Drug imaging device and drug packaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12138228-B2
Application number	US-202118043897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2021
Priority date	Sep 3, 2020
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

A drug packaging device includes a drug accommodating/dispensing unit that supplies various types of drugs, a drug packaging portion in which a drug supplied from the drug accommodating/dispensing unit is packaged in a packaging sheet, a drug packaging introducing member that drops the drug to be packaged into the packaging sheet in the drug packaging portion), a pooling portion that pools, upstream of this drug packaging introducing member, the drug, and a drug imaging device that captures an image of the drug in the pooling portion. The drug imaging device performs an imaging process of capturing an image of the drug in the pooling portion in a non-backlit state, and an imaging process of capturing an image of the drug in the pooling portion in a backlit state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drug imaging device comprising:
an imaging unit configured for image capture of a drug, wherein the imaging unit is configured to perform
a first imaging process of capturing, in a non-backlit state, a first image of the drug in a pooling portion configured to temporarily pool the drug before packaging, and
a second imaging process of capturing, in a backlit state, a second image of the drug in the pooling portion;

wherein the imaging unit is further configured such that
the first imaging process includes capturing the first image of the drug in the pooling portion from one side in the non-backlit state, and
the second imaging process includes capturing the second image of the drug in the pooling portion from the one side in the backlit state; and

wherein the imaging unit is further configured to perform a third imaging process of capturing a third image of the drug in the pooling portion from another side in the non-backlit state.

2. The drug imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit includes
a first camera configured for image capture of the drug in the pooling portion from above,
an upper illumination unit configured to illuminate the drug in the pooling portion from above,
a second camera configured for image capture of the drug in the pooling portion from below, and
a lower illumination unit configured to illuminate the drug in the pooling portion from below.

3. The drug imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein
the imaging unit includes, on a lower side of a bottom surface of the pooling portion, a surface light-emitting member configured to switch between a surface light-emitting state and a transparent state, and
the imaging unit is further configured to perform
the first imaging process and the third imaging process in the transparent state of the surface light-emitting member, and
the second imaging process in the surface light-emitting state of the surface light-emitting member.

4. The drug imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein
the imaging unit includes, on a lower side of a bottom surface of the pooling portion, a light adjusting member configured to switch between a transparent state and a translucent state,
the imaging unit is further configured to perform
the first imaging process and the third imaging process in the transparent state of the light adjusting member, and
the second imaging process in the translucent state of the light adjusting member while the lower illumination unit is illuminating the drug in the pooling portion from below.

5. The drug imaging device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the imaging unit is further configured to perform each of the first imaging process and the second imaging process on the drug a plurality of times within a certain time period.

6. A drug packaging device comprising:
a drug supply unit configured to supply a plurality of types of drugs;
a drug packaging portion configured to package drugs supplied from the drug supply unit in a packaging sheet;
a drug imaging device comprising:
an imaging unit configured for image capture of a drug, wherein the imaging unit is configured to perform
a first imaging process of capturing, in a non-backlit state, a first image of the drug in a pooling portion configured to temporarily pool the drug before packaging, and
a second imaging process of capturing, in a backlit state, a second image of the drug in the pooling portion;

wherein the imaging unit further includes a plurality of pooling portions, including the pooling portion, each pooling portion among the plurality of pooling portions configured to temporarily pool, upstream of the drug packaging portion, the drugs supplied from the drug supply unit; and
an image output unit configured to output the first image and the second image captured by the drug imaging device.

7. The drug packaging device according to claim 6 , wherein the imaging unit of the drug imaging device further includes
a third camera configured for image capture of an inside of each of the plurality of pooling portions at a position where the drug pooled in the pooling portion is delivered to the drug packaging portion.

8. The drug packaging device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a drug-receiving plate including
a rotating plate rotationally driven about an axis and including a plurality of opening portions on an identical circumference about the axis, and
a drug-receiving bottom including a portion configured to function as a bottom portion of the plurality of opening portions and a packaging opening provided at a specific location in a region in which the plurality of opening portions move by rotation of the rotating plate portion relative to the drug-receiving bottom portion, and

a cleaning member provided in a portion on a bottom surface side of the rotating plate portion where the plurality of opening portions are not formed, and configured to clean a top of the drug-receiving bottom portion by rotation of the rotating plate portion relative to the drug-receiving bottom portion,
wherein the plurality of pooling portions are formed by
the plurality of opening portions of the rotating plate portion, and
the portion of the drug-receiving bottom portion configured to function as the bottom portion of the plurality of opening portions.

9. The drug packaging device according to claim 6 , wherein
the imaging unit of the drug imaging device is further configured such that
the first imaging process includes capturing the first image of the drug in the pooling portion from one side in the non-backlit state, and
the second imaging process includes capturing the second image of the drug in the pooling portion from the one side in the backlit state, and

the imaging unit of the drug imaging device is further configured to perform a third imaging process of capturing a third image of the drug in the pooling portion from another side in the non-backlit state.

10. The drug packaging device according to claim 9 , wherein the imaging unit of the drug imaging device includes
a first camera configured for image capture of the drug in the pooling portion from above,
an upper illumination unit configured to illuminate the drug in the pooling portion from above,
a second camera configured for image capture of the drug in the pooling portion from below, and
a lower illumination unit configured to illuminate the drug in the pooling portion from below.

11. The drug packaging device according to claim 10 , wherein
the imaging unit of the drug imaging device includes, on a lower side of a bottom surface of the pooling portion, a surface light-emitting member configured to switch between a surface light-emitting state and a transparent state, and
the imaging unit of the drug imaging device is further configured to perform
the first imaging process and the third imaging process in the transparent state of the surface light-emitting member, and
the second imaging process in the surface light-emitting state of the surface light-emitting member.

12. The drug packaging device according to claim 10 , wherein
the imaging unit of the drug imaging device includes, on a lower side of a bottom surface of the pooling portion, a light adjusting member configured to switch between a transparent state and a translucent state,
the imaging unit of the drug imaging device is further configured to perform
the first imaging process and the third imaging process in the transparent state of the light adjusting member, and
the second imaging process in the translucent state of the light adjusting member while the lower illumination unit is illuminat

Assignees

• Yuyama Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Koike Naoki
• Fukada Masao
• Fukamori Ryosuke
• Huynh Thanhxuan

Classifications

• G06T2207/30242

  Counting objects in image · CPC title

• G06T7/0012

  Biomedical image inspection · CPC title

• B65B5/103

  for packaging pills or tablets · CPC title

• B65B1/30 Primary

  Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled · CPC title

• G01N21/85

  Investigating moving fluids or granular solids · CPC title