Patent Publication Number: US-2022227505-A1

Title: Individual packaging device for tablets

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/JP22019/008885 filed Mar. 6, 2019, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-042611, filed Mar. 3, 2018 the disclosure of each of these applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a tablet packaging device, which is configured to package prescribed tablets for every administration into a tray of a blister pack type (hereinafter referred to simply as “tray”). 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There has hitherto been known a tablet packaging device configured to automatically distribute and pack prescribed tablets into individual accommodation recess portions of a tray that is called “weekly calendar pack” including accommodation recess portions arranged in seven rows by four columns (Patent Literature 1). The tray is capable of accommodating tablets packaged for four times of administrations per day into accommodation recess portions corresponding to one row, and by seven columns in total, thereby being capable of accommodating tablets for administrations per week. 
     The tablet packaging device of Patent Literature 1 is a tablet packaging device configured to receive all of the tablets corresponding to one tray through use of one carrier, move the carrier to a position above a tray waiting at a discharging position, and open a shutter forming a bottom wall of the carrier, thereby simultaneously discharging the tablets into all of the accommodation recess portions of the tray. This device has an advantage in that high packaging efficiency is achieved with less erroneous packaging, and the structure can be simplified. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [PTL 1] JP 5870931 B2 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The tablet packaging device described in Patent Literature 1 has the following configuration. The carrier having received tablets corresponding to one tray is moved to the position of the tray mounted to a drawer mounted in such a manner as to be freely placed in and out. Then, the shutter of the carrier is opened to discharge the tablets. Thus, the tray is in a state of being placed on the drawer until tablets are discharged to one tray, and the next tray for another prescription cannot be set until the operation of discharging the tablets to the one tray is terminated. Therefore, there is a problem in that the operation efficiency is not improved. 
     Moreover, at the time of discharging tablets from the carrier to the tray, there is also a risk of causing erroneous packaging in which the fallen tablets bounce in the recess portion of the tray and jump out to an outside of the recess portion. 
     In view of the above-mentioned problems, this invention has an object to provide a tablet packaging device, which is capable of shortening operation time required for packaging tablets for one tray and is capable of more reliably packaging tablets. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tablet packaging device, including: a tablet accommodating portion configured to store a plurality of kinds of tablets and dispense a tablet based on prescription information; and a packaging portion configured to dispense the tablets, which are dispensed from the tablet accommodating portion, through a dispensing port and distribute and accommodate the tablets to a tray having a plurality of accommodation recess portions, wherein the packaging portion includes: a tray loading unit to which the tray is mountable; a tray unloading unit, which is arranged adjacent to the tray loading unit, and to which the tray accommodating the tablets is mountable; a tray driving unit, which is configured to move the supported tray between positions of the tray loading unit and the tray unloading unit, and move the desired accommodation recess portion of the tray to the dispensing port for tablets; a tray attaching unit configured to attach the tray from the tray loading unit to the tray driving unit; and a tray detaching unit configured to detach the tray accommodating the tablets from the tray driving unit and place the tray on the tray unloading unit (claim  1 ). 
     The tray driving unit is configured to support the tray at positions above the tray loading unit and the tray unloading unit, wherein the tray driving unit is configured to move the tray in a horizontal plane, wherein the tray attaching unit is configured to lift up the tray from the tray loading unit and attach the tray to the tray driving unit, wherein the tray detaching unit is configured to detach the tray accommodating the tablets from the tray driving unit, lower the tray, and place the tray on the tray unloading unit (claim  2 ). 
     The tray driving unit includes an XY robot configured to move the supported tray in a width direction and a front-and-rear direction of the device in a horizontal plane (claim  3 ). 
     The tray driving unit includes: a conveyance stage, which is capable of being positioned above the tray loading unit and the tray unloading unit, and includes division chambers, which are arranged at positions matching the accommodation recess portions of the tray and are opened in the up-and-down direction; and a tray fixing member configured to attach the tray to a lower side of the conveyance stage under a state in which positions of the division chambers and positions of the accommodation recess portions of the tray match each other (claim  4 ). 
     The tray is mounted to the tray loading unit under a state in which the tray is placed on an adapter, which is opened on an upper side and is capable of accommodating the tray from the upper side, wherein the adapter includes stage engagement ratchets which are attachable to and detachable from tray fixing members of the conveyance stage, wherein the tray fixing members extend downward from side edges of the conveyance stage and have engagement holes which are engageable with the stage engagement ratchets, wherein the tray is attached to the tray driving unit in a state of being sandwiched between a lower surface of the conveyance stage and an upper surface of the adapter, and the conveyance stage is driven so that one of the division chambers is located at a position corresponding to the dispensing port to receive the tablets dispensed from the dispensing port, and wherein the tray having the tablets discharged thereto and accommodated therein is mounted to the tray unloading unit in a state of being placed on the adapter (claim  5 ). 
     The tray loading unit is formed of a drawer provided so as to be freely placed in and out with respect to the packaging portion and includes a first placement table configured to place the tray inside the drawer, wherein the first placement table is set so as to be located at a tray handling position outside the packaging portion when the drawer is drawn out, and the first placement table is set so as to be located at a waiting position inside the packaging portion when the drawer is pushed in, and wherein the tray attaching unit includes a first raising/lowering device, which is provided below the waiting position of the tray loading unit and is configured to attach the tray to a lower surface of the conveyance stage located above the waiting position by lifting up the tray located at the waiting position from the lower side (claim  6 ). 
     The first placement table of the tray loading unit includes a set of first support members configured to support both ends of the adapter in a width direction, and a region between the first support members is a first raising/lowering device passage region for allowing the first raising/lowering device to pass therethrough (claim  7 ). 
     The tray unloading unit is formed of a drawer provided so as to be freely placed in and out and includes a second placement table configured to place the tray inside the drawer, wherein the second placement table is set so as to be located at a tray handling position outside the packaging portion when the drawer is drawn out, and the second placement table is set so as to be located at a waiting position inside the packaging portion when the drawer is pushed in, and wherein the tray detaching unit includes a second raising/lowering device, which is provided below the waiting position of the tray unloading unit with respect to the packaging portion and is configured to support, from below, the tray detached from the lower surface of the conveyance stage located above the waiting position and mount the tray to the second placement table of the tray unloading unit (claim  8 ). 
     The second placement table of the tray unloading unit includes a set of second support members configured to support both ends of the adapter in a width direction, and a region between the second support members is a second raising/lowering device passage region for allowing the second raising/lowering device to pass therethrough (claim  9 ). 
     The second raising/lowering device includes a releasing member configured to disengage the tray fixing members at the time of supporting, from below, the tray attached to the lower surface of the conveyance stage (claim  10 ). 
     The tablet packaging device further includes a manual-distribution unit configured to add tablets to the accommodation recess portions of the tray, wherein the manual-distribution unit includes: a manual-distribution container including: a manual-distribution member having division chambers, which are opened on upper and lower sides and are arranged at positions matching with the accommodation recess portions of the tray; and a shutter, which is slidably provided to a bottom surface of the manual-distribution member and is configured to open and close the division chambers; and a drawer portion, which is provided so as to allow the manual-distribution container to be pushed in and drawn out, and is set so as to allow the manual-distribution container to be located at a tablet distribution position outside the packaging portion when the drawer portion is drawn out and allow the manual-distribution container to be located at a discharging position at which the accommodation recess portions of the tray having the tablets discharged thereto and accommodated therein and the division chambers correspond to each other (claim  11 ). 
     The drawer portion of the manual-distribution unit is provided at a position above the tray unloading unit, and the discharging position of the drawer portion of the manual-distribution unit matches the waiting position of the tray unloading unit as seen from above (claim  12 ). 
     The manual-distribution container is located above the conveyance stage, the shutter includes engagement pieces extending downward to an end portion of the conveyance stage on a downstream side in the moving direction of the conveyance stage, and is attached while being urged under a state in which the division chambers of the manual-distribution container are closed, and the engagement pieces engage with the conveyance stage along with movement of the conveyance stage to slide the shutter toward the downstream side in the moving direction of the conveyance stage, thereby opening the division chambers (claim  13 ). 
     The tablet accommodating portion includes: a tablet cassette shelf configured to hold a plurality of tablet cassettes; and a tablet conveying device configured to convey tablets, which are supplied from a corresponding tablet cassette shelf in accordance with a prescription, to a predetermined position, wherein the tablet conveying device includes: a primary conveyance portion configured to convey tablets in a direction intersecting a direction from the tablet cassette shelf side toward the packaging portion side; and a secondary conveyance portion configured to convey the tablets in the direction from the tablet cassette shelf side toward the packaging portion, and wherein the tablet conveying device is configured to perform: a first operation of conveying the tablets with the primary conveyance portion and thereafter conveying the tablets with the secondary conveyance portion; and a second operation of receiving the tablets from the tablet cassette shelf without passage through the primary conveyance portion and conveying the tablets with the secondary conveyance portion (claim  14 ). 
     The primary conveyance portion includes: a catching portion configured to catch supplied tablets; and a tablet push-out piece portion, which is movable in a conveyance direction of tablets in the primary conveyance portion, and is configured to push and move the tablets located at the catching portion (claim  15 ). 
     The tablet conveying device further includes a leading portion configured to temporarily accommodate tablets supplied and led from the tablet cassette (claim  16 ). 
     The leading portion includes: an accommodation space including a discharging port portion configured to primarily accommodate the tablets having been led thereinto and discharge the tablets to the primary conveyance portion side or the secondary conveyance portion; and a movable catching member which is switchable between a tablet discharging posture of closing the discharging port portion and a tablet catching posture of allowing the discharging port portion to communicate with an outside (claim  17 ). 
     In the tablet catching posture, the movable catching member is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction to catch tablets having been led and accommodate the tablets in the leading portion (claim  18 ). 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the tablet packaging device according to this invention, the tray mounted to the tray loading unit is attached to the tray driving unit, and the tray is then driven, thereby being capable of directly packaging tablets into the tray. Thus, the tray is not placed on the tray loading unit during the packaging operation. Moreover, the tray having tablets discharged thereto and accommodated therein is mounted to the tray unloading unit. Thus, after the tray is delivered from the tray loading unit to the tray driving unit, a state in which the tray is not mounted to the tray loading unit is brought about. Accordingly, during the operation with the tray, a tray for the next prescription can be mounted to the tray loading unit. Therefore, the operation efficiency of the packaging operation for the tray can be improved. 
     Moreover, in the packaging operation for the tray, tablets are directly packaged into the tray. Thus, the number of times of moving tablets during the packaging operation for the tray is reduced as compared to a case in which tablets are moved to the tray after packaging the tablets into the carrier. Therefore, the risk of causing erroneous packaging can be reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the tablet packaging device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view for illustrating a state in which drawers of the tablet packaging device of  FIG. 1  are opened. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view for illustrating a state in which a drawer of a manual-distribution unit of the tablet packaging device of  FIG. 1  is opened. 
         FIG. 5A  is a partially cutaway plan view for illustrating a state in which a lid is affixed to a tray. 
         FIG. 5B  is a sectional view taken along the line Vb-Vb of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is a partial enlarged sectional view of  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 6B  is a partial enlarged sectional view for illustrating a state during use of  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 6C  is a partial enlarged sectional view for illustrating a state during use of  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in a state in which a cover lid of  FIG. 2  is removed. 
         FIG. 8A  is an explanatory view for illustrating a positional relationship between a first placement table in a waiting position and a first raising/lowering device, as seen from a side of a loading drawer. 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view for illustrating a state in which the first raising/lowering device is raised. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view for illustrating a configuration of a conveyance stage and the coupling structure with an adapter. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view for illustrating configurations of the adapter and the tray. 
         FIG. 11A  is a schematic view for illustrating movement positions of the conveyance stage. 
         FIG. 11B  is a plan view for schematically illustrating a configuration of the conveyance stage. 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a partially omitted enlarged sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a configuration of a manual-distribution container and a positional relationship with the conveyance stage. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view for illustrating a configuration of the manual-distribution container of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17A  is an explanatory process view for illustrating an operation procedure of the conveyance stage for opening the shutter of the manual-distribution container, and is an illustration of a fully closed state in which bottom surfaces of division chambers are closed. 
         FIG. 17B  is an explanatory process view for illustrating the operation procedure of the conveyance stage for opening the shutter of the manual-distribution container, and is an illustration of a state in which the division chambers are opened. 
         FIG. 17C  is an explanatory process view for illustrating the operation procedure of the conveyance stage for opening the shutter of the manual-distribution container, and is an illustration of a state in which the division chambers are each half-opened. 
         FIG. 17D  is an explanatory process view for illustrating the operation procedure of the conveyance stage for opening the shutter of the manual-distribution container, and is an illustration of a fully opened state of the division chambers. 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view of the manual-distribution container in the state of  FIG. 17A . 
         FIG. 19  is a plan view of the manual-distribution container in the state of  FIG. 17C . 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of the manual-distribution container in the state of  FIG. 17D . 
         FIG. 21  is an explanatory view for illustrating a process of removing the adapter from the conveyance stage. 
         FIG. 22  is an explanatory view for illustrating the process of removing the adapter from the conveyance stage, and is an illustration subsequent to the  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 23  is an explanatory view for illustrating the process of removing the adapter from the conveyance stage, and is an illustration subsequent to  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24A  is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a modification example of the adapter. 
         FIG. 24B  is an illustration of a modification example of the tray, and is an exploded perspective view for illustrating a state in which the tray is received in the adapter. 
         FIG. 25  is a partial enlarged plan view for illustrating a state in which a lid cover is affixed to the tray of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view for schematically illustrating a configuration a tray of another modification example. 
         FIG. 27  is a view for illustrating an exterior configuration of a tablet packaging device of a modification example including a manual-distribution unit of another embodiment. 
