JP2000116751A - Medicine bag preparing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize sufficient throughput with simple carrying mechanisms. SOLUTION: A medicine bag preparing device 30 is provided with plural printers 10 and the carrying mechanisms 41+42 horizontally or vertically extended through the installing range of these printers 10 to allow the mechanisms 41+42 to collect a medicine bag 1 printed by the plural printers 10. The device 30 is provided with holding means 43+44 which are plurally inserted between the mechanisms 41+42 and the respective printers 10 to allow each of them to temporarily hold the medicine bag 1. The medicine bag is respectively and separately held from its printing to its collection, thereby the waiting situation of the collection of the medicine is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medicine bag making device such as a medicine bag printing device or a medicine bag printing device for printing necessary information on a medicine bag containing a medicine at a hospital pharmacy or a dispensing pharmacy and delivering it to a patient. The present invention relates to a technique for performing printing processing on medicine bags of various types, shapes, and sizes, and automatically collecting medicine bags in preparation for a subsequent medicine storage operation or an inspection operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a medicine bag making apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
A medicine bag printing device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 315511 and a medicine bag printing device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-2404 are known. The former medicine bag printing device is equipped with a plurality of printers to release the pharmacist from the handwriting work of the medicine bag.
A transport mechanism, and collects the medicine bags printed by each printer to one medicine bag take-out position by the transport mechanism. On the other hand, the latter medicine bag printing device divides the transport mechanism so that it can be driven independently, combines them into units for each printer, and connects them in series, and selectively prints a plurality of types of medicine bags. And send them out one unit at a time.

Incidentally, referring to a medicine bag supply device such as a printer incorporated in a medicine bag making device, such a medicine bag supply device includes an address printer described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-49740 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-49740. A medicine bag feeder and the like described in JP-A-35928 are known. In the former address printer, in order to realize smooth continuous paper feeding for envelopes and medicine bags that are thicker and more difficult to handle than general paper such as copy paper, the left and right The paper feed guide includes a stack of paper feed guides and a paper holder that moves along the inclination of both paper feed guides and guides the medicine bag toward the paper feed port. In this case, the structure has a relatively simple structure by utilizing its own weight drop.

On the other hand, the latter medicine bag feeder is arranged such that a certain number of medicine bags are laid up and down in order to prevent an error in successive supply of medicine bags having a nonuniform thickness unlike ordinary paper. It has a frame that is loaded and stored, and a bottom plate that is housed at the bottom of this frame and pushes up the medicine bag from below. The bottom plate is divided into three parts in a direction orthogonal to the direction of feeding the medicine bag, and the load is independent of each other. And an adjusting roller for applying a load in the opposite direction in addition to the medicine bag unloading roller.

On the other hand, in a copying machine or a facsimile machine for a copy paper or the like having a simple shape and a uniform thickness, the sheets are arranged and stored in a detachable cassette, and the sheets are sequentially sent out therefrom. Some are. In this case, the cassette is composed of a box body for stacking and storing a large number of papers in a horizontal state, and a movable bottom plate for pushing up the stacked paper stored in the inner bottom of the box body from below. In addition, a slide plate or the like whose length and width can be adjusted in accordance with the size of the paper is provided. When used, the slide plate is attached to the main body with its bottom face down.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the conventional medicine bag making apparatus as described above, it is necessary to collect and print various medicine bags in units of prescriptions and patients, and to collect medicine bags by a transport mechanism directly in each printer. This is done sequentially along the part. For this reason, the performance of the transport mechanism responsible for collecting medicine bags tends to be relatively insufficient, and the overall throughput is not always sufficient.

However, there is a limit to the feeding speed for reliably transporting a wide variety of medicine bags under limited cost constraints, so that the overall efficiency of medicine bag collection is improved even at the same transportation speed. It needs to be devised. In particular, when a printer and a transport mechanism are unitized as in the medicine bag printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-2404, an increase in the number of parts due to the subdivision of the transport mechanism tends to increase the cost of the transport mechanism. On the other hand, if a unit in the middle is pulled out to refill a medicine bag, the conveyance path before and after the unit is cut off, and the conveyance stops in another unit. Maybe.

Therefore, while assuming that a transport mechanism having a simple structure in which the transport path is continuous across two or more printers is used, the ability to collect medicine bags is improved without increasing the transport speed. Therefore, it is a technical problem to improve the throughput of the entire apparatus. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize a medicine bag making apparatus capable of providing a sufficient throughput with a simple transport mechanism.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems The structure, operation and effect of the medicine bag making apparatus of the present invention which has been made to solve such problems will be described below.

[0011] The medicine bag making apparatus of the present invention (as described in claim 1 at the time of filing the application) includes a plurality of printers and a transport mechanism extending horizontally, vertically, or obliquely over the installation area of these printers. In the medicine bag making apparatus, wherein the medicine bags printed by the plurality of printers are collected by the carrying mechanism, a plurality of medicine bags are provided interposed between the carrying mechanism and the printer, and each of the medicine bags is temporarily stored. It is provided with a holding means for temporarily holding.

In the medicine bag making apparatus having such a configuration, the medicine bags printed by the respective printers are conveyed horizontally or vertically or obliquely by a simple conveyance mechanism extending over the installation range of the printer. However, during the period from when printing is performed to when collection is performed, each of them is separately targeted for temporary holding by the holding unit, and transport is started at an appropriate timing for each.
As a result, even if a medicine bag has not yet been collected, if a printer suitable for the printing is available, printing can be completed at any time, and the collection sequence must be waited. In such a case, it is possible to immediately collect without putting a break. As a result, the situation in which the collection of the medicine bags is waited for the start of the operation by the printing time is eliminated or reduced, and the throughput of the medicine bag processing is improved.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment for implementing a medicine bag making apparatus of the present invention achieved by such a solution will be described.

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention is a medicine bag making apparatus according to the above-mentioned means, wherein the printers are individually supported by drawer members so as to be able to be pulled out. Preferably, the holding means is attached (directly or indirectly) to the transport mechanism. In this case, the maintenance work of the printer, the work of replacing the medicine bag storage cassette for the printer, the work of refilling the medicine bag for the printer, and the like can be performed by pulling out the printer, which is easy. Moreover, since the transport mechanism and the holding means remain fixed to the supporting parts such as the housing and the frame regardless of the drawer of the printer, the transport mechanism and the holding means can be embodied with a relatively simple structure and maintain a state in which the transport operation is possible. It does not hinder the collection of medicine bags from other printers. This allows
In addition to the improvement of the throughput, the simplification of the operation, the simplification of the mechanism, and the improvement of the operation rate can be achieved at the same time.

