KR102641059B1 - Method for filling a transport tray for transporting a medicament, and a filling station for the transport tray - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of filling a transport tray with reduced risk of incorrect filling. According to the present invention, the target filling of the plurality of receiving portions 110 in the transport tray 100 is transmitted to the control device 500 and at least one filling template is generated based on the target filling and filling method, and It is displayed by display devices 400 and 450. The medicament matching the filling template is then transferred to the receptacle 110, and an image of the receptacle to be filled at least according to the target filling is generated by the light detector 300. The actual filling is confirmed by comparing it to the target filling using the above image. If the target deviation is not found, the transport tray 100 is released to transfer the medication to the machine tray.

Description

Method for filling a transport tray for transporting a medicament, and a filling station for the transport tray

The present invention relates to a method of filling a transport tray for transferring medication to a mechanical tray of an automatic dispensing station, and also to a filling station for such transport tray.

A modern blister packaging machine, for example as disclosed in WO 2013/034504 A1, includes hundreds of storage and dispensing stations depending on its expansion stage. In each of these a plurality of medications of a particular type are stored, and the individual medications can be dispensed on demand. Automatic blister packaging machines collect and blister pack medications stored in storage and dispensing stations according to medically prescribed inputs.

Because of the design of the storage and dispensing station, the types of medications typically stored therein are only those that are requested relatively frequently and/or have a long shelf life. In other words, storage and dispensing stations used in large quantities may be requested only very rarely, each may have a very short shelf life and shelf life, or each may be separated from the storage and distribution station by its physical or galenic properties. Not suitable for drug types that should not be present or separated.

In known automatic blister packaging machines, including those described in the WO document cited above, the drug product of the type mentioned above is fed into the blister packaging process via an alternative automatic dispensing station. Such automatic dispensing stations may be configured as fixed mounted drawer systems with pull-out machine trays for temporary storage of medicaments, for example of the types of medicines mentioned above. . A movable transport tray may be placed on the machine tray from which, when extended or retracted, medication can be transferred to the machine tray of the automatic dispensing station. To this end, both the machine tray and the transport tray have a plurality of receptacles for the medicine, and the arrangement of the receptacles of the transport tray and the machine tray are consistent with each other to enable smooth transfer of the medicine. The receiving portion of both the machine tray and the transport tray have a bottom opening that can be opened and closed with an opener.

By using a transport tray, it is possible to transport multiple medications or only one medication per container. Typically, transport trays are filled manually by the user (e.g. according to an automatically generated filling plan). Depending on the drug combination to be blister packed with an automatic blister packaging machine, it is common for transport trays to be filled with different types of drugs and/or different numbers of drugs. This leads to the fact that the target fillings of the receivers in the transport tray may differ from each other, for example, 3 drugs of drug type 1 are added to receiver 1 and 2 drugs of drug type 1 to match the target filling. and 2 drugs of drug type 2 are added to receptacle 2. To enable accurate and error-free blister packaging, it is extremely important to have the correct target fill in the right compartment. Due to the relatively large number of receptacles in the transport tray and the similar design of all receptacles, incorrect fillings can occur relatively quickly with known transport trays, which then have to be corrected in a very time-consuming manner.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for filling a transport tray with a reduced risk of incorrectly filling the receptacles in the transport tray. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a suitable filling station for transport trays.

The above object is achieved using a method for filling a transport tray for transferring medication to a machine tray of an automatic dispensing station according to claim 1. The transport tray used in the method of the present invention comprises a plurality of receptacles for medication, and according to the invention a target filling of the plurality of receptacles in the transport tray is transmitted to the control device, wherein the target fill is at least the medication to be filled. Includes information on at least one type of drug and the number of drugs per drug type and receptor.

At least one template is created based on the prepared target filling and filling regime and displayed by the display device. The “fill method” determines which criteria will be used to create the fill template, and the fill method itself may be influenced by the components of the target fill, particularly the number of drug types to be added according to the target fill. Depending on the filling method, only one filling template or multiple filling templates can be created and displayed for each target filling. According to the invention, the medicament matching the filling template is transferred to the receiving portion of the transport tray to be filled according to the filling template. The user may do this manually, or alternatively, the transfer may be automated and/or performed using a tool. One or multiple transfers can be performed depending on the number of filling templates and filling method. If the user performs the transfer, this is either a “normal” or manual filling, respectively.

