Patent Publication Number: US-2013233894-A1

Title: Tablet cassettes of tablet medicine packing apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments relates to a tablet cassette of a tablet medicine packing apparatus, and more particularly, to a tablet cassette installed in a tablet medicine packing apparatus packing tablet medicines such as capsules in each dose automatically, accepting a large volume of tablets, and discharging the tablets according to a prescription. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A medicine packing apparatus is an apparatus for discharging tablet medicines prescribed according to the illness of a patient and packing the tablet medicines in each dose automatically. The medicine packing apparatus includes an installation unit on which a plurality of tablet cassettes containing each different kind of tablet are mounted and a hopper disposed below the installation unit. The tablet medicines are discharged from each of the tablet cassettes that are controllable through a bottom open mousth of the table cassettes and then assembled in the hopper. The tablets assembled in the hopper are discharged down the hopper and packed with sealed in a packing paper. 
     The tablet cassette includes a cartridge and a cartridge installation unit. A cartridge may contain tablets. Meanwhile, tablets should be left in the cartridge may be easily dropped from the cartridge through the bottom open mouth, when the cartridge is separated from the cartridge installation unit, which causes waste of tablets. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Goal of the Invention 
     The inventive concept provides a tablet cassette of a tablet medicine packing apparatus improved such that tablets may not be dropped from a cartridge even if the cartridge is separated from a cartridge installation unit. 
     Technical Solution of the Invention 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, a tablet cassette of a tablet medicine packing apparatus includes a cartridge and a cartridge installation unit. The cartridge contains tablets. The cartridge is mounted on the cartridge installation unit. The cartridge includes a tablet outlet, a drum, and a lever. The tablet outlet is opened such that the tablets contained inside the cartridge may be discharged. The drum opens and shuts the tablet outlet selectively. The lever controls movement of the drum when the cartridge is separated from the cartridge installation unit. The lever includes a drum contacting unit. The drum contacting unit receives elastic pressing power in a direction of the contacting with the drum, but it is separated from the drum when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge installation unit. 
     The lever may further include a trigger. At the same time, the cartridge installation unit may include a protrusion protruding so as to contact with the trigger when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge installation unit. Accordingly, the trigger may be pushed by the protrusion in the direction of the drum contacting unit being separated from the drum, when the trigger contacts with the protrusion. 
     The cartridge may include a trigger space. The trigger diversion is prepared such that the trigger may be pushed when the trigger contacts with the protrusion. 
     Also, an array wall protrudes downward from the perimeter of the cartridge bottom, and the protrusion protrudes so as to be inserted to the inside of the cartridge by sliding by the upper side of the cartridge installation unit and the inner side of the array wall. 
     Also, a lever pivot is formed on the bottom of the cartridge, the lever is combined with the lever shaft so as to pivot, and a torsion spring giving elastic pressing power to the lever in the direction of the drum contacting unit contacting with the drum may be interposed to the lever pivot. 
     Meanwhile, the drum may include projections protruded on the outer circumference surface by certain intervals, and guide grooves extended downward between the two adjacent projections so as to passing through the tablets therethrough. At this time, the tablet outlet of the cartridge may be locked with the projection by contacting the drum contacting unit of the lever with the projection of the outer circumference surface. 
     The drum contacting unit may include a method for increasing friction with the drum surface. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     A tablet cassette of a tablet medicine packing apparatus of the present inventive concept prevents tablets from being dropped outside of the cartridge by fixing a drum inside cartridge when the cartridge is separated from the cartridge installation unit, thereafter, restraining waste of tablets. 
    
    
     
       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 an exploded perspective view of a tablet cassette of a tablet medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a part of the tablet cassette shown in  FIG. 1 , which shows loading a cartridge on a cartridge installation unit; and 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the bottom of the cartridge of the tablet cassette, wherein  FIG. 3  is a diagram when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge installation unit and  FIG. 4  is a diagram when the cartridge is separated from the cartridge installation unit. 
     
    
    
