JP4537671B2 - Method for cleaning drug hopper and drug packaging device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a medicine hopper and a medicine packaging apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional medicine packaging device having a medicine hopper, a medicine dispensing mechanism for automatically dispensing medicines such as powders and tablets based on a prescription, for example, a powder distribution mechanism and tablets for dispensing powders At least one of the tablet distribution mechanisms for distributing the drug, a predetermined amount of the drug distributed by the distribution mechanism is charged into the packaging member via the drug hopper, and the drug charged in the packaging member is packaged Is done.
[0003]
In such a medicine packaging device, for example, after the medicine is packaged, the medicine may remain in the medicine hopper. In such a case, when the medicine is next charged, The charged drug and the residual drug are mixed, resulting in a difference in the amount of drug to be charged in each sachet, and when the sachet is packaged based on the next prescription, the previous drug is mixed in. There is a problem such as, sometimes it can not be packaged as prescribed.
[0004]
Therefore, in the conventional medicine packaging device, an opening / closing member provided with a communication path communicating the hopper and the suction device is arranged on the upper part of the medicine hopper, and the bottom plate provided at the bottom of the medicine hopper is slightly opened, There has been proposed a method of removing residual medicine by sucking air from the bottom opening portion of the hopper to the upper communication path through the communication path of the upper opening / closing member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-203501 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the medicine packaging device, an opening / closing member is arranged on the upper part of the medicine hopper, and air is sucked from the bottom opening part of the hopper to the upper communication path through the communication path of the upper opening / closing member while slightly opening the bottom bottom plate. Therefore, when removing the residual drug, air flows in a certain direction from the bottom plate opening part to the upper part of the hopper, so that the residual drug that is difficult to be removed in this direction cannot be cleaned well. . For example, depending on the shape of the drug hopper, there are places where it is difficult for air to flow even if air is flown in a certain direction. If there are corners or protrusions in the drug hopper, residual drug tends to accumulate in that part. Residual chemicals in can not be cleaned sufficiently. In particular, a drug with a high degree of compression and a drug with a high degree of aggregation, such as a fine-flow drug, tend to adhere to the hopper.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can improve the cleaning performance as compared with the conventional case. For example, residual drugs such as corners and protrusions are present in the drug hopper regardless of the shape of the drug hopper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine hopper cleaning method and a medicine packaging device that can satisfactorily clean the residual medicine in a part that tends to accumulate.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides the following medicine hopper cleaning method and medicine packaging apparatus.
[0009]
(1) Cleaning method for drug hopper
A cleaning method for removing residual drug in a drug hopper having a drug inlet and outlet,
  First and second opening / closing members that can be opened and closed with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper are provided, and at least one of the medicine hopper and the first opening / closing member is provided in the medicine hopper. A hopper suction port for sucking air is provided, and at least one of the medicine hopper and the first opening / closing member is provided with an opening for discharging air from an air discharge member having an air discharge port,
  The opening is an insertion port for inserting the air discharge member,
  In removing the residual medicine, the first and second opening and closing members are both closed with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper, and the air discharge port of the air discharge member isInsertion slotOrEtAir discharge position where arc discharge is possibleIn the inner position of the drug hopper,The air discharge direction is arranged to be different from the direction of the hopper suction port, and the air in the medicine hopper is sucked from the hopper suction port, while the air discharge memberPlaced inside the hopperThe air outletBeforeA method for cleaning a medicine hopper, characterized in that residual medicine in the medicine hopper is removed by discharging air into the medicine hopper.
[0010]
(2) Drug packaging device
  In a drug packaging device comprising at least one of a powder distribution mechanism for distributing powder and a tablet distribution mechanism for distributing tablets, and a drug hopper having an inlet part and an outlet part for the drug,
  First and second opening / closing members disposed to be openable and closable with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper,
  First and second opening / closing drive mechanisms for opening and closing the first and second opening / closing members, respectively;
  An air suction device for sucking air;
  An air supply device for supplying air;
  An air discharge member that has an air discharge port, communicates with the air supply device, and discharges air supplied from the air supply device from the air discharge port;
  The air discharge port of the air discharge member is between an air discharge position where air can be discharged into the drug hopper and a retreat position where the drug is allowed to pass when the drug is put into the drug hopper. An air discharge member drive mechanism to be selectively disposed,
  At least one of the medicine hopper and the first opening / closing member is provided with a hopper suction port that communicates with the air suction device and sucks air in the medicine hopper.
