JP2019058221A - Tablet printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To reliably prevent an occurrence of a defective product attributed to a sidewise shift of tablets.SOLUTION: A tablet printing device 1 includes: a distribution unit 4 for distributing tablets to a plurality of rows; a first conveyer 5for conveying the tablets delivered from the distribution unit 4 in a plurality of rows; a first printer unit 7for performing printing on one surface of each tablet while the tablets are conveyed by the first conveyer 5; a roller (reversing unit) 50' provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the first conveyer 5for reversing the front and back of each tablet; a second conveyer 5for conveying the tablets delivered from the roller 50' in a plurality of rows; and a second printer unit 7for performing printing on the other surface of each tablet while the tablets are conveyed by the second conveyer 5. Sidewise shift regulation guides 101 and 102 for regulating sidewise shifts of the tablets are provided to the tablet delivery section from the distribution unit 4 to the first conveyer 5and the tablet delivery section from the roller 50' to the second conveyer 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tablet printing apparatus for printing tablets, and more particularly, to an improvement in structure for regulating lateral displacement of tablets.

  The applicant of the present invention has already proposed an apparatus as shown in JP 2013-13711 A as a tablet printing apparatus for printing on tablets. The tablet printing apparatus includes: a sorting unit having a plurality of grooves for sorting a plurality of tablets supplied from the hopper into a plurality of rows; and a first conveyor for conveying the tablets sorted by the sorting unit in a plurality of rows as they are From the first printer unit that performs printing on one side of each tablet during conveyance by the first conveyor, the inversion unit that inverts the front and back of each tablet on the downstream side of the conveyance direction of the first conveyor, and the inversion unit The printer includes a second conveyor for conveying the introduced tablets in a plurality of rows, and a second printer unit for printing on the other side of each tablet during conveyance by the second conveyor (in Paragraphs [0039] to [0040] and Figure 1).

  In the above-described conventional tablet printing apparatus, when delivering a tablet from the distribution unit to the first conveyor, or when delivering a tablet from the reversing unit to the second conveyor, on the first and second conveyors. The tablet may shift in position (lateral shift) in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction. If the tablet moves to the first and second printer sections in this state, the cause of generation of defective products such as printing defects become.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional circumstances, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is a tablet printing apparatus capable of reliably preventing the generation of defective products such as printing defects caused by lateral displacement of tablets. To provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, a tablet printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an introducing unit having an introducing groove into which a large number of supplied tablets are introduced, and each tablet delivered from the introducing unit. It has a conveyor having a conveyance path for conveying, and a printer unit for printing each tablet during conveyance by the conveyor. The conveyor is provided with a lateral deviation regulating guide which regulates lateral deviation of each tablet on the transport path.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the lateral deviation regulating guide is provided on the conveyor, lateral deviation of each tablet on the conveyance path can be regulated by the lateral deviation regulating guide, thereby causing the lateral deviation of the tablets. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of defective products such as defective printing.

  A tablet printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a sorting unit having a plurality of sorting grooves for sorting a large number of supplied tablets into a plurality of rows, and a plurality of rows of tablets transferred from the sorting unit. The printer includes a first conveyor having a plurality of first conveyance paths to be conveyed as it is, and a first printer unit that performs printing on one side of each tablet during conveyance by the first conveyor. The first conveyor is provided with a first lateral deviation control guide which regulates lateral deviation of each tablet on the first conveyance path.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the first lateral deviation regulating guide is provided on the first conveyor, lateral deviation of each tablet on the first conveyance path is regulated by the first lateral deviation regulating guide. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of defective products such as printing defects caused by lateral displacement of tablets.

  In the present invention, the first anti-slip guide is disposed at the delivery portion from the distribution unit to the first conveyor.

  In the present invention, the first lateral deviation regulating guide abuts the laterally displaced tablet on the first conveyance path to move the tablet toward the center of the conveyance path. Thus, lateral displacement of the tablet on the first transport path can be eliminated, and the tablets can be aligned along the first transport path.

  In the present invention, the first lateral deviation regulating guide is disposed above the first conveyance path, and has a plurality of guide grooves corresponding to the first conveyance path, and the opening of the upstream end of each guide groove The width is formed wide and gradually narrowed toward the downstream side, and the opening width at the downstream end is set to a size corresponding to the width dimension of the tablet.

