Medicine supply system

A medicine supply system including a cart supply line (48) on which a plurality of carts (8) are disposed and aligned; a first transport unit for transporting the plurality of carts (8) on the cart supply line (48); a tray discharge unit (2) for storing the trays (7) in the plurality of carts; a second transport unit for transporting the plurality of carts with the trays stored in the tray discharge unit; a cart discharge line (49) on which the plurality of carts transported by the second transport unit are aligned; a tray supply lifter (1) for supplying the trays; a tray transport line (3) for transporting the trays supplied by the tray supply lifter to the tray discharge unit; a medicine dispensing unit (4) for dispensing the medicine to the trays, and a control unit (10) for supplying the trays from the tray supplying lifter 1 based on prescription data, dispensing the medicine into the trays, transporting the trays to the tray discharge unit, and storing the trays into the carts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a medicine supply system in which trays containing medicine can be automatically stored in a cart for transporting the medicine to a hospital ward and so on.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, in the case of transporting medicine from a pharmacy department, medicine for one patient contained in a tray which is automatically transported to a nurse station using a transport unit (see, for example, JP A 8-310625). As it is inefficient to transport the medicine separately from the nurse station to each patient's room, the trays are stored in a cart and the cart is transported.

However, the work associated with storing the number of trays in the cart is very troublesome. As a construction in which the trays contained in the cart do not drop during transport by the cart is adopted, the trays are difficult to store in the cart. Thus, conventionally automatic storage of trays into carts has been needed, though no solution has yet been found.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine supply system that will enable automatic supply and discharge of carts, supply and discharge of trays and storage of medicine to the trays.

The present invention provides a medicine supply system as means to solve the problems, comprising:

a plurality of carts each having a plurality of storage areas in which trays are stored;

a cart supply line on which the plurality of carts with the plurality of storage areas empty are disposed and aligned;

a first transport unit for sequentially transporting the plurality of carts aligned on the cart supply line;

a tray discharge unit for storing the trays with the medicine contained in each of the plurality of carts;

a second transport unit for transporting the plurality of carts with the trays stored in the tray discharge unit;

a cart discharge line on which the plurality of carts transported by the second transport unit are aligned;

a tray supply unit for supplying the trays;

a tray transport line for transporting the trays supplied by the tray supply unit to the tray discharge unit;

a medicine dispensing unit for dispensing the medicine to the tray, the medicine dispensing unit being disposed on the midway of the tray transport line; and

a control unit for supplying the tray from the tray supplying unit based on a prescription data, dispensing the medicine included in the prescription data into the tray, transporting the tray with the medicine dispensed to the tray discharge unit, and storing the tray into the cart supplied from the cart supply line.

According to this construction, if the plurality of carts are disposed and aligned on the cart supply line, the plurality of carts can be sequentially transported to the tray discharge unit by the first transport unit. In the cart transported to the tray discharge unit, each tray in which the medicine is dispensed by the medicine dispensing unit based on the prescription data and which is transported along the tray transport line can be automatically stored. The cart with the trays stored thereon can be automatically transported to the cart discharge line by the second transport unit. Therefore, by only disposing the plurality of carts on the cart supply line, dispensing the medicine into the trays, transporting the carts, and storing the trays in the storage areas of the cart can be automatically conducted to align the carts on the cart discharge line.

The tray discharge unit, the first transport unit and the second transport unit may have a communication portion respectively and the control unit may allow the first transport unit and the second transport unit to transport the cart through the communication portion.

In this case, it is preferable that after completion of storage of the trays into the cart, the control unit transmits a tray storage completion signal to the communication portion of the second transport unit through the communication portion of the tray discharge unit. Then, after the communication portion of the second transport unit receives the tray storage completion signal, the second transport unit transports the cart. It is preferable that the communication portions communicate with each other through optical communication.

A stack lifter may be provided on the tray transport line to stack the trays with the medicine dispensed by the medicine dispensing unit and put the trays on standby. If the control unit decides that the medicine dispensed in the tray on the tray transport line by the medicine dispensing unit is a temporary prescription, the control unit may allow the stack lifter to stack the trays and put the trays on standby.

The temporary prescription means prescriptions other than a regular prescription such as an urgent prescription for a patient whose condition is rapidly changing, an alteration prescription in the case where a medicine that has been dosed for a long time had no effect, and an off-duty prescription that is caused outside the usual working hours in the hospital. The regular prescription means a medicine prescription for a usual inpatient whose condition is stable.