  At least one of the medicine hopper and the first opening / closing member has an opening for discharging air from the air discharge member.As an insertion port for inserting air discharge membersProvided,
  In removing the residual medicine, the first and second opening / closing members are closed by the first and second opening / closing drive mechanisms with respect to the inlet and outlet of the medicine hopper, and the air In the discharge member drive mechanism, the air discharge port of the air discharge member isInsertion slotFrom,The air discharge position where air can be discharged into the medicine hopperThe inner position of the drug hopper beingFurther, the air discharge direction is different from the direction of the hopper suction port, and the air suction device sucks the air in the medicine hopper from the hopper suction port, while the air supply At the device,The air discharge memberPlaced inside the hopperThe air outletBeforeA medicine packaging apparatus, wherein residual medicine in the medicine hopper is removed by discharging air into the medicine hopper.
[0011]
In the medicine hopper cleaning method and medicine packaging apparatus according to the present invention, when removing the residual medicine, both the first and second opening / closing members are closed with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper. At the same time, the air discharge port of the air discharge member is disposed at the air discharge position where air can be discharged from the opening into the medicine hopper. Then, air in the drug hopper is sucked from the hopper suction port, and air is discharged from the air discharge port of the air discharge member into the drug hopper through the opening. At this time, for example, the air discharge port of the air discharge member is disposed so that the air discharge direction from the air discharge port is different from the direction of the hopper suction port. The air discharged into the medicine hopper can be sucked from the hopper suction port while being convected in the medicine hopper without flowing in a certain direction. Thereby, air can be entirely flowed into the medicine hopper regardless of the shape of the medicine hopper. For example, even if there is a portion in the medicine hopper where residual medicine tends to accumulate, such as corners and protrusions, the residual medicine in that part can be cleaned well. Thus, the residual drug in the drug hopper is discharged from the air discharge member into the drug hopper and removed together with the air sucked from the hopper suction port, and the residual drug in the drug hopper is cleaned.
[0012]
As described above, according to the medicine hopper cleaning method and medicine packaging apparatus according to the present invention, when removing the residual medicine, the first and second opening / closing members with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper. The air discharge port of the air discharge member is disposed at the air discharge position where air can be discharged from the opening into the drug hopper, and from the hopper suction port to the drug hopper. Since the air inside the medicine hopper is removed by discharging air into the medicine hopper through the opening from the air ejection port of the air ejection member while the air inside is sucked, conventionally, Cleaning performance can also be improved, regardless of the shape of the drug hopper, such as corners and protrusions in the drug hopper. Even if distillate drug reservoir prone parts can be cleaned of residual drug in the portion satisfactorily.
[0013]
The opening may be an insertion port for inserting the air discharge member. In this case, when removing the residual medicine, the air discharge port of the air discharge member is disposed at an inner position of the drug hopper from the insertion port, and the air discharge member is disposed at the inner position of the hopper of the air discharge member. Air may be discharged from the air discharge port into the medicine hopper. In this case, in the medicine packaging device of the present invention, the opening is an insertion port for inserting the air ejection member, and the air ejection member driving mechanism is used to remove the air ejection when removing the residual medicine. The air discharge port of the member for use is disposed at an inner position of the drug hopper from the insertion port, and the drug hopper is disposed from the air discharge port disposed at the position of the air discharge member at the hopper inner side of the air discharge device. Air may be discharged into the inside. In this way, for example, even if there is a portion in the medicine hopper where residual medicine such as corners and protrusions is likely to accumulate, the air discharge port of the air discharge member is directed to that part, so that the air discharge Air can be blown directly from the outlet. Thereby, the residual chemical | medical agent in the part can be cleaned much more favorably.
