JPH11114020A - Device for supplying powder medicine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically supply various kinds of powder medicines after taking-out them by proper quantity. SOLUTION: A powder medicine supply device is provided with multiple powder cassettes 30, plural containing compartments B, C, E and F for separating and containing the powder cassettes 30 and cassette moving mechanisms 20 for moving the powder cassette in the applying containing compartment within the powder cassettes 30, which are respectively arranged in the containing compartments B, C, E and F and powder medicine containers 1 for receiving the powder medicine taken-out from the powder cassettes 30 are made to be movable among the containing compartments(10, 14, 15 and 16). The powder medicines are automatically and quickly supplied and also even the medicines with minute particles are not scattered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a powder supply apparatus, and more particularly, to a powder supply apparatus for supplying an appropriate amount of powder from a large number of stock powders to a powder packaging process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various powder packaging machines (divider).
Has been proposed. For example, a large number of cells for accommodating powders may be arranged in a straight line or may be arranged in a ring to form a divided cell, and the powdered medicines are distributed almost uniformly along the divided cells. In some cases, the bottom plate is sequentially opened one by one, and the powder is introduced into a packaging device installed below to separate the packages one by one.

In addition, instead of the annular divided mass, a rotating body having an annular groove whose cross section is depressed in an arc shape is used. While rotating this rotating body at a constant speed, powdered medicine is applied to the entire circumference of the groove. After almost evenly distributing, while rotating the rotating body by the angle according to the number of divisions, cut out the powder for that angle sequentially,
In some cases, the package is introduced into a packaging device installed below, so that packages are packaged one by one.

Further, there is an automatic powder dispenser capable of handling each type of powder and automatically performing the dispensing operation, unlike these dividing devices (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-8090).
No. 2). In this method, the powdered medicine is taken out from each stock case by using a powder-powder-spouting device provided for each stock case, and the powdered medicine is received and packaged using a mobile packaging device. .

[0005]

However, in such a conventional dividing device, a prescribed amount of powder to be packaged is taken out of a storage container and put into a hopper of a commonly used vibrating feeder for distribution. Must be performed by the pharmacist for each type of powdered medicine,
The burden on the pharmacist is large and cannot be said to be sufficient for an automatic machine. Further, the conventional automatic powder dispensing and packaging machine has a problem that it requires complicated mechanisms such as a large number of powder ejection devices and a movable packaging device, and is therefore complicated and expensive.

Therefore, it is an important issue to develop and provide a powder packaging machine having these advantages. That is, while introducing a new powder supply device that does not require a powder ejection device, and combining such a powder supply device with a conventional dividing device, an appropriate powder from a large number of powdered powders is stored in the dividing device. By supplying an appropriate amount, the dividing device can be flexibly and inexpensively converted into a sophisticated automatic machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize a powdered medicine supply apparatus which automatically takes out and supplies an appropriate amount of various powdered medicines.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The configuration, operation and effects of the powdered medicine supply device of the present invention which has been made to solve such problems will be described below.

The powdered medicine supply apparatus of the present invention (as described in claim 1 at the time of filing the application) comprises a large number of powdered cassettes, a plurality of storages for separately storing these powdered cassettes, and a storage for the storages. A cassette moving mechanism provided for each of the powdered cassettes for moving the powdery cassette in the corresponding storage; and a means for moving a powdered container for receiving the powdered drug taken out of the powdered cassette between the storages. It is characterized by the following.

Here, the above "many" is generally about several tens to several hundreds, but if it is three or more, it corresponds. Further, "separately" means that the powdered cassette stored in one storage is divided so as to be movable independently of another powdered cassette stored in another storage.