[Second Embodiment] By the way, there is no printer used in a medicine bag making apparatus in which a cassette for arranging and storing a large number of medicine bags is detachable from a printer main body. If you put a medicine bag in the cassette,
Since it is difficult to use the self-weight drop of the medicine bag used in the above address printer for simplicity, etc., it is necessary to introduce some additional mechanisms like the medicine bag feeder described above, so it is removable This is because it was thought that the disadvantage would be further complicated, and the disadvantage would be greater than the advantage of being removable. For that reason, unlike copiers and the like, printers that process medicine bags
Even when the medicine bag is stored in the box, the limitation is that the medicine bag storage box can be pulled out from the printer main body.

On the other hand, when refilling a medicine bag into the medicine bag making device, the loose medicine bag is directly set because the work place is limited to the installation position of the device and the posture of the worker is strongly determined by the structure of the device. Because of the restrictions, the burden on the worker is large, and it is necessary to take measures. In particular, pharmacists are active in pharmacies, but most of them are women, and there is a strong demand for reducing the burden on work such as refilling medicine bags. In order to respond to such a request, a printer for a medicine bag making apparatus is also improved in workability by adopting a cassette so that work such as refilling a medicine bag is easier than or equal to a copying machine or the like, Even if a large number of cassettes are prepared corresponding to a variety of medicine bags, it is necessary to simplify the structure of the cassettes so that the cost can be reduced.

Therefore, a second embodiment of the present invention is a medicine bag making apparatus according to the above-described solution and embodiment,
Any or all of the printers are sequentially supplied with the medicine bags arranged and stored in a detachable cassette to print, and the cassette is mounted on the printer main body with its side surface or side portion down. It is supposed to be. Here, the “side surface or side portion” means a surface on which the edge of the medicine bag comes into contact when the medicine bag is stored. The area where the wide front and back of the medicine bag hits is called the bottom or lid, not the side. The side portion is extended from the side surface, including a case where the side portion extends to the bottom surface or a part of the lid portion with the center on the side surface.

In such a medicine bag making apparatus, the medicine bags to be printed are sequentially sent out from the cassette to the printer one by one as needed, but when a medicine bag is to be replaced with another medicine bag or when refilling is required. When necessary, the supply is suspended. Then, when another cassette containing the desired medicine bag already exists, it is possible to easily and quickly take measures by replacing the cassette. On the other hand, even in such a case, the cassette can be detached from the main body, a desired medicine bag is stored in the cassette, and then the cassette is remounted, so that the measure can be taken easily and quickly. In addition, since the cassette is mounted with the mounting / dismounting portion facing down, the operator performs the work by lifting the cassette from the printer main body or placing the cassette on the printer main body when mounting or removing the cassette. . That is, the medicine bags can be handled together from above. This greatly reduces the burden on the operator who handles a large number of medicine bags as compared with the case where the medicine bags are handled loosely or the case where the cassette is inserted into the printer main body from the side.

In addition, inside the cassette mounted with the side detachable portion down, each medicine bag is held vertically or slightly inclined from the vertical plane. Since there is little friction or snagging with the adjacent medicine bags, even medicine bags of various shapes with a square bottom or a horizontal gusset can be supplied one by one without fail. Thereby, while enjoying the merit of making the cassette for aligning and storing a large number of medicine bags detachable from the main body,
Disadvantages associated with stacking and storing medicine bags in a box are avoided. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to realize a medicine bag making apparatus which is excellent not only in throughput but also in workability such as medicine bag replenishment for each printer.

[Third Embodiment] A third embodiment of the present invention is the medicine bag making apparatus of the second embodiment described above,
The cassette includes a first movable plate accommodated in a rockable manner with respect to an inner bottom thereof, and a second movable plate supported by the first movable plate and movable while maintaining a vertical state or a constant inclination state. It is a thing. In such a medicine bag making device, a mechanism for receiving the medicine bag in the cassette for the printer is realized by a combination of plate materials of the first and second movable plates. The additional mechanism becomes simple. Nevertheless, since the inclination of the second movable plate for receiving the medicine bags is constant, even if the number of medicine bags stored changes, the state of the medicine bags in the order in which they are sent out is always stable, so the supply of medicine bags is always reliable. Done in Thereby, the structure of the cassette itself can be simplified without impairing the function of supplying the medicine bag. In addition, since the second movable plate maintains a constant inclination state regardless of which part of the movable plate is driven, restrictions associated with the design of the drive mechanism provided in the main body for driving the second movable plate are reduced. The drive mechanism can be made simple with a simple mechanism that moves forward and backward in the vicinity of the attaching / detaching portion. This eliminates the necessity of disposing an extra structure around the cassette, so that the mechanism and the like in the main body can be simplified, and the attachment and detachment of the cassette is further facilitated without obstruction. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to realize a printer of a medicine bag making apparatus having excellent workability such as medicine bag replenishment with a simple structure.

[Fourth Embodiment] A fourth embodiment of the present invention is the medicine bag making apparatus according to the second embodiment described above,
The cassette includes a first movable plate accommodated in the inner bottom so as to be able to swing and the like, and a second movable plate supported by the first movable plate and moving with the first movable plate. (2) The movable plate is characterized by being bent along the feeding direction of the medicine bag.

In such a medicine bag making apparatus, the mechanism for receiving the medicine bag in the cassette for the printer is realized by a combination of the first and second movable plates, which corresponds to a tension mechanism. The additional mechanism in the cassette becomes simple. Nevertheless, since the medicine bags are set up in a standing state, it is impossible to use the weight drop positively.However, the load of the medicine bags stacked on top of each other accumulates unevenly on the lower medicine bags. By avoiding, even if the medicine bag is not uniform in thickness, the number of medicine bags to be stored can be reduced by adopting an appropriate plate material bent in accordance with the shape of the medicine bag as the second movable plate for receiving the medicine bag. Even if it changes, the supply of the medicine bag is reliably performed. Thereby, the structure of the cassette itself can be simplified without impairing the function of supplying the medicine bag.

Further, the shape of the medicine bag is various, and in order to adapt to all of them, a large number of various second movable plates for receiving the medicine bag are required. The first movable plate that can be mounted so as to be able to be shared can be shared. Therefore, since the restrictions associated with the design of the drive mechanism provided in the main body for driving them are alleviated, the drive mechanism can be moved in and out of the vicinity of the attaching / detaching portion by a simple mechanism. This eliminates the need to place extra structures around the cassette,
In addition to the simplification of the mechanism and the like in the printer main body, the attachment / detachment of the cassette is further facilitated without obstruction. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a medicine bag making apparatus excellent in workability such as medicine bag replenishment can be realized with a simple structure.

[Fifth Embodiment] A fifth embodiment of the present invention is a medicine bag making apparatus according to the above-described solving means and embodiments, wherein the second movable plate is hooked on the first movable plate. Thus, the first movable plate and the second movable plate are connected to each other. In this case, since the second movable plate for receiving the medicine bag can be easily replaced, the same cassette can be easily shared by exchanging one part called the second movable plate for various medicine bags. Versatility increases.