         FIG. 28  is a partial enlarged perspective view for illustrating a configuration of the manual-distribution unit in a state in which a lid cover of the tablet packaging device of  FIG. 27  is opened so that the manual-distribution unit is exposed to an outside. 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view for illustrating an arrangement configuration of a tablet accommodating portion of the tablet packaging device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view for illustrating a configuration of a tablet supplying device included in the tablet accommodating portion of  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 31  is a perspective view for illustrating a configuration of a lateral conveyance portion included in the tablet accommodating portion of  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 32  is a sectional view for illustrating a configuration of a tablet push-out portion of the tablet supplying device of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 33  is a block diagram for illustrating a control configuration for the tablet packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 34  is an explanatory view for illustrating a state in which accommodation recess portions are regularly arranged on the tray. 
         FIG. 35  is an explanatory view for illustrating a state in which the accommodation recess portions are randomly arranged on the tray. 
         FIG. 36  is an explanatory view for illustrating a state in which the accommodation recess portions are randomly arranged on the tray. 
         FIG. 37  is an explanatory view for illustrating the progress of the tablet packaging device displayed on a monitor. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Now, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a tablet packaging device according to an embodiment of this invention is described. 
       FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  are illustrations of an exterior configuration of a tablet packaging device  11  according to this embodiment. The tablet packaging device  11  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes, for example, a tablet accommodating portion  13 , a packaging portion  14 , and an accommodating portion  15 . The tablet accommodating portion  13  is provided at an upper half part of a frame  12 . The packaging portion  14  (see  FIG. 2 ) projecting forward from the upper half part is provided at a lower half part of a frame  12 . The accommodating portion  15  for empty trays or the like is provided on a lower side of the packaging portion  14 . A large number of tablet cassettes  16  are accommodated in multiple stages in the tablet accommodating portion  13 , and tablet feeders  17  are installed on a lower side of the tablet cassettes  16 . 
     An input device  100  is connected to the tablet packaging device  11 . The input device  100  includes a code reader (not shown) configured to read a barcode or a QR code (trademark) given to a prescription. The input device  100  is configured to give prescription information, which is based on data read through use of the code reader, to the tablet packaging device  11 . The input device  100  includes operation input devices such as a keyboard (not shown) in addition to the code reader, and information such as prescription information can be given to the tablet packaging device  11  through use of the operation input devices. 
     The tablet packaging device  11  produces a prescription ID corresponding to the received prescription information. The prescription ID and the prescription information are associated with each other. The prescription information includes, for example, information required for packaging such as a kind of a drug, the number of tablets, and administration timings, and patient information. The prescription ID is used at the time of reading prescription information associated therewith. 
     The input device  100  is formed of, for example, a personal computer. The personal computer includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is configured to perform arithmetic processing based on various programs stored in the ROM. 
     The input device  100  formed of a personal computer sends the prescription information to the tablet packaging device  11 . Moreover, based on processing state information that is given by the tablet packaging device  11 , for example, progress information of the tablet packaging device  11  is displayed on a monitor  101 . 
     When the input device  100  is connected to a system of a pharmacy, a hospital, or the like through a communication network such as a LAN or the Internet, the input device  100  is capable of obtaining prescription data from the system of a pharmacy, a hospital, or the like via the communication network. Then, the input device  100  gives the prescription data obtained from the system of a pharmacy, a hospital, or the like to the tablet packaging device  11 . 
     Regarding the tablet packaging device according to this embodiment, directions are defined as indicated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . That is, a width direction of the device corresponds to an X axis. A front-and-rear direction of the device corresponds to a Y axis. A height direction of the device corresponds to a Z axis. In the following, the directions of the device are described based on the definitions described above. 
     &lt;Tablet Accommodating Portion&gt; 
     The tablet accommodating portion  13  includes the large number of tablet cassettes  16  and the tablet feeders  17  provided to the tablet cassettes  16 . The large number of tablet cassettes  16  are configured to store a plurality of kinds of tablets as drugs. In accordance with prescription information corresponding to a prescription ID, tablets are dispensed from the tablet cassette  16  by the tablet feeder  17 , and the tablets fall into a tablet supplying device  19 . The number of the tablets is counted when the tablets pass through a passage of the tablet feeder  17 , and a predetermined number of tablets fall into the tablet supplying device  19 . 
     On a back side of the tablet accommodating portion  13 , back lids of an opening/closing type (not shown) are installed. The back lids include an upper lid configured to open upward and a lower lid configured to open downward. When the lower lid is opened, falling passages for tablets into the tablet supplying device  19  described later are opened. Accordingly, only the falling passages for tablets can be cleaned. 
     The tablet supplying device  19  is provided below the tablet feeders  17 . The tablet supplying device  19  is configured to receive tablets which fall from the tablet feeder  17 . The tablets to be received by the tablet supplying device  19  are tablets selected from tablets stored in the tablet cassettes  16 , and the number and a kind of the tablets are determined based on prescription information. The tablet supplying device  19  collects the received tablets to a center and delivers the collected tablets to a tablet push-out passage  20  (see  FIG. 7 ) extending in the front-and-rear direction. The tablets are delivered toward a near side in the tablet push-out passage  20  and dispensed through a dispensing port  21 , which is located at an upper part of the packaging portion  14  and directed downward. Prescribed tablets for every administration, for example, tablets of the amount corresponding to four times of administrations per day by one week or three times of administrations per day by five days are intermittently dispensed through the dispensing port  21  in each cycle of a conveying process described later. 
     The tablet cassettes  16  and the tablet feeders  17  are accommodated in a tablet cassette shelf  350  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  and  FIG. 29 . The tablet cassette shelf  350  is opened and closed in an up-and-down direction by a louver shutter  18 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 29 , the tablet cassette shelf  350  has the structure including a container attaching portion  361  and the tablet supplying device  19 . The container attaching portion  361  is configured to hold the plurality of tablet cassettes  16  and tablet feeders  17 . The tablet supplying device  19  is located below the container attaching portion  361 . Tablets having fallen from the tablet feeder  17  are collected into the tablet supplying device  19 . Moreover, the tablet cassette shelf  350  of this embodiment is capable of holding different types (two types) of tablet cassettes  16 . 
     A part of the tablet supplying device  19  communicates with the tablet push-out passage  20  which is formed in such a manner as to extend up to the packaging portion  14 . Further, a front end side of the tablet push-out passage  20  of the tablet supplying device  19  is coupled to the dispensing port  21 , thereby forming a series of flow passages. 
     Tablets stored in the tablet cassette  16  received in the tablet cassette shelf  350  are dispensed to the tablet feeder  17 . The tablets dispensed from the tablet feeder  17  fall downward to be led into the tablet supplying device  19  located below the tablet feeder  17 . Then, after being carried to the tablet push-out passage  20  inside the tablet supplying device  19 , the tablets are pushed out from the tablet push-out passage  20  to the dispensing port  21  and then are packaged and accommodated in a tray  24  at the packaging portion  14 . Now, the tablet supplying device  19  is described in detail. 
     &lt;Tablet Supplying Device&gt; 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 30 , the tablet supplying device  19  mainly includes tablet catching portions  365  ( 365   a,    365   b,    365   c,    365   d,  and  365   e ) (leading portion), two right and left lateral conveyance portions  366  (primary conveyance portion), and a falling passage forming portion  367  (passage forming portion). The tablet catching portions  365  are located on an upper side. The lateral conveyance portions  366  and the falling passage forming portion  367  are located below the tablet catching portions  365 . A tablet push-out portion  368  (secondary conveyance portion) is formed below the falling passage forming portion  367 . Thus, the tablet supplying device  19  has a three-stage stacking structure in which the tablet catching portions  365  (leading portion) having a laterally extending shape, the lateral conveyance portions  366  (primary conveyance portion) having a laterally extending shape similar to that of the tablet catching portions  365 , and the tablet push-out portion  368  (secondary conveyance portion) having a vertically extending shape are vertically stacked. 
     The tablet catching portions  365  ( 365   a,    365   b,    365   c,    365   d,  and  365   e ) located in an uppermost stage are portions configured to catch tablets which fall from above, and function as a leading portion for tablets in the tablet supplying device  19  as a whole. The tablet catching portions  365  has the structure including end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d,  intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c,  and a center tablet catching portion  365   e.  The end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d  are located on both end sides in an X direction (width direction of the tablet cassette shelf  350 ). The intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c  are adjacent to the end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d,  respectively, and are located on an intermediate side in the X direction. The center tablet catching portion  365   e  is provided between the intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c.  The end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d,  the intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c,  and the center tablet catching portion  365   e  are arranged in such a manner as to be continuous with each other in the X direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 30 , the end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d,  the intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c,  and the center tablet catching portion  365   e  each have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in a right-and-left direction and have a tablet leading space  370  formed therein. The tablet leading space  370  functions as an accommodation space for tablets. As illustrated in  FIG. 30 , the intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c  each have the tablet leading space  370  that is the largest in size in the right-and-left direction. The size of the tablet leading space  370  of each of the end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d  in the right-and-left direction is slightly smaller than that of the tablet leading space  370  of each of the intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c,  and the size of the leading space  370  of the center tablet catching portion  365   e  is the smallest. 
     The tablet leading space  370  of each of the tablet catching portions  365  ( 365   a,    365   b,    365   c,    365   d,  and  365   e ) is a space which is communicable with an outside in the up-and-down direction, and has an opening surface serving as a leading port for tablets on an upper side thereof. 
     The end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d  stand by in a tablet catching posture to catch tablets which fall from the tablet cassette  16  (see, for example,  FIG. 29 ) via the tablet feeder  17 . Then, the end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d  shift to a tablet discharging posture under a state in which the tablets are arranged inside the respective tablet leading space  370 , thereby supplying the tablets to a lower side (lateral conveyance portion  366  and falling passage forming portion  367 , see  FIG. 30 ). In other words, after temporarily storing the tablets inside the respective tablet leading spaces  370 , the end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d  supply the tablets to the lower side. 
     The intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c  and the center tablet catching portion  365   e  each have the same basic structure as the end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d,  and hence detailed description thereof is omitted. 
     Tablets led into the tablet leading space  370  of each of the end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d  and the intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c  among the tablet catching portions  365  are supplied to one of the lateral conveyance portions  366  located in an intermediate stage. Then, the tablets are pushed to move in a lateral direction and supplied to the falling passage forming portion  367 . Finally, the tablets are led into the tablet push-out portion  368  (secondary conveyance portion) located in a lowermost stage. 
     Tablets led into the tablet leading space  370  of the center tablet catching portion  365   e  directly fall into the falling passage forming portion  367  without passing through the lateral conveyance portions  366  located in the intermediate stage and are led into the tablet push-out portion  368  (secondary conveyance portion) located in the lowermost stage. 
     Now, the lateral conveyance portion  366  located in the intermediate stage is described. As illustrated in  FIG. 30 , two lateral conveyance portions  366 , which are symmetrical to each other in the X direction and have the same structure, are arranged in the intermediate stage in such a manner as to be lined up in the X direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 31 , the lateral conveyance portion  366  includes a tablet catching groove portion  410  (catching portion), a wheel traveling portion  411 , and a guide arranging portion  412 . Specifically, the wheel traveling portion  411 , the tablet catching groove portion  410 , and the guide arranging portion  412  are arranged in the stated order from the near side in the Y direction in  FIG. 31  and are formed integrally with one another. Further, a motor  445  is arranged below these components. 
     The tablet catching groove portion  410  is a portion into which the tablets which fall from the end-side tablet catching portions  365   a  and  365   d  and the intermediate tablet catching portions  365   b  and  365   c  among the tablet catching portions  365  described above are led. The tablet catching groove portion  410  is a groove-like portion recessing downward and has a substantially rectangular sectional shape defining a space extending in the right-and-left direction. 
     At an end portion of the tablet catching groove portion  410  located on one end side in a longitudinal direction (end portion in the X direction of  FIG. 31 ), there is formed a tablet discharging port portion  418 , which is an opening portion allowing an inside and an outside to communicate with each other. The end portion at which the tablet discharging port portion  418  is formed is an end portion located on the center side of the tablet supplying device  19  in the X direction (see, for example,  FIG. 30 ). This end portion is continuous with the falling passage forming portion  367 . 
     The two lateral conveyance portions  366  are symmetrical to each other in the X direction, and the tablet discharge port portions  418  of the two lateral conveyance portions  366  are arranged adjacent to each other. The two tablet discharging port portions  418  are arranged across the falling passage forming portion  367 . 
     In the tablet catching groove portion  410 , as illustrated in  FIG. 31 , a tablet push-out piece portion  438  is arranged. The tablet push-out piece portion  438  is arranged inside the tablet catching groove portion  410  and is configured to move in the X direction along the tablet catching groove portion  410 . In  FIG. 31 , illustration is given of a state in which the tablet push-out piece portion  438  has moved to the vicinity of the tablet discharging port portion  418 . At the time of catching the falling tablets, the tablet push-out piece portion  438  is located at a waiting position that is most apart from the center side in the X direction. Then, the tablet push-out piece portion  438  pushes out the tablets having been led into the tablet catching groove portion  410  toward the falling passage forming portion  367 . 
     With such a configuration, tablets can be pushed out in the X direction by moving the tablet push-out piece portion  438  inside the tablet catching groove portion  410 . 
