Pill cartridge for medication packaging apparatus

Abstract

A pill cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus, and more specifically, the pill cartridge with a stopper whose height can be freely adjusted to a shape of a pill and be installed therein. An exemplary embodiment may include a rotor to have a plurality of gear members protruding at regular intervals along a circumference of the rotor and have insertion grooves formed between the gear members to thereby accommodate a pill; a case to include a collection chamber to accommodate the pill therein; a rotor housing portion at a lower portion of the collection chamber to house the rotor; and a dispensing opening formed on a lower portion of the rotor housing portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pill cartridge for a medication packaging apparatus, the pill cartridge comprising:
 a rotor to have a plurality of gear members protruding at regular intervals along a circumference of the rotor and to have an insertion groove formed between the plurality of gear members to thereby accommodate a pill; and   a case to comprise a collection chamber to accommodate the pill therein, a rotor housing portion at a lower portion of the collection chamber to house the rotor, and a dispensing opening formed on a lower portion of the rotor housing portion,   wherein a stopper of a planar shape is further provided to be additionally disposed above the dispensing opening to close a top of the insertion groove,   wherein the case comprises an installation opening of a size that allows a height of the stopper to be adjustable when the stopper is inserted in the case, wherein the installation opening is formed by an opening portion on one side of the case, and   wherein a stopper cover is further provided, which is coupled to the opening portion and comprises a plurality of slits that is formed in a longitudinal direction and into which one side of the stopper is inserted and fixed so as to dispose the stopper in the installation opening.   
     
     
         2 . The pill cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper comprises:
 a stopper body to close a top of the insertion groove positioned to be connected to the dispensing opening;   first extension ends to extend from each side of the stopper body toward the stopper cover; and   second extension ends that are bent inward and extend from the respective first extension ends,   wherein the stopper cover comprises:
 a cover body to be coupled to the case so as to close the opening portion, and 
 a height adjustment portion that is formed on an inner surface of the cover body, and comprises: guide grooves, into which the second extension ends are inserted and which are formed to be concavely inserted in a longitudinal direction on both sides; and the plurality of slits formed in a longitudinal direction toward the guide grooves to support the second extension ends. 
   
     
     
         3 . The pill cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the stopper is made of an elastic material, and a width of the respective guide grooves that is smaller than a depth of the respective second extension ends. 
     
     
         4 . The pill cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper comprises:
 a stopper body to close a top of the insertion groove positioned to be connected to the dispensing opening;   a third extension end to extend from a middle of one side of the stopper body toward the stopper cover; and   fourth extension ends to extend from the third extension end to protrude from both sides of the third extension end,   wherein the stopper cover comprises:
 a cover body to be coupled to the case so as to close the opening portion, and 
 a height adjustment portion that is formed on an inner surface of the cover body, and comprises: a vertical groove, into which the third extension end is inserted; and a horizontal groove, into which the fourth extension ends are inserted, wherein the horizontal groove is formed to be concavely inserted in a longitudinal direction on a surface toward the stopper; and the plurality of slits formed in a longitudinal direction toward guide grooves to support the fourth extension ends. 
   
     
     
         5 . The pill cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the stopper is made of an elastic material, and a width of the horizontal groove is smaller than a depth of the respective fourth extension ends. 
     
     
         6 . The pill cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises, at regular intervals, a plurality of coupling grooves, which is concavely inserted into an inner surface along the circumference thereof, and gear members are fixed to the coupling grooves according to a shape of the pill accommodated in the collection chamber.