JP7659799B2 - Drug supply device, cassette selector and drug allocation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a drug supply device, a cassette selection tool, and a drug allocation device.

International Publication No. WO 2014/112221 (Patent Document 1) is a prior art document that discloses the configuration of a medicine dispensing device. The medicine dispensing device described in Patent Document 1 comprises a plurality of medicine cassettes, an allocation means, and a drive control means. The medicine cassettes are capable of dispensing any type of tablet. When medicine information of a drug to be dispensed is input, the allocation means allocates the medicine information to one of the medicine cassettes. The drive control means drives the medicine cassette in accordance with preset drive conditions corresponding to the medicine information allocated by the allocation means, and dispenses medicine from the medicine cassette.

International Publication No. 2014/112221

There is a demand for easy selection of cassettes capable of supplying medication.

The drug supply device according to the present invention includes a plurality of cassettes, a cassette selector, a plurality of drive units, and a control unit. Each of the plurality of cassettes is capable of supplying drugs within a certain dimensional range. The cassette selector can select a cassette capable of supplying drugs from among the plurality of cassettes according to the dimensions of the drug. Each of the plurality of drive units is configured to be capable of mounting each of the plurality of cassettes, and drives the mounted cassette. The control unit controls each of the plurality of drive units. The control unit assigns drug information related to the drug to the cassette selected by the cassette selector, or to the drive unit to which this cassette is mounted. The control unit controls the drive unit so as to supply the drug from the cassette to which the drug information is assigned, or from a cassette mounted on the drive unit to which the drug information is assigned.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selection tool shows the correspondence between drug dimensions and cassettes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selector shows the correspondence between each drug shape and drug size and the cassette.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above dimensions of the drug associated with the cassette in the cassette selector are the diameter dimension and thickness dimension of the drug.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selector is formed with a plurality of circular through holes of different diameters. When drugs are placed into the through holes in order of diameter, starting with the smallest, it is possible to determine that the diameter of the drug is within a certain range based on the diameter of the through hole through which the drug first passes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selector is formed with a plurality of rectangular through-holes of different widths. When drugs are placed into the through-holes, starting with the narrowest, it is possible to determine whether the thickness of the drug is within a certain dimensional range based on the width of the through-hole through which the drug first passes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selector is provided with a range of drug sizes corresponding to each of a number of through holes.

The cassette selection tool according to the present invention can select from among a number of cassettes a cassette capable of supplying a drug according to the dimensions of the drug.

The drug allocation device according to the present invention includes a plurality of cassettes, a cassette selector, and a control unit. Each of the plurality of cassettes is capable of supplying drugs within a certain range of dimensions. The cassette selector can select a cassette capable of supplying a drug from among the plurality of cassettes according to the dimensions of the drug. The control unit assigns drug information related to the drug to the cassette selected by the cassette selector.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily select a cassette capable of supplying medicine.

1 is a front view showing the appearance of a medicine packing device including a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lid portion of a cassette included in a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention is open. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cassette of FIG. 2 as seen in the direction of arrow III. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cassette of FIG. 2 as seen from the direction of arrow IV. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a medicine container in a cassette included in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention, with a part cut away. FIG. 1 is a perspective plan view showing a rotor in a cassette included in a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the positional relationship between a rotor and a partition portion included in a cassette provided in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a partition section included in a cassette provided in a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a partition section included in a cassette provided in the medicine supplying device according to one embodiment of the present invention is removed from a medicine containing section together with a partial peripheral wall. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the rotor and the drive shaft of FIG. 7 as viewed from the direction of the arrows XX. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a rotor, a cap portion, and a drive shaft included in a cassette provided in a medicine supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a cap portion included in a cassette provided in a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a rotor is attached to and detached from a drive shaft in a cassette included in a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a partition portion together with a partial peripheral wall has been removed from a medicine containing portion and a rotor has been removed from a drive shaft when starting to clean a cassette provided in a medicine supplying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. This is a side view showing the cassette provided in the medicine supply device of one embodiment of the present invention, after cleaning has been completed, with the rotor attached to the drive shaft, a partition portion attached to the medicine storage portion together with a partial peripheral wall, and the lid portion closed. 1 is a block diagram showing a connection system of a medicine packing device including a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an operation procedure of a medicine packing device including a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 11 is a diagram showing an initial screen of a prescription screen displayed on an operation panel provided in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a selection screen displayed on an operation panel included in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a refilling instruction screen displayed on an operation panel provided in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a manual instruction screen displayed on an operation panel provided in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cassette usage history screen displayed on an operation panel included in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a refill instruction screen displayed on an operation panel included in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the number of medicines supplied becomes insufficient. 13 is a diagram showing a refill instruction screen displayed on the operation panel when a pre-check setting is made and before the identification code is read by the reading unit; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a refill instruction screen displayed on an operation panel included in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention when there is a cassette waiting for cleaning. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a refill instruction screen displayed on an operation panel included in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention when a cassette position where a malfunction has occurred is present. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a cassette selector included in a medicine supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when supplying medicines from a cassette selected according to the size of the medicines in the medicine supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes a drug supply device, cassette selection tool, and drug allocation device according to one embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiments, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated. In the following description, a drug packaging device including a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The drug supply device is part of the drug packaging device, and is composed of parts of the drug packaging device other than the packaging section described below. The cassette selection tool and drug allocation device are each part of the drug supply device.

Figure 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a drug packaging device including a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, a drug packaging device 200 including a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 210, a tablet supply unit 220, and a packaging unit 260. The drug packaging device 200 further includes a manual drug supply cassette 240, a powder supply unit 250, and a control device 300. Each of the tablet supply unit 220, the manual drug supply cassette 240, the powder supply unit 250, and the packaging unit 260 is housed in the housing 210. The drug supply device includes the housing 210, the tablet supply unit 220, the manual drug supply cassette 240, the powder supply unit 250, and the control device 300.

The tablet supply section 220 has a plurality of cassette positions 230 in which the cassettes 100 are arranged. The plurality of cassette positions 230 are arranged in a matrix in the housing 210. In this embodiment, the tablet supply section 220 has six cassette positions 230. One cassette 100 is arranged in each of the six cassette positions 230. Therefore, six cassettes 100 can be arranged in the tablet supply section 220.

Each of the multiple cassette positions 230 is provided with a drive unit that drives the cassette 100 and an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader/writer.

The manually-prepared drug supply cassette 240 has compartments arranged in a matrix, and each compartment contains one packet of drug. The powder supply unit 250 supplies powdered drug. The packaging unit 260 packages the drugs to be supplied from the tablet supply unit 220, the manually-prepared drug supply cassette 240, and the powder supply unit 250 in individual packets. The control device 300 controls each of the tablet supply unit 220, the manually-prepared drug supply cassette 240, the powder supply unit 250, and the packaging unit 260.

Next, the cassette, which is the drug supply unit provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a cassette provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention with the lid open. Figure 3 is a plan view of the cassette in Figure 2 as viewed from the direction of arrow III. Figure 4 is a bottom view of the cassette in Figure 2 as viewed from the direction of arrow IV. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a cutaway portion of a medicine storage section in a cassette provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a plan view showing a see-through rotor in a cassette provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figures 5 and 6 show the cassette with the lid removed. In Figure 6, the rotor is shown by a dotted line.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cassette 100 provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a drug storage section 110, a rotor 120, and a drive shaft 150. The cassette 100 further includes a lid section 130 and a partition section 140.

The drug storage unit 110 has a peripheral wall 111 and an outlet 112, stores the drug inside the peripheral wall 111, and discharges the drug from the outlet 112. The inner surface of the peripheral wall 111 is cylindrical. The outlet 112 is formed on the bottom surface of the drug storage unit 110 and is adjacent to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 111 on the radially inner side of the peripheral wall 111.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cassette 100 has a circular opening 113 on the bottom surface of the medicine containing section 110 at a position on the central axis of the peripheral wall 111. The opening 113 is inserted into a drive shaft 150 connected to a motor (not shown) that rotates the rotor 120. The drive shaft 150 is rotatably fixed to the inside of the peripheral wall 111 while being positioned coaxially with the rotor 120. In other words, the drive shaft 150 is rotatably fixed to the medicine containing section 110. The drive shaft 150 rotates the rotor 120, which is detachably attached in the axial direction. The rotor 120 and the drive shaft 150 are each made of resin.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lid portion 130 is rotatable to open and close the medicine storage portion 110.

