JP2016116834A - Tablet taking out device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tablet taking out device for taking out a tablet encapsulated in the vicinity of a tip end or in the vicinity of a rear end in a tablet sheet from the tablet sheet while the tablet sheet is supported by a supporting member.SOLUTION: When another tablet taking out operation is performed since a table cannot be taken out in one tablet taking out operation, a gap of a pair of supporting members for supporting a tablet sheet by an upstream side and a downstream side in a conveying direction of the tablet sheet is adjusted to be narrower than a gap of the pair of the supporting members in the last tablet taking out operation. By the adjustment, the taking out operation can be performed while most of the tablet sheets are supported by the supporting members.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

  The present invention relates to a tablet take-out device for taking out a tablet from a tablet sheet.

  In past dispensing operations, when a tablet (drug) or powder provided in a tablet sheet (PTP sheet) is packaged, the tablet is taken out of the tablet sheet by a human hand, and the tablet is dispensed every time. Since it is necessary to set to a packaging machine, there was a problem that the work was complicated.

  Therefore, development of a tablet packaging device that can automatically perform the packaging operation as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been performed. In Patent Document 1, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the side end portions (left and right) of the tablet sheet are supported by a pair of end support bodies 22, and the front and back of the tablet sheet are supported by a pair of base bodies 26. The tablet can be automatically packaged by pressing the tablet accommodating portion of the tablet sheet and taking out the tablet, and transporting the taken tablet to the packaging means via the discharge port 30 and the tablet outlet route. A tablet packaging device is disclosed. Further, the cited document 1 discloses that the pair of end support bodies 22 and the pair of base bodies 26 move so as to be separated from each other in accordance with the width of the tablet sheet.

JP 2013-28406 A

  However, depending on the type of the tablet sheet, there is a type in which the shortest distance between the tablet containing portion near the front end or the rear end and the end of the tablet sheet is short. When taking out the tablet near the leading edge or the trailing edge of such a tablet sheet, the positions of the pair of end support bodies 22 and the pair of base bodies 26 are adjusted to the width of the tablet sheet as in the cited document 1. If the tablet sheet is moved so that the tablet sheet is not supported by any one of the pair of bases 22, the extraction operation is performed, and a situation in which the tablet cannot be removed from the tablet sheet occurs.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention is capable of taking out a tablet that can be taken out from the tablet sheet in a state of being supported by a support member, even if the tablet is sealed in the vicinity of the front end or the rear end of most tablet sheets. The object is to provide a device.

  The present invention includes a tablet take-out means for taking out a tablet from a tablet housing portion of a tablet sheet in which a plurality of tablets are individually enclosed, a transport means for carrying the tablet sheet to a tablet take-out position by the tablet take-out means, and the tablet During the take-out operation by the take-out means, the pair of support members that support the tablet sheet from the upstream side and the downstream side in the carrying direction of the tablet storage portion to be taken out, and the interval between the pair of support members An adjustment unit that adjusts the interval to correspond to the intersecting width, a determination unit that determines whether or not the tablet has been extracted by the extraction operation by the tablet extraction unit, and a determination that the tablet has not been extracted by the determination unit And a retry control means for controlling the tablet extraction operation to be performed again with respect to the same tablet container. The interval between the pair of support members when the tablet extraction operation is performed again by the retry control means is adjusted to be narrower than the interval between the pair of support members at the time of the previous tablet extraction operation. .

  According to the present invention, even when a tablet is taken out from the tablet container near the front end or the rear end of the tablet sheet, the take-out operation can be performed in a state where most of the tablet sheets are supported by the support member. That is, tablets can be reliably taken out from most tablet sheets.

It is a figure which shows a packaging apparatus and a tablet supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows a tablet supply apparatus. It is a hardware block diagram of the tablet supply system concerning the present invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a tablet extraction unit. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a tablet extraction unit. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a tablet supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a tablet supply unit. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a packaging unit. It is the figure which expanded a part (703,704,705) of the internal structure of a packaging unit. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a tablet extraction unit. It is the figure which looked at the tablet supply apparatus from the front. It is the figure which looked at the tablet supply apparatus from the side (right side seeing from the front). It is the figure which expanded a part of tablet supply apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which looked at the inside of a tablet supply apparatus from the side (right side seeing from the front). It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the conventional tablet extraction unit. It is a figure explaining the kind of conventional tablet sheet. It is a figure explaining the problem which generate | occur | produces at the time of the tablet extraction operation | movement of the conventional tablet extraction sheet | seat. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the tablet extraction unit of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of tablet packaging operation | movement. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of tablet extraction operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the drive means for adjusting the position of a support body. It is a figure which shows a mode that the position of a support body is adjustable. It is a figure which shows a mode that it adjusted at the time of a retry. It is a figure which shows the drive means for adjusting the position of a support body. It is a figure which shows a mode that the position of a support body is adjustable. It is a figure which shows a mode that it adjusted at the time of a retry. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of tablet extraction operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the detection position and tablet extraction position of an optical sensor. It is a flowchart explaining the flow which specifies the last column and sets the last column flag. It is a figure explaining a mode that a tablet sheet is supplied continuously. It is a flowchart explaining the flow which specifies the last column and sets the last column flag. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the chemical | medical agent master. (B) (c) It is a figure which shows the position in the tablet sheet of the information shown to a chemical | medical agent master. It is a figure which shows the tablet row | line | column table containing the tablet number acquired and acquired from the tablet master, and the measured tablet row | line | column. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of tablet extraction operation | movement. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of agent extraction operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the detection position and tablet extraction position of an optical sensor. It is a flowchart explaining the flow which specifies the forefront row and sets the forefront row flag. It is a figure explaining a mode that a tablet sheet is supplied continuously. It is a flowchart explaining the flow which specifies the forefront row and sets the forefront row flag.

  Hereinafter, the tablet supply system (FIG. 1) of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a packaging device 5 for packaging a supplied tablet, a tablet supply device 10 (hereinafter also referred to as a tableting device) for taking out the tablet and supplying it to the packaging device 5 (hereinafter also referred to as a packaging device), a hand It is a figure which shows the tablet supply system (henceforth a tablet extraction system) including the whispering input part 1401 and the powder supply part 103. FIG. A plurality of tablet extraction units 1 are mounted on the tablet supply device 10, and tablets are extracted from the tablet sheet by the tablet extraction unit 1. Such a tablet taking-out unit 1 can perform a taking-out operation of a tablet by inputting a packaging condition from a touch panel display 501 or the like provided in the information processing apparatus 300 or the packaging apparatus 5.

  FIG. 2A is an enlarged view showing a partial region of FIG. Further, FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a portion of the input port 203 for inputting the tablet sheet into the tablet extraction unit 1.

  The tablet sheet 51 is provided with a sealing sheet using a metal foil made of aluminum or the like on the lower surface of a sheet main body having a tablet containing portion 510 for containing tablets made of plastic or the like, so that each tablet holds a tablet one by one. It is enclosed in. The tablet sheet 51 is generally called a PTP sheet (press through pack) (hereinafter, the tablet sheet is also referred to as a PTP sheet). Such PTP sheets vary in the width and length of the sheet, the number of tablets, and the like depending on the type of tablet, and various types are distributed.

  The tablet supply apparatus 10 stores a plurality of tablet extraction units 1 (tablet extraction units). The tablet extraction unit 1 is an application example of the tablet extraction device of the present invention. Six tablet take-out units 1 are arranged in the width direction (left-right direction), and a set of the six tablet take-out units 1 is arranged in three stages up and down. That is, the tablet taking-out units 1 are arranged in 6 rows on the left and right and 3 steps on the top and bottom. As described above, the tablet supply device 10 includes a plurality of tablet extraction units 1, but the number of tablet extraction units 1 may be one.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a powder supply unit, which is a part that inputs powder to be packaged by the packaging device 5. The powder dosed in the powder dose input unit 103 is divided for each dose, and is charged into a main hopper 505 described later, so that the powder is packaged in a dose. Reference numeral 10 denotes a tablet supply device, which includes one or a plurality of tablet extraction units 1 and a tablet supply unit 400 that supplies tablets extracted by the tablet extraction unit 1.

  The tablet supply device 10 takes out the tablet from the tablet sheet (PTP sheet) by the tablet extraction unit 1 and supplies it to the packaging device 5 through the supply path of the tablet supply unit 400. As shown in FIG. 1, the tablet supply device 10 includes a plurality of tablet extraction units 1. Furthermore, the tablet supply apparatus 10 takes out and supplies one or a plurality of tablets from a tablet sheet (PTP sheet) enclosed in a tablet container.

  Reference numeral 1401 denotes a manual input unit into which tablets hand-made by the user are input. The tablets input from the manual input unit 1401 are also supplied to the packaging device 5 and packaged. The packaging device 5 can package the tablets supplied from the tablet supply device 10 and the tablets supplied from the handmade input unit 1401 as one package, or can be packaged separately.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of the tablet supply system using a block diagram. Here, the CPU 30 of the information processing device 300, the CPU 51 of the packaging device 5, and the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 cooperate with each other (each unit) controlled by the packaging device 5, and the tablet supply device 10. 1 shows an example in which various operations of each device (each unit) controlled by are controlled. However, one CPU may control all the devices of the tablet supply system. Moreover, although the state where one CPU is provided in the tablet supply device 10 is illustrated here, a CPU may be provided for each tablet extraction unit 1 or a CPU may be provided for each stage of the tablet extraction unit 1. May be.

  First, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 300 will be described. The CPU 30 of the information processing apparatus 300 can comprehensively control each device and controller connected to the system bus. In addition, the ROM 31 or the external memory 36 is necessary to realize a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as an OS) that is a control program of the CPU 30, or a function executed by each server or each PC. Various programs to be described later are stored. The RAM 33 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 30. The CPU 30 implements various operations by loading a program or the like necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 33 and executing the program.

  Further, the CPU 30 controls input from the input terminal 209 such as a keyboard or a mouse (not shown). The video controller (VC) 206 can also control the display on a display device such as the display 210, and further, a boot program, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, etc. It is also possible to control access to an external memory 211 such as a compact flash (registered trademark) memory connected via an adapter to a hard disk (HD), floppy (registered trademark) disk or PCMCIA card slot to be stored.

  The I / F 32 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network. In the present embodiment, the I / F 32 is communicably connected to the I / F 50 of the packaging device 5.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the packaging device 5 will be described. The CPU 51 of the packaging device 5 can comprehensively control each device connected to the bus. The ROM 52 stores a control program for the CPU 51 and various control programs. The RAM 53 functions as a system work memory for the CPU 51 to operate. The CPU 51 can also control display on the touch panel display 501, accept input of information from the user using the touch panel function of the display 501 as the input terminal 502, and issue a print instruction to the printer 706. Furthermore, the CPU 51 controls the powder packaging mechanism 55 that is operated when packaging the powder loaded from the powder loading unit 103 of the packaging device 5 into one package, or the tablets hand-made by the user to the manual loading unit. It is possible to control the hand making mechanism 56 that is operated when packaging. The packaging device 5 and the tablet supply device 10 are communicably connected by the I / O 54 of the packaging device 5 and the I / O 12 of the tablet supply device 10.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the tablet supply device 10 will be described. The CPU 11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 can comprehensively control each device connected to the bus. The ROM 14 stores a control program for the CPU 11 and various control programs. The RAM 13 functions as a system work memory for the CPU 11 to operate. The CPU 11 can further control the take-out operation in the tablet take-out mechanism 15 and the transport mechanism 16 that carries the tablet sheet.

  In such a hardware configuration, the tablet can be controlled to be taken out as follows. First, the CPU 51 of the packaging device 5 transmits a tablet take-out operation command to the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10. And CPU11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 can control the tablet extraction mechanism 15 and the conveyance mechanism 16 according to the said extraction operation command, and can perform tablet extraction operation | movement. Moreover, CPU11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 can also transmit the operation information which shows the condition of tablet extraction operation | movement with respect to CPU51 of the packaging apparatus 5. FIG.

  Next, the structure of the tablet extraction unit 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 10.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the internal structure of the tablet taking-out unit 1. FIG. 4 shows an example in which two tablet extraction units 1 are arranged side by side. FIG. 5 is a view showing the internal structure (cross section) of the tablet taking-out unit 1, and is a view of the tablet taking-out unit 1 as seen from the right side.

  The tablet take-out unit 1 conveys the tablet sheet 51 and an input port 203 (tablet sheet holding unit) in which a plurality of tablet sheets 51 can be stacked in a state where the tablet storage unit 510 is located on the upper side with respect to the direction of gravity. A transport mechanism 16; a mounting table on which the tablet sheet 51 transported by the transport mechanism 16 is placed; and an extrusion mechanism (tablet ejection mechanism) that takes out the tablet by pressing from the side of the tablet housing portion of the tablet sheet 51 on the mounting table. 15). The region serving as the input port 203 for inputting the tablet sheet is positioned by a pair of working side walls 213, and this width can be changed according to the input tablet sheet. That is, the width of the slot 203 can be defined according to the tablet sheet to be loaded. As shown in FIG. 10, a cover 901 is provided at such an insertion port 203, and the tablet sheet can be loaded into the insertion port 203 by opening the cover.

