JP2009153634A - Cassette arrangement guiding mechanism and cassette arrangement guiding method for medicine preparing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cassette arrangement guiding mechanism and a cassette arrangement guiding method which facilitate a quick access to a tablet cassette from which tablet sheets are used up frequently and facilitate a supplementation of tablet sheets even when a tablet cassette with a width dimension that matches with the sheet width of a tablet sheet is used. <P>SOLUTION: A medicine preparing apparatus 1 has a cassette shelf on which a plurality of tablet cassettes 500, 500, and so on each having a cassette width that matches with a width dimension of a PTP tablet sheet are arranged in the width direction. LEDs 650 for guiding relocation of each tablet cassette in accordance with its use frequency are arranged, as the cassette arrangement guiding mechanism, at regular intervals on a push plate so that the LEDs corresponds to respective tablet cassettes arranged on a shelf plate of the cassette shelf. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cassette arrangement guide mechanism and a cassette arrangement guide method for a dispensing device, and in particular, the tablet of a dispensing device that automatically dispenses a packaged tablet called a PTP (press-through package) tablet sheet into a tablet cassette. It is suitable for a mechanism and a method for guiding the arrangement of the cassette.

  Traditionally, pharmacists perform dispensing work in pharmacies such as hospitals according to doctors' prescriptions, but in general hospitals where medical fields are wide, there are many types of tablets that can be taken out at all times, and storage locations are limited. Not only was it necessary, but the work of dispensing based on prescriptions was very mentally and physically burdensome.

  Therefore, a dispensing device has been developed that automatically dispenses a predetermined number of predetermined tablets including a fraction of a PTP tablet sheet based on a preset program (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The PTP tablet sheet is a packaging form in which the tablet is taken out by breaking the bottom aluminum sheet part by pressing the tablet side. Generally, 10 or more tablets are made into one sheet. Supplied.

The tablet cassette capable of stacking a plurality of PTP tablet sheets has the same cassette width regardless of the width dimension of the PTP tablet sheet, and each is mounted at a fixed position on the cassette shelf. And the loading amount of the PTP tablet sheet in each tablet cassette is grasped on the control device side, and the tablet cassettes in which the loading amount of the PTP tablet sheet is in a shortage state are collectively displayed on the control device side. It was like that.
JP-A-4-269960 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-052233

  By the way, with the increasing tendency of the kind of chemical | medical agent in recent years, the width dimension of the PTP tablet sheet containing the chemical | medical agent has increased frequently. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a tablet cassette having a cassette width corresponding to the width dimension of the PTP tablet sheet. In this case, the tablet cassettes mounted on the cassette shelf are frequently exchanged or rearranged. For this reason, the position of the tablet cassette on the cassette shelf is not fixed.

  In the above prior art, the loading amount of the PTP tablet sheets in each tablet cassette is grasped on the control device side, and the tablet cassettes in which the loading amount of the PTP tablet sheets is insufficient are collectively placed on the control device side. Although it is displayed, there is no indication on the tablet cassette side. Therefore, as described above, if the position of the tablet cassette on the cassette shelf is not fixed, the replenishment of the PTP tablet sheet to the specific tablet cassette is performed. For this reason, there is a possibility that the access for the preparation becomes difficult and the dispensing work is hindered.

  For this reason, even when the applicant uses a tablet cassette having a width according to the sheet width of the PTP tablet sheet, the applicant can replenish the PTP tablet sheet in the tablet cassette in which the PTP tablet sheet disappears. Filed an invention relating to a medicine accommodation state display mechanism of a dispensing device that facilitates quick access (Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-285531).

  However, even in this prior application, a tablet that is frequently used requires frequent access to the tablet cassette in order to replenish the PTP tablet sheet in the tablet cassette. Therefore, even if the position of the tablet cassette is known, frequent access to the tablet cassette may become troublesome depending on the arrangement of the tablet cassette on the cassette shelf, and there is room for further improvement.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even when a tablet cassette having a width dimension corresponding to the sheet width of the tablet sheet is used, the tablet cassette in which the tablet sheet frequently disappears is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette arrangement guide mechanism and a cassette arrangement guide method for a dispensing device that facilitates quick access for replenishing tablet sheets.

  A first invention is a cassette arrangement guide mechanism for a dispensing apparatus having a cassette shelf capable of arranging a plurality of cassettes each having a cassette width corresponding to a width dimension of a medicine in the width direction, and having a predetermined prescription Counting means for counting the usage frequency for each cassette according to data, a memory for storing the usage frequency for each cassette counted by the counting means, and the usage frequency for each cassette stored in the memory in advance. Sorting means for sorting the set arrangement of each cassette at a predetermined timing, and guide means for guiding the rearrangement of each cassette so as to be the arrangement of each cassette sorted by the sorting means It is characterized by. The drug includes ampoules and the like in addition to tablets and PTP tablet sheets (tablet sheets).

  According to the first invention, the usage frequency for each cassette is counted according to predetermined prescription data, the usage frequency for each counted cassette is stored in the memory, and the usage frequency for each cassette stored in this memory is stored. Accordingly, the preset arrangement of the cassettes is sorted at a predetermined timing, and the rearrangement of the cassettes is guided so as to be the arrangement of the sorted cassettes. The cassettes can be rearranged so that the user can easily fill them in order from the medicine (for example, up and down from the shelf at the eye level). And even if it is a case where the tablet cassette which has the width dimension according to the sheet width of a tablet sheet is used by performing such a rearrangement of the cassette, the tablet sheet to the tablet cassette where the tablet sheet frequently disappears Quick access for replenishment becomes easier.

