JP5457599B1 - Drug packaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

[Purpose] An identification device for tablets and the like that can reliably acquire an image of a portion on which characters or the like on the surface of the capsule or tablet are printed when identifying the type of a naked capsule or tablet. A drug packaging system comprising:
[Constitution] Conveying means such as a tablet for transporting a naked tablet or capsule taken out from a PTP sheet, and an image of the surface of the naked capsule or tablet arranged on the transporting means such as a tablet An identification device for tablets, etc., comprising image acquisition means and control means for rotating the capsule or changing the illumination direction of the tablets so that an image of the surface of the capsule or tablet can be properly acquired; and This is a medicine packaging system that recognizes the number of tablets in each section from the image in the divided container and can determine whether or not it matches the prescription information.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a tablet etc. identifying device for individually identifying tablets taken out from a PTP sheet and a medicine packaging system using the same.

  Conventionally, individual tablets or capsules are taken out from a PTP sheet containing a plurality of tablets or capsules, and the number of tablets, etc. that a patient should take at one time from the prescription information is taken out of naked tablets, etc. Only one bag-like package (a plurality of packages are connected so as to be continuous with each other and formed in a belt shape as a whole) has been introduced into dispensing pharmacies and the like. (See Patent Document 1).

  In such a conventional medicine packaging system, for example, after each tablet taken out from the PTP sheet is sorted so as to be suitable for packaging, each is stored in a package, and then an image of the package is acquired. It has been put into practical use as a system including a system for determining and auditing whether the number, type, brand, or the like of tablets, etc. are in agreement with prescription information.

JP 11-208553 A

  However, naked drugs to be packaged include mainly tablets with characters and the like printed on the surface, tablets with characters and the like printed on the surface, and capsules with characters and the like printed on the surface. Where there are two types of drugs, conventionally, among the three types of naked drugs that are the targets of the above-mentioned encapsulation, especially for capsules that have a printed portion only on a part of the outer peripheral surface. In many cases, simply capturing the image of the capsule, for example, only captures an unprinted portion, so the image of the printed portion of the outer peripheral surface of the capsule is surely acquired and its type is determined. It was not possible to recognize and identify. Conventionally, among the three types of naked drugs to be encapsulated, tablets with characters printed on the surface and tablets with characters engraved on the surface are used. It was impossible to obtain a clear image with a high contrast for each of the portions where characters or the like were printed or engraved by providing illumination suitable for both. As a result, all the three types of naked drugs to be packaged as described above can be transported in an integrated manner by one transport means while all of the three types of naked drugs are classified by type or The brand could not be recognized and identified smoothly and appropriately.

  Conventionally, the three types of medicines to be packaged as described above are recognized as being contained in a PTP sheet, etc., and being recognized as being naked when taken out from the PTP sheet. The patient's waiting time for unpacking at the dispensing pharmacy, smoothly and appropriately recognizing and separating the types of all three types of drugs targeted for unpacking It was not possible to suppress the increase in

  Also, conventionally, images such as tablets in a package after being packaged were acquired through the package to recognize the number, type, brand, etc. As a result of the difficulty in obtaining a clear image with high contrast for the printed or engraved portion, it is also difficult to recognize the number, type, brand, etc. with high accuracy.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems of the prior art, and recognizes the types of the above three types of medicines to be packaged while being accommodated in a PTP sheet. Recognize the classification and classification of the three types of medicines that are the target of unpacking smoothly and appropriately by comprehensively recognizing the classification and the like in the naked state taken out from the PTP sheet It is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine packaging system that can suppress an increase in patient waiting time for packaging in a dispensing pharmacy.

The present invention also provides a medicine packaging system capable of identifying the number of each tablet to be packaged and determining whether the recognized number matches the prescription information with higher accuracy. For the purpose.

Further, the present invention makes it possible to reliably acquire an image of a portion on which characters or the like on the outer peripheral surface of a capsule are printed when identifying the type or the like of a naked capsule to be packaged. An object of the present invention is to provide a medicine packaging system including an identification device such as a tablet.

In addition, the present invention provides illumination suitable for each of the tablets whose types are printed on the surface to be packaged and the tablets whose types are engraved on the surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine packaging system including an identification device such as a tablet that can acquire a clear image with a large contrast for a portion where characters or the like are printed or stamped.

