APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING PACKING PAPER OF AUTOMATIC MEDICINE PACKING APPARATUS

Abstract

 Disclosed is an apparatus for supplying packing paper, capable of supplying a packing paper roll to a packing unit of an automatic medicine packing apparatus by simultaneously receiving a plurality of packing paper rolls and sequentially linking the packing paper rolls to each other. The apparatus includes a plurality of packing paper roll mounting units to rotatably mount a plurality of packing paper rolls therein, a guiding roller to guide packing papers released from the packing paper rolls mounted in the packing paper roll mounting units to supply the packing papers to a packing unit, a sensor to detect whether the packing paper roll is completely consumed or not, and a packing paper bonding unit to bond a distal end of packing paper from one packing paper roll, which is completely consumed, with a front end of packing paper from a new packing paper roll when the one packing paper roll is completely consumed among the packing paper rolls.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic medicine packing apparatus, capable of packing required medicines in the unit of a dose by automatically discharging the required medicines from a plurality of medicine cassettes according to the prescription of a doctor or a pharmacist. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying packing paper, capable of supplying a packing paper roll to a packing unit of an automatic medicine packing apparatus by receiving a plurality of packing paper rolls and sequentially linking the packing paper rolls to each other.

[Background Art]

[0002] In general, there have been developed and used an automatic medicine packing apparatus to receive medicines from a plurality of medicine cassettes, which have the medicines such as tablets or capsules according to types, and to consecutively pack the medicines in the unit of a dose.

[0003] The automatic medicine packing apparatus according to the related art includes a plurality of medicine cassettes provided at an upper portion of a body to receive tablets or capsules having various sizes and various shapes, hoppers provided under the body to collect medicines discharged and dropped from the medicine cassette, a printing unit to print various pieces of information on the surface of a pack having medicines therein, and a packing unit to pack the medicines collected by the hoppers using packing paper.

[0004] Automatic medicine packing apparatus according to the related art are variously disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0498727, and Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0274355.

[0005] According to the related art, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper is configured by rotatably mounting the packing paper roll to be supplied to the packing unit under the body of the automatic medicine packing apparatus to supply the packing paper released from the packing paper roll to the packing unit through the printing unit.

[0006] However, only one packing paper roll may be mounted in the apparatus for supplying the packingpaper according to the related art. In a large-scale pharmacy, since a single automatic medicine packing apparatus uses about two to three packing paper rolls a day, the operation of the automatic medicine packing apparatus must be frequently stopped in order to replace a packing paper roll, which is used up, with a new packing paper roll. Therefore, the standby time for prescription is increased to cause the degradation of work efficiency.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for supplying packing paper, capable of supplying a packing paper roll to a packing unit of an automatic medicine packing apparatus by receiving a plurality of packing paper rolls and sequentially linking the packing paper rolls to each other.

[Technical Solution]

[0008] In order to accomplish the object of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for supplying packing paper included in an automatic medicine packing apparatus, which packs required medicines in a unit of a dose after automatically discharging the required medicines from a plurality of medicine cassettes, and supplying packing paper to a packing unit for packing the medicines. The apparatus includes a plurality of packing paper roll mounting units to rotatably mount a packing paper roll therein, a guiding roller to guide packing paper released from the packing paper roll mounted in the packing paper roll mounting units to supply the packing paper to the packing unit, a sensor to detect whether the packing paper roll is completely consumed or not, and a packing paper bonding unit to bond a distal end of packing paper from one packing paper roll, which is completely consumed, with a front end of packing paper from a new packing paper roll when the one packing paper roll is completely consumed among a plurality of packing paper rolls.

[0009] Preferably, the packing paper roll mounting unit includes a mounting shaft fitted into the packing paper roll, and a pressing member that presses the packing paper roll to maintain tension of the packing paper released from the packing paper roll fitted around the mounting shaft.

[0010] Preferably, one sensor is provided for each of the packing paper roll mounting units.

