JP2024050987A - Drug dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To develop a drug feeder that makes it possible to automate the task of weighing out a powdered medicine to a higher degree.SOLUTION: A drug feeder is configured from a drug container (2C) and a main body device (3). The main body device (3) is configured from a vibrating table, vibration means, an intermediate table, a vibration isolator table, weight measurement means, and a base member in this order from the top. The drug container (2C) is moved and mounted to the main body device (3), and electromagnets that are built into the vibrating table are energized. Next, the vibrating table is made to vibrate so that a powdered medicine is discharged. The original weight (G) of the drug container (2C) after mounting on the vibrating table is compared with the current weight (g), and the dropped amount (H) (G minus g) of the powdered medicine is constantly calculated. When the dropped amount (H) of the powdered medicine reaches the desired weight, vibration of the vibrating table is stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

The present invention relates to a medicine feeder that measures and dispenses a predetermined amount of medicine. The medicine feeder of the present invention is suitable for use as a device that supplies powdered medicine to a powdered medicine dispensing device that dispenses powdered medicine. The medicine feeder of the present invention is also suitable for use as a device built into a powdered medicine packaging device that distributes powdered medicine by the powdered medicine dispensing device and further packages the powdered medicine individually.
The present invention also relates to a medicine dispensing device having a built-in medicine feeder.

In recent years, large hospitals and large pharmacies have introduced powder medicine packaging devices and drug dispensing devices equipped with powder medicine packaging functions. Here, a powder medicine packaging device is a device that packages powder medicine, etc., individually for one dose. By using a powder medicine packaging device, most of the work of packaging powder medicine, etc., for one dose can be automated.
The powder medicine packaging device 200 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a device that packages powder medicine individually in single doses, and as shown in Figure 49, has inside it a medicine supply device 201, a powder medicine dispensing device 202, and a medicine packaging device 203.
The medicine supplying device 201 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is composed of an input hopper 205 and a powder feeder 206, as shown in Figs.
As shown in FIG. 50, the powder feeder 206 has two piezoelectric elements 207 and 208 provided below a trough 210 to vibrate the trough 210 .

As shown in Fig. 49, the powdered medicine dispensing device 202 is composed of a dispensing plate 212 and a scraping device 215. The dispensing plate 212 has an arc-shaped cross section and a groove 216 that is annular in plan view. The dispensing plate 212 is rotated at a constant speed by a motor 219.
The scraping device 215 has a disk 217 that can be raised and lowered and rotated, and a scraper plate 218 is provided on the disk 217.

The drug packaging device 203 is composed of a packaging hopper 220 and a packaging device 221, as shown in Figure 49.

Next, a procedure for packaging powdered medicine using powdered medicine packaging device 200 will be described.
The work of packaging powdered medicine is performed by a pharmacist operating the powdered medicine packaging device 200 according to a doctor's prescription. That is, the pharmacist checks the doctor's prescription, takes out a medicine bottle containing the prescribed powdered medicine from a medicine shelf (not shown), and then uses a scale such as a balance to measure the total weight of the prescribed specific powdered medicine.
That is, if the powder is to be taken three times a day, 1.0 gram is prescribed each time, and a 20-day supply is prescribed, then (1.0 x 3 x 20 = 60) grams of powder will be taken out. More specifically, the container is placed on a scale and tared, and the powder is removed from the medicine bottle using a medicine spoon, and then the powder is placed in the container on the scale, measuring out 60 grams of powder.

Then, 60 grams of the measured powdered medicine is fed into the feeding hopper 205 of the medicine supply device 201 .
At the same time, the piezoelectric elements 207, 208 (FIG. 50) of the powder feeder 206 are energized to vibrate the trough 210, and further the distribution plate 212 is rotated at about 20 to 30 revolutions per minute.
The powdered medicine put into the input hopper 205 falls from the opening at the bottom of the input hopper 205 into the trough 210 of the powder feeder 206. Then, as the trough 210 vibrates, the powdered medicine slowly moves toward the tip side and is rectified. As the powdered medicine moves on the trough 210, the rectification progresses and the flow of the medicine becomes laminar. That is, the distribution of the medicine in the cross section perpendicular to the flow becomes constant, and the distance the medicine travels per unit time is also constant. As a result, 60 grams of powdered medicine is uniformly dispersed and moves slowly toward the tip side at a constant speed per hour.
Finally, the powdered medicine moving at the front reaches the tip of the trough 210, and the powdered medicine moving at the front falls from the tip of the trough 210 into the groove 216 of the distribution plate 212. The following powdered medicines fall into the distribution plate 212 at a constant rate per hour. Finally, the last powdered medicine falls into the distribution plate 212, and all 60 grams of the powdered medicine enters the groove 216.

Meanwhile, since the distribution dish 212 rotates at a predetermined speed, the powdered medicine falling from the trough 210 is evenly distributed into the grooves 216 of the distribution dish 212 .
That is, the powder feeder 206 causes the powdered medicine to drop little by little into the distribution dish 212 , and since the distribution dish 212 rotates at a constant speed, the powdered medicine is evenly distributed in the grooves 216 of the distribution dish 212 .

When the powdered medicine has finished falling onto the distribution plate 212, the rotation of the distribution plate 212 is temporarily stopped. After that, the disk 217 of the scraping device 215 is dropped into the groove 216 of the distribution plate 212. After that, the distribution plate 212 is rotated by an angle according to the number of pieces to be distributed. Explaining the previous example, since 60 grams of powdered medicine is to be divided into 60 packets, the distribution plate 212 is rotated by (60/360) degrees, and the powdered medicine is collected on the front side of the disk 217 by (60/360) degrees. Then, the disk 217 is rotated, and the powdered medicine by (60/360) degrees is scraped out of the distribution plate 212 by the scraping plate 218 and placed into the packaging hopper 220. The powdered medicine that has fallen from the packaging hopper 220 is packaged by the packaging device 221.

JP 2000-85703 A

By using the powdered medicine packaging device 200 disclosed in Patent Document 1, most of the work of packaging powdered medicine into individual doses can be automated.
However, the powdered medicine packaging device 200 of the prior art still requires steps that must be performed manually, and it is difficult to say that the device is capable of completely automating the packaging of powdered medicines.
That is, the powder medicine dispensing and packaging device 200 of the prior art requires the pharmacist to take out a medicine bottle containing a desired powder medicine from a medicine shelf and measure out a predetermined amount of powder medicine from the medicine bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to develop a medicine feeder that can automate the operation of measuring out powdered medicine to a higher degree.
In addition, the present invention provides a medicine dispensing device that can also handle medicines that are difficult to automate.

One aspect for solving the above-mentioned problems is a medicine dispensing device including a medicine container storage shelf, a medicine container input port, a medicine feeder, a medicine container moving device, and a control device, wherein the medicine container storage shelf is provided inside the medicine dispensing device, a first medicine container is arranged on the medicine container storage shelf, the medicine container input port is provided on an outer wall of the medicine dispensing device, the medicine container input port is capable of receiving a second medicine container which has a medicine discharge section and is two-sided open, and has a portion corresponding to a top surface when the medicine container is horizontally positioned and is largely open, or has an opening on its top surface when the medicine container is horizontally positioned, the medicine input into the second medicine container is a crushed tablet or capsule, the medicine feeder includes a main body device, and the main body device includes a vibration table and an excitation device for vibrating the vibration table. and weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the first drug container or the second drug container, and the control device automatically performs an operation of transporting the first drug container from a drug container storage shelf to a vibration table using a drug container moving device and placing it on the vibration table using a vibration means to dispense an amount of drug based on prescription information from the first drug container placed on the vibration table, and an operation of transporting the second drug container set in the drug container inlet manually to a drug container insertion port using the drug container moving device from the drug container inlet to the vibration table and placing it on the vibration table using the vibration means to vibrate the vibration table and dispense an amount of drug based on prescription information from the second drug container placed on the vibration table when the second drug container is manually set in a drug container insertion port.
A preferred embodiment is a drug dispensing device equipped with a weighing function in which the weight measuring means measures and stores the original weight of the first drug container or the second drug container, monitors the current weight of the first drug container or the second drug container, starts vibration of the vibrating table, and, when the difference between the original weight and the current weight of the first drug container or the second drug container reaches a desired dispensing amount, stops the vibration of the vibrating table by the weight measuring means.
In a further preferred embodiment, the main body device further comprises a container holding means, and the first drug container or the second drug container is temporarily fixed to the vibration table by the container holding means.
Another aspect for solving the above-mentioned problems is a drug feeder composed of a drug container and a main body device, wherein the drug container is freely attached and detached to the main body device, the drug container has a drug discharge section for discharging drug from the drug container to the outside, and the drug discharge section can be opened and closed, and the main body device has a vibration table, a vibration means for vibrating the vibration table, a container holding means for temporarily fixing the drug container to the vibration table, and a weight measurement means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the drug container, wherein the drug container is placed on the vibration table, the drug container is fixed to the vibration table by the container holding means, the vibration table is vibrated to discharge drug in small amounts from the drug discharge section, and the amount of drug discharged can be detected by the weight measurement means.
It is desirable that the drug container has a movable lid portion which is capable of maintaining the drug discharge portion in a closed state and an open state.

In the drug feeder of this embodiment, the drug container is fixed to the vibration table and the drug container is directly in contact with the vibration table. By vibrating the vibration table in this state, the whole or part of the drug container can be vibrated. Therefore, the drug in the drug container moves slowly to the drug discharge part side, the flow of the drug is rectified and the flow becomes laminar, and it is discharged from the drug discharge part.
Furthermore, since the drug feeder of the present invention is equipped with a weight measuring means, the amount of drug discharged can be detected, and the operation of measuring out powdered medicine etc. can be automated.

It is desirable for the drug feeder to be equipped with multiple contact sensors that detect whether the drug container is in contact with the vibration table.

In the drug feeder of this embodiment, since a plurality of contact sensors are provided to detect whether the drug container is in contact with the vibration table, the attitude of the drug container with respect to the vibration table can be confirmed. Therefore, the drug feeder of the present invention can keep the variation in the attitude of the drug container with respect to the vibration table within a certain range.
In other words, the drug feeder of this embodiment moves the drug by directly contacting the drug container with the vibration table and vibrating the vibration table to vibrate the drug container, so the posture of the drug container must be within a certain tolerance range.
For example, in order to discharge a certain amount of medicine from the medicine container per unit time by vibration, it is desirable for the medicine container to be in a horizontal position. If the medicine container is attached to the vibration table with the medicine discharge part side of the medicine container inclined upward, the medicine is unlikely to move to the medicine discharge part side even when vibration is applied.
Furthermore, if the axis of the drug container and the center line of the vibration table are misaligned or intersect, the drug will not flow in a laminar state when moved by vibration, but will flow in a turbulent state. In other words, the direction in which the vibration table tries to move the drug will differ from the direction of the flow path of the powdered drug, etc., which is restricted by the peripheral wall of the drug container, and the distribution of the drug will vary in the cross section that intersects with the flow direction.
In contrast, in this embodiment, the variation in the position of the medicine container relative to the vibration table can be kept within a certain range, so that the distribution of the medicine in the cross section intersecting the flow direction is uniform. Therefore, according to the present invention, the movement of the medicine is easily rectified and tends to be in a laminar state. Therefore, the medicine feeder of this embodiment has a small variation in the discharge amount per unit time.

It is preferable that the drug container of the drug feeder is made of a magnetic material in part or in whole, and the container holding means has a magnet.
The magnet is preferably an electromagnet.

In this embodiment, an electromagnet is used as the container holding means. Therefore, the drug container can be attracted and held on the vibration table simply by passing electricity through the electromagnet. Furthermore, when the passage of electricity through the electromagnet is stopped, the drug container can be removed from the vibration table.

The magnet is provided on the vibration table, and there is an elastic member between the vibration table and the magnet. When the drug container is attracted to the magnet, the magnet moves relative to the vibration table due to the magnetic force of the magnet, and it is desirable that the magnet and the drug container and the vibration table and the drug container come into contact with each other.
Preferably the magnet is an electromagnet.

In the drug feeder of the present invention, when a drug container is attracted to an electromagnet or the like, the electromagnet or the like moves relative to the vibration table due to the attraction force of the electromagnet or the like, and the electromagnet or the like and the drug container and the vibration table and the drug container can come into contact with each other. Therefore, in the drug feeder of the present invention, there is high adhesion between the vibration table and the drug container, and the vibration of the vibration table can be accurately transmitted to the drug container.

It is recommended that the drug feeder be configured such that the drug container is partially or entirely made of a magnetic material, the container holding means has a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, and the drug container is fixed to the vibration table by at least the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, and the electromagnet is energized to generate a magnetic force that cancels the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, thereby releasing the drug container from the vibration table.

In this embodiment of the drug feeder, the container holding means has a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, and the drug container is fixed to the vibration table by at least the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. Therefore, when the drug container is attached to the main device, the amount of electricity passing through the electromagnet is small. If a configuration were adopted in which the drug container is fixed to the vibration table by only the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, there would be no need to pass electricity through the electromagnet while the drug container is fixed to the vibration table. Therefore, the electromagnet does not generate heat, and the drug in the drug container is not heated. Also, since there is no need to pass electricity through the electromagnet while the drug container is fixed to the vibration table, power consumption is small. Therefore, the drug feeder as a whole consumes little power, and generates little heat, so it is less likely to affect the drug.

It is desirable for the drug feeder to be equipped with a cooling means for cooling the main body device.

The drug feeder has a vibration-isolating table, and there is a vibration-isolating member between the vibration applying means and the vibration-isolating table, and it is desirable that the weight measuring means detects the total weight of the vibration-isolating table and detects the amount of drug discharged by a change in the detected weight of the weight measuring means.

In the pharmaceutical feeder of this embodiment, the weight measuring means detects the total weight of the vibration isolating table. The vibration table is vibrated by the vibration exciting means, but since there is a vibration isolating member between the vibration exciting means and the vibration isolating table, the vibration of the vibration exciting means is not easily transmitted to the vibration isolating table.
In the drug feeder of this embodiment, as described above, the total weight of the vibration-proof table is detected by the weight measuring means, so that the weight measuring means is less susceptible to the effects of vibration and can accurately measure the weight of the drug containers, etc.

It is preferable that the drug feeder is provided with an intermediate table and a vibration isolation table that supports the intermediate table via a vibration isolation member, the vibration means, the vibration table and the container holding means are placed on the intermediate table, the weight measuring means detects the total weight of the vibration isolation table, and the drug discharge amount is detected by the change in the detected weight of the weight measuring means.

