JP2012030883A - Ptp sheet carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a PTP sheet carrying device that can correspond to various kinds of packages without decreasing production capacity of the entire line as much as possible.SOLUTION: The carrying device 12 is constructed including a chain conveyor 22 that circulates while a plurality of chucks 21 holding a PTP sheet stacked unit 15 is constantly moving its positions, which switches between one-piece feeding that feeds each chuck 21 by one position and stops for each cycle, and four-piece feeding that feeds each chuck 21 by four positions and stops for each cycle, according to a packaging form.

Description

  The present invention relates to a PTP sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a PTP sheet.

  In general, a PTP sheet has a plurality of pocket portions in which tablets and the like are accommodated. Such a PTP sheet is subjected to a step of feeding a tablet into the pocket portion while transferring a long film in which the pocket portion is formed, a step of sticking a cover film made of aluminum or the like, a step of punching out in units of PTP sheets, and the like. Manufactured.

  Then, the PTP sheets manufactured in this way are, for example, set in a set of two sheets and stacked in a predetermined stacking unit by a predetermined stacking apparatus, and then sequentially to a predetermined packaging machine by a predetermined transporting device. Transported and packaged.

  Examples of the packaging form include a band method in which the PTP sheet aggregate is bundled with a band, and a pillow system in which the PTP sheet aggregate is packed in a pillow.

  In recent years, various types of packaging machines such as banding machines and pillow packaging machines have been arranged in order to deal with such various packaging forms, and the delivery form can be switched by changing the delivery destination of the PTP sheet assembly by the transport device. A technique to be performed has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-91724

  However, depending on the type of packaging form to be switched, the production capacity of the entire line may be reduced.

  For example, when switching from a packaging form in which an aggregate consisting of 10 PTP sheets is banded by a banding machine to a packaging form in which an aggregate consisting of 2 PTP sheets is pillow-wrapped by a pillow packaging machine, Since the time required to complete the accumulation of the PTP sheets is shortened to one fifth, the conveying speed of the conveying device that receives and conveys the same needs to be increased by five times.

  However, it is practically difficult to increase the speed of the conveyance device extremely because various operations such as conveyance, receipt, and delivery of the PTP sheet assembly may be hindered.

  Conversely, if the PTP sheet stacking speed in the stacking apparatus is slowed down to match the transport speed of the transporting apparatus, the production speed of the upstream PTP sheet manufacturing apparatus must be slowed down. Will be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its main object to provide a PTP sheet conveying apparatus that can cope with various packaging forms without reducing the production capacity of the entire line as much as possible. I am trying.

  Hereinafter, each means suitable for solving the above-described problem will be described separately. In addition, the effect specific to the means to respond | corresponds as needed is added.

Means 1. A PTP sheet transport device that receives a PTP sheet stack in which a predetermined number of PTP sheets containing contents in a pocket portion are stacked from a predetermined stacking device and transports the PTP sheet stack to a predetermined packaging device,
A plurality of holding means capable of holding the PTP sheet assembly are circularly arranged at a predetermined interval, and each holding means is provided with a cyclic conveying means provided so as to rotate while moving its position sequentially,
Each holding means is sent one position and stopped once is defined as one cycle,
During one stop in N cycles (N is a natural number of 2 or more), the N holding means positioned at the receiving positions at N adjacent positions receive the PTP sheet stack from the stacking device, respectively.
During the stop for each cycle, the one holding means located at the first delivery position delivers the first PTP sheet assembly held by itself to the first packaging device receiving port. A transport mode (single feed transport mode);
Sending each holding means to N positions and stopping once is one cycle,
During the stop for each cycle, the N holding means positioned at N receiving positions adjacent to each other receive the PTP sheet stack from the stacking device,
During the stop for each cycle, the adjacent N holding means positioned at the second delivery position deliver the second PTP sheet assembly held respectively to the second packaging device receiving port. A PTP sheet conveying apparatus characterized in that it can be switched between the conveying form (N-feed conveying form).

  According to the said means 1, it can respond to various packaging forms, without reducing the production capacity of the whole line as much as possible by switching a conveyance form.

