CN218870846U - Capsule manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a capsule manufacturing device, it can make the multiple capsule that footpath size is different each other effectively. The capsule manufacturing device is provided with: a capsule holding mechanism for holding the upper capsule by adsorption; a first lower capsule holding mechanism that holds a lower capsule, the upper capsule holding mechanism having an adsorption head, the adsorption head having a holding hole, the holding hole including: a first hole portion formed in a shape corresponding to the upper capsule of the first capsule; and a second hole portion formed in a shape corresponding to the upper capsule of the second capsule, the first lower capsule holding mechanism including: a first sorting head for sorting the lower capsules of the first capsules; and a second sorting head for sorting the lower capsules of the second capsules.

Description

Capsule manufacturing device

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a capsule manufacturing installation.

Background

Patent document 1 describes a radiopharmaceutical production apparatus including a dispensing mechanism that dispenses a radiopharmaceutical into a drinking cup.

Documents of the prior art

Patent literature

Patent document 1: chinese patent application publication No. 03213390.1 description

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Problem to be solved by the utility model

However, in the medical institution, capsules filled with a drug are desired from the viewpoint of easy drinking, but when a plurality of capsules having different diameters are produced, it is necessary to replace each member of the production apparatus according to the diameter of the capsule.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a capsule manufacturing apparatus capable of efficiently manufacturing a plurality of capsules having different diameters.

Means for solving the problems

The utility model provides a following capsule manufacturing installation.

1. A capsule manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a capsule by combining an upper capsule having an open lower end and a closed upper end with a lower capsule having an open upper end and a closed lower end, after the lower capsule having the open upper end and the closed lower end is filled with a medicine,

a capsule holding mechanism for holding the upper capsule by adsorption,

the upper capsule holding mechanism is provided with an adsorption head which is provided with a holding hole with an opening at the lower end and an absorption flow path which enables the upper end part of the holding hole to be communicated with an absorption source,

the holding hole includes:

a first hole portion formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end portion of the upper capsule of the first capsule; and

and a second hole portion which is continuous with an upper side of the first hole portion and is formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end portion of the upper capsule of a second capsule, the second capsule having a smaller diameter than the first capsule.

2. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a lower capsule tray arrangement portion for arranging a lower capsule tray accommodating a plurality of said lower capsules of said first or second capsules;

a first picking head having a pair of first picking claws, a gap between the first picking claws corresponding to a diameter of the lower capsule of the first capsule, and picking the lower capsule from the lower capsule tray arranged in the lower capsule tray arrangement part;

a second picking head having a pair of second picking claws, a gap between the second picking claws corresponding to a diameter of the lower capsule of the second capsule, and picking the lower capsule from the lower capsule tray arranged in the lower capsule tray arrangement part; and

and a picking head switching mechanism that drives the first picking head and the second picking head, and that selectively switches between a first picking state in which the first picking head is disposed at a picking position at which the lower capsule can be picked from the lower capsule tray disposed in the lower capsule tray disposition portion and a second picking state in which the second picking head is disposed at the picking position.

3. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2,

the picking head switching mechanism comprises:

a picking head holding unit that is rotatable about a horizontal axis and holds the first picking head and the second picking head at positions rotationally symmetrical to each other with respect to the horizontal axis; and

a rotating mechanism for selectively switching between the first picking state and the second picking state by rotating the picking head holding portion about the horizontal axis.

4. The apparatus for producing capsules according to claim 2 or 3, wherein,

the first picking head narrows a gap between the pair of first picking claws to hold the lower capsule when picking the lower capsule of the first capsule,

when the second picking head picks the lower capsule of the second capsule, the second picking head narrows a gap between the pair of second picking claws to hold the lower capsule.

5. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4,

the lower capsule tray has a plurality of lower capsule holding holes opened at an upper end,

the lower capsule-retaining hole includes:

a first portion formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end portion of the lower capsule of the first capsule; and

a second portion continuous with a lower side of the first portion and formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end of the lower capsule of the second capsule.

6. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising:

an upper capsule tray placement section for placing an upper capsule tray containing a plurality of the upper capsules of the first capsule or the second capsule,

the upper capsule tray has:

a main upper bladder tray body formed in a flat plate shape;

a columnar portion that rises upward from the upper capsule tray main body portion and that regulates a position of a lower portion of the upper capsule of the second capsule in a state in which the lower portion of the upper capsule is fitted to the columnar portion; and

and a groove portion which is formed on an upper surface of the upper capsule tray main body portion and in an annular shape around an outer periphery of the columnar portion, and which regulates a position of a lower edge portion of the upper capsule of the first capsule in a state where the lower edge portion of the upper capsule enters the groove portion over an entire circumference.

7. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the medicine from the medicine storage container to the lower capsule,

the dispensing mechanism includes a reagent suction and discharge unit having a pipette tip.

8. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7,

the dispensing mechanism is configured to cause only the pipette tip to sink into the radiopharmaceutical in the drug storage container when the drug is suctioned from the drug storage container by the drug suction and discharge unit.

9. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

a capsule holding mechanism for holding the capsule formed by combining the lower capsule filled with the drug and the upper capsule by adsorption,

the capsule holding mechanism has a second suction head having: a capsule holding hole with an opening at the lower end; and a second suction channel for communicating the upper end of the capsule holding hole with a suction source,

the capsule holding hole includes:

a third hole part formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end part of the upper capsule of the first capsule; and

and a fourth hole portion continuous with an upper side of the third hole portion and formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end portion of the upper capsule of a second capsule smaller in diameter than the first capsule.

10. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

a lower capsule carrying part for carrying the lower capsule before the upper capsule is combined,

the lower capsule carrying part is provided with a second lower capsule holding hole with an opening at the upper end,

the second lower capsule-retaining hole includes:

a third portion formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end portion of the lower capsule of the first capsule; and

a fourth portion continuous with a lower side of the third portion and formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end of the lower capsule of the second capsule.

Effect of the utility model

According to the utility model discloses, can make the multiple capsule that footpath size is different each other efficiently.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a capsule manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the capsule manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a front view showing a first lower capsule transfer unit, a dispensing mechanism, and a capsule assembling unit of the capsule manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the first lower capsule transfer unit in the embodiment.

Fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are views showing a first picking state of the first lower capsule transfer unit in the embodiment, in which fig. 5 (a) is a front view and fig. 5 (b) is a partially enlarged view of the portion a shown in fig. 5 (a).

Fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are views showing a second picking state of the first lower capsule transfer unit in the embodiment, in which fig. 6 (a) is a front view and fig. 6 (b) is a partially enlarged view of the portion a shown in fig. 6 (a).

Fig. 7 is a side view showing a dispensing mechanism in the embodiment.

Fig. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are views showing a capsule assembling part in the embodiment, in which fig. 8 (a) is a side view, and fig. 8 (b) is a partially enlarged view of a part a shown in fig. 8 (a).

Fig. 9 (a) and 9 (b) are partially enlarged views of the portion a shown in fig. 8 (a). Wherein (a) of fig. 9 shows a state in which the upper capsule holding mechanism holds the upper capsule of the first capsule, and (b) of fig. 9 shows a state in which the upper capsule holding mechanism holds the upper capsule of the second capsule.

Fig. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c) are front views for explaining a series of operations of the sealing and adsorbing portion in the embodiment.

Fig. 11 (a), 11 (B), and 11 (c) are views showing the lower capsule tray in the embodiment, in which fig. 11 (a) is a plan view, fig. 11 (B) is a partially enlarged view of a portion a shown in fig. 11 (a), and fig. 11 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B shown in fig. 11 (B).

Fig. 12 (a) and 12 (B) are cross-sectional views taken along the line B-B in fig. 11 (B), in which fig. 12 (a) shows a state of the lower capsule housing the first capsule and fig. 12 (B) shows a state of the lower capsule housing the second capsule.

Fig. 13 (a), 13 (B) and 13 (c) are views showing the upper capsule tray in the embodiment, in which fig. 13 (a) is a plan view, fig. 13 (B) is a partially enlarged view of a portion a shown in fig. 13 (a), and fig. 13 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B shown in fig. 13 (B).

Fig. 14 (a) and 14 (B) are sectional views taken along line B-B of fig. 13 (B), in which fig. 14 (a) shows a state of the upper capsule accommodating the first capsule and fig. 14 (B) shows a state of the upper capsule accommodating the second capsule.

Fig. 15 (a) and 15 (b) are views showing the first capsule in the embodiment, in which fig. 15 (a) is a perspective view and fig. 15 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the axial direction of the first capsule.

Fig. 16 (a) and 16 (b) are views showing the second capsule in the embodiment, in which fig. 16 (a) is a perspective view and fig. 16 (b) is a sectional view taken along the axial direction of the second capsule.

Fig. 17 is a front view of the second lower capsule transfer unit in the embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the second lower capsule transfer unit in the embodiment.

Fig. 19 is a front view of a capsule transfer unit in the embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the capsule transfer unit in the embodiment.

Fig. 21 is a block diagram of a capsule manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a holding hole of the suction head and a peripheral structure thereof in a modification of the embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

