JP2006321516A - Medicine dose packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medicine dose packaging machine which is given an additional simple, inexpensive member to allow execution of proper printing on one dose package or medicine storage compartment even if printing timing is shifted a little when a plurality of print mechanisms are incorporated into the machine. <P>SOLUTION: The medicine dose packaging machine 10 packages medicine dose, using an elongated dose packaging belt 2. The packaging machine 10 comprises a cutter 27, a roller 26 (first tractive mechanism), a lateral sealing unit 25, a casting hopper 24, a vertical sealing unit 23, a printer 22 (first print mechanism), rollers 47 and 48 (first slack adjusting mechanism), a roller unit 46 (second tractive mechanism), a printer 43 (second print mechanism), rollers 41 and 42 (second slack adjusting mechanism), and a packaging belt feeding unit 21. These units are disposed in this order along the feeding path of the dose packaging belt 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medicine packaging machine for packaging medicines such as tablets and capsules, and more particularly, to a medicine packaging machine that performs printing in each of a medicine storage chamber and a package that are formed in a long packaging band.

A continuous paper (long bandage) is heat-sealed to form a medicine storage room, and a predetermined amount of medicine is injected into the medicine storage room, for example, one dose at a time, and the medicine storage room (packaging) Various types of drug packaging machines that have been designed to be sealed have been developed and used in pharmacies and hospital dispensing departments.
When these models are classified by continuous paper, two continuous papers are used by being overlapped (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1, 2, and 4), and one continuous paper is used by being folded in two ( For example, refer to Patent Document 3).

  In the latter case (see, for example, Patent Document 3), heat-seal formation of a wrapping (medicine storage chamber) is performed while feeding a long wrapping band (continuous paper) in a horizontal direction, for example, in the horizontal direction, and the folded portion is packed It is designed to be on the bottom side. In that case, heat sealing is performed before and after the drug is charged, but I-shaped heat sealing is performed before the drug is charged to form a bag-shaped compartment / storage chamber with an open upper side. Later, the upper side is closed and a square-shaped heat seal is performed to seal the package (medicine storage chamber). In the I-shaped heat seal, one of the left and right sides is performed, and the other side of the left and right is also used as the heat seal portion of the immediately preceding package (medicine storage chamber).

  In the former case (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 4), two continuous sheets are overlapped to form a long bandage. A heat seal is formed in the storage chamber (packaging). In this case as well, heat sealing is performed separately before and after the injection of the drug. In this case, the heat seal member is a single body or a set of objects shared before and after the injection of the drug, and the heat seal shape is concave. (U-shaped). Then, by the concave heat seal, the medicine storage chamber (packaging) into which the medicine is to be put in is formed in a bag shape with the upper side released, and at the same time, the medicine storage chamber (packaging) in which the medicine has been supplied just before ) The upper side is closed.

  The former type of medicine packaging machine that forms a long wrapping band by superimposing two continuous sheets by downward transfer like the former is often used for desktop machines and other small machines, while the latter is a two-fold continuous sheet The type of medicine packaging machine that transports sideways is widely used in large machines combined with a medicine container that stores many kinds of medicines. Information related to the injected drug is printed in each room and package. For example, patient names, usages, and the like designated by prescriptions are printed (see Patent Document 3) or printed in color or multicolor (see Paragraph 0040 of Patent Document 4).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-217309 (Page 1, Fig. 1-2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 04-102526 (first page, FIG. 1) JP 2000-175990 A (first page, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-286364 (FIG. 2, paragraph 0040)

Furthermore, recently, not only characters but also various images are listed as print candidates. Moreover, even if it limits only to a character, there exists a request | requirement of proper use of various fonts and mixed use. When the size of the parcel / medicine storage room becomes variable, data processing such as enlargement / reduction of characters and images becomes necessary.
In order to meet such demands, it is necessary to process a large amount of data at high speed and send it to the printer. However, the processing time per package is shortened due to the improvement of the drug input speed and the drug packaging speed. Therefore, processing and transmission of print information becomes a bottleneck.

For this, it is an easy solution to adopt a high-speed processing print engine and a high-speed transmission specification communication line, but this method requires high-speed performance that exceeds the performance of popular products. There is a disadvantage that the cost increases rapidly.
In order to alleviate such high speed, it is effective to distribute a plurality of printer heads (printing mechanisms) and print engines (printing control circuits) to distribute the load of data processing and data transmission.