  Then, the tablet sheets stacked on the input port 203 are conveyed by the multiple conveyance prevention plate 1411 to the unpacking position (tablet extraction position) where the tablet sheet positioned at the lowermost layer is subjected to the tablet extraction operation. Although the details of the take-out operation will be described later, the side end of the tablet sheet is supported by the pair of end support members 2201 from the side end side, and the upstream side in the transport direction of the tablet storage unit 510 is supported by the rear main support member 2203. The take-out operation is performed in a state in which the downstream side in the transport direction of the tablet container 510 is supported by the front main support 2202. That is, a pair of end support bodies 2201 (a pair of first support members), a front main support body 2202 and a rear main support body 2203 (a pair of second support members) are used as a table for mounting tablet sheets. Then, the tablet taking-out mechanism 15 takes out the tablet from the tablet container located between the pair of end support members 2201 and between the front main support member 2202 and the rear main support member, 2205 is dropped.

  The tablet sheet 51 is sealed in the tablet housing part by providing a sealing sheet using a metal foil made of aluminum or the like on the lower surface of the sheet main body having the tablet housing part 510 for housing the tablet. Furthermore, the tablet sheet 51 has a form in which convex tablet accommodating portions are arranged in two rows at intervals in the width direction on the sheet portion. The plurality of tablet accommodating portions forming each row are arranged along the length direction of the tablet sheet 51.

  The tablet sheet 51 is not limited to the form in which the tablet accommodating portions are arranged in two rows on the sheet portion, but the form in which the tablet accommodating portions are arranged in one row in the length direction of the tablet sheet 51 It is also possible to adopt a form in which the portions are arranged in a plurality of rows of 3 or more at intervals in the width direction.

  Next, the state at the time of taking out a tablet from the tablet accommodating part 510 is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the tablet sheet set in the insertion port 203 has been transported to a tablet unpacking position (tablet extraction position), that is, a position where the tablet extraction mechanism 15 can press the center position of the tablet storage unit. Show.

  The tablet extraction unit 1 includes a tablet sheet conveyance mechanism 16 (conveyance mechanism) that conveys the tablet sheet, a mounting table 18 on which the tablet sheet is placed, and a tablet extraction mechanism 15 (extrusion mechanism) that takes out the tablet from the tablet sheet. I have. Reference numeral 39 denotes a lower roller.

  The tablet sheet transport mechanism 16 transports the tablet sheet 51 in the traveling direction, and a plurality of lower rollers 39 that are spaced apart from each other along the traveling direction and are spaced apart from each other along the traveling direction. And an upper roller provided.

  The lower roller 39 can be rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown), and can contact the lower surface side with respect to the direction of gravity of the tablet sheet portion to apply force to the tablet sheet 51 in the traveling method. The upper roller can be rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown), and can contact the upper surface with respect to the gravity direction of the PTP sheet portion to apply a force in the traveling direction to the tablet sheet 51.

  Since the positions of the upper roller and the lower roller in the width direction correspond to positions between the two rows of tablet storage units, the upper roller and the lower roller contact the tablet storage unit 510 when the tablet sheet is conveyed. There is nothing. That is, the lower roller 39 and the upper roller can sandwich the tablet sheet portion from above and below and transport the tablet sheet in the traveling direction (the backward direction of the tablet take-out device). Furthermore, the lower roller 39 and the upper roller can sandwich the tablet sheet portion from above and below to transport the tablet sheet 51 in the direction opposite to the traveling direction.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an introduction chute. The introduction chute 24 is provided on the lower surface side of the mounting table, and guides the tablet taken out from the tablet sheet 51 and dropped through the tablet dropping port 2205 to a tablet introduction path 401 described later. That is, the introduction chute 24 has a discharge port on the lower surface side of the mounting table, and the tablet taken out from the tablet sheet 51 passes through the discharge port and falls into a tablet introduction path 401 described later. The introduction chute 24 is also called a tablet take-out hopper.

  In the state where the tablet sheet 51 is mounted on the mounting table, the tablet extraction unit 1 performs the tablet extraction operation by extruding the tablet by the extrusion mechanism of the tablet extraction mechanism 15.

  Next, details of the extrusion mechanism will be described. The extrusion mechanism includes an inner pressing body 83 that presses the vicinity of the center of the tablet accommodating portion, and an outer pressing body 84 that is provided so as to surround the inner pressing body 83 and presses a portion outside the vicinity of the center. ing. The inner pressing body 83 and the outer pressing body 84 operate independently to press the tablet accommodating portion of the PTP sheet and take out the tablet from the PTP sheet. Specifically, the push-out mechanism presses the tablet accommodating portion with the outer pressing body 84 before the inner pressing body 83.

  The tip of the inner pressing body 83 is provided so that the area is narrower than the tablet accommodating portion of most tablet sheets 51 that are supposed to be mounted on the tablet extraction unit. Therefore, when the inner pressing body 83 is lowered to take out the tablet, the tip reaches the lower side with respect to the gravitational direction from the surface of the tablet accommodating portion of the tablet sheet, and from the hole opened in the metal foil of the tablet sheet 51 The tip will protrude downward. On the other hand, the tip of the outer pressing body 84 has a larger area than the tablet accommodating portion of most tablet sheets 51 that are supposed to be mounted on the tablet extraction unit. The tip does not protrude from the hole opened in the 51 metal foil. That is, the tablet container 51 of the tablet sheet 51 is first crushed by using the outer pressing body 84 and then the tablet is reliably pushed out by the inner pressing body 83.

  The tablet take-out mechanism 15 (extrusion mechanism) also includes a first lifting mechanism that lifts and lowers the outer pressing body 84 and a second lifting mechanism that lifts and lowers the inner pressing body 83. Tablets can be pushed out by the body.

  The first elevating mechanism includes a first elevating body 93 to which the outer pressing body 84 is attached, a cam 94 that drives to rotate the first elevating body 93 and urges the first elevating body 93 in the upward direction. And a biasing member (spring).

  The 1st raising / lowering body 93 is a columnar body extended over the front-back direction, and the outer side press body 84 is attached to the front-end part. The cam 94 is a plate-like body designed in consideration of the lifting operation of the outer pressing body 84, and is fixed to a shaft portion that is rotationally driven by a drive mechanism.

  The cam 94 is provided on the upper surface side of the first elevating body 93, is rotationally driven with the rotation of the shaft portion, adjusts the height position by pressing the first elevating body 93, and thereby the outer pressing body 84. The height position of the outer pressing body 84 can be adjusted (the lifting operation of the outer pressing body 84 is performed). The first elevating mechanism can arbitrarily set the timing and displacement amount of the outer pressing body 84 by setting the timing of the cam rotation operation, the shape of the cam, the fixed position of the cam with respect to the shaft portion, and the like.

  The second elevating mechanism includes a second elevating body 98 to which the inner pressing body 83 is attached, a cam 99 that rotates to drive the second elevating body 98 up and down, and biases the second elevating body 98 in the upward direction. And a biasing member (spring).

  The second elevating body 98 is a columnar body extending in the front-rear direction, and an inner pressing body 83 is attached to the front end portion. The cam 99 is provided on the upper surface side of the second elevating body 98 and is rotationally driven with the rotation of the shaft portion, and presses the second elevating body 98 to adjust the height position. The height position can be adjusted (the inner pressing body 83 is moved up and down). The second elevating mechanism can arbitrarily set the elevating operation timing and displacement amount of the inner pressing body 83 by setting the rotation timing of the cam 99, the shape of the cam, the fixed position of the cam with respect to the shaft portion, and the like.

  For this reason, the cam 94 and the cam 99 can operate independently of each other with respect to the first lifting body and the second lifting body, respectively, and the inner pressing body 83 and the outer pressing body 84 can be lifted and lowered independently of each other. it can.

  The timing of the rotation operation of the two cams in the tablet take-out mechanism 15 can be determined based on a signal from the detection unit of the tablet position detection mechanism. Specifically, the inner pressing body 83 and the outer pressing body 84 can be operated in accordance with the detected position of the tablet accommodating portion.

  The tablet take-out unit 1 further includes a detection mechanism 17 that can detect the length of the pressed tablet container and the position of the pressed tablet container before pressing the tablet container of the PTP sheet. Yes. Then, the tablet supply device calculates a position (a position at which the center position of the tablet container can be pressed by the tablet take-out mechanism 15) in the conveyance direction optimum for pressing according to the detected length of the tablet container and the position of the tablet container. It is also possible to calculate the transport distance necessary to obtain the position. That is, the transport mechanism 16 (the lower roller 39 and the upper roller) can transport the tablet sheet to the optimum position necessary for the tablet storage portion on the mounting table 18 to be pressed by the transport distance.

  Next, the internal structure of the tablet supply device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a view of the tablet supply device 10 as seen from the back side (back side).

  Reference numeral 204 denotes a detection mechanism that is provided by an optical sensor (beam sensor) or the like and detects a falling object. When the unwrapped tablet falls in the introduction chute 24, the unwrapped tablet passes over the sensor and blocks a part of the light. A state where a part of the light of the beam sensor is shielded and the amount of light is changed is referred to as an ON state, and a state where the light is not shielded and the amount of light is not changed is referred to as an OFF state. The presence / absence of a fallen object can be determined using this ON / OFF state. The tablet drop detection mechanism further includes an optical sensor 204 and a falling tablet counter that counts the passage of tablets.

  The tablet supply device 10 can determine whether or not the tablet has passed by the detection mechanism 204, and can determine whether or not the tablet has been taken out of the tablet container by pressing.

  401 is a tablet introduction path (passage path). The tablet introduction path 401 is electrically connected to the introduction chute 24, and relays the dropped tablet taken out from the tablet sheet from the introduction chute 24 to the first accumulation hopper.

  Next, the internal structure of the tablet supply unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. The first accumulation hopper 402 is a part in which the tablet taken out from the PTP sheet by the tablet take-out unit 1 drops through the introduction chute 24 and passes through the tablet introduction path 401 from the introduction chute 24 and is accumulated. It is. That is, the tablet introduction path 401 is directly connected to the first accumulation hopper 402.

  The second accumulation hopper 501 further accumulates the tablets accumulated in the first accumulation hopper 402. That is, the second integrated hopper 501 is electrically connected to the first integrated hopper 402.

  That is, the tablet 50 that has fallen on the first accumulation hopper 402 falls on the second accumulation hopper 501 and is accumulated.

  The first delivery mechanism 502 moves the tablets 50 accumulated in the second accumulation hopper to the third accumulation hopper. The third accumulation hopper 503 accumulates the tablets sent (moved) by the first delivery mechanism 502. Then, the second delivery mechanism 504 moves the tablets accumulated in the third accumulation hopper to the main hopper 505. The main hopper 505 accumulates the tablets (one time) delivered (moved) by the second delivery mechanism 504, and puts the accumulated tablets into the packaging sheet (wrapping paper).

  Next, the internal structure of the packaging unit 701 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing the internal structure of the packaging unit 701. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a part (703, 704, 705) of the internal structure of the packaging unit 701 shown in FIG.

  The packaging unit 701 is a unit in the packaging device 5. Reference numeral 702 denotes a roll paper feed mechanism that feeds roll paper in which the packaging sheets are continuous (paper in which the wrapping paper is in a roll shape) to the packaging mechanism. In 703, tablets (one tablet) accumulated in the main hopper 505 are put into a packaging sheet, and the packaging sheet is heated and welded to package the tablets put into the packaging sheet. Enclose in a sheet (packaging mechanism). In 704, the tablets accumulated in the main hopper 505 are put into the packaging sheet, and the packaging sheet is heated and welded to enclose the tablets put in the packaging sheet into the packaging sheet. (Packaging mechanism) That is, the packaging mechanism 703 and the packaging mechanism 704 heat and weld the packaging sheet, thereby enclosing the tablets put in the packaging sheet into the packaging sheet.

  Reference numeral 705 denotes a cutting mechanism that forms a split perforation 801 on a packaging sheet for dividing a continuous roll of paper into a single packaging sheet (one packet 802). A printer 706 can print date, patient data, and error information on a packaging sheet (printing mechanism).

  With the packaging unit shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a tablet or powder for a single dose can be packaged in a packaging sheet. In addition, as a packaging sheet, not only the paper which coated the resin material which can be heat-welded on the surface but the transparent film material which can visually recognize the contents can also be used.

