JP2020019140A - Method of manufacturing cup and manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To cut off a remaining portion of a sheet remaining in an opening of a cup simply and reliably in the case of forming the cup having a volume from the sheet.SOLUTION: A method of manufacturing a cup according to the present invention comprising the steps of a molding step of molding a cup having a volume from a sheet, and a step of applying a laser beam to the region of a peripheral wall of the cup projecting from the remainder of the sheet, in a direction intersecting the peripheral wall, so as to cut out the remainder of the sheet from the cup.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a cup having a volume from a sheet and an apparatus for producing such a cup.

  In manufacturing pharmaceutical preparations for oral administration, one of the methods used is to add excipients, binders, additives such as disintegrants, etc. to the active ingredient, compress the homogenized powder, and then apply light. Some tablets are coated with a film coating in consideration of quality deterioration or patient use. However, depending on the type of the active ingredient, it may be difficult to form tablets having sufficient hardness to be distributed or formulated and administered in the market. The quality of the tablet may be impaired because a part of the molded body is damaged by the impact. In addition, the solvent used for film coating may affect the stability of the active ingredient.

  Examples of the formulation other than the tablet include a capsule. Capsules are produced, for example, by filling a pre-formed capsule with the powder of the active ingredient and sealing it (see Patent Document 1 below). However, in principle, capsules have only a standard and uniform shape and a standardized size, and it is difficult to obtain a characteristic appearance like a tablet. Furthermore, some capsules can be easily opened, and the contents of the capsule can be replaced.

  On the other hand, there is an embodiment in which a powder filled in a cup formed of a thermoplastic film is compressed with a punch and then sealed (see Patent Document 2 below).

  Alternatively, there is also an embodiment in which a tablet containing an active ingredient is inserted between two gelatin sheets, and the two sheets are adhered to each other, and then punched into a formulation using a mold (see Patent Document below). 3). In order to produce this preparation, it is necessary to produce tablets in advance using another device. Gelatin is an animal protein, although widely used in capsules, and in recent years, hypromellose has been used as an alternative from the viewpoint of BSE infection.

JP-A-10-192370 Japanese Patent No. 4417246 JP 2009-196958 A

  When forming a cup having a volume from a sheet, for example, when forming a cup 1 having a shape in which the peripheral wall 11 stands upright from the bottom wall 12 as shown in FIG. Remains. Therefore, it is necessary to cut off the remaining portion 13 of the sheet from the cup 1.

  The remaining portion 13 is bent outward from the edge of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1. As a typical method for cutting off the remaining portion 13 from the cup 1, as shown in FIG. 34, a laser whose optical axis is directed from a direction substantially perpendicular to the remaining portion 13, that is, a direction substantially parallel to the peripheral wall 12. It is conceivable to irradiate the light L to the remaining portion 13. However, in order not to leave extra small pieces of the sheet in the cup 1, it is necessary to precisely irradiate the boundary between the remaining portion 13 and the peripheral wall 11 with the laser beam L, and it is difficult to control such an irradiation position. The degree is high.

  The present invention has been made for the first time by focusing on the above-described problem, and it is an object of the present invention to easily and reliably cut off a remaining portion of a sheet remaining in an opening of a cup when forming a cup having a volume from the sheet. The purpose of the period.

  The method of manufacturing a cup according to the present invention includes a molding step of molding a cup having a volume from a sheet, and a step of forming a peripheral wall of the cup projecting from the remainder of the sheet so as to cut out the remainder of the sheet from the cup. And a processing step of irradiating a laser beam from a direction intersecting with the laser beam.

  According to such a method, the remaining portion of the sheet can be reliably removed from the cup without strictly controlling the irradiation position of the laser beam on the sheet including the cup.

  In the processing step, it is preferable to irradiate a laser beam having an optical axis directed in a direction intersecting a direction in which the rotation axis extends while rotating the sheet including the cup.

  In the forming step, for example, the sheet having a capacity is protruded from the sheet by moving the sheet relatively to the male mold and pressing the sheet against the male mold.

  An apparatus for manufacturing a cup according to the present invention includes a molding unit for molding a cup having a volume from a sheet, and a peripheral wall portion of the cup protruding from the remainder of the sheet to cut off the remainder of the sheet from the cup. And a processing unit for irradiating a laser beam from a direction crossing the laser beam.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when shaping the cup which has a volume from a sheet | seat, the remaining part of the sheet | seat remaining in the opening part of the said cup can be cut off easily and reliably.

The schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary of the manufacturing method of the cup and formulation of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an outline of a manufacturing method of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire view of the cup and the manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cup forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a cup forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a cup forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a cup forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a cup forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a cup forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a powder compression unit and an insertion unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a powder compression unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a powder compression unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an insertion unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an insertion unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cup processing unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a cup processing unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a cup processing unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a lid forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a lid forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a lid forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a lid forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a lid forming unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a lid processing unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a lid processing unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a crimping unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a crimping unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a crimping unit of the manufacturing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second insertion unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a second insertion unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a second insertion unit of the manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. The sectional side view which shows the modification of this invention. The top view showing the modification of the present invention. The top view showing the modification of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a method of cutting off the remaining portion of the sheet to be compared with the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  <Summary> First, an overview of a method of manufacturing the cups 1 and 2 and the preparation in the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a wrapping tablet is manufactured by wrapping the molded product 3 obtained by compressing the powder 30 with the wrapping base sheets 10 and 20. The wrapping tablet is obtained by inserting a molded product 3 obtained by compressing the powder 30 in advance into a cup 1 having a volume molded from the sheet 10, and sealing the opening of the cup 1 with a lid 2 molded from the sheet 20. It is a preparation that is stopped. The powder refers to an aggregate of minute solids, and is a concept including an aggregate of granules such as so-called granules and an aggregate of powder having a shape smaller than the granules. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the method of manufacturing the cups 1 and 2 and the preparation of the present embodiment includes a cup forming step of forming the cup 1 for accommodating the molded product 3 from the sheet 10, A powder compacting step of molding the molded article 3 to be the contents of the wrapping tablet by compressing the molded article 30; an inserting step of inserting the molded article 3 into the cup 1; 13 is provided with a cup processing step of cutting 13 and a sealing step of sealing the opening of the cup 1 into which the molded product 3 is inserted with the sheet 20.

  In the cup molding step, as shown in FIG. 1 (I), the sheet 10 which is a material of the cup 1 is relatively moved with respect to the male mold 507, and the sheet 10 is pressed against the male mold 507 to thereby form the sheet. The cup 1 having a volume is protruded from 10. As a result, the cup 1 having the shape including the bottom wall 12 and the peripheral wall 11 rising along the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 12 is formed. The cup molding step corresponds to the molding step according to the present invention.

