JP2017113398A - Tablet conveyance device and tablet printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tablet conveyance device and a tablet printing apparatus which can suppress reduction in the conveyance efficiency of tablets.SOLUTION: A tablet conveyance device includes: a conveyor belt 51 which conveys a tablet T; a contact member 32 which is provided at a position of not contacting the tablet T in the normal posture on the conveyor belt 51, but contacting the tablet T in the abnormal posture on the conveyor belt 51; and a support part 31 which supports the contact member 32 so that the contact member 32 can swing around each fulcrum B1, namely around a fulcrum shaft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a tablet conveying device and a tablet printing device.

  In order to print identification information such as characters and symbols on a tablet, a technique for performing printing using an ink jet type print head is known. A tablet printing apparatus using this technology transports tablets by a conveyor or the like, and ink (for example, edible ink) is directed toward the tablets passing below the print head from the nozzles of an inkjet print head disposed above the conveyor. ) And the identification information is printed on the tablet.

  Usually, when tablets are supplied to the conveyor of the tablet printing apparatus, the tablets are aligned and then supplied. This tablet feeding device for supplying tablets aligns while transporting the tablets. At this time, the tablets may be in a standing posture or the tablets may overlap each other. When the tablet in this abnormal posture is conveyed as it is and supplied to the tablet printing apparatus, a printing defect occurs in the tablet printing apparatus. For this reason, it is desired to eliminate or correct the posture of tablets in an abnormal posture in the tablet transport device. Therefore, for example, a gate member may be provided that allows a tablet in a normal posture to pass and prevents a tablet in an abnormal posture from passing. However, in this case, a tablet in an abnormal posture may be clogged at that location, and the tablet conveyance efficiency will be reduced.

JP-A-7-081050

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a tablet conveyance device and a tablet printing device capable of suppressing a decrease in tablet conveyance efficiency.

  The tablet conveyance device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a conveyance belt that conveys tablets, a contact member that is provided at a position in contact with a tablet in an abnormal posture on the conveyance belt, and the contact member swings around a fulcrum as a rotation center. And a support portion for supporting the contact member.

  A tablet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the tablet conveyance apparatus according to the above-described embodiment and a printing apparatus that performs printing on a tablet conveyed by the tablet conveyance apparatus.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in tablet conveyance efficiency.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the tablet conveying apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows a part of schematic structure of the tablet conveying apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a 1st figure in order to explain contact operation of a tablet contact device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a 2nd figure in order to demonstrate the contact operation of the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a 3rd figure in order to demonstrate the contact operation of the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the contact member with which the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is provided. It is a top view which shows the contact member with which the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is provided. It is a figure which shows the modification of the contact member with which the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is provided. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the modification of the contact member with which the tablet contact apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment is provided. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the tablet printing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Basic configuration)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tablet conveyance device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a supply device 10, a conveyance device 20, a tablet contact device 30, and a control device 40. As an example, the tablet transport device 1 is a device that transports tablets T in a plurality of rows (for example, two rows) and feeds them to a tablet printing device or the like in a subsequent process.

  The supply device 10 includes a hopper 11 and a shooter 12 (see FIG. 1). The hopper 11 stores a large number of tablets T, and sequentially supplies the stored tablets T to the shooter 12. The shooter 12 supplies the supplied tablet T to the conveying device 20. The supply device 10 is electrically connected to the control device 40, and its driving is controlled by the control device 40.

  The conveyance device 20 includes a plurality of (three in the example of FIG. 2) conveyance units 21, 22, 23 and a ridge 24, and conveys the tablets T supplied from the supply device 10 in two rows. To do.

  First, the transport unit 22 will be described as a representative of the structure common to the transport units 21, 22, and 23. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 22 includes a transport belt 51, a drive pulley 52, a driven pulley 53, and a drive unit 54. The conveyor belt 51 is formed in an endless shape, and is stretched around a driving pulley 52 and a driven pulley 53. The drive pulley 52 and the driven pulley 53 are provided so as to be rotatable about an axis, and the drive pulley 52 is connected to the drive unit 54. The drive unit 54 is, for example, a motor, and is electrically connected to the control device 40, and the drive is controlled by the control device 40. The transport unit 22 rotates the transport belt 51 together with the driven pulley 53 by the rotation of the drive pulley 52 by the drive unit 54, and transports the tablets T on the transport belt 51. The other transport units 21 and 23 have the same structure, but in the transport unit 23, the positions of the drive pulley 52 and the driven pulley 53 are opposite to those of the other transport units 21 and 22.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport units 21 and 22 are provided so as to sandwich the transport unit 23, and the tablets T supplied from the supply device 10 are aligned in a line, respectively, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Transport in the direction of arrow A1 (transport direction A1).

  The transport unit 21 includes a pair of alignment members 21a and 21b that align the tablets T supplied from the supply device 10 in a row. The alignment member 21a is provided above the transport belt 51 of the transport unit 21 and on the side opposite to the transport unit 23 side, and has a wall surface that extends in the transport direction A1 and curves toward the transport unit 23 side. . Moreover, the alignment member 21b is provided above the conveyance belt 51 of the conveyance unit 21 and on the conveyance unit 23 side, and has a wall surface extending in the conveyance direction A1. These alignment members 21a and 21b guide the moving tablets T along the wall surfaces, and align the tablets T passing between them in a row.

