JP2021186356A - PTP cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve a PTP cassette in such a manner that a breadth enlargement/contraction mechanism cannot disturb the view or cause problems when storing and aligning PTP packaged tablets or the like in a medicine storage space.SOLUTION: A breadth enlargement/contraction mechanism 70 is removed from a medicine storage space by incorporating the enlargement/contraction mechanism 70 in a sequentially discharging mechanism 40 under an aligning/storing part 50. In addition, the medicine storage space is improved so as to be enlarged and contracted by allowing racks 53 and 63 protruded downward from both side plates 51 and 61 to move right and left in the opposite direction according to axial rotation operation of an operation part 72 in the breadth enlargement/contraction mechanism 70. Furthermore, a breadth tracking medicine 80 equipped in the storage space is made to open to the left and right by repulsion force of a coil spring 88. A left support shaft frame 58, a horizontal center maintaining member 81 and a right support shaft frame 68 are kept parallel to one another through parallel links 82 and 83. Not only the support shaft frames 58 and 68 but also the breadth tracking mechanism 80 and a front plate 31 can move forward and backward by using cutouts 55 and 56, etc. of a two-ply part 54 on both side plates.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a PTP cassette in which a PTP packaging agent in which some agents are separately stored in one sheet or a PTP packaging agent which is an equivalent sheet-shaped packaging agent is arranged and stored in order and discharged in sequence.
A typical example of a sheet-shaped packaging agent equivalent to a PTP packaging agent is a blister packaging agent.

The PTP packaging agent or the like has a flat surface on one side, but pockets (protrusions for compartmentalizing and storing) containing the drug are formed vertically and horizontally on the other side.
PTP cassettes that contain a large number of such PTP packaging agents and sequentially discharge them are not uncommon to be used alone, but in most cases, they are arranged in multiple rows on the shelves of PTP dispensing devices, which are a type of chemical storage device. It is often installed side by side in multiple stages (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, PTP cassettes are those in which individual PTP packaging agents, etc. are placed in a vertical position, held side by side, and vibrated in small steps to advance them in order and discharge them in sequence. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).
Further, some PTP cassettes are such that individual PTP packaging agents and the like are placed in a horizontal posture, stacked up and down to hold a large number of them, and then laterally fed in the longitudinal direction in order from the bottom to be sequentially discharged (. For example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3).

Each PTP cassette is provided with a box-shaped aligned storage unit (upper unit) that defines a drug storage space and a sequential discharge mechanism (lower unit) provided below the box-shaped aligned storage unit (lower unit). Since it is intended for types, the aligned storage unit holds PTP packaging agents, etc. in a state where they are laid down, placed on the inner bottom member of the drug storage space, stacked vertically, and stored in an aligned state. The sequential discharge mechanism is adapted to laterally feed the PTP packaging agent and the like held in the aligned storage unit in order from the bottom and discharge them forward (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3).

The alignment storage section is similar in configuration to all cassettes, and the drug storage space above the inner bottom is surrounded by the front plate and both side plates to maintain the alignment state, but to replenish the PTP packaging agent, etc. The top surface is open. In addition, the rear back surface is released to facilitate the replenishment work, and the inner bottom member of the drug storage space is tilted slightly forward to stabilize the alignment state. Furthermore, for lateral feed discharge, the front end of the inner bottom of the front plate is cut out to form a discharge port, and a discharge sensor (passing sensor) is placed below the discharge port to confirm discharge. ing. The front plate is equipped with an adjustment member located above the discharge port to adjust the opening of the discharge port, and a whiskers-shaped flexible fastener or a simple plate-like body is used for the adjustment member. (See, for example, Patent Document 2).

The sequential discharge mechanism is long in the front-rear direction according to the aligned storage unit, and acts on the lowest PTP packaging material, etc. held in the aligned storage unit. It is common to all cassettes that it is equipped with a movable member (forward feed member) and a drive mechanism that moves the member to laterally feed the bottom PTP packaging agent and the like to discharge it forward from the discharge port. However, there are several types of movable members, which are used properly according to the characteristics of the PTP packaging agent, for example, hardness and curl. Claw-shaped hooking members (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3), protrusion-shaped extrusion members, and the like are movable members that are moved by the cyclic movement of endless belts stretched back and forth, but of endless belts. An example of an unnecessary movable member is a friction type rotary wheel.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-019928 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-135994 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-150309 Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-103050 (Application) Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-105183 (Application)

Furthermore, since there are various sizes of PTP packaging agents, it is difficult to use a dedicated PTP cassette without omission even for infrequently used PTP packaging agents and later PTP packaging agents. A PTP cassette with adjustable width, etc. that can be adapted to PTP packaging agents with different widths and lengths has also been developed and put into practical use (see, for example, Patent Document 2), but a drug storage space (PTP alignment). The convenience of the PTP cassette that can be expanded and contracted (storage space) has been recognized, and as its use has increased, there has been an increasing demand for the user to be able to adjust the expansion and contraction of the drug storage space.

Therefore, a PTP cassette has been developed in which the user alone can relatively easily perform the width adjustment work to adapt the drug storage space to PTP packaging agents having different widths. Specifically (see Patent Documents 4 and 5), a front plate located above the discharge port, a front plate elevating mechanism that manually raises and lowers the front plate when the height of the discharge port is desired to be variably adjusted, and a front plate elevating mechanism. The left and right plates that are divided into left and right and stand above the discharge mechanism in sequence, the manually operated width expansion and contraction mechanism that can expand and contract the gap between the left and right plates, and the front plate elevating mechanism in the center of both plates. A PTP cassette has been developed in which a width-following mechanism is provided in the aligned storage section.