  The sheet 10 used as the material of the cup 1 is a thin film using a thermoplastic polymer material. When the preparation to be manufactured is a medicament to be orally administered, a film made of a material that can be used as a medicament, for example, piperomellose or polyvinyl alcohol is used as the sheet 10. In producing the thin film-shaped sheet 10, a plasticizer may be added to the material of the sheet 10. Further, for example, titanium oxide may be added to the material of the sheet 10 as a light shielding agent for suppressing the contents of the wrapping tablet from being exposed to light.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1 (II), an unnecessary portion of the unnecessary sheet 10 connected to the cup 1 is roughly cut off by, for example, laser processing for irradiating the sheet with the laser beam L. At this stage, the remaining portion 13 of the flange-shaped sheet 10 extending outward from the opening of the cup 1, in other words, the edge of the peripheral wall 11, remains, and the cup 1 has a hat-like shape. The wavelength of the laser light L used for cutting the sheet 10 needs to be a wavelength that allows the sheet 10 to absorb the energy of the laser light L. When the transparency of the sheet 10 is high, a laser having a relatively long wavelength, for example, a carbon dioxide gas laser having a wavelength of 10.6 μm or 9.4 μm is used.

  In the powder compression step, the tip (upper end) of the lower punch 603 is inserted from below into a vertically extending die hole 601 provided on the die table 602, and the active ingredient (when the preparation is a drug) is inserted into the die hole 601. Is filled with the powder 30 containing the main drug, the tip (lower end) of the upper punch 604 is inserted into the die hole 601 from above, and the powder in the die hole 601 is inserted by the upper punch 604 and the lower punch 603. The molded body 3 is obtained by compressing the body 30 (see FIGS. 10 to 12). The powder 30 to be compression-molded contains an active ingredient and components other than the active ingredient (excipients, binders, disintegrants, lubricants, stabilizers, preservatives and the like when the tablet is a drug). It may be a mixture of Further, the molded article 3 produced in the powder compression step does not necessarily have to have a necessary and sufficient hardness as a tablet that can be distributed on the market. What is necessary is that the shape-retaining property enough to maintain the shape and shape is ensured. That is, in the powder compression step, the powder 30 may be compressed so strongly that the molded article 3 has sufficient hardness as a tablet, and the powder 30 may be compressed at such a pressure that the molded article 3 does not easily break or collapse. May be compressed.

  In the insertion step, as shown in FIG. 1 (III), the molded product 3 obtained through the powder compression step is inserted into the cup 1 from above with the opening of the cup 1 facing upward.

  In the cup processing step, as shown in FIG. 1 (IV), a flange-shaped remaining portion 13 extending outward from the opening of the cup 1 is cut off. In this case, while rotating the sheet 10 including the cup 1 around the axis α, the laser beam L whose optical axis is directed in a direction intersecting (particularly orthogonal) to the direction in which the rotation axis α extends is applied to the sheet 10. Laser processing for irradiating a portion near the edge of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 projecting from the remaining portion 13 of the cup 10 from outside is performed. By such processing, the remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 is reliably cut off from the cup 1 without leaving unnecessary small pieces of the sheet 10 on the opening edge of the cup 1, and the cup 1 having only the bottom wall 12 and the peripheral wall 11 is completed. Can be done. The cup processing step corresponds to the processing step according to the present invention. The laser L used to cut the remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 is, for example, a carbon dioxide laser having a wavelength of 10.6 μm or 9.4 μm.

  The sealing step includes a lid forming step of forming the lid 2 for sealing the opening of the cup 1 from the sheet 20, a lid processing step of cutting the remaining portion 23 of the sheet 20 from the formed lid 2, and a peripheral wall of the lid 2. And a pressure bonding step of applying pressure to the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 to apply pressure to the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1. In the lid forming step, as shown in FIG. 2 (V), the cup 1 into which the molded article 3 has been inserted is made a male mold, and the sheet 20 which is the material of the lid 2 is relatively moved with respect to the cup 1. Is pressed against the cup 1 to protrude the lid 2 having a shape surrounding the cup 1 from the sheet 20. As a result, the lid 2 having the top wall 22 and the peripheral wall 21 hanging down along the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 22 is formed. At the same time, the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is in close contact with the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1, and the top wall 22 of the lid 2 closes the opening of the cup 1. The lid 2 is formed from the sheet 20 and has a capacity for accommodating the molded product 3 and the cup 1, and corresponds to the cup according to the present invention. The lid forming step of forming the lid 2 corresponds to the forming step according to the present invention.

  The sheet 20 used as the material of the lid 2 is also a thin film using a thermoplastic polymer material, like the sheet used as the material of the cup 1. When the preparation to be manufactured is a drug to be administered orally, a film made of, for example, piperomellose or polyvinyl alcohol is used as the sheet 20. In manufacturing the thin film-shaped sheet 20, a plasticizer may be added to the material of the sheet 20. Further, for example, titanium oxide may be added to the material of the sheet 20 as a light-blocking agent for suppressing the contents of the wrapping tablet from being exposed to light.

  The sheet 20 as the material of the lid 2 may be provided with an adhesive layer 24 in advance on the side which is the inner surface which is in close contact with the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 (see FIGS. 19 and 20). However, providing the adhesive layer 24 on the sheet 20 is not essential.

  In the process of forming the lid 2 in the lid forming step, the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is joined to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1. When the adhesive layer 24 is provided on the sheet 20 of the material of the lid 2, the heat applied to the sheet 20 at this time causes the adhesive layer 24 to move between the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1. Glue.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 2 (VI), an unnecessary portion of the unnecessary sheet 20 connected to the lid 2 is roughly cut off by, for example, laser processing for irradiating the sheet 20 with the laser beam L. At this stage, the remaining portion 23 of the flange-shaped sheet 20 extending outward from the opening of the lid 2, that is, the edge of the peripheral wall 21, remains, and the lid 2 has a hat-like shape. As described above, the laser L used for cutting the sheet 20 is, for example, a carbon dioxide laser having a wavelength of 10.6 μm or 9.4 μm.

  Next, in the lid processing step, as shown in FIG. 2 (VII), the flange-shaped remaining part 23 extending outward from the opening of the lid 2 is cut off. In this case, while rotating the sheet 20 including the lid 2 around the coaxial axes α of the cup 1, the laser beam L whose optical axis is directed in a direction intersecting (particularly orthogonal) to the direction in which the rotational axis α extends. Is applied from the outside to a portion near the edge of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 protruding from the remaining portion 23 of the sheet 20. At this time, by adjusting the focus of the laser light L to the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 and / or by adjusting the output of the laser light L, the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 is cut or otherwise damaged by the laser light L. Not to be. By such processing, the remaining portion 23 of the sheet 20 is reliably cut off from the lid 2 without leaving unnecessary small pieces of the sheet 20 at the opening edge of the lid 2, and the lid 2 having only the top wall 22 and the peripheral wall 21 is completed. Can be done. The lid processing step is to cut off the remaining portion 23 of the sheet 20 from the lid 2 serving as the cup according to the present invention, and corresponds to the processing step according to the present invention. Since the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 and the peripheral wall 21 of the lid overlap to complete the peripheral wall of the wrapping tablet, the side surface of the wrapped molded product 3 is not exposed. As described above, the laser L used for cutting the sheet 20 is, for example, a carbon dioxide laser having a wavelength of 10.6 μm or 9.4 μm.