12: a lower capsule tray arrangement part; 14: a glue bag tray arrangement part; 16: a capsule tray conveying section; 16a: a first left and right guide portion; 17: a lower capsule mounting section; 18a: a first lower capsule carrying part; 18b: a second lower capsule mounting part; 18c: a third lower capsule mounting section; 20: a capsule assembling part; 20a: a third front and rear guide; 20b: a third upper and lower guide portion; 21: an upper capsule holding mechanism; 22: an adsorption head; 22a: an adsorption head main body part; 24: a suction flow path; 24a: a connecting portion; 26: a holding hole; 27: a first hole portion; 28: a second hole portion; 29: a trunk hole portion; 30: a first lower capsule transfer unit; 30a: a first front and rear guide portion; 30b: a first upper and lower guide portion; 31: a first lower capsule holding mechanism; 32: a first picking head; 33: a pair of first picking claws; 33a: a horizontal portion; 33b: a plumb portion; 33c: a connecting portion; 34: a second picking head; 35: a pair of second picking claws; 35a: a horizontal portion; 35b: a plumb portion; 35c: a connecting portion; 36: a picking head switching mechanism; 37: a picking head holding section; 38: a horizontal axis; 39: a rotation mechanism; 39a: a rotating electric machine; 40: a dispensing mechanism; 40a: a second front and rear guide portion; 40b: a second upper and lower guide portion; 42: a medicine suction and discharge section; 43: a pipette tip; 44: a pump section; 44a: a pump section drive motor; 50: a medicament storage container; 51: an opening; 52: a first shield container; 53: a vial; 53a: a lower end portion; 54: a second shield container; 55: a container for disposal; 56: a receiving container; 56a: a rubber plug; 57: a third shield container; 61: a capsule tray is arranged; 62: a lower capsule tray main body portion; 63: a lower capsule holding hole; 63a: a first portion; 63b: a second portion; 63c: a torso portion; 64: a through hole; 66: putting a capsule tray; 67: a lower capsule tray main body portion; 68: a columnar portion; 68a: an upper end portion; 68b: a trunk portion; 69: a groove part; 70: a sealing and adsorbing part; 74: a tray mounting section; 75: a tray; 75a: a housing container arrangement part; 75b: a third shielding container arrangement part; 75c: a rubber stopper arrangement part; 76: a fourth front and rear guide portion; 77: an adsorption mechanism; 78a: a second left and right guide portion; 78b, and (3 b): a fourth upper and lower guide portion; 81: an appearance inspection unit; 81a: an appearance camera; 81b: a first capsule loading unit; 83: a radiation energy inspection unit; 83a: a radiation detector; 83b: a second capsule loading part; 85: a defective product disposal unit; 89: an operation section; 90: a control unit; 90a: a CPU;90b: a ROM;90c: a RAM;91: a first drive transmission mechanism; 91a: a first front and rear drive motor; 91b: a first up-down driving motor; 92: a second drive transmission mechanism; 92a: a second front-rear driving motor; 92b: a second up-down driving motor; 93: a third drive transmission mechanism; 93a: a third front-rear driving motor; 93b: a third up-down driving motor; 94: a fourth drive transmission mechanism; 94a: a first left-right driving motor; 95a: a first picking head drive motor; 95b: a second picking head drive motor; 96: a fifth drive transmission mechanism; 96a: a second left and right drive motor; 96b: a fourth up-down driving motor; 97: a sixth drive transmission mechanism; 97a: a fourth front and rear driving motor; 98: a seventh drive transmission mechanism; 98a: a third picking head driving motor; 98b: a fourth picking head driving motor; 98c: a third left and right driving motor; 99: an eighth drive transmission mechanism; 99a: a fourth left-right driving motor; 100: a capsule manufacturing device; 110: capsules; 110a: a first capsule; 110b: a second capsule; 111: putting the capsules; 111a: a lower capsule of the first capsule; 111b: a second capsule; 112: a lower end portion; 113: a trunk portion; 114: an opening; 116: coating a capsule; 116a: a first capsule; 116b: an upper capsule of the second capsule; 117: an upper end portion; 118: a trunk portion; 119: an opening; 121: a radiopharmaceutical; 122: an excipient; 131: a tube member; 132: an attraction source; 141: a drug storage container holding section; 144: the stock solution container is provided with a primary waste base; 145: a shielding plate; 146: a raw material conveying container; 146a: a vial; 147: a container mounting part for conveying raw materials; 151: a base part; 152: a first support frame; 152a: a vertical plate portion; 152b: a horizontal plate portion; 153: a second support frame; 153a: a vertical plate portion; 153b: a horizontal plate portion; 154: a third support frame; 154a: a vertical plate portion; 154b: a horizontal plate portion; 161: a fifth hole portion; 210: a second lower capsule transfer part; 210a: a third left and right guide portion; 211: a second lower capsule retaining mechanism; 212: a third picking head; 213: a pair of third picking claws; 213a: a recess; 214: a fourth picking head; 215: a pair of fourth picking claws; 215a: a recess; 216: a picking head holding section; 220: a capsule transfer unit; 220a: a fourth left and right guide portion; 221: a capsule holding mechanism; 222 to 224: a second adsorption head; 225: a first holding portion; 226: a second holding portion.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate.

In each of the drawings, some of the constituent elements are not shown in some cases in order to avoid complication of the drawings.

The capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment fills a lower capsule 111 (see fig. 15a to 16 b) having an open upper end and a closed lower end with a medicament (in the present embodiment, a radiopharmaceutical 121 described later), and then combines an upper capsule 116 (see fig. 15a to 16 b) having an open lower end and a closed upper end with the lower capsule 111 to manufacture a capsule 110.

The capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a capsule holding mechanism 21 (see fig. 1, 8 (a), and the like) for suction-holding the upper capsule 116.

The upper bladder holding mechanism 21 has an adsorption head 22, and the adsorption head 22 has: a holding hole 26 opened at the lower end; and a suction channel 24 (see fig. 8 b) that communicates the upper end of the holding hole 26 with a suction source 132 (see fig. 2).

The holding hole 26 includes: a first hole 27 formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end 117 of a upper capsule 116a of a first capsule 110a (see fig. 15a and 15 b); and a second hole 28 continuous to the upper side of the first hole 27 and having a shape corresponding to an upper end 117 of a upper capsule 116b of a second capsule 110b (see fig. 16a and 16 b), the second capsule 110b having a smaller diameter than the first capsule 110 a.

In the case of the present embodiment, the upper side in fig. 1 is the upper side or the upper side, and the opposite side is the lower side or the lower side.

Hereinafter, the first capsule 110a and the second capsule 110b may be collectively referred to as a capsule 110. The upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110a and the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b may be collectively referred to as an upper capsule 116, and the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a and the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b may be collectively referred to as a lower capsule 111.

According to the present embodiment, the holding hole 26 includes: a first hole 27 formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end 117 of a capsule 116a of the first capsule 110 a; and a second hole 28 formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end 117 of the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110 b.

Thus, the single suction head 22 can suction-hold the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110a and suction-hold the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b, respectively. That is, when switching from (or to the contrary) the production of the first capsule 110a to the production of the second capsule 110b, the work of replacing the suction head 22 can be omitted, and therefore, a plurality of (two in the case of the present embodiment) capsules 110 having different diameter dimensions can be efficiently produced.

Further, since the upper capsule 116 can be held by suction while the upper capsule 116 of each capsule 110 is held in a state in which the opening 119 is directed downward by one suction head 22, the operation of fitting the upper capsule 116 and the corresponding lower capsule 111 to each other can be performed precisely.

In the case of the present embodiment, the drug is a radiopharmaceutical 121, for example.

Further, according to the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the capsule 110 can be filled with the radiopharmaceutical 121. This can reduce radioactive waste (the drinking cup and the residual liquid of the radiopharmaceutical 121) and facilitate oral administration of the radiopharmaceutical 121 to a living body, as compared with the case where the radiopharmaceutical 121 is dispensed into a drinking cup as in patent document 1.

However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the drug may be a nonradioactive drug.

In the present embodiment, the drug is a liquid drug.

The capsules 110 (first capsule 110a and second capsule 110 b) are the same as general capsules for orally administering a drug to a living body.

For example, capsule 110 is made of gelatin. For example, the capsule 110 may be filled with an excipient 122 (e.g., granular sugar) in addition to the radiopharmaceutical 121 (see fig. 15 (b) and 16 (b)).

More specifically, as shown in fig. 15 (a) to 16 (b), the upper capsule 116 is fitted around the lower capsule 111, and the upper capsule 116 and the lower capsule 111 are fitted to each other, thereby producing the capsule 110.

In the following, when describing positional relationships among the components of capsule 110, the upper capsule 116 side of capsule 110 is referred to as the upper side, and the lower capsule 111 side is referred to as the lower side.

As described above, the upper bladder 116 is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end. The upper end 117 of the upper capsule 116 is formed in a hemispherical shape (dome shape) convex upward. A portion of the upper capsule 116 below the upper end portion 117 (hereinafter, the body portion 118) is formed in a cylindrical shape. The opening at the lower end side of the body portion 118 of the upper capsule 116 constitutes an opening 119 of the upper capsule 116.

Likewise, as described above, the lower capsule 111 is open at the upper end and closed at the lower end. The lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111 is formed in a hemispherical shape (dome shape) protruding downward. A portion of the lower capsule 111 above the lower end 112 (hereinafter, the body 113) is formed in a cylindrical shape. The opening at the upper end side of the body portion 113 of the lower capsule 111 constitutes an opening 114 of the lower capsule 111.

The inner diameter of the body portion 118 of the upper capsule 116 is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body portion 113 of the lower capsule 111. The body portion 118 of the upper capsule 116 is fitted around the body portion 113 of the lower capsule 111, whereby the upper capsule 116 and the lower capsule 111 are combined with each other.

As described above, the second capsule 110b is smaller in diameter than the first capsule 110 a. More specifically, for example, the outer diameter of the second capsule 110b (the outer diameter of the upper capsule 116 b) is smaller than the outer diameter of the first capsule 110a (the outer diameter of the upper capsule 116 a).

In addition, the radius of curvature of the upper end 117 of the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b is smaller than the radius of curvature of the upper end 117 of the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110 a.

In addition, the radius of curvature of the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b is smaller than the radius of curvature of the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110 a.

For example, the first capsule 110a has an outer diameter of 7.71mm, and the second capsule 110b has an outer diameter of 6.4mm. However, in the present invention, the outer diameter of first capsule 110a and the outer diameter of second capsule 110b are not limited to this example.

For example, the radius of curvature of the upper end 117 of the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110a is 3.86mm, and the radius of curvature of the upper end 117 of the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b is 3.20mm. However, in the present invention, the radius of curvature of the upper end 117 of the first capsule 110a and the radius of curvature of the upper end 117 of the second capsule 110b are not limited to this example.

For example, the radius of curvature of the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a is 3.7mm, and the radius of curvature of the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b is 3.07mm. However, in the present invention, the radius of curvature of the lower end portion 112 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a and the radius of curvature of the lower end portion 112 of the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b are not limited to this example.

For example, the overall length of the first capsule 110a (the vertical dimension in fig. 15 (b)) is 22.6mm, and the overall length of the second capsule 110b (the vertical dimension in fig. 16 (b)) is 21.9mm. However, in the present invention, the entire length of the first capsule 110a and the entire length of the second capsule 110b are not limited to this example.

Next, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 will be described in detail.

In the following, in order to explain the positional relationship between the components of capsule manufacturing apparatus 100, the right side in fig. 1 and 2 is referred to as the right side or the right side, and the opposite side is referred to as the left side or the left side. In fig. 2, the near side is referred to as the front side, or the like, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear side, or the like. The direction (direction) perpendicular to the vertical direction is referred to as a horizontal direction (horizontal direction), and the direction (direction) along the vertical direction is referred to as a vertical direction (vertical direction).

Unless otherwise specified, the positional relationship between the components of the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 described below is the positional relationship in the standby state (see fig. 1 and 2) before the operation of the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, in the case of the present embodiment, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example: a lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12 for arranging a lower capsule tray 61 (see fig. 11 (a) and 11 (b)) in which the lower capsule tray 61 accommodates a plurality of lower capsules 111 of the first capsules 110a or the second capsules 110 b; a capsule tray placement unit 14 for placing an upper capsule tray 66 (see fig. 12 (a) and 12 (b)) in which an upper capsule 116 of a plurality of first capsules 110a or second capsules 110b is housed in the upper capsule tray 66; and a drug storage container 50 that stores therein a radiopharmaceutical 121.

Further, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes: a first lower capsule transfer unit 30 for picking the lower capsules 111 from the lower capsule tray 61; a dispensing mechanism 40 that dispenses the radiopharmaceutical 121 from the drug storage container 50 into the lower capsule 111; and a capsule assembling unit 20 that combines the upper capsule 116 with the lower capsule 111 into which the radiopharmaceutical 121 has been dispensed.

The capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example, a lower capsule mounting portion 17, and the lower capsule mounting portion 17 is used to mount the lower capsule 111 before being combined with the upper capsule 116.

The lower capsule mounting portion 17 includes, for example: a first lower capsule mounting part 18a for mounting the lower capsules 111 sorted from the lower capsule tray 61; a second lower capsule mounting portion 18b for mounting the lower capsule 111 before being filled with the radiopharmaceutical 121; and a third lower capsule mounting portion 18c for mounting the lower capsule 111 filled with the radiopharmaceutical 121.

The capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example, a second lower capsule transfer unit 210, and the second lower capsule transfer unit 210 transfers the lower capsules 111 mounted on the first lower capsule mounting unit 18a to the second lower capsule mounting unit 18b, and transfers the lower capsules 111 mounted on the second lower capsule mounting unit 18b to the third lower capsule mounting unit 18c.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the upper capsule tray arrangement portion 14 is arranged, for example, on the right side of the lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12.

The capsule assembling unit 20 is disposed, for example, on the right of the dispensing mechanism 40, and the dispensing mechanism 40 is disposed, for example, on the right of the first lower capsule transfer unit 30.