The medicine packaging system according to the present invention for solving the above-described problems includes a prescription information recording means for recording prescription information for each patient, a tablet taking-out means for taking out a tablet or a capsule from a PTP sheet, and the like. When the naked tablet or capsule taken out from the PTP sheet is transported by the tablet transporting means, an image of the surface of the naked tablet or capsule placed on the tablet transporting means is obtained, By recognizing the contents of the surface of the tablet or capsule, etc., from the acquired image, the tablet or other identification device for recognizing or identifying the type or brand of the naked tablet or capsule, and the PTP sheet bar Based on the image from the sheet image acquisition means, a sheet image acquisition means for acquiring an image including a portion on which a figure such as a code, a symbol, or a character is printed. Tablet type or identification means for recognizing or identifying the type or brand of the tablet or capsule contained in the PTP sheet corresponding to the image, and the tablet recognized or identified by the identification means for the sheet type or the identification device for the tablet or the like Or, the type or brand of capsule, and the type etc. judging means for judging whether or not the type or brand of the tablet or capsule in the prescription information recorded in the prescription information recording means, and the tablet etc. conveying means When the type or brand of the tablet or capsule above matches the type or brand in the prescription information, the tablet or capsule on the transport means such as the tablet is placed in a separate container divided into a plurality of compartments. A means for separating tablets and the like to be moved and arranged so that a plurality of tablets or capsules for one package are accommodated in each compartment in the sorting container; When the type or brand of the tablet or capsule in the PTP sheet cannot be recognized or identified from the image of the part printed with a figure, symbol or character such as a bar code in the label, the naked tablet taken out from the PTP sheet or An identification device control means for recognizing or identifying one or a plurality of types or brands in the capsule by the identification device for tablets or the like is provided.

In the present invention, when the tablet identification device recognizes or identifies one or more types or brands in the naked tablet or capsule taken out from the PTP sheet, the tablet etc. conveying means Conveyance speed control for changing the conveyance speed to a speed slower than the case of conveying one or more types or brands in the naked tablet or capsule without being recognized or identified by the identification device such as a tablet. Means may be provided.

Further, in the present invention, an in-container image acquisition unit that acquires images of a plurality of tablets or capsules that are moved and arranged in each compartment in the sorting container, and an image from the in-container image acquisition unit The number recognition means for recognizing the number of tablets or capsules respectively moved and arranged in each compartment in the sorting container, and the number of tablets or capsules recognized by the number recognition means, Whether the number of tablets or capsules calculated from the prescription information recorded in the prescription information recording means matches before the tablets or capsules in each compartment in the sorting container are packaged. A number determination means for determining;
You may make it provide.

In the present invention, the tablet identification device includes a capsule rotation unit that rotates a naked capsule on the tablet conveyance unit along an outer circumferential direction thereof, and a surface of the rotating naked capsule. And image acquisition means such as a tablet for acquiring the image.

In the present invention, lighting means for irradiating light on the surface of the naked tablet arranged on the tablet conveying means, and whether the information indicating the type or brand is printed on the tablet surface. You may make it provide the illumination direction control means which controls the direction in which the light from the said illumination means is irradiated with respect to the said tablet surface by the upward direction or the diagonally upward direction depending on whether it is engraved.

Furthermore, in this invention, when acquiring the image of the surface of the naked tablet arrange | positioned on the said tablet conveyance means, the 1st illumination means which irradiates light from the upper direction of the tablet, and the said tablet When acquiring the image of the surface of the naked tablet arranged on the equal conveying means, it may be provided with a second illuminating means for irradiating light from an obliquely upward direction of the tablet.

According to the medicine packaging system of the present invention, an image such as a bar code or other graphic, symbol or character printed on the PTP sheet is obtained, and the tablet or capsule in the PTP sheet is obtained based on the image of the PTP sheet. When the type or brand can be identified, it is determined that the type related to the identified PTP sheet matches the prescription information, and then moved into the sorting container, sorted, and based on the image of the PTP sheet When the type or brand of the tablet or capsule in the tablet cannot be recognized or identified, one or more of the tablets taken out from the PTP sheet are identified by the tablet identification device, and the identified naked tablets, etc. Since it is determined that the type etc. matches the prescription information, it is moved into the sorting container and sorted, so most of the tablets etc. to be packaged are images of PTP sheets. The type and the like can be efficiently identified, and only the exceptional tablets that cannot be identified from the image of the PTP sheet can be identified by the identification device for tablets, etc. It is possible to suppress an increase in the waiting time of the patient for packaging in the dispensing pharmacy.

Further, in the medicine packaging system of the present invention, the transport speed of the tablet transporting means when transporting the naked tablet or the like from the PTP sheet while recognizing or recognizing it by the tablet or the like identifying device is the naked tablet or When the capsule is transported without being recognized or identified by the identification device such as the tablet (that is, the tablet or capsule in the PTP sheet from the image of the portion on which the graphic, symbol or character etc. such as the barcode in the PTP sheet is printed) When the speed is changed to a speed slower than the speed of the case where the type or brand of the product can be recognized or discriminated, one tablet etc. conveying means is not recognized or discriminated by the tablet etc. discriminating device. Since it can be used in common for both the case where it is transported as it is and the case where it is transported while being recognized or identified by the identification device for tablets, etc. Cost can be reduced by simplifying the structure of the entire Temu.

