Tablet dispensing and managing container

Abstract

An upper case with a stopper projection that extends downward between an outlet and a dispensing standby space, in a situation where a container body is closed. A lower case with a pusher member that is positioned on a side opposed to the stopper projection with respect to the dispensing standby space, in a situation where the container body is closed, the pusher member being configured to, during an operation for opening the upper case, push a tablet located in the dispensing standby space toward the outlet. During the operation for opening the upper case, the stopper projection is configured to get over a side surface of the tablet located in the dispensing standby space, and is configured to stop an outlet-side surface of a tablet succeeding to the tablet having been located in the dispensing standby space. A sensor unit detects passage of one tablet to the outlet.

1 . A tablet dispensing and managing container comprising:
 an upper case and a lower case, the upper case and the lower case being configured to form a container body capable of containing a plurality of tablets together;   a sensor unit configured to detect occurrence of dispensing of a tablet;   a data recording unit configured to record a detection result by the sensor unit; and   a battery for the data recording unit;   wherein:   when the upper case is slid with respect to the lower case, the container body is opened or closed;   the lower case is provided with an outlet that is sized to allow only one tablet to be dispensed therefrom at a time, and with a dispensing standby space in communication with the outlet;   the upper case is provided with a stopper projection that projects to between the outlet and the dispensing standby space, in a situation where the container body is closed;   the lower case is provided with a pusher member that is positioned on a side opposed to the stopper projection with respect to the dispensing standby space, in a situation where the container body is closed, the pusher member being configured to, during an operation for opening the upper case, push a tablet located in the dispensing standby space toward the outlet;   during the operation for opening the upper case, the stopper projection is configured to be deformed or displaced to get over a side surface of a tablet located in the dispensing standby space, and is configured to stop an outlet-side surface of a tablet succeeding to the tablet having been located in the dispensing standby space; and   the sensor unit is configured to detect passage of one tablet moving from the dispensing standby space to the outlet so as to detect occurrence of dispensing of the tablet.   
     
     
         2 . The tablet dispensing and managing container according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the stopper projection is disposed to extend downward from the upper case.   
     
     
         3 . The tablet dispensing and managing container according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the stopper projection includes:   a flexibly deformable part extending from the upper case; and   a slidably movable part that is slidably movable in a direction where the slidably movable part pushes the flexibly deformable part.   
     
     
         4 . The tablet dispensing and managing container according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the sensor unit is configured to detect passage of a tablet by an electric connection between an electric conductor and an electric terminal, the electric conductor and the electric terminal being configured to be deformed or displaced by the passage of the tablet.   
     
     
         5 . The tablet dispensing and managing container according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the data recording unit is a time logger configured to record a detection result by the sensor unit along with time data.   
     
     
         6 . The tablet dispensing and managing container according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper case and the lower case have a rectangular shape in plan view;   the upper case is slidably moved with respect to the lower case in a longitudinal direction of the rectangular shape; and   the outlet is formed near to a corner of the rectangular shape.   
     
     
         7 . The tablet dispensing and managing container according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the lower case is provided with a tablet guide rail that bypasses the pusher member so as to guide a tablet up to the dispensing standby space.   
     
     
         8 . The tablet dispensing and managing container according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the upper case is provided with a CRSF mechanism configured to prevent that the upper case is slidably moved with respect to the lower case.   
     
     
         9 . The tablet dispensing and managing container according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the CRSF mechanism includes:   a claw part disposed on one of the upper case and the lower case, the claw part projecting toward the other of the upper case and the lower case;   a claw receiving part disposed on the other of the upper case and the lower case, the claw receiving part being engageable with the claw part; and   a resilient part connected to one of the claw part and the claw receiving part, the resilient part being deformable to move one of the claw part and the claw receiving part away from the other of the claw part and the claw receiving part, so that the claw part and the claw receiving part are disengaged from each other.