[0014]
Specifically, the cleaning operation of the medicine hopper can be exemplified as follows. That is, when removing the residual medicine, when both the first and second opening / closing members are closed with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper, the air in the medicine hopper is discharged from the hopper suction port. After that, the air discharge port of the air discharge member is disposed at the air discharge position to discharge air from the air discharge port of the air discharge member, and air suction from the hopper suction port and This is a case where at least the first opening / closing member of the first and second opening / closing members is opened after the air discharge from the air discharge port is completed. In this case, in the medicine packaging device of the present invention, when removing the residual medicine, the first and second opening / closing drive mechanisms are used to perform the first and second opening / closing drive mechanisms with respect to the inlet and outlet portions of the medicine hopper. When both of the opening and closing members 2 are closed, the air in the medicine hopper is sucked from the hopper suction port by the air suction device, and then the air discharge member driving mechanism is used to An air discharge port is disposed at the air discharge position and air is discharged from the air discharge port of the air discharge member by the air supply device, and air is sucked from the hopper suction port and air from the air discharge port. After the end of the discharge, at least the first opening / closing member of the first and second opening / closing members may be opened.
[0015]
A typical example of the air discharge member is an air discharge nozzle. Note that a plurality of the openings and the air discharge members may be provided. In this case, for example, even if the medicine hopper has a relatively large capacity, the opening and the air discharge port of the air discharge member are appropriately arranged so that the air flows entirely in the hopper. Thus, the residual drug can be removed as well.
[0016]
In the medicine packaging apparatus according to the present invention, the medicine hopper may include a medicine opening / closing valve disposed to be openable and closable in order to open or block the medicine. In this case, the second opening / closing member may also serve as the medicine opening / closing valve.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an example 1 of a medicine packaging device for carrying out the method for cleaning a medicine hopper according to the present invention with the top cover removed, and FIG. 2 is a medicine packaging shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an internal side view showing a schematic configuration of the device 1.
[0019]
1 and FIG. 2 includes a powder distribution mechanism 1a for distributing powder and a tablet distribution mechanism 1b for distributing tablets.
[0020]
The powder distribution mechanism 1 a includes a powder splitting rotary table 2 having a powder receiving groove 3, a feeder 4 and a support arm 7 having scraping blades 9.
[0021]
In this powder distribution mechanism 1 a, a required amount of powder is supplied at a constant conveyance speed to the rotary table 2 that rotates at a constant speed by the feeder 4, and the supplied powder is supplied to the powder receiving groove 3 of the rotary table 2. Be placed. Then, the scraping blade 9 of the support arm 7 is lowered into the powder receiving groove 3, and the powder in the powder receiving groove 3 is cut out equally by the scraping blade 9 according to the required number of divisions. Powder is distributed sequentially.
[0022]
The rotary table 2 has the powder receiving groove 3 that is kept horizontal and has an annular concave curved surface, and is arranged to be driven to rotate by a motor (not shown) provided at the center.
[0023]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, at the upper front part of the rotary table 2, the sprinkling openings 5 arranged so as to face each other so as to supply the powder to the powder receiving groove 3 on the rotary table 2. The feeder 4 (4a, 4b) having (5a, 5b) is provided. The feeder 4 is provided with stoppers 6 (6a, 6b) for blocking the powder.
[0024]
A circular cam (not shown) for operating the stopper 6 provided in the feeder 4 in the vertical direction is provided on the side surface of the feeder 4. This cam is a motor (not shown) via a cam rotation shaft. It is connected to the. Since the cam rotation shaft is connected to the eccentric position of the cam, the stopper 6 can be operated in the vertical direction when the cam rotates about the cam rotation shaft.
[0025]
Further, the support arm 7 is disposed above the turntable 2 so as to straddle the turntable 2. At one end of the support arm 7, the scraping blade 9 attached to the rotary shaft 8 supported by the same axis, and the circular partition plate 10 attached to the boss fitted to the rotary shaft 8 via a bearing. The other end is provided with a cleaning head 11 for cleaning the powder receiving groove 3.