After all the medicaments have been transferred into the receiving portion of the transport tray, that is, after all the filling templates have been processed, an image of at least one receiving portion to be filled according to the target filling is generated by an optical detection device, and The actual filling, quantity, and quality of medication added are sensed, determined, and compared to the target filling. For this purpose, the image or images are analyzed, for example, with special image processing software, and during the analysis the target filling of the receptacle(s) and the characteristics of the individual medicaments are used as reference. The software knows these characteristics. Alternatively, target filling may include, for example, if a completely new type of drug is added. The target filling then includes not only the requirement that the receiver

If the comparison with the actual filling of all receptacles to be filled does not deviate from the target filling (target deviation), the transport tray is released.

Therefore, it is possible to determine with certainty whether the receptacle to be filled with a photodetector is filled with the correct agent according to the target filling, where quality is taken into account in addition to quantity. This virtually eliminates the possibility of a transport tray being released for further processing in which all receptacles are not filled according to the target filling.

During the transfer of medication to the receiver, it may also happen that a medication is inadvertently introduced into a receiver that should remain empty according to the target filling. Therefore, it is advisable to check the actual fill not only of the receptacles that need to be filled according to the target fill, but also all receptacles in the transport tray and compare them with the target fill.

As already mentioned above, at least one filling template is created using a filling method. If the target fill includes multiple types of drug product, it may be advantageous to prepare multiple fill templates to be processed sequentially, for example to make it more convenient for the user. To speed up processing during "simple" goal filling, it may be desirable to prepare a filling template containing all the receptacles to be filled and all drug types to be filled.

Incorrect fillings may occur, especially when the target fill includes multiple drug types and/or quantities. Therefore, in one preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, it is preferred that a plurality of fill templates are created, each of which contains a receptacle that must all be filled with only one type of drug product. Therefore, drugs are filled sequentially according to type according to the target filling. In this case, steps b) (showing successively different filling templates) and c) are repeated until the target filling of all receptacles to be filled is achieved. In this embodiment, the filling template, for example, represents a filling step, and the subsequent transfer according to method step c) represents a transfer step, and both of these steps are repeated until all receptacles have been filled in accordance with the target filling. . In this embodiment, only one type of drug product is filled per fill template. This reduces the probability of errors occurring during formulation of the target fill. Therefore, for example, it is possible to provide the user with only one drug type to be filled according to the filling template. If necessary, the exact number of medications required to be transferred into the receiver can be prepared so that the user can identify potential filling errors already during transfer.

In one alternative embodiment, it may be provided that a plurality of fill templates are created, containing all the agent for the receptacles to be filled, and steps b) and c) achieve the target filling of all receptacles to be filled. Repeat until done. Therefore, the medicine according to the target filling is sequentially filled into each receiving part. Therefore, in contrast to previous embodiments, non-different types of drugs are filled sequentially, with one receptacle being completely filled before proceeding to the next receptacle. This embodiment may be advantageous depending on the display type of the fill template. Since only one filling template is displayed and processed for the receptacle, the possibility of incorrect filling is reduced.

As an alternative to the filling template generation methods mentioned above, in one extreme case the filling method may provide for only one drug to be filled into one receptacle per each fill template, i.e. in this case the number of fill templates is equal to the number of drugs. Same as total number.

Which of the above-mentioned methods will be used to create the fill template or templates, i.e. which filling method will be used, is determined by the exact components of the target fill. If the transfer is performed manually by the user, the individual characteristics of the user may also affect the filling method. In general, various settings may be provided to allow the user to have extensive influence on the creation of the filling template(s) or to influence which filling method the filling template or filling templates are created.

Irrespective of the filling method according to the generated filling template, one preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention provides that the filling template is displayed in that a plurality of filling sub-templates are displayed and processed. Therefore, the filling template is divided into a number of subtemplates, the latter of which can be assigned to different receptacles and/or different types of drug product. Filling subtemplates are easier to process and have a lower probability of errors during filling of the conveying or receiving section.

