JP6118993B2 - Drug supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medicine supply apparatus including a hopper having a passage through which medicine can pass downward.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a medicine supply device is built in a medicine packaging device or the like. The medicine supply device is provided with a hopper. The hopper has a passage through which a fluid medicine such as a powder or a tablet can pass downward. For example, the one described in Patent Document 1 can be mentioned.

  The hopper described in Patent Document 1 includes a supply container that can temporarily store a medicine such as a supplied powder. The supply container has an opening at the lower end, and is provided with an opening / closing plate that can close or open the opening by hinge support. Then, by moving the opening / closing plate, the medicine can be taken out from the supply container.

JP 2005-110786 A

  However, in the hopper having the structure in which the opening / closing plate is provided in this way, the opening / closing plate is in a position in contact with the medicine, so that the medicine remains on the surface of the opening / closing plate and the gaps or irregularities existing on the hinge portion of the opening / closing plate. It becomes easy to do. When changing the drug supplied to the hopper to a different type, it is necessary to remove the remaining drug from the hopper in order to avoid contamination. There was a problem that it took time and effort.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the chemical | medical agent supply apparatus provided with the hopper which a chemical | medical agent does not remain easily.

The drug supply device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a drug supply device including a hopper 1 having a passage 1a through which powder can pass downward. The hopper is entirely formed integrally , and the inner surface of the hopper 1 is The lower part of the hopper 1 is formed as a deformable part 122 having flexibility, and the deformable part 122 is deformable so as to open and close the passage 1a. The opening / closing means 2 is located outside the 1a.

The drug supply device according to the second aspect of the present invention is a drug supply device including a hopper 1 having a passage 1a through which a drug can pass downward. The hopper is entirely formed integrally, and the hopper 1 The inner surface is formed without a step, and the passage 1a of the hopper 1 is configured to take out the medicine into the wrapping paper P for wrapping the medicine, and the nozzle portion 12 which is the lower part of the hopper 1 At least a part of the deformable portion 122 is flexible, and the deformable portion 122 is deformable so as to open and close the passage 1a, and is an opening / closing means 2 located outside the passage 1a. The deformable portion 122 is deformed, and opening / closing means 2 for opening / closing the passage 1a is provided.

  According to each of the above-described configurations, since the deformable portion 122 that is a part of the hopper 1 is deformed by the opening / closing means 2 to open and close the passage 1a, a gap in which powder remains in the hopper 1 provided in the medicine supply device. It is difficult to do.

  And the chemical | medical agent supply apparatus which concerns on 3rd of this invention has a pair of press part 211,211 in which the said opening-and-closing means 2 can pinch the deformable part 122 of the said hopper 1 from the one side and the other side. In addition, it is preferable that at least one of the pair of pressing portions 211 and 211 has a portion facing the deformable portion 122 having elasticity.

  According to the preferable configuration, the deformable portion 122 can be reliably closed because the portion facing the deformable portion 122 in at least one of the pair of pressing portions 211 and 211 has elasticity.

And it is preferable that the chemical | medical agent supply apparatus which concerns on the 4th of this invention can change the powder supplied to the said hopper into a different kind .

  In the medicine supply device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the hopper 1 is held by the hopper holding means 31, and the hopper holding means 31 is provided with a vibration means 32 for vibrating the hopper 1. Is preferred.

  According to the preferable configuration, by providing the vibrating means 32 for vibrating the hopper 1, even if the powder remains in the hopper 1, the powder can be shaken off by vibration.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide a medicine supply device including a hopper in which powder does not easily remain because it is difficult to form a gap in which powder remains in the hopper passage.

It is the perspective view seen from the bottom face side which shows the hopper which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part front view which shows the chemical | medical agent packaging apparatus which attached the hopper which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part side view which shows the opening-and-closing means periphery among the medicine packaging devices which attached the hopper which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the cross-sectional view along the press part which shows the opening-and-closing state of the deformable part by the opening-and-closing means which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (A) shows an open state, (B) shows a closed state.