  Similarly to the transport unit 21, the transport unit 22 also includes a pair of alignment members 22 a and 22 b that align the tablets T supplied from the supply device 10 in a row. The alignment member 22a is provided above the conveyance belt 51 of the conveyance unit 22 and on the side opposite to the conveyance unit 23 side, and has a wall surface that extends in the conveyance direction A1 and curves toward the conveyance unit 23 side. . Moreover, the alignment member 22b is provided above the conveyance belt 51 of the conveyance unit 22 and on the conveyance unit 23 side, and has a wall surface extending in the conveyance direction A1. These alignment members 22a and 22b guide the moving tablets T along the wall surfaces of each other, and align the tablets T passing between them in a row.

  The transport unit 23 is located between the transport units 21 and 22, receives the tablets T dropped from the transport units 21 and 22, and receives the received tablets T in the direction indicated by the arrow A2 in FIG. 2 (transport direction A1). In the opposite conveyance direction A2), the sheet is returned to the conveyance units 21 and 22. For this reason, the conveyance part 23 is arrange | positioned so that the tablet T which fell from each conveyance part 21 and 22 can be received, and it inclines so that it may become high gradually along conveyance direction A2. Moreover, the conveyance part 23 has the return member 23a for returning the received tablet T to each conveyance part 21 and 22 in the downstream end of conveyance direction A2. The return member 23 a guides the tablet T along the outer periphery thereof and returns it to the transport units 21 and 22.

  The collar 24 is provided at the downstream end of the transport device 20 in the transport direction A1. The scissors 24 are formed so as to receive the tablets T dropped from the downstream ends in the transport direction A1 of the transport units 21 and 22 and return them to the transport unit 23 positioned between the transport units 21 and 22. Yes. For example, the tablets T on the transport units 21 and 22 are sucked and held by a delivery device (not shown) and transported to other devices. At this time, among the tablets T on the transport belt 51 in the transport units 21 and 22, there are tablets T that are not sucked by the delivery device. The tablet T falls from the downstream end in the transport direction A <b> 1 of each transport unit 21, 22, is received by the basket 24, and is returned to the transport unit 23.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tablet contact device 30 is provided for each of the conveyance units 21 and 22. The tablet contact device 30 passes the tablets T in the normal posture without contacting the tablets T in the normal posture on the transport belt 51 in the transport units 21 and 22, while the tablets in the abnormal posture on the transport belt 51. The abnormal posture of the tablet T is corrected to a normal posture by touching T, or the tablet T having the abnormal posture is excluded from the transport unit 23 (details will be described later).

  Here, the normal posture is, for example, a flat posture when the tablet T is flat (for example, a flat posture is a posture suitable for printing in a subsequent process, and a posture in which print quality does not deteriorate. is there). On the other hand, the abnormal posture is, for example, a posture when the tablet T is not in a flat posture, for example, a standing posture when the tablet T is standing or an inclined posture when the tablet T overlaps another tablet T. is there.

  The control device 40 includes a microcomputer that centrally controls each unit and a storage unit (none of which is shown) that stores processing information and various programs. The control device 40 controls the supply device 10 and the transport device 20 based on various information and various programs. Note that the storage unit stores movement speed information and the like of the individual conveyance belts 51 of the conveyance units 21, 22, and 23.

(Tablet contact device)
Next, the tablet contact device 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the tablet contact device 30 includes a support portion 31 and a contact member 32. Although two tablet contact devices 30 are provided as described above (see FIG. 2), since the structures are basically the same, the tablet contact device 30 corresponding to the transport unit 21 will be described.

  The support portion 31 includes a column 31a, a first support member 31b, and a plurality of (two in the example of FIG. 3) second support members 31c. The support column 31a is formed in a columnar shape, for example, and is provided on the alignment member 21a. The first support member 31b is formed, for example, in a columnar shape, and is supported horizontally by the support column 31a. Each second support member 31c is formed in an elongated shape such as a string, for example, and is vertically supported by the first support member 31b. One end of each of these second support members 31c is arranged in the extending direction of the first support member 31b and connected to the first support member 31b, and functions as a fulcrum B1. The other end of each second support member 31c is arranged in the extending direction of the contact member 32, and is connected to the contact member 32 so that the contact member 32 is horizontal. Each second support member 31c is formed of, for example, a non-stretchable and non-elastic material.

  The contact member 32 is formed in a columnar shape, for example, and is not contacted with the tablet T in the normal posture on the transport belt 51 but is brought into contact with the tablet T in the abnormal posture on the transport belt 51 by the support portion 31. It is supported horizontally. Further, the contact member 32 is positioned such that its extending direction intersects (for example, intersects with) the conveyance direction A1 in a horizontal plane. The contact member 32 is horizontally supported by the support portion 31 as described above, and can swing along the conveyance direction A1 with each fulcrum B1, that is, the fulcrum shaft as a rotation center. For this reason, the contact member 32 functions as a pendulum supported by the support portion 31. The mass of the contact member 32 and the length from the fulcrum (pendulum length) are appropriately determined depending on the type, size, and weight of the tablet T. Note that the shaking direction of the contact member 32 is a direction along the transport direction A1, and is not completely coincident with the transport direction A1.