  In the second transport mode, since the transport efficiency is higher than that in the first transport mode, the number of PTP sheet stacks is relatively small, and the time required to complete the PTP sheet stacking in the stacking apparatus is relatively short Even so, it is not necessary to extremely increase the transport speed of the cyclic transport means as compared with the first transport mode.

  For example, if “N” is set to “5”, the transport speed when transporting a PTP sheet stack made of two PTP sheets in the second transport mode is set to 10 PTPs in the first transport mode. It can be made equal to the conveyance speed in the case of conveying a PTP sheet assembly made of sheets.

  As a result, various operations such as conveyance, receipt, and delivery of the PTP sheet assembly can be appropriately performed. Further, there is no need to slow down the PTP sheet stacking speed in the stacking apparatus or the upstream PTP sheet manufacturing apparatus in accordance with the transport speed of the transport apparatus, so that the production capacity of the entire line is not lowered. it can.

Mean 2. The first packaging device is a band machine that binds the PTP sheet assembly with a band,
2. The PTP sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second packaging apparatus is a pillow packaging machine that collectively wraps the PTP sheet assembly.

  In general, the number of PTP sheet assemblies that are banded by a banding machine is relatively large, such as about 10, while the number of PTP sheet assemblies that are pillow-wrapped by a pillow packaging machine is 2, 4, or 6. There are a variety from relatively few to many, such as 8 sheets, 10 sheets.

  According to the means 2, since the PTP sheet assembly can be conveyed to the pillow packaging machine by the second conveying form, the operational effect of the means 1 is more effective, and the difference in various packaging forms in the pillow system, that is, the pillow It is possible to appropriately cope with the difference in the number of stacked PTP sheet assemblies to be packaged without reducing the production capacity of the entire line.

Means 3. The receiving port for the second packaging device includes an intake conveyor capable of linearly conveying the PTP sheet assembly.
The PTP sheet conveying apparatus according to means 1 or 2, wherein the N holding means positioned at the second delivery position are arranged in series in parallel with the intake conveyor.

  According to the above means 3, it is possible to carry out smoothly in a relatively short time such as simultaneously delivering N PTP sheet aggregates.

(A) is a perspective view which shows a PTP sheet, (b) is a partial expanded sectional view of a PTP sheet. It is a plane schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of a PTP sheet conveying apparatus. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the procedure of single feeding conveyance. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the procedure of single feeding conveyance. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the procedure of single feeding conveyance. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the procedure of single feeding conveyance. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the procedure of 4 piece conveyance. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the procedure of 4 piece conveyance. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the procedure of 4 piece conveyance. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the procedure of 4 piece conveyance.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the PTP sheet 1 in this embodiment is attached to the container film 3 having a plurality of pocket portions 2 and the container film 3 so as to close the pocket portions 2. The cover film 4 is provided. The container film 3 is made of a resin material such as PP (polypropylene), and the cover film 4 is made of aluminum. Each pocket 2 stores one tablet 5 as a content.

  The PTP sheet 1 is a PTP sheet manufacturing apparatus (not shown) as in the prior art, a pocket forming step for forming the pocket portion 2 in the container film 3, a filling step for filling the pocket portion 2 with the tablet 5, and closing the pocket portion 2. Further, it is manufactured through a cover film attaching process for attaching the cover film 4 to the container film 3 and a punching process for punching into a sheet. The PTP sheet 1 manufactured in this way is accumulated in the accumulating device 11 provided on the downstream side of the PTP sheet manufacturing apparatus, and then the banding machine 13 or the pillow packaging machine 14 as a packaging apparatus is used by the conveying apparatus 12. Are sequentially conveyed and packaged (see FIG. 2). The transport device 12 corresponds to the PTP sheet transport device in the present embodiment. Further, the band machine 13 corresponds to the first packaging device in the present embodiment, and the pillow packaging machine 14 corresponds to the second packaging device.