[Sixth Embodiment] A sixth embodiment of the present invention is the medicine bag making apparatus according to the above-described solving means and the embodiment, wherein the cassette has a side surface or a side portion facing the attaching / detaching portion. It is characterized by being open.
The medicine bag has a wide variety of sizes, but even if the medicine bag is longer than the cassette, it can be stored in the cassette by partially protruding from the opening. In addition, since the medicine bag is held upright, even if a part of the medicine bag protrudes from the cassette, it is unlikely that the medicine bag is extended or caught by the adjacent medicine bag before and after the medicine bag. It is done reliably.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific configuration of a medicine bag printing apparatus as a first embodiment of a medicine bag making apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of FIG.
(B) is a schematic longitudinal section. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view around the holding means, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram related to the control means.

This medicine bag printing device 30 (see FIG. 1) has, for example, four printers 10 mounted in a housing 31. The plurality of printers are arranged vertically and horizontally and stored in the housing 31. Each of the printers is horizontally mounted on the housing 31, a frame (not shown), or the like for facilitating maintenance work and medicine bag refilling work. It is installed on the shelf 32 via a slide rail 33. Then, when a portion of the front surface of the housing 31 that is divided corresponding to each printer 10 is pulled, the printer 10 is smoothly pulled out while being supported by the slide rails 33 (see the lower left printer in FIG. 1A). As described above, the plurality of printers 10 are individually supported so as to be able to be pulled out by the drawer members.

On the lower side of the shelf plate 32 in the housing 31 (FIG. 1)
(See (b)), a transport belt 42 driven by the transport roller 41 is provided. The transport belt 42 is provided with a horizontal belt and a vertical belt.
The lower one of the two printers 10 can receive the discharged medicine bags, and the lower two lower ones of the printer 10 can receive the discharged medicine bags. I'm in contact. The transport path of the upper horizontal transport belt 42 is directed to the outlet 34 of the housing 31 under the upper printers 10, and the transport path of the lower horizontal transport belt 42 is connected to the lower printers 10. Is also directed to the carry-out port 34 of the housing 31 via the vertical transport belt 42. As a result, the transport belt 42 and the transport rollers 41 are transport mechanisms that extend horizontally or vertically over the installation range of the plurality of printers, and collect medicine bags printed by each printer. .

The shelf plate 32 in the housing 31 (FIG. 1)
(See (b)), the transfer guide 43 and the transfer roller 44
A total of four sets are provided, one for each printer 10. Each of the transfer rollers 44 and the like (see FIG. 2) is mounted at a through hole formed between a medicine bag discharge port 16 formed in the printer 10 and a transport belt 42 passing below the medicine bag discharge port 16. The medicine bag 1 discharged from the medicine bag 10 by the medicine bag feeding mechanism 15 is received while being sandwiched between the transfer guide 43 and the transfer roller 44.
When the transfer roller 44 continues to rotate,
It is immediately sent directly onto the horizontal conveyor belt 42 for collecting medicine bags, but when the transfer roller 44 stops rotating, it temporarily stops between the transfer guide 43 and the transfer roller 44 during that period.

Further, in order to detect the discharge of the medicine bag,
The photo sensor 45 is also installed immediately above the transfer roller 44, but is attached to the shelf plate 32, similarly to the transfer guide 43 and the transfer roller 44, and accompanies when the printer 10 is pulled out. Without being fixed, it is fixed in the housing 31 together with the transport belt 42 and the like. Thereby, the transfer roller 44
The transfer guide 43 is a holding unit indirectly attached to the transport mechanism 41 + 42, and is a transport mechanism 41 + 4.
A plurality of medicine bags are interposed between each of the medicine bags 2 and the printer 10, and each of them temporarily holds the medicine bag before collection.

The main controller 35 is provided adjacent to the housing 31 and also serves as a table on which the tray 2 for receiving and storing the medicine bags 1 carried out from the carry-out port 34 is placed (FIG. 1).
reference). The main controller 35 comprises a small computer system such as a personal computer.
It is communicably connected to the host computer 50 via an AN or the like, and is also connected to each printer 10 or the like via an appropriate interface (not shown).

More specifically, as shown in FIG.
The printer 18 is communicably connected to a later-described controller 18 via a serial transmission line or the like, and controls the operation of each printer 10 by transmitting and receiving a print command and a status report. Also, while inputting the detection signal of the photo sensor 45,
It is connected to a motor 44a that drives the rotation of the transfer roller 44, and controls its on / off operation. Further, it is also connected to a motor 41a for driving the rotation of the transport roller 41, and controls the on / off operation thereof. Then, the printer 10, the transport mechanisms 41 + 42, and the holding means 43 + 4
In order to easily perform independent control on each of the units 4, the connections are made for each controller 18, roller 44, and the like. Thus, the main controller 35 is a control device that controls the operations of the plurality of printers, the transport mechanism, and the holding unit.

The main controller 35 (see FIG. 3) controls a queue 35 allocated to a data area such as a RAM in order to control each operation by the program processing.
a, a pre-assignment routine 35b stored in a program area such as a ROM, and a discharge synchronization control routine 35c also stored in the program area. The main controller 35, when the print information classified in units of prescriptions, patients and the like is transmitted from the host computer 50, inputs the print information one after another, and sorts the plurality of print information in the input order or according to an appropriate priority. They are arranged and stored in a queue 35a.

The pre-assignment routine 35b performs the printing from the head of the queue 35a in order from the head or, if the medicine bag 1 suitable for the head print information is not set in any of the printers 10, from the succeeding one. By taking out the information and allocating the print information and the print command to the empty printers one after another, a process of distributing the print information of a plurality of sections to a plurality of printers is performed. The discharge synchronizing control routine 35c includes a preceding allocation routine 35b.
Each printer 1 based on the print information assigned by
In addition to confirming the completion of the printing process by 0, when detecting the discharge of the bag from the printer 10 by the photo sensor 45, the bag 1 of the preceding section is positioned on the transport path so that the bag of the different section is not mixed based on the difference of the section. When located after the medicine bag 1 of the succeeding section, the medicine bag 1 of the succeeding section
By causing the transfer guide 43 and the transfer roller 44 corresponding to the above to temporarily hold the corresponding medicine bag, a process of passing the medicine bag of the preceding section first is performed. Thus, the main controller 35 causes the plurality of printers to perform parallel operations using the holding units 43 + 44.

