Patent Publication Number: US-2013240555-A1

Title: Tablet cassette of medicine packing apparatus, and method of operating the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments relates to a medicine packing apparatus packing tablets such as capsules in each dose, and more particularly, to a tablet cassette which is installed in the medicine packing apparatus containing a plurality of tablets and discharge the tablets according to a prescription, and a method for operating the same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A medicine packing apparatus is an apparatus for discharging tablets prescribed according to the illness of a patient and packing the tablets in each dose automatically. The medicine packing apparatus includes an installation unit on which pluralities of tablet cassettes are mounted and a hopper disposed below the installation unit. Each of the tablet cassettes contains each different kind of tablet. 
     The tablets are discharged from each of the tablet cassettes that are controllable and then assembled in the hopper. And the tablets assembled in the hopper are discharged down the hopper and packed with sealed in a packing paper. 
     The tablet cassette contains a single kind of tablets and is designed to discharge by one tablet. However, various factors may be occurred on the path that tablets flow from inside of the cassette to the outside of the cassette, therefore, the path may be congested instead of discharging according to a prescription. 
     Figuring out the congestion in the tablet cassette manually and correcting the error manually may worsen productivity of tablet medicine packing work. Also, if the packing work is continued without sensing the congestion in the tablet cassette, the whole process of the tablet medicine packing work may become an error, thereby threatening patient&#39;s health. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Goal of the Invention 
     The inventive concept provides a tablet cassette of medicine packing apparatus capable of settling congestion easily when tablet cassette congestion occurs. 
     The inventive concept also provides a method for operating the tablet cassette of a medicine packing apparatus capable of sensing and settling the congestion when tablet cassette congestion occurs. 
     Technical Solution of the Invention 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, a tablet cassette of a medicine packing apparatus includes a cartridge, a cartridge installation unit, and an oscillator. The cartridge includes a space for containing tablets and an outlet for discharging the tablets. The cartridge is loaded on the cartridge installation unit. The oscillator vibrates the cartridge when the cartridge may not discharge a tablet even though there remain tablets therein. 
     The oscillator may be inserted to an oscillator installation groove formed on the bottom of the cartridge. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, a method for operating a tablet cassette of a medicine packing apparatus including space for containing tablets, a cartridge having an outlet for discharging the tablets, a cartridge installation unit loading the cartridge, and an oscillator vibrating the cartridge is provided. The method for controlling the tablet cassette of a medicine tablet packing apparatus includes tablet discharging operating the tablet outlet. The method also includes tablet discharging realization determining whether the tablets are really discharged or not. The method includes determining remaining tablets determining whether there is a remaining tablet inside the cassette or not when it is determined that a tablet is not discharged to the outside. The method includes vibrating the cartridge by inputting an electric signal to the oscillator when it is determined that there is a remaining tablet inside the cassette. 
     The determining remaining tablets includes counting the number of tablets provided to the cartridge, counting the number of tablets discharged outside, and calculating a difference between the number of tablets provided to the cartridge and the number of tablets discharged outside. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     A tablet cassette according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept and a method for operating the same make it possible to sense congestion of discharging tablets contained inside the tablet cassette easily and react properly, thereby increasing productivity of tablet medicine packing operation and preventing from threat on patients&#39; health. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a tablet cassette of a medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a tablet cassette of a medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the bottom of a cartridge shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a method for operating a tablet cassette of a medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Various example embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some example embodiments are shown. Inventive concepts may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of inventive concepts to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the inventive concepts. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “paired” to another element, it can be directly connected or paired to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly paired” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the inventive concepts. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which inventive concepts belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a tablet cassette of a medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a tablet cassette of a medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, and  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the bottom of a cartridge of  FIG. 2 . 
     A plurality of the tablet cassettes  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are disposed on the upper body of a medicine packing apparatus (not shown). Each of the tablet cassettes contains a different kind of table medicines. A hopper (not shown) is prepared beneath the tablet cassettes, where tablets discharged from the tablet cassettes are assembled. A packing unit (not shown) for packing tablets discharged through the hopper in packing paper is prepared below the hopper. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the tablet cassette  10  includes a cartridge  11  for containing tablets, a cartridge installation unit  50  on which the cartridge  11  is loaded detachably, a tablet guide block  35 , and a drum  30 . 
