JP2020062074A - Chemical orientation determination device, chemical orientation determination method and chemical orientation determination program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a chemical orientation determination device, a chemical orientation determination method and a chemical orientation determination program capable of correctly determining an orientation of a chemical with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A first chemical confirmation unit 30 comprises: a picking unit 20; a barcode reader 31; and a determination unit 61. The picking unit 20 transfers a chemical D to a reading position. The barcode reader 31 reads a barcode B1 attached on an outer peripheral surface of the chemical D mounted at the reading position on the picking unit 20. The determination unit 61 compares information acquired by the barcode reader 31 with registered information indicating an orientation of the barcode B1 on the chemical D which has been registered in advance, and determines the orientation of the chemical D.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

  The present invention relates to a drug orientation determination device, a drug orientation determination method, and a drug orientation determination program that determine the orientation of a drug when reading a barcode attached to the drug.

In recent years, in hospitals and the like, medicines once dispensed from a medicine dispenser and taken to a patient's room or the like may be returned due to various circumstances.
A plurality of such returned chemicals are collected in a predetermined tray, picked one by one by a chemical sorting device and conveyed to a predetermined reading position, and a bar code, letters, numbers, etc. attached to the outer peripheral surface. Is read, the type and expiration date of the drug are recognized. As a result, it is possible to properly sort the medicines, such as storing the medicines in a predetermined tray, based on the recognized barcodes, letters, numbers and the like.

  Here, the barcode attached to the medicine is attached so that it is read from the head side of the medicine or read from the side opposite to the head of the medicine depending on the type. There are cases.

  In this case, the barcode attached to the medicine can be read by the barcode reader even if the orientation is opposite, but in order to accurately read the character information and the like attached around the barcode, The direction of the chemical must be constant. Further, when the direction of the medicine is opposite, when the medicine is adsorbed and conveyed after reading the barcode, the medicine cannot be stably held, and an error may occur.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a drug sorting device that automatically recognizes the orientation and posture of a drug and properties such as shape, size, type, and expiration date and secures a high degree of freedom for storage. ing.

International Publication No. 2015/170762

However, the above-mentioned conventional drug sorting device has the following problems.
That is, in the medicine sorting apparatus disclosed in the above publication, a dedicated photographing section for accurately measuring the shape (outer shape) of the medicine is provided, and therefore the structure may be complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a drug orientation determination device, a drug orientation determination method, and a drug orientation determination program capable of accurately determining the orientation of a drug with a simple configuration.

  A medicine orientation determination apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a medicine orientation determination apparatus that determines whether or not the orientation of a medicine placed at a predetermined reading position is a normal orientation, the first conveyance unit, A first reading unit and a determination unit are provided. The first transport unit transports the medicine to the reading position. The first reading unit reads the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine placed at the reading position in the first transport unit. The determination unit compares the information acquired by the first reading unit with the registration information indicating the direction of the barcode of the drug registered in advance, and determines the direction of the drug.

  Here, when reading the bar code attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine conveyed to the predetermined reading position, the direction of the medicine (bar code direction) is referred to by referring to the registration information for each medicine stored in advance. Is determined to be normal.

  Here, the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine includes one arranged from the head side and the other arranged from the bottom side opposite to the head, depending on the kind of the medicine. . Therefore, whether or not the medicine placed on the reading position is in the normal direction can be determined by reading the barcode by the first reading unit and detecting the direction of the barcode.

  Therefore, in the medicine orientation determination apparatus of the present invention, after the barcode is read at the reading position, for example, the orientation of the barcode attached to each medicine stored in advance in a storage unit provided in the apparatus or an external server. It is determined whether or not the orientation of the medicine is normal by referring to the registration information indicating.

  Thereby, even if the medicine conveyed to the reading position by the first conveying unit is erroneously placed in the opposite direction, it can be determined that the direction is opposite (not normal).

  Therefore, for example, by placing the medicine judged to be in the opposite direction so that it is in the normal direction, and then reading the character information and carrying it to the storage tray, it is possible to cause It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of various errors.

A medicine orientation determination device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the medicine orientation determination device according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising a rotation mechanism that rotates the medicine placed at the reading position.
Here, for example, a rotation mechanism is used that rotates the roller that is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the medicine so as to rotate the medicine along the outer peripheral surface.

  Accordingly, no matter which direction the various kinds of information attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine is placed at the reading position, the medicine can be easily orientated by rotating the medicine.

A drug orientation determination device according to a third aspect of the invention is the drug orientation determination device according to the first or second aspect of the invention, further comprising a storage unit that stores registration information.
Here, a storage unit that stores registration information indicating the direction of the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of each drug is provided in the apparatus.

  As a result, after reading the bar code of the medicine placed at the reading position, the registration information stored in the storage unit provided in the device is referred to and whether or not the orientation of the medicine is normal. Can be easily determined.

  A drug orientation determination device according to a fourth aspect of the invention is the drug orientation determination device according to the first or second aspect of the invention, further comprising an acquisition unit that acquires registration information from an external device in which registration information is stored. There is.

Here, the registration information indicating the orientation of the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of each drug is acquired by accessing a storage unit stored in an external device such as an external server or a cloud space.
As a result, after reading the bar code of the medicine placed at the reading position, the external device is accessed and the registration information stored in the storage unit is referred to to determine whether the medicine is in the proper orientation. Can be easily determined.
Further, by providing a storage unit in an external server, a cloud space, or the like, shared registration information can be provided to a plurality of drug orientation determination devices.

  A medicine orientation determining device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the medicine orientation determining device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the reading position is set between the rotationally driven roller and the roller in a side view. On the other hand, the plate-shaped member is arranged in close proximity so as to be substantially V-shaped.

  Here, a reading position on which a medicine is placed is formed in a substantially V-shaped portion by combining a roller that is rotationally driven and a plate-shaped member that is disposed close to the outer peripheral surface of the roller in a side view. To do.

Thus, by placing the medicine in the substantially V-shaped recess, the movement of the medicine in the direction intersecting the rotation axis of the roller can be regulated and held in a stable state.
Further, by rotating the roller in this state, the chemical can be rotated along the outer peripheral surface.

  A medicine orientation determination apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the medicine orientation determination apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, wherein the medicine placed at the reading position is moved along the longitudinal direction thereof. Further provided is a positioning member for moving to a predetermined position.

Here, at the reading position, for example, a plate-shaped positioning member is used to bring the drug into contact with the end of the drug and move the drug to perform positioning.
As a result, the medicine is placed on the positioning member such that the end portion abuts on the positioning member, whereby the rotation axis direction of the medicine in the substantially V-shaped recess (reading position) formed between the roller and the plate member. Can be positioned.

  A medicine orientation determination device according to a seventh aspect of the invention is the medicine orientation determination device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the invention, wherein the determination unit determines that the medicine is in the opposite direction. Further provided is a second transport unit for lifting the medicine and reversing the direction.

Here, for example, a transport mechanism (second transport unit) such as a robot arm is used to lift and invert the medicine determined to have the opposite direction.
The second transport unit may have the same configuration as the first transport unit that transports the medicine to the reading position described above.

Accordingly, even if the direction of the medicine determined by reading the barcode is opposite, the direction of the medicine can be made normal by the second transport unit.
As a result, it is possible to suppress the subsequent processing, for example, the occurrence of problems such as an error in reading the character information attached around the barcode and a transport error during transport to the storage tray.