According to the invention, the medicament is transported into a receiving portion in a transport tray. This can be executed manually, for example by the user. In “direct” transfer of medicament to compartments in the transport tray, the target fill is formulated directly in these compartments, specifically according to the filling method or filling template(s). Particularly if the target fill is to be compounded sequentially for different types of drug product, it may be advantageous to have temporary receptacles interposed during transfer to the receptacles in the transport tray. In one preferred embodiment, prior to transfer to the receptacles in the transport tray, the medicament is filled according to a filling template into the corresponding receptacles in the transport tray arranged above the transport tray. This transfer tray reduces the likelihood of incorrect filling, makes recording the filling process easier, simplifies the display of filling templates, and allows for a number of other embodiments that are easier to use. In other words, placing a transfer tray in between significantly increases the flexibility of the method of the present invention.

According to the invention, the actual filling of the receptacles in the transport tray is confirmed before release, and release is only triggered if all receptacles are filled consistent with the target fill. When an error is identified (target deviation), the actual fill should be verified and medication added or corrected as appropriate, and the medication to be added is calculated when the actual fill is compared to the target fill. This can be time consuming, especially for complex target filling. Furthermore, this may mean that if the wrong type of medication is present in the reservoir, all medication in the reservoir may have to be discarded (due to a potential allergic reaction).

In order to detect errors as early as possible, in one preferred embodiment an image of the receptacle to be filled at least according to the filling template is created by a photodetector, and the actual filling, quantity and quality of the medicament to be added are detected and determined. provided, and compared to an appropriate filling template, and if no filling deviations are found, the next filling template is displayed until the target filling of all receptacles to be filled is achieved.

Therefore, in this embodiment, not only is the final actual fill checked and compared to the current fill template, but the “provisional” actual fill according to the fill template is also checked and compared to the current fill template. In this way it is possible to detect errors right away, and they are not “carried over” until the target fill to be processed is achieved. This embodiment can be combined particularly effectively with interposing of transfer trays, especially if the fill template is created as a function of the drug product type. For each filling template/filling step, only one type of drug is contained in the receiving portion of the transfer tray. Therefore, detecting potential errors is particularly simple.

However, this embodiment can be advantageously used with sequential filling by type without a transfer tray. In order to identify filling deviations, it is possible to utilize, for example, the image of the previous filling and the current image to generate a differential image which is used to determine the actual filling for the second and each subsequent drug type. . Additionally, in this embodiment it is possible to handle a very wide range of target fills, where the medicament may be completely obscured by the medicament placed thereon.

When it is determined that the transfer tray has been incorrectly filled, the user is instructed to correct this error and only then the medication should be transferred to the receiving portion in the transfer tray. In order to prevent transfer from being carried out even in the presence of errors (filling deviations), in one embodiment it is provided that if a filling deviation is not identified, the transfer of medication from the transfer tray to the transport tray is released, otherwise the transfer is not released. do. The “release” may be effected using, for example, a light signal. Typically the transfer tray will include an open/close device, which only allows medication to be transferred when released.

Alternatively, the transfer can also take place automatically after release, so that the switch is suitably designed, for example it is connected to a suitable drive or has such a drive.

According to the invention, the filling template or templates are displayed on a display device. In order to simplify any error correction that may be required, it is advantageous for filling deviations to be displayed by a display device when they are found.

The filling template or templates may be displayed, for example, on a display device disposed adjacent to the transport tray. To achieve this, the user must continuously look back and forth between the display device and the transport tray (or transfer tray). In one preferred embodiment, it is provided that each receptacle of the transport or transfer tray is assigned at least one display means of a display device, which display means displays a filling template for the receptacle in question. For this purpose, for example, a plurality of diodes may be provided for each receptacle. Alternatively, a small display can be built into the tray.

Allocation of the display means reduces the probability of incorrect filling, but the display means increases the cost of the tray. Therefore, in one alternative embodiment it is provided that the filling template is displayed as a projection on a transport tray or transport tray. This can be done, for example, with a laser or other display device. This way of displaying the filling template has the advantage that the user does not always have to look back and forth between the display and the receptacle, as well as that there is no cost for additional display means for the receptacle. Although a projector is required, it can be used for any transport tray that needs to be filled. Moreover, it can also work with transfer trays without problems.

It may be provided that the image generated by the photodetector can be stored for recording, for confirming the actual filling according to the filling template and/or the actual filling according to the target filling.

In accordance with the invention it is provided that an image of the receptacle to be filled, at least according to the target filling, is created after all the medicament has been dispensed into the receptacle. Therefore, the actual filling of the receptacle is not confirmed until all filling templates have been created and displayed according to the filling method and the target filling has been processed. The result of this is, for example, that incorrect filling of the first filling template is not detected immediately, but continues to be undetected until the scheduled completion of the target filling.