[0026]
The tablet dispensing mechanism 1 b includes a tablet divided supply unit 12 configured with 48 divided masses 13 so as to cross the upper side of the rotary table 2. The bottom plate 14 of the divided mass 13 is opened intermittently sequentially on a chute 15 provided on the lower side of the tablet divided supply unit 12, and the tablets in the divided mass are distributed through the chute 15. .
[0027]
A hopper portion 16 is provided below the scraping blade 9. The tablets dropped on the powder receiving groove 3 and / or the chute 15 are packaged one by one in the packaging member at the packaging part 17 (see FIG. 2) disposed below the hopper part 16 through the hopper part 16. It is configured to be packaged.
[0028]
FIG. 3A shows a schematic plan view of the hopper portion 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 3B shows a schematic side view of the hopper portion 16. In FIG. 3B, guide members 31, 32, an air supply device 71 and the like, which will be described later, are not shown.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 3, the hopper unit 16 includes a drug hopper 20, first and second opening / closing members 30 and 40, first and second opening / closing drive mechanisms 50 and 60, and air suction for sucking air. The apparatus 21 includes an air supply device 71 that supplies air, an air discharge nozzle 70 (an example of an air discharge member), and a nozzle drive mechanism 80 (an example of an air discharge member drive mechanism).
[0030]
The drug hopper 20 has an inlet part 20c and an outlet part 20d for the drug. Here, the drug hopper 20 receives the drug from the powder distribution mechanism 1a and the tablet distribution mechanism 1b and inputs the received drug into the packaging member. In the illustrated example, the inside of the hopper is partly partitioned by the partition member 22, and a powdered portion 20a for receiving powder and a tablet portion 20b for receiving tablets are formed. Further, the medicine hopper 20 is provided with a hopper suction port 23 that communicates with the air suction device 21 and sucks the air in the hopper 20.
[0031]
4 (A) and 4 (B), the first and second opening / closing members 30, 40 and the first and second opening / closing drive mechanisms 50, 60 shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B) are shown. An explanatory diagram is shown. In FIG. 4, the opening / closing members 30 and 40 and the opening / closing drive mechanisms 50 and 60 are mainly described, and other components are not shown.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 4, the first opening / closing member 30 is disposed so as to be openable and closable with respect to the medicine inlet 20 c in the medicine hopper 20, and is supported by a pair of guide members 31 and 32. The guide members 31 and 32 are not shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B and FIGS. 5B to 7B described later. More specifically, the first opening / closing member 30 here is an opening / closing shutter made of a rectangular plate-like member, and is disposed above the hopper 20. The opening / closing shutter 30 is provided with a shutter opening / closing hole 30a extending along a second direction (Y direction in the drawing) orthogonal to a predetermined first direction (X direction in the drawing) on the right side in the drawing. Further, the pair of guide members 31 and 32 are arranged in parallel with the shutter 30 in between, and rail grooves 31a and 32a extending along the first direction X are provided on the sides facing each other. Both ends of the shutter 30 in the second direction Y are supported by the grooves 31a and 32a. Accordingly, the shutter 30 can be slidably guided along the rail grooves 31 a and 32 a of the guide members 31 and 32, and can be disposed so as to be openable and closable with respect to the inlet portion 20 c in the hopper 20.
[0033]
Further, the opening / closing shutter 30 is provided with an opening 30b (here, a nozzle insertion port for inserting the nozzle 70) for discharging air from an air discharge nozzle 70 described later.
[0034]
The first opening / closing drive mechanism 50 opens and closes the opening / closing shutter 30, and includes a first opening / closing driving device 51 and first and second detection sensors 54, 55.
[0035]
The first opening / closing drive device 51 includes a drive motor 52 having a rotation shaft 52 a and a link member 53. The link member 53 has one end 53a connected to the rotating shaft 52a of the drive motor 52, and the other end 53b is provided with an engaging portion 53c extending upward. It is inserted into the opening / closing hole 30 a of the opening / closing shutter 30. As a result, the engagement portion 53c of the link member 53 is rotated around the rotation axis by the rotational drive of the rotation shaft 52a in the predetermined direction (R direction in FIG. 4A) by the drive motor 52, and the opening / closing hole is opened. By moving (reciprocating) 30 a in the second direction Y, the shutter 30 can be opened and closed in the first direction X along the guide members 31 and 32.