  A medicine orientation determination device according to an eighth invention is the medicine orientation determination device according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, wherein the determination unit determines that the medicine has a normal orientation. Further, a second reading unit for reading character information attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine is further provided.

Here, the character information attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine determined to be placed in the normal orientation at the reading position is read using the second reading unit such as a camera.
Here, the character information attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine includes, for example, a manufacturing date of the medicine, a number such as an expiration date, and the like.
Thereby, the information obtained by reading the barcode of the medicine placed in the normal direction and the character information such as the expiration date of the medicine can be accurately acquired.

A medicine orientation determination device according to a ninth invention is the medicine orientation determination device according to any one of the first to eighth inventions, wherein the first reading unit is a bar code reader.
Here, the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine is read by the barcode reader.
Thereby, the information of the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine can be easily read with a simple configuration.

A drug orientation determining apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the invention is the drug orientation determining apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the invention, wherein the second reading unit is an image capturing unit that acquires an image including character information.
Here, an imaging unit such as a camera that captures an image including character information is used as the second reading unit that reads character information such as a number attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine.
Accordingly, by performing image processing on the image captured by the image capturing unit such as a camera, it is possible to easily read the character information such as the expiration date attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine.

  A medicine orientation determination method according to an eleventh invention is a medicine orientation determination method for determining whether or not the orientation of a medicine placed at a predetermined reading position is a normal orientation, and a first conveyance step, A first reading step and a determination step are provided. The first carrying step carries the medicine to the reading position. The first reading step reads the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine placed at the reading position in the first transporting step. The determination step compares the information acquired in the first reading step with the registration information indicating the direction of the barcode of the drug registered in advance to determine the direction of the drug.

  Here, when reading the bar code attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine conveyed to the predetermined reading position, the direction of the medicine (bar code direction) is referred to by referring to the registration information for each medicine stored in advance. Is determined to be normal.

  Here, the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine includes one arranged from the head side and the other arranged from the bottom side opposite to the head, depending on the kind of the medicine. . Therefore, whether or not the medicine placed on the reading position is in the normal direction can be determined by reading the barcode by the first reading unit and detecting the direction of the barcode.

  Therefore, in the medicine orientation determination method of the present invention, after the barcode is read at the reading position, for example, the orientation of the barcode attached to each medicine stored in advance in a storage unit provided in the apparatus or an external server. It is determined whether or not the orientation of the medicine is normal by referring to the registration information indicating.

  Thereby, even if the medicine conveyed to the reading position by the first conveying unit is erroneously placed in the opposite direction, it can be determined that the direction is opposite (not normal).

  Therefore, for example, by placing the medicine judged to be in the opposite direction so that it is in the normal direction, and then reading the character information and carrying it to the storage tray, it is possible to cause It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of various errors.

  A medicine orientation determination program according to a twelfth aspect of the invention is a medicine orientation determination program for determining whether or not the orientation of a medicine placed at a predetermined reading position is a normal orientation, the first conveyance step comprising: The computer is caused to execute the medicine orientation determination method including the first reading step and the determination step. The first carrying step carries the medicine to the reading position. The first reading step reads the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine placed at the reading position in the first transporting step. The determination step compares the information acquired in the first reading step with the registration information indicating the direction of the barcode of the drug registered in advance to determine the direction of the drug.

  Here, when reading the bar code attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine conveyed to the predetermined reading position, the direction of the medicine (bar code direction) is referred to by referring to the registration information for each medicine stored in advance. Is determined to be normal.

  Here, the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine includes one arranged from the head side and the other arranged from the bottom side opposite to the head, depending on the kind of the medicine. . Therefore, whether or not the medicine placed on the reading position is in the normal direction can be determined by reading the barcode by the first reading unit and detecting the direction of the barcode.

  Therefore, in the drug orientation determination program of the present invention, after the barcode is read at the reading position, for example, the orientation of the barcode attached to each drug previously stored in the storage unit provided in the device or an external server. It is determined whether or not the orientation of the medicine is normal by referring to the registration information indicating.

  Thereby, even if the medicine conveyed to the reading position by the first conveying unit is erroneously placed in the opposite direction, it can be determined that the direction is opposite (not normal).

  Therefore, for example, by placing the medicine judged to be in the opposite direction so that it is in the normal direction, and then reading the character information and carrying it to the storage tray, it is possible to cause It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of various errors.

  According to the medicine orientation determination device of the present invention, the orientation of the medicine can be accurately determined with a simple configuration.

The front view which shows the external appearance of the chemical sorting device containing the chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The front view which shows the state which opened the door of the chemical sorting device of FIG. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the kind of chemical | medical agent sorted by the chemical | medical agent sorting apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a returned medicine tray on which the returned medicines shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D are placed in an unaligned manner. The figure which shows the breakdown of the storage tray of 5 types set to the chemical sorting device of FIG. (A)-(c) is a part of 5 types of storage trays shown in FIG. 5, and is a perspective view which shows an example of a storage tray in which the chemicals sorted by the chemical sorting device of FIG. 2 are stored. The control block diagram which shows the structure of the chemical sorting device of FIG. The top view which shows the internal structure of the chemical sorting device of FIG. The top view which shows the internal structure of the chemical sorting device of FIG. The perspective view which shows the internal structure of the chemical sorting device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a plurality of medicines placed in a returned medicine tray and a camera that acquires image information of these medicines from above in the medicine sorting apparatus of FIG. 2. The perspective view which shows the structure of the picking part etc. which picks a chemical | medical agent and conveys it to a predetermined place in the chemicals sorting device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first medicine confirmation unit for discriminating a kind of medicine, a bar code reader arranged above the first medicine confirmation unit for reading a bar code of the medicine, and a camera for acquiring image information in the medicine sorting apparatus of FIG. 2. The figure which shows the shape of the chemical | medical agent which the direction determination is performed in the 1st chemical | medical agent confirmation part of FIG. (A) And (b) is a perspective view which shows the flow which inverts, when the direction of the chemical | medical agent mounted in the 1st chemical | medical agent confirmation part of FIG. 13 is determined, and when it determines with it not being a normal direction. 13A and 13B are perspective views showing a flow in which the direction of the medicine placed on the first medicine confirmation unit in FIG. 13 is reversed to the normal direction and the medicine is positioned at a predetermined reading position. The control block diagram which shows the structure of the 1st chemical | medical agent confirmation part of FIG.15 (a) etc. The figure which shows the monitor screen in which information, such as the direction of a chemical | medical agent, is registered beforehand. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of a medicine orientation determination method executed in the medicine confirmation unit of FIG. 15. The whole figure showing the composition of the medicine delivery system containing the medicine sorting device concerning other embodiments of the present invention.

A chemical sorting device 10 including a chemical orientation determination device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19.
(External configuration of the chemical sorting device 10)
The medicine sorting device 10 according to the present embodiment is installed in, for example, a hospital, etc., and among medicines carried out to a hospital room or the like based on prescription information for each patient, a medicine returned due to a sudden change in the patient's condition or the like. D is sorted and stored in a predetermined storage tray T2.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the chemical sorting device 10 includes a main body 10a, doors 10b and 10c attached to the front of the main body 10a, and a monitor 50a.
The main body portion 10a is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing, and has two doors 10b and 10c mounted on the front surface thereof in a state capable of being opened and closed.

