Patent Publication Number: US-2015083742-A1

Title: Apparatus for providing pill

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0114582 (filed on 26 Sep., 2013), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for providing a packed pill, and more particularly, to an apparatus capable of discharging not only a packed pill but also a case for packing the pill. 
     Generally, patients periodically take medicines prescribed according to diagnosis results to cure diseases. Particularly, in the case of chronic patients having tuberculosis, diabetes, and high blood pressure, it is necessary to take a required dose at a required point in time due to properties of the diseases. 
     When patients having tuberculosis, diabetes, and high blood pressure do not take medicines at required points in time or take medicines less or more than required amounts, diseases thereof may worsen, and in severe cases, their lives may be endangered. 
     When a patient is old and his or her memory is deteriorated or is a feeble-minded person, these phenomena may frequently occur. Particularly, an overdose may cause a greater problem than a case of not taking medicines. 
     Generally, to overcome these limitations, caretakers or administrators for patients check medicine administration times and amounts one by one to directly help the patients taking medicines or to give notices to the patients in advance via communication devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provide an apparatus for helping administration to allow a patient to take accurate kind and amount of medicine at a required point in time. 
     Embodiments also provide an apparatus for decreasing necessity of managing the apparatus by a medicine taker by allowing a wrapper for wrapping a pill or a packing case to be discharged through an additional outlet. 
     In one embodiment, an apparatus for providing a pill includes a body forming an external shape, a containing unit for containing a pill packet including pills to be taken, a driving assembly provided below the containing unit and applying a force for pushing the pill packet in one direction, a guide bar for providing a transfer path of the pill packet transferred by an operation of the driving assembly, an elevation bar provided above the guide bar and capable of descending or ascending toward the pill packet, a cylinder assembly for allowing the elevation bar to elevate, a discharge box for containing the pills when the pills are separated from the pill packet by the elevation bar, and a first outlet to be an opening of the discharge box. 
     By using the apparatus as described above, a user may receive a care with respect to taking pills remotely. Also, when taking a pill, it is unnecessary to have a trouble of throwing away a vacant pill packet after taking the pills. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an environment, to which an apparatus for providing a pill according to an embodiment may be applied; 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an external configuration of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are views illustrating a containing unit, a driving assembly, and a cylinder assembly of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a block view illustrating the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an environment, to which an apparatus  100  for providing a pill according to an embodiment may be applied. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a processor  14  may be a personal computer or a mobile phone and may include a storage unit  31 , an analysis processing unit  32 , and a display unit  33 . The processor  14  is connected to a reception device  13  on the wire or wirelessly such as via a local area network (LAN). Also, the processor  14  may be connected to the reception device  13  with a server  16  for storing data intervening therebetween. The storage unit  31  may be formed of a memory and is allowed to receive image information received from the reception device  13  directly or via the server  16  intervening therebetween. 
     Also, the analysis processing unit  32  may be configured to perform image-processing or all kinds of analyses with respect to image information stored in the storage unit  31 . Also, although a plurality of pills whose kind is identical or a plurality of kinds of pills is received at the same time as image information, the analysis processing unit  32  may perform image-processing or all kinds of analyses with respect to the image information such as shapes or colors of the pills. The analysis processing unit  32  may be configured to distinguish the kind or number of the pills by using a database previously registered. The display unit  33  may be formed of a monitor and may be configured to display the image information stored in the storage unit  31  or processing results of the analysis processing unit  32 . 
     Also, the apparatus  100  may be connected to the processor  14  via the reception device  13  or the server  16 . Information of an image photographed by a camera provided in the apparatus  100  may be provided to the processor  14 . In this case, the analysis processing unit  32  may check whether the photographed image corresponds to a pill what a user  1  should take. That is, through the apparatus  100 , from which a designated amount of pills is discharged at a designated point in time, an image of a designated pill what the user  1  would like to take is photographed and the photographed image is transferred to the processor  14 . Also, the processor  14  may determine whether the image corresponds to the pill what the user  1  using the apparatus  100  should take, by comparing with a database. 