  Preferably, the counting means increments the usage frequency of the cassette every time the medicine filled in the cassette is taken out in accordance with predetermined prescription data.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, since the counting means increments the usage frequency of the cassette every time the medicine filled in the cassette is taken out according to the predetermined prescription data, the usage frequency for each cassette is ensured. Can be requested.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the sorting means arranges a cassette having a relatively high use frequency at a specific location on the cassette shelf, and places a cassette having a relatively low use frequency on a peripheral portion of the specific location on the cassette shelf. It is preferable to sort the arrangement of the cassettes so that they are arranged in the same manner.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the sorting means arranges a cassette having a relatively high use frequency at a specific location on the cassette shelf, and places a cassette having a relatively low use frequency on a peripheral portion of the specific location on the cassette shelf. Since the arrangement of the cassettes is sorted so as to be arranged in the order, the cassettes can be rearranged so that the user can easily fill them in order from the most frequently used medicine.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided detection means for detecting a remaining amount of medicine filled in each cassette according to the predetermined prescription data, and the predetermined timing is filled in the predetermined cassette. It is preferable that the remaining amount of the applied medicine is equal to or less than a threshold value.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided detection means for detecting the remaining amount of medicine filled in each cassette according to the predetermined prescription data, and the predetermined timing is filled in the predetermined cassette. Since the time when the remaining amount of the applied medicine is equal to or less than the threshold value, the time for exchanging the cassette can be matched with that when the medicine is replenished, and the effort can be reduced as much as possible.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the guide means includes a display unit that displays the cassette shelf so that the cassettes can be distinguished from each other at positions corresponding to the positions before and after the rearrangement of the cassettes. It is preferable.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the guide means includes a display unit that displays the cassettes so that they can be distinguished from each other at positions corresponding to the positions before and after the rearrangement of the cassettes. Therefore, the display on the cassette side is made. Therefore, even when a tablet cassette having a width dimension corresponding to the sheet width of the tablet sheet is used, quick access to the tablet cassette is facilitated, and replacement work can be speeded up.

  By the way, when there are a plurality of cassette shelves, dispensing facilities such as a chucking unit and a cutting unit are provided for each cassette shelf. Therefore, as in the invention described in claim 6, there are a plurality of cassette shelves, and based on the predetermined prescription data, a second detection means for detecting a plurality of cassettes that can be used simultaneously, and the second detection It is preferable to further provide second sorting means for sorting the preset arrangement of the cassettes at a predetermined timing so that the plurality of cassettes detected by the means are arranged on different cassette shelves.

  According to the invention of claim 6, there are a plurality of the cassette shelves, and based on the predetermined prescription data, the second detection means for detecting a plurality of cassettes that can be used simultaneously, and the second detection means Since a plurality of detected cassettes are arranged in different cassette shelves, the second sorting means for sorting the preset cassette arrangements at a predetermined timing is further provided. The dispenser can be used at the same time, and the dispense time is greatly reduced.

  A second invention is a cassette arrangement guide method for a dispensing device provided with a cassette shelf capable of arranging a plurality of cassettes each having a cassette width corresponding to the width dimension of the medicine in the width direction, and having a predetermined prescription The usage frequency for each cassette is counted in accordance with the data, the usage frequency for each counted cassette is stored in the memory, and the preset frequency of each cassette is stored in accordance with the usage frequency for each cassette stored in the memory. The arrangement is sorted at a predetermined timing, and the rearrangement of the cassettes is guided so as to be the arrangement of the sorted cassettes.

  According to 2nd invention, there exists an effect similar to said 1st invention.

  According to the first and second inventions, the usage frequency for each cassette is counted according to the predetermined prescription data, the usage frequency for each counted cassette is stored in the memory, and each cassette stored in this memory is stored. Depending on the frequency of use, the preset arrangement of each cassette is sorted at a predetermined timing, and the rearrangement of each cassette is guided so as to be the arrangement of each sorted cassette. The cassettes can be rearranged so that they are placed in a position where the user can easily fill them in order from the highest frequency (for example, up and down from the shelf at the eye level). And even if it is a case where the tablet cassette which has the width dimension according to the sheet width of a tablet sheet is used by performing such a rearrangement of the cassette, the tablet sheet to the tablet cassette where the tablet sheet frequently disappears Quick access for replenishment becomes easier.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing main components of a dispensing device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing device 1 includes two Y carriages 200 and 200 provided on the left and right sides of the box-shaped device main body 100, and X carriages supported by the Y carriages 200 and 200, respectively. 300, 300, two chucking units 400, 400 supported by these X carriages 300, 300, and two on the front left and right sides of the apparatus main body 100, and a plurality of tablet cassettes 500, 500,. Cassette shelves 600, 600 that can be mounted side by side in the left-right direction, cutting units 700, 700 disposed below these cassette shelves 600, 600, and both cassette shelves below the left and right cassette shelves 600, 600. 600 and 600, and a single transfer conveyor unit 800 disposed between the left and right ends. .

  Hereinafter, representative components of a plurality of components will be described.

  The Y carriage 200 includes a servo motor 210, a ball screw 220 in the vertical axis direction (Y direction in FIG. 1) driven by the servo motor 210, vertical guides 230 and 230 respectively disposed on the left and right of the ball screw 220, The X carriage 300 includes a carriage main body 310 that moves up and down together with the nut 240 by the rotation of the ball screw 220 while being guided by the vertical guides 230 and 230, and the carriage main body. On 310, a servo motor 410, a ball screw 415 in the horizontal axis direction (X direction in FIG. 1) driven by the servo motor 410, and a nut (not shown) are provided.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tablet cassette 500 as viewed from the side facing the chucking unit 400, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a state before sheet cueing, and FIG. 4 is a side cross section showing a state during sheet cueing. is there. In the following, the side of the tablet cassette 500 that faces the chucking unit 400 is referred to as the front, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear.

