Patent Application
20240228087
The present disclosure relates to a drug supply apparatus.
Patent Literature (hereinafter, referred to as PTL) 1 discloses a packaging paper connecting apparatus used for replacing old packaging paper with new packaging paper—the packaging paper has been folded in half in advance along the longitudinal direction thereof and is used to package a drug. The packaging paper connecting apparatus connects the terminal end of the old wrapping paper to the starting end of the new packaging paper. An operator manually overlaps the terminal end of the old packaging paper and the starting end of the new packaging paper, and places the overlapped portions at a predetermined position. As the operator connects the overlapped portions to each other, the terminal end of the old packaging paper and the starting end of the new packaging paper are connected.
In the packaging paper connecting apparatus of PTL 1, an operator manually replaces packaging paper. In addition, during the replacing of the packaging paper, the packaging of a drug is stopped and the drug is not supplied. Therefore, when the time required to replace the packaging paper increases because, for example, the operator is not accustomed to replace the packaging paper, the time during which a drug is not supplied increases and, as a result, the patient's waiting time increases.
An object of the present disclosure is to shorten the time required to replace packaging paper in a drug supply apparatus.
A drug supply apparatus of the present disclosure includes the following: a drug supply unit configured to supply a drug to a drug delivery position; a downstream conveying unit configured to convey a first drug packaging paper in such a way that the first drug packaging paper receives the drug at the drug delivery position, in which the first drug packaging paper is strip shaped and folded in half in advance along a longitudinal direction of the first drug packaging paper; an upstream conveying unit configured to convey a second drug packaging paper toward the first drug packaging paper, in which the second drug packaging paper is strip shaped and folded in half in advance along a longitudinal direction of the second drug packaging paper; and a connecting part configured to connect a downstream end part of the second drug packaging paper to the first drug packaging paper.
A drug supply apparatus of the present disclosure is capable of shortening the time required to replace packaging paper.
Hereinafter, at least one embodiment of the drug supply apparatus of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the side where operation part 11 is disposed is referred to as the front of drug supply apparatus 1, and the opposite side is referred to as the back of drug supply apparatus 1 as indicated by the arrows in
First floor part 10 includes operation part 11 and take-out part 12. In addition, first floor part 10 includes an input part (not illustrated).
Operation part 11 is a device to be operated by an operator, and includes, for example, a display, operation buttons, and the like. Various information is input to drug supply apparatus 1 as the operator operates operation part 11.
A drug (herein, a drug may be more than one drug) packaged in drug supply apparatus 1 is taken out from take-out part 12. Take-out part 12 includes an opening, and the operator takes out the drug from the opening.
The input part is an input device receiving various information input from an external device. The input part is connected to, for example, a personal computer, and receives input from the personal computer, for example, information on a prescription issued at a medical institution.
As illustrated in
The plurality of shelves 13a are each configured to store the plurality of cassettes C in the second floor part. Drug supply apparatus 1 includes 20 shelves 13a. The plurality of shelves 13a are arranged in five stages in the up-down direction and in four rows in the left-right direction. The number and arrangement of shelves 13a provided in second floor part 20 are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and the number of stages in the up-down direction and/or the number of rows in the left-right direction may be more or less than those described above.
A plurality of cassettes C are stored in each shelf 13a so as to be arranged on shelf 13a along the front and rear direction on both sides of shelf 13a in the left-right direction. Each cassette C stores a plurality of drugs. Each cassette C is configured to discharge one tablet of a drug at a time.
The drug discharged from cassette C falls through passage Wand is led to first floor part 10. Passage W is provided so as to penetrate each shelf 13a in the up-down direction.
Hopper 13b is configured to receive the drug led to first floor part 10, and lead the received drug through outlet 13c to drug delivery position Pr in packaging unit 14. Outlet 13c is provided approximately at the center of hopper 13b.
Packaging unit 14 is configured to package the drug led out from hopper 13b. Packaging unit 14 includes conveying part 30, printer 15, and sealing device 16.
Conveying part 30 is configured to convey strip-shaped packaging paper for packaging a drug. Details of conveying part 30 will be described below.
Printer 15 is a printing machine for printing, for example, the patient's name, the name of the drug to be supplied in packaging paper conveyed by conveying part 30, the date and time of administration, and the like on the surface of the packaging paper.
Sealing device 16 is for sealing the packaging paper in which a drug is wrapped.