  Here, the lower end C1 of the contact member 32 is set to be higher than at least the upper end C2 of the tablet T in a normal posture (for example, flat posture) on the transport belt 51, and an abnormal posture (for example, standing up) on the transport belt 51. The posture is set lower than the upper end C3 of the tablet T. However, when various abnormal postures exist as described above, the lower end C1 of the contact member 32 is set lower than the minimum height in those abnormal postures. Therefore, when the normal posture is a flat posture and the abnormal posture is a standing posture and a tilted posture, the lower end C1 of the contact member 32 is higher than the upper end C2 of the tablet T in the flat posture, and the tablet T in the tilted posture. It is set lower than the upper end of.

(Conveying process)
Next, the conveyance process which the above-mentioned tablet conveyance apparatus 1 performs is demonstrated.

  First, various types of information such as transport data required for transport are stored in the storage unit of the control device 40. In addition, a large number of tablets T to be transported are put into the hopper 11 of the supply device 10. When the tablet conveyance device 1 is driven, the individual conveyance belts 51 of the conveyance units 21 and 22 rotate in the conveyance direction A1 along with the rotation of the driving pulley 52 and the driven pulley 53 by the drive unit 54, and are conveyed. The conveyance belt 51 of the unit 23 rotates in the conveyance direction A <b> 2 with the rotation of the driving pulley 52 and the driven pulley 53 by the driving unit 54. In a state where the individual conveyance belts 51 of the respective conveyance units 21, 22, and 23 are rotating, the tablets T are sequentially and randomly supplied from the supply device 10 onto the individual conveyance belts 51 of the respective conveyance units 21 and 22.

  The tablets T supplied on the conveyor belts 51 of the conveyors 21 and 22 are sequentially conveyed at a predetermined moving speed, abut against the alignment members 21a and 22a, move along their wall surfaces, Then, the alignment members 21a and 21b pass between the alignment members 21a and 21b or the alignment members 22a and 22b, and are aligned in a line (see FIG. 2). At this time, the extra tablets T before alignment fall from the transport belts 51 of the transport units 21 and 22 and are received by the transport belt 51 of the transport unit 23. Also, some of the aligned tablets T fall from the conveyor belt 51 of each of the conveyor units 21 and 22 and are received by the conveyor belt 51 of the conveyor unit 23 via the basket 24. Thereafter, the received tablet T is transported in the transport direction A2 by the transport belt 51 of the transport unit 23, contacts the return member 23a located at the downstream end of the transport belt 51, and is placed on the outer periphery of the return member 23a. It moves along, and is returned on the conveyance belt 51 of each conveyance part 21 and 22. FIG.

  Moreover, in the conveyance belt 51 of each conveyance part 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 4, although the tablet T of a flat posture passes the downward direction of the contact member 32, the tablet T of a standing posture is shown in FIG. In this manner, the contact member 32 abuts. Since the tablet T in the standing posture moves further in the transport direction A1 while being in contact with the contact member 32, the contact member 32 is pushed by the tablet T. Due to the pressing force by the tablet T, the contact member 32 rotates around the fulcrum (fulcrum shaft) B1 downstream in the transport direction A1. The tablet T in the standing posture falls down to the flat posture by the first contact with the contact member 32, or falls down to the flat posture while pressing the contact member 32. When the tablet T in the standing posture falls and the pressing force against the contact member 32 by the tablet T disappears, as shown in FIG. 6, the contact member 32 rotates around the fulcrum B1 to the upstream side in the transport direction A1 and swings. Then, it stops in a few seconds and returns to the initial state (see FIG. 4). In this way, the tablets T in the standing posture are corrected to a flat posture in the middle of conveyance, and only the tablets T in the flat posture are aligned and supplied to the tablet printing apparatus in the subsequent process.

  For example, as described above, the tablet T in the standing posture may fall down while the contact member 32 is being pressed. When the tablet T pushes the contact member 32, the contact member 32 rotates to the downstream side in the transport direction A1 around the fulcrum B1 by the pressing force, so that the potential energy of the contact member 32 gradually increases. (See FIG. 5). As a result, the resistance force of the contact member 32 with respect to the standing tablet T moving in the transport direction A1 is also increased, so that the standing tablet T normally falls.