In the powdered medicine supply device having such a configuration, various kinds of powdered medicine are stored in a large number of powdered medicine cassettes, and are appropriately taken out therefrom in accordance with prescription information and the like. In the case, powder supply to a subsequent device such as a packaging machine is automatically performed. In addition, the powder is transported while being accommodated in the powder cassette to the powder take-out position, so that it is still trapped during this time. In addition, powdered medicines are taken out of the powdered cassettes stored separately in a plurality of storages in parallel, and the required powdered medicine is moved to the powder taking-out position in each storage, and then the required powdered medicines are stored in the powdered medicine containers. When the powdered medicine container moves between the storages, various kinds of powdered medicine are collected, and the powdered medicine is supplied to the subsequent device.

[0012] Thus, a powdered drug that requires more time to take out than a tablet or the like can be supplied promptly. Further, in addition to such automation and rapid supply, since the moving distance in the released state of the powder when the powder is taken out of the container or the like is short, even if the powder is fine, the powder hardly scatters. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a powdered medicine supply device that automatically and appropriately takes out and supplies various powdered medicines in appropriate amounts.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a powder supply device of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the entire configuration, in which a front view with a front door, a front panel, etc. removed, omits illustrations of frames, bolts, and the like, and also shows a simplified form of each element. It is. FIGS. 2A and 2B are partially enlarged views of a cassette moving mechanism and the like, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIGS. 2B and 2C are side views. FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of taking out the powder from the powder cassette. 4A is a block diagram related to the vibration feeder, and FIG. 4B is a graph in which the horizontal axis indicates time and the vertical axis indicates vibration frequency. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the controller, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the dividing device and the like.

[0014] The powdered medicine supply device is arranged from left to right in the figure.
Cup supply unit A, cassette storage unit B (storage), cassette storage unit C (storage), cup elevating unit D, cassette storage unit E (storage), cassette storage unit F (storage), and cup storage unit G are arranged and connected in order, and a powder dispensing and packaging unit H is also arranged below the cassette storage units E and F (see FIG. 1).

The cup supply unit A is provided with a cup supply mechanism 14 for supplying a cup 1 (powder container and measuring container) for carrying and measuring the powder taken out of the cassette 30 for dispensing. (See FIG. 1). The cup housing unit G on the opposite side is provided with a cup housing mechanism 16 for stacking used cups 1 in a stacked manner. Further, the intermediate cup lifting unit D is provided with a cup lifting mechanism 15 that moves up and down with the cup 1 placed thereon. The power supply unit 2 and the controller 80 are stored in vacant places above the cup supply unit A and the cup storage unit G.

The cassette storage unit B has a transport mechanism 10 (transporting means for the powder container and a transport means for the measuring container) lying below and a cassette circulating mechanism 20 (cassette moving mechanism) comprising a vertically long loop-shaped chain or the like. And a plurality of cassettes 30 (powder cassettes) attached to the cassette circulation mechanism 20 at substantially equal intervals, and an electronic balance 50 (weighing device). Further, a driving unit 40 (driving mechanism for taking out the powder), a reader / writer 52 (data access device), a reader / writer 54 (data reading device),
A reader 56 (data reading device), a reader 58 (data reading device), and the like are also provided (see FIG. 1).

The cassette storage unit C has the same structure as the cassette storage unit B. These are configured such that the required number of units is connected to the left and right according to the type of powder and the required number of powder cassettes (see FIG. 1). The cassette storage unit E and the cassette storage unit F are also units having a structure similar to that of the cassette storage unit B and the like. However, the length of the cassette storage unit E and the cassette storage unit F is short so that the powder packaging unit H can be stored below. Has become. Thereby, a large number of powdered cassettes 30 are separately stored in the plurality of storages B, C, E, and F.

Each of the cassettes 30 is provided in the powder packaging unit H.
A feeder 60 (vibrating feeder) and a powder packing machine 70 (divider) are provided to divide and package the powder taken out by weighing and the like (see FIG. 1). Thereby, regarding these units E, F, and H, the powdered medicine cassette 30 is arranged above the dividing device.