The packaging paper in which the drug is enclosed is cut, for example, with predetermined timing and is conveyed toward take-out part 12 with the conveyance direction thereof changed by conveying part 30.
In the following, conveying part 30 will be described. As illustrated in
Packaging paper holding part 31 includes first packaging paper holding part 31a and second packaging paper holding part 31b. First packaging paper holding part 31a rotatably holds roll M1, which is a package of strip-shaped first drug packaging paper PP1 having been folded in half in advance along the longitudinal direction of first drug packaging paper PP1. Second packaging paper holding part 31b rotatably holds roll M2, which is a package of strip-shaped second drug packaging paper PP2 having been folded in half in advance along the longitudinal direction of second drug packaging paper PP2. The packages of first drug packaging paper PP1 and second drug packaging paper PP2 may be first drug packaging paper PP1 in folds and second drug packaging paper PP2 in folds.
First packaging paper holding part 31a and second packaging paper holding part 31b can be exchanged for each other. That is, first packaging paper holding part 31a can hold roll M2, and second packaging paper holding part 31b can hold roll M1. In this case, a pair of rollers 32b described below nip (i.e., hold the drug packaging paper between the rollers) and convey second drug packaging paper PP2, and another pair of rollers 32d guide first drug packaging paper PP1 without nipping the drug packaging paper.
Upstream conveying unit 32 includes upstream guide member 32a, a pair of rollers 32b, another upstream guide member 32c, the other pair of rollers 32d, and moving member 32e.
Upstream guide member 32a is configured to guide along conveyance direction D1 first drug packaging paper PP1 fed out from first packaging paper holding part 31a. Upstream guide member 32a is a plate-shaped member sandwiched by first drug packaging paper PP1. As illustrated in
The pair of rollers 32b guide first drug packaging paper PP1 without nipping the drug packaging paper. The pair of rollers 32b are disposed on the upstream side of first drug packaging paper PP1 from upstream guide member 32a. The pair of rollers 32b each have a cylindrical shape. The pair of rollers 32b include driving roller 32b1 and driven roller 32b2.
Driving roller 32b1 is configured to be rotated by a drive device (not illustrated) such as a motor. Driving roller 32b1 is disposed in such a way that the rotational axis thereof is parallel to the plate surface of upstream guide member 32a and orthogonal to conveyance direction D1 of first drug packaging paper PP1.
In addition, driving roller 32b1 is configured to move toward driven roller 32b2 to be located at conveying position Pm1, or to move away from driven roller 32b2 to be located at non-conveying position Pm2. When driving roller 32b1 is located at conveying position Pm1, the pair of rollers 32b can hold first drug packaging paper PP1 or second drug packaging paper PP2 located between the rollers and convey the drug packaging paper toward the downstream side.
Driven roller 32b2 is disposed with the rotational axis thereof inclined. That is, driven roller 32b2 is disposed in such a way that one end part of driven roller 32b2 (on the opened side of first drug packaging paper PP1) is located on the downstream side of first drug packaging paper PP1 from the other end part of driven roller 32b2 (on the ridge line R1 side of first drug packaging paper PP1). In addition, driven roller 32b2 contacts the side surface of first drug packaging paper PP1, thereby having a function of changing conveyance direction D1 (see
The other upstream guide member 32c is a plate-shaped member sandwiched by second drug packaging paper PP2 fed out from second packaging paper holding part 31b. When first drug packaging paper PP1 is being conveyed, the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 is disposed at the other upstream guide member 32c.
The other upstream guide member 32c is disposed in such a way that the plate surface thereof is parallel to the plate surface of upstream guide member 32a, and the side surface thereof coinciding with ridge line R2 of second drug packaging paper PP2 is located on the same plane as the side surface of upstream guide member 32a coinciding with ridge line R1. The plate thickness of the other upstream guide member 32c is approximately the same as the plate thickness of upstream guide member 32a. As will be described below, at the time of replacing first drug packaging paper PP1 with second drug packaging paper PP2, the other upstream guide member 32c guides second drug packaging paper PP2.
The other pair of rollers 32d are disposed on the upstream side of second drug packaging paper PP2 from the other upstream guide member 32c. The other pair of rollers 32d are stationary with the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 located between the rollers. As will be described below, at the time of replacing first drug packaging paper PP1 with second drug packaging paper PP2, the other pair of rollers 32d nip and convey second drug packaging paper PP2.