Further, in the medicine packaging system of the present invention, images of tablets or the like (each tablet for each package) in each compartment in the separation container are acquired before they are accommodated in the package, Recognize the number of tablets or capsules (one tablet or capsule) moved and placed in each compartment in the sorting container from the image, and whether the recognized number matches the prescription information In comparison with the conventional method of acquiring the number of images of a tablet or the like in a package after being packaged through the package and recognizing the number of the tablets or the like in the sorting container, The number of tablets in each compartment can be recognized with higher accuracy based on images that do not pass through the package (images that show the surface of tablets etc. more clearly because they do not pass through the package) The number of tablets etc. to be stored in the package is the prescription information. Determination of whether consistent with also becomes allow more accurately.

Further, in the present invention, when an image of the surface of a naked capsule placed on a conveying means such as a tablet is obtained, an image of the surface of the capsule rotating in the outer peripheral direction on the conveying means such as a tablet is obtained. When this is done, all the images on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule can be acquired. Therefore, when acquiring an image of the naked capsule, characters on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule are printed. Since it is possible to prevent the partial image from being acquired, the type or brand of the capsule can be reliably recognized and identified from the image on the capsule surface.

Further, in the present invention, when acquiring an image of the surface of a naked tablet placed on a conveying means such as a tablet, the irradiation direction of light to the tablet surface by the illumination means is changed from the upper direction of the tablet surface or the tablet surface. When controlling from the diagonally upward direction of the tablet, when acquiring an image of the naked tablet surface, it is possible to ensure contrast regardless of whether the tablet surface is a printed part or a stamped part. A clear image with a large contrast can be obtained (that is, a clear image with a high contrast can be obtained when the printed portion is illuminated from above, and the engraved portion is illuminated obliquely from above. (Sometimes, a clear image with a large contrast can be acquired), so that the type or brand of each tablet can be reliably recognized and identified from the image on the surface of each tablet.

Further, in the present invention, when acquiring an image of the surface of the naked tablet arranged on the tablet conveying means, light is emitted from above on the tablet surface arranged on the tablet conveying means. When both the first illuminating means for irradiating and the second illuminating means for irradiating the tablet surface with light obliquely from above are provided, in order to obtain an image of the naked tablet surface, Even if the surface is a printed part or a stamped part, a clear image with a high contrast can be obtained without fail (i.e., a clear image with a high contrast can be obtained when the printed part is illuminated from above). Since it is possible to acquire a clear image with a large contrast when there is illumination obliquely from above, the type or name of each tablet can be obtained from the image on the surface of each tablet. Reliably recognized, it becomes possible to identify.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the medicine packaging system used in the dispensing pharmacy based on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of this embodiment from the side. It is the schematic which shows the structure of this embodiment from upper direction. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure and operation | movement of a cassette in which the PTP sheet in this embodiment is mounted. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure and operation | movement of a tablet extraction part in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure and operation | movement for acquiring the image of the surface of a naked capsule in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure and operation | movement for acquiring the image of the surface of a naked tablet in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a medicine packaging system used in a dispensing pharmacy according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment from the side, and FIG. It is the schematic which shows the structure of a form from upper direction.

  1 to 3, for example, 10 is a box-shaped cassette on which a plurality of PTP sheets picked for dispensing for patients coming to a dispensing pharmacy window are placed, 1 from the cassette 10 one by one A sheet conveying section (conveyor) that sequentially conveys the discharged PTP sheets, 2 is a tablet taking-out section for taking out tablets or capsules as contained items from each PTP sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying section 1, and 3 is the above-mentioned A tablet transporting unit (conveyor) for transporting individual naked tablets or capsules taken out from each PTP sheet, 4 is a separation container described later for the naked tablets or capsules transported by the tablet transporting unit 3 5. A tablet sorting unit that moves into 5 and separates one package at a time. 5 is a sorting container in which the inside is divided into a plurality of compartments having a size suitable for containing a tablet. Nude pills are separated and arranged one by one, and the contained separation container 5 is transported to the packaging machine 7 so that the tablets in each compartment in the separation container 5 are stockers (containers) in the packaging machine 7. This is a transfer unit that is arranged and set as a tablet for packaging. 2 and 3, symbol A indicates the conveyance direction when the PTP sheet 31, a naked tablet, or the like is conveyed.

  In FIGS. 1 to 3, 20 is a control unit configured by a CPU and a program such as a personal computer, for example, and 11 is a prescription information record configured by a hard disk or the like for recording prescription information presented from each patient. The units 12 are arranged below the sheet conveying unit 1 in response to a signal from the control unit 20 (in FIG. 1, it is shown as being arranged above for convenience of illustration, but actually 2 is a camera arranged on the lower side as shown in FIG. 2, and is a sheet imaging camera that acquires an image of the printing surface of the PTP sheet 31 being conveyed, and 13 is an image acquired by the sheet imaging camera 12. A sheet type that recognizes a figure such as a barcode printed on the PTP sheet 31, a symbol, or a character, and identifies a type or brand of a tablet or the like accommodated in the PTP sheet 31 The identification unit 14 determines whether the type identified by the sheet type identification unit 13 matches the type or the like in the prescription information relating to the patient from the prescription information recording unit 11, and the result is It is a type determination unit that is output to the control unit 20.

