Detection apparatus for detecting taking-out of contained object from blister pack, detection method therefor, and medication management system

A detection method of detecting whether a contained object exists in a blister pack including a plurality of containing portions and a sheet covering the plurality of containing portions, the method comprising:

• pressing, using a cover, the blister pack in a closed state toward a plate on which the blister pack is arranged;
• and
• detecting, using a plurality of light sources that emit light beams to the plurality of containing portions of the blister pack and a plurality of sensors that receive the light beams emitted from the light sources and reflected by the sheet or the cover, and also output electrical signals corresponding to light reception intensities, the presence/absence of contained objects in the respective containing portions based on the electrical signals output from the plurality of sensors;
• wherein light reflected by the sheet or the cover is received by the plurality of sensors so that said detecting step correctly detects the presence/absence of contained objects in the respective containing portions thereby avoiding a false reading.

A medication management system for managing a timing at which a medicine is taken out from a blister pack including a plurality of containing portions and a sheet covering the plurality of containing portions, the system comprising:

• a plate on which the blister pack is arranged;
• a cover having a function of pressing the blister pack toward said plate in a closed state;
• a plurality of light sources that emit light beams to the plurality of containing portions of the blister pack arranged on said plate;
• a plurality of sensors that receive the light beams emitted from said light sources and reflected by the sheet or the cover, and also output electrical signals corresponding to light reception intensities;
• a detector that detects the presence/absence of contained objects in the respective containing portions based on the electrical signals output from said plurality of sensors;
• and
• a display unit that displays detection results by said detector;
• wherein light reflected by the sheet or the cover is received by the plurality of sensors so that the detector correctly detects the presence/absence of contained objects in the respective containing portions thereby avoiding a false reading.