Abstract: A medicine feeder includes an outer rotary body, an inner inclined rotary body, a lateral width regulation mechanism operable to align solid medicine pieces that have been carried onto an annular upper end surface of the outer rotary body from the top of the inner inclined rotary body, and a fallen medicine detector that detects a fallen medicine piece discharged following alignment. A control portion determines that no medicine pieces are contained any more when a non-detection time interval reaches a final prescribed time interval while performing rotation controls. Before stopping discharge operation, vibrating rotation control for rotating the inner inclined rotary body while vibrating the inner inclined rotary body is performed in order to resolve stagnation of remaining medicine pieces. Further before that, the lateral width of a medicine transfer path on the annular upper end surface is increased stepwise in order to resolve congestion of medicine pieces.

Abstract: A medicine feeder capable of moderately recovering the height regulation function of a tablet height regulation mechanism in such a range that even fragile medicine pieces are not damaged and by a simple means. An alignment regulation mechanism includes a tablet height regulation mechanism including a plurality of suspended objects suspended over an annular upper end surface, and the tablet height regulation mechanism is configured to regulate heights of medicine pieces using the plurality of suspended objects. The plurality of suspended objects include at least one deformable suspended object that is deformed when a lower end portion of the deformable suspended object is pushed sideways and at least one non-deformable suspended object that is not deformed when a lower end portion of the non-deformable suspended object is pushed sideways with an upper end portion of the non-deformable suspended object being swingably supported.

Abstract: A medicine feeder includes: an outer rotary body on the outer side to be rotated about a vertical line; an inner inclined rotary body on the inner side to be rotated about an inclined line; and a sorting mechanism and a regulating mechanism operable to align solid medicine pieces carried from the top of the inner inclined rotary body onto an annular upper end surface of the outer rotary body through rotation of the inner inclined rotary body. An upper surface inclined portion of the inner inclined rotary body includes delivery portions sloping downward toward the outer side even at an elevated position and push-up portions not sloping downward toward the outer side, the delivery portions and the push-up portions being formed alternately in the circumferential direction. The push-up portions include projecting portions. The projecting portions are extended to the inner peripheral side of the delivery portions.

Abstract: A medicine feeder includes: an outer rotary body on the outer side to be rotated about a vertical line; an inner inclined rotary body on the inner side to be rotated about an inclined line; and a sorting mechanism and a regulating mechanism operable to align solid medicine pieces carried from the top of the inner inclined rotary body onto an annular upper end surface of the outer rotary body through rotation of the inner inclined rotary body. An upper surface inclined portion of the inner inclined rotary body includes delivery portions sloping downward toward the outer side even at an elevated position and push-up portions not sloping downward toward the outer side, the delivery portions and the push-up portions being formed alternately in the circumferential direction. The push-up portions include projecting portions. The projecting portions are extended to the inner peripheral side of the delivery portions.

Abstract: A tablet splitting apparatus includes a guide, a catcher, and a splitting mechanism. The splitting mechanism comprises a pair of blades and a pair of blade shifters. The guide, the catcher, and the splitting mechanism are accommodated in a housing. The housing includes an opening and a support. The support and the guide each include a sliding portion. The guide disposed at the supporting position is slid along the sliding portion of the support so as to be detachable from the supporting position through the opening. The blades and the blade shifters each comprise a sliding portion. The blades and the blade shifters are in a slidable contact with each other at the sliding portions. The blades attached to the respective predetermined positions of the blade shifters are slid along the sliding portions of the blade shifters so as to be detachable from the blade shifters through the opening.

Abstract: A medicine dispensing apparatus in which a medicine guide assembly is constituted from first and second split guide members and in which substantially no dust is generated through rubbing between the first and second split guide members. The gap between a pair of guide paths of a pair of linear guide mechanisms provided for a pair of medicine feeder storing units, that is, paths along which movable slide portions slide on fixed guide portions, becomes wider in a drawing direction in which the medicine feeder storing units are drawn out.