However, when I tried the developed product, further problems emerged. That is, since the width expansion / contraction mechanism was arranged in the upper part of the drug storage space, it was found that the width expansion / contraction mechanism may be an obstacle or an obstacle when the PTP packaging agent or the like is stored in the drug storage space and aligned. ..
Therefore, the first technical issue is to improve the situation so that such a situation does not occur.

In addition, the width-following mechanism is placed below the width-expanding / contracting mechanism, and a spring is incorporated in the width-following mechanism so that the left-right width of the width-following mechanism is urged in the direction of contraction. As the lower lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism tries to shrink, the gap between the left side plate and the right side plate is maintained parallel or upwardly, but the lower end of the movable side plate and the upper surface of the ejection mechanism sequentially interfere with each other. It was found that the gap between the plates on both sides may expand downward due to the spring force. Such a downward spreading state of both side plates is undesired because the stacked state is disturbed and collapses when the lowest PTP packaging agent or the like is laterally fed and discharged by extrusion at the rear end from the PTP packaging agents or the like stacked vertically. It is not preferable because it may be one of the factors that cause the situation. Therefore, it is a second technical problem to improve so that the downward spread of both side plates does not occur.

Furthermore, the width tracking mechanism is equipped with link members on the left and right, and the support shaft at the tip of the left link member is pivotally supported by the support shaft frame of the left plate, and the support shaft at the tip of the right link member is on the right side. It is pivotally supported by the support shaft frame of the plate, and a plurality of punched holes to which those support shaft frames can be transferred are formed in the corresponding side plate so that the front-back position of the width-following mechanism can be changed. Since screwing was also used so that the position after the change was maintained stably, it took time and effort to change the position of the support shaft frame.
Therefore, it is a third technical task to improve the support shaft frame that supports the width tracking mechanism from the left and right so that the positions can be easily changed with respect to the plates on both sides.

The PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 1) was devised to solve the above-mentioned first problem.
A drug storage space that can hold PTP packaging agents that store drugs separately in sheets or PTP packaging agents that are equivalent sheet-like packaging agents in a state where they are laid horizontally, stacked vertically, and stored side by side is depicted. The aligned storage unit provided with the front plate, the left side plate, and the right side plate, and the bottom surface of the drug storage space are drawn, and the lowest of the PTP packaging agents and the like is forward-forwarded to the lower part of the front plate. The sequential discharge mechanism for discharging from the discharge port, the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism capable of expanding / contracting the gap between the left side plate and the right side plate, the front plate elevating mechanism for raising / lowering the front plate, and the front plate elevating mechanism with the left side plate. A PTP cassette provided with a width tracking mechanism located in the center of the right side plate.
The lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism is incorporated into the sequential discharge mechanism.

Further, the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 2) is the PTP cassette of the solution 1, and the left side plate locally protrudes further downward from the contact end with the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism. The right side plate also includes an engaging portion that locally protrudes downward from the end of contact with the upper surface of the sequential discharging mechanism, and the sequential discharging mechanism is provided with the engaging portion. Both the left side plate erected on the upper surface and the right side plate are allowed to move left and right only by engaging with the respective engaging portions, and the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism allows the left side plate and the right side plate to move. It is characterized by comprising an operating member that moves the right side plate in the opposite direction by acting on each of the engaging portions.

Further, the PTP cassette of the present invention (Solution 3) was devised to solve the second problem in addition to the above-mentioned first problem, and is the PTP cassette of the above-mentioned solutions 1 and 2. The width-following mechanism is characterized by comprising an elastic member that exerts an elastic repulsive force that stretches the lateral width-following mechanism to the left and right.

Further, the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 4) is the PTP cassette of the solution 3, and the width-following mechanism is provided with a parallel link at a connecting portion with the left side plate and is connected to the right side plate. It is characterized in that the connecting portion of the above is also provided with a parallel link.

Further, the PTP cassette of the present invention (Solution 5) was devised to solve the third problem in addition to the above-mentioned first problem, and is the PTP cassette of the above-mentioned solutions 1 to 4. A double-layered portion is formed on both the left side plate and the right side plate, and a support shaft frame that pivotally supports the width tracking mechanism from the left and right is equipped on both the left side plate and the right side plate. A long cutout is formed in the inner portion of the double-layered portion, and the support shaft frame is held by the corresponding side plate via the cutout and can slide back and forth.

Further, the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 6) is the PTP cassette of the solution 5, and the sliding that applies a load to the sliding of the support shaft frame on both the left side plate and the right side plate. It is characterized in that a plurality of restraining portions are formed along the above-mentioned cutout.

In such a PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 1), a lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism and a lateral width follow-up mechanism are provided, and the gap between both side plates is expanded / contracted by operating the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism, etc. By keeping the front plate in the middle of the plates on both sides, it is possible for the user alone to easily adjust the width and the like so that the drug storage space is adapted to PTP packaging agents having different widths. Moreover, by adopting a sequential discharge mechanism instead of the alignment storage unit for incorporating the width expansion / contraction mechanism, the line of sight may be blocked by the width expansion / contraction mechanism when the PTP packaging agent or the like is stored in the drug storage space of the alignment storage unit and aligned. There is no possibility that the PTP packaging agent or the like comes into contact with the width expansion / contraction mechanism. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a PTP cassette in which the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism does not become an obstacle or an obstacle when the PTP packaging agent or the like is stored in the drug storage space and arranged, and the above-mentioned first technical problem is solved.