Here, the configuration of the printer 10 used in the medicine bag printing device 30 will be described in detail. 4A is an external perspective view and FIG. 4B is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a single printer in which a cassette is mounted. Also,
5A is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the cassette, of which FIGS. 5B and 5C are views showing the state of storage of the medicine bag in the cassette, and FIGS. () Is a figure which shows the mounting situation of the cassette to a main-body part. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a movable plate mounted in the cassette. 7A is an external view of a medicine bag having a square bottom, FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a second movable plate suitable for such a medicine bag, and FIG. Is an external view of a medicine bag having a horizontal gusset, and (b) is a perspective view of a movable plate suitable for such a medicine bag. Here, the cassette 2
The printer 10 is referred to as a printer main unit 10 in consideration of the fact that 0 is detachable and replaceable.

The printer body 10 (see FIG. 4)
Up to two cassettes 20 for accommodating the medicine bags 1 to be printed and sequentially supplying the cassettes 20 to the printer main body 10 can be mounted. Therefore, the housing 11 of the printer main body 10 is attached to the housing 11 (see FIG. 4A). ), Two openings 13 for inserting the cassette 20 are formed on the upper surface. In addition, an appropriate operation panel 12 and the like are also provided in an easy-to-see place such as the front surface of the housing 11 of the printer body 10.

Inside the printer body 10 (FIG. 4)
(See (b)), the pusher 14 and the switch 14a
A medicine bag feeding mechanism 15 is provided below the middle of both openings 13, and the print head 17 is attached to the medicine bag feeding mechanism 15.
Is provided in the space where the controller 18 remains. Although illustration is omitted like the supporting frame and the fastening bolts, the opening 1 is located immediately below the opening 13.
A stopper which is stopped when the front surface 22 (side surface) of the cassette 20 inserted from the position 3 comes into contact with the switch 14a, and a peripheral portion (side portion) of the front surface 22 of the cassette 20 so that the mounted cassette 20 does not rattle. And a lock mechanism and an unlocking means are also provided as needed.

The pusher 14 is made of a member having low friction, such as a smooth rod or a rotatable roller at the tip, and is supported by a drive mechanism (not shown) so as to be able to advance and retreat into and out of the cassette 20 mounted in the opening 13. I have. Then, under the control of the controller 18 which detects the presence or absence of the cassette 20 with the switch 14a, the cassette 20 enters when the cassette 20 is mounted, and retreats when the cassette 20 is removed or its lock is released. At the time of entry, the pusher 14 exerts a substantially constant urging force.

The medicine bag feeding mechanism 15 (see FIG. 4B)
A roller 15a is provided at a position related to the cassette 20 from the side opposite to the pressing member 14, a guide 15b and a roller 15c are provided below the middle of the two rollers 15a, and are provided below and below the print head 17 so as to face the print head 17. Platen 1
5d, and a guide 15e and a roller 15f provided between them and the medicine bag discharge port 16. These rollers and the platen rotate under the control of the controller 18, and the medicine bag 1 drawn out of the cassette 20 by the rotation of the roller 15a is discharged from the medicine bag discharge port 16 through the print head 17 and directly below the medicine bag discharge port 16. The sheet is fed onto a horizontal conveyor belt 42 below the sheet via a transfer guide 43 and a transfer roller 44 (see also FIG. 2).

The controller 18 (see FIG. 4B)
When a prescription information or at least a medicine bag print information such as a patient name or a medicine name is inputted from the operation panel 12 or the main controller 35 by the program processing, and the processing is started according to the instruction, the program processing is appropriately performed. One of the rollers 15a is selected and operated, thereby controlling the print driver 17a at an appropriate timing with respect to the medicine bag 1 sent to the print head 17, thereby controlling the print head 17 for a patient name, a medicine name, and the like. It prints the required dose and usage.

The cassette 20 (see FIG. 5A) has a box portion 21 and a lid portion 25 attached thereto. Each of the cassettes 20 is made of light plastic, but is appropriately combined with a metal plate (not shown) or the like. Reinforcement has been made. The box portion 21 has a bottom surface 2
1a and three side surfaces surrounding it, that is, a front surface 22, a right surface 21d, and a left surface 21g, and the upper part where the lid 25 is mounted is open.

A round hole 21b and a round hole 21c for mounting a support shaft are formed on the right surface 21d and the left surface 21g of the box portion 21 at a position remote from the front surface 22 and the handle 2 is located near the hole.
4 are also formed. A notch 21f for entering the pusher 14 is formed on the bottom surface 21a of the box portion 21 on the front surface 22 side, and elongated holes 21e are formed on both sides thereof.

The size of the box 21 is determined by the size of the printer main body 10.
In order to store a smaller medicine bag 1 than the largest one among the various medicine bags 1 to be handled in the above, the position of a slide plate or the like (not shown) is adjusted to fit the size of the medicine bag 1. The storage space is adapted. Thus, the cassette 20 can store a number of various medicine bags 1 in a line.

The lid 25 (see FIG. 5A)
a of approximately the same size as that of FIG.
A notch 25c for the roller 15a is formed at a position opposite to the above, a round hole 25a is formed at a position corresponding to the round hole 21b of the box portion 21 at the rear, and an overhang portion 25b is formed near the same. You. When the spindle is mounted with the round hole 25a and the round hole 21b overlapped with each other, the lid 25
Is pivotally supported by the box 21 at the rear, and largely opens and closes the front surface 22 side of the box 21 (see FIGS. 5B and 5C). The front end of the lid portion 25 is slightly retracted from the front surface 22 of the box portion 21 or the portion facing the front surface 22 is slightly cut off,
There is formed a gap through which only one medicine bag 1 can pass. As a result, the cassette 20 holds the stored medicine bag 1 with the lid 25.
It can be sent out sequentially from the side.

When the lid 25 is closed, the overhang 25 b of the cassette 20 is exactly overlapped with the handle 24 of the box 21. When the user grips the handle 24 with the overhang 25b and lifts the cassette 20, the weight 22 naturally causes the front surface 22 to come down. On the other hand, the size of the opening 13 formed on the upper surface of the printer main body 10 as described above corresponds to the shape of the front face 22 of the cassette 20 with the lid 25 closed, so that the cassette 20 can be smoothly inserted. It is decided to be. As a result, the cassette 20 has the front surface 2 out of the side surfaces 22, 21d, and 21g.
2 is detachable from the printer body 10 as a detachable portion, and is attached with its front surface 22 down.

Although the front surface 22, the right surface 21d and the left surface 21g exist among the side surfaces of the box portion 21, the rear surface facing the front surface 22, that is, the rear opening 23 is missing (FIG. 5).
(See (a)). When storing a longer medicine bag 1 in the cassette 20, a part of the medicine bag 1 is protruded from the rear opening 23 (see FIGS. 5B and 5C). Thus, the side surface (23) of the cassette 20 facing the attaching / detaching portion (22) is opened.

