JP5280905B2 - Half-tablet cutting device and half-tablet cutting method for tablet cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tablet half-cutting device and method and a tablet half-cutting method for a tablet catheter, wherein a tablet is half-cut in the tablet catheter. <P>SOLUTION: The tablet catheter 10 is provided with: a tablet housing part 1 for housing tablets; a tablet holding rotor 2 which is rotatably provided around a vertical axis in the tablet housing part 1 and where tablet holding paths 24, for holding the tablets are formed therearound; a tablet ejection path 4 for ejecting the tablets through the tablet holding paths 24; a partition 6 which is provided transversely over the tablet ejection path 4 and partially covers the tablet holding paths 24; and a cutter 7 which is provided transversely between the partition 6 and the tablet ejection path 4 to half-cut the tablets. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a half-tablet cutting device and half-tablet cutting method for a tablet cassette, and is particularly installed in a pharmacy such as a hospital and mounted on a drug selection and supply device for appropriately selecting and taking out drugs such as tablets according to a prescription for each patient. The present invention relates to a half tablet cutting device and a half tablet cutting method for cutting a tablet into half tablets in a tablet cassette.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the conventional tablet cassette includes a tablet holding rotor 2a in which tablet holding paths 24, 24,... A plurality of drum-shaped support platforms provided on the upper stage are mounted on each stage (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In such a tablet cassette, the rotation of the motor of the drug selection and supply device is transmitted to the tablet holding rotor 2a via a gear, whereby the tablet holding rotor 2a rotates. Then, in accordance with input data such as a prescription, the tablet held in the tablet holding path 24 covered with a partition plate (not shown) is moved from the tablet discharge path opened directly below the tablet holding path 24 to the lower stage of the drug selection / supply device. To discharge. In the lower part of the medicine selection and supply device, a packaging operation for packaging the discharged tablets one by one with a packaging device (not shown) is performed.

  By the way, when a child is a patient, when a drug is given to the patient, since one tablet is excessive as a single dose, the tablet may be cut into half tablets to make an appropriate amount. Conventionally, in such a case, the tablet was manually cut into half tablets and then filled into the tablet cassette. However, the cutting operation was complicated, and the tablets could not be correctly cut into half tablets and the tablets were crushed. May become unusable. In addition, due to the nature of tablets, there are some that absorb moisture from the cross section and cannot be administered unless cut immediately before dosing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a half-tablet cutting apparatus and half-tablet cutting method for a tablet cassette that can cut a tablet into half-tablets inside the tablet cassette. To do.

  The present invention (apparatus) is a tablet holding section in which a tablet is placed, and a tablet holding path is provided in the tablet holding section so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis and in which a tablet holding path for individually holding the tablet is formed. A rotor, a regulating member disposed immediately above the tablet holding rotor and covering a part of the tablet holding path, and a position corresponding to the regulating member immediately below the tablet holding rotor, and rotation of the tablet holding rotor A tablet cassette half-tablet cutting device comprising a tablet discharge path for sequentially discharging tablets carried in a state held in the tablet holding path by a gap between the regulating member and the tablet discharge path And a cutter member that cuts the tablets that are transported while being held in the tablet holding path by rotation of the tablet holding rotor into half tablets. When Is shall.

  According to the present invention, it is arranged so as to cross the tablet holding path between the regulating member and the tablet discharge path, and is carried in a state held in the tablet holding path by the rotation of the tablet holding rotor. Since the cutter member for cutting the coming tablets into half tablets is provided, the tablets can be cut into half tablets inside the tablet cassette. Therefore, it is unnecessary to manually cut the tablet into half tablets as in the prior art, and the tablets are not lost when the tablets cut into half tablets are filled in the tablet cassette. Moreover, since the tablet can be cut almost correctly into a half tablet, the tablet is not crushed and cannot be used. Moreover, since the tablet can be cut immediately before dosing to reduce moisture absorption from the cut surface, it is advantageous in the case of a tablet that dislikes moisture absorption due to its properties.