  As described above, when the tablet T in the standing posture and the contact member 32 are in contact with each other, the posture of the tablet T in the standing posture is basically corrected to the flat posture, but the standing posture is maintained without the tablet T falling down. However, the tablet T in the standing posture is removed from the transport belt 51 by the contact member 32 and falls to the transport unit 23. In the case of positively removing the tablets T in the abnormal posture, the contact member 32 is moved so that the end of the contact member 32 on the transport unit 23 side is downstream of the opposite end in the transport direction A1. It is desirable that the tablet T in an abnormal posture on the transport belt 51 is guided toward the transport unit 23 by the contact member 32. On the contrary, when the posture correction of the tablet T in the abnormal posture is positively performed instead of the exclusion of the tablet T in the abnormal posture, the end on the conveyance unit 23 side of the contact member 32 is more than the end on the opposite side. It is desirable that the contact member 32 is provided so as to be upstream in the transport direction A1, and the contact member 32 guides the tablet T in an abnormal posture on the transport belt 51 toward the alignment member 21a.

  In this transport process, the tablets T are supplied onto the transport belt 51, and then the tablets T in an abnormal posture on the transport belt 51 are applied to the contact member 32, and the posture of the tablets T in the abnormal posture is corrected to a normal posture or the abnormality. Eliminate the tablets T in posture. In particular, in correcting the posture of the tablet T and eliminating the tablet T, the tablet T in the abnormal posture comes into contact with the contact member 32 and presses the contact member 32 to move the contact member 32 to remove the tablet T from the abnormal posture. Let it go. That is, since the contact member 32 functions as a pendulum and moves even when pressed by the tablet T in an abnormal posture, it is possible to suppress clogging of the tablet T due to the tablet T being stopped by the contact member 32. is there. Moreover, the tablet T of the abnormal posture which the contact member 32 passes below is not pressed against the conveyance belt 51 excessively, and it can suppress more reliably that the tablet T is clogged.

  For example, if the contact member 32 is fixed so that it cannot move, the tablet T in a standing posture may stop without falling by the contact member 32 and remain in the contact member 32 in the standing posture. In this case, the tablet T that has been conveyed after the tablet T in the standing posture is stopped by the tablet T in the standing posture. As a result, clogging of the tablet T occurs, and the conveyance efficiency of the tablet T decreases. For example, when the posture of the tablet T is corrected by bringing a member having expansion and contraction or elasticity into contact with the upper end side of the tablet T in a standing posture, the tablet T is applied to the transport belt 51 by the expansion and contraction force or elastic force of the member. It may not be able to move due to being pressed, and may stay in that place. Also in this case, clogging of the tablet T occurs, and the conveyance efficiency of the tablet T is lowered.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the contact member 32 is provided at a position that does not contact the tablet T in the normal posture on the transport belt 51 but contacts the tablet T in the abnormal posture on the transport belt 51. Thus, the contact member 32 is formed so as to be able to swing around each fulcrum B1 (fulcrum axis). Thereby, since the tablet T in the abnormal posture on the transport belt 51 hits the contact member 32, the posture of the tablet T in the abnormal posture can be corrected or the tablet T in the abnormal posture can be eliminated. . Moreover, since the contact member 32 moves and escapes from the tablet T by the pressing force that the tablet T in an abnormal posture contacts the contact member 32 and presses the contact member 32, the clogging of the tablet T by the contact member 32 is also suppressed. It becomes possible. In this way, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the conveyance efficiency of the tablet T. Further, it is possible to reduce the impact on the tablet T compared to when the tablet T hits the fixed contact member, and the tablet T is not subjected to excessive pressing force by the contact member made of an elastic body such as rubber. Can be prevented from being damaged.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment, that is, the contact member 32 will be described, and the other description will be omitted. In FIG. 7, the transport direction A1 is a direction from the front of the paper to the back of the paper, and in FIG. 8, the transport direction A1 is a direction from the bottom of the paper to the top of the paper.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, a triangular wave-shaped concavo-convex portion 32 a is formed on the surface on the side of the conveyance belt 51 of the contact member 32 according to the second embodiment in a direction (for example, a direction orthogonal to the direction) intersecting the conveyance direction A1. ing. For example, the contact member 32 tilts the tablet T in a standing posture in a direction intersecting the transport direction A1 by the triangular wave-shaped uneven portion 32a. Thereby, since the tablet T in the standing posture easily falls down in the direction intersecting the transport direction A1, the abnormal posture of the tablet T can be reliably corrected to the normal posture. The contact member 32 has a plurality of inclined surfaces M1 that are inclined along a direction intersecting the transport direction A1.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, the two convex parts 32b are formed in the surface of the upstream of the contact member 32 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. These convex portions 32b are provided on both ends of the upstream surface of the contact member 32 that are orthogonal to the transport direction A1. Each convex portion 32 b has a slope M <b> 2 that gradually slopes toward the inside of the contact member 32. For example, the contact member 32 guides the tablet T in a standing posture toward the inside of the contact member 32 by the convex portions 32b. Thereby, since the tablet T in the standing posture is guided to the inside of the contact member 32, that is, the triangular uneven portion 32a, the tablet T can be reliably brought down by the uneven portion 32a.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, by providing the triangular concave and convex portion 32a on the surface of the contact member 32 on the side of the conveyor belt 51, for example, the tablet T in a standing posture is likely to fall down, so that the abnormal posture of the tablet T is reliably corrected to a normal posture. be able to. Further, by providing the convex portions 32b at both ends of the upstream surface of the contact member 32, for example, the standing tablet T is guided to the triangular uneven portion 32a located inside the contact member 32. The uneven portion 32a can reliably tilt the tablet T, and the abnormal posture of the tablet T can be reliably corrected by the normal posture. In addition, both the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 32a and the convex part 32b are not essential, and either one may be sufficient.