Further, in the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 2), the operation member is operated after the sequential discharge mechanism is engaged with both side plates standing on the upper surface in a manner allowing only left-right movement. By making the both side plates move in the opposite directions, the work load can be increased because the moving member when adjusting the width of the drug storage space can be operated not only on one side plate but also on multiple side plates. Since the increase is avoided and the central position of the drug storage space with respect to the sequential discharge mechanism does not change even if the drug storage space is expanded or contracted, the forward-forwarding state of the lowest PTP packaging agent or the like by the sequential discharge mechanism becomes easy to stabilize. It also has a further effect.

Further, in the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 3), in addition to moving the mounting destination of the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism to the aligned storage portion and thus to the side plates and the sequential discharge mechanism below the lateral width following mechanism, both sides. By making the plate urged in a direction that separates it to the left and right by the elastic member of the lateral width following mechanism, there are three mechanisms: an upper lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism, a lower sequential discharge mechanism, and an intermediate lateral width tracking mechanism. The lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism has been removed from the included maintenance factor for the lateral spread state of both side plates, and the maintenance factor for the upward spread state of both side plates has been reduced to the minimum of two, the lower sequential discharge mechanism and the upper lateral width follow-up mechanism. The spread state of both side plates is stably maintained. Therefore, according to the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned first technical problem, the second technical problem is also solved.

Further, in the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 4), the parallelism between the width-following mechanism and the left side plate is enhanced by the parallel links intervening in them, and the parallelism between the width-following mechanism and the right side plate is enhanced. Since it is enhanced by the parallel links intervening in them, the upward spreading state of both side plates is maintained in a substantially constant state close to perfect parallel even when the elastic member of the lateral width following mechanism fluctuates.

Further, in the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 5), a double-layered portion is formed on the left and right side plates, a long cutout is formed in the double-layered portion, and the left and right support shaft frames are formed by using the cutout. By making it possible to slide back and forth, the width tracking mechanism held on the side plate via both support shaft frames is normally fixed in position by the holding force such as the frictional force of the double-layered part, while holding it. If a force superior to the force is applied to the width-following mechanism, the width-following mechanism easily moves together with the support shaft frame, so that the position of the support shaft frame can be changed quickly and easily. Therefore, according to the present invention, the third technical problem is solved in addition to the first technical problem.

Further, in the PTP cassette of the present invention (solution 6), a plurality of sliding restraining portions for applying a load to the sliding of the support shaft frame are formed on the side plates along the cutouts, so that the left and right support shaft frames are formed. It becomes possible to easily and accurately match the stop positions in the front-rear direction.

Regarding Example 1 of the present invention, the appearance of the base to which the PTP cassette is attached / detached is shown, (a) is a perspective view of a single unit, and (b) is a perspective view of a shelf-mounted row. Both (a) and (b) are left side views of the PTP cassette, (a) shows a state in which the aligned storage unit is attached to the sequential discharge mechanism, and (b) shows the aligned storage unit and the sequential discharge mechanism up and down. Shows the separated state. (A) to (d) are all front views of the PTP cassette, (a) shows a state in which the left side plate and the right side plate are separated to widen the width of the drug storage space, and (b) is the left side plate. The right side plate is brought closer to each other to reduce the width of the drug storage space, (c) shows the widened aligned storage unit and the sequential discharge mechanism are separated vertically, and (d) is the reduced width state. It shows a state in which the aligned storage unit and the sequential discharge mechanism are separated into upper and lower parts. Both (a) and (b) are plan views of the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism, in which (a) indicates a widening state and (b) indicates a narrowing state. (A) is a vertical sectional front view of the left side plate portion, (b) is a developed view thereof, and (c) is a side view of the corresponding portion. Both (a) to (d) are front views of the width-following mechanism and the front plate elevating mechanism, (a) shows the width-following mechanism in the widened state, and (b) shows the width-following mechanism in the narrowed state. , (C) show the front plate elevating mechanism in which the front plate is raised, and (d) shows the front plate elevating mechanism in which the front plate is lowered. It is an external perspective view which concerns on a base and a PTP cassette which is not attached to it. Both (a) and (b) are external perspective views of the base and the PTP cassette, where (a) shows a state in which attachment / detachment is in progress and (b) shows a state of attachment.

A specific embodiment for carrying out such a PTP cassette of the present invention will be described with reference to the following Example 1.
The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 embodies all of the above-mentioned solutions 1 to 6 (claims 1 to 6 at the time of filing).

The specific configuration of Example 1 of the PTP cassette of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B show the appearance of the base 20, where FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a single base, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the base 20 placed side by side on a row shelf 10.
2A is a left side view of the PTP cassette 30, and FIG. 2A is a left side view of the PTP cassette 30 deployed in a sequential discharge mechanism 40 and an aligned storage unit 50.

Further, FIG. 3A is a front view of the PTP cassette 30 in which the left side plate portion 51 and the right side plate portion 61 are separated from each other to widen the width of the drug storage space, and FIG. 3B is a front view of the left side plate portion 51. It is a front view of the PTP cassette 30 in which the right side plate 61 and the right side plate 61 are brought close to each other and the width of the medicine storage space is reduced. FIG. 3 (d) is a front view of the space where the aligned storage unit 50 in the reduced width state and the sequential discharge mechanism 40 are vertically separated from each other.