The lower capsule tray arrangement part 12 is disposed in front of the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 and the dispensing mechanism 40 described later, and the upper capsule tray arrangement part 14 is disposed in front of the upper capsule holding mechanism 21. The medicine storage container 50 is disposed in front of the dispensing mechanism 40.

The first lower capsule mounting unit 18a is disposed behind the first lower capsule transfer unit 30, the second lower capsule mounting unit 18b is disposed behind the dispensing mechanism 40, and the third lower capsule mounting unit 18c is disposed to the left of the capsule assembling unit 20.

In fig. 2, the arrangement regions of the first to third lower capsule mounting portions 18a to 18c are shown by two-dot chain lines.

As shown in fig. 11 (c), the lower capsule tray 61 has, for example, a plurality of lower capsule holding holes 63, and the upper ends of the lower capsule holding holes 63 are opened.

For example, one lower capsule 111 is received in one lower capsule holding hole 63. That is, the lower capsule tray 61 can accommodate a plurality of lower capsules 111 with the upper limit of the number of capsule holding holes 63.

The lower capsule-holding hole 63 includes: a first portion 63a formed in a shape corresponding to the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110 a; a second part 63b continuous with a lower side of the first part 63a and formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end 112 of a lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110 b.

With this configuration, the lower capsules 111 of two types of capsules 110 having different diameter dimensions can be accommodated in one lower capsule tray 61.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 11 (a), 11 (b), and 11 (c), the lower capsule tray 61 includes a lower capsule tray main body 62 formed in a flat plate shape, for example, and a plurality of lower capsule holding holes 63 are formed in the lower capsule tray main body 62.

The lower capsule tray main body 62 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, for example. The plate surface of the lower capsule tray main body 62 faces in the vertical direction.

The plurality of lower capsule holding holes 63 are formed, for example, in the same size and the same shape as each other. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 11 (a), the plurality of lower capsule holding holes 63 are arranged in an array in a plurality of rows in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, for example. For example, the lower capsule holding holes 63 are arranged in a square lattice shape.

Each lower capsule holding hole 63 is recessed downward from the upper surface of the lower capsule tray main body portion 62, for example.

The lower capsule holding hole 63 includes, for example, a body portion 63c in addition to the first portion 63a and the second portion 63b, and the body portion 63c is formed in a shape corresponding to the body portion 113 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110 a. The underside of torso portion 63c is continuous with first portion 63 a.

As shown in fig. 11 (b), the first portion 63a, the second portion 63b, and the torso portion 63c are arranged coaxially with each other, for example.

More specifically, the first portion 63a has a substantially hemispherical (dome-shaped) cross-sectional shape (see fig. 11 c) that is convex downward. The upper side of the first portion 63a is continuous with the trunk portion 63 c.

The outer diameter of the first portion 63a is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110 a.

The radius of curvature of the first portion 63a is set to be substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110 a.

The second portion 63b has a substantially hemispherical (dome-like) side cross-sectional shape (see fig. 11 c) that is convex downward.

The outer diameter of the second portion 63b is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110 b. Thus, the second portion 63b is smaller in diameter than the first portion 63 a.

The radius of curvature of the second portion 63b is set to be substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110 b.

The side cross-sectional shape of the torso part 63c (see fig. 11 c) is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape with the vertical direction as the axial direction. The upper end of the trunk portion 63c opens to the upper surface of the lower capsule tray body 62, and the lower side of the trunk portion 63c is continuous with the upper side of the first portion 63 a.

The outer diameter of the body portion 63c is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body portion 113 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110 a.

In the case of the present embodiment, the lower end portions of the lower capsule holding holes 63 constitute the lower end portions of the second portions 63b, and the upper end portions of the lower capsule holding holes 63 constitute the upper end portions of the torso portion 63 c.

The first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 described later picks up and transfers any one of the lower capsules 111 accommodated in each of the plurality of lower capsule holding holes 63 to the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a in one picking operation.

As shown in fig. 12 (a), the lower capsule holding hole 63 holds the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a in a state where the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111a is fitted to the first portion 63 a. Thus, the opening 114 of the lower capsule 111a is favorably maintained in the vertically upward facing state, and the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a is held by the lower capsule holding hole 63.

As shown in fig. 12 (b), the lower capsule holding hole 63 holds the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b in a state where the lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111b is fitted to the second portion 63 b. Thus, the opening 114 of the lower capsule 111b is favorably maintained in the vertically upward state, and the capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b is held by the lower capsule holding hole 63.

In fig. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the lower capsules 111a and 111b are illustrated in front view.

Here, the plurality of lower capsule-holding holes 63 further have through-holes 64 continuous with the second portion 63 b.

The through hole 64 extends, for example, in the vertical direction, the upper side of the through hole 64 is continuous with the second portion 63b, and the lower end of the through hole 64 opens to the lower surface of the lower capsule tray main body 62. That is, the interior of the lower capsule holding hole 63 communicates with the exterior of the lower capsule tray main body portion 62 via the through hole 64.

According to such a configuration, when picking up the lower capsule 111 from the lower capsule tray 61, air can be introduced into the lower capsule holding hole 63 through the through hole 64, and therefore the lower capsule 111 can be easily pulled out from the lower capsule holding hole 63.

The first lower capsule transfer unit 30 includes, for example, a first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 for holding the lower capsules 111.

As shown in fig. 4, 5 (a), and 5 (b), the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 includes, for example: a first sorting head 32 that sorts the lower capsules 111 from the lower capsule trays 61 arranged in the lower capsule tray arrangement section 12; and a second picking head 34 for picking the lower capsule 111 from the lower capsule tray 61 disposed in the lower capsule tray disposition part 12.

The first picking head 32 has a pair of first picking claws 33. The gap between the first picking claws 33 corresponds to the diameter of the lower capsule 111a (see fig. 15 b) of the first capsule 110 a. Therefore, the lower capsules 111a of the first capsules 110a can be easily picked with the first picking head 32.

The lower capsule 111a can be transferred while maintaining the opening 114 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a in a vertically upward posture by the first picking head 32. Thus, the capsule assembling unit 20 can precisely perform the operation of fitting the lower capsule 111a and the upper capsule 116a to each other.

Likewise, the second picking head 34 has a pair of second picking claws 35. The gap between the pair of second picking claws 35 corresponds to the diameter of the lower capsule 111b (see fig. 16 b) of the second capsule 110 b. Therefore, the lower capsules 111b of the second capsules 110b can be easily picked with the second picking head 34.

The second picking head 34 can transfer the lower capsule 111b while maintaining the opening 114 of the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b in a vertically upward posture. Thus, the capsule assembling unit 20 can precisely perform the operation of fitting the lower capsule 111a and the upper capsule 116a and fitting the lower capsule 111b and the upper capsule 116b to each other.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, for example, when picking the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a, the first picking head 32 narrows the gap between the pair of first picking claws 33 and sandwiches the lower capsule 111a.

Similarly, the second picking head 34 narrows a gap between the pair of second picking claws 35 to hold the lower capsule 111b when picking the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b, for example.

As shown in fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the pair of first picking claws 33 are separated from each other in, for example, the horizontal direction (in the present embodiment, the left-right direction). Therefore, the gap between the pair of first picking claws 33 is a gap in the horizontal direction (left-right direction).

The first picking pawls 33 are formed in mutually left-right symmetrical shapes. The pair of first picking claws 33 are arranged in a substantially L shape in side view, for example. In more detail, each of the pair of first picking claws 33 includes: a horizontal portion 33a extending in the front-rear direction; a vertical portion 33b extending in the vertical direction; and a connecting portion 33c that connects the horizontal portion 33a and the vertical portion 33b to each other.

In the present embodiment, when picking the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a, the lower capsule 111a is held between the vertical portions 33b of the pair of first picking claws 33.

More specifically, when picking the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a, the distance separating the vertical parts 33b in the left-right direction is, for example, substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the lower capsule 111a. This enables the lower capsules 111a of the first capsules 110a to be picked up satisfactorily by the pair of first picking claws 33.

As shown in fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the second picking head 34 is formed in the same shape as the first picking head 32.

Thus, the second picking pawls 35 are formed in mutually left-right symmetrical shapes. The pair of second picking claws 35 are arranged in a substantially L shape in side view, for example. Each of the pair of second picking claws 35 includes a horizontal portion 35a, a vertical portion 35b, and a connecting portion 35c.

In the present embodiment, when picking the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b, the lower capsule 111b is held between the vertical portions 35b of the pair of second picking claws 35.

More specifically, when the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b is sorted, the distance separating the vertical parts 35b in the left-right direction is, for example, substantially equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lower capsule 111b. This enables the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b to be picked up satisfactorily by the pair of second picking claws 35.

The first lower capsule transfer unit 30 includes, for example, a first picking head drive motor 95a (see fig. 21), and by driving the first picking head drive motor 95a, the operation of narrowing the gap between the pair of first picking claws 33 and the operation of widening the gap can be performed.

More specifically, when the first picking head driving motor 95a rotates in one direction, the pair of first picking pawls 33 move in the direction of approaching each other, and the gap between the pair of first picking pawls 33 is narrowed. Thereby, as shown in fig. 5 (b), the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a is sandwiched between the pair of first picking claws 33.

On the other hand, when the first picking head driving motor 95a rotates in the other direction, the pair of first picking claws 33 move in the direction away from each other, and the gap between the pair of first picking claws 33 is widened. This releases the state in which the lower capsule 111a is held between the pair of first sorting claws 33.

Similarly, the first lower capsule transfer unit 30 includes, for example, a second picking head drive motor 95b (see fig. 21), and by driving the second picking head drive motor 95b, the operation of narrowing the gap between the pair of second picking claws 35 and the operation of widening the gap can be performed, respectively.

More specifically, when the second picking head driving motor 95b rotates in one direction, the pair of second picking pawls 35 move in the direction of approaching each other, and the gap between the pair of second picking pawls 35 narrows. Thereby, as shown in fig. 6 (b), the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b is held between the pair of second picking claws 35.

On the other hand, when the second picking head driving motor 95b rotates in the other direction, the pair of second picking claws 35 move in the direction away from each other, and the gap between the pair of second picking claws 35 widens. This releases the state in which the lower capsule 111b is held between the pair of second sorting claws 35.

In the case of the present embodiment, as an example, the change in the interval between the pair of first picking pawls 33 can be set in accordance with the number of pulses of the first picking head driving motor 95 a. Similarly, as an example, the change in the interval between the pair of second picking claws 35 may be set based on the number of pulses of the second picking head driving motor 95 b.

The first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 is a mechanism that drives the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34, for example, and includes a picking head switching mechanism 36 that selectively switches between a first picking state (see fig. 5a and 5 b) in which the first picking head 32 is disposed at a picking position (a region indicated by a two-dot chain line C in fig. 5 a) at which the lower capsule 111 can be picked from the lower capsule tray 61 disposed in the lower capsule tray disposition portion 12 and a second picking state (see fig. 6a and 6 b) in which the second picking head 34 is disposed at the picking position (a region indicated by a two-dot chain line C in fig. 6 a).

According to such a configuration, since the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 has two picking heads that are optimally set and adjusted in advance in accordance with the outer diameters of the corresponding lower capsules 111, the setting and adjustment of the picking heads can be omitted when switching from (or vice versa) the production of the first capsule 110a to the production of the second capsule 110 b. This enables two types of capsules 110 having different diameter dimensions to be efficiently produced.