According to this construction, in the case of a regular prescription, the trays can be sequentially stored in the storage areas of the cart by the tray shift unit; and in the case of a temporary prescription, the trays can be stacked in the stack lifter to put the trays on standby. Therefore, the medicine for the temporary prescription can be taken out from the stack lifter in order to quickly respond to the emergency.

A card rewrite unit may be provided on the tray transport line to rewrite predetermined information on an identification card attached on the tray with the medicine dispensed by the medicine dispensing unit. Also, the control unit may allow the card rewrite unit to rewrite the predetermined information on the identification card based on the prescription data inputted and allow the tray discharge unit to store the tray with the identification card attached in the predetermined storage area of the cart.

According to this construction, it is possible, for example, to transport the carts to the hospital wards and effectively deliver the trays stored in the storage areas to the patients without error.

According to the present invention, the carts aligned on the cart supply line are sequentially transported to the tray discharge unit, the trays with the medicine dispensed are stored in the storage areas, and the carts are aligned on the cart discharge line. Therefore, dispensing the medicine into the trays, transporting the carts, and storing the trays in the storage areas of the cart can be automatically conducted, making it possible to improve the efficiency of the process.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a medicine supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the medicine supply system, a plurality of medicine dispensing units4, card rewriting unit5and a stack lifter6are disposed on the way of a tray transport line3connecting a supply lifter and a tray discharge unit2. As shown inFIG. 2, there is provided a cart transport unit9which transports empty carts8to the tray discharge unit2and transports the carts8with trays7stored thereon. As shown inFIG. 11, these members are controlled by a control unit10.

The supply lifter1stores a plurality of trays7in a stacked state and sequentially discharges the trays one by one to the tray transport line3. Each tray7, as shown inFIG. 3, has a box shape with an open upper surface and a flange portion11. On the side surface of the tray7, an identification card12can be attached and detached. The identification card12is a Lueco type or a thermochromic type of rewrite card, which is rewritable by heating to a predetermined temperature. Patient information and the like is written on the identification card12.

The tray discharge unit2, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 7, comprises a cart standby portion13and a tray supply portion14. On the upper part of the tray discharge unit2is provided a cart shift member15. The tray discharge unit2sequentially stores the trays7with the medicine contained in an empty cart8.

The cart standby portion13, as shown inFIG. 7, comprises plate-like members assembled in a rectangular frame and ensures a space for putting the cart8on standby at a position along the tray discharge unit13in order to be able to quickly shift the cart8to next tray supply unit14. At the middle portion of the lower plate of the cart standby portion13, a first optical communication portion16is provided. The first optical communication portion16conducts transmission and receipt of data with a third optical communication portion61provided in the cart transport unit9which will be described hereinafter. As shown inFIG. 9, at the middle portion of an overhanging portion13aof the cart standby portion13is provided a first guide member17. The guide member17moves a guide piece20up and down via a gear19by driving an elevation motor. When moving up, the guide piece20enables the cart8to enter into the cart standby portion13from the cart supply line48. When moving down, the guide piece20guides the cart8which moves from the cart standby portion to the tray supply portion14and prevents the next empty cart8from entering.

The tray supply portion14, as shown inFIG. 7, has the shape of a rectangular frame and is provided with a tray transfer apparatus21. The tray transfer apparatus21has a construction in which a horizontal rail23is provided slidably in a vertical direction on vertical rails22attached on the plate-like members on both sides of the tray supply portion and a tray holding member24is movably provided in a horizontal direction on the horizontal rail23. The tray holding member24comprises arm portions25for holding the flange portions11of the tray7and a push portion26for pushing the tray7held by the arm portions forward, i.e., toward the cart8. The tray holding member24can move in both the X(horizontal)-direction and the Y (vertical) direction to store the tray7in an appropriate storage area46.

The tray supply portion14is provided with a second optical communication portion27which conducts transmission and reception of data with respect to a third optical communication portion61provided in the cart transfer apparatus9that will be described hereinafter. On the upper portion of the side plate, an electric magnet portion28is provided. The electric magnet portion28is energized when the empty cart8is transferred by the cart shift member15so that the cart8is attracted and positioned. This prevents displacement of the position of the cart8when the cart8is stored in the tray discharge unit2. On the middle portion of the upper plate of the tray supply portion14, as shown inFIG. 10is provided a second guide member29having the same construction as the first guide member17. In the second guide member29, a guide roller30is provided instead of the guide piece20. The guide roller30descends to guide the cart8moving from the cart standby portion13to the tray supply portion14and ascends to enable the cart8to move from the tray supply portion14to the cart discharge line49.

