JP7688307B2 - Tablet dispensing system, tablet dispensing control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tablet dispensing system and a tablet dispensing control program that controls a tablet cassette that dispenses tablets.

A tablet dispensing device capable of automatically dispensing various types of tablets is provided with multiple tablet cassettes capable of dispensing predetermined types of tablets. Tablet cassettes that can arbitrarily change the tablets that can be dispensed are also known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2012/096328

Each tablet cassette that is installed in the tablet dispensing device is assigned in advance the tablet type of the tablets to be dispensed from that tablet cassette. In this case, if a tablet cassette that is already assigned to the same tablet type exists, assigning that tablet type to a new tablet cassette as is can cause a problem of duplication of tablet cassettes corresponding to the same tablet type.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tablet dispensing system and tablet dispensing control program that can assist in the task of allocating tablet types to tablet cassettes.

The tablet dispensing system according to the present invention includes an allocation processing unit and a determination processing unit. The allocation processing unit receives a tablet type to be assigned to a first tablet cassette capable of dispensing tablets of any pre-assigned tablet type in response to a user operation. The determination processing unit determines whether or not a second tablet cassette corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type received by the allocation processing unit exists.

The tablet dispensing control program according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a selection step and a determination step. The selection step accepts, in response to a user operation, a tablet type to be assigned to a first tablet cassette capable of dispensing tablets of any pre-assigned tablet type. The determination step judges whether or not a second tablet cassette exists that corresponds to the same tablet type as the tablet type accepted in the selection step.

The present invention provides a tablet dispensing system and a tablet dispensing control program that can assist in the allocation of tablet types to tablet cassettes.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tablet storing and dispensing device equipped with an adjustment device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tablet cassette and the base. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tablet cassette with the lid removed. FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the tablet cassette. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cassette body. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tablet cassette with the rotor removed. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the rotor drive unit of the cassette body. FIG. 8A is an exploded perspective view of the partition adjustment mechanism of the cassette body. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the cassette body showing the inserted position of the partition member. FIG. 9 is an overall perspective view of the rotor. FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the rotor. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the depth adjustment mechanism. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the width adjustment mechanism. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the cassette body illustrating the depth adjustment state by the depth adjustment mechanism. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the cassette body illustrating the height adjustment state by the height adjustment mechanism. FIG. 16A is a plan view and FIG. 16B is a bottom view of the movable member and the width adjustment member, illustrating the width adjustment state by the width adjustment mechanism. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the adjustment device. FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the inside of the adjustment device. FIG. 19 is an internal side view of the adjustment device. FIG. 20 is a plan view of the rear frame of the adjustment device. FIG. 21 is a plan view of the sensor mounting of the adjustment device. FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustment shaft. FIG. 23 is a rear perspective view of the inside of the adjustment device. FIG. 24 is a control system diagram of the adjustment device. FIG. 25 is a control flowchart of the adjustment device. FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the tablet cassette and the rotor attached to the adjustment device. FIG. 27 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the depth adjustment state by the adjustment device. FIG. 28 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the height adjustment state by the adjustment device. FIG. 29 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the width adjustment state by the adjustment device. FIG. 30 is a partially enlarged side view showing the state in which the inserting position of the partition member is adjusted by the adjustment device. FIG. 31A is a perspective view showing a modified example of the rotor mounting portion and the sensor mounting base of the adjustment device, and FIG. 31B is a perspective view showing the state where the rotor mounting portion has been removed. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of information used in the tablet dispensing system. FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing a tablet dispensing system. Figure 34 is a flowchart showing an example of an allocation start process executed in the tablet dispensing system. FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in the tablet dispensing system. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in the tablet dispensing system. FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in the tablet dispensing system. FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing an example of a cassette adjustment process executed in the tablet dispensing system. FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing an example of a cassette adjustment process executed in the tablet dispensing system. FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing an example of a rotor cleaning process executed in the tablet dispensing system. FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of a label output by the tablet dispensing system. Figure 42 is a flowchart showing an example of a tablet dispensing process executed in the tablet dispensing system. Figure 43 is a flowchart showing an example of a filling process executed in the tablet dispensing system.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows a tablet dispensing device 1 capable of dispensing the type and number of tablets according to a prescription. In the tablet dispensing device 1, a number of tablet cassettes 2 are removably mounted on their respective bases 3. An adjustment device 100 according to the present invention is installed on a stand 4 provided next to the tablet dispensing device 1. First, the structure of the tablet cassette 2 will be explained, and then the adjustment device 100 will be explained. Note that "tablets" as used in this invention include not only tablets in the narrow sense, but also medicines that can be dispensed from the tablet cassette 2, such as capsule tablets and sugar-coated tablets.

Figure 2 shows the tablet cassette 2 and base 3 that are mounted on the tablet dispensing device 1. The tablet cassette 2 includes a cassette body 5, a lid 6 that opens and closes the upper opening of the cassette body 5 and is removable, a skirt portion 7 provided on the lower part of the cassette body 5, and a rotor 8 housed in the cassette body 5 as shown in Figure 3.

The top surface of the lid 6 and the front surface of the skirt portion 7 are formed with pockets 6a, 7a for storing labels or cards that can identify the tablets stored in the tablet cassette 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner surface of the skirt portion 7 is provided with a slide portion 7b that slides against the mounting guide 3a of the base 3 shown in FIG. 2, and an elastic engagement piece 7c that engages with the locking portion 3b of the mounting guide 3a.

<Structure of the cassette body>
As shown in FIG. 5, the cassette body 5 includes a rectangular upper portion 5a that opens upward, an inverted cone-shaped inclined portion 5b, a cylindrical portion 5c, and a bottom portion 5d. A rotor 8 is accommodated in the internal space from the bottom portion 5d to the inclined portion 5b, and a large number of tablets T can be accommodated above the rotor 8. A tablet discharge hole 9 is formed from the lower portion of the inclined portion 5b to the bottom portion 5d. The tablet discharge hole 9 is connected to a tablet discharge path 3c formed in the base 3 shown in FIG. 2. A partition member 20 and a partition adjustment mechanism M1 (described later) that adjusts the position of the partition member 20 are attached to the outside of the cassette body 5. The tip of the partition member 20 is inserted from the outside of the inclined portion 5b to the inside through a slit 9a (see FIG. 6) formed above the tablet discharge hole 9. A rotor shaft hole 11 in which a rotor drive unit 10 (see FIG. 6) is accommodated is formed in the center of the bottom portion 5d.

<Rotor drive unit>
As shown in Fig. 7, the rotor drive unit 10 includes a drive shaft 12 that passes through a rotor shaft hole 11, an engagement shaft 13 that engages with the upper end of the drive shaft 12 and rotates integrally with the drive shaft 12, a drive gear 14 that engages with the lower end of the drive shaft 12 and rotates integrally with the drive shaft 12, and a central shaft 15 that passes through the engagement shaft 13, the drive shaft 12, and the drive gear 14 to integrate them. The engagement shaft 13 includes a circular base 13a that abuts on the upper end surface of the drive shaft 12, engagement pieces 13b that protrude downward from the outer periphery of the base 13a and are arranged at equal intervals around the circumference, and a connecting portion 13c that connects the lower ends of adjacent engagement pieces 13b. The inner surfaces of the engagement pieces 13b and the connecting portion 13c are slidably provided on the outer periphery of an annular protrusion 11a provided on the edge of the rotor shaft hole 11 via a ring 16. When the rotor 8 is attached, the engagement piece 13b engages with the slit 44a between the engagement pieces 44 of the engagement recess 41a of the rotor 8 shown in FIG. 10, and transmits the rotational force of the rotor drive unit 10 to the rotor 8. The rotors 8 are available in various sizes, and the number of engagement pieces 13b and slits 44a may be six, five, or four for each size of the rotor 8 in order to prevent the rotor 8 from being attached to the rotor drive unit 10 of the cassette body 5 in an incorrect manner. The upper end of the central shaft 15 is formed with a flange 15a and a hole 15b. Three ring-shaped magnets 15c are inserted into the hole 15b of the central shaft in a stacked state and fixed by a screw 15d. The magnet 15c may be a single cylindrical magnet. The lower end of the central shaft 15 penetrates the gear cover 17 attached to the bottom 5d of the cassette body 5 shown in FIG. 4 and is prevented from coming off by a C-shaped retaining ring 15e. The drive gear 14 is engaged with and driven by the motor gear 3d of the base 3 shown in Fig. 2 via an intermediate gear 18 shown in Fig. 4. The motor gear 3d is connected to a motor that is driven when tablets are dispensed from the tablet cassette 2 attached to the base 3, and the driving force of the motor is transmitted from the motor gear 3d to the drive gear 14, causing the tablets to be dispensed from the tablet cassette 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, a locking claw 19a at one end of a locking lever 19 provided on the bottom surface of the cassette body 5 is locked to the drive gear 14. The operating portion 19b at the other end of the locking lever 19 extends in the mounting direction of the tablet cassette 2. When the tablet cassette 2 is mounted on the base 3, the operating portion 19b of the locking lever 19 abuts against a predetermined abutment portion 3e of the base 3 shown in FIG. 2, causing the locking lever 19 to rotate against the biasing force of the spring 19c, and the locking claw 19a disengages from the drive gear 14, allowing the drive gear 14 to rotate. When the tablet cassette 2 is pulled out from the base 3, the operating portion 19b of the locking lever 19 disengages from the abutment portion 3e of the base 3, the locking lever 19 rotates due to the biasing force of the spring 19c, and the locking claw 19a engages with the drive gear 14, preventing the drive gear 14 from rotating. As a result, it is possible to prevent tablets T from falling due to unexpected rotation of the rotor 8 of the pulled-out tablet cassette 2.

<Partition adjustment mechanism>
8A, the partition member 20 is formed in a comb shape that is curved convexly upward. The partition member 20 is movable toward and away from the rotor 8 by a partition adjustment mechanism M1. The partition adjustment mechanism M1 includes a first fixed member 21, a second fixed member 22, a movable member 23, and a partition adjustment member 24.

In the center of the first fixed member 21, an upper case portion 21a is formed in which the slide portion 23c and stopper 28 of the movable member 23 are housed. Mounting holes 21b are formed on both sides of the upper case portion 21a of the first fixed member 21. A pair of elastic pieces 21c that press and stabilize the movable member 23 are formed on the underside of the first fixed member 21. A protrusion 21d that engages with a groove 23d of the movable member 23 is formed at the tip of the elastic piece 21c.

A lower case portion 22a is formed in the center of the second fixed member 22, in which the slide portion 23c of the movable member 23 and the stopper 28 are housed. An inverted U-shaped notch 22b is formed on the lower edge of both sides of the lower case portion 22a of the second fixed member 22. When the upper case portion 21a of the first fixed member 21 and the lower case portion 22a of the second fixed member 22 are combined with each other, they form a movable member housing portion 25 that opens downward and houses the slide portion 23c of the movable member 23, and a stopper housing portion 26 that houses the stopper 28. A semicircular notch 27 is formed on the lower edge of the upper case portion 21a of the movable member housing portion 25 and the upper edge of the lower case portion 22a, which supports both axial ends of the partition adjustment member 24 so that they cannot move in the axial direction.

The movable member 23 has a holding portion 23a at its lower end that holds the partition member 20, and a sliding portion 23c with a screw hole 23b at its upper end. Grooves 23d are formed at both ends of the upper surface of the movable member 23.

The partition adjustment member 24 has a threaded portion 24a that screws into the threaded hole 23b of the slide portion 23c of the movable member 23, and an engagement gear 24b. A stopper 28 is engaged with the engagement gear 24b so that it can be fixed in the required position. The groove 23d of the movable member 23 engages with the protrusion 21d of the first fixed member 21, so that the movable member 23 is fixed in the rotational direction of the partition adjustment member 24. When the partition adjustment member 24 rotates, the movable member 23 moves in the axial direction of the partition adjustment member 24.

To assemble the partition adjustment mechanism M1, first, the slide portion 23c of the movable member 23 is housed from below in the lower case portion 22a of the second fixed member 22, and the partition adjustment member 24 is screwed through the slide portion 23c, and then both ends of the partition adjustment member 24 are placed in the notches 27 of the lower case portion 22. In addition, a stopper 28 is housed in the lower case portion 22a of the second fixed member 22. In this state, when the first fixed member 21 is superimposed on the second fixed member 22 so that the partition adjustment member 24 passes through the hole formed by the notches 27 of the first fixed member 21 and the second fixed member, the claw 22f of the elastic locking piece 22e provided on the upper case portion 21a is locked to the lower edge of the lower case portion 22a and assembled together. In addition, because the size of the notch 27 is smaller than that of the engagement gear 24b, the engagement gear 24b is fixed to the upper case part 22a and the lower case part 22b so as not to move in the axial direction. Next, the fixing screw 29 is passed through the notch 22b of the second fixing member 22 and the mounting hole 21b of the first fixing member 21 and screwed into the screw hole 5e on the back surface of the cassette body 5, thereby fixing it to the cassette body 5.

When the partition adjustment member 24 of the partition adjustment mechanism M1 is rotated, the slide portion 23c moves within the movable member storage portion 25 of the upper case portion 21a of the first fixed member 21 and the lower case portion 22b of the second fixed member 22, so that the partition member 20 held by the movable member 23 advances or retreats toward the rotor 8 in the cassette body 5, as shown in FIG. 8B, and the tip position 20a of the partition member 20 can be adjusted. That is, as shown in FIG. 8B(a), when the thickness of the tablet T is thick, the rotor body 31 of the rotor 8 is raised to increase the depth D of the groove of the tablet guide path 8b between the lower inclined outer surface 35c and the inclined portion 5b of the cassette body 5, as described in detail later, and the tip of the partition member 20 is also advanced toward the rotor 8. As shown in FIG. 8B(b), when the tablet T is thin, the rotor body 31 of the rotor 8 is lowered to reduce the depth D of the groove of the tablet guide path 8b between the lower inclined outer surface 35c and the inclined portion 5b of the cassette body 5, and accordingly, the tip of the partition member 20 is also retracted from the rotor 8.

<Overall rotor structure>
9 and 10, the rotor 8 has a generally conical top surface, an inverted conical side surface, and a flat bottom surface. A tablet pocket 8a is provided in the circumferential direction at the upper part of the side surface of the rotor 8, and a plurality of tablet guide paths 8b are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, extending downward from the tablet pocket 8a.

The tablet pocket 8a is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the rotor body 31, which will be described later, and the first horizontal protrusion 73 of the first movable member 60 and the second horizontal protrusion 82 of the second movable member 61, which will be described later, and is surrounded by the inclined portion 5b of the cassette body 5, and receives the tablets T contained in the cassette body 5 and aligns them in the circumferential direction.

The tablet guide path 8b is formed in a groove shape by the lower inclined outer surface 35c of the rotor body 31 described later, the first vertical protrusion 72 of the first movable member 60 described later, the second vertical protrusion 81 of the second movable member 61 described later, and the tablet support base 55 of the annular lifting member 51 described later. The tablet guide path 8b is covered by the inclined portion 5b of the cassette body 5, and receives the tablets T aligned in the tablet pocket 8a and guides them downward.