Various movable plates are introduced into the box portion 21 of the cassette 20 according to the shape of the medicine bag 1 to be stored. Hereinafter, three typical types will be described. Among them, the one shown in FIG. 6 is used for a relatively simple medicine bag 1, and the one shown in FIG. 7 is one suitable for a medicine bag 1 having a square bottom 1a, as shown in FIG. What is used for the medicine bag 1 having the horizontal gusset 1b on both sides.

First, the movable plate shown in FIG. 6A includes a rotary plate 27 and an interlocking plate 28 (first movable plate) and a medicine bag receiving plate 29.
(The second movable plate) are used in combination. Each is made of a thin but rigid metal plate or the like, and is formed by punching or the like. The rotating plate 27 is formed with a round hole 27a corresponding to the round hole 21b of the box portion 21 and is rotatably supported in the box portion 21 by a support shaft mounted therein. Further, a shoulder-shaped contact portion 27b is formed at an intermediate portion of the rotating plate 27, and an elongated hole 27d is formed at a neck-shaped tip portion 27c extending toward the shoulder.

The interlocking plate 28 has a claw 28a formed on the near side which can be inserted into the elongated hole 21e of the box 21.
The portion "a" is bent in conformity with the thickness of the bottom surface 21a of the box portion 21, and a step wider than the elongated hole 21e is formed immediately behind the bent portion. As a result, the interlocking plate 28 has the claw 28a hooked into the elongated hole 21e, and the bottom surface 2
It becomes a state in which bidirectional rotation is possible within a certain range from above 1a.
In addition, the interlocking plate 28 has a cutout between the two claws 28a, and when the tip 27c of the rotating plate 27 is loosely inserted therein,
The contact portion 28b on the bottom side contacts the tip 27c of the rotating plate 27. Further, a smooth distal end portion 28c is formed behind the interlocking plate 28.

The medicine bag receiving plate 29 has a long hole 27d of the rotary plate 27.
The claw portion 29a that can be inserted into the front end portion 29b is formed on the near side, and the remaining tip portion 29b is formed so as to slightly rise, but remains flat from the intermediate portion 29c to the rear portion 29d. Unnecessary portions are cut off for weight reduction and the like, and mounting holes for a slide plate (not shown) are appropriately formed. Since the claw portion 29a is formed by bending so as to protrude downward, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is formed.
When the claw portion 29a is inserted into the elongated hole 27d, it is hooked there, and is supported by the rotating plate 27 in a state in which bidirectional rotation is possible within a certain range from above the rotating plate 27 around the claw portion 29a. As a result, the rotating plate 27 and the medicine bag receiving plate 29 are
The first movable plate and the second movable plate are connected by hooking the (second movable plate) on the rotating plate 27 (first movable plate).

The movable plates 27 to 29 are connected to the cassette 20
When they are installed inside, they are mounted on the bottom surface 21a of the box portion 21 in an overlapping manner. That is, the round hole 27 of the rotating plate 27
a, and a support shaft is inserted into the round hole 21c of the box portion 21. Then, the claw portion 28a of the interlocking plate 28 is inserted into the elongated hole 21e of the box portion 21. 29
a into the elongated hole 27d of the rotating plate 27. When the rotating plate 27 is rotated in this state, the contacting portion 28b is pushed by the contacting portion 27b of the rotating plate 27, and the interlocking plate 28 is also rotated. Further, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is moved simultaneously with the movement of the claw portion 29a along the long hole 27d of the rotating plate 27,
The rear part 29d is also pushed and moved by the tip part 28c of the interlocking plate 28.

At this time, the amount of movement of the claw portion 29a and the tip portion 29b is substantially equal to the amount of movement of the rear portion 29d. Thus, the positions of the round hole 27a, the contact portion 27b, the elongated hole 27d, the claw portion 28a, the contact portion 28b, the tip portion 28c, and the claw portion 29a are determined. Therefore, even if the rotating plate 27 rotates and moves, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 moves while maintaining a state substantially parallel to the bottom surface 21a of the box portion 21. Similarly, if the bottom surface 21a is set vertically, It moves in a vertical state (see FIGS. 6B to 6D). Thereby, the rotating plate 27
Is a first movable plate accommodated in the inner bottom of the cassette 20 together with the interlocking plate 28, and the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is supported by the first movable plate and can move in a substantially vertical state.
It is a movable plate.

Next, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 shown in FIG.
Is similar to the medicine bag receiving plate 29 of FIG. 6A described above as a basic shape before deformation, except that a portion of the rear portion 29d is bent upward, that is, to receive the medicine bag 1. . Then, the medicine bag 1 shown in FIG.
Is stored in the cassette 20 with the box portion 21 facing the front surface 22 side, and when the thick square bottom 1a is received by the tip portion 29b, the thin portion coming to the rear opening 23 side is also replaced by the rear portion 29d.
To sufficiently press the cover 25 side (see FIGS. 7C and 7D). Thereby, this medicine bag receiving plate 2
Numeral 9 is bent along the feeding direction of the medicine bag, and is supported by the rotating plate 27 and the interlocking plate 28 and can move while maintaining a partially vertical state and a partially fixed inclined state. It is a plate.

Finally, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 shows the basic shape before deformation.
It is the same as the medicine bag receiving plate 29 of FIG.
The difference is that the portion 9c is bent upward, that is, toward the side receiving the medicine bag 1, and the rear portion 29d is bent back in the opposite direction. When the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is used, the interlocking plate 28 is removed and the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is set so as to always ride on the rotary plate 27. Then, FIG.
The medicine bag 1 shown in FIG.
When it is stored in the cassette 20 on the second side, the thick horizontal gusset 1
When the portion b is received by the front end portion 29b, the middle thin portion is sufficiently pressed against the lid portion 25 by the protruding intermediate portion 29c, and the horizontal gusset 1b on the rear opening 23 side is lightly received by the rear portion 29d. (FIG. 8 (c),
(D)). Thereby, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is a second movable plate that is bent along the feeding direction of the medicine bag and moves along with the rotating plate 27.

The mode of use and operation of the medicine bag printing apparatus 30 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a single operation of the printer 10 used in the medicine bag printing device 30 will be described, and then, with respect to an overall operation of the medicine bag printing device 30, a situation where a plurality of printers 10 operate in parallel will be described.

First, with respect to the single printer 10, FIG.
(B) and (c) are diagrams showing the state of storage of the medicine bag in the cassette, and (d) and (e) are diagrams showing the state of attachment of the cassette to the main body. 6 (b) to 6 (d).
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation state. 7 (c) and 7 (d) are views showing an operation state of a movable plate suitable for a medicine bag having a square bottom, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a movable plate suitable for a medicine bag having a horizontal gusset. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation state of FIG.