Abstract: A tablet splitting apparatus includes a guide, a catcher, and a splitting mechanism. The splitting mechanism comprises a pair of blades and a pair of blade shifters. The guide, the catcher, and the splitting mechanism are accommodated in a housing. The housing includes an opening and a support. The support and the guide each include a sliding portion. The guide disposed at the supporting position is slid along the sliding portion of the support so as to be detachable from the supporting position through the opening. The blades and the blade shifters each comprise a sliding portion. The blades and the blade shifters are in a slidable contact with each other at the sliding portions. The blades attached to the respective predetermined positions of the blade shifters are slid along the sliding portions of the blade shifters so as to be detachable from the blade shifters through the opening.

Abstract: A tablet splitting apparatus includes a plate defining a vertical groove-shaped tablet passage, a catcher for holding a tablet moving downward through the passage at a splitting position, and a mechanism for splitting the tablet at the splitting position. A movable groove-depth defining member faces and covers an upstream part of the tablet passage. A sensor detects a tablet passing through the upstream part of the passage. A controller is responsive to the sensor to activate a mechanism to adjust the distance between the groove bottom surface of the tablet passage and the facing surface of the groove-depth defining member depending on the thickness of the tablet. The apparatus is configured to detect the driving current required to move the cutting blades to automatically determine a time to vary the moving speed of the blades and to release the tablet temporarily held at the splitting position, depending on the thickness of the tablet.

Abstract: A medicine guide assembly is disposed between paired adjacent medicine feeder storage units. Each medicine guide assembly guides the medicines, which have been ejected from the medicine feeders included in the paired medicine feeder storage units, to an outlet port located downward. The medicine guide assembly includes a first divided guide member and a second divided guide member which are combined with each other when the paired medicine feeder storage units are accommodated in the housing and which are separated from each other when one of the paired medicine feeder storage units is drawn out from the housing. Further, air cleaning devices are provided so as to be operable to take in air, clean the air, and supply the cleaned air to an interior of the housing.

Abstract: A medicine distributing system includes a cassette placement portion for temporary placement of an individual distributing cassette including a large number of cells, a medicine container placement portion for temporary placement of a container for medicines, a medicine transporting device configured to put the medicines into the cells, and a distribution control device configured to acquire individual medicine distribution information to control an operation of the medicine transporting device. The medicine distributing system additionally includes a carrier placement portion for temporary placement of a medicine container carrier capable of housing medicine containers in a vertical column, and a medicine container transporting device configured to transport the medicine containers from the carrier placement portion to the medicine container placement portion.

Abstract: A tablet dispensing apparatus that allows easy cleaning of the inner surfaces of temporary storage structures. A simultaneous driving mechanism and a plurality of open-close mechanisms of a plurality of temporary storage structure are coupled to each other by a plurality of coupling structures. The coupling structures are each configured to release the coupling when the entire temporary storage structure or a portion, which includes the open-close mechanism, of the temporary storage structure is drawn out of a housing, and to establish the coupling when the entire temporary storage structure or the portion, which includes the open-close mechanism, of the temporary storage structure is pushed into the housing.

Abstract: A medicine feeder that causes no axial rotation beyond control during fitting between transmission mechanisms includes a medicine storing device and a drive device. The medicine storing device includes a container and discharge mechanism. The container stores medicines. The discharge mechanism is rotationally driven to discharge medicines from the container, and includes a first transmission mechanism with a fitting portion. The drive device rotationally drives the discharge mechanism when the medicine storing device is brought into a cooperation enabling position, and includes a second transmission mechanism. When the fitting portion of the first transmission mechanism and the fitted portion of the second transmission mechanism are fitted with each other, the drive device can rotationally drive the discharge mechanism of the medicine storing device. The fitted portion is supported to be displaceable in the axial direction of a drive shaft, and moved by an energy storing member.

Abstract: A tablet splitting apparatus capable of reducing fluctuations in weight of split tablet pieces even with simple advanceable-retractable blades is provided. A holding mechanism holds a tablet to be split at a cutting position. In reducing the gap between a pair of opposed blades, which are advanced and retracted with respect to the cutting position, to cut the tablet, the holding mechanism continuously holds the tablet until the tablet is caught between the pair of opposed blades of a cutting mechanism. After the tablet is caught between the pair of opposed blades, the holding mechanism release the tablet and only the pair of opposed blades hold the tablet. The opposed blades are caused to cut into the tablet after the holding mechanism releases the tablet, preventing a crack caused in the tablet ahead of the opposed blades from being curved or increased.

