JP2011173626A - Apparatus for filling minute amount of powder body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for filling a minute amount of a powder body which fills accurately and quantitatively a minute amount of a powder body. <P>SOLUTION: This apparatus for filling a minute amount of a powder body fills a powder body quantitatively. The apparatus is provided with a tubular passage 12 having a supply opening 12a through which the powder body is supplied and a discharge opening 12b from which the body is discharged, a screw 22 positioned in the passage, a disk-shaped member 26 formed with a plurality of passage holes for the powder body to pass through mounted on one end of the screw and a rotary shaft 24 mounted on the other end of the screw. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder micro-filling apparatus for quantitatively filling a small amount of powder.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a powder quantitative supply machine that quantitatively supplies powder by a screw feeder disposed in a cylindrical passage having a supply port for supplying powder and a discharge port for discharging (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ). In this powder fixed quantity supply machine, the powder is prevented from being discharged from the screw feeder in a lump by providing a brush in which a radial needle member is spirally arranged at the tip of the screw feeder.

JP-A-4-100529

  By the way, in the case of filling powder used for pharmaceutical products, high-accuracy micro-packing is required. However, when the above-mentioned powder quantitative supply machine is used for filling pharmaceutical powder, the pharmaceutical powder is screwed. The feeder may be clogged or clogged between the plurality of needle members constituting the brush, and the powder cannot be discharged smoothly, making it difficult to quantitatively fill a small amount of powder with high accuracy. The powder adhering to the tip of the brush may fall off, and this phenomenon has deteriorated the filling accuracy.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a powder micro-filling device capable of quantitatively filling a small amount of powder with high accuracy.

  The powder micro-filling device of the present invention is a powder micro-packing device for quantitatively filling a powder, and includes a cylindrical passage having a supply port for supplying the powder and a discharge port for discharging the powder, and the cylindrical shape. A screw disposed in the passage, a disk-shaped member provided at one end of the screw and having a plurality of passage holes through which the powder passes, and a rotating shaft provided at the other end of the screw; It is characterized by providing.

  In the powder micro-filling device of the present invention, the screw is in the form of a coil spring.

  The powder micro-filling device of the present invention is characterized in that the disk-like member is located in the vicinity of the discharge port in the cylindrical passage.

  In the powder micro-filling device of the present invention, the plurality of passage holes are notch holes formed radially at substantially equal intervals in the disk-like member.

  In the powder micro-filling device of the present invention, the plurality of passage holes are substantially fan-shaped holes formed radially at substantially equal intervals in the disk-like member.

  The powder micro-filling device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a static eliminator located in the vicinity of the discharge port of the cylindrical passage.

  Moreover, the powder micro-packing device of the present invention is characterized in that the static eliminator supplies ion transport air toward the discharge port of the cylindrical passage.

  In addition to the static eliminator, the powder micro-filling device of the present invention further includes means for applying vibration to the cylindrical passage and / or means for generating an air flow toward the discharge port of the cylindrical passage. It is characterized by.

  The powder micro-filling device according to the present invention includes a drive unit that rotationally drives the rotating shaft, a measurement unit that measures the powder discharged from the discharge port, and the drive based on a measurement value by the measurement unit. And a control unit that controls the number of rotations of the unit.

  According to the powder micro-filling device of the present invention, a small amount of powder can be quantitatively filled with high accuracy.

It is the schematic which looked at the fine powder filling device which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the side surface side of the axis | shaft of a screw. It is a front view of the disk-shaped member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the powder filling process of the powder trace filling apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the data of the test example performed using the powder microfilling apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the other disk-shaped member which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a powder micro-filling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a powder micro-packing device as viewed from the side of a screw shaft to be described later. As shown in FIG. 1, the powder micro-filling device 2 is provided on the upper surface of a plate 6 attached to the installation table 4 by a fixture. The powder micro-filling device 2 is provided with a powder storage tank 8 for storing powder. An upper lid 8 a that covers the upper part of the powder storage tank 8 is provided with a supply port 10 for supplying powder to the powder storage tank 8. Further, a cylindrical tubular passage 12 having a supply port 12a for supplying powder and a discharge port 12b for discharging is connected to the opening at the lower portion of the right side wall portion 8b in FIG.