However, when a plurality of printers are used, printing for one parcel / medicine storage chamber is performed at a plurality of locations in the feeding path of the parcel band / continuous paper. Inevitably, the printing timing will also shift. For this reason, it is necessary to adjust the printing timing among a plurality of printers, but it is not always easy to match the printing timing strictly while handling a large amount of print data. And maintenance costs are inevitable.
Therefore, a medicine packaging machine that can perform printing on one packaging / medicament storage chamber appropriately even if there is a slight deviation in printing timing by adding a simple and inexpensive member when multiple printing mechanisms are used. Realizing the above is a technical issue.

  The medicine packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 1) was created in order to solve such a problem. In the medicine packaging machine for packaging medicine with a long packaging band, A first traction mechanism, a first printing mechanism, a first relaxation adjustment mechanism, a second traction mechanism, and a second printing mechanism (desirably further a second relaxation adjustment mechanism) in order along the feeding path (from the destination to the source). Is arranged.

  Further, the medicine packaging machine of the present invention (Solution 2) is a medicine packaging machine for packaging medicines in the wrapping band while superposing two continuous sheets to form a long wrapping band. A first printing mechanism is provided for one feeding path of the paper, and a second printing mechanism is provided for the other feeding path of the continuous paper.

In such a medicine packaging machine of the present invention (solution 1), when the medicine is packaged, the portion of the packaging band to be printed that is sent by the first pulling mechanism is the first printing mechanism. Printing is performed, and printing by the second printing mechanism is performed on the portion sent by the second pulling mechanism. In addition, the slack is secured in the bandage between them, and the relaxed state is adjusted by the relaxation adjusting mechanism.
In this way, the bandage can be sent individually at a plurality of printing locations, and the slack of the bandage can be adjusted in the middle, etc. There is no need to match the printing timings of the printing mechanisms.

The allowable range of the timing deviation is determined according to the adjustment capability of the relaxation adjustment mechanism. For example, by adding a movable arm with a tension adjustment spring to change the position of the bandage guide roller, the cost can be easily reduced. It is possible to embody a desired relaxation adjusting mechanism without applying a force.
Therefore, according to the present invention, by adding a simple and inexpensive member when a plurality of printing mechanisms are used, even if there is a slight deviation in printing timing, it is possible to appropriately perform printing for one package / medicine storage chamber. A simple medicine packaging machine can be realized.

In the medicine packaging machine of the present invention (solution 2), printing is performed at each printing location while the long packaging band is still divided into two continuous sheets. Therefore, also in this case, if printing is performed at an appropriate timing by the corresponding printing mechanism on each continuous sheet, it is not necessary to match the printing timings of the plurality of printing mechanisms. In addition, such a distributed arrangement of the printing mechanisms can be easily realized by adding an inexpensive mounting member or a bandage guide roller.
Therefore, according to the present invention, a simple and inexpensive member can be added when a plurality of printing mechanisms are used, so that even if there is a slight deviation in printing timing, it is possible to appropriately perform printing for one package / medicine storage chamber. A medicine packaging machine can be realized.

It should be noted that it is desirable to assign a separate print engine (printing control circuit) to each printing mechanism in any of the solution means 1 and 2 in the medicine packaging machine.
As a result, not only the final printing operation but also the data processing and data transmission load required for preparation for printing can be distributed.

About the medicine packaging machine of such this invention, the specific form for implementing this is demonstrated by the following Examples 1-3.
The embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 and the embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 2 embody the solution 1 described above (claim 1 at the beginning of the application), and the embodiment 3 shown in FIG. The solution 2 described above (claim 2 at the beginning of the application) is embodied.
In these drawings, for the sake of simplicity, fasteners such as bolts, coupling tools such as hinges, drive sources such as electric motors, transmission members such as timing belts, electric circuits such as motor drivers, and detailed electronic components Circuits and the like are omitted from the illustration, and those necessary for explaining the invention and related ones are mainly shown.

  About the Example 1 of the medicine packaging machine of this invention, the specific structure is demonstrated with reference to drawings. This medicine packaging machine 10 is of a type that wraps a tablet while laterally feeding a folding sheet 2 of a folded sheet, and FIG. 1 (a) is a block diagram and a perspective view of the main part thereof.