     The processor  14  may refer to the database for personal data of the user  1 , a kind, a number, and image information of pills to be taken, and an image of a face of the user  1 , as information with respect to the apparatus  100 . Accordingly, the analysis processing unit  32  of the processor  14  may determine whether the pill discharged from the apparatus  100  is correct or not. Information of a result of determining may be transferred to a doctor  2  or an expert  3 . Alternatively, the processor  14  may send a warning message to the apparatus  100  by itself. 
     Accordingly, the apparatus  100  may include a module for transmitting and receiving data with the processor  14  via a network and may further include a camera for photographing an image of a face of a user or an image of a pill to be taken by the user. 
     Hereinafter, a configuration of the apparatus  100  will be described in more detail. 
       FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an external configuration of the apparatus  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  100  includes a body  101  forming an external shape, and the body  101  includes a pill packet insertion unit  150  for inserting a pill to be taken by a user. 
     Also, the apparatus  100  includes an operation unit  130  for operating the apparatus  100 , a camera  110 , a display unit  140  for displaying an operation status of the apparatus  100 , a first outlet  160  through which the pill inserted through the pill packet insertion unit  150  is discharged, and a second outlet  170  through which a wrapper or a packing case for packing the pill is discharged. Also, the apparatus  100  may further include a speaker  120  for outputting an instruction message, a warning message, or a sound for informing the user of the operation status of the apparatus  100  or a point in time for taking a pill. 
     According to the embodiment, in addition to an outlet for discharging a pill to allow the user to take the pill, the apparatus  100  may further include an additional outlet for discharging a wrapper or a case for protecting the pill, which will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there are shown a containing unit  380  for containing a pill packet provided in the apparatus  100 , a driving assembly  360  for transferring the contained pill packet toward a cylinder assembly  250 , and the cylinder assembly  250  for separating a pill from wrapper of the transferred pill packet. 
     The containing unit  380  includes a storage part  381  providing a space for containing pill packets packed to allow a plurality of pills to have certain intervals and a guide groove  387  for guiding the pill packets downwardly while the pill packets are being stored. Also, the containing unit  380  includes an entrance  382  whose one side is open to allow the contained pill packets to be transferred by operation of the driving assembly  360 . The entrance  382  of the containing unit  380  is connected to a plurality of guide bars  220 , and the pill packet transferred along the guide bars  220 . 
     Also, the driving assembly  360  applying a force to allow the contained pill packets to be transferred toward the cylinder assembly  250  along the guide bars  220  is mounted below the containing unit  380 . 
     A configuration of the driving assembly  360  will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     The driving assembly  360  allows a push element  365  to be transferred forward and backward in such a way that the pill packets in the containing unit  380  are transferred by the push element  365 . 
     In detail, the driving assembly  360  includes a motor unit  361  generating a driving force, a deceleration unit  362  reducing a rotation speed of the motor unit  361 , a driving gear unit  363  connected to the deceleration unit  362 , and a power transfer element  367  transferring a rotation force of the driving gear unit  363  to a driven gear unit  364 . 
     When the driving force of the motor unit  361  is transferred to the driving gear unit  363  via the deceleration unit  362 , the driving gear unit  363  rotates at a certain rotation speed. 
     When the driving gear unit  363  rotates, the driven gear unit  364  is rotated by the power transfer element  367 . The driven gear unit  364  is disposed to be separated from the driving gear unit  363 . 
     Also, the driving gear unit  363  and the driven gear unit  364  each may be formed of a plurality of gears, the gears being separated from one other. In this case, rotational axes may be coupled with the plurality of gears, respectively. 
     The power transfer element  367  may be a belt element covering outer circumferential surfaces of the driving gear unit  363  and driven gear unit  364 , and more particularly, may be a timing belt for reliably transferring power. While the driving gear unit  363  and the driven gear unit  364  are rotating, the power transfer element  367  may be rotated while forming a certain tensile force. 
