Patent Application
20080104830
The present invention relates to an installation/removal device for installing and removing a card fitted to the side surface of a conveyed object and to a display change device including this installation/removal device.
Conventionally, as disclosed in patent document 1 described below, dosing systems capable of collecting and lumping together drugs, medical materials, and the like in a predetermined tray prepared for each patient in accordance with directions given on a prescription have been adopted at medical facilities such as hospitals dispensing (ethical) pharmacies, and the like.
With the dosing system as described above prescriptions are given at one time for a large number of patients, therefore, it is required that correspondence between the trays and the patients can be accurately identified. Thus, the dosing system disclosed in patent document 1 described below adopts configuration in which information on a patient assigned to each tray and drugs stored in each tray is marked on a card referred to as a rewrite card, which card is fitted to a card holding member provided on the side surface of the tray.
The dosing system disclosed in patent document 1 described below includes a display change device capable of once removing the card fitted to the side surface of the tray, transmitting it to a writing device and changing display of the information marked on the card, and then returning this card to the tray. This dosing system is configured to, when the tray carried on a predetermined conveyor arrives at a position adjacent to the display change device, tilt the display change device at a predetermined angle so that a roller provided at a region referred to as an contacting portion is brought close to the side surface of the tray and also to rotate this roller by use of a power such as a motor or the like to thereby install and remove the card to and from the card holding member by utilizing a frictional force generated between the roller and the card so as to achieve rewriting on the card.
Patent document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-165865
The tray used in the dosing system as described above is formed of resin or the like in many cases, and thus variations have occurred in the size and the forming accuracy in some cases. Moreover, since the tray is provided just for storage of drugs, an off-specification tray has been used, in some cases, which is roughly similar in shape to the tray fabricated for this dosing system but slightly difference therefrom in the angle of its side surface and the like.
The display change device disclosed in patent document 1 described above rotates the roller provided at the contacting portion and installs and removes a card by use of the frictional force generated between the roller and the card. Thus, even with a slight change in the gap between the card and the roller and in the way in which the roller contacts the card, a power may not be successfully transferred to the card, or an excessively large external force may act on the card. Therefore, when the display change device disclosed in the patent document 1 described above is adopted, the use of a tray having a size or a shape out of a predetermined standard, a failure in installation and removal of the card may occur or the card and the roller may wear.
In view of the problem described above, the present invention has been made, and it is an object of the invention to provide an installation/removal device capable of favorably installing and removing a card fitted to a conveyed object, and a display change device including the installation/removal device, and a dosing system including the installation/removal device.
The invention according to claim 1 provided in view of the problem described above refers to an installation/removal device including: installing and removing means for installing and removing a card fitted to a fitting part provided on a side surface of a conveyed object; and moving means for moving the installing and removing means in a direction approaching or separating from the conveyed object. The installing and removing means has a head part opposing the side surface of the conveyed object. The head part is so supported as to be capable of approaching and separating from the conveyed object. The moving means has a pressing member capable of pressing the installing and removing means toward the conveyed object. The pressing means moves in the direction separating from the installing and removing means while keeping pressing the installing and removing means under the condition that a reaction force acting on the pressing member as a result of pressing the installing and removing means by the pressing member exceeds a predetermined degree.
According to this configuration, even when a conveyed object more or less different in size and shape from the one assumed is adopted, a positional relationship between the conveyed object and the head part can be controlled within a fixed range, thereby preventing the card from being excessively pressed by the head part. Thus, the installation/removal device of the present invention can widely support variations in size, shape, and the like of the conveyed object; therefore, even when the conveyed object more or less different in size and shape is supplied, failure in installing and removing the card to and from the conveyed object and wear of the card and the head part hardly occur.
The invention according to claim 2 refers to the installation/removal device, in which the moving means has: a seat member fixed at a predetermined position, a moving part freely movably fitted to the seat member; and a drive part. The moving part is movable in the direction approaching or separating from the installing and removing means and is biased in the direction approaching the installing and removing means. The drive part includes a drive source fitted to the moving part and a pressing member which receives a power from the drive source to make eccentric rotation. An outer circumferential portion of the pressing member is so disposed as to oppose the installing and removing means.
In the installation/removal device of the present invention, the pressing member follows the eccentric rotations and the installing and removing means approaches or separates from the conveyed object side to thereby come to contact the conveyed object. Then, when a reaction force acting on the pressing means becomes larger, while keeping pressing the installing and removing means, the pressing means fitted to the transfer part separates, together with the transfer part, from the installing and removing means. Thus, according to the installation/removal device of the present invention, the card can be prevented from being excessively pressed by the card head part. Therefore, the installation/removal device of the present invention can make contact with the card with an adequate pressing force, and thus even when a conveyed object more or less variable in size and shape is supplied, failure in installing and removing the card to and from the conveyed object and the wear of the card and the head part hardly occur.
The invention according to claim 3 refers to the installation/removal device in which the head part has card moving means for feeding a card in a predetermined direction by making surface contact with the card, and the head part includes gap adjusting means capable of adjusting a gap between the card moving means and the conveyed object.
The installation/removal device of the present invention installs and removes the card while making the head part approach the conveyed object. Thus, when performing a series of operation of once removing the card from the conveyed object and then fitting it again to the conveyed object, it is desirable in order to perform this operation smoothly that, during the time from when the card is removed until when the card is fitted, the installation/removal device maintain approaching the conveyed object to stand by. On the other hand, in installing and removing the card to and from the conveyed object, since a gap between the card installing and removing means and the head part is extremely narrow, the card moving means provided at the head part and the conveyed object rub against each other during the standby state for fitting the card, thus possibly resulting in the wear of the card installing and removing means and the conveyed object.
However, the installation/removal device of the present invention includes the gap adjusting means, and thus can adjust the gap between the card moving means and the conveyed object. Thus, in an operation of installing and removing of the card, the installation/removal device of the present invention can narrow down the gap between the card moving means and the conveyed object to adjust it suitable for card installation and removal to thereby accurately install and remove the card. Further, the installing and removing device of the present invention can widen the gap between the card moving means and the conveyed object during the standby state in preparation for the card installation and removal to thereby protect the card installing and removing means and the conveyed object from the wear.
The invention according to claims 4 refers to the installation/removal device, in which the head part has card moving means for feeding a card in a predetermined direction by making surface contact with the card. The card moving means is so supported as to be swingable with respect to the head part and is capable of changing a posture thereof so as to be oriented along the side surface of the conveyed object.
The installation/removal device of the present invention has the card moving means for feeding the card in the predetermined direction by making surface contact with the card. However, it is concerned that, if the card moving means does not make surface contact properly, a power is not successfully transmitted to the card, thus resulting in failure to feed the card smoothly or resulting in shifting of the card feed direction. Moreover, if the card moving means does not make surface contact properly, the power acts on only part of the card moving means or the card in a biased manner, thus resulting in a possibility of wear focused only one part of the card moving means or the card.
Based on this knowledge, in the installation/removal device of the present invention, the card moving means is so configured as to be swingable with respect to the head part. Thus, in the installation/removal device of the invention, the card moving means properly makes surface contact with the card. Therefore, according to the installation/removal device of the present invention, the card can be smoothly fed in the predetermined directions and also the wear can be prevented from being focused on one part of the card moving means or the card.
The invention according to claim 5 provided based on the same knowledge refers to the installation/removal device which is so supported as to be swingable with respect to the conveyed object and is capable of changing the posture thereof so as to be oriented along the side surface of the conveyed object.
The installation/removal device of the present invention itself is so configured as to be swingable with respect to the conveyed object. Thus, in the installation/removal device of the present invention, the head part can properly make surface contact with the card, thereby permitting the card to be fed smoothly in the predetermined direction and preventing the wear from being focused on one part of the card moving means or the card.
The invention according to claim 6 refers to the installation/removal device, in which the installing and removing means has a card passage for feeding and returning the card to and from the head part. The card passage is provided with card feed means capable of feeding and returning the card along a direction in which the card passage extends by directly or indirectly making contact with the card.
According to this configuration, the card fed into the card passage can be reliably and smoothly fed in the predetermined direction.
The invention according to claim 7 refers to the installation/removal device, which is used for installing and removing the card to and from the conveyed object, in which the conveyed object has formed on one or a plurality of side surfaces a fitting part for fitting a card and is provided with: an insertion port that permits removing and inserting the card from and in the fitting part by sliding the card along the side surface in a predetermined installation and removal direction; and a closing member for closing part or all of the insertion port. The insertion port is usually closed by the closing member and is opened by pressing inwardly from the outer side of the side surface. The installation removal device has release means that has an installation and removal side thereof approach the side surface of the conveyed object to thereby press the closing member and thus open the insertion port.