  This medicine packaging machine 10 is the most typical tablet packaging machine among automatic dispensing machines used in hospitals, pharmacies, and the like. In order to handle tablets as medicines, a large number of tablet feeders 13 and these tablet feeders 13 are used. A collection mechanism (not shown) for collecting the discharged medicine and a packaging device 20 for packaging the collected medicine are provided. The tablet is discharged from an appropriate tablet feeder 13 according to the prescription, and the medicine is collected. Then, the medicine is packed in the packing band 2 by being fed into the input hopper 24 of the lower packaging device 20.

  The packaging device 20 wraps the collected medicine in the packaging band 2, holds the roll of the packaging band 2 in order in the feeding direction along the feeding path of the packaging band 2, and sends out the packaging band in order from the tip. A tension adjusting mechanism 41 + 42 (second relaxation adjusting mechanism) including a feeding unit 21, a position-fixed bandage guide roller 41, and a position-variable bandage guide roller 42; and a printer 43 (first) that performs printing on the bandage 2 Tension adjusting mechanism 47 + 48 (first relaxation) comprising a printing part 2), a roller part 46 (second pulling mechanism) for pulling the bandage 2, a position-fixing bandage guide roller 47, and a position-variable bandage guide roller 48. Adjustment mechanism), a printer 22 (first printing mechanism) for printing on the bandage 2, and a vertical seal member 23 having a heating element extending vertically and fusing the vertical seal portion of the bandage 2 by heating. Move up and down, minutes A feeding hopper 24 for inserting and removing the tip inside, a horizontal sealing member 25 having a heating element extending horizontally and heating and sealing the horizontal sealing portion of the dividing band 2, and a roller portion 26 (first) for pulling the dividing band 2 1 pulling mechanism) and a cutter 27 for cutting or cutting the perforating band 2.

Of these, the position-variable rollers 42 and 48 are omitted in the drawing, but are attached to the movable end of the movable arm, for example, and the arm is biased in a direction to eliminate the slack of the bandage 2 with a tension adjustment spring. As a result, an appropriate tension is applied to the bandage 2 and the loosening state of the bandage 2 is adjusted so as not to cause inconvenient slack.
The roller portions 26 and 46 are driven by a pulse motor or the like (not shown) so that the rotation angle is fine and accurate. By resetting the number of pulses or the like instructed thereto to a motor control circuit or the like (not shown). The amount of rotation can be changed at any time. Thereby, the packaging apparatus 20 is provided with variable means for varying the feeding amount of the packing band 2 and can change the width, that is, the size of the packing.

  Further, as the printers 22 and 43, an appropriate type such as a dot impact type, a thermal transfer type, a thermal type or an ink jet type is used, but the print head portion is fixed so as to face the feeding path of the parcel band 2. The printer 43 (second print mechanism) is assigned a print engine 44 (second print control circuit), and the printer 22 (first print mechanism) is dedicated to the print engine 45 (first print control circuit). Assigned to. The print engines 44 and 45 are composed of individual circuits of, for example, a microprocessor system, transmit data at high speed with the main controller 30 (control device), perform high-speed data processing such as expansion and contraction of characters and images, and the like. The printers 43 and 22 are configured to print.

A controller 30 (control device) is provided to perform operation control of these mechanisms 13 and 20.
The controller 30 is composed of a microprocessor system incorporated in a device, and a feeder control routine 33, an input routine 34, a printer control routine 36, a packaging control routine 37, and the like are installed in the program ROM. In addition, storage areas such as one-pack data 31, 32, common data 35, feed amount data 38, and lock number data 39 are allocated to the RAM.

  When the packaging control routine 37 or the printer control routine 36 waits for data, the input routine 34 sends a data request to a host controller such as an operator console (not shown) via the cable A, and dispensing data derived from the prescription data corresponding thereto. When print information is sent, it is sorted into common data and single package data, and the common data 35 is stored in a memory area allocated exclusively for it. Further, when one package data is sent, it is stored in another area so as not to destroy the common data 35. The single package data holds at least the single package data 32 for the current package and the single package data 31 for the next package. As described above, the input routine 34 processes the transferred package information separately for each package and a plurality of data.

A single memory area is allocated to each of the single package data 31 and 32. When the next data is input, the single package data 31 of the next package is changed to the current single package data 32. The new data is written in the single-pack data 31.
One memory area is also allocated to the common data 35, which is also overwritten when the next common data is input by switching prescription data or the like.

