U.S. patent application number 13/993499 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for liquid medication dispensing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to TAKAZONO TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED. The applicant listed for this patent is Tetsuya Shibasaki. Invention is credited to Tetsuya Shibasaki.
Application Number | 20130255831 13/993499 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46382797 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130255831 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shibasaki; Tetsuya |
October 3, 2013 |
LIQUID MEDICATION DISPENSING MACHINE
Abstract
Provided is a liquid medication dispensing machine that can
shorten the time to supply a liquid medication to a prescription
bottle. The liquid medication dispensing machine is a liquid
medication dispensing machine supplying a liquid medication from a
liquid medication bottle containing the liquid medication to a
prescription bottle, including a liquid medication stirring unit
that stirs the liquid medication in the liquid medication bottle, a
bottle holding unit that holds a plurality of liquid medication
bottles including a first bottle containing a liquid medication G
and a second bottle containing a liquid medication B, and a control
unit that controls operation of the liquid medication dispensing
machine. The control unit operates the liquid medication stirring
unit to stir liquid medication B while liquid medication G is
supplied from the first bottle to the prescription bottle.
Inventors: |
Shibasaki; Tetsuya;
(Hirakata-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shibasaki; Tetsuya |
Hirakata-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TAKAZONO TECHNOLOGY
INCORPORATED
Hirakata-shi, Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
46382797 |
Appl. No.: |
13/993499 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 9, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2011/078524 |
371 Date: |
June 12, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F 2215/0032 20130101;
B01F 2015/00636 20130101; G07F 17/0092 20130101; B65B 3/003
20130101; B01F 9/10 20130101; A61J 1/00 20130101; B01F 13/1055
20130101; G16H 20/13 20180101; A61J 1/2089 20130101; B01F 15/0445
20130101; B01F 9/0014 20130101; G07F 13/10 20130101; B01F 13/1066
20130101; B01F 3/08 20130101; A61J 3/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/69 |
International
Class: |
A61J 1/00 20060101
A61J001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2010 |
JP |
2010-292637 |
Claims
1. A liquid medication dispensing machine supplying a liquid
medication from a liquid medication bottle said liquid medication
to a prescription bottle, comprising: a liquid medication stirring
unit that stirs said liquid medication in said liquid medication
bottle; a bottle holding unit that holds a plurality of said liquid
medication bottles including a first bottle containing a first
liquid medication and a second bottle containing a second liquid
medication; and a control unit that controls operation of said
liquid medication dispensing machine, wherein said control unit
operates said liquid medication stirring unit to stir said second
liquid medication while said first liquid medication is supplied
from said first bottle to said prescription bottle.
2. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 1,
wherein said control unit starts supplying said second liquid
medication from said second bottle to said prescription bottle
after supply of said first liquid medication to said prescription
bottle is completed.
3. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 1,
wherein said first liquid medication does not require stifling
before supply to said prescription bottle.
4. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 1,
comprising a bottle position changing unit that changes positions
of the plurality of said liquid medication bottles held by said
bottle holding unit, wherein said control unit operates said liquid
medication stirring unit to stir said second liquid medication
while said bottle position changing unit changes the positions of
said liquid medication bottles.
5. A liquid medication dispensing machine comprising: a liquid
medication supply unit that has a plurality of liquid medication
bottles containing liquid medications and supplies said liquid
medications from said liquid medication bottles to a prescription
bottle, respectively, said liquid medications including a
stirring-requiring liquid medication that requires stirring before
supply to said prescription bottle; a liquid medication stirring
unit that stirs said liquid medications in said liquid medication
bottles; and a control unit that causes said stirring-requiring
liquid medication to be stirred by a time when a supply order of
supplying said stirring-requiring liquid medication to said
prescription bottle comes in a supply sequence in which said liquid
medications contained in said plurality of liquid medication
bottles are supplied from said liquid medication bottles to said
prescription bottle, respectively.
6. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 5,
wherein said control unit causes said stirring-requiring liquid
medication to be stirred while said liquid medication having said
supply order earlier than said stirring-requiring liquid medication
is supplied to said prescription bottle.
7. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 6,
wherein said liquid medications include a stirring-nonrequiring
liquid medication that does not require stirring before supply to
said prescription bottle, and said control unit sets said supply
sequence such that said supply order of said stirring-requiring
liquid medication comes after said supply order of said
stirring-nonrequiring liquid medication.
8. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 2,
wherein said first liquid medication does not require stirring
before supply to said prescription bottle.
9. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 2,
comprising a bottle position changing unit that changes positions
of the plurality of said liquid medication bottles held by said
bottle holding unit, wherein said control unit operates said liquid
medication stirring unit to stir said second liquid medication
while said bottle position changing unit changes the positions of
said liquid medication bottles.
10. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 3,
comprising a bottle position changing unit that changes positions
of the plurality of said liquid medication bottles held by said
bottle holding unit, wherein said control unit operates said liquid
medication stirring unit to stir said second liquid medication
while said bottle position changing unit changes the positions of
said liquid medication bottles.
11. The liquid medication dispensing machine according to claim 8,
comprising a bottle position changing unit that changes positions
of the plurality of said liquid medication bottles held by said
bottle holding unit, wherein said control unit operates said liquid
medication stifling unit to stir said second liquid medication
while said bottle position changing unit changes the positions of
said liquid medication bottles.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid medication
dispensing machine, and more particularly relates to a liquid
medication dispensing machine for supplying a liquid medication
from a liquid medication bottle containing the liquid medication to
a prescription bottle.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, a liquid medication as a liquid state
medicine is dispensed in a dispensing pharmacy or the like. In
accordance with a prescription for a patient, one or a plurality of
types of liquid medications are infused sequentially by a
predetermined quantity into a prescription bottle, and a required
diluent is infused, thereby dispensing a liquid medication.
[0003] When preparing a liquid medication including suspensions,
the prescription guidelines require that the liquid medication in a
liquid medication bottle be stirred and then supplied to a
prescription bottle. For stirring of a liquid medication,
conventionally proposed is a structure having a rotary unit rotated
while holding a plurality of liquid medication bottles, wherein a
liquid medication bottle is inverted by rotating the rotary unit by
180 degrees (see e.g., Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-112673
(Patent Literature 1)). Another structure is proposed in which a
nozzle is inserted into a liquid medication bottle containing a
liquid medication, and the liquid medication is repeatedly sucked
and discharged, thereby periodically stirring the liquid medication
in the liquid medication bottle (see e.g., WO2010/110303 (Patent
Literature 2)).
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0004] PTL 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-112673
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0005] Patent Literature 1 discloses a flow of dispensing
processing in which a prescription bottle is moved to a discharging
position and a liquid medication bottle is then inverted to stir
the liquid medication. However, in this dispensing processing, it
is necessary to allow for a time for stirring the liquid medication
before supply to the prescription bottle. Therefore, the time to
supply the liquid medication to the prescription bottle becomes
long disadvantageously.
[0006] The present invention was made in view of the
above-described problem, and has a main object to provide a liquid
medication dispensing machine by which the time to supply a liquid
medication contained in a liquid medication bottle to a
prescription bottle can be shortened.
Solution to Problem
[0007] A liquid medication dispensing machine according to an
aspect of the present invention is a liquid medication dispensing
machine supplying a liquid medication from a liquid medication
bottle containing the liquid medication to a prescription bottle,
including a liquid medication stirring unit that stirs the liquid
medication in the liquid medication bottle, a bottle holding unit
that holds a plurality of the liquid medication bottles including a
first bottle containing a first liquid medication and a second
bottle containing a second liquid medication, and a control unit
that controls operation of the liquid medication dispensing
machine. The control unit operates the liquid medication stirring
unit to stir the second liquid medication while the first liquid
medication is supplied from the first bottle to the prescription
bottle.
[0008] In the liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably, the
control unit starts supplying the second liquid medication from the
second bottle to the prescription bottle after supply of the first
liquid medication to the prescription bottle is completed.
[0009] In the liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably, the
first liquid medication does not require stirring before supply to
the prescription bottle.
[0010] The liquid medication dispensing machine preferably includes
a bottle position changing unit that changes positions of the
plurality of the liquid medication bottles held by the bottle
holding unit. The control unit operates the liquid medication
stirring unit to stir the second liquid medication while the bottle
position changing unit changes the positions of the liquid
medication bottles.
[0011] A liquid medication dispensing machine according to another
aspect of the present invention includes a liquid medication supply
unit that has a plurality of liquid medication bottles containing
liquid medications and supplies the liquid medications from the
liquid medication bottles to a prescription bottle, respectively.
The liquid medications include a stirring-requiring liquid
medication that requires stirring before supply to the prescription
bottle. The liquid medication dispensing machine further includes a
liquid medication stirring unit that stirs the liquid medications
in the liquid medication bottles, and a control unit that causes
the stirring-requiring liquid medication to be stirred by a time
when a supply order of supplying the stirring-requiring liquid
medication to the prescription bottle comes in a supply sequence in
which the liquid medications contained in the plurality of liquid
medication bottles are supplied from the liquid medication bottles
to the prescription bottle, respectively.