[0036]
Here, each of the first and second detection sensors 54 and 55 is a reflection type photosensor, and is disposed below the opening / closing shutter 30 by a support member 56, and the first detection sensor 54 is the shutter 30. Is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening / closing hole 30a when opening the entrance 20c of the hopper 20, and the second detection sensor 55 is configured to open and close the opening / closing hole 30a when the shutter 30 closes the entrance 20c of the hopper 20. It is arranged at a position corresponding to. Accordingly, the first and second detection sensors 54 and 55 can detect the open position and the closed position of the shutter 30, respectively.
[0037]
The second opening / closing member 40 is disposed so as to be openable / closable with respect to the medicine outlet 20d in the medicine hopper 20, and here, a medicine opening / closing valve (an example of the second opening / closing member) for opening or closing the medicine is used. ).
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 4 (B), the medicine opening / closing valve 40 has a letter-shaped cross section, has a fulcrum 40a inside the bent portion, and is latched at the short side end. The outlet portion 20d of the medicine hopper 20 is rotatably provided with the fulcrum portion 40a as a fulcrum.
[0039]
The second opening / closing drive mechanism 60 includes an urging member (here, a winding spring 61) and a second opening / closing drive device (here, a solenoid 62). The spring 61 is connected to the latching portion 40b of the medicine opening / closing valve 40, and biases the opening / closing valve 40 in a direction to close the outlet portion 20d. The solenoid 62 has a rod-like plunger 62a, and this plunger 62a is connected to the latching portion 40b of the on-off valve 40, and is disposed so as to face the spring 61 with the fulcrum portion 40a therebetween. . As a result, the opening / closing valve 40 biased by the spring 61 can be opened and closed by the reciprocating movement of the plunger 62a when the solenoid 62 is turned on and off.
[0040]
5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the air discharge nozzle 70, the air supply device 71, and the nozzle driving mechanism 80 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In FIG. 5, the nozzle 70, the supply device 71, and the drive mechanism 80 are mainly described, and other components are not illustrated.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 5, the air discharge nozzle 70 has an air discharge port 70a, is formed in an arc shape, and is supported by a nozzle support portion 81 to be described later. The nozzle 70 communicates with an air supply device 71 and can discharge air supplied from the supply device 71 from the discharge port 70a. More specifically, the end portion of the nozzle 70 opposite to the discharge port 70 a side is connected to one end of a flexible tube 72 having flexibility, and the other end of the tube 72 is connected to the supply device 71. Thereby, air can be discharged from the discharge port 70 a of the nozzle 70 through the tube 72 by the supply device 71.
[0042]
The nozzle drive mechanism 80 feeds the medicine into the air discharge port 70a of the air discharge nozzle 70 to the air discharge position (here, the inner position of the hopper 20) where the air can be discharged into the medicine hopper 20 and the hopper 20. Drive motor having a nozzle support portion 81, an eccentric cam 82, and a rotary shaft 83a, which is selectively disposed between a retreat position (here, the outer position of the hopper 20) that allows the passage of the medicine at the time. 83 and an urging member (here, a winding spring 84).
[0043]
The nozzle support portion 81 has a pair of nozzle holding members 81a and a cam contact member 81b. The holding member 81 a is disposed so as to be able to sandwich the nozzle 70, and is connected to the contact member 81 b while holding the nozzle 70. The contact member 81b is rotatably supported in a predetermined direction (the Z direction in FIG. 5B) with the fulcrum portion 81c as a fulcrum, and has a cam contact portion 81d that contacts the eccentric cam 82. is doing.