As shown in fig. 4, 5 (a), 6 (a), and the like, the picking head switching mechanism 36 includes: a picking head holding unit 37 that is rotatable about a horizontal axis 38 and holds the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34 at positions rotationally symmetrical to each other with respect to the horizontal axis 38; and a rotation mechanism 39 that selectively switches between the first picking state and the second picking state by rotating the picking head holding portion 37 about the horizontal shaft 38.

This makes it possible to easily switch between the first picking state and the second picking state without replacing the picking head, for example, and thus to further improve the manufacturing efficiency of two types of capsules 110 having different diameter sizes.

As shown in fig. 4, the picking head holding portion 37 is formed in a flat plate shape, for example, with its plate surface facing in the front-rear direction. As shown in fig. 5 (a), 6 (a), and the like, the picking head holding portion 37 is formed in, for example, a substantially rectangular shape having a long dimension in the vertical direction in front view.

The horizontal shaft 38 is disposed, for example, in the center of the picking head holding portion 37. The horizontal shaft 38 extends, for example, in the front-rear direction. Also, in fig. 4, the horizontal axis 38 is shown by a one-dot chain line. The sorting position is a position opposite to the horizontal axis 38.

As shown in fig. 4, the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34 are each mounted on, for example, the rear surface of the picking head holding portion 37. In fig. 5 (a) and 6 (a), the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34 are actually disposed behind the picking head holding portion 37, and are illustrated by broken lines, but for ease of understanding, they are illustrated by solid lines for convenience.

In the picking head holding portion 37, the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34 are disposed at positions facing each other at 180 degrees with respect to the horizontal shaft 38, for example.

The rotation mechanism 39 includes, for example, a rotation motor 39a (see fig. 21) for rotating the picking head holding portion 37 about the horizontal shaft 38. By driving the rotating motor 39a, the picking head holding portion 37 rotates in one direction around the shaft (in the present embodiment, clockwise) with the horizontal shaft 38 as a rotation axis. By rotating the picking head holding portion 37, the picking state is selectively switched between the first picking state and the second picking state.

As shown in fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b), in the first picking state, the first picking head 32 is positioned below and the second picking head 34 is positioned above with respect to the horizontal shaft 38. The respective vertical portions 33b of the first picking head 32 project vertically downward, and the respective vertical portions 35b of the second picking head 34 project vertically upward.

Then, the picking head holding portion 37 rotates 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the horizontal shaft 38, whereby the first picking head 32 disposed at the picking position moves to the standby position, and the second picking head 34 disposed at the standby position moves to the picking position. Thereby, the first picking state is switched to the second picking state (see fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b)).

In the second picking position, the first picking head 32 is located above and the second picking head 34 is located below with respect to the horizontal shaft 38. The vertical portions 33b of the first picking head 32 project vertically upward, and the vertical portions 35b of the second picking head 34 project vertically downward.

Then, the picking head holding portion 37 further rotates, and the first picking head 32 disposed at the standby position moves to the picking position again, and the second picking head 34 disposed at the picking position moves to the standby position. Thereby, the second picking state is switched to the first picking state.

In fig. 5 (a) and 6 (a), the locus of the rotation of the picking head holding portion 37 is shown by a dashed-dotted line B. In fig. 5 (a) and 6 (a), the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34 in the middle of the movement between the picking position and the standby position are shown by two-dot chain lines, respectively.

In the present invention, the rotation direction of the picking head holding portion 37 is not particularly limited, and the picking head holding portion 37 may be configured to rotate counterclockwise about the horizontal shaft 38 as a rotation axis.

In this way, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes: a lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12 for arranging a lower capsule tray 61, the lower capsule tray 61 accommodating a plurality of lower capsules 111 of the first capsules 110a or the second capsules 110 b; a first picking head 32 having a pair of first picking claws 33, the clearance between the first picking claws 33 corresponding to the diameter of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110a, and picking the lower capsule 111a from the lower capsule tray 61 arranged at the lower capsule tray arrangement part 12; a second picking head 34 having a pair of second picking claws 35, the gap between the second picking claws 35 corresponding to the diameter of the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110b, and picking the lower capsule 111b from the lower capsule tray 61 arranged at the lower capsule tray arrangement part 12; and a picking head switching mechanism 36 that is a mechanism for driving the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34, and that selectively switches between a first picking state in which the first picking head 32 is disposed at a picking position at which the lower capsule 111 can be picked from the lower capsule tray 61 disposed at the lower capsule tray disposition portion 12 and a second picking state in which the second picking head 34 is disposed at the picking position.

As shown in fig. 1, 2, and 21, the first lower capsule transfer unit 30 includes, for example, in addition to the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31: a first front-rear guide portion 30a that guides the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 forward and rearward; a first front-rear drive motor 91a; a first upper and lower guide portion 30b that guides the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 upward and downward; a first up-down driving motor 91b; and a first drive transmission mechanism 91 that transmits the driving force of each of the first front-rear drive motor 91a and the first up-down drive motor 91b to the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31. The first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 can be moved in the front-rear direction by driving the first front-rear driving motor 91a, and the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 can be moved in the up-down direction by driving the first up-down driving motor 91 b.

When the first front-rear driving motor 91a rotates in one direction, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 is guided by the first front-rear guide portion 30a and moves forward, and moves above the lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12. On the other hand, when the first front-rear drive motor 91a rotates in the other direction, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 is guided by the first front-rear guide section 30a to move rearward and moves above the first lower capsule mounting section 18a. In this way, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 can move between the lower capsule tray arrangement section 12 and the first lower capsule mounting section 18a.

When the first vertical driving motor 91b rotates in one direction, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 is guided by the first vertical guide portion 30b and moves downward, and when the first vertical driving motor 91b rotates in the other direction, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 is guided by the first vertical guide portion 30b and moves upward. Thus, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 can move in the vertical direction.

For example, the first front-rear driving motor 91a and the first up-down driving motor 91b are stepping motors, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the first front-rear drive motor 91a and the first up-down drive motor 91b may be motors other than stepping motors. The actuator for driving the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 may be a device other than a motor.

When the lower capsule 111 is transferred from the lower capsule tray 61 to the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a by the first lower capsule transfer portion 30, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 is raised while maintaining a state of sandwiching the lower capsule 111 by the picking heads (the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34), and is moved from above the lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12 further above the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a. In a state where the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 is disposed directly above the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 is lowered toward the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a, and the clamped state of the lower capsule 111 is released. In this way, the lower capsule 111 is mounted on the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a.

As shown in fig. 17 and 18, the second lower capsule transfer unit 210 includes, for example, a second lower capsule holding mechanism 211 that holds the lower capsule 111.

The second lower capsule holding mechanism 211 has, for example: a third picking head 212 having a pair of third picking claws 213 for picking up the lower capsule 111 from the first lower capsule mounting portion 18 a; and a fourth picking head 214 having a pair of fourth picking claws 215 for picking the lower capsule 111 from the second lower capsule mounting section 18b.

In the present embodiment, for example, when picking the lower capsule 111, the third picking head 212 narrows a gap between the pair of third picking claws 213 and holds the lower capsule 111.

In more detail, each of the pair of third picking claws 213 extends, for example, in the front-rear direction. Further, a concave portion 213a having a substantially semicircular shape in plan view is formed on the inner surface of each of the pair of third picking claws 213. When the third picking head 212 picks up the lower capsule 111, the lower capsule 111 is engaged between the pair of concave portions 213a in a state where the gap between the pair of third picking claws 213 is narrowed.

Similarly, when picking up the lower capsule 111, the fourth picking head 214 narrows a gap between the pair of fourth picking claws 215 to hold the lower capsule 111.

The fourth picking head 214 is, for example, set to the same shape and the same size as the third picking head 212. Therefore, a recess 215a having a substantially semicircular shape in plan view is formed on the inner surface of each of the pair of fourth picking claws 215. When the fourth picking head 214 picks up the lower capsule 111, the lower capsule 111 is engaged with the pair of concave portions 215a while the gap between the pair of fourth picking claws 215 is narrowed.

As shown in fig. 17 and 18, the third picking head 212 and the fourth picking head 214 are horizontally held by the picking head holding portion 216, respectively. The picking head holding portion 216 is formed in a flat plate shape having a long dimension in the left-right direction, the third picking head 212 is fixed to the left end portion of the picking head holding portion 216, and the fourth picking head 214 is fixed to the right end portion of the picking head holding portion 216.

The second lower capsule transfer unit 210 has, for example, a third picking head drive motor 98a, and by driving the third picking head drive motor 98a, the gap between the pair of third picking claws 213 can be narrowed and widened.

Similarly, the second lower capsule transfer unit 210 has, for example, the fourth picking head drive motor 98b, and by driving the fourth picking head drive motor 98b, the operation of narrowing the gap between the pair of fourth picking claws 215 and the operation of widening the gap can be performed.

As shown in fig. 17, 21, and the like, the second lower-capsule transfer unit 210 includes, for example, in addition to the second lower-capsule holding mechanism 211: a third left-right guide portion 210a that guides the second lower capsule holding mechanism 211 to the left and right; a third left-right drive motor 98c; and a seventh drive transmission mechanism 98 that transmits the drive force of the third left and right drive motor 98c to the second lower capsule holding mechanism 211. The second lower capsule holding mechanism 211 can be moved in the left-right direction by driving the third left-right drive motor 98 c.

For example, the third left and right drive motor 98c is a stepping motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the third left and right drive motor 98c may be a motor other than a stepping motor. Further, the actuator for driving the second lower capsule holding mechanism 211 may be a device other than a motor.

The second lower capsule holding mechanism 211 clamps the lower capsule 111 mounted on the first lower capsule mounting section 18a by the third picking head 212, and clamps the lower capsule 111 mounted on the second lower capsule mounting section 18b by the fourth picking head 214, for example. Then, while this state is maintained, the second lower capsule holding mechanism 211 is moved rightward, and the lower capsules 111 held by the third picking head 212 are mounted on the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b, and the lower capsules 111 held by the fourth picking head 214 are mounted on the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c. In this way, the lower capsule 111 mounted on the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a is transferred to the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b, and the lower capsule 111 mounted on the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b is transferred to the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c.

The lower capsule mounting portions 17 (in the present embodiment, the first to third lower capsule mounting portions 18a to 18 c) have, for example, second lower capsule holding holes (not shown) having an upper end opened, and the second lower capsule holding holes include: a third portion formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111a of the first capsule 110 a; and a fourth portion which is continuous with a lower side of the third portion and is formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end 112 of the lower capsule 111b of the second capsule 110 b.

With this configuration, the lower capsule 111 of two types of capsules 110 having different diameter dimensions can be appropriately housed in the lower capsule mounting portion 17.

In the case of the present embodiment, the second lower capsule holding holes are formed in the same manner as the lower capsule holding holes 63 of the lower capsule tray 61 (see fig. 11 (b) and 11 (c)) as an example, and thus are not shown.

Here, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example, a detection sensor (not shown) that detects whether or not the lower capsule 111 is mounted on each of the first to third lower capsule mounting units 18a to 18c. The control unit 90 described later individually determines whether or not to transfer the lower capsule 111 to the first to third lower capsule mounting units 18a to 18c based on the detection result of the detection sensor.

As shown in fig. 7, the dispensing mechanism 40 includes, for example, a medicine suction and discharge unit 42, and the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 includes a pipette tip 43.

This enables a small amount of the radiopharmaceutical 121 to be dispensed into the lower capsule 111 with high accuracy by the pipette tip 43.