     The cartridge  11  includes an upper housing  12  with a lid  13  and a lower housing  14 . Interior space for containing tablets is formed by combining the upper housing  12  and the lower housing  14 . 
     The bottom of the lower housing  14  includes a tablet outlet  17  opened to discharge tablets contained inside the cartridge  11  to the outside. 
     The tablet guide block  35  is combined beneath the tablet outlet  17 . The tablet guide block  35  includes a tablet discharge path  36 . The tablet guide block  35  is inserted to a block accepting through hole on the cartridge installation unit  50  when the cartridge  11  is installed on the cartridge installation unit  50 . 
     Tablets  1  inside the cartridge  11  go through the tablet outlet  17  and the tablet discharge path  36 . Thereafter the tablets  1  are discharged below the tablet cassette  10  by one tablet or the required number of tablets. Thereafter the tablets  1  are transferred through a tablet transfer path  62 , and assembled in the hopper (not shown). 
     A throat  16  is formed on the tablet outlet  17  and the drum  30  is inserted therein rotatably. The drum  30  is a discharging device for discharging the tablet  1  to the outside of the cartridge  11  by one tablet. 
     The drum  30  includes projections  32  on the outer circumference surface and guide grooves  34 . The projections  32  are protruded from the outer circumference surface by certain intervals, and guide grooves  34  are extended below between an adjacent pair of projections  32 . Tablets received inside the throat  16  flow into each guide groove  34  in a row by self-weight. Accordingly, whenever the drum  30  rotates by the angle between the adjacent two projections  32  at a predetermined speed, the tablet  1  is discharged outside of the tablet cassette  10  through the tablet outlet  17  and the tablet discharge path  36  and arrives to the hopper (not shown). 
     A motor  60  providing rotation driving power to the drum  30  is installed on the cartridge installation unit  50 , and a motor connection through hole  21  is formed on the bottom of the lower housing  14  of the cartridge  11  such that a pivot  61  of the motor  60  may be inserted. The pivot  61  of the motor  60  is connected to the drum  30  through the motor connection through hole  21  so as to transfer power, when the cartridge  11  is mounted on the cartridge installation unit  50 . 
     An array wall  23  protruding below is formed on the perimeter of the bottom of the lower housing  14 , and protrusions  52  are formed on the upper side of the cartridge installation unit  50 , such that the cartridge  11  may be installed in the accurate position when being mounted on the cartridge installation unit  50 . 
     The protrusions  52  are inserted into the space of the bottom of the lower housing  14  which is formed by the array wall  23  by sliding by the inner surface of the array wall  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the tablet cassette  10  includes an oscillator  40 . The oscillator  40  vibrates the cartridge  11  when the tablet  1  may not be discharged even though the tablet  1  is still inside the cartridge  11 . 
     At this time, an oscillator installation groove  26  is prepared on the bottom of the lower housing  14  and the oscillator  40  is inserted therein. A circuit substrate including a driving circuit for driving the oscillator  40  is formed on the bottom of the lower housing  14 , although it is not shown. The oscillator  40  may be the same one as the oscillator for embodying a vibration mode in a cell phone. 
     The oscillator  40  is inserted to the oscillator installation groove  26 . Accordingly, the oscillator  40  contacts the array wall  23  of the lower housing  14  such that the cartridge  11  vibrates with the vibration of the oscillator  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  again, a sensor  65  is prepared in the tablet transfer path  62  to sense whether the tablet  1  is really discharged from the tablet cassette  10  or not. Also, the medicine packing apparatus (not shown) includes a controller  70  controlling the motor  60  such that the tablet  1  is discharged according to the prescription and controlling the oscillator  40  based on a sensing signal of the sensor  65 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a method for operating the tablet cassette  10  of a medicine packing apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Specifically, the method of  FIG. 4  is for sensing and discharging the tablet  1 , when the tablet  1  fails to be discharged smoothly, which may be performed automatically under the control of the controller  70 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the method for operating the tablet cassette  10  includes operating tablet discharge S 10 , determining realization of tablet discharge S 20 , determining the number of remaining tablets S 30 , and vibrating the cartridge S 40 . 