  Next, the present invention will be described by taking up one embodiment. First, the hopper 1 will be described. The hopper 1 constitutes a part of the medicine supply device A together with an opening / closing means 2 described later. As shown in FIG. 2, the medicine supply device A is combined with the packaging means B to form a medicine packaging device. Configure.

-Composition of hopper-
The hopper 1 of the present embodiment has a shape shown in FIG. 1 and has a passage 1a through which a medicine (powder) can pass downward. And the hopper 1 is attached so that this channel | path 1a may become an up-down direction in a medicine packaging apparatus. The hopper 1 includes a hopper body 11 and a nozzle portion 12. The hopper body 11 is a portion above the hopper 1 and can store a medicine. The nozzle portion 12 is positioned below the hopper body 11, and the cross-sectional area of the passage 1 a is reduced compared to the hopper body 11 so that the medicine stored in the hopper body 11 can be taken out from the medicine outlet 121 at the lower end. It is the part which was done. A member (for example, an opening / closing plate, a hinge, etc.) constituting an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the passage 1a is not provided in the space through which the medicine passes in the passage 1a.

  In this embodiment, the material of the hopper 1 is rubber, more specifically, silicon rubber, and the whole is integrally formed. By being integrally molded in this way, the inner surface of the hopper 1 can be formed without a seam or a step, and the drug can hardly remain on the inner surface. In addition to this, since the member constituting the opening / closing mechanism is not provided in the space through which the medicine passes in the passage 1a as described above, the hopper 1 according to the present embodiment has a portion where the medicine can remain in the medicine. It can be excluded from the passage route, and the entire hopper 1 is unlikely to retain the drug. However, the present invention is not limited to the integral molding, and the hopper 1 may be formed by combining different members. When the hopper 1 is formed by combining different members, as described later, the deformable portion 122 needs to be formed of a deformable material, but the other portions are formed using various materials. be able to. For example, a metal, hard resin, and paper are mentioned. Also, the deformable portion 122 can be formed of paper or a resin sheet as well as rubber as long as it is a deformable material.

  Further, unlike the hopper opening / closing plate described in Patent Document 1, the hopper 1 of the present embodiment is not provided with a means that is capable of closing or opening the passage 1a and that is a separate component from the hopper 1. In order to open and close the passage 1a, the hopper 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a deformable portion 122, and the medicine supply device A is provided with opening / closing means 2 for deforming the deformable portion 122. . The deformable portion 122 and the opening / closing means 2 will be described later.

  And the surface treatment which reduces friction with the chemical | medical agent which passes the channel | path 1a is made to the inner surface in the hopper 1 of this embodiment. This makes it difficult for the drug to remain on the inner surface. In this embodiment, the surface treatment is performed by a coating made of a material different from that of the hopper 1, for example, a resin coating. If the friction of the drug can be reduced, the inner surface is melted using the drug. It may be a chemical process such as a physical process or a physical process such as grinding the inner surface by sandblasting.

-Hopper body-
The hopper body 11 is a portion having a trumpet shape that spreads upward, and the cross-sectional shape in the present embodiment is substantially square. The hopper main body 11 is formed at the outer edge portion and the four corners, and is a frame portion 111 that is a portion having a relatively thick plate thickness and a high rigidity, and a flat plate surrounded by the frame portion 111 and having a relatively thin plate thickness and a low rigidity. Part 112. More specifically, the frame portion 111 is provided to prevent the hopper 1 from being deformed by its own weight, the weight of the medicine passing through the passage 1a, and the falling pressure in order to provide shape retention. The flat plate portion 112 is relatively low in rigidity, but this is also for saving material. At the same time, the hopper 1 is vibrated by the vibration means 32 described later, and the inner surface of the flat plate portion 112 is waved. This is to shake off the remaining drug.

  From this hopper body 11, a plate-like holding means mounting portion 113 protrudes from the outer surface. The hopper 1 is fixed to the medicine supply device A using the holding means attachment portion 113. In this embodiment, the holding means mounting portion 113 is provided so as to protrude in the horizontal direction on the entire circumference of the hopper body 11, but various shapes can be used as long as the hopper 1 can be fixed. good.