[0012] In the liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably, the
control unit causes the stirring-requiring liquid medication to be
stirred while the liquid medication having the supply order earlier
than the stirring-requiring liquid medication is supplied to the
prescription bottle.
[0013] In the liquid medication dispensing machine, preferably, the
liquid medications include a stirring-nonrequiring liquid
medication that does not require stirring before supply to the
prescription bottle. The control unit sets the supply sequence such
that the supply order of the stirring-requiring liquid medication
comes after the supply order of the stirring-nonrequiring liquid
medication.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0014] According to the liquid medication dispensing machine of the
present invention, the time to supply a liquid medication to a
prescription bottle can be shortened.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a liquid
medication dispensing machine 1 of one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front view of the liquid medication dispensing
machine shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the liquid medication
dispensing machine taken along the line shown in FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the liquid medication
dispensing machine taken along the line IV-IV shown in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the liquid medication
dispensing machine taken along the line V-V shown in FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structure of a
stirring unit by which a liquid medication in a liquid medication
bottle is stirred.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a side view of the stirring unit shown in FIG.
6.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the stirring unit taken
along the line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a structure of the liquid
medication dispensing machine.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the position of each
liquid medication bottle.
[0025] FIG. 11 shows an example of a table indicating the current
position of each liquid medication bottle.
[0026] FIG. 12 shows an example of a table indicating liquid
medications that require stirring.
[0027] FIG. 13 shows an example of a prescription table indicating
the types of liquid medications to be supplied to a prescription
bottle.
[0028] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of liquid medication supply
processing from a liquid medication bottle to a prescription bottle
through the use of the liquid medication dispensing machine
according to the present embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the details of a step of
determining the order shown in FIG. 14.
[0030] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the details of a step of
calculating a TOTAL dispensing time.
[0031] FIG. 17 is a table showing the current position of each
liquid medication bottle when liquid medication B is located at a
dispensing position.
[0032] FIG. 18 is a table showing the current position of each
liquid medication bottle when liquid medication C is located at the
dispensing position.
[0033] FIG. 19 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
in the case of dispensing liquid medications B, C and G in this
order.
[0034] FIG. 20 is a table showing the current position of each
liquid medication bottle when liquid medication G is located at the
dispensing position.
[0035] FIG. 21 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
in the case of dispensing liquid medications G, B and C in this
order.
[0036] FIG. 22 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
in the case of dispensing liquid medications G, C and B in this
order.
[0037] FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the details of the step of
dispensing a liquid medication shown in FIG. 14.
[0038] FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of stirring a
liquid medication.
[0039] FIG. 25 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
according to a second embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
according to a third embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 27 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
according to a fourth embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 28 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
according to a fifth embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0043] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below
based on the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or
corresponding portions have the same reference characters allotted,
and description thereof will not be repeated.
First Embodiment
[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a liquid
medication dispensing machine 1 of one embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of liquid medication dispensing
machine 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of
liquid medication dispensing machine 1 taken along the line shown
in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of liquid medication
dispensing machine 1 taken along the line IV-IV shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of liquid medication dispensing
machine 1 taken along the line V-V shown in FIG. 2.
[0045] Liquid medication dispensing machine 1 of the present
embodiment is used to supply and dispense a liquid medication 5
which is a liquid state medicine from a liquid medication bottle 23
containing liquid medication 5 to a prescription bottle 2 in
accordance with a prescription for a patient.
[0046] Liquid medication dispensing machine 1 includes a liquid
medication supply unit 3 having a plurality of liquid medication
bottles 23 each containing liquid medication 5 and supplying liquid
medication 5 from each of liquid medication bottles 23 to
prescription bottle 2 and a weight detection unit 4 detecting the
weight of liquid medication 5 contained in prescription bottle 2.
The volume of liquid medication 5 supplied to prescription bottle 2
is calculated from the weight of liquid medication 5 detected by
weight detection unit 4 and the specific gravity of liquid
medication 5. Liquid medication supply unit 3 is controlled such
that a predetermined volume of liquid medication 5 in accordance
with the prescription is supplied to prescription bottle 2. Liquid
medication supply unit 3 and weight detection unit 4 are provided
in a housing 6. Housing 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape,
and is installed on a horizontal installation surface in an upright
position.
[0047] A support frame 8 is provided inside housing 6. Support
frame 8 is located between a bottom plate 9 of housing 6 and a top
plate 10 of housing 6, and in more detail, located closer to top
plate 10 of housing 6. The internal space of housing 6 is divided
by support frame 8 into an upper space 11 above support frame 8 and
a lower space 12 below support frame 8. A touch panel 14 and
printers 17a, 17b are located in a front section 13 of housing 6. A
lower opening 15 by which lower space 12 communicates with the
outside of housing 6 is also formed in front section 13.
[0048] Lower opening 15 is formed between both side portions 16a,
16b in front section 13 of housing 6. Above lower opening 15
between both side portions 16a, 16b, a curved plate-like front
cover portion 18 is located which separates lower space 12 and the
outside of housing 6. Front cover portion 18 is made of a
transparent material such that lower space 12 is visible from
outside the front side of housing 6. Front cover portion 18 is
attached to one of both side portions 16a, 16b with a hinge and is
provided to be pivotable around the axis of the hinge, so that
front cover portion 18 can be opened/closed.
[0049] Liquid medication supply unit 3 has a rotation drum 21 which
is a rotator located in lower space 12 and provided rotatably
around an axis line (hereinbelow a "drum axis line") L1
perpendicular to support frame 8 and a drum rotating motor 22
mounted on the upper surface of support frame 8 and rotating
rotation drum 21 around drum axis line L1 relative to support frame
8. Liquid medication supply unit 3 also has a plurality of pumps 24
provided for rotation drum 21 and transporting a liquid medication
from a plurality of liquid medication bottles 23 containing liquid
medication 5 to prescription bottle 2, and a pump driving unit 25
driving each pump 24. Each pump 24 may be a tube pump.
[0050] Rotation drum 21 has a pump holder 31 holding each pump 24
and a liquid medication bottle holder 32 as a bottle holding unit
holding plurality of liquid medication bottles 23 in an upright
position such that an opening 23A (see FIG. 8 which will be
described later) is open upward. Liquid medication bottle holder 32
is provided below pump holder 31 and has an annular flat plate
shape in plan view. On pump holder 31, respective pumps 24 are
located at intervals in a circumferential direction around drum
axis line L1 (hereinbelow a "drum circumferential direction"). On
liquid medication bottle holder 32, respective liquid medication
bottles 23 are located at intervals in the drum circumferential
direction.
[0051] The number of liquid medication bottles 23 and pumps 24
mounted on rotation drum 21 in the present embodiment can be
optionally changed according to the purpose. A different liquid
medication 5 may be contained in each of plurality of liquid
medication bottles 23, or heavily used liquid medication 5 of the
same type may be contained in plurality of liquid medication
bottles 23, or a diluent, such as water or simple syrup, may be
contained in one or a plurality of liquid medication bottles
23.
[0052] Pump driving unit 25 for selectively driving each pump 24
has a fixed part 37 fixed to support frame 8, a moving part 38
provided movably forward and backward relative to fixed part 37 (in
the direction of a double-headed arrow A shown in FIGS. 4 and 5), a
moving motor 39 which is fixed to fixed part 37 and moves moving
part 38 forward and backward relative to fixed part 37, and a pump
driving motor 40 which is fixed to moving part 38 and drives pump
24. Pump driving motor 40 may be implemented by a stepping
motor.
[0053] A coupling member 42 is fixed at the leading end of drive
shaft 41 rotated by pump driving motor 40. A coupled member 44 to
be coupled to coupling member 42 is fixed to a rotary shaft 43 of
the rotor of each pump 24. When coupling member 42 and coupled
member 44 are coupled to each other, rotation of pump driving motor
40 is transmitted to pump 24. Each pump 24 is constructed to be
driven individually in conjunction with intermittent driving of
drum rotating motor 22. The speed of supply of liquid medication 5
to prescription bottle 2 increases as the speed of rotation of pump
driving motor 40 increases.
[0054] By driving moving motor 39, pump driving motor 40 is moved
forward and backward. By this movement of pump driving motor 40, a
switch can be made between a coupled state in which coupling member
42 of pump driving motor 40 is coupled to coupled member 44 of pump
24 and a decoupled state in which coupling member 42 is not coupled
to coupled member 44.
[0055] For example, coupling member 42 and coupled member 44 can be
coupled to each other by advancing moving part 38 by driving of
moving motor 39. The coupling of coupling member 42 and coupled
member 44 can be released by retracting moving part 38 by driving
of moving motor 39. Rotation drum 21 can be rotated relative to
support frame 8 in the decoupled state.
