JP2018140060A - Tablet counting inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a mechanism for miniaturization and price reduction. In addition, perforations are easily detected for simplification and cost reduction. Furthermore, it is possible to erase the defective mark and the like marked with a marker. When the confirmation of the number of agents is unsuccessful, the bandage transfer mechanism 31 to 33 reciprocate the bandage 10 on the imaging stage C, and then the imaging and arithmetic processing devices 40 on the imaging mechanisms 34 to 35. By re-checking the number of agents in the above, the dispersal member 5 and the dispersal stage A are omitted. Further, the perforation 14 for supporting the separation of the package is detected based on the output of the ultrasonic sensor 36 facing the bandage transfer path. Further, a marker 37 in which the mark 17 is stamped with water-based ink is adopted. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-packaging audit type tablet counting inspection device that picks up and counts a packed tablet without taking it out of the package (packet), and more specifically, a series of tablet wrapping (packaging). The present invention relates to a tablet counting inspection apparatus for continuously processing a band-shaped wrapping paper (packaging band) by moving in the longitudinal direction.

  The tablet counting inspection device is installed adjacent to a tablet packaging machine that forms a packing band by continuously encapsulating tablets into packing paper one after another based on prescription information etc. An attached type that receives and processes a bandage from an adjacent tablet packaging machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and is installed independently of the tablet packaging machine and processes the bandaging taken out from the tablet packaging machine at an individual timing. Although there is a stand-alone type (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 6), any tablet counting inspection device automatically checks the number of agents by counting tablets based on images.

  And for that purpose, while transporting the packing band in the longitudinal direction, each packing body is imaged one after another, and the number of agents in it is automatically measured, and the counting result is matched with prescription information, packing information, etc. The basic configuration consists of a bandage transfer mechanism that sequentially feeds the bandage along the bandage transfer path, and a front part of the bandage transfer path. A spread mechanism that breaks the overlap of tablets in the package by vibrating the package that has been installed and transferred to it, and is arranged in the middle and rear stages of the packing band transfer path and transferred there An image pickup mechanism that takes an image of the wrapping body with illumination while shooting with an image pickup device, an arithmetic processing device that performs image processing, count determination, and the like, and a housing that stores them are included (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 6). .

  Among them, the spreading mechanism is composed of a clamp mechanism, a vibration mechanism, and the like, and a spreading stage (a part for spreading in the bandage transfer path) in front of the imaging stage (a part for imaging in the bandage feeding path). Is located. Then, after the tablets in the package are spread by the spread mechanism, the package is sent to the imaging stage (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 6). When the number of agents by the arithmetic processing unit is unsuccessful, such as when the number does not match, it is expected that the spread will be insufficient, so the package will be sent back from the subsequent imaging stage to the previous spreading stage. Some have retried from the spreading process (see, for example, Patent Document 5).

In addition, it is possible to detect the perforation for supporting the separation of the package formed between the two adjacent packages in the bandage and measure the inclination of the package (for example, patents) In some cases, the end of the package is defined by detecting the heat seal part (vertical seal part) between the packaged bodies even if there is no perforation or marking line (for example, patent) Reference 6). Detection of perforations and heat seal portions has been performed by extracting and processing images of perforations and heat seal portions captured there from an image taken on an imaging stage.
In addition, although it is not a tablet counting inspection apparatus, there is also a liquid medicine dispenser and a final audit support apparatus that measure the distance to the water surface position using ultrasonic waves (see, for example, Patent Documents 7 and 8).

  As for the tablet counting inspection device, a device equipped with a marker (stamping device) at the rear position (stamping stage) of the imaging stage in the packing band transfer path has been developed (see, for example, Patent Documents 5 and 6). In such a tablet counting inspection apparatus equipped with a marker, a negative determination is made that there are excess or deficiency in the tablets in the package by collating the counting result based on the imaging by the arithmetic processing unit with the instruction information in the prescription etc. When a mark is made, a mark such as a defective mark is marked on the corresponding package with a marker.

JP 11-208553 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-236997 JP 2004-238066 A JP 2004-269008 A JP 2006-069618 A JP 2006-334062 A JP 2011-037488 A JP 2013-048705 A

In such a tablet counting inspection device, the spread mechanism and the imaging mechanism are arranged side by side in the packing band transfer path so that the overlap of the tablets can be sufficiently broken before taking the tablets in the package. In addition, automatic confirmation of the number of agents can be accurately performed with high accuracy.
However, as a price for providing the spread mechanism in front of the imaging mechanism in this way, the width of the bandage transfer path and thus the width of the apparatus becomes longer, and the apparatus becomes larger, resulting in a larger installation space. In addition, the cost may increase due to the increase in mechanism and complexity.
Therefore, the first problem is to simplify the mechanism for downsizing and cost reduction.