  Further, in the present invention (apparatus), since the cutter member is fixed, the tablet is cut into half tablets only with the rotational driving force on the side of the tablet holding rotor that is originally rotationally driven. No additional drive source is required. Therefore, there is an advantage that the cut sound is low in addition to the simple and compact device configuration.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the tablet holding rotor is formed with a plurality of tablet holding paths around it and can be rotated at a pitch interval shorter than the interval between two adjacent tablet holding paths. When the tablet holding rotor is sequentially rotated at the pitch interval, the tablet holding rotor is carried in a state of being held in the tablet holding path on the lower side of the regulating member and on the upstream side in the rotation direction. The first tablet that cuts the coming tablet into upper and lower half tablets by the cutter member, and the tablet is carried in a state of being held in the tablet holding path on the downstream side in the rotation direction below the regulating member. The second half of the lower half tablet is dropped onto the tablet discharge path while the upper half tablet remains on the cutter member, and is held in the tablet holding path on the further downstream side in the rotation direction below the regulating member. The upper half tablets that are carried in the It is preferable to and a third compartment to fall Detchi.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the tablet holding rotor is sequentially rotated at the pitch interval, in the first section, the tablet is located on the lower side of the regulating member and on the upstream side in the rotational direction. The tablets carried in a state of being held in the holding path are cut into upper and lower half tablets by the cutter member (see FIG. 11B), and in the second section, the lower side of the regulating member, the The lower half tablet is dropped into the tablet discharge path while the upper half tablet being carried in the tablet holding path on the downstream side in the rotation direction is left on the cutter member (see FIG. 11C). ) In the third section, the upper half tablet that is carried in a state of being held in the tablet holding path that is further downstream in the rotation direction below the regulating member is dropped into the tablet discharge path. (Refer to FIG. 11 (d)), so that the tablets are divided into half tablets inside the tablet cassette. Tsu door to each half-tablet can be a take out individually.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the cutter member is carried in a state in which the cutter member is detachably attached to the cassette main body, and extends from the base portion to the tablet holding rotor and held in the tablet holding path. It is preferable to provide the front-end | tip part which cuts the tablet which comes into half tablets.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the cutter member is carried in a state in which the cutter member is detachably attached to the cassette main body, and extends from the base portion to the tablet holding rotor and held in the tablet holding path. Since the tablet is provided with a tip portion for cutting each tablet into half tablets, the cutter member can be supported from the cassette body at the base portion, and the tablet can be cut almost correctly at the tip portion. In addition, the cutter member can be easily replaced.

  By the way, there are various types of tablets to be handled, and depending on the size of the tablets, the height position to be cut may slightly vary. Therefore, as in a fourth aspect of the invention, the base of the cutter member is a movement adjusting mechanism that moves and adjusts the cutter member in the vertical direction in accordance with the vertical dimension of the tablet held in the tablet holding path. It is preferable to provide.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the base portion of the cutter member includes a movement adjustment mechanism that moves and adjusts the cutter member in the vertical direction according to the vertical dimension of the tablet held in the tablet holding path. Therefore, even if the size of the tablet to be handled changes, it can be cut almost correctly into half tablets. In particular, in the case of a vertically symmetric tablet such as a circle or an ellipse, it can be correctly cut into half tablets.

  In addition, when the type of tablet to be handled is a hard tablet such as a coated tablet or a sugar-coated tablet, it is difficult to cut. Accordingly, as in the invention described in claim 5, the tip portion of the cutter member is formed such that the gap between the tip portion and the tablet holding rotor gradually decreases in the rotation direction of the tablet holding rotor. It is preferable that

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the front end portion of the cutter member is formed such that the gap between the front end portion and the tablet holding rotor gradually decreases in the rotation direction of the tablet holding rotor. When the tablet holding rotor rotates, the tip of the cutter member gradually cuts the tablet that is being held in the tablet holding path, so that the type of tablet to be handled is coated tablet, sugar-coated tablet, etc. Even in the case of a tablet with a hard surface, it becomes easy to cut.

  As described in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the tablet holding rotor includes a groove part into which the distal end part of the cutter member can be inserted, and the groove part is deeper than the depth of the tablet holding path of the tablet holding rotor. It is preferable.

  According to the invention of claim 6, the tablet holding rotor includes a groove part into which a tip part of the cutter member can be inserted, and the groove part is deeper than the depth of the tablet holding path of the tablet holding rotor. Therefore, by rotating the tablet holding rotor, the tablets that are fed in the state where they are held in the tablet holding path are pushed out at the tip of the cutter member, so that the type of tablets to be handled is the surface of coated tablets, sugar-coated tablets, etc. Even in the case of a hard tablet, it becomes easier to cut.