     That is, the tablet push-out piece portion  438  is allowed to wait on one end side of the tablet catching groove portion  410  in the longitudinal direction, which is also the end portion side located at the position apart from the tablet discharging port portion  418 . Then, tablets are caused to fall from the tablet catching portions  365  described above so that the tablets are supplied to the inner space of the tablet catching groove portion  410 . After that, the tablet push-out piece portion  438  moves in the X direction along the tablet catching groove portion  410  to the vicinity of the tablet discharging port portion  418 , thereby pushing out the tablets to the outside from the tablet discharging port portion  418 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 32 , the tablet push-out portion  368  located in the lowermost stage includes a shooter  480  and a push-out passage forming portion  473 . In the push-out passage forming portion  473 , there is provided a tablet conveying device  474  configured to convey supplied tablets in the Y direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 30  and  FIG. 32 , the shooter  480  is attached on an upper side of the push-out passage forming portion  473  and has a first tablet-supplying hole  470  passing through the inside of the shooter  480  in the up-and-down direction. An opening portion located on an upper side of the first tablet-supplying hole  470  serves as a leading port (tablet leading port  480   a ) for leading tablets at the time of supplying the tablets to the tablet push-out portion  368 . 
     The push-out passage forming portion  473  has the tablet conveying device  474  incorporated therein. As illustrated in  FIG. 32 , the tablet conveying device  474  has the structure including an upper pad portion  490  and a conveyor portion  491  and is caused to linearly move in the tablet push-out passage  20  by a driving device (not shown). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 32 , the tablet conveying device  474  has, at a part thereof, an accommodation hole  520  passing from a top surface to a bottom surface and is configured to convey tablets. 
     &lt;Tray&gt; 
     In the tablet packaging device  11 , tablets having been dispensed through the dispensing port  21  via the tablet supplying device  19  are finally accommodated in the tray  24  illustrated in  FIGS. 5  and  FIGS. 6 . Next, the tray  24  is described. 
     In  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , illustration is given of a state in which a lid sheet  25  is affixed to an open surface of the tray  24 . The tray  24  includes accommodation recess portions  26 , which are divided in a grid pattern of seven rows by four columns. Opposing side walls  27   a  located on long sides of the tray  24 , opposing side walls  27   b  located on short sides of the tray  24 , and division walls  27   c  dividing an area defined by the side walls  27   a  and  27   b  into seven rows by four columns are formed with the same height and cross one another in a lattice pattern, thereby forming uniform rectangular accommodation recess portions  26 . 
     The accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24  are arranged in the grid pattern of seven rows by four columns as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 . Besides, for example, the accommodation recess portions  26  may be arranged in a pattern of seven rows by five columns. Details regarding how to handle the tray  24  having a different size in the tablet packaging device  11  are described later. 
     Thickness portions of the side walls  27   a  and  27   b  and the division walls  27   c  on the bottom surface side have grooves  27   d  so as to have the thickness that maintains a certain strength. The bottom surface of the accommodation recess portion  26  has a thickness thinner than that of the thickness portions and is formed so as to have a large number of irregularly-shaped wrinkles  28 . The bottom surface is thin and has a large number of wrinkles  28 , thereby being capable of exerting a buffering function for tablets  29  accommodated therein. Moreover, when the bottom surface is pushed upward, the bottom surface is deformed into a mountain shape (see the two-dot chain line of  FIG. 6C ), thereby allowing the tablets  29  provided therein to be easily taken out. 
     The lid sheet  25  described above is a sheet made of paper or the like having a size matching with that of an entire surface of the tray  24  on the open side, and is affixed at the portions of the side walls  27   a  on the long sides, the side walls  27   b  on the short sides, and the division walls  27   c  described above with use of an adhesive  31  (see  FIG. 6A ). The lid sheet  25  has break/removal portions  31   b  each surrounded by a break line  31   a.  The break line  31   a  is a half-cut line or a perforated line forming a rectangle that has a size matching with that of the accommodation recess portion  26  (see  FIG. 6A ). The accommodation recess portion  26  may have a pinch part for convenience in opening the break/removal portion  31   b.    
     Moreover, the lid sheet  25  has projecting-portion insertion holes  31   c,  which are formed at positions corresponding to projecting portions  27   e  formed on the side walls  27   a  and  27   b  of the tray  24 . The projecting-portion insertion hole  31   c  may be formed into a through hole or may be formed into a cutout connecting to a peripheral edge of the lid sheet  25 . The projecting portion  27   e  and the projecting-portion insertion hole  31   c  are fitted to each other, thereby being capable of preventing misalignment of the lid sheet and erroneous combination with types of the tray  24 . When the adhesive  31  is provided to a part around the projecting-portion insertion hole  31   c,  it is difficult to set the projecting portion  27   e  and the lid sheet  25 . Therefore, portions indicated by broken lines  31   g  are subjected to adhesive elimination of not providing the adhesive  31 . 
     Further, at the side walls  27   b  of the tray  24  and at an upper edge of the lid sheet  25 , there are formed hook insertion holes  27   f  and  31   d  passing therethrough at corresponding positions , thereby allowing a tray having tablets packaged therein to be hooked. When the adhesive  31  is applied to a part around the hook insertion hole  31   d,  it is difficult to set the projecting portion  27   e  of tray  24  and the lid sheet  25 . Therefore, a portion indicated by the broken line  31   g  is subjected to adhesive elimination of not providing the adhesive  31 . 
     As a modification example, the tray  24  and the lid sheet  25  may have division lines  27   h  and  31   h  formed in advance (see  FIG. 25 ), which are perforation lines or the like surrounding the accommodation recess portions  26 , so that the tray  24  and the lid sheet  25  can each be cut in such a manner as to correspond to the accommodation recess portions  26 . In this configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 25 , processed regions  31   j  located at peripheral edge portions  27   j  of the division lines  27   h  of the tray  24  are not subjected to application of the adhesive  31  for affixing the tray  24  and the lid sheet  25  to each other or are subjected to adhesive elimination, thereby allowing the lid sheet  25  to be easily peeled off from the divided tray. 
     In margin portions of the break/removal portions  31   b  corresponding to the seven rows in the up-and-down direction, there are provided seven-days indications  32  and date indications  33  corresponding to the seven-days indications  32 . Moreover, in margin portions corresponding to the four columns in the right-and-left direction, there are provided administration timing indications  34  such as “MORNING” to “BEFORE SLEEPING” and other indications. Moreover, on each of the break/removal portions  31   b,  there are provided prescription indications  35  such as a name of a prescribee, an administration timing, a name of tablets, the amount of the tablets, and the like. In the case of the illustration of  FIG. 5A , there are provided indications of receiving tablets of an amount corresponding to four times a day for one week. However, in some cases, depending on a prescription, a different amount of tablets are accommodated, such as tablets of an amount corresponding to three times a day for five days. 
     Moreover, barcodes  31   e  are provided to the tray  24  and the lid sheet  25 . These barcodes contain information relating to serial numbers and the like of the tray  24  and the lid sheet  25  and are used when the tablet packaging device  11  checks a tray size, positions and the number of the accommodation recess portions  26 , and the like. Moreover, the barcodes  31   e  may contain a prescription ID. The prescription ID is associated with the prescription information (including patient information) held by the tablet packaging device  11  and is used for preventing an error at the time of affixing the lid sheet  25  to the tray  24  based on the prescription information. 
     A prescribee presses a corresponding break/removal portion  31   b  with a fingertip to break the break/removal portion  31   b  along the break line  31   a  at each of four administration timings in a corresponding day (see  FIG. 6B ). The break/removal portion  31   b  is pressed into the accommodation recess portion  26 . Thus, the break/removal portion  31   b  is taken out by pinching with fingertips, or is taken out together with the tablets  29  by pushing up a bottom surface of the accommodation recess portion  26  with a fingertip (see  FIG. 6C ). 
     Along with the action of taking out the tablets  29 , the break/removal portion  31   b  is broken and removed, and the accommodation recess portion  26  is opened. Therefore, it can be easily checked whether or not administration has been forgotten by only distinguishing whether or not the accommodation recess portion  26  is opened. 
     &lt;Packaging Portion&gt; 
     Next, the packaging portion  14  is described in detail. As illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the packaging portion  14  is covered with a cover lid  22  in a normal state, and an inside of the packaging portion  14  can be observed through inspection windows  22   a  and  22   b  provided at two positions. For example, a tray loading unit  1  received inside can be observed through the inspection window  22   a,  and a tray unloading unit  2  received inside can be observed through the inspection window  22   b.  When the cover lid  22  is removed, the packaging portion  14  is exposed to the outside.  FIG. 7  is a transverse sectional view for illustrating a state in which the cover lid  22  is removed and an upper half part of the frame  12  is cut and removed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , in the packaging portion  14 , there are provided the tray loading unit  1 , the tray unloading unit  2 , and a manual-distribution unit  3  as units which can be visually checked from the outside of the device. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , on the front side of the packaging portion  14 , as component members of the tray loading unit  1  and the tray unloading unit  2 , there are provided a loading drawer  23   a  and an unloading drawer  23   b,  which are each capable of being drawn forward to the outside of the packaging portion  14  and pushed into the packaging portion  14 . In the case of the illustration of  FIG. 3 , the loading drawer  23   a  and the unloading drawer  23   b  are manually drawn out and pushed in (see double-head arrows of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7 ). However, the loading drawer  23   a  and the unloading drawer  23   b  may be automatically driven. 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the manual-distribution unit  3  similarly includes a manual distribution drawer  23   c,  which is capable of being drawn forward to the outside of the packaging portion  14  and pushed into the packaging portion  14 . A specific configuration of the manual-distribution unit  3  is described later. 
     Besides the tray loading unit  1 , the tray unloading unit  2 , and the manual-distribution unit  3 , which are visually checked from the outside of the device, the packaging portion  14  includes, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a tray driving unit  4 , a tray attaching unit  5 , and a tray detaching unit  6  inside the device. 
     The tray loading unit  1  is a unit configured to load the tray  24  before prescription into the device. The tray loading unit  1  includes the loading drawer  23   a  as described above and a first placement table  30   a  configured to place the tray  24  inside the loading drawer  23   a.    
     The loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  is set in such a manner that the first placement table  30   a  is located at a tray handling position outside the packaging portion  14  when the loading drawer  23   a  is drawn out and that the first placement table  30   a  is located at a waiting position inside the packaging portion  14  when the loading drawer  23   a  is pushed in (see  FIG. 11A ). 
     The first placement table  30   a  is provided on two first support members  36 . The two first support members  36  are arranged parallel to each other in the X direction and are configured to arrange the tray  24  to be loaded to the device. The first placement table  30   a  supports both ends of the tray  24  in the X direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the tray  24  is mounted to the first placement table  30   a  on the first support members  36  under a state in which the tray  24  is received by the adapter  10 . The adapter  10  has a frame shape being opened on an upper side and allowing the tray  24  to be accommodated from the upper side. A configuration of the adapter  10  is described later. 
     The tray  24  is accommodated in the adapter  10  by placing the tray  24  from an upper side of a frame main body  10   a  into the frame main body  10   a.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the adapter  10  includes the frame main body  10   a,  a bottom plate  10   b,  and two tray support ribs  10   c.  The frame main body  10   a  has a rectangular frame shape. The bottom plate  10   b  forms a bottom surface of the frame main body. The tray support ribs  10   c  are arranged along an upper surface of the bottom plate  10   b.    
     Moreover, an identification member  10   e  is provided on a front surface of the frame main body  10   a  of the adapter  10 . The identification member  10   e  is used for checking the matching between prescription and the tray  24  in cooperation with a sensor, which stores information regarding, for example, types of adapters and is provided to the loading drawer  23   a.    
     Moreover, the frame main body  10   a  of the adapter  10  includes two tray detection sensors  10   f  and  10   g.  The tray detection sensor  10   f  is configured to detect whether or not a tray is placed on the adapter  10  by emitting a detection light in a front-and-rear direction of the adapter  10 . At an intermediate position of each of the tray support ribs  10   c,  there is formed a light passage groove  10   d  which is capable of allowing the detection light of the tray detection sensor  10   f  to pass therethrough. Moreover, at a position opposed to the tray detection sensor  10   f  of the adapter  10 , there is provided a reflection member (not shown). When the tray  24  is not placed on the adapter  10 , the detection light passes through the light passage grooves  10   d,  is reflected on the reflection member, and then enters the tray detection sensor  10   f.  When the tray is placed, the detection light is blocked by the tray  24  and thus does not return to the tray detection sensor  10   f.  The light passage grooves have a function to prevent positional displacement of the tray  24  by being engaged with a protruding portion (not shown) of a bottom surface of the tray  24 . 
     The adapter  10  described above includes a right side frame  10 R and a left side frame  10 L formed into the same shape. The number of components can be reduced by forming the right side frame  10 R and the left side frame  10 L into the same shape. 
     However, because the right side frame  10 R and the left side frame  10 L have the same shape, when the right side frame  10 R and the left side frame  10 L are set on the first placement table  30   a  under a state in which the right and left are reversed, it is difficult to determine the state in which the right side frame  10 R and the left side frame  10 L are reversely set. Therefore, a cutout or a recess portion is formed in one of the side frames so that the difference of the right and left can be distinguished. A sensor configured to detect the cutout or the recess portion is provided to the first placement table  30   a,  thereby being capable of determining whether or not the adapter  10  is correctly set based on an output from the sensor. 
     The tray detection sensor  10   g  emits light in the X direction. The tray detection sensor  10   g  is a sensor configured to detect a type of a tray placed on the adapter  10 . Specifically, the adapter  10  is capable of placing a plurality of types of trays having different sizes in the Y direction. More specifically, the adapter  10  is capable of placing a tray having an arrangement of seven rows by four columns or a tray having an arrangement of seven rows by five columns. When a tray which is small in the Y direction is placed on the adapter  10 , the detection light emitted from the tray detection sensor  10   g  is not blocked by the tray  24  and is reflected on a reflection member (not shown) to return to the tray detection sensor  10   g.  Meanwhile, when a tray which is large in the Y direction is placed on the adapter  10 , the detection light emitted from the tray detection sensor  10   g is blocked by the tray  24  and thus does not return to the tray detection sensor  10   g.    