In one preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention in which a plurality of filling templates are prepared, after the medicament matching the filling template is transferred to the receptacle to be filled according to the filling template, at least an image of the receptacle to be filled according to the filling template is displayed. Produced by a light detector, and using the image, the actual fill is confirmed and compared to the fill template, and if no deviations are found, the next fill template is provided for display. However, if a deviation is found, it is displayed to the user so that it can be corrected early. After being corrected, the filling is again checked against the current filling template.

Therefore, once the appropriate filling method has been selected (up to one filling template for each compartment or one filling template for each drug), feel free to check, from adding up all the drugs in the target fill and then checking them once for each drug. It is possible to select the steps. According to the invention, at least one filling template is displayed by a display device. If multiple filling templates are prepared based on the filling method, they are generally displayed sequentially. This approach serves to reduce the user's workload and prevent incorrect filling.

However, in certain cases, each fill template is not displayed sequentially, but instead, for example, for a type of drug product, multiple fill templates are displayed simultaneously (especially with respect to their “orientation” in the tray), and the processed fill templates This "deleted", i.e. no longer displayed, may be more convenient for the user. When one fill template is assigned to each receptacle, the above approach has the effect of the user perceiving a “large” changing fill template made up of multiple fill templates.

The invention is further achieved by using a filling station for a transport tray for transferring the medicament according to claim 12 to a machine tray of an automatic dispensing station. The filling station includes a transport tray each having a plurality of receptacles for at least one medication, each receptacle having a lower opening, which is disposed below the receptacle and has an open/close device that opens and closes the lower opening of the receptacle. . The filling station includes a display device capable of displaying a filling template showing the user which receptacle should be filled with which drug, a light detector capable of generating an image of the receptacle in which the drug is arranged, and the display device and the It further includes a control device connected to the light detector.

According to the present invention, the control device generates a pre-specified target filling of the receptacle in the transport tray and at least one filling template based on the pre-specified filling and transmits it to the display device, and stores the receptacle based on the image of the receptacle. The actual fill is verified and compared to the fill of the receiver according to the target fill and potential target deviations are found, and if no target deviations are found the transport tray is configured to be released for transfer of medication to the machine tray. How precisely the filling template or templates are created has already been described in relation to the invention and will not be repeated here.

In one preferred embodiment of the filling station, which allows for increased flexibility in practicing the method of the present invention, the filling station comprises a transfer tray disposed above the transfer tray and having a plurality of receiving portions, wherein the receiving portion in the transfer tray The arrangement of the parts corresponds to the arrangement of the receiving portion in the transport tray, and the transport tray is disposed below the receiving portion and includes an open/close device that opens and closes the lower opening of the receiving portion.

In order to make it easier for the user to read the filling template and thus to prevent the possibility of incorrect filling, in one embodiment it is provided that the display device comprises a plurality of display means assigned to the receptacle. Such an embodiment allows the filling template to be displayed directly on the receptacle that is currently being filled. Alternatively (or perhaps additionally), the filling station may include a projector capable of projecting the filling template onto a transport or transfer tray. Depending on the exact design of the filling station, the display device may consist of a projector, or the display device may include a projector.

Preferred embodiments of the method and filling station of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings.
1A and 1B show two steps of a first embodiment of the method of the invention and of a first embodiment of the filling station of the invention.
Figures 2a-2c show several steps of a second embodiment of the method of the invention and of a second embodiment of the filling station of the invention.
3A and 3B show two perspective views of a transfer tray/transport tray combination according to a third embodiment.
Figures 4A-4D show various perspective views of a third embodiment of a transfer tray.
Figures 5A-5D show various perspective views of a third embodiment of a transport tray.
Figures 6A-6C show various cross-sections of the transfer tray/transport tray combination shown in Figures 3A and 3B.
7A and 7B show various views of a fourth embodiment of a transfer tray.
Figure 7C shows a fifth embodiment of a transfer tray.

1A and 1B show two steps of a first embodiment of the method of the invention and of a first embodiment of the filling station of the invention. The filling station has a plurality of receiving portions 110 and includes a transport tray 100 whose lower opening is blocked by the closing plate 121 of the opener. The switchgear will be described in more detail in the context of the subsequent drawings. The filling station according to the first embodiment includes a light detector 300 and a projector 450 disposed on a transport tray 100, both of which are connected to a control device 500.