Moreover, in the above-mentioned tablet counting inspection apparatus, by extracting images such as perforations from an image obtained by taking a package, it corresponds only to a part containing a tablet in one package (one package). The tablet image counting area, which is an image area to be performed, can be accurately defined.
However, as a compensation to include not only tablet images but also perforation images in the imaging data, the resolution of the imaging data is made higher than the level necessary for measuring the number of drugs, the data processing capability is enhanced, illumination In addition, there will be factors such as device complexity and cost increase.
Therefore, a second problem is to enable easy detection of perforations for simplification and cost reduction.

Further, in the tablet counting inspection apparatus described above, defective products are used by marking marks such as defective marks with a marker (stamping device) on a package that has been determined to have an excess or deficiency in the number of agents. It is also sure to stop.
However, the automatic confirmation of the number of drugs by the tablet counting inspection device is not a final audit, but a preliminary one that supports the final audit by the person in charge of the inspection. This is not to say that it is not considered a non-defective product by the auditor.
For this reason, if the defective mark or the like cannot be erased, the subsequent handling becomes troublesome unless there is a good idea to display it as a good product without doubt.
Therefore, the third problem is to be able to erase the mark written with the marker.

The tablet counting inspection device of the present invention (Solution means 1) was created to solve the above first problem,
Comes to the parting band transport mechanism that can forward or reverse the parting band that is packed and connected in series along the parting band transporting path, and the imaging part of the parting band transporting path of the parting band. An image pickup mechanism for capturing image data obtained by capturing a packaged body, and extracting the agent image area from the imaged data and counting the number of agent images therein to automatically confirm the number of agents in the package In a tablet counting inspection device equipped with an arithmetic processing unit,
When the agent number confirmation by the arithmetic processing unit becomes unsuccessful, the imaging mechanism moves the reciprocating transfer of the packing band within a transfer range where the packing band transfer mechanism keeps the packing body at the imaging site. It is characterized in that the processing unit again checks the number of agents while taking the package again.

In addition, the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the present invention (Solution means 2) was created in order to solve the first and second problems, and is the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the solving means 1,
An ultrasonic sensor is provided facing the bandage transfer path, and a perforation for supporting the separation of the packing material of the bandage is detected based on an output of the ultrasonic sensor. And

Furthermore, the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the present invention (Solution means 3) was created to solve the first, second, and third problems, and is the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the solving means 2. And
A stamping device provided facing the dividing band transfer path is configured to stamp with water-based ink.

In addition, the tablet counting inspection device of the present invention (Solution means 4) was created to solve the second problem,
A wrapping band transport mechanism that can forward and reverse the wrapping bands that are packed and linked together along the wrapping band transfer path, and a part of the wrapping band that is coming to the imaging site of the wrapping band transfer path An imaging mechanism for capturing imaging data by capturing a package, and an arithmetic processing device for automatically confirming the number of drugs in the package by extracting a drug image area from the imaging data and counting the drug images therein In a tablet counting inspection apparatus equipped with
An ultrasonic sensor is provided facing the bandage transfer path, and a perforation for supporting the separation of the packing material of the bandage is detected based on an output of the ultrasonic sensor. And

In addition, the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the present invention (Solution means 5) was created to solve the above third problem,
A wrapping band transport mechanism that can forward and reverse the wrapping bands that are packed and linked together along the wrapping band transfer path, and a part of the wrapping band that is coming to the imaging site of the wrapping band transfer path An imaging mechanism for capturing imaging data by capturing a package, and an arithmetic processing device for automatically confirming the number of drugs in the package by extracting a drug image area from the imaging data and counting the drug images therein In a tablet counting inspection apparatus equipped with
A stamping device provided facing the dividing band transfer path is configured to stamp with water-based ink.

  In addition, the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the present invention is (solving means 6), which is the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the above-described solving means 1 to 5, wherein the number of drugs for each drug type is added in addition to the confirmation of the total number of drugs. It is characterized by including confirmation.

In such a tablet counting inspection apparatus of the present invention (solution 1), the spreading function is realized by the reciprocating transfer of the bandage transferring mechanism, so that the spreading mechanism is omitted and the structure is simplified. In addition, since the reciprocating transfer for spreading is performed on the imaging stage, the spreading stage is omitted, and the apparatus is not only reduced in size, but also between the spreading and imaging. The transfer of the package between stages is also omitted, and the processing time is shortened.
For this reason, concerns about lack of capacity per spreading due to the fact that the means for implementing the spreading function are limited to those using a bandage transfer mechanism, etc. can repeat spreading, imaging and confirmation within a short time It is wiped out by improving ability.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the spread mechanism is absorbed by the bandage transfer mechanism and the spread stage is integrated with the imaging stage, so that the mechanism can be realized in a simple, small and low price tablet counting inspection device. The first problem is solved.

