Semi-automatic medicine packaging machine

• US 7,428,805 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JVM Company Limited
• Original Assignee: JVM Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Jun Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Louis K
• Application Number:
  US11/837,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 53/55, 531/314, 532/47, 532/55, 532/847, 535/70, 221/24, 221/67, 221/69, 221/92, 221/154, 221/155, 221/282, 235/382
• US Class Current: 53/131.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments

Abstract

A semi-automatic medicine packaging machine includes a medication feed outlet that feeds and discharges medications into a hopper, a sealing unit that seals medications in the hopper by medication envelope(s) on which instruction labels are printed by a printing unit, a button operation unit that inputs a user'"'"'s operation into the controller, a manual dispensing tray, an automatic supply unit including a plurality of tablet cassettes, and a user information input unit that inputs user information into a controller that controls the overall operation of the machine and includes a user authentication unit for authenticating a user.

Claims

1. A semi-automatic medicine packaging machine comprises:

a) a medication feed outlet that feeds and discharges medications into a hopper disposed interiorly of a body;

b) a manual dispensing tray disposed on a front upper surface of the body;

c) a sealing unit that seals medications in the hopper by medication envelope(s);

d) a printing unit that prints data on the medication envelope(s);

e) a controller that controls the medication feed outlet, the printing unit, and the sealing unit;

f) a button operation unit that inputs a user'"'"'s operation into the controller;

g) a shelf established on a rear upper part of the body and having a glass door that is established on an open front of the shelf for opening or closing the front of the shelf and an outlet rearwards connected to the hopper;

h) an automatic supply unit, which discharges medications into the outlet according to operation of the controller, comprising a plurality of cassette stands arrayed in an interior of the shelf and a plurality of tablet cassettes detachably established on an upper part of the cassette stands for housing medications; and

i) a user information input unit that is established on an exterior of the body and inputs user information into the controller;

wherein the controller comprises a user authentication unit that authenticates a user by comparing and analyzing user information inputted by the user information unit and information stored in advance.

2. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 1, further comprising an information display unit that is established on a front upper part of the shelf and displays information inputted from the controller.

3. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 1, further comprising a subsidiary shelf that is established on a side of the shelf as a state of being empty and has a door on a front side.

4. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 1, wherein the manual dispensing tray further comprises a tray cover that is established on an upper part of the manual dispensing tray and is capable of being opened or closed.

5. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 1, wherein the user information input unit comprises a card reader that is established on a front of the body and inputs user'"'"'s card information.

6. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 1, further comprising a door lock unit that is established on the shelf and locks or unlocks the glass door according to the operation through the button operation unit by a user authenticated by the user authentication unit.

7. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 6, wherein the door lock unit comprises:

a) a driver that is established on the upper part of the shelf corresponding to a lower part of the glass door and controlled by the controller; and

b) an anchor member that locks or unlocks the glass door by being vertically moved by the driver.

8. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 7, wherein the door lock unit further comprises a groove member that is established on a upper part of the glass door corresponding to a lower part of the anchor member and makes the anchor member to be inserted into or pulled out of the groove member.

9. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 7, wherein the door lock unit further comprises a manual operation unit that locks or unlocks the door lock unit by manual operation of a user during power failure.

10. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 9, wherein the manual operation unit comprises:

a) an on/off switch that is established on the body as a state of being connected to the driver;

b) a battery that is connected to the on/off switch and provides power to the driver; and

c) a key operation unit that is exposed outside the body and controls the driver'"'"'s operation of locking or unlocking by switching on or off power to be supplied to the driver through key operation.

11. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 1, further comprising an open/close detection sensor that is established on a upper part of the glass door of the shelf and inputs to the controller by detecting a state of the glass door'"'"'s being locked or unlocked.

12. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 11, further comprising a beep generation unit that is connected to the lock controller and makes beep sounds for warning in case of abnormal opening of the glass door.

13. The semi-automatic medicine packaging machine of claim 1, further comprising user data storage unit that is connected to the controller and stores users'"'"' data which are information on users who are authenticated by the user authentication unit.