JP2001063707A - Drug supply apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drug supply apparatus capable of reliably performing the separating operation of drugs by means of a partitioning member and also smoothly performing the drug supply operation while preventing the drugs from being caught in the mid course of the supply of the drugs. SOLUTION: In this drug supply apparatus, drugs contained in a drug containing container are aligned in drug aligning paths 16 by the rotation of a rotor 12 and are partitioned in a predetermined quantity at a time by a partitioning member 19 protruding into each drug aligning path 16 according to the rotation of the rotor to be discharged through a drug discharge hole. The partitioning member 19 is formed with a large-diameter bar-like protrusion 19c disposed on the uppermost stream side of the rotor 12 and many small- diameter bar-like protrusions 19b provided connectively to the large-diameter protrusion 19c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medicine supplying apparatus for supplying a prescribed number of medicines such as tablets, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a medicine fixed amount supply device for supplying a predetermined number of medicines such as tablets and capsules to a medicine packaging section is provided with a medicine accommodation container for accommodating medicines, and is rotatably arranged in the medicine accommodation container. A rotating rotor, a medicine aligning path for aligning the medicine with the rotation of the rotating rotor, and a medicine discharging hole for discharging the medicine, wherein a partition member is protruded into the medicine aligning path and the medicine is predetermined by the partition member. It is constituted so that it may be divided into several parts and discharged.

Here, as a partition member arranged in the middle of the medicine alignment path, a member made of a thin metal plate is usually used. However, in such a partition member, because the bending rigidity is high, when the medicine being supplied is caught, the medicine is caught between the partition member and the rotating rotor, or the supply operation cannot be performed smoothly, Alternatively, there has been a problem that the partition member is deformed or the medicine is damaged.

In order to cope with such a problem, there has been proposed, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-39910 in which the partition member is formed of a comb-shaped elastic beard made of synthetic resin. ing.

[0005]

However, the structure of the partition member described in the above-mentioned publication has an advantage that when an excessive force is applied to the partition member, the partition member is deformed so that the medicine can be separated without difficulty. In some cases, because the rigidity of this partition member is too low, when the medicine to be separated collides with the most upstream part of the partition member, the partition member is easily bent, and a normal medicine separating operation is performed. In addition to the new problem that the elastic beard cannot be performed smoothly, there is also a problem that the elastic whiskers may fall off or break during the collision with the medicine and may be mixed into the packaging bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to surely perform a separating operation of a medicine by a partition member and to prevent the partition member from falling off or breaking. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine supply device capable of preventing a medicine from being caught in the middle of supply and performing a medicine supply operation smoothly.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Action / Effect In order to achieve the above object, a medicine supply device according to the present invention aligns a medicine contained in a medicine accommodation container in a medicine alignment path by rotation of a rotary rotor. A drug supply device configured to partition a predetermined number of drugs by a partition member protruding into the drug alignment path with the rotation of the rotary rotor and to discharge the drug through a drug discharge hole; It is characterized by comprising a large-diameter rod-shaped body disposed on the most upstream side and a large number of small-diameter rod-shaped bodies connected to the large-diameter rod-shaped body.

In the present invention, when a large number of medicines are stored in the medicine container and the rotor is rotated, the medicine is dropped while being aligned in the medicine alignment path by the rotation of the rotary rotor. With the rotation of the rollers, the medicine is divided into predetermined numbers by a partition member protruding into the medicine alignment path and is discharged from the medicine discharge holes. Here, the partition member is configured by a large-diameter rod-shaped body disposed at the most upstream end in the rotation direction of the rotor, and a large number of small-diameter rods connected to the large-diameter rod-shaped body. This partition member is
Compared with the conventional example constituted by a single thin plate, the medicine does not come into contact with the end of the partition member during rotation of the rotating rotor, so that the medicine is sandwiched between the rotating rotor and the partition member. Therefore, the feed can be smoothly divided without being caught. In addition, since the most upstream end of the partition member is formed of a relatively rigid, large-diameter rod-like body, the conventional member in which the partition member is entirely formed of a low-rigid elastic beard is used. In comparison, the medicine dividing operation can be performed more reliably. In addition, after the separation operation of the front and rear drugs by the large-diameter rod-shaped body is performed, the small-diameter rod-shaped body having relatively low rigidity is easily deformed, so that the medicine can be smoothly inserted into the medicine discharge hole without damaging the medicine. Can be supplied. According to the configuration of the partition member of the present invention,
Even if the length of the medicine in the discharge direction is slightly changed, it is possible to cope with the change.