[0044]
The eccentric cam 82 is connected to the rotation shaft 83 a of the drive motor 83. The spring 84 is connected to the cam contact member 81 b and biases the discharge port 70 a of the nozzle 70 in a direction in which the discharge port 70 a is disposed at the outer position of the hopper 20. Thereby, the discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 is moved in the Z direction between the inner position and the outer position of the hopper 20 by the rotation driving of the rotation shaft 83a in the predetermined direction (S direction in FIG. 5B) by the drive motor 83. Is swung. Here, the nozzle drive mechanism 80 is provided with a light identifying portion (not shown) such as a light passage hole or a reflected light detecting member in the eccentric cam 82, and this light identifying portion is a transmission type or a reflection type. By detecting with a photo sensor or the like (not shown), the inner position or the outer position of the discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 can be detected. In addition, as described above, the shutter 30 is provided with the insertion port 30b for inserting the nozzle 70. When the shutter 30 is closed, the nozzle 70 can be inserted from the insertion port 30b.
[0045]
The drug packaging device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 further includes a control unit CONT.
FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of the medicine packaging device 1.
[0046]
The control part CONT is mainly configured by a computer, and controls the entire medicine packaging device 1 by executing a processing program stored in a storage means such as a RAM or a ROM (not shown), and a medicine. The cleaning operation of the hopper 20 can be controlled.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit CONT is connected to the photosensors 54 and 55 and the drive motor 52 of the first opening / closing drive mechanism 50, and operates the motor 52 based on the detection results of the sensors 54 and 55. Can be made. The control unit CONT is also connected to the solenoid 62 of the second opening / closing drive mechanism 60, the air suction device 21, the air supply device 71, and the drive motor 83 of the nozzle drive mechanism 80. Can be operated.
[0048]
This operation will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of the cleaning operation of the hopper 20 by the control unit CONT.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 9, the controller CONT first turns off the solenoid 62 to close the medicine opening / closing valve 40 with respect to the outlet 20 d of the hopper 20, and turns on the drive motor 52 to turn on the link member. The engaging portion 53c of 53 is rotated in the R direction, and the opening / closing shutter 30 is moved in the direction of closing the inlet portion 20c of the hopper 20. When the closing position of the shutter 30 is detected by the sensor 55, the rotation drive is stopped by turning off the motor 52, and the shutter 30 is closed with respect to the entrance 20c of the hopper 20. 6A and 6B show a state where the entrance 20c of the hopper 20 is closed by the shutter 30. FIG.
[0050]
At this time, the air in the hopper 20 is sucked from the hopper suction port 23 by turning on the air suction device 21.
[0051]
Next, by turning on the drive motor 83, the rotary shaft 83a is rotationally driven, and the eccentric cam 82 is rotated in the S direction, whereby the nozzle support portion 81 is rotated in the direction of the hopper 20, and the air discharge nozzle 70 is rotated. The air discharge port 70a is inserted into the hopper 20 through the nozzle insertion port 30b. Then, when the motor 83 is rotated halfway, the motor 83 is turned off to stop the rotational drive, and the discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 is disposed at the inner position of the hopper 20. 7A and 7B show a state in which the discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 is disposed at the inner position of the hopper 20. FIG.
[0052]
After 2 seconds from the start of air suction in the hopper 20, the air supply device 71 is turned on so that air is discharged into the hopper 20 from the discharge port 70 a disposed at the inner position of the hopper 20 of the nozzle 70 for 5 seconds. 71 is turned OFF and the discharge of air is stopped.
[0053]
Then, 5 seconds after the air discharge into the hopper 20 is stopped, the air suction device 21 is turned off, and the suction of the air in the hopper 20 is stopped.
[0054]
Thereafter, when the eccentric cam 82 is rotated in the S direction by the rotational drive of the drive motor 83, the nozzle support portion 81 is rotated in the direction opposite to the hopper 20, and the motor 83 is further rotated halfway. Is stopped, and the discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 is disposed outside the hopper 20.
[0055]
Further, by turning on the drive motor 52, the engaging portion 53c of the link member 53 is further rotated in the R direction, and the opening / closing shutter 30 is moved in the direction of opening the entrance portion 20c of the hopper 20. When the opening position of the shutter 30 is detected by the sensor 54, the rotation drive is stopped by turning off the motor 52, and the shutter 30 is opened with respect to the entrance 20c of the hopper 20.