[0011] Preferably, one packing paper bonding unit is provided for each of the packing paper roll mounting unit.

[0012] Preferably, the packing paper bonding unit includes a packing paper support to temporarily attach the packing paper thereto, and a fusion unit dispaceably installed in a direction of becoming close to or away from the packing paper support to fuse packing papers by applying heat to the packing papers.

[0013] Preferably, the packing paper bonding unit bonds the distal end of the packing paper from the packing paper roll, which is completely consumed, with the front end of the packing paper from the new packing paper roll by applying heat through a fusion unit.

[0014] Preferably, a front end of packing paper from a packing paper roll, which is not used, is temporarily attached to the packing paper support of the corresponding packing paper bonding unit.

[0015] Preferably, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper further includes a packing paper roll mounting plate on which the packing paper roll mounting units are arranged.

[0016] Preferably, the packing paper roll mounting plate is moved to transfer the new packing paper roll to a use position if the one packing paper roll is completely consumed.

[0017] Preferably, the packing paper bonding unit includes a packing paper support to temporarily attach the packing paper thereto, and a fusion unit dispaceably installed in a direction of becoming close to or away from the packing paper support to fuse packing papers by applying heat to the packing papers.

[0018] Preferably, one packing paper support is provided for each of the packing paper roll mounting units, and one common fusion unit is provided outside the packing paper roll mounting plate.

[0019] Preferably, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper includes a grasp member to grasp the distal end of the packing paper while the distal end of the packing paper from the packing paper roll, which is completely consumed, is bonded with the front end of the packing paper of the new packing paper roll.

[0020] Preferably, the packing paper roll mounting units are circularly arranged on the packing paper roll mounting plate, and the packing paper roll mounting plate is rotated to move the new packing paper roll to a use position if the one packing paper roll is completely consumed.

[0021] Preferably, the packing paper roll mounting units are arranged in line with each other on the packing paper roll mounting plate, and the packing paper roll mounting plate performs linear motion vertically or horizontally to move the new packing paper roll to a use position if the one packing paper roll is completely consumed.

[Advantageous Effects]

[0022] As described above, according to the present invention, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper can supply the packing paper roll to the packing unit of the automatic medicine packing apparatus by receiving the packing paper rolls and sequentially linking the packing paper rolls to each other.

[0023] According to the apparatus for supplying the packing paper of the present invention, since the packing papers are simultaneously provided and automatically linked to each other for the use thereof, the standby time for prescription can be reduced, and the effort and the time required for the replacement work of the packing paper roll can be reduced, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

[Description of Drawings]

[0024] 

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an apparatus for supplying packing paper according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 to 5 are views to sequentially explain automatic replacement operations of packing paper in the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an apparatus for supplying packing paper according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are views to sequentially explain automatic replacement operations of packing paper in the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic views showing the structure of the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Best Mode]

[Mode for Invention]

[0025] Hereinafter, an apparatus for supplying packing paper provided in an automatic medicine packing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0026] Although not shown, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the present invention may be installed and used in an automatic medicine packing apparatus configured similarly to that of the related art. In other words, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the present invention may be installed and used in the automatic medicine packing apparatus including a plurality of medicine cassettes provided at an upper portion of a body to receive tablets or capsules having various sizes and various shapes, hoppers provided under the body to collect medicines dropped from the medicine cassettes, a printing unit to print various pieces of information on the surface of a pack having medicines therein, and a packing unit to pack the medicines collected by the hoppers by using a packing paper.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be arranged under the body of the automatic medicine packing apparatus together with a printing unit 3, hoppers (especially, final hopper 5), and a packing unit 7.

[0028] The apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes packing paper roll mounting units 11a, 11b, and 11c to rotatably mount at least two of packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c, a guiding roller 15 to guide packing paper released from the packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c mounted in the packing paper roll mounting units 11a, 11b, and 11c so that the packing paper is supplied to the packing unit 7 through the printing unit 3 and the final hopper 5, sensors 16a, 16b, and 16c to detect whether or not packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c are completely consumed, and a packing paper bonding unit to bond a distal end of packing paper from the packing paper roll 14a, 14b, or 14c, which is almost completely consumed, with a front end of packing paper from a new packing paper roll 14a, 14b, or 14c when one of the packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c is almost completely consumed.