The more cassettes 20 and medicine bag receiving plates 29 are convenient, the more they are convenient, but they are restricted from the viewpoints of manufacturing cost and storage cost. Hereinafter, using two cassettes 20 and three types of medicine bag receiving plates 29, a medicine bag 1 having a simple shape, a medicine bag 1 having a square bottom 1a, and a medicine bag 1 having a horizontal gusset 1b are provided.
The situation when performing the printing process will be described. The printer main body 10 is in an operable state and the cassette 2
It is assumed that print processing can be started at any time when 0 is attached.

Then, one cassette 20 has a cover 2
5 as well as the rotating plate 27 and the interlocking plate 2 shown in FIG.
8. The medicine bag receiving plate 29 is also attached and assembled for a simple shape medicine bag. Adjustment of the position of the slide plate and the like are performed as necessary. Then, the lid 25 is opened with the bottom surface 21a of the box 21 down, and the medicine bag 1 is loaded on the medicine bag receiving plate 29 from above (see FIG. 5B). At this time, the end of the medicine bag 1 that cannot be accommodated in the cassette 20 protrudes from the rear opening 23. Such an operation can be performed not only in the case where the cassette 20 is placed at an arbitrary place such as a work table, but also when the rear opening 2 is used.
Since the medicine bag 1 is inserted from a wide open portion of the lid 25 instead of inserting the medicine bag 1 from 3, the operation can be easily performed.

Then, the cover 25 is closed (FIG. 5C).
), Grasp the handle 24, lift the cassette 20 and carry it over the printer body 10, and the notch 25c
Confirm that the notch 21f is on the side of the pusher 14 on the side a, and insert the front surface 22 into the opening 13 (FIG. 5).
(D)). When the cassette 20 is firmly inserted into the printer main body 10, the switch 14a is operated, and accordingly, the pusher 14 enters the cassette 20 and the rotating plate 2 is turned on.
7 is urged toward the roller 15a (see FIG. 5E). Thus, preparation for supplying the medicine bag 1 having a simple shape from one cassette 20 to the printer main body 10 is completed.

The other cassette 20 has a cover 25
In addition to the above, the rotating plate 27 shown in FIG. 6A and the medicine bag receiving plate 29 shown in FIG. In this case, the position of the slide plate is adjusted as necessary. Then, the medicine bag 1 is stored in the cassette 20 in the same manner as described above. At that time, horizontal gusset 1b
Is placed on the front side 22 and the medicine bag 1 is attached to the medicine bag receiving plate 2.
9. Load on top. Then, the lid 25 is closed, and the cassette 20 is mounted in the remaining opening 13 of the printer main body 10 in the same manner as described above. Then, also with respect to the cassette 20, the switch 14a is operated, the pusher 14 enters, and the rotary plate 27 is urged toward the roller 15a. Thus, the preparation for supplying the medicine bag 1 with the horizontal gusset from the other cassette 20 to the printer main body 10 is prepared (see FIG. 4).

When the preparation is completed, the printing operation of the medicine bag printer is started by operating the operation panel 12 or the like or in accordance with an instruction from the main controller 35, and in accordance with the prescription information input to the controller 18, etc.
An appropriate medicine bag is selected. And a simple shape medicine bag 1
Is selected, the roller 15a corresponding to the cassette 20 accommodating it is rotated, and the desired medicine bag 1 is fed from the cassette 20 to the medicine bag feeding mechanism 15, and the patient is placed at the print head 17 at the print head 17. After the name and the name of the medicine are printed, the medicine is discharged from the medicine bag discharge port 16. When the medicine bag 1 with the horizontal gusset is selected, the other roller 15a is also used.
Is activated, and the desired medicine bag 1 is sent from the other cassette to the medicine bag feeding mechanism 15 by one bag, and printing and discharging are similarly performed. Then, every time the prescription information is input, such an operation is repeated, and desired medicine bags are supplied one after another,
The necessary printing is performed.

When a large number of medicine bags 1 stored in the cassette 20 are sent out to the printer main body 10 one by one in order, the number of medicine bags 1 stored in the cassette 20 decreases. In the case of the medicine bag 1 having a simple shape (see FIGS. 6B to 6D), when the number of the medicine bags 1 decreases and the thickness of the medicine bags 1 decreases, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is pressed by the reduced thickness. It is pushed by 14 and moves. that time,
The medicine bag receiving plate 29 moves toward the lid portion 25 with the bottom surface 21a and the cover portion 25 being substantially parallel to each other, so that the medicine bag 1 closest to the lid portion 25, that is, the medicine bag 1 immediately before supply is the other medicine bag 1
Irrespective of the number of sheets, the sheet is almost straight along the lid 25. Therefore, as for the medicine bag 1 having a simple shape, only the first bag is always reliably supplied.

In the case of a medicine bag 1 with a horizontal gusset (FIG. 8)
(C) and (d)), if the number of the medicine bags 1 decreases and the thickness of the medicine bag 1 decreases, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 moves in parallel.
May suddenly narrow and the medicine bag 1 may be pressed more strongly than necessary. However, since there is no interlocking plate 28, this is not the case, and the medicine bag receiving plate 29 also rotates with the rotation of the rotating plate 27. Therefore, the protruding portion such as the intermediate portion 29c moves only about half of the movement of the tip portion 29b pushing the horizontal gusset 1b. Therefore, also in this case, the lid 2
The medicine bag 1 closest to 5 is almost straight along the lid 25 regardless of the number of other medicine bags 1. Also, as for the medicine bag 1 with a horizontal gusset, only the first bag is always reliably supplied.

In this way, medicine bags are supplied one after another, and when any cassette 20 becomes empty, medicine bags need to be replenished. In this case, the empty cassette 20 is grasped by the handle 24, lifted up, removed from the opening 13 of the printer main body 10, carried to an appropriate workbench or the like, and replenished with a replenishing medicine bag in a comfortable position as described above. To store. then,
Also, as described above, the cassette is returned to the printer main body 10 and is remounted. In the meantime, the printer main body unit 10 receives the supply of the medicine bag from another cassette 20 as much as possible to continue the processing.

On the other hand, when a different kind of medicine bag is required instead of supplementing the medicine bag, for example, when it becomes necessary to supply a medicine bag with a square bottom, if there is a surplus cassette 20 The medicine bag receiving plate 29 and the medicine bag 1 shown in FIG.
It is convenient to replace the cassette with the cassette, but since there are only two cassettes 20, either
It will be used outside of 0. For example, the cassette 20 in which the simple medicine bag 1 is stored is removed. Then, the medicine bag 1 is removed therefrom, and the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is lifted up by slightly turning it. Then, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 that has only been hooked is easily removed. Then, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 shown in FIG. 7B suitable for the medicine bag 1 with the square bottom is held, and the claw portion 29a is attached to the rotating plate 27 remaining in the cassette 20.
Into the long hole 27d. Only this, this cassette 2
0 is changed from a simple shape medicine bag to a square bottom medicine bag.
0, and the cassette is mounted on the printer body 10 again as described above.