  When the door 10b is opened, as shown in FIG. 2, the returned medicine tray storage space S1 in which the returned medicine tray T1 in which a plurality of returned medicines D are placed in a non-aligned state is stored is exposed to the outside. The returned medicine tray storage space S1 is provided with a returned medicine tray installation section 11 in which a plurality of returned medicine trays T1 are set along the vertical direction. Then, the medicines D returned from the hospital room or the like are set by the pharmacist or the like so as to be stacked on the returned medicine tray installation section 11 in the returned medicine tray storage space S1 in a state of being unaligned in the returned medicine tray T1. .

  When the door 10c is opened, as shown in FIG. 2, the storage tray mounting space S3 in which the storage tray T2 for storing the medicines D sorted after each return is stored is exposed to the outside. The storage tray mounting space S3 is provided with a storage tray installation section 12 in which a plurality of types of storage trays T2 having different widths and the like are installed along the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Then, the medicine D returned from the hospital room or the like is sorted in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 according to the type and the like, and is automatically stored in an appropriate storage tray T2 installed in the storage tray installation section 12.

  A plurality of types of storage trays T2 are arranged in the storage tray installation unit 12 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. A user such as a pharmacist opens the door 10c on the front of the main body unit 10a to attach and detach the storage tray T2. I do.

  The monitor 50a is provided in the upper left part on the front surface of the main body 10a, receives various settings, and displays various settings such as a setting screen and an error occurrence screen. The monitor 50a is connected to the control unit 50 (see FIG. 7) that controls the medicine sorting apparatus 10.

(Type of drug D)
Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (d), the medicine D handled in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a medicine to be encapsulated and a plurality of kinds of medicines having different shapes and sizes. I'm out.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), a drug D1 having an elongated outer shape and a short ampoule shape, and as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a drug D2 having an elongated outer shape and a long ampoule shape. As shown in FIG. 3C, the medicine D3 having a thick bottle shape is included, and as shown in FIG. 3D, the medicine D4 having a thick and long bottle shape is included.

  Note that the chemicals D1 to D4 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D are examples of the chemical D handled in the chemical sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, and in reality, more shapes and types. Shall be treated.

  Therefore, in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the treatment trays that sort and process the medicines D1 to D4 having various shapes and sizes and have an appropriate size and width corresponding to each medicine D1 to D4. The control for storing in T2 is executed.

  Further, on the outer peripheral surface of each drug D1 to D4, a bar code B1 in which type information such as the type of drug contained in each drug D1 to D4 is recorded and character information such as expiration date (see FIG. 14) are provided. The label is included.

  The direction of these barcodes B1 differs depending on the chemicals D1 to D4. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the elongated ampoule-shaped chemicals D1 and D2 are provided with a barcode B1 arranged from the bottom side. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the thick bottle-shaped medicine D3 and the thick and long bottle-shaped medicine D4 are provided with the barcode B1 arranged from the head side. There is.

  These barcodes B1 are read by a barcode reader (first reading unit) 31 of a first medicine confirmation unit 30 described later. Here, the barcode reader 31, for example, can read the information of the barcode B1 even when the orientation of the medicines D1 to D4 is opposite to the predetermined normal orientation, and the orientation of the barcode B1. Can be detected.

The determination of the orientation of the medicine D when the barcode B1 of the medicine D is read by the barcode reader 31 will be described in detail later.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the returned medicine D is placed in the returned medicine tray T1 for exclusive use of the returned medicine in a non-aligned state, and is directly set in the returned medicine tray setting section 11 in the medicine sorting apparatus 10. It

(Type of storage tray T2)
In the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the above-described various kinds of medicines D are sorted by type, and an appropriate storage tray T2 is selected from a plurality of types of storage trays T2 corresponding to each medicine D and stored. To do.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, tray numbers 1 to 5 are attached, and the pitches, widths, the numbers of entered medicines D, etc. of the recesses T2z (see FIG. 6A, etc.) for holding the medicines D are different. Five types of storage trays T2 are used. Identification information such as the tray numbers of the five types of storage trays T2 and the pitch and width of the recesses T2z shown in FIG. 5 are stored in advance in the storage unit 51, which will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage tray T2a having the tray number 1 (see FIG. 6A) has a width S (small) size, a pitch of recesses T2z of 21 mm, a number of medicines D of 10 and a medicine sorting device 10. The total number of set trays is 15 and the total number of stored chemicals is 150. Therefore, a narrow and short medicine D such as an ampoule vial is stored in the storage tray T2a.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the storage tray T2a is provided with a bar code (identification information) B2 at the first end in the longitudinal direction and a handle N at the opposite second end. Has been. A plurality of irregularities (recesses T2z) are formed inside the storage tray T2a in which the medicine D is stored.

  The barcode B2 is recorded with identification information regarding the type (pitch, width, etc.) of the storage tray T2a, and the identification information is read and obtained by a barcode reader 25 described later.

  The recesses T2z formed on the bottom surface of the storage tray T2a to form a plurality of recesses and protrusions are formed according to the shape and size of each drug D, and are provided at a constant pitch. Then, the recess T2z holds the medicine D conveyed to the storage tray T2a in the recessed portion.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage tray T2b with the tray number 2 (see FIG. 6B) has a width S (small) size, a pitch of recesses T2z of 38 mm, a number of medicines D of 5 and a medicine sorting device 10. The total number of set trays is 15, and the total number of stored chemicals is 75. Therefore, the medicine T having a small length and a medium length is stored in the storage tray T2b.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, the storage tray T2b is provided with a bar code (identification information) B2 at the first end in the longitudinal direction and a handle N at the opposite second end. Has been. A plurality of irregularities (recesses T2z) are formed inside the storage tray T2b in which the medicine D is stored.

  The barcode B2 is recorded with identification information regarding the type (pitch, width, etc.) of the storage tray T2b, and the identification information is read and obtained by the barcode reader 25 described later.

  The recesses T2z that form a plurality of irregularities formed on the bottom surface of the storage tray T2b are formed according to the shape and size of each drug D, and are provided at a constant pitch. The recess T2z holds the medicine D that has been transported to the storage tray T2b at the recess.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage tray T2 with the tray number 3 has a width M (medium) size, a pitch of recessed portions T2z of 21 mm, the number of medicines D entered is 10, and the total number of trays set in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 is 10 It is a tray that holds 100 pieces of medicines. Therefore, a thick and short medicine D such as a plastic bottle is stored in the storage tray T2.

  Specifically, the storage tray T2 is provided with a bar code (identification information) B2 at the first end in the longitudinal direction and a handle N at the second end on the opposite side. Further, a plurality of irregularities (recesses T2z) are formed inside the storage tray T2 in which the medicine D is stored.

  The barcode B2 is recorded with identification information regarding the type (pitch, width, etc.) of the storage tray T2, and the identification information is read and obtained by the barcode reader 25 described later.