[0029] FIGS. 1 to 5 show that three packing paper roll mounting units 11a, 11b, and 11c are provided for the illustrative purpose.

[0030] The packing paper roll mounting unit 11a, 11b, and 11c include mounting shafts 12a, 12b, and 12c fitted into the packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c, and tension maintaining pressing members 13a, 13b, and 13c to press the packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c, respectively, so that the packing paper released from each of the packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c fitted around the mounting shafts 12a, 12b, and 12c have tension that is properly maintained. The tension maintaining pressing members 13a, 13b, and 13c are configured to press the packing paper rolls by elastic units, such as a clockwork spring or a coil spring.

[0031] Sensor 16a, 16b, and 16c are provided in each of the packing paper roll mounting unit 11a, 11b, and 11c, respectively, one by one to detect whether or not the packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c mounted in the packing paper roll mounting unit 11a, 11b, and 11c are completely consumed. If the sensors 16a, 16b, and 16c sense that the packing paper rolls are completely consumed, the sensors 16a, 16b, and 16c transmit signals to a control unit, which is not shown, and the control unit controls the apparatus for supplying the packing paper so that packing paper is released from a new packing paper roll.

[0032] The packing paper bonding unit bonds a distal end of packing paper from the packing paper roll 14a, 14b, or 14c, which is almost completely consumed, with a front end of packing paper from a new packing paper roll 14a, 14b, or 14c through a fusion unit including a heating element. Since packing paper for medicine includes vinyl weak for heat or paper formed by laminating vinyl, the packing paper can be easily bonded by heat. The configuration to bond the packing paper by heat of the fusion unit is generally known to those skilled in the art, the details thereof will be omitted in the following description.

[0033] One packing paper bonding unit is provided in each of the packing paper roll mounting unit 11a, 11b, and 11c. The packing paper boding units include packing paper supports 18a, 18b, and 18c to temporarily attach the packing paper thereto and fusion units 19a, 19b, and 19c dispaceably installed in a direction of being close to or away from the packing paper supports 18a, 18b, and 18c.

[0034] The front end of packing paper of the packing paper roll 14a, 14b, or 14c, which is not used, is temporarily attached to the packing paper support 18a, 18b, or 18c of the corresponding packing paper bonding unit. The front end of the packing paper of the packing paper roll 14a, 14b, or 14c may be attached using a double-side tape or a fixing clip. In this case, the attachment scheme is naturally made to easily separate the front end of the packing paper from the packing paper support 18a, 18b, or 18c after the distal end of the packing paper of the packing paper roll, which is almost completely consumed, has been bonded with the front end of the packing paper of the new packing paper roll by the packing paper bonding unit.

[0035] Hereinafter, a method of automatically replacing the packing paper in the apparatus for supplying the packing paper having the above structure according to the first embodiment will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the following description, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper is configured to simultaneously mount three packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c as shown in drawings for the illustrative purpose, and English characters a, b, and c attached to reference numerals of members refer to packing paper rolls, which are first, second, and third used, and members related thereto.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows the status that packing paper is supplied from the first packing paper roll 14a mounted in the first packing paper roll mounting unit 11a to the packing unit 7 through the printing unit 3. In this case, the packing paper released from the first packing paper roll 14a sequentially passes between the first packing paper support 18a and the first fusion unit 19a of the first packing paper bonding unit, and between the packing paper support 18b and the second fusion unit 19b of the second packing paper bonding unit by the guiding rollers 15.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, if the first packing paper roll 14a is completely consumed, the first sensor 16a senses the complete consumption of the first packing paper roll 14a to transmit information to the control unit. Subsequently, the control unit temporarily stops a packing work, moves the first fusion unit 19a of the first packing paper bonding unit toward the first packing paper support 18a, and bonds the front end of the packing paper of the second packing paper roll 14b previously temporarily attached to the first packing paper support 18a with the distal end of the packing paper of the first packing paper roll 14a.