-Nozzle-
The nozzle portion 12 is provided so as to be continuous with the lower end of the hopper body 11, and has a shape in which the cross-sectional area of the passage 1a decreases as it goes downward. And the lower end is opened and it is set as the chemical | medical agent outlet 121. FIG. The lower end is formed in an obliquely cut shape because the side of the side edge P1 of the half-folded wrapping paper P is formed as shown in FIG. This is to prevent the conveyance of the wrapping paper P from being disturbed. Moreover, the plate | board thickness of the lower end edge part 121a which is the circumference | surroundings of the chemical | medical agent outlet 121 is made thicker than the other part of the nozzle part 12, and, thereby, the shape retention property of the nozzle part 12 lower end is ensured.

-Deformable part-
In the present embodiment, since the hopper 1 is integrally formed of silicon rubber, the material of the nozzle portion 12 is naturally silicon rubber. Therefore, the entire nozzle portion 12 becomes a deformable portion 122 having flexibility, and the deformable portion 122 can be deformed so as to open and close the passage 1a. Opening and closing is performed by opening and closing means 2 described later. In addition to the flexibility, it is desirable that the deformable portion 122 be formed of a material that can maintain the shape restoring property over a long period of time. By providing the deformable portion 122 in this manner, the medicine can be temporarily stored in the hopper 1. In the case where the hopper 1 is formed by combining different members, only a part of the nozzle portion 12 may be used as the deformable portion 122 instead of the entire nozzle portion 12.

  Here, the meaning of the “opening / closing” is as follows: (1) forcibly opening and closing the passage 1a, (2) forcibly closing the passage 1a and opening it naturally by the elasticity of the deformable portion 122, etc. 3) For example, the passage 1a is forcibly opened and closed naturally by the elasticity of the deformable portion 122. It also includes the case where the passage 1a stops when it is half open or half closed. Therefore, the mode of closing the passage 1a is not limited to the one that is completely closed, but also includes the one that is closed with an opening that can stop taking out the medicine. On the contrary, the mode of opening the passage 1a includes one that allows a drug to pass substantially even with a slight opening. Even when the passage 1a is half-opened as described above, since the cross-sectional area of the passage 1a in the nozzle portion 12 is reduced, the medicine that falls on the inner surface of the nozzle portion 12 can be removed. By hitting, the falling speed of the medicine can be reduced, and the medicine that has fallen on the half-folded wrapping paper P can be prevented from jumping up (called “spouting”).

  Further, in the present embodiment, the passage 1a in the deformable portion 122 is opened when it does not receive external force and is forcibly closed by the opening / closing means 2 described later. The deformable portion 122 may be formed so as to be closed when not receiving an external force and to be opened by the opening / closing means 2.

  The cross-sectional shape of the deformable portion 122 has at least one short side and two long sides that are adjacent to the short side. In the present embodiment, the upper portion of the nozzle portion 12 has a square shape with a corner that matches the shape of the hopper body 11, and the middle portion has a corner shape with two short sides and two long sides. In the lower part, as shown in FIG. 1, it is an isosceles triangle with a corner having one short side and two long sides.

  The deformable portion 122 is deformed by the opening / closing means 2 described later so that the long sides approach or separate from each other, and the short side of the cross-sectional shape is bent. That is, by expanding or narrowing the inner surface of the deformable portion 122, the medicine is allowed to pass downward, or the medicine is kept at a position above the opening / closing means 2 (more specifically, the pressing portion 211) of the hopper 1. Can be. Thus, since the passage 1a can be opened and closed only by the deformation of the deformable portion 122, the medicine passing through the passage 1a comes into contact with a means that is separate from the hopper 1, such as the opening / closing plate described in Patent Document 1. There is no need to provide a position. Therefore, the medicine hardly remains in the hopper 1, and the work is easy even when the cleaning work is performed. Further, since the structure of the hopper 1 can be simplified, it is possible to make the hopper 1 disposable without ultimately assuming cleaning.