In the drug feeder of this embodiment, the weight measuring means detects the total weight of the vibration isolation table. That is, the weight measuring means measures the weight of the vibration table, the drug containers on the vibration table, the intermediate table, the vibration isolation member, the vibration means, and the container holding means.
In addition, the vibration table is vibrated by the vibration means, but all of the vibrating members are placed on the intermediate table, and the vibration isolation table supports the intermediate table via vibration isolation members, so vibrations from the intermediate table etc. are not easily transmitted to the vibration isolation table.
In the drug feeder of this embodiment, as described above, the total weight of the vibration-proof table is detected by the weight measuring means, so that the weight measuring means is not easily affected by vibrations and can accurately measure the weight of the drug containers, etc.

The drug container preferably has a drug storage section for storing the drug, and has a narrowed opening and an outlet path section between the drug storage section and the drug discharge section, and is a drug feeder that vibrates the drug container by placing it on a vibration table, discharges the drug in the drug storage section from the narrowed opening into the outlet path section, and further moves the drug through the outlet path section towards the drug discharge section, causing the drug to fall from the drug discharge section.

It can be said that the drug feeder of this embodiment has a drug container fulfilling the functions of the hopper 205 and the trough 210 in the drug feeder of the prior art.
That is, the drug container used in this embodiment has a drug storage section for storing the drug, and a narrowed opening between the drug storage section and the drug discharge section. Therefore, the flow rate of the drug moving to the drug discharge section side due to vibration is regulated by the narrowed opening, which triggers laminar flow.
That is, the powdered medicine in the medicine container is randomly stored in the medicine storage section, and the medicine storage section is in an irregular state. When the medicine container is subjected to vibration, the medicine inside tries to move toward the medicine discharge section, but the medicine is randomly stored as described above, and the movement of the medicine is turbulent.
The drug moves to the narrowed opening, during which the drug is subjected to vibration and changes from a random state to a state oriented in one direction. Furthermore, when the drug passes through the narrowed opening, the amount of drug passing through per unit time is regulated, so the pulsation of the drug flow is suppressed and the flow of the drug is rectified.
The powdered medicine, etc. discharged from the narrowed opening proceeds through the discharge path portion. As the powdered medicine, etc. proceeds further through the discharge path portion, its flow is straightened and the flow becomes more laminar, and it falls from the medicine discharge portion in a highly laminar state.

It is desirable for the drug feeder to be one in which a flow straightening member is provided within the drug container, and the drug container is placed on a vibration table to vibrate the drug container and move the drug within the drug container toward the drug discharge section, with some or all of the drug passing through the flow straightening member during the movement.

A flow straightening member is provided within the drug feeder of this embodiment, making it possible to make the flow of the drug uniform.

It is desirable that the above-mentioned straightening member be replaceable.

In this type of drug feeder, the flow straightening member can be replaced to suit the properties of the drug.

It is desirable for the drug feeder to be one in which a coil-shaped member is provided inside the drug container, the drug container is placed on a vibration table and vibrated to move the drug inside the drug container toward the drug discharge section, and part or all of the drug crosses the coil-shaped member during the movement.

In the drug feeder of the present invention, the coil-shaped member functions as a flow straightening member. It can also break down lumps of powdered medicine and return them to their original powder form.

It is desirable that the drug feeder has a desiccant storage section in the drug container, and that a desiccant is placed in the desiccant storage section.

This type of medicine feeder prevents the medicine from becoming damp and allows the medicine to be discharged smoothly.

It is desirable for the drug feeder to have a weighing function that uses a weight measuring means to measure the original weight of the drug container before the drug is discharged, monitors the weight of the drug container using the weight measuring means when the vibration table is vibrated to discharge the drug little by little from the drug discharge section, and stops the vibration of the vibration table when the current weight of the drug container matches or nearly matches the value obtained by subtracting the target discharge amount from the original weight.

Regarding the means for measuring the weight of the drug container, the weight of the drug container may be measured directly or indirectly. That is, the weight of the drug container alone may be measured directly, or the weight including the weight of a device such as a vibrating table may be measured.
In the drug feeder of the present invention, the original weight, which is the weight of the drug container before the drug is discharged, and the current weight, which is the current weight of the drug container, are utilized, and the vibration of the vibration table is stopped when the current weight coincides with the value obtained by subtracting the target discharge amount from the original weight. Alternatively, taking into account the weight of the drug while it is falling, the vibration of the vibration table is stopped when the current weight is slightly less than the value obtained by subtracting the target discharge amount from the original weight and almost coincides. Therefore, after the target amount of drug is discharged, the vibration of the vibration table is stopped and the discharge of the drug is stopped.

It is desirable for the drug feeder to be able to change the vibration pattern of the vibration table.

This type of drug feeder can vibrate the vibration table with an appropriate vibration pattern depending on the properties of the drug and the total discharge amount.

When the medicine feeder vibrates the vibration table to discharge a predetermined amount of medicine little by little from the medicine discharge section, it is desirable that the vibration pattern at the beginning of discharge can be made different from the vibration pattern thereafter.

According to this embodiment, during the process of discharging medicine, the vibration pattern can be changed between when the discharge starts and when the discharge situation is stable. Therefore, the medicine can be discharged stably.

The drug feeder of this embodiment has multiple vibration patterns at the initial stage of discharge when the vibration table is vibrated to discharge a predetermined amount of drug little by little from the drug discharge section, and it is desirable that the vibration pattern at the initial stage of discharge be changed depending on the type of drug and/or the total discharge amount.

The drug feeder may have an opening on the top side of the drug container based on the position in which the drug container is attached to the main device, and the drug may be poured into the drug container through the opening.

The drug feeder of this embodiment is suitable for packaging drugs that are prescribed infrequently. The drug feeder of this embodiment is also suitable for packaging drugs that are not suitable for storage in a drug container.

A further preferred drug dispensing device is characterized by comprising a container storage section for storing a plurality of drug containers, the above-mentioned drug feeder, and a container moving means for removing a specified drug container from the container storage section and placing it on the vibration table of the drug feeder.

With this type of drug dispensing device, the process from selecting a drug container to placing it on the drug feeder's vibration table is also automated.

The drug container has a container-side engagement part at the bottom side, based on the posture in which it is attached to the main device, in a position that does not contact the vibration table, and it is desirable that the container storage part has a storage part-side engagement part that engages with the above-mentioned engagement part.

It is desirable that the medicine dispensing device has a powder medicine dispensing device that dispenses powder medicine, and that the medicine is fed into the powder medicine dispensing device by a medicine feeder.

The drug dispensing device of this embodiment is equipped with a powdered drug dispensing device, such as that described in the prior art. Therefore, the improved work efficiency of the powdered drug dispensing device, combined with the action of the drug feeder of the present invention, allows for a high level of automation and allows for the powdered drug to be packaged with high efficiency.

It is desirable for the drug dispensing device to have multiple weight measuring means, use a drug feeder to discharge drugs from a drug container, and then perform a double measurement process of measuring the weight of the drug container again using a weight measuring means other than the weight measuring means of the drug feeder.

In the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, after the medicine is dispensed, the weight of the medicine container is remeasured using a separate weight measuring means, so that even if there is a malfunction in the weight measuring means of the medicine feeder, the incorrect prescribed amount of medicine will not be packaged. Furthermore, if the remeasurement reveals a large difference in the measured value, a malfunction in the weight measuring means can be discovered.

It is desirable for the drug dispensing device to have a weight member of known weight, which is placed in a predetermined weight member standby position, and which is capable of moving the weight member using a container moving means to place it on the drug feeder and inspecting the weight measuring means.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to detect abnormalities in the weight measuring means. In addition, the medicine can be weighed accurately at all times.

The medicine feeder of the present invention can automatically measure out powdered medicines, etc. This reduces the work done by pharmacists, and has the effect of realizing a high degree of automation. It also has the effect of reducing human errors that were unavoidable in the conventional technology.
The medicine dispensing device of the present invention also has the effect of reducing the work performed by pharmacists and achieving a high degree of automation.

1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the structure of a medicine feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention in a simplified manner, showing a state in which a main body device and medicine containers are in separate positions. FIG. 2 is a mechanical diagram for explaining the medicine feeder of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the medicine container is fixed to the main body device. FIG. 2 is a mechanical diagram for explaining the medicine feeder of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the medicine container is fixed to the main body device and the vibration table is vibrated. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drug feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention, which uses a drug container of a first type and has a structure close to that of a practical product. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drug container in a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drug container of the first embodiment. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the drug container of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 taken along the line AA. 1A is a front view of a flow straightening member employed in a drug container of a first embodiment, FIG. 1B is a side view thereof, and FIG. 1C is a reference view of FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drug feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention, which uses a drug container of a second type and has a structure close to that of a practical product. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a drug container in a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a drug feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention, which uses a drug container of a third type and has a structure close to that of a practical product. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a drug container in a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a drug container of a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a cover member of a medicine container in a third embodiment. 13 is a perspective view of a cover member of a medicine container in a third embodiment, observed from obliquely below with the horizontal position as a reference. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the cover member of the medicine container in the third embodiment, observed from above with the horizontal position as a reference. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a movable lid portion is removed from a drug container of a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a main part of a medicine container in a third embodiment with a movable lid portion open. FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a main body device employed in the drug feeder of FIGS. 4, 9 and 11. FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the main unit of FIG. 19. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the vibration table shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 20. 21 is a perspective view showing a central cross section of the intermediate table shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 20, and a perspective view showing the vibration isolating table, the vibration isolating member, and the weight measuring means, which are shown separated in the height direction. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the mid-base shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 20 at an off-center position. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the main device shown in FIG. 19 along the line AA. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main unit of FIG. 19. 12A is a schematic oblique view illustrating the relative positional relationship between the main body device and the drug container in the drug feeder of FIG. 11 just before the drug container is placed on the vibration table of the main body device, and FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram illustrating the misalignment of the central axes of the two. 12A is a schematic oblique view illustrating the relative positional relationship between the main body device and the drug container in the drug feeder of FIG. 11 immediately after the drug container is placed on the vibration table of the main body device, and FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram illustrating the misalignment of the central axes of the two. 12A and 12B are schematic diagrams illustrating the relationship between the main body device and the drug container in the drug feeder of Figure 11 when the drug container is placed on the vibration table of the main body device and current is applied to the electromagnet, where (a) is an oblique view illustrating the relative relationship between the two, and (b) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the misalignment of the central axes of the two. FIG. 12 is an external view of a medicine dispensing device in which the medicine feeder of FIG. 11 is installed. FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram of the drug dispensing device of FIG. 29 . 31 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the medicine container of FIG. 12 and a hand portion employed in the medicine dispensing device of FIG. 30. FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the operation of the medicine dispensing device of FIG. 29 . 13 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the medicine container in FIG. 12 and a hand portion employed in a medicine dispensing device of a modified example. FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a drug container in a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a drug container of a fourth embodiment. 13 is a perspective view of a cover member of a medicine container in a fourth embodiment, observed from the rear side. FIG. FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing a state in which the comb-shaped airflow regulating member is removed from the state shown in FIG. 36 . FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a cover member of a medicine container in a fourth embodiment. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views of a medicine container in a fourth embodiment, in which (a) shows a state in which the movable lid part is closed, and (b) shows a state in which the movable lid part is open. 13A and 13B are enlarged cross-sectional views of a part of a drug container of a fourth embodiment, in which FIG. 13A shows a state during use, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a drug container of the fourth embodiment with the lid member removed. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a medicine container of a fourth embodiment, showing the behavior of the medicine inside when it is discharged. FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a drug container according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a medicine container of the fifth embodiment, showing the state when medicine is poured in by a normal method. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the medicine container in the fifth embodiment, showing a state in which medicine is introduced by another method. FIG. 13 is a mechanical diagram illustrating a drug feeder according to another embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a container storage section. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the container storage unit. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a powder medicine packaging device disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a powder feeder disclosed in Patent Document 1.

The following describes the embodiments of the present invention, but the embodiments that are close to the actual design have complicated structures with intricate components. Therefore, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the mechanical features and operating principles of the embodiments are first described. After that, a detailed description of a specific example is given.
The medicine feeder 1 of this embodiment constitutes a part of a powder medicine packaging device or a medicine dispensing device having a powder medicine packaging function, and is installed near a distribution tray 212 of a powder medicine distribution device 202 as shown in FIG.
The configuration of a drug feeder 1 of this embodiment is shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. That is, the drug feeder 1 is composed of a drug container 2 and a main body device 3.

The drug container 2 is further comprised of a container body 5 , an iron plate portion 6 , and a flow straightening member 7 .
The container body 5 is a vertically elongated container made of resin, one end of which in the longitudinal direction is open and constitutes a medicine discharge portion 8 .
The drug container 2 is placed in a vertical or inclined position as shown in Fig. 1 during storage, and in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 during use, so that the surface of the container body 5 facing the drug discharge portion 8 serving as the opening surface will be referred to as the bottom surface 10, and the wall surface connecting the drug discharge portion 8 and the bottom surface 10 will be referred to as the peripheral wall surface 11. In addition, the surface of the peripheral wall surface 11 that is located on the bottom side, particularly when the container is in a horizontal position during use, will be referred to as the peripheral wall lower surface 12.
The container body 5 has a storage space 15 (FIG. 2) surrounded by a bottom surface 10 and a peripheral wall surface 11, with only one surface being an open surface forming a medicine discharge portion 8. A protrusion 16 is provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the container body 5. The protrusion 16 protrudes downward when the container body 5 is in a horizontal position, and is located in the vicinity of the bottom surface 10 of the container body 5. In other words, the protrusion 16 hangs down at a position farthest from the medicine discharge portion 8.

The iron plate portion 6 is a steel plate containing magnetic components such as ferrite. The iron plate portion 6 is attached to the outer periphery of the container body 5 and to the underside 12 of the peripheral wall.

The flow straightening member 7 is a comb-shaped plate (the comb shape is not shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3). The flow straightening member 7 is inside the container body 5, and a gap (narrowed opening 13) is formed only between the flow straightening member 7 and the peripheral wall lower surface 12 side. The flow straightening member 7 is inclined so that the end on the narrowed opening 13 side faces the inside of the container body 5 (the bottom surface 10 side).
The flow regulating member 7 is detachable from the container body 5. The flow regulating member 7 shown in the figure is merely an example, and can be replaced depending on the properties of the medicine.

In this embodiment, the inside of the container body 5 is divided by the straightening member 7, and the bottom surface 10 side of the straightening member 7 functions as the powdered medicine storage section 17. In addition, the area on the medicine discharge section 8 side of the straightening member 7 on the lower surface 12 of the peripheral wall functions as the discharge path section 18.

Next, the main unit 3 will be described.
The main body 3 is composed of, from the top down, a vibration table 20, vibration means 21a and 21b, an intermediate table 22, a vibration isolation table 23, a weight measuring means 25, and a base member 26, as shown in FIGS.

