JP2008259548A - Sheet handling method and device of dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet handling method and device of dispensers eliminating any possibility of a chuck error of PTP (Press-Through Package) tablet sheets caused by three-dimensional displacements of a cassette and a chucking device. <P>SOLUTION: The dispenser 1 is provided with a chucking unit 400 for chucking PTP tablet sheets 900 stacked inside a tablet cassette 500 and taking them out of the tablet cassette 500, and a cutting unit positioned outside Figure and cutting the taken-out PTP tablet sheets 900, and is further provided with a detecting means for detecting the three-dimensional position of at least one of the tablet cassette 500 and the cutting unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sheet handling method and apparatus for a dispensing device, and more particularly to a sheet handling method for a dispensing device that automatically dispenses a packaged tablet called a PTP (press-through package) tablet sheet into a tablet cassette and the device. Suitable for the device.

  Traditionally, pharmacists perform dispensing work in pharmacies such as hospitals according to doctors' prescriptions, but in general hospitals where medical fields are wide, there are many types of tablets that can be taken out at all times, and storage locations are limited. Not only was it necessary, but the work of dispensing based on prescriptions was very mentally and physically burdensome.

  Therefore, a dispensing device has been developed that automatically dispenses a predetermined number of predetermined tablets including a fraction of a PTP tablet sheet based on a preset program (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The PTP tablet sheet is a packaging format in which tablets are taken out by breaking the aluminum sheet portion at the bottom by pressing the tablet side. Generally, 10 or more tablets are made into one sheet. Supplied.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, a tablet cassette 1000 on which a plurality of unillustrated PTP tablet sheets are placed is housed in a cassette shelf 1300, and the claw portion of the chucking device 2000 mounted on the head device. Directly into the groove formed on the front surface of the tablet cassette 1000 to perform relative positioning, and chuck the PTP tablet sheet at the lowest position in the tablet cassette 1000 and take it out. The extracted PTP tablet sheet is cut by a cutting device (not shown).

JP-A-4-269960 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-052233

  By the way, there is a most suitable relative position between the tablet cassette 1000 and the chucking device 2000. However, due to variations in the component stage and the assembly stage, the individual tablet cassettes 1000 are not always at the designed positions. Deviation of the cassette position occurs. Such a shift in the cassette position causes a chuck error of the PTP tablet sheet.

  In the above prior art, a square marker 1021 and a right triangle marker 1022 are painted or printed on the upper portion of the front wall body 1020. These are detected by a position detection sensor (not shown) mounted on the chucking device 2000. Detected and for relative positioning in the vertical and horizontal directions of the head device with respect to the tablet cassette 1000 during the dispensing operation.

  However, the cassette position shift is not limited to a planar one in the vertical and horizontal directions, but is often a three-dimensional one including a front-rear direction. Therefore, in the above prior art, there is a possibility that a chuck error of the PTP tablet sheet due to the three-dimensional cassette position shift may occur. Similarly, there is a possibility of causing a chuck error of the PTP tablet sheet due to the three-dimensional displacement of the cutting device.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is a sheet for a dispensing device that does not cause a chuck error of a PTP tablet sheet due to a three-dimensional cassette position shift or a three-dimensional position shift of a cutting device. An object is to provide a handling method and an apparatus therefor.

  The first invention (method) includes a first step of chucking a tablet sheet loaded in a tablet cassette with a chucking unit and taking it out of the tablet cassette, and cutting the extracted tablet sheet with a cutting unit. A method of handling a sheet of a dispensing device comprising a second step of further comprising a step of detecting a three-dimensional position of at least one of the tablet cassette and the cutting unit. is there.

  According to the first invention, since the three-dimensional position of at least one of the tablet cassette and the cutting unit is detected, the three-dimensional shift of the position of the tablet cassette or the cutting unit is eliminated, and the three-dimensional position of the tablet cassette or the cutting unit is eliminated. The possibility of causing a tablet sheet chuck error due to misalignment can be eliminated.

  Therefore, when the tablet sheets loaded in the tablet cassette are chucked by the chucking unit and taken out of the tablet cassette, and the taken tablet sheet is cut by the cutting unit, the tablet sheet can be handled well. It becomes like this.

  Note that the three-dimensional positional deviation refers to, for example, a vertical positional deviation and a lateral positional deviation plus a longitudinal positional deviation.

  As in the invention described in claim 2, it is preferable that a step of detecting a three-dimensional position of the tablet cassette is provided before the first step.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the step of detecting the three-dimensional position of the tablet cassette is provided before the first step, the tablet sheets loaded in the tablet cassette are provided by the chucking unit. When chucking and taking out from the tablet cassette, there is no possibility of causing a chuck error of the tablet sheet due to the three-dimensional deviation of the cassette position, and the tablet sheet can be handled well.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a step of detecting a three-dimensional position of the cutting unit is provided before the second step.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the step of detecting the three-dimensional position of the cutting unit is provided before the second step, it is chucked by the chucking unit and taken out of the tablet cassette. When the tablet sheet is cut by the cutting unit, there is no possibility of causing a chuck error of the tablet sheet due to the three-dimensional displacement of the cutting unit, and the tablet sheet can be handled well.

  5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a third step of chucking the remaining portion of the cut tablet sheet with a chucking unit and storing the remaining portion in the remaining portion storage portion of the tablet cassette. Preferably, the step of detecting the three-dimensional position is provided before the third step.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the method further comprises a third step of chucking the remaining portion of the cut tablet sheet with a chucking unit and storing the remaining portion in the remaining storage portion of the tablet cassette, Since the step of detecting the three-dimensional position of the tablet sheet is provided before the third step, the remaining portion of the cut tablet sheet is chucked by the chucking unit and stored in the remaining portion storage portion of the tablet cassette. At this time, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of causing a chuck error of the tablet sheet due to the three-dimensional deviation of the cassette position, and to handle the remaining portion satisfactorily.