The tablet guide path 8b needs to have its groove depth, height, and width adjusted according to the shape or size of the tablets contained in the tablet cassette so that the tablets can pass through the tablet guide path 8b smoothly and be discharged from the tablet discharge hole 9 shown in FIG. 5. That is, the tablet cassette 2 can dispense tablets of any type by adjusting the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 provided in the tablet cassette 2. Here, the "depth" of the groove of the tablet guide path 8b is the dimension in the thickness direction of the tablet passing through the tablet guide path 8b, and is the dimension D between the inclined portion 5b of the cassette body 5 and the lower inclined outer surface 35c of the downward protrusion 35 of the rotor body 31. The "height" of the groove is the dimension in the height direction of the tablet passing through the tablet guide path 8b, and is the dimension H between the partition member 20 and the tablet support base 55 of the annular lifting member 51 of the rotor 8. The "width" of the groove is the widthwise dimension of the tablet passing through the tablet guide path 8b, and is the dimension W between the first vertical protrusion 72 of the first movable member 60 and the second vertical protrusion 81 of the second movable member 61.

The rotor 8 has a depth adjustment mechanism M2, a height adjustment mechanism M3, and a width adjustment mechanism M4 to adjust the groove shape of the tablet guide path 8b. These will be explained in order below.

<Depth adjustment mechanism>
11 shows components constituting the depth adjustment mechanism M2. The depth adjustment mechanism M2 includes a rotor cover 30, a rotor body 31, a rotor base 32, and a depth adjustment member 33.

The rotor cover 30 has an overall umbrella shape. The upper surface of the rotor cover 30 is formed in a cone shape.

The rotor body 31 has a circular base 34, a downward protrusion 35, an annular portion 36, and a guide portion 37.

The base 34 has a shaft 38 at its center, and a screw hole (not shown) is formed in the shaft 38. The top surface of the base 34 has two holes 34a and 34b through which the height adjustment member 52 and width adjustment member 64 (described later) are exposed.

The downward projections 35 extend downward from six equally spaced positions on the outer periphery of the base 34. The downward projections 35 include a vertical inner surface 35a, an upper inclined outer surface 35b that slopes downward and outward from the outer periphery of the base 34, a lower inclined outer surface 35c that slopes downward and inward from the lower end of the upper inclined outer surface 35b, and both side surfaces 35d, and are formed into a triangle when viewed from the side. The lower inclined outer surface 35c forms the bottom surface of the groove of the tablet guide path 8b. A slit 35e is formed at the lower end of the downward projection 35.

The annular portion 36 is formed concentrically on the outside of the base 34 and is connected to the base 34 via the downward protrusion 35.

The guide parts 37 extend downward from six equally spaced positions on the outer periphery of the base 34 between the downward projections 35. On both sides of the inner surface of the guide parts 37, guide edges 37a are formed with which guide pieces 40 of the rotor base 32, described below, can slidably engage. The rotor body 31 and the rotor base 32 rotate integrally as a result of the guide pieces 40 engaging with the guide edges 37a. A protrusion 37b is formed at the lower end of any one of the six guide parts 37, which serves as a detection part for detecting the zero point.

The rotor base 32 has an annular base 39, a guide piece 40, and an engagement portion 41.

The base 39 has an annular wall 42 formed on its upper surface. The annular wall 42 has vertical slits 42a formed at six equally spaced positions around the circumference, extending in the axial direction.

The guide pieces 40 are located at evenly spaced positions around the outer periphery of the base 39 and protrude upward between adjacent vertical slits 42a. The guide pieces 40 are formed to slidably engage with the guide edge 37a of the guide portion 37 of the rotor body 31. A reinforcing rib 43 is provided between the guide pieces 40 and the annular wall 42.

The engagement portion 41 has engagement pieces 44 rising upward from the inner peripheral edge of the base 39 at 6 equal intervals, and a circular protrusion 45 provided at the upper end of the engagement piece 44. When viewed from the back side, the engagement portion 41 forms an engagement recess 41a with which the rotor drive unit 10 engages, as shown in FIG. 10. The engagement piece 13b of the rotor drive unit 10 engages with the slit 44a between adjacent engagement pieces 44. A magnetic plate 46 that is attracted to the magnet 15c provided on the central shaft 15 of the rotor drive unit 10 is embedded inside the circular protrusion 45. The depth adjustment member 33 is supported at the center of the upper surface of the circular protrusion 45. The circular protrusion 45 has a hole 45a that accommodates a stopper 48 that prevents the depth adjustment member 33 from rotating freely, and two screw holes 45b that screw into two screw insertion holes 93 of the second support member 63 (described later).

Between the circular protrusion 45 and the annular wall 42, an annular recess 47 is formed to accommodate the height adjustment mechanism M3, which will be described later.

The depth adjustment member 33 has a male threaded portion 33a and a gear portion 33b at the lower end. The male threaded portion 33a screws into a screw hole (not shown) in the shaft portion 38 of the rotor body 31, and the gear portion 33b at the lower end is supported by a circular protrusion 45 of the rotor base 32. The upper end of the male threaded portion 33a is formed with an engagement portion 33c, which protrudes and is exposed from the shaft portion 38 of the rotor body 31, allowing rotation adjustment from the outside. The tip of a stopper 48 made of an elastic piece is engaged between the teeth of the gear portion 33b.

The gear portion 33b of the depth adjustment member 33 is restricted from axial movement by the first support member 62 and the rotor base 32, and the guide edge 37a of the rotor body 31 engages with the guide piece 40 of the rotor base 32, restricting the rotor body 31 from rotating relative to the rotor base 32. In this way, when the depth adjustment member 33 is rotated while the rotor base 32 is not rotating, the rotor body 31, which has a screw hole (not shown) that screws into the male screw portion 33a of the depth adjustment member 33, rises or falls in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotor 8. Accordingly, the lower inclined outer surface 35c of the downward protrusion 35 of the rotor body 31, which forms the bottom surface of the tablet guide path 8b, also rises or falls.

With reference to FIG. 14, the lower inclined outer surface 35c of the downward protrusion 35 is inclined radially from the outside to the inside as it goes from top to bottom, and is parallel to the inverted cone-shaped inclined portion 5b of the cassette body 5. Therefore, when the lower inclined outer surface 35c of the downward protrusion 35 of the rotor body 31 descends, the distance between the lower inclined outer surface 35c of the downward protrusion 35 and the cone-shaped inclined portion 5b of the cassette body 5 decreases, and the depth of the tablet guide path 8b can be made shallow (D1). Conversely, when the lower inclined outer surface 35c of the downward protrusion 35 of the rotor body 31 rises, the distance between the lower inclined outer surface 35c of the downward protrusion 35 and the inverted cone-shaped inclined portion 5b of the cassette body 5 increases, and the depth of the tablet guide path 8b can be made deep (D2). In this way, by rotating the depth adjustment member 33 left or right, the depth of the tablet guide path 8b can be adjusted according to the thickness of the tablets T passing through the tablet guide path 8b. In addition, each time the gear portion 33b of the depth adjustment member 33 shown in FIG. 11 rotates, the tip of the stopper 48 passes over the teeth of the gear portion 33b and engages between the teeth, so the depth adjustment member 33 can be stopped at an appropriate position and the rotor body 31 can be fixed at the desired height position.

<Height adjustment mechanism>
12 shows components of the height adjustment mechanism M3. The height adjustment mechanism M3 includes a cylindrical rotating member 50, an annular lifting member 51, and a height adjustment member 52.

The cylindrical rotating member 50 has a male thread 50a formed on the lower outer circumference and a driven gear 50b formed on the upper inner circumference. A stopper 53 that prevents the cylindrical rotating member 50 from rotating freely engages the driven gear 50b.

The annular lifting member 51 has arms 54 protruding radially from six equally spaced positions on its outer periphery, and a tablet support table 55 is formed at the tip of each arm 54. The tablet support table 55 is inclined perpendicular to the tablet guide path 8b so that it can support the lowest tablet T in the tablet guide path 8b. A female threaded portion 51a that screws into the male threaded portion 50a of the cylindrical rotating member 50 is formed on the inner surface of the annular lifting member 51.

The height adjustment member 52 has a drive gear 52a at its lower end that meshes with the driven gear 50b of the cylindrical rotating member 50. The upper end of the height adjustment member 52 is formed with an engagement portion 52b, which protrudes and is exposed from a hole 34a in the upper surface of the base 34 of the rotor body 31, allowing rotation adjustment from the outside. The height adjustment member 52 is held immovably in the vertical direction by the edge of a hole 90 in the second support member 63, which will be described later.

The cylindrical rotating member 50 and the annular lifting member 51 are threadedly engaged with each other and housed in the annular recess 47 of the rotor base 32, the arm 54 of the annular lifting member 51 slides into the vertical slit 42a of the annular wall 42 of the rotor base 32, and the tablet support table 55 protrudes outside the annular wall 42 of the rotor base 32 to support the lowest tablet T in the tablet guide path 8b.

As shown in FIG. 15, to adjust the height H of the tablet guide path 8b, which corresponds to the height of the tablet T, the height adjustment member 52 of the height adjustment mechanism M3 is rotated left or right. In the present invention, since the partition member 20 is fixed in the height direction relative to the cassette body 5, the height H of the tablet guide path 8b is adjusted not by moving the partition member 20 itself, but by raising and lowering the tablet support table 55 below the partition member 20 and adjusting the distance between the partition member 20 and the tablet support table 55, thereby adjusting the height H of the partition member 20 from the tablet support table 55 of the tablet guide path 8b.

When the height adjustment member 52 is rotated, the cylindrical rotating member 50 rotates. The cylindrical rotating member 50 is restricted from moving up and down by the second support member 63 and the rotor base 32. The annular lifting member 51, which has a female threaded portion 51a that screws into the male threaded portion 50a of the cylindrical rotating member 50, has an arm 54 that passes through a vertical slit 42a in the annular wall 42 of the rotor base 32, and is restricted from rotating. Therefore, when the cylindrical rotating member 50 rotates, the annular lifting member 51 rises and falls, and the tablet support table 55 of the annular lifting member 51 rises and falls.

That is, as shown in FIG. 15, when the cylindrical rotating member 50 rotates in one direction, the tablet support table 55 of the annular lifting member 51 rises, and the position of the partition member 20 relative to the tablet support table 55, i.e., the height, becomes lower (H1). Conversely, when the cylindrical rotating member 50 rotates in the other direction, the tablet support table 55 of the annular lifting member 51 descends, and the position of the partition member 20 relative to the tablet support table 55, i.e., the height, becomes higher (H2). Note that, each time the cylindrical rotating member 50 rotates due to the rotation of the height adjustment member 52, the tip of the stopper 53 rides over the teeth of the driven gear 50b of the cylindrical rotating member 50 and engages between the teeth, so that the height adjustment member 52 can be stopped at an appropriate position and the tablet support table 55 can be fixed at the desired height position.

<Width adjustment mechanism>
13 shows the members constituting the width adjustment mechanism M4. The width adjustment mechanism M4 includes a first movable member 60, a second movable member 61, a first support member 62, a second support member 63, and a width adjustment member 64.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first movable member 60 is made up of an upper member 60a and a lower member 60b, and the engagement protrusion 65 of the upper member 60a and the engagement protrusion 66 of the lower member 60b are engaged with each other, allowing the two to rotate together.

A roughly semicircular notch 68 and a long hole 69 are formed adjacent to each other on the inner circumference of the annular base 67 of the upper member 60a of the first movable member 60. On the edge of the notch 68 that faces the center of the notch 68 when the first movable member 60 is viewed from above, protrusions A 68a and B 68b that face each other in the circumferential direction of the first movable member 60 are formed. Protrusions A 68a and B 68b become cam followers that slide against cams A 94a and B 94b of the first adjustment shaft 94, which will be described later.

The lower member 60b of the first movable member 60 has a circular base 70, six wall portions 71, a first vertical protrusion 72, and a first horizontal protrusion 73. The six wall portions 71 protrude downward from six equally spaced positions on the outer periphery of the base 70. The first vertical protrusion 72 protrudes outward from the left end of the wall portion 71 when viewed from the front, and forms the right side surface of the aforementioned tablet guide path 8b. The first vertical protrusion 72 has a notch 72a into which the partition member 20 fits. The first horizontal protrusion 73 extends horizontally from the upper end of the first vertical protrusion 72 in the circumferential direction toward the right side when viewed from the front, and forms the bottom surface of the aforementioned tablet pocket 8a.

The second movable member 61, like the first movable member 60, is made up of an upper member 61a and a lower member 61b, but the engagement protrusion 74 of the upper member 61a engages with the engagement recess 75 of the lower member 61b, allowing the two to rotate together.

A roughly semicircular notch 77 and a long hole 78 are formed adjacent to each other on the inner circumference of the annular base 76 of the upper member 61a of the second movable member 61. On the edges of the notches 77 that face each other when the second movable member 61 is viewed from above, protrusions A 77a and B 77b that face each other in the circumferential direction of the second movable member 61 are formed. Protrusions A 77a and B 77b become cam followers that slide against cams A 95a and B 95b of the second adjustment shaft, which will be described later.

The lower member 61b of the second movable member 61 has a circular base 79, six wall portions 80, a second vertical protrusion 81, and a second horizontal protrusion 82. The six wall portions 80 protrude downward from six equally spaced positions on the outer periphery of the base 79. The second vertical protrusion 81 protrudes outward from the right end of the wall portion 80 when viewed from the front, and forms the left side surface of the tablet guide path 8b described above. The second vertical protrusion 81 has a notch 81a into which the partition member 20 fits. The second horizontal protrusion 82 extends horizontally from the upper end of the second vertical protrusion 81 in the circumferential direction toward the left side when viewed from the front, and forms the bottom surface of the tablet pocket 8a described above together with the first horizontal protrusion 73 of the first movable member 60. The tip of the second horizontal protrusion 82 of the second movable member 61 is formed so as to overlap under the tip of the first horizontal protrusion 73 of the first movable member 60.

The first support member 62 has a circular shape with an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the upper member 60a of the first movable member 60, and has a circular protrusion 83 on its underside. In the center of the first support member 62, holes 84, 84a through which the width adjustment member 64 described below passes, a hole 85 through which the depth adjustment member 33 of the depth adjustment mechanism M2 passes, a hole 86 through which the height adjustment member 52 of the height adjustment mechanism M3 passes, and two screw insertion holes 87 are formed.

The second support member 63 has a circular shape with an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the upper member 60a of the first movable member 60, and an annular protrusion 88 is formed on the upper surface into which the circular protrusion 83 of the first support member 62 fits. In the center of the second support member 63, there are a hole 89 through which the depth adjustment member 33 of the depth adjustment mechanism M2 passes, a hole 90 and a notch 90a through which the height adjustment member 52 of the height adjustment mechanism M3 passes, a hole 91a through which the first adjustment shaft 94 of the width adjustment member 64 described later passes, a hole 91b into which the second adjustment shaft 95 fits, two screw holes 92 into which screws (not shown) that are inserted into the two screw insertion holes 87 of the first support member 62 are screwed, and two screw insertion holes 93 are formed.