  The accumulating device 11 is a known device configured to accumulate a predetermined number of PTP sheets 1 sequentially conveyed from the upstream PTP sheet manufacturing apparatus and deliver them to the downstream conveying device 12. The stacking apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment includes four rows of stacking lanes, and each lane has a knitting mechanism for bringing two PTP sheets 1 into a set, and a predetermined set of tied PTP sheets 1. It is equipped with a stacking mechanism that stacks several pieces. Note that the number of PTP sheets 1 stacked by the stacking mechanism can be appropriately changed. For example, in this embodiment, it can be changed in units of one tie such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and so on.

  The conveying device 12 receives a bundle of PTP sheets 1 (hereinafter referred to as “PTP sheet accumulated body”) 15 accumulated by the accumulating device 11 from the accumulating device 11 and conveys it to the band machine 13 or the pillow packaging machine 14 on the downstream side. It has a function.

  The band machine 13 is configured to bind the PTP sheet assembly 15 with a band. On the other hand, the pillow packaging machine 14 is configured to perform pillow packaging of the PTP sheet assembly 15 together.

  Here, the conveyance device 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The transport device 12 has a chain conveyor 22 in which a plurality of chucks 21 for holding the PTP sheet assembly 15 are annularly arranged at predetermined intervals, and the chain conveyor 22 circulates along a predetermined path. Accordingly, each chuck 21 is configured to move in a cyclic manner while sequentially moving its position. The chain conveyor 22 constitutes a cyclic conveying means in the present embodiment, and the chuck 21 constitutes a holding means.

  Each chuck 21 is provided with a pusher as an unillustrated pushing means. The pusher serves to push out the PTP sheet assembly 15 from the chuck 21 when delivering the PTP sheet assembly 15 held by the chuck 21.

  The chain conveyor 22 is configured to circulate along a substantially rectangular path, and the discharge port of the stacking apparatus 11 is disposed adjacent to the upstream side portion (upper side in FIG. 2), and the downstream side portion ( A receiving port 17 for the band machine 13 is disposed adjacent to the lower side of FIG.

  Further, the upstream side portion and the downstream side portion of the chain conveyor 22 are located between the stacking device 11 and the receiving port 17 for the band machine 13 with respect to the moving direction of the chuck 21 (clockwise direction in FIG. 2). An intake conveyor 18 that extends linearly to the pillow packaging machine 14 is disposed adjacent to the right side (right side in FIG. 2) that extends along a direction substantially orthogonal to the pillow packaging machine 14.

  The intake conveyor 18 has a plurality of support pins 19 protruding around the periphery thereof at a predetermined interval. The support pins 19 hook the PTP sheet assembly 15 received from the transport device 12 to the pillow packaging machine 14. It is configured to be transportable.

  Next, the transfer operation of the transfer device 12 will be described in detail. The transport device 12 according to the present embodiment is transported in a single-feed transport as a first transport mode performed at least corresponding to the band machine 13 and a second transport performed corresponding to the pillow packaging machine 14. It is possible to switch to the four-feed conveyance as the conveyance form.

  In the single-feed conveyance, an operation in which each chuck 21 is sent one position and stopped once is repeated. Then, during one stop every four cycles, the four chucks 21 positioned at the four receiving positions P1 to P4 corresponding to the lanes of the stacking apparatus 11 receive the PTP sheet stack 15 from the lanes of the stacking apparatus 11, respectively. . On the other hand, during the stop for each cycle, one chuck 21 located at the first delivery position X corresponding to the receiving port 17 for the band machine 13 removes the PTP sheet assembly 15 held by the chuck 21 from the band machine. Delivered to the receiving port 17 for 13.

  Hereinafter, the case of banding the PTP sheet assembly 15 composed of five sets of ten PTP sheets 1 by the banding machine 13 will be described in detail with respect to one-feed conveyance.

  In the stacking device 11, five tying operations and stacking operations are completed so that each chuck 21 of the conveying device 12 moves in four positions (four cycles), and five sets of ten PTP sheets 1 are used. The PTP sheet assembly 15 is sent to the outlet of each lane (see FIG. 3).