  The recesses T2z forming a plurality of irregularities formed on the bottom surface of the storage tray T2 are formed according to the shape and size of each drug D, and are provided at a constant pitch. The recess T2z holds the medicine D conveyed to the storage tray T2 in the recessed portion.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage tray T2c with the tray number 4 (see FIG. 6C) has a width M (medium) size, a recess T2z pitch of 38 mm, the number of medicines D is 5, and the medicine sorting apparatus 10 has The total number of trays set is 10 and the total number of stored chemicals is 50. Therefore, the storage tray T2c stores the medicine D that is thick and has a medium length.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6C, the storage tray T2c is provided with a bar code (identification information) B2 at the first end in the longitudinal direction and a handle N at the opposite second end. Has been. A plurality of irregularities (recesses T2z) are formed inside the storage tray T2c in which the medicine D is stored.

  The barcode B2 is recorded with identification information about the type (pitch, width, etc.) of the storage tray T2c, and the identification information is read and obtained by a barcode reader 25 described later.

  The recesses T2z that form a plurality of irregularities formed on the bottom surface of the storage tray T2c are formed according to the shape and size of each drug D, and are provided at a constant pitch. Then, the recess T2z holds the medicine D conveyed to the storage tray T2c in the recessed portion.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage tray T2 having the tray number 5 has a width L (large) size, a recess T2z pitch of 38 mm, the number of medicines D is 5 and the total number of trays 6 set in the medicine sorting apparatus 6 is 6. It is a tray that holds 30 items and the total number of stored chemicals. Therefore, the thickest and longest chemical D such as a large plastic bottle is stored in the storage tray T2.

  Specifically, the storage tray T2 is provided with a bar code (identification information) B2 at the first end in the longitudinal direction and a handle N at the second end on the opposite side. Further, a plurality of irregularities (recesses T2z) are formed inside the storage tray T2 in which the medicine D is stored.

  The barcode B2 is recorded with identification information regarding the type (pitch, width, etc.) of the storage tray T2, and the identification information is read and obtained by the barcode reader 25 described later.

The recesses T2z forming a plurality of irregularities formed on the bottom surface of the storage tray T2 are formed according to the shape and size of each drug D, and are provided at a constant pitch. The recess T2z holds the medicine D conveyed to the storage tray T2 in the recessed portion.
The five types of storage trays T2a to T2c and the like described above are, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, three types of widths S, M, and L and a common height in appearance. , Has a depth.

(Internal configuration of the chemical sorting device 10)
The medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment configures the control block shown in FIG.

  The control unit 50 is provided inside the medicine sorting apparatus 10, and as shown in FIG. 7, a monitor 50a, a returned medicine tray transport unit 13, cameras C1 and C2, a picking unit (first transport unit, second transport unit). Part) 20, the first medicine confirmation section 30, the barcode readers 25 and 31, the storage tray transport section 14, the second medicine confirmation section 40, and the storage section 51.

The returned medicine tray transport unit 13 conveys the returned medicine tray T1 set in the returned medicine tray setting unit 11 in a predetermined direction by opening the door 10b attached to the main body 10a described above.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the returned medicine tray transport unit 13 moves from the returned medicine tray storage space S1 arranged on the front side in the main body 10a to the picking space S2 arranged on the back side. , The returned medicine tray T1 is transported.

  That is, in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the sorting operation is started, as shown in FIG. 8, the returned medicine tray transport unit 13 places a plurality of returned medicines D in a non-aligned state. The returned medicine tray T1 is conveyed from the returned medicine tray storage space S1 to a predetermined picking space S2 side.

The storage tray transport unit 14 transports the plurality of storage trays T2 set in the storage tray setting unit 12 in a predetermined direction by opening the door 10c attached to the main body unit 10a described above.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the storage tray transport unit 14 sorts the returned medicines arranged on the back side from the storage tray placement space S3 arranged on the front side in the main body 10a. The storage tray T2 is transported to the space S4.

  That is, in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the sorting operation is started, as shown in FIG. 8, the storage tray transport unit 14 stores the medicine D adsorbed and transported by the picking unit 20 appropriately. The tray T2 is conveyed from the storage tray placement space S3 to the returned medicine sorting space S4.

  In the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the storage tray transport unit 14 moves to a desired height of the storage trays T2 of the respective trays arranged in the vertical direction, so that the desired storage is achieved. The tray T2 is transported to the returned medicine sorting space S4.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the camera C1 is provided above the returned medicine tray T1 transported to the picking space S2. Then, the camera C1 acquires an image including a plurality of medicines D placed on the returned medicine tray T1 that has been transported to the picking space S2.

  Accordingly, the control unit 50 uses the image information acquired by the camera C1 to identify the position where one of the plurality of medicines D placed in the returned medicine tray T1 in an unaligned state is picked. .

  The picking unit (first transport unit, second transport unit) 20 sucks a plurality of returned medicines D, which are placed in the returned medicine tray T1 in a non-aligned state, by the suction unit 20a at the tip, and predetermined. Is provided inside the main body 10a so as to be movable in three dimensions so as to be transported in the direction.

  Specifically, when the sorting operation is started, the picking unit 20 stores the returned medicine tray T1 to the holding unit 34 of the first medicine confirmation unit 30, the first medicine confirmation unit 30 to the mounting table 35, and the receiving table 35 to store the medicines. The medicine D is adsorbed and conveyed to the tray T2 by the adsorption unit 20a.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the picking section 20 enables the chemical D to be conveyed in such a three-dimensional direction, as shown in FIG. 12, a vertical column 21a, a belt 21b, a motor 21c, a horizontal column 22a, a belt 22b, and a motor. 22c, a horizontal support 23a, and the like.

  For example, the picking unit 20 rotates a belt 21b provided along the Z direction between two vertical columns 21a, 21a arranged along the Z direction (vertical direction) by a motor 21c. As a result, the picking unit 20 can move in the Z direction (vertical direction), and can perform, for example, an operation of adsorbing the medicine D or an operation of placing the medicine D on each tray.

  In addition, the picking unit 20 rotates the belt 22b provided along the horizontal support 22a arranged along the X direction (horizontal direction) (width direction of the main body 10a) by the motor 22c. As a result, the picking unit 20 can move in the X direction (horizontal direction), and can perform, for example, an operation of transporting the drug D in the width direction of the main body 10a.

  Similarly, the picking unit 20 uses a belt (not shown) provided along a horizontal column 23a arranged along the Y direction (horizontal direction) (depth direction of the main body 10a) and a motor (not shown). ) To rotate. As a result, the picking unit 20 can move in the Y direction (horizontal direction), and can perform, for example, an operation of transporting the drug D in the depth direction of the main body 10a.

The transport control using the picking unit 20 and the direction reversal control of the medicine D will be described in detail later.
The barcode reader 25 is arranged in the vicinity of the picking unit 20, and moves in the three-dimensional direction integrally with the picking unit 20. Then, the bar code reader 25 reads the bar code B2 attached to the storage tray T2 and acquires the identification information of the storage tray T2 before storing the medicine D adsorbed and conveyed by the picking unit 20 in the storage tray T2. .

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first medicine confirmation unit (medicine identification device) 30 is arranged between the picking space S2 and the returned medicines sorting space S4 formed inside the main body 10a. Then, the first medicine confirmation unit 30 confirms the type, the expiration date, etc. of the returned medicine D sucked and held by the picking unit 20 in the picking space S2.

The detailed configuration of the first medicine confirmation unit 30 will be described later.
In order to temporarily hold the medicine D for which the type information has been acquired by the first medicine confirmation unit 30, the mounting table 35 is in the vicinity of the first medicine confirmation unit 30 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. , The first medicine confirmation unit 30 and the returned medicine sorting space S4. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the mounting table 35 is fixedly arranged on the side surface of the first medicine confirmation unit 30 via an L-shaped metal fitting.