In Figure 1A a schematic top view of the transport tray is provided at the bottom left of the transport tray 100 and a partial enlarged view of a portion of this transport tray is provided at the right. In the above plan view, it can be seen that the transport tray 100 has a receiving portion 100 divided into 12 vertical rows and 2 horizontal rows. The individual receptacles are numbered in the enlarged view, and the receptacle in the upper left has the number (1,1). In the enlarged view, it can be seen that the filling template (FM) is projected on the transport tray 100, and one segment of the filling template, FM (1, 1), FM (1, 2, etc.), is placed in each receiving part. is assigned. Depending on how the projector 450 functions, and exactly how the method proceeds, sections of the fill template may be displayed all simultaneously or sequentially as partial fill templates.

In the embodiments described herein, the target template contains only one drug product type, and therefore only one fill template is created. The divisions FM(1,1), FM(1,2) of the filling template assigned to the receiving portion were sequentially displayed with a laser, but are shown simultaneously in the enlarged view for ease of understanding.

In the illustration according to figure 1a, the transfer has been completed according to the first (and only) filling template, i.e. all receptacles to be filled according to the target filling have been filled. In this embodiment the user completes this passively. As can be seen in the comparison of compartment FM(1,2) of the filling template and the receptacle 110(1,2), this receptacle has only one drug while the target fill requires two drugs.

According to the present invention, at least an image of the receptacles to be filled (or one image for each receptacle) is generated with a light detector 300 (e.g. a digital camera), and the images and information available about the medicament are combined. Based on this, the actual filling of the receptacle to be filled at least according to the target filling is identified and compared with the target filling.

Because only one of the two required medications is in receptacle 100(1,2), there is a target deviation in receptacle 110(1,2). In the depicted embodiment, this target deviation is indicated by projecting “+1” onto receptacle 100(1,2) (see Figure 1B). The transport tray 100 was not released due to target deviation. Release does not occur until the target deviation no longer exists.

2A-2C illustrate the various steps of a second embodiment of the method of the present invention for filling a transport tray 100. Additionally, Figures 2a-2c show a second embodiment of the filling station of the present invention. In this embodiment, the filling station of the present invention includes a transfer tray 200 having a plurality of receivers 210 arranged in a matrix pattern in the receiver area (shown in Figure 3A), each of said receivers 210 has a lower opening that is closed by the closure plate 221 of the switch of FIGS. 2A-2C. The switch will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings below.

The filling station further includes a display device 400 capable of displaying filling templates, and each filling template indicates to the user which receptacle 210 should be filled with how many medicines. In FIG. 2A, the display device 400 is configured to have 24 different cells 420 corresponding to 24 receiving portions 210 of the transfer tray 200. In the depicted embodiment, the 24 receptacles are divided into 12 vertical rows and 2 horizontal rows.

In a second embodiment of the method of the present invention, the target fill comprises two drug types filled sequentially according to type, i.e. the fill method is such that two fill templates are created and displayed (one fill for each drug type). template). The filling template is displayed in its entirety on the display device due to the design of the display device.

In FIG. 2A, the display device displays a first filling template showing the filling station user how many medications should be added to each container in the first filling step, and the number of medications to be added is displayed in a cell of the display device 400. It is provided as a number in the upper half of 420. As can be seen, according to the filling template, the receptacles 210 (1,1) and 210 (1,2) must each be filled with one drug, and the receptacle 210 (1,3) must be filled with 0 drugs. And, the receiving portions 210 (1, 4) must be filled with two chemicals.

In the illustrated embodiment of the filling station/method, it is not the transport tray that is directly filled with the medicine, but the transport tray 200 arranged thereon, and the latter stores the medicine for each filling template in the receiving portion of the transport tray 100. Transfer to (110).

As can be seen in FIG. 2A , the transport tray also has a plurality of receiving portions 110 , the arrangement of which accommodates 110 matching the arrangement of receiving portions 210 . The receiving portion 110 of the transport tray is closed with the closing plate 121 of the opener, which is described in more detail with reference to the subsequent drawings.