The vibration table 20 is a block-shaped mounting table, and has electromagnets 30a, 30b built therein. That is, the vibration table 20 is provided with magnet mounting holes 28a, 28b, and the electromagnets 30a, 30b are built in the magnet mounting holes 28a, 28b.
The electromagnets 30a, 30b are fixed to the bottoms of the magnet mounting holes 28a, 28b via elastic bodies 32a, 32b. Therefore, the electromagnets 30a, 30b have a slight degree of freedom with respect to the vibration table 20.
As shown in FIG. 1, the attraction portions (tips of the iron cores) 31a and 31b of the electromagnets 30a and 30b are located lower than the upper surface of the vibration table 20.
Contact sensors 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d are provided on the outer sides of the electromagnets 30a, 30b and at the four corners of the vibration table 20. The contact sensors 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d are specifically electrodes.
Furthermore, a vibration detection sensor 35 is attached to one side of the vibration table 20 .

The vibration means 21a and 21b are piezoelectric elements and have a plate shape.
The intermediate table 22 and the vibration isolation table 23 actually have complicated shapes as described later, but are merely tables from a mechanical standpoint, and are illustrated simply as flat plates in FIGS.
The weight measuring means 25 is a known load cell, and has an upper mounting surface 36 and a lower mounting surface 37, which are positioned offset from each other.
The base member 26 also has a complex shape in reality as will be described later, but is merely a base from a mechanical standpoint and is illustrated simply as a flat plate in FIGS.

Next, the positional relationship of each component of the main unit 3 will be described. In the main unit 3, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, excitation means 21a and 21b are provided between the vibration table 20 and the intermediate table 22. That is, as shown in Figure 1, the vibration table 20 and the intermediate table 22 face each other, and one end of the vibration table 20 and one end of the intermediate table 22 are connected by the excitation means 21a. Also, the other end of the vibration table 20 and the other end of the intermediate table 22 are connected by the excitation means 21b.
In this embodiment, the only members connecting the vibration table 20 and the intermediate table 22 are the vibration means 21a and 21b. Therefore, the vibration table 20 is supported in midair from the intermediate table 22 by the vibration means 21a and 21b.

Further, a vibration isolation table 23 is disposed below the intermediate table 22, and a vibration isolation member 40 is interposed between the intermediate table 22 and the vibration isolation table 23. The vibration isolation member 40 is a member that combines a vibration isolation function and a vibration control function, and is a combination of a spring 38 and a vibration control rubber (not shown).
In this embodiment, the only member connecting the intermediate stand 22 and the vibration isolation stand 23 is the vibration isolation member 40. Therefore, the intermediate stand 22 is supported in midair from the vibration isolation stand 23 by the vibration isolation member 40.

A weight measuring means 25 is disposed below the vibration isolating table 23, and a base member 26 is disposed further below that.
The weight measuring means 25 has an upper installation surface 36 connected to the lower surface of the vibration isolation table 23 , and a lower installation surface 37 of the weight measuring means 25 attached to the base member 26 .
As described above, the upper mounting surface 36 and the lower mounting surface 37 are in offset positions, so that the middle portion of the weight measuring means 25 is cantilevered relative to the base member 26, and its free end supports the vibration isolation table 23.
In this embodiment, the only member connecting the vibration isolation table 23 and the foundation member 26 is the weight measuring means 25. Therefore, the vibration isolation table 23 is supported in midair from the foundation member 26 by the weight measuring means 25.

In addition, the base member 26 is attached near the distribution tray 212 of the powdered medicine distribution device 202 via a vibration-isolating member 41.
Since the base member 26 is a base that supports the entire main body device 3 of the medicine feeder 1, the main body device 3 is attached near the distribution tray 212 of the powdered medicine distribution device 202.

As described above, in the pharmaceutical feeder 1 of this embodiment, the vibration table 20 is supported in midair by the vibration means 21a and 21b, so when the vibration means 21a and 21b are vibrated, the vibration is transmitted to the vibration table 20, causing the vibration table 20 to vibrate.

In addition, in this embodiment, the weights of the vibration table 20, vibration means 21a, 21b, intermediate table 22 and their accessories are all supported by the vibration isolation table 23. Furthermore, the entire weight of the vibration isolation table 23 is supported by the upper installation surface 36 of the weight measurement means 25. Therefore, the upper installation surface 36 of the weight measurement means 25 is subjected to the weight of all of the components that are mechanically above the weight measurement means 25. Therefore, the weight measurement means 25 measures the weight of all of the components that are above the weight measurement means 25. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the drug container 2 is placed on the vibration table 20, the weight of the drug container 2 is indirectly measured.

As described above, the vibration table 20 and the vibration means 21a, 21b generate vibrations, but since all of the components that generate vibrations are placed on the intermediate table 22 and a vibration-isolating member 40 is interposed between the intermediate table 22 and the vibration-proof table 23, the vibrations of the vibration table 20 and the vibration means 21a, 21b are not easily transmitted to the vibration-proof table 23.
In this embodiment, the weight measuring means 25 is connected to the vibration isolation table 23, so that the weight measuring means 25 is less affected by the vibrations of the vibration table 20 and the vibration means 21a, 21b, and can detect the weight accurately.
That is, in this embodiment, since the vibration isolating member 40 is provided between the vibration applying means 21a, 21b and the vibration isolating table 23, the weight measuring means 25 is less susceptible to the effects of vibration.
Furthermore, this embodiment includes an intermediate table 22 and a vibration isolation table 23 that supports the intermediate table 22 via vibration isolation members 40, and since the vibration means 21a, 21b and the vibration table 20 are placed on the intermediate table 22, the weight measuring means 25 is less susceptible to the effects of vibration.

As described above, the drug feeder 1 of this embodiment is composed of the drug container 2 and the main body device 3, but normally the two are separate and are combined to form the drug feeder 1 when the powdered medicine is packaged.
That is, the main body 3 of the medicine feeder 1 is fixed in the vicinity of the distribution tray 212 of the powder medicine distribution device 202 as described above.
On the other hand, the drug container 2 is stored by being placed on a container shelf (not shown) as shown in Fig. 1. That is, the drug container 2 is filled with a predetermined powdered medicine and is placed on the container shelf (not shown) in, for example, a vertical position as shown in Fig. 1 or an inclined position (not shown).

As described above, the medicine feeder 1 of this embodiment constitutes a part of the powder medicine packaging device (or the medicine dispensing device, the whole shape of which is not shown), and is installed near the distribution tray 212 of the powder medicine dispensing device 202 as shown in Fig. 1. Another device constituting the powder medicine packaging device is a robot (container moving means) 43 that transports the medicine container 2. The robot 43 has an XY table (not shown) and a hand 45 that grips the medicine container 2.
The powdered medicine packaging device (whole shape not shown) also includes prescription reading means 46 for reading a prescription, and a control device 47 for controlling the operation of each device.
The prescription reading means 46 is a device that reads the name of the prescribed drug, the prescribed amount, and other details written on the prescription.

Next, a description will be given of the function of the medicine feeder 1 of this embodiment. Since the medicine feeder 1 constitutes a part of a powder medicine packaging device (whole shape is not shown), the operation of the medicine feeder 1 will be described including the operation of the powder medicine packaging device as a whole.
In this embodiment, as described above, the drug container 2 and the main body device 3 are separate entities, and when powdered medicine is to be packaged, the two are joined together to form the drug feeder 1 .
That is, in this embodiment, the drug container 2 is stored in a vertical or inclined position, and the powdered medicine is stored in the powdered medicine storage section 17. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the drug container 2 is grasped by the hand 45 of the robot 43, and the drug container 2 is moved and placed on the main device 3 as shown in Fig. 2.
More specifically, the drug container 2 is moved and its position is changed as shown in Fig. 2. That is, the drug container 2 is moved close to the main body device 3, and then the drug container 2 is laid horizontally and placed on the vibration table 20. At this time, the drug container 2 is placed in a position where the bottom surface 12 of the peripheral wall is downward as shown in Fig. 2. That is, the drug container 2 is placed on the vibration table 20 with the iron plate portion 6 of the drug container 2 facing the vibration table 20.

Then, electricity is applied to electromagnets 30a, 30b built into vibration table 20. As a result, magnetic force is generated in electromagnets 30a, 30b, and iron plate portion 6 of drug container 2 is attracted to attraction portions (tips of iron cores) 31a, 31b on the vibration table 20 side.
In this embodiment, the electromagnets 30a, 30b are fixed to the bottom of the magnet mounting holes 28a, 28b via elastic bodies 32a, 32b, and the electromagnets 30a, 30b have a slight degree of freedom relative to the vibration table 20, so that, as shown in Figure 2, the electromagnets 30a, 30b move slightly toward the iron plate portion 6, and the adsorption portions 31a, 31b are tightly attached to the iron plate portion 6 of the drug container 2.
Furthermore, due to the elasticity of the iron plate portion 6 of the drug container 2 and the vibration table 20 itself, these deform slightly to fit in place.
As a result, the iron plate portion 6 of the drug container 2 comes into close contact with the surface of the vibration table 20 and the electromagnets 30a, 30b.

Next, in this embodiment, the degree of contact between drug container 2 and vibration table 20 and the attitude of drug container 2 are confirmed.
Specifically, electricity is applied between contact sensors 33a, b, c, d provided around electromagnets 30a, 30b, and if there is electrical continuity between contact sensors 33a, b, c, d, it is determined that the degree of contact between drug container 2 and vibration table 20 and the posture of drug container 2 are normal. Conversely, if there is no electrical continuity between contact sensors 33a, b, c, d, it is determined that the degree of contact between drug container 2 and vibration table 20 is insufficient or the posture of drug container 2 is abnormal.

That is, the contact sensors 33a, b, c, d are electrodes exposed on the surface of the vibration table 20. On the other hand, since the iron plate part 6 is provided on the outer periphery of the drug container 2, that is, on the lower surface 12 of the peripheral wall, if the drug container 2 is in close contact with the vibration table 20 and the attitude of the drug container 2 is normal, the contact sensors 33a, b, c, d come into contact with the iron plate part 6, and the contact sensors 33a, b, c, d are conductive via the iron plate part 6.
Conversely, if there is a problem such as insufficient adhesion between the drug container 2 and the vibration table 20, any or all of the contact sensors 33a, b, c, and d will not come into contact with the iron plate portion 6, and the contact sensors 33a, b, c, and d will be insulated from each other.

When electrical continuity between the contact sensors 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d is confirmed, the vibration table 20 is vibrated. More specifically, a current of a constant frequency is passed through the vibration means 21a, 21b to generate vibrations, which vibrate the vibration table 20. The amplitude of the vibration table 20 is monitored by a vibration detection sensor 35, and the current frequency input to the vibration means 21a, 21b is changed so that the amplitude increases.
Also, around the time when the vibration starts, the distribution plate 212 of the powdered medicine distribution device 202 is rotated.

Also, around the time when vibration starts, the weight of the drug container 2 is measured. The weight of the drug container 2 is obtained by subtracting a fixed value from the weight detected by the weight measuring means 25. More specifically, the weight of the drug container 2 is obtained by subtracting the weight of the members of the main device 3 above the weight measuring means 25 from the weight detected by the weight measuring means 25.
In other words, the weights of the vibration table 20, the vibration excitation means 21a, 21b, the intermediate table 22 and their accessories are all supported by the vibration isolation table 23, and the weight measuring means 25 measures the weight of the vibration isolation table 23, so the weight measuring means 25 measures the weight of all of the components above the weight measuring means 25.
Therefore, when the drug container 2 is placed on the vibration table 20 , the weight measuring means 25 detects the sum of the weight of the drug container 2 and the weight of the vibration table 20 etc.
Here, since the weight of the vibration table 20 and the like is known, the weight of the drug container 2 can be indirectly detected by subtracting the weight of the vibration table 20 and the like from the weight detected by the weight measuring means 25 .
The weight of the drug container 2 immediately after it is placed on the vibration table 20 is stored as the original weight G. The weight of the drug container 2 is constantly monitored. That is, the current weight of the drug container 2 is monitored as the current weight g.

When the vibration table 20 starts vibrating, the medicine container 2 vibrates. In this embodiment, the medicine container 2 is firmly joined to the vibration table 20 by the electromagnets 30a and 30b, and is in close contact with the vibration table 20, so that the medicine container 2 vibrates at the same frequency as the vibration table 20. As a result, the powdered medicine stored in the powdered medicine storage section 17 of the medicine container 2 moves slowly toward the medicine discharge section 8.
In addition, when the vibration table 20 vibrates, the drug container 2 itself is subjected to a force that moves it forward, but in this embodiment, a protrusion 16 is provided at the rear end of the drug container 2, and the drug container 2 itself is prevented from moving forward by the protrusion 16 coming into contact with a part of the vibration table 20, etc. Therefore, the drug container 2 does not move, and only the powdered medicine inside moves.

The powdered medicine then reaches the narrowed opening 13 formed by the flow straightening member 7. Since the narrowed opening 13 has a limited opening height, the powdered medicine passing through the narrowed opening 13 is uniform in height. That is, the powdered medicine flows along the peripheral wall lower surface 12 of the medicine container 2 like a river, but the height from the peripheral wall lower surface 12 to the top of the powdered medicine is uniform in the width direction.
The powdered medicine that has passed through the narrowed opening 13 is discharged into the discharge path 18. The powdered medicine then flows through the discharge path 18 like a river, and finally reaches the medicine discharge portion 8 of the medicine container 2, where it falls like a waterfall and enters the groove 216 of the distribution tray 212 below.

The fact that the powdered medicine is falling can be confirmed by a decrease in the weight of the medicine container 2. That is, in this embodiment, even while the powdered medicine is falling from the medicine discharge section 8 of the medicine container 2, the current weight of the medicine container 2 continues to be monitored as the current weight g. The original weight G of the medicine container 2 immediately after it is placed on the vibration table 20 is compared with the current weight g, and the amount of powdered medicine that has fallen H (G minus g) is constantly calculated.

The vibration strength of the vibration table 20 is fed back so that the amount of powdered medicine falling per unit time, h, remains constant. That is, if the amount of powdered medicine falling per unit time, h, is too small, the frequency of the vibration is increased. Conversely, if the amount of powdered medicine falling per unit time, h, is too large, the frequency is decreased. Similarly, the magnitude of the amplitude is also fed back so that the amount of powdered medicine falling per unit time, h, remains constant.
When the total amount H of powdered medicine that has fallen reaches a desired weight, the vibration of the vibration table 20 is stopped.

After that, as with the conventional powdered medicine packaging device, the rotation of the distribution tray 212 is stopped, the distribution tray 212 is rotated an angle corresponding to the number of powdered medicines to be distributed, and the powdered medicine is scraped out of the distribution tray 212 by a scraping device (not shown) and sent to the downstream medicine packaging device (not shown).

