JP2012179127A - Tablet splitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform adjustment to various kinds of tablets having diverse shapes while suppressing a weight fluctuation of a tablet cut piece.SOLUTION: This tablet splitting device includes: a fall tablet guide member 31 having an obliquely upward inclined surface, and formed with a groove-like tablet fall path 32 from the upper end thereof to the lower end; a holding mechanism 34 temporarily holding a tablet (10) of a splitting target going down through the tablet fall path 32 in a cutting position 33 halfway of the tablet fall path by path opening/closing; a cutting mechanism 40 cutting the tablet in the cutting position 33; a groove depth prescription member 37 covering the tablet fall path 32; a thickness adjustment mechanism (38) expanding/contracting a relative distance (C) between the groove bottom of the tablet fall path 32 and the groove bottom facing surface of the groove depth prescription member 37; and a controller 23 acquiring thickness information of the tablet and adjusting the relative distance (C) to the thickness of the tablet by operating the thickness adjustment mechanism (38).

Description

  The present invention relates to a tablet dividing apparatus for cutting a tablet and dividing it into several tablet fragments.

  As a tablet splitting device that divides a tablet into two pieces, in addition to the conventional tablet splitting machine that presses the cutter down into the tablets received one by one and cuts the tablets, less than one tablet held and contained in one tablet unit The tablet in the tablet dropping path is divided into pieces in the passing direction by cutting the tablet dropping path (tablet passing path) so that it can be automatically supplied to the subsequent packaging device in units of A tablet supply device that discharges to the tablet (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and the received tablet is cut up and down with a cutter blade, and the lower tablet cutting piece is discharged first, but the upper tablet cutting piece is once placed on the cutter. The tablet supply apparatus which delays and discharge | releases with the cutter operation of the next holding is put into practical use (for example, refer patent document 2).

Such a conventional apparatus is incorporated in a tablet container of a tablet packaging machine or below, and a cutter blade provided in a cutting mechanism is held at a cutting position by a holding mechanism. The tablet to be divided is cut.
Moreover, in these conventional tablet dividing apparatuses, apart from ducts that guide tablets from an external tablet feeder or the like to the tablet dividing apparatus, the tablet dropping path (tablet passage path) is formed in a vertical hole in the tablet dividing apparatus. It is vertical, and the tablet falls straight down vertically in a state close to natural fall.

In addition, although it is not a tablet dividing device itself, it relates to an apparatus for handling tablets, and an identification attached to the medicine cassette is attached to a tablet feeder base portion that removably supports a medicine cassette that accommodates the medicine in a detachable manner and performs its ejection drive. An automatic dispensing device provided with a reading device for reading information has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 6).
In addition, the length a, the width b, and the thickness c are received as data (length information, width information, thickness information) regarding the tablet shape (a ≧ b ≧ c), and the tablet shapes are classified. A new tablet identification device has also been developed. In this device, shape classification is performed from the viewpoints of circle, ellipse, presence / absence of a straight line portion, and regular polygon (see, for example, Patent Document 7).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-226088 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-226089 Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-236992 Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-252589 Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-170968 JP 2005-192702 A JP-A-2-95375

Here, referring to a tablet dividing device that has been recently developed, a device having two blades for a cutting mechanism has been developed. This tablet dividing apparatus is a tablet dividing apparatus that cuts a tablet with a cutting mechanism having a straight blade and divides the tablet into a plurality of tablet cutting pieces, wherein the two blades are provided facing each other, and the cutting mechanism comprises: The counter gap is expanded and contracted while the counter two blades are kept parallel to perform tablet cutting, and the counter two blades are relatively displaced in the parallel direction when the counter gap is expanded or contracted (Patent Document). 3).
In addition, a blade that uses a cutting blade as a rotating blade has been developed (see Patent Document 4).

In such a tablet dividing device, the tablet to be divided is held in the cutting position by the holding mechanism, and the cutting position of the tablet is cut into the tablet while regulating the position of the tablet, thereby accurately cutting the tablet. To come to fulfill.
If the holding mechanism is adjusted appropriately, the tablet is held at an appropriate cutting position at any time, and the fluctuation of the cutting edge contact portion when the cutting edge of the cutting mechanism hits the intended portion of the tablet is visually observed. It becomes so small that it cannot be confirmed.

  A holding mechanism for holding the tablet to be divided at the cutting position; and a cutting mechanism for cutting the tablet by expanding and contracting the facing gap of the counter blade, which includes a counter blade that advances and retreats toward the cutting position; A tablet dividing device comprising an operation procedure of the cutting mechanism or a cutting operation defining means for defining an operation procedure of the cutting mechanism and the holding mechanism, wherein the cutting operation defining means reduces the facing gap during tablet cutting. When holding the tablet, the tablet holding by the holding mechanism is continued until the counter blade sandwiches the tablet, and after the counter blade sandwiches the tablet, the tablet holding by the holding mechanism is released and the tablet is held by the counter blade. It has also been developed that allows the opposing blade to be cut into the tablet after the tablet holding by the holding mechanism is released (see Patent Document 5 Solution Section). Irradiation).

In this tablet dividing device (refer to Patent Document 5 Effect column), when the opposing blade cuts into the tablet when cutting the tablet, the tablet is separated from the holding mechanism, so that the tablet is deformed into the tablet by the cutting of the opposing blade. Even if a displacement occurs, a reaction force does not occur on the tablet from the holding mechanism.
In this way, since it has been improved so that the reaction force from the holding mechanism, which is considered to be a factor that fluctuates the cutting state as well as a factor that amplifies the amount of fluctuation, does not occur, the cracks are stable and the amount of variation in the amount of tablet trimming is changed. Is even smaller.

  Further, among the prototypes of the improved device described above (see Patent Documents 3 and 5), the tablet dropping path is vertical as in the prior art, and in particular, the upstream portion of the cutting position is configured with a vertical cylindrical member. Some drop the tablet straight down, but others have a different tablet drop path. The tablet dividing device having this new path is provided with a falling tablet guide member having an inclined surface inclined upward, and a tablet dropping path is formed on the inclined surface. In the inclined surface, it is continuous from the upper end to the lower end, and a cutting position and a holding mechanism are arranged in the middle. And it was found that this new route does not give much impact to the falling tablet and stops the tablet in a good posture at the cutting position, so that the variation in the amount of the tablet cutting fragment is smaller.

Furthermore, by adopting an appropriate one of these several improvements, or by combining multiple improvements, not only the level of accuracy required under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, but also a higher level of accuracy required. The way to respond is opening up.
However, the improvement request for the tablet dividing apparatus is not limited to the improvement of the dividing accuracy, that is, the fluctuation of the amount of the tablet trim pieces, and further improvement is required.

Specifically, the first technical problem is to reduce the burden of remodeling and adjustment for adapting to various shaped tablets after improving the division accuracy.
Further, it is a second technical problem to create a further improvement plan in order to further reduce the variation in the amount of the tablet fragment by increasing the method for suppressing the variation in the amount of the tablet fragment.
Furthermore, it is a third technical problem to make it possible to effectively use the tablet trim pieces that have been divided with high accuracy.