The other pair of rollers 32d each have a cylindrical shape. The other pair of rollers 32d include driving roller 32d1 and driven roller 32d2.
Driving roller 32d1 is configured to be rotated by a drive device (not illustrated) such as a motor. Driving roller 32d1 is disposed in such a way that the rotational axis thereof is parallel to the plate surface of the other upstream guide member 32c and orthogonal to conveyance direction D1 of first drug packaging paper PP1.
In addition, driving roller 32d1 is configured to move toward driven roller 32d2 to be located at conveying position Pm1, or to move away from driven roller 32d2 to be located at non-conveying position Pm2. When driving roller 32d1 is located at conveying position Pm1, the other pair of rollers 32d can hold first drug packaging paper PP1 or second drug packaging paper PP2 located between the rollers and convey the drug packaging paper toward the downstream side.
Driven roller 32d2 is disposed with the rotational axis thereof inclined. That is, driven roller 32d2 is disposed in such a way that one end part of driven roller 32d2 (on the opened side of second drug packaging paper PP2) is located on the downstream side of second drug packaging paper PP2 from the other end part of driven roller 32d2 (on the ridge line R2 side of second drug packaging paper PP2). In addition, driven roller 32d2 contacts the side surface of second drug packaging paper PP2, thereby having a function of changing the conveyance direction of second drug packaging paper PP2.
Moving member 32e is configured to be able to move upstream guide member 32a, the pair of rollers 32b, the other upstream guide member 32c, and the other pair of rollers 32d, at the time of replacing first drug packaging paper PP1 with second drug packaging paper PP2, as described below. Upstream guide member 32a, the pair of rollers 32b, the other upstream guide member 32c, and the other pair of rollers 32d are disposed in moving member 32e. Moving member 32e slides between first guide position Pd1 illustrated in
First guide position Pd1 is a position of moving member 32e during the conveyance of first drug packaging paper PP1. When moving member 32e is at first guide position Pd1, the pair of rollers 32b guide first drug packaging paper PP1 without nipping first drug packaging paper PP1, and upstream guide member 32a guides first drug packaging paper PP1. Second guide position Pd2 is a position of moving member 32e when the other pair of rollers 32d nip and convey second drug packaging paper PP2 and the other upstream guide member 32c guides second drug packaging paper PP2 at the time of replacing first drug packaging paper PP1 with second drug packaging paper PP2, as described below. The position of the other upstream guide member 32c when moving member 32e is located at second guide position Pd2 is the same as the position of upstream guide member 32a when moving member 32e is located at first guide position Pd1 (see
Returning to
Downstream conveying unit 33 includes a pair of downstream rollers 33a that nip and convey first drug packaging paper PP1, a plurality of rollers 33b that change conveyance direction D1 of first drug packaging paper PP1, and downstream guide member 33c.
Downstream guide member 33c is a plate-shaped member sandwiched by first drug packaging paper PP1, and configured to guide first drug packaging paper PP1 to drug delivery position Pr. Downstream guide member 33c is disposed in such a way that the plate surface thereof is orthogonal to the horizontal direction. First drug packaging paper PP1 hold, in its inside, downstream guide member 33c with the opened side of the drug packaging paper facing upward (herein, “in its inside” does not necessarily mean that a component is completely in the inside of another component). First drug packaging paper PP1 is opened upward by being guided by downstream guide member 33c, and receives a drug led out from hopper 13b at drug delivery position Pr.
Holding member 34 is disposed between upstream conveying unit 32 and downstream conveying unit 33. Holding member 34 does not hold first drug packaging paper PP1 when conveying part 30 is conveying first drug packaging paper PP1. Holding member 34 holds first drug packaging paper PP1 between the members thereof when first drug packaging paper PP1 is to be replaced with second drug packaging paper PP2, as described below. Holding member 34 is composed of a pair of plate members 34a and 34b. The pair of plate members 34a and 34b are disposed in such a way that the plate surfaces of the members are parallel to the plate surface of upstream guide member 32a. As illustrated in
Cutting part 35 cuts first drug wrapping paper PP1 when first drug packaging paper PP1 is to be replaced with second drug packaging paper PP2, as described below. Cutting part 35 includes a blade for cutting first drug packaging paper PP1. At a location between holding member 34 and upstream conveying unit 32, cutting part 35 cuts first drug packaging paper PP1 on plane S orthogonal to conveyance direction D1.
