MEDICINE STORAGE MODULE AND METHOD

Abstract

Provided are a medicine storage module and method. The medicine storage module includes medicine storage boxes, each of which stores medicine in a unit of a dosage, a medicine storage box cartridge storing the medicine storage boxes in a stacked fashion, and a discharge module discharging a lowermost one of the medicine storage boxes of the medicine storage box cartridge to an outside according to a medicine discharge instruction of a user. Thus, it is possible to store a large quantity of prescription medicine in a unit of a dosage regardless of its shape, and to provide the medicine to a user in the dosage unit at a time when the user takes the medicine.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0127667, filed Dec. 21, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a medicine storage module and method and, more particularly, to a medicine storage module and method capable of effectively storing and discharging medicine.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Steady medication management is very important to chronic patients for management of diseases. However, the aged frequently fail to take medicine in time due to various causes such as the failure of memory. For this reason, a technique of supporting regular medication is required. To this end, medication supporting apparatuses have been developed, each of which stores the medicine in designated storage boxes and raises an alarm when a time to take the medicine arrives.

Meanwhile, medicine prescribed at a hospital is prepared in various forms at a pharmacy. It is most common to pack the medicine in a dosage bag made of vinyl foil or paper. Many pills may be packed in a phial. Medicines such as vitamins are previously prepared and sold in a tablet form.

Thus, for effective use of such a medication supporting apparatus, all the medicines packed in various forms must be stored in the medication supporting apparatus. Particularly, regardless of the packed forms of the medicines, the medicines need to be stored in a unit of a dosage, and to be accurately provided to a user at a time to be taken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a medicine storage module and method, capable of easily storing and packing medicine in a unit of a dosage using a stacked medicine storage box, and effectively providing the stored medicine to a user in the dosage unit.

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a medicine storage module, which includes: medicine storage boxes, each of which stores medicine in a unit of a dosage, a medicine storage box cartridge storing the medicine storage boxes in a stacked fashion, and a discharge module discharging a lowermost one of the medicine storage boxes of the medicine storage box cartridge to an outside according to a medicine discharge instruction of a user.

In exemplary embodiments, each medicine storage box may include steps at front and rear portions thereof.

In exemplary embodiments, each medicine storage box may include storage box shoulders supporting a bottom of the next medicine storage box stacked thereon.

In exemplary embodiments, each medicine storage box may be preserved in a folded form.

In exemplary embodiments, each medicine storage box may include folded upper corners when unfolded.

In exemplary embodiments, the discharge module may push a rear portion of the lowermost medicine storage box toward a discharge opening in order to move the lowermost medicine storage box.

In exemplary embodiments, each medicine storage box may include a plurality of spiral discharge grooves in a bottom thereof, and the discharge module may move the medicine storage box through the spiral discharge grooves.

In exemplary embodiments, each medicine storage box may store at least one of a pill, a tablet, a capsule, and a drug packed in a dosage bag.

In exemplary embodiments, the medicine storage box cartridge may include: a cartridge frame surrounding lateral and rear portions of the stacked medicine storage boxes; lower end supports connected to lower edges of the opposite lateral portions of the cartridge frame and partially supporting a bottom of the lowermost medicine storage box such that the lowermost medicine storage box does not fall in a downward direction; and front supports connected to front edges of the opposite lateral portions of the cartridge frame and partially supporting a front of each medicine storage box such that the medicine storage boxes do not fall in a forward direction. Each of the front supports and the rear portion of the cartridge frame may have an open lower portion such that one medicine storage box passes therethrough.

In exemplary embodiments, the medicine storage box cartridge may be preserved in a folded form.

In exemplary embodiments, the medicine storage module may further include a cartridge body in which a plurality of medicine storage box cartridges are mounted.

In exemplary embodiments, the cartridge body may include fixing channels, which are connected with extensions of front, rear and lower edges of each medicine storage box cartridge and fix each medicine storage box cartridge therein.

In exemplary embodiments, the medicine storage box cartridge may include an integrated front support in which upper and lower portions of the front supports are connected to each other.