  Next, the tablet supply device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view of the tablet supply device 10. 11 shown in FIG. 11 is a tablet taking-out unit as shown in FIG. The tablet taken out from the tablet sheet by the tablet taking-out unit 1 passes through the introduction chute 24, passes through the tablet introduction path 401, and falls to the first accumulation hopper 402.

  Next, each structure with which the tablet supply unit 400 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 is provided is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 12 is a view of the tablet supply device 10 as viewed from the side (right side when viewed from the front). As described with reference to FIG. 11, the tablet taken out from the tablet sheet by the tablet taking-out unit 1 passes through the introduction chute 24 and the tablet introduction path and falls into the first accumulation hopper 402.

  Then, the tablet that has passed through the first accumulation hopper 402 passes through the second accumulation hopper 501 and is sent to the first delivery mechanism 502. The first delivery mechanism is used as a first relay unit.

  Then, the first delivery mechanism 502 sends the tablets to the third accumulation hopper 503, and the third accumulation hopper 503 sends the tablets to the second delivery mechanism 504. The second delivery mechanism 504 is used as a second relay unit. The second delivery mechanism 504 sends the tablets sent to the second delivery mechanism 504 to the main hopper 505.

  Next, how the tablets taken out from the tablet take-out unit 1 pass through the introduction chute 24, the tablet introduction path 401, and the first accumulation hopper 402 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13 is an excerpt of a part of the tablet supply device 10 shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 13 is a diagram in which two tablet extraction units 1 shown in FIG. 11 are deleted. A dotted line arrow 1201 shown in FIG. 13 indicates a moving path of the tablet taken out from the tablet taking-out unit 1. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, the width of the left conduit of the first accumulation hopper 402 and the middle conduit is 78 mm in diameter.

  Next, each structure with which the tablet supply unit 400 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 is provided is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 14 is a view of the inside of the tablet supply device 10 as viewed from the side (right side when viewed from the front). A dotted line arrow 1201 shown in FIG. 14 indicates a moving path of the tablet taken out from the tablet taking-out unit 1. In the tablet supply unit 400, as shown in FIG. 14, the first stage, the second stage, and the third stage are provided so as to overlap in the direction of gravity. Each stage is provided with a tablet take-out unit 1 for taking out tablets from a tablet sheet, a tablet introduction path 401, and an introduction chute 24.

  The tablets taken out from the uppermost (first stage) tablet extraction unit 1 are the first stage introduction chute 24, the middle stage (second stage) tablet introduction path 401, the lower stage (third stage). It passes through the tablet introduction path 401 and reaches the first inclined portion 1301. Further, the tablets taken out from the second stage tablet extraction unit 1 pass through the second stage introduction chute 24 and the third stage tablet introduction path 401 to reach the first inclined portion 1301. Further, the tablet taken out from the third stage tablet extraction unit 1 passes through the third stage introduction chute 24 and reaches the first inclined portion 1301.

  The distance from the outlet of the introduction chute 24 of the uppermost (first) tablet extraction unit 1 to the first inclined portion 1301 is about 460 mm. The distance from the outlet of the introduction chute 24 of the middle (second) tablet extraction unit 1 to the first inclined portion 1301 is about 265 mm.

  The length of the first integrated hopper 402 is about 362 mm. That is, the distance from the outlet of the introduction chute 24 of the lowermost tablet extraction unit 1 to the second accumulation hopper 501 is about 362 mm. When the tablets are taken out from the tablet sheet in each stage of the tablet extracting unit 1, the tablets pass through the introduction chute 24, from the outlet of the introduction chute 24 through the tablet introduction path 401, and then into the first accumulation hopper 402. , And are accumulated in the second accumulation hopper 501.

  At this time, in consideration of shortening the packaging time of the whole tablet supply device 10, it is conceivable that the introduction chute 24 (tablet take-out hopper) is vertically dropped vertically and stored in the lower part of the second accumulation hopper. However, when the tablet taken out by the uppermost tablet taking-out unit 1 is vertically dropped vertically from the outlet of the introduction chute 24 (tablet taking-out hopper) and stored in the lower part of the second accumulation hopper, there is about 876 mm. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the tablet will be broken or broken. Further, in the case where the medicine taken out from the tablet sheet is a capsule, there is a high possibility that the medicine will be dented and deformed.

  The tablet supply device 10 can be used by stacking a plurality of tablet take-out units 1. Therefore, especially when the tablet falls from the uppermost tablet extraction unit 1, the distance from the outlet of the introduction chute 24 (tablet extraction hopper) to the second accumulation hopper becomes very long, or the tablet taken out from the tablet sheet, or The possibility that the capsule will break is increased.

  Therefore, a first inclined portion 1301 for bouncing the tablet is provided on the upper portion of the first stacking hopper 402 so that the packaging time is not lost much. That is, a part of the upper part of the first stacking hopper 402 is offset. Specifically, the first inclined portion 1301 has an inclination of about 32 ° from the direction of gravity.

  Also in the second stacking hopper 501, the second stacking hopper 501 does not lose the packaging time so much that the tablet does not reach the bottom of the second stacking hopper 501 directly from the first stacking hopper 402. A second inclined portion 1302 for bounce is provided.

  Specifically, the second inclined portion 1302 has an inclination of about 40 ° from the horizontal direction.

  Note that the angles of the first inclined portion 1301 and the second inclined portion 1302 described above are examples, and the angle at which the falling tablet bounces (lowers the falling speed) and can move to the subsequent path (next) Any angle may be used as long as it can be supplied to the supply section by dropping.

  Thus, by providing the 1st inclination part 1301 in the 1st accumulation hopper 402, and the 2nd inclination part 1302 in the 2nd accumulation hopper 501, from the introduction chute 24 exit of tablet taking-out unit 1, the 2nd accumulation hopper 501 is provided. The tablet can be prevented from dropping directly to the bottom. As a result, the direction in which the tablet falls can be changed, and a cushion that does not damage or deform the tablet can be provided. As a result, the impact when the falling tablet reaches the lower part of the second stacking hopper 501 can be reduced, and the possibility that the tablet is broken or deformed can be reduced.

  The 1st inclination part is provided in the position where the tablet which fell from the tablet taking-out apparatus contacts, and the 2nd inclination part is in the position where the tablet which contacted the 1st inclination part falls further and contacts. Is provided.

  Further, by providing the first inclined portion 1301 and the second inclined portion 1302 with a material (shock absorbing material) that absorbs impact such as rubber, it is possible to further suppress the impact of the tablet.

  By the way, as a method for reliably taking out a tablet from a tablet sheet, conventionally, there have been used a method in which the extrusion speed of the extrusion mechanism is made variable or the extraction operation is repeated (retry). In order to reliably drop the tablet 50 from the tablet container, the structure of the mounting table, that is, the size of the tablet dropping port 2205 is also important. This is because the width of the tablet sheet 51 is wide because the size of the tablet itself is also large. If the drop opening 2205 is small even though the tablet is large, the tablet is dropped during the take-out operation. This is because the sheet 51 is caught and cannot be taken out.

  Therefore, conventionally, the positions of the pair of end support members 2201, the front main support member 2202, the rear main support member 2203, and the take-out mechanism 15 shown in FIG. And adjusting the distance between the pair of end support members 2201 (interval in the conveying direction) and the distance between the front main support member 2202 and the rear main support member 2203 (interval in the width direction) according to the width of the tablet sheet. Had gone.

  However, in the conventional method, depending on the type of the tablet sheet, the extraction operation is performed in a state where a part of the tablet sheet is not supported, and a situation in which the tablet cannot be extracted has occurred. The movement of the conventional support member will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the types of tablet sheets. As shown in FIG. 16, generally available tablet sheets include round tablet tablets (left) and capsule tablets and rectangular tablets (right).

  In the case of a tablet sheet of such a round tablet, since the width of the tablet sheet and the vertical width of the storage portion are increased in proportion, it is necessary to increase the vertical width of the tablet dropping opening 2205 when the width of the tablet sheet is increased. There is. On the other hand, in the case of a rectangular tablet sheet, the change in the width of the tablet sheet is not proportional to the change in the vertical width of the tablet container, and therefore there is no need to increase the vertical width of the tablet drop opening 2205. And, when examining the types of tablet sheets that are generally distributed, it is almost the case that a sheet width of up to about 40 mm is a tablet sheet of a round tablet, and when the sheet width exceeds about 40 mm, it is almost a rectangular tablet. It was found to be a tablet sheet. That is, it can be said that the main cause of the existence of a long tablet sheet is the presence of a tablet sheet such as a capsule tablet or a rectangular tablet.

  Until now, as shown in FIG. 17 (b), the width of the tablet sheet is about 40 mm so that the tablet can be surely pushed out to any such tablet sheet. As the width increases, the distance between the pair of end supports 2201 and the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 are increased. This is provided so that the edge portions 2201a of the pair of end support members 2201 are inclined, and the defining portion 2202a of the front main support member 2202 and the defining portion 2202a of the rear main support member 2203 move along the edge portions. It is realized by providing it. That is, when the distance between the pair of end support members (opening width of the tablet drop opening) is increased in conjunction with the pair of working side walls 213, the edges of the end support members (inclined edge 2201a and parallel edge 2201b) are formed. The defining portion 2202a of the front main support 2202 and the defining portion 2203a of the rear main support 2203 move along. As a result, the defining portions 2202a and 2203a are pushed and widened on the inclined edge 2201a, and the interval (tablet drop vertical dimension) between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is also increased.

  When the width of the tablet sheet is larger than 40 mm, as the width of the tablet sheet increases, the distance between the pair of end support members 2201 increases, but the distance between the front main support member 2202 and the rear main support member 2203 increases. It is provided to be constant. This is because the edge portions 2201b of the pair of end support members 2201 are provided in parallel to the direction intersecting the transport direction, and the defining portion 2202a of the support member 2202 and the defining portion 2202a of the rear main support member 2203 along the edge portions. It is realized by providing to move. That is, since the defining portions 2201a and 2203a move along the parallel edge portion 2201b, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 (tablet drop port vertical width dimension) is constant.

  However, in the case of a tablet sheet such as a capsule tablet or a rectangular tablet shown in the right side of FIG. 16A, the tablet storage portion 510a and the rear end portion of the tablet sheet which are the last part during transportation as shown in FIG. There is also an extremely short interval with 2401. FIG. 17A is an example of a tablet sheet in which a tablet of capsule number 000 defined by the Japanese Pharmacopoeia is enclosed. Here, an example is shown in which the distance between the last tablet storage portion 510a and the tablet sheet rear end portion 2401 is less than 2.5 mm.

  FIG. 17B shows a state where the tablet extraction operation is performed using such a tablet sheet. As shown in FIG. 17 (b), when the tablet is taken out in a state in which the tablet removal mechanism 15 is transported and controlled to a position where the center position of the tablet storage portion can be pressed, the rear end portion from the rear end portion of the last tablet storage portion 510a The shortest distance from the main support 2203 is 2.5 mm. For this reason, the tablet sheet rear end portion 2402 is not supported by the tablet sheet in which the distance between the rearmost tablet storage portion 510a and the tablet sheet rear end portion 2401 is less than 2.5 mm as shown in FIG. Since the taking-out operation is performed in the state, the tablet sheet cannot be properly supported, and the tablet cannot be taken out from the tablet sheet even if the tablet taking-out operation is performed.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the first tablet is taken out, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 (interval in the width direction) is adjusted according to the width of the tablet sheet. If the detection mechanism 204 does not determine that the tablet has been taken out even after the take-out operation, when the tablet take-out operation is performed again for the same tablet container (at the retry operation), the front main The distance between the support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is reduced. In other words, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 when the tablet extraction operation (retry) is performed again is set so that the front main support 2202 and the rear main support at the time of the previous tablet extraction operation. It adjusts so that it may become narrower than the space | interval with 2203.

  By performing the tablet taking-out operation in the state adjusted in this way, the tablet sheet is caught in the dropping port 2205 or the tablet sheet 51 during the taking-out operation, and the phenomenon that the tablet cannot be taken out is prevented, but the rear end portion of the tablet sheet of the tablet sheet. Can be taken out in a state where it is reliably supported by the rear main support or a state where the tip is securely supported by the front main support.

  Although details will be described in the second and third embodiments, the adjustment of the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 at the time of retry is the take-out operation at the time of retry. In order to prevent the phenomenon that the tablet sometimes gets caught in the drop opening 2205 or the tablet sheet 51 and cannot be taken out, the tablet may be provided only in the tablet storage part in the front row or the last row of the tablet sheet.