[0038] The packing paper released from the second packing paper roll 14b bonded with the packing paper released from the first packing paper roll 14a may be subsequently supplied to the printing unit 3 and the packing unit 7 as described above. In this case, the packing paper released from the second packing paper roll 14b passes between the second packing paper support 18b and the second fusion unit of the second packing paper bonding unit by the guiding rollers 15.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, if the second packing paper roll 14b is completely consumed, the second sensor 16b senses the complete consumption of the second packing paper roll 14b to transmit information to the control unit. Subsequently, the control unit temporarily stops a packing work, moves the second fusion unit 19b of the second packing paper bonding unit toward the second packing paper support 18b, and bonds the front end of the packing paper of the third packing paper roll 14c previously temporarily attached to the second packing paper support 18b with the distal end of the packing paper of the second packing paper roll 14b.

[0040] The packing paper released from the third packing paper roll 14c bonded with the packing paper released from the second packing paper roll 14b may be subsequently supplied to the printing unit 3 and the packing unit 7 as described above.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, if the third packing paper roll 14c is completely consumed, the third sensor 16c senses the complete consumption of the third packing paper roll 14c to transmit information to the control unit. Subsequently, the control unit temporarily stops the packing work while displaying the consumption of all packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c, which are mounted in the apparatus for supplying the packing paper, on a display unit (not shown) or making an alarm sound to inform a user of the consumption of the all packing paper rolls. Accordingly, the user may mount new packing paper rolls 14a, 14b, and 14c in the apparatus for supplying the packing paper through a replacement work.

[0042] The user arranges packing papers in such a manner that the distal end of the third packing paper roll 14c used in the previous step and a front end of the first packing paper roll 14a, which is newly supplied through the replacement work in a present step, pass between the third packing paper support 18c and the third fusion unit 19c of the third packing paper bonding unit. The attachment of the packing paper to the third packing paper support 18c may be optionally performed and not essentially performed.

[0043] The third fusion unit 19c of the third packing paper bonding unit is moved toward the third packing paper support 18c personally by the user or through the control of the control unit by the user, so that the distal end of the third packing paper roll 14c used in the previous step is bonded with the front end of the first packing paper roll 14a which is newly supplied through the replacement work in the previous step. After the bonding work, the automatic medicine packing apparatus may resume a normal prescription work.

[0044] Subsequently, the user mounts the second and third packing paper rolls 14b and 14c in the second and third packing paper roll mounting units 11b and 11e as shown in FIG. 5, and temporarily fixes the front end of each packing paper to the corresponding packing paper support, thereby finishing the replacement work of the packing paper roll.

[0045] Hereinafter, the structure and the operation of an apparatus for supplying packing paper according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the second embodiment of the present invention may be arranged under the body of the automatic medicine packing apparatus together with the printing unit 3, the hoppers (especially, final hopper 5), and the packing unit 7.

[0047] Similarly to the structure of the first embodiment described above, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes packing paper roll mounting units 31a, 31b, and 31c to rotatably mount at least two of packing paper rolls 34a, 34b, and 34c, a guiding roller 35 to guide packing paper released from the packing paper rolls 34a, 34b, and 34c mounted in the packing paper roll mounting units 31a, 31b, and 31c so that the packing paper is supplied to the packing unit 7 through the printing unit 3 and the final hopper 5, sensors 36a, 36b, and 36c to detect whether or not packing paper rolls 34a, 34b, and 34c are completely consumed, and a packing paper bonding unit to bond a distal end of packing paper from the packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c, which is almost completely consumed, with a front end of packing paper from a new packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c when one of the packing paper rolls 34a, 34b, and 34c is almost completely consumed.