  In the present invention, a reversing portion provided downstream of the first conveyor in the transport direction and reversing the front and back of each tablet, and a plurality of second transports transporting each tablet delivered from the reversing portion as it is in a plurality of rows The second conveyor further includes a second conveyor having a path, and a second printer unit that performs printing on the other side of each tablet during conveyance by the second conveyor. The second conveyor includes the second conveyor. A second anti-slip control guide is provided to limit the side-slip of each tablet on the road.

  In the present invention, the second anti-slip guide is disposed at the delivery portion from the reversing unit to the second conveyor.

  In the present invention, the second lateral deviation regulating guide abuts the laterally displaced tablet on the second transport path, thereby moving the tablet to the center side of the transport path. Thereby, lateral displacement of the tablet on the second transport path can be eliminated, and the tablets can be aligned along the second transport path.

  In the present invention, the second lateral deviation regulating guide is disposed above the second conveyance path, and has a plurality of guide grooves corresponding to the second conveyance path, and the opening of the upstream end of each guide groove The width is formed wide and gradually narrowed toward the downstream side, and the opening width at the downstream end is set to a size corresponding to the width dimension of the tablet.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the (first) conveyor is provided with the (first) side slip restriction guide, the side slip restriction guide guides the lateral slip of each tablet on the (first) conveyance path. It can be regulated, and thereby it is possible to reliably prevent the generation of defective products such as printing defects caused by lateral displacement of tablets.

FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of a tablet printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the 1st side shift control guide provided in the 1st conveyance conveyer of the tablet printing device (Drawing 1). FIG. 3 is a front view of the first lateral deviation regulating guide (FIG. 2) viewed from the upstream side in the transport direction, corresponding to a view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2, together with the cross section of the first transport conveyor It shows. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, and is a diagram for describing the operation and effect of the first anti-slip guide (FIG. 2) in time series; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3 and is a diagram for explaining the operation and effect of the first anti-slip guide (FIG. 2) in time series with FIG. 4; It is the plane schematic of the drying conveyor in the said tablet printing apparatus (FIG. 1). It is a front schematic diagram of the 2nd conveyance conveyer and drying conveyor in the tablet printing device (Drawing 1). It is a figure for demonstrating the mode at the time of the drying conveyor having reverse | inverted in FIG.

Hereinafter, a tablet printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.
1 to 8 are views for explaining a tablet printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. For convenience of illustration, FIG. 1 shows a tablet omitted, and FIG. 6 shows only a portion of the tablet on the transport surface of the drying conveyor. In addition, although a biconvex lens type thing is shown as an example of a tablet here, as a tablet, it is applicable also to the irregular shaped tablet containing an oval etc. besides a disk shape.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tablet printing apparatus 1 includes a hopper 2 for storing a large number of tablets, a supply conveyor 3 into which the tablets stored in the hopper 2 are introduced from a chute 20 at the bottom of the hopper, and a supply conveyor 3. A distribution unit (distribution section) 4 in which a plurality of distribution grooves for distributing the plurality of tablets in a plurality of rows are arranged in parallel in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. with each tablet is passed, each tablet during conveyance from the first conveyor (first conveyor) 5 ₁ conveyed in the arrow direction while maintaining each tablet in a plurality of rows, according to the first conveyor 5 ₁ first-in performing the first and the detection line sensor camera 6 ₁ for detecting the print on each tablet during conveyance on the basis of the detection data of each tablet detected by the first detection line sensor camera 6 ₁ It comprises click-jet printer (the first printer unit) 7 ₁ and the first inspection line sensor camera 8 ₁ for inspecting the printed state of each tablet according to the first inkjet printer unit _71.