By inserting a screw (not shown) from the screw insertion hole 87 of the first support member 62 into the screw hole 92 of the second support member 63 and tightening it, the first support member 62 and the second support member 63 are integrated while sandwiching the first movable member 60 and the second movable member 61. In addition, by inserting a screw (not shown) from the screw insertion hole 93 of the second support member 63 into the screw hole 45b of the rotor base 32 and tightening it, the second support member 63 is fixed to the rotor base 32, and the cylindrical rotating member 50 of the height adjustment mechanism M3 is held between the second support member 63 and the rotor base 32, and axial movement is restricted.

The width adjustment member 64 is made up of a first adjustment shaft 94 and a second adjustment shaft 95. The first adjustment shaft 94 is disposed in the notch 68. The second adjustment shaft 95 is disposed in the long hole 69. The second adjustment shaft 95 is provided with a stopper 96 that prevents the width adjustment member 64 from rotating freely.

The first adjustment shaft 94 is formed with an A cam 94a, a B cam 94b, and a gear 94c in this order from the top. As shown in FIG. 16, the A cam 94a is formed so that the radius of the cam surface increases over a range of 360° clockwise when the width adjustment member 64 is viewed from above, and is in sliding contact with the A protrusion 68a of the first movable member 60. The B cam 94b is formed so that the radius of the cam surface increases over a range of 360° counterclockwise when the width adjustment member 64 is viewed from above, and is in sliding contact with the B protrusion 68b of the first movable member 60. The maximum radius parts of the A cam 94a and the B cam 94b are located 180° apart. The upper end of the first adjustment shaft 94 is supported by the hole 84a of the first support member 62, and the lower end is supported by the hole 91a of the second support member 63.

Similarly, the second adjustment shaft 95 is formed with an A cam 95a, a B cam 95b, a gear 95c, and an engagement portion 95d in this order from the bottom. The A cam 95a is formed so that the radius of the cam surface increases over a range of 360° clockwise when the width adjustment member 64 is viewed from below, and is in sliding contact with the A protrusion 77a of the second movable member 61. The B cam 95b is formed so that the radius of the cam surface increases over a range of 360° counterclockwise when the width adjustment member 64 is viewed from below, and is in sliding contact with the B protrusion 77b of the second movable member 61. The maximum radius portion of the A cam 95a and the maximum radius portion of the B cam 95b are located 180° apart. The gear 95c of the second adjustment shaft 95 is configured to mesh with and interlock with the gear 94c. The upper end of the second adjustment shaft 95 penetrates the long hole 69 of the first support member 62, protrudes from the rotor body 31, and is exposed from the hole 34a, allowing rotation adjustment from the outside. The lower end of the second adjustment shaft 95 is supported in a hole 91b of the second support member 63. The upper end of the first adjustment shaft 94 may be exposed by penetrating the first support member 62 and protruding from the rotor body 31, allowing rotation adjustment from the outside.

16(a), when the second adjustment shaft 95 is rotated clockwise, a rotational force is transmitted from the gear 95c of the second adjustment shaft 95 to the gear 94c of the first adjustment shaft 94, and the first adjustment shaft 94 rotates counterclockwise. The rotation of the first adjustment shaft 94 causes the A cam 94a of the first adjustment shaft 94 to slide against and press the A protrusion 68a of the first movable member 60, so that the first movable member 60 rotates clockwise in FIG. 16(a). On the other hand, the rotation of the second adjustment shaft 95 causes the A cam 95a of the second adjustment shaft 95 to slide against and press the A protrusion 77a of the second movable member 61, as shown in FIG. 16(b), so that the second movable member 61 rotates clockwise in FIG. 16(b) and counterclockwise in FIG. 16(a).

Next, when the second adjustment shaft 95 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 16(a), a rotational force is transmitted from the gear 95c of the second adjustment shaft 95 to the gear 94c of the first adjustment shaft 94, and the first adjustment shaft 94 rotates clockwise. As the first adjustment shaft 94 rotates, the B cam 94b of the first adjustment shaft 94 slides against and presses the B protrusion 68b of the first movable member 60, so that the first movable member 60 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 16(a). On the other hand, as the second adjustment shaft 95 rotates, the B cam 95b of the second adjustment shaft 95 slides against and presses the B protrusion 77b of the second movable member 61, so that the second movable member 61 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 16(b) and clockwise in FIG. 16(a).

In this way, the first movable member 60 and the second movable member 61 rotate in opposite directions, and the distance between the first vertical protrusion 72 of the first movable member 60 and the second vertical protrusion 81 of the second movable member 61, i.e., the width of the tablet guide path 8b, can be expanded or reduced.

Next, we will explain the operation of the rotor 8 in the tablet cassette 2 configured as described above.

As already mentioned, between the cassette body 5 and the rotor 8 shown in FIG. 5, there are tablet pockets 8a that extend circumferentially on the upper side of the rotor 8, and multiple tablet guide paths 8b that extend downward from the upper side of the rotor 8.

Referring to FIG. 5, the tablets T stored in the cassette body 5 enter the tablet pocket 8a while being stirred by the rotation of the rotor 8, and enter the tablet guide path 8b from the tablet pocket 8a. When the tablet guide path 8b approaches the tablet discharge hole 9, the partition member 20 fixed to the cassette body 5 enters between the lowest tablet T in the tablet guide path 8b and the tablets T above it. The partition member 20 prevents the tablets T above the partition member 20 from falling downward. The lowest tablet T below the partition member 20 is on the tablet support base 55, but since the tablet support base 55 is inclined, it falls toward the tablet discharge hole 9 on the tablet support base 55 and is discharged from the tablet discharge hole 9. The tablets T discharged from the tablet discharge hole 9 are dispensed through the tablet discharge path 3c of the base 2 shown in FIG. 2. As a result, each time the tablet guide path 8b turns around the tablet discharge hole 9, one tablet T is discharged. By adjusting the rotation angle of the rotor 8, the number of tablets T according to the prescription can be dispensed.

The tablet guide path 8b can adjust the entry position of the partition member 20 relative to the thickness of the tablet T, the depth D corresponding to the thickness of the tablet T, the height H corresponding to the height of the tablet, and the width W corresponding to the width of the tablet T, using the partition adjustment mechanism M1, depth adjustment mechanism M2, height adjustment mechanism M3, and width adjustment mechanism M4 described above. Therefore, the tablet guide path 8b can be made to an appropriate size depending on the shape or size of the tablet T to be stored in the cassette body 5. The tablet cassette 2 or rotor 8 can be used to adjust the tablet guide path 8b to suit various tablets T for discharge, without replacing the entire tablet cassette 2 or rotor 8 for each different tablet T. Such adjustments can be made automatically by the adjustment device described below.

<Adjustment device>
17 shows a tablet cassette adjustment device 100 according to the present invention. The adjustment device 100 engages with the engagement parts 33c, 52b, 95d of the adjustment members 33, 52, 64 of the adjustment mechanisms M2, M3, M4 that adjust the depth, height, and width of the grooves of the tablet guide path 8b of the tablet cassette 2 described above, to operate the adjustment mechanisms, and adjusts the dimensions of the tablet guide path 8b according to the shape or size of the tablets T contained in the cassette body 5. The adjustment device 100 also engages with the engagement gear 24b of the partition adjustment member 24 of the partition adjustment mechanism M1 that adjusts the entry position of the partition member 20, to operate the partition adjustment mechanism M1, and adjusts the entry position of the partition member 20 according to the shape or size of the tablets T contained in the cassette body 5 and the depth of the grooves of the tablet guide path 8b.

The adjustment device 100 includes a device main body 101, a cassette mounting section 102, a rotor mounting section 103, a lift table 104 shown in FIG. 18, and a lift operation section 105.

The device body 101 has a lower frame 106 shown in FIG. 18, side frames 107 rising from both ends of the lower frame 106, an upper frame 108 provided at the upper end of the side frame 107, and a rear frame 109 provided behind the upper frame 108.

The cassette mounting section 102 has a cassette mounting base 110 provided on the upper frame 108. The cassette mounting base 110 has a mounting guide 110a and a locking portion 110b so that the tablet cassette 2 can be mounted, similar to the base 3 of the tablet dispensing device 1. The rear frame 109 behind the cassette mounting base 110 is provided with a partition adjustment shaft 111 as shown in Figures 19 and 20. The partition adjustment shaft 111 has a drive gear 112 that engages with the engagement gear 24b of the partition adjustment member 24 of the tablet cassette 2 when the tablet cassette 2 is mounted. The partition adjustment shaft 111 is driven by a partition adjustment motor 113. In addition, a detection lever 116 of a partition zero point detection sensor 115 against which the movable member 23 of the partition adjustment mechanism M1 of the tablet cassette 2 abuts protrudes from the inclined frame 114 in the front of the rear frame 109. As shown in FIG. 20, the detection lever 116 is L-shaped, rotatable around a support shaft 117, and has a detection part 116a that is detected by the partition zero point detection sensor 115.

The rotor mounting section 103 has a sensor mounting base 118 provided on the lower frame 106 shown in Figure 18. A rotor mounting protrusion 119 is provided on the upper surface of the sensor mounting base 118. The rotor mounting protrusion 119 has an engagement shaft 120 shaped similarly to the engagement shaft 13 of the rotor drive section 10 of the cassette body 5, allowing the rotor 8 to be attached. A depth zero point detection sensor 121, a height zero point detection sensor 122, and a width zero point detection sensor 123 are provided on the side of the sensor mounting base 118. The detection parts 121a, 122a, and 123a shown in FIG. 21 provided on the depth zero point detection sensor 121, the height zero point detection sensor 122, and the width zero point detection sensor 123 respectively protrude upward from the rotor mounting part 103 and face and come into contact with the protrusion 37b of the guide part 37 of the rotor 8 mounted on the rotor mounting part 103, the lower surface of the tablet support base 55, and the first vertical protrusion 72, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 18, the lift table 104 can be raised and lowered by engaging sliders 125 on the vertical sections 124 at both ends with guide rails 126 on the side frames 107 of the device body 101. A depth adjustment shaft 127, a height adjustment shaft 128, and a width adjustment shaft 129 are rotatably provided at the front of the lift table 104, each extending vertically.

22, the depth adjustment shaft 127 includes an upper large diameter portion 130, a lower small diameter portion 131, and a step portion 132 between the large diameter portion 130 and the small diameter portion 131. A pulley 133 is attached to the upper end of the large diameter portion 130, and an engagement shaft 134 is attached to the lower end of the small diameter portion 131. The engagement shaft 134 has an engagement portion 134a at its lower end that engages with the engagement portion 33c of the depth adjustment member 33, and a hole 134b at its upper end into which the lower end of the small diameter portion 131 is inserted, and a slit 134c into which a pin 135 provided at the lower portion of the depth adjustment shaft 127 is inserted. A spring 136 is attached between the step portion 132 of the depth adjustment shaft 127 and the upper end of the engagement shaft 134. The height adjustment shaft 128 and the width adjustment shaft 129 have the same configuration as the depth adjustment shaft 127.

As shown in FIG. 23, a depth drive shaft 137, a height drive shaft 138, and a width drive shaft 139 are provided at the rear of the lift table 104. A pulley 140 is provided on each drive shaft 137, 138, and 139, and is connected to the pulleys 133 of the depth adjustment shaft 127, height adjustment shaft 128, and width adjustment shaft 129 by a belt 141. Each drive shaft 137, 138, and 139 can be rotated by a depth adjustment motor 142, height adjustment motor 143, and width adjustment motor 144.

Returning to FIG. 19, the lifting operation unit 105 includes a lever 145, a handle 146, and a lever position detection sensor 147.

The pair of levers 145 are provided on the outside of the side frames 107 on both sides, with one end rotatably attached to a support shaft 148 provided between the side frames 107, and the other ends connected to each other by a connecting bar 149. The levers 145 are formed with a long hole 151 into which a roller 150 provided on the vertical part 124 of the lift table 104 shown in FIG. 18 fits. In addition, the right lever 145 when viewed from the front is formed with an arc part 152 centered on the support shaft 148, and multiple notches 152a, 152b are formed on the edge of the arc part 152.

The handle 146 is attached to the tip of the lever 145 on the right side when viewed from the front so as to be able to slide along the longitudinal direction of the lever 145. The handle 146 is also biased toward the support shaft 148 of the lever 145 by a spring 153. An engagement claw 154 is formed at the tip of the handle 146. When the handle 146 is pressed downward, the engagement claw 154 engages with an engagement portion 155a of a stopper member 155 attached to the side frame 107, and is held in a predetermined downward position.

The lever position detection sensor 147 is attached to the side frame 107 and detects the position of the lever 145 by detecting the notches 152a, 152b in the arc portion 152 of the lever 145 as the lever 145 rotates.

Figure 24 is a system configuration diagram of the adjustment device 100. The adjustment device 100 is connected to a control device 200, a display unit 201, and a memory unit 202.

The detection signals of the depth, height, and width zero point detection sensors 121, 122, and 123 and the partition zero point detection sensor 115 are input to the control device 200. In addition, the detection signal of the lever position detection sensor 147 is input to the control device 200. Furthermore, the start signals of the first start button 203 provided on the cassette mounting section 102 and the second start button 204 provided on the rotor placement section 103 are input to the control device 200.

The storage unit 202 stores a tablet mounting master D11 (see FIG. 32 (A)) in which at least the drug code and drug name, which are drug identification information capable of identifying the type of tablet, the shape of the tablet, the dimensions of the tablet such as the length, width, height, and thickness, and the entry position of the partition member 20 into the tablet guide path 8b suitable for the tablet are associated. The tablet mounting master D11 stores information on tablets that are preregistered as tablets that can be dispensed by the tablet dispensing system 500. In addition, the storage unit 202 stores, for example, a correction coefficient for standard dimensions, and the control device 200 can derive the depth, height, and width dimensions of the tablet guide path 8b suitable for the tablet based on the correction coefficient and the dimensions of the tablet. As another embodiment, instead of the dimensions of the tablet, the depth, height, and width dimensions of the tablet guide path 8b suitable for the tablet may be stored in the tablet mounting master D11. Similarly, instead of the entry position of the partition member 20 into the tablet guide path 8b, a numerical value related to the entry position (such as the thickness of the tablet), for example, a correction coefficient for the standard entry position, may be stored in the tablet mounting master D11. The tablet mounting master D11 also stores, in association with each other, the drug classification (classification code), drug ingredient (ingredient code), JAN code, RSS code, medicine bottle code, dosage form, unit, specific gravity, drug variety, compounding variation, excipient drug, cautions, size type, and an external image of the tablet. The tablet mounting master D11 may also be edited by the control device 200 based on user operations, etc.