In exemplary embodiments, the medicine storage box cartridge may include an inner storage box cover, which is disposed on the uppermost medicine storage box and fixes the stacked medicine storage boxes therein to prevent escape of the medicine storage boxes.

In exemplary embodiments, the medicine storage box cartridge may include an outer storage box cover, which covers a front portion of the medicine storage box cartridge.

In exemplary embodiments, the opposite lateral portions of the cartridge frame may include a plurality of slits.

In exemplary embodiments, the inner storage box cover may include wings, which are fitted into slits of the opposite lateral portions of the cartridge frame, on opposite edges thereof.

In exemplary embodiments, the medicine storage box cartridge may include a cartridge cover, which covers an upper end itself of the medicine storage box cartridge.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a medicine storage method, which includes: sealing medicine in dosage bags using a strip of dosage bags and a medicine packing machine; storing the dosage bags in medicine storage boxes; sequentially stacking the medicine storage boxes in the medicine storage box cartridge; and applying inner and outer storage box covers and a storage box cartridge cover to complete package of medicine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating the geometry of a medication supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating a medicine storage box discharge module of the medication supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view illustrating the state before a medicine storage box is discharged by a medicine storage box discharge module of the medication supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D is a perspective view illustrating the state after a medicine storage box is discharged by a medicine storage box discharge module of the medication supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 illustrates the construction of a medicine storage box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the construction of a medicine storage box cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the medicine storage box cartridge of FIG. 3 and covers of the medicine storage box cartridge; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart explaining a medicine storage method using a medicine storage module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to keep the following description of the present invention clear and concise, detailed descriptions of known functions and components may be omitted. When any element of the invention appears in more than one drawing, it is denoted by the same reference numeral in each drawing.

It will be understood that, throughout the specification, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, the term “comprise” and its conjugations such as “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as including any stated elements but not necessarily excluding other elements. In addition, the terms “section,” “device,” and “module” used herein refer to a unit which can be embodied as hardware, software, or a combination thereof, for processing at least one function and performing an operation.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating the geometry of a medication supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating a medicine storage box discharge module of the medication supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a perspective view illustrating the state before a medicine storage box is discharged by a medicine storage box discharge module of the medication supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1D is a perspective view illustrating the state after a medicine storage box is discharged by a medicine storage box discharge module of the medication supporting apparatus of FIG. 1A.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a medication supporting apparatus 100 having a medicine storage module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a charge opening 110, a discharge opening 120, a medicine storage box cartridge 130, and a medicine storage box discharge module 140. The medication supporting apparatus 100 may further include an output unit, an input unit, a communication module, and a control module. The output unit may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or a light emitting diode (LED) as outputting means. The input unit may include a button as inputting means.

The communication module may receive a medication related situation from a server, and send information about the discharge of a medicine storage box 135 to the server when the medicine storage box 135 is exposed to the outside through the discharge opening 120 of the medicine storage box discharge module 140.

The control module may take charge of data communication with the server and driving commands of the other components of the medication supporting apparatus 100. This control module may be implemented as a printed circuit board (PCB).

With regard to the storage and discharge of the medicine, the medication supporting apparatus 100 may include the charge opening 110 for inserting the medicine storage box cartridge 130 into the medication supporting apparatus 100, and the discharge opening 120 for discharging the medicine storage box 135 in which the medicine is stored.

The medicine storage box cartridge 130 is inserted into the charge opening 110, and may house a plurality of medicine storage boxes 135 in a stacked form. When the medicine is stored, dosage bags (or pills, tablets, etc.) in a unit of a dosage may be stored in the respective medicine storage boxes 135. The medicine storage boxes 135 may be stored in the medicine storage box cartridge 130 in a stacked fashion. A predetermined number of storage box cartridges 130 are inserted into (or mounted on) the medication supporting apparatus 100 through the respective charge opening 110. Thereby, the storage of the medicine is completed.

The medicine storage box discharge module 140 may receive the medicine discharge instruction of a user from the input unit, thereby discharging the medicine storage box 135 to the outside. A detailed construction of the medicine storage box discharge module 140 will be described with reference to FIG. 1D.