The supply conveyor 3 is disposed in a direction intersecting with the paper surface of FIG. 1 (that is, while being gradually inclined downward from the back side to the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1). It is disposed along the paper surface (that is, gradually inclined downward from the left side to the right side in the figure). At the lower part of the distribution unit 4, a vibration feeder 4A is provided. The first conveyer 5 ₁ (the same applies to a _second conveyer 52 described later) is disposed along the plane of the drawing. First inkjet printer unit ₇₁ is provided retractably in the opening 70a ₁ formed in the front panel 10. First conveyor 5 _{1 (same} applies to the second conveyor 5 ₂ described later) is constituted by a plurality of belts arranged in parallel with each other with a predetermined gap therebetween in the width direction, each being transported The tablet is disposed across the gap between adjacent belts in the width direction, is supported from below by the belts on the left and right sides of the gap, and is sucked from below by a blower (not shown) at least at the upstream side. . First conveyor _{5 1,} together wound around the roller ₅₀ 1, 50 ₁ 'has a single or multiple idler. First conveyor 5 _first roller 50 ₁ '(reversing portion) is such to invert the front and back sides of each tablet of the first conveyor 5 onto ₁ passes to the second conveyor 5 ₂ below In order to suck the tablets in the reverse, a large number of suction holes are formed on the outer peripheral surface. Each suction hole is connected to a blower (not shown).

Tablet printing apparatus 1, the first is the disposed below the transport conveyor 5 ₁ and the front and back from the first conveyor 5 ₁ is passed to each tablet obtained by inverting each tablet passed to a plurality of rows ₂ second conveyor (second conveyor) 5 for conveying in the direction of the arrow while maintaining the second detection line sensor camera 6 ₂ for detecting each tablet during conveyance by the second conveyor 5 ₂ , each of the second ink-jet printer for printing on tablets (second printer unit) 7 ₂ being conveyed on the basis of the detection data of each tablet detected by the second detection line sensor camera 6, _second and a ₂ second inspection line sensor camera 8 for inspecting a printing state for each tablet 2 by the inkjet printer unit 7 _2.

The second ink-jet printer 7 ₂ is provided retractably in the opening 70a ₂ formed in the front panel 10. In addition, the front panel 10, a recess 30a is formed open, inside the concave portion 30a, first, the ink container 30 for supplying ink to the ₂ second inkjet printer _71, 7 accommodated It is done. In front of the second detection line sensor camera 6 ₂ and the second inspection line sensor camera _82, a mirror 60 for introducing an image of the tablets of the second conveyor 5 onto ₂ in each camera, 80 are provided respectively. Second conveyor _{5 2} together wound around the roller ₅₀ 2, 50 ₂ 'has a single or multiple idler. The second conveyor 5 ₂ rollers (reversing section) 50 2 _', to the front and back of each tablet of the second conveyor 5 on ₂ is again inverted to pass the drying conveyor 9 beneath, The outer peripheral surface is formed with a large number of suction holes for suctioning each tablet being inverted. Each suction hole is connected to a blower (not shown). The second lower span of conveyor 5 _2, the adsorption section 15 for attracting and holding from above is provided a tablet sides have been reversed during transport by the conveyor 5 ₂ of the second by rollers 50 2 _' ing. In the suction unit 15, a plurality of suction holes are formed in the width direction corresponding to each row of the _second conveyer 52, each suction hole is connected to a blower (not shown), and each tablet is It is sucked by these suction holes and held by suction.

The tablet printing apparatus 1 further includes a drying conveyor 9. The drying conveyor 9, first, second inkjet printer _71, 7 ₂ by such that each tablet printing on the front and back is applied is transferred from the second conveyor 5 ₂ via the suction unit 15 It has become. The drying conveyor 9 is wound around rollers 90 ₁ and 90 ₁ ′. The drying conveyor 9 carries out drying processing of the printing surface of each tablet while conveying each received tablet. The drying conveyor 9 is disposed to the second conveyor 5 ₂ below, a portion of which overlaps vertically with the second conveyor 5 _2. That is, drying rollers 90 ₁ located in the conveying direction upstream end of the conveyor 9 is disposed between the second conveyor ₅ the rollers ₅₀ 2 ₂ 50 ₂ '. In this example, a part of the drying conveyor 9 also overlaps with the suction unit 15.