As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the rotor 120 is provided inside the medicine containing section 110, and conveys the medicine contained in the medicine containing section 110 to the discharge port 112 by rotating. The rotor 120 is disposed on the bottom surface of the medicine containing section 110 inside the peripheral wall 111. In this embodiment, the rotor 120 is configured to be capable of both forward rotation, which rotates toward one side in the circumferential direction of the rotor 120, as shown by arrow A in Figure 3, and reverse rotation, which rotates toward the other side in the circumferential direction of the rotor 120, as shown by arrow B in Figure 3. Note that the rotor 120 does not necessarily need to be capable of both forward and reverse rotation, and it is sufficient that it is capable of rotating in at least one direction in the circumferential direction of the rotor 120.

Figure 7 is a side view showing the positional relationship between the rotor and the partition included in the cassette provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the partition included in the cassette provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 illustrates the rotor 120 attached to the drive shaft 150.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 7, the rotor 120 has a top surface 126 that is inclined convexly upward and a peripheral surface 121 adjacent to the top surface 126. The top surface 126 is provided with a plurality of radial grooves 127. A cylindrical central protrusion 128 protrudes from the center of the top surface 126. A cap portion 160 is attached to the upper end of the central protrusion 128.

The cap portion 160 when the rotor 120 is attached to the drive shaft 150 and the lid portion 130 when the medicine container portion 110 is closed face each other with a gap between them. This gap is 2 mm or less, and preferably 1 mm or less.

5 and 7, the lower part of the peripheral surface 121 is provided with a plurality of first protrusions 122 and a plurality of second protrusions 123 that are positioned with a gap 125 between them in the circumferential direction of the rotor 120. Each of the plurality of first protrusions 122 and the plurality of second protrusions 123 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the radial direction of the rotor 120. A portion of the upper surface of each of the plurality of first protrusions 122 protrudes to a position higher than the lower surface of the partition portion 140. The entire upper surface of each of the plurality of second protrusions 123 is a flat surface. The tip of each of the plurality of first protrusions 122 and the plurality of second protrusions 123 in the radial direction of the rotor 120 faces the inner surface of the peripheral wall 111 with a small gap therebetween.

Each of the multiple first protrusions 122 and multiple second protrusions 123 is formed so that when the rotor 120 rotates, it can press the medicine contained in the gap 125 and transport it to the outlet 112. Specifically, as the rotor 120 rotates, the medicine contained in the gap 125 is pressed by the first protrusions 122 or the second protrusions 123 and transported in the circumferential direction of the rotor 120, and falls into the outlet 112.

At least two third protrusions 124 are further provided on the peripheral surface 121. As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, in this embodiment, one third protrusion 124 is disposed above each of the second protrusions 123. The tip of each of the at least two third protrusions 124 in the radial direction of the rotor 120 faces the inner surface of the peripheral wall 111 with a small gap therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 7, a passage G through which the partition 140 passes when the rotor 120 rotates is provided between the second protrusion 123 and the third protrusion 124, which are positioned next to each other in the vertical direction. The width of the passage G in the vertical direction is slightly larger than the thickness of the partition 140. The third protrusion 124 is formed so that it can move from above the partition 140 by pressing the medicine located on the partition 140 when the rotor 120 rotates. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the first protrusion 122 is formed so that the medicine located on the partition 140 can be moved from above the partition 140 by a part of the upper surface of the first protrusion 122 pushing up the partition 140 from below when the rotor 120 rotates.

As shown in Figures 3 and 6 to 8, the partition 140 is detachably attached to the peripheral wall 111 above the discharge port 112. The partition 140 extends from the inner surface of the peripheral wall 111 toward a position above the multiple first protrusions 122 and multiple second protrusions 123 on the peripheral surface 121. The gap 125 communicating with the discharge port 112 is covered by the partition 140, preventing the medicine from entering from above.

In this embodiment, the partition 140 is made of a flexible material. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the partition 140 is made by joining a plurality of flexible members to an arc-shaped base material 141 at intervals along the arc. The flexible members are made of, for example, soft synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the partition 140 is made in a brush shape, but is not limited to a brush shape and may be in a plate shape.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which a partition portion included in a cassette provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention has been removed from the medicine containing portion together with the partial peripheral wall. As shown in Figure 9, the base material 141 is attached to a hole portion of the partial peripheral wall 111a that constitutes part of the peripheral wall 111. The partial peripheral wall 111a is detachably connected to the remainder of the peripheral wall 111. Specifically, the partial peripheral wall 111a is detachably attached to the medicine containing portion 110 by a snap-fit structure.

The cassette 100 provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention further includes an attachment/detachment mechanism for detachably engaging the drive shaft 150 and the rotor 120. The configuration of the attachment/detachment mechanism of the cassette 100 provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the rotor and drive shaft of Figure 7, seen from the direction of the X-X arrows. Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the rotor, cap section, and drive shaft included in a cassette provided in a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cap section included in a cassette provided in a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the state in which the rotor is attached to and detached from the drive shaft in a cassette provided in a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The partition section is not shown in Figure 10.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, in this embodiment, the attachment/detachment mechanism includes a magnet 161 and a magnetic body 151. The magnetic body 151 is attached to the tip 152 of the drive shaft 150. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11, the tip 152 of the drive shaft 150 is formed with a notch 152c extending from the tip of the drive shaft 150 along the axial direction of the drive shaft 150, and a through hole 152h extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft 150.

As shown in FIG. 10, the magnetic body 151 has a generally T-shaped shape including a wide portion and a narrow portion in a vertical cross section, and a through hole is formed in the narrow portion. The narrow portion of the magnetic body 151 is inserted into the notch 152c of the tip portion 152 of the drive shaft 150, and the tip portion 152 of the drive shaft 150 and the wide portion of the magnetic body 151 are in contact with each other in the axial direction of the drive shaft 150. In this state, the spring pin 153 shown in FIG. 11 is inserted into the through hole 152h of the tip portion 152 of the drive shaft 150 and the through hole of the narrow portion of the magnetic body 151, so that the magnetic body 151 is attached to the tip portion 152 of the drive shaft 150 as shown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 11, the tip 152 of the drive shaft 150 and the magnetic body 151 when assembled together have a hexagonal shape when viewed from the axial direction of the drive shaft 150. The magnetic body 151 is made of a magnetic material such as SUS430.

The magnet 161 is built into the cap portion 160. Specifically, the cap portion 160 includes the magnet 161, a support portion 162, a cap 163, and a spacer 164. The support portion 162 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and houses and supports the magnet 161 inside. The cap 163 removably engages with the support portion 162. In this embodiment, the cap 163 and the support portion 162 are engaged with each other by a snap-fit structure, but they may also be engaged with each other by a screw structure. The support portion 162 and the cap 163 are each made of resin. The spacer 164 is sandwiched between the magnet 161 and the cap 163. The spacer 164 has a cylindrical shape and is made of resin.

As shown in Figures 10 and 12, when the cap 163 is engaged with the support portion 162, the magnet 161 is fixed together with the spacer 164 in the space surrounded by the cap 163 and the support portion 162. The magnet 161 is, for example, composed of a neodymium magnet. As shown in Figure 11, the cap portion 160 is attached to the tip of the central protrusion 128 by engaging with the notch 129 formed at the tip of the central protrusion 128 of the rotor 120.

As shown in FIG. 13, the rotor 120 with the cap portion 160 attached to the tip of the central protrusion 128 is removably attached to the drive shaft 150 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 150. As shown in FIG. 10, when the rotor 120 is attached to the drive shaft 150 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 150, the magnet 161 and the magnetic body 151 are positioned adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the drive shaft 150. In this embodiment, the bottom of the support portion 162 is positioned between the magnet 161 and the magnetic body 151.