-Locking section-
A locking portion 123 is provided on the outer surface of the deformable portion 122. The locking portion 123 is provided to deform the deformable portion 122 in the direction of opening the passage 1a. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, each long side of the deformable portion 122 is provided. On the side outer surface, it is provided as a pocket-like thing opened downward. When the hopper 1 is attached to the medicine packaging device, as shown in FIG. 2, a hooking portion 213 (described later) of the opening / closing operation portion 21 is inserted into the pocket-shaped locking portion 123. Then, the passage 1 a in the deformable portion 122 can be opened with the operation of the opening / closing operation portion 21.

  The locking portion 123 only needs to be locked so that the deformable portion 122 is interlocked with the operation of the opening / closing operation portion 21, and various means such as adhesion, metal fitting, and fitting can be employed. In addition, since the latching | locking part 123 is pocket shape in this embodiment, when removing the hopper 1, the hook part 213 of the opening / closing operation part 21 will remove | deviate from the latching part 123 only by moving the hopper 1 upwards. Therefore, the removal operation of the hopper 1 is easy, and it can be said that the cleaning operation of the hopper 1 is also easy from this. In some cases, a locking portion 123 may be provided inside the nozzle portion 12.

-Hopper (summary)-
As described above, the hopper 1 of the present embodiment is a hopper 1 having a passage 1a through which a medicine can be passed downward, and a part of the lower portion of the hopper 1 is a flexible deformable portion 122, which can be deformed. The portion 122 can be modified to open and close the passage 1a. According to this configuration, since the deformable portion 122 that is a part of the hopper 1 is deformed to open and close the passage 1a, it is difficult to form a gap where the medicine remains in the hopper 1.

  And as for this hopper 1, it is preferable that the said deformable part 122 shall consist of rubber | gum. According to this preferable configuration, the deformable portion 122 can be easily formed of rubber.

  And it is preferable that this hopper 1 shall be provided with the latching | locking part 123 for making the said deformable part 122 deform | transform the said deformable part 122 in the direction which opens the said channel | path 1a. According to this preferable configuration, the passage 1 a can be easily opened using the locking portion 123.

-Drug supply device and drug packaging device-
Next, the medicine supply device A and the medicine packaging device will be described. The medicine supply device A includes the hopper 1 and an opening / closing means 2 for opening and closing the passage 1a so that a predetermined amount of medicine can be taken out. The medicine packaging apparatus includes the medicine supply apparatus A and the packaging means B for wrapping the medicine supplied by the medicine supply apparatus A with the wrapping paper P. The packaging means B half-folds the packaging paper P continuously supplied in the length direction in the width direction, wraps the medicine for one package supplied from the medicine supply container in the packaging paper P, The periphery of the wrapping paper P is adhered by heat sealing or the like. The principal part of the medicine packaging device is shown in FIG. What is illustrated by a two-dot chain line is a wrapping paper P that is half-folded in the width direction. The moving direction of the wrapping paper P is a direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing.

  In addition, the lower end of the nozzle part 12 in the hopper 1 is positioned so as to be sandwiched between the half-folded wrapping paper P as illustrated. The end face shape of the medicine outlet 121 is an isosceles triangle as shown in FIG. 1, and the apex side in the shape is located downstream in the moving direction of the wrapping paper P.

-Opening / closing operation part-
As shown in FIG. 3, the opening / closing means 2 operates a pair of opening / closing operation portions 21 that can sandwich the deformable portion 122 in the nozzle portion 12 of the hopper 1 from one side and the other side, and the opening / closing operation portion 21. And a drive unit 22 for this purpose. Each of the opening / closing operation parts 21 is made of metal and has a U-shaped cross section, and is an elongated plate-like pressing part 211 that can be approached so as to press the deformable part 122, and both ends of the pressing part 211. The connecting portion 214 extends from the driving portion 22 to the driving portion 22. Each pressing part 211, 211 is provided so as to extend in an oblique direction, that is, in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction so as to cross the deformable part 122 in a side view. The pressing portions 211 and 211 are provided in parallel with the deformable portion 122 interposed therebetween. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer side of the packaging paper P that moves in the medicine packaging device is provided in parallel with the side of the packaging paper P.