Further, for example, when the radiopharmaceutical 121 is suctioned from the pharmaceutical storage container 50 by the pharmaceutical suction/discharge unit 42, the dispensing mechanism 40 sinks only the pipette tip 43 into the radiopharmaceutical 121 in the pharmaceutical storage container 50.

Accordingly, when the radiopharmaceutical 121 is injected into the lower capsule 111, only the pipette tip 43 can come into contact with the radiopharmaceutical 121, and therefore, in the step of injecting the radiopharmaceutical 121 into the lower capsule 111, only the pipette tip 43 and the pharmaceutical storage container 50 (more specifically, a vial 53 described later) storing the radiopharmaceutical 121 become radioactive waste. Namely, the amount of radioactive waste can be reduced.

The reagent suction and discharge unit 42 includes, for example, a pump unit 44, the pump unit 44 is equipped with a pipette tip 43, and the pump unit 44 operates to suck the radiopharmaceutical 121 into the pipette tip 43 and discharge the radiopharmaceutical 121 from the pipette tip 43.

The pump section 44 is not particularly limited, but the pump section 44 is, for example, a pen-type syringe pump such as a pencil pump (japanese patent No. ペンシルポンプ) (registered trademark) equipped with a pump section drive motor 44a (see fig. 21). By using a pen-type syringe pump as the pump section 44, a small amount of the radiopharmaceutical 121 can be dispensed to the lower capsule 111 more accurately and quickly.

As shown in fig. 7, the pump section 44 and the pipette tip 43 each extend in the vertical direction. Further, the pipette tip 43 is mounted on the lower end portion of the pump portion 44.

As shown in fig. 1, 2, and 21, the dispensing mechanism 40 includes, in addition to the medicine suction and discharge unit 42, for example: a second front-rear guide 40a that guides the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 forward and backward; a second front-rear drive motor 92a; a second upper and lower guide portion 40b that guides the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 upward and downward; a second up-down driving motor 92b; and a second drive transmission mechanism 92 that transmits the driving force of each of the second front-rear drive motor 92a and the second up-down drive motor 92b to the medicine sucking and discharging unit 42. The second front-rear drive motor 92a is driven to move the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 in the front-rear direction, and the second vertical drive motor 92b is driven to move the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 in the vertical direction.

When the second front-rear drive motor 92a rotates in one direction, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 is guided by the second front-rear guide portion 40a and moves forward, and moves to above the medicine storage container 50. On the other hand, when the second front-rear drive motor 92a rotates in the other direction, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 is guided by the second front-rear guide portion 40a to move rearward and moves to above the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b. Thus, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 can move between the medicine storage container 50 and the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b.

When the second vertical drive motor 92b rotates in one direction, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 is guided by the second vertical guide portion 40b and moves downward, and when the second vertical drive motor 92b rotates in the other direction, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 is guided by the second vertical guide portion 40b and moves upward. Thus, the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 can move in the vertical direction.

For example, the second front-rear drive motor 92a and the second up-down drive motor 92b are each a stepping motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the second front-rear drive motor 92a and the second up-down drive motor 92b may be motors other than stepping motors. Further, the actuator for driving the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 may be a device other than a motor.

The medicine storage container 50 is configured to include, for example: a radiation shielding first shielding container 52; and a vial 53 housed in the first shield container 52. The radiopharmaceutical 121 is stored in the vial 53. The first shield container 52 is opened upward, and the opening of the first shield container 52 constitutes the opening 51 of the medicine storage container 50.

When the radiopharmaceutical 121 is dispensed into the lower capsule 111, the pipette tip 43 of the drug suction and discharge unit 42 is inserted into the first shield container 52 through the opening 51, and further into the vial 53.

When the radiopharmaceutical 121 is dispensed from the pharmaceutical storage container 50 to the lower capsule 111 by the dispensing mechanism 40, the pharmaceutical suction and discharge unit 42 moves downward toward the pharmaceutical storage container 50 in a state where the pharmaceutical suction and discharge unit 42 is disposed directly above the pharmaceutical storage container 50. Thereby, the lower end of the pipette tip 43 is inserted into the vial 53 through the opening 51 of the drug storage container 50, and the pump 44 sucks the radiopharmaceutical 121.

Thereafter, the radiopharmaceutical 121 is sucked into the pipette tip 43, and the drug suction/discharge unit 42 is raised. Thereby, the pipette tip 43 is taken out from the medicine storage container 50. Then, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 moves from above the medicine storage container 50 to above the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b. Then, in a state where the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 is disposed directly above the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 is lowered toward the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b. Thereby, the lower end of the pipette tip 43 is inserted into the lower capsule 111 mounted on the second lower capsule mounting section 18b, and the radiopharmaceutical 121 is discharged from the pump section 44 (the radiopharmaceutical 121 is injected into the lower capsule 111).

Here, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a medicine storage container holding section 141 (see fig. 3) that holds the medicine storage container 50. The medicine storage container holder 141 holds the medicine storage container 50 (the first shield container 52 and the vial 53 in the first shield container 52) in an inclined state.

Thus, as shown in fig. 3 and 7, when the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 is lowered and the lower end of the pipette tip 43 is inserted into the vial 53 in a state where the medicine storage container 50 is disposed in the medicine storage container holding unit 141, the lower end of the pipette tip 43 can reach the bottom of the vial 53. Thereby, substantially the entire amount of the radiopharmaceutical 121 can be extracted from the vial 53. In fig. 3 and 7, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 lowered until the lower end of the pipette tip 43 reaches the bottom of the vial 53 is shown by a two-dot chain line.

In the present invention, for example, a washing solution (not shown) may be stored in the vial 53 of the drug storage container 50.

The wash liquid stored in the vial 53 is sucked and discharged by the reagent suction and discharge unit 42, whereby the radiopharmaceutical 121 remaining on the inner surface of the pipette tip 43 can be washed away with the wash liquid. Therefore, the radiopharmaceutical 121 can be prevented from remaining on the inner surface of the pipette tip 43.

For example, physiological saline can be used as the irrigation solution.

As described above, the upper bladder holding mechanism 21 includes the suction head 22 (see fig. 8 (a) and 8 (b)), and the suction head 22 includes: a holding hole 26 opened at the lower end; and a drainage channel 24 that connects the upper end of the holding hole 26 and a suction source 132 (see fig. 2) to each other. In fig. 8 (a), a portion of the suction head 22 below the wavy line B is shown as a cross-sectional view along the axial direction of the suction head 22.

The suction head 22 includes, for example, a suction head body portion 22a, the suction head body portion 22a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having an axial direction in the vertical direction, and the suction head body portion 22a is formed with a holding hole 26 and a suction flow path 24. For example, the lower end portion of the suction head main body portion 22a is slightly reduced in diameter downward. The lower end of the suction head body 22a is a flat surface and is disposed horizontally. The holding hole 26 is open downward at a lower end (lower end surface) of the suction head body 22 a.

The holding hole 26 of the suction head 22 includes, for example, a trunk hole portion 29 in addition to the first hole portion 27 and the second hole portion 28, and the trunk hole portion 29 is formed in a shape corresponding to the trunk portion 118 of the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110 a. The trunk hole portion 29 is continuous with the lower side of the first hole portion 27.

For example, the first hole 27, the second hole 28, and the trunk hole 29 are disposed coaxially with each other.

More specifically, the first hole 27 has a side cross-sectional shape (see fig. 8 b) formed in a substantially hemispherical shape (dome shape) protruding upward.

The outer diameter of first hole 27 is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of upper end 117 of upper capsule 116a of first capsule 110 a.

The side cross-sectional shape of the second hole 28 (see fig. 8 b) is formed into a substantially hemispherical shape (dome shape) protruding upward.

The outer diameter of second hole 28 is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of upper end 117 of upper capsule 116b of second capsule 110 b. Therefore, the second hole portion 28 is smaller than the first hole portion 27.

In addition, the radius of curvature of the second hole portion 28 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the first hole portion 27.

The lateral cross-sectional shape of the trunk hole portion 29 (see fig. 8 (b)) is, for example, a cylindrical shape having the vertical direction as the axial direction. The lower end of the trunk hole 29 opens to the lower end surface of the suction head main body 22a, and the upper side of the trunk hole 29 is continuous with the first hole 27.

The outer diameter of trunk hole portion 29 is set to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of trunk portion 118 of upper bladder 116a of first capsule 110 a.

The upper end of second hole 28 constitutes the upper end of holding hole 26, and the lower end of trunk hole 29 constitutes the lower end of holding hole 26.

One end of the suction channel 24 is continuous with the upper side of the second hole 28, and the other end of the suction channel 24 is open on the outer peripheral surface of the suction head main body 22a, for example.

Further, a connecting portion 24a for connecting the pipe member 131 (see fig. 2) is provided at the other end of the suction channel 24.

The tube member 131 is connected to a suction source 132, and the suction channel 24 is connected to the suction source 132 via the tube member 131. Thus, the suction channel 24 allows the upper end portion of the holding hole 26 (in the present embodiment, the second hole portion 28) and the suction source 132 to communicate with each other.

As shown in fig. 9 (a), for example, in a state where the upper end portion 117 of the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110a fits into the first hole portion 27, the suction head 22 sucks and holds the upper capsule 116a.

As shown in fig. 9 (b), for example, in a state where the upper end portion 117 of the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b fits into the second hole portion 28, the suction head 22 sucks and holds the upper capsule 116b.

This allows the upper capsule 116 of each capsule 110 to be held by suction while maintaining the vertical downward orientation of the opening 119 of the upper capsule 116 with one suction head 22, and thus allows the upper capsule 116 and the corresponding lower capsule 111 to be fitted to each other with precision.

In fig. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the upper capsules 116a and 116b are shown in front view, respectively.

As shown in fig. 1, 2, and 21, the capsule assembling unit 20 includes, for example: a third front-rear guide portion 20a for guiding the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 forward and rearward; a third front-rear drive motor 93a; a third upper and lower guide portion 20b that guides the above-described upper bladder holding mechanism 21 upward and downward; a third up-down driving motor 93b; and a third drive transmission mechanism 93 that transmits the driving force of each of the third front-rear drive motor 93a and the third up-down drive motor 93b to the upper capsule holding mechanism 21. The upper bag holding mechanism 21 can be moved in the front-rear direction by driving the third front-rear driving motor 93a, and the upper bag holding mechanism 21 can be moved in the up-down direction by driving the third up-down driving motor 93 b.

When the third front-rear driving motor 93a rotates in one direction, the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 is guided by the third front-rear guide portion 20a to move forward and moves above the upper capsule tray placement portion 14. On the other hand, when the third front-rear drive motor 93a rotates in the other direction, the upper bladder holding mechanism 21 is guided by the third front-rear guide portion 20a to move rearward and moves to above the third lower bladder mounting portion 18c. Thus, the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 can move between the upper capsule tray arrangement part 14 and the third lower capsule mounting part 18c.

When the third up-down driving motor 93b rotates in one direction, the upper bladder holding mechanism 21 moves downward, and when the third up-down driving motor 93b rotates in the other direction, the upper bladder holding mechanism 21 moves upward. Thus, the upper bladder holding mechanism 21 can move in the vertical direction.

For example, the third front-rear driving motor 93a and the third up-down driving motor 93b are stepping motors, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the third front-rear drive motor 93a and the third up-down drive motor 93b may be motors other than stepping motors. Further, the actuator for driving the upper bladder holding mechanism 21 may be a device other than a motor.