The medicine storage box discharge module 140 is operated to discharge one medicine storage box 135 from the medicine storage box cartridge 130 to the outside of the medication supporting apparatus 100 through the discharge opening 120. To this end, the medicine storage box cartridge 130 may have an open lower end such that one medicine storage box (particularly, the lowermost medicine storage box) can be discharged from the medicine storage box cartridge 130. When the medicine storage box 135 is discharged, the user can take the medicine out of the discharged medicine storage box 135, and take the medicine.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the medicine storage box discharge module 140 includes a spiral shaft 141, a driver 142 driving the spiral shaft 141, a transfer guide 143 connected to the spiral shaft 141, a transfer guide support 144, a spring member 145 connected with the transfer guide support 144, and a switch sensor 146 sensing a contact with the medicine storage box.

The driver 142 may rotate the spiral shaft 141 in a counterclockwise direction (i.e. in an arrow direction 141-1) when the control module gives a forward movement command to the driver 142 according to a medicine discharge instruction of the user.

Further, the driver 142 may rotate the spiral shaft 141 in a clockwise direction (i.e. in an arrow direction 141-2) when the control module gives a backward movement command to the driver 142.

The transfer guide 143 is connected to the spiral shaft 141. The transfer guide 143 may move forward toward the discharge opening along the spiral shaft 141 when the spiral shaft 141 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (i.e. in the arrow direction 141-1) by the driver 142, and move backward toward the transfer guide support 144 along the spiral shaft 141 when the spiral shaft 141 is rotated in the clockwise direction (i.e. in the arrow direction 141-2) by the driver 142.

The transfer guide support 144 is fitted with the transfer guide 143. The transfer guide support 144 is connected to the spring member 145. Thus, the transfer guide support 144 moves further forward by an advancing force when the transfer guide 143 moves forward, and moves further backward by a retreating force when the transfer guide 143 moves backward.

The switch sensor 146 may sense a contact with a lowermost medicine storage box 147 when the lowermost medicine storage box 147 is pushed forward by the forward movement of the transfer guide 143, and the resulting discharge of the lowermost medicine storage box 147. In other words, when the lowermost medicine storage box 147 comes into contact with the switch sensor 146, the switch sensor 146 may sense the discharge of the medicine storage box.

With the use of the aforementioned method, when the transfer guide 143 moves forward or backward, the medicine storage box housed in the medicine storage box cartridge can be discharged by the transfer guide 143.

Referring to FIGS. 1C and 1D, in the state where the medication supporting apparatus is on standby, the transfer guide 143 is engaged with the transfer guide support 144, and is located at the rear of the lowermost medicine storage box 147.

When a user makes a request for medicine discharge, the control module gives a forward movement command to the driver 142 of the discharge module 140.

Due to the discharge command of the control module, the driver 142 rotates the spiral shaft 141 in a counterclockwise direction for a predetermined time. Here, the predetermined time refers to a time when the transfer guide 143 reaches the end of a conveyor. As the spiral shaft 141 rotates, the transfer guide 143 moves forward toward the discharge opening.

When the medicine storage boxes are stacked in the medicine storage box cartridge, the lowermost medicine storage box 147 of the medicine storage box cartridge is pushed toward the discharge opening by the forward movement of the transfer guide 143. At this time, the medicine storage box 148 located on the lowermost medicine storage box 147 is put on the transfer guide 143 and the transfer guide support 144.

When the lowermost medicine storage box 147 comes into contact with the switch sensor 146 sensing such a contact while coming out of the discharge opening, the discharge of the medicine storage box is sensed by the switch sensor 146, and then information about discharge completion is sent to the control module.

When the rotation of the spiral shaft 141 for the predetermined time is completed, the control module gives a backward movement command to the driver 142.

Due to the backward movement command of the control module, the driver 142 rotates the spiral shaft 141 in a clockwise direction for a predetermined time.

As the spiral shaft 141 rotates, the transfer guide 143 moves backward. When engaged with the transfer guide support 144, the transfer guide 143 pushes the spring member 145 to move backward along with the transfer guide support 144. Then, the discharge instruction of the user is completed. Here, a space corresponding to the discharge medicine storage box is freed, and thus the other medicine storage boxes of the medicine storage box cartridge undergo free fall. Thus, the medicine storage box 148 located on the lowermost medicine storage box takes the position of the lowermost medicine storage box 147, and thus is converted into a standby state.