According to this configuration, only by making the installing and removing means approach the side surface of the conveyed object and pressing the closing member of the conveyed object by the release means, the insertion port of the conveyed object can be opened to provide a condition that permits installing and removing the card. Therefore, according to the present invention, an installation/removal device can be provided which is capable of easily and smoothly installing and removing the card.
The invention according to claim 8 refers to a display change device including: writing means for writing predetermined information onto the card, and the installation/removal device according to any of claims 1 through 7. The installation/removal device is so connected as to be capable of receiving and delivering the card from and to the writing means.
According to this configuration, a series of operation including card installation and removal and operation of writing predetermined information onto this card can be performed smoothly.
The invention according to claim 9 refers to a display change device including: display changing means for changing display on a card fitted to a fitting portion provided on a side surface of the conveyed object; and moving means for moving the writing means in a direction approaching or separating from the conveyed object, the display changing means having a display change head part opposing the side surface of the conveyed object, the display change head part being so supported as to be capable of approaching and separating from the conveyed object, the moving means having the pressing member capable of pressing the installing and removing means toward the conveyed object, the pressing means moving in the direction separating from the installing and removing means while keeping pressing the installing and removing means under the condition that a reaction force acting on the pressing member as a result of pressing the installing and removing means by the pressing member exceeds a predetermined degree.
According to this configuration, even when the conveyed object more ore less different in shape or size from the one assumed is adopted, the positional relationship between the conveyed object and the head part can be controlled within a fixed range, thereby permitting preventing the card or the conveyed object from being excessively pressed by the display change head part. Thus, the display change device of the invention can widely support variations in size and shape of the conveyed object; therefore, even when the conveyed object more or less different in size and shape is supplied, failure in changing display information on the card for the conveyed object and the wear of the card or the display change head part hardly occur.
The invention according to claim 9 refers to the display changing, in which the display change head part may be capable of changing display information on the card by moving the card relative to the display changing means. (Claim 10)
The invention according to claim 11 refers to the display change device according to any of claims 8 through 10, in which the card is a rewrite card, and in which the information on the card is erased and written by the writing means.
In the present invention, as the card, the rewrite card is adopted, so that display on the rewrite card can be changed by the writing means. Thus, according to the present invention, the card can be used repeatedly, thereby permitting suppressing the running costs of appliances adopting the display change device.
In the display change device according to any of claims 8 through 10, the card may receive and display predetermined information or data including the information, and the display changing means may include transmission means capable of transmitting to the card predetermined information or data including the information. (Claim 12).
The invention according to claim 13 refers to a dosing system including: conveyed object supply means for supplying a conveyed object capable of storing drugs; drug supply means for supplying predetermined drugs to the conveyed object supplied from the conveyed object supply means; and the display change device according to any of claims 8 through 12, in which installation and removal operation for the card fitted to the conveyed object and writing operation of writing predetermined information on the card can be performed by the display change device.
According to this configuration, a dosing system capable of accurately performing card installation and removal and writing on the card even for those conveyed objects that are more or less variable in size, shape, and the like with respect to the standard.
According to the present invention an installation/removal device can be provided in which, even when the conveyed object more or less different in size and shape is supplied, failure in installing and removing the card to and from the conveyed object and wear of the card and the roller hardly occur. Moreover, according to the present invention, a display change device can be provided which is capable of smoothly performing a series of operation such as card installation and removal, operation of writing predetermined information onto this card, and the like. Further, according to the present invention, a dosing system can be provided which is capable of accurately performing card installation and removal and writing of predetermined information even for the conveyed object more or less variable in size, shape, or the like with respect to the predetermined standard.
Next, an installation/removal device and a card display change device including this device as one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, referring to the drawings. In
The tray 10 adopted in the present embodiment is a container formed of resin or the like in a box-like shape having the top side thereof open as shown in
On the outer side of the insertion port 14b, that is, at a position adjacent to the left side of the insertion port 14b in the posture shown in
As the card 13, the one referred to as a “rewrite card” is typically adopted. The rewrite card here is a card one which permits recording on the recording surface thereof by use of a predetermined rewriting device, desired information such as, character information, graphic information, a bar code, and the like, and changing display thereon over several hundreds of times. The rewrite cards typically include those referred to as a leuco-type and those referred to as a cloudy-type, on both of which characters can be written and erased by adding specific temperature thereto. The leuco-type rewrite card is a card capable of displaying predetermined information thereon through the reaction between a leuco dye and a developer composing the recording surface thereof. The cloudy-type rewrite card is a card including a recording surface that has formed on a reflective layer thereof a transparent functional layer on which a protective layer is further provided. The leuco-type rewrite card has a functional layer formed of a polymer binder and a low-molecular substance dispersed therein and made of a higher fatty acid or the like, and the aggregation state of the low-molecular substance in the binder forming the functional layer changes into a less porous state and a very porous state, depending on how heat is added. The leuco-type card appears white and cloudy as a result of irregular reflection when light passes through the very porous portion of the functional layer, whereby predetermined information (image) is displayed through contrast between the transparent portion and the cloudy portion. In the present embodiment, the leuco-type rewrite card is adopted as the card 13.
Marked on the card 13 can be: for example, as shown in
The display change device 1 is so disposed, as shown in
The installation/removal device 2 is box-shaped as shown in
To describe it more specifically, the installation/removal device 2 has the main body part 25 so disposed as to be oriented along the conveyor device 15a as shown in
As shown in
The installation/removal device 2 is installed in such a posture that the head part 21 faces the conveyor device 15a side and so that the longitudinal direction of the main body part 25 is oriented along the conveyor device 15a. A gap between the frame plates 23a and 23b is adapted to be approximately a little wider than a height H of the card 13. The main body part 25 is so supported as to be freely turnable in directions approaching and separating from the conveyor device 15a via a support shaft 26 vertically extending and provided at a region located at the boundary edge 25c side, that is, on the left side in the state shown in
The main body part 25 is structured so that the frame plates 23a and 23b are supported by the support plate 23c and the support shaft 23d disposed at the end portion at the boundary edge 23c side and by the pressure reception wall 23e and the support plate 23f disposed at the end portion at the terminal edge 25d side.
The pressure reception wall 23e is fixed to a region located at the terminal edge 25d plus at the back 25b side when the installation/removal device 2 is installed. The pressure reception wall 23e forms a wall surface vertically arranged between the frame plates 23a and 23b, opposing the position adjustment mechanism part 100.
The position adjustment mechanism part 100 is mainly divided into a seat member 101, a moving part 102, and a drive part 103, as shown in
The moving part 102 has a base part 106 formed, as is the case with the seat member 101, by bending a metal plate into a base shape; and overhanging parts 107 and 107 outwardly overhanging from the both sides of the base part 106. The overhanging parts 107 and 107 are respectively provided with sliding grooves 108 and 108 extending in the same direction. The moving part 102 is so disposed as to be stored within the area 104 of the seat member 101 and extends across the opening part 105 provided in the bottom surface the seat member 101, with the sliding grooves 108 and 108 respectively extending in directions approaching and separating from the pressure reception wall 23e provided in the main body part 25 of the installation/removal device 2. The moving part 102 is fitted inside the seat member 101 with screws 110 and 110 which are inserted from above the sliding grooves 108 provided on the overhanging parts 107 and 107 and then threaded into the bottom surface of the base part 106. The moving part 102 is fitted with the screws 110 and 110 with such a strength that avoids removal of the moving part 102 from the base part 106 plus with such a strength that permits the moving part 102 to be freely slidable over the base part 106. Thus, the moving part 102 can slide in the directions approaching and separating from the pressure reception wall 23e.
The moving part 102 is connected to the seat member 101 via a spring 111. More specifically, the spring 111 has one end side thereof fixed to the side wall 101a of the seat member 101 opposing the pressure reception wall 23e and has the other side thereof fixed to the side surface of the base part 106. Thus, the moving part 102 is biased toward the side wall 101a side by the spring 111, and thus the side surface of the moving part 102 usually contacts the side wall 101a.
To the moving part 102, two sensors 117 and 118 are fitted via a support plate 116 fitted to the side of the base part 106 as shown in
The drive part 103 has a main part thereof composed of the eccentric cam 112 and a motor 113, and is fitted integrally to the moving part 102. To describe it more specifically, the motor 113 is a power source of the drive part 103, and has the rotation axis thereof so fixed as to project from the rear side to the front side (from the lower side to the upper side) of the base part 106 of the moving part 102.