The powder dispensing and packaging machine 70 has a
A rotating body having an annular concave groove 72 whose cross section is concave in an arc shape,
A drive unit (not shown) is provided for rotating the rotating body at a constant speed when distributing the powder and rotating the rotating body by an angle corresponding to the number of divisions when dividing the powder. In addition, the powder packaging machine 7
0 also includes a cutting device 73 provided so as to protrude from the inside of the rotating body onto the annular groove, and the cutting device 73 includes:
A cutout plate having a predetermined width is formed on the side surface of the circular partition plate that contacts the arcuate inner surface of the annular groove 72, and the partition plate is cured by the arcuate inner surface of the annular groove 72. When rotated, the cut-out plate cuts out the powdered medicine corresponding to the width thereof from the annular groove 72 and introduces the powder into the hopper 74 of the packaging device (see FIG. 1).

The powder packaging machine 70 rotates the cutting device 73 one rotation at a time when the powder is divided, and keeps the cutting device 73 out of the way when distributing the powder.
A driving device (not shown) adapted to retreat the upper side is provided. The main body 71 is mounted on a mounting plate 75 that can be pulled out in the front direction via a rotary plate 76 (rotary table). When the lock of the rotary plate 76 is released, the main body 71 is mounted on the mounting plate 75. It can be rotated (see FIGS. 1 and 6).

The cup 1 is a deeply formed container so that the powder is not scattered when the powder is weighed or transported. The bottom of the cup 1 stores drug information and measured values of the stored powder. Carrier 3 (data storage body) is attached (see FIG. 3). When the data carrier 3 approaches the non-contact coupling elements 53 and 59 described later, it receives data access by the reader / writer 52 or the reader 58 accompanied by energy supply based on magnetic coupling or the like. As described above, the cup 1 (measuring container) has a data storage unit.

In order to transport the cup 1 on the belt 11 and transport it laterally, the transport mechanism 10 includes a drive wheel 12 and a slave wheel 12 disposed at both lower ends in each of the cassette storage units B, C, E and F. It is a belt conveyor or the like in which the belt 11 is stretched on the driving wheel 13 (see FIG. 2). Both ends of the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette storage units B and C are close to each other, and the cup 1 transported by the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette storage unit B continues to be transported to the adjacent cassette storage unit C. It can be further transported to the cup elevating unit D by the mechanism 10 (see FIG. 1). Similarly, the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette storage units E and F also moves the cup 1 loaded from the cup elevating unit D.
Is continuously transported to the cup storage unit G as needed. Thus, the transport mechanism 10 moves the cup 1 (powder container) not only in the storage but also between the storages.

The cup supply mechanism 14 is provided for the cup 1 before use.
Are stacked, and the transfer mechanism 10 of the cassette storage unit B is sequentially moved one by one from the top by an arm or the like (not shown).
It is supplied upward (see FIG. 1). The cup elevating mechanism 15 receives the cup 1 from the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette storage unit C with the elevating plate lowered, and sends out the cup 1 to the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette storage unit E when the elevating plate is raised. (See FIG. 1).

The cup accommodating mechanism 16 receives and accommodates the cup 1 from the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette accommodating unit F (see FIG. 1). At this time, the data carrier of the cup 1 is moved by an arm (not shown) or the like. 3 is transported to a place where the non-contact coupling element 59 of the reader 58 can be coupled, and the powder in the cup 1 is fed to the feeder 60.
(See FIG. 4). Thus, the reader 58 (data reading device)
It is arranged at the transport end of the weighing container.

The cassette 30 is composed of a powder stock section 33 and a discharge section below the powder stock section 33 for removably stocking the powder (see FIG. 3). The powdered medicine stock section 33 is formed in a vertical cylindrical shape, and the stirring blade 32 is disposed at the bottom thereof. The stirring blades 32 are formed so as to extend radially outward from the conical portion at a distance of 180 ° from each other, and to curve outward in the direction of retreating with respect to the rotational direction. I have. At the discharge portion of the cassette 30, a discharge path 35 of a small-diameter cylinder is formed laterally along the radial direction at the lower front of the powder storage section 33, and the discharge path 35 and the powder storage section 33 are connected to each other. The portions 33 communicate with each other by a communication passage 34 formed near the outer periphery of the bottom surface.