  A second invention (apparatus) comprises a chucking unit for chucking a tablet sheet loaded in a tablet cassette and taking it out of the tablet cassette, and a dispensing unit comprising a cutting unit for cutting the removed tablet sheet A sheet handling apparatus of the apparatus, comprising a detection means for detecting a three-dimensional position of at least one of the tablet cassette and the cutting unit.

  According to 2nd invention, there exists an effect similar to said 1st invention.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the chucking unit is movable relative to the tablet cassette, and the detection means is provided in the tablet cassette, and is arranged in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the tablet cassette. The first cassette position detected portion indicating the cassette position is detected by the first cassette position detecting portion mounted on the chucking unit, and provided in the tablet cassette, and the cassette position in the front-rear direction of the tablet cassette It is preferable that the second cassette position detected portion indicating the above is detected by the second cassette position detecting portion mounted on the chucking unit.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the chucking unit is movable relative to the tablet cassette, and the detection means is provided in the tablet cassette, and is arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions of the tablet cassette. The first cassette position detected portion indicating the cassette position is detected by the first cassette position detecting portion mounted on the chucking unit, and provided in the tablet cassette, and the cassette position in the front-rear direction of the tablet cassette Since the second cassette position detection unit indicating the second cassette position detection unit is detected by the second cassette position detection unit mounted on the chucking unit, the tablet sheets loaded in the tablet cassette can be easily configured. When a chucking unit chucks and takes it out of the tablet cassette, the tablet sheet is caused by a three-dimensional shift in the cassette position. Eliminating the possibility of causing the chuck error, so that it is good handling of the tablet sheet.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the first cassette position detected portion is a light reflecting portion provided on the side facing the chucking unit, and the first cassette position detecting portion is An optical sensor that projects light onto the light reflecting portion and receives the reflected light is preferable.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the first cassette position detected part is a light reflecting part provided on the side facing the chucking unit, and the first cassette position detecting part is Since it is an optical sensor that projects light onto the light reflecting portion and receives the reflected light, the tablet cassette is chucked by a chucking unit on the tablet sheets loaded in the tablet cassette with a simpler and less expensive configuration. When taking out outside, there is no possibility of causing a chuck error of the tablet sheet due to the vertical and lateral shifts of the cassette position, and the tablet sheet can be handled well.

  The chucking unit includes a servo motor that drives the chucking unit so that the tablet sheet can be chucked, and the second cassette position detection unit. Is a pressed part provided on the side of the tablet cassette facing the chucking unit, and the second cassette position detecting unit is a servo motor when the chucking unit comes into contact with the pressed part. It is preferable to detect changes in the drive current.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the chucking unit includes a servo motor that drives the chucking unit so that the tablet sheet can be chucked, and the second cassette position detected portion. Is a pressed part provided on the side of the tablet cassette facing the chucking unit, and the second cassette position detecting unit is a servo motor when the chucking unit comes into contact with the pressed part. When the tablet sheets loaded in the tablet cassette are chucked by the chucking unit and taken out of the tablet cassette with a simpler and less expensive configuration, the cassette Eliminates the risk of tablet sheet chucking errors due to back-and-forth displacement of the position, and ensures good handling of the tablet sheet It becomes possible way.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the chucking unit is relatively movable with respect to the cutting unit, and the detection means is provided in the cutting unit, and the vertical and horizontal directions of the cutting unit are provided. The first cutting unit position detected portion indicating the position is detected by the first cutting unit position detecting portion mounted on the chucking unit, and provided in the cutting unit, the position of the cutting unit in the front-rear direction It is preferable that the second cutting unit position detected portion indicating the above is detected by the second cutting unit position detecting portion mounted on the chucking unit.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the chucking unit is relatively movable with respect to the cutting unit, and the detection means is provided in the cutting unit, and the vertical and horizontal directions of the cutting unit are provided. The first cutting unit position detected portion indicating the position is detected by the first cutting unit position detecting portion mounted on the chucking unit, and provided in the cutting unit, the position of the cutting unit in the front-rear direction Since the second cutting unit position detected portion indicating the second cutting unit position is detected by the second cutting unit position detecting portion mounted on the chucking unit, it is chucked by the chucking unit with a simple configuration and is removed from the tablet cassette. Cutting the tablet sheet taken out in When cutting knit, eliminating the risk of causing the chuck error tablet sheet due to three-dimensional displacement of the cutting unit, so that it is good handling of the tablet sheet.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the first cutting unit position detected portion is a light reflecting portion provided on the side facing the chucking unit, and the second cutting unit position detecting portion is The light sensor is preferably an optical sensor that projects light onto the light reflecting portion and receives the reflected light.

  According to the invention of claim 10, the first cutting unit position detected part is a light reflecting part provided on the side facing the chucking unit, and the second cutting unit position detecting part is Since it is an optical sensor that projects light onto the light reflecting portion and receives the reflected light, the tablet sheet that is chucked by the chucking unit and taken out of the tablet cassette with a simpler and cheaper configuration, When cutting with the cutting unit, there is no possibility of causing a chuck error of the tablet sheet due to the positional deviation of the cutting unit in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the tablet sheet can be handled well.

  The chucking unit includes a servomotor that drives the chucking unit so that the tablet sheet can be chucked, and the second cutting unit position detection is performed. The portion is a pressed portion provided on the side facing the chucking unit, and the second cutting unit position detection portion is a servo motor when the chucking unit comes into contact with the pressed portion. It is preferable to detect a change in drive current.

