Method and device for identifying a tablet cassette in an automatic tablet packing machine

Abstract

A device and method are used for identifying a tablet cassette in an automatic tablet packing machine, which includes a plurality of tablet cassettes that contain medicine, and a plurality of cartridges, each of which is installed in a predetermined position in the automatic tablet packing machine and is adapted to receive the tablet cassette. The device includes a non-contact tag that is attached to a predetermined location of the tablet cassette and a position scan board. The non-contact tag contains medicine data and cassette data. The cartridge reads data from the non-contact tag in a non-contact way, combines the cassette data and the medicine data with a unique number for the cartridge and outputs the combined data as medicine position data. The position scan board retrieves the medicine position data from the cartridge, stores and updates the data, and outputs the data.

1 . A device for identifying a tablet cassette in an automatic tablet packing machine, wherein the automatic tablet packing machine comprises a plurality of tablet cassettes that are adapted to contain medicine, and a plurality of cartridges, each of which is installed in a predetermined position in the automatic tablet packing machine and is adapted to receive the tablet cassette, the device comprises:
 a) a non-contact tag that is attached to a predetermined location of the tablet cassette; and   b) a position scan board;   
     wherein the non-contact tag contains medicine data and cassette data, wherein the cartridge reads data from the non-contact tag in a non-contact way, combines the cassette data and the medicine data with a unique number for the cartridge and outputs the combined data as medicine position data, wherein the position scan board retrieves the medicine position data from the cartridge, stores and updates the data, and outputs the data. 
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact tag comprises an RF tag. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined location of the tablet cassette is a bottom of the tablet cassette. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a terminal that transmits a compounding command to the cartridge, and transmits the medicine position data, which is output from the position scan board, to outside. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising a reader that reads medicine data for medicine that is supplemented to the tablet cassette, and a server that obtains and stores data for the cassettes and cartridges of the automatic tablet packing machines by communication with the terminal, recognizes position data for tablets using the above data, and recognizes data for tablets that have been supplemented to the tablet cassettes via the reader. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a) a compounding controller that controls the tablet cassette to discharge a tablet to a feed tray when a compounding command is received from outside; and   b) a position checker that decides whether the tablet cassette is installed by checking whether the data contained in the non-contact tag is read, and transmits the data and a unique number for the cartridge to outside when it receives a request for position data from outside.   
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the position checker comprises:
 a) an RF reader that reads data from the RF tag;   b) a memory that records a unique number of the cartridge;   c) a position check processor that decides whether the tablet cassette is installed by connecting to the RF reader, recognizes medicine data and cassette data of the installed tablet cassette, and outputs the recognized medicine data and cassette data, and cartridge data obtained from the memory when there is a position data request from outside; and   d) a transceiver that transmits the above data to the position scan board.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 4 , the position scan board is adapted to scan all of the cartridges of the automatic tablet packing machine with predetermined interval and to obtain data for the tablet cassettes that are installed on the cartridges. 
   
   
       9 . A method for identifying a tablet cassette in an automatic tablet packing machine, wherein the automatic tablet packing machine a plurality of tablet cassettes that are adapted to contain medicine, and a plurality of cartridges, each of which is installed in a predetermined position in the automatic tablet packing machine and is adapted to receive the tablet cassette, the method comprising steps of:
 a) receiving a compounding command by a terminal;   b) controlling the tablet cassette to discharge tablet via a compounding controller;   c) obtaining with predetermined interval data for the tablet cassette and the cartridge on which the tablet cassette is installed, and updating the data by a position scan board;   d) transmitting the data to a terminal when a position request is received from the terminal; and   e) recognizing position data of medicine from the data for the tablet cassette and the cartridge by the terminal.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising step of transmitting the position data of medicine to a server. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising steps of:
 a) recognizing and storing the position data of medicine by the server; and   b) when medicine supplement data is transmitted from a reader, storing and recognizing the medicine supplement data.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined interval is 1 second in the step of obtaining data, wherein only updated data is transmitted to the terminal in the step of transmitting the updated data. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein medicine data for the tablet cassette and a reference amount of medicine supplementation are compared, and a control command for medicine supplementation is sent to the terminal when the amount of medicine in the tablet cassette is less than the reference amount.