  When the PTP sheet stack 15 is guided to the discharge port of each lane of the stacker 11, the four chucks 21 positioned at the receiving positions P1 to P4 receive the PTP sheet stack 15 from the stacker 11 (FIG. 4). reference).

  In the conveying device 12, when the reception of the PTP sheet assembly 15 is completed, each chuck 21 is sent by one position (see FIG. 5). Then, the process proceeds four cycles without receiving the PTP sheet stack 15, and when each chuck 21 moves four positions, the PTP sheet stack 15 is received from the stacker 11 again at the receiving positions P1 to P4 in the same manner as described above.

  On the other hand, when the chuck 21 holding the PTP sheet stack 15 moves to the first delivery position X, the chuck 21 pushes out the PTP sheet stack 15 held by the chuck 21 to receive the band machine 13. Delivered to the mouth 17 (see FIG. 6). Then, the banding machine 13 performs banding on the PTP sheet assembly 15.

  By repeating such an operation, the banded PTP sheet assembly 15 is sequentially produced.

  On the other hand, in the four-feed conveyance, an operation in which each chuck 21 is sent to four positions and stopped once is repeatedly performed. During one stop per cycle, the four chucks 21 positioned at the four receiving positions P1 to P4 corresponding to the lanes of the stacking apparatus 11 receive the PTP sheet stack 15 from the lanes of the stacking apparatus 11, respectively. . On the other hand, the PTP sheet stacks held by the four chucks 21 located at the second delivery positions Y1 to Y4 corresponding to the take-in conveyor 18 (the receiving port for the pillow packaging machine 14) are stopped during each cycle. The body 15 is taken in and delivered to the conveyor 18.

  Hereinafter, the four-feed conveyance will be described in detail by taking as an example a case where the PTP sheet assembly 15 composed of one set of two PTP sheets 1 is pillow-wrapped by the pillow wrapping machine 14.

  In the stacking device 11, one tying operation and stacking operation are completed so that each chuck 21 of the conveying device 12 moves in four positions (one cycle), and one set of two PTP sheets 1 is used. The PTP sheet assembly 15 is sent to the outlet of each lane (see FIG. 7).

  When the PTP sheet stack 15 is guided to the discharge port of each lane of the stacking apparatus 11, the four chucks 21 positioned at the receiving positions P1 to P4 receive the PTP sheet stack 15 from the stacking apparatus 11 (FIG. 8). reference).

  In the conveying device 12, when the reception of the PTP sheet assembly 15 is completed, the chucks 21 are fed in four positions (see FIG. 9). When each chuck 21 moves by 4 positions, the PTP sheet stack 15 is received from the stacker 11 again at the receiving positions P1 to P4 in the same manner as described above.

  On the other hand, when the chuck 21 holding the PTP sheet assembly 15 moves to the second delivery positions Y1 to Y4, the four chucks 21 positioned at the second delivery positions Y1 to Y4 are held by themselves. The PTP sheet assembly 15 is pushed out by a pusher and delivered to the intake conveyor 18 (see FIG. 10).

  At this time, in addition to the design pitch of the support pins 19 in the intake conveyor 18 being designed to be somewhat larger than the length of the PTP sheet assembly 15, the intake conveyor 18 is continuously conveyed without stopping. Therefore, each chuck 21 holds the PTP sheet assembly held by itself so as to deliver the PTP sheet assembly 15 between the predetermined support pins 19 at a timing that does not collide with the support pins 19. 15 will be pushed out.

  Then, the PTP sheet assembly 15 is conveyed to the pillow wrapping machine 14 by the intake conveyor 18 and is subjected to pillow wrapping.

  By repeating such an operation, the pillow-packed PTP sheet assembly 15 is sequentially produced.

  As described in detail above, in the present embodiment, when transporting the PTP sheet assembly 15 made up of 10 PTP sheets 1 in correspondence with the packaging method using the band method, the single feed transport is used, Corresponding to the packaging form according to the system, when the PTP sheet assembly 15 composed of two PTP sheets 1 is transported, the transport form of the transport device 12 can be switched, such as using four-feed transport. It has become.