Below the suction unit 15, defective product disposal boxes 200 and 201 are disposed. The suction unit 15 cancels the suction state of the tablet that has become a defective product such as a printing defect based on the inspection result obtained from the imaging data of the first and second inspection line sensor cameras 8 ₁ and 82 ₂ . Discard the lower defective product disposal box 200, 201. Here, the fact that two defective product discarding boxes are provided means that, in the event that the defective product is discarded to the defective product discarding box 200 on the upstream side in the transport direction, the defective product should be transported downstream in the transport direction. This is to make it possible to discard the defective product box 201. As a result, only non-defective tablets are introduced to the drying conveyor 9. Upon introduction of the tablet to the drying conveyor 9 when the tablet is moved to a position above the conveyance direction upstream end of the second conveyor 5 ₂ by drying conveyor 9, by releasing the attraction state by the suction unit 15 The tablets are to be delivered from the _second conveyor 52 to the drying conveyor 9.

In the vicinity of the roller 90 ₁ of dry conveyor 9 below the suction portion 15, further, another defective waste box 202 is disposed. The defective product discarding box 202 rotates the drying conveyer 9 in the reverse direction, for example, in the case where there is a possibility of discarding a defective product into the defective product discarding box 200 or 201 during unmanned operation of the apparatus. It is for discarding the defective products mixed up above (details will be described later).

The transfer part of the distribution unit 4 to the first conveyor 5 passing part to _1, and the first conveyor 5 _first roller (reversing section) 50 from 1 _'second conveyor 5 _2, first first, second lateral regulating guides 101, 102 for restricting the lateral displacement of the tablets in the conveying path of the conveyor 5 _first and second conveyor 5 ₂ are provided, respectively.

The details of the first and second lateral deviation regulating guides 101 and 102 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Since the second lateral deviation regulating guide 102 has the same configuration as the first lateral deviation regulating guide 101, only the first lateral deviation regulating guide 101 will be described here, but at the same time, the first conveyance also described configuration of the conveyor 5 _1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the _first conveyor 51 is constructed by arranging a plurality of (in this example, seven) belts 51 in parallel via a gap 51c in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3). ing. Each tablet T is disposed on the corresponding gap 51c, and is supported by the left and right belts 51. Therefore, each gap 51c constitutes a first conveyance path conveyor 5 ₁ each, in this example, six of the conveying path is provided. Further, in the same drawing, reference symbol CL indicates a center line of each transport path.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first lateral deviation regulating guide 101 has a guide main body 101A disposed in the width direction above the _first conveyer 51 (see FIG. 2). Guide body 101A has a plurality of corresponding respectively to the first conveyor _{5 1} of each gap 51c (i.e. the conveyance path) (in this example 6) has a guide groove 101B of. Each guide groove 101B extends in the longitudinal direction of each belt 51 of the _first conveyor 51 (that is, along each conveyor path of the _first conveyor 51) (see FIG. 2). The center line of each guide groove 101B coincides with the center line CL of each conveyance path of the _first conveyance conveyor 51.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each guide groove 101B is provided with a tapered groove 101b ₁ disposed on the upstream side (the lower side in FIG. 2, the front side in FIG. 3 and the left side in FIG. 4) (Figure 2 upper, 3 verso side, right side in FIG. 4) is disposed, and a continuously provided by the straight groove 101b ₂ Metropolitan the tapered groove 101b _1. Tapered groove 101b ₁ has an opening width of the upstream end is formed wide, it is formed gradually narrower toward the downstream side. Opening width of the straight groove 101b _2, the size corresponding to the width of the tablet T (i.e., width slightly greater than the width of the tablet T) is set to. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a through hole 101a for inserting a mounting screw is formed at one end in the width direction of the guide main body 101B. On the other hand, a base member 55 is disposed below the _first conveyor 51, and a through hole 55a for inserting a mounting screw is similarly formed at one end of the base member 55. The through holes 101a and 55a are aligned, and the guide body 101B is screwed and fixed to the base member 55 by mounting screws.

Now, each tablet T from the sorting unit 4 on the upstream side are transferred to the first conveyor 5 _1, with respect to the first lateral regulating guides 101, and was located in the position shown in FIG. 4 . As shown in the figure, the tablet T at the top and the tablet T at the fifth from the top are disposed at positions corresponding to the center lines CL of the corresponding guide grooves 101B respectively, The fourth to fourth tablets T are disposed at positions slightly offset from the respective center lines CL of the corresponding guide grooves 101B.