     As a result, based on combinations of detection results of the two tray detection sensors  10   f  and  10   g,  the presence or absence of a tray and the size of a tray placed on the adapter  10  can be detected. That is, the following determinations can be made. When both of the tray detection sensors  10   f  and  10   g  do not detect the detection light, a state in which a tray is not placed on the adapter  10  is determined. When both of the tray detection sensors  10   f  and  10   g  detect the detection light, a state in which a tray having a large size is placed on the adapter  10  is determined. When the tray detection sensor  10   f  detects the detection light, and the tray detection sensor  10   g  does not detect the detection light, a state in which a tray having a small size is placed on the adapter  10  is determined. 
     Moreover, ratchet members  56  are provided on outer side surfaces of the frame main body. The ratchet member  56  is a block-like member provided so as to be capable of advancing and retreating in the X direction relative to the side surface of the adapter  10 , and includes a stage engagement ratchet  56   a  having an inclined surface on an outer side surface thereof in the X direction (see  FIG. 21 ). The ratchet members  56  are urged in such a manner that the stage engagement ratchets  56   a  protrude toward outer sides of the adapter. The ratchet members  56  are used for engaging a conveyance stage  48 , which is described later, and the adapter  10  with each other, and details are described later. 
     The adapter may have, for example, a configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 24  as a modification example thereof. As illustrated in  FIGS. 24 , an adapter  110  of the modification example includes a pack setting plate  111  for the tray  24  to accommodate the tray  24  having flexibility without flexure. The adapter  110  illustrated in  FIGS. 24  includes a frame main body  110   a  and the pack setting plate  111 . The frame main body  110   a  has a rectangular frame shape. The pack setting plate  111  is removably fitted to the frame main body  110   a.  The pack setting plate  111  is formed of a thin metal sheet, and has rectangular holes  111   a  corresponding to the accommodation recess portions  26  formed in the tray  24 . Surroundings of the rectangular holes  111   a  have the same dimension as a width of grooves  27   d  (see  FIG. 5B ) of the tray  24 , and division walls  27   c  are supported from below so that the tray  24  can be accommodated without flexure. 
     The frame main body  110   a  and the pack setting plate  111  are removably fitted to each other, and a plurality of types of pack setting plates  111  may be prepared in advance. That is, through use of a pack setting plate that is different in the number and positions of rectangular holes of the pack setting plate  111  in accordance with the number (other than 4×7) of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 , the same adapter can be used in accordance with a type of the tray  24 . 
     Moreover, the pack setting plate  111  has a groove portion  111   b  at a portion corresponding to one column of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . The groove portion  111   b  is used in sensing for detecting whether or not the tray  24  is accommodated in the adapter  110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 24B , the frame main body  110   a  on which the pack setting plate  111  is set has a cutout  110   b  at a position corresponding to the groove portion  111   b,  and a reflection mirror  110   c  is provided at a position opposed to the cutout  110   b.  The cutout  110   b  is formed at a position corresponding to a light emitter of a light sensor (not shown) when the adapter  110  is mounted to the tray loading unit  1 . In a state in which the tray  24  is mounted to the adapter  110 , an inspection light emitted from the light sensor is blocked by the tray  24 . Thus, the inspection light does not return to the light sensor. Meanwhile, in a state in which the tray  24  is not mounted to the adapter  10 , the inspection light emitted from the light sensor is reflected on the reflection mirror  110   c  and returns to the light sensor. Thus, the light sensor is capable of detecting the presence or absence of the tray  24  through detection of the reflected light. 
     The tray unloading unit  2  is a unit configured to mount the tray  24  having the tablets  29  packaged therein and remove the tray  24  from the tablet packaging device  11 . The tray unloading unit  2  is provided to the packaging portion  14  in such an arrangement as to be adjacent to the tray loading unit  1  in the X direction. The tray unloading unit  2  includes the unloading drawer  23   b  as described above and a second placement table  30   b  configured to place the tray  24  inside the unloading drawer  23   b.    
     The unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2  is set in such a manner that the second placement table  30   b  is located at a tray handling position outside the packaging portion  14  when the unloading drawer  23   b  is drawn out and that the second placement table  30   b  is located at a waiting position inside the packaging portion  14  when the unloading drawer  23   b  is pushed in. 
     The second placement table  30   b  is provided on two second support members  37 . The two second support members  37  are arranged parallel to each other in the X direction and are configured to arrange the tray  24  having tablets packaged therein. The second placement table  30   b  supports both ends of the adapter  10 , which has the tray  24  received therein, in the X direction. 
     The manual-distribution unit  3  is a unit configured to allow manual packaging of tablets, which are not accommodated in the tablet accommodating portion  13 , to the tray  24  having the tablets  29  packaged therein. The manual-distribution unit  3  includes the manual distribution drawer  23   c  as described above and a manual-distribution container  38 . 
     The manual distribution drawer  23   c  of the manual-distribution unit  3  is set as follows. When the manual distribution drawer  23   c  is drawn out, the manual-distribution container  38  is set to be located at a manual-distribution operation position outside the packaging portion  14 . When the manual distribution drawer  23   c  is pushed in, the manual-distribution container  38  is set to be located above a waiting position of the tray unloading unit  2 . The draw-out and push-in operations of the manual distribution drawer  23   c  may be manually performed by an operator or may be automatically performed by a motor or the like. 
     The tray driving unit  4  includes a conveyance stage  48  configured to be horizontally movable in the X direction and the Y direction. The conveyance stage  48  supports the tray  24 , which is loaded to the tray loading unit  1 , together with the adapter  10  and drives the tray in such a manner that the dispensing port  21  configured to dispense the tablets  29  corresponds to each of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . After packaging, the conveyance stage  48  conveys the tray  24  to a position above the tray unloading unit  2 . 
     The tray attaching unit  5  is a unit configured to attach the adapter  10 , which has received the tray  24  mounted to the tray loading unit  1 , to the tray driving unit  4 . 
     The tray detaching unit  6  is a unit configured to remove the adapter  10 , which has received the tray  24  supported by the tray driving unit  4 , from the tray driving unit  4  and mount the adapter  10  to the tray unloading unit  2 . 
     Now, a configuration of each of the units described above is described in detail. 
     As described above, the first placement table  30   a  provided in the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  is provided on the two first support members  36  and supports the both ends of the adapter  10  in the X direction, thereby mounting the adapter  10  to the tray loading unit  1 . That is, other members of the tray loading unit  1  are not arranged in a space defined between the two first support members  36 , and the space serves as a region for allowing the tray attaching unit  5 , which is arranged on a lower side of the tray loading unit  1 , to receive the adapter  10  (first raising/lowering device passage region  39 ). 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a sensor  36   a  is provided to the loading drawer  23   a.  The sensor  36   a  is configured to distinguish identification information recorded in the identification member  10   e  provided to the adapter  10 . The sensor  36   a  reads the information recorded in the identification member  10   e  provided to the adapter  10 , associates the tray  24  set at the time of setting the tray  24  with a type and a prescription ID of the adapter  10 , and send the associated information to a control device  200  (see  FIG. 33 ) for the tablet packaging device  11 . A configuration of the control device  200  is described later. 
     The prescription ID is the same as the prescription ID written in the barcodes  31   e  provided to the tray  24  and the lid sheet  25 . Those barcodes are read through use of a barcode reader which is provided to the device main body or operates in conjunction with the device so that the prescription ID is used for comparison with the identification information of the tray. 
     When a comparison result exhibits matching between the prescription ID and the identification information of the tray, the comparison result may be notified to a user through use of notification means, which is described later, of the unloading drawer  23   b.  Alternatively, the barcodes may be read at the time of drawing out the unloading drawer  23   b  and affixing the lid sheet  25  to the tray  24 , and a warning sound may be made when the combination is incorrect. 
     A first raising/lowering device  40  of the tray attaching unit  5  is provided below the waiting position of the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the first raising/lowering device  40  includes an adapter placement table  41 , an up-and-down movement motor  42 , a slider  44  arranged on a rotation shaft  43  of the up-and-down movement motor  42 , and a link member  45  configured to raise and lower the first raising/lowering device  40 . 
     The slider  44  is a worm gear threadedly engaged with the threaded rotation shaft  43  and is configured to move in the Y-axis direction along the rotation shaft  43  with rotation of the up-and-down movement motor  42 . The link member  45  is formed of two members intersecting each other. One member  45   a  of the link member  45  is turnably attached to a fixing bracket plate  46  and the adapter placement table  41  of the first raising/lowering device  40 , and another member  45   b  of the link member  45  is attached at its lower end to the slider  44  and is slidably attached to a long hole  41   a  formed in the adapter placement table  41 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , in a state in which the adapter placement table  41  of the first raising/lowering device  40  is lowered, a gap is defined between the adapter placement table  41  and the adapter  10  mounted to the first placement table  30   a.  With the presence of the gap, the adapter  10  having received the tray  24  can freely move along with the draw-out and push-in operations of the loading drawer  23   a  without being brought into contact with the first raising/lowering device  40 . Accordingly, the adapter  10  can be drawn out and pushed in with respect to the packaging portion  14 . 
     When the up-and-down movement motor  42  is driven to move the slider  44 , the link member  45  stands up, thereby raising the adapter placement table  41 . As described above, the space defined between the two first support members  36  of the loading drawer  23   a  serves as the first raising/lowering device passage region  39 , thereby allowing the adapter placement table  41  to pass therethrough. As the adapter placement table  41  is raised, the adapter placement table  41  supports the adapter  10 , which is mounted to the first placement table  30   a,  from below and lifts up the adapter  10  above the first placement table  30   a.    
     On an upper surface of the adapter placement table  41 , there are provided guide pines  47 , which are fixed while being directed upward. The adapter  10  is fitted over the guide pins  47 , thereby preventing displacement of the adapter  10  on the adapter placement table  41 . 
     On an upper side of the adapter placement table  41 , the conveyance stage  48  included in the tray driving unit  4  can be located. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the conveyance stage  48  is attached in a state of projecting forward in the Y direction from an XY robot  49  described later, and is capable of horizontally moving in the X direction and the Y direction in the packaging portion  14 . The XY robot  49  is capable of moving the conveyance stage  48  to positions corresponding to the tray attaching unit  5 , the tray detaching unit  6 , and the dispensing port  21  (see  FIG. 11A ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the conveyance stage  48  includes division walls  51  provided in a grid pattern on an inner side of a frame  50  having a rectangular shape, thereby forming division chambers  52  having seven divisions in the X direction (right-and-left direction) and four divisions in the Y direction (front-and-rear direction). A type of the conveyance stage  48  can be changed in accordance with a shape of a tray to be used. 
     The division chambers  52  each have a pot-like shape, which is opened on upper and lower sides and has an upper portion reduced in size as extending downward. The size of a lower opening portion of the division chamber  52  substantially matches with the size of the accommodation recess portion  26  of the tray  24 . 
     Corner portions of the frame  50  having the rectangular shape are operation step portions  53  for opening shutters (first shutter  73  and second shutter  74 ), which are described later, of the manual-distribution unit  3 . A connection operation for the manual-distribution unit  3  and the conveyance stage  48  is described later in detail. 
     The conveyance stage  48  is capable of attaching the adapter  10  to a lower surface of the conveyance stage  48 . Specifically, the conveyance stage  48  includes tray fixing members  54 . The tray fixing members  54  extend downward from side surfaces of the conveyance stage  48  on both sides in the X direction and have lower ends extending outward. The tray fixing members  54  each have an engagement hole  55 . The engagement holes  55  are engaged with the ratchet members  56  provided to the adapter  10  in such a manner as to be capable of advancing and retreating. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the adapter  10  lifted up by the first raising/lowering device  40  is brought into contact with the tray fixing members  54  extending downward from the conveyance stage  48  so that the ratchet members  56  are pushed inward. Further, when the adapter  10  is raised, and the stage engagement ratchets  56   a  reach the engagement holes  55 , the ratchet members  56  return outward so that the tray fixing members  54  and the ratchet members  56  are engaged, thereby fixing the adapter  10  on the lower side of the conveyance stage  48 . Although illustration is not given, the conveyance stage  48  includes a coupling position sensor configured to detect that the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  are fixed to each other. The control device  200  detects a coupling state of the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  based on an output from the coupling position sensor. 
     At this time, the upper surface of the adapter  10  and the lower surface of the conveyance stage  48  come close to each other to such an extent of being brought into contact with each other. As a result, the tray  24  is attached to the tray driving unit  4  in a state of being sandwiched between the lower surface of the conveyance stage  48  and the upper surface of the adapter  10 . In view of this, a length of the tray fixing members  54  is set to such a dimension as to conform to a height dimension of the adapter  10 . The dimension of the adapter  10  is suitably set depending on a type of the tray  24  to be received. That is, for example, when a depth of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24  are deep, the height dimension of the adapter  10  is large, and hence the conveyance stage  48  conforming to the adapter  10  is used. 
     With such a configuration of attaching the adapter  10  to the lower surface of the conveyance stage  48 , a position of the upper surface of the conveyance stage  48  can be set to a constant height regardless of a type of the tray  24 . Therefore, it is not required to perform height adjustment with respect to the manual-distribution container, which is described later, during the packaging operation. 
     The conveyance stage  48  is fixed in such a manner as to be supported from below by an attaching arm  58   a  of a stage attaching member  58  coupled to an X-direction slider  57  provided to the XY robot  49  (see  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 14 ). Regarding the coupling of the conveyance stage  48  and the attaching arm  58   a,  engagement claws  59   a  are moved by attaching/detaching levers  59  provided to the conveyance stage  48  so that the conveyance stage  48  and the attaching arm  58   a  can be engaged and disengaged. As a result, the conveyance stage  48  is released from the X-direction slider  57  and can be taken out to the outside of the packaging portion  14 . Thus, cleaning and the like can be performed on the conveyance stage  48 . 