  The tablet dividing device of the present invention (Solution means 1) was devised in order to solve such a problem, and has a slanting upward inclined surface, and a groove-shaped tablet dropping path is formed from its upper end to its lower end. A falling tablet guide member, a receiving member that temporarily holds the tablet to be divided that has come down the tablet dropping path at a cutting position in the middle of the tablet dropping path by opening and closing the path, and the tablet at the cutting position. A tablet dividing device including a cutting mechanism for cutting a groove depth defining member that covers a part or all of the tablet dropping path including a portion upstream from the cutting position, and a groove bottom of the tablet dropping path. A thickness adjusting mechanism that expands and contracts the relative distance between the groove depth defining member and the groove bottom facing surface, and obtaining the thickness information of the tablet and operating the thickness adjusting mechanism to set the relative distance to the thickness of the tablet. Control equipment to adapt Characterized by comprising and.

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 2) is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above-mentioned solving means 1, and is provided upstream of the cutting position in the tablet dropping path, and A width adjusting mechanism for expanding and reducing the groove width is provided, and the control device acquires width information of the tablet and operates the width adjusting mechanism to adapt the groove width to the width of the tablet. It is characterized by being.

  Furthermore, the tablet dividing apparatus of the present invention (Solution means 3) is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above solving means 1 and 2, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises an opposing blade that advances and retreats toward the cutting position, The opposed gap of the opposed blade is expanded and contracted to cut the tablet, and the tablet is lifted from the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path before the cutting is completed, and then the cutting is completed. It is characterized by that.

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 4) is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above-mentioned solving means 3, and when either one or both of the opposed blades are pushed backward by an external force, they are within the movable range. And at the time of retreating, it is biased toward the advancing side with a force stronger than the weight of the tablet from the beginning or in the middle of retreating.

  Moreover, the tablet dividing apparatus of the present invention is (the solution means 5), which is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above solution means 1 to 4, wherein a portion of the tablet dropping path upstream from the cutting position is orthogonal to the inclined surface. Inclined with respect to the vertical plane.

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 6) is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above-mentioned solving means 5, wherein a portion of the tablet dropping path upstream from the cutting position is meandering. And

  Moreover, the tablet dividing apparatus of the present invention is (the solution means 7), which is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above solution means 1-6, wherein the tablet dropping path branches at or near the cutting position and is downstream from there. The side portion has a plurality of branch paths, the receiving member includes a plurality of path opening / closing members, and each of the path opening / closing members is provided at one of the branch points of the branch path, and corresponds. The branch path is opened and closed, and is arranged separately on both sides of the cutting position.

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention is (the solution means 8), the tablet dividing device of the solution means 7, wherein the cutting mechanism is configured to cut the tablet after the tablet is cut (the control device or another control device). The cutting of the tablet is dropped into the same path among the branching paths and the cutting of the tablet by exchanging the front and rear according to the timing of retreating from the position and the timing of opening the corresponding branching location in each of the path opening / closing members. It is possible to select to drop a piece onto a different path among the branch paths.

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 9) includes a falling tablet guide member having a slantingly upward inclined surface and a groove-shaped tablet dropping path formed from the upper end to the lower end thereof, and the tablet dropping path. A tablet dividing apparatus comprising: a receiving member that temporarily holds a tablet to be divided that has come down at a cutting position in the middle of the tablet dropping path by opening and closing the path; and a cutting mechanism that cuts the tablet at the cutting position. The cutting mechanism includes an opposing blade that advances and retreats toward the cutting position, expands and contracts the opposing gap of the opposing blade and cuts the tablet, and before the cutting is completed, The tablet is floated from the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path, and then the cutting is completed.

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 10) is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above-mentioned solving means 9, wherein either one or both of the opposed blades are moved backward by an external force within the movable range. And at the time of retreating, it is biased toward the advancing side with a force stronger than the weight of the tablet from the beginning or in the middle of retreating.

  The tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 11) includes a falling tablet guide member having a slanting upward inclined surface and a groove-shaped tablet dropping path formed from the upper end to the lower end thereof, and the tablet dropping path. A tablet dividing apparatus comprising: a receiving member that temporarily holds a tablet to be divided that has come down at a cutting position in the middle of the tablet dropping path by opening and closing the path; and a cutting mechanism that cuts the tablet at the cutting position. And the part of the said tablet fall path | route upstream from the said cutting position inclines with respect to the vertical surface orthogonal to the said inclined surface, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 12) is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above-mentioned solving means 11, wherein a portion of the tablet dropping path upstream from the cutting position is meandering. And

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 13) includes a falling tablet guide member in which a tablet dropping path is formed, and a tablet to be divided that has come down the tablet dropping path in the middle of the tablet dropping path. A tablet splitting device comprising a receiving member that temporarily holds a position by opening and closing a path and a cutting mechanism that cuts the tablet at the cutting position, wherein the tablet dropping path branches at or near the cutting position And the downstream portion thereof has a plurality of branch paths, the receiving member includes a plurality of path opening / closing members, and each of the path opening / closing members is one of the branch points of the branch path. Provided to open and close the corresponding branch path, and are arranged separately on both sides of the cutting position.

  Further, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 14) is the tablet dividing apparatus of the above-mentioned solving means 13, wherein each time the cutting mechanism is retracted from the cutting position after cutting the tablet and each of the path opening / closing members. Replacing the front and the back according to the timing of opening the branch point, dropping the tablet fragment into the same path among the branch paths and dropping the tablet fragment into a different path among the branch paths And a control device capable of selecting the above.

In such a tablet dividing device of the present invention (solution 1), since the tablet slides down the groove-shaped tablet dropping path formed on the inclined surface that is inclined upward, the dropping speed is suppressed by the groove bottom. Since the impact on the tablet is alleviated and the posture is regulated by the groove bottom, the tablet stops in a good posture at the cutting position, so the variation in the amount of the tablet trimming pieces is small.
In addition, if thickness information, which is the minimum dimension among the tablet shape information, is given to the control device, the groove bottom and groove of the tablet dropping path are automatically obtained by the cooperation of the control device, the thickness adjusting mechanism, and the groove depth regulating member. The relative distance of the depth defining member to the groove bottom facing surface is adapted to the thickness of the tablet. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of remodeling and adjustment to be adapted to various tablets having different thicknesses.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the first technical problem can be solved.

In the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solution means 2), if width information which is an intermediate dimension among the tablet shape information is given to the control device, the automatic operation is performed by the cooperation of the control device and the width adjusting mechanism. The groove width of the tablet dropping path is adapted to the tablet width. Therefore, the burden of remodeling and adjustment adapted to various tablets having different dimensions not only in thickness but also in width is reduced.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the first technical problem can be solved to a high degree.

  Furthermore, in the tablet dividing device of the present invention (Solution means 3), the posture of the tablet is stabilized at the time of dropping or at the cutting position by the groove bottom or the like, and the opposing blade becomes the tablet at the time of tablet cutting. By making the tablet move away from the groove bottom before cutting, the tablet is released from the posture regulation at the groove bottom and is left to the posture regulation at the counter blade, thereby adapting the posture of the tablet to the cutting of the counter blade Then, since the opposing blade cuts into the tablet, the symmetry of the force acting at the time of cutting increases, the tablet breakage becomes stable, and the variation in the amount of the tablet trimming pieces is reduced. Therefore, according to the present invention, the second technical problem can be solved in addition to the first technical problem.