  The invention (method) according to claim 7 is a tablet storage portion for storing a tablet, and a tablet holding path that is rotatably provided around the vertical axis in the tablet storage portion and that holds the tablet individually around the tablet storage portion. A tablet holding rotor, a regulating member arranged directly above the tablet holding rotor, covering a part of the tablet holding path, and arranged at a position corresponding to the regulating member directly below the tablet holding rotor. A tablet cassette half-tablet cutting method comprising: a tablet discharge path for sequentially discharging tablets carried in a state of being held in the tablet holding path by rotation of a holding rotor, wherein the regulating member and the tablet discharge Using the cutter member arranged so as to cross the tablet holding path between the tablet and the tablet, the tablets carried in the state held by the tablet holding path by the rotation of the tablet holding rotor are divided into upper and lower half tablets. To The lower half tablet of the tablet is dropped into the tablet discharge path, and the remaining upper half tablet is dropped into the tablet discharge path by further rotation of the tablet holding rotor. It is a feature.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the tablet holding is performed by rotating the tablet holding rotor using a cutter member disposed so as to cross the tablet holding path between the regulating member and the tablet discharge path. The tablets carried while being held in the road are cut into upper and lower half tablets, the lower half tablet of them is dropped into the tablet discharge path, and then the tablet holding rotor is further rotated to make the rest Since the upper half tablet is dropped into the tablet discharge path, the tablet can be cut into half tablets inside the tablet cassette, and the half tablets can be dropped into the tablet discharge path sequentially. Thus, the same effects as the present invention (apparatus) can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, it is arranged so as to cross the tablet holding path between the regulating member and the tablet discharge path, and is carried in a state held in the tablet holding path by the rotation of the tablet holding rotor. Since the cutter member for cutting the coming tablets into half tablets is provided, the tablets can be cut into half tablets inside the tablet cassette. Therefore, it is unnecessary to manually cut the tablet into half tablets as in the prior art, and the tablets are not lost when the tablets cut into half tablets are filled in the tablet cassette. Moreover, since the tablet can be cut almost correctly into a half tablet, the tablet is not crushed and cannot be used. Moreover, since the tablet can be cut immediately before dosing to reduce moisture absorption from the cut surface, it is advantageous in the case of a tablet that dislikes moisture absorption due to its properties.

  Further, in the present invention, since the tablet is cut into half tablets with only the rotational driving force on the side of the tablet holding rotor that is originally rotationally driven in a state where the cutter member is fixed, a drive source for this cutting is used. There is no need to add anything. Therefore, there is an advantage that the cut sound is low in addition to the simple and compact device configuration.

It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the tablet cassette concerning one embodiment of the present invention from the upper part. It is a top view which shows the detailed structure of a tablet cassette. It is a rear view which shows the detailed structure of a tablet cassette. It is a perspective view which shows the structure around a tablet holding | maintenance rotor. It is a top view which shows the operation | movement process 1 around a tablet holding | maintenance rotor. It is a perspective view which shows the operation | movement process 2 around a tablet holding | maintenance rotor. It is a perspective view which shows the operation | movement process 3 around a tablet holding | maintenance rotor. It is a perspective view which shows the operation | movement process 4 around a tablet holding | maintenance rotor. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a partition plate, Comprising: (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a cutter, Comprising: (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the principle of operation around a tablet holding | maintenance rotor. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the conventional tablet holding | maintenance rotor.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a tablet cassette 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above (with a lid removed), FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a detailed configuration of the tablet cassette 10, and FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a detailed configuration of the cassette 10. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration around the tablet holding rotor 2, FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing configuration examples of the partition plate 6 and the cutter 7. FIG. 4A is a plan view, and FIG. Is a front view, and (c) is a side view. Hereinafter, the outer peripheral side of the tablet cassette 10 in a state where it is set on the upper drum-shaped support base (not shown) is referred to as a front side, and the inner peripheral side is referred to as a rear side. In addition, the rotation direction of the tablet holding rotor 2 in each figure is counterclockwise as viewed from above, but the rotation direction of the tablet holding rotor 2 can be changed by changing the arrangement of the partition plate 6 and the cutter 7 or the like. It can also be reversed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the tablet cassette 10 is provided with a tablet storage portion 1 for storing tablets, and is rotatably provided in the tablet storage portion 1 around the vertical axis. A tablet holding rotor 2 in which tablet holding paths 24, 24, ... for holding are formed, and a tablet agitator 3 that is above the tablet holding rotor 2 and can be rotated at a higher speed than the tablet holding rotor 2. And a tablet discharge path 4 for discharging the tablets from the tablet holding paths 24, 24,... And a part of the tablet holding paths 24, 24,. A partition plate (corresponding to a regulating member) 6 to be covered, and a cutter (corresponding to a cutter member) 7 which is horizontally provided between the partition plate 6 and the tablet discharge path 4 and cuts the tablet into half tablets. It is composed of

