66 is printed by the printer 67 and then fed out between the pair of support columns 69 and 69 (FIGS. 17 and 18). The sensor 68 is attached to the inner surfaces of the columns 69 and 69. Further, the interval between the support columns 69 and 69 matches the interval between the holding arms 36 and 36 of the holding device 29 described above.

  Further, the photographing device 57 photographs the medicine bottle V before filling and closing the medicine from above, and records an image of the medicine inside. Further, the lid closing device 58 takes out the lid from the lid unit 52 and attaches the lid to the upper surface opening of the medicine bottle V after being photographed by the photographing device 57 to be sealed. Further, the delivery tables 61 and 62 are installed at two front and rear positions on the filling unit 2 side of the providing unit 3 behind the label sticking device 56, and both of them can be lifted and lowered by lifting motors 61M and 62M. Has been.

(3) Control device 72
Next, FIG. 20 shows a circuit block diagram of the control device 72 of the medicine supply device 1. The control device 72 is constituted by a microcomputer 73, and the above-described tablet case sensor 18... And the medicine detection sensor 37 are connected to the microcomputer 73. Further, the microcomputer 73 is provided with the display 71, the filling device 28, the providing device 55, the label sticking device 56, the transfer table raising / lowering motors 61M and 62M, the photographing device 57, the lid closing device 58, the alignment conveyor 47,. A display 48..., A medicine bottle unit 51 and a lid unit 52 are connected and controlled. The microcomputer 73 is connected to an external personal computer P so that data communication is possible.

(4) Operation of Drug Supply Device 1 With the above configuration, the operation of the drug supply device 1 will be described next. It is assumed that the microcomputer 73 is preliminarily input with data regarding the address (position) of the tablet case 9 and the type of medicine stored in the tablet case 9. In this case, when the tablet case 9 is not attached to any of the attachment bases 12, the microcomputer 73 grasps the address where the tablet case 9 is not attached based on the output of the tablet case sensor 18. Thereafter, the medicine bottle V is not moved to the address (position). As a result, it is possible to eliminate a wasteful control operation and shorten the filling time.

(4-1) Delivery of empty medicine bottle V Now, when predetermined prescription data is input to the microcomputer 73 by input from the touch panel of the display 71 or data communication from the personal computer P, the microcomputer 73 The empty medicine bottle V of a size that can be filled with the amount of medicine specified by the prescription data is selected, and each motor of the transport device 53 of the providing apparatus 55 is driven to store the empty medicine bottle V. The holding device 54 is moved to the outlet 51 </ b> A of the bottle unit 51. Then, the holding motors of the holding arms 36 and 36 are driven to hold the empty medicine bottle V, and the transfer device 53 is controlled again to move the holding device 54 to the delivery table 61. Then, the empty medicine bottle V is released from the holding arms 36 and 36 and placed on the delivery table 61 in a predetermined manner.

(4-2) Drug Filling Next, the microcomputer 73 drives the motors 32M and 33M of the transport device 31 of the filling device 28 to move the holding device 29 to the delivery table 61. Then, the holding motor 39 is controlled to hold the empty medicine bottle V on the delivery table 61 between the rollers 34 of the holding arms 36, 36. At this time, the microcomputer 73 drives the raising / lowering motor 61M according to the size of the selected empty medicine bottle V, adjusts the height of the delivery table 61, and the holding arms 36, 36 of the holding device 29 hold the above-mentioned holdings. The empty medicine bottle V can be held at the position. That is, the height of the delivery table 61 is lowered in the case of a high-capacity empty medicine bottle V having a high height, and the height is raised in the case of a normal medicine bottle V having a low height. As a result, the holding arms 36 and 36 of the holding device 29 can always hold the empty medicine bottle V at the holding position described above. Note that the microcomputer 73 performs the same height adjustment on the transfer table 62 by the lifting motor 62M. Further, when the position of the empty medicine bottle V placed on the delivery table 61 is shifted from the predetermined position, the position of the medicine bottle V is shown in FIG. 21 when the holding device 29 is moved to the delivery table 61. As indicated by the broken line, the holding arms 36 are located at positions shifted from the predetermined positions. However, as the holding arms 36 and 36 are moved closer, the medicine bottle V first comes into contact with the closest holding roller 34 and is moved while rotating, and then comes into contact with other holding rollers 34 one after another. Is forcibly positioned at a predetermined position which is the center of all the holding rollers 34, 34, 34, 34. Thus, even when the position of the medicine bottle V on the delivery table 61 (horizontal position) is shifted, the holding roller 34... Cooperates to guide the medicine bottle V to a predetermined position. Accuracy is improved. This also applies to the holding device 54.