Further, FIG. 4A is a plan view of the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 in the widened state, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the lateral width expanding / contracting mechanism 70 in the widened state.
Further, FIG. 5A is a vertical sectional front view of the left side plate portion 51, FIG. 5B is a developed view thereof, and FIG. 5C is a side view of the corresponding portion of the left side plate portion 51.
6 (a) is a front view of the width-following mechanism 80 in the widened state, FIG. 6 (b) is a front view of the width-following mechanism 80 in the narrowed state, and FIG. 6 (c) is a front view. It is a front view of the front plate elevating mechanism 32 which raised the plate 31, and FIG. 6D is a front view of the front plate elevating mechanism 32 which lowered the front plate 31.

Further, FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the base 20 and the PTP cassette 30 not attached to the base 20.
Further, FIG. 8A is an external perspective view of the base 20 and the PTP cassette 30 during attachment / detachment.
Further, FIG. 8B is an external perspective view of the PTP payout device 20 + 30 in which the PTP cassette 30 is mounted on the base 20 and can be operated.

The PTP payout device 20 + 30 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) is a combination of a fixed base 20 and a removable PTP cassette 30, of which the base 20 (see FIG. 1) is for receiving power and transmitting / receiving signals. In the normal state, it is fixed to the upper surface 12 of the row shelf 10. On the other hand, the PTP cassette 30 (see FIGS. 2 to 8) is detached from the base 20 when the PTP packaging agent 5 is replenished (see FIG. 7), but when the PTP packaging agent 5 is contained. It is mounted on the base 20 in preparation for drug discharge (see FIG. 8B) and is driven by the base 20 when the drug is discharged.

It is rare that the PTP payout device 20 + 30 is provided independently, and in most cases, a large number of PTP dispenser devices 20 + 30 are mounted in the chemical storage section of the automatic dispensing device. (A)), the rows are arranged on the upper surface 12 of the row shelves 10 at appropriate pitches (see FIG. 1 (b)). Although it is not essential, since the PTP cassette 30 is often used in a slightly lowered state, the rear end 11 is thickened to clearly indicate that the upper surface 12 of the row shelf 10 on which the base 20 is mounted is slightly inclined. Although the row shelves 10 having a thin front end 13 are shown, the row shelves 10 may be flat plates or plate-shaped bodies having appropriate uneven portions.

In the PTP cassette 30, in order to discharge the aligned PTP packaging agents 5 in order (see FIGS. 7 and 8), the PTP packaging agents 5 are each laid horizontally and vertically stacked and stored in an aligned manner. It is provided with an aligned storage unit 50 suitable for holding in (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and a sequential discharge mechanism 40 for advancing the lowest one of the PTP packaging agents 5 one by one. , The discharge mechanism 40 is sequentially mounted on the aligned storage unit 50. Then, by improving the sequential discharge mechanism 40, the PTP cassette 30 can be mounted on the base 20 (see FIG. 8B), or the PTP cassette 30 can be removed from the base 20 (see FIG. 7). It can be easily performed by moving it from the rear to the front and back (see FIG. 8A). Further, by improving the alignment storage section 50 and the like, the width of the drug storage space between the plates 51 and 61 on both sides can be easily expanded and contracted, and the height of the discharge port 34 can be easily adjusted (FIGS. 3 and 6 (FIG. 6). c), see (d)).

To elaborate the structure of each part, the base 20 (see FIG. 1) includes a bottom plate 21 attached to the upper surface 12 of the row shelf 10 and mounting members 22 to 28 provided on the bottom plate 21. The mounting members 22 to 28 include left and right side frames 22 and 22 that are long in the front-rear direction, left and right side plates 23 and 23 that are erected on the outside behind the left and right side frames, and a motor 25 for power that is provided inside the rear. The external tooth gear 24 for extending the rotary output shaft, which is fitted so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the rear end portion of the rotary output shaft protruding rearward from the motor 25, and the rear end portion of the rotary output shaft 24 thereof. It consists of a coil spring that urges the tip and a strike portion (held portion) of the push latch device. The engaging portion 26 and a passage sensor 27 provided near the front end and detecting the upward passage of the PTP packaging agent 5 are included.

In addition to these, the base 20 also includes a base front engaging portion 28 erected near the front end in front of the base rear engaging portion 26 (see FIG. 1A). The base front engaging portion 28 has a through hole formed at the upper end portion through which the front and rear engaging portions can be pulled out, and the through hole is an operation portion 72 (FIG. 4) which is a front end portion of a rod-shaped operating member 71 of the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 described later. (See) can be inserted from the rear (see FIG. 8 (b)).
Since the upper end portion of the base front engaging portion 28 is an outer fitting portion with respect to the front end portion (72) of the operating member 71, the base front engaging portion 28 is a rod-shaped operating member of the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 described later. It also causes the front end portion (72) of the 71 to function as a front engaging portion of the discharge mechanism.

The sequential discharge mechanism 40 of the PTP cassette 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) has a long frame body 41 in the front-rear direction, a pair of rotating wheels 43, 43 installed in the front-rear direction thereof, and an endless belt 44 stretched on the frame bodies 43, 43. And, the gear-shaped forward feed member 42 projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the endless belt 44, and the rear of the rotation output shaft of the base 20 when the PTP cassette 30 is attached to and detached from the base 20 which is built in the rear part of the frame body 41. It consists of an internal gear 45 (rotary driven shaft) that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with respect to the external gear 24 at the end, and an arm hook (grasping portion) of the push latch device, and is installed in the rear part of the frame 41. It is provided with a discharge mechanism rear engaging portion 46 that can be engaged and disengaged from the rear with respect to the base rear engaging portion 26 of the base 20 with the acting direction and the gripping direction facing forward.

