Writing device for display members on drug carrier

Abstract

A writing device for display members is provided which can erasably writing patient information on a display member carried on the side of a drug carrier and automatically attach and detach it to and from the carrier. The writing device has an attach/detach/transfer unit for detaching, attaching and transferring a rewrite card to a carrier carrying the rewrite card, and a writing means connected to the attach/detach/transfer means for writing and displaying patient information on the rewrite card. The respective means are controlled based on prescription information to attach and detach the rewrite card to and from the side of the carrier.

1. A writing device for display members for a carrier comprising an attach/detach/transfer means for detaching, attaching and transferring a rewrite card type display member to the carrier detachably carrying said display member on one side thereof, said rewrite card type display member including a recording layer, wherein the rewrite card type display member is capable of displaying patient information upon application of a specific temperature to write or erase letters on the recording layer, and a writing means connected to said attach/detach/transfer means for erasably writing and displaying patient information on said display member, for writing patient information on the recording layer of the rewrite card type display member by applying the specific temperature with a thermal head, and erasing such information from the recording layer, said attach/detach/transfer means and said writing means being controlled based on drug information in prescriptions, thereby attaching and detaching said display member to and from the carrier and writing patient information on said display member such that the rewrite card type display member is attached to and detached from one carrier, and, after rewriting patient information on the recording layer with said writing means, the same rewrite card type display member is attached to the same carrier or a different carrier, and this cycle is repeated. 
     
     
       2. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 1  comprising an attach/detach/transfer means for detaching, attaching and transferring a display member to the carrier detachably carrying the display member on one side thereof, and a writing means connected to said attach/detach/transfer means for erasably writing and displaying patient information on said display member, said attach/detach/transfer means and said writing means being controlled based on drug information in prescriptions, thereby attaching and detaching said display member to and from the carrier and writing patient information on said display member,
 wherein said attach/detach/transfer means having a guide frame which forms a guide path portion in which a plurality of pairs of rubber rollers and opposed rollers are provided in said frame at predetermined intervals, and an abutting portion having rubber rollers exposed from said frame, said guide frame being rotatable, whereby said display member can be attached and detached to and from the carrier by bringing said rubber rollers at said abutting portion into contact with said display member of the carrier and rotating said rubber rollers. 
 
     
     
       3. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a carrier stop/release means is provided at a predetermined position of a path for feeding said carrier to stop said carrier and wherein at said predetermined position, said attach/detach/transfer means is provided. 
     
     
       4. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit connected to said attach/detach/transfer means and said writing means and a drug information transmitting portion connected to said control unit for storing drug information for each patient based on prescriptions, said control unit selecting patient information fed from said drug information transmitting portion and feeding it to said writing means to erase and write the patient information on said display member, which is attached and detached by said attach/detach/transfer means. 
     
     
       5. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising writing means for reissuing said display members and operation means having a display for displaying patient information and an input means for inputting operating signals, said operation means being connected to said writing means to reissue said display members. 
     
     
       6. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 2  wherein a carrier stop/release means is provided at a predetermined position of a path for feeding said carrier to stop said carrier and wherein at said predetermined position, said attach/detach/transfer means is provided. 
     
     
       7. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a control unit connected to said attach/detach/transfer means and said writing means and a drug information transmitting portion connected to said control unit for storing drug information for each patient based on prescriptions, said control unit selecting patient information fed from said drug information transmitting portion and feeding it to said writing means to erase and write the patient information on said display member, which is attached and detached by said attach/detach/transfer means. 
     
     
       8. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a control unit connected to said attach/detach/transfer means and said writing means and a drug information transmitting portion connected to said control unit for storing drug information for each patient based on prescriptions, said control unit selecting patient information fed from said drug information transmitting portion and feeding it to said writing means to erase and write the patient information on said display member, which is attached and detached by said attach/detach/transfer means. 
     
     
       9. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising writing means for reissuing said display members and operation means having a display for displaying patient information and an input means for inputting operating signals, said operation means being connected to said writing means to reissue said display members. 
     
     
       10. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising writing means for reissuing said display members and operation means having a display for displaying patient information and an input means for inputting operating signals, said operation means being connected to said writing means to reissue said display members. 
     
     
       11. A writing device for display members for a carrier as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising writing means for reissuing said display members and operation means having a display for displaying patient information and an input means for inputting operating signals, said operation means being connected to said writing means to reissue said display members. 
     
     
       12. A drug dispensing device comprising:
 a carrier supply device including a plurality of drug carriers;   a transport device for transporting said carriers from said carrier supply device;   a dispensing machine for dispensing drugs into said carriers;   a plurality of rewrite card type display members detachably attached to said carriers, respectively, each of said rewrite card type display members including a recording layer,   wherein each of said rewrite card type display members is capable of displaying patient information upon application of a specific temperature to write or erase letters on the recording layer;   a writing means for repeatedly writing patient information on the recording layer of each of said rewrite card type display members by applying the specific temperature with a thermal head, and erasing such information from the recording layer;   a controller for controlling said dispensing machine to dispense drugs into said carriers based on drug information derived from prescriptions,   said controller being operable to control said writing means to erase old patient information from said rewrite card type display members attached to said carriers, and write new patient information on said rewrite card type display members;   a carrier-discharge lifter cart provided at a terminal end of said transport device, wherein the drugs dispensed into said carriers in accordance with prescription data can be collected into said carrier-discharge lifter cart, and each of the carriers is provided with one of the rewrite card type display members on which new patient information from prescription data has been written by said writing means, which is controlled by said control device; and   a card attach/detach/transfer means arranged along said transport device for attaching said rewrite card type display members to said carriers, and detaching said card-shaped display members from said carriers, wherein said card attach/detach/transfer means is controlled by said control unit so that an individual one of said rewrite card type display members is attached to and detached from one carrier, and, after rewriting patient information on the recording layer with said writing means, the same rewrite card type display member is attached to the same carrier or a different carrier, and this cycle is repeated.   
     
     
       13. A drug dispensing device comprising:
 a carrier supply device including a plurality of drug carriers;   a transport device for transporting said carriers from said carrier supply device;   a dispensing machine for dispensing drugs into said carriers;   a plurality of rewrite card type display members detachably attached to said carriers, respectively, each of said rewrite card type display members including a recording layer,   wherein each of said rewrite card type display members is capable of displaying patient information upon application of a specific temperature to write or erase letters on the recording layer;   a writing means for repeatedly writing patient information on the recording layer of each of said rewrite card type display members by applying the specific temperature with a thermal head, and erasing such information from the recording layer;   a controller for controlling said dispensing machine to dispense drugs into said carriers based on drug information derived from prescriptions,   said controller being operable to control said writing means to erase old patient information from said rewrite card type display members attached to said carriers, and write new patient information on said rewrite card type display members; and   a card attach/detach/transfer means arranged along said transport device for attaching said rewrite card type display members to said carriers, and detaching said card-shaped display members from said carriers, wherein said card attach/detach/transfer means is controlled by said control unit so that an individual one of said rewrite card type display members is attached to and detached from one of said carriers, and, after rewriting patient information on the recording layer with said writing means, the same rewrite card type display member is attached to the same carrier or a different carrier, and this cycle is repeated.