Next, an embodiment of the present invention that is closer to a practical design will be described. In order to reduce the overall height of the drug feeder 50 described below, the component shapes are significantly different from those shown in the mechanism diagram in FIG. 1, and the assembly relationships of the parts are complicated, but the basic structure and function of each component are the same as in the previous embodiment. The components of the drug feeder 50 described below basically have all the functions of the drug feeder 1 described above. For this reason, components that perform the same function despite having different shapes will be given the same numbers and names. Furthermore, the explanation of the components will focus on the parts that are different from the previous embodiment, and overlapping parts will be only briefly described.

A medicine feeder 50 having a shape close to a practical design is composed of a medicine container 2 and a main body device 3, similar to the previous embodiment (FIG. 4).
First, a description will be given of the structure of the drug container 2. In this embodiment, six types of drug containers 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F are prepared according to the purpose.
That is, the first form of drug container 2A (related invention) is a type in which the drug discharge section 8 does not have a lid as shown in Fig. 5. The second form of drug container 2B (related invention) is a type that is two-sided open as shown in Fig. 10, in which the drug discharge section 8 does not have a lid and the part corresponding to the top surface is largely open when the container is in a horizontal position. The third form of drug container 2C is a sealed type with a lid as shown in Fig. 12. The fourth form of drug container 2D is a sealed type with a lid as shown in Fig. 34. The fifth form of drug container 2E is a sealed type with a lid as shown in Fig. 43, in which a large lid is located at the part corresponding to the top surface and can be opened and closed.

To explain in order, the drug container 2A of the first embodiment is composed of a container body 5, an iron plate portion 6, and a flow straightening member 7, as shown in Figs.
The container body 5 is a vertically elongated container made of resin, and one end in the longitudinal direction serves as a medicine discharge portion 8 .
In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the container body 5 is hexagonal as shown in Figures 5 and 6. That is, the container body 5 has six peripheral wall surfaces 11 including a lower peripheral wall surface 12.
More specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the container body 5 is symmetrical with respect to the state in which the container body 5 is placed horizontally as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Also, with respect to the state in which the container body 5 is placed horizontally as shown in Figures 5 and 6, there is a peripheral wall upper surface 51 that faces the peripheral wall lower surface 12.
The surfaces connecting the upper peripheral wall surface 51 and the lower peripheral wall surface 12 include left and right vertical peripheral walls 52a, 52b and left and right inclined peripheral walls 53a, 53b.
Therefore, when the container body 5 is placed horizontally as shown in Figures 5 and 6, it has a shape surrounded by a total of six surfaces, which are, clockwise from above, the upper peripheral wall surface 51 in a horizontal position, the right vertical peripheral wall 52b in a vertical position, the right inclined peripheral wall 53b in an inclined position, the lower peripheral wall surface 12 in a horizontal position, the left inclined peripheral wall 53a in an inclined position, and the left vertical peripheral wall 52a in a vertical position.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the peripheral wall underside 12 through which the powdered medicine flows is smaller than the other surfaces. Also, in this embodiment, the structure is such that the powdered medicine is likely to gather on the peripheral wall underside 12 from the other peripheral walls.
In this embodiment as well, a protrusion 16 is provided on the outer circumferential surface side of the container body 5. The position etc. of the protrusion 16 are the same as in the previous embodiment, and when the container body 5 is in a horizontal position, it protrudes downward.

The iron plate portion 6 is formed into a shape that matches the peripheral wall lower surface 12 and parts of the left and right inclined peripheral walls 53a, b.
That is, the cross-sectional shape of the iron plate portion 6 is symmetrical as shown in FIG. 6, and has a flat peripheral wall lower surface abutment portion 55, on both sides of which are inclined peripheral wall abutment portions 56a, 56b.
There is a certain angle between the peripheral wall lower surface abutment portion 55 and the inclined peripheral wall abutment portions 56a, b, and this angle is equal to the angle between the peripheral wall lower surface 12 of the container body 5 and the left and right inclined peripheral walls 53a, b described above.
The iron plate portion 6 is adhered to the outer peripheral surface side of the container body 5 at a location corresponding to the lower surface 12 of the peripheral wall.

As shown in FIG. 8, the flow regulating member 7 is molded from resin, and is provided with a substantially square closing plate portion 57, a first comb portion 58, and a second comb portion 60.
The first comb-shaped portion 58 extends obliquely from the vicinity of the lower side of the closure plate portion 57, and has a free end side divided into multiple portions to form a comb shape.
The second comb-shaped portion 60 extends obliquely rearward from the rear surface of the closure plate portion 57, and has a free end side divided into a plurality of portions to form a comb shape.

5 and 7 , the flow straightening member 7 is located inside the container body 5, and the free ends of the comb-shaped portions 58, 60 are inclined toward the bottom surface 10. In other words, the comb-shaped portions 58, 60 of the flow straightening member 7 are inclined so that the free ends are located toward the back side of the container body 5.
7, a narrowing opening 13 is formed between the free end of the first comb-shaped portion 58 and the peripheral wall lower surface 12, and between the free end of the second comb-shaped portion 60 and the peripheral wall lower surface 12. The first and second comb-shaped portions 58 and 60 are inclined so that the ends on the narrowing opening 13 side face the inner side of the container body 5 (the bottom surface 10 side).
In this embodiment, the inside of the container body 5 is also divided by the straightening member 7, and the bottom surface 10 side of the straightening member 7 functions as a powdered medicine storage section 17. In addition, the area of the peripheral wall lower surface 12 on the medicine discharge section 8 side of the straightening member 7 functions as an outlet path section 18.

Next, a description will be given of modified examples of the drug container 2. In the following description of each modified example, the components common to the previously described drug container 2A and the parts exhibiting the common functions are denoted by the same reference numbers with B, C, D, E, and F, and detailed description will be omitted.
The second embodiment of the drug container 2B will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. As shown in Figure 10, the drug container 2B is a two-sided open type, and when the drug discharge section 8 has no lid and is in a horizontal position, the portion corresponding to the top surface is largely open. In other words, the drug container 2B can be said to be the drug container 2A of the first embodiment described above with the upper side removed. To explain more simply, the drug container 2B is missing a portion corresponding to the peripheral wall upper surface 51 (Figure 6).
The drug container 2B is composed of a container body 5B, an iron plate portion 6B, and a flow straightening member 7B, similar to the drug container 2A of the first embodiment described above.
The container body 5B is a vertically long, trough-shaped container made of resin, one end of which in the longitudinal direction constitutes a medicine discharge portion 8B.
In this embodiment, the container body 5B has five peripheral wall surfaces 11B including a peripheral wall lower surface 12B.
More specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the container body 5B is symmetrical with respect to the state in which the container body 5B is placed horizontally as shown in Fig. 10. Also, with respect to the state in which the container body 5B is placed horizontally as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the side facing the peripheral wall lower surface 12B is open.
In this embodiment as well, a protrusion 16B is provided on the outer circumferential surface side of the container body 5B. The position of the protrusion 16B is the same as in the previous embodiment, and when the container body 5B is in a horizontal position, the protrusion 16B protrudes downward.

The iron plate portion 6B has the same shape as the iron plate portion 6 of the drug container 2A of the first embodiment described above, and is formed into a shape that matches the peripheral wall lower surface 12B and the like.
The iron plate portion 6B is adhered to the outer peripheral surface side of the container body 5B at a location corresponding to the peripheral wall lower surface 12B.

The main part of the flow straightening member 7B is the same as that used in the first form of drug container 2A described above, and is provided with a closure plate portion 57B, a first comb-shaped portion 58B, and a second comb-shaped portion (the second comb-shaped portion is not shown in the drawing). However, the overall height of the closure plate portion 57B is lower than that used in the first form of drug container 2A described above.

Next, a drug container 2C of a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The drug container 2C is of a sealed type, and a lid member 120 is provided on a container body 5C.
That is, the drug container 2C is composed of a container body 5C, an iron plate portion 6C, and a cover member 120. In addition, in the drug container 2C, a flow straightening portion 7C (FIG. 13) is integrally provided on the rear end side of the cover member 120. The flow straightening portion 7C functions in the same manner as the flow straightening members 7A and 7B described above, but since it is a part of the cover member 120 as described later, it is referred to as the flow straightening portion 7C.
Furthermore, the drug container 2C is provided with a steel plate portion 157 for transportation.
The container body 5C is a vertically elongated container made of resin, and one end in the longitudinal direction is the medicine discharge portion 8C. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the container body 5C is hexagonal as shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13. That is, the container body 5C has six peripheral wall surfaces 11C, including a peripheral wall lower surface 12C.
More specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the container body 5C is symmetrical with respect to the state in which the container body 5C is placed horizontally as shown in Fig. 11. Also, with respect to the state in which the container body 5C is placed horizontally as shown in Fig. 13, there is a peripheral wall upper surface 51C opposed to the peripheral wall lower surface 12C.
Furthermore, the left and right vertical peripheral walls 52aC, 52bC and the left and right inclined peripheral walls 53aC, 53bC serve as surfaces connecting the peripheral wall upper surface 51C and the peripheral wall lower surface 12C.

Therefore, when the container body 5C is placed horizontally as shown in FIG. 11, it is surrounded by a total of six surfaces, as shown in FIG. 13, which are, clockwise from above, the upper peripheral wall surface 51C in a horizontal position, the right vertical peripheral wall 52bC in a vertical position, the right inclined peripheral wall 53bC in an inclined position, the lower peripheral wall surface 12C in a horizontal position, the left inclined peripheral wall 53aC in an inclined position, and the left vertical peripheral wall 52aC in a vertical position.

However, in this embodiment, the peripheral wall underside 12C is not a flat surface, but has a step 121 on the medicine discharge portion 8 side as shown in Figures 12 and 13. That is, based on the horizontal position, the medicine discharge portion 8C side is lowered one step to form a lower step 122. In other words, the peripheral wall underside 12C is divided into an upper step 123 and a lower step 122 with the step 121 as the boundary.
Therefore, the portions of the walls connected to the peripheral wall underside 12C, i.e., the right inclined peripheral wall 53bC and the left inclined peripheral wall 53aC connected to the lower stage 122, have a larger area than the other portions.
In this embodiment, a lower step 122 is provided on the peripheral wall underside 12C at the medicine discharge portion 8C side, so that the container body 5C bulges downward on the medicine discharge portion 8C side.

In this embodiment, too, a protrusion 16C is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the container body 5C. The position of the protrusion 16C is the same as in the previous embodiment, and when the container body 5C is in a horizontal position, it protrudes downward.

The iron plate portion 6C is formed into a shape that matches the upper stage portion 123 of the peripheral wall lower surface 12C and a part of the left and right inclined peripheral walls 53aC, 53bC connected thereto.
The iron plate portion 6C is adhered to the outer peripheral surface side of the container body 5C at a location corresponding to the upper step portion 123 of the peripheral wall lower surface 12C.
As shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13, the transportation iron plate portion 157 is provided on the peripheral wall upper surface 51C.

The cover member 120 is composed of a cover main body 125, a movable cover portion 134, and a rectifying coil 126. A rectifying portion 7C is formed on the rear end side of the cover member 120 by a part of the cover member 120 and the rectifying coil 126.
The lid main body 125 has a frame portion 127 on the front side, and is provided with a coil support portion 128 and a comb-shaped rectifier portion 130 on the rear side.

The front frame portion 127 has a portion that functions as a fixing frame 131 and a portion that functions as a contact frame 132 .
That is, frame portion 127 is hexagonal in front view like the cross-sectional shape of container body 5C and has, based on the horizontal position, an upper edge 133, left and right vertical edges 135a, 135b, left and right inclined edges 136a, 136b, and a lower edge 137. Then, upper edge 133 and left and right vertical edges 135a, 135b form a fixing frame 131, and left and right inclined edges 136a, 136b and lower edge 137 form a contact frame 132.
That is, the inner circumferences of the upper side 133 and the left and right vertical sides 135a, 135b constituting the fixing frame 131 are equal to the inner circumference shape of the medicine discharge portion 8C of the container body 5C and can be fitted with the medicine discharge portion 8C of the container body 5C.

That is, the position and length of the upper edge 133 of the fixing frame 131 are equal to those of the inner surface of the peripheral wall upper surface 51C of the container body 5C, and the position and length of the left and right vertical edges 135a, 135b of the fixing frame 131 are equal to those of the inner surfaces of the left and right vertical peripheral walls 52aC, 52bC of the container body 5C.
However, the remaining left and right inclined sides 136a, 136b and bottom side 137 of frame 127 are smaller than the inner circumferential shape of medicine discharge portion 8C of container body 5C. In other words, the portion of abutment frame 132 of frame 127 is smaller than the inner circumferential shape of medicine discharge portion 8C of container body 5C.

A magnet 155 is attached to the abutment frame 132. The magnet 155 functions as a stopper for maintaining the movable cover portion 134 in a closed state.
Furthermore, the area of the frame 127 surrounded by the fixing frame 131 has a bottom and a shielding wall 138 .
A magnet 156 is provided on the shielding wall 138. The magnet 156 functions as a stopper for maintaining the movable cover portion 134 in an open state.
Furthermore, bearings 140a, 140b are formed on the inside of the left and right vertical sides 135a, 135b of the fixing frame 131.

Looking toward the rear side of the lid main body 125, an inclined plate portion 141 extends obliquely downward from the rear surface side of the shielding wall 138 of the frame portion 127. The tip end side (free end side) of the inclined plate portion 141 has a comb shape 142 as shown in Fig. 16. Furthermore, coil support walls 143a, 143b are provided on both sides of the inclined plate portion 141 near the free ends, and hang down downward.
Between the two coil support walls, a rectifying coil 126 is mounted as shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the rectifying section 7C is configured by the comb-shaped portion 142 on the tip side (free end side) of the inclined plate portion 141 and the rectifying coil 126 located thereunder.

13 and 14, the movable cover 134 is composed of a pressing plate 145, a bearing 146, and a knob 147. The pressing plate 145 is a substantially pentagonal plate. The shape of the pressing plate 145 is the same as the shape of the opening in the lower region of the medicine discharge portion 8C of the container body 5C.
The knob portion 147 protrudes from one side (upper side) of the pressing plate portion 145. In addition, a bearing portion 146 is formed between the knob portion 147 and the pressing plate portion 145.

The movable cover 134 is attached to the frame 127 via a shaft 144 shown in Fig. 14. That is, a common shaft 144 is inserted through bearings 140a, 140b of the frame 127 and a bearing 146 of the movable cover 134, and the movable cover 134 is attached so as to be able to swing relative to the frame 127. In addition, torsion coil springs 148a, 148b are provided on the shaft 144, and the pressing plate 145 of the movable cover 134 is biased in a direction in which it comes into contact with the abutment frame 132 side of the frame 127.
With the movable lid portion 134 attached to the frame portion 127, the front shape of the lid main body portion 125 is the same as the opening shape of the medicine discharge portion 8C of the container body 5C.
An iron plate is provided on the rear side of the movable cover 134 at the locations corresponding to the magnets 155 and 156 described above.