[0048] FIGS. 6 to 9 show that three packing paper roll mounting units 31a, 31b, and 31c are provided for the illustrative purpose.

[0049] According to the second embodiment, the packing paper roll mounting units 31a, 31b, and 31c are arranged in a circular packing paper roll mounting plate 40. If one of the packing paper roll 34a, 34b, and 34c is completely consumed, the packing paper roll mounting plate 40 is rotated to transfer the packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c to be newly supplied to a use position.

[0050] The packing paper roll mounting unit 31a, 31b, and 31c respectively include mounting shafts 32a, 32b, and 32c fitted into the packing paper rolls 34a, 34b, and 34c, and tension maintaining pressing members 33a, 33b, and 33c to press the packing paper rolls 34a, 34b, and 34c, respectively, so that the packing paper released from each of the packing paper rolls 34a, 34b, and 34c fitted around the mounting shafts 32a, 32b, and 32c have tension that is properly maintained. The tension maintaining pressing members 33a, 33b, and 33c are configured to press the packing paper rolls by elastic units, such as a clockwork spring or a coil spring.

[0051] Sensor 36a, 36b, and 36c are provided in the packing paper roll mounting unit 31a, 31b, and 31c, respectively, one by one to detect whether or not the packing paper rolls 34a, 34b, and 34c mounted in the packing paper roll mounting unit 31a, 31b, and 31c, respectively are completely consumed. If the sensors 36a, 36b, and 36c sense that the packing paper rolls are completely consumed, the sensors 36a, 36b, and 36c transmit signals to a control unit, which is not shown, and the control unit controls the apparatus for supplying the packing paper so that packing paper released from a new packing paper roll may be supplied.

[0052] The packing paper bonding unit bonds a distal end of packing paper from the packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c, which is almost completely consumed, with a front end of packing paper from a new packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c through a fusion unit including a heating element. Since packing paper for medicine includes vinyl weak for heat or paper formed by laminating vinyl, the packing paper can be easily bonded by heat. The configuration to bond the packing paper by heat of the fusion unit is generally known to those skilled in the art, the details thereof will be omitted in the following description.

[0053] The packing paper boding units include packing paper supports 38a, 38b, and 38c to temporarily attach the packing paper thereto and a fusion unit 39 dispaceably installed in a direction of becoming close to or away from the packing paper supports 38a, 38b, and 38c. The packing paper supports 38a, 38b, and 38c are provided in the packing paper roll mounting units 31a, 31b, and 31c, respectively, one by one, and only one fusion unit 39 used in common is provided outside the circular packing paper roll mounting plate 40.

[0054] Different from the first embodiment in which the fusion units are provided in the packing paper rolls, respectively, one by one, only one fusion unit is installed according to the second embodiment, so that manufacturing cost can be saved.

[0055] The front end of packing paper of the packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c, which is not used, is temporarily attached to the packing paper support 38a, 38b, or 38c of the corresponding packing paper bonding unit. The front end of the packing paper from the packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c may be attached using a double-side tape or a fixing clip. In this case, the attachment scheme is naturally made to easily separate the front end of the packing paper from the packing paper support 38a, 38b, or 38c after the distal end of the packing paper of from packing paper roll, which is almost completely consumed, has been bonded with the front end of the packing paper from the new packing paper roll by the packing paper bonding unit.

[0056] In order to grasp the distal end of the packing paper while the distal end of the packing paper from the packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c, which is completely consumed, is bonded with the front end of the packing paper of the packing paper roll 34a, 34b, or 34c, which is newly supplied, a grasp member 37 is mounted outside the packing paper roll mounting plate 40.

[0057] Although FIGS. 6 to 9 show that the packing paper roll mounting plate 40 is a circular plate configured to rotate about a rotational shaft, the packing paper roll mounting plate 40 may be configured to perform linear motion vertically or horizontally. In other words, the packing paper roll mounting plate may be configured to have packing paper roll mounting units aligned in line with each other and to successively supply a new packing paper roll while performing linear motion vertically or horizontally.