  Further, in the crimping step, the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is pressed inward from the outside, and the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is pressed against the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1. However, the implementation of the crimping step is not essential. When the lid 2 is formed from the sheet in the lid forming step, if the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is sufficiently firmly adhered to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1, such pressure bonding may not be performed. .

  Through the above steps, a wrapping tablet as shown in FIG. 2 (VIII), that is, a preparation in which the molded product 3 obtained by compressing the powder 30 is wrapped in a wrapping capsule comprising the cup 1 and the lid 2 is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a manufacturing apparatus used to carry out the manufacturing method of the cups 1 and 2 and the preparation of the present embodiment includes: a wrapping capsule forming machine 500 for forming the cup 1 and the lid 2 from a sheet; This is a set together with a powder compression molding machine 600 for molding the molded product 3 from 30. Hereinafter, the manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  <Cup Molding Unit> The cup molding unit A is in the wrapping capsule molding machine 500 and performs a cup molding step of molding the cup 1 having a capacity from the sheet 10. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, in the cup forming unit A, first, at a sheet cutting position 501, a circular sheet 10 having a predetermined size is cut out from the tape 502 of the sheet 10 which is a material of the cup 1. The cutting of the sheet 10 is performed, for example, by irradiating the laser beam L along the contour of the sheet 10 to be cut. Then, the cut sheet 10 is held by the holding mechanism 504 at the molding position 503. The retaining mechanism 504 holds the sheet 10 from above and below by annular hollow members 505 and 506 forming a pair in the vertical direction. The lower member 506 of the retaining mechanism 504 can move between the sheet cutout position 501 and the forming position 503, receives the sheet 10 cut out at the sheet cutout position 501, and transports the sheet 10 to the forming position 503.

  At the molding position 503, a substantially cylindrical male mold 507 protruding upward stands by below the retaining mechanism 504. Then, warm air is blown toward the sheet 10 from the duct 508 having a built-in fan, which is located on the opposite side of the male mold 507 as viewed from the sheet 10, that is, above the sheet 10, so that the thermoplastic sheet 10 is blown. Heat. Then, the retaining mechanism 504 holding and retaining the sheet 10 descends toward the male mold 507 and presses the sheet 10 against the front end face (upper end face) of the male mold 507 (FIG. 5). At the same time, the male mold 507 side as viewed from the sheet 10 is depressurized more than the duct 508 side. Specifically, by sucking the atmosphere below the sheet 10, the sheet 10 is moved to the front end portion (upper end portion) of the male mold 507. (FIG. 6). As a result, the cup 1 having a volume corresponding to the outer shape of the tip of the male mold 507 is formed so as to protrude upward from the seat 10. The cup 1 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 11 that conforms to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the male mold 507 and a bottom wall 12 that conforms to the shape of the distal end surface of the male mold 507.

  After the cup 1 is formed so as to protrude from the sheet 10, the retaining mechanism 504 rises so as to separate from the male mold 507 while holding the sheet 10. Next, the male mold 507 largely retreats downward, and the cup reversing machine 509 enters directly below the retaining mechanism 504 from the side along the X-axis direction. The cup reversing machine 509 has a suction arm 511 protruding from a horizontal support shaft 510 rotatable about a horizontal axis in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal support shaft 510. It plays a role of inverting the cup 1 so as to face upward. The distal end of the suction arm 511 has the same outer shape as the distal end of the male mold 507. Inside the cup reversing machine 509, a suction passage 512 for sucking the atmosphere is formed, and the suction passage 512 is opened at the tip end surface of the suction arm 511. The cup reversing machine 509 positions the suction arm 511 directly below the cup 1 with the upward facing posture. Thereafter, the retaining mechanism 504 holding the sheet 10 is lowered again, and the tip of the suction arm 511 is inserted into the cup 1. In this state, when the suction passage 512 is suctioned to make the pressure negative, the sheet 10 including the cup 1 is suctioned to the tip end surface of the suction arm 511.

  Subsequently, an unnecessary portion of the unnecessary sheet 10 connected to the opening of the cup 1 is irradiated with the laser beam L to cut off the unnecessary portion (FIG. 7). At this time, the laser beam L is applied to a position deviated slightly outward from the opening edge of the cup 1 along the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the surplus portion of the sheet 10, that is, in the vertical direction (in the illustrated example, from above). At the same time, scanning is performed to move the irradiation position of the laser beam L so as to draw an arc along a circular contour β having a diameter larger than the opening edge of the cup 1. Thereby, the sheet 10 is cut along the locus of the irradiation position of the laser light L. The remaining portion 13 of the flange-shaped sheet 10 that is bent from the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 and protrudes outward remains at the opening of the cup 1 from which the surplus portion of the sheet 10 has been cut off. An excess portion of the sheet 10 separated from the cup 1 is removed by suction later.

  After cutting off the excess portion of the sheet, the suction arm 511 and the horizontal support shaft 510 that are sucking the cup 1 are rotated half a turn to turn the suction arm 511 downward, thereby turning the cup 1 upside down. The support shaft 510 is displaced laterally along the X-axis direction, and the cup 1 with the opening facing upward is transported to a position immediately above the transfer mechanism 513. Then, the transfer body 514 of the transfer mechanism 513 is raised toward the suction arm 511. The transfer body 514 is formed with a shaft hole 515 that opens on the upper surface thereof. The inner diameter of the shaft hole 515 extends from the upper surface of the transfer body 514 to a depth substantially equal to the height of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 (for example, to a depth of about 5 mm from the upper surface of the transfer body 514). Is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cup 1 but is smaller than the outer diameter of the peripheral wall of the cup 1 below. When the transfer body 514 rises, the tip of the downwardly directed suction arm 511 and the cup 1 suctioned by the suction arm 511 are accommodated in the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514 (FIG. 8). By stopping the suction of the suction passage 512 of the cup reversing machine 509, the cup 1 can be delivered from the suction arm 511 to the transfer body 514. At this time, the flange 13 extending outward from the opening edge of the cup 1 engages with the periphery of the opening of the shaft hole 515 on the upper surface of the transfer body 514. Thereafter, the transfer body 514 descends and separates from the suction arm 511, and the cup reversing machine 509 returns to the original position (FIG. 9). Also, the male mold 507 moves up to the original position. The transfer mechanism 513 in which the cup 1 is accommodated in the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514 functions to transfer the cup 1 so as to go around the units B, C, E, F, G, and H at various places.