  When the empty medicine bottle V is held by the holding device 29, the microcomputer 73 drives the motors 32M and 33M of the conveying device 31 to hold the holding device below the tablet case 9 at the address where the medicine designated by the prescription is stored. 29 and empty medicine bottle V are moved. Next, the lifting and lowering motor 41 is driven to raise the holding arms 36 and 36, the medicine detection sensor 37, the rotation motor 38 and the holding motor 39. As shown in the right side of FIG. 14 and FIG. The drive gear 43 is engaged with the engagement gear 16.

(4-2-1) Discharge Speed Control Next, the microcomputer 73 drives the rotation motor 38 to rotate the discharge drum 13 via the drive gear 43, the engagement gear 16 and the engagement shaft 14. As a result, the medicine in the vertical groove 24 of the discharge drum 13 naturally falls into the medicine V one by one through the chute 17 as described above. The medicine detection sensor 37 detects the medicine falling downward from the lower end opening of the chute 17. The microcomputer 73 counts the number of medicines that have fallen into the medicine bottle V based on the detection operation of the medicine detection sensor 37, stops the rotation motor 38 when the quantity specified by the prescription is reached, and ends the discharge and filling operation. .

  In this case, the microcomputer 73 adjusts the number of rotations of the motor 38 for rotation according to the type of medicine stored in the tablet case 9 and changes the medicine discharge speed. That is, when the size of the medicine is small, the time for passing through the medicine detection sensor 37 is shortened. Similarly, when the shape of the medicine is a round shape, the passage time is shortened (because the passage time is longer when the shape is long). In such a case, even if the number of rotations of the rotation motor 38 is increased to increase the discharge speed from the discharge drum 13, the drug detection sensor 37 can detect the drug without hindrance. Therefore, the microcomputer 9 is based on the kind of medicine set in advance for the tablet case 9 at the address, when the dimension of the medicine is small (the size standard for the medicine is determined in advance), and In the case where the shape of the medicine is a round shape, the discharging speed is increased by increasing the rotation speed of the rotation motor 38 to shorten the filling time. When the size of the medicine is large, the rotation motor 38 is set to a normal rotation speed. The change in the rotational speed of the motor 38 for rotation may be controlled in accordance with the type of medicine (for example, in the range of 30 RPM to 70 RPM) in addition to step control such as two steps or three steps.

  In this way, the microcomputer 73 immediately before the counting of the medicine based on the detection operation of the medicine detection sensor 37 is completed, that is, when the count reaches the specified quantity, for example, five times before (remaining predetermined quantity), the rotation motor The rotational speed of 38 is set to a low speed (for example, 10 RPM), and the discharge speed of the medicine is slowed down. Thereby, the detection accuracy by the medicine detection sensor 37 is improved. In other words, such control improves the counting accuracy of the medicine while shortening the filling time of the medicine as described above. In particular, the discharge drum 13 is accurately stopped at the normal position by setting the rotation speed of the rotation motor 38 to a low speed. Thereby, excessive discharge is prevented and discharge accuracy is improved.

  During the medicine discharging operation, the driving roller 44 also rotates. However, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the driving roller 44 is not in contact with the medicine bottle V held by the holding arms 36 and 36. Here, as described above, the peripheral side surface of the medicine bottle V is tapered so as to expand toward the upper surface opening. Therefore, if the driving roller 44 is in contact with the medicine bottle V during the discharging operation, the medicine bottle V is also rotated by driving the rotation motor 38. On the other hand, since the rotation during the discharging operation is performed several tens of times or more, there is a risk that the medicine bottle V may move upward due to the taper of the peripheral side surface, but during the drug discharging operation, Such inconvenience is prevented by not bringing the driving roller 44 into contact with the medicine bottle V as shown in FIGS. Here, each holding roller 34... Is also tapered corresponding to the taper of the medicine bottle V. However, since the taper value is actually different depending on the size of the medicine bottle, a taper that is completely matched is used. It is impossible to attach to the holding roller 34. Therefore, the configuration described above is more effective. On the other hand, if the holding roller 34 is divided into upper and lower parts (a total of eight in the embodiment), the taper with the medicine bottle V can be completely matched, and the holding force is further increased to enable stable conveyance. It can be. However, if it is not desired to increase the holding force, the taper of the holding roller 34 can be eliminated. The holding roller 34 is preferably made of rubber that increases the holding force of the medicine bottle V as compared with a metal system.