  According to the invention of claim 11, the chucking unit includes a servo motor that drives the chucking unit so that the tablet sheet can be chucked, and the second cutting unit position detection is performed. The portion is a pressed portion provided on the side facing the chucking unit, and the second cutting unit position detection portion is a servo motor when the chucking unit comes into contact with the pressed portion. Because it detects changes in the drive current, the cutting unit has a simpler and cheaper configuration, and when a tablet sheet that has been chucked by the chucking unit and taken out of the tablet cassette is cut by the cutting unit. There is a risk of tablet sheet chucking errors due to misalignment in the longitudinal direction And comb, so that it is good handling of the tablet sheet.

  Preferably, the first cassette position detecting unit also serves as the first cutting unit position detecting unit.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the first cassette position detection unit also serves as the first cutting unit position detection unit, so that the configuration is simpler and less expensive, and the apparatus is made compact. Is planned.

  Preferably, the second cassette position detection unit also serves as the second cutting unit position detection unit.

  According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the second cassette position detection unit also serves as the second cutting unit position detection unit, so that the configuration is simpler and less expensive and the apparatus is made compact. Is planned.

  According to the first and second inventions, the three-dimensional position of at least one of the tablet cassette and the cutting unit is detected. It is possible to eliminate the possibility of causing a tablet sheet chuck error due to a three-dimensional displacement.

  Therefore, when the tablet sheets loaded in the tablet cassette are chucked by the chucking unit and taken out of the tablet cassette, and the taken tablet sheet is cut by the cutting unit, the tablet sheet can be handled well. It becomes like this.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing main components of a dispensing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing device 1 includes two Y carriages 200 and 200 provided on the left and right sides of the box-shaped device main body 100, and X carriages supported by the Y carriages 200 and 200, respectively. 300, 300, two chucking units 400, 400 supported by these X carriages 300, 300, and two on the front left and right sides of the apparatus main body 100, and a plurality of tablet cassettes 500, 500,. The cassette shelves 600 and 600 that can be mounted side by side in the left and right direction, the cutting units 700 and 700 disposed below the cassette shelves 600 and 600, and the two cassettes below the left and right cassette shelves 600 and 600, respectively. A single conveyor conveyor unit 800 disposed between the left and right ends of the shelves 600, 600. That.

  Hereinafter, representative components of a plurality of components will be described.

  The Y carriage 200 includes a servo motor 210, a ball screw 220 in the vertical axis direction (Y direction in FIG. 1) driven by the servo motor 210, vertical guides 230 and 230 respectively disposed on the left and right of the ball screw 220, The X carriage 300 includes a carriage main body 310 that moves up and down together with the nut 240 by the rotation of the ball screw 220 while being guided by the vertical guides 230 and 230, and the carriage main body. On 310, a servo motor 410, a ball screw 415 in the horizontal axis direction (X direction in FIG. 1) driven by the servo motor 410, and a nut (not shown) are provided.

  2 is a perspective view of the tablet cassette 500 as viewed from the side facing the chucking unit 400, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a state before sheet cueing, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state during sheet cueing. It is. Hereinafter, the side facing the chucking unit 400 of the tablet cassette 500 is referred to as the front, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear.

  The tablet cassette 500 in the present embodiment is formed to be slightly wider than various PTP tablet sheets (corresponding to tablet sheets) 900 to be stacked. Accordingly, a plurality of tablet cassettes 500 having different width dimensions are prepared according to the widths of various PTP tablet sheets 900. As shown in FIG. 2, the specific configuration thereof includes a long cassette base 510 having a concave cross section and a cassette body 520 that is detachably fitted from the longitudinal direction of the cassette base 510. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, projections 512 and 512 having L-shapes in a side view are formed in the front and rear (and left and right), respectively, on the back side of the bottom plate 511 of the cassette base 510. The rear end of the bottom plate 511 is A tongue piece 513 that is bent upward and has elasticity is formed. A support member 514 having a reverse concave shape in cross section is formed on the surface side of the rear portion of the bottom plate 511, and two left and right tongue pieces 515 and 515 that are cantilevered by the support member 514 are formed so as to be lowered toward the front. Has been. As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 514 and the tongue pieces 515 and 515 are both disposed in the left and right side walls 516 and 517 of the cassette base 510, and the tongue pieces 515 and 515 are used for the PTP tablet sheet. A fraction of 900, 900,... Is chucked. However, the number of the strips 515 is not limited to two but may be one or three or more.

  The cassette main body 520 further includes a main body upper part 530 on which a plurality of PTP tablet sheets 900, 900,... Can be stacked, and a main body lower part 540 attached integrally with the lower part of the main body upper part 530. .

  The main body lower part 540 is arranged in a state where the cassette main body 520 is assembled to the cassette base 510 and is buried in the left and right side walls 516 and 517 of the cassette base 510. A link mechanism (not shown) for sequentially taking out the PTP tablet sheets 900 stacked at the bottom of the main body upper portion 530 is provided on the bottom plate 541 having a long shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main body upper part 530 is embedded in the left and right side walls 516 and 517 of the cassette base 510 from the rear part to the intermediate part in the assembled state of the cassette main body 520 to the cassette base 510, It has an L-shape in a side view and protrudes above the left and right side walls 516 and 517 of the cassette base 510 from the front to the front, and the protruding left and right side walls 5311 and 5312 are bent inward at the front end. Thus, the front wall 531 is formed by being opposed to each other through a predetermined gap. The upper ends of the left and right side walls 5311 and 5312 are connected to each other by a reinforcing plate 532.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an IC tag 534 for detecting the cassette specification of each tablet sheet 900, 900,... Is attached to the front surface of the upper body 530, and the cassette position detection is directly above it. A light reflecting portion 535 (corresponding to a first cassette position detected portion and detecting means) 535 is formed. The reader 431 mounted on the chucking unit 400 can read the cassette specification information and the like stored in the IC tag 534 in a non-contact manner, and can also detect an optical sensor (first cassette position detection). 432, the light reflecting unit 535 can read the cassette position information in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in a non-contact manner.