  <Powder Compression Unit> The powder compression unit B is in the powder compression molding machine 600 and performs a powder compression step of compressing the powder 30 to obtain a molded product 3 to be loaded into the cup 1. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, in the powder compression unit B, first, the lower end of the lower punch 603 (upper end) is inserted into the die hole 601 of the die table 602 having the die hole 601 penetrating vertically. ) Is inserted and the height of the lower punch 603 is adjusted to secure a volume for filling the required amount of the powder 30 into the die hole 601. At this time, the upper punch 604 facing the die hole 601 from above is raised to open a region around the die hole 601 on the die table 602. Then, the filling device (feedstock) 605 is moved along the upper surface of the mill table 602 so as to cover the mill hole 601 of the mill table 602 from above, and the powder 30 is filled in the mill hole 601 (FIG. 11). . After the filling of the powder 30, the filling device 605 retreats from the area around the die hole 601 on the die table 602.

  Next, the upper punch 604 is lowered, and its tip (lower end) is inserted into the die hole 601 from above, and the powder 30 in the die hole 601 is separated by the tip of the upper punch 604 and the tip of the lower punch 603. Is pressed and compressed to form a molded article 3 (FIG. 12).

  <Insertion Unit> The insertion unit C is in the powder compression molding machine 600, shares the same components as the powder compression unit B, and inserts the molded product 3 obtained by compressing the powder 30 into the cup 1. Perform the insertion process. As shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, in the insertion unit C, after the compression of the powder 30 in the powder compression step is completed, the lower punch 603 is lowered to form the tip end surface (upper end surface). Separate from the lower surface of the product 3. At this time, the molded product 3 formed by compressing the powder 30 remains in the die hole 601. Further, the upper punch 604 and the mortar table 602 are raised to secure a space opened laterally below the mortar hole 601 along the Y-axis direction. Thereafter, the transfer body 514 of the transfer mechanism 513 that accommodates the cup 1 in the shaft hole 515 and supports the cup 1 enters the space from below along the Y-axis direction (FIG. 13). The axial hole 515 of the transfer body 514 and the central axis α of the cup 1 that has entered the space are coaxial with the central axis of the die hole 601 of the die table 602, that is, from the Z-axis direction in which both central axes are up and down. Look and match.

  Next, while slightly raising the transfer body 514, the upper punch 604 is lowered, and the molded product 3 staying in the die hole 601 is pushed into the cup 1 from above (FIG. 14). As a result, the molded product 3 is inserted into the cup 1. Then, the upper punch 604 is raised again, and the transfer body 514 is slightly lowered, so that the transfer body 514 is retracted from the space below the mill table 602. When the transfer body 514 is retracted, the mortar table 602 is lowered to the original position, and the tip of the upper punch 604 comes out of the mortar hole 601. In addition, the lower punch 603 also moves up, and its tip enters the die hole 601 again.

  <Cup Processing Unit> The cup processing unit E cuts off the remaining portion 13 of the flange-shaped sheet 10 which is located inside the wrapping capsule forming machine 500 and projects outward from the opening of the cup 1 into which the molded product 3 is inserted. Operates the cup processing process. As shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, in the cup processing unit E, first, the turntable 522 for rotating the cup 1 to be processed around the center axis α is advanced toward the processing position 523 (FIG. 16). The turntable 522 includes a shaft 524 and a piston 525 that extend in the vertical direction and are rotatable around a central axis, that is, a vertical axis, and a motor 526 that is a driving source that drives the shaft 524 to rotate. A negative pressure passage 527 extending in the vertical direction and a negative pressure generating space 528 located below the negative pressure passage 527 and communicating with the negative pressure passage 527 are formed inside the shaft 524. The negative pressure passage 527 opens at the tip end surface (upper end surface) of the shaft 524. The piston 525 is inserted into the negative pressure generation space 528 from below. The shaft body 524 and the piston 525 are, for example, spline-connected, and the piston 525 can be displaced along the vertical direction relative to the shaft body 524, while the shaft body 524 rotates around the central axis. The piston 525 and the shaft body 524 rotate integrally. The volume of the negative pressure generating space 528 expands and contracts as the piston 525 moves up and down relative to the shaft 524. Further, the piston 525 is directly connected to the output shaft of the motor 526.

  The transfer body 514 of the transfer mechanism 513 that supports the cup 1 into which the molded article 3 has been inserted moves above the turntable 522. At this time, the center axis of the shaft body 524 is coaxial with the center hole α of the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514 and the cup 1. Thereafter, when the transfer body 514 is lowered, the tip end (upper end) of the shaft body 524 is settled in the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514, and the front end surface is in contact with or very close to the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1. . In this state, when the shaft body 524 is raised, the tip of the shaft body 524 protrudes above the upper surface of the transfer body 514 and pushes up the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 so that the remaining portion 13 of the cup 1 and the sheet 10 are removed. It floats from the upper surface of the transfer body 514. At the same time, the piston 525 connected to the motor 526 is displaced relatively downward with respect to the shaft body 524, and the volume of the negative pressure generating space 528 is expanded to generate a negative pressure. The bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 is sucked to the tip end surface of the shaft 524 via the passage 527.

  In the cup processing step, the laser light L is applied to a portion near the edge (upper end) of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 from the side along the X-axis direction in order to cut off the flange-shaped remaining portion 13 connected to the opening of the cup 1. Irradiate. For this purpose, a mirror (or a 45 ° right-angle prism) 529 that reflects the laser beam L and directs its optical axis in the X-axis direction faces the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 floating from the upper surface of the transfer body 514 in the X-axis direction. Place at height. Then, while the motor 526 is activated to rotate the piston 525, the shaft body 524, and the cup 1 adsorbed on the piston 525 around the central axis α, the laser light L is applied to the edge of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 via the mirror 529. Irradiation is performed on a portion near the end (FIG. 17). The irradiation of the laser beam L is continued until the irradiation position makes a plurality of rounds (for example, two rounds) along the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1. As a result, the remaining portion 13 of the flange-shaped sheet 10 can be cut off from the opening of the cup 1. The remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 separated from the cup 1 is later removed by suction.

  After cutting off the remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 from the cup 1, the shaft 524 is lowered, and the transfer body 514 is raised. At this time, since the piston 525 is displaced relatively upward with respect to the shaft 524, the negative pressure that has absorbed the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 on the tip end surface of the shaft 524 disappears. Note that the remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 engaged with the peripheral edge of the opening of the shaft hole 515 on the upper surface of the transfer body 514 has already been cut off from the cup 1, but as described above, the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514 has The inner diameter of the lower portion is smaller than the outer shape of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1. Therefore, the cup 1 does not fall deeply into the shaft hole 515 and rises together with the transfer body 514 while being supported by the transfer body 514. After the shaft body 524 escapes downward from the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514, the turntable 522 retreats from the processing position 523.