The lid member 120 is attached to the medicine discharge portion 8C of the container body 5C as shown in Figures 12 and 13. That is, the fixing frame 131 of the lid member 120 is attached to the medicine discharge portion 8C, and the upper half of the opening of the medicine discharge portion 8C (based on the horizontal position) is sealed by a shielding wall 138. On the other hand, since the abutment frame 132 of the frame portion 127 is smaller than the opening of the medicine discharge portion 8C, there is a gap between the lower side 137 of the abutment frame 132 and the peripheral wall lower surface 12C of the medicine discharge portion 8C. That is, assuming a state in which the movable lid portion 134 is removed with the lid member 120 attached to the container body 5C as shown in Figure 17, there is a gap 150 (medicine discharge portion) between the lower side 137 of the abutment frame 132 and the peripheral wall lower surface 12C of the medicine discharge portion 8C.
However, the pressing plate portion 145 of the movable lid portion 134 is larger than the abutment frame 132, and its shape is the same as the opening shape of the lower region of the drug discharge portion 8C of the container body 5C, so that the lower half of the opening of the drug discharge portion 8C (based on the horizontal position) is also blocked by the movable lid portion 134.

Therefore, when the movable cover 134 is closed, the entire surface of the medicine discharge portion 8C is blocked. An iron plate (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the movable cover 134, and the iron plate is attracted to a magnet 155 for maintaining the closed state provided on the contact frame 132. Therefore, the movable cover 134 maintains the closed position.
On the other hand, when the knob 147 of the movable lid 134 is pressed to open the movable lid 134, a gap 150 (medicine discharge portion) opens. An iron plate (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the knob 147, and the iron plate is attracted to a magnet 156 for maintaining the open state provided on the shielding wall 138, thereby maintaining the movable lid 134 in the open position.

In this embodiment, the inside of the container body 5C is also divided by the straightening section 7C, and the bottom surface 10C side of the straightening section 7C functions as the powdered medicine storage section 17. In addition, the area on the medicine discharge section 8C side of the straightening section 7C on the underside of the peripheral wall 12C functions as the discharge path section 18C. However, in the drug container 2C of this embodiment, the straightening section 7C is provided on the lid member 120, so the length of the discharge path section 18C is shorter than that of other drug containers 2A and 2B.

Next, the fourth form of the drug container 2D will be described with reference to Figures 34 to 41. The drug container 2D is an improvement over the third form 2C described above, and although the design is different, the functions of the components are common in many respects. Therefore, the description of the fourth form of the drug container 2D will be limited to the differences from the third form 2C.

The drug container 2D is composed of a container body 5D, an iron plate portion 6D, and a lid member 120D.
The container body 5D is a vertically long container made of resin. The inner surface of the peripheral wall lower surface 12D of the container body 5D is generally flat, but has inclined portions 181a and 181b at the rear end as shown in Fig. 39. The rear end inclined portion 181b is a gentle inclination, and the subsequent inclined portion 181a has a steep inclination. The outer peripheral portion of the container body 5D corresponding to the inclined portions 181a and 181b has a recess 350.

As shown in FIG. 35, near the opening of the container body 5D, on the outside of the upper surface 51D of the peripheral wall, there is a step 160 and a low ceiling portion 161 that is made slightly lower. An engagement member 162 is provided on the step 160. The engagement member 162 has a main body 166, engagement portions 163a, 163b, joint portions 164a, 164b, and a mounting portion 165. The main body 166 is a portion that has a substantially rectangular plate shape. Rod-shaped joint portions 164a, 164b are provided on one side of the main body 166. The joint portions 164a, 164b are arranged in the same plane as the main body 166. The joint portions 164a, 164b extend in parallel. Hook-shaped engagement portions 163a, 163b are provided on the side of the main body 166 opposite to the side on which the joint portions 164a, 164b are provided. The engaging portions 163a and 163b protrude in a direction perpendicular to the main body portion 166. A mounting portion 165 is provided on the main body portion 166. The mounting portion 165 stands in the same direction as the engaging portions 163a and 163b, and is a platform on which the pressing member 240 described below is placed. The joint portions 164a and 164b are joined in a cantilever manner to the step portion 160 of the container body 5D. In other words, the engaging member 162 is connected to the step portion 160 of the container body 5D via the joint portions 164a and 164b, and the main body portion 166 is disposed parallel to the low ceiling portion 161. The engaging member 162 has elasticity.
A cover member 237 is attached to the low ceiling portion 161. The cover member 237 is provided with an upper opening 238 and a front opening 239.
A pressing member 240 is provided in a space 372 between the low ceiling portion 161 and the cover member 237. The lower surface of the pressing member 240 contacts the placement portion 165, and the upper portion protrudes from the upper surface opening 238 of the cover member 237.
The transportation iron plate portion 157D is divided into two smaller transportation iron plate portions 157aD and 157bD.

The cover member 120D is composed of a cover main body 125D, a movable cover portion 134D, a rectifying coil 126D, and a comb-shaped rectifying member 130D. A desiccant 182 is disposed in the cover member 120D as shown in FIG.
The lid body 125D is made by joining two lid body pieces 125a and 125b as shown in Figures 37 and 38. The following description will be given based on the state in which the two are joined together.
The cover member 120D has a frame portion 127D on the front side, and a coil support portion 128D on the rear side.

The front frame portion 127D has a portion that functions as a fixing frame 131D and a portion that functions as a contact frame 132D.
The area of the frame 127D that is surrounded by the fixing frame 131D has a bottom and a shielding wall 138D.
The area surrounded by the fixing frame 131D forms a recess 373 as shown in Figures 38 and 39. In the recess 373, a leaf spring 185 is provided on the surface of the shielding wall 138D as shown in Figures 39 and 40. The leaf spring 185 has mounting portions 186a, 186b on both ends as shown in Figure 38. The area sandwiched between the two mounting portions 186a, 186b is a functional area 187, which is formed in a bent shape and has a corner 188.

Looking toward the rear side of the lid main body 125D, an inclined plate portion 141D extends obliquely downward from the rear surface side of the shielding wall 138D of the frame portion 127D. However, the center portion of the inclined plate portion 141D has a large opening as shown in Fig. 37. Therefore, when the lid main body 125D is viewed from the rear side, a recess 190 is present as shown in Fig. 37. In this embodiment, a comb-shaped flow straightening member 130D is attached to the opening of the recess 190, and the recess 190 is sealed by the comb-shaped flow straightening member 130D.
The comb-shaped flow straightening member 130D is a member in which a comb-shaped portion 365 is formed at the tip of a plate-shaped portion 362. The plate-shaped portion 362 is provided with a plurality of small holes 366 for ensuring ventilation.
In this embodiment, an engagement portion 191 is provided on one side of the comb-shaped airflow regulating member 130D, and the engagement portion 191 is engaged with the inside of the recess 190, thereby attaching the comb-shaped airflow regulating member 130D to the rear side of the lid main body portion 125D.
In this embodiment, since the comb-shaped flow regulating member 130D is detachable, the comb-shaped flow regulating member 130D can be replaced according to the properties of the drug.
Also, a desiccant 182 is contained within the recess 190. For ease of illustration, the desiccant 182 is depicted as being in the form of granules directly placed in the recess 190, but it is preferable that the desiccant be placed in a bag or the like before being placed in the recess 190.
In this embodiment, the desiccant 182 is inserted into the recess 190, and the recess 190 is sealed by the comb-shaped straightening member 130D. Since the comb-shaped straightening member 130D has small holes 366, the drug introduced into the drug container 2D can be dehumidified.

Further, on the rear side of the lid main body 125D and in the vicinity of the upper part thereof, an engagement plate 192 extending in the horizontal direction is provided. The engagement plate 192 is provided with an engagement hole 193.
The movable cover portion 134D is made up of a pressing plate portion 145D, a shaft portion 194, and a knob portion 147D. The knob portion 147D is on an extension of the pressing plate portion 145D, and the knob portion 147D forms the same plane as the pressing plate portion 145D.
A pad 236 is provided on the rear surface side of the pressing plate portion 145D.

The shaft portion 194 is provided on the left and right sides of the pressing plate portion 145D. The shaft portion 194 has an elastic portion 235 that has a hairpin shape when viewed from above as shown in FIG. 35. The elastic portion 235 has a going side portion 195 that extends rearward as shown in FIG. 35 with the side of the pressing plate portion 145D as its base end, and a returning side portion 196 that is folded back in a "U" shape and reaches the front, and is elastic as a whole. A shaft piece 197 is provided on the outside of the returning side portion 196.

An engagement piece 149 protrudes from the back side of the pressing plate portion 145D. The engagement piece 149 is rod-shaped or plate-shaped and is cantilevered on the pressing plate portion 145D. A recess 198 and a small protrusion 199 are provided at the tip of the engagement piece 149.

The movable cover portion 134D is attached to the cover body portion 125D by engaging the shaft piece 197 of the shaft portion 194 with the bearing portions 140aD, 140bD of the cover body portion 125D.
When attaching, the elastic portion 235 is flexed to shorten the distance between the left and right shaft pieces 197, the back side of the movable cover portion 134D is inserted into the recess 373 of the cover body main portion 125D, and in this state the elastic portion 235 is returned to engage the left and right shaft pieces 197 with the bearing portions 140aD, 140bD. When removing the movable cover portion 134D, conversely, the elastic portion 235 is flexed to shorten the distance between the left and right shaft pieces 197, and the left and right shaft pieces 197 are released from the bearing portions 140aD, 140bD.

The lid member 120D is attached to the medicine discharge portion 8D of the container body 5D as shown in Figure 39. When the lid member 120D is attached to the container body 5D, the engagement plate 192 of the lid member 120D enters the internal space from the front opening 239 of the lid member 237 as shown in Figure 40(a), and the engagement portion 163 of the engagement member 162 engages with the engagement hole 193 of the engagement plate 192.
40(b), when the pushing member 240 of the container body 5D is pushed down, the engaging member 162 is bent, and the engaging portion 163 of the engaging member 162 is disengaged from the engaging hole 193 of the engaging plate 192. Therefore, the lid member 120D can be easily removed from the container member 5D.

In this embodiment, when the movable cover 134D is closed, as shown in FIG. 39(a), the recess 198 of the engagement piece 149 engages with the corner 188 of the leaf spring 185, and the movable cover 134D is stabilized in the closed position.
When the movable cover 134D is opened, the knob 147D of the movable cover 134D is pressed. As a result, the movable cover 134D swings around the shaft piece 197 (FIG. 35). At this time, the tip of the recess 198 of the engagement piece 149 that has engaged with the corner 188 of the leaf spring 185 moves against the elastic force of the leaf spring 185 as the movable cover 134D swings. Then, as shown in FIG. 39(b), the small protrusion 199 of the engagement piece 149 climbs over the corner 188 of the leaf spring 185, and the movable cover 134D becomes stable in the open position.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the drug container 2E will be described with reference to Figures 43 and 44. The drug container 2E has a large opening 300 provided on the peripheral wall upper surface 51D of the container body 5D of the fourth embodiment described above, and a large lid 301 provided on the opening 300. In the drug container 2E, the large lid 301 can be opened to pour a drug into the inside.
In addition, the shape of the top surface of the large lid 301 when turned upside down is designed to match the shape of the bottom surface of the container body 5E. Since the bottom surface side of the large lid 301 when turned upside down is larger than the top surface, when the large lid 301 is turned upside down and placed on a desk, the large lid 301 maintains a stable position.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 44, by removing the large lid 301 and placing it upside down on the container body 5E, it can be used as a stand for the container body 5E.
A container body 5F as yet another embodiment will be described later.

Next, the main unit 3 will be described.
The main body device 3 is composed of, from the top, a vibration table 20, vibration means 21a and 21b, an intermediate table 22, a vibration isolation table 23, a weight measuring means 25, and a base member 26, as shown in FIGS.

The vibration table 20 is a block-shaped support table.
The external shape of the vibration table 20 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped as shown in Figures 19 and 20. That is, the vibration table 20 is surrounded by a mounting surface 61 serving as an upper surface, long side surfaces 62a and 62b, short side surfaces 63a and 63b, and a bottom surface 65.
An edge 66 (FIG. 21) is provided on the long side of the mounting surface 61, which is the upper surface. The surface of the edge 66 is inclined with respect to the mounting surface 61. That is, the edge 66 of the mounting surface 61 has an inclined surface 68. The angle formed by the mounting surface 61 and the inclined surface 68 is approximately equal to the angle formed by the peripheral wall lower surface abutting portion 55 of the iron plate portion 6 and the inclined peripheral wall abutting portions 56a, b.

The mounting surface 61 is provided with magnet mounting holes 28a and 28b and sensor mounting holes 73a, 73b, 73c, and 73d.
The magnet mounting holes 28a, 28b are provided in a line on the center line of the mounting surface 61. The sensor mounting holes 73a, 73b, 73c, 73d are provided at the four corners of the mounting surface 61.

The vibration table 20 has short side surfaces 63a and 63b each having an inclined surface 67a, 67b formed in the center thereof.
The inclined surfaces 67a, b each extend over substantially the entire height of the short side surface 63a, 63b. The two inclined surfaces 67a, b are parallel to each other, and the rectangle formed by the mounting surface 61, the two inclined surfaces 67a, b, and the bottom surface 65 is a parallelogram as shown in Figures 24 and 25. More specifically, the inclined surface 67a is cut out on the mounting surface 61 side, and is an uphill slope from the bottom surface 65 side to the mounting surface 61, while the inclined surface 67b is an overhanging slope from the bottom surface 65 side to the mounting surface 61.

In this embodiment, electromagnets 30a, 30b are also built into the magnet mounting holes 28a, 28b. The electromagnets 30a, 30b are fixed to the bottoms of the magnet mounting holes 28a, 28b via elastic bodies 32a, 32b. Therefore, the electromagnets 30a, 30b have a small degree of freedom with respect to the vibration table 20.
The attraction portions (tips of the iron cores) 31a and 31b of the electromagnets 30a and 30b are located slightly lower than a mounting surface 61, which is the upper surface of the vibration table 20, as shown in FIG.
Further, the contact sensors 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d are provided in the sensor attachment holes 73a, 73b, 73c, 33d. That is, in this embodiment, the contact sensors 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d are provided at the four corners of the placement surface 61.