  When the type or the like identified by the sheet type or the like identifying unit 13 matches the type or the like in the prescription information relating to the patient from the prescription information recording unit 11, the control unit 20 determines the type or the like determining unit 14. In response to the signal from the tablet, the tablet separation unit 4 is controlled, and the naked tablet or the like on the tablet conveyance unit 3 (tablets that have been identified by the PTP sheet 31 but not individually identified) Etc.) are moved and arranged in each compartment in the sorting container 5.

  1 to 3, reference numeral 15 denotes a transport motor for operating the tablet transporting section 3, and 16 rotates a naked capsule disposed on the tablet transporting section 3 along the outer peripheral direction thereof. For rotating the capsule, 17 is an illumination unit for illuminating the surface of the naked tablet arranged on the tablet conveying unit 3 from a predetermined direction, and 18 is arranged on the tablet conveying unit 3 It is an imaging camera such as a tablet that acquires a surface image of a naked tablet or capsule. The conveyance motor 15, the capsule rotating unit 16, the illumination unit 17, and the imaging camera 18 for tablets and the like are controlled by the control unit 20 that receives an output signal from the sheet type identification unit 13.

  Also, in FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 19 indicates characters or the like printed or stamped on each naked tablet or the like on the tablet conveyance unit 3 from the image acquired by the imaging camera 18 for tablets or the like. It is a tablet type etc. identifying part for identifying the type or brand.

  The type determination unit 14 also determines whether the type identified by the tablet type identification unit 19 matches the type in the prescription information relating to the patient from the prescription information recording unit 11. It is configured to determine. When the type or the like identified by the tablet type or the like identifying unit 19 matches the type or the like in the prescription information relating to the patient from the prescription information recording unit 11, the control unit 20 determines from the type or the like determining unit 14. In response to this signal, the tablet etc. sorting unit 4 is controlled, and the naked tablets etc. (naked tablets etc., which are individually identified) on the tablet etc. transporting unit 3 are transferred to the respective sorting containers 5. Move into the compartment and place one package at a time.

  1 to 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a container imaging camera that receives a signal from the control unit 20 and acquires an image in the sorting container 5, and 22 denotes a sorting container image acquired by the container imaging camera 21. A number recognizing unit for recognizing the number of tablets or the like arranged in each compartment in the sorting container 5, and 23 is a tablet for each package in each compartment recognized by the number recognizing unit 22. It is a number determination part which determines whether the number of etc. and the number of the tablets for one package concerning the said patient recorded on the said prescription information recording part 11 correspond. When the number of tablets or the like in each section recognized by the number recognition unit 22 matches the number of tablets or the like related to the patient recorded in the prescription information recording unit 11, The control unit 20 receives the signal from the number determination unit 23 and controls the transfer unit 6 to transfer and set each tablet in the sorting container 5 to the packaging machine 7.

  1 to 3, the sheet type identifying unit 13, the type determining unit 14, the tablet type identifying unit 19, the number recognizing unit 22, and the number determining unit 23 are included in the control unit 20 for convenience of illustration. However, the control unit 20 is actually composed of the same CPU and program of the personal computer. 2 and 3, 31 is a PTP sheet, and 32 is a tablet taken out from the PTP sheet 31.

  Next, the overall operation flow of the medicine packaging system described with reference to FIG. 1, the individual operation in the system, and the mechanical configuration for realizing the operation will be described.

  When a patient comes to a dispensing pharmacy and presents a prescription, the prescription is first read by a scanner or the like and the information is written in the prescription information recording unit 11, and a plurality of pharmacists (users) from the drug shelf for the dispensing The PTP sheets are picked and placed on the cassette 10.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the configuration and operation of the cassette 10 used at this time. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of PTP sheets 31 are placed in the box-shaped cassette 10 so as to overlap each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the cassette 10 is set at the end of the sheet conveying unit 1 so that the whole is inclined such that the sheet conveying unit 1 side is on the lower side. Then, since only one sheet of the PTP sheet 31 disposed on the lowermost side due to the inclination protrudes from the opening 10a to the sheet conveying unit 1 side by its own weight, only one sheet of the protruding PTP sheet 31 is not illustrated. The sheet is discharged and conveyed onto the sheet conveying unit 1 by a feed roller or the like. Thereafter, similarly, the lowermost PTP sheets 31 are sequentially discharged and conveyed one by one to the sheet conveying unit 1. In the cassette 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the opening 10a has a predetermined height (a height at which only one PTP sheet can be discharged from the opening 10a). Since the upper portion of the opening 10a is blocked by the stopper 10b, it is possible to prevent two or more PTP sheets 31 from being discharged and conveyed at one time from the opening 10a.