In this case as well (FIGS. 7C and 7D)
), The medicine bag 1 closest to the lid 25 is kept almost straight along the lid 25, and the medicine bag 1 with the square bottom 1a is provided.
Also, only the first bag is always supplied. In this way, not only the operation of refilling the medicine bag but also the operation of exchanging the medicine bag and the like are performed quickly and easily.

Next, a description will be given of the overall usage and operation of the medicine bag printing apparatus 30, such as the situation in which a plurality of printers 10 operate in parallel. FIG. 1A shows a state in which the printer 10 is pulled out when refilling or replacing the medicine bag 1. FIGS. 2B to 2D show that the medicine bag 1 discharged from the printer 10 is This shows a state where the medicine bag 1 on the transport belt 42 is temporarily waited by the transfer roller 44 to pass through.

Various kinds of medicine bags 1 having different shapes and sizes are set in each printer 10 mounted on the medicine bag printing device 30. At this time, the medicine bag 1 that is frequently used is set in a plurality of appropriate cassettes 20 and a plurality of printers 10 so as to be always supplied. As described above, the setting of these various medicine bags 1 is performed in units of the cassettes 20, but the work is performed from above with the corresponding printer 10 pulled out in front of the medicine bag printing device 30 and the upper part thereof being opened ( FIG. 1A). In this manner, the medicine bag replenishing operation can be easily performed on the printer 10 stored in the medicine bag printing device 30.

With the necessary medicine bags 1 set in the respective printers 10, when the printing information divided in units of prescriptions and the like is sequentially transmitted from the host computer 50 to the main controller 35, the printing information is Are connected to a queue 35a by the main controller 35. If print information exists in the queue 35a and one of the printers 10 is vacant and the medicine bag 1 of the printer 10 conforms to the print information, appropriate processing is performed by the processing of the preceding allocation routine 35b. Print information is retrieved from the queue 35a and sent to the appropriate printer 10. When the preceding allocation routine 35b transfers the transmitted print information to the discharge synchronization control routine 35c for notification, the preceding allocation routine 35b entrusts the subsequent processing for the print information to the discharge synchronization control routine 35c, and connects to the queue 35a. To the processing of the print information. The discharge synchronous control routine 35c that has received the notification activates all the transport rollers 41. In this way, in a state where the medicine bag 1 can be collected by the transport belt 42 at any time, the medicine bag printing command is issued as early as possible without waiting for the completion of the processing for the previous command.
It is sent to each printer 10.

In each of the printers 10 that have received the print command, the medicine bag 1 is printed as described above, and the medicine bag 1 is discharged from the medicine bag discharge port 16 by the medicine bag feeding mechanism 15. At this time (see FIG. 2B), when the medicine bag 1 being discharged is detected by the photosensor 45, the transfer roller 44 immediately below the medicine bag 1 is driven under the control of the discharge synchronization control routine 35c, and the medicine bag 1 is discharged. Is received by the transfer guide 43 and the transfer roller 44. When it is determined by the discharge synchronization control routine 35c that the medicine bag 1 is not mixed with another medicine bag even if the medicine bag 1 is carried out as it is, the medicine bag 1 is immediately transferred to the conveyance belt 42 as it is, and is conveyed. The sheet is conveyed toward the tray 2 by the belt.

On the other hand, when it is determined by the discharge synchronous control routine 35c that the medicine bag 1 is carried out as it is, it is mixed with the medicine bag 1 of another section located on the rear of the transport path, the medicine bag 1 is received. The rotation of the transfer roller 44 is temporarily stopped (see FIG. 2C). Then, by the discharge synchronization control routine 35c,
The bag 1 is held there until another section passes below the bag 1. Then, after the passage of another section is confirmed, the transfer roller 44 is driven again, and the medicine bag 1 is transferred to the transport belt 42,
The sheet is conveyed toward the tray 2 by the conveyance belt 42 (see FIG. 2).
(D)). In this way, even if the transport mechanisms 41 + 42 are not stopped, the plurality of printers 10 operate in parallel so that the medicine bags 1 of different categories are not mixed by appropriately holding the medicine bags 1 using the holding means 43 + 44.

In the meantime, any of the cassettes 2
When 0 becomes empty, the medicine bag needs to be refilled. In this case, the cassette replacement operation or the like is performed for the corresponding printer 10 by pulling it out of the medicine bag printing device 30 as described above. Even if 10 is pulled out, the transport belt 42 and the like at the corresponding location remain in the housing 31 and operate, and all the transport functions are still maintained.

In this case, the control processing by the preceding allocation routine 35b and the discharge synchronization control routine 35c is also performed by the other printers 10 except for the printer 10 from which it is pulled out.
Will be continued. Then, while the other printers 10 operate in parallel, the medicine bags 1 printed by them are made to stand by if necessary by the holding means, carried out from the carry-out port 34 to the tray 2 by the carrying mechanism, and
The medicine bags 1 of different categories are appropriately collected so as not to be mixed. Thus, regardless of whether any of the printers 10 is pulled out, the parallel processing is continued as much as possible, so that the printing process and the collection process of the medicine bag 1 can be efficiently performed.

[0074]

Second Embodiment A medicine bag printer whose vertical sectional view is shown in FIG. 9A is different from the printer of the first embodiment in that the cassette 20 is set in a state where the cassette 20 is inclined with respect to the main body 10. Are different. Note that FIG. 9A illustrates the above-described FIG.
This corresponds to (b). Both cassettes 20 are inclined such that the upper ends of both cassettes 20 are separated to both sides, and accordingly, in order to maintain the state, the opening 13 and the pusher 14 for each cassette 20 are also provided. It is provided at a position shifted by an amount corresponding to the inclination of the cassette 20, and is formed in a suitable shape.

However, the degree of the inclination is suppressed so that the longest distance W1 between both cassettes does not exceed the width W of the housing 11. Further, the medicine bag printing device shown in FIG.
A total of four units are arranged vertically and horizontally, two units on the left and right and two units on the upper and lower sides.
It is attached to a vertical frame. Note that FIG.
(B) corresponds to FIG. 1 (b) described above.

In this case, since the cassette 20 is inclined, the replacement of the cassette 20 can be easily performed even when the printer main body 10 is installed at a high place such as the upper stage. Further, since the cassette 20 is accommodated in the width of the housing 11, the plurality of printers 10 can be densely installed when the printers 10 are stored in the housing 31 or the like. The cassette 20
May be different on the left and right, and only one of the cassettes 20 may be inclined.

[0077]

[Modification] In the above embodiment, the printer 10 has four printers.
Although the case where only the printers are mounted is shown, the number of mounted printers 10 is not limited to this, and may be two, three, or five or more. Also, it is not limited to the upper and lower two stages,
Three or more stages may be used. The same applies to the numbers arranged on the left and right. The same applies to the cassette 20 mounted on the printer 10. In the above embodiment, two cassettes 2
0 is shown, the number of cassettes 20 to be mounted is not limited to this, and only one or three
The number may be more than one. The number of cassettes 20 to be installed may be different for each printer 10.