  In the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solution 4), when the opposing blade sandwiches the tablet in contact with the groove bottom, or when the tablet sandwiched by the opposing blade floats from the groove bottom, When the opposing blade holding the tablet floating from the groove bottom cuts into the tablet, it does not suddenly apply a strong force or cut strongly, but initially it is sandwiched with a gentle force corresponding to the biasing force and the tablet surface Since the cutting force is strengthened at the movable limit based on the movable range, for example, the cracking of the tablet is stabilized and the variation in the amount of the tablet trimming pieces is reduced. Therefore, according to the present invention, in addition to solving the first technical problem, the second technical problem can be solved to a high degree.

In the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solution 5), the tablet posture during the fall or when the cutting position is stopped is stabilized by the groove bottom of the inclined surface. Among them, the part upstream of the cutting position is also inclined with respect to the vertical plane perpendicular to the inclined surface, so that the tablet dropping path of the corresponding part is the steepest path on the inclined surface and is unconstrained. It is more slanted than the path of the sphere falling down naturally. The posture of the falling tablet is regulated by the two surfaces including not only the groove bottom but also the groove side wall surface, and the dropping speed is suppressed.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the second technical problem can be solved in addition to the first technical problem.

In the tablet dividing apparatus of the present invention (solution 6), the portion upstream of the cutting position in the tablet dropping path meanders in, for example, a "<" shape or a ninety-nine fold shape. The altitude is lowered while turning back.
Therefore, each time the falling tablet turns back, the speed is reduced and the excess speed is corrected, and the contact with the groove side wall surface is temporarily strengthened, and the posture regulation by the corner between the groove side wall surface and the groove bottom is strengthened. Therefore, the variation in the amount of tablet trim pieces is further reduced.
Therefore, according to the present invention, in addition to solving the first technical problem, the second technical problem can be solved to a high degree.

  Further, in the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solution 7), the tablet posture during dropping or when the cutting position is stopped is stabilized by the groove bottom of the inclined surface, etc. Improvements have also been made to the falling path. In other words, the tablet dropping path is branched at or near the cutting position, and branching ports are provided on both sides of the cutting position to enable individual opening and closing, so that the tablet cutting fragments separated on both sides of the cutting position can be appropriately timed. It is possible to drop and discharge to each use location. For this reason, it is possible to effectively use the tablet trim pieces that have been divided with high accuracy, for example, by distributing them to the left and right. Therefore, according to the present invention, the third technical problem can be solved in addition to the first technical problem.

  In the tablet dividing apparatus of the present invention (solution 8), it is possible to freely supply the tablet trim pieces to the same place, distribute them to different places, and switch between them. Moreover, it can be realized only by improving the control method without adding mechanical parts and driving members. Therefore, according to the present invention, in addition to solving the first technical problem, the third technical problem can be solved to a high degree.

  Moreover, the tablet dividing apparatus of the present invention (solving means 9) can exhibit the part related to the second technical problem among the operational effects of the above-described solving means 3, and the tablet dividing apparatus of the present invention (solving means 10). ), The part which concerns on the 2nd technical subject among the effect of the solution means 4 mentioned above can be show | played. Furthermore, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 11) can exhibit the portion related to the second technical problem among the operational effects of the above-described solving means 5, and the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 12). ), The part which concerns on the 2nd technical subject among the effect of the solution means 6 mentioned above can be show | played. In addition, the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 13) can exhibit the portion related to the third technical problem among the operational effects of the above-described solving means 7, and the tablet dividing device of the present invention (solving means 14). ), The part which concerns on the 3rd technical subject among the effects of the solution means 8 mentioned above can be show | played.

About Example 1 of this invention, the structure of a tablet division | segmentation apparatus is shown, (a) is an external appearance perspective view, (b) is a right view, (c) is a right view of a holding mechanism and a cutting mechanism, (d) is a right view. It is a surface view (A arrow view) of a holding mechanism. (A), (b) is a BB cross-sectional view of the holding mechanism and the cutting mechanism, (c) is a surface view of the holding mechanism, and (d), (e) are schematic views of the tablet dropping path and the falling tablet. is there. (A)-(f) is a right view of the principal part of a cutting mechanism. (A)-(d) are all the surface views of the principal part of a holding mechanism. About Example 2 of this invention, the principal part structure of a tablet division | segmentation apparatus is shown, (a)-(d) are all surface views of the principal part of a holding mechanism.

About the tablet dividing apparatus of such this invention, the specific form for implementing this is demonstrated by the following Examples 1-2.
The embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 embodies the above-described solving means 1 to 14 (claims 1 to 14 at the beginning of the application) and is suitable for dividing a disk-shaped tablet. is there. Moreover, Example 2 shown in FIG. 5 is the modification, Comprising: It is suitable for the division | segmentation of a rectangular parallelepiped tablet.
In the drawings, for the sake of simplicity, fasteners such as bolts, coupling tools such as hinges, drive sources such as electric motors, transmission members such as gears, electric circuits such as motor drivers, controllers, etc. The details of the electronic circuit and the like are not shown in the figure, and those necessary and related to the explanation of the invention are mainly shown.

  A specific configuration of Example 1 of the tablet dividing device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A is an external perspective view of the tablet dividing device 20, FIG. 1B is a right side view thereof, FIG. 1C is a right side view of the holding mechanism 30 and the cutting mechanism 40, and FIG. It is a surface figure (A arrow line view). 2A and 2B are BB cross-sectional views of the holding mechanism 30 and the cutting mechanism 40, FIG. 2C is a front view of the holding mechanism 30, and FIGS. 2D and 2E are tablets. It is a schematic diagram of the falling tablet 10 that slides down the dropping path 32. 3A to 3F are right side views of the main part of the cutting mechanism 40, and FIGS. 4A to 4D are surface views of the main part of the holding mechanism 30. .

  The tablet dividing device 20 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) includes a tablet cassette 21, an operation unit 22, a controller 23 (control device), a main body unit 24, a receiver 25, a relay unit 26, and a tablet feeder base unit. 27, the inclined frame 28, the holding mechanism 30, the cutting mechanism 40, and a power supply unit (not shown), of which the controller 23, the relay unit 26, the inclined frame 28, the holding mechanism 30, the cutting mechanism 40, and the power supply unit are the main body unit. 24, the operation part 22 and the tablet feeder base part 27 are fixedly mounted on the main body part 24 so that the operation surface and the cassette mounting surface are exposed on the outer surface of the casing, and the tablet cassette 21 is the tablet feeder base. The receiver 27 is detachably attached to the portion 27, and the receiver 25 is inserted in a freely detachable manner from the front opening at the bottom of the main body portion 24.

In the main body 24 (see FIG. 1B), the tablet feeder base 27 is fixedly arranged at the uppermost part, and the inclined frame 28 is tilted backward in the center, that is, the upper end is rearward and upward, and the lower end is forward and lower. In this state, the inclined frame 28 is disposed, the relay portion 26 is fixedly disposed below the inclined frame 28, and the receiver 25 can be taken in and out further below.
In the central part of the main body 24, the holding mechanism 30 and the cutting mechanism 40 are attached to the inclined frame 28 (see FIGS. 1B and 1C), and the holding mechanism 30 is the same backward inclined posture as the inclined frame 28. The cutting mechanism 40 takes a forward tilting posture perpendicular to the holding mechanism 30.