  The tablet storage unit 1 includes a main body upper part 11 and a main body lower part 12. Of these, the main body upper portion 11 is made of, for example, a transparent resin and has a substantially fan shape in plan view, and the front, rear, left and right side walls are each formed of a vertical surface or a downward slope. A lid 13 is attached to the upper part of the main body upper part 11 so as to be openable and closable. A vertical surface 14 is formed at the lower part of the main body upper part 11 so as to surround the tablet holding rotor 2 in particular.

  The main body lower portion 12 is made of, for example, a translucent resin, and has a substantially fan shape in plan view like the main body upper portion 11, and front, rear, left and right side walls thereof are formed with substantially vertical surfaces. A top plate 5a is provided on the upper portion of the lower body portion 12, and the top end of the tablet discharge path 4 is opened in the top plate 5a. A bottom plate 5 is provided at a lower portion of the main body lower portion 12, and the tablet discharge path 4 is opened in the bottom plate 5, and rotary shafts 15 and 17, which will be described later, protrude coaxially through the bottom plate 5. .

  The tablet holding rotor 2 includes a disk-shaped rotor main body 22 that is slightly reduced in diameter on both the upper and lower sides in a state of being attached in the tablet storage unit 1, and a protruding portion 21 that protrudes above the rotor main body 22. A round hole 26 is formed in the center of the protruding portion 21. On the peripheral surface 23 of the rotor main body 22, tablet holding paths 24, 24,... Arranged by dividing the peripheral surface 23 into, for example, 10 parts are recessed toward the center. The tablets dropped between the tablet holding paths 24, 24,... And the vertical surface 14 rotate while being individually held on the top plate 5a, and will be described in detail in a first section 241 and a second section described later in detail. The section 242 and the third section 243 are sequentially conveyed.

  The depth and width of each tablet holding path 24, 24,... Are set according to the size of one tablet that can be held here. Tablets include discs, ellipsoids, and other irregular shapes, and various types of tablets are used. Various types of rotor body 22 are also available depending on the type of tablet. Will be. In the center of the rotor body 22 in the width direction, a groove portion 25 slightly deeper than the depth of each tablet holding path 24, 24,. The width of the groove 25 is set slightly wider than the blade thickness of the cutter 7.

  The tablet holding rotor 2 is fixed to a hollow rotary shaft 15 that penetrates through the position in the front-rear direction and slightly rearward of the upper part 11 and the lower part 12 of the main body 11 of the tablet storage unit 1. A large-diameter gear 16 is fixed to the lower end of the hollow rotary shaft 15. The large-diameter gear 16 is meshed with an upper small-diameter gear among upper and lower gears connected to a motor of a drug selection / supply device (not shown). Therefore, the rotation of the motor is decelerated and transmitted to the tablet holding rotor 2.

  The tablet agitator 3 is in the upper part of the rotor main body 22 of the tablet holding rotor 2 and is loosely fitted to the protruding portion 21 and has a truncated cone shape having an inclined surface that is higher at one peripheral end and lower at the other peripheral end. However, the diameter of the tablet holding paths 24, 24,...

  The tablet agitator 3 is fixed to the upper end of the solid rotary shaft 17 that passes through the hollow rotary shaft 15 and protrudes from the round hole 26 of the protruding portion 21. The solid rotary shaft 17 extends to the lower side of the hollow rotary shaft 15, and a small-diameter gear 18 is fixed to the lower end thereof. The small-diameter gear 18 is meshed with the lower large-diameter gear of the upper and lower double gears. Therefore, the rotation of the motor is increased and transmitted to the tablet agitator 3. As a result, the tablet agitator 3 rotates at a higher speed than the tablet holding rotor 2 and agitates the tablets filled in the tablet storage unit 1, and causes so-called bridging (naturally occurring drug agglomeration). Instead, the tablets that fall along the inclined surface are held one by one in the tablet holding paths 24, 24,.