(Modification)
A modification of the contact member 32 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, the transport direction A1 is a direction from the front of the paper to the back of the paper.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the modified example of the contact member 32 according to the second embodiment, the contact member 32 is constituted by a plurality of rotating bodies 32c. These rotating bodies 32c are formed, for example, in a biconical shape, and are rotatably attached to the support shaft 32d. The support shaft 32d is supported by each second support member 31c. A through hole 32c1 is formed in the central axis portion of the rotating body 32c, and a support shaft 32d is passed through the through hole 32c1. The through hole 32c1 is formed such that its diameter is larger than the diameter (thickness) of the support shaft 32d. The contact member 32 has a plurality of inclined surfaces M1 that are inclined along a direction intersecting the transport direction A1. Note that the shape of the rotating body 32c is not limited to the biconical shape.

  Also in this modified example, the contact member 32 tilts the tablet T in a standing posture in a direction intersecting with the transport direction A1, for example, by each rotating body 32c. Thereby, since the tablet T in the standing posture easily falls down in the direction intersecting the transport direction A1, the abnormal posture of the tablet T can be reliably corrected to the normal posture. Moreover, it is possible to reduce the impact given to the tablet T by rotating the contact point, and the breakage of the tablet T can be suppressed.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. In the third embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment, that is, the tablet contact device 60 will be described, and the other description will be omitted. In FIG. 10, the transport direction A1 is a direction from the front of the paper to the back of the paper, and in FIG. 11, the transport direction A1 is a direction from the bottom of the paper to the top of the paper.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the tablet contact device 60 according to the third embodiment includes a support portion 61 and a contact member 62.

  The support portion 61 includes a column 61a, a support member 61b, and a counterweight 61c. The column 61a is formed, for example, in a columnar shape having a fulcrum B2, and is provided on the bottom surface of the groove 21a1 of the alignment member 21a. The groove 21a1 is formed on the upper surface of the alignment member 21a so that the extending direction thereof is orthogonal to the transport direction A1 in a horizontal plane. The support member 61b is formed in a prismatic shape, for example, and is supported by the support column 61a. A contact member 62 is provided at the end of the support member 61b on the side of the transport path of the tablet T, and a counterweight 61c is provided at the end on the opposite side. The counterweight 61c is in balance with the contact member 62 and maintains the support member 61b horizontally.

  The contact member 62 is supported by the support unit 61 at a position where it does not contact the tablet T in the normal posture on the transport belt 51 but contacts the tablet T in the abnormal posture on the transport belt 51. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the contact member 62 has a slope M3 that extends in the transport direction A1 and curves to the opposite side of the alignment member 21a. The contact member 62 is supported horizontally by the support portion 61 as described above, and can swing along the vertical direction with the fulcrum B2 as the rotation center. Note that the shaking direction of the contact member 62 is a direction along the up-down direction, and is not completely coincident with the up-down direction.

  Further, the end of the contact member 62 on the alignment member 21a side is located in the groove 21a1 of the alignment member 21a. Thereby, even if the tablet T in an abnormal posture abuts against the contact member 62, the end of the contact member 62 on the alignment member 21 a side abuts on the inner surface of the groove 21 a 1, so that the contact member 62 has the fulcrum B 2 as the rotation center. The rotation to the downstream side in the transport direction A1 is restricted. Similarly, the contact member 62 is also restricted from rotating about the fulcrum B2 to the upstream side in the transport direction A1. Therefore, the contact member 62 can rotate only along the vertical direction with the fulcrum B2 as the center of rotation.

  Note that the contact member 62 does not necessarily have to be supported horizontally, and may be supported so as to be balanced with the counterweight 61c at least at a position in contact with the tablet T in an abnormal posture on the transport belt 51. In a state where the contact member 62 and the counterweight 61c are in balance, the center of gravity is located below the fulcrum B2.

  According to such a tablet contact device 60, the tablet T in an abnormal posture on the transport belt 51, for example, the tablet T in a standing posture, comes into contact with the contact member 62 as shown in FIG. The tablet T in the standing posture moves along the contact member 62 while pressing the contact member 62 in a state of being in contact with the contact member 62. For this reason, the contact member 62 is pushed by the tablet T. Due to the pressing force by the tablet T, the contact member 62 rotates upward about the fulcrum B2.

  The tablet T in the standing posture falls down to the flat posture by the first contact with the contact member 62, or falls into the flat posture while pressing the contact member 62. When the tablet T in the standing posture falls down and the pressing force against the contact member 62 by the tablet T disappears, the contact member 62 rotates downward and swings around the fulcrum B2, and then stops in a few seconds and is in an initial state (see FIG. 10). In this way, the tablets T in the standing posture are corrected to a flat posture in the middle of conveyance, and only the tablets T in the flat posture are aligned and supplied to the tablet printing apparatus in the subsequent process.