  The tablet feeder base portion 27 and the tablet cassette 21 attached to the tablet feeder base portion 27 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) are for automatically supplying the tablets 10 sequentially, and the tablet feeder base is controlled by the controller 23. When the drive motor of the section 27 is operated, the tablets 10 are discharged one by one from the tablet cassette 21 mounted on the base plate, and sent to a tablet dropping path 32 to be described later of the holding mechanism 30 through a guide such as a duct. It has become. In addition, the tablet feeder base portion 27 of this example prevents data from being erroneously attached to the tablet cassette 21 and also automatically acquires data such as a data carrier attached to the tablet cassette 21 in order to automatically acquire the shape information of the tablet 10 and the like. The cassette identification information and the tablet information are read from the carrier and delivered to the controller 23.

  The holding mechanism 30 (see FIGS. 1B to 1D and FIG. 2) falls from the tablet cassette 21 via the tablet feeder base portion 27 and the guide, and enters the upstream partial path 32a of the tablet dropping path 32. The tablet 10 to be divided is temporarily held at the cutting position 33 by the receiving member 34, and the cutting mechanism 40 (see FIGS. 1B to 1D and FIG. 3) cuts the tablet 10 into the cutting position. It is cut at 33 slits 35 and divided into two tablet cutting pieces 10b and 10c. The relay unit 26 (see FIG. 1B) includes a collection guide and a buffer buffer, and receives the tablet fragment 10b that has fallen from the left branch path 32b in the tablet drop path 32 of the holding mechanism 30 on the left side. The tablet cutting piece 10c that has been sent to the container 25b and dropped from the right branch path 32c in the tablet dropping path 32 of the holding mechanism 30 is sent to the right receiver 25c.

  The receptacle 25 (see FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b)) is a rectangular box-shaped or square dish-shaped container that receives and stores the tablet cutting pieces 10b and 10c formed by dividing the tablet 10. When all the cut pieces 10b and 10c are accommodated together, a wide container is used as a single unit, but here, the left receptacle 25b that accommodates the left tablet cut piece 10b out of the divided tablet 10 is divided into left and right containers 25b. The right-side receiver 25c that accommodates the right-side tablet cutting fragment 10c is inserted into the main body 24 in a state of being arranged side by side. The receiver 25 and the relay portion 26 for guiding the tablet fragments 10b and 10c to the receiver 25 may be a unit that can be separated from the main body portion 24. Yes. Although the operation unit 22 and the controller 23 may be separated, in this example, the operation unit 22 and the controller 23 are also integrated with the main body unit 24 for easy transportation of the apparatus.

  The holding mechanism 30 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) cuts the tablet 10 to be divided into the cutting position 33 in the middle of the tablet dropping path 32 in preparation for cutting by the cutting mechanism 40 as described above. In order to also release the tablet holding by the holding mechanism 30 in cooperation with the mechanism 40, a plate-shaped falling tablet guide member 31 disposed between the tablet feeder base portion 27 and the relay portion 26, respectively, And a pair of receiving members 34 made of a movable member whose bottom end can be swung with the portion as a fulcrum. In addition, in order to adjust the posture and orientation of the tablet 10 that has fallen, a width adjusting mechanism 36, a groove depth regulating member 37, and a thickness adjusting mechanism 38 are provided, and the tablet 10 that is being cut is immediately upstream. A waiting member 39 is provided for retaining the tablet 10. These members and mechanisms 34, 36, 37, and 38 are arranged along the tablet dropping path 32 and are mounted on the falling tablet guide member 31 (FIGS. 1B to 1D and 2A). To (c)).

The falling tablet guide member 31 (see FIGS. 1 (b) and 1 (c)) keeps the front plate and the vertical plane parallel to the rear plate while maintaining a state orthogonal to the left and right side plates and the vertical plane parallel thereto. Inclined from the vertical by an angle θ, with the upper end behind and the lower end forward.
A tablet dropping path 32 that guides the falling tablet 10 is provided on a surface that is an obliquely upward inclined surface (refer to FIG. 1 (d)) of both surfaces (front and rear surfaces, front and rear surfaces, and upper and lower surfaces) of the falling tablet guide member 31. The tilt angle θ of the falling tablet guide member 31 is set to about 15 ° to 45 °, for example, so that the tablet 10 slides in the tablet dropping path 32 at an appropriate speed without leaving the falling tablet guide member 31. (See FIG. 1C).

  The tablet dropping path 32 (see FIG. 1D) is formed in a groove shape by engraving or pressing on the obliquely upward inclined surface of the falling tablet guide member 31, and continues from the upper end to the lower end of the falling tablet guide member 31. . In the cutting position 33 set in the middle of the tablet dropping path 32, a slit 35 for passing the cutting edge of the cutting mechanism 40 is formed through the falling tablet guide member 31. The upstream partial path 32a, which is the part upstream of the cutting position 33 in the tablet dropping path 32, is a single path, but for example, is meandering in the shape of a letter “K” in Hiragana, and therefore, apart from the turning point. Most of them are inclined not only on the front plate but also on the side plate (a representative example of a vertical plane perpendicular to the obliquely upward inclined surface of the tablet guide member 31), and the tablet 10 is a path corresponding to the upper half of the "<" character. When the part slides down, the posture is regulated by the groove bottom and the right inner wall surface of the tablet dropping path 32 (see FIG. 2D), and when the tablet 10 slides down the path part corresponding to the lower half of the "<" The posture is regulated by the groove bottom of the dropping path 32 and the left inner wall surface (see FIG. 2 (e)).

  Further, the tablet dropping path 32 is branched into two at the cutting position 33, more specifically, at the slit 35 at the center of the cutting position 33, and split into left and right from there. And the downstream part from there is divided into a left branch path 32b and a right branch path 32c and runs side by side in the vertical direction. Corresponding to the two branches, the receiving member 34 is divided into a pair of a left path opening / closing member 34b and a right path opening / closing member 34c, and each of the opening / closing members 34b, 34c swings according to the control of the controller 23. The left path opening / closing member 34b opens and closes the branch port from the upstream partial path 32a to the left branch path 32b, and the right path opening / closing member 34c opens and closes the branch port from the upstream partial path 32a to the right branch path 32c. .

  Since the tablet splitting device 20 of this example is for splitting the disk-shaped tablet 10 equally into left and right, the slit 35 is formed vertically at the center of the cutting position 33, and the left path opening / closing member 34b and the right path The opening / closing member 34c is disposed symmetrically about the slit 35. When the tablet 10 is temporarily held at the cutting position 33, the left path opening / closing member 34b and the right path opening / closing member 34c, ie, the pair of receiving members 34, are V-shaped with their lower ends close to each other, and the cutting position 33 and the slit 35 When the tablet dropping path 32 is closed immediately below and the tablet cutting pieces 10b and 10c are guided to the left branch path 32b to be dropped, the left path opening / closing member 34b is swung so that the upstream partial path 32a and the left branch path 32b are separated. When the tablet fragments 10b, 10c are guided to the right branch path 32c and dropped, the right path opening / closing member 34c is swung to connect the upstream partial path 32a and the right path opening / closing member 34c. .