  A rod-like member 533 is erected on the rear part of the upper body 530 so as to be able to rise and fall. When the PTP tablet sheets 900 are filled, the PTP tablet sheets 900, 900 are placed between the front walls 531. In this state, the PTP tablet sheets 900, 900,... Are aligned by raising the rod-like member 533.

  FIG. 5 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the chucking unit 400. In FIG. 5, the chuck 430 shows a state before and after movement. In FIG. 5, the side facing the tablet cassette 500 and the cutting unit 700 is called the front, and the opposite side is called the rear.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the chucking unit 400 includes a Z carriage 411 extending forward (Z direction in FIG. 1) from the carriage body 310, a rotary solenoid 420 disposed on the Z carriage 411, A chuck 430 driven by a rotary solenoid 420, lateral guides 440 and 440 disposed on the left and right sides of the chuck 430, a primary bucket 450 provided at a lower portion between the lateral guides 440 and 440, and the primary bucket 450 A line sensor 460 provided at the front portion and a secondary bucket 480 with a shutter 470 provided below the primary bucket 450 are provided.

  More specifically, the Z carriage 411 includes a servo motor 425, a ball screw 426, and a nut 427 as shown in FIG.

  The rotary solenoid 420 is fixed to the rear portion of a carriage 435 with wheels 434 and 434 that can roll on the rail of a lateral guide 440 laid on the carriage body 310, and the carriage 435 is fixed to the nut 427. ing. Therefore, the carriage 435 can move in the front-rear direction by rotating the ball screw 426 by driving the servo motor 425.

  When an appropriate portion of the front wall 531 of the tablet cassette 500 (corresponding to the second cassette position detected portion and detection means) is pressed at the front end of the carriage 435, the load of the servo motor 425 increases and the drive current is increased. Therefore, the position of the tablet cassette 500 in the front-rear direction can be detected by the change in the drive current (corresponding to the second cassette position detection unit and detection means).

  Further, a lower claw 432 of the chuck 430 is formed at the front portion of the carriage 435, and an upper claw 431 is pivotally supported on the lower claw 432 so as to be swingable around the pin 433. The rear end of the upper pawl 431 is adapted to be engaged with and driven by the tip of an arm 421 that rotates in the direction A in FIG. 5 or the opposite direction of the rotary solenoid 420, and the upper pawl is driven by this driving force. The tip of 431 opens and closes with respect to the lower claw 432 to chuck the gripping allowance of a PTP tablet sheet (not shown) or to release the chucking. This series of chucking operations is controlled by the controller 10.

  For example, when it is not necessary to punch out the PTP tablet sheet 900, the controller 10 that receives a control signal from a control device (not shown) outputs a predetermined operation signal to the chucking unit 400. Upon receiving this operation command, the chucking unit 400 drives the servo motor 425 so that the ball screw 426 rotates in a predetermined direction. Then, the carriage 435 of the chuck 430 fixed to the nut 427 moves forward and directly presses the pressing member 543 of the tablet cassette 500 with the tip of the lower claw 432. As a result, the unillustrated push-out member is moved forward by the action of the unillustrated link mechanism.

  By pressing the rear end of the PTP tablet sheet 900 loaded on the lowermost side of the tablet cassette 500 with the moved extruding member, the front end of the PTP tablet sheet 900 slightly protrudes from the tablet cassette 500. From the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. 4, so-called cueing is performed. At this time, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5, a gap is formed between the upper and lower claws 431 and 432 of the chuck 430, and the cueed PTP tablet sheet 900 is inserted into this gap.

  In response to a further operation command from the controller 10, the rotary solenoid 420 of the chucking unit 400 is driven, and the arm 421 rotates in the direction A in FIG. Then, the gap formed between the tips of the upper and lower claws 431 and 432 of the chuck 430 is reduced as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5, and the cueing PTP tablet between the upper and lower claws 431 and 432 is performed. The sheet 900 is chucked. With the chuck 430 closed in this manner, the servo motor 425 is driven again, and the ball screw 426 rotates in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. Then, the carriage 435 of the chuck 430 fixed to the nut 427 moves backward.

  As a result, the chucked PTP tablet sheet 900 is pulled out to the front of the tablet cassette 500. Then, the rotary solenoid 420 is driven again, and the arm 421 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction A in FIG. Then, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 5, the chuck 430 is in an open state. That is, in order to drop the pulled PTP tablet sheet 900 into the primary bucket 450, a gap is formed between the tips of the upper and lower claws 431 and 432 of the chuck 430, thereby releasing chucking by the chuck 430. .

  The primary bucket 450 is moved onto the secondary bucket 480 using the X carriage 300 and the Y carriage 200. Then, a bottom shutter (not shown) of the primary bucket 450 is opened, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 is dropped into the secondary bucket 480. Next, the bottom shutter 470 of the secondary bucket 480 is opened, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 is dropped onto the transport conveyor unit 800.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the cutting unit 700. In FIG. 6, the vertical upper blade 740 and the horizontal upper blade 750 of the cutting unit 700 are both at the home position, and the drive system is shown separately for convenience of explanation. In FIG. 6, the tablet sheet 900 chucked by the chuck 430 of the chucking unit 400 is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cutting unit 700 includes a unit body 710 having a square shape in front view, a slide shaft 730 erected on the left and right of the front of the unit body 710, and a drive unit 720. The upper blade mounting member 735 is mounted on the left and right slide shafts 730 and has a vertical upper blade 740 and a horizontal upper blade 750 attached thereto, and the vertical upper blade 740 of the upper blade mounting member 735 and the horizontal A lower blade attachment table 780 to which a vertical lower blade 760 and a horizontal lower blade 770 are attached is provided to face the upper blade 750, respectively.