In this state, the magnetic force acting between the magnet 161 and the magnetic body 151 urges the drive shaft 150 and the rotor 120 in a direction toward each other along the axial direction of the drive shaft 150. In this way, the attachment/detachment mechanism including the magnet 161 and the magnetic body 151 urges the drive shaft 150 and the rotor 120 in a direction toward each other along the axial direction of the drive shaft, detachably engaging them.

As shown in FIG. 10, a recess 128c that engages with the hexagonal shape of the magnetic body 151 is formed on the shaft hole surface through which the drive shaft 150 of the rotor 120 is inserted. The tip end 152 of the drive shaft 150 and the recess 128c of the rotor 120 engage with each other in the circumferential direction of the drive shaft 150 via the magnetic body 151, so that the relative position of the rotor 120 to the drive shaft 150 in the circumferential direction of the drive shaft 150 is fixed.

The operation of the cassette 100 provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

When the rotor 120 rotates with the medicine loaded into the medicine container 110, the medicine located on the top surface 126 moves toward the space between the inner surface of the peripheral wall 111 and the peripheral surface 121 of the rotor 120. The multiple grooves 127 agitate the medicine located on the top surface 126 as the rotor 120 rotates, making it easier to move the medicine into the space.

Some of the drugs that have moved into the space are accommodated in each gap 125, one at a time. As the rotor 120 rotates, the drugs accommodated in the gaps 125 are transported in the circumferential direction of the rotor 120 while being pressed by the first protrusion 122 or the second protrusion 123. The drugs accommodated in the gaps 125 that are located above the discharge port 112 and communicate with the discharge port 112 drop from the gaps 125 into the discharge port 112 and are dispensed.

At this time, the gap 125 communicating with the outlet 112 is covered by the partition 140, preventing the drug from entering from above. As a result, one drug can be dispensed from the outlet 112 at a time. As a result, each of the multiple cassettes 100 can supply drugs within a certain dimensional range of the drugs to be supplied.

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the cassette provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention in a state where the partition is removed from the drug storage unit together with the partial peripheral wall and the rotor is removed from the drive shaft at the start of cleaning. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, when cleaning the inside of the drug storage unit 110, the partition 140 is removed from the drug storage unit 110 together with the partial peripheral wall 111a, and then the rotor 120 is removed by sliding it from the drive shaft 150 against the biasing force of the attachment/detachment mechanism.

Figure 15 is a side view showing the cassette of the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention after cleaning is completed, with the rotor attached to the drive shaft, a partition attached to the drug storage section together with a partial peripheral wall, and the lid closed. As shown in Figure 15, after cleaning is completed, the drive shaft 150 is inserted into the shaft hole of the rotor 120, and the rotor 120 is attached to the drive shaft 150 by the biasing force of the attachment/detachment mechanism.

The cap portion 160 with the rotor 120 attached to the drive shaft 150 and the lid portion 130 with the medicine storage portion 110 closed face each other with a gap L between them. The gap L is 2 mm or less. Preferably, the gap L is 0.5 mm or more and 1 mm or less.

In this embodiment, the magnetic body 151 is attached to the tip 152 of the drive shaft 150, and the magnet 161 is attached to the cap portion 160. However, the magnet 161 may be attached to the tip 152 of the drive shaft 150, and the magnetic body 151 may be attached to the cap portion 160.

The attachment/detachment mechanism is not limited to one that uses magnetic force to urge the drive shaft 150 and rotor 120 toward each other, but may be one that uses a spring to urge the drive shaft 150 and rotor 120 toward each other, such as a ball catch.

In the cassette 100 provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the drug storage unit 110 has an outlet 112, stores the drug, and discharges the drug from the outlet 112. The rotor 120 is provided inside the drug storage unit 110 and transports the drug stored in the drug storage unit 110 to the outlet 112 by rotating. The drive shaft 150 is rotatably fixed to the drug storage unit 110 while being positioned coaxially with the rotor 120, and drives the rotor 120 to rotate. The attachment/detachment mechanism urges the drive shaft 150 and the rotor 120 in a direction approaching each other along the axial direction of the drive shaft 150 to detachably engage them.

This allows the rotor 120 to be attached and detached from the drive shaft 150 simply by moving the rotor 120 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 150, making it easy to clean the inside of the cassette 100.

In addition, by applying force using the attachment/detachment mechanism, it is possible to prevent the rotor 120 and the drive shaft 150 from being partially engaged. Furthermore, when the medicine gets stuck between the peripheral surface 121 of the rotor 120 and the peripheral wall 111, it is possible to prevent the rotor 120 from floating up. In addition, even when the medicine containing section 110 is turned upside down, it is possible to prevent the rotor 120 from falling.

In this embodiment, the attachment/detachment mechanism includes a magnet 161 and a magnetic body 151. The magnetic force acting between the magnet 161 and the magnetic body 151 biases the drive shaft 150 and the rotor 120 in a direction toward each other along the axial direction of the drive shaft 150. This allows the attachment/detachment mechanism to have a simple configuration.

In this embodiment, the drive shaft 150 and the rotor 120 are engaged with each other in the circumferential direction of the drive shaft 150, so that the relative position of the rotor 120 to the drive shaft 150 in the circumferential direction of the drive shaft 150 is fixed. This allows the rotation of the rotor 120 to be accurately controlled by the rotation of the drive shaft 150.

In this embodiment, the rotor 120 has a top surface 126 that is inclined convexly upward, and a central protrusion 128 that protrudes from the center of the top surface 126. This allows the rotor 120 to be attached and detached by grasping the central protrusion 128.

In this embodiment, a partition 140 extending from the inner surface of the peripheral wall 111 toward a position above the multiple first protrusions 122 and multiple second protrusions 123 on the peripheral surface 121 of the rotor 120 is provided so as to be detachable from the medicine containing section 110. This allows the partition 140 to be removed from the medicine containing section 110 before the rotor 120 is detached, thereby preventing interference between the partition 140 and each of the first protrusions 122 and the second protrusions 123. This makes it easy to attach and detach the rotor 120, and therefore makes it easy to clean the inside of the cassette 100.

In this embodiment, the lid portion 130 is provided so as to be rotatable so as to open and close the medicine containing portion 110. The cap portion 160 is attached to the upper end of the central protrusion 128. The cap portion 160 in a state in which the rotor 120 is attached to the drive shaft 150 and the lid portion 130 in a state in which the medicine containing portion 110 is closed face each other with a gap L therebetween. The gap L is 2 mm or less. As a result, if the rotor 120 is not completely attached to the drive shaft 150, the lid portion 130 and the cap portion 160 interfere with each other, and the lid portion 130 cannot be closed. Therefore, by confirming that the lid portion 130 is closed, it is possible to easily determine that the rotor 120 is completely attached to the drive shaft 150.

Each of the multiple cassettes 100 is affixed with an RFID tag. The RFID tag stores cassette identification information such as the cassette number.

Figure 16 is a block diagram showing the connection system of a medicine packaging device including a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 16, a medicine packaging device 200 including a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention has a control unit 270. The control unit 270 is electrically connected to each of the tablet supply unit 220, the manual medicine supply cassette 240, the powder supply unit 250, and the packaging unit 260. The control unit 270 is electrically connected to a control unit 340 of the control device 300, which will be described later. The control unit 270 has a memory unit 271.

The control unit 270 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random access memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). The control unit 270 may be an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or a DSP (digital signal processor). The storage unit 271 is a hard disk device or SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various types of data.

Each of the multiple cassette positions 230 is provided with a drive unit 231 that drives the cassette 100, and an RFID reader/writer 232. The drive unit 231 includes a drive motor that drives the drive shaft 150 of the cassette 100. The drive motor is driven and controlled by the control unit 270. In this way, each of the multiple drive units 231 is configured to be able to mount each of the multiple cassettes 100, and drives the mounted cassette 100. The RFID reader/writer 232 reads information from an RFID tag attached to the cassette 100 mounted in the drive unit 231. The information read by the RFID reader/writer 232 is input to the control unit 270.