  The printer control routine 36 sorts the data and prints the current print command and prints the next package in order to print the package information including the common data 35 and the single package data 31 and 32 on the package 2. The command is generated and a print command is issued to the print engine 45 that directly controls the printer 22 and the print engine 44 that directly controls the printer 43. This is to absorb a shift in the control timing caused by the position of the printer 22 and the printer 43 facing the packing band 2 being shifted by about one package, and the like. In order to absorb the deviation of the control timing due to the deviation of the position facing the bandage 2, the feed amount data 38, the lock number data 39, etc. are stored in a region different from the single packet data 31, 32. It is also like.

  The feeder control routine 33 controls the tablet feeder 13 to cause the medicine discharge and collection essential for the packaging operation to be performed, referring to the tablet number data 39 and the like, and the tablet feeder 13 stocking the specified medicine. Is selected, and a discharge command is sent to the designated number of tablets. The packaging control routine 37 sends the vertical seal member 23, the loading hopper 24, the horizontal seal member 25, the roller portions 26 and 46, and the cutter 27 at an appropriate timing while monitoring the status of the feeder control routine 33 and the printer control routine 36. Sends operation commands and control signals. In accordance with this control, the packaging device 20 forms a horizontal seal portion having a width according to the feed amount data 38 and encloses the medicine collected from the tablet feeder 13 therein. Thereby, the packaging control routine 37 variably controls the feeding amount of the packaging band 2 when the packaging device 20 is controlled to perform the packaging operation.

  The division of roles of the printing contents relating to the printing means comprising the printer 22 and the print engine 45 and the printing means comprising the printer 43 and the print engine 44 can be classified in various ways. 22 is a thermal transfer type monochrome, and when it prints prescription information of a medicine packaged and put into a medicine storage room, the print engine 45 receives the basic data, feed amount data, etc. from the printer control routine 36, Print data is prepared while adjusting the size of a predetermined font according to the number of characters and the amount of feed, and the printer 22 prints it.

  On the other hand, the printer 43 employs ink-jet color printing and multi-color printing, and prints precautions and explanations regarding the input medicine, marking the distribution destination classification such as wards, etc. An image useful for confirming a drug and identifying a patient is printed. In this case, the print engine 44 receives the basic data, the feed amount data, the font designation number, the compressed image data, and the like from the printer control routine 36, and adjusts the size according to the feed amount while adjusting the size of the font and image. A development process is performed to prepare print data, and the printer 43 prints the print data.

  About the chemical | medical agent packaging machine 10 of this Example 1, the use aspect and operation | movement are demonstrated referring drawings. FIG. 2 (b) is an example of a packing band 2 in which tablets are packed by the drug packing machine 10.

  When prescription data is input to a host controller such as a console (not shown), dispensing data and printing information derived therefrom are sent to the controller 30 of the medicine packaging machine 10 via the cable A. At that time, the common data 35 is first input to the input routine 34, and then the first package data 31 is input. Then, the printer control routine 36 sends the print data of the printer 43 out of the common data 35 and the single package data 31 to the print engine 44. The feed amount data 38 and the lock number data 39 are also set. In this way, the color printing process by inkjet is performed among the printing processes for the first parcel / medicine storage chamber in the parcel band 2 (in the figure, “cautions when taking”).

  Then, while the next data request is issued from the input routine 34 to the host controller, the bandage 2 is advanced by the feed amount data 38 under the control of the packaging control routine 37. At this time, since the current one-pack data 32 is empty, no print command is issued to the print engine 45, and the roller unit 26 and the roller unit 46 perform the feeding operation by the idle feed control by the packaging control routine 37, As a result, the dividing band 2 is fed by one package from the packaging band feeding unit 21 side to the cutter 27 side. If the second one-pack data 31 is input before the empty feed is finished, this is set to the next pack, and the previous one-pack data 31 is changed to the current one-pack data 32. Carried forward.

  This time, since not only the next package but the current package is not empty, the printer control routine 36 sends the print data of the printer 43 out of the common data 35 and the single package data 31 of the next package to the print engine 44. At the same time, the print data of the printer 22 out of the common data 35 and the current single package data 32 is sent to the print engine 45. The feed amount data 38 and the lock number data 39 are also updated. Thus, the monochrome printing process by thermal transfer is performed among the printing processes for the first parcel / medicine storage chamber in the bandage 2 (in the figure, “12 tablets after the patient's lunch”), and the second fraction in the bandage 2 Among the printing processes for the package / medicine storage chamber, an inkjet color printing process is performed. Thus, printing for the first parcel / medicine storage room is completed, and data for inputting the drug to the first packaging / medicine storage room is prepared.