As shown inFIG. 7, a guide cover31is provided on the upper portion of the boundary between the cart standby portion13and the tray supply portion14. The guide cover31has a substantially L-shape plate-like body extending from the horizontal direction to the vertically lower direction and prevents displacement of the position of the cart8when the cart8moves from the cart standby portion13to the tray supply portion14.

The cart transfer member15, as shown inFIG. 8, comprises a drive belt32provided on the upper portion of the cart standby portion13and the tray supply portion14, a slider33fixed on the drive belt and a pusher34extending downward from the slider33. The belt32is engaged with pulleys35a,35bprovided on both side. A drive power is transferred to one pulley35avia a pair of gears36from the shaft of the transfer motor37. The pusher34is arranged to push one end surface of the empty cart8disposed in the cart standby portion13to transfer it to the tray supply portion14.

The cart8, as shown inFIG. 3, is an integrated construction comprising four support panels38kept upright at a predetermined interval, an upper connection member40connecting each middle portion of upper ends of the support panels and a lower connection member41connecting each leg portion39protruded from the middle portions of the lower ends of the support panels. In the support panels38positioned at both sides, grips42are provided respectively at the upper side edge portions and also casters44are provided respectively at both ends of a support portion43extended from the lower end of the leg portion39. Thus, holding the grips42allows the cart8to freely move. On the opposite surfaces of the support panels38, guide grooves45are formed at a predetermined interval in a vertical direction. The opposite guide grooves45constitute storage areas46for supporting the flange portions11of the tray7. In the case where no tray7is stored in the storage area46, it is possible to bring the carts8together as shown inFIG. 12to reduce the storage space in nonuse. A reflection plate47(seeFIG. 7) made of metal is provided on the middle portion of the lower surface of the lower connection member41so that the reflection plate47can be detected by a position displacement detection sensor59that will be described hereinafter.

The tray transfer line3is so constructed that a plurality of rollers (not shown) is driven to rotate and convey the tray7downstream, i.e., to the tray discharge apparatus2.

The medicine dispensing apparatus4is so constructed that medicines are packed by one dose based on prescription data inputted from a server78or the like and dispensed to the tray7that is conveyed on the tray transfer line3. On the lower portion of the medicine dispensing apparatus4, a stopper (not shown) is provided to stop the tray7moving along the tray transfer line3if required.

The card rewriting apparatus5is constructed so that a predetermined matter can be printed on the identification card12provided on the tray7and, if already printed, the content can be rewritten and reprinted.

The stack lifter6is constructed so that the trays7, which have been conveyed with the medicine contained, can be stacked and put on standby and then supplied to the tray discharge apparatus2sequentially.

The cart transfer apparatus9comprises a first cart transfer apparatus9afor transferring the empty carts aligned on the cart supply line48and a second cart transfer apparatus9bfor aligning the carts8in which the trays7are stored at the tray discharge apparatus2with the cart discharge line49(the lines on which the cart transfer apparatuses9a,9bare disposed respectively are shown by two-dot chain line inFIG. 1).

Each of the cart transfer apparatuses9a,9bcomprises a drive motor52(pulse motor), detection members53, a control substrate54, grip members55and so on which are provided on a frame51supported by four wheels50. The wheels50are attached on the both end portions of the rotation axes rotatably supported by bearing portions56. A drive power of the drive motor52is transmitted to the rotation axes via drive transmission belt57. As the detection members53, cart detection sensors58on the middle portions of both sides, a position deviation sensor59, search sensors60and a third optical communication sensor61are provided.

Each of the cart detection sensors58comprises three juxtaposed optical sensors each having a light emitting element and a light receiving element. A light irradiated from the light emitting element is reflected on the lower surface of the lower connection portion41of the cart8and received by the light receiving element so that the lower connecting portion41is detected. All of the sensors are disposed so as to simultaneously detect the lower connecting portion41.

The position deviation sensor59is used to detect the reflection plate47provided on the cart8and decide whether or not the cart8is positioned at the center of the cart supply line48or the cart discharge line49, i.e., whether or not the cart8deviates from the center in the direction perpendicular to each line.

As the detection sensor60, an ultrasonic sensor is used for example. The detection sensors60are disposed at a total of four places on both sides of the end portions of the cart transport unit9, respectively, to detect the cart8. For example, the detection sensor60is used when accessing the cart8in order to grip the cart8by means of the grip member55which will be described hereinafter, when detecting the presence or absence of the cart8, when transporting the gripped cart8, when detecting whether or not the cart8bumps against the other cart8and so on.