Since the discharge mechanism rear engaging portion 46 and the base rear engaging portion 26 described above form a pair or a pair to form a push latch device often used for locking an opening / closing door of a cupboard or the like. When these 46 and 26 are pressed from the front and back in a separated state (see FIG. 7) and further pushed in, the PTP cassette 30 and the base 20 are in a connected state (see FIG. 8 (b)) immediately after the pushing is released. Although it returns only a little by the spring force, it maintains the connected state even after that, and when it is pushed in again in that connected state, the connection is released.

Further, the frame body 41 of the sequential discharge mechanism 40 (see FIGS. 2 to 4) is provided with the rod-shaped operation member 71 described above, and is provided in response to a shaft rotation operation of the operation portion 72 (discharge mechanism front engaging portion). A width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 that expands / contracts the width of the drug storage space of the alignment storage unit 50 is also built-in (see FIG. 3). The lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 will be described in detail later (see FIG. 4), but on the upper surface of the frame 41 of the sequential discharge mechanism 40, a left plate portion 51 is provided to delineate the left and right sides of the drug storage space of the aligned storage portion 50. Where the right side plate portion 61 is erected (see FIG. 3), the horizontally long racks 53 and 63 protruding downward from the left bottom plate portion 52 of the left side plate portion 51 and the right bottom plate portion 62 of the right side plate portion 61 (FIG. 3). 2. Cutouts 41e and 41e that accommodate (see FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (d)) and regulate forward / backward movement are formed on the upper surface of the frame 41 (see FIG. 2 (b)), and the cutouts 41e and 41e are formed. By engaging the 41e with the racks 53 and 63 (protruding engaging portions) (see FIG. 2A), both the left plate portion 51 and the right plate portion 61 are allowed to move left and right, but cannot move back and forth. ing.

As described above, the alignment storage unit 50 has a left plate portion 51 with a left bottom plate portion 52 and a right plate with a right bottom plate portion 62 in order to define a drug storage space capable of aligning and storing a large number of PTP packaging agents 5. The portion 61 is provided, but in addition, the front plate 31, the front plate elevating mechanism 32, and the operation portion 33 are also provided (see FIGS. 6 (c) and 6 (d)). The front plate elevating mechanism 32 is attached to the lateral center maintaining member 81 of the lateral width following mechanism 80, which will be described in detail later, and when the operation unit 33 is manually rotated, the front plate 31 is elevated and lowered accordingly. It is designed to let you. As for the elevating position of the front plate 31, only one PTP packaging agent 5 can pass through the discharge port 34 directly below the front plate 31, but the upper PTP packaging agent 5 hits the discharge port 34. It is adjusted so that it does not touch and move forward.

As described above, the left side plate portion 51 is provided with a rack 53 (protruding engagement portion) that locally protrudes further downward from the left bottom plate portion 52, which is the end of contact with the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism 40. Similarly, the right side plate portion 61 also locally protrudes downward from the right bottom plate portion 62, which is the end of contact with the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism 40 (projection section). The joints) are provided in the front and rear (see FIG. 4), but they are 53, 63, which can be said to be a part of the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 described in detail later (see FIG. 4).

Further, the left side plate portion 51 includes a support shaft frame 58 that pivotally supports the left end portion of the width tracking mechanism 80, which will be described in detail later, and a portion including the equipment portion of the support shaft frame 58 (FIG. 2). , In FIGS. 3 and 5, most of the left plate portion 51 excluding the upper end portion), and the two plate bodies such as the outer plate body 51a and the inner plate body 51b are combined from the left and right to form a double-layered portion (see FIG. 5). ), The upper end portion (convex portion 58a forming portion) of the support shaft frame 58 is passed through the upper cutout 56 formed in the upper portion of the outer plate body 51a, and the lower cutout 55 formed in the middle portion of the inner plate body 51b is passed. By adhering the contact surfaces of the two plates 51a and 51b together while passing through the sliding portion 58b in the gap of the support shaft frame 58, the support shaft frame 58 is held in a state where it can be moved back and forth. It has become.

The sliding portion 58b in the gap at the lower end of the support shaft frame 58 (see FIG. 5) is lightly sandwiched in the gap connected downward via the lower cutout 55, that is, in the gap between the outer plate body 51a and the inner plate body 51b. Since it is held by the left side plate portion 51 in the state of being held, the lower end portion of the support shaft frame 58 is formed in the inner portion of the double-layered portion, although the position does not shift due to pressing during feeding of the PTP packaging agent 5. Since the lower cutout 55 is long in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 2A), it can be easily slid back and forth by explicitly operating it with a fingertip or the like (FIGS. 2A and 5). c) See).

Further, a convex portion 58a is formed at the upper end portion of the support shaft frame 58 (see FIG. 5B), and the convex portion 58a is fitted into the punched hole 57 of the left side plate portion 51. (See FIGS. 2A and 5), Of the upper end of the support shaft frame 58, the portion that fits in the upper cutout 56 is thin and easy to bend, so the convex portion 58a that normally stays in the punched hole 57 is the fingertip. If the support shaft frame 58 is explicitly operated by such means, the support shaft frame 58 can be easily escaped from the punched hole 57 and slid with respect to the peripheral surface of the punched hole 57. A large number of such punched holes 57 are formed in the front and rear along the upper cutout 56 which is long in the front and rear, and a large load is applied to the sliding of the support shaft frame of the support shaft frame 58 at the corresponding portion 57. It has become a thing.