As described below, the control unit 270 assigns drug information related to the drug to be supplied to a drive unit 231 selected from among the multiple drive units 231 to which the multiple cassettes 100 are attached. When one of the multiple cassettes 100 is attached to one of the multiple drive units 231, the control unit 270 assigns the drug information to be supplied to this one drive unit 231. Specifically, the control unit 270 assigns the drug information to be supplied to the drive unit 231 in which the attachment of the cassette 100 is detected by the RFID reader/writer 232.

The control unit 270 controls the drive unit 231 so that the cassette 100 attached to the drive unit 231 to which the drug information is assigned supplies the drug to be supplied under the driving conditions corresponding to the drug information. In this manner, the control unit 270 controls each of the multiple drive units 231.

The manual drug supply cassette 240 is controlled by the control unit 270. The powder supply unit 250 is controlled by the control unit 270. The packaging unit 260 is controlled by the control unit 270.

The control device 300 has an operation unit 310, a display unit 320, a reading unit 330, and a control unit 340. The control unit 340 is electrically connected to each of the operation unit 310, the display unit 320, and the reading unit 330. The control unit 340 has a memory unit 341.

The control unit 340 has a CPU, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, etc. The control unit 340 may be an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or DSP. The storage unit 341 is a hard disk device or SSD that stores various data.

The operation unit 310 is a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc. that accepts user operations. The operations accepted by the operation unit 310 are input to the control unit 340.

The display unit 320 is a liquid crystal monitor or the like. The display unit 320 displays a screen based on a signal from the control unit 340. The display unit 320 is capable of displaying information related to the allocation of drug information. In this embodiment, the display unit 320 is an operation panel integrated with the operation unit 310.

The reading unit 330 reads the identification code attached to the drug container. The container may be a bottle or a box. The identification code may be a barcode or a QR (Quick Response) code. The information read by the reading unit 330 is input to the control unit 340.

The following describes the display and operation procedure of the display unit 320 provided in the medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 17 is a block diagram showing the operation procedure of a medicine packaging device including a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 18 is a diagram showing the initial screen of a prescription screen displayed on an operation panel provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the prescription screen P1 of the display unit 320 provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention displays a prescription information display field T1, an operation display field T2, a number of packets display field T3, a display start input field T4, a packaging start input field T5, and an operation stop input field T6.

The prescription information display field T1 displays prescription information for one prescription. The operation display field T2 displays the operating status of the drug packaging device 200. The number of packets display field T3 displays the number of packets. The display start input field T4 is an operation input section for displaying a list of manually-dispensed drugs. Note that the manually-dispensed drugs displayed on the screen of the display unit 320 include not only drugs supplied from the manually-dispensed drug supply cassette 240, but also drugs supplied from the cassette 100.

The packaging start input field T5 is an operation input section for starting the packaging operation of the medicine packaging device 200. The operation stop input field T6 is an operation input section for stopping the packaging operation of the medicine packaging device 200.

As shown in FIG. 18, the prescription screen P1 of the display unit 320 of the drug supply device according to this embodiment can display prescription information for a total of three prescriptions, including the current prescription, the next prescription, and the prescription after that. This prescription information is stored in the memory unit 341 shown in FIG. 16 each time it is input from the operation unit 310, and is read from the memory unit 341 as needed and displayed on the prescription screen P1 of the display unit 320.

When prescription information and packaging information are input to the display unit 320, the prescription information display field T1 on the prescription screen P1 of the display unit 320 displays prescription information including the patient name and usage, the display of the operation display field T2 is switched from standby to packaging, and the number of packets is displayed in the packet number display field T3.

Figure 19 is a diagram showing a selection screen displayed on an operation panel provided in a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 17, when an operation is input into the display start input field T4 of the prescription screen P1 shown in Figure 18, the control unit 340 shown in Figure 16 displays a selection screen P2 on the display unit 320 as shown in Figure 19. The selection screen P2 is a screen for selecting whether the drug to be supplied will be supplied from the cassette 100 or the manual drug supply cassette 240.

As shown in FIG. 19, the selection screen P2 of the display unit 320 provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention displays a prescription information display field T11, a manual drug list display field T12, a number of tablets display field T13, a selection area display field T14, a cassette position display field T15, a specific drug display field T16, a cassette history display field T17, an assigned drug information display field T18, a first switching operation input field T19a, a second switching operation input field T19b, and a third switching operation input field T19c.

The prescription information display field T11 displays prescription information for one prescription. The manual drug list display field T12 displays a list of drug information for the supply target.

The number of tablets display field T13 displays the number of each drug required for one prescription. As shown in FIG. 19, the selection screen P2 displays the number of drugs required for one prescription for each drug information item to be supplied. Note that on the selection screen P2, the list of drug information items to be supplied displayed in the manual drug list display field T12 can be sorted in descending order of the number of drugs required for one prescription displayed in the number of tablets display field T13.

The selection area display field T14 displays two selection areas for selecting either the manual drug supply cassette 240 or the cassette 100. The control unit 340 can accept a selection operation for selecting whether the drug to be supplied will be supplied from the cassette 100 or the manual drug supply cassette 240.

The cassette position display field T15 displays the number of the cassette position 230 where the cassette 100 is located.

The specific drug display field T16 displays identification information for identifying that the drug is a specific drug that can only be supplied by the manual drug supply cassette 240. In the case of a specific drug, the drug cannot be supplied using the cassette 100. Here, a specific drug is, for example, a drug that is divided in half, or a drug that has a specific shape. Note that the divided form of the drug is not limited to being divided in half, but may be divided into three or more pieces. An example of a specific shape is a shape that is easy to roll, such as a sphere.

As shown in FIG. 19, if drug M3 No. 4 in the manual drug list is a divided drug, a divided mark is displayed in the specific drug display field T16 as identification information to identify it as a specific drug. In this case, in the selection area display field T14 corresponding to drug M3 No. 4 in the manual drug list, the selection area R1 corresponding to the manual drug supply cassette 240 becomes the specific selection area, and the selection area R2 other than the specific selection area is displayed in an identification color BM indicating that it is not selectable, and the control unit 340 will not accept any selection operation.

If drug M3 No. 4 in the manual drug list is a drug with a specific shape, a "not selectable" mark is displayed in the specific drug display field T16. In this case, too, in the selection area display field T14 corresponding to drug M3 No. 4 in the manual drug list, the selection area R1 corresponding to the manual drug supply cassette 240 becomes the specific selection area, and the selection area R2 other than the specific selection area is displayed in the identification color BM indicating that it is not selectable, and the control unit 340 will not accept any selection operation.

As described above, the control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display, in a distinguishable manner, drugs that can be supplied from the cassette 100 and drugs that cannot be supplied from the cassette 100. Furthermore, the control unit 340 does not accept a selection operation to select supply from the cassette 100 for drugs that cannot be supplied from the cassette 100.

In addition, when the cassette 100 cannot be mounted in any of the multiple drive units 231, the control unit 340 does not accept a selection operation to select supply from the cassette 100 on the selection screen P2.

In this embodiment, the specific drug display field T16 is located inside the tablet count display field T13. However, the location of the specific drug display field T16 is not limited to inside the tablet count display field T13.

As described above, on the selection screen P2, for each drug information item to be supplied, whether or not it is a specific drug that can only be supplied by the manually-distributed drug supply cassette 240 is displayed in a manner that makes it identifiable. The control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display, in a manner that makes it identifiable, drugs that can be supplied from the cassette 100 and drugs that cannot be supplied from the cassette 100.

The cassette history display field T17 displays identification information of the cassettes 100 that last supplied each drug in the list of drugs to be supplied. In this manner, the control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display the usage history of the cassettes 100. The usage history of the cassettes 100 is stored in the memory unit 271 or the memory unit 341. For each drug in the list of drugs to be supplied that has a history of being supplied by a cassette 100, the cassette history display field T17 displays identification information of the cassette 100 that last supplied the drug. In this manner, the control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display identification information of the cassette 100 that last supplied the drug to be supplied.

The assigned drug information display field T18 is displayed corresponding to the cassette position 230 where the multiple drive units 231 are located, as shown in FIG. 1. The assigned drug information display field T18 displays drug information of the supply target assigned to each of the multiple drive units 231 by the control unit 270.