  The tablet cassette 500 in the first embodiment is formed to be slightly wider than various PTP tablet sheets (corresponding to tablet sheets) 900 to be stacked. Accordingly, a plurality of tablet cassettes 500 having different width dimensions are prepared according to the widths of various PTP tablet sheets 900. As shown in FIG. 2, the specific configuration thereof includes a long cassette base 510 having a concave cross section and a cassette body 520 that is detachably fitted from the longitudinal direction of the cassette base 510. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, projections 512 and 512 having L-shapes in a side view are formed in the front and rear (and left and right), respectively, on the back side of the bottom plate 511 of the cassette base 510, and the rear end of the bottom plate 511 is A tongue piece 513 that is bent upward and has elasticity is formed. A support member 514 having a reverse concave shape in cross section is formed on the surface side of the rear portion of the bottom plate 511, and two left and right tongue pieces 515 and 515 that are cantilevered by the support member 514 are respectively formed so as to descend toward the front portion. Has been.
As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 514 and the tongue pieces 515 and 515 are both disposed in the left and right side walls 516 and 517 of the cassette base 510, and the tongue pieces 515 and 515 serve as PTP tablet sheets. A fraction of 900, 900,... Is chucked. However, the number of the strips 515 is not limited to two but may be one or three or more.

  The cassette main body 520 further includes a main body upper part 530 on which a plurality of PTP tablet sheets 900, 900,... Can be stacked, and a main body lower part 540 attached integrally to the lower part of the main body upper part 530. .

  The main body lower part 540 is disposed so as to be buried in the left and right side walls 516 and 517 of the cassette base 510 in an assembled state with the cassette base 510 of the cassette main body 520. As shown, a link mechanism (not shown) for sequentially taking out the PTP tablet sheets 900 stacked at the bottom of the upper portion 530 of the main body is provided on a bottom plate 541 having a long shape with a concave cross section.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main body upper part 530 is embedded in the left and right side walls 516 and 517 of the cassette base 510 from the rear part to the intermediate part in the assembled state of the cassette main body 520 to the cassette base 510, It is L-shaped in side view and is projected from the left and right side walls 516 and 517 of the cassette base 510 from the front to the front, and the projected front wall 531 is bent inward at the front end. Are arranged opposite to each other through a predetermined gap. The upper ends of the front wall 531 are connected to each other by a reinforcing plate 532.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a light reflecting portion 535 for detecting the cassette position is formed at the center of the cassette width on the front surface of the main body upper portion 530. Then, the optical sensor 432 mounted on the chucking unit 400 can read the vertical and horizontal cassette center position data s1, s2,. The arrangement of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Indicated by the read cassette center position data s1, s2,... Is stored in the storage unit 401 of the controller 400a described later (FIG. 9). reference).

  A rod-like member 533 is erected on the rear part of the upper body 530 so as to be able to rise and fall. When the PTP tablet sheets 900 are filled, the PTP tablet sheets 900, 900 are placed between the front walls 531. In this state, the PTP tablet sheets 900, 900,... Are aligned by raising the rod-like member 533.

  5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tablet cassette 500 is not mounted and fixed on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the fixed state, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state where the tablet cassette 500 is not fixed on the plate 602, and FIG. 8 is a side view showing the fixed state. 5 and 6, for convenience of explanation, only the left side of the shelf frame 601 of the cassette shelf 600 is displayed, and the right side is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the cassette shelf 600 has a shelf plate 602 obtained by bending a long rectangular flat plate slightly downward on each side, and a front portion of the shelf plate 602, and its full width in the left-right direction. And a long pressing plate 604 at the rear part of the shelf plate 602 and extending over the entire width in the left-right direction. As will be described in detail later, the push plate 604 includes an LED 650 as a display unit. With such an arrangement, when access to the push plate 604 is secured, access to the LED 650 is secured at the same time, which is convenient.

  As a means for fixing each tablet cassette 500, 500,... At a desired position in the width direction, each tablet cassette 500, 500,. Are provided with protrusions 512 formed on the front part of the bottom plate 511 and tongue pieces 153 formed on the rear part of the bottom plate 511 of each tablet cassette 500, 500,. A pressing plate 604 is provided to clamp the protrusion 512 and the tongue piece 513 from the front-rear direction while the protrusion 512 is in contact with the protrusion 603. Accordingly, even when tablet cassettes 500 having different width dimensions are used together, the front side of the bottom plate 511 of the tablet cassette 500 can be reliably held on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600. The protrusion 512 provided on the rear side of the bottom plate 511 of the tablet cassette 500 is a support member that supports the tablet cassette 500 so that the tablet cassette 500 does not tilt on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600 together with the protrusion 512 provided on the front side. It functions.

  The side corresponding to the tongue piece 513 of the pressing plate 604 is provided in a butterfly manner at the rear end of the shelf 602 of the cassette shelf 600, and the pressing plate 604 is in elastic contact with the tongue piece 513. The left and right ends of the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600 are provided with a holding mechanism that is held by shelf frames 601 that are arranged facing both end surfaces of the shelf plate 602.

  That is, a hole 605 having a predetermined shape is formed in the shelf frame 601, and the holding mechanism is elastically biased so as to maintain the holding state in at least one of the left and right ends, so that the hole 605 of the shelf frame 601 An insertable claw portion 606 is provided, and when the claw portion 606 is pressed against the elastic biasing force, the claw portion 606 is released from the hole portion 605 of the shelf frame 601 to release the holding state. Is configured to do.

  As a result, even when a tablet cassette 500 having a width substantially the same as the width of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is used, the tablet cassette 500 is sandwiched between the front side and the rear side of the bottom plate 511 of the tablet cassette 500 and the cassette cassette 600 is Since it can be securely fixed on the plate 602, as shown in FIG. 1, it is adjacent to the cassette shelf 600 without a gap so that the maximum tablet cassette 500 can be mounted.

  In addition, a hole 605 having a predetermined shape is formed in the shelf frame 601, and the holding mechanism is provided with a claw portion 606 that can protrude and retract from at least one of the left and right ends of the pressing plate 604. While the nail portion 606 is elastically biased and inserted into the hole portion 605 of the shelf frame 601 while being raised and in contact with the tongue piece 513, the nail portion is maintained. When 606 is pressed against the elastic urging force and the claw 606 is detached from the hole 605 of the shelf frame 601, the push plate 604 is fallen down and separated from the tongue piece 513. Since the holding state is released, the backlash of the tablet cassette 500 when the bottom plate 511 of the tablet cassette 500 is fixed on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600 is extremely small. Thus, the tablet cassette 500 can be more reliably fixed on the shelf 602 of the cassette shelf 600 and can be more easily released from the shelf 602 of the cassette shelf 600. .

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a mechanism for displaying a shortage state of PTP tablet sheets in each of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Mounted on the upper and lower stages of the cassette shelf 600, respectively. In FIG. 9, the black circle is the LED 650 in the on state, and the white circle is the LED 650 in the off state.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, tablet cassettes 500 (501, 502, 503) having different width dimensions are mounted on the upper shelf 602 of the cassette shelf 600, and the lower shelf It is assumed that tablet cassettes 500 (504, 505, 506) having different width dimensions are mounted on the plate 602. In addition, a plurality of LEDs 650 (L 1, L 2,...) Are provided on the rear portion of the push plate 604, which is attached to the rear end of the upper shelf plate 602 so as to be able to stand upright. A plurality of LEDs 650 (L21, L22,...) Are provided on the rear portion of the push plate 604 that is attached to the rear end of the shelf plate 602 so as to be able to stand upright. These LEDs 650 are mounted at an equal pitch, and the pitch is set to be smaller than the width dimension of the narrowest tablet cassette 502 on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600. The timing of turning on or off the LEDs 650 is controlled by the controller 400a and the control device 400b electrically connected to the controller 400a.

  Specifically, the extraction amount of the PTP tablet sheet 900 from each tablet cassette 500 from predetermined drug information (corresponding to prescription data) stored in advance in a predetermined storage area of the main memory of the control device 400b. The drug information is updated by sequentially subtracting. When the stacked amount of PTP tablet sheets 900 in any of the tablet cassettes 500 included in the updated drug information becomes zero, the drug shortage information s0 indicating that the tablet cassette 500 is in a drug shortage state. Is input to the controller 400a (this is a function as detection means). Further, the frequency of use for each tablet cassette 500 is calculated by incrementing the number of extractions of the PTP tablet sheet 900 from each tablet cassette 500 (a function as a counting means). The frequency of use for each tablet cassette 500 is stored in another storage area (corresponding to a memory) of the main memory of the control device 400b.

  The controller 400a has center position data of each tablet cassette 500 (501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506) (a value half the cassette width of the tablet cassette) s1, s2, s3, s4, s5. The storage unit 401 that stores s6, and the LED 650 to be lit based on the center position data s1, s2, s3, s4, s5, and s6 stored in the storage unit 401 and the drug shortage information s0 are selected. A data processing unit 402 and an output unit 403 that outputs lighting signals s10 and s20 for lighting the LED 650 selected by the data processing unit 402 are provided. The storage unit 401 may be provided outside the controller 400a or on the control device 400b side.

  The data processing unit 402 receives the drug shortage information s0, and the central position data s1 of the tablet cassette 501 stored in the storage unit 401 is stored as the position information of the tablet cassette 501 included in the drug shortage information s0. Read. Then, the data processing unit 402 selects L3 that is the LED 650 at a distance corresponding to the center position data s1.

  Further, the data processing unit 402 receives the drug shortage information s0, and the center position data s2 of the tablet cassette 502 stored in the storage unit 401 is stored as the position information of the tablet cassette 502 included in the drug shortage information s0. Read. Then, the data processing unit 402 selects L6 which is the LED 650 at the total distance by adding the distance corresponding to the center position data s2 to the distance twice the distance corresponding to the center position data s1. .

  Further, the data processing unit 402 receives the drug shortage information s0, and the central position data s3 of the tablet cassette 503 stored in the storage unit 401 is stored as the position information of the tablet cassette 500 included in the drug shortage information s0. Read. Then, the data processing unit 402 sets a distance corresponding to the center position data s3 to a distance twice the distance corresponding to the center position data s1, a distance corresponding to the distance corresponding to the center position data s2, and a distance corresponding to the center position data s3. By adding, L10 which is LED650 in the total distance is selected.

  As described above, the center position data s1, s2,... Of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Is stored on each of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,. .., The position of the LED 650 can be indicated only by the center position data s1, s2,..., And the apparatus can be simplified by reducing the amount of data handled. be able to.

  The output unit 403 outputs a lighting signal s10 for lighting the L3, L6, and L10 that are the LEDs 650 selected by the data processing unit 402.

  In FIG. 9, it is assumed that L3 of the LEDs 650 is lit in green. Thereby, the tablet cassette 500 which needs replenishment can be known easily. The LED 650 once turned on is turned off by pressing a reset button (not shown).

  When the drug shortage information s0 is input (predetermined timing), the data processing unit 402 stores each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Stored in another storage area of the main memory of the control device 400b. The arrangement of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Is sorted according to the frequency of use (this is a function as sorting means), and the arrangement of the sorted tablet cassettes 500, 500,. In this way, the rearrangement of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Is guided (function as a guiding means).

  Here, when the tablet cassette 500 having the highest use frequency is in the upper part of the cassette shelf 500 that is difficult for the user to access, and when the drug shortage information s0 is output, the user accesses the tablet cassette 500. The tablet cassette 500, which is the most frequently used portion, is arranged in the lower part of the cassette shelf 600 (corresponding to a specific part), and the tablet cassette 500 having the lowest use frequency is arranged in the upper part of the cassette shelf 600 (corresponding to the peripheral part of the specific part). As described above, only the arrangement of both tablet cassettes 500 and 500 is exchanged.

  Then, the LED 650 to be lit is selected based on the arrangement data before and after the sorting of each tablet cassette 500 indicated by any of the center position data s1, s2, s3, s4, s5, s6 stored in the storage unit 401.

This time, as shown in FIG. 9, the output unit 403 outputs lighting signals s10 and s20 for lighting the LEDs L3 and L26 selected by the data processing unit 402 in orange. For the tablet cassette 501 with the highest usage frequency, this L3 indicates the cassette position before sorting, and L26 indicates the cassette position after the sorting, while for the tablet cassette 505 with the lowest usage frequency, this is completely the same. Vice versa. The LED 650 once turned on is turned off by pressing a reset button (not shown).
Then, the user exchanges cassettes, but the cassette width of the tablet cassette 501 and the cassette width of the tablet cassette 505 may be different. In such a case, the new tablet center position data is set by moving the tablet cassette after replacement to the right side together with other tablet cassettes on the cassette shelf.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the chucking unit 400 includes a Z carriage 411 extending forward (Z direction in FIG. 1) from the carriage body 310, a rotary solenoid 420 disposed on the Z carriage 411, and the rotary solenoid 420. Chuck 430 driven by the horizontal axis, horizontal guides 440 and 440 respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the chuck 430, a primary bucket 450 provided at a lower portion between the horizontal guides 440 and 440, and a front portion of the primary bucket 450 A line sensor 460 provided and a secondary bucket 480 with a shutter 470 provided below the primary bucket 450 are provided. The Z carriage 411 is composed of a servo motor (not shown), a ball screw, and a nut.

  If it is not necessary to punch the fraction of the PTP tablet sheet 900, the chuck 430 of the chucking unit 400 moves forward in response to an operation command from a controller (not shown), and the chuck 430 directly uses the tablet cassette. By pressing the pressing member 543 of 500, the pushing member (not shown) is moved forward by the function of the link mechanism.

  By pressing the rear end of the PTP tablet sheet 900 loaded on the lowermost side of the tablet cassette 500 with the moved extruding member, the front end of the PTP tablet sheet 900 slightly protrudes from the tablet cassette 500. From the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. 4, so-called cueing is performed. The chucked PTP tablet sheet 900 is chucked by the chuck 430 and pulled forward, and the chucking by the chuck 430 is released to drop the pulled PTP tablet sheet 900 into the primary bucket 450. The primary bucket 450 is moved onto the secondary bucket 480 using the X carriage 300 and the Y carriage 200. Then, a bottom shutter (not shown) of the primary bucket 450 is opened, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 is dropped into the secondary bucket 480. Next, the bottom shutter 470 of the secondary bucket 480 is opened, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 is dropped onto the transport conveyor unit 800.

  The cutting unit 700 includes a vertical blade and a horizontal blade (not shown) for punching out the fraction of the PTP tablet sheet 900. Even when it is necessary to punch out the PTP tablet sheet 900, as described above, the pressing member 543 of the tablet cassette 500 is pressed by the chuck 430 of the chucking unit 400, and the link mechanism (not shown) is used. The pushing member is moved forward.

  By pressing the rear end of the PTP tablet sheet 900 loaded on the lowermost side of the tablet cassette 500 with the moved extruding member, the PTP tablet sheet 900 is cued. The chucked PTP tablet sheet 900 is chucked by the chuck 430 and pulled forward, and this time, the pulled PTP tablet sheet 900 is transported to the cutting unit 700 while being chucked. Then, the PTP tablet sheet 900 is punched by using the vertical blade and the horizontal blade, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 corresponding to the punched fraction is dropped directly onto the transport conveyor unit 800.

  The remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 that has been punched out is returned to the original tablet cassette 500 while being chucked by the chuck 430. In this case, the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is the tongue of the cassette base 510. It is inserted and stored in the remaining storage section 515a below the pieces 515, 515 in a cueing state.

  The remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 stored in the remaining storage portion 515a is then chucked by the chuck 430 with the remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 and pulled forward, and is formed by the line sensor 460. Check. Then, when it is not necessary to punch out the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900, the chucking by the chuck 430 is released in order to drop the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 into the primary bucket 450. The primary bucket 450 is moved onto the secondary bucket 480 using the X carriage 300 and the Y carriage 200. Then, a bottom shutter (not shown) of the primary bucket 450 is opened, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 is dropped into the secondary bucket 480. Next, the bottom shutter 470 of the secondary bucket 480 is opened, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 is dropped onto the transport conveyor unit 800.

  On the other hand, even when it is necessary to punch the remaining fraction of the remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900, as described above, the chuck 430 can cue it from the remaining portion storage portion 515a under the tongue pieces 515 and 515 of the cassette base 510. The remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is chucked and pulled forward. The remaining portion of the pulled PTP tablet sheet 900 is conveyed to the cutting unit 700 while being chucked. Then, the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is punched using the vertical blade and the horizontal blade, and the PTP tablet sheet 900 corresponding to the further punched part is dropped directly onto the transport conveyor unit 800.

  On the other hand, the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 that has been subjected to further blanking is returned to the original tablet cassette 500 while being chucked by the chuck 430. In this case, the remaining part of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is also the cassette base 510. Are inserted and stored in the remaining storage portion 515a below the tongue pieces 515, 515.

  In this way, the PTP tablet sheet 900 loaded on the tablet cassette 500 is dispensed to its fraction without waste.

  The conveyor unit 800 includes a group of rollers 801 and tablet takeout buckets 802 and 802 that are moved in the front-rear and left-right directions by the group of rollers 801. Then, the PTP tablet sheet 900 dropped from the secondary bucket 480 via the shutter 470 or its remaining part is moved in the front / rear / left / right directions by a roller group 801 and dropped into one of the tablet take-out buckets 802 and 802. It is like that.

  On the other hand, the remaining portion or further remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 dropped from the cutting unit 700 is similarly moved in the front-rear and left-right directions by the roller group 801 and dropped into one of the tablet take-out buckets 802 and 802.

  In this way, the dispensed buckets 802 and 802 accommodate the dispensed PTP tablet sheet 900 or the remainder thereof.

  On the other hand, the remaining portion or further remaining portion of the PTP tablet sheet 900 dropped from the cutting unit 700 is similarly moved in the left-right direction by the roller group 801 and dropped into one of the tablet take-out buckets 802 and 802.

  In this way, the dispensed buckets 802 and 802 accommodate the dispensed PTP tablet sheet 900 or the remainder thereof.

  According to the first embodiment, the arrangement of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Is detected by the optical sensor 432 mounted on the chucking unit 400, and the detected cassette center position data s1, s2,. .. Are stored in the storage unit 401 of the controller 400a, the usage frequency for each tablet cassette is counted according to predetermined drug information, and the counted tablet cassette The usage frequency for each 500 is stored in another storage area of the main memory of the control device 400b, and the storage unit 401 stores the frequency of use for each tablet cassette 500 stored in the other storage area of the main memory. The arrangement of the stored tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Is sorted at a predetermined timing, and the sorted tablet cassettes are sorted. 500, 500 so that the arrangement of ..., respective tablet cassettes 500, 500, is rearranged in ... guided.

  Therefore, for example, the tablet cassette 500 can be rearranged so as to be placed in a position where the user can easily fill the medicines in order from the most frequently used medicine (for example, up and down from the shelf at the eye level). And by performing such rearrangement of the tablet cassette 500, even when the tablet cassette 500 having a width dimension corresponding to the sheet width of the PTP tablet sheet 900 is used, the PTP tablet sheet 900 is frequently lost. Quick access for replenishing the tablet sheet to the tablet cassette 500 is facilitated.

(Embodiment 2)
By the way, the dispensing apparatus 1 is provided with two pairs of cassette shelves 600, 600, and correspondingly, two pairs of dispensing equipment such as a chucking unit 400 and a cutting unit 700 are also provided. Therefore, it is conceivable to work efficiently by operating each pair simultaneously. The second embodiment pays attention to this point, and will be described in detail below. In addition, the same number was attached | subjected to the element which is common in the said Embodiment 1, and the duplication description was abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a mechanism for guiding the rearrangement of the tablet cassettes 500 and 500 mounted on the cassette shelves 600 and 600, respectively. In FIG. 10, the black circle is the LED 650 in the on state, and the white circle is the LED 650 in the off state.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 to 8, and 10, tablet cassettes 500 (501, 502, 503) having different width dimensions are mounted on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette cassette 600 on the left side. It is assumed that tablet cassettes 500 (507, 508, 509) having different width dimensions are mounted on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600. In addition, a plurality of LEDs 650 (L1, L2,...) Are provided on the rear portion of the left cassette shelf 600 that can be seen when the push plate 604 is erected on the rear end of the shelf 602 of the cassette shelf 600. A plurality of LEDs 650 (L41, L42,...) Are provided at the rear portion of the right side of the cassette shelf 600, which is visible when the push plate 604 is erected on the rear end of the shelf 602 of the cassette shelf 600. These LEDs 650 are mounted at an equal pitch, and the pitch is set to be smaller than the width dimension of the narrowest tablet cassette 502 on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600. The timing of turning on or off the LEDs 650 is controlled by the controller 400a and the control device 400b electrically connected to the controller 400a.

  Specifically, PTP from each of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... From predetermined drug information (corresponding to prescription data) stored in advance in a predetermined storage area of the main memory of the control device 400b. The drug information is updated by sequentially subtracting the extraction amount of the tablet sheets 900, 900,. When the loaded amount of PTP tablet sheets 900, 900,... In any of the tablet cassettes 500 included in the updated medicine information becomes zero, the tablet cassette 500 is in a state of insufficient medicine. The medicine shortage information s0 indicating that is input to the controller 400a (function as a detecting means). Further, the frequency of use for each tablet cassette 500 is calculated by incrementing the number of extractions of the PTP tablet sheet 900 from each tablet cassette 500 (a function as a counting means). The frequency of use for each tablet cassette 500 is stored in another storage area (corresponding to a memory) of the main memory of the control device 400b.

  The controller 400a has center position data of each tablet cassette 500 (501, 502, 503, 507, 508, 509) (a value half the cassette width of the tablet cassette) s1, s2, s3, s7, s8, Select the storage unit 401 that stores s9 in advance, and the LED 650 to be lit based on the center position data s1, s2, s3, s7, s8, and s9 stored in the storage unit 401 and the drug shortage information s0 And an output unit 403 that outputs lighting signals s10 and s40 for lighting the LED 650 selected by the data processing unit 402. The storage unit 401 may be provided outside the controller 400a or on the control device 400b side.

  The data processing unit 402 receives the drug shortage information s0, and stores the information on the tablet cassette 501 stored in the storage unit 401 as the position information of the tablet cassettes 501, 502, 503 included in the drug shortage information s0. The center position data s1 is read. Then, the data processing unit 402 selects L3 that is the LED 650 at a distance corresponding to the center position data s1. Similarly, L6 and L10 are selected.

  As described above, the center position data s1, s2,... Of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Is stored on each of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,. .., The position of the LED 650 can be indicated only by the center position data s1, s2,..., And the apparatus can be simplified by reducing the amount of data handled. be able to.

  The output unit 403 outputs a lighting signal s10 for lighting the L3, L6, and L10 that are the LEDs 650 selected by the data processing unit 402.

  In FIG. 10, it is assumed that L3 of the LEDs 650 is lit in green. Thereby, the LED 650 that is once turned on is turned off by pressing a reset button (not shown).

  Further, the data processing unit 402 selects each tablet cassette 500, 500,... According to the usage frequency of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Stored in another storage area of the main memory of the control device 400b. .. Are sorted at a predetermined timing (this is a function as a sorting means), and the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Are arranged so that the sorted tablet cassettes 500, 500,. .. Is guided (a function as a guide means).

  Here, based on the predetermined drug information (prescription data) output from the control device 400b together with the drug shortage information s0, a plurality of tablet cassettes 500, 500 that can be used simultaneously are detected (as second detection means). The arrangement of the two tablet cassettes 500, 500 so that one of the detected tablet cassettes 500, 500 is arranged on the left cassette shelf 600 and the other is arranged on the right cassette shelf 600. (It is a function as a second sorting means). And it is made to light based on the arrangement data before and after the sorting of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Shown by any of the center position data s1, s2, s3, s7, s8, s9 stored in the storage unit 401. The power LED 650 is selected.

This time, as shown in FIG. 10, the output unit 403 outputs lighting signals s10 and s20 for lighting the LEDs 650 L3 and L46 selected by the data processing unit 402 in orange. Thereby, it is possible to easily know the tablet cassettes 500 and 500 that are allocated to the left and right cassette shelves 600 and 600.
That is, for one of the plurality of tablet cassettes 500 and 500 that can be used simultaneously, this cassette position is indicated by this L3, and for the other, this cassette position is indicated by this L46.
However, the LED 650 corresponding to one of the tablet cassettes 500 and 500 and the LED 650 corresponding to the tablet cassette exchanged therewith, and the LED 650 corresponding to the other and the LED 650 corresponding to the tablet cassette exchanged therewith are simultaneously turned on. Then, it is not possible to know which one to replace.
Therefore, here, a pair of L3 of the LED 650 corresponding to one tablet cassette 501 and L42 of the LED 650 corresponding to the tablet cassette 507 to be exchanged is turned on, and a reset (not shown) is performed when the exchange is completed. After the button is turned off, the LED 46 L46 corresponding to the other tablet cassette 508 is turned on and the LED 650 L6 corresponding to the tablet cassette 502 to be exchanged is turned on. Pressing the reset button turns off the light.

  The user exchanges cassettes, but the cassette width of the tablet cassette 501 and the cassette width of the tablet cassette 507 may be different. In addition, the cassette width of the tablet cassette 508 and the cassette width of the tablet cassette 502 may be different. In such a case, the new tablet center position data is set by moving the tablet cassette after replacement to the right side together with other tablet cassettes on the cassette shelf.

  According to the second embodiment, there are two pairs of cassette shelves 600, 600 of the dispensing device 1, and the data processing unit 402 detects a plurality of tablet cassettes 500, 500 that can be used simultaneously based on the drug information. The arrangement of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Is sorted so that the plurality of detected tablet cassettes 500, 500 are divided into different cassette shelves 600, 600.

  Accordingly, dispensing facilities such as the chucking units 400 and 400 and the cutting units 700 and 700 provided for the cassette shelves 600 and 600 can be used at the same time, and the dispensing time is greatly shortened.

  In the first and second embodiments, two cassette shelves 600 and 600 are arranged on the left and right. However, the cassette shelves 600 and 600 may be arranged on the front and back, and one or three or more cassette shelves are arranged. It is good as well. In that case, it is preferable from the viewpoint of work efficiency that the number of carriages, chucking units, cutting units, and the like correspond to this.

  In the first and second embodiments, the LED 650 corresponding to the center position data of the tablet cassette 500 is turned on when the loading amount of the PTP tablet sheet 900 in any tablet cassette 500 becomes zero. However, when the PTP tablet sheet 900 in the tablet cassette 500 becomes less than the threshold value, the LED 650 corresponding to the center position of the tablet cassette 500 may be turned on. In that case, there is no possibility that the dispensing operation is interrupted.

  In the first and second embodiments, the front surface of each tablet cassette 500, 500,... Is scanned by using the optical sensor 432 mounted on the chucking unit 400, whereby each tablet cassette 500, 500,. Are directly read and the data s1, s2,... Are stored in the storage unit 401 of the controller 400a so that the data is set in advance. However, it is also possible to use the center position data s1, s2,... Of the tablet cassettes 500, 500,.

  In the first and second embodiments, the PTP tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Are arranged on the shelf plate 602 of the cassette shelf 600 in the width direction of the PTP tablet cassettes 500, 500,. However, the shelf plate is not limited to a stationary flat plate shape, and may be, for example, a cylindrical shape rotating around a predetermined axis. In that case, it is sufficient to move the chucking unit 400 relative to each PTP tablet cassette 500, 500,... Mounted on the rotating shelf.