FIG. 2 illustrates the construction of a medicine storage box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a basic medicine storage box 210 can store all kinds of medicines, such as pills, tablets, capsules, drugs packed in dosage bags, and so on. Further, at least two of these various kinds of medicines may be stored together in one medicine storage box.

Dimensions, i.e. height, width and length, of the basic medicine storage box 210 are variable depending on a maximum thickness of a pill and a size of a dosage bag. The basic medicine storage box 210 may be provided with steps 220 at front and rear portions thereof such that the medicine can be easily taken out by hand and that the medicine such as pills can be prevented from escaping when the basic medicine storage box is discharged.

Meanwhile, when the basic medicine storage boxes 210 are stacked, at least one 230 of them may be misaligned in the medicine storage box cartridge due to inclination and vibration applied from the outside, or a dosage bag partially protruding to the outside when stored, and may be caught when the basic medicine storage box is discharged by the medicine storage box discharge module. As such, the basic medicine storage box may not be discharged normally.

To solve this problem, storage box shoulders 240 are provided to the basic medicine storage box 210. Thereby, an extended medicine storage box 250 can be manufactured. The extended medicine storage box 250 can prevent the misalignment in the medicine storage box cartridge and the partial protrusion of the dosage bag.

The medicine storage box discharge module may be configured to discharge the medicine storage box by moving the medicine storage box along a spiral discharge path, in addition to the method of discharging the medicine storage box by pushing the lowermost one of the medicine storage boxes toward the discharge opening at the rear thereof as described with reference to FIGS. 1C and 1D.

The method of discharging the medicine storage box by pushing the lowermost medicine storage box does not require a separate unit from the medicine storage box. The method of discharging the medicine storage box by moving the medicine storage box along the spiral discharge path requires spiral discharge grooves 270, which are engaged with the spiral shaft of the discharge module, in a lower end of the medicine storage box. As the spiral shaft of the discharge module rotates, the discharge grooves 270 serve to move the medicine storage box in a forward direction.

Meanwhile, in the case of a folded medicine storage box that is made of a flexible material such as paper, it is possible to avoid the misaligned medicine storage box 230 without the storage box shoulders 240 due to a folding characteristic. The medicine storage box may be initially manufactured and stacked in the form of a folded medicine storage box 280, and be stored in the form of an unfolded medicine storage box 290. The unfolded medicine storage box 290 can be prevented from being misaligned because its upper corners remain in a folded form, and reduce a storage space when stacked before the medicine packed in the dosage bag is stored therein.

FIG. 3 illustrates the construction of a medicine storage box cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the medicine storage box cartridge 130 includes a cartridge frame 310, lower end supports 320, and front supports 330.

The medicine storage box cartridge (e.g. storage container) 130 has a structure in which the medicine storage boxes 135 are stacked on one another, and thus can store the medicine storage boxes from a lower end of the cartridge frame 310 in a stacked fashion. Further, the medicine storage box cartridge 130 is open in part or in whole on upper, lower, front and rear portions thereof.

The upper portion of the medicine storage box cartridge 130 is completely open to serve as an entrance through which the medicine storage boxes 135 are stacked, and the lower portion of the medicine storage box cartridge 130 may be supported by the lower end supports 320 such that, when the discharge module 140 discharges one of the medicine storage boxes 135 in a forward direction, the other medicine storage boxes do not escape in a downward direction.

The front portion of the medicine storage box cartridge 130 is supported by the front supports 330 such that the stacked medicine storage boxes 135 do not fall in a forward direction, and its lower portion is open such that one medicine storage box can be discharged therethrough. The rear portion of the medicine storage box cartridge 130 may be open in part such that the discharge module 140 moves to push the medicine storage box 135.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the medicine storage module may further include a cartridge body 340. The medicine storage box cartridge 130 may be mounted in the cartridge body 340. The cartridge body 340 has fixing channels 380 in which the medicine storage box cartridge 130 made of a thin material such as a paper plate is fixed. According to a construction of the medicine storage module, one or more medicine storage box cartridges 130 may be mounted.

