Position: This tablet automatic packaging equipment and method for automatically recognizing cassettes of the cartridges of the tablet automatic packaging machine are disclosed. The tablet automatic packing equipment includes a plurality of cartridges arranged in multiple layers. Each cartridge is coupled to a tablet cassette having a cassette memory in which tablet information or cassette information is recorded. Also, the cartridge comprises an inner memory to store cartridge information, a first data transmitting/receiving unit to transmit and receive commands related to preparation therefrom/thereto, a second data transmitting/receiving unit to transmit and receive commands related to cassette positions, and a pakaging controller unit to control transmission from the cartridge information read from the inner memory to an external device based on reception of the commands related to cassette positions.
1. A tablet automatic packing equipment comprising a plurality of cartridges arranged in multiple layers, each cartridge being coupled to a tablet cassette having a cassette memory, in which tablet information or cassette information is recorded, and a connection lead, each cartridge comprising: a socket connected to the connection lead; a cassette installation sensor configured to sense an installation state of the cassette; a preparing drug sensor configured to sense a passage of a tablet; an inner memory configured to store cartridge information; a first data transmitting/receiving unit to transmit and receive commands related to preparation therefrom/thereto; a second data transmitting/receiving unit to transmit and receive commands related to cassette positions; and a Weight Transmitter to control transmission from the cartridge information read from the inner memory to an external device based on reception of the command related to cassette positions, wherein the control unit controls that information read from the cassette memory through the socket in the cartridge is transmitted to the second data transmitting/receiving unit together with the cartridge information.
Description:
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tablet automatic packaging equipment, and more particularly to a tablet automatic packaging machine which is capable of automatically recognizing cartridges and cassettes coupled to the cartridges, and a method for automatically recognizing the cassettes coupled to the cartridges thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a tablet automatic packaging equipment, which may also be referred to as a tablet automatic dispensing machine, serves to automatically dispense tablets prepared based on patients' diseases and automatically package the dispensed tablets based on a dosage unit. The tablet automatic packaging equipment is designed such that: a plurality of tablet cassettes, in which various tablets are contained, are installed on a plurality of cassette supporters (hereinafter, referred to as cartridges), respectively; the respective tablet cassettes are controlled to prepare the tablets based on a dosage unit to discharge the prepared tablets to the lower side thereof through passages formed at the cartridges, respectively; the tablets discharged from the cartridges are collected in a hopper; the tablets collected in the hopper are discharged to the lower side thereof; and the tablets discharged from the hopper are contained in pouches to be sealed by packaging means.
Such prior art tablet automatic packaging equipments have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 1994-208787 and 1994-248055, and Korean Patent Application No. 2003-77945, etc.
More specifically, the prior art tablet automatic packaging equipment is designed such that a memory, such as an EEPROM, can be included in only the tablet cassette, in which tablet information (drug information) or cassette information (cassette serial number, etc.) is recorded in the memory installed in the tablet cassette. The cartridge as a tablet cassette supporter senses states where the tablet cassette is mounted thereon, and receives tablet information and cassette information from the memory of the tablet cassette attached thereto, such that it can automatically recognize the tablet cassette.
The cartridges of the prior art tablet automatic packaging machine are empty in a normal state, and are then operated according to a preparation command inputted from the outside after it receives information recorded in the memory of the tablet cassette. Although a tablet cassette is mounted at another location, since information recorded in the memory of the tablet cassette is read out, preparation is normally performed.
However, if a plurality of tablet cassettes having memories in which information is identically recorded are mounted on the cartridges, since a server prepares tablets based on communication with the tablet automatic packaging equipment cannot select one of the plurality of tablet cassettes having identical information, the prior art tablet automatic packaging equipment makes medication errors.
Also, the prior art tablet automatic packaging equipment has disadvantages in that, since it provides only information of tablets contained in a tablet cassette and information of the tablet cassette to the server but does not provide cartridge information thereto, if a location of tablets, etc., should be searched for as occasion demands, it is difficult to search for the location of the cartridge in which corresponding tablets are contained.
In addition, the prior art tablet automatic packaging equipment has drawbacks in that, since only information recorded in a memory of the tablet cassette, for example, cassette information or tablet information, is transmitted to a controller within a cartridge, locations for cartridges not used cannot be directly confirmed at the server side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a tablet automatic packaging equipment which is capable of transmitting information of cartridges to which tablet cassettes are coupled respectively to an external device to easily identify cartridges and confirm locations of the cartridges, and a method for automatically recognizing cassettes coupled to the cartridges thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tablet automatic packaging equipment which is capable of dually transmitting information of cartridges through a path receiving commands related to preparation and another path, and a method for automatically recognizing cassettes of the cartridges thereof.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tablet automatic packaging equipment which is capable of selecting and driving a specific one of a plurality of tablet cassettes including identical information, and a method for automatically recognizing cassettes coupled to the cartridges thereof.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a tablet automatic packing equipment in which a plurality of cartridges are arranged in multiple layers, each cartridge being coupled to a tablet cassette having a cassette memory in which tablet information or cassette information is recorded, wherein the cartridge comprises: an inner memory to store cartridge information; a first data transmitting/receiving unit to transmit and receive commands related to preparation therefrom/thereto; a second data transmitting/receiving unit to transmit and receive commands related to cassette positions; and a Weight Transmitter to control transmission from the cartridge information read from the inner memory to an external device based on reception of the commands related to cassette positions.
Preferably, the control unit may control that information read from the cassette memory is transmitted to the second data transmitting/receiving unit together with the cartridge information.
Preferably, the first and second data transmitting/receiving units are an RS232 to RS485 converter, respectively.
Preferably, the packaging control unit may read information recorded in the cassette memory and cartridge information recorded in the inner memory through an I 2 C bus.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a cassette automatic recognition method for automatically recognizing cassettes coupled to cartridges, comprising the steps of: reading cartridge information recorded in an inner memory; reading information recorded in a cassette memory of a tablet cassette which is mounted thereon; checking as to whether command data are received through data transmitting/receiving units which are different from each other; and controlling drive of the mounted tablet cassette based on the command data received through the data transmitting/receiving units or transmitting the cartridge information thereto through a corresponding command data receiving path.
Preferably, the method may further comprises a step of transmitting information read from the cassette memory of the mounted cassette together with the cartridge information thereto.
According to the present invention, since the tablet automatic packaging equipment according to the present invention records cartridge information in a memory of a cartridge and transmits the information to an external device, a server as the external device can easily confirm location of the cartridge, and can also identify cartridges not coupled to the tablet cassettes.
In addition, since the tablet automatic packaging equipment according to the present invention can dually divide a path performing data reception/transmission from/to a server as an external device into a transmission path of commands related to preparation and a transmission path of commands related to cassette positions, the server can confirm the cassettes positions as occasion demands.