  The upper part of the tablet discharge path 4 opens to the top plate 5a immediately below the second section 242 and the third section 243 of the tablet holding rotor 2, and the lower part opens to the bottom plate 5 through a funnel-shaped passage. .

  The partition plate 6 is formed of a thin plate made of stainless steel, for example. As shown in FIG. 9, the base portion 62 is cantilevered from an appropriate position of the lower body portion 12 of the tablet storage portion 1. The tip 61 extends to the upper diameter-reduced portion of the rotor body 22 so as to close the first section 241, the second section 242, and the third section 243. The partition plate 6 can be moved and adjusted in the vertical direction. For this purpose, the base 62 is folded back at a right angle to the rear side of the main body lower portion 12 of the tablet storage unit 1, and an elongated hole 63 in the vertical direction is formed in the folded portion, and fastened with a bolt 64 through the elongated hole 63. (Corresponding to the vertical position adjusting mechanism of the regulating member). Therefore, the bolt 64 is loosened to adjust the height position of the partition plate 6 according to the vertical dimension of the tablet p held in the tablet holding path 24, and then the bolt 64 is tightened again. There is a need.

  The cutter 7 is formed of, for example, a thin plate made of stainless steel, like the partition plate 6, and its base 72 is cantilevered from an appropriate position of the lower body 12 of the tablet storage unit 1 as shown in FIG. 10. It is supported. The cutter blade 71 that is the tip of the cutter blade 71 extends into the groove 25 of the rotor body 22 so as to close the first section 241 and the second section 242. As with the partition plate 6, the cutter 7 can be moved and adjusted in the vertical direction. For this purpose, the base 72 is folded back to the rear side of the lower part 12 of the main body 12 of the tablet storage unit 1 at a right angle, and an elongated hole 73 in the vertical direction is formed in the folded part. (Corresponding to a vertical position adjusting mechanism of the cutter member). Therefore, it is necessary to loosen the bolt 74 and adjust the height position of the cutter 7 according to the vertical dimension of the tablet p held in the tablet holding path 24, and then tighten the bolt 74 again. There is.

  Here, the tablet holding rotor 2 is configured to be able to rotate at a pitch interval shorter than the interval between the two adjacent tablet holding paths 24, 24, and includes the first section 241, the second section 242, and the third section. A compartment 243 is provided. When the tablet holding rotor 2 is sequentially rotated at the pitch interval, the first section 241 is held in the tablet holding path 24 on the lower side of the partition plate 6 and on the upstream side in the rotation direction. This is a section where the tablets carried in the state are cut into upper and lower half tablets by the cutter 7, for example, the tablet holding path 24 b in FIG. 11B corresponds to this. The second compartment 242 is located on the lower side of the partition plate 6 while leaving the upper half tablet carried on the cutter 7 while being held in the tablet holding path 24 on the downstream side in the rotational direction. This is a section where the tablet is dropped into the tablet discharge path 4, and corresponds to, for example, the tablet holding path 24b in FIG. The third section 243 is a section for dropping the upper half tablet, which is carried in a state held in the tablet holding path 24 further downstream in the rotation direction, below the partition plate 6 to the tablet discharge path 4. For example, the tablet holding path 24b in FIG. 11 (d) corresponds to this.

  Hereinafter, the operation around the tablet holding rotor 2 of the tablet cassette 10 will be described. 11A to 11F are conceptual diagrams showing the operation principle around the tablet holding rotor 2, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the operation step 1 around the tablet holding rotor 2, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an operation process 3 around the tablet holding rotor 2, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an operation process 4 around the tablet holding rotor 2. 11 (a) to 11 (f) schematically show the state of the tablet holding paths 24, 24,... Viewed from the rear side, in the rotational direction of the tablet holding rotor 2. The tablet holding paths 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d are formed from the downstream side toward the upstream side.