  More specifically, the unit main body 710 includes a bottom plate, side plates erected on both left and right sides of the bottom plate, and a top plate supported by the side plate. 780 is configured.

  The drive unit 720 includes a large-diameter drive gear 722 that is rotationally driven by a pulse motor 721, a small-diameter driven gear 723 that meshes with the drive gear 722, and a left-right drive shaft that is further rotationally driven by the driven gear 723. 724, and pinion gears 725 and 725 fixed to the left and right ends of the drive shaft 724, respectively.

  The slide shafts 730 and 730 are provided on the bottom plate of the unit main body 710, and the left and right sleeves are inserted into the lower blade mounting table 780 in the middle and the upper portion is mounted on the upper blade mounting member 735. 715 and 715 are slidably fitted. Near the lower part of the slide shafts 730 and 730, sensors 790 and 790 that are linked to the upper blade attachment member 735 are inserted, and the slide amounts of the upper blade attachment member 735 are detected by these sensors 790 and 790. It is like that.

  The upper blade attaching member 735 has a vertical upper blade 740 suspended from the lower portion thereof, and a horizontal upper blade 750 suspended from the lower portion. In addition, racks 736 and 736 are attached to the left and right ends of the upper blade attaching member 735, and these racks 736 and 736 mesh with the pinion gears 725 and 725 of the drive unit 720, respectively. For example, light reflecting portions (corresponding to a first cutting unit position detected portion and a detecting means) are respectively provided at portions corresponding to the mounting portions of the vertical upper blade 740 and the horizontal upper blade 750 of the upper blade mounting member 735. 735a and 735a are attached. The reflected light from the light reflecting portions 735a and 735a is received by the optical sensor (here, corresponding to the first cutting unit detecting portion and detecting means) 432 mounted on the chucking unit 400. The vertical and horizontal position information of the cutting unit 700 can be read without contact.

  Further, for example, the vertical blades 740 and the horizontal upper blades 750 of the upper blade mounting member 735 are respectively attached to pressed portions (corresponding to a second cutting unit position detected portion and detection means) 735b, respectively. 735b is provided. When the pressed portions 735b and 735b are pressed at the front end of the carriage 435 of the chucking unit 400, the load of the servo motor 425 increases and the drive current increases. Therefore, the cutting unit 700 is changed by the change in the drive current. The position in the front-rear direction can be detected (corresponding to a second cutting unit position detection unit and detection means).

  Here, the two pressed parts 735b and 735b are provided because if only one point is provided, the Z of the vertical upper blade 740 and the horizontal upper blade 750 is caused by the inclination of the cutting unit 700 with respect to the chucking unit 400. This is because the positional relationship is deviated and it is difficult to connect the vertical cut and the horizontal cut. However, depending on circumstances, only one point may be provided, or three or more points may be provided. The same applies to the light reflecting portions 735a and 735a.

  A vertical lower blade 760 is horizontally attached to the upper portion of the lower blade attachment table 780, and a horizontal lower blade 770 is horizontally attached to the upper portion. The vertical lower blade 760 has a vertical groove in which the vertical upper blade 740 can be inserted and removed, and the horizontal lower blade 770 has a horizontal groove in which the horizontal upper blade 750 can be inserted and removed. The lower blade may be a contact plate.

  Now, the fraction of the PTP tablet sheet 900 to be cut is calculated according to the prescription data by a control device (not shown), and the pulse motor 721 is driven by a predetermined step in response to an operation command signal from a controller (not shown) corresponding to the calculated value. Is done. Thereby, cutting with the vertical upper blade 740 and the horizontal upper blade 750 shall be performed. In this case, when the pulse motor 721 is driven, the drive gear 722 decelerates the driven gear 723 to a predetermined rotational speed and drives the rack 736 via the pinion gears 725 and 725 at the left and right ends of the drive shaft 724. , 736 are pushed down by the same amount.

  Then, the upper blade attaching member 735 is lowered while maintaining a horizontal state, and the vertical upper blade 740 and the horizontal upper blade 750 are pushed down. In this way, the upper blade attaching member 735 is lowered to cut the PTP tablet sheet 900 first.

  When the vertical upper blade 740 and the horizontal upper blade 750 have finished cutting the PTP tablet sheet 900, the pulse motor 721 is driven in the opposite direction by a predetermined step upon receiving an operation command signal from the controller 10 again. Thus, the upper blade attaching member 735 is raised to return the vertical upper blade 740 and the horizontal upper blade 750 to their original positions. In this case, when the pulse motor 721 is driven, the drive gear 722 is driven. Drives the driven gear 723 to a predetermined rotational speed, and the racks 736 and 736 are pushed up by the same amount via the pinion gears 725 and 725 on the left and right ends of the drive shaft 724.

  Then, the upper blade attaching member 735 is raised while maintaining a horizontal state, and the vertical upper blade 740 and the horizontal upper blade 750 are pushed up.

  The PTP tablet sheets 900 corresponding to the punched fractions are dropped directly onto the transport conveyor unit 800.

  The remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 that has been punched out is returned to the original tablet cassette 500 while being chucked by the chuck 430. In this case, the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is the tongue of the cassette base 510. It is inserted and stored in the remaining storage section 515a below the pieces 515, 515 in a cueing state.