(First embodiment)
In the following description, an example of a tablet sheet having a narrow width between the rearmost tablet storage portion 510 and the rear end portion 2402 of the tablet sheet in the transport direction is used, and a small linear is used when performing a tablet extraction operation as shown in FIG. Using the rear main support driving means 1801a for adjusting the position of the rear main support 2203 such as an actuator and the front main support driving means 1801b for adjusting the position of the front main support 2202 An embodiment will be described in which the removal operation can be reliably performed by readjusting the position of the support when retry control is performed.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the tablet packaging operation. Such control is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 30 of the information processing apparatus 300, the CPU 51 of the packaging apparatus 5, and the CPU 11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10.

  In S1901, the CPU 30 of the information processing device 300 displays a basic screen for accepting the start of input of prescription data by the user. When the user starts inputting a prescription in S1902, in S1903, the CPU 30 of the information processing apparatus 300 displays a prescription edit screen for receiving an instruction for starting packaging as well as receiving an input of the detailed content of the prescription by the user. A user inputs prescription contents via a prescription edit screen in S1904, and issues a packaging start instruction in S1905. Specifically, on the prescription editing screen, the user selects and sets the number of prescription contents, the drug name, the quantity, the tablet supply unit to be used, and the like.

  In S 1906, the CPU 30 of the information processing apparatus 300 transmits a packaging start instruction control command and information necessary for the packaging operation to the packaging apparatus 5.

  In S1907, the CPU 51 of the packaging device 5 acquires the width of the tablet sheet (the width in the direction intersecting the transport direction) for each tablet extraction unit 1. For each type of tablet sheet, a database for storing the width of the tablet sheet may be stored in, for example, an external memory of the control computer, and provided so as to specify the width of the tablet sheet based on the prescription content. Good.

  Further, in S1908, the CPU 51 of the packaging device 5 calculates the amount of movement of the main support so that the interval between the main supports according to the width of the tablet sheet is the same for each tablet take-out unit. Specifically, the calculation is performed so that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 increases as the width of the tablet sheet increases until the width of the tablet sheet is approximately 40 mm. And when the width of a tablet sheet is larger than 40 mm, it calculates so that the space | interval of the front main support body 2202 and the rear main support body 2203 may become fixed as the width | variety of a tablet sheet becomes large. In addition, the space | interval of a pair of edge part support body 2201 is adjusted so that it may become large as the lateral width of a tablet sheet becomes large.

  In step S <b> 1909, the CPU 51 of the packaging device 5 transmits the movement amount for each unit that is the interval between the support units calculated in step S <b> 1908 to the tablet supply device 10.

  In S1910, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 changes the rear main support driving means 1801a and the front main support driving means 1801b such as a small linear actuator so that the adjustment amount calculated in S1908 is obtained for each tablet taking-out unit. Driven to adjust the position of the front main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203. Furthermore, in S1911, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 controls so that the tablet extraction operation for one package is performed in each tablet extraction unit. Details of the tablet extraction operation will be described later.

  When the tablet taking-out operation is completed, in S1912, the CPU 51 of the packaging device 5 performs a packing operation of the taken-out tablet. In S <b> 1913, the CPU 51 of the packaging device 5 determines whether all the packaging operations corresponding to the prescription content designated by the user with the prescription data have been completed, and repeats the tablet extraction operation and the packaging operation until completion.

  Next, the tablet taking-out operation in S1911 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Such control is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10.

  In S2000, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the packaging operation for one package has been completed at the stage where the tablet is taken out from the tablet storage unit in the left column in the previous packaging operation. Specifically, it can be determined by storing data in a storage unit such as an external memory which last tablet was taken out from which tablet storage unit last time. If the unpacking operation for one package is completed at the stage where the tablets are taken out from the tablet storage section in the left column in the previous packing operation, the process proceeds to S2011; otherwise, the process proceeds to S2001.

  In S2001, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the unpacking operation has been completed because the number of unpacked tablets that have already been unpacked becomes the number of unpacked packages specified by the prescription data. . Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the extraction operation is completed by managing the total number of tablets detected by the optical sensor 204 for each tablet extraction unit 1 in the storage unit as the tablet count data. it can.

  If it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, the tablet sheet is discharged to the discharge unit, and the process ends. If the unpacking number has not been reached, the process proceeds to S2002. .

  In S2002, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 conveys the tablet sheet by the conveyance mechanism 16 so that the tablet extraction position is reached. When the taking-out operation is continuously performed, the tablet sheet is conveyed by one row corresponding to the interval of the tablet accommodating portions.

  In S2003, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 causes the push-out mechanism to take out the tablet from the left tablet storage unit.

  In S2004, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the take-out operation is performed. If a tablet is not detected, the process proceeds to S2005, and if the interval between the main supports is adjusted next, whether or not the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 reaches the lower limit interval. to decide. This is because if the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is narrowed to such an extent that the tablets cannot pass, the tablets cannot be taken out. Specifically, the lower limit interval is stored in an external memory or the like, and if the next interval adjustment is less than the lower limit interval, the process proceeds to S2008 to take out the tablet without adjusting the main support interval. Performs retry operation. That is, if the upper limit of retry is not reached even when the lower limit interval of the main support interval is reached, the retry operation is repeated at the interval of the main support immediately before the lower limit interval is reached.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S2005 that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 does not reach the lower limit even if the main support interval is adjusted next, the process proceeds to S2006. CPU11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 calculates the drive amount of a support part so that the space | interval of a main support part may become narrow. Specifically, each of the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 moves so as to approach the position where the tablet takeout mechanism 15 can press the center position of the tablet container, and the front main support 2202 It is preferable to calculate a driving amount by which the distance from the rear main support 2203 is reduced by about 0.5 mm.

  In S2007, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the driving amount calculated in S2006 for each tablet taking-out unit, The position of the main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and then the process proceeds to S2008, where the retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation is performed in a state in which the interval of the main support is adjusted.

  In S2009, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet has been detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, it is determined in S2010 whether the retry upper limit has been reached. If not, the process returns to S2005 to continue the retry unpacking operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in S2010 that the retry upper limit has been reached, the process proceeds to S2012.

  If a tablet is detected in S2004 and S2009, whether the number of unpacked tablets already unpacked is the number of unpacked one package specified in the prescription data or not in S2011 Judge whether or not. Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the extraction operation is completed by managing the total number of tablets detected by the optical sensor 204 for each tablet extraction unit 1 in the storage unit as the tablet count data. it can. If it is determined that the removal operation has been completed, it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, the tablet sheet is discharged to the discharge unit, and the process ends. If the number has not reached the number of packages, the process proceeds to S2012.

  In S2012, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 causes the push-out mechanism to take out the tablet from the right-side tablet container. In S2013, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, the process proceeds to S2014. Next, if the interval of the main support is adjusted, whether or not the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 reaches the lower limit interval. to decide. This is because if the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is narrowed to such an extent that the tablets cannot pass, the tablets cannot be taken out. Specifically, the lower limit interval is stored in an external memory or the like, and if the next interval adjustment is less than the lower limit interval, the process proceeds to S2017, and the tablet is taken out without adjusting the main support interval. Performs retry operation.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S2014 that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 does not reach the lower limit interval even if the main support interval is adjusted next, the process proceeds to S2015. CPU11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 calculates the drive amount of a support part so that the space | interval of a main support part may become narrow. Specifically, each of the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 moves so as to approach the position where the tablet takeout mechanism 15 can press the center position of the tablet container, and the front main support 2202 It is preferable to calculate a driving amount by which the distance from the rear main support 2203 is reduced by about 0.5 mm.

  In S2016, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the driving amount calculated in S2015 for each tablet take-out unit. The position of the main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and then the process proceeds to S2017, and the retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation is performed in a state in which the interval of the main support is adjusted.

  In S2018, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet has been detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet has been detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation. If no tablet is detected, it is determined in S2019 whether the retry upper limit has been reached. If not, the process returns to S2014 to continue the retry unpacking operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in S2019 that the retry upper limit has been reached, the process returns to S2001 to determine whether a predetermined number of packages have been removed.

  Also, when it is determined in S2013 and S2018 that the tablets have been taken out, the process returns to S2001, and it is determined whether the predetermined number of packages have been removed.

  That is, the retry operation is performed while narrowing the interval between the main supports until the tablets can be taken out. By performing such a retry operation, even when taking out a tablet from the tablet container near the rear end of the tablet sheet, in most tablet sheets, the extraction operation can be performed with the tablet sheet supported by the rear support. Can be taken out.

  The interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 may be reduced by about 0.5 mm for each retry operation, but the amount gradually reduced may be reduced. Specifically, during the first retry operation, it is narrowed by about 0.5 mm from the initial width, and during the second retry operation, it is narrowed by about 0.4 mm from the first retry operation, and during the third retry operation, the second retry operation is performed. Narrow by about 0.3mm from the time of operation. By adjusting in this way, it can reduce that a tablet is caught in the main support body and cannot be taken out from a tablet accommodating part.

  Further, in this embodiment, the interval between the main supports is linked to the number of retry operations, and the interval between the main supports is stepwise when performing the retry control so that the tablet extraction operation is performed a plurality of times for the same tablet container. Although the example in which the main support is narrowed has been described, the take-out operation may be performed several times at the same main support interval, and the main support interval may be reduced if the take-out operation is not possible even after being repeated a predetermined number of times.

  The manner in which the positions of the rear main support 2203 and the front main support 2202 are adjusted by the driving means 1801 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 21A shows a rear main support driving means 1801a for adjusting the position of the rear main support 2203 and a front main support driving means 1801b for adjusting the position of the front main support 2202. It is the figure seen from the side of a tablet taking-out apparatus. FIG. 21B shows the rear main support driving means 1801a for adjusting the position of the rear main support and the front main support driving means 1801b for adjusting the position of the front main support obliquely upward. It is a perspective view of partial cutting seen from.

  As can be seen from FIG. 21, in this embodiment, the drive means 1801a is connected to the rear main support 2203 via a connection member, and the drive means 1801b is connected to the front main support 2202 via a connection member. When the driving means 1801a1801b is driven, the rear main support 2203 and the front main support 2202 are provided so as to be able to be driven back and forth along the transport direction.

  FIGS. 22A and 22B are views showing how the positions of the rear main support 2203 and the front main support 2202 can be adjusted. The rear main support 2203 and the front main support 2202 are not provided with a defining portion as in the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 17, and depend on the distance between the pair of end supports by controlling the driving means. It is provided so that it can move independently. The distance between the pair of end support members 2201 is adjusted so as to increase as the lateral width of the tablet sheet increases. The rear main support 2203 and the front main support 2202 have a gap between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 as the width of the tablet sheet increases until the lateral width of the tablet sheet is about 40 mm. When the width of the tablet sheet is larger than 40 mm, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 becomes constant as the width of the tablet sheet increases. Adjusted. In such a state, the first tablet extraction operation is performed.

  FIG. 23 shows a tablet sheet having a distance of about 2.5 mm between the last tablet housing portion 510a and the tablet sheet rear end portion 2401 and the last tablet housing portion at the time of taking out the tablet, and a plurality of retry operations. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the front main support body 2202 and the rear main support body 2203 at the time. As shown here, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is adjusted to be narrow. By adjusting in this way during the retry operation, even if the distance between the last tablet storage portion 510a and the tablet sheet rear end portion 2401 is a tablet sheet of about 2.5 mm, While preventing the phenomenon of being caught by 2205 and the tablet sheet 51 and being unable to be taken out, the retry operation can be performed while the tablet sheet is supported as shown in FIG.

  Up to this point, the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 have been described using an example in which both are adjusted by the driving means 1801. The distance between the main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 may be adjusted.

  An example in which the front main support 2202 is fixed and only the rear main support 2203 is adjusted by the driving unit 1801 at the time of retry will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 24 (a) is a view of the driving means 1801 for adjusting the position of the rear main support as viewed from the side of the tablet take-out device. FIG. 24B is a partially cutaway perspective view of the driving means 1801 for adjusting the position of the rear main support, as viewed obliquely from above.

  As can be seen from FIG. 24, driving means 1801 is connected to the rear main support 2203 via a connecting member, and when the driving means 1801 is driven, the rear main support 2203 can be driven back and forth along the transport direction. Is provided.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram showing how the position of the rear main support 2203 can be adjusted. In the same manner as the conventional configuration, the front main support 2202 is connected to the pair of working side walls 213 and the distance between the pair of end supports (opening width of the tablet drop opening) is increased. The defining portion 2202a of the front main support 2202 moves along the edges (inclined edge 2201a and parallel edge 2201b), and is provided to move downstream in the transport direction (FIG. 25 (a) → FIG. 25 (b)). On the other hand, the rear main support 2203 is not provided with a defining portion, and is provided so as to be able to move independently of the distance between the pair of end supports under the control of the driving means. The rear main support 2203 is adjusted so that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 increases as the width of the tablet sheet increases until the lateral width of the tablet sheet is about 40 mm. When the lateral width of the tablet sheet is larger than 40 mm, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is adjusted to be constant as the width of the tablet sheet increases. In such a state, the first tablet extraction operation is performed.