[0056] By driving drum rotating motor 22 in the decoupled state,
rotation drum 21 is rotated to a position where coupled member 44
of a specific pump 24 selected based on prescription information
input to liquid medication dispensing machine 1 faces coupling
member 42 of pump driving motor 40, and after the rotation, a
switch is made to the coupled state. The selected specific pump 24
can thereby be driven to dispense liquid medication 5 supplied from
a desired liquid medication bottle 23 into prescription bottle 2.
Although coupling member 42 and coupled member 44 are both
implemented by gears, they may have any structure that can transmit
motive power.
[0057] At an upper end 26 of rotation drum 21, a ring member 27
located horizontally and coaxially with drum axis line L1 is
located rotatably around drum axis line L1. Three or more support
members 28 supporting ring member 27 are provided on the outer
circumferential side of ring member 27. Respective support members
28 are located at equal intervals in the drum circumferential
direction.
[0058] Respective support members 28 are provided relatively
rotatably with respect to support frame 8 around an axis line
parallel to drum axis line L1. A recessed groove 29 is formed in
the flat cylindrical outer circumferential surface of each of
support members 28 along the entire circumference. An annular
protruding line 30 is formed in the outer circumferential part of
ring member 27 along the entire circumference. Protruding line 30
of ring member 27 is fitted into recessed groove 29 of each support
member 28. Ring member 27 and support member 28 are provided
relatively rotatably.
[0059] Drum rotating motor 22 is fixed to support frame 8. A
driving gear (not shown) is fixed to the rotary shaft of drum
rotating motor 22. A driven gear 33 meshing with the driving gear
is fixed to upper end 26 of rotation drum 21. Driven gear 33 has an
annular thin plate shape and is fixed to the lower surface of ring
member 27. Rotation of drum rotating motor 22 is transmitted to
ring member 27 via the driving gear and driven gear 33, and ring
member 27 and rotation drum 21 to which the ring member is fixed
are thereby rotated integrally. With such a structure, rotation
drum 21 can be smoothly rotated relative to support frame 8.
[0060] Drum rotating motor 22 revolves integrally in the horizontal
direction plurality of liquid medication bottles 23 mounted on
rotation drum 21, pumps 24 and supply nozzles 36 provided in
correspondence with plurality of liquid medication bottles 23,
respectively, and a tube 34, which will be described later, with
one end located inside liquid medication bottle 23 and the other
end attached to supply nozzle 36. Rotation drum 21 serves as a
bottle position changing unit that changes the positions of a
plurality of liquid medication bottles 23 held by liquid medication
bottle holder 32 in housing 6 of liquid medication dispensing
machine 1.
[0061] Supply nozzle 36 is attached onto the same circumference as
the outer circumferential part of a nozzle attachment plate 53
which is an annular flat plate provided at the lower end of pump
holder 31. Respective supply nozzles 36 are located on nozzle
attachment plate 53 at equal intervals in the drum circumferential
direction on a virtual circle around drum axis line L1. Supply
nozzle 36 is attached to nozzle attachment plate 53 at an
inclination of a predetermined angle with respect to drum axis line
L1. Nozzle attachment plate 53 is located above liquid medication
bottle holder 32. Nozzle attachment plate 53 and liquid medication
bottle holder 32 are parallel to each other, and are constructed to
be capable of revolving on a horizontal plane together with
rotation drum 21 around drum axis line L1.
[0062] Weight detection unit 4 is located in lower opening 15.
Weight detection unit 4 has an electronic balance 45, a casing 46
storing electronic balance 45, and a prescription bottle holder 47
mounted on and fixed to electronic balance 45 and holding
prescription bottle 2 in an upright position such that an opening
2A is open upward. Electronic balance 45 detects the weight of
liquid medication 5 supplied to prescription bottle 2. When the
weight of liquid medication 5 reaches a predetermined value, liquid
medication supply unit 3 stops driving of pump 24 to stop supply of
liquid medication 5 to prescription bottle 2. Electronic balance 45
may be of any type, such as tuning fork, load cell or
electromagnetic type. Casing 46 is provided at a lower position of
front section 13 of housing 6 between both side portions 16a, 16b.
Prescription bottle holder 47 has a table 48 on which prescription
bottle 2 is mounted and a holding fixture 49 provided above table
48 and holding prescription bottle 2.
[0063] Weight detection unit 4 is moved up and down by an elevating
device 50 as a driving unit shown in FIG. 5. Elevating device 50
moves weight detection unit 4 in the vertical direction so as to be
located at two positions, an initial position and a supply
position, and accordingly moves prescription bottle 2 mounted on
table 48 of weight detection unit 4. The initial position is a
position where prescription bottle 2 is placed on table 48 of
liquid medication dispensing machine 1. The supply position is a
position where prescription bottle 2 and supply nozzle 36 come
closer to each other than at the initial position so that liquid
medication 5 is supplied to prescription bottle 2. By means of
elevating device 50, prescription bottle 2 is reciprocally moved
between the outside and the inside of housing 6 of liquid
medication dispensing machine 1 so as to reciprocate between the
initial position and the supply position.
[0064] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structure of a
stirring unit by which liquid medication 5 in liquid medication
bottle 23 is stirred. FIG. 7 is a side view of the stirring unit
shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the stirring
unit taken along the line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7. Liquid
medication supply unit 3 of the present embodiment includes, in
housing 6 of liquid medication dispensing machine 1, a liquid
medication stirring unit stirring liquid medication 5 contained in
liquid medication bottle 23. This liquid medication stirring unit
will be described in detail below.
[0065] In FIGS. 6 to 8, liquid medication bottle holder 32 with
merely one liquid medication bottle 23 mounted thereon is shown
giving priority to clarity. Although liquid medication dispensing
machine 1 includes a plurality of cup fixing parts 76, 76A, cups 78
and the like for holding liquid medication bottles 23, merely some
of plurality of cup fixing parts 76, 76A, cups 78 and the like are
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, and not all of them are
illustrated.
[0066] A rotationally driving unit 61 generating rotary force is
located under liquid medication bottle holder 32. As shown in FIG.
8, rotationally driving unit 61 has a motor 62 as an example of a
power source and a box 63 storing motor 62 therein. A shaft 64
rotating with motor 62 is coupled to the rotary shaft of motor 62.
Shaft 64 is fixed to motor 62 rotatably around a rotation axis L3
integrally with motor 62. Shaft 64 is located to extend from the
inside to the outside of box 63. Shaft 64 is located to extend
through flat plate-like liquid medication bottle holder 32 in the
vertical direction, and transmits rotary force generated by motor
62 from the lower side of liquid medication bottle holder 32 to the
upper side of liquid medication bottle holder 32.
[0067] Cover 75 surrounds the circumference of shaft 64 and covers
the upper end of shaft 64. Cup 78 is integrally fixed to shaft 64
with cover 75 interposed therebetween. Cup 78 has a bottomed hollow
cylindrical shape. Cup 78 serves as a holder holding liquid
medication bottle 23. Cup 78 holds the bottom 23B side of liquid
medication bottle 23 shown in FIG. 8. Liquid medication bottle 23
is received in cup 78 such that bottom 23B is opposed to the inner
bottom surface of cup 78. The inner wall surface of the sidewall of
cup 78 has a diameter slightly larger than that of the side surface
of liquid medication bottle 23. Therefore, the side surface of
liquid medication bottle 23 is opposed to the inner wall surface of
the sidewall of cup 78 with a minute clearance. Part of the side
surface of liquid medication bottle 23 may contact the inner wall
surface of the sidewall of cup 78.
[0068] Tube 34 as a pipe part is located inside liquid medication
bottle 23. Tube 34 is provided for each of plurality of liquid
medication bottles 23. Tube 34 is made of a material having
flexibility and elasticity, and is deformable in cross section
under pressure and is elastically restored by releasing pressure.
Tube 34 may be made of synthetic resin, such as a silicon tube, for
example. Tube 34 extends from opening 23A toward bottom 23B of
liquid medication bottle 23, and is located inside liquid
medication bottle 23 such that its one end 34a contacts the inner
surface of bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23.
[0069] A base member 81 is fixed to opening 23A of liquid
medication bottle 23. Tube 34 is inserted into a through-hole
formed in base member 81, and is located to extend from the outside
to the inside of liquid medication bottle 23. Base member 81 is
fixed to opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 as shown in
FIG. 8. A cylindrical spacer 82 made of an elastic material, such
as silicone rubber, for example, is attached to the inner
circumferential surface of base member 81. Base member 81 is
attached to liquid medication bottle 23 with elastically deformable
spacer 82 interposed therebetween such that base member 81 can be
reliably fixed to opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 even
if dimensional variations in base member 81 or liquid medication
bottle 23 occur.