  First, the positions of the partition plate 6 and the cutter 7 of the tablet cassette 10 are adjusted in accordance with the size (particularly the vertical dimension) of the tablet p to be filled. As a result, even if the size of the tablet to be handled changes, it can be cut into half tablets almost correctly. In particular, in the case of a vertically symmetrical tablet such as a circle or an ellipse, the tablet can be correctly cut into half tablets. Thereafter, the lid 13 of the tablet storage unit 1 is opened, and a predetermined quantity of tablets p is filled in the main body upper portion 11 and then the lid 13 is closed. The tablet cassette 10 filled with the tablets p is set at a predetermined position on an upper drum-shaped support table (not shown). Then, the large and small gears arranged on the bottom plate 5 side of the tablet cassette 10 mesh with the two gears of the motor of the drug selection / supply device. In this state, it is assumed that prescription data including a half-tablet tablet p1 (or p2) is input to a controller (not shown) of the medicine selection and supply device.

  At this time, since the filled tablet p is on the tablet agitator 3, the tablet agitator 3 is agitated when the motor is rotated. The motor is driven to rotate at a pitch interval shorter than the interval between the tablet holding paths 24, 24,. As a method for controlling the rotation, a sensor for detecting the half tablet p1 (or p2) falling into the tablet discharge path 4 is provided, and the motor is advanced by one pitch based on a detection signal from the sensor. To do.

  When the motor is driven to rotate at the pitch interval, the tablet agitator 3 rotates at a high speed in the counterclockwise direction, and the tablet holding rotor 2 rotates at a low speed in the counterclockwise direction. As shown in FIG. It falls individually into the tablet holding paths 24, 24,. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11A, the tablet p is dropped and held in the tablet holding path 24 b not closed by the partition plate 6, but the tablet holding path closed by the partition plate 6. Since the tablet p does not enter the 24a, the tablet p does not fall into the tablet discharge path 4 immediately below it.

  Subsequently, the tablet p dropped and held in the tablet holding path 24b comes into contact with the cutter blade 71 at the tip of the cutter 7 by rotating the motor by one pitch. At this time, since the interval between the cutter blade 71 and the rotor body 22 of the tablet holding rotor 2 is gradually reduced, the cutter blade 71 gradually bites into the tablet p held in the tablet holding path 24b. In other words, as shown in FIG. 11B, the upper and lower half tablets p1 and p2 are cut. Further, since the groove portion 25 of the rotor body 22 is set deeper than the tablet holding path 24, the tablet p is in contact with the center of the tablet holding path 24 with the groove portion 25 sandwiched between the upper and lower portions. The cutter blade 71 is pushed out. These make it easy to cut even if the type of tablets to be handled is a hard tablet such as a coated tablet or a sugar-coated tablet.

  Among the cut half tablets p1 and p2, the lower half tablet p2 is a tablet that opens just below it as shown in FIGS. 11 (c) and 6 by further rotating the motor by one pitch. It falls into the discharge path 4. The half tablet p2 dropped into the tablet discharge path 4 is discharged to the lower stage through the tablet discharge path in the drug selection / supply device. Then, it is packaged in a single package by a packaging device together with a predetermined number of tablets discharged from the conventional tablet cassette. At this time, the next tablet p is dropped and held in the tablet holding path 24c.

  On the other hand, of the cut half tablets p1 and p2, the upper half tablet p1 remains on the cutter blade 71 as shown in FIG. 11 (c) and FIG. Then, the half-lock p1 remaining on the cutter blade 71 is also detached from the cutter blade 71 as shown in FIG. 11 (d) by rotating the motor by another pitch. It falls into the tablet discharge path 4 that opens directly below. The half tablet p1 dropped into the tablet discharge path 4 is discharged to the lower stage through the tablet discharge path in the medicine selective supply device. Then, it is packaged in the next package by a packaging device together with a predetermined number of tablets p discharged from the conventional tablet cassette. At this time, the tablet p in the tablet holding path 24c is cut by the cutter 7. However, since the tablet discharge path 4 is not opened immediately below, the tablet p does not fall.

  Of the cut half tablets p1 and p2, the lower half tablet p2 is a tablet that opens just below it by further rotating the motor by one pitch as shown in FIGS. It falls into the discharge path 4. The half tablet p2 dropped into the tablet discharge path 4 is discharged to the lower stage through the tablet discharge path in the drug selection / supply device. Then, it is packaged in a single package by a packaging device together with a predetermined number of tablets discharged from the conventional tablet cassette. At this time, the next tablet p is dropped and held in the tablet holding path 24d.