  The groove depth defining member 37 (see FIGS. 1C and 1D) is made of, for example, a thin plate made of a transparent hard resin, and covers almost the entire area of the tablet dropping path 32 in this example. It is sufficient if the upstream partial path 32a is covered from above, and the groove bottom of the upstream partial path 32a and the lower surface of the groove depth defining member 37, that is, the groove bottom facing surface, are parallel within the covering range. In this example, the groove depth defining member 37 covers the left branch path 32b and the right branch path 32c from above in a state parallel to the groove bottom. However, within the covering range, the tablet cutting pieces 10b and 10c are smoothly dropped. Therefore, it may not be parallel but may be widened at the end, and if there is no possibility that the tablet cutting pieces 10b and 10c jump out from the branch paths 32b and 32c, the groove depth defining member 37 is omitted from above the branch paths 32b and 32c. May be.

The groove depth defining member 37 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B) is driven by a thickness adjusting mechanism 38 mounted on the lower surface of the falling tablet guide member 31, for example, and is inclined obliquely upward. It is possible to reciprocate in the direction of separating from and contacting. Then, the thickness adjusting mechanism 38 changes the separation distance between the groove depth defining member 37 and the falling tablet guide member 31 in accordance with the control of the controller 23, whereby the tablet bottom and the groove depth defining member of the tablet dropping path 32, particularly the upstream partial path 32a. The relative distance C between the groove bottom facing surface 37 is enlarged or reduced.
In addition, a width adjusting mechanism 36 is arranged in the upstream partial path 32a of the tablet dropping path 32 (see FIG. 2 (c)). Thus, the groove width D of the upstream partial path 32a can be variably adjusted by swinging in accordance with the control of the controller 23.

  The cutting mechanism 40 (see FIGS. 1 to 3) includes opposed blades 41, 42 composed of an upper blade 41 on the near side and a lower blade 42 in the back that move forward and backward toward the cutting position 33. , 42 is expanded and contracted to cut the tablet 10 at the cutting position 33 equally to the left and right. In this example, the opposing blades 41 and 42 are vertically oriented when viewed from the front, but are not vertical but are inclined backward at the same angle θ as the falling tablet guide member 31, and the upper blade 41 is obliquely upward. The lower blade 42 is located obliquely below. The upper blade 41 is attached to a high-rigidity rod-sleeve fitting type portal support mechanism, and is supported diagonally above the slit 35 at the cutting position 33 by an upper blade advance / retreat member 43 that reciprocates. In accordance with the control 23, it advances and retreats toward the slit 35 obliquely below. The lower blade 42 is supported by a lower blade advance / retreat member 45 that reciprocates on the back surface of the falling tablet guide member 31. The lower blade 42 passes obliquely upward toward the tablet 10 at the cutting position 33 while passing through the slit 35 according to the control of the controller 23. It is going to advance and retreat.

  The cutting mechanism 40 operates the opposed blades 41 and 42 according to the control of the controller 23 to expand and contract the opposed gaps of the opposed blades 41 and 42 and cut the tablet 10 before performing the cutting. The tablet 10 is lifted from the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32, and then the cutting is completed. Also, an upper blade biasing member 44 is attached to the upper blade advancement / retraction member 43 that holds the upper blade 41 (see FIG. 3), and a lower blade biasing member 46 is attached to the lower blade advancement / retraction member 45 that holds the lower blade 42. For example, a compression coil spring is employed for the urging members 44 and 46, and when the opposing blades 41 and 42 are pushed backward by an external force, the range in which the urging members 44 and 46 can expand and contract, etc. It is designed to retreat within the movable range. The biasing force of the biasing members 44, 46 is such that the biasing force toward the forward side when the counter blades 41, 42 are retracted is stronger than the weight of the tablet 10 at least during the backward movement because the tablet 10 is sandwiched and lifted before cutting. The spring characteristics and resilience are determined, but the opposing blades 41 and 42 are advanced strongly at the limit of the movable range.

Although detailed illustration is omitted, the controller 23 is an electronic control device including, for example, a programmable microprocessor system and a sequencer, and the tablet feeder base unit 27 and the holding mechanism so as to accurately perform sequential supply and cutting of the tablets 10. In order to cooperate 30 and the cutting mechanism 40, operation control of each electric motor etc. is performed.
In particular, when reducing the opposing gap between the opposing blades 41 and 42 during tablet cutting, the tablet 10 is lifted from the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32 before the cutting is completed, and then the cutting is completed. This will be described in detail later with some specific examples in the operation description.

  Further, the controller 23 acquires data (length information, width information, thickness information) related to the shape of the tablet such as the length a, the width b, and the thickness c described above (a ≧ b ≧). c). These data acquisition means can be input directly from the operation unit 22 as long as the width b and thickness c are obtained, or can be downloaded from a host device (not shown) via an optional communication line or the like. It may be obtained by performing a search or conversion based on the identification information obtained from. And the controller 23 which acquired the shape data of the tablet 10 changes the groove | channel cross-sectional shape of the upstream partial path | route 32a of the tablet dropping path | route 32 based on acquisition data, in order to adjust the fall attitude | position / passage attitude | position of the tablet 10. It has become.

  Specifically, when the data on the thickness c is acquired, the controller 23 operates the thickness adjusting mechanism 38 based on the thickness c, and the groove bottom and groove depth regulating member 37 of the upstream partial path 32a of the tablet dropping path 32. The relative distance C to the groove bottom facing surface is slightly wider than the thickness of the tablet 10 so as to be adapted to the thickness of the tablet 10 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B). On the other hand, when the width b is acquired, the controller 23 swings the width adjusting mechanism 36 based on the width b to set the groove width D of the corresponding portion of the upstream partial path 32a of the tablet dropping path 32 to the tablet 10. The width (diameter in the case of a disc) is slightly wider than the width of the tablet 10 (see FIG. 2C).

  Furthermore, the controller 23 switches the discharge mode of the tablet trimming pieces after the tablet cutting according to a direct operation mode setting by operating the operation unit 22 or a remote operation mode setting by communication or the like. It is also. Specifically, the tablet 10 is cut by cutting the opposing blades 41 and 42 of the cutting mechanism 40 into the tablet 10 held at the cutting position 33 by the holding mechanism 30 (see FIG. 4A). After that, the tablet cutting fragment 10b is exchanged by replacing the front and rear with respect to the timing for retracting the opposing blades 41, 42 from the cutting position 33 and the timing for opening the corresponding branching locations in the left path opening / closing member 34b and the right path opening / closing member 34c. , 10c divided into separate branch paths 32b, 32c (see FIG. 4 (b)), and the tablet fragments 10b, 10c of the tablet 10 are either one of the left branch path 32b and the right branch path 32c. (See FIGS. 4C and 4D), it can be selected.

The usage mode and operation of the tablet dividing device 20 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are right side views of the tablet dividing device 20 and show a state in which the tablet cassette 21 and the receiver 25 are mounted on the main body 24. 2A and 2B are longitudinal right side views of the holding mechanism 30 and the cutting mechanism 40, and the relative distance between the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32 and the groove bottom facing surface of the groove depth defining member 37. The operation | movement which adapts C to the thickness c of the tablet 10 is shown.