On the opposite side of the discharge passage 35, a driven shaft 31 extending to the lower back surface of the powder stock portion 33 is rotatably provided (see FIG. 3). This driven shaft 3
1 passes from under the front discharge passage 35, directly below the rotation axis of the stirring blade 32 located at the center of the powder stock portion 33,
Extending backwards. The front end of the driven shaft 31 is the discharge path 3
5, an intermediate part of the driven shaft 31 is gear-coupled to a rotation shaft of the stirring blade 32, and a driven shaft 41 can be inserted into and removed from the rear end of the driven shaft 31. When the drive shaft 41 is inserted into the inner surface of the hole, the drive shaft 41
Internal teeth are formed to mesh with the external teeth. This allows
The powder cassette 30 incorporates a driven mechanism for taking out the powder. When the driven shaft 31 is rotated, the stirring blade 32 and the screw in the discharge path 35 are also rotated in conjunction with each other, and the powdered drug stock unit 3 is rotated.
The powdered medicine in 3 is smoothly discharged through the communication path 34 and the discharge path 35.

Although not shown, the cassette 30 is also provided with a shutter for opening and closing an outlet formed by a cylindrical tip at the front of the discharge path 35. The shutter is provided with a spring provided on its support shaft. To forcibly maintain the closed state. When the rear of the lever extending parallel to the screw or the driven shaft 31 on the side of the discharge path 35 is pushed forward, the portion of the front that extends to the side of the shutter is pushed forward, and the shutter is pushed forward. Is to be released. Moreover, the cassette 30
A label (not shown) is attached to the front of the powder stock section 33 so that the medicine name of the stored powder can be written on the label and displayed.

Further, each of the cassettes 30 has a data carrier 36 at its bottom or the like for storing medicine information and stock amount of the stocked powdered medicine.
(Data storage) is attached (see FIG. 3).
The data carrier 36 includes non-contact coupling elements 55 and 5 described later.
7, data access by the reader / writer 54 or reader 56 accompanied by energy supply is received based on magnetic coupling or the like (see FIG. 1). Thus, the cassette 3
0 (powder cassette) is individually provided with a data storage.

The cassette circulation mechanism 20 includes storages B, C,
Each of the cassettes E and F is provided with a plurality of cassettes 30 in a corresponding storage (see FIG. 1). Each cassette circulating mechanism 20 has an endless belt such as a chain 21 stretched over a vertical or left or right driving wheel 22 and a driven wheel 23 in a corresponding storage. Is driven to rotate, the chain 21 circulates in both forward and reverse directions according to the rotation direction (see FIG. 2). Also, chain 2
A support for detachably supporting the cassette 30 is disposed at a predetermined pitch on the cassette 1, and the mounted cassette 30 is circulated along with the circulation of the chain 21. The place closest to the transport mechanism 10 at the bottom of the circulation loop is:
This is the powder removal position. As a result, the cassette circulation mechanism 20 (cassette moving mechanism) sequentially moves the powder cassettes in the corresponding storage to the powder removal position.

A drive section 40 is provided behind the powder take-out position (see FIGS. 2B and 2C). The driving unit 40 includes a driving shaft 4 in addition to the driving shaft 41.
1 and an advancing / retracting motor 43 for advancing and retreating the drive shaft 41. The drive shaft 41 is moved forward with respect to the driven mechanism of the cassette 30 that has come to the powder take-out position to establish the connection. 2B (that is, the state shown in FIG. 2B is changed to the state shown in FIG. 2C). On the other hand, the drive shaft 41 is retracted to release the connection with the cassette 30 (that is, the state shown in FIG. ))). As a result, the drive section 40 (drive mechanism for taking out the powder) is arranged in the corresponding cassette storage unit B, C, E, F in the vicinity of the powder take-out position.