The motor 113 is rotatable in the forward direction the direction of an arrow A in
The rotation axis of the motor 113 is connected to the eccentric position of the eccentric cam 112, and the eccentric portion 115 is usually located at a position away from the pressure reception wall 23e of the main body part 25. Then, when the motor 113 is actuated, as shown in
The installation/removal device 2 utilizes a power transmitted from the drive part 24 to the head part 21 or the card feed part 22 to remove and insert the card 13 from and in the fitting part 14 of the tray 10 and also to move the card 13. The drive part 24 has, as a power source, a motor 18 fitted to the substantially central portion of the main body part 25 in the extending direction thereof, and transmits a torque to the head part 21 and the card feed part 22. The head part 21 forms a main part of an installing and removing mechanism for installing and removing the card 13 to and from the fitting part 14 provided on the side surfaces 11 and 12 of the tray 10. The head part 21 has: as shown in
The card feed part 22 has a main part thereof composed of a card passage 70 formed of such a space that permits passage of the card 13 therethrough; and a card feed mechanism 75. The card passage 70 is composed of: guide members 61 and 61 formed in a band-like shape and fitted to the frame plates 23a and 23b; and a guide frame 71 (installing and removing side wall surface) and a guide frame 72 (pressure receiving side wall surface) fitted across between the frame plates 23a and 23b. The card passage 70 is a slit-like passage that is warped in a substantially “S” shape that connects together a head side card port 60 formed at a position adjacent to the head part 21 plus at the front 25a side of the main body part 25 and a feed-side card port 76 provided at a boundary formed with the card display change devise 3. The feed-side card port 76 is an opening which is formed vertically long and slit to such a degree that permit passage of one card 13 and which opening is located at a terminal end portion of the main body part 25 at the boundary edge 25c side plus at a substantially central portion of the main body part 25 in the thickness direction thereof, that is, at the middle portion between the front 25a side and the back 25b side.
The card feed mechanism 75 has a main part thereof composed of roller shafts 81, 82, and 83 disposed at position adjacent to the card passage 70 at the back 25b side in such a manner as to be spaced part from one another at predetermined intervals; and roller shafts 85 and 86 disposed at position adjacent to the card passage 70 at the back 25b side. The roller shafts 81 to 83 are respectively so fitted as to be rotatable relative to the frame plates 23a and 23b. At a substantially central portion of the roller shafts 81 to 83 in the axial direction thereof, roller 87 to 89 (card feed means) of rubber are fitted. The rollers 87 to 89 rotate integrally with the roller shafts 81 to 83, respectively, and are used for feeding, in a predetermined direction, the card 13 introduced into the card passage 70 while making surface contact with the card 13. The rollers 87 to 89 are so configured as to be exposed toward the card passage 70 side through a roller-exposing window 77 provided at the guide frame 71 disposed at the front 25a side so that the rollers 87 to 89 can make surface contact with the card 13 running inside the card passage 70.
On the other hand, the roller shafts 85 and 86 are respectively so fitted as not to be rotatable relative to the frame plates 23a and 23b. At a substantially central portion of the roller shafts 85 and 86 in the axial direction thereof assist rollers 91 and 92 are respectively so fitted as not to be rotatable relative to the roller shafts 85 and 86. The assist rollers 91 and 92 are disposed along the extending direction of the card passage 70 in such a manner as to be spaced apart from each other with a predetermined interval, and also are disposed at positions respectively corresponding to the position between the rollers 87 and 88 and the position between the rollers 88 and 89 described above. The assist rollers 91 and 92 are rollers for assisting the flow of the card 13 inside the card passage 70.
Next, operation performed by the display change device 1 of the present embodiment will be described referring to the drawings. The operation of the display change device 1 is controlled by a controller, not shown. Upon detection that supply of the tray 10 to the conveyor device 15a has been started, the controller activates the conveyor device 15a, whereby the tray 10 is conveyed further downstream. Upon confirmation that the tray 10 has arrived at the front side of the display change device 1, the control means stops the conveyor device 15a. Subsequently, in order to remove the card 13 fitted to the tray 10, the control means actuates the position adjustment mechanism part 100 and brings the head part 21 of the installation/removal device 2 close to the fitting part 14 of the tray 10.
To describe it more specifically, when the tray 10 arrives at a position adjacent to the head part 21 of the installation/removal device 2, the controller supplies a power to the motor 113 of the position adjustment mechanism part 100 to rotate the rotation axis of the motor 113 in the forward direction as shown by an arrow A of
Further rotation of the motor 113 causes the installation/re oval device 2 and the display change device 1 connecting having therein this connected to the card display change device 3 to start to rotate about the support shaft 26 as shown by the arrow B in
Here, the motor 113 of the drive part 103 turns until the eccentric portion 115 of the eccentric cam 112 is detected by the sensor 117. That is, when the motor 113 rotates in the forward direction (in a direction of an arrow A in
Here, as described above, the moving part 102 is usually biased toward the side wall 101a side by the spring 111. However, when an external force (reaction force Fr) larger than the tensile force Fa of the spring 111 acts on the moving part 102 against the tensile force Fa, the moving part 102 separates from the side wall 101a along the sliding groove 108 as shown by an arrow C in
As in
The card 13 runs inside the card passage 70 in the feed direction (a direction of an arrow G in
At an appropriate timing, such as at a timing when the card 13 is fed to the card display change device 3, at a timing when the display on the card 13 is changed, or the like, the controller changes the state of power distribution to the motor 18 to rotate the rotation axis of the motor 18 in the direction opposite to the previous direction. As a result, the rollers 87 to 89 of the card feed part 22 of the installation/removal device 2 and the roller 58 of the head part 21 start to rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction at the time of removing the card 13. Thus, when the card 13 is returned to the card feed-side card port 76 from the display change device 3, the card 13 runs inside the card passage 70 in the returning direction (direction of an arrow R in
Upon returning to the head side card port 60, the card 13 becomes sandwiched between the roller 58 of the head part 21 and the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10. At this point, as described above, the roller 58 of the head part 21 rotates the card 13 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction at the time of removing the card 13 from the fitting part 14, as shown by an arrow S in
Thus, the card 13 is inserted in the fitting part 14 through the insertion port 14b by the roller 58, as shown by an arrow s. Upon confirmation that the card 13 is inserted in the fitting part 14, the controller rotates the eccentric cam 112 in the opposite direction (direction of an arrow Z in
As described above, the display change device 1 of the present embodiment is configured so that the eccentric cam 112 is turned to strike and move the main body part 25 and then so that, when the main body part 25 makes surface contact with the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10 to thereby become unturnable, the eccentric cam 112 moves, together with the moving part 102, far from the pressure reception wall 23e. Thus, the display change device 1 of the present embodiment, even with the tray 10 deviating more or less from a predetermined standard, can reliably make the head part 21 contact the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 and can install and remove the card 13 fitted to the fitting part 14. More specifically, the display change device 1 turns the eccentric cam 112 by the time the eccentric portion 115 comes to contact the pressure reception wall 23e, and can install and remove the card 13 to and from the fitting part 14 when the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10 arrives at within the area at the display change device 1 side from the position at which the head part 21 arrives when the main body part 25 is turned.
As described above, in the display change device 1, when the head part 21 comes into contact with the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10a the eccentric cam 112 moves far from the pressure reception wall 23e together with the moving part 102 under the condition that the eccentric cam 112 presses the pressure reception wall 23e of the main body part 25. Thus, regardless of difference in size or shape among trays 10, the head part 21 can press the side surface 11 or 12 of the tray 10 and the card 13 with a pressing force adequate for installing and removing the card 13, without pressing them excessively or insufficiently. Therefore, the display change device 1 is almost free from problems such as slip of the roller 58 of the head part 21 on the card 13, excessive wear or flaw of the card 13 or the roller 58, and the like.
The display change device 1 has the installation/removal device 2 for installing and removing the card 13 and the card display change device 3 for changing the display on the card 13 that are integrated together, and is capable of smoothly performing a series of operation. Moreover, the display change device 1 adopts a so-called rewrite card as the card 13, and thus can repeatedly use the card 13 over several hundreds of times. Further, according to the display change device 1 of the present embodiment, the wear or the flaw of the card 13 can be prevented, thereby permitting use of the card 13 as long as change of display is permitted. Thus, the display change device 1 of the present embodiment requires low running costs and can control the amount of waste substance to the minimum, compared to when a disposable card is adopted.