The third optical communication portion61conducts data transmission and reception with the first optical communication portion or the second optical communication portion27provided on the tray discharge unit2.

The control substrate54controls the pulse signal which will be outputted to the drive motor52via the signal converter63from the pulse driver62based on the data received through the third optical communication portion61.

Each of the grip members55, as shown inFIG. 6, comprises a pair of grip arms64a,64b. The grip members55are disposed at the center portion of both sides of the frame51, i.e. in the vicinity of the cart detection sensors58, respectively. One grip arm64ais fixed on the drive shaft65which is rotatable forwardly and reversely due to drive of a motor (not shown). The other grip arm64bis fixed on the driven shaft66. A drive gear67provided on the drive shaft65and a driven gear68provided on the driven shaft66are engaged with each other so that both grip arms64a,64brotate synchronously. Each of the grip arms64a,64bis made of metal plate material bent into an upper plate portion55a, a lower plate portion55band a side plate portion55cfor guiding three surfaces (upper, lower and one of the side surfaces) except the other side surface of the lower connection portion41of the cart8. The upper plate portion55aand the lower plate portion55bare formed so as to expand gradually toward the end from the side plate portion55c, thereby enabling the lower connection portion41to be gripped without interference. Also, the grip arms64a,64bare elastically deformable themselves, enabling absorption of some deviation and sure gripping of the lower connection portion41. Each of the grip arms64a,64bare attached on support tables69of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape fixed on each of the shafts. The side plate portion55cof one grip arm64aand that of the other grip portion64bcan guide the lower connection portion41from the side surfaces. Therefore, even if the cart8is skewed by a certain degree with respect to the cart transport unit9, it is possible to correct its position to a proper position. A sensor dog provided on part of the driven shaft66is detected by a grip position detection sensor71, allowing the grip arms to stop its rotation.

In the frame51of the cart transport unit9, as shown inFIG. 5, a current collecting arm72is provided to extend downwardly from the bottom. The current collecting arm72serves as a power supply path for supplying power to the motor and so on.

On the floor constituting the car supply line48and the cart discharge line49, as shown inFIG. 5, a slit73is formed. A power supply unit74is provided beneath the slit71. In the power supply unit74, a guide rail75and a trolley76for power supply are disposed so as to oppose each other. The guide rail75is capable of guiding the current collecting arm72and moving the cart transport unit9along the line. The trolley76supplies power to the cart transport unit9via the current collecting arm72. The upper opening portion of the slit73is covered by a cover77made of flexible material. The cover77is formed with a slit77ain which the current collecting arm72is movable.

The control unit10, as shown inFIG. 11, controls the drive of the medicine dispensing unit4, each roller of the tray transport line3, the tray discharge unit2and so on based on prescription data received from a server78and so on or inputted by an input unit (for example, keyboard, mouse, touch panel and so on).

Next, operation of the medicine supply system having the above construction will be described.

First of all, the empty carts8are disposed and aligned on the cart supply line48. That is to say, each of the carts8is disposed so that the lower connection portion41is orthogonal to the cart supply line48and both sides of the lower connection portion41are substantially equalized with respect to the cart supply line48. This arrangement may be not so accurate.

As shown in the flowcharts inFIGS. 14 to 16, based on the prescription data inputted from the server8and so on (Step S1), the control unit10drives the supply lifter1(Step S2) to supply the trays7to the tray transport line3. In the tray transport line3, rollers (not shown) are driven to transport the supplied trays7to the medicine dispensing unit4. When the tray7is moved to the medicine dispensing unit4to receive the medicine indicated by the prescription data, the tray is stopped by a stopper (not shown), causing the medicine to be discharged. If all of the medicine cannot be dispensed by one medicine dispensing unit4, the tray7is also stopped at another medicine dispensing unit4to allow the medicine to be dispensed.

If the medicine is completely dispensed, patient data such as patient name and so on, medicine data such as prescribed medicine name and so on, and address data such as ward name and so on are printed on the identification card12attached on the tray7by the card rewriting unit5(Step S4). If anything is printed, it is rewritten. When printing of the identification card12is completed, it is decided whether or not the medicine contained in the tray7is a regular prescription (Step S5-1). If it is a regular prescription, the processing is shifted to the next step. If it is decided that the medicine is not a regular prescription but a temporary prescription, the tray7is stacked in the stack lifter6so that it can be removed (step S5-2). Thus, even in the case of an urgent prescription for a patient whose condition is rapidly changing, it is possible to put the tray on standby in the stack lifter6without storing the tray in the cart8to promptly cope with the urgency.