In addition, the memory unit 202 stores a drug master that stores information about multiple tablets, such as tablet type information stored in the tablet mounting master D11, as well as standard amount, host code, generic drug name, JAN code, RSS code, YJ code (individual drug code), GS1 code, medicine bottle code, dosage form code (powders, tablets, liquids, topical medications, etc.), form code, highly toxic/controlled drug type (psychotropic drugs, narcotics), and appearance image. For example, the control device 200 can reflect the information stored in the drug master in the tablet mounting master D11 in response to a user operation, or display the information stored in the drug master on the display unit 201.

The control device 200 drives the depth, height, and width adjustment motors 142, 143, and 144 and the partition adjustment motor 113 based on the tablet mounting master D11 stored in the memory unit 202 and detection signals from the depth zero point detection sensor 121, the height zero point detection sensor 122, the width zero point detection sensor 123, the partition zero point detection sensor 115, the lever position detection sensor 147, the first start button 203, and the second start button 204, and adjusts the dimensions of the tablet guide path 8b and the entry position of the partition member 20 according to the shape or size of the tablets T contained in the cassette body 5.

The operation of adjusting the dimensions of the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 of the tablet cassette 2 and the entry position of the partition member 20 using the adjustment device 100 configured as described above will be explained with reference to Figure 25.

First, remove the tablet cassette 2 into which tablets T are to be replaced from the tablet dispensing device 1. If there are any tablets T remaining in the tablet cassette 2, remove them. As shown in FIG. 26, it is recommended to cut off the label 157 from the box 156 of the new tablets T and insert it into the pocket 6a of the tablet cassette 2.

In step 1, the tablet cassette 2 removed from the tablet dispensing device 1 is attached to the cassette attachment section 102 of the adjustment device 100.

In step 2, from the list of tablets displayed on the display unit 201, select the tablets to be newly placed in the tablet cassette 2, and press the OK button on the display unit 201. A barcode reader (not shown) may be used to read the tablets from the barcode on the label 157 inserted in the pocket 6a of the tablet cassette 2.

When the OK button on the display unit 201 is pressed, in step 3, the partition adjustment motor 113 is driven, the partition member 20 retreats, and the tip of the partition member 20 retreats from at least the notch 72a of the first movable member 60 of the cassette body 5 and the notch 81a of the second movable member 61. This makes it possible to remove the rotor 8 from the cassette body 5.

In step 4, the rotor 8 is removed from the cassette body 5 of the tablet cassette 2, and the rotor cover 30 of the rotor 8 is removed to expose the engagement portions of the depth adjustment member 33, height adjustment member 52, and width adjustment member 64.

In step 5, the rotor 8 removed from the cassette body 5 is placed on the rotor placement section 103 of the adjustment device 100 as shown in FIG. 26.

In step 6, the handle 146 of the adjustment device 100 is gripped to lower the lever 145. As a result, the engaging portions 134a of the depth adjustment shaft 127, height adjustment shaft 128, and width adjustment shaft 129 engage with the engaging portions of the depth adjustment member 33, height adjustment member 52, and width adjustment member 64 of the rotor 8. The engaging portions of the depth adjustment shaft 127, height adjustment shaft 128, and width adjustment shaft 129 are maintained in an engaged state with the engaging portions of the depth adjustment member 33, height adjustment member 52, and width adjustment member 64 of the rotor 8 by the biasing force of the spring 136. The lever 145 is held in a pressed-down state by the engaging claw 154 of the handle 146 engaging with the engaging portion 155a of the stopper member 155 by the biasing force of the spring 153. In addition, the depressed position of the lever 145 is detected by the lever position detection sensor 147, so the control device 200 determines that preparation for tablet guideway adjustment is complete.

When the first start button 203 is pressed in step 7, the depth, height, and width adjustment motors 142, 143, and 144 are driven in step 8, and the depth, height, and width of the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 are adjusted to the master values stored in the memory unit 202 according to the selected tablet. During this tablet guide path adjustment operation, the inside of the cassette body 5 of the tablet cassette 2 mounted in the cassette mounting unit 102 can be cleaned.

To explain the adjustment operation of the tablet guideway 8b in detail, first, the adjustment motors 142, 143, and 144 are operated in one direction until the depth zero point detection sensor 121, the height zero point detection sensor 122, and the width zero point detection sensor 123 each detect the zero point. That is, as shown in FIG. 27, the depth adjustment mechanism M2 is operated by the rotation of the depth adjustment shaft 127, the guide part 37 of the rotor body 31 moves downward, and the protrusion 37b at the lower end of the guide part 37 presses the detection part 121a of the depth zero point detection sensor 121, so that the depth zero point is detected. Also, as shown in FIG. 28, the height adjustment mechanism M3 is operated by the rotation of the height adjustment shaft 128, the tablet support table 55 moves downward, and the lower surface of the tablet support table 55 presses the detection part 122a of the height zero point detection sensor 122, so that the height zero point is detected. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 29, the width adjustment mechanism M4 is actuated by the rotation of the width adjustment shaft 129, the first vertical protrusion 72 of the first movable member 60 and the second vertical protrusion 81 of the second movable member 61 move in directions away from each other, and the first vertical protrusion 72 of the first movable member knocks down the detection portion 123a of the width zero point detection sensor 123, thereby detecting the width zero point.

Next, the adjustment motors 142, 143, and 144 are operated in the other direction until the depth, height, and width of the tablet guide path 8b corresponding to the selected tablet become the master values stored in the memory unit 202.

In step 9, the rotor cover 30 is attached to the rotor 8 after the depth, height, and width have been adjusted, and it is returned to the tablet cassette 2 in the cassette mounting section 102.

When the second start button 204 is pressed in step 10, the partition adjustment motor 113 is driven in step 11, and the position of the partition member 20 in the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 is adjusted to a master value according to the selected tablet.

To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 30, the partition adjustment motor 113 is driven to rotate the partition adjustment shaft 111, which activates the partition adjustment mechanism M1, moving the movable member 23 backward and pressing the detection lever 116 of the partition zero point detection sensor 115, causing the detection unit 116a to move and the partition zero point detection sensor 115 to detect the partition zero point. Next, the partition motor 113 is operated in the other direction until the entry position of the partition member 20 into the tablet guide path 8b corresponding to the selected tablet becomes each master value.

In step 12, the tablet cassette 2 is removed from the adjustment device 100, and in step 13, the data of the tablets contained in the tablet cassette 2 is rewritten in the control unit 300 of the tablet dispensing device 1.

In step 12, new tablets are placed into the tablet cassette 2 after the tablet guideway has been adjusted, and the tablet cassette 2 is then installed in a designated position in the tablet dispensing device 1.

Figure 31 shows a modified example of the sensor mounting base 118 and rotor mounting portion 103 of the adjustment device 100.

The sensor mounting base 118 has a coil spring 118a in the center and a slide shaft 118b inside the coil spring 118a. A magnet 118c is attached to the upper end of the slide shaft 118b. A depth zero point detection sensor 121, a height zero point detection sensor 122, and a width zero point detection sensor 123 are provided around the coil spring 118a. In addition, openings 118d are formed at three equally spaced positions around the circumference of the coil spring 118a, at positions corresponding to three links 103e (described later).

The rotor mounting portion 103 is supported by the sensor mounting base 118 via a coil spring 118a, and can move up and down along the slide shaft 118b of the sensor mounting base 118. The rotor mounting portion 103 has a rotor mounting protrusion 119 into which the engagement recess 41a of the rotor 8 shown in FIG. 10 fits. The rotor mounting protrusion 119 is formed with engagement pieces 119S, 119L that engage with large and small engagement holes 41S, 41L (only 41L is shown in FIG. 10) formed in the engagement recess 41a of the rotor 8 shown in FIG. 10. For this reason, the rotor 8 can be mounted only in one position in the rotational direction. It is preferable to provide a mark indicating the mounting direction on the rotor 8 so that the engagement holes 41S, 41L are reliably engaged with the engagement pieces 119S, 119L.

The rotor mounting portion 103 has openings 103a, 103b, and 103c formed around the rotor mounting protrusion 119, through which the depth zero point detection sensor 121, the height zero point detection sensor 122, and the width zero point detection sensor 123 are respectively faced. The rotor mounting portion 103 also has a hole 103d formed therein through which the rotor support portions 103g of the three links 103e described below protrude. The three links 103e are disposed on the rear surface of the rotor mounting portion 103. The links 103e are rotatably mounted by a support shaft 103f, and have the rotor support portion 103g at one end and a cam portion 103h at the other end.

Normally, due to the weight of the cam portion 103h, the rotor receiving portion 103g of the link 103e protrudes upward from the hole 103d of the rotor mounting portion 103, and the end of the cam portion 103h abuts against the edge of the opening 118d of the sensor mounting base 118. In this state, even if an external force other than that of the rotor 8 acts on the rotor mounting portion 103, it does not fall downward. Therefore, the detection portions 121a, 122a, and 123a of the sensors 121, 122, and 123 are not exposed from the openings 103a, 103b, and 103c, respectively, and the sensors 121, 122, and 123 can be protected.

When the rotor 8 is attached to the rotor mounting portion 103 and pressed downward, the underside of the rotor 8 simultaneously presses against the rotor receiving portions 103g of the three links 103e. This causes the ring 103e to rotate around the support shaft 103f, and the end of the cam portion 103h comes off the edge of the hole 118d. As a result, the rotor mounting portion 103 descends downward against the biasing force of the coil spring 118a. The magnet 118c of the slide shaft 118b is then attracted to the magnetic plate 46 of the rotor 8 and fixed in place.

The above embodiment can be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention described in the claims. For example, in the above embodiment, the depth, height, and width of the groove of the tablet guide path can all be adjusted, but one or two of the depth, height, and width of the groove may be adjusted. Also, the adjustment shaft is manually raised and lowered by a lever, but it may be raised and lowered automatically. Furthermore, without removing the rotor 8 from the tablet cassette 2, the tablet cassette 2 may be placed on the adjustment device 100 with the lid 6 of the tablet cassette 2 open and the rotor cover 30 removed, and at least one of the depth, height, and width of the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 in the tablet cassette 2, or the entry position of the partition member 20, may be adjusted.

Below, as shown in FIG. 33, the details of the tablet dispensing system 500 including the tablet dispensing device 1, the adjustment device 100, and the control device 200 will be described. The tablet dispensing device 1 and the adjustment device 100 are communicatively connected to the control device 200 via a network N such as a LAN, and the operation of the tablet dispensing device 1 and the adjustment device 100 is controlled by the control device 200. The control device 200 is an information processing device such as a personal computer. The adjustment device 100 is also provided with a control unit such as a CPU capable of executing various processes, and the control unit is capable of communicating with the control device 200, etc.

In this embodiment, the components of the tablet dispensing system according to the present invention are provided in the control device 200, and the control device 200 alone corresponds to the tablet dispensing system according to the present invention. On the other hand, if the tablet dispensing device 1 or the adjustment device 100 has a function similar to that of the control device 200 described in this embodiment, the tablet dispensing device 1 or the adjustment device 100 may be regarded as the tablet dispensing system according to the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the tablet dispensing system according to the present invention may be distributed and provided in two or more of the tablet dispensing device 1, the adjustment device 100, and the control device 200. Furthermore, the control device 200 may be mounted on the tablet dispensing device 1 or the adjustment device 100.

As shown in FIG. 33, the tablet dispensing device 1 includes a control unit 300 and a reader/writer 301, and the adjustment device 100 includes a reader/writer 501. An RFID tag 601 is provided on the cassette body 5 of the tablet cassette 2. The RFID tag 601 is an example of a non-volatile memory unit capable of storing data. Note that instead of the RFID tag 601, a memory unit capable of reading and writing data using another storage method, such as a contact type, may be used.

The control unit 300 has control devices such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and EEPROM (registered trademark). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile storage unit, and the EEPROM is a non-volatile storage unit. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as temporary storage memories (working areas) for the various processes executed by the CPU.

Specifically, the control unit 300 includes a processing unit such as an abnormality determination unit 311. Specifically, the control unit 300 functions as various processing units by using the CPU to execute various processes according to a tablet dispensing control program pre-stored in the ROM or the like. Note that some or all of the processing units may be electronic circuits.

The abnormality determination unit 311 determines whether the drive current of the drive unit used to dispense tablets from the tablet cassette 2 is equal to or greater than a preset abnormal current value. That is, the abnormality determination unit 311 executes processing to detect an abnormality in the drive unit. The abnormal current value is set or changed by the abnormality processing unit 418 of the control unit 401, which will be described later.

The reader/writer 301 is provided in a position in the tablet dispensing device 1 where, when the tablet cassette 2 is attached to the base 3, it can access the RFID tag 601 of the tablet cassette 2 attached to the base 3. The reader/writer 301 is capable of reading data from the RFID tag 601 attached to the tablet cassette 2, and is also capable of writing data to the RFID tag 601.

The reader/writer 501 is provided in a position in the adjustment device 100 where, when the tablet cassette 2 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 102, it can access the RFID tag 601 of the tablet cassette 2 mounted in the cassette mounting section 102. The reader/writer 501 is capable of reading data from the RFID tag 601 provided in the tablet cassette 2, and is also capable of writing data to the RFID tag 601.

As shown in FIG. 33, the RFID tag 601 includes an updatable area 611 and a non-updatable area 612. The updatable area 611 is an area where data can be read and data can be written by a reader/writer such as the reader/writers 301 and 501. The non-updatable area 612 is an area where data can be read but not written by a reader/writer such as the reader/writers 301 and 501.

Specifically, the updateable area 611 stores tablet type information D21 (see FIG. 32B) including drug identification information such as a drug code or drug name for identifying the tablet type assigned to the tablet cassette 2 in which the RFID tag 601 is provided. In addition to the drug identification information, the tablet type information D21 also includes information such as a stability coefficient, placement restrictions, size type, model number, and branch number. The tablet size (length, width, height, thickness) may be stored in the tablet type information D21. When the mounting position of each tablet cassette 2 in the tablet dispensing device 1 is fixedly set, the tablet type information D21 and the allocation correspondence information D31 described later include mounting position information indicating the mounting position of the tablet cassette 2 in the tablet dispensing device 1, and the mounting position information is updated by the control unit 401 based on a user operation or the like.

The stability coefficient is a coefficient indicating the tendency of the tablet to bounce or roll depending on its shape and hardness, and is used, for example, to calculate the time (maximum) for a tablet dispensed from each tablet cassette 2 to fall and settle at the outlet. The placement restriction is information regarding the restriction of the position at which the tablet cassette 2 can be attached when the tablet cassette 2 is attached to the tablet dispensing device 1, and is information for restricting the position at which the tablet cassette 2 can be attached by height, such as "all rows possible," "less than half," or "only the bottom two rows." The size type is the size of the tablet cassette 2, and is determined according to the number of tablets that can be stored, such as L, LM, M, S, and SS. The model number is an identification number of the tablet dispensing device 1 in which the tablet cassette 2 is installed, when there are multiple tablet dispensing devices 1. The branch number is a number assigned to distinguish between multiple tablet cassettes 2 that store the same type of tablets, when there are multiple tablet cassettes 2.