  In addition, when the tablet T in the standing posture and the contact member 62 are in contact with each other, the posture of the tablet T in the standing posture is basically corrected to a flat posture. It may not fall over. Even in this case, the tablet T that does not fall down moves along the slope M3 of the contact member 62 while pushing the contact member 62. As a result, the tablet T in the standing posture is removed from the transport belt 51 by the contact member 62 and falls to the transport unit 23.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment. That is, a contact member 62 is provided at a position that does not contact the tablet T in the normal posture on the transport belt 51 but contacts the tablet T in the abnormal posture on the transport belt 51, and the contact member 62 has the fulcrum B2 as the rotation center. It is possible to shake. Thereby, since the tablet T in the abnormal posture on the transport belt 51 hits the contact member 62, the posture of the tablet T in the abnormal posture can be corrected or the tablet T in the abnormal posture can be eliminated. . Further, since the contact member 62 moves and escapes from the tablet T due to the pressing force that the tablet T in an abnormal posture contacts the contact member 62 and presses the contact member 62, the clogging of the tablet T by the contact member 62 is also suppressed. It becomes possible. In this way, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the conveyance efficiency of the tablet T.

  The contact member 62 and the counterweight 61c do not necessarily have to be balanced. By changing the position of the counterweight 61c (distance from the fulcrum) according to the weight of the tablet T, the resistance to the tablet T can be adjusted. Thereby, even if the weight of the tablet T is changed due to the change of the product type, the appropriate resistance can be obtained. Further, even if the size of the tablet T changes, the resistance can be adjusted by adjusting the height position of the contact member 62 by providing a stopper below the end of the support member 61b on the contact member 62 side. Moreover, it is also possible to exchange the tablet contact device 60 in accordance with the type change.

(Modification)
A modification of the contact member 62 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 12, the transport direction A1 is a direction from the bottom of the paper to the top of the paper.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in the modification of the contact member 62 according to the third embodiment, the contact member 62 is formed in a symmetrical shape such as a conical shape, and the apex side end of the contact member 62 is formed. It is fixed to the support member 61b. For this reason, the contact member 62 has the slope M4 which inclines toward the support member 61b. Thereby, it becomes possible to guide the tablet T in an abnormal posture to the alignment member 21 a side by the contact member 62.

  Also in this modification, the same effect as the third embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the force in the lateral direction is applied to the tablet T by the contact member 62, it becomes easier to correct the posture of the tablet T, and the tablet T in an abnormal posture is guided to the alignment member 21a side by the contact member 62. Therefore, the supply rate of the tablet T can be increased.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the contact member 62 has a slope M3 that extends in the transport direction A1 and curves to the opposite side of the alignment member 21a, and the surface facing the transport belt 51 is a slope M4. Combinations having such slopes are also possible.

  Further, the conical contact member 62 can be provided at the end of the support member 61b in the opposite manner to that described above. In this case, since the tablet T in the abnormal posture is guided to the transport unit 23 side by the contact member 32, the tablet T in the abnormal posture can be positively excluded. Moreover, the shape of the contact member 62 is not specifically limited, For example, you may form in a biconic shape. In this case, the removal and alignment of the tablets T in an abnormal posture can be performed with a good balance.

(Fourth embodiment)
A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, a tablet printing apparatus 1A including the tablet conveyance device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the overlapping parts with the first embodiment will be omitted. In addition to the first embodiment, the tablet conveyance device 1 according to the second or third embodiment can be applied to the tablet printing device 1A.

(Basic configuration)
As illustrated in FIG. 13, the tablet printing apparatus 1 </ b> A according to the fourth embodiment includes a tablet conveyance apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, a delivery apparatus 71, two conveyance apparatuses 72, and two printing apparatuses 73. The housing device 74 and the control device 75 are provided.

  Here, the two conveying devices 72 have basically the same structure, and the two printing devices 73 have basically the same structure. Since the two transfer devices 72 have a vertical positional relationship, the upper transfer device 72 is the first transfer device 72 and the lower transfer device 72 is the second transfer device 72. Similarly, the upper printing device 73 corresponding to the first conveyance device 72 is referred to as a first printing device 73, and the lower printing device 73 corresponding to the second conveyance device 72 is referred to as a second printing device 73. . In addition, regarding the two conveyance devices 72 and the two printing devices 73, only the first conveyance device 72 and the first printing device 73 will be described for the sake of simplification.

  The delivery device 71 sucks and receives the tablets T that are aligned and transported as in the first embodiment by the tablet transport device 1, and transports the tablets T while maintaining the rows of the tablets T. It is passed to the transport device 72. As this delivery device 71, for example, a belt conveyance mechanism or the like can be used.

  The first transport device 72 includes a transport belt 72a, a drive pulley 72b, and a driven pulley 72c. The conveyor belt 72a is formed in an endless shape, and is stretched over the driving pulley 72b and the driven pulley 72c. The drive pulley 72b is connected to a motor (not shown) serving as a drive source. The first transport device 72 receives the tablet T supplied from the delivery device 71 on the transport belt 72a, and sucks and holds the tablet T on the transport belt 72a. The first conveying device 72 rotates the conveying belt 72a together with the driven pulley 72c by the rotation of the driving pulley 72b, and conveys the tablet T on the conveying belt 72a in the direction of the thick black arrow in FIG. The second transport device 72 has the same structure as the first transport device 72.