[0058] Hereinafter, a method of automatically replacing the packing paper in the apparatus for supplying the packing paper having the above structure according to the second embodiment will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. In the following description, the packing paper roll mounting plate has a circular shape and three packing paper rolls are mounted together on the packing paper roll mounting plate as shown in drawings for the illustrative purpose, and English characters a, b, and c attached to reference numerals of members refer to packing paper rolls, which are first, second, and third used, and members related thereto.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows the status that packing paper is supplied from the fourth packing paper roll 34a mounted in the fourth packing paper roll mounting unit 31a to the packing unit 7 through the printing unit 3. In this case, the packing paper released from the fourth packing paper roll 34a passes between the grasp members 37 by the guiding rollers 35.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 7, if the fourth packing paper roll 34a is completely consumed, the fourth sensor 36a senses the complete consumption of the fourth packing paper roll 34a to transmit information to the control unit. Subsequently, the control unit temporarily stops a packing work and actuates the packing paper roll mounting plate 40 to position the fifth packing paper roll 34b to be newly supplied to a supply position. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit moves the fusion unit 39 toward the fifth packing paper support 38b of the fifth packaging paper bonding unit, and bonds the front end of the packing paper of the fifth packing paper roll 34b previously temporarily attached to the fifth packing paper support 38b with the distal end of the packing paper of the fourth packing paper roll 34a.

[0061] While the packing paper roll mounting plate 40 is actuated, the distal end of the packing paper is maintained in a grasped status by the grasp member 37. If the front end of the packing paper is completely bonded to the distal end of the packing paper, the grasp member 37 releases the grasped status of the distal end of the packing part.

[0062] As described above, the packing paper from the fifth packing paper roll 34b bonded with the packing paper from the fourth packing paper roll 34a can be successively supplied to the printing unit 3 and the packing unit 7.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 9, if the fifth packing paper roll 34b is completely consumed, the fifth sensor 36b senses the complete consumption of the fifth packing paper roll 34b to transmit information to the control unit. Subsequently, the control unit temporarily stops a packing work and actuates the packing paper roll mounting plate 40 to position the sixth packing paper roll 34c to be newly supplied to a supply position. Then, the control unit moves the fusion unit 39 toward the sixth packing paper support 38c of the sixth packaging paper bonding unit, and bonds the front end of the packing paper of the sixth packing paper roll 34c previously temporarily attached to the sixth packing paper support 38c with the distal end of the packing paper of the fifth packing paper roll 34b.

[0064] While the packing paper roll mounting plate 40 is actuated, the distal end of the packing paper is maintained in a grasped status by the grasp member 37. If the front end of the packing paper is completely bonded to the distal end of the packing paper, the grasp member 37 releases the grasped status of the distal end of the packing part.

[0065] As described above, the packing paper from the sixth packing paper roll 34c bonded with the packing paper from the fifth packing paper roll 34b can be successively supplied to the printing unit 3 and the packing unit 7.

[0066] If the sixth packing paper roll 34c is completely consumed, the sixth sensor 36c senses the complete consumption of the sixth packing paper roll 34c to transmit information to the control unit. Subsequently, the control unit temporarily stops the packing work while displaying the consumption of all packing paper rolls, which are mounted in the apparatus for supplying the packing paper, on a display unit (not shown) or making an alarm sound to inform a user of the consumption of the all packing paper rolls. Accordingly, the user may mount new packing paper rolls in the apparatus for supplying the packing paper through a replacement work.

[0067] The user arranges packing papers in such a manner that the distal end of the sixth packing paper roll 34c used in the previous step and a front end of the fourth packing paper roll 34a, which is newly supplied through the replacement work in a present step, pass between the fourth packing paper support 38a and the fusion u niti 39 of the fourth packing paper bonding unit. The attachment of the packing paper to the fourth packing paper support 38a may be optionally performed and not essentially performed.