  In the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the present invention (solution 2), the resolution of the imaging data is reduced by transferring the perforation detection from the image processing to an ultrasonic sensor that does not affect imaging. It is possible to reduce the level required for the number measurement to simplify the imaging mechanism and reduce the amount of data processed by the arithmetic processing unit. Since the arithmetic processing unit is also freed from the burden of image data processing for perforation detection, it can be simplified in consideration of this. Furthermore, the lighting is simplified because it is freed from perforation clarification and can be dedicated to tablet clarification.

In addition, a heat seal portion is formed between the two adjacent wrapping bodies in the bandage band, and a perforation is formed in a linear portion located in the center of the width direction in the heat seal portion. The ultrasonic detection waveform is stable in the flat heat-sealed part, whereas the ultrasonic detection waveform is disturbed in the flat perforated perforation, so it is easy to detect the perforation by using an ultrasonic sensor. can do.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the spread stage is integrated with the imaging stage, and the perforation can be easily detected with ultrasonic waves, and the simple and small and low price tablet counting inspection device can be realized. Both the first and second problems are solved.

Further, in the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the present invention (Solution means 3), when the number of agents is unsuccessful even after spreading, a defective mark or the like is marked on the corresponding package with a stamp. However, when the seal is made non-defective by the person in charge of the inspection because the seal is made with water-based ink, it is easy and accurate to use a commercially available ink eraser. Etc. can be erased.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the spread stage is integrated with the imaging stage, and the perforation can be easily detected by ultrasonic waves, and further, it is possible to easily erase defective marks and the like, and the mechanism is simple, small and inexpensive. A tablet counting inspection device can be realized, and the first, second, and third problems are all solved.

In the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the solving means 4, the second problem described above is solved.
In the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the solution means 5, the third problem described above is solved.
Further, in the tablet counting inspection device of the solution means 6, not only the total number of drugs but also the total number of drugs matches, if the number of drugs for each drug type does not match, retry and determination are retried. The number of agents is checked more finely.

About Example 1 of this invention, the structure etc. of a tablet counting inspection apparatus are shown, (a) is a front view of a tablet counting inspection apparatus, (b) is a front view of a tablet counting inspection apparatus with the front panel removed, (c) Is a right side view of the tablet counting inspection device, (d) is a front view of the internal mechanism of the tablet counting inspection device, and (e) is a surface view of the bandage. About Example 2 of this invention, (a)-(c) are all surface views of a bandage.

About the tablet counting inspection apparatus of such this invention, the specific form for implementing this is demonstrated by the following Examples 1-2.
The embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 embodies the above-described solving means 1 to 5 (claims 1 to 5 as originally filed), and the embodiment 2 shown in FIG. (Applied claim 6) is embodied.
In these drawings, for the sake of simplicity, fasteners such as bolts, coupling tools such as hinges, drive sources such as electric motors, transmission members such as timing belts, electric circuits such as motor drivers, controllers, etc. The details of the electronic circuit are omitted from the illustration, and those necessary and related to the explanation of the invention are mainly shown.

  A specific configuration of the tablet counting inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A to 1C are general views of the tablet counting inspection device 20, in which (a) is a front view, and (b) is a front view of a case where the front panel 29 is removed from the housing 21, FIG. c) is a right side view. FIG. 1D is a front view of the internal mechanism 30 of the tablet counting inspection device 20. In FIG. 1 (b), the smooth plate 31 and the endless belt 32 indicated by a thick solid line are indicated by a thin one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 (d). Further, FIG. 1E is a surface view of the bandage 10.

  The bandage 10 handled by the tablet counting inspection device 20 will be described first. The bandage 10 (see FIG. 1 (e)) includes a wrapping paper head 11 having no wrapping and several (two in the figure). An empty package and a large number of package bodies 15 each containing tablets 16 are connected in the longitudinal direction, and one side in the longitudinal direction (upper side in the figure) is a continuous horizontal seal portion 12. A vertical seal portion 13 is formed between the adjacent wrapping bodies 15, 15, and in the substantially central portion of the vertical seal portion 13, the separation of the wrapping body is supported in the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction). A perforation 14 is formed.

  The tablet counting inspection device 20 (see FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c)) automatically checks the number of agents contained in each wrapping body 15 one after another while transferring such a wrapping band 10 in the longitudinal direction. For this purpose, the light emission alarm unit 22, the sound alarm unit 23, the display screen 24 attached to the front panel 29 of the casing 21, the internal mechanism 30 stored in the casing 21, and the arithmetic processing unit are included. 40. In addition, a dividing band inlet 25 is formed through the left side surface of the casing 21 and a hooking projection 26 is projected. A dividing band outlet 28 is formed through the right side surface of the casing 21. At the same time, a latching protrusion 27 is provided.