  <Sealing Unit> The sealing unit is in the wrapping capsule molding machine 500 and performs a sealing step of sealing the opening of the cup 1 in which the molded product 3 is inserted with the sheet 20. In the present embodiment, the sealing unit includes a lid forming unit F, a lid processing unit G, and a pressure bonding unit H described below.

  The lid molding unit F shares the same components as the cup molding unit A, and performs a lid molding step of molding the lid 2 for sealing the opening of the cup 1 from the sheet 20. As shown in FIGS. 18 to 22, in the lid forming unit F, the transfer body 514 of the transfer mechanism 513 that supports the cup 1 from which the remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 has been cut down is lowered, and the retaining mechanism located at the forming position 503. Move to a position below 504. On the other hand, at the sheet cutting position 501, a circular sheet 20 having a predetermined size is cut out from the tape 530 of the sheet 20 serving as the material of the lid 2, and the cut sheet 20 is held at the forming position 503 by the holding mechanism 504 (FIG. 19). ). At this time, the lower member 506 of the retaining mechanism 504 receives the sheet 20 cut at the sheet cutting position 501 and transports the sheet 20 to the forming position 503. The cutting of the sheet 20 that is the material of the lid 2 is performed by the same laser processing as the cutting of the sheet 10 that is the material of the cup 1. The adhesive layer 24 may be provided in advance on the lower surface of the sheet 20 that is a material of the lid 2.

  Next, the support shaft 531 is inserted into the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514 from below the transfer body 514. The support shaft 531 has a role of supporting the cup 1 into which the molded product 3 is inserted from below, which becomes a male mold when the lid 2 is molded from the sheet. A suction passage 532 for sucking the atmosphere is formed inside the support shaft 531, and the suction passage 532 is opened at the tip end surface (upper end surface) of the support shaft 531. The support shaft 531 raises the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 to a height substantially equal to the upper surface of the transfer body 514 by raising the distal end surface to a height substantially equal to the upper surface of the transfer body 514, and lifts the cup 1 of the transfer body 514. It is exposed upward from the shaft hole 515. Then, in this state, the suction passage 532 is suctioned to create a negative pressure, and the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 is sucked and fixed to the tip end surface of the support shaft 531.

  The thermoplastic sheet 20 is heated by blowing hot air toward the sheet 20 from the duct 508 having a built-in fan, which is located on the opposite side of the cup 1 when viewed from the sheet 20, that is, above the sheet 20. I do. Thereafter, the retaining mechanism 504 holding and retaining the sheet 20 is lowered toward the male cup 1, and the sheet 20 is removed from the opening edge (upper edge) of the cup 1 and the molded product 3 inserted into the cup 1. Press against the top surface (FIG. 20). At the same time, the pressure of the cup 1 side as compared with the duct 508 side as viewed from the sheet 20 is reduced. (FIG. 21). As a result, the lid 2 having a volume corresponding to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 and the outer shape of the upper surface of the molded product 3 is formed so as to protrude upward from the sheet 20. The lid 2 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 21 along the outer peripheral shape of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 and a top wall 22 along the upper surface of the molded product 3. When the lid 2 is formed, the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is joined to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1, and the lower surface of the top wall 22 is joined to the upper surface of the molded product 3 inserted into the cup 1. In particular, when the adhesive layer 24 is provided in advance on the downward surface of the sheet 20 serving as the lid 2, that is, the surface facing the cup 1 and the molded product 3, the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 is formed when the lid 2 is molded. In addition to being adhered to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11, the lower surface of the top wall 22 having the adhesive layer 24 is adhered to the upper surface of the molded product 3 inserted into the cup 1.

  After the lid 2 is formed by projecting from the sheet 20, the suction of the suction passage 532 of the support shaft 531 is stopped, and the suction of the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 to the distal end surface of the support shaft 531 is released. Then, the retaining mechanism 504 rises while holding the sheet 20 on which the lid 2 is formed, and the transfer body 514 also rises following the retaining mechanism 504. At this time, the cup 1 and the lid 2 are joined, the sheet 20 integrated with the lid 2 is sandwiched by the retaining mechanism 504, and an excess portion of the sheet 20 is placed on the upper surface of the transfer body 514. Therefore, the cup 1 and the lid 2 also rise together with the retaining mechanism 504 and the transfer body 514 in a state of being exposed upward from the upper surface of the transfer body 514.

  Subsequently, an unnecessary portion of the unnecessary sheet 20 connected to the opening of the lid 2 is irradiated with the laser beam L to cut off the unnecessary portion (FIG. 22). At this time, along the vertical direction perpendicular to the surplus portion of the sheet 20, the laser beam L is irradiated to a position deviated slightly outward from the opening edge of the lid 2, and the irradiation position of the laser light L is also changed to the lid 2. Is performed so as to move in an arc along a circular contour β having a larger diameter than the opening edge of. Thereby, the sheet 20 is cut along the locus of the irradiation position of the laser light L. The remaining portion 23 of the flange-shaped sheet 20 which is bent from the peripheral wall 21 of the cover 2 and protrudes outward remains in the opening of the cover 2 from which the surplus portion of the sheet 20 is cut off. The remaining portion 23 of the sheet 20 is engaged with the periphery of the opening of the shaft hole 515 on the upper surface of the transfer body 514, and keeps the cup 1 and the lid 2 protruding upward from the upper surface of the transfer body 514. Excess portions of the sheet 20 separated from the lid 2 are removed by suction later.

  After cutting off the surplus portion of the sheet 20, the transfer body 514 supporting the cup 1 and the lid 2 slightly descends, and the support shaft 531 largely retreats downward.

  The lid processing unit G shares the same components as the cup processing unit E, and performs a lid processing step of cutting off the remaining portion 23 of the flange-shaped sheet 20 projecting outward from the opening of the lid 2 sealing the cup 1. Run. As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, in the lid processing unit G, first, the transfer body 514 of the transfer mechanism 513 supporting the cup 1 and the lid 2 is moved toward the processing position 523 (FIG. 23). The transfer body 514 waits at a position above the turntable 522. In addition, the turntable 522 is advanced toward the processing position 523. At the processing position 523, the center axis of the shaft body 524 of the turntable 522 and the center axis α of the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514, the cup 1, and the lid 2 are coaxial. Thereafter, when the transfer body 514 is lowered, the distal end of the shaft body 524 fits in the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514, and the front end surface contacts or comes very close to the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1. In this state, when the shaft body 524 is raised, the tip of the shaft body 524 protrudes above the upper surface of the transfer body 514, and pushes up the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 so that the cup 1, the lid 2 and the rest of the sheet From the upper surface of the transfer body 514. At the same time, the piston 525 connected to the motor 526 is displaced relatively downward with respect to the shaft body 524, and the volume of the negative pressure generating space 528 is expanded to generate a negative pressure. The bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 is sucked to the tip end surface of the shaft 524 via the passage 527.