     The conveyance stage  48  includes the division chambers  52  corresponding to the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . The conveyance stage  48  of a type corresponding to a type (size) of the tray  24  is prepared. That is, in this embodiment, there are provided two types of division chambers  52  of the conveyance stage  48 , including a type of seven rows by four columns and a type of seven rows by five columns. A sensor (not shown) configured to determine a type of the conveyance stage  48  having a different number of division chambers may be provided to the attaching arm  58   a.  Specifically, the conveyance stage  48  has a different dimension in the Y direction in accordance with the number of columns, and hence the conveyance stage  48  is arranged at a different position. As the sensor, for example, an optical sensor attached to the arrangement position of the conveyance stage can be used. Accordingly, the conveyance stage  48  having a different size can be detected. 
     As a specific example of the sensor, for example, similarly to the tray detection sensor  10   g,  a sensor configured to emit light in the X direction can be used. In this case, as one example, after a conveyance stage  48  which is small in the Y direction is attached to the attaching arm  58   a,  movement by a certain distance in the Y direction is performed for adjustment of an original position. During the movement, when the sensor emitting the light in the X direction does not detect the conveyance stage  48 , it can be determined that, for example, the small conveyance stage  48  having the arrangement of seven rows by four columns is present. 
     The conveyance stage  48  can be replaced by a user in accordance with a type (size) of the tray  24 . However, when the XY robot  49  operates under a state in which the conveyance stage  48  is not reliably set on the attaching arm  58   a,  the operation may cause trouble. Therefore, a sensor configured to detect, for example, inclination given at the time of replacing or setting the conveyance stage  48  may be separately provided. 
     A collection tray  60  which is long in the right-and-left direction is removably attached to a rear-end center portion of the stage attaching member  58  (see  FIG. 9 ). With this collection tray  60 , tablets and dust such as broken pieces of tablets which erroneously remain in the tablet push-out passage  20  and the dispensing port  21  facing the lower end of the shooter  480  are collected. The operation of collecting the dust can be performed at appropriate timings. As described later, it is preferred that the operation of collecting the dust be performed before starting the packaging process. The dust may erroneously fall into the shooter  480  and the like, for example, at the time of starting the device. Accordingly, distribution of tablets based on an incorrect prescription can be prevented by performing the collection operation at the time of starting the device. 
     Moreover, a magnet may be attached to the collection tray  60  so that the collection tray  60  is fixed to the rear end center of the stage attaching member  58  by a magnetic force of the magnet. Through use of the magnet, the collection tray  60  can easily be attached and detached. 
       FIG. 11A  is a view for schematically illustrating a mode of movement of the loading drawer  23   a,  the unloading drawer  23   b,  and the conveyance stage  48  inside the packaging portion  14 . 
     A position given at the time of drawing out the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  is referred to as a tray handling position “a”. A position of the adapter  10  on the first placement table  30   a  given at the time of pushing the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  into the packaging portion  14  is referred to as a waiting position “b”. Moreover, a position of the adapter  10  on the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2  is referred to as a waiting position “c”. Moreover, a position given at the time of drawing out the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2  is referred to as a tray handling position “d”. 
     A movement amount of the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  in the front-and-rear direction (Y direction) is set so that the adapter  10  is located at the tray handling position “a” outside the packaging portion  14  when the loading drawer  23   a  is drawn out and that the adapter  10  is located at the waiting position “b” inside the packaging portion  14  when the loading drawer  23   a  is pushed in. 
     Further, a movement amount of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2  in the front-and-rear direction (Y direction) is set so that the adapter  10  is located at the tray handling position “d” outside the packaging portion  14  when the unloading drawer  23   b  is drawn out and that the adapter  10  is located at the waiting position “c” inside the packaging portion  14  when the unloading drawer  23   b  is pushed in. 
     The tray loading unit  1  and the tray unloading unit  2 , that is, the loading drawer  23   a  and the unloading drawer  23   b  perform a process of manually or automatically moving the first placement table  30   a  and the second placement table  30   b  between the tray handling positions “a” and “d” and the waiting positions “b” and “c”, respectively, in accordance with timings of movement of the conveyance stage  48 . 
     The XY robot  49  sets a position at which the conveyance stage  48  is present above the waiting position “b” of the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  as illustrated in  FIG. 11A  as an original position, and supports the adapter  10  at this original position. This position is referred to as a discharging position A. The XY robot  49  moves the conveyance stage  48  in order, as illustrated in  FIG. 11A , from the discharging position A at the original position to a receiving start position B of starting receiving the tablets  29  below the dispensing port  21  of the tablets  29  and a receiving end position C of completing receiving the tablets  29 . Through the driving of the XY robot  49 , the conveyance stage  48  moves below the dispensing port  21  of the tablet  29  as indicated by the arrows of  FIG. 11B . 
     The movement order of the tray  24  may be the order reverse to that of  FIG. 11B , thereby setting the receiving start position to the position indicated by C in  FIG. 11A  and setting the waiting position to the position indicated by B in  FIG. 11A . As a result, a movement distance of the conveyance stage  48  is shortened, thereby being capable of shortening time required for distribution to one tray  24 . The movement direction of the conveyance stage  48  may be selected from the two modes described above. 
     Moreover, after tablets are received at each of the division chambers, the XY robot  49  moves the conveyance stage  48  to a position above the waiting position “c” of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 . The XY robot  49  performs the series of operations described above as a conveying process. 
     Next, a configuration of the XY robot  49  is described with reference to  FIG. 12  to  FIG. 14 . The XY robot  49  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the tray driving unit  4  includes an X-direction drive motor  61 , a Y-direction drive motor  62 , a Y-direction drive belts  63 , and an X-direction drive belt  65 . The Y-direction drive belt  63  is interlocked by interlocking shafts  64 , which are installed at two positions on the right and left of the packaging portion  14  and extend in the X direction. The X-direction drive belt  65  is interlocked by an interlocking shaft  66  extending in the Z direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , a belt sandwiching member  67  is attached to the X-direction drive belt  65 , and the X-direction slider  57  is provided to the belt sandwiching member  67 . The X-direction slider  57  is slidably fitted to an X-direction guide  68 . The X-direction guide  68  is connected to a Y-direction slider  71  having both ends connected to the Y-direction drive belt  63  as described later and can be driven as a whole in the Y direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the X-direction slider  57  is slidable in the X direction along a guide rail  68   b  provided in a casing  68   a  of the X-direction guide  68 . An upper part of the casing  68   a  of the X-direction guide  68  is opened. The X-direction slider  57  is engaged with an upper part of the guide rail  68   b  so that the X-direction slider  57  is slidable relative to the guide rail  68   b.    
     X-direction position sensors  68   c  are provided near both ends of the casing  68   a  of the X-direction guide  68 . As the X-direction position sensors  68   c,  for example, optical sensors may be used, which are configured to detect whether or not a sensor light is blocked with use of a detection piece  57   a  provided to the X-direction slider  57 . The X-direction position sensors  68   c  detect a position of the X-direction slider  57  at the original position at which the conveyance stage  48  is present above the waiting position “b” of the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  and at an X-direction position above the waiting position “c” of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , the Y-direction slider  71  provided at both ends of the X-direction guide  68  is slidably fitted to Y-direction guide bars  69  arranged along the Y-direction drive belt  63 . The Y-direction slider  71  is connected to the Y-direction drive belt  63  by a belt sandwiching member  70  and is driven in the Y-direction integrally with the X-direction guide  68  along with driving of the Y-direction drive belt  63 . 
     The Y-direction drive motor  62  and the X-direction drive motor  61  are each formed of a stepping motor and are configured to be driven based on drive signals in the Y direction and the X direction given by the control device  200  (see  FIG. 33 ). When the Y-direction drive belt  63  is driven by the driving of the Y-direction drive motor  62 , the conveyance stage  48  is moved in the Y direction by a predetermined distance. Moreover, when the X-direction drive belt  65  is driven by the driving of the X-direction drive motor  61 , the conveyance stage  48  coupled to the X-direction drive belt  65  is driven in the X direction. In such a manner, the XY robot  49  performs the above-mentioned movement of the conveyance stage  48  in the X and Y directions. 
     The XY robot  49  is controlled so as to perform the conveying process for the adapter  10  coupled to the conveyance stage  48 , which corresponds to one cycle described above for each tray  24 , in a horizontal plane of the packaging portion  14 . When the conveyance stage  48  is to be moved to a position above the waiting position “c” of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 , in this embodiment, the XY robot  49  is controlled to perform positioning in the Y direction and thereafter perform positioning in the X direction. This is for the opening operation for shutters (first shutter  73  and second shutter  74 ) of the manual-distribution container  38  of the manual-distribution unit  3 . 
     In the conveying process described above, when the conveyance stage  48  is moved and positioned in the X direction so that the conveyance stage  48  is positioned above the waiting position “c” of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 , the shutters of the manual-distribution container  38  of the manual-distribution unit  3  are opened, and hence tablets contained in the manual-distribution container  38  are discharged to the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the manual-distribution container  38  of the manual-distribution unit  3  includes a container main body  72 , the first shutter  73 , and the second shutter  74 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the container main body  72  includes division walls  76  provided in a grid pattern on an inner side of a frame  75  having a rectangular shape, thereby forming division chambers  77  having seven divisions in the X direction (right-and-left direction) and five divisions in the Y direction (front-and-rear direction). A type of the container main body  72  can be changed in accordance with a shape of the conveyance stage  48  to be used. Moreover, a lid plate  75   a  is provided to the frame  75 . The lid plate  75   a  is configured to cover some division chambers  77  corresponding to the number of accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24  at divisions arranged in the Y direction on the far side of the X direction. The lid plate  75   a  is configured to be openable and closable. When the lid plate  75   a  is closed, the division chambers  77  divided into seven divisions in the X direction (right-and-left direction) by four divisions in the Y direction (front-and-rear direction) are exposed. 
     The container main body  72  may have a configuration without the lid plate  75   a.  In this case, the container main body, the second shutter  74 , and the first shutter  73  are each divided into seven divisions in the X direction (right-and-left direction) by four divisions in the Y direction (front-and-rear direction). 
     The division chambers  77  is opened on upper and lower sides and has an upper portion reduced in size as extending downward. The size of a lower opening portion of the division chamber  77  substantially matches with the size of the division chamber  52  of the conveyance stage  48 . 
     A shutter guide member  72   a  having a thin plate shape is fixed to a bottom surface of the container main body  72  with a certain gap in the up-and-down direction (see  FIG. 16 ), and the second shutter  74  and the first shutter  73  are provided in the gap in the stated order from the upper side. 
     In the shutter guide member  72   a,  guide rollers  72   b,  which are arranged at constant intervals in the X direction on both front and rear sides in the Y direction and are supported on vertical shafts extending in the Z direction, are arranged at a plurality of positions along a moving direction of the first shutter  73  (second shutter  74 ). Moreover, the shutter guide member  72   a  is connected to a spring attaching piece  73   d  of the first shutter  73  and a spring attaching piece  74   d  of the second shutter  74  through intermediation of a spring  72   c,  thereby maintaining the shutters in a closed state. 
     The first shutter  73  is formed of one stainless-steel plate  73   a  having a length substantially equal to a length of the container main body  72  in the front-and-rear direction along the Y direction. The first shutter  73  has rectangular holes  73   b,  which are arranged in a lattice pattern and are formed in such a manner as to correspond to the division chambers  77  of the container main body  72 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the spring attaching piece  73   d  is formed on a rear peripheral edge, and engagement pieces  73   c  which are bent downward are formed on a peripheral edge in the X direction. 
     The second shutter  74  has a configuration similar to the configuration of the first shutter  73 , and is formed of one stainless-steel plate  74   a  having a length substantially equal to the length of the container main body  72  in the front-and-rear direction. The second shutter  74  has rectangular holes  74   b,  which are arranged in a lattice pattern and are formed in such a manner as to correspond to the division chambers  77  of the container main body  72 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the spring attaching piece  74   d  is formed on a front peripheral edge, and engagement pieces  74   c  which are bent downward are formed on a peripheral edge in the X direction. 
     The first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  are inserted in the gap between the container main body  72  and the shutter guide member  72   a  in such a manner as to be slidable in the X direction. The shutter guide member  72   a  is configured to guide the bottom surface and both front and rear side edges of each of the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74 . 
     When the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  are inserted most deeply, the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  overlap the entirety of the bottom surface of the container main body  72 , thereby bringing about a fully closed state of closing all of the bottom surfaces of the division chambers  77  (see  FIG. 17A  and  FIG. 18 ). At this time, the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  are arranged in such a manner that positions of the engagement pieces  73   c  and  74   c  are apart from each other in the X direction. Moreover, the rectangular holes  74   b  of the second shutter  74  are formed in such a manner that positions of the rectangular holes  74   b  are apart from the rectangular holes of the first shutter in the X direction. Thus, when the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  overlap each other, the bottom surfaces of the division chambers  77  of the container main body  72  are closed. 
     When the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  slide (see  FIG. 17B ), the division chambers  77  of the container main body  72  are sequentially opened, and tablets in the division chambers  77  of the manual-distribution container  38  are discharged to the tray  24 . 
     When the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  are in a fully opened state, the rectangular holes  73   b  and  74   b  formed in the shutters  73  and  74  match the division walls  76  of the container main body  72 . 
     Next, an opening mechanism for the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  is described. As described above, the shutters (first shutter  73  and second shutter  74 ) of the manual-distribution container  38  are opened along with the movement of the conveyance stage  48  to the waiting position “c” of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2  by the XY robot  49 . 