  Further, FIG. 1D and FIG. 2C are views of the holding mechanism 30 (obliquely inclined surface), and show an operation of adapting the groove width D of the tablet dropping path 32 to the width b of the tablet 10. ing. 2D and 2E are schematic views of the tablet dropping path 32 and the falling tablet 10, and the tablet 10 slides down the meandering upstream partial path 32 a of the tablet dropping path 32. Is shown. 3A to 3F are right side views of the main part of the cutting mechanism 40, and show the tablet cutting operation in time series. FIGS. 4A to 4D are all surface views of the main part of the holding mechanism 30 and show a plurality of patterns of discharging operations of the tablet trim pieces 10b and 10c.

  Prior to tablet cutting, a tablet cassette 21 containing a large number of tablets 10 to be cut and divided is mounted on a tablet feeder base 27 and a receiver 25 is inserted into the main body 24 (FIGS. 1A and 1B). )reference). Then, along with the loading of the cassette, data such as identification information is sent to the controller 23 via the tablet feeder base 27, and based on this, the suitability of the cassette type is determined and the shape information of the tablet 10 is checked. If possible, the controller 23 automatically acquires the width b and thickness c of the tablet 10. When automatic acquisition is not possible, input from the communication line or the operation unit 22 is awaited.

  When the controller 23 cannot acquire the thickness c of the tablet 10, the groove depth defining member 37 is positioned obliquely upward, and the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32 and the groove bottom facing surface of the groove depth defining member 37 are Although the relative distance C is increased on the safety side (see FIG. 2A), when the thickness c is acquired by the controller 23, the position of the groove depth defining member 37 is automatically adjusted and the relative distance C is increased. (See FIG. 2B). Similarly, when the controller 23 cannot acquire the width b of the tablet 10, the width adjusting mechanism 36 is positioned so as to approach the groove side wall surface of the tablet dropping path 32, and the corresponding of the upstream partial path 32 a of the tablet dropping path 32. Although the groove width of the part is widened on the safety side (see FIG. 1D), when the width b is acquired by the controller 23, the swing position of the width adjusting mechanism 36 is automatically adjusted, and The width D is adapted to the width b (see FIG. 2 (c)).

  Thereafter, if the operation unit 22 is operated, the tablet dividing device 20 can start the cutting process. However, in the initial state, the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode divides the tablet cutting fragments 10b and 10c into different branch paths 32b and 32c. When the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode is to be switched to the right discharge mode in which both of the tablet cutting fragments 10b and 10c are dropped only into the right branch path 32c. (See FIGS. 4 (c) and 4 (d)), when it is desired to switch the tablet fragment discharge mode to the left discharge mode in which both tablet fragments 10b and 10c are dropped only on the left branch path 32b (FIG. 4 (c)). , (D)), the operation unit 22 is operated to select a desired mode and switch the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode.

In this initial state, in the holding mechanism 30 (see FIG. 1D), the receiving member 34 immediately below the cutting position 33 closes the left path opening / closing member 34b and the right path opening / closing member 34c. The mechanism 30 and the cutting mechanism 40 do not have the tablet 10, and the cutting position 33 is vacant.
Further, in the cutting mechanism 40 (see FIG. 3A), the upper blade 41 retracts from the cutting position 33 to the outside / front upper side, and the lower blade 42 retracts from the cutting position 33 to the inner back side / rear / lower side. The opposing gaps 41 and 42 are in an expanded state.

In this state, when the operation unit 22 is operated to cause the tablet dividing device 20 to start the cutting process, the drive motor of the tablet feeder base unit 27 is activated, and one tablet 10 is dropped and discharged from the tablet cassette 21 driven thereby. Is done.
Then, the tablet 10 is dropped into the tablet dropping path 32 of the holding mechanism 30 through the introduction port and guide of the tablet feeder base portion 27, and is first guided to the upstream partial path 32 a of the tablet dropping path 32 to be cut. Head for.

At that time, the thickness direction of the falling tablet 10 is regulated by the relative distance C between the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32 adapted to the thickness c and the groove bottom facing surface of the groove depth defining member 37 (see FIG. 2B). ), The width direction is regulated by the groove width D at the location of the width adjusting mechanism 36 of the tablet dropping path 32 adapted to the width b (see FIG. 2C). In addition to that, the posture is regulated by the groove bottom and the right inner wall surface of the tablet dropping path 32 in the uppermost flow area by the change in the inclination direction accompanying the meandering of the upstream partial path 32a of the tablet dropping path 32 (FIG. 2 (d) )), The posture is regulated by the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32 and the left inner wall surface in the middle flow area (see FIG. 2 (e)).
Therefore, when the tablet 10 passes through the standby member 39 that is appropriately opened and reaches the cutting position 33, the tablet 10 takes the same posture at any time.

  The tablet 10 that has reached the cutting position 33 stops by abutting against the receiving member 34, and is positioned between the two receiving members 34, that is, at the center between the left path opening / closing member 34b and the right path opening / closing member 34c. It is held on the slit 35 (see FIG. 4A). At this time, the tablet 10 is held by the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32 of the falling tablet guide member 31 and the contact portion of the two receiving members 34 in the holding mechanism 30. It has entered into the opposing gap between the opposing blades 41 and 42 without touching (see FIGS. 3B and 4A).

The tablet 10 is cut from the state by the cutting mechanism 40. Since there are a plurality of cutting modes and can be selected in advance by the operation of the operation unit 22, three modes will be described in detail.
First, when the first cutting mode is selected, the lower blade 42 advances slightly toward the upper blade 41, and when the tablet 10 is lifted slightly and is separated from the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32, the lower blade 42 is moved. Stops. Then, when the upper blade 41 advances toward the lower blade 42 and the opposed gap between the opposed blades 41 and 42 is reduced and the tablet 10 is sandwiched between the opposed blades 41 and 42, the upper blade 41 stops (FIG. 3C). reference). Then, the receiving member 34 swings and separates from the tablet 10, but since the tablet 10 is sandwiched between the opposed blades 41 and 42, it does not drop undesirably.

  From this state, the driving of the cutting mechanism 40 is resumed, but the urging force of the upper blade urging member 44 that advances the upper blade 41 and the urging force of the lower blade urging member 46 that advances the lower blade 42 are opposed to each other. While the blades 41 and 42 are insufficient to cut into the tablet 10, the biasing members 44 and 46 contract while increasing the biasing force, so that the opposing blades 41 and 42 continue to hold the tablet 10 (FIG. 3). (See (d)). Then, when the urging force of the urging members 44 and 46 and the driving force of the opposing blades 41 and 42 sufficiently increase, the opposing blades 41 and 42 begin to bite into the front and back surfaces of the tablet 10 (see FIG. 3E). Then, since the opposing blades 41 and 42 are quickly advanced to the inside of the tablet 10 by the extension accompanied by the elastic force of the urging members 44 and 46 (see FIG. 3F), the tablet 10 is clean. It is cut and divided into two tablet pieces 10b and 10c.