On the other hand, the non-updatable area 612 prestores cassette information D22 (see FIG. 32(B)) including information such as a cassette number indicating unique identification information for identifying the tablet cassette 2 in which the RFID tag 601 is provided, and the cassette type of the tablet cassette 2. Here, the cassette type is information for identifying multiple types of tablet cassettes 2 having different compatibility conditions for tablets that can be dispensed. Specifically, the compatibility conditions include one or both of the minimum and maximum values for the sizes of the tablets, such as width, height, and thickness. The compatibility conditions may also include the shape of the tablets, such as capsule tablets or round tablets.

For example, the cassette types of the tablet cassette 2 include Type A, in which the tablet has a width (diameter) of at least x1 mm but less than x2 mm, a thickness of at least y1 mm but less than y2 mm, and a flat round tablet shape, and Type B, in which the tablet has a width of at least x2 mm but less than x3 mm, a thickness (diameter) of at least y2 mm but less than y3 mm, and a capsule tablet shape. In addition, if a torque limiter (not shown) is provided on the rotor 8 of the tablet cassette 2, it is possible that the magnitude of the load that switches the torque limiter between transmitting and not transmitting torque differs for each cassette type of the tablet cassette 2. In addition, each tablet cassette 2 may be configured to be compatible with all tablets, in which case the cassette information D22 does not need to include information on the cassette type.

The control device 200 is an information processing device such as a computer that includes a control unit 401, an operation unit 402, a display unit 201, and a memory unit 202.

As shown in FIG. 32(A), the tablet mounting master D11 stored in the memory unit 202 stores information such as stability coefficient, placement restrictions, cassette type, dimensions (length, height, width, thickness), and entry position for each tablet indicated by drug identification information such as drug code or drug name, in association with each drug identification information. This allows the control unit 401 to adjust the dimensions of the tablet guide path 8b of the tablet cassette 2 and the entry position of the partition member 20 using the adjustment device 100 based on the tablet type assigned to the tablet cassette 2 and the dimensions and entry position of the tablet mounting master D11.

As shown in FIG. 32(C), the memory unit 202 stores allocation correspondence information D31 in which a cassette number, which is identification information of the tablet cassette 2, a drug code, which is drug identification information of the tablet assigned to the tablet cassette 2, and a matched flag, which indicates whether a matching code described below has been matched, are associated with each other. This allows the control unit 401 to control the tablet dispensing device 1 by referring to the correspondence between the drug code and the cassette number in the allocation correspondence information D31, and to dispense a specific tablet indicated in the prescription data from the tablet cassette 2 corresponding to the tablet. Note that the allocation correspondence information D31 can store information about more tablet cassettes 2 than the number of tablet cassettes 2 that can be attached to the tablet dispensing device 1, and the tablet dispensing device 1 may be able to dispense tablets using the tablet cassette 2 attached to the tablet dispensing device 1 among the tablet cassettes 2 stored in the allocation correspondence information D31.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 32 (D), the memory unit 202 stores a base master D41 for each tablet dispensing device 1 connected to the tablet dispensing system 500, in which the cassette number of the tablet cassette 2 attached to the tablet dispensing device 1 corresponds to the base number for identifying the base 3 of the tablet dispensing device 1 to which the tablet cassette 2 is attached. When the control unit 401 detects the attachment or detachment of the tablet cassette 2 in the tablet dispensing device 1, it updates the base master D41 according to the attachment or detachment result of the tablet cassette 2. This allows the control unit 401 to identify the tablet cassette 2 attached to each tablet dispensing device 1 and the base 3 to which the tablet cassette 2 is attached in the tablet dispensing system 500 based on the base master D41 corresponding to each tablet dispensing device 1.

The display unit 201 is a display means such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or a projector capable of displaying various types of information. The operation unit 402 is an operation means such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel capable of accepting user operations. Note that the display unit 201 and the operation unit 402 may be a touch panel display capable of accepting user operations.

The control unit 401 has control devices such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and EEPROM (registered trademark). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile storage unit, and the EEPROM is a non-volatile storage unit. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as temporary storage memories (working areas) for the various processes executed by the CPU.

The control unit 401 includes various processing units such as an allocation processing unit 411, a judgment processing unit 412, an output processing unit 413, a first display processing unit 414, a cleaning processing unit 415, a code output processing unit 416, a restriction processing unit 417, an abnormality processing unit 418, an alarm processing unit 419, a conformity judgment processing unit 420, and a second display processing unit 421. Specifically, the control unit 401 functions as the various processing units by using the CPU to execute various processes according to a tablet dispensing control program pre-stored in the ROM or the memory unit 202. Note that some or all of the processing units may be electronic circuits.

The allocation processing unit 411 accepts a tablet type for the tablet cassette 2, which is an example of a first tablet cassette capable of dispensing tablets of any tablet type that is assigned in advance, in response to a user operation. Hereinafter, the tablet cassette 2 to which a tablet type is assigned by the allocation processing unit 411 may be referred to as a target tablet cassette 2A. For example, the allocation processing unit 411 displays a list of tablet types to be selected on the display unit 201, and accepts the selection of the tablet type in response to a user operation on the operation unit 402. Note that, when a user operation is performed to read the tablet type using a barcode reader or the like (not shown) connected to the control device 200, the allocation processing unit 411 may accept the read tablet type as the tablet type to be assigned. Then, the allocation processing unit 411 can assign the tablet type accepted in response to the user operation to the tablet cassette 2. Meanwhile, the allocation processing unit 411 makes the tablet cassette 2 in a state in which no tablet type is assigned while the tablet cassette 2 is being adjusted by the adjustment device 100.

The determination processing unit 412 determines whether or not there is a tablet cassette 2 that is a second tablet cassette corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411. That is, the determination processing unit 412 executes a process to check whether or not there is a duplicate allocation of tablet types. Hereinafter, a tablet cassette 2 to which the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411 has already been assigned may be referred to as an existing tablet cassette 2B. Note that in this embodiment, a case will be described in which the tablet cassette 2 is an example of a second tablet cassette, but if a tablet type fixed cassette in which the tablet types of tablets that can be dispensed are predetermined can be attached to the tablet dispensing device 1 in addition to the tablet cassette 2, the tablet type fixed cassette is also an example of a second tablet cassette.

The output processing unit 413 outputs the judgment result by the judgment processing unit 412. Specifically, when the judgment processing unit 412 judges that an existing tablet cassette 2B corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411 exists, the output processing unit 413 displays that fact on the display unit 201. For example, a message such as "A tablet cassette corresponding to the same tablet type already exists" is displayed. In addition, when the judgment processing unit 412 judges that an existing tablet cassette 2B corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411 does not exist, the output processing unit 413 may not display that fact on the display unit 201. In addition, the output method of the existence of the existing tablet cassette 2B may be a blinking of the display screen, a change in the display character color, or a buzzer sound. Furthermore, when the existing tablet cassette 2B exists, the total number of existing existing tablet cassettes 2B, or the total number including the existing existing tablet cassette 2B and the target tablet cassette 2A, may be displayed as the judgment result. At this time, if the determination processing unit 412 determines that an existing tablet cassette 2B exists that corresponds to the same tablet type as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411, and then a user operation is performed to assign the tablet type to the target tablet cassette 2A, the allocation processing unit 411 can assign the tablet type to the target tablet cassette 2A.

The first display processing unit 414 is capable of displaying on the display unit 201, etc., the tablet type currently assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A mounted on the adjustment device 100 capable of adjusting the tablet guide path 8b.

The cleaning processing unit 415 can transition the tablet guide path 8b of the target tablet cassette 2A to a preset cleanable state before the tablet guide path 8b of the target tablet cassette 2A is adjusted according to the tablet type by the adjustment device 100. Specifically, the cleaning processing unit 415 can be considered to enable cleaning of the rotor 8 by expanding the width of the tablet guide path 8b to a maximum size while the tablet guide path 8b of the target tablet cassette 2A is being adjusted.

The code output processing unit 416 can output a comparison code indicating the tablet type after the adjustment device 100 adjusts the target tablet cassette 2A according to the tablet type. The comparison code also includes the cassette number of the target tablet cassette 2A. For example, the code output processing unit 416 outputs the comparison code to a printer or label printing device (not shown) connected to the control device 200 and prints it as a printed matter such as a sticker. The comparison code is a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code that can be read by a barcode reader (not shown) that can be connected to the control device 200. The printed matter output by the code output processing unit 416 is then affixed to the target tablet cassette 2A and used to identify the tablet type assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A.

The restriction processing unit 417 permits dispensing of tablets from the target tablet cassette 2A on the condition that matching based on the matching code has been completed for the target tablet cassette 2A in the tablet dispensing device 1. In other words, the restriction processing unit 417 restricts (prohibits) dispensing of tablets from the target tablet cassette 2A until matching based on the matching code has been completed for the target tablet cassette 2A in the tablet dispensing device 1. Note that the restriction processing unit 417 may permit dispensing of tablets when dispensing of tablets is permitted by user operation even if matching based on the matching code has not been completed.

The abnormality processing unit 418 may set the abnormal current value according to the tablet type assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A. The abnormality processing unit 418 may also set the abnormal current value according to the cassette type of the target tablet cassette 2A.

When the tablet type currently assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A is the same as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411, the notification processing unit 419 notifies the user of this. Specifically, the notification processing unit 419 determines whether the tablet type currently assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A in the allocation correspondence information D31 is the same as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411, and if they are the same, notifies the user of this by displaying the same on the display unit 201, etc.

The compatibility determination processing unit 420 determines whether the size or shape of the tablet corresponding to the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411 is compatible with the target tablet cassette 2A. Specifically, the compatibility determination processing unit 420 determines whether the size or shape of the tablet corresponding to the tablet type is compatible based on the cassette type of the target tablet cassette 2A. The result of the determination by the compatibility determination processing unit 420 is then displayed on the display unit 201 by the output processing unit 413.

When a tablet type is accepted by the allocation processing unit 411, the second display processing unit 421 can display information such as the cassette type of the tablet cassette 2 that is compatible with the tablets corresponding to that tablet type on the display unit 201, etc.

Below, an example of the procedure for the allocation start process, cassette adjustment process, and tablet dispensing process executed by the tablet dispensing system 500 according to this embodiment will be described. Note that as long as the allocation start process, cassette adjustment process, and tablet dispensing process are executed by the tablet dispensing system 500 as a whole, the processing subject of each step is not limited to that described here.

[Allocation Start Processing]
First, an example of the procedure of the allocation start process will be described with reference to Fig. 34. For example, the control unit 401 of the control device 200 starts the allocation start process in response to a predetermined user operation on the operation unit 402. After the user mounts the allocated tablet cassette 2A in the cassette mounting unit 102, the user performs the predetermined user operation to start the allocation start process.

<Step S21>
In step S21, the control unit 401 executes a process for selecting a tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A in response to a user operation, and after the process is completed, the control unit 401 shifts the process to step S22. Note that step S21 is executed by the assignment processing unit 411 of the control unit 401. Specifically, the control unit 401 causes the display unit 201 to display an operation screen P1 for setting a tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A, and accepts a setting operation of the tablet type on the operation screen P1.

Here, FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of the operation screen P1. In the operation screen P1, extraction conditions for extracting tablet types according to drug codes or drug names can be set, and the control unit 401 extracts a list of tablet types from the tablet mounting master D11 based on the extraction conditions and displays them as selection targets. The list of tablet types may be extracted from the drug master and displayed. Then, when a tablet type is selected from the tablet types displayed in the list of tablet types according to a user operation, the control unit 401 selects the tablet type as the tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A.

<Step S22>
In step S22, the control unit 401 judges whether or not there is an existing tablet cassette 2B corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type selected in step S21. The judgment step of step 22 is executed by the judgment processing unit 412 of the control unit 401. Here, if it is judged that the existing tablet cassette 2B exists (S22: Yes), the process proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if it is not judged that the existing tablet cassette 2B exists (S22: No), the process proceeds to step S25.

Specifically, the control unit 401 determines whether or not an existing tablet cassette 2B corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type selected in step S21 has already been implemented in the tablet dispensing device 1 based on the allocation correspondence information D31 stored in the memory unit 202. Note that the existing tablet cassette 2B may include a tablet cassette 2 to which a tablet type has been assigned by the allocation processing unit 411, as well as a fixed tablet type cassette in which the tablet types that can be dispensed are predetermined.

In addition, the tablet dispensing device 1 may be provided with a special tablet cassette that can be arbitrarily assigned with a tablet type corresponding to a tablet that can be dispensed when the special tablet cassette is attached to the tablet dispensing device 1. At this time, the control unit 401 may temporarily assign tablets of a tablet type included in one or more specific prescription data to the special tablet cassette, and release the assignment after dispensing the amount of tablets corresponding to the specific prescription data. In this case, the special tablet cassette may be temporarily assigned the same tablet type as the tablet type selected in step S21, but the control unit 401 may not determine the special tablet cassette as a tablet cassette 2 to which the tablet type has already been assigned. On the other hand, if the special tablet cassette is fixedly assigned as a cassette to which the same tablet type as the tablet type selected in step S21 is dispensed, the control unit 401 may determine the special tablet cassette as a tablet cassette 2 to which the tablet type has already been assigned, as another embodiment. In addition, in the tablet dispensing system 500, if a specific tablet cassette 2 can be temporarily assigned as a tablet cassette 2 to be used only when dispensing tablets based on one or more specific prescription data, it is also conceivable that the tablet cassette 2 in question will not be determined as a tablet cassette 2 to which the same tablet type has already been assigned.

It is considered that a plurality of tablet dispensing devices 1 are connected to the tablet dispensing system 500. In this case, for example, in step S22, the judgment processing unit 412 may judge whether or not an existing tablet cassette 2B corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411 already exists in any one of the plurality of tablet dispensing devices 1. The judgment processing unit 412 may also judge whether or not an existing tablet cassette 2B corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411 exists in a predetermined one of the plurality of tablet dispensing devices 1. Specifically, the judgment processing unit 412 may only judge whether or not an existing tablet cassette 2B corresponding to the same tablet type as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411 exists in the tablet dispensing device 1 to which the target tablet cassette 2A is attached among the plurality of tablet dispensing devices 1.

In addition, the allocation correspondence information D31 includes information on the tablet types assigned to the tablet cassettes 2 not currently installed in the tablet dispensing device 1, as well as the tablet cassettes 2 currently installed in the tablet dispensing device 1. Therefore, the control unit 401 can determine whether or not an existing tablet cassette 2B exists by setting the judgment range to not only the tablet cassettes 2 installed in the tablet dispensing device 1, but also the tablet cassettes 2 not installed in the tablet dispensing device 1. In addition, the allocation correspondence information D31 stores installation status information regarding whether or not each tablet cassette 2 is installed in the tablet dispensing device 1, and the installation status information is updated appropriately by the control unit 401. In this case, the control unit 401 may determine whether or not an existing tablet cassette 2B exists only for the tablet cassettes 2 currently installed in the tablet dispensing device 1, based on the allocation correspondence information D31 and the installation status information. It is also conceivable that the base master D41 stores, for each tablet cassette 2, the identification information of the base 3 on which it is mounted if the tablet cassette 2 is mounted on the tablet dispensing device 1, and stores information indicating that the tablet cassette 2 is not mounted on the tablet dispensing device 1 (for example, the identification information of the base 3 is blank) if the tablet cassette 2 is not mounted on the tablet dispensing device 1. In this case, the control unit 401 can determine whether or not an existing tablet cassette 2B exists based on the base master D41 by setting the judgment range to include not only the tablet cassettes 2 mounted on the tablet dispensing device 1, but also the tablet cassettes 2 not mounted on the tablet dispensing device 1.