The medicine storage box cartridge 130 is in close contact with the cartridge body 340 without an allowance, so that the medicine storage boxes 135 cannot be disturbed when one of them is discharged.

The medicine storage box cartridge 130 may also be made of a foldable material such as paper or a hard material such as plastic. In the case of the medicine storage box cartridge 130 made of paper, left- and right-hand front supports 330 may be connected to form an integrated front support 360 in order to make up for the weakness of flexure or distortion. Further, front, rear and lower edges of the medicine storage box cartridge 130 extend to be fitted into the fixing channels 380 of the cartridge body, so that it is possible to improve the close contact with the cartridge body 340.

FIG. 4 illustrates the medicine storage box cartridge of FIG. 3 and covers of the medicine storage box cartridge.

Referring to FIG. 4, covers of the medicine storage box cartridge may be used to prevent the medicine storage box or the medicine itself from escaping from the medicine storage box cartridge when the medicine storage box or the medicine is stored and transferred, and may be divided into an inner storage box cover 410, an outer storage box cover 420, and a storage box cartridge cover 430.

The inner storage box cover 410 fixes the stacked medicine storage box in the medicine storage box cartridge, so that it can prevent the medicine and the medicine storage box from escaping to the inside or outside. The inner storage box cover 410 has such a size as to nearly cover the medicine storage box. The inner storage box cover 410 may include wings 440 on opposite edges thereof. The wings 440 may be fixedly fitted into slits 450 of the medicine storage box cartridge. Further, since a storage height is dependent on the number of stacked medicine storage boxes, several slits may be formed.

The outer storage box cover 420 is a cover that can cover the front portion of the medicine storage box cartridge, and include opposite wings. The opposite wings are also fixed to the cartridge body of the medicine storage box cartridge, so that it can prevent the medicine from falling in a forward direction.

The storage box cartridge cover 430 is a cover that covers the upper end of the medicine storage box cartridge. If the medicine storage boxes are fully stacked in the medicine storage box cartridge, the medicine storage boxes can be fixed only by the storage box cartridge cover 430 without the separate inner storage box cover 410, so that the stacked medicine storage boxes cannot escape to the upper portion of the medicine storage box cartridge.

When the medicine storage box cartridge is also made of a soft material such as paper, it may be initially manufactured and stacked in the form of a folded medicine storage box cartridge 460, and used in the form of an unfolded medicine storage box cartridge when the medicine storage boxes are stored.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart explaining a medicine storage method using a medicine storage module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a method of preparing and packing the medicine at a pharmacy using the medicine storage box and the medicine storage box cartridge is as follows.

A pharmacist seals medicine in dosage bags connected in series using a strip of dosage bags and a medicine packing machine (S10).

Then, the pharmacist unfolds medicine storage boxes folded one by one, separates the connected dosage bags in a unit of a dosage, and stores the separated dosage bags in the unfolded medicine storage boxes (S20).

The pharmacist sequentially stacks the unfolded medicine storage boxes in the medicine storage box cartridge in the order of medication (S30).

After the unfolded medicine storage boxes are stacked, the pharmacist applies inner and outer storage box covers and a storage box cartridge cover, thereby completing the package of the medicine (S40).

When the dosage bags and the medicine storage box cartridge are provided in a previously packed form (e.g. the form of FIG. 3), the pharmacist can directly push and store the individual dosage bags through an opening of the front portion of the medicine storage box cartridge (S20-1).

When the dosage bags are completely stored, the pharmacist covers the covers, thereby completing the package (S40).

When the packed medicine storage box cartridge is used for the medication supporting apparatus, the covers are removed, and the medicine storage box cartridge is placed in the charge opening of the medication supporting apparatus.

According to a medicine storage module and method of the present invention, it is possible to store a large quantity of prescription medicine in a unit of a dosage regardless of its shape, and to provide the medicine to a user in the dosage unit at a time when the user should take the medicine. Thus, it is possible to supply a patient who requires medication management with a fixed quantity required at one time, so that the patient can be supported in systematically taking the medicine.