Since the right side plate portion 61 is a left-right inverted version of the left side plate portion 51 described above, a detailed description that is repeated is omitted, and a portion useful for explaining the width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 and the width tracking mechanism 80 will be described. The right side plate portion 61 (see FIG. 3) is provided with a support shaft frame 68 that pivotally supports the right end portion of the width tracking mechanism 80, and the portion including the equipment portion thereof is a double-layered portion 64. The support shaft frame 68 can be easily moved back and forth by hand. Further, the right side plate portion 61 also includes a right bottom plate portion 62 which is an abutting end to the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism 40, and the above-mentioned right bottom plate portion 62 which locally protrudes further downward from the right bottom plate portion 62.

The lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 (see FIG. 4) includes a rod-shaped operating member 71 that is long in the front-rear direction, an operating portion 72 that is equipped at the front end thereof and is suitable for being picked up by a fingertip or the like and manually rotating the shaft, and a rod-shaped operating member. It is equipped with worms 73, 73 installed in the front part and the rear part of 71, and two worm gears (cum-pinion) 74,74 in the front and rear, which are provided so as to intersect the worm 73 one by one. There is. Since such a lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 is sequentially built in the discharge mechanism 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and the racks 53 and 63 mesh with the pinion (cum-worm gear) 74 from the front and back, the operation unit. When the rod-shaped operation member 71 is rotated by operating the 72, the operation direction is changed by the worm 73, the pinion / worm gear 74, and the racks 53 and 63, and the rack 53 and the rack 63 move linearly in opposite directions. (See FIGS. 4A and 4B), the gap between the left side plate 51 and the right side plate 61 on the sequential discharge mechanism 40, and thus the width of the drug storage space is widened (see FIG. 3A). It is designed to narrow (see FIG. 3 (b)).

The horizontal width tracking mechanism 80 (see FIG. 6) always positions the front plate 31 at the center of both side plate portions 51 and 61 even if the lateral separation distance between the left side plate portion 51 and the right side plate portion 61 changes. Therefore, the upper left parallel link 82 spanned between the left side portion of the horizontal center maintenance member 81 and the support shaft frame 58 of the left side plate portion 51, and the right side portion of the horizontal center maintenance member 81 and the support of the right side plate portion 61. An upper right parallel link 83 spanned to the shaft frame 68, a hanging rod 87 extending downward from the bottom of the lateral center maintaining member 81, and a horizontal lower link 86 mounted freely up and down with respect to the hanging rod 87. And the right lower left link 84 spanned between the left end of the lower link 86 and the lower portion of the support shaft frame 58, and the right crossed between the right end portion of the lower link 86 and the lower portion of the support shaft frame 68. It includes a lower link 85 and a coil spring 88 (elastic member) that is externally compressed with respect to a portion of the hanging rod 87 below the lower link 86.

Then, the upper left parallel link 82 maintains the parallel state of the lateral center maintenance member 81 and the support shaft frame 58, and the upper right parallel link 83 maintains the parallel state of the horizontal center maintenance member 81 and the support shaft frame 68. As a result, the parallel state of the support shaft frame 58 and the support shaft frame 68, and thus the parallel state of the left side plate portion 51 and the right side plate portion 61 is maintained, and the hanging rod 87 is in a vertical state at the center of both side plate portions 51 and 61. Is designed to be maintained. Moreover, by incorporating the coil spring 88 in a compressed state below the lower link 86, the lower link 86 is always pushed up by the elastic force of the coil spring 88, and the lower left link 84 and the lower right link 85 connected to the lower left link 86 are left and right. Since a force acting to widen the separation distance acts on the support shaft frames 58 and 68, an urging force that extends the lateral width tracking mechanism 80 and the aligned storage portion 50 to the left and right acts on them. Since the width is regulated and regulated by the lower width expansion / contraction mechanism 70, the upper and lower sides are kept in the same state or in a slightly upward opening state.

The usage mode and operation of the PTP cassette 30 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

Prior to the use of the PTP cassette 30, a required number of bases 20 to be attached / detached are arranged in a row on the upper surface 12 of the row shelf 10 (see FIG. 1), and a feeding line (not shown) is connected to or passed through the motor 25. A signal line (not shown) is connected to the sensor 27 so that the operation can be controlled by a controller (not shown) or the like.
First, the PTP cassette 30 is prepared by itself so that the width of the drug storage space is adapted to the PTP packaging agent 5 to be handled, and the front-rear length of the drug storage space is also adapted to the PTP packaging agent 5 to be handled. Further, the height of the discharge port 34 is also adapted to the PTP packaging agent 5.

To adjust the width of the drug storage space (see FIGS. 3A and 3B), the distance between the lower ends of the plate portions 51 and 61 on both sides is slightly smaller than the measured value after measuring the width of the PTP packaging agent 5. Operate the operation unit 72 of the width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 so as to be wider, or put one or a small number of PTP packaging agents 5 into the drug storage space, and then the PTP packaging agent 5 keeps a slight gap in the drug storage space. By operating the operation unit 72 of the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 so as to fit in the bottom portion of the space, the operation unit 72 can be easily and quickly and accurately completed. At that time, the distance between the lower ends of the plate portions 51 and 61 on both sides and the width of the bottom of the drug storage space are determined by the elastic repulsive force of the coil spring 88 so that the width of the drug storage space extends vertically. This is in consideration of the fact that the opening is constant or slightly upward.