     As described above, the manual distribution drawer  23   c  of the manual-distribution unit  3  is set as follows. When the manual distribution drawer  23   c  is drawn out, the manual-distribution container  38  is located at the manual-distribution operation position outside the packaging portion  14 . When the manual distribution drawer  23   c  is pushed in, the manual-distribution container  38  is located above the waiting position of the tray unloading unit  2 . The manual-distribution unit  3  is located at such a height position that, when the manual distribution drawer  23   c  is pushed in, the manual-distribution container  38  is located directly above the conveyance stage  48 . 
     In this state, when the XY robot  49  performs positioning of the conveyance stage  48  in the X direction to the position above the waiting position “c” of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 , as illustrated in  FIG. 17A , the conveyance stage  48  moves in the X direction along the bottom surface of the manual-distribution container  38 . The operation step portions  53  are formed at the end portion of the conveyance stage  48  in the X direction as described above and are brought into engagement with the engagement pieces  73   c  of the first shutter  73  and the engagement pieces  74   c  of the second shutter  74 . 
     When the conveyance stage  48  is moved in the X direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 17B , the engagement pieces  73   c  of the first shutter  73  located on the near side in the moving direction come into contact with the operation step portions  53 . In this state, when the conveyance stage  48  further moves in the X direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 17C , the first shutter  73  is pushed by the conveyance stage  48  to slide, thereby opening each of the division chambers  77  of the container main body  72  only by half. This state is illustrated in  FIG. 19 . 
     When the conveyance stage  48  further moves in the X direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 17D , the engagement pieces  73   c  of the first shutter  73  are brought into engagement with the engagement pieces  74   c  of the second shutter  74 , and the second shutter  74  is pushed by the conveyance stage  48  to slide. In this state, the division chambers  77  of the container main body  72  are brought into the fully opened state. This state is illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
     As a closing mechanism for the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74 , the manual-distribution container  38  uses a spring force of the spring  72   c  connected to the respective spring attaching pieces  73   d  and  74   d  of the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . Free end portions of the spring are coupled to the spring attaching pieces  73   d  and  74   d  so that the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  are each urged and brought into the closing state. Thus, after tablets are discharged to the tray  24  from the state illustrated in  FIG. 17D , when the conveyance stage  48  is moved by the XY robot for the next prescription, the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  are returned to the closing position by the spring force of the spring  72   c.    
     When the operation of discharging tablets to the tray by the manual-distribution unit  3  is terminated as described above, in order to unload the tray  24  to the outside of the device, the adapter  10  is conveyed to the tray unloading unit  2 . This operation is performed by the tray detaching unit  6 . 
     As described above, the tray detaching unit  6  detaches the adapter  10 , which has received the tray  24  supported by the tray driving unit  4 , from the tray driving unit  4  and causes the tray  24  to be mounted to the tray unloading unit  2 . 
     As described above, the second placement table  30   b  provided in the drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2  is provided on the two second support members  37  and supports the both ends of the adapter  10  in the X direction, thereby mounting the adapter  10  to the tray unloading unit  2 . That is, other members of the tray unloading unit  2  are not arranged in a space defined between the two second support members  37 , and the space serves as a region for allowing the tray detaching unit  6 , which is arranged on a lower side of the tray unloading unit  2 , to receive the adapter  10  (second raising/lowering device passage region  78 ). 
     A second raising/lowering device  79  of the tray detaching unit  6  is provided below the waiting position of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 . 
     The second raising/lowering device  79  has a main configuration common to that of the first raising/lowering device  40  of the tray attaching unit  5 , and hence a detailed description is omitted. The second raising/lowering device  79  and the first raising/lowering device  40  are different from each other in that a releasing member  80  configured to detach the adapter  10  from the conveyance stage  48  is provided on an upper surface of an adapter placement table  79   a  of the second raising/lowering device  79 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the releasing member  80  is a member extending upward from the upper surface of the adapter placement table  79   a  of the second raising/lowering device  79  and includes an inclined surface portion  80   a,  which is formed at a distal end of the releasing member  80  and is inclined inward in the X direction. A position at which the releasing member is provided is a position corresponding to a releasing hole  56   b  of the ratchet member  56  of the adapter  10 . 
     When the adapter placement table  79   a  of the second raising/lowering device  79  is raised to approach the conveyance stage  48  to which the adapter  10  is attached, the releasing member  80  enters the releasing hole  56   b.  At this time, the inclined surface portion  80   a  pushes an inner surface  56   c  of the releasing hole  56   b  inward in the X direction, thereby causing the ratchet member  56  to retreat toward the inner side of the adapter  10 . As a result, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the stage engagement ratchet  56   a  is disengaged from the engagement hole  55  of the tray fixing member  54 , enabling the adapter  10  and the conveyance stage  48  to be released from each other. 
     In this state, when the adapter placement table  79   a  of the second raising/lowering device  79  is lowered, the adapter  10  is lowered in a state of being placed on the adapter placement table  79   a  (see  FIG. 23 ). Further, when the second raising/lowering device  79  is lowered, the adapter  10  is placed on the second placement table  30   b  of the tray unloading unit  2  so that the adapter  10  is mounted to the tray unloading unit  2 . 
     Next, a control configuration for the tablet packaging device  11  according to this embodiment is described with reference to  FIG. 33 .  FIG. 33  is a block diagram for illustrating a control configuration for the tablet packaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     The input device  100  is connected to the control device  200  for the tablet packaging device  11 . Prescription information read by the code reader of the input device  100  is given to the control device  200 . When the tablet packaging device  11  is connected to a communication network such as a LAN or the Internet, prescription information is given to the control device  200  via the communication network. 
     The control device  200  includes, for example, a CPU  201 , a ROM  202 , a RAM  203 , and a data storage  204 . 
     The CPU  201  is a processor configured to execute various kinds of arithmetic processing in accordance with various kinds of control programs. The ROM  203  is a non-volatile memory configured to store various kinds of programs to be executed by the CPU  201 . The RAM  203  is a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory to be used for deployment of the various kinds of control programs by the CPU  201  and for temporarily storing data. 
     The data storage  204  is configured to store various kinds of data. The control device  200  gives prescription information, which has been input from the input device  100 , to the data storage  204  so that the prescription information is stored in the data storage  204 . 
     The control device  200  produces a prescription ID corresponding to the received prescription information, and the produced prescription ID is associated with the prescription information and stored into the data storage  204 . 
     The prescription information includes, for example, information required for packaging such as a kind of a drug, the number of tablets, and administration timings, and patient information. The prescription ID is used at the time of reading prescription information associated therewith. 
     An RFID  16   a  is attached to each of the tablet cassettes  16 , and the RFID  16   a  is read by a reading portion of the tablet feeder  17   a,  and tablet data having been read is given to the control device  200 . 
     The control device  200  controls the data storage  204  to store the given tablet data. The control device  200  recognizes a kind of tablets, which are received in each of the tablet cassettes  16  and stored in the tablet accommodating portion  13 , based on tablet data stored in the data storage  204 . 
     The control device  200  selects the tablet cassette  16 , which has received tablets required for packaging of tablets in accordance with given prescription information, based on tablet data stored in the data storage  204 . 
     The control device  200  controls the tablet feeder  17 , to which the tablet cassette  16  is set, based on the input prescription information to control the dispensing of tablets from the tablet feeder  17 . 
     The tablets dispensed from the tablet feeder  17  fall into the tablet supplying device  19 . The control device  100  controls the tablet supplying device  19  so that tablets are charged into the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24  from the tablet supplying device  19 . 
     When the control device  200  recognizes that the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  has been pushed in and brought into the state of the waiting position “b”, the control device  200  starts the operations of the conveying process and the packaging process. 
     The control device  200  controls the operation of the conveyance stage  48  of the tray driving unit  4  so as to allow the applicable accommodation recess portion  26  of the tray  24  to be located at the position of the dispensing port  21  of the tablet supplying device  19 . Then, the control device  200  executes control of allowing tablets to be charged into the accommodation recess portion  26  from the tablet supplying device  19 . When the charging has been terminated, the control device  200  controls the operation of the conveyance stage  48  of the tray driving unit  4  so as to allow the next accommodation recess portion  26  to move to the position of the dispensing port  21  of the tablet supplying device  19 . 
     The control device  200  repeatedly performs the operation described above until the conveyance stage  48  reaches the waiting position “c”, thereby allowing tablets to be received in all of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . After that, the control device  200  controls the tray driving unit  4  to move the adapter  10 , on which the tray  24  is placed, to the tray detaching unit  6 . 
     After that, an operator confirms that the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2  can be drawn out and draws out the unloading drawer  23   b  from the tray unloading unit  2 . In such a manner, the packaging operation of tablets is performed. 
     The tablet packaging device  11  according to this embodiment has the configuration described above. Next, a series of tablet packaging operations using this device is described. 
     An operator who performs the packaging operation first allows the tray  24  to be placed in the adapter  10  corresponding to a type of the tray. The operator draws out the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  and places the adapter  10 , which has received the tray  24 , on the first placement table  30   a  located at the tray handling position “a”. Then, the operator pushes in the loading drawer  23   a  to allow the adapter  10  to come to rest at the waiting position “b”. At this point in time, the adapter placement table  41  of the first raising/lowering device  40  remains stopped at the lowest position. Thus, a sufficient gap is defined between the adapter  10  placed on the first placement table  30   a  and the first raising/lowering device  40  located below, and hence the operation of the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  is not interrupted. 
     At this time, the control device  200  may read identification information provided to the tray  24  or the adapter  10  to confirm whether or not the conveyance stage  48  is adaptable to the tray  24  or the adapter  10 . 
     Moreover, the conveyance stage  48  of the tray driving unit  4  is arranged at the original position. That is, the control device  200  controls the operation of the conveyance stage  48  so as to allow the conveyance stage  48  to be located above the waiting position “b” of the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1 . Before the conveyance stage  48  moves to the original position, the collection tray  60  may be moved to the position corresponding to the dispensing port  21  to collect tablets and dust such as broken pieces of tablets which erroneously remain in the tablet feeder  17 . 
     When the control device  200  recognizes that the adapter  10  has come to rest at the waiting position “b”, the control device  200  executes control of raising the adapter placement table  41  of the first raising/lowering device  40 . Then, the adapter  10  is received from the first placement table  30   a  and attached to the conveyance stage  48  located above. The conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  are coupled to each other through the engagement between the tray fixing members  54 , which extend downward from the conveyance stage  48 , and the ratchet members  56  as described above. At this time, the raising/lowering height of the first raising/lowering device  40  is controlled to be a height corresponding to the adapter  10  to be used. For example, when the control device  200  confirms the coupling between the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  through use of a coupling position sensor provided to the conveyance stage  48 , the control device  200  executes control of stopping the rise of the adapter placement table  41 . 
     After raising the first raising/lowering device  40  by a height corresponding to the adapter  10 , when the control device  200  determines that the coupling between the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  cannot be confirmed based on the output from the coupling position sensor, the control device  200  recognizes the result as a coupling error and retries the raising/lowering operation of the first raising/lowering device  40  to perform the coupling operation again. 
     At the time of retrying, the control device  200  controls the raising/lowering height of the first raising/lowering device  40  to be higher than a predetermined height. Through the retrying operation, the control device  200  determines whether or not the coupling between the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  has been completed based on the output from the coupling position sensor. 
     The control device  200  repeats the retrying operation until the coupling between the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  is completed. However, in a case in which the ratchet member  56  or the like of the adapter  10  is worn or broken, even when the retrying operation is repeated, the coupling between the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  cannot be completed, and the operation may be left undone. In such a case, it is conceivable that there is a defect in the adapter  10 . 
     Therefore, in this embodiment, in the case in which the coupling between the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  is not completed even when the retrying operation is repeated for a plurality of times, the control device  200  notifies occurrence of an error so that an operator can recognize replacement of the adapter  10 . 
     The notification regarding the occurrence of an error is performed by turning on a light (LED) or displaying the error on a monitor  101  of the input device  100  in such a manner that a type of an error and a location of the error can be recognized. 
     As described above, the control device  200  gives a notification to a user to urge replacement of the adapter  10 , thereby being capable of allowing a response to be made faster at the time of occurrence of an irregular event. 
     Incidentally, the coupling between the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  is completed by performing the retrying operation. In this case, a normal operation is performed later. However, in the case in which the retrying operation is performed, it is conceivable that the adapter  10  has some abnormality. 
     Therefore, it is preferred that, in the case in which the retrying operation is performed, the control device  200  turn on a light (LED) or display a position to be checked on the monitor  101  of the input device  100  so as to urge an operator to confirm abnormality in the adapter  10  and the conveyance stage  48  after the prescription operation has been completed. 
     As described above, with the configuration of giving a notification in advance, the risk of failure of the tablet packaging device  11  can be notified promptly, thereby enabling a quick response to the failure. 
     When the coupling between the adapter  10  and the conveyance stage  48  is confirmed, the conveying process is started. Moreover, after the coupling between the adapter  10  and the conveyance stage  48  is confirmed, an operator can draw out the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  and mount the adapter  10 , which has received the tray  24  to be used for the next prescription, to the tray loading unit  1 . The tablet packaging device  11  may include means for notifying (for example, turning on the light (LED)) an operator that the coupling between the adapter  10  and the conveyance stage  48  has been confirmed. 
     In the conveying process, the control device  200  controls the operation of the XY robot  49  of the tray driving unit  4 . Through the operation of the XY robot  49 , the conveyance stage  48  moves from the discharging position A to the receiving start position B. After the movement is confirmed by the control device  200 , the tablets  29  are dispensed from the tablet feeder  17  for target drug tablets based on prescription information for a target patient on the tray. That is, tablets dispensed through the dispensing port  21  are discharged from above the division chambers  52  of the conveyance stage  48  into the accommodation recess portions of the tray  24  attached to the lower side of the conveyance stage  48 , and hence the depth of the divisions in which the tablets  29  are accommodated becomes larger, thereby preventing the tablets  29  from bouncing at the bottom of the accommodation recess portion  26  and moving to adjacent accommodation recess portions  26 . The control device  200  controls the operation of the XY robot  49 . During the movement from the receiving start position B to the waiting position “c”, the XY robot  49  performs the receiving process of moving the conveyance stage  48  in synchronization with every timing of intermittently dispensing the tablets  29  through the dispensing port  21  and receiving the tablets  29  at each of the division chambers  52 . 