The light emission alarm unit 22 is mainly composed of a light emitting body composed of a single color or multicolor LED or an organic EL panel attached to the back surface of the front panel 29, and a light emission is applied to a corresponding portion of the front panel 29. A number of holes through which light from the body passes are formed.
The acoustic alarm unit 23 is mainly composed of a speaker attached to the back surface of the front panel 29, and a large number of holes through which the sound of the speaker is passed are formed in the corresponding portion of the front panel 29.

The light emission alarm unit 22 and the sound alarm unit 23 emit sound and light in accordance with the control of the arithmetic processing unit 40, and not only the auditors around the apparatus but also the apparatus away from the apparatus due to changes in sound and light emission or discoloration. An alarm condition can also be notified to an operator at the location.
The display screen 24 is mainly composed of a color liquid crystal panel or the like attached to the surface of the front panel 29, and displays the captured image, the number of agents, and the confirmation result side by side under the control of the arithmetic processing unit 40. It has become.

The dividing band entrance 25 is a through hole for inserting the wrapping paper leading end portion 11 of the dividing band 10 from the outside of the casing 21 and feeding it into the casing 21, and the hooking projection 26 is the dividing band 26 A container such as a bag containing 10 is suspended below the bandage entrance 25.
The dividing band outlet 28 is a through hole for sending out the dividing band 10 that has passed through the internal mechanism 30 in the casing 21 to the outside of the casing 21, and the hooking projection 27 accommodates the dividing band 10. This is for suspending a container such as a bag under the bandage outlet 28.

  The internal mechanism 30 (see FIGS. 1B and 1D) includes a smooth plate 31, an endless belt 32, and a pulley 33, and the perforation detection stage B closer to the left inner surface of the casing 21 starts from the perforation detection stage B. 21 includes a bandage transfer mechanism 31 to 33 that reaches the imprinting stage D near the right inner surface, and an illumination 34 and a camera 35 (imaging device) provided above the imaging stage C between the stages B and D. The imaging mechanism 34-35, the ultrasonic sensor 36 provided above the perforation detection stage B, and the marker 37 (pressing device) provided above the stamping stage D are provided.

The smooth plate 31 is a flat plate having a smooth upper surface, the left end is located immediately below the bandage inlet 25, the right end is located immediately below the bandage outlet 28, and extends to all stages B to D. Yes.
The endless belt 32 is stretched right and left immediately above the smooth plate 31, and the lower side is in contact with the upper surface of the smooth plate 31 in the imaging stage C.
The upper surface of the smooth plate 31 and the lower surface of the endless belt 32 can sandwich the transverse seal portion 12 of the dividing band 10 between them and send the dividing band 10 in the longitudinal direction, that is, the continuous direction of the packing bodies. So it is a bandage transfer route.

  In the illustrated example, a total of four pulleys 33 are provided, and the upper and lower sets are arranged on the left and right sides of the imaging stage C, but the endless belt 32 is stretched and supported by the upper left and right pairs. Since the endless belt 32 circulates in any direction, such as counterclockwise or clockwise, by rotating either forward rotation or reverse rotation according to the control of the arithmetic processing unit 40, the bandage transfer mechanism 31-33 can perform forward feeding or backward feeding of the bandage 10 along the bandage transfer path. In addition, the lower left and right pulleys 33 are viewed from a small notch (not shown) formed on the smooth plate 31 onto the smooth plate 31 and are rotated synchronously with the upper pulley 33. The transfer of the bandage 10 is reinforced.

  The illumination 34 illuminates the imaging stage C located between the left and right pulleys 33, 33 in the smooth plate 31, and in the illustrated example, the illumination 34 obliquely illuminates from both the left and right sides, thereby causing undesired shadows. However, it may be installed below the smooth plate 31 in addition to or instead of above the smooth plate 31. According to the control of the arithmetic processing unit 40, not only lighting is started and ended, but also appropriate lighting according to the material of the wrapping paper and the characteristics of the tablet by changing the brightness and color at the time of lighting. Can also be done.

  As the camera 35, a CCD camera is easy to use, but other imaging devices may be used as long as a part belonging to the imaging stage C in the bandage transfer path on the upper surface of the smooth plate 31 can be taken as a part for imaging. It is only necessary to take one wrapping body 15 coming to the above-mentioned imaging site in the wrapping band 10 and identify the tablet 16 in the wrapping by image processing, and it is necessary to recognize the perforations 14 that are finer than the tablet 16. Therefore, it is possible to employ a relatively inexpensive imaging device with a moderately low resolution. Image data taken by the camera 35 is sent to the arithmetic processing unit 40 to be used for image recognition for confirming the number of agents.