[0068] Next, the fusion unit 39 is moved toward the fourth packing paper support 3a personally by the user or through the control of the control unit by the user, so that the distal end of the sixth packing paper roll 34c used in the previous step is bonded with the front end of the fourth packing paper roll 34a which is newly supplied through the replacement work in the previous step. After the bonding work, the automatic medicine packing apparatus may resume a normal prescription work.

[0069] Subsequently, the user mounts the fifth and sixth packing paper rolls 34b and 34c in the fifth and sixth packing paper roll mounting units 31b and 31e as shown in FIG. 6, and temporarily fixes the front end of each packing paper to the corresponding packing paper support, thereby finishing the replacement work of the packing paper roll.

[0070] FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic views showing an apparatus for supplying packing paper according to modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] Although the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 has the circular packing paper roll mounting plate 40 rotating while moving a new packing paper roll to a use position, the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the modification shown in FIG. 10 has a substantially rectangular packing paper roll mounting plate 60 that vertically performs linear movement while moving the new packing paper roll to the use position. The apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the modification shown in FIG. 11 has a substantially rectangular packing paper roll mounting plate 80 that horizontally performs linear movement while moving the new packing paper roll to the use position. In this regard, the second embodiment makes a difference from the modifications. The apparatuses for supplying packing paper according to the modifications of the second embodiment have the same structure and operation as those of the apparatus for supplying the packing paper according to the second embodiment except for shape and movement directions.

[0072] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying packing paper included in an automatic medicine packing apparatus, which packs required medicines in a unit of a dose after automatically discharging the required medicines from a plurality of medicine cassettes, and supplying packing paper to a packing unit for packing the medicines, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of packing paper roll mounting units to rotatably mount a packing paper roll therein;

a guiding roller to guide packing paper released from the packing paper roll mounted in the packing paper roll mounting units to supply the packing paper to the packing unit;

a sensor to detect whether the packing paper roll is completely consumed or not; and

a packing paper bonding unit to bond a distal end of packing paper from one packing paper roll, which is completely consumed, with a front end of packing paper from a new packing paper roll when the one packing paper roll is completely consumed among a plurality of packing paper rolls.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packing paper roll mounting unit comprises:

a mounting shaft fitted into the packing paper roll; and

a pressing member that presses the packing paper roll to maintain tension of the packing paper released from the packing paper roll fitted around the mounting shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one sensor is provided for each of the packing paper roll mounting units.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one packing paper bonding unit is provided for each of the packing paper roll mounting unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packing paper bonding unit bonds the distal end of the packing paper from the packing paper roll, which is completely consumed, with the front end of the packing paper from the new packing paper roll by applying heat through a fusion unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the packing paper bonding unit comprises a packing paper support to temporarily attach a front end of packing paper from a packing paper roll, which is not used, thereto.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a packing paper roll mounting plate on which the packing paper roll mounting units are arranged.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the packing paper roll mounting plate is moved to transfer the new packing paper roll to a use position if the one packing paper roll is completely consumed.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the packing paper bonding unit comprises:

a packing paper support to temporarily attach the packing paper thereto; and

a fusion unit dispaceably installed in a direction of becoming close to or away from the packing paper support to fuse packing papers by applying heat to the packing papers.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein one packing paper support is provided for each of the packing paper roll mounting units, and one common fusion unit is provided outside the packing paper roll mounting plate.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a grasp member to grasp the distal end of the packing paper while the distal end of the packing paper from the packing paper roll, which is completely consumed, is bonded with the front end of the packing paper of the new packing paper roll.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the packing paper roll mounting units are circularly arranged on the packing paper roll mounting plate, and the packing paper roll mounting plate is rotated to move the new packing paper roll to a use position if the one packing paper roll is completely consumed.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the packing paper roll mounting units are arranged in line with each other on the packing paper roll mounting plate, and the packing paper roll mounting plate performs linear motion vertically or horizontally to move the new packing paper roll to a use position if the one packing paper roll is completely consumed.

Drawing