In the embodiment described above, the example in which a rewrite card is adopted as the card 13 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and thus can be provided with configuration adopting, for example, a card incapable of display. More specifically, the display change device 1 may be configured so that the card display change device 3 is connected to instead of the installation/removal device 2, for example, discard means for discarding a disposable card removed from the tray 10 by the installation/removal device 2, card supply means for supplying a card, card recording means for marking predetermined information on a card supplied from this feeder, or the like. With such a configuration, although the card cannot be recycled, the card on which predetermined information is marked can be smoothly and appropriately installed and removed to and from the tray 10.
The display change device 1 described above feeds the card 13 removed by the card installation/removal device 2 to the card rewriting device 3, returns it to the card installation/removal device 2 after display information is rewritten, and then returns it to the fitting part 14 of the tray 10. However, the present invention is limited to this, and thus may be configured as a display change device 150 shown in
To describe it more specifically, the display change device 150 has a main body part 151 and a position adjustment mechanism part 100 that have the same framing structure as that of the card installation/removal device 2 of the display change device 1 described above or that are formed in an appropriate shape such as a box shape or the like. The display change device 150 is so disposed as to be oriented along the conveyor device 15a. The display change device 150, as is the case with the display change device 1, is so supported as to be able to approach and separate from the conveyor device 15a with a center located at a support shaft 26. The display change device 150 is configured so that, instead of connecting and integrating the card rewriting device 3 as achieved by the display change device 1, a display change head part 152 is provided at a position corresponding to the head part 21 as hatched in
With the display change device 150, when the tray 10 fitted with the card 13, on which display is to be changed, arrives at a position adjacent to the main body part 151, the position adjustment mechanism part 100 operates in the same manner as the display change device 1, so that the display change head part 152 is pressed against the recording surface of the card 13 fitted to the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10.
More specifically, when the tray 10 arrives at the position adjacent to the main body part 151, a controller (not shown) of the display change device 150 stops the conveyor device 15a and also activates a motor 113 of the position adjustment mechanism part 100 to turn an eccentric cam 112, as shown by an arrow A in
When the eccentric portion of the eccentric cam 112 comes to be closest to the main body part 151 as in
Upon completion of rewriting on the card 13, as shown by an arrow Z in
The display change device 150 described above is provided, at the position corresponding to the head part 21 of the display change device 1, with the display change head part 152 having a capability corresponding to that of the card rewriting device 3, thus resulting in more compact configuration than the display change device 1. In addition, the display change device 150 is capable of changing the display on the card 13 without involving operation of installing and removing the card 13, operation of feeding and returning the card 13, and the like, thus permitting smoothly and quickly changing the display information.
Moreover, the display change device 150 described above includes the same position adjustment mechanism part 100 as that of the display change device 1; therefore, even when the trays 10 that are more or less variable in size, shape, or the like with respect to the predetermined standard is supplied, the display change head part 152 can be brought to hit against the card 13 fitted to the tray 10 with an adequate pressing force. Thus, the display change device 150 is free from failure in changing the display information, such as contact failure between the display change head part 152 and the card 13, printing failure or erasing failure caused by bringing the display change head part 152 to excessively strongly hit against the card 13.
The display change devices 1 and 150 described above change display information by bringing a display change device (not shown) built in the card rewriting device 3 and the display change head part 152, respectively, into close contact with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this and thus may be configured as, for example, a display change device 170 shown in
To describe it more specifically, the display change device 170 has structure almost the same as that of the display change device 150 described above but different therefrom in that, instead of the display change head part 152, an information communication device 171 (reader-writer) is fitted. When the display change device 170 is adopted, a card 172 as shown in
The information communication device 171 is a device capable of transmitting predetermined information to be displayed on the card 172 or data of composite information including this information. The card 172 has a data processing part 173 and a display part 175 as shown in
To describe it more specifically the data processing part 173 is composed of the one referred to as a so-called radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or the like. The data processing part 173 is so configured as to include communication means, such as an antenna part 173a or the like, for data transmission with the information communication device 171 and storage means, such as an IC (integrated circuit) chip 173b, and so configured as to further include data processing means, such as a microprocessor, radio wave rectification means, and the like as appropriate.
When the antenna part 173a receives a radio wave from the information communication device 171, the data processing part 173 generates an electromotive force under the action of resonance such as electromagnetic induction or the like. This electromotive force activates the IC chip 173b, whereby data transmitted from the information communication device 171 side is stored. In addition, at this point, the data stored on the IC chip 173b is transmitted to the information communication device 171 side as appropriate. That is, the data processing part 173 is capable of performing data transmission and reception by utilizing the electromotive force generated by the radio wave transmitted from the information communication device 171.
The data processing part 173 is capable of storing, on an IC chip 174, individual data concerning, for example, the type and amount of drugs stored in the tray 10, the dispensed date and the patient dosed with these drugs. Here, examples of the individual data to be stored on the IC chip 174 include those appropriately selected by the user of a dosing system 5 from among various data, such as the name, sex, age, ward, hospital room number, address, phone number, ID number, insurance card number, dosing history, medical history, disease state, height, weight, prescription, injection prescription, comments from a doctor or a pharmacist, precautions at the time of dosing and the like of a patient assigned to the tray 10 fitted with the card 172.
The display part 175 is composed of a display device referred to as a so called cholesteric liquid crystal or an electronic paper. The display part 175 is electrically connected to the data processing part 173, and is capable of displaying part or all of data stored on the IC chip 174. The display part 175 requires electric power upon writing or erasing of information to be displayed on the display surface. However, once the information is displayed on the display surface, the display part 175 is capable of continuously displaying the information even without being supplied with an electric power. Thus, the display part 175 can utilize, for example, an electromotive force generated by electromagnetic induction or the like upon data processing with the information communication device 171 to perform the writing and erasing of the display information displayed on the display surface.
As shown in
As described above, adopting a data management system for performing data transmission, reception, and update by use of the card 172 and the information communication device 180 can eliminate a paper medium such as prescription or injection prescription that has been needed in the prior art. Moreover, the configuration described above permits eliminating a paper medium and providing no printer for printing operation. Thus, adopting the data management system described above can simplify the configuration of a device that adopts the display change device 170 and can also suppress the running costs.
Moreover, using the paper mediums such as prescription, injection prescription, or the like described above together with the data management system constructed by combining together the card 172 and the information communication device 180 permits more reliably suppressing occurrence of mistakes such as erroneous drug prescription and the like. In a case where a data management system as described above is constructed, it is desirable that individual information and the like held by the card 172 be provided with sufficient security. Thus, it is desirable, for example, to provide configuration such that input of a password be prompted upon reading or writing of information on important prescription, injection prescription, or the like in particular, and configuration such that biometrics system or the like is used to identify an operator.
Here, in a case where privacy and individual information is required to be sufficiently protected, such as a case where there is a patient whose hospitalization is desired to be hidden, it is desirable that information displayed on the display part 175 of the card 172 and information stored on the IC chip 173b be erased at a point where they are no longer wanted. Thus, based on this knowledge, in the case of combined use of the card 172 and the information communication device 180 as described above, the information displayed on the display part 175 of the card 172 and part or all of information stored on the IC chip 173b may be configured to be erasable as appropriate. More specifically, it may be configured so that, at a point where the information displayed on the display part 175 and the information stored on the IC chip 173b are no longer wanted, for example, after completion of dosing, these information are erased by transmitting a radio wave or a signal from the information communication terminal 180 such as a PDA or the like. With such a configuration, sufficient consideration can be given to the protection of privacy and individual information of a patient.
As described above, the information communication device 171 is capable of data exchange with the card 172 while not in contact therewith. The information communication device 171 is capable of reliably transmitting predetermined data to the card 172 fitted to the tray 10 that has arrived at a position adjacent to the display change device 170, while its output is suppressed so as to prevent erroneous data transmission to the cards 172 fitted to different trays 10 and data appropriation therefrom and also so as to be prevented from becoming a radio wave that interferes operation of other appliances installed in a hospitals or the like. Thus, in order to change display information on the card 172 into information based on data transmitted from the information communication device 171, it is required to bring the information communication device 171 and the card 172 to approach each other.