     The division chambers  52  of the conveyance stage  48  correspond to the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 , respectively. Therefore, the tablets  29  intermittently dispensed through the dispensing port  21  are distributed to the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24  every time. 
     During a period from after pushing in the loading drawer  23   a  of the tray loading unit  1  to before completing the dispensing of the tablets  29 , an operator can receive tablets in the corresponding division chambers  77  of the manual-distribution container  38  of the manual-distribution unit  3  as needed. When the manual distribution of tablets to the manual-distribution container  38  is terminated, the operator pushes in the manual distribution drawer  23   c  of the manual-distribution unit  3  to arrange the manual-distribution container  38  above the waiting position “c” of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 . 
     When the conveyance stage  48  of the XY robot  49  reaches the waiting position “c”, the dispensing of the tablets  29  to each of the division chambers  52  is terminated. When no manual distribution drug is present, it may be checked at this timing whether the tablets  29  are accurately distributed to the division chambers  52 . This check can be performed by photographing the tray  24  from above and automatically comparing an image of drug tablets in each of the accommodation recess portions  26  and an image of the tablets  29  that are to be received at each of the accommodation recess portions  26  based on prescription information. 
     As a result of the check, when it is determined that proper tablets  29  are received in each of the division chambers  52 , the control device  200  controls the conveyance stage  48  to move to the tray handling position “d” of the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 . At this time, the control device  200  controls the operation of the XY robot  49  so that the XY robot  49  performs the positioning in the Y direction and thereafter performs the positioning in the X direction as described above. It is preferred that control be executed in such a manner that the positioning in the X direction is suspended while the manual distribution drawer  23   c  of the manual-distribution unit  3  is drawn out. 
     Through the positioning of the conveyance stage  48  in the X direction, the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  of the manual-distribution container  38  are opened. As a result, the division chambers  77  of the manual-distribution container  38  are opened, and the tablets received inside the division chambers  77  fall into the division chambers  52  of the conveyance stage  48  to be discharged into the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . With the first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  brought into the fully opened state, all of the division chambers  77  are opened at the same time, and the tablets are accommodated in the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . 
     When the control device  200  confirms the positioning of the conveyance stage  48  in the X direction, the control device  200  controls the second raising/lowering device  79  to raise the adapter placement table  79   a.  Then, an operator detaches the adapter  10  from the conveyance stage  48  and places the adapter  10  on the adapter placement table  79   a.    
     When the control device  200  confirms that the adapter  10  has been detached from the conveyance stage  48 , the control device  200  controls the XY robot  49  to move the conveyance stage  48  to the original position for the next prescription. The first shutter  73  and the second shutter  74  of the manual-distribution container  38  are closed by an action of the spring  72   c  through the movement of the conveyance stage  48  for the next prescription. When the control device  200  confirms that the conveyance stage  48  has moved to the original position, the control device  200  controls the first raising/lowering device  40  to be raised for the next prescription. Accordingly, the operation of attaching the adapter  10 , which has received the tray  24  for the next prescription, to the conveyance stage  48  can be performed. 
     When it is confirmed that the adapter  10  has been received, the control device  200  controls the operation of the tray detaching unit  6 . The tray detaching unit  6  uses the control device  200  to lower the adapter placement table  79   a  of the second raising/lowering device  79 , and the adapter  10  is mounted to the second placement table  30   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 . 
     When it is confirmed that the second raising/lowering device  79  has been lowered to such an extent that a gap is formed between the adapter  10  and the adapter placement table  79   a,  an operator draws out the unloading drawer  23   b  of the tray unloading unit  2 . The tablet packaging device  11  may include means for notifying (for example, turning on the light) an operator that the operation of drawing out the tray unloading unit  2  is allowed. 
     The notification means described above may be operated when comparison of the identification information provided to the adapter  10  and the prescription information based on the prescription ID is correctly performed. Moreover, the association between the adapter  10  and the prescription ID may be cleared at the point in time of removing the adapter  10  from the unloading drawer  23   b  or at the point in time of confirming the comparison of the adapter  10 , and preparation for use for the next prescription may be performed. 
     The tray  24  is detached together with the adapter  10  from the second placement table  30   b  having been drawn out to the tray handling position “a”, and the tray  24  is delivered for the next packing process. In the packing process, the lid sheet  25  is affixed to an open surface of the tray  24 , and the packaging operation for the tablets  29  is terminated. In order to confirm matching of kinds of the lid sheet  25  and the tray  24 , the matching may be confirmed in the packing process through use of identification information such as the barcodes provided to the tray  24  and the lid sheet  25 . 
     As described above, in the tablet packaging device  11  according to this embodiment, the tray  24  mounted to the tray loading unit  1  is attached to the tray driving unit  4 , and the tray  24  is then driven, thereby being capable of directly packaging tablets into the tray  24 . Thus, the tray  24  is not placed on the tray loading unit  1  during the packaging operation. Moreover, the tray  24  having tablets  29  discharged thereto and accommodated therein is mounted to the tray unloading unit  2 . Thus, after the tray is delivered from the tray loading unit  1  to the tray driving unit  4 , a state in which the tray  24  is not mounted to the tray loading unit  1  is brought about. Accordingly, during the operation with the tray  24 , a tray for the next prescription can be mounted to the tray loading unit  1 . Therefore, the operation efficiency of the packaging operation for the tray can be improved. 
     Moreover, during the operation of removing the tray  24 , which has been packaged, from the tray unloading unit  2 , the conveying process for the tray used for the next prescription can be started. Thus, the operation of the device can be efficiently performed in accordance with the operation of the operator, thereby being capable of improving the operation efficiency. 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and is applicable in other various modes. For example, the tray loading unit  1  and the tray unloading unit  2  have the configuration including the loading drawer  23   a  and the unloading drawer  23   b,  respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and any other configuration may be adopted as long as attaching the adapter  10  to the conveyance stage and receiving the adapter from the conveyance stage can be performed. 
     Moreover, the conveyance stage  48  and the adapter  10  are attached through use of the ratchet members  56 , but any other mechanism may be used. Moreover, the tray  24  and the conveyance stage  48  may have a configuration in which the tray  24  and the conveyance stage  48  can be directly attached to each other. For example, when the depth of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24  is large, the tablets  29  do not bounce at the time of charging tablets into the tray  24 , thereby being capable of reducing the problems such as erroneous distribution of tablets without use of the adapter  10 . 
     Moreover, the two shutters provided to the manual-distribution container  38  are configured to open through the movement of the conveyance stage  48  in the X direction. However, the number of shutters is not limited, and the shutters may be opened through the movement in the Y direction with the opening direction of the shutter set to the Y direction. Moreover, any other shutter opening/closing mechanism configured directly drive the shutters may be used. 
     The manual-distribution unit  3  has the configuration including the manual distribution drawer  23   c,  but any other configuration may be adopted. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 27  and  FIG. 28 , a manual-distribution container  138  may be built in the packaging portion  14  in a fixed state. In this configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 , the manual-distribution container  138  is exposed to the outside by pulling up a manual distribution lid  22   b  provided to the cover lid  22  of the packaging portion  14 , and manual distribution tablets can be charged into the manual-distribution container. In this case, a dedicated shutter opening/closing motor  139  configured to directly drive the shutters without the operation of opening and closing the shutters with the conveyance stage  48  may be used. The shutter opening/closing motor  139  configured to drive the shutters is operated by operating a manual-distribution completion instructing button  3   a  provided to the cover lid  22  of the packaging portion  14 . 
     Further, the tray driving unit  4  is attached below the conveyance stage  48  having a plate shape with division chambers corresponding to the accommodation recess portions  26 , but any other configuration may be adopted as long as the tray  24  can be moved to positions of the dispensing port  21  for tablets, the tray loading unit  1 , and the tray unloading unit  2 . For example, there may be adopted a configuration in which the adapter  10  is directly gripped and moved. In this case, in order to prevent movement of tablets due to the bouncing in the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 , for example, a lid member configured to cover an upper side of the tray  24  having the division chambers corresponding to the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24  may be provided to the adapter  10 . 
     Moreover, the tray driving unit  4  includes the conveyance stage  48  that is movable to any position on the XY plane, and is capable of packaging tablets also into, for example, a tray  124  in which the accommodation recess portions  26  are not arranged in the grid pattern. As one example of the tray  124 , for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , there may be provided the tray  124  having a configuration in which accommodation recess portions  126  are arranged in a spiral pattern along division walls  125  having a division line  125   a  in a spiral shape. With use of such tray  124 , the winding start of a prescription is not restricted. Therefore, for example, even when there is given a prescription starting from administration at daytime or night, the problem of causing an empty accommodation recess portion  26  can be eliminated. Moreover, the accommodation recess portions are arranged in the order of administration. Therefore, a patient is less liable to erroneously administer tablets accommodated in an incorrect accommodation recess portion. Further, even when the accommodation recess portion corresponding to tablets having been administered is separated from the tray and divided, the overall shape of the tray is prevented from becoming irregular. 
     As described above, the control device  200  controls the tablet feeder  17 , to which the tablet cassette  16  has been set, based on input prescription information, thereby controlling the operation of dispensing tablets from the tablet cassette  16 . In order to improve the dispensing speed, the control device  200  starts control of driving of the conveyance stage  48  and the tablet supplying device  19  with a trigger for starting dispensing tablets to one accommodation recess portion  26  of the tray  24 . 
     However, it is required that tablets be caused to fall from the tablet supplying device  19  after the accommodation recess portion  26  has moved to the position of the dispensing port  21  of the tablet supplying device  19 . Therefore, in order to start the dispensing operation of the tablet supplying device  19  in accordance with a moving time of the tray  24 , waiting time is given to the start of dispensing by the tablet supplying device  19  to match timings. 
     For example, in order to cause tablets to reliably fall into the accommodation recess portion  26 , the waiting time is set based on a time corresponding to the longest moving distance of the tray  24 . When the waiting time is set in such a manner, tablets can be caused to fall into any of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24  at the time of dispensing tablets into the accommodation recess portions  26 . 
     However, when the operation of dispensing tablets is performed based on the time corresponding to the longest moving distance also in the case in which the moving time of the tray  24  is short, wasteful waiting time is given at each time of dispensing tablets into one accommodation recess portion  26 , with the result that the packaging time becomes longer. 
     Therefore, at each time of dispensing tablets into one accommodation recess portion  26 , the control device  200  calculates a moving distance to the next accommodation recess portion  26  and calculates time required for the movement. Then, the control device  200  sets a waiting time based on the calculated moving time and control the tablet supplying device  19  to start dispensing tablets. 
     Through the control described above, the wasteful time for dispensing tablets to one accommodation recess portion  26  can be reduced, thereby being capable of shortening the packaging time. 
     Moreover, in the packaging operation, tablets are dispensed after moving to the adjacent accommodation recess portion  26  in most cases. Therefore, the control device  200  stores two waiting times including the shortest moving time for moving to the adjacent accommodation recess portion  26  and the time corresponding to the longest moving distance and controls the tablet supplying device  19  to start dispensing based on the following conditions. In the case in which the next accommodation recess portion  26  to which tablets are dispensed is the adjacent accommodation recess portion  26 , the waiting time is set to the time corresponding to the shortest moving time. In the case in which the next accommodation recess portion  26  is other than the adjacent accommodation recess portion  26 , the waiting time is set to the time corresponding to the time required for the longest moving distance. 
     Through the control described above, the arithmetic processing executed by the control device  200  is simplified. The packaging time can also be sufficiently shortened as compared to the time obtained by setting the waiting time to the time corresponding to the time required for the longest moving distance. 
     The control device  200  controls the movement of the conveyance stage  48  based on positions of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . Therefore, the control device  200  needs to grasp the positions of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . When a different tray  24  is provided, for example, positions, the size, or the number of the accommodation recess portions  26  differ. Therefore, the control device  200  performs adjustment for grasping the positions of the accommodation recess portions  26  of the tray  24 . 
       FIG. 34  is an explanatory view for illustrating a state in which the accommodation recess portions  26  are regularly arranged in the tray  24 . When the accommodation recess portions  26  are regularly arranged as illustrated in  FIG. 34 , position information of the lower left accommodation recess portion  26  (accommodation recess portion indicated by  1  in  FIG. 34 ), the upper right accommodation recess portion  26  (accommodation recess portion indicated by  2  in  FIG. 34 ), and the accommodation recess portions  26  and  26  at ends on a diagonal line is given to the control device  200 . The control device  200  calculates position information of the accommodation recess portions  26  based on interval information regarding the accommodation recess portions  26 . 
     The control device  200  controls the movement of the conveyance stage  48  based on the calculated position information of the accommodation recess portions  26 . 
       FIG. 35  and  FIG. 36  are each an explanatory view for illustrating a state in which the accommodation recess portions  26  are randomly arranged in the tray  24 . When the accommodation recess portions  26  are randomly arranged in the tray  24  as described above, position information of each of the accommodation recess portions  26  is input from the input device  100  to the control device  200 . 
     Position information P1=(X1, Y1) to Pmax=(Xmax, Ymax) of the accommodation recess portion (P1 to Pmax) is input from the input device  100  to the control device  200 . 
     The control device  200  controls the movement of the conveyance stage  48  based on the input position information of the accommodation recess portions  26 . 