The ultrasonic sensor 36 is provided facing the bandage transfer path, and may be a transmissive type. However, in this example, a reflective type is adopted, so that the ultrasonic sensor 36 emits ultrasonic waves toward the upper surface of the smooth plate 31 and there. The reflected wave (transmitted wave in the transmission type) returned from is detected and a detection signal is output. The detection signal of the ultrasonic sensor 36 output during the transfer of the bandage 10 on the bandage transfer path is less perturbed by the detection signals related to the longitudinal seal portions 12 and 13, whereas the detection signal related to the perforation 14 There is a characteristic that the detection signal is largely disturbed. Therefore, the perforation 14 of the bandage 10 can be detected from the change in the detection signal when the bandage is transferred.
Since such an ultrasonic sensor 36 is narrower than the spread member 5 of the conventional machine, the pulley 7 of the previous stage, etc. (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 (d)), compared to the spread stage A of the conventional machine, The perforation detection stage B is much smaller.

  The marker 37 (pressing device) may be a commercially available marker that uses water-based ink, and is detachably mounted on a stamp unit that operates according to the control of the arithmetic processing unit 40. In the normal state, it is separated from the packing band transfer path by a spring, but is pressed down by an electromagnetic force or the like at the time of stamping, and a mark 17 (defective) is applied to the packing body 15 of the banding band 10 on the packing band transfer path. Mark). The mark 17 may be attached to the package 15 itself, but in this example (see FIG. 1 (e)), it can be easily erased when it is later deleted. The horizontal seal portion 12 is attached.

  The arithmetic processing unit 40 controls the pulleys 33 and 33 to transfer the bandage 10 in the longitudinal direction (from left to right in FIGS. 1B, 1D, and 1E), and during the transfer, ultrasonic waves are transmitted. The perforation 14 is detected based on the change in the output of the sensor 36. Then, while referring to the packaging data acquired from a higher-level dispensing management server or the like (not shown), an appropriate amount of the packaging band is transferred according to the packaging size and the like, and one package 15 is sent to the imaging stage C, By making the camera 35 take a picture while illuminating the illumination 34, image data including an image of the package 15 is acquired and the image is displayed on the display screen 24.

In addition, the arithmetic processing unit 40 extracts the agent image area related only to the package 15 by appropriate image processing from the imaged data, and counts the number of the agent images therein, so that the corresponding package is obtained. The tablet 16 accommodated in 15 is counted.
Further, the arithmetic processing unit 40 collates the counted value with the number of tablets 16 to be dispensed included in the above-described packaging data, and if both values match, the number of medicines confirmation is successful. Although it is determined that it has been well, if both values do not match, it is determined that the drug number confirmation has failed.

The arithmetic processing unit 40 displays a message to that effect on the display screen 24 when the drug number confirmation is successful, and completes the automatic confirmation of the packaging 15 that has been at the imaging stage C at that time. The wrapping band transfer mechanism 31 to 33 starts the transfer of the wrapping band 10 to shift to automatic confirmation of the next wrapping body 15.
On the other hand, when the confirmation of the number of agents is unsuccessful, the arithmetic processing unit 40 reverses the pulleys 33 and 33 to move the bandage 10 back in the reverse direction, that is, toward the bandage inlet 25, and further removes the hair. The pulleys 33 and 33 are quickly rotated forward without inserting the wrapping belt 10 so as to transfer the dividing band 10 in the forward direction, that is, toward the dividing band outlet 28.

  In the reciprocating transfer of the banding band 10 performed by the banding band transfer mechanisms 31 to 33 according to such control, the reverse transfer distance and the forward transfer distance are made the same, and the width of the packing body 15 is larger than the horizontal width. Since it is small and can be suppressed to, for example, about a fraction, the majority of the package 15 to be imaged / drug number-confirmed remains in the imaging stage C / imaging site, so the entire package 15 of the imaging stage C Compared to the conventional method in which the tablet 16 is spread apart at the spreading stage A by reciprocating to the spreading stage A, the package 15 that is the imaging target and is the spreading target is reciprocated at the imaging stage C in a small speed. The tablet 16 can be spread by vibrating by transfer.

In addition, when the arithmetic processing unit 40 performs the spread of the tablets 16 of the package 15 by the vibration of the packing band 10 on the imaging stage C, the imaging target package 15 that remains on the imaging stage C thereafter. Is taken again by the imaging mechanisms 34 to 35, and the counting and confirmation of the tablets 16 in the package are redone based on the imaging data.
As the number of redoes increases, the accuracy of confirmation increases, but the processing speed decreases. In this example, the number of redoes is set to an appropriate fixed number determined in advance as an upper limit.