Accordingly, as is the case with the display change devices 1 and 150 described above, the display change device 170 is configured such that, when the tray 10 arrives at the position adjacent thereto the display change device 170 actuates the position adjustment mechanism part 100 and transmits predetermined data from the information communication device 171 with the information communication device 171 and the card 172 approaching each other to thereby change the display information on the card 172.
The display change device 170 described above is configured to change the display information on the card 172 through data transmission and reception between the information communication device 171 and the card 172, and thus can more smoothly and quickly change the display information than the display change devices 1 and 150.
Moreover, in the display change device 170 described above the information communication device 171 and the card 172 need to be brought to approach each other at the time of changing the display information on the card 172, but the information communication device 171 and the card 172 need not to be brought into close contact with each other, which is required in the display change devices 1 and 150 described above. Thus, the display change device 170 can more widely support variations in size and shape of the tray 10.
Since the information communication device 171 and the card 172 need not to be brought into close contact with each other, the display change device 170 may be configured so that some space is formed between the information communication device 171 and the card 172 when the tray 10 having a size and a shape as specified is supplied and then the eccentric portion 115 of the eccentric cam 112 comes to approach closest to the main body part 151. With this configuration breakage of and damage to the information communication device 171 and the card 172 can be suppressed to a minimum.
The display change device 170 described above is so configured as to be tilted toward the card 172 side fitted to the tray 10 in view of improving in the accuracy of data transmission and reception between the information communication device 171 and the card 172, security problems and the like. However, the display change device 170 may be so configured as to actuate the position adjustment mechanism part 100, for example, only when the accuracy of data transmission and reception between the information communication device 171 and the card 172 is insufficient or only when high accuracy of transmission and reception is required. Moreover, when challenges to the accuracy of data transmission and reception between the information communication device 171 and the card 172, security challenges, and the like can be resolved, the display change device 170 may be so configured as not to be tilted, that is, the display change device 170 may be fixed to another member such as a frame or the like without providing the adjusting mechanism part 100, as in
As described above, to the side surface of the tray 10 as a conveyed object, the card 172 is fitted which is capable of receiving predetermined information or predetermined data including this information and then displaying part or all of this data. The display change device 170 is provided with the information communication device 171 as display changing means capable of transmitting predetermined information or predetermined data including this information to the card 172 fitted to a fitting part provided on a side surface of the conveyed object. Thus, with the display change device 170, display information displayed on the display part 175 of the card 172 can be rewritten without bringing the information communication device 171 and the card 172 into contact with each other.
Moreover, as described above, the card 172 has: the data processing part 173 provided with communication means (an antenna part 173a) and storage means (the IC chip 173b) for data communication with the information communication device 171; and the display part 175 that displays part or all of data supplied via this data processing part 173. With this configuration, necessary information can be stored into the IC chip 173b as the storage means of the data processing part 173, and also all or part of information stored in the IC chip 173b can be displayed on the display part 175. That is, with the configuration described above, the card 172 can be utilized as a label for the tray 10 and also as storage means for storing various data.
With the configuration described above, it is desirable that the data processing part 173 be provided with a RFID tag. According to this configuration, the card 172 can be downsized and also can be so configured to be excellent in the accuracy of data transmission and reception.
Moreover, as described above, it is desirable that the display change device 170 actuate the data processing part 173 by use of an electric power generated under the action of resonance during data exchange between the information communication device 171 and resonance means for data communication (the antenna part 173a). Further, it is desirable that the card 172 update data on the display part 175 by use of the electric power generated under the action of resonance described above. Adopting this configuration eliminates the need for separately providing a power source for updating data stored in the data processing part 173 and display displayed on the display part 175.
As described above, it is desirable that the display part 175 have a display surface thereof composed of a cholesteric liquid crystal. This composition eliminates the need for supplying an electric power to the card 172 to maintain display of information on the display part 175, thus suppressing the power consumption compared to, for example, a case where a conventionally known nematic liquid crystal is used as the display part 175.
Next, the configuration of the display change device 1 shown in the present embodiment described above will be described further in detail, and an example of the dosing system provided with the display change device 1 will be described in detail referring to the drawings. In the description below, portions overlapping with those of the embodiment described above are provided with the same reference numerals and thus are omitted from the detailed description.
In
The tray supply device 6 is a device that dispenses the tray 10 storing drugs toward a conveyance path 9 provided at a position adjacent thereto. The trays 10 are assigned to respective recipients to be dosed for the regular prescription or the temporary prescription described above. The tray 10 has fitted on the fitting part 14 on either one of the side surfaces 11 and 12 the card 13 including written information in an appropriate form, such as a character, a symbol, a bar code, and the like, including information on the drugs and the recipient thereof. As described above, marked on the card 13 are: for a patient assigned to the tray 10, the ward name 13a, the room name 13b, the dosing date 13c, the patient's name 13d, the hiragana characters 13e, the ID number 13f, the card 13 rewriting frequency 13g, and the like. Thus, referring to the card 13 permits identification of the patient assigned to the tray 10. Moreover, referring to the rewriting frequency 13g permits easily checking whether or not the card 13 has reached the serviceable limit. Further, reading in the bar code 13h with a specific reader or the like permits reading out, via the bar code 13h, appropriate data concerning the patient assigned to the tray 10, including the sex, age, address, phone number, insurance card number, dosing history, medical history, disease state, height, weight, prescription, injection prescription, comments from the doctor or the pharmacist, precautions at the time of dosing, and the like.
The tray 10 is collected with the card 13 kept fitted thereto and returned to the tray supply device 6 after completion of prescription. If the card 13 fitted to the collected tray 10 has already reached the serviceable limit or if a new tray 10 is to be used, a new card 13 with no written information is inserted into the fitting part 14 on either one of the side surfaces 11 and 12 and then set at the tray supply device 6.
The tray 10 dispensed from the tray supply device 6 is transferred to the conveyance path 9 disposed at a position adjacent to the tray supply device 6 and moves toward the drug dispensing device 7. Here, the conveyance path 9 is composed of a conveyor device conventionally known, such as a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, or the like, and forms a line of a flow path connecting from the position adjacent to the tray supply device 6 to the tray discharger 8 disposed at the most downstream side in the flow direction of the tray 10 in the dosing system 5.
The drug dispensing device 7 is a device that dispenses a predetermined amount of predetermined drugs to the tray 10 supplied from the tray supply device 6 side based on the directions such as prescription or the like corresponding to a recipient of the drugs assigned to this tray 10. The tray 10 is conveyed on a conveyor composing the conveyance path 9 toward the tray discharger 8 after the predetermined drugs are stored into the drug dispensing device 7.
Here, as described above, the trays 10 are collected after the previous dosing, laid one on another in an appropriate order or otherwise, and then are set at the tray supply device 6. Thus, when the tray 10 is supplied to the drug dispensing device 7, information written on the card 13 fitted to the tray 10 is information concerning a recipient dosed in the past (at previous dosing) by use of this tray 10 and the drugs received by this recipient, and thus is different from information concerning the drugs currently stored in this tray 10 and the recipient expected to receive these drugs. Thus, after completion of dispensing the drugs in the drug dispensing device a, information marked on the card 13 fitted to the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10 needs to be rewritten without fail.
Accordingly, the dosing system 5 is configured so that the tray discharger 8 disposed downstream of the drugs dispensing device 7 is fitted with the display change device 1, by which display information marked on the card 13 is changed.
To describe it more specifically, the tray discharger 8 is a device which is disposed at the most downstream side in the dosing system 5 and also a device which, by the display change device 1, extracts and rewrites the card 13 fitted to the fitting part 14 of the tray 10, returns it to the fitting part 14 and then transfers this tray 10 to the placement rack 54 disposed at the front. The tray discharger 8 is configured, as shown
The display change device 1 is a device that temporarily removes the card 13 fitted to the fitting part 14 on the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10, rewrites information marked on the card 13, and then returns the card 13 to the fitting part 14. As shown in the embodiment described above, the display change device 1 has the installation/removal device 2 and the display change device 3 that are coupled together, and is stored inside the box-shaped case 20. The card installing and removing unit 1 is postured with the head part 21 side of the installation/removal device 2 facing the conveyor device 15a side, and is fitted to the lower end portion of the tray discharger 8.