The electronic balance 50 is installed between the upper and lower belts 11 of the transport mechanism 10 at a position slightly below the cassette 30 at the powder take-out position (see FIG. 2). The electronic balance 50 has a bearing piece 5 that can be raised or lowered alone or together with the main body.
1, the cup 1 conveyed by the belt 11 to just below the outlet of the discharge path 35 of the cassette 30 is supported from the cut of the belt 11 and weighed only when it rises ( (See FIG. 3). Then, when the powdered medicine is taken out of the cassette 30 into the cup 1 there, the weighed value increases by the amount of the powdered medicine. Thereby, the electronic balance 50 (metering device) measures the powdered medicine taken out from the powdered cassette 30.

A reader / writer 52 is attached to the electronic balance 50 in addition to or integrated with them (see FIG. 3). The non-contact coupling element 53 of the reader / writer 52 is disposed between the pair of bearing pieces 51 and can be communicatively coupled to the data carrier 3 of the weighing cup 1. Thus, the reader / writer 52 (data access device) is arranged corresponding to the weighing device.

A reader / writer 54 is provided behind the electronic balance 50 and the like.
6 is provided at a location where it can be communicatively coupled to the device (see FIG. 3). As a result, the reader / writer 54 (data reading device) is arranged corresponding to the powder take-out position.

Further, a cassette 30 is provided at a front door (not shown).
In order to remove the empty cassette 30 from the cassette circulating mechanism 20 or to attach the cassette 30 after powder replenishment to the cassette circulating mechanism 20, the opening window is usually formed through the opening window. Done through.
A reader 56 is installed at the back of the opening window, and a non-contact coupling element 57 is provided at a position where the non-contact coupling element 57 can be communicably coupled to the data carrier 36 of the cassette 30 in a non-contact manner (FIG. 1). reference). Thereby, the reader 56
The (data reading device) is arranged at a place where the powdered medicine cassette is attached to and detached from the cassette moving mechanism.

The feeder 60 takes the powder taken out of the cassette 30 (powder cassette) into the cup 1 and is conveyed together with the cup 1 by the conveying mechanism 10 or the like, and the powdering and packaging machine 70.
(Segmentation device), cassette storage unit F
Is provided near the end of the transport mechanism 10 and above the powder dispenser 70 (see FIG. 1). The feeder 60 receives the powder transferred from the cup 1, a guide 62 for feeding the powder from the hopper 61 to the annular groove 72 of the powder packing machine 70, and allows the feed to be performed uniformly and quantitatively. Therefore, the vibrating body 63 generates vibration applied to the guide portion 62 and the like. The vibrating body 63 vibrates at the same frequency as the oscillation signal received from the oscillation circuit 64. The oscillation circuit 64 changes the oscillation frequency according to a control signal from the controller 80. Thus, the feeder 60 (vibration feeder) has a variable vibration frequency.

The controller 80 is a computer system for control and is connected to the above-described motors, reader / writers, and the like via an interface (I / F), and also holds routines and data for performing various processes. I have. That is, a cassette mounting routine 81, a prescription input routine 82, a container supply routine 83, a cassette moving routine 84, a powder ejection routine 85, and a weighing routine 8
6. Container moving routine 87, feeder control routine 8
8. The packaging control routine 89 and the like are installed, and the specific processing is exemplified in the following operation description.

It should be noted that the powdered medicine data 91 contains
Each piece of medicine information is stored for each category. The prescription data 92 stores prescription target drug information. The container data 93 is allocated to each cup 1 in use for ease of management, and a plurality of container data 93 are generated when a plurality of cups are used to take out a powdered medicine in one prescription. The package data 94 stores a part or all of the prescription data 92 converted so as to be compatible with the process of the powder packaging machine 70.