  On the other hand, when the second cutting mode is selected, the opposed blades 41 and 42 that have been separated move forward almost simultaneously to reduce the opposed gap, and accordingly, the lower blade 42 pushes the back surface of the tablet 10. The upper blade 41 reaches the surface of the tablet 10 when it is slightly lifted from the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32, and the tablet 10 is sandwiched between the opposed blades 41 and 42. Since the rest is the same as the first cutting mode described above, a detailed description that will not be repeated will be omitted, but in this second cutting mode, the cutting operation without the temporary stop of the driving of the cutting mechanism 40 is performed quickly. Further, the spring sensitivity of the lower blade urging member 46 is made smaller than the spring sensitivity of the upper blade urging member 44 so that the state of generation of the elastic force of the urging members 44 and 46 is made uneven. The variation in the amount of the cut pieces may be further reduced.

  Further, when the third cutting mode is selected, when the upper blade 41 advances first among the opposed blades 41 and 42 that have been separated and the blade tip reaches the surface of the tablet 10, the upper blade 41 is driven forward. Stops. Thereby, the tablet 10 is lightly pressed against the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path 32 by the urging force of the upper blade urging member 44, and the posture of the tablet 10 is corrected. Then, since the lower blade 42 is driven forward, the opposed gap between the opposed blades 41 and 42 is reduced, and the tablet 10 is sandwiched between the opposed blades 41 and 42 when the lower blade 42 reaches the back surface of the tablet 10. Further, the forward drive of the lower blade 42 is continued, and the urging members 44 and 46 are contracted. Therefore, the lower blade 42 is advanced and the upper blade 41 is retracted by the balance of the urging forces of the two, and the tablet 10 moves along the tablet dropping path 32. Lift from the bottom of the groove. After that, since it is almost the same as the first and second cutting modes described above, a detailed description which will be repeated is omitted, but in this third cutting mode, the cutting operation is quickly and accurately performed by alternately driving the upper blade 41 and the lower blade 42. Done.

Then, when the tablet 10 is divided to form a tablet cutting piece 10b on the left side of the opposed blades 41 and 42 and a tablet cutting piece 10c on the right side of the opposed blades 41 and 42 (see FIG. 4 (a)), those tablets. The cut pieces 10b, 10c, 10c are dropped and discharged by the swinging of the opening / closing members 34b, 34c in the tablet cut piece discharge mode being set.
Specifically, if the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode is the sorting discharge mode, the open / close members 34b and 34c swing before the opposing blades 41 and 42 are retracted (see FIG. 4B), and the left half tablet cutting fragments. 10b is dropped and discharged from the left branch path 32b and accommodated in the left receiver 25b, and the right half tablet fragment 10c is dropped from the right branch path 32c and accommodated in the right receiver 25c.

  On the other hand, when the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode is the right discharge mode, the right path opening / closing member 34c swings with the left path opening / closing member 34b and the opposed blades 41, 42 stopped, and first the right half of the right half opening / closing member 34b is stopped. The tablet cutting piece 10c is dropped and discharged from the right branch path 32c (see FIG. 4C), and then the counter blades 41 and 42 are retracted while the left path opening / closing member 34b is stopped, and the remaining left half tablet cutting piece 10b. Is dropped and discharged from the right branch path 32c (see FIG. 4D), the tablet cutting pieces 10b and 10c are both accommodated in the right receiver 25c.

  Furthermore, although illustration is omitted, when the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode is the left discharge mode, the left path opening / closing member 34b swings with the right branch path 32c and the opposed blades 41 and 42 stopped, First, the left half tablet fragment 10b is dropped and discharged from the left branch path 32b, and then the opposing blades 41 and 42 are retracted while the right path opening / closing member 34c is stopped, and the remaining right half tablet fragment 10c is branched to the left. Since the tablets are dropped and discharged from the path 32b, both the tablet trim pieces 10b and 10c are accommodated in the left-side receiver 25b.

Thus, the left and right tablet cutting fragments 10b and 10c are distributed to the left and right branch paths 32b and 32c according to the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode, and after passing through the relay portion 26, are accommodated in the receiving receivers 25a and 25b. Is done.
In the meantime, the receiving member 34 swings and closes, the opposing blades 41 and 42 are both retracted, the state of the holding mechanism 30 and the cutting mechanism 40 returns to the initial state, and it is necessary to further cut the tablet 10. If so, the above operation is repeated.

  About the Example 2 of the tablet division | segmentation apparatus of this invention, the specific structure is demonstrated with reference to drawing. FIGS. 5A to 5D are all surface views of the main part of the holding mechanism 30.

  The difference between this tablet dividing device and the tablet dividing device 20 of the first embodiment described above (see FIG. 5A) is that the upstream partial path 32a of the tablet dropping path 32 is meandering from the “K” shape of Hiragana. Of the loose hiragana “shi”, the branch port of the left branch path 32b and the left path opening / closing member 34b are moved upstream, and the slit 35 is orthogonal to the upstream partial path 32a. The direction of the slit 35 is changed, and the illustration is omitted, but the direction of the opposed blades 41 and 42 is also changed in the same manner as the slit 35. Thereby, this tablet dividing device is suitable for dividing the columnar or square-shaped tablet 10 into two in the longitudinal direction.

In this case, when the tablet 10 slides down the upstream partial path 32a with the longitudinal direction aligned with the path direction and reaches the cutting position 33, the tablet 10 is stopped by the receiving member 34, and then the upper left tablet cutting piece by the opposing blades 41 and 42. 10b and the lower right tablet cutting fragment 10c (see FIG. 5B).
Then (see FIG. 5C), if the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode is the sorting discharge mode, the open / close members 34b and 34c swing before the opposing blades 41 and 42 are retracted, and the upper left tablet cutting fragment 10b is branched to the left. It is dropped and discharged from the path 32b and stored in the left receiver 25b, and the lower right tablet cutting piece 10c is dropped and discharged from the right branch path 32c and stored in the right receiver 25c.

On the other hand (see FIG. 5D), when the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode is the right discharge mode, the right path opening / closing member 34c is in a state where the left path opening / closing member 34b and the opposing blades 41, 42 are stopped. First, the lower right tablet segment 10c is dropped and discharged from the right branch path 32c. Then, the counter blades 41 and 42 are moved backward while the left path opening / closing member 34b is stopped, and the remaining upper left tablet segment 10b is moved. Since the tablets are dropped and discharged from the right branch path 32c, the tablet fragments 10b and 10c are both accommodated in the right receiver 25c.
In this case, the left discharge mode is not supported.

[Others]
In the first and second embodiments, the cutting mechanism 40 is configured to cut the tablet 10 by advancing and retreating the pair of opposed blade edges. However, a rotary blade may be used for cutting.
In the first and second embodiments, the operation when the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode remains set to the initially selected mode has been described. However, the tablet cutting fragment discharge mode may be switched as appropriate. For example, switching or resetting may be performed each time one tablet 10 is cut.
Furthermore, in the said Example 1, 2, although the tablet 10 was equally divided | segmented into two, you may divide unevenly and a separate discharge mode is especially convenient in non-uniform division | segmentation.

  The operation unit 22 is not essential. For example, when the tablet 10 reaches the cutting position 33, a series of cutting operations may be started accordingly. The presence / absence of an operation state display is also arbitrary. The standby member 39 may be equipped arbitrarily. If there is no inconvenience in discharging the tablet fragments 10b and 10c, the receiver 25 and the relay unit 26 are not essential, and if the automatic sequential supply of the tablets 10 is not necessary, the tablet feeder base unit 27 and the tablet cassette 21 are not essential. . In addition, it is not essential to explicitly provide the driving members of the opposed blades 41 and 42 and the driving member of the receiving member 34 by an electric type, a fluid driving type, or the like. For example, it may be driven by pushing or rotating a manual handle.