  When each PTP sheet 31 is being conveyed on the sheet conveying unit 1, the sheet imaging camera 12 images the printing surface of the PTP sheet 31. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet conveying unit 1 is formed of a transparent material, and the sheet imaging camera 12 has the printing surface of the PTP sheet 31 on the lower side of the sheet conveying unit 1. I'm trying to capture images from. The captured image of the printing surface of the PTP sheet 31 is sent to the sheet type identification unit 13. The sheet type identification unit 13 attempts to identify the type of the PTP sheet 31 from the image on the printing surface of the PTP sheet 31.

  If the sheet type etc. identifying unit 13 (see FIG. 1) can identify the type of the PTP sheet 31, the type etc. judging unit 14 compares the identified type with the prescription information to identify the type. It is determined whether or not the type and the like matched with the prescription information. When it is determined in this determination that they do not match (inappropriate), the control unit 20 that has received a signal indicating that from the type determination unit 14 controls the alarm generation unit (not shown) to the user. To warn.

  In addition, when it is determined that they match (appropriate) in the above determination, the control unit 20 that has received a signal indicating that from the type determination unit 14 controls the tablet extraction unit 2 to perform PTP. An internal tablet or the like is taken out from the sheet 31. FIG. 5 is a schematic view for explaining the configuration and operation of such a tablet taking-out unit 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the tablet taking-out unit 2 fixes the PTP sheet 31 conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 1 at the final end of the sheet conveying unit 1 or in the vicinity thereof, and then each pocket of the PTP sheet 31. Tablets or capsules in each pocket part are pressed by a pressing roller or the like from the upper part (the container part in which tablets or capsules are respectively contained and enclosed) downward (toward the printing surface made of aluminum foil or the like). The agent is discharged by breaking a part of the aluminum foil constituting the printing surface from the printing surface side of the pocket portion.

  The tablet 32 or capsule taken out (discharged) from the PTP sheet 31 by the tablet taking-out unit 2 is dropped onto the tablet carrying unit 3 and conveyed by the tablet carrying unit 3, and then the tablet etc. By the sorting unit 4 (the tablet sorting unit 4 controlled by the control unit 20 that has received a signal from the classification determining unit 14), each is placed in and placed in each of a plurality of compartments separated from each other in the sorting container 5. Is done.

  Next, in this embodiment, a container imaging camera 21 is arranged above the sorting container 5. When one tablet or the like is placed and accommodated in each compartment of the sorting container 5, the control unit 20 controls the camera 21 to display an image (infrared image or visible light image) in the sorting container 5. get. This image is sent to the number recognizing unit 22 where the number of tablets or the like for one package in each compartment in the sorting container 5 is recognized. The number of recognized packages is sent to the number determination unit 23, where it is determined whether or not the number of recognized packages matches the prescription information. When it is determined in this determination that they do not match (inappropriate), the control unit 20 controls the alarm generation unit (not shown) to warn the user. On the other hand, when it is determined that they match (appropriate) in this determination, the control unit 20 controls the transfer unit 6 so that the separation containers 5 each containing a single tablet or the like are stored in each of the compartments. Move to a known sachet 7 and transfer and set one tablet or the like in each compartment in the separation container 5 into a container having compartments partitioned for sachet in the sachet 7. .

  On the other hand, after the PTP sheet 31 taken out from the cassette 10 is placed on the sheet conveying unit 1, the sheet type etc. identifying unit 13 (see FIG. 1) reads the PTP sheet from the image of the PTP sheet 31 being conveyed. If the type of the PTP sheet 31 cannot be identified (for example, the PTP sheet 31 being transported is “the remaining fraction sheet from which the barcode or the like is printed”), the type of the PTP sheet 31 is changed. In the case where the identification is not possible), the control unit 20 that has received a signal indicating that from the sheet type identification unit 13 takes out the PTP sheet 31 and arranges the naked individual placed on the tablet feeding unit 3. Each type of tablet is identified individually.

  That is, even when the sheet type identification unit 13 cannot identify the type of the PTP sheet 31 from the image of the PTP sheet 31 being conveyed by the sheet conveyance unit 1, the tablet extraction unit 2 does not recognize the PTP sheet 31. The operation of taking out individual tablets from the tablet and dropping them onto the tablet conveyance unit 3 is similar to the case where the type of the PTP sheet 31 can be identified from the image of the PTP sheet 31 being conveyed by the sheet conveyance unit 1. Done. However, after that, unlike the case where the type of the PTP sheet 31 can be identified from the image of the PTP sheet 31 being conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 1, the control unit 20 uses the following for the following naked tablets, etc. Identification work such as individual types is performed.

  In this case, the control unit 20 first controls the conveyance motor 15 to switch the conveyance speed of the tablet conveyance unit 3 to a low speed (for example, a normal half or less or a third or less). Next, the control unit 20 controls the imaging camera 18 for tablets and the like to image the surface of the tablets and the like on the tablet conveyance unit 3. In this case, since the tablet conveyance unit 3 is switched at a low speed as described above, a clear image with a high contrast such as a tablet can be acquired even if only one camera 18 is used.