In such a case, each tablet T disposed at a position shifted from the center line CL of the guide groove 101B contacts the tapered surface of the tapered groove 101b ₁ of the guide groove 101B during conveyance by the _first conveyer 51. it allows gradually moved toward the center line CL side of the guide groove 101B (i.e. conveyance path center side), passing through the straight groove 101b ₂ (see FIG. 5). Thus, lateral displacement of the tablets T on the transport path of the _first transport conveyor 51 can be eliminated, and the occurrence of lateral displacement on the downstream side of each guide groove 101B can be prevented.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the drying conveyor 9 is made of, for example, a mesh belt made of a synthetic resin, and a large number of through holes 9A ₀ (only a part of which is shown in the same drawing) It is formed. Below the upper span of the drying conveyor 9, as shown in FIG. 7, a blower unit 120 is provided. Blowing unit 120 is for through the through-holes 9A ₀ for each tablet T on the transport surface 9A of the drying conveyor 9 blowing blower / warm air. The blower unit 120 is connected to a blower (not shown). The blower unit 120 may be disposed over the entire length of the drying conveyor 9 in the transport direction, or may be disposed at a part thereof. Also, depending on the type of tablet, etc., it may be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of guide rails 150, 151 are disposed along the transport direction at both ends in the width direction of the transport surface 9A of the drying conveyor 9 with a slight gap upward from the transport surface 9A. ing. These guide rails 150, 151 prevent the tablets T on the transport surface 9A of the drying conveyor 9 from falling downward from the transport surface 9A, and guide the movement of the tablets T along the transport direction. The height is as high as, or higher than, the thickness of the tablet T. Further, the roller 90 ₁ of dry conveyor 9, the output shaft 210a of servo motor 210 is drivingly connected via a belt or the like (not shown). An output shaft 210a of the servomotor 210 is enabled reverse rotation, during forward rotation, the tablets T in the drying conveyor 9 conveys the side of the downstream side of the roller 90 1 _', at the time of reverse rotation, tablets on drying conveyor 9 conveying the T on the side of the upstream side of the roller 90 _1.

Next, the operation and effects of the present embodiment will be described while describing the operation of the tablet printing apparatus 1 described above.
A large number of tablets T contained in the hopper 2 (FIG. 1) are supplied from the chute 20 through the supply conveyor 3 to the upstream end of the distribution unit 4. Each tablet T supplied to the distribution unit 4 starts to move downstream along the inclination of the distribution unit 4 under the action of the vibration feeder 4A. Each tablet T is distributed to the corresponding distribution grooves (not shown) while moving the distribution unit 4, and moves to the downstream side along each distribution groove 40.

Next, each tablet T, together with the passed from the distribution unit 4 to the first conveyor 5 _1, subjected to processing by the first lateral regulating guides 101 during delivery (FIG. 2, FIG. 3).

Now, each tablet T transferred from the distributing unit 4 to the first conveyor 5 _1, with respect to the first lateral regulating guides 101, and was located in the position shown in FIG. From this state, when the tablet T is transported in the transport direction downstream side (right side in FIG. 4) by the first conveyor 5 _1, of each tablet T, the respective center line CL of each corresponding guide groove 101B The tablets T (the second to fourth and sixth tablets T from the top in the same figure) disposed at the shifted position are gradually brought into contact with the tapered surface of the tapered groove 101b ₁ of the guide groove 101B, thereby gradually guiding the guide groove It is moved toward the center line CL side (that is, the conveyance path center side) of 101 B and passes through the straight groove 101 b ₂ (see FIG. 5). Thus, after passing through the first lateral regulating guides 101 can eliminate the lateral deviation of the tablet T in the first conveyor 5 _first transport path, so that all the tablets T first conveyor 5 ₁ It can be aligned along each corresponding transport path.

Each tablet T introduced into the first conveyor 5 ₁ while being conveyed to the downstream side maintaining each column in the width direction, subjected to printing in a predetermined position by the first inkjet printer unit 7 ₁ . At this time, as described above, by the action of the first lateral regulating guides 101, since all of the tablets T are aligned along a first corresponding respective conveying path of conveyor 5 _1, each tablet T Printing can be performed at a predetermined position.

Each tablet T which printing is completed, the front and back are inverted by the first conveyor 5 _first roller 50 1 _', received together passed to the second conveyor 5 ₂ below, the during delivery 2 Processing by the lateral deviation control guide 102 of FIG. The processing by the second anti-slip control guide 102 is the same as that by the first anti-slip control guide 101, whereby the second transport deviation from the roller 50 ₁ ′ of the _first transport conveyor 51 is achieved. It can be eliminated lateral deviation of the tablet T generated on the conveyor 5 _2.

