IP Library Patent Application 11337681
Patent Application
App. No. 11/337,681

Medicine supply apparatus and tablet case

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/337,681
Abstract

An object is to provide a medicine supply apparatus capable of reducing a time required for charging medicines without causing any trouble during counting of the medicines, the apparatus comprises: a discharge drum which discharges the medicines from a tablet case; a medicine detecting sensor which detects the medicines discharged from the tablet case, and a control device, and this control device controls a rotating motor for rotating the discharge drum to discharge the medicines from the tablet case, counts the discharged medicines based on a detecting operation of the medicine detecting sensor, and changes a discharge speed of the medicine by the discharge drum depending on a type of medicine in the tablet case.

Claims (25)

1 . A medicine supply apparatus which fills a container with medicines discharged from a tablet case, comprising:

discharge means for discharging the medicines from the tablet case;

medicine detection means for detecting the medicines discharged from the tablet case; and

control means for controlling the discharge means to discharge the medicines from the tablet case, counting the discharged medicines based on a detecting operation of the medicine detection means, and changing a discharge speed of the medicine by the discharge means depending on a type of medicine in the tablet case.

2 . The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control means changes the discharge speed depending on a size and/or a shape of the medicine in the tablet case.

3 . The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control means increases the discharge speed in a case where the medicine in the tablet case has a small size and/or a round shape.

4 . The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control means slows down the discharge speed just before the counting of the medicines is completed.

5 . A medicine supply apparatus which fills a container with medicines discharged from a tablet case, comprising:

means for detecting that the medicines are to overflow the container.

6 . The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

discharge means for discharging the medicines from the tablet case;

medicine detection means disposed right above an upper opening of the container to detect the medicines discharged from the tablet case;

alarming means; and

control means for controlling the discharge means to discharge the medicines from the tablet case, counting the discharged medicines based on a detecting operation of the medicine detection means, and judging that the medicines are to overflow the container to operate the alarming means in a case where the medicine detection means continuously detects the medicines.

7 . The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the control means stops the discharging of the medicine by the discharge means in a case where the medicine detection means continuously detects the medicines.

8 . A tablet case which contains medicines, comprising:

a storage container in which the medicines are stored;

a discharge drum which is disposed in a bottom part of the storage container and which rotates; and

a partitioning member which is disposed in the storage container and which vertically partitions the inside of the storage container while permitting passage of the medicines.

9 . The tablet case according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a lid which openably closes an opening of the storage container; and

a locking mechanism which retains a closed state of the lid.

10 . The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control means increases the discharge speed in a case where the medicine in the tablet case has a small size and/or a round shape.

11 . The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control means slows down discharge speed just before the counting of the medicines is completed.

12 . The medicine supply apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the control means slows down discharge speed just before the counting of the medicines is completed.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2012
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028199/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2006
From: KOBAYASHI, KOICHI; HARAGUCHI, MANABU; HATSUNO, AKINORI; MARUYAMA, TOSHITAKE; SAKURAI, TETSUO
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017505/0375 →