In the step of the method of the invention shown in Figure 2a the first filling template has already been processed. As can be seen by comparing the cells (1,3), (1,5) of the display device 400 with the corresponding receptacles, the receptacles 210(1,3) and 210(1) ,5)), the number of drugs placed in) is not the same as the number displayed according to the filling template through the display device 400. According to the filling template, 0 drugs should be placed in the receiving portion 210 (1, 3) and one drug must be placed in the receiving portion 210 (1, 5). This is not the case in this case, where one drug is placed in the receiving portion 210 (1, 3) and 0 drugs are placed in the receiving portion 210 (1, 5).

In the depicted embodiment, the filling deviation is determined by the photodetector producing an image of the receptacles (or one image for each receptacle). The number of medications, and therefore the actual filling, can be ascertained based on the image (or images) and known information about the type of medication being added to the receptacle. In the illustrated embodiment, only one drug type is added per fill template, so only the quantity needs to be checked. However, in other embodiments, it may be necessary to confirm the type and quantity of agent added.

The illustrated embodiment of the filling station further includes a plurality of sensors 213 assigned to the receptacles 210, which can be used to determine the quantity (and only the quantity) of medication per each receptacle. In such cases, it may be beneficial to use the sensor 213 to check the quantity since complex image processing is not required.

According to the invention, potential filling deviations are discovered using confirmed actual filling and filling templates. If such a filling deviation is found, the transfer of medication into the receiving portion in the transport tray 100 is not released. The medication cannot be transferred until it is established that there is no filling deviation.

According to Figure 2a, there is a filling deviation in the receptacles 210 (1, 3) and 210 (1, 5), which is clearly displayed on the display device 400, leading the user to correct the filling of the two incorrectly filled receptacles. do.

In the method shown in Figures 2A-2C, since two medicine types need to be filled according to the target filling, after the first medicine type is moved into the transport tray, another filling template is displayed, which is shown in Figure 2B. As can be seen from the fill template and filled receptacle 210 along line 1 of the display device 400, the fill of line 1 of receptacle 210 matches the fill template, and the drug added to the receptacle can be transferred to a transport tray.

Figure 2c shows a step in the method of the present invention where the transport tray is separated from the transport tray to confirm actual filling of the receiving portion 110 of the transport tray. It is true that if each filling template is transported accurately, there will be no errors in the target filling of all receptacles 110 in the transport tray. However, intermediate inspection of the individual filling templates is provided only in preferred embodiments of the invention and is not entirely necessary, so that the final inspection of the receiving parts in the transport tray can be regularly omitted.

And even if all filling templates are filled correctly, it may happen that the drug falls out of the receiver during transport or remains attached to the walls of the receiver, for example due to movement of the closure plate under the lower opening of the receiver. Despite accurate filling of the receptacles according to the filling template(s), this may cause the target filling of the receptacles 110 in the transport tray to be incorrect for all receptacles.

According to the invention, this means that an image of the receptacles to be filled (or a plurality of images, for example one image for each receptacle) is generated with a photodetector, at least according to the target filling, and said images are selected for the type of drug product to be filled. Based on the information, it is inspected to ensure that image processing is performed to supply medication for each drug type.

Image processing can also provide for detection of foreign matter, such as residue from a blister package, which may cause the receiver or filling to be flagged as incorrect and prompt the user to correct it (remove the foreign matter). If so, release occurs only after correction.

As can be seen in Figure 2C, two preliminary checks of a particular filling template indicated correct filling of the transport tray, but the filling of receiver 110(1,9) was incorrect. If incorrect filling of the receptacle 110 is confirmed, this is indicated on the display device and the transport tray is not yet released.

In the depicted embodiment, the fill template and any potential fill deviations or target deviations are displayed on the display device 400. Alternatively, the display device may also comprise a plurality of display means, which display means are or may be assigned to a respective receptacle and/or receptacle. The number of medications to be added can be displayed directly on the receptacle by means of these display means, preventing potential delivery errors from a remotely placed display device. The display device may be configured as a digital display, for example. If only one drug is to be added per filling step, the display means may also simply indicate the receptacle to which the drug must be added. These display means can also be used to indicate deviations when actual filling has been confirmed.

3A and 3B show a combination of a transport tray 200 and a transport tray 100, the transport tray being placed on top of the transport tray, this arrangement being the result of the function of two trays.