<Step S23>
In step S23, the control unit 401 displays on the display unit 201 that a tablet cassette 2 corresponding to the tablet type selected in step S21 already exists, to notify the user. That is, the control unit 401 notifies the user that tablet cassettes 2 corresponding to the same tablet type will be duplicated. Note that the control unit 401 also notifies the user of this when the tablet type currently assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A in the allocation correspondence information D31 is the same as the tablet type accepted by the allocation processing unit 411. The notification process in step S23 is executed by the notification processing unit 419 of the control unit 401. This prevents the same tablet type from being assigned to two or more tablet cassettes 2.

<Step S24>
In step S24, the control unit 401 judges whether or not a user operation has been performed to continue allocating the tablet type selected in step S21 to the target tablet cassette 2A as is. Specifically, the control unit 401 may cause the display unit 201 to display a display screen for accepting a continue operation and a cancel operation to allocate the tablet type selected in step S21 to the target tablet cassette 2A as is. Here, if it is determined that a continue operation has been performed (S24: Yes), the process proceeds to step S25, and if it is determined that a cancel operation has been performed (S24: No), the process returns to step S21. This makes it possible to allocate the same tablet type to multiple tablet cassettes 2 at the user's discretion.

<Step S25>
In step S25, the control unit 401 causes the display unit 201 to display an operation screen P2 for accepting an operation to start allocating tablet types to the target tablet cassette 2A. Here, Fig. 36 is a diagram showing an example of the operation screen P2.

The operation screen P2 includes a display area A1 in which information about the tablet type selected in step S21 is displayed, and a display area A2 in which information about the tablet type currently assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A is displayed.

Specifically, the control unit 401 displays the information of the tablet type selected in step S21 in the display area A1 based on the tablet mounting master D11. For example, the display area A1 displays a drug code and drug name that can identify the drug corresponding to the tablet type selected in step S21, a cassette type of the tablet cassette 2 that is compatible with the tablet type, and an external image of the tablet type that is compatible with the tablet type. In this way, when the tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A is selected, the control unit 401 displays the operation screen P2 including information such as a cassette type that is compatible with the tablet type. Here, the display process is executed by the second display processing unit 421 of the control unit 401. Note that the tablet mounting master D11 does not store information on the cassette type of the tablet cassette 2, and the control unit 401 may determine the cassette type of the tablet cassette 2 that is compatible based on the tablet dimensions such as the length, height, width, and thickness stored in the tablet mounting master D11 and display it in the display area A1. In addition, information on whether the tablet type is compatible with the target tablet cassette 2A may be displayed on the operation screen P2.

The control unit 401 also controls the reader/writer 501 of the adjustment device 100 to read the tablet type information D21 and cassette information D22 from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A mounted in the cassette mounting unit 102, and displays the information on the tablet type assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A in the display area A2. Specifically, the display area A2 displays a drug code and drug name that can identify tablets corresponding to the tablet type, the cassette type of the target tablet cassette 2A, and an external image of the tablet type assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A. If the tablet type information D21 and cassette information D22 are not read from the RFID tag 601, no information is displayed in the display area A2, and if the tablet type information D21 and cassette information D22 are read from the RFID tag 601, the information on the tablet type is displayed in the display area A2. In another embodiment, the control unit 401 may select the target tablet cassette 2A to be assigned in step S21 in response to a user operation. In this case, the control unit 401 may display information on the tablet type assigned to the selected target tablet cassette 2A in the display area A2 based on the assignment correspondence information D31 and the tablet mounting master D11. In this way, the control unit 401 displays the operation screen P2 including information such as the tablet type currently assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A. Here, this display process is executed by the first display processing unit 414 of the control unit 401.

The operation screen P2 also includes an operation key K3 for expanding the tablet type information displayed in the display area A1. When the operation key K3 is operated, the control unit 401 expands the display area A1 in the operation screen P2 as shown in FIG. 37, and displays, as the tablet type information displayed in the display area A1, information on the JAN code or GS1 code of the tablet corresponding to the tablet type, the tablet size (length, width, height, thickness), stability coefficient, placement restrictions, size type, etc. based on the tablet mounting master D11. When the operation key K3 is operated again, the control unit 401 cancels the expansion of the display area A1 in the operation screen P2 as shown in FIG. 36. The control unit 401 can also change the values of the length, width, height, and thickness of the tablet corresponding to the tablet type registered in the tablet mounting master D11 in response to a user operation in the display area A1.

The operation screen P2 also includes an operation key K2 for selecting whether or not to clean the rotor 8 in the cassette adjustment process described below. Then, in step S51 of the rotor cleaning process (see FIG. 40) described below, the control unit 401 determines whether or not to clean the rotor 8 depending on the selection state of the operation key K2 on the operation screen P2.

In another embodiment, when it is determined in step S22 that an existing tablet cassette 2B exists, steps S23 and S24 may be omitted, and the operation screen P2 displayed in step S25 may display a message indicating that a tablet cassette 2 corresponding to the tablet type selected in step S21 already exists. In this case, the control unit 401 may accept the operation of the operation key K1 as a user operation to continue to assign the tablet type selected in step S21 to the target tablet cassette 2A. In addition, the control unit 401 may accept the operation of a cancel key (not shown) displayed on the operation screen P2 as a user operation to cancel the assignment of the tablet type selected in step S21 to the target tablet cassette 2A.

<Step S26>
In step S26, the control unit 401 judges whether or not an operation to start the allocation of tablet types to the target tablet cassette 2A has been performed. Specifically, the operation screen P2 includes an operation key K1 that accepts an operation to start the allocation of tablet types to the target tablet cassette 2A, and when the operation key K1 is operated, the control unit 401 judges that an operation to start the allocation of tablet types to the target tablet cassette 2A has been performed. Here, when it is judged that the start operation has been performed (S26: Yes), the process proceeds to step S27. Note that the process waits at step S26 until it is judged that the start operation has been performed (S26: No).

<Step S27>
In step S27, the control unit 401 judges whether the tablet type selected in step S21 is compatible with the target tablet cassette 2A mounted in the cassette mounting unit 102. Specifically, the control unit 401 judges whether the tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A satisfies the compatibility conditions (such as tablet size or shape) of the cassette type of the target tablet cassette 2A. For example, it is judged whether the tablet size or shape corresponding to the tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A is within the range of the compatibility conditions of the cassette type in the cassette information D22 of the target tablet cassette 2A. In addition, it may be judged to be compatible when the cassette type registered in the tablet mounting master D11 or the medicine master as a cassette type compatible with the tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A matches the cassette type stored in the cassette information D22 of the target tablet cassette 2A. In addition, as another embodiment, the tablet cassette 2 may be compatible with all tablet types, in which case step S26 can be omitted.

If it is determined that the tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A is compatible with the target tablet cassette 2A (S27: Yes), the assignment start process ends and the cassette adjustment process starts. On the other hand, if it is determined that the tablet type to be assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A is not compatible with the target tablet cassette 2A (S27: No), the process proceeds to step S28, an error message is displayed on the display unit 201 or the like to notify the user, and the process returns to step S21.

[Cassette Adjustment Processing]
Next, an example of the procedure of the cassette adjustment process will be described with reference to Figures 38 and 39. Note that the control unit 401 starts the cassette adjustment process immediately after the allocation start process ends.

<Step S30>
In step S30, the control unit 401 judges whether or not it is possible to read information from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A. Specifically, the control unit 401 transmits a control signal to the adjusting device 100 to read the tablet type information D21 and cassette information D22 from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A, and waits to receive a read completion notification from the adjusting device 100. As a result, the adjusting device 100 reads the tablet type information D21 and cassette information D22 from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A by the reader/writer 501, and transmits a read completion notification to the control device 200 when reading is completed.

If it is determined that information can be read from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A (S30: Yes), the process proceeds to step S31, and the process waits in step S21 until it is determined that information can be read from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A (S31: No). If the control unit 401 does not determine that information can be read from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it notifies the user by displaying an error on the display unit 201, etc.

<Step S31>
In step S31, the control unit 401 acquires from the adjusting device 100 the tablet type information D21 and the cassette information D22 read from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A mounted in the cassette mounting unit 102 of the adjusting device 100, and stores them in the storage unit 202. Specifically, the control unit 401 receives the tablet type information D21 and the cassette information D22 from the adjusting device 100 by transmitting a transmission request for the tablet type information D21 and the cassette information D22 to the adjusting device 100.

<Step S32>
In step S32, the control unit 401 erases the contents of the tablet type information D21 stored in the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A mounted in the cassette mounting unit 102 of the adjustment device 100. That is, the control unit 401 executes a process for canceling the allocation of a tablet type to the target tablet cassette 2A. The control unit 401 also erases the drug code associated with the target tablet cassette 2A in the allocation correspondence information D31. That is, while the target tablet cassette 2A is being adjusted by the adjustment device 100, no tablet type is assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A. This prevents the target tablet cassette 2A, for which the adjustment of the rotor 8 has not been normally completed, from being used in the tablet dispensing device 1.

<Step S33>
In step S33, the control unit 401 executes a removal preparation process to make it possible to remove the rotor 8 from the target tablet cassette 2A. Specifically, the control unit 401 drives the partition adjustment mechanism M1 to retract the partition member 20 and to retract the tip of the partition member 20 from at least the notch 72a of the first movable member 60 and the notch 81a of the second movable member 61 of the cassette body 5 of the tablet cassette 2, making the rotor 8 removable from the cassette body 5. Then, when the rotor 8 becomes removable from the target tablet cassette 2A, the process proceeds to step S34. Note that, in this embodiment, a case where the rotor 8 is attached to and detached from the tablet cassette 2 when the rotor 8 is adjusted by the adjustment device 100 will be described as an example, but the adjustment device 100 may be configured to adjust the rotor 8 in a state where the rotor 8 is attached to the tablet cassette 2.

<Step S34>
In step S34, the control unit 401 notifies the user by displaying predetermined start notification information for starting the adjustment operation of the rotor 8 on the display unit 201. Specifically, the start notification information includes a message or an image urging the user to remove the rotor 8 from the target tablet cassette 2A, set it on the rotor mounting unit 103 of the adjustment device 100, lower the lever 145, and press the first start button 203. Note that messages or images urging the user to remove the rotor 8 from the tablet cassette 2, set it on the rotor mounting unit 103 of the adjustment device 100, lower the lever 145, and press the first start button 203 individually may be displayed in sequence according to the user's operation.

<Step S35>
In step S35, the control unit 401 determines whether or not a start operation for the adjustment operation of the rotor 8 has been performed. Specifically, the control unit 401 determines that a start operation has been performed when the first start button 203 has been pressed. Then, when it is determined that a start operation has been performed (S35: Yes), the process proceeds to step S36. Note that the process waits in step S35 until it is determined that a start operation has been performed (S35: No).

<Step S36>
In step S36, the control unit 401 determines whether the lever 145 has transitioned to a predetermined pressed-down state based on the detection result of the lever position detection sensor 147. If it is determined that the lever 145 has transitioned to the pressed-down state (S36: Yes), the process proceeds to step S362. On the other hand, if it is determined that the lever 145 has not transitioned to the pressed-down state (S36: No), the process proceeds to step S361.

<Step S361>
In step S361, the control unit 401 notifies the user that the lever 145 has not transitioned to the pressed-down state by displaying an error message on the display unit 201. Thereafter, the process returns to step S35.

<Step S362>
In step S362, the control unit 401 executes a rotor cleaning process to enable the user to clean the rotor 8 of the tablet cassette 2. The rotor cleaning process is executed by the cleaning processing unit 415 of the control unit 401. Note that in the cassette adjustment process, step S362 may be omitted. Here, an example of the procedure of the rotor cleaning process will be described with reference to FIG.

<Step S51>
In step S51, the control unit 401 judges whether or not to clean the rotor 8. Specifically, when "with cleaning" is selected with the operation key K2 (see FIG. 36) on the operation screen P2 in the allocation start process, the control unit 401 sets a cleaning flag to ON in the RAM of the control unit 401. Then, in step S51, the control unit 401 judges that the rotor 8 will be cleaned if the cleaning flag is ON. The control unit 401 sets the cleaning flag to OFF when the rotor cleaning process ends. Here, if it is judged that the rotor 8 will be cleaned (S51: Yes), the process proceeds to step S52. On the other hand, if it is judged that the rotor 8 will not be cleaned (S51: No), the rotor cleaning process ends and the process proceeds to step S37.

<Step S52>
In step S52, the control unit 401 transmits a cleaning start instruction to the adjusting device 100 to adjust the rotor 8 to a cleanable state. Specifically, the control unit 401 transitions the tablet guide path 8b of the target tablet cassette 2A by the adjusting device 100 to a preset cleanable state. For example, when cleaning of the rotor 8 becomes possible by fully opening the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8, the control unit 401 transmits a cleaning start instruction to the adjusting device 100 to execute a full-open operation of the rotor 8. As a result, the adjusting device 100 executes a full-open operation to fully open the width of the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 to the maximum size based on the cleaning start instruction, and the user becomes able to clean the rotor 8.

<Step S53>
In step S53, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the rotor 8 has been transitioned to a cleanable state by the adjustment device 100. Specifically, the control unit 401 determines that the rotor 8 has transitioned to a cleanable state when it receives a notification of the end of the full-open operation of the rotor 8 from the adjustment device 100. Then, when it is determined that the rotor 8 has transitioned to a cleanable state (S53: Yes), the process proceeds to step S54, and the process waits in step S53 until it is determined that the rotor 8 has transitioned to a cleanable state (S53: No).

<Step S54>
In step S54, the control unit 401 notifies the user by displaying cleaning availability information on the display unit 201 that the rotor 8 can be cleaned. Specifically, the cleaning availability information includes a message, an image, etc., which urges the user to lift the lever 145 to remove the rotor 8 from the rotor mounting unit 103, return the rotor 8 to the rotor mounting unit 103 after cleaning, lower the lever 145, and press the first start button 203. Note that messages or images, etc., which individually urge the user to lift the lever 145 to remove the rotor 8 from the rotor mounting unit 103, return the rotor 8 to the rotor mounting unit 103 after cleaning, lower the lever 145, and press the first start button 203 may be displayed in sequence according to the user's operation.