[0070] A cover 83 is located over base member 81. Cover 83 is
mounted on the upper surface of base member 81 while not being
fixed to base member 81. Cover 83 has a cap shape having a hollow
cylindrical wall portion and a disk-like top portion covering the
upper end of the wall portion. The lower end of the wall portion
comes into contact with the upper surface of base member 81, so
that cover 83 is mounted over base member 81. Cover 83 is provided
to cover opening 23A of liquid medication bottle 23 while cover 83
is mounted on base member 81 fixed to liquid medication bottle 23.
A through-hole having a diameter of such a degree that tube 34 can
be just inserted therethrough is formed in the above-mentioned top
portion of cover 83.
[0071] The above-mentioned top portion of cover 83 further has a
recess 84 obtained by recessing part of the upper surface. A
positioning member 85 is attached to tube 34. Positioning member 85
is attached to tube 34 so as not to block the flow of liquid
medication 5 flowing through the inside of tube 34. Moreover,
positioning member 85 is attached to tube 34 so as to be unlikely
to move relative to tube 34 in the longitudinal direction of tube
34. Recess 84 and positioning member 85 have a corresponding shape
such that positioning member 85 is fitted within recess 84.
[0072] Positioning member 85 is engaged with recess 84 formed in
cover 83 to thereby position tube 34 with positioning member 85
attached thereto relative to liquid medication bottle 23. As shown
in FIG. 8, when positioning member 85 is received in recess 84 of
cover 83, positioning member 85 positions tube 34 relative to
liquid medication bottle 23 such that one end 34a of tube 34
slightly curved inside liquid medication bottle 23 contacts bottom
23B of liquid medication bottle 23.
[0073] Furthermore, a tube fixing part 86 for fixing tube 34 on the
outside of liquid medication bottle 23 is provided. Tube fixing
part 86 is fixed to the lower surface side of nozzle attachment
plate 53 as shown in FIG. 3. By causing tube fixing part 86 to hold
tube 34 with tube 34 inserted into liquid medication bottle 23 as
illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, tube 34 is fixed to nozzle attachment
plate 53. Furthermore, tube 34 is fitted within a cutout 54 (see
FIG. 5) formed in nozzle attachment plate 53, and is thereby fixed
to nozzle attachment plate 53.
[0074] In the liquid medication stirring unit having the structure
described above, when motor 62 of rotationally driving unit 61 is
driven, shaft 64 fixed to motor 62 is rotated together with motor
62. The direction of rotation of motor 62 at this time will be
called a forward direction. Cup 78 fixed to shaft 64 and liquid
medication bottle 23 held by cup 78 are rotated around rotation
axis L3 along with the rotation of shaft 64 in the forward
direction. Rotation axis L3 forming the central axis of rotation of
liquid medication bottle 23 extends along a center line L2 of
liquid medication bottle 23. Here, center line L2 of liquid
medication bottle 23 refers to a straight line connecting opening
23A and bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23, and typically
refers to a straight line connecting the center of opening 23A of
liquid medication bottle 23 of circular shape in plan view and the
center of bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle 23 of circular
shape in plan view.
[0075] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, liquid
medication bottle 23 is located at the center of cup 78. Center
line L2 of liquid medication bottle 23 and rotation axis L3 of
rotationally driving unit 61 thus reside on the same straight line.
It is noted that, in order to stir liquid medication 5 more
efficiently, center line L2 of liquid medication bottle 23 may be
offset from rotation axis L3 of rotationally driving unit 61, or
center line L2 of liquid medication bottle 23 may be inclined with
respect to rotation axis L3 of rotationally driving unit 61.
[0076] Along with the rotation of this liquid medication bottle 23,
liquid medication 5 contained in liquid medication bottle 23 flows
inside liquid medication bottle 23 in the circumferential direction
of the cylindrical side portion of liquid medication bottle 23 in
the direction of rotation of liquid medication bottle 23.
[0077] After motor 62 is rotated for a predetermined time in the
forward direction, motor 62 is subsequently rotated in the reverse
direction opposite to the forward direction. Rotationally driving
unit 61 is provided so as to be capable of generating rotary force
both in the forward and reverse directions. Liquid medication
dispensing machine 1 may be constructed to allow an operator who
operates liquid medication dispensing machine 1 to optionally set
the direction of rotation and time of rotation of motor 62. For
example, the time of rotation of motor 62 in the forward direction
and the time of rotation in the reverse direction may be made
equal, such as by rotating motor 62 in the forward direction for 5
seconds to rotate liquid medication bottle 23 several times, and
then rotating motor 62 in the reverse direction for 5 seconds to
rotate liquid medication bottle 23 several times in the reverse
direction. Alternatively, for example, the direction of rotation of
motor 62 may be set to be the forward direction alone.
[0078] Along with the change of the direction of rotation of motor
62, the direction of rotation of liquid medication bottle 23 is
also changed. That is, rotationally driving unit 61 rotates liquid
medication bottle 23 in the forward direction, and then rotates
liquid medication bottle 23 in the reverse direction opposite to
the forward direction. Inside liquid medication bottle 23 having
been changed in the direction of rotation and being rotated in the
reverse direction, the turbulence intensity of a turbulent flow in
the flow of liquid medication 5 increases. In addition, a vortex
occurs in the flow of liquid medication 5. Liquid medication 5 is
stirred inside liquid medication bottle 23 by the action of this
turbulent flow and vortex.
[0079] In this way, liquid medication 5 contained in liquid
medication bottle 23 can be stirred inside liquid medication
dispensing machine 1 by rotating liquid medication bottle 23 by the
rotation driving power generated by rotationally driving unit 61.
Therefore, liquid medication 5 which needs stirring can be
dispensed efficiently in a short time through the use of liquid
medication dispensing machine 1 of the present embodiment. With a
simple structure obtained by adding rotationally driving unit 61 to
a conventional device, cup 78 holding liquid medication bottle 23
and liquid medication bottle 23 can be rotated integrally to stir
liquid medication 5 inside liquid medication dispensing machine 1.
Since the turbulence intensity of the turbulent flow in liquid
medication bottle 23 can be increased by switching the direction of
rotation of liquid medication bottle 23 from the forward direction
to the reverse direction, liquid medication 5 can be stirred more
efficiently.
[0080] Tube 34 is located inside liquid medication bottle 23 to
extend from opening 23A to bottom 23B of liquid medication bottle
23, and tube 34 is fixed on the outside of liquid medication bottle
23. Therefore, tube 34 is relatively rotated with respect to liquid
medication bottle 23 being rotated. Since tube 34 is kept fixed
relative to liquid medication 5 flowing through the inside of
liquid medication bottle 23 together with liquid medication bottle
23, tube 34 serves as a stirrer for liquid medication 5. That is,
by locating tube 34 inside liquid medication bottle 23 to be
immersed in liquid medication 5, the flow of liquid medication 5 is
more likely to become a turbulent flow. Liquid medication 5 can
therefore be stirred more efficiently.
[0081] Next, control exerted in the case of supplying liquid
medication 5 from liquid medication bottle 23 to prescription
bottle 2 for dispensing will be described. FIG. 9 is a block
diagram showing a structure of liquid medication dispensing machine
1. As shown in FIG. 9, liquid medication dispensing machine 1
includes a control unit 90 that controls the operation of liquid
medication dispensing machine 1 as a whole. Touch panel 14 serves
as an input unit on which various parameters related to the
operation of liquid medication dispensing machine 1, such as
prescription data, and various types of information, such as
patient's name and pharmacist's name, are input. Touch panel 14
also serves as a display unit that displays the operating state of
liquid medication dispensing machine 1. Liquid medication
dispensing machine 1 may include, as a display unit, a lamp that
lights up when a malfunction of liquid medication dispensing
machine 1 occurs, for example, in addition to touch panel 14.
[0082] Electronic balance 45 detects the weight of liquid
medication 5 supplied to prescription bottle 2 and inputs the value
of the detected weight to control unit 90. Control unit 90 supplies
a predetermined quantity of liquid medication 5 to prescription
bottle 2 while receiving weight data of liquid medication 5 in
prescription bottle 2 from electronic balance 45.
[0083] Liquid medication dispensing machine 1 includes bottle
position detecting means 91 that detects the position of each
liquid medication bottle 23 in lower space 12 inside housing 6.
Bottle position detecting means 91 may be any type of sensor, for
example, and the sensor may detect the rotation angle around drum
axis line L1 of liquid medication bottle holder 32. Liquid
medication bottle 23 is rotationally moved around drum axis line L1
with the rotation of rotation drum 21. Thus, the current position
of liquid medication bottle 23 changes frequently. Bottle position
detecting means 91 is used to accurately detect the current
position of liquid medication bottle 23, and data on the detected
current position of liquid medication bottle 23 is input to control
unit 90.