The front-rear length of the drug storage space is adjusted (see FIGS. 2 (a), 5 (c), and 6), and the lateral center of the lateral width tracking mechanism 80 held in the middle by the left and right support shaft frames 58 and 68. It can be easily performed by a simple manual operation such as picking the maintenance member 81 and the front plate elevating mechanism 32 from the front and back with a fingertip and moving them back and forth. Moreover, at that time, unless the lateral center maintaining member 81 or the like is forcibly tilted, the convex portion 58a at the upper end of the support shaft frame 58 naturally fits into any of the appropriate punched holes 57 of the left side plate portion 51. Of the plurality of punched holes 67 at the upper end of the right side plate portion 61, the convex portion 68a at the upper end of the support shaft frame 68 fits into the punched hole 67 at a position facing the punched hole 57, so that the lateral center maintaining member 81 As a result, the front plate 31 maintains an appropriate posture.

The height of the discharge port 34 at the lower end of the front surface of the drug storage space can be easily adjusted (see FIGS. 6 (c) and 6 (d)) by pinching and rotating the operation unit 33 with a fingertip.
After adjusting the width and front-back length of the drug storage space to the height of the discharge port 34 in this way, the PTP packaging agent 5 is loaded into the drug storage space from the rear of the PTP cassette 30 (see FIG. 7). , Only one PTP packaging agent 5 is shown for the purpose of clearly indicating the position of the forward feed member 42, but usually many sheets are stacked), and the width is behind or above the front plate 31 that defines the front surface of the drug storage space. Since there is no scaling mechanism 70 or other mechanism, the PTP packaging agent 5 can be loaded not only from the rear but also from above, so that the loading work can be performed easily and quickly.

The PTP cassette 30 containing the PTP packaging agent 5 is gently held in the hand and carried to the area diagonally above the rear of the base 20 to be mounted (see FIG. 7), and then the front portion of the sequential discharge mechanism 40 of the PTP cassette 30 is used as the base. Lower toward the rear of 20 and insert the front part of the lower end sliding portion 41a of the discharge mechanism 40 into the rear gap 23a of the base 20 (see FIG. 8A), and further lower it to base the lower end sliding portion 41a. It is brought into contact with the upper surface 22a of 20.
Then, when the PTP cassette 30 is advanced until the rear contact portion 41b of the ejection mechanism 40 abuts on the rear end of the side frame 22 of the base 20 while maintaining the contact state, the advance of the PTP cassette 30 is prevented. Therefore, let go of the PTP cassette 30.

Then, immediately before that, the discharge mechanism rear engaging portion 46 of the discharge mechanism 40 and the base rear engaging portion 26 of the base 20 are in the initial engagement state of the push latch device, so that the PTP cassette 30 is released. And the PTP cassette 30 is slightly retracted and then stopped to be mounted on the base 20, and both the engaging portions 26 and 46 are in the engaged continuous state (see FIG. 8 (b)). In this mounted state, the PTP cassette 30 is inserted into the rear gap 23a and the front gap 22b of the base 20 in accordance with the above operation, because the rear step portion 41c and the front step portion 41d of the frame body 41 of the sequentially discharging mechanism 40 are inserted into the rear gap 23a and the front gap 22b of the base 20. Although it is permissible to advance from the base 20 by a slight retreat distance immediately after releasing the above-mentioned hand, the movement in other directions is blocked.

Further, since the external tooth gear 24 (rotational output shaft) of the base 20 and the internal tooth gear 45 (rotational driven shaft) of the sequential discharge mechanism 40 mesh with each other, if the motor 25 is operated, the external tooth gear 24 and the internal tooth gear are engaged. The forward feed member 42 sequentially advances on the upper surface of the discharge mechanism 40 via the 45, the rotary wheels 43, 43, and the endless belt 44.
Further, since the operation portion 72 of the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism 70 of the PTP cassette 30 is loosely fitted in the through hole at the upper end portion of the base front engaging portion 28 of the base 20, erroneous operation of the operation portion 72 is prevented.

In this way, the preparation for automatically discharging the PTP packaging agent 5 from the PTP dispensing device 20 + 30 is prepared. After that, since it is the same as the conventional one, it will be briefly described. The rear end is pushed by the rear end, and the lowermost PTP packaging agent 5 advances and is further sent forward from the discharge port 34, and the discharge is detected by the passage sensor 27 and notified to the controller. Further, since the PTP packaging agent 5 above it is blocked from advancing by the front plate 31, the PTP packaging agent 5 is discharged one by one, and each time the laminated body of the PTP packaging agent 5 is sequentially fed by one sheet. Go down. Since the width of the drug storage space is constant or slightly narrowed, the laminate of the PTP packaging agent 5 is moved toward the center of the drug storage space as it is lowered.

Then, when the drug storage space of the PTP cassette 30 becomes empty or the remaining amount is low and the PTP packaging agent should be replenished, the rear end portion of the PTP cassette 30 or the like is pushed by a hand or the like to sequentially hit the rear of the discharge mechanism 40. The PTP cassette 30 is advanced to a position where the contact portion 41b abuts on or near the rear end of the side frame 22 of the base 20. Then, the push latch device including the discharge mechanism rear engaging portion 46 and the base rear engaging portion 26 performs a latch disengaging operation, and the PTP cassette 30 is slightly pushed backward and PTP is moved along with the disengagement. The cassette 30 can be freely moved in the front-rear direction. Then, when the PTP cassette 30 is moved backward while being held by hand, the PTP cassette 30 is smoothly separated from the base 20.
Therefore, the PTP cassette 30 can be easily and quickly attached to and detached from the base 20.