Figure 3a shows a top view of the combination. The transfer tray 200 disposed above includes a frame 201, and a receiving portion plate 203 having a plurality of receiving portions 210 for accommodating one or a plurality of medications is disposed therein. As can be seen in FIG. 3A, in the illustrated embodiment, the receiving portion 210 is divided into 4 horizontal rows and 12 vertical rows. The front end face of the transfer tray 200 includes a handle 202 that can operate the open/close device 220 of the transfer tray. The switch will be described with reference to the following drawings. A transport tray 100 is disposed below the transport tray 200, which also has a frame 101 and a handle 102.

Figure 3b shows a view of the combination from below, and thus of the underside of the transport tray 100. In particular, in this drawing, it is possible to see the opener 120 of the transport tray 100, and the lower opening 111 (not visible in Figure 3b) of the receiving part in the transport tray can be opened and closed with this opener 120. In addition, the open and close device includes a closing plate 121 that is fixed to the frame 101 of the transport tray with a plurality of guides 122 and fixing means 123. The closing plate 121 includes a plurality of openings 124 for opening the lower opening. As can also be seen in this figure, the receptacle plate 103 of the transport tray includes a plurality of cut-outs 104 arranged to reduce the weight between the horizontal rows of receptacles 110. do. Additionally, an additional fixing device 125 supporting the central portion of the closing plate is attached to the frame 101.

Figures 4A-4D show various perspective views of the transfer tray 200, and Figure 4A is a perspective view from above. Figures 4b and 4c depict the transfer tray as viewed from below, with the receiving portion closed in Figure 4b and almost fully open in Figure 4c. As can be further seen in Figure 4B, the transfer tray's receiving plate 203 also has cutouts 204 to reduce weight. Like the transport tray, the closing plate 221 of the opener 220 is fixed to the frame 201 with guides/fixers 222/223. The frame 201 further includes four protrusions 205 that can be used to place the transfer tray 200 on the transport tray 100 . 3D shows the transfer tray without the receptacle plate 202 and provides a top view of the closure plate 221 including a plurality of openings 224. The switch 220 can be operated manually through the handle 202. In the depicted embodiment, the receptacle plate 203 is configured to be removable from the frame 201 to simplify cleaning of the receptacle and closure plate.

Figures 5a-5d also show various views of the transport tray 100, and in particular Figure 5a shows a plurality of display means 113 capable of displaying correct or incorrect filling of the receiving portion 110 of the transport tray 100. can see. Otherwise, the design of the transport tray is substantially the same as that of the transfer tray, and thus reference is made to the above description.

6A-6C show various cross-sections of the combination of transport tray 200 and transport tray 100. 6A and 6B, the receiving portion 210 and the lower openings 111 and 211 of the receiving portion 110 are closed by a closing plate. Additionally, in FIGS. 6A and 6B, it can be seen that the receiving unit 210 and the receiving unit 110 are arranged relative to each other so that transfer can be performed as simply as possible. In Figure 6b, a receptacle 210 can also be seen having walls that are slightly tapered in width. This prevents shadows from forming on the underside of the transfer opening so that the shadows do not make it more difficult to determine the actual filling of the receiver.

Figure 6c shows that by operating the handle 202, the closing plate 221 of the opener for the transfer tray is moved almost completely to the open state where the medicine can be transferred from the receiving part 210 into the receiving part 110 of the transport tray. The state is shown.

7A and 7B provide various views of a fourth embodiment of the transfer tray 200, and FIG. 7A provides a top view of the transfer tray 200. In this embodiment, each receptacle 210 is provided with two circular display means 230, 231 capable of displaying the filling template. In alternative embodiments, only one circular display means or two or more circular display means may also be assigned to each receptacle 210 . The circular display means can also consist of continuous light rings where different illumination scenarios can indicate different drug numbers. The display means can represent the lighting scenario in a “digital” or “analog” manner. Likewise, the outer ring can mean 1, the inner ring can mean 2, and both rings can mean 3 (“digital”). Alternatively (or additionally), the counts may have a color code (analog). Figure 7B provides a cross-sectional view of this embodiment, and Figure 7B shows a transport tray/transport tray combination.

Finally, Figure 7c shows another embodiment in which a plurality of display means 250, 251 are arranged on each of two annular surfaces 240, 241 coaxial with the center point of the receptacle 210. This embodiment can also represent “complex” filling templates. This is particularly helpful when the fill does not include only one drug type, but instead the receiver is sequentially filled with different drug numbers and drug types. The display means on the outer annular surface may then indicate drug type 1, and the inner annular surface may represent drug type 2.