<Step S55>
In step S55, the control unit 401 determines whether or not a start operation for the adjustment operation has been performed. Specifically, the control unit 401 determines that a start operation has been performed when the first start button 203 has been pressed. Then, when it is determined that a start operation has been performed (S55: Yes), the rotor cleaning process ends, and the process proceeds to step S37. Note that until it is determined that a start operation has been performed (S55: No), the process waits in step S55. This allows the user to clean the rotor 8 after removing it, before pressing the first start button 203.

In this way, in the tablet dispensing system 500, the rotor cleaning process is executed during the cassette adjustment process, and the user can clean the rotor 8 of the target tablet cassette 2A when assigning a tablet type to that target tablet cassette 2A.

<Step S37>
Returning to the description of FIG. 38, in step S37, the control unit 401 transmits an adjustment instruction to the adjustment device 100 to adjust the rotor 8 to a size corresponding to the tablet type selected in step S21, and starts the adjustment operation of the rotor 8 by the adjustment device 100. For example, the control unit 401 reads out information such as the height, width, thickness, and other dimensions of the tablet used in adjusting the rotor 8, and the entry position, from the tablet mounting master D11, and transmits an adjustment instruction including the information to the adjustment device 100. As a result, the adjustment device 100 executes an adjustment operation to adjust the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 based on the adjustment instruction, and transmits a completion notification to the control unit 401 when the adjustment operation is completed. Note that the adjustment instruction may include information on the adjustment amount of the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 instead of the tablet dimensions, and the adjustment device 100 may adjust the tablet guide path 8b of the rotor 8 based on the information on the adjustment amount.

<Step S38>
In step S38, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the adjustment operation of the rotor 8 by the adjustment device 100 has been completed. Specifically, the control unit 401 determines that the adjustment operation of the rotor 8 has been completed when it receives a notification of completion of the adjustment operation of the rotor 8 from the adjustment device 100. Then, when it is determined that the adjustment operation of the rotor 8 has been completed (S38: Yes), the process proceeds to step S39, and the process waits in this step S38 until it is determined that the adjustment operation of the rotor 8 has been completed (S38: No).

<Step S39>
In step S39, the control unit 401 notifies the user by displaying predetermined end notification information for ending the adjustment of the rotor 8 on the display unit 201. Specifically, the end notification information includes a message or an image that prompts the user to perform a completion operation on the operation unit 402 after lifting the lever 145, removing the rotor 8 from the rotor mounting unit 103, setting the rotor 8 in the tablet cassette 2, and mounting the tablet cassette 2 in the rotor mounting unit 103. Note that messages or images that individually prompt the user to lift the lever 145, remove the rotor 8 from the rotor mounting unit 103, set the rotor 8 in the tablet cassette 2, mount the tablet cassette 2 in the cassette mounting unit 102, and perform a mounting confirmation operation after mounting the tablet cassette 2 may be displayed in sequence according to the user's operation.

<Step S40>
39, in step S40, the control unit 401 determines whether or not an attachment confirmation operation has been performed, which indicates that the target tablet cassette 2A has been attached to the cassette attachment unit 102. If it is determined that an attachment confirmation operation has been performed (S40: Yes), the process proceeds to step S41, and the process waits at step S40 until it is determined that an attachment confirmation operation has been performed (S40: No).

<Step S41>
In step S41, the control unit 401 determines whether or not the lever 145 has transitioned to a predetermined pushed-up state based on the detection result of the lever position detection sensor 147. If it is determined that the lever 145 has transitioned to the pushed-up state (S41: Yes), the process proceeds to step S42. On the other hand, if it is determined that the lever 145 has not transitioned to the pushed-up state (S41: No), the process proceeds to step S411.

<Step S411>
In step S411, the control unit 401 notifies the user by displaying a message on the display unit 201 that the lever 145 has not transitioned to the pushed-up state, and the process returns to step S40.

<Step S42>
In step S42, the control section 401 reads the cassette information D22 of the target tablet cassette 2A mounted in the cassette mounting section 102 from the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A by the reader/writer 501.

<Step S43>
In step S43, the control unit 401 judges whether the target tablet cassette 2A is the same based on the cassette number of the cassette information D22 read from the RFID tag 601 in step S42 and the cassette number of the cassette information D22 read from the RFID tag 601 and stored in the storage unit 202 in step S31. That is, it is judged whether the target tablet cassette 2A is the same before and after the rotor 8 is detached. If it is judged that they are the same (S43: Yes), the process proceeds to step S44, and if it is judged that they are not the same (S43: No), the process proceeds to step S431. In this way, since the identity of the target tablet cassette 2A is confirmed in the step S43, the rotor 8 is prevented from being attached to a different target tablet cassette 2A.

In this embodiment, the case where the RFID tag 601 is provided on the cassette body 5 of the tablet cassette 2 will be described, but in another embodiment, the RFID tag 601 is provided on the rotor 8, and the reader/writer 301 is provided in the adjustment device at a position where the RFID tag 601 of the rotor 8 can be read. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the cassette body 5 and the rotor 8 of the tablet cassette 2 are each provided with an RFID tag that stores unique information that can identify the cassette body 5 and the rotor 8, and the adjustment device 100 is provided with one or more reader/writers that can read each of the RFID tags. In this case, it is conceivable that the control unit 401 reads information from each of the RFID tags of the cassette body 5 and the rotor 8 before and after the rotor 8 is detached, and determines whether the combination of the cassette body 5 and the rotor 8 of the tablet cassette 2 is the same before and after the rotor 8 is detached.

<Step S431>
In step S431, the control unit 401 notifies the user by displaying an error on the display unit 201 to the effect that the target tablet cassette 2A that was installed before the rotor 8 was removed is different from the current target tablet cassette 2A, and returns the process to step S40. Note that in step S431, the cassette number of the target tablet cassette 2A that was installed before the rotor 8 was removed may also be notified.

<Step S44>
In step S44, the control unit 401 executes a mounting confirmation process for confirming the mounting of the rotor 8 to the target tablet cassette 2A. Specifically, the control unit 401 drives the partition adjustment mechanism M1 to advance the partition member 20 so that the tip of the partition member 20 fits into the notch 72a of the first movable member 60 and the notch 81a of the second movable member 61 of the cassette body 5 of the tablet cassette 2, making it impossible to remove the rotor 8 from the cassette body 5. Note that the insertion position of the partition member 20 at this time is the insertion position corresponding to the tablet type selected in step S21. Then, when the mounting confirmation process of the rotor 8 to the tablet cassette 2 is completed, the process proceeds to step S45.

<Step S45>
In step S45, the control unit 401 uses the reader/writer 501 to update the medicine code, stability coefficient, placement restriction, and branch number in the tablet type information D21 in the updateable area 611 of the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A to the medicine code, stability coefficient, placement restriction, and branch number corresponding to the tablet type selected in step S21. That is, the control unit 401 executes a process for assigning a tablet type to the target tablet cassette 2A. This process is executed by the assignment processing unit 411 of the control unit 401.

<Step S46>
In step S46, the control unit 401 updates the medicine identification information corresponding to the target tablet cassette 2A in the allocation correspondence information D31 to the medicine identification information corresponding to the tablet type selected in step S21, and sets the matched flag to OFF. This process is executed by the allocation processing unit 411 of the control unit 401.

<Step S47>
In step S47, the control unit 401 outputs a label P3 indicating a verification code including information such as the drug code of the tablet type assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A in the cassette adjustment process and the cassette number of the target tablet cassette 2A. Specifically, the control unit 401 transmits data of the label P3 to a printer or label printing device (not shown) connected to the control device 200 to print it. Note that step S47 is executed by the code output processing unit 416 of the control unit 401. The verification code may indicate only the information of the tablet type.

Here, FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of the printing result of label P3. As shown in FIG. 41, label P3 includes stickers P21 and P22 on which the verification code is printed. Label P3 also shows information on the tablet type before and after allocation to the target tablet cassette 2A, and information on the type of highly toxic drug or controlled drug of the allocated tablet type. For example, stickers P21 and P22 are each attached to the front or side and top surface (lid 6) of target tablet cassette 2A. Label P3 may include one or three or more stickers showing the verification code.

<Step S48>
In step S48, the control unit 401 notifies the user by displaying an adjustment completion notice on the display unit 201 indicating that the cassette adjustment process has ended and that the target tablet cassette 2A can be removed.

As described above, in the control device 200, the control unit 401 executes the cassette adjustment process, thereby assisting the user in assigning tablet types to the tablet cassette 2.

[Tablet dispensing process]
Next, an example of the procedure of the tablet dispensing process will be described with reference to Figures 42 and 43. The tablet dispensing process is executed by the control unit 401 of the control device 200 and the control unit 300 of the tablet dispensing device 1. The tablet dispensing process may be executed solely by the control unit 300 of the tablet dispensing device 1.

<Step S61>
In step S61, the control unit 401 judges whether or not a dispensing start operation for specific prescription data has been performed on the operation unit 402. For example, the control unit 401 judges that a dispensing start operation has been performed when any prescription data is selected as a dispensing target by a user operation from prescription data input to the control device 200 from a higher-level system such as an electronic medical record system (not shown), and an operation to start dispensing for the prescription data is performed on the operation unit 402. Here, when it is judged that a dispensing start operation has been performed (S61: Yes), the process proceeds to step S62, and the process waits in step S61 until it is judged that a dispensing start operation has been performed (S61: No).

<Step S62>
In step S62, the control unit 401 specifies a control object for dispensing tablets included as prescription drugs in the prescription data based on the allocation correspondence information D31. More specifically, the control unit 401 specifies a tablet cassette 2 corresponding to the drug code of the tablet to be dispensed based on the allocation correspondence information D31 and the base master D41, and specifies the tablet dispensing device 1 to which the tablet cassette 2 is attached. Then, based on the base master D41, the control unit 401 specifies the base 3 to which the tablet cassette 2 is attached in the tablet dispensing device 1 as a control object when dispensing tablets corresponding to the drug code. Note that, when there are multiple tablet cassettes 2 corresponding to the same drug code in the tablet dispensing system 500, the control unit 401 may specify the base 3 of the tablet dispensing device 1 to which the tablet cassette 2 having a higher predetermined priority (e.g., a smaller branch number) is attached as a control object when dispensing tablets corresponding to the drug code. On the other hand, if there is no tablet cassette 2 corresponding to the medicine code in the tablet dispensing system 500, the control unit 401 notifies the user by displaying on the display unit 201 or the like that the tablet cassette 2 corresponding to the medicine code should be attached to the tablet dispensing device 1. Note that, if the prescription data includes multiple tablet types as prescription drugs, multiple control objects for dispensing each of the tablets are specified. Then, when the control objects for dispensing all the tablets are specified, the process proceeds to step S63.

<Step S63>
In step S63, the control unit 401 judges whether or not the collation based on the collation code has been completed for each tablet cassette 2 identified in step S62. Specifically, the control unit 401 judges that the collation has been completed for each tablet cassette 2 identified in step S62 when the collation completion flag stored in the allocation correspondence information D31 is "ON". If it is judged that the collation has been completed (S63: Yes), the process proceeds to step S67, and if it is judged that the collation has not been completed (S63: No), the process proceeds to step S64.

<Step S64>
In step S64, the control unit 401 notifies the user by displaying a message on the display unit 201 indicating that the verification of the tablet cassette 2 has not been completed and that the verification code corresponding to the tablet cassette 2 should be read, and the process proceeds to step S65. Note that the verification code is a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code including the drug code of the tablet type assigned to the tablet cassette 2 as described above, and is printed on the labels P21 and P22 in step S47. In addition, when the tablet cassette 2 that needs to be verified is attached to the base 3, the location where the tablet cassette 2 is attached may be specified based on the base master D41, and information indicating the location may be displayed together with the message.

<Step S65>
In step S65, the control unit 401 waits for the verification of the unverified tablet cassette 2 (S65: No). Specifically, the control unit 401 reads the verification code printed on the sticker P21 or P22 and the tablet code such as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code attached to the tablet storage unit such as the original box of the tablet by a barcode reader (not shown) connectable to the tablet dispensing device 1, and when the tablet type indicated by the verification code and the tablet code match, the control unit 401 determines that the verification has been performed for the tablet cassette 2. Furthermore, the control unit 401 may verify whether the verification code printed on the sticker P21 and the verification code printed on P22 are the same or not. In another embodiment, the control unit 401 may determine that the verification of the tablet cassette 2 has been performed when the verification code is read by a barcode reader (not shown) connectable to the tablet dispensing device 1 and the cassette number of the tablet cassette 2 included in the verification code matches the cassette number of the tablet cassette 2 determined to be unverified in step S64. The control unit 401 may determine that the verification of the tablet cassette 2 has been performed when the tablet type indicated by the verification code, the tablet type indicated by the tablet code, and the tablet type assigned to the tablet cassette 2 identified in step S62 all match. Here, when it is determined that the verification of the unverified tablet cassette 2 has been performed (S65: Yes), the process proceeds to step S66. Meanwhile, the process waits in step S65 until the verification of the unverified tablet cassette 2 is performed (S65: No). That is, the control unit 401 restricts the use of the tablet cassette 2 for which verification has not been completed after the tablet type has been assigned.

<Step S66>
In step S66, the control unit 401 updates the collation completion flag corresponding to the tablet cassette 2 in the allocation correspondence information D31 to "ON" and returns the process to step S63. As a result, the control unit 401 repeatedly executes steps S64 to S66 until collation is completed for each tablet cassette 2 identified in step S62.

<Step S67>
In step S67, the control unit 401 transmits a tablet dispensing start instruction to the tablet dispensing device 1 to start dispensing tablets from each tablet cassette 2 identified in step S62, and returns the process to step S61. Specifically, the tablet dispensing start instruction includes information such as the cassette number of the tablet cassette 2 identified based on the prescription data, the stability coefficient corresponding to the tablet type assigned to the tablet cassette 2, and the number of tablets to be dispensed corresponding to the prescription amount indicated in the prescription data. As a result, the tablet dispensing device 1 executes dispensing of the number of tablets to be dispensed from each tablet cassette 2 based on the tablet dispensing start instruction.

In addition, the memory unit 202 stores abnormality detection correspondence information in which the tablet type and the abnormal current value are associated with each other. The abnormal current value may differ depending on the tablet type, as well as the shape or hardness of the tablet. For example, it is possible that the abnormal current value differs between tablets in the narrow sense and capsule tablets. Then, the control unit 401 sets an abnormal current value for detecting an abnormality in a driving unit such as a motor used to dispense tablets from each tablet cassette 2 based on the tablet type associated with each tablet cassette 2 and the abnormality detection correspondence information. Here, the setting process is executed by the abnormality processing unit 418 of the control unit 401. In addition, as another embodiment, the memory unit 202 stores abnormality detection correspondence information in which the cassette type and the abnormal current value are associated with each other, and the control unit 401 sets the abnormal current value corresponding to each tablet cassette 2 based on the cassette type of each tablet cassette 2 and the abnormality detection correspondence information. Then, the control unit 401 transmits the abnormal current value corresponding to each tablet cassette 2, which is set as a threshold value used for detecting an abnormality when each tablet cassette 2 is driven, to the tablet dispensing start instruction, including the abnormal current value, to the tablet dispensing device 1. As a result, the tablet dispensing device 1 detects an abnormality in each tablet cassette 2 based on the abnormal current value (step S76). The abnormal current value setting process may be executed by the control unit 300 of the tablet dispensing device 1. The abnormal current value may be set to different values for the fixed tablet type cassette and the tablet cassette 2.