     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. 
     A plurality of tablet cassettes according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept are disposed on the upper body of a tablet medicine packing apparatus (not shown). Each of the tablet cassettes contains different of same kind of tablets. A hopper is prepared beneath the tablet cassettes, where tablet medicines discharged from the tablet cassettes are assembled. A packing unit for packing tablets discharged through the hopper in packing paper is prepared below the hopper. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the tablet cassette of the tablet medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a part of the tablet cassette shown in  FIG. 1 , which shows the form of the cartridge being loaded on the cartridge installation unit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the tablet cassette  10  of a tablet medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept includes a cartridge  11  and a cartridge installation unit  50 . 
     The cartridge  11  contains tablet medicines. The cartridge  11  is installed on the cartridge installation unit  50  detachably. The cartridge  11  includes an upper housing  12 , a lower housing  14 , a drum  30 , and a tablet guide block  35 . 
     The interior space containing tablets is formed by combining the upper housing  12  and the lower housing  14 . A tablet output  17  is formed on the bottom of the lower housing  14 . Tablets contained inside the cartridge  11  may be discharged to the outside through the tablet outlet  17 . 
     The drum  30  is located in the interior space of the cartridge  11 . At this time, a throat  16  is formed on the tablet outlet  17  of the cartridge  11 , and the drum  30  which is rotatable is inserted therein. 
     The drum  30  includes projections  32  on the outer circumference surface by certain intervals, and guide grooves  34  extended below are formed between adjacent pairs 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, a tablet (or the required amount of tablets) is discharged outside through the tablet outlet  17 . 
     The cartridge  11  is mounted on the cartridge installation unit  50 . At this time, 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 (not shown) of the motor  60  may be inserted. The pivot 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  can be installed in the accurate position arranged 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 . 
     The tablet guide block  35  is combined beneath the tablet outlet  17 . A tablet discharge path  36  is formed in the tablet guide block  35 . The tablet guide block  35  is inserted to a block containing through hole  54  when the cartridge  11  is installed on the cartridge installation unit  50 . 
     Accordingly, when the drum ( 30 ) rotates, a tablet flows into the tablet outlet  17  of the lower housing  14 , then, is discharged below the tablet cassette  10  through the tablet discharge path  36  of the tablet guide block  35 , and assembles in a hopper (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a lever  40  is installed in the cartridge  11  of the tablet cassette  10 . The lever  40  is combined to a lever pivot  39  formed on the bottom of the lower housing  14  so as to be pivotable. The lever controls movement of the drum  30  when the cartridge  11  is separated from the cartridge installation unit  50 . The lever  40  includes a drum contacting unit  42  and a trigger  45 . The drum contacting unit  42  is formed at the end of the lever  40 . The trigger  45  protrudes below between the lever axis  39  and the drum contacting unit  42 . The lever  40  may be formed by a press forming of a metal plate or a mold forming of. 
     A torsion spring  48  is interposed in the lever pivot  39 . The torsion spring  48  presses the drum contacting unit  42  to contact the drum  30  with elastic power. 
     The lever  40  is combined to the bottom of the lower housing  14 , And the drum  30  is located inside the throat  16  of the lower housing  14 . Accordingly, a first long hole  18  through which the drum contacting unit  42  passes is prepared in the throat  16  such that the drum contacting unit  42  may contact with the drum  30 . Also, a second long hole  19  is prepared beside the tablet outlet  17  such that the lever  40  may be pivotable. The drum contacting unit  42  includes a terminal surface of sawtoothed shape. The sawtoothed shape is for increasing friction between the drum contacting unit  42  and the surface of the drum  30 . However, other methods for increasing friction not shown, for example, applying a resin having a high friction coefficient, may be applied. 
     The trigger  45  is designed to be pushed in the outside direction by being contacted with the protrusion  52  that is formed on the upper surface of the cartridge installation unit  50 , when the cartridge  11  is mounted on the cartridge installation unit  50 . Accordingly, the lever  40  may rotate in the direction that the drum contacting unit  42  is separated from the drum  30  on the pivot  39  (referring to  FIG. 3 ) when the cartridge  11  is mounted on the cartridge installation unit  50 . 
     On the contrary, the trigger  45  is separated from the protrusion  52  when the cartridge  11  is separated from the cartridge installation unit  50 , accordingly, the lever  40  rotates in the opposite direction on the pivot  39 , thereby the drum contacting unit  42  contacting the outer circumference surface of the drum  30  (referring to  FIG. 4 ). 
     A trigger space  28  is prepared on the lower housing  14  of the cartridge  11  such that the trigger  45  may be pushed in the outside direction enough when the trigger  45  contacts with the protrusion  52 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the trigger space  28  is prepared on one side of the array wall  23 , but the embodiment is not restricted thereto. The lever  40  rotates such that the drum contacting unit  42  is separated from the outer circumference surface enough by the trigger division  28 , when the cartridge  11  is mounted on the cartridge installation unit  50 . At this state, the torsion spring  48  presses the outer circumference surface of the drum  30  with elastic power, therefore, the drum  30  may not rotate randomly due to friction between the drum contacting unit  42  and the outer circumference surface of the drum  30 , even though mechanical connection between the drum  30  and the motor  60  is released. 
     Also,  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the bottom of a cartridge of tablet cassette,  FIG. 3  illustrates the form of a cartridge being loaded on a cartridge installation unit, and  FIG. 4  illustrates the form of the cartridge being separated from the cartridge installation unit. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the operation of the lever  40  will be described again. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3  together, the trigger  45  of the lever  40  is pushed outside by the protrusion  52  when the cartridge  11  is mounted on the cartridge installation unit  50 , thereby the drum contacting unit  42  being separated from the projection  32  of the drum  30 . At this state, the pivot (not shown) of the motor  60  is inserted into the motor connection through hole  21  to be connected to the drum  30  mechanically, thus, the drum  30  is controlled by driving power of the motor  60 . One tablet may be discharged through the tablet discharge outlet  36  while the drum  30  rotates from the location of the projection  32  blocking the tablet discharge outlet  36  to the location of the adjacent projection  32  blocking the tablet discharge outlet  36 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4  together, the lever  40  rotates by elastic restoration power of the torsion spring  48  for the drum contacting unit  42  to press the projection  32  of the drum  30  when the cartridge  11  is separated from the cartridge installation unit  50 . Accordingly, the drum  30  may not rotate randomly due to friction with drum contacting unit  42  even though the drum  30  is separated from the motor  60  mechanically, therefore, the projection  32  blocks the tablet discharge outlet  36  to prevent unintended dropping of tablets contained in the cartridge  11 . 
     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 tablet medicine packing apparatus packing tablet medicines by a dose automatically at hospitals, pharmacies, home, or the like.