  Further, a further data request is issued from the input routine 34 to the host controller, while the bandage 2 is advanced by the feed amount data 38 under the control of the packaging control routine 37. This time, the medicine is put into the first package / medicine storage room which is not printed, but is printed. Specifically, the roller unit 26 and the roller unit 46 perform a feeding operation under the control of the packaging control routine 37, and as a result, only one package is sent from the packaging band feeding unit 21 side to the cutter 27 side. Further, the medicine is discharged by the amount of the lock number data 39 by the control of the feeder control routine 33, and the medicine is loaded from the loading hopper 24 into the first packaging / medicine storage chamber by the control of the packaging control routine 37. The sealing process by the vertical seal part 23 and the horizontal seal part 25 as well as the formation of perforations by the cutter 27 and the cutting of the bandage 2 are appropriately performed.

Then, if the third one-pack data 31 is input before the medicine is charged, this is set as the next pack, and the previous one-pack data 31 is replaced with the current one-pack data 32. Moved up.
In this way, the printing process for the second and third packaging / medicine storage rooms is started in parallel with the loading of the medicine into the first packaging / medicine storage room, and data preparation for the drug feeding there is also performed. Made.

  Although further detailed description that is repeated is omitted, the same processing is repeated for each package data designated by the prescription data, and automatic packaging based on one prescription is performed. In this way, automatic packaging is executed. At this time, the size of the packaging / medicine storage chamber formed in the packaging band 2 is appropriately switched based on the number of tablets per package. For example, if the number of three packages specified by a certain prescription is 6, 12 and 3, respectively, the widths of the respective packaging / drug storage chambers are 70 mm, 80 mm and 60 mm. In any of these, since the drug is not tightly packed therein, it is easy to visually confirm the number and state of the drug.

Further, since the printing on the bandage 2 by the printers 22 and 43 is performed in conformity to such a variable-size packaging / medicine storage room, the printed content is easy to see when the packaging / medicine storage room is large. Even when the sachet / medicine storage chamber is small, the printed contents are printed without omission.
Furthermore, not only when the size of the package / medicine storage chamber is variable, but also when it is not variable, when the contents of the single package data 31, 32 are different for each package / medicine storage chamber, the print engines 44, 45 are used. The data transmission time and data processing time related to fluctuate, but even if the operation start times of the roller portions 26 and 46 are deviated, it is “deviation” by adjusting the amount of loosening of the bandage with the tension adjusting mechanism 47 + 48. Is absorbed. Further, the adjustment of the roller unit 46 and the packaging band feeding unit 21 is performed by a tension adjusting mechanism 41 + 42. Therefore, the degree of parallel processing and parallel operation of each unit can be increased without difficulty, and high-speed printing of a large amount of information can be performed.

A specific configuration of the medicine packaging machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2A is a front view thereof.
This medicine packaging machine 60 is of a type in which two continuous papers 52 and 54 are overlapped while being vertically fed to form a packaging band 50.

  Since this medicine packaging machine 60 is a vertical type that feeds continuous sheets 52, 54 from top to bottom when compartments and medicine storage chambers are partitioned one after another, a support plate (support panel) is set up vertically. An operating member such as a transfer mechanism is mounted on the front surface (the front side and the front side shown in the figure), and a drive member such as an electric motor is mounted on the rear surface (the back side and the back side (not shown)). An electronic circuit / electric circuit such as a controller is stored in the storage.

  The difference from the conventional apparatus described in Patent Document 4 is that a print head 102 (second printing mechanism) is added in addition to the print head 105 (first printing mechanism) as printing means for the bandage 50, and further A roller 104 (first relaxation adjusting mechanism), a roller pair 103 (second pulling mechanism), and a roller 101 (second relaxation adjusting mechanism) are also added. Hereinafter, it demonstrates centering on those and the member relevant to it.

  Of the two continuous papers, one is usually a transparent paper 52 for visual recognition and the other is a printing paper 54 suitable for printing, but both are wound up in a roll for easy handling. As a continuous paper feeding mechanism for supplying these continuous papers while unrolling them, the transparent paper side (upper left in FIG. 2A) has a reel 71 on which the roll 51 of the transparent paper 52 is hung, A roller 72 for hanging the drawn transparent paper 52 is provided. On the side of the printing paper (upper right in FIG. 2A), a reel 74 on which the roll 53 of the printing paper 54 is placed, and the roll 53 is pulled out. A roller 101, a roller pair 103, a roller 104, a roller 75, and a roller 76 that suspend the printing paper 54 are provided.