  The remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 stored in the remaining storage portion 515a is then chucked by the chuck 430 with the remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 and pulled forward, and is formed by the line sensor 460. Check. Then, when it is not necessary to punch out the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900, the chucking by the chuck 430 is released in order to drop the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 into the primary bucket 450. The primary bucket 450 is moved onto the secondary bucket 480 using the X carriage 300 and the Y carriage 200. Then, a bottom shutter (not shown) of the primary bucket 450 is opened, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 is dropped into the secondary bucket 480. Next, the bottom shutter 470 of the secondary bucket 480 is opened, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 is dropped onto the transport conveyor unit 800.

  On the other hand, even when it is necessary to punch the remaining fraction of the remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900, as described above, the chuck 430 can cue it from the remaining portion storage portion 515a under the tongue pieces 515 and 515 of the cassette base 510. The remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is chucked and pulled forward. The remaining portion of the pulled PTP tablet sheet 900 is conveyed to the cutting unit 700 while being chucked. Then, the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is punched using the vertical blade and the horizontal blade, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 corresponding to the further punched part is dropped directly onto the transport conveyor unit 800.

  On the other hand, the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 that has been subjected to further blanking is returned to the original tablet cassette 500 while being chucked by the chuck 430. In this case, the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is also the cassette base 510. Are inserted and stored in the remaining storage portion 515a below the tongue pieces 515, 515.

  In this way, the PTP tablet sheet 900 loaded on the tablet cassette 500 is dispensed to its fraction without waste.

  The transport conveyor unit 800 includes a roller group or the like 801 and tablet takeout buckets 802 and 802 that are moved in the front / rear and left / right directions by the roller group or the like. Then, the PTP tablet sheet 900 dropped from the secondary bucket 480 via the shutter 470 or its remaining part is moved in the front / rear / left / right direction by a roller group 801 and dropped into one of the tablet takeout buckets 802 and 802. It is like that.

  On the other hand, the remaining portion or further remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 dropped from the cutting unit 700 is similarly moved in the front-rear and left-right directions by the roller group 801 and dropped into one of the tablet take-out buckets 802 and 802.

  In this way, the dispensed buckets 802 and 802 accommodate the dispensed PTP tablet sheet 900 or the remainder thereof.

  FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a control system related to sheet handling of the dispensing device 1, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation related to sheet handling of the dispensing device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control system related to the sheet handling of the dispensing device 1 performs various calculations based on the controller 10 attached to the dispensing device 1, various data from the controller 10, and prescription data inputted separately. And a control device 20 for performing the above.

  The controller 10 receives the first and second horizontal cassette position data of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Detected by the optical sensor 432 by the scanning operation of the chucking unit 400 before dispensing. A third data take-in unit 28 for taking in the cassette position data in the front-rear direction of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Detected from a change in drive current of the servo motor 425; The second data capturing unit 27 for capturing the vertical and horizontal cutting unit position data of the cutting unit 700 detected by the optical sensor 432, and the cutting detected from the change in the drive current of the servo motor 425. For capturing cutting unit position data in the front-rear direction of the unit 700 Four data capturing units 29, a first operation command unit 31 that outputs a command signal for controlling the scan operation before dispensing of the chucking unit 400 to the chucking unit 400, and the chucking unit 400 And a second operation command unit 32 for outputting a command signal for controlling the chucking operation at the time of dispensing to the chucking unit.

  The control device 20 is composed of a general-purpose or dedicated computer arranged close to the dispensing device 1, and includes a ROM 21, a RAM 22, a display unit 23, an input unit 24, and a CPU (corresponding to control means) 25. And a storage unit 30. The ROM 21 stores a control program of the dispensing device 1 and various preset data, and the RAM 22 temporarily stores data. The display unit 23 is composed of an LCD or the like, and displays various messages to the user. The input unit 24 is for inputting various instructions and prescription data of the user.

  The CPU 25 controls the entire operation of the dispensing device 1 via the controller 10 in accordance with a control program stored in advance in the ROM 21. The vertical and horizontal cassette position data, and the front and rear cassette Based on the position data, it functions as calculation means 251 for calculating three-dimensional cassette position data indicating the position of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... On the cassette shelf 600. Further, it functions as a calculation means 252 for calculating three-dimensional cutting unit position data based on the vertical and horizontal cutting unit position data and the front and rear cutting unit position data. These cassette position data and cutting unit position data are used in the function as a calculation means 253 for calculating operation data for operating the chucking unit 400 during dispensing together with separately detected drug information and the prescription data. Used for calculation.

  The storage unit 30 stores all the cassette position data, cutting unit position data, and the like from the controller 10 via the CPU 25. The storage unit 30 may be provided outside the control device 20 or on the controller 10 side.

  Hereinafter, a scanning operation related to sheet handling of the dispensing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Now, it is assumed that the chucking unit 400 is in a standby state, for example, on the lower left side (home position) in FIG. In this initial state, when power is turned on in FIG. 8, first, initial setting such as setting of a default value in the RAM 22 is performed (step S1). Then, it is assumed that the user selects a scanning operation with the input unit (step S2). In this case, the scanning operation of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Is started according to a preset program (step S3).

  For example, each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Fixed on the uppermost shelf 602 of the cassette shelf 600 is scanned from the left to the right from the home position, and conversely from the right in the lower stage. Scan to the left. The scanning of the cutting unit 700 is further terminated on the left or right side of the lowermost stage, and the chucking unit 400 returns to the home position.

  During the scanning operation, the optical sensor 432 projects the light reflecting portion 535 formed on the front surface of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... And includes the vertical and horizontal cassette positions included in the reflected light. Data is detected, and the chucking unit 400 is brought into contact with the front surface of each tablet cassette 500, 500,..., And each tablet cassette 500, 500,. The cassette position data in the front-rear direction is detected.