  On the other hand, of the cut half tablets p1 and p2, the upper half tablet p1 remains on the cutter blade 71 as shown in FIG. 11 (e) and FIG. The half-lock p1 remaining on the cutter blade 71 is also detached from the cutter blade 71 as shown in FIG. 11 (f) by rotationally driving the motor by another pitch. It falls into the tablet discharge path 4 that opens directly below. The half tablet p1 dropped into the tablet discharge path 4 is discharged to the lower stage through the tablet discharge path in the medicine selective supply device. Then, it is packaged in the next package by a packaging device together with a predetermined number of tablets p discharged from the conventional tablet cassette. At this time, the tablet p in the tablet holding path 24d is cut by the cutter 7. However, since the tablet discharge path 4 is not opened immediately below, the tablet p does not fall. Thereafter, the same is repeated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the tablet cassette is provided between the partition plate 6 and the tablet discharge path 4 and cuts the tablet p into half tablets p1 and p2. The tablet p can be cut into half tablets p1 and p2 within 10. Therefore, it is not necessary to manually cut the tablets p into half tablets p1 and p2, and the tablet p is lost when the tablets cut into half tablets p1 and p2 are filled in the tablet cassette 10. I don't have to. And since it can cut into half tablets p1 and p2 almost correctly, the tablet p is not crushed and cannot be used. Moreover, since the moisture absorption from the cross section when the tablet p is cut just before dosing and the tablet p is cut into half tablets p1 and p2 is reduced, in the case of the tablet p that dislikes such moisture absorption due to its properties. It is advantageous.

  In the present embodiment, the tablet p is cut into half tablets p1 and p2 only by the rotational driving force on the side of the tablet holding rotor 2 that is originally rotationally driven in the state where the cutter 7 is fixed. It is not necessary to add a drive source for the above. Therefore, there is an advantage that the cut sound is low in addition to the simple and compact device configuration.

  In addition, although the case where the tablet p was mainly cut into the half tablets p1 and p2 was demonstrated in the said embodiment, both the tablet p and half tablets p1 (or p2) are used for the packaging in an actual packaging apparatus. Is often required. Therefore, it is necessary to set an appropriate number of tablet cassettes 10 and conventional tablet cassettes on the upper drum-shaped support base of the drug selection and supply device. Alternatively, in the case where drum-shaped support bases are respectively provided on the left and right of the upper stage of the medicine selection and supply device, the tablet cassette 10 is set on one of the support bases, and the conventional support base on the other support base. It is good also as setting a tablet cassette. In those cases, a half tablet p1 (or p2) from the tablet cassette 10 and a predetermined number of tablets p from the conventional tablet cassette are packaged in one package.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the tablet cassette 10 illustrated the thing of substantially fan shape in planar view, this is equipped with the drum-shaped support stand in the upper stage of the said chemical | medical agent selection supply apparatus, and is set to this support stand. It is because it was made to correspond to what to do. Therefore, if the support base is in the shape of a shelf extending left and right, the shape of the tablet cassette 10 may be rectangular correspondingly.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the tablet holding | maintenance rotor 2 of the tablet cassette 10 is rotationally driven by the motor of the said chemical | medical agent selection supply apparatus, it uses a motor built in the tablet cassette 10 separately from the said motor, The holding rotor 2 may be rotationally driven. However, in order to increase the number of sets by downsizing the tablet cassette 10, it is preferable to use an external motor as described above.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the separate vertical position adjustment mechanism is provided with respect to the partition plate 6 and the cutter 7, respectively, you may provide both the vertical position adjustment mechanism collectively. Thereby, further size reduction of the tablet cassette 10 can be achieved. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although any up-and-down position adjustment mechanism is comprised by each one long hole 63,73 and each one volt | bolt 64,74, each may be made into multiple, Furthermore, it is good also as arranging a some round hole up and down and inserting a volt | bolt through this. In addition, the partition plate 6 and the cutter 7 are both cantilevered from the appropriate positions of the main body lower portion 12 at the base portions 62 and 72, but if the main body lower portion 12 has a space, a double-supported structure may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the tablet holding | maintenance rotor 2 is rotated with the pitch space | interval of the half of the space | interval between the two adjacent tablet holding paths 24 and 24, it is between two adjacent tablet holding paths 24 and 24. Any pitch interval that is shorter than the interval may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the tablet holding path 24, 24, ... is each recessedly provided in the surrounding surface 23 of the rotor main body 22 toward the center, and each tablet holding path 24, 24, ... The depth and width of the tablet are set according to the vertical dimension of one tablet that can be held here, but the tablet holding paths 24, 24,... A plurality of round holes may also be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Tablet cassette 1 Tablet storage part 2 Tablet holding | maintenance rotor 22 Rotor main body 23 Peripheral surface 24 Tablet holding | maintenance path 241 1st division 242 2nd division 243 3rd division 25 Groove part 3 Tablet stirring body 4 Tablet discharge path 6 Equivalent to.)
7 Cutter (corresponds to the cutter member)
71 Cutter blade (corresponds to the tip)
72 Base 73 Long hole (corresponding to a position adjusting mechanism)
74 bolts (corresponds to the position adjustment mechanism)
p Tablet p1, p2 Half tablet