  The usage mode and operation of the tablet counting inspection apparatus 20 of Example 1 will be described.

  The packaging band 10 subject to automatic drug number confirmation is accommodated in a container such as an appropriate bag (not shown), and then the container is hooked on the hooking protrusion 26 and another empty container is hooked on the hooking protrusion 27. Hang on. Then, the wrapping paper leading portion 11 of the wrapping band 10 is pulled up from the container, inserted into the wrapping band inlet 25, and the leading edge of the wrapping paper leading portion 11 is manually fed to the left pulleys 33, 33, and then the tablet. The counting audit device 20 is activated. Then, the banding band 10 is drawn into the casing 21 by the banding band transport mechanisms 31 to 33 with the head of the wrapping paper 11 at the head, and forwards on the banding band transport path (FIG. 1 (b), ( In d) and (e), the sheet is transferred in the longitudinal direction from left to right.

And whenever the perforation 14 passes the tip of the ultrasonic sensor 36 with the transfer, that is detected, and the arithmetic processing unit 40 detects the detection timing of the perforation 14 and the bandage transfer mechanism 31 to 31. The position of the perforation 14 in the packing band transfer path is continuously grasped in association with the transfer amount of the packing band 10 by 33.
Further, under the control of the arithmetic processing unit 40, once a single package 15 is transferred to the imaging stage C, the transfer of the packing band is temporarily stopped, and the package 15 of the imaging stage C is moved from the imaging mechanism 34 to the imaging mechanism 34. 35, and the number of agents is obtained from the imaged data by tablet image extraction and counting.

Then, it is checked whether or not the number of agents is correct in light of the dispensing instruction value of the acquired data from the dispensing management server or the like, and the comparison result is displayed on the display screen 24 together with the captured image and the number of agents, and the comparison result Is “Positive” and the confirmation of the number of drugs is successful, data recording to that effect, data transmission to a higher-level dispensing management server, and the like are performed.
Thus, the automatic confirmation of the number of agents related to one package 15 ends, and the transfer of the packing band is resumed in order to shift to the automatic confirmation of the number of agents related to the next package 15.

  On the other hand, when the above-mentioned collation result is “No” and the drug number confirmation is unsuccessful, the following spreading process is performed. That is, the pulleys 33 and 33 repeat the short-time reverse rotation and the normal rotation for a predetermined number of times without interruption, whereby the bandage 10 on the bandage transfer path quickly reciprocates left and right. Then, among the bandages 10 on the bandage transfer path, in particular, the packing body 15 of the imaging stage C is moved in vibration, and the tablet 16 in the packing body 15 is also shaken accordingly. Therefore, if the tablet 16 in the package 15 is overlapped, it will collapse efficiently.

  Then, although the repeated complicated explanation is omitted, the above-described imaging process and the agent number confirmation process are performed again for the same package 15 that has been subjected to the spreading process while staying at the imaging stage C, and the agent number verification is performed. Results are given. If the drug number confirmation is successful, the automatic confirmation of the number of drugs related to one package 15 ends, and the process proceeds to the automatic confirmation of the number of drugs related to the next package 15, but the automatic confirmation of the number of drugs Is unsuccessful again, the spread process, the imaging process, and the drug number confirmation process are repeated for the same package 15 until the number of repetitions reaches the upper limit.

  When the number of repetitions reaches the upper limit, a final determination is made that the number of agents in the package is not correct, light and sound for light alarm notification are emitted from the light emission alarm unit 22 and the acoustic alarm unit 23, and spread The repetition of the series of processes from the process to the agent number confirmation process is aborted, and the packing band 10 is transferred to the right by one packing 15. And the mark 17 is marked by the marker 37 with respect to the package 15 which moved to the stamping stage D from the imaging stage C (the horizontal seal | sticker at the 2nd package 15 from the left in FIG.1 (e)). For the next package 15 that has moved from the perforation detection stage B to the imaging stage C, a new imaging process and a drug number confirmation process are executed.

In this way, the automatic confirmation of the number of agents related to the package 15 is performed one by one, and when the automatic confirmation of the number of agents is completed for all the packages 15 included in the package 10, Then, it is fed out of the casing 21 from the bandage outlet 28 to the tail and accommodated in the container below it.
Thereafter, the bandage 10 is sent for manual confirmation of the number of medicines by the person in charge of the inspection. According to the manual confirmation, the number of tablets 16 in the package is correct for the package 15 with the mark 17 attached. When judged, the mark 17 is manually erased. Since the mark 17 is written with water-based ink, it can be erased with a measure of rubbing lightly with a soft cloth moistened with water, and it can be erased neatly using a commercially available ink eraser. This package 15 can be used as a non-defective product without a sense of incongruity.

