Method of inspecting drugs contained in a vial

• US 6,115,996 A
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yuyama Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yuyama Seisakusho
• Inventors: Yuyama, Shoji, Hamada, Hiroyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Moon, Daniel B.
• Application Number:
  US09/332,088
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 53/411, 53/131.2, 53/131.3, 53/131.4, 53/131.5, 206/459.5, 206/534, 206/828, 206/831
• US Class Current: 53/411
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/46 using grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/06 and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/26 for marking or coding completed packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/164 Securing by heat-sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2878 by heat-sealing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/06 supported individually on pivotally-mounted flaps or shelves
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1653 the picking arrangements being collecting buckets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1657 the picking arrangements using suction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/18 for washing or drying persons

Abstract

A drug filling machine having a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of the drugs are discharged from one or some of the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial. A method of inspecting the drugs contained in the vial includes preparing the transparent sheet a sealing portion for covering the mouth of the vial, and a printed portion that protrudes outwardly of the mouth of the vial. After inspecting the drugs in the vial, the printed portion is separated from the sealing portion, and a cap is secured on the mouth of the vial.

Claims

1. A method of inspecting drugs, the method comprising:

filling drugs into a vial through a mouth of the vial;

preparing a transparent sheet having a sealing area and a printing area, wherein data corresponding to the drugs in the vial is printed on the printing area;

sealing the mouth of the vial with the transparent sheet such that the sealing area covers the mouth of the vial, and the printing area protrudes from an edge of the mouth of the vial; and

checking the drugs in the vial while referring to the data printed on the transparent sheet.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing area and the printing area are bordered by a weakened tear line, and the method further comprises:

cutting off the printing area after checking the drugs in the vial; and

putting a cap on the vial to close the mouth of the vial.

3. A method of inspecting drugs, the method comprising:

dispensing drugs into a vial through a mouth of the vial;

preparing a transparent sheet having a sealing area and a printing area, wherein printed drug data is provided on the printing area and corresponds to the drugs in the vial;

sealing the mouth of the vial with the transparent sheet such that the sealing area covers the mouth of the vial, and the printing area is located outwardly of the mouth of the vial; and

visually inspecting the drugs in the vial through the sealing area and comparing results of the visual inspection with the data printed on the printing area.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising separating the printing area from the sealing area after comparing the results of the visual inspection with the drug data printed on the printing area, wherein a perforated line separates the sealing area from the printing area to facilitate separation of the printing area from the sealing area.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising capping the vial after the printing area has been separated from the sealing area.