Japanese Patent No. 3370461 Japanese Patent No. 3886178

Claims (7)

A tablet storage portion for storing tablets, a tablet holding rotor provided in the tablet storage portion so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis, and having a tablet holding path for individually holding the tablets around the tablet storage portion, and the tablet holding rotor A restricting member that is disposed immediately above the tablet holding path and that is disposed at a position corresponding to the restricting member immediately below the tablet holding rotor, and held in the tablet holding path by rotation of the tablet holding rotor. A tablet cassette half-tablet cutting device comprising a tablet discharge passage for sequentially discharging tablets carried in a state of being carried out,
The tablets that are arranged so as to cross the tablet holding path between the regulating member and the tablet discharge path and are held in the tablet holding path by the rotation of the tablet holding rotor are each half tablet. A tablet cassette half tablet cutting device comprising a cutter member for cutting into a tablet cassette. The tablet holding rotor is configured such that a plurality of tablet holding paths are formed around the tablet holding rotor and can rotate at a pitch interval shorter than the interval between two adjacent tablet holding paths.
When the tablet holding rotor is sequentially rotated at the pitch interval,
A first section that cuts tablets that are carried in a state of being held in a tablet holding path on the upstream side in the rotation direction on the lower side of the regulating member into upper and lower half tablets by the cutter member;
The lower half tablet is moved to the tablet discharge path while the upper half tablet being carried in a state of being held in the tablet holding path on the downstream side in the rotation direction is left on the cutter member. A second compartment to be dropped,
A third section for lowering the upper half tablet, which is carried in a state of being held in the tablet holding path further downstream in the rotation direction, to the tablet discharge path, below the regulating member; The half-tablet cutting device for a tablet cassette according to claim 1.   The cutter member detachably attaches a base part detachably attached to the cassette main body and a tablet that is conveyed from the base part to the tablet holding rotor and held in the tablet holding path in half tablets. A half-tablet cutting device for a tablet cassette according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a tip portion.   The base part of the cutter member is provided with a movement adjustment mechanism that moves and adjusts the cutter member in the vertical direction according to the vertical dimension of the tablet held in the tablet holding path. Half-tablet cutting device for tablet cassettes.   The tip end portion of the cutter member is formed such that a gap between the tip end portion and the tablet holding rotor gradually decreases in the rotation direction of the tablet holding rotor. Or the half-tablet cutting apparatus of the tablet cassette of 4.   The said tablet holding rotor is provided with the groove part which can insert the front-end | tip part of the said cutter member, and the said groove part is deeper than the depth of the tablet holding path of the said tablet holding rotor. A half-tablet cutting device for a tablet cassette according to any one of the above. A tablet storage portion for storing tablets, a tablet holding rotor provided in the tablet storage portion so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis, and having a tablet holding path for individually holding the tablets around the tablet storage portion, and the tablet holding rotor A restricting member that is disposed immediately above the tablet holding path and that is disposed at a position corresponding to the restricting member immediately below the tablet holding rotor, and held in the tablet holding path by rotation of the tablet holding rotor. A tablet cassette half-tablet cutting method comprising a tablet discharge path for sequentially discharging tablets carried in a state of being carried out,
Using a cutter member arranged so as to cross the tablet holding path between the regulating member and the tablet discharge path, the cutter holding rotor is carried in a state of being held in the tablet holding path. The coming tablet is cut into upper and lower half tablets, and the lower half tablet is dropped into the tablet discharge path, and the tablet holding rotor is further rotated to move the remaining upper half tablet into the tablet discharge path. A method for cutting a half-tablet of a tablet cassette, wherein the tablet cassette is configured to drop into a tablet.

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