     In addition, on an outer circumferential surface of the power transfer element  367 , a plurality of push elements  365  connected to the power transfer element  367  is provided. As an example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the push element  365  is located in a center of the power transfer element  367 . 
     When the power transfer element  367  is rotated, the push element  365  pushes a pill packet  370  toward the cylinder assembly  250 . The pill packets  370  transferred as described above are transferred along the two guide bars  220 . As a simple example, when pill packets are transferred while being in contact with one another, it is possible not to configure an additional transfer unit. 
     According to control of a control unit, the motor unit  361  generates the driving force and the driving force allows the power transfer element  367  to move. While, the power transfer element  367  is being rotated clockwise, the push element  365  may push the pill packet  370  in a direction W 1 . 
     Also, the driving assembly  360  further includes a switch  369  applying or blocking power depending on a transfer or progress of an object such as a limit switch or a micro switch. 
     The push element  365  pushes the pill packet  370 , is continuously rotated, and arrives at the switch  369  in an upper portion of a rear of the driving assembly  360 . The switch  369  is turned off due to continuous progress of the push element  365 . 
     Then, the motor unit  361  stops driving and is on standby till the power is applied again by the control unit. 
     When the power is applied to the motor unit  361 , the driving assembly  360  may operate. According thereto, the pill packet  370  may be transferred along the guide bars  220 . A pill packet pushed by the push element  365  pushes another pill packet already disposed on the guide bars  220  and finally may be located under an elevation bar  253  of the cylinder assembly  250 . 
     A configuration of the cylinder assembly  250  and a configuration for discharging not only a pill from a pill packet according to operations of the cylinder assembly  250  but also a vacant pill packet with all pills discharged will be described more. 
     The pill packet transferred along the guide bars  220  is located under the cylinder assembly  250 . The cylinder assembly  250  includes a cylinder box  251  forming a body, driving cylinders  252  whose number is identical to pills included pill packets, and the elevation bars  253  elevating according to driving of the driving cylinders  252 . 
     That is, the control unit of the apparatus  100  operates the driving cylinder  252  to selectively the elevation unit  253  disposed above each of pills to discharge a pill at a point in time of taking the pill. For this, the number and locations of the driving cylinders  252  may correspond to pills in pill packets. For example, a provider providing the apparatus  100  may allow pills to be packed according to a number and locations of provided driving cylinders and elevation bars. When the provider is a clinic or a pharmacy, packing pills may be performed according to the configuration of the apparatus  100 . 
     As shown in the drawings, six driving cylinders  252  are provided in two rows as totally twelve and the elevation bars  253  elevated by the driving cylinders  252  are also provided as twelve. In this case, the control unit of the apparatus  100  may give a number to each of the driving cylinders  252  and may record the number of the driving cylinder  252  operating to discharge a pill. The driving cylinders  252  may operate in a predetermined order. Depending on the kind of a pill to be taken, it is necessary to discharge a plurality of pills or to discharge a different number of pills. In this case, the number of the driving cylinder  252  that operates is stored. 
     The elevation bar  253  strongly pushes a pill contained in a pill packet to be dropped to a discharge box  210 . A length of the elevation bar  253  and a transfer distance thereof during elevation may be variously changed depending on a thickness of a pill packet, a location of the pill, and a distance between the pill packet and the discharge box  210 . 
     Also, the apparatus includes an additional device for discharging a vacant pill packet with all pills discharged. A pushing bar  240  for discharging the vacant pill packet and a pushing bar driving unit  230  for transferring the pushing bar  240  are provided below the cylinder assembly  250 . 
     The pushing bar  240  and the pushing bar driving unit  230  are disposed in one side of the guide bars  220 . When the pushing bar driving unit  230  operates, the pushing bar  240  may be transferred to be closer to or distant from a pill packet on the guide bars  220 . Also, it is necessary to determine locations of the pushing bar  240  and the pushing bar driving unit  230  not to collide with the guide bars  220  when the pushing bar  240  is closer to the pill packet. 