When the lower capsule 111 and the upper capsule 116 are combined with each other by the capsule assembling unit 20, the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 moves downward toward the upper capsule tray 66 in a state where the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 is disposed above the upper capsule tray disposing unit 14, and the suction head 22 performs a picking operation of the upper capsule 116. Thereafter, the suction head 22 holds the upper bladder 116 while the upper bladder holding mechanism 21 is moved upward and moves from above the upper bladder tray placement unit 14 to above the third lower bladder mounting unit 18c. In a state where the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 is disposed above the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c, the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 is lowered toward the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c. Thus, the upper bladder 116 sucked and held by the suction head 22 is externally attached to the lower bladder 111 mounted on the third lower bladder mounting portion 18c, and the upper bladder 116 and the lower bladder 111 are fitted to each other.

In the present embodiment, when the radiopharmaceutical 121 is consumed, the used vial 53 (or a vial 146a described later) is discarded in a disposal container disposed on the primary disposal base 144 for the undiluted solution container when the batch of radiopharmaceuticals 121 is changed. The disposal container is housed in the shield container.

As shown in fig. 13 (a), 13 (b), and 13 (c), the upper bag tray 66 includes, for example: a main body 67 of a flat-shaped upper capsule tray; a columnar portion 68 rising upward from the upper capsule tray main body portion 67, the columnar portion 68 regulating the position of the lower portion of the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b in a state where the lower portion of the upper capsule 116b is fitted around the columnar portion 68; and a groove 69 formed on the upper surface of the upper capsule tray main body 67 and around the outer periphery of the columnar portion 68, wherein the groove 69 regulates the position of the lower edge of the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110a in a state where the lower edge of the upper capsule 116a enters the groove 69 over the entire circumference.

In the case of the present embodiment, the upper capsule tray 66 has a plurality of columnar portions 68. For example, one column 68 receives one upper capsule 116. That is, the upper bladder tray 66 can accommodate a plurality of upper bladders 116 with the upper limit of the number of columnar portions 68.

The upper capsule tray body portion 67 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, for example. The plate surface of the upper bladder tray main body portion 67 faces in the vertical direction.

For example, the plurality of columnar portions 68 are formed to have the same size and the same shape. In the present embodiment, for example, the plurality of columnar portions 68 are arranged in a multi-row array in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, respectively. For example, the plurality of columnar portions 68 are arranged in a square lattice shape.

Each columnar portion 68 projects upward from the upper surface of the upper bladder tray main body portion 67, for example. Each columnar portion 68 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with the vertical direction as the axial direction, for example. More specifically, the upper end portion 68a of the columnar portion 68 is formed in a tapered trapezoidal shape having a diameter decreasing upward, and a portion of the columnar portion 68 below the upper end portion 68a (hereinafter, the body portion 68 b) is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having an axial direction in the vertical direction.

The outer diameter of the columnar portion 68 is set to a size substantially equal to or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b, for example. With this configuration, the upper capsule 116b is fitted well to the columnar portion 68 in a state where the lower portion of the upper capsule 116b is fitted around the columnar portion 68.

The groove 69 is recessed downward from the upper surface of the upper bladder tray main body 67, for example. The groove 69 is formed concentrically with the columnar portion 68 in plan view, for example.

The inner diameter of the groove 69 is set to be slightly smaller than each of the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the upper bladder 116a, for example. The groove 69 has an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the upper bladder 116a, for example. With this structure, the lower edge of the upper bladder 116a enters the groove 69 over the entire circumference.

The upper capsule holding mechanism 21 sucks and holds any one of the upper capsules 116 stored in the plurality of columnar portions 68 in one picking operation, and transfers the sucked and held upper capsule 116 to the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c.

The number of the columnar portions 68 of the upper capsule tray 66 is equal to the number of the lower capsule holding holes 63 of the lower capsule tray 61. That is, the number of upper capsules 116 that can be stored in the upper capsule tray 66 is equal to the number of lower capsules 111 that can be stored in the lower capsule tray 61.

As shown in fig. 14 (a), the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110a is externally attached to the columnar portion 68 in a posture in which the opening 119 of the upper capsule 116a faces vertically downward, and is accommodated in the columnar portion 68.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 14 (b), the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b is externally attached to the columnar portion 68 in a posture in which the opening 119 of the upper capsule 116b faces vertically downward, and is accommodated in the columnar portion 68.

The capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example, a capsule tray conveying unit 16 (see fig. 2), and the capsule tray conveying unit 16 moves the lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12 and the upper capsule tray arrangement portion 14 in the left-right direction, respectively.

The capsule tray conveying unit 16 includes: a first left and right guide portion 16a that guides the lower and upper capsule tray arrangement portions 12 and 14 to the left and right, respectively; a first left and right drive motor 94a (see fig. 21); and a fourth drive transmission mechanism 94 that transmits the driving force of the first left-right drive motor 94a to each of the lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12 and the upper capsule tray arrangement portion 14.

By driving the first left-right driving motor 94a, the lower and upper capsule tray arrangement portions 12 and 14 can be moved in the left-right direction, respectively.

The lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12 is moved to a position corresponding to the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 in the left-right direction by the capsule tray conveying portion 16, whereby the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 can efficiently pick up the lower capsules 111 accommodated in the lower capsule tray 61.

More specifically, for example, the capsule tray conveying section 16 moves the lower capsule tray arrangement section 12 leftward (or rightward) such that, among the rows of the plurality of lower capsule holding holes 63 arranged in the left-right direction, the row of the lower capsule holding holes 63 arranged right next to (or left next to) the row of the empty lower capsule holding holes 63 is arranged at a position corresponding to the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 in the left-right direction. By repeating such an operation a plurality of times, the entire number of lower capsules 111 stored in each lower capsule holding hole 63 can be efficiently sorted.

Similarly, the upper capsule tray arrangement portion 14 is moved to a position corresponding to the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 in the left-right direction by the capsule tray conveying portion 16, whereby the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 can efficiently pick up the upper capsules 116 accommodated in the upper capsule tray 66.

More specifically, for example, the capsule tray conveying unit 16 moves the upper capsule tray arrangement unit 14 leftward (or rightward) such that, among the rows of the plurality of columnar portions 68 arranged in the left-right direction, the row of columnar portions 68 arranged adjacent to the right (or adjacent to the left) of the row of empty columnar portions 68 is arranged at a position corresponding to the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 in the left-right direction. By repeating such an operation a plurality of times, the entire number of upper capsules 116 stored in each columnar portion 68 can be efficiently picked up.

In the present embodiment, capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example: an appearance inspection part 81 for performing appearance inspection of the capsule 110; a radioactivity detecting part 83 for measuring radioactivity of the capsule 110; and a defective product discarding unit 85 that discards the capsules 110 determined to be defective by the appearance inspection unit 81 or the radioactivity inspection unit 83.

The capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 further includes a capsule transfer unit 220, and the capsule transfer unit 220 transfers the capsule 110 in which the lower capsule 111 filled with the radiopharmaceutical 121 and the upper capsule 116 are combined. For example, the capsule transfer unit 220 transfers the capsule 110 from the dispensing mechanism 40 to the appearance inspection unit 81, transfers the capsule 110 from the appearance inspection unit 81 to the radioactivity inspection unit 83, and transfers the capsule 110 from the radioactivity inspection unit 83 to the sealing and adsorbing unit 70.

The appearance inspection unit 81 includes, for example: a first capsule mounting part 81b for mounting the capsule 110; and an appearance camera 81a for capturing an appearance of the capsule 110 mounted on the first capsule mounting unit 81b.

The operator confirms the image of the capsule 110 captured by the appearance camera 81a by observation, and determines whether the capsule 110 is a good product satisfying a quality standard (for example, a state of being normally fitted) or a defective product not satisfying the quality standard. Then, the capsule 110 is transferred from the appearance inspection unit 81 to the radioactivity inspection unit 83 by the capsule transfer unit 220.

The radiation energy inspection unit 83 includes, for example: a second capsule mounting portion 83b for mounting the capsule 110; and a radiation detector 83a that measures the radiation energy of the radiopharmaceutical 121 dispensed into the capsule 110 mounted on the second capsule mounting unit 83b.

Based on the measurement result of the radiation detector 83a, the control unit 90 described later determines whether the capsule 110 is a good product that satisfies the reference value of the radiation energy or a bad product that does not satisfy the reference value of the radiation energy. The capsules 110 determined to be acceptable by the radioactivity inspection unit 83 are stored in a storage container 56 described later by a capsule transfer unit 220. On the other hand, the capsule 110 determined to be defective by the appearance inspection unit 81 or the radioactivity inspection unit 83 is transferred to the defective product disposal unit 85 by the capsule transfer unit 220.

As shown in fig. 1, the defective product disposal unit 85 includes, for example: a radiation shielding second shielding container 54; and a disposal container 55 accommodated in the second shield container 54.

The capsules 110 determined to be defective in the appearance inspection unit 81 or the radioactivity inspection unit 83 are discarded in the disposal container 55.

The disposal container 55 is, for example, a vial.

As shown in fig. 19 and 20, the capsule transfer unit 220 includes, for example, a capsule holding mechanism 221, and the capsule holding mechanism 221 holds by suction a capsule 110 in which a lower capsule 111 filled with a drug (in the present embodiment, a radiopharmaceutical 121) and an upper capsule 116 are combined.

Similarly to the capsule holding mechanism 21, the capsule holding mechanism 221 includes a second suction head (in the present embodiment, the second suction heads 222 to 224) including: a capsule holding hole with an opening at the lower end; and a second suction channel for communicating the upper end of the capsule holding hole with the suction source.

The capsule holding hole includes, for example: a third hole portion (not shown) formed in a shape corresponding to the upper end portion 117 of the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110 a; and a fourth hole portion which is continuous with the upper side of the third hole portion and is formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end portion 117 of the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b, the second capsule 110b being smaller in diameter than the first capsule 110 a.

For example, in a state where the upper end portion 117 of the upper capsule 116a of the first capsule 110a fits into the third hole portion, the second suction head sucks and holds the upper capsule 116a.

For example, in a state where the upper end portion 117 of the upper capsule 116b of the second capsule 110b is fitted to the fourth hole portion, the second suction head sucks and holds the upper capsule 116b.

According to such a configuration, the upper capsule 116 can be held by suction while the upper capsule 116 of each capsule 110 is held in a vertically downward orientation by the single second suction head, and therefore the operation of fitting the upper capsule 116 and the corresponding lower capsule 111 to each other can be performed precisely.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, the capsule holding mechanism 221 includes a plurality of second suction heads 222 to 224 (see fig. 19 and 20).

The second suction head 222 picks up the capsule 110 from the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c, the second suction head 223 picks up the capsule 110 from the first capsule mounting portion 81b, and the second suction head 224 picks up the capsule 110 from the second capsule mounting portion 83b.

In the present embodiment, the capsule holding holes of the second suction heads 222 to 224 are configured in the same manner as the suction head 22. Therefore, illustration of the capsule holding holes (third portion and fourth portion) of the second suction heads 222 to 224 and the second suction flow path are omitted.

The second suction head 222 and the second suction head 223 are each vertically held by, for example, a first holding portion 225. The first holding portion 225 is formed in a flat plate shape having a long dimension in the left-right direction, the second suction head 222 is fixed to the left end portion of the first holding portion 225, and the second suction head 223 is fixed to the right end portion of the first holding portion 225.

The second suction head 224 is vertically held by, for example, a second holding portion 226.

The capsule transfer unit 220 includes, for example, a fourth left and right guide unit 220a for guiding the capsule holding mechanism 221 to the left and right, a fourth left and right drive motor 99a, and an eighth drive transmission mechanism 99, in addition to the capsule holding mechanism 221. By driving the fourth left-right driving motor 99a, the capsule holding mechanism 221 can be moved in the left-right direction.

