Abstract: A drug packaging machine which can provide patients with information of any drug which cannot be packaged in a drug bag if prescribed drugs include such a drug. If prescribed drugs include a drug which cannot be packaged in a drug bag, an empty bag is formed at a position corresponding to the order in which this particular drug is to be taken, and the data for taking this particular drug is printed on the empty bag. A patient can thus take all of his or her necessary drugs simply by following the order in which the drug bags are series-connected.

Abstract: A drug storage/discharge apparatus having a cleaning time determining device which can detect dirt in drug discharge paths and determine when it is necessary to clean the discharge paths. A motor control circuit controls each feeder to discharge drugs from the feeder through its discharge opening. A light-emitting diode and a phototransistor are provided opposite to each other at the discharge opening. A drug discharged from the feeder intercepts the light from the light-emitting diode, thus fluctuating the output of the phototransistor. Based on the output fluctuation, the motor control circuit can confirm that a drug has been discharged. A low-pass filter is provided to apply only a low-frequency component of the output of the phototransistor to a comparator. Such low-frequency components represent to what degree the light-emitting diode and phototransitor are soiled.

Abstract: A system for collecting prescribed injection ampules. In this system, it is possible to collect any ampules that cannot be collected from an automatic ampule dispenser with high efficiency. An ampule collecting apparatus has a tray supply unit for supplying trays. The trays supplied from the tray supply unit are sent into an ampule dispenser by an elevator unit and a conveyor unit, and moved downward in the dispenser by the downward conveyor unit. While the trays are being fed in the dispenser, ampules are put in the respective trays. The trays then exit the dispenser and stacked by the tray stacker. A drug name list is put in each tray. Of the ampules that are specified in a prescription, those which have not been collected from the ampule dispenser are highlighted on the list. Thus, a pharmacist can instantly see which ampules are not in the tray and can collect the missing ampules from a separate shelf.

Abstract: A drug dispenser which can dispense drugs with high efficiency. The dispenser has a plurality of drug feeders each having a drug discharging chute and capable of discharging a predetermined amount of drugs into the chute. The drug feeders are arranged in a vertical row. An elevator unit is provided to feed trays downward along the vertically arranged drug discharging chutes. Each tray is stopped at a selected tray to collect drugs stored therein. After collecting drugs, the tray is moved further down until it is placed on a conveyor. The conveyor sends the tray through an inspection station to a dispensing point.

Abstract: An ampule dispenser having a carrier for transporting plastic ampules arranged side by side and series-connected together in a strip in a longitudinal direction, a guide plate provided over a delivery end of the carrier for holding down the strip of series-connected plastic ampules, receiver for receiving the plastic ampule at the head of the strip fed from the delivery end of the carrier, and an ampule separator for separating the ampule at the head of the strip along a separating line provided between adjacent ones of the ampules.

Abstract: A drug packaging device having a shutter provided in a guide path which can prevent drugs from rebounding from the shutter once they land on the shutter so that they can settle on the shutter as quickly as possible. The shutter is made up of a plate-shaped body made from a soft, flexible silicone resin, and a Teflon resin coating layer formed on the body. Such a shutter can absorb shocks when drugs land on the shutter and prevent them from rebounding when they land on the shutter. Thus, drugs stabilize quickly after they land on the shutter.

Abstract: A device and a method for continuously packing tablets in which the refilling of tablets can be done without stopping the device. The tablet packing machine has a case housing a plurality of tablet feeders. The case is also provided with backup tablet feeders and backup discharge channels through which tablets discharged from the backup tablet feeders are dropped into a hopper in the tablet packing machine. The backup tablet feeders are filled with tablets beforehand. When the stock of tablets in one or some of the tablet feeders decreases to a predetermined level, the backup tablet feeders containing the same kind or kinds of tablets are activated to discharge tablets from these backup feeders. Thus, it is possible to continuously discharge tablets and thus to pack tablets continuously without interruption.

Abstract: An ampule dispenser is capable of discharging ampules stored in a random manner one by one after arranging them in an orderly manner. A hole is formed in the bottom plate of an ampule housing. The bottom plate has a top surface sloping downward toward this hole. A push-up member adapted to be moved up and down through the hole has an ampule supporting portion on which a single ampule is placed at a time in a laid-down position. By moving the push-up member upward, the ampule supported on its supporting portion is raised to the highest position, where it slides down the sloping supporting portion and is discharged through a discharge port formed in the peripheral wall of the ampule housing.

Abstract: A drug packing apparatus capable of packing drug efficiently irrespective of the distances between a drug packing position and drug storage positions. Drugs dropped from one of a plurality of feeders in one of a plurality of feeder units are stopped by a first intermediate impeller. The drugs are then dropped onto a second intermediate impeller, and then into a discharge hole in a hopper and stopped by a hopper cover. By opening the hopper cover, the drugs on the hopper cover drop into the folded packing sheet. By rotating heater rollers by 180.degree., a pouch is formed with the drugs packed therein.

Abstract: A drug tray is for containing all drugs prescribed for each patient, and includes a display unit for providing an indication of the drugs which have been placed in the tray. The display unit has a signal transmitter/receiver, drug type indicating switches, time key, reset key, etc. The drug tray eliminates the conventional need for a large shelf for collecting drugs needed for a number of patients.