     When the pushing bar driving unit  230  operates and the pushing bar  240  pushes a pill packet, the pill packet may be discharged outward through the second outlet  170  of  FIG. 2 . When it is determined that all pills in the pill packet are discharged, the control unit of the apparatus  100  operates the pushing bar driving unit  230  to discharge the vacant pill packet outward by using the pushing bar  240  and allows the pushing bar  240  to return to an original location thereof after discharging of the vacant pill packet is completed. 
     In the configuration as described above, after a user allows a pill packet including pills to be contained in the containing unit  380 , it is unnecessary to take an additional step to remove a vacant pill packet left after all pills therein are discharged. Merely, the pill discharged through the first outlet  160  may be taken and the vacant pill packet discharged through the second outlet  170  may be thrown away. 
       FIG. 5  is a block view illustrating the apparatus  100 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , a method of providing a pill in the apparatus  100  and a method of transmitting and receiving data between the apparatus  100  and the processor  14  will be described in more detail. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the apparatus  100  includes a power supply unit  410 , a timer  420  for adding up times of taking pills, a memory unit  430  for storing information of taking pills, the operation unit  130  for setting an operation state of the apparatus  100 , an output unit  440  for outputting a warning message related to taking pills to the user, and a control unit  400 . Also, the camera  110  for taking pictures of the user taking pills and the taken pills to the network-connected server  16  or processor  14  is further included. 
     The timer  420  may add up elapsed time from when power is applied to the apparatus  100  or a predetermined setting is performed by the operation of the operation unit  130 . 
     Also, the memory unit  330  may store information with respect to taking pills of a user taking the pill, that is, information on a point in time of taking a pill and information on checking whether the user takes the pill or not. 
     On the other hand, when the user goes out or stays out overnight and returns after the point in time of taking pills, to prepare for such case, a compulsorily discharging function may be provided. 
     That is, although the point in time of taking pills does not elapse, to manually operate the apparatus  100 , when the user presses the operation unit  130  for longer than a preset time, an operative dose of pills may be discharged according to a taking order. 
     The output unit  440  may include at least one of the speaker  120  and the display unit  140 . The warning message outputted through the output unit  440  may include a message informing that it is time to take a pill or a message informing that it is not the time to take the pill when the user operate the operation unit  130  when it is not the time to take the pill. 
     The warning message may be outputted periodically or repetitively before discharging pills. 
     The apparatus  100  may further include a communication module  450 . The communication module  450  may receive information related to the operation of the apparatus  100  from the server  16  or the processor  14  or may transmit an image photographed by the camera  110  to the server  16  or the processor  14 . 
     When the cylinder assembly  250  is operated, the control unit  400  determines that a pill is discharged through the first outlet  160  and allows the camera  110  to be on standby to photograph an image of the user taking the pill. To more definitely determine whether the user is in front of the camera  110  or not, the apparatus  100  may include a proximity sensor such as an infrared sensor. Accordingly, the control unit  400  photographs the image of the user taking the pill by using the camera  110  after driving the cylinder assembly  250 . 
     Also, the control unit  400  provides the photographed image to the server  16  or the processor  14  via the communication module  450 . After that, the control unit  400  may wait a command signal transferred from the server  16  or the processor  14 , and when the command signal is received via the communication module  450 , may transfer a warning message or a guide message to the user according to the corresponding command signal. 
     Also, the control unit  400  may change a schedule of taking pills such as changing a point in time for discharging a pill or changing a number of pills to be discharged according to the command signal transferred via the communication module  450 . For example, when a doctor or an expert determines a condition of the user to be good, a command for reducing the number of pills to be taken is transferred from the server  16  or the processor  14 . In this case, the control unit  400  may control the number of driving cylinders operated in the cylinder assembly  250 . 
     Through the method as described above, the user may receive a care with respect to taking pills remotely. Also, when taking a pill, it is unnecessary to have a trouble of throwing away a vacant pill packet after taking the pills. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.