Claims (17)

A method of filling a transport tray (100) for transferring medication to a mechanical tray of an automatic dispensing station, wherein the transport tray (100) has a plurality of receiving portions (110) for medication, and the method of filling the transport tray (100) this:
a) The target filling of the plurality of receiving portions 110 in the transport tray 100 is transmitted to the control device 500, and the target filling includes at least one type of drug to be filled, and each Contains information on the number of drugs and number of receptors per drug type,
b) Based on the target filling and filling regime, a plurality of filling templates are generated and displayed by the display devices 400, 450, and each of the plurality of filling templates is configured to fill all the receptacles ( 110) and one drug type to be filled, a transfer tray 200 is arranged on the transfer tray 100,
c) the drug corresponding to one of the plurality of filling templates is transferred to the receiving portion 210 of the transfer tray 200 to be filled according to the filling template,
An image of the receiving portion to be filled according to the filling template is generated by the photodetector 300, and the image is used to confirm actual filling and compare it with the filling template, and
If no deviation is found, transfer of medication to the transport tray 100 is released and the next filling template is displayed,
Repeat steps b) and c) until the target filling of all receptacles to be filled is achieved,
d) An image of at least one receiving portion of the transport tray 100 to be filled according to the target filling is generated by the photo detector 300, and the image is used to determine the actual filling and quantity of the filled medication. , and the quality is detected and confirmed, and compared to the target filling, and
e) If a target deviation is not found, the transport tray 100 is released to transfer the medication to the machine tray.
A method of filling a transport tray (100), comprising the steps:
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a filling template is created containing all the receptacles (110) to be filled and all drug types to be filled.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one filling template is displayed which displays a plurality of partial filling templates.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein when a filling deviation is found, the filling deviation is displayed by a display device (400).
The method according to claim 1, wherein the filling template is displayed by projecting the filling template onto the transport tray or transfer tray (200).
2. Filling the transport tray (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it can be provided that the image generated by the photodetector can be stored to confirm the actual filling according to the filling template or the actual filling according to the target filling. method.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of fill templates are displayed simultaneously, and the display is updated after the fill templates are processed.
A filling station for filling a transport tray (100) for transferring medicine to a machine tray of an automatic dispensing station,
It has a plurality of receiving parts 110 for each medicine, each receiving part 110 has a lower opening 111, and is disposed below the transport receiving part 110, and the receiving part 110 A transport tray (100) having an open/close device (120) that opens and closes the lower opening (111) of
Display devices 400 and 450 capable of displaying a filling template showing the user which receptacle 110 should be filled with which drug, respectively;
A photodetector 300 capable of generating an image of a receptor inside which a drug is placed,
A transfer tray 200 disposed on the transport tray 100 and having a plurality of receiving parts 210, the arrangement of the receiving parts 210 within the transport tray is the same as the arrangement of the receiving parts 110 within the transport tray. matches, and the transfer tray 200 is disposed below the receiving portion 210 and includes an open/close device 220 that opens and closes the lower opening 211 of the receiving portion 210, and
A control device 500 connected to the display device 400 and the light detector 300,
Including,
The control device 500,
Based on a pre-specified target filling and a pre-specified filling method of the receiving portion 110 in the transport tray 100, a plurality of filling templates are created, and each of the plurality of filling templates is configured to fill all the receiving portions 110 within the transport tray 100. Contains part 110 and one drug type to be filled,
An image of the receiving portion to be filled according to the filling template is generated by the photo detector 300, and the image is used to confirm actual filling and compare it with the filling template,
If no deviation is found, transfer of medication to the transport tray 100 is released and the next filling template is displayed,
Repeat the above steps until the target filling of all receptacles to be filled is achieved,
An image of at least one receiving portion of the transport tray 100 to be filled according to the target filling is generated by the photo detector 300, and the image is used to determine the actual filling, quantity, and The quality is detected and confirmed, and compared to the target filling, and
If a target deviation is not found, the transport tray 100 is released to transfer the medication to the machine tray,
A filling station characterized in that it is configured.
The filling station according to claim 8, wherein the display device includes a plurality of display means (113, 410, 230, 231, 250, 251) assigned to the receiving portion (110, 210).
10. A filling station according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the filling station comprises a projector (450) capable of projecting a filling template onto the transport tray or transfer tray. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete