KR20230081434A - Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tablet loading module for an automatic tablet feeding device. This is installed inside the tablet automatic feeding device equipped with a tablet discharge path, and loads the tablets injected from the outside into the discharge path so that the tablets are supplied to the outside through the discharge path. A cylinder having a certain diameter to accommodate; a height adjustment motor installed at the bottom of the cylinder and outputting rotational force; a controller for controlling the operation of the height adjusting motor; a lead screw that extends vertically and rotates by receiving rotational force from the height control motor; a lifting body engaged with the lead screw and moving up and down by the axial rotation of the lead screw; an elevation guide unit for guiding the elevation movement of the elevation body; a drum installed on the upper part of the lifting body and holding and supporting the tablets in a state of being accommodated in the cylinder so as to be able to move up and down; and a lift limiting unit that sends a signal to a controller when the drum reaches top dead center and causes the controller to stop the height adjusting motor.
The tablet loading module for the automatic tablet supply device of the present invention configured as described above enables efficient supply of tablets by quickly and accurately loading the tablets injected from the outside into the tablet discharge path inside the housing.

Description

Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device {Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device}

The present invention relates to an automatic tablet feeding device for automatically supplying tablets, and more particularly, to enable efficient supply of tablets by smoothly loading tablets supplied from the outside onto an internal tablet discharge path. , It relates to a tablet loading module for an automatic tablet supply device.

When there are many types and amounts of prescribed drugs, such as large pharmacies or in-hospital pharmacies, it is very difficult and cumbersome to manually sort and pack all the drugs one by one. and are being used.

There are various types of drug packaging devices, and basic components include a cartridge for accommodating tablets, a discharge device for discharging tablets from each cartridge, and a packaging device for packaging the discharged tablets.

In addition, a method of applying vibration to the cartridge is known for taking out the medicine from the cartridge. When vibration is applied to the cartridge, the medicine stored therein moves little by little and is discharged through the discharge hole. However, this type of medicine packaging device has a disadvantage that the discharge hole is easily blocked depending on the size or shape of the medicine and the medicine may be broken.

In addition, since the shape of the cartridge is designed according to the size of the drug in the conventional drug packaging device, for example, when a new drug of a different size or shape is released or when the drug is split in half, the drug cannot be properly discharged. It is necessary to make a new cassette every time according to the size of the drug. A conventional drug packaging device cannot use a single cartridge universally.

On the other hand, inside the drug packaging device, a discharge path for inducing and exporting the drug to the outside of the packaging device, and a loading device for loading the drug onto the discharge path are built-in.

As a background technology related to this, a special tablet input device has been disclosed through Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1785060.

The disclosed special tablet input device includes a storage unit for storing drugs; A supply unit for supplying the medicament discharged from the storage unit to a medicament wrapping paper and a control unit for controlling a path of the medicament discharged through the supply unit, wherein the control unit includes a packaging path for packaging the medicament and a recovery path for recovering the medicament. And selectively opening and closing the transport path for transporting the drug to the storage unit, the storage unit has a hollow cylindrical shape and has a storage space in which the drug is stored, an outlet through which the drug is discharged on the upper side, and a transport path on the lower side. A storage body provided with a communicating port; A supporter installed in the storage body in a state in which a plurality of medicaments are supported; To be installed on the outer circumferential surface of the storage body at a height capable of covering the storage body, a door portion provided with an opening capable of communicating with the transport port; Between the position where the opening of the door part communicates with and closes the delivery port, the door rotating part for rotating the door part and the upper surface of the supporter move up and down to a position where the upper surface of the supporter communicates with the discharge port and a position where it communicates with the transporting port, and also rotates and drives the supporter. It consists of a drive unit.

However, the conventional input device described above has a disadvantage in that the lifting and lowering motion of the support is not smooth. The reason is that since the rack gear that elevates the support body takes the shape of a flexible belt, it is sensitive to temperature change, and, for example, it is stretched or contracted, and meshing with the pinion gear is not accurately maintained. For example, the pinion gear wanders and the support cannot go up to the correct point.

The fact that the lifting motion of the support is not accurate means that the supply of the drug is not performed properly.

Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1785060 (special refining injection device)

The present invention was created to solve the above problems, and provides a tablet loading module for an automatic tablet feeding device that enables efficient supply of tablets by quickly and accurately loading tablets injected from the outside into the tablet discharge path inside the housing. There is a purpose.

The tablet loading module for the automatic tablet supplying device of the present invention as a means of solving the problems for achieving the above object is installed inside the automatic tablet supplying device equipped with a tablet discharge path, and loads the tablets injected from the outside into the discharge path. a cylinder extending vertically and having a constant diameter for accommodating the injected tablets; a height adjustment motor installed at the bottom of the cylinder and outputting rotational force; a controller for controlling the operation of the height adjusting motor; a lead screw that extends vertically and rotates by receiving rotational force from the height control motor; a lifting body engaged with the lead screw and moving up and down by the axial rotation of the lead screw; an elevation guide unit for guiding the elevation movement of the elevation body; a drum installed on the upper part of the lifting body and holding and supporting the tablets in a state of being accommodated in the cylinder so as to be able to move up and down; and a lift limiting unit that sends a signal to a controller when the drum reaches top dead center and causes the controller to stop the height adjusting motor.

In addition, the rise limiting unit; A first sensing unit disposed below the drum and an upper sensor unit sensing the first sensing unit when the drum reaches a top dead center and transmitting a detection signal to a controller.

In addition, a lowering limiting unit for sending a signal to the controller and causing the controller to stop the height adjustment motor when the drum reaches the bottom dead center is further included.

In addition, the lowering limiting unit; It has a second sensing unit fixed to the lower side of the lifting body, and a lower sensor unit that senses the second sensing unit when the drum reaches a bottom dead center and transmits a detection signal to the controller.

In addition, the first and second sensing units are magnets, and the upper sensor unit and the lower sensor unit are limit magnetic sensors that respond to magnetic force.

In addition, a support case for accommodating and supporting the height adjustment motor is installed in the lower part of the cylinder, and a fixing plate providing support is fixed to the upper part of the height adjustment motor, and the lead screw passes through the fixing plate to receive the rotational force of the height adjustment motor, The elevation guide unit includes a guide rod extending vertically with a lower end fixed to the fixing plate.

In addition, the elevating body; A female screw hole that penetrates in the vertical direction and engages with the lead screw, and a vertical passage formed parallel to the side of the female screw hole and accommodating a guide rod, and a buffer stopper that contacts the fixed plate when the lift body is lowered is located at the lower part of the lifting body. do.

In addition, a side support for providing support is further installed on the outside of the cylinder, the upper sensor unit is fixed to the side support, detects the first sensing unit through the wall surface of the cylinder, and the lower sensor unit is installed on the fixed plate.

In addition, a drum rotation motor for rotating the drum is further installed on the upper part of the elevating body, a drive gear is mounted on the drive shaft of the drum rotation motor, and a drive gear receiving groove accommodates the drive gear and receives rotational force on the bottom surface of the drum. is formed

And, on the inner side of the driving gear and the receiving groove, anti-separation magnets are fixed to each other to prevent the separation of the drum by adsorbing to each other.

The tablet loading module for the automatic tablet supply device of the present invention configured as described above enables efficient supply of tablets by quickly and accurately loading the tablets injected from the outside into the tablet discharge path inside the housing.

1 is a perspective view of an automatic tablet feeding device to which a tablet loading module according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
2 and 3 are views showing a state in which a cover is removed from the automatic tablet feeding device shown in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 4 is a cut away perspective view showing a tablet loading module and a feeding module in the automatic tablet feeding device of FIG. 1 separately.
5 to 9 are diagrams for explaining the configuration and operation method of the tablet loading module of FIG. 4 .
10 to 16 are diagrams for amplifying the configuration and operation principle of the feeding module included in the automatic tablet feeding device of FIG. 1 .
17 is a block diagram showing the automatic feeding device of FIG. 1 as a whole.
18 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the automatic feeding device shown in FIG. 1;

Hereinafter, one embodiment according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of an automatic tablet feeding device to which a tablet loading module according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing the automatic feeding device of FIG. 1 with a cover removed. Also, FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view separately showing a tablet loading module and a feeding module in the automatic tablet feeding device of FIG. 1 .

The illustrated tablet automatic feeding device 10 takes out pre-filled tablets and automatically supplies them to the required location, and includes the tablet loading module 10 and the feeding module 40 of this embodiment. A person in need may be a user who prepares medicine, that is, a pharmacist. In addition, the term 'tablet' in this description includes pills of any size or shape as well as capsules.

In this description, in order to explain the role of the tablet loading module 20 with respect to other components, all configurations and operation methods of the tablet pore feeding device 10 will be described as a whole.

As shown, the automatic tablet feeding device 10 includes a housing 18 providing an internal space, a tablet loading module 20 installed in the housing, a feeding module 40, a cup holder 13, and a collection cup. (14) included.

The housing 18 has a bottom plate 16, a front panel 11, and a cover 15. The bottom plate 16 is a horizontal metal plate providing support and has a square through hole 16a. The through-hole 16a is a through-hole located at a vertical lower portion of a dispensing passage 41d to be described later. The passage hole 16a is a passage through which the medicine to be dispensed, that is, the tablet to be delivered to the pharmacist passes. The tablets passing through the passage hole 16a are delivered to the pharmacist through a separate connection passage (not shown).

The front panel 11 has an interface unit 12 manipulated by a user. In the interface unit 12, a display unit 12a, an LED lamp 12c, and a button 12e are located. The display unit 12a serves to display the operation status of the automatic feeding device 10, and the button 12e is a switch operated by a user. And the LED lamp (12c) displays the current position of the tablet during operation. In addition, a controller 17 is installed at the rear of the interface unit 12, and the controller 17 outputs all control signals for the operation of the automatic supply device 10.

A recovery cup passage 11a is provided below the interface part 12 . The recovery cup passage 11a is a hole through which the recovery cup 14 enters and exits.

The cup accommodating holder 13 is a box-shaped member accommodating the recovery cup 14 and is open forward through the recovery cup passage 11a. When the recovery cup 14 is inserted into the cup receiving holder 13, the recovery cup 14 is positioned below the recovery path 41e.

'Recovery' in the present description means discharging the unused remaining tablets to the outside. For example, among the tablets poured into the cylinder 25 of the tablet loading module 20, taking out the remaining tablets to the outside, that is, to the recovery cup 14, is called recovery. The reason for the recovery is that there is no need to prepare the tablet, and also to empty the cylinder 25 to supply another type of tablet.

'Dispensing' is a term opposed to 'recovery'. Dispensing means delivering the tablets to be prescribed to the pharmacist. For example, the dispensing passage means a passage through which tablets to be delivered to the pharmacist pass. Naturally, the recovery passage is a passage toward the recovery cup 14 .

The cover 15 is a member that covers and protects the tablet loading module 20, the feeding module 40, and the cup receiving holder 13, and has a tablet inlet 15a at the top. The tablet inlet 15a is a passage through which the cylinder 25 is opened upward. When the tablets are poured through the tablet inlet 15a, the cylinder 25 is filled with the tablets.

The tablet loading module 20 is installed inside the housing 18 including the tablet discharge path, and loads tablets supplied from the outside into the discharge path so that the tablets are supplied to the outside of the housing through the discharge path. . That is, it serves to elevate the tablets filled in the cylinder 25 to the height of the outlet 25a, which will be described later, so that the tablets pass through the outlet 25a in the direction of the arrow a. The discharge passage is an internal passage of an induction duct 41 to be described later as a passage through which tablets exit.

The tablet loading module 20 extends vertically and controls the operation of a cylinder 25 having a certain diameter for accommodating the injected tablets, a height adjustment motor 23 installed at the bottom of the cylinder and outputting rotational force, and the height adjustment motor. A controller (17) extending vertically and receiving rotational force from the height adjusting motor to rotate the lead screw (23a), a lifting body (24) that engages with the lead screw and moves up and down by the shaft rotation of the lead screw, and a lifting body A lifting guide part for guiding the lifting movement of the lifting body, a drum 29 installed on the upper part of the lifting body and supporting the tablet while being accommodated inside the cylinder so as to be able to move up and down, and sending a signal to the controller when the drum reaches top dead center. and a lift limiting unit for sending the controller to stop the height control motor.

5 to 9 are views for explaining the detailed configuration and operation method of the tablet loading module 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the tablet loading module 20 includes a supporting case 21, a fixing plate 22, a height adjustment motor 23, a lead screw 23a, a guide rod 23c as a lifting guide, and a lifting body ( 24), a support band 27, an elevation limiter, a descent limiter, a drum 29, a side support 22b, a cylinder (25 in FIG. 4), and a controller 17. The rise limiting unit includes the first sensing unit, the second sensing unit, the upper sensing unit, and the lower sensing unit, and a description thereof will be described later.

First, the support case 21 is a supporting member having a lower end fixed to the bottom plate 16, and provides a horizontal support plane part 21b on the upper side. The support plane portion 21b is a support surface for supporting the cylinder 25 . The cylinder 25 is a transparent cylindrical member whose lower end is upright in a state supported by the support plane portion 21b. In addition, a center hole 21e is formed in the central portion of the support plane portion 21b. The center hole 21e is a through hole and passes the lead screw 23a and the guide rod 23c.

The fixing plate 22 is bolted to the lower surface of the support plane portion 21b in a state accommodated inside the support case 21 to provide support. The fixing plate 22 is located above the height adjusting motor 23.

The height control motor 23 is fixed to the lower surface of the fixing plate 22a and is operated by a control signal transmitted from the controller 17 to pivot the lead screw 23a. The controller 17 turns the height adjustment motor 23 on and off. The lead screw 23a passes through the fixing plate 22 and is connected to the driving shaft of the height adjustment motor 23, extends vertically, and rotates clockwise and counterclockwise by the height adjustment motor 23.

The guide rod 23c is a guide means for guiding the lifting motion of the lifting body 24 in the vertical direction, takes the shape of a round bar, and is fixed to both sides of the lead screw 23a in parallel. The lower end of the guide rod 23c is fixed to the fixing plate 22a. The guide rod 23c guides the lifting motion of the lifting body 24 while being inserted into the vertical passage (24b in FIG. 9) of the lifting body 24.

The lifting body 24 is a block-shaped member made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. 9, it has a female screw hole 24a and two vertical passages 24b. The female screw hole 24a is formed in the central portion of the lifting body 24 and is a passage in which a female screw thread is formed on the inner circumferential surface. It goes without saying that the lead screw 23a is inserted into the female screw hole 24a. Also, the vertical passage 24b is a passage through which the guide rod 23c is inserted. The guide rod 23c guides the vertical lifting motion of the lifting body 24 .

In addition, a buffer stopper 24c is mounted on the side of each vertical passage 24b. The buffer stopper 24c is an elastic member made of urethane or silicon and protrudes from the lower part of the lifting body 24. The buffer stopper 24c comes into contact with the upper surface of the fixing plate 22a when the elevating body 24 descends and absorbs shock. That is, the transmission of the downward force of the elevating body 24 to the fixing plate 22a is prevented. The height of the bottom dead center of the lifting body 24 is defined by the buffer stopper 24c.

In addition, a lower end detection magnet 24e is fixed to the lower part of the lifting body 24 . The lower sensing magnet is a permanent magnet that outputs magnetic force to the lower side and is located above the lower sensor unit 28b in the vertical direction.

On the other hand, the rise limiting unit serves to send a signal to the controller 17 when the drum 29, which will be described later, reaches the top dead center, so that the controller stops the height adjusting motor 23. That is, the drum is prevented from rising higher than top dead center. The rise limiting unit includes a first sensing unit and an upper sensor unit 28a. The top dead center of the drum 29 is the height at which the upper edge of the outer peripheral surface of the drum corresponds to the outlet port of the cylinder 25 (25a in FIG. 4). FIG. 7 is a view showing a state when the drum 29 is located at the top dead center.

The first sensed unit is a sensing target that is sensed by the upper sensor unit 28a. The upper sensor unit 28a is a limit magnetic sensor, and the first sensing target unit is an upper sensing magnet 27a. The upper sensor unit detects the magnetic force output from the upper sensing magnet 27a in a state of rising to the top dead center and transmits the detected content to the controller 17 . The upper sensing magnet 27a is located at a lower elevation than the drum 29, that is, at the bottom of the drum 29. The upper sensing magnet 27a is installed on a support band 27 to be described later. A description of the support band will be described later.

In addition, the descent limiting unit serves to prevent the drum 29 from descending below the bottom dead center. That is, when the drum 29 reaches the bottom dead center, a signal is sent to the controller to cause the controller to stop the height adjustment motor 23. 8 is a view showing a state in which the lifting body 24 is located at the bottom dead center.

The descent limiting unit includes a second sensing unit and a lower sensor unit 28b. The second sensed unit is a sensing target that is sensed by the lower sensor unit 28b. The lower sensor unit 28b is a limit magnetic sensor, and the first sensing target unit is a lower sensing magnet 24e. The lower sensor unit 28b detects the magnetic force output from the lower sensing magnet 24e that has descended to the bottom dead center and transmits the detected content to the controller 17, so that the controller 17 stops the height adjustment motor 23. do. That is, the drum 29 is prevented from going down any further. The bottom dead center of the drum 29 is the point at which the buffer stopper 24c is in contact with the fixed plate 22a.

In fact, the bottom dead center of the drum 29 is also the height at which the buffer stopper 24c reaches the upper surface of the fixing plate 22a. The reason for preventing the drum from lowering below the bottom dead center by applying the lowering limiter is to prevent the fixing plate 22a from being deformed by the lowering force of the lifting body 24 .

The lower sensor unit 28b is a magnetic force sensor that detects magnetic force and is positioned vertically below the lower detection magnet 24e. The lower sensor unit 28b detects the lower detection magnet 24e at the moment when the lifting body 24 reaches the bottom dead center, and outputs a signal indicating that the lifting body 24 has reached the bottom dead center.

A drum rotation motor 26a is installed above the elevating body 24 . The drum rotation motor 26a is for rotating the drum 29 and has a driving gear 26b on a driving shaft. It is natural that the drum rotation motor 26a moves up and down together with the elevating body 24.

The driving gear 26b is inserted into the gear receiving groove 29b formed on the bottom surface of the drum 29, and has a separation prevention magnet 26c at the center of the upper surface. The departure prevention magnet 26c corresponds to the other departure prevention magnet 29d fixed to the drum 29. That is, when the driving gear 26b is inserted into the gear receiving groove 29b, the two separation prevention magnets maintain a mutually adsorbed coupled state. The drum 29 can stably maintain the mounted state by the magnetic force of the separation prevention magnets 26c and 29d. The inner circumferential surface of the gear receiving groove 29b takes the shape of a gear and meshes with the teeth of the driving gear 26b.

The output of the drum rotation motor 26a is controlled by the controller 17. When the rotational speed of the drum rotation motor 26a increases, the centrifugal force of the drum 29 increases, so to speak, the speed of the tablets supplied in the direction of arrow a increases.

The drum 29 is a substantially disk-shaped member coupled to the drive gear 26b and has a pushing protrusion 29a on its upper surface. The pushing protrusion 29a is a linear protrusion extending in the radial direction of the drum 29, and serves to push the tablet in the radial direction when the drum 29 rotates. The upper surface of the drum 29 has a shape inclined downward in a radial direction from the center.

The support band 27 is a substantially ring-shaped member fixed to the periphery of the drum rotation motor 26a, a part of which extends in the horizontal direction and has an upper end sensing magnet 27a at the extended end. The upper sensing magnet 27a is a permanent magnet identical to the lower sensing magnet (24e in FIG. 9) described above, and outputs magnetic force toward the upper sensor unit 28a.

Reference numeral 24f is a cylindrical blocking cover that surrounds and blocks the elevating body 24, the lead screw 23a, and the guide rod 23c. The blocking cover 24f has a telescopic structure, and is unfolded or folded according to the lifting movement of the lifting body 24. By applying the blocking cover 24f, the tablet does not come into contact with the elevating body 24 or the lead screw 23a.

The side support 22b has a lower end fixed to the support case 21 and has an upper sensor unit 28a at the upper end as a vertically extending member. The upper sensor unit 28a is a magnetic sensor that outputs a signal in response to the magnetic force output from the upper sensing magnet 27a.

The upper sensor unit 28a is located at the same height as the upper sensing magnet 27a in a state of reaching top dead center. In other words, a signal is generated when the lifting body 24 is positioned at the top dead center. In other words, the upper sensor unit 28a determines the top dead center of the lifting body 24 . That is, the top dead center of the lifting body 24 is determined according to the height of the upper sensor unit 28a. As described above, the signal output by the upper sensor unit 28a is transmitted to the height adjusting motor 23, and the lifting of the lifting body 24 is stopped.

A part of the wall surface of the cylinder 25 is interposed between the upper sensor unit 28a and the upper sensing magnet 27a. The magnetic force of the upper sensing magnet 27a passes through the wall surface of the cylinder 25 and reaches the upper sensor unit 28a.

As a result, the drum 29 moves up and down and rotates within the stroke range defined by the upper sensor unit 28a and the lower sensor unit 28b, receives tablets, and carries the supplied tablets like an elevator. It carries out the operation of lifting and delivering to the feeding module 40.

The cylinder 25 is a cylindrical member having a certain diameter and accommodates the drum 29 in an elevating manner. The drum 29 rotates and moves up and down while being accommodated in the cylinder 25. In addition, the outer circumferential surface of the drum 29 and the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 25 are as close as possible to prevent the tablets from escaping therebetween.

An outlet 25a is formed at one side of the upper end of the cylinder 25. The outlet 25a is a passage through which tablets raised by the drum 29 exit in the direction of arrow a. In addition, a sensor exposure groove 25c is provided on the side of the outlet 25a.

The sensor exposure groove 25c is a passage through which the tablet detection sensor 55 to be described later passes. The tablet detection sensor 55 is a sensor for detecting the highest tablet among the tablets supported by the drum 29, and is exposed to the inside of the cylinder 25 through the sensor nozzle groove 25c. As will be described later, the moment the tablet detection sensor 55 detects a tablet, the rising speed of the drum 29 is reduced.

10 to 16 are diagrams for explaining the configuration and operation principle of the feeding module 40 included in the automatic tablet feeding device 10 of FIG. 1 .

The feeding module 40 sequentially passes the tablets received from the tablet loading module 20 and sends them down the dispensing path 21d, or tablets remaining after use and incorrectly inserted tablets (two or more tablets are placed in the receiving space 41a). ) serves to guide the tablets) into the recovery path 41e.

The feeding module 40 includes an induction duct 41, a slider 43, a slider sensor unit 48, a vibration generating unit, a vibrator control unit, an elastic support unit, and a drop control unit 47.

As shown in FIG. 3, the induction duct 41 is a hollow member interposed between the cup holder 13 and the supporting case 21, and passes the tablets passing through the slider 43 to the dispensing path ( 41d) or the role of sending down to the recovery path (41e).

Inside the induction duct 41, as shown in Fig. 14, a receiving space 41a and a path determining space 41b are provided. The receiving space 41a is a space for accepting tablets falling from the slider 43 . Further, the route determination space 41b is a space for determining whether to send tablets to the dispensing route 41d or to the collection route 41e.

A supply shutter 42a is provided inside the receiving space 41a. The supply shutter 42a is a door that opens and closes the exit portion 43b of the slider 43. The tablet may be introduced into the receiving space 41a only when the supply shutter 42a is opened.

The rotating shaft 42b of the supply shutter 42a extends horizontally, and the extended end engages with the worm wheel (51c in FIG. 2). The worm wheel 51c is a fan-shaped gear and meshes with the worm 51b from the outside of the induction duct 41. The worm 51b is a part that axially rotates in both directions by the first motor 51a. As a result, by the operation of the first motor 51a, the rotary shaft 42b rotates in the left and right directions, and the supply shutter 42a is opened and closed.

In addition, a V-shutter 42d is installed between the receiving space 41a and the path determining space 41b. The V-shutter 42d is a V-shaped shutter that opens upward and is rotatable in the direction of the arrow c or the opposite direction by the rotation shaft 42e. The V-shutter 42d serves to once receive the tablets injected into the receiving space 41a and deliver them to the dispensing path 41d.

The rotating shaft 42e of the V-shutter 42d extends horizontally and, as shown in Fig. 2, has a worm wheel 52c at its extended end. The worm wheel 52c meshes with the worm 52b outside the induction duct 41. The worm 52b rotates in both directions by the second motor 52a. As a result, the V-shutter 42d can be rotated by the second motor 52a.

In addition, a switching shutter 42g is installed inside the path determination space 41b. The switching shutter 42g opens the dispensing passage 41d as shown in FIG. 14 or the recovery passage 41e as shown in FIG. 15 . The recovery path 41e is blocked when the dispensing path 41d is opened, and the dispensing path 41d is blocked when the recovery path 41e is opened.

In order to limit the rotation angle of the switching shutter 42g, a locking step 41f and a support step 41g are provided inside the path determining space 41b. The locking jaw 41f is a part where the end of the switching shutter 42g rotated in the direction of arrow e in FIG. 16 is hooked, and the supporting jaw 41g is the part where the switching shutter 42g rotated in the direction of arrow f in FIG. 15 is hooked. am.

The rotating shaft 42h of the switching shutter 42g extends horizontally, and as shown in Fig. 2, the extended end engages the worm wheel 53c outside the induction duct 41. The worm wheel 53c meshes with the worm 53b as a fan-shaped gear. The worm 53b is axially rotated in both directions by the third motor 53a. As a result, the rotational motion of the switching shutter 42g can be realized through the third motor 53a. The first, second, and third motors 51a, 52a, and 53a constitute one shutter driving unit (50 in FIG. 17) and are independently controlled by the controller 17.

The dispensing passage 41d is a passage through which tablets moving in the direction of arrow g in FIG. 15 are received and sent downward. The tablets passing through the dispensing path 41d pass through the passage hole 16a of the bottom plate and are delivered to the user.

The recovery passage 41e is a passage leading to the recovery cup 14 side. The tablets guided to the recovery path 41e in the direction of arrow h are sent to the recovery cup 14.

On the other hand, the slider 43 is a member that receives tablets introduced in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 4 and guides them to the receiving space 41a, and has a bent shape when viewed from above. In other words, the inflow direction through the inlet portion 43a and the outflow direction through the outlet portion 43b do not coincide and have a substantially right angle. In addition, the slider 43 has a cross-sectional shape of a U-shape open to the top, and is inclined downward toward the receiving space 41a. The slider 43 can be made of transparent synthetic resin or acrylic.

The outer portion of the slider 43 is provided with three side pockets 43f. The side pocket 43f is a space open upward, and the first vibrator 44a is installed in one side pocket 43f and the second vibrator 44c is installed in the other two side pockets 43f.

The first and second vibrators 44a and 44c are vibration generating units ( 44 in FIG. 17 ) that output vibration energy by operating in response to electrical signals applied from the outside. Of course, vibration energy generated when the first and second vibrators 44a and 44c are operated is transferred to the slider 43 . The slider 43 is vibrated by the first and second vibrators 44a and 44c, and guides the tablet loaded thereon toward the receiving space 41a.

The first vibrator 44a is a DC vibrator whose frequency can be adjusted, and operates in cases other than collecting tablets. When the first vibrator 44a operates, the second vibrator 44c does not operate. The output frequency of the first vibrator 44a is variable, and decreases when the first tablet among the tablets passing through the slider 43 is detected by the exit sensor 48d to be described later. Tablets transported entering the inlet 43a of the slider 43 are transported at a constant speed and then decelerated while reaching the outlet 43b. As will be described later, when a tablet is detected by the exit sensor 48d, the supply shutter 42a is opened.

Also, the first vibrator 44a is connected to the vibrator controller 46. The vibrator control unit is a PWM control unit that modulates the pulse width, and prevents tablets during transfer from bouncing off the bottom surface of the slider 43. The tablet rubs against the bottom surface of the slider 43 by the vibrator control unit 46, and gradually slides down toward the receiving space 41a.

The second vibrator 44c is a BLDC vibrator, and the output frequency is not adjusted. The second vibrator 44c is used when collecting tablets. It goes without saying that the recovery path 41e is opened simultaneously with the operation of the second vibrator 44c.

In addition, a slider sensor unit 48 is installed on the lower surface of the slider 43. The slider sensor unit 48 is composed of a lower substrate 48a fixed to the lower surface of the slider 43, an entrance sensor 48b, an exit sensor 48d, and an intermediate sensor 48c. It goes without saying that a circuit for driving the sensor is configured in the lower substrate 48a. The entrance sensor 48b, intermediate sensor 48c, and exit sensor 48d are proximity sensors.

The entrance sensor 48b detects tablets entered through the entrance part 43a. As soon as the inlet sensor 48b detects the tablet, the first vibrator 44a starts to operate, and the rotating drum 29 stops rotating. The first vibrator 44a may start operating when the tablet detection sensor 55 detects a tablet.

The tablet, which has started to be transported by the operation of the first vibrator 44a, continues to be transported and passes over the intermediate sensor 48c. The transport speed of tablets is checked through the intermediate sensor 48c. When the tablets that have passed through the intermediate sensor 48c are finally positioned above the exit sensor 48d, the output frequency of the first vibrator 44a is reduced and the transfer speed of all tablets is reduced. At this timing, the feed shutter 42a is opened to pass one tablet. The supply shutter 42a immediately closes the outlet 43b after the tablets pass through to prevent the tablets from being sequentially introduced.

The tablet that has fallen into the receiving space 41a is once supported by the V-shutter 42d, and moves to the path-determining space 41b by the rotation of the V-shutter 42d in the direction of the arrow c, and then the switching shutter 42g. Ride and move in the direction of arrow g.

By the way, if, for example, two tablets are put into the receiving space 41a due to an abnormal operation, the switching shutter 42g rotates in advance in the direction of arrow e in FIG. 16 . The two tablets supported by the V-shutter 42d are collected in the recovery cup 14 through the open recovery path 41e.

Whether the tablet injected through the outlet 43b is one tablet or two or more tablets is detected by the falling tablet detection unit 47 . The drop tablet detection unit 47 includes a light emitting sensor 47a and a light receiving sensor 47b.

The light emitting sensor 47a and the light receiving sensor 47b are sensors installed on the first vertical substrate 49a and the second vertical substrate 49b, respectively, and face each other with the receiving space 41a interposed therebetween. The first vertical substrate 49a and the second vertical substrate 49b are substrates fixed to the outside of the induction duct 41 . The tablet detection sensor 55 described above is also mounted on the first vertical substrate 49a.

The light emitting sensor 47a and the light receiving sensor 47b detect the number of tablets passing through the receiving space 41a and transfer the number of tablets to the controller 17, and the controller 17 controls the dispensing path 41d and the recovery path. (41e) to open one of them.

In addition, an insertion groove 43h is provided on the outer surface of the slider. Insertion groove (43h) is a groove open to the bottom, detachably accommodates the extension (45d) of the elastic support plate (45). The elastic support plate 45 serves as an elastic support unit supporting and supporting the slider 43 in a state installed above the induction duct 41 .

The resilient support plate 45 is manufactured by pressing a metal plate having a certain thickness, for example, plate spring steel or stainless steel, and has a support portion 45a and an extension portion 45d. Long holes 45b are formed at both ends of the supporting portion 45a. The long hole 45b is a hole through which the fixing screw 45f is passed. The elastic support plate 45 is fixed to the upper portion of the induction duct 41 through a fixing screw 45f.

The extension portion 45d is bent at right angles to the supporting portion 45a and is inserted into the insertion groove 43h as an upwardly extending portion. The extension part 45d is elastically deformable. That is, when the slider 43 vibrates, it vibrates together. The elastic support plate 45 supports the slider 43 and does not interfere with the vibration of the slider 43 . As long as it can play such a role, the shape of the resilient support plate 45 can be varied.

17 is a block diagram showing the automatic feeding device of FIG. 1 as a whole, and FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explaining the overall operation of the automatic feeding device.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the operation of the automatic tablet supply device 10 is performed as follows.

First, with the cylinder 25 empty and the drum 29 positioned at the bottom dead center, the cylinder 25 is poured (tablets to be dispensed). (Tablet filling step 100) When tablets are filled in the cylinder 25, a preparation command is input through the interface unit 12. When a preparation command is input, the controller 17 operates the height adjustment motor 23 and the drum rotation motor 26a. As the height adjustment motor 23 and the drum rotation motor 26a operate, the drum 29 rotates and gradually rises. (Drum Raising and Rotating Step 101)

At the same time, the tablet detection sensor 55 operates and waits for the tablet to rise. The tablet detection sensor 55 is an optical sensor that irradiates light in a horizontal direction and detects an object through reflected light.

If tablets do not appear during the set time despite the start of the drum raising and rotating step 101, tablet filling guidance is provided through the display unit 12a. (Tablet filling guide step 118). That is, it informs the user that the current cylinder 25 is empty. If the tablet filling step 100 is performed properly in the first place, the tablet filling guide step 118 does not proceed.

If the tablet detection sensor 55 detects a tablet, the rising speed of the drum 29 is reduced and then stopped. The drum 29 starts to decelerate when the tablet detection sensor 55 senses the tablet, and stops when the upper corner of the outer circumferential surface of the drum 19 reaches the threshold of the outlet 25a, that is, top dead center. (Drum lift rate deceleration and stop step 103).

Stopping the lifting of the drum at the top dead center is implemented by the upper sensor part 28a. That is, the upper sensor unit 28a sends a signal to the controller 17 to cause the controller 17 to stop the height adjusting motor 23. Even if the lifting of the drum 19 has stopped, the rotation of the drum 19 continues.

Tablets are transferred to the slider 43 by receiving centrifugal force from the drum 19 immediately after the drum 19 reaches the top dead center. At this time, the first vibrator 44a operates to transfer the tablet to the receiving space 41a.

While the tablets pass through the slider 43, the rotational speed of the drum is reduced. (Drum rotational speed adjustment step 105). That is, when tablets are detected by the exit sensor 48d, the intermediate sensor 48c, and the inlet sensor 48b, the drum 29 is temporarily stopped. The temporarily stopped drum rotates again when the tablet is not detected by the inlet sensor 48b so that the tablet passes in the direction of the arrow a. Through this operation, the upper portion of the slider 43 can be continuously loaded with tablets.

As described above, when the exit sensor 48d detects a tablet located at the front in the transport direction, the supply shutter 42a is opened to allow the tablet to be put into the receiving space 41a. (Supply shutter opening step 109). However, if the tablet is not detected by the exit sensor 48d, the controller 17 encourages the input of the tablet by adjusting the rotational speed of the drum.

Tablets introduced into the receiving space 41a are detected by the falling tablet detection unit 47 . That is, it is determined whether the falling tablet is 1 tablet or 2 tablets or more (falling tablet detection step 111). When the tablet is fortunately identified as one tablet, the dispensing route 41d is opened to deliver the tablet to the pharmacist. (Dispensing route opening step (113).

However, if there are two or more fallen tablets, the recovery path 41e is opened so that the tablets are returned to the recovery cup through the recovery path (opening the recovery path step 115).

If the preparation of the target quantity is not completed, the above process is repeated by continuing to transport the tablets through the drum rotation speed adjusting step (105).

When all preparations are finally completed, the first vibrator 44a is stopped and the second vibrator 44c is operated. And, at the same time, the recovery path is opened. Tablets transferred to the slider 43 by the drum 29 pass through the slider 43 without changing speed by the action of the second vibrator 44c, pass through the induction duct 41, and collect in the collection cup 14 for collection. do.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail through specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

10: automatic feeder 11: front panel 11a: recovery cup passage
12: interface unit 12a: display unit 12c: LED lamp
12e: button 13: cup receiving holder 14: collection cup
15: cover 15a: tablet inlet 16: bottom plate
16a: through hole 17: controller 18: housing
20: tablet loading module 21: support case 21b: support plane
21e: center hole 22a: fixed plate 22b: side support
23: height adjustment motor 23a: lead screw 23c: guide rod
24: lifting body 24a: female screw hole 24b: vertical passage
24c: buffer stopper 24e: lower detection magnet 24f: blocking cover
25: cylinder 25a: outlet 25c: sensor exposure groove
26a: drum rotation motor 26b: drive gear 26c: departure prevention magnet
27: support band 27a: upper detection magnet 28: drum height detection unit
28a: upper sensor unit 28b: lower sensor unit 29: drum
29a: pushing protrusion 29b: gear receiving groove 29d: magnet
40: feeding module 41: induction duct 41a: receiving space
41b: route determination space 41d: dispensing route 41e: recovery route
41f: locking jaw 41g: supporting jaw 42a: supply shutter
42b: rotation axis 42d: V-shutter 42e: rotation axis
42g: switching shutter 42h: rotation axis 43: slider
43a: inlet 43b: outlet 43f: side pocket
43h: insertion groove 44: vibration generating unit 44a: first vibrator
44c: second vibrator 45: elastic support plate 45a: supporting part
45b: long hole 45d: extension 45f: fixing screw
46: vibrator control unit 47: falling tablet detection unit 47a: light emitting sensor
47b: light receiving sensor 48: slider sensor unit 48a: lower substrate
48b: entrance sensor 48c: intermediate sensor 48d: exit sensor
49a: first vertical board 49b: second vertical board 51a: first motor
51b: warm 51c: warm wheel 52a: second motor
52b: warm 52c: warm wheel 53a: third motor
53b: warm 53c: warm wheel 55: tablet detection sensor

Claims (10)

It is installed inside the tablet automatic feeding device equipped with a tablet discharge path, and loads the tablets input from the outside into the discharge path so that the tablets are supplied to the outside through the discharge path,
a cylinder extending vertically and having a certain diameter accommodating the injected tablets;
a height adjustment motor installed at the bottom of the cylinder and outputting rotational force;
a controller for controlling the operation of the height adjusting motor;
a lead screw that extends vertically and rotates by receiving rotational force from the height control motor;
a lifting body engaged with the lead screw and moving up and down by the axial rotation of the lead screw;
an elevation guide unit for guiding the elevation movement of the elevation body;
a drum installed on the upper part of the lifting body and holding and supporting the tablets in a state of being accommodated in the cylinder so as to be able to move up and down;
Including a lift limiting unit that sends a signal to a controller when the drum reaches top dead center and causes the controller to stop the height adjustment motor.
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 1,
The rise limiting unit;
A first sensing unit disposed below the drum;
Having an upper sensor unit for detecting the first sensing unit in a state in which the drum reaches the top dead center and transmitting the detection signal to the controller,
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 2,
Further comprising a lowering limiter that sends a signal to the controller when the drum reaches the bottom dead center and causes the controller to stop the height adjustment motor.
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 3,
The lowering limiting unit;
A second sensing unit fixed to the lower part of the lifting body;
Having a lower sensor unit for detecting the second sensing unit in a state in which the drum has reached the bottom dead center and transmitting the detection signal to the controller;
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 4,
The first and second sensing units are magnets,
The upper sensor part and the lower sensor part are limit magnetic sensors that respond to magnetic force,
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 4,
A support case for accommodating and supporting a height adjustment motor is installed at the lower part of the cylinder,
A fixing plate providing support is fixed to the upper part of the height adjustment motor,
The lead screw penetrates the fixed plate to receive the rotational force of the height adjustment motor,
The elevation guide unit includes a guide rod extending vertically with a lower end fixed to the fixing plate.
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 6,
In the lifting body;
A female screw hole that penetrates in the vertical direction and engages with the lead screw, and a vertical passage formed parallel to the side of the female screw hole and accommodating a guide rod,
At the lower part of the lifting body, a buffer stopper in contact with the fixing plate is located when the lifting body is lowered.
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 7,
On the outside of the cylinder, a side support for providing support is further installed,
The upper sensor unit is fixed to the side support and detects the first sensing unit through the wall surface of the cylinder,
The lower sensor part is installed on the fixed plate,
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 7,
A drum rotation motor for rotating the drum is further installed on the upper part of the lifting body,
A drive gear is mounted on the drive shaft of the drum rotation motor,
On the bottom of the drum, a drive gear receiving groove is formed to accommodate the drive gear and receive rotational force.
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device. According to claim 9,
On the inside of the drive gear and the receiving groove, anti-departure magnets are fixed to each other to prevent the detachment of the drum by adsorbing to each other.
Tablet loading module for automatic tablet feeding device.

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