The first switching operation input field T19a is an operation input section for closing the selection screen P2. The second switching operation input field T19b is an operation input section for displaying the manual packing instruction screen P4 on the display unit 320. The third switching operation input field T19c is an operation input section for confirming that preparation of all of the medicines to be supplied into packets has been completed.

As shown in FIG. 17, when an operation is input to the first switching operation input field T19a or the third switching operation input field T19c of the selection screen P2 shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 340 shown in FIG. 16 displays the prescription screen P1 on the display unit 320. When an operation is input to the second switching operation input field T19b of the selection screen P2 shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 340 shown in FIG. 16 displays the manual preparation instruction screen P4 on the display unit 320.

As shown in FIG. 17, when a selection operation in the selection area R2 on the selection screen P2 is accepted and one type of drug in the list of drugs to be supplied is selected to be supplied from the cassette 100, the display unit 320 displays a filling instruction screen P3 for filling the one type of drug into the cassette 100 attached to one of the multiple drive units 231.

Figure 20 shows a refill instruction screen displayed on an operation panel of a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The refill instruction screen P3 is a screen for instructing how many and which drugs should be refilled into a cassette 100 attached to a drive unit 231 of one of the six cassette positions 230.

As shown in FIG. 20, the refilling instruction screen P3 of the display unit 320 of the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention displays a prescription information display field T21, a refilled drug information display field T22, multiple selection areas T28, and a first switching operation input field T29a.

The prescription information display field T21 displays prescription information for one prescription. The filled drug information display field T22 displays information on the drug to be filled and the required number of drugs to be filled. In this way, the control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display the required number of drugs to be filled.

The multiple selection areas T28 correspond to the multiple cassette positions 230. Specifically, six selection areas T28 are displayed corresponding to the arrangement of the multiple cassette positions 230 shown in FIG. 1. In the multiple selection areas T28, the assigned drug information is displayed in the selection area T28 corresponding to the cassette position 230 at which the drive unit 231 to which drug information has already been assigned is located. In the multiple selection areas T28, the identification mark T25 is displayed in the selection area T28 corresponding to the cassette position 230 at which the drive unit 231 to which drug information has not been assigned is located. In this way, the control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display the multiple selection areas T28 so that the drive unit 231 capable of mounting the cassette 100 and the drive unit 231 incapable of mounting the cassette 100 can be distinguished.

The first switching operation input field T29a is an operation input section for closing the refilling instruction screen P3. As shown in FIG. 17, when an operation is input to the first switching operation input field T29a of the refilling instruction screen P3 shown in FIG. 20, the selection screen P2 is displayed on the display unit 320 by the control unit 340 shown in FIG. 16.

When the cassette 100 is attached to the drive unit 231 of the cassette position 230 corresponding to any of the selection areas T28 in which the identification mark T25 is displayed according to the display on the refill instruction screen P3, the control unit 270 assigns the drug information to be supplied to the drive unit 231 in which the attachment of the cassette 100 has been detected by the RFID reader/writer 232. The control unit 340 receives information from the control unit 270 about the drive unit 231 to which the drug information to be supplied has been assigned, and causes the drug information to be displayed in the assigned drug information display field T18 corresponding to the cassette position 230 on the selection screen P2 of the display unit 320.

The manual distribution instruction screen P4 is a screen that instructs the user as to which of the multiple compartments of the manual distribution medicine supply cassette 240 the medicine should be manually distributed and how many medicines should be distributed to each compartment. The control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display the manual distribution instruction screen P4, which shows multiple partition areas RD corresponding to the multiple compartments, according to the prescription information and packaging information.

Figure 21 is a diagram showing a manual preparation instruction screen displayed on an operation panel provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 21, the manual preparation instruction screen P4 of the display unit 320 provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention displays a prescription information display field T31, a packet number display field T32, a manual preparation medicine list display field T33, a tablet number display field T34, a partition area display field T35, a first switching operation input field T39a, and a third switching operation input field T39b.

The prescription information display field T31 displays prescription information for one prescription. The number of packets display field T32 displays the number of packets for one prescription. The manually-prepared drug list display field T33 displays a list of manually-prepared drugs supplied from the manually-prepared drug supply cassette 240. In the manually-prepared drug list display field T33, a drug can be selected from the list of manually-prepared drugs. In the manually-prepared drug list display field T33, the currently selected drug is displayed in an identification color DM.

The number of tablets display field T34 displays the number of each hand-prepared medication required for one prescription. In the number of tablets display field T34, the number of tablets of the currently selected medication is displayed in the identification color DM.

In the partitioned area display field T35, multiple partitioned areas RD corresponding to multiple compartments are displayed. The partitioned areas RD are displayed in the same arrangement as the compartments. For example, for drug M2, in the prescription information and packaging information for use after each meal, as shown in FIG. 21, in the partitioned area display field T35, each of the multiple partitioned areas RD numbered 1 to 21 is displayed in an identification color DM indicating that it is to be hand-distributed, and the number of drug M2 required at each time of administration, 1, is displayed.

The first switching operation input field T39a is an operation input section for closing the manual preparation instruction screen P4. The third switching operation input field T39b is an operation input section for confirming that preparation of all of the medicines to be supplied into packages has been completed.

As shown in FIG. 17, when an operation is input to the first switching operation input field T39a of the manual winding instruction screen P4 shown in FIG. 21, the control unit 340 shown in FIG. 16 displays the selection screen P2 on the display unit 320. When an operation is input to the third switching operation input field T39b of the manual winding instruction screen P4 shown in FIG. 21, the control unit 340 shown in FIG. 16 displays the prescription screen P1 on the display unit 320.

As shown in FIG. 17, when an operation is input in the packaging start input field T5 on the prescription screen P1 shown in FIG. 18, the control unit 340 shown in FIG. 16 issues a packaging instruction to the control unit 270 shown in FIG. 16, and the packaging operation of the medicine packaging device 200 is started.

When an operation is input in the operation stop input field T6 of the prescription screen P1 shown in FIG. 18, the control unit 340 shown in FIG. 16 issues a stop instruction to the control unit 270 shown in FIG. 16, and the packaging operation of the medicine packaging device 200 is stopped.

The display unit 320 displays the usage history of the multiple cassettes 100. The control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display the usage history of the multiple cassettes 100 based on the usage history of the multiple cassettes 100 stored in the memory unit 271 or the memory unit 341.

Figure 22 is a diagram showing a cassette usage history screen displayed on an operation panel provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 22, the cassette usage history screen P5 of the display unit 320 provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention displays a search condition display field T41, a dispensing date and time display field T42, a cassette identification information display field T43, a cassette position display field T44, a medicine information display field T45, a patient display field T46, a first switching operation input field T47, a second switching operation input field T48, and a third switching operation input field T49.

The search condition display field T41 displays the dispensing date and time period, cassette identification information, and cassette position 230 number that are the subject of the search. The dispensing date and time display field T42 displays the dispensing date and time when the cassette 100 was used. The cassette identification information display field T43 displays the identification information of the cassette 100 that was used. The cassette position display field T44 displays the cassette position 230 number where the used cassette 100 is located. The drug information display field T45 displays drug information supplied by the used cassette 100. The patient display field T46 displays the name of the patient who was prescribed the drug supplied by the used cassette 100.

The first switching operation input field T47 is an operation input section for starting a search. The second switching operation input field T48 is an operation input section for returning to the initial screen of the cassette usage history screen P5. The third switching operation input field T49 is an operation input section for closing the cassette usage history screen P5.

When the supply of medicine is insufficient, the display unit 320 displays the number of medicines that are insufficient on the refill instruction screen P3.

Figure 23 is a diagram showing a refill instruction screen displayed on an operation panel provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention when there is a shortage of medicine. As shown in Figure 23, on the refill instruction screen P3 of the display unit 320 provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, when there is a shortage of medicine, a refill target cassette position display field T23 is displayed, and an identification mark T25 is displayed in the selection area T28 corresponding to the cassette position 230 to be refilled. Furthermore, the number of medicines that is insufficient is displayed in the refill medicine information display field T22. In this way, when there is a shortage of medicines to be supplied, the control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display the number of medicines that is insufficient to be supplied.