(4-2-2) Drug Overflow Prevention Control Here, for example, when there is an error in the preset drug size and the selected drug bottle V size is smaller than the total amount of drug to be filled, or rotation When a failure occurs in the motor 38 and its control system, there is a problem that the medicine discharged from the tablet case 9 overflows from the medicine bottle V.

  In such a case, the medicine protrudes upward from the upper surface opening just before overflowing from the medicine bottle V. On the other hand, the upper surface opening of the medicine bottle V held at the predetermined holding position described above is below the medicine detection sensor 37 and in a very close position. In the state where the medicine is falling, the medicine detection sensor 37 detects the medicine passing therethrough, and the output is a pulse. However, when the medicine protrudes upward from the top opening of the medicine bottle V and protrudes upward, the medicine detection sensor 37 continuously detects the medicine that rises as this mountain, and its output is not a pulse. It will be continuous.

  When the medicine detection sensor 37 continuously detects the medicine in this way, the microcomputer 73 determines that the medicine is about to overflow from the medicine bottle V, stops the rotation motor 38 and stops the discharge drum 13. Stop rotation. This avoids inconvenience that the medicine overflows from the medicine bottle V. At the same time, a predetermined overflow warning is displayed on the display 71 (which serves as an alarm means), so that a worker (pharmacist or the like) is warned that the medicine is about to overflow from the medicine bottle V. As a result, the user can quickly deal with it.

(4-3) Labeling After filling the medicine bottle V with the quantity of medicine specified by the prescription in this way, the microcomputer 73 drives the lifting and lowering motor 41 to hold the arms 36 and 36, the medicine detection sensor 37, and the rotation. The motor 38 and the holding motor 39 are lowered (FIG. 11, left side of FIG. 14). Next, the microcomputer 73 drives the motors 32M and 33M of the transport device 31 of the filling device 28 to move the holding device 29 to the label sticking device 56 (FIG. 5). At this position (label application position), the holding arms 36 and 36 of the holding device 29 are at positions corresponding to the columns 69 and 69 of the label application device 56.

  The microcomputer 73 fills the above-mentioned medicine, or moves the holding device 29 to the label sticking device 56 and then uses the printer 67 to provide the name of the patient who is the recipient and the medicine to be provided with the medicine bottle V on the surface of the label 66. Print information about taking, such as name, quantity, and usage. Next, when the label 66 is fed out between the columns 69 and 69 and the tip of the label 66 is detected by the sensor 68, the motor 33M of the conveying device 31 is driven to press the holding arms 36 and 36 of the holding device 29 against the columns 69 and 69. . By this pressing operation, the holding arms 36 and 36 and the holding motor 39 are moved in the direction of the base of the holding arms 36 and 36 against the coil spring 46, so that the drive roller 44 is attached to the medicine bottle V as shown in FIGS. Abuts on the side (outer surface). Here, in the state where the medicine bottle V is held between the holding arms 36 and 36 as shown in FIG. 13, the gap between the medicine bottle V and the drive roller 44 is, for example, about 4 mm larger in the case of the medicine bottle V having a large size. In the case of the medicine bottle V, it is about 2 mm, for example. The microcomputer 73 moves the holding device 29 in the direction of the column 69 by the motor 33M, and when the holding bottles 36 and 36 come into contact with the column 69, in the case of the vial V having a large size, it is further reduced by 2 mm. In the case of V, the 4 mm holding device 29 is further moved in the direction of the support 69, and the holding motor 39 is moved in the direction of the base of the holding arm 36. As a result, the drive roller 44 comes into contact with the side surface of the medicine bottle V. When the size of the medicine bottle V becomes smaller (thin) or larger (thick), the microcomputer 73 holds the holding arm in accordance with the preset gap dimension between the medicine bottle V and the drive roller 44. The amount of movement of the holding device 29 after 36 abuts the support 69 is changed.