  FIG. 26 shows the last tablet accommodating part at the time of taking out a tablet sheet in which the distance between the last tablet accommodating part 510a and the tablet sheet rear end part 2401 is about 2.5 mm, and a plurality of retry operations. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the front main support body 2202 and the rear main support body 2203 at the time. As shown here, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is adjusted to be narrow. By adjusting in this way during the retry operation, even if the distance between the last tablet storage portion 510a and the tablet sheet rear end portion 2401 is a tablet sheet of about 2.5 mm, While preventing the phenomenon of being caught by 2205 or the tablet sheet 51 and being unable to be taken out, the retry operation can be performed while the tablet sheet is supported as shown in FIG.

  The tablet take-out unit 1 is further provided with a changing mechanism for changing the speed at which the tablet accommodating portion of the tablet sheet 51 on the mounting table is pressed, and when the tablet cannot be taken out by a predetermined operation of the tablet take-out unit, The extrusion speed may be changed to a speed higher than the normal speed to press the tablet storage unit, and the extraction operation may be continued (retry).

(Second Embodiment)
Next, as a second embodiment different from the embodiment in which the tablet removal operation is performed without changing the unpacking position during the retry operation in FIG. 20, the tablet sheet is transported by the transport mechanism 16 during the retry operation, The tablet extraction operation performed by changing the unpacking position will be described with reference to FIG. Since the control other than the retry control is the same as in the first embodiment, only the flowchart of the tablet extraction operation will be described, and the other description will be omitted.

  As will be described below, since the pressing position of the tablet container can be changed by performing the tablet taking-out operation while changing the unpacking position, there is an advantage that the tablet can be easily unpacked. The main support used in the second embodiment is provided with a rear main support driving means 1801a and a front main support driving means 1801b such as a small linear actuator as shown in FIGS. . Using these, the position adjustment of the support during the retry take-out operation is performed by the transport mechanism 16 taking into account the transport amount of the tablet sheet.

  The control of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27 is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10.

  In S2700, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the packaging operation for one package has been completed at the stage where the tablets are taken out from the tablet storage unit in the left column in the previous packaging operation. Specifically, it can be determined by storing data in a storage unit such as an external memory which last tablet was taken out from which tablet storage unit last time. If the unpacking operation for one package is completed at the stage where the tablet is taken out from the tablet storage section in the left column in the previous packing operation, the process proceeds to S2713. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S2701.

  In S2701, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the unpacking operation has been completed because the number of unpacked tablets that have already been unpacked becomes the number of unpacked tablets specified by the prescription data. . Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the extraction operation is completed by managing the total number of tablets detected by the optical sensor 204 for each tablet extraction unit 1 in the storage unit as the tablet count data. it can.

  If it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, the tablet sheet is discharged to the discharge unit, and the process ends. If the unpacking number has not been reached, the process proceeds to S2702. .

  In S2702, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 conveys the tablet sheet by the conveyance mechanism 16 so that the tablet extraction position is reached. When the taking-out operation is continuously performed, the tablet sheet is conveyed by one row corresponding to the interval of the tablet accommodating portions.

  In S2703, CPU11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 makes an extrusion mechanism perform the tablet extraction operation | movement from the tablet storage part on the left side.

  In step S2704, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet has been detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If the tablet is not detected, the process proceeds to S2705, and if the interval of the main support is adjusted next, whether or not the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 reaches the lower limit interval. to decide. This is because if the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is narrowed to such an extent that the tablets cannot pass, the tablets cannot be taken out. Specifically, the lower limit interval is stored in an external memory or the like, and when the next interval adjustment is less than the lower limit interval, the tablet sheet is transported forward or backward by a predetermined amount by the transport mechanism 16 to store the tablets. After changing the unpacking position of the part, the process proceeds to S2708.

  In step S <b> 2708, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 calculates a drive amount that moves the position of the main support by the amount the tablet sheet is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 16. That is, a driving amount capable of adjusting the main support so that the tablet dropping port 2205 is positioned immediately below the tablet accommodating portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation is calculated.

  In S2709, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving means 1801a and the front main support driving means 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the amount calculated in S2708, and the front main support 2202 is driven. The position of the rear main support 2203 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and the process proceeds to S2710 to perform a retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation.

  For example, when the tablet mechanism is transported about 1 mm upstream in the transport direction by the transport mechanism 16 during the retry operation, the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b, such as a small linear actuator, A retry operation is performed after the tablet dropping port 2205 is driven to move about 1 mm upstream in the transport direction.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2705 that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 does not reach the lower limit even if the main support interval is adjusted next time, the transport mechanism 16 controls the tablet. After the sheet is conveyed forward or backward by a predetermined amount to change the unpacking position of the tablet storage unit, the process proceeds to S2706.

  In step S <b> 2706, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 moves the main support body so that the distance between the main support bodies is reduced to a driving amount that moves the position of the main support body by the amount the tablet sheet is transported by the transport mechanism 16. The adjustment amount is added to calculate the driving amount of the main support.

  In S2707, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving means 1801a and the front main support driving means 1801b, such as a small linear actuator, by the driving amount calculated in S2706 for each tablet taking-out unit. The position of the main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and then the process proceeds to S2710, the main support interval is adjusted, and the tablet storage portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation The tablet removal operation is retried in a state where the tablet drop opening 2205 is located immediately below the tablet.

  For example, when the tablet mechanism is transported about 1 mm upstream in the transport direction by the transport mechanism 16 during the retry operation, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is reduced by about 0.5 mm, and An adjustment amount is determined so that the tablet drop opening 2205 moves about 1 mm upstream in the transport direction. In this case, the front main support 2202 is moved about 1.25 mm upstream in the transport direction, and the rear main support 2203 is driven to move about 0.75 mm upstream in the transport direction, and then a retry operation. I do.

  In S2711, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, it is determined in S2712 whether the retry upper limit has been reached. If not, the process returns to S2705 to continue the retry unpacking operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in S2712 that the retry limit has been reached, the process proceeds to S2714.

  If a tablet is detected in S2704 and S2711, in S2713, whether the number of unpacked tablets has been unpacked for one package specified in the prescription data, and the unpacking operation has been completed. Judge whether or not. Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the extraction operation is completed by managing the total number of tablets detected by the optical sensor 204 for each tablet extraction unit 1 in the storage unit as the tablet count data. it can. If it is determined that the removal operation has been completed, it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, the tablet sheet is discharged to the discharge unit, and the process ends. If the number of unpacking has not been reached, the process proceeds to S2714.

  In S2714, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 causes the push-out mechanism to take out the tablet from the right-side tablet container. In S2715, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet has been detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, the process proceeds to S2716, and if the interval of the main support is adjusted next, whether or not the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 reaches the lower limit interval. to decide. This is because if the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is narrowed to such an extent that the tablets cannot pass, the tablets cannot be taken out.

  Specifically, the lower limit interval is stored in an external memory or the like, and when the next interval adjustment is less than the lower limit interval, the tablet sheet is transported forward or backward by a predetermined amount by the transport mechanism 16 to store the tablets. After changing the unpacking position of the part, the process proceeds to S2719.

  In step S <b> 2719, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 calculates a drive amount that moves the position of the main support by the amount that the tablet sheet is transported by the transport mechanism 16. That is, a driving amount capable of adjusting the main support so that the tablet dropping port 2205 is positioned immediately below the tablet accommodating portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation is calculated.

  In S2720, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the amount calculated in S2719, and the front main support 2202 is driven. And the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, the process proceeds to S2721, and a retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S2716 that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 does not reach the lower limit interval even if the main support interval is adjusted next time, the transport mechanism 16 determines the tablet. After the sheet is conveyed forward or backward by a predetermined amount to change the unpacking position of the tablet storage unit, the process proceeds to S2717.

  In step S <b> 2717, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 moves the main support so that the distance between the main supports is reduced to a drive amount that moves the position of the main support by the amount the tablet sheet is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 16. The adjustment amount is added to calculate the driving amount of the main support.

  In S2718, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the driving amount calculated in S2717 for each tablet taking-out unit. The position of the main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and then the process proceeds to S2721, where the main support interval is adjusted, and the tablet storage portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation The tablet removal operation is retried in a state where the tablet drop opening 2205 is located immediately below the tablet.

  In S <b> 2722, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, it is determined in S2723 whether the retry upper limit has been reached. If not, the process returns to S2716 to continue the retry unpacking operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in S2723 that the retry upper limit has been reached, the process returns to S2701 to determine whether a predetermined number of packages have been removed.

  Also, when it is determined in S2715 and S2722 that the tablets have been taken out, the process returns to S2701, and it is determined whether the predetermined number of packages have been unpacked.

  That is, the retry operation is performed while the interval between the main supports is reduced until the tablets can be taken out and the pressing position of the tablet accommodating portion is changed. By performing such a retry operation, even when taking out a tablet from the tablet container near the rear end of the tablet sheet, in most tablet sheets, the extraction operation can be performed with the tablet sheet supported by the rear support. Can be taken out.

(Third embodiment)
In 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, when performing retry operation irrespective of the position of the tablet accommodating part in a tablet sheet, although the example which narrows the space | interval of a main support body was demonstrated, in this embodiment, An example in which the interval between the main supports is narrowed only during the retry operation in the case of the last row of tablet storage units will be described.

The description will focus on the parts different from the first and second embodiments, and the description of the same parts will be omitted.
First, a method for specifying the last row using an optical sensor provided in the transport path will be described.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the distance between the detection position of the optical sensor and the tablet dropping opening. FIG. 28 is a view of the tablet extraction position as viewed from the upper side in the gravity direction of the tablet supply device. Here, the distance A between the detection position of the optical sensor and the center position of the tablet drop opening is about 23.7 mm. Distance from the timing when the detection mechanism 17 detects the completion of passage of the tablet sheet in the tablet container so that the center position of the tablet container comes to the center of the tablet drop opening, that is, the timing when the optical sensor 17 is turned from ON to OFF. The position where (23.7 mm-X / 2) is conveyed is taken as the tablet removal position. Thereby, tablet extraction operation | movement can be performed in the position where the probability that a tablet can be taken out from a tablet accommodating part is high.

  Next, the flow of processing for determining whether or not the tablet container is in the last row in the tablet sheet and turning on the flag when it is in the last row will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Such control is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10.

  In S2901, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor when the conveyance of the first tablet sheet is started in order to depackage the tablet specified by the prescription data.

  In S2902, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17. In step S2903, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from OFF to ON. Specifically, since it can be said that the optical sensor is ON when the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 17b is less than a predetermined amount, when the optical sensor is ON, the process proceeds to S2904. On the other hand, if the optical sensor is OFF, the tablet storage unit in the front row has not been detected yet, and the process returns to S2901.

  In S2904, the tablet width counter value for specifying the tablet width is incremented. That is, since the number of steps by the transport motor is counted, the tablet in the transport direction is determined from the tablet width counter value counted while the optical sensor is ON and the transport distance corresponding to one step by the transport motor. The width of the accommodating part can be specified.

  In step S2905, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor as in step S2901, and acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17 in step S2906 as in step S2902. In step S2907, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from ON to OFF. When it changes from ON to OFF, since it can be said that the tablet container has passed the detection position of the optical sensor, the process proceeds to S2908.

  In S2908, since it can be said that the tablet storage part has passed and the detection position of the optical sensor has passed between adjacent tablet storage parts, the width counter value between tablets is incremented. That is, since the number of steps by the conveyance motor is counted, the conveyance direction is determined from the width counter value between tablets counted while the optical sensor is OFF and the conveyance distance corresponding to one step by the conveyance motor. The width of the adjacent tablet container can be specified.

  In S2909, it is determined whether the counter value between tablets is equal to or greater than a threshold value. If the threshold is exceeded, the next tablet container cannot be detected even if the tablet sheet is transported more than a predetermined distance after the passage of the tablet sheet through the tablet container is detected. , Transition to S2917. On the other hand, if it is not equal to or greater than the threshold, it is determined that the tablet storage unit 510a is not in the last row, and the process proceeds to S2910. Note that a default value is set for the threshold value before the threshold value is updated in S2916. As a default value, a value that is larger than the distance between adjacent tablet accommodating portions in any tablet sheet that is generally distributed and that is smaller than Z as shown in FIG. 30 may be set. For example, 20 mm Can be used. And when the tablet storage part after the 2nd row is detected, it judges using the threshold value set by below-mentioned S2916.

  In S2910, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 stores the current tablet container in the memory with the last tablet flag in the current tablet container being OFF because the current tablet container is not the last tablet container 510a.

  In S2911, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor in the same manner as in S2901, and acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17 in S2912, as in S2902. In step S2913, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from OFF to ON. When it changes from OFF to ON, it turns out that the next tablet accommodating part was detected by the optical sensor.