  The rollers 72, 75, 76 are arranged closer to the center than the reels 71, 74 in order to bring the fed continuous sheets 52, 54 together. The roller 72 is shown as a representative example of a member for defining the feeding path of the transparent paper 52 among the feeding paths of the packing band 50 and adjusting the tension. A plurality of rollers 72 may be added, and an appropriate member is added. May be. The rollers 75 and 76 also define the feeding path of the printing paper 54 among the feeding paths of the parcel band 50. Between them, as a first printing mechanism that performs printing for the current amount on the printing paper 54, for example, A print head 105 corresponding to the printer 22 of the first embodiment is disposed. Although not shown, a dedicated print engine corresponding to the print engine 44 of the first embodiment described above is connected to this.

  Between the reel 74 and the roller 75 in the feeding path of the printing paper 54, as a second printing mechanism for printing the next package on the printing paper 54, for example, a print head corresponding to the printer 43 of the first embodiment described above. 102 is arranged. Again, although not shown, a dedicated print engine corresponding to the print engine 45 of the first embodiment described above is connected. A roller 101 (second relaxation adjusting mechanism) corresponding to the tension adjusting mechanism 41 + 42 of the first embodiment described above is disposed between the print head 102 and the reel 74 in the feeding path of the printing paper 54. Between the print head 102 and the roller 75 in the feed path, a roller pair 103 (second pulling mechanism) corresponding to the roller unit 46 of the first embodiment described above is disposed near the print head 102, and close to the roller 75. In addition, a roller 104 (first relaxation adjusting mechanism) corresponding to the tension adjusting mechanism 47 + 48 of the first embodiment described above is disposed.

  A medicine injection hopper 80 is disposed between the left roller 72 and the right roller 76, and at the transparent paper 52 side as a downward transfer mechanism in which the transfer direction of the continuous sheet is downward. A roller 73 is provided, which is disposed in the immediate vicinity to the left of the hopper 80, and a roller 77 is provided on the printing paper 54 side, which is disposed in the immediate right of the hopper 80, and overlaps the transparent paper 52. A pair of nipping rollers 78 (first pulling mechanism) is provided to collectively transfer the printing paper 54 downward, and is disposed below the hopper 80. At the lowermost position further below, a belt conveyor as a carry-out mechanism for carrying the wrapping band 50 formed by wrapping from the continuous papers 52 and 54 to the carry-out port at a predetermined position (right side in FIG. 2A). A unit 79 is arranged.

  In addition to the above-described print heads 102 and 105 and the hopper 80, a heat seal member and a cutter mechanism are provided facing the continuous paper feed path. The heat seal member is disposed between the hopper 80 and the roller pair 78 in order to form a sachet / medicine storage chamber by superposing two sheets of continuous paper and heat-sealing them, and the cutter mechanism separates the drug. In order to cut or perforate continuous paper that has been enclosed and enclosed in the package / drug storage chamber, it is disposed between the roller pair 78 and the belt conveyor unit 79. The cutter mechanism includes a cutter 93 with a blade and a cutter facing member 94 disposed opposite to each other across a continuous paper feed path. These 93 and 94 are driven forward and backward by an air cylinder, solenoid, etc. (not shown). And abut / separate.

  The heat seal member is used to overlap two continuous sheets 52, 54 transferred downward to form a bag with an open upper side and to close the upper side of the packaging / drug storage chamber after the drug is added. To be able to do so, it has a concave shape as before. The heat seal member has a concave-shaped heater head 91 with a heater (heat generating part, heating part) and a concave-shaped heater disposed oppositely across the feed path of the continuous paper 52, 54, that is, the dividing band 50. A counter head 92 is included, and these 91 and 92 are also driven forward and backward by an air cylinder, solenoid, etc. (not shown) so as to abut / separate.

A drug collection mechanism 61 is disposed above the hopper 80 and the like, and a drug storage 62 is further disposed thereon. The medicine storage 62 stores a large number of tablet feeders 63 that store various tablets such as pills and capsules so that they can be discharged.
The hopper 80 receives the medicine put from the medicine collecting mechanism 61, and puts the medicine into the packaging / medicine storage chamber formed on the continuous paper 52, 54 through heat release, through the open upper side. It has become. This does not interfere with the concave heat seal member.