Abstract: Provided is a medicine dispensing apparatus in which a medicine guide assembly 114 is constituted from first and second split guide members 114A and 114B and in which substantially no dust is generated through rubbing between the first and second split guide members 114A and 114B. The gap between a pair of guide paths of a pair of linear guide mechanisms 150 provided for a pair of medicine feeder storing units 112, that is, paths along which movable slide portions 152 slide on fixed guide portions 151, becomes wider in a drawing direction in which the medicine feeder storing units 112 are drawn out.

Abstract: A tablet splitting apparatus can automatically determine the depth of a tablet falling passage even if the thickness of a tablet passing therethrough is not preliminarily measured.

Abstract: A medicine distributing system includes a cassette placement portion for temporary placement of an individual distributing cassette including a large number of cells, a medicine container placement portion for temporary placement of a container for medicines, a medicine transporting device configured to put the medicines into the cells, and a distribution control device configured to acquire individual medicine distribution information to control an operation of the medicine transporting device. The medicine distributing system additionally includes a carrier placement portion for temporary placement of a medicine container carrier capable of housing medicine containers in a vertical column, and a medicine container transporting device configured to transport the medicine containers from the carrier placement portion to the medicine container placement portion.

Abstract: A tablet dispensing apparatus that allows easy cleaning of the inner surfaces of temporary storage structures. A simultaneous driving mechanism and a plurality of open-close mechanisms of a plurality of temporary storage structure are coupled to each other by a plurality of coupling structures. The coupling structures are each configured to release the coupling when the entire temporary storage structure or a portion, which includes the open-close mechanism, of the temporary storage structure is drawn out of a housing, and to establish the coupling when the entire temporary storage structure or the portion, which includes the open-close mechanism, of the temporary storage structure is pushed into the housing.

Abstract: A medicine feeder that causes no axial rotation beyond control during fitting between transmission mechanisms includes a medicine storing device and a drive device. The medicine storing device includes a container and discharge mechanism. The container stores medicines. The discharge mechanism is rotationally driven to discharge medicines from the container, and includes a first transmission mechanism with a fitting portion. The drive device rotationally drives the discharge mechanism when the medicine storing device is brought into a cooperation enabling position, and includes a second transmission mechanism with a fitted portion. When the fitting portion of the first transmission mechanism and the fitted portion of the second transmission mechanism are fitted with each other, the drive device can rotationally drive the discharge mechanism of the medicine storing device. The fitted portion is supported to be displaceable in the axial direction of a drive shaft, and moved by an energy storing member.

Abstract: A tablet splitting apparatus capable of reducing fluctuations in weight of split tablet pieces even with simple advanceable-retractable blades is provided. A holding mechanism holds a tablet to be split at a cutting position. In reducing the gap between a pair of opposed blades, which are advanced and retracted with respect to the cutting position, to cut the tablet, the holding mechanism continuously holds the tablet until the tablet is caught between the pair of opposed blades of a cutting mechanism. After the tablet is caught between the pair of opposed blades, the holding mechanism release the tablet and only the pair of opposed blades hold the tablet. The opposed blades are caused to cut into the tablet after the holding mechanism releases the tablet, preventing a crack caused in the tablet ahead of the opposed blades from being curved or increased.

Abstract: A medicine guide assembly is disposed between paired adjacent medicine feeder storage units. Each medicine guide assembly guides the medicines, which have been ejected from the medicine feeders included in the paired medicine feeder storage units, to an outlet port located downward. The medicine guide assembly includes a first divided guide member and a second divided guide member which are combined with each other when the paired medicine feeder storage units are accommodated in the housing and which are separated from each other when one of the paired medicine feeder storage units is drawn out from the housing. Further, air cleaning devices are provided so as to be operable to take in air, clean the air, and supply the cleaned air to an interior of the housing.