  In S2914, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 conveys the tablet sheet from the timing when the detection mechanism 17 detects the passage of the tablet sheet through the tablet container so that the center position of the tablet container is at the center of the tablet drop opening. The conveyance distance to be calculated is calculated. Specifically, the conveyance distance (A−X / 2) is calculated from the width X of the tablet container specified from the tablet width counter value, the distance (A) between the detection position of the optical sensor and the center position of the tablet dropping port 2205. ) Is calculated.

  In S2915, it is determined whether or not the tablet container used when the transport distance is calculated in S2914 is the first tablet container in the prescription data. In the case of the first tablet container, in S2916, the value obtained from the width Y between adjacent tablet containers specified from the width counter value between tablets is updated as a threshold value, and then the process proceeds to S2919. Thereby, since the threshold value used in the determination in S2909 can be a value suitable for the current tablet sheet, the reliability of the determination in S2909 can be improved. In addition, it is preferable to consider the value which added predetermined amount to the width | variety Y between adjacent tablet accommodating parts in consideration of conveyance amount precision.

  If it is not the first tablet container in the prescription data in S2915, it can be said that the threshold has already been set to a value suitable for the current tablet sheet, and the process proceeds to S2919 without updating the threshold.

  On the other hand, in S2917, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 stores the last row tablet flag of the current tablet storage portion in the memory as ON because the current tablet storage portion is the last row tablet storage portion 510a.

  In S2918, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 calculates the transport amount to the tablet extraction position, similar to S2914.

  In S2919, it is determined whether or not the unpacking of all the number of tablets specified by the prescription data has been completed. If completed, the process proceeds to S2920, where the threshold value is reset to default and the process ends. If it is determined in S2919 that the process has not ended, the transport operation is continued, and the process returns to S2901.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although demonstrated using the example which sets a threshold value according to the distance between adjacent tablet accommodating parts, it is good also considering a predetermined fixed value as a threshold value.

  FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a state in which tablet sheets are continuously conveyed. From this, it can be seen that the width of the tablet containing portion is substantially constant at X, and the width between adjacent tablet containing portions is substantially constant at Y. Furthermore, the width Z between the tablet storage portion 510a that is the last row in the transport direction and the tablet storage portion 510b that is the frontmost row of the next tablet sheet is sufficiently wider than Y between adjacent tablet storage portions. You can see that it is wide. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, by setting a value obtained from the width Y between adjacent tablet storage portions as a threshold value, it can be determined that the tablet storage portion is the last row of tablet sheets.

  If the information on the tablet sheet is registered in the main body in advance, it can be determined in advance whether the target tablet sheet is a 5-row sheet or a 7-row sheet. You can also. Hereinafter, a method of determining the last row of tablet storage units from the information on the tablet sheet will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 31 is a flowchart for explaining the flow for determining the transport distance to the tablet removal position. Such control is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10.

  In step S <b> 3101, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 acquires tablet number data or tablet sequence data corresponding to the prescription data from a medicine master (database) stored in an external memory in the information processing device 300. Stored in the external memory.

  FIG. 32A shows an example of a medicine master stored in the information processing apparatus 300. In the database file of the drug master, tablet data or powder data is described for each line. The medicine master can have various related information uniquely associated with one medicine, and various related information settings can be registered for each medicine. 32 (b) and 32 (c) are diagrams showing positions on the tablet sheet of information shown in the medicine master. The drug master has a number for managing each registered drug, a product code 2401 for identifying the drug, a drug name 2402 for sale name, a sheet width 2403 for tablet sheet width, and a tablet Sheet length 2404 which is the length of the sheet, sheet thickness 2405, leading edge interval 2406, left interval 2407, right interval 2408, trailing end interval 2409, tablet container vertical width 2410, tablet container thickness 2411, tablet container Horizontal cross-section interval 2412, tablet container vertical interval 2413, OD lock information 2414 flagged when the tablet shape is an OD tablet, flag raised when the capsule shape is a soft capsule (the capsule is soft) Soft capsule information 2415, the number of tablets 2417 packaged in a tablet sheet, and the like are stored.

  FIG. 33 is a tablet row table generated using the number of tablets acquired in S3101. In the tablet row table, the tablet take-out unit No. 2501, a drug name 2502, a number of tablets 2503, and a measured tablet row 2504 are stored. The tablet supply device 10 manages what kind of medicine name is registered in each unit based on the prescription data. In S3101, the medicine name is referred to the medicine master based on the medicine name 2502, and the medicine name 2502 is registered. The number of tablets 2503 corresponding to is acquired. Specifically, the number of tablets 2503 is acquired for each unit from the number of tablets 2417 of the medicine master having the same medicine name. In addition, when the tablet row is stored in the management master, the tablet row may be acquired instead of the number of tablets. And the tablet row | line | column 2504 is set so that it may become 0 at this time. Note that the tablet row master may store the number of tablets instead of the tablet row.

  In S3102, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor when the conveyance of the first tablet sheet is started in order to unpack the tablet specified by the prescription data.

  In step S <b> 3103, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17. In step S3104, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from OFF to ON. Specifically, since it can be said that the optical sensor is ON when the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 17b is less than a predetermined amount, when the optical sensor is ON, the process proceeds to S3105. On the other hand, if the optical sensor is OFF, the tablet storage unit in the front row has not been detected yet, and the process returns to S3102.

  In step S3105, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor in the same manner as in step S3102, and acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17 in step S3106 in the same manner as in step S3103. In step S3107, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from ON to OFF. When it changes from ON to OFF, since it can be said that the tablet storage part has passed the detection position of the optical sensor, the process proceeds to S3108. On the other hand, if the optical sensor is ON, since the tablet container has not yet passed, the process returns to S3105.

  In S3108, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 updates the tablet row 2504 of the tablet row table so as to count up. In the present flowchart, the measured tablet row is updated after the tablet container has passed, but may be updated at the timing when detection of the tablet container is started.

  In step S <b> 3109, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether the tablet to be taken out is the last row based on the updated value of the tablet row 2504. Specifically, when the number of tablets 2503 in the tablet row table is “10”, it is 5 rows of tablet sheets, and in the case of “14”, it is 7 rows of tablet sheets. By comparing the number of tablets 2503 with the measured tablet row 2504, it can be determined whether or not it is the last row. If it is determined in S3109 that it is not the last column, the process proceeds to S3110. If it is determined that the last column is determined in S3109, the process proceeds to S3112.

  In S3110, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 stores the last tablet flag of the current tablet container in the memory as OFF because the current tablet container is not the last tablet container 510a.

  In S <b> 3111, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 conveys the tablet sheet from the timing when the detection mechanism 17 detects the passage of the tablet sheet through the tablet storage unit so that the center position of the tablet storage unit comes to the center position of the tablet drop opening. The conveyance distance to be calculated is calculated. Specifically, the conveyance distance (A−X / 2) is calculated from the width X of the tablet container specified from the tablet width counter value, the distance (A) between the detection position of the optical sensor and the center position of the tablet dropping port 2205. ) Is calculated.

  In S3112, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 stores the current tablet container in the final row tablet flag 510a in the memory because the current tablet container is the last row tablet container 510a.

  In S <b> 3113, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 calculates the transport amount to the tablet extraction position, similar to S <b> 3111.

  In S3114, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 updates the tablet row 2504 of the tablet row table to 0 at this time.

  In S3115, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the unpacking of all the number of tablets specified by the prescription data has been completed, and when it is completed, the process is ended. On the other hand, if it is determined in S3115 that all the unpacking has not been completed, the next tablet sheet conveyance operation is started, and the process returns to S3102.

  That is, as described with reference to FIGS. 32 and 33, the last row based on the number of tablets stored in the tablet master can be determined without specifying the last row based on the width between the tablet accommodating portions as shown in FIG. Can be identified as a column.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 34, the flow of the tablet extracting operation for narrowing the interval between the main supports during the retry operation only in the case of the last row will be described. FIG. 34 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 20 shown in the first embodiment. Such control is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10.

  In S3400, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the packaging operation for one package has been completed at the stage of taking out the tablets from the tablet storage unit in the left column in the previous packaging operation. Specifically, it can be determined by storing data in a storage unit such as an external memory which last tablet was taken out from which tablet storage unit last time. When the unpacking operation for one package is completed at the stage where the tablets are taken out from the tablet storage section in the left column in the previous packing operation, the process proceeds to S3412. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S3401.

  In S3401, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the unpacking operation is completed because the number of unpacked tablets that have already been unpacked becomes the number of unpacked ones specified in the prescription data. . Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the extraction operation is completed by managing the total number of tablets detected by the optical sensor 204 for each tablet extraction unit 1 in the storage unit as the tablet count data. it can.

  If it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, the tablet sheet is discharged to the discharge unit, and the process ends. If the unpacking number has not been reached, the process proceeds to S3402. .

  In step S3402, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 conveys the tablet sheet by the conveyance mechanism 16 so that the tablet extraction position is reached. When the taking-out operation is continuously performed, the tablet sheet is conveyed by one row corresponding to the interval of the tablet accommodating portions.

  In S3403, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 causes the push-out mechanism to take out the tablet from the left tablet storage unit.

  In S3404, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet has been detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, the process advances to step S3405 to determine whether the final row unpacking flag is ON. If the final column unpacking flag is ON, the process proceeds to S3406.

  In step S <b> 3406, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 reaches the lower limit interval after adjusting the interval between the main supports. This is because if the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is narrowed to such an extent that the tablets cannot pass, the tablets cannot be taken out. Specifically, the lower limit interval is stored in an external memory or the like, and if the next interval adjustment is less than the lower limit interval, the process proceeds to S3409, and the tablet is taken out without adjusting the main support interval. Performs retry operation. That is, if the upper limit of retry is not reached even when the lower limit interval of the main support interval is reached, the retry operation is repeated at the interval of the main support immediately before the lower limit interval is reached.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S3406 that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 does not reach the lower limit even if the main support interval is adjusted next, the process proceeds to S3407. CPU11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 calculates the drive amount of a support part so that the space | interval of a main support part may become narrow. Specifically, each of the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 moves so as to approach the position where the tablet takeout mechanism 15 can press the center position of the tablet container, and the front main support 2202 It is preferable to calculate a driving amount by which the distance from the rear main support 2203 is reduced by about 0.5 mm.

  In S3408, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the driving amount calculated in S3406 for each tablet taking-out unit. The position of the main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and then the process proceeds to S3409, where the retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation is performed in a state in which the interval of the main support is adjusted.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S3405 that the final unpacking flag is OFF, the processing of S3406 to S3408 is not performed, and the retry operation of the tablet extraction operation is performed without adjusting the interval of the main support.

  As described above, in cases other than the last row, the retry operation can be smoothly advanced by not adjusting the interval of the main support during the retry operation.

  In S3410, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet has been detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, it is determined in S3411 whether the retry upper limit has been reached. If not, the process returns to S3405 to continue the retry unpacking operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in S3411 that the retry upper limit has been reached, the process proceeds to S3413.

  If a tablet is detected in S3404 and S3410, whether or not the unpacking operation has been completed in S3412 because the unpacking number of the already unpacked tablet becomes the unpacking number for one package specified in the prescription data. Judge whether or not. Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the extraction operation is completed by managing the total number of tablets detected by the optical sensor 204 for each tablet extraction unit 1 in the storage unit as the tablet count data. it can. If it is determined that the removal operation has been completed, it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, the tablet sheet is discharged to the discharge unit, and the process is terminated.

  In S3413, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 causes the push-out mechanism to take out the tablet from the right tablet storage unit. In S3414, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, the process advances to step S3415 to determine whether the final row unpacking flag is ON. If the final column unpacking flag is ON, the process advances to S3416.

  In S3416, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 reaches the lower limit interval after adjusting the interval between the main supports. This is because if the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is narrowed to such an extent that the tablets cannot pass, the tablets cannot be taken out. Specifically, the lower limit interval is stored in an external memory or the like, and if the next interval adjustment is less than the lower limit interval, the process proceeds to S3419, and the tablet is taken out without adjusting the main support interval. Performs retry operation.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S3416 that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 does not reach the lower limit even if the main support interval is adjusted next, the process proceeds to S3417. CPU11 of the tablet supply apparatus 10 calculates the drive amount of a support part so that the space | interval of a main support part may become narrow. Specifically, each of the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 moves so as to approach the position where the tablet takeout mechanism 15 can press the center position of the tablet container, and the front main support 2202 It is preferable to calculate a driving amount by which the distance from the rear main support 2203 is reduced by about 0.5 mm.

