Medication packing apparatus

• US 6,690,998 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yuyama Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yuyama Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Yuyama, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/699,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 700/216, 700/231, 700/242, 700/243, 221/13, 221/15, 221/124, 221/133, 221/252, 221/296, 534/93, 531/54, 532/02, 193/29, 193/4, 193/14
• US Class Current: 700/242
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 63/04 for folding or winding articles, e.g. gloves or stockings

Abstract

In the present invention, in order to reliably smoothly recover different kinds of medicines separately and pack them, the apparatus is provided with hoppers 18, 19 with at least two separated passages, and wherein each hopper 18, 19 can feed a different kind of medicine.

Claims

1. A medicine packing apparatus which feeds medicines in accordance with prescription data to distribute and pack the medicines by individual dose, wherein the apparatus is provided with first and second hoppers having two separated passages, wherein each of said first and second hoppers is arranged to feed a different kind of medicine, wherein a common hopper is provided between a medicine packing position and each of said first and second hoppers, wherein said common hopper is disposed directly beneath said first hopper such that said first hopper can directly feed the medicines to said common hopper, wherein said common hopper is not disposed directly beneath said second hopper such that said second hopper cannot directly feed the medicines to the common hopper, wherein a medicine delivery device for delivering the medicines from said second hopper to said common hopper is provided beneath a lower end of said second hopper, and wherein an inside of said common hopper is partitioned so as to include two separate passages for the different kinds of medicines.

2. The medicine packing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said common hopper is detachably provided between the medicine packing position and each of said first and second hoppers.

3. The medicine packing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said medicine delivery device is movably arranged beneath said lower end of said second hopper.

4. A medicine packing apparatus comprising:

a medicine feed section arranged to feed medicines in accordance with prescription data, said medicine feed section comprising a plurality of medicine feed portions arranged to feed different types of medicines, respectively;

a medicine packing section arranged to pack, by individual dose, the medicines fed from said medicine feed section;

a plurality of hoppers having a plurality of separated passages, said hoppers being disposed beneath said medicine feed section and being arranged to receive the different types of medicines from said medicine feed portions, respectively, and deliver the different types of medicines to said medicine packing section;

a medicine delivery device arranged beneath a lower end of said one hopper to deliver the medicine from said one hopper to said common hopper; and

wherein said common hopper has a plurality of separated hopper portions to receive medicines from said plurality of hoppers, respectively.

5. The medicine packing apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said medicine delivery device is movably arranged beneath said lower end of said one hopper.