As described above, the installation/removal device 2 is so supported as to be turnable, within a predetermined operation range, about the support shaft 26 provided at the region located at the boundary edge 25c side (on the left side in
The installation/removal device 2 is so supported as to be freely turnable in the directions approaching and separating from the conveyor device 15a via the support shaft 26 vertically extending and provided at the region located at the boundary edge 25c side of the main body part 25, that is, on the left side in the state shown in
The support plate 23c is a metal plate so fixed as to bridge between the support plates at a position corresponding to the boundary edge 25c side, that is, frame plates 23a and 23b near the boundary with of the display change device 3 plus at a position located at the front 25a side of the main body part 25, when the installation/removal device 2 is installed as shown in
The pressure reception wall 23e is fixed at a position corresponding to the terminal edge 25d side plus at a region located at the back 25b side, when the installation/removal device 2 is installed as shown in
The pressure reception wall 23e has a notch 30 located at the frame plate 23a side. At the position corresponding to the notch 30, a head-side card position detection sensor 28 for detecting the card 13 passing through the head part 21 is so fitted as to be exposed to the notch 30.
At the rear surface side 25d side of the pressure reception wall 23e, an actuator 29 (gap adjusting means) is fitted. The actuator 29 has a telescopic shaft 29a that expands and contracts by changing the power distribution state. The telescopic shaft 29a is disposed at a position upper than the frame plate 23a, with the leading end thereof pinned with one end side of a coupling rod 29b so disposed as to extend across the frame plate 23a. The other side of the coupling rod 29b is coupled to a top surface part 37 of a frame member 35, to be described later, that composes head part 21.
To the side surface at the boundary edge 25c side of the pressure reception wall 23e, as shown in
The support plate 23f is a metal plate disposed substantially in parallel with the pressure reception wall 23e and so fixed as to bridge across between the frame plates 23a and 23b as shown in
The drive part 24 has, as a power source, the motor 18 fitted to the substantially central portion in the extending direction of the main body part 25, and transmits a torque to the head part 21 side and the card feed part 22 side via an relay shaft 19 disposed at a position adjacent to the motor 18.
The motor 18 has an output shaft 18a thereof so fitted as to project upward from the frame plate 23a. To the leading end of the output shaft 18a, an output gear 18b is fixed. The relay shaft 19 is a shaft body disposed in parallel with the output shaft 18a, and is so fitted as to be rotatable relative to both the frame plates 23a and 23b. The relay shaft 19 projects from the both frame plates 23a and 23b. To the lower end portion of the relay shaft 19, that is, to the region of the relay shaft 19 projecting downward from the frame plate 23b, a head-side relay gear 19a of metal is fixed. To the upper end portion of the relay shaft 19, that is, to the region of the relay shaft 19 projecting upward from the frame plate 23a, a feed-side relay gear 19b of resin is fixed which has a diameter larger than that of the head-side relay gear 19a. The head-side relay gear 19a and the feed-side relay gear 19b are so configured as to be respectively connected to an input-side gear 46 of the head part 21 and a driven gear 81a at the card feed part 22 side, both to be described later, so that a torque of the motor 18 can be transmitted to the head part 21 side and the card feed part 22 side.
The head part 21 forms a main part of an installing and removing mechanism for installing and removing the card 13 to and from the fitting part 14 provided on the side surfaces 11 and 12 of the tray 10. The head part 21 slides the card 13 by turning the output shaft 45, to be described later, with the roller 58 fitted to the output shaft 45 in close contact with the surface of the card 13.
To describe it more specifically, as shown in
To the side surface part 39, a spring fitting part 39b is provided which projects outward from the area surrounded by the top surface part 37, the bottom surface part 38 and the side surface part 39. The spring fitting part 39b is a region provided for fitting the spring 42 for pulling the end portion of the head part 21 at the input shaft 43 side toward the back 25b side to thereby maintain the posture of the head part 21, as shown in
The frame member 35 has a projection 40 formed in a block shape which projects toward the front 25a side at a position closer to the boundary side 25c of the back plate part 36 plus at a position corresponding to the middle between the frame plates 23a and 23b. The top surface part 37 and the bottom surface part 38 have a portion thereof located closer to the boundary side 25c plus corresponding to the front 25a side which portion is notched in a rectangular shape part when the head part 21 is fitted to the main body part 25. This rectangular notch region is provided for fitting a base 44 for the output shaft 45 to be described later.
The frame member 35 has at the back plate part 36 a notch part 41, which is provided at a position corresponding to the notch 30 of the pressure reception wall 23e when the frame member 35 is fitted to the main body part 25. Thus, the installation/removal device 2 is configured so that the card 13 passing through the head part 21 can be detected by the head-side card position detection sensor 28.
The frame member 35 is fitted, as shown in
At a position on the top surface part 37 of the frame member 35 plus near the output shaft 45, the leading end portion of the coupling rod 29b connected to the telescopic shaft 29a of the actuator 29 is pinned, as shown in
The input shaft 43 extends vertically in a posture shown in
At the middle portion of the input shaft 43, that is, a position corresponding to the support plates 23a and 23b when the head part 21 is fitted to the main body part 25, an relay gear 47 of metal having substantially the same diameter as that of the relay gear 19a is fitted so as not to be rotatable relative to the input shaft 43.
The output shaft 45 is swingably fitted the back plate part 36 of the frame member 35 via the base 44. Even more specifically, as shown in
The leg parts 50 and 50 are formed by being folded back at a substantially central portion in the length (height) direction of the base 44 so as to face in the direction opposite to the direction in which the upper end portion 51 and the lower end portion 52 face, that is, toward the back plate part 36 side of the frame member 35. The surfaces forming the leg parts 50 and 50 are positioned substantially orthogonal relative to the surfaces forming the upper end portion 51 and the lower end portion 52. The base 44 is so disposed as to sandwich the projection 40, which is provided at the frame member 35, by the leg parts 50 and 50. The base 44 is pivotably supported at the projection 40 by a swinging shaft 53 extending across the leg parts 50 and 50 and the projection 40. Further, springs 55 and 55 lie between the rear surface side of the base body 48, that is, the surface facing the back plate part 36 side of the frame member 35 and the back plate part 36 plus lie at position adjacently above and below the leg parts 50 and 50. Thus, when an external force acts on the output shaft 45, the base 44 swings about the swinging shaft 53 so as to tilt toward the back plate part 36. Even more specifically when an external force acts on a position biased to the upper end side of the output shaft 45, the base 44 tilts with the upper end portion thereof approaching the back plate part 36 and with the lower end portion thereof separating from the back plate part 36. When an external force acts on a position biased to the lower end side of the output shaft 45, the base 44 tilts in the opposite direction.
At a substantially central portion of the output shaft 45 in the axial direction thereof, an output-side gear 56 is so fitted as not to be rotatable relative to the output shaft 45. The output-side gear 56 is connected via a toothed belt 67 to the relay gear 47 provided at the middle position of the input shaft 43. The toothed belt 57 has tension thereof adjusted by the tension roller 63 fitted to the frame member 35 at the middle position between the input shaft 43 and the output shaft 456. Moreover, above and below the output-side gear 56, the rollers 58 and 58 of rubber are fitted so as not to be rotatable relative to the output shaft 45. Thus, the roller 58 fitted to the output shaft 45 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the input shaft 43.
As shown in
The guide members 61 and 61 are members formed in a band-like shape and so fixed as to project upward or downward from the frame plates 23a and 23b, and extend from a position adjacent to the head part 21 toward the boundary side 25c of the main body part 25. The guide members 61 and 61 are members extending from the region where the head-side card port 60 is formed to the vicinity of the entrance of the card feed part 22, and are curved in a substantially “S” shape. The guide members 61 and 61 are disposed at the upper and lower positions in parallel to each other, and compose part of the card passage 70 formed inside the card feed part 22.
The tray pressing piece 62 is a member with a fitting part 62a and a pressing part 62b formed by bending a metal plate at a predetermined angle, as shown in
The card feed part 22 has a main part composed of the slit-like card passage 70 formed by the guide members 61 and 61 and the guide frames 71 and 72, and the card feed mechanism 75 described above, as shown in
The card passage 70 is a curved, slit-like passage that connects between the head-side card port 60 formed at the front 25a side of the main body part 25 plus at the position adjacent to the head part 21 and the feed-side card port 76 provided at the boundary with the card display change device 3. The feed-side card port 76 is a vertically long opening which is slit to such a degree that permit passage of one card 13 and which is formed at the terminal end portion at the boundary edge 25c side of the main body part 25 plus at the substantially central portion in the thickness direction of the main body part 25, that is, at the middle portion between the front 25a side and the back 25b side.
The guide frame 71 is a frame of metal composing the wall surface at the front 25a side of the card passage 70, and is so curved as to be formed along the card passage 70. The guide frame 71 is fixed in a posture substantially perpendicular to both the frame plate 23a composing the top surface of the main body part 25 and the frame plate 23b composing the bottom surface thereof.