     In the stage S 10 , driving the motor  60  according to a prescription and rotating the drum  30 . 
     In the stage S 20 , determining whether the tablet  1  is discharged to the outside of the cassette  10  by the rotation of the drum  30 . The sensor  65  performs sensing whether the tablet  1  is really discharged to the outside of the cassette  10  or not. 
     The controller  70  determines whether the tablet  1  is actually discharged or not based on a sensing signal received from the sensor  65 . Once it is determined that the tablet  1  is actually discharged, the operation of the tablet cassette  10  is finished. 
     The reason that the tablet  1  may not be discharged despite of the rotation of the drum  30  is that either all of the tablets  1  contained in the cartridge  11  are discharged, or the tablet  1  is tied up inside the cartridge. In the stage S 30 , determining whether there is remaining tablet  1  inside the cartridge or not, if the tablet  1  is not determined to be actually discharged in the stage S 20 . 
     The number of remaining tablets  1  may be determined through counting the number of provided tablets and counting the number of discharged tablets, and calculating the difference, in the stage of determining remaining tablets S 30 . 
     The counting the number of provided tablets counts the number of tablets  1  provided in the cartridge. The counting the number of discharged tablets counts the number of tablets  1  discharged to the outside of the tablet cassette  10 . The calculating the difference calculates the difference between the number of provided tablets and the number of discharged tablets. 
     The number of tablets  1  provided to the cartridge  11  may be obtained by counting the tablets  1  before opening the lid  13  and putting the tablets  1  into the cartridge  11 . An operator may count the tablets one by one, and a tablet counter may be used to count the tablets. The number of tablets  1  provided to the cartridge  11  may be input by an input device such as a keyboard (not shown) such that the controller  70  may recognize the number. 
     The number of tablets  1  discharged to the outside of the tablet cassette  10  may be obtained by sensing tablets  1  passing through the tablet transfer path  62 , transferring sensing signals to the controller  70 , and counting the number of the sensing signals by the controller  70 . Calculating the difference between the number of provided tablets and the number of discharged tablets may be also performed by the controller  70 . 
     When it is determined that the number of remaining tablet is zero in the stage S 30 , providing tablets  1  to the cartridge  11  S 80 , and rotating the drum  30  to restart the stage S 10 . 
     In the stage S 40 , vibrating the cartridge  11  on purpose by driving the oscillator  40  when it is determined that there are remaining tablets in the determining remaining tablets S 30 . After the stage S 40 , determining whether the remaining tablet  1  is really discharged or not is performed again S 50 , and once it is determined that the tablet  1  is discharged, the operation of the tablet cassette  10  is finished. 
     As described above, the sensor  65  performs sensing whether the tablet  1  is really discharged to the outside of the tablet cassette  10  or not. When a signal of the sensor  65  is transferred to the controller  70 , the controller  70  determines whether the tablet  1  is discharged or not based on the sensing signal. 
     When it is determined that the tablet  1  is not still discharged to the outside of the tablet cassette  10 , determining that the number of performing the vibrating the cartridge S 40  is within two. If it is determined that the number of performing the vibrating the cartridge S 40  is within 2 S 60 , the tablet discharge operation S 10  is repeated by rotating the drum  30 . However, if it is determined that the number of performing the vibrating the cartridge S 40  is above 2, that is, 3, an error message is displayed on a display device (not shown) such as a flat display panel, and the operation of the tablet cassette  10  is finished S 60 . That is why it is determined that the tablet  1  may not be discharged to the outside of the tablet cassette  10  just with vibrating the tablet cassette  10 . 
     It is an example that setting a base of the repetition number of performing the vibrating the cartridge as 2 in the stage S 60 , and it may be set as 3, 4, and so on. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
     INDUSTRIAL USABILITY 
     The present invention is applicable to a medicine packing apparatus packing tablets by a dose automatically at hospitals, pharmacies, home, or the like.