In the present invention, each of the rod-shaped bodies may be constituted by a rod made of a number of hard materials held at a base end by a holder made of a soft material, or the base end may be made of a hard material. It may be constituted by a rod made of a number of soft materials held by a holder made of a material. By adopting any of these configurations, the above-described effects in the present invention can be obtained by utilizing the rigidity and flexibility of each rod.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a specific embodiment of a drug supply device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1A and 1B are exploded perspective views of a drug supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drug supply device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2 of the feeder main body in the drug supply device.

The present embodiment is applied to an apparatus for supplying a fixed amount of medicine such as tablets and capsules. The medicine supply device 1 includes a support base 2 and a feeder main body 3 that is detachable from the support base 2.

The support base 2 includes a base portion 4 having a substantially fan shape in a plan view, and a support column 5 erected on one end side of the base portion 4. The medicine discharge hole 6 is formed. A motor 7 and the like are supported on the back side of the base 4, and an upper drive gear 8 and a lower drive gear 9 connected to a drive shaft of the motor 7 are provided so as to protrude from the surface of the base 4. ing. The support base 2 is used by being mounted in multiple stages around a column-shaped drug supply device main body.

On the other hand, the feeder body 3 has a medicine container 11 having a funnel-shaped upper part and a cylindrical inner wall having a lower part and an upper opening which can be opened and closed by a lid 10. It is provided with a cylindrical rotary rotor 12 rotatably provided at the center and a substantially conical stirring roller 13 disposed above the rotary rotor 12. When the feeder body 3 is mounted on the support base 2, the upper drive gear 8 meshes with the rotor side gear 14 and the lower drive gear 9 meshes with the stirring gear 15. Thus, the rotating rotor 12 is driven to rotate by the driving force of the motor 7 being transmitted to the rotor side gear 14 via the upper driving gear 8, and the stirring roller 13 is driven by the driving force of the motor 7 Is transmitted to the agitation gear 15 via the rotator and driven to rotate. Here, since the gear ratio between the upper drive gear 8 and the rotor side gear 14 and the gear ratio between the lower drive gear 9 and the stirring gear 15 are different, the rotating rotor 1
2 and the stirring roller 13 are rotated at different rotation speeds,
Thus, the medicine stirring roller 1 in the medicine container 11 is
3 and smooth alignment by the rotating rotor 12 can be performed.

As is apparent from FIG. 4, a concave medicine aligning passage 16 for aligning and dropping medicines is formed on the peripheral wall of the rotating rotor 12 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The support table 2 is provided on the bottom surface of the medicine container 11.
A discharge hole 17 is formed at a position corresponding to the medicine discharge hole 6 on the side, and when the medicine P falling along the medicine alignment path 16 reaches the position of the discharge hole 17, the discharge hole 17 and the medicine discharge The air is discharged downward through the hole 6.

A groove 18 is formed in the medicine alignment path 16 in the circumferential direction of the rotary rotor 12, and a partition member 19 is provided on one side wall of the medicine container 11 so as to protrude into the groove 18. Installed. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (perspective view), the partition member 19 has a base end portion that is held by a holding member 19a made of an elastic material (soft material) such as rubber, for example, and is made of a large number of metals (hard materials). ) Rods (brushes)
19b and 19c, which can swing at least in the discharge direction of the medicine P and the rotation direction of the rotary rotor 12. Further, among these rods, the rod 19c at the most upstream part in the rotation direction of the rotary rotor 12 has a larger diameter than the other rods 19b. Is performed more reliably. As is clear from FIG. 3, the mounting position of the partition member 19 can be adjusted up and down according to the type of medicine to be handled.