  The tablet dividing device of the present invention is used in a stand-alone manner as in the above-described Examples 1 and 2, and is incorporated in an automatic dispensing machine such as a tablet packaging machine in a mode in which the base part of the tablet feeder is replaced with an expanded function. (For example, refer to Example 2 of Patent Document 5) It is also incorporated into a tablet dropping path extending downward from a single tablet feeder or a tablet collecting path after the tablet dropping paths of a plurality of tablet feeders merge downward. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

10 ... tablet, 10b, 10c ... tablet fragment,
20 ... Tablet splitting device,
21 ... Tablet cassette, 22 ... Operation part, 23 ... Controller, 24 ... Main part,
25 ... Receiver, 25b ... Left receiver, 25c ... Right receiver, 26 ... Relay part,
27 ... Tablet feeder base, 28 ... Inclined frame,
30 ... holding mechanism,
31 ... Falling tablet guide member, 32 ... Tablet dropping path, 32a ... Upstream partial path,
32b ... left branch path, 32c ... right branch path, 33 ... cutting position,
34 ... Receiving member, 34b ... Left path opening / closing member, 34c ... Right path opening / closing member,
35 ... slit, 36 ... width adjustment mechanism, 37 ... groove depth regulating member, 38 ... thickness adjustment mechanism,
40 ... Cutting mechanism,
41 ... Upper blade (opposite blade), 42 ... Lower blade (opposite blade), 43 ... Upper blade advance / retreat member,
44 ... Upper blade biasing member, 45 ... Lower blade advancement / retraction member, 46 ... Lower blade biasing member

Claims (14)

  A falling tablet guide member having an inclined surface that is inclined upward and having a groove-shaped tablet dropping path formed from the upper end to the lower end thereof, and a tablet to be divided that has come down the tablet dropping path in the middle of the tablet dropping path A tablet dividing device comprising: a receiving member that temporarily holds a cutting position by opening and closing a path; and a cutting mechanism that cuts the tablet at the cutting position, wherein a part of the tablet dropping path that is upstream of the cutting position A groove depth defining member that covers a part or all including the thickness, a thickness adjusting mechanism that expands and contracts a relative distance between a groove bottom of the tablet dropping path and a groove bottom facing surface of the groove depth defining member, and thickness information of the tablet And a control device that adjusts the relative distance to the thickness of the tablet by operating the thickness adjusting mechanism.   A width adjusting mechanism that is provided upstream of the cutting position in the tablet dropping path and expands or contracts the groove width of the tablet dropping path, and the control device acquires the tablet width information and The tablet dividing device according to claim 1, wherein the groove width is adapted to the width of the tablet by operating a width adjusting mechanism.   The cutting mechanism includes an opposing blade that advances and retreats toward the cutting position, and cuts the tablet by enlarging and reducing the opposing gap of the opposing blade and sandwiching the tablet before completion of the cutting. The tablet dividing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tablet dividing apparatus is configured to float from a groove bottom of the tablet dropping path and then complete cutting.   When either one or both of the opposed blades are pushed backward by an external force, they move backward within the movable range, and at the time of the backward movement, they move forward with a force stronger than the weight of the tablet from the beginning or during the backward movement. 4. The tablet dividing device according to claim 3, wherein the tablet dividing device is biased sideways.   The portion of the tablet dropping path upstream of the cutting position is inclined with respect to a vertical plane orthogonal to the inclined surface. Tablet splitting device.   6. The tablet dividing device according to claim 5, wherein a portion of the tablet dropping path upstream of the cutting position is meandering.   The tablet dropping path is branched at or near the cutting position, and a downstream portion thereof is a plurality of branch paths, and the receiving member includes a plurality of path opening / closing members, 2. The path opening / closing member is provided at any branch point of the branch path, opens and closes the corresponding branch path, and is arranged separately on both sides of the cutting position. The tablet dividing device according to any one of claims 6 to 6.   The cutting piece of the tablet is replaced with the cutting path of the branch path by exchanging the front and rear according to the time when the cutting mechanism is retracted from the cutting position after cutting the tablet and the time when the branch opening / closing member is opened in each path opening / closing member. 8. The tablet dividing device according to claim 7, wherein the tablet dividing device can be selected to drop into the same path and to drop the cut piece of the tablet into a different path among the branch paths.   A falling tablet guide member having an inclined surface that is inclined upward and having a groove-shaped tablet dropping path formed from the upper end to the lower end thereof, and a tablet to be divided that has come down the tablet dropping path in the middle of the tablet dropping path A tablet dividing device comprising a receiving member that temporarily holds a cutting position by opening and closing a path, and a cutting mechanism that cuts the tablet at the cutting position, wherein the cutting mechanism advances and retreats toward the cutting position. A counter blade is provided, and the counter gap of the counter blade is expanded and contracted to sandwich the tablet, and the tablet is floated from the groove bottom of the tablet dropping path before the cutting is completed, and then the cutting is performed. The tablet dividing device characterized by completing the above.   When either one or both of the opposed blades are pushed backward by an external force, they move backward within the movable range, and at the time of the backward movement, they move forward with a force stronger than the weight of the tablet from the beginning or during the backward movement. The tablet dividing device according to claim 9, wherein the tablet dividing device is biased sideways.   A falling tablet guide member having an inclined surface that is inclined upward and having a groove-shaped tablet dropping path formed from the upper end to the lower end thereof, and a tablet to be divided that has come down the tablet dropping path in the middle of the tablet dropping path A tablet splitting device comprising a receiving member that temporarily holds the cutting position by opening and closing the path and a cutting mechanism that cuts the tablet at the cutting position, wherein the tablet dividing apparatus is located upstream of the cutting position in the tablet dropping path. The tablet dividing device, wherein the portion is inclined with respect to a vertical plane orthogonal to the inclined surface.   The tablet dividing device according to claim 11, wherein a portion of the tablet dropping path upstream of the cutting position is meandering.   A falling tablet guide member in which a tablet dropping path is formed, a receiving member that temporarily holds the tablet to be divided that has come down the tablet dropping path at a cutting position in the middle of the tablet dropping path by opening and closing the path, and A tablet dividing device including a cutting mechanism for cutting the tablet at a cutting position, wherein the tablet dropping path branches at or near the cutting position, and a downstream portion thereof has a plurality of branch paths. The receiving member includes a plurality of path opening / closing members, and each of the path opening / closing members is provided at any branching position of the branch path to open / close the corresponding branch path. The tablet dividing device is arranged separately on both sides of the cutting position.   The cutting piece of the tablet is replaced with the cutting path of the branch path by exchanging the front and rear according to the time when the cutting mechanism is retracted from the cutting position after cutting the tablet and the time when the branch opening / closing member is opened in each path opening / closing member. 14. The tablet dividing device according to claim 13, further comprising a control device capable of selecting whether to drop the tablet into the same path or to drop the cut piece of the tablet into a different path among the branch paths.

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