In the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, by using the mounting table 35, the medicine D is efficiently stored in the storage tray T2 using the single picking unit 20.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the second medicine confirmation section 40 is arranged below the returned medicines sorting space S4 in the main body section 10a via a support section 40a. Then, the second medicine confirmation unit 40 confirms the type of the medicine D taken out from the storage tray T2 by the picking unit 20 and adsorbed and conveyed to the dispensing tray T3.

  The second chemicals confirmation unit 40 is a configuration required when the chemicals sorting device 10 is incorporated into the chemicals dispensing system 100 for use (see other embodiment (A) below, see FIG. 20). It is not mounted when the device 10 is used alone.

  The storage unit 51 stores a control program for driving and controlling the above-described components. Then, the storage unit 51, as the identification information acquired from the barcode B2 attached to the storage tray T2, as shown in FIG. 5, a tray number, a tray width, a pitch, the number of chemicals entered into one tray, A table showing the relationship between the maximum number of trays stored in the device and the maximum number of stored chemicals is stored. Further, the storage unit 51 stores, for example, information corresponding to the barcode B2 attached to each storage tray T2 as identification information of the storage tray T2.

Further, in the present embodiment, the storage unit 51 stores information regarding the orientation of the barcode B1 attached to the outer peripheral surface of each of the chemicals D1 to D4 described later. That is, in the storage unit 51, a state in which the type information of the medicine D obtained by reading the bar code B1 by the bar code reader 31 and the information regarding the orientation of the bar code B1 corresponding to each medicine D are associated with each other. It has been saved in.
The direction reversal control of the medicine D using the information on the direction of the barcode B1 stored in the storage unit 51 will be described in detail later.

(Detailed configuration of the first medicine confirmation unit 30)
As described above, in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the first medicine confirmation unit 30 reads the barcode B1 printed on the label attached to the outer peripheral surface of the returned medicine D and the character information. , Information such as the type of drug D and the expiration date. Furthermore, in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the orientation of the barcode B1 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D stored in the storage unit 51 is determined, and when it is determined that the orientation is not normal, Controls to reverse the direction of the drug D1.

  That is, in the first medicine confirmation unit 30 of the present embodiment, the picking unit 20 conveys the medicine D from the returned medicine tray T1 to the holding unit 34 and mounts the medicine D on the opposite side to the predetermined direction. May be done.

  Here, the barcode B1 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D is attached so that it can be read from the head side of the medicine D depending on the type and the bottom on the side opposite to the head of the medicine D. It may be attached so that it can be read from the side.

  In this case, the barcode B1 attached to the medicine D can be read by the barcode reader 31 even if the direction is opposite. However, in order to accurately read the character information such as the date attached around the barcode B1, the direction of the medicine D needs to be constant. When the direction of the medicine D placed on the holding unit 34 is opposite, when the medicine D is adsorbed and conveyed by the picking unit 20 after the barcode B1 is read, the medicine D is moved from the center of gravity position. There is a risk that the shifted position will be sucked and conveyed. As a result, after reading the barcode B1, the medicine D cannot be stably held, and an error may occur.

  Therefore, in the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the barcode B1 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D placed on the holding portion 34 is read by the barcode reader 31 in the first medicine confirmation unit 30. In addition to information such as the type of medicine D, the orientation of the barcode B1 attached to the medicine D is detected. Then, the first medicine confirmation unit 30 compares the detected orientation of the barcode B1 of the medicine D with the registration information regarding the orientation of the barcode B1 of the medicine D that is registered in advance, and the medicine D is normal. It is determined whether it is the direction.

Hereinafter, a configuration for determining the direction of the medicine D and controlling the reversal of the direction of the medicine D based on the determination result will be described below.
In the present embodiment, among the plurality of types of chemicals D handled by the chemical sorting apparatus 10 described above, the case where the orientation of the chemical D1 shown in FIG. 14 is normal and the case where it is not normal will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the medicine D1 has a substantially cylindrical body portion D1b and a head portion D1a having an outer diameter smaller than that of the body portion D1b. A label including a barcode B1, a mark search area M1, a mark M2, and a date area M3 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the body portion D1b.

  The mark search area M1 includes 8-character character information such as a manufacturing number and an expiration date. The character information is registered as a mark in advance. Therefore, when acquiring the expiration date information using the image captured by the camera C2, it is first determined whether or not the mark M2 in the mark search area M1 matches the previously registered mark. .

  At this time, if it is determined that the direction of the medicine D1 is the predetermined direction, the position of the mark M2 in the mark search area M1 is changed, and the mark does not match the mark registered in advance. An error may occur. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the orientation of the barcode B1 of the medicine D detected when the barcode B1 is read is compared with the registration information regarding the orientation of the barcode B1 of the medicine D registered in advance, It is determined whether or not the orientation of the medicine D1 placed on the holder 34 is normal (predetermined orientation).

  The date when the expiration date of the medicine D1 is printed is printed in the date area M3. That is, in the present embodiment, the camera C2 captures a plurality of images of the medicine D1 that rotates while being placed on the holding unit 34 of the first medicine confirmation unit 30, and the inside of the mark search area M1 is captured for each image. Search and try to read the mark M2. Then, when the mark M2 is successfully read, the number indicating the expiration date in the date area M3 in which the relative position to the mark M2 is registered is read using the image to obtain the expiration date information. The reading of the expiration date will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the first medicine confirmation unit 30 includes a picking unit (first transport unit, second transport unit) 20, a bar code reader (first reading unit) 31, a camera (second reading unit) C2, Holding plate (plate member) 32, roller (rotation mechanism) 33, motor (rotation mechanism) 33a, holding portion 34, stopper 36, positioning member 37, storage portion 51 (see FIG. 17, etc.), and determination portion 61 (FIG. 17). See).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the barcode reader (first reading unit) 31 stores the medicine D placed on a substantially V-shaped holding unit 34 (reading position) formed by a holding plate 32 and a roller 33. It is located diagonally above. Then, the bar code reader 31 rotates the medicine D while being in contact with the roller 33 that is rotationally driven by the motor 33a, reads the bar code B1, and obtains type information regarding the type of the medicine D (type of medicine, etc.). While acquiring, the direction of the barcode B1 attached to the medicine D is detected.

  In the first medicine confirmation unit 30 of the present embodiment, registration information regarding the orientation of the barcode B1 attached to the detected medicine D and the orientation of the barcode B1 for each type of the medicine D stored in the storage unit 51 in advance. With reference to, it is determined whether or not the orientation of the medicine D currently placed on the holder 34 is normal (predetermined orientation).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the camera (second reading unit) C2 is arranged above the holding unit 34 on which the medicine D transported by the picking unit 20 is placed. Then, the camera C2 acquires an image of the label portion attached to the medicine D.

  Thereby, the control unit 50 reads the character information (expiration date, etc.) of the label by using the image information acquired by the camera C2, and determines the expiration date, etc. of the medicine D placed on the first medicine confirmation unit 30. Get character information.

  Here, the 1st chemical | medical agent confirmation part 30 of this embodiment contains the camera C2, the barcode reader 31, the motor 33a, the memory | storage part 51, and the determination part 61 centering on the control part 50, as shown in FIG. Configure a control block.