[0084] Liquid medication dispensing machine 1 also includes a
communication unit 92 for making communications with external
equipment to receive data from the external equipment. Various
parameters related to the operation of liquid medication dispensing
machine 1 may be input to control unit 90 by the operation on touch
panel 14 described above, or alternatively may be input to control
unit 90 from an external computer via communication unit 92.
[0085] Liquid medication dispensing machine 1 also includes a
memory 93 for control unit 90 to perform calculations. Memory 93
may store data on the current position of liquid medication bottle
23 and data on liquid medication 5 contained in liquid medication
bottle 23 loaded in liquid medication dispensing machine 1. Liquid
medication dispensing machine 1 also includes a recording medium
access unit 94 for loading a removable recording medium. The
above-described data on liquid medication 5 may be stored in any
recording medium loaded in recording medium access unit 94 and may
be read appropriately from the recording medium by control unit
90.
[0086] Control unit 90 controls liquid medication dispensing
machine 1 based on information input from the various types of
devices described above. Specifically, control signals are
transmitted from control unit 90 to drum rotating motor 22, moving
motor 39, pump driving motor 40, motor 62 for stirring liquid
medication 5, and elevating device 50. Each motor operates and
stops appropriately, so that liquid medication 5 is supplied from
liquid medication bottle 23 to prescription bottle 2. Upon
termination of supply of liquid medication 5, a piece of paper with
a dispensing result printed thereon and a label to be affixed to
prescription bottle 2 with patient's name, pharmacy's name, time of
taking medicine, dose, and the like printed thereon are output from
printers 17a, 17b constituting an output unit 17.
[0087] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the position of each
liquid medication bottle 23 detected by bottle position detecting
means 91. FIG. 11 shows an example of a table indicating the
current position of each liquid medication bottle 23. As shown in
FIG. 10, eight liquid medication bottles 23 shall be mountable on
liquid medication bottle holder 32 of the present embodiment. The
positions at which these eight liquid medication bottles 23 are
mounted on liquid medication bottle holder 32 are denoted by the
numbers 1 to 8 in FIG. 10, respectively. The position denoted by
the number 1 is a position on the forefront side of liquid
medication dispensing machine 1 at which liquid medication 5
contained in liquid medication bottle 23 is discharged to a
prescription bottle. This position will be called a dispensing
position.
[0088] As shown in FIG. 11, eight liquid medication bottles 23
currently loaded in liquid medication dispensing machine 1 contain
eight types of liquid medications A to H, respectively. At this
time, liquid medication bottle 23 containing liquid medication A
shall be located at the dispensing position. Rotation drum 21 shall
be rotatable to the both sides in the drum circumferential
direction. Liquid medication bottle holder 32 is rotatable both in
the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction.
Therefore, liquid medication B and liquid medication H arranged
next to liquid medication A currently located at the dispensing
position are moved to the dispensing position in an equal time.
[0089] In the following examples, suppose the time required to
rotate liquid medication bottle holder 32 by 45.degree., namely,
the time required to move liquid medication B next to liquid
medication A currently located at the dispensing position to the
dispensing position, to be 3 seconds. In this case, the moving time
increases in proportion to the moving distance of liquid medication
bottle 23. As shown in FIG. 11, the moving time for liquid
medication C and liquid medication G, which are the second
medications away from liquid medication A, to the dispensing
position is 6 seconds. Similarly, the moving time for liquid
medication E, which is most distant from liquid medication A in the
direction of rotation, to the dispensing position is 12
seconds.
[0090] FIG. 12 shows an example of a table indicating liquid
medications 5 that require stirring. Among eight type of liquid
medications A to H loaded in liquid medication dispensing machine
1, liquid medication B and liquid medication E are
stirring-requiring liquid medications that require stirring before
supply to prescription bottle 2. In the present embodiment, a
liquid medication that requires stirring refers to a liquid
medication that will be heterogeneous by precipitation or the like
if left at rest for a long time. The liquid medication that
requires stirring includes a suspension or an emulsion, for
example. In contrast, liquid medications A, C, D, and F to H are
stirring-nonrequiring liquid medications that do not require
stirring before supply to prescription bottle 2. The liquid
medication that does not require stirring is a liquid medication
that can maintain a homogeneous state even if left at rest for a
long time.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 12, the stirring time required for liquid
medication B and liquid medication E is set at 10 seconds. Based on
this required stirring time, the rotation time of stirring motor 62
in the forward direction (5 seconds) and the rotation time in the
reverse direction (5 seconds) are determined. In FIG. 12, the
required stirring time for liquid medications B and E that require
stirring is the same and the required stirring time is fixed,
however, the required stirring time may differ among types of
liquid medications 5.
[0092] FIG. 13 shows an example of a prescription table indicating
the types of liquid medications 5 to be supplied to prescription
bottle 2. In the present example, three types of liquid medications
5 for a patient to take are mixed and supplied to prescription
bottle 2 in accordance with a doctor's prescription. The
prescription table stores data on the types of liquid medications
and the dispensing quantity of liquid medications. In the present
example, 20 ml of liquid medication B, 30 ml of liquid medication C
and 40 ml of liquid medication G are supplied. Each piece of data
in accordance with the prescription table may be input to control
unit 90 by means of touch panel 14, or may be input to control unit
90 from an external computer via communication unit 92, as
described above.
[0093] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of liquid medication supply
processing from liquid medication bottle 23 to prescription bottle
2 through the use of liquid medication dispensing machine 1
according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, in the
liquid medication supply processing of this embodiment, the order
of dispensing liquid medications 5 is determined first in step
S100, and then actual dispensing is carried out in step S200.
Throughout the present specification, a sequence in which
respective liquid medications 5 contained in plurality of liquid
medication bottles 23 are supplied successively and sequentially
from liquid medication bottles 23 to prescription bottle 2 will be
called a supply sequence. In this supply sequence, the order in
which respective liquid medications 5 are supplied will be called a
supply order.
[0094] FIG. 15 is a flowchart indicating the details of step S100
of determining the order shown in FIG. 14. The supply sequence of
plurality of liquid medications 5 and the supply order of
respective liquid medications 5 are determined in accordance with
steps which will be described below. First in step S110, the number
of medicines to be dispensed to prescription bottle 2 is obtained.
On this occasion, control unit 90 refers to the prescription table
shown in FIG. 13 to recognize that three types of liquid
medications of liquid medication B, liquid medication C, and liquid
medication G are to be dispensed.
[0095] Then in step S120, the current position of liquid medication
bottle 23 at the stage when the number of medicines to be dispensed
is obtained. On this occasion, control unit 90 refers to the table
shown in FIG. 11 in which the current position of each liquid
medication bottle 23 is recorded based on the detection result
obtained by bottle position detecting means 91 to recognize that a
liquid medication currently located at the dispensing position is
liquid medication A and the current positions of liquid medication
bottles 23 containing three types of liquid medications B, C, and G
to be dispensed. Then in step S130, based on the current positions
of liquid medication bottles 23 obtained in step S120, control unit
90 calculates the moving time for each liquid medication bottle 23
to the dispensing position. In the present example, liquid
medication A is located at the dispensing position. Thus, the
moving time for liquid medication B to the dispensing position is 3
seconds, the moving time for liquid medication C to the dispensing
position is 6 seconds, and the moving time for liquid medication G
to the dispensing position is 6 seconds, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0096] Then in step S140, the stirring time for liquid medication 5
is calculated. Control unit 90 compares the prescription table
shown in FIG. 13 and the table of liquid medications that require
stirring shown in FIG. 12 to calculate that liquid medication B to
be dispensed in the current dispensing processing is a liquid
medication that requires stirring and that the required stirring
time is 10 seconds.
[0097] Then in step S150, the dispensing time for each liquid
medication is calculated. Control unit 90 refers to the
prescription table of FIG. 13 to recognize the dispensing quantity
of each of three types of liquid medications B, C and G and to
calculate the dispensing time for each of liquid medications B, C
and G based on the dispensing quantity of liquid medication 5 per
unit time by pump driving motor 40. In the present example, pump
driving motor 40 shall meet specifications that can transport 10 ml
of liquid medication 5 for 1 second, and the dispensing time shall
be proportional to the dispensing quantity of liquid medication 5.
In this case, the dispensing time for liquid medication B is 2
seconds, the dispensing time for liquid medication C is 3 seconds,
and the dispensing time for liquid medication G is 4 seconds.
[0098] Then in step S160, the total supply time required to supply
all of three types of liquid medications B, C and G to prescription
bottle 2 (hereinafter referred to as a TOTAL dispensing time) is
calculated.
[0099] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the details of step S160 of
calculating the TOTAL dispensing time. Referring to FIG. 16, the
method for calculating the TOTAL dispensing time will be described
in detail. First, in step S161, a variable i is set at 1 and a
variable total is set at 0.
