PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic drug label reading apparatus capable of automatically reading drug labels displayed on a long cylindrical-shaped drug container by rotating the long cylindrical-shaped drug container without dropping the same even if the position and direction of the long cylindrical-shaped drug container such as an ampul or a vial are slightly shifted.SOLUTION: An automatic drug label reading apparatus includes a saucer part 11 placing a long cylindrical-shaped drug container between two surfaces arranged in a V-shape to rotate the same, in which at least one of two surfaces is the upper surface of the annular belt 14 of a belt conveyor and a reading device for reading the drug label displayed on a returned drug A and the returned drug A is rotated accompanied by the movement of the upper surface of the annular belt 14 and, during this rotation, the drug label is automatically read by the reading device. In this case, since the returned drug A is present between two surfaces arranged in the V-shape of the saucer part 11, even if the position and direction of the returned drug A are slightly shifted, the returned drug A always goes toward a V-shaped leading end part to be prevented from being dropped.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】アンプルやバイアル等の長筒形薬品容器の位置および方向が多少ずれていても、長筒形薬品容器を落とすことなく回転させ、長筒形薬品容器に表示された薬品ラベルを自動的に読み取ることが可能な薬品ラベル自動読取装置の提供。【解決手段】V字状に配置された2面間に長筒形薬品容器を載せて回転させる受皿部11であり、2面のうち少なくとも1面がベルトコンベアの環状ベルト14上面である受皿部11と、返品薬Aに表示された薬品ラベルを読み取る読取装置とを含む薬品ラベル自動読取装置であり、返品薬Aは、環状ベルト14上面の移動に伴って回転させられ、この回転の際に読取装置により薬品ラベルが自動的に読み取られる。このとき、返品薬Aは、受皿部11のV字状に配置された2面間にあるため、返品薬Aの位置および方向が多少ずれていても、常にV字状の先端部に向かうようになり、返品薬Aを落とすことがない。【選択図】図2