Furthermore, a vibration detection sensor 35 is attached to the short side surface 63b of the vibration table 20. That is, in this embodiment, a sensor bracket 70 is attached to the vibration table 20, and the vibration detection sensor 35 is provided via the sensor bracket 70. In this embodiment, the sensor bracket 70 is made by bending a steel plate into a substantially "C" shape, and as shown in Fig. 20, it is composed of a rectangular sensor holding portion 69, a spacing retaining plate 74 formed by bending both sides of the sensor holding portion 69, and an inner mounting flange 79 formed by further bending the other end of the spacing retaining plate 74 inward. The inner mounting flange 79 is then screwed to the short side surface 63b of the vibration table 20 (screws are not shown).
In this embodiment, the sensor bracket 70 not only holds the vibration detection sensor 35, but also functions as a fitting recess 108 for preventing movement of the drug container 2, as described below. That is, in this embodiment, there is a gap between the sensor holding portion 69 of the sensor bracket 70 and the short side surface 63b of the vibration table 20, and this gap functions as the fitting recess 108.

The vibration means 21a, 21b are piezoelectric elements, and have a plate-shaped main body 71, with thin plate-shaped connecting pieces 72a, b at both ends. The connecting pieces 72a, b each have two openings 64 for attaching screws.

Next, the intermediate stand 22 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 20, the intermediate stand 22 has a generally H-shaped appearance in a plan view.
That is, when viewed from above, the intermediate base 22 has a rectangular main body 76 and four protrusions 77a, b, c, d that protrude from the four corners of the main body 76 along the longer sides.
The short sides of the main body 76, the regions sandwiched between the protruding portions 77a, 77b, 77c, and 77d, form inclined surfaces 78a and 78b.

The inclined surfaces 78 a and 78 b correspond to the inclined surfaces 67 a and 67 b of the vibration table 20 described above.
That is, the inclined surfaces 78 a and 78 b of the intermediate table 22 are parallel to each other, and the inclination angle is the same as that of the inclined surfaces 67 a and 67 b of the vibration table 20 .
In addition, the inclined surface 67a of the vibration table 20 is an extension of the inclined surface 78a of the intermediate table 22, and the inclined surface 67b of the vibration table 20 is an extension of the inclined surface 78b of the intermediate table 22.

Looking inside the intermediate stand 22, as shown in FIG. 22, a large cavity 75 is formed inside a main body 76, and the rear surface of the main body 76 is widely open.
As shown in FIG. 23, a round hole 85 that opens downward is provided inside each of the four protruding portions 77a, 77b, 77c, and 77d.

A weight 87 is attached to one of the short sides of the intermediate stand 22 via a bracket 86, as shown in Figures 19 and 20. The weight 87 is a rectangular prism-shaped steel material.

Next, the vibration isolation table 23 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 20, the vibration isolation table 23 is a plate body with a protruding central portion to provide an internal space.
That is, the vibration isolation table 23 has a shape of a folded plate, and a convex strip 80 having a U-shaped cross section extends in the longitudinal direction in the center. That is, the convex strip 80 has a top surface 81 and vertical walls 82a, b hanging down from both sides of the top surface 81 when viewed from the inside.
Furthermore, flanges 88a, b are provided along both sides of the open end of the ridge 80. That is, the lower ends of the vertical walls 82a, b are bent outwardly from each other to form the flanges 88a, b. The flanges 88a, b are both long plate-shaped and are longer than the ridge 80. That is, both ends of the flanges 88a, b are located further outward than both ends of the ridge 80 in the longitudinal direction.
The protruding portions at both ends of the flange portions 88a, b function as intermediate table support portions 83a, b, c, d.

The positional relationship of each part of the vibration isolation table 23 corresponds to that of the intermediate table 22 described above. That is, the convex ridge 80 provided in the center of the vibration isolation table 23 is sized and positioned to be accommodated in the hollow portion 75 of the intermediate table 22.
Furthermore, the positions of the four intermediate table support portions 83 a, 83 b, 83 c, and 83 d of the vibration isolation table 23 correspond to the four protrusions 77 a, 77 b, 77 c, and 77 d of the intermediate table 22 .

The base member 26 has a rectangular flat plate portion 97, the four corners of which are cut out to form the spring support portions 90a, b, c, and d.

Next, the positional relationship of each component of the main body device 3 of this embodiment will be described. In the main body device 3, vibration means 21a and 21b are provided between a vibration table 20 and an intermediate table 22 as shown in FIGS.
In this embodiment, connection plates 91a, 91b are interposed between the vibration table 20 and the vibration means 21a, 21b, and the connection pieces 72a of the vibration means 21a, 21b and the vibration table 20 are attached via the connection plates 91a, 91b.
On the other hand, the intermediate stand 22 and the vibration means 21a and 21b are directly connected to each other.
In this embodiment, both the vibration table 20 and the intermediate table 22 have inclined surfaces 67a, 67b and inclined surfaces 78a, 67b, and the vibration means 21a, 21b are attached to the inclined surfaces 67a, 67b and inclined surfaces 78a, 67b, 78b, respectively.

More specifically, the connection piece 72a on the upper side of the vibration means 21a, 21b and the connection plates 91a, 91b are sandwiched between two pressing blocks 93a, b, and a screw 99a is inserted between the two to fix the vibration means 21a, 21b and the connection plates 91a, 91b.
Furthermore, the connection plates 91a and 91b are in contact with the inclined surfaces 67a and 67b of the vibration table 20, and are attached to the inclined surfaces 67a and 67b of the vibration table 20 by means of a pressing block 93c and a screw 99b.

On the other hand, the lower side of the vibration means 21a, 21b is in contact with the inclined surfaces 78a, b of the intermediate table 22 via the connection piece 72b, and is attached to the inclined surfaces 78a, b of the intermediate table 22 by the pressing block 93d and the screw 99c.

In this embodiment, the vibration means 21a and 21b are present between the vibration table 20 and the intermediate table 22, and the vibration table 20 is not supported at any location other than the vibration means 21a and 21b. Therefore, the vibration table 20 is supported in midair from the intermediate table 22 by the vibration means 21a and 21b.

The vibration isolation table 23 is also disposed below the intermediate table 22. To explain the relative positions of the two, as shown in Figures 22, 23, and 24, the convex rib 80 provided in the center of the vibration isolation table 23 extends into the hollow portion 75 of the intermediate table 22. However, the top surface 81 of the convex rib 80 does not contact the inner surface of the hollow portion 75 of the intermediate table 22. In other words, although the intermediate table 22 and the vibration isolation table 23 are intertwined, mechanically they are the same as the structure shown in Figure 1, and the top surface 81 of the convex rib 80 does not contact the inner surface of the hollow portion 75 of the intermediate table 22.

Directly below the four protrusions 77 a, 77 b, 77 c, d of the intermediate table 22 are intermediate table support portions 83 a, 83 b, 83 c, d of the vibration isolation table 23 , which are connected to each other by vibration isolation members 40 .
The vibration-isolating member 40 is a member that combines a vibration-isolating function with a vibration-damping function, and as shown in the figure, is a combination of a spring 38 and a vibration-damping rubber 96 .
That is, the four protrusions 77a, b, c, and d of the intermediate base 22 are provided with round holes 85 that open downward as shown in FIG. 23, and most of the spring 38 fits into the round holes 85 of the intermediate base 22.
In this embodiment, the only member connecting the intermediate stand 22 and the vibration isolation stand 23 is the vibration isolation member 40. Therefore, the intermediate stand 22 is supported in midair from the vibration isolation stand 23 by the vibration isolation member 40.
As described above, although the intermediate table 22 and the vibration isolation table 23 are intertwined, mechanically, the structure is the same as that shown in Figure 1, and the intermediate table 22 is supported in midair from the vibration isolation table 23 by the vibration isolation member 40.

22, 23 and 24, a weight measuring means 25 is disposed below the vibration isolating table 23, and a base member 26 is disposed further below that.
The weight measuring means 25 is, for the most part, located within a convex rib 80 provided in the center of the vibration-proof table 23, as shown in Figures 22, 24, and 25, and the upper installation surface 36 of the weight measuring means 25 is connected to the inner surface of the top surface 81 of the convex rib 80 of the vibration-proof table 23.
On the other hand, a lower installation surface 37 of the weight measuring means 25 is attached to the base member 26 .
As described above, the upper mounting surface 36 and the lower mounting surface 37 are in offset positions, so that the middle portion of the weight measuring means 25 is cantilevered relative to the base member 26, and its free end supports the vibration isolation table 23.
In this embodiment, most of the weight measuring means 25 is inserted inside the vibration isolation table 23 and the intermediate table 22, and although the positional relationship is complex, mechanically it is the same as the structure shown in Figure 1, and the intermediate part of the weight measuring means 25 is cantilevered relative to the base member 26, and its free end supports the vibration isolation table 23.

In this embodiment, the only member connecting the vibration isolation table 23 and the foundation member 26 is the weight measuring means 25. Therefore, the vibration isolation table 23 is supported in midair from the foundation member 26 by the weight measuring means 25.
In addition, in this embodiment, the majority of the weight measuring means 25 is located within the convex rib 80 provided in the center of the vibration isolation table 23, as shown in Figures 24 and 25, and the convex rib 80 provided in the center of the vibration isolation table 23 is located within the hollow portion 75 of the intermediate table 22, so that in terms of the height direction, it can be said that the majority of the weight measuring means 25 is embedded within the intermediate table 22.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the effect that the height of the weight measuring means 25 has on the overall height of the main body device 3 is small, and the overall height of the main body device 3 is low.

Furthermore, the base member 26 is attached in the vicinity of the distribution tray 212 of the powdered medicine distribution device 202 via a vibration isolating member 41, as in the previous embodiment.
That is, the four corners of the base member 26 are cut and raised to form spring support parts 90a, b, c, d (Fig. 19), and the undersides of the spring support parts 90a, b, c, d are attached to the base of the powdered medicine packaging device 202 and the like via vibration-isolating members 41. The vibration-isolating members 41 are composed of springs 84 (Fig. 20) and vibration-isolating rubber (not shown).

Next, the function of the drug feeder 50 of this embodiment will be described.
The function of the drug feeder 50 is generally the same as that of the drug feeder 1 described above, and the drug containers 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E are fixed to the vibration table 20 by energizing the electromagnets 30a and 30b built into the vibration table 20, and the drug containers 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E are vibrated to discharge the powdered medicine. The following description will be given taking as an example a case where the drug container 2C (FIG. 12) is used. That is, the description will be given taking as an example a case where the drug container 2C of the third type having a lid is used.
In this embodiment, too, drug container 2C is fixed to vibration table 20 by the magnetic forces of electromagnets 30a and 30b. Here, drug container 2C has step 121 on the drug discharge section 8 side as shown in Fig. 11 above, and peripheral wall underside 12C is divided into upper step 123 and lower step 122 with step 121 as the boundary. Iron plate 6C is adhered to a portion on the outer circumferential surface side of container body 5C that corresponds to upper step 123 of peripheral wall underside 12C.
Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, upper step portion 123 of lower peripheral wall surface 12C of container body 5C in drug container 2C is fixed to vibration table 20 by the magnetic forces of electromagnets 30a, 30b (FIG. 2).
Furthermore, since the shape of the drug container 2C and the shape of the vibration table 20 are different from those in the previous embodiment, the drug container 2C behaves in a unique manner.

That is, in this embodiment as well, the drug container 2C is transported by a robot hand (not shown) or the like.
When being transported, the medicine container 2C is changed in position from the initial vertical position to the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 26(a) and is brought close to the main body device 3.
At this time, the robot 43 in Figure 1 controls the posture of the hand 45 so that the axis BC of the drug container 2C and the axis MC of the main body device 3 coincide as much as possible, but it is difficult to always have the two perfectly coincident, and there are cases where the two become misaligned, as shown in Figure 26 (b).

The drug container 2C is placed on the vibration table 20 with the axis BC of the drug container 2C misaligned with the axis MC of the main body device 3. In this embodiment, the iron plate portion 6C provided near the bottom of the drug container 2C has inclined peripheral wall abutment portions 56aC, 56bC, and is roughly tapered in shape.
On the other hand, as described above, the vibration table 20 also has an edge 66 on the mounting surface 61, which is generally tapered.
Therefore, when the drug container 2C is placed on the vibration table 20, it is guided by the taper and tends to match the inclined peripheral wall abutment portions 56aC, 56bC on the drug container 2C side with the inclined surface 68 of the vibration table 20, as shown in Figure 27.

In addition, in this embodiment, a protrusion 16C is provided near the rear end of the drug container 2C. Meanwhile, in the drug feeder 50 of this embodiment, a fitting recess 108 is provided between the sensor holding portion 69 of the sensor bracket 70 and the short side surface 63b of the vibration table 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the drug container 2C is placed on the vibration table 20, the protrusion 16C of the drug container 2C fits into the fitting recess 108 on the main device 3 side.

As a result, the position of the drug container 2C is corrected, and the axis BC of the drug container 2C approaches the axis MC of the main unit 3, as shown in Figure 27(b). However, there are cases where the inclined peripheral wall abutment portions 56aC, 56bC of the drug container 2C do not completely match the inclined surface 68 of the vibration table 20, resulting in a region D where the inclined peripheral wall abutment portions 56aC, 56bC of the drug container 2C do not match the inclined surface 68 of the vibration table 20, as shown in Figure 27(a). In this case, the axis BC of the drug container 2C is slightly misaligned with the axis MC of the main unit 3, as shown in Figure 27(b).

In this state, when electricity is applied to the electromagnets 30a and b, the flat peripheral wall underside abutment portion 55C provided on the peripheral wall underside 12C of the drug container 2C is attracted to the electromagnets 30a and b, the peripheral wall underside abutment portion 55C is drawn toward the vibration table 20, and the peripheral wall underside abutment portion 55C is tightly attached to the mounting surface 61 of the vibration table 20. The force received at this time causes the tapered shapes of the drug container 2C and the vibration table 20 to match, and as shown in Figure 28 (b), the axis BC of the drug container 2C and the axis MC of the main device 3 coincide.

In addition, the peripheral wall underside abutment portion 55C of the drug container 2C is in close contact with the mounting surface 61 of the vibration table 20, so the horizontal position of the drug container 2C is also ensured.

In this embodiment, the degree of contact between the drug container 2C and the vibration table 20 and the attitude of the drug container 2C are determined to be normal, provided that the contact sensors 33a, b, c, and d provided at the four corners of the mounting surface 61 are conductive to each other.

In the drug feeder 50 of this embodiment, the drug container 2C is fixed to the vibration table 20 and then vibrated to discharge the powdered medicine, and at this time, the drug container 2C is also subjected to a force in the forward direction due to the vibration. However, in the drug feeder 50 of this embodiment, the protrusion 16C of the drug container 2C provided at the rear end of the drug container 2C is engaged with the engagement recess 108 on the main unit 3 side, so the drug container 2C itself does not move in the axial direction.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the medicine in the medicine container 2C moves toward the medicine discharge section 8C, the medicine passes through the comb-shaped 142 portion of the inclined plate section 141 shown in FIG. 16 and the rectifying coil 126, and passes through the gaps in the lines across the rectifying coil 126. This makes the flow of the medicine smooth. Even if a lump of medicine is present, the lump breaks down as it passes through the comb-shaped 142 portion and the rectifying coil 126, and returns to a powder state.