In the medicine supply device 1 having such a configuration, when a medicine P (capsule in this embodiment) to be supplied in a fixed amount is put into the medicine container 11 and the motor 7 is driven, the rotating rotor 12 rotates. At the same time, the stirring roller 13 rotates and the injected medicine P moves to the outer peripheral side of the stirring roller 13 and the rotating rotor 12 while the stirring roller 13 is formed in a conical shape while being stirred by the stirring roller 13. I do. Then, the medicines P are held in a line in the medicine alignment path 16 on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating roller 12 as the rotating rotor 12 rotates.

Next, with the rotation of the rotary rotor 12, between the medicine P, which is located in the medicine alignment path 16 and whose tip is in contact with the bottom surface of the medicine container 11, and the medicine P adjacent above the medicine P. The leading end of the partition member 19 intervenes, and the leading medicine P is separated from the succeeding medicine P by the partition wall member 19. At this time, since the partition member 19 is composed of a large number of swingable rods 19b, 19c, the front and rear medicines P, P do not come into contact with the end of the partition member 19, in other words, P can be reliably separated by the partition member 19 without applying excessive force to P.

Further, the partition member 19 is provided with the rotating rotor 1.
Large-diameter rod-shaped body 1 disposed at the most upstream end in the rotation direction 2
9c and a large number of small-diameter rods 19b connected to the large-diameter rod 19c, the front and rear drugs P and P are formed by the relatively rigid large-diameter rod 19c.
Can be reliably performed, and after separation of the medicines P, P before and after, the small-diameter rod-like body 19b having relatively low rigidity is easily deformed, so that the medicine P is not damaged. Can be supplied smoothly.

In this manner, the medicine P separated one by one
Are rotated with the rotation of the rotary rotor 12 and the discharge holes 1
When the position 7 is reached, the regulation is released and the medicine is discharged downward through the medicine discharge hole 6 and supplied to the next step. In the next step, a process of counting the number of passed medicines P to be discharged and filling the medicine bottles or the like in fixed amounts is performed.

In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the rods 19b and 19c constituting the partition member 19 be provided slightly inclined toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the rotary rotor 12.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a plan view of a drug supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
C sectional view, FIG. 7B is a partially enlarged view of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a mode of discharging a medicine.

The medicine supply device 20 of the present embodiment includes a motor 2
1 and the like, and a platform 22 on which
It is configured to include a drum-shaped medicine storage container 23 to be fixed, and a substantially conical rotating rotor 24 rotatably arranged at the bottom in the medicine storage container 23.

The medicine container 23 has an inner wall surface 23a inclined in a funnel shape, so that the medicine (capsule) P injected from the upper opening is collected at the center by the inner wall surface shape. An opening is formed in the bottom surface of the medicine container 23, and the rotating rotor 24 is arranged so that the head projects from the opening.
Can be rotated in the direction of arrow B about the vertical axis with respect to the gantry 22 by the motor 21.

A plurality (five in this embodiment) of stirring blades 26 are mounted on the inner wall surface 23a of the medicine container 23. The stirring blade 26 has a portion on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating rotor 24 projecting toward the rotating rotor 24 and has a substantially triangular shape in plan view.
The shape is such that the side facing the rotating rotor 24 becomes gradually thicker toward the downstream side in the rotating direction of the rotating rotor 24.

On the other hand, the rotary rotor 24 has a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) groove-shaped storage pockets 27 in the head projecting into the medicine storage container 23 in the radial direction from the center. I have. The storage pocket 27 has a semicircular cross section and is formed so as to expand toward the outer peripheral side of the rotary rotor 4. The drug P enters the storage pocket 27 as the rotary rotor 24 rotates, and the drug P Have a width and depth sufficient to align them radially.