  Further, the light sensor 432 projects light onto the light reflecting portions 735a and 735a formed on the front surface of the cutting unit 700, detects vertical and horizontal cutting unit position data included in the reflected light, and performs chucking. The unit 400 is brought into contact with the pressed portions 735b and 735b on the front surface of the cutting unit 700, and cutting unit position data in the front-rear direction of the cutting unit 700 detected from the change in the drive current of the servo motor 425 at that time is detected. (Step S4).

  Then, the vertical and horizontal cassette position data of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Detected by the optical sensor 432 is captured by the first data capturing unit 26, and the drive current of the servo motor 425 is calculated. .., And the cassette position data in the front-rear direction of each of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,.

  Further, cutting unit position data in the vertical and horizontal directions of the cutting unit 700 detected by the optical sensor 432 is captured by the second data capturing unit 27, and cutting detected from a change in the drive current of the servo motor 425. Cutting unit position data in the front-rear direction of the unit 700 is captured by the fourth data capturing unit 29 (step S5).

  Then, the three-dimensional position data of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Is calculated by the calculation means 251 of the CPU 25 based on the vertical and horizontal cassette position data and the front and rear cassette position data. Further, the three-dimensional position data of the cutting unit 700 is calculated by the calculation means 252 of the CPU 25 based on the vertical and horizontal cutting unit position data and the front and rear cutting unit position data. Based on these three-dimensional position data and the like, the operation data at the time of dispensing of the chucking unit 400 is calculated by the calculation means 253 of the CPU 25 (step S6). The operation data is associated with a flag or the like and stored in the storage unit 30 (step S7). The scanning operation before dispensing of the chucking unit 400 is ended (step S8).

  Then, it returns to step S2, and since it is not a scanning operation this time (NO in step S2), the chucking operation at the time of dispensing of the chucking unit 400 is started (step S9). Since this operation is the normal dispensing operation described in each of the above components, the description thereof is omitted.

  According to this embodiment, since the three-dimensional position of at least one of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... And the cutting unit 700 is detected, the three-dimensional deviation of the position of the tablet cassette 500 or the cutting unit 700 is detected. This eliminates the possibility of causing a chuck error of the PTP tablet sheet 900 due to such three-dimensional positional deviation.

  Therefore, when the PTP tablet sheet 900 loaded in the tablet cassette 500 is chucked by the chucking unit 400 and taken out of the tablet cassette 500, and the taken out PTP tablet sheet 900 is cut by the cutting unit 700, Good handling of the PTP tablet sheet 900 becomes possible.

  In the above embodiment, the two cassette shelves 600 and 600 are arranged on the left and right. However, the cassette shelves 600 and 600 may be arranged on the front and back, or one or three or more cassette shelves may be arranged. Good. In that case, it is preferable from the viewpoint of work efficiency that the number of carriages, chucking units, cutting units, and the like correspond to this.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the optical sensor 432 is used as a 1st cassette position detection part and a 1st cutting unit position detection part, and a 1st cassette position detected part and a 1st cutting unit position detected part The light reflecting portion 535 is used as the first cassette position detected portion and the first cutting unit position detecting portion, but a light reflecting tape may be used as the first cassette position detected portion and the first cassette position detecting portion and Other types of sensors such as an ultrasonic sensor may be used as the first cutting unit position detected portion. Here, the first cassette position detection unit and the first cutting unit position detection unit may be provided separately, but by using both as in the present embodiment, with a simple and inexpensive configuration, In addition, the apparatus can be made compact.

  In the above embodiment, the change in the drive current of the servo motor 425 of the chucking unit 400 is used as the second cassette position detection unit and the second cutting unit detection unit, and the second cassette position detection unit. And the second cutting unit position detected part is an appropriate part of the tablet cassette and the cutting unit, but other types of non-contact as the second cassette position detecting part and the second cutting unit detecting part. A detection sensor that can be detected by the non-contact sensor or the like may be used as the second cassette position detected portion and the second cutting unit position detected portion. Here, the second cassette position detection unit and the second cutting unit position detection unit may be provided separately, but by using both as in the present embodiment, with a simple and inexpensive configuration, In addition, the apparatus can be made compact.

  In the scan operation of the above embodiment, the three-dimensional position data of the cutting unit 700 is detected after detecting the three-dimensional position data of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,. It is also possible to detect only one of them. Further, the timing of detecting the three-dimensional position data of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Is determined before taking out the PTP tablet sheet from the tablet cassettes 500, 500,. Any time before storage in the storage unit 515a may be used. The timing for detecting the three-dimensional position data of the cutting unit 700 may be any time before the PTP tablet sheet 900 is cut by the cutting unit 700. However, as described above, it is preferable from the viewpoint of work efficiency that the detection is performed collectively by the scanning operation before the dispensing operation.

  In the above embodiment, the chucking unit 400 is pressed against the wall surface of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... To detect the Z position of each tablet cassette 500, 500,. However, the chucking unit 400 is pressed against both ends of the shelf 602 of the cassette shelf 600 to detect the Z position at the two points, and the tablet cassettes 500, 500,. The X position (or Y position) and the known interpolation method can be used to calculate the Z position of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Mounted on the shelf plate 602, respectively. According to this, since it is not necessary to acquire the Z position data of each tablet cassette 500, 500,..., The detection time can be shortened.