  In the first and second embodiments, the tablet cassette 500 on which the PTP tablet sheets 900 can be stacked is illustrated. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to various cassettes that can store general drugs such as sheets and ampoules. The shape of the cassette is not limited to the specific shape as illustrated above, and may be a predetermined shape that can be arranged in the width direction of the cassette on the cassette shelf.

  In the first and second embodiments, every time the medicine filled in the tablet cassette 500 is taken out according to the medicine information, the usage frequency of the tablet cassette 500 is incremented, but the medicine is replenished to the tablet cassette 500. The frequency of use of the tablet cassette 500 may be incremented each time. In any case, the usage frequency for each tablet cassette 500 can be obtained reliably.

  Moreover, in the said Embodiment 1, LED650 as a display part uses the center position data s1, s2 as the usage frequency of each tablet cassette 500,500, ... and the positional information on tablet cassette 501,502, .... ,... Are used to guide the rearrangement of the tablet cassette 500 having the highest use frequency and the tablet cassette 500 having the lowest use frequency. It is good also as guiding the rearrangement with the tablet cassette 500 with comparatively low. In that case, the tablet cassettes 500, 500,... Can be rearranged so that the user can easily fill them in order from the most frequently used medicine. Further, the first and second embodiments can be applied in combination.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the main components of the dispensing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the side which faces the chucking unit of a tablet cassette. It is a sectional side view which shows the state before the sheet | seat cueing of a tablet cassette. It is a sectional side view which shows the state at the time of the sheet | seat search of a tablet cassette. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the tablet cassette is mounted and not fixed on the shelf board of a cassette shelf. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the tablet cassette was mounted and fixed on the shelf board of a cassette shelf. It is a side view which shows the state in which the tablet cassette is not being fixed on the shelf board of a cassette shelf. It is a side view which shows the state by which the tablet cassette was fixed on the shelf board of a cassette shelf. It is a functional block diagram which shows typically the mechanism which displays the shortage state etc. of the PTP tablet sheet | seat in each tablet cassette each mounted in the upper stage and lower stage of a cassette shelf. It is a functional block diagram which shows typically the mechanism which guides rearrangement of each tablet cassette each mounted in the cassette shelf on either side.

Explanation of symbols

1 Dispensing device 100 Main body 200 Y carriage 300 X carriage 400 Chucking unit 400a Controller (corresponding to detection means and counting means)
400b Control device (corresponding to detection means and counting means. The other storage area of the main memory corresponds to the memory.)
401 Storage unit 402 Data processing unit (corresponding to sort means, guide means, second detection means, and second sort means)
403 Output unit 500 Tablet cassette (corresponds to a cassette)
600 Cassette shelf 602 Shelf plate 604 Push plate 650 LED (corresponds to a display unit)
700 Cutting unit 800 Conveyor unit 900 PTP tablet sheet (corresponds to tablet sheet, drug)

Claims (7)

A cassette arrangement guide mechanism of a dispensing device provided with a cassette shelf capable of arranging a plurality of cassettes each having a cassette width corresponding to the width dimension of the medicine in the width direction,
Counting means for counting the usage frequency for each cassette according to predetermined prescription data;
A memory for storing the usage frequency of each cassette counted by the counting means;
Sorting means for sorting the arrangement of each preset cassette at a predetermined timing according to the usage frequency for each cassette stored in the memory;
A cassette arrangement guide mechanism for a dispensing apparatus, characterized in that it is provided with guide means for guiding the rearrangement of the cassettes so as to obtain the arrangement of the cassettes sorted by the sorting means.   2. The cassette arrangement guide mechanism for a dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the counting means increments the usage frequency of the cassette every time the medicine filled in the cassette is taken out in accordance with predetermined prescription data.   The sorting means arranges each cassette so that a cassette having a relatively high use frequency is arranged at a specific portion of the cassette shelf, and a cassette having a relatively low use frequency is arranged at a peripheral portion of the specific portion of the cassette shelf. 3. A cassette arrangement guide mechanism for a dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein sorting is performed. It comprises a detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the medicine filled in each cassette according to the predetermined prescription data,
The cassette arrangement guide for a dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined timing is when the remaining amount of the medicine filled in the predetermined cassette becomes equal to or less than a threshold value. mechanism.   The said guide means is provided with the display part displayed so that it can mutually identify in the site | part corresponding to the arrangement | positioning before arrangement | positioning of each cassette of the said cassette shelf before arrangement | positioning, and arrangement | positioning after arrangement | positioning, respectively. 5. A cassette arrangement guide mechanism for a dispensing device according to any one of 4 above. There are a plurality of the cassette shelves,
Second detection means for detecting a plurality of cassettes that can be used simultaneously based on the predetermined prescription data;
A second sorting means for sorting the preset arrangement of each cassette at a predetermined timing so that the plurality of cassettes detected by the second detecting means are arranged on different cassette shelves; The cassette arrangement | positioning guide mechanism of the dispensing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. A cassette arrangement guide method for a dispensing device having a cassette shelf that can be arranged in the width direction with a plurality of cassettes each having a cassette width corresponding to the width dimension of the medicine,
Count the frequency of use for each cassette according to the prescribed prescription data,
The usage frequency of each counted cassette is stored in the memory,
According to the usage frequency for each cassette stored in this memory, the arrangement of each cassette set in advance is sorted at a predetermined timing,
A cassette arrangement guide method for a dispensing apparatus, which guides the rearrangement of the cassettes so that the sorted cassettes are arranged.

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