[0100] Here, variable i indicates the number assigned to a liquid
medication to be dispensed, and may have a value of an integer of 1
or more. For example, in accordance with the prescription table
shown in FIG. 13, temporary numbering is carried out such that
liquid medication B is numbered 1, liquid medication C is numbered
2, and liquid medication G is numbered 3. Variable total indicates
time.
[0101] It should be noted that variable i does not indicate the
supply order when actual dispensing is carried out in step S200. As
will be described later, in order to determine the supply order
when actual dispensing is carried out, the TOTAL dispensing times
are calculated for all possible supply sequences, and then an
optimal supply sequence (i.e., the supply sequence by which the
TOTAL dispensing time becomes the shortest) is selected from among
them. While liquid medication B is numbered 1, liquid medication C
is numbered 2, and liquid medication G is numbered 3 in FIG. 13,
these numbers are merely assigned in accordance with the order in
which a doctor wrote the medications on the prescription, for
example, or in the order in which data was input, for example. When
determining the TOTAL dispensing time, arbitrary numbers of 1 to 3
are assigned to liquid medications B, C and G, and a total of six
combinations of dispensing order are tried. Similarly, if two types
of liquid medications are indicated in the prescription table, for
example, a total of two combinations of dispensing order will be
tried. If four types of liquid medications are indicated in the
prescription table, for example, a total of twenty four
combinations of dispensing order will be tried.
[0102] Returning to FIG. 16, then in step S162, the stirring time
and the moving time for liquid medication B which is the first
medicine are compared. Since variable total is 0 at this time
point, only the stirring time and the moving time for liquid
medication B need to be compared. In the present example, the
required stirring time for liquid medication B is 10 seconds as
shown in FIG. 12, and the moving time for moving liquid medication
B to the dispensing position is 3 seconds as shown in FIG. 11.
Thus, the stirring time is longer. That is, stirring of liquid
medication B is not completed while liquid medication B is moved
from the current position to the dispensing position, and the
stirring time for liquid medication B will be rate-determining.
Variable total is governed by the stirring time for liquid
medication B. Therefore, the process proceeds into step S163, where
variable total is set at the sum of the stirring time and the
dispensing time for liquid medication B (10 seconds+2 seconds=12
seconds).
[0103] Since the time required until first liquid medication B is
dispensed has been calculated in step S163, the process then
proceeds into step S165, where variable i is incremented by 1. That
is, the dispensing time for second liquid medication C will now be
considered. In subsequent step S166, in order to determine whether
the dispensing time for every prescribed medicine has been
calculated, it is determined whether variable i has exceeded the
number of prescribed medicines. In the present example, variable i
at this time point is 2, and the number of prescribed medicines is
3. Since variable i is not more than the number of prescribed
medicines, the process returns to step S162.
[0104] In a second round of step S162, the stirring time for liquid
medication C, which is the second medicine, is compared with the
sum of variable total at this time point and the moving time for
liquid medication C. In the present example, liquid medication C
does not require stirring. Thus, the stirring time is 0. That is,
the sum of variable total at this time point and the moving time
for liquid medication C is longer than the stirring time for liquid
medication C. Therefore, the sum of variable total at this time
point and the moving time for liquid medication C will be
rate-determining, and the sum of variable total at this time point
and the moving time for liquid medication C governs new variable
total. Therefore, the process proceeds into step S164, where new
variable total is set at the sum of variable total at this time
point, the moving time for liquid medication C, and the dispensing
time for liquid medication C.
[0105] FIG. 17 is a table indicating the current position of each
liquid medication bottle 23 when liquid medication B is located at
the dispensing position. Rotation drum 21 is rotationally moved so
that the positions of liquid medication bottles 23 are changed from
the positions in the table shown in FIG. 11, with the result that
liquid medication B is currently located at the dispensing
position. Therefore, the moving time required to move second liquid
medication C to the dispensing position is 3 seconds as shown in
FIG. 17. Therefore, the moving time and the dispensing time for
liquid medication C (3 seconds+3 seconds=6 seconds) are added to
variable total at this time point (12 seconds) to obtain new
variable total of 18 seconds. The time required until second liquid
medication C is dispensed is thereby calculated.
[0106] Then in step S165, variable i is incremented by 1, so that
variable i is set at 3. Then in step S166, the value of variable i
and the number of prescribed medicines are compared. Variable i and
the number of prescribed medicines are both 3, and variable is not
more than the number of prescribed medicines. Thus, the process
returns to step S162 again.
[0107] In a third round of step S162, the stirring time for liquid
medication G, which is the third medicine, is compared with the sum
of variable total at this time point and the moving time for liquid
medication G. In the present example, liquid medication G does not
require stirring. Thus, the stirring time is 0. Therefore, the
process proceeds into step S164, where new variable total is set at
the sum of variable total at this time point, the moving time for
liquid medication G, and the dispensing time for liquid medication
G.
[0108] FIG. 18 is a table showing the current position of each
liquid medication bottle 23 when liquid medication C is located at
the dispensing position. Rotation drum 21 is rotationally moved so
that the positions of liquid medication bottles 23 are changed from
the positions in the table shown in FIG. 17, with the result that
liquid medication C is currently located at the dispensing
position. Therefore, the moving time required to move third liquid
medication G to the dispensing position is 12 seconds as shown in
FIG. 18. Therefore, the moving time and the dispensing time for
liquid medication C (12 seconds+4 seconds=16 seconds) are added to
variable total at this time point (18 seconds) to obtain new
variable total of 34 seconds. The time required until third liquid
medication G is dispensed is thereby calculated. Then in step S165,
variable i is incremented by 1, so that variable i is set at 4.
[0109] Then in step S166, the value of variable i and the number of
prescribed medicines are compared. Variable i at this time point is
4, and the number of prescribed medicines is 3. Since variable i
has exceeded the number of prescribed medicines, calculation of the
TOTAL dispensing time is terminated.
[0110] FIG. 19 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
in the case of dispensing liquid medications B, C and G in this
order. As described above, the stirring time for liquid medication
B is longer than the moving time for liquid medication B. Thus, the
TOTAL dispensing time in the case of dispensing liquid medications
B, C and G in this order is calculated as 34 seconds by adding the
time required to stir and dispense liquid medication B, the time
required to move and dispense liquid medication C, and the time
required to move and dispense liquid medication G.
[0111] In the present example, the number of medicines to be
dispensed is 3. Therefore, a total of six combinations of
dispensing order of liquid medications 5 to prescription bottle 2
by changing the order of liquid medications B, C and G are
conceivable. For all these six combinations of dispensing order,
the TOTAL dispensing time is calculated similarly to the
foregoing.
[0112] For example, the TOTAL dispensing time in the case of
dispensing liquid medications G, B and C in this order may be
calculated next. In this case, referring to FIG. 16 again, since
liquid medication G which is the first medicine does not require
stirring before supply to prescription bottle 2, the time required
until liquid medication G is dispensed is the sum of the moving
time and the dispensing time for liquid medication G (6 seconds+4
seconds=10 seconds).
[0113] Liquid medication B, which is the second medicine, requires
stirring for 10 seconds. Here, stirring of liquid medication B is
carried out during the moving time for moving liquid medication G
that does not require stirring to the dispensing position and the
dispensing time for dispensing liquid medication G. Liquid
medication bottle 23 containing liquid medication B is rotationally
moved around drum axis line L1 while liquid medication B is being
stirred.
[0114] Control unit 90 shown in FIG. 9 operates a liquid medication
stirring unit to stir liquid medication B while liquid medication G
is supplied to prescription bottle 2 and while rotation drum 21 as
the bottle position changing unit is rotated to change the position
of each liquid medication bottle 23. Control unit 90 stirs liquid
medication B until the supply order of supplying liquid medication
B to prescription bottle 2 comes in the supply sequence of
supplying respective liquid medications 5 contained in plurality of
liquid medication bottles 23 from liquid medication bottles 23 to
prescription bottle 2, that is, until rotational movement of
rotation drum 21 for moving liquid medication bottle 23 containing
liquid medication B to the dispensing position is started. Control
unit 90 starts supplying liquid medication B to prescription bottle
2 after supply of liquid medication G to prescription bottle 2 is
completed. Control unit 90 stirs liquid medication B while liquid
medication G whose supply order is earlier than liquid medication B
is supplied to prescription bottle 2.
[0115] In the second round of step S162, the stirring time for
liquid medication B is compared with the sum of variable total at
this time point and the moving time for liquid medication B. FIG.
20 shows the table indicating the current position of each liquid
medication bottle 23 when liquid medication G is located at the
dispensing position. Referring to FIG. 20, the moving time required
to move second liquid medication B to the dispensing position is 9
seconds as shown in FIG. 20. Variable total at this time point is
the sum of the moving time and the dispensing time for liquid
medication G which is the first medicine. That is, in the second
round of step S162, control unit 90 compares a first liquid
medication supply time required to supply liquid medication G and a
second liquid medication stirring time required to stir liquid
medication B.
