Drug packaging unit and drug transfer method for same

A drug packaging unit comprising:

• a storage portion configured to store drugs therein, wherein the storage portion is movable up and down by a first driver connected thereto and rotatable by a second driver connected thereto such that the drugs stored in the storage portion are discharged through an outlet thereof by centrifugal force;
• a supply channel fixed to the storage portion and configured to supply the drugs discharged from the storage portion to a drug packaging member, the supply channel including an inlet portion connected to the outlet of the storage portion, an outlet portion opposite to the inlet portion, and a middle portion provided between the inlet portion and the outlet portion;
• a detection portion configured to detect the drugs passing through the supply channel, thereby detecting a drug supply error;
• and
• a third driver including a vibrator attached to the supply channel at the inlet portion and configured to vibrate the supply channel,
• wherein the detection portion comprises at least one drug detection sensor installed in the supply channel, and the at least one drug detection sensor includes an inlet sensor installed at the inlet portion of the supply channel to detect the drugs introduced into the supply channel through the inlet portion, an outlet sensor installed at the outlet portion of the supply channel to detect the drugs discharged out of the supply channel, and a middle sensor installed at the middle portion between the inlet portion and the outlet portion to detect the drugs passing through the supply channel,
• wherein, if the drug packaging unit is stopped in a middle of an operation of the drug packaging unit, after the drug packaging unit is stopped, the outlet sensor or the middle sensor is configured to restart to detect the drugs on the supply channel and the vibrator is configured to vibrate the supply channel if no drug is detected by the outlet sensor or by the middle sensor at the middle portion of the supply channel until the drugs move to the outlet portion and the middle portion of the supply channel such that the drugs remain at the outlet portion and the middle portion of the supply channel.