  In the above embodiment, the PTP tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Are arranged on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600 in the width direction of the PTP tablet cassettes 500, 500,. However, the shelf plate is not limited to a stationary flat plate shape, and may be, for example, a cylindrical shape rotating around a predetermined axis. In that case, the chucking unit 400 (or the optical sensor 432 or the like mounted thereon) is moved relative to each PTP tablet cassette 500, 500,... Mounted on the rotating shelf plate. That's enough.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the tablet cassette 500 which can load the PTP tablet sheet 900 is illustrated, the application range of this invention is not limited to this, For example, this invention is a tablet, a PTP tablet sheet, an ampule. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to various cassettes capable of storing general drugs such as the above. The shape of the cassette is not limited to the specific shape as illustrated above, and may be a predetermined shape that can be juxtaposed on the cassette shelf.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the main components of the dispensing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the side facing a chucking unit of a tablet cassette. It is a sectional side view which shows the state before the sheet | seat cueing of a tablet cassette. It is a sectional side view which shows the state at the time of the sheet | seat search of a tablet cassette. It is a side view which shows schematic structure of a chucking unit. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of a cutting unit. It is a functional block diagram which shows the control system which concerns on the sheet handling of this dispensing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows schematic operation | movement which concerns on the sheet handling of this dispensing apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the tablet cassette in an example of the past.

Explanation of symbols

1 Dispensing device 10 Controller 20 Control device 25 CPU
251 to 253 Arithmetic means 26 First data acquisition unit 27 Second data acquisition unit 28 Third data acquisition unit 29 Fourth data acquisition unit 30 Storage unit 31 First operation command unit 32 Second operation Command unit 100 Main body 200 Y carriage 300 X carriage 400 Chucking unit 432 Optical sensor (corresponding to a first cassette position detection unit, a first cutting unit detection unit, and a detection means)
500 Front wall of tablet cassette 531 (the appropriate portion corresponds to the second cassette position detected portion and detection means)
535 light reflecting portion (corresponding to a first cassette position detected portion and detecting means)
700 Cutting unit 735 Upper blade attaching member 735a Light reflecting portion (corresponding to first cutting unit position detected portion, detection means)
735b Pressed portion (corresponding to a second cutting unit position detected portion, detection means)
780 Lower blade attachment table 800 Conveyor unit 900 PTP tablet sheet (corresponds to tablet sheet)

Claims (13)

A first step of chucking a tablet sheet loaded in a tablet cassette with a chucking unit and taking it out of the tablet cassette, and a second step of cutting the extracted tablet sheet with a cutting unit are provided. A sheet handling method for a dispensing device,
A sheet handling method for a dispensing device, further comprising a step of detecting a three-dimensional position of at least one of the tablet cassette and the cutting unit.   The method of handling a sheet in a dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein a step of detecting a three-dimensional position of the tablet cassette is provided before the first step.   3. The method of handling a sheet in a dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein a step of detecting a three-dimensional position of the cutting unit is provided before the second step. Further comprising a third step of chucking the remaining portion of the cut tablet sheet with a chucking unit and storing it in the remaining storage portion of the tablet cassette;
The sheet handling method for a dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a step of detecting a three-dimensional position of the tablet cassette is provided before the third step. A sheet handling device of a dispensing device, comprising: a chucking unit that chucks a tablet sheet loaded in a tablet cassette and takes it out of the tablet cassette; and a cutting unit that cuts the taken tablet sheet,
A sheet handling device for a dispensing device, comprising a detecting means for detecting a three-dimensional position of at least one of the tablet cassette and the cutting unit. The chucking unit is movable relative to the tablet cassette;
The detection means includes
A first cassette position detection unit provided in the tablet cassette and indicating a vertical and horizontal cassette position of the tablet cassette is detected by a first cassette position detection unit mounted on the chucking unit. ,
A second cassette position detection unit provided in the tablet cassette and indicating a cassette position in the front-rear direction of the tablet cassette is detected by a second cassette position detection unit mounted on the chucking unit. A sheet handling device for a dispensing device according to claim 5. The first cassette position detected part is a light reflecting part provided on the side facing the chucking unit,
7. The sheet handling device for a dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein the first cassette position detecting unit is an optical sensor that projects light onto the light reflecting unit and receives the reflected light. The chucking unit includes a servo motor that drives the chucking unit so that the tablet sheet can be chucked.
The second cassette position detected portion is a pressed portion provided on the side facing the chucking unit of the tablet cassette,
8. The second cassette position detector detects a change in drive current of a servo motor when the chucking unit comes into contact with the pressed portion. Dispensing device sheet handling device. The chucking unit is movable relative to the cutting unit;
The detection means includes
The first cutting unit position detection unit mounted on the chucking unit detects a first cutting unit position detected portion provided in the cutting unit and indicating the vertical and horizontal positions of the cutting unit. With
A second cutting unit position detection unit mounted on the chucking unit detects a second cutting unit position detected portion provided in the cutting unit and indicating a position in the front-rear direction of the cutting unit. The sheet handling device for a dispensing device according to any one of claims 5 to 8. The first cutting unit position detected part is a light reflecting part provided on the side facing the chucking unit,
10. The sheet handling device for a dispensing device according to claim 9, wherein the second cutting unit position detecting unit is an optical sensor that projects light onto the light reflecting unit and receives the reflected light. The chucking unit includes a servo motor that drives the chucking unit so that the tablet sheet can be chucked.
The second cutting unit position detected part is a pressed part provided on the side facing the chucking unit,
11. The second cutting unit position detection unit detects a change in a drive current of a servo motor when the chucking unit comes into contact with the pressed portion. The sheet | seat handling apparatus of the dispensing apparatus of any one.   The sheet handling device for a dispensing device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first cassette position detection unit also serves as the first cutting unit position detection unit.   The sheet handling apparatus of the dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the second cassette position detection unit also serves as the second cutting unit position detection unit.

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