When the rotating rotor 24 is rotated in a state where a large number of medicines P are stored in the medicine container 23, the medicine P introduced into the peripheral portion is filled with the funnel-shaped inner wall surface 23a.
As a result, the medicine P injected into the central portion is moved to the outer peripheral side of the rotating rotor 24 by the rotation of the rotating rotor 24 and turned in the radial direction while being stored in the storage pocket 27 in an aligned state. Will be done. At this time, the medicine P that has not been able to enter the storage pocket 27 is swept up by the stirring blade 26 that rotates relative to the rotating rotor 24, is once placed on the inner wall surface 23a, and then is again placed on the inner wall surface 23a. Is carried on the rotating rotor 24 by the inclination of the above, and by repeating this operation, it is surely aligned in the storage pocket 27.

On the outer peripheral portion of the rotary rotor 24, a medicine aligning path 28 communicating with a storage pocket 27 of the rotary rotor 24 is provided on an extension of the inclined surface of the rotary rotor 24,
The storage pocket 27 is stored in the storage pocket 27.
The medicine P sliding down toward the outer peripheral side along the line is received. Further, between the storage pocket 27 and the medicine alignment path 28, the partition member 2 having an arc shape in plan view is provided.
9 is integrally attached to the medicine container 23. As shown in FIG. 9 (a partially enlarged view (a) of FIG. 8 and a front view (b) of the partition member), the partition member 29 is aligned by the storage pocket 27 and is delivered in a tandem state. And a holder 2 whose upper end is made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example.
It is composed of a number of metal rods (brushes) 29b and 29c which are held and suspended by 9a. Of these rods, the rod 2 at the most upstream part in the rotation direction of the rotating rotor 24
9c has a larger diameter than the other rod-shaped body 29b, so that the medicine P in a tandem state can be separated more reliably.

On the outer peripheral side of each medicine alignment path 28, an annular body 32 having a medicine storage portion 31 communicating with each medicine alignment path 28 is provided so as to rotate integrally with the rotary rotor 24. The medicine P sliding down to the outer peripheral side through 28 is received in the medicine storage section 31. In addition, between the medicine alignment path 28 and the medicine storage part 31, a first drop-regulating wall 34 having an arc shape in plan view is integrally attached to the medicine storage container 23. The first drop regulating wall 34 serves to regulate the medicine P from falling downward until the separation of the medicine P before and after by the partition member 29 is completed. Therefore, the partition member 29
After one medicine P is stored in the medicine alignment path 28 by the above, the medicine P in the medicine alignment path 28 is released from the regulation by the first drop regulation wall 34 and the medicine storage portion 31 of the annular body 32 is released. Will be stored one by one.

Further, on the outer peripheral side of the medicine storage section 31, a second drop regulating wall 36 having an arc shape in a plan view and having a drop opening 35 as a cutout portion at a portion facing the first drop regulating wall 34 is provided. It is integrally attached to the medicine container 23. The second drop regulating wall 36 separates the medicine P stored in the medicine storing section 31 into the medicine storing sections 31 one by one.
Until the number reaches 5, the medicine P serves to restrict the medicine P from falling downward. A chute 37 is attached to the dropping opening 35, and the medicine P, which has reached the dropping opening 35 and has been released from regulation, is sent by the chute 37 to a packaging portion such as a medicine bottle.

In the medicine supply device 20 having the above-described structure, when the medicine P to be supplied in a constant amount is put into the medicine container 23 and the motor 21 is driven to rotate the rotary rotor 24, the medicine P is put into the peripheral portion. The medicine P thus obtained is a funnel-shaped inner wall 2
The medicine P collected in the center by 3a and moved into the center moves to the outer peripheral side of the rotating rotor 24 because the rotating rotor 24 is formed in a conical shape. The medicine P on the rotating rotor 24 is changed in direction along with the rotation of the rotating rotor 24 and stored in the storage pocket 27, while being not stored in the storage pocket 27 but on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating rotor 24. The moved medicine P is agitated by the agitating blades 26 relatively moving with respect to the rotating rotor 24, is also oriented, is placed on the rotating rotor 24 again, and finally is radially placed in the storage pocket 27. It is stored in line. Thereafter, the medicine P stored in the storage pocket 27 slides down the medicine alignment path 28 along the storage pocket 27 with the rotation of the rotary rotor 24, and the tip thereof abuts on the first drop regulating wall 34. Reach the position.