Base part 36 is disposed on the opposite side of cutting part 35 with first drug packaging paper PP1 therebetween, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a facing surface that faces the side surface of first drug packaging paper PP1.
As illustrated in
Guide member 37 is disposed between holding member 34 and upstream conveying unit 32, as illustrated in
During the conveyance of first drug packaging paper PP1 by upstream conveying unit 32 and downstream conveying unit 33, guide member 37 is located at non-guide position Pg2—a position where the guide member does not contact first drug packaging paper PP1, as illustrated in
Inclined part 37a is a side portion of guide member 37, and ridge line R2 of second drug packaging paper PP2 overlaps the side portion at the time of guiding second drug packaging paper PP2 by guide member 37. Inclined part 37a extends in a direction substantially parallel to ridge line R2 of second drug packaging paper PP2 guided by guide member 37. Specifically, inclined part 37a has a shape such that the inclined part is inclined from the opened side toward the ridge line R2 side of second drug packaging paper PP2 as the inclined part approaches the downstream side from the upstream side of second drug packaging paper PP2. Inclined part 37a has a flat shape. Inclined part 37a may have a triangular cross section or an arcuate cross section.
Recessed part 37b is a portion recessed approximately along conveyance direction D1 from the side portion (downstream in conveyance direction D1) of guide member 37.
Connecting part 38 is disposed on the same side as cutting part 35 when viewed from first drug packaging paper PP1, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a facing surface that faces the side surface of first drug packaging paper PP1. Connecting part 38 connects the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 to first drug packaging paper PP1 when first drug packaging paper PP1 is to be replaced with second drug packaging paper PP2, as described below. Connecting part 38 includes pressing part 38a configured to press connecting member T. Connecting member T is configured to connect first drug packaging paper PP1 with second drug packaging paper PP2. Pressing part 38a is a facing surface that faces the side surface of first drug packaging paper PP1.
Connecting member T is, for example, an adhesive tape. In a state where second drug packaging paper PP2 is disposed at the other upstream guide member 32c, connecting member T is attached to the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 so as to protrude from the downstream end of the drug packaging paper. Connecting members T are attached to both outer surfaces of second drug packaging paper PP2, which is folded in half Connecting member T may be an adhesive applied to the inside of the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2.
Connecting part 38 is configured to be located at first pressing position Po1 (see
First pressing position Po1 (see
Second pressing position Po2 (see
Non-pressing position Po3 of connecting part 38 is a position where connecting part 38 is separated from first drug packaging paper PP1 and thus does not press first drug packaging paper PP1.
In the following, the operation of drug supply apparatus 1 when first drug packaging paper PP1 is to be replaced with second drug packaging paper PP2 will be described.
As illustrated
When the control part detects that first drug packaging paper PP1 is running low, the control part stops the operation of drug supply unit 13 and also stops the operation of the pair of downstream rollers 33a. The control part detects that first drug packaging paper PP1 is running low, for example, based on a detection signal from a sensor (for example, an infrared sensor) detecting the outer diameter of roll M1 or from a sensor detecting the tension of first drug packaging paper PP1. The sensor detecting the tension of first drug packaging paper PP1 is, for example, a load sensor that detects the force acting on roller 33b of downstream conveying unit 33. The tension of first drug packaging paper PP1 increases as the amount of first drug packaging paper PP1 decreases.
In addition, the following configuration is also possible: when the tension of first drug packaging paper PP1 increases, roller 33b moves, and the control part detects that first drug packaging paper PP1 is running low based on a detection signal from a position sensor detecting the position of roller 33b.
Subsequently, as illustrated in
The control part then cuts first drug packaging paper PP1 at cutting position Pc1 by moving cutting part 35 in a direction orthogonal to conveyance direction D1. Solid line L along plane S illustrated in
When cutting part 35 finishes the cutting, the control part positions cutting part 35 at non-cutting position Pc2, moves connecting part 38 to non-pressing position Po3, and moves base part 36 to non-contact position Pb2.
Subsequently, the control part moves driving roller 32d1 of the other pair of rollers 32d so that the other pair of rollers 32d hold the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 therebetween. In this state, the control part moves moving member 32e from first guide position Pd1 to second guide position Pd2, as illustrated in
The control part further moves guide member 37 to guide position Pg1. As a result, guide member 37 and upstream guide member 32a face each other. Subsequently, the control part rotates driving roller 32d1 to convey second drug packaging paper PP2.