The mode of use and operation of the powder supply device of this embodiment will be described.

First, since various kinds of powder used for dispensing must be stored in each cassette 30, when powder is not enough, necessary powder is supplied to the appropriate cassette 30 using the powder replenishing machine 4. I do. At this time, the powder carrier 4 is stored in the data carrier 36 of the cassette 30.
, The corresponding drug information is written. When the cassette 30 is mounted on the cassette circulating mechanism 20 of any of the cassette storage units B, C, E, and F of the powder supply device, the medicine information is read out by the reader 56 of the mounted unit and the cassette is read. It is stored in the powdered medicine data 91 by the mounting routine 81.

When the preparation of the preparation is completed,
When drug information to be dispensed is input from a host computer (not shown), a keyboard (KBD), or the like based on the prescription, the drug information is set in the prescription data 92 by a prescription input routine 82. At that time, the prescription data 92
Is also converted into package data 94.

Then, based on the prescription data 92, the container supply routine 83 sets the container data 93 and controls the cup supply mechanism 14. Specifically, two cups 1 are used, and the first cup 1 takes out the powdered medicine of the first cassette 30 and the powdered medicine of the second cassette of the cassette storage unit E. Third cassette 30 of storage unit C
It is assumed that the setting has been made to take out the powdered medicine.

Then, the first cup 1 is supplied from the cup supply mechanism 14 onto the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette storage unit B. The first cup 1 has a container movement routine 8
7, is transported through the cassette storage units B and C and the cup lifting unit D to reach the cassette storage unit E by the transport mechanism 10 and the cup lifting mechanism 15, and the unit E is moved by the transport mechanism 10 there.
To the powder removal position in

When the first cup 1 moves from the cassette storage unit B to the cassette storage unit C, the transfer operation of the units C, D, E, etc., is performed in parallel.
The second cup 1 is supplied from the cup supply mechanism 14 onto the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette storage unit B. The second cup 1 is transported in the cassette storage unit B to the cassette storage unit C by the transport mechanism 10 that operates under the control of the container movement routine 87, and the powdered medicine removal in the unit C is performed by the transport mechanism 10 there. Brought to the position.

In parallel with the transport of the cups, the cassette circulation mechanism 20 of the cassette storage units C and E operates under the control of the cassette moving routine 84, and the third cassette 30 and the first cassette 30 are respectively moved. The powder is moved to the corresponding powder removal position. In this way, preparations for quickly taking out the powder from the cassette 30 into the cup 1 are completed.

Then, the cassette storage units C and E
Of the third and first cassettes 30 by the reader / writer 54 of
The drug information is read from the data carrier 36 of. Then, an association check between the medicine information and the medicine data 91 or the prescription data 92 is performed by the medicine taking out routine 85, and when the medicine information does not match, the processing shifts to error processing. In this way, it is confirmed whether or not the cassette 30 at the powder removal position is appropriate. For example, an error occurs when the cassette 30 is improperly replaced in an unmanageable state such as when the controller 80 is down.

If no error is found in the cassette 30 at the powder take-out position, the corresponding drive unit 40 is coupled to and drives the cassette 30 at the powder take-out position under the control of the powder take-out routine 85. Thus, in the cassette storage unit C, the powdered medicine is taken out from the third cassette 30 into the second cup 1, and in the cassette storage unit E, the powdered medicine is taken out from the first cassette 30 into the first cup 1.

At the same time, the first and third cups 1 are also weighed by the corresponding electronic balance 50 under the control of the weighing routine 86. When the amount of the powdered medicine to be taken out reaches the required amount, the taking-out of the powdered medicine is stopped by the cooperation of the metering routine 86 and the powdered medicine taking-out routine 85.
Further, by the processing of the weighing routine 86, the amount of the removed powder is written to the data carrier 3 of each cup 1. Other related information held in the powdered medicine data 91 and the like, for example, information such as the range of the vibration frequency of the feeder 60 suitable for feeding the powdered medicine by the feeder 60 is also written.