[0056]
As described above, in the medicine packaging device 1, when removing the residual medicine, the shutter 30 and the valve 40 are both closed with respect to the inlet 20c and outlet 20d of the hopper 20, and the outlet 70a of the nozzle 70 is also closed. Is arranged at an air discharge position where air can be discharged into the hopper 20 from the opening 30b. Then, air in the hopper 20 is sucked from the hopper suction port 23, while air is discharged from the discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 into the hopper 20 through the opening 30b. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, by arranging the discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 so that the air discharge direction from the discharge port 70a is different from the direction of the suction port 23, The air discharged from the discharge port 70a into the hopper 20 can be sucked from the suction port 23 while being convected in the hopper 20 without flowing in a certain direction. In addition, the arrow P in the hopper 20 in FIG. 7 (B) shows the flow of air. Thereby, air can be entirely flowed into the hopper 20 regardless of the shape of the hopper 20. For example, even if there is a portion in the hopper 20 where residual medicine tends to accumulate, such as corners and protrusions, the residual medicine in that portion can be cleaned well. Thus, the residual drug in the hopper 20 is discharged from the nozzle 70 into the hopper 20 and removed together with the air sucked from the suction port 23, and the residual drug in the hopper 20 is cleaned.
[0057]
According to the medicine packaging device 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when removing the residual medicine, the opening / closing shutter 30 and the opening / closing valve 40 are both closed with respect to the inlet 20c and outlet 20d of the hopper 20 and air is discharged. The air discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 is disposed at an air discharge position where air can be discharged from the opening 30b into the hopper 20, and the air in the hopper 20 is sucked from the hopper suction port 23. By discharging air from the discharge port 70a into the hopper 20 through the opening 30b, the residual drug in the hopper 20 is removed, so that the cleaning performance can be improved as compared with the conventional one, regardless of the shape of the drug hopper. For example, even if there is a part in the medicine hopper where residual medicine tends to accumulate, such as corners or protrusions, The residual drug can be satisfactorily cleaned.
[0058]
Further, in this example, when removing the residual medicine, the air discharge port 70a of the nozzle 70 is disposed at the inner position of the hopper 20 from the insertion port 30b, and the air discharge port 70a disposed at the inner position of the hopper 20 of the nozzle 70 is used. Since air is discharged into the hopper 20, for example, even if there is a portion in the hopper 20 where residual chemicals such as corners and protrusions tend to accumulate, the discharge port 70 a of the nozzle 70 is directed to that portion. Air can be directly blown from 70a. Thereby, the residual chemical | medical agent in the part can be cleaned much more favorably.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the cleaning performance can be improved as compared with the conventional case, and, for example, there are portions where residual medicine such as corners and protrusions easily accumulate in the medicine hopper regardless of the shape of the medicine hopper. Even if it exists, the cleaning method and chemical | medical agent packaging apparatus of the chemical | medical hopper which can clean the residual chemical | medical agent in the part well can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a state where an upper cover of an example of a medicine packaging device for carrying out a medicine hopper cleaning method according to the present invention is removed, as viewed from above.
FIG. 2 is an internal side view showing a schematic configuration of the medicine packaging device shown in FIG.
3A is a schematic plan view of the drug hopper shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 3B is a schematic side view of the drug hopper.
4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of the first and second opening / closing members and the first and second opening / closing drive mechanisms shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. .
5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the air discharge nozzle, the air supply device, and the nozzle drive mechanism shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are views showing a state in which the entrance of the medicine hopper is closed by an open / close shutter.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing a state in which the discharge port of the air discharge nozzle is arranged at an inner position of the medicine hopper.