  The reason why the pressing portions 211 and 211 are provided on the outer side of the wrapping paper P is that each pressing portion 211 and 211 is within the line of the wrapping paper P (the range of the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). The timing at which the paper gripping means (not shown) for pinching P on the downstream side of the nozzle portion 12 matches the timing at which the opening and closing means 2 opens the deformable portion 12, that is, This is because the forces applied to the wrapping paper P conflict with each other, causing the wrapping paper P to break. And if each press part 211,211 is located in the line of the packaging paper P, there exists a possibility that a chemical | medical agent may adhere to each press part 211,211 itself.

  The opening / closing operation unit 21 is provided at a position above the lower end of the hopper 1. As a result, the positional relationship between the opening / closing operation unit 21 and the passage 1a is as shown in FIG. 4A. There is no drug residue around. The opening / closing operation unit 21 is provided as close to the lower end of the hopper 1 as possible, so that the drop distance of the medicine is reduced, and the “spouting” of the medicine is less likely to occur.

  That is, in the medicine supply device A of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the pressing portion 211 is provided at a position above the lower end of the hopper 1. According to this preferable configuration, since the pressing portion 211 is provided at a position above the lower end of the hopper 1, the medicine does not adhere to the pressing portion 211.

  In this embodiment, the drive part 22 is provided in the side of the nozzle part 12, and the opening / closing operation part 21 on the right side in the figure moves to the left side in the figure when closing the passage 1a of the hopper 1, and opens and closes on the left side in the figure. The operation unit 21 moves to the right in the figure when closing the passage 1 a of the hopper 1. The drive unit 22 is driven by a motor and moves each connecting unit 214 to the left and right in the drawing by meshing of gears (not shown). During this movement, the pressing portions 211 and 211 are kept in a parallel relationship.

  The shape and operation of the pressing portion 211 are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and can be variously changed. For example, the pressing portion 211 can be cantilevered, cylinder driven, or hinged at one end. Something that moves. In short, any form may be employed as long as the pressing portion 211 moves relative to the deformable portion 122 and can deform the deformable portion 122 so as to open and close the passage 1a. Further, only the operation in the pressing direction (direction approaching the deformable portion 122) may be performed by the drive unit 22, and the operation in the opposite direction may be performed by the repulsive force of the spring or the like (regardless of the drive unit 22). .

  Further, when the deformable portion 122 of the hopper 1 is closed when the passage 1a does not receive an external force, and when the deformable portion 122 is formed so as to be opened by the opening / closing means 2, a pressing portion 211 is provided in the opening / closing operation portion 21. Instead, in order to open the passage 1a, for example, only a hooking portion 213 described later may be provided.

−Cushion part−
In the present embodiment, a cushion portion 212 having elasticity is provided on the inner surface of each pressing portion 211, 211, that is, the portion facing the deformable portion 122 of the hopper 1. By providing the cushion portion 212, it is possible to absorb unevenness in the thickness of the deformable portion 122 caused by a molding error of the hopper 1. That is, when the thickness of the deformable portion 122 is not uniform over the entire circumference, when the pressing portions 211 and 211 made of metal and having no elasticity directly press the deformable portion 122 as in the present embodiment, the deformable portion 122 is brought into close contact. It is difficult to completely close the passage 1a, but by providing the cushion portion 212, the portion having a small thickness can be pressed with a relatively large force, and the portion having a large thickness is relatively Therefore, the passage 1a can be completely closed. In addition, depending on the case, the cushion part 212 may be provided only in one inner surface among each press part 211,211.

  Here, when the deformable portion 122 is closely attached and the passage 1a is closed, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the end of the passage 1a must be deformed so as to be folded. Therefore, compared to the central portion of the passage 1a. If the pressing force is not increased, it cannot be completely closed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the central cushion portion 212a in the extending direction of the pressing portions 211 and 211 has greater elasticity than the both end cushion portions 212b. In other words, the center cushion portion 212a is softer than the both end cushion portions 212b. In the present embodiment, the central cushion portion 212a is made of sponge, and both end cushion portions 212b are made of rubber. Thereby, in the state as shown in FIG. 4B, the end of the passage 1a can increase the pressing force, and the passage 1a can be reliably closed. In the present embodiment, the central cushion portion 212a is thicker than the both end cushion portions 212b in order to balance the pressing force. As a result, the central cushion portion 212a first presses the central side of the deformable portion 122, and the both end side cushion portions 212b press the central side of the deformable portion 122 with a slight delay. The passage 1a can be reliably closed.