Next, with the rotation of the rotary rotor 24, the medicine P whose tip is in contact with the inner surface of the first drop regulating wall 34 and which is located in the medicine alignment path 28 and the medicine P adjacent behind the medicine P are contacted. 9, the leading end of the partition member 29 intervenes (FIG. 9).
(See (a)), the partitioning member 29 causes the leading drug P
Is separated from the following medicine P. At this time, since the partition member 29 is configured to be swingable at least in the discharge direction of the medicine P, the front and rear medicines P, P do not come into contact with the end of the partition member 29, in other words, the medicine P The separation can be reliably performed by the partition member 29 without applying excessive force.

In this manner, the medicines P separated and stored in the medicine alignment path 28 one by one are rotated in a state where the leading end of the medicine P in the conveying direction is in contact with the first drop regulating wall 34.
When the rotation reaches the opening of the first drop-regulating wall 34, the restriction is released and the medicine is dropped and supplied one by one into the medicine container 31 communicating with the medicine alignment path 28. .

Subsequently, the medicine P accommodated in the medicine accommodating section 31 is rotated with the rotation of the rotating rotor 24 while its tip is regulated by the second drop regulating wall 36, and reaches the drop opening 35. At that time, the regulation is released, and the liquid is supplied to the next step via the chute 37 attached to the drop opening 35. In the next step, the number of medicines P sliding down on the chute 37 is counted, and
A process of filling the medicine bottles and the like arranged at the lower end of the container 7 at a fixed rate is performed.

In each of the above embodiments, the partition member 19,
As 29, rods 19b, 19c; 29b, 2 made of a number of hard materials are attached to holders 19a, 29a made of a soft material.
9c, but the holding members 19a, 29a
Is made of a hard material, and the rods 19b, 19c;
The b and 29c can be made of a soft material, and the same operation and effect as in the present embodiment can be expected with such a structure.

In the present embodiment, a capsule has been described as an example of a drug. However, the present invention is not limited to a capsule but can be applied to other tablets.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a medicine supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the medicine supply device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a feeder main body in the medicine supply device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a partition member of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a medicine supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 6, FIG.
FIG. 7B is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a mode of discharging a medicine.

9 (a) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 (b)
FIG. 4 is a front view of a partition member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 medicine supply device 2 support base 3 feeder body 6 medicine discharge hole 7 motor 8 upper drive gear 9 lower drive gear 11 medicine container 12 rotating rotor 13 stirring roller 14 rotor side gear 15 stirring gear 16 medicine alignment path 17 discharge hole 18 Groove 19 Partition member 19a Holder 19b, 19c Rod 20 Drug supply device 21 Motor 22 Mount 23 Drug container 24 Rotary rotor 26 Stirrer blade 27 Storage pocket 28 Drug alignment path 29 Partition member 29a Holder 29b, 29c Rod 31 Drug Storage section 32 Annular body 34 First drop regulating wall 35 Drop opening 36 Second drop regulating wall 37 Chute

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A medicine stored in a medicine container is aligned on a medicine alignment path by rotation of a rotary rotor, and a predetermined number of medicines are separated by a partition member projecting into the medicine alignment path with the rotation of the rotary rotor. In the medicine supply device, the partition member is connected to a large-diameter rod arranged on the most upstream side of the rotary rotor and the large-diameter rod. A plurality of small-diameter rod-shaped members. 2. The drug supply device according to claim 1, wherein each of the rod-like bodies is constituted by a plurality of rods made of a number of hard materials whose base ends are held by a holder made of a soft material. 3. The drug supply device according to claim 1, wherein each of the rod-like bodies is composed of a plurality of soft rods whose base ends are held by a holder made of a hard material.