  In S3418, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving means 1801a and the front main support driving means 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the driving amount calculated in S3415 for each tablet taking-out unit, The position of the main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and then the process proceeds to S3419, and the retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation is performed in a state in which the interval of the main support is adjusted.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S3415 that the final unpacking flag is OFF, the processing of S3416 to S3418 is not performed, and the retry operation of the tablet extraction operation is performed without adjusting the main support interval.

  As described above, in cases other than the last row, the retry operation can be smoothly advanced by not adjusting the interval of the main support during the retry operation.

  In S3420, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet has been detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet has been detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation has been performed. If no tablet is detected, it is determined in S3421 whether the retry upper limit has been reached. If not, the process returns to S3415 to continue the retry unpacking operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in S3421 that the retry upper limit has been reached, the process returns to S3401 to determine whether a predetermined number of packages have been removed.

  Also, if it is determined in S3414 and S3420 that the tablets have been taken out, the process returns to S3401 to determine whether or not the predetermined number of packages have been removed.

  That is, in the case of the taking-out operation from the tablet storage section in the last row, the retrying operation is performed while narrowing the interval between the main supports until the tablets can be taken out. By performing such a retry operation, even when taking out a tablet from the tablet container near the rear end of the tablet sheet, in most tablet sheets, the extraction operation can be performed with the tablet sheet supported by the rear support. Can be taken out.

  The interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 may be reduced by about 0.5 mm for each retry operation, but the amount gradually reduced may be reduced. Specifically, during the first retry operation, it is narrowed by about 0.5 mm from the initial width, and during the second retry operation, it is narrowed by about 0.4 mm from the first retry operation, and during the third retry operation, the second retry operation is performed. Narrow about 0.3mm from the time of operation. By adjusting in this way, it can reduce that a tablet is caught in the main support body and cannot be taken out from a tablet accommodating part.

  Further, in this embodiment, the interval between the main supports is linked to the number of retry operations, and the interval between the main supports is stepwise when performing the retry control so that the tablet extraction operation is performed a plurality of times for the same tablet container. Although the example in which the main support is narrowed has been described, the take-out operation may be performed several times at the same main support interval, and the main support interval may be reduced if the take-out operation is not possible even after being repeated a predetermined number of times.

  Note that, in the case of the tablet take-out operation performed by changing the tablet unpacking position by transferring the tablet sheet by the transfer mechanism 16 during the retry operation as described in the second embodiment, similarly, The retry operation for narrowing the interval between the main supports can be covered only in the case of the take-out operation. This flow will be described with reference to FIG. 35 corresponding to FIG.

  The control of the flowchart shown in FIG. 35 is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10.

  In S3501, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the packaging operation for one package has been completed at the stage where the tablets are taken out from the tablet storage unit in the left column in the previous packaging operation. Specifically, it can be determined by storing data in a storage unit such as an external memory which last tablet was taken out from which tablet storage unit last time. If the unpacking operation for one package is completed at the stage where the tablets are taken out from the tablet storage section in the left column in the previous packing operation, the process proceeds to S3515, and if not, the process proceeds to S3502.

  In S3502, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the unpacking operation is completed because the number of unpacked tablets that have already been unpacked becomes the number of unpacked tablets specified in the prescription data. . Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the extraction operation is completed by managing the total number of tablets detected by the optical sensor 204 for each tablet extraction unit 1 in the storage unit as the tablet count data. it can.

  If it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, and the tablet sheet is discharged to the discharge unit to end the process. If the unpacking number has not been reached, the process proceeds to S3503. .

  In step S <b> 3503, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 conveys the tablet sheet by the conveyance mechanism 16 so that the tablet extraction position is reached. When the taking-out operation is continuously performed, the tablet sheet is conveyed by one row corresponding to the interval of the tablet accommodating portions.

  In step S <b> 3504, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 causes the push-out mechanism to take out a tablet from the left tablet storage unit.

  In step S <b> 3505, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the take-out operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, the process advances to step S3506 to determine whether the final row unpacking flag is ON. If the final column unpacking flag is ON, the process proceeds to S3507.

  In S3507, it is determined whether the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 reaches the lower limit interval after the main support interval adjustment is performed. This is because if the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is narrowed to such an extent that the tablets cannot pass, the tablets cannot be taken out. Specifically, the lower limit interval is stored in an external memory or the like, and when the next interval adjustment is less than the lower limit interval, the tablet sheet is transported forward or backward by a predetermined amount by the transport mechanism 16 to store the tablets. After changing the part unpacking position, the flow shifts to S3508.

  In step S <b> 3508, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 calculates a drive amount that moves the position of the main support by the amount that the tablet sheet is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 16. That is, a driving amount capable of adjusting the main support so that the tablet dropping port 2205 is positioned immediately below the tablet accommodating portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation is calculated.

  In S3509, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the amount calculated in S3508, and the front main support 2202 is driven. And the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, the process proceeds to S3512, and the retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation is performed without adjusting the interval of the main support.

  For example, when the tablet mechanism is transported about 1 mm upstream in the transport direction by the transport mechanism 16 during the retry operation, the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b, such as a small linear actuator, A retry operation is performed after the tablet dropping port 2205 is driven to move about 1 mm upstream in the transport direction.

  When it is determined in S3507 that the lower limit interval has been reached, in S3510, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 moves the position of the main support by the amount the tablet sheet is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 16. Is calculated. That is, a driving amount capable of adjusting the main support so that the tablet dropping port 2205 is positioned immediately below the tablet accommodating portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation is calculated.

  In S3511, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving means 1801a and the front main support driving means 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the amount calculated in S3510, and the front main support 2202 is driven. And the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and the process proceeds to S3512 to perform a retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3507 that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 does not reach the lower limit even if the main support interval is adjusted next time, the transport mechanism 16 controls the tablet. After the sheet is conveyed forward or backward by a predetermined amount to change the unpacking position of the tablet storage unit, the process proceeds to S3508.

  In S3508, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 moves the main support so that the distance between the main supports is reduced to a driving amount that moves the position of the main support by the amount the tablet sheet is transported by the transport mechanism 16. The adjustment amount is added to calculate the driving amount of the main support.

  In S3509, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the driving amount calculated in S3506 for each tablet taking-out unit. The position of the main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and then the process proceeds to S3512 where the main support interval is adjusted and the tablet storage portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation The tablet removal operation is retried in a state where the tablet drop opening 2205 is located immediately below the tablet.

  For example, when the tablet mechanism is transported about 1 mm upstream in the transport direction by the transport mechanism 16 during the retry operation, the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is reduced by about 0.5 mm, and An adjustment amount is determined so that the tablet drop opening 2205 moves about 1 mm upstream in the transport direction. In this case, the front main support 2202 is moved about 1.25 mm upstream in the transport direction, and the rear main support 2203 is driven to move about 0.75 mm upstream in the transport direction, and then a retry operation. I do.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S3506 that the final unpacking flag is OFF, the processing of S3507 to S3511 is not performed, and the retry operation of the tablet extraction operation is performed without adjusting the interval of the main support.

  As described above, in cases other than the last row, the retry operation can be smoothly advanced by not adjusting the interval of the main support during the retry operation.

  In step S <b> 3513, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the take-out operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, it is determined in S3514 whether the retry upper limit has been reached. If not, the process returns to S3506 to continue the retry unpacking operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in S3514 that the retry upper limit has been reached, the process proceeds to S3516.

  If a tablet is detected in S3505 and S3513, in S3515, whether the number of unwrapped tablets has been unpacked for one package specified in the prescription data, and the unpacking operation has been completed. Judge whether or not. Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not the extraction operation is completed by managing the total number of tablets detected by the optical sensor 204 for each tablet extraction unit 1 in the storage unit as the tablet count data. it can. If it is determined that the removal has been completed, it is determined that the take-out operation has been completed, the tablet sheet is discharged to the discharge unit, and the process ends. If not, the process advances to step S3516.

  In step S <b> 3516, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 causes the extrusion mechanism to perform a tablet extraction operation from the right tablet storage unit. In step S3517, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the removal operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, the process advances to step S3518 to determine whether the final row unpacking flag is ON. If the final column unpacking flag is ON, the process proceeds to S3519.

  In S3619, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the interval between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 reaches the lower limit interval after adjusting the main support interval. This is because if the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 is narrowed to such an extent that the tablets cannot pass, the tablets cannot be taken out.

  Specifically, the lower limit interval is stored in an external memory or the like, and when the next interval adjustment is less than the lower limit interval, the tablet sheet is transported forward or backward by a predetermined amount by the transport mechanism 16 to store the tablets. After changing the unpacking position of the part, the process proceeds to S3522.

  In S <b> 3522, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 calculates a driving amount that moves the position of the main support by the amount that the tablet sheet is conveyed by the conveyance mechanism 16. That is, a driving amount capable of adjusting the main support so that the tablet dropping port 2205 is positioned immediately below the tablet accommodating portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation is calculated.

  In S3523, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving means 1801a and the front main support driving means 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the amount calculated in S3522, and the front main support 2202 is driven. And the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, the process proceeds to S3524, and a retry operation of the tablet taking-out operation is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S3519 that the distance between the front main support 2202 and the rear main support 2203 does not reach the lower limit interval even if the main support interval is adjusted next, the transport mechanism 16 controls the tablet. After the sheet is conveyed forward or backward by a predetermined amount to change the unpacking position of the tablet storage unit, the process proceeds to S3520.

  In step S3520, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 moves the main support body so that the distance between the main support bodies is reduced to a drive amount that moves the position of the main support body by the amount the tablet sheet is transported by the transport mechanism 16. The adjustment amount is added to calculate the driving amount of the main support.

  In S3521, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 drives the rear main support driving unit 1801a and the front main support driving unit 1801b such as a small linear actuator by the driving amount calculated in S3517 for each tablet taking-out unit. The position of the main support 2202 and the position of the rear main support 2203 are adjusted, and then the process proceeds to S3524, the main support interval is adjusted, and the tablet storage portion of the tablet sheet conveyed for the retry operation The tablet removal operation is retried in a state where the tablet drop opening 2205 is located immediately below the tablet.

  In step S3525, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether one tablet is detected based on whether or not the passage of the tablet is detected (successful removal) by the optical sensor 204 within a predetermined time after the extraction operation is performed. If no tablet is detected, it is determined in S3526 whether the retry upper limit has been reached. If not, the process returns to S3518 to continue the retry unpacking operation. On the other hand, if it is determined in S3523 that the retry upper limit has been reached, the process returns to S3501 to determine whether a predetermined number of packages have been removed.

  Also, if it is determined in S3517 and S3525 that the tablets have been taken out, the process returns to S3502 to determine whether the predetermined number of packages have been removed.

  That is, in the case of the taking-out operation from the tablet storage section in the final row, the retry operation is performed while the interval between the main supports is narrowed and the pressing position of the tablet storage section is changed until the tablets can be taken out. By performing such a retry operation, even when taking out a tablet from the tablet container near the rear end of the tablet sheet, in most tablet sheets, the extraction operation can be performed with the tablet sheet supported by the rear support. Can be taken out.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the third embodiment, the description has been given using the situation in which the tablet sheet is conveyed from the insertion port and the tablet taking-out operation is performed in such a direction that the end 2402 of the tablet sheet becomes the rear end. When the tablet sheet is conveyed from the insertion port in such a direction that the end portion 2402 of the main body becomes the front end, the interval between the main supports during the retry operation is only when the tablet removal operation is performed from the tablet storage portion in the front row. It is better to narrow the.

  Whether the control when the end 2402 of the tablet sheet is the leading edge or the control when it is the trailing edge is performed, for example, a switching button is provided in the vicinity of the insertion port 203 of the tablet dispensing unit 1, This can be determined by selecting at the time of charging. In addition, detection means (not shown) are provided in the vicinity of the insertion opening of the tablet take-out unit 1 to detect in which direction the end 2402 is directed and the tablet sheet is inserted in accordance with the detection result. It may be determined whether to perform control when the end 2402 is the leading end or control when the end 2402 is the trailing end.

  That is, the first case in which the distance between the tablet container and the end of the tablet sheet is short and the side where the distance between the tablet container and the end of the tablet sheet is short is the front. Control is performed so as to switch the mechanism for determining the transport distance according to the position of the tablet container in the second case. Thereby, control according to the conveyance situation of a tablet sheet can be performed.

  Only when the tablet taking-out operation is performed from the front row of tablet storage units, and when the interval between the main supports is narrowed during the retry operation, the retry operation process is performed in S3405 and S3415 in FIG. 34 described in the third embodiment and FIG. The processing is the same as replacing “whether the last row unpacking flag is ON” in S3506 of S35 and “whether the last row unpacking flag is ON” in S3518, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Therefore, here, a process for setting the front row unpacking flag will be described.
First, a method for identifying the front row using an optical sensor provided in the transport path will be described.