Although the operation of the drug feeder 50 has been described above using the drug container 2C of the third form as an example, the same operation is performed when the drug container 2D of the fourth form is used.
However, if a fourth type of drug container 2D (FIG. 34) is used instead of the third type of drug container 2C, there is an effect that the drug filled first in drug container 2D is preferentially discharged.
In the fourth embodiment, the medicine container 2D is filled with medicine after removing the cover member 120D, so that the medicine is poured in the vertical position. Therefore, the poured medicine is piled up from the bottom surface 10D side of the container body 5D.
On the other hand, when discharging the medicine, the medicine container 2D is laid down in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 42. Here, in the fourth form of the medicine container 2D, there are inclined portions 181a, b on the inner side of the peripheral wall lower surface 12D at the rear part. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 42, the old medicine layer 360 that was first put into the medicine container 2D and accumulated on the bottom surface 10D side of the container body 5D wraps around under the new medicine layer 361. Therefore, the medicine in the old medicine layer 360 is discharged mixed with the medicine in the new medicine layer 361.

Furthermore, as the drug moves due to vibration, the drug in old drug layer 360 flows under new drug layer 361 .
Here, when the two layers of medicine move together and reach the position of the comb-shaped flow straightening member 130D, the upper side of the two layers is raked up by the plate-shaped portion 362 of the comb-shaped flow straightening member 130D as shown in Fig. 42. In particular, since the comb-shaped flow straightening member 130D is in an inclined position overall, the upper side of the two layers is raked up by the plate-shaped portion 362 of the comb-shaped flow straightening member 130D and is then returned to the bottom surface 10D side as shown by the arrow. Therefore, the old medicine layer 360 moving on the lower layer side is preferentially discharged, and a first-in, first-out flow of medicines can be realized in the medicine container 2D.

Next, peripheral devices of the medicine feeder 50 will be described.
The medicine feeder 50 of this embodiment constitutes a part of a medicine dispensing device 100 having a powder medicine packaging function.
The overall structure of the medicine dispensing device 100 is, for example, as shown in Figure 30. The medicine dispensing device 100 is functionally divided into a medicine shelf area 103, a medicine dividing area 105, and a medicine packaging area 106 in the vertical direction.
The uppermost medicine shelf area 103 is surrounded by medicine container storage shelves 101, and a medicine container moving device 102 is provided therein.
The medicine shelf area 103 is dehumidified by a dehumidifier (not shown). A dust collector (not shown) is provided inside the medicine shelf area 103 to remove dust from within the medicine shelf area 103. For example, a blower fan is provided in the medicine shelf area 103, and the air within the medicine shelf area 103 is circulated by the blower fan. A filter is provided in a certain ventilation path, such as the intake side of the blower fan, to remove dust and the like floating in the medicine shelf area 103.

The drug container moving device 102 has a vertical lifting shaft 110, a horizontal movement arm 180, and a hand unit 112 that holds the drug container 2C. The horizontal movement arm 180 has joints 168, 169 at two locations as shown in Figure 30. The hand unit 112 can change the position of the drug container 2C. The drug container moving device 102 employs a hand unit 112 with an electromagnet 170. That is, as shown in Figures 30 and 31, the electromagnet 170 is provided at the tip of the horizontal movement arm 180.

The powdered medicine dispensing device 202 is provided in the medicine dividing area 105. In this embodiment, the powdered medicine dispensing device 202 has two dispensing plates 212. A plurality of the medicine feeders 50 of this embodiment are installed in the powdered medicine dispensing device 202. In this embodiment, a plurality of the medicine feeders 50 are installed in each of the dispensing plates 212. More specifically, three medicine feeders 50 are installed in each of the dispensing plates 212. Each of the medicine feeders 50 is attached in a tangential direction to each of the dispensing plates 212. Note that the attachment angle of the medicine feeder 50 to each of the dispensing plates 212 is not limited to the tangential direction, but by attaching the medicine feeder 50 in a tangential direction to each of the dispensing plates 212, there is an effect of increasing the accuracy of dispensing medicine. In addition, when the medicine container 2C is held by the medicine container moving device 102 and the medicine container 2C is fixed to the vibration table 20 or when the medicine container 2C is removed from the vibration table 20, an effect of reducing unnecessary operations of the medicine container moving device 102 can be expected.
A medicine packaging device 203 is built into the medicine packaging area 106 .
The medicine dispensing device 100 also includes a prescription reading means 46 for reading a prescription, and a control device 47 for controlling the operation of each device.

29, a drug container insertion port 151 is provided on the outer wall side of the drug packaging area 106. A weight measuring means 152 such as a load cell and a reading device (not shown) are provided inside the drug container insertion port 151. A barcode reader, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader, or the like can be used as the reading device.
When the drug container 2C is set in the drug container insertion port 151, the total weight of the drug container 2C is measured internally and stored in the memory of the control device 47. In addition, a barcode or the like (not shown) provided on the drug container 2C is read by a barcode reader or the like, and the drug container moving device 102 transports the drug container 2C to a predetermined position in the drug shelf area 103 and stores it.
In this embodiment, the medicine container moving device 102 has a hand portion 112 of an electromagnet 170. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 31 , the electromagnet 170 is brought close to the transporting iron plate portion 157 of the medicine container 2C, and then electricity is applied to the electromagnet 170 to attract the transporting iron plate portion 157 and hold and move the medicine container 2C.

When using a type of drug container 2B such as the second type drug container 2B (Figure 9) that is a container with two open sides, has no lid, and has a large opening at the top when in a horizontal position, the drug that has been weighed or not weighed separately on a dispensing table or the like is loaded into the open upper side of the drug container 2B (the upper side when in a horizontal position) and then set in the drug container loading port 151. When the second type drug container 2B is set, the total weight of the drug container 2B is measured and stored in the memory of the control device 47, and then the drug container moving device 102 transports it directly to one of the drug feeders 50, and an amount of drug based on the prescription information is dispensed to the powdered drug dispensing device 202.

The overall control of the medicine dispensing device 100 is generally as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
The overall operation of the medicine dispensing device 100 will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 32, all operations are started by the prescription contents being read by the prescription reading means 46.
That is, when the contents of the prescription are input in step 1, the process proceeds to step 2, and the operation of carrying out the medicine container 2C is immediately started. More specifically, the medicine container moving device 102 is driven, and a medicine container 2 containing a medicine matching the prescription is selected from a large number of medicine containers 2 arranged in the medicine shelf area 103, and is placed in the main device 3 of the medicine feeder 50. At this time, a pressing piece (not shown) presses the knob portion 147 of the movable lid portion 134 to open the movable lid portion 134, and the movable lid portion 134 is maintained in the open state by the attraction force of the magnet 156 for maintaining the open state.

Then, the process proceeds to step 3, where the electromagnets 30 a and 30 b are energized to fix the drug container 2 C to the vibration table 20 .
Then, the process proceeds to step 4, where the timer starts to count. This timer specifies the time for determining whether or not the drug container 2C has been properly placed, and is a very short time, for example, about one second.
If current is confirmed between all of the contact sensors 33a, b, c, d before the timer finishes timing (YES in step 5), it is determined that the drug container 2C is placed in a normal position, and the process proceeds to step 6. On the other hand, if the contact sensors 33a, b, c, d cannot confirm contact even after waiting for a certain period of time (step 12), there is a high possibility that there is an abnormality such as a foreign object on the vibration table 20, so the process proceeds to step 13 and the series of operations are retried. More specifically, current is stopped between the electromagnets 30a, b, the drug container moving device 102 is driven to re-grab and lift the drug container 2C with the hand unit 112, and the drug container 2C is placed again on the main device 3 of the drug feeder 50, and the operations from step 3 onwards are retried.

When the first or second attempt confirms that electricity has been applied in step 5 and the process moves to step 6, weight measurement of the drug container 2C begins. That is, the original weight G of the drug container 2C is measured and stored, and the current weight g of the drug container 2C is monitored.

Then, proceed to step 7, where the vibration table 20 starts to vibrate and the distribution plate 212 of the powdered medicine distribution device 202 is rotated.

Then, the process proceeds to step 8, where the timer starts to count. In the following step 9, the change in weight of the medicine container 2C per fixed time is monitored, while in step 10, the process waits for a predetermined amount of powdered medicine to be dispensed.
That is, the weight change of the medicine container 2C is monitored, and in step 9, it is confirmed that the weight continues to decrease by at least a certain amount per fixed time. If the weight continues to decrease by at least a certain amount per fixed time, the medicine is falling normally from the medicine container 2C, so the process proceeds to step 10, where it is confirmed whether or not a predetermined amount of powdered medicine has been dispensed. If the amount of powdered medicine dispensed is insufficient, the process returns to step 9. In this way, while checking the fall of the medicine in steps 9 and 10, it is waited for the predetermined amount of powdered medicine to be dispensed.
That is, in step 10, the process waits until the difference between the original weight G of the drug container 2C and the current weight g becomes the desired amount to be dispensed. When the desired amount to be dispensed is reached, the process proceeds to step 11, and the vibration of the vibration table 20 is stopped.

The process thereafter is the same as that of the known drug dispensing device 100, in which the drugs are divided, scraped out, and individually packaged.

If the weight of the drug container 2C stops decreasing before the desired amount of dispensing is reached, the powdered medicine cannot be confirmed to be continuing to fall, and it is predicted that there is not enough powdered medicine in the drug container 2C. Therefore, the process moves to step 14, an error message is displayed indicating that there is not enough powdered medicine, and the process ends.

When a series of discharging and packaging steps are completed, the electromagnet is de-energized and drug container moving device 102 is operated to return drug container 2C to its original position.
Here, as a specific configuration of the drug dispensing device 100 of this embodiment, when the drug container 2C is returned to its original position by operating the drug container moving device 102, the total weight of the drug container 2C is re-measured. More specifically, when the drug container 2C is returned to its original position, the drug container 2C is temporarily carried to the drug container input port 151, and the drug container 2C is placed on the weight measuring means 152 provided at the drug container input port 151, and the total weight of the drug container 2C is re-measured.

Then, the total weight of the medicine container 2C at the beginning (immediately before the current medicine discharge) is compared with the total weight of the medicine container 2C after the medicine is discharged. Then, it is confirmed that the difference between the two matches the amount of medicine discharged in the above-mentioned process. That is, the discharge amount confirmation process is performed.
Alternatively, the weight of the drug container 2C measured by the weight measuring means 152 provided at the drug container inlet 151 is compared with the weight of the drug container 2C after the drug is discharged measured by the drug feeder 50 to confirm that the two match. That is, a verification step is performed to check whether the weight measuring means 25 of the drug feeder 50 is accurate.
If the total weight of the drug containers 2C is normal as a result of reweighing the total weight of the drug containers 2C, the drug container moving device 102 is operated to return the drug containers 2C to their original positions. If there is an abnormality in the total weight of the drug containers 2C, an alarm is immediately issued to notify the pharmacist.

Next, a method of using the two-side open drug container 2B of the second embodiment and the drug container 2E of the fifth embodiment will be described.
The second and fifth forms of drug containers 2B and 2E are used when powdered medicines are manually divided and packaged. That is, there are drugs that are not suitable for storage in the drug container storage shelf 101 of the drug dispensing device 100 due to reasons such as drugs that are used infrequently, drugs that are highly toxic, or drugs that are highly hygroscopic or sensitive to high temperatures. In other cases, tablets or capsules may need to be crushed before prescription.
In such a case, the second and fifth forms of drug containers 2B, 2E are fixed to the vibration table 20 of drug feeder 50, and a rough amount of drug is poured into drug containers 2B, 2E from the open upper side. When using drug container 2E of the fifth form, large lid 301 is removed to open opening 300, and drug is poured through opening 300. Thereafter, the weight of drug container 2B is measured. That is, the original weight G of drug containers 2B, 2E is measured and stored, and further the current weight g of drug containers 2B, 2E is monitored.
Then, the vibration of the vibration table 20 is started, and the distribution plate 212 of the powdered medicine distribution device 202 is rotated, and the difference between the original weight G of the medicine containers 2B and 2E and the current weight g is waited for to become the desired dispensing amount. Then, when the desired dispensing amount is reached, the vibration of the vibration table 20 is stopped.

In the embodiment described above, the powdered medicine is supplied to the distribution tray 212 of the powdered medicine dispensing device 202 by using the medicine feeder 1, 50, but the powdered medicine may be supplied directly from the medicine feeder 1, 50 to the medicine packaging device 203.
It is also contemplated that the medication feeder 1, 50 of the present invention may be utilized to feed tablets or capsules.

In the above-described embodiment, in the drug feeder 1, 50, the contact sensors 33a, b, c, d are provided at the four corners of the vibration table 20, but the number of contact sensors is arbitrary. However, in order to determine whether the vibration table 20 is in close contact with the bottom of the drug container 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, it is desirable to provide at least two or more contact sensors in the longitudinal direction of the vibration table 20. Also, in order to confirm that the axis of the drug container 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E and the axis of the vibration table 20 are aligned, it is desirable to provide at least two or more contact sensors in the width direction of the vibration table 20.

In the embodiment described above, the weight of the drug container 2C immediately after it is placed on the vibration table 20 is stored as the original weight G, the current weight of the drug container 2C is set as the current weight g, and the difference between the two is set as the amount of powdered medicine discharged, but the amount of powdered medicine discharged may be obtained from the total detected weight of the weight measuring means 25. That is, the weight including the weight of the equipment such as the vibration table 20, the detected weight of the weight measuring means 25 immediately after the drug containers 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E are placed on the vibration table 20 may be set as the original weight G, the detected weight of the weight measuring means 25 during the powdered medicine discharge may be set as the current weight g, and the difference between the two may be set as the amount of powdered medicine discharged.

In the embodiment described above, the electromagnets 30a, 30b are used as the container holding means, and a configuration is adopted in which the electromagnets 30a, 30b directly attract the drug container 2. That is, in the embodiment described above, the container holding means uses magnetic force.
However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and other mechanical means may be used to hold the drug container 2. For example, a configuration in which some kind of engaging member or fitting member is operated by a solenoid, a small motor, an air cylinder, or the like to mechanically hold the drug container 2 may be adopted.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the drug container 2 was fixed to the vibration table 20 by passing electricity through the electromagnets 30a, 30b, but the drug container 2 may also be fixed to the vibration table 20 by using a permanent magnet or by using a combination of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet.
More specifically, instead of the electromagnets 30a and 30b, a magnet having a structure called a non-excited electromagnet or a self-holding solenoid is employed as the container holding means.
The self-holding solenoids described above use a permanent magnet and an electromagnet in combination, and normally exert their attraction force mainly through the permanent magnet. When an object that is magnetically attached to the self-holding solenoid is to be released, electricity is passed through the electromagnet, which generates a magnetic force in the opposite direction to the permanent magnet.
Alternatively, when attracted, current is passed through the electromagnet to generate a magnetic force in the same direction as the permanent magnet, and when released, a current is passed in the opposite direction to generate a magnetic force in the opposite direction to the permanent magnet.