  Further, two openings are provided at the lower portion of the left side wall portion 8c in FIG. 1, and the drive shaft of the power transmission unit 16 that transmits power to a stirring shaft 14 and a rotating shaft 24, which will be described later, through these openings. Is inserted into the powder storage tank 8. Here, the power transmission unit 16 includes a stepping motor 18 capable of controlling the rotation angle or the number of rotations by inputting a pulse signal. Further, the stepping motor 18 is connected to a control unit 20 that controls the rotation angle or the number of rotations based on a measured value obtained by a measuring instrument 32 described later.

  A stirring shaft 14 is provided in the powder storage tank 8 in the horizontal direction, and one end of the stirring shaft 14 is connected to the drive shaft of the power transmission unit 16. Here, the stirring shaft 14 is provided with plate-shaped stirring blades 14a for stirring the powder at a plurality of positions in the axial direction. A coil spring-like screw 22 having a predetermined pitch width is disposed below the stirring shaft 14. One end of the screw 22 is inserted into the cylindrical passage 12 and extends to the vicinity of the discharge port 12b. A disk-like member 26 described later is joined to one end of the screw 22 by welding. Here, the disk-shaped member 26 has a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical passage 12 and is positioned in the vicinity of the discharge port 12 b in the cylindrical passage 12. In addition, the diameter of the disk-shaped member 26 may be the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical passage 12 or may be slightly larger. One end of the rotating shaft 24 is connected to the other end of the screw 22, and the other end of the rotating shaft 24 is connected to the drive shaft of the power transmission unit 16.

  A funnel-like member 30 is provided below the discharge port 12b of the cylindrical passage 12 so as to reliably fill the container 28 with the powder discharged from the discharge port 12b. Above the funnel-shaped member 30, a static eliminator 34 is provided for supplying ion carrying air toward the discharge port 12 b of the cylindrical passage 12. Further, a measuring device 32 is provided on the installation table 4 below the funnel-shaped member 30, and the weight of the powder filled in the container 28 placed on the measuring device 32 is measured. The measuring instrument 32 and the static eliminator 34 are connected to the control unit 20.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the disk-like member 26 viewed from the screw 22 side. The disk-shaped member 26 is a disk-shaped member having a predetermined thickness. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of predetermined-sized notch holes 26a through which powder passes are formed radially at equal intervals. ing. In the present embodiment, the disc-shaped member 26 is formed with 16 notch holes 26a having a radiation angle α of 22.5 °. In addition, a welding hole 26 b into which one end of the screw 22 is inserted and welded is formed at the center of the disk-like member 26.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the powder filling process of the powder micro-filling apparatus 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. When an operation start button (not shown) for instructing the operation start of the powder micro-filling device 2 is pressed by the operator, the control unit 20 causes the static eliminator 34 to set a predetermined flow rate toward the discharge port 12b of the cylindrical passage 12. The ion carrying wind is supplied, and neutralization is performed in the vicinity of the discharge port 12b of the cylindrical passage 12 (step S10). And the control part 20 drives the stepping motor 18 with the predetermined | prescribed rotation speed corresponding to large injection mode (step S11). For example, the predetermined rotation speed of the screw 22 in the large charging mode is set to 25 rpm. Here, the rotational power from the stepping motor 18 is transmitted to the stirring shaft 14 via the drive shaft of the power transmission unit 16. As a result, the agitation shaft 14 is driven at a predetermined rotational speed to adjust the density of the powder in the powder storage tank 8. Further, the rotational power from the stepping motor 18 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 24 via the drive shaft of the power transmission unit 16. As a result, the rotating shaft 24 is driven at a predetermined rotational speed, and the powder in the powder storage tank 8 is fed from the supply port 12 a of the cylindrical passage 12 to the discharge port 12 b by the screw 22. Then, a predetermined amount of powder is discharged from the discharge port 12b through the cutout hole 26a of the disk-like member 26.