  In the lid processing step, the laser light L is applied from a side along the X-axis direction to a portion near the edge (lower end) of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 in order to cut off the flange-shaped remaining part 23 connected to the opening of the lid 2. Irradiate. For this purpose, a mirror 529 that reflects the laser light L and directs its optical axis in the X-axis direction is arranged at a height facing the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 floating from the upper surface of the transfer body 514 in the X-axis direction. Then, while the motor 526 is activated to rotate the piston 525, the shaft 524, and the cup 1 and the lid 2 adsorbed on the shaft 524 around the central axis α, the laser light L is transmitted via the mirror 529 to the lid. A portion near the edge of the peripheral wall 21 is irradiated (FIG. 24). The irradiation of the laser beam L is continued until the irradiation position makes a plurality of rounds (for example, two rounds) along the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2. As a result, the remaining portion 23 of the sheet 20 having a flange shape can be cut off from the opening of the lid 2. The remaining portion 23 of the sheet 20 separated from the lid 2 is later removed by suction.

  The crimping unit H presses the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 from the outside to the inward, and presses the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 against the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 following the above-described lid processing step. Performs the crimping process. As shown in FIGS. 25 to 27, in the crimping unit H, a crimping mechanism 533 for pressing the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is attracted to the shaft 524 of the turntable 522 from the side along the Y-axis direction. It moves to the vicinity of the cup 1 and the lid 2 (FIG. 26). The pressing mechanism 533 includes a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of pressing rollers 534 disposed so as to surround the cup 1 and the lid 2, a heater 535 incorporated in each pressing roller 534, and the pressing rollers 534 and 534. And a roller support 536 that supports the heater 535. Each of the pressure rollers 534 can rotate around a vertical axis. The heater 535 functions to increase the temperature of the outer peripheral surface of the pressure roller 534. The roller support 536 is an air chuck that moves the supporting pressure rollers 534 horizontally toward the center of the roller support 536 and moves horizontally away from the center.

  In the pressing step, the pressing mechanism 533 is positioned so that the cup 1 and the lid 2 are located immediately below the center of the roller support 536, and the outer peripheral surface of each of the pressing rollers 534 supported by the roller support 536 is placed on the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the lid 2. Face. Then, each pressure roller 534 is displaced toward the center of the roller support 536 by an air chuck provided in the roller support 536 (FIG. 27). That is, the outer peripheral surface of each pressure roller 534 is brought into contact with the outer surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2, and the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is sandwiched by the pressure rollers 534 from the outside. Thereafter, the shaft body 524 of the turntable 522 that holds the cup 1 and the lid 2 is rotationally driven to rotate the lid 2 and the cup 1 sandwiched by the pressure roller 534 around the central axis α. Thereby, it is possible to press the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 toward the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 while heating the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 via the pressure roller 534.

  When the pressing of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 to the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 is completed and the wrapping tablet in which the molded products 3 and 4 are wrapped by the cup 1 and the lid 2 is completed, the air chuck is driven to support each of the pressing rollers 534. By displacing in the direction away from the center of the body 536, the cup 1 and the lid 2 are released from the pressing force by the respective pressure rollers 534. Thereafter, the crimping mechanism 533 retracts to the original position. Further, the shaft body 524 of the turntable 522 is lowered, and the transfer body 514 is raised. At this time, since the piston 525 is displaced relatively upward with respect to the shaft 524, the negative pressure that has absorbed the bottom wall 12 of the cup 1 on the tip end surface of the shaft 524 disappears. Although the remaining portion 23 of the sheet 20 engaged with the peripheral edge of the opening of the shaft hole 515 on the upper surface of the transfer body 514 has already been cut off from the lid 2, the outer diameter of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2, that is, the completed wrapping tablet Since the outer diameter of the wrapping tablet is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514, the finished wrapping tablet does not fall into the shaft hole 515, and is transported while being supported above the upper surface of the transfer body 514 and exposed. It will rise with the body 514.

  In the pressure bonding unit H, the heater 535 for heating the pressure roller 534 is not essential. If the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 can be sufficiently firmly adhered to the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1 without heating the pressure roller 534, it is unnecessary to incorporate the heater 535 in the pressure roller 534.

  Furthermore, the crimping unit H and the crimping step itself are not essential. In forming the lid 2 from a sheet using the cup 1 in which the molded articles 3 and 4 are inserted as a male mold in the lid forming step, the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21 of the lid 2 is sufficiently firmly attached to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 11 of the cup 1. In this case, the crimping step need not be performed, and the crimping unit H including the crimping mechanism 533 can be omitted.

  Finally, the transfer body 514 of the transfer mechanism 513 transfers the completed wrapping tablet to a product collecting position in (the wrapping capsule forming machine 500 of) the present manufacturing apparatus. Then, the completed wrapping tablet is dropped into a discharge port (chute) provided at the product collection position.

  In the method of manufacturing the cups 1 and 2 of the present embodiment, a forming step (a cup forming step and a lid forming step) of forming the cups 1 and 2 having a capacity from the sheets 10 and 20 and the sheet 10 from the cups 1 and 2 are performed. In order to cut off the remaining portions 13 and 23 of, 20, while rotating the sheets 10 and 20 including the cups 1 and 2, the laser light L whose optical axis is directed in a direction intersecting the direction in which the rotation axis α extends is A processing step (a cup processing step, a lid processing step) of irradiating a portion protruding from the remaining portions 13 and 23 of the sheets 10 and 20 (particularly, near the edges of the peripheral walls 11 and 21). The apparatus for manufacturing the cups 1 and 2 in the present embodiment includes a molding unit (a cup molding unit A and a lid molding unit F) for projecting the cups 1 and 2 having a capacity from the sheets 10 and 20; In order to cut off the remaining portions of the sheets 10 and 20, while rotating the sheets including the cups 1 and 2, the laser light L whose optical axis is directed in a direction intersecting the direction in which the rotation axis α extends is applied to the sheets 10, 20. And a processing unit (a cup processing unit E and a lid processing unit G) for irradiating a portion protruding from the remaining portions 13 and 23.

  According to the present embodiment, the remaining portions 13 and 23 of the sheets 10 and 20 are reliably cut off from the cups 1 and 2 without strictly controlling the irradiation position of the laser light L on the sheets 10 and 20 including the cups 1 and 2. It is possible to do.