In the guide frame 71, the roller-exposing window 77 is formed which permits exposure of the rollers 87 to 89 to be described later. Moreover, at a position adjacent to the feed-side card port 76 side of the roller-exposing window 77, a sensor exposure window 80 is formed. The sensor exposure window 80 is an opening for exposing a sensor 78 fitted to the support plate 23e for detecting the card 13 that enters into and exits from the card passage 70.
At position adjacent to the back 25b side of the guide frame 71, as shown in
The driven gear 81 is connected to the feed-side relay gear 19b fitted to the upper end portion of the relay shaft 19 disposed at the position adjacent to the motor 18. The driven gear 81b and the driven gear 82a are connected together via a relay gear 84a, and the driven gear 82a and the driven gear 83a are connected together via a relay gear 84b. Thus, when the motor 18 is activated, the power of the motor 18 is transmitted from the feed-side relay gear 19b of the relay shaft 19 to the driven gear 81a, whereby the roller shaft 81 and the roller 87 fitted thereto turn. In conjunction therewith, the power transmitted to the roller shaft 81b is transmitted to the roller shafts 82 and 83 via the driven gears 82a and 83a and the relay gears 84a and 84b, whereby the roller shafts 82 and 83 and the rollers 88 and 89 fitted thereto turn. The rollers 87 to 89 are each so fitted as to be exposed to the inside card passage 70; therefore, when the card 13 is introduced inside the card passage 70, power is transmitted from the rollers 87 to 89 to the card 13, whereby the card 13 moves forward inside the card passage 70.
As shown
To the guide frame 72, the roller shafts 8a and 86 are so fitted as to bridge between a top surface 72b and a bottom surface 72c. At the middle portion between the roller shafts 85 and 86, the assist rollers 91 and 92 of resin are so fitted as to be freely turnable with respect to the roller shafts 85 and 86. At the passage forming part 72a, roller-exposing windows 95a and 95b for exposing the assist rollers 91 and 92 to the card passage 70 are provided.
The roller shafts 85 and 86 are inserted in shaft holes 85a and 85a and shaft holes 86a and 86a provided in the top part 72b and the bottom portion 72c and are so supported as to be disabled to drop out from these shaft holes 85a and 85a and shaft holes 86a and 86a. Elongate holes provided in the top part 72b and the bottom portion 72c extend from the card passage 70 toward the back 25b side when the guide frame 72 is fitted to the main body part 25. The roller shafts 85 and 86 are biased toward the passage forming part 72a side (an arrow F1 side in
To the guide frame 72, a locking shaft 96 is provided at a position closer to the back 25b side the front side in
The display change device 1 is structured so that the card display change device 3 is connected at the position adjacent to the card feed part 22 of the installation/removal device 2 that is structured as described above. The card display change device 3 is a device capable of erasing information, such as character information, graphic information, a bar code, and the like, marked on the display surface of the card 13 composed of what is typically referred to as “rewrite card” and changing display of this information. As the card display change device 3, a writing device for a rewrite card conventionally known can be adopted. The card display change device 3 is connected to the installation/removal device 2 so that a card 13 port (not shown) is located at a position adjacent to the feed-side card port 76 of the card passage 70. Thus, the card display change device 3 can take in the card 13 transmitted from the card passage 70 through the above-mentioned port, can rewrite the display information on the card 13 thereinside, and then can return it from the feed-side card port 76 to the card passage 70 of the installation/removal device 2.
Subsequently, operation preformed by the display change device 1 of this example will be described in detail referring to the accompanying drawings. As described in the embodiment above, the display change device 1 of this example actuates the position adjustment mechanism part 100 and also actuates the actuator 29 to thereby have the head part 21 approach the tray 10 arriving at the position adjacent to the installation/removal device 2 so as to perform installation and removal of the card 13 and change of display thereon.
To describe it more specifically, upon detection, by the card presence detection sensor 49 as shown in
Further rotation of the eccentric cam 112 in the state shown in
Moreover, when the head part 21 comes into surface contact with the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10, the pressing part 62b of the tray pressing piece 62 fitted to the front 25a side of the main body part 21 hits the projecting part 17 provided on the left side of the fitting part 14 of the tray 10. The projecting part 17 comes to be pressed inwardly from the outer side of the tray 10 by the tray pressing piece 62. Thus, when the head part 21 hits the tray 10, the insertion port 14b comes to open, so that, by sliding the card 13 with respect to the side surface 11 or the side surface 12, the card 13 becomes freely installable to and removable from the fitting part 14.
At this point, as described above, the motor 113 continues its operation by the time the sensor 117 detects that the eccentric portion has arrived at the pressure reception wall 23e side. Thus, even when the roller 58 of the head part 21 comes to contact the card 13 as in
As shown in
When the roller 58 rotates, the card 13 in surface contact with the roller 58 slides in the direction along the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 and exits through the insertion port 14b. The card 13 exiting through the insertion port 14b is fed to the card passage 70 via the headside card port 60 opening at the position adjacent to the head part 21.
As in
When the card 13 is fed into the card passage 70 as described above, the card 13 is fed to the feed-side port 76 side while receiving power from the rollers 87 to 89 arranged along the card passage 70 and then is fed to the card display change device 3. When the card 13 is fed into the card display change device 3, the control means operates the card display change device 3 to change display of information marked on the card 13.
When the change of the display on the card 13 is completed in the card display change device 3, the card 13 is returned to the feed-side port 76 provided in the main body part 25 of the installation/removal device 2. Simultaneously therewith or at a point when the card 13 is fed into the card display change device 3, the control means switches the state of power distribution to the motor 18 to reverse the rotation of the output shaft 18a of the motor 18. As a result, the rollers 87 to 89 of the card feed part 22 and the rollers 58 and 58 of the head part 21 rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction when the card 13 is removed from the tray 10. Thus, the card 13 returned from the card display change device 3 runs inside the card passage toward the head part 21 side and projects fro the head-side card port 60 outwardly of the main body part 25 as in
When the card 13 projects form the head-side card port 60 and is detected by the card position detection sensor 28, the control means stops the power distribution to the actuator 29 and returns the telescopic shaft 29a to the original state, that is, to the state in which it is extended to the front 25a side. As a result, as in
When the card presence detection sensor 49 detects that the card 13 has been stored into the fitting part 14, the control means stops power distribution to the motor 18 provided at the main body part 25. Subsequently, the control means starts power distribution to the motor 113 of the position adjustment mechanism part 100 to rotate the eccentric cam 112 in the direction of the arrow Z in
When the installation and removal of the card 13 and the change of the display thereon are completed as described above, the control means actuates a handling device 15b disposed above the conveyor device 15a, whereby the tray 10 is transferred from the conveyor device 15a to the placement rack 54 disposed in front of the tray discharger 8. As a result, the display change device 1 completes a series of prescription operation performed on the tray 10.
Subsequently, the operation of the dosing system 5 of the present embodiment will be described in detail referring to a flowchart shown in
When the prescription order data is inputted in step 1, the tray 10 is dispensed from the tray supply device 6 to the carrier device 15, and then conveyed downstream by the carrier device 15. On the other hand, the controller operates the drug dispensing device 7 based on previously inputted prescription order data, and prepares drugs. When the preparation of the drugs has been completed in the drug dispensing device 7 and the tray 10 has arrived at the drug dispensing device 7, it becomes ready to introduce the drugs to the tray 10.
When the preparation for introducing the drugs has been completed in the drug dispensing device 7, the drugs is introduced to the tray 10. In conjunction therewith, the control means actuates the drug dispensing device 7 or a printer, not shown, located more downstream thereof, prints data concerning the drugs introduced to the tray 10 including the prescription and injection prescription, comments from the doctor or the pharmacist, precautions at the time of dosing, and the like, and introduces this printed material together with the drugs to the tray 10, whereby the operation of introducing the drugs to the tray 10 is completed (step 2).
When the operation of introducing drugs has been completed in step 2, the tray 10 is fed from the drug dispensing device 7 toward the tray discharger 8. When the tray 10 has arrived at the tray discharger 8, the display change device 1 operates in the procedures described above, so that the card 13 fitted to the side surface 11 or the side surface 12 of the tray 10 is rewritten (step 3). In step 3, when the rewriting of the card 13 has been completed, the handling device 15b of the tray discharger 8 operates and then the tray 10 is transferred to the placement rack 54 prepared in front of the tray discharger 8, whereby the operation of dispensing the tray 10 is completed (step 4).