In the above embodiment, the connection between the main controller 35 and the controller 18, the motor 44a, etc. is made individually. However, if independent control is possible, the connection wiring itself does not need to be independent. As long as the constraints such as cost can be cleared, common connection may be performed by Ethernet or the like. Further, the tray 2 for receiving the unloaded medicine bag 1
Although the case of only one is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and an elevator unit that stores and moves up and down a number of trays 2 and a sorter unit that includes a plurality of shelves for receiving medicine bags 1 instead of the trays 2 are additionally provided. Good to do.

Further, the transport mechanism is not limited to the belt conveyor, and it is possible to use a bucket or an arm for a part or the whole, and it may be configured by combining a chute or the like. Further, the transport mechanism is not limited to the configuration in which the horizontal ones merge through the interposition of the vertical ones, but may be configured so that the vertical ones merge through the horizontal ones.

Although the holding means is shown as a combination of the transfer guide 43 and the transfer roller 44, this is merely an example. For example, a combination of a drive roller and a driven roller, If natural fall is possible, it may be embodied by means of a combination of movable plates that temporarily block the fall by opening and closing, etc., and a means for sucking and holding the non-printing surface of the medicine bag 1 using a blower or the like. good.

In the above-described embodiment, the medicine bag feeding mechanism 15 in the printer 10 is an example using a roller.
The present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured using a belt, an arm, or the like as long as it can transport and transfer the medicine bag. Further, the controller 18 is not limited to the built-in one, and may be externally provided and may be shared with other devices. vice versa,
The main controller 35 is not limited to an external device,
It may be built in.

In the above-described embodiment, the medicine bag receiving plate 29 shown in FIG. 7B is moved in parallel while maintaining the vertical state. However, the length of the distal end portion 28c of the interlocking plate 28 may be slightly reduced. The medicine bag receiving plate 29 is deformed, and the rear portion 29d is formed.
May move to a position smaller than the amount of movement of the claw portion 29a. The slide plate is attached to the medicine bag receiving plate 29, but may be attached to the rotary plate 27 as long as the movement of the medicine bag receiving plate 29 is not hindered, and the movement of the movable plates 27 to 29 is hindered. If not, it may be attached to the box 21. The slide plate may not be provided depending on the size of the medicine bag 1 or the like.

[0083]

As is apparent from the above description, in the medicine bag making apparatus of the present invention, the medicine bags are individually held from the time they are printed until they are collected. There is an advantageous effect that the situation of waiting for collection can be reduced and the throughput of the medicine bag processing can be improved even if the transport mechanism is simple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of a medicine bag printing device as a first embodiment of a medicine bag making device of the present invention,
(B) is a schematic longitudinal section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view around the holding means.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram related to the control means.

FIG. 4 shows (a) a printer used for the printer;
Is an external perspective view, and (b) is a schematic longitudinal sectional view.

5A is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a cassette used in the printer, and FIGS. 5B and 5C are diagrams showing a storage state of a medicine bag in the cassette.
(D) and (e) are the figures which show the attachment situation of a cassette to a main-body part.

6A is a perspective view of a movable plate mounted in the cassette, and FIGS. 6B to 6D are diagrams illustrating operating states of the movable plate.

FIG. 7A is an external view of a medicine bag having a square bottom,
(B) is a perspective view of a movable plate suitable for such a medicine bag,
(C) and (d) are diagrams showing the operation state.

8A is an external view of a medicine bag having a horizontal gusset, FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a movable plate suitable for such a medicine bag, and FIGS. 8C and 8D are operating states thereof. FIG.

9A and 9B are schematic vertical cross-sectional views of a printer, and FIG. 9B is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the entirety of a medicine bag printing apparatus as a second embodiment of the medicine bag making apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medicine bag 1a Square bottom 1b Horizontal gusset 2 Tray (medicine bag receiver, stocker container, medicine bag receiving box) 10 Printer (main part of medicine bag supply device) 11 Housing 12 Operation panel 13 Opening (corresponding portion to detachable portion) 14 Push Tool (advancing / retracting member, driving mechanism) 14a Switch (cassette detecting means) 15 Medicine bag feeding mechanism (driving mechanism) 15a Roller (delivery member) 15b Guide (guide member) 15c Roller (feeding member) 15d Platen (buffer member) 15e Guide (Guiding member) 15f Roller (discharge member) 16 Medicine bag discharge port 17 Print head (Medical bag printing means) 17a Print driver (Medical bag printing means) 18 Controller (Controller of printer) 20 Cassette (Cassette of medicine bag supply device) 21 Box part (Medical bag storage box body) 21a bottom surface 21b round hole (shaft support) 21c round hole (shaft support) 21 d Right side (side) 21e Slot (hook) 21f Notch (pressing tool entrance) 21g Left (side) 22 Front (side, attachment / detachment) 23 Rear opening (open side, facing side) 24 Handle 25 Lid ( Storage medicine bag covering part) 25a Round hole (shaft supporting part) 25b Overhang part (handle corresponding part) 25c Notch (delivery member entrance) 27 Rotating plate (first movable plate) 27a Round hole (rotating center, shaft supporting part) 27b Part 27c Tip part (movable part) 27d Slotted hole (hook part) 28 Interlocking plate (first movable plate) 28a Claw part (hook part) 28b Intersection part 28c Tip part (contact part, movable part) 29 Medicine bag receiver Plate (second movable plate) 29a Claw part (hook part) 29b Tip part (medicine bag pushing part) 29c Intermediate part 29d Back part 30 Medicine bag printing device (medicine bag making device) 31 Housing 32 Shelf plate 33 Slide rail (Drawing member) ) 34 Exit 35 May Controller (control device) 35a Queue (FIFO of medicine bag print information) 35b Advance allocation routine 35c Discharge synchronization control routine 41 Transport roller (transport belt drive unit, transport mechanism) 41a Motor (transport roller drive unit) 42 Transport belt (endless) Strip, medicine bag transfer tool, transfer mechanism 43 Transfer guide (standby means, holding means, transfer mechanism) 44 Transfer roller (standby means, hold means, transfer mechanism) 44a Motor (transfer roller drive section) 45 Photosensor (Detector for discharged medicine bag) 50 Host computer (Processing device for prescription information)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A medicine bag making apparatus, comprising: a plurality of printers; and a transport mechanism extending over an installation range of the printers, wherein the transport mechanism collects the medicine bags printed by the plurality of printers. A medicine bag making apparatus, comprising a plurality of holding means provided between the transport mechanism and each of the printers, each holding means for temporarily holding the medicine bag.