  When receiving the measurement value of the powder from the measuring instrument 32 (step S12), the control unit 20 determines whether or not the powder filled in the container has exceeded a predetermined measurement value corresponding to the large charging mode. (Step S13). For example, when the target value of the weight of the powder filled in the container is 100 mg, the weight of the powder filled in the large charging mode is set to 60 mg, and it is determined whether or not the measured value exceeds 60 mg. When the measured value exceeds 60 mg (step S13, Yes), the rotational speed of the stepping motor 18 is changed to a predetermined rotational speed corresponding to the middle charging mode (step S14). For example, the predetermined rotation speed of the screw 22 in the medium charging mode is 12.5 rpm. On the other hand, when the measured value does not exceed 60 mg (No at Step S13), the process returns to Step S12 and the powder filling is continued.

  Next, while filling the powder in the medium charging mode, the weighing value is input from the measuring device 32 (step S15), and it is determined whether or not the weighing value exceeds a predetermined weighing value corresponding to the medium charging mode. (Step S16). For example, assuming that the weight of the powder to be filled is 90 mg in the medium charging mode, it is determined whether or not the measured value exceeds 90 mg. When the measured value exceeds 90 mg (step S16, Yes), the rotational speed of the stepping motor 18 is changed to a predetermined rotational speed corresponding to the small charging mode (step S17). For example, the predetermined rotation speed of the screw 22 in the small charging mode is 5 rpm. On the other hand, when the measured value does not exceed 90 mg (No at Step S16), the process returns to Step S15 and the powder filling is continued.

  Next, while filling the powder in the small charging mode, an input of the weighing value is received from the measuring instrument 32 (step S18), and it is determined whether or not the weighing value exceeds a predetermined weighing value corresponding to the small charging mode. (Step S19). For example, the weight of the powder to be filled is set to 97 mg in the small charging mode, and it is determined whether or not the measured value exceeds 97 mg. When it exceeds 97 mg (step S19, Yes), the rotation speed of the stepping motor 18 is changed to a predetermined rotation speed corresponding to the inching mode (step S20). For example, the predetermined rotation speed of the screw 22 in the inching mode is 1 rpm. On the other hand, when the measured value does not exceed 97 mg (No at Step S19), the process returns to Step S18 and the powder filling is continued.

  Next, while filling the powder in the inching mode, a measurement value is input from the measuring instrument 32 (step S21), and it is determined whether or not the measured measurement value is within the allowable range of the target value (step S22). ). For example, when the allowable range is ± 0.5% of the target value with respect to the target value of 100 mg, it is determined whether or not the measured value is within the range of 99.5 to 100.5 mg. If the measured value is within the allowable range, the operation of the powder micro-filling device 2 is stopped (step S23). On the other hand, if the measured value does not reach the allowable range, the process returns to step S21 and the powder filling is continued.

  Based on the flowchart of FIG. 3, FIG. 4 shows data obtained by performing powder filling using the powder micro-filling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 4A shows the measurement result in the filling test performed 39 times, and FIG. 4B shows the measurement result in a graph. As can be seen from FIG. 4, extremely high filling accuracy is obtained.

  According to the powder micro-filling device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the disk-shaped member having a plurality of passage holes through which the powder passes is provided at one end of the screw, and the disk-shaped member has a lump shape. In order to prevent the passage of the powder, a small amount of powder can be filled with high accuracy. In addition, since a static eliminator is installed near the discharge port of the cylindrical passage to eliminate static electricity near the discharge port, it is possible to prevent the powder from adhering to the periphery of the discharge port, and the amount of powder filling can be increased with high accuracy. Can be controlled. Here, when a small amount of powder is filled in the inching mode, the fall of the powder adhering to the vicinity of the discharge port has an extremely large influence on the high-accuracy powder filling. According to the powder micro-filling device in the embodiment, the charge removal in the vicinity of the discharge port is reliably prevented by the neutralization in the vicinity of the discharge port, so that a small amount of powder can be filled with high accuracy. Can do. Furthermore, vibration may be applied to the cylindrical passage using a vibrator, or air current may be generated toward the discharge port around the cylindrical passage discharge port using a blower to assist the powder fall. .