Thus, the second cup 1 containing the required powdered medicine is transported toward the cassette storage unit E by the transport mechanism 10 of the cassette storage unit C and the cup lifting mechanism 15 of the cup lifting unit D. On the other hand, in the cassette storage unit E, the cassette circulation mechanism 20 there
As a result, the second cassette 30 is moved to the powder taking-out position, and the powder in the second cassette 30 is taken out and added to the first cup 1 by the processing of the powder taking-out routine 85 and the weighing routine 86.

Then, the first cup 1, which has also finished storing the required powdered medicine, is carried to the feeder 60 by the transport mechanism of the cassette storage units E and F, and by the cup storage mechanism 16 of the cup storage unit G. The powder inside is transferred to the feeder 60. Subsequently, the second cup 1 is similarly conveyed to the feeder 60, and the stored powdered medicine is transferred to the feeder 60. Thus, based on the prescription, the powders in the first to third cassettes 30 are taken out by a predetermined amount and collected in the feeder 60.

At the time of this transfer, the medicine information on the powdered medicine stored from each data carrier 3 of the first and second cups 1 is read by the reader 58, and the container data 9 is read by the feeder control routine 88.
A confirmation process is performed to determine whether or not the number matches 3 or the like. If they do not match, the process proceeds to error processing. In this way, it is confirmed whether the cup 1 carrying the powder is appropriate. For example, if the cup 1 drops from the belt 11 and the appropriate cup 1 does not reach the feeder 60 where there is no sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the cup 1, an error is detected.

If no error is found in the cup 1 that has reached the feeder 60, data for generating a control signal to the oscillation circuit 64 is set by the processing of the feeder control routine 88 from the collected medicine information for each powdered medicine. Is done. Specifically, as the preferable range of the vibration frequency of the feeder 60, the frequency range “150” to “200” is read for the powder from the first cassette 30, and the frequency is read for the powder from the second cassette 30. Range "17
0 ”to“ 250 ”are read out, and the frequency range“ 400 ”to“ 460 ”for powder from the third cassette 30 is read.
Is read.

In such a case, the overlapping parts are put together,
Frequency range “150” to “250” and frequency range “40”
"0" to "460" are data values for generating a control signal to the oscillation circuit 64 (see FIG. 4A), thus processing such as the feeder control routine 88 (control means of the vibration feeder). Accordingly, when the vibration frequency of the vibration feeder 60 is swept in a predetermined range, the setting is changed so that the predetermined range is dispersed according to the powdered medicine taken out.

Then, under the control of the feeder control routine 88, the feeder 60 feeds the powder into the annular groove 72, which rotates at a constant speed, of the powder packaging machine 70 while vibrating. At this time, the vibration frequency of the feeder 60 has a value “15”.
After sequentially changing from 0 to the value "250", it jumps to the value "400" at a stretch, and then changes to the value "460" at a stretch, then jumps back to the value "150" and repeats the same change again. (See FIG. 4B.) The number of cycles is appropriately set by the feeder control routine 88 according to the amount of powdered medicine and the like.

In this way, various powders can be quickly and smoothly supplied at the respective resonance frequencies to the annular groove 7 of the powder packaging machine 70.
2 are distributed substantially evenly over the entire circumference. Then, when the distribution is completed, the cutting plate of the cutting device 73 is repeatedly rotated by one rotation while rotating the annular groove 72 by an angle corresponding to the number of divisions corresponding to the predetermined number of packages. The powdered medicine in the concave groove 72 is cut out by an amount corresponding to one packet, and is sequentially put into the hopper 74 of the packaging device. In response, the packaging device in the powder dispensing and packaging machine 70 packages the powder one by one.

In this manner, the prescribed powder stored in each cassette 30 is prescribed in a prescribed amount and is divided into a prescribed number of packets.