<Step S71>
On the other hand, in the tablet dispensing device 1, in step S71, the control unit 300 judges whether or not to start filling the tablet cassette 2 with tablets. For example, the tablet dispensing device 1 is provided with a work table for filling the tablet cassette 2 with tablets, and the work table is provided with a placement sensor that detects that the tablet cassette 2 has been placed on the work table, and a reader/writer that reads information from the RFID tag 601 of the placed tablet cassette 2. When the placement sensor detects that the tablet cassette 2 has been placed on the work table, the control unit 300 reads the cassette number of the tablet cassette 2 from the RFID tag 601 by the reader/writer, and judges to start filling tablets with the tablet cassette 2 as the loading target. Note that the placement sensor may be omitted, and it may be judged that the tablet cassette 2 has been placed on the work table on the condition that information has been read from the RFID tag 601 by the reader/writer. Here, if it is determined that loading of tablets into the tablet cassette 2 should be started (S71: Yes), processing proceeds to step S72, and if it is determined that loading of tablets into the tablet cassette 2 should not be started (S71: No), processing proceeds to step S73.

<Step S72>
In step S72, the control unit 300 executes a filling process for filling tablets into the tablet cassette 2 selected by a user operation. Here, an example of the filling process will be described with reference to FIG.

<Step S721>
In step S721, the control unit 300 determines whether or not the collation has been completed for the tablet cassette 2 to be filled. If it is determined that the collation has been completed (S721: Yes), the process proceeds to step S725, and if it is determined that the collation has not been completed (S721: No), the process proceeds to step S722.

Specifically, the control unit 300 determines whether matching has been completed for the tablet cassette 2 to be filled based on the matching flag of the allocation correspondence information D31. For example, the control unit 300 may acquire the allocation correspondence information D31 from the control unit 401, or the control unit 401 may transmit the allocation correspondence information D31 to the control unit 300 at the timing when the control unit 401 updates the allocation correspondence information D31. Note that the method is not limited to these as long as the control unit 300 can refer to the correspondence between the cassette number of the tablet cassette 2 in the allocation correspondence information D31 and the matching flag.

<Step S722>
In step S722, the control unit 300 notifies the user by displaying a message or image indicating that the tablet cassette 2 needs to be verified and that the verification code corresponding to the tablet cassette 2 should be read on a display device or display unit 201 (not shown) provided in the tablet dispensing device 1, and then proceeds to step S723. In addition, when the tablet cassette 2 that needs to be verified is attached to the base 3, the location where the tablet cassette 2 is attached may be specified based on the base master D41, and information indicating the location may be displayed together with the message.

<Step S723>
In step S723, the control unit 300 waits for the verification of the unverified tablet cassette 2 (S723: No). Specifically, the control unit 300 reads the verification code printed on the sticker P21 or P22 and the tablet code such as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code attached to a storage section such as an original box of tablets to be filled by a barcode reader (not shown) connectable to the control device 200, and when the tablet type indicated by the verification code and the tablet code match, the control unit 300 determines that the verification of the tablet cassette 2 has been performed. Furthermore, the control unit 300 may verify whether the verification codes printed on the stickers P21 and P22 are the same. In another embodiment, the control unit 300 may read the verification code by a barcode reader (not shown) connectable to the control device 200, and when the cassette number of the tablet cassette 2 included in the verification code matches the cassette number of the unverified tablet cassette 2, the control unit 300 may determine that the verification of the tablet cassette 2 has been performed. Furthermore, when the tablet type indicated by the verification code, the tablet type indicated by the tablet code, and the tablet type assigned to the tablet cassette 2 to be filled all match, the control unit 300 may determine that verification has been performed for the tablet cassette 2. Here, when it is determined that verification has been performed for an unverified tablet cassette 2 (S723: Yes), the process proceeds to step S724.

<Step S724>
In step S724, the control unit 300 executes a process for updating the verified flag corresponding to the tablet cassette 2 to be filled in the allocation correspondence information D31 to "ON". Specifically, the control unit 300 notifies the control unit 401 of a control instruction for setting the verified flag of the tablet cassette 2 to be filled to ON. Then, upon receiving the control instruction, the control unit 401 updates the verified flag of the tablet cassette 2 to be filled in the allocation correspondence information D31 stored in the storage unit 202 to ON. This makes it possible for the tablet cassette 2 to be filled to be used in the tablet dispensing device 1.

<Step S725>
In step S725, the control unit 300 executes a predetermined filling support process for the tablet cassette 2 to be filled. For example, the filling support process includes displaying the tablet type of the tablets corresponding to the tablet cassette 2, accepting input of the number of tablets to be filled into the tablet cassette 2 and lot numbers, updating the inventory amount of tablets in the tablet cassette 2, etc. The task of filling the tablet cassette 2 with tablets is performed by the user.

Note that if the verified flag is set to "ON" in step S724, i.e., if the verified flag is "OFF" when the filling process is executed, a test mode in which tablets are dispensed from the tablet cassette 2 may be executed when the filling assistance process is executed. For example, in the test mode, a preset number of tablets are dispensed from the tablet cassette 2 after filling, and when a confirmation operation is performed by the user, the test mode ends. This makes it possible to check whether the rotor 8 of the tablet cassette 2 is adjusted correctly.

<Step S73>
In step S73, if the control unit 300 determines that the tablet dispensing start instruction has been received (S73: Yes), the processing proceeds to step S74, and if the control unit 300 determines that the tablet dispensing start instruction has not been received (S73: No), the processing returns to step S71.

<Step S74>
In step S74, the control unit 300 sets the abnormal current value when each of the tablet cassettes 2 to be used currently is driven based on the tablet dispensing start instruction. Note that the control unit 300 when executing this process may be regarded as an abnormality processing unit according to the present invention.

<Step S75>
In step S75, the control unit 300 controls the tablet dispensing device 1 based on the tablet dispensing start instruction, and starts a tablet dispensing operation to dispense a required amount of tablets of the tablet type included as a prescription drug in the prescription data from each tablet cassette 2 of the tablet dispensing device 1. For example, in the tablet dispensing operation, tablets are dispensed from each tablet cassette 2 and packaged in packaging paper according to the time of administration.

<Step S76>
In step S76, the control unit 300 determines whether or not the drive current of the drive unit used to dispense tablets from the tablet cassette 2 in the tablet dispensing operation is equal to or greater than the preset abnormal current value. This determination process is executed by the abnormality determination unit 311 of the control unit 300. If the control unit 300 determines that the current is equal to or greater than the abnormal current value (S76: Yes), it determines that an abnormality has occurred in the tablet cassette 2, and shifts the process to step S77. On the other hand, if the control unit 300 determines that the current is not equal to or greater than the abnormal current value (S76: No), the process shifts to step S78.

<Step S77>
In step S77, the control unit 300 interrupts the tablet dispensing operation by the tablet dispensing device 1. Specifically, when a tablet becomes jammed between the rotor 8 and the cassette body 5 in the tablet cassette 2 and the rotor 8 stops rotating, the current flowing through the drive unit such as the drive motor of the rotor 8 becomes high. Therefore, in step S77, the control unit 300 may, for example, notify the user of the possibility of tablet jamming by displaying on the display unit 202 or the like, or may execute a jamming removal process such as reverse rotation of the rotor 8. Note that, for example, when the tablet cassette 2 in which an abnormality was detected in step S76 is attached or detached, or when a restart operation is performed by the user, the control unit 300 may resume the tablet dispensing operation and shift the process to step S78.

<Step S78>
In step S78, the control unit 300 judges whether or not the tablet dispensing operation based on the tablet dispensing start instruction by the tablet dispensing device 1 has been completed. If it is judged that the tablet dispensing operation has not been completed (S78: No), the process returns to step S76, and if it is judged that the tablet dispensing operation has been completed (S78: Yes), the process returns to step S71.

As described above, in the tablet dispensing system 500, when the tablet dispensing process is executed and the tablet cassette 2 is used for the first time in the tablet dispensing device 1, dispensing of tablets from the tablet cassette 2 is permitted on the condition that the matching code corresponding to the tablet type assigned to the tablet cassette 2 is read.

[Rotor cleaning mode]
Incidentally, in the cassette adjustment process, a case where the rotor cleaning process is executed midway has been described, but it is also conceivable that the control section 401 of the control device 200 can execute a rotor cleaning mode for cleaning the rotor 8 at any timing in response to a user operation. Note that the rotor cleaning mode may be executable by the adjustment device 100 alone.

Specifically, the control unit 401 executes the rotor cleaning mode when a user operates the operation unit 402 to start the rotor cleaning mode. In the rotor cleaning mode, the control unit 401 sets the cleaning flag to ON, and then executes a process similar to the cassette adjustment process. As a result, in step S51 of the rotor cleaning process (FIG. 40), it is determined that the rotor 8 should be cleaned.

In the rotor cleaning mode, in step S45, the control unit 401 updates the drug code assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A in the allocation correspondence information D31 to a drug code corresponding to the tablet type stored in the storage unit 202 in step S31. In step S45, the control unit 401 uses the reader/writer 501 to update the drug code in the tablet type information D21 in the updateable area 611 of the RFID tag 601 of the target tablet cassette 2A to a drug code corresponding to the tablet type stored in the storage unit 202 in step S31. That is, the control unit 401 reassigns to the target tablet cassette 2A the tablet type that was assigned to the target tablet cassette 2A before the rotor cleaning mode was executed. After that, when the cassette adjustment process is completed, the rotor cleaning mode ends.

In this way, by providing the control device 200 with the rotor cleaning mode, the user can clean the rotor 8 of the tablet cassette 2 at any time without changing the assignment of tablet types to the tablet cassette 2.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Tablet dispensing device 2 Tablet cassette 5 Cassette body 9 Tablet discharge hole 8b Tablet guide path 20 Partition member 24 Partition adjustment member 33 Depth adjustment member 52 Height adjustment member 64 Width adjustment member 100 Adjustment device 101 Device body 102 Cassette mounting section 103 Rotor mounting section 104 Lifting table 105 Lifting operation section 111 Partition adjustment shaft (partition adjustment section)
113 Partition adjustment motor 115 Partition zero point detection sensor (second zero point detection unit)
121 Depth zero point detection sensor (first zero point detection unit)
122 Height zero point detection sensor (first zero point detection unit)
123 Width zero point detection sensor (first zero point detection unit)
127 Depth adjustment shaft (guideway adjustment part)
128 Height adjustment shaft (guideway adjustment part)
129 Width adjustment shaft (guideway adjustment part)
137 Depth drive shaft (guideway drive section)
138 Height drive shaft (guideway drive section)
139 Width drive shaft (guideway drive section)
142 Depth adjustment motor (guideway drive unit)
143 Height adjustment motor (guideway drive unit)
144 Width adjustment motor (guideway drive unit)
145 Lever 200 Control device 201 Display device 202 Memory unit 203 First start button 204 Second start button 300 Control unit 301 Reader/writer 401 Control unit 501 Reader/writer 601 RFID tag M1 Partition adjustment mechanism M2 Depth adjustment mechanism (tablet guide path adjustment mechanism)
M3 Height adjustment mechanism (tablet guideway adjustment mechanism)
M4 Width adjustment mechanism (tablet guideway adjustment mechanism)

Claims (6)

A tablet dispensing system including an allocation processing unit that allocates tablet types to a tablet dispensing unit that can change the tablet type of tablets that can be dispensed by adjusting the size of a tablet guide path,
The allocation processing unit:
After the tablet dispensing unit is attached to an adjustment device that adjusts the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit, and before the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit is adjusted by the adjustment device in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated, the current tablet type allocation to the tablet dispensing unit is released;
After the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit is adjusted by the adjustment device in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated and before the tablet dispensing unit is removed from the adjustment device , the tablet type to be allocated is allocated to the tablet dispensing unit.
Pill dispensing system. The tablet dispensing unit includes a first storage unit in which the tablet type assigned to the tablet dispensing unit is stored,
The allocation processing unit erases the tablet type stored in the first storage unit after the tablet dispensing unit is attached to the adjustment device and before the adjustment device adjusts the size of the tablet guide path in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated, and stores the tablet type to be allocated in the first storage unit after the adjustment device adjusts the size of the tablet guide path in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated and before the tablet dispensing unit is removed from the adjustment device .
The tablet dispensing system according to claim 1. The tablet dispensing system includes a second storage unit in which allocation correspondence information in which the tablet dispensing unit and the tablet type are associated with each other is stored,
the allocation processing unit, after the tablet dispensing unit is attached to the adjustment device and before the adjustment device adjusts the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated, cancels the current allocation of the tablet type to the tablet dispensing unit by deleting information of the tablet type associated with the tablet dispensing unit in the allocation correspondence information of the second storage unit, and, after the adjustment device adjusts the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated and before the tablet dispensing unit is removed from the adjustment device , assigns the tablet type to be allocated to the tablet dispensing unit by storing the tablet type to be allocated in the allocation correspondence information of the second storage unit as a tablet type corresponding to the tablet dispensing unit.
3. A tablet dispensing system according to claim 1 or 2. The allocation processing unit:
accepts selection of the tablet type to be allocated by a user operation , and releases the current allocation of the tablet type to the tablet dispensing unit after the tablet dispensing unit is attached to the adjustment device and before the adjustment device adjusts the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated;
After the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit is adjusted by the adjustment device in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated selected by the user operation and before the tablet dispensing unit is removed from the adjustment device , the tablet type to be allocated is assigned to the tablet dispensing unit.
The tablet dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An adjustment device is provided for adjusting the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit,
The allocation processing unit:
After the tablet dispensing unit is attached to the adjustment device and before an instruction for adjusting the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit by the adjustment device in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated is transmitted to the adjustment device, the current allocation of the tablet type to the tablet dispensing unit is cancelled;
After the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit is adjusted by the adjustment device in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated by the adjustment device and before the tablet dispensing unit is removed from the adjustment device , the tablet type to be allocated is allocated to the tablet dispensing unit.
A tablet dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A program for causing a processor of a tablet dispensing system having a tablet dispensing unit capable of changing the tablet type of tablets that can be dispensed by adjusting the size of a tablet guide path to execute an assignment step of assigning the tablet type to the tablet dispensing unit,
The allocation step includes:
After the tablet dispensing unit is attached to an adjustment device that adjusts the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit, and before the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit is adjusted by the adjustment device in accordance with the tablet type to be assigned, a step of canceling the current allocation of the tablet type to the tablet dispensing unit;
After the size of the tablet guide path of the tablet dispensing unit is adjusted by the adjustment device in accordance with the tablet type to be allocated and before the tablet dispensing unit is removed from the adjustment device , a step of allocating the tablet type to the tablet dispensing unit;
Programs including.

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