  In addition, since a disk-shaped member having a plurality of passage holes through which powder passes is provided at one end of the screw, it is easy to remove the screw from the cylindrical passage, and cleaning of the screw, particularly a plurality of The disk-shaped member in which the passage hole is formed can be easily and reliably cleaned.

  In the above-described embodiment, the disk-shaped member 26 is used to prevent the passage of the bulk powder and to fill the powder in a small amount. However, the disk-shaped member 36 shown in FIG. 5 is used. Also good. Here, FIG. 5 is a front view of the disk-shaped member 36 viewed from the screw 22 side. As shown in FIG. 5, the disk-shaped member 36 is formed with 16 substantially fan-shaped holes 36 a having a plurality of predetermined sizes through which the powder passes at equal intervals. In addition, a welding hole 36 b welded to one end of the screw 22 is formed at the center of the disk-shaped member 36. Even when the disk-like member 36 is attached to one end of the screw, the passage of the bulk powder can be prevented and the powder can be quantitatively filled with high accuracy. Further, since the disk-shaped member 36 has the circumferential portion 36c, the disk-shaped member 36 has higher strength than the disk-shaped member 26 described above.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the static eliminator 34 supplies the ion carrying air toward the discharge port 12 b of the cylindrical passage 12, but soft X-rays are applied to the discharge port 12 b of the cylindrical passage 12. It may be irradiated. Thereby, since the vicinity of the discharge port 12b irradiated with the soft X-rays is neutralized, it is possible to prevent the powder from adhering to the peripheral portion of the discharge port 12b.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the coil spring-like screw 22 having a predetermined pitch width is used, but the pitch width is such that the pitch on the disk-like member 26 side is dense and the pitch on the rotating shaft 24 side is sparse. A coil spring-like screw may be used.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, 16 notch holes 26a are formed in the disk-shaped member 26, and 16 substantially fan-shaped holes 36a are formed in the disk-shaped member 36. The thickness can be appropriately selected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Fine powder filling apparatus, 12 ... Cylindrical passage, 12a ... Supply port, 12b ... Discharge port, 16 ... Power transmission part, 18 ... Stepping motor, 20 ... Control part, 22 ... Screw, 24 ... Rotating shaft, 26 ... Disk-like member, 26a ... Notch hole, 32 ... Measuring instrument, 34 ... Static eliminator

Claims (9)

A powder micro-filling device for quantitatively filling powder,
A cylindrical passage having a supply port to which the powder is supplied and a discharge port to be discharged;
A screw disposed in the cylindrical passage;
A disk-shaped member provided at one end of the screw and having a plurality of passage holes through which the powder passes;
A powder micro-filling device comprising a rotating shaft provided at the other end of the screw.   The powder micro-filling device according to claim 1, wherein the screw has a coil spring shape.   3. The powder micro-filling device according to claim 1, wherein the disk-shaped member is positioned in the vicinity of the discharge port in the cylindrical passage.   4. The powder micro-filling device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of passage holes are notched holes formed radially at substantially equal intervals in the disk-shaped member.   5. The minute amount of powder according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of passage holes are substantially fan-shaped holes formed radially at substantially equal intervals in the disk-shaped member. Filling equipment.   The fine powder filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a static eliminator positioned in the vicinity of the discharge port of the cylindrical passage.   The fine powder filling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the static eliminator supplies ion transport air toward the discharge port of the cylindrical passage.   8. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for applying vibration to the cylindrical passage and / or means for generating an air flow toward the discharge port of the cylindrical passage in addition to the static eliminator. Powder micro-filling device. A drive unit that rotationally drives the rotary shaft;
A weighing unit for weighing powder discharged from the discharge port;
The fine powder filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a control unit that controls a rotation speed of the driving unit based on a measurement value obtained by the measurement unit.

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