  In the present embodiment, a hooking portion 213 is provided so as to protrude upward integrally with the pressing portion 211 in each opening / closing operation portion 21, 21. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hook portion 213 is inserted into a pocket-shaped locking portion 123 provided in the nozzle portion 12, and the pressing portion 211 moves in a direction away from the deformable portion 122. In doing so, the deformable portion 122 is moved in the direction of opening the passage 1a. Thereby, the channel | path 1a can be opened reliably. Note that the hook portion 213 may not be provided, and the passage 1a may be naturally opened by the elasticity of the deformable portion 122 itself.

-Holding means, etc.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 1 is held by a frame-like hopper holding means 31. The hopper holding means 31 is provided at a position between the upper end and the lower end of the hopper 1. The hopper holding means 31 is provided with a fixing clip 311, and the hopper 1 can be held by the hopper holding means 31 by sandwiching the holding means attaching portion 113 of the hopper 1 with the fixing clip 311. The hopper holding means 31 is supported by a spring 33. In this embodiment, although the coil spring is used as the spring 33, it is not restricted to this, Various springs, such as a leaf | plate spring, can be used.

-Excitation means-
In this embodiment, the hopper holding means 31 is provided with a vibration means 32 for vibrating the hopper 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the vibration means 32 is fixed to the hopper holding means 31 via a metal plate attachment portion 32a. As the vibration means 32 of the present embodiment, a vibration motor is used in which an eccentric weight is attached to the rotation shaft of the motor, and it is assumed that vibration with a constant amplitude and frequency is generated. Alternatively, an impact (intermittent vibration with amplitude and frequency changing) may be generated by a solenoid or the like. Alternatively, vibration may be generated using an electromagnet or the like.

  Since the hopper holding means 31 is supported by the spring 33 as described above, the hopper holding means 31 is shaken by the vibration generated by the vibration means 32, and the hopper 1 is also shaken accordingly. As described above, the hopper 1 is made of rubber, and the rigidity of the flat plate portion 112 is lower than the rigidity of the frame portion 111. It can be struck and the remaining drug can be shaken off effectively.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hopper 1a Passage 122 Deformable part 123 Locking part 2 Opening / closing means 21 Opening / closing operation part 211 Press part 31 Hopper holding means 32 Excitation means A Drug supply device B Packaging means P

Claims (5)

In a medicine supply device including a hopper having a passage through which powder can pass downward,
The entire hopper is integrally formed, and the inner surface of the hopper is formed without a step,
A part of the lower portion of the hopper is a deformable portion having flexibility, and the deformable portion is deformable so as to open and close the passage.
An opening / closing means positioned outside the passage, comprising: opening / closing means for opening and closing the passage by deforming the deformable portion. In a medicine supply device including a hopper having a passage through which powder can pass downward,
The entire hopper is integrally formed, and the inner surface of the hopper is formed without a step,
The passage of the hopper is configured to take out the powder into a wrapping paper for wrapping the powder.
At least a part of the nozzle part which is the lower part of the hopper is a deformable part having flexibility, and the deformable part is deformable so as to open and close the passage,
An opening / closing means positioned outside the passage, comprising: opening / closing means for opening and closing the passage by deforming the deformable portion. The opening / closing means has a pair of pressing parts capable of sandwiching the deformable part of the hopper from one side and the other side;
The drug supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a portion of at least one of the pair of pressing portions facing the deformable portion has elasticity. The medicine supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the powder supplied to the hopper can be changed to a different kind .   The medicine supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hopper is held by a hopper holding means, and the hopper holding means is provided with a vibration means for vibrating the hopper.

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