  In the stacking device 11, when the number of stacked PTP sheet stacks 15 is switched from 10 to 2, the time required to complete the stacking of the PTP sheet stacks 15 is shortened to 1/5. In the transporting device 12 for transporting, since the transport mode is switched from single-feed transport to four-feed transport, the transport speed does not need to be five times that of single-feed transport, and is 1.25 times (5/4) Double the speed).

  Further, when the number of stacked PTP sheet stacks 15 to be pillow-wrapped is, for example, four, the transport speed of the transport device 12 can be reduced to 5/8 times that of single-feed transport. Similarly, in the case of 6 sheets, it can be 5/12 times, in the case of 8 sheets, it can be 5/16 times, and in the case of 10 sheets, it can be made 1/4 times.

  As a result, it is not necessary to extremely increase the speed of the transport device 12, and various operations such as transport, receipt, and delivery of the PTP sheet assembly 15 can be appropriately performed.

  Further, there is no need to slow down the accumulation speed of the PTP sheet 1 in the accumulation apparatus 11 or the production speed of the upstream PTP sheet manufacturing apparatus in accordance with the conveyance speed of the conveyance apparatus 12, and it is possible to reduce the production capacity of the entire line. Good. In addition, when the production speed of the PTP sheet manufacturing apparatus is slowed down, the film shrinkage rate when the pocket portion 2 is thermoformed into the container film 3 is also changed. According to the embodiment, such mold replacement is also unnecessary.

  As a result, it is possible to cope with various packaging forms without reducing the production capacity of the entire line as much as possible.

  In the present embodiment, the delivery of the PTP sheet assembly 15 to the intake conveyor 18 is performed in a state where the intake conveyor 18 is continuously conveyed without being temporarily stopped. As a result, productivity can be improved.

  In addition, it is not limited to the description content of the said embodiment, For example, you may implement as follows. Of course, other application examples and modification examples not illustrated below are also possible.

  (A) In the above embodiment, the case where the content is the tablet 5 is specified, but the type, shape, and the like of the content are not particularly limited. For example, food, electronic parts, and the like are used as the content. The structure filled may be sufficient.

  (B) The configuration of the PTP sheet 1 such as the materials of the films 3 and 4 and the number and shape of the pocket portions 2 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the container film 3 may be formed of other materials such as aluminum.

  (C) The number of accumulated PTP sheet assemblies 15 and the accumulation mode are not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiment. For example, the number of stacked PTP sheet assemblies 15 may be 12. In particular, in the case of the pillow method, the number of stacked sheets may be one.

  Alternatively, the PTP sheets 1 may be stacked so that a predetermined number of PTP sheets 1 are stacked in the same direction without setting the two PTP sheets 1 to each other.

  (D) In the above embodiment, when the PTP sheet assembly 15 composed of 10 PTP sheets 1 is packaged by the pillow method, as in the case of two sheets, the structure is conveyed by four-feed conveyance. However, instead of this, it is possible to adopt a structure using single-feed conveyance.

  (E) In the above embodiment, the number of stacking lanes of the stacking device 11, the number of receiving positions P1 to P4 in the transporting device 12, the number of second delivery positions Y1 to Y4, and the transport mode corresponding to the pillow system (first 2), the number of positions to which the chuck 21 is sent in one cycle is set to four (N = 4) correspondingly. However, the number of positions is not limited to this and may be two or more. However, the maximum number of PTP sheets 1 included in the PTP sheet stack 15 that can be transported in the first transport mode (10 sheets in the above embodiment) is transferred to the PTP sheet stack 15 that can be transported in the second transport mode. It is preferable to set the number to be equal to or less than the number (N = 5 in the above embodiment) divided by the minimum number of PTP sheets 1 included (2 in the above embodiment).