In the tray discharge unit2, the second optical communication portion27of the tray supply portion14communicates with the third optical communication portion of the second cart transport unit9b. It is decided based on the detection result of the detection sensor60of the second cart transport unit9bwhether or not the cart8is positioned at the tray supply portion14(Step S6). If the cart8is not positioned at the tray supply portion14, the first optical communication portion16of the cart standby portion13communicates with the third optical communication portion61of the first cart transport unit9aand the first cart transport unit9ais moved to the empty cart8closest to the tray discharge unit2based on the detection result of the detection sensor60of the first cart transport unit9a(Step S7). If it is positioned at the tray supply portion14, the processing is shifted to Step S18which will be described hereinafter.

In this case, the first cart transport unit9ais moved at a high speed until it is decided by the detection sensor60positioned at the side of moving direction of the first cart transport unit9athat the first cart transport unit9aapproaches the cart8by a predetermined distance. When it is decided that the first cart transport unit9aapproaches the cart8by a predetermined distance, the speed is reduced. In detail, the first cart transport unit9ais moved at the high speed (constant speed) until the distance to the cart8becomes a first set distance; and if the distance reached the first distance, the moving speed of the first cart transport unit9ais decelerated by one-fourth. When the distance to the cart8becomes a second set distance smaller than the first set distance, the moving speed is further decelerated by one-sixth with respect to the high moving speed.

When a predetermined time has passed while the position deviation detection sensor59does not detect the reflection plate47(Step S8; NO), it is decided that the position of the cart8is deviated in the direction perpendicular to the cart supply line48and an error is indicated (Step S12).

When the position deviation detection sensor59detects the reflection plate47(Step S8; YES), the first cart transport unit9ais stopped (Step S9). Then, it is decided, based on the detection signal of the cart detection sensor58, whether or not a gripping operation of the grip members55is possible (Step S10). This decision is conducted in accordance with whether or not at least two optical sensors of each cart detection sensor58are positioned at both sides of the cart transport unit9a.

If it is decided that gripping operation of the grip members55is possible (Step S10; YES), the motor (not shown) is driven to rotate the grip arms64a,64bto grip the lower connection portion41(Step S11). At this time, the lower connection portion41is guided as both side surfaces are pushed by the side plate portions55cof each of the grip arms64a,64b, allowing correction of the cart even if the cart is positioned so that the lower connection portion41is skewed to a certain degree with respect to the direction perpendicular to the cart supply line48.

If it is decided that gripping operation of the grip members55is impossible, that is to say, the skewed angle of the lower connection portion41with respect to the direction perpendicular to the cart supply line48is too large for the grip arms64a,64bto grip the lower connection portion41(Step S10; NO), an error is indicated (Step S12).

If the lower connection portion41is held by the grip arms64a,64b, the first cart transport unit9ais moved to the cart standby portion13of the tray discharge unit2(Step S13). Even when moving to the cart standby portion13, the first cart transport unit9ais moved at high speed until the unit approaches at a certain distance; and if the unit has approached a certain distance1, the unit is stopped or the speed is decreased. In detail, the first cart transport unit9ais moved at the high speed until the distance to the cart standby portion13becomes a first set distance; the moving speed is decelerated by one-sixth until the distance becomes a second set distance from the first distance; and when the distance becomes the second distance, the unit is stopped. At this time, the pusher34of the cart shift member15is moved to the end portion of the cart standby portion13. Also, the guide piece20of the guide member17is elevated to prepare for moving the cart8to the cart standby portion13. Moving the pusher34and elevating the guide piece20are conducted provided that the preceding cart8is not positioned at the cart standby portion13. Thus, failure caused by the carts8colliding against each other is prevented.

The first transport unit9ais further driven to move the empty cart8to the cart standby portion13based on the detection signal of the detection sensor60. At this time, the pulse number of the applied voltage to the drive motor52is controlled to adjust the distance to a distance calculated based on the detection signal of the detection sensor60.