Each tablet T which is delivered to the second conveyor 5 ₂ together are conveyed to the downstream side maintaining each column in the width direction, the print process to a predetermined position by the second ink jet printer 7 ₂ receive. At this time, as described above, by the action of the second lateral regulating guides 102, since all of the tablets T are aligned along a second corresponding respective conveying path of the conveyor 5 _2, each tablet T Printing can be performed at a predetermined position. Each tablet T which printing is completed, the second conveyor 5 and inverted front and back again by the _second roller 50 2 _', after being conveyed while being sucked by the suction unit 15, below the drying conveyor 9 be introduced.

  The introduction to the drying conveyor 9 is performed by releasing the suction state by the adsorption unit 15 when each tablet T sucked and conveyed by the adsorption unit 15 moves to a position above the upstream end of the drying conveyor 9 . Each tablet T introduced into the drying conveyor 9 is conveyed downstream by the blowing / warm air from the blowing unit 120, whereby the printing surface is dried.

On the other hand, although the inspection of the printing surface of the tablet T is performed based on the imaging data of the first and second inspection line sensor cameras 8 ₁ and 82 ₂ , when a defective product such as a printing failure occurs The defective product T '(FIG. 7) is dropped below the defective product discarding box 200 by releasing the suctioned state by the adsorbing unit 15 above the defective product discarding box 200 while being transported by the adsorbing unit 15. Discarded to 200. If the defective product T 'can not be dropped above the defective product box 200 and the defective product T' should be discarded, the suction state by the suction unit 15 is released again above the defective product discarding box 201. By doing this, the defective product T ′ is discarded and collected in the defective product box 201 (see FIG. 7). Although not shown, a sensor for detecting the drop of the defective product T ′ is provided above the defective product discarding boxes 200 and 201.

  When the tablet printing apparatus 1 is set to the unmanned operation mode and the unmanned operation is being performed, the servomotor 210 may fail to discard the defective product T ′ in the defective product discarding box 201. By reversely moving (FIG. 6) and moving the drying conveyor 9 in the reverse direction (moving distance is, for example, the conveyor length + α), all the tablets on the transport surface 9A of the drying conveyor 9 are rejected (See Figure 8). Thereby, even if defective product T 'is mixed in the conveyance surface 9A of the drying conveyor 9 at the time of defective product discarding error, defective product T' is reliably prevented from being transported downstream as good product. it can.

According such a present embodiment, it is provided with the first lateral regulating guides 101 to the delivery portion from the distribution unit 4 to the first conveyor 5 _1, at first the conveying path of the conveyor 5 ₁ The lateral displacement of the tablet T can be regulated, and the generation of defective products such as printing defects resulting from this can be reliably prevented. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment. Since the second lateral regulating guides 102 provided from the first conveyor 5 _first roller 50 1 _'to the delivery portion of the second to the conveyor 5 _2, in the second the transport path of the conveyor 5 ₂ Lateral displacement of the tablet T can be regulated, and generation of defective products such as printing defects resulting from this can be reliably prevented. In this way, it is possible to reliably prevent the generation of defective products such as printing defects caused by lateral displacement of the tablet T.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention includes various modifications. The following are some examples of variations.

First Modification
Although the tablet printing apparatus which prints on the front and back of a tablet was demonstrated to the example in the said Example, this invention is applicable similarly to the tablet printing apparatus which prints only on any one side of a tablet. In that case, by omitting the second conveyor 5 ₂ may be the drying conveyor 9 so disposed in the first conveyor 5 ₁ below.

Second Modified Example
Although the said Example showed the example using the distribution unit 4 which has the some distribution groove 40 in order to distribute the supplied many tablet to multiple rows, the application of this invention is not limited to this. Instead of the distribution unit 4, an introduction part (not shown) having one introduction groove may be provided. In this case, a large number of supplied tablets are delivered to a conveyer (conveyor) in a state of being introduced into one introduction groove of the introduction unit and held in a line without being divided into a plurality of rows. The conveyer is composed of two belts arranged side by side with a predetermined gap, and the tablets delivered from the introduction part are disposed on the gap and supported by the left and right belts.