  The control block of the first medicine confirmation unit 30 shown in FIG. 17 is obtained by extracting the control block related to the first medicine confirmation unit 30 of the control block of the medicine sorting apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 50 and the storage unit 51 are common to the control unit 50 and the storage unit 51 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, the barcode reader 31 reads the barcode B1 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D1 placed on the substantially V-shaped holding portion 34. Note that the bar code reader 31 is arranged above the holding unit 34 in FIG. 13, but is arranged beside the holding unit 32 in FIG. 15, and the reading light is emitted obliquely upward. An example of a configuration in which it is reflected by the reflection plate 38, folded back, and applied to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D1 is shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, etc., the holding plate 32 is a plate-shaped member that is arranged close to the roller 33, and is arranged obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. . The holding plate 32 forms a substantially V-shaped holding portion 34 when viewed from the rotation axis direction of the roller 33 by the upper surface of the holding plate 32 and the outer peripheral surface of the roller 33 that is arranged in close proximity.

  The roller 33 is a substantially cylindrical member that rotates about a rotation axis, and is rotated clockwise by the motor 33a while being in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D placed on the substantially V-shaped holding portion 34. Is driven to rotate. Thereby, by slowly rotating the medicine D placed on the holding portion 34 counterclockwise, the character information such as the barcode B1 printed on the label attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D, the expiration date, etc. Are acquired by the barcode reader 31 and the camera C2.

  As shown in FIG. 15A and the like, the holding portion 34 is a substantially V-shaped concave portion formed by the above-mentioned holding plate 32 and roller 33, and is printed on a label attached to the outer peripheral surface. It constitutes a reading position on which the medicine D for reading the character information such as the barcode B1 and the expiration date is placed.

  As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the stopper 36 is a plate-shaped member arranged at the end of the holding section 34 on which the medicine D1 is placed in the first medicine confirmation section 30. Therefore, it serves as a reference for the reading position of the character information and the like attached to the medicine D1.

  The positioning member 37 is provided at the end portion of the holding portion 34 opposite to the stopper 36, and moves along the concave portion of the holding portion 34 until the end portion of the medicine D1 comes into contact with the stopper 36. As a result, the medicine D1 can be positioned at the predetermined reading position on the holder 34.

  As described above, the storage unit 51 stores registration information regarding the orientation of the barcode B1 attached to the outer peripheral surface of each of the medicines D1 to D4. That is, in the storage unit 51, a state in which the type information of the medicine D obtained by reading the bar code B1 by the bar code reader 31 and the information regarding the orientation of the bar code B1 corresponding to each medicine D are associated with each other. It has been saved in.

  The determination unit 61 compares the type information of the medicine D and the orientation of the barcode B1 acquired by the barcode reader 31 with the registration information regarding the orientation of the barcode B1 of each medicine D stored in the storage unit 51 in advance. Then, it is determined whether or not the medicine D is placed in the holder 34 in a normal orientation.

  Specifically, the determination unit 61 uses the type information of the medicine D and the information about the orientation of the barcode B1 acquired by the barcode reader 31, and stores the barcode B1 of each medicine D stored in the storage unit 51 in advance. By referring to the registration information regarding the orientation of the barcode B1, it is determined whether the orientation of the barcode B1 read by the barcode reader 31 matches the orientation of the barcode B1 when the medicine D is placed in the normal orientation. judge.

  Accordingly, when the information read by the barcode reader 31 does not match the registration information registered in advance, it is possible to determine that the orientation of the medicine D placed on the holding unit 34 is not the normal orientation. .

  Then, in the first medicine confirmation unit 30 of the present embodiment, when it is determined that the orientation of the medicine D is not normal based on the determination result of the determination unit 61, as shown in FIG. After the picking unit 20 again adsorbs the drug D1 and rotates it by 180 degrees, it is placed on the holding unit 34 as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 16B, the positioning member 37 moves the medicine D1 until the end of the medicine D1 contacts the stopper 36.
This makes it possible to accurately read the character information or the like after reversing 180 degrees with respect to the medicine D determined by the determination unit 61 to be in a non-normal orientation.

  As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of an error in reading character information, a transport error by the picking unit 20, and the like due to the direction of the medicine D placed on the holding unit 34 being opposite to the predetermined direction. You can

Here, the registration information regarding the orientation of the drug D, which is stored in advance in the storage unit 51, is input by, for example, a pharmacist or the like via the screen of the monitor 50a shown in FIG.
The screen of the monitor 50a shown in FIG. 18 shows a setting screen for registering the orientation of the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of the new medicine shown in the live image field.

  In the present embodiment, for all drugs D handled by the drug sorting apparatus 10, the pharmacist or the like uses the setting screen shown in FIG. 18 in addition to the orientation of the barcode B1 of the drug D, the type of the drug, and the expiration date of the drug. , Information about the size of the medicine D, etc. is input in advance.

  Specifically, while looking at the image of the medicine D1 via the setting screen shown in FIG. 18, of the orientations of the barcode B1 displayed as two options in the right column, the medicine D1 displayed in the left column is displayed. It is set by selecting the orientation of the attached barcode B1.

As a result, the information of the drug D once registered can be used as common registration information even in another device or facility such as another hospital.
As for the medicine D1, the image of the label portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D1 placed in a predetermined direction is acquired by the camera C2. Then, the character information (expiration date) printed on the label is read using the image captured by the camera C2.

  At this time, the eight characters “production number” and “expiration date” in the mark search area M1 printed on the label are registered as marks in advance. Therefore, if the mark M2 in the mark search area M1 matches the registered mark in the image captured by the camera C2, it is determined that the character information (expiration date) can be read, and image processing is performed. Start reading the number indicating the expiration date.

  The matching degree of the form of the mark M2 in the mark search area M1 may be determined based on a predetermined threshold value (for example, 70% or more). Therefore, for example, when the medicine D1 is obliquely arranged, the mark M2 in the mark search area M1 becomes oblique in the image captured by the camera C2, and thus the mark registered in advance is It is also assumed that the degree of agreement with the form becomes low and falls below the threshold value.

In this case, it is not necessary to perform the process of reading the expiration date number by determining that the attitude of the medicine D1 is defective.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the expiration date numbers obliquely arranged in the image from being mistakenly read as different numbers by the image processing, and it is possible to carry out a more accurate reading process of the numbers.

  Further, the position of the mark search area M1 is positioned in a substantially constant position in the image, because the medicine D1 placed on the holding section 34 is positioned in a state where it is regulated by the stopper 36. Further, the position of the date area M3 may be registered in advance at a position separated by a predetermined distance (horizontal X mm, vertical Y mm) with reference to the position of the mark M2.

  As a result, in image processing using a plurality of images captured by the camera C2, first, the mark M2 in the mark search area M1 is found, and the date area M3 determined based on the position of the mark M2 is searched for and the characters are searched. Can recognize information.

<Control of direction reversal of medicine D and reading of barcode and character information>
The medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes the above-described configurations, and controls for accurately reading the barcode B1 and the character information (expiration date) included in the label attached to the outer peripheral surface of the returned medicine D. The flow will be described below with reference to FIG.