A pre-check setting may be made to determine whether or not a drug is to be supplied before the drug is filled into cassette 100. When this pre-check setting is made, the identification code attached to the drug container or the like is read by reading unit 330 shown in FIG. 16. A master in which the identification code and drug information are associated is stored in memory unit 341. Control unit 340 compares the drug information linked to the identification code read by reading unit 330 with the drug information to be supplied.

Figure 24 is a diagram showing a refill instruction screen displayed on the operation panel when a pre-check setting is made and before the identification code is read by the reading unit. As shown in Figure 24, the refill instruction screen P3 displayed on the display unit 320 before the identification code is read by the reading unit 330 displays a warning display field T27 that prompts the user to read the identification code with the reading unit 330. In addition, the refill instruction screen P3 displays a first switching operation input field T29a, a second switching operation input field T29b, and a third switching operation input field T29c.

The first switching operation input field T29a is an operation input section for closing the refilling instruction screen P3. The second switching operation input field T29b is an operation input section for skipping the pre-check. The third switching operation input field T29c is an operation input section for updating the master in which the identification code and drug information are associated, which is stored in the memory unit 341.

In the refill instruction screen P3 where the advance check setting has been made, if the drug information linked to the identification code read by the reading unit 330 does not match the drug information of the drug to be supplied, even if you input data into the first switching operation input field T29a and return to the selection screen P2, you will not be able to input data into the third switching operation input field T19c on the selection screen P2.

In this way, the control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display a warning message on the refill instruction screen P3, encouraging the user to read the identification code using the reading unit 330, in order to compare the drug information associated with the identification code with the drug information of the drug to be supplied.

When the drug packaging device 200 completes the drug packaging operation for one prescription, the cassette 100 that has finished supplying the required number of drugs for one prescription enters a state of waiting for cleaning, and the drive unit 231 to which the cassette 100 is attached is maintained in a state in which the drug information of the drug to be supplied is assigned. Specifically, the drug information of the drug to be supplied that is assigned to the drive unit 231 is maintained in a state stored in the memory unit 341.

Figure 25 is a diagram showing a refill instruction screen that is displayed on an operation panel provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention when a cassette waiting to be cleaned is present. As shown in Figure 25, on the refill instruction screen P3 on the display unit 320 provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a cassette 100 waiting to be cleaned is present, a selection area T28 corresponding to the cassette position 230 where the cassette 100 is installed is displayed in an identification color BM.

When the control unit 340 assigns other drug information to multiple drive units 231 than the drug information assigned to the drive unit 231 that is waiting for cleaning, the control unit 340 does not display the identification mark T25 in the selection area T28 corresponding to the cassette position 230 that is waiting for cleaning on the refilling instruction screen P3.

In this embodiment, when the cassette 100 waiting for cleaning is to be supplied with the same drug as that previously supplied, it is possible to supply the drug while the cassette is waiting for cleaning. In this case, when the cassette 100 shown in the cassette history display field T17 on the selection screen P2 shown in FIG. 19 is waiting for cleaning, the same drug as that previously supplied will be supplied to the cassette 100.

In addition, if a malfunction occurs in the drive unit 231 or the RFID reader/writer 232 provided at the cassette position 230, the cassette position 230 is stored in the memory unit 341.

Figure 26 is a diagram showing a refill instruction screen that is displayed on an operation panel provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention when a cassette position with a malfunction exists. As shown in Figure 26, in the refill instruction screen P3 on the display unit 320 provided in a medicine supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a cassette position 230 with a malfunction in the drive unit 231 or RFID reader/writer 232 exists, the selection area T28 corresponding to that cassette position 230 is displayed in an identification color RM.

The control unit 340 does not display the identification mark T25 in the selection area T28 on the refill instruction screen P3 that corresponds to the cassette position 230 where the malfunction has occurred.

As described above, the control unit 340 causes the display unit 320 to display multiple selection areas T28 so that the drive units 231 capable of mounting the cassette 100 can be distinguished from the drive units 231 in which the cassette 100 cannot be mounted.

In the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the multiple cassettes 100 is capable of supplying drugs within a certain dimensional range. Each of the multiple drive units 231 is configured to be able to mount each of the multiple cassettes 100, and drives the mounted cassette 100. The control unit controls each of the multiple drive units 231. The control unit assigns drug information related to the drug to be supplied to the cassette 100 selected according to the dimensions of the drug to be supplied, or to the drive unit 231 to which this cassette 100 is mounted. The control unit controls the drive unit 231 to supply the drug to be supplied from the cassette 100 to which the drug information is assigned, or from the cassette 100 mounted on the drive unit 231 to which the drug information is assigned.

This allows the operator of the drug supply device to easily set up the device so that drugs within a certain size range can be packaged according to the prescription.

In a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit can accept a selection operation to select whether the drug to be supplied is to be supplied from cassette 100 or from manual drug supply cassette 240. This makes it easy to determine which of the drugs to be supplied should be supplied from cassette 100.

In a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the cassette 100 cannot be mounted in any of the multiple drive units 231, the control unit does not accept a selection operation to select supply from the cassette 100. This makes it possible to prevent the reception of an erroneous selection operation.

In a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit does not accept a selection operation to select supply from cassette 100 for a drug that cannot be supplied from cassette 100. This makes it possible to prevent the reception of an erroneous selection operation.

The drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention further includes a display unit 320 capable of displaying information related to the allocation of drug information. This makes it easy to determine to which drive unit 231 or cassette 100 the drug information can be allocated.

In a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit causes the display unit 320 to display a drive unit 231 that can accommodate the cassette 100 and a drive unit 231 that cannot accommodate the cassette 100 in a distinguishable manner. This makes it possible to prevent the cassette 100 from being attached to a drive unit 231 that cannot accommodate the cassette 100.

In one embodiment of the drug supply device of the present invention, the control unit causes the display unit 320 to display drugs that can be supplied from the cassette 100 and drugs that cannot be supplied from the cassette 100 in a distinguishable manner. This makes it possible to prevent the wrong drug from being filled into the cassette 100.

In one embodiment of the drug supply device of the present invention, the control unit causes the display unit 320 to display the usage history of the multiple cassettes 100. This makes it possible to determine the need for cleaning the cassettes 100, etc.

In a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit causes the display unit 320 to display the identification information of the cassette 100 that last supplied the drug to be supplied. This makes it possible to determine the drive unit 231 or cassette 100 to which drug information can be assigned without cleaning the cassette 100.

In one embodiment of the drug supply device of the present invention, the control unit causes the display unit 320 to display the required number of drugs to be supplied. This allows the operator of the drug supply device to easily understand the required number.

In one embodiment of the drug supply device of the present invention, when the supply of the drug to be supplied is insufficient, the control unit causes the display unit 320 to display the shortage of the drug to be supplied. This allows the operator of the drug supply device to easily grasp the shortage.

In a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit compares the drug information with the reading result by the reading unit 330. This makes it possible to prevent the wrong drug from being filled into the cassette 100.

In a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the controller assigns drug information to the drive unit 231 by mounting the cassette 100 selected according to the dimensions of the drug to be supplied to the drive unit 231. This saves the operator of the drug supply device the trouble of using the operation unit 310 to assign drug information to the drug to be supplied.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which drug information regarding the drug to be supplied is assigned to the drive unit 231 to which the cassette 100 is attached, but drug information regarding the drug to be supplied may also be assigned to the cassette 100 attached to the drive unit 231. In this case as well, the effects of the various functions of the drug supply device described above are achieved.

The cassette selection tool provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the configuration of the cassette selection tool provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 27, the cassette selection tool 400 provided in the drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention has a plate-like shape. The cassette selection tool 400 can select a cassette 100 capable of supplying a drug according to the dimensions of the drug from among a plurality of cassettes 100. The operator uses the cassette selection tool 400 to select a cassette 100 according to the dimensions of the drug from among the plurality of cassettes 100. In other words, the cassette selection tool 400 is used to select a cassette 100 according to the dimensions of the drug from among the plurality of cassettes 100.