  A diagram showing the distance between the detection position of the optical sensor and the tablet drop opening is shown in FIG. FIG. 36 is a view of the tablet extraction position as viewed from the upper side in the gravity direction of the tablet supply device. Here, the distance A between the detection position of the optical sensor and the center position of the tablet drop opening is about 23.7 mm. Distance from the timing when the detection mechanism 17 detects the completion of passage of the tablet sheet in the tablet container so that the center position of the tablet container comes to the center of the tablet drop opening, that is, the timing when the optical sensor 17 is turned from ON to OFF. The position where (23.7 mm-X / 2) is conveyed is taken as the tablet removal position. Thereby, tablet extraction operation | movement can be performed in the position where the probability that a tablet can be taken out from a tablet accommodating part is high.

  Next, the flow of processing for determining whether or not the tablet storage portion is the last row in the tablet sheet and turning on the front row unpacking flag when it is the front row will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Such control is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10.

  In S3701, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor when the conveyance of the first tablet sheet is started in order to depackage the tablet specified by the prescription data.

  In S 3702, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17. In step S3703, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from OFF to ON. Specifically, since it can be said that the optical sensor is ON when the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 17b is less than a predetermined amount, the process proceeds to S3705 when the optical sensor is ON. On the other hand, if the optical sensor is OFF, since the tablet container has not been detected yet, the process proceeds to S3704.

  In S3704, the inter-tablet width counter value for specifying the inter-tablet width is incremented. In other words, since the number of steps by the conveyance motor is counted, the conveyance is performed from the width counter value between the tablets counted while the optical sensor is OFF and the conveyance distance corresponding to one step by the conveyance motor. The distance from the start to the detection of the tablet container or the distance between the tablet containers can be specified.

  In S3705, the tablet width counter value for specifying the tablet width is incremented. That is, since the number of steps by the transport motor is counted, the tablet in the transport direction is determined from the tablet width counter value counted while the optical sensor is ON and the transport distance corresponding to one step by the transport motor. The width of the accommodating part can be specified.

  In S3706, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor as in S3701, and acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17 in S3707 as in S3702. In step S3708, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from ON to OFF. When it changes from ON to OFF, since it can be said that the tablet storage part has passed the detection position of the optical sensor, the process proceeds to S3709.

  In step S3709, it is determined whether the width counter value between tablets is equal to or greater than a threshold value. If it is equal to or greater than the threshold, it is determined that the tablet container is in the front row, and the flow shifts to S3714.

  On the other hand, if it is not equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is determined that the tablet container 510a is not in the front row, and the process proceeds to S3710. Note that a default value is set as the threshold before the threshold is updated in S3713. As a default value, a value that is larger than the distance between adjacent tablet accommodating portions in any tablet sheet that is generally distributed and that is smaller than Z as shown in FIG. 38 may be set, for example, 20 mm. Can be used.

  In S3710, since the current tablet container is not the frontmost tablet container 510a, the frontmost tablet flag of the current tablet container is set to OFF and stored in the memory.

  In S3711, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 conveys the tablet sheet from the timing when the detection mechanism 17 detects the passage of the tablet sheet through the tablet container so that the center position of the tablet container is located at the center of the tablet drop opening. The conveyance distance to be calculated is calculated. Specifically, the conveyance distance (A−X / 2) is calculated from the width X of the tablet container specified from the tablet width counter value, the distance (A) between the detection position of the optical sensor and the center position of the tablet dropping port 2205. ) Is calculated.

  In S3712, it is determined whether or not the tablet storage unit used when the transport distance is calculated is the second row of tablet storage units in the prescription data. In the case of the second row of tablet storage units, in S3713, the value obtained from the width Y between adjacent tablet storage units specified from the width counter value between tablets is updated as a threshold value, and then the process proceeds to S3716. Thereby, since the threshold value used in the determination in S3709 can be a value suitable for the current tablet sheet, the reliability of the determination in S3709 can be increased. In addition, it is preferable to consider the value which added predetermined amount to the width | variety Y between adjacent tablet accommodating parts in consideration of conveyance amount precision. Note that the determination of the tablet storage unit in the second column of the prescription data is not essential as in S3712, and the threshold value may be constantly updated.

  If it is not the tablet storage unit in the second row in the prescription data in S3712, it can be said that the threshold has already been set to a value suitable for the current tablet sheet, and the process proceeds to S3716 without updating the threshold.

  In S3714, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 stores the front row tablet flag of the current tablet storage unit in the memory as ON because the current tablet storage unit is the front row tablet storage unit 510a.

  Furthermore, in S3715, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 calculates the transport amount to the tablet extraction position, similarly to S3711.

  In S3716, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the unpacking of all the number of tablets specified by the prescription data has been completed. If completed, the process proceeds to S3717 to reset the threshold value to default. finish. If it is determined in S3716 that the process has not ended, the transport operation is continued, and the process returns to S3704.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although demonstrated using the example which sets a threshold value according to the distance between adjacent tablet accommodating parts, it is good also considering a predetermined fixed value as a threshold value.

  FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a state in which tablet sheets are continuously conveyed. From this, it can be seen that the width of the tablet containing portion is substantially constant at X, and the width between adjacent tablet containing portions is substantially constant at Y. Furthermore, the width Z between the tablet storage portion 510a that is the last row in the transport direction and the tablet storage portion 510b that is the frontmost row of the next tablet sheet is sufficiently wider than Y between adjacent tablet storage portions. You can see that it is wide. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, by setting a value obtained from the width Y between adjacent tablet storage portions as a threshold value, it can be determined that the tablet storage portion is the last row of tablet sheets.

  As described above, it is possible to set the foremost line unpacking flag by specifying the foremost line using the optical sensor provided in the transport path. Next, the flow of processing for specifying the front row and setting the front row unpacking flag using pre-registered tablet sheet information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Such control is realized by reading and executing a control program stored in the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10.

  In S3901, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 acquires the tablet number data or the tablet sequence data corresponding to the prescription data from the medicine master (database) stored in the external memory in the information processing device 300, and the tablet supply device 10 Stored in the external memory.

  In S3902, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor when the conveyance of the first tablet sheet is started in order to unpack the tablet specified by the prescription data.

  In S3903, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17. In step S3904, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from OFF to ON. Specifically, since it can be said that the optical sensor is ON when the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 17b is less than a predetermined amount, when the optical sensor is ON, the process proceeds to S3905. On the other hand, if the optical sensor is ON, the tablet storage unit in the front row has not been detected yet, and the process returns to S3902.

  In S3905, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 specifies the conveyance for one step by the conveyance motor as in S3902, and acquires the detection state of the tablet container by the optical sensor 17 in S3906 as in S3903. In step S3907, it is determined whether the optical sensor has changed from ON to OFF. When it changes from ON to OFF, since it can be said that the tablet accommodating part passed the detection position of the optical sensor, it changes to S3908. On the other hand, if the optical sensor is ON, since the tablet container has not yet passed, the process returns to S3905.

  In S3908, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 updates the tablet row 2504 of the tablet row table to be counted up by one. In the present flowchart, the measured tablet row is updated after the tablet container has passed, but may be updated at the timing when detection of the tablet container is started.

  In step S <b> 3909, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the tablet to be taken out is the front row based on the updated value of the tablet row 2504. Specifically, when the number of tablets 2503 in the tablet row table is “10”, it is 5 rows of tablet sheets, and in the case of “14”, it is 7 rows of tablet sheets. By comparing the number of tablets 2503 with the measured tablet row 2504, it can be determined whether or not it is the front row. If it is determined in S3909 that it is the front row, the flow proceeds to S3910, and if it is determined that it is not the front row in S3909, the flow proceeds to S3912.

  In S3910, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 stores the front row tablet flag of the current tablet storage unit in the memory as ON because the current tablet storage unit is the front row tablet storage unit 510a.

  In S3911, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 conveys the tablet sheet from the timing when the detection mechanism 17 detects the passage of the tablet sheet through the tablet container so that the center position of the tablet container is at the center of the tablet drop opening. The conveyance distance to be calculated is calculated. Specifically, the conveyance distance (A−X / 2) is calculated from the width X of the tablet container specified from the tablet width counter value, the distance (A) between the detection position of the optical sensor and the center position of the tablet dropping port 2205. ) Is calculated.

  In S3912, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 stores the current tablet container in the memory with the front tablet flag of the current tablet container being OFF because the current tablet container is not the frontmost tablet container 510a.

  In S <b> 3913, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 calculates the conveyance amount to the tablet extraction position as in S <b> 3911.

  In S3914, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 updates the tablet row 2504 of the tablet row table to 0 at this time.

In S3915, the CPU 11 of the tablet supply device 10 determines whether or not the unpacking of all the number of tablets specified by the prescription data is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S3915 that all the unpacking has not been completed, the next tablet sheet conveyance operation is started, and the process returns to S3902.
That is, even if the front row is not specified based on the width between the tablet accommodating portions as shown in FIG. 37, it can be specified that the front row is based on the number of tablets stored in the tablet master.

51 Tablet Sheet 510 Tablet Housing 2201 End Support 2202 Front Main Support 2203 Rear Main Support 2205 Tablet Drop Port

The present invention includes a tablet take-out means for taking out a tablet from a tablet housing portion of a tablet sheet in which a plurality of tablets are individually enclosed, a transport means for carrying the tablet sheet to a tablet take-out position by the tablet take-out means, and the tablet During the take-out operation by the take-out means, the pair of support members that support the tablet sheet from the upstream side and the downstream side in the carrying direction of the tablet storage portion to be taken out, and the interval between the pair of support members An adjustment unit that adjusts the interval according to the intersecting width, a determination unit that determines whether or not the tablet has been extracted by the extraction operation by the tablet extraction unit, and a determination that the tablet has not been extracted by the determination unit And a retry control means for controlling the tablet extraction operation to be performed again with respect to the same tablet container, and the adjustment means includes the adjustment means, In the retry processing of the tablet extraction operation by the tri-controlling means, the distance between the pair of support members when the tablet extraction operation is performed, re to be narrower than the gap of the pair of support members at the time immediately before the tablet extraction operation It is characterized by adjusting.

Claims (10)

A tablet taking-out means for taking out a tablet from a tablet housing part of a tablet sheet in which a plurality of tablets are individually enclosed;
Conveying means for conveying the tablet sheet to a tablet extraction position by the tablet extraction means;
A pair of support members for supporting the tablet sheet from the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction of the tablet storage portion to be taken out during the taking-out operation by the tablet taking-out means;
An adjusting means for adjusting the interval between the pair of support members so as to be an interval according to a width intersecting the transport direction of the tablet sheet;
A judging means for judging whether or not the tablet is taken out by the taking-out operation by the tablet taking-out means;
Retry control means for controlling the tablet extraction operation to be performed again with respect to the same tablet container when it is determined by the determination means that the tablet has not been removed;
The adjusting means has an interval between the pair of support members when the tablet extraction operation is performed again by the retry control means, and the adjustment means sets the interval between the pair of support members at the time of the previous tablet extraction operation. A tablet take-out device that is adjusted to be narrower than the interval.   When the retry control unit is controlled to perform the tablet extraction operation a plurality of times with respect to the same tablet container, the adjustment unit adjusts the interval between the pair of support members to be narrowed stepwise. The tablet take-out device according to claim 1.   When the retry control unit is controlled to perform the tablet extraction operation a plurality of times for the same tablet container, the adjustment unit reduces the amount by which the distance between the pair of support members is reduced stepwise. The tablet taking-out device according to claim 2, wherein: And further storing means for storing a lower limit interval between the pair of support members,
4. The adjustment unit according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit does not adjust the interval to be narrower than the lower limit interval stored in the storage unit even if the retry operation is performed again by the retry control unit. The tablet taking-out device according to any one of the above.   A pair is provided such that the interval increases as the width in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the tablet sheet conveyed by the conveyance means increases, and is supported from the side end side of the tablet sheet during the extraction operation by the tablet extraction means. The tablet taking-out device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising another supporting member.   6. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein one of the pair of support members is provided to move along an end of the pair of other support members. Take-out device.   The tablet take-out device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the pair of support members is provided so as to move independently of the pair of other support members.   The tablet taking-out means is in a state in which the tablet to be taken out from the tablet container by the tablet taking-out means is in a position passing between the pair of other support members and between the pair of support members. The tablet taking-out device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein a taking-out operation is performed.   When the tablet enclosed in the tablet sheet from which the tablet is taken out by the tablet taking-out means is a capsule-type tablet or a rectangular tablet, the transport means is configured so that the tablet is long in the width direction of the tablet sheet. The tablet taking-out apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sheet is conveyed.   The adjustment means adjusts the distance between the pair of support members only in the tablet taking-out operation again only in the front row or the last row of tablet storage portions of the tablet sheet. The tablet take-out device according to item 1.

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