  Specifically, as shown in step S11, first, the picking unit 20 takes out the medicine D from the returned medicine tray T1 and sucks and conveys it to the holding unit 34 (reading position) of the first medicine confirmation unit 30 (first). 1 transfer step).

  Next, in step S12, the barcode B1 printed on the label on the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D is read by the barcode reader 31 while rotating the roller 33 in the clockwise direction (first reading step).

At this time, the barcode reader 31 reads the barcode B1 to obtain the type information of the medicine D1 and the like, and also detects the orientation of the barcode B1.
Next, in step S13, the orientation of the medicine D placed on the holder 34 is determined by referring to the orientation of the barcode B1 detected by the barcode reader 31 and the registration information stored in advance in the storage unit 51. It is determined whether the orientation is normal (determination step).

  Here, if the orientation of the medicine D1 placed on the holding section 34 is determined to be normal, as shown in FIG. 15A, for example, the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, as a result of referring to the registration information, for example, as shown in FIG. 15B, when it is determined that the direction of the medicine D1 is not normal (opposite direction), the direction of the medicine D1 is changed to normal. To do so, the process proceeds to step S16.

  Next, in step S14, since the orientation of the medicine D1 placed on the holding unit 34 is determined to be normal, a plurality of images of the label portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D1 by the camera C2 while rotating the medicine D1 are determined. Is acquired, and it is sequentially determined whether or not the degree of coincidence between the mark M2 in the mark search area M1 included in the image and the previously registered mark is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 70%).

Here, when the degree of coincidence is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the character information adjacent to the mark search area M1 can be read, and the process proceeds to step S15.
On the other hand, when the degree of coincidence is less than the predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the character information adjacent to the mark search area M1 cannot be read due to factors other than the orientation of the medicine D1, and step S15 is skipped and the process ends. To do.

  Next, in step S15, since it is determined in step S14 that the character information adjacent to the mark search area M1 can be read, the number of the date and time indicating the expiration date contained in the date area M3 is detected using the image. Then, the reading process is performed (second reading step).

  On the other hand, in step S13, when it is determined that the direction of the medicine D placed on the holding unit 34 is not normal, in order to reverse the direction of the medicine D to the normal direction, as shown in FIG. As shown, the medicine D1 is picked up by the picking unit 20 and rotated 180 degrees in a state of being lifted, and the drug D1 is placed on the holding unit 34 again.

  Next, in step S17, since the direction of the medicine D1 placed on the holding portion 34 is reversed and is in the normal direction, the medicine C1 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D1 by the camera C2 while rotating the medicine D1. Whether or not a plurality of images of the label portion are acquired and the degree of coincidence between the mark M2 in the mark search area M1 included in the image and the previously registered mark is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 70%) or not. Are sequentially determined.

Here, when the degree of coincidence is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the character information adjacent to the mark search area M1 can be read, and the process proceeds to step S18.
On the other hand, if the degree of coincidence is less than the predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the character information adjacent to the mark search area M1 cannot be read due to factors other than the orientation of the medicine D1, and step S18 is skipped and the process ends. To do.

  Next, in step S18, since it is determined in step S17 that the character information adjacent to the mark search area M1 can be read, the number of the date and time indicating the expiration date contained in the date area M3 is detected using the image. Then, the reading process is performed (second reading step).

  With this, when the orientation of the medicine D1 is detected, and when it is determined that the orientation of the medicine D1 is not normal, the control is performed so that the medicine D1 is inverted to a predetermined normal direction, thereby performing the process of reading the character information. In doing so, the medicine D1 can always be placed on the holding portion 34 so that the orientation thereof is normal.

  As a result, the bar code B1 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D1 and the character information such as the expiration date can be accurately read without providing a dedicated configuration for detecting the direction, the outer shape, and the like of the medicine D1.

[Other Embodiments]
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

(A)
In the above embodiment, the returned medicines D are taken out one by one from the returned medicine tray T1 and stored in the appropriate storage tray T2. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 20, the medicine dispensing system 100 is configured by adding the function of the medicine sorting apparatus 10 of the present invention to a medicine dispensing apparatus that dispenses a desired medicine D to a dispensing tray T3 based on prescription information. Good.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the medicine dispensing system 100 includes a tray supply device 101, a plastic bottle dispensing device 102, a returned medicine sorting device (corresponding to the medicine sorting device 10 of the first embodiment) 103, an ampoule vial dispensing device 104, and a label injection slip. A loading device 105 and a tray storage transfer device 106 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the tray supply device 101 is arranged on the most upstream side (left end in FIG. 20) of the medicine dispensing system 100. Then, the tray supply device 101 is set in a state where the dispensing trays T3 are stacked and supplies the empty dispensing tray T3 to the downstream side.

  The plastic bottle dispensing device 102 stores the plastic bottle-shaped drug D, and is arranged on the downstream side of the tray supply device 101 as shown in FIG. Then, the plastic bottle dispensing device 102 dispenses the plastic bottle (drug D) contained in the prescription information to the dispensing tray T3 conveyed from the tray supply device 101.

  The returned medicine sorting apparatus 103 is an apparatus that automatically sorts a plurality of returned medicines D corresponding to the medicine sorting apparatus 10 described above, and as shown in FIG. 20, is located on the downstream side of the plastic bottle dispensing apparatus 102. It is arranged. Then, the returned medicine sorting apparatus 103 takes out the returned medicines sorted in the returned medicine sorting apparatus 103 and stored in the storage tray T2 based on the prescription information, and pays out to the dispensing tray T3.

As a result, the returned drug D is reused by being again dispensed to the dispensing tray T3 as a drug to be administered to the patient after the expiration date of the drug is confirmed.
The returned medicine sorting device 103 may be arranged upstream of the plastic bottle dispensing device 102.

  However, in general, many plastic bottle-shaped chemicals D are large and heavy, so considering the risk of damaging the ampoule-shaped chemicals D etc. discharged from the chemical sorting device 10, the professional bottle is first dispensed in the tray. It is desirable to pay it out at T3. Therefore, it is preferable that the chemical sorting device 10 is arranged at the position shown in FIG.

  The ampoule vial dispensing device 104 stores the ampoule-shaped medicine D and is arranged on the downstream side of the returned medicine sorting device 103, as shown in FIG. Then, the ampoule vial dispensing device 104 dispenses the ampoule vial (drug D) contained in the prescription information to the dispensing tray T3 conveyed from the upstream side.

  The label injection slip inserting device 105 is a device for printing a patient name, prescription information and the like on a predetermined label, and is arranged on the downstream side of the ampoule vial dispensing device 104 as shown in FIG. Then, the label injection prescription inserting device 105 creates a label on which the prescription information and the like are printed based on the prescription information, and inserts it into the dispensing tray T3 conveyed from the upstream side. Thereby, the pharmacist or the like can easily confirm whether or not the medicine D dispensed to the dispensing tray T3 is appropriate by checking the label placed on the dispensing tray T3.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the tray storage transfer device 106 is disposed on the downstream side of the label injection slip input device 105 and on the most downstream side (the right end in FIG. 1) of the medicine dispensing system 100. The tray storage / transfer device 106 stores the dispensing tray T3 including the medicine D dispensed based on the prescription information and the label, and the pharmacist or the like takes out the required dispensing tray T3.

  With the above configuration, the medicine dispensing system 100 dispenses an appropriate medicine D to the dispensing tray T3 based on the prescription information, and reuses the returned medicine automatically sorted by the returned medicine sorting apparatus 103. be able to.