  In the forming process of the cup 1, the sheet 10 is moved relatively to the male mold 507, and the sheet 10 is pressed against the male mold 507 so that the cup 1 having a volume protrudes from the sheet 10. In the above embodiment, the male mold 507 is fixed, and the sheet 10 is moved (downward) toward the male mold 507. However, the male mold 507 is moved toward the sheet 10 after fixing the sheet 10. Alternatively, both the sheet 10 and the male mold 507 may be moved in directions approaching each other.

  Further, in the forming process of the lid 2, the sheet 20 is moved relatively to the cup 1 in which the molded product 3 is inserted, and the cup 20 is pressed into the male shape by pressing the sheet 20 to have a volume from the sheet 20. The lid 2 serving as a cup is protruded. In the above embodiment, the sheet 20 is moved (downward) toward the cup 1 after fixing the cup 1 into which the molded article 3 to be a male mold is inserted. The cup 1 into which the article 3 has been inserted may be moved toward the sheet 20, or both the sheet 20 and the cup 1 may be moved in directions that are close to each other.

  In the method of the present embodiment, after the insertion step and before the sealing step, a processing step (cup processing step) of cutting the remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 from the cup 1 into which the molded article 3 has been inserted is performed. . That is, the manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment also includes a processing unit (cup processing unit) E for cutting out the remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 from the cup 1 into which the molded article 3 is inserted. Since the insertion process is performed while the remaining portion 13 of the sheet 10 is left in the opening of the cup 1, the rigidity of the cup 1 can be secured when the molded product 3 is inserted, and the cup 1 into which the molded product 3 is inserted is supported. Cheap.

  Each of the sheets 10 and 20 used as the material of the cup 1 and the lid 2 is a film made of a thermoplastic polymer material, for example, a film made of piperomellose or polyvinyl alcohol. When a pharmaceutical preparation is manufactured, it is a film of a material that dissolves in the body of the person who has taken it.

  In the above embodiment, the insertion step of inserting the molded product 3 into the cup 1 is also performed in the powder compression molding machine 600 that performs the powder compression step. However, it is also conceivable that the insertion step is performed outside the powder compression molding machine 600, not inside the powder compression molding machine 600.

  In that case, the insertion unit D that performs the insertion step is provided, for example, in the wrapping capsule forming machine 500. As shown in FIGS. 28 to 30, in the insertion unit D, the preformed molded products 3 are stored in a magazine 516 that can hold a plurality of molded products 3 in series along the vertical direction. The molded article 3 may be obtained by compressing the powder 30 using a powder compression molding machine 600 or compressing the powder 30 using a powder compression molding machine different from the molding machine 600. May be done. In any case, the step of compressing the powder 30 to form the molded article 3 corresponds to a powder compression step, and the powder compression molding machine used for performing the powder compression step is a powder compression unit. Corresponds to.

  After passing through the cup forming step in the cup forming unit A, the transfer body 514 of the transfer mechanism 513 that accommodates and supports the cup 1 in the shaft hole 515 inserts the cup 1 into the insertion unit C in the powder compression molding machine 600. Instead, it is transferred to the insertion unit D in the wrapping capsule forming machine 500. At this time, the transfer body 514 enters below the base 517 on which the magazine 516 is placed (FIG. 29). At a position beside the magazine 516 on the base 517, an insertion port 518 that penetrates in a vertical direction is formed. The inner diameter of the insertion port 518 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the upper end of the base 517 supporting the cup 1. The shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514 that has entered below the base 517 and the central axis α of the cup 1 are coaxial with the input port 518 of the base 517. Thereafter, the transfer body 514 is raised, and the upper end thereof is inserted into the input port 518 of the base 517 from below. At this time, the height of the upper surface of the transfer body 514 is substantially flush with the height of the upper surface of the base 517.

  Next, the driving body 519 located at the lowermost part of the magazine 516 advances from the side along the X-axis direction to a position immediately above the loading port 518 and the transfer body 514. The driving body 519 is a flat member having a thickness of one molded product to be inserted into the cup 1 or a slightly smaller thickness than the molded product, and has a capturing hole 520 that penetrates vertically at an end thereof. The inner diameter of the capture hole 520 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the molded product 3. When the capturing hole 520 of the driving body 519 is located immediately below the plurality of molded products 3 held by the magazine 516, one of the lowermost one of the plurality of molded products 3 is located in the capturing hole 520. It falls and is captured by the capturing hole 520. Then, when the driving body 519 advances to a position immediately above the input port 518 and the transfer body 514, the capture hole 520 and the central axis of the molded article 3 captured by the drive body 519, the shaft hole 515 of the transfer body 514, and the cup 1 is coaxial with the center axis α.

  In this state, the rod-shaped pusher 521 kept above the inlet 518 is lowered, and the molded product 3 in the trapping hole 520 is pushed into the cup 1 from above at its tip (lower end) (FIG. 30). . As a result, the molded product 3 is inserted into the cup 1.

  After the pusher 521 that has pushed the molded article 4 into the cup 1 rises, the driving body 519 retreats to the original position. At this time, the capturing hole 520 of the driving body 519 returns to a position immediately below the plurality of molded products 3 held in the magazine 516, and receives a new molded product 3. The transfer body 514 supporting the cup 1 in which the molded article 3 is inserted descends, and its upper end escapes from the inlet 518. Thereafter, the transfer body 514 moves above the turntable 522 in the cup processing unit E.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in detail above. The manufacturing method and manufacturing method of the preparation according to the present invention are also useful for manufacturing a compounding agent for mixing a plurality of kinds of powders and a laminating agent for stacking a plurality of kinds of powders. For example, by inserting a plurality of molded products into one cup 1, a compounding agent or a laminating agent in which two or more kinds of active ingredients are sealed in the cup 1 can be easily produced. It is also conceivable to enclose in the cup 1 a powder or a film which has not been compression-molded, together with one or more molded products.

  Instead of inserting a molded product obtained by compressing powder into a cup 1, a powder, liquid, sol, gel, or the like that has not been compression-molded is filled, and the cup 1 is sealed with a lid 2 to prepare a preparation. Is also allowed to be manufactured. In short, the contents of the wrapping capsule having the cup 1 and the lid 2 as elements are not limited to the molded product obtained by compressing the powder.

  Although the molding machine constituting the powder compression unit B in the above embodiment is the vertical type powder compression molding machine 600, a rotary powder compression molding machine may be employed as the molding machine constituting the powder compression unit. Good.

  In the above-described embodiment, a laser device for cutting out the sheet 10 that is a material of the cup 1 from the tape 502, a laser device for cutting off a surplus portion of the sheet 10, and the remaining portion 13 from the opening edge of the cup 1 A laser device for performing a cutting process, a laser device for performing a process of cutting out a sheet 20 which is a material of the lid 2 from the tape 530, a laser device for performing a process of cutting an excess portion of the sheet 20, and a A laser device for cutting off the remaining portion 23 from the opening edge is common, and a mirror (or prism) 529 is used to change the direction of the optical axis of the laser light L when cutting off the remaining portions 13 and 23. Was. However, it is not always necessary to perform these processes using the same laser device, and it is needless to say that the production capacity may be improved by mounting a plurality of laser devices.