  The tip of the label 66 printed in this state contacts the side surface (outer surface) of the medicine bottle V (FIG. 18). The microcomputer 73 drives the rotation motor 38 from the time when the sensor 68 is cut off by the tip of the label 66. After the label 66 passes the sensor 68, for example, 1 second (after a predetermined time), the rotation motor 38 is turned on. Stop. As described above, since the driving roller 44 contacts the side surface of the medicine bottle V, the medicine bottle V is rotated by the rotation of the driving roller 44. Since the label 66 is cut at a predetermined location or is cut in advance, the printed label 66 is pulled out while sticking to the side surface (outer surface) of the medicine bottle V by such control of the rotation motor 38 and pasted. Will be. By setting it as such a structure, from the filling of the chemical | medical agent to the medicine bottle V to label sticking can be fully automated. In addition, the label 66 can be affixed to the outer surface of the medicine bottle V by using the rotation motor 38 for rotating the discharge drum 13 for discharging the medicine from the tablet case 9, which significantly reduces the number of parts and the cost. I can plan.

(4-4) Delivery of filled medicine bottle V After the label 66 is attached to the side surface of the medicine bottle V in this way, the microcomputer 73 drives the motor 33M of the transport device 31 to hold the holding arm 36 of the holding device 29, 36 is separated from the columns 69 and 69. Next, the holding device 29 is moved to the transfer table 62 by controlling the motors 32M and 33M of the transport device 31. Then, the filled medicine bottle V is released from the holding arms 36, 36 and placed on the delivery table 62. In this state, the microcomputer 73 photographs the medicine bottle V from above with the photographing device 57, captures an image of the medicine in the medicine bottle V, and stores it in the storage device. Since the stored image can be displayed on the display 71, the medicine filled in the medicine bottle V can be easily confirmed, thereby avoiding erroneous provision of the medicine. Alternatively, it can be used for investigating the cause of the wrong provision.

(4-5) Drug Provision Next, the microcomputer 73 controls the conveyance device 53 of the provision device 55 to move the holding device 54 to the delivery table 62. Then, the filled medicine bottle V on the delivery table 62 is held by the holding arms 36 and 36 by controlling the motor. Then, the conveying device 53 is controlled to move the holding device 54 and the medicine bottle V to the closing device 58 provided in the vicinity thereof at the same height as the delivery table 62, and the lid discharged from the lid unit 52 is used as the medicine bottle. Cover the top opening of V and seal. Next, the microcomputer 73 raises the medicine bottle V closed by the transport device 53, moves it left and right, and places it on a predetermined alignment conveyor 47 on the upper surface of the providing unit 3. Since the medicine bottle V is closed even in such ascending and moving to the left and right, the medicine inside does not spill. And the alignment conveyor 47 conveys the mounted medicine bottle V ahead, and aligns it in a predetermined provision position.

  When there is no medicine bottle V on the alignment conveyor 47, the microcomputer 73 turns off the provision display 48 corresponding to the front thereof, and blinks the provision display 48 while the medicine bottle V is being provided. When the display is completed, the providing display 48 is continuously lit. Further, the microcomputer 73 displays the name of the patient who is the recipient who provides the medicine bottle V during alignment on the providing display 48 or information for specifying the patient bottle, and when the medicine bottle V is taken out. Turns off. Thereby, since the medicine bottle V is provided by being distinguished and provided for each provider, the worker can easily and surely find the medicine bottle V to be provided to the patient, thereby realizing a smooth medicine supply. In addition, provision of an erroneous medicine can be avoided in advance.

  Further, since the empty medicine bottle V and the filled medicine bottle V are delivered between the filling unit 2 and the providing unit 3 via the delivery tables 61 and 62, the medicine bottle V for filling the medicine is used. Even when the transport direction (horizontal direction) of the medicine is different from the transport direction (vertical direction) of the medicine bottle V for providing the medicine, it is possible to realize smooth medicine bottle transport while significantly simplifying the configuration of the transport device. become able to.

  Here, since two delivery tables are provided in the embodiment, the empty medicine bottle V can be placed on the delivery table 61 and the filled medicine bottle V can be placed on the delivery table 62 at the same time. Therefore, the microcomputer 73 conveys the empty medicine bottle V onto the delivery table 61 by the conveying device 53 if the empty medicine bottle V does not exist on the delivery table 61 regardless of the operation status of the conveying device 31. If photographing of the filled medicine bottle V on the delivery table 62 has been completed, the filled medicine bottle V is transported to the closing device 58 by the transport device 53. If there is an empty medicine bottle V on the delivery table 61 regardless of the operation status of the delivery apparatus 53, the delivery apparatus 31 is moved to hold the empty medicine bottle V, and the medicine bottle V is filled with a medicine. If there is no filled medicine bottle V on the delivery table 62, the filled medicine bottle V with the label 66 attached is transported onto the delivery table 62 by the transport device 31.