  In addition, the naked drug transported on the tablet transport unit 3 includes tablets with characters printed on the surface, tablets with characters stamped on the surface, and capsules with characters printed on the surface. In this embodiment, the following configuration is used to obtain an image in which characters on each surface are clearly displayed, regardless of the type. Yes.

  That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, diagonally above the part (place where it falls) on the tablet transport unit 3 where the capsule 33 taken out from the PTP sheet 31 by the tablet take-out unit 2 falls. A known air discharge portion 16a is provided at the position. Immediately after the capsule 33 taken out from the PTP sheet 31 by the tablet extraction unit 2 falls on the tablet conveyance unit 3 (or at any time), the control unit 20 controls the air release unit 16a. By controlling, the capsule 33 is rotated in the outer peripheral direction by blowing air from the obliquely upper position of the dropped capsule 33 in the obliquely downward direction indicated by the arrow 16b. At the same time, the control unit 20 controls the imaging camera 18 such as a tablet to image the outer peripheral surface of the rotating capsule 33. As a result, the entire outer peripheral surface of the rotating capsule 33 is imaged. Therefore, even when characters or the like are printed only on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the capsule 33, the characters or the like of the capsule 33 are surely obtained. It is possible to obtain an image including the print portion of

  Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown to Fig.7 (a), the illumination part 17a arrange | positioned beside the imaging camera 18 for tablets etc. arrange | positioned above the said tablet conveyance parts 3, and the said tablets etc. A substantially ring-shaped illumination part 17b (substantially ring-shaped illumination part 17b in which the camera 18 can image the lower tablet through the central opening) disposed below the camera 18 on the transport unit 3. Is provided. When the tablet 32 is imaged by the camera 18, the illumination unit 17a irradiates the tablet 32 with light from an obliquely upward direction. On the other hand, when the tablet 32 is imaged by the camera 18, the illumination unit 17b irradiates the tablet 32 with light from substantially above. For example, when the tablet 32 being transported by the tablet transporting unit 3 moves to the lower side of the camera 18 (or may be always), the control unit 20 may detect each of the two illumination units 17a and 17b. The surface of the tablet 32 illuminated with light from two directions is picked up by the camera 18 while switching the illumination instantaneously and sequentially.

  Therefore, from the camera 18, the image of the surface of the tablet 32 irradiated with the light from the oblique direction upward from the illumination unit 17a (the shadow portion of the inscription on the surface of the tablet 32, that is, the character of the inscription etc. is clearly displayed. Image) and an image of the surface of the tablet 32 irradiated with light from substantially right above from the illumination unit 17b (an image in which printed characters on the surface of the tablet 32 are clearly displayed). Can be acquired. That is, in the case of only one of the two illumination parts 17a and 17b, since the light from the substantially upper direction is irradiated, the characters or the like engraved on the surface of the tablet 32 are not clearly projected. An image or an image on which the printed characters on the surface of the tablet 32 are not clearly displayed is obtained because light from an obliquely upward direction is irradiated, and the printed or engraved characters cannot be recognized. Although there may be cases, according to the present embodiment, such inconvenience can be avoided. Note that the left side of FIG. 7B is an example of an image in which characters such as characters on the surface of the naked tablet 32 are not clearly displayed because only light from substantially above is irradiated, and the right side is an oblique view. It is a figure which shows the example of the image in which the markings, such as the character of the surface of the naked tablet 32, were reflected clearly because the light from the upper direction was irradiated.

  Thus, the image of the tablet 32 or the capsule 33 imaged by the camera 18 is sent to the tablet type etc. identifying unit 19, where the type of the tablet etc. is recognized and identified. The type identified by the tablet type identifying unit 19 is sent to the type determining unit 14 where it is determined whether or not the identified type of the tablet matches the prescription information. If it is determined in this determination that they do not match (inappropriate), the control unit 20 controls the alarm generation unit (not shown) to warn the user. On the other hand, when it is determined that they match (appropriate) in this determination, the control unit 20 that has received the signal from the type determination unit 14 controls the tablet classification unit 4 and controls the tablet transfer unit 3. The transported naked tablets or the like are moved and arranged in each compartment of the separation container 5 by the number of one package (the number necessary for each package in a single package). Subsequent operations are the same as those performed when the type and the like of the PTP sheet 31 are correctly identified and determined by the above-described sheet type and the like identifying unit 13 (see FIG. 1), and thus description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, the individual identification of the type of the naked tablet etc. does not have to be performed for all of the naked tablets etc. arranged on the tablet transporting unit 3, but the tablet The identification operation such as the above classification is performed only for the tablets or capsules that are first conveyed on the equal conveyance section 3, and the identification operation such as the above classification is performed for the tablets or capsules that are subsequently conveyed. It may be omitted.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when acquiring an image of the surface of the naked capsule 33 on the tablet conveyance unit 3, for example, the control unit 20 constantly or temporarily supplies air to the capsule 33. By spraying or the like, the capsule 33 on the tablet conveyance unit 3 is rotated in the outer circumferential direction so that the entire outer peripheral surface of the capsule 33 can be imaged by the camera 18. Even when characters or the like are printed on only a part of the outer peripheral surface, an image including the printed characters or the like can be reliably acquired, and the type or brand of the capsule can be reliably recognized and identified. It becomes like this.