For example, the fourth left and right drive motor 99a is a stepping motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the fourth left and right drive motor 99a may be a motor other than a stepping motor. The actuator for driving the capsule holding mechanism 221 may be a device other than a motor.

For example, in the capsule holding mechanism 221, the capsule 110 mounted on the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c is sucked and held by the second suction head 222, the capsule 110 mounted on the first capsule mounting portion 81b is sucked and held by the second suction head 223, and the capsule 110 mounted on the second capsule mounting portion 83b is sucked and held by the second suction head 224. Then, while this state is maintained, the capsule holding mechanism 221 moves rightward, and the capsule 110 sucked and held by the second suction head 222 is mounted on the first capsule mounting portion 81b, and the capsule 110 sucked and held by the second suction head 223 is mounted on the second capsule mounting portion 83b. Further, when the capsule 110 sucked and held by the second suction head 224 is a non-defective product, the capsule holding mechanism 221 stores the capsule 110 in the storage container 56 described later, and when the capsule 110 sucked and held by the second suction head 224 is a defective product, the capsule 110 is stored in the disposal container 55 of the defective product disposal unit 85.

In the case of the present embodiment, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 further includes, for example, a sealing/adsorbing portion 70 that seals the storage container 56 in which the plurality of qualified capsules 110 are stored.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the seal and suction unit 70 includes, for example, a tray mounting unit 74 and a suction mechanism 77, the tray mounting unit 74 mounts a tray 75, and the tray 75 is used for disposing: a storage container 56 that stores a plurality of capsules 110 as non-defective products; and a lid portion (for example, a rubber plug 56 a) for sealing the storage container 56, and the suction mechanism 77 is connected to a suction source (not shown) to suction-hold the lid portion (rubber plug 56 a).

The storage container 56 in which the plurality of capsules 110 are stored is stored inside a radiation shielding third shielding container 57 (see fig. 1).

As shown in fig. 2, the sealing and suction unit 70 is disposed, for example, on the right of the defective product disposal unit 85. The defective product discarding section 85 is disposed, for example, on the right of the radiant energy inspecting section 83, and the radiant energy inspecting section 83 is disposed on the right of the capsule assembling section 20.

The tray mounting portion 74 is disposed below the seal and the suction portion 70, for example.

The tray 75 has, for example: a housing container arrangement portion 75a for arranging the housing containers 56; a third shield container arrangement portion 75b for arranging the third shield container 57; and a rubber plug arrangement portion 75c for arranging the rubber plug 56 a.

As shown in fig. 2, in the tray 75, the accommodating container arrangement portion 75a and the rubber plug arrangement portion 75c are arranged in tandem with each other. The third shielding container disposing part 75b is disposed between the accommodating container disposing part 75a and the rubber plug disposing part 75c in the front-rear direction, and is disposed at a position shifted to the right side with respect to each of the accommodating container disposing part 75a and the rubber plug disposing part 75c.

Here, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example, a detection sensor (not shown) that detects whether or not the storage container 56 is mounted on the tray mounting portion 74. The control unit 90 described later determines whether or not the storage container 56 is mounted on the tray mounting unit 74 based on the detection result of the detection sensor.

As shown in fig. 1, 2, and 21, the sealing and adsorbing portion 70 includes, for example: a second left and right guide portion 78a that guides the suction mechanism 77 to the left and right; a second left-right drive motor 96a; a fourth upper and lower guide portion 78b that guides the adsorption mechanism 77 upward and downward; a fourth up-down driving motor 96b; and a fifth drive transmission mechanism 96 that transmits the driving force of each of the second left-right drive motor 96a and the fourth up-down drive motor 96b to the adsorption mechanism 77. The suction mechanism 77 can be moved in the left-right direction by driving the second left-right driving motor 96a, and the suction mechanism 77 can be moved in the up-down direction by driving the fourth up-down driving motor 96 b.

For example, the second left-right drive motor 96a and the fourth up-down drive motor 96b are stepping motors, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the second left-right drive motor 96a and the fourth up-down drive motor 96b may be motors other than stepping motors. Further, the actuator for driving the suction mechanism 77 may be a device other than a motor.

Further, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes: a fourth front-rear guide portion 76 that guides the tray mounting portion 74 forward and rearward; a fourth front-rear driving motor 97a; and a sixth drive transmission mechanism 97 for transmitting the driving force of the fourth front-rear drive motor 97a to the tray mounting portion 74. By driving the fourth front-rear driving motor 97a, the tray mounting portion 74 can be moved in the front-rear direction, and the tray 75 can be moved in the front-rear direction.

When the storage container 56 storing the plurality of capsules 110 is sealed, the suction mechanism 77 is maintained in a state of sucking and holding the rubber stoppers 56a, and the tray mounting portion 74 is moved forward so that the storage container arrangement portion 75a (and thus the storage container 56) is arranged directly below the suction mechanism 77. From this state, the suction mechanism 77 is lowered toward the accommodating container 56 disposed in the accommodating container disposition portion 75 a. Thereby, the rubber stopper 56a seals the opening of the storage container 56, and the storage container 56 is sealed (see fig. 10 (a)).

As shown in fig. 21, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes: a control unit 90 for controlling the operations of the first lower capsule transfer unit 30, the second lower capsule transfer unit 210, the dispensing mechanism 40, the capsule assembling unit 20, the capsule transfer unit 220, the sealing and adsorbing unit 70, and the radioactive energy inspection unit 83; and an operation unit 89 that receives an input operation to the control unit 90.

For example, the control unit 90 includes: a ROM90b (readonly memory) for storing a control program; a CPU 90a (central processing unit) that executes a control operation based on the control program; and a RAM 90c (random access memory) functioning as a work area of the CPU 90a and the like.

The control unit 90 controls the operations of the first to fourth front-rear drive motors 91a to 97a, the first to fourth vertical drive motors 91b to 96b, the first to fourth left-right drive motors 94a to 99a, the rotating motor 39a, the pump drive motor 44a, and the first to fourth picking head drive motors 95a to 98b, respectively.

In the case of the present embodiment, for example, the detection date of capsule 110, the production number of capsule 110, the number of capsules 110 put into storage containers 56, the number of storage containers 56 into which capsules 110 are put, the amount of liquid of radiopharmaceutical 121 dispensed into each capsule 110, the radiation energy, and the like can be set by the input operation to operation unit 89.

Capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example, a base unit 151 (see fig. 1 and 2), and base unit 151 is mounted with various components of capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 described above.

Capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example: a first support frame 152 that supports the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31; a second support frame 153 for supporting the dispensing mechanism 40; and a third support frame 154 for supporting the capsule assembling unit 20.

The first to third support frames 152 to 154 are mounted on the base portion 151, for example, and are supported by the base portion 151 in a vertically standing state.

The first support frame 152 includes, for example: a pair of front and rear vertical plate sections 152a; and a plurality of horizontal plate sections 152b that interconnect the front and rear pair of vertical plate sections 152 a.

Similarly, the second support frame 153 includes, for example: a pair of front and rear vertical plate portions 153a; and a plurality of horizontal plate portions 153b that connect the pair of front and rear vertical plate portions 153a to each other, the third support frame 154 includes, for example: a pair of front and rear vertical plate portions 154a; and a plurality of horizontal plate portions 154b that connect the pair of front and rear vertical plate portions 154a to each other.

The capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a plurality of shielding plates 145 having radiation shielding properties. A base 151 is disposed in an internal space defined by the plurality of shielding plates 145. That is, various components of capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 described above are disposed in an internal space defined by a plurality of shielding plates 145. This suppresses leakage of radiation to the outside of the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100.

Next, an example of the method of using capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 will be described.

First, as preparation, the operator mounts the lower capsule tray 61 on the lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12, and mounts the upper capsule tray 66 on the upper capsule tray arrangement portion 14, the lower capsule tray 61 accommodating the lower capsules 111 of the required number of capsules 110, and the upper capsule tray 66 accommodating the upper capsules 116 of the required number of capsules 110. In addition, as an example, the excipient 122 (e.g., granulated sugar) is filled in advance in each lower capsule 111 accommodated in the lower capsule tray 61.

The operator mounts the material conveying container 146 (see fig. 2) on the material conveying container mounting portion 147 with the lid portion of the material conveying container 146 removed, and accommodates the vial 146a storing the radiopharmaceutical 121 inside the material conveying container 146. The vial 146a in the material transfer container 146 is transferred to the first shield container 52 of the drug storage container 50 by a handling device not shown. That is, the vial 146a is used as the vial 53 of the drug storage container 50.

The worker mounts the storage container 56, the rubber stopper 56a, and the third shielding container 57 on the tray 75.

Further, the operator mounts a pipette tip 43 to a pump section 44 provided in the medicine suction and discharge section 42.

Then, the operator performs the following setting operation on the operation unit 89: the date of detection of the capsule 110, the manufacturing number of the capsule 110, the number of capsules 110 put into the storage container 56, the number of storage containers 56 into which the capsules 110 are put, the liquid amount (0.1 mL or less, as an example) of the radiopharmaceutical 121 dispensed into each capsule 110, and the radiation energy (100 mCi/mL or more, as an example).

After these preparations are completed in advance, the operator instructs the operation unit 89 to start the operation of the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100. In the present invention, the order of these steps prepared in advance is not particularly limited.

When the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 starts operating, the controller 90 first performs operation control on the first lower capsule transfer unit 30. The control unit 90 moves the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 from the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a to a position directly above the lower capsule tray arrangement portion 12. Then, the control unit 90 lowers the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 and picks up the lower capsule 111 from the lower capsule tray 61 by the first picking head 32 (or the second picking head 34). Then, the control unit 90 moves the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 from above the lower capsule tray arranging portion 12 to just above the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a again while maintaining the state in which the pair of first picking claws 33 (or the pair of second picking claws 35) sandwich the lower capsule 111, and lowers the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a. In this state, the control unit 90 widens the gap between the pair of first picking claws 33 (or the pair of second picking claws 35) and mounts the lower capsule 111 on the first lower capsule mounting portion 18a.

Then, the control unit 90 controls the operation of the second lower capsule transfer unit 210 to transfer the lower capsule 111 mounted on the first lower capsule mounting unit 18a to the second lower capsule mounting unit 18b.

Then, the control unit 90 controls the operation of the dispensing mechanism 40. The controller 90 moves the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 from above the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b to above the medicine storage container 50, and lowers the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 to which the pipette tip 43 is attached. Thereby, the lower end of the pipette tip 43 moves toward the vial 53 through the opening 51 of the drug storage container 50. As shown in fig. 3 and 7, the controller 90 further lowers the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 until the lower end of the pipette tip 43 reaches the lower end portion 53a of the bottom of the vial 53. Further, the medicine suction and discharge portion 42 is set to descend such that the lower end of the pipette tip 43 stops at a position not contacting the bottom of the vial 53. More specifically, the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 is set to descend such that the tip of the pipette tip 43 stops at a position where the tip does not contact the bottom of the vial 53 even if looseness, shaking, overshoot, or the like occurs. Then, the control section 90 drives the pump section drive motor 44a of the pump section 44. This allows the radiopharmaceutical 121 to be sucked from the vial 53 into the pipette tip 43 by the pump section 44. Then, the controller 90 raises the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 until the pipette tip 43 is taken out of the vial 53, and further moves from above the medicine storage container 50 to above the second lower capsule mounting portion 18b. Then, the controller 90 lowers the medicine suction and discharge unit 42 again until the lower end of the pipette tip 43 is positioned below the opening 114 of the lower capsule 111 mounted on the second lower capsule mounting unit 18b and above the upper end of the excipient 122. In this state, the control unit 90 drives the pump unit drive motor 44a to discharge the radiopharmaceutical 121 in the pipette tip 43 into the lower capsule 111.