(B)
In the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described by way of an example in which the present invention is realized as a chemical-orientation determining apparatus (chemical-sorting apparatus) and a chemical-orientation determining method. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, it may be realized as a drug orientation determination program which is stored in a storage unit and causes a computer to execute the drug orientation determination method.
In this case, for example, the CPU reads the drug orientation determination program stored in a storage unit such as a memory, and forms each component of the above-described drug orientation determination device as a functional block, thereby achieving the configuration of the device. The same effect can be obtained.

(C)
In the above embodiment, an example in which the reading position where the barcode B attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D is read is provided in the substantially V-shaped holding portion 34 formed by combining the roller 33 and the holding plate 32. I explained it. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the reading position may be provided on a plane, or may be a recess made of another member or the like.

(D)
In the above embodiment, the example in which the storage unit 51 that stores the registration information is provided in the medicine sorting device (drug orientation determination device) 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the storage unit that stores the registration information may be provided in an external device such as an external server or a cloud space.
In this case, the drug orientation determination device can easily determine whether or not the orientation of the drug is normal by accessing the external device and acquiring registration information each time the barcode of the drug is read, for example. can do.

(E)
In the above-described embodiment, the first transportation unit that takes out the medicines D stored in the non-aligned state from the returned medicine tray T1 and conveys them to the holding unit 34, and the second transportation unit that conveys the medicines D from the holding unit 34 to the predetermined storage tray T2. As an example, the example using the single picking unit 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, a first transport unit that takes out the medicines D stored in a non-aligned state from the returned medicine tray T1 and transports them to the holding unit 34, and a second transport unit that transports the drugs D from the holding unit 34 to a predetermined storage tray T2, You may use separate conveyance parts.

(F)
In the above embodiment, an example in which a plate-shaped member is used as the positioning member 37 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the positioning member is not limited to the plate-shaped member, and a block-shaped member may be used.

(G)
In the above embodiment, the medicine orientation determination device of the present invention has been described as an example realized as the first medicine confirmation unit 30 provided in the medicine sorting device 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the drug orientation determination device of the present invention may be realized as a single device that identifies the type of drug, the expiration date, and the like.

(H)
In the above-described embodiment, the bar code reader 31 and the camera C2 are used as the first reading unit and the second reading unit that read various kinds of information attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine D. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, as the information reading device, either one of the barcode reader and the camera may be used, or another information reading unit may be used.

(I)
In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 50 of the first medicine confirmation unit (drug orientation determination device) 30 shares the control unit 50 of the medicine sorting device 10 as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the control unit of the first chemical confirmation unit (chemical orientation determination device) may be provided as a control unit different from the control unit of the chemical sorting device.

(J)
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the first medicine confirmation unit (medicine orientation determination device) 30 includes the control unit 50 and the determination unit 61 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the control unit of the first medicine confirmation unit (medication orientation determination device) may have a function as a determination unit.

  The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of this invention has the effect that the orientation of a chemical | medical agent can be determined correctly with a simple structure, Therefore For various apparatuses which read the barcode attached to the outer peripheral surface of a chemical | medical agent, Widely applicable.

10 Drug Sorting Device 10a Main Units 10b, 10c Door 11 Returned Medicine Tray Installation Section 12 Storage Tray Installation Section 13 Returned Medicine Tray Transfer Section 14 Storage Tray Transfer Section 20 Picking Section (First Transfer Section, Second Transfer Section)
20a Adsorption part 21a Vertical support 21b Belt 21c Motor 22a Motor 22a Horizontal support 22b Belt 22c Motor 23a Horizontal support 25 Bar code reader 30 1st medicine confirmation section (chemical orientation determination device)
31 Bar code reader (first reading unit)
32 Holding plate (plate-shaped member)
33 roller (rotating mechanism)
33a Motor (rotating mechanism)
34 Holding part (V-shaped part)
35 Placement Table 36 Stopper 38 Reflector 37 Positioning Member 40 Second Medicine Confirmation Section 40a Supporting Section 50 Control Section 50a Monitor 51 Storage Section 61 Judgment Section 100 Medicine Dispensing System 101 Tray Supply Device 102 Plastic Bottle Dispensing Device 103 Returned Drug Sorting Device (Pharmaceuticals) Sorting device)
104 Ampoule Vial Discharge Device 105 Label Injection Prescription Device 106 Tray Storage Transfer Device B1 Bar Code B2 Bar Code C1 Camera C2 Camera (Second Reading Unit)
D Drugs D1 to D4 Drugs D1a Head D1b Body part M1 Mark search area M2 Mark M3 Date area N Handle S1 Return medicine tray storage space S2 Picking space S3 Storage tray mounting space S4 Return medicine sorting space T1 Return medicine tray T2 Storage Tray T2a to T2c Storage tray T2z Recess T3 Dispensing tray W, W1, W2 Gap

Claims (12)

A drug orientation determination device for determining whether or not the orientation of a drug placed at a predetermined reading position is normal,
A first transport unit for transporting the medicine to the reading position,
A first reading unit that reads a barcode attached to an outer peripheral surface of the medicine placed on the reading position in the first transport unit;
A determination unit that determines the orientation of the medicine by comparing information acquired by the first reading unit with registration information indicating the orientation of the barcode of the medicine that is registered in advance;
A device for determining the orientation of chemicals. Further comprising a rotation mechanism for rotating the medicine placed at the reading position,
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of Claim 1. Further comprising a storage unit for storing the registration information,
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of Claim 1 or 2. An acquisition unit for acquiring the registration information from an external device in which the registration information is stored is further provided.
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of Claim 1 or 2. The reading position is formed by a roller that is rotationally driven and a plate-shaped member that is arranged in proximity to the roller in a substantially V shape in a side view.
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 4. Further comprising a positioning member that moves the medicine placed at the reading position along a longitudinal direction thereof to a predetermined position.
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 5. The determination unit further includes a second transport unit that lifts the drug and reverses the direction when the drug is determined to be in the opposite direction,
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 6. The determination unit further includes a second reading unit that reads character information attached to the outer peripheral surface of the medicine when the medicine is determined to be in a normal direction.
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 7. The first reading unit is a bar code reader,
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 8. The second reading unit is an imaging unit that acquires an image including the character information.
The chemical | medical agent orientation determination apparatus of Claim 8. A method for determining the orientation of a medicine that determines whether the orientation of a medicine placed at a predetermined reading position is normal,
A first conveying step of conveying the medicine to the reading position,
A first reading step of reading a barcode attached to an outer peripheral surface of the medicine placed at the reading position in the first conveying step;
A determination step of determining the orientation of the medicine by comparing the information acquired in the first reading step with registration information indicating the orientation of the barcode of the medicine registered in advance;
A method for determining the orientation of chemicals. A drug orientation determination program for determining whether or not the orientation of a drug placed at a predetermined reading position is normal,
A first conveying step of conveying the medicine to the reading position,
A first reading step of reading a barcode attached to an outer peripheral surface of the medicine placed at the reading position in the first conveying step;
A determination step of determining the orientation of the medicine by comparing the information acquired in the first reading step with registration information indicating the orientation of the barcode of the medicine registered in advance;
A drug orientation determination program that causes a computer to execute a drug orientation determination method that includes:

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