  The use mode and operation of the medicine packaging machine 60 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2B is an example of a bandage 50 that is packaged by the medicine packaging machine 60.

  Also in this case, prescription data and the like are processed one by one by a controller (not shown) corresponding to the controller 30 of the first embodiment described above, and printing of the next package by the print head 102 and current printing by the print head 105 are performed. In addition to being performed in parallel and in parallel, the single-sheet feeding of the continuous sheets 52 and 54 by the roller pair 78 and the single-sheet feeding of the printing paper 54 by the roller pair 103 are also performed in parallel and in parallel.

  In addition, every time a single pack is fed by the roller pair 78, operation control of the tablet feeder 63, the heater head 91, and the cutter 93 is also performed based on the current amount of the prescription data and the like, and a desired medicine is delivered at an appropriate timing. Then, it is discharged from the tablet feeder 63 and fed into the packaging / medicine storage chamber of the continuous sheets 52 and 54, that is, the packaging / medicine storage chamber of the packaging band 50 through the drug collection mechanism 61 and the hopper 80.

Thus, in this case as well, the printing process is performed on the next package / drug storage chamber and the next package / drug storage chamber in parallel with the loading of the drug into a certain package / drug storage chamber.
At this time, even if the print timing on the printing paper 54 (the bandage 50) by the print heads 102 and 105 is shifted, the “shift” is absorbed by adjusting the bandage relaxation amount by the roller 104. The roller pair 103 and the roll 53 are adjusted by the roller 101. Therefore, in this case as well, the degree of parallel processing / parallel operation of each unit can be increased without difficulty, so that a large amount of information can be printed at high speed.

  The medicine packaging machine 160 of the present invention whose front view is shown in FIG. 3A is different from the medicine packaging machine 60 of the second embodiment described above in that the print head 102 feeds the continuous paper 52 from the feeding path of the printing paper 54. This is a point that has been rearranged in the feed path and a point that the roller pair 103 has been removed. The fixed positions of the rollers 75 and 76 and the variable positions of the rollers 101 and 104 are not clearly described, but are dispersed or appropriately discarded.

  A print engine (not shown) is individually connected to the print heads 102 and 105 individually provided for the feeding paths of the two continuous sheets 52 and 54, and processing and transmission of print data are distributed. In this case, since the long bandage 50 is still divided into two continuous sheets 52 and 54, printing is performed at each printing position. Instead of parallel processing, parallel processing is performed by sharing the current part.

  In this case, continuous paper that can be printed is hung on the reel 71 in the same manner as the reel 74. When printing on the reel 71, the continuous paper 52 is printed by the print head 102, and the print paper 54 is printed by the print head 105. Is done. Therefore, in this case as well, every time prescription data or the like is processed one by one by a controller (not shown) corresponding to the controller 30 described above, the current printing is performed in parallel or in parallel. The continuous paper 52 and 54 are fed by one package, the medicine is discharged from the tablet feeder 63, and the packaging / medicine storage chamber is formed by a heat seal member or a tatter mechanism.

Thus, in this case as well, the printing process for the next package / drug storage chamber is performed separately on the front and back in parallel with the loading of the drug into a certain package / drug storage chamber (FIGS. 3B and 3C). reference).
In this case, even if the printing timings on the continuous paper 52 and 54 (the bandage 50) by the print heads 105 and 102 are shifted, the timing is easily determined by operating the roller pair 78 after the printing of both is completed. The deviation is absorbed. Therefore, in this case as well, the degree of parallel processing / parallel operation of each unit can be increased without difficulty, so that a large amount of information can be printed at high speed.

[Others]
In the above embodiment, the medicine packaging machine is a tablet packaging machine, but the application of the present invention is not limited to tablets, but may be applied to powder medicine packaging machines, liquid medicine packaging machines, mixed-type packaging machines, and the like. Can do.
Further, the printer 22 and the print engine 45 may be mounted integrally, and the printer 43 and the print engine 44 may be mounted integrally. Further, the tension adjustment mechanism 47 + 48 may be added to any of them to form a unit, or the printer 43, the print engine 44, and the tension adjustment mechanism 41 + 42 may be unitized.