When a maintenance work is to be performed on the powder packaging machine 70, particularly when the annular groove 72 is to be cleaned, it is necessary to take measures for almost the entire upper portion of the powder packaging machine 70. However, it is often difficult to secure a sufficient working space in front of the device. In such a case, the operation on the powder packaging machine 70 is performed as follows.

First, the mounting plate 75 on which the powder packaging machine 70 is mounted is pulled out as far as possible in front of the apparatus (see FIG. 6A). If the powder dispensing and packaging machine 70 is exposed even if it is a part thereof, the exposed portion is cleaned by cleaning the annular groove 72 or the like. Then, while releasing the lock of the rotating plate 76 and rotating the rotating plate 76 appropriately, the same operation is continued for a newly exposed portion (see FIG. 6B). In this way, it is possible to easily take measures even on a portion of the annular groove 72 or the like that is not exposed only by being pulled out (see FIG. 6C).

[0058]

As is apparent from the above description, in the powder supply apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to automate taking out and supplying an appropriate amount of various powders, and at the same time, taking out the powder in parallel with the automation. As a result, even if a powder requires a longer time to be taken out than a tablet or the like, it can be supplied promptly. Further, in addition to such automation and rapid supply, since the moving distance in the released state of the powder is short when the powder is taken out into a container or the like, there is an advantageous effect that the powder is hardly scattered even if it is fine particles. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a powdered medicine supply device according to the present invention.
It is the whole schematic diagram.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a cassette moving mechanism and the like.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of taking out a powder from a powder cassette.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram and a graph relating to a vibration feeder.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a controller.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a dividing device and the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

A cup supply unit B cassette storage unit (storage) C cassette storage unit (storage) D cup elevating unit E cassette storage unit (storage) F cassette storage unit (storage) G cup storage unit H powder dispensing and packaging unit 1 Cup (powder container, weighing container) 2 power supply unit 3 data carrier (data storage unit of weighing container) 4 powder supply machine 10 transport mechanism (moving means of powder container, transport means of weighing container) 11 belt 12 drive wheel 13 driven wheel Reference Signs List 14 cup supply mechanism 15 cup elevating mechanism (powder container moving means, measuring container transport means) 16 cup accommodating mechanism 20 cassette circulation mechanism (cassette moving mechanism) 21 chain 22 drive wheel 23 driven wheel 24 electric motor 30 cassette (powder cassette) 31) Driven shaft (driven mechanism for taking out powder) Reference Signs List 32 stirring blade 33 powder storage section 34 communication path 35 discharge path 36 data carrier (data storage unit of powder cassette) 40 drive section (drive mechanism for taking out powder) 41 drive shaft 42 electric motor 43 motor for advance / retreat 50 electronic scale (weighing device) ) 51 support piece 52 reader / writer (data access device) 53 non-contact coupling element 54 reader / writer (data reader) 55 non-contact coupling element 56 reader (data reader) 57 non-contact coupling element 58 reader (data reader) 59 Non-contact coupling element 60 Feeder (vibration feeder) 61 Hopper 62 Guide unit 63 Vibrating body 64 Oscillation circuit 70 Powder dispensing and packaging machine (divider) 71 Main body 72 Annular groove 73 Cutting device 74 Packaging device hopper 75 Mounting plate 76 Rotation Board (turntable) 80 Controller 81 Cassette Wearing routine 82 Prescription input routine 83 Container supply routine 84 Cassette movement routine 85 Powder dispensing routine 86 Metering routine 87 Container movement routine 88 Feeder control routine (vibration feeder control means) 89 Packaging control routine 91 Powdering data 92 Prescription data 93 Container data 94 package data

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A large number of powdered cassettes, a plurality of storages for separately storing the powdered cassettes, and a cassette provided in each of the storages for moving the powdered cassette in the storage. A powder supply device, comprising: a moving mechanism; and means for moving a powder container for receiving powder taken out of the powder cassette between the storages.