Example 2 of the tablet counting inspection apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 2A to 2C are surface views of the bandage 10.
In Example 1 above, only the total number of agents was confirmed as the number of agents for each individual package 15, but in Example 2, the number of agents for each agent type can be confirmed.
The total number of agents is always checked, but the number of agents for each agent type is specified by the setting at the start of device operation, etc., and is always performed or not performed at all. It can be done selectively only when it can be identified, or it is optional.

As described above, the number of agents is checked by the arithmetic processing unit 40 by image recognition, counting, and the like. The image processing method and the recognition method used at that time may be any appropriate known method. The agent type to be confirmed and its handling will be described.
In addition, when confirming the total number of drugs successfully, the number of drugs for each drug type is confirmed by the fact that a plurality of tablets of different types are included in the package data, and the contents of the package 15 are also recognized by image recognition. This is performed when the drug type can be discriminated for all or part of the tablets.

And when the tablet type, i.e., the dosage form such as round or cylindrical, can be confirmed by the packaging data and the image recognition, even when the total number of drugs is confirmed successfully, the number of tablets does not match Confirmation of the number of agents for each agent type is unsuccessful, and a mark 17 is stamped on the horizontal seal portion 12 of the corresponding package 15 (see FIG. 2A).
In addition, when the package data and image recognition can confirm the external form of the tablet, such as a dosage form, a round shape with a diameter of 3 mm, or a cylindrical shape with a width of 3 mm and a length of 5 mm, the total number of drugs can be confirmed successfully. Then, the number of agents for each agent type for checking the number for each dosage form is confirmed (see FIG. 2B).

  Furthermore, when the name of the drug, that is, the name or symbol attached to the tablet, can be confirmed by packaging data and image recognition, if the total number of drugs is confirmed successfully, the drug type for which the number is checked for each drug name The number of drugs is checked for each. In the illustrated example (see the right side package 15 in FIG. 2 (c)), there are two cylindrical tablets and four pills per package, and the tablet type as well as the dosage form match. However, when four medicines with the medicine name “A” are designated by the packaging data, the medicine name of the medicines read by image recognition is “C” instead of “A” for one of the four medicines. The final conclusion of the drug number confirmation will be unsuccessful.

[Others]
In the above embodiment, the tablet counting inspection device 20 is operated after manually feeding the leading edge of the wrapping paper leading portion 11 of the wrapping band 10 to the pulleys 33 and 33 at the start of use. A photo sensor or the like is provided in the vicinity of the packing band inlet 25 so that the insertion of the leading portion 11 of the packing paper into the packing band inlet 25 can be detected, and the pulling of the banding band 10 is started in response to the detection. Anyway. Similarly, lighting may be started.

In the above example, the spread process is performed when the drug number confirmation is unsuccessful.However, the spread process and the imaging process are performed again only when the drug number is insufficient. May be issued.
In the above embodiment, the spread process is performed only after the drug number confirmation is unsuccessful. However, the spread process may be performed prior to the first imaging process and the drug number confirmation process.
Further, when a clear image can be obtained even when the camera 35 is high speed and the imaging time is short, the imaging process and the drug number confirmation process may be executed while continuing the spreading process.

  In the above-described embodiment, the upper limit value of the number of times of redo processing, imaging processing, and drug number confirmation processing is fixed, but the upper limit value of the number of redo times may be variable. For example, in consideration of the fact that the larger the number of tablets 16, the more likely it is to overlap, the number obtained by subtracting “1” from the number of preparations based on the package data is the reciprocating transfer for spreading, the subsequent imaging, and the number of medicines It is also possible to set an upper limit on the number of redoes related to. The number of repetitions of the reciprocating transfer for spreading may be variable, and the method may be the same variable type as the upper limit of the number of re-sendings, or another variable type.

  In the above embodiment, at the final determination that the number of agents in the package is not correct, the light emission alarm unit 22 and the acoustic alarm unit 23 issue an alarm, and the processing of the current target package 15 is aborted, and the next is automatically performed. However, the processing of the current package 15 is temporarily interrupted, and the light emission alarm unit 22 and the acoustic alarm unit 23 continue to issue an alarm, and the display screen 24 Waiting for manual intervention by visual confirmation or the like, it is possible to select whether to re-execute the process of the current target package 15 or abort the process of the current target package 15. The light emission alarm unit 22 and the acoustic alarm unit 23 may output not only the above-described alarm output but also a notification of processing completion of the bandage 10.