  That is, the movement of the medicine bottle V (empty medicine bottle and filled medicine bottle) by the transport apparatus 53 and the movement of the medicine bottle V (filled medicine bottle and empty medicine bottle) by the transportation apparatus 31 are performed simultaneously. The supply work can be speeded up.

It is a perspective view of the chemical | medical agent supply apparatus of the Example to which this invention is applied. It is the schematic perspective view which partially saw through the internal structure of the chemical | medical agent supply apparatus. It is a front perspective view of the internal structure of a chemical | medical agent supply apparatus. It is a back perspective view similarly. It is also a plan view. It is also a front view. It is a side view similarly. It is a perspective view of a tablet case. It is a perspective view of the label sticking apparatus of the conveyance apparatus of a filling apparatus, and a provision apparatus. FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 9. It is a perspective view of the holding | maintenance apparatus and attachment base of the conveying apparatus of a filling apparatus. It is a front view of the holding | maintenance apparatus of the conveying apparatus of a filling apparatus. It is a top view of the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG. It is a figure explaining the raising / lowering operation | movement of the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the conveyance apparatus and label sticking apparatus of the filling apparatus in a label sticking position. FIG. 16 is a front view of FIG. 15. It is a front view of the holding | maintenance apparatus of the conveying apparatus in a label sticking position. It is a top view of the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the holding device of FIG. 12 in a state where the holding arm is raised. It is a circuit block diagram of the control apparatus of a chemical | medical agent supply apparatus. The holding device of FIG. 12 is also another plan view. It is a front view which shows the other Example of the holding | maintenance apparatus of the conveying apparatus of a filling apparatus. It is a top view of the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG. It is a side view of the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drug supply apparatus 2 Filling unit 3 Supply unit (providing means)
6 Case storage part 7 Top table 9 Tablet case 12 Mounting base 13 Discharge drum (discharge means)
16 Engaging gear (discharge means)
17 chute 18 tablet case sensor (detection means)
22 Lid 23 Lock (Lock mechanism)
26 Partition member 28 Filling device (filling means)
29 Holding device (Medication bottle holding means for filling)
31 Conveying device (conveying means for filling)
34 Roller 36 Holding arm 37 Drug detection sensor (drug detection means)
38 Rotating motor (drive means)
41 Elevating motor (elevating means)
43 Drive Gear 44 Drive Roller 47 Alignment Conveyor 48 Provided Display 53 Conveying Device (Providing Conveying Means)
54 Holding device (Providing medicine bottle holding means)
56 Labeling device (labeling means)
58 Closing device (closing means)
61, 62 Delivery stand 66 Label 67 Printer

Claims (3)

In a drug supply device that fills a drug bottle with a drug discharged from a tablet case,
Discharging means for discharging the medicine in the tablet case;
Label attaching means for printing on a label attached to the medicine bottle and providing it at a predetermined label attaching position;
Filling means for filling a medicine bottle with the medicine discharged from the tablet case,
The filling means includes a medicine bottle holding means for holding the medicine bottle by a holding roller, a conveying means for moving the medicine bottle holding means to place the medicine bottle below the tablet case and at the labeling position, and a driving means. And when the medicine bottle is located below the tablet case, the driving means drives the discharge means, and when the medicine bottle is at the labeling position, the driving means rotates the medicine bottle. Then, the medicine supply device is characterized in that the label is attached to the medicine bottle. A drive gear and a drive roller provided on the drive shaft of the drive means;
When the medicine bottle is located below the tablet case, the filling means is driven by engaging the drive gear with the discharge means in a state where the driving roller is separated from the medicine bottle, and the medicine 2. The medicine supply device according to claim 1, wherein when the bottle is at the labeling position, the drive roller is rotated in contact with the outer surface of the medicine bottle.   The medicine bottle holding means includes a pair of holding arms that are approached / separated from each other, each holding arm is provided with a pair of the holding rollers, and the holding arms are moved closer to each other by the holding rollers. 3. The medicine supply device according to claim 1, wherein the medicine bottle is rotatably held.

Images