As illustrated in
Specifically, the other pair of rollers 32d convey second drug packaging paper PP2 in such a way that the opened side of the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 approaches the ridge line R1 side of the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1. When second drug packaging paper PP2 is conveyed to guide member 37, second drug packaging paper PP2 is guided by guide member 37. Describing with reference to the state illustrated in
That is, second drug packaging paper PP2 is guided by inclined part 37a of guide member 37 in such a way that as the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 approaches the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1, the opened side of the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 approaches the ridge line R1 side of the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1. In other words, the direction in which inclined part 37a guides second drug packaging paper PP2 is approximately the same as the direction in which the other pair of rollers 32d convey second drug packaging paper PP2. Therefore, second drug packaging paper PP2 is smoothly conveyed and guided without being caught by inclined part 37a. In addition, guide member 37 includes recessed part 37b, thereby reducing contact of connecting member T with guide member 37.
As second drug packaging paper PP2 is conveyed and guided as described above, when second drug packaging paper PP2 is conveyed to the downstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1, ridge line R2 of second drug packaging paper PP2 is located above ridge line R1 of first drug packaging paper PP1. As illustrated in
At this time, first drug packaging paper PP1 is held by holding member 34 between the members thereof. Therefore, even when the moving second drug packaging paper PP2 or the moving connecting member T comes into contact with first drug packaging paper PP1, first drug packaging paper PP1 can stay at a predetermined position without shifting to the downstream side.
That is, upstream conveying unit 32 conveys second drug packaging paper PP2 in such a way that the opened side of the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 approaches the ridge line R1 side of the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1. In addition, upstream conveying unit 32 conveys second drug packaging paper PP2 toward first drug packaging paper PP1 in such a way that the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 holds in its inside the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1, and ridge line R2 of second drug packaging paper PP2 overlaps ridge line R1 of first drug packaging paper PP1. Therefore, in the case of replacing packaging paper, second drug packaging paper PP2 is smoothly conveyed to overlap first drug packaging paper PP1 while preventing the generation of folds in first drug packaging paper PP1 and second drug packaging paper PP2.
The control part stops the operation of the pair of rollers 32b in response to the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 overlapping the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1. The control part detects that the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 overlaps the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1 based on a detection signal from a position sensor (for example, an infrared sensor) detecting the position of second drug packaging paper PP2.
Subsequently, the control part positions guide member 37 at non-guide position Pg2. Furthermore, the control part positions base part 36 at contact position Pb1 and connecting part 38 at first pressing position Po1, as illustrated in
The control part then positions connecting part 38 at non-pressing position Po3, base part 36 at non-contact position Pb2, first plate member 34a at non-holding position Ps2, and driving roller 32d1 at non-conveying position Pm2, as illustrated in
Further, when first drug packaging paper PP1 is conveyed by the pair of downstream rollers 33a due to the operation by the control part, second drug packaging paper PP2 connected to first drug packaging paper PP1 is also conveyed. When first drug packaging paper PP1 is consumed, the packaging paper conveyed by conveying part 30 is switched to second drug packaging paper PP2. In addition, the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 holds, in its inside, the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1; therefore, the upstream end of second drug packaging paper PP2 is not caught by downstream guide member 33c. Therefore, switching to second drug packaging paper PP2 is performed smoothly.
As described above, drug supply apparatus 1 automatically replaces first drug packaging paper PP1 with second drug packaging paper PP2. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency and shorten the time required to replace packaging paper. In addition, roll M2 is held by second packaging paper holding part 31b, and the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 is disposed at the other upstream guide member 32c. Such a configuration allows the control part to convey second drug packaging paper PP2 to connect second drug packaging paper PP2 to first drug packaging paper PP1 in response to first drug packaging paper PP1 being running low, without waiting for the supply of roll M2 of second drug packaging paper PP2.
Even after first drug packaging paper PP1 is replaced with second drug packaging paper PP2, first drug packaging paper PP1 is placed at upstream conveying unit 32 and is held in first packaging paper holding part 31a, as illustrated in
Drug supply apparatus 1 may notify an operator that the packaging paper has been replaced by, for example, displaying a message on a display or sounding a buzzer. In response to the notification, the operator replaces roll M1 with a new roll.