Further, by using the medicine storage box and medicine storage box cartridge (e.g. container) made of a foldable material, the medicine used for a medication supporting apparatus can be packed at a pharmacy, so that a cooperative service can be organically provided without complicated intervention of the patient until the patient takes the medicine after the medicine is prescribed at a hospital.

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention described above is not implemented only by the apparatus and method. This will be easily implemented from the disclosure of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments of the present invention by those skilled in the art.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A medicine storage module comprising:

medicine storage boxes, each of which stores medicine in a unit of a dosage;

a medicine storage box cartridge storing the medicine storage boxes in a stacked fashion; and

a discharge module discharging a lowermost one of the medicine storage boxes of the medicine storage box cartridge to an outside according to a medicine discharge instruction of a user.

2. The medicine storage module according to claim 1, wherein each medicine storage box includes steps at front and rear portions thereof.

3. The medicine storage module according to claim 1, wherein each medicine storage box includes storage box shoulders supporting a bottom of the next medicine storage box stacked thereon.

4. The medicine storage module according to claim 1, wherein each medicine storage box is preserved in a folded form.

5. The medicine storage module according to claim 4, wherein each medicine storage box includes folded upper corners when unfolded.

6. The medicine storage module according to claim 1, wherein the discharge module pushes a rear portion of the lowermost medicine storage box toward a discharge opening in order to move the lowermost medicine storage box.

7. The medicine storage module according to claim 1, wherein each medicine storage box includes a plurality of spiral discharge grooves in a bottom thereof, and the discharge module moves the medicine storage box through the spiral discharge grooves.

8. The medicine storage module according to claim 1, wherein each medicine storage box stores at least one of a pill, a tablet, a capsule, and a drug packed in a dosage bag.

9. The medicine storage module according to claim 1, wherein the medicine storage box cartridge includes:

a cartridge frame surrounding lateral and rear portions of the stacked medicine storage boxes;

lower end supports connected to lower edges of the opposite lateral portions of the cartridge frame and partially supporting a bottom of the lowermost medicine storage box such that the lowermost medicine storage box does not fall in a downward direction; and

front supports connected to front edges of the opposite lateral portions of the cartridge frame and partially supporting a front of each medicine storage box such that the medicine storage boxes do not fall in a forward direction,

wherein each of the front supports and the rear portion of the cartridge frame has an open lower portion such that one medicine storage box passes therethrough.

10. The medicine storage module according to claim 9, wherein the medicine storage box cartridge is preserved in a folded form.

11. The medicine storage module according to claim 10, further comprising a cartridge body in which a plurality of medicine storage box cartridges are mounted.

12. The medicine storage module according to claim 11, wherein the cartridge body includes fixing channels, which are connected with extensions of front, rear and lower edges of each medicine storage box cartridge and fix each medicine storage box cartridge therein.

13. The medicine storage module according to claim 10, wherein the medicine storage box cartridge includes an integrated front support in which upper and lower portions of the front supports are connected to each other.

14. The medicine storage module according to claim 9, wherein the medicine storage box cartridge includes an inner storage box cover, which is disposed on the uppermost medicine storage box and fixes the stacked medicine storage boxes therein to prevent escape of the medicine storage boxes.

15. The medicine storage module according to claim 9, wherein the medicine storage box cartridge includes an outer storage box cover, which covers a front portion of the medicine storage box cartridge.

16. The medicine storage module according to claim 14, wherein the opposite lateral portions of the cartridge frame include a plurality of slits.

17. The medicine storage module according to claim 16, wherein the inner storage box cover includes wings, which are fitted into slits of the opposite lateral portions of the cartridge frame, on opposite edges thereof.

18. The medicine storage module according to claim 9, wherein the medicine storage box cartridge includes a cartridge cover, which covers an upper end itself of the medicine storage box cartridge.

19. A medicine storage method comprising:

sealing medicine in dosage bags using a strip of dosage bags and a medicine packing machine;

storing the dosage bags in medicine storage boxes;

sequentially stacking the medicine storage boxes in the medicine storage box cartridge; and

applying inner and outer storage box covers and a storage box cartridge cover to complete package of medicine.