Since the shapes of the electromagnets 30a, 30b and the self-holding solenoid are similar, the shape of the main body 3 is the same as that shown in Figures 19 to 25 even when the self-holding solenoid is adopted. With reference to Figures 19 to 25 and Figure 32, the container holding means will be described as the self-holding solenoids 30a, 30b.
When the self-holding solenoids 30a, 30b are used, when the operation of unloading the drug container 2 is started in step 2 described above, the self-holding solenoids 30a, 30b are energized to suppress the generation of magnetic force.
Then, similarly to the previous embodiment, the operation of carrying out the medicine containers 2 is started. From the multiple medicine containers 2, a medicine container 2C containing a medicine matching the prescription is selected and placed in the main body device 3 of the medicine feeder 50.

Then, the supply of current to the self-holding solenoids 30 a and 30 b is stopped, and the magnetic force of the permanent magnets is exerted to fix the drug container 2 to the vibration table 20 .
The subsequent steps are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, but when removing the drug container 2 from the vibration table 20, the self-holding solenoids 30a, 30b are energized again to cancel the magnetic force of the permanent magnets.
The self-holding solenoids 30a, 30b maintain their attractive force even when not energized, and therefore consume less power than a configuration using electromagnets 30a, 30b. In this respect, the configuration using the self-holding solenoids 30a, 30b is superior to a configuration using electromagnets 30a, 30b.
In addition, the self-retaining solenoids 30a and 30b consume little power and generate little heat, and are therefore recommended in that they have little effect on the medicine in the medicine container 2.

In the embodiment described above, a protrusion 16C is provided on the side of the drug container 2C to engage with the side of the main device 3, preventing the drug container 2C from moving forward, but it is also effective to provide a protrusion on the side of the main device 3 to engage with a part of the drug containers 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E, or to provide a recess in the drug container 2.

In the embodiment described above, a combination of a spring and vibration-damping rubber is used as the vibration-damping members 40 and 41, but a vibration-damping member made of a spring alone may also be used, or a vibration-damping member made only of resin or the like may also be used.

In the embodiment described above, a vibration-isolating member 40 is provided between the intermediate table 22 and the vibration-isolating table 23 to prevent vibration from being transmitted to the vibration-isolating table 23. However, in addition to or instead of this configuration, it is also recommended to eliminate the effects of vibration using software. For example, one possible method is to Fourier transform the detection value of the weight measuring means 25 to eliminate the effects of vibration.

In the embodiment described above, the total weight of the drug containers 2C is remeasured using the weight measuring means 152 provided at the drug container inlet 151, but the total weight of the drug containers 2C may be remeasured by providing a weight measuring means at another location. Also, the total weight may be remeasured by transferring the drug containers 2C from the drug feeder 1, 50 used for discharging the drug to another drug feeder 1, 50. In other words, by remeasurement, if any abnormality is found in the measured value, it can also detect a failure of any of the weight measuring means 25, 152 compared.
Furthermore, the re-weighing step is not essential and may be omitted.

In the embodiment described above, a configuration is adopted in which the vibration of the vibration table 20 is stopped after the difference between the original weight G and the current weight g of the drug container 2C becomes the desired dispensing amount, but it is also recommended to stop the vibration of the vibration table 20 when the difference between the original weight G and the current weight g is slightly less than the desired dispensing amount, taking into account the time lag.

In the embodiment described above, the weight of the medicine container 2C is monitored to confirm that the medicine is continuing to fall, but a separate powder medicine fall sensor may be provided and used to confirm that the medicine is continuing to fall.

In the above-described embodiment, the container moving means employed includes a hand 45 (FIG. 1) that grips the drug container 2, and a hand unit 112 (FIG. 30) that utilizes an electromagnet. The former hand 45 operates independently of the arm. The latter hand unit 112 is integrated with the arm and does not move relative to it, but holds the drug container 2 by physical adsorption.
Alternatively, a hand may be envisaged that holds the drug container 2 by physical fitting or engagement.
For example, like the combination of the drug container 2F and the hand 172 shown in FIG. 33, they are engaged with each other by moving them relative to each other.
That is, the drug container 2F is provided with a guide rail 173 on the peripheral wall upper surface 51D as shown in Fig. 33. The guide rail 173 has engagement grooves 174 on both sides.
One hand 172 is provided with a groove 175 having a "C" shaped cross section. The tip end of the groove 175 in the longitudinal direction is open as shown in the figure. The rear end of the groove 175 in the longitudinal direction is closed (not shown).
The cross-sectional shape of the groove 175 of the hand 172 is similar to the cross-sectional shape of the guide rail 173, and the two are engageable with each other. When engaged, the two can only move linearly and cannot separate.
The hand 172 is integrally attached to the robot arm.

When holding the drug container 2F with the hand 172 shown in FIG. 33, the robot arm is operated to bring the hand 172 close to the drug container 2F and align the end of the guide rail 173 with the open end of the groove 175. The robot arm is then moved linearly to insert the guide rail 173 into the groove 175. As a result, the drug container 2F has no freedom of movement other than in the direction along the guide rail 173, and is essentially held by the hand 172.

In addition, the main body 3 includes electrically conductive members such as the electromagnets 30a and 30b, the self-holding solenoids 30a and 30b, and the vibration means (piezoelectric element), and is prone to heat generation. If there is a concern that the heat may affect the medicine in the medicine container 2, it is desirable to provide a cooling means for cooling the main body 3.
As an example of the cooling means, as shown in FIG. 46, cooling fins 305 may be provided on the main body device 3, or a blower 306 may be provided nearby.

As a more advanced configuration, a configuration is recommended in which the vibration pattern of the vibration table 20 can be changed according to the type of drug, the discharge time, and the total discharge amount.
Drugs vary in particle size and hygroscopicity depending on the type, and therefore, when the vibration table 20 is vibrated, the behavior of the drugs in the drug container 2 differs depending on the type of drug.
When subjected to vibration, some drugs tend to straighten and flow easily, while others do not. Also, the amount of drug that moves with one vibration differs depending on the type of drug.
Furthermore, there is a problem in that the amount of drug discharged is not stable in the early stages of drug discharge.

Therefore, the number of vibrations per unit time (frequency) and the magnitude of the amplitude are made variable, and the frequency and the magnitude of the amplitude are changed according to the type of drug, the time of excretion, and the total amount excreted.
For example, the ease of discharging the medicine is previously tested, and all medicines to be discharged by the medicine feeder 1, 50 are divided into a plurality of stages.
In addition, the discharge level is divided into several stages according to the total discharge amount of the drug. For example, the discharge amount is divided in 20 gram increments and called "discharge amount 20, discharge amount 40, discharge amount 60, etc."
The vibration level is divided into multiple stages according to the frequency and amplitude of the vibration, which are called, for example, "vibration level 1, vibration level 2," and can vary from vibration level 1 (minimum vibration) to vibration level 20 (maximum vibration).

Then, an appropriate vibration level is selected based on the "flow coefficient" and the "discharge amount." The vibration level is also differentiated between the vibration level at the beginning of discharge and the vibration level at the stable period.
For example, if the drug is easily discharged, such as with a "flow coefficient of 1," and the total discharge amount is small, such as with a "discharge amount of 20," vibration is started at a slow vibration level of 3, and after a certain period of time has passed, the vibration is switched to a stronger vibration level of 10. Alternatively, the vibration intensity of the vibration table 20 is switched to a feedback control method so that the discharge amount h per unit time is constant, centered on the stronger vibration level of 10.

If the drug is difficult to excrete, such as with a "flow coefficient of 3," and the total discharge amount is large, such as 80, vibration starts at a stronger vibration level, such as 11, and after a certain amount of time has passed, it switches to an even stronger vibration level, such as 15. Alternatively, feedback control is performed so that the discharge amount h per unit time remains constant, centered on the stronger vibration level, such as 15.

It is also desirable to provide a function of verifying whether the weight measuring means 25 of the drug feeder 1, 50 is accurate.
For example, a weight member with a known weight is prepared and placed in the medicine shelf area 103 or the like. The weight member is then moved to the vibration table 20 by the robot 43 or the like, and the weight of the weight member is measured by the weight measuring means 25. If the measured value matches the weight of the weight, the weight measuring means 25 is accurate, and if it does not, the weight measuring means 25 is broken.
The drug container 2 itself can also be used as the weight member. For example, harmless powder or granular material is placed in the drug container 2, and its weight is measured in advance. The drug container 2 used as the weight member is placed in the drug shelf area 103 or the like together with other drug containers 2. Then, as necessary, the drug container 2 used as the weight is moved by the robot 43 or the like, placed on the vibration table 20, and the weight measuring means 25 is calibrated.

The method for placing the medicine containers 2 in the medicine shelf area 103 is arbitrary, but for example, as shown in Fig. 47, a medicine shelf 328 having a plurality of vertical walls 320 and mounting tables 323 is conceivable. The vertical walls 320 are provided with upper engagement portions 325, and the mounting tables 323 are provided with lower engagement portions 326. The upper engagement portions 325 and the lower engagement portions 326 are maintained in a protruding state by a biasing member (not shown).
In the present embodiment, the medicine container 2 is provided with an engagement protrusion 370 on a cover member 120D in addition to the configuration of the medicine container 2D of the fourth embodiment. Also, a recess 371 is provided on the rear end portion of the medicine container 2D.
The upper engaging portion 325 rotates upward as indicated by the arrow as the upper engaging portion 325 presses against the lid member 120D of the drug container 2D. The lower engaging portion 326 sinks into the mounting base 323 as the lower engaging portion 326 presses against the iron plate portion 6 of the drug container 2.
When the medicine container 2D is pressed against the medicine shelf 328, the upper engagement portion 325 and the lower engagement portion 326 escape against the force of the biasing member. Then, when the medicine container 2D reaches a predetermined position, the upper engagement portion 325 is returned by the biasing member (not shown) and engages with the engagement protrusion 370 of the lid member 120D. The lower engagement portion 326 is also returned by the biasing member (not shown) and engages with the recess 371 at the rear end of the medicine container 2D.
When removing the medicine container 2D, the robot 43 or the like holds the medicine container 2D and pulls it away from the medicine shelf 328. At that time, the upper engagement portion 325 and the lower engagement portion 326 move away against the force of the biasing member, and the engagement is released.

48, a medicine shelf 345 may be provided with a vertical wall 340 and a plurality of mounting tables 343. The vertical wall 340 has an opening 346, and a protrusion (upper engagement portion on the storage section side) 347 protrudes upward into the opening 346.
The mounting base 343 is also provided with a storage unit side lower engaging portion 348. The storage unit side lower engaging portion 348 is a protrusion.
In this embodiment, the drug container 2 employed has a recess 350 at the rear end like the drug container 2D of the fourth embodiment. A container side engagement part 352 is provided on the peripheral wall underside 12D of the container body 5D. The container side engagement part 352 is located on the peripheral wall underside 12D, slightly closer to the lid member 120D than the center, and does not come into contact with the vibration table 20 when the drug container 2D is placed on the vibration table 20. The container side engagement part 352 is ring-shaped and has a square hole 351 penetrating the drug container 2D in the longitudinal direction.

In this embodiment, the container-side engagement portion 352 of the medicine container 2D is inserted into the opening 346, the medicine container 2D is pushed down, and the protrusion (storage section-side upper engagement portion 347 of the medicine shelf 345 is inserted into the hole 351 of the container-side engagement portion 352, whereby the medicine container 2D is suspended from the medicine shelf 345.
At this time, a protrusion (storage section side lower engaging section) 348 provided on the mounting base 343 engages with a recess 350 of the drug container 2 .

Of the drug containers 2 described above, the drug containers 2 with lids are, in principle, to add the drug by removing the lid member 120, but the fifth form of drug container 2E can also add the drug without removing the lid body 125E because the movable lid portion 134E can be easily removed. In that case, as shown in Figure 45, if a funnel-shaped member 355 is attached to the movable lid portion 134E, the drug is less likely to spill.

1; drug feeder, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F; drug container, 3; main body device, 5; container body, 6; iron plate portion, 7; flow straightening member, 8; drug discharge portion, 12; underside of peripheral wall, 13; narrowed opening, 15; storage space, 17; powdered medicine storage portion, 18; discharge path portion, 20; vibration table, 21a, 21b; vibration means, 22; intermediate table, 23; vibration isolation table, 25; weight measurement means, 26; base member, 30a, 30b; electromagnet (container holding means), 32a, 32b; elastic body, 33a, b, c, d; contact sensor, 35; vibration detection sensor, 40; vibration isolation member, 50; drug feeder, 152; weight measurement means, 100; drug dispensing device, 202; powdered medicine dispensing device, 212; distribution plate

Claims (3)

A medicine dispensing device including a medicine container storage shelf, a medicine container input port, a medicine feeder, a medicine container moving device, and a control device,
The medicine container storage shelf is provided inside the medicine dispensing device,
A first medicine container is placed on the medicine container storage shelf,
The medicine container insertion port is provided on an outer wall of the medicine dispensing device,
The drug container inlet has a drug discharge section, is open on two sides, and has a section corresponding to the top surface that is largely open when the container is in a horizontal position, or a second drug container having an opening on the top surface when the container is in a horizontal position can be placed in the drug container inlet.
The medicine to be put into the second medicine container is a crushed tablet or capsule,
The medication feeder includes a main body device,
the main body device has a vibration table, a vibration means for vibrating the vibration table, and a weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring a weight of the first drug container or the second drug container;
The control device automatically carries out an operation of transporting the first medicine container from the medicine container storage shelf to a vibration table by a medicine container moving device and placing the first medicine container on the vibration table, and dispensing an amount of medicine based on prescription information from the first medicine container placed on the vibration table by vibrating the vibration table with a vibration means using a weight measuring means;
When the second medicine container is manually set in the medicine container inlet, a medicine container moving device transports the second medicine container set in the medicine container inlet from the medicine container inlet to a vibration table and places it on the vibration table, and then vibrates the vibration table with a vibration means to dispense an amount of medicine based on prescription information from the second medicine container placed on the vibration table. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a weighing function that measures and stores the original weight of the first drug container or the second drug container by the weight measuring means, monitors the current weight of the first drug container or the second drug container, starts vibration of the vibration table, and stops the vibration of the vibration table by the weight measuring means when the difference between the original weight and the current weight of the first drug container or the second drug container reaches the desired dispensing amount. The main body device further includes a container holding means,
3. The medicine dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the first medicine container or the second medicine container is temporarily fixed to the vibration table by a container holding means.

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