Then, the control unit 90 performs operation control with respect to the second lower capsule transfer unit 210, and transfers the lower capsules 111 mounted on the second lower capsule mounting unit 18b to the third lower capsule mounting unit 18c.

Then, the control unit 90 controls the operation of the capsule assembling unit 20. The control unit 90 moves the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 from above the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c to just above the upper capsule tray placement portion 14. Then, the control section 90 lowers the upper capsule holding mechanism 21, and picks up the upper capsule 116 from the upper capsule tray 66 by the suction head 22. Then, the control unit 90 moves the upper bladder holding mechanism 21 from above the upper bladder tray arrangement portion 14 to above the third lower bladder mounting portion 18c again while maintaining the state in which the suction head 22 sucks and holds the upper bladder 116, and moves it down toward the lower bladder 111 mounted on the third lower bladder mounting portion 18c. Thus, the upper bladder 116 sucked and held by the suction head 22 is externally attached to the lower bladder 111 mounted on the third lower bladder mounting portion 18c, and the upper bladder 116 and the lower bladder 111 are fitted to each other. Then, the control section 90 releases the suction of the suction head 22 to the upper bladder 116.

Thus, the lower capsule 111 is combined with the upper capsule 116 to obtain the capsule 110.

Then, the capsules 110 on the third lower capsule mounting portion 18c are transferred to the first capsule mounting portion 81b of the appearance inspection portion 81 by the capsule transfer portion 220.

Then, the operator checks the image of the capsule 110 captured by the appearance camera 81a, and determines whether the capsule 110 is acceptable or unacceptable (determines whether the capsule is properly fitted). Then, the capsules 110 on the first capsule mounting unit 81b are transferred to the second capsule mounting unit 83b of the radioactivity inspection unit 83 by the capsule transfer unit 220.

Then, the control section 90 controls the operation of the radiation detector 83 a. The control unit 90 measures the radiation energy of the radiopharmaceutical 121 dispensed into the capsule 110 mounted on the second capsule mounting unit 83b by the radiation detector 83 a. Then, based on the measurement result of the radiation detector 83a, the control unit 90 determines whether the capsule 110 is acceptable or unacceptable (determines whether the radiation energy is within the specification). The capsule 110 determined to be acceptable is thrown into the storage container 56 by the second suction head 224 of the capsule transfer unit 220. On the other hand, the capsules 110 determined to be defective in the appearance inspection unit 81 or the radioactivity inspection unit 83 are discarded into the disposal container 55 of the defective product disposal unit 85 by the capsule transfer unit 220.

In this way, capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 determines whether or not capsule 110 manufactured is acceptable. Then, the control unit 90 repeats the above-described operation until the set number of capsules 110 are accommodated in the accommodating container 56.

After the set number of capsules 110 are put into the storage container 56, the control unit 90 then controls the operation of the sealing and adsorbing unit 70. The controller 90 moves the tray mounting portion 74 rearward so that the rubber plug placement portion 75c is positioned directly below the suction mechanism 77. Then, the controller 90 lowers the suction mechanism 77, and the suction mechanism 77 sucks and holds the rubber plugs 56a disposed in the rubber plug disposition portions 75c. Then, the control unit 90 moves the suction mechanism 77 upward, maintains the state in which the suction mechanism 77 sucks and holds the rubber stoppers 56a, moves the tray mounting portion 74 forward so that the accommodating container arrangement portion 75a is positioned directly below the suction mechanism 77, and moves the suction mechanism 77 downward toward the accommodating containers 56 arranged in the accommodating container arrangement portion 75 a. Thereby, the rubber stopper 56a sucked and held by the suction head 22 seals the opening of the storage container 56 disposed in the storage container disposition portion 75a (see fig. 10 (a)). Then, the controller 90 raises the suction mechanism 77 while keeping the state in which the suction mechanism 77 sucks and holds the rubber plug 56 a. Thus, the suction mechanism 77 can suck and hold the storage container 56 together with the rubber stopper 56a (see fig. 10 (b)). Then, the control unit 90 moves the suction mechanism 77 to the right, and further moves the tray mounting unit 74 to the rear so that the third shield container arrangement portion 75b is positioned directly below the suction mechanism 77. Then, the controller 90 lowers the suction mechanism 77 until the accommodating container 56 is disposed in the third shield container 57 (see fig. 10 c), and releases the suction of the rubber stopper 56a by the suction mechanism 77. Thereby, the storage container 56 in which the capsule 110 is placed and sealed by the rubber stopper 56a is left in the third shielding container 57. Then, the storage container 56 disposed in the third shielding container 57 is discharged to the outside of the internal space defined by the plurality of shielding plates 145 by a conveying unit, not shown.

Thus, the storage container 56 storing the set number of capsules 110 is obtained. Then, the control section 90 repeats the above-described operation until the set number of accommodating containers 56 have finished accommodating the capsules 110.

The embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, but these are examples of the present invention, and various configurations other than the above can be adopted.

For example, although the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 is configured to be able to manufacture two types of capsules 110 having different diameters, the capsule manufacturing apparatus 100 may be configured to be able to manufacture three or more types of capsules 110 having different diameters, for example.

In this case, for example, as shown in fig. 22, the holding hole 26 of the upper capsule holding mechanism 21 includes a fifth hole portion 161 in addition to the first hole portion 27 and the second hole portion 28, and the fifth hole portion 161 is continuous with the upper side of the second hole portion 28 and formed in a shape corresponding to the upper end portion of the upper capsule of the third capsule (not shown) which is smaller in diameter than the second capsule 110 b.

With this configuration, three kinds of capsules having different diameters can be efficiently manufactured.

More specifically, in this case, the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 includes, for example, a fifth picking head (not shown) in addition to the first picking head 32 and the second picking head 34, and the picking head switching mechanism 36 selectively switches among a first picking state, a second picking state, and a third picking state in which the fifth picking head is disposed at the picking position. The first picking head 32, the second picking head 34, and the fifth picking head are disposed at intervals of 120 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis 38, for example.

The lower capsule holding hole 63 of the lower capsule tray 61 includes, for example, a fifth portion (not shown) which is continuous with the lower side of the second portion 63b and is formed in a shape corresponding to the lower end portion of the lower capsule of the third capsule, in addition to the first portion 63a and the second portion 63 b.

In the present invention, the number of holes included in holding hole 26 is not particularly limited, and can be set as appropriate according to the number of types of capsules 110 produced by capsule production apparatus 100.

Similarly, the number of picking heads and the shape of the lower capsule holding hole 63 provided in the first lower capsule holding mechanism 31 are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set according to the number of types of capsules 110 produced by the capsule production apparatus 100.

Claims (10)

1. A capsule manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a first capsule and a second capsule by combining an upper capsule having an open lower end and a closed upper end with a lower capsule having an open upper end and a closed lower end, after the lower capsule having the open upper end and the closed lower end is filled with a medicine,

a capsule holding mechanism for holding the upper capsule by adsorption,

the upper capsule holding mechanism is provided with an adsorption head which is provided with a holding hole with an opening at the lower end and a suction flow path which enables the upper end part of the holding hole to be mutually communicated with a suction source,

the holding hole includes:

a first hole portion formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end portion of the upper capsule of the first capsule; and

and a second hole portion continuous to an upper side of the first hole portion and formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end portion of the upper capsule of the second capsule, the second capsule being smaller in diameter than the first capsule.

2. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a lower capsule tray arrangement portion for arranging a lower capsule tray accommodating a plurality of said lower capsules of said first or second capsules;

a first picking head having a pair of first picking claws, a gap between the first picking claws corresponding to a diameter of the lower capsule of the first capsule, and picking the lower capsule from the lower capsule tray arranged in the lower capsule tray arrangement part;

a second picking head having a pair of second picking claws, a gap between the second picking claws corresponding to a diameter of the lower capsule of the second capsule, and picking the lower capsule from the lower capsule tray arranged in the lower capsule tray arrangement part; and

and a picking head switching mechanism that drives the first picking head and the second picking head, and that selectively switches between a first picking state in which the first picking head is disposed at a picking position at which the lower capsule can be picked from the lower capsule tray disposed in the lower capsule tray disposition portion and a second picking state in which the second picking head is disposed at the picking position.

3. The capsule manufacturing apparatus of claim 2,

the picking head switching mechanism comprises:

a picking head holding unit that is rotatable about a horizontal axis and holds the first picking head and the second picking head at positions rotationally symmetrical to each other with respect to the horizontal axis; and

a rotating mechanism for selectively switching between the first picking state and the second picking state by rotating the picking head holding portion about the horizontal axis.

4. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,

the first picking head narrows a gap between the pair of first picking claws to hold the lower capsule when picking the lower capsule of the first capsule,

when the second picking head picks the lower capsule of the second capsule, the second picking head narrows a gap between the pair of second picking claws to hold the lower capsule.

5. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,

the lower capsule tray has a plurality of lower capsule holding holes opened at an upper end,

the lower capsule retaining hole includes:

a first portion formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end portion of the lower capsule of the first capsule; and

a second portion continuous with a lower side of the first portion and formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end of the lower capsule of the second capsule.

6. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:

an upper capsule tray placement section for placing an upper capsule tray containing a plurality of the upper capsules of the first capsule or the second capsule,

the upper capsule tray has:

a main upper bladder tray body formed in a flat plate shape;

a columnar portion that rises upward from the upper capsule tray main body portion and that regulates a position of a lower portion of the upper capsule of the second capsule in a state in which the lower portion of the upper capsule is fitted to the columnar portion; and

and a groove portion which is formed on an upper surface of the upper capsule tray main body portion and in an annular shape around an outer periphery of the columnar portion, and which regulates a position of a lower edge portion of the upper capsule of the first capsule in a state where the lower edge portion of the upper capsule enters the groove portion over an entire circumference.

7. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the medicine from the medicine storage container to the lower capsule,

the dispensing mechanism includes a reagent suction and discharge unit having a pipette tip.

8. The capsule manufacturing apparatus of claim 7,

the dispensing mechanism is configured to cause only the pipette tip to sink into the radiopharmaceutical in the drug storage container when the drug is suctioned from the drug storage container by the drug suction and discharge unit.

9. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

a capsule holding mechanism that adsorbs and holds the first capsule and the second capsule, which are formed by combining the lower capsule and the upper capsule filled with the medicine,

the capsule holding mechanism has a second adsorption head having: a capsule holding hole with an opening at the lower end; and a second suction channel for communicating the upper end of the capsule holding hole with a suction source,

the capsule holding hole includes:

a third hole part formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end part of the upper capsule of the first capsule; and

and a fourth hole portion continuous to an upper side of the third hole portion and formed in a shape corresponding to an upper end portion of the upper capsule of the second capsule, the second capsule being smaller in diameter than the first capsule.

10. The capsule manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

a lower capsule carrying part for carrying the lower capsule before the upper capsule is combined,

the lower capsule carrying part is provided with a second lower capsule holding hole with an opening at the upper end,

the second lower capsule-retaining hole includes:

a third portion formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end portion of the lower capsule of the first capsule; and

a fourth portion continuous with a lower side of the third portion and formed in a shape corresponding to a lower end of the lower capsule of the second capsule.

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