  In the present embodiment, when acquiring an image of the surface of the naked tablet 32 on the tablet conveyance unit 3, for example, the control unit 20 constantly or temporarily irradiates light on the surface of the naked tablet 32. The image of the surface of the tablet 32 irradiated with light from the obliquely upward direction by the illumination unit 17a and the image of the surface of the tablet 32 irradiated with light from the substantially upward direction by the illumination unit 17b, for example, by switching the direction in which the illumination is performed. Can be acquired almost simultaneously, so that the contrast of the character portion is large in either case, whether the character is printed on the surface of the tablet 32 or the character is imprinted on the surface of the tablet 32. A clear image can be reliably acquired, and the type or brand of each tablet can be reliably recognized and identified.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the naked tablet 32 or the like from the PTP sheet 31 is conveyed while being recognized or identified by the tablet identification device, the control unit 20 controls the motor 15 or the like to control the tablet or the like. The conveyance speed by the conveyance unit 3 is slower than the speed at which the naked tablet 32 or the like is conveyed without being recognized or identified by the tablet identification device (for example, the naked tablet 32 or the like is the tablet or the like). Since the speed is changed to less than half or less than one third of the speed when transported without being recognized or discriminated by the identification device, the one tablet transport section 3 is replaced with the naked tablet 32 or the like. It can be used in common for both transporting without being recognized or identified by the tablet identification device and transporting while being recognized or identified by the tablet identification device. Result, cost can be reduced greatly simplify the configuration of the entire system.

  In the medicine packaging system according to the present embodiment, an image such as a bar code or other graphic, symbol, or character printed on the PTP sheet 31 is acquired, and the type of the PTP sheet 31 or the image of the PTP sheet 31 is acquired from the image of the PTP sheet 31. When the brand can be recognized or identified, it is determined that the type of the identified PTP sheet 31 matches the prescription information, and then moved into the sorting container 5 and sorted. On the other hand, the image of the PTP sheet 31 is displayed. If the type or brand of the PTP sheet 31 cannot be recognized or discriminated based on this, one or more types of the naked tablet 32 or the capsule 33 taken out from the PTP sheet 31 are identified by the tablet etc. identifying device (control Unit 20 and motor 15 controlled thereby, capsule rotating unit 16, illumination unit 17, camera 18, and tablet type identifying unit. Identified by the device), it moved to the separating vessel 5 on the type or the like of the tablet or the like that identified is determined to match the prescription information, so that fractionation. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, most of the tablets to be packaged can be efficiently identified from the image of the PTP sheet 31, and the exceptional tablet 32 that cannot be identified from the image of the PTP sheet 31. Since only the identification device such as the tablet is identified, the entire system can be made efficient and the waiting time of the patient for packaging in the dispensing pharmacy can be shortened.

  Furthermore, in the medicine packaging system according to the present embodiment, before the tablets 32 and the like in each compartment in the sorting container 5 are packaged and stored in the package, an image in the sorting container 5 is acquired, When recognizing the number of a plurality of tablets or the like placed in each section in the sorting container 5 from the image and determining whether the recognized number matches the prescription information, Compared with the conventional method of acquiring the number of images of the tablets in the package after being packaged through the package and recognizing the number of the images, the tablets etc. to be stored in each package (tablets in the separation container 5) Etc.) images that do not pass through the package (images that the surface of the tablets etc. are clearly reflected because the package is not passed through) can be obtained, so the number of tablets etc. that should be accommodated in each package Whether the identification and the number recognized are consistent with the prescription information It will allow the Kano determination more accurately.