  In the above embodiment, the bandage 10 is transferred from the left to the right, but may be transferred from the right to the left. In addition, the container for containing the bandage 10 is hung on the left and right outer protrusions 26 and 27 of the casing 21 and stopped. It is also possible to place the bandage container on the front side of the casing 21 by attaching a band. Alternatively, by forming a bandage passing hole at both ends of the smooth plate 31 and disposing a transfer direction changing roller, the bandage container is placed inside the housing 21 such as the smooth plate 31 and the arithmetic processing unit 40. The container may be placed on a shelf in the middle.

  In the above-described embodiment, the arithmetic processing device 40 performs all the operation control of each mechanism and the image processing of the imaged data. However, distributed control in which the functions of the arithmetic processing device 40 are shared by a plurality of processing devices. A method or a distributed processing method may be adopted. Further, when the arithmetic processing unit 40 instructs the camera control circuit to start imaging, the camera control circuit may control the operation of the illumination 34 in addition to the operation of the camera 35 accordingly. Furthermore, the arithmetic processing unit 40, the camera control circuit, and the like appropriately adjust the illuminance and determine the binarization threshold based on the image obtained when the top portion 11 of the wrapping band 10 or the empty wrapping body is taken. May be used, and the imaging process of the package 15 including the tablet 16 may be performed using the same.

5 ... spread member 5, 7 ... pulley,
10: Bandage (wrapping paper),
11 ... top portion of the wrapping paper, 12 ... horizontal seal portion (one side heat seal portion of the wrapping band),
13 ... Vertical seal part (inter-packet heat seal part), 14 ... Perforation,
15 ... Package (wrap), 16 ... tablet, 17 ... mark (bad mark),
20 ... Tablet counting inspection device,
21 ... Case, 22 ... Light emission alarm unit, 23 ... Sound alarm unit,
24 ... display screen, 25 ... bandage entrance, 26 ... hanging projection 26,
27 ... projection for latching, 28 ... bandage outlet, 29 ... front panel,
30 ... Internal mechanism,
31-33 ... Bandage transfer mechanism, 31 ... Smooth plate (bandage transfer path),
32 ... Endless belt (bandage transfer route), 33 ... Pulley,
34 ... Illumination (imaging mechanism), 35 ... Camera (imaging device, imaging mechanism),
36 ... ultrasonic sensor, 37 ... marker (stamp, stamp),
40. Arithmetic processing unit,
A ... open stage, B ... perforation detection stage,
C: Imaging stage (imaging part), D: Impression stage

Claims (6)

Comes to the parting band transport mechanism that can forward or reverse the parting band that is packed and connected in series along the parting band transporting path, and the imaging part of the parting band transporting path of the parting band. An image pickup mechanism for capturing image data obtained by capturing a packaged body, and extracting the agent image area from the imaged data and counting the number of agent images therein to automatically confirm the number of agents in the package In a tablet counting inspection device equipped with an arithmetic processing unit,
When the agent number confirmation by the arithmetic processing unit becomes unsuccessful, the imaging mechanism moves the reciprocating transfer of the packing band within a transfer range where the packing band transfer mechanism keeps the packing body at the imaging site. A tablet counting inspection apparatus, wherein the package is retaken and the arithmetic processing unit rechecks the number of agents.   An ultrasonic sensor is provided facing the bandage transfer path, and a perforation for supporting the separation of the packing material of the bandage is detected based on an output of the ultrasonic sensor. The tablet counting inspection apparatus according to claim 1.   3. The tablet counting inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a stamping device provided facing the dividing band transfer path is configured to stamp with water-based ink. A wrapping band transport mechanism that can forward and reverse the wrapping bands that are packed and linked together along the wrapping band transfer path, and a part of the wrapping band that is coming to the imaging site of the wrapping band transfer path An imaging mechanism for capturing imaging data by capturing a package, and an arithmetic processing device for automatically confirming the number of drugs in the package by extracting a drug image area from the imaging data and counting the drug images therein In a tablet counting inspection apparatus equipped with
An ultrasonic sensor is provided facing the bandage transfer path, and a perforation for supporting the separation of the packing material of the bandage is detected based on an output of the ultrasonic sensor. Tablet counting inspection device. A wrapping band transport mechanism that can forward and reverse the wrapping bands that are packed and linked together along the wrapping band transfer path, and a part of the wrapping band that is coming to the imaging site of the wrapping band transfer path An imaging mechanism for capturing imaging data by capturing a package, and an arithmetic processing device for automatically confirming the number of drugs in the package by extracting a drug image area from the imaging data and counting the drug images therein In a tablet counting inspection apparatus equipped with
A tablet counting inspection apparatus characterized in that a stamper provided facing the dividing band transfer path is configured to seal with a water-based ink.   6. The tablet counting inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation of the number of drugs includes confirmation of the number of drugs for each drug type in addition to confirmation of the total number of drugs. .

Images