Drug supply apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024277577-A1
Application number	US-202418638153-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 17, 2024
Priority date	Oct 28, 2021
Publication date	Aug 22, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A drug supply apparatus of the present disclosure includes a plurality of tablet cases for discharging a drug and lined up in a front-rear direction of the drug supply apparatus, and a chute disposed at a position lower than the position of the plurality of tablet cases and including a path for conveying the drug, the chute conveying the drug while preventing the drug from spilling from a front side and a rear side of the chute. In the drug supply apparatus, the width of the chute in the front-rear direction becomes smaller toward the downstream side in the chute, and the path includes a bent part having a shape such that the bent part is bent when viewed from the front side.

First claim

1 . A drug supply apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of tablet cases for discharging a drug, the plurality of tablet cases being lined up in a front-rear direction of the drug supply apparatus; and a chute disposed at a position lower than a position of the plurality of tablet cases, the chute including a path for conveying the drug, the chute conveying the drug while preventing the drug from spilling from a front side and a rear side of the chute, wherein a width of the chute in the front-rear direction becomes smaller toward a downstream side in the chute, and the path includes a bent part having a shape such that the bent part is bent when viewed from the front side.

2 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the chute includes an upstream chute disposed upstream of the bent part and a downstream chute disposed downstream of the bent part.

3 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the path has a shape such that the path is folded back at the bent part when viewed from the front side.

4 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the chute includes a bouncing wall that bounces, at the bent part, the drug toward the downstream chute, the drug having passed through the upstream chute.

5 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the bouncing wall is disposed so as to face diagonally downward.

6 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
a change rate of a width of the downstream chute in the front-rear direction is smaller than a change rate of a width of the upstream chute in the front-rear direction.

7 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a delivery part that is attached to the upstream chute and configured to send out the drug to the downstream side in the chute, wherein a change rate of a width of the upstream chute in the front-rear direction is smaller than a change rate of a width of the downstream chute in the front-rear direction.

8 . The drug supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the chute includes a front wall for preventing the drug from spilling from the front side and a rear wall for preventing the drug from spilling from the rear side.

Assignees

• Phc Holdings Corp

Inventors

• Arai Shinichi
• Katou Yoshirou
• Azuma Takeshi
• Hirai Yasushi

Classifications

• A61J1/03

  for pills or tablets (containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04) · CPC title

• A61J7/0084

  for multiple medicaments · CPC title

• B65B5/103

  for packaging pills or tablets · CPC title

• A61J7/0076 Primary

  Medicament distribution means (with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00) · CPC title

• B65B1/30 Primary

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