  As mentioned above, although each embodiment of the present invention was described, the present invention is not limited to what was described as each above-mentioned embodiment, and various amendments and changes are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the two illumination units 17a and 17b (see FIG. 7) are installed on the conveying means, and the tablet being conveyed is printed with a brand or the like printed on the control unit 20. Either one of the two illumination parts 17a and 17b is irradiated depending on whether it is present. However, in the present invention, for example, only one illumination means is installed on the conveyance means and the tablet being conveyed is applied. It is also possible to perform both or one of the irradiation from the upper direction and the irradiation from the oblique upper direction (if only one illumination means is used, for example, if two irradiations are performed over a predetermined time, In the meantime, since the tablets are moved by the conveying means, irradiation from above and irradiation from obliquely above can be given to the tablets being conveyed. Identify the location of In addition, if the timing of illumination is controlled, it is also possible to selectively perform either irradiation from the upper side of the tablet being conveyed or irradiation from the upper side from one lighting unit. ). Further, for example, in the first embodiment, the capsule 33 is taken out from the PTP sheet 31 on the conveyor belt constituting the tablet conveyance unit 3 in order to rotate the capsule 33 when imaging the surface of the capsule 33. An air discharge part 16a is arranged at a position obliquely above the place where the capsule 33 falls (or a position on the side of the camera 18), and the capsule is discharged by the air discharged obliquely downward from the air discharge part 16a. 33 is rotated in the outer peripheral direction on the conveyor belt, but the “rotating means for rotating the capsule in the outer peripheral direction of the capsule on the tablet conveying means” in the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a part of the conveyor belt constituting the tablet etc. conveying section 3 (for example, the PTP sheet 3 located in the upper part of the conveyor belt 3 The place where the capsule 33 taken out from the area falls and its peripheral part, or other part in the middle of conveyance) is not a horizontal plane, but in the conveyance direction indicated by the symbol A (or in a direction substantially perpendicular or intersecting with this). And the capsule immediately after dropping from the upper side or the capsule being transported after falling on such an inclined surface. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet conveyance part 2 Tablet extraction part 3 Tablet conveyance part 5 Sorting container 6 Transfer part 7 Packaging machine 10 Cassette 10a Opening part 10b Stopper 11 Prescription information recording part 12 Sheet imaging camera 13 Sheet type identification part 14 Classification etc. determination Unit 15 Transport motor 16 Capsule rotation unit 16a Air release unit 17, 17a, 17b Illumination unit 18 Imaging camera 19 for tablets etc. Identification unit 20 for tablet type etc. Control unit 20 Camera for container imaging 22 Number recognition unit 23 Number determination unit 31 PTP Sheet 32 Naked tablet 33 Naked capsule

Claims (4)

Prescription information recording means for recording prescription information for each patient;
Taking out means such as tablets for taking out tablets or capsules from the PTP sheet;
When the naked tablet or capsule taken out from the PTP sheet is transported by the tablet transporting means, an image of the surface of the naked tablet or capsule placed on the tablet transporting means is obtained, and this An identification device for identifying or identifying a type or brand of the naked tablet or capsule by recognizing the contents of the surface of the tablet or capsule from the acquired image; and
Sheet image acquisition means for acquiring an image including a portion on which a graphic, symbol, or character such as a barcode of a PTP sheet is printed;
Based on the image from the sheet image acquisition means, a sheet type identification means for recognizing or identifying the type or brand of the tablet or capsule contained in the PTP sheet corresponding to the image,
The type or brand of the tablet or capsule recognized or identified by the sheet type etc. identifying means or the tablet etc. identifying device, and the type or brand of the tablet or capsule in the prescription information recorded in the prescription information recording means A type etc. judging means for judging whether or not matches,
When the type or brand of the tablet or capsule on the transporting means such as the tablet matches the type or brand in the prescription information, the inside of the tablet or capsule on the transporting means such as the tablet is divided into a plurality of compartments. A separation means for moving tablets, etc., so that a plurality of tablets or capsules for one package are accommodated in each compartment in the separation container;
Naked tablet taken out from the PTP sheet when the type or brand of the tablet or capsule in the PTP sheet cannot be recognized or identified from the image of the part printed with graphics, symbols or characters such as barcodes in the PTP sheet Or an identification device control means for recognizing or identifying one or more types or brands in the capsule by the identification device such as a tablet;
A medicine packaging system comprising: The claim 1 , further comprising:
When the tablet identifying device recognizes or identifies one or more types or brands in a naked tablet or capsule taken out from a PTP sheet, the transport speed of the tablet transporting means is set to the naked Comprising a conveyance speed control means for changing one or more types or brands in the tablets or capsules of the tablet or capsule to a speed slower than that when the tablets or capsules are conveyed without being recognized or identified by the identification device such as tablets. Feature drug packaging system. In claim 1 or 2 , further
In-container image acquisition means for acquiring images of a plurality of tablets or capsules that are moved and arranged in each compartment in the sorting container,
Number recognition means for recognizing the number of tablets or capsules respectively moved and arranged in each compartment in the sorting container based on the image from the in-container image acquisition means;
Whether or not the number of tablets or capsules recognized by the number recognition means matches the number of tablets or capsules calculated from the prescription information recorded in the prescription information recording means is determined in the sorting container. Number determination means for determining before the tablets or capsules in each compartment are packaged,
A drug packaging system comprising: In any one of Claim 1 to 3,
The tablet identification device includes a capsule rotating unit that rotates a naked capsule on the tablet conveying unit along an outer peripheral direction thereof, a tablet that acquires an image of the surface of the rotating naked capsule, and the like. The medicine packaging system characterized by including an image acquisition means.

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