8 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of the medicine packaging device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of a hopper cleaning operation by the control unit in the medicine packaging device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Drug packaging apparatus 1a ... Powder distribution mechanism 1b ... Tablet distribution mechanism
20 ... Drug hopper 20c ... Drug inlet in hopper 20
20d: Drug outlet 21 in the hopper 20 ... Air suction device
23 ... Hopper suction port 30 ... First opening / closing member 30b ... Opening
40 ... second opening / closing member 50 ... first opening / closing drive mechanism 60 ... second opening / closing drive mechanism
70 ... Air discharge member 70a ... Air discharge port 71 ... Air supply device
80 .. member discharge mechanism for air discharge

Claims (7)

A cleaning method for removing residual drug in a drug hopper having a drug inlet and outlet,
First and second opening / closing members that can be opened and closed with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper are provided, and at least one of the medicine hopper and the first opening / closing member is provided in the medicine hopper. A hopper suction port for sucking air is provided, and at least one of the medicine hopper and the first opening / closing member is provided with an opening for discharging air from an air discharge member having an air discharge port,
The opening is an insertion port for inserting the air discharge member,
When removing the remaining medicine, the first and second opening / closing members are both closed with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper, and the air discharge port of the air discharge member is inserted into the insertion portion. mouth or al, the inside position of the drug hopper is air ejection position capable discharged et ah, arranged as an air discharge direction is in a direction different from the direction of the hopper suction port, and the hopper suction port from one to suck the air in the drug hopper, said by discharging air in the disposed in the hopper inside position of the air discharge member air discharge ports or found before Symbol agent hopper, in the drug hopper A method for cleaning a drug hopper, which comprises removing residual drug. When removing the residual medicine, air in the medicine hopper is sucked from the hopper suction port when both the first and second opening / closing members are closed with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper. After that, the air discharge port of the air discharge member is disposed at the air discharge position to discharge air from the air discharge port of the air discharge member, and the air suction from the hopper suction port and the air after air discharge end of the discharge port, wherein said at least said first opening and closing member drug hopper cleaning method of claim 1 Symbol placement to open the one of the first and second opening and closing member. The air discharge member, drug hopper cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air ejection nozzle. In a drug packaging device comprising at least one of a powder distribution mechanism for distributing powder and a tablet distribution mechanism for distributing tablets, and a drug hopper having an inlet part and an outlet part for the drug,
First and second opening / closing members disposed to be openable and closable with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper,
First and second opening / closing drive mechanisms for opening and closing the first and second opening / closing members, respectively;
An air suction device for sucking air;
An air supply device for supplying air;
An air discharge member that has an air discharge port, communicates with the air supply device, and discharges air supplied from the air supply device from the air discharge port;
The air discharge port of the air discharge member is between an air discharge position where air can be discharged into the drug hopper and a retreat position where the drug is allowed to pass when the drug is put into the drug hopper. An air discharge member drive mechanism to be selectively disposed,
At least one of the medicine hopper and the first opening / closing member is provided with a hopper suction port that communicates with the air suction device and sucks air in the medicine hopper.
In at least one of the medicine hopper and the first opening / closing member, an opening for discharging air from the air discharge member is provided as an insertion port for inserting the air discharge member ,
In removing the residual medicine, the first and second opening / closing members are closed by the first and second opening / closing drive mechanisms with respect to the inlet and outlet of the medicine hopper, and the air In the discharge member driving mechanism, the air discharge port of the air discharge member is moved from the insertion port to an inner position of the drug hopper, which is the air discharge position where air can be discharged into the drug hopper. The discharge direction is different from the direction of the hopper suction port , and the air suction device sucks the air in the medicine hopper from the hopper suction port, while the air supply device the by ejecting air to the disposed in the hopper inside position of the air discharge member air discharge ports or found before Symbol agent hopper, said agent ho Drug packaging device, and removing the residual drug in par. In removing the residual medicine, when both the first and second opening / closing members are closed by the first and second opening / closing drive mechanisms with respect to the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the medicine hopper, Air in the medicine hopper is sucked from the hopper suction port by an air suction device, and then the air discharge port of the air discharge member is arranged at the air discharge position by the air discharge member drive mechanism. The air supply device discharges air from the air discharge port of the air discharge member, and after the air suction from the hopper suction port and the air discharge from the air discharge port are finished, the first and second opening and closing The medicine packaging apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein at least the first opening / closing member among members is opened. The medicine packaging apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the air discharge member is an air discharge nozzle. The medicine packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6 , wherein the second opening / closing member also serves as a medicine opening / closing valve for opening or blocking the medicine.

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