[0116] Here, the first liquid medication supply time is the time
required to supply liquid medication G which is the first liquid
medication to be dispensed first from liquid medication bottle 23
as a first bottle containing liquid medication G, to prescription
bottle 2. The second liquid medication stirring time is the time
required to stir liquid medication B which is the second liquid
medication to be dispensed secondarily. Control unit 90 compares a
subtotal time obtained by adding the above-described first liquid
medication supply time and a position changing time required for
position changing of liquid medication bottle 23 with the
above-described second liquid medication stirring time.
[0117] Comparing the stirring time for liquid medication B (10
seconds) and the sum of variable total at this time point and the
moving time for liquid medication B (10 seconds+9 seconds=19
seconds), the latter is longer. Therefore, the process proceeds
into step S164, where the moving time and the dispensing time for
liquid medication B (9 seconds+2 seconds=11 seconds) are added to
variable total at this time point (10 seconds) to obtain new
variable total of 21 seconds. The time required until second liquid
medication B is dispensed is thereby calculated.
[0118] Liquid medication C which is the third medicine does not
require stirring. Thus, in step S164, new variable total is set at
the sum of variable total at this time point, the moving time for
liquid medication C, and the dispensing time for liquid medication
C. Referring to FIG. 17, the moving time required to move third
liquid medication C to the dispensing position is 3 seconds.
Therefore, the moving time and the dispensing time for liquid
medication C (3 seconds+3 seconds=6 seconds) are added to variable
total at this time point (21 seconds) to obtain new variable total
of 27 seconds. The time required until third liquid medication G is
dispensed is thereby calculated.
[0119] FIG. 21 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
in the case of dispensing liquid medications G, B and C in this
order. The sum of the moving time and the dispensing time for first
liquid medication G and the moving time for second liquid
medication B is longer than the stirring time for liquid medication
B, as described above. Therefore, the time required to move and
dispense liquid medication G, the time required to move and
dispense liquid medication B, and the time required to move and
dispense liquid medication C are added to calculate that the TOTAL
dispensing time in the case of dispensing liquid medications G, B
and C in this order is 27 seconds.
[0120] FIG. 22 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
in the case of dispensing liquid medications G, C and B in this
order. Liquid medication B that requires stirring is dispensed
thirdly. Stirring of liquid medication B is started at the same
time when moving of first liquid medication G is started. Thus,
stirring of liquid medication B will have been completed before
dispensing of second liquid medication C is terminated. At an
interval after termination of stirring of liquid medication B,
control unit 90 starts supplying liquid medication B to
prescription bottle 2. Therefore, the time required to move and
dispense liquid medication G, the time required to move and
dispense liquid medication C, and the time required to move and
dispense liquid medication B are added to calculate that the TOTAL
dispensing time in the case of dispensing liquid medications G, C
and B in this order is 30 seconds.
[0121] Similarly, the TOTAL dispensing time is calculated for each
of the case of dispensing liquid medication B, G, and C in this
order, the case of dispensing liquid medication C, B, and G in this
order, and the case of dispensing liquid medication C, G, and B in
this order. That is, six TOTAL dispensing times, which are all the
combinations of sequentially dispensing three types of liquid
medications B, C and G, are calculated.
[0122] Returning to FIG. 15, then in step S170, the dispensing
order when actually dispensing liquid medication 5 to prescription
bottle 2 is determined based on the calculation result of the
above-mentioned six TOTAL dispensing times. Specifically, among the
six TOTAL dispensing times, the order in which the TOTAL dispensing
time will be the shortest is selected, and that order is determined
as the supply sequence in which respective liquid medications 5
contained in plurality of liquid medication bottles 23 are supplied
from liquid medication bottles 23 to prescription bottle 2. In this
way, the supply order in which respective liquid medications 5
(namely, liquid medications B, C and G) are supplied to
prescription bottle 2 is determined, and step S100 shown in FIG. 14
is completed.
[0123] By minimizing the rotation of rotation drum 21, the time
required to move liquid medication bottle 23 to the dispensing
position can be minimized. Control unit 90 sets the supply sequence
in which a plurality of types of liquid medications 5 contained in
plurality of liquid medication bottles 23 are supplied to
prescription bottle 2 such that the supply order of a
stirring-requiring liquid medication comes after the supply order
of a stirring-nonrequiring liquid medication. During the time
required to stir the stirring-requiring liquid medication, the time
that influences the TOTAL dispensing time can thereby be shortened.
Therefore, the time required to dispense all the plurality of types
of liquid medications can be shortened.
[0124] Then, liquid medication 5 is supplied from each of plurality
of liquid medication bottles 23 containing liquid medications 5 to
prescription bottle 2. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the details
of step S200 of dispensing liquid medication 5 shown in FIG. 14.
Referring to FIG. 23, in step S210, it is first determined whether
plurality of liquid medications 5 to be supplied to prescription
bottle 2 include a medicine that requires stirring. If there is a
stirring-requiring liquid medication, the process proceeds into
step S220, where a stirring operation flag is set. Then the process
proceeds into step S230. If there is no medicine that requires
stirring, the process directly proceeds into step S230, skipping
step S220.
[0125] FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of stirring
liquid medication 5. The subroutine shown in FIG. 24 starts
simultaneously with startup of liquid medication dispensing machine
1 and is always executed. As shown in step S221, whether or not the
stirring operation flag has been set is always monitored. While the
stirring operation flag is not set, the subroutine is in a standby
state waiting for an instruction.
[0126] When the stirring operation flag is set in step S220 shown
in FIG. 23, it is determined in step S221 that the stirring
operation flag has been set, and the process proceeds into step
S222. In step S222, control unit 90 drives motor 62 for stirring
liquid medication 5, thereby rotating liquid medication bottle 23.
By rotating liquid medication bottle 23 both in forward and reverse
directions, a turbulent flow is produced in liquid medication
bottle 23, thereby stirring liquid medication 5 in liquid
medication bottle 23. Stirring is continued until it is determined
in step S223 that stirring has been completed. A determination
about completion of stirring is made by, for example, detecting
with a timer whether or not the driving time of motor 62 has
exceeded a predetermined time.
[0127] When the stirring operation flag is set in step S220, a
determination made in step S221 is YES. Then, the process proceeds
into step S222, where stirring is started. When a prescription
includes a plurality of liquid medications 5 that require stirring,
stirring operation flags for plurality of liquid medications 5 are
set simultaneously, and stirring of plurality of liquid medications
5 is started all at once.
[0128] When it is determined that stirring has been completed,
motor 62 is suspended. Then, the process proceeds into step S224,
where the stirring operation flag is cleared. The subroutine of
FIG. 24 is then returned to return to the standby state.
[0129] It is noted that the subroutine shown in FIG. 24 may always
be executed simultaneously with device startup, as described above.
However, a subroutine start flag may be set after the supply
sequence of liquid medications 5 is determined. In this case, the
subroutine may be terminated after all of required plurality of
types of liquid medications 5 are supplied to prescription bottle
2.
[0130] Returning to FIG. 23, it is then determined in step S230
whether or not the dispensing order of a medicine that requires
stirring has come. If the supply order of the stirring-requiring
liquid medication has come, it is then determined in step S240
whether the stirring operation flag has been cleared. That is, when
the supply order of the stirring-requiring liquid medication has
come, it is determined whether stirring of liquid medication 5 has
already been carried out in accordance with the subroutine shown in
FIG. 24 and as a result, whether the stirring operation flag has
been cleared in step S224. If the stirring operation flag has not
been cleared, stirring has not been terminated. Thus, the process
waits until stirring is completed and the stirring operation flag
is cleared. If it is determined that the stirring operation flag
has been cleared, the process proceeds into step S250.
[0131] If the supply order of a stirring-nonrequiring liquid
medication that does not require stirring has come, dispensing of
liquid medication 5 is possible regardless of the stirring
operation flag. Thus, the process directly proceeds into step S250
from step S230. Then in step S250, liquid medication bottle 23
containing liquid medication 5 to be dispensed is moved to the
dispensing position, and then liquid medication 5 is dispensed from
liquid medication bottle 23 to prescription bottle 2.
[0132] Here, when the stirring operation flag is set in step S220,
stirring is immediately started in step S222. If liquid medication
5 to be supplied first to prescription bottle 2 after the stirring
operation flag is set in step S220 is a stirring-nonrequiring
liquid medication that does not require stirring before supply to
prescription bottle 2, movement of liquid medication bottle 23 is
immediately started in step S250. Control unit 90 operates
rotationally driving unit 61 constituting the liquid medication
stirring unit to stir liquid medication 5 in liquid medication
bottle 23 while rotation drum 21 changes the position of liquid
medication bottles 23.
[0133] Then, the process proceeds into step S260, where it is
determined whether or not all of target liquid medications 5
indicated on a prescription have been supplied to prescription
bottle 2. If the supply has not been completed, the process returns
to step S230. If all of liquid medications 5 have been dispensed,
supply of liquid medications 5 to prescription bottle 2 is
completed, and step S200 shown in FIG. 14 is completed.