  (F) Configurations of the transport device 12 and the intake conveyor 18 are not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the chain conveyor 22 of the transport device 12 is configured to circulate along a substantially rectangular path, and the discharge port of the stacking device 11 is disposed adjacent to the upstream side portion thereof, and the downstream side. A receiving port 17 for the band machine 13 is disposed adjacent to the side portion, and an intake conveyor 18 for the pillow packaging machine 14 is disposed adjacent to the right side portion. For example, the receiving port for the pillow packaging machine 14 may be disposed adjacent to the downstream side portion of the chain conveyor 22. Further, the cyclic conveying means is not limited to the chain conveyor 22, and other arrangements may be adopted as long as a plurality of holding means for holding the PTP sheet stack 15 move around while sequentially moving positions. Also good.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it has the structure which receives the PTP sheet accumulation | aggregation | set 15 in the state in which the intake conveyor 18 was conveyed continuously, not only this but the receipt of the PTP sheet | seat accumulation | aggregation 15 once, the intake conveyor 18 is temporarily set. It is good also as a structure which stops and receives the PTP sheet | seat integration | stacking body 15 simultaneously from the four chuck | zipper 21 located in 2nd delivery position Y1-Y4.

  (G) In the said embodiment, the band machine 13 is employ | adopted as a 1st packaging apparatus, the pillow packaging machine 14 is employ | adopted as a 2nd packaging apparatus, and it becomes the structure which switches a packaging form to a band system and a pillow system. However, each packaging device is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, a first pillow packaging machine that pillow-wraps a PTP sheet assembly 15 composed of 10 PTP sheets 1 is used as the first packaging device, and two PTP sheets 1 are used as the second packaging device. You may make it respond | correspond to the different packaging form in a pillow system by employ | adopting the 2nd pillow packaging machine which pillow-wraps the PTP sheet | seat integration body 15 which becomes.

  Moreover, you may employ | adopt as a 1st packaging apparatus the packaging apparatus provided with the mechanism in which the PTP sheet | seat integration body 15 is band-bound, and the mechanism in which the said PTP sheet | seat accumulation | aggregation 15 bound by the band is pillow-wrapped.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... PTP sheet, 2 ... Pocket part, 3 ... Container film, 4 ... Cover film, 5 ... Tablet, 11 ... Accumulation device, 12 ... Conveyance device, 13 ... Band machine, 14 ... Pillow packaging machine, 15 ... PTP sheet accumulation Body, 21 ... chuck, 22 ... chain conveyor, 17 ... receiving port for band machine, 18 ... receiving conveyor, 19 ... support pin, P1-P4 ... receiving position, X ... first delivery position, Y1-Y4 ... first 2 delivery position.

Claims (3)

A PTP sheet transport device that receives a PTP sheet stack in which a predetermined number of PTP sheets containing contents in a pocket portion are stacked from a predetermined stacking device and transports the PTP sheet stack to a predetermined packaging device,
A plurality of holding means capable of holding the PTP sheet assembly are circularly arranged at a predetermined interval, and each holding means is provided with a cyclic conveying means provided so as to rotate while moving its position sequentially,
Each holding means is sent one position and stopped once is defined as one cycle,
During one stop in N cycles (N is a natural number of 2 or more), the N holding means positioned at the receiving positions at N adjacent positions receive the PTP sheet stack from the stacking device, respectively.
During the stop for each cycle, the one holding means located at the first delivery position delivers the first PTP sheet assembly held by itself to the first packaging device receiving port. Transport form;
Sending each holding means to N positions and stopping once is one cycle,
During the stop for each cycle, the N holding means positioned at N receiving positions adjacent to each other receive the PTP sheet stack from the stacking device,
During the stop for each cycle, the adjacent N holding means positioned at the second delivery position deliver the second PTP sheet assembly held respectively to the second packaging device receiving port. A PTP sheet conveying device characterized in that it can be switched between the conveying modes. The first packaging device is a band machine that binds the PTP sheet assembly with a band,
2. The PTP sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second packaging apparatus is a pillow packaging machine that performs pillow packaging of the PTP sheet assembly together. The receiving port for the second packaging device includes an intake conveyor capable of linearly conveying the PTP sheet assembly.
3. The PTP sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein N holding means positioned at the second delivery position are arranged in series in parallel with the intake conveyor. 4.

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