  A lateral deviation regulation guide is provided at the delivery part from the introduction part to the transport conveyor. At this time, since the introduction groove of the introduction part is one and the gap of the conveyer is one, the lateral deviation control guide provided on the conveyer is formed such that the opening width on the upstream side is wide and goes downstream. Therefore, it has one guide groove (see guide groove 101B in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) which is formed to be gradually narrower and the opening width at the downstream end has a size corresponding to the width dimension of the tablet. .

  Even in such a modification, since there is a possibility that lateral displacement of tablets occurs on the transport path of the transport conveyor, the effect of the lateral displacement control guide can be expected.

<Other Modifications>
The embodiments and the modifications described above should be considered in all respects as merely illustrative of the present invention and not limiting. Without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present invention, those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates will be able, given the above teachings, even if not explicitly stated herein. Various modifications and other embodiments can be constructed which adopt the principle of.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a tablet printing apparatus that is required to prevent the occurrence of defective products such as printing defects caused by lateral displacement of tablets.

1: Tablet printing device

4: Distribution unit (distribution unit)
40: Distribution groove

5 ₁ : First conveyor (first conveyor)
50 ₁ ': Roller (reverse part)
5 ₂ : Second conveyor (second conveyor)

7 ₁ ; First inkjet printer unit (first printer unit)
7 ₂ : Second inkjet printer unit (second printer unit)

101: First lateral deviation control guide 102: Second lateral deviation control guide

T, T ₁ , T ₂ : Tablet T ': Defective product

JP 2013-13711 A (see paragraphs [0039] to [0040] and FIG. 1)

Claims (9)

A tablet printing device,
An introduction part having an introduction groove into which a large number of supplied tablets are introduced;
A conveyor having a transport path for transporting each tablet received from the introduction unit;
A printer unit for printing each tablet during conveyance by the conveyor;
The conveyor is provided with a lateral deviation regulating guide which regulates lateral deviation of each tablet on the conveyance path.
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that. A tablet printing device,
A distribution unit having a plurality of distribution grooves for distributing a large number of supplied tablets into a plurality of rows;
A first conveyor having a plurality of first conveyance paths for conveying the tablets received from the distribution unit in a plurality of rows in a row;
A first printer unit that performs printing on one side of each tablet during conveyance by the first conveyor;
The first conveyor is provided with a first lateral deviation regulating guide which regulates lateral deviation of each tablet on the first conveyance path.
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that. In claim 2,
The first lateral deviation regulating guide is disposed at a delivery portion from the distribution unit to the first conveyor.
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that. In claim 2,
The first lateral deviation regulating guide moves the tablet to the center side of the conveyance path by abutting on the laterally displaced tablet on the first conveyance path.
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that. In claim 4,
The first lateral deviation regulating guide is disposed above the first conveyance path, and has a plurality of guide grooves corresponding to the first conveyance path, and an opening of the upstream end of each of the guide grooves The width is formed wide and gradually narrowed toward the downstream side, and the opening width at the downstream end is set to a size corresponding to the width dimension of the tablet,
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that. In claim 2,
A reversing portion provided downstream of the first conveyor in the transport direction, for reversing the front and back of each tablet, and a plurality of second transport paths for transporting each tablet received from the reversing portion in a plurality of rows And a second printer unit that performs printing on the other side of each tablet while being conveyed by the second conveyor.
The second conveyor is provided with a second lateral deviation control guide which regulates lateral deviation of each tablet on the second conveyance path.
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that. In claim 6,
The second lateral deviation regulating guide is disposed at a delivery portion from the reversing portion to the second conveyor.
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that. In claim 6,
The second lateral deviation regulating guide moves the tablet to the center side of the conveyance path by abutting on the laterally displaced tablet on the second conveyance path.
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that. In claim 8,
The second lateral deviation regulating guide is disposed above the second transport path, and has a plurality of guide grooves corresponding to the second transport path, and the opening of the upstream end of each of the guide grooves The width is formed wide and gradually narrowed toward the downstream side, and the opening width at the downstream end is set to a size corresponding to the width dimension of the tablet,
A tablet printing apparatus characterized in that.

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