  The first transfer device 72 and the second transfer device 72 are arranged vertically so that a part of them overlaps. For this reason, the second transport device 72 transports the tablets T supplied from the first transport device 72, that is, tablets T that are released from being held by the transport belt 72a and dropped after printing by the first printing device 73. Received by belt 72a. The first transport device 72 releases the holding of the tablet T when the tablet T on the transport belt 72a reaches a desired position, for example, the vicinity of the end of the first transport device 72 on the driven pulley 72c side. To do.

  The first printing device 73 grasps the position of the tablet T on the transport belt 72a by a detector (not shown) such as a sensor or a camera, and identifies information (for example, the tablet T based on the position information or the printing information). Print characters and symbols). The first printing apparatus 73 includes, for example, an ink jet type print head (not shown) that discharges ink such as edible ink, and prints on the tablet T by the print head. As the print head, for example, various ink jet print heads having drive elements such as piezoelectric elements, heating elements, or magnetostrictive elements can be used. The second printing device 73 has the same structure as the first printing device 73.

  The accommodation device 74 is provided at the end of the second transport device 72, for example, the end of the second transport device 72 on the driven pulley 72c side. The storage device 74 is configured to receive and collect a tablet T that is released from being held by the transport belt 72a and dropped after printing by the second printing device 73. The second transport device 72 releases the holding of the tablet T when the tablet T on the transport belt 72a reaches a desired position, for example, the vicinity of the end of the second transport device 72 on the driven pulley 72c side. To do.

  The control device 75 includes a microcomputer that centrally controls each unit and a storage unit (none of which is shown) that stores processing information and various programs. The control device 75 also includes the control device 40 according to the first embodiment. The control device 75 controls the tablet conveyance device 1, the delivery device 71, each conveyance device 72, and each printing device 73 based on various information and various programs. The storage unit stores print patterns such as characters and symbols to be printed on the tablets T, print data including print positions on the tablets T such as characters and symbols, belt moving speed information, and the like.

(Printing process)
Next, a printing process (printing process) performed by the tablet printing apparatus 1A will be briefly described.

  First, various information such as print data required for printing is stored in the storage unit of the control device 75. In addition, a large number of tablets T to be printed are placed in the hopper 11 of the supply device 10 of the tablet conveying device 1. When the tablet printing device 1A is driven, the tablet transport device 1 transports and aligns the tablets T as in the first embodiment. The tablets T aligned by the tablet conveying device 1 are received by the delivery device 71, conveyed while the alignment state is maintained, and supplied to the first conveying device 72. The tablet T supplied to the first transport device 72 is transported by the first transport device 72 and printed by the first printing device 73. Thereafter, the printed tablets T are transported by the first transport device 72 and supplied from the first transport device 72 to the second transport device 72 at a desired position. The tablets T supplied to the second transport device 72 are transported by the second transport device 72 and printed by the second printing device 73. Thereafter, the printed tablet T is transported by the second transport device 72 and is collected by the storage device 74 at a desired position.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, by using the tablet conveyance device 1, it becomes possible to align only the tablets T in a normal posture and supply them to the first conveyance device 72, so that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of printing defects in the tablet printing device 1A. be able to.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above-described embodiments, it is exemplified that the tablets T are transported in two rows, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of rows may be one row, three rows, four rows or more, and is particularly limited. It is not something. Further, the number of the conveyor belts 51 is not particularly limited.

  Moreover, in each above-mentioned embodiment, although the number and shape of each contact member 32 and 62 were illustrated, the number and shape of those contact members 32 and 62 are not specifically limited, either. For example, it is possible to arrange a plurality of contact members 32 in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction A1 (as an example, a direction orthogonal), and the shape of the contact member 32 at this time may be various, such as a sphere, a cylinder, and a prism The shape can be used. By using a plurality of contact members 32 and 62, the opportunity (chance) for correcting or eliminating the posture of the tablet T is increased, and the tablet T in a normal posture can be reliably conveyed.

  In the above-described embodiments, when the contact members 32 and 62 are disposed obliquely with respect to the transport direction A1, the force in the lateral direction is applied to the tablet T by the contact members 32 and 62, so that the posture can be more easily corrected. Become. Further, when the contact members 32 and 62 are inclined so that the contact members 32 and 62 guide the tablets T in the abnormal posture on the transport belt 51 toward the transport unit 23, the tablets T in the abnormal posture can be easily removed. On the contrary, when the tablets T in the abnormal posture on the conveying belt 51 are tilted so as to be guided toward the alignment members 21a and 22a by the contact members 32 and 62, the supply rate of the tablets T can be easily increased. Therefore, if the upstream contact members 32 and 62 are slanted for alignment and the downstream contact members 32 and 62 are slanted for exclusion, the posture of the tablet T is not corrected by the first contact members 32 and 62. Even if it remains, it can be eliminated by the contact members 32 and 62 on the downstream side. Needless to say, a plurality of contact members 32 and 62 may be arranged in the same direction, or may be alternately inclined, and the combination thereof is free.