2 shows a folding sheet lateral feed type medicine packaging machine according to Example 1 of the present invention, where (a) is a block diagram and a perspective view of the main part, and (b) is an example of a packaging band that is packaged by the medicine packaging machine. It is. 2 shows a medicine packaging machine of a type that superimposes two continuous sheets while vertically feeding them according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, where (a) is a front view thereof, and (b) is a packaging band that is packaged by the medicine packaging machine. It is an example. In Example 3 of the present invention, a medicine packaging machine of a type in which two continuous sheets are superposed while being vertically fed is shown, (a) is a front view thereof, and (b) and (c) are separated by the medicine packaging machine. It is an example of the wrapped bandage.

Explanation of symbols

2 Bandage (wrapping band, wrapping paper, bi-fold sheet)
10 Drug packing machine (tablet packing machine, powder packing machine, mixed packing machine)
13 Tablet feeder (drug feeder, drug supply source, drug collection mechanism)
20 Packaging device 21 Packaging belt feeding unit (paper feeding mechanism, roll sheet)
22 Printer (print head, first printing mechanism)
23 Vertical seal (heating mechanism, heating element, fusion means)
24 Input hopper (drug input mechanism, collected drug input)
25 Horizontal seal (heating mechanism, heating element, fusion means)
26 Roller part (Tension mechanism, variable means, first traction mechanism)
27 Cutter (cutting mechanism, perforation forming mechanism)
30 controller (control device, control means)
31 Package data (next package)
32 Package data (current)
33 Feeder control routine (medicine collection mechanism control means)
34 Input routine (data separation processing section)
35 Common data (data across multiple packages)
36 Printer control routine (printing control means, selection means)
37 Packaging control routine (variable control means, packaging device control means)
38 Feed amount data (variable control means, packaging device control means)
39 Tablet number data (medicine collection mechanism control means)
41 Roller (fixed position, tension adjustment mechanism, second relaxation adjustment mechanism)
42 Roller (variable position, tension adjustment mechanism, second relaxation adjustment mechanism)
43 Printer (print head, second printing mechanism)
44, 45 Print engine (individual print control circuit)
46 Roller (Tensioning mechanism, variable means, first traction mechanism)
47 Roller (fixed position, tension adjustment mechanism, first relaxation adjustment mechanism)
48 rollers (variable position, tension adjustment mechanism, first relaxation adjustment mechanism)
50-minute bandage 51 rolls (continuous paper for checking stored medicine, one of two continuous sheets)
52 Transparent paper (Continuous paper for checking stored medicine, one of two continuous paper)
53 rolls (Opaque continuous paper for printing, the other of two continuous paper)
54 Printing paper (Opaque continuous printing paper, the other of the two continuous printing papers)
55 heat fusion part 60 medicine packing machine (tablet packing machine)
61 Drug collection mechanism 62 Drug storage (tablet storage)
63 Tablet feeder 71 Reel (transparent paper side, continuous paper feed mechanism)
72 rollers (transparent paper side, continuous paper feed mechanism)
73 Roller (transparent paper side, downward transfer mechanism)
74 reel (printing paper side, continuous paper feeding mechanism)
75,76 Roller (Mechanism for feeding continuous paper to the printing area)
77 Roller (printing paper side, downward transfer mechanism)
78 Roller pair (Pinch type downward transfer mechanism, first pulling mechanism)
79 Belt conveyor unit (unloading mechanism)
80 hopper (drug hopper)
85 Opposing member (Guide member is divided and transparent paper compatible member)
86 Opposing member (Guide member is divided and formed on the other hand, printing paper compatible member)
91 Heater head (concave heat seal member)
92 Opposite head (concave heat seal member)
93 Cutter 94 Cutter facing member 101 Roller (second relaxation adjusting mechanism)
102 Print head (second printing mechanism)
103 Roller pair (second pulling mechanism)
104 Roller (first relaxation adjustment mechanism)
105 Print head (first printing mechanism)
160 Drug packaging machine (tablet packaging machine)

Claims (2)

  In a medicine packaging machine for packaging medicine with a long bandage, a first pulling mechanism, a first printing mechanism, a relaxation adjusting mechanism, a second pulling mechanism, and a second printing mechanism are sequentially arranged along the feeding path of the bandaging band. And a medicine packaging machine characterized in that   In a medicine packaging machine that wraps two continuous sheets to form a long wrapping band and wraps the medicine in the wrapping band, a printing mechanism is provided for each of the continuous paper feeding paths. A pharmaceutical packaging device characterized by the above.

Images