When the loading of the tray 10 to the placement rack 54 has been completed in step 4, the drugs stored in the tray 10 and the printed material stored in the tray 10 as described above are compared with each other in step 5, and a drug audit operation is performed in which it is checked if the drugs are properly dispensed inside the tray 10. Here, the drug audit operation is achieved by one or a plurality of methods appropriately selected from among a check method through visual check by the doctor, the pharmacist, the nurse, or the like, a mechanical method of utilizing a tag, a bar code, and the like added to the drugs, and the like.
When the drugs have not been properly dispensed in step 51 the tray 10 is removed from the placement rack 54 to perform again the operation of dispensing the drugs by the series of controls described above. On the other hand, when the drugs have been properly dispensed in step 5 to the tray 10, the tray 10 is conveyed to the ward or the like while being loaded on the placement rack 54. The tray 10 conveyed by the placement rack 54 is conveyed, based on the card 13 installed thereto, to the doctor or the nurse who is in charge of the patient written on the card 13. The doctor or the nurse dispenses or injects the drugs stored in the tray 10, based on the printed material, such as the prescription, the injection prescription, and the like.
As described above, the display change device 1 adopted in this example turns the main body part 25 by turning the eccentric cam 112 to bring the head part 21 into contact with the card 13 or the tray 10. Then, the display change device 1 is configured so that, under the condition that the reaction force Fr acting as a result of hitting the card 13 or the tray 10 by the head part 21 and pressing the pressure reception wall 23e by the eccentric cam 112 becomes larger than the tensile force Fa for pulling the moving part 102 fitted with the eccentric cam 112 toward the pressure reception wall 23e side, the eccentric cam 112 moves together with the moving part 102 far from the pressure reception wall 23e. Thus, in the present embodiment, even when a mixture of the trays 10 of different sizes and standards is supplied, the rollers 58 and 58 of the head part 21 can be brought into surface contact with the side surfaces 11 and 12 of each tray 10 or the card 13 with an adequate pressing force.
Further, in the display change device 1 of this example, the base 44 supporting the output shaft 45 of the head part 21 is supported swingably. Thus, in the display change device 1, when the head part 21 is brought to hit the card 13 or the tray 10, the output shaft 45 tilts so as to be oriented along the side surfaces 11 and 12 of the tray 10, whereby the outer circumferential surfaces of the rollers 58 and 58 are reliably brought into surface contact with the card 13. Thus, even when the display change device 1 is used under the condition that the trays 10 more or less different in size and shape from one another are mixed together, the roller 58 of the head part 21 can be hit with an adequate pressing force, so that, at the installation and removal of the card 13, the roller 58 does not slip and the roller 58 does not become pressed with an excessive pressing force. Therefore, the card display change device 1 of this example is capable of reliably installing and removing the card 13, hardly resulting in abrasion of the rollers 58 and 58 and the card 13.
The display change device 1 shown in the present embodiments and the examples described above is disposed so that, when installed, the installation/removal device 2 and the card display change device 3 are oriented horizontally. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and thus, for example, as shown in
Moreover, the display change device 1 of this example is configured so that the actuator 29 is connected via the coupling rod 29b to the frame member 35 composing the head part 21, so that the frame member 35 can be turned about the input shaft 43 by operating the actuator 29, whereby the rollers 58 and 58 of the head part 21 can approach or separate from the side surface 11 and 12 of the tray 10 or the card 13. That is, the display change device 1 can adjust a gap between the rollers 58, 58 and the side surface 11 and 12 or the card 13 in accordance with the operating condition of the actuator 29. Thus, as shown in
As described above, according to the display change device 1 of this example, the card 13 and the like hardly wear or hardly become broken. Thus, in the dosing system 5 of this example, the card 13c can be used as long as the display can be changed. Therefore, according to the dosing system 5 of this example, the frequency of maintenance, such as replacement and the like, of the card 13 suffering from wear or breakage, can be minimized and also the running costs can be held down.
When the display change device 1 of this example has the head part 21 hit the side surfaces 11 and 12 of the tray 10, the pressing part 62b of the tray pressing piece 62 fitted at the front 25a side of the main body part 25 plus at the position adjacent to the head part 21 pushes the projecting part 17 that is held over the insertion port 14b of the tray 10, so that the insertion port 14b comes to open. Thus, the display change device 1 can bring the insertion port 14b to open by simply bringing the head part 21 into surface contact with the side surfaces 11 and 12 of the tray 10, thereby achieving smooth installation and removal of the card 13.
The display change device 1 shown in any of the embodiments and example described above has the position adjustment mechanism part 100 press the pressure reception wall 23e of the installation/removal device 2 by the eccentric cam 112. However, the present invention is not limited to this and thus, for example, the display change device 1 may be configured so that, instead of providing the eccentric cam 112 and the motor 113, the one similar to the actuator 29 provided for position adjustment of the head part 21 is fitted to the moving part 102.
Moreover, in the example described above, the configuration is exemplified in which the display change device 1 is disposed in the tray discharger 8 disposed at the most downstream side of the dosing system 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and thus the display change device 1 may be installed in the tray supply device 6 or the drug dispensing device 7 disposed more upstream thereof, or may be disposed separately and independently in the middle of the conveyance path 9 that connects together the tray supply device 6, the drug dispensing device 7, and the tray discharger 8.
Moreover, the dosing system 5 of the example described above includes the display change device 1 shown in the embodiments described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and thus instead of the display change device 1, the dosing system 5 may be configured to adopt the display change device 150 or the display change device 170 described above.
More specifically, when the display change device 150 is adopted instead of the display change device 1, as is the case described above where the display change device 1 is adopted, the tray 10 is temporarily stopped at a point when the tray 10 arrives at a position opposing the display head part 152. Then, the position adjustment mechanism part 100 is actuated, and the head part 152 is pressed against the card 13 fitted to the tray 10 as shown in
Moreover, when the display change device 170 is adopted instead of the display change device 1 described above, as is the case where the display change devices 1 or 150 is adopted, display on the display part 175 of the card 172 can be changed. More specifically, when the display change device 170 is adopted, as is the case where the display change device 1 is adopted, when the tray 10 arrives at a position opposing the information communication device 171 fitted to the main body part 151, the tray is temporarily stopped. Then, the position adjustment mechanism part 100 is actuated, and the card 172 fitted to the tray 10 and the information communication device 171 are brought close to each other. Subsequently, the controller actuates the information communication device 171, and transmits and receives individual data of a patient assigned to the tray 10 including the name, sex, age, ward, hospital room number, address, phone number, ID number, insurance card number, dosing history, medical history, disease state, height, weight, prescription, injection prescription, comments from the doctor or the pharmacist, precautions at the time of dosing, and the like. As a result, the individual data is stored into the data processing part 173 of the card 172, and also all or part of this individual data is displayed on the display part 175 in an appropriate form such as a character, graphic, a bar code, or the like.
As described above, when the display change device 170 described above is adopted, predetermined data can be displayed on the display part 175, and also various data can be stored into the data processing part 173. Thus, as described above, when the display change device 170 is adopted, by transmitting a radio wave from the information communication terminal 180 prepared separately from the information communication device 171 toward the data processing part 173 of the card 172, the individual data stored in the data processing part 173 can be retrieved or updated.
More specifically, when the display change device 170 is adopted, for example, individual data cumulated on the card 172 can be displayed on the information communication terminal 180 in a form as shown in
Moreover, when the display change device 170 is adopted, through communication with the information communication terminal 180, information, concerning patient, that is a stored on the IC chip 173b of the card 172 and part or all of information displayed on the display part 175 can be erased at a desired timing. More specifically in terms of protecting privacy and individual information of the patient, it is desirable that after the drugs stored in the tray 10 are dispensed, display information on the card 172 and the information stored on the IC chip 173b be erased. Thus, based on this knowledge, the display change device 170 may be configured to transmit a radio wave or a signal toward the card 172 by operating the information communication terminal 180 at the time when dosing is completed and may erase the display information on the card 172 and information stored on the IC chip 173b.
More specifically, the display change device 170 may be configured to be provided with a function of monitoring the dosing state based on, for example, information read into the information communication terminal 180 through communication between the card 172 and the information communication terminal 180 (see
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-323148 | Nov 2004 | JP | national |
| 2005-035521 | Feb 2005 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP05/20062 | 11/1/2005 | WO | 00 | 5/7/2007 |