[0134] As described above, in liquid medication dispensing machine
1 of the present embodiment, liquid medication 5 that requires
stirring before supply to prescription bottle 2 is stirred while
another liquid medication 5 is supplied to prescription bottle 2
and/or while liquid medication bottles 23 are changed in position.
By causing the stirring time for a stirring-requiring liquid
medication to overlap the dispensing time and/or the moving time
for another liquid medication 5, the time for carrying out stirring
alone can be shortened, and typically, the time for carrying out
stirring alone can be eliminated. Therefore, the dispensing time
for liquid medication 5 can be shortened.
[0135] It is noted that the supply sequence in which plurality of
types of liquid medications 5 contained in plurality of liquid
medication bottles 23 are supplied to prescription bottle 2 may be
set such that the supply order of liquid medication B which is a
stirring-requiring liquid medication comes after the supply order
of liquid medication G which is a stirring-nonrequiring liquid
medication. Alternatively, the supply sequence may be set
previously in accordance with the order in which a doctor wrote the
prescription, for example. Control unit 90 does not need to change
the supply sequence. Even if the supply sequence has been set
previously and the first supply order has been assigned to liquid
medication B that requires stirring, the time for carrying out only
stirring of liquid medication B can be shortened by causing the
stirring time and the moving time for liquid medication B to
overlap, as shown in FIG. 19. Therefore, the dispensing time for
liquid medication 5 can be shortened.
Second Embodiment
[0136] FIG. 25 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment will
describe an example of supplying liquid medications 5 to
prescription bottle 2 in accordance with a prescription of
supplying 50 ml of each of five types of liquid medications P, Q,
R, S, and T. The dispensing time for each of liquid medications P,
Q, R, S, and T shall be 5 seconds equally. At this time, liquid
medication bottles 23 containing five types of liquid medications
P, Q, R, S, and T, respectively, are arranged on liquid medication
bottle holder 32 adjacently to one another. Thus, the moving time
for each liquid medication bottle 23 to the dispensing position
shall be 3 seconds.
[0137] Among five types of liquid medications P, Q, R, S, and T,
only liquid medication T shall be a stirring-requiring liquid
medication that requires stirring before supply to prescription
bottle 2, and other liquid medications P, Q, R, and S shall be
stirring-nonrequiring liquid medications that do not require
stirring before supply to prescription bottle 2.
[0138] As described with reference to FIG. 23, the stirring
operation flag is set at the start of supply of liquid medication 5
to prescription bottle 2. Thus, as shown in FIG. 25, stirring of
liquid medication T is started simultaneously with the start of
moving liquid medication P. Liquid medication T is stirred for 10
seconds, and then stirring is interrupted. After the interruption
of a predetermined time (in the present example, 10 seconds),
liquid medication T is stirred again for 10 seconds.
[0139] In this way, if liquid medication T which is a
stirring-requiring liquid medication is repeatedly stirred before
supply to prescription bottle 2, liquid medication T can be stirred
in a time zone closer to the time point when the supply order of
liquid medication T comes, namely, the time point when movement of
liquid medication bottle 23 containing liquid medication T to the
dispensing position is started.
[0140] Therefore, a suspended component contained in liquid
medication T can be prevented more reliably from precipitating to
the bottom of liquid medication bottle 23. Thus, liquid medication
T in more uniform state can be supplied to prescription bottle
2.
Third Embodiment
[0141] FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
according to a third embodiment. The third embodiment is an example
of supplying five types of liquid medications P, Q, R, S, and T
similar to those of the second embodiment described above to
prescription bottle 2. In the third embodiment, stirring of liquid
medication T is continued from the start of moving liquid
medication P to the end of dispensing liquid medication S, that is,
until the supply order of liquid medication T comes, as shown in
FIG. 26.
[0142] According to the dispensing processing shown in the third
embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, liquid medication T
can be stirred in a time zone closer to the time point when the
supply to prescription bottle 2 is started, and a suspended
component contained in liquid medication T can be prevented more
reliably from precipitating to the bottom of liquid medication
bottle 23. Thus, liquid medication T in more uniform state can be
supplied to prescription bottle 2.
Fourth Embodiment
[0143] FIG. 27 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
according to a fourth embodiment. The fourth embodiment will
describe an example of supplying liquid medications 5 to
prescription bottle 2 in accordance with a prescription in which
two types of liquid medications B and H arranged as indicated in
the table shown in FIG. 11 are supplied, the dispensing quantity of
liquid medication B being 20 ml and the dispensing quantity of
liquid medication H being 50 ml. The dispensing time for liquid
medication B shall be 2 seconds, and the dispensing time for liquid
medication H shall be 5 seconds. As shown in FIG. 12, liquid
medication B shall be a stirring-requiring liquid medication, and
liquid medication H shall be a stirring-nonrequiring liquid
medication. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 27, three rounds of
prescription of supplying liquid medications B and H shall be
performed successively.
[0144] In this case, liquid medication B that requires stirring
before supply to prescription bottle 2 should only be stirred in
the first round in the three successive rounds of prescription.
After a short time since liquid medication B is stirred in the
first round of prescription, liquid medication B is dispensed in
accordance with the second and third rounds of prescription. In the
second and third rounds of prescription, not long time has elapsed
since liquid medication B is stirred in the first round of
prescription, and it is considered that liquid medication B has
already been stirred. Liquid medication B is a stirring-requiring
liquid medication in the first round of prescription, but can be
treated as a stirring-nonrequiring liquid medication in the second
and third rounds of prescription. Therefore, liquid medication B
does not require stirring again in the second and third rounds of
prescription, and the required time can be shortened because of the
stirring time for liquid medication B.
[0145] In this way, the TOTAL dispensing time for liquid
medications B and H in the second and third rounds of prescription
can be shortened. In the second and third rounds of prescription,
control unit 90 starts supplying liquid medication B to
prescription bottle 2 at an interval after the end of stirring of
liquid medication B. Such dispensing processing is particularly
effective for shortening the TOTAL dispensing time if all of liquid
medications included in a prescription are stirring-requiring
liquid medications.
Fifth Embodiment
[0146] FIG. 28 is a timing chart showing the TOTAL dispensing time
according to a fifth embodiment. The fifth embodiment is an example
of supplying three types of liquid medications B, C and G similar
to those of the first embodiment described above to prescription
bottle 2. Depending on the type of stirring-requiring liquid
medication, liquid medication 5 can be maintained homogeneously for
a long time (e.g., 10 hours or more) after stirring. Such a liquid
medication should only be stirred once a day, for example, only at
the time of startup of liquid medication dispensing machine 1
during the day. Then, stirring is unnecessary at the time of
subsequent actual dispensing. In the fifth embodiment, liquid
medication B shall be a liquid medication of the type that can
maintain sufficient homogeneity by stirring once a day.
[0147] Therefore, by stirring liquid medication B previously as
shown in FIG. 28, liquid medication B can be treated as a
stirring-nonrequiring liquid medication that does not require
stirring before supply to prescription bottle 2 at the time of
actual dispensing. Thus, the TOTAL required time can be shortened
because of the stirring time for liquid medication B. Control unit
90 starts supplying liquid medication B to prescription bottle 2 at
an interval after the end of stirring of liquid medication B. Then,
the TOTAL dispensing time in the case of dispensing liquid
medications B, C and G in this order can be significantly shortened
as compared to FIG. 19.
[0148] It is noted that, in the embodiments described above, the
TOTAL dispensing time is calculated in consideration of the moving
time of moving liquid medication bottle 23 to the dispensing
position in the structure where medication bottle 23 is movable
within liquid medication dispensing machine 1. In the structure
where liquid medication bottle 23 is not moved within liquid
medication dispensing machine 1, the TOTAL dispensing time may be
calculated without taking into consideration the moving time for
liquid medication bottle 23. That is, the TOTAL dispensing time may
be calculated by adding the dispensing time and the stirring time
for plurality of liquid medications 5 as appropriate.
[0149] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, the structures of the respective embodiments may
be combined as appropriate. It should be understood that the
embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive
in every respect. The scope of the present invention is defined by
the claims not by the description above, and is intended to include
any modification within the meaning and scope equivalent to the
terms of the claims.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0150] 1 liquid medication dispensing machine; 2 prescription
bottle; 3 liquid medication supply unit; 5 liquid medication; 14
touch panel; 17 output unit; 17a, 17b printer; 21 rotation drum; 22
drum rotating motor; 23 liquid medication bottle; 32 liquid
medication bottle holder; 39 moving motor; 40 pump driving motor;
45 electronic balance; 50 elevating device; 61 rotationally driving
unit; 62 motor; 90 control unit; 91 bottle position detecting
means; 92 communication unit; 93 memory; 94 recording medium access
unit.
* * * * *