  Moreover, in each above-mentioned embodiment, although arrange | positioning the contact members 32 and 62 horizontally was illustrated, it is not restricted to this, It is also possible to arrange | position in states other than horizontal. In this case, the same effects as those of the second embodiment described above can be obtained. Therefore, as described above, it is possible to incline the contact members 32 and 62 both in the conveyance direction A1 of the tablet T and in the vertical direction with respect to the conveyance belt 51, or to have an inclined slope. You may combine. In other words, it has a direction that intersects the conveyance direction A1 of the tablet T, for example, an inclined surface that inclines along the conveyance direction A1 of the tablet T, and an inclined surface that inclines along the direction perpendicular to the conveyance belt 51.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the contact members 32 and 62 are provided at positions where they do not come into contact with the tablets T in the normal posture on the transport belt 51. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In order not to damage the tablet T, it is better not to contact the contact members 32 and 62 with the tablet T as much as possible. However, when the damage to the tablet T does not matter much, the tablet T may be brought into contact with the tablet T in a normal posture. In the case of the tablet T in the normal posture, even if the contact members 32 and 62 come into contact with the tablet T in the normal posture, the normal posture is changed to the abnormal posture because the tablet T is not unstable like the abnormal posture. In other words, the contact members 32 and 62 do not interfere with the conveyance.

  In the first embodiment, the swaying direction of the contact member 32 is exemplified as the direction along the transport direction A1, and in the third embodiment, the swaying direction of the contact member 62 is along the vertical direction. Although illustrated as a direction, it is not restricted to this, Both may be another direction, for example, it is good also as a direction along the direction (for example, orthogonal direction) which cross | intersects conveyance direction A1.

  In the first embodiment described above, the contact member 32 is exemplified as a simple pendulum. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a physical pendulum (substance pendulum) may be used. Further, the contact member 32 may be rotated around the axis. For example, the contact member 32 may be rotated with the central axis extending in the extending direction of the contact member 32 as the rotation axis. Similarly, the contact member 62 may be rotated around the axis. For example, the contact member 62 may be rotated with the central axis extending in the extending direction of the support member 61b as the rotation axis. By making the contact members 32 and 62 rotatable in this way, it is possible to reduce the impact on the tablet T due to the rotation of the contact point, and to prevent the tablet T from being damaged.

  Further, a stopper may be provided so that the contact member 32 does not swing to the upstream side in the transport direction A1 from the vertical position with respect to the transport belt 51. By suppressing the swinging motion of the contact member 32 to the upstream side, the return of the contact member 32 to the initial position can be accelerated. Moreover, the tablet T is not pinched between the conveyance belt 51 and biting when the contact member 32 is swung to the upstream side. With such a stopper, the initial position of the contact member 32 may be shifted downstream in the transport direction A1. You may adjust the height which the tablet T of a normal posture passes with this shift amount.

  The second support member 31c may be a flexible string or chain, or may be a wire having a certain degree of rigidity. In the case where the second support member 31c is a rigid member, the first support member 31b may be rotatably supported to serve as a fulcrum for the contact member 32 to swing.

  Here, as the above-mentioned tablet, a tablet used for medicine, food and drink, washing, industrial use or fragrance can be included. Examples of the tablet include a naked tablet (plain tablet), a sugar-coated tablet, a film-coated tablet, an enteric tablet, a gelatin-encapsulated tablet, a multilayer tablet, and a dry-coated tablet. Furthermore, various capsule tablets such as hard capsules and soft capsules can be included in the tablets. In addition, the tablet has various shapes such as a disk shape, a lens shape, a triangle shape, and an oval shape.

  In addition, when the tablet to be printed is for medical use or food and drink, edible ink is suitable as the ink to be used. As the edible ink, any of synthetic dye ink, natural dye ink, dye ink, and pigment ink may be used.

  As mentioned above, although some embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tablet conveyance apparatus 1A Tablet printing apparatus 31 Support part 32 Contact member 51 Conveyance belt 61 Support part 62 Contact member 73 Printing apparatus B1 Support point B2 Support point M1 Inclination M2 Inclination M3 Inclination M4 Inclination T Tablet

Claims (5)

A transport belt for transporting tablets;
A contact member provided at a position in contact with the tablet in an abnormal posture on the transport belt;
A support portion for supporting the contact member so that the contact member can swing around a fulcrum as a rotation center;
A tablet conveying device comprising:   The tablet conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is supported by the support portion so as to swing along the conveyance direction of the tablet with the fulcrum as a rotation center.   The tablet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is supported by the support portion so as to swing along the vertical direction with the fulcrum as a rotation center.   The tablet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member has an inclined surface that is inclined along a direction that intersects a conveying direction of the tablet. A tablet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A printing device for printing on the tablets conveyed by the tablet conveying device;
A tablet printing apparatus comprising:

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