The cassette selection tool 400 displays a drug shape display field T51, a drug diameter display field T52, and a drug thickness display field T53. The drug shape display field T51 is a field for determining the drug shape, the drug diameter display field T52 is a field for determining the drug diameter range, and the drug thickness display field T53 is a field for determining the drug thickness range. By looking at the drug shape display field T51, drug diameter display field T52, and drug thickness display field T53 in this order to identify the drug shape, diameter range, and thickness range, a cassette 100 capable of supplying the drug can be selected.

As shown in FIG. 27, the drug shape display field T51 displays the planar and side shapes of multiple different types of drugs. This makes it possible to determine which type the shape of the drug to be supplied falls into. In this embodiment, two types are displayed: Type A, which is a disk shape (a circular planar shape that does not bulge in the center), and Type B, which is a convex lens shape (a circular planar shape that bulges in the center). Note that the drug shape types displayed in the drug shape display field T51 are not limited to two types, and may be three or more types.

In the drug diameter display field T52, multiple circular first through holes with different diameters are formed for each type of drug shape. In the drug shape of type A, three first through holes H11 to H13 are formed. In the drug shape of type B, four first through holes H11 to H14 are formed.

Corresponding to each of the multiple first through holes, the diameter range of the drug is displayed. Specifically, near the first through hole H11, it is displayed that the diameter range of the drug is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the first through hole H11. Near the first through hole H12, it is displayed that the diameter range of the drug is larger than the diameter of the first through hole H11 and equal to or smaller than the diameter of the first through hole H12. Near the first through hole H13, it is displayed that the diameter range of the drug is larger than the diameter of the first through hole H12 and equal to or smaller than the diameter of the first through hole H13. Near the first through hole H14, it is displayed that the diameter range of the drug is larger than the diameter of the first through hole H13 and equal to or smaller than the diameter of the first through hole H14. The diameters of the first through holes H11 to H14 are 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, and 9 mm, respectively.

When the drug is fitted into the first through holes H11 to H14 in order from the smallest diameter, it is possible to determine that the diameter of the drug is within a certain dimensional range based on the diameter of the first through hole through which the drug first passed. Specifically, it is possible to determine that the numerical range displayed near the first through hole through which the drug first passed is the dimensional range of the diameter of the drug.

In the drug thickness display field T53, multiple rectangular second through holes of different widths are formed for each drug shape type and drug diameter range. Three second through holes H21-H23 are formed for a drug shape of type A with a diameter dimension of 6.01 mm-7.00 mm. Three second through holes H31-H33 are formed for a drug shape of type A with a diameter dimension of 7.01 mm-8.00 mm. Three second through holes H41-H43 are formed for a drug shape of type B with a diameter dimension of 6.01 mm-7.00 mm. Four second through holes H51-H54 are formed for a drug shape of type B with a diameter dimension of 7.01 mm-8.00 mm. Four second through holes H61-H64 are formed for a drug shape of type B with a diameter dimension of 8.01 mm-9.00 mm. In addition, in cases where the shape and diameter range of the drug is beyond the scope of the cassette 100, the second through hole is not formed and it is indicated as not being compatible.

A range of drug thickness dimensions is displayed corresponding to each of the second through holes. Specifically, a range of drug thickness dimensions is displayed near each of the second through holes. Near the second through hole H21, it is displayed that the drug thickness range is equal to or less than the width of the second through hole H21. Near the second through hole H22, it is displayed that the drug thickness range is greater than the width of the second through hole H21 and equal to or less than the width of the second through hole H22. Near the second through hole H23, it is displayed that the drug thickness range is greater than the width of the second through hole H22 and equal to or less than the width of the second through hole H23. The widths of the second through holes H21 to H23 are 1.8 mm, 2.5 mm, and 3.2 mm, respectively.

When the drug is fitted into the second through holes H21 to H23 in order from the narrowest, it is possible to determine that the thickness of the drug is within a certain dimensional range based on the width of the second through hole through which the drug first passed. Specifically, it is possible to determine that the numerical range displayed near the second through hole through which the drug first passed is the dimensional range of the drug's thickness. Based on the second through holes H21 to H23, it is possible to determine the thickness range of a drug with an A-type drug shape and a diameter of 6.01 mm to 7.00 mm.

Similarly, the second through holes H31-H33 can be used to determine the thickness range of drugs with a diameter of 7.01 mm to 8.00 mm for drug type A shapes. The second through holes H41-H43 can be used to determine the thickness range of drugs with a diameter of 6.01 mm to 7.00 mm for drug type B shapes. The second through holes H51-H54 can be used to determine the thickness range of drugs with a diameter of 7.01 mm to 8.00 mm for drug type B shapes. The second through holes H61-H64 can be used to determine the thickness range of drugs with a diameter of 8.01 mm to 9.00 mm for drug type B shapes.

The cassette selection tool 400 shows the correspondence between the dimensions of the medicine and the cassette 100. Specifically, the model number of the cassette 100 capable of supplying the medicine is displayed in correspondence with each of the multiple second through holes. For example, the model number Aa of the cassette 100 is displayed near the second through hole H22. This means that the cassette 100 with the model number Aa can supply medicine with an A-type medicine shape, a diameter dimension of 6.01 mm to 7.00 mm, and a thickness dimension of 1.81 mm to 2.50 mm. Similarly, the model numbers Ab to Ad and the model numbers Ba to Bh are displayed. Note that where the thickness range of the medicine is within the range that the cassette 100 cannot handle, the cassette model number is not displayed near the second through hole, and "Not possible" is displayed.

The cassette identification information for each of the multiple cassettes 100 also includes the above-mentioned model number. Although the multiple cassettes 100 are assigned different cassette numbers, there may be multiple cassettes 100 with the same model number. In this embodiment, the RFID tag stores the model number assigned to the cassette 100.

Figure 28 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure when a drug is supplied from a cassette selected according to the dimensions of the drug in a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 28, when supplying a drug from a drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention, first, a cassette 100 corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the drug determined using the cassette selection tool 400 shown in Figure 27 is selected (step S1). Note that a corresponding cassette 100 may be selected from the display of the cassette selection tool 400 while referring to the shape and dimensions of the drug described in the package insert of the drug.

Next, the selected cassette 100 is filled with the medicine (step S2). Specifically, the cassette 100 with the model number listed on the cassette selection tool 400 is filled with the medicine.

When the cassette 100 filled with medicine is attached to the drive unit 231, the RFID reader/writer 232 reads information from the RFID tag attached to the cassette 100 attached to the drive unit 231, and the control unit 270 assigns medicine information including information about the medicine to the drive unit 231 (step S3). The medicine allocation device according to this embodiment includes a plurality of cassettes 100, a cassette selection tool 400, and a control unit 270. The control unit 270 may assign medicine information to the cassette 100 filled with medicine.

The control unit 270 drives the cassette 100 attached to the drive unit 231 to which the drug information is assigned to supply the drug (step S4). That is, the control unit 270 drives the drive unit 231 to supply the drug from the cassette 100 attached to the drive unit 231 to which the drug information is assigned. If drug information is assigned to a cassette 100, the control unit 270 drives the cassette 100 to which the drug information is assigned to supply the drug. That is, the control unit 270 drives the drive unit 231 to which the cassette 100 is attached to supply the drug from the cassette 100 to which the drug information is assigned.

The drug supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of cassettes 100, a cassette selection tool 400, a plurality of driving units 231, and a control unit 270. Each of the plurality of cassettes 100 is capable of supplying drugs within a certain dimensional range. The cassette selection tool 400 is capable of selecting from the plurality of cassettes 100 a cassette 100 capable of supplying drugs according to the dimensions of the drugs. Each of the plurality of driving units 231 is configured to be capable of mounting each of the plurality of cassettes 100, and drives the mounted cassette 100. The control unit 270 controls each of the plurality of driving units 231. The control unit 270 assigns drug information related to the drug to the cassette 100 selected by the cassette selection tool 400, or to the driving unit 231 to which the cassette 100 is mounted. The control unit 270 controls the driving unit 231 so as to supply the drug from the cassette 100 to which the drug information is assigned, or from the cassette 100 mounted on the driving unit 231 to which the drug information is assigned.