Specifically, the operator removes first drug packaging paper PP1 from first packaging paper holding part 31a and attaches a new roll M1. The operator then disposes the downstream end part (fed out from the new roll M1) of first drug packaging paper PP1 at upstream guide member 32a, as illustrated in
When the control part detects that second drug packaging paper PP2 is running low, for example, based on the detection signal of the position sensor described above, the control part automatically replaces second drug packaging paper PP2 with the new first drug packaging paper PP1 in the same manner as when the old first drug packaging paper PP1 is automatically replaced with second drug packaging paper PP2 as described above. When the control part replaces second drug packaging paper PP2 with a new first drug packaging paper PP1, conveying part 30 conveys the new first drug packaging paper PP1 as in the state illustrated in
The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above. Various variations derived from the present embodiment are also included within the scope of the present disclosure, as long as those variations do not depart from the spirit of the present disclosure.
For example, first drug packaging paper PP1 and second drug packaging paper PP2 may be connected to each other by heat sealing. In this case, connecting part 38 is configured to include a heater. It is not necessary to attach connecting member T to second drug packaging paper PP2.
First drug packaging paper PP1 and second drug packaging paper PP2 may be connected to each other without being overlapping. The downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 may be connected to a portion other than the upstream end part of first drug packaging paper PP1.
In the pairs of rollers 32b and rollers 32d, not only driven rollers 32b2 and 32d2 but also driving rollers 32b1 and 32d1 may be disposed to be inclined in the same manner as driven rollers 32b2 and 32d2. In place of disposing driven rollers 32b2 and 32d2 so as to be inclined, driving rollers 32b1 and 32d1 may be disposed to be inclined.
When first drug packaging paper PP1 is to be replaced with second drug packaging paper PP2, second drug packaging paper PP2 may be conveyed along conveyance direction D1. In this case, driven rollers 32b2 and 32d2 may be disposed so that the rotational axes of the rollers are orthogonal to conveyance direction D1, that is, not inclined.
As illustrated in
In addition, conveying part 30 does not need to include second packaging paper holding part 31b, the other upstream guide member 32c, the other pair of rollers 32d, and moving member 32e. In this case, at the time of replacing first drug packaging paper PP1 with second drug packaging paper PP2, the control part positions cutting part 35 at non-cutting position Pc2 after cutting first drug packaging paper PP1, moves connecting part 38 to non-pressing position Po3, and moves base part 36 to non-contact position Pb2. In this state, the control part stops the operation of conveying part 30. At this time, the control part may notify an operator of the request for replacement of the roll by, for example, displaying a message on a display.
The operator then removes first drug packaging paper PP1 from first packaging paper holding part 31a and attaches roll M2 of second drug packaging paper PP2 to first packaging paper holding part 31a. The operator further disposes the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2 at upstream guide member 32a, and attaches connecting member T to the downstream end part of second drug packaging paper PP2.
Subsequently, the operator inputs information, indicating that the attachment of the roll has been completed, on operation part 11. In response, the control part moves guide member 37 to guide position Pg1 and positions driving roller 32b1 at conveying position Pm1. The control part further rotates driving roller 32b1 to convey second drug packaging paper PP2. As a result, second drug packaging paper PP2 is conveyed and guided as described above and connected to first drug packaging paper PP1 by connecting part 38. Downstream conveying unit 33 conveys first drug packaging paper PP1 as described above, and thus first drug packaging paper PP1 is replaced with second drug packaging paper PP2.
In addition, drug supply apparatus 1 does not need to include cutting part 35. In this case, the operator manually cuts first drug packaging paper PP1, and while the operator performs the cutting work, the control part stops the operation of conveying part 30 configured to replace packaging paper.
In addition, drug supply apparatus 1 does not need to include connecting part 38. In this case, the operator manually connects first drug packaging paper PP1 with second drug packaging paper PP2, and while the operator performs the connecting work, the control part stops the operation of conveying part 30 configured to replace packaging paper.
This application is entitled to and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-159486 filed on Sep. 29, 2021, the disclosure of which including the specification, drawings, and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure is widely available for drug supply apparatuses.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-159486 | Sep 2021 | JP | national |
This is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2022/035218, filed on Sep. 21, 2022, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-159486, filed on Sep. 29, 2021, the entire disclosures each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2022/035218 | Sep 2022 | WO |
| Child | 18615842 | US |
