Cartridge for medication dispensing apparatus having auto locking function
There is provided a cartridge for a medication dispensing apparatus having an auto locking function, the cartridge including a cartridge case; a drum; a cartridge base; and a driving means, wherein a hollow cylinder having a coupling groove drilled therein is formed at a center of a bottom of the drum, a lifting body having an elastic protrusion elastically coupled to the coupling groove is inserted into the cylinder, wherein, when a rotation shaft of the driving means is inserted into the cylinder, the lifting body moves upward and then the elastic protrusion is separated from the coupling groove, whereas, when the rotation shaft of the driving means is separated from the cylinder, the lifting body moves downward and then the elastic protrusion is coupled to the coupling groove.
1. A cartridge for a medication dispensing apparatus having an auto locking function, the cartridge comprising:
a cartridge case having an open outlet on the bottom thereof so as to dispense medication;
a drum installed inside of the cartridge case so as to selectively open and/or close the outlet;
a cartridge base having the cartridge case installed thereto; and
a driving means connected to the drum and configured to drive the drum to be rotated,
wherein a hollow cylinder having a coupling groove drilled therein is formed at a center of a bottom of the drum, a lifting body having an elastic protrusion elastically coupled to the coupling groove is inserted into the cylinder,
wherein, when a rotation shaft of the driving means is inserted into the cylinder, the lifting body moves upward and then the elastic protrusion is separated from the coupling groove, whereas, when the rotation shaft of the driving means is separated from the cylinder, the lifting body moves downward and then the elastic protrusion is coupled to the coupling groove.
2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the lifting body comprises a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface, a vertical frame configured to connect the top surface and the bottom surface, and an elasticity supporter extended from the top surface downwardly and having the elastic protrusion protruding to outside.
3. The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the elastic protrusion has a slope in a contacting portion in which the elastic protrusion is in contact with the coupling groove, so that the elastic protrusion is able to be smoothly coupled to and separated from the coupling groove.
4. The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of elastic supporters are formed around the vertical frame, disposed at a center of the lifting body, in a radial manner, and a plurality of coupling grooves are formed in the cylinder in a radial manner.
5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein a compressed spring configured to push the lifting body is disposed between the cylinder and the lifting body.
6. The cartridge of claim 5 , wherein fixing protrusions to which the compression spring is fitted is formed inside an upper part of the cylinder and outside an upper part of the lifting body.