  In the processing step of cutting out the peripheral walls 11 and 21 of the cups 1 and 2 in which the remaining portions 13 and 23 of the sheets 10 and 20 are formed, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. , 20 are rotated around the axis α, and the laser light L whose optical axis is directed in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the rotation axis α extends is directed to a portion near the edge of the peripheral walls 11, 21. Irradiation from one side. However, as shown in FIG. 31 (II), the optical axis of the laser beam L applied to the portions near the edges of the peripheral walls 11 and 21 may be inclined from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis α.

  For the purpose of adjusting the dissolution performance or sustained release performance of the contents wrapped by the cups 1 and 2 or the dissolution performance of the cups 1 and 2, the peripheral walls 11, 21, the bottom wall 12 or the top wall 22 of the cups 1 and 2 It is also possible to form through holes, holes that do not pass through, grooves, cuts, and the like. In this case, it is conceivable that a hole or a hole is formed or a part of the cup 1 or 2 is thinned by laser processing for irradiating the cup 1 or 2 with the laser beam L.

  Although the preparation of the above embodiment has a perfect circular shape in plan view, the form of the preparation is not limited to this. The present invention is applied to the production of a preparation having a triangular, quadrangular, hexagonal or other polygonal shape in plan view, or a non-regular polygonal form in plan view, specifically, a preparation having an oval or teardrop shape in plan view. It is also possible.

  When manufacturing a preparation in which the peripheral walls 11 and 21 of the cups 1 and 2 have a perfect circular shape in plan view as in the above embodiment, a processing step of cutting off the remaining portions 13 and 23 of the sheets 10 and 20 from the cups 1 and 2 is performed. For this purpose, simply rotate the cups 1 and 2 with the rotation axis α set at the center of the peripheral walls 11 and 21, and irradiate the laser light L near the edges of the peripheral walls 11 and 21 from the outside. On the other hand, in the case of manufacturing a preparation in which the peripheral walls 11 and 21 have a non-circular shape in plan view, in the processing step of cutting off the remaining portions 13 and 23 of the sheets 10 and 20 from the cups 1 and 2, the rotation of the cups 1 and 2 is performed. It is necessary to change the axis α from time to time.

  For example, consider the case of manufacturing a preparation having a substantially triangular shape in plan view as shown in FIG. The peripheral walls 11 and 21 of the cups 1 and 2 in the illustrated example include a rounded corner 91 (represented by a solid line) and a side 92 (represented by a chain line) connecting two adjacent corners 91. Have been. Each of the outer surfaces of the corner portion 91 and the side portion 92 has a partially cylindrical shape. That is, each of the corner portion 91 and the side portion 92 has a partially arc-shaped contour in plan view. Then, in plan view, the radius of curvature of the contour of the corner 91 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the contour of the side 92. Therefore, when irradiating the laser beam L to the corner portion 91 of the peripheral walls 11 and 21 (FIG. 32 (I)) and when irradiating the side portion 92 with the laser beam (FIG. 32 (II)), the cup 1, 2, the position of the rotation axis α is changed.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the processing units E and G performing the processing process rotate the sheets 10 and 20 including the cups 1 and 2 while setting the optical axis in a direction intersecting the direction in which the rotation axis α extends. The directed laser light L was applied to the portions of the peripheral walls 11 and 21 of the cups 1 and 2 projecting from the remaining portions 13 and 23 of the sheets 10 and 20. On the other hand, in the processing unit, without rotating the sheets 10 and 20 including the cups 1 and 2, the laser light L having the optical axis directed in a direction intersecting the peripheral walls 11 and 21 of the cups 1 and 2 is used. Irradiation to the peripheral walls 11 and 21 is also conceivable.

  In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 33, the optical axis of the laser beam L is rotated (oscillated) about an axis parallel or substantially parallel to the peripheral walls 11 and 21 during the processing step. Then, scanning for displacing the irradiation position of the laser beam along the peripheral walls 11 and 21 is performed. However, the laser light is adjusted in accordance with the movement of the irradiation position of the laser light L (expansion and contraction of the optical path length to the irradiation position) so that the energy of the laser light L applied to the peripheral walls 11 and 21 is uniform regardless of the irradiation position. It is necessary to increase or decrease the focal length of L and / or the output of the laser light L. The peripheral walls 11 and 21 of the illustrated cups 1 and 2 include a rounded corner 91 and a side 92 connecting two adjacent corners 91, and the corner 91 has a laser beam. The focal length of the laser beam L and / or the output of the laser beam L are different between when the laser beam L is irradiated (FIG. 33 (I)) and when the side 92 is irradiated with the laser beam L (FIG. 33 (II)). The condition of the increase / decrease control will be changed. Even when the peripheral walls 11 and 21 have a perfect circular shape in plan view as in the above-described embodiment, the peripheral walls 11 and 21 are divided into a plurality of portions (90 ° around an axis parallel to the peripheral walls 11 and 21). And dividing the focal length of the laser light L and / or the control condition of the increase / decrease of the output of the laser light L for each part, while irradiating the laser light L and the rest. 13 and 23 can be cut out.

  An object manufactured using the manufacturing method or the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a medicine. The present invention may be used for the production of preparations other than pharmaceuticals.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each unit and the specific processing procedure can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cup 10 ... Sheet 11 ... Peripheral wall 13 ... Rest of sheet 2 ... Lid 20 ... Sheet 21 ... Peripheral wall 23 ... Rest of sheet A, F ... Molding unit (cup molding unit, lid molding unit)
E, G: Processing unit (cup processing unit, lid processing unit)
α ... Rotary axis

Claims (4)

A molding process of molding a cup having a volume from the sheet,
Irradiating a laser beam from a direction intersecting the peripheral wall to a portion of the peripheral wall of the cup protruding from the residual sheet so as to cut off the remaining portion of the sheet from the cup. The method of manufacturing a cup according to claim 1, wherein in the processing step, while rotating the sheet including the cup, a laser beam having an optical axis directed in a direction intersecting a direction in which the rotation axis extends is irradiated. The cup manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein in the forming step, the cup having a capacity is projected from the sheet by moving the sheet relative to the male mold and pressing the sheet against the male mold. . A molding unit for molding a cup having a volume from a sheet,
An apparatus for manufacturing a cup, comprising: a processing unit configured to irradiate a laser beam from a direction intersecting the peripheral wall to a portion of the peripheral wall of the cup protruding from the residual sheet so as to cut off the remaining part of the sheet from the cup.