The application of the present invention is not limited to the "PTP cassette in which the lowest one of the PTP packaging agents and the like is forwarded one by one" shown in the above embodiment, but the "bottom of the PTP packaging agents and the like". It can also be applied to "PTP cassettes that advance two pieces of things at a time".

5 ... PTP packaging agent,
10 ... row shelves, 11 ... rear end, 12 ... top surface, 13 ... front end,
20 + 30 ... PTP payout device,
20 ... Base (holding part, driving part),
21 ... bottom plate, 22 ... side frame, 22a ... top surface (sequential discharge mechanism mounting surface),
22b ... front gap, 23 ... side plate, 23a ... rear gap,
24 ... External gear (rotational output shaft), 25 ... Motor (rotational drive unit),
26 ... Base rear engaging part (strike part of push latch device),
27 ... Pass sensor, 28 ... Base front engaging part (fitting hole, outer fitting part),
30 ... PTP cassette,
31 ... Front plate, 32 ... Front plate elevating mechanism, 33 ... Operation unit, 34 ... Discharge port,
40 ... Sequential discharge mechanism (lower unit),
41 ... Frame body, 41a ... Lower end sliding portion, 41b ... Rear contact portion,
41c ... rear step portion, 41d ... front step portion, 42 ... forward feed member,
43 ... Rotating wheel, 44 ... Endless belt, 45 ... Internal tooth gear (rotary driven shaft),
46 ... Discharge mechanism rear engaging part (arm hook part of push latch device),
50 ... Alignment storage,
51 ... left side plate part, 52 ... left bottom plate part (contact end),
53 ... Rack (protruding engagement part), 54 ... Double-layered part, 55 ... Lower cutout,
56 ... Upper cutout, 57 ... Punched hole (sliding restraint part),
58 ... Support shaft frame (left side plate connecting portion), 58a ... Convex portion, 58b ... Sliding portion in the gap,
61 ... right side plate part, 62 ... right bottom plate part (contact end),
63 ... Rack (protruding engagement part), 64 ... Double-layered part,
67 ... Punched hole (sliding restraint part), 68 ... Support shaft frame (right side plate connecting part),
70 ... Width expansion / contraction mechanism,
71 ... Rod-shaped operation member, 72 ... Operation part (front end part, discharge mechanism front engaging part),
73 ... Warm (operation direction changer),
74 ... Pinion and worm gear (operation direction changer),
80 ... Width tracking mechanism,
81 ... Horizontal center maintenance member, 82 ... Upper left parallel link, 83 ... Upper right parallel link,
84 ... lower left link, 85 ... lower right link, 86 ... lower link,
87 ... hanging rod, 88 ... coil spring (elastic member)

Claims (6)

A drug storage space that can hold PTP packaging agents that store drugs separately in sheets or PTP packaging agents that are equivalent sheet-like packaging agents in a state where they are laid horizontally, stacked vertically, and stored side by side is depicted. The aligned storage unit provided with the front plate, the left side plate, and the right side plate, and the bottom surface of the drug storage space are drawn, and the lowest of the PTP packaging agents and the like is forward-forwarded to the lower part of the front plate. The sequential discharge mechanism for discharging from the discharge port, the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism capable of expanding / contracting the gap between the left side plate and the right side plate, the front plate elevating mechanism for raising / lowering the front plate, and the front plate elevating mechanism with the left side plate. A PTP cassette provided with a width tracking mechanism located in the center of the right side plate.
A PTP cassette characterized in that the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism is incorporated in the sequential discharge mechanism. The left side plate includes an engaging portion that locally protrudes further downward from the contact end with the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism, and the right side plate also has an contact end with the upper surface of the sequential discharge mechanism. It is provided with an engaging portion that locally protrudes further downward from the surface, and the sequential discharge mechanism engages with the engaging portion for both the left side plate and the right side plate erected on the upper surface thereof. In this case, only left-right movement is allowed, and the lateral width expansion / contraction mechanism includes an operating member that moves the left side plate and the right side plate in opposite directions by acting on the respective engaging portions. The PTP cassette according to claim 1, wherein the PTP cassette is characterized by the above. The PTP cassette according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width-following mechanism includes an elastic member that exerts an elastic force to extend the lateral width-following mechanism to the left and right. The PTP cassette according to claim 3, wherein the width-following mechanism is provided with a parallel link at a connecting portion with the left side plate, and is also provided with a parallel link at the connecting portion with the right side plate. A double-layered portion is formed on both the left side plate and the right side plate, and a support shaft frame that pivotally supports the width tracking mechanism from the left and right is equipped on both the left side plate and the right side plate, and is long in the front-rear direction. The claim is characterized in that a cutout is formed in an inner portion of the double-layered portion, and the support shaft frame is held by the corresponding side plate via the cutout and can slide back and forth. The PTP cassette according to any one of 1 to 4. The fifth aspect of claim 5, wherein a plurality of sliding restraining portions for applying a load to the sliding of the support shaft frame are formed along the cutout on both the left side plate and the right side plate. PTP cassette.

Images