     Through the input of the position information of the accommodation recess portions (P1 to Pmax) with the use of the input device  100  as described above, the tray  24  of various types can be handled. Regarding the tray for which the position information is once input, the position information input for each tray is stored as master information, for example, in the data storage  204 . When the same tray is replaced with another tray in the next time or later, position information is called out as master information from the data storage  204 , thereby being capable of reducing input time. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , LEDs  231  are provided on the front surfaces of the loading drawer  23   a  and the unloading drawer  23   b.  When the LED  231  is turned on, it can be distinguished whether or not the loading drawer  23   a  and the unloading drawer  23   b  can be drawn out. 
     For example, when the loading drawer  23   a  or the unloading drawer  23   b  can be drawn out, the control device  200  controls the LED  231  to turn on with green light. An operator can understand whether or not the loading drawer  23   a  or the unloading drawer  23   b  can be drawn out in accordance with a lighting state of the LED  231 . 
     Further, it may be configured so that the control device  200  can distinguish whether or not the adapter  10  or the tray  24  is set to the loading drawer  23   a  or the unloading drawer  23   b  based on the lighting state of the LED  231 . 
     For example, in the state in which the loading drawer  23   a  or the unloading drawer  23   b  is drawn out, when the adapter  10  or the tray  24  is set, the LED  231  is turned on. The lighting of the LED  231  is performed in a blinking manner, or when the lighting of the LED  231  can be performed with red, green, and blue, the color is changed to the color corresponding to the case in which the loading drawer  23   a  or the unloading drawer  23   b  can be drawn out. The control device  200  turns on the LED  231  in a mode other than that corresponds to the lighting of the LED  231  indicating that the loading drawer  23   a  or the unloading drawer  23   b  can be drawn out. 
     As described above, in the state in which the loading drawer  23   a  or the unloading drawer  23   b  is drawn out, the state of setting the adapter  10  or the tray  24  can be determined based on the lighting of the LED  231 . 
     Therefore, the state of setting the adapter  10  or the tray  24  can be distinguished in the state in which the loading drawer  23   a  or the unloading drawer  23   b  is drawn out. Then, when the LED  231  does not turn on in the state in which the adapter  10  or the tray  24  is set, it can be quickly determined that, for example, abnormality has occurred in the sensor. 
     Moreover, the control device  200  of this embodiment controls the monitor  101  of the input device  100  to display the progress of the tablet packaging device  11 .  FIG. 37  is an explanatory view for illustrating the progress of the tablet packaging device to be displayed on the monitor. 
     A packaging progress display area  1100 , a packaging list display area  1110 , a medicine list display area  1120 , a function key display area  1130 , a packaging device operating area  1140 , and a distribution position/amount guide display area  1150  for a manual distribution drug are displayed on the monitor  101 . 
     The packaging progress display area  1100  is an area for displaying the progress and state of packaging. The packaging list display area  1110  is an area for displaying a list of prescription information. The packaging device operating area  1140  is an area for operating the packaging device. The distribution position/amount guide display area  1150  for a manual distribution drug is to be used at the time of manual distribution prescription and is an area for displaying positions to which the manual distribution drug is distributed and the amount of the drug. The function key display area  1130  is an area for performing various kinds of processing. 
     Regarding the packaging device operating area  1140  and the function key display area  1130 , when an applicable area is clicked through use of a mouse or the like, a processing operation displayed in the corresponding area is performed. 
     The packaging progress display area  1100  displays an L-Drawer region  1101 , an R-Drawer region  1102 , and a Dispensing region  1103 . The L-Drawer region  1101  shows a state of the loading drawer  23   a  or operation instruction information for an operator. The R-Drawer region  1102  shows a state of the unloading drawer  23   b  or operation instruction information for an operator. The Dispensing region  1103  displays a dispensing state. 
     When the control device  200  analyzes the operation of packaging, and there is any change in an item relating to the progress of packaging, the packaging progress display area  1100  updates the progress. 
     The L-Drawer region  1101  includes a prescription ID display region  1101   a  and a notification region  1101   b.  The prescription ID display region  1101   a  displays a prescription ID subjected to packaging into the tray  24  set on the loading drawer  23   a.  The notification region  1101   b  notifies an operator of a state of the loading drawer  23   a.  An operator can confirm the progress of the loading drawer  23   a  by checking the display of the L-Drawer region  1101 . In  FIG. 37 , nothing is displayed in the notification region  1011   b  because the tray  24  is set on the loading drawer  23   a.  However, when the tray  24  is not set on the loading drawer  23   a,  a notification for requesting an operator to set the tray  24  is displayed. 
     When there is a prescription subjected to the next packaging, the prescription ID display region  1101   a  of the L-Drawer region  1101  displays a prescription ID number. When there is no prescription subjected to the next packaging, the display is cleared. 
     When there is a prescription subjected to the next packaging, the notification region  1101   b  of the L-Drawer region  1101  displays operation instruction contents to which the following display conditions are applicable. When the tray  24  and the adapter  10  are not set, a message “Please set a tray and an adapter.” is displayed. When the tray  24  is not set, a message “Please set a tray.” is displayed. When the loading drawer  23   a  is not closed, a message “Please close a drawer.” is displayed. 
     The R-Drawer region  1102  includes a prescription ID display region  1102   a  and a notification region  1102   b.  The prescription ID display region  1102   a  displays prescription information subjected to packaging into the tray  24  set on the unloading drawer  23   b.  The notification region  1102   b  notifies an operator of a state of the unloading drawer  23   b.  An operator can confirm the progress of the unloading drawer  23   b  by checking the display of the R-Drawer region  1102 . In  FIG. 37 , packaging of tablets into the tray  24  set on the unloading drawer  23   b  has been terminated, and a notification for requesting an operator to remove the tray  24  is displayed on the notification region  1102   b.    
     The notification region  1102   b  of the R-Drawer region  1102  displays operation instruction contents corresponding to the following display conditions. When a plurality of display conditions are satisfied, the latest operation instruction content is displayed. 
     When the tray  24  is set, a message “Please remove the tray and the adapter.” is displayed. When the adapter  10  is set, a message “Please remove the adapter.” is displayed. When the unloading drawer  23   b  is not closed, a message “Please close the drawer.” is displayed. 
     The Dispensing region  1103  includes a region  1103   c,  a prescription ID display region  1103   a,  and a dispensing notification region  1103   b.  The region  1103   c  shows a state of dispensing. The prescription ID display region  1103   a  displays prescription information of a prescription being dispensed. The dispensing notification region  1103   b  displays processing which needs manual distribution. 
     When there is a prescription subjected to packaging, the region  1103   c  which shows a state of dispensing displays operation instruction contents corresponding to the following display conditions. When a manual distribution medicine is included in a prescription, and completion of manual distribution is not registered, a message “Please complete all of the manual distribution medicine.” is displayed. 
     The packaging list display area  1110  displays prescription ID input to the tablet packaging device  11  in the order of input. In order that a prescription ID currently being subjected to prescription can be understood, the prescription ID may be displayed in a mode different from those of other prescription IDs. 
     Further, in this embodiment, a With Cassette tab  1160  and a Without Cassette tab  1161  are displayed. The With Cassette tab  1160  is a tab for showing a packaging prescription which involves use of the tablet cassette  16  in which tablets to be packaged are received from prescription information based on a prescription ID. The Without Cassette tab  1161  is a tab for showing a manual distribution prescription. 
     When the With Cassette tab  1160  is clicked through use of a mouse or the like, a list of prescriptions including a packaging prescription which involves use of only the tablet cassette  16  in which tablets to be packaged are received from prescription information based on a prescription ID and a prescription which involves both of a prescription using the tablet cassette  16  and a prescription of manual distribution is displayed in the packaging list display area  1110 . 
     When the Without Cassette tab  1161  is clicked through use of a mouse or the like, a list of prescriptions including a prescription which involves only the manual distribution is displayed in the packaging list display area  1110 . 
     When any one of the With Cassette tab  1160  and the Without Cassette tab  1161  is selected, information based on a prescription ID listed at the top in the packaging list display area  1110 , that is, a prescription ID relating to a prescription currently being subjected to the packaging operation is displayed. Accordingly, when a manual distribution operation is required, information required for the manual distribution is displayed for an operator in the distribution position/amount guide display area  1150  for a manual distribution drug, thereby enabling the operator to easily perform the manual distribution operation. In particular, in the case of “Without Cassette”, an operator performs the manual distribution operation for tablets with respect to the tray  24 . At this time, positions for the manual distribution and the number of tablets are displayed in the distribution position/amount guide display area  1150  for a manual distribution drug. As a result, an operator can perform the operation easily and safely. That is, an operator can correctly distribute subject drug tablets with a correct number of tablets at correct locations, thereby improving the safety. For example, when tablets are to be administered three times a day, that is, in the morning, the daytime, and the night, the operation is performed in such a manner that drug tablets to be administered in the morning, drug tablets to be administered in the daytime, and drug tablets to be administered in the night are distributed in the stated order from the upper right part of the matrix. 
     Moreover, the monitor  101  may display the tabs in such a manner as to allow the currently selected tab is distinguished between the “With Cassette” and the “Without Cassette”. 
     A start button for the packaging device, a stop button for the packaging device, a temporary stop button for the packaging device, an unlocking button for the unloading drawer  23   b,  and the like are displayed in the packaging device operating area  1140 . When any button is clicked, a corresponding operation is performed. 
     The medicine list display area  1120  includes a selected row label for displaying a selected row of a packaging list, a patient name label for displaying a patient name of the selected row of the packaging list, an in-prescription medicine list for displaying a list of in-prescription medicines, and a medicine number label for displaying a medicine displayed on the in-prescription medicine list. 
     Further, the medicine list display area  1120  displays information relating to the manual distribution operation. In each box of the distribution position/amount guide display area  1150  for a manual distribution drug relating to the manual distribution operation, a drug dispensed from the tablet cassette  16  and a total number of a drug having been manually distributed are displayed. When the all medicine display button is clicked, in the distribution position/amount guide display area  1150  for a manual distribution drug, both of a prescribed medicine corresponding to the manual distribution drug and tablets dispensed from the tablet cassette  16  in the prescription are displayed. Then, in each box, information relating to the total amount of all of drug tablets to be received is displayed. As a result, when dispensing and manual distribution of all of drug tablets are completed, and the unloading drawer  23   b  is drawn out, the displayed amount and the actual amount given in each box of the tray  24  can be visually inspected. 
     Moreover, in the distribution position/amount guide display area  1150  for manual distribution drug tablets relating to the manual distribution operation, a total number of drug tablets in the box having been manually distributed is displayed in each box. A manual-distribution-medicine-only display button for displaying information received in the boxes for manual distribution tablets is displayed. When the manual-distribution-medicine-only display button is clicked, information of the total number of a prescription drug distributed through manual distribution is displayed in the boxes. 
     Moreover, a manual distribution skip button is displayed, and when the manual distribution skip button is clicked, confirmation of completion of the manual distribution tablets is skipped. 
     The distribution position/amount guide display area  1150  for a manual distribution drug includes a distribution position/amount guide information title label for a manual distribution drug for displaying display contents of guides for distribution positions and distribution amounts of a manual distribution drug, a unit label for displaying “the number of pieces”, a box image for displaying a box image, a lot-number label for displaying “lot number”, an expiry date label for displaying an expiry date of a medicine, and a distribution completion button for updating a state of distribution of a manual distribution medicine. 
     Further, the monitor  101  displays a lot-number text box for inputting a lot number of a medicine and an expiry-date text box  1151  for inputting an expiry date of a medicine. 
     The control device  200  executes control in such a manner that a button for completion of distribution is not activated unless the turn of a subject prescription comes. Therefore, the lot number cannot be input. 
     On a screen of the monitor  101 , a list of prescriptions is displayed in the packaging list display area, in which a prescription being subjected to packaging, a prescription whose turn has come, and a prescription waiting for its turn are displayed. 
     When all of the manual distribution operation has been completed, and the distribution completion button is pressed to settle the completion, a completion command is transmitted to the control device  200 . When the manual-distribution completion instructing button  3   a  (see  FIG. 27 ) is pressed, and the lid  22   b  is closed, tablets fall into the tray  24 . 
     When the dispensing of tablets from the tablet cassette  16  or manual distribution of tablets is completed, the control device  200  allows the tray  24  to arrive at the unloading drawer  23   b.  A comparison dialog for a sheet to be affixed to the tray  24  is displayed, and a barcode of the sheet is read. When the comparison is correctly completed, the unloading drawer  23   b  on the right is unlocked. Then, the packaging operation is terminated. 
     In such a manner, the control device  200  of this embodiment is capable of controlling the monitor  101  of the input device  100  to display the progress of the tablet packaging device  11 , thereby being capable of successively notifying an operator of progress information of packaging. 
     It is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are merely examples in all aspects and in no way intended to limit this disclosure. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims and not by the above description of the embodiments, and it is intended that this disclosure encompasses all modifications made within the scope and spirit equivalent to those of the appended claims. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         a tray handling position 
         b waiting position 
         A discharging position 
         B receiving start position 
         C waiting position 
           1  tray loading unit 
           2  tray unloading unit 
           3  manual-distribution unit 
           4  tray driving unit 
           5  tray attaching unit 
           6  tray detaching unit 
           10  adapter 
           11  tablet packaging device 
           12  frame 
           13  tablet accommodating portion 
           14  packaging portion 
           15  accommodating portion 
           16  tablet cassette 
           17  tablet feeder 
           18  louver shutter 
           19  tablet supplying device 
           20  tablet push-out passage 
           21  dispensing port 
           22  cover lid 
           23   a  loading drawer 
           23   b  unloading drawer 
           23   c  manual distribution drawer 
           24  tray 
           25  lid sheet 
           26  accommodation recess portion 
           29  tablet 
           30   a  first placement table 
           30   b  second placement table