This allows the operator of the drug supply device to easily select a cassette 100 that can supply drugs.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selection tool 400 shows the correspondence between the dimensions of the drug and the cassette 100. This makes it easy to select the cassette 100 that corresponds to the dimensions of the drug.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selection tool 400 shows the correspondence between the drug shape and drug dimensions and the cassette 100. This makes it easy to select a cassette 100 that corresponds to the drug shape and dimensions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above dimensions of the drug associated with the cassette 100 in the cassette selector 400 are the diameter and thickness of the drug. This makes it possible to easily select a cassette 100 that corresponds to the diameter and thickness of the drug.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selector 400 is formed with a number of circular through holes of different diameters. When drugs are fitted into the through holes in order of diameter, starting with the smallest, it is possible to determine that the diameter of the drug falls within a certain range based on the diameter of the through hole through which the drug first passes. This makes it easy to determine the range of drug diameters.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selector 400 is formed with a number of rectangular through-holes of different widths. When drugs are fitted into the through-holes, starting with the narrowest, it is possible to determine that the thickness of the drug is within a certain dimensional range based on the width of the through-hole through which the drug first passes. This makes it easy to determine the dimensional range of the drug's width.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cassette selector is displayed with a certain range of drug dimensions corresponding to each of a plurality of through holes. This allows the drug size range to be easily determined.

The drug allocation device according to this embodiment includes a plurality of cassettes 100, a cassette selector 400, and a control unit 270. Each of the plurality of cassettes 100 is capable of supplying drugs within a certain dimensional range. The cassette selector 400 can select a cassette 100 capable of supplying a drug from among the plurality of cassettes 100 according to the dimensions of the drug. The control unit 270 assigns drug information relating to the drug to the cassette 100 selected by the cassette selector 400. This allows the operator of the drug allocation device to easily select a cassette 100 capable of supplying a drug.

The above disclosed embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be a basis for restrictive interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not interpreted solely by the above described embodiments, but is defined based on the claims. Furthermore, all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims are included.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 100 Cassette, 110 Medicine storage section, 111 Peripheral wall, 111a Partial peripheral wall, 112 Discharge port, 113 Opening, 120 Rotor, 121 Peripheral surface, 122 First protrusion, 123 Second protrusion, 124 Third protrusion, 125, L Gap, 126 Top surface, 127 Groove, 128 Central protrusion, 128c Recess, 129, 152c Notch, 130 Lid, 140 Partition, 141 Base material, 150 Drive shaft, 151 Magnetic body, 152 Tip, 152h Through hole, 153 Spring pin, 160 Cap portion, 161 Magnet, 162 Support portion, 163 Cap, 164 Spacer, 200 Medicine packaging device, 210 Housing, 220 Tablet supply portion, 230 Cassette position, 231 Driving section, 232 Reader/writer, 240 Manual drug supply cassette, 250 Powder supply section, 260 Packaging section, 270, 340 Control section, 271, 341 Memory section, 300 Control device, 310 Operation section, 320 Display section, 330 Reading section, 400 Cassette selection tool, G Passage, P1 Prescription screen, P2 Selection screen, P3 Filling instruction screen, P4 Manual packing instruction screen, P5 Cassette usage history screen, R1, R2, T28 Selection area, RD Partition area, T1, T11, T21, T31 Prescription information display field, T2 Operation display field, T3, T32 Packet number display field, T4 Display start input field, T5 Packaging start input field, T6 Operation stop input field, T12, T33 Manual drug list display field, T13, T34 Tablet count display field, T14 Selection area display field, T15, T44 Cassette position display field, T16 Specific drug display field, T17 Cassette history display field, T18 Allocated drug information display field, T19a, T29a, T39a, T47 First switching operation input field, T19b, T29b, T48 Second switching operation input field, T19c, T29c, T39b, T49 Third switching operation input field, T22 Filling drug information display field, T23 Cassette position display field to be filled, T25 Identification mark, T27 Caution display field, T35 Partition area display field, T41 Search condition display field, T42 Dispensing date and time display field, T43 Cassette identification information display field, T45 Drug information display field, T46 Patient display field, T51 Drug shape display field, T52 Drug diameter display column, T53 drug thickness display column.

Claims (6)

a plurality of cassettes capable of delivering drugs in a range of sizes;
a cassette selector used by an operator to select a cassette capable of supplying a drug from among the plurality of cassettes according to a size of the drug;
a plurality of drive units each configured to be mountable with the plurality of cassettes and configured to drive the mounted cassette;
a control unit that controls each of the plurality of drive units,
the cassette selection tool is formed with a plurality of circular first through holes having different diameters, and a plurality of rectangular second through holes having different widths corresponding to the plurality of first through holes, and a correspondence relationship between the diameter dimension of a drug and the thickness dimension of a drug and the cassette is indicated for each of the plurality of second through holes;
When the medicine is fitted into the first through holes in order of diameter from the smallest to the largest among the plurality of first through holes, an operator can determine that the diameter of the medicine is within a certain dimensional range based on the diameter of the first through hole through which the medicine passes first;
When the medicine is fitted into the second through holes in order from the narrowest to the narrowest among the plurality of second through holes, the operator can determine that the thickness of the medicine is within a certain dimensional range based on the width of the second through hole through which the medicine first passes,
the control unit assigns drug information related to the drug to the cassette selected by an operator using the cassette selection tool and attached to the drive unit, or to the drive unit to which the cassette is attached;
The control unit controls the drive unit to supply the medicine from the cassette to which the medicine information is assigned or from the cassette attached to the drive unit to which the medicine information is assigned. The drug supply device of claim 1, wherein the cassette selection tool has the plurality of first through holes and the plurality of second through holes formed for each drug shape, and indicates a correspondence between the drug shape, the drug diameter dimension, and the drug thickness dimension and the cassette. The cassette is used for allowing an operator to select a cassette capable of supplying a drug from among a plurality of cassettes according to the size of the drug;
a plurality of circular first through holes having different diameters from each other are formed, a plurality of rectangular second through holes having different widths from each other are formed corresponding to each of the plurality of first through holes, and a correspondence relationship between the diameter dimension of the drug and the thickness dimension of the drug and the cassette is indicated corresponding to each of the plurality of second through holes,
When the medicine is fitted into the first through holes in order of diameter from the smallest to the largest among the plurality of first through holes, an operator can determine that the diameter of the medicine is within a certain dimensional range based on the diameter of the first through hole through which the medicine passes first ;
A cassette selection tool in which, when the drug is fitted into the plurality of second through holes in order from the narrowest second through holes, the operator can determine that the thickness of the drug is within a certain dimensional range based on the width of the second through hole through which the drug first passes . The cassette selection tool of claim 3, wherein the plurality of first through holes and the plurality of second through holes are formed for each drug shape, and a correspondence between each of the drug shape, drug diameter dimension, and drug thickness dimension and the cassette is indicated. a plurality of cassettes capable of delivering drugs in a range of sizes;
a cassette selector used by an operator to select a cassette capable of supplying a drug from among the plurality of cassettes according to a size of the drug;
a control unit that assigns drug information related to the drug to the cassette selected by an operator using the cassette selection tool,
the cassette selection tool is formed with a plurality of circular first through holes having different diameters, and a plurality of rectangular second through holes having different widths corresponding to the plurality of first through holes, and a correspondence relationship between the diameter dimension of a drug and the thickness dimension of a drug and the cassette is indicated for each of the plurality of second through holes;
When the medicine is fitted into the first through holes in order of diameter from the smallest to the largest among the plurality of first through holes, an operator can determine that the diameter of the medicine is within a certain dimensional range based on the diameter of the first through hole through which the medicine passes first ;
A drug allocation device in which, when drugs are fitted into the multiple second through holes in order from the narrowest second through holes, an operator can determine that the thickness of the drug is within a certain dimensional range based on the width of the second through hole through which the drug first passes . The drug allocation device of claim 5, wherein the cassette selection tool has the plurality of first through holes and the plurality of second through holes formed for each drug shape, and the correspondence between the drug shape, the drug diameter dimension, and the drug thickness dimension and the cassette is indicated.

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