When the empty cart8is positioned at the cart standby portion13, the guide piece20of the guide member17is lowered to prevent the cart8from deviating at the time of shifting the cart8. Also, the gripping state of the grip member55is released and the first cart transport unit9aretreats from the empty cart8. It is decided based on the detection result of the detection sensor60obtained from communication between the second optical communication portion27and the third optical communication portion61whether or not the cart8is positioned at the tray supply portion14. If no cart8is positioned at the tray supply portion14, the pusher34of the cart shift member15is moved so that the empty cart8is moved to the tray supply portion14from the cart standby portion13(Step S14). The empty cart8is moved while it is prevented by the guide member17(guide piece20and guide roller30) and the guide cover31from moving laterally.

When the cart8is moved to the tray supply portion14, the electromagnetic portion28is excited to attract and position the cart8(Step S15). Then, the tray shift unit21is driven to store the medicine contained tray7in the storage area46continuously (Step S16). As the cart8is positioned by the electromagnetic portion28and guided by the guide roller30, the cart is never displaced during the work of storing the trays7.

The position of the storage area46in which the trays7are stored can be set, for example, as shown inFIGS. 13(a) to13(c).

FIG. 13(a) shows an example in which the trays7are stored from 1st to 12th in order of the receipt number of prescription data accepted by the server78.FIG. 13(b) shows an example in which storage stages are different based on the hospital wards. The trays A-1to A-5for the hospital ward A are stored in the first and second stages; the trays B-1and B-2for the hospital ward B are stored in the third stage; and the trays C-1to C-3for the hospital ward C are stored in the fourth stage.FIG. 13(c) shows an example in which storage rows are different according to the hospital wards. In this case, differentiating the colors of trays7based on the hospital wards is preferable in that the operator can easily discriminate them. In the case of cart8, as shown inFIG. 8, as the guide grooves45are provided with a half pitch with respect to the storage space of the tray7, it is possible to store the trays7in the stages shifted by a half pitch, thereby allowing the trays to be discriminated by the hospital wards. If number of guide grooves45is increased, it is possible to provide the trays7with various pitches such as one-third pitch with respect to the storage space of the tray7.

When the work of storing the trays7into the cart8is completed (Step S17: YES), the second cart transport unit9bis driven through the second optical communication portion27of the tray supply portion14and the third communication portion61of the second cart transport unit9bto move the cart8to the tray supply portion14(Step S18). For example, in the storage pattern ofFIG. 13(b), if the delivery address (ward) data of the next tray is different from that of the previous tray, the control unit10stores the tray in the storage area of the next stage. If no next stage is present, a tray storage completion signal is transmitted to the third optical communication portion61of the second transport unit9bvia the second optical communication portion of the tray supply portion14. When the second communication portion61receives the tray storage completion signal, the second tray transport unit9bmoves the cart8to the tray supply portion14. Then, the lower connection portion41of the cart8, positioned at the tray supply portion14, is gripped by the grip arm64of the grip member55(Step S19). Subsequently, the electromagnetic portion28is demagnetized to release the attracted state of the cart8. After that, the guide roller30is elevated to allow the cart8to move to the cart discharge line49. Then, the second cart transport unit9bis driven to move the cart to a predetermined position on the cart discharge line49(Step S20).

In a similar way, the empty cart8of the cart supply line48is transported to the tray discharge unit2by the cart transport unit9. After the trays7are stored, the cart8is moved to the cart discharge line49. In the cart discharge line49, the carts8may be disposed at even intervals, though it is possible to dispose the carts8at different intervals in accordance with the transport address of the carts8. For example, if there are three carts8to be transported to the hospital ward A, these carts are disposed at even intervals. Subsequently, if there are two carts8to be transported to the hospital ward B, these carts can be disposed at even intervals and with a large distance to the group of carts8to be transported to the hospital ward A. This allows the operator to easily discriminate the carts8during transportation to each of the hospital wards, which would be convenient.

Thereafter, with respect to all prescription data inputted in the control unit10, dispensing the medicine to the trays7and storing the trays7with the medicine dispensed in the cart8is completed (Step S21: YES), the processing is terminated. If not completed (Step S21: NO), the processing is returned to Step S1to repeat the same processing.

The above-described processing is effective in a case where the medicines are contained in the trays7and the trays7are stored in the cart8at night or so.

In the above embodiment, the cart transport unit9is provided with the detection sensors55, though it is also preferable to further provide a vibration sensor. Even if the detection sensors55are unable to detect any obstacles, the vibration sensor detects vibration generated when the cart transport unit9collides with the obstacle. Based on the vibration, an error is indicated and